A Little Harmless Pleasure ON SALE NOW
November 30, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
So, I am a day late but hopefully not a dollar short:)
Cynthia Myers meets Chris Dupree at her former fiance’s wedding. After a little dancing, and champagne, she ends up back in Chris’s hotel room. For one night of down and dirty sex. That’s it, that’s all. He lives far away, and she has other things to do…like get a life. Chris is a switch. He likes to dominate but he also likes to play the role of a submissive from time to time. His last relationship with a sub turned nasty and since then, he has shied away from anything but straight vanilla sex. When he meets Cynthia, he finds a woman who could change his mind. His mate. The only problem is he has to convince her.In a carefully orchestrated seduction, Chris teaches Cynthia about submission and dominance, allowing her take the reins. As he leads her through pleasures she thought she’d never experience, Cynthia’s self confidence soars and she finds herself falling in love with him. But, when he asks for submission in the bedroom, can she surrender to prove her love or was it all about a little harmless pleasure?
SCORCHING click here to purchase
Kiss of the Night Sylvia Day
November 27, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Kiss of the Night
Book 2 in the Dangerous series
The sequel to MISLED
ISBN: 1-4199-0436-1
Special Task Force agent Alexei Night has had a crush on Interstellar Council Representative Briana Michaels ever since the first time he saw her on the vid comm. But their lives are worlds apart. He’s a vampire. She’s not. There’s no possibility of a relationship between them. Yet he still dreams of her…
When Briana’s unpopular position supporting vampiric rights threatens her family, Alex leaps at the chance to protect her and be with her. It’s a two-week journey to her homeworld, and he’ll spend it making love with the woman he can’t keep, trying to get enough of her to last an eternity. Their erotic connection is easily established but their bond doesn’t overshadow the danger surrounding Briana.
A hopeless romance with a woman whose mortal life is threatened… Things can’t get any worse for Alex.
And then somehow…they do.
http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=1-4199-0436-1
Happy Thanksgiving
November 24, 2005 by Melissa · 4 Comments
It has been a crazy year since last year’s celebration of the US holiday. I do miss Thanksgiving in Hawaii. We would go to the O’Club and have it on the lanai, or back porch. There, we would dine on turkey, ham, dressing, rice, mahi mahi, while looking out on the waterway that lead up to Pearl Harbor. When I don’t have to cook, I don’t mind it being 75, especially with a view like I had there.
But this year, I am cooking my own turkey, and it is going to be over 80 today in Texas. Yeah, I know. If I don’t have a beautiful view like the ones in Hawaii, I want it to be cold, and hope next year we will be.
So, since everyone else is probably doing this, I want to give thanks.
My children are healthy(okay, I don’t include the mental aspect because, let’s face it, they are my children, so they are a bit warped)
My husband is here and not somwhere else in the world
My extended family made it through the year without any major tragedies.
I am thankful for my readers, some of the best people in the world. Without their support, I would be nothing, so I thank each and every one.
I am thankful for my best bud Kally Jo Surbeck, and many of the other writers I have met in the last year and half. Having writer friends makes my world so much brighter, because I am not the only weird one.
I am thankful that Leslie King doesn’t send me nasty emails when I am such a pain of client.
I am thankful for my publishing companies, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, Whiskey Creek Press and Vintage Romance Publishing.
I am thankful for Missy, Cindy, and Aly at Genesis.
and last but certainly not least, I am thankful that Jean made it through Katrina and pray that each day becomes easier for her and her family.
Hope all of you who celebrate the holiday have a safe and happy day. I now have a turkey to go ruin.
Melissa
ps, this is the only guy with feathers I have, lol
Take Me
November 21, 2005 by Melissa · 2 Comments
This looks like a winner from Belle Andre!
TAKE ME
Pocket BooksISBN #1416509577
November 2005
http://www.BellaAndre.com
An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied. . . .
Lily Ellis has curves–soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she’s always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her sensual adventure begins when, despite her inhibitions, the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway with mesmerizing power, Travis can’t believe it’s the same Lily he’s always known and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Traviss name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she’s nothing like his past lovers . . . and now that she has him close at last, she’s praying Travis likes what he sees and feels. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings of love and lust, she spontaneously partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily is about to unwrap her real self, and play a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an ecstasy that’s so all-consuming it has her seeing stars? Or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?
Emma Holly, bestselling author: Oh, my! Bella Andre’s TAKE ME is wonderfully sexy–a big, fun fantasy with an euqally big heart. You’ll cheer these characters on as they find each other…and themselves!
Jaid Black, bestselling author: TAKE ME is emotionally charged and deliciously erotic. A must-read from cover to cover.
Patricia Green, Romance Reviews Today: A story with a woman who isn’t model perfect is a refreshing change in TAKE ME…Ms. Andre captures the beauty of Italy in such a way that it will leave one wishing to experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun…a delightfully engaging tale of erotic contemporary romance.
Susan White, JustEroticRomanceReviews: Take Me is a terrific book that I absolutely adored.
Angel, Romance Junkies: TAKE ME is an excellent book about a full figured woman… I love the fact that a plus size heroine gets the hero. Bella Andre has done an outstanding job creating a heroine who is not average and a hero who loves her just the way she is.
Tewanda H., bookseller: I am lucky enough to work at a bookstore that received an advanced reading copy of Take Me. I was unable to put the book down. IT IS WONDERFUL!!!! And I will be recommending it to customers, friends, and family. Lily is a wonderful heroine, that cannot help but touch your heart.
Loose Author Day
November 19, 2005 by Melissa · 1 Comment
Lacey Savage and Kally Jo Surbeck joined me for an author day on the Loose community loop today. Had a great time. There is nothing like hanging out with readers to get you excited. My back is hurting, my eyeballs sting…I was at it for the better part of 12-13 hours, but I don’t care. I had too much fun. I think because, I will always be a reader first.
I remember going to my first RWA conference and passing Nora Roberts in the hallway, or getting to say hi to Lori Foster, and the second RWA conference, I actually stole leftover cookies with Julia Quinn, although I am sure she doesn’t know who I am, lol.
There is always a part of me that thinks, “O MY GAWD, that’s Jenny Crusie!” And, sitting in hotel room with Angela Knight, Camille Anthony and MJ Davidson, signing our copies of the books Loose put in print, that was just surreal. There is just no getting around it. A little part of me will still be excited I am talking to a writer, even though I am one myself, lol.
So, when the readers say how much they appreciate us chatting, I know what they mean. It means a lot to me that they spend the day with us and support us the way they do.
Okay, I earned a hot bath and a good book:) Oh, and thanks to Aly for the purty man pic
Back on to work
November 17, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Well, I had a great time in Wichita Falls with the Red River Romance Writers. It is where we call home, esp my hubby who grew up in the area, born and bred. But, I am waiting on final edits for ALHP and working on Hunting Mila. It has been fun to get back to an action adventure futuristic. Been about 6 months since I have worked on one. I am also working on Her Wicked Warrior, the next Sweet Shoppe book, that should be out for St Patrick’s day. I am trying to writer category to full length novels for Loose id, so my releases will be spread out, because it takes me a little longer to write them, but I hope you all like them. Mila and John are having a fun time, they just don’t know it yet. She is all about looking good and John would just rather be home. It doesn’t help that his pet name for her is Debutante, lol.
Getting back to work. Keep an eye out here tomorrow I will be posting stuff about some releases from the gals at Your Virtual Book Bag.
Smuggler’s Bride
November 8, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Smuggler’s Bride
Now on sale!
ISBN 1-55316-551-9 (paper)ISBN 1-55316-135-1 (ebook)
Rand Washburn is on top of the haul of his life. He’s not going to let some sassy, misplaced Englishwoman mess up the biggest smuggling operation ever seen in Territorial Florida. Rand will do whatever it takes to stop Julia Cooper, even if it means getting out the shotgun and making her the smuggler’s bride.
“Marshall continues her legacy of deceit, romance and happily ever afters…(and) weaves historical facts into a well-written and highly captivating romance–4 stars!” Romantic Times BOOKclub
“Like a snapper, this story grabs you and never lets go–10 out of 10!” Novelspot
“Darlene Marshall has written a wonderful story filled with romance and humor. The sexual tension explodes between Julia and Rand. This book will keep you up late into the night. It is impossible to put down”–5 Cups! Coffee Time Reviews
Read an excerpt at Darlene’s website
Airshows and moderated comments
November 6, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
I have survived my 150th airshow. lol Not really, but close. It is fun to experience it with the kids, but it is not the same as when I was a kid. Vendors have taken over almost everything and there is no individuality.
And, I am now having to moderate comments. I had people trying to promote free ebooks and all kinds of things on here, so I am moderating. As long as you aren’t promoting crap, I will let you post(oh, or flaming people. I don’t mind me to an extent, but let’s play nice and look at purty pics)
Oh and celebration. Edits on ALHP are done, the big ones, and I await line edits. Woo hoo!
Had to use this pic again because it is just looks like that guy is celebrating being alive. Now I am on to work on Hunting Mila, my next LI release and follow up to Seducing the Saint:)
What makes a romance?
November 5, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Well, two times in one day, I know a shock. But I’ve been polishing up that character development workshop I’m doing next weekend, and thinking about a comment someone made to me on another blog. I said something about writing romance and they said Gone with the Wind was a romance. I didn’t argue, because this person wasn’t a romance reader(called them bodice rippers). I have been thinking about it since then, and now I know why I never really like GWTW. It’s not a romance. But people constantly tell me it is a romance. I guess the equate romance with melodrama.
It’s a great epic, for the time it was written(I don’t have time to go into the racist stereotypes. That would probably take at least a couple of posts)Oh, I bet I get a bunch of nasty emails about it, but it isn’t a romance, if you go by the rules of writing romance today.
For all of you non-writers, the modern romance, and many romances written over the centuries, there has been three basic elements. Goal, motivation, and conflict. Your hero and heroine will have goals, motivation for those goals, and conflict, or what keeps them from achieving that goal. I won’t go into a huge explanation of how to go about that because I could never do it as well as Deb Dixon does. But for well written romance, you need something along those lines. It doesn’t work without it. Are they rigid so that every romance out there is exactly the same? Hell no. You can look at writers Nora Roberts and Jenny Crusie. Both write in very different voices but both have great characters, and they have pretty good GMC in their books. And I know that when one of my books is not going well, it is usually because I haven’t nailed the GMC.
Looking at GWTW, those things aren’t all there. Scarlett’s goals all center around that damn piece of land. I guess being a military brat, I could care less about land. But this woman has no boundaries or, let’s face it, morals when it comes to saving that stupid piece of land. And really, who would take Ashley over Rhett? Come on!!!!! Ashley is so wimpy, and such a beta it isn’t even funny. On top of that, if I wrote a character like Scarlett O’Hara, it would never get accepted. Self-centered, pain in the ass, and manipulative. And not in a funny way. I mean, if it were funny, then it would be okay. But, people take her seriously. The other thing is that she has no journey. Oh sure, she saves the land, blah, blah, blah. But really, has she learned anything? I don’t think so. I don’t get the feeling that Scarlett wouldn’t sell the last drop of blood from a puppy to save her TARA. UGH.
And there is the one element that we don’t have with GWTW that every romance has.
A Happy Ending.
Oh, sure, it is probably happy for Rhett because he leaves her, but really, by the end of the movie, I could have cared less if she got him back. I know I am probably stepping on toes, but I am speaking from a romance perspective. Romance shouldn’t be about a shallow woman, who lusts after another woman’s husband, marries a man who apparently loves her, and then, when she is about to be left alone, tells him she has seen the light.
Romances today don’t always end in marriage, thank goodness, but every good romance will include the elements of GMC and some kind of a happy ending. None of those show up in GWTW, but, there are many other movies to watch even from that era of movie making that are good.
I personally recommend any Hepburn/Tracy movie, esp Desk Set which is one of my all time favs.
And Philadelphia Story, another Hepburn movie with Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Very good.
I am actually off to read Nora Roberts(I guess I should say, reread, lol) and take a long hot bath.
Catch 22
November 5, 2005 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Well, thanks to one of my kids, I spent most of yesterday in bed. It wasn’t fun, but I was thankful that my husband wasn’t TDY. He was able to come home and take care of the evil one who gave it to me. The only thing that comforted me is that some day I’m sure I’ll embarrass her, just like we do our older one. It just comes natural to my husband and I.
So, because I not only had an upset tummy, and a migraine, OH, and the Thunderbirds were practicing overhead yesterday for their shows this weekend at Randolph, I sort of laid there and thought about things I needed to work out. Sad, isn’t it? The only time I get to sort of settle and think about stuff is when I am flat on my back almost dead in bed.
But, I digress. I have to make some decisions. I like writing my ebooks, but I also want to break into NY. It is a hard market to hit, even writing the world’s most popular genre, at least in paperback(I think romance sells something like 52% or something like that, of the world’s paperbacks). It has been hard, especially because agents aren’t knocking down my door, and NY seems not to want my work. I do have one full request, but I am in the process of typing the sucker back into my computer and well, I am not sure my voice is good in suspense. And even if I spend a ton of time revamping the sucker, it has a good chance at being rejected. The house that has requested it accepts like less than 5% of their submissions. I am in a Catch-22. Do I keep mainly writing for ebooks, which is I am actually successful at, or cut back a bit and write for NY in between projects(taking more time in between releases)? It is hard to say that I’ll take time off to finish off single titles when there is a good chance they will get rejected. Many of the titles I have in ebook were rejected by NY. Now, granted, thanks to some wonderful editors, I am a much better writer, but it is a hard choice to make. I guess I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens. But…the Capricorn in me is screaming for a plan.
Hope you all have a great weekend. I get to see the Thunderbirds for what must be like the 2oth time in my lifetime.
