Danita Minnis on Writing: A Personal Journey

 

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I’m on Lisabet Sarai’s beautiful blog Beyond Romance talking about my writing journey. Come by and say hi!

http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2014/03/writing-personal-journey.html?showComment=1395505226372#c5016672918218564980

Amelie’s Spring Fling

Sepia Shot of a Young Kissing Couple. Photo.

www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com

Welcome to the Spring Fling Blog Hop where we are celebrating LOVE and SPRING!

Visit every stop on this hop to increase your chances to win – and remember to leave a comment and your email address.

I am giving away a $5 Amazon gift card and just check out these Grand Prizes:

One Kindle Fire–Donated by Blushing Books!
One $75 Gift Card to Amazon (or Barnes and Noble)–Donated by Jane!
One $25 Starbucks Gift Card–Donated by Sue Lyndon!
One $25 Gift Card to Blushing Books–Donated by Patty Devlin!
One $25 Gift Card to Loose Id–Donated by Cara Bristol!

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Amelie Laurent of my paranormal romance, Love Entwined has love on the brain:

Love Entwined Excerpt:

‘Do not be afraid of love.’ He pulled the robe from her shoulders. It swished to the floor in a whisper of silk.

She should protest; she did not know him. Instead, she sighed with the cool night air against her bare breast.

Warm hands drew her close, a comfort as much as a command. When he wrapped his arms around her, the bedroom walls fell away. She smelled the sea and the wind whipped around them.

She dug her fingers into his back and remembered…the way he nipped her neck when he sank into her; his deep, satisfied grunt when she clung to him; how he pinned her down, holding back the release until she would die if he didn’t let her come right now…

She did know him. He was her Commandant. She molded herself against him and his chin dipped to rest on her head.

When he pulled back, a thick, black curl winged away from his forehead. Full lips curled into dimples and moonlight shone in his eyes. ‘My love.’

She rubbed her nipples into the curls sprinkled across his chest and finally, he lifted her and laid her down on the water’s surface. His body, all hard planes and angles, pushed her down. She wrapped her legs around him atop a swelling wave.

He murmured approval as he cupped her buttocks, lifted her hips and drove into her all in one deft motion.

‘We are one.’ He said against the column of her throat as he rammed into her.

The night rose and fell on her sighs.

He impaled her, took her breath away as she clung to him in the ocean spray. Their limbs slammed together as he tossed her about on a wild ride. The dark waves crested, carrying them away as the night shattered …   

Amelie kept her eyes closed and licked her lips. It felt real; he felt real. Too soon, consciousness chased her fantasy away.

She sat up, staring across the bedroom at the pre-dawn outside her window. She turned on the bedside lamp and a golden halo sprayed the room. “Just a dream.”

Her nipples still tingled in arousal. She pulled off the chemise.

‘Jacqueline’

He stood outside her bedroom window, watching her, his square jaw slack with need. His tanned skin glowed in lamplight…

Amelie pulled the chemise to her breast and turned off the lamp. She got out of bed and crept across the room. She stood as close as she dared to the cool glass pane.

He was gone.

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, he had never been there, couldn’t have been there. The dream had shaken her up.

She watched the purple sky lighten to pink as the sun climbed above the wintry clouds.

In the dream she had known him, but the memory eluded her now. It faded from her consciousness as quickly as the street lamps winked out over Central Park thirty-six stories below.

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Nothing But Pool Water Left…

Happy weekend All!

It has been a busy 2014 so far and I’ve gotten some solid months of writing and editing done! One of my writing goals this year is to write one book per quarter (or every three months). There, I’ve said it. Much like Amelie Laurent in the below excerpt, I’ve put it out there and will have to live up to it. 🙂

In the mean time, if you want to see what I’m working on check my social links below. If we’re not connected, by all means, let’s do it! I’m a Pinterest fanatic. You will find my inspirations and aspirations pinned on my boards.

VampExciting things are developing. For one, I am part of a dream anthology to be published soon – Yay!  More to come on that. Also, the new Cardiff novel is almost done and I’m looking forward to presenting to you Xavier Quinn. Some people know him as Roman Cardiff”s cousin, others know him as a secret agent but not even his family knows Quinn is a vampire lover. Yes, the Cardiff family has been dealing with a lot lately; il Dragone demons, vampires – what will it be next? Shifters.

 

Since I have Cardiff’s on the brain, I’m sharing a new excerpt from my paranormal romance Love Entwined.  Oh, the situations Amelie gets herself into…enjoy!

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Love Entwined, A Cardiff Novel – Excerpt

Later that night, Amelie passed through the kitchen on her way to the pool.

She went through the gym, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirrored walls. She was a mermaid in the incandescent green two-piece with a diaphanous sarong. She loved it and would have bought it for herself except that it probably cost as much as one of her business suits. Work attire and jewelry were the only things she could see spending that kind of money on.

Roman had guessed her size. The man was an expert; he knew how to make a woman feel beautiful.

That was dangerous.

She was no match for his subtle prowess and he was too well versed in things she had not played at long enough to know her own capabilities.

When she opened the door, he was already in the pool swimming laps. She stood near one of the benches lining the walls. The underwater lights bathed the room in a bluish-green glow and illuminated his retreat. His strokes were long and powerful, breaking the silence and echoing in the cavernous room.

He swam toward her and she took off her flip-flops. She was the wallflower while he was…Godlike, more than a man should be. He climbed out of the water and stood in a puddle, pushing dark, wet curls out of his face. Her eyes followed the rivulets running down his chest over sculpted abs and finally over his feet. Everything about him was oversize.

He walked toward her in black swim trunks and her skin burned crimson as reality confirmed what her dreams had already conveyed; the man was superbly endowed.

“I see you found your way down.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist, and managed to stop just short of turning back the way she’d come. “I was watching you swim,” she said unnecessarily.

He grabbed a towel hanging on a hook. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you for the swimsuit.”

“I should be thanking you.”

She stood mute, but unfolded her arms.

He gestured to the shower in the corner. “Why don’t you get wet? It will help you get accustomed to the water.”

Aware he was watching her while he dried off; she twisted the end of the wrap in her fingers.

He picked up a bottle of water and sat down, leaning against the tiled wall. He took a long drink before saying, “Of course you could always swim in it.”

“Of course not.” She took off the wrap and crossed over to the steady stream of water.

Closing her eyes, she blocked his eyes out of her mind, but still felt them as she turned in a slow circle under the stream sluicing her breasts. She felt his eyes as the water traveled down her waist, glancing off her hips in droplets that danced in puddles over her feet.

When she turned off the water, she felt much calmer.

He held out a bottle. “Water?”

“No, thank you. Do you want to get back in?”

“Your wish is my command, Beauty.”

He kept pace with her underwater. In a steady rhythm, he glided next to her. He needn’t have worried; she was a good swimmer.

They reached the other side and she started back the other way with the butterfly stroke. They swam together and met at the deep end, holding on to the side and facing each other.

She waved her legs in the water, feeling so much better after exercising away her nervous energy. “This is nice.”

“Where did that come from?”

“What?”

“That genuine smile on your face. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that before.”

She made a face.

He grinned. “There is nothing like a few laps in the pool before bed. It helps clear my head.” He followed her line of vision to a beach ball floating nearby.

Grinning, she swam off in that direction. She held the ball up over her head and took aim.

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Shaking one waterlogged lock of hair out of her face, she asked innocently, “And why is that?” She treaded further away, still brandishing her weapon.

“I might have to come after you.” He hadn’t finished his sentence before she threw the missile. It was close, but she missed. She looked around for something else to throw.

“Nothing but pool water left, Beauty.”

She treaded away. “It didn’t hit you.”

“Ah, but that was your intention, and now you will pay the price.” He dove underwater.

She squeaked and started swimming in earnest to the other side of the pool. By the time she saw him swimming underneath her it was too late. He rose up out of the water and grabbed her around the waist. She tried to get away, but weakened by laughter she stopped struggling and leaned against him.

He took her to the side of the pool and they caught their breath as their legs wove together. The gentle lapping of the water against their bodies broke the silence.

“Give me a few days’ practice and I’ll be chasing you.” She laughed up into his face, looking forward to it.

Roman wasn’t laughing. He moved closer and his lips brushed hers.

Feeling relaxed and exhilarated, she didn’t stop him, but parted her lips. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, rolling it over hers in long, lazy strokes. She slid gently into bliss as he deepened the kiss.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and her nipples hardened against the hair on his chest.

When he cupped her buttocks and moved against her, a languid moan escaped her lips.

 

Love Entwined is available on Amazon   http://amzn.com/B00F2M3FZI

 

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Christy Gissendaner Interview and Unmasking The Wolf

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Unmasking the Wolf

Christy Gissendaner

 

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing

Number of pages: 130

Word Count: 43,898

 

 

 

Author Interview:

How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book? I write in various genres, both historical and contemporary, so I’ve been all over the place genre-wise. My favorites are Regency historicals and Paranormal contemporaries though. Unmasking the Wolf was written for my newly retired co-worker, who hailed from Clinton, Indiana. I based my heroine’s hometown in Clinton as an homage to Barbara. (I like to think the shifters really do exist there.)

Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world? I’m a middle child, the only girl, so I was spoiled rotten. I’m also the oldest granddaughter on my mom’s side, so I’m my maternal grandfather’s “favorite”, of course. I guess being the middle girl in a family of boys taught me how to compromise, yet value my privacy.

Where is your favorite place to write? On the terrace of my Italian villa overlooking the ocean. *snort* Don’t I wish?!? Actually, I enjoy sitting at my desk and writing on my computer. I’ve never really needed “scenery” to write.

How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains? I haven’t really killed off a character, unless they’re a villain, and even then I do it sparingly. I just can’t make myself write a major character as a “murderer” no matter how justified the killing is, so I keep my tales as non-killing as possible.

You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them? Anyone who knows me, knows that Julia Quinn is my all-time favorite author. But really, if I sat down with her sometime in the near future, I would have to ask what in the heck was up with her latest book. It was horrible! (Don’t tell her I said that though…)

Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows. I have no secrets, really I don’t. I’m pretty much an open-book and speak my mind freely and willingly. I’ve already revealed I’m left-handed and a natural redhead, so let me see….hmmm. Does liking pickles and cheese on Cheez-its count as a secret?

You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack? A cell phone, blow-up raft, and a pair of flip-flops. I plan for the unexpected! ; )

If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be? Flying. Hands down, that would be my choice.

Favorite snack? Shoot, I already gave it away as my “secret”. Pickles and cheese on crackers or chips. That’s my fave.

Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit? Since I’m going in a circle around and around, I’m going to go as fast as I can! Or maybe not…I get carsick.

 

 

Christy cover

Book Description:

Gina Moretti is determined to escape her rural home of Clinton, Indiana, a place where wolves have met, married, and mated for generations. As the only daughter of the alpha, she’s lived her entire life under her father’s rule. No way is she ready to find a mate until she’s experienced more of the world. Against her family’s wishes, she goes to Boston where her scientist cousin, Dominic, has offered to give her a place to stay. She stumbles, quite literally, into her cousin’s gorgeous boss.

Lucas Mason, a Southern boy turned self-made millionaire, rose above his poverty stricken childhood and now enjoys a life of luxury in Boston. To honor his murdered sister, he hires her lab partner to continue their research. His employee, Dominic Moretti, is on the brink of creating a method to combat the scent of a wolf when his country cousin breezes in. Luke knows in an instant that Gina is his mate. The only problem is…she doesn’t even realize he’s a wolf.

As Luke and Dominic get closer to medical trials, an unknown enemy becomes determined to stop them…at any cost. Can Luke discover his foe in time to protect his research…and his mate? And what will happen when Gina finds out he’s not quite as human as he’s led her to believe?

 

Trailer:  

http://youtu.be/zcyatUihuBM

 

Buy Links:

http://www.taliesinpublishing.com/unmasking-the-wolf-p26.php

http://amzn.com/B00H3WHGQY

 

 

Short Excerpt

“Ahhh,” she cried out as she tumbled toward the floor. A pair of strong arms clamped around her and jerked her back to her feet. Embarrassed beyond belief, her cheeks flamed with the knowledge she’d just made a fool of herself. In front of Dominic’s boss, no less. It didn’t take a brain scientist to realize the handsome, make that extremely handsome, man before her was Luke Mason.

He was sex-on-a-platter hot. Chiseled cheekbones, firm jaw, unbelievably straight nose, and a teensy weensy dimple in the center of his chin. This man was a living, breathing Greek god.

“Are you okay?” Piercing green eyes locked with hers as Luke’s grip on her arms slowly loosened.

Gina felt a jolt in the pit of her stomach. Despite Dominic’s warning to blend in, she sniffed the air. She had to. Something about this man called to her animal nature. But there was nothing. Not a trace of the wolf scent. Despite his unbelievable height and incredible physique, only the scent of sandalwood and spice came to her. Disappointment swamped her. He was human.

Luke continued to watch her. Gina knew he waited for her to speak, but her tongue refused to budge. She’d known he would be good-looking, but the newspaper article hadn’t done him full justice. Instead of a suit, he wore casual jeans and a dark blazer. He had the sort of hair that would curl in the rain. She didn’t know how she knew it. She just did. The golden-brown waves were delightfully rumpled in the middle of his head, as if he’d just risen from bed.

Gina gave a tiny moan at the thought of him rising naked from the sheets. He would be gloriously golden, with a tight belly and even tighter buttocks. Physical need rocked her to the core. What was up with lusting after a human? Was it merely the fact he was every woman’s wet dream, or something more?

His sensual lips curved into a sexy smile as he scrubbed a hand over his belly. “Hell of sharp elbow you have there.”

“Oh God, I’m so sorry.” Gina wanted to sink through the floor. Why was she always such a klutz?

“Don’t worry about it.” He drawled in a soft, slow tone.

She’d read he was originally from Jackson, Mississippi. The Southern accent was unbelievably sexy, but not nearly as sexy as the man himself. His face was a mixture of Hollywood leading man and mixed martial arts fighter. He was gorgeous, yet hard. She could easily visualize him serenading a woman one moment, and then fighting to protect her next.

 

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About the Author:

Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.

Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!

To find out more, please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.com

http://www.twitter.com/christygis

http://www.facebook.com/christygis

http://www.goodreads.com/christygissendaner

Cate Masters: Blue Moon over Bliss Lake

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Blue Moon Series 1

Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake

by Cate Masters

Giveaway: An ebook from one of Cate’s backlist from Decadent

Tour Link:  http://wp.me/p3SVfE-mz

 

Five Things to Love About Holiday Romances

Thanks so much for having me as a guest today, Danita! I’m a huge sucker for holiday stories, whether they’re books or movies. Here’s some of the best things to love about them:

1. They’re fun. There’s always a little something extra going on. In my fictional town of Bliss, Pennsylvania, everyone is a little quirky, and maybe a little nosy, but everyone cares. They do whatever they can to help each other. And they’re always up for a celebration!

2. They put me in a holiday mood. The decorations, the songs, the general mood of merriment – I love it! I always decorate my house for every new season and holiday, so I love adding those touches to a story.

3. They add to the magic. There’s just something in the air. If there’s ever a time when magic seems possible, it’s over the holidays. Especially in Bliss, where anything is possible, and an ordinary day there is anything but ordinary. 🙂

4. They just make you feel good. All the better if the story involves an animal! Jack, the German Shepherd, added an extra tug at the heart strings. He and his owner, Oren, are best pals who needed help, and everyone in Bliss stepped in without question.

5. You can read/watch them any time of year! They’re not just for the holidays. 🙂

 

Blurb

Home for the holidays…

Sierra O’Brien and Carter Grove have a lot of history—and regrets between them. Their high school romance didn’t survive after he went away to college. Despite tremendous business success, Carter never found another woman like Sierra and has two failed marriages to prove it. Sierra’s luck wasn’t much better, but after being widowed, she heads back to Bliss to plan her future. The last thing either expected was to run into each other or to reconnect to the magic that once drew them together.

Can Sierra and Carter make it work this time or are they doomed to repeat the past and let the same mistakes drive them apart? In Bliss, the inexplicable is an everyday occurrence, and anything is possible—especially during a blue moon.

 

 CM_Blue Moon over Bliss Lake_SM

Blue Moon Over Bliss Lake

Blue Moon Series 1

Contemporary holiday novella

About 40,000 words

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Decadent

Goodreads Link – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19545692-blue-moon-over-bliss-lake

 

Book video

Direct link: http://youtu.be/yBozk9sRMCI

 

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About the Author:

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

 

Contact Details:

Website: http://catemasters.blogspot.com

Email: cate.masters@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts

Twitter:  @CateMasters

 

Enjoy the following excerpt for BLUE MOON OVER BLISS LAKE:

Ensconced in soft down, Sierra floated down from her dreams, the one place she always found safety. Her body acknowledged the bed, the sunshine stinging her eyes drawing her back toward reality. Reluctantly, she pried open one then blinked both open. After a moment of confusion, she knew where she was: home. In Bliss.

Dreams of Carter had helped make the night blissful, too. While she rose and puttered around, making the bed, a vivid image of him stayed in her mind. How the heck had a decade improved his looks? Carter 2.0. Oh yeah, he’d love that, with all his cutting-edge technological developments, he’d become one of Steve Jobs’ main competitors. Unlike Jobs, Carter’s sharp, professional appearance lent an unapproachable air, the expensive suit he’d worn the day before cut so well to his figure it looked tailor-made. It probably was. The soft fabric had surprised her. So had the taut muscles beneath the suit. Carter kept himself in shape. He had everything in life he could possibly need. A pang of regret sliced through her.

Or did he? She headed to the bathroom and twisted the faucet knob. Steam began to fill the small bathroom as she stepped inside the shower. It hadn’t escaped her notice when Forbes listed him in its Top 40 Under 40. She’d been happy for his success, but something about those media photos grabbed her attention, and she lingered over them. His smile appeared too rehearsed, empty of happiness. Sometimes pictures showed a woman clinging to him, her embrace cloying and possessive rather than loving.

Toweling off, she tried to remember his current wife’s name. It escaped her; he’d married at least twice. A bitter chuckle escaped and she wiped the mirror free of steam a little harder than necessary. And you thought you were the love of his life. Obviously, he didn’t have one—he had many.

She frowned at her hazy reflection. After reading another article she’d run across online in some pretentious magazine like Architectural Digest, she’d questioned whether she ever really knew the man. His wife—Barbara, maybe?—had had their initials monogrammed on everything throughout their McMansion. A beautiful place, but cold. Overbearing. Nothing like the boy she’d once loved.

You’re not exactly the same girl either. Gaunt face, pale skin, and dark circles beneath her eyes. Not for long. Carter had made his mark on the world and she intended to do the same. Much smaller than his, of course, but she didn’t need to conquer the universe. A state or two might be nice, though.

“Oh, Carter.” He’d left his mark on her, too. Ten years melted away when she’d seen him the day before, the two minutes leaving a vivid impression. Throughout the night, in the haze of sleep, memories of the two years they’d shared filled her with sublime happiness. How bright the future had appeared then.

She straightened. It will be. A little late, but starting over would give her the opportunity to make it better this time.

 

 

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Love Entwined on Perusing Princesses

PP

 

 

loveentwined final cover

 

 

 

She was an innocent doe being circled by a panther that was higher up on the food chain and more resourceful.
Clearly, he wanted to take a bite out of her…

 
The Love Entwined Tour and Giveaway continues at Plotting Princesses. 🙂
http://www.perusingprincesses.com/#!love-entwined-page/c10bh