‘Review and Interview’: Explicitly English by Rachel Leigh

Today on ‘Review and Interview’ on Romance Alley, I would like to welcome author Rachel Leigh and to talk about her erotic short story ‘Explicitly English’

Blurb:

Laura Markham needs to forget - just for awhile. Be someone else for change - live as her parents will never have the chance to. And for Laura, that means leaving the City for the English countryside and doing just what the hell she feels like…wherever she feels like doing it…British stockbroker, Stephen Cambridge knows by going home to his country retreat two days early, he's likely to surprise his contracted interior designer. And when he finds out she's the woman who performed the solo masterbation show for him on the inward bound journey, Stephen will do anything to further convince her to miss outward bound train and stay with him forever…

Reviewed by Suzannah Safi at Romance Alley: ‘Explicitly English’ is an erotic short story for the readers who enjoy a quick taste of erotic fantasy, they will enjoy the read in a train trip, on the beach, or just in their privet room. There was a slight of a twist that I hoped the author had expanded on, but the length of the story maybe didn’t allow it. Still, it’s like tasting a piece of chocolate that melts in your mouth and you enjoy the taste.

Now let’s meet the author and get to know her book.

Rachel, welcome to Romance Alley and thank you for being here with us today.

Suzannah: Thanks for giving me the chance to read Explicitly English, and congrats on your first published short story. Now my question to you which many ask: your short story is pure erotic; explain why do you write erotic and what you want?

Rachel: I want my readers to have an experience, a fantasy that takes them out of their own world for a little while. Although my story is straight erotic (no paranormal/sci-fi elements), it is ultimately a romance, which is what I love to write. I want readers to enjoy the satisfaction of knowing great sex can last!

Suzannah: Rachel, I know every reader loves to know the author behind the story. You are a reader before you are an author. What Rachel Leigh likes in a fantasy romantic book?

Rachel: Great, intriguing & sexy characters are a must – I want to know what has happened to this people to shape who they are today and want they plan to do to make themselves happy. I like characters to be achievers, go-getters – not people who sit around and wait for the universe to give them what they think they deserve.

And of course – sensuality is a must. I want to feel the tension and humor between a couple so I totally understand why they should be together.

Suzannah: Why you think, some readers like erotic stories, personally I believe it’s healthy for adults to fantasies and live a fantasy in a book. Do you think it’s healthy to read erotic lol, and what is your next project?

Rachel:  Totally! What could be more healthier?? Readers of erotic stories are looking for escape and possible scenarios for their own lives. Harmless, satisfying fun – nothing wrong with that at all.

My next erotic short story is under submission right now, tentatively entitled ‘Coming Back’

Blurb:

Kelly Hampton loved and lost him – for the last two years she’s looked for him in other men but now she refuses to emotionally cripple herself any longer. No more sex until she knows for sure she is in love.

And then the love of her life walks back into her bar claiming to still love her. Her heart hitches and her body heats – no-one has ever come close to understanding her, or worse…satisfying her like him.

When Sean McKenzie left Jessop Hill with his mother to protect her from his father’s fists, he should’ve known he would never love again after his explosively erotic relationship with Kelly. But now his father is dead and Sean is back for the only woman he will ever want. Their reunion is full of fire, pain and passion – and once they touch, the sexual connection is too much for either of them to resist…

Suzannah: Do you have anything else to tell your readers… and tell us where to find you.

Rachel: Just to ask that you pop by my blog whenever possible as I host two guests authors every week as well as regularly posting myself…and there are very often those all-important giveaways on offer.

http://www.rachelleighromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.rachelleigh.co.uk/

Suzannah: Thank you Rachel for giving me the chance to enjoy your short story ‘Explicitly English’ and have this interview. I enjoyed your story and getting to know you better. I wish you all the best and much success for the upcoming projects. I hope to have another ‘Review and Interview’ with you.

GetToKnowTheBook: 'Giving up the Ghost' by Stacy-Deanne

Get to Know the Book: Giving up the Ghost by Stacy-Deanne

(Why I’m Jealous of My Heroine Detective Brianna Morris)

That’s ridiculous isn’t it? How can you be jealous of a fictional character you created? But come on, what writer hasn’t created someone that embodied all the traits physically or emotionally they wished to have? Funny, I haven’t met a writer yet that didn’t feel some envy toward one of their characters.

I love Bree. She came from the depths of my soul but I do envy her. I wish I was just like her. Bree has the best of both worlds. She’s beautiful and intelligent, yet sassy and tough. She calls the shots but she also has the option of being vulnerable. See Bree is a very tough cookie but it takes certain situations that I draw out to remind her she’s still just a woman. That’s what Bree fears, to be thought of as just a woman. She fights hard to prove she doesn’t need your help while not understanding that leaning on someone isn’t a sign of weakness. She goes all around the world to not admit she’s still hot for her partner Steven Kemp. Well, Bree never could turn down a blond with blue eyes. Neither could I.

So why the heck am I jealous? Bree is allowed to be perfect and imperfect at the same time. S he has the luxury of saving the day and being saved. I don’t have that. Real women don’t have that. With us it’s either one or the other. In real life you’re either weak or strong. You pick your battles and hope to survive them. There’s no one plucking keys on the other end, making everything okay. There’s no one there to yank us out of trouble by the next paragraph or to kill the bad guy on the next page. Bree, being fictional has all she needs. Thanks to me. I can do so many things for her yet struggle when it comes to me.

That’s one reason I’m jealous. But I love her. I really do. She is a part of me as much as a character can be. We have a bond that lasts no matter how many times I type, “The End”.

What I love about Bree is that she’s not just a character but a person. She has just as many faults as I do but manages to keep them under control. She’s lovely but not so lovely where I can’t relate. Her attitude stinks at times, just like mine on certain days. She’s the sweetest and most dependable person but she can be a bit bitchy too. And that’s me all over. When Bree’s not arresting sex offenders or wrestling with her lust for Steven Kemp, she’s just like me. Just like you. And it’s then, when I start to type and remember the traits that make Bree so special to me, than I remember not to be jealous.

Sneak Peek:

Albany Detective Brianna “Bree” Morris is having the year from hell. A sadistic admirer has been stalking her for months and now her friend Cheyenne Wilson has been beaten and left for dead.

With her ex-lover and faithful partner, Steven Kemp, Bree thrusts herself into the case. It’s not long before they believe two unrelated British men are connected to the attack. Michael is a womanizing artist with a ferocious appetite for rough sex. Simon is a wealthy free spirit looking for love in all the wrong places, but has one too many skeletons in his closet.

Bree struggles to determine fact from fiction when it comes to Michael and Simon but her attempts are blurred by Michael's manipulation and her sexual attraction to Simon, who Steven’s convinced cannot be trusted.

Meanwhile the stalker does everything in his power to get close to Bree and his obsession evokes a spiral of violence.

Bree must trust her heart to find answers but her heart leads her to the most dangerous man of all.

"Giving Up The Ghost" is BOOK ONE of Stacy's crime/mystery and interracial romance series featuring the strong willed and fiery detective Brianna "Bree" Morris and her lovesick, hot-tempered partner and ex-lover Steven Kemp who debuted in Stacy's award-winning 2008 novel Melody.

Fans of "Melody" and Bree and Steven will ravish this long awaited and exciting new series featuring passion, mystery, murder, seduction, interracial romance and intrigue!

Coming April 1, 2011 (Peace in the Storm Publishing)

To preorder a print copy: http://peaceinthestormpublishing.com/home/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=29&zenid=6ad5e71d72aeda1cbecd2a003da0c294

http://www.stacy-deanne.net/

http://www.twitter.com/stacydeanne

Search for me on Facebook!

Review & Interview with: Author Faith L. Bicknell - The Darkness of Sable

Check what gift the author has for you!!!

Today on ‘Review and Interview’ on Romance Alley, I would like to welcome author F.L. Bicknell and to talk about her novel “The Darkness of Sable”

Blurb: Struggling to deal with the disappearance of her daughter and in a creative slump, sculptress Sable Hendricks-Tade travels to Florida for rest and relaxation only to find herself thrust between divided paranormal worlds. One side wants her dead and the other will do anything to keep her in its "wicked" embrace. Determined to get answers, she searches for her missing daughter and spirals into the realm of immortals and goddesses where she quickly realizes her agent is her only anchor to reality. But can she trust him to keep her safe?

Thomas Valimar, a highly trained marshal working within a network of humans to maintain the line between the paranormal and human worlds, is assigned to protect Sable from the magic she doesn't realize she possesses. Operating undercover as her agent, his duty soon turns to passion as he falls for the beautiful artist.

Drawing Sable into their world of sex, magic, and intrigue, the dark forces will do anything to keep Sable in their clutches so they may feed from her emotions and mysterious ability. Only through sheer determination and Thomas' love can Sable walk through other realms and not only battle the paranormal creatures that wish to destroy her life but save her daughter as well.

Reviewed by Suzannah Safi at Romance Alley: To get answers, that’s what Sable fought hard like any mother will do to find her child, author F.L. Bicknell drew deep emotions in every step throughout the novel making me feel compassion toward the heroine. To be strong and fight for what is yours and overcome even the paranormal was Sable’s action, never give up.

I was hooked with every page I turned, the story has many twists and turns that will engage you to continue reading. The writing is smooth and consumes you, you will live in a world of paranormal with its many creatures described beautifully in the story, scary yet some are sensual. Although Sable’s aim is to find her daughter, she couldn’t but find the love she sought to find in the oddest situations. Her experience with love and marriage destroyed her spirit after her divorce, but she fought against an annoying ex-husband and struggled with the search for her daughter. Finding happiness seemed far for her and so close at times, but it’s a battle she was strong enough to fight, with the help of the handsome highly trained marshal, Thomas Valimar. I truly believe ‘The Darkness of Sable’ should have a second book for after what happened at the end, I’m not telling you what lol, but truly the story is entertaining and I recommend it for all readers who like paranormal romance novels, and I applause Author F.L. Bicknell for her captivating imagination.

Now let’s meet the author and get to know her book.

Faith, welcome to Romance Alley and thank you for being here with us today.

Suzannah: When I started reading your story ‘The darkness of Sable’ I couldn’t but feel Sable’s deep dilemma and totally sympathized with her, although I’m not a mother but I felt her pains and wanted her to find her daughter and happiness. Although I’m an author myself, still it fascinates me how authors get their story formed. So, how did you get the idea for your novel ‘The darkness of Sable’?

Faith: It came to me while watching a short biography onVH1 about Lenny Kravitz. He’d had dreadlocks for years and his then wife, Lisa Bonet, convinced him to cut them and start a new life. The plot for “SABLE” just hit me like that proverbial bolt of lightning. Something was after Sable and part of the reason for it was tied to her ankle-length hair, her trademark for her famous-artist image. The story grew from 8K into a full 105K novel.

Suzannah: Is'nt it amazing how we get stories! I know that with every story authors write, behind it is lots of research. What did you research and did you find something within your research that added a new idea or a twist to the story. Don’t give us spoilers, just a hint maybe?

Faith: I’m an avid fan of anything paranormal, supernatural or numerous lore such as faerie lore. However, I did have to research something unique that would fit the part of what would want Sable dead and why. It led me to researching mythology, and as a result, I tied gods and goddesses to Sable’s paranormal world.

Suzannah: One fact authors face for sure: the characters either don’t talk to the authors for sometime or they nag like hell LOL. Tell us which character gave you the runaround, nagged, talked to you or didn’t?

Faith: That would have to be Hal, Sable’s ex-husband. My editor suggested I remove him from the story, but I assured her that Hal had a meaningful part in the novel. Once she finished reading the last few chapters she quickly emailed to state she loved the twist for Hal and totally got what I had been doing with his character. Hal just wouldn’t go away and demanded to be heard, but his nagging in my mind will get him in trouble too, lol.

Suzannah: Do you have part 2 lol? I want one.

Faith: I have ideas for a book two, yes. In the second book, Cheyenne’s dilemma will be resolved, albeit not in a way that may be expected. Although Sable will be a part of the novel, book two will center around a new heroine and her unexpected love interest.

Suzannah: I should have asked this at the beginning, but it’s never late lol. Tell us about faith the person and the author.

Faith: I’m a country bumpkin. I’m raising a large family, including helping my oldest daughter to raise her first child until she can get on her feet. I have four children, two stepsons, a big home to manage, and I raise a garden every year making everything from jelly to freezing vegetables and putting up venison during hunting season. I write during every spare moment I have, but I also love reading and I’m an artist of traditional mediums.

Suzannah: You are really busy, Faith lol. What is your next project? Give us the behind the story information. We want juicy stuff.

Faith: right now I have two contracted works-in-progress under pen names that I keep under wraps as well as two contracted series under the same pen names. As for material in progress under my real name of F.L. Bicknell, I have another full length paranormal romance that I recently sent off to my agent. It involves reincarnation, demonic motorcycles and the Nephilim, so it has a lot of historical research behind it.

However, right now I have a new novel literally screaming in my brain to be written. It will be erotic fantasy/sci-fi romance, but I’m not sure if I’ll write it as F.L. Bicknell or put my alter ego of Molly Diamond on the ms.

Suzannah: Do you have anything else to tell your readers… and tell us where to find you.

Faith: I have two new releases as F.L. Bicknell. One is Feathers of Silver and it can be found at Silver Publishing as well as many e-book distributors, and the other one is The Most Intimate Wish published by Turquoise Morning Press and it can be found at ARe.com, Smashwords, Digibooks Café, and many more distributors. Both books are erotic romances, full of paranormal coolness with many twists and shocks.

As for where to find me, I have a new website that’s under construction. http://www.faithbicknell.com/ but my alter ego site is finished http://www.mollydiamond.com/ so anyone who’s interested can check out my erotica titles there. I’m also at Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

The Barnes and Noble.com link for The Darkness of Sable, but it's available at Amazon.com, Fictionwise, Are, ebookwise.com and many others too.


http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Darkness-of-Sable/FL-Bicknell/e/9781608201952/?itm=1&USRI=the+darkness+of+sable

www.facebook.com/faithbicknellbrown

www.twitter.com/faith_zinnia
www.myspace.com/faith_zinnia

I'll give one commentor a copy of their choice from my Molly Diamond erotica books published with Breathless Press. They're viewable at http://www.mollydiamond.com/

Suzannah: Thank you Faith for giving me the chance to enjoy your novel ‘The Darkness of Sable’ and have this interview. I enjoyed your novel and getting to know you better. I wish you all the best and much success for the upcoming projects. I hope to have another ‘Review and Interview’ with you and a new novel.

Authors if you would like to have your Review & Interview on Romance Alley, contact me on RA. As for readers I hope you enjoyed reading, and I wish you a good luck in winning. The winner will be announced at the end of this week and the name and email will be sent to the author to contact you with your gift. Cheers!!  

  



Announcement in regards to 1RomanceEbooks

Announcement in regards to 1RomanceEbooks :  In the next couple weeks, 1RomanceEbooks will become http://1placeforromance.com/ . The same great romance stories, the same great romance authors and publishers, the same great customer service... They're just changing their name.


1PlaceForRomance is their new website name: http://1placeforromance.com/


1PFR has a Facebook: http://facebook.com/OnePlaceForRomance

1PFR is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/1PFR

GetToKnowTheBook: Author Sherry Gloag 'The Brat'

Getting to know your book is a bit like finding the jigsaw pieces and putting them together. But, unlike a jigsaw, the pieces don’t come ready-made or ready packed. To add to the confusion, you don’t even know what those ‘pieces’ look like.

My jigsaw puzzle today is a romance named The Brat.

Authors are often described as ‘plotters’ or ‘pantsers’. They first plot their stories in detail before they start writing, while others work from an ‘idea’. I fall into the latter category.

So how can a pantser possibly ‘get to know their book’?

Even they have to have a few basics on the table before they start. What kind of book do they want to write? If it’s a romance they then have to decide which sub-genre they are aiming for. And by association what kind of reader they want to attract.

But that’s not enough.

When a reader picks up a book they expect to be drawn into the story. They want to experience that personal connection with the main characters.

To ensure the reader will keep turning the pages the author must create well rounded, believable characters that are fully developed. People the reader can relate to, whether they like your characters, or hate them, if they can say ‘she/he reminds me of…’ then you have reader connection with your characters.

To do this the author must ask themselves three basic questions.

1) What does my character want?

2) What is obstructing their goal?

3) How will the characters solve their problems?

That on its own will not hold your reader, so you have to add action and suspense.

You have to find a plot that has more twists and turns than the most dangerous mountain switchbacks. But, and there is a but… the conflicts you put in your characters’ way must be believable.

This does not necessarily mean gunfights, murder and mayhem or shouting matches between your hero and heroine. Especially not the shouting matches. Nothing will turn a reader off more than a book-full of constant bickering.

Your action and conflict can be internally related. By that I mean something in their past influences the moment you open the first page of the book. The action and conflict must draw the reader in so they forget the real world around them. All conflict requires balance to hold the reader.

Even a pantser has to keep these criteria in mind when they write. They have to know their book.

The characters in The Brat seemed to know this instinctively. For the most part they ‘told’ their own story and used me as their ‘go-between’. On the occasions when they, and I, forgot the rules we found ourselves backtracking that involved some major re-writing.

An author can’t help but get too close to the action when writing a book.

To them there characters are real people, with real problems. They are the jigsaw pieces that complete the puzzle. The only difference is the author must know their puzzle/book inside out before putting each piece of the puzzle together in the correct order.

Then, and only then, when they have that knowledge, can they start writing!

~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~

Blurb~

Gina Williams is a 35-year-old famous children’s author, who also writes detective mysteries under the name of George Williamson.


She was robbed of her childhood when aged ten by the late mother of the hero, Ben Kouvaris.

When he was ten-years-old his mother sent him to her ex Theo Kouvaris, multi-millionaire, who lives in Greece. When he returns to her funeral he is haunted by the beautiful woman who organised the funeral.

When his father orders him to marry he thinks of Gina Williams.

They have to overcome the horrors of the past and forgive their parents for their betrayals. Will their past destroy their future?

The Brat – Excerpt Three - Pg 99


“I guess life diverted your dreams.”

The earlier light-hearted banter between them vanished. “Yes.” Ben signalled the waiter, passed over his credit card, and rose.

She leaned forward to pick up her bag just as her phone rang. Without checking the caller ID she took the call.

“You think I don’t know what you’re up to?”

The last time she heard that voice the Inspector had walked into her house seconds later. The phone almost slipped through her fingers, and she swung away from Ben’s perceptive stare.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“You won’t deny your family’s existence for much longer, I promise you.”

The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Dear God in heaven, what did that mean? She’d never denied her family! They’d deserted her.



Buy The Brat here = http://bit.ly/d5nVDC

And at Amazon = http://amzn.to/bclDhY

My Website = http://www.%20sherrygloag.com/

My blog = http://bit.ly/bnuELA

Book Trailer = http://bit.ly/9O6j6C

Facebook = http://bit.ly/daeGN7

Goodreads = http://bit.ly/bTOzHC

Twitter = http://twitter.com/SherryGloag

GetToKnowThe Book: Have You Seen Her? by Chicki Brown

ABOUT THE HERO FROM THE HEROINE'S POV

For the life of me, I can’t figure out Taylor Villanova, the bouncer at Frenzy, the nightclub where I recently started working. When I first met him, he came across as a monosyllabic “muscle head.” You know, the kind that never cracks a book unless it’s the latest issue of Muscle and Fitness.

Actually, I was a little afraid of him at first. The man is twice my size, a six foot two, two-hundred-twenty-five-pound tower of sculpted muscle. A study in contrasts, he is so physically beautiful he could be a runway model or movie star yet he resents his extraordinary good looks.

Taylor makes his living using his brawn, but he works a part-time job that displays a sensitive, artistic side I never imagined. He has no problem with using his fists on rowdy, disruptive club patrons but is repulsed by violence against women.

Just the other day I found out that he’s taken it upon himself to look after his widowed mother.

Everything I originally thought about him was dead wrong. He’s the most fascinating man I’ve ever met.

EXCERPT

Her thoughts seemed to drift away for a moment. The distant look in her eyes had a sobering effect on him. He broke in on her mental digression. “There’s a reason why I don’t drink.” Her gaze settled on his face. “My father was a drunk. When he got wasted, he beat my mother. I can’t count how many times I had to jump between them to keep him from hurting her.”

Her lips parted in shock, she sat up straight but didn’t speak.

“I started lifting weights in high school. All I wanted was get bigger and stronger than him so I could protect her. It kind of became an obsession. He was a big guy, but he wasn’t strong. That bastard never lifted anything heavier than a bottle of Chivas Regal.” He stopped and drew a long breath. “I rushed her to the emergency room more times than I care to remember. Seeing you with those bruises brought it all back. My mother wasn’t as strong as you are. She never got the courage to leave him. The sick part is I think she still loves him even now. I don’t do alcohol because of him. I know from experience what it can do to people -- to families. Plus, I don’t know if alcoholism is in my genes.”

Dani took the salad bowl he slid across the table towards her. “Did they get divorced?”

“No. He died.”

Her gaze dropped to her plate. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I hated him. He got killed in a car accident. DWI - exactly what he deserved.”

The coldness in Taylor’s voice sent a shudder through her body.

“I remember the night like it happened yesterday. The doorbell rang at four o’clock in the morning. It was the cops. They’d come to tell my mother he’d lost control of his car on the AC Expressway coming back from a playing a gig in Neptune. It went over the guardrail and into the Intracoastal Waterway. His blood alcohol level was one point four. He was too drunk to unfasten his seatbelt and drowned inside the car.”

“Oh, God. That’s horrible,” Dani said in a whisper.

“I still don’t understand how or why my mother grieved for him. He’d put her through so much pain during their marriage. I admire you, because as small and fragile as you appear to be, you found the courage to choose to live rather than spend the rest of your life being the object of a sick man’s rage.” He took a deep breath then exhaled. “There are other similarities between my father and me. He was a musician. In fact, he started teaching me the piano when I was about four. Over the years, he played keyboard with different bands. He met my mother playing at a club up in Newark and claimed he fell in love with her that night. They got married in two months and I was born nine months later. He traveled all the time,” Taylor remembered looking off into the distance. “Every time he’d come home, he’d be loaded down with gifts for us like it was Christmas. He bought gifts because he felt guilty about being away all the time.”

Dani didn’t know what to think of his sudden talkative disposition. She took in his every word as he revealed his painful past.

“His homecomings were like little celebrations. I remember listening to him and my mother in the bedroom when they thought we were asleep. I didn’t understand at first because I was little, but somehow I knew it was a good thing. They made love like he’d been away for years then the next morning they’d be all hugged up on each other.” The memory brought a wry smile to his face.

“But by the time I got into middle school he’d started buying liquor from the corner store. The longer he stayed on the road, the worse it got. By the time I was in high school, he’d become a world-class lush. Out of nowhere he started getting violent.”

“Did he hurt you or your brother and sister?”

“Tony never went after us kids. He didn’t hesitate to knock us out of the way though. Their fights were either about his drinking or money. He acted like he forgot she had three mouths to feed and clothe and bills to pay.

He hesitated and spoke haltingly. “The first time he hit me I was fifteen. They were fighting, and I tried to get him off of her. That was all it took to make me know he’d never to do it to me again. The next morning I signed up at the Y, started lifting and learning how to box. I know it probably sounds bad, but I couldn’t wait until the day when I knew I could beat his ass.”

“Did you?”

“I broke his jaw the first time I hit him.” His face remained expressionless, yet she heard a disturbing pride in his voice.

Where you can find the author and the book:
Link to the author's website: http://chicki663.webs.com/haveyouseenher.htm


Link to her Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-You-Seen-Her/138634486150116?ref=ts

Link to the YouTube trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBmteVDtRY

Buy links: Amazon.com for Kindle, PC and phone - http://su.pr/26hZz2

Smashwords for all e-formats - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18241

Treasure Maze: Treasure Maze Contest week 1 author Suzannah Safi

Treasure Maze: Treasure Maze Contest week 1 author Suzannah Safi: "Fantasies are made to be enjoyed. Wouldn’t you want to live a forbidden lifestyle, if not in reality, in a fantasy? Well get your sleeves r..."