Wednesday 22 July 2015

Spotlight: Crashing Into You by Lisa Kumar

Blurb:

When Ashlee Trent meets handsome businessman Kaiden West on a plane to Australia, he eases her fears even as he sets her heart ablaze. But after their plane crashes into the ocean and they wash ashore, will the secrets surrounding him send their budding relationship into a nosedive?


Excerpt:

Realization hit her like a rock. The guy still holding onto her shoulder—and looking at her like she was insane—was Kaiden West.
He was the proud owner of a billion-dollar multi-media company that had its fingers into everything. Magazines, newspapers, film, and advertising were some of the cherries in his pie. And he was plastered on all the outlets he didn’t own.
Ashlee blinked. Maybe she was experiencing a break from reality. Not unheard of. Eddie, her latest schizophrenic child, had nothing on her today.
But no, he was still standing before her in this very plane, touching her shoulder! Which begged the question of why he was on said plane and touching said shoulder.
“I believe we’re blocking the aisle. May I help you to your seat?”
His eyes glittered so prettily and— The actual meaning of his words pierced her addled-mind. Huh? Seat? She nodded. He could help her to wherever he wanted.
“I’m afraid I don’t know your seat number. Can you tell me it, or at least show me your boarding pass?”
Mortification burned through her. He thought she couldn’t talk? She shoved the crumpled pass at him as she forced her tongue into some kind of working order. “Here,” she rasped.
He barely lifted an arched brow over her oddness and guided her toward her seat. The crowd parted before him as if he were Moses. Oh, wait, he was. Moses of the media world at least.
Ashlee stood in front of her seat but didn’t sit. At over six foot three, he didn’t need that extra advantage. She was uncomfortable enough. Why was he even helping her? After a second’s thought, she found she didn’t care. Though it may be stupid and reckless of her, it only mattered that he was by her side. As she worked up the courage to thank him, he reached for her carry-on.
With surprising gentleness, he pulled the bag toward him, so she released her death grip on it. He flashed her a smile that sent the butterflies into her throat before he deposited the bag into the overhead bin.
She swallowed to get some moisture back into her Sahara-like mouth. “Thank you. For your help.”
“It was my pleasure.”
A warm heat stole through her. What was he doing to her?
His blue gaze swept over her, and he opened his mouth as if to say something more. But he inclined his head and headed toward the front again.


Other Books by Lisa Kumar:

Mists of Eria Series:
Bound to His Fate
Bound by the Mist
Bound to the Elvin King

Love in Time Series:
An Earl in Time
Saving Lord Avingdale

Other Titles:
Through the Rabbit Hole
Fey Marked
Santa for Christmas


Lisa’s Links:



Lisa’s Bio:

I’m a wife, mother, and romance writer who grew up in small-town Indiana. I now reside in the suburbs of Chicago with my husband and two sons. When not spinning tales of romance and fantasy, I can be found with my nose buried in a book or, more accurately, my e-reader. My scholastic background is in psychology, which enabled me to get low-paying jobs in the human-services sector. Needless to say, I’m now writing full-time.




Wednesday 15 July 2015

Guest Post: Crash an Burn by Melissa Keir

Fertility Problems Isn’t a Blame Game…

Many times when a couple is having a problem getting pregnant, it can become a blame game. According to the Centers for Disease Control nearly 10% of all couples will have a problem with fertility. Only 1/3 of the time is the cause the man’s fault. 1/3 of the time, it’s the woman’s fault and the remaining times it’s a combination of both or another cause all together.

With this many couples having issues with getting pregnant, it’s no wonder that the stress of trying to get pregnant leads to marriage issues. Trying to get pregnant is prime time comedy fodder, from women using a turkey baster to men rushing home because their wife is ovulating.

Rob and Keira Matthews from Crash and Burn are just such a couple. I’ve purposefully left out the reason for their infertility and where they are in a treatment plan. The story is more about the repairing of their relationship than about having a baby. Keira longs for a baby so much that she’s adopted her dog as her baby. She speaks in “baby talk” to Gris. She makes sure to buy him little matching outfits and will even cut his food. Clearly, she’s gone overboard. But Rob has too. He’s working later hours, hitting the gym, and even zoning out in front of the TV. Anything to avoid talking about “having a baby” with his wife.

If the two of them hadn’t been stranded alone together on an island, would they ever have reconnected? I see them before the crash on a one way ticket to divorce. Both of them are hiding from their problems. Unfortunately, we don’t all have an island retreat to escape the stress and see things from a new perspective. What do you do to get away from the stress and rekindle the romance?
Crash and Burn is a novella in the Crashing Into Love book bundle.

Crash and Burn by Melissa Keir
Can Rob and Keira's second honeymoon lead to romance, or will it crash and burn?

On the verge of a divorce, Rob and Keira Matthews book a second honeymoon at the urging of their counselor. Unable to conceive, they've pushed each other away in an effort to protect their hearts. Will a romantic holiday be the ticket to love or a plane crash in disaster?

BUY LINKS:






Excerpt 
Her husband stomped away in a huff. His damp clothes accentuated his fit body. The many nights he’d spent lately at the gym had firmed and toned his already-sexy body into a dream machine. Yeah, and all those other women ogling him. Too bad the gym didn’t do more for his attitude. I heard his comment. Why does he always have to push my buttons? He really shouldn’t have expected me to go walking, looking for…. She shivered. What if there were bodies? I wonder if anyone else survived the crash. I’ve got better things to do. Maybe I’ll find out this island is really a resort like in that romance novel I read. Then I can save the day.
She picked up Gris and gave him a kiss on the nose. “Little man, you’d never get mad at me. Let’s go find ourselves the perfect place to rest. Maybe we can prove to that man I’m capable.” With the dog settled in her arms, Keira headed inland, away from the beach and toward the jungle.
Trees filled her vision. Their dense foliage provided shelter and had allowed moss to cover the ground. She welcomed the softness under her feet. She noticed the drop in temperature as well. The blistering sun from the beach dappled through the leaves and created a cool, welcoming environment. The sound of birds and other animals teased her hearing. She paused and inhaled. A flowery fragrance filled the air.
The trees are so thick, I can’t see more than five feet in front of me. I hope there aren’t any snakes. Her stomach knotted. Snakes or lack of food? She pulled Gris closer to her, absently running her fingers through his fur. I’m sure there’s no coffee joint or five-star hotel around here. I would’ve seen something before now. Rats. I was really hoping for the happy ending of a romance novel.



Crashing Into Love:
Seven planes lift off…seven planes crash…seven stories of struggle, passion and love in the barren Canadian Wilderness, the coast of England, or the steamy heat of a tropical island. Romance hangs in the balance between survival and death.

Brace for Impact by Daryl Devoré.
What could be simpler than a routine plane trip from Toronto, Canada to Caracas, Venezuela for rookie flight attendant, Lori, and sexy R.C.M.P. officer, Guy Lapierre? But Fate had other intentions.

Crashing into You by Lisa Kumar
When Ashlee Trent meets handsome businessman Kaiden West on a plane to Australia, he eases her fears even as he sets her heart ablaze. But after their plane crashes into the ocean and they wash ashore, will the secrets surrounding him send their budding relationship into a nosedive?

Crashing Through Time by Jenna Jaxon
The most dangerous thing about time travel is knowledge of the past: does she save him and change history, or let the tragic events play out and lose the love of her life?
More than hearts can be broken when you crash through time. 

Love Comes Crashing In by Brenda Dyer
Best friends find love in each other's arms, but can that love survive reality?

Falling Hard by D'Ann Lindun
He craves solitude to forget what a woman did to him. She needs one last chance before her career ends. Can a plane crash in the Canadian Rockies show them what really matters?

A Splash of Romance by Deb Julienne
Who knew a plane crash would lead to romance? Hannah Parks is a trauma nurse on her way to a symposium at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. She just started her bucket list and a plane crash definitely isn't on it.  Oliver Lawson's divorce is final and he's looking to start over. A tropical island, a gorgeous woman. Romance is one thing, getting there as a result of a crash landing...who knew? 


About Melissa Keir:
For my wedding in Vegas, my books and computer came with me but there wasn't enough room for my wedding shoes. It’s all about priorities! As an avid reader, I was probably born with a book in hand. Luckily my mom was also an avid reader, so it was easy to "borrow" her books when my books were finished.
I was reading from an early age about dashing men on horseback riding to the rescue of strong willed and capable women who didn't really need rescuing. I came to expect that women in fairy tales should have fought their own battles. When I was older, I found Margaret Atwood and realized that women could re-tell history in their own way and I experimented with changing those basic fairy tales.
Fortunately for me, my husband allows me the opportunity to be myself (spend my salary on books) and still takes care of the really important things for me like killing spiders and opening jars. As an elementary teacher, teaching children about the many worlds inside of books is a gift that I’m lucky enough to do for a living. Teaching the next generation to love reading is a lot of fun! Reading the right book can make a new world come alive!
Currently living in the suburbs of Ann Arbor, Michigan with my darling husband, way-too-grown-up children and spoiled dogs, I enjoy getting away through a book to escape the harsh winters or summer road construction.


I’d love to hear from you!

Thursday 9 July 2015

A Hard Ink Special Announcement from @laurakayeauthor

PrintFrom the author of the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Hard Ink Series, comes a special announcement sure to excite readers everywhere! Don't miss what Laura Kaye has to say...

A Hard Ink Special Announcement from Laura Kaye!

As I celebrate the release last week of Hard to Let Go, the finale in my Hard Ink romantic suspense series, I’m super excited to share some more news about Hard Ink! I’m going to do another book in this series. And not just any book. I’m going to write a wedding novella for one of the couples in the series!! And I’m so flippin’ excited!!! This is how this idea came about: I happened to see another author celebrating the release of a follow-up wedding book, and I’ve never written any follow-up stories about any of my characters—once they’ve gotten their happily ever afters in their original story, I just moved right on to the next couple. But that author’s book got me thinking about who I would even do a follow-up story on. Who is it that would get married? My initial thoughts went right to the Hard Ink series, of course, because I’ve been immersed in this world for the past two years and absolutely adore these characters. Seriously – I know many of us have joked about the title of the last book being apropos, and trust me when I say I’m feeling that, too. I want more Hard Ink myself. And then I had to ask – which couple? My gut instinct was to say Nick and Becca. They started the series, have been together the longest, and the personal issues they each have and struggles they each face are less than some of the other characters. BUT… But then my brain started to think about all the other couples. And as I thought through all of them, I could make a case why any of the Hard Ink couples might be the first to get married.

And that’s where YOU come in.

I can’t decide which couple to write.

I could make the argument for Nick and Becca for all the reasons above. I could make the argument that Shane would be eager to take care of Sara in every way he can. I could make the argument that Easy and Jenna’s bond would be so tight because of the hell Easy’s come through and him having saved Jenna’s life. Marz has never wanted anything more than a family, so I could see him being eager to make Emilie his forever. Jeremy and Charlie had the bond of best friends before becoming lovers, and I could see the two of them wanting to prove the depth of their love by committing to forever. And Kat so knocked Beckett on his ass that I could see him wanting to hold her tight and, well, never let go – and finally have a family that valued him.

So, yeah, I can’t decide!

Which means you guys get to.

For real.

I’m letting you pick.

WeddingInviteBanner_edited-2

Have you read and met all the Hard Ink couples yet? If not, now’s the time!

Because between now and July 31, you get to vote on which couple gets the bonus wedding novella.

Eeep! Can you believe it? I’m nervous! And excited! And eeep!

Whoever wins, the book will be called Hard Ever After and will release January 19, 2016. How freaking awesome is that title, by the way? I’ve been giggling over it for months! *winks* Down below, I’ve got some wedding invitations for you to share around to encourage other readers to vote for the couple you want. So grab your favorite couple’s invitations and help spread the word! You can also grab one of the smaller avatar images for your Facebook and Twitter avatars. Have fun with it and vote, vote, vote! Baby boy invitation templateBaby boy invitation templateBaby boy invitation templateBaby boy invitation templateBaby boy invitation template And I figure we should have ways for you to win prizes, too, right? After all, weddings do have gifts! So see below for two big ways to win! Now, please spread the word and vote! I cannot wait to see who I’m going to be writing about! Thanks for reading, Laura Kaye

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE HARD INK COUPLE HERE!

Vote by clicking on the link above and then grab the Avatar below for the couple you chose. Change your profile pictures on social media to show who you voted for!

Baby boy invitation template Baby boy invitation template Baby boy invitation template Baby boy invitation template Baby boy invitation template Baby boy invitation template

The Hard Ink Series

HARD AS IT GETS (on sale for $1.99!): Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD AS YOU CAN (on sale for $1.99!): Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO HOLD ON TO: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO COME BY: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO BE GOOD: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO LET GO: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Pre-order HARD AS STEEL (Raven Riders Crossover): Amazon only to start
Pre-order HARD EVER AFTER: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
  GIVEAWAYS: TWITTER HASHTAG CONTEST, 7/9 – 7/12 Tweet about the novella, the voting, and your favorite couple for a chance to win your choice of any one signed paperback from the Hard Ink series and lots of Hard Ink swag including stuffed animals! Open to international. One winner will be picked from tweets that use each of the following six hashtags: #VoteNickandBecca #VoteShaneandSara #VoteEasyandJenna #VoteMarzandEmilie #VoteJeremyandCharlie #VoteBeckettandKat Check your spelling when you tweet because I will be picking winners only from those that use one of the six above hashtags! I will announce winners from the Twitter Hashtag Contest on Monday, July 13. Feel free to keep using the hashtag after the contest closes to connect with other readers who want your favorite couple to win, too!

And don't miss this second fantastic giveaway from Laura Kaye!

 
Author Photo
ABOUT Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Spotlight: Falling Hard by D'Ann Lindun


He craves solitude to forget what a woman did to him. She needs one last chance before her career ends. Can a plane crash in the Canadian Rockies show them what really matters?

Gah! How could he sleep when the aircraft jumped up and down like it was playing hopscotch? She wanted to scream, but muffled it with her hands. No one else seemed terribly concerned, so she tried to calm herself by taking deep breaths and willing her nerves to settle down.
Just when she’d begun to relax, the plane took a sudden, wild plunge downward.
“Shit!” Teagan grabbed for the nearest thing to hold onto and found the upper arm of her seatmate. She wrapped her fingers around his bicep and held on for dear life.
He woke, scrubbed his face with both hands and glanced at her. “What’s going on?”
“I think we’re going down,” she managed through tight lips.
He raised an eyebrow. “Here?”
“We’re crashing, you idiot!”
The plane plunged and dipped again. Brooklyn screamed. Teagan might have, too. She was too scared to know for sure.
The plane seemed quieter all of a sudden.
Teagan risked a glance out her window and gasped. The propeller on her side no longer worked. The plane faltered. Tipped to its side.
“Dear God, we’re about to crash.” She moaned. “We’re all going to die.”
“Just hold onto me, honey. You’ll be all right.” Her seatmate’s calm tone soothed her a little.
When he held out his big hand, she grabbed on. How could he be so composed when she was terrified out of her mind?


What happens when Romancing the Stone meets Lost?  Seven stories of love and survival! $.99