Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Blog Tour: No Dress Required by Cari Quinn (International Giveaway!)

You can find more information by clicking HERE.
You can see my thoughts by clicking HERE.
Entangled Publishing is offering an eBook giveaway (open internationally) - form at end of post.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!
I am pleased to present Cari Quinn and her story
No Dress Required.
Amazon Author Bio:
Multi-published author Cari Quinn wrote her first story--a bible parable--in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she'd ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari's genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, urban fantasy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she's come.
Cari loves to hear from readers! Please contact her through one of the ways below.
Email: cariquinnauthor@gmail.com
Website: www.cariquinn.com
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.


? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’m one of those annoying authors who say they always wanted to be a writer, but it’s only partially true. Until high school, my dream was to be a singer. Once I put that dream aside, I focused on writing wholeheartedly though I didn’t get really serious about it until about five years ago.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
A few. I still work a day job as a proofreader and graphic designer and I’ve also worked in retail and as a freelance editor. But I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember so it’s definitely been a constant in my life.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
It definitely varies. No Dress Required took about a week and a half. My novel Provoke Me took about nine months, though I worked on other things during that time as well. The length helps influence how long it takes but some characters are just more stubborn than others and require more time to get “right.”

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Oooh, fun question. I’d say maybe that I occasionally sit down to write without any clue what will come next. My favorite story about that was when I started writing Virgin Territory, which will release this spring. I reached my heroine’s first scene and had no name for her so I immediately started to search through baby name lists. Her first scene appeared to

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
All over the place! No Dress Required, my recent release with Entangled Publishing, was partially inspired by my love of holiday shirts, something Noelle, the heroine, and I share. A caller’s story on the Delilah radio show helped inspire part of the backstory for Jake, the hero. And my next book release, Heart Signs, was inspired by a billboard I saw on the highway.

Inspiration’s everywhere. The fun part is molding your ideas like clay and seeing what grows from them.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
Most of the time my stories seem to choose me. Often I’ll get the spark of an idea and start writing only to have the story change mid-stream into something entirely new. Odd things trigger my imagination and usually I run with whatever story is calling to me the loudest though I also enjoy trying to write stories to spec when my publishers are looking for certain things. No Dress Required, for example, was written in response to Entangled Publishing’s call for winter-themed Flirts and Ever Afters, their new lines of novella-length fun, sexy romances. They’re perfect when you want a satisfying read that doesn’t require a huge time investment.

? What books have most influenced your life?
Probably the one that influenced it the most is Yesterday I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant. I read it when I was going through a difficult time and it really resonated for me. Another book that I think was a big influence was, oddly enough, Gimme A Kiss by Christopher Pike. I sucked down his books as a teenager and his twisty plots really helped inspire me to write.

? What are you reading right now?
I’m about to start North of Need by fellow Entangled Publishing author Laura Kaye. I can’t wait to read it!

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Thinking about writing! Actually, what I love to do is to settle in to watch a good action/adventure movie (the Fast and the Furious movies are some of my favorites) or a great basketball game featuring my local men’s college basketball team, the Syracuse Orange. And I love to read. It’s definitely my preferred activity when I get some downtime.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
Macaroni and cheese and coffee. I love mac and cheese especially when it’s overcooked and sticking to the side of the pan in cheesy lumps. And coffee is my day-to-day comfort. It just makes me happy!

? What do you think makes a good story?
For me, unique, unconventional heroes and heroines with intelligence and wit, an engaging plot and a quirky voice. If I enjoy the author’s style of telling a tale, I’ll gobble up everything they write.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

This one’s easy. My favorite author’s been the same since I was 14 (more than twenty years now!) Nora Roberts was the second romance author I ever read and I fell in love with her novel Public Secrets. Actually I blame her for starting my lifelong love of books about rock stars, including my ongoing obsession with writing my own. I’m actually reading my favorite NR book, Angels Fall, for the fifth time. It’s still amazing!

Fun random questions: 
  • dogs or cats? I like both but I’m a cat person all the way. Cats are complicated creatures. I like complications.
  • Coffee or tea? Again I like both (though only iced tea, not hot) but coffee is my favorite. I’m a complete coffee hound!
  • Dark or milk chocolate? Hmm, both again? Sheesh, I’m way too easy to please. I most often reach for milk chocolate though.
  • Rocks or flowers?  Flowers, unless I’m having a rough day!
  • Night or day?  Night all the way. No question here. I’m a total vampire and wish I could stay up all night and sleep all day.
  • Favorite color?  I have two – maroon and steel gray. Why, I have no clue.
  • Crayons or markers?  Crayons. I still love the little kid smell of them!
  • Pens or pencils? I like pencils. Erasers are my friends.

No Dress Required by Cari Quinn

An Entangled Publishing Flirt, available as an eBook for 99 cents!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/no-dress-required/
http://cariquinn.com/index.php
Amazon Buy Link is HERE. It's 99 cents here too!

Amazon Product Description:
After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.
And now...the giveaway!




Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!

Posted by Beverly at 5:00 AM 1 comments
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Review: No Dress Required by Cari Quinn

No Dress Required by Cari Quinn

Goodreads blurb:
After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check. 

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check. 

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.
My thoughts: 
This was a super fast read.  Well written, descriptive, entertaining, and oh so steamy!  Jake is that man every woman wants.  Nellie is the one woman who gets to keep him!  Don't miss out on this one!
Posted by Beverly at 5:00 PM 1 comments
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Blog Tour: Yesterday's Daughter by Sallie Lundy-Frommer

This mini blog tour is presented by  Tribute Books Blog Tours .
The official tour blog is HERE.
Another Stop 17: Xpresso Reads

Welcome to The Wormhole and stop 17 on the tour!
It is my pleasure to help Tribute Books promote 
 Sallie Lundy-Frommer's and her book, Yesterday's Daughter.


Sallie Lundy-Frommer Bio:
I can’t remember a time when vampires have gotten more attention. With shows like True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Being Human and popular books like the Twilight and Dark Series, it’s seems like they’re everywhere. Vampires have always been my favorite supernatural characters. But why? Why am I fascinated with these fantasy beings? Why are you? My interest drove me to write a book, Yesterday’s Daughter. But I could have written about anything, werewolves, cat people or some other paranormal beings, but I chose vampires. Why, I wrote about vampires? I’m not sure I can fully explain why. Maybe I chose vampires because they exude prowess and majesty. But, that would be an all too simple answer. And when I think about it, I know it’s not a complete answer. But it’s a start. What do you think? Why are so many people so interested in these mythical creatures.


As for me, I was born on a farm in the rural South to a family of migrant farm workers. At an early age,my family moved to the urban North-East. Now I live in the suburban North-East with my husband and a large assortment of plants. I hold bachelors and masters degrees in Human Resource Management and currently work in the health care industry. 

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I had no plans at all of becoming a writer.  I’ve always been an avid reader, but never for one second did I ever think I’d write a book.  About five years ago, I began having dreams about the story.  I wouldn’t call them repetitive dreams.  That would mean I was having the exact same dream over and over. That’s not what was happening.  The dreams I was having were like watching glimpses of a movie and the snippets weren’t always in sequential order.  Those glimpses grew in number and lengthened. After a time, I knew I had to put pen to paper.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
 A few months ago, the medical practice where I was office manager closed.  Before that, I worked in a government agency for 17 years in the employee benefits area. Of course, there were part-time jobs I worked while in college and graduate school, but you didn’t ask for my resume.  So the simple answer to your question is, I had two main jobs before becoming a writer.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
It took just about a year to write the first draft of Yesterday’s Daughter.  Then it took about four or five months of re-writing and tweaking to finish up. 

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t think I have any quirks.  Isn’t that what all the quirky people say? (smile) Well, maybe you might think it’s quirky that I use various tools for writing.  Depending on how I feel, I use my computer to write, or I dictate into a program that types for me, and sometimes I write longhand.  I’m not married to any one tool.  I’m all over the place, dictating one day and writing longhand the next day.  I never know which one will work for me on any given day. And I like to write with music playing, maybe a little louder than is polite.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Since the idea for Yesterday’s Daughter came to me in my dreams there was no conscious process or thought to come up with book characters.  I just think that the years of reading paranormal romance novels and seeing movies with supernatural characters inspired me.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
I didn’t decide what to write about, it just came to me in my dreams. Look, I’m not trying to beartsy-fartsy or cute in anyway.  I didn’t plan what to write, it was just shown to me.  Why my subconscious chose this story, well that’s a whole other question.

? What are you reading right now?
I’m reading J. R. Ward’s, Lover Unleashed.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love traveling, although I have done much of it lately.  When I’m at home, I like to garden.  I have tons of plants and each one has a name.  And yes, I do talk to them.  I enjoy going to bookstores even if I’m not planning on buying anything. I enjoy being around tons of books.  Also, I love going to the movies and Broadway musicals.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
Oh God, I love all things pasta!  If I had to pick only one pasta dish, it would have to be lasagna. What’s not to love?

? What do you think makes a good story?
Relatable characters are a must for a good story. Good stories need characters with whom the reader can become emotionally invested.  If readers don’t care about the characters, they’re not going to finish the book.  This emotional attachment draws them in and then you sustain their interest with action and suspense.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
Now this is a hard question.  I hate to hedge, but I love so many authors equally and for different reasons.  And I have different favorites depending on the genre.  So, I’m not going to answer this question.  I feel as if I’d be cheating (*smile*) on all the authors I love, if I were to only name one as my favorite.

Fun random questions: 
Dogs or cats? I like both...but, I’d really like a dog, first.
Coffee or tea?   I like both...I’m a coffee drinker in the morning and a tea drinker in the evening or if I’m not feeling well.
Dark or milk chocolate? Milk Chocolate without a question!!!!
Rocks or flowers?  Flowers...but I like rocks too.   Sometime I see a pretty stone while walking and bring it home to place in a pot with one of my plants.
Night or day? Both...I like them equally for different reasons.
Favorite color? Black.
Crayons or markers?  Both....But sometimes you want the texture and feel that you only get with a crayon.
Pens or pencils? Both....depends on what I’m writing.


Yesterday's Daughter Book Summary
An emotionally laden paranormal vampire romance novel woven with layers of betrayal, love and loss.

Grace Stone, who later learns her true identity is Sapphira, is a loner who survives abuse in the foster care system after being abandoned as a child. A brilliant student, she escapes from her brutal foster parents as a teenager and creates a life for herself. But, her life is little more than existence; plagued with questions about what she really is, a family that she has never known and the never-ending need to keep her differences hidden.

She is alone and lonely, believing it will always remain so until Malachi appears in her life. Malachi, a Guardian of the vampire communities, has searched for his life mate, Sapphira, for decades. He refuses to cease searching for Sapphira even though she is believed dead by all. Conflict arises over the decades between Malachi and his family because of his refusals to accept another mate. But his very soul drives him on to continue his search, knowing that he could not exist if Sapphira were not in the world, somewhere.


Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!
Posted by Beverly at 5:00 AM 4 comments
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Monday, January 16, 2012

Blog Tour: Melt by Natalie Anderson (International Giveaway!)


Entangled Publishing is presenting this blog tour.
You can find out more by clicking HERE.
You can read my review by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!
Today's features: 
Melt by Natalie Anderson and an international ebook giveaway (enter by filling out form at end of post).
Melt by USA Today bestselling author, Natalie Anderson
An Entangled Publishing Ever After, available as an eBook for $2.99
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/melt/
http://www.natalie-anderson.com/
It is my pleasure to bring you an interview with 
Natalie Anderson!
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I was writing stories right from when I learned to hold a pencil. I think I wanted to write from the time I realised there were such things as books! I always had a big imaginary world going on – to be able to get those stories and dreams down onto paper in some form… and then make a career from that? Yeah, I wanted to do that as soon as I knew people could. But then it was a matter of self-belief and giving myself the time. I went through a phase in my late teens and twenties when I didn’t write much fiction. That finally happened when I had young children and was up all night – my imagination came in VERY useful when I had a son who NEVER slept. I was so much better for me to spend that time inventing plots in my head rather than wishing I was asleep.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
I did a Masters in Library & Information Studies after my BA (I always wanted to work with books, even if I didn’t think I could write them at that stage!) – and worked in corporate libraries, banks and legal libraries for a few years – temping in London and Scotland before coming home to New Zealand and having the children – and went straight into writing in the middle of having those kids. I was extremely fortunate to sell my first submission.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
It varies – for my category romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon it’s anything from two to five months. Shorter stories take a little less – although not always!

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I asked my husband – he reckons it’s my lying in bed and writing in my PJs all day. But that’s not a quirk. That’s normal. Right?

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Inspiration is all around – I talk to people, watch people, am a total newshound and read papers and magazines cover to cover. Then it all seems to coalesce inside and come out in a story idea (or three).

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
Characters and scenes seem to just pop into my head and give me a taste of their journey – the fun part is then trying to figure out the rest of their stories. Generally I don’t sit there and think ‘I’ll write a reunion story’ – it all seems to come when I start investigating those characters. But I guess I do have an overarching theme – romance of course, with some fun and flirt and very contemporary settings. That’s the atmosphere I enjoy building J

? What books have most influenced your life?
Every single Georgette Heyer – I loved her books as a teen and think she really got me into romance – as did all my grandmother’s Mills & Boons. Plus Agatha Christie. I did a BA in English and studied all these supposed ‘greats’ but honestly, it’s the genre fiction writers who really influenced me the most and THEY are great!!!

? What are you reading right now?
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – I was madly trying to finish it before taking my eldest to the movie but didn’t quite get there – now I’m doing a compare and contrast with the film J

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I’ve got four young children (twins aged 5, a 7 year old and a 9 year old) and a wonderful, project-driven husband. When I’m not writing, I’m with them. It’s a madhouse, but it’s a marvelous one.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
Probably pizza – I make the dough in my bread-maker and then add a special sauce (I confess it’s a bought one) and then sliced fresh veggies topped with a layer of shredded spinach. I’m vegan so it’s a cheese free version – but it’s so good, I have one and immediately want another!

? What do you think makes a good story?
Great characters – who have great spark and dialogue and interaction with each other and who do believable, well-motivated but surprising things! And I really need a great resolution – I love satisfying, happy endings!!!


Fun random questions: 
  • dogs or cats?
Oh so hard. Push to shove? I *think * I have to say dogs. I like birds so cats lose a point in that regard.
  • Coffee or tea?
I don’t drink either of the usual variety – I’ve recently discovered peppermint tea which is fab. I confess I get caffeine from those awful energy sodas that rot your insides.
  • Dark or milk chocolate?
Dark, peppermint filled. Bliss.
  • Rocks or flowers?
Flowers – for the beauty and the scent – so cliché of me! But they ARE beautiful.
  • Night or day?
Tied equal!
  • Favorite color?
Red. Though I’m big on green spaces – we just painted my son’s bedroom Kermit the Frog green – it looks amazing!
  • Crayons or markers?
Maybe crayons have the edge cos the permanent markers don’t smell so good.
  • Pens or pencils?
Pens, only because of the sharpening thing. I’m  lazy that way.

More About Natalie Anderson:
USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin and Entangled. With twenty books published, she’s also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).

She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks.

Find out more at her website www.natalie-anderson.com
On Twitter @authornataliea
On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authornataliea
International Giveaway: prize is an ecopy of Melt by Natalie Anderson.  Giveaway ends 1/23/12.  Rules: Must be 18+ and fill out this form.  

Posted by Beverly at 5:00 AM 5 comments
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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Review: Melt by Natalie Anderson

Melt by Natalie Anderson

Amazon Product Description:
When two frozen hearts collide…

Emma Reed closed her heart to love years ago after a lifetime spent getting kicked around foster homes and bad relationships. Now she’s on a mission to prove she deserves her recent award to paint a mural for a research base in Antarctica. Nothing and no one is going to get in her way.

After months working in recovery zones around the world, Hunter Wilson planned to escape everything this holiday season by rebuilding a lab at the Kiwi Research Base. Alone. No to family, no to fun. It’s isolation not intimacy he’s aching for. But when he sees the determined artist, that ache becomes an urge – after all, shouldn’t someone show her what two people can do with twenty-four hours of brilliant sunlight?

In the coldest place on earth, even the most frozen hearts can melt.


My thoughts:
     This was my first Natalie Anderson read and I loved it!  Hunter and Emma are wonderfully created characters.  They interact from the start with fun, flirty personalities.  
     An entertaining, fun, fast read.  I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the story.  The ending was exactly what I was hoping for.  I only wish it had been longer.  I look forward to reading many more stories by Natalie Anderson!
     

About the Author (also from Amazon):
USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled Publishing.
With twenty books published, she's hit several bestseller lists, been a Romantic Times award nominee, and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks.
Find out more about her books at her website: natalie-anderson.com
Posted by Beverly at 11:10 PM 1 comments
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Review: Taken by L.M. Pruitt

Taken by L.M. Pruitt

Blurb from Goodreads:
Cheating spouse? Stolen jewelry? Missing person? 

Call Frances--Frankie--Post. A private detective with a trick of two up her sleeve and a few skeletons of her own. 

What starts out as a simple missing person's case dumps Frankie and her lover Jack right in the crosshairs of a dangerous human trafficking organization. With lives on the line, bad blood and old wounds finally see the light of day. And Frankie and Jack are forced to realize: The past always catches up with you. 
My thoughts:
     Once again L.M. Pruitt has created characters that are amazing.  Frankie is fantastic!  She is smart, tough, stubborn, and loyal to the few she counts as friends.  She is my favorite character in the story.  
     The story itself is wonderfully entertaining, nicely paced and well written.  The plot is intriguing and suspenseful.   
     I truly enjoyed the book.   The ending SCREAMS for a sequel....
     
Posted by Beverly at 10:29 PM 0 comments
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