Friday, December 30, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A GIVE@WAY

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! The contest starts Dec 31st and ends on Jan 7th 2012.



What a year. I released Slow Burn, the first book in the Fitgerald series, in April and haven't looked back. Between writing both my YA series and this series, talking with publishers, marketing, blogging, doing interviews while taking care of my five kids, one of whom went to college, I've been so busy. I voulfn't hsv done it without your support, you wonderful readers.

To usher in new year, I decided to do a fun giveaway, but first....

SLOW BURN (Ashley Fitzgerald's story) is now on kindle lending program for $0.00 and for sale at $0.99 on Amazon.


MINE UNTIL DAWN (Jade Fitzgerald's story) has also been temporarily reduced to $0.99 wherever books are sold.

KISS ME CRAZY (Baron Fitzgerald's story) is still available for $2.99 wherever e-books are sold

And coming Feb 1st is DANGEROUS LOVE (Faith Fitzgerald's story), the fourth book in the series. Woo-hoo.

NOW FOR THR CONTEST


3 winners will get:

1. A signed copy of one of my first three books
2. A mug to go with the book

TO ENTER:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment
2. Follow me on twitter
3. Join the Fitzgeralds page on FB.
4. help spread the word by tweeting and posting on FB and leave the link here

The contest is International.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mid-Winter's Eve-Congrats

Hope you had a fabulous Christmas and you are all ready for the new year.  As always, I appreciate the love and support, and yes, we have a winner for the Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop.
I'll have another giveaway next weekk to usher in New Year, so be sure to come back.

And the winner is...

Helen (helldog3)

Remember, take your pick of my books and mug...

Contact me with your addy. Use the e-mail on the side or contact me on FB or twitter.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Mid-Winter's Eve and Merry Christmas Surprise

Merry Christmas and to celebrate, I'm participating in the Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Oasis for YA.



The winner will get a Christmas package containing:

1. Your choice of a signed copy of Slow Burn or Mine Until Dawn or Kiss Me Crazy
2. A mug of your choice
3. Signed bookmarks
4. A Christmas SURPRISE (?)

MERRY CHRISTMAS: If you have a kindle, get your free copy of Slow Burn on 21st-22nd December.

















To ENTER:

1. Follow my blog.
2. leave a comment and your e-mail,
3. Follow me on twitter
4. Join the Fitzgeralds page on FB.

Contest is International

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Season To Give Winner

Raondom.org has spoken. Congrats to:

Rosie Hong

You are the winner of a gift cad from Amazon.

Notifiy me asap.
ednahyaauthor@aol.com

hugs

keep reading

XOXO

Ednah

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Season to Give



There is a time for every moment...a time to sing, a time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to love and of course, a time to GIVE. I'm excited to be participating in Gift Card Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Attack of the Book.


The winner will get a $20 e-gift card from Amazon.


To ENTER:

1. Follow my blog, leave a comment and your e-mail,
2. Follow me on twitter
3. Join the Fitzgeralds page on FB.


I write contemporary romance about women you can identify with and the challenges they face in their path to find love. The fact that these books involve members of a prominent family in the west coast is an added bonus because you get to catch up with previous couples. Some are married, others are following their dreams discussed in their story and some have new additions to their family.

The series starts with Ashley Fitzgerald's story in SLOW BURN:


Then Jade Fitzgerald's story in MINE UNTIL DAWN:


The third ine is Baron Fitzgerald's story in KISS ME CRAZY





Coming in February is Faith Fitzgerald's story in DANGEROUS LOVE.



Here is the code for the linky - paste it into HTML mode:

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

THE BEST HEROES ARE….



“Hi, my name is Ednah and I’m a tortured-hero addict.” 
Say, “Hi” then share your addiction(s).
Seriously, what type of heroes rocks your world?  Is it the flirt? The perfect and charming one? The serious, meticulous kind? The cocky bad boy?  The nerdy hunk? The tortured brooder?
I remember a critique partner kept pushing me to read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books. I resisted for so long but finally succumbed.
For months she raved about her favorite hero. All she talked about was Hollywood—I can’t remember his name now, but if you’ve read the series, you know the one. He’s the gorgeous hunk with multi-shaded blond hair.  She raved about how hot he was, gorgeous and charming…everything she loved in a hero.
When I finished four of the books, I only had one word for her—Zsadist. Boy, talk about a tortured hero. I loved Z before I read his story.  Cried when I read it. And he spoiled the rest of the series for me.  Okay, he didn’t exactly do that.  After I read the ghost wife book, my interest in the series tapered off.
Anyway, this post is not about Ward’s BDB series. It’s about heroes.  What we like in our heroes and what we don’t.  Look at TV characters we love, the programs we tune in to watch every week. I’m talking about Dr. House, White Collar, Monk…. I may like smart, nerdy guys (I love The Big Bang Theory), but my favorite guys are the tortured heroes.  The White Collar guy…what can I say? He’s so in love with his Kate he can’t see straight.  Monk and his dead wife.  House…why is House tortured?  He’s so complex every time I think I’ve figured him out, he surprises me.
Why tortured heroes? I like to see them come out that dark place and into the light, watch them become transformed by the right woman.  They tend to resist falling in love the hardest, yet they long to be loved the most. When such a man lets a woman in, you know it’s for keeps, ladies.  You got him for EVER.
So in my books, I always try to make a hero as imperfect as I possibly can and tortured. If it’s not family issues, it’s personal ones.  Ron, in SLOW BURN, is from a wealthy family, but it’s as dysfunctional as they come. They have secrets, most of them not good. They’re not big on touchy-feely moments either, so he has a lot to learn about trust and love.  Then there’s the tortured part, the guilt he carries with him that only adds to his character. 
In MINE UNTIL DAWN, my hero has it worse—dealing with rejection from his father. Part of the time he wishes the old man would stay out of his life the other part he wants his approval. 
In KISS ME CRAZY, my hero was seriously hurt in the past and when that past comes back to haunt him, it almost costs him the woman he loves. So there, I admit it—tortured heroes are my weakness.  Share your favorite heroes.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Winner of the Giveaway Hop

Thanks so much for participating in the HOP. Welcome new followers and my faithful followers, who never miss stopping by when I have contests and continue to support my writing...luv you, guys.

Drum rolls please....

The winnner is:

SuperGurlbooks

Please email me ( link on the sidebar ) with your mailing information and I'll get mail you the goodies. Another giveaway will start next week. Taking a break while I finish Nano.

XOXO

Monday, November 21, 2011

Unveiling the cover of DANGEROUS LOVE

Okay, so I was going to put this off for a while, but when I saw the cover, I had to share. 
So here it is, the cover of book 4 of the Fitzgerald Family-DANGEROUS LOVE. This is Faith's story.




UNOFFICIAL BLURB:


She has her emotions on a tight leash.

Born to a Las Vegas showgirl, fashion designer Faith Fitzgerald’s childhood wasn’t easy, until her father found her and whisked her off to L.A. to join his wealthy family. Some family members welcomed her, others didn’t.

The rejection hurt, but Faith’s moved on. She works hard and never lets her guard down, until the day she learns that someone stole and sold her designs to her competitor—her former mentor and ex-fiancé. Both of them have a show during Spring Fashion Week, which is around the corner. To catch the thief and salvage her collection, Faith decides to hire the only man known to work fast under the radar, even though he hates her.

He’s laid-back and spontaneous.

When former-FBI-agent-turned-security-consultant Kenneth Lambert receives a call from Faith Fitzgerald, asking for his services, he sees a chance to payback the gorgeous designer for the way she used him then walked out on him after a weekend of unparalleled passion. But then he learns that she’s being victimized by a man whose idea of love is both dangerous and toxic, and Kenneth pushes aside his personal agenda and agrees to help her.

As their investigation progresses, Kenneth discovers that Faith’s calm exterior hides a woman of character and strength, who’s on the verge of falling apart. Can he help her find the answers she seeks or will she accept what he’s offering her instead—acceptance, unconditional love and support?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY HOP

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway Hop!
I'm down with the flu, so there's no telling if I'll be up tonight to post this, so I'm doing it early.



This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and All Consuming Books (HERE)
There are hundreds of blogs participating, so don't miss out.  The hop starts November 17th and and runs through November 27th, midnight.
 
I'm participating to thank you, my readers, for embracing the Fitzgerald series. I had no idea when I decided to publish a contemporary adult series after publishing a YA urban fantasy book that I'd find such a loyal following. What makes you, my readers, unique is the fact that paranormal romance is so big yet my series, which is contemporary and features women you can identify with garnered quite reviews and a following. THANK YOU!!!
 
ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL GET: Slow Burn tee, bookbag and bookmarks (ignore the mouse pad)
 
 
 
How to enter:

Just follow my blog (if you're a new follower) and leave a comment with a way to contact you (twitter, email).
 
CONDITIONS**
 
MUST BE 18.
CONTEST IS INTERNATIONAL

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

MEMORABLE SCENES

What is the most memorable scene you’ve ever read in a book or seen in a movie? Is it when star-crossed lovers reunite? When they say goodbye and there seems to be no hope of them ever being together again? Or is it something as simple as a hero rubbing the heroine’s feet? Bringing her flowers just because they reminded her of her smile?


All of the above are sweet and romantic moments. We see them in books we read and in movies we watch. They make us ooh and aah, and cry. Yeah, I’m a crier at sappy moments, but what stays with me after I close the book, after I drive home from the theater, is when the hero steps outside his comfort zone because the heroine needs him. I don’t know about you, but I find such scenes unforgettable, and I love writing them.



 Think about Richard Gere (Pretty Woman above) climbing up a fire escape, a rose between his teeth, to give Julia Roberts her ‘moment’ when he was scared of heights. That’s what I’m talking about.



To make a scene like that work, you have to set the stage, so it doesn’t come across as contrived. In Pretty Woman, Julia dreamed of a hero rescuing her from the attic after her mother locked her there for being naughty. That sets up the stage for the scene later. Then there’s the hero’s part. He already mentioned the fact that he hated heights, yet he crawled up that fire escape to reach her.


In every book I write, I always make my hero and heroine do a selfless act. You know, do something that makes them uncomfortable, but they do it anyway because they need to step up and be there for each other. Those are the most memorable moments in a book.




In SLOW BURN (the first book of the Fitzgeralds), there’s this scene when Ashley has worked herself into a state because Ron is coming to her place to pose for her, yet as soon as she opens the door, she notices how tired and tense he looks. She assumes he’s been out partying…actually, he more or less hints at it when in actual fact he caught the red-eye to make it to their appointment. Instead of getting irritated, Ashley offers to relax him with a massage.

Sweet!!! (As Shawn and Gus would say)

The there’s the scene at the hospital. Ron hates hospitals. The few times he stepped inside one, someone he loved died. Yet when Ashley needs him, he braves a panic attack to be by her side. Poor Ron was sweating and hyperventilating, the walls closing in on him. Ashley, clueless about what he was going through, just assumed he was in a crappy mood, until he blurted out how much he hated hospitals.



In MINE UNTIL DAWN, Vince steps up when Jade needs her during her cousin’s bachelorette party. Even though he hates what he’s doing, he does it anyway because she needs him. I agonized about adding that scene in the book, but I just couldn’t get rid of it.

Later, there’s the scene at the club, after Vince and Jade had their fight, and she thinks he’s hurt and goes in search of him. She does this not because of the plans they had that night, but because she thought he might be hurt. Then she gets an arrhythmia attack.

HERE’S THE SNIPPET FROM THE COUNTRY CLUB SCENE in MINE UNTIL DAWN:

“Jade. Don’t.”
Her eyes wide, she slumped against the wall.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Vince offered her his hand, but she cringed, confirming what he already knew. With his bruised face and bloodied shirt, he reasoned he must look a sight. Angling his head so his injuries weren’t visible to her, he scowled, noting the helpless, cornered look in her eyes. She appeared to have trouble breathing. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” Her words were disjointed, barely audible. “It won’t last long.”
What wouldn’t last? She took in a mouthful of air, held it until her eyes swum with tears. Was she having a panic attack? His mother’s face floated in his mind, eyes rolling in the back of her head, body jerking, and limps twitching. The years he’d spent blocking the past melted into nothing. Horror, huge and powerful, pulled at him, sucking him straight into a place so dark and scary he couldn’t think or breathe.
Stop it. It is not the same.
Vince’s heart beat hard and uneven, his face damp. His gaze found Jade, and reason returned. She was conscious, on her feet, even managing a word or two. Not lying on the ground, thrashing about. This was just a panic attack, and he wasn’t a child anymore. He needed to be strong, not relive a crippling past that was best forgotten. He took another deep breath, put his own demons aside, and concentrated on Jade.
Vince ignored the way she stiffened when he gripped her shoulders and peered into her eyes. “What can I do to help?”
She wiggled her shoulder, trying to dislodge his hands, and it dawned on him. She was still angry.
“I’m sorry for what I said earlier, baby. Okay? Just tell me what to do—”
“Privacy,” she cut him off, her voice low and strained. “Go.”
Vince knew the right thing to do was turn around and let her be, but he couldn’t leave. He didn’t want to. The haunted look in her eyes called to him, told him that she needed him. Just like his mother had needed him before every attack. He pushed the thought aside.
Their eyes locked in a duel of sort, Jade’s flashing with anger, his apologetic yet reassuring, he hoped. He felt so inept. Doing nothing went against his nature. Every gulp of air she took squeezed his heart, caused his chest to ache. He held his breath, waiting anxiously until she exhaled before he did.
Watching her struggle, so brave but vulnerable, a realization hit Vince hard in the plexus. He would willingly put his life on the line to protect this woman.
He let her go long enough to unbutton his bloodied shirt, shrug it off, and let it drop on the floor, leaving him in his white cotton undershirt. He reached for Jade and hauled her into his arms, wincing at his throbbing bruises. He ignored his own pain and concentrated on her.
She was stiff and unyielding, but he didn’t care. Later, she could kick him from here to hell and back, or refuse to have anything to do with him. But he’d be nuts if he let her deal with this alone.
Tucking her head under his chin, he rubbed her back and murmured soothing words. He added apologies—for scaring her, being a jerk, involving her in his investigation, accusing her mother of stealing his statue. He couldn’t believe she came upstairs to look for him after what he’d said, but was happy she did.

SO WHAT IS THE MOST ROMANTIC SCENE YOU’VE EVER READ OR WATCHED? WHY DID IT STAY WITH YOU?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Congrats!

The hop ended too soon...boohoo

Anyway, I'd like to welcome new followers. Thank you for showing interest in the Fitzgerald series. The women are sassy and the men are hawt!!! You'll love them.

And as always, I love my regulars for always stopping by and showering me with their love. The series wouldn't be this successful without you. You guys are the best. I promise I'm close to finishing book 4. Really.

Now for the winners. Drum rolls please...

Congrats to:

1. Darlene (booknook)
2. Latisha Jean.

I need to know which format works for you, so e-mail me.

Will be back in two weeks with another giveaway, promise. Right now, nano has me in its grip, so I must write...must write....


Keep reading.

XOXO

Ednah

Monday, November 7, 2011

November Hop

Thank you for stopping by my blog, ladies. I appreciate those who continue to stop by regardless of whether they win something or not and of course, my new followers.




Thanks to Kathy of I Am A Reader Not a Writer and Tristi Pinston for holding this hop.

This time, we will have two winners:

1. The first winner gets an e-copy of Mine Until Dawn
2. The second one gets an e-copy of Kiss Me Crazy

To enter:

1. Follow my blog, leave a comment and your e-mail,
2. Follow me on twitter
3. Join the Fitzgeralds page on FB.

Contest is International.


**

Bloggers on the Tour

Here's the list of Blogs participating in the KISS ME CRAZY Tour. KISS ME CRAZY, book 3 of the Fitzgerald family, is a contemporary romance- Kara is sassy and has family issues a mile long, but she's the woman for Baron Fitzgerald. Courting her will be one hell of a ride.


Nov 7:Mindy Forbidden Reviews
Nov 8:Haydee Between The Sheets
Nov 10:Crystal Red Heads Review It Better
Nov 12: Katrina 
Page Flipperz
Nov 14: Britney L
iving Fictitiously
Nov 16:Cynthia Book Reader Addicts
Nov 17: Lisa Lisa's World of Books
Nov 18:Christina 
Intoxicated By Books
Nov 19:Tevya 
Reading Lark 
Nov 21: Anne Forbidden Reviews Guest Blogger!
Nov 22: Jowanna Pimpin' Reads
Nov 23:Lucy Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf
Nov 24: Michele 
Insane About Books
Nov 25: Megan 
Amethyst Daydreams
Nov 26: Lindsey 
United By Books
Nov 26:Amy Lady Reader's Book Stuff
Nov 28: Shelby Words To Follow
Nov 29: Katrina 
Page Flipperz
Nov 30:Renee & Stacey Sassy Book Lovers
Dec 1: Mindy wrap up Forbidden Reviews
 

You can win an e-copy of Mine Until Dawn and Kiss Me Crazy

MINE UNTIL DAWN:

She's armed with a new attitude and a kick-ass wardrobe...
By age twenty-eight, art historian Jade Fitzgerald has had a marriage from hell and an equally nasty divorce, worked hard to control her weight and her arrhythmia. The last thing she needs is another man messing with her head or shooting her heartbeat off course. That is exactly what she gets when an aloof and mysterious stranger storms into her life.

He's cynical and doesn’t take crap from anyone...
Former investigative reporter Vince Knight is on a quest to recover a priceless, ancient Mayan artifact, which he believes Jade’s mother stole. He’s skilled at gathering information while remaining emotionally detached, until he meets Jade. The voluptuous woman stirs in him a hunger he hasn’t felt in a long time and a protectiveness he can’t explain.

Until, an insane man decides to add Jade to his collection of beautiful and rare things...


KISS ME CRAZY BLURB:

She's used to putting everyone first—her sister, her friends, her boss. It’s now her turn...
Art conservator, Kara Michaels has decided it’s time to chase her dream—start her own business restoring and framing works of art. She has the skills, the nose for business, and the pent-up frustration from being invisible to the man she wants but can’t have—her boss.

He’s a meticulous planner whose rule book is about to be tossed out the window...
Baron Fitzgerald, a successful art dealer and Kara’s boss, believes in having a strategy and following it without deviation. So when Kara tenders her resignation, he sets out to convince her to stay.Baron soon realizes that falling in love cannot be planned, but the insight comes a little too late for him and Kara.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

KISS ME CRAZY BOOK TOUR


Woohoo, four more day then it's tour time. Kiss Me Crazy book tour. Thank you Forbidden Reviews.
Will post all participating blogs tomorrow.

Here's a the you-tube video of the trailer:




BLURB:

She's used to putting everyone first—her sister, her friends, her boss. It’s now her turn...

Art conservator, Kara Michaels has decided it’s time to chase her dream—start her own business restoring and framing works of art. She has the skills, the nose for business, and the pent-up frustration from being invisible to the man she wants but can’t have—her boss.

He’s a meticulous planner whose rule book is about to be tossed out the window...


Baron Fitzgerald, a successful art dealer and Kara’s boss, believes in having a strategy and following it without deviation. So when Kara tenders her resignation, he sets out to convince her to stay.Baron soon realizes that falling in love cannot be planned, but the insight comes a little too late for him and Kara.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

WRITING LOVE SCENES: IS LOVE A BATTLEFIELD?


Good morning and thank you for stopping by. I'm first to admit that I suck at bloggiing, but after doing several tours this year, I realized that I could post some of the post here for those who missed the tour. This blog was from the tour MINE UNTIL DAWN tour, book 2 of the FITZGERALD FAMILY series.




How many writers love to write love scenes? If you do, please tell me your secret. Usually, I have to mentally prepare myself for days before writing one. I read my favorite romance authors’ books, watch chick flicks and focus on the foreplay, even watch a few porn for graphic details...I'm serious.
Since I also write YA urban fantasy too with lots of fight scenes, I noticed that I spend days thinking up positions and moves, reading online articles and watching movies/anime with fight scenes before writing them. Why? There’s quite a bit of similarity between fight and love scenes, if you think about it. There are moves and countermoves, senses are engaged at a heightened level, and there’s sweating and heavy breathing.
Writers engage a reader’s senses when they write most scenes. It’s what makes a book fun to read. Your character does not only see through your characters, they smell, touch, hear, and feel. In every scene, you need to use at least three of the senses to make it gel.
So yes, writing a love scene is daunting. Not only must you know, imagine and listen to your character, you must be able to put everything she sees, feels, touches, smells, and hears into words without making them sound crass or disjointed. Since I never want to cheat readers, I tend to switch POVs halfway. Check out the scene below.

HERE’S A STEAMY SCENE FROM MINE UNTIL DAWN
“You make me want to experience things. Act differently.” She stroked his upturned face.
“Different good or different bad?” He picked the hem of her dress and flipped it up, exposing her knees, then her thighs.
“Oh, bad. Very, very bad.”
He chuckled.
“Good because that makes two of us.” He caressed her calves, dropped his head to nibble on her thigh.
The astonishing intimacy robbed Jade of breath. It never crossed her mind to protest or cross her legs. Just having him there between her legs, kneeling, his mouth a few breaths away from touching her intimately mesmerized her.
“Lean back,” Vince ordered.
Jade complied, resting on her elbows, her breathing ragged, her gaze unwavering. Waiting. Eager. Apprehensive. She must look like a wanton with her dress bunched around her waist, her stilettos on, and her behind naked.  
His hand slipped under her, pulled her closer to the edge of the bed, while the other pushed her wider.  Her thighs quivered, her face flaming. She felt so vulnerable, exposed, a shivering mass of nerves. Even the fact that she’d trimmed and fussed over her private parts earlier in the evening didn’t make it any easier. He was down there, looking at her with rapt fascination. Her insecurities doubled.
“Beautiful,” he breathed out against her heated flesh, then he kissed her, right there at the apex of her thighs.
Raw sensations rocked her body, her anxieties forgotten. Moans escaped her mouth, body writhing. The feeling was beyond anything she’d ever felt. Within seconds, he’d taken control of her body, her mind, everything she’d ever known and flipped them. Nothing else mattered but him. His sexy mouth. His wicked tongue. The way he made her feel.
Jade gripped the bed spread, pressed against his mouth, seeking more. Nothing had prepared her for this. Not her romance books, not movies or popular sitcoms, not her faithful dildo. Nothing could have.
Her arm gave out and she flopped on her back. Not sure what to do with her hands, she reached for his head, her eyes closing in ecstasy. A deep hum escaped her mouth as the pleasure skyrocketed. It became a cry as light exploded behind her eyelids and blood roared in her ears.
The crest hurtled her into a vortex of sensations where nothing else mattered but pleasure, crashing, undulating, and endless. Her cries filled the room, her body jerking, almost pushing him off her, but he held firm. His strokes still bold, the mouth still thirsty for her.
Tears filled in her eyes and made it difficult to see Vince as he shifted. He stretched, yanked open his bedside drawer. He stood with the condom clenched between his teeth, his hands going to his belt. Lord, he was magnificent. Jade wanted to crawl all over him and swallow him whole.    
She sat up, pushed his hands aside, and unzipped his pants with trembling fingers. She reached inside to find him. The feel of him, hard, long and thick, velvety soft yet ridged with veins was divine. She pushed his pants down to his thighs to reveal all of him.
Oh, my. He rose majestically from a tuft of ebony curly hair. So curious, it never crossed her mind to be embarrassed. He fascinated her, his powerful body, the scars, everything that made him Vince Knight. Her lover. Her fantasy.
Smiling, she stroked and squeezed him. When he groaned, she whispered, “I want to do it right. Tell me what to do.”
“Baby, any more right and my head will explode.” He ripped the condom and sheathed himself under her gaze.
The look in her eyes almost did him in. Vince had never seen such fascination, such uninhibited desire, as though she couldn’t wait to jump him. Yet he knew she was not that experienced. That he had to take it slow with her.
She scooted to the middle of the bed, pulled her dress off, and threw it aside. Her bra followed. When she reached for her high-heels, he caught her hand. “Leave them on.” 
He joined her, knelt between her raised knees, his gaze sweeping her. Her hazel eyes sparkled with anticipation. Her scent, wild roses, mixed with the smell of her arousal. Dressed in the black garter belt and stocking that contrasted with her creamy thighs, those heels, and her emerald necklace, she was straight out of his fantasy. Much more than he’d imagined. Dang, he could come just looking at her.
“Glorious,” he murmured and dropped a kiss on her knee, his fingers skimming up her thigh, stroking her belly and ribcage before cupping her breast. His lips followed where his hand had primed, exploring, worshipping until they closed on one taut nipple. The taste of her was intoxicating.
Jade arched her back, her nails digging into his shoulders. Her unrestrained response, her shivers and moan, encouraged him. She was blossoming right before his eyes, and it felt right. Like he was meant to be her lover, to fulfill his and her fantasies. He nuzzled the valley between her breasts and shifted to the other nipple.
She held his head, writhing. When he lifted his head, she shimmied lower until she could kiss him—his forehead, his eyes, lower still until their lips met in a long, hot kiss. One hand caressed his cheek, the other traveled down his hot damp chest, past his belly to find him. Her hands closed on his erection. “I want to feel you inside me.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS LOVE A BATTLEFIELD?

Monday, October 31, 2011

Winners of Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Congrats to the following ladies. Anyway, congrats to:

1. Ashlyn Williams
2. Krysta Banco

Send me your addies and tell me which book you want, so I can mail out the goodies.

xoxo

keep reading!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Winners of Spook-a-licious Blog Hop

Congrats, ladies. Sorry I'm posting this so late. I'm participating in the Spooktacular Blog Hop (see the post before this one) and the rafflecopter has been driving me nuts the whole day.

Anyway, congrats to:

1. JuneM (manning_j2004@...)
2. PamM (kydirtygirl68@...)
3. Ronda (Queentutt's World of...)

Send me your addies, so I can mail out the goodies.

xoxo

keep reading!!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Spooktacular-Giveaway-Hop


Thanks to Inspired Kathy of I AM A Reader, Not A Writer and  The Diary of a Bookworm for hosting this giveaway.

2 Winners will get:

A signed  copy of book 2 or book 3 of the Fitzgerald family and bookmarks:


She's armed with a new attitude and a kick-ass wardrobe....

By age twenty-eight, art historian Jade Fitzgerald has had a marriage from hell and an equally nasty divorce, worked hard to control her weight and her arrhythmia. The last thing she needs is another man messing with her head or shooting her heartbeat off course. That is exactly what she gets when an aloof and mysterious stranger storms into her life.

He's cynical and doesn’t take crap from anyone....

Former investigative reporter Vince Knight is on a quest to recover a priceless, ancient Mayan artifact, which he believes Jade’s mother stole. He’s skilled at gathering information while remaining emotionally detached, until he meets Jade. The voluptuous woman stirs in him a hunger he hasn’t felt in a long time and a protectiveness he can’t explain.

Until, an insane man decides to add Jade to his collection of beautiful and rare things....

Neither Vince nor Jade expects passion to flare so fast or danger to dodge their footsteps. To defeat a ruthless art collector with a twisted agenda, Jade and Vince must learn to trust each other and embrace their growing feelings.



She's used to putting everyone first—her sister, her friends, her boss. It’s now her turn...

Art conservator, Kara Michaels has decided it’s time to chase her dream—start her own business restoring and framing works of art. She has the skills, the nose for business, and the pent-up frustration from being invisible to the man she wants but can’t have—her boss.

He’s a meticulous planner whose rule book is about to be tossed out the window...


Baron Fitzgerald, a successful art dealer and Kara’s boss, believes in having a strategy and following it without deviation. So when Kara tenders her resignation, he sets out to convince her to stay.Baron soon realizes that falling in love cannot be planned, but the insight comes a little too late for him and Kara.

To enter  
1.  Follow my blog, leave a comment and your e-mail.
2. Follow me on twitter
3. Follow my fan page.
4. Become a fan on Goodread

CONTEST IS US only


Sunday, October 16, 2011

SPOOK-A-LICIOUS BLOG HOP


SPOOK-A-LICIOUS:
WHERE BOO-KS DEVOUR YOU
BLOG HOP TOUR (OCT 17-24)



TOUR RULES:

1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, October 17, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, October 24, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
    Winners will be drawn and posted October 25th! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!


***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***


WELCOME TO
THE WORLD OF GHOSTS

It's that time of the year when we think of spooky thing...things that go bump in the night. I’m not talking about scurrying mice or rats, mangy strays and monsters. I’m talking about spirits left behind when people die...ghost!

Here's someone who knows a thing or two about ghosts. Yeah, I love Medium and Ghost Whisperer.





But I'm not talking about fiction either. I'm focusing on the real deal, the sightings, recorded or photographed ghost. Here are a few of them:

1. The most famous of all ghost photos is a shot from 1936 of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall. The photo was taken by two innocent photographers sent by the London magazine Country Living to take some interior shots of the building. The spectral figure of the woman descending the stairway was seen seconds before the picture was taken. The negatives on this photo have been scrutinized by hundreds of experts, who can find no evidence of it being either a hoax or a double exposure. It is considered to be the best picture of a ghost ever taken.


2. Another famous and creepy sightings was photographed by a retired clergyman from White Rock, British Columbia. Rev Ralph Hardy took the now-famous photograph in 1966 when he photographed the elegant spiral staircase (the "Tulip Staircase") in the Queen’s House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. The developed photograph showed a shrouded figure holding the stairs with both hands, climbing the stairs. Experts who examined the original negatives of the photograph concluded it had not been tempered with. The figure has been since in the vicinity of the staircase and footsteps have been heard too.



3. Here’s another picture that even appeared in a documentary entitled World's Scariest Ghost Pictures. It was taken at an abandoned mansion near Greencastle, Indiana, in the late nineties.




4. Last, but not least is a picture captured more recently in October 2007 in my neck of the woods. Security officers at Utah’s Pioneer Memorial Museum saw the woman’s face on the monitors. Assuming someone was in the building, they called in Highway Patrol. The female remained on the monitors for about five minutes, but when the cops came to investigate, it disappeared. No one was found in the museum. The face appeared again there times over a seven day period by employees. Security officials moved things around, cleaned the lenses and screens but it kept appearing. The ghost only appears at night.



So what do you think? Ghosts exist or are these photographs hoaxes?

NOW FOR THE CONTEST:

I don't write about ghost or even paranormal activities. I write contemporary romance with and without suspense:

 3 WINNERS will get copies of my books

The Fitzgerald family live on the west coast. Their women are sassy and stubborn, the kind any woman can identify with. Their men, noble, courageous, and go-getters, are the kind every woman wants to come home to every night.


In SLOW BURN, the first book of the series, we meet Ashley Fitzgerald and Ron Noble, the man who finally manages to tame this beauty.


In MINE UNTIL DAWN, we meet Jade, vulnerable Jade and her past pain and a debilitating illness and Vince Knight, the gentle giant destined to love her.


In KISS ME CRAZY, we meet Baron Fitzgerald and the woman he almost loses because he thought love can be planned.

To Enter:
CLICK ON THE SWAGS AND THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS BELOW
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY




**************************************************

USING THE FORM SHOULD MAKE ENTRIES EASIER, YES? ONWARD TO THE NEXT BLOG

***



Winners of LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY WEEK 2

Thanks, ladies for the continued support.

Congrats to....drum roll please

1. LorettaLynn
2. Mommy0306 (Terri M)
3. BellaMarie
4. Tammy Ramey

Contact me with your addies.

The next contest starts tomorrow. I'm participating Spook-a-Licious Blog Hop.
Woohoo.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

SHOWING versus TELLING


The first time a critique partner scrawled these words on page after page of my chapter, I went, uh? I was clueless as to what she was referring to. As a self-taught writer, I knew that descriptive pros drew a reader in, but the journey from telling readers what’s happening to showing them has been bumpy but satisfying. Telling is unimaginative and boring. Showing engages the senses, makes readers visualize a scene and allow them to draw their own conclusion.
So how can you tell when you’re telling instead of showing? Lets start with a simple sentence.

My husband flirted with the waitress.
This sentence gets straight to the point and tells you what is going on. It is bland. It doesn’t engage the imagination or evoke any emotion. In fact, the writer leaves everything to the reader. Instead of wanting to read more, a reader is left wondering what the husband did for the narrator to draw this conclusion, how the waitress reacted and how the narrator felt.

The waitress leaned forward to pick up the empty plates, and deliberately thrust her chest too close to my husband’s face. He stared at the tight T-shirt barely covering her large breasts then said something. The woman’s high-pitched giggle filled the room. As she walked past him to serve the next table, my husband turned and watched her walk away.

Now this version is a bit more descriptive you must admit. A reader can visualize the scene and become engaged…maybe. Yes, there’s a bit of showing, but the passage is still impersonal. Something is missing. Why should you as a reader care about what the waitress is doing when the narrator doesn’t seem to?

The woman flung her platinum blonde stresses away from her face as she leaned toward my husband. Her black, ruffled skirt short rode high on her thighs, her boobs threatening to pop out of her red snug top. She fluttered her fake lashes as she talked, her hand lingering on his arm. I clenched and unclenched my fist when he leaned forward and pretended to read the writing on her T-shirt. He was checking out her enviable double-Ds, the letch. I crossed my arms over my less noteworthy chest. As though to mock me, he whispered something to her and she giggled, the high-pitched sound grating on my already frayed nerves. He turned and whistled as she walked to the next table with an exaggerated sway of her generous hips.

Okay, this passage may be wordy, but you see what I’m getting at. It is ripe with emotions. It is descriptive. We now know more about the waitress, what she wore, how she looked and the exchange between her and the narrator’s husband. But above all, we know about the narrator’s take on the scene. There’s pain as she watches the waitress and her husband, and a glimpse of her insecurities about her breast size. The entire passage is personal and raw with emotions. A reader is left with questions and the need to learn more. What is the narrator going to do after this scene? What is going to happen to her marriage? Maybe you wish she could get up, walk to the husband’s table and slap him upside down.

So there’s my take on showing versus telling. Stimulate the readers with descriptions and throw in a dose of emotions, and taa-daa!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

LOVING MY FANS GIVEAWAY WEEK 2

Week 2 of the giveaway is here...woo-hoo. Just a reminder, these giveaways will will run every week until end of October and beyond because Thanksgiving is around the corner. Thanks for your support as always.

This time again, we will have several winners:

1st prize: A signed copy of Mine Until Dawn (MUD) and MUD mug
2 prize: A signed copy of MUD
3 prize. Slow Burn Mug.
4 prize: Kiss Me Crazy Mug







TO ENTER:

1.  Post your name below.

2. If you make the effort to spread the word about the FITZGERALD FAMILY series (FB, Tweet, blog, GR), I'll appreciate that, so leave your links in your post.

Contest is International (I've sent mugs abroad and they didn't break, so here's hoping)
Giveaway ends Saturday night.
Winner will be announced on Sunday, when another giveaway starts.

As per this month's giveaway, I leave you with a scene from MINE UNTIL DAWN. Between us, I love all my heroines, but Jade had a special place in my heart. Not only did she have an illness she managed to control through sheer will, she wasn't your typical heroine size-wise. You could say she was a perfect 12. Isn't that the normal size for a woman? Yeah, yeah, I know, normal is relative, but I'm a 12 and I say I'm normal.  Enjoy this scene:


MINE UNTIL DAWN

“What’s it going to be, Vince?” Jade asked, interrupting his thoughts, daring him with her flashing eyes.
Short of keeping her in her office until he got what he wanted, he had no choice but to give in. Clenching his teeth, Vince stepped out of her office and turned to watch her. Her seductive, hip-swaying gait sent heat straight to his groin. He shifted his gaze away from her body.
“I’m not going anywhere without knowing your mother’s whereabouts, Jade.”
“Really?” She tossed her abundant mahogany hair and shot him a disdainful look. “How do you propose to get that information? What are you anyway? A cop? P.I.?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned her back to him and locked her office door. When she started down the hall, he fell in step with her.
It rankled she’d challenged him. Surprised him how she ignored him with such ease too. Women never ignored him. He slid a sideway glance her way. Her hazel eyes were fixed ahead, her lush lips set in an uncompromising pout, pert nose and determined chin stuck in the air.
The changes in her were amazing. The extra weight in high school had melted away in just the right places. Now the generous hips and rounded ass, tiny waist and well-sized breasts demanded a man’s attention. Her creamy skin still glowed with vitality and invited one’s touch.
Unfortunately, they weren’t in high school anymore and this sexy and aloof woman wasn’t the girl he felt he had something in common with. Not that it did him any good then. After their first meeting, she’d made a point of staying out of his way and snubbing him the few times their paths crossed. That had bugged him, an amazing feat for a kid already hauling a bucket load of hurt. It hadn’t mattered that the Fitzgerald practically ran the school—captain of the basketball team, head cheerleader, student council members, school newspaper. They were many, over-achievers and loaded, yet something about Jade had made her stand out called to him. Vince shoved his hands into his back pants pockets and scolded himself for deviating from his agenda.
“We need to talk.” Frustration made his voice harsh.
Jade didn’t respond. He took a swift breath of irritation and the scent of whatever else she smeared on her delectable body hit his lungs, causing him to swallow with difficulty.
“I’ll still be here after your class ends,” he added.
“You’ll be wasting your time. I’ve a busy schedule.” 
“Then meet me tonight,” he heard himself say.
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “We have nothing to discuss, Vince. The person you need to speak with is my mother. You need to look her in the eye and tell her what you just told me. I’ll call her assistant at Fitz-Valdes to find a slot for you as soon as she comes back.” She turned and lifted her hand to push the door open.
Before he could question his intention, Vince shifted and slapped his hand on the doorframe, blocking her entrance.


WHAT DO YOU THINK JADE DID NEXT??? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?