Spotlight Request + Giveaway ~ MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS by Sarah Morgan

Maybe This Christmas
by  Sarah Morgan
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary Romance

This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now. 

Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture… How can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?

He was going to kiss her.
Finally, after waiting a lifetime, Tyler O’Neil was going to kiss her.
Bold, terrified he might change his mind, Brenna rose on tiptoe and closed the gap, bringing her mouth to his.
A second’s delay, a moment of heart-stopping hesitation, and then his mouth claimed hers, slowly at first and then with deep, sensual hunger. Raw, electrifying excitement rushed through her, and she moaned against his lips, opening her mouth as she felt the skilled slide of his tongue against hers.
Everything inside her melted, and she clung to his shoulders, grateful for the solid strength that kept them both upright.
She was impatient for more, and she’d thought he was, too, but he kept that side of him reined in as he kissed her slowly and thoroughly until sensation flooded every cell of her body. She closed her eyes, luxuriating in the skill of his mouth, knowing that nothing in her life before had felt as perfect and right as this.
His mouth slid over her jaw, down to her neck and fastened over a pulse beating at the base of her throat. The brush of his tongue brought a moan to her throat, and she tugged at his shirt, needing to touch him, needing to feel. He had the body of an athlete, supremely fit, honed from hours of hard physical exercise, and her seeking hands encountered hard male muscle and smooth skin.
He slid one hand behind her head and brought his mouth back to hers in a kiss that was hot and explicit. She felt him, hard and ready through the fabric of his jeans, and she could hardly breathe for wanting him.
Would it be here?
Now?

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes hot, happy contemporary romance. Her trademark humour and sensuality have gained her fans across the globe and two RITA® Awards www.sararahmorgan.com.
from the Romance Writers of America. Sarah lives near London with her family. Visit her at
Website   Facebook    Twitter   Goodreads 


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Tour~ Excerpt and Giveaway~ SEDUCING THE GROOM by Cheryl Holt


ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2014
Stephen St. John, Viscount Banbury, is in a bind. His father has cut off his allowance, so he’s had to rein in his decadent habits and split with his beautiful, spoiled mistress whom he can no longer afford. When an American heiress comes to London and dangles her fortune in Stephen’s direction, he sees it as the answer to his prayers. He’ll wed the pretty, delectable heiress, but he won’t let her interfere with his decadent lifestyle. He’s a confirmed bachelor and determined to have a marriage of convenience.
Ellen Foster has traveled to London for the express purpose of buying a titled husband. She’s been husband shopping for months and can’t make up her mind. All the available candidates seem tepid and boring. But when she lays eyes on handsome, dashing Stephen St. John, she knows he’s the one, and with her large fortune as bait, he’s easily snared in her web.
When he suggests a marriage of convenience, she pretends to agree. But she has no intention of living separate lives. She plans to enjoy every delightful, wicked minute that marriage to a rake can provide. With Stephen determined to avoid her, seduction seems the only choice.
Though Stephen doesn’t realize it, Ellen always gets her way, and as she turns their bedchamber into a den of erotic pleasure, poor Stephen doesn’t stand a chance…
                                         •••••••••A Message from Cheryl Holt: •••••••••

For many years of my life, I was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance.” I was one of the first authors to jump into erotics just as they were bubbling up as a romance subgenre. I wrote fifteen erotic novels and novellas. At the time, they were considered the cutting edge of the erotic market, but when we see how erotics have evolved over the past decade into full-on erotica, the old books I used to write seem very tame in comparison. They’re still fun to read, but they’re so different from what’s available now.

My erotic novella, SEDUCING THE GROOM, originally appeared in an erotic anthology in 2004. It was priced at an exorbitant $15.00, and the print run was very small, so very few people ever bought it or read it. It’s sort of a “lost” book for me. The rights recently reverted to me from my old publisher, so I’m rereleasing the book so everyone will have a chance to read it. And I hope you will. It’s a great story that’s extremely well written and very fun to read, but when you remember that—just a decade ago—it was the hottest kind of erotic story out on the market, it’s such a surprise! I think you’ll all be fascinated. The world is changing so fast!

Learn more at:

http://www.cherylholt.com

CHAPTER ONE
London, 1815…

“Well, good night then, Lord Banbury.”

“Good night.”

Stephen St. John, Viscount Banbury, eventually to be Earl of Stafford if his recalcitrant, impossible father ever dropped dead, glared at the interloper who’d now been his wife for all of ten hours.  The silence extended; the farewell grew awkward.

What repartee, precisely, was a man supposed to express at a time such as this?  Sleep well?  Pleasant dreams?  See you in the morning?  Or how about more aptly, What was I thinking, marrying a woman I don’t know?  Have I gone mad?

Nothing seemed appropriate.  Astoundingly, he blushed, his cheeks heating with an embarrassing dose of discomfort.

The wedding guests were gone, the house had been tidied by what was left of his domestic staff, and he’d been about to leave too, when he’d stumbled upon her floating down the stairs.  She was scarcely dressed, clad in a diaphanous green negligee and robe that hardly covered anything that ought to be covered.  Apparently, as she’d concluded that he was already off to his merrymaking, she’d believed herself to be alone in the massive, drafty domicile.  Unable to sleep, she’d descended to fetch a relaxing refreshment.

Her hair was blond, the shade of ripened wheat.  It was unbound and hanging down her back to brush her bottom, and he was gravely troubled by the display.  She was much too forward and assured, prancing about in her nightwear before an unfamiliar man, yet she didn’t appear perturbed.

Yes, he was her husband, but nevertheless, they were strangers.

Even though he hadn’t meant to, he evaluated her graceful figure.  He was only human!  He couldn’t be expected to avoid looking at what was flaunted in plain sight.

She was much too shapely, and he squirmed uneasily and inspected the floor, only to be confronted by her feet.

Her toenails were painted red!  The splash of bright crimson in the dull salon seemed immoderately sexy, out of place, incongruous and irreconcilable with the individual he pictured her to be.

Ordinarily, he was an urbane, sophisticated fellow, renowned and lauded for his aplomb, his polish and poise and, most particularly, for his way with the ladies.  Yet with his new bride, he’d been transformed into a bungling, gauche oaf.

From the moment earlier in the day, when she’d waltzed into the parlor, promptly at eleven, he’d behaved like an ass.  Throughout the abbreviated ceremony, then the afternoon of toasting and celebration, and the interminable meal that had wrapped up the festivities, he’d constantly tripped over himself, saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, and generally making a fool of himself.

She likely presumed that she’d wed a moronic buffoon.

He was dawdling in the doorway, acting like a simpleton, powerless to depart, but incapable of maintaining any sort of intelligent conversation. 

“Don’t let me keep you,” she obligingly said.  Showing him her back, she strolled to the other side of the room, where surprisingly, she helped herself to a stout glass of brandy.

During the excessive, protracted gala, he’d covertly watched her.  When his rowdy, wild friends had still been in attendance, she’d had naught to drink.  While she’d ceaselessly had a beverage in her hand, he’d never seen her take so much as a sip.  So why now?

He was used to consorting with a rather decadent type of lady, so he normally wouldn’t have heeded whether she’d imbibed or not.  Usually, he paid no heed to what a female did or didn’t do.  But it bothered him to discover that she was so nonplussed by events that she could blithely delight in a nightcap.

“Enjoy your…revelry,” she added.  “I’m sure it will be most entertaining.”

From the beginning, he’d recognized that she had a husky, come-hither voice.  When she talked, she always sounded as though she were on the verge of mentioning an indecent proposition.  Thus, it was difficult to focus on the content of her speech, because the words kept getting lost in the sensual timbre of any utterance.

Narrowing his gaze, he studied her rounded behind, trying to deduce if she was mocking him with her flip adieu.  Was she jesting?  Was she serious?

She had to be joking.  She had to be!

Though she’d readily and freely yielded to his ultimatum that theirs would be a marriage of convenience, how could she blandly acquiesce to his rushing out to cavort with others on their wedding night?  Had she no feelings in the matter?  Was she genuinely unconcerned about where he went or what he did?  What woman—what wife!—could be so tolerant, so unmoved?  What kind of person was she?

There was the crux of his problem.  He had no idea.



CHERYL HOLT is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of over thirty-five novels.

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age forty, with two babies at home, 
she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance where she was stunned to discover that
she has a knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance” as well as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and she loves to hear from fans. Visit her website at www.cherylholt.com.

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The Twelve Men of Valentine - Hunk #1 ~ Promo and Giveaway SLEIGH BELLS IN VALENTINE VALLEY by Emma Cane



Thanks for stopping by today,  FBL is part of the SLEIGH BELLS IN VALENTINE VALLEY tour. It runs from Oct 27th to Nov 21st, 2014.  My stop is the first of the The Twelve Men of Valentine Posts. On top of all that fun, Avon is hosting a tour wide giveaway for a Valentine Valley Holiday Gift Bag.  Follow the entire Tour for your chance to win!   

Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley
Valentine Valley # 5
By: Emma Cane
Releasing October 28th, 2014
Avon
Amazon | Barnes | iTunes | Kobo


Return to Valentine Valley, where Christmas lights are twinkling and first love burns brighter the second time around...

When Tony De Luca's ex, Kate Fenelli, waltzes through the door of his tavern and pulls up a bar stool, she turns his balanced world on end. Once they'd been each other's first love, first everything. But then life happened, and they walked away with broken hearts. Now Kate is back in Valentine, and they can't seem to stay out of each other's way. When Tony begins wondering what would happen if they rekindled the sparks, he knows he's in big trouble.

Kate can't believe she's sitting at Tony's bar spilling her life-changing problems to him. He's as gorgeous as ever, and she can't seem to forget how incredible he always made her feel. Still, the door on that chapter of their lives closed long ago. Yet with Christmas buzzing in the air, Kate can't help wondering if anything is possible—even a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.

Emma Cane grew up reading and soon discovered that she liked to write passionate stories of teenagers in space. Her love of “passionate stories” has never gone away, although today she concentrates on the heartwarming characters of Valentine, her fictional small town in the Colorado Rockies.
Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and two rambunctious dogs Apollo and Uma.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Name: Nate Thalberg
Age: 35
Occupation: Cowboy
Physical Description: wavy black hair, green eyes, and dimples
Relationship Status: Married (fell in love with Emily during A TOWN CALLED VALENTINE)
Holiday Likes (3) the annual Christmas Eve snowball fight with his family, kissing his wife under the mistletoe,
Holiday Dislikes (1) Christmas starting in October
How do you usually spend the Holiday? With his wife and family at the Silver Creek Ranch
Favorite Holiday Movie? “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Favorite Holiday Food? Christmas cookies (his wife Emily owns a bakery)
Favorite Holiday Song? White Christmas
Hot Cocoa or Egg Nog? Hot Cocoa
Snuggled up Next to the Fire or Bundled Up on a Sled? Snuggled up Next to the Fire
Best Holiday Memory to Date: listening to the story of how his parents fell in love when they were stranded in a cabin together on Christmas Eve.
Watch Nate Fall in Love in A TOWN CALLED VALENTINE:

Tour Stop and Giveaway ~ VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS: VIRGINIA by Laura Simcox



FBL is part of the Tasty Book Tour ~ VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS: VIRGINIA by Laura Simcox, this runs from Oct 6th - 31st, 2014.  Avon is hosting a TOUR WIDE Giveaway for Two Digital Copies of VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS: CAROLINA.  Follow the Tour for more chances to win.

Hey Fans, Laura Simcox, author of the fabulous VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS series, wants your help for the next installment of VSOU: Georgia!   See the Fun Contest for your chance suggest a nickname for the last of the President's daughters!


Various States of Undress: Virginia
Various States of Undress # 2
By: Laura Simcox
Releasing October 7th, 2014
Avon: Impulse
Amazon | Barnes | iBooks 


When the president's daughter risks everything with her sexy new boss, they're bound to find themselves in Various States of Undress!

If she had it her way, Virginia Fulton—daughter of the President of the United States—would spend more time dancing in Manhattan's nightclubs than working in its skyscrapers. Tired of dodging paparazzi, she needs a change. And a real chance. So when she finds herself in the arms of sexy, persuasive Dexter Cameron, who presents her with the opportunity of a lifetime, Virginia sees it as a sign … but can she take it without losing her heart?

CEO-to-be Dexter Cameron knows he's taking a risk by hiring a stylish party girl to jumpstart his family's legacy department store. But the president's gorgeous daughter has her thumb on the pulse of Manhattan, and the partnership seems like a win-win … until Dex discovers that his goals now include more than securing the corner office—they include Virginia herself. Dex must decide: does he make a move up the ladder? Or on the girl of his dreams?

After spending years in professional theater as a costume designer, Laura Simcox eased out of the hectic whirlwind of opening nights and settled in a comfy desk chair to write romance. She believes that life is too short not to appreciate heartwarming, quirky humor and her novels are lighthearted journeys into the happily-ever-after. She lives in North Carolina with her true love and adorable little son.
  Website     Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads
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Suggest A Secret Service Nickname for VSOU: Georgia

Laura Simcox, author of the fabulous VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS series, wants your help for the next installment of VSOU: Georgia! Simcox concludes her fun, flirty Various States of Undress series featuring three presidential daughters with the tale of love at the ballgame.

Each sister in the three story series has been given a nickname from her Secret Service agents. VSOU: Carolina was lovingly called Care Bear and VSOU: Virginia was nicknamed Candy Cane.

Laura would love readers to suggest a nickname for the last of the President's daughters! Help decide what the Secret Service should dub Georgia, the sexy intellectual of the three!

*****If your nickname is chosen for VSOU: Georgia, Laura will include your name in her personal acknowledgments in the book, and you will receive a free copy of the first two books in her series!*****

FUN FACT: Historically, all First Family code names begin with the same letter. The Obama's are Renegade, Renaissance, Radiance and Rosebud.


Book Blast ~Excerpt & Giveaway ~STAND CLOSE BUNDLE by Sabrina Lacey



FBL is part of the Release Day Tasty Book Blast for STAND CLOSE BUNDLE by Sabrina Lacey, Oct 20th, 2014Sabrina is hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway for a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card and Signed Paperback of STAND CLOSE. Here is the link for the rest of the tour.

Stand Close: The Series Bundle
Stand Close Books 1 – 3
By: Sabrina Lacey
Releasing October 17th, 2014
Self-Published  

Money. Lots of it. Fifty million dollars left to her by a father she didn't know she had.
But that money comes with a price: Jack and Sean Stone. The Stone Brothers were just a couple gorgeous, unattainable faces on magazines up until yesterday morning when one of them shows up on Rue's doorstep, drunk and royally pissed off. Jack's growl, "You'll be hearing from my lawyer," sends a jolt of shock to Rue's system that ricochets into a whole new life. One Jack doesn't want her to have.

Rockstar Alec Gabriel is the Stone Brothers best friend. Has been since childhood. Their bond needs no words. So when Jack suggests he make his newest target for heartache his new "secret sister" Rue Calliwell, Alec signs on out of curiosity, not expecting that meeting her will be the biggest challenge he's ever known.

The elevator doors open to my left. My stomach jumps out the top of my head and splats on the ceiling as Jack and Sean Stone walk out, each with one hand in the pocket of their tailored slacks, mirroring each other, and both looking at me. Jack sneers, his jawline taut and his light green eyes cutting a path through my heart, which is pounding and stopping, and pounding some more. I gulp and move focus to his brother who’s only slightly less intimidating with softer, curious blue eyes, the same nose, sandy brown hair styled perfectly, and a slender, more graceful frame. I don’t say anything as they pass me to stop at the receptionist’s desk. Sean throws a glance over his shoulder, checking me out as Jack says, “Mary, you look gorgeous. Tell him we’re here, will you?”

She all but falls out of her chair for him. And gorgeous she is not, so instantly I find him charming and wish I were on the receiving end. Why does he hate me so much? It’s like I’ve killed his dog or something. Who are these people? And why do they want to see me?
Sean strolls over, holding out his hand. “I’m Sean. You must be Rue.”
I stand up and my dress hitches on my thigh, demanding a hasty fix. Blushing at my moment of gracelessness, I hold out my hand and shake his a little too firmly. “Yes, that’s me. Hi. I didn’t know you’d be here today. Either of you. I don’t know why I’m here either, actually. I don’t know what this is about. And I’m blabbering. It’s nice to meet you.”
Sean’s smile is polite, his eyes a little cold. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“My ass it is,” Jack mutters loudly.

The large oak door opens and a man appears. He’s ancient, with gray hair sprouting all over the place. His body is tiny, as are his hands. His smile says he’s seen it all, and he probably has. Even the invention of fire. “Ah, we’re all here. Come!” He turns and walks back inside his office, leaving me staring after him. Sean touches the small of my back in a comforting way. “After you.” I look up at him and nod, but my feet aren’t having it. “It’s okay,” Sean says.

Jack walks in, shaking his head at the whole situation. “Can you believe this?” 

I love real-life heroes, strong, flawed men and women, and Chocolate Malted Crunch ice cream. Sometimes in that order. If you're just now finding my books, pour a nice glass of wine, and enjoy the ride. (Mmmm…I like wine, too.)

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