"A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle" - Father James Keller


Friday, December 23, 2011

My Review of “Our Mother’s Recipes, Carrying on a Jewish Tradition” by Dorene Sager and Armin Feldman


Let me start by saying that I very excitedly requested to review this cookbook. Being married to a Jewish man with no family to teach me how to cook I gobble up books like this all the time. And, now, having went through the book, I am trilled to have it. I was happy with it from the dedication on. The dedication was a wonderful testament to the authors’ parents, real heartfelt words. With the pictures of the original recipes and little stories before most of the recipes I felt like I was finally getting recipes from a friend J

My review is going to be a bit different. I went through the recipes one by one to find some to try in my own home this Hanukkah. I must admit I had trouble choosing, but finally settled on stuffed mushrooms, tzimmes, salmon and fruit dessert.

I loved the simple cooking steps and processes.

I also appreciated the wholesome ingredients like sweet potatoes, carrots, plums and apricots, paired with more elegant touches of sweet wine and butter and honey.

The first night of Hanukkah both our teenage sons had other things going on, so my husband and I both got to sit down to a nice quiet meal. It was like a date night. And thus, I got to hear the string of praise from my husband’s lips as he ate...

The stuffed mushrooms got a string of “Oh Wow!'s”

The salmon, the true test since I have never made a salmon my husband likes, was “Oh Man, this is awesome. I didn’t know salmon could taste like this.” High praise there!

And he thought the tzimmes a perfect compliment to the salmon.

He couldn’t stop praising the meal actually and said it beat out my spaghetti and meatballs…hmmm, not sure how I feel about that! LOL

He also said if he had gone to a restaurant and this is what he’d gotten he would have thought it well worth the money. Oh, and for dessert, the fruit compote over ice cream was just fantastic.  And if I forgot the wine and butter sauce, I could pretend I was eating healthy. LOL

I loved this cookbook and would highly recommend it from the personal feel to the wonderful recipes :)

Book Information for Our Mother's Recipe's by Armin Feldman and Dorene Sager
Genre: Jewish Cookbook
Video Intro:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6sp-uy6Gic
Amazon.
website: http://www.ourmothersrecipesonline.com
Bio: 
Dorene Sager and Armin Feldman are sister and brother.  The idea for the cookbook sprang from the discovery of a treasure trove of their mother’s recipes after she passed away. Now Our Mother’s Recipes, Carrying On a Jewish Tradition is a Web site, a cookbook, a TV show and a place to learn about what the best Jewish cuisine has to offer.
 Dorene Sager: Dorene represents the best of so many different things. Dorene is a cookbook author, a wife and mother, a commercial real estate broker, a devoted family member, a true friend and so much more.  Dorene is a fantastic cook in her own right. She learned a lot about cooking from her mother, Helen Feldman.  Dorene is married and has three children and 6 grandchildren.  Dorene and her husband just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dorene enjoys reading, movies, playing canasta, and of course cooking.
 Dorene says,
 “I had so much fun working with my brother putting together all of the different ways to showcase our mother’s recipes.

Armin Feldman: Armin wears a number of hats too. Armin is a cookbook author, husband, dog lover, supporter of friends and family, medical doctor and a lot more. Armin is also a wonderful cook.  From the time they could reach the kitchen counter, their mother taught Dorene and Armin how to make traditional Jewish recipes. If you watch the videos on their website, http://www.ourmothersrecipesonline.com , you can feel the joy these siblings radiate while cooking their mother's recipes.  You can also sign up for the recipe of the week sent right to your email address.

Armin says, What a treat to work with the best sister ever in creating all of these venues to showcase our mother’s remarkable culinary skills.

Description:
Add a wonderful cuisine to your everyday meals and special gatherings. Traditional Jewish cooking is flavorful, fun and hearty particularly with Our Mother's Recipes, Carrying on a Jewish Tradition. These recipes have been handed down through many generations influenced by Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Spanish, German and Eastern European styles of cooking. In our family all of these cultural influences were combined, synthesized and affected by local ingredients through the years resulting in sumptuous, rich and wonderfully fulfilling traditional Jewish dishes. Try our mother's farfel instead of noodles. Replace that tired chocolate cake with some really yummy Helen Feldman brownies or warm fruit compote. You will have the secret to Jewish penicillin, chicken soup with matzo balls. There's enough here to keep you going for years of great food, family, friends and memories to enjoy.

There will b a virtual book tour starting on December 15th. see the vtb banner.  The full schedule is on http://www.ourmothersrecipesonline.com

The Book Launch will be on February 1.  Anyone who buys the book from Amazon on February 1 will get 10 entries into the Book Launch Contest.  There are other ways to get entries.  One is to comment on three of the blogs on the tour days.  See the schedule.

Contest
To find out how to get more entries visit http://www.ourmothersrecipesonline.com to access the contest form.
  
The prizes:
$100.00 Amazon Gift Certificate for a Kindle
Two $50.00 Amazon Gift Certifcates


Tuesday, December 20, 2011


Tis the season to be horny,
Fa la la la la… la la la la.
Join the fun and come be Naughty,
Fa la la la la… la la la la.
Leave a comment, at the end here,
Fa la la,  la la la, la la la
Come join in and win our new book,
Fa la la la la, la la, la… la…

That’s right folks; we have a new book out…”DOING THE NAUGHTY LIST, TWICE” the new anthology by Naughty Nights Press.  Eight exciting author’s writing about their favorite subjects – ménages and Christmas.

From today, December 19th through to December 26th, we will be holding a competition. The winner will be announced on December 27th, with the winner being chosen by Random.org

Now it is really simple to enter, all you need to do is answer a question and leave your answer and your email address (Yes we like to be able to send the winner their pdf copy).

QUESTION:
What would you do that would make Santa check his naughty list twice?

You can purchase your own copy of “DOING THE NAUGHTY LIST, TWICE” at the following places:

Doing The Naughty List, Twice
A Naughty Nights Press Holiday Erotic Ménage Anthology

Is your name on Santa’s Naughty List this year?

If you don’t think you’ve quite made it there yet...then now is the perfect time to crawl into “Doing The Naughty List, Twice” and enjoy a Holiday Themed Erotic Ménage Anthology by the authors of Naughty Nights Press!

Tis the season of joy, happiness, giving...invitations to holiday parties...lust, kinky behavior and wicked sexual delights!

Join our eight naughty authors as they tempt and tease your body and mind with eight holiday ménage stories to add to your wish list this year!

“Doing The Naughty List, Twice” Holiday Erotic Ménage Anthology

List of Contributors and Synopsis
Cassandre Dayne - Twisted Christmas
Wynter Mclean was very good at her job as a legal assistant for a prominent law firm in Baltimore. Conservative and quiet, no one knew she had a wild and kinky side. When her boss decided to kick up the heat on their holiday party making it a bit twisted she was determined to finally “come out” to her colleagues. Pining away for the two hottest attorneys in the office, not only did they not know she existed but they were in lust with each other. Purchasing a sexy outfit as required by the rather sinful invitation, she was ready for the event. Granted a glass of wine and a sex toy certainly helped ease her tension.
Cody Wallace and Daman Miller were lovers and well respected attorneys but they had a dark side that no one knew including sharing a D/s lifestyle. Longing for a third they just happened upon a rather kinky sight coming from a condo across the street and a sinful plan of magic was put to action. Enlisting the help of one elf who had rather shameless designs on the Christmas event the three engaged in a little wicked heat of their own. While the game was fun - what about the rest of the season?

Elizabeth Lister - A Christmas Masquerade

Claire Leduc has been in an exclusive relationship with Cameron Walker for several months, but she knows about his liberal attitudes toward sex. Cameron is excited to show Claire what people can do together in an environment of mutual trust and respect. He hosts and extravagant Christmas Masquerade to introduce her to three of his good friends; gay couple, Asim and Mark, and the entrancing, bisexual Jenny. With a steadying hand, Cameron guides Claire through her first experience with group sex. But Claire surprises her boyfriend and herself with how readily she adapts. She watches her boyfriend engage in sex acts with other men and participates in an erotic encounter with another woman. She then has an exquisite three-way with Cameron and another man. At the end of it all, she emerges feeling liberated and rejuvenated, and more in love with Cameron that ever before.

Jill Boyd - Stockings and Santa
Matthew and Scarlett are a happily married couple, but their seasonal bliss is haunted by the memory of the death of Scarlett’s mother, on a Christmas day. So, every Christmas, Scarlett changes into a slip of her former self, mourning her beloved mother and thinking of what could have been. Matt can’t take seeing his wife so glum, so he decides to give her a gift beyond her wildest imagination. Only problem is, he can’t figure out what. Scarlett makes a throwaway comment about getting her either a pair of stockings or a threesome. So, Matt decides to get them both. After a phone call from Matt’s friend Ben, things go into warp speed, and Ben is soon at their door, staying over for Christmas. During a night of fun and drinks, things get frisky.
In the morning, Matt is surprised to wake up to the sound of laughter on Christmas Day, and finds Scarlett in the living room, with a smile on her face. She thanks him for making her happy and hugs him. The three of them then open presents and Scarlett is delighted to find a pair of stockings underneath the tree. She thanks Matt again, and Ben calls him a ‘Superman with a nice cock’. This effectively rekindles the fire from the previous night and soon, the three of them trek back to the bedroom, for a very naughty Christmas indeed.

Eden Connor - Cum, They Told Me
It’s New Year’s Eve and Sophie Weller had a rough year, she’s been forced to sell her company Banger and Lever Optics, as she gets divorced from her steroid-using, baseball-playing husband.  The public end to her marriage, following a brush with death where she and her wicked high society mother were stuck in a car that was run off the road, Sophie wants to change her life.
She's sick of chasing the next dollar, the next label, the next must-have restaurant reservation; everything her mother had taught her was important has left her feeling empty and unfulfilled. Before the ink is dry on the contracts, Sophie begins to dream of her buyer, Mathias Jackson and the lawyer she’s known for years Kendall Davis Laramie III, stretching her out on the polished walnut of Davis' conference room table and giving her more orgasms in one night than she's ever had in her life.
More than Sophie gets laid out on Davis' elegant conference table before the New Year begins, as Matt and Davis not only give her the most orgasmic night of her life, but before the ball drops, they demand than a one night stand from Sophie, and the pair of them pierce more than simply her pussy.

Rowan Elizabeth - Watching in a Winter Wonderland
Holiday fantasies traipse through the voyeuristic minds of a woman and her lover. The writer, always comfortable sharing her fantasies with her new lover, Carlos, extends their conversations into actions. The woman and her lover take the experiences to new heights by inviting her best friend Jay and his lover Martha to take part in a fantasy to rock them all for Christmas. By the end of the night, the four are sated and the last words heard by any of them is one simple thought, “Merry Christmas.”

Willow Leigh - Christmas At The Cabin
All Frankie wants for Christmas is for the magic that she and Ric once shared to return.  Does that mean going back to the threesomes or more? As Frankie is getting ready for the Holiday Season once again, she remembers all the past Christmas’ spent at Ric’s parent’s cabin. With those memories she can’t help but wish that maybe this Christmas things could once again be as they were. Candy canes, snow, colored lights, mistletoe, a warm fire and friends to share in all their Christmas sexual fantasies with. Does Frankie get her wish?

Kendel Davi - Umoja Means Unity
Zoe and Roger have been at Los Angeles International Airport since 6 in the morning with no luck of getting a flight East due to the fact that they are flying standby during the Holiday Season. While waiting for this final flight they run into Julia and Craig. A married couple that is also flying standby they met earlier in the day. Julia suggests they get a room so they can sleep and shower before trying to get a flight out the next morning.
In the room, Roger presents Zoe with a hand carved wooden cup that is used to drink from during Kwanzaa celebrations. Zoe comments that she wishes she had a gift for Roger and he gives her a subtle suggestion, making reference to the time they hooked up with another couple in Puerto Vallarta. Soon, Zoe and Julia are making out as Roger and Craig watch. As the night presses on, lots of exploring of each person in the room takes place and new experiences are had, ending the night with fulfillment. It was a holiday spent learning about Unity. 

DaddyXmas - An Under Cover Christmas
Bisexual Amanda inadvertently introduces her hubby to her brand of kink when arriving home early one day during the end of year holidays, he finds his wife cavorting under a spread with an old college roomie. He joins them. The couple then hits upon the idea of soliciting coeds to sleep under the covers with them, claiming they expect no sex, just the warmth of the girls’ body heat. Amanda and her husband know how it is under the blankets. To their surprise, tenting grows into a secret societal practice in one particular dorm at the school. In an unexpected development, the couple’s clients start to pay for the experience, enabling our happy couple to quit their day jobs and modify sleeping arrangements so they could “tent” full time.
We pick up the story one Holiday Season when, as an older, retired (but not yet dead) couple they receive a Christmas card from Katie, an Irish client from the past. Then an ad appears in the local paper for tenting. Intrigued, they decide to respond and celebrate the Holidays in the old-fashioned way. To their surprise, they wind up with Katie’s daughter.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Special Christmas TV Review by the Author of The "Tis the Season TV" Encyclopedia


Buffy The Vampire Slayer “Amends,” the 1998 Christmas episode

A Review by Joanna Wilson
http://ChristmasTVhistory.com


In this monumental third season episode, Buffy is hoping for an uneventful Christmas break.  Unfortunately, Angel is being haunted by horrible nightmares and visions of former victims.  One nightmare is a flashback to Dublin, 1838 at Christmas but other visions are pushing him to hurt his former lover, Buffy. 


Buffy begins to understand his emotional struggle when she’s drawn into his nightmares and sees that Angel’s former victims are drawing him towards evil.  Trying to help, Buffy seeks the Bringers, the beings that may be behind Angel’s conflict.  She finds their location in Sunnydale by the tell-tale sign that no tree thrives in the Christmas tree lot above their underground dwelling. 


In the meantime, Buffy’s mother Joyce encourages her daughter to invite Faith, who lives alone, to join them for Christmas Eve despite the awkwardness. 


Xander camps out in a sleeping bag on his lawn in order to avoid his family’s drunken fights on Christmas Eve.  Though Willow is Jewish, she spends her Christmas Eve with her boyfriend Oz trying to convince him to trust her again after a past indiscretion.


The emotional heart of this 1998 episode is watching Angel being pushed by the visions to end his pain and guilt by committing vampire suicide in the early morning dawn of sunlight on Christmas morning.  We watch as the complex character Angel struggles with the all too familiar weaknesses of his humanity--not the monstrous evil that comes with being a demon. 


Other Christmas stories play off of the much anticipated sunrise on Christmas morning--daybreak is usually the time young children rush down from their bedrooms to discover what Santa Claus has left them under the Christmas tree.  However in this Christmas story, viewers may be surprised by their own depth of emotion in wishing that Angel’s self-destruction on Christmas morning never comes.  When the story resolution finally comes, it’s satisfying and in keeping with the holiday spirit.  Feeling sympathetic to hunky vampires is a fairly recent experience for most of us that has since become much more common place in films and television.  This Christmas episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the first time I remember feeling it as strongly as I ever would.  Re-watching this third season episode is nostalgia at its magical Christmasy best. 


About the book Tis the Season TV by Joanna Wilson


Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-Themed Episodes, Specials and Made-For-TV Movies, by Joanna Wilson, is the comprehensive guide to Christmas television programming. Spanning over 60 years of television history and containing more than 3,000 entries, Tis the Season TV is the first reference book to catalog information and synopses about episodes, specials, made-for-TV movies, and theatrical release movies that have gone on to wider viewership on television. Or, as Savannah Schroll Guz wrote for Library Journal, “Wilson’s compilation is the most comprehensive guide now available to Christmas-, Hanukkah-, Kwanzaa-, and New Year’s themed TV.” This nostalgic reference book places entries alphabetically at the reader’s fingertips in a wonderful easy-to-use resource for enjoying holiday-themed programming all year long. It covers everything from All in the Family to Ziggy’s Gift, and from Bob Hope’s Christmas Specials to Larry the Cable Guy. Wilson’s book contains an index of guest stars for further ease of use, and 17 sidebars which present informative lists of related programs such as different versions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, as well as programs with a similar theme, such as Christmas and the Old West, and Television’s First Christmases. Tis the Season TV also includes listings from programming devoted to New Year’s, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations.

The complete Library Journal review:
In the works since 2002, Wilson's compilation is the most comprehensive guide now available to Christmas-, Hanukkah-, Kwanzaa-, and New Year's themed TV. The book appears to be a thematic expansion of her 2009 guide, The Christmas TV Companion, which surpassed Diane Werts's 2005 title, Christmas on Television. Here, entries are alphabetized first by program name, then by episode title. Each details year, director, and production staff, with a synopsis of program contents. Although it focuses solely on U.S. programming, it offers an engaging read for pop-culture enthusiasts and American television history buffs. ­Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Libs., Washington, DC --Library Journal



Check out the book's website for additional information:
http://TistheSeasonTV.com


The Publisher's website:
http://1701Press.com

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My Review of “A Clockwork Christmas” By JK Coi, PG Forte, Stacy Gail and Jenny Schwartz

  
Blurb:
We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:
Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi
Stories also available for purchase separately.

My Review:
With any anthology—and this one was a great one on the whole because I liked each story  for different reasons—you still have one tale that just sweeps you away more than the others. For me, it was the first story, Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail. I loved it right from the beginning,  the period language, a subtle blending with the fashion, and industrious inventions gave the story a nice historic atmosphere. What I enjoyed most about the story though was the pitting of a large alpha male against a tiny firecracker of a woman, a female thief at that, who is smart and crafty due to a horrid past.

Story two, This Winter Heart by PG Forte, was again very emotional, a tale of acceptance of one another despite differences. While historic, it carried a timeless message of seeing everyone as real and capable beings, worthy of love. In the third story, Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz, there was a lot more punk than steam. Still, it was a great story, full of the politics of the time, which I think would be hard to write. The author certainly did her homework. As well as the social intrigue though, along with a few touches of blackmail, there was a nice heavy dose of romantic tension.

Last, but certainly not least, was Far From Broken by JK Coi. In this story the steam part was so creative, just so brilliant in its inventions. Again, this theme of acceptance was there, but like the second story, a prominent part of the storyline. Overall though, this anthology did a fantastic job of creating solid steam punk tales, each with very different plotline and settings, while still letting you feel the season of Christmas. What really impressed me was that each story carried the theme of the holiday season, goodwill toward men. And, isn’t that what we all love about a holiday story that they remind us of the good possible in each of us?

Reviewed for Suspense Magazine

Buy Now at Amazon 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

GUEST POST WITH JOHN GARRETT

Hi everyone, my name is John Garrett and I own and operate a website called Hypertransitory.com.

Normally I do comics, art and web stuff, so only a few people know that I have another, higher calling -teaching people how to defend themselves from annoying, frustrating stupid clowns!

Stupid clowns aren't the same as regular clowns. Real clowns work hard to entertain us, but stupid clowns are the ones going out of their way to make your work day just a little more frustrating and awful. You know the ones.

They're the type that have to make things difficult ALL the time. Yeesh! Can't stand 'em. That's why I decided to collect all the ancient lessons I've learned together into one awesome e-book I call "How to Deal with Stupid Clowns who don't know what the Hell they're talking about!"

I know there are some of you reading this right now thinking "This guy has completely lost it!" That's ok. I'm used to it.

That's why I brought evidence. Below is an excerpt from the book, it's a saved session from a Facebook wall posting that clearly demonstrates how insidious these stupid clowns really are. Read on:


Wow! So you can see just how crazy these guys are. Someone has to stand against this tide of ignorance, and I can't do it alone. So I decided it was only right for me to use my comic drawing ability and writing skill to put together a handy guide that will help people avoid or defend against the ever-present annoyances of stupid clowns...for a small fee, of course.

So with that I'll wrap it up here. By now we all know what's at stake so no more needs to be said.

Instead, you can watch! Here's the senses shattering book trailer for "How to Deal with Stupid Clowns who don't know what the Hell they're talking about!"


Get the ebook How to Deal with Stupid Clowns who don't know what the Hell they're talking about! here:

John Garrett is an artist, writer, web designer and all around capital fellow who prefers his food in sandwich form.

You can find him at his website: http://hypertransitory.com/ or the Hypertransitory Creative World Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/hypertransitory or on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/johngarrettX

Thanks for reading, and one of you lucky commenters can win a FREE copy of the book. Just comment to enter. Winner will be chosen by the end of the week. Good luck!

Friday, December 9, 2011

My Review of “Spice It Up” by Jennifer Labelle


Blurb:

Heidi Taylor has fallen in love with a man who is off limits. He’s her best friend, and she’s afraid to tell him how she really feels. So when she hits a dry spell in her romantic life, Nathan makes it his duty to spice things up for her, shocking her, and making her true feelings known.

Nathan De Costa met the most amazing woman alive three years ago when he placed a roommate wanted ad in the newspaper. He’s secretly loved Heidi for almost two years, and decides to make his move once her love life hits a rough patch. The problem is that his sexual tastes are risqué and he’s not sure that Heidi would be able to keep up. She shocks him by becoming everything he’s ever wanted and more, but it’ll take almost losing her for good before he finally makes her his, permanently.

Genre: Erotic contemporary Romance, F/M/M ménage

My Review:

It is no secret what a fan I am of Jennifer Labelle’s work. In fact, in my mind I call her the Mistress of Emotions, as I know each time I begin reading on of her stories that I am in for an emotional ride. And, having started reading with her novel “Meant to Be” and moving into her Leather and Pleasure series, I have to say that with each books things just get spicier too. With “Spice It Up” Ms. Labelle created a unique set up and gave it the sexiest resolution yet. And it came with all the emotional twists and turns and bumps in the road that I expect from this author. There was a few moments that I went from feeling sorry for Nathan to thinking him a jerk and back again, and I appreciate the reality of emotions that this author brings to her works. They capture me, take me on a new roller coaster each time.

Recommend this story? It goes without saying! I’m always up for a new Labelle tale :)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Review and Giveaway of “Let Me In” (Book Four in the Erotic Me Series) By Lauren Hawkeye


My Review:

Again, in this story, as with the series, there are real people, a woman, set against a man or in this case men and another woman, they see as sexually attractive, brought together by this wedding. Each story in this series has been sexier, each one hotter than the next. The situations are even more daring each time, adding new people, from male and female to ménage to swinging. This series builds nicely with hot and sexy stories. I personally find series difficult to write, and as I feel I am giving the same compliments each time, maybe hard to review, LOL, but this one has kept my interest, with the basic setting the same but with different characters and situations. Each is definitely well written and a short pleasure to read.

As for this story and the swinging, the book itself was a tease, but I liked the very real resolution for the couple.  

About the Series:

TAKE ME DOWN
By Lauren Hawkeye
Pub date: September 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-426-87894-7
Evie may feel like she doesn’t measure up to her prettier, younger sister, but she still knows what she wants—Lucas, her cousin’s sexy roommate. She’s dreamed about being with him for a long time, and on the sweltering night of her sister’s wedding, it’s clear he shares her lust. Now Evie is determined to take what she desires—even if it’s just for one night….
Book One of Lauren Hawkeye’s Erotic Me series.

TIE ME UP
By Lauren Hawkeye
Pub date: October 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-426-88547-1

Barbara always thought of Ethan as her little brother’s annoying best friend, and she was sure he just considered her his friend’s nerdy big sister. Until the hot night after her brother’s wedding. Alone in the heat, it’s clear Ethan sees her in a way she never saw herself: as a sexy, sensual woman. And for the first time, Barbara feels ready to break free from the painful memories that have haunte her for too long—by exploring her passion for Ethan…
Book two of Lauren Hawkeye’s Erotic Me series.

Lead Me On
By Lauren Hawkeye
Publish Date November 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-426-88550-1

Linda doesn’t know why she agreed to attend an old friend’s wedding, or the after party where she encounters her old flame, Eric. She’s as attracted to him now as she was in college…and even more aroused when she meets his captivating friend Nate.
Unlikely as it seems, Linda can’t deny the two sexy men are interested in her—and that she wants them both, too. She’s determined to follow the night through with them, wherever it may lead…
Book three of Lauren Hawkeye’s Erotic Me series.

Let Me In
By Lauren Hawkeye
Pub Date: December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-426-88553-2

Imogen hasn’t had sex with her husband, Ty, in over a year. She’s still as attracted to him as ever, but they’ve both been looking for something new to renew their desire for one another. Yet she never thought to find it at a friend’s wedding when another couple invites them to share their bed. Ty is obviously aroused by the idea and the thought of a ménage thrills Imogen to her core. Could this be the key to rekindling their passion…and can Imogen go through with it?
Book four of Lauren Hawkeye’s Erotic Me series.

About the Author:
Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.
She’s older than she looks—really—and younger than she feels—most of the time—and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories.

GIVEAWAYS

Lauren is offering a tour wide giveaway to her series tour.

A winner will be chosen in mid December after all tour stops have been completed.

The Prize Basket will contain a bag of Kicking Horse Coffee,  Le Chocolatier chocolates, Rocky Mountain Soap Co. things, and several other goodies Lauren throws in.

This contest open to US and Canada Shipping.

One winner will be chosen.

Link to form

Friday, December 2, 2011

ABA AUTHOR INTERVIEW: FRIDAY FAVORITES WITH TRACY SUMNER


Favorite Genre(s):
Tracy: Romance is my favorite. Surprise, right? Then, under the subgenres, first and foremost historical. But I love contemporaries and paranormal, too. Though I’d say I like “light” paranormal. Psychic characters are cool. Things like that. I’m not yet into the shape-shifting, etc., though if the characters are great, the chemistry between them well-defined, I’d read almost anything. It’s the characters for me. The relationships.

List of at least 5 Favorite Books in that Genre:
Tracy: VOWS – LaVyrle Spencer. It was the first romance I ever read, so holds a special place in my heart.
DANCE – Judith Ivory. Simply love her. Wonderfully expressive writer. **This is my favorite book in the Genre – and of all time, I think! (To answer the question early.)
Another recent favorite! PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS - Sherry Thomas
Another recent favorite! WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY - Kieran Kramer
Another recent favorite! SCANDALOUS DESIRES – Elizabeth Hoyt

Favorite Book Read Last Month:
Tracy: IN TOTAL SURRENDER – Anne Mallory

Favorite Book You Wrote: (Please explain why)
Tracey: Easy answer! TIDES OF LOVE. Backstory: Tides of Love was written first. Brother: Noah Garrett. TIDES OF PASSION followed: Zach Garrett.
Why Tides of Love if I had to chose one? Well, Noah Garrett is MY type of hero. He’s a marine biologist, Outer Banks, 1898. He lives a controlled life until her meets Elle. He’s a sexy nerd. Almost too intelligent to see love staring him in the face. He’s the gorgeous dork.
J

Give Us One More Favorite Thing Beyond Books:
Tracy: Travel. Working on topping 50 countries in 2012! Wine is a close second!

Author Information:
Tracy Sumner
Award-winning author of sexy historical romance
@SumnerTracy
Facebook.com/TracySumnerRomanceAuthor

Book Information:
Tides of Passion, Reader's Choice Best Historical
Beacon Award, Best Historical
HOLT Medallion finalist, Best Historical

5 Star Rating on Amazon!
“Terrific dialogue…and hot loves scenes. If you haven’t read
Tracy Sumner before, TIDES OF PASSION is a good place to start.”
—All About Romance

AN UNCONVENTIONAL WOMAN
Spirited Savannah Connor is passionately committed to stamping out social injustice. Yet when she arrives in Pilot Isle, North Carolina, ready to take up a new cause, she quickly finds herself on the outs with the town constable. Zachariah Garrett is the most arrogant, infuriating, maddeningly attractive man it’s ever been her misfortune to meet. And suddenly, Savannah is fighting  a whole new battle—this one against her own yearning for a man who is impossible to resist.

AN UNCOMPROMISING MAN
Ever since his wife’s death two years ago, Zachariah Garrett has dedicated his life to keeping the peace. And avoiding the thought of love. But Savannah Connor isn’t an ordinary woman—and she proves hard to ignore. She’s a beguiling beauty with the power to awaken emotions Zach thought he’d never feel again, and the tenderness to help him forget his fears. And risk his heart once more.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WVPFH0


Thursday, December 1, 2011

ABA AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH TRACEY CRAMER-KELLY

Kiki: What is your favorite genre to read in, and what is it about that genre that attracts you to it? If you like a specific mix of genres, please state that particular combination.

Tracey: I enjoy reading medical drama/mystery. I like books with characters who are emergency services personnel or military. When reading romance, I prefer a more sophisticated or mature hero/heroine. I guess it is no surprise I write what I do!

Kiki: What is your favorite author to read in that genre, and why? Also, please tell me a little about the best book by that author you have read.

Tracey: This is a tough one; I tend to read quite widely because I’m ‘researching’ or because I’m curious about other authors. CJ Lyons is a favorite (medical drama). Nicolas Sparks is a favorite because of the more mature characters.

Kiki: Do you have a Favorite Book of All Time? Of course, please tell us what about that book makes it your favorite.

Tracey: I do not have “a” favorite book. There are just too many, and I like different aspects of each.

Kiki: What are your reading habits like? For example, how many books do you read on average in a week, what format do you prefer to read in, what time of day do you read, and what setting is ideal for you to get lost in that book?

Tracey: With a family business to run and two young children with activities, I don’t read as much as I’d like. Often I find I’m forced to choose between reading and writing. I probably average 3-4 books/month, but there are some months I don’t get any reading done.

I recently got a Kindle and surprised myself by how much I love it. But there are still times I like to feel the weight of a good book in my hands. Any setting is ideal for a good book (at kids’ swim lessons, at the park, while waiting for a meeting…)!

Kiki: If pressed, could you choose a favorite from the books you have written? Why is it your favorite?

Tracey: I think I will always feel a special fondness for my first book, Last Chance Rescue, simply because it was the first (and it’s a good book, and Indie Award Finalist!). The day I held the first copy in my hands was an awe-filled day (“I can’t believe it, I’m an author!”).

True Surrender will hold a special place because it was the catalyst to my discovery of how much I enjoy fusing writing, music and visual imagery (see below for information about the companion music video).

But I think whatever book I’m deeply involved in at the moment will be my favorite (and that’s as it should be, I think).

Kiki: How do you become inspired to write?

Tracey: For me, it starts with one scene—often from a dream. Ideally, I have the luxury of some ‘daydreaming’ time to allow the character(s) to develop until I have the makings of a story or novel in my head.

My writing is heavily influenced by the time I spent in the military and by the medical training I received there. When I became a helicopter pilot, it opened new relationships with some amazing people—and Last Chance really came together after I did some ride-alongs with medevac and search-and-rescue.

My ‘writing time’ is from 9-11pm a couple times a week (after my kids are in bed) and a stolen hour at a café or coffee shop when I can swing it. I do my best work when it’s quiet and I have NO interruptions, but sometimes a change of scenery can help my level of inspiration.

Kiki: What part of the story do you think is your strength to write?

Tracey: The scenes that tend to ‘flow’ are usually those with medical drama or trauma. I’ve been told I have a ‘signature’ scene in each book, which is a scene that contains sensual elements or the building of sensual tension in a medical or injury situation where you’d least expect it. In True Surrender it happens when Holly is helping Aaron with his physical therapy on a treadmill.

Kiki: Please share with ABA readers something I did not think to ask you about.

Tracey: I’d like to mention that True Surrender has a companion  music video!

"The Rose (Surrender Version)” is my own arrangement of Bette Midler's classic, but with a more upbeat rhythm and a bluesy feel. It contains scenes from True Surrender enacted by actors.

When the idea of a music video first occurred to me (after recording the song earlier this year), I wondered: how would my passion for singing, writing and the power of the visual come together?

I loved the whole process – how the different aspects dovetailed and intertwined; how dormant creativity was sparked (in large part by being around other creative people). I loved the collaborative nature of this project. And I’m in awe of how the right people came into my life and into the project.

The song should be available for download on CDBaby.com and iTunes the first week in December, and with some luck the video will be available via Amazon-on-Demand by the end of the year. You can watch  it on my YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/7Urqfs6Oqms


Author & Book Information:
Tracey Cramer-Kelly
Adventure and Military Romance

Author Bio:
Tracey’s work fuses writing, music and visual imagery whenever possible, and includes novels, short stories, essays and music videos. True Surrender is her second novel. Her first, Last Chance Rescue, is an Indie Award finalist. Her first full-length music video, The Rose (Surrender Version), includes scenes from True Surrender. Her writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and helicopter pilot. When not managing the family business, Leader Motorcycle Accessories, she enjoys motorcycling and outdoor activities with her husband and two young children.


Blurb from True Surrender:
When Major Aaron Bricewick is rescued from Afghanistan terrorists, he thinks the worst is over. But his personal journey is just beginning…


The first surprise is the amputation of one of his legs.


The second is the woman he left behind, now a widow with a 4-year-old son – and his new prosthetist (artificial limb maker).


He vows that losing his leg won’t derail his career. But maintaining his outward appearance as a got-it-together officer becomes increasingly difficult as he faces one personal demon after another – and sees his career aspirations slipping away. And though he has no intention of expanding his life to include a woman, his heart has other ideas – and he finds himself questioning the very foundation of his personal beliefs.


When violence – and unexpected redemption – touch his life again, Aaron must make a stand. 


Which will he choose: duty or love?


Buy it on amazon, smashwords or direct from author:
http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/store/

Excerpt:

His bed was empty.
            Impossible, she thought.
            And then she saw him: motionless on the floor, a dark stain spreading underneath his body. A stain that she recognized instantly.
Blood.
Oh my God, the terrorists found him!
This first irrational thought was immediately followed by a more trained response. She assessed the situation in the few moments it took her to cross the room. She hit the button on the intercom system, identified herself and requested help.
She dropped to her knees next to Aaron. She spoke as she ran her hands across the back of his neck. “Aaron! Can you hear me?” As soon as she was certain he had no neck or spinal injury, she shook him gently. “Aaron, it’s Holly. Talk to me, Aaron.”
His arms snapped up, flailing for a moment before his good hand clamped onto her wrist—hard. His eyes were wide open, and in them she saw terror…confusion… pain…
They engaged in a macabre tug-of war as Holly stated repeatedly, “Aaron, it’s me—Holly. You’re okay. Take it easy.”
After what seemed like a long time, she saw recognition seep into his eyes. But then he shut them tight, and his body went limp. He released her wrists and dropped his hands over his face. “Go away,” he whispered, his chest heaving.
            “I can’t do that, Aaron.”
            “You shouldn’t see me,” he said. “Not like this.”
            Unexpected tears stung her eyes.
            “This isn’t who I am,” he rasped.
            “You asked me to leave once already,” she said. “And I honored that request. Maybe I shouldn’t have. So please…”
            She locked her eyes onto his, which were open again. Surely he could see that she was close to tears, but she didn’t care. “Don’t ask me to walk away again.”

In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, Kiki Howell of An Author's Musings, would like to advise that in addition to purchasing my own books to review, I also receive books, and/or promotional materials, free of charge in return for an honest review, as do any guest reviewers.