Winner & A Taste The Heat Sneak Peek!

As much as I love Cover Reveals, I love giveaways and contests. Makes it feels like Christmas :)

Earlier this month, I joined my Entangled family in a Holiday Hop for Valentine's Day where I offered up a Taste of New Orleans chocolate gift basket, inspired by my upcoming adult romance A Taste of Heat, which is set in my hometown.

The first winner unfortunately never got back to me (*sad face*.. this box looks good) but I've sent off the goodness to the new official winner....

Congratulations Catherine Lee!!

I hope you enjoy this box containing Original Creamy Pralines, Assorted Tortues, Almond Toffee, and Mississippi Mud. I have to admit, I'm quite jealous ;)

Yesterday, I gave a sneak peek at my upcoming YA time travel romance, A Tale of Two Centuries, and now I'd like to leave you with a sneak peek at my Adult Contemporary romance coming this summer, Taste The Heat.

As I said above, this story is set in a fictional town near New Orleans, where I grew up. Cajun heritage, music, and family all play a huge part in this book, but the food is almost a secondary character. And since this was a foodie giveaway, I chose an excerpt that highlights just that:

Enjoy!

So the memories continued with each new taste. The crunch of fried crawfish tails, the velvet tenderness of the linguine. The tang of the garlic and the smoke of the Andouille. All brought memories of meals she’d eaten, dates she had gone on, meals she had prepared. And they brought memories of her dad. Not the bad ones this time—only the good.

As Colby closed her mouth around a forkful of etouffee, the punch of herbs and cayenne enveloped her. She was no longer in Jason’s living room, but right back in her childhood kitchen, closing her eyes as she tasted her dad’s recipe. She heard the laughter in her daddy’s thick Cajun-accented voice as he asked, “Good stuff, cher?” Her younger self giggled with a nod.

Have a fabulous day, y'all!

Partying It Up With Author Nicola Marsh (Plus Giveaway!)

Hey, y'all, today I have a treat!! I recently read Nicola Marsh's latest romance, NOT THE MARRYING KIND, and completely fell in love. I adore everything Nicola writes. Her brand is very similar to mine in that she writes fun, flirtatious fiction, and let me tell you, her books are overflowing with both.

I'm gonna be reviewing the book for you later this week, but check out the blurb at the bottom and tell me you don't want to read this book right now....I dare ya (*grin*).

So, with that said, I'm gonna leave you in Nicola's awesome hands. Take it, girl <3

The hostess with the most-est!

Thanks for inviting me to visit today, Rachel. It’s great to be here.

While you’re definitely the hostess with the most-est for having me hijack your blog for a day, I know another fab hostess…Poppy Collins from my current release NOT THE MARRYING KIND.

Poppy is a party planner who knows how to impress. 

Never mind that her husband in a marriage of inconvenience thinks she touts phallic cakes and celebratory handcuffs for a living.

This girl knows how to throw a divorce party!

Me?  I remember vividly the best party I ever had.  11^th birthday. Rollerskating party at home. My BFFs and I skated for hours around my concrete square garage to the best Abba music, only stopping for sustenance: lemonade, crisps and cake.  Everyone raved about that party at school for weeks. I was the coolest!

So what makes a great party?

Music? Food? Drink? Peeps?

Leave your answer in the comments to be in the running to win a copy of NOT THE MARRYING KIND.

USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair.

She’s had 32 books published with Harlequin Romance and Presents series, a fun, flirty contemporary mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD with Entangled Publishing (nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012) and sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

Her first category romance for Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence series, NOT THE MARRYING KIND, releases July 2012, with another category contemporary romance FALLING FOR FLYNN releasing with Crimson Romance October 2012.

Her urban fantasy young adult novel SCION OF THE SUN releases November 2013 with Month9Books.

She’s also a Waldenbooks and Bookscan bestseller, has finaled in a number of awards, including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath,

More than Magic and has won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

She loves interacting with readers so you can find her:

Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Goodreads

Who said marriage had to be convenient?

LA party planner Poppy Collins has kept her side business—planning divorce parties as the Divorce Diva—under wraps, but keeping her sister's company afloat is proving tougher by the day. When a new divorce party prospect gives Poppy the opportunity to save the day and boost her bottom line, she can't pass it up. But this time, she's about to get way more than she bargained for… 

Vegas golden boy Beck Blackwood knows Poppy's secret, and he's not afraid to use it to get exactly what he wants—a wife. With his reputation and corporate expansion plans on the line, the only way he can repair the damage is by getting hitched, and fast. And if blackmail is the only way to get Poppy to the altar, then so be it…

But they're in the city of high stakes, and Poppy has a few aces up her sleeve. Now it's time to find out if they're playing to win…or if they're playing for keeps. 

Check out the EXCERPT, or Buy now at Amazon or Barnes & Noble  

And here's the fun trailer!

What in the World?

What in the world do Band-Aids, Guiding Light, Pilgrims, and Gags have to do with each other?

And with me?

Well, let me tell you :) Even though you've been hearing crickets around here this past week, I've been busy elsewhere and I'd love to share with you!

• First came Tuesday's Spotlight on PILGRIMS DON'T WEAR PINKby Stephanie Kate Strohm over at YA Bound. Y'all, I freaking LOVED this book!!! Here's a snippet of my spotlight comments: It surprised me, elevated me to another place for a few hours, and left me believing in the power of love, friendship, and a really good dress. I totally recommend it. Trust me, you want to read this review...and then pre-order the book!

• Wednesday brought me waxing poetic over Saved by the Bell, New Kids on the Block, pink tutus, and Guiding Light over at Rachel Firasek's Make Believe Wednesday's series. Come see what a strange child I was, and tell me your childhood crush!

• Thursday back over at YA Bound was our Swoon Thursday post, where I shared one of my favorite sigh-worthy moments from Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink. Tara, Kelly, and Trish have some pretty steamy excerpts as well, and don't forget to check out the comments for even more. (LOVE this Meme!)

• And finally, a Gag Reel has been sent into the wild from our Romantic Times conference in Chicago where all of our Entangled authors interviewed each other. Click play below and quote The Princess Bride and fake-duel with me, laugh your butt off, and get to know my homegirls.

So, that's what I've been up to....What about YOU?

Have a fantabulous weekend, y'all!

DIVINELY RUINED by Diane Alberts: Cover Reveal!

Happy Monday Everyone :)

If you follow this blog, you know I adore cover reveals. There's just something fun and exciting about getting a glimpse of the cover designer's interpretation of a particular story, and get a taste of what you have to look forward to.

Even better is when I get to do a cover reveal for a friend!

Diane Alberts is one of my Entangled chicas who later became an agent sister. I freaking love everything she writes, and I've been blessed to become one of her beta readers--though I haven't gotten to read this one yet, and I'm busting at the seams to do so (*grin*)

DIVINELY RUINED hits virtual shelves Thursday, April 26th (EEP, only a few days away!), so be sure to check it out--and then swing back here to let me know what you think!! 

From Entangled Publishing and the author who brought you ON ONE CONDITION, here's a yummy sneak peek at the cover and blurb of DIVINELY RUINED:  
 
She finally meets a decent man--after she's oath-bound never to touch men again!
 
Rebecca's life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends--it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca's not very angelic, and she'll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f--er, frick.

Especially when she's assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel's nerves. It's all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him...but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony's daughter, now it's Tony's turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony's devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?
 

...To learn more about the author and her other projects, go to: www.dianealberts.com

So, what do you think? :)

Romantic Times (RT) Convention 2012 in Pictures

So I just got home from the Romantic Times (RT) Convention in Chicago, and it was a BLAST! Since my brain is not quite functional yet--way too little sleep was had the past few days--I thought I'd simply share some of the craziness via picture :)

First, a quick shout out to any of my new friends I met this weekend...everyone was made of awesome.

Now, onto the insanity:

Me with my editor of awesome, Stacy C Abrams, and writing sister Lisa Burstein (Pretty Amy)  

 Stacy, me, and Scottish beefcake

  

Book Signing MANIA!!

The fabulous Jus Accardo and hottie Kale! 

                Me with pub house sisters (and girls who ROCK) Katee Robert and Lea Nolan at the Gangsta party

Shannon Duffy with her GORGEOUS Spectral cover (its out now y'all!)

 Jennifer L Armentrout and Lisa Burstein during our interviews :)

 

                                            Entangled's Standing-Room-Only Candy & Spoons Party                  

My cover as a poster...how cool is that??

EVERYTHING was jus so much fun!! It was awesome meeting so many amazing authors and readers, scoring exciting new reads, and staying up entirely too late. I can't wait for RT 2013 :)