ON THE SPOT WITH COVER MODEL LEN GUNN

Greetings from the #BOC. 

Today we have the incomparable cover model, Len Gunn. 

I had the great pleasure of first meeting Len in person back in 2013 at the RT Convention in Kansas City and since then, Len has even joined the Book Obsessed Chicks on Long Island for our annual event, where he will be this July as well. 

With his height and his great personality, Len Gunn definitely stands out in the crowd. Not only is he a great cover model who graces the covers of many of today's great reads, he is a hard working man who runs his own business and a wonderful single father to a teen aged son. I am very proud to call him friend. I hope you enjoy our little quickfire spotlight and please feel free to leaves questions or comments for Len

Morning, noon or night?  MORNING

 How do you like your steak? MEDIUM

 What was the last film you saw?  INSIDE OUT

 If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?  SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI

 What did you eat for breakfast?  THAT'S FUNNY :)

What foods do you dislike?  I DON'T DISCRIMINATE, I JUST CONTROL WHAT I EAT :)

 Where would you visit if you had the chance?  HONG KONG

Where would you want to retire?  THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OR BORA BORA

 Gold or Silver?  SILVER

Where were you born?  MILFORD, CT

 What is your favorite sport to watch?  FOOTBALL

 Do you have any pets?  THE LADY OF THE HOUSE, OUR DOG BUTTERSCOTCH

 Favorite color?  BLUE

 Any pet peeves?  LAZINESS, DIMWHITTEDNESS

Bed size?  KING

 Like your job?  LOVE IT!!!

 Last Person you went to dinner with?  MY SON LEVI

 How many tattoos do you have?  ZERO!!

 Are you in love?  WITH LIFE AND MY SON

Have you jumped out of a perfectly good airplane?  NO BUT I DO WANT TO!

 Has your world ever been rocked?  THE DAY MY SON WAS BORN (AND NOT FOR THE REASON YOU WOULD THINK)

Len Gunn's Favorite Cover

Photo by Charles Paz/5th Element

Len and author Hildie McQueen at RT15 in Dallas

Len working hard at the #BOCBEACHBBQBASH 2013

WHERE YOU CAN FIND LEN GUNN

His Facebook Page

Len Gunn's Website

Twitter

On Instagram as LENGUNNMODEL

LEAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION FOR LEN AND YOU MAY WIN A SIGNED BOOK WITH HIM ON THE COVER! 

High Country Spring (Las Morenas, #3) by Genevieve Turner

Indulged by her father yet censured by her ever-so-proper mother, Francisca Moreno's life is about to become a tornado. All she has ever wanted to do since she could remember, is help run her family's ranch. Working outside with the wind at her back atop a horse are the things that make Franny truly happy, but when he sisters marry and leave her in their mother's sights. Senora Moreno wants to groom Francisca to be a proper lady who will make a good wife for a future husband, but Franny has other ideas.

Felipe Ortega was taken in by the Moreno family when his family succumbed to illness year ago. In the time he has been with the Moreno's he has become an important member of the holding helping run the ranch. The only problem is, Felipe has never felt genuinely welcome into the family fold even thought his responsibilities include making sure the beloved Franny stay hale and hearty performing work meant for the men on the ranch. More than once Felipe has voiced his opinion that Franny should be in the house doing woman's work instead of wreaking havoc outside, but inwardly, his admiration for all she does takes root. 

When the ranch is continually plagued by a mountain lion killing off the livestock, Juan Moreno, eldest son and heir to the ranch, and Felipe head out to hunt down the lion. Fearing she will lose her freedom to her mother's strict rules, Franny heads out on her own to track the lion, even if it means she'll be locked away forever once she returns home. Felipe has separated from Juan in order to search more ground when he stumbles upon Franny and all hell breaks loose when Franny refuses to return home. She strikes a deal with Felipe to track the predator together. What they both didn't know is  they would find is a trust and understanding no one else could share  and a burgeoning attraction that will change their lives forever.

This third book in the LAS MORENAS series, HIGH COUNTRY SPRING by the eloquent Genevieve Turner is yet another notch on this author's belt of wonderful stories. Watching the lives of the Morenos and their significant others is a wonder as each and every tale unfolds. Felipe and Franny are destined to be together, even if no one else around them understood that. Their story has depth and emotion that make this particular story one of my favorites. Francisca tries so hard to straddle the line of the proper lady and that of the free spirit she so desperately wants to continue to stay. No one understand her life Felipe does as he has suffered deep loss in his own life that has made him into the man he has become. HIGH COUNTRY SPRING is well written and impassioned story that is not to be missed. 

~KIMBERLY~

RIDIN' FOR A FALL (A&G ORIGINAL BRAND Book 1) by Kirsten Lynn

Kyle Allaway and Lena Gowan have been friends since before they were toddlers, their families having made the journey from Scotland setting up a homestead in the American West called the A&G. Neither adolescence nor adulthood can separate these two from one another as Lena follows Kyle to the ends of the earth when his inheritance is suddenly yanked from his grasp by his father and younger brother.

Frank Perry's Wild West Show has been on tour in Europe for a time now and even though Kyle and Lena are lifelong friends, there's a yearning between each of them for the other that threatens to explode. The All American Cowboy and the Sweetheart of the West as they have been penned got through the day to day performing their stunts for the eager crowds. After a fiery romantic interlude, Lena and Kyle return to being friends outwardly, but inwardly they each suffer for each other's touch. When a stranger dumps a baby in Kyle's hands stating that the child is his, Kyle is left utterly dumbfounded. Being bastard born himself leaves him in a quandary he never wanted to contemplate ever. When his boss discovers the child, he is none too happy, but no more shocked and saddened than Lena, who always wished Kyle would be hers and they would have a family.

Lena steps up to help Kyle with his child but he is determined to find a new home for his daughter. His struggles with not being wanted by the woman who gave birth to him and then to be rejected by his own father, leave Kyle feeling unworthy of a happy life and the one person his loves above all else in the world, Lena Gowan. Fate has a way of making things happen when in order to thwart a scandal threatening to bring the reputation of the Wild West Show down as well that of the stars of the show, Lena and Kyle marry. Then, like dominoes falling one by one, Kyle's and Lena's futures change in the drop of a hat. Kyle swore he would never touch Lena again, but their evident and magnetic attraction for each other has them on a collision course that won't be stopped and a passion that surpasses all good intentions.

Returning home to the A&G after a ten year sojourn away is bittersweet for Kyle with the responsibility of a new wife and baby and the father and brother who have made his existence hard to handle. Lena breathes easier once she is home in her family fold, but her happiness is short lived when one struggle after another threaten to turn her dreams into nightmares. Only love, truth and understanding will help them overcome the trials Lena and Kyle face.

Ridin' For a Fall by Kirsten Lynn is a exuberant sweeping tale of soul mates who have to overcome so much adversity to be able to see what's clearly in front of them. Lena and Kyle's friendship since infancy is a basis for a bright future and the sheer will to see it through is such a draw. Intermingled with this beautiful tale is a love affair that sizzles in epic proportions making Ridin' For a Fall not only a solid romantic story but a scorching one as well.I give kudos to author Kirsten Lynn for bringing this heat level to a peak, but not overshadowing the story at hand, for making her characters gritty and real and for sucking me in. Ridin' For a Fall is sultry and sweet, bold and touching, it is not for the for the feint of heart. I for one wait quite impatiently for the next tale in the A&G Original Brand saga.

~KIMBERLY~

Caged (Mastered #4) by Lorelei James Guest Review by SLICK

Every book in author Lorelei James' Mastered Series has been intriguing and while Unraveled is still my favorite in this series Caged is a close second.  I'll admit I worried that the brash, larger than life hero would completely overshadow and mild and meek heroine but I was wrong and I was never happier to be wrong.  Complicated, emotional, action-packed and titillating from beginning to end these two people found themselves dealing with way more than just their developing relationship.

 I always thought there was a whole lot more to Deacon McConnell that met the eye, but I had no idea the depths of his secrets and how much events from his life have shaped him into the fighting machine he is today.  It also came as no surprise that he would be just as intense in his personal relationships as he is in his professional one and Molly Calloway found out first hand just what being with a man like Deacon entailed.

When Molly Calloway first started taking kickboxing at Black Arts she did it for self preservation and to make sure she'd never feel as vulnerable as she did following an attack.  She's made great strides in both her personal and professional life but despite that she can't resist giving Deacon a second chance after he stood her up months ago for their first date.  On one hand she hates that he affects her so much but on the other hand she loves that he affects her so much but one thing is certain the new Molly is going after what she wants.

This was a very busy book with a lot going on and at times the romance seemed to take a back seat, but despite that it was fascinating to watch these two navigate family issues (and man there were some doozies), career issues and relationship issues.  These are two people who have been deeply scarred emotionally and while Molly found it easy to open up and share with Deacon, he was not forthcoming which caught up with him on more than one occasion.  I'll admit that as much as I loved Deacon's sweet and loveable side (and yes it was in there), his pigheadedness drove me crazy.   What I did love is the fact that Molly wasn't afraid to stick up for herself, she didn't cower and more than once she called Deacon on his bad behavior and did what she had to do for herself.  I loved seeing this side of her and how much she's blossomed into a strong woman during this series.  These two were good for each other with Deacon providing Molly with much needed back-up and by reminding her repeatedly that he found her fascinating and beautiful.  Molly's support of Deacon's fighting, her understanding of his training requirements, and her ability to forgive him when he screws up repeatedly shows that she understands that man sometimes better than he understands himself.  In addition, the absolute abandon they share during their intimate moments, their willingness to explore both their fantasies and kinks with each other proves just how well matched they are both in the bedroom and out.

Provocative, well written, and intricate Caged is more than a romance between two people, it is a look at all types of relationships; some good, some bad, and some very intriguing but most of all this book proves that having just one person in your corner who understands, supports and loves you unconditionally can make your life richer in more ways than one.

~SLICK~

Once Upon a Cowboy (Whisper Creek #3) by Maggie McGinnis

When a short life filled with emotional and physical abuse takes its toll on the teen aged Star, her beloved grandfather saves her by giving her means to escape the downward spiral her life was taking. Now thirteen years after changing her identity, continuing her education and now a business owner, Jess Alcott is getting ready for one of her best friend's wedding with a idyllic trip back to the Whisper Creek dude ranch in Montana, where both of her best friends have moved after finding the loves of their lives. A place where Jess feels at peace until her past threatens to drag her back to the trailer park she so desperately wished to leave forever.

Cole Driscoll never told anyone in his family he was accepted to university years ago. Family tragedies including the death of his only sister and his brother's departure from home made him out his life on hold. Now he wonders what it would be like to fulfill those dreams he had when he was fresh out of high school. Jess Alcott's reappearance makes him rethink those dreams and puts new ones into his head. This time, however, Jess is different somehow, she seems troubled and her demeanor guarded. Even with a dude ranch full of matchmakers trying to throw these two together at every turn, the secrets being kept threaten to keep them apart. Coming clean about her past may be more than she can handle, but if Jess can just open up to Cole, he could be her greatest ally.

And yes, we have need for tissues in Maggie McGinnis' third book, Once Upon a Cowboy (A Whisper Creek Novel). Jess clearly has risen above her awful past to become an upstanding person. She has done it on her own and lets few people in. Her best friends Kyla and Hayley give her strength to be who she is, but still she is missing the one thing to make her life complete. Finding out all of the wrong done in her previous life as Star makes one angry for her and admire her will. Her story is not for the feint of heart, she's had a tough life but she overcomes such adversity making Jess a solid and beloved heroine. Seemingly committed to single life, Cole seems more the player than he actually is and once his friends and family get involved, his single days are numbered. The handsome cowboy, Cole is protective of his own and as honorable as a cowboy should be. He is attuned to Jess and needs to nudge her into seeing that she is meant to be at Whisper Creek and meant to be with him.

Once Upon a Cowboy by Maggie McGinnis is a modern day fairy tale set in the West that will have you run a gamut of emotions before all is said and done. Ms. McGinnis once again leaves me in awe and cements her place at the top of my must read list.

Jennifer Butler's Guest Review of CARNAL RISK by Kym Grosso

Carnal Risk takes readers on an adrenaline ride through the eyes of Garret and Selby…two very different people that find each other when they least expect it.

 Garrett Emerson and Selby Reynolds meet under unique circumstances. Their mutual friend Lars has brought them together because he knows that Selby can assist Garrett at his company, Emerson Industries.  Garret is caught unaware of Lar’s true intentions and is not pleased with the situation of how they met, neither is Selby. With a little (or a lot) of reluctance on both their parts they agree that Selby will work at Emerson until the position of CTO can be filled. What neither Garrett nor Selby anticipated was the fierce attraction that they share.

 When Garrett first sees Selby is immediately smitten. When he finds her in his office he comes to realize that she is more than just a pretty face and a smoking hot body. She’s beautiful, intelligent and unlike many of the woman he has dated in the past. Garrett starts to pursue her with the single minded focus that made him successful in the business world and in his personal life with Club Altura.

At first garret is afraid to introduce her to his lifestyle of adrenaline activities. He sees something in her and wants to break past the box she has placed herself in. The more time he spends with her the more he realizes that he is starting to care for her. Selby knows that Garrett is hot and not like the guys she usually dates. But she can’t seem to help herself from going out with him. Being afraid to take risks she realizes that Garrett could be the biggest risk of all.

 I really loved Garrett and Selby’s story.  Garret is not your typical Billionaire playboy. Yes he is rich…but he wasn’t born that way he worked hard for what he has. Selby is an extremely intelligent and beautiful woman. But socially…she has contained herself. After suffering a traumatic experience when she was a child she is not willing to step out of her comfort zone socially.   Through Selby’s own determination and assistance from Garret she breaks free of the life she has lived for years.

~ JENNIFER BUTLER~

20 Questions With Kat Martin ~AGAINST THE TIDE~

Please welcome the awesome Kat Martin for a Quickfire Questionnaie! 

1. Morning, noon or night?

  Definitely night.

2. How do you like your steak?

   Medium rare, seared nice and crisp on the outside.

3. What was the last film you saw?

    Taken 3 Liam Neeson on pay per view.

4. What's your favorite place to watch TV? 

   Sofa in the living room.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

   Paris, or somewhere in France.

6. What did you eat for breakfast?

   Melon and cereal

7. What is your favorite cuisine?

   Steak and baked.  Also gourmet cooking.

8. What foods do you dislike?

   Raw fish and anything to do with animal insides.

9. What kind of car do you drive?

   Mercedes Benz E 350.   Love it!

10. What are your favorite clothes?

   Black jeans with sweaters and scarves.

11. Where would you visit if you had the chance?

   France, China, Japan, Italy, just about anywhere.  I love to travel.

12. Weapon of choice?

   Glock 19.

13. Where would you want to retire?

   Beach or mountains.  I'm still open to suggestions.

14. Gold or Silver?

   Gold.

15. Where were you born?

   Tulare, California

16. What is your favorite sport to watch?

   Horseracing for excitement.  Golf for relaxation.

17. Are you a morning or a night person?

   Night person.  I love to sleep late, stay up late.  Don't get to do that often.

18. Do you have any pets?

   Had a cat.  Love cats, but they don't travel well.

19. Any new or exciting news you'd like to share?

   Against the Tide just hit the NYT #7. Very exciting.  More Brodies to come!

20. Nickname? 

  Kitty Kat

AGAINST THE TIDE

By Kat Martin

Release date: 5/26/15

BACK COVER COPY

Secrets—and safety—melt under a midnight sun…

Liv Chandler is running for her life, and the cops haven’t been able to do a thing to help. But there’s one man who makes her feel safe, no matter what…rugged charter boat captain Rafe Brodie.

To Rafe, Liv is a beautiful mystery, one he can’t ignore. He means to unearth her secrets, and in the process, if luck is on his side, maybe the spark between them will ignite.

But Liv’s past is more dangerous than Rafe could guess, and when his first mate turns up dead, she fears that she’s next. That there’s something else coming she can’t see. That even Rafe and the remote village of Valdez, Alaska can’t protect her forever…

SHORT BLURB

Secrets and Danger Threaten in the Land of the Midnight Sun…

Liv Chandler is running for her life.  She can’t trust anyone, not even the one man who makes her feel safe—rugged charter boat captain, Rafe Brodie.

Rafe is determined to uncover Liv's secrets,  but the beautiful café owner has a past more dangerous than Rafe can guess.  Something terrible is coming…and even in remote Valdez, Alaska, Rafe can’t protect her forever.

REVIEW QUOTES

“Martin’s latest novel leaves readers breathless with the absorbing combination of mystery and romance.” —RTBookReviews

“This book is action packed. It has plenty of suspense and I love that the story wasn't just given away. It all evolved into something fabulous. It will have you looking for the other Brodie books.” —Crystal’s Reviews

What are readers saying about AGAINST THE TIDE?

“A sexy romantic thriller I didn't want to stop reading.” —Paige, Mertztown, PA

“Thrilling, suspenseful and keeps you hanging on till the very end! And...delicious romance!” — Misty, Galt, CA

 “This book was a great read!  Characters were intriguing.  Story was easy to get swept away with.” —Elissa, Collegeville, PA

“Awesome book from start to finish. I was hooked right away & couldn't put it down!” —Amy, Las Cruces, NM

“Sexy and Intriguing read. A must read if you love to get caught up in love and romance and danger.” —Kristen, Oklahoma City, OK

“I loved it! Kat martin describes the scenes with such detail it feels as if you're right there in the story. Loved the characters and the whole plot.” —Lisa, Slippery Rock, PA

LINKS

TIDE CONTEST: http://www.katmartin.com/contests/

Website: http://www.katmartin.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/Yfajue8HliQ

Netgalley Link: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/63760

Excerpt:

BUY LINKS

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Tide-Brodies-Alaska-Book-ebook/dp/B00ONTR60Q/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-tide-kat-martin/1120138025?ean=9781420133868

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420133868

SOCIAL MEDIA

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22812429

Twitter: @katbooks https://twitter.com/katbooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/luvromance/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kat-Martin/e/B000AQ0OJQ/

IDENTIFIERS

ASIN: B00ONTR60Q

ISBN: 9781420133868

ISBN-10: 1420133861

ISBN-13: 978-1420133868

GIVEAWAY ALERT! 

ONE COMMENTOR WILL WIN A COPY OF AGAINST THE TIDE!