Exclusive Interview with author Suzanne Jefferies, plus a look at erotic romance, WATCHED, and giveaway!

Hi, readers! I am beyond pleased to announce a very special post today on ILRB. We’re doing something a little different. This is our second official author interview on this romance blog! I know in the past, we did character interviews then switched over to the author’s take on it, but this approach is a bit unusual.

We have a real treat for you, readers. Today we get to speak one-on-one with the talented author of erotic romance, Watched. Please join me in welcoming Suzanne Jefferies to ILRB! 🙂

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Suzanne. Please have a seat.

Author Suzanne Jefferies:  Hi, Marie! Lovely to meet you.

Marie:  It’s such a pleasure to see you here! I’m going to throw in some standard questions first.

Obviously, we know your occupation as an author, but some writers have other jobs as well. Do you have any other occupations? Do you believe you’re any good at them? Do you like what you do?

Suzanne:  I’m a copywriter, specializing in corporate marketing collateral, government case studies (South Africa), and personal profiles. I’d like to think I’m very good at it! I love it. I get to work on some really exciting client projects from the comfort of my home. Win/win all round.

Marie:  Nice! 

So, tell us…what is your family like?

Suzanne:  Driven. Chaotic. Next question, please.

Marie:  Oh, I hear you there! 😉

Let’s try something else, okay?

If it doesn’t bother you at all, can you let us know what your childhood home looked like?

Suzanne:  We moved a lot, including from the UK to South Africa. My earliest home was my favorite; surrounded by a cobblestone wall, overlooking the cold, grey Atlantic, and four houses from my best friend. We used to go down to the beach in our Wellington boots, dodging stinging nettles and sheep droppings. Every day was an adventure.

Marie:  Great!

Do you have any hobbies, Suzanne? What do you enjoy doing?

Suzanne:  Rolling on the mat at jui jitsu. Running half-marathons with my youngest sister. Drawing stories about the young me adventuring on that cold coast in South Wales.

Marie:  Wow! Such an eclectic blend of pastimes! 😀

So…what is your greatest dream?

Suzanne:  I’m still single. So, I’m wishing and a hoping for true love/the fairytale/someone who I can partner with. Maybe a family.

Marie:  There’s certainly nothing wrong with those dreams…

As I’ve learned, true love has a way of surprising you just when you need it the most. ♥♥♥

Let’s try another question.

What kind of person do you wish you could be? What is stopping you?

Suzanne:  I could do with being more extroverted. What’s stopping me is my introvert tendencies. I can do extrovert best when I’m a little drunk – that doesn’t roll so well on a Monday morning!

Marie:  (Laughs.) Very true…

Okay, I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Suzanne:  A boy named Gareth, with a lazy green eye who worked at the Pro Shop and smoked Camel filters. Did he break my heart? With a sledgehammer.

Marie: Aww…okay. I sense a big story there. ♥

Let’s try something else now.

What’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Suzanne:  Lots of terrible things happen all the time, and I’ve certainly had more than my fair share. The funny thing, though, about terrible things is that, sometimes, they can lead me on to better, wonderful things. Other times, they’ve led me to the therapist’s door.

Marie:  Can’t blame you there!

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Suzanne nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Suzanne:  I wanted to write books. And, yay, that’s what I’m doing.

In a million years, I never dreamt that publishing would be so hard. In my career as a writer I’ve been plagiarized (legal fees nailed that one), had an agent run out on me, had a publisher go bust and close its door weeks before my release, and another publisher used my book as a vehicle to legitimize her self-publishing business. Epic.

For every step forward, another twenty or so back. People think of E.L. James or J.K. Rowling when they think of writers, but they’re outliers. Most writers I know are doing well, but aren’t finding their photo in People magazine.

Marie:  True enough! I don’t think most people realize how difficult it is to make a name for yourself in the publishing world.

So, who is your role model, Suzanne?

Suzanne:  Jane Porter. She moved me to tears with her story, because it was my story too. The difference was, she had the guts to stand up there and share. She’s a writer who never gave up, a successful publisher and a dedicated mom. I think she’s awesome.

Marie:  All right.

Now, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Suzanne:  Yes. I will not be revealing said person’s name to protect the innocent (me).

Marie:  No problem. I respect your privacy!

Let’s try another question.

What is your deepest desire?

Suzanne:  To have a child of my own (looking super unlikely at this point).

Marie:  I know what you mean. The closest I’ve come so far is adopting kitties. 😉

So, tell me something, Suzanne. What is your greatest fear?

Suzanne:  That it will be too late – that all the things I still want to do and experience in my life, will somehow slip away from me into time’s black hole, and it will all be too late.

Marie: Well, I certainly understand your fears that time is a losing battle. But I don’t think it’s ever too late to accomplish what you set out to do.

I want to try something different next, Suzanne… 

Readers, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective on some of her characters.

We’ve heard rumors about the heroine of your story, Professor Eve Brown. Quite an interesting character. Can you tell us a little about her?

Suzanne:  Professor Brown, Evie, is newly divorced and questioning everything about her life. All of the roles and titles that seemed to apply, no longer do. She used to love her job, but she feels her passion slipping away. She’s no longer a wife. She’s no longer young. Everything’s changing.

Marie:  I see.

So, what are your characters’ greatest strengths?

Suzanne:  Resilience. She gets up, gets out there and gets on with what needs to be done.

Marie:  Admirable for sure!

And what are her greatest weaknesses?

Suzanne:  Young men named Cameron! The tendency to look backwards towards the past. That’s not where she’ll find her answers.

Marie:  Okay…

Let’s try something fun, shall we?

What are some of her favorite foods?

Suzanne:  Sushi, vegetarian lasagna, and steak, mid-to-rare, with fries. And Chardonnay.

Marie:  (Chuckles.) Nice!

How about another question?

What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Suzanne:  She’s open to change, open to experience, and open to difference. It’s not something she thinks of consciously; it’s part of who she is.

Marie:  Works for me!

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Suzanne:  It could be easy to dislike her, considering that she does ‘break the rules’ with Cameron. But it’s part of her breaking her shackles to the past, and the person she was.

Marie: All right.

Well, now that we have a real taste of Evie Brown, we have a few questions for you as well as the author, about the writing process of your book.

What first gave you the idea for Watched?

Suzanne:  Trawling through YouTube videos I came across the Christopher Atkins turkey ‘One Night in Heaven’. Something about the teacher/student angle, had me thinking. And then I watched Laura Branigan’s video for ‘Self-Control’ and somehow the two non-related ideas kind of mushed and melded together (Still not sure how this inspiration thing works!).

Marie:  Gotcha! And I hear you. My story ideas come from all over the place.

Interesting how the muse works, huh?

Let’s try something else.

What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Suzanne:  Pantster all the way! I let the story take me where it wants to go and hang on.  

Marie:  Sounds like quite a ride!

How about another question?

I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Watched or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Suzanne:  Yes, there was a minor challenge. The relationship with Sophie is fluid, a friends with benefits, casual affair. So, it had to be clear that Evie wasn’t cheating on her. However, Sophie is polyamorous, so it’s not that Sophie would mind particularly. I had wanted to explore this more, but publishers were not so keen. Luckily, I reworked parts of the story and Wild Rose Press was happy to publish.

Marie:  Okay.

It was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Watched appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this scorching romance by Suzanne Jefferies, a talented author!

Now, let’s learn more about Suzannne’s blog tour going on right now.

Here is the blurb for Watched:

Newly divorced Professor Evie Brown notices her student Cameron Slade and how attentive he seems, so totally unlike her ex-husband. Cameron is also delicious to look at, all taut body, broad shoulders, and hot eyes. He’s forbidden territory, but one late afternoon as she pleasures herself in an empty lecture hall, she looks up to find she’s not alone. He’s there…watching her.

And then there’s Sophie Walker. Ever since Evie met the sensual woman, she’s allowed her inhibitions to unreel, one by one. It’s Sophie who’s been sharing Evie’s erotic awakening, Sophie who she yearns for. Or is it?

Suzanne is also offering us a peek of the book!

I wipe clean the whiteboard, enjoying the push of the felt, swinging from side to side as I move, the squeaking sound it makes as it erases the past three hours’ worth of hard work. An image replays over and over—that unexpected reveal of Cameron’s torso—a handspan of bareness, the grooved shadow of muscle. It was a shock to the sterility of that lecture hall. My mouth waters. Bare, taut skin—that male skin, so much rougher, harsher than a woman’s.

Male.

I replace the lids on the markers and switch off the projector. Alone. Facing late afternoon emptiness.

If Cameron were to give me something I’d like… I’d like him, close to me, all sweet-sandy raw male youth, at my knees. Male.

I swallow back the desire that is starting to slither through me, stroking the space between my neck and collarbone. Cameron. I picture the way he ran his hands through his lightly gelled hair, the bulge in his arms as his hands extended behind his head. The soft curve of his lower lip. That vulnerable stretch of torso that was making my mouth salivate like a beast before its slaughter.

Nice! I’m curious to find out what happens in this book… 🙂

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07B2BR84Z

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/watched-suzanne-jefferies/1128033307?ean=2940159047809

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/watched-19

Plus, Suzanne is giving away some wonderful prizes, two ebooks of Watched, during this tour. Two lucky winners will receive a copy. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

☆.•°☆ RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/801c221b33/

Let’s offer some kudos to Suzanne’s sponsor as well…

We’ll be sure to get a copy of this erotic romance! ♥ Readers, don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

About Suzanne Jefferies

Suzanne Jefferies loves to write romance. As a member of ROSA (Romance Writers of South Africa), she knows that she’s not the only believer in romantic tension and emotional power smacks to keep the romance reader hooked. A movie fanatic, she spends most of her time as a writer-for-hire. Working in communication, she has done more than her fair share of corporate and investor PR, and now freelances in between editorial jobs for big, glossy company magazines. The Joy of Comfort Eating, her first contemporary romance novel, won the 2016 Imbali Award for excellence in romance writing.

Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the intriguing Suzanne Jefferies, here are some author links:

Website:  www.suzannejefferies.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneJefferiesAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/suzannjefferies

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Jefferies/e/B0076INQUU/

https://amzn.to/2GrvJrQ

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8193878.Suzanne_Jefferies

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115131914653334849624

Once again, I want to thank Suzanne Jefferies, the brilliant author of this hot novella, for stopping by!  It was a pleasure to have you here! Fans, enter the cool giveaway while you still can!

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Blog Tour Feature: Love at Solace Lake Series by Jana Richards

✫✶• NEW RELEASE•✫✶

 

No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface.

I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Jana Richards, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new contemporary romance release!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for authors!

Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love discovering new romance novels!

Let’s hear a little about this series…

Such great covers!

This is the blurb for Secrets and Solace:

No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface.

Scarlett Lindquist has agreed to help her sisters rebuild the dilapidated fishing lodge in Minnesota they inherited from their grandparents. Although the lengthy restoration is bringing the three sisters closer together, Scarlett’s support is temporary. Her leave of absence from her job in Chicago is temporary and she has no intention of staying at Solace Lake Lodge, where the lake holds dark secrets. When frightening childhood memories resurface, they are tempered by her fascination with an irritating contractor. If only she could trust her feelings for him. If only he could trust her.

Cameron Hainstock meets Scarlett at his brother’s wedding to her sister and their attraction is instantaneous. But Cam avoids the beautiful marketing executive. All his efforts are aimed at battling for custody of his only child. When the unimaginable happens and Cam faces the biggest challenge of his life, he’s reluctant to accept help to halt his downward spiral. Can they learn to trust each other and fight for a future together, or will they go their separate ways?

Book Info:

Genre: Contemporary Romance, small town romance

Keywords: contemporary romance, small town romance, mystery, touch of paranormal, murder

Length: Novel

Heat Level: Spicy, fully described love scenes

Release Date: March 21, 2018

Cover Artist: Angela Waters

Jana is giving us a peek at her modern romance with a touch of paranormal mystery, Secrets and Solace, today.

The shock on Scarlet’s face, the disbelief and grief, made him wish he’d kept his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted was to inflict her with the same hell he was going through. He turned away from her, pushing her hand from his arm. “Go home, Scarlet.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” She grabbed his arm again, preventing him from picking up the axe, the tool he’d used to keep himself from reaching for a bottle. “I won’t leave you alone.”

Ignoring the sweat and dirt, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly, resting her head against his chest. His body stirred to life at her touch, disgusting him. His world was crumbling around him and all he could think was that he wanted to bury himself inside her until she screamed his name.

“Go,” he said roughly. If she was smart, she’d run away and never look back. He was a bad-tempered, recovering alcoholic with nothing to offer her. He wasn’t worth the risk.

She looked up at him, her blue eyes clear and steady. “No. I won’t leave you.”

He pushed her up against the wall of the workshop, not sure if he was trying scare her away or make her stay. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She shook her head. “You won’t.”

Cam closed his eyes and groaned. He wrapped his arms around her in a vice-like grip, unable to resist her any longer.

God, he needed her.

He lowered his head and kissed her. There was no subtlety in the kiss, no gentleness or finesse. Only passion and raw need. But she stayed with him, returning his passion, giving solace. He greedily lapped it up, taking everything she had to give.

But he wanted, needed more. He lifted her and she wrapped her long, slender legs around his waist. He buried his face against her soft, sweet-smelling neck, inhaling her clean, floral scent. At the same time, he snaked his hand up her thigh and began to pull down her panties.

“Tell me to stop,” he rasped. “Tell me now while I still can.”

Wow! Fanning myself over here!

And here are some teasers to entice you with.

Purchase Links:

Book 1 – Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B079TDDSY4

Book 2 – Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B079WGSNWD

Book 3 (preorder) – Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B079WFZXV2

 

Love the tension here. ♥♥♥

Let’s learn a little more about the Love at Solace Lake Series…

Love is worth the risk…

When their grandfather dies, the Lindquist sisters, Harper, Scarlet and Maggie, inherit the northern Minnesota fishing lodge that had been in their family for three generations. The inheritance is bittersweet. They were raised at the lodge by their grandparents. The natural beauty of the place hasn’t changed, but the building itself is crumbling and desperately in need of repair. The lodge also reminds them of what they lost. Twenty-two years previously, their parents died there in what was ruled a murder/suicide.

As the sisters struggle to breathe new life into the failing lodge, old fears and questions rise to the surface even as new love presents itself. Why did their father murder their mother? What truths did their grandparents keep from them? The sisters must fight to keep the wounds of the past from putting their futures, and their fledgling relationships, in jeopardy.

 

Plus, Jana is giving away some wonderful prizes during this tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below for your chance win Ebook First and Again, Ebook There Goes the Groom, Ebook A Long Way from Eden, $10 Amazon gift card, or $5 Amazon gift card. Remember, you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here. 

☆.•°☆ RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/801c221b30/

 

Thank you for telling us about your new steamy romance, Jana! I know I can’t wait to read this sexy series! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome book! Also, grab book one and pre-order book three of the trilogy!

Author Bio

When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense, Seeing Things, was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.

In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website.

Author Links

Website:  http://www.janarichards.com

Blog:  http://janarichards.blogspot.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_Richards

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/100820406211390323245

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-richards

 

Newsletter Sign-up:  http://bit.ly/2DEI8m3

 

Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this delicious and mysterious romance series!

And don’t forget to enter the cool giveaway!

Thanks again to Jana and her blog tour sponsor!

We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!  ♥♥♥

Blog Tour Feature: Vegas Gambler by Adriana Kraft

✫✶• NEW RELEASE•✫✶

 

Can Jack Hawthorne keep up with two women? How will he protect his heart?

I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Adriana Kraft, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new erotic romance release!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for authors!

Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love discovering new romance novels!

Let’s hear a little about this great book…

Such a steamy cover!

This is the blurb for Vegas Gambler:

He’s fifty-one; they’re in their twenties. Can Jack Hawthorne keep up with two women? How will he protect his heart?

Fresh with success from a recent stint in a musical on the Las Vegas Strip, Meghan Keenan takes some time off to play with her current flame, Jack Hawthorne, professional poker player. She’s delighted to add her petite masseuse Tia Minh to the mix and even more thrilled when she learns Tia’s relationship with her boyfriend Tony Sanders is on the skids. It’s the perfect challenge!

Tia has different ideas – she thinks Tony would be perfect for Meg, and she conspires to throw them together any way she can.

Ever the gambler, Jack catches on to her game quickly and keeps the ruse going behind Meg’s back. Who knew his heart was up for grabs?

This is a Contemporary Erotic Romance.

Adriana is giving us a peek at her sexy modern romance, Vegas Gambler, today.

Here is an excerpt.

Jack cocked his head to the side. “You sure you won’t stay beyond the summer?”

Meg shook her head. They’d been over this ground before. “You know I need to get back to New York. I need to get on with my life.”

“Sorry I’m such a drag on you.” He gave her a wicked smile. “And you always say my age doesn’t matter.”

“Fifty-one doesn’t make you ancient.”

“I have my days,” Jack said, flipping over a card. “But I know what we have is transitory. Don’t worry about me getting carried away.” He smirked. “But you have been a breath of fresh air for me.”

“Cripes, the way you hang out around poker tables, anyone would provide a breath of fresh air.” Meg smiled and purposely softened her tone. “And you’ve been very good for me, too. I don’t know how I would’ve made it through the hectic pace of the last six months without your steady influence. You’ve always been there, and with few demands.”

“Perhaps,” Jack began wistfully, “I should’ve been more demanding.” He must’ve seen her nostrils flare, because he lifted a hand, forestalling her response. “You’ve renewed my faith in life.” He grinned devilishly. “Even in love.”

And here are some teasers to entice you with.

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07B2WBSRR

Publisher:  http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1333-0-vegas-gambler/

Wow! Love the tension here. ♥♥♥

 

Plus, Adriana is giving away one free download from the publisher’s website to each of two winners. Winners may select from books One through Four in her Meghan’s Playhouse Series. You can find all series books at this link: http://www.extasybooks.com/meghan-s-playhouse/. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember, you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here. 

☆.•°☆ RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/801c221b29/

 

Thank you for telling us about your new erotic romance, Adriana! I know I can’t wait to read this sexy novella! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome book!

Author Bio

Winner of the 2014 Bisexual Book Award for erotic fiction, author Adriana Kraft is a married couple writing Sizzling Romantic Suspense and Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More.

One man, one woman, danger and intrigue – always a happy ending, but oh, what a ride! Readers can count on our Romantic Suspense line for gutsy characters, hot sex, and breathtaking intimacy as our hero and heroine battle outer threats and inner demons to stay alive and fall in love.

A man, a woman (or two), or another man, threesomes, foursomes—what’s your fantasy? We write our Erotic Romance stories to entertain, of course, but most of all we write them because we believe in happy endings for all who fall in love, whatever their gender, sexual orientation or numerical combination. Here you’ll find multiple partners, three-way, four-way and more, swing lifestyle, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, in both contemporary and paranormal settings.

Together we have published over thirty-five romance novels and novellas with outstanding reviews. We love hearing from readers at adrianakraft99@yahoo.com, and here is our website, When It’s Time to Heat Things Up.

Author Links

Website:  http://adrianakraft.com

Blog:  http://www.adrianakraft.com/blog

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Adriana-Kraft-182846025133440/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/adrianakraft

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1578571.Adriana_Kraft

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/102791537641895264573

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/adriana-kraft

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/adrianakraft5/boards/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kraftadriana/

Newsletter Sign-up:  http://eepurl.com/uRvCr

Publisher:  http://www.extasybooks.com/adriana-kraft/

 

Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this delicious romance!

And don’t forget to enter the cool giveaway!

Thanks again to Adriana and her blog tour sponsor!

We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!  ♥♥♥

Free Book!

Hi, readers! I just wanted to pop in here and let you know about a cool giveaway going on today! My latest release and boxed set, Heiresses in Love Trilogy, is available today for free. All you have to do is participate in a quick and easy Q&A to qualify. Woo hoo! 😀

Just head on over to TRR at the link below and scroll down to the correct question in order to enter the giveaway. You’ll need to be registered and logged into the site to play the game. A hint for the Q&A will be provided.

http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

So, don’t miss out! Plus, you can enter lots of giveaways for other books and prizes every day this month just by answering simple questions.

Have an awesome weekend, and happy reading!!! ♥♥♥

Blog Tour Feature: Jackson by Tracie Podger

✫✶• NEW RELEASE•✫✶

 

Can two broken people have the love they both desire? Or will dangerous, harmful outlets and loss forever consume them?

I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Tracie Podger, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new angsty, contemporary romance release!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for authors!

Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love discovering new romance novels!

Let’s hear a little about this great book…

Such a nice cover!

This is the blurb for Jackson:

Jackson

“It’s time to get my shit together. Time to tell her that I love her. Time to right wrongs and put the past behind me. But I have an addiction, one that haunts me, that takes over my body and mind. One that leaves scars.”

Summer

“It’s time to get my shit together. Time to tell him that I love him. Time to move on from my past. But he has an addiction, one that scares me, one that I don’t feel capable of dealing with.”

 

Jackson – Son of a wealthy, abusive man finds peace in art. Whether that art be on his body or walls, it gives him an outlet.

Summer – A woman in mourning, finds peace in the arms of her friend.

Together they can fight their demons, they can put the past behind them – or can they?

Can two broken people have the love they both desire? Or will dangerous, harmful outlets and loss forever consume them?

 

More info: Angsty romance for those over 18. This novel contains scenes that could be a trigger for some. Please feel free to contact the author or refer to the Trigger Warning section on the author’s website.

Tracie is giving us a peek at her complicated modern romance with a touch of suspense, Jackson, today.

Here is an excerpt.

Her sobs had quietened as the room darkened. We were lying on her bed, and although it had been six months, her grief and anger still overwhelmed her. With every sob I’d listened to, my heart had broken just a little more. I had her wrapped in my arms; her head was resting on my shoulder and my t-shirt was sodden with her tears. Her breathing had deepened and I knew she had finally dropped off to sleep. Each night I’d lain with her, each day I’d sat with her. She was my best friend, but one I was in love with.

I breathed in deep the scent of her hair, the saltiness of her tears, and the pain she was going through. I wanted to turn back the clock; I wanted to absorb all her hurt but I couldn’t. Each day, it was getting harder and harder to conceal my feelings from her. As she turned in my arms to place her back against my chest, I curled into her. I wouldn’t sleep, I couldn’t. The feelings coursing through my body, hatred for her situation, love for her, and an overwhelming desire to fuck her, had my nerves on edge and my skin itching. For months, I’d been able to control my needs, but it was becoming more difficult. I had to make a choice, a very difficult one. I had to leave her, and that decision would destroy me.

I’d never loved a woman before; I thought I was incapable of that. The emotion needed to love had been taken away from me at a very early age. But the feelings she produced, feelings she was completely unaware of, were fucking with my brain, and I was getting dangerously close to revealing who I really was: one fucked up individual. One fucked up individual, who was about to get worse after receiving a text from someone I’d been hiding from.

I gently slid my arm from under her neck and rolled to the edge of the bed. Her alarm clock showed it to be early morning already. As I stood and looked down at her, I heard her murmur my name and a tear rolled down my cheek.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

No matter that my brain was telling my legs to move, for a moment my heart was keeping them still. Was I doing the right thing? I crept to the bedroom door and hesitated, taking one last look at her before I left. In my mind it wasn’t forever, I just needed to get my shit together. I needed to be honest with her and tell her how I felt, but I was scared it was too soon. I was terrified of her rejection and of tarnishing our friendship. If I couldn’t have her, the way I wanted, I’d take whatever she offered, but right at that moment, I was about to combust.

And here are some teasers to entice you with.

What people are saying about this novel:

“Loved this book!!! Another hit from Tracie. So very well written, Tracie has a way of drawing you into the story and her brilliant characters that she writes. Emotional, heartbreaking, beautiful, consuming, tragic and sad but so worthy of your time to devour.” ~ Tes T., Amazon

“Another fantastic book by this author. Is there anything she cannot write…? Jackson is such a great story, heartbreaking too. I love Tracie’s writing; she draws you into the book and does not let go until the last page. I went to bed last night and kept thinking I need to read more. I adored every minute of this book. This story will pull at your heartstrings so have some tissues handy. Enjoy this beautiful story.” ~ Charlie, Amazon

“Jackson was an incredible and gripping read. You never know what Tracie will write next and that’s part of her charm. I love getting engrossed in one of her books and not knowing where the road will take me.” ~ Stefanie, Amazon

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B075RGLL83

mybook.to/JacksonbyTraciePodger

B&N:  http://bit.ly/JacksonNook

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/JacksonKobo

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1272946259

Wow! Love the emotions here. ♥♥♥

 

Plus, Tracie is giving away some goodies, a Kindle copy of Jackson and a $10 Amazon voucher, with this tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Help us out and visit the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

☆.•°☆ RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cf62282d5/

 

Thank you for telling us about your new contemporary romance, Tracie! I know I can’t wait to read this riveting novel! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome book!

Author Bio

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks.

Tracie likes to write in different genres. Her Fallen Angel series and its accompanying books are mafia romance and full of suspense. A Virtual Affair is contemporary romance, and Gabriel and A Deadly Sin are thriller/suspense. The Facilitator is erotic romance.

Author Links

Website:  http://www.TraciePodger.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TraciePodgerAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TRACIEPODGER

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Tracie-Podger/e/B00HA1ORO2/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7556482.Tracie_Podger

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+TraciePodger

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/traciepodger/

Newsletter Sign-up:  http://www.traciepodger.com/newsletter

 

Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this angsty, suspenseful romance!

And don’t forget to enter the cool giveaway!

Thanks again to Tracie and her blog tour sponsor! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!  ♥♥♥

Blog Tour Feature: Sultry Nights Romance Anthology Tour plus Madison Michael’s Bedeviled presented via Reviews by Crystal

✫✶• NEW RELEASE•✫✶

Love, passion, romance and desire…this set of 22 hot and sexy reads has just what you need…

I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Reviews by Crystal and Madison Michael, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new steamy romance anthology release!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for authors!

Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love discovering new romance novels!

Let’s hear a little about this great book…

Such an awesome cover!

This is the blurb for Sultry Nights:

A Limited Edition Romance Collection

Containing Stories from: Nicole Morgan, Jocelyn Dex, Alison Foster, Kate Richards, Linda O’Connor, Samantha Holt, Jerrie Alexander, Whitley Cox, Krista Ames, Ursula Sinclair, Measha Stone, Tuesday Embers, Siera London,  Rachel Shane, Bonnie Phelps, Misha Elliott, Alyson Reynolds, Jenna Bayley-Burke,  Madison Michael, Pepper Goodrich, Marcia James, and Destiny Blaine.

Love, passion, romance and desire… No matter what your preference, this set of 22 hot and sexy reads has just what you need. From surprise love affairs to bad boys that we can’t help but fall for, and couples that were meant to be, this compilation from Romance Collections is sure to please your every single need.

Featuring:

Bedeviled

Beguiling Bachelors

Book 3

by Madison Michael

 Blurb:

Can a love be built on lies?

Charlotte Roche is escaping a menacing threat in Boston when she moves to Chicago for a new job and a new man. Alex is smart, sexy and quickly getting under Charlotte’s skin. A shared love of running gives the sassy beauty an excuse to be near her heart’s desire, but can Charlotte run Alex from the track to the bedroom without divulging her past and risking everything?

Alex Gaines, wealthy banker and philanthropist, has held women at arm’s length all his life to protect long-held secrets of his own. Now he is torn between loving the alluring Charlotte and protecting his dual lives. Can Alex trust Charlotte with the truth or is risking his fortune and family to pursue her? Can the two fall in love when they are bedeviled by lies and half-truths?

When danger follows Charlotte to Chicago, threatening her safety and their futures, Charlotte and Alex a forced to make a hard decision – choose the secrets of their past or a future together.

Bedeviled is the third novel in the Beguiling Bachelor series, a trio of steamy contemporary romances set amidst the luxury of Chicago’s elite society.

Madison is giving us a peek at her sexy modern romance, Bedeviled, book three of the Beguiling Bachelor Series, today.

Here is an excerpt.

“You look so beautiful,” he told her in a husky voice. “I have been wanting to do this all night.”

His head lowered to hers, pulling her close against him as he leaned back until all her weight was leaning on his and she had no choice but to twine her arms behind his head or the tree trunk. His lips captured her slowly, softly pressing against hers. One hand rested low, on the curve between her back and her behind. The other came up to tangle in her short hair, holding her head still as he deepened the kiss. His lips demanded response, plundering her mouth with his tongue. He tasted of expensive wine and Alex as his tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, hot and insistent. Her breasts were flattened against his rock-hard chest, her hips tight against his as he held her to him.

When he lifted his head, shadowed by moonlight behind him, Charlotte was unable to read his expression. Unsure and unsteady, she waited, catching her breath. Blood was coursing through her veins, hot and urgent. Her heart was pounding from just one kiss.

“God, I want you,” he rasped, the words torn from him, raw and insistent before he dipped his head to kiss her again. She returned the kiss, opening her lips to his insistent ones, entwining her tongue with his, increasing the pressure against his mouth as she ran her hands up into his hair. She held fast to him, feeling his hand move from her hair to the nape of her neck, down along her bare arms, tracing a pattern there with his fingers. The feel of his hands on her skin was warm, strong and sure. She had longed for his touch and now desired it everywhere.

Alex lifted his head reluctantly. “If we don’t get back in that car now,” he told her, his voice hoarse with longing, “I will not be responsible for my actions.”

He lifted her away from his body, steadied her and then hefted himself from the tree and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to lead her back to the car.

She felt bereft without the solid warmth of him hard against her. Neither of them said a word until he opened her car door and closed it again, without allowing her inside. Instead, he pushed her gently against it.

“Sorry, I can’t make it home without one more.” Alex took Charlotte’s mouth in a searing kiss that took her breath away, sucking her lower lip into his mouth then sliding his tongue over it and into the moistness of her mouth. He kissed her senseless until she would have happily made love there in the sand, and the world be damned. She wanted this man as she had never wanted anything before.

Charlotte kissed him passionately, running her hands up and down his muscular back as she tightened her hold on him, wanting to get closer, to feel his bare skin, until finally they mutually agreed to some restraint and dragged apart from one another. He kept his fingers touching her lightly until she got in the car and he closed the door behind her.

“Jeez,” he stated with a rough chuckle as he folded himself into the bucket seat, “I hope there are no cops out, cause I am planning to break speed records getting you home.”

And here are some teasers to entice you with.

What people are saying about this anthology:

“A superb anthology from some great authors! There is a great mix of action/adventure and suspense with liberal doses of smoking hot bedroom action! The action is fast paced but not at the expense of feeling rushed or not thought out. The characters are fully formed and all of their own little foibles! I also love the fact that the characters aren’t in their twenties – nice to see some slightly older characters in a romantic suspense who have history and experience rather than “fresh out the wrapper” twenty somethings!!” ~ Nikki Brooks, Amazon

“What a hot and steamy book!! I have only read two books in this collection but if the rest are as good as these, then Amazing isn’t good enough description for this box set. ❤️” ~ Nerdy Despina, Amazon

“This is a brilliant collection of books in this box set. It has something for everyone. I especially enjoyed Siera London’s book ‘Forbidden Distraction’. It’s a really enjoyable story with Well Written characters and very entertaining. I would recommend this Box Set to anyone.” ~ Karen Galloway, Amazon

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B074RM9HFB

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sultry-nights-nicole-morgan/1126974023?ean=9781537860725

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sultry-nights-3

Scorching! Love the sexy tension here. ♥♥♥

Plus, the authors are giving away lots of goodies with this tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Don’t forget you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

☆.•°☆ RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/801c221b16/

 

Let’s also give Kudos to Madison’s sponsor:

Thank you for telling us about your new sexy romance book collection, Madison! I know I can’t wait to read this riveting set! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome anthology!

Author Bio

Madison Michael traded 28 years in Fortune 500 tech and management positions for a chance to spend her days with sassy heroines, sexy, rich heroes and nothing but happy endings. Growing up the daughter of a librarian, she learned to love books, especially classics and romances, and spent winters cuddled under blankets losing herself in books.

Madison is the author of three novels in the Beguiling Bachelor series, as well as several short stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.

After living in the northeast, southeast and the west, Maddy returned to her Midwest roots. She lives in Evanston, IL with two feline editorial assistants and great views of Chicago’s famous skyline.

Author Links

Website:  https://www.madisonmichael.net/

Blog:  https://www.madisonmichael.net/category/maddys-blog/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/madisonmichael_

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Michael/e/B01EVUGG6G/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15221601.Madison_Michael

Maddy’s Romance Madness:  https://www.madisonmichael.net/category/mrm/

Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this anthology! 😀 Visit Reviews by Crystal to see what else they’re up to these days.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Thanks again to Madison and Reviews by Crystal! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!  ♥♥♥

New Release Feature: Hard to Stay by S. Jones

I am pleased to announce a great book release by S. Jones, an author I met during my journey! Her modern romance, Hard to Stay, officially released today!

Yay! That’s awesome! Congrats on your new release! 😉

When a new book comes out, it’s always an exciting time for an author!

Sandra is giving us a look at her contemporary romance, Hard to Stay, today.

Great cover! So romantic!

This is the blurb for Hard to Stay:

Leaving the past behind should be easy.

For Lexi Manning, escaping her past shouldn’t be so hard, but like objects in the rear view mirror, things end up being much closer than they appear.

Brad Morgan is no stranger to heartbreak. He gave his heart away once only to have it returned. This time around he’s not taking no for an answer.

His friendship with Lexi might have started off in his romantic blind spot, but it quickly turned into something he never saw coming.

When the life that Lexi is running from starts to catch up to her, she is forced to make an impossible decision. Is protecting the man she loves worth running back to the life she barely escaped from the first time?

Leaving Brad is the last thing she wants to do, but she knows ultimately it will be too Hard To Stay….

Here are some teasers to entice you with!

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B076YZTDKD

Wow! Love these sneak peeks. ♥♥♥

 

Also, for a limited time, get Hard to Love, book one of the series for 99 cents…

Sandra is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card in the cool offer below. 

☆.•°☆ GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo!

Thank you for telling us about your new book! It looks great! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome book! Or add it to your Goodreads bookshelf!

Author Bio

S. Jones lives in Upstate, N.Y. with her husband, her two teenage children, and her adorable golden retriever Marley. She is a wine lover, coffee drinker, domestic chef, housekeeper, chauffeur, dog walker and world traveler…Oh, and she is also a hopeless romantic! When she’s not doing laundry, mowing her lawn or taking care of her family, you can usually find her on the computer planning out her next vacation, having a drink with her friends or reading a nice juicy book.
Author Links

Website:  https://www.sjonesauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authorsandrajones

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/sandyjones23

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16456017.S_Jones

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sandrajonesauthor/

 

Thanks again, Sandra! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!🙂

Last Days of Summer Mega Giveaway!

Hi, readers! I wanted to direct your attention to an external giveaway going on over at Dariel Raye’s Facebook page today. She’ll be running a TON of awesome contests for free chances to win books and other prizes until 10PM CDT. Don’t miss out! 😉

In the giveaway, you should also catch the opportunity to win a free romance book of mine, as well as some swag (the contests for these two prizes will appear in just over an hour). Yay! 😀

These contests with prizes from multiple authors will be running all day in 15 minute intervals starting at 10AM CDT. This whole giveaway is very exciting, so swing on by Dariel’s Facebook page sometime today and give it a shot! ♥♥♥

Blog Tour Feature: J.J. Montgomery’s Gun For Hire Tour presented via Reviews by Crystal

I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Reviews by Crystal and J.J. Montgomery, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new comical romantic suspense release, J.J.!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for an author!

Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love new authors!

Reviews by Crystal is presenting us with a cool giveaway. But first, let’s hear a little about this great book…

Such an awesome cover!

This is the blurb for Excess Baggage:

The job should have been easy—patrol a swank beach that serves as a backyard for Maui’s rich, kick out the riffraff, and get a tan in the process. But rent-a-cop Samantha Winters didn’t anticipate a deliciously grumpy cop, Sergeant Grady Roark, who comes down to the beach to bust her chops and instead leaves her breathless…and wondering why the one man who could help her seems determined to thwart her at every turn.

Grady is keeping secrets from Sam that have him walking the line between attraction and duty. But when Sam becomes the target of a shadowy organization, Grady will have to choose between the law and the temptation of a woman who has him breaking every rule he’s ever known.

The job should have been easy, but when the bullets start flying, Sam learns nothing is as easy as it seems when you’re a Gun for Hire.

J.J. is giving us a peek at her romantic suspense comedy, Gun for Hire, today.

The sunlight was intense after a half hour in that gloomy space, but I squinted hard and kept moving toward a narrow set of steps down to the parking lot. Grady walked a few paces behind me, and if he heard the crinkle of paper as I moved, he elected not to say anything.

Grady hit the remote to his truck and grabbed for the passenger side door, his hand light on my elbow as he helped me up. Paper crackled as my butt hit the seat and Grady’s eyes narrowed. Without a word, he slammed my door and went around to the driver’s side, climbing up into the cab and stabbing the keys into the ignition.

“So, I—” I hesitated as I shifted in my seat and my movement was accompanied by the distinct sound of cardboard bending.

“No,” Grady muttered, and clicked on the radio. “No talking.”

“But—”

“Shh.” Grady put a finger to his lips, his eyes still on the road. “Any minute you’re going to tell me about the felony crime you just committed. And then I’m going to have to deal with the fact that I was an accessory to a felony crime.”

“Umm, yeah.” I reached around to the back of my pants and eased the file folder up from my waistband, working it out slowly so as to not lose anything as Grady headed up the hillside toward his house. As I brought it around to look at it, the red block letters damning me to years of incarceration should I get caught, a muscle ticked in Grady’s jaw.

“You stole classified documents.” He shook his head from side to side.

I looked up at Grady and then down at the mangled file with the red Top Secret heading. I took a corner of the front sheet and ripped across the width of the page, separating the words “Top Secret” from the rest of the paper.

“They’re declassified now.” I crumpled up the classification and shoved it in my pocket.

Grady sighed.

I shrugged and opened the file.

And here are some teasers to entice you with.

What people are saying about this book:

“J.J. Montgomery’s debut book will have you smiling and holding your breath and flipping pages to see what happens next.”

“A great first book! Sam and Grady have an unparalleled attraction to each other. But Grady just doesn’t know what to do about Sam, and Sam is not looking for a relationship. Exactly what I like: funny, suspense, romance and adventure.”

“Ms. Montgomery has written an exciting, fast-paced story that’s guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of her seat. If you like lots of action and a truly satisfying romance, this is the book for you. I cannot wait for the second book.”

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  https://bookgoodies.com/a/B072DSJ3G5

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gun-for-hire-jj-montgomery/1126256757

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/gun-for-hire-10

Publisher:  https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5066-gun-for-hire.html

Wow! Love the tension and the hotness here. ♥♥♥

 

J.J. will be awarding 5 ebooks of Gun For Hire to randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the RaffleCopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

☆.•°☆ GIVEAWAY ☆°•.☆

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for telling us about your romantic suspense with a touch of comedy, J.J.! I know I can’t wait to read this riveting romance! 🙂

Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome novel, which is book one of the Maui Heat Series!

Author Bio

J.J. MONTGOMERY writes romantic suspense novels with a sense of humor. Her heroines are as smart as they are smart-mouthed and the men in their lives are just trying to keep up. Gun for Hire is the first book in J.J.’s Maui Heat Series.

If you’d like to know more, including info on her newest book, where she gets her ideas, and how it’s possible she can’t use Facebook, please visit her at…

Author Links

Website:  https://jjmontgomery.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJJMontgomery/ 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/j_j_montgomery/

Amazon Author Page:  http://amzn.to/2sfl1sz

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16935583.J_J_Montgomery

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jmontgomerywrites/

Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of it! 😀 Visit Reviews by Crystal to check out the other blog locations on this tour. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway too!

Thanks again to J.J. and Reviews by Crystal! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime. 

Happy reading, everyone!  ♥♥♥

Get a copy of UYL!

By now, you probably already know that book three of the Heiresses in Love Series, Upon Your Love, released on February 26, 2017. Yay!

 

So, I’m popping in here to tell you about a new development. Today you have the chance to win a free ebook copy of UYL, if you just head over to the great 6th Anniversary Party over at The Romance Reviews. Congrats, TRR! 🙂

Stop by the party and answer the simple, yet brief Q&A to qualify for a chance to win in the contest for this historical romance/family saga novel! Plus, get a chance to win lots of other free prizes if you check out the event page daily this month.

Sounds great, right? Who doesn’t love free? ♥♥♥

So, go check it out! Maybe you’ll find something cool to read over there… 😉