by Angela Smith | Jul 4, 2017 | Books, Guests
Series: Vengeful Things #1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
A writer, a musician, an unexpected love…and a killer who wants to destroy it all.
Reclusive author Abby Delaney never dreamed she’d meet her rock-n-roll fantasy Seth Caldwell in her quaint, lakeside town…or that his love might be deadly.
Seth is weary of road trips, endless parties, and dead-end relationships, but what choice does he have? Songwriting and performing are all he knows. Then he meets Abby and finally finds a heart he can’t stand to break.
But forget small-town tranquility. An attempt is made on Seth’s life, and another mysterious death hits eerily close to home. Everyone’s a suspect, he’s taunted with ominous messages, and it’s only a matter of time until the killer finds his mark.
What if the only way to keep Abby safe is to do the one thing she can never forgive—walk away?
As the noose tightens, one thing becomes clear…
If the killer isn’t found soon, Seth and Abby will take their love to the grave.
Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.
She has worked in public libraries, written advertising copy for wastewater treatment equipment, and managed a holistic veterinary clinic. Her current day job, conducted from her World Headquarters and Petting Zoo (her couch) is as a full-time editor for indie authors and small publishing houses.
Her dogs are a big part of her life, and she has served or held offices in Golden Retriever and Great Pyrenees rescues, a humane society, a county kennel club, and her own chapter of Therapy Dogs International.
She has been a columnist and feature writer for auto racing and pet publications, and won the Dog Writers Association of America’s Maxwell Award for a series of humor essays.
Parents of a grown son, Lori and her husband were high school sweethearts, and he manages to love her in spite of herself. Some of his duties include making sure she always has fresh coffee and safe tires, trying to teach her to use coupons, and convincing the state police to spring her from house arrest in her hotel room in time for a very important concert. That last one only happened once—so far—but she still really, really appreciates it.
by Angela Smith | May 31, 2017 | Books
Jenna Gavin is searching for a fresh start and, more importantly, for balance. Her heart, and perhaps the hands of fate, have led her and her son to Trappers’ Cove, Minnesota. Settling in the small, quirky town, she’s not in the market for a casual relationship but finds herself in one with the young widower next door.
Former shortstop, Gabriel Foxx, is drawn to his difficult new neighbor. The more the prickly divorcee tries to keep him at arm’s length, the more determined he is to break down her walls. He can’t avoid the passion Jenna inspires and his friendship with Finn has him yearning for family, but Gabe won’t allow himself to feel more.
When friendship grows complicated by stronger emotions and mutual desire just isn’t enough, will love be worth the risk?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
Let’s welcome Becky Flade today as she answers some tough interview questions!
What intrigues you about your book?
The heroine has a … difficult … personality. Jenna appeared in both Fated Souls and Fated Hearts, both times as a bit of a harpy, and it was challenging to write her story, do her justice, stay true to the character. and still like her. ‘cause if I don’t like her, the reader won’t either.
When did you absolutely know that you had to be a writer?
I got the “bug” in kindergarten. No lie. We had free time, you know color, play house, build with blocks, whatever your tiny little heart desired and I asked my teacher to help me make a book. My mom still has it pressed between the pages of her family bible.
What was your favorite part of writing your book?
The hero, Gabe, no contest. Writing him was a joy especially in comparison to Jenna whom, as I stated above, was a challenge.
What is your favorite aspect of reading a novel?
I love escaping into a story. Any story, if it’s well written, should pull the reader in and that’s my favorite part of reading.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I don’t know. I think I do. Is having a knack for banter a style?
Do you ever use your life experiences in your novels?
Normally, I answer this with a firm NO. But I poured a lot of my emotions into Fated Desires. There were scenes, sub-plots, that never made the final cut that I cried while I wrote and that were a relief to cut as I’d bared too much of myself in the text.
Are you working on any projects right now?
I’ve started work on the 4th and planned finale to the Trappers’ Cove series. I say planned finale because I’m not sure I want to be done with these families/couples.
Have you traveled to any locations that appear in your books?
I’m a Philly girl born and bred; and my hometown shows up from time to time. But otherwise, no. I’ve never been to Minnesota; Trappers’ Cove is completely fictional. It’s a cross between the town of Saint Mary’s, West Virginia, where my grandparents lived for most of my life, and Stars Hollow of Gilmore Girls’ fame.
Are you a pet person? If so, do you have any?
I am but right now we don’t have any pets. My dog, Ella, passed away from cancer while I was writing the book before Fated Desires and I’m not ready to adopt yet.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t ever give up.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Website: http://www.beckyfladeauthor.com
Blog: http://www.beckyfladeauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeckyFlade
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckyflade
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BeckyFlade/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Flade/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Becky_Flade
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
Thank you for the opportunity!
About the Author:
Home is where the heart is and I make mine with my very own knight in slightly tarnished armor in southeastern Pennsylvania. When I’m not busy living my own happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s.
Contact Details:
beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com
http://www.beckyfladeauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BeckyFlade
https://twitter.com/beckyflade
See Fated Desires on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/BeckyFlade/fated-desires/ and on YouTube https://youtu.be/_VD2F-RQzHA
Add to Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35102061-fated-desires
Enjoy the following excerpt from Fated Desires:
She had drifted closer to him. Or him to her. Jenna couldn’t be sure. But it would take only a shift of balance to touch her body to his. Life was about balance. And the shifting of worlds. In the space of a day her world had changed for better and for worse. She’d spent the previous nine years trying to find her balance again.
Jenna felt the familiar kick of desire. She’d never understood the girls who spoke of butterflies and stirrings. For her it was more akin to a donkey kick—pleasurable, sure, like the first jolt of caffeine in the morning and as sure and swift and strong. Her pulse sped up and she knew the vein in her neck would visibly pulse; it did when she was angry and when she was aroused. Gabe was sure to notice it. As she noticed his heart pounding against her palm in a rhythm she found seductive.
She raised her gaze from the back of her hand. His mouth was aligned with her own. She hadn’t realized how close in height they were. All she had to do was…shift.
“This is the longest conversation we’ve had.” Her voice was husky; she heard it, knew he would. He shifted, imperceptibly but she sensed it.
“Maybe this,” his voice was husky too, “is why.”
She thought she knew what he meant. The tension between them was awareness.
“The day we met I wanted to get close enough to see what color your eyes were. They’re gray. Like storm clouds. Perfect.”
Jenna could feel his breath on the flesh of her lips and her nipples tightened.
“Mom!”
Finn’s shout was punctuated by his feet drumming down the stairs. Gabe brushed his lips over the curve of her cheek, his eyes conveying amused regret, and slipped out the back door, barely making a sound. Jenna grabbed the counter and breathed. She needed to settle herself before her son found his way to the kitchen.
What the hell?
by Angela Smith | Oct 17, 2016 | Books
I’ve got Kristina Knight here on my blog again today with What the Gambler Risks! The first two books in this series are priced at $0.99, but that price ends tomorrow!
Best-selling author Kristina Knight’s Billionaire Cowboys are back for one final ride with this seductive story of long-simmering feelings and hot Vegas nights.
Twenty-something ice queen Sabrina Smith enjoys the fame and fortune she’s found writing self-help books for a largely female audience. Her readers hang on every word of how the Vegas Virgin – an unflattering and inaccurate moniker given to her by a local shock jock – juggles dating, working, and friendships in Sin City.
And that’s why Jase Reeves spells trouble.
Jase knows Sabrina’s secret – that she’s not nearly as cold as she would like people to think – and he’s through keeping it. He didn’t intend to have a one-night stand with the Vegas Virgin, but now he can’t get her out of his head. And he can’t keep living this lie.
With Jase back at the tables in Vegas, Sabrina has one goal: stay away from the handsome gambler before he melts her career – and her heart.
Sensuality Level: Sensual
Author Endorsement:
“Kristina Knight does it again! If you like relatable characters that you fall in love with from page one, amazing sexual tension, a story line that keeps you turning the pages, and snappy dialogue then you’ll love What the Gambler Risks. Ms. Knight is one of my favorite authors and her stories never disappoint, making it hard for me to pick a favorite from all her titles. If you haven’t read one of her books, you definitely need to.” ~ Christine Warner – author of The Friends First series with Entangled Publishing
“Kristina Knight gets me hooked- What a great start to a sexy new series! I felt right at home with these characters. Gage and Callie (What the Bachelor Gets) kept me on my toes!” ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Nikki Lynn Barrett
“In What the Heiress Wants, Kristina Knight writes a riveting story of corporate espionage and spying with delightful characters you find yourself rooting for and falling in love with.” ~ Sharon Cullen, USA Today Bestselling Author
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01LOIJPRA
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-the-gambler-risks-kristina-knight/1124576230?ean=9781440595806
iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/what-the-gambler-risks/id1151585328?mt=11
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/what-the-gambler-risks
EXCERPT:
“One more hand. Winner buys the loser a drink?”
She tilted her water bottle toward him. “I already have a drink.”
Jase snickered but was careful to keep the sound light and friendly. “That’s not a drink.” He lifted his glass of soda water with lime to his mouth. Most people wouldn’t consider the contents of his glass a real drink, either, but he rarely drank when he played. Alcohol and cards did not mix well in Jase’s opinion. “What do you have to lose?” he pressed.
“We’ll see,” she said, not meeting his gaze directly, and he was 75 percent positive she was on her way to a yes.
The dealer switched decks and then dealt the cards. Jase had random cards in his hands, but he didn’t care. The woman studied her hand, one manicured nail tapping against the cards. Considering.
“Twenty,” she said, throwing a chip on the table.
“Raise to forty,” Jase said, tossing two chips on the table. The best plan of attack when the cards in his hand were useless was to make her think he held something amazing. He didn’t bluff in real card games, but despite her two wins, he didn’t peg this woman as a true card player. If she were a regular player, she wouldn’t be so transparent about what she held in her hands.
The woman blinked, and her teeth began nibbling at her lower lip.
“Are you in?” he asked, a bit more forcefully than was necessary.
Her finger tapped faster against the cards in her hand. “I’ll take three,” she said and slid three cards to the dealer.
As soon as her new cards were in her hands, Jase said, “I’ll stand.” And he stacked his worthless cards with all the careless confidence he used in high-stakes games around the globe. The kind of confidence that made big-time, big-money gamblers think twice about going against him in the second betting round.
The woman circled her index finger around her remaining green chip, considering her options. Call, take the gamble, lose, and have a drink with him. Of course, it would take a truly pitiful hand to lose to what he held. She could fold and have a drink with him. She could also call his bluff and, depending on the cards in her own hand, win. He didn’t like the thought of her winning, but if her winning at the table landed the two of them at the bar, was it really a loss for him?
“Call,” she said, and Jase felt a wave of admiration for his opponent. Which was not good, because if she was calling she had to have something in her hand, and he had a big, fat zero. Which meant she would win. Jase didn’t like to lose, especially at poker, not even when it was a friendly game instead of a high-stakes match with thousands of dollars to lose.
She laid down her cards: three queens, a two, and a ten.
“Three of a kind. Nice.”
“I was hoping for a full house.”
“I was hoping you’d fold, so I could buy you that drink,” he said and laid his cards—all four suits, random order—on the table.
“Nice bluff, I almost folded.”
“If it had been a better bluff, you would have folded.” He watched her for a moment across the table. “Now you have to buy me the drink; all in all, not a bad night at the table.”
The woman pushed back from the table, pulling the pot in the middle to her side. Jase pocketed the chips he had left in his stack. “I never agreed to that bed,” she said, and her hands stilled over the chips. Her gaze flicked to his, and despite the dim light, he saw the flush that crept over her cheeks.
“And here I thought we were just talking about a drink. I have to tell you, I’m not the kind of guy to go off to a strange woman’s hotel room after a lousy hand of poker,” he said with mock outrage.
“Bet. I meant bet.”
Author Bio:
Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police–no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer’s capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way, she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she’s living her own happily ever after.
Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!
Author Links:
Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorkristina
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827833.Kristina_Knight
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KristinaKnightAuthor/posts
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kristina-Knight/e/B0081LO6DM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
by Angela Smith | Oct 13, 2016 | Books
Kristina Knight is joining us today to talk about her May release, What the Heiress Wants. This is the 2nd in her Billionaire Cowboys series. Her third, What the Gambler Risks has recently been released, as well!
Thanks for stopping by, Kristina. Let’s learn more about you and the second book in this series.
What intrigues you about your book?
– What the Heiress Wants is the second book in my Billionaire Cowboys trilogy, and so far my favorite thing about the series is the brothers’ interactions with each other. I wanted to explore that dynamic, and it’s been fun to see how they play off of one another.
When did you absolutely know that you had to be a writer?
– I’ve always known that I wanted to be a writer, but putting that want into action took a while. When I was a kid, and even into my 20s, I really thought that to be an author you had to live in New York or Paris and had to have had these amazing adventures…what I’ve learned is that writers can and do live everywhere and some have had great adventures, and some have never passed the city limits sign. So writing isn’t about where you live or what you’ve done, it’s a bit more internal than that, and I’m glad to stepped out of my comfort zone to do it.
What is your favorite aspect of reading a novel?
– I have a kind of reading routine – I like to cozy up in a corner of our couch with my favorite blanket over my legs (even in the heat of summer!) and with either a cold glass of lemonade (summer) or a hot mug of cocoa (winter). Then I just sink into the story and that sinking in part, that is my favorite part.
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or both?
– I’m definitely both! I’ve found that with deadlines and contracts, I need to have some idea of where I’m going with a book…not because I can’t write without that idea, but because it helps to keep me on track. So I do a really loose outline for directional purposes and then I start writing. Sometimes, the finished book is true to the outline and sometimes it’s quite different. The outline, though, at least points me in the general vicinity!
Do you have a certain theme in all of your novels?
– I do, and it’s all about finding/accepting yourself. I truly believe that we can only love others when we love ourselves. Accepting and coming to terms with our imperfections, whether they are physical or emotional, from a tragic past or a fear of the future, is the key to being able to fully embrace life and the people around us.
Do you ever use your life experiences in your novels?
– For sure! Sometime it’s just a feeling or reaction to an event and sometimes it’s a person or actual event that I fictionalize, but bringing ‘real life’ into a book happens all the time.
Are you working on any projects right now?
– I’m plotting the 3rd book in this series, What the Gambler Risks, which will be out later this year, and I just turned in the first book in a brand new series that I’m really excited about!
Do you see writing as a career?
– Yes, writing is definitely my career. I’m a full time writer, and I love every minute of it!
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.
Thank you for having me over, Angela!
Here’s a bit more about Kristina and her book!
Author Endorsement — Sharon Cullen, USA Today Bestselling Author, “In What the Heiress Wants, Kristina Knight writes a riveting story of corporate espionage and spying with delightful characters you find yourself rooting for and falling in love with.”
Release Date: May 23, 2016
Book Blurb:
The Billionaire Cowboys trilogy by best-selling author Kristina Knight continues with What the Heiress Wants.
Denver publishing heiress Miranda Clayton craves more from life than society parties and shopping sprees, but her tycoon father refuses to take her seriously. Her solution? Beat him at his own game by going to work for his top competitor, Connor Reeves, in Las Vegas.
Connor isn’t fooled by Miranda’s new plan for a second. He knows exactly who she is; what he doesn’t know is why she’s pulling him into her games. After their first meeting, Connor knows what he wants – Miranda in his bed! But the more he’s around his new vice president, the more he wants something deeper than a short-term fling. The question is does the lady want Connor – or his business?
Sensuality Level: Sensual
Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
iBooks
Crimson Romance
Goodreads
Excerpt:
Connor tilted his head to the side. “Ground rules like?”
“No public displays of affection. When we’re at work, we work. There is a lot to do with the new magazine launch, and we’re still not out of the woods with the existing publications.”
“So you won’t be coming into my office at odd moments with empty file folders and a desperate need for my body?” His beautiful mouth twisted in a wicked smile.
“As the male form goes, yours is quite good. But I think I can control myself between the hours of nine and five.”
“So no nooners. Bummer. Any other rules we should abide by?”
“No nicknames.”
Connor blinked. “I shouldn’t call you Love Muffin within earshot of anyone in the office. Got it.”
“You shouldn’t call me Love Muffin anywhere.”
“No love muffins?”
Miranda wrinkled her nose. “Definitely not.”
“No nooners. No love muffins. So far, so good. Rule number three?”
“We shouldn’t advertise the fact that we had dinner tonight, or any other night. And we shouldn’t mention the kisses from before, either.”
“Damn it, I was planning on talking about that with the pressmen tomorrow.”
Miranda pursed her lips. “I’m serious. This doesn’t have to be a state secret, but we don’t need to advertise the fact that we’ve been on a date, either. At least, not until we know where this is or isn’t going.”
Author Bio:
Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police–no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer’s capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way, she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she’s living her own happily ever after.
Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!
Author Links:
Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorkristina
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827833.Kristina_Knight
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KristinaKnightAuthor/posts
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kristina-Knight/e/B0081LO6DM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
A writer, a musician, an unexpected love…and a killer who wants to destroy it all. 
Lori spent her early years reading books in a tree in northern West Virginia. The 1980s and 90s found her and her husband moving around the Midwest, mainly because it was easier to move than clean the apartment. After seventeen frigid years in Minnesota, she fled to coastal North Carolina in 2013. She will never leave, and if you try to make her, she will hurt you.
