A Hero's Blog Hop July 27-31, 2012 - CONTEST!

I'm behind on prize giveaways but I'll be announcing prizes soon from previous hops. Also, don't forget to visit Gina Leigh Maxwell's interview with her characters Reid and Lucie from Seducing Cinderella. The post is right below this one and a comment will enter you to win an ebook copy of Seducing Cinderella! Pt. 2 of the interview is tomorrow!

Click the above graphic to return to the hop!

Welcome to the A Hero's Blog Hop. Thanks so much to Carrie Ann Ryan as always for hosting! I'm showcasing Sam from Heart Signs and a scene that shows why he's a romantic hero you might want to get to know. He's been through a lot, but Rory wants to help him remember how to live again. To me, scarred heroes are the best, especially when those scars help make them better people.

There are THREE GREAT prizes for this hop!  Visit EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. You can enter over 100 times!

Did someone say prizes?

Grand prize: A Kindle Fire/Nook Color

Second prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N gift card

Third prize: A HUGE swag pack! (with some swag from me!)

Heart Signs 18+ excerpt

“I’m definitely hungry.”

Sam flicked a look toward the door that led to the kitchen. “I might have stuff for a sandwich.”

Rory walked her fingers up his belly, stirring all sorts of appetites that had nothing to do with food. “Not hungry for a sandwich, Sam.”

He took a long breath. If he could’ve picked the ideal woman to have a one-afternoon stand with, Rory would’ve been the perfect choice. She made things so easy.

God, it had been forever since anything had been easy.

“Okay. Good.”

“Would you rather just go sit and talk?” His pained expression must’ve given him away because she laughed. “I’m fine with hanging out for a while. We’re both buzzy from the accident.”

Was that why he felt so electrified? “Wasn’t barely one. Just a bump.”

“Enough to get our hearts racing. That and the sunshine set the right conditions for some harmless feelings of attraction.” She shrugged. “Not surprising the rush turned into something else.”

She was giving him an out. Yes, adrenaline and excitement had carried him through the ride home and into the house. But now nerves were winning. And that small voice at the back of his mind that told him he shouldn’t bring anyone into his world, not when he’d likely lock them right out again afterward.

But she wasn’t asking for a lifetime commitment. They didn’t have to be any more to each other than they were right now. She knew the score. If they both found release and moved on without any hard feelings, what was the problem? Whether they attributed it to drive-by lust or the aftereffects of a fender bender didn’t really matter.

Thinking too much had gotten him into the stasis he’d lived in for over two years. He wanted out. Could even smell the scent of freedom beyond the barred gate inside his head. He just needed to reach for it.

“I’d rather not talk. Or hang out. If it’s all the same to you.” He cleared his throat. Kiss her, dolt.

Instead she stepped into him, tipping her face upward until their mouths brushed. Her soft lips heated under his, encouraging him to press his tongue against their parted seam. She made a sound of acquiescence, of excitement. The deeper he slid, the more she made the noise. Almost a purr. Carefully, he reached up to hold her head in his palms, tilting her so he could explore. She tasted like grape bubblegum. Sweet, a little wicked. A lot sexy.

This would be okay.

His heart was pounding so fast that eventually he had to break their kiss to breathe. Then he came back for the next round, using his thumb to stroke her lower lip while he licked the upper. Again that whimper in the back of her throat. His hard-on grew, straining against his well-worn jeans. If he hadn’t been afraid of scaring her, he would’ve tugged down the zipper to give himself room.

Then she did it for him.

Heart Signs Buy Link Click HERE

CONTEST TIME!

What can you win from me?

* One winner will win an ebook copy of Heart Signs and a $5.00 GC to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble

* One winner will win an ebook copy of Heart Signs and their choice of another of my ebooks

How do you enter?

* Sign up to follow the blog

* Let me know if you'd like to be included on my new quarterly newsletter list (if you've signed up before, I have you on the list.)

* Leave a comment telling me who your first hero was in your life. Can be in a book or your real life, your choice! Please leave your email address!

Welcome Seducing Cinderella author Gina Maxwell! CONTEST!

A huge welcome today to the amazing debut author, Gina Maxwell! Not only is Gina a sweetheart, she wrote one of the most delicious books I've read this year, SEDUCING CINDERELLA. Look at that cover! YUM! I was lucky enough to read it before it was released and offered a cover quote, which really sums up my feelings on the book!

Deliciously sexy and fabulously fun, with a hero who knocked me out from the first page!

Gina's fab book helped launch Brazen, the new super sexy line of category books at Entangled Publishing. My next release, No Flowers Required, is a Brazen release as well, and it's wonderful to see them hitting the bestseller lists right out of the gate!

Here's the Brazen page at Entangled Publishing if you'd like to find out more about the releases! Click HERE

To give you a taste of the amazingly sexy banter from the book, Gina managed to convince Lucie to interview Reid, her brother's sexy MMA-fighting best friend. ;)

Read on for PART ONE of the interview, then stop back on Saturday for PART TWO. But best of all? One lucky commenter on both days (today's contest will run through this time tomorrow since I'm late posting) will WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF THE BOOK! So comment away!

Reid’s Interview

[Reid and Lucie are sitting on stools in the front of the room, each holding a large white envelope. Reid is relaxed and smiling at the audience while Lucie looks slightly fidgety and uncomfortable with all the attention.]

Lucie: I guess we should get started.

Reid: All right. Welcome, everyone, to Sixty Seconds of Cinderella. Lucie and I are going to interview each other with the questions on the cards inside these envelopes.

Lucie: Which we haven’t seen, by the way.

Reid: [chuckles] No, we have no idea what we’re getting ourselves into. Okay, so here we go. Ladies first, babe.

Lucie: Oh, okay. [opens the envelope and takes out the note card] First question is, do you prefer to win by knock out or submission?

Reid: Your brother and I have had this argument many times. He prefers to win by submission, but I like the knock out, myself. There’s nothing like landing that perfect strike and watching your opponent fall completely boneless to the mat.

Lucie: Uh, you might not want to be so graphic next time, hon. I’m sure all the women here are fans of you, but they might not all be fans of the sport.

Reid: Good point. Sorry, ladies. [flashes killer smile at the audience causing more than a few sighs]

Lucie: Okay, next question. Go out to eat or stay home and order in?

Reid: As much as I love watching you get dolled up and taking you to a nice dinner, I’d definitely say order in.

Lucie: Really? I thought you liked going out more.

Reid: I used to, before you. But watching you eat tends to have a rousing affect on a certain part of my anatomy, and I like being able to attack you whenever I want instead of having to wait until we get home. [winks at Lucie]

Lucie: [blushing…hard…but failing to keep the amusement from her face] I cannot believe you just said that.

Reid: [addresses audience] Plus, she flirts shamelessly with waiters—

Lucie: [laughing] You told me to do that!

Reid: —so I prefer to keep her home all to myself.

Lucie: O-kay, next question. Dressed up or dressed down?

Reid: Is naked an option?

Lucie: Reid!

Reid: [laughing] Ok, fine, dressed down. The less clothes, the more comfortable I am.

Lucie: Drawing or sculpting?

Reid: Sculpting. I like drawing, but I prefer working with my hands. And I’ve been told I’m pretty good with my hands, right, Lu?

Lucie: Um… [clears throat and glances back at card] Okay, I’m not asking this last one. [looks around] Who wrote these anyway?

Reid: Probably Gina, the woman who documented our story. Why, what’s it say?

Lucie: Never mind. Your sixty seconds are over.

Reid: Come on, what could possibly have you turning that pretty shade of pink?

Lucie: [sighing and looking at him] Top…or bottom?

Reid: Absolutely…most definitely… [he holds her gaze, leans in, and gives her a wicked half-cocked grin] …top.

Lucie: [fans herself with her note card and envelope as Reid sits back and folds his arms over his chest with a satisfied smirk] Okay, well, that’s the end of your session. Are we done now?

Reid: Nope. Now it’s your turn to be in the hot seat, sweetheart.

Lucie: [mumbles] Crap.

Come back on Saturday when Reid grills Lucie about her preferences…and surprises the hell out of her. You don’t want to miss it!

Make sure to leave a comment for Gina, Reid or Lucie for your chance to be entered to win your own ebook copy of SEDUCING CINDERELLA! And if you'd like to find out more about Gina, visit www.ginalmaxwell.com

Six Sentence Sunday, Need Me style part 2

Happy Six Sentence Sunday! Here are 6 more sentences from Need Me, book 3 in the Unveiled series at Ellora's Cave. Need Me should be out within the next couple months. The tentative blurb and the snippet are below. Hope you enjoy!


Some needs are so hot it takes more than one man to fulfill them... 


Marcia Daly's been dating her younger boyfriend, Tony, for years. They have a great relationship, so why can't she stop fantasizing about sleeping with his best friend, Cale? As much as she cares about Tony, the idea of a threesome intrigues her. Though she's not sure how to broach the subject, her decision to write a sex advice book gives her the perfect opportunity to explore her wildest fantasies.


Tony's falling in love with Marcia and wants to give her an amazing gift she'll never forget before he asks her for a commitment. Sharing her with his best friend at Kink, a local sex club, turns him on more than he'd ever guessed. One sizzling night soon turns into two. But when the threesome tests their relationship, Tony wonders if Marcia will ever let down her guard enough to trust his feelings for her...or to finally give in to her own.

Six Sentence Sunday snippet

Marcia kissed Tony's cheek. “I know you’re not really into going to the club, so thanks.”

“I was thinking I’d bring reinforcements.”

“What do you mean?”

Tony held her tighter than usual, his fingers digging into her skin. “How do you feel about Cale coming with us?”

Add Need Me to your Goodreads shelf HERE

Find more Six Sentence Sunday goodness HERE