AAD 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

AAD Spotlight: Lara 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 mentioned 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

AAD 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.

SOCIAL LINKS:

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www.carriepack.com

Authors After Dark 2016 Savannah

http://authorsafterdark.org/

Review: The Shifter Romances the Writer by Kristen Painter

If you have not started this series yet........what are you waiting for?

Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year. 

The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. 

Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all. 

For romance writer Roxy St. James, living in Nocturne Falls also means a fresh start. And as soon as her unbearable ex signs the divorce papers, that new beginning will be a reality. Unfortunately, her ex doesn’t seem ready to let her go and the subtle threats he’s been making leave her no choice but to confide in her oh-so-handsome neighbor, who just happens to be a deputy with the sheriff’s department.

But Officer Alex Cruz isn’t just the law. He’s also a panther shifter, a secret he’s sworn to keep (along with the truth about Nocturne Falls) from the very foxy Roxy. Humans aren’t supposed to know the town is filled with supernaturals. Then she starts seeing things she shouldn’t and thinks she’s losing her mind. His attraction—and concern—for her wars with the promise he’s made.

Will his truth be more than she can handle? Or will it cause her to write him out of her life? 

My Review:

Another wonderful addition to the Nocturnal Falls library!  I think my favorite part of this book was the cameos of former characters that popped in!  Roxy needed an fresh inspiration and a new start (as soon as the x signed the papers), and what better town to give fresh perspective to a paranormal romance writer to?  Only a town loaded with unknown paranormal creatures!  Throw in a sexy uniformed next door neighbor...a book signing...a little mystery and some magic!!  This was book was sweet and by far my favorite yet.  I can't wait until the next one!!  Hats off to Kristen Painters latest hit!!

Giveaway, Review, and Sneak Peek at Paige's Warrior by Ann Mayburn

Can Tren and Rell work together and overcome Paige’s fears in an effort to save all their battered souls? Find out in PAIGE’S WARRIORS, a Bondmates novel, from Ann Mayburn!

Synopsis:

After a lifetime of war, Commander Trenzent has left behind the bloody battlefields of the Bel'Tan galaxy and traveled to Earth in the hopes of finding his bondmate. He can only pray that the one woman in the universe who can save his battered soul can look past his scarred exterior to the man within. Unfortunately for Tren, his potential bride is terrified of men thanks to years of abuse at the hands of her father and won't be easy to seduce.

Paige Grant is pretty sure she's losing her mind obsessing about a man who doesn’t exist. Ever since the night a wormhole opened up next to Jupiter she's had these intense dreams about a terrifying, damaged man who awakens a passion inside of her she never knew existed. Despite his grim exterior, he makes her feel safe, something she desperately needs in the real world as she fights off the advances of a man who will not take no for an answer.

But Trenzent isn't the only Kadothian warrior who believes Paige is his bondmate. An old political enemy of Tren's, Rell Thantos, also believes the sweet and shy young Earth woman holds the missing part of his soul. He will do whatever it takes to win her heart, even if it means becoming bloodbrothers with a man he hates.

The men will have to find a way to get past their anger and work together to protect Paige against an unknown enemy who is determined to keep the women of Earth out of the Bel’Tan Galaxy forever. 

Warning- This story is set in the Bel'Tan galaxy where polyamorous relationships are the norm and love in all of its forms is accepted including M/M, M/M/F, M/M/M/F sexual situations. Basically if you don't like hot dudes kissing hot dudes, this may not be the series for you.

Available at: Amazon | Other favorite ebook retailers

Add PAIGE’S WARRIORS to your Goodreads TBR pile!

About Ann Mayburn

With over forty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened.

   From a young Ann has had a love affair with books would read everything she could get her hands on. As Ann grew older, and her hormones kicked in, she discovered bodice ripping Fabio-esque romance novels. They were great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

   Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has accepted that her Muse has a severe case of ADD.

  Ann loves to talk with her fans, as long as they realize she's weird, and that sarcasm doesn't translate well via text.

Connect with Ann: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Goodreads| Amazon Author Page

Wow!  Lets start off with completely believable and plausible story line, add in 3 of my girlfriends and this book could totally happen.  Problem one:  We don't have anyone as sweet and innocent as Paige in our real-life group.  I'm probably more like Roxie and Casey mixed.  I would be completely down with this but running from it at the same time.  Guilty....I swear I have had this fantasy....lets just say a little more than is deemed normal.  I mean come on....Extremely hot and damaged guy steals you away from Earth...promises nothing but pleasure...allows other men in your bed and allows you to marry another one..plus he is a willing participant in ALL acts?  Yes!  My version of heaven and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

The story-line was great!  It was exciting, detailed, and the sex scenes were off the chain.  I loved how the author maneuvered around the height issue and just made the story work!!  My favorite character was probably Tren.  You got follow him along closely in the story and see how he developed and changed because of her.  It was exciting and heart-wrenching and I totally want a Tren of my own!!

But be warned!!!  Ann Mayburn (if you are not familiar with her work) will lead you down this long and extremely exciting road only to throw you forcibly off a cliff and laugh at you while you are glancing up at her questioningly as you are plummeting towards the ground.  I say this with much love but she kills me with the cliffhangers.  I want the next book now and knowing I have to wait is exquisite torture.  But I have no doubt that the second installment will be worth the wait!!!  Hats off to you Ann Mayburn!!  This was a wicked yummy add to a sure to be phenomenal series!!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

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Review: Reader Abduction by Eve Langlais

An alien fantasy brought to life... 

It should have been a simple volunteer job. Keep the events for the Romancing the Capital convention running smooth. But from the moment Brigitte lays eyes on the male model dipped in purple, hired for the galactic party, she is thrown into a tizzy—mostly because of his stolen kiss. 

Imagine her shock once she realizes he’s not an actor. This purple alien is for real! 

And Phyr didn’t come to RTC alone. He brought a bunch of his mercenary friends to help him abduct all the single ladies. These readers are about to go on a galactic adventure wilder than anything they’ve ever read in a book—and hotter than anything they could have imagined. 

My Review:

This was a completely delightful short chalked full of I can sooooo see Eve doing something like this!!  So our own Evel Mistress has set it up so the single Purple alien fans can have their own adventure.  From the bottom of their hearts I know those girls are thanking you!!  Find out what happens when a dinner party extra goes right as Eve and her naughty author friends help these poor earthling romantics find love.  The best part was that Phyr didn't come alone so there is a chance to see a spin off of this book!!

All in all it was a funny read with two people falling in love without even realizing it!  I can't wait for another adventure!!  Hats off to Eve for another great adventure!!

Review: Fighting for her Mate by Milly Taiden

Sometimes even knowing your mate doesn't guarantee a smooth transition. Growing up Ellie knew Caleb was hers but life and challenges are destined to seperate these two lovepups....literally. Caleb is uprooted from his rightful station by his uncle. The pack deteriorates into its own chaotic mess. Can Ellie help him right his family? Still yet...will Caleb allow her?

The journey for these two isn't an easy one. It's full of challenges and fights...upside and downs....love and loss. Every element needed to make this story the rocking sassy adventure it is!

Milly never disappoints and always chalks a book full of thrills (in and out of the bedroom)! Another hot and completely satisfying read from the mistress of sexiness! I went to sleep completely satisfied from the exquisite journey I went on!! I cannot wait for the next book!!