Buh-bye 2012!

Happy New Year's Eve! Because I'm such a livewire, I'm staying in tonight and hope to be curled up with my Kindle in my jammies by about nine o'clock.

If you're looking for a hot read, all of my Carina Press titles are on sale right now, except for Covert Seduction, which releases January 14th. Here's the Kindle link to my titles.

And, if you like military romantic suspense, the second book of Kaylea Cross's Bagram Special Ops series is up for pre-order at the Kindle store as well. And it's on sale for only $2.99 right now! Here's the link to Tactical Strike.

Blurb: 

Gunship pilot Captain Candace Bradford has worked long and hard to earn her rank and position within the male-dominated world of Air Force Special Operations. She's not about to let anything or anyone jeopardize that, let alone one sinfully tempting man who seems determined to cause her nothing but trouble. Even if she's starting to fall for him.

As an elite Combat Controller, Staff Sergeant Ryan Wentworth is used to overcoming adversity in order to complete a mission. Breaking through Candace's prickly exterior and into her heart is a challenge he can't let go. But just when he's begun to gain her trust, they're thrown together in the field facing an overwhelming enemy force.

Candace and Ryan find themselves on the run, searching the skies for an emergency extraction. But one dangerous enemy has an agenda in mind and he'll use whatever means necessary to achieve it, including using American forces to do his dirty work.

Cover Reveal

I just received the final cover for my upcoming January release with Carina Press, so I thought I'd share it with you. Can't wait to see what you think of my latest hero, Reid. Not sure of the exact release date yet, but I'll let you know.

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and also my 12th wedding anniversary. And we haven't had any rain for almost nine weeks now! Unheard of in this neck of the woods. It's gloriously sunny and I'm loving every moment of it.

One Year Later

It's been a year today since that terrible Chinook crash in Wardak province, Afghanistan, claimed the lives of so many soldiers, the majority of them from the SEAL and AFSOC communities.

My upcoming release (I think January, but do not yet have a specific release date) features a similar incident based on this event. It was a huge blow to the Spec Ops community as a whole, and I'm thinking of these men and their families today.

Dumen Ranch Series Finished

The last book of the Dumen Ranch Series, Dane's Restraint, is now out. It's by JJ Ranger, the same author who wrote Dustin's Gamble. Oh, how I love those sexy Dumen boys...

I also finished up copy edits on Covert Seduction, which will release from Carina Press in January. The copy editor left a lovely note in the file about how much she loved the story and that the love scenes almost melted her monitor. I can't wait for you to meet Reid, my sexy Navy SEAL hero. You know how I love to throw in little tidbits about research I've done, so I hope you learn something about SEALs when you read it. It will release sometime in January.

Hope you're all having a good summer!

Covert Revisions

I just finished the draft  of my second Bagram Special Ops book (Kaylea Cross), but have to put it aside while I tackle edits for Covert Seduction. June is such a busy month with volunteer work at the school, field trips, sports, birthdays and family celebrations, I cringe every time I look at my calendar.

All I know is, with only three weeks until my weasels are out of school for the summer, I'd best get as much done as possible before the end of June! Wish me luck :)

Release Day!

It's release day for Let Me In, and I'm excited for you all to read Liam's story. This novella will be on sale for $0.99 for the rest of May, so pick it up now!

Excerpt:
"Liam.” Her voice was breathless, pleading.
He lifted his head just long enough to kiss her parted lips. “What, baby?”
“Mmmmm.” She all but melted in his arms, rubbing against him in a sexy undulation.
“You want more?” His fingers plucked at a ripe nipple, making her shiver. There was so much he wanted to do to her, but he forced himself to go slow for the moment.
“Yes, more,” she whispered between kisses.
“Then be a good girl and stay really still for me.”
That stopped her. She blinked at him through hazy eyes but did as he said, despite the uncertainty in her expression. He rewarded her with another deep kiss, letting the hand playing with her nipple glide lower, over the smooth curve of her belly until his fingers found the lacy edge of her panties. Talia murmured into his mouth and began to part her legs.
He firmed his hold across her back and squeezed in warning, asserting his command over her. “I said, stay still.”
She froze in surprise. He watched the dawning comprehension fill her eyes, followed by a flare of molten heat. Yeah, that glimpse of his dominant side had turned her on. The knowledge made his dick throb in agony. He’d hold his baser nature back for now until he was certain he’d taken care of her needs. But oh, the things he wanted to do to her. Blindfolds and bindings. Talia tied up and at his mercy while he learned exactly what it took to bring her to the edge of release before making her shatter in his arms.
“You’re so beautiful,” he told her, savoring the satiny skin beneath his fingertips and the little goose bumps his touch raised. He trailed his fingers over her hipbone, down her thigh and back up the inside, eventually grazing the soft lace covering her mound. It was already damp, the muscles in her legs tensed in anticipation. He wanted to rip the sexy underwear off her, slide his tongue into her slick flesh and make her sob in ecstasy as she came against his mouth.
He fought the urge back. She wasn’t ready for that yet. He had to earn her trust this way first, give her his gentleness after all she’d been through.
“Put your hands on my shoulders and leave them there,” he ordered roughly, unable to hide his own desire.
Watching his face, she slowly curled her hands around his shoulders, the flare of arousal in her eyes making him even hotter. She licked her lips, a sign of her nervousness. “What are you going to do?”
What I’ve wanted to do to you for almost two years.
*end excerpt*

Kaylea Cross Series On Sale

All of Kaylea Cross's award-winning romantic suspense titles from The Wild Rose Press are now on sale for only $2.99 each! For more details, please see her website.

If you know any RS fans out there, please pass the word. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Let Me In on Sale!

I got word this morning from Carina Press that my upcoming release is currently on sale. Let Me In (featuring Liam, from No Holds Barred) comes out May 21st, but it's on sale at all vendors for only $0.99 for the month of May. It's an erotic romance, but a gentle, emotion filled one, so if that's your cup of tea please feel free to pass the news on. You can find the buy links for it on my website.

Blurb: On leave for Thanksgiving, the last thing marine lieutenant Talia Barnett expects to find is Liam Brodie waiting for her at the airport. He’s had a starring role in her fantasies for the past two years, and although she’d love to make them a reality, she has a dark secret that prevents her from taking things further.
A former Marine, Liam’s specialty is planning tactical operations, and that’s just what he plans to do to win Talia. The woman has kept him at arm’s length for too long, and this time he’s finally going to claim her—body and heart.
What begins as comfort quickly turns hot. When Liam shows Talia a hint of the dominant nature inside him, the submissive part of her flares to life. Though she desires him, she’s going back on deployment and doesn’t want to dump all her drama on him. Will he find a way to break through the protective walls around her heart and convince her they have a future that goes far beyond the bedroom?

Kaylea Cross Release

It's release day for my not-so-naughty alter ego, Kaylea Cross!

Darkest Caress is the first of a paranormal romance trilogy and today she's doing a giveaway at both Cynthia Eden's blog and Novel Thoughts blog. To enter either contest, stop by and leave a comment.

Blurb: Two-hundred-year-old Daegan Blackwell is one of the last remaining Empowered, an ancient magical race. Daegan’s duty is to lead and protect his remaining Brethren in the coming war foretold by prophecy. The last thing he expects is to meet the one woman who will either save or destroy him—his destined mate.

Fiercely independent Realtor Olivia Farrell believes darkly handsome Daegan is simply a prospective client. Until she’s attacked by a man with a strange aura—and Daegan fights him off, taking away her pain with just his touch. At first, Olivia refuses to believe she’s part of a magical race, yet mounting evidence and her powerful chemistry with Daegan are too strong to deny.

But as Daegan’s partner, Olivia becomes a target in the battle between good and evil that threatens her life, as well as the very existence of the Empowered. And the only one who can save her is the man claiming to be her destiny…

Kauai Love

Just got back from our vacation to Kauai on Tuesday, and I'm sad to be home. I've never been sad to come home from a holiday before, so that tells you how much I loved Kauai. It was just magical, and we did so many fun things, including a catamaran sail where we saw two humpbacks swimming toward the setting sun, tubed down an irrigation canal at an old sugar plantation, attended a luau, rode bikes on a path along the ocean, rode horses along the beach, kayaked down a river then hiked to a secret waterfall for a picnic lunch. Hubby and both the weasels loved it as much as I did.

We stayed at a gorgeous hotel in the south of the island. Here's the view from our covered lanai.

And here's a shot of me and little weasel out at the beach. Yes, I know I'm white, but I actually got a little color while I was there.

While I was away I got my cover for Let Me In, which comes out May 21st, and I really like it. Will post it soon, along with the blurb.

SEAL Sale!

I did it. I did the requested revisions and just found out Carina Press has acquired my latest manuscript, Covert Seduction. It features a delicious SEAL hero, and it has a suspense plot that I'll be expanding during edits. Can't wait for you to meet Reid!

Do you all remember that horrific Chinook crash last August in Wardak province, Afghanistan, that killed so many DevGru SEALs, several AFSOC members and the entire air crew? I've touched on that in the book. By now you all know how much I love doing research on my military characters, and this book was no exception. While I don't go into heavy military detail and skill set descriptions in this story like I do in my Kaylea Cross books, I hope I've given just enough detail to make Reid leap off the page. The book will release early next year.

The other happy news I have is that I'm leaving for Kauai this weekend, and I'll be taking a Kindle full of books by an amazing new author I've just found--Charlotte Stein. Have you read any of her work? I finished Sheltered today and literally couldn't put it down. The author does such an incredible job with the characterization and heat mixed with tenderness that the book earned a huge five stars from me. As such, I went out and bought half a dozen books from her back list to take with me on holiday. If they're even half as good as Sheltered, I'm in for a treat.

Aloha, everyone!

Oh Captain, My Captain

If you're a rabid sports fan, then you'll understand where I'm coming from in this post. There's a heaviness in my chest right now, has been all weekend, and I'm not sure when it will go away. On March 1st my hero, my very favorite baseball player of all time, retired from the game. I'm heartbroken.

Jason Varitek wasn't only my hero, he was the appointed captain of the Boston Red Sox and the hardest working catcher in all of Major League baseball. I've never idolized an athlete as I did him, and watching the Sox this year without him will leave a hollow feeling inside me. Knowing he'll never be behind the plate again makes me sad beyond words, but I hope he'll stay on in the Boston organization in some capacity, whether as a coach or some sort of management position. God knows he's got the talent and he's earned the right. He led by example both on and off the field, and in doing so he's won the devotion of both his teammates and the faithful members of the BoSox Nation.

"Tek"smiled and winked at me once when I watched him from outside the bullpen fence at Safeco field in Seattle, and a friend got him to autograph a ball for me. Those two things are treasured mementos, and they'll just have to sustain me through the baseball seasons to come.

Act Of Valor

Have you heard about Act Of Valor yet? It's a new movie coming out this week, and it features active duty Navy SEALs.

No, really. The actors are the real deal, in realistic situations. What started out as a recruitment film was just too good, and so it morphed into a full feature film. I was highly skeptical about the Navy or DOD allowing their active duty SEALs to be in such a film, but over the past week I've learned it's absolutely true.

Take a look at the trailer and see why I'm so excited to see it:

Alpha Instinct

I'm very proud and excited to announce that Katie Reus's first Moon Shifter Novel from Penguin/NAL releases tomorrow. Alpha Instinct is the first of a paranormal romance trilogy, so if you love shifter romances then you will gobble up this series.

Here's the blurb:
Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

Katie's running a whole series of contests, so if you're interested in winning a copy of Alpha Instinct, please check out her website.

I'm Back!

Just got back yesterday afternoon from my trip to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, where I visited my buddy and critique partner, Katie Reus. Did some shopping, ate some great Southern food (oh, lord I love Southern food) and enjoyed some wonderful company.




Also toured Beauvoir, the post-Civil War summer home of ex-Confederate president, Jefferson Davis. It was horribly damaged during hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, but they've put it back together nicely. While we were there the library and archives was still being built, this time high enough to withstand another Category 5 storm like Katrina.

You can see straight out into the Gulf from the front of the house. What a gorgeous view they must have had even back then, though I'm not sure I could have handled the heat and humidity without air conditioning. They must have spent some very uncomfortable nights in the sweltering heat.

I'm glad to be home, and my weasels missed me like crazy. I'm trying to convince Katie to bring her family up here to visit us someday soon. I love the South!

Touch Me Giveaways

Here's to a rocking 2012! I hope to burn up the keyboard this year.

Today I'm at both the Carina Press blog (talking about my favorite theme in romance--friends-to-lovers story lines) and at Manic Readers. At both places I'm giving away a copy of Touch Me, so I hope you'll come by to enter the contest, and share your favorite heroes in romance with me.

Happy reading!