It's FINALLY here!!

TRY ME ON FOR SIZE has officially released!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!

I feel like I have been waiting for...ev...eeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr for this to happen!! And it's finally here!!

My official release day was yesterday :) I threw a big party on Facebook and gave away lots of prizes. We had excerpts and I posted photos of my dream cast for my movie :) Hubby got me a lovely present- a brand new Kindle Paperwhite (LOVE!) and took me out to dinner to celebrate. Overall it was a really lovely day :)

I wish you could bottle that feeling :) It really is like nothing else. It's a little scary but so awesome at the same time. I even read a doozy of a review yesterday and it didn't phase me. (Okay, it did, but not nearly as much as it would have in the past) But I attribute that to the lecture I attended at the RWA national conference given by Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. She gave me an entirely new perspective of bad reviews. Anyhoo, it was a great day!

If you'd like to read TRY ME ON FOR SIZE, click here for all the buy links :) I'll love you forever if you do!

Author Spotlight! Meet Jennifer Snow!

Today I'm celebrating the release of Jennifer Snow's newest book, The Trouble with Mistletoe!

Such an adorable cover!!!

Jennifer sat down to answer some questions! I love getting to know authors!!

1: I see you write contemporary romance. Can I ask why? What do you love about it?

I love sweet contemporary romance because of the challenge of creating an emotionally impactful story without the steamy love scenes or the extra intriguing elements such as vampires. Just the love story of two people with ordinary problems told in a unique way.

Awesome! Love it!

2: You’ve written a few holiday themed books. I’ve always thought of writing one, but just haven’t yet. What draws you to that? 

I think Christmas is the most romantic time of year, so for me it’s the perfect setting for a novel. The themes of forgiveness and second chances and new love just seem so much more magical when set with a holiday backdrop.

Christmas is such a magical time! The perfect setting for this type of story!

3: Tell me a little of what inspired The Trouble with Mistletoe.

The Trouble With Mistletoe is a story about getting a second chance at love and I think there are many people who remember their first love…and perhaps some who wouldn’t mind another shot at it, so this story came from a ‘what if…’ moment.

Ah…the memories of a first love :)

4: I love a return home story, especially set in a small town. Do you prefer writing small town or big city settings? Why? 

I love both-I have a few stories set in New York and a new WIP set in Hollywood…but there’s something special about small towns-the sense of community that appeals to most readers. Small towns-for me-are more challenging to write as I try to make each scene exciting to read…so coming up with unique things for my characters to do instead of filling 380 pages with ‘kitchen scenes’ can be hard lolJ

I love writing both too :) I was just in Hollywood and decided I definitely have to write a book set there some day soon!

5: Doing anything fun to celebrate the release of The Trouble with Mistletoe?

YES! I am holding a murder mystery/cocktail party for my family and friends. The premise of the mystery is a book launch party where the author’s agent is murdered (sorry Stephany Evans lol) so it fit the celebration perfectly and it should be a lot of fun.

Ooooh! That sounds really fun!!!!

6: I love to learn about authors and what they do beside writing. What are your hobbies? 

I do some freelance contract work for several magazines as well as writing and then raising my three year old keeps me busy-he is my hobby lolJ

Ha! The kids definitely keep us busy!!

7: And how about some favorites! Feel free to explain!

-       Drink- Coffee-8-10 cups a day (I wish I was exaggerating.)

-       Appetizer- Chicken fingers

-       Band- I like a lot of solo country artists, but my favorite band would be Pearl Jam.

-       Song- Changes all the time, but currently it is Beat of the Music by Brett Elridge

-       TV show- Beauty and the Geek or Faceoff

-       Movie- While You Were Sleeping-nineties Sandra Bullock Christmas romance.

-       Vacation spot- Las Vegas-I try to go once a year for the shows and the exciting night life atmosphere.

Cool! I just visited Vegas for the first time this past summer! Very fun! And I'm all about 90's movies!!         

Thanks so much for being here Jennifer!!

Visit Jennifer's website for info on all her books! Click here!! And visit her on Facebook and Twitter! 

Check out an excerpt from Jennifer's new book!

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jennifer Snow

            Victoria’s gaze fell to his left hand. No wedding band. Her relief both irritated and confused her.

            “Well, we’re not actually interested in owning this store,” she explained. “My company’s client ran into complications obtaining a permit to build one of their own, with Legend’s still doing business nearby.”

            “Well, I guess they’re out of luck. I just bought the place and I plan on keeping it.” Luke collected the discarded packing paper from the new stock boxes. He crumpled the sheets and tossed them into a wastebasket near the counter.

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m surprised you’re interested in owning a run-down sporting goods store.” The Luke she used to know would rather remodel the old-fashioned buildings in the downtown core, not own a retail store in one of them. He’d always had a talent for designing and building things. When they were kids, his derby cars were always the best in the race and she remembered the lemonade stand he’d made for her from the wood left over from building his sister’s treehouse.

            “We haven’t spoken in a long time. Maybe I’m not the same guy you remember.” Pulling a Swiss Army knife out of his jeans, he tore into the remaining cardboard boxes, breaking them down.

Victoria had noticed the changes in him, despite her best efforts. Time had been good to him. He was bigger now, muscular and slightly wider around the waist. No longer the physique of a struggling, young, architectural student. His face showed signs of maturity, but the fine lines around his mouth and eyes only enhanced his looks.

Luke straightened and his gaze met hers. “Besides, this store has a history in the community. That means something to most of us.”

            Of course. Luke had worked in the store every summer when they were teenagers. His interest in preserving it made sense. “Okay, well I guess we should get to work.” She faked a smile, forcing her professionalism. She didn’t need or want any more time to get to know this man over again. What she wanted was for him to sign her contract so she could get out of Brookhollow. “I’ll have an offer by Wednesday, but we should go over the preliminary paperwork as soon as possible.” She scanned the store for a place to lay out her documents. “The major chain store interested in purchasing Legend’s…”

Luke turned off the lights and unplugged the strand of multicolored Christmas lights draped across the window. Only the glow from the pole lamp outside illuminated them.

 “Do you prefer we do this in the dark?” she asked sarcastically.

He slipped his coat on and wrapped his scarf around his neck. “I have dinner plans.” He stood next to the door.

The familiar scent of his musky cologne made her pulse race. She suddenly remembered the nights she’d fallen asleep in his T-shirt, when he’d been away at college. “Tomorrow, then.” She stepped out into the frigid air. “I’ll come by in the morning,” she said through the icy burst of wind and snow. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a silver monogrammed cardholder.  She popped it open with her freshly manicured fingernails and slid one of her cards free. Her hand shook as she handed it to Luke.

“Your card?” he asked.

 “It has my cell number on it.” Victoria’s teeth chattered.

“Victoria, this is Brookhollow.” He laughed. “I could stand in the center and call to you, and wherever you are, you’d hear me.”

The rich, deep sound of his laughter caught her off guard. Not at all the boyish laugh she remembered.

“What?” He asked, giving her a puzzled look.

Her cheeks heated and she looked away. “Anyway, let’s not test that theory. Use the cell number.”

It's Release Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Release day!!!!!!! Yay!!!! I'm so excited!!!!

Today is the release day for my second full-length novel, Karma Kameleon! It's the sequel to my debut, A Bitch Named Karma. I'm so excited for the release of this book. Readers were so engaged with Lexi Marshall in the first and I just needed to tell the next phase of her life. More problems, more Karma, more Lexi! Readers also get more Rich, her sexy rockstar boyfriend, and get to see him mature and become a man. But that causes more problems for Lexi too! She's now caught between the two men in her life!

I'm partying ALL day on my Facebook Fan Page with, prizes, guests, games, giveaways and more!!Come stop by!!

Here's the blurb:

Karma is back, but this time she’s not completely to blame. 

After surviving a heart- wrenching tragedy, Lexi Marshall is determined to find happiness with her wacky, new-age family. Stumbling through her first few months of motherhood, she's achieved the perfect balance living with her son, the love of her life, and her best friend and his lover. But happily-ever-after all under the same roof doesn't last long. 

For one thing, Rich doesn’t exactly agree living with everyone is ideal. With their gay/straight double wedding fast approaching, he wants to find a place of their own instead of continuing to sponge off of Marcus and Kevin. But Lexi isn’t ready to give up her easy lifestyle...or the never-ending wisdom of her lifelong best friend, Marcus. 

Torn between assured comfort and true happiness, Lexi has to make a choice, and fast. Will she lose everything, or can she trust karma, and have it all?

Interview with the FAB Roni Loren!!

Today I have a super awesome treat!! Fresh off her release day for her debut book, Roni Loren is here to chat with us!!!

You've done what so many writers dream about...snag an agent and book deal! How did you celebrate both of those successes?

When I signed with my agent, I’m not sure it really set in. I just kept punching my husband in the arm and saying, “Dude, I have an agent!” : ) Then when I got my deal with Berkley, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was such a Berkley fangirl, and I couldn’t get my head around the fact that my book was going to be published with them. I do remember going into my Borders and sticking my finger in the spot on their romance shelf where my book would go. I still look for that spot in any bookstore I go into.

That's so cool. Now I wanna go do that at the store!!

I remember way back when...I met you way before either of us had publishing contracts! We'd started blogging around the same time and even had a similar amount of followers for a while...but then you just exploded! :) Is there a secret to your blogging success?

I don’t know if I have any secret. I was as surprised as anyone when people started following me, lol. I think the key for me was I had a focus. I naturally gravitate towards teaching (although, my husband may argue that really means I gravitate toward bossy. J) So even though I hadn’t intended for it to be a writing blog, that’s what it became. And for some reason, even though I was a complete newbie, people found that “come learn with me as I learn” approach helpful. I don’t know if I’d recommend my approach to others since it also means I limited myself on topics (and have subsequently had to start a separate reader-focused author blog as well), but I’m so thrilled to have met all the great writer friends I have. It’s been a blessing.

You always have such great advice for writers. Where did your wealth of knowledge come from?

It truly was a learn as I blog kind of thing. I devour books on craft. It’s a bit of an addiction, really. And then I read agent/editor/writer blogs like they were going out of style. Plus, as I went along, I started learning things by making my own mistakes. (Like querying a first novel before it was ready.) So I would share those hard lessons on the blog to hopefully help others NOT do what I did, lol.

Thanks for sharing your enending wisdom with us all!

Now, let's talk about the book! Give us the blurb for Crash Into You!

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger.  Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

Sounds so good!! Can't wait to read it!

What will you most likely do the first time you see your book on a bookstore shelf? (I'm thinking cartwheels in Barnes and Noble are a bit frowned upon.)

Is that frowned upon? Well, damn, there goes plan A. I’m honestly not sure what I’m going to do. Probably do a little quiet squeezing and bouncing, then I’ll have hubs snap a picture of me holding it. I think the whole thing is going to be surreal.

We did this interview weeks ago...so now I'm wondering what you actually did do yesterday!! :)

Did you set out to write an erotic romance, or did it sorta just happen?

Just sorta happened. I had written a paranormal YA and contemporary romance already. And while I was waiting to hear back on the contemp romance, I got the idea for CRASH. It was an idea that could only be told via erotic romance, so I decided to give it a shot. I’m an avid erotic romance reader, so I was familiar with the genre, but I was a little nervous about writing something with all the naughty stuff in it. : ) Then I realized, hell, this is fun!

It sure is fun! The more I write, the more sexy my scenes get! So fun!

I know this isn't the first book you've written. Will you someday dust off those other manuscripts??

The YA? Probably not. It was my practice novel. Though I haven’t ruled out writing a new YA in the future. The contemporary romance had publisher interest, so it’s still viable. I just need to find time in between my deadlines to revise it a bit and decide which way I want to go with it—traditional or indie. I love that book and have a series planned for it, so it will get out there at some point.

And just for fun, knowing we have similar tastes in movies and men, I need to know......

Favorite scene in Dirty Dancing:

Definitely when Baby and Johnny dance in his cabin. *swoon*

Favorite song from Dirty Dancing:

Cry to Me – Sexiest. Song. Ever.

(If I know you as well as I think I do, I’m guessing they are the same as mine!)

I was sooooooooooooooooooooooo right!!

Favorite Ryan: Reynolds or Gosling:

Gah! That one’s tough. Which one’s taller? *googles* Dang, they’re both over 6 ft. I’ll say Gosling. But I do write erotic romance, can’t I just have both? ;)

You take Gosling, and I'll have Reynolds!

Sexier eyes: Paul Walker or Bradley Cooper:

Bradley

Thanks for having me!

BIO:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Her debut erotic romance CRASH INTO YOU will be released January 3, 2012 by Berkley Heat/Penguin. If you want to read more posts like this one or follow her journey to debut authorhood, you can visit her writing blog Fiction Groupie or her author blog. She also tweets way too much for her own good.

CRASH INTO YOU - EXCERPT:

Brynn’s response lodged in her throat, the all-too-familiar name ringing in her ears. No, couldn’t be. But a sinking feeling settled in her gut. She’d only met one Reid in her life, and that Reid was a lawyer. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath before she turned around to face her new co-worker.

Reid’s blue-eyed gaze met her head-on, hitting her like an airbag to the chest. She sucked in a breath and fought the old instinct to lower her eyes in deference. Son of a bitch, where had that urge come from? She ticked up her chin and gave him her best I-hate-you-but-will-be-polite-because-I’m-the-bigger-person glare. “Hello.”

Cooper walked around Brynn and clapped Reid on the shoulder. “Reid, I’d like you to meet our other social worker, Brynn LeBreck.”

Reid nodded, his expression annoyingly unreadable. “Brynn, pleasure to see you again. It’s been a while.”

Not long enough. Three years had passed since she’d last seen him. His inky hair was longer on top and a few lines creased the corners of his eyes, but time hadn’t softened her warring responses to him. The urges to pummel his face and strip naked before him held almost equal weight. Luckily, the venue was too public to give in to either. She feigned an air of indifference. “It has.”

“Still as beautiful as ever, though.”

The warm notes of his voice stirred the dark recesses of her memory, further inciting the old longing. She shifted in her heels as hot tingles crept from deep in her belly and moved downward to settle between her legs. Un-f**king- believable. Her body was a whoring traitor.

Melody stepped next to Brynn as if sensing her need for support, and Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “You two know each other?”

Boy, did they—in just about every way a man and woman could. She searched Reid’s face, and he tipped his head infinitesimally, as if giving her permission to answer the question. Her eyes narrowed. “Used to. Long time ago.”

Cooper smiled, either oblivious or unperturbed by the tension zipping through the air between her and Reid. “Great. Guess introductions weren’t needed then.”

Nope. Not needed. Brynn knew exactly who Reid Jamison was. A first-class bastard.

(Full version of chapter one can be read here: http://www.roniloren.com/excerpts )

One more week!!!

Next Monday is the release of my second full-length novel!! I am so so excited!!

Karma Kameleon is the sequel to A Bitch Named Karma. I cannot wait for you all to read the next chapter in Lexi's life. There's more drama, more laughs, more sexiness and sassiness...more Lexi!

All day next Monday, January 9th, I'll be hanging out here, posting all kinds of fun things. And I'll be partying it up on my Facebook page and Twitter too. All kinds of fun things- excerpts, games and prizes! I have lots of great things to give away!! Hoping lots of my author friends stop by and share their books and excerpts too. Should be lots of fun!

It's Blurbalicious!!!!

No cover art yet, but I have my official blurb for Karma Kameleon!!!!

KARMA KAMELEON

Karma is back, but this time she’s not completely to blame.

After surviving a heart-wrenching tragedy, Lexi Marshall is determined to find happiness with her wacky, new-age family. Stumbling through her first few months of motherhood, she's achieved the perfect balance living with her son, the love of her life, and her best friend and his lover. But happily-ever-after all under the same roof doesn't last long.

For one thing, Rich doesn’t exactly agree living with everyone is ideal. With their gay/straight double wedding fast approaching, he wants to find a place of their own instead of continuing to sponge off of Marcus and Kevin. But Lexi isn’t ready to give up her easy lifestyle...or the never-ending wisdom of her lifelong best friend, Marcus.

Torn between assured comfort and true happiness, Lexi has to make a choice, and fast. Will she lose everything, or can she trust karma, and have it all?

WARNING: Contains some explicit sexual scenes and strong language.

It's release day for Soap Dreams!!!!!!!

So so excited!!!!! Today is the official release day for my new novella, Soap Dreams!

It’s never too late to start over.

Robyn Miller is perfectly happy in her immaculate home, playing stay-at-home mom and
devoted wife. That is, until she's channel surfing one day and sees her high school sweetheart
Derek, acting in a lead role in her favorite old soap. Watching Derek's show becomes her secret pleasure...and brings back memories best forgotten. When Derek's mother throws him a big celebration in town, Robyn tries to avoid seeing him, but ends up in his arms for a dance.

Derek has finally hit the big-time, but he hasn't found happiness. He regrets losing Robyn,
and his show's ratings are falling. He longs to get her back in his life--both personally, and as a
writer on the show. Those love scenes she used to dream up were Emmy material. Knowing her marriage is a sham, can he convince her to follow her dreams and give the show--and him--a shot?

This is a great little romantic read! Buy at Lyrical's site, Amazon, or most other ebook sites!

I have my first ever review for Soap Dreams at Brianna's Blog, Girl Seeks Place! Check it out!!

Wednesday starts my first ever blog tour!!!! Check back every day for the tour stop link!