Category Archives: Author Interviews

Kate Meader

I first met Kate Meader in 2016 at the RT Convention in Las Vegas, then again this year at the RT Convention in Atlanta. Both times she was absolutely lovely as she signed books for readers. I haven’t read too many of her books, but she has a new(ish) hockey romance series that I’m looking forward to devouring.

Please welcome our Author of the Month,
Kate Meader.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

I’m originally from Ireland, moved to the US to travel and work, met a boy … and the rest is history. I’ve actually lived longer here than in Ireland so I don’t have much of an Irish accent anymore, except when I’m talking to my mother on the phone! I live with my husband (the same boy I stayed for, thank God) in Chicago. Love wine, travel, romance, and chocolate.

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I’ve always loved to read but didn’t have any ambitions to be a writer when I was younger. However, I was approaching a milestone birthday about 6 years ago and coming home from work each night, then sitting on the sofa watching TV all night. I started thinking: “This can’t be how I go out!” I’d always loved to read romance so I thought I’d like to start writing a book, and writing about people falling in love can’t be hard, right? Wrong! It was so hard (still is) but after about a year, I realized I might be onto something here. I started entering contests, then winning contests, then getting agent interest. From when I started writing to my first book deal was about 18 months. I can’t imagine writing anything but romance though I harbor notions of writing a great mystery like Agatha Christie—I just don’t have the plotting gene!

3 Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

Some nights in bed, I’ll turn to my husband and say: “Now this might involve an unnatural twist of your torso, but just go with it because it’s research!” ?

4 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV Series.

Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole. I think that would make an amazing TV series.

5 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

A cover might draw me in, but if the blurb can’t sell me, a pretty cover won’t sway me. So, no.

6 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

Glass of wine, catching up on a show I might have DVR’d.

7 Describe your ultimate holiday.

Any place I haven’t been before, as long as my husband is hanging with me. He plans all our vacations and does an amazing job of it!

8 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

Ooh, this is a tough one! It’s hard to pick just one, so I’ll pick the most recent one I read and loved: Julius Hatcher, self-made man in Joanna Shupe’s A DARING ARRANGEMENT. We’re first introduced to him during his birthday bash while he’s drunk on horseback on the second floor of a New York restaurant during the Gilded Age. It’s an awesome intro and the book only gets better from there!

9 What turns you on and what turns you off?

Turn on: humor.
Turn off: unkindness.

10 Boxers or briefs? Or commando???

Boxer-briefs? I like ‘em snug but no fear of a wardrobe malfunction!

11 Who is on your top five “Freebie List”? Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?

ALL THE CHRISES! (Hemsworth, Pratt, Pine, Evans) + Hugh Jackman.

12 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

One Chris (doesn’t matter which one, but if you twist my arm I’ll go with Hemsworth), Kristan Higgins, and Meryl Streep.

13 How can our readers connect with you?

Review

L J Shen

Lulu first read a standalone by L J Shen in February 2016 called Sparrow, a mob romance that I have re-read three times already. Her “Sinners of Saint” series is another one I highly recommend which consists of the four books Defy, Vicious, Ruckus & Scandalous – all now avaiable so you can binge read and you will want to !!

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Mother to two year old Benjamin and twelve year old Murphy (to be honest, Murphy is a cat). I’m happily married, living in NorCal, and I enjoy camping, music, reading, drinking wine, hanging out with my family and friends and of course, chocolate (not in that order, obviously).

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I’ve always been a reader, ever since I can remember. I actually didn’t really like romance at first, I sort of got into it in the last four years and now I can’t get enough of it. I got so addicted, I decided to try and write it. So far, so good!

3 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

The Fall Away series by Penelope Douglas.

4 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I ONLY look at covers. I don’t read blurbs because I like to be surprised.

5 I know that authors aren’t supposed to have favorites but was there one character you couldn’t wait to write about and why?

I love writing all of my characters. Choosing between them is legit like choosing between your kids. I would hate myself for even thinking about it, to be honest. Some characters can be more challenging, some less. I think at the end of the day, every single character I wrote stole a piece of my heart, so I literally have to love them, even if they piss me off sometimes, lol.

6 Where is the one place in the world that inspires you the most?

France. I love France. It inspires me. The culture, the architecture, the language. I’ve only been there four times in my life, but I absolutely adored it there. I like to give my characters French surnames, like LeBlanc. It makes me feel a little more connected to the place.

7 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

A glass of wine watching TV with my husband. Basically Netflix and chill.

8 Describe your ultimate holiday.

Somewhere in the Far East. I really enjoyed travelling Thailand. I wish I could go back there. I love roaming a big city like Bangkok for the first week, and use the second week to chillax on a beach somewhere (in my case, it was Koh Samui.) That’s my ideal vacation and that’s what I did for my honeymoon. I’d like to go back one day.

9 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

There are so many, but if I’m being honest, probably Garett from The Deal. He just seems like a swoon-worthy book boyfriend who would not screw you over like the guys I tend to write.

10 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt.

Just kidding! Here’s the real list: Chris Pratt, Jason Momoa, Stephen James. Honestly, I don’t have five. Maybe Harry Styles? No. That would be weird. He’s way too young for me. So, yeah, scratch that.

11 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

JK Rowling, my mom and Tina Fey. It’s going to be fun, hilarious and very insightful. Plus, my mom would be there to make sure I don’t get super drunk and embarrass myself!

12 If there was one profession you would like to attempt other than your own, what would it be?

Honest to god, I am spectacularly untalented if you exclude writing. I would probably be a kindergarten teacher because I like kids.

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

So, the best way to connect with me is to join my reading group. I’m there daily (shout out to my Sassy Sparrows! You ladies are the best). I tend to socialize and just have fun with my readers, but if you want to stay in the loop about my sales and releases, you should definitely follow me on Amazon. Here are the links:

Join LJ’s mailing list for exclusive material and free e-books ➜ http://goo.gl/FwfMzr

Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Reading group ➜https://goo.gl/QZJ0NC
Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Review – Sparrow Review – Tyed

Review – Vicious Review – Ruckus Review – Scandalous

Shayla Black

I was very lucky to find Shayla’s books when I first came back to reading and instantly fell in love with her characters and the relationships that she builds. Every book pulls on all my emotions and I can’t wait for the next to come out. I was also extremely lucky to sit next to Shayla on a plane coming home from a convention. She was wonderful and we talked the whole way. It is definitely one of my favorite memories.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels. For nearly twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

If you’re interested in the random fact or two, I’m a skincare and makeup maven. I’m also an insomniac. For the first time in my life, I’m figuring out that video games are a great stress reliever. (I’m currently playing Fallout 4, Skyrim, and Uncharted.) I enjoy taking cruises, watching thought-provoking movies (but I can’t stand gore!), and working on puzzles because if my brain isn’t whirling, that means I’m asleep or dead. LOL!

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I was in college when I was bitten by the writing bug. I didn’t grow up in a bookish family. In fact, I didn’t start reading for pleasure until I was 18. But once I found romance, I was hooked. Within a year, I was drafting stories in my head. I continued to pursue my path, armed with nothing but an idea and a dream. Nearly 20 years later, it’s been a more amazing ride than I could have ever imagined!

3 Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

I’ve heard from my thriller and mystery authors friends that no one asks them if they re-enact murder scenes from their books… I’m pretty big on separating my personal from professional life. The short answer is not intentionally. That said, we’re all human and have the same basic human experiences when it comes to sex.

4 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

There are a ton of deserving books worthy of becoming of a movie or series, I’m sure. I’m a bit of an oddball about this since I’m not a visual person. I actually prefer words. I like the act of reading and forming my own images—when I need them. Most of the time when I’m reading, I don’t see a movie in my head, I feel a rolling tide of emotion. Same when I’m writing. So while I hope lots of these books get the exposure of a visual medium, it’s not my favorite way to experience a romance.

5 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I think everyone has, and sometimes that’s worked out great. Other times, not so much. I’ve also read some of my favorite books in spite of the cover and am so glad I listened to my gut instinct after reading the blurb, rather than relying on the visual. But as I stated earlier, I’m not a visual person. I’m far more enticed by words.

6 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

During summer, it’s a dip in the pool, a little time with whatever video game I’m currently playing, followed by some fun and random YouTube videos. During the winter, I’m more likely to want to clear off my DVR and Netflix queue by the fire.

7 Describe your ultimate holiday.

I love the holidays where everyone can be chill, and there are no expectations except to have fun. So I love Halloween, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day. Christmas and Thanksgiving are nice. It’s great to see family, and I love the traditions. But I find I’m just happier on holidays where no one is sequestered in the kitchen frantically cooking or in a bedroom frantically wrapping.

8 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

I’m not good with “favorite” anything (even food). Because I do everything by mood. It just depends on how I’m feeling at the moment, what I’ve been recently influenced by, and honestly what I’ve been writing. I tend to fall for a lot of my heroes. I wouldn’t write them if I didn’t find them swoonworthy in some way. But we all fall in love with more than one book boyfriend or we wouldn’t keep reading.

9 What turns you on and what turns you off?

On: Intelligence! Not to mention a deep voice, a wide chest, and gorgeous eyes. I love a good sense of humor, especially if it’s dry. And he’s got to have a warm heart, even if it’s under a gruff exterior.

Off: Immaturity, laziness, violence, a bros-before-hos mentality.

10 Boxer or briefs? Or commando???

Because I’m not that visual, I’m good with whatever. But I will say boxers aren’t my favorite…

11 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

Okay, so you’ll think I’m crazy, but this is another direction my mind just doesn’t go. Again, because I’m not visual but emotional, I’d probably say no one. I wouldn’t have the emotional experience with a hot stranger that I would with my husband, and at the end of the day, I value that more than a gorgeous actor or model. Plus, I don’t keep up with celebrities well. I think Chris Hemsworth is very pretty…but I don’t really know a lot of these guys’ names. I know, I know. You can say it. A lot of my friends think I’m insane, too.

12 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

Jane Austen and Walt Disney. I wouldn’t mind time with Nikola Tesla, John D. Rockefeller, or Queen Elizabeth I, either. The first two contributed to our common experience and dreamed big. The latter three simply had fascinating minds and lives. In reading their biographies, I learned something valuable from them all. I know that’s more people than I’m allowed to invite…but I’m a rule breaker from way back.

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

I love connecting with readers! Here’s where you can find me:

Website l Newsletter l Facebook l FB Chat Group: l Instagram

Goodreads l Twitter l Pinterest l Spotify l Google+ l YouTube l BookBub

Series

More than Words

Wicked Lovers

Misadventures

The Perfect Gentlemen (with Lexi Blake)

Masters of Ménage (with Lexi Blake)

Doms of Her Life (with Jenna Jacob and Isabella LaPearl)

Sexy Capers

Doomsday Brethren

Standalone Titles

Historicals

Claire Marta

When I first read Frostbite, the first book in The Hunter Chronicles series, I instantly loved Claire Marta’s style of writing. I got wrapped up in the world that she built and left on edge waiting for her next book to come out. I’m excited to welcome Claire Marta as out Author of the Month.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

My name is Claire Marta. I am a Brit who lives in Rome Italy with my Daughter and Husband. We have one black cat who is a little psycho at times but we love him. I love reading, taking photos, collecting weird and wonderful glass paper weights. I also like to try and keep fit but the sometimes conflicts with being a couch potato!

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I have always loved making up stories ever since I was young. I was the quiet kid in the corner who was always lost in her own little world. As I grew older I would scribble them down. After becoming a bookworm it got to the stage where I decided that maybe I could share them with the world. I LOVE romance books so it was only natural to go with that genre especially PNR. I like being able to make the impossible possible. Also who wouldn’t want to be able to create hot alpha males?

3 Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

A couple I have yes. Sometimes though when writing I have them playing out in my head which in a way counts right? Lol

4 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

There are so many! Honestly I don’t think I could choose because there are so many great series out there and all of them would be fantastic as TV/Movie series!

5 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

Yes. I do tend to be caught by a book cover first and then comes the blurb. I think that happens for everyone. If it peeks the interest then you find yourself wanting to learn more. Then if the book is good it sucks you in and when you finish you want to see if the Author has anymore. Quiet a few times I have gone for new authors because of this and loved what I have discovered! It’s a great way of finding to reads and expanding the TBR list on my kindle!

6 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

Watching a new movie and snuggling with my daughter while we eat icecream ? Being a Mum to me that is my perfect evening. Having a giggle and seeing her having fun is all I could ever ask for.

7 Describe your ultimate holiday.

Adventure! Somewhere I could see jungles, beaches, visit cities. Maybe an around the world trip seeing all the sights. I have been to places around Europe but I would love to wander further. America would also be a dream vacation! So many places I would love to visit there and friends I would love to meet! I think it would be a blast and I am planning for that one day in the future!

8 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

This question isn’t fair because as a bookworm you know I have more than one!!! In fact I have Harems! Off the top of my head Preppy from TM Frazier as he’s sweet but psycho. Enzio from the masked Emotions series by V.E Campundoni is another one! He’s dominant but loving and the rest of my book boyfriends are safely tucked away.

9 What turns you on and what turns you off?

Someone who knows what they want and not afraid to tell you. Honesty, creativity, sweetness wrapped up in alpha. Turn offs are someone who can never make up their mind. That just drives me nuts.

10 Boxer or briefs? Or commando???

Hmm I am going to go with boxers as its always nice to unwrap them ? Makes the anticipation last longer.

11 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

I haven’t really thought about this one for a while! Brock O’Hurn because he’s just so yummy with his man bun! Jason Momoa because he does things to my girl parts when ever I see a pic of him. Benedict Cumberbatch because I love his voice and he was the perfect Sherlock for me ever. Chris Hemsworth is next as he’s a fantastic as Thor and who would not want to have a go with his hammer?! Lol Vin Diesel because there is just something about him that get’s me hot and bothered and I love his smooth as silk voice.

12 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

Only 4? Eek! That’s really hard! It would have to be my beta readers who I love like sisters but have not had a chance to meet in real life yet. Mary, Susan, Christine and Abrianna. We talk every day about everything and anything and they are a big part of my life and writing process now. I would also let Jen my editor know where we were so she could gate crash! Then that would be the perfect dinner!

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

Twitter l Instagram l Facebook l Website l Amazon

The Hunter Chronicles

Jeaniene Frost

I am so excited to welcome Jeaniene Frost as our Author of the Month. I had taken an extended break from reading for no real reason but I saw an interview with Charlaine Harris and she had mentioned Once Burned the first book in the Night Prince series. Once I read that book I have not stopped reading since. I am so grateful and love everything that Jeaniene writes. I can’t wait for each new release!!!

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Gosh, I never know what to say about myself that won’t put people to sleep. I am so boring, my publishers have to try very hard to make my biographies sound even the slightest bit interesting. Okay, let’s see, I married my high-school sweetheart and we’re coming up on our 25^th wedding anniversary at the end of this year. I have two dogs who believe that I was put on this earth for the sole purpose of serving them, and since I write books for a living, it should surprise no one that reading is my favorite hobby. Aside from that, I am a big fan of ordering in food versus cooking, and traveling to fun places by car because I am afraid to fly.

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I wanted to write ever since I was twelve, when I first attempted to make short stories out of my dreams. That was also the age that I swiped a novel from my mother’s book shelf and discovered the romance genre. I’ve been hooked on romance novels and the dream of writing ever since. That’s why I chose the romance genre when I finally stopped procrastinating about writing a book and actually did it. At the time, I had no real thought about getting published. I just wanted to write a story featuring my favorite elements: romance, vampires, action, steaminess, and humor. No one was more shocked than me when the first book I ever finished turned out to be the same book that kicked off my career as a published author.

3 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr, and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Both have stunning worldbuilding elements that I would love to see on a big or small screen, and since both writers are friends and fabulous people, it would thrill me for personal reasons, too.

4 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I used to do that a LOT when I had more time, but now that my TBR pile is taller than me, I am very choosy about what I add to it. Mostly, I now read based solely on recommendations from friends or trusted blogger/reviewer sources.

5 I know that authors aren’t supposed to have favourites but was there one character you couldn’t wait to write about and why?

I really can’t wait to write about Ian, who will be making his headlining debut in the upcoming Night Rebel series. Ian first appeared in the second Night Huntress novel as one of the villains, and I fully intended to kill him by the end of that book! However, as the ending drew near, I decided to let him live and kill him in the next book. *grins* Needless to say, I changed my mind about killing him in that book, too. Soon, Ian started showing that there was more to him than his constant, gleeful attempts to both manipulate and/or copulate with every character in the Night Huntress series. By the time Ian appeared as a significant side character in Into The Fire, the final Night Prince novel, I knew I had to tell his story, and I’m so excited to be able to.

6 Where is the one place in the world that inspires you the most?

New Orleans. There’s such history there, and if that weren’t enough, there are so many paranormal stories associated with that city, too. I’m going back in September for NOLA StoryCon, and I can’t wait!

7 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

A hot bath followed by time on the couch watching TV with my husband and my dogs. Throw in some delivery food, and it’s nirvana for me. See? I told you I was boring!

8 Describe your ultimate holiday.

It would be toss-up between a ten-day vacation at the Universal Orlando theme parks on Florida, or a ten-day vacation in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I LOVE both places, and really, my preference for once versus the other changes from day to day depending on my mood. Right now, I might lean more toward Universal because I’ve been to New Orleans more recently than I’ve had a theme park vacation, and I am a theme park junkie. In case anyone was wondering (you weren’t, but I’m going to tell you anyway, heh) I always pick Universal Orlando theme parks over Disney because Universal’s on-site hotels allow me to bring my dogs with me. Hear that, Disney? Until you begin to allow pets into your hotels, you’ll never get a dime of MY vacation money! (they don’t care, but I feel better saying it ;)).

9 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

I can’t pick just one. I’m way too fickle for that. Let’s see, Jamie from the Outlander series is still one of my favorite heroes even twenty after I first picked up that story. So is Eric from the Southern Vampire series, and for a long time, I was hooked on Jean Claude from the Anita Blake series, too. More recently, it’s been Charles from the Alpha and Omega series, and I’m sure I’ll have more names to add once I get through my TBR pile.

10 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

Snort. I don’t have a Freebie List. Besides, if I ever put enough time and mental effort into making one, it would probably be filled with all fictional characters versus real people, anyway.

11 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

Melissa Marr, Ilona Andrews, my husband, and my sister Jinger. These are the people who know me the best, yet still want to hang out with me despite that ;).

12 If there was one profession you would like to attempt other than your own, what would it be?

Photography, though I wouldn’t be any good at it. Believe me, I’ve tried, and I don’t have “the eye.” But I love how pictures can capture places, people, events, and even feelings. They’re like mini time capsules, and they can also provide raw, unflinching glimpses into people’s lives, which is why I believe in the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

All of the above!

Facebook l Twitter l Amazon l Goodreads

Series

Night Huntress

Night Huntress World

Night Prince

Broken Destiny

Paige Tyler

I fist started reading Paige Tyler’s SWAT series and was instantly intrigued by the story lines and characters. After meeting Paige at RT Booklovers Convention, I found her very giving and just a wonderful person. I’m very excited to have Paige Tyler as our Author of the Month.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Hi, Paige Tyler here. I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense. I live with my very own military hero (my hubby) on the beautiful Florida coast with our adorable fur baby (our dog). I’m currently involved in four different on-going series: X-OPS, Special Wolf Alpha Team (SWAT), SEALs of Coronado, and Dallas Fire & Rescue. My books feature hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them. They’re full of action, suspense, danger…and steamy romance, of course.

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I’ve been writing since I was a little kid…I mean like eight years old. I remember writing stories about our dogs and cats having romantic adventures together (note: in my eight-year-old mind, cats were girls and dogs were boys. I have no idea why I thought this…I was eight!). But even then, it was always about the hero and heroine finding that special someone and having a happily ever after.

As I got older, I kept writing in lots of different subgenres like westerns, sci-fi, time-travel, paranormal, erotic—you name it. But no matter what, the romance and HEA were always there.

3 Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

Sure! Though it probably isn’t in the way you think. I write with my husband (yes…even those scenes!) and most of our re-enactments revolve around the physical positioning stuff. Where are all the arms and legs located while in any given position? It’s going to sound bizarre, but writing a sex scene is extremely similar to writing an action/fight scene. Step one is always figuring out the physical stuff. Then you come up with the emotion/dialogue possibilities based on the particular position you’re in.

4 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

Well, I assume you’re asking for a book or series authored by someone other than me because I tell you, I’d LOVE for any of my series to make it to TV or the big screen

So, based on that assumption, I’m going to go with R.L. Naquin’s Monster Haven Series. It’s full of memorable, larger than life characters and multi-faceted, absorbing plot lines. I’d love to see that series make it to TV.

5 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

Of course! They say we eat first with our eyes. The same could be said for books. In the store, on Amazon, or in the Goody Room at RT, we all tend to scan quickly through the piles of stuff out there, waiting for something to catch our eyes. That’s how I found the Monster Haven Series. The cover of the first book jumped out and grabbed my attention.

I keep this is mind when I work on the covers for my own books. They have to stand out and grab people’s attention. It doesn’t matter how good the story is. If no one picks up the book, they’ll never know that.

6 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

I love to cuddle up on the couch with hubby and our fur baby. We might have the TV on, but mostly it’s about relaxing and decompressing from the frantic pace we keep.

7 Describe your ultimate holiday.

That’s easy! My ultimate holiday would be a trip to Walt Disney World, with a Disney Cruise tacked on the end of it! I’m an absolute Disney freak. I could pretty much live there.

8 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

I’m going to assume again that you’re asking for a book boyfriend from another author’s work because I’m totally in love with all of the heroes in the books I write (especially werewolf/SWAT cop Landry Cooper from the Special Wolf Alpha Team (SWAT) Series, who’s inspired by hubby!). It’s difficult to pick one book boyfriend because it usually ends up being the hero of the book I’m reading at the moment. A quick list would be Clay Danvers from Kelley Armstrong’s Bitten; Sam Starrett and Lawrence Decker from Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters; and Riley from R.L. Naquin’s Monster Haven Series.

9 What turns you on and what turns you off?

I like a confident, capable man who knows how to step up and handle himself in difficult situation. Essentially, an alpha hero. However, it’s extremely easy for that concept to go too far and the alpha hero quickly turns into an alpha-hole. There’s a line between protecting/rescuing a woman and attempting to take over and make decisions for her. The latter is a major turn-off for me.

10 Boxer or briefs? Or commando???

Boxer Briefs. Boxers are too baggy, and commando reveals too much, too soon.

11 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

Not that I ever would, but for the sake of the question, my list includes:

Sam and Dean Winchester (they only count as one, right?).
Chris Hemsworth
Viggo Mortenson
David Boreanaz
Jason Momoa

12 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

Hubby.
Janet, my BFF and Personal Assistant.
Moni, my Friend and Mentor.
And one of my Superfans (they know who they are!)

There would be a lot more, of course. I love hanging out with all my friends and fans, but you limited me to four, so there you go.

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

Website l Blog l Facebook Profile l Facebook Author l X-Ops Series Reader Group
SWAT Series Reader Group l Paige Tyler’s Groupies Central on FB
Dallas Fire & Rescue Kindle World Reader Group on FB
Twitter l Pinterest l Wattpad l Instagram l Google+
Goodreads l Newsletter l email

Series:

X-Ops Series

Swat Seres

SEALs of Coronado

Dallas Fire and Rescue

Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Romantic Suspense

Paranormal

Western

Contemporary

Science Fiction

Freya Barker

I just recently read one of Freya Barker’s novels and instantly fell in love with her characters. She has a way of writing that takes to you the place that she is writing about and you feel so connected to the people in the story. I can’t wait to read more of Freya’s books.

Please welcome our Author of the Month.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

Believe it or not, this is the hardest question to answer, but here goes. I’m a mother and a wife. I have four grown children (two bio and two step) but only have my pooch, Pepper left at home. I had a million careers in my lifetime, but none as rewarding as this one; a writer. I was raised with a love for reading in a family where everyone’s favorite pastime was picking up a book, and to this day that is still my favorite hobby. Well… except perhaps for an unhealthy newfound obsession with HBO series on Netflix. I have some friends to thank for that… or perhaps blame?

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

The writing started with reviews for new releases for a blog, which I enjoyed so much, my reviews tended to be a little too wordy. As someone on the best side of forty, I became a little tired though, of all the young perky and rather immature heroes and heroines and when the H/h were a little more mature, they apparently became rather boring and ‘proper’. I’m mature, and I’m not proper. I wanted to read about someone like me; someone not perfect, not perky, not twenty something and just as deserving of romance, adventure, sex and love. So I started writing books that I would want to read.

Romance comes natural. Love is pivotal in every life and we all like to dream of the ‘perfect’ match out there for us. Writing romance is a way for me to recreate my definition of the perfect connection, over and over again. There clearly is a lot of me in my books.

3 Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

Hahahaha. Some of the sex scenes I describe would require a flexibility and mobility of me, I sadly no longer posses. Having said that, it wouldn’t be outside of the realm to assume I write mostly from experience. Take from that what you like. LOL

4 Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV series.

Every book I’ve written. I’m dead serious, I’d love to see Cedar Tree as a series, I might even have some suggestions for casting. (Envisioning Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Gus in Slim To None) And I honestly believe that the books in the Portland, ME, series—From Dust in particular—would make fabulous movies. All the feels. Sigh.
Other than that, I would have to say the Colorado Mountain Series by Kristen Ashley. Those would all make fantastic movies.

5 Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I don’t think so. I’ve read books, and written books, where the cover inspired a character or a scene, but not an entire book. For me, I have the story in my head before I even start looking at cover images.

6 What is your ideal way to end a long day?

Quietly. LOL. My husband goes to bed early, so I usually will dink around on my laptop while watching something on TV. But my favorite part is crawling into bed with my Kindle. My time to read without pressure, other than the heavy eyelids robbing me of much wanted reading time.

7 Describe your ultimate holiday.

A beautiful spot in nature. Colorado comes to mind. No responsibilities, none whatsoever, no one counting on me. Solitude and silence are bliss to me. Check in with me again in a few months, though, I might well have changed my mind on this!

8 Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

Gus Flemming, if you are looking for one from my own books. He was my first and completely made in the image of what I deem to be the perfect guy.

Joe Callahan in At Peace by Kristen Ashley, but then I also loved Tate Jackson in Sweet Dreams, by the same author. I have a hard love for Kristen Ashley’s characters.

9 What turns you on and what turns you off?

Turn ons are a great smile, a good sense of humor, an easy confidence and a strong personality. Turn offs are indecisiveness, bad teeth, arrogance, pettiness, weakness and body odor. I’m sure there’s more I could find on either side of that coin but we’d probably be here all day.

10 Boxer or briefs? Or commando???

You know what? It depends on the guy. Some guys have to be boxer, some briefs, but commando only works on the right guy! LOL

11 Who is your top five “Freebie List”? (I think this is also known as a Hall Pass. Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?)

I don’t think there’s anyone who fits that bill as far as my partner is concerned, but for me it would be (in no particular order): Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Robert Downey Junior, Jason Momoa, Denzel Washington, and the last one is a toss up between Travis Fimmel and Charlie Hunnam… or maybe we’ll make that a sandwich? Yeah… it’s gluten free, right?

12 You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

I’d like to say Kristen Ashley (I have a serious fangirl going on here), Robert Downey Junior (he’s always entertaining), and JDM (for those much needed heart flutters)—but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the food. So I’ll probably just invite my kids and hubs, they like good food and at least I wouldn’t have to worry about having spinach stuck between my teeth.

13 How can our readers connect with you? Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, etc.

Oh lord… all of the above and then some. Here are the links:

Facebook : Twitter : Google+ : Instagram : Amazon : Web : Goodreads

Newsletter: email : BookBub

Series

SNAPshot series:

Portland, ME Novels:

Cedar Tree Series:

Kelly Moore

We welcome Kelly Moore as our April 2017 Author of the Month. Lulu has read two of Kelly’s novels being Next August and This August, my reviews are listed below:

Next August – 5 Hearts
This August – 4 Hearts

Other Series by Kelly Moore is 4 Book Broken Pieces, starting with Book 1 – Broken Pieces:

1.Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

I’ve been married to the same handsome man for 31 years. Our first date was on my 19^th birthday. We have two grown children and 3 adorable grandchildren. By profession, I’m a traveling nurse. I work in ICU’s all across this country. Which is why you usually see a nurse in my books. Most of the places I’ve lived are in my books too. I’ve lived in a fifth wheel. I’m currently living in a small apartment that feels like the size of a castle to me. Our dog Cy, our 9 year old lab, travels with us everywhere.

As far as hobbies go, I love to hike, camp, read, and explore any time I get a chance. I love being outdoors. My husband says I’m really a “gypsy” at heart.How did you get into writing and why romance?I’ve been journaling since I was about 8 years old. I came from a very dysfunctional family, like so many others. I wrote for an escape. That escape grew into something that I love to do.

Why romance? I love a good love story. I especially love seeing someone so broken, that only love can put them back together. My romances books grew into romance/suspense books. I think that grew out of the adventures that I have taken. I actually rank much higher under suspense than I do romance.

I also like a strong female character who doesn’t need saving. They are all capable of saving themselves.

2. Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

Wow! This is a very personal question. Um…let’s just say that my husband loves this part of my books. Every now and then, I’ll say, “baby, can we see if this works?” He is more than happy to oblige.

3. Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV Series.

My favorite series is Hardwired by Meredith Wild. I love the characters that she created. Both are very strong willed and madly in love with one another.

As far as series go, I would like to see Sherilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter books become a TV series. If you have never read any of her books, you are missing out!

4. Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

I can honestly say that I don’t think I have. Now, I’ve not read a book because of its cover. I know I write romance books, but I don’t like to see half-naked men and woman on the cover. I’m talking about covers where there is little to the imagination as to what they are doing.

I like for a cover to tell a story. My latest book out, This August, has August on the cover with his shirt unbuttoned. It was meant to show his progression from Next August. He was a city boy and only wore suits. Now, he’s in the country wearing blue jeans and boots.

5. What is your ideal way to end a long day?

Cuddled up with my hubby on the couch, a glass of wine, and my dog at my feet.

6. Describe your ultimate holiday.

When you say holiday, I don’t know if you mean actual holiday or vacation, so I will answer both.

My favorite place I’ve been is Oregon. It to me, is the most beautiful place in the United States. I love the coast and the mountains. I’ve chased waterfalls and lighthouses. I’ve hiked places that most people don’t know exist. There is one specific place in Oregon, that if I could live the rest of my life, it would be a little town called Bend. There is actually a river that runs through the town that you can tube in. We watched a Cheryl Crow concert floating in the water.

Now holiday as in actual holiday, I love Memorial Weekend. A bunch of us meet every year and spend 4 days together. Sometimes it’s in a boat on the ocean, it may be Key West, Clearwater Beach, Crystal River, or camping in someone’s back yard. You never know where you will find us. These are my most cherished memories.

7. Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

Acheron from the Dark Hunters Series. Why? Because he is a Greek God, need I say more?

8. Boxers or briefs? Or commando???

I love Boxers, but commando is even better!!

9. Who is on your top five “Freebie List”? Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind?

I’m showing my age here, but in his younger days, Robert Redford was who I would swoon over. To be honest, I still do. My husband took me to his restaurant last year that Robert Redford owns. I was hoping to see him, but he wasn’t there.

So, you said 5.

Robert Redford
Hugh Jackman
Paul Newman
Brad Pitt
And he would probably say Jennifer Anniston. LOL

10. You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

My daughter
My Son
My husband

11. How can our readers connect with you?

My website www.kellymooreauthor.com
Facebook http://on.fb.me/1P9G9V4
Amazon http://amzn.to/1mU6Y9p
Twitter http://bit.ly/1moBlUD
Goodreads http://bit.ly/1RkemHh
You can join my newsletter from my website.

Meg Collett

Lulu has read the Canaan Island series by Meg Collett and absolutely love this whole group of characters, it centres around three women with their own personal struggles, their connection to their homes and the Island. The journey is beautiful with love their reward so start at the beginning with Fakers you will not be disappointed. Lulu’s reviews listed below –

Fakers (Book 1 Canaan Island) – 5 Hearts – My Review
Keepers (Book 2 Canaan Island) – 5 Hearts – My Review
Hiders (Book 3 Canaan Island) – 5 Hearts – My Review

Other Titles by Meg Collett:

Fear University (3 Book Series)

End of Days (3 Book Series)

Days of New (5 Book Series)

1.Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

I live in rural Tennessee with my husband, two English Mastiffs, one mutt, and a very large horse with a diva complex. When I’m not writing, I’m normally riding my horse (I’ve ridden since I was six years old) or playing video games with my husband (Far Cry, Call of Duty, Halo).

2. How did you get into writing and why romance?

Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I started writing my first book, The Hunted One, many, many years before I actually published it. I would write off and on, find myself stuck in a plot hole, and take a break. But I could never give the story up. I often say that I literally grew up with the characters from THO and it’s true. In 2013, I got married at the age of twenty-three, and I really focused on the finishing the book. Then in 2014, I took a leap of faith and started writing full-time. As for the romance element in my books, I write stuff that I would want to read. As a reader, I LOVE these sweeping stories of romance and the lengths we will go to for the ones we love. I think readers love romance so much because romance has the power to truly move us. These books make readers feel so much by connecting to this basic, inherent desire we all feel to be loved and experience love. There’s nothing better in the world than a book with a captivating, heart-pounding romance.

3.Do you ever re-enact the sex scenes you write about?

Holy cow, no. To write my sex scenes, I have to have a few glasses of wine and really loud music blaring in my ears so I can’t hear my thoughts telling me how ashamed my mother would be of me. I’m still learning how to write sex scenes. I believe they’re the hardest type of scene to write. Maybe once I get better at them, I’ll re-enact them. Maybe. Geez, I’m blushing right now. Are these questions supposed to make me blush? I’m the most squeamish romance writer you’ll ever meet. I blame my Southern Baptist upbringing.

4. Name a romance book or series you would love to see as a movie/TV Series.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson! The story in it is a romantic reincarnation type tale, but it’s so much more than that. It’s just amazing and beautiful and it would make the perfect movie. If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend you do. Holy crap, it’s good. Also, the Hades Hangmen Series by Tillie Cole. Those books will rip your heart out and leave you begging for more.

5. Have you ever read a book based solely on its cover?

Too many to count! I’ll just browse bookstore shelves and pick up certain books because of their cover. If I like the blurb, I’ll buy them. It’s a really great way to discover new books you wouldn’t have tried before. I’ve found some of my favorite reads this way.

6. What is your ideal way to end a long day?

My husband and I have recently started using the Blue Apron subscription service. So we’ll cook together in the evenings with a good bottle of wine and some great music blaring. It’s the best.

7. Describe your ultimate holiday.

Going to Bora Bora and staying in one of those huts over the water. It looks like sheer bliss. I would read while on one of those hammocks suspended over the water. It looks epic.

Who is your favourite book boyfriend and why?

Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. His story is just so beautiful and I love him so much.

8. Boxers or briefs? Or commando???

BOXERS!

9. Who is on your top five “Freebie List”? Who could you sleep with that your partner won’t mind? (Remember Friends TV Episode with Ross & Rachel)

Technically my husband and I have never talked about this, but Michael Fassbender would have to be on this list or me and the hubs would have problems.

10. You have a table booked for four in your favourite restaurant. Who would you invite to join you?

I’m assuming we can invite book characters. I would invite Celaena from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas because this series is my favorite of all time and Celaena is just amazing. This is probably pretty egotistical of me, but I would invite Ollie from my Fear University series because I just desperately want her to be real so we can be best friends. After that, I would invite Harry Potter and Johannes Cabal from Jonathan Howard’s Johannes Cabal the Necromancer series (another really great read! Not much romance though, you’ve been warned).

11. How can our readers connect with you?

My website: www.megcollett.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/collettmeg
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Meg-Collett/e/B00HTE7ML0/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/collettmeg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334288.Meg_Collett

Elle Kennedy

I first discovered Elle Kennedy back in December 2010 when I bought the first book in her Out of Uniform series. After quickly devouring that one, I purchased the next four books in that series, as well as some of her stand-alones. Since then, I have read over twenty of her books and look forward to many more in the future.

Please welcome our Author of the Month, Elle Kennedy.

1 Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, hobbies, pets, etc).

I live in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario with my big black lab mix Morgan. When I’m not writing for work, I’ve been known to write for fun, otherwise you’ll find me outdoors hiking or gardening or swimming at the lake.

2 How did you get into writing and why romance?

I knew from an early age that I wanted to write, and have been putting thoughts to paper for as long as I can remember. Romance is such a fun genre because as much as I love a happily-ever-after, the journey to get there is the best part.