HENNESSEE ANDREWS - Tattoos and Cupcakes

This is our final day of the Sunset Point Beach Hop here at The Writers Studio. I've enjoyed getting to know each of these talented ladies. Make sure you've hit all of the blogs for your chance to WIN!

Remember to look for the CODE word. You will need it when you register for your chance to WIN the complete 5-book Sunset Point series.

AND to encourage each of you to come back and meet all five of the authors, I'm giving away a Care Package you'll want to pack on your next romantic getaway! Just leave a comment on my blog for each of the five Sunset Point authors. 

Cocoa Butter lotion, Peaceful Waters candle, Blindfold and Tickle Feather!

After you've left LOVE for Erika and filled out your Rafflecopter, head on over to the Inner Goddess for a complete list of ALL the stops on the tour: INNER GODDESS BLOG TOURS

HENNESSEE ANDREWS - Tattoos and Cupcakes

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio, Hennessee. I’m looking forward to having each of you ladies from the Sunset Point series. Because I want to focus on your new release, TATTOOS AND CUPCAKES (9/19) and the AWESOME giveaway, I’m going to give you what I call my Fast Five. Are you ready?

1. You mention the varied personalities in your family. You’ve chosen distinct personalities for Dane and Bannock. What do you like best about each of these men?
Bannock Garrison, my sexy Sunset Point police officer, is the strong and brooding type. He is honest and cares deeply about protecting Sunset Point. What I like most about him is that although he is strong, he possesses a tender heart that has been hurt. He has issues about women and ménage relationships in general and has to overcome the obstacles that keep him from love.

Dane is the hot tattoo artist that came to Sunset Point from Texas. He is cocky, witty, and goes after what he wants. Above all, he is honest and speaks his mind. His most admirable quality is that fact he doesn’t give up.  As an artist he is a natural and applies his talent in an area he loves.

2.  FBI? Witness to a murder? Tattoos? Menage? How much research did you do for this fun mix of professions?
To be honest I didn’t need to do a lot of research except for in the cupcake area. I did spend a lot of time coming up with ingredients and titles for exotic cupcakes. Too much fun. As far as my men, well, I looked at oodles of hot pics in order to find the perfect match to the image I conjured. I studied tattoos so that I could describe Dane’s gorgeous ink. There was some research into WITSEC since my heroine falls under their protection. With the murder, I had to dig deep and put myself at the scene in order to describe what Lane witnessed and try to accurately explain how she felt. By far though, the most difficult part of this adventure was learning about all the characters in all the books so I could help tie the series together with fun cameos.

3.  What attracts you to writing Menage?
 For me, the attraction to writing ménage was the challenge. I love the dynamics of such a relationship and how different personalities collide and scorch the bedroom with heat. The very idea of two men and one woman is just off the scales hot!

4.  Who would portray each of your three characters in a movie?
Wow, this is fun. Hmmm, for Dane Hutchinson I’d say Jensen Ackles He is the closest match to Dane’s character I imagined. As for Bannock Garrison there is a toss up between Chris Pine or Jake Gyllenhaal. Lane Erikson, my heroine, would have to be portrayed by Rachelle Lefevre. 

5.  Best writing advice you ever received?
Best advice ever, “Not everyone will like your writing.”  This is the truest statement I’ve ever heard. I find that it is an impossible task to please every reader even though I’d love it if I could. 

CODE WORD:

HAMMOCK

BLURB:

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, bondage, spanking, food play, sex toys, HEA]

Being sequestered on Sunset Point Island is the least of Lane Erikson’s worries. Being a witness to a murder may be her demise. What does one do when a network of FBI wanted criminals are looking to kill you? You run like hell, even it’s to a place you’ve never heard of.

Dane Hutchinson, local tattoo artist, sets his sights on winning Lane’s affection and sharing her with Bannock Garrison, Sunset Point police officer. Bannock never wanted a ménage relationship, even though his parents have lived a happy life in one. The idea of sharing a woman bothers him, but losing Dane’s friendship bothers him more.

As the relationship begins to soar with possibilities, Lane is faced with her world crashing down again, and her life hangs in the balance. Can Bannock and his colleagues save the day? More importantly, can Bannock overcome his distrust for women and allow Lane into his heart and share her with his best friend?

EXCERPT:

Lane didn’t waste any time. She tossed off her apron, not needing to be told twice. “I’ll be back in a little bit,” she called over her shoulder and bounded out the front door. Bannock may have a past that still hurt, but damn it, she did, too. Realistically, Lane felt she shouldn’t be able to trust men again, but Dane had made her believe in love and the pursuit of love again. If she was putting her heart out there, so could Bannock. Underneath his gruff and uncaring attitude, Lane knew Bannock had feelings for her, too. One stupid woman who couldn’t see what an amazing man he is shouldn’t still have a hold on him, she decided. He is lucky, his ex isn’t trying to kill him or have him killed. Big baby. 

GRAB YOUR COPY!

Purchase:

http://www.bookstrand.com/tattoos-and-cupcakes

Purchase the ENTIRE Series:

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunset_promo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Hennessee Andrews:

I reside in southwestern Missouri but I call Oklahoma home; it's where my family and I are from. I'm blessed to have two older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother. Each is as different as day and night and all have unique personalities that are easy to love. My mother has been my inspiration and the first to set me straight when I wanted to give up. She always would say, "Can't never could do anything." I believed her and I have tried on many different hats trying to find my niche in life, and there have been many. Thank goodness I finally found a personal passion and it only took thirty-seven years--not too shabby.

Outside of writing, working, being a mom and wife. I love genealogy and have researched extensively over the years. History is fascinating to me as well as mythology and ancient religions. I'm a firm believer in karma and that everyone has a special talent. Sometimes they ignore it while others embrace it. As for me, well, I'm embracing mine and learning something new every step of the way.

CATCH UP WITH HENNESSEE!

TWITTER: 

FB FAN PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/LoriKingBooks?hc_location=stream

AMAZON PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Hennessee-Andrews/e/B008HTS7JW

SUSAN HAYES - Breaking Point

We are not through yet! Today's guest from the Sunset Point Beach Hop is Susan Hayes. There is still time for you to hop back to the other blogs and catch up. You do not want to miss a stop for your chance to WIN the complete 5-book series that will have you packing your bags for your own getaway!

Remember to look for the CODE word. You will need it when you register for your chance to WIN the complete 5-book Sunset Point series.

AND to encourage each of you to come back and meet all five of the authors, I'm giving away a Care Package you'll want to pack on your next romantic getaway! To Win, you must leave a comment on each of the 5 blog posts by the Sunset Point guest authors - on my blog. 

Cocoa Butter lotion, Peaceful Waters candle, Blindfold and Tickle Feather!

After you've left LOVE for Erika and filled out your Rafflecopter, head on over to the Inner Goddess for a complete list of ALL the stops on the tour: INNER GODDESS BLOG TOURS

SUSAN HAYES - Breaking Point

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio, Susan. I’m looking forward to having each of you ladies from the Sunset Point series. Because I want to focus on your new release, BREAKING POINT(9/18) and the AWESOME giveaway, I’m going to give you what I call my Fast Five. Are you ready?

1. I’ve heard it said ‘our life begins not the day we are born but the moment we connect with our other half’. How do you think you know when you’ve found The One? Or in Lexa’s case, The Two?

For some people love is a lightning bolt, for others it’s a whisper that grows louder with the passage of time, but there’s always a moment when you realize that the person you are looking at is the one.  The one you’ve been waiting to find.

For Lexa, reconnecting with Beau and Diego was not just a lightning bolt, it was a full on tropical storm. They were already in her heart, she just needed to remember them and the life she had forced herself to forget. Accepting that she could love two men and live a life of joy and laughter… that took a little longer.

2.  You’ve jumped out of airplanes. Have or will any of your characters become part of the Mile  High Club?

I will absolutely add a few fictional members to the Mile High Club at some point, but it hasn’t happened just yet.  At least not unless you count smoking hot sex in outer space, but that’s in another book entirely.

3.  Strawberries and Champagne or Whipped Cream and Chocolate Syrup?

 Whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Why sip champagne and nibble on fruit when you could be getting sweet ‘n sticky instead? There’s a scene in Breaking Point that echoes that sentiment perfectly. It involves cupcakes, frosting, broken furniture and a round of applause from Beau and Diego’s fellow officers.

4.   Can you ‘go home again?’

I still live on the same island I grew up on, so in many ways I never really left home. The truth of the matter is, I wouldn’t want to go back to an earlier part of my life. I am just hitting my stride! I am finally writing professionally, I have dear friends and a life that puts a smile on my face every morning. Why would I want to go back?

 5. Best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Write what you love. That is the best, and possibly the shortest bit of advice I’ve been given. It’s also the one I pass along most often. If you are passionate about your topic, if it makes you happy, then that will show in your words and your story telling. If you try and copy what’s popular, or someone else’s voice, you will never reach your full potential.

CODE WORD:

MOONLIGHT

BLURB:

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, public exhibition, spanking, sex toys, HEA]

Lexa Fox lost her childhood the day her mother took her and fled Sunset Point. Twenty-three years later, she’s returning to claim her inheritance from a father she barely remembers, in a place she doesn’t belong.

Detectives Beau Rivers and Diego Mendez grew up in ménage families and always knew they’d be a trio if they could find the right woman. They’d found her once, but fate took her out of their lives long before they were old enough to stake their claim. No woman since has ever managed to live up to their memories of Lexa, so when fate brings their childhood sweetheart back into their lives, they do everything they can to convince their gray-eyed, world-weary beauty to stay.

There are dangers to be faced and enemies to overcome, but in the end it’s up to her men to show her that some hearts never give up hope, and some loves have no Breaking Point.

EXCERPT:

       “Just a taste, please?” Diego murmured and lowered his head until their breath mingled and she could feel the heat of his skin shimmering against hers. 

       “Whoa, Dig! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Diego’s childhood nickname tumbled out of Lexa’s mouth as she tugged her head back and away from him. She tried to move away but Diego’s hand spanned the back of her neck, making it impossible to step backward more than a few inches. 

     “I’m saying hello to an old friend,” Diego stated and then kissed her, his lips gentle as they lingered over hers. Before she could muster the brainpower to react he withdrew, leaving her heart pounding and her legs shaking in response to his touch. 

     “Hell, if you get to say hello with a kiss, so do I,” Beau said and moved in behind her so that her small body was tucked up against his. 

GRAB YOUR COPY!

Purchase:

http://www.bookstrand.com/breaking-point

Purchase the ENTIRE Series:

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunset_promo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT Susan Hayes:

Susan lives out on the Canadian west coast surrounded by open water, dear family and good friends. She's jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on purpose and had lunch next to royalty by accident. She's passionately in love with the written word (and a few of her more hunky creations.)

Writing is her joy, her escape from reality and the only way she knows of to quiet the nagging harridan of a muse she claims the universe assigned to her.

CATCH UP WITH SUSAN!

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/capricia13

FB FAN PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Hayes/551945384831723

AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/mad3qwe

LORI KING - Point of Seduction

We kick off this week's Sunset Point Blog Hop series with Lori King. Only three ladies from the Sunset Point Blog Hop left for you to meet. Are you packed yet?

Remember to look for the CODE word. You will need it when you register for your chance to WIN the complete 5-book Sunset Point series.

AND to encourage each of you to come back and meet all five of the authors, I'm giving away a Care Package you'll want to pack on your next romantic getaway! To WIN - just leave a comment on all 5 of the Sunset Point posts on my blog.

Cocoa Butter lotion, Peaceful Waters candle, Blindfold and Tickle Feather!

After you've left LOVE for Erika and filled out your Rafflecopter, head on over to the Inner Goddess for a complete list of ALL the stops on the tour: INNER GODDESS BLOG TOURS

LORI KING - Point of Seduction

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio, Lori. I’m looking forward to having each of you ladies from the Sunset Point series. Because I want to focus on your new release on 9/16), POINT OF SEDUCTION and the AWESOME giveaway, I’m going to give you what I call my Fast Five. Are you ready?

1)   Three very enticing men in this new book. What makes each of them unique?

One of my favorite parts about writing ménage is giving each hero a unique personality. Austin Curtis is the strong silent type with a heart of gold. He's a born leader, but when he meets Gaby he finds himself awestruck and tongue tied. Michael Curtis is Austin's younger brother, and he is an easy going free thinker who loves to make Gaby laugh. The Curtis brothers find a unique harmony with their best friend Kendrick McClure. Kendrick was raised by a single mom, and has always wished for a large family. He can't pass up the chance to share a woman with his two best friends.

2)   Fabric is very sensuous. What drove you to create Gaby’s profession?

When Gaby's character formed in my mind I saw her dressed in a white cotton dress that was soft and sensual and cupped her curves perfectly. The best way to ensure that she would be wearing clothes fitted her body was to have them created for her. And who better to create them, then Gaby herself? Gaby is a woman with drive and determination, and a rocky relationship with her parents has left her feeling the need to prove herself with her career. Building a business from the ground up and having her product be handmade just fit her perfectly. Designs by Lark is the premier women's clothier on Sunset Point. 

3)   You consider yourself the ‘average woman’ but every woman is special. What would your husband say makes you ‘special’?

Besides my dirty mind? LOL My husband tells me that one of my most attractive qualities is my drive and determination to make myself better and achieve more. I'm never quite content with "good enough," and I'm always planning my next move. We met after my first marriage ended and I was a single mom working two jobs to take care of two toddlers. He said he never thought he wanted kids until he found the perfect mom for his children. And just for the record, I feel pretty damn lucky to have him too. 

4)   Hero or Heroine.. which do you come up with first?

I almost always meet my heroes first. It's rare that I find a heroine and have to learn about her heroes. Usually I'm looking for the right woman to fit into a grouping of men. Austin, Michael, and Kendrick needed a woman who could love them all three for their individualities and Gaby is perfect for them.

5)   Best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Sophie Oak told me once that the most important thing about being a full time author was to take yourself and your career seriously. This means treating it like a business. Make yourself write every single day, and don't let other things take away from the importance of your writing. 

CODE WORD:

SKINNY DIPPING

BLURB:

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Quatre Romance, M/F/M/M, spanking, HEA]

Built around the premise that love can be found with multiple partners, the island of Sunset Point has always been Gabriella Larkin’s home. She respects the open-minded community, but her own past relationships have left her burned, and she can't overcome her doubts about love. Throwing herself into her clothing boutique, Designs By Lark, she makes it her number one focus, until she meets Austin, Michael, and Kendrick.

Brothers Austin and Michael Curtis, along with their best friend Kendrick McClure, are new to the island, but not to the idea of ménage. A chance meeting with the gorgeous Gaby has sparks flying and the men planning on seduction. Enthralled by the intense sexual attraction between the four of them, Gaby embarks on a tumultuous and passionate relationship with the trio, but reaching the point of seduction will mean facing off with her past…

EXCERPT:

“I’ve never experienced a ménage, so I can’t say if it’s better or worse than the shitty

relationships I have experienced. I don’t honestly know if I could handle that kind of relationship.” Austin’s nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched at the mention of her previous relationships, and she wanted to laugh. Could he really be feeling protective of her? It seemed unlikely considering he had only known for about eighteen hours, and had grimaced at every turn while she talked about herself.

“The question is, are you brave enough to try?” Kendrick asked as he reached out and ran his

finger tip down her cheek to her throat. Electricity seemed to zip from the point of contact directly to her dripping cunt, and she shivered.

GRAB YOUR COPY!

Purchase:

http://www.bookstrand.com/point-of-seduction

Purchase the ENTIRE Series:

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunset_promo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Lori King:

I’m your average woman that juggles three kids, a husband and a full time career as an author. Over the years I have used writing to ease my stress, clear my head, and ingite my passion. I love romance stories, and I look for a Happily Ever After (HEA) in every story, so it seemed only natural that when I finally sat down to write a book that I pick Erotic Romance as my genre.

I love to hear from fans, and even from people who aren’t fans. I appreciate all feedback that is respectful in tone. Don’t forget to Live, Laugh, and Love like today is your only chance!

CATCH UP WITH LORI!

http://www.lorikingbooks.wordpress.com/

http://www.bookstrand.com/lori-king

LAURIE ROMA - Cross Point

Next on our list of guests from the Sunset Point Blog Hop is Laurie Roma. Over the next two weeks we'll have the opportunity to visit with all five of these talented ladies from Siren publishing. Their new Sunset Point series is enough to make any woman want to pack her bags for a memorable getaway.

Remember to look for the CODE word. You'll need it when you register for your chance to win the complete 5-book Sunset Point series.

AND to encourage each of you to come back and meet all five of the authors, I'm giving away a Care Package you'll want to pack on your next romantic getaway!

Cocoa Butter Lotion, Peaceful Waters candle, Blindfold and Tickle Feather!

After you've left LOVE for Erika and filled out your Rafflecopter, head on over to the Inner Goddess for a complete list of ALL the stops on the tour: INNER GODDESS BLOG TOURS

LAURIE ROMA - Cross Point

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio, Laurie. I’m looking forward to having each of you ladies from the Sunset Point series. Because I want to focus on your new release, Cross Point out today, and the AWESOME giveaway, I’m going to give you what I call my Fast Five. Are you ready?

1)  Love that Trinity may have to choose between two very different men – both with one goal on their mind. If you were Trinity and HAD to choose only one, would you choose Jackson or Maxwell?

LOL Nope. If I was Trinity, I wouldn’t choose between Jackson and Maxwell. Trinity

is bold, brash and beautiful, and doesn’t take orders well at all. If you tried to make her choose, it might get you shot…or at least smacked around a little. *wink wink*

The truth is that Trinity needs more than one man to keep up with her. Maxwell King’s quiet strength and extreme confidence makes him a good balance for the adventurous side of Trinity.  His love helps to heal a part of her that needs a steady foundation. And then there is Jackson Stone. He is Trinity’s match in every way. They are both wounded souls, looking for the love and acceptance they have been denied for most of their lives. When the three of them come together it is a perfect balance. Each of them gives something to the relationship that makes them a strong, cohesive unit. Plus, both men are wicked HOT!

2)  Most difficult thing for you about writing ménage?

Balance! For me, balance is the key to making a good ménage relationship work. It’s difficult enough having two people come together, both bringing their own baggage, but adding more people into the mix is just asking for trouble. Any successful ménage relationship needs to be based on trust, and knowing that each person is valued in the group. Hence, the balance, but sometimes that’s a bitch to get down on paper…

3)  Fruit: Strawberries or Melon

Strawberries…preferably in a flute with champagne poured over it or dipped in chocolate ;)

4)  Love at first sight? Or Lust at first sight?

Lust. I believe love happens over time. You can’t have love without respect and trust, and those need to be earned.

5)  Best writing advice you have received?

Don’t give up. Seriously, don’t ever stop writing. If you have a passion for it, follow your dreams and keep working at it. Success may not happen overnight, but it will never happen if you just sit on your ass and don’t

even try.

CODE WORD:

BIKINIS

BLURB:

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Trois Romantic Suspense, M/F/M, public exhibition, sex toys, HEA]

Former IAD agent Katrina “Trinity” Cross is in desperate need of a vacation. When a friend asks for a personal favor, Trinity agrees to fly to the island of Sunset Point, only to find that things in paradise aren’t what they seem…

Jackson Stone is a man who likes regulation and order, but when Katrina Cross arrives on his island, life as he knows it'll never be the same.

Falling behind schedule is not allowed in Maxwell King’s orderly world. Missing money, cheap materials, and a dead foreman top of the list of his problems, but nothing shakes him more than the sexy siren that sets his body on fire…

As the investigation heats up, Maxwell and Jackson both fall for Trinity, but she can’t choose between the uptight corporate mogul and the rough and ready police lieutenant. Can she find a way to keep them both, or will their love become a casualty at the Cross Point?

EXCERPT:

   Around six-three and built like a golden god, the man was wickedly good looking. Built like a prized fighter, he was packing some serious muscle and had a fierce aura about him that all but screamed cop! He had an almost shaved head that only showed a hint of dark hair that matched the five o’clock shadow covering his chiseled jaw. Intense green eyes seared into hers as the man pulled his own weapon, approaching her slowly.

   “SPPD, put your weapon down.”

   Damn, she was good. She’d called it right. Trinity cocked her head to the side, intrigued by the easy command in his deep voice. Never one to pass up an opportunity to poke at authority, she couldn’t help it. “Badge me.”

   He froze. “What?”

   Trinity grinned. “Badge me, baby, ‘cause I ain’t putting this down ‘til I see your brass.”

GRAB YOUR COPY!

Purchase:

http://www.bookstrand.com/cross-point

Purchase the ENTIRE Series:

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunset_promo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Laurie Roma:

Laurie Roma lives in Chicago and is the author of the IAD Agency and Arcadian series. She has always loved immersing herself in a good book and now enjoys the pleasure of creating her own. She can usually be found tapping away on her keyboard, creating worlds for her characters while she listens to music. Of course her playlist depends on her mood…but then again, so does her writing.

An avid reader of the romance genre, nothing bothers her more than annoying characters. Seriously, who wants a happy ending for someone that pisses you off? She loves tough alpha-male heroes and strong heroines that have brains as well as beauty. Her novels are filled with both passionate romance and down and dirty lust-driven interludes, as she believes both are essential to a good love story. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at laurieromabooks@gmail.com.

CATCH UP WITH LAURIE!

Blog:  http://laurieroma.blogspot.com

Siren Author Page:  www.bookstrand.com/laurie-roma

Twitter:  @laurieromabooks

Facebook Profile:   www.facebook.com/Laurie.Roma.90

Facebook Fan Page:   www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Roma/179017578902388

Amazon Author Page:  

     http://www.amazon.com/Laurie-Roma/e/B00APDXM98/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

GoodReads:   http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6546176.Laurie_Roma

Email:   laurieromabooks@gmail.com

UPDATE - Barb Bettis & Silverhawk

We did not get this through in time yesterday to share. You can pick up SILVERHAWK today on Amazon FREE -http://tinyurl.com/m49lzkq

ERIKA REED - Hearts and Handcuffs

Today's guest is the first on our Sunset Point Blog Hop. Over the next two weeks, we'll have the opportunity to visit with five fabulous authors from Siren publishing. Their new Sunset Point series is enough to make any woman want to pack her bags!

Remember to look for the CODE word. You will need it when you register for your chance to WIN the complete 5-book Sunset Point series.

AND to encourage each of you to come back and meet all five of the authors, I'm giving away a Care Package you'll want to pack on your next romantic getaway!

Coco Butter, Peaceful Waters candle,Blindfold and Tickle Feather!

After you've left LOVE for Erika and filled out your Rafflecopter, head on over to the Inner Goddess for a complete list of ALL the stops on the tour: INNER GODDESS: Blog Tours

ERIKA REED - Hearts and Handcuffs

Welcome to The Writer’s Studio, Erika. I’m looking forward to having each of you ladies from the Sunset Point series. Because I want to focus on your new release (tomorrow), HEARTS AND HANDCUFFS and the AWESOME giveaway, I’m going to give you what I call my Fast Five. Are you ready?

1) Handcuffs. Metal or Fuzzy? 

      I prefer fuzzy ;)

2) Amber, Reid and Dante – Which actors would portray them in the movie version? 

    Dante-Bradley Cooper, Reid-Josh Duhmel and Amber-Amy Adams

3)   What attracts you to the Menage genre?

    I find that it is a fantasy for many women what it would be like to be pleasures by two men at  

    the same time.

4) Favorite scent  

     My favorite scent is the smell of Victoria's Secret Pure Seduction body spray.

5)  Most helpful piece of writing advice you’ve received. 

     Never trust the editors to find mistakes for you. Always double check your work for yourself.

CODE WORD:

Nude Beach

BLURB:

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Ménage a Trois Romantic Suspense, M/F/M, light bondage, spanking, sex toys, HEA]

When Amber Green is offered a new job and a chance to move to a tropical paradise, she says yes and packs her bags, leaving her old life behind. Or so she thinks…

Millionaire Reid Sullivan is a widower who is immediately intrigued by Amber, and offers the beautiful woman a job to work for him as his live-in housekeeper after hearing she needs a place to stay.

Dante DeSoto is a hard-ass detective from Chicago whose investigation leads him to Sunset Point after the sudden death of Amber’s ex-boyfriend. Upon meeting the gentle beauty, he is convinced of Amber's innocence. Dante decides to stay on the island so that he and Reid can help protect her.

Both men want Amber, but they’re going to have to find a way to share. With old demons and new dangers dogging them every step of the way, the three lovers will have to fight for the happily ever after they long to share.

EXCERPT:

     Amber already had a strong connection with Reid the first time she met him. Now that she had been introduced to Dante, she feared that her attraction to the two men may get complicated for her. How could she be attracted to two men at the same time?

     Amber had heard numerous stories of the ménage relationships on Sunset Point. It wasn’t an uncommon lifestyle to lead here on the island. Maybe it was just the island that enticed her with the sudden attraction to Reid and Dante. Ever since Amber stepped foot on Sunset, she had never felt more free or happy in her entire life. There was something magical and seductive

about the haven she now called home. It was like living in nirvana. And now she was going to be living under the same roof with two of the most sinful and panty-wetting men she had ever encountered.

GRAB YOUR COPY!

Purchase:

http://www.bookstrand.com/hearts-and-handcuffs

Purchase the ENTIRE Series:

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunset_promo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Erika Reed:

Erika Reed lives with her husband and two daughter's in Southern California. She enjoys writing when she can find the time between being a wife and mother. When she has a chance, she enjoys reading the latest book on her Kindle Fire. You can also find her at Facebook. Erikareedauthor

BARBARA BETTIS - Guest Author

I have a lovely surprise for you today. Barbara Bettis is a member of Ozarks Romance Authors in Springfield MO. I've known her for several years. I find her to be delightful, generous and fun. She pours her heart and soul into her writing and her debut novel, SILVERHAWK, is a shining example. I hope you'll enjoy our visit today. Then scoot on over to AMAZON to get your copy.

 Hi Angela,
Thanks so much for hosting me today.
My pleasure, Miss Barbara. I've compiled a list of questions for both readers and writers. A little something for everyone. Let's get started!


Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write new words is at my desk, where I can be alone. I edit at the dining room table when there’s no one else in the house. Otherwise, it’s back in my office.

Do you have a writing routine?
Yes. It’s bad.  Actually, I do have to work on getting social media and promotion in balance with writing.

Which comes first – Characters or Plot?
Character. Sometimes character and plot come together, but usually I see the people in my mind first.

Which of the following do you struggle with the most: Characterization, Plot, Emotions, Passive Voice  And do you work through the challenge?
I think the one thing I have to really work on is emotion. I always have to go back and layer it in. But the positive thing is, I’ve realized that it’s okay to do that. I don’t have to have everything there the first time through.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received?
Don’t worry about making it perfect the first time through. For years I thought I had to have the first part just right, and the rest would flow from there. I took me awhile to see for myself that no matter how ‘right’ I thought the chapters, they’ll probably be changed when I go back for the edits.

If you could travel forwards or backwards in time, which direction would you go and what would you most like to experience when you arrived?
No doubt—back in time to the Regency period or the Middle Ages.  Although I’d love to see my knight and live in a castle,  in actuality, early castles could be cold and damp and uncomfortable and smelly. Life, even for most nobles, was hard compared to what we have today. Although I might want to visit, I don’t think I’d want to remain there, because—no pain meds and the sanitary conditions were appalling.

Tell us something that can make you smile, even on your worst day.
Of course, my grandchildren. But they’re not always around. If I want a guaranteed smile, I read the back pages of my Columbia Journalism Review for all the headline and wording errors from newspapers and magazines. I remember making some of my own. But they weren’t nearly as funny. LOL

Most romantic thing a guy has ever done for you?
My husband was wonderful to do little, unexpected things for me and his support was absolutely phenomenal. One of the things I recall is his surprising me by moving with me for six months to Fayetteville, Ark., while I was doing my resident status for my doctorate. I’d thought I’d have to take a room somewhere for the week and drive home on weekends, or drive back and forth every night. He treated the months as a ‘vacation.’ We closed up the house and took an apartment in Fayetteville.  It turned out to be among the most wonderful experiences we shared. To me that was more romantic that all the flowers, etc., that he ever brought me. (Oh how sweet!)

Favorite Comfort food?
Anything chocolate. I absolutely believe in its calming effects. LOL. However, after hugely stressful and traumatic events—ice cream. I don’t have a favorite flavor. But I do love hot fudge. 

Favorite thing to do to relax?
I actually like to talk to friends. Otherwise, a good book, especially one by an author I know and like. I have a keeper bookcase and if my TBR pile is down, I go for a book I’ve already read and that I love. It’s like revisiting old friends.

Tell us a little about SILVERHAWK
He’s everything a proper lady should never want; she’s everything a bastard mercenary can never have.

Would you share an excerpt with us?
This scene is taken from the Lady's Garden. 

Lady Emelin knelt at a patch of straggly flowers. As Giles advanced, the bright moonlight cast his shoulders as a darker shadow on the ground ahead. By the rigid set of her back, he knew she heard him. He couldn’t explain what had prompted him to veer off course, to seek her out.

Now he stood in the midst of a dead garden, in the heart of Lincolnshire, unsure of his intent.

Emelin sat back on her heels with an exaggerated sigh. “Would you move your shoulders, Sir Knight? They block what meager light I’ve found.” If a tone could cross its arms and tap its toe, hers did. A lightness inside him felt shockingly like a smile.

That’s why he was here. She amused him.

“Where would you like me to move them, my lady?”

“London, I should think.

You show her attitude well and I love her candor as to where she'd like him to move. That line always makes me smile.

So where can our visitors purchase your book?
SILVERHAWK is available at Amazon -  http://tinyurl.com/m49lzkq


SILVERHAWK will be in wide release in November 2013

That's wonderful, Miss Barb. Thank you!  And thank you for being with us today. 
Here's a little bit more about Barbara Bettis:
Award winning author Barbara Bettis has always loved history and English. As a college freshman, she briefly considered becoming an archeologist until she realized there likely would be bugs and snakes involved. And math.

She now lives in Missouri, where by day she’s a mild-mannered English teacher, and by night she’s an intrepid plotter of tales featuring heroines to die for—and heroes to live for.

Visit her at: http://barbarabettis.com and www.barbarbbettis.blogspot.com

You will also find Barbara:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBettisAuthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BarbaraBettis

NETWORKING - Not for the faint at heart - Part 1

Several years ago I was part of The Writers forum on AOL. I was HOSTWRTRRmAngel and hosted a workshop on Wednesday nights called The Writers Zone. We had topics for new and seasoned authors. I was blessed to have veteran authors like Vicki Lewis Thompson, Shirley Jump, Stella Cameron and the late Charlotte Maclay share their wisdom from the trenches. With all of their experience the one thing hard for some of our workshop participants to grasp was dealing with the act of selling their book to readers.

Apparently, many of these want-to-be authors wrote then assumed someone else would do all the publicity work. They could hide away in their jammies and write. Um... NO! Even back then, the author still needed to do some jaw work. With the dwindling number of hard publishers and the explosion of eBook, the ability to market yourself and your book is even more important. So how do we do this?

First off, in the words shared to me by Boroughs Publishing CEO, Chris Keesler (years ago when he was with Dorchester), "Don't be nervous." I equate that statement to "don't be afraid." Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. You have to let your DESIRE to live your dream to override your FEAR of rejection.

People do not bite. Really? What bites us in the ass is our own fear of rejection. But more on that later.

In today's publishing world, our marketing begins long before we ever sell a book.
In real life, you have to attend writer functions such as local groups, workshops and conferences. You have to put your hand out and introduce yourself. Be prepared with a very short blurb about what you write.
"Hi, I'm Angela Drake. I write sub-genres of romance. My characters tell me what they're up to. What do you write?"

Then be prepared to LISTEN. Show them the same courtesy you expect. Have business cards handy that will direct them to your website/ blog. You might even choose to have the QR Code Graphic on your business card they can just scan if they choose that will take them directly to your website/ blog. The one below is from a blog called 'Readers are Leaders'. The link will take you to an post Kara wrote on QR Codes.

Another blog full of information, including apps for creating your own in 4 easy steps, is from BlogHubspot 

I plan to redo my business cards with a QR code link to my blog. That will never change. When my book, Somewhere Down the Line, is released in a few months, I'll create the QR code that will link to my Amazon author page. 

So now, I have you meeting people in person. Next Thursday we'll talk about networking opportunities on the net - and I'm NOT talking about social media... okay a little bit. But that is not the focus.. just one of the avenues. 

Until next week!

Keep taking the dictation! 

Angela

JUDY NICKELS - The Bogus Biker

Good morning, everyone! I haven't had a guest here in awhile so when my friend Judy Nickels contacted me about her new book I knew I had to have her. I hope you enjoy our visit.

Get to know Judy:
Judy Nickles (also writing as Gwyneth Greer) is a retired teacher and ‘Mimi’ of three. She has four  published full-length novels with The Wild Rose Press and one with Champagne Books, as well as several short stories and articles in online and print magazine and anthologies. Her newest project is the Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series for Kindle. Books 1 – 4 have been released. The final two books will be available by September 15. She finds story ideas in travel experiences, genealogical research, newspaper articles, and sometimes just through a chance conversation or people-watching. She shares her empty nest with one very large dog and is having her adolescent rebellion 50 years late. Her favorite possession is her Kindle, and her favorite recent memory is taking a ride in a WW II B-24 bomber built the same year she was born.

Thank you for visiting with us today, Judy. Let's let everyone else in on our conversation.

You always said “someday you would write with purpose”. When did you make the leap from hobby to professional?
I suppose it happened when I received my first contract from The Wild Rose Press in 2008. It’s difficult to distinguish between “writer” and “professional writer”—the latter sounds a bit daunting.

How do you balance promotional time with writing time?
I keep my websites updated and use social media sparingly. I have also found a paid source which is both reasonable and rewarding. Another writer who has done quite well with indie publishing shared with me that she gets the word out there and is then done with promotion. What she said made sense and took the pressure off, because I wasn’t really sure that non-stop hardball promo really paid off.

Time travel…would you go forward or backward in time, and what would you most like to experience?
I’d like to go back to the eras of the Great Depression and World War II—not that they were happy times, but they were challenging and character-building. I’d just like to be part of a generation who worked together toward an important goal. We seem to have lost sight of the idea of being united these days.

Some of your books have a recurring theme of WW II. Are you drawn to that time period? And if so, what is the attraction for you?
Well, I was born during WW II and grew up in its aftermath. Most of my friends’ fathers went off to war, and some didn’t come back. (Mine did.) It wasn’t history for us—it was real life. I listened to my parents talk about it—not the war so much as how it was to live day-to-day during those uncertain times. I knew people who endured long separations because of the war, appreciated each other more because of it, and lived totally in the present. The war, though I don’t remember it, is part of me because it affected how I grew up and who I grew up to be.

I know your granddaughter is one of your best friends (mine is, too. Hehe) What do you hope is the most important thing she remembers about time with grandma?
Hanna just turned six. I suppose I want her to remember that I shared myself with her—read her the books/stories I loved as a child, sang the old songs my grandfather (born 1873) taught me to love, took time to talk to her and answer her questions, provided the same structure she has at home (and thus made her secure), and hopefully, built her interest in writing. (I have to have someone to leave my file of ideas for all the stories I’ll never have time to write.) I hope she thinks of me and remembers working alongside of me in my study, her wee desk nestled close to mine, classical music playing, the sun streaming through the windows…and sharing a smile—no words were necessary.

You and your granddaughter enjoy the classics. Which one would you like to see made into a movie and why?
I think they’ve already been made into movies, and I’m just waiting until she’s old enough to truly enjoy them. This summer I read several to her: The Secret Garden and Heidi. Next up is Little Lord Fauntleroy. All of those are already on film. However, I also read to her from a set of 1939 Childcraft (which will be hers someday), and she particularly enjoyed an old Persian tale, “The Crow Peri”. That would make a nice movie. She also loves The Legend of the Bluebonnet, which could be spun off into a good children’s film.

If you could trade places with one of your characters, which one would it be and why?
Jean Kingston in The Showboat Affair. She got knocked down, picked herself up (with encouragement from a friend), and went on to find a happiness she never dreamed existed.  She discovered she was stronger than she thought and courageous enough to give life a second chance.

What is the best writing advice you ever received, and how have you put that advice into practice?
Just write. Get the words down. Worry about ‘cleaning them up’ later. First drafts stink.  I write, revise, write more, revise more…it works.

What form of promotion seems to have worked best for you so far, and why do you think it’s worked?
Probably offering the first book of the Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series free on Kindle for two days. It got 894 downloads, so I thought it wouldn’t really sell but would spur the purchase of the other 5 books. As of today, it’s SOLD 1,371 copies!
Also, I think pricing is important promo. I could earn higher royalties on a higher-priced book, but people are buying the lesser-priced copies, so it may be a wash.

Your books have real ‘heart’, Judy. What do you hope your readers come away with?
Today more than ever, people need to take away a feeling of peace and hope from what they read, and I’d like to think I can provide that. The themes of forgiveness and reconciliation run through my books. We need those things, too. I don’t target my books as Christian fiction, because that’s ‘preaching to the choir’. But I’d like to subtly share the deeply-held beliefs which have helped me survive.

Tell us a little about The Bogus Biker and Penelope Pembroke
Penelope Pembroke is the owner of the best (only) B&B in Amaryllis, Arkansas (pop. 5492) who’s
flirting with 50, divorced (Travis Pembroke, had a wandering eye'), mother of Amaryllis PD Detective Bradley Pembroke, apple of her father Jake Kelley's eye, best friend of Mary Lynn Hargrove, the mayor's wife, and the only human creature tolerated by Abijah, the 18-pound orange tabby who stalks the family home-turned B&B.

Penelope keeps her ear to the ground, her eyes open, and her battered heart in solitary confinement. Then one night, while having a beer and a Reuben at the seedy-though-popular Sit-n-Swill, she meets Tiny aka Sam who is about as much of a biker as she is a belly dancer.

She insists on dabbling in danger and disaster despite Sam's best efforts to discourage her. The fireworks begin in Book 1, light up the skies in Books 2,3,4, and 5, and end in one spectacularly explosive display in Book 6.

Book 1: The Bogus Biker
A police raid on the Sit-n-Swill, a devastating fire at her ex-husband's historic home, and a game of cat-and-mouse with Tiny aka Sam turns Penelope's placid life upside down.

EXCERPT:
“I know what I heard.” Penelope Pembroke leaned across the table in the kitchen of the Amaryllis Bed and Breakfast, of which she was proprietor, and tapped the woven placemat with a well-manicured, unpolished nail. Blowing away the strand of honey-blonde hair falling across her nose, she readjusted the narrow tortoise-shell glasses perched on the end of that appendage, and leaned closer to her best friend Mary Lynn Hargrove, wife of the town’s longtime mayor. “I’m not senile, you know.”
            “No one said you were.” Mary Lynn placated Penelope as she’d done since the first day they’d met in high school some thirty years earlier.
            “You implied it.” Penelope reached down for the orange tabby nosing around her sneaker-clad feet and lifted him into her lap. “Abijah heard it, too.”
            Mary Lynn rolled her dark eyes
 toward the hairline of close-cropped black curls. “The only thing that blob hears is the sound of the can opener signaling dinner.”
            “He’s not a blob.”
            “He’s obese. He’s going to keel over one of these days. Death by Feline Feast.”
            “Oh, shut up.” Penelope stroked the cat, whose ample hindquarters hung over the edge of her lap. “Anyway, I heard what I heard.” The strand of hair drifted across one lens again, and she blew it away and tucked it firmly behind her ear, which set the long silver and turquoise earring swaying. “They specifically said the word ‘shipment’ and mentioned the Sit-n-Swill.”
            “Roger Sitton gets shipments all the time. It’s a bar and grill you know. He doesn’t make moonshine in his bathtub or slaughter his barbecue out back.”
            Penelope sat back and shifted the cat to distribute his weight more evenly. “These guys weren’t blessed salesmen, I’m telling you. They were, well, Mafia types.”
            Mary Lynn snorted. “Mafioso? Then by all means call the police. Call the FBI. Call out the National Guard or maybe the Marines.”
            The smirk on her friend’s face rankled Penelope, but she kept her cool. “I thought about calling Bradley, but he’s worse than you are. He’s convinced I lost it when I divorced his father.”
            “He was fifteen then, and it got you a better settlement than if you’d waited on Travis to divorce you.”
            “That’s true. I wasn’t so dumb, and I guess he knows that now. He just can’t admit I was right to dump his father, but the man couldn’t keep his blessed pants zipped. I put up with it as long as I could.”
            Mary Lynn shook her head. “That’s a dead mule. So tell Brad about the men.”
            “Since he got that fancy new title at the police department, he’s not that easy to talk to.”
            “CID. Criminal Investigation. Detective Sergeant Bradley Pembroke. You know you’re proud of him, Pen.”
            “Just so proud I can’t stand myself.” Penelope’s generous mouth parted in a wide smile. “So’s Daddy. I just wish his grandmother could’ve lived to see what he’s done.”
            “Your mother would’ve been proud. So would old Mrs. Pembroke. She was crazy about him as I remember.”
            “I think she knew Bradley wasn’t going to turn out like his father.” Penelope frowned. “You’re changing the subject. I know what I heard.”
            “Then tell Roger.”

            “Roger Sitton has lace on his drawers, for Heaven’s sake. He’d no more be involved in a drug deal than I would.”

I love your description of Roger Sitton. I can't wait to meet him and I'm sure my fans can't either. Where can they purchase your book?

They can find The Bogus Biker as well as my other books through Amazon  for ebook and print or CreateSpace for print.

Where can your fans find you?
I'm on Facebook, Twitter, my Blog as well as my website: http://www.judynickles.com/