#ManCandyMonday Tim Tebow & Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Today’s Man Candy is the awesome Tim Tebow. I guess he is on my mind today as the Jets prepare for their Monday night game and I’m left wondering when Coach Ryan is ever going to use him in some meaningful way. So far Tim has been wasted on the sidelines.

There are so many critics of his football abilities and I always ask myself why? Here is a young man who is a leader to his teammates, led both his high school and college teams to championships and was the only underclassmen ever to win the Heismann Trophy. Let’s not also forget how he lead the Broncos to an AFC West title and first playoff game since 2005.

Hmm. Gotta wonder about the detractors. Maybe his style isn’t pretty, but Tim has got heart. Lots of it.

That heart doesn’t stop on the football field. When he’s not playing, Tim does all different kinds of volunteer work and is known for his generosity of his personal time and money with those in need. He has founded the Tebow Foundation to help others and participates in several other charitable organizations.

Heart. Do you hear that Coach Ryan? It reminds me of my Alma Mater, Villanova, playing the much more dominant Georgetown team in 1985. Villanova was an immense underdog, but it had heart. It never gave up and went from the lowest-seeded team in the tournament to a national championship.

Speaking of heart, it’s exciting for me to have the upcoming release of KISSED BY A VAMPIRE.  It’s not just the new release, but rather the very intriguing heroine of the book, Stacia.  Stacia is a 2000 year old vampire who doesn’t believe she is capable of loving anymore, but she couldn’t be more wrong and I loved proving that to her. This story is sexy, emotional and touching. Plus it has the glitter and glamour of a South Beach backdrop.

Please take a moment to visit these various blogs for guest posts, interviews and an assortment of giveaways! As always, thank you for your support of me and my books.

10/08/12 – All Things Books

10/07/12 – Book Monster & Literal Addiction

10/08/12 – Books-n-Kisses

10/09/12 – United by Books

10/10/12 – Close Encounters with the Night Kind

10/11/12 – The Hispanic Reader

10/12/12 – Sizzling Hot Books

10/13/12 – Grave Tells

10/14/12 – The Jeep Diva

10/15/12 – The Reading Cafe

10/16/12 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

10/17/12 – Riverina Romantics

10/18/12 – Romancing The Book

10/19/12 – All The Fun Starts After Dark

10/20/12 – Ramblings from this Chick

 

Photo Credit: Craig O’Neal http://www.flickr.com/photos/36703550@N00/2133330966

4.5 Stars for KISSED BY A VAMPIRE! Time to celebrate!

Kissed by a Vampire in South Beach Nocturne CravingWOW! I got home to find my copy of the November RT BOOK REVIEWS sitting on the kitchen table and opened it up to read their review for KISSED BY A VAMPIRE. I’m sharing a little snippet of it with you today.

KISSED BY A VAMPIRE (4 1/2 stars) by Caridad Pineiro:

“It’s quite interesting how Pineiro manages to separate Stacia’s vampire nature from her kinder human instincts in this compelling read with sexy characters and an exciting storyline.”

Woo hoo! I am so glad that they loved Alex and Stacia’s story because Stacia is one of my all time favorite characters.

So I guess it’s time for a little celebration and a lot of Friday Fun! I’m going to get you in the mood for some of that South Beach sizzle from KISSED BY A VAMPIRE with an oldie, but goodie.

Crank up the volume and get on your feet (another great song by the way!) for Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine!

If you can’t see the video below, you can click here.

Sizzlin’ Stacia in South Beach

After so long, I’m very happy to chat with you about the next book in THE CALLING/REBORN vampire series. KISSED BY A VAMPIRE will be available on October 16 from Harlequin Nocturne.

The heroine in the novel is Stacia, a nearly two thousand year old vampiress who has seen her share of pain and death. She herself experienced it in the days before her wedding when she is turned by her husband-to-be and after, when he enslaves her as she struggles to deal with her new undead life.

Stacia always presented a wealth of contradictions for me. When she first appeared in DEATH CALLS (a 2006 CATAROMANCE Reviewers Choice Winner), you knew she was brash and almost promiscuous as she chased after both Ryder and Diana with equal fervor.

I knew that her sexual pursuit hid a much greater need: To be loved.

That became very apparent in DESIRE CALLS where Stacia and Blake explore their attraction. You can read that story for free by clicking here.

Ever since then, I’ve been trying to find a way to give Stacia her happily-ever-after. There was something about her deep loneliness and the outrageous behavior that she uses to hide it that really called to me. I hope you’ll enjoy her story, KISSED BY A VAMPIRE, when it’s released on October 16.

I also hope you’ll enjoy a slightly different location for KISSED BY A VAMPIRE since I’m moving Stacia’s story to South Beach. It was time for a bit of change from the other Manhattan locales for THE CALLING/REBORN novels.

South Beach was the perfect location for Stacia to meet the man who would challenge her: Sexy DEA Agent Alex Garcia. You might also remember Alex from DEATH CALLS. Alex is Diana’s ex-lover and the events from their brief reunion in New York have had a lasting effect on Alex. KISSED BY A VAMPIRE is as much Alex’s story as it is Stacia’s and I hope you will love this honorable and caring man as much as I do.

I also had another reason for setting the story in South Beach — I’ve been there a few times and wanted to share with you the feel of the sizzling South Beach strip. To get you in the mood, here are some photos of the area where Stacia and Alex will meet and face danger as they fall in love.

I’ll be sharing more Behind the Scenes photos and history with you as we approach the release of KISSED BY A VAMPIRE!

NIGHT OF THE COUGAR Erotic Paranormal Romance June 2012

It’s Wicked Wednesday and that means it’s time for a little sexy teaser! Today I’m sharing something from NIGHT OF THE COUGAR, my June erotic paranormal romance novella for the Nocturne Cravings line.

This is a story of reunited lovers and I just love that kind of story line. I always wonder what made it not work the first time around and how this time things will be different, especially when the heroine, Jamie Morrison, is facing a very different man from the man with whom she first fell in love.

Here’s a little teaser for the story:

Reporter Jamie Morrison got the scoop of a lifetime when she snagged a meeting with bestselling author Galen Hawke, but their rendezvous didn’t end with an interview. Their immediate attraction led to a wicked night together and a plan to meet again—until an accident left Galen changed forever….

Now, one year later, Jamie is sent to interview Galen once more. When a snowstorm strands them together in his remote mountain lodge, they are both eager to explore their reawakened passion. But will Jamie stay by Galen’s side when she discovers what he’s become?

Also a little behind the scenes: Jamie was the original name of the heroine from THE CLAIMED. However, since there was already another woman with a man’s name – Sammie – there was some concern that readers might be confused. Sammie had appeared in earlier books in the series and so I couldn’t change her name. Instead, I changed the heroine’s name to Victoria. But I still loved the Jamie name and since NIGHT OF THE COUGAR is very much about a man and a woman, I decide to use that name for the heroine!

If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can click here to read the excerpt.

NIGHT OF THE COUGAR Erotic Paranormal Romance Novella

Dark Obsession with Terri Molina

Dark ObsessionWe’ve got a visiting kind of day today as I take a moment to guest blog with my friend and fellow author, Laura Kaye! Come check out some behind the scenes info on THE CLAIMED at Laura’s blog.

But that’s not the only visiting going on today. I’m lucky to have with me my friend and fellow author Terri Molina. Terri is a native Texan, born and raised in Southeast Texas. She is an active member of the Romance Writers of America, including the Northwest Houston Chapter and Desert Rose Chapter in Phoenix, Arizona. She writes multicultural romantic suspense, blending in the flavor of the Southwest with her Mexican heritage. After years of living a nomadic life with her Coast Guard husband, she now resides in Southeast Arizona with her husband, four children and two dogs. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading, singing karaoke with the kids, and spending time with family and friends.

Terri is here to share some tidbits with us about her new paranormal release DARK OBSESSION. Doesn’t that title just give you goosebumps?

So without further ado, here’s Terri with a little bit more about DARK OBSESSION!

Blurb

Ramon (Ray) Chavez, a 33 year old farmer from the Rio Grande Valley, doesn’t believe in visions or omens or the mysticism of his Mexican/Indian heritage. When he’s awakened by the spirit of his great-grandmother with a message that something is coming, Ray passes it off as a bad dream. But he may just reconsider his position when he finds Lexie stranded on the edge of town, in search of a new life. Ray feels an instant attraction, as well as a connection to the skittish young woman, and he pursues a relationship with her. But what Lexie doesn’t tell Ray or his family is that she is on the run from an abusive ex-boyfriend who may be more powerful than even she wants to believe. When Lexie is assaulted by an unseen force, they learn that the man she is hiding from is a master of the dark arts and his obsession with Lexie goes beyond his need to control her; he wants to possess her soul as well. As their past lives parallel, Lexie’s only hope for salvation is in Ray’s hands. But can he accept his destiny in time to save the woman he loves as well as his own life?

Excerpt

Sylvia dropped onto the kitchen chair and scowled at her brother. She’d rushed straight from work after her grandmother called and told her about their new visitor. She couldn’t help but wonder if it were the same visitor her cards had been warning her about for the past week and even after she voiced this concern Ray still had the nerve to patronize her.

“She’s not some stray puppy you picked up from the side of the road, Ray,” she said. “I’m just saying you don’t know anything about her.”

Ray leaned against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankles, and sent her a crooked grin. “Damn. And I was really looking forward to teaching her a few tricks.”

“Stop thinking with your glands and think with your head, Big Brother,” Sylvia snapped.

“I’ve been thinking with my glands since I was fourteen. It’s a hard habit to break.”

Sylvia curled her lip at him and turned to her grandmother for support. She had sensed a mal puesta in the young woman and performed a limpia to heal her. It was a ritual they often worked for the families in town who came to see them about their curses. The inflicted would lie on a small cot and her grandmother would wave an egg over them, chanting a series of novenas.

She did this same cleansing on the young woman in Ray’s old bedroom. When she finished she took the egg and cracked it into a glass of salt water. The egg sizzled and cooked, curling its way to the surface like a snake trying to escape the flames of hell.

Second Excerpt

The sky had darkened throughout the night,the glimmer of stars now concealed by an overcast sky. Although rain hadn’t been forecasted, a thick electrical charge hung in the air, bringing the foreboding feeling of a storm.

The music from the street dance faded as they moved farther away from the festival.

The streetlights hummed and flickered, casting long, daunting shadows in front of them. The breeze picked up, rustling the leaves in the trees.

“I didn’t mean to make you leave the festival so early,” Lexie said to break the awkward silence.

“You didn’t. I was getting a little tired myself,” Ray said. The warmth of her hand kindled a spark inside him that shimmered throughout his body.It was becoming an all too familiar sensation lately. He wondered if she could feel it vibrating through him.

“Besides,” he said as they reached his truck parked behind the Hidalgo Savings and Loan. “I’m more interested in spending time with you.” He circled his arm around her waist and edged her closer to him as he unlocked the passenger door.

She looked up at him and blinked. “You are?”

The husky whisper of her voice was like fuel to his fire. He swallowed hard against the knot in his throat, transfixed by the dark glint of Lexie’s eyes. Desire and need blazed so quickly through him, it was a wonder he didn’t melt from the heat. He didn’t notice he’d moved and was surprised to discover his hand on the curve of her cheek.She exhaled a shuddering breath. He drew his eyes down to her lips. Full and inviting. He curved his hand around her neck and urged her closer. His body tensed as her eyes fluttered closed. The anticipation of her taste pulsed through him. He lowered his mouth to hers and a low feral growl from behind broke the spell Ray had been positive he was falling under.

WOW! What a teaser! Thanks for sharing that Terri! If you want to find out more about Terri and check out her other releases, you can visit her at www.terrimolina.com.

Video Premiere & Guest Blog & #Giveaway!

Today I’m at the wonderful Martha’s Bookshelf sharing all kinds of things and a giveaway! Please drop by to find out more about THE CLAIMED and see how you can maybe win a copy!

And now we have the video premiere for THE CLAIMED. I bet you can’t get guess what my favorite scene is and hint – it’s not the Man Candy!

If you can’t see the video below, you can click here or cut and paste this link:

http://youtu.be/tlC6PVkqQSU

Feel free to share this around!

10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Katherine Bordessa by Laura Kaye & #Giveaway

Seduced by the Vampire KingWe’re very lucky to have with us today Laura Kaye, a friend and fellow author who is sharing her latest release with us. SEDUCED BY THE VAMPIRE is the Nocturne Cravings release mate to NIGHT OF THE COUGAR, my June erotic shapeshifter romance. I’m so loving the purple theme here! It’s such a rich and royal color.

So without further ado, here’s Laura . . .

I’m very excited to be celebrating my newest release, a dark paranormal romance called Seduced by the Vampire King, the second in my new Vampire Warrior Kings series. And I’m particularly excited to be sharing release months (again!) with Caridad—thanks so much for having me here! Seduced by the Vampire King offers a twist on an enemies-to-lovers story by pairing a vampire king who desires only vengeance with a human woman who has fled 5,000 from her home to escape her destiny in the service of vampires.

One of the things I love about Seduced by the Vampire King is the heroine. So here are ten reasons you just might fall in love with heroine Katherine Bordessa:

10. She’s multilingual, something I’m not, so I admire it greatly in others! Kate is fluent in English, French and Russian.

9. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t want. And when something challenges those, she is open minded enough to consider the new information before she acts on it. A lot of this story is about Kate confronting that she wants something she thought she never would.

8. She keeps a level head in stressful situations. Attacked. Kidnapped. Imprisoned. And yet Kate holds herself together! Love that about her!

7. Kate’s not afraid to stand up to the big, intimidating and powerful men she encounters, despite being hurt and imprisoned. They all begrudgingly admire her for that, too!

6. She takes initiative. When she finds an injured man in a dark driveway in the middle of downtown Moscow, she doesn’t freak out. Instead, she assesses his injuries and calls the authorities. And then, when she realizes that man isn’t, well, a man, she takes charge of that situation, too.

5. Kate has more than her fair share of courage. Whether she’s getting bitten by a vampire, ambushed by a group of vampire warriors, or imprisoned, she handles herself, her emotions, and is always looking for a strategy and solution to her situation. She’s pretty bad ass, actually!

4. More evidence that Kate Bordessa kicks ass: when she finds what she soon realizes is an injured vampire unconscious out in public, Kate acts. First, to hide him. Second, to save him. Third, to defend him against would-be attackers.

3. Kate is selfless, giving and compassionate. Despite her rejection of a future serving vampires, she allows the dying vampire she finds feed from her to save his life. Then, later, she comforts him when he discovers just how bad the bite wound is. She is the perfect balance of standing up for herself and giving to others. And that slays Nikolai!

2. Kate takes such good care of Nikolai. She recognizes right away that he is hurting and grieving, and despite her fear, she offers compassion in return. And it’s exactly what she needs.

1. When the time comes, Kate gives herself over to the bloodlust that will bring her and Nikolai together once and for all. She’s magnificent in her desire for him in that moment, and her desire for his blood totally rocks Nikolai’s world! Don’t you love when a heroine has the power to do that to the hero?

For me, all of these add up to one fierce, kick-ass heroine, and I hope you’ll agree that she’s completely lovable and totally worthy of Nikolai, Warrior King of the Russian Vampires.

GIVEAWAY!

Would you like to know more about Kate? Post a question for her or her author lady, and we’d both be happy to chat with you! One commenter will win an ebook of Seduced by the Vampire King!

Thanks for reading!

Laura Kaye

Buy Laura’s Books

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About Seduced by the Vampire King:

Book 2: Vampire Warrior Kings Series

American exchange student Kate Bordessa has fled to Russia to escape her family’s hopes that she’ll become one of the Proffered, human women who feed and mate with elite vampire warriors. But when she stumbles upon a wounded vampire in the streets of Moscow, she’s instinctively driven to protect him–and feels an undeniable spark of desire.

Grieving over the deaths of his brothers, Vampire Warrior King Nikolai Vasilyev has thrown himself into battling his enemies, focused only on vengeance. Until the attack that brought him to Kate. Their sexual attraction explodes into a night of uncontrolled passion–a night that marks them as mates. Is their connection strong enough to convince them to embrace a destiny neither of them was expecting?

About Laura Kaye:

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Hearts in Darkness is the EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella and HOLT Medallion Award of Merit Winner for Best Romance Novella, Forever Freed is the NJRW Golden Leaf Winner for Best Paranormal of 2011 and is a finalist for two GDRWA Booksellers’ Best Awards, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, is a finalist for a FF&P PRISM award, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives inMaryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of theChesapeake Bay every day.