Monday, July 28, 2014

Cover Reveal : Britni Hill

I'm so excited for the second Western Palm novel from Britni Hill! We met Jason Parker in Hushed but now it's time for his story in Revealed and check out this awesome cover!



Angry and jealous. That’s the perfect way to describe Jason Parker. After feeling that way for so long Jason’s had enough. He’s starting to hate who he's become and his perfect facade is cracking. Jason’s blaming everyone but himself, he’s lashing out and the only thing that matters is numbing his own pain, doubt, and guilt.

In the aftermath of betraying his step-brother, again, Jason slowly begins to see that no one is perfect and you can’t be alone. He’s pushed his family away and used people, mostly women, to make himself feel better. If people let him walk all over them, why shouldn’t he? That’s always been his attitude but maybe it’s not right.

When his step-brother’s ex-girlfriend shows up, Jason can't deny the pull he feels toward her. His one steamy night with her as a teenager pushed him toward the downward spiral he’s been on. He knows he should keep his distance. But he can’t seem to stay away from the pretty brunette.

Corinne's changed since they were seventeen. She's no longer the spoiled brat out to be arm candy like her mother taught her. She sees something in Jason. Something he desperately wants to believe is real. When she pushes him to be better, he falls for her. His feelings for her are strong and he can’t ignore them forever. Once he gives in he gives it his all. He can only hope everyone is ready to see the real Jason Parker.

Anger, betrayal, jealousy, and love. Jason and Corinne are only letting one shine through.


Get Hushed (Western Palm, book 1)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1o0LuAb
BN: http://bit.ly/ONr5oN

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Free Bird

Keeping up with blogging for me in the last year has meant cover reveals, release day celebrations and quick updates on the status of my releases. I haven't written anything substantial on here in a while and I'm happy to be changing that today.

So here's a little update on me: I am free from the shackles of deadlines for the remainder of 2014! 

When I first got published two years ago, I had no idea the romance writing community was going to boom as much as it has. New authors are emerging every day and with the prevalence of self-publishing, new books are releasing by the minute. It's so easy to judge your own career by the careers around you. It took me years to get The Low Notes ready for publication, mostly because I didn't have the confidence that it would sell and because I was working hard at my other job and rarely made the time for it. Same with Reckless Radiance. Those books were finished long before they ever came out. 



Then I got the idea for Natural Harmony and the words fell out of me so swiftly I was amazed at how fast I could write when I was inspired and motivated by the fact that writing was now my career! Natural Harmony took only a few months to write. Sway took even less time. So I went from one book a year, to two, and this year I'll be releasing three!



Last Resort and Best Laid Plans are essentially one long book broken into two volumes but when Best Laid Plans releases in September it will be my 3rd release of 2014. I'm currently finishing up final edits on both.

It seems insane that I was able to do so much in such a short period of time, but when I see how steadily some of my peers release novels I often feel like I'm the slow-poke. I put a lot of pressure on myself this year to keep up with some imaginary average I got in my head of how many books I needed to have coming out. 

Now, let me clarify that I don't feel like I sacrificed the quality of my work to achieve my goal of 3 releases this year. In fact, I'm so incredibly proud of Sway and Last Resort/Best Laid Plans and what I was able to accomplish in both books. I truly feel as though they are my best works to date.

The bottom line is, I need to go easier on myself. I still work between 35 and 40 hours a week in my salon (that I run, which means I then come home and do more work like ordering supplies and bookkeeping, etc). The time I was dedicating to writing this year was leaving me run a little ragged. Especially considering the amount of events I took on this year as well. 



I can no longer base my path on the paths of others. Honestly, I don't want anyone's career but mine so looking at what others have done doesn't really apply to me anyway. I've gotta be me...and I think I'm kinda cool.



After September I'll be in full organization mode for Indie Unmasked (the Indianapolis author event I'm co-planning for November 15th), preparing for the holidays, entering the busiest time in my salon business and trying to focus more attention on promotion for my existing novels. 

That being said, for the rest of 2014 I'm going to be a writing fool! 



But I'm not going to be writing up to a deadline. I'm not going to be giving release dates for anything upcoming. And I'm not going to pressure myself to focus all of my attention on one WIP, sacrificing the strength of others. 

I'm going to write as I please, in whatever WIP that calls to me. I have so many things in the works and the only goal I have is that one or two of them get finished by the end of the year so that early 2015 I'm all ready to go with some finished books!

Here's a little glimpse at some of the projects I have (you know, just to tease you since you have no idea which of these will get done and which ones may not be out until 2016! haha!)

Painted : a Confession Records novella -- this is Vanessa's story! It will be a novella filling in the gaps of her story during the same time as Sway.


Exposure : a Confession Records novella -- Beau's client Declan Aaron and Beau's former flame, photographer Leslie Teirnan, meet and simultaneously butt heads and create sparks. A sexy, fun, short about two characters who just couldn't keep from growing in my mind.


Untitled Zombie Novel : yes, you read that correctly. A few years ago during NaNoWriMo I wrote quite a bit of a teen zombie novel and not that long ago I looked at it again and was inspired to finish it. While it is very much out of my normal realm of romance, it's still an angst-filled story of relationships during testing times. Creepy, dark but with a side of teen romance against all odds.

Untitled New Adult Novel : I would call this a NA romance but I'm not sure it completely applies. It's the story of a girl who loves her best friend's boyfriend but her best friend is not who she appears to be. If I had to ultimately describe it, it is one girl's journey wading through her overwhelming emotions of guilt, grief and true love. It's back to Wexley Falls with this one but no major overlapping characters from The Low Notes will appear. But Wexley Falls is where forbidden love blooms.



Untitled New Adult m/m Romance : Speaking of The Low Notes, do we miss James Dalton? I do! It's time I get back to writing James's story. He is such a loved character from my first novel, I want to give him the love story he deserves. 

There are plenty more (including 2 more erotic romances for all you people who can't wait to get your hands on Last Resort) but if I listed all my ideas I fear I might have an angry mob banging on my door.

Thank you for all of your support over these last two years. I hope that all you voracious readers can understand my need to breathe. In the meantime, I have 4 novels for you and a two-part series on its way. August 26th Last Resort will arrive.


Much love,
Kate

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Review : Wedding Dreams by Savannah Leigh


Kate's Review


One night I couldn't sleep so I grabbed my phone to find something to read and I remembered I had just downloaded a novella from a fellow Midwestern indie author! I blew through the novella of With This Ring and immediately downloaded I Thee Wed. I was so impressed with this debut from Savannah Leigh/JA Hensley. It was funny and sexy and, as it previously stood in two parts, a wonderful quick read. Wedding Dreams takes the idea of insta-relationship and turns it on its head. Lily and Drew find themselves both wanting something from the other (she's looking for a little whirlwind fun and he's looking for a wife to bring home to Mom due to unfortunate circumstances) and it feels as though it will be a perfect partnership. But the chemistry between these two complicates what was meant to be a unique business agreement. This is a fantastic collection from a debut author. If you like hot sex, funny inner monologue and a touch of sappy-swift-love, then read this book! I give the whole thing 5 stars and honestly, I would love to see more from Lily and Drew. Either way, whatever J.A. writes next will be on my Kindle in a heartbeat.


Synopsis
Lily Kramer is a thirty-something, single wedding planner. Her business is failing and she has no way to save it. Drew Hamilton is a self-proclaimed lifetime bachelor who reluctantly agrees to be a groomsman in his friend's wedding. When things go south, he consoles the wedding planner and sparks fly. 

Drew's mother has always wanted to see her only son married and happy, but he's not interested in a relationship. When Drew and Lily hook up, he sees the answer to his mother's wish. Drew offers Lily enough money to save her business if she agrees to stage a wedding and live with him to give his mother her wish, before she loses her mind to dementia. 

Neither one of them is ready for what happens to their lives when they take on this charade.

Buy Now



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Excerpt

“Well, I’m here now. What do you want to do?” I raise one eyebrow, hoping he’s thinking the same thing I am. 

“I thought we’d have a glass of wine on the back patio and talk. Then we can have dinner and see where the night goes from there. How does that sound?”

I try to hide my disappointment at his plan. I was hoping to have him as an appetizer and go from there. I can’t believe my sex drive is revved up after only being with this man twice. 

“Sure, sounds like a plan to me. What kind of wine do you have?” I’m not a wine expert, but I know what I like. 

“I’ve got a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or a Pinot. Is there one you prefer?”

“I’ll start with the Chardonnay, please.” It’s my favorite, but I’m not going to tell him just yet.

Drew pours the wine, takes my hand, and leads me out to the patio where he first proposed this idea of marriage. I hadn’t taken the opportunity to admire the view the last time I was here. If this is going to be my home, I think I should take a look around. There’s the patio, which is covered over about six feet by a deck above. The large grill and a patio table are on one side. Beyond the patio is a beautiful in-ground pool with an infinity edge. I love swimming pools. On both sides of the pool are large grassy areas that seem to go on forever. 

I could get used to this. I shake my head trying to clear my head. I shouldn’t be thinking like this when our relationship is fake.

Drew pulls a chair out from the table for me before sitting down. Such a gentleman. I smile at that thought, and when I look up he’s staring.

“What?” I can’t help but grin.

“Nothing, just that you have a beautiful smile.”

Okay, my panties are wet again. How is it he keeps doing this to me?

“Um, thanks?”

Drew smiles again and I can feel my cheeks heat up. I’ve got to stop blushing in front of him.

“So, Lily, is there anything in particular you’d like to do on your days off?”

Oh, there are plenty of things I want to do, but I’m not sure I can say them out loud right now.

“Well, I haven’t really thought about it. I have until Monday, so I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

“Monday? I thought you had a wedding this weekend.”

“Nope. The bride postponed due to a family emergency. I don’t have anything going on until Monday, so . . .”

“Wow, that’s great. I’m sure we’ll find a way to fill the time.”

That statement holds promise. I smile at Drew and try to convey my dirty thoughts with my eyes.

Teaser




Excerpt

When I reach my room, I stop short at one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.

Lily is curled up on my bed, her hair splayed out on the pillow, and she’s sleeping. She looks so peaceful and content; my dick twitches at the thought of burying myself inside her. My heart rate speeds up and I realize I really like this view. I want to have it view every day. Fuck. There go my plans to keep things simple. I’m falling in love with Lily. I didn’t see that coming, but I kind of like the idea. As I change my clothes, I wonder how this woman got under my skin so quickly.

I know I should let her sleep, but I have to touch her to figure out if what I’m feeling is real, if I want to put my heart on the line again and risk it being crushed. I climb carefully on the bed and she rolls toward me, but doesn’t open her eyes. I brush a few strands of hair away from her face and she smiles. That smile pushes me over the edge. I know I want this woman in my life, and I’m going to do what I can to keep her. It’s a foreign feeling, one I’ve fought for years, but it feels right. I pull her into my arms. She makes a small moaning sound and curls into me. She’s soft where I’m hard and we fit together like we were made for each other. I relax and get lost in the rhythm of her breathing. Soon, I’m dozing, too.


Teaser




MeetTheAuthor
 

J.A. Hensley wrote her first books under the pen name, Savannah Leigh. Her debut novella, With This Ring, reached #1 on Amazon's Top 100 Free Erotica list. She loves smut of all kinds and is a reader first. J.A. is constantly working on a new project, whether it's writing or working in her craft room. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter, and spends her days teaching college students about social work and human sexuality.







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