Want a chance at a Kindle? Gotta act fast!

There’s just one more day left! Wendy Wax, author of MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS and the new novel TEN BEACH ROAD, out in May, is getting ready to give away an Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi. It comes loaded with one of her most popular books, THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER. Just “like” Wendy by going to Wendy's website here and clicking on the Kindle or go directly to Wendy’s Facebook page at here. The promotion ends on Thursday, 3/31/11. Good luck!!

Denyse's winners named!

Denyse pulled two winners last night and emailed them to me. I hate to admit that I went to bed at 10:00 and missed her email. Sorry to be such an old lady, girls! I had a ridiculously busy, stressful day at work yesterday and couldn't wait to go to bed. I was pushing myself to stay up until 10:00!
Denyse's winners are Tweetybird and Judy F. - congratulations, ladies! If you'll give me your email addresses, we'll get your books out to you.
Thanks so much to Denyse for guesting here and thanks to all who commented.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Laurie
xo

Please help me welcome, Denyse Bridger!

Denyse Bridger is guesting today - here's a bit about her new Ellora's Cave release, HIDE AND SECRET:
The idea for HIDE AND SECRET began as a stray thought, because in an odd way, through the wonderful entertainment of role-playing that has emerged on Facebook, I was inadvertently cast in the role of "other" without realizing it. Friends and acquaintances abound when you're a public person, as authors tend to be in this wonderful cyber world. I've been friended in recent months by a vast array of vampires, demons, lords and werewolves, to name a few. One of them began a flirtation, and me being me, I played along. It ended up being a case of chat and fun via PM, too - and I told him I felt like his other woman... the idea stayed past the laughter, and I wrote a fictional journal entry and called it "The Secret That He Keeps" and posted a piece of it on FB. I thought that would be an end to it, but Quinn and Bella weren't through talking, so I went back and added more to the piece. At that point, I didn't actually even know their names. I showed the piece to a friend, more of less as "mind-candy" and to give her a laugh, but she surprised me, she wanted to read more, and felt it was a very sexy and alluring story.... as I wrote more, I also started to recognize who I was writing about - a friend who plays the role of Qhuinn Longstrong on Facebook.... (He's from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books.) So, I channeled my friend Qhuinn and gave the hero his name. A few more beta reads and my partner on this one suggested that it go to Ellora's Cave.... Imagine my surprise when it was contracted? So, who knows? What began as a stray thought has become a five-star rated erotic "Quickie" for one of the most respected publishing houses in the business! Now I've been asked to tell more of Quinn and Bella's story so there will be a sequel and probably a prequel, too!!!

Thanks for chatting today everyone - and if there are any questions, fire away!!! I'll be in and out all day!! Laurie - as always - thank you for letting me come and talk with your readers! And yes, despite the distance between us, I love ya, girlfriend!! HUGS and MORE HUGS!!!

REMEMBER, LADIES, that Denyse and I are each giving away a copy of HIDE AND SECRET - the winners will be drawn tomorrow evening from all comments, so get cracking!
Thanks for being here, Denyse!

HIDE AND SECRET, the latest from Denyse Bridger (with giveaways tomorrow)!

The multi-talented Denyse Bridger will be guesting here tomorrow to celebrate the release of her latest, a "Quickie" from Ellora's Cave, HIDE AND SECRET - congratulations, Denyse!

I stumbled upon Denyse a few years ago when I reviewed one of her books for Romance Junkies. I immediately loved her work and think she would agree that despite the hundreds of miles that separate us, we were fast friends! I haven't read every single thing Denyse has written, but have read most and I positively love her style. Here's a closer look at HIDE AND SECRET, including a brilliant review from Siren Book Reviews. As I said, Denyse will be here tomorrow and she's giving one lucky reader a copy of HIDE AND SECRET. I too will give a copy to another lucky reader, so be sure to stop back!

HIDE AND SECRET
Genre: Contemporary erotic
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
BUY: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9160-hide-and-secret.aspx
Alone with her journal, Bella examines her feelings and passion for Quinn Lockharte, a man who charged into her life in a storming fury and changed it forever. Quinn's duty to his family has him engaged to his childhood sweetheart, and though the promise is an old one, Quinn feels bound by it.
A surprise knock at her door brings Bella face-to-face with her destiny…but can she trust what her heart so desperately wants—especially when Quinn is determined to keep her naked and screaming his name? Mind-blowing sex has been their relationship’s strongest bond, but Bella’s tired of being his secret—and Quinn’s not willing to let her go.

Excerpt:
Your eyes narrow in irritation so I step aside and gesture for you to come into the apartment. I’m startled more than I should be when you slam the door shut and I am suddenly caught between your body’s urgent pressure and the solid wooden door that you push me against. Every part of me wakes, like flame that had been starved for air and is suddenly set free. My response is explosive and desperately hungry. You knot your hands in my soft sweater, already lifting it, your cool touch gliding over my heated skin. I want you, but for the first time this is not enough. Brushing your thumbs indolently over my nipples, you reignite an ache that drags low in my body, threatening to make me forget everything but how much I want you.

“I don’t want you here.” It’s hard to say which one of us is more startled by the words when they spill out of me.

You pull back and look at me intently, your eyes measuring the truth of what I’ve said. Then you shake your head and catch me between your hands as you bend to cover my mouth with yours. Slipping your tongue between my lips, you push your hips against me, telling me precisely what you desire.

I’m drowning in you. When I push at your shoulders you take my hands and pin them to the door, hips thrusting in the same greedy rhythm as your tongue inside my mouth. With a rough twist of my head, I break the lusting kiss and look away.

“I said I don’t want you here!”

Frowning, you step back and run a hand through the thickness of your dark hair, your eyes shrewd and watchful as you calculate your next move. I can see you thinking and working out what you need to do to change my mind. If you only knew how easy it would be…

I see the smile that’s starting to lift the corner of your mouth, and the gleam in your eyes tells me you don’t believe my rejection is remotely genuine.

I move away, walk past you, but get only a few steps before you put your arms around me and pull me back against you. Before I can break away, you push your hands under my sweater again, cupping my breasts, stroking and squeezing, fingertips pulling on the hard buds of my nipples, your mouth soft on the curve of my neck.

“You want me, Bella. Why are we playing this game?”

Your voice is equal parts gravel and silk and I feel the question against my skin, pouring into my blood like an injection of heated desire.

I don’t have time to answer before you’re walking into the living room, pulling me behind you. The candles are flickering, the soft recessed lighting adds a warm glow to the room. Outside the glass plates of the windows, the snow is swirling lazily. You sit me on the sofa in front of the crackling fire.

“We have to talk,” I whisper.

You nod and watch me as you take your coat off and toss it onto a nearby chair.

“You talk, I’ll listen.” You come toward me, stop in front of where I am sitting and then drop to your knees and smile.

Where to find Denyse:
WEBSITE: http://www.denysebridger.com
BLOG: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com
Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com
Diary of a Mistress: http://www.facebook.com/Diary.of.a.Mistress
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/denysebridger
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denysebridger
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Romance.and.Fantasy
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003LUHE96

Late yet again, but here's the winner!

I used Random Number Generator and was given 16. That means Phyllis C. is the winner. Congratulations, Phyllis! Please contact me with your email address so I can order your books! If I don't hear from Phyllis by Saturday I'll choose a new winner, so stay tuned.
Thanks to everyone who commented! If you weren't the lucky winner and haven't read this series, I would like to strongly encourage you to go order them all - you won't regret it, promise!
Have a great week!
Laurie

Question for you

Author friend Jill Shalvis and I had a discussion last week and as a result, I decided to ask here for readers' opinions. It's a subject that romance readers will likely be familiar with but I'm not so certain you would openly discuss it w/fellow readers. It has become commonplace for romance authors to use terminology that used to be seen mostly in more erotic writings - clit, cock, pussy, dick ... You get the picture. (I hope this doesn't knock me into an 18/older blog status! lol)
We're hopeful that you'll share your honest opinions. Are you shocked to see them? More surprised to NOT see them these days? Do you associate these words with particular authors? Jill does not use these particular words and I still find her books very heated and sensual and I think those of you who read her work will agree. Of the other authors you can think of who DO NOT use these words, do you think of them as being old fashioned or not quite keeping with the program? Or, do you think some veteran authors are using them just because everyone else is?
You can be as Chatty, as blunt, or as vague as you wish, but we are very interested in your opinions. Feel free to answer anonymously if you're shy. And please send your friends - the more opinions, the better!
Thanks, ladies!
Laurie (and Jill)

Melissa Schroeder's THE SPY WHO LOVED HER

Melissa Schroeder is celebrating a new release, THE SPY WHO LOVED HER. This is the third book in her Once Upon an Accident series, and while it's difficult to choose a favorite of the three, this likely is mine. The beautiful cover is a little bonus, don't you think? Melissa is an author that I think every single romance reader on the planet should be familiar with. She's one of the handful of authors I'd love to meet in person some day. Melissa is extremely talented and is quick to offer friendly, no nonsense advice to those who are interested in trying their hand at writing/getting published.
This series combines historical romance and romantic suspense, two of my favorites! The passion and sensuality are richly heated and the characters and their motives are strong throughout. You all know that romantic suspense has long been my favorite sub genre and Melissa has done an excellent job of surrounding believable historical settings and characters with dark, mysterious back story and suspense.

About the book:
To keep her safe, he will not only have to risk his life, but also his heart.

Lady Anna was once considered the catch of the season. Now, three years after she fell for a man who tried to murder her cousin, she eases her guilt with charity work at an orphanage. Until her mother insists she do her duty.
Attending her cousin’s ball is irritating enough. It’s her one dance with Daniel, the unscrupulous Earl of Bridgerton, that rubs her nerves raw. And oddly leaves her senses on the edge of arousal.
The ton sees Daniel as a scoundrel. In truth, like centuries of Bridgertons before him, he leads a vast network of spies, protecting England from her worst enemies. His resolve never to marry means the one woman he’s always wanted—Lady Anna—is off limits. Especially now that his father’s murderer is coming after him as well.
At first, Anna wonders if Daniel was put on this earth just to annoy her. It’s only when she finds him injured that his mask begins to fall away—and so do the barriers between them. But their flaring passion puts her right where Daniel didn’t want her. Next on a killer’s list.

Here's a link to Samhain so you can order your copy. Trust me on this, OK? You absolutely want this book!

To celebrate Melissa's release of THE SPY WHO LOVED HER, I'm giving away a digital download of the first two books in this series, THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS (#1) and LESSONS IN SEDUCTION (#2), to one lucky reader. These books all stand alone, but I truly believe that reading them in order makes for an even more satisfying reading experience.

To get your name in the draw, all you need do is comment. Have you read Melissa Schroeder's work? If not, I strongly suggest you give her a try - I guarantee no disappointments.
I'll draw for a winner on Monday, March 14. Be sure to tell your friends! For everyone who mentions your name in their comment, I'll toss your name in the hat an extra time. Good luck!
Special thanks to Melissa for allowing me to read and review THE SPY WHO LOVED HER, and thank you all for checking it out!
Laurie

The winner of WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE named!

I went to random number generator and it gave me number 10 - Angie-la is the winner of the Kindle copy of Julie Anne Long's WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE. Congratulations! I'll give Angie-la until Tuesday to get her email addy to me for the Kindle download. Thanks to everyone who commented. Stay tuned for another contest coming in the next several days.
Also coming, likely sometime this weekend, some questions for you all, as readers, that have arisen after a recent discussion between Jill Shalvis and me. We're looking forward to your opinions and thoughts, so please check back.
Have a great Saturday, everyone! Anyone have fun plans? I'm working out early tomorrow and then have an appointment at the Bloodmobile after - fun, fun, fun!!
Laurie