Older than dirt

Remember last year Barbie and I turned 50? Well, we're both another year older this year. Yes, I know that Barbie has held up better than me but hey, she's plastic - I'm the real deal!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. No special plans here. Maybe dinner at Benny's, my favorite pizza place ever!

Laurie

xo

More Jaci Burton!

Coming soon - more Jaci Burton!

I'm excited for another, and the final, installment in Jaci's Wild Riders series (releasing September 7), but know that I'm not the only one who hates to see it come to an end.

About the book:

AJ and Pax work together as undercover operatives for a government agency of bad-boy bikers known as the Wild Riders. And though they play as hard as they work, both men are looking for the one woman who can tame them…
On vacation, AJ and Pax run into AJ’s high school sweetheart, Teresa. While they’re catching up at Teresa’s bar, a fight erupts between two biker gangs, leaving one man dead and Teresa’s brother wrongly accused of murder. With no proof and Teresa as the only eye witness, the trio points their Harleys toward the annual bike rally in South Dakota in hot pursuit of the real killer…
Her life in jeopardy, AJ and Pax become Teresa’s fierce protectors. But a past trauma keeps Teresa guarded, unable to trust them–until AJ and Pax uncover her secret and vow to do anything to help her heal. And in their arms she discovers a sensual desire that knows no boundaries, a passion strong enough to overcome her tragic past and awaken a force that brings both men to their knees.
Danger may temporarily bind the three together, but it’s their shared passion that will lead them to the ride of their lives: love.

From Jaci:

RIDING THE NIGHT releases September 7th and is the final book in my Wild Riders series. I know. The last book in the series. I’ll be sad, and yet I’m SO excited about this book I can’t even begin to tell you.
Do you have a blog? Facebook? If so, check this out:

And now I have ARCs to give away, but there’s a catch. You have to earn the ARC. So you have to tell others about this contest. Yes, it requires sharing. Blog it, talk about it in a group, then in the comments, tell me where you passed the word along (link required). So if you blogged about the contest, give me the link to your blog post. If you shared it in a forum or a group, give me the link. If you posted about it on Facebook, give me your Facebook url. If you tweeted about it, give me your twitter name. All of the above things make you eligible. And if you share the contest in more than one place, you can comment more than once which means you get more than one entry. Wheee!
I’ll draw ARC winners (yes, there will be more than one) on Wednesday next week. Be sure you check back on Wednesday next week to see if you’ve won. Winners will have 7 days to claim their prize or I’ll redraw for new winners.
Please note that RIDING THE NIGHT is an erotic romance suitable for those over the age of 18. If you are under 18 years of age, please don’t enter the contest.
RIDING THE NIGHT is also a menage story, so if menage isn’t your cuppa tea, please don’t enter the contest.
And hey, if you haven’t read the other books in the Wild Riders series, check them out here!

Thanks!

Laurie

NAUTI AND WILD, coming soon from Jaci Burton and Lora Leigh

I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of NAUTI AND WILD from author Jaci Burton in a Twitter contest (thanks, Jaci!). NAUTI AND WILD is a two-story anthology with stories by Jaci Burton and Lora Leigh . Like most romance readers, I've read many of the books by both of these authors, always enjoy them very much, and have no reservations about recommending them to anyone who enjoys fast-paced, extremely heated romance.

Lora Leigh's NAUTI KISSES
John Walker, Jr. left his family’s Boston law firm to return to his father’s hometown of Somerset, Kentucky where he makes a houseboat home and runs with the well-known McKay boys (from previous “Nauti” stories). His leaving came on the heels of a broken engagement, with long-time family friend and his father’s goddaughter, Sierra Lucas, being instrumental in causing his breaking things off with his fiancée. A year later, there’s been a vicious attack on Sierra, leaving her battered and broken. When it’s determined that this was not a random or serial attack, John’s father decides that Sierra needs a safe place to stay until her attacker is found and she is secreted away to John’s houseboat in Kentucky. The heat and long-repressed attraction between John and Sierra is a tad predictable, but it’s satisfying, as is catching up with characters from previous “Nauti” books.
Loving romantic suspense, I like that Lora Leigh’s heroines are typically in need of an alpha man to protect them and keep them safe, but have recently felt that her stories are a tad repetitive. The hero is usually on the verge of going ballistic over someone mistreating/injuring/threatening the heroine, which makes me wish they would administer some gentle, lovingly tender ministrations rather than immediately (and often roughly) screwing the heroine’s brains out. That said, I keep buying and reading them, because there’s an abundance of good emotion and well-written family/friends dynamics going on!

Jaci Burton's RIDING THE EDGE
Rick Benetti is beyond aggravated at the thought of “babysitting” Ava Vargas, daughter of a hard-nosed Senator, who has followed her best friend into the dark, dangerous world of the Hellraisers motorcycle gang. Ava is concerned as to why her shy, studious, lifelong friend has ditched grad school and turned to a life centered around drugs and wild, unpredictable behavior. She has no desire to follow her friend on her path to destruction as her father worries, but feels a determined desperation to get her friend back before it’s too late. Rick’s undercover job for the government as a Wild Rider has him returning to a life he left behind years before. This time though, he’s working to protect a beautiful, incredibly sensual young woman while keeping his finger on the criminal pulse of the gang. Equally troubling is the fact that his own cousin, who was like a brother to him while growing up, is one of the ringleaders of the gang. Rick and Ava are quickly and unexpectedly caught up in a passionately heated relationship but Rick, having never received or given love, doesn’t see a place for Ava in his future.
Jaci Burton's story has the most meat of the two, in my opinion. Rick and Ava are both highly intelligent and although their first attraction may have been sexual, it isn't long before they see much deeper into one another. Soon Rick's case is wrapped up and it's time for them to go their separate ways. Rick has put his past behind him his entire life, and despite feeling unfamiliar new emotions, he has no doubt that he'll be able to put Ava behind him. Unfortunately, his heart didn't get the message and the result is a savagely painful ache, the likes of which he's never experienced.

I hope you'll check out these authors' sites and works - be sure to pop over to Amazon and do some shopping!
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

DANGEROUS DESIRES, the latest from Dee Davis

Author Dee Davis has a new book available, with another releasing hot on its heels! DANGEROUS DESIRES is on the shelves now and DESPERATE DEEDS will be out around the first of August, 2010. The powers that be at Romance Junkies were smiling down on me (thanks, Cat!) and I was able to get all three books for review - talk about excited! I'm thrilled to share my review for DANGEROUS DESIRES with you now and will be chatting about DESPERATE DEEDS in a week or so!

About the book:
Stranded in the Colombian jungle after a mission goes bad, Drake has only one objective: evade the mercenaries hot on his trail and deliver "the package" to U.S. officials. But "the package" has a mind of her own, and she has no intention of trading one set of captors for another. Madeline Reynard is beautiful, headstrong, and hell-bent on escape after years as a crime lord's pawn. She'll risk everything for freedom, even if it means deceiving the dark, handsome operative who now holds her life in his hands.
Drake has been burned too many times to let a woman manipulate him, especially a secretive one like Madeline. Even so, they cannot deny the attraction between them. Now as enemy forces close in, Drake and Madeline must trust each other with their lives-or face certain death.

You'll find an excerpt and more great info here - be sure to go check it out.

My review:
A woman desperately in need of rescuing and a man whose life revolves around danger and intrigue, a potent combination as they fight for their very lives in the jungles of South America. DANGEROUS DESIRES is the latest release from author Dee Davis, and readers who love suspense won’t be disappointed.
Madeline Reynard has had very little pleasure in her life. She survived an abusive childhood, committed murder to save her sister and spending time in prison. Add to that her spending the past three years purportedly as the mistress to one of the world’s most vile, evil crime lords. The loss of the only friend she had in prison was almost her undoing, but when she learned of the loss of her sister to a long battle with drugs, she gave up and played her very last card, hoping for salvation. When Drake Flynn and the A-Tac team come to her rescue, she’s skeptical about being delivered to safety and tries to escape them. Drake is nothing if not determined however, and Madeline soon finds herself safe and secure, a feeling she is unaccustomed to.
Drake is, to say the least, not very trusting of women. Seriously burned by the last woman he allowed to share his life, he’s even more distrusting of Madeline when she tries to escape, jeopardizing everyone on his team. Once both are confident that they are on the same side, they head to meet up with the rest of the A-Tac members. It’s hot in the jungle and passions flare to match the intensity of the harsh, steamy heat that surrounds them. Drake knows that he’ll never love again, but he can’t deny a strong attraction to Madeline.
DANGEROUS DESIRES smoothly follows DARK DECEPTIONS and is an outstanding continuation of an intriguing series by Dee Davis. Drake is instantly distrustful of Madeline and she in turn fears betrayal upon being returned to the U.S. Dee Davis has an incredible talent for taking readers on action-packed thrill rides, this time through the wilds of the jungle. The CIA’s A-Tac team works behind the guise of ivy league professors, but their knowledge of specific subjects add a realistic and interesting aspect to the series. Crucial research has been done to give characters the knowledge and expertise to carry out their roles as educators. Catching up with characters from DARK DECEPTIONS was a bonus. Back story is excellently written so as to not overpower or take away from Drake and Madeline’s story. I know that I won’t be the only reader anxiously awaiting DESPERATE DEEDS, available in August, 2010.

Ready for your own copy? Of course you are - buzz on over to Amazon and grab one! You might as well pre-order DESPERATE DEEDS while you're there because I guarantee you'll want it too!
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

It's Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope you're all planning to celebrate in some way, big or small! Besides Christmas, July 4th is my favorite holiday. We have no special plans besides going to our local parade and tossing some burgers and hot dogs on the grill later.

What are all of you doing? Parades? Picnics? Fireworks? Neighborhood block party?

We're leaving on Tuesday for a few days in Gatlinburg, TN. Tim and I honeymooned there, some 31 years ago, and used to go back almost annually but we then started going to Myrtle Beach every year and we haven't been there for several years now. We're looking forward to getting away, even if it's just for a few days.

Have a safe and happy holiday!
Laurie

The lucky winner of FATAL AFFAIR!!

UPDATED 6/29: No word from Sandra, so I've drawn a new name - JOANNE! Same deal, Joanne, email me at ljodamron@gmail.com w/your email addy and I'll forward to Marie.


SANDRA! Sandra, please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your email address so I can forward it to Marie! If I don't heaer from Sandra by Monday, I'll draw a new winner.

I hope everyone is set to have a great weekend! My weekend started early - took off work at noon and spent the afternoon with my best friend. We went to a nearby town for lunch and some shopping/antiquing. Had so much fun. I have massive amounts of housework to do tomorrow - not so much fun, but it will be satisfying to have it done.

Laurie

Welcome, Marie Force!

The Best Part About Being An Author? By: Marie Force

So what’s the very best part of being an author? The readers of course! I love my readers! I have been so lucky to meet so many great people through my books. Some of them have become close friends. One of my readers has even become a Beta reader, which means she reads for me before I submit to my agent or editor.

After Love at First Flight was released last summer, I heard from readers overseas who had bought L@FF or Line of Scrimmage. These were women who lived in France and Germany and numerous other non-English-speaking countries who were buying the books, even though they haven’t been translated into their languages. One of them told me she reads American romances to improve her English. I love that!

Laurie has told me more than once that Line of Scrimmage is one of her all-time favorite books. I told her yesterday that hearing that from a reader never, ever gets old. That something I wrote made such an impact that a reader still thinks about it almost two years later? How could that ever get old? With each new book comes more readers and new friends.

When we were growing up, most of us wouldn’t have dreamt of contacting a favorite author. It just wasn’t done the way it is now. We are easily accessible to our readers who can send us a quick e-mail or friend us on Facebook and keep in regular touch. This interaction has become an essential part of my writing routine, and I enjoy every email and every comment from readers. So please, keep them coming!
Tell me what you think about contacting your favorite authors. Something you’ve done or something you’d never do? If not, why not? Tell your thoughts on the matter, and I’ll give a copy of Fatal Affair to one respondent. Thanks so much for having me back again. Laurie! About Fatal Affair:
On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.
It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

And about me:
Marie Force’s first romantic suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, will be out June 21, 2010 from Carina Press. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, is coming soon from Carina. She is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at http://www.mariesullivanforce.com/, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

FATAL AFFAIR, available now from Marie Force! She's guesting here tomorrow!

Author Marie Force has a brand new release from Carina Press - FATAL AFFAIR - and while I have a copy on my Kindle, I (sadly) haven't yet found the time to read it. Given Marie's past works, I know it promises to be excellent! You'll find an excerpt on Marie's website. Equally exciting is learning that another book will soon follow, titled FATAL JUSTICE! Marie will be guesting here tomorrow and I hope you'll all stop back and show her a warm welcome. I know it's difficult for some to blog hop during the day, but we'll pop in and out through the evening. Marie is offering a download of FATAL AFFAIR to one lucky reader, so be sure to stop back! (thanks, Marie!) You may remember that I've chatted about Marie's earlier print release, LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, without a doubt one of my favorite romances, which was followed by LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT, also a very satisfying read. I'm thrilled to have Marie as a guest again!

On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.
It soon becomes clear that the Senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

Amazon has FATAL AFFAIR for download at a discounted price, so please go check it out. I 'm sure you all know that you can get Kindle for PC or iPod for free from Amazon, allowing you to download Kindle releases in a minute or two, and there are bunches of great books for free. I used the iPod app until I was fortunate enough to win a Kindle, and now I switch back and forth.
Please stop back tomorrow!
Laurie

AND THE WINNER IS ...

Melanie! Thanks to everyone who entered! I wish you could all come to Cincinnati next June! Melanie, please email me with your mailing info at ljodamron@gmail.com by this Friday the 18th. If I don't hear from Melanie on Friday, I'll pull another name.
I hope everyone is having a great week!
Laurie

The Lori Foster/Dianne Castell Reader/Author Get Together, 2010

This past weekend was spent with women who are so very special to me. I've known them online for several years, meeting them in person for the first time six years ago. Some I see a couple of times a year and others I only see at this event, once a year, yet all are so remarkably special. We sit down after being apart for that year and the conversation just picks right back up, as if we'd never left the table. I feel blessed to have them in my life. I'm also blessed to call Lori Foster and Dianne Castell my friends, but I don't have a single photo with either of them - I think because I see them other times during the year, it didn't enter my mind. Well, that and the fact that neither of them was standing still long enough for a picture!
Unfortunately, I don't have any pics and ALL of them together but here's one of several of us. I have a feeling Stacy took the picture since she isn't in it!
In this photo, top L to R, Kaleen, Niny and Lisa, bottom L to R, Barbara, moi and Judy.

I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favorite authors, HelenKay Dimon, at an RT booksigning in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, but getting to see her again and actually sit down to visit was incredibly special. Now if I could get a couple of my other favorites, Alison Kent and Jill Shalvis, to make their way to Ohio I'd be over the moon! They feel like old friends, despite never meeting in person and my fingers and toes are crossed that they might be able to make it one of these days. Here's a pic of HelenKay and me.
Just for fun I'm sharing a photo from that very first get together, six years ago. In this pic are (another) Barb, Stacy, Marcie (who we loved having at the "cool" table with us), Judy and me again. Most of us look pretty much the same, plus or minus a few pounds and hairstyles/colors! How fun to look back!
I have more photos on my camera from the weekend, including some from the surprise bridal shower we had for one of the sweetest, most amazing women on the planet, Beth, but the dock that connects to my computer isn't working for some reason so I can't share them right now. Aggravation.

This year's "event" book was THE GIFT OF LOVE and all proceeds from book sales are going to the Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati. I have a copy for giveaway that's been autographed by all but two authors. Heidi Betts wasn't able to attend and I wasn't able to track down Gia Dawn for her signature. If you'd like your name in the draw for this book, simply leave a comment and you're in! I'll let this one run until Tuesday, June 15. Please send your friends over - if someone mentions your name in their comment, I'll enter your name an extra time for each friend.

Want a copy of THE GIFT OF LOVE? Buzz on over to Amazon and grab a copy. This is a beautiful book and would make an great gift for all of the romance readers in your life.

Thanks for checking it out! I hope that if you've ever had thoughts about coming to Cincinnati for this get together that you'll give it serious consideration for next June!

Laurie