Happy's Mother's Day!

Wishing all you moms out there a spectacular Mother's Day!

Hugs, Sky

Need a Fantastic Photographer???

Phew, it’s officially me time! I’m loving all the blog events. Without doubt, I've met some fantastic authors so far.

So, what will I do with my spare post time this weekend? Hmmm. Easy, for the first time ever, I’ll chat with you about my past. We could start with my sophomore year at high school (1992). The year I met my best friend, Amanda. (that's her above) OR, we could start the first year at Endicott (1994). This was the year that Amanda started college and I visited often! I continued my own education a few years later

Long story short, she learned about photography….so did I….sort of. In between, we had an absolute blast. Boston, Boston, Boston. We befriended so many people─so many cultures─it’d make your head spin. The world was our oyster.

Fifteen years later, a lot’s changed. I’m happily married with a son. Amanda is also exceptionally happy. A single mom of four beautiful children, she (after a very long struggle) not only came out of the rhetorical 'closet' but she's started her own photography business. I have to say, I'm very proud of her. She’s gone through more than I guarantee most reading this blog post ever have. Can you say, “Courageous soul?”

Amanda’s one strong and determined woman. Say, “it can’t be done,” to her. She’ll say, “Perhaps not in your world, but welcome to Amanda Land, where the challenge of impossible is met with enthusiasm.”

See the pictures attached to this post? She created them. To say she can capture the world as it should be seen is an understatement. She’s a true talent.

In fact, I’d like to quote from the ‘About Me’ section of her website… “Her background includes an Associate of Science Degree in Photography, minoring in Creative Writing and Business Ethics, from Endicott College in Beverly, Ma. She has worked in various branches of photography throughout her career. Some branches of her 13 years of experience have included; photojournalism, advertising, biomedical, gallery, fine art, wedding and portraiture. Her newest ventures include organizing the Ox Babies LGBT Parent/Child Playgroup and Type-A-Mom Lesbian Mom Editor at Type-A Mom. Her creativity, grace, intelligence and "fun nature" enable her to meld into any environment and provide you with exquisite images, group events or articles. These images, dates, and writings make up the moments of our lives, the moments that we will treasure forever and always.”

The downfall? She lives in Florida so her services are─at this time─limited to that area. Unless you want to fly her to your event! To check out her rates and services, click here.

If you’re curious, feel free to pop over to Amanda’s Gallery. Oh, and did I mention she also enjoys creative writing? (Funny we met in Geometry class, not writing class!) So, in case you missed it before, she pioneered a new Lesbian Mom Section over at Type-A Mom and also blogs at Ox Images.

Thanks so much for popping in. Don't forget to swing over again on Monday as my Spring has Sprung Blog Event continues!

Cheers
~Sky

Becca Dale's, Sweet Temptation. We have a winner!

Wow, another fantastic week! I’d like to once more thank Becca Dale for popping in to chat about her latest release, Sweet Temptation. Sounds scrumptious, doesn’t it? All right, it’s time to announce a contest winner. A huge congratulations to Andrea, you won! You’ve one free Ecopy of Sweet Temptation and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wilder Rose Press heading your way. Please contact me at skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Be sure to swing back in Monday morning as I welcome Alison Chambers to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event!

Cheers
~Sky

Becca Dale chats about Sweet Temptation. Comment to win big!

Welcome to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. Today it’s my pleasure to welcome author Becca Dale. She’ll be chatting about her latest erotica release, Sweet Temptation. For a chance to win a free Ecopy of Sweet Temptation and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wilder Rose Press be sure to leave a comment. Now sit back, relax and enjoy!

Sweet Temptation

Ex-marine, Marcus Braddock’s protective instincts are stirred by Darcy Ferguson’s generous nature, but her luscious curves arouse an altogether different response. Capturing her for his own quickly becomes a primary objective, but before he can claim his prize, he must liberate the enticing beauty imprisoned behind a wall of insecurities.

Darcy is surrounded by physical perfection—the American standard versus the American ideal. When the ruggedly tempting Marcus Braddock breaches her defenses in a blatant frontal assault, she has no clue how to resist. Yielding could make her the butt of a practical joke, but his sensual blue eyes and tantalizing muscles promise such deliciously sweet surrender.

Before Marc, Darcy understood how the world worked, had been told repeatedly, “Fat girls do not eat sweets in public, do not flaunt their oversized breasts, and certainly do not attract gorgeous men.” Fortunately, no one ever explained the rules to Marc.

SKY: Welcome, thanks for joining me this week!

BECCA: Thanks for inviting me to stop by. I love your site and your work so I am thrilled to be here.

SKY: Thanks, Becca! Okay, let’s talk shop. What inspired you to write Sweet Temptation?

BECCA: In an age of rising obesity, America is in a health crisis so everyone has focused on body image. Unfortunately, women who are naturally curvaceous are derided as overweight or unattractive rather than as the beautiful, sensual beings of the past. Though some groups still embrace and even celebrate the female body, this mentality continues to fade. Women like Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren had curves and men like Marc appreciated them. I wanted to remind readers that women should be soft, that it is a natural and lovely thing and not something to be ashamed of.

SKY: Absolutely fantastic. Good for you! So, let’s talk about your heroine, Darcy. What makes her fly off the pages? I’d love a glimpse of who she is!

BECCA: I hope for many women Darcy is the woman in the mirror. She is as real as I could make her. She struggles with an overbearing mother, perfect sisters, and a negative body image aggravated by the world around her. In reality she is lovely to the core if just a bit snarky on occasion.

SKY: She sounds like my kind of woman! What makes your hero worth knowing─lusting over?

BECCA: Marc. I don’t know where to begin with him. My ex-marine wrote himself and I fell in love. He’s gorgeous and strong and manly as any romantic hero should be but he’s more. He doesn’t let what other people think influence him, and he’s sensual and sexy but incredibly gentle with Darcy. His restrained strength drives her crazy. I can’t describe him in a few words, but I hope he will melt readers’ hearts in much the same way he overcomes Darcy’s false self-image.

Here’s an excerpt that offers a peek at both their personalities.

“Quit changing the subject, Darcy.”

“I’m not. It’s just...you make me uncomfortable.”

He smiled. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Maybe.”

Marc scooped up another bite of cheesecake and held the loaded fork toward her. “Live dangerously.” When she hesitated, he brushed the rounded tines over her lips. “Come on, let the tart creaminess melt in your mouth. Let it slide down your throat. No one’s here but you and me.”

She couldn’t resist. The pretzel crust hit her tongue, crisp and salty, moments before the smooth filling spread across her taste buds in a burst of lime and subtle orange liquor. The tangy citrus, combined with his presence, had an aphrodisiac quality. “Mmm.” Her eyes closed of their own accord. Her nipples tightened. Sensual pleasure swirled in her stomach then swept downward.

He leaned closer. So close his warm breath tickled over her lips. “Another?”

Her eyes flew open. God! What kind of person practically had an orgasm over a bite of dessert? She shook her head no as he lifted the fork to her lips.

“Why not?”

“I don’t eat sweets.”

“That’s too bad. No one should deny themselves such a simple pleasure.” With a shrug, he slid the fork into his own mouth. A bit of whipped cream caught on his upper lip.

She didn’t think, only reacted to the growing need to touch him. Her thumb stroked over his mouth. His eyes widened as she wiped away the sweetened cream and sucked it off her thumb.

His tongue swiped across his lip.

Darcy wanted to drown in his natural sensuality. Her hands trembled. Heat raced across her skin. Geez, Darcy what were you thinking? How had she become a sexual puddle so fast? She stepped around him and fussed with the washcloth at the sink. “I can’t believe I did that.”

His chuckle sounded with the same warmth she had seen in his eyes. “Are you sure you got it all? Double check.”

SKY: That was fantastic! Thanks so much for visiting and sharing!

BECCA: I enjoyed being here, Sky. Thanks for letting me visit with you and your readers.

REVIEWS:

Got Romance Reviews: I'd hoped that this story could do justice to the hunky cover model and it indeed did! The author has a wonderful way of making the story flow effortlessly from word to word and I didn't look away until the end. An erotic Cinderella-type tale with a hot Marine in lieu of a dashing prince--Hooah! Check out the review here.

Seriously Reviewed: Oh the ways that I loved this story, I would count the ways but then I would just be reading you the entire book :) A winner for me from start to finish that left me with a warm feeling and damp panties :) Oh Yeah I'll take another dose and then some. Thank you Ms Dale. *SNAPS* Read review here.

Interested in purchasing Sweet Temptation now? Click here.

Learn more about author Becca Dale. Check out her blog or find her on Facebook.

Thanks for visiting. Doesn’t Sweet Tempation sound delicious? Don’t forget, for a chance to win a free Ecopy of Sweet Temptation and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wilder Rose Press, be sure to leave a comment!

NOTE: In that I have an Erotica writer visiting this week it just made sense to have the gift certificate reedemable at the Wilder store. Be forewarned, this gift certificate will NOT work at the Main Wild Rose Press store.

Thanks all!

~Sky

BLOGMANIA winners! Pamela Hearon's winner!

Wow, what an absolute blast BLOGMANIA turned out to be! Thank you to everyone who popped in to comment and become a follower. Loved the enthusiasm! Bet you’re curious who won yesterday’s contest? I won’t keep you waiting. Congratulations to Jackie and Natasha, you won! You’ve each got a $25 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press heading your way. Please contact me at sky@skypurington.com to collect your prize.

I’d like to also thank Pamela Hearon for stopping in this past week to chat about her latest release, His Hotness. Your story sounds fantastic! As to the winner, congratulations Carol L! Please contact me at sky@skypurington.com to collect your prize: one Ecopy of His Hotness and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Be sure to swing back in on Monday as I welcome author Becca Dale to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. She’ll be dishing out about her latest release, Sweet Temptation. As usual, comment to win an Ecopy and gift certificate!

I look forward to seeing you. Have a super weekend!

Cheers
~Sky

On Your Mark, Get Set...GO! Blogmania is here TODAY! Tons of Prizes!

Welcome to BLOGMANIA. My blog is 52 of 123

WOW! Aren’t you the lucky one! You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which, ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY (For One Day Only).

You literally have the chance to win hundreds of prizes. We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing for just the right blogs. Every blog you visit will have more links for you to follow, all of them with a special BLOGMANIA giveaway and just waiting for you to drop by.

Each blog will have a number similar to this (Blog 52) and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Now really, isn’t this the easiest thing ever! AND SO MUCH FUN…

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site or become a blog follower. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures.

Remember! The special Blogmania prizes are only available for one day, April 30th. The number of prizes you can win is only limited by the number of blogs you visit.

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

MY GIVEAWAY RULES: They couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is become a follower. Look along the right hand side of this blog to find my Followers. AND, leave a comment after this post. You don’t have to say much. “Hi” is fine! Please note: If you’re already a follower simply leaving a comment enters you in the race as well! For anyone new to this blog, I moderate comments so don't worry if you don't see yours right away.

My prize? Two randomly selected winners each receive a $25 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press!

Are you having fun yet or what? Here are some more participating BLOGMANIA blogs for you to hit for a chance to win more fabulous prizes.

(Blog- 1) – HOST OF BLOGMANIA- Between The Pages
(Blog -2) – CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA- The Black Sheep Dances
(Blog-43) - CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA- Books, Books Everywhere

(Blog-3) Writing is a Blessing

(Blog-25) Que's Ramblings

(Blog-75) Kelly's Lucky You

(Blog-103) London's Boutique

(Blog-81) My Overstuffed Bookshelf

(Blog-114) Books, Books, the Magical Fruit

(Blog-28) A Novel Source

Have you missed a few blogs? Want to refer to a Master List of all participating BLOGMANIA blogs? Then head over to BETWEEN THE LINES AND MORE where Lynda Coker has what you’re looking for!

Thanks for popping in!

~Sky

Pamela Hearon Dishes Out About His Hotness. Comment to win big!

Welcome to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. This week I’ll be chatting with ‘fantasy-adventure’ romance author Pamela Hearon. She’ll be dishing out about her latest release, His Hotness. Interested in a chance to win an Ecopy of His Hotness and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press? Be sure to leave a comment!

His Hotness

Jade Bartholomew spent ten years perfecting her 100-point scale that will determine the ideal man for her — His Hotness. Although reality has her re-evaluating some of her dreams, she refuses to give up on two: financial independence and the existence of His Hotness.

Kai Malone lives the American dream. From a middle-class upbringing, he has reached the pinnacle of success as the CEO of a software company which is about to sell for millions. But success has a downside that brings out Kai’s greatest faults: he’s too honest, gives too much of himself, and is too indulgent with the women in his life. He has to change; Techtron’s sale may depend on it.

Jade and Kai meet when she shanks a golf ball into his most vulnerable spot. Not the ideal way to start a relationship — but no one ever said attaining the title His Hotness would be easy.

SKY: Welcome Pamela, thanks for joining me this week!

PAMELA: Thank you so much for having me, Sky!

SKY: Tell me, what inspired this story?

PAMELA: My husband and I met on a golfcourse, and I always thought it was a unique place for a relationship to start. Our meeting wasn’t nearly as dramatic as Jade and Kai’s, of course, but all of us end up with our happily-ever-after.

SKY: What makes your heroine fly off the pages? I’d love a glimpse of who she is!

PAMELA: Jade Bartholomew’s family is wealthy and they love to spoil her—especially her doting Gram, whom she adores. But Jade wants to be her own person and will go to any lengths to prove she can be independent.

Here is a short excerpt that shows Jade and Gram together:

“What you need, Chickie-boom, is a good old-fashioned, head-banging, sheet-fisting, toe-curling orgasm.” Gram snatched up the journal with the worn, floral cover and waved it toward the nightstand. “And by old-fashioned, I mean one that involves a man, not one that requires a battery-pack and a warranty.”

Jade closed her laptop on the Regency she was editing. “What I need is a job with a great publisher, so I can quit sponging off my precious-but-nosey grandmother.” With her toe, she nudged her closet door closed before Gram could see the empty spaces that once housed her vast collection of Pradas and Guccis. She slid the check from the consignment shop into her desk drawer and raised a questioning eyebrow toward Gram. “How did you know where I keep my, um, toys?”

Gram shrugged. “Lucky guess. And it’s the same place I keep mine.”

SKY: Loved that! *Wide Grin* What makes your hero worth knowing─lusting over?

PAMELA: Not only is Kai Malone a gorgeous hunk of a man, but he’s also as nice as he is hot. The oldest child (and only son) in a family of five children, Kai takes care of the women in his life—whether they want it or not!

Here’s an excerpt that gives a little taste of Kai’s ministering:

“Obviously, you spent the night.”

He nodded toward the living room. “On your couch. My car’s still at the club.” He paused while he studied something outside the window. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

There was no way he would ever know it, but that comment earned him big points on the Hotness scale. Tall, dark, handsome, easy to talk to, a gentleman, and caring. A purebred hundred pointer. Jade wasn’t at all sure she could wait until Beth’s five-fifteen flight arrived from New York to talk to her. “What time is it?” Maybe she’d slept most of the day away.

“A little after nine.”

Jade sighed. “Well, I’ll get dressed and take you to your car.” She raised up and made to throw the covers back, but he moved quickly to the side of the bed and flipped them back on her.

He gently pushed her back into the pillow. “You need to rest today. Doctor’s orders. Gram’s going to take me back to the club.”

Jade shot up straight. “Gram?”

“Yes, Gram.” His eyes squinted when he smiled, but it didn’t hide the mischievous gleam.

“How did Gram get into this?” The words sounded more like an accusation than a question, even to her ears.

“I knew I was going to have to leave this morning, and I didn’t know if you’d be awake yet. Somebody would need to check on you.” He pushed her back into the pillow again. “You said your elderly landlady loved you, so I figured she was my best choice. And I was right.”

“But …” she protested.

“No buts. You should’ve just told me your landlady was your grandmother.”

He made it sound like a normal occurrence in LA. “Right,” she answered. “How fast could you have run with sore testicles?”

SKY: Great excerpt! Thanks so much for visiting and sharing!

PAMELA: I’ve enjoyed being here with you today. Thanks again for this opportunity!

Interested in learning more about this fantastic author? Visit Pamela at her website

Can’t wait to read this? Purchase His Hotness here.

Sky here. *smiles* Because I can’t help myself, I’d like to point out (being a time-traveler writer myself) that Ms. Hearon has another story that looks fabulous. It’s titled, The Timestone Key. Here's a bit about it...

The Timestone Key

Can a modern heart entwined with an ancient mystery prevail against a terrifying future?

When she was three, Halley Winsted was given a mysterious family legacy and told to follow her heart. But now that she’s thirty-three, love and commitment don’t come easy, even in the arms of sexy Tom Rutledge. A trip to England seems the perfect chance to sort out her feelings, and to indulge her obsession with the Arthurian legends.

But the legends are true. Arthur is alive in Avalon, teetering on the brink of madness, unable to fulfill his role in mankind’s terrifying future. Can the legacy Halley bears heal Arthur’s mind in time? Can she trust her heart to lead her to her destiny?

A taste…

453 A.D.
Salisbury Plain, England

Morning mist enshrouded Geileis as she approached the hateful circle. That the mist gave her cover should have eased her mind, but it did not. Being caught here by the priests would certainly mean death. She knew of their ways. Had heard tales of their rituals. The sacrifices.

Fear gripped her heart even tighter than she gripped the stone. Warm and smooth against her palm, its heat brought no warmth to her heart.

Why this place permeated with evil magic?

She stopped just short of entry. One step more would take her beyond return. She meant to raise her voice in introduction, but the mist pushed against her words keeping them close to her mouth. “I am Geileis, the vessel, daughter of Edana and Lughan.”

Wind danced its way among the giant stones, whispering acknowledgement, bidding her enter.

The next step took her through the perimeter. Her breath grew more ragged when she realized she had not died. The tangy salt of blood ran along her tongue as her teeth chewed her lower lip.

A faint blue glow pulled her attention to the far side of the circle. When the stone in her hand answered with its own pulsing blue glow, her heartbeat doubled.

Her mind rebelled against every movement forward. The bloodstained dais in the center of the ring caused her knees to buckle, but she scrambled again to her feet, stumbling backward blindly, away from the heinous sight. A cold, hard surface brought the retreat up short. She froze. The ring itself had stopped her. Perhaps it wanted to see this endeavor through as much as she did.

The glow came from the knee-high stone now only a short distance away.

Her entire body a quivering pulse, she covered the final distance. She mouthed a quick prayer for protection and stretched out her arm. Her hand shook so violently, she fairly dropped the stone, but it landed well in an indentation clearly meant for its housing.

The sound of massive winds filled her ears and an expanse of blue appeared before her eyes.

A portal.

To what?

She muffled a cry with the back of her hand and stepped forward tentatively. Heat enveloped her. The heat of a hundred summers … or … a thousand hearths … or … or hell itself, surely! This evil place held the gateway to hell!

She turned and fled.

Her mind raced faster than her legs, admonishing … shaming. Mother would not have sent her into danger. Deathbed promises must be kept.

But had not Mother been in and out of the clutches of fever when she extracted the vow? She could not have known what she was asking.

Geileis gained the outside of the ring and only then slowed her pace, becoming aware of the odd weight that filled her hand. The rock! She had snatched it, unthinking, as she ran. She turned back to face the hellish circle, fighting to bring her breathing back under control.

The blue portal had vanished.

So would the key that opened it.

With all of the strength she could muster in her small frame, Geileis heaved the rock through the mist toward the giant stone looming nearest her.

She smiled in satisfaction at the pop and watched two blue sparks fall in opposite directions.

Interested in purchasing The Timestone Key? Click here.

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Don’t forget, for a chance to win a free Ecopy of His Hotness and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, be sure to leave a comment by 12 PM EST Saturday, May 1st!

Please note: Even though BLOGMANIA arrives at this blog on Friday, April 30th, you can still comment to win Pamela Hearon's, His Hotness through Saturday.

~Sky

Blogmania Early Bird Check List:

We want all of our visiting guests in our first Blogmania Event scheduled for April 30th to

Get On Their Marks-Get Set…

It’s not time to go yet, but if you want to have the most fun and scoop up as much loot as possible, here are a few Early Bird Reminders to help you do just that.

1. Be at any of the blogs participating in the Blogmania Event as early as possible on April 30th. The easiest way to find a Blogmania Blog is to look for the Blogmania Badge.

2. This is an international event, so understand that there will be some differences in time zones. My advice is to start early and stay late to catch all the blogs.

3. Each blog will have their own giveaway requirements. Read them carefully, follow through, and then move on as quickly as possible. If you run across a blog that you really like and want to spend some time exploring, copy their URL and then visit them after Blogmania is over.

4. We will have a 100+ blogs for you to visit. Each one will post their number like this. ( This is blog 47 of 100) This is to help you keep track of which blogs you’ve visited, and which ones you still need to reach. I’d suggest that you prepare a blog sheet which is numbered from 1 – 120, then mark off each numbered blog as you visit them.

5. All blog links provided will also have a number like (Blog 89 of 100). Look for the blogs that you haven’t yet visited and follow those links until you’ve checked off all the blogs on your sheet.

6. We have all types of blogs participating in Blogmania, which means that the range of items in their giveaways are diverse. I have previewed many and they are awesome.

7. Why not contact a friend and partner up. Compare notes, share loot, or organize your own friendly neighborhood Blogmania Competition.

This is our first Blogmania Event, but it isn’t our last. Blogmania is a bi-yearly Giveaway Extravaganza. In fact, our next Blogmania Event will start September 15th, and do we have some cool stuff planned for you! So keep in touch with our Blogmania Blogs, because they will be giving sneak previews, secret codes, and who knows what else in the weeks and months ahead.

The prize at this blog? Two winners─each receives a $25 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. So be sure to mark April 30th on your calendar!

Alannah Lynne's, Savin' Me. We have a winner!

Super week! I’d like to once more thank Alannah Lynne for visiting and dishing out about her latest release, Savin’ Me. It’s time to announce a contest winner. Drum roll please…congratulations Beth Caudill, you won! You’ve one free Ecopy of Savin’ Me heading your way as well as a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. Please contact me at skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Be sure to swing back in Monday morning as I welcome author Pamela Hearen to my Spring has Sprung Blog Event.

Cheers
~Sky

Alannah Lynne chats about Savin' Me. Comment to win big!

It’s the second week of my Spring has Sprung blog event. So glad I’m hosting this. Why? Because talented writers keep popping in. This week, it’s my pleasure to welcome Alannah Lynne. She'll be dishing out about her latest release, Savin’ Me. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free Ecopy of Savin’ Me and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Savin’ Me

Kat Owens can't believe her luck. Her new job was supposed to be a fresh start - one that would lead to a position she's coveted for years. Instead, it reunites her with the man she's spent the past thirteen months trying to forget.

Only a fool would let Kat slip away. That was Erik Monteague's realization upon waking - alone - after an impassioned night with Kat. But Fate has brought her back into his life, and he'll stop at nothing to rekindle their smoldering attraction.

Neither is prepared for the emotional fallout that follows when they act upon their explosive passion. Erik's feelings for Kat force him to confront the painful past that has haunted him for ten years. Kat much choose between a promotion and love, while knowing love might not be enough to save Erik.

SKY: Welcome, thanks for joining me this week!

ALANNAH: Thanks for having me!

SKY: Tell me, what inspired this story?

ALANNAH: Savin’ Me was the first story I wrote. I kept hearing, “Write what you know,” so I wrote a story based on the unusual circumstances of how I met my husband. The problem: Great romance, zero conflict. LOL Three complete rewrites later, the only thing that remained of the original concept was the names and the professions of my characters. And no, I didn’t meet my husband in a bar and have a wild one-night stand with him a year prior to us “officially getting together.” LOL!

SKY: What makes your heroine fly off the pages? I’d love a glimpse of who she is!

ALANNAH: Kat is a driven advertising executive determined to prove she’s capable of being the Vice President of Client Services. However, her true desire is to work in for a non-profit organization. Her family has always made her feel foolish for wanting to work with “the downtrodden,” as they call them. So, she goes to work every day, driven to succeed in a career she doesn’t love. Erik helps her recapture her true nature and be who she really is.

Kat Owens took in the scene surrounding her.

This is it.

Her new life. A new town, new job, new friends, new everything. All for the opportunity of becoming Vice President of Client Services for Sinclair Marketing Group. Funny, but standing within striking range of the ladder’s top rung didn’t feel like she’d thought it would. Somehow she’d pictured herself being light as a feather and floating on air. Not weighted down and miserable.

Maybe it was the stuffy clothes and uncomfortable shoes. Maybe it was the pantyhose cutting her lu-lu in half—it was difficult to feel light and airy when important body parts were at risk of permanent damage.

It might be those things, but deep in her heart she knew it was more than all of that.

SKY: I liked that, well written! What makes your hero worth knowing─lusting over?

ALANNAH: This is hard to answer because I love everything about Erik. He has a wicked sense of humor. He loves to tease Kat. And he’s determined to get what he wants--Kat. But he’s also deeply wounded and I really wanted him to have his HEA (that’s why I kept rewriting this story until I got it right). I couldn’t give up on him. (I picked this excerpt because it shows his playfulness and determination to make Kat squirm.) Kat has just found out that she’s taking over Erik’s account and this is their first meeting.

Looking slightly shell-shocked and definitely rattled, Kat took a deep breath, then became all business. “I’ve gone over your past campaigns and put together a list of questions. I mostly want to make sure I’m clear on your target audience, objective, positioning in the marketplace, competition and our overall strategy.”

Erik nodded. “Go ahead.” Focusing on business seemed to calm her, so he sat back and waited for her to begin.

“Okay, let’s talk about your target.”

Erik tilted his head slightly to the side and met her gaze head-on. “I thought I’d made that clear at the open house. You’re my target.”

Kat sucked in a startled breath and flicked a quick glance to the door. Apparently determined to avoid any conversation of a personal nature, she said, “Okay, let’s talk about our objective. Obviously, to sell more boats—”

“That’s one of my objectives.” He grinned as he watched Kat jot something down on her notepad. He had the sneaking suspicion it had more to do with where she would direct him to go personally, than it did with the direction of his business. Damn, she was hot when irritated.

“All right, let’s talk about positioning.”

He lowered his chin and looked at her suggestively. “Positioning?”

The pulse in her neck began to leap and flutter while her breathing became choppy. He shouldn’t be pushing her like this, since she was clearly uncomfortable with anyone knowing they had a past, but he didn’t seem able to stop.

He sat up from his reclining position, leaned forward and propped his elbows on his knees. “I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t you come with me to the plant? You can see how things work, see the finished product.” He dropped his voice a notch. “See anything you want.”

Kat’s eyes widened. “I—”

“That’s a great idea,” Rusty said as he dumped the portfolio on the conference room table.

Offering his fist to Erik for a quick knuckle rap, he added, “Erik, good to see ya.”

As Rusty hustled out of the conference room, Kat dropped her head onto her crossed arms on the table. The heaving of her shoulders let him know she was doing some heavy breathing, and he smiled.

Oh yeah, she’s pissed.

He stood and walked around behind her chair. Wrapping his fingers over her shoulders, he began massaging the tension out of them. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Does three o’clock work for you?”

She raised her head slightly. “Like it matters if it does or not.”

It would be a death sentence to laugh, so he bit his lip and, trying to sound as sincere and caring as possible, said, “Of course it matters. Is three-thirty better?”

He wasn’t certain, but he thought her heard her mumble “bastard” before saying, “Three is fine.”

SKY: Sweet! Loved that. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing!

ALANNAH: Thank you!! I love interacting with other writers and readers, it’s my favorite part of the job!

Interested in learning more about this fantastic author? Visit Alannah at her website.

Like blogging? Join Alannah at her blog.

Purchase Savin' Me here.

Thanks so much for visiting. Don’t forget, for a chance to win a free Ecopy of Savin’ Me and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, leave a comment by Friday, April 23rd,12 PM EST!

Best Regards,
~Sky

Author Meeting Place. Check out all the great services!

Calling all authors…I’ve something to share.

Have you heard of the Author Meeting Place? If not, check this out. A fellow author, Anastasia Cassella-Young, has so much to offer it made my head turn twice. Not only is she the founder of Author Meeting Place, a spot where authors come together and connect with others authors, but her site connects readers with authors as well!

Before I give you more details about this fabulous site, let me share what Anastasia has to offer...

“I am an author of 10 books. I am an editor, proofreader, formatter, bookmark maker and book trailer producer. I offer everything at very low prices to help other authors as I understand the costs of producing your book and marketing it.”

• Any editing services are $.50 a page. Email me at anastasiaseditingservice@authormeetingplace.com to learn more
  
• We do free reviews through Mind Fog Reviews. Click here to view the form to request an interview. We do fast tracked reviews which means for $15 you can have your unbiased and professional review in 3-5 business days instead of 3-5 weeks business days only. The submission page has forms on it for the authors to submit their books to AMP and they will be placed on the site. The form provides all the information I need. Click here to view the form.
  
• Need a book trailer? For $25, I can create exactly what you’re looking for. Click here to learn more.
  
• Interested in becoming author of the month or own the book cover of the month? Click here to learn more.
  
• Top of the line bookmarks at a great price. Click here to learn more.
  
• Advertise yourself! Check out my classifieds.
  
• Formatting issues? I can help. Click here.

Sky here again. *Smiles* I have to tell you, I’ve already worked with Anastasia. She’s fantastic. And do her prices rock or what? Spend a dime or don’t. Either way, she’s got a super site going at the Author Meeting Place. In case you missed it earlier, upload your book information (a ton of it) for free with this easy to fill out form.

Again I’d like to pull your attention back to Author Meeting Place’s home page as half of what’s offered wasn’t listed in this blog post. Swing over. Take a peek. You won't be dissappointed.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and hope this post caught your attention. A big ‘thank you’ to Anastasia for offering such a great round of services to us authors!

~Sky

Marie Tuhart's, In Plain SIte. We have a winner!

I’d like to once more thank Marie Tuhart for popping over this week and chatting about her release, In Plain Site. Sounds like a great story! I won’t keep you waiting a moment longer. The winner of a free Ecopy of In Plain Site and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press is Cari. Congratulations! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Attention all authors! Be sure to swing in tomorrow to learn about the great services multi-published author Anastasia Cassella-Young is offering.

My Spring has Sprung Blog Event continues on Monday. Author Alannah Lynne will be dishing out about her latest release, Savin’ Me. Comment for a chance to win a free Ecopy of Savin' Me and a gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Look forward to seeing you!

Cheers
~Sky

Marie Tuhart Chats about In Plain Site. Comment to win big!

Welcome to the first week of my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. It’s my pleasure to introduce author Marie Tuhart who will be chatting about her first release, In Plain Site. As all quality erotica romances should be, this is Rated R. That said, read on and enjoy! For a chance to win an Ecopy of this story and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, be sure to leave a comment!

In Plain Site

Bad boy businessman Joe Bradshaw has achieved almost everything he’s wanted in life, but his strait-laced colleague Victoria Collins is proving an elusive challenge. A steamy encounter in the elevator begins a wild journey of sensual discovery. Joe’s determined to break through Vicki’s barriers to reveal the red-hot woman hiding inside. But Vicki is stalked by her past—her ex-fiancé will stop at nothing to get her back. Falling in love and keeping Vicki safe could be the biggest challenges of Joe’s life.

SKY: Welcome, thanks for joining me this week!

MARIE: Hi Sky, thank you so much for having me.

SKY: Tell me, what inspired this story?

MARIE: Well, this was my first attempt at an erotic romance I was taking an on-line class from Jan Springer on How to Write an Erotic Romance. I already had the two characters in my mind, I knew Joe was a bad boy, and Vickie was a good girl, and I started playing the what if game with my characters, and the story started to emerge.

SKY: Nice! Share with us…what makes your heroine fly off the pages? I'd love a glimpse of who she is.

MARIE: Vickie isn't one to let Joe walk all over her she gives a good as she gets.

Here's an excerpt:

She pushed the dresser drawer closed, turned, and let out a squeal when she noticed Joe lounging against the doorjamb.

“I thought I told you to leave.”

“You did.”

“Then why are you still here?” Her heartbeat increased. Just having him in the doorway of her bedroom caused her pussy to weep.

“I’m not leaving until we hash this out.”

“Hash what out?” Damn, she could smell his scent clear across the room. Citrus and masculinity.

The smell should have been overpowering, but not on him. Instead it fueled the deep desire streaming through her body.

“You're determined not to let me into your life?” He took a step into the room.

She inhaled. Even with several feet between them, she could feel his magnetism. She wanted nothing more than for him to pull her into his arms, to have his lips on hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth.

“You’re too dangerous.” The words slipped out before she was even aware of voicing them aloud.

His eyes widened, and another of those sexy, devilish grins spread across his face. “I’m not dangerous. I’m a teddy bear.”

Victoria gave a snort of laughter. He took another step toward her, and now her bedroom felt too small. He was invading her territory. “Grizzly bear is more like it,” she muttered.

“A man,” he said, taking two more steps. “A man who wants to get to know you better.”

SKY: Whoa! Steamy excerpt. Loved it! On to my favorite part─what makes your hero worth knowing – lusting over?

MARIE: Joe is a bit rough around the edges, but he has his tender side and he knows when he's pushing the boundaries.

Excerpt:

His need for her overwhelmed him, but he’d promised himself in the wee hours of the morning that he’d do this right. With reluctance, he released her mouth and forced himself to step away. Her moan of protest made him gather her back into his arms.

Again their lips came together. Tongues tangled and hands wandered over bodies. Her fingers traced his shoulders before sinking deep in his hair. His hands slid down her back, enjoying the feel of her body against his.

Their mouths parted, but he trailed his lips down her neck, nipping and licking her skin. She tasted so good, fresh like summer rain. Her head fell back as he continued to nuzzle her neck. The pressure against his jeans reminded him how far gone he really was.

His wants didn't matter. This was about Vicki. About making her feel safe with him, letting her know it was more than just sex. Lifting his head, he waited until Vicki opened her eyes before he spoke. “I'm going to do this right.”

“Felt pretty damn right to me.”

“Damn it, woman. You aren’t making this easy.” He took two steps away, hands clenched at his sides. He had to get some distance before it was too late.

“Who says I want easy.” She followed, cupping the bulge beneath his denim jeans.

“Vicki.” He ground out her name between clenched teeth. This woman excited him just standing there. Fighting against his baser needs wasn't simple, but instead of giving in, he grasped her wrist and pulled her tantalizing fingers away from him.

SKY: Oh yeah, Joe’s worth lusting over! It was a pleasure having you visit. Thanks for much for visiting and sharing!

MARIE: Again, thanks for having me. I'm having fun today.

What’s being said about In Plain Site…

From The Long and Short of It Whipped Cream 4 ½ cherries

Fans of super-hot erotica with a slathering of BDSM will thoroughly enjoy In Plain Sight. The characters are fantastic, the writing is tight, and a heaping portion of emotion exists just inside the pages. This is a definite must read erotica enthusiasts are sure to enjoy.

This story have you intrigued? Want to read more? Click here to purchase In Plain Site now!

Learn more about Marie Tuhart and what’s next on her agenda by visiting her website.

Visit Marie at her blog.

Find Marie on Facebook.

Don’t forget, for a chance to win a free ecopy of In Plain Site and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, you must leave a comment by Friday, April 16th 12 PM EST.

Thanks for visiting!
~Sky

New Beginnings. More Chances to Win.

Wow. Thank you to everyone who stopped by this past week and shared with me. Saying goodbye to Nakita was tough but all of your encouragement and kind words kept my head above water. I’d like to give a warm congratulations to Jennifer Mathis. You won the grand prize. Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

I’m getting ready to start a new week and it’s very exciting.

Before I go any further I’d like to tell you about a recent development. This is BIG! A fantastic blog event called BLOG MANIA will be sweeping the internet on April 30th. An incredible romance author named Lynda Coker pulled this together and because she has so efficiently accomplished with this event what I am a huge fan of (introducing you to wonderful authors) the giveaway at my blog will be nothing less than a $50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. The cherry on top? A free Ecopy of my latest release, Darkest Memory. Mark April 30th on your calendar and pop in every weekend before as I chat more about it. To make your mouth water now, think over 100 blogs…and an EASY chance to win over 100 prizes!

On to my big news…

Two days and counting!

I had so much fun inviting authors to my blog for Paranormal Romance Month that I've decided to host another string of interviews and contests. This time we're celebrating springtime with my Spring has Sprung Blog Event. All titles discussed are hot off the press and have been released the first half of 2010. Some authors are multi-published and others are brand new!

This time we’ll learn three basic things about each author’s story: What inspired it, more about the heroine, and more about the hero. For a chance to win a free Ecopy and a $4.50 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press, all you need to do is leave a comment!

Expect to see a variety of romance genres and discover some excellent stories. To check out the itinerary, click here.

Swing back in Monday morning as I welcome author Marie Tuhart. She’ll be dishing out about her latest erotic romance release, In Plain Site.

Wishing everyone a happy Springtime!

Cheers
~Sky

Mega Giveaway: Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Well, this officially wraps up Paranormal Romance Month. What a great ride it’s been! I reunited with some super authors and met a few for the first time. Every interview was unique; some were done through email, others over IM or phone. What can I tell you? Every single author was fantastic. I’m humbled by the sheer talent. If you have a few minutes, check my blog log. Read over what they had to say. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, I’d be surprised if you didn’t find a new “favorite” amongst the Paranormal Romance Month authors whom visited.

This week was initially supposed to be my feature week before I launched my Spring has Sprung blog event. I was going to promote my latest release, Darkest Memory. While I still intend to do that, the itinerary has changed somewhat.

This week I’m saying goodbye to a dear friend...my faithful writing companion, my dog, Nakita (the Akita). She was there with me through it all. The first time I sat down and put my mind to writing a novel, query letter, synopsis, and rejection letters that followed. She was also there when I was accepted. Through every word, every long night, through every teeth-jarring moment waiting for reviews.

Through all of it, I looked down and saw her lounging by my feet, not concerned in the least. I’m convinced she always had faith in me. I still remember the day I met her, Christmas of 2001. What a hyper, determined little pup she was. I can still see her plowing through a foot of freshly fallen snow in Manchester, nothing but a puffy tail seen zig-zagging across my backyard until she spied the first hole in the chain-link fence. Whoa! Then I was the woman dressed in sweats and slippers tripping and stumbling after to stop her. Dang dog! Sharp as a tack way back then.

All said, I’ve decided to dedicate this week to her. Doing such, I’m going to do something I’ve NEVER done before, in her honor.

I will be giving away a bulk prize. An e-copy of every single story I’ve published while she sat by my side. This includes, The King's Druidess (lead-in to trilogy), Fate’s Monolith (Book I), Destiny’s Denial (Book II), Highland Muse and Darkest Memory. What do you need to do to win? Simple, leave a comment telling me who you consider to be your faithful writing or reading companion. This can be a dog, cat, person, doesn’t matter. Nobody by your side when you write or read? That’s okay. Share with me who inspired you to write, or read as you do─ as one way or another, Nakita did me.

So, as promised, here’s a little about my vampire tale.

Darkest Memory

Calah Arlington lands a career-making interview with billionaire club owner, Gabriel Knight. His dark looks and mysterious nature captivate her. However, looks can be deceiving. Now bizarre things are happening to her. She hears his seductive voice when he hasn't spoken. She's become forgetful and worries when she's unable to remember her own actions. Could the truth behind the strange occurrences be deadly?

Vampire, Gabriel Knight would have waited a thousand centuries for Calah Arlington to return. A stormy night brings her to him. He should've remained a secret — to protect her. Fate has other plans. Making contact under the pretension of an interview, he lures her to his estate to keep her safe from the enemy. However, he underestimates his dark desire for her. Now who will keep her safe from him?

One of the more descriptive excerpts…

When his hand closed over hers, Calah’s breath caught. A surge of energy poured over her. She felt like a beacon of energy in the night and watched with alarm as lightning streaked across the sky again.

Gabriel stepped halfway behind her, his front to her back, his hand never leaving the back of hers. “Don’t be afraid. This won’t hurt,” he murmured close to her ear.

She gasped when he pressed her palm against the pane and wrapped his other arm around her waist. The rain on the glass slid off as if wiped away with a windshield wiper and the wind ceased. Lightning arched and skirted across the black sky toward them. Thunder boomed and echoed in her eardrums. The waves crashing below became louder. She tensed and watched with wide eyes when the lightning danced and jumped even closer, dangerously close.

Again, his cool breath caressed her ear, face close. “Shhh. Relax, ma petite. No harm will come to you. I promise. It is all an illusion.”

He pulled her tighter against him, and she felt his lips brush her neck. “Now you see through my eyes, mon amour,” he whispered. “Through the eyes of a vampire.”

The ebony sky pulsed with life, and she could discern each individual thundercloud. Her eyesight sharpened further, and she could clearly see each droplet of moisture as it rose from the sea and touched the sky. The lightning took on a blue-white hue and appeared to roll forward until it was within feet of the glass. It hovered, a sparkling array of quivering light, before, like a viperous snake, lurched in one solid streak and met the center of her palm on the other side of the glass. It felt as if an icy cold cloth was thrown on her hand and then steamy hot water poured over shortly after.

Speech became impossible. It was glorious. Night was glorious. Had daylight ever looked this good? Talented, eager lips moved lower on her neck, his tongue swirled over her skin. Lightning arched from her fingertips beyond the windowpane. As it did across the sky, it did so across the glass until it covered the whole window. Zigzagging, it moved like heat lightening, brilliant and mesmerizing. A sigh escaped when his lips met the top of her outer collar bone. Head flung back, she watched the white hot-lightning caress the glass. His hand left its protective perch over hers and slid up her arm. Every pore came alive, every single inch of sensitive skin a thrilling burn beneath his touch.

Calah moaned and her eyelids slid shut, still the lightning jetted across her vision as though it followed the path of his hand, of his lips. She turned her head and nuzzled her cheek against his hair. The whisper of his thoughts brushed her mind, the honesty of them. No manipulation remained between them. He responded to her as a man would a woman he found ravishing. Gabriel also responded as a vampire would to lust and blood. He didn’t hide a thing from her. For all she searched for terror within, none could be found.

Thank you for stopping by. Thank you for sharing this post with me. Remember, all you need to do to win is leave a comment about your writing/reading companion or whoever inspired you to write/read by Thursday, April 8th, 9 PM EST.

Best Regards
~Sky

Children of the Mist. Contest winner announced!

Another super week! I’d like to once more thank author Hywela Lyn for visiting and chatting about her latest release, Children of the Mist. What a super story! I know what you’re all eager to find out. Who won the contest? Well, I won’t keep you waiting any longer. Congratulations, Susan! You have one free copy of Children of the Mist and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press heading your way. Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Don’t forget, tomorrow launches the last week of Paranormal Romance Month. As promised, I’ll be featuring my latest story, Darkest Memory. And, as it turns out, saying goodbye to my faithful writing companion...my dog, Nakita.

Hope to see you.

Best Regards,
~Sky

Hywela Lyn chats about Children of the Mist

Welcome to Paranormal Romance Month. It’s my pleasure to have talented romance author, Hywela Lyn visit (AKA- Lyn). This week she’ll be chatting about her latest release, Children of the Mist. As always, there’s a contest! Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of Children of the Mist and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Children of the Mist

Two minds united against a common foe. Two hearts afraid to show their love:

Long ago Tamarith fell for a man she knew she could never have, and she is convinced she will never love another. However, she cannot help but be intrigued by the handsome young stranger whose psychic powers exceed even her own.

Vidarh seeks only to find his purpose in life and to win the regard of his father. Thrown together by circumstances, then parted by an evil greater than they could have imagined, can Vidarh save the lovely woman who captivates him, before it is too late? Will he overcome the deadly enemy who threatens to destroy their planet - and will they find the happiness they both seek,or are they fated to live their lives alone?

SKY: Welcome Lyn. Having you visit is fantastic, thank you!

LYN:. Hello Sky, I’m thrilled to be here today, and thank you so much for inviting me

SKY: I’ve had the extreme pleasure of reading, Children of the Mist. It is exceptional! Sequel to Starquest, you didn’t let me down with this story. Honestly, I’ve read a few futuristic novels and can tell you truthfully, none touched this! Let’s lift off correctly…tell me in one sentence, what is the biggest dilemma facing your hero and heroine in this story?

LYN: Oh, thank you so much Sky, what a lovely thing to say, especially coming from such a talented writer of fantasy as yourself.. Hmm one sentence... not easy for someone as verbose as me, but I’ll try:

Tamarith believes she will never love anyone else, but when fighting an enemy more dangerous than anything they’ve faced before, she and Vidarh realize each is incomplete without the other.

SKY: Your heroine, Tamarith, realizes that a long lost love is just that…lost─at least when it comes to love. She can’t help but notice another. His physic powers supersede hers. Let’s chisel away at that concept. Can you share with us a bit of her power? Perhaps a bit of how it compares with his? How do sparks fly in the midst of such powers?

LYN: Niflheim is inhabited by colonists from Earth with varying powers of ESP. Tamarith is a talented telepath and empath, with telekinetic powers as well, and is able to communicate telepathically for greater distances than any of her peers. However, she has not yet realized her full potential. In addition to telepathy and telekinesis, Vidarh is also able to teleport. He has developed his skills to a high degree, despite lack of encouragement from his family. He senses that Tamarith is nursing a broken heart, and that if he could only reach her, he could help her develop the latent powers she has not yet discovered. First though, he has to get past the barrier Tamarith has built to protect herself from being hurt again, as well as fighting his growing attraction to her.

Even when only their minds have met, and they have not seen each other physically, Tamarith is able to communicate telepathically far more easily than the other members of her family, and she is the one to guide him through the underground caverns to the other side of the mountains on his journey to Gladsheim, where the inhabitants of Niflheim are gathering.:

You don't have far to go. I will keep sending you the directions. You should be near the river now.

Yes. I hear it up ahead.

Be careful. We had heavier than usual snowstorms last winter. With the coming of spring, the melting snow and ice has swelled the volume of water.

Vidarh made his way along the tunnel, partly guided by his telepathic link with Tamarith, and partly by his own senses. Eventually it widened out into a large cave, through which the underground river roared as it cut its way through the mountain.

On the shingle of the boulder-strewn shore, several small boats bobbed against their moorings. After ensuring his pack was securely fastened around his waist, he climbed into one, and lashed the torch to the prow. He cast off, and took up the paddle. The river bore the craft along at a tremendous rate and it needed all his skill and attention to save the craft from dashing against the rocks. He'd heard about the fabled river of Mimir, but this was not the tranquil stream of his imagination.

The walls still reflected a phosphorescent glow. Vidarh noticed several gigantic, human-like statues on the banks as he passed, but had no time to contemplate or admire them. Rounding a bend, he came upon a wall of water ahead, cascading from the roof in a fury of white froth. The torrent boiled and raced. He gritted his teeth as he headed into the maelstrom.

There was no way he could control the boat's frantic motions as it heaved and bucked like an unbroken colt. He threw down the paddle, gripped the sides of the vessel, and sent a desperate message through the ether.

Tamarith, I'm in trouble. Please—send me images of your location, quickly. I need to know what it looks like where you are.

The raging current tossed the boat around with relentless fury. All Vidarh's attention focussed on maintaining contact with Tamarith, and even his finely-tuned powers could not prevent the craft from capsizing. Gasping as he hit the icy flood, he struck out with his arms in desperation, and tried to keep the watery demons from pulling him under.

Tamarith!

Into his head came a shimmering picture of mountains and a snowy plain beyond, like the one he had recently crossed. A path before the mouth of a cave wound down the declivity to the plain. He closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate on the image, while trying to keep his head above the water.

SKY: Great excerpt! Your hero, Vidarh is hot! Sorry, did I say that out loud? Hey, it’s the truth. Plagued by multiple issues─ finding his true purpose in life, winning the regard of his father, facing a threat to his planet─ he’s thrown together with Tamarith. The attraction sizzles on the pages. To speak here about Vidarh is one thing. I want more. Share with us, Lyn. We want to see Vidarh through your eyes.

LYN: Ooh, now let me see. Tall and muscular, Vidarh is used to hard, physical work on his family’s farm, although that is not where he feels his true vocation lies. He has strong features, with a smile that looks a little crooked, which is one of the things that draws Tamarith to him. Actually, the the way I see him physically, is exactly the way Tamarith sees him the morning after his arrival at the settlement of Gladsheim:

Tamarith stopped and gazed for a moment across the water. The G-type sun, now fully risen, caused the lake to shimmer like a veil of golden silk, with scarcely a ripple disturbing its calm. The pastel-colored walls of the graceful buildings on the shore reflected the glow of both suns. In the distance, the mountains encircling the settlement reached high into the cerulean sky. The swirling mist that hid their summits was as much a part of Niflheim as the earth upon which she and Vidarh stood.

She sensed his mind discreetly touch hers and realized he was staring at her keenly. She turned back to face him, returning his questioning glance and studying him in turn. Taller than average, and broad-shouldered, today he wore a sleeveless, belted leather shirt over thick breeches, with long, icecat-wool lined boots. His upper arms were well muscled, his skin tanned as if he were used to working outdoors. His curly, dark auburn hair, kept away from his face with a plain leather band, reached almost to his shoulders. It caught the sun's rays and gleamed like the polished dark red wood of the trees that flanked the feet of the mountains.

She took in his clear, hazel eyes, with their friendly twinkle, the long, straight nose, strong jaw line and smiling mouth. He would have been fighting off the local unattached young women if the situation they found themselves in were not so serious.

Courageous and determined, and something of a loner, Vidarh is also very sensitive to other people’s feelings. He is capable of leadership, but is also able to work with others and willing to take directions, and do whatever is necessary to overcome the perils ahead. He has a gentle, caring nature and is desperate to win his father’s approval. In the end he realizes that ultimately he needs to do what he feels is right for himself, even if that takes him in a totally different direction to the one he originally believed was his destiny.

Tamarith and Vidarh have been dancing around each other , trying to avoid their growing feelings for each other, each believing their love is hopeless. In this excerpt they’ve been through a lot together and are standing outside, with Tamarith’s pet icecat, Malmooth.

Vidarh attempted to dispel the awkwardness between them. I don't think you realize how gifted you are. I'm sure there are things you could teach me, as well. We could learn from each other.

Tamarith dropped her guard, just a little, but enough for him to feel the loneliness and uncertainty in her. He reached down to pet Malmooth and tried to think of a way to tell Tamarith how he felt about her. His fingers brushed against hers. The power that surged through him was like nothing he had ever experienced before. The last time they had touched hands was in Loki's Chasm, when they were both in deadly danger and their thoughts needed to be concentrated on one thing, teleporting themselves to safety.

This was different.

They looked at each other in shock. She tried to draw away her hand, but he tightened his fingers around it, and raised it to his lips. He felt her tremble from head to toe, like a captured bird.

He looked at her in awe. This lovely woman had saved his life. She'd fearlessly fought a powerful alien, yet she trembled at his touch. He drew a deep breath and it took all his willpower to refrain from crushing her to him. He ached to kiss her, to quench the fire that coursed through his body. He pulled her toward him, and placing his hand beneath her face, gently lifted her chin, compelling her to look at him. His eyes locked on hers, and he forced himself to keep control, not to rush, not to frighten her away before he had chance to tell her what he needed her to know.

SKY: Another fantastic excerpt! I’ve come across few authors who can pull one into a setting as well as you did in both Starquest and Children of the Mist. Your flare for description is flawless and admirable. Show everyone what I’m talking about. Share one scene from Children of the Mist that you feel put the rest to shame.

LYN: Oh, thank you Sky, you make me blush! I drew a lot on my experience of riding in the Welsh mountains for the settings of this story, although there aren’t any glaciers in Wales, but also did a lot of research on the geology and geography of Scandinavia . I don’t know about ‘putting the rest to shame,’ but I really enjoyed writing this particular scene:

They were able to gallop across the narrow stretch of plain before the mountains and gain precious time. As the veils of mist drifted off the lower ground, they found themselves in bright sunshine. Nidhogg's Glacier lay before them, glowing in various shades of blue against brilliant white.

Skirting the huge ice mass, they hugged the base of the mountains. Here, the reed-choked grassland, littered with crumbled stone and rocky outcrops where the glacier had eaten into the ground on its endless journey, forced them to slow to a walk.

At last, they reached the narrow, twisting trail that would lead them across the mountain range. They made slow progress up the track, looking back at the blue and white of the glacier, gleaming in the sunlight and contrasting markedly with the rock's blackness, as they made the gradual climb above it. Black rock and white snow were all that lay ahead, although here and there the colour of the rocks changed to green or red as if splashed with a gigantic paintbrush.

At times, the trail petered out altogether and Vidarh, leading the way, was thankful the ponies were so sure-footed. He had spent days at a time in these mountains. Each twist and turn, each pinnacle of rock or small, misshapen tree somehow maintaining a tenuous hold on the unfriendly surface, was familiar to him.

SKY: Beautifully written. Thank you. I hate that we’re running out of time. A hundred extra questions couldn’t nearly dive into this book. But, I’m sure everyone is wondering…what’s next on your agenda? What are you writing now?

LYN: Well, I’ve started a third story in what will has now, hopefully, become a trilogy! This one is a little different to the other two in many ways, and features another main character from ‘Starquest’, whose story I felt should be told. There are some new characters as well as ‘guest appearances’ from a few familiar names, but the main story concerns just two people - doing their darndest to avoid their ‘happy ever after’ and trying to deny any attraction between them!

SKY: Thank you so much for visiting and sharing Children of the Mist with us, Lyn. It was a treat!

LYN: It’s been a real honour and a thrill to be here, Sky, thank you so much for having me.

Watch a book trailer for Children of the Mist…




STARQUEST, LASR (4 1/2 BOOKS)

"The lovely, lovely descriptions never slow the action, but manage still to convey emotion and carry the narration forward. This is an incredibly original tale, and for all the science fiction trappings is truly a classic quest for love, and the romance, which at first seems very much at the periphery, will become not only a primary motivation, but the chief joy of the tale. Adventure may be the main motif, but the heartwarming side will be a surprising bonus." Read full review here.

'Snapdragon'
LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS

CHILDREN OF THE MIST

(LASR 5 star plus - Best Book Review)

"This book is wonderful! There are few books that hold my interest to the point where I can't bear to put it down, but Children of the Mist is most certainly at the top of this list. The attraction between Tamarith and Vidarh is beautifully written. The involvement of telepathy would appear to make it easier for them to share their feelings, but this isn't the case. If anything telepathy makes it harder as they hide their minds from one another. This puts their lives in danger more than once...

...Well done Hywela Lyn. I haven't read the first book in this series, but you can be sure I'm going to buy it as soon as I can. This is the type of book I love to read." Read complete review here.

DANCING WITH FATE

"Hywela Lyn has packed enough adventure into Dancing with Fate to rival a full length novel. I am a huge fan of stories of Camelot and the famed King Arthur and Merlin so I was especially intrigued by the connection between those tales and this book. What a fascinating and creative take on the origins of Merlin we find in Dancing with Fate.

The love story of Terpsichore and Myrddin is quite touching. Especially in light of the obstacles in their path that include a past betrothal, an angry god, a legend yet to occur, and goblin fire. As if this wasn’t enough, we have the addition of the tricky Fates who can twist anything around, which makes it rather difficult for Terpsichore to strike a particular bargain she so desperately needs.

Hywela Lyn’s addition to the Song of the Muses series is a wonderful fantasy to read when you have the urge to pass some time with a good book. I have not read anything else by this author, but I enjoyed Dancing with Fate Pass enough that I am considering adding more works by the author to my collection. " Read full review here.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2009.

And the great reviews don’t end there. To read more click here.

Visit Lyn at her Website

Interested in checking out a great blogspot with tantalizing topics? Join Lyn at her Blog.

Purchase a copy of Children of the Mist. Click here.

Don’t forget to leave a comment by Friday, April 2nd, 12 PM EST for a chance to win a copy of Children of the Mist and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press!

Cheers
~Sky

Winner of Sheri Lewis Wohl's, Bridge of Souls

I’d like to once more thank Sheri Lewis Wohl for visiting this past week. Bridge of Souls sounds truly wonderful. It’s definitely on my ‘to read list’! It’s that moment you’ve all been waiting for. Contest winner announcement time. Drum roll please…and the winner is Carol L. Congratulations! You’ve won a free copy of Bridge of Souls and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. Please contact me at skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Be sure to pop back in tomorrow as I welcome author Hywela Lyn to Paranormal Romance Month!

Cheers
~Sky

Sheri Lewis Wohl chats about Bridge of Souls

Welcome to Paranormal Romance Month! This week it’s my pleasure to interview Sheri Lewis Wohl about her latest release, Bridge of Souls. Be sure to leave a comment to win a free copy of Bridge of Souls and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press!

Bridge of Souls

Adrian Meade is on the run from her rich, powerful, and vengeful ex-husband, so she creates a new identity as Anna Koch to keep herself safe. Tired of running, she has no sooner put down temporary roots in Spokane, Washington, than she finds herself in the midst of an unexpected romance with her landlord, Jason “Bigs” Bigelow, and also confronted with the century-old mystery of a missing boy. Full of dark secrets, she keeps Bigs at arm’s length until their fiery passion becomes too great to deny. Love, lies, and a ghost complicate Adrian’s life even more than it already is. As secrets begin to crack and mysteries begin to unravel, the line between the past and the present fades. Can Bigs keep her safe from an evil that transcends time or will he lose the one woman who has finally healed his heart?

SKY: A warm welcome, Sheri. Great to have you!

SHERI: Hi Sky. Thanks for having me here today. I’m excited to spend a little time with you and your readers.

SKY: Wow! I can tell already that Bridge of Souls is my kind of read. When did the idea for this story take root? Was there a defining moment?

SHERI: There’s a brick school well over a hundred years old near where we live and it’s intrigued me for years. I’ve always wondered what stories it could tell and every time I’d drive by my imagination would run wild. I’ve also always been a fan of dark, gothic tales with danger, mystery and ghosts. So one day I’m driving by the school, the sky is dark, a little starts to fall and I think…hey, what if…and the story was born.

SKY: I couldn’t help but smile…what a name your hero has─ Jason “Bigs” Bigelow. Love it! Who is he? What makes him tick? I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say, “Can I meet him?” Please, take us inside the pages of Bridge of Souls and make our mouths water for ‘Bigs!’

SHERI: Besides being married to an ex-cop, I’ve spent almost 20 years in the judiciary and hence have come to know many different law enforcement officers. Bigs is a bit of my husband as well as touches of the Deputy Marshals, DEA and FBI agents I see every day. Stir it all together and voila, a tough, sharp and handsome hero is born: a man who might have been taken down but was never taken out. He’s still handsome, smart and motivated scars and all.

Here’s a little peek at Bigs when Adrian comes knocking early one morning with muffins and lattes:

Back out in the hallway at Bigs’ apartment, she knocked hard. He could still be in bed and a thoughtful tenant might just wait until later in the day. However, she wasn’t even going to pretend to be a thoughtful and patient tenant. She was impatient, excited, and wanted a little company. His company to be exact.

Bending down, she picked up the lattes and muffins while she waited for him to answer her not-so-subtle summons. When he opened the door a long minute later she almost dropped the lattes. As some of her younger students would have exclaimed, Yo! She’d seen her share of bare chests but my oh my, what a bare chest Jason Bigelow possessed. With flannel pants slung lazily on slim hips and his feet bare, it didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out he just got out of bed. He wore the disheveled look well. Very well.

“I’m so sorry.” Her heart raced, reminding her of those teenage years when a boy did nothing more than look at her and it would send a flush up her cheeks. How she hoped her face didn’t mirror her hormonal reactions at the moment. Wouldn’t that be just dandy?

Damn him, there was that smile again. He was going to have to tone it down or she’d be taking an unusual number of cool showers.

SKY: Very nice! Adrian Meade─ AKA Anna Koch─ is a heroine well worth talking about. Tell us…if she could share what it’s like to be on the run, what would she say?

SHERI: For the well-educated Adrian, life on the run turns out to be more difficult than she anticipated. Though she knew it would be different, she didn’t realize how lonely and isolated it would make her. She didn’t realize how looking over her shoulder would wear down her spirit. By the time she makes her way to Spokane, strong as she is, Adrian is growing weary. Here’s a little peek early on at the toll running away takes on her. She and Bigs are sitting out on the front steps:

He gave her a sideways glance and liked the way the sun made her burnished brown hair shine. “What brings you out bright and early?”

“I couldn’t sleep and was pretty anxious to get moved in. I don’t have a coffee maker, or even dishes for that matter, so I took a walk down to the grocery store. Guess I didn’t think things through all the way.”

He believed the part about no sleep. She was a woman with a quiet, yet decided beauty about her, marred today by deep dark circles around her eyes. Demons or anticipation? He hoped it was anticipation, though the dusky purple of the marks made him believe it wasn’t. He knew about demons. He didn’t wish them on anybody, particularly not a beautiful, graceful tenant who made his heart beat faster than he would admit to anyone. But walk down to the store? That was taking things a little far. What was she, a health nut?

“Good God woman, the store’s at least two miles down the road.”

“Just a good morning stretch.”

“You keep doing things like that, you’re gonna make me look like a slug.”

SKY: I’d love to crawl inside the pages of Bridge of Souls and look around at what you consider the best location in this story. Give us a sense of the setting. What was the one location you knew had to be inside this novel?

SHERI: Besides the school up on the prairie, there are two other locations I had to include. One is the Monroe Street Bridge in downtown Spokane because it has an incredible view of the Spokane River falls. When you see it every day like I do, you tend not to see it any more. But, when you take a moment to stop, it hits you how absolutely incredible the falls really are. I wanted to show that in the book. The second location is Coeur d’Alene, our Idaho neighbor. Coeur d’Alene is so lovely that I just wanted to get a glimpse of it in the book as well.

SKY: Almost out of time. As I’m sure everyone is curious, what’s next for you, Sheri? Have you any upcoming releases? Anything you’re working on now?

SHERI: I have two new releases in the near future. Souls of Sorrow will be coming out from the Black Rose Line at The Wild Rose Press. It’s a story of reunited love, forgiveness and hope. There are demons, ghosts and a psychic. Oh, and don’t forget passion. The second release doesn’t have a single paranormal element---gasp! Dirty Deeds is a romantic suspense coming out from Liquid Silver Books. You’ll meet Louise “Louie” Russell a bail enforcement agent who takes great offense at being called a bounty hunter, and Paul McDonald a former NHL star and current hockey coach. There’s murder, mystery and yes…love!

SKY: This has been great! Thank you so much for joining me this week, Sheri.

SHERI: Loved being here Sky and thank you for having me.

Visit Sheri at her Website.

Purchase Bridge of Souls. Click here.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Bridge of Souls and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press!

~Sky

Winner of Denyse Bridger's, Hidden in the Mist

What a spectacular week! I’d like to once more thank Denyse Bridger for visiting and chatting about her latest release, Hidden in the Mist. It sounds like such a super read. I'm sure you're all wondering who won the contest. I won't keep you waiting a second longer! The lucky winner of one free copy of Hidden in the Mist and a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press is Mindy! Congratulations! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Be sure to swing back in tomorrow as I welcome Sheri Lewis Wohl to Paranormal Romance Month.

Best Regards,
~Sky