I’ve been so busy with the kitchen remodel that I don’t feel like I’ve been able to get anything done on time. Thankfully, we should be painting this weekend and everything should be done! Finished. Over. I can’t wait! These last three weeks have been a bear to get through in one piece.

I should have been writing all week, but can’t seem to get my butt in the chair. One small project turns into hours. By the time I sit down, it’s usually bedtime. Sound familiar to anyone else? I did manage to re-read Electric Storm earlier in the week and took copious notes in preparation of jumping back into Electric Moon. I hope to get a few pages written tonight. So excited! It’s been too long. Wish me luck! 

I was also interviewed yesterday at Across the Plain of Shining Books. You can stop by here to learn a little more about me. It’s a nice readers site where you can find out about books and authors.

For a fun and playful interview with me, stop by author Liza O’Connor’s blog. Go here.

We discuss my lastly release BloodSworn. Beast even dropped by for a visit. There is a beautiful picture of him posted in case you haven’t seen him yet.

There is also a short excerpt of my book that you might enjoy. Be warned, it’s a little naughty. lol

I first read Jory Strong in an anthology and loved her work. When I placed my last book order, I added this book to my list because of the blurb. Sounds like something right up my alley.

Title: Healer’s Choice

Author: Jory Strong

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy

Publisher: Berkley

Release date: September 2010

Pages: 377

ISBN-13: 978-0425236536

Rating:  

DESCRIPTION:

Born into a world of violence and paid-for sex, Rebekka longs for a family of her own and dreams of freeing those trapped in the shapeshifter brothels of the red zone. A witch’s prophecy claims she’ll one day use her gift to heal the Weres made outcast by their mixed human-animal forms.  
 
 
But Rebekka knows that everything comes at a cost. A plea to save five children sends her into the arms of Aryck, a Jaguar enforcer-and into territory controlled by pure Weres. It’s a place where humans and outcasts aren’t welcomed, where plague threatens and the fate of the Weres hangs in the balance. And where the choices Rebekka and Aryck make are paid for with their hearts…if not their souls.

Review:

It wasn’t long after the first chapter that I ran across a little snag. This is book three in a series. I hate reading books out of order, but the blurb was so interesting that I kept reading.

I found myself drawn to Rebekka and her unique magic. Her almost compulsive need to help others drew me into her world. I enjoyed the first meet between the characters and their instant attraction. Aryck was a wonderful alpha hero and the perfect match for Rebekka. He could be an ass, but when he realized his mistakes, he was quick to make amends. Their opposing view points on some issues kept the tension steady through the book. I loved the way shifters and outcasts were depicted. The world building was fascinating, while the different threads of the book kept me interested in what would happen next.

Unfortunately, when an issue came up for Rebekka, people from past books magically appeared and took care of some of her problems. The funny thing was that Rebekka didn’t question that the problem just went away. After the first few times, it became a little annoying and took away from what could have been a more compeling story. I had a love/hate relationship with this book. There were characteristics of the book that I adored, but others parts were I felt cheated out of the whole stroy. Maybe reading the books in order would solve my qualms? Hmmmm…

Synopsis~

A tormented zombie (Nicholas Hoult) experiences a profound transformation after entering into an unusual relationship with the daughter (Teresa Palmer) of a military leader charged with eradicating the walking dead. As the unlikely pair build a tenuous bridge between the living and the dead, those on both sides of the battle begin to sense that nothing in their world will ever be the same again. Warm Bodies is based on the novel by Isaac Marion. Rob Corddry and John Malkovich round out the starring cast. — (C) AMG

To celebrate publishing my book, I begged asked my husband to take me to a movie. I’m a huge fan of zombies, so when I saw a preview of Warm Bodies, I had to see it.

The show was not what I expected at all. I thought the movie was hysterical! My husband almost fell asleep. Go figure.

The actors were wonderful, especially Nicholas and Teresa. I loved this scene…he tells her to act dead. When she started moaning loudly, he turned toward her and said not that dead. lol

The storyline wasn’t that terribly good, a number of logic issues throughout, but there was something very moving about two people so opposite, with no hope of a happily-ever-after, falling in love.

This is not your straight-forward zombie movie. There is some violence (people do get eaten), some okay graphics (the boneys were awesome), but the zombies themselves were so very human-like that I was a little disappointed. You won’t have decay or body parts falling off. Warm Bodies tickled my funny-bone and landed purely in the romantic comedy category for me.

Favorite graphics: Boneys!

Rating:  

For reaching one of my goals this year, I’ve rewarded myself to a small book order. Here are two of the book that came in the mail.

Here are the blurbs:

Silence (Queen of the Dead)~

It’s been so long since I’ve posted anything, I’m not sure I remember how!

I’ve been having some technical difficulties the last two weeks, but I believe all the issues have finally been resolved. To celebrate the release of my new book, I’m giving away two print copies. For your chance to win, click the button below or in the side column. Good Luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

BloodSworn

by Stacey Brutger

Giveaway ends March 16, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

 

Enter to win

I was planning to work on Demon Slayer for my next project. The book has been written, but needs deep revisions before I can hand it over to my editor. Instead, I changed my mind and decided to finish Electric Moon. Raven has been whispering in my ear a lot lately. I have a little over a hundred pages completed and a vague outline done on the rest of the book. Kind of. I’m in the process of re-reading the first book to reacquaint myself with everyone. I can’t wait to get started!

I’m always on the lookout for something a little bit different from my normal reading habits, so when I was offered a chance to review this book, I jumped on it. Look at that cover! Isn’t it gorgeous?

Title: Gambling On A Secret (Colter Gamblers)

Author: Sara Walter Ellwood

Genre: Contemporary Western

Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.

Release date: December 2012

Pages: 276

ASIN : B00AVLL4XA

Rating:  

DESCRIPTION:
Colter Gamblers, #1

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches, the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

REVIEW:

I read the blurb on the back cover, and couldn’t wait to dig into this book. The story reminded me of the old Harlequin books I’d devoured by the hundreds in my earlier years. I adored Dylan. He was far from perfect, but he was perfect for the heroine. There’s just something about a deeply wounded man that I can’t resist. He’s had more than a couple of hard knocks, and it took one determine woman to shake him up to the world around him.

Though Charli had a rough childhood, she managed to overcome her past, but not without collecting a few scars along the way. I liked her spunk, and her determination to make a better life for herself. Unfortunately, I didn’t sink into her life the way I did with Dylan.

The story itself was structured perfectly for a Texas cattle ranch setting, and I could easily envision the details described. The beginning of the book unfolded like a western family saga, where you’re submerged in the town and generations of family. The only drawback was the romance took second place to it at times. There were a number of plots in the story. I didn’t feel overwhelmed, but my sense of disbelieve began to wear thin in places. Overall, if you like a slow build to your suspense and romance, a good old-fashion western, pick up a copy of Gambling on a Secret.

Sorry for being gone for so long. I’ve been working my fingers to the bone with late nights, but I finally have some exciting news to share!

After weeks of edits, I finished BloodSworn. I never thought I would get it done. When I realized that I was only re-wording sentences…over and over…I decided enough was enough and drew my line in the sand. lol

BloodSworn is now live and available to order in both ebook and print on Amazon!

Don’t you just love the name of the book and the cover? I’m more than thrilled the way things have turned out. I hope you join Merrick and Trina as they go on a wild adventure, fighting for their lives, and the love that neither of them ever expected to find.

Below is the blurb and excerpt. I hope you enjoy!

Blurb:

The last BloodSworn witch must confront her fate if she hopes to save the man who forced his way into her lonely heart.

Ten years after they bound her powers and banished her, Trina Weyebridge had successfully carved out a new existence in the human world. She put her life as a witch behind her. But, her magic would not be denied, the bindings holding them in check are weakening. Vampires who crave a taste of the powers stored in her blood are hunting her with deadly force and have kidnapped her sister to lure her out. In a desperate bid to free her sister and gain her own freedom, Trina bargains with the all-too-tempting lion shifter who calls out the long forgotten wild side in her…she would be his concubine in return for pack protection. She’d be safe…until they found out the truth.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE. FORBIDDEN LOVE. INESCAPABLE DESTINY.

When Merrick spots a female intruder living on his property, he’s intrigued by her daring. Curious to find out more, he follows her and comes to her aid when she falls prey to an attack. After weeks of unnatural silence, his beast awakens at her touch, and he suspects that she might be the only one able to save his race from a disease killing his kind. Not willing to take the chance of losing her, he binds her to him the only way he knows how…by claiming her as his own. All he has to do to save her is uncover the secrets of her past, stop a pack revolt, convince her that she’s desperately in love with him in return, and prevent a war.

Here is a little peek:

Trina was halfway bent down to kneel and grab her bag when she saw him.

The same man from her dreams.

A very naked man.

Merrick.

Her mind rebelled. She couldn’t have had a sexy dream about the man who might very well destroy her. Vampires had been in this very house not a day ago. She couldn’t forget that, no matter how much her body wanted to be worshiped by him.

Merrick lay stretched out, dwarfing the extra-large couch. He didn’t look comfortable, but that wasn’t what captured her attention. The sun highlighted the golden color of his skin. It was just how she imagined his cat would appear.

The only thing blocking her view was the sheet draped haphazardly over his slim hips. Her brain short-circuited at the thought of him completely nude.

Him sleeping within a few feet of her and all without a stitch of clothing on struck her dumb, and her emotions jumbled at the conflicting emotions.

She swallowed hard and fanned her face. No matter how much she might have wished it, there was no way that image would ever be far from her mind. Every time she saw him now, she would picture him stretched out as if for her pleasure.

It didn’t matter that she was a doctor, that she’d seen hundreds of naked bodies. She knew layers of skin and bone, but nothing in her studies had ever shown a man structured quite like him, with muscles quite so defined and begging to be stroked.

Doctor.

She shook her head at the reminder, as if she could banish the impulse so easily. She needed to get a closer look at him to decide what was the best course of action…for medical purposes she told herself sternly when her pulse betrayed her and sped up.

She just didn’t know if she’d survive it.

One thing would help…getting him clothed.

But she couldn’t tear her gaze away from that sheet. Or more precisely, what it hid. Where was a gust of wind when you needed one?

Her fingers itched to explore all that exposed flesh, but she feared it had nothing to do with science. Her body urged her to touch, while the sane, sensible part of her mind seemed to have taken a vacation.

Then she saw the lines of strain, the stiff way he held himself even in sleep. She needed to see his back.

“Merrick, roll over.”

Trina found herself sprawled across the floor with a lion, in all but animal form, half sprawled over her with his face just inches from hers.

She hadn’t even seen him move.

Was it her imagination or were his teeth sharper, his body larger, and his eyes shaded just this side of golden?

She gave a tentative smile, knowing better than to try and escape. “Hello.”

“Are we under attack?” He blinked as if confused, finally recognizing her. His sleepy expression sent her heart thumping hard against her ribcage. The rumpled appearance only made him more attractive, more approachable and more touchable than was good for her.

Especially when she felt the sheet tangled around her feet.

No matter how much she told herself not to do it, it was too late. Her eyes flickered downward.

Yup, naked.

And such a nice naked backside, too.

It was her turn to blink when she felt his arousal.

“Attack?” It sure felt like it, and she was unarmed. She cleared her throat when he continued to gaze around the room. “I woke you to begin your physical therapy.”

Vivid green eyes met hers. The wildness had retreated, yet she very much felt like a mouse under a cat’s paw. Heat seeped in her pores, but the calculated look he gave her brought back some of her sanity.

“Get up.” She resisted touching him. It would be a mistake as once she started, she was very much afraid she wouldn’t stop.

Frown lines crinkled the corner of his eyes, and he levered himself up on all fours. Trina didn’t wait, but scrambled backwards, her eyes anywhere but on him and his now very happy dangly parts.

“It’s safe.” The humor in his voice had her head snapping up. He stood, the sheet tucked around his waist. He wore a slightly disgruntled expression that looked sexy as hell and a too-knowing gaze that did things to her body that should be illegal…or bottled.