SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR KAREN MERCURY

WELCOME ALL TO BOOK OBSESSED CHICKS' SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR KAREN MERCURY.  LET'S GET TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THIS LADY WHO WRITES SOME VERY SEXY BOOKS!

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Kimberly!  I used to write historical fiction set in precolonial Africa. I started noticing a big furor—whether for better or worse—about my explicit sex scenes.  I had no idea “serious” historicals didn’t usually have such explicit scenes, as though nobody was randy in Victorian times.  I decided erotic romance would be the natural next step, and now I’ve got more than twenty ménages written for Siren.  So far all have been MMF, although I’m wrapping up my first MFM now.

2.    When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?
  It was before I knew how to read!  I remember looking at The Bee Man of Orn and thinking “I’d better learn to read so I can start writing my own books.”  It was so magical to me.  You create a scene with words, and someone on the other side of the planet is magically transported into the world you invented.  Now it’s in their head, too.

3.    Tell us about your upcoming work.

This MFM, Owner of a Lonely Heart, is the first in a planned series regarding the witness protection program in Las Vegas.

4.    Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

Oh, Robin Schone was absolutely my hero.  I was signing books at RT St. Louis and I zipped over to her table to gush.  I probably didn’t make any sense, I was just babbling.  We were somehow featured together in an erotica article so she recognized me.  She said she’d be by my table to pick up a copy of my book but I never saw her again.  She probably couldn’t get far enough away from me!

5.    Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

I really related to Lacey Dvorak, the heroine of Three Hearts Beat as One.  I always try to laugh at pain—my two sisters and I have this sick sense of humor that comes from making light of bad childhoods.  So I turned Lacey’s ex into this buffoon.  Although I didn’t really have to change some of the awful things he did to her because they really happened to me.

6.    Was it difficult for you to get published?

I didn’t attempt to get published for the first forty years.   I just wrote for fun, for my own amusement.  When I realized that selling a book meant that I could buy a mansion—don’t you love the illusions unpublished people have about the business?—I buckled down and sold my first book in a matter of three months.  It was a romance with a very unusual setting—the Niger Delta in Africa.  Not exactly Harlequin material.  My then publisher reclassified it as historical fiction.

7.    Who are your favorite authors/reads?

Oh, I’ve lately been enjoying Jan Bowles, Marla Monroe, Lexie Blake, Corinne Davies, Olivia Jaymes, and I loved Erin Leaf and J. Rose Allister’s MMFs.

8.    Hobbies?  
I love doing archery.  I just picked it up a year ago, and immediately tore my rotator cuff and had to have surgery. I was just allowed to pick it up again and already Robin Hooded a few arrows.  It’s fun to keep besting yourself.  I can only go to our outdoor range in Napa after I've done my writing for the day.

9.    What is your dream job?
  A location scout for TV shows.

10.  Do you have any favorite TV shows? 
 Too many, actually. I never watched much TV until the past couple of years.  I love Bones, Criminal Minds, Big Bang Theory, Sleepy Hollow, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and of course Downton Abbey and Face Off.  And this new True Detective is fabulous.  Matthew McConaughey will get his deserved Emmy.

11.  What’s next for you?
  I’m working on a series with four other Siren authors

Well there you have it my awesome readers. Sounds like if you want something new and hot to read, you can pick up Karen Mercury's latest THREE FOR ALL the 3rd book in her sizzling HELL'S DELIGHT series.

[Siren Ménage Everlasting: Erotic Consensual BDSM Cowboy Ménage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, with M/M, public 

Widowed Hannah O’Loughlin can’t believe the two hottest men in Hell’s Delight seem to want her. Colt Gatling owns the Lay-Z-Boy Ranch that she tried unsuccessfully to buy. She should hate Colt, but is drawn to his powerful physique and dominant ways. And tattooed sex toy shop manager JD Harmon is a dangerous showstopper with his erotic gypsy eyes.

Hannah doesn’t want to burden JD and Colt with her old baggage. She needs to restore her reputation after her husband was murdered in Montana, but a whackjob with a bad mullet, Roscoe Flantz, is pinning the blame on her.

You can’t keep a good man down, and JD and Colt race to protect Hannah from the unfashionable stalker who insists that all he wants is her dead husband’s plastic dinosaur. JD and Colt are hell-bent to prove to Hannah that they love her, even with past baggage. They’re in it…Three for All.

Three For All, is here: http://www.amazon.com/Three-Delight-Publishing-Menage-Everlasting-ebook/dp/B00G9G1I3C/

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THE FALL OF A SAINT by CHRISTINE MERRILL

Miss Madeline Cranston appears at his doorstep carrying Michael Poole, the Duke of St Aldric's child. The man who to the ton is known as The Saint has a secret to hide from all. She wanted to be a governess but when the Duke is accused of forcing himself upon her the only remedy is to make Madeline his Duchess for he has little chance of another heir since an illness has rendered him unable to produce one. Or has it?

Once the future is secured for Madeline and her unborn child, she sets out to make Michael's life as miserable as possible. Michael made a terrible mistake and he is prepared to pay for it every single day of his life if necessary. Try as he might to distance himself from the woman he took to wife is almost impossible when  his awakening feelings for the woman he hurt so badly begin to make his life clear. Will it be possible for Michael to melt the ice that has taken over Madeline's heart and make her see that he is no longer that man who hurt her, but the Saint he is known to be to his friends and the like?

THE FALL OF A SAINT by Christine Merrill is the first book I have read by this author and I find that it is well written and a good story. I have taken a peek a some of the reviews that pan the book for the "rape", but I do not agree. Occasionally that type of scene is necessary for the story to portray a state of mind and set the scene. That scene was in no way glamorized and the author didn't give us every little detail that could have made it hard to handle. I actually applaud Christine Merrill for daring to go where some fear to tread. I There were times when I would have liked to have throttled both characters but the resolution made up for those instances. I found THE FALL OF A SAINT an enjoyable read though not for the faint of heart. In the very least, this book will bring up debate and I always think debate is a great thing. 

~KIMBERLY~

FLASH INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY WITH AUTHOR ~ MARIN THOMAS~

As I have had fabulous author, Marin Thomas on the blog before, I though it would be very cool to do a quickie interview with her and ask her some fun questions... So here goes----- >>>>

1. Fave food… my father’s tuna noodle casserole

2. Fave drink nonalcoholic = Pepsi/alcoholic = Amaretto Sunrise

3. Guilty pleasure Lay’s Potato Chips—will eat a whole bag in one sitting if allowed

4. Book Boyfriend?  Jamie Fraser in Voyager by Diana Gabaldon and my TV boyfriend is Anson Mount from Hell on Wheels (Just thought I’d sneak that in there)

5. Craziest thing you've ever done… I ignored the warning signs on a Maui beach that said High Surf and went into the water anyway.  I came out clutching my bathing suit top and without my wedding rings.  Stupid…stupid…stupid.   

Kimberly: FYI... I think Marin and I were separated at birth. I LOVE Tuna noodle casserole and asked Marin for that recipe. Amaretto is definitely my favorite alcoholic fare and yummy for those Lay's Potato chips, as long as I can have some onion dip with it!

Thanks for stopping by for some fun facts about Marin Thomas and don't forget to visit her Facebook pages and pick up one of her awesome cowboy reads today!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marin-Thomas-Romance-Author/118915338136945

https://www.facebook.com/TheCashBrothers

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RISK TAKER ( Shadow Warriors) by LINDSAY MCKENNA

Nicknamed "Blue Eyes" by all the soldiers on base in Afghanishtan, Medevac pilot, Chief Warrant Officer, Sarah Benson shoots down every man who makes unsubtle attempts to hit on her. This feisty lady has to work twice as hard as her male counterparts and still gets razzed by most of them, even though she consistently flies a Black Hawk into dangerous combat territory to rescue injured soldiers and bring them to safety. Sarah steers clear of men due to her troubled past and has difficulty trusting letting anyone in. 

Petty Officer, Ethan Quinn is a Navy SEAL. When he first sets his eyes on Blue Eyes she is sitting alone at a table across from him in the canteen. She captivates him immediately and he wonders how he can show her he's not like the other vulgar men surrounding her. When Ethan stumbles upon Sarah attempting to fight off and attacker bent on assault and rape, Ethan bursts into action by knocking the soldier unconscious and taking Sarah for medical attention, thus becoming her hero and giving Ethan an open to getting to know her.

Sarah begins to realize that Ethan Quinn is not your standard issue SEAL. There is a depth to him that she wants to delve into even though she's skittish. Every morning when Sarah awakens, she finds letters from Ethan filled with beautiful poetry, which makes her yearn to have what she thinks she can't have. Ethan worms his way into her heart as smoothly as he possibly can and almost breaks through the wall Sarah has built around herself, but that devil on her shoulder always tries to remind her that she isn't good enough even when Ethan is certain that Sarah is his angel.

Risk Taker by Lindsay McKenna is a wonderful story teeming with action and budding romance. Outwardly strong Sarah has her inner pain that the true hero, Ethan will do anything to heal. Ethan is the most honorable and understanding character, I adore him. Sarah's turmoil is deep, but through it all the officer in her takes over and gets done what needs to be done. This is my first venture into reading a Lindsay McKenna book but I have already clicked that pre-order button for the next story involving Sarah and Ethan because Risk Taker was just that good.

~KIMBERLY~

UNFORGETTABLE HEROES BOXED SET ~STRONG, SEXY, IRRESISTIBLE AND UNFORGETTABLE

Hello my lovelies!!! My awesome author friend Renee Vincent is taking part in this very amazing anthology. 

Several of Turquoise Morning Press’ award-winning and bestselling authors share their favorite contemporary romance heroes – all boxed up for you in one sexy and irresistible package!

From a sexy carpenter to magnetic CEO, a rough-and-ready cowboy to a “homeless man,” a classic car buff, a starving artist, a Latin-style dancer, and an FBI agent – each unique hero has his own story to tell, and a heroine who just can’t forget him. Ever.

With an introductory promotional price of only 99¢,

how can you resist this unforgettable boxed set, either?

Release date:  January 30, 2014
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

ISBN: 978-1-62237-258-4

Format: Ebook only

Available at:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo | All Romance Ebooks | Smashwords | Bookstrand

Promotional Price: $0.99

Retail Price: $4.99 (April, 2014)

UNFORGETTABLE HEROES

Eight Contemporary Romance Novels

WILL WORK FOR LOVE by Amie Denman, EPIC Award and Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence finalist. Hurricane Destiny leaves a trail of destruction across the island of St. Thomas, jeopardizing the wedding of Whitney Oliver’s best friend. When Whitney arrives on the island, she finds a disaster only a sexy carpenter like Chris Maxwell can repair. Despite the sizzle between them, Chris has secrets that threaten his construction business and force him to work for Whitney’s love.

THIS MAGIC MOMENT by Bobbye Terry, award winning author of contemporary, historical and fantasy romance. Zack Graham, CEO of Scrumbles Snack Cakes, is energetic, magnetic and forget it—no women for him, except to relieve an occasional sexual itch. He’s a workaholic who refuses to let a woman make a fool out of him again. But what about Crandall Drake, the CEO of Pretzelicious Pretzels? He tells himself all he wants is sex. His heart tells him it wants more.

HER HIRED MAN by Cat Shaffer, Golden Heart finalist and award-winning journalist.

Hot nights, a double sleeping bag and a stranger for a husband…how much can one city girl take? Lillian Osborne needs a husband for a weekend. Wesley Hatfield needs money to customize his beloved classic car before Detroit’s biggest auto show. The perfect agreement turns out to be anything but when their accommodations turn out not to be what Lillian had expected.

SINS OF THE FATHER by Janet Eaves, Amazon bestselling author of the Ladies of Legend contemporary romance series. Just like the Princess in the classic tale Sleeping Beauty, Aurora’s life doesn’t really begin until her heart is awakened by a handsome struggling artist. But with her life in danger, Aurora must hide who she really is. Unbeknownst to her, her struggling artist isn’t who he appears to be either.... Friend, lover, or foe?

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO by Jennifer Johnson who writes comedic romances so entertaining even guys read them. Author of the TMP top-selling Rescuing Riley. Abigail Benton is a bum magnet, according to her dad, so when she becomes attracted to Eli, a homeless man at the community center where she works, she wonders if what her dad says is true. But when Eli saves her life, Abigail decides she is going to return the favor and save his life by turning it around. Trouble is, Eli isn’t on board with her plan.

RAWHIDE AND ROSES by Maddie James, Amazon bestselling author of contemporary and western romance. She’s roses, he’s rough-and-ready rawhide. Kim Martin is hardly equipped for a Colorado camping trip, especially when her mountain guide is a rough-edged cowboy who is as untamed as the wilderness. Thad Winchester’s patience for city women is wearing as thin as the seat of his jeans. But there is something about Kim that puts his hard-and-fast don’t-touch rule to the test.

LONG DISTANCE LOVE by Margaret Ethridge, contemporary romance fan favorite and TMP top-selling author of Commitment. Sometimes the distance between two hearts can be measured in frequent flier miles. Love may be a many splendored thing, but it’s rarely convenient. Can FBI Agent Jack Rudolph and fiercely independent Ellie Nichols find a way to make a long distance relationship work?

SILENT PARTNER by Renee Vincent, award winning author of historical and contemporary romance.

Grayson Anders is a talented Latin-style dancer and wealthy co-owner of a happening nightclub. Chloe LaRoche is a talented artist, but failing entrepreneur with her once thriving studio now on the brink of foreclosure. When the two indulge in a passionate, out-of-control, one night stand, they awaken the next morning consumed with inspiration. Grayson finds his perfect dance partner while Chloe finally finds her muse. Will her secret destroy both their dreams?

Author Bio:

I'm an author, a dreamer, a horse owner, and a medieval history buff. I'm a fun-loving, mildly eccentric, free-spirited kind of girl with a passion for books. From an early age, I've always had scenes playing out in my head. Whether it was a story with a moral or a tale with a twist, those ideas have never let me sleep until I wrote them out. And considering I have an eclectic ensemble of stories swarming in my brain at any given time, I write under a couple pen names to accommodate the various genre categories.

Renee Vincent

(Historical & Contemporary Adult Romance)

From the daunting, charismatic Vikings, to the charming, brazen Alpha male heroes of modern day, you'll be whisked away to a world filled with fast-paced adventure, unforgettable romance, and undying love.

also writing as

Gracie Lee Rose

(Lighthearted, Fancy-free Women's Fiction/Chick Lit)

For those who love to read fun, wholesome, and endearing romantic stories (with a smidgen of spunk) that your mother, sisters, friends, and daughters can enjoy.

Connect with me at:

http://www.reneevincent.com/

http://www.pasttheprint.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/ReneeVincent

http://www.facebook.com/reneevincentauthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3005290.Renee_Vincent

And get EXCLUSIVE access to all my giveaways by signing up for my author newsletter:

http://www.reneevincent.com/p/contact.html

The Wedding Bed (The Sun Never Sets, Book One) by Ava Archer Payne

 Short but sweet, this stunning and evocative tale of two people destined to be together is not only a hot romantic interlude, but an interesting story. In THE WEDDING BED by Ava Archer Payne, we first find English/Indian mixed race, Derek Arindam Jeffords, Lord Keating, holding his temper as a monkey dressed in Indian native clothing entertains members of the ton. To him, this is no joke, no entertainment, it is a prejudice poke at half his heritage. When the handsome Lord leaves the soiree his departure is interrupted by two ladies who have sought him out.

Miss Calla Lily Staunton was distant memory from Derek's childhood in India, but now standing before him, the troublemaker from his past has come to completely change his future. When  the also mixed race Calla tells him that she is to be his bride, he at first shakes his head, but then comes to realize that marriage to this flower might not be such bad thing, especially when it means she would share his bed.

And so, the very innocent Calla Lily with her preconceived notions of how the marriage bed is supposed to be, plunges into wedded bliss with Lord Keating. Calla is in for the surprise of her life when Derek reveals the pleasures of being his wife and in turn leaves her heart open to possibly being hurt, when she realizes shes loves him, but doesn't know if he can love her in return.

When the murder of a Indian happens on one of Derek's ships docked in the English harbor, he and his new wife need to find the criminal and help bring him to justice. In helping the plight of the Indian people, Derek may be cementing his reputation with the ton of England. Will it be worth it when the admiration of Calla is his gift in return? Find out by reading THE WEDDING BED by Ava Archer Payne.

THE WEDDING BED by Ava Archer Payne is a delightfully sexy story with two very strong and lovable characters. Miss Payne is a new author to me and I look forward to reading much more from her in the near future. I like how this author takes the issues of the mixed Indian/English races in Victorian England and brings them to light in a fascinating way. Take a chance on THE WEDDING BED by Ava Archer Payne and you will be happy you did.

~KIMBERLY~

TEXAS FANDANGO (Texas Montgomery Mavericks #3) by CYNTHIA D'ALBA

Wow, this is not your ordinary cowboy tale. TEXAS FANDANGO by Cynthia D'Alba sizzles from beginning to end. 

 Beautiful and intelligent high powered attorney, KC Montgomery has been in love with Drake Gentry for what seems like forever. Well actually it is almost forever, because at age 11 when she met the then 17 year old Drake, she fell head over heels but kept it to herself. Now a lifetime and several relationships later, the very hot Drake get summarily dumped by his much younger girlfriend while KC watches from afar. When KC swoops in to console her friend, Drake tells KC that he's bummed because he had planned a dream vacation for his now ex and himself on a luxurious Caribbean island.

When KC offers to go with Drake in his ex's place Drake's interest in peaked, but when KC says she will only go with him if their vacation includes two weeks of no hold barred sex, Drake's interest and then some stands at attention. Seriously, what dude would say no to that especially when the woman in front of him is almost too hot to handle. When KC tells Drake her terms which include no expectations and no strings attached, it's completely in agreement, but is that what they both truly want? You will have to read TEXAS FANDANGO by Cynthia D'Alba to find out, and be careful not to get burned in the process.

What a great read. Totally not what I was expecting, but wow was I pleasantly surprised by this refreshing read.  Drake and KC ignite this page turner with their attraction to one another and this great story line by Ms. D'Alba, who definitely knows what a girl wants. Yet again, a read by Cynthia D'Alba has left a lasting impression and I look forward to much more in the future.

~KIMBERLY~