To Help In the Countdown To New Year's........

A Visit With Author CJ Ellison....

Author CJ Ellisson has written in many different genres and created many enjoyable books throughout her writing career thus far.  With so many authors out there though, her name might not be familiar to you.  So courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours CJ is here today to talk about her goals for the new year.....

Thanks for having me today, Joder. I’ve been checking out your recent posts and you certainly cover a wide range of topics here on WOW from the Scarf Princess (great name, btw). From movies, TV shows, to books…. there seems to be a bit for everyone.

I could jump right in and give your readers a hot and steamy excerpt from one of my erotica novellas, but I’m pretty sure you’ll do that if you feel like you want to. Instead, I’d like to share my Number One New Year’s Resolution with you:

1)    Reach More Readers

2)    Get Healthy

3)    Lose Weight

4)    Get More Organized (geez, these are starting to get boring)

5)    Learn to speak Spanish

6)    Have more sex (okay, that one is finally fun ;-)

7)    Play more games with my children without wanting to strangle them for fighting and acting like brats. (I think number six should help reduce stress on this one :-D)

To achieve my number one resolution, I want to tell you about a new venture I’m a part of – matching readers up with free ebooks they’re interested in.

This means a lot to me for one reason – my primary goal is always to reach readers. Pure and simple. Not sell lots of books and rake in cash. Yes, that would be really nice, but I’m a realist if nothing else. I will only obtain success one reader at a time, something most writers forget.

Recently, I did the unthinkable. I hosted an ebook giveaway on my Facebook page to match over 1500 ebooks up with readers—for FREE. All they had to do obtain a book was divulge their email and the type of eReader they own. The information was sent directly to the author of the book, who emailed entrants their free copies. It was a huge success and got me plotting to do it with more authors and on a larger scale.

Why would I do this for other writers? As I said, I want to reach more readers and as it turns out, so do many, many other authors. Some readers may wind up disliking my work or that of another author, and decide not to try any of it again, but the hope is they read the product descriptions and know exactly what they are getting…. And will be back for more.

If you like vampires you’ll love the next batch of giveaways I have planned for my facebook page. If you read steampunk, erotica, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, horror, romance, to ghost stories and more, then you’ll want to stop by a new reader page I’m working on called Red Hot Readers. On January 2nd it will launch with dozens of new titles from indie and small press authors, with over 2400 ebooks available.

The deals will all be free on the giveaway page, so be sure to stop by and get as many free ebooks as you’d like!

Thanks for having me here today, Joder. I’m excited to read your review of one of my steamy novellas and hope my take on erotica (frequent sex every few pages) wasn’t too over the top for you. I’ve found that there are so many flavors of erotica out there that it is easy to find what you really like – whether it’s more story based, like erotic romance, or down and dirty kinky with strong BDSM elements. Once you find an author you love, you follow them anywhere their active mind will take you!

Wishing you and all your readers many hours of enjoyment with books this upcoming year!

Thanks SO MUCH for being here CJ!  Great post and a great kick in the butt to make those self-improvements for 2012!

Johnny Living Dangerously

By C.J. Ellisson

Johnny is lead singer in an all-girl, hot-pants-wearing band. Experience the sexy young man's conquests one summer as he sets out to bang each gorgeous band member.

Juanita, the hot-blooded drummer; Rachelle, the base guitarist with a secret; Ginger, the redheaded lead guitarist; and quiet Kimmie, the keyboardist who prefers girls.

Will he met his goal or will one or more of the ladies find out about his plans?

WARNING: This 80 page novella contains very explicit sex.  For mature 18 and over readers

only.

Erotica Categories: m/f/f, m/f, f/f, anal play, anal sex, sex toy use, masturbation, oral sex, light description of a m/m2f transsexual scene. Pretty much sex every few pages.

More Than Tolerable

By C.J. Ellisson

Candy thinks ordering her lovers to do what she wants will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Not surprisingly, her sexual experiences fall flat and she continues to search for more.

Tommy, one of her co-workers, has been hot for the sexy blond for months. He's bound and determined to convince her he's the one she's been searching for - even if she believes a fellow accountant would make a boring bedmate.

Can the two come together to unlock Candy's sexual awareness or will her own fears push Tom away?

Warning: This 72 page (approximately 17,450 words) novella contains explicit sex with an introduction to bondage (blindfolds, gags, spanking, tied down with scarves, and handcuffs). For mature readers 18 and over only.

AUTHOR BIO:

C.J. Ellisson writes erotica and urban fantasy. Her vampire series, The V V Inn, mixes a heavy dose of erotic elements with suspense, action, a little bit of mystery and some light humor. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze.

To learn more about C.J.'s books (where you can read half of the novels for free), please visit her website at www.cjellisson.com

A 2-for-1 Review of Erotic Books from CJ Ellison.....

Johnny Living Dangerously by CJ Ellisson

Johnny is lead singer in an all-girl, hot-pants-wearing band. Experience the sexy young man's conquests one summer as he sets out to bang each gorgeous band member.

Juanita, the hot-blooded drummer; Rachelle, the base guitarist with a secret; Ginger, the redheaded lead guitarist; and quiet Kimmie, the keyboardist who prefers girls.

Will he met his goal or will one or more of the ladies find out about his plans?

********************

I was excited to start reading this book since I LOVE rock star stories.  There's something super sexy about how they command the stage and their sex appeal off is even more intense.  Johnny lives up to this rock star persona jumping in and out of relationships.  He's looking for fun and there's plenty women to oblige him.  The sexual encounters he has with a bar owner and his bandmates are varied and intense but you sense the superficiality.  Things become stale for him and soon being a boy toy loses its charm.  Going after bandmate Kimmie though for something more serious is an uphill climb for him to prove he's serious.  While I enjoyed the steamy scenes, it was this part of the story I most enjoyed and wished to see more of.  I wanted to see something more to Johnny and in his interactions with Kimmie I saw glimpses of a very likable yet self-conscious man.  The female characters were each unique but not much is known about them beyond their sexual activities.  Kimmie's the only one with a bit more fleshed-out character and the story ends just as we get to know more about her.  All in all this was an entertaining read very short on substance.  The sexual encounters were steamy but led to a lot of character development being left by the wayside.  I had hoped for a bit more but those looking for more BANG for your buck need look no further than this story.

My rating for this is a C+

More Than Tolerable by CJ Ellisson

Candy thinks ordering her lovers to do what she wants will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Not surprisingly, her sexual experiences fall flat and she continues to search for more.

Tommy, one of her co-workers, has been hot for the sexy blond for months. He's bound and determined to convince her he's the one she's been searching for, even if she believes a fellow accountant would make a boring bedmate.

Can the two come together to unlock Candy's sexual awareness or will her own fears push Tom away?

********************

This is a short friends to lovers story long on the entertainment.  Candy has been searching for a long time for just the right man to satisfy her.  She goes from one man's bed to the next hoping to find the kind of man she dreams about.  Even though he's been attracted to her for months, Tommy isn't the kind of man she thinks can excite her.  He soon proves her wrong through inventive sexual encounters and teaching her that letting go of her rigid control can be a good thing.  There was good characterization in this book even though it was a short story.  We actually get to know Candy and why she fights to keep control and by being with Tommy we see a different side of her emerge.  Tommy is immensely likable himself and sexy to boot.  I enjoyed how he treated Candy and their constant verbal foreplay and hated to see the story come to an end.

For those wanting the perfect blend of storyline and steamy sexual encounters give More Than Tolerable a chance.  It's a great way to warm up on a chilly afternoon.

My rating for this is a B.

*I received both of these books from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Happy New Year 2012 Giveaway Hop

I want to thank everyone who's visited my site throughout the year and could think of no better way to express my appreciation than by hosting a giveaway!  Thankfully, two wonderful bloggers came up with a great celebration idea and so courtesy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Babs Book Bistro I bring to you a giveaway extravaganza celebrating the new year.  I thought long and hard about what to give away and decided on these two books full of action and romance, as well as some Author Swag.....

DANGEROUS DESIRES by Dee Davis

ENTWINED by Elisabeth Naughton

...........I hope you find all that appealing since they're very enjoyable reads that I know you'll like.  Entry will be simple since I want to give you plenty of time to enter all the other awesome giveaways too!

**********GIVEAWAY**********

-Giveaway is OPEN TO US/CAN.

-MUST be a GFC follower or become one.

-Leave a comment, WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY, to be entered.

-I will use random.org to pick a winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my winner's confirmation email or a new winner will be chosen.

-Giveaway ends on 1/3 at 11:59 CST PM.

*Enjoy, and Good Luck, with all the other giveaways!!!!!!

Follow Friday.........

This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostesses Parajunkee & Alisoncanread.  We also gain new followers by joining each other's sites via GFC, so please let me know if you're a new follower since I automatically follow back.  And now for this week's question....

Q:  The New Year is here -- and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?

A:  I swear, no matter how much of my hair I pull out, I will finally create a button for my blog along with creating a header that's more me (even though I feel so intimidated and stupid).

I will also work harder at promoting my FB, Twitter, and Goodreads pages.  Of course if there were more hours in the day that would help.  LOL.

Book Tour for Head Games by Cassandra Carr (Guest Post & GIVEAWAYS)

There's a sexy new sports team making women's hearts flutter and courtesy of Goddess Fish Promotions and author Cassandra Carr I am introducing you to them today.  In her release, Head Games, Cassandra takes us into the world of professional hockey and two teammates who share more than playing time.  Cassandra is here today to talk about sports heroes and is letting me host two giveaways.  So make sure to read this entire post to find out how to enter since these giveaways will end tomorrow night.  And now, here's Cassandra talking about the current popularity of sports heroes in romance.....

Athletes as heroes in romance is growing more and more popular. With major writers like Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jaci Burton writing highly-successful series featuring athletic heroes, I got to thinking - what's turning romance readers on to athlete heroes? I've got a couple of theories, mostly based on why I love to write and read about athlete heroes.

First, athletes tend to be alpha males. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but by and large an athlete isn't going to make it all the way to the pros without having a take-charge, competitive attitude. And from the beginning of the written words, romance readers have adored the alpha male.

Second, though we all know it's not necessary for every romantic hero to have gobs of cash, it is nice to fantasize about living the good life when reading a romance novel. As a writer, I can tell you it's all kinds of fun to pick out fancy cars and awesome houses for my hockey player heroes. ;-)

Third, sports have a lot of built-in drama. Can the athlete stay on top? Will they be injured? Traded? Sports, by their very nature, are great breeding grounds for conflict in a story.

What did I miss? Why do you like athlete heroes?

Head Games by Cassandra Carr

Leo Laporte and Scott Schaeffer are teammates on the ice and roommates off it who also share women. They’ve been coming into Kelly Chase’s bistro after games for months, and they know they want her. As the attraction grows, the men realize they want more than a one-night stand - they want forever.

Kelly’s not so sure. Yes, she wants both men. But a permanent ménage relationship? That’s taking giving her heart away to a whole new level, and a chance she’s hesitant to take. Then Leo is injured and Scott’s on the trading block, and she realizes this may be her only shot at true, everlasting love.

There are so many questions swirling around inside Kelly’s head. Can she believe in Leo and Scott’s love? And will her business and her reputation survive once people find out she’s with two men?

EXCERPT:

“Okay, so let’s go over everything again – make sure we’re on the same page here,” Leo urged.

“All right. Can’t hurt. We need to present a united front if we’re gonna do this.”
“Exactly. So both of us want her.” They’d been attracted to Kelly since the moment they’d laid eyes on her, but had come to the realization a few months ago that their feelings ran deeper than simple lust.

Scott nodded; his eyes as determined and focused as Leo had ever seen them. “Yes, we both want her, and the only way that will work is if we share her. But we need to make it clear at some point, maybe not right up front, that we want her more than just sex.”

“And we think tonight is the night?”

“She’s definitely intrigued.” Scott paused and Leo could practically see the wheels turning in his friend’s head. “Even when we mentioned a threesome last week she didn’t run.”

“Yeah, and did you see the expression on her face? She wants it.”

“I think so, too. But don’t forget. We can’t push her too hard. And everything one of us does affects the other. We can’t let her tear us apart and if this thing starts to do that we need to reconsider.”

“Agreed,” Leo answered. He held up his fist. “Even now, even with Kelly, bros over hos, man.” The two men did a quick fist bump and Leo relaxed a little.

A few minutes later Kelly backed out of the kitchen, her arms laden with plates, and both men paused to admire her in her tight chef’s pants. She caught them staring and just shook her head, laughing.

Yes, they were done waiting for her to come around. It was time to put Operation Seduction into action.

AUTHOR BIO:

Cassandra Carr is a multi-published erotic romance author who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators book 1, will release on November 2, 2011 from Siren Bookstrand, and Caught will release December 13, 2011 from Loose Id.

For more information about Cassandra:
Website:  http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr

**********GIVEAWAY**********

There are 2 giveaways I'm offering.  

*One giveaway is for a winner's choice of a $10 GC to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble going to one randomly drawn commenter from the entire blog tour.

*The other giveaway is strictly related to my site and is for a set of signed Romance Trading Cards given to one randomly drawn commenter who comments below.

-To be entered in both giveaways just leave a comment below answering the question in bold that Cassandra asked at the end of her guest post, along with your email addy.

-For the tour wide giveaway, the more tour stops you comment on the greater your chances of winning.  For a list of tour stops go here.

-My giveaway is open for those in the US.

-The tour wide giveaway is OPEN TO ALL.

-Both giveaways end at 11:59 PM CST on 12/30.

Review for Head Games by Cassandra Carr

Leo Laporte and Scott Schaeffer are teammates on the ice and roommates off it who also share women. They’ve been coming into Kelly Chase’s bistro after games for months, and they know they want her. As the attraction grows, the men realize they want more than a one-night stand - they want forever.
 
Kelly’s not so sure. Yes, she wants both men. But a permanent ménage relationship? That’s taking giving her heart away to a whole new level, and a chance she’s hesitant to take. Then Leo is injured and Scott’s on the trading block, and she realizes this may be her only shot at true, everlasting love. 

There are so many questions swirling around inside Kelly’s head. Can she believe in Leo and Scott’s love? And will her business and her reputation survive once people find out she’s with two men?

********************

As a big fan of romance books featuring athletes I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, the first in a series entitled Buffalo Intimidators, to get a taste of a hot hockey player.  What I found was not one, but two sexy hockey players who share more than just playing time.  And for bistro owner Kelly, she's the lucky recipient of their undivided attention.

Leo and Scott are extremely sexy and each offer something different to this relationship.  Leo is more spontaneous and animalistic, while Scott is more methodical and charming.  They've shared many women before since first becoming roommates and the relationships were always about fun but nothing more serious.  Being with Kelly though is all about emotions and both men have to use their talents to win her over.  They see nothing wrong with sharing her but soon find out that the path is rocky for them to all achieve happiness.

Kelly has many reasons to be scared of a relationship with Leo and Scott, especially with the idea of a menage very new to her.  Kelly already has body issues where she thinks she's too large to be attractive and doesn't believe one man will be attracted to her let alone two.  Her self-esteem issues flare up from time to time causing hesitancy on her part.  She also has big concerns about her business if people discover how she lives her personal life.  

Leo and Scott constantly reassure Kelly of her attractiveness through the intense sexual interludes that take place often throughout the story.  The scenes are hot with lots of edgy talk and each character gets equal time.  This is a menage where everyone is equal.  It's too bad the real world intrudes when a sleazy sports writer makes their menage known and peoples prejudices come out.  This part of the story came out of nowhere and felt a bit over the top.  It was merely a device used to pull our lovers apart.

As with most menages I've read, the feasibility of this kind of relationship isn't really dealt with, it's touched on but not really addressed.  It's made to sound simple, but in the real world it's probably not the case.  This didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story at all, but definitely kept me from becoming fully sucked into the story.

From the steamy sexual interludes to sexy hockey players I enjoyed this story from first page to last.  The ruggedness of the game intrigued me and I long to see more from the world of the Buffalo Intimidators.  Hopefully Ms. Carr plans to keep the game going for a long time to come since I don't want my first taste of these players to be my last.

My rating for this is a B-

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.    

The Importance of Music on One Tree Hill:The Complete Eighth Season on DVD/UltraViolet

Like most shows on The CW, music plays an important part in conveying emotions and drawing viewers into the action.  Long time favorite, One Tree Hill, is no exception and the use of music has kept this show feeling fresh yet today.  The theme song for the show is entitled "I Don't Want to Be" and is sung by Gavin DeGraw.  For the 8th Season different artists came to the studio to sing their versions of the theme song with some very entertaining results.  From dance beats to mellow tempos, all the versions were uniquely different from the original.  My favorite was by So & So who created a strong beat that was perfect to dance to but with a harder edge.  The vocals were strong too and made for a more powerful song, almost anthem-like.  I like the rebelliousness this version engendered.  Keeping with the idea of a big sounding song, I'd like to hear what Lady Gaga would do with this song.  Her version would be powerful no doubt and be energizing to those listening, definitely a tune that would stand out.

Check out all the music and drama thus far with One Tree Hill:The Complete Eighth Season on DVD and UltraViolet.

And don't forget that Season 9 premieres on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 8/7c on The CW!




*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

Winner of The Mentalist:The Complete Third Season on DVD

Thanks for all the comments and visitors who helped me celebrate my 1st Blogiversary!  I appreciate each and everyone of you and hope to entertain you for a long time to come.  And now, the winner of The Mentalist:The Complete Third Season on DVD is.....

.......Kay W!!!!!!

Congratulations!  You're going to love drooling over Simon Baker in the privacy of your own home!  I'll be emailing you soon to get your mailing addy so be on the lookout for it and make sure to respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks for entering and Congratulations again!

Winner of Chuck:The Complete Fourth Season on DVD

Thanks everyone for celebrating my 1st Blogiversary with me!  I appreciate all of your visits and comments and look forward to entertaining you for a long time to come.  Without further ado, the winner of Chuck:The Complete Fourth Season on DVD is......

....Carmen!!!!!

Congratulations!  You're going to enjoy watching this and getting ready for the last season of Chuck on tv.  I'll be emailing you soon to get your mailing addy so be on the lookout.  Please make sure to respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks for entering and Congratulations again!

Winner of Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy Along With Author Swag

I want to thank everyone for being a part of my 1st Blogiversary Giveaway!  I appreciate everyone who visits and comments and I hope I can keep entertaining for a long time to come.  I don't want to keep you on edge any longer, so without further ado the winner of Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy and author swag is.....

........Chris Bails!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!  I'm so happy for you and know that you're going to enjoy this book as well as all the author swag I'll be sending too!  I'll be sending you an email shortly to get your mailing addy so be on the lookout for it.  You'll have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.  Thanks again for entering and Congratulations!

What Fiona Deserves on Shameless:The Complete First Season on DVD

Frank Gallagher is not what you'd think of as father of the year, spending every extra penny at the bar instead of awarding his daughter Fiona for all the hard work she does for the family.  If it were me I'd give her the money to go on a long tropical vacation.  Spending time on a relaxing tropical beach having people cater to her is what she deserves after constantly helping others amidst all the chaos her family causes.  To be helped instead of helping others is only fair after what her family puts her through.  Don't you think that sounds only fair for her being such a helpful daughter?

To find out what Fiona puts up with, catch the first season of Shameless on DVD and Blu-Ray!

And don't forget that Season 2 of Shameless premieres on Sunday, January 8th at 9PM ET/PT on Showtime!



*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Shameless Season One on DVD.

Teaser Tuesdays #48

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

SMOKIN' SEVENTEEN by Janet Evanovich

....from page 46.

-I didn't want to think too hard about Lula and her moves.  On the one hand it was way too much information.  On the other hand I felt inadequate.  My big move was to get out of my underpants without snagging my foot and falling on my face.

Rizzoli & Isles Has Their Riveting Season Finale Tonight....

It's been an exciting season thus far delving into many of the character's personal lives.  Tonight is no different with an episode entitled, Burning Down the House, where a warehouse fire kills a man and Jane and Maura investigate whether it was arson or an accident. But their investigation hits a snag when a hit-and-run leaves someone in the hospital. To top things off FBI Agent Gabriel Dean (recurring guest star Billy Burke) makes an appearance and has high hopes of rekindling his relationship with Jane. As an added bonus, recurring guest star Jacqueline Bissett appears as Maura's mother, Constance Isles.

I've enjoyed this season immensely and digging into the character's backgrounds to discover more of what makes them tick.  The women in this series are strong but I like seeing their softer sides from time to time.  So when a love interest returns from the past you know the sparks are going to fly.  With so many aspects of the character's personal lives left hanging, make sure to tune in tonight to see what happens.  Will some of the characters have a happily ever after or a happy for right now ending? 

Catch the Season Finale of Rizzoli & Isles tonight at 10/9c on TNT!  And if you haven't seen the show, you can check it out here http://bit.ly/lnDvyi!

*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles.

For Fans of The Hunger Games....

For those wanting to show off their love of The Hunger Games comes this collection of nail polishes inspired by the book and upcoming movie.  The colors represent the Games and overall feel of the intriguing world Suzanne Collins has created.  So be on the lookout for these shades to be released in late February.

Fashion Monday Madness (the Abbreviated Version)

With so much going on this week what with the holidays and author's visits and giveaways I have going on, I thought I'd keep today simple.  So after viewing today's fashions make sure to sign up for the giveaways I have running.  And return for even more fun throughout the week.  So without further ado, here's.....

The Good....

The young royals of William, Kate, and Harry looked fabulous once again and anything but basic in black.  Will and Harry look dapper and debonair in their perfectly fitted suits while Kate matches beautifully in this tightly fitted black gown that settles that pesky pregnancy question.  The lone necklace and accompanying earrings, bracelet, and ring adds just the right bit of adornment.  Kate just shines and this is definitely a winning trio!

The Bad....

Paris Hilton looks like a Pepto-Bismol mess in this silly coat and hat more suited to a child than an adult.  Add in the sloppy pants and boring shoes and it's looking like Paris is running out of money.  Either that or this is her idea of being incognito.

The Ugly....

Vanessa Hudgens once again takes the retro hobo look too far and ends up looking trashy.  From the see-through lace pants that are completely ill-fitting to the over-sized sweater that looks like it could cover three people to the fringed purse more suited to the 70s, it appears that Vanessa needs a fashion consultant for Christmas.  If this is what today's starlets call fashion, than I seriously worry for our youth.  Yet another thumbs down for Vanessa this week!

Let me know what you think of today's fashion choices in the comments below and keep coming back for more giveaways and authors throughout the week!

Merry Christmas to All!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your visits and comments!  I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!

Book Tour for Fate's Second Chance by AJ Jarrett (Excerpt & GIVEAWAY)

For fans of the m/m genre there's an intriguing new book out by AJ Jarrett with a hint of the otherworldly to make it even more unique.  Courtesy of CBLS Promotions, AJ has provided me with an excerpt of Fate's Second Chance to whet your appetite and letting me give a digital copy of it away too.  So be sure to read the entire post to find out how to enter.  Now, without further ado, here's a taste of Fate's Second Chance.......

EXCERPT:

I always assumed when I died my life would flash before my eyes, but that was so not the case. Sitting on an airplane with complete strangers as the massive piece of machinery plummeted to the ground, all I could think was why the fuck did I take the earlier flight.

I was being a little dramatic I know, but I was about to die and leave my sister and my best friend. The only people I loved in the world, plus the only family I had. I was more than likely leaving them due to faulty equipment or engine malfunction. What a lousy way to go.

My poor sister Serena, what would she do? Our parents died when I was fifteen and she twenty-two. We were all we had in the world, and now I would be bailing on her too. Of course, this entire situation wasn't my fault but it didn't make it any easier. She'd been my friend and parent for the past ten years. I loved Serena, she was truly the best sister slash parent a girl could ever have.

Then there was Shawn, my best friend since kindergarten. The only man I ever truly loved. He was there when my parents died, there when Serena caught me having my first beer, and there when my first boyfriend broke my heart. Whenever I needed someone, he was there to pick up the pieces no matter how big or how small. I couldn't have picked a better friend.

The only thing bad about being in love with Shawn was that he's gay. I'm a girl so a romantic relationship would never happen. Now I wouldn't even get the chance to say I love you in more than a friend kind of way. Maybe going down was for the best. Telling Shawn my true feelings would ruin our friendship.

These were the things going through my mind minutes before the plane crashed and I'd die. To have just one more chance to tell Shawn and Serena I loved them, I would have given anything.

The swift drop in altitude told me the engines had stalled. I heard other passengers screaming, crying, and praying, but I sat there with my eyes clenched tight. Behind my eyelids, all I saw were Shawn and Serena.

Then nothing.

* * * *

Sometime later I woke up. I took in my surroundings--white walls, white bed linens, and I was wearing a white gown. My nose twitched at the sterile clean smell of the room. I had to be in a hospital.

How could I have survived a plane crash? Maybe I had dreamed the whole thing. I sat up and looked around me. I took notice of the large white room with fluffy white fog floating around the floor.

Okay, that was weird. I had to be dreaming.

"You're not dreaming, sweetheart. You're dead as a doornail."

What the fuck? I spun around and clutched my blanket to my chest. There was a man leaning against the wall. I could tell even in a relaxed state he would tower over my short stature. He had a golden complexion, platinum blond hair that came to his shoulders, and a smile on his face that lit up the room. Definitely gorgeous in a preppy guy way, as if he just stepped out of a J Crew ad. He wore all white as well.

What was up with all the white? Okay, this wasn't the time for stupid questions. I needed to focus.

"Yes, please focus since we don't have a lot of time here, sweetheart, but thanks for the compliment."

Okay, is he reading my freaking mind? I tilted my head to the side to study this apparent psychic medium.

"Yes, I can read your thoughts, but can you start using your mouth? It would make this less awkward," the man said as he pushed away from the wall.

I tried to swallow but my mouth was too dry. I wasn't sure if it was the rising fear or shock that had me unable to move or react. "Where am I?" Start slow, Marie, you can do this.

"Okay, once again, speak words to me. Reading your mind is giving me a headache and that's just poor manners." The man came and sat down at the end of the bed I was lying on. "To answer your question, you're in what we like to call limbo. There has been a mistake, or actually," the man let out a small chuckle, "a few mistakes but who's counting. My name is Ross and I'm your guardian angel."

The angel named Ross held out his hand for me to shake. So I did. After all, I was completely crazy. The dude just said I was in limbo. Crazy Town, population me.

"Girl, seriously, snap out of it. My name is Ross, your guardian angel. Let us speed this up, shall we? You remember the plane crash?"

Plane crash, plane crash, plane crash. Fuck! Ross nodded up and down. "I'm really dead. My whole life seems like a dream and I'm just now waking up." I looked around me to get a better look. "Is this the waiting room for Heaven?" I whispered as I leaned toward him.

Ross shook his head at me. Sue me; I was new to all this dying business.

"L-I-M-B-O. Did you get that? Jeez, you're slow," Ross said as he relaxed back on his elbows.

"Dude, you don't need to shout at me or spell shit. I hear perfectly fine and speak English. You're just a lousy explainer," I said as I pointed my finger at him. Okay, maybe yelling at the crazy man claiming to be my guardian angel wasn't the smartest thing for me to do.

"I'm trying to explain but you're not listening." I watched as Ross ran his hands through his white blond hair as he mumbled something I couldn't make out. "Okay, let's try this again. My name is Ross, you died in the plane crash, and you're sitting in limbo. Long story short, there's been a mistake and like I said this dying business isn't the first mistake to happen to you."

I chewed on my lower lip as I tried to digest all the info. All I heard was mistake, dying, and wasn't the first mistake. Where does a person begin?

"What do you mean mistake? To me someone dying is a huge thing to fuck up on. Don't you think?" I shouted.

"Okay, first off, you can't yell at me if I can't yell at you, and second you cuss way too much. I've always thought that, you know," Ross said as he flipped his hair back in a very feminine manner.

Was this guy serious? "Listen here, grandma, if you don't explain yourself I'm going to want to speak to your boss or manager or some shit like that." There, that didn't sound completely absurd or anything.

Breathe, Marie, everything is all right, you're not crazy. My breaths started rushing in and out of my chest with so much force I thought I might hyperventilate.

"Take deep breaths and calm down. Can't have you dying on me again." Ross started to laugh and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Too soon for death jokes?"

"You think?"

"Sorry, you need to lighten up and laugh, because you're going to be laughing after I explain this whole mix up." Ross sat up a little straighter and crossed his legs at the knee.

"Okay." What else could I say? I didn't know how to get out of this place so listening to Ross was my only option.

"Twenty-five years ago I became a guardian angel. The night I got my wings, I went and celebrated with some other angels. That ceremonial wine has a kick like you wouldn't believe." Ross started to laugh but at my lack of amusement, he went on with his story. "Anyway, I overslept my first assignment. See, when we get our wings, we're given charges to follow from birth to death and you are mine. Actually you're my only one."

"You sound bothered by that. Why am I your only one? Are you supposed to have more than one?" This dude sure wasn't gaining my confidence.

"Well, I made a mistake and until I fix this debacle, I'm stuck with just you. And let's just say you're not the most exciting person in the world."

"Hey! We are talking about your fuck–up, not my boring life. And for the record, my life is so not boring." I stuck my tongue out at him. Childish? Yes, but I didn't care.

BUY LINKS:

Silver Publishing - https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/fate-s-second-chance-ebook-p-653

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Fates-Second-Chance-Twists-ebook/dp/B0063CNE9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321756359&sr=8-1

BLURB:

Marie thought dying was the worst thing to happen to her, until informed she's always been a man's soul trapped in a woman's body. As Marc, he's got one shot to set things right--by finding love with his best friend and soul mate--with only a month to do it.

Marie Carter has never felt comfortable in her own body, and it took dying to find out why. Ross, her unlikely guardian angel, informs her that mistakes were made and he needs her help to save her fate, Ross's wings, and her best friend's heart.

Six month's after Marie's death, Marc arrives with one month to heal Sabrina's—his sister's—suffering, and win his soulmate, Shawn. If he fails, Sabrina will never know peace, Ross will be kicked out of heaven, and the love of his life will die from a broken heart. Will that be enough time to heal the wounds a lifetime in the wrong body has caused?

AUTHOR BIO:

AJ Jarrett currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children. A lover of M/M romances she has started writing her own stories for others to enjoy. She is currently published through Silver Publishing and her first release Fate’s Second Chance is the first in the Twist of Fates series. When she is not chasing around her kids she can be found sitting on the couch with her trusted laptop giving life to the voices in her head. 

http://ajjarrett29.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/AJJarrett29   
http://www.facebook.com/ajjarrett29

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Prize is a PDF copy of Fate's Second Chance

-OPEN TO ALL.
-Just leave a comment, along with your email addy, to be entered.
-Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my confirmation email or another winner will be chosen.
-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 1/1.

*For another chance to win this book go to the Fictional Candy blog here on 12/26.

Most Shameless Moments on Shameless:The Complete First Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

Showtime's quirky show Shameless lives up to its name with the I-Never Challenge.  In this challenge the Gallaghers do things that may seem over the top to us, but for them it's just another day.  They're not embarrassed by anything they do, but would we admit to the same?  Although I've never faked my own death, I must admit I'd like to know what people really think of me and would love to hear what they'd say after I'm gone.  I guess that's what makes us different from the Gallagher's, they do what we only think about.  To see some of the laugh out loud moments from the I-Never Challenge visit the site here.  And to learn even more about this over the top family catch Season One on DVD and Blu-Ray.

And don't forget that Season 2 premieres on Sunday, Jan 8 at 9PM ET/PT on Showtime!



*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Shameless Season One on DVD.

The Perfect Wedding on One Tree Hill:The Complete 8th Season on DVD/Ultraviolet

As a little girl I, and many other little girls, dreamt of what their wedding would be like one day.  We pictured the perfect dress and the perfect prince with lots of friends and family.  As I've gotten older, it's now tv that shows me what an ideal wedding is.  On One Tree Hill in Season 8 Episode 13, The Other Half of Me, Brooke and Julian finally tie the knot.  It was a beautiful affair with a well-dressed couple and had moments that I could see at my own ceremony.  I always like creative vows for how meaningful they are to the individual couple and it gives guests an idea of what their relationship is like.  I also like the number of guests to be smaller so that the ceremony has an intimate feel.  Perhaps one day my dreams will become a reality.  But for now thank heavens I have tv.

Missed the RSVP to the wedding? Here's your special invitation with Season 8 of One Tree Hill at http://bit.ly/w2DhRu!  Also catch it on Ultraviolet here.  After catching up, get ready for the Season 9 Premiere on Wed. Jan 11, 2012 at 8/7c on The CW!




*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

Follow Friday......

This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostesses Parajunkee & Alisoncanread.  We also gain new followers by joining each other's sites via GFC, so please let me know if you're a new follower since I automatically follow back.  And now for this week's question....

Q:  If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why? 

A:  I'd love to live in the Regency world Julia Quinn created for the Bridgerton's.  All that witty banter and entertaining balls would be a fun way to spend my life.  As long as there weren't too many musicales to attend.  The music tends to be pretty bad at those events.

New Winner for Digital Book from Keta Diablo's Backlist

My previously announced winner never responded within the designated time frame so a new winner was chosen.  That winner was Catherine, who already responded.  Happy reading, Catherine!

Book Tour for Sweet As Sin by Kenya Carlton

I'd like to thank Bewitching Book Tours for letting me bring author Kenya Carlton here today to help us learn more about her new sexy erotic paranormal book, Sweet As Sin.  So let's get right to it, shall we?

The Maddies and Greys of the world.

Sweet as Sin is predominantly a love story with two people who couldn’t have been more different but fit as a couple just right. The best friend Madeleine Fletcher and cousin Grey Devilin shed light on the two main characters’ personalities. I can honestly say everyone needs a little Maddie and Grey in their life.  These two were the yin to the main character yang until Drake and Sienna found each other.

Sweet as Sin is set in 1933 and these two are the pioneers of the group.  Maddie’s security with her sexuality and Grey’s insecurity with his made for an interesting dynamic when they eventually went off to have adventures together.

A sex kitten, Maddie Fletcher is unapologetic about who she is and could care less about what anyone thinks.  She is the hard edge to the serene spirit of Sienna Caldwell and Maddie wouldn’t want it any other way.

Grey Devilin is the smart ass no one wants around but can always count on being there.  Drake doesn’t particularly like his cousin.  It’s quite obvious he wouldn’t mind if Grey would simply disappear, but the sense of obligation and responsibilities Drake feels for his family was a quiet but strong aspect of his personality.  For me the best way to display Drake’s deep rooted sense of responsibility was through the douche’ nature of his cousin Grey.    

Maddie and Grey were set in stone from the very start. The only thing I didn’t count on was Grey’s transformation and Maddie’s lack of one. Neither of my main characters could have been who they were without their sidekicks.

Sweet As Sin
By Kenya Carlton
Genre: Multicultural Paranormal Romance

The rich and available Captain Drake Devilin had the biggest body count in World War I.  Injected with serum that turned him into something unnatural, Drake’s troop annihilated the enemy, but once his tour ended, Drake was plunged into a world of family tragedy and financial ruin.  

Sienna Caldwell is stunning to even the biggest cynic; with her exotic looks and rich brown skin, the playboy wasn’t exempt from her charms.  Buckling under the pressure of his financially strapped inheritance, Drake makes a deal with the devil to marry the prosperous landowner in order to protect her.  

After one year, he can return the black beauty back to her island and collect on the fortune that will save his family’s reputation, but the task proves far easier said than done.   The war may have made Drake into something lethal, but he soon finds his new bride was born more powerful than he could ever imagine.  Not only does Drake have to figure out away to keep his hands off his alluring wife, but also he has to make sure she stays alive.

EXCERPT:

“May I?” The shadow at Sienna's small cottage door asked. Drake's muscular frame was a stark contrast to the chaos from the elements beyond him.

“Do you need an invitation?”

“For the sake of my honor and politeness, I certainly do,” Drake admitted. Not completely satisfied with his answer she considered his request. He may not be the undead but he was definitely something.

Sienna sat nestled in her favorite love seat, facing the fire finally relenting, she told him, “Be my guest.” She noted the quick way he surveyed his surroundings when he stepped across the threshold, first the exits-windows, décor than finally his eyes settled upon her. Unwilling to bend to his close scrutiny, she took a sip from her wine.

“It's cozy here, not anything like the resort. May I?” She nodded for him to help himself to her spirits as he took a seat in a cushioned chair. Masculine man, dainty chair taking up space with his mere presence made Drake appear even bigger and stronger than he had in the gazebo.

“Courage?” she asked him pouring a glass.

“Restraint,” Drake answered before holding it up for a toast. “To good decisions.”
“Good decisions,” she reiterated kissing his glass with hers. A moment was taken to drink and think before he began to press her for answers.

“It's a simple proposition,” he stated.

“Is it?” Sienna tightened the shawl she held around her bare arms, the fire made no difference to the temperature of the room; she merely made the fire for ambiance but now she felt exposed so close to this imposing man. The bright and colorful flames helped with her state of mind as well as the red wine and Mary Shelley book that now lay abandoned on her lap.

“You're exquisite,” he said matter-of-factly.

“That didn't sound much like a compliment, Mr. Devilin.”

“Why aren't you married?”

“A proposal has never come up.”

“I find that hard to believe.” In a single gulp, he finished his wine.
“How old are you, Mr. Devilin?”

“I‟m thirty six. Please call me Drake.”

“And you've never been married?”

His smile was one of a pure blooded playboy. “It's never come up,” he replied with a lopsided smirk.

“What's good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander, I suppose.”
Sienna grabbed the wine bottle and offered him a refill; he gladly accepted.

“I understand my benefit in this whole crazy scheme but not yours.” He gently pushed.

“Does that make you uncomfortable, not knowing?”

“It makes me question the sanity of this request, Sienna. I don’t believe in one sided deals and I don't believe in modern day martyrs.”  From the intense look in his eyes, she believed what he said.

Agitated by this man's closeness and all he would change in her world, she uncurled her feet from beneath her and set them on the floor. The storm beyond her four walls picked up. Sienna crossed to the window to watch the thunder and lightning explode.

“I'm afraid my answer remains the same.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Kenya has a B.A. in Mass communication, Television and Radio. She has fifteen years in production of television and film and five in television engineering. In 2009 Kenya Produced Dawn a short film and Executive Produced Destination Everywhere the pilot for a travel series through her production company Black R.O.K Productions established in 2008.

Review for Sweet As Sin by Kenya Carlton

The rich and available Captain Drake Devlin had the biggest body count in World War I. Injected with serum that turned him into something unnatural, Drake’s troop annihilated the enemy, but once his tour ended, Drake was plunged into a world of family tragedy and financial ruin.

Sienna Caldwell is stunning to even the biggest cynic; with her exotic looks and rich brown skin, the playboy wasn’t exempt from her charms. Buckling under the pressure of his financially strapped inheritance, Drake makes a deal with the devil to marry the prosperous landowner in order to protect her. After one year, he can return the black beauty back to her island and collect on the fortune that will save his family’s reputation, but the task proves far easier said than done. The war may have made Drake into something lethal, but he soon finds his new bride was born more powerful than he could ever imagine. Not only does Drake have to figure out away to keep his hands off his alluring wife, but also he has to make sure she stays alive.

******************* 

This is an intriguing erotic read with a lot of action and intriguing characters.  At times it almost felt like there was too much going on, but Carlton managed to create a story that kept me entertained and left me wanting more.

Drake and his men were experimented on during the war which left them as werewolves.  With the war over, they now use their abilities to reap vengeance on those deemed criminals by the government.  Drake sees himself as someone who will never find love until the day he meets Sienna, a woman with secrets of her own.  I was intrigued by Drake and his crew's abilities and wished I could've learned more about the program and their after-war missions.  I felt that there were a lot of loose ends where this was concerned and it left me disappointed.  I wish we'd seen more emotions from Drake as well.  I never felt a connection to him as he seemed to bottle up his emotions.  He was definitely sexy though and someone who could protect the girl no matter what.

Sienna also has unique abilities which emerged when least expected.  I also liked that she was colored since too many books don't want to address this issue and the racism associated with it.  This book did touch on the racism, a character close to the hero surprisingly as well as others, and I applaud this author for doing so.  Sienna was mysterious and exotic and this is what drew Drake to her.  Yes, the fact that she was rich was nice but ultimately didn't matter to him.

Drake and Sienna had a rocky relationship.  They had a strong sexual connection and their sexual interludes were steamy, and at times animalistic, but they were always fighting against each other.  I never really felt they were in love, but I was very intrigued by their relationship and wanted them to stay together.  

The best part of the story were the secondary characters.  Grey and Maddie were complex and rough around the edges and I really wanted to know everything I could about them.  The small glimpses of their earlier lives were tantalizing but not near enough information.  I would be thrilled to see books devoted to just them as I thought their characters left a lasting impression through their outspokenness and many layers of emotions and issues.  While these two were my favorites, there are others who I enjoyed and would also love reading more about.

While I had some issues with the primary characters, it was the secondary characters that kept me turning the pages as well as the pulse pounding action sequences.  The scenery was written in such a way as to draw you in and added to the eroticism of the story and characters.  There were many strings left hanging to easily bring forth a sequel which I truly hope happens.  So for those wanting a different kind of paranormal story definitely look towards Sweet As Sin by Kenya Carlton.

My rating for this is a B-

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

New Trailer for Spartacus:Vengeance

Even though there's a new actor in the lead role, I'm still super excited that the new season is starting soon.  The action, the intrigue, the numerous sexy warriors have me counting down the days until we get to see more of this bloody good show.  The clip below is a brief conversation with the new Spartacus followed by a few minutes from the premiere episode.  So enjoy and catch the new season of Spartacus:Vengeance at 10/9c on January 27th on Starz!

New Christmas Day Doctor Who Trailer...

As a huge Doctor Who fan Christmas Day means more than stockings, turkey with all the trimmings, and opening presents.  It means a brand new Doctor Who Christmas-themed episode.  This year's episode is based on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and sends our Doctor back in time to help a widow and her two children during the war.  Here's a new clip from the episode to get us even more excited.  Merry Christmas to us!  It will air Christmas Day at 9/8c on BBC America!

Winner of a Digital Book From Keta Diablo's Backlist...

Before I get to the winner of an ebook of their choice from Keta's backlist, I want to thank Bewitching Book Tours for letting me be a part of this tour and Keta herself for the fun interview.  And now to the winner....

....Diana!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!  I'll be emailing you shortly to find out which book you'd like.

Teaser Tuesdays #47

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

JOHNNY LIVING DANGEROUSLY by C.J. Ellison

....from page 5 of 142.

-Lead singer for an all-girl band wearing hot pants may sound like a joke, but I’m having the time of my life and hope the string of paying gigs doesn’t dry up anytime soon this summer. And since I don’t wear the hot pants, I’m cool with it.

Another Case Is Waiting to Be Solved on Tonight's Rizzoli & Isles

Those wanting to find strong women to look up to need look no further than TNT'S Rizzoli & Isles.  Based on the series of books written by Tess Gerritsen, these ladies keep the bad guys on the run.  After seeing more about the personal life of Rizzoli in an entertainingly emotional episode last week, I'm ready to learn more about other members of the team.  And this week's episode delivers with a storyline revolving around Korsak.  The synopsis for this week's episode is this, "The world of competitive dance turns deadly when the mother of a star performer is stabbed to death at a competition. Jane and the team search for clues, but they soon realize something is off about the woman's history. Korsak has his hands full when his stepson is accused of shooting a cop. Recurring guest star LOLITA DAVIDOVICH appears as Korsak's ex-wife, Melody."  Now doesn't that sound good?

So tune in tonight, and every Monday night, at 10/9c on TNT!  To learn more about the show go to its page at http://www.tnt.tv/series/rizzoliandisles/  Also, if you haven't seen the show, you can learn more about Season One at http://bit.ly/lnDvyi!



*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles.