Lucky in Love Blog Hop

CA BLOG HOP Lucky in LoveWelcome to the Lucky in Love Blog Hop! The prizes for this hop are awesome:

1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

To those prizes, I’m adding a copy of Manacled in Monaco.

How to enter? See the options at the end of this blog.

What does the term Lucky in Love mean? Is it finding someone to love? Being loved by someone? Two soul mates meeting? A lifelong friendship? Parents who love you?
My vote is for all of the above. Unfortunately one of my latest heroines isn’t very lucky – here’s a teaser from a new work due later this year.

Wolf Without, Ricky’s Landing Book #1 – Unedited Excerpt:
    “Pilot and copilot’s getting ready to come out.” Donny crossed his arms and squinted against the bright sunlight. “Did you ever rustle up a pic of him?”
    “No. Apparently Seathe MacFarland’s paranoid about his privacy.” Genie considered undoing another shirt button and showing an oompful of clevage.
    Donny jabbed her in the side.“They’re out.”
    She fixed her stare on the top step. Her pulse hammered in her ears and muted the early morning parrot screeches common on a Caribbean island. Genie squeezed her eyes shut and promised God a whole lotta Sundays at church if he gave her an easy mark. She hadn’t survived this long on Santa Lucia without learning a few nasty tricks. Just let him be on the stupid side.
    She lifted her lids and found herself looking into the most glacial pair of blue eyes on the planet. Dread snaked up her spine and left a series of icy shivers in its wake. Intelligence and alertness radiated from his unblinking, predatory stare.
    A whiff of some smoky and spicy aroma enveloped Genie before he ambled to a halt not more than a foot away from her. “Tell me, Ms. O’Connor, why is this piece of crap landing strip the official airport when I flew over a perfectly appointed runway five miles south?”
    What? He was a pilot. Crap, crap, and more crap. She squared her shoulders and held out a perfectly manicured hand. “How lovely to meet you, Mr. MacFarland. My name is—”
    “Genie O’Connor, niece of Paddy O’Connor, last surviving member of the O’Connor family who once owned Santa Lucia island.” Not an ounce of emotion flared from those hypnotic eyes. His palm closed over hers and she struggled against the urge to yank out of his firm grip.
    Her throat went dry. She forced a smile. “I see you’ve done your homework, Mr. MacFarland. This is—”
    He dropped her hand and shifted his attention to Donny. “Donald Smythe, General Manager of Ricky’s Landing. I presume we have transport of some sort?”
    Donny grinned and waved to the building. “We do Mr. MacFarland, but you must clear immigration and customs first.”
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    Genie hadn’t even noticed the other man until he spoke. They were as different as chalk and cheese, as the old English expression went. Archangel and Demon standing side by side, one a Viking, the other a dark Highlander.
    “It is an international airport, Torolf. Ms. O’Connor, Mr. Smythe, this is my lawyer, Torolf Bristol.”
    Genie prayed her shocked dismay didn’t show. Why had MacFarland brought his lawyer? Had he heard about her rights as the sole surviving O’Connor? That was to have been her ace in the hole if things didn’t go their way.
    She kept her smile firmly in place though her cheeks ached from the effort. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bristol.”
    Torolf shook her proffered hand. “Torolf, please Genie. No need to stand on ceremony. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other over the coming months.”
    Months? She choked back a gasp and spread her lips wider. What in hell had happened? When had her famous Irish luck taken a fricking hike?

One Entry for doing any of the following to 5 Contests
My Fireworks for Kindle Fire (click on Contest above for other prizes)
500 Facebook Followers – autographed book
500 Twitter Followers – autographed book
Lucky in Love Grand Contest
Lucky in Love Jianne Carlo Contest

Like my Facebook Fan Page (extra prize given when I reach 500 likes- this is a new FB page)
Follow Me on Twitter   (extra prize given when I reach 500 followers)
Like my Amazon Author Page
Become a Fan on Goodreads
Review or rate one of my books on Amazon, ARe, Barnes and Noble, Fictionwise, Goodreads, or Loose-Id. For each book rated, you get an entry. A review wins you a special indulgence as well as an entry
Sign up for News about my Coming Releases
Tweet about one of my books
Post something about one of my books or me on your Facebook Page
Tell a book club about one of my books
Mention one of my books in a discussion group

If you can think of anything else – go for it – just let me know what you did!

You must leave a comment with your email address to enter the Lucky in Love Blog Hop and to win one of my prizes. Tell me what you’ve done in your comment and  put NO at the beginning of the comment if you don’t want to receive periodic emails from me.

And to make this a little fun – here’s a bonus question to win an eCopy of The Bear and The Bride:

In The Bear and The Bride – What’s Ainslin nickname? (hint – the answer’s on this site)

Click here To go to the next site on the hop: http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/

Note: Winners will be announced 03/21/13 here, on Facebook, & Twitter. Winners have 5 days to claim their prizes by commenting here or on my Facebook page or re-tweeting winner announcement.

Good Luck Everyone!

Jianne

Win Books and Prizes in the Night Owl Reviews Spring Fling Web Hunt

Dragon Naturally Speaking & Hot Romance

What a great couple of weeks I’ve had creative-wise. OMG, the ideas are pouring in and I can scarcely keep up with the words in my head. This year I made a decision to use Dragon Naturally Speaking for all new work and my experience thus far has been both rewarding and frustrating.

In two days I wrote the first chapter of four books, The Wolf with the Broken Heart, That Pearly Drop, Torch the Wind, , and Wolf Without, and I’m into Chapter 2 on all of them. For someone who works full-time and writes only in the down hours, that’s a significant productivity increase.

Dragon is fussy and demanding. If my allergies are acting up and I’m a tad nasal, it misunderstands me. The last thing you want to do with Dragon is become frustrated or angry – then the darned software doesn’t comprehend a single word you say. It appears that using Dragon will make me a more disciplined writer…we’ll see how that works.

White Wolf Banner 1 - Jianne_Carlo940x300_v2
Anyhoo, I thought today and over the next few days that I’d share excerpts from the coming books.
Here’s an unedited preview of The Wolf with the Broken Smile, White Wolf Book # 4

Blizzard conditions—check.

Transportation impossible—check.Being forced to spend the night at Chad Lexington’s condo—check.

“My sister keeps a few clothes here.”

The object of Lizzie White’s sexual fantasies for the last four months raked her from tilted beret to BDSM-style boots. Her nipples sizzled under his intent stare. She prayed her feverish desire and frazzled nerves didn’t show, and clamped her mouth shut.

“She’s shorter than you.”

His gaze fixed on her chest and no amount of willing her blood to cool worked. Sweat coated her nape and her grip on the laptop case white-knuckled.

“It’d probably be better if I loaned you sweats and a T-shirt. They’ll be big, but that’s better than wearing too tight clothes.”

The devil had it in for her. His sweats abrading her pussy. The material that gloved his cock riding her clit. Cat on a hot tin roof had nothing on the sexual tension driving her. “Thanks, but not necessary, I sleep in the altogether. I am sorry to put you to such an inconvenience, however.”

Lie number one, she wasn’t sorry at all.

Had Mr. Stoic actually blinked at her I-sleep-naked declaration?

“It’s not as if you caused the worst weather conditions in the last century of Chicago weather.” As usual his smile didn’t quite reflect in those impenetrable silver-rimmed eyes.

She repressed a grin. Of course, he’d never in this universe believe she’d caused the blizzard deliberately. But she had. It had all been part of the plan to seduce him. Lizzie couldn’t wait for him to see her without the glasses and the dowdy clothes she normally wore. As it was, the boots had had him flummoxed from the second she’d stepped into his condo.

“The snow’s so wet I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost power soon.”

Perfect. Hot sweaty sex happened in blackouts.

Both their gazes swept to the wall of windows opposite and the white sheets of dense flakes slapping the glass. Lizzie hoped the heat climbing her throat didn’t mean she was blushing. No man ever had this effect on her except Chad Lexington.

“What do you want to eat? I’m not sure how long The North Plains Kitchen will remain open and I don’t stock food beyond a stash of power bars.”

He didn’t glance her way but continued to stare at the falling snow.

Lizzie gritted her teeth. Not once in the last four months of working together day after day had he shown an iota of interest in her as a person or a woman. Night after night, she’d analyzed every minute of time in his company searching for some slight nuance that signified he returned her explosive carnal cravings for him.

Could such intense passion be so fricking one-sided?

It was so hard to read him. She’d studied every arched brow, flared nostril, and the steepled hands and mocking grin that so frustrated his opponents. If it hadn’t been for his one slip two days ago, she would’ve left Chicago wondering, wondering what his cock would feel like inside her, if he yelled his orgasms, or got a little rough in the sack. But he had slipped and tonight it was go big or go broke.

“I’m not fussy. I’ll have whatever you’re having.” She’d have him in a heartbeat.

“Why don’t you settle in while I order takeout for today and tomorrow? Any allergies or food restrictions?” He shifted to face her and she had to fist her hands to resist the urge to tuck his famous wayward forelock back into place.

“I’m not vegan if that’s what you’re asking. I like all food, too much, as you may have guessed.” She didn’t point out the obvious, her D-cup breasts and full hips.

A ton of men lusted after her Jessica Rabbit figure, but Chainsaw Chad, rumored to have ice in his veins and not a shred of empathy, had never deigned to notice the slightest thing about her body or her Vegas showgirl legs. Maybe that was why she couldn’t get him out of her head. Nothing sweeter than the unattainable.

“The Kitchen’s known for its rack of lamb—how’d you like it?”

“Medium rare. I like my meat bloody.” And my sex hard and fast the first time. She hoped he had an oversize, thick cock and the stamina of a ram. Once wasn’t going to do it for her. Not when tonight was the only time she’d ever have with him.

“So do I.” He had a broadcaster’s voice, deep and laced with a rough coarseness. “Bathroom’s stocked with all the amenities of a hotel. I’ll have them send up the food ASAP. I use the conference table for eating. Join me there when you’re ready.”

“Okay.” Lizzie followed the bunching of his glutes when Chad spun around and left the room. The man’s ass was perfection, tight and round and his thighs those of the honed equestrian he was, at least according to the media.

When the door closed behind him, she set her laptop case on a walnut-stained desk in the corner of the room, hung her purse on the chair, and shrugged out of her coat. Quick as flash, she retrieved the toiletry bag from the outside pocket of the case and trudged to the bathroom.

After brushing her teeth, she unraveled her customary tight bun, finger-combed her waist-length corkscrew curls, and studied her reflection in the mirror.

Lizzie had no delusions about her looks.

She had an ordinary face, neither pretty nor ugly, but her centerfold figure more than made up for her average features.

Professionally, she dressed to emphasize her brain not her femininity. She’d had enough trouble in her first job with unwanted male attention and had learned the hard way what not to wear. The bun, the librarian glasses, the baggy suits, and calf-length skirts, all designed to detract attention from her bountiful breasts, narrow waist, and mile-high legs.

She ticked an imaginary check mark.

No way was Chainsaw Chad going to ignore her tonight.

The bland camel coat she’d discarded had hidden her CFM outfit. She gave her thigh-high black boots that begged for a whip and a pair of leather cuffs, a thumbs up. If Chad didn’t get the message the instant she walked into the conference room, he deserved a flogging. The scooped neckline of her form-fitting top showed hints of the dark rose of her areolae and then some. The leggings tucked into her Dom boots were unmarked by pantie-lines. On impulse she unhooked her bra and sidled the harness off.

Commando all over.

Lizzie sucked in a deep breath. She’d never had to make the first move. What if he rejected her? Or worse, pretended not to notice?

Hope you enjoyed!

Cheers,

Jianne

 

#BlogBarrage: “Gone” by Barb Han @BarbHanAuthor #cblspromos

It’s my pleasure today to host the CBLS Blog Barrage Tour for my fellow Etopia Press author, Barb Han.  Welcome Barb and take it away!

gone-coverGone

by Barb Han

Romantic Women’s Fiction

Category(ies): Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Etopia Press

Release Date: January 11, 2013

Heat Level: Steamy

Word Count: 77,000

 Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gone-ebook/dp/B00AZDI3PQ/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gone-1041392-152.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gone-barb-han/1114108626

Blurb

How far would you go to find a child that never existed?

Elizabeth Walker awakens in a mental institution, the aftermath of a nightmare in her veins. All she can think of is saving a little boy—her son. But the orderlies who rush in and jab her with needles assure her she has no son. So does her mother, who demands her doctors keep her calm and prevent her from these troubling delusions. But Elizabeth’s nightmares are so real, and her arms still feel the memory of holding her son. And her instincts tell her to trust no one. Her child is gone. Her memories are gone. Everything is just…gone.

Ex-military medic David Kerrigan will never stop blaming himself for the childhood tragedy that took his younger sister’s life. Working on assignment at the facility, he’s drawn to Elizabeth, and he’s not sure that everything about her case is on the up and up. David knows full well he can’t change the past, but what if he can save this one person? And maybe helping Elizabeth might just save them both…

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt

If memories were liquids, then Elizabeth Walker’s would be blood. Not warm, life-giving, tissue-bathing blood, but cold, coagulated, dried up, and stepped-over-on-the-sidewalk blood.

Memories weren’t liquids.

They were more like fireflies blinking in the dark, daring to be caught, disappearing a moment before they could be reached. And the only liquid left in Elizabeth’s body was a few unshed tears. They hardly ever fell now. Even they seemed to be drying up on her.

Nightmare or not, she would claw her way through any level of consciousness to save the boy. The last ounce of breath she drew from her lungs burst out as a scream, leaving her choking and gasping for air.

The sense of urgency to save him, to do something, burned frustrated holes through the bottoms of her feet—feet that did not touch pavement no matter how fast she moved.

She had to do something. But what?

She calculated the likelihood of reaching him and came up short. He was far. No way could she reach him in time.  Yet waiting, doing nothing, wasn’t an option either. Protective instinct propelled her legs forward, and damn the odds.

“Somebody. Help.” She pushed herself from the dream.

She dug her fingers into her mattress, discharging a crush of bleach into her hyperventilated nostrils. A drowning sensation filled her lungs. She clenched her chest muscles. She gasped, struggling for oxygen.

A door slamming against a wall made her sit bolt upright. Two bulky men in blue scrubs burst into the room.

Barb’s offering a giveaway on this Blog Barrage as follows:

Giveaway Info:
Prize is a $25 Starbucks Gift Card. Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Mar 19. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Link to Blog Schedule:
http://www.cblspromotions.com/2013/03/blogbarrage-gone-by-barb-han.html

About the Author

SONY DSCBarb Han lives in North Texas with her husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books to count.

When she’s not writing, researching, or otherwise getting lost in a story, she volunteers at her children’s school, is in the kitchen ‘creating’ dinner, or can be found on or around a basketball court.

Writing contemporary romance and romantic suspense has been a dream come true for Barb–something she’s wanted to do for as long as she can remember. She left her corporate job, at her husband’s urging, and has been happily playing with imaginary friends ever since.

Learn more about her latest releases at http://www.barbhan.com and don’t forget to say hi. She loves hearing from readers.

Connect with Barb Han

Website: http://www.barbhan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbHan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbHanAuthor

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/barbhan/

Watch the GONE trailer: :

 Click on the following to go to the next blog in this tour

gone-barragebanner

 

What’s Cooking for The Hades Squad & More!

I’ve finally had the time to talk to my editors and plan the writing year. Yay! I have goals and too many ideas to get onto paper/screen.

Release dates etc. will be finalized as the year progresses.

I will be adding a WIP (Works in Progress) section to the website, which will be available to anyone who’s signed up for the newsletter.

Here we go!

Existing Series and Books

VV banner

Vengeance Hammer, Book Three:  Release Date – May 17, 2013

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The Wolf With The Broken Smile (Chad & Lizzie) – est. completion date – May 2013

Hades Squad banner4

Two books this year.

Aha!

Caught you!

Thought there was only going to be one more, huh?

Shifty, Sinner’s cousin, will have his own tale.

Shifty’s Bacchanal – estimated completion date – July 2013

Satan’s Angel – estimated completion date – November 2013

New Books and Series

Murphy’s Laws of Time-Travel

A time-travel, fantasy series set between 2013 and 1763.

Book #1 – That Pearly Drop

Orca Rules

A contemporary, wounded SEAL series set in the north-west.

Book #1 – Torch the Wind

Ricky’s Landing

A paranormal, contemporary suspense series set in the Caribbean.

Book #1 – Wolf Without

Varangian Fury.

A Viking series set in the tenth and eleventh centuries.

Book #1 – The Viking’s Chains

As of today, I am about three weeks shy of getting previews up for The Wolf with the Broken Smile, That Pearly Drop, and Torch the Wind. The rest will follow *fingers crossed* soon after. It seems as if I may be having a creative tsunami. Here’s hoping my time and fingers keep pace with the tidal wave of new ideas.


Send me an email if you want to know more.

Cheers,

Jianne

 

Written in the Stars Conference

Njal  - yumDougKoziak01 (2)Tomorrow I head to Houston, Texas to meet my good friend and fellow author, Lynn Lorenz.

Woo Hoo! Road Trip!

We drive (4 hours – loads of gossip time) to Shreveport, Louisiana to attend the Written in the Stars Conference. So exciting.

It’s wonderful to meet new writers and readers, listen to the experts in the industry, and re-charge my creative batteries. I always come away from a conference brimming with new ideas, so when I return I’ll be posting my What’s Cooking page. There you’ll find a list of what I’m working on currently and what I hope to finish before the end of the year.

Here are some hints – two new Hades Squad books, a new SEAL series,  a new Wolf series, and for all of those who’ve asked a new viking series starring Mús, Tighe, and a couple of new heroes. As you can tell I’m revved up for hot romance, nerve-wracking suspense, supernatural shifters, and more Vikings!!!

The guy in the pic is my inspiration for my latest hero, Torch, a wounded wolf SEAL.

Isn’t he drool-worthy? Sigh.

Have a great hunk (my version of hump) day!

Cheers,

Jianne