Showing posts with label author of the month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author of the month. Show all posts

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Satin Sheets Romance Author of the Month - Jennifer Simpkins


Three words that describe me: 
compassionate
shy
dedicated
__________________________________________
I want to start by thanking Satin Sheets Romance for featuring me as their author of the month. It’s safe to say I was surprised, and am truly flattered. I signed my first publishing contract last summer, and since then I’ve been welcomed by some of the best authors, reviewers, and bloggers. And let’s not forget the wonderful readers who not only buy my books, but take the time to leave a review or tell their friends. You guys rock!
 So here’s a little bit of how I got started. I had been a stay-at-home mom for four years when I seriously started writing romance. There was only so much Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street I could handle in a single day. I found myself reading one book every couple of days—sometimes every day. I first started reading everything I could get my hands on by Nora Roberts. What I love about her stories is her attention to detail. Her Chesapeake Bay Saga is what made me fall in love with small town romances. Oh…and she has a knack for writing from the male’s point of view. From Nora Roberts I ventured on to others. Some of the authors on my bookshelf are Cindy Gerard, JR Ward, LuAnn McLane, Toni Blake, Sandra Brown, and the list goes on and on. I attribute  the start of my career to all of these talented women, and for making me fall in love with romance in the first place.
At the time it seemed like a lifetime before I received my first: we would like to publish your book, but looking back I realize it’s taken lots of writers a lot longer to get their first acceptance letter. I started writing my first book, Forgiving Patience in October of 2010, finished it about seven months later, and didn’t get a contract until July of 2012. After I got into the business I met other wonderful authors who have since challenged me. Through their writing and advice I have only become a better writer myself. Peri Elizabeth Scott and Eden Connor are two authors I can turn to and know they’re not going sugarcoat it for me. I can trust them to give me their honest opinions, whether it is about my writing or the business side of writing.
This past year has been a crazy ride. I’ve met wonderful writers I otherwise wouldn’t have. I’ve read some awesome books I never would’ve had the opportunity to experience. My crit partner has dedicated two books to me, which is just as awesome as seeing my first book in print. And on top of that I’ve published the first three books in my Patience Series, with the first two now available in print. Just to see MY books on my bookcase alongside some of the greats I mentioned above gives me butterflies.
My goals from here on out are to continue to challenge myself, not be afraid to take more risks with my writing (something my crit partner has taught me), and in time be able to pay the kindness shown towards me forward to new authors. 
Want to know more about my Patience Series?
 In Patience, Tennessee you will be welcomed with some special people who take pride in their community, and go to bat for the people they most care about. Looking for love? No problem, because Patience grows some of the best looking men in Tennessee.

Forgiving Patience (Book One)
 Anna Kelly had no intention of returning to her hometown of Patience, Tennessee. At eighteen, feeling powerless from an abusive childhood and heartbroken from her high school sweetheart, she needed to put distance between her and the small town. Now, eleven years later she's invited to her best friend's wedding and has no other choice but to return. Though she feels much stronger the second time around, nothing can prepare her for when she sees her ex again. 

After a baseball injury, Jake limped back into Patience, damaged and angry. Throwing himself into remodeling Anna's childhood home has given him purpose again. He is just getting his life back together. He can't risk sending it all back to hell again, but the woman who broke his heart has whipped back into town...and she wants her house back. In hopes of reminding Anna of what she ran away from all those years ago he makes her an offer she can’t refuse—three dates, that have Anna rethinking Patience...and the life she was supposed to have with Jake.
Loving Patience (Book Two)
Liza Dyer has spent her career counseling and guiding her patients towards a more fulfilling life, so it’s a shock when she can’t stop her own life from falling apart. After a cheating ex she decides to escape to 
Patience, Tennessee. Instead of confiding in her long-time friend, she finds herself revealing her painful secrets to sexy, ladies’ man Tex Avery.  

Tex is a confirmed bachelor every woman in Patience is trying to catch. He is the last thing Liza needs, but once again she can’t help herself—especially when he shows up at her hotel door looking depleted and leaving her breathless.  It’s in her nature to want to help with the emotional pain Tex is going through, but her counseling is not welcomed.  Liza is determined to not give up on him…but will their connection be enough to convince her to once again put her heart on the line. 
Trusting Patience (Book Three)
After a scorching hot kiss that happened years ago, Jesse Daniels has wondered what it would be like to have something more with her longtime best friend. The only problem is, besides some mild flirting, Bradley Lawrence has never hinted at sharing her feelings. In fact, he doesn't even remember the kiss.

Bradley has many loves—his hometown, farming…and women. For the most part he lives a carefree life with no plans of changing—until he discovers the feelings Jesse has secretly had for him. Now, she is all he can think about, and it’s going to take a lot of convincing to get Jesse to see that he is a changed man. But in the end it all comes down to one simple fact—is it worth the risk of ruining their friendship over the possibility of finding love?

Ways to connect with Jennifer:

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Jennifer Blackstream - Satin Sheets Romance Review's - Author of the Month


Paranormal romance is by far my favorite genre. I’ve tried reading contemporaries, but I always find myself waiting for the hero to vamp out (sort of like watching David Boreanaz in Bones after watching him in Buffy and Angel for years). Although I’m always excited when I find a mythos I haven’t heard of before, or a particularly exciting twist on an existing mythos, I’m also a diehard fan of the classics. Campy doesn’t bother me in the least.

My taste plays a big part in my own writing as well (obviously). I like to twist the usual suspects (vukodlaks, strigori, iaras, and maras instead of just vampires and skinwalkers, lisitsas, medveds, and loup garou instead of just werewolves), but I’m also a fan of fairy tales, “dark princes,” “alpha males,” and token comic relief (I try to insert a pixie wherever possible. I know they can read as plot devices, but they’re hysterical and they make me laugh).

If your tastes jive with mine, here are a few books I highly recommend:

Her Mad Hatter (Kingdom series) by Marie Hall

Marie Hall is probably most famous for her Kingdom series. The Mad Hatter, Captain Hook, the Big Bad Wolf, and a few other bad boys finally get their happily ever afters. The series is sensual, so there’s a lot of sexy but not sex scene after sex scene. She’s also very funny, but not so funny that it steals the drama from the serious bits. The best part about her books is that there’s a hint of all the bad boys in each book, so as soon as you read one, you’re desperate to read the next one. And of course it doesn’t hurt at all that Her Mad Hatter (Book One in the Kingdom series) is free…

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Laurell is probably the darkest author I read. She’s more urban fantasy than romance, but there’s so much sexy goodness in the entire series that it might as well be romance. She writes in the first person, but she does it very well. She’s also very funny while still being very dark. If you’re easily squicked by violence and gore, stay away from her books. All of them. Also, I will say, both her Anita Blake series and her Merry Gentry series are very very very sex heavy, so if you’re one of those people who believe too much sex interferes with plot, I suggest you stick with the Anita Blake series and stop at Narcissus in Chains. Her early Anita books have a bit of mystery in them too and I’ve re-read the whole series more than once and I still forget some of the intricacies. It’s almost as good as reading it again for the first time and that is something special.

You Slay Me (Aisling Grey, Guardian series) by Katie MacAllister

Katie makes me laugh to the point that I pick her books up to specifically look up certain parts to make me laugh. I absolutely love her Aisling Grey Guardian series. There’s not really any darkness to Katie’s books (at least in the Guardian series), so she’s a great read if you want something sexy and funny that’s not going to require a bag of chocolate to get through (emotionally speaking). Did I mention dragons? Oh, yes, there are dragons…

All right, so those are my recommendations. Get out there and find your fantasy man!

Fabulous! Thank you for sharing Jennifer. Now for our little tradition. We always ask our author's of the month to describe themselves with three words.
Yours were...
Sarcastic. Loyal. Eccentric.

Please be sure to take a look at Jennifer's books!


My books:

Before Midnight

Loupe always dreamed of getting married. She yearned for a caring husband who would take her away from her servant-like existence at home with her stepmother and two stepsisters, a man who would love her forever. Those dreams ended the day she was bitten by a werewolf. Now she’s a mindless beast on the night of the full moon—a condition that forever prevents her from sharing a marriage bed. Not even the attentions of a handsome and endearingly strong prince can convince her that the life she wants is still possible. 

Etienne is a prince in need of a werewolf. A werewolf himself from birth, Etienne and his family have protected their kingdom with tooth and claw—literally—for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the spell of a well-meaning witch is slowly turning him human. Only the bite of a cursed werewolf, one who was not born with the beast inside, can save him from becoming human. He has no time for anything that will not lead him to a cure for the cure. Not even the beautiful maiden whose gentle nature soothes his soul can take his mind from his goal.

Love cares little for the best laid plans or the impossible. A grand ball. The stroke of twelve. A magic “slipper.” All kinds of things can happen when you don’t leave the ball…Before Midnight. 

Buy Links:




Under His Skin

"She stole his skin . . . can she still win his heart?" 

It seems like an eternity since Ana Vulpe returned home to find her lover burning the thing she prized most in the world--the fox skin that was the key to her true form. The consequences of that horrible night plague her even two years later. With her sanity strained to the breaking point and her spirit withering with every day she’s forced to stay in human form, Ana will do anything to escape the prison of her human flesh. Whether she has to beg, borrow . . . or steal.

As the most gifted healer the selkie people have known in over three centuries, Brec knows he should be grateful for his gift. But he isn’t. Every day he dreams of joining his brother’s pod of warriors, of throwing away his bag of healer’s herbs and taking up the weapons of his ferocious kin. When his skin is stolen, no one argues when Brec insists that he be allowed to face the thief himself. Finally, he is going to war with a true enemy, someone who dared to steal a part of him he could never live without. But he’s about to realize that war is never as glorious as it seems . . .

When Ana wakes up tied to her bed with a vengeful selkie standing over her, the only thing that burns hotter than their anger is the desire that thickens the air between them. Using every wile in her repertoire, Ana almost succeeds in convincing the selkie to leave with his skin--until he discovers that his is not the only skin she has stolen. Now the righteous warrior with the dark eyes and searing kiss is determined to stay until she gives up not only the skins, but her secret as well. 

Can the selkie cast off his healer’s sensibilities long enough to do what has to be done to force Ana’s hand? Or has the desperate vixen succeeded in getting . . . Under His Skin?

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Aphrodite’s Hunt

"When a vampire gets involved in a werewolf mating ritual, you know there's going to be blood . . ." 

Gia is a werewolf with a mission: to have a submissive mate who will never threaten her dominance. For years she has ruled as the lupa of her pack with just such a mate. Then one night her perfect little arrangement comes to an end when her mate betrays her with another woman. Outraged at the insult to their lupa, the pack calls for one of their most sacred rituals: Aphrodite’s Hunt. For three nights Gia will be the prey, hunted by the eligible males of her pack until one proves himself worthy by finding her and claiming her as his own. If Gia wants to escape the erotic ritual that even her own wolf longs for, she will have to find someone to protect her not only from her pack . . . but from her own carnal desires.

Sorin is a vampire with a secret. Haunted by the macabre sins of his past, he has sworn off blood, determined to stick to a diet of siphoned energy that leaves him too weak to pose a threat. When Gia comes to his door, possessed by a heated desire and desperate to make a deal, Sorin quickly turns her away. But he soon finds out that Gia is not a werewolf used to taking orders. One bloody kiss is all it takes to awaken the beast he has kept trapped inside of him for so long and suddenly Sorin finds himself swept up by a renewed hunger for the warmer things in life.

Now Gia wants out of the deal and Sorin wants . . . her.

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Monday, July 1, 2013

Satin Sheets Romance - JULY Author of the Month - Natalie Gibson


I have always loved reading. In middle and high school, I could be found with my nose in a book between classes while others were flirting and primping. In a small way, I hated to turn 16 because it meant I could drive to school and didn't have the extra hour in the morning to read a few extra chapters. I love paperbacks. Hardbacks, not so much. They are heavy and cumbersome and come with dust jackets, which I loath. I adore my Kindle. I love the ease of buying books and the secrecy I can enjoy them in. No more bright pink or swarthy man-laden covers being seen and judged by cashiers for this gal!  

I quit reading for fun in college; there was just too much to do. It was a hard time after graduation–in a new city with no friends and a first husband who didn't like me very much. One day I went into a used bookstore and tripped over a display of the Dark Series by Christine Feehan. I bought each one as they came out. Because of that, if I had to pick a favorite genre it would be paranormal romance. I do read tons of other stuff. I like action and adventure, and choose paranormal, fantasy, horror or sci-fi over everything else. If a book only has romance without all the running and chasing and fighting of vamps or dragons or cyborgs, then I'll probably pass. I also enjoy reading (and writing) contemporary erotica.

These are my favorites:
Fiction
The Hollow Hills–Mary Stewart
Non-Fiction
When God Was a Woman–Merlin Stone
Science-Fiction
West of Eden–Harry Harrison
Treason-Orson Scott Card
Paranormal Romance Series
The Dark Series–Christine Feehan
Favorite Author
Anya Bast
Some examples of hers that I really like: The Chosen Sin – a seriously sexy futuristic vampire stand alone, Witch Fire, Witch Blood, Witch Heart, Witch Fury (Elemental Witches Series), Wicked Enchantment, Cruel Enchantment, Dark Enchantment, Midnight Enchantment (Dark Magic Series), Jeweled and Jaded – two of the hottest and most believable menage romances I have ever read. They inspired me to write my own menage romance – Ishtar Anomaly (Book 3 of Sinnis).

I do have some pet peeves about reading paranormal or contemporary romance. I hate to come across these.

One: I like a good strong female lead. Many authors seem to think that being stubborn, throwing fits when things don't go her way, and rushing away from safety and into the waiting arms of danger make a female strong. They are wrong. I can accept that we all do dumb things time to time but to me these attributes and actions make a character seem immature.

Two: I am an adult. Sex is a part of contemporary adult life. I am not a big reader of YA romance or the new genre NA romance. I do not read any inspirational romance/Christian romance. These usually employ the 'romance of restraint' and I don't mean the good bedroom handcuff type restraint. There is usually a reason the two main characters must restrain themselves from acting on their impulses (religious, age, or vulnerability of the female).

An example of both one and two is the Twilight Series. Now before you get upset, I liked all of those books. I got caught up and read every one back to back. I am just using an example most people have read. One: Bella runs off, ditching Jasper and Alice, to meet the bad guy in a secluded place without telling anyone where she was going. Two: Edward has religious/cultural reasons he won't have sex with Bella. Also there is the, “I can never loose control or I could kill you,” aspect.

I am not the kind of person who has to write or I'll go crazy. I write because I like to. It's fun. I put superhuman characters in mundane situations and normal people in extraordinary ones. I write for me, what I enjoy writing, and what I would enjoy reading. I love my Sinnis Series. They are exactly the type books I am always on the lookout for. The males are superhuman searching for their mates, witches with their own powers – enhanced by love. It has strong females who change the world, ancient magical creatures who battle their natures, seriously bad, bad guys who don't, spicy sex, and a rich mythology set against the backdrop of contemporary times.

I've been asked to describe myself with three words. Here they are...
1) Liberal
2) Imaginative 
3) List-maker

Here's a few of my books. I hope you will take a look.


Ishtar Bound (Book 1 of Sinnis)
Always 99 cents
Available on Amazon and B&N for NOOK 



Surrounded by magical enemies with an intimate knowledge of her abilities, a matchmaking witch of the highest rank must fulfill both her duty to her coven and her desire for a love of her own, even if the two goals collide.
Maeve Lovejoy has always been good at her job even though her services come at a high cost. Though her matchmaking abilities are stronger than ever, the most potent in any coven's recorded history, her introduction to Aaron has confused matters. Believing she's found a partner who can love her and allow her to continue practicing her arts, she shares her secrets with him. Is it a coincidence that soon after someone is locating and murdering Maeve's matches? When Aaron disappears is it because he is a member of a rival black magic sect or has he become their victim? 


Hateful Burden (First in the Carrier Trilogy)
ebook only $2.99 on Amazon 
paperback only $7.99 on Amazon 


Hateful Burden is a gaslight-era paranormal horror novel as well as a psychological thriller where friends and foes are not always what they seem. In this dark urban fantasy, paranormal powers are bred and collected. Lady Ramillia Winmoore, daughter of the Earl of Brooksberry, has suffered from gaps in her memory her entire life. But this darkness is a blessing. 

Whenever she feels threatened, it takes over and protects her from feeling pain or even the slightest bit of discomfort. That is until the day she awakens strapped to an examining table at the West Freeman Asylum for Lunatics. Imprisoned for the gruesome murder of her parents, Ramillia learns she has lost ten months to the darkness. Forced to endure years of tortuous treatments in a grimy, hidden cell, salvation arrives in the form of a benefactor named Sir Julian Lawerence. 

Betrothed to her through an arranged marriage, he helps her gain freedom. But appearances are deceiving and soon Ramillia learns the cost she must pay. The horrors she encounters in his household are far worse than the asylum when he inducts her into a society of blood-thirsty, cruel immortals. Soon she is forced to join them and accept their way of life. 

Now Ramillia must break free of a prison she cannot see, kill an enemy that cannot die, and find a daughter that she cannot remember--all with the help of an ally she does not know. Who is Sally and can she be trusted? Is this mysterious and frightening woman trying to save her or is she planning on saving Ramillia for herself?


Claire Cover to Cover (A Mount Haven Quickie) 
BDSM Short Erotic Romance
only 99 cents
only on Amazon 

Claire is in control of every aspect of her life and she is bored out of her mind. After catching her assistant absorbed in a book, she goes in search of that escape. Nathaniel sees something in her immediately and wants it for himself. He knows what she needs is less control, less escape. Will she follow him or continue on her vanilla path?

Claire Cover to Cover is a short erotic story by Natalie Gibson, author of the books of Sinnis. There are approximately 10,000 words and about 70% of those depict sexually explicit scenes or graphic language.





I am honored to have been selected as Satin Sheets Romance Reviews' 
July Author of the Month.  
I love writing and would enjoy hearing from any fans.  
Connect with me via email or any social media.



Facebook Friend or Fan pages Author Natalie Gibson
Twitter @AuthorNatGibson

Monday, April 1, 2013

Satin Sheets Romance Author of the Month - Deborah Gafford


Welcome Deborah Gafford to Satin Sheets Romance!

Wow, where has the time gone? It seems like I just finished eating the last of the Thanksgiving turkey and now it's the beginning of spring! I guess that means I really need to get the final Christmas decorations put up so there's room to set out lawn chairs, right?
Here in my part of Texas, winter is mild with no snow or ice storms, but we do have many cold, cloudy days. When friends from other parts of the country tell me of their winters and claim we don't even have winter here, I tell them, "Yes we do. It came on a Tuesday last year." It's during the chilly gray days I especially love to read.
Reading does for me what the woman in the old Calgon commercial experienced when she said, "Calgon, take me away!" and was magically whisked away to a place where she felt relaxed and happy. Or, depending on my mood, reading propels me into a world of vampires where danger and death lurks around every corner. When my gloomy moods need brightening, I read romantic comedy and my tension escapes on the breath of every laugh.
If I want to step into the past, into the arms of a strong handsome hero who chooses to love and protect me no matter the cost, reading gives me the opportunity to experience timeless love.
For me, reading opens a magical doorway to times, places, people and emotions I choose. I have control and choice. If I choose to read a murder thriller by myself on a stormy night, I have control. When it gets too frightening, I shut the book and hide it in my closet under every pair of shoes I own. I thunk myself on the forehead in a "V8 moment" for even considering reading it on a stormy night alone and read something light and funny to ensure I sleep, not lay there all night with my heart racing at every little sound.
Okay, I've pontificated at length on my enjoyment of reading. (I had to throw one fancy word in to make my rambling sound good.) But which books interest me? What do I have on my keeper shelf? Well, as I tell my husband, I'm glad he gave me an iPad because my keeper bookcase is about to collapse from the weight of my favorite books.
I love reading romance in many forms but my all-time favorite is historical romance, especially time-travel to Scotland in the past with a muscle-bound Highland laird who keeps his heart locked away until a sassy wench crosses his path and turns his world upside down. From the moment he can't decide if he wants to toss her out of his castle to fend for herself or wed, bed and keep her, I'm hooked. I haven't found an author that does this better than Lynn Kurland. If I told you how many times I've read a couple of hers you probably wouldn't believe me until you saw the duplicate copies with pages falling out. Again, thank goodness for my iPad. Until it has trenches rubbed into the screen from use, I'm good. Two Lynn Kurland favorites are: A Dance Through Time and A Garden in the Rain.
For romance set in contemporary times yet still exuding that timeless Alpha male kicking ass and protecting his love no matter what, I love Christine Feehan's Carpathian novels. There is nothing like her sizzling ultra sexy Carpathian who fights and destroys vampires knowing unless he finds his true soul mate the bleakness of  his existence will eventually force him to end his life by facing the dawn rather than lose his soul and become the very evil he kills. Two definite keepers are: Dark Prince and Dark Fire.
When I want romance but also need a laugh or ten, I read Janet Evanovitch. Her books are laugh-out-loud funny and have, not one but TWO, sexy Alpha males for madcap bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. Gee, what a hardship. I wonder if she'd let me take her place once in a while? All for the sake of research, of course. Two great books are: One For the Money and Two For the Dough.
Okay, now you know my reading favorites. What are yours? Be careful, thinking about it will have you pulling them out and forgetting things that need to be done. But hey, I'll be the first one on the block to have Christmas decorations up next year!

I always like to ask our guests to describe themselves with three words..
Deborah said... 
1) romantic  2) caring 3) funny

Now, here are a few of Deborah's fabulous books!

Highlander's Bride: When Alexander MacGregor is forced to wed Katherine Gordon or lose all he possesses, love was not part of the bargain.  Or so he thought.












The Talisman: Although a stranger, Laird Gavin MacPherson vows to aid Ailis search for her family's killer. But can she trust his kind words and kisses, or does he hide the murderer in his midst?












You're in Good Hands with Al Tate: Susan Pierson needed a man who was good with his hands. And she needed him now.


Deborah is giving away two ebooks and a color poster! Be sure to comment on the blog to enter to win! She will draw winners several times during the month of April!!! Don't forget to leave your email. You can't win, if we can't get a hold of you!


BE SURE TO FOLLOW DEBORAH
My social media and contact links are: