Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Thank You!



Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all of the support with the Found release. I've absolutely loved sharing the Crescent Chronicles with you, and I'm thrilled that so many of you enjoyed following Allie and Levi's story! I'm excited to continue with the Pterons in the Empire Chronicles later this year.

It's been two years since I first published Beckoning Light. In that time, I have published 9 novels (with the 10th releasing in just 3 weeks) and have sold over 100,000 books. Since February, I have been lucky enough to work with Kelly Simmon of Inkslinger PR, and I've loved the experience. Today, I'm excited to announce that I am now represented by literary agent David Forrer of InkWell Management! I am thrilled about having the opportunity to work with him.

Over the past two years I've met so many wonderful people on my writing and publishing journey. The relationships I have developed with authors, bloggers, and readers have been priceless, and I know I couldn't have done this without you guys. To celebrate and to thank you, I thought I'd do another giveaway. Enter below for a chance to win a prize pack including: 2 Pat O's Hurricane glasses, a Hazards of Skinny Dipping mini poster, a set of signed bookmarks, and your choice of any one of my print books (including Enduring Light once it releases next month). To enter, leave a comment with your email address. This giveaway is open internationally, and will close at midnight EST on Monday August 5th.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Found Release!




Found is now available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords

I hope you guys enjoy it! I've absolutely loved writing the Crescent Chronicles, and I am thrilled that so many of you were able to share this journey with me!


Friday, July 12, 2013

Authors Tell All: Magan Vernon


This week on Authors Tell All I'm excited to welcome Magan Vernon with not one, but two skinny dipping scenes. The first one's from The Only Exception!


 
Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good


Here's the scene!

We stood in the bathroom, facing each other like a standoff at the O.K. Corral. The bath was full and steaming, and I used the last of my body wash that I brought to Trey's parents’ to make it into a bubble bath.
"I guess we better get in before it gets cold..." I said, pulling off my sweater while I still had the courage to.
"Yeah, probably a good idea," Trey said, swallowing so hard that I saw his Adam's apple bob.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to." I slipped my khakis down my legs and stepped out of them."
He pulled off his socks, his eyes roaming over my body. "Believe me. I want to."
I reached into my bag for my iPod, put on my classical music list, and then set it on the counter near the sink.
"Beethoven?" Trey asked.
When I turned around his button down shirt was off, and he was just in his midst of tugging off his undershirt and tossing it to the floor.
"I like classical when I take a bath." I reached around and unhooked my bra, tossing it on top of his shirt.
He took a step closer, putting his hands on my back and pulling my bare chest against his. He was so warm it felt like his body was on fire. "How am I supposed to concentrate on the music when you look this good?"
I tilted my head up and kissed him softly on the lips. He gently kissed me back, sliding his tongue in my mouth. I reached to the front of his pants, unhooking his belt. He didn't stop me; not even as I fumbled over his buttons and zipper.
I broke the kiss and pulled back, watching him step out of his pants. Thin wisps of hair trailed from his belly button down to the waistband of his boxer briefs, brandishing the expensive logo. I’d never seen this much of Trey Chapman. He looked even better than the male model did in the ad for the same boxer briefs Trey was wearing. I had to keep from drooling.
"I guess it's bath time," I said and pulled down my panties, tossing them on our pile of clothes.
His eyes widened like two saucers, and he just stood there, not moving. "Okay."
I let a coy smile cross my lips and stepped into the tub, easing into the warm water and rested my back against the wall opposite the faucet.
Slowly, Trey pulled down his boxer briefs and tossed them aside. He was fully erect and was definitely well endowed. I tried not to stare, but there were only so many other things I could look at; especially when it was my first time seeing that part of him. He took a few steps forward and slid into the tub, easing his way across from me. "This is nice," he said, letting out a deep breath.
"It's my daily decompress," I said, completely aware of his legs against mine and another part that was dangerously close to mine.
"So you just sit here and listen to music?”
I shrugged. "Basically." Then I took a hand full of bubbles and blew them in his direction.
A mischievous grin crossed his face, and he took another handful of bubbles, brushing them on my cheek.
"Do I look sexy with a bubble beard?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.
"I think you look sexy no matter what."
I took another handful of bubbles. "When I was younger I used to make myself into a bubble monster and put bubbles all over." I moved my hand down to my chest, placing the bubbles on there and took Trey's hands, moving them to replace mine. His fingers grazed my nipples, making every hair on my body stand on end.
I pulled him closer, kissing him hard and pressing my hands on his bare back. He moved forward, deepening our kiss and putting his hands on either side of my butt. I pulled my legs up, letting his body slide closer to mine while I pressed my thighs to his waist. He cupped my breasts with his hands, caressing them slowly, each finger roaming freely against my bare skin. I ran my hands down his back, then up to his broad shoulders. His massive erection was pressed against my belly button, if he moved slightly downward he would be there. I didn't know if he was ready, but his very nearness was making every part of me turn to gelatin. I opened my mouth, a slight moan escaping my lips before I nibbled at his bottom lip.
I thought it was his favorite, but he pulled back, sitting on his knees and wincing like he was in pain with his hands clasped below the water. "I don't think this is a good idea."





And here's a skinny dipping scene from the sequel to My Paper Heart, On Paper Wings!

There were tons of random ponds and creeks all throughout the swamps of Elsbury. Since there wasn’t exactly a bathroom for Blaine to clean up at, at the restaurant and we high tailed it out of there pretty quick, he pulled on to the side of the road and we took a small pathway down to a little pond not far from Aunt Dee’s.
It was surrounded by weeping willows, like our own persona lagoon with just the light of the moon shining down on the water in front of us. We sat at the edge, dangling our feet in the water, while Blaine dipped his hands in and out of the water, splashing the sweet tea off his face.
“Baby, I’m really sorry you had to witness any of that,” he spoke in a voice barely above a whisper after he splashed one last layer on his face.
I could feel the tears pricking at my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them budge, instead I just drew circles in the water with my foot.“Yeah, I wish I didn’t either.”
“I wish there was some way I could prove to you that was the old Blaine. I wish that none of these girls would show up or that I could get some sort of time machine and never messed around with all these girls before you came.”
I sighed and finally turned to face him. “It’s a small town, surrounded by other small towns, did you really think you’d never run into any of them again?”
“I wasn’t really thinking with my head. Well the head on my shoulders.”
I groaned. “That’s really reassuring.”
He reached down into the water, taking a handful of water and splashing it onto my legs. “Come on, my petite, you know you’re the only girl for me. Hell, I barely talked to any of those other girls. They all came after me. You were the first girl I actually sought out, even though you rejected me.”
“I didn’t reject you!” I kicked a small wave of water in his direction, splashing onto his pants.
Technically I didn’t. I remembered exactly when I met him. We actually fought because he thought I was dancing too sexy at a party and then I had to take my high little cousin home. I saw him the next day, and again he confronted me about teasing some guys on the road crew. I didn’t know at the time that he was such a big playboy, or that he’d show up at Aunt Dee’s shop with flowers and ask me out on a date.
“As I recall, you sat there and just gave me that sexy smile before you said you’d think about letting me take you out.” He scooped another big glop of water in his hands and then pushed it at me, soaking the bottoms of my capris.
I squealed, as the warm water hit my body. “Hey, that’s not fair!”
“What? That you rejected me, or this...” He let his hand back and then pushed another huge wave of water onto me that reached up to my shirt.
I screamed. “Blaine Crabtree, stop it!”
I reached into the water and splashed continuously until I had soaked his jeans.
“Oh hell no. This means war!”
Just as he bent down to scoop another load of water on me, I pushed at his back, causing him to stumble forward and fall into the water. He came up, shaking his head like a wet dog and running his hands over his face. He stood up, the water only reaching to his waist. Then he pulled his shirt over his head throwing it on the shore. “Oh you asked for this, baby.”
He moved in slow, methodical steps and before I could move he picked me off the ledge and dragged me into the water with him. It wasn’t cold like I might have expected, but almost as warm as a Jacuzzi. That didn’t stop me from screaming since it soaked through my pants and shirt, causing my body to feel like it weighed a million pounds.
“Ah! Blaine!” I swatted at his bare chest with my wet hand as he moved his arms around my waist, pulling me tighter against him.
“Hey, you started this.”
“But now my clothes are soaked!”
A large grin spread on his face. “Well, then take them off.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew, here? Aren’t there like fish in the water.”
He shook his head, blowing the air through his nose and on to my face like a silent laugh. “Some days I forget how much of a city girl you are.” He pushed back my hair from my neck, his fingers tracing the lines of my jaw before his lips replaced his fingers and he trailed warm kisses from my jaw down my neck.
I gasped at the sensation of the water flowing around us combined with his soft lips. He moved his mouth from my neck to my lips, tilting my head back and letting his tongue in. He deepened our kiss, pulling me against his bare chest while I reached my hands up, running my fingers through his hair and down the curved muscles of his back.
He broke the kiss, but his lips still trailed down my neck before he moved his hands to the hem of my shirt pulling it over my head and then tossing it next to his on the shore. Once that was gone his lips returned back to my body, moving my bra straps so he could kiss my bare shoulders.
Blaine then kissed his way back up to my lips, but before I could kiss him back, he leaned his forehead against mine. His blue eyes glimmering in the moonlight while they stared into my own. “This is where I want to be. Anywhere that you are. I love the feel of your skin on mine and the way your heart beats to the same rhythm of my own. I belong to you and only you. My sweet petite.”
And my lips said what words couldn’t as I pulled him in for another kiss, getting lost in him. We may not have been perfect and I knew it wouldn’t be the last of his exes that I would run into, but for now, he was mine and that was all that mattered.

About Magan:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Her first book was independently published through an author cooperative in 2011; a YA Science Fiction book called How to Date an Alien that has consistently ranked in the top 100 in Amazon for Teen Science Fiction and Romance. Her first New Adult book, My Paper Heart, was published in 2012 and shot up the top of the Amazon best seller charts and surpassed expectations from all the people in 2009 that told her "A college aged character won't sell." Her next release is titled The Only Exception, coming in April of 2013. It's political, New Adult, and everything that makes a girl swoon.


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The Empire Chronicles



I’m not ready to say goodbye to the Pterons. In fact, I have a whole new Pteron story to share with you guys. These books will pick up after Found ends, and they’ll be lots of familiar faces, but they will not be Crescent books.

I’m excited to announce the Empire Chronicles!

Set in New York City, the Empire Chronicles follow Casey as she befriends a heartbroken guy named Toby and is unwittingly introduced to a supernatural society. After things in New York get a little crazy, a few New Orleans’ Pterons are sent to help out. A certain bad boy named Jared may end up sticking around—and he may just be ready to break his blonde streak.

I’m planning to release Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) in late 2013.

Cover and description coming soon. And for my contemporary romance readers, I have a new series for you coming soon too. Be sure to check back for updates and teasers!

Add Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) to Goodreads!

Indelible by Bethany Lopez Release Day and Giveaway!

Release Day Blitz ~ Indelible by Bethany Lopez  

Release Date: July 9, 2013
Photo by K Keeton Designs
Cover by B Designs
Indelible is a New Adult Contemporary Romance Blurb: After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart. Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother? Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?                Purchase Links Amazon: GoodReads:  Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Photo and Teaser by K Keeton Designs

About the Author:

Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books. She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.



Friday, July 5, 2013

Authors Tell All: Kristen Proby



Hey everyone! This week on Author's Tell All I have Kristen Proby with a skinny dipping scene from COME AWAY WITH ME!

Being confronted on the beach by a sexy stranger wasn't part of Natalie Conner's plans for a peaceful morning taking photos. And why on earth would he think she's taking pictures of him, anyway? Who is he? One thing’s for sure, he’s hot, and incredibly romantic, feeding Natalie’s wounded soul.
Luke Williams just wants the world to give him a break, so seeing yet another camera aimed at his face has him ready to pounce on the beauty behind the lens. When he finds out she has no idea who he is, he's intrigued and more than a little tempted by her. Natalie has a body made for sex, a sassy mouth and Luke can’t get enough of her, but he’s not ready to tell her who he really his.
Natalie is a no nonsense girl who doesn’t do well with lies and secrets. What will happen to this new relationship when she discovers what Luke’s hiding?


Here's the Scene!

“Jesus, Nat, you’re going to kill me.”

“Ah, but what a way to go.”

He laughs and kisses me tenderly, then abruptly stands up and pulls me with him, throwing me over his naked shoulder.

“I have the best view of your ass right now, my love.”  I give it a little slap and he returns the favor on my own ass.  “Where are we going?”

“Skinny dipping!”  He jogs – jogs! – with me over his shoulder out to the deck and down the steps that lead to the water, and just tosses me right in.

I hit the warm surface with a loud splash and come up sputtering.  It’s not too deep, only about six feet, and as I push the wet hair off my face, I see Luke dive in head-first.  He gracefully swims to me and I can’t help but admire the way his back muscles move.

“Hi,” I smile shyly when he surfaces before me and wrap my arms and legs around him.

“Hi.”  He grins and plants his hands on my waist, then throws me through the air to land back in the water.

Oh, we’re going to play!  Naked!

I squeal when I surface and splash him and he splashes me back with a laugh.

He swims for me again and I try to quickly escape, but he catches me and tosses me again.

“Are you trying to drown me?”

“Maybe I want to do some mouth-to-mouth.”

“You don’t have to kill me to do that!  I’m a sure bet.”  I giggle and splash him again, enjoying the way his naked body looks in the clear water, reflecting in his perfectly blue eyes.

“God, you look beautiful right now,” he says.

“I was just thinking the same thing.”  I swim to him and wrap myself around him again.

“I enjoy playing with you,” he says and kisses my nose.

“Me too.  In and out of bed.”  I smile sassily and he bites his lip.

“I have to say, this morning was a first for me.”

“A good first, or a bad first?”  I run my fingers through his wet hair, loving the way our naked bodies feel twined together in the warm pacific.

“Definitely good, although I have to admit, I prefer being in control.”

“Well, variety is the spice of life.  I like to surprise you every once in a while.”  I kiss his chin and he chuckles.

“No complaints here, baby.”

“Hmm… good.”

He lifts my hips and surprises me by slipping inside me.  I lean my forehead against his as he stills, filling me.

“I love you.”


“Oh baby, I love you too.  Let’s frighten the fish.”


About Kristen:
Kristen is the author of the Amazon and USA Today bestselling With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.
Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Links:
Twitter: @handbagjunkie

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Found Excerpt #3


Found releases in two weeks! Until then, here's a sneak peak of chapter one.

If Levi mentioned my sex life with Toby one more time I was going to slap him.
“I don’t see how it changes anything. You already knew I wasn’t a virgin.”
“I thought you’d been with a human. That’s different. Human men don’t count. I assumed I was your first Pteron.” The serious expression on his face made me want to laugh despite my anger.
“That’s ridiculous.” I tied the laces on my running shoes. I was antsy from spending so much time inside and was excited that Hailey was coming by Levi’s house to meet me for a run.
“It was nothing like it is with us, right? Just tell me that.”
I let out a deep breath. “How many human girls were you with before me?”
“Uh—”
“Yeah, I thought so. Does that mean what we have isn’t special? Different?”
“Of course not.” He sat down next to me, leaving no space between us. “Those girls meant nothing. You mean everything.”
“Exactly.” I decided not to berate him about the disrespectful way he treated women before me. “You may not have been my first Pteron, but you’re my favorite.” I kissed him on the cheek. I was trying to pretend it didn’t weird me out, but I was going crazy. How was it possible for me to have been with two different Pterons? I wasn’t even nineteen yet.
His shoulder brushed against mine. “Have we had sex more times than you guys did?”
“What?” I shot up and away from him. “No. No. No. We are not talking about this anymore. Say it again and you can forget about us having sex any time in the near future. Got it?”
He put up his hands in mock defense. “Fine. I just don’t like it.”
“You’ve made your feelings abundantly clear.” I turned to walk out of his bedroom to wait for Hailey. I didn’t make it through the doorway.
His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against him. “How long do you have before Hailey gets here?” He kissed my earlobe before trailing a line of kisses down my neck.
“Not enough time.” I spun out of his arms. “I wouldn’t want to cut your amazing skills short.”
He laughed. “Just wait until tonight, Al. I’ll show you amazing.”
“I can hardly wait.” I leaned up and kissed him. I should have known it wouldn’t be just a quick little kiss. He wasn’t having any of that. He had me pinned against the wall within seconds. My hands were tangled in his hair almost as quickly.
That was exactly how Hailey found us. “I’d tell you to get a room, but I guess you already have one.”
Levi reluctantly backed up. “Impeccable timing as always, Hailey.”
She shrugged. “What can I say? I have the touch.”

“That you do. Let’s get out of here.” I ran a finger down Levi’s bare arm. “Don’t get too bored without me.”


Monday, July 1, 2013

Conjure by Jennifer Snyder Release Day and Giveaway!



Today is release day for Conjure, the second book in the Tethered series by Jennifer Snyder! In celebration of the release, book one, Catalyst is on sale for just 99 cents! If you're a fan of New Adult Paranormal Romance, you have to check this series out! 

Haven't read Catalyst yet? I'm gifting two kindle copies. Comment below with your email and I'll randomly pick two winners (Open until 12:00 am est on Wednesday July 5th).

Catalyst:


Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…

After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.

But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.


(New Adult/Mature Young Adult: Contains sexual situations, mild language, and underage drinking.)
Conjure: 



Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past...

The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that's exactly what happened.

Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew
.

(New Adult/Mature Young Adult: Contains sexual situations, language, underage drinking, and drug usage.)


B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conjure-jennifer-snyder/1115866031?ean=2940016539942
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DOO3TJI


 http://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-A-Tethered-Novel-ebook/dp/B00CLELBF6/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catalyst-jennifer-snyder/1115225366?ean=2940016493398