Jinxed by Inez Kelley When opposites attract, they are screwed three ways from Sunday.
Frannie learned the hard way that a McHottie doesn’t always equal marriage material. Besides, she’s happy with her vanilla life. She has friends, a career and a double-D-powered vibrator. Then Fate shoves her, literally, into Prince Charming’s lap. His declaration of love at first sight is cute—and spikes her bullcrap meter into the red zone. She’s more than willing to give in with her body. But she’s barricaded her heart behind castle walls—and permanently welded the gates shut. Tragedy taught Jinx that time is too precious to waste, so when a series of uncanny coincidences thrusts Frannie into his life, he holds on tight. He knows she thinks he’s several fries short of a Happy Meal, but he’s determined to breach the fortress around her heart and give her a Happily Ever After. Even if he has to carry her fanny-first into his kingdom. WARNING: Includes jelly shoes, a narcoleptic cat, and meatloaf. The steamy sex scenes may lead to fogged windows and wet panties, so proceed at your own risk. Do not attempt to read without the following items: tissues, napkins for spewed beverages, and a booty call on speed dial. Read an excerpt here. | Buy here. | inezkelley.com
I guess I like simplistic romance.
In this story, there is the Hero and Heroine. Standard fare. Except I'm not crazy about the opening premise of this book. He's a brute who's having to change his ways. I can see him doing it but good grief! The only thing on this man's mind since the opening page has been sex, and how to get the Heroine to give it to him. And he's not shy about telling everyone on the planet that's what he wants, that she's going to do it whether she wants to or not, on his terms and she can just deal with it, and he's told her so! She's not exactly crazy about this part of him. Can't say I blame her. Feel like meat lately?
Then you have Hero wannabe. The man on the sidelines who thinks he's the one who's going to get said heroine and has been building up his end to be with her. Oh, but he plans on keeping his mistresses, of course, even after marriage. He doesn't have a clue she's already with Hero #1. Confused yet? It gets better.
There's no less than six different sub characters with their own points of view and dialogues, all with conniving chunks of sub-plot. It's been hard to keep them all straight.
I've been reading it basically a scene at a time because I have to digest what's going on. This hasn't been a book I can fall into and become oblivious to the outside world. It's not couple-centric. (Is that a term? If not, I claim it! LOL)
I will say this. The author took immense time to plot this book. There's so many twists that I literally want to see the people who deserve it (I'm not saying who and give away the ending), get their butts returned to them on a platter. There's no way this book could have been done otherwise, with the exception that each individual POV was written out and then put together in the manner of an index card at a time on a tackboard. There's definite talent in being able to do that. I can't. I know that. But there's so much going on with this book! Where's the romance? Where's the romantic feeling? Right now the only thing I feel impending is the satisfaction of justice.
http://www.dianacastilleja.com
Blurb:
Life has been calm and quiet for Aran for almost seven years since moving into Banter. She is a prosperous business owner, has friends, and helps those in need without question. Yet a delivery of a mysterious jewel encrusted box changes all of that for her in an instant.
Not only is the mysterious box enchanted, revealing someone knows of her deepest secrets, it imprisons a man unlike any other. Bold, fearsome, strong. A warrior from a place she's never heard of, a land she's never known. And the most glaring fact to his arrival is she is the only one with the knowledge to set him free, with a magic he cannot trust.
Rordan must return to the kingdom of Eglandor to stop the wicked sorceress who has imprisoned him, deliver the throne to King Tah-lel's appointed heir, and fulfill his destiny with the woman from another time, another world. And there's only so much time to do it all with the King's health failing and an uprising from within only waiting for the moment to claim the throne.
Watch the video here!
Excerpt:
Her hand trembled as she reached for the black stone box, cautiously opening the carved lid to peer inside without lifting it from the table. She sagged with relief when she found it empty. She had really been worried about the alternative. A draft from a window somewhere sent a soft breeze that wrapped around her ankles.
It was an empty box after all with just a bed of midnight black velvet in the bottom. No mirror, nothing on the inside. Not even a ring shelf. She flipped it over once or twice just to see if it had a hidden compartment. When the box gave up no more secrets, she snapped the lid closed, repinning the shield. She sighed in disappointment.
She barely caught the flicker of movement behind her out of the corner of her eye as she set the box back on the table. She spun and screamed. The sound was cut off when a huge hand stopped her air.
"Where is she?"
Her hands flew up to steel-hard arms, clawing desperately, but her strength against his was an impossibility. A kitten fighting a tiger. She couldn't even wrap her fingers around one wrist.
She tried to talk, but her voice had left her. Her eyes rounded under the constriction of his strong fingers. They would have fallen out if she let had them. Spots were already forming in her vision and a harsh roaring began in her ears. She realized with a sinking feeling it was her racing heart.
The man holding her captive looked just like the one who had given her the box. He was just as huge, with incensed black eyes, and a snarling rage in his voice.
He shook her once. "Where is she?" he shouted.
"Who?" Aran barely gasped out.
"Lady Branwyn," he said bending her backward over the table's edge, his hand punishing in its strength.
"I don't know," was as much as she could gasp. She blinked, fighting rising nausea and spots.
A hissing sound echoed in the room, grating through her mind. The long glinting blade of a sword filled her vision. His furious gaze drew to slits. "I said, where is she?" She tried to swallow. Another sword? Just who were these guys?
His low demand was malice wrapped in hate. Aran shook her head, trembling and unable to stop. She thought she might even have the first fainting episode of her life.
"I don't know," she managed through a throat that was hot and raw. "I don't know her."
She gulped air greedily when his fingers flexed and loosened. She wasn't free, but it was a start. She stood straight, his hand holding her in place as easily as a collar.
"Who are you? You are not one of her maids." His gaze raked over her, really seeing her for the first time. She shivered at the contempt sparking from those black depths.
"I'm no one's maid," she told him firmly, daring to breathe deeper. His fingers felt like hot iron, wrapped around her throat. She was still tugging and pulling ineffectively at the arm that held her so easily. She had yet to do anything to affect his position or his hold.
"Let me go." His gaze narrowed at her attempt to sound brave. She repeated it, adding, "Then get the hell out of my house!"
His fingers circled her neck once more briefly, almost casually. "No."
"No?" The nausea reared up and threatened again.
Everyone knows (or should) that in a subdivision the MAX speed limit is 30 on a wide lane, improved through road.
Apparently upon turning into our subdivsion that law ceases to exist.
Thus the introduction of the stop sign. That people BLATANTLY ignore on a regular basis. People run this stop sign regularly. There are kids in residence on all sides of this intersection. Do the drivers care? Hold on. It gets better.
Kids walk along the side of the road because there is only one side of sidewalk along much of this main street. The planners faced the divsion inward, which is normal, but they didn't develop the entirety of the P.U.E. (Public Utility Easement) There's a LOT of kids, many under the age of twelve. Is that your kid walking to school while you're talking on the phone, going forty-five, and oops! You just ran that darned stop sign. *smack* Wake up people!
Today, I was on my way to the post office and I am not kidding, a van ran the stop sign right in front of me. There is no excuse for this. NONE. It is poor driving, expecting the other vehicle to get the hell out of your way so you can break the law. I can't even swear that they bothered to look to see IF there was traffic. They sure didn't slow down any to find out.
Yeah, let me point something out here, why don't I?
THERE'S A FLIPPING STOP SIGN THERE! It is NOT decoration.
I watch vehicles DAILY run the stop sign at my cross-street with the main street. Sometimes they even deign to tap their brakes. OMG! Really, a brake tap? Since when does S T O P mean Slow Tires On Pavement and then cruise on through?
STOP means stop, people. If you don't know that, then go back to school. Add a driving course to it while you're at it.
RENCH PERIL:
Genre: Romantic Suspense, available as ebook; paperback coming out in June 2009
Publisher name : Cerridwen Press
Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pc-4514-35-french-peril.aspx
Reviews:
Review Your Book Review, 4 Stars Mona Risk, author of French Peril, offers her fans another great read. In French Peril, she creates a swirling air of mystery around the excavation of a chapel ruin. Murder, mystery, and intrigue seem to follow Cheryl as she assists Francois on his project…. Risk has a talent for character development. Cheryl is a multitalented, impetuous person. Francois is harder to define. He is romantic, determined, and very protective. French Peril is a great contemporary romantic read.
4 stars This is a wonderfully exciting romantic suspense novel. The characters are appealing and the setting is very romantic, a chateau in the Loire Valley. The plot is full of action and the reader is never sure who is on the side of good or evil. As a matter of fact, very few are who they appear to be. The love story between Francois the Comte and Cheryl is very engrossing all on its own. The various plotlines converge into a very exciting climax that will surprise the reader.
TWOLIPSREVIEW 4.5 lips Mona Risk brings old-fashioned romance back into style with French Peril. French Peril is full of mystery and intrigue. I loved Ms. Risk’s injection of humor into the story. The ending was every romance readers dream! I love happily ever afters! Pick up French Peril, a sweet mystery romance you’re guaranteed to enjoy.
Night Owl Romance Book Reviews Recommended Read Mona Risk will pull you in with her amazing characters and in-depth twisting suspense. She takes armchair travel to whole new heights as her characters travel to their heart wrenching and spine tingling doom. Mona Risk’s characters will enthrall you as they all dance to their own personal tunes.
Blurb:
What could be more exciting for an American architect than to live in a chateau owned by a young count and to work on the restoration of a French chapel?
But when her professor is killed and Cheryl’s summer job changes into a dangerous treasure hunt for a priceless statue, Count François has his hands full trying to protect the impetuous young woman who's turned his life upside down.
Video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBVTnTfOGkE&feature=channel
Excerpt:
Standing on the platform near the station exit, François de Valroux scowled at the train jolting away toward the balmy fields of la Vallée de la Loire.
Where was Professor Howard? He’d postponed his arrival twice and promised there would be no more delays. The last time he’d talked to François he’d seemed eager to start on the restoration of the chateau’s chapel and the search for the missing statue.
But he hadn’t even called to explain his absence. Totally out of character for the mild-mannered professor, unless he’d e-mailed at the last minute. François hadn’t checked his e-mail since yesterday morning. As he surveyed the few passengers rushing toward the exit, François sincerely hoped nothing serious had detained the professor.
An elderly couple passed by, followed by a woman holding two small children. “Bonjour, Monsieur le Comte,” they all shouted.
He absently returned the greeting, “Bonjour. Bonne arrivée.”
The sun glinted off a mane of chestnut hair and drew his attention to a young woman striding toward the gate, a tote bag in hand and a backpack hanging from her shoulders. The afternoon breeze blew some curls across her face. His gaze lingered on the red t-shirt molded over high breasts and a narrow waist, then moved to the jeans hugging long legs and round hips.
François forgot the professor for a moment. His problem seemed less vital as he focused on the pretty face. Prominent cheekbones, a straight, lovely nose. Not a resident of Valroux. He would meet her, eventually, in the small village. Everyone knew each other in Valroux.
“Count François. Hi.” The young woman waved and hurried toward him.
She knew him?
His memory raked the long list of pretty women he’d dated in recent years. He couldn’t place her, though her smile dazzled him from across the width of the platform. Of all the embarrassing situations.
Rooted in place, he studied her as she came closer, her eyes hidden behind thick-lensed glasses.
His innate courtesy kicked in. “Bonjour. Bonne arrivée.” He stepped forward to grab her luggage. “Allow me.”
“It’s nice to see you again,” she said in French tinged with an American accent. He arched his brows, appreciating the lead. His thoughts galloped back to his trip to Boston, three years ago. He’d gone out with two or three ladies, not as tall, and certainly more blonde and more sophisticated.
Not a man to lose his cool under any circumstances, François deposited her tote bag on the floor and greeted her with the French welcome of three kisses, one on the right cheek, the left cheek and the right again. He inhaled the scent of jasmine with pleasure. Holding her shoulders at arm’s length, he gazed through the thick glasses at blue-violet eyes full of merriment.
Who was the pretty girl he’d just kissed?
“Did you have a good trip?” he asked, hoping and praying her name would pop into his mind.
“Wonderful. Everything’s gone perfectly.”
Lucky girl. In contrast, his life seemed to be a non-stop roller-coaster ride.
“When did you leave America?” He was fishing for details that would help trigger a name. He could always call her chérie. The French endearment had saved him on several occasions. No woman ever resented him for calling her darling or sweetheart.
“My plane left Boston last night. I landed this morning and went straight to Gare St. Lazarre for the train to the Loire Valley. And here I am.”
“And here you are, chérie. Hu…” He cleared his throat. This was going nowhere.
“You haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you in Professor Howard’s office,” the young woman blurted.
Professor Howard’s office?
Of course. The professor’s graduate student. The nice girl who’d gone out of her way to retrieve reference books and photocopy documents. Shirley. No, maybe Charlene. Something like that. He got it. Sharon. He exhaled. Yes, Sharon.
“And you, Sharon, are as pretty as I remember.” He grinned with relief.
“Sharon?”
Merde. He cursed inwardly.
“Count François, you’re confused. My name is Cheryl. Cheryl Stewart. You had it right the first time.”
He knew it. The endearment always worked. Relieved, he nodded, ready to offer her a ride.
Suddenly, his smile caved in and his back stiffened. Why…was…she…here? He was almost afraid to guess.
Well, okay, that might be true for someone out there, but my reality is so far removed from that. I have a converted bedroom that is my office. Boxes of who knows what, bookcases stuffed--neatly at the moment, and a desk where the only clean space is right in front of the keyboard where I have to rest my arms to type. I have areas of systematic chaos. Promo in that corner. Books in the other. And me... Somewhere in the middle of the chaos.
So I thought I'd share a peak at my messy world.
And my TBR pile, which doesn't count the boxes in the garage, or the ebooks I have:
Those little drawer things? $2 clearance at Walmart. They hold a lot of my office junk, plus my discs and cables. (Note the MacGregor poster--Signed even!) I'd offer more, but then you'd really see just what a wreck my office is. LOL It is by far the worst room in the house. And actually, I do have a table in here that has plants on it. Somehow I haven't killed them, and some are several years old. Isn't that just a shocker? Greens are better. If it has flowers, it's doomed.
Thankfully, the chaos doesn't affect my creativity. I have a son and husband who do more than their fair share of disrupting that!
See you next week!
A HINT OF WICKED by Jennifer Haymore
“A unique, heart-tugging story with sympathetic, larger-than-life characters, intriguing plot twists, and sensual love scenes make A HINT OF WICKED an impressive romance debut!”– New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan
CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . . Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his cousin and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife. TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . . Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death.
Read the beginning of A HINT OF WICKED here. Buy it at Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Borders Also available in e-Book format
It's been a hectic summer. I've picked up two new publishers, have several books in edits, a corrupted word file that almost sent my computer flying through the closest window and enough headaches to last until sometime in 2012. Luckily, I had a few friends who kept me just this side of sane through it all.
As with all bad news, I was thankful my week ended on a good note. Not only did my corrupted file not set my release roster back, I had my first All Romance Ebook Best Seller in July. It softened the blow of having to retype a 58K novel length story verbatim to a new file. I thought for sure my poor fingers would fall off. They can now bench press one-twenty apiece. LOL
The other wonderful news I got: A new cover! This is always exciting because I love the surprise magic of seeing a new cover come down from design. This is Unbound Trust, Book 3 of the Aiza Clan Shifter Series.
Also, don't forget. Crowning A Warrior King --> This guy 
I've also come to realize that the best author I can be, is to be more than an author. Be an asset. Inspire and push your friends. Support your publishers to the best of your ability. That pays back in dividends so much higher than sales. Learn publishing enough to understand the industry you want your career in. Support your author sisters and brothers. Even if you can't spend oodles of money, a well meant hug, an honest cheer for a review will come back for you. And ultimately stay positive, in any work you do. It's not always easy, and some days it's more impossible than snow in July. Just know, it does pay off. It does circle back around when you need it most. Just remember, the opposite doesn't turn a blind eye to your efforts. Be an asset first, and the rest will come.
Until next week,
Ciao
Kerri Nelson
Whispers Publishing
http://www.whispershome.com/book_pages/miss_taken.html
www.kerrinelson.com
Blurb:
Tabitha Stuart is the ultimate professional businesswoman who may live in the city that never sleeps but manages to spend her Friday nights behind the desk at the accounting firm of Donaldson & Franks. On a snowy February night, she reminisces over her recent New Year’s resolutions. She’s worked hard to make partner in her firm but now she’s resolved to make her personal life more exciting. She wants to be more like her jet setter, risk taking sister.
As Tabby heads home for the night, she is abducted from her office’s parking garage and held captive by a sexy stranger named Steele. Tall, dark and mysterious Steele takes her to his Atlantic City Casino crime boss and Tabby’s life spirals out of control. She’s being accused of stealing a half million dollars from the casino. She knows that she’s never been there before and that her life is in danger, she must discover why she was taken and how she has ended up in a world that is not her own.
To survive this night, she must solve the mystery behind her abduction and escape from the clutches of the crime boss all while resisting the sexual temptations that she feels for Steele. If she makes it through the night, her life will never be the same. Some mistakes can’t just be erased…...
Excerpt:
Tabby was dreaming. She knew she was dreaming but she couldn’t make herself wake up. She dreamt that she was in a straitjacket and the harder she struggled to free herself, the tighter her restraints became.
She shook her head from side to side and realized that something was over her mouth. It was gagging her and she suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe. She fought the urge to panic and began to cough frantically. Her tongue protruded from her lips and she felt something rough and unnatural there. What was going on?
As her eyes opened and tried to focus, she saw blurry images of unfamiliar furniture and she had the chilling sensation that she was in a strange place and that someone was watching her.
Suddenly it came back to her in a flash. She remembered leaving work and her missing car. She remembered the black Mercedes and then…and then she remembered nothing.
Where was she? How had she gotten here? Who had grabbed her out of her office parking deck and what were they going to do to her?
She felt panicked again and her stomach rolled with nausea. Her eyes darted around the dim room and then she saw him. She saw a beautiful man sitting in a chair across the room from her. He watched her with a mixture of curiosity and something else. What was it? If Tabby hadn’t been such a social recluse the last few years she would have been more certain but still she thought he looked at her with lust.
She blinked her eyes rapidly to help clear the remaining fog that seemed to be blocking her vision. She tried to reach up and rub her eyes and realized her arms were bound behind her back. She looked down to see that she was still wearing her work clothes, which felt like only a small relief when she saw that her ankles were also bound to the legs of the chair.
She shook her head from side to side and felt tears begin to well up in her eyes.
“Settle down now.” She heard the smooth voice of the mystery man.
Something about his voice did seem to calm her slightly but those words weren’t enough to stop the tears from spilling over her eyes and down her cheek.
* * * *
He rose slowly from his chair and reached out to her with just one finger. She felt herself automatically flinch as his hand reached for her. He stopped his hand in midair and her dark green eyes looked up at him with what she knew was a look of pure fear.
He seemed to consider her look and then said softly, “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
In her mind, she knew this was a promise she shouldn’t believe, but something in her heart ached to try.
He began reaching for her again and touched her cheek delicately with just his fingertip. He wiped the tears from one cheek and then the other. As he leaned over her, she could smell his scent and it smelled like evergreen trees. It smelled like back home in the country, where she’d spent her childhood. It smelled like home.
She shuddered.
He took a step back and his eyes moved over her. “I’ll take the gag off of your mouth if you promise not to scream.”
Reviews:
Miss Taken receives 4 Star Review from Book Wenches!
Reviewed by Teagan
Tabby Stuart has devoted the last few years of her life to her job. She has become the first female partner at the accounting firm where she works. She has made a New Year’s resolution to lead a more exciting life, and she intends to do it. Unfortunately, she never figured on being abducted by a notorious mobster who claims she stole half a million dollars from him. Stranger yet is that Tabby has never set eyes on him before. The upside is the delicious kidnaper that is sexy as hell and seems to feel the need to protect her, even from his mob boss. If temptation were a man, it would be Steele, and Tabby is having a hard time resisting the man that took her.
*********
Kerri Nelson's debut book Miss Taken is full of suspense and adventure and is sexy as hell. For a short story, this book packs quite a punch. I found it to be fast-paced and attention-grabbing. The interaction between Tabby and Steele is pure heat. Even if the timing is questionable, Tabby is tempted by Steele and goes after what she wants. Strong characters and steamy sex scenes make for a highly entertaining book. Steele is sexy, gorgeous, and can kidnap me anytime. No matter how short the story, Ms. Nelson is adept at keeping the reader wondering what is going to happen next. This was a short, light, and fun read, and I look forward to enjoying more books by such an entertaining author.
Posts
