Happy Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Whether you have a two-legged significant other (or a furry four-legged one) or not, make sure you take some time to show yourself some love today and reach out to someone else and share some love.

Don't forget that there are tons of contests going on right now...including my e-book giveaway courtesy of Randi Alexander (Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas) which ends today. Link   

                


My e-book giveaway of TJ Alexander's Caller of Light as part of Reading Romance's Celebrating St. Valentine's Day hop ends in a few days.  There are plenty of participants in the blog hop and many of those are participating in other hops as well...so be prepared to take plenty of time to wander around!  Link  

                 


There are multiple other hops going on as well as the usual contests that are on Night Owl Reviews, Coffee Time Romance, Writerspace and Fresh Fiction.

Welcome to Randi Alexander and a giveaway! (for adults only!)

  

Please continue reading if you are an ADULT only!

I am delighted to be able to have the talented Randi Alexander as a guest today.  I fell in love with her writing when I read her anthology of sizzling short stories, Cowboy Bad Boys, which impressed me so much because they were all so different yet presented a complete tale in a short story.  My Amazon review for that title is at this link.  Don't forget to answer Randi's question and leave your e-mail address in order to enter the giveaway.  (and, just so you know, 'Kick' is Randi's sweetie...you'll realize why I said that later in the post, lol)

Words from Randi Alexander....


Valentine’s Day - Love It or Hate It - Or Win a Book!

Thanks so much to The Reading Addict for having me on the blog today. I’m a big fan of ELF’s reviews, and always trust her to point me to great books!

Valentine’s Day is coming. Do you love it or hate it? I hear so many horror stories about bad V Day experiences, and it makes me sad. It should be a lovely time for couples to reconnect, but it has evolved into an over-commercialized holiday. Sometimes the pressure of trying to make the occasion extraordinary can lead to a meltdown of good intentions. Then the worst happens!

I was reading Cosmopolitan Magazine (yep, I’m a Cosmo Cowgirl!) and found these disaster stories that I thought you’d appreciate.

Dream Date Disaster - A new guy surprised me by planning the perfect Valentine's Day date: a romantic dinner followed by fireworks show on the beach. Everything was great until the check arrived. He asked me, "Should we split it or do you just want to pay for your meal?" After dinner we took a walk on the pier. He bumped into a girl, who was obviously his ex-girlfriend, and after talking and laughing for about 20 minutes without including me he finally said, "Oh sorry, this is my friend, Kat." We broke up the next day. —Katrina, 19

Shot in the Heart - I had a crush on a close guy friend during college, so I was really excited when he asked me to come over to watch a movie on V-Day. I arrived at his dorm room with a handwritten poem that confessed how much I liked him. After I read it, he said, "That's nice," and promptly started the movie, Reservoir Dogs. It was clear by the first gunshot that romance was not on his mind. I was heartbroken and had to watch a gruesome, violent movie with no chance of cuddling with my crush. —Ashley, 28

Ex Hits the Spot - After secretly dating two guys — Dan and Joe — for a few months, I told Joe I didn't want a relationship, so that I could get serious with Dan. On Valentine's Day, Dan took me out to dinner, and I almost choked on my drink when our waiter arrived. It was Joe! To make matters worse, Dan ordered a dish with béchamel sauce, which he loved. He gushed to the waiter, a.k.a. my ex, "If she could cook like this I'd marry her." I wanted to die. —Cristina, 26

Honestly, Abe? - After a long dry spell, I was psyched to finally have a new guy in my life so we could spend Valentine's Day together. Call me corny, but I was hoping I'd get flowers or chocolate — you know, what every girl wants! Instead, he gave me an old Abe Lincoln bobblehead that looked like it came from the bottom of his closet. I honestly didn't even know what to say, so I just mumbled "thank you." After a few more bad dates, I pulled off Abe's head, and kicked that boy to the curb. —Adrienne, 17

Slacker Surprise - I decided to have a low-key Valentine's Day with my live-in boyfriend. I had a feeling he was going to surprise me by making a special dinner or sending flowers. I didn't talk to him all day, so I was really excited to see what he'd planned when I got home from work. I walked in the door to find him sitting in front of the TV in sweatpants. He gave me the lamest card I've ever seen and then asked, "What do you want to order for dinner?" I was shocked that to him low-key meant nothing at all. —Ali, 24

Read more: Valentine's Day Horror Stories






Here’s my story! The first Valentine’s Day Kick and I spent together was two months after we started dating, and we were still…um…just in the kissing stage. We were taking it slow, but I don’t remember why. He gave me a card that pictured a couple in the back seat of a car. I started to laugh and he turned bright red. Evidently that was his way of telling me he wanted to move to the next level in our relationship. And I was laughing so hard at the goofy picture, I was making snorting noises! Poor Kick. (I still have that card, and it still makes me laugh!)

Which of the Cosmo stories did you like? Or do you have your own tale to tell? Here’s your chance to add your own wacky story of a romantic occasion gone bad. Leave a comment for your chance to win an e-copy of the first book in the series Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas.

 



(And here's a lovely excerpt that Randi Alexander is sharing from her most recent yummy read Cowboy Jackpot: Valentine's Day)
                                    
                                 


Blurb: A fortuitous spin of a Las Vegas roulette wheel links New York accountant Kira Morrow and rodeo bareback rider Dallas Burns. The heat that has flared between them since their first meeting threatens to burn out of control as they share sinful nights and hot days. As their mutual distrust resurfaces, the flames quickly die. Only when Kira walks out of his life forever does Dallas realize he needs to stop letting past hurts prevent him from opening his heart to love. Is it too late to repair the damage he’s done and reclaim the heart of the woman he’s fallen for?

Excerpt: Kira stepped one foot out of her panties and spread her legs a few inches wider. "Take your time." Her voice sounded frustrated. "It's not like I'm dying for release here."

With a grin, he bit her ass cheek, the one without the tattoo. "Sarcasm will only delay things." He rubbed his thumbs along the backs of her thighs, right under where they met her ass. Unable to resist, he licked the same spot, long, sweeping drags of his tongue starting from the outside and ending at her ass crack.

The scent of her arousal, musky and sweet, invaded his nose, stabbing through his brain and sending slices of lust down his spine. He nibbled on her ass cheeks as she moaned and clenched her hands into fists.

With quick nips and licks along the cleft of her ass, he stood. He pressed kisses to each of her vertebrae, soaking in her floral scent. When he reached her bra, he unhooked it with one hand, a technique he and Boone had practiced and perfected when they were teens.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed his hands to her stomach and snugged the length of his denim-clad erection against her firm ass.

"I want you, woman."

She dropped her head back onto his shoulder and placed her hands over his.

The gesture struck an extra heartbeat in his chest. He liked having her in his arms. It felt like…home. Home? Goddamnit, where had that come from? He barely resisted jumping back. And running. Sex. This was sex and nothing more. He couldn't afford any more.

She turned to face him and one bra strap slid off her shoulder.

Sex was easy to lose himself in. He focused on her blushing cheeks and dilated pupils that made her eyes a dark green. "You're beautiful, Kira. I'm a lucky man."

Her lips curved up. "You are, and I hope I'll be getting lucky pretty quick here, too."

He waggled his brows at her. "Pretty quick. Still a passel of teasing left to do."

"Uhhh."

In his arms, her body vibrated with need. He pulled her bra straps down and tossed the lacy thing onto a chair in the corner. "Damn." Perfect D cups, so pale he could see small veins under the surface. Her nipples and darker areolas puckered tighter at his stare.

"Are you a breast man, too?"

He held her breasts in his palms, loving the softness of her skin over the firm orbs. His thumbs flicked her tight nipples. "Yep. Breasts, thighs, ass. Every amazing part of you that I can't get enough of."

Her body shimmied with each pass of his thumbs. "I have a couple parts…" She sucked in a breath. "That you haven't seen yet."


********



Don’t forget to leave a comment and your e-mail address for your chance to win Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas!  Winner will be notified Feb. 15, 2013.  Thank you so much for the giveaway Randi.
                                          








My own story is that my first ever Valentine's day date (who is now my hubby) brought me my favorite candy (See's chocolates) and flowers and I was still living at my parents' home at the time.  Before we left for the romantic dinner that he was taking me out for, I put the flowers in water and hid my candy.  When I returned home, my father complained that he couldn't find the candy---now you know why I hid it!   --- ELF


Find Cowboy Jackpot: Valentine's Day in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon, and in paperback at Createspace and Amazon. Have a great Valentine’s Day! Randi "Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied" RandiAlexander.com -Cowboy Jackpot: Christmas is available in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon, and in paperback at Createspace and Amazon. -Turn Up the Heat, Chase and Seduction, and Her Cowboy Stud are available at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon -Cowboy Bad Boys is available in digital format at Smashwords and Amazon and in paperback from Createspace and at Amazon -Cowboy Lust is available in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon


                                      

Hidden Heat

Hidden Heat    

by Leah Braemel is the fourth book in the ‘Hauberk Protection’ series and  showcases agent Troy McPherson and normally unobtrusive Hauberk office assistant Sandy Hallquist who has gotten tired of waiting for him to recognize that she wants him.  Troy is not only surprised to discover that Sandy shares some of his predilection for kink but that she wants their relationship to be exclusive but with no strings attached.  Sounds perfect for him, or does it?  Their matching passion makes him wonder about a deeper relationship but his checkered background and dangerous profession makes him reluctant to pursue anything more significant, at least that’s what he tries to convince himself of until danger stalks the woman who has managed to get past his defensive barriers.

This erotic romantic suspense novel is an exciting read that mixes adventure and passion in an entertaining story.  The dominant men who staff the Hauberk agency and their contacts throughout their community utilize their skills to obtain justice and adhere to their own warrior code and standards of behavior.  The women who find places in their lives must be just as strong in their own fashion, if only to cope with the danger their lovers fearlessly confront.  Sandy is an interesting contradiction in behavior, combining her (usually) discreet behavior at work and her wildly passionate side when she gives her trust.  I was a little disturbed at her obtuseness with regard to her roommate and thought that her acceptance of Troy’s background was a little disingenuous but the overall story was nicely spicy and suspenseful.  I look forward to reading more about the  intriguing personnel of the Hauberk Agency.

Celebrating St. Valentine, giveaway hop: Caller of Light

Celebrating St. Valentine Giveaway Hop

 


I am honored to have a guest post by T.J. Shaw, author of Caller of Light, today.  I asked her to share her journey to becoming a fantasy author.  I think she has a wonderful voice and invite you to read her new book and fall in love with a new fantasy series.  My Amazon review is at this link.  My post about this entertaining story is at this link.  Make sure you scroll to the end where there is information about the giveaway to THREE lucky winners!



TJ, thanks for joining us today.  Please tell us about why you started writing fantasy:

I’ve always been a fan of fantasy, science fiction, and anything paranormal. I grew up watching the original Star Trek series and fell in love with Capt. James T. Kirk. As an avid reader of authors like Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and Mary Stewart, I didn’t actually discover romance until I met Ayla and Jondalar in Jean M. Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear series.

When my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she absorbed the news with a fighter’s spirit and spent the next several months undergoing chemotherapy. She never complained even though she lost all her hair and became very sick. Although she had a warrior’s heart and battled for over a year, she ultimately left this world to begin a new journey. 

So, why did I write Caller of Light? Because I wanted to immortalize my mom in some way, to let her know how much I loved and admired her. Because I was told I was being unrealistic. Because by combining my love of fantasy and romance, I could dedicate something that I worked so hard on to a woman who inspired me to strive to be a better person. That’s why. So, believe in yourself. Believe you can accomplish your dreams, and remember to tell those close to you how much you love them.

I wish you all the best,

TJ
 


TJ Shaw
www.TjShaw.com
www.amazon.com/author/tjshaw



As part of the Celebrating St. Valentine Giveaway Hop I am delighted to be able to offer an e-book version of T.J. Shaw's Caller of Light to THREE lucky winners, thanks to the author.  These will be available through Amazon and if you do not own a Kindle, please be advised that there are Kindle apps that can be downloaded for free to most computers or other electronic devices.

To enter the giveaway, please leave an comment with your e-mail address and let me know why you like fantasy books and what your favorite one is thus far.  The  contest will run until 12:00 midnight PST February 18, 2013 and the winner will be chosen by random selection.  If the winner does not respond to notification within 5 days, another name will be chosen so please check your e-mail.

The Compete Keeper Chronicles

The Compete Keeper Chronicles     

by Tanya Huff is a trilogy that includes Summon the Keeper, The Second Summoning and Long Hot Summoning.  I am always impressed by this versatile author (and I am a really big fan of her space opera Valor series that features a truly kick-butt heroine and I enjoyed the glimpses of Canada that I received through her Blood series) and she has such a quirky sense of humor that I delight in the snark (featured most recently in the sequel to The Enchantment Emporium, The Wild Ways) although I undoubtedly miss some of the subtext occasionally.  This omnibus is a bit unwieldy to handle (especially if one has wrist problems the way I do) but it is definitely a treasure of entertaining fantasy.  I love the way the cats have their own way of dealing with rules and annoyances and that entertaining struggle between what the veterinarian has decreed for the health of the cat and the cat's own opinion is even funnier when the cat can actually vocalize his opinion!  There is a lot of creativity in this series and although these books were initially written more than a decade ago, they are still just as refreshing as they were then.  I can only hope that the author is starting up the series again as I love playing in this universe.

My Amazon review for The Complete Keeper Chronicles is at this link






(Note:  The following are just a FEW of the books in the author's various series) 



                     

Lady Eve's Indiscretion

Lady Eve's Indiscretion 
by Grace Burrowes is a wonderful historical romance in a very impressive series.  Thus far I have only managed to read a couple of other titles in the series (part of that pesky 'so many books, so little time' issue), Lady's Louisa's Christmas Knight and The Heir but I greatly enjoyed both of them.  I love historical romances (although I always have called them Regency romance but now realize that some of them weren't set during the time of the 'Regent' in England but rather occur during different time periods).  One of my favorite authors was Patricia Veryan and I think it was because her books combined action and romance.  I admit it, I am rather bloodthirsty and empathize with the hero getting injured and needing the heroine to save his life.  Which is a bit weird, since I don't like a lot of graphic blood and gore...hence my reluctance to read zombie books since most of the ones I have read seem to delight in having rotting and exploding body parts everywhere. 


But, I digress.  I really like this series because the heroines take matters into their own hands (I hate women that sit back and flutter their hands and wait for someone to rescue them).  Thus far, none of the heroines has disappointed and I love the quirky characters (some non-human) that are part of the stories.  Each book focuses on a different Windham sibling thus far and, although they each make sometimes very significant mistakes, none can doubt the love and support that they offer each other.  I really MUST make time to finish reading the rest of the series but I am sure that each story will be a delight and I am glad that I have them to look forward to while I await the next addition to the series.  My Amazon review for Lady Eve's Indiscretion  is at this link.  I am never sure whether to continue asking for 'yes, this was helpful' votes since Amazon is being cagey about whether they are counting them if the reviewer receives several plus votes from the same person...but, if you are so inclined, I appreciate positive votes.  My Nightowl review for Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight is at this link and my Goodreads review for The Heir is at this link.

                                                  


And, I am not sure why I am getting so many hits in Taiwan but just wanted to say ni hao to all of the readers there!

Cat Bearing Gifts and success with mushroom soup!

Cat Bearing Gifts     

by Shirley Rousseau Murphy is part of her mystery series that features talking cats (literally talking in human language, not just in 'cat').  I am intrigued by this group of felines who have not only gathered a group of humans who cater to them (I wish I was fed as well as they are) but who are the most adept of sleuths as the criminals in their small town would never dream that the cats staring at them are actually taking note of their actions.  There are quite a few stories in this series which started with just a couple of cats (Joe Grey and Dulcie) and the humans they associate with plus a bewildered police chief who gets telephone calls from an informant or two that he can't identify.  Over the years, those who know about these special cats have increased and more mystical elements have been introduced to explain their origin.  A talking kitten was added to the mix and many of the humans have found their own mates.  I have missed a few stories in the series but each story can stand alone and the most recent one features even more interconnected humans and talking felines.  One naturally has to suspend belief (I am still picturing them using cell phones and scratching my head) but there are such nice descriptions of the various characters, both two- and four-legged, that each story draws me in nicely.    This is not my favorite of the series and that may be due to the fact that I am behind and haven't read the past few books so there are more characters that I am not familiar with but I enjoyed revisiting some of my favorites.


A few weeks ago, I tried making potato and ham soup and learned about making the flour mixture for thickening the soup.  I tend to experiment in the kitchen (unlike the hubby who likes to plan everything meticulously) so the third time I made this particular soup, I diverted some of the roux (flour/butter/milk mixture).  I had purchased some lovely large button mushrooms, and unlike the technique used by most chefs...I don't just brush the dirt off, I actually skin the mushrooms...sliced them and boiled them with a little chopped onion and chicken bouillon.  I took about 1/3 of the roux that I was supposed to add to the potato ham soup and poured it into my mushroom concoction.  It was fantastic!  I will probably have to experiment more with proportions because my only complaint was that it wasn't thick the way I typically enjoy cream of mushroom soup but I still think it was quite tasty.  Slowly, I continue to add to the repertoire!