Authors After Dark Attending Author Spotlight: Sahara Kelly

The Darcy Effect - or how Colin Firth ruined me for other men

Sahara Kelly

Writing Regency-set romances has always been one of my joys (along with all my other books, of course), but I’ve never been able to decide if it got easier or harder after Colin Firth came into my life. This isn’t about the hotly erotic night we spent together (in my dreams), but about his spot-on portrayal of the ultimate Regency hero – Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

It’s a fact of life that I don’t really know what Regency gentlemen were like—how they thought or how they acted. Some parts of their lives might seem pretty awful to us today (remember it was the Prince Regent who introduced the idea of daily bathing!!! Not to mention solid perfume, which was probably an absolute necessity for those who didn’t follow the Prince’s personal hygiene habits!) Their misogynistic attitudes would have earned them a kick in the clangers from today’s woman, and it would have been well-deserved.

So how do I write a true-to-the-time-period character and yet make him likeable to today’s readers? It’s a challenge!! Enter Colin Firth. Somehow, in Pride and Prejudice (the 1995 BBC production, of course), he offered the best of both worlds. He was Darcy, but in a way that we could all relate to. (Yes – raises hand – I want to relate. Pleeeease!) He was stand-offish in an attractive way, high-handed and arrogant, but we understood his situation and his background, not to mention his growing affections toward Lizzy. He was just right. So I try, with every Regency gentleman who enters my stories, to find something a little Darcy-ish and make sure I do him justice. Perhaps they’re a little too full of themselves, or perhaps they’re keeping their emotions locked down tight. Whatever they are, you can rely on the heroine to bring out the best in them.

Yes, Colin Firth ruined me for other men…but only those between the pages of my Risqué Regencies. As for ruining the rest of the men in my life? Well, I totally blame that on Tom Hiddleston. LOL

I hope those of you attending AAD Savannah Serendipity (www.authorsafterdark.org) this August will say hello – and come visit my “Regency” table at the Book Signing on Saturday. I’m also hosting a table at the Fantasy Ball, and yes, there’s a historical theme there too — a salute to Downton Abbey. A few generations after Mr. Darcy!!! There might even be a special cocktail for Regency fans – but I don’t have all the scoop on that yet! So my fingers are crossed that I’ll see some of you there, and until then….

Happy Reading,
Sahara Kelly

http://www.authorsafterdark.org/index.html

Authors After Dark Attending Author Spotlight: Landra Graf

INTRODUCING LANDRA
GRAF

*Waves* It’s the heat of the summer and I’m coming off a wild writing retreat full of edits, new words, and brainstorming passionate books with strong heroines (just how I like it).


I’m honored to be given a chance to swing by this blog and introduce myself, and also mention I’ll be at Authors After Dark this year in Savannah, GA. It’s my first time, if anyone else is going, please go easy on me. I’m a newb. But it’s not my first convention, and I’m super excited to get involved.


A little about me: I write multiple genres, contemporary, BDSM/Erotic Contemporary, Erotic Historical, Paranormal, and Alternate History Romance. A special treat at AAD16 will be all 4 of my BDSM Erotic Contemporaries for sale in one print book version, Desperately Seeking Submissive. No one can get this anywhere else. I’m currently working on a new paranormal romance, and a sequel to my alternate history, Raven Pirate Assassin Spy. I’m a member of Silken Sheets and Seduction and Through Heart Shaped Glasses Blog, where I post monthly about the going’s on. I host authors via my website for guest spots and special interviews with my naughty domme, Victoria. As for the basics, I love to read, write, cook, and spend time with my family (boring stuff, to be sure).


My latest release is called, What You Desire, and is the last book in the Desperately Seeking Submissive series. It’s all about a dom and a domme coming together. Two dominants into each other is not always a good thing, but my hero is willing to fight for what he wants.

As for AAD16, you’ll be able to catch me at the Welcome Party on Wednesday night. I’m part of a sponsored breakfast Friday morning, which will have an awesome Raffle Basket (you get a chance to win just by showing up), and I’ll be at the book signing.

http://www.authorsafterdark.org/index.html

Authors After Dark Attending Author Spotlight: Carrie Pack

I love summer because that usually means I have time to attend conventions and meet with readers. This summer I’m making appearances at several events but I’m really excited about Authors After Dark in Savannah from August 3 to 7. If you’re on the fence about this one, please let me sway you to the (After) Dark Side. It looks like it’s shaping up to be an awesome week and it’s a real steal as far as cons go.

As for me, this will be my first time attending this convention and I’m really looking forward to it. AAD sounds like an absolutely awesome event and I just love Savannah. (By the way, If you’re looking for more stuff to do in the area, I’d recommend Savannah Smiles. It’s a dueling piano bar not far from the convention hotel, and I just love it!)

I’ll be in town for AAD from Wednesday to Sunday (August 3-7) and I have a couple of special things planned. I’ll pop in to other events as well, but these are guaranteed times when you can get to know me. On Friday I will be sponsoring breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 with several other awesome authors. From 11 a.m. to noon, I’ll be in the Q&A room hosting a fun game where you can get to know my wicked sense of humor. And of course, I’ll be at the book signing on Saturday. I look forward to meeting everyone and having some fun.

In the meantime, I’d love to introduce you to my work. I write LGBTQ-focused romance that tends to focus on characters learning to be true to themselves. My latest release, In the Present Tense, is about a young man named Miles who has an unusual dissociative disorder that causes him to time travel. Miles’s journey involves trying to reconnect with a past love and find a cure for his rare condition. This is a book that will appeal to fans of paranormal and sci-fi as well as those who love a good suspenseful story.

My debut, Designs On You, is an M/M romance reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. What can I say? I’m a fan of the Friends to Lovers trope.

Read on to find out more about each book and I hope to see you at Authors After Dark!

IN THE PRESENT TENSE:

Miles Lawson goes to sleep dreaming of a future with his boyfriend Adam, but wakes to find he is married to Ana, an acquaintance from high school. When he learns he has been time traveling, Miles is consumed with finding a cure for his rare condition—and finding his first love. But will he be able to convince Adam he is telling the truth before it’s too late?

EXCERPT:

Miles sat there and tried to make out shapes and colors in the dark room as he searched his brain for a memory of anything.

Nothing looked familiar. His desk, his drum set, the sheets—all gone. Not one thing looked the way it had when he’d fallen asleep, and Ana certainly hadn’t been in his bed.

He tried to replay the previous day’s events, but everything seemed fuzzy, like a fogged bathroom mirror that he couldn’t wipe clean.

Why was everything so fuzzy?

Last night… What happened last night? 

Adam had come over and they were watching TV together, and Adam had given him a small stuffed giraffe because Miles was scared about having surgery. He reached for his left arm, expecting to find the cast that had been there for the last two months, but it wasn’t there. His heart began to beat so loudly he glanced over at Ana to make sure she was still asleep.

Unable to determine what had happened to his cast, Miles resumed his tally of the previous evening’s chain of events. At around ten-thirty, his mom said Adam had to leave because they had to get up early to go to the hospital. He had taken his pain meds and gone to sleep with the phantom of Adam’s goodnight kiss on his cheek. He’d been happy.

He’d gotten a text from Ana earlier in the evening, but she was only wishing him luck with the surgery. She hadn’t come over. In fact, as far as Miles knew, Ana had been several hours away in her dorm room.

So how had she gotten into his bedroom? And who had changed his sheets?

He threw off the covers and stood up, noticing he was only wearing a tight-fitting pair of boxer briefs instead of his usual basketball shorts.

He looked around the room for anything familiar, but it was still dark out, and all he could see were shadows and vague shapes. On the dresser opposite the bed, he found a few framed photos. Squinting to see without turning on a light, Miles studied the images carefully.

As his eyes focused, he recognized a couple of the photos. One was from last year’s prom: Adam wearing that ridiculous corsage Miles had bought him, Ana being dipped by her date, David, as all four of them smiled widely in front of a cheesy faux tropical scene. One of the frames held a collage of photos of his and Ana’s friends. He recognized Adam, Lucky, Antonio, Dahlia and Brienne. But the last one, the largest of all the photos, was of him and Ana—her in a flowing white dress and him in a black suit, both wearing broad smiles and flanked by Miles’s parents and a woman Miles had only seen once: Julia Espinosa, Ana’s mother.

A loud clatter echoed through the bedroom as the frame hit the edge of the dresser and fell to the hardwood floor. This wasn’t his room, and he didn’t remember that photo being taken.

"Go back to sleep," Ana mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Ana," he whispered, risking her full anger, but unable to stop himself, "we’re married."

"Thanks for the update. Now go back to sleep before I divorce your dumb ass."

He dropped to the floor on his knees, barely even noticing the sharp pain of bare skin hitting the hard surface.

Married. To Ana?

What the hell had happened?

BUY LINKS:

Interlude Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBookstore | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords | Book Depository | Indiebound

DESIGNS ON YOU:

If graphic designer Scott Parker has to design one more cupcake company logo, he might lose it. So when tasked with retouching photos for a big fashion client, a stunning, lanky model mesmerizes Scott and occupies his fantasies long after the assignment is finished. When the model is assigned to one of Scott’s projects, Scott discovers that the object of his desire is nothing like what he imagined. Despite Jamie Donovan’s aloof and dismissive behavior, Scott struggles to forge a friendship with him, all the while trying to keep his attraction at bay. Will Jamie follow through on signals that he may be interested, or will he forever be the beautiful man in the photograph, an untouchable fantasy?

Download a free chapter!

BUY LINKS:

Interlude Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBookstore |All Romance eBooks | Smashwords | Book Depository | Indiebound

ABOUT ME:

Carrie is the author of two novels—Designs On You and In the Present Tense—and a part-time college professor. She recently left her job in marketing to actively pursue her writing career. Her early career focused on advertising, journalism, and public relations while she also did freelance writing for businesses in the nonprofit sector. Carrie lives in Florida, which she fondly calls America’s Wang, with her husband and four cats.

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Authors After Dark 2016 Savannah

http://authorsafterdark.org/

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Pages: 167

HEA

Standalone story (in series) #1

Blurb:

She has a perfect plan. A new city. A new job. New acquaintances. And most importantly: life without a man!

Will he disrupt her plan?

                                    

Excerpt:

The shop door opens and I snap out of my thoughts. A dark-haired man comes in. His knee-length winter coat emphasizes his muscular figure, and his attitude and appearance suddenly dominate the entire space. Our eyes meet. He’s looking at me intensely, penetratingly, and for far too long.

I manage to regain my senses and greet him with a cut-and-dried salesperson’s greeting: “Hello. How may I help you?” He nods an acknowledgement, and only then looks away, proceeding in huge steps towards the shelves of men’s shoes, where he reaches out his hand. He takes a brown, high-top shoe which balances perfectly between the elegant, and casual style. It’s one of the latest models, which arrived in the shop several days ago, and my personal favourite.

Hmmm... A nice choice.

I shake my head, feeling awkward as I realise that I’m following his every move. Moreover, I approve of his selection. I keep my hands busy by pointlessly replacing trinkets on my counter, and then smoothing out an already perfectly stacked heap of business cards.

“Where can I find this same model, only in black?” He asks me in a deep voice, without a trace of kindness. His indescribably masculine voice causes an unpleasantly-pleasant shudder in the lower part of my back. I raise my head and my eyes meet his. His dark irises rivet mine. We’re staring at each other, again for too long. I feel my dormant insides waking, reacting to him. My breathing is shallow, my heart beating fast.

The curiosity in his eyes is replaced by a raw male arrogance which says unequivocally: Another notch on the list of conquests! I detest male arrogance. It takes me a few moments to regain my composure, then I blink in confusion.

“So? Cat got your tongue?” He breaks the silence as he goes on watching me, arrogant and smug.

“Excuse me?”

“The shoe?”

He waves the shoe right in front of my nose, reminding me of the question he asked a little while ago. I take a deep breath, and purse my lips angrily at his impertinent act, before concentrating and answering coldly.

“Over there, the same model is on display in black.”

“I wouldn’t have asked you if that were the case.” He goes on in his impertinent, arrogant style.

I don’t understand his behaviour, but I have no wish to argue. I stop in front of the shelf and look over the models. I frown because I do not succeed in finding what I’m looking for. I work alone, and I don’t understand what could have happened to the shoe. I’m certain that I didn’t move it, and I know for sure that it was there. I turn around the shop confusedly. And lo and behold! The shoe that Mr. Arrogant’s looking for sits among the women’s discounted sandals. I am not a frowner by nature, so I smile and bring him what he’s asked for, forgetting his ungallant behaviour.

I give him the shoe and raise my eyes. My smile freezes, I stop breathing, and my heart dances again to a quick rhythm when I meet his dark eyes. There’s no arrogance, he just examines me calmly. Blood is rushing through my veins, I feel like I’m burning, and all my nerve endings become terribly aware of his presence. He looks perfectly calm and controlled as he stares at me insistently, and without blinking. Then he looks down, lazily.

“That’s it. I mean, a suitable model. And colour. But not a suitable size.” He says, and the haughty smile returns to the corners of his lips. Fed up with his manners, I snort. He laughs loudly, obviously amused by my reaction. Embarrassment overwhelms me, and I feel my cheeks burning.

“So, what size do you need?” I ask curtly.

“Well, I need a 44.” He returns, imitating me. He smiles broadly. It seems that he is amusing himself at my expense. Nervously, I march to the back of the shop and find the required size.

“Here you are.” I say officially and hand him the right shoe.

He covers my fingers with his while taking the shoe from my hand. My skin burns. Strange, powerful vibrations shake my entire body. This accidental touch makes my heart beat madly, and my lungs wail for air. I take a deep breath, raise my eyes but remain breathless. He’s looking at me seductively. My reaction to him has not escaped his notice. It makes him so happy. That touch was no accident. The jerk! He did it on purpose!

I want to run away, as soon as possible, so I turn on my heel.

“I want to see the label with the product details.” He says.

I look at him over my shoulder, confused, then move to hand him the box, which he could easily have taken himself. I stand beside him patiently and wait as he reads very carefully.

“Is there a problem?" I ask.

“I’m just checking."

“Checking what?"

“Whether they were made in China.” He says coldly, and then raises his eyes to mine.

Made in China? What an asshole!

“We sell only Italian stuff." I say sharply.

He smiles, his eyes fixed.

“Oh, look at those claws. I hope you’re well paid." He speaks in a voice which shows clearly that he doesn’t believe what I say. He’s provoking me, goading me with his smile, his look, and with the way he addresses me. I count to ten, then frown, turning the box upside-down to show him the embossed label: Fatte in Italia.

“Made in Italy’s written on the box and inside the shoe as well.” I speak briskly.

He bends his head lightly, furrows his eyebrows and studies the inscription carefully, examining the letters devotedly and seriously. I lose patience because this seems to be going on for an age.

For God’s sake, it’s as if he were decoding hieroglyphics!

He shrugs, looks at me naively, and says more innocently: “I had to check, since I don’t speak Italian.

He doesn’t... he doesn’t speak Italian? What a jerk!

Charity Review: (Guest Blogger)-Lana and David have an unbelievable connection from the moment they meet. Only problem is Lana has sworn off men. A story filled with a lurking past, passion, and a tinge of mystery. Great characters and a story line that draws you in. Makes you wonder what's happening next.

5 STars!

Buy Links:

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/MEror-1042923185738512/

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14222627.M_Eror
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CYV21LS

Amazon US - http://amzn.com/B01CYV21LS

Amazon CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01CYV21LS

ON SALE FOR THE WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE FOR ONLY 99CENTS!

Ascension

The Demon Hunters, #1

When demons threaten London, Lady Belinda answers the call.

Lord Gabriel Thurston returns home from war to find his fiancée is not the sweet young girl he left behind. She’s grown into a mysterious woman who guards her dark secrets well. When he sees her sneaking away from a ball, he’s convinced it’s for a lover’s rendezvous. Following her to London’s slums, Gabriel watches in horror as his fiancée ruthlessly slays a man.

Lady Belinda Carlisle’s only concern was her dress for the next ball—until demons nearly killed her and changed everything. A lady by day, and a demon hunter by night, she knows where her duty lies. Ending her betrothal is the best way to protect Gabriel from death by a demon’s hand.

Gabriel soon realizes, like him, Belinda has been fighting for her country. He joins in the fight, determined to show her that their love can endure, stronger than ever.


Ascension Links

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Ascension-Demon-Hunters-S-Fenichel-ebook/dp/B00MMMGY2M/ref

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ascension-as-fenichel/1120138658?ean=9781616505592

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ascension/id908402463?mt=11

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/ascension-42

Kensington http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30949

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/A_S_Fenichel_Ascension?id=brRABAAAQBAJ

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22595242-ascension

Author Bio:

A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful IT career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She's never looked back.

A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.

Multi-published in paranormal, contemporary and historical romance with Ellora's Cave Publishing. You can learn more about her books at http://asfenichel.net or visit her on her Facebook page, where she spends entirely too much time https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel.

Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.

Dose Vidanya by Sam Cheever

Silver Hills Senior and Singles Residence isn’t exactly a boring place. Home to a death predicting cat named Tolstoy, a night manager who may or may not suck blood and float above the floor, a cook with mad voodoo and pie baking powers, and a trio of nosy sleuths who are determined to get to the bottom of the corpse in the library (maybe literally)...some might say things couldn’t get any weirder. Some would be wrong

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29505111-dose-vidanya

iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1093116628

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CYDCIK0

Amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Dose-Vidanya-Silver-Hills-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01CYDCIK0

Amazon.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dose-Vidanya-Silver-Hills-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01CYDCIK0

Amazon.com.au: http://www.amazon.com.au/Dose-Vidanya-Silver-Hills-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01CYDCIK0

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dose-vidanya-sam-cheever/1123515169?ean=2940157659424

Kobo Books: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dose-vidanya

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dosevidanya-2000009-152.html

Small Excerpt:

“Let me get this straight, ladies,” Detective Brent Peters growled out. “You saw a dead guy sitting in a chair so you proceeded to fling him to the floor, crawl around underneath him, and then break his wrists before letting your cat use him for a butt rest?”

Flo chewed her bottom lip, her gaze sliding guiltily toward Agnes. “When you put it that way it sounds odd.”

Brent’s golden eyebrows peaked. “Doesn’t it?”

Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes romantic paranormal/fantasy and mystery/suspense, creating stories that celebrate the joy of love in all its forms. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 50+ books and has been writing for over a decade under several noms de plume.
If you haven't already connected, Sam would love it if you Liked/Followed her wherever you enjoy hanging out online. Here are her online haunts:

Newsletter: http://www.samcheever.com/newsletter.html
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A Family Divided





With family comes different shades of insanity, a lesson I’m learning more and more these days. I’m torn between honoring the family name I grew up with and settling for the monster I was born to be. Love, duty and lies have cemented a divide within a family that was never meant to be. I may very well be that divide.



A Life Divided



It’s a balancing act. An exercise in right from wrong, human from monster, something that has taken my entire life to master. A divide that is becoming harder to manage. I don’t want to be that monster, but she is becoming stronger and stronger, eating away at my humanity every day. How much longer can I hold her back?



A Heart Divided



Both Lorcan and Alistair own me, whether it be my heart, body or soul. Both are my mates, each bound to a necessary part of me. No matter how much I try to deny it I’m not sure I could survive without either of them. Lorcan appeals to my human side, keeping me alive, sane and satisfied, while Alistair brings out the monster, along with the dark pain and pleasure. I want to cut my ties with the devil, but will the price an old witch demands be worth the sacrifice of losing both? Or worse, myself?





http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Divide-Beyond-Blood-Book-ebook/dp/B01CXNVPJQ

Small Excerpt





A bullet to the heart appealed to the hunter part. Even piquing the interest of my monster. Death, regardless of what or who, always thrilled the demon within. Balancing right from wrong, human from monster, was a behavior that would take my entire life to master. A divide that was becoming harder to manage.~ Angel



Long Excerpt:





I ran the blade around his navel, watching the blood-tinged smoke perfume the air. As I finished a perfect circle, the connection between Angel, Lorcan and I flared to life. The complex maze that made up our bond pulsed with her sleepy arousal. Her vampire purred and stretched against my senses. The feeling was unlike anything I had ever encountered. Binding myself to vampires over this long life had been something done out of necessity, but what had formed between Angel and I was something only one’s true mate could provide. She was a choice well made. Lorcan felt it, too. His nostrils flared as we watched her stir and pull the blanket back from her face. “And what exactly is this?” she asked, inches from my face. Her voice was void of any remnants of sleep or weariness. She had flashed with such spectacular speed. “Your present,” I said, turning the blade over and offering it to her. She glared down at the offering. She was stark naked. I hadn’t wanted her in any clothing when she awoke. My Angel had to be ready for what I had in store.

Author Bio:

I am Christine Alvarez, mother of four spectacular hoodlums and married to the man of my dreams. We all currently reside in my home state of Missouri. When I am not writing I spend my spare time as a chauffeur, maid, cook, and everything in between.

I am addicted to Dr. Pepper and chocolate. They are my vices and lend a large hand in getting the creative juices flowing. I write anything from paranormal romance to erotica. I am a sucker for romance whether it is the kind with a happily ever after or burned and broken end. You will find my work covers those gray areas in between as well.

You can learn more about my work at

www.facebook.com/authorCAlvarez

My website at www.authorCAlvarez.com