Friday, May 24, 2013

Illicit Intent virtual book tour. Welcome Tina Donahue




Have you ever wanted someone you shouldn’t have? What if you couldn’t tell that person the truth of your past? Those questions fuel Catherine and Tim’s story in Losing Control, Book Two in Tina Donahue's Appointment with Pleasure series. An erotic tale where passion is never easy to deny and love can be all but impossible to resist.


Today it is my complete pleasure to welcome Tina Donahue to our Realm. We are thrilled we get to host such a creative, successful writer. As part of her jaw-dropping Illicit Intent book tour (other stops along this curvy sensual road here) we are featuring her book, Losing Control. Perfect for my post, don't you think? Don't you love the series title: Appointment with Pleasure? Here's a tease for all you naughty little ladies out there:

When it comes to passion, there are no rules.

She wasn’t supposed to hunger for him. Tim was off limits to Catherine, a high-priced call girl with an uneasy past. Indulging in his raw desire shouldn’t have happened, especially at a party attended by the nation’s elite. Tim doesn’t know she works for the agency. If he did… That’s not something Catherine wants to confess. Drowning in his strength and heat, aching to see him again, she keeps her secret.

Tim has never met anyone quite like Catherine. Exotic, elegant, earthy, she’s the best of all worlds. Their evenings are sensual delights where voyeurism, bondage and a growing bond satisfy carnal needs and stir something deep within—until he stumbles upon the truth.

Shaken by her lies, Tim needs to prove the depth of Catherine’s lust and yearning once and for all. For him, their erotic adventure has only begun.

Wow. Way to go, Tina Donahue!



Now if that didn't get you, how about this little excerpt? You're in for a treat. 5 lucky commenters will win a copy of this book. You must leave your email address in your comments to participate. Here's the question you must ask: Have you ever wanted someone you couldn't have? 

Here's the excerpt from Losing Control:


Chapter One

He was the one man she’d been forbidden to meet…to sleep with, exploring her most pressing carnal needs. With him, there would be many. Deep, hungry kisses, the feel of his nudity confining hers. His body hot, hard, demanding. His clean skin scented with musk.

At the thought of what she wasn’t allowed, Catherine Oliver whimpered.

He didn’t hear. He was in the foyer, at the bottom of the mansion’s sweeping staircase, one of tonight’s party attendees, not yet aware of her presence.

Good sense told Catherine to slip back into the powder room where she’d checked her makeup and hair a few minutes before. A group of women exited the spacious room now, some young, others matronly, all decked out in pricey gold necklaces, shimmering diamonds, rubies, pearls, designer silks and velvets. They left a trail of subtle perfume in their wake as they moved past her and the landing to the far end of the hall. Expensive fabrics swirled delicately around their ankles, a perfect match to their well-bred murmurs and subdued laughter.

Beneath it, Catherine heard Alexa Marsh’s warning in her mind.

“Tim Bellamy might be at the party this evening. He’s bad news, believe me. Stay away from him.”

Catherine didn’t retreat, not taking as much as a step back.

A lifetime of having others say she couldn’t do this or couldn’t be that had nurtured a stubborn streak. It and pure will had propelled her from less-than-humble beginnings to this Georgetown estate tonight. What she knew of Tim Bellamy—along with seeing him in the flesh, so to speak—kept her rooted to the spot, curious, needy for more. She trailed her fingertips over the polished mahogany banister, imagining she was touching the hard planes of his chest, his strong arms, his cock stiffened for her alone.

God, he was something.

In his early thirties, he wore his dark-blond hair cropped short on the sides with a bit of length at the top. After a few minutes of bed play, those thick locks would surely tumble over his forehead. His eyes were gray, his features masculine, downright aristocratic, a strong jaw and rich mouth. The kind a long-ago ruler might have owned, his deep baritone equally impressive as he ordered his newest concubine…an untried virgin…to pleasure him or else.

On a quiet sigh, Catherine leaned against the rail, drinking him in.

Despite his blond hair and ashy eyes, his complexion was a healthy bronze, as though he’d recently spent time in sun-drenched climes rather than the District’s dreary winter. It wasn’t hard to imagine him naked on a beach, his lean, muscled body flexing with each step he took across the sand, or him riding a horse bareback, his strong thighs hugging the animal, the breeze tugging his hair.



Thank you, Tina, for gracing us today on The Realm. Come on, ladies, don't be bashful. This is all very hush-hush. What's a little light bondage among friends?

Sharon



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Meet Author Kristin Vayden

So I have to say I'm a bit partial to this author...after all, she's my sister.  Yes, it's true, it's a family business. Her road to publication is so interesting, I thought everyone would be interested to hear just how it happened and also what types of books she writes.

After all...I could never write highlander romance...I can't get the dialogue down and it impresses me to no end when I discover authors who can do this and do it well!

Welcome Kristin! Thanks for hanging out ;) 

1. What inspired you to become a writer? 

My sister. In her words " Ya gotta give credit where credit is due." My sister began writing and I was her faithful reader, always pestering her for more and telling her to try and get published. That was years ago and she's now a NYT bestseller. Rachel in turn, began to pester me to begin writing. I did, and she continued to encourage me till "Living London," A regency Time-travel romance, was created. That was almost a year ago.
2. What is your favorite Genre to write and read?
Anything romance, but if you want me to be specific, Regency Romance or Scottish Romance.  I write both ironically enough. I guess you write what you like to read

3. Tell us about your newest release!
My newest release is called "Pursued," it's about a girl who is hurt in her early years of marriage and discovers just how God can deal us a certain destiny only to have it changed again by something we never saw coming. My newest historical release is a regency romance about a modern day girl who is transported back into regency times! She has to make a choice to either stay in the 1800's or go back to her life in 2013. 

4. What's your favorite character you've ever written?
Ioan Campbell from my next release "Surviving Scotland" He's a highland warrior with moss green eyes and a teasing personality that you immediately fall in love with. He's my favorite because I patterned him after my husband.  I just changed the eye color and gave him a scottish brogue

 5. How many titles do you have out?
Three but Surviving Scotland releases in June so that makes four! ;) (Surviving Scotland is the sequel to Living London).

Thank you so much for hanging out with us today, Kristin! PROUD SISTER OVER HERE! 

If you wanna learn more about Kristin and her books check out her webiste. http://whispersfromabook.blogspot.com

Or check out her books on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Kristin-Vayden/e/B00A0RWW04/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The Rewards of Writing.


The dream of writing started long before I hit adulthood. Above is a picture of me at thirteen. So serious. Hairdo courtesy of my sister, Cathy who always experimented with my hair.

When I decided to write down all the stories in my head, I didn't know where the journey would lead. I wrote that first draft and typed the end. Next, I handed it off to friends to read. When the story came back I made corrections and sent it out. Well, needless to say, I got rejection after rejection because things like POV and head hopping played throughout the manuscript.

A kind editor sent a personal note instead of a form letter. In that note she told me the story was great but the head hopping had to change before the manuscript was saleable. She also suggested I join writing groups and take classes to up the quality. Thank goodness someone took the time to tell a newbie exactly what was wrong. The reward from this act of kindness resulted in three published manuscripts.

The next benefit I received from writing was the most unexpected. I did join the writing groups and met a bunch of talented writers both published and unpublished. Also from these groups I formed lasting friendships that I cherish. What a writing group gives a writer, especially a new writer, is support, friendship and advice. Yes advice. They've been to the trenches and learned the hard and correct ways to the elusive path to publication. I've always said work smarter, not harder. I feel I'm a sponge when it comes to learning. I'll absorb everything everyone has to say and sort it all out later.

Lastly, I took a bunch of online classes pertaining to writing, grammar and publication. I still take at least four courses a year. Not only do I learn something new with each class, they keep me motivated.

I'm not going to be a name dropper here, but some pretty talented New York Times and USA Today authors have been my mentors and friends. I don't think I'd be a published author without them.
You know who you are. Thank you!

Whether you are published or unpublished author what are your opinions on writing groups, classes and their benefits? You see I'm still learning and would love your take on the subject.