The Dragon, The Witch, and the Wedding

Hello!

Can I get some cover art love for my latest release?

Alpha Shifter Seductions Goes Wild...I Mean Live!

Hey Everyone!

Alpha Shifter Seductions is now available for purchase. The five star reviews are rolling in!

Here's a sample of what people are saying about Love Like Wings - my novella in the box set!

Love Like Wings by Amy Lee Burgess...Sebastian can talk the panties off granny and she would feel like she'd swear she got the best off that deal and Lexie knows he's a player but is he? He may just be something more if she will just give him a chance. Great story! 5 big stars

Love like Wings by Amy Burgess- I loved this book! A whirlwind of emotions. A lot of tears, laughter to the point of tears, joyful tears and sad tears. Truly was a remarkable book. I'll definitely be reading more of this new to me author's work in the future. 5 stars.

Love Like Wings by Amy Lee Burgess - Alexa is one stubborn lady. Good thing Sebastian is a patient dragon. Of course, she doesn't know he's a dragon—just another sexy man who wants to bed her and will leave her. Isn't that what she spent her entire life watching her mother do? She vowed to never be her mother, but sure enough the first man she lets herself fall for deserts her too. Now she has this astonishing man, business partner, pursuing her. She is so hot for him but she cannot allow herself to give in. She will not be her mother. When you see how Sebastian tries to overcome her stubborn nature, you too will fall for him. I did. This was fun, touching and I loved it.

Love Like Wings by Amy Lee Burgess It deserves 5 stars! A great story! Dragon shifter, Sebastian is running out of time for getting his mate. Alexa tries not to mix business with pleasure but Sebastian tests her limits.

Alpha Shifter Seductions (Shifter Paranormal Romance Boxed Set)

Alpha Shifter Seductions features your favorite NYT, USA Today, International Bestselling and Award Winning Authors bringing you a scorching ***ALL NEW*** book collection of never-before-seen page turners filled to bursting with seductive shifters.
These hot Alphas will seduce you as you follow dragons, wolves, big cats, and other shifters behind closed doors and between the sheets toward that happily ever after every romantic at heart secretly craves.
Find out what pleasures these Alphas can offer when the temperatures shift!

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013TJQW82
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013TJQW82
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B013TJQW82
All Romance Ebooks:https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-alphashifterseduct…
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alpha-shifter-se…/1122537289
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/…/ebook/alpha-shifter-seductions
Apple/ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/…/alpha-shifter-sedu…/id1030951708…

Alpha Shifter Seductions - COVER REVEAL!

Hi Everyone!

I've been really busy writing lately. I'm into box sets!  I've written for two so far, and more to come!

On September 29th, I'm proud to announce that my dragon shifter novella, Love Like Wings, will appear in a super fabulous set called Alpha Shifter Seductions!

Here's the cover!  Isn't it gorgeous?

Alpha Shifter Seductions features your favorite NYT, USA Today, International Bestselling and Award Winning Authors bringing you a scorching ***ALL NEW*** book collection of never-before-seen page turners filled to bursting with seductive shifters.

These hot Alphas will seduce you as you follow dragons, wolves, big cats, and other shifters behind closed doors and between the sheets toward that happily ever after every romantic at heart secretly craves.

Find out what pleasures these Alphas can offer when the temperatures shift!

Kitsune's Raven by Phoenix Johnson

She's a Fox. He's a Raven. From opposing sides of a shifter clan war, their relationship is against the rules...but nothing is sweeter than forbidden fruit.

When Kitsune returns home for a fireworks festival, she doesn't expect to run into Karasu, a handsome young man with a smile that melts her heart and dampens her panties. Their attraction is instant, their love bright and hot. When she discovers he's from an enemy clan, and a Raven shifter, she fights her instincts and the clan laws to be with the one she loves.

Will their love be the balm to heal the rift between the two clans? Or will it spark an all-out war?

The Claiming by Lashell Collins

Xander knows his destiny is to lead his pack as their Alpha, and he’s willing to enter the savage Claiming to prove it. First he’ll have to claim Antonia’s heart, because every Alpha needs his mate.

Savage by Kim Faulks

The transition from woman to wolf is a right of passage, one hidden in secrecy and terrified whispers of those females left behind. Not all who transition live to warn the others, and so the female population in the packs dwindle. Trapped by the call of the moon and her own body’s yearning to mate, Mia does the only thing she knows—run. Can she survive when her scent sends the males in her pack into a frenzy? Or will two unlikely Alphas show her that both pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin?

Love Like Wings by Amy Lee Burgess

Dragon shifter Sebastian knows the value of things but no one can put a price on Alexa, the woman he knows is his mate. He has three days to convince her they belong together or he will lose her forever. Can he overcome Alexa’s fears in time?

Claiming His Mate by Bethany Shaw

Erik hasn't stopped thinking about Lexi since he was forced to leave town three years ago. When he returns, he is devastated to learn that Lexi has moved on. It’s for the best. Wolves don’t mate with humans. But there is something about Lexi that keeps drawing him in. Will he be able to claim her for his own? Or has he lost his chance for good?

Complication by Elle Thorne

Bootilicious Laken Araya has to serve as a judge in the equivalent of a shifter Supreme Court. No problem right? Until the one presenting the case is a one-night stand she never should have had.

When the Snow Flies by Kiki Howell

On a spiritual journey to heal after a tragic accident, Anna thought the worst that could happen while walking in a labyrinth was to be taken by a stranger. A human stranger. Little did she know her meditation would capture the attention of dragons.

Unbroken by Fiona Steele

When curvy Emma is castaway on a remote island, she suspects the gorgeous and mysterious Davian Belmarric might be the lost alpha of the winged horse shifters known as the Pegasi. Will a wounded alpha and a woman who belongs to another risk everything to find a future together?

Not Your Bitch by Angelica Dawson

Zoe doesn’t like being Elliot’s bitch, but doesn’t think she can do better. Linc is bound to prove her wrong, by making her his bitch, his mate.

Ngyong's Tiger by Melissa Bell

Ngyong is a secret part of Japanese Folk Law - He is the last of his line, and his family's tales of the 'Legend of the Fox' will die along with him. He is resolved in his decision to never take a mate.

Savannah is Ngyong's new neighbor, she's beautiful, curvy in all the right places and she likes what she sees on the other side of the fence. She has her own secrets, ones that could get them both killed.

It's impossible to outrun your fate, especially when it's all claws and Legend.

(Five Brothers Series Spin-Off)

Changeling's Revenge by DJ Shaw

Peyton is on a mission to find her Fae family and find out why she was left out in the human world to die. And for that she was going to need some help. Enter Basil, a shifter with a chip on his shoulder and banishment under his belt. With this kind of firepower backing her, she hoped her family had a really good answer to her question.

Box Set Compiled and Organized by Gina Kincade

Wait!  There's more! A $50 Amazon GIft Card Giveaway

If you'd like to receive a copy in exchange for a review, please Sign up for Alpha Shifter Seductions ARC

Gemma Brocato - Exposed to Passion

 Today I am showcasing a book by the extremely talented and absolutely fabulous Gemma Brocato. I've met many wonderful friends along my path to publishing and Gemma is truly a star.

Exposed To Passion (Five Senses Series Book #3)

Gemma Brocato

           

Genre: Contemporary romance

Publisher: Kensington Books/Lyrical Press, Inc

Date of Publication: October 20, 2014

eISBN-13: 978-1-61650-616-2

eISBN-10: 1-61650-616-4

ASIN:

Number of pages: 329

Word Count: approx. 85,000

Cover Artist: Renee Rocco

Available in Digital and Print Formats

Book Description:

They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together?

Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair.

When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s determined to ruin him. Not only does she doctor photos to make it look like Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter, Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white necessity of clearing Sam’s name.

Excerpt:

“Holy cow! Consider me seduced.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. Desire rasped through it, whispery and thick at the same time. Allowing her finger to slip from the steamy confines of his mouth, he pressed a kiss to her palm, then released his hold. She curled her hand into a fist around the kiss he’d left, hoping to hold onto the heat and lingering sensation.

 “Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. It was too fast, wasn’t it? I mean, we only just met…but I thought, I mean, you seemed to want…and you didn’t say no. Christ, I’m so sorry.” Sam’s tone rattled with a misplaced apology. “I have no excuse. I’m a horndog.”

He eased her away from his chest and helped her to sit up, then pushed himself upright and scooted a respectful distance from her.

The apology in his tone and the loss of his body heat hit her like a cold slap. His words stung. He regretted kissing her. The tingly pulses zipping from her fingertip to her heart did nothing to tamp down the hurt. She hadn’t wanted him to stop. Normally the queen of snarky retorts, words failed her now.

Buy Links

Amazon: 

Barnes& Noble: 

iTunes:  

Kobo: 

Kensington: 

About the Author:

Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying.

After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.

Social Media Links:

www.Gemmabrocato.com

https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato

https://twitter.com/GemmaBrocato

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7229886.Gemma_Brocato

http://www.wattpad.com/user/GemmaBrocato

https://plus.google.com/+GemmaBrocato/posts

Also By Gemma Brocato:

Cooking Up Love

Hearts In Harmony

Blood Gate - Meet the Characters - Parker!

I was tagged for this meme by the talented and wonderful Sonya Clark. I’m a little late posting this, but shh, we won’t tell! 

I’ve just this month released the second novel in The Circle series. These novels are very close to my heart and my vampires are like family by this point after years and years of writing and obsessing over them.

Today I’d like to introduce you to one of the two heroes of the book – Parker. Although Greek God gorgeous, he’s certainly not perfect. He’s conflicted, sarcastic, and has emotionally walled himself away from all of his Circle mates – especially his apprentice, Claire.

While it deals with other darker themes, tearing down Parker’s wall is one of the main plots.

      1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

Parker is vampire who is a master in the London Circle.  He was Turned approximately seventy years ago just after World War II. He was an American in London where he met the enigmatic and charismatic Master of London, Oliver, who Turned him.  Although Parker can’t see it, he’s always been a favorite of Oliver’s.

2) When and where is the story set?

Blood Gate is set in modern day England. It starts and finishes at a country estate called Edgewood which Oliver owns, but a good chunk of the story also takes place in London.

3) What should we know about him/her?

Parker’s outwardly a very confident, sarcastic guy who takes charge and holds no prisoners, but inside he’s not quite as sardonically amused as he would like everyone to think.

He’s also intensely loyal and honorable. He would give up his life for his apprentice, and the worst thing that ever happened to him was the death of his first apprentice by sunlight. He’s never gotten over the fact he let her down, and it has colored everything he’s done in the forty years since she died.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

Parker had successfully alienated the entire Circle, including convincing Oliver to take Claire away and give her to his arch rival, Andre.  The story starts with him preparing to commit suicide by sunlight. Only Claire is Enhanced and can read minds, so she foils his plans when she overhears his thoughts.  She is given back to him as his apprentice in a sort of last ditch effort to save him. He, Claire, her Trigger (the vampire who has a connection with Claire and guides her psychic powers) are sent to Edgewood to work out their differences.  The only problems are Claire’s Trigger is, Andre, and once at Edgewood Claire and Andre enter into a dark game of bondage gone wrong that Parker has to somehow try to fix.

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

To make sure Claire is safe.

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

The title, Blood Gate, refers to the transition point between life on the London/real world side of the Circle, and what happens after vampiric death.  The book is out and you can find it:

Amazon

Loose-Id

B&N

Kobo

Nerine Dorman and the Guardian's Wyrd

Today I have author Nerine Dorman visiting.  She's got a new book out called The Guardian's Wyrd and I've asked her a few questions about it.  You know you want to read this! And then go buy the book!

Ready, set, go!

Me: Most YA features a female protagonist, yet you went with a male? Why?

Nerine: I know it might come off a bit weird, but I feel more comfortable writing male characters. When I was a kid, I always got on better with guys, and this seems to have carried through to my adult years. I don’t really think of myself in female terms, and some of my closest friends are all male, and the women I get on with tend to be similar in outlook. I don’t like stereotypically “girlish” things. I was the girl who fell out of trees, went fishing, rode bikes and played in bands. Not much has changed, except perhaps that I don’t own a bike anymore.

From time to time I will write female characters, when the story calls for it, but a female lead wouldn’t have felt right for the context for The Guardian’s Wyrd, because I was looking to play up the idea of a bromance, and also my feeling that there’s a plethora of wonderful YA stories out there with strong female characters. I wanted to play with the boys for a bit.

Me: You write in several different genres and excel in them all. Why do you write YA and where does it rank against the other genres you publish in as far as personal preference?

Nerine: I don’t really distinguish between whether a book is YA or adult. It’s merely the age of the protagonists that differs, and even that is subject to whim. What is right for the story I want to tell? When I was a kid, loads of the fantasy books (for adults) that I read, had protagonists that started out young, and I followed their progress as they learned to swing swords and slay dragons. Reading is a lot about escapism. What would you do if you could have your life over again? To a degree, that’s exactly what we do when we read certain books – to have those experiences that are impossible for us to have in real life.

Me: Do the characters' names in The Guardian's Wyrd have any special significance?

Nerine: I agonise over naming my characters. Jay is kinda named after a friend of mine, and his surname actually comes from my next-door-neighbour in Hout Bay. Yes, here in South Africa, some folks’ surnames match the months of the year. It’s explained in the story. It’s very much a South African thing, I suspect. I really just liked Rowan’s name. It kinda stuck. If anything, I allow my imagination free rein when names pop up.

Me: I know you are South African, but is that the only reason you set this novel in South Africa?

Nerine: Technically only *half* the novel’s set in South Africa [laughs]. My main motivator was that I wanted to write a story about where I grew up, and that was Hout Bay, which is situated on the Atlantic seaboard on the Cape Peninsula. It used to be a charming fishing village when I was a wee sprog. No one much wanted to live there, as it was very isolated. Then in the 1990s all the yuppies moved in, and housing developments went up, so the entire demographic shifted, especially when a township sprang up after the old Group Areas Act was scrapped.

Me: What does "Wyrd" in the title mean?

Nerine: Not “weird”! [laughs] I look at the older meaning in use by the old European concept of wyrd, which roughly translates as “fate” or that which must “come to pass”. It’s about honour and destiny, and very much ties up to Jay’s journey as he uncovers his path.

Me: Who did the cover art and why did you chose that particular image to represent the novel?

Nerine: I didn’t have much choice in the cover art for the ebook version, but I would like to share a little bit about the cover art of the print version, which will be released soon. This is a bit of a teaser, but I did get to work with my favourite illustrator extraordinaire, Daniël Hugo, who totally captured the essence of the key characters in his deft hand. The ebook artwork, chosen by Wordsmack, who brought out that edition, I feel, is more conceptual, and no less striking. Very different from how I would have envisioned, but I’m nonetheless pleased with the effect as it is very eye-catching.

Follow Nerine on Twitter and sign up for her newsletter Add The Guardian's Wyrd to your Goodreads list and purchase at Amazon or Kobo

What Am I Up To Right Now?

I've been tagged for a What Are You Working On meme by my friend and fellow author, Sonya Clark.  It’s been ages since I updated my blog, so here it goes.  

What am I working on?

Just this week I submitted the sequel to Blood Gift from my vampire series, The Circle, to my Loose Id editor.  The novel is called Blood Gate and features the London Circle of vampires as seen through the eyes of my protagonist, Claire. This one was a roller coaster to write because in addition to being an erotica/bondage novel, I decided to explore it through the lens of possession.  Not owning something, but being possessed by something (or someone) and the fall out that occurs. I’m anxiously awaiting my editor’s reaction, but if all goes well the book should come out this summer.

I’m editing the seventh Wolf Within novel from my shifter series.  This is like coming home again after a long vacation with vampires. I haven’t been in my protagonist, Stanzie’s, world in quite some time. The series is taking an exciting shift because it’s no longer with Lyrical Press. Instead I've taken it to author-run Dark Continents where I have more creative and artistic control over which direction to take the series.  Instead of straddling the paranormal romance/urban fantasy line, it’s going to go to straight ahead urban fantasy. Stanzie is giddy with joy over this because now she can go on adventures for Councilor Jason Allerton without having to be caught up in a love story of her own. She and Murphy are solid and strong as a couple these days. Of course, she’ll likely be instrumental in helping other lovers out, but that can happen organically now instead of being forced into the story.

Here’s the scariest thing I’m doing right now. I am about to plunge into my first contemporary romance sans any sort of paranormal spin. This is challenging to me because I’m a cynic as far as love is concerned. I don’t believe in love at first sight, and I’m pretty sure that love lasts at most seven years before people get bored and move on unless they care enough to really work at reconnecting.  In my experience, there’s more of the former and none of the latter, so working on this sort of novel will make me confront a lot of my issues.  

What good is writing if it doesn't shake you up a little, right? And no matter the fact there will be no paranormal creatures in this one, my readers can rest assured they will not be replaced by cardboard characters labeled Hero, Heroine, Bitchy Ex Girlfriend, Smart Ass Sidekick.  Instead, I am going to take a grieving young woman who misses her grandmother on a trip to Ireland to explore her roots where she’ll meet a gorgeous young Irishman trying desperately to save the pub his family has run for generations.

Side project number 1 is a lesbian sci-fi erotic romance set on a planet based on ancient Greece. This is my friend Kimberly Murphy’s brainchild, and she’s asked me to write the priestess character. We’re going to explore gender roles and techno-magical gizmos that grant wishes, and I’m super excited about this.

Side project number 2 started off as a zombie apocalypse story and has since morphed into a more Old Ones Lovecraftian modern horror tale. Do not even ask how we got here from there because I can’t tell you. It just involved lots of strange angles and Skype conversations.  I’m collaborating with Nerine Dorman, the woman who shoved me screaming from writing on my blog to writing for publication.  She’s edited the Wolf Within novels in the past and is editing them again and I’m pretty damned excited to be working on a story with her. 

These writing endeavors should keep me busy for the next several months, shouldn't they?

2.  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Let’s take this by series.

My vampire novels, The Circle, differ in that my vampires are more human than supernatural creature.  They live in a sort of closed vacuum without much connection to the human/mortal world save for doing business and for sucking blood once a week.  They are far more interested in each other and in what to do with their immortality than scaring humans or seducing them or even much noticing them.  It’s erotica so there’s plenty of sex, but it’s with each other. 

I’m not much good at coloring within the genre lines, so I know that this series straddles erotica and paranormal urban fantasy, so it differs there too. It’s told from first person POV, so you only ever get to see the world through Claire’s eyes, and she’s sometimes not the most reliable narrator and sees what she wants to instead of what’s really there.

The Wolf Within series – wow. Does it have a genre?  I know I said I was making it urban fantasy going forward, but I’m seven books in now, and I haven’t had a real genre since the beginning.  I think the first book was the most paranormal romance than any of the others, but even then I didn't end it with Stanzie and Murphy living happily ever after. They weren't even in love yet! 

This series is the story of one woman coming back from losing everything. It’s also the story of the Pack and the crossroads the species is coming to.  As of now mankind has no idea there are shifters among them, but many members of the Pack want to change that. Just as many want to keep the status quo.  Who will win?  Jeez, I don’t know myself and I just write the books!

Where I bend the rules in the Circle series, I shatter them in the Wolf Within.  Paranormal romance should have a different couple each book and center around their romance/drama. But I have Stanzie and Murphy.  Their courtship bounced up and down over the course of the first five books. Book four even sees them separated.  So there’s that. 

 Even when I tried to shift to urban fantasy, I still had their romance center stage.  I pretty much ignored the rules because I didn't know the rules.  I started out writing what I wanted to read and never cared about things like genre rules. I've since tried to be more mindful, but the Wolf Within will most likely always be an unruly child who balks at rules.  So be it.

3.  Why do I write what I do?

Hope laced with lots of cynicism. Okay, that’s part of it. I write the worlds I wish existed so I could live in them. I manifest my fantasies and make them breathe. I write because I have to.  At first I wrote only what pleased me and then wondered why I wasn't more of a commercial success.

These days I am trying to write with an eye towards commercial success because I desperately want to make a living writing. I don’t want to work in Corporate America much longer. So I will gladly write the things that people want to read.  However, I won’t ever write something I don’t want to read.  I will try my hardest to work within the guidelines of the genre and promote and market my heart out for my stories because I believe in them.

I want to balance commercial success with artistic joy. Some say this can’t be done, but I’m going to make it work.

4. How does my writing process work?

My writing process is an ever-evolving thing.  At the moment I get my ass out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5:30 a.m. and sit myself in front of my computer with a cup of tea.  I write for at least an hour and a half.  This allows me to finish a 200 plus page novel in two and a half to three months.  I do this every weekday. I hate mornings. I am a grouch.  But funny thing, now I mostly can’t wait to get out of bed so I can visit my latest world and my characters.

I’m about to start juggling three writing projects at the same time.  This is terrifying for me. I get so wrapped up in one world; I am wondering if I can switch between them.  Can I juggle more than one set of characters at a time?  I guess I’ll find out.


Here’s the part where I’m supposed to tap two people to continue this. So I’m tapping Nerine Dorman and Alyssa Breck.  You two can kill..I mean thank me later! 

Release Week for Blood Gift!

Have you seen this?  I can't stop happy dancing to think my book has been mentioned in USA Today!

It's been a wonderful release week for Blood Gift and thank you to everyone who stopped by Release Party on Facebook and who has bought and/or started to read my book!

Please do me a huge favor and review it on Amazon and Goodreads and Loose Id.  I'd really like to build momentum for this one!

My blog tour continues through January, so please stop by at the various blogs and leave me comments.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway. You could win a copy of the book and a $25 gift certificate to Amazon or B&N!

I'll be on Blog Radio in January talking about my vampires and I'm busy on the sequel which has a working title of Blood Bondage.

Thank you so much for your continued support and Happy Holidays!

Oh, and I'm trying to figure out a new name (and look) for this blog.  I welcome suggestions in the comments below!

Vampires on Parade!

I'm embarking on a blog tour with Blood Gift!

The schedule can be found here  You can also enter to win a e-copy of the book and a $25 giftcard from Amazon or B&N.

Today I'm visiting For Whom the Book Tolls where I discuss (among other things) the hardest scene to write and why.

Hope you'll join me!

Cover Reveal and Countdown to Release of The Circle: Blood Gift

On December 10th, something personally momentous is going to happen.  My vampire novel, The Circle: Blood Gift will be released by Loose Id.  Some of you might know I began writing the first rendition of this novel back in 2006, post-Katrina.  Writing was the major way I dealt with losing my home in New Orleans and the abrupt upheaval of my life.

The first three or four years after Katrina were hard ones for me. I had to give up my home in a city I adored and try to make myself like Houston (something I still struggle with eight years later). I lost all four of my beloved cats to old age and various illnesses. My marriage broke up which left me without a best friend for a while, and it seemed like the whole world conspired against me.

Writing saved my sanity and characters like Anabel, Andre, Parker, Oliver, Gareth, Neal, Harry and Denis  helped me make it day to day.

I got through my crisis years and moved on. I published my debut novel, Beneath the Skin and began to write a series around the two main characters, Stanzie and Murphy.

But I never forgot my vampires.

About a year ago I dug them up from dusty old files and gave them a new spin. Some of the original cast didn't make the cut, and one major character, Anabel, became Claire, someone completely new, yet with some of Anabel's core characteristics.

I came up with what I thought was a pretty damn good novel. I sent it out for submission.  The first publisher sent me a generic rejection letter. The second sent me a personalized one telling me I *just missed*. The third publisher sent me a revise and resubmit letter.  Could I make these changes? If  I could, they would love to see my novel again.

Three months and buckets of tears later*, I resubmitted and the day I received the acceptance letter, I nearly burst with joy.

On December 10th, this novel, now titled The Circle: Blood Gift (does that give you  a hint this means the book is the first in a series?  Well, maybe it should!) will be released. I hope you will come with upon my journey as the book tours with Buy The Book Tours.  If you are a blogger and want to host me on this tour, you can sign up here.

For now I will leave you to sink your fangs..err.. feast your eyes upon the cover.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Mina Carter at Loose Id did a fabulous job, didn't she?   See you on December 10th!

* This book is so personal to me, revising it dredged up a lot of personal issues and angst. But it was all worth it. I think this final version is better than any of the versions that came before it. So get ready for an adventure!

Autumn Activity

Right this moment I am sunk deep into editing my latest novel. Yes, my vampire novel, The Circle, got a contract!  With Loose Id no less!  I have no cover reveal yet, but the novel is out December 10th and when I get more info, I will update here.

Other news - The Wolf Within series is moving!  The first six novels have been published by (and will continue to reside with) Lyrical Press. However, moving forward Stanzie and Murphy will be investigating mysteries in the Great Pack at Dark Continents Publishing.  I'm extremely excited because now I get to work with the talented Nerine Dorman again as my editor.  She edited the first three Stanzie novels so it is like full circle going back to work with her.

I've also completed a paranormal romance about gargoyle shifters called Heart of Stone. I am sending it out on submission next month to a variety of agents and publishing houses to see where it will land.  Wish me luck!

The Wolf Within series is on  tour currently. Check out the schedule and drop by to visit if you can. Don't forget to enter the drawing for all six of the series novels and a $15 giftcard!

Now I must fly back to my edits. I am in the middle of crafting a fantasy scene between the heroine, Claire, and her vampire lover, Andre. EEK!

Before you go, check out my Pinterest boards. They'll give you a glimpse into my wolf shifters, vampires and gargoyle worlds.

Happy Autumn and I'll talk to you all soon!

Sneak Peek Sunday - More from The Circle 2 - Vampire Erotic Paranormal Romance

More from the Circle 2.  This one is R-rated for sure.

***

I kissed him because I couldn't resist. His mouth moved against mine as he whispered my name. Inside my head, I envisioned a golden, sparkling net which I cast out toward him. Sometimes when I did this mental exercise, I netted his thoughts. A guilty pleasure because most of the time, he was thinking of me.

“God, I love you so much, Claire. Full of golden light, that’s you. Why can’t you see yourself as I see you? Just once I’d like you to look in the mirror and see what I see. Just once.”

He found the zipper tab in the back of my crumpled gown and pulled. The gown slid to the floor and I stepped out of the circle of silk and kicked it away. Naked, I pressed against Andre as his hand covered the X on my back and the red circle around it.

I nicked my tongue against one of his fangs and at the taste of my blood, he hissed and lifted me up into his arms. Never stopping our kiss, he carried me to his bed and gently let me down on the mattress. I watched him undress. First his shirt dropped to the floor, then his pants and socks. His body was fucking hot. Sleek, muscled, male. His erection jutted straight up, pointing at the ceiling and when he moved to the bed, I slid across the mattress so I could take him in my hand. One pearlescent drop of moisture glittered on the tip of his penis and I licked it away. He fisted my hair with both hands and watched me, his dark eyes dreamy with lust. Love. Andre loved me. The only person in the whole world who ever had.

I loved him too. So much. But I was afraid to tell him. Love was so strange and giddy a concept. I wanted to savor it, understand it. I wanted to tell him, but something inside me always held back. My self-esteem was shaky at best and while I was slowly coming to believe myself worthwhile, I just wasn't ready to be so vulnerable and tell him I loved him. I didn't seem to do things right and this was so important I had to have it perfect. Anyway, he knew I loved him, how could he not?  It was all right there every time I touched him. 

I wanted him to always look at me the way he was right now. Always want me the way I wanted him. Always.

***

If you want more Sneak Peeks from other authors, go here:  More Sneak Peek Sunday Blogs

Sneak Peek Sunday - More From The Circle 2

More from the Circle 2.  :)  Sunday Sneak Peek time again!

***

“You think you can help me? How?" I asked.

 “I’m your trigger. You heard Oliver tonight. I’m the one who’s supposed to get a handle on this thing. We’re in this together, okay?”

I stared at Andre, vulnerable and alone. He swore beneath his breath and rolled to his feet with his effortless, vampiric grace so he could come to me.

For the first time since we’d left Oliver’s warehouse, I allowed him to embrace me. He smelled so good. He felt so damn wonderful.

“I could lose myself in you,” I whispered, winding my arms around his neck. The rapid thud of his heartbeat matched mine.

“No.” He combed his fingers through my snarled hair. “We find ourselves in each other, Claire. My strength is yours if you’ll just take it.”

***

Want more from other authors?   Find them here!:  http://sneak-peek-sunday.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peek Sunday - Andre and Claire

More Sneak Peek Sunday from my second vampire novel in my Circle series. Which, alas, is as yet unpublished.  The first novel is out on the submission mill, so cross your fingers for me!

***

“I wouldn't be able to choose the memory. It could be anything horrid from his past. It probably would be awful knowing my luck. This fucking Enhanced power never seems to have any positive uses. It’s always negative. Always.”  I scrambled away from Andre, intent on escape, but there was nowhere to go.

“You influence mortals. You read their minds and you help them. I've seen you do it, Claire.” More patience. The man was a saint and I was a frigging demon from hell he’d been tasked to care for.

“Oh, yeah. So I make lovers forget why they’re angry at each other and once I gave a homeless man ten pounds and told him to take the offer of work in the shelter. Big frigging deal. And anyway, that’s mortals. What I have done for the Circle with my power?  What positive thing have I ever done for anybody here?”

“ You've brought me joy,” he told me. And looked so fucking miserable as he said it.

“Yeah, I’m Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the fucking Easter Bunny all rolled up into a sexy package with blond hair and big boobs. Yeah, I’m wonderful, aren't I?” I stalked to the window and stared down into Hyde Park. Bare branches, dirty patches of snow. Ugly. Filthy and barren as my thoughts were tonight.

“Claire.” Andre held out his hand and the stubborn idiot truly expected me to rush across the room and take it. “We can’t make the shared memories stop if we don’t know how they work.”

***

Find more authors' stories here:  More Participating Sneak Peek Sunday Blogs

Sneak Peek Sunday - Claire and Andre Make Plans

More from the Circle 2!  Andre is Claire's trigger -- which means he is her best shield against the thoughts of mortals overwhelming Claire as her powers ramp up.  He's also her lover and her master. The Circle is set up in a master/apprentice mentorship.  Masters guide. They don't own. Every master has a different style. I kinda like Andre's, but then I'm biased since I wrote him!  :)

Last week Claire was searching for a way to make it up to Ursula for sharing her terrible memory of being stabbed by her john when she was a mortal prostitute. Secrets from mortal life are like currency in the Circle. Guarded jealously and shared only between intimates, Claire's ability to read minds and share/see memories threatens to topple the delicate balance of the Circle and everyone in it.

***

Do you think if I told her I killed Stephen, it would make things better?” I asked. Stephen. My drug addict boyfriend. The last one I’d had before I’d been Turned. He’d been an abusive fuck and I’d let him shoot up an extra strong dose of heroin without warning him it was more than he was used to. Then I’d watched French television while he’d died on the bathroom floor. Four years ago. Four seconds ago. My atrocity was never far from my mind.

“You didn't kill him.” Andre’s voice was flat. “And, no, it wouldn't make things better. Getting control of your powers is the only thing that might.”

“I have no idea how I shared her memory. I've never shared them before. I've seen people’s memories. They come at random. I don’t try to make them happen.” I squeezed my eyes shut and rocked back and forth on the mattress.

“I’m going to ask Gareth to help us. Have him come round here so we can practice.”

“You want to try to make them happen?  Force a shared memory?” I lifted my head so I could stare at him. You heard Oliver. It’s an abomination. It’s rape. I can’t do that on purpose. I can’t, Dre!”

“If we’re trying to do it, Gareth would have full knowledge that it was going to happen. That’s not rape, that’s consensual.” Andre’s voice was gentle. He was so damned patient with me. 

***

You can find more great Sneak Peeks here:  Sneak Peek Sunday Bloggers

Please leave a comment. I love feedback!

Sneak Peek Sunday - Claire and Andre in The Circle 2

More from The Circle 2!  Wish me luck getting a contract for The Circle (the first book in this series). It's out on submission (again).  I am going to find a home for these vampires and it is going to be an awesome one!

***

“Angel, talk to me.” Andre sat close beside me on the mattress on the floor. I’d taken refuge in my room when we’d arrived at our Knightsbridge flat. For months I’d meant to decorate the room – at least get a bed frame, but since I slept with Andre in his room, I hadn't gotten around to it. Since the night the circles had appeared around our Circle marks, we’d been inseparable. Mostly we’d made love. We should have been working on how to control my powers, but we’d had so much lost time to make up.

Regret and shame tasted sour on my tongue and I buried my face in my drawn up knees. I couldn't get the image of Ursula’s petrified expression as she’d been stabbed out of my head. God, if only I could scrub my eyes with a wire brush the way I could the kitchen sink when it got dirty.Both of us stank of old blood. We needed baths and clean clothes.

“Does she have a scar?” Over and over I saw the knife plunge into Ursula’s back. Jesus, that had to have hurt like hell. She wore backless gowns, but I couldn't remember seeing a scar. Why was there no scar? “From the knife when she was stabbed?”

“No. When you Turn, all your scars heal,” Andre reminded me.

“But you knew she was a prostitute before she was Turned?” My voice was muffled by the blood-red sheets that shrouded my knees. They smelled stale. I only used this room as a glorified closet. I hadn't spared a thought for washing the sheets in ages.

“Oliver told me before he let me Turn her. Asked if it made a difference to me. With my past indiscretions, I could hardly have objected. She volunteered that information exactly one time, ten years later. I never said a word to anybody. Of course, she also mentioned it to Parker, who did tell everyone. By the time he told you, it was old news, although I suppose Neal didn't know. But it’s a sore spot with her.” Andre made sure to keep his body in contact with mine, but he made no move to embrace me. If he had, I would have pushed him away because I didn't deserve comfort. But his touch was the only thing that kept me anchored. I was one breath away from howling. I hated myself. Ursula was a bitch, but I’d had no fucking right to expose her the way I had. 

Sneak Peek Sunday - The Circle 2 - Oliver, Claire and Andre

More from my vampire novel, Circle 2.  Still have fingers crossed the first one will sell!

Today we pick up with Oliver expressing his...disappointment to Claire and Andre

***

What a disappointment you are, Claire. I was told you bonded with your trigger, but that red circle says otherwise.” Oliver turned from the window to pin me with his awful gaze. Exposed, I could only stare back and hope like hell my goddamn game face was in place.

“Oliver, we both felt the bond snap into place. The circles prove something happened. You said we’d know when our bond formed, and we did.” Andre’s game face was perfect. His tone was not precisely argumentative, but Oliver’s mouth tightened and a spurt of fear licked down my spine.

I’d felt something that night when Andre and I had made love after three months of keeping each other at arm’s length. Months of misunderstanding and reproach. But even then I hadn't truly known we’d bonded. Andre told me we had and I’d accepted that when I’d seen our altered marks. But why was mine red and his black?  What did that mean?

“I can tell by your expression, my dear, that you know precisely what I’m talking about.” Oliver’s voice was a silken threat. For a second, Andre’s game face slipped, and he looked scared and vulnerable. Betrayed. My temples pounded and I resisted the urge to rub them and give away the fact my head hurt.

“What you did tonight was an abomination.” Oliver didn't need to strike me physically. I reeled from the force of his tone just as I would have from his fist. “Sharing memories without consent is rape, Claire. I do not ever want it to happen again.”

My vision blurred. Shit. Was I going to faint?  Panic, bright and huge, blinded me, but there was nowhere to run. Pain walloped me between the eyes and I tasted the blood a split second before I felt the warmth of it on my lip. My nose was bleeding. A roaring noise blotted out what Oliver said next. I only saw his lips move and then he thrust a linen handkerchief at me and my clogged senses became crystal clear once more. My heartbeat was so damn loud, I was sure Oliver and Andre were deafened by it. 

Sneak Peek Sunday - Vampires and the Circle 2

After a couple of weeks of disappearing into the woodwork to play in Las Vegas and write a novel about gargoyles, I'm back with six more paragraphs from the Circle 2

When we left off, Oliver, the vampire Circle Master, had ordered Claire and her master, Andre into his office to "discuss" the fact she could share memories. Oliver wanted to see her Circle mark..

***

My head hurt. Both temples throbbed with bursts of sharp pain.

My gown was strapless, black and blue sequined tiers to my ankles. A simple tug at the zipper in back and it fell to the floor in a whisper of lace. I wore nothing underneath. I swiveled to present my back and Oliver moved toward me. I braced myself for a blow, but merely felt the trace of his fingertip as he touched the red circle around the black X. Gebo, the X, was a Nordic rune. Oliver’s Circle mark. We all had one in the same spot on left-hand side of our lower backs. Mine was now enhanced with a red circle. Andre had a matching circle, only his was black.

“Red.” The word was an accusation. “Yours, Andre?”

“Black, sir,” said my master. He moved his fingers to the buttons on his shirt. “Shall I show you?”

“No need.” Oliver moved toward the breathtaking view of London’s wharves from the floor to ceiling warehouse windows by his desk. “Her powers are growing. You, as her trigger, need to get a handle on them or she will destroy my Circle.”  He contemplated the view, his handsome profile thrown into sharp relief by the lights.

I desperately wanted to put my dress back on, but he had not given me leave. The office was chilly and I shivered as I looked out at the black water of the icy Thames. February in London was such an unforgiving, dirty month. 

Jennifer Lowery Talks Murphy's Law and So Do I!

Today I've got the lovely Jennifer Lowery visiting.  She's got a hot new contemporary romance, Murphy's Law, out available from Lyrical Press.  Here's a bit about the book to whet your appetites.  Don't forget to read my review at the very end!  How many stars did I give Murphy's Law?

Murphy’s Law/Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Tag: Nowhere to go. No place to hide.

Home is the last place Jon Murphy can go. After being held captive in Tazbekistan, he returns to the States only to find he can’t face his mom and sisters with what he did while he was a prisoner, so he retreats to the mountains.

Widow Sara Sheldon has made a lifetime of mistakes and is now running scared from her husband’s powerful family, who are determined to take her daughter away from her. When her little girl goes missing in the Rockies, Sara enlists the only help she can find: a gruff recluse with tracking skills to admire and a body to covet.

A storm strands Sara and her daughter at Murphy’s cabin, leaving her no choice but to hope her in-laws don’t catch up while she plans where to run next. Murphy resents the invasion of his privacy, but can’t seem to keep his mind--or his hands--off Sara. How can she stand to look at him, with all his scars? He’s not nearly as honorable as she might think…only enough to make sure she’s safe, and then he’ll go back to being alone, the way he should be.

CONTENT WARNING: Sexual content

A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance

Excerpt:

Copyright 2013, Jennifer Lowery

All rights reserved, Lyrical Press, Inc.

Murphy sat at the kitchen table, half in the shadows created by the soft light glowing above the stove, hair tousled from sleep. Naked to the waist. A bottle of amber liquid sat in front of him, an empty glass in his hand. Her gaze landed on his muscled shoulders and trailed across his tanned chest. So much for getting him out of her mind. Now she had the real thing to dream about. Looking at the dark hairs that veed down his chest and disappeared behind the table, she decided he’d been right. He was a dangerous man.

She tore her gaze away from temptation and looked at the granite lines of his face. Beneath the hardness of his expression, something haunting lingered. Drawn, she circled the table to the opposite end.

Murphy met her eyes with coldness that should have sent her running for the safety of her room, but she remained standing in place. He wanted to chase her away. This time she wasn't running.

“Mind if I join you?” She grabbed a glass and from the cupboard and reached over his shoulder for the bottle.

His hand snaked out and wrapped around hers, preventing her from pouring a drink.

“I mind,” he growled.

“Well, get over it. I need a drink.”

Scowling, he let go of her hand and allowed her to pour a glass for herself. She refilled his glass next, set the bottle on the table, moved to the chair beside him and sat, lifting her glass.

“Cheers.” She brought the glass to her lips. His gaze as she drained the glass made her fight the urge to cough as the fiery liquid burned its way down her throat. Seconds later she felt the familiar warming sensation as it numbed her insides. Her eyes filled with tears. She blinked them away and reached for the bottle.

Murphy held it away from her. “What are you doing?”

“Having a drink. I’m not in the mood for warm milk tonight.”

His eyes darkened and narrowed. “You don’t strike me as the drinking type.”

She wasn't  but tonight it sounded good. Maybe it would soothe away her problems and make her forget how screwed-up her life was. Talking about Kent earlier had brought back painful memories. She didn't want to feel that misery anymore.

“Maybe you don’t know my type,” she said.

He studied her closely for a moment before rubbing a hand over his face. “Go back to bed, Sara. Sleep it off.”

“I don’t want to sleep it off. I’m tired of thinking about it.”

Maybe it was the whisky, or his naked chest, or the part of her that had been dormant for six years coming back to life. More than anything she wanted to discover it with Murphy, her strong, scarred hero.

She rose to her feet. He watched warily as she stepped in front of him and positioned herself between him and the table. He leaned back in his chair and sent her a thunderous look.

“You and I are alike in many ways, Murphy,” she said softly. “ We've both lost pieces of ourselves we can’t ever get back and it has forced us into a life of loneliness and solitude. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being alone.”

He pinned her with a hard glare. “I’m not what you want. Go back to your room before I do something we’ll both regret in the morning.”

His harshly spoken words sent little electrical shocks through her body.

“I’m tired of people telling me what I want.”

Author Bio:

Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer.  Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side. 

Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn't be happier to share her passion with her readers.  She loves everything there is about romance.  Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines.  She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.  

 Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and two children.  When she isn't writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family. 

Find Jennifer:

Author Website   Facebook   Twitter   Romance Recipes

Buy Murphy’s Law:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Lyrical Press

Jennifer was also gracious enough to submit to one my author interviews.  Here's what she had to say!

Look!  It's Jennifer!  Hi , Jennifer!

Hi Amy and all you fabulous readers out there *waves* Thank you so much for having me today! My contemporary romance, Murphy’s Law, released last month so I’m very excited to be here! Thank you so much for sharing it with me!! 

Q. Where did you come up with the idea to write Murphy’s Law? It’s a great love story with a suspenseful back story that keeps the reader intrigued throughout the novel.

Actually, the story came to me in the form of Murphy. I just had to write his story. Then when I met Sara and Abby I knew I was never going to be the same J I love action, adventure stories so that was a must for me, I just had no idea what kind of roller coaster Murphy and Sara were going to take me on when I started writing! I loved every minute!

Q. If you could have dinner with Jon Murphy, what do you think he’d order?  Would he pay?  Would you? Would you split the bill?

He’s a steak and potatoes man, lol. And, yes, he would so pay. Just like he refused to let Sara worry about paying him back in the story when she was broke and had nowhere to go. And, yes, I would let him pay since he’s going to anyway.

Q. If I could see Sara’s bookshelf, what kinds of books would she have on it? Why?

Shelves and shelves of sketch pads ,books on sign language, children’s books, and probably some books of poems.

Q. Was there a reason you chose to make Sara’s daughter deaf?  It was an interesting plot device. I know I thought it worked out so that she would never hear Sara and Murphy up to any bedroom shenanigans in the small cabin, but I’m sure you had more than that in mind! 

I actually had no idea until I met Abby that she was deaf. She was such an inspiration in the story. Nothing stopped her. And she melted Murphy’s hardened heart from the start J

Q. Why did you make Murphy’s family ranchers? 

I had no idea they were ranchers until I met them, lol. You've probably realized by now that I’m a complete pantser! Yep, I write by the seat of my pants. I have no idea of where my story is going until I get there. I start with a scene or character and just start writing. I love discovering my story. It’s like unwrapping a gift, only better!

Q. What writing projects are you working on right now?  Any new books coming out soon maybe?

Right now I am working on Book #2 in my mercenary series/Onyx Group (the sequel to Hard Core). And I’m almost finished with the first book in my new bodyguard series. Yay! Can’t wait to introduce you to the Wolff brothers!

Thank you for having me today, Amy!! I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to all my readers out there! Without you I wouldn't be here. My wish is to one day meet each and every one of you so I can personally thank you for your generosity and support! 
All my best, 
Jennifer

***

Here's the part where I review the book. This is the first review I've done on my blog, so congratulations, Jennifer, you are my guinea pig!  My ratings are as follows:

5 Stars - Fantastic. A book I will reread and cherish (this rating is practically impossible to achieve)

4 Stars - Fabulous. You won't regret reading this one!

3 Stars - Great. I really enjoyed it

2 Stars - Fair. It had issues, but I worked through them.

1 Star - No thank you. Not my cup of tea. At all.

Amy's Take on Murphy's Law

Murphy’s Law is a contemporary romance starring a hunky hero with a secret he wants to keep and an appealing heroine with an adorable daughter.

Jon Murphy is a military man who has hidden out in a remote cabin because he is ashamed of his actions when held prisoner by the enemy. Although he shouldn't have been – in my opinion he didn't do anything wrong, but you know these strong, silent types. Very unforgiving of themselves!

Sara Sheldon made some bad choices when she was younger, including marrying a rich playboy. She never fit into his family and when he died, they threatened to take her young, deaf daughter, Abby, away from her.

Without the resources to fight such a rich family, she fled to the forest.  The same forest where Murphy’s cabin was located.

When Abby goes missing, Sara enlists Murphy’s help to find her and that’s when the story really takes off.

Murphy and Sara are very attracted to each other, but Murphy won’t let her act upon it because he’s so ashamed of himself.  She doesn't understand what he’s done wrong, but circumstances force them to stay together.

My favorite character in this novel was Sara.  She never gave up. I would have walked away from Murphy half a dozen times, but she always stuck by him, convinced he would work his way through his issues and be with her.

I fell in love with her daughter, Abby.  She was another favorite of mine.  The scene where she and Murphy share Oreos is probably my favorite in the whole book.  

I read this book in one sitting over a Saturday afternoon with wine.  I highly recommend you do the same.

My rating:  Fabulous 4 out of 5 stars.