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Meet Darius: Drakon’s Promise #PNR @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days
writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers,
seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie
for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.About Drakon’s Promise
Genre Paranormal RomanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RDarius Varkas is a drakon. He’s neither human nor dragon.He’s both.He’s also the target of an ancient order who want to capture
all drakons for their blood. When fresh, a drakon’s blood can cure any illness
and prolong a human’s life, and the Knights will stop at nothing to get it.When librarian Sarah Anderson stumbles across a rare book
belonging to the Knights of the Dragon, she’s quickly thrust into a dangerous
world of secrets and shifters and things she never would have believed
possible. When the Knights realize Sarah has a secret of her own, she becomes
just as much a target as Darius. Her scary dragon shifter just might be her
best chance at survival.Introducing Darius Varkas
Welcome to Romance Lives Forever! We’re happy to have you
here today.Name: Darius VarkasAge: 4000 years, give or take a fewGender: maleBirthplace: A small village that has long since crumbled to
dustProfession: EntrepreneurEthnicity/Species (if not human): I’m a drakon, the son of a
dragon and a human woman.Describe your body and
build, skin tone, height and weight. Include any unique features such as dimples,
freckles, or scars.In my human form, I’m 6’10” with black shoulder-length
hair and green eyes. I have a tattoo that covers the entire left side of my
body from my neck to my ankles. It’s a birthmark and is a swirling pattern that
is bronze and outline in the same green as my eyes.Who is the significant
other in your life?That would be my Sarah. She’s the most beautiful, most
amazing woman in the world. Brilliant too. After all, she chose me.Please tell us a
little about yourself.I’m a drakon so I like my privacy. I’m not even sure why I
agreed to do this interview. *grumbles*Please tell us about
your education.I’ve lived four thousand years. I speak and write many
languages, including some long forgotten by time. I’ve learned alongside
mankind. Airplanes were a particular favorite invention of mine, as being a
pilot allows me to take to the skies nowadays when it isn’t as easy to simply
shift and soar. Computers I can use but I don’t particularly like them.Do you get by, live comfortably,
live extravagantly?I’ve lived for a very long time. I’m also an earth drakon,
which means I know how to find precious metals and gems. I’ve accumulated quite
a hoard over the course of my life. And like any self-respecting drakon, I
guard what is mine.Are you close to family?My brothers are my family and we are very close. We had
different mothers but the same dragon sire. Of course, now I have Sarah. They
all love her.Can you keep a secret?
Why or why not?Of course I can keep a secret. I’m a drakon. Of course,
telling all of you about myself isn’t exactly keeping that a secret.What secrets do you know
about people around you that you do NOT share?I know all my brothers’ secrets, but I would never betray
their trust.What is your biggest need?My biggest need is to wipe the Knights of the Dragon from
the face of the planet. They want to capture me and my kind for their own
profit and to prolong their lives by drinking our blood. We were content to
leave them alone, but they will not leave us in peace. And they threatened
Sarah and will always be a threat to her and to my brothers. They have to be
eliminated.What are your biggest
hopes and dreams?I dream of being able to live my life in peace with Sarah.What is your biggest personal
flaw?I have no flaws. *turns to Sarah* Stop laughing. She says I’m
set in my ways and stubborn. Overprotective too. But since I’m always right, I
don’t see that as a flaw.Who in your life has the
power to hurt you the most and why?Sarah has the power to destroy me. She is my heart. I trust
her more than I thought it possible to every trust a woman.What would you like
to tell your writer?I want to thank her for bringing Sarah into my life. I also
want to let her know this is my first and last interview. I’m done.Buy Drakon’s Promise
Publisher http://entangledpublishing.com/drakons-promise/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N74PYZR
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125114236?ean=9781633758001
ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-drakonspromise-2173689-140.html
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/drakon-s-promise
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drakons-promise/id1176306297NJ Walters Social Media
Website http://www.njwalters.com
Blog http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters -
The Marquess and the Midwife @AlinaKField #RLFblog #Regency #Romance
Welcome Alina K Field, author of The Marquess and the
Midwife, a new Regency Romance.Why did you write
this book?For starters, I love the Call the Midwife stories, as well
as secret babies. And, a few months before I started The Marquess and the
Midwife, a family member tragically lost a good friend in childbirth to
toxemia. (Unthinkable, right, in the twenty-first century?) I guess pregnancy
and childbirth were on my brain! Somehow, my muse came up with this story.What is your favorite
genre to read?I love Regency romance, and I especially love stories with a
lot of adventure added to the romance.Who is your favorite
character from fiction (not including your own)?Hmm. May I have two? I love the rascally Rupert Carsington,
the Mr. Impossible of Loretta Chase’s book by that name. I also like William
Doyle, the bluff , clever spy of Joanna Bourne’s The Forbidden Rose. Actually,
all of Chase’s and Bourne’s characters are brilliant, but they both write the
most delicious heroes.What are you working
on at the moment, and what will we see from you in coming months?I’m working on a Regency series about four adult children
being married off by their father, an earl who is a retired spy lord. Or is he
retired? Book one is called The Bastard’s Iberian Bride and will be coming this
spring.About The Marquess and the Midwife
Genre: Regency romanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13Once upon a time, the younger brother of a marquess fell in
love with his sister’s companion. He was sent off to war, and she was just sent
off, and they both landed in very different worlds.Now Virgil Radcliffe has returned from his self-imposed
exile on the Continent to take up his late brother’s title and discover the whereabouts
of the only woman he’s ever loved.Abandoned by her lover and dismissed by her employer,
Ameline Dawes has found a respectable identity as a Waterloo widow, a new life
as a midwife, and a safe, secure home for her twin girls. Called to London at
Christmas to attend her benefactress’s lying-in, she finds herself confronted
by an unexpected house guest–a man determined to woo her anew and win her
again.But, is loving the new Marquess of Wallingford a mistake
Ameline cannot afford to repeat?Buy The Marquess and the Midwife:
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-marquess-and-the-midwife/id1167622013?ls=1&mt=11Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125068696?ean=2940156905331About Alina K Field
Award winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in English and German literature, but her true passion is the much
happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S.,
after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern
California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her
husband, her spunky, blonde, rescued terrier, and the blue-eyed cat who conned
his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.She is the author of the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s
Ring, a 2015 RONE Award finalist, Bella’s Band, and a 2016 National Reader’s
Choice Award finalist, Liliana’s Letter, as well as her latest release, The
Marquess and the Midwife. She is hard at work on her next series of Regency
romances, but loves to hear from readers!Alina K Field Social Media:
Website: http://alinakfield.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinaKFieldFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/alinakfieldPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinak.field/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field -
Highlight Courageous Women @rolynnanderson #Romantic #Suspense #RLFblog
Guest post written by Rolynn AndersonAs this blog goes live, I’m involved in the Women’s March in
San Luis Obispo, California, along with 5,000 other women. I’ll be proudly wearing
the pink hat my sister made for me. In 400 locations across the world, a
million or more women will be marching to support the precepts of equity,
diversity and inclusion. I grew up in a period when women writer/activists like
Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug and others worked hard on these issues, making huge
strides; I want the momentum to continue, using my writing to help our causes.I remember wondering where the women were in
suspense/mystery best-selling novels I read in the 1960’s. Detectives, cops,
agents, and villains got the word count; women were wives or lovers playing
secondary parts. In fact, research tells us the last time women characters got
the most ink in novels was in the late 1800’s. That’s probably why when I
started writing in 2001, I gave leading status to the heroine, figuring female
readers needed all the examples they could get of how a woman handles her
position on a precipice. My heroes have almost equal footing with the heroine,
but the spotlight is generally on her.My novels are contemporary page-turners. Unique settings and
clever villains create havoc for my heroine and hero, spiking the suspense and
the romance. Humor, complex plots, and flawed characters with steep learning
curves are bound to take the reader in new, exciting places. And, yes, women
dominate the word count. On this Women’s March Day, I salute the courageous
women who came before me!About Fear Land
Tally hates to hear rants from people’s brains. What does
she do when those mind-screams threaten the man she loves?Tally Rosella, an acclaimed psychiatrist who helps children
fraught with anxiety, avoids adults because their brains rant at her. But the
chance to start a second child study and connect her findings to PTSD, sets her
squarely among devious colleagues at a big California university.Army Major Cole Messer, Tally’s new neighbor, won’t admit
that trauma from combat tours in Afghanistan destroyed his marriage and
hampered his ability to lead. As a teacher of college ROTC and single parent,
he’s focused on enrolling his highly anxious son in Tally’s study and getting
back to active duty.Someone is dead set against Tally’s presence at the
university, and blowback from her battles with co-workers put Cole and his son
in jeopardy. Watch what happens when people struggling with shades of anxiety
collide with corrupt, revengeful foes.Buy the Book
Genre Romantic SuspenseBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RAmazon: http://amzn.com/B012JE75ES
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/587797About Rolynn Anderson
Scandinavian, Army Brat, English Teacher, High School
Principal, Golfer, Boater, World Traveler, Author. With her experiences, Rolynn
Anderson is fairly bursting with stories about extraordinary people and amazing
settings, real and contrived. Now add her competitive nature and her love of ‘the
makeover.’ As a principal, she and the staff she hired opened a cutting-edge
high school; as co-captain with her husband on Intrepid, she cruises from Washington State to Alaska and back. As
a writer, she delights in creating imperfect characters faced with
extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You’ll devour her ‘makeover’
suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings
and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.Website http://rolynnanderson.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/rolynnanderson
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolynn-Anderson/188767867821613
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/author/rolynnanderson -
Give Your Characters Dimension @ketadiablo #RLFblog #sweetromance
Today’s guest is author Keta Diablo, author of Sky Dreams (Book 3) a sweet historical romance.Give Your Characters Dimension
Let’s talk a little about characters today and why some are
one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional.Have you ever read a review where the reviewer points to
*shallow* characters in the novel? I know I have, and that’s why I feel it’s so
important for writers to allot their characters depth. So what is depth, and
what do you mean by “dimensional” characters?It’s crucial readers understand who the characters are; what
makes them tic, and particularly what the character’s identifying features are?
I’m not necessarily talking about physical features, but consistency and manner
of speech, body language and internal thoughts on how he/she views the world. A
character is not merely a gorgeous person with eyes of blue. He/she is a
composition of many events that has made him/her what they are today.Their emotions are multifaceted and often conflicting. They
could come from troubled backgrounds or perhaps were born with a silver spoon
in their mouth. Whatever the case, in order for readers to understand and
relate to your characters, writers need to delve into their history to make
them likeable and real (or not so likeable in the villain’s case). It’s also
important the readers believe, and can picture, the character existing before
your story even began, thus the history.Shallow characters (one-dimensional) have no real story, no
identifying aspects to their personality. They’re merely walk-ons in your novel
and won’t make lasting impressions. Readers will soon get bored with reading
about someone they can’t identify with or like, and will no doubt put the book
down. This is the last thing we want them to do.Two-dimensional characters might have one identifying trait
or a smidgen of history, but why stop there? Write your characters as if they are
a person you’d love to know, in fact, you’re so fascinated by their thoughts
about life, their opinions, you long to know everything about them, including
their past.If your hero or heroine lacks depth or dimension,
reviewers/readers might refer to them as *cardboard characters* another term
you want to avoid at all costs. This means they’re typical ordinary,
forgettable people who are par for the course in motives and goals. While
writing about them, you might have hinted about a like or dislike they possess,
but there you stopped, leaving the thought underdeveloped without explaining
why they dislike the color purple or why they adore women in hats. What’s the
history behind their abhorrence, fetish or passion?One of the great things about writing is that you, the
author, have control over the portrayals of your characters. Make them bigger
than life; exaggerate their habits, annoyances, likes and dislikes. Make every
aspect about them memorable in the reader’s mind.You won’t regret giving a little dimension to your
characters’ personalities.Here’s an excellent article from The Writing Tools Blogspot
about Writing Character Bios for your stories. Why don’t you try it? http://thewritingtools.blogspot.com/2009/07/character-bios-why-and-how.htmlHappy writing and reading!~ KetaAbout the Book
Title Sky DreamsGenre Sweet Historical RomanceAuthor Keta DiabloBook heat level (based on movie ratings) GIn Sky Tinted Water (Book 1) and Sky Dance (Book 2) you met
Dawson and Rory Finch and shared in the journey of their love. Now, in Sky
Dreams (Book 3), meet their daughter, Haven.In 1893, Haven Morgan is a young widow. Heartbroken and
alone after her husband’s tragic death, she travels to Cobb’s Grove, Minnesota
to teach at the country school.Her curiosity is piqued when she meets the handsome
supervisor of the local lumber mill, Cade Kincannon, but the trauma of her
husband’s death haunts her days and torments her dreams.Can Cade break through the veil of darkness shrouding Haven,
forge a path to her heart and convince her it’s all right to love again?Buy This Book
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0M17K6About the Author
Keta Diablo lives in the Midwest part of the United States
on six acres of woodland. When she isn’t writing or gardening she loves to
commune with nature. A lifelong animal lover, she also devotes her time and
support to the local animal shelters.Keta’s a best-selling Amazon author who writes in several
genres, including western romance, historical romance, paranormal romance and
the occasional gay romance. Her books have received numerous Top Pick, Book of
the Month and Recommended Read reviews.Author Social Media
Author home http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ketadiablo
Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/Keta-Diablo/e/B002BODURI/ -
The Colony new #SFR by @Laurel_R_books #RLFblog #scifi
Laurel Richards is a fiction author with a passion for
shifters, space travelers, and other memorable characters. She has gathered
inspiration from lots of different sources throughout her life and is here to
share her imagination through storytelling. Laurel writes sci-fi/fantasy,
paranormal, and funny mysteries, with various degrees of romance mixed in.Why did you write
The Colony?I’m a huge fan of sci-fi romance, and I’m also fascinated by
paleontology (museum lover here). That got me thinking, and I asked myself what
the fossil record on another planet might look like. And so Dr. Elisa Everett, the
paleontologist heroine, was born, and so was The Colony. I wanted an
action-packed sci-fi story featuring all my favorite elements in the genre.What is your favorite
genre to read?It’s a tie between sci-fi romance and paranormal romance,
although I enjoy multiple genres.Who is your favorite
character from fiction (not including your own)?This can change on a daily basis, but frontrunners include
Eve and Rourke from J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Nix from Kresley Cole’s
Immortals After Dark series, and pretty much any of the main characters from
Nalini Singh’s Psi-Changeling series.What are you working
on at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?I have another sci-fi romance and a couple of fantasy novels
that are in edits, and I hope to see them released sometime in 2017.Please tell us about your latest book.Not everyone will make it out alive.Responding to a distress call, Officer Alexander Valerian
and the rest of his security team arrive at the human colony on the planet of
Jangala to find blood and gore all over the walls. All the colonists are dead
or missing except for Dr. Elisa Everett, a pretty paleontologist he finds
injured and nearly suffocated in a ventilation shaft. Now Alex has to figure
out how sixty-nine colonists were wiped out in a single night, but Elisa’s
account of killer monsters just raises more questions. Has the colony really
been attacked by bloodthirsty beasts, or did everyone succumb to a powerful
hallucinogen that made them turn on one another? He had better find out fast,
because Elisa’s life is in his hands.Buy The Colony
Genre Sci-Fi Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Publisher http://www.author-laurelrichards.com/p/the-colony.html
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-colony-laurel-richards/1125430384
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-colony-21
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1191627236
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5LWHRC
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N5LWHRC
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N5LWHRCLaurel Richards Social Media
Website http://www.author-laurelrichards.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Laurel_R_books
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/laurelrichards
Google+ https://plus.google.com/118269442385691046045/posts
Goodreads Profile http://www.goodreads.com/LaurelRichards
GR Blog http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6035139.Laurel_Richards/blog
Manic Readers http://www.manicreaders.com/laurelrichards/ -
Pride and Fall new #suspense w/a hint of #romance @StaciTroilo #RLFblog
This quick interview with Staci Troilo includes info about
the author, and introduces the story, Pride and Fall.About Staci Troilo
Staci has always loved fiction, ever since her parents read
her fairy tales when she was a young girl. Today, her interests are much more
eclectic. She loves getting lost in sci-fi battles, fantasy realms, horror
worlds, suspenseful intrigues, and romantic entanglements.As goes her reading, so goes her writing. She can’t pick a
single genre to focus on, so she doesn’t even try. She’s proud to say she’s a
multi-genre author.When she’s not reading or writing, she’s spending time with
family and friends, possibly cooking for them, or maybe enjoying an afternoon
in the pool. To learn more about her, visit http://stacitroilo.com.Interview with Staci Troilo
Why did you write
this book?Pride and Fall is the culmination of a trilogy in the
Cathedral Lake series. I began the series because I found interesting medical
traits when doing some research online, and I had to turn those facts into a
story. I wrote Pride and Fall to bring the trilogy to a close. But because this
series has become a fan-favorite, I have several spinoffs planned.What is your favorite
genre to read?As my bio states, I’m a fan of several genres. But my
absolute favorite is probably romantic suspense, because it combines love stories
(which I’m a sucker for) with tension-infused situations (I love
pulse-pounding, anticipatory storylines).Who is your favorite
character from fiction (not including your own)?Rhett Butler. I have a weakness for tall, dark, and handsome
bad boys. I also like that he didn’t see the heroine as perfect and ultimately
left her in the end when he tired of her games. Too many heroes put the
heroines on undeserving pedestals; Rhett isn’t one of them.What are you working
on at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?I’m currently working on book three of my paranormal romance
saga, the Medici Protectorate series. This novel, Body Armor, is scheduled for
release in June 2017, and its follow-up, Tortured Soul, will come out at the
end of the year, ending the series.Please tell us about
your latest book.Fear unchecked cripples. Fear conquered liberates.Faith Keller has suffered much in her life—the murder of her
sister, the near-destruction and almost-ruin of her family, and a traumatic
abduction. It’s no wonder she battles the effects of PTSD on a daily basis. The
last thing she needs is to be the subject of an intense police investigation
for the very crime her father was blamed for years earlier. Yet, despite her
family’s staunchest efforts, she finds herself on the hot seat with a tenacious
officer—one whose attention she actually relishes.Carter Emerson takes his job seriously. It’s the only
tribute he can make to honor his fallen brother, and he’s determined to do the
title “police officer” justice. When he sets his sights on Faith
Keller, he’s torn. His mentor tells him he’s got it all wrong, but the evidence
doesn’t lie. The worst part? He doesn’t want her to be guilty. He just wants her.A story of healing and personal growth, Pride and Fall ends
the Keller Family trilogy with action, deception, and a revelation readers won’t
see coming.About Pride and Fall
Genre: Suspense/Drama w/a hint of RomanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Buy Pride and FallAmazon: http://a.co/dzDTSMqUniversal Link: https://books2read.com/STprideandfallStaci Troilo Social Media
Website: http://stacitroilo.com/
Blog: http://stacitroilo.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StaciTroilo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorstacitroilo
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/StaciTroilosNovelIdea
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/StaciTroilo
Google + Profile: http://plus.google.com/+StaciTroilo
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stacitroilo/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/staci_troilo
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/stacitroilo
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/staci-troilo