First things first. A little light housekeeping…

I had one guest author who missed her day so we’ve rescheduled her for tomorrow. That means you have TWO more days to enter my big STOLEN HEAT contest (I’m extending it by a day). I will take entries for the contest up through 11:59pm PST Saturday, August 15, 2009. That ALSO means you get one more freebie guest author day, so check back on Saturday.

Have you entered the STOLEN HEAT contest yet? If not, get on it. Prizes include (just to refresh your memory):

1st Prize: $100 VISA Gift Card
2nd Prize: $20 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
3rd Prize: Autographed copies of the first two Stolen books:
STOLEN FURY & STOLEN HEAT

Go to Enter STOLEN HEAT Contest or click the link below:

And now, I’m thrilled to tell you who our guest author is today. Pocket author Karin Tabke!

Eight mercenary knights, each of them base born, each of them bound by unspeakable torture in a Saracen prison, each of them branded with the mark of the sword for life. Each of their destinies marked by a woman.

‘Twas whispered along the Marches the demon knights who rode upon black horses donned in black mail wielding black swords would slay any man, woman or child who dared look upon them. ‘Twas whispered their loyalty was only to the other and no man could split them asunder, nor was there enough gold or silver in the kingdom to buy their oath. ‘Twas well known each of them was touched not by the hand of God but by Lucifer himself.

‘Twas also whispered, but only by the bravest of souls, that each Blood Sword was destined to find only one woman in all of Christendom who would bear him and only him sons, and until that one woman was found, he would battle and ravage the land…

…but the darkest secret whispered was that there was one among them whose violent craving for the one woman he could not have would be the spark that would set an entire region on fire, and nearly bring down a kingdom, with the aftermath to be felt for the next thousand years.

“Tabke’s alpha heroes and strong-willed women captivate. Her third Blood Sword Legacy novel is a powerful battle-of-wills love story that resonates with the atmosphere of the era and simmering passion, betrayals and
politics that add depth to a stirring tale.“
– Romantic Times

“The third book in the Blood Sword Legacy series starts with a captivatingly gripping scene, and each new compelling scenario contains additional attention-grabbing circumstances.. Karin Tabke has created a rewarding masterpiece, one to be savored again and again.“
–Amelia Singletitle.com

Please welcome Karin to the blog!!

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Thank you Elisabeth for having me!

1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love dark, edgy sexy as hell reads. Hmm, maybe that’s why I write them?

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on my first L.O.S.T., Last Option Special Team, book. The Dirty Dozen meets Mission Impossible with a slight paranormal element. No boundaries! It’s hawt! Look for it next June!

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
You made me laugh, you made me cry, you made me sigh. I can’t stop thinking about your characters.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
Manic. I write most days. I’ll write 20 pages one day, 4 the next and 20 again the next day, crash for a day then pick it back up. Primarily I’m a night writer. 11p.m. to 4 a.m. I am at my most productive. I love to write at night when the house is quiet.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’d be any one of my heroines, doesn’t matter which. And if you’ve read any of my books and know how scrumptious my heroes are you’d know why!

Find Karin at the following places:
www.karintabke.com
www.twitter.com/karintabke
www.facebook.com/karin.tabke
www.myspace.com/karintabke
www.MurderSheWrites.com
wanna say hello or ask a question? Karin@KarinTabke.com

A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER Free Read!
http://www.simonandschuster.com/giveaways/karin-tabke-free-download

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Karin is giving away a copy of MASTER OF SURRENDER, book one in the Blood Sword Legacy series. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question:

Who’s your favorite alpha hero of all time?

Time is ticking. Only two days left to enter…

Today’s guest author is Liane Spicer!

Londoner Shari Zamore’s carefully constructed world is falling down around her ears, so she runs away to her family’s home in Trinidad where she encounters Michael Chancery, a stubborn, sexy man determined to make her face all the things she desperately wants to forget. Her plan is to love him, leave him, and then return to the life she left on hold. But Michael doesn’t give up easily, and he’ll use every tool in his sensual arsenal, every moment of each heated tropical night to convince Shari that her place is on the island…and that his heart belongs to her.

“… a steamy, hot romance… I loved this book because of its brilliant flavor, rich aroma and the way it perked up my spirits.”
- Romance Readers at Heart

“Even if the reader has never set foot in the Caribbean, the sights and sounds, perfectly described in this book, will make you feel like you’re there… throw in some unexpected drama, and you’ve got yourself an entertaining novel.”
–Romantic Times Book Reviews

Please welcome Liane to the blog!

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1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
My tastes run the gamut from the classics to romance, from thrillers to sci-fi, memoirs, biographies, the works. The exception is anything containing extremely graphic violence. There are two key elements in my choices, and genre isn’t one of them: one is story, and the other the quality of the writing. Reading has been a lifelong addiction and having spent most of my life immersed in books writing them seemed the next logical step. The impact of all those books on my own writing is visceral; I’m incapable of analyzing it.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on licking my second novel into shape. It’s romantic suspense and although the main characters are from the Caribbean, the setting is Miami this time around.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
My agent, Susan Schulman, was the second person to read my manuscript. (The first was a friend who read the first draft.) Susan said she loved the story and the writing and wanted to rep me, and I was floored because it was my first feedback from an industry pro. When she sold Café au Lait a few months later she said something along the lines of: “I’ve been in this business a long time and I can tell. You’re a writer. It’s what you do.” To date, her compliments are the ones I cherish the most.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I fit it in when and where I can since I do have a day job. I’m a moody writer in the sense that I write when the mood strikes me, so I need to develop the kind of routine where I sit and write whether or not I feel like it. I’m working on finding that discipline.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’ve never wanted to be anyone else but I do admit that the Isadora Wing character from Erica Jong’s How To Save Your Own Life makes me rather envious of her free-spiritedness and lack of inhibition, what with her two lovers in the afternoon and her headlong dive into a love affair with a friend’s son. If I had to wear someone else’s skin it would be hers or that of someone like her – but only in my fantasies!

***
Liane has donated a copy of CAFE AU LAIT to one lucky commenter. To be entered into th drawing, simply answer the following question:

Whose compliments do you cherish most and why?

Three days left…don’t miss out…

Today’s guest author is Joy Nash!

For Tori Morgan, family’s a blessing the universe hasn’t sent her way. Her parents are long gone, her chance of having a baby is slipping away, and the only thing she can call her own is a neglected old house. What she wants more than anything is a place where she belongs, and a big, noisy clan to share her life.

For Nick Santangelo, family’s more like a curse. His nonna is a closet kleptomaniac, his mom’s a menopausal time bomb and his motherless daughter is headed for serious boy trouble. The last thing Nick needs is another female making demands on his time.

But summer on the Jersey shore can be an enchanted season, when life’s hurts are soothed by the ebb and flow of the tides and love can bring together the most unlikely prospects. A hard-headed contractor and a lonely reader of Tarot cards and crystal prisms? All it takes is A Little Light Magic.

“[A Little Light Magic is], much to my delight, thoroughly character-driven and features genuine lead characters who are simply remarkable despite all their normality… I am definitely on board for Nash’s future contemporary releases.”
~ Lea Hensley, All About Romance (posted 8/09)

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Little Light Magic. I found myself a little sad every time I had to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone!”
~ Kimberly Stephens, Once Upon a Romance (posted 8/09)

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One lucky commenter will get a copy of A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC. Since Joy’s book is a “beach” read, simply answer the following question:

What’s your favorite beach to visit?

Four days left to enter…

Today’s guest author is JD Tynan!

Jill Wallokowski was the first female meteorologist ever hired at Vancouver, Washington’s Channel 12 news station. She thought Wallokowski was a bit too much of a mouthful and changed her on-air name to Jill Walker. Unfortunately, it was a bad time to be named Jill Walker. Someone was traveling across the country and killing women with that name. There had been eight deaths already and the pretty meteorologist was targeted as number nine.

Ian Hamlin is the FBI agent charged with protecting Jill 9 and capturing the serial killer. Formulating a risky plan, he sets Jill 9 up as the unwitting bait in the trap to catch the killer. Complicating matters is the mutual attraction between Jill and Ian, as well as her relationship with Elias Webber, a rich, handsome man who wants nothing more than to take Jill away where he can keep her safe and make her his own.

“A well-written book with crisp dialogue, it makes for a fast read.“
-Joanne Benham, Reader Views

Please welcome JD Tynan to the blog!

***

1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I like suspense. I tend to read Linda Howard and Iris Johansen more than anyone else, but in my younger days I was hooked on Tom Clancy and John Grisham. I enjoy a good mystery and cat and mouse suspense, but I don’t like gore. I prefer to write humorous rather than suspense, but my writing will always have a little mystery, even with my romantic comedies. It is just more fun that way.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
Currently I am working on editing two of my older manuscripts to get them ready for publication next year. One is titled Port Brisby, which I just adapted into a screenplay. My first ever. That was a great deal of fun and it made me realize that writing screenplays is also a passion of mine. It’s a lot different than writing a novel, so I get some variety.

Also, I have two other original new projects in the works. The fourth installment from my Charlie Ford series will be my next project. I’m always working on something. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. My next releases are due out in a few months, a romantic suspense called Good Gossip! And Charlie Ford Meets The X. Both are very exciting and I’m looking forward to their releases.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Any time someone says they stayed up til the wee hours of the night to finish one of my books is the best compliment out there. Or when someone says they love one of my characters. Just having people read my novels is a compliment in itself. I enjoy writing so much that even if no one read them, I’d still write. It’s a passion.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I try to write when the bug hits me and then edit and revise in between. Honestly, sometimes I go a month or two without writing (then I get to read!!) but I’ve always got something on the burner and I’m always, always editing something. I have so many manuscripts that need work, so there is always something to do. As for any kind of schedule, I just go with my heart and my head and when it’s time to write…it’s time to write!

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
That’s an easy one. Charlie Ford. I’d be Charlie Ford. She’s tough. She’s sexy. She’s a tomboy who faints at the sight of blood. She’s everything I’m not, but it’s so much fun to put myself into her world. She’s just the greatest, funniest character I could possibly conjure up and if there was a way to slip into the pages of a Charlie Ford adventure, I’d do it!

***
JD has donated a copy of JILL9 to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

Who’s your favorite funny character from TV, movies or books?

Only 5 days left to enter the STOLEN HEAT Release contest for a chance to win $100 VISA gift card and other fabulous prizes:

And now here’s our Freebie day #27 guest author, Minnette Meador!

Today Minnette is going to give us a glimpse into her world and tell us about her upcoming work. And she’s donating a copy of The Centurion & The Queen to one lucky commenter!

Blurb:
Centurion Marius is a tough leader to his men, despite the shame that drove him from Rome. Delia is sister to an uncaring Corieltauvi tribal king, warrior queen to her people. The last thing she expects is to find herself craving the touch of an enemy. Thrown into the clash between 80,000 angry Britons and 10,000 Roman soldiers, they find themselves on opposing sides, in love, and unable to stop the future. The revolution that sparked their desire…could now destroy them both.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – “I was engrossed by The Centurion and the Queen, and didn’t put it down.”

(Please note: Today’s drawing is open to U.S. residents only.)

Welcome, Minnette!!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love all kinds of books and probably every genre out there. I love sci-fi, fantasy, and historical romance, but I have a secret addiction to Nero Wolf novels. I own them all and read them over and over again. I’m also a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Whimsey. Some of my favorite books, however, are humorous. I’m a sucker for Terry Pratchert, Douglas Adams, Spider Robinson, Piers Anthony, and many others. I also enjoy the classics; Charles Dickens is still one of my all time favorite authors. I think they all influence my writing; I try to have a touch of mystery, romance, excitement, and humor in everything I write. That’s always what keeps me turning pages, so I hope my readers feel the same way.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on a paranormal romantic comedy called KEENAN’S DILEMMA that I have not contracted yet. Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable—until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive—or with heart intact. In November my very first children’s book, A BOY & HIS WIZARD is coming out with Stonegarden under the pen name M.A. SMITH. The sequel, A BOY & THIS LIZARD, will be out next year. Also coming out next year will be the next two books in the STARSIGHT series; STARSIGHT: THE RESTLESS SEED (a sequel), and STARSIGHT: THE GOD WARS (a prequel). I also have planned a YA sci-fi called ARPEGGIOS IN THE DARK about the first half alien/half human highbred who can kill with her voice…and doesn’t find that out until it’s too late. If there is time, I’m planning to work on a thriller paranormal called WY’EAST about a woman who becomes trapped in a strange Buddhist ritual on top of Mt. Hood. There are always many others…

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
The best compliment I have gotten is that a reader cannot put my book down. You live for that!

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
It’s sporadic at best. I try to do business stuff in the mornings and write in the afternoons and evenings. It’s hard to find the time, but I try to squeeze it all in. I don’t think I’ve slept for about three years now.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Ok, this is going to sound strange, but I’d love to be Marius, the hero from THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN. He is brave, compassionate, but a kickass fighter and an incredible leader to his men. He is passionate about his beliefs, but not blinded by them. He changes when he needs to and does the right thing, even when it could mean his life to do so. He loves unconditionally and fights with every bit of strength he possesses for it. I just LOVE this character.

Visit Minnette on the web at www.minnettemeador.com

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To be entered into the drawing to win a copy of Minnette’s book, The Centurion & The Queen, answer this question:

What’s your favorite Sci-Fi or Fantasy movie?

You have through Friday, 8/14 to enter…

Today’s guest author is Leanna Renee Hieber!

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Hidden in the dark heart of Victorian London, the Romanesque school was dreadfully imposing, a veritable fortress, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met its powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadows, of the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She saw simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gift. This arched stone doorway was a portal to a new life, to an education far from what could be had at a convent—and it was an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…

“Tender. Poignant. Exquisitely Written.“
- New York Times Bestelling Author C.L. Wilson

“A strangely beautiful tale indeed! An ethereal, lyrical story that combines myth, spiritualism and the gothic in lush prose and sweeping passion.“
- USA Today Bestselling Author Kathryn Smith

Preorder from Dorchester: http://tinyurl.com/sbdorch
Preorder from Barnes & Noble: www.tinyurl.com/strangelybeautifubn
Preorder Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/strangelybeautifulaz
Website: www.leannareneehieber.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/leannarenee
Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/L_R_Hieber_News/

Please help me welcome Leanna Renee Hieber to the blog!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
- Historical novels, suspense and fantasy novels. My books are a blended breed of my favourite genres. I certainly had to immerse myself in Victorian literature to be able to think, create and write in the 19th century, however trimmed it may be for a modern audience. Blending Victorian vernacular with fantasy tradition feels natural and delightful to me.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
- I’m working on the rough draft of Book III in the Strangely Beautiful series and edits for Book II in the series, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, which releases May 2010. I’m also working on a short story for an upcoming horror anthology and my agent is shopping out a Historical Paranormal YA series. I’m keeping busy.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
- I’ve had a continuous stream of readers/reviewers say they skipped meals and/or stayed up really late to finish The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. C.L. Wilson’s cover quote with the word “exquisite” nearly made me cry when I saw it for the first time. When I met her she told me how much she meant those words and loved the book. For that to come from one of my heroes felt incredible. I’ve had the delight of hearing several reviewers say I maintain a sense of fairy tale enchantment throughout my book.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
- I write as often as I possibly can, in mad fits and starts, some weeks more productive than others. I need to have a chunk of uninterrupted hours to get significant work done and within that stretch I stay focused. My goal when I write is around 4 thousand words a session and I usually meet that.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
- Miss Percy Parker. Hers is the book of my heart, my love-letter to the world. Despite the myriad, terrible trials and unusual qualities I’ve given her, just to experience the magical waltz she has in the moonlit foyer of Athens Academy with Professor Rychman… Why that would be worth all the troubles in the world.

Thanks for having me here, Elisabeth! Can’t wait to dive into Stolen Heat!

***
Leanna has generously donated an advanced copy of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question…

What’s your favorite historical time period to read (or learn) about?

Less than a week left to enter…

Today I’m thrilled to welcome good friend and very talented author Delilah Marvelle to the blog!

In her own words, Delilah says…

Once upon a time, Alexander William Baxendale, the Earl of Hawksford, was known to all of London and its besotted women as the Lord of Pleasure. Those days of frolicking, however, come to an abrupt end when he inherits not only the estate, but all of his father’s responsibilities, including five, overzealous sisters and a not-so-proper mother.

When Alexander meets the beautiful Lady Chartwell, he once again finds himself yearning for days of old. Left penniless by her philandering husband, Lady Chartwell survives financial ruin by turning to scandal and becoming the Conductor of Admissions to a school that educates men in the art of seduction. Alexander knows that desperate times call for desperate pleasures, but if he’s lucky, it may very well lead him to a hell of a lot more.

“With a twist here and a turn there, Marvelle delivers a delectable ‘lessons in love’ romance tinged with just the right amount of love, laughter and sizzle.” -Romantic Times

“If you thought Mistress of Pleasure was perfect…then Lord of Pleasure is whatever exceeds that…”
-Romance Junkies

Welcome, Delilah!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love reading Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, the Brontes, Shelley, Moliere, Shakespeare, and boy could I could go on and on. I also love to read historical romances and any non-fiction relating to British history, though in particular 1830 London, England. I feel all of these help me create a world that is tinged with just enough history to throw me into the world I need to write about. When you surround yourself with enough of it, you begin to believe you are part of it. Seriously.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I am currently working on a new series I cam currently calling the Scandal series. It’s all very hush, hush right now, but when it’s contracted you won’t be able to shut me up about it. I have no current upcoming releases as of yet, but I hope to change that soon.

(UPDATE: Since Delilah’s agent outed her this week in Publisher’s Weekly, I think I can pass this on…Delilah’s new series she spoke about above sold to HQN in a three book deal just this week!!! Congrats, D!)

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Someone told me I was a dirtier version of Julia Quinn, LOL. I’ll take THAT compliment any day.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
When the kids are in school, I write during those hours they’re away. When they’re home for the summer, I write very early in the morning like from 4 a.m. until they wake up. I admit, though, that my best writing is done when no one is in the house and I’m all alone as I like to talk as I’m typing and read aloud as I’m revising, literally doing voices (I have a theatre background…) to help me get into the characters and their world.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Wow. What a great question! There are so many characters I would have loved to have been but I’d say the Fairy Godmother from Cinderalla kicks butt. To be able to grant wishes and happily ever afters to those around me is what I want above all else. (Which is why I write romance.)

***
Delilah has donated a copy of LORD OF PLEASURE to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question…

What are your favorite books or stories from classical fiction?

She heard laughter and music, glasses clanking and the sounds of ESPN’s SportsCenter from the bar when she stepped out into the darkened hallway. No Shane. Breathing easier, Hailey turned and ran smack into one very hard, very familiar chest.

“You made a wrong turn at Tallahassee, Officer Roarke.”

Heart thundering against her ribs, she looked up, thankful the hall was dark enough to camo her bruises, and saw that sexy lopsided almost-smile of his. What would it look like at full grin?

“I…” Thump, thump, thump. In an instant she got lost in those smoldering eyes just like she’d done three months ago. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” Shane’s voice was as soft as a whisper and as dangerous as a lover’s first touch. And he was standing so close she could feel the heat radiating off his muscular body and smell the beer lingering on his tongue. “You are the last person I expected to see in Chicago in January. What are you doing here?”

Oh, man. How to answer that one?

She should really step back. She had enough problems already to last a lifetime. Her arm ached, her face hurt, and her adrenaline was suddenly back in the out-of-this-world range. But just like she’d done in Puerto Rico at that wedding, she pushed aside the rational side of her brain that said she was flirting with disaster where he was concerned. “I’m here for work. Not here. Um, in Lake Geneva, I mean. But there were a few errands I needed to run in the city.”

Liar.

Had she really thought seeing him tonight was a good idea? Oh, good God. She was seriously losing it.

“Errands, like, hanging out in a dive bar all by yourself?” The sparkle in his eyes said he was baiting her and she should be careful.

And like a fool, she ignored it.

“No. That was an afterthought. Sorta.” And a bad one. Her palms grew sweaty.

“An afterthought,” he said, eyeing her carefully. He shot a thumb over his shoulder behind him. “Shoulda been your first thought with this crowd. What kind of business does a Key West patrol officer have up here?”

“None. I mean, a patrol officer doesn’t. But I do. I’m taking a break. Leave of absence, really.” Lovely. Now she couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. If that wasn’t a sign she needed to bail, nothing was.

“Why?”

His sister must not have filled him in on what had happened with her family, thinking he wouldn’t care. And why that bothered her so much at the moment was as much of a mystery as was the fact she hadn’t cut and run already.

“My father died.”

“What? When?”

“Two weeks ago. Heart attack.”

“Oh, geez. I’m sorry.”

She had to avert her gaze because the concern pooling in his chocolate eyes was suddenly too much to deal with. And because even though she and her father hadn’t seen eye-to-eye recently, there’d been a time, ages ago, when they’d been close. The memory of that stayed with her, and it hurt, just a little, just beneath the breastbone, whenever she thought of never seeing him again.

“If there’s anything I can do—”

She waved a hand and pulled her gaze from his strong chest. “Thanks. No. Really, I’m fine. It wasn’t a complete surprise. His health hasn’t been good lately. He asked me to help out with the company about six weeks ago. I’m only staying on until a new CEO can be appointed.”

Double liar.

“So what are you doing in Lake Geneva?”

“Oh. Um. We’re midway through construction on a new resort there. Unfortunately it’s way behind schedule. With everything surrounding my father’s funeral and such, this is the first chance I’ve had to get up here to check things out.”

He nodded slowly, and again she had to look away because those eyes of his were just too much to deal with. They made her think of dancing and laughing and his hands on her hips, his body pressed up against hers, his breath fanning her cheek and all the incredible places they could have gone that warm night in Puerto Rico if he hadn’t walked away.

Her cheeks heated at the memory, and she took a small step back to break the spell she was slipping under. She’d fantasized about him for the last three months, but the reality was, if he’d been interested, she’d have heard from him before now. The fact she hadn’t was what she needed to remember. That and the fact the very last thing she should be thinking about right now was a guy.

“I should get going,” she said.

“What? You can’t leave yet. I just got here. Let me buy you a drink.”

A drink? With him? And those sexy smoldering eyes? Ah, no.

“I can’t,” she said quickly. “I have to drive back to Wisconsin tonight before the roads freeze much more. And besides, I’ve reached my Cubs limit for the night. In fact, I think I’ve reached it until at least the playoffs.”

He chuckled then, a smooth, rich sound that vibrated all the way through the floor and into her toes. “It’s kind of a religion around here.”

“Ah, yeah. I got that. Spring training hasn’t even started.”

“Pitchers report in two weeks. Can’t get here soon enough.” He grinned then, and oh, man, yeah. That smile at full force was too much. She had to glance toward the door to keep from staring. Before she could figure out a way to say goodbye, he touched her at the elbow. “How about coffee?”

“Oh, I—”

“Come on, don’t say no. My sister Keira gave me this espresso machine for Christmas that I haven’t figured out how to use yet. This is the perfect excuse to break it out. My place is just around the corner.”

His place? Oh, holy hell, no. That was a monumentally bad idea. “I shouldn’t—”

His fingers tightened on her elbow, and she looked up to see that mischievous spark in his eyes all over again. The same one she’d seen in Key Biscayne. The same one she’d seen in Puerto Rico at that wedding. The same one she’d dreamed of way longer than was smart, and which had driven her here tonight when she should be safe in Lake Geneva right this minute, licking her wounds. “I don’t bite, Hailey. And besides, even if I did, we both know you could kick my ass anytime you wanted.”

Their eyes held, and she felt her lips slowly curve at what he was obviously remembering. The night he’d shown up in Key Biscayne to find his sister. Hailey had been there and thought he was an intruder. She’d taken him down hard to the patio, disarmed this beefy Chicago homicide detective and started reading him his rights before Lisa had come barreling out of the dark and announced he wasn’t a peeping Tom, but her brother.

“I guess one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt anything,” she heard herself say before she thought better of it.

His grin widened. “Quick and painless. I promise.”

Her heart thumped. She seriously doubted that.

But damn if she wasn’t thinking how sweet a little pain, the likes of which only he could provide, would go along well with some espresso.

***
Now check out the first touch snippets from these other fabulous authors:

Beth Kery
Shelli Stevens
Michelle Pillow
Anya Bast
Beth Williamson
Eliza Gayle
Jaci Burton
Jody Wallace
Juliana Stone
Lacey Savage
McKenna Jeffries
Moira Rogers
Sylvia Day
Sasha White
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Lauren Dane
Marissa Scott
Leah Braemel

Here we go. I thought I posted these before, but I guess I didn’t. The winners, picked by random number generator, are..

Winner of Delle Jacobs SINS OF THE HEART is…
Pat L!

Winner of Kris Kennedy’s THE CONQUEROR is…
Blodeuedd!

Winner of Denise Agnew’s PRIMORDIAL is…
Fedora (flchen1)!

Winner of Vivi Anna’s DEMON DREAMER is…
Crystal GB!

Winner of Lexi Ryan’s STILETTOS, INC is…
Jane!

and finally, the winner of Helen Scott Taylor’s THE MAGIC KNOT is…
Mary G!

Winners, please email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your contact info (snail mail and email) so I can forward your info to the respective authors. Thanks so much to all who participated, and don’t miss the final week of freebies and my big STOLEN HEAT contest winners who will be announced next weekend!

Don’t miss your last few chances to enter…

Today’s guest author is Dorchester author Helen Scott Taylor!

Readers often ask me where I get my ideas for the fantasy worlds I create. I usually start with myth or folk law, such as the legend of the Irish Tuatha De Danaan—the noble Irish fairies who are descended from Greek gods—who appear in The Magic Knot. But one of my main sources of inspiration is the wonderful countryside and historic places in the British Isles and Ireland. I had a memorable visit to Ireland to research the area of The Wicklow Mountains before I wrote The Magic Knot. And the sequel, The Phoenix Charm, is set amid the valleys of Wales.

My fantasy world is contemporary set, but I love visiting historic manor houses and castles for inspiration. I’ve just arrived home from two weeks in the borderlands of Scotland. One of the things I love about the Scottish castles is how many of them are still owned and lived in by members of the Aristocracy. (Unlike in England where most are owned by The National Trust.)

My husband and I visited and looked around two historic properties just south of Edinburgh that are both owned by Dukes. Floors Castle (http://www.roxburghe.net/floors_castle_grounds_and_gardens/) is owned by the Duke of Roxburghe. This is an amazing place that took my breath away the first time I saw it. He and his family still live in one wing of the castle. While Bowhill House (http://www.bowhill.org/), is the home of The Duke of Buccleuch. I was told that not so long ago it was possible to travel all the way from Edinburgh to London without leaving The Duke of Buccleuch’s lands!

I notice on the Bowhill house website they are currently running a writing contest, open to all nationalities, in connection with The Muster, a Clan gathering they are having on September 26th. Check out the link on the right hand side of their website. (http://www.bowhill.org/)

To find out more about Helen’s books and read excerpts, please visit www.helenscotttaylor.com

***
Helen is donating a copy of THE MAGIC KNOT to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go and why?