Showing posts with label Dianne Hartsock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dianne Hartsock. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Read Something New


We are all guilty of sticking with what we know. Whether it be at a restaurant, book genres, or the makeup we put on; we're sticklers for familiarity. I want to challenge you all to add some spice to your lives this next week and take the Read Something New challenge! Read a new genre, a new author, whatever—just read something new. To help, here is a list of genres. We've featured an author and one of their books or series for each genre. Hope you find something you like!

Urban Fantasy  
D. F. Krieger, Panthers in the Playground, Faxfire Series Book 1
Zoologist Dr. Zeara Faxfire and her side-kick cat, Magic, are called in to help when a panther is discovered during a police investigation. What is a girl to think, though, when the parents of a missing child keep calling her and the panther in question is writing words? Detective Jake Markovich, who is assigned to the case as well and happens to believe in the paranormal is a whole different distraction that turns Zeara's world upside down. Can she lose her grasp on the safety of logic long enough to reach out to those asking for her help?

The only thing Zeara knows for sure is that time is running out, and she must compromise a job she adores to save the panther in her care.
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M/M  
Dianne Hartsock, Shelton in Love, Shelton Series Book 1
Shelton's falling quickly for his sexy roommate, but can he forget the pain of past rejections and give Nevil what they're both aching for? 
Shelton is falling hard for his best friend and roommate, finding Nevil's dark good looks and moments of gentleness almost impossible to resist. But Nevil is more interested in affairs of the body than the heart. As Shelton's desire for the man grows, he wonders if he can change Nevil's mind. But does he even want to? Nevil might not stay, once he learns Shelton's secret, and then his loneliness would be complete.
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F/F  
Kelly Yeakle, Forbidden Desires
When Dani meets the delicate beauty that is Carmen she knows instantly that she wants her—in her life and in her bed. But can Miss. Commitment-phobic look beyond the sex to see the woman beneath?

To Carmen, the wildly beautiful Dani is a new and exciting friend. What she hadn't counted on is the simmering desire she feels when in Dani's presence. As her relationship with her boyfriend sours, Carmen begins to wonder if there is more to Dani than she realizes.

Should she give in to this, the most forbidden of desires?

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Desires-ebook/dp/B005DF6JRA/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367004723&sr=1-7&keywords=Forbidden+Desire

Paranormal  
Leona Bushman, The Ulfric's Mate, War of the Weres Series Book 1
Nolan and Alexandria fight their sexual attraction, but can't deny the pull of being mates, despite a serial murder investigation.
Nolan Littlebull is the alpha of the Wahpawhat pack of Werewolves and the lead detective on a series of murders of pregnant women from his pack. Torn between human justice and were justice, he travels deep onto the Yakama Reservation tracking the ones responsible. He is attacked by one of the rival pack, only to be defended by another from the rival pack.
Alexandria George is the healer for the Lupins. She defends the mysterious wolf in their territory from her pack's bully and escapes with the stranger. Nolan and Alex face the complications of being mated and together they must find and identify the killer while facing an uncertain future. 
Buy Links:

Military  
Shyla Colt, No Man Left Behind Anthology
Even after our brave men and women leave the battlefield, the scars can linger physically and sometimes mentally. Here are three tales of courage, strength, perseverance, and love that deal with both.

After a long sting in Afghanistan, Cpl. Trevor Martin finds himself home for leave and contemplating reenlistment or civilian life. Weary and tired of the grim sights he's witnessed, he turns to his old friend Carly for comfort. When Trevor shows signs of PTSD, Carly urges him to get help, hoping that Repairing His Soul won't cost them their rapidly forming romance.

After a near death experience with an IED in the Middle East, Staff Sgt Alexander Denning is grateful to be alive but scarred inside and out after his fiancée's bitter rejection of his choice to continue serving. Georgette "George" Harper is attending Jane Wayne day for her sister when she's smitten with the McMap instructor Staff Sgt. Denning. Can she convince him what they have is worth the risk? Wooing Her Sergeant may be harder than she thinks.


When Mika gets a phone call that her husband Kasey's been hurt abroad, it's her worse nightmare. Prayers and the grace of God deliver him through, but the battle isn't over yet. The journey back to happiness and health will be painful, full of setbacks and damaged feelings, but Mika refuses to give up on the man she knows is her one true love. A true Marine's wife is Always Faithful, no matter the cost to herself.

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Interracial  
W. Lynn Chantale, Indulging Sin, Love Smackdown Series
Moses Hawke has loved Sin from the moment he laid eyes on her, but being with her cost him a good friend and valuable partnership. Sin knows what Moses sacrificed to be with her and she’s willing to keep a few secrets of her own to maintain their peaceful existence. Some things are not meant to be hidden and when all Sin’s transgressions become known, she’s left to wonder if Moses will still be there to protect her.
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Contemporary  
Angeline Rain, Rescued Love, Second Chance Rescue Book 1
Can the doctor, who made a life out of helping animals, heal a human?
One by one, household dogs disappear only to come back after senseless abuse. Veterinarian Jordan Powell will stop at nothing to ensure her patients' safety. Even if that means seeking help from ex-boyfriend, police officer Nate Thrillson, the man whose heart she once broke. 
The last thing Nate wants is a relationship. He has an inoperable cancerous tumor in his brain and his days are numbered. Yet, he couldn't resist Jordan.
It's a race against time to save the dogs and the man who captured her heart. Can the doctor, who made a life out of helping animals, heal a human?
Buy Links:

Historical  
Raven McAllan, The Wager
Catherine is in despair. Her brother has lost a wager and the prize is her. The winner is the one person she dare not be in thrall to. How will she cope?
Brook suggests they wager on the outcome of the previous bet, but he intends to win.
What happens is more than either of them anticipates.
Buy Links:

BDSM  
Angelica Dawnson, Blue Moon House
Julia has the chance to become one of the vampires of the Blue Moon House. Before being accepted, however, she must prove herself to each of the vampires, and each has their own exacting cost.

Ranging from lesbian, to being forced, to physical torture, she is pushed to her breaking point time and again. Eventually her perseverance pays off and she crosses from submissive to dominant and vampire.
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Western  
LB Shire, The Damned
Sometimes, what a man needs is a little hope...

Travel worn, and weary, Shane Gregor rides into Hell's Hollow for a drink and answers. On the run for a crime he didn't commit his days are numbered unless he can find proof. What he discovers instead is a green eyed enchantress and a sheriff who's out for blood. When the law catches up to him, can he put his hopes in a woman he's only just met?

A widow who has fallen on hard times, Josie Talbert became a soiled dove for the sake of survival. Her life changes in the course of a night, when a dark and dangerous cowboy steps through the doors of the Dead Horse Saloon, a death sentence looming over his head. Can his words of innocence be trusted? Can a lone woman change the course of fate?
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Adult Bedtime Stories  
Doris O'Connor, Goldie and Her Bears
Take one very human girl. Add three bear shifters and one BDSM club. Shake well. What do you get? Lots of delicious fun.
When Goldie Lockwood receives an explicit note, signed by none other than the man she fell head over clit in lust with on first sight, there is only one thing she can do — obey. After all she is dying to find out what goes on behind closed doors at the exclusive BDSM club. 
Having his Goldilocks pounced on by his brother and sister had not been in Jason Stanhope's plan, even if the little human's responsiveness blows the triplets away. Porridge, chairs, beds, she tries them all.
But, can she be the sweet sub they need? Or will Goldilocks live up to her name and run away screaming? 
Buy Links:

Fantasy  
Kimberly Gould, Cargon, Honour & Privilege
Lives are won, lost and traded on the three-tiered Cargon boards.

Eve, a serving-girl, has watched the elite from the outside, seen the dramatic shifts based on the results of the Game. With a growing need to reach beyond her station, she can no longer accept her position on the edges.

Wagering her own life, she wins and emerges in a strange new world. New rules and old acquaintances tangle to make Eve’s life less comfortable than her position would suggest.
One pawn moved, but an entire world shaken – Eve will change the world.
Buy Links:

Young Adult
J. Lilley, Discovered, Shalean Moon Series Book 1
When Rach moved to Scotland she knew there would be changes. She hadn't expected them to be quite so dramatic. Not only was there a new house, new school and new friends, there was also a secret to discover.
Brios Parde was a Patriarch in waiting. When the powerful leopard shifter senses a new Shalean he is amazed to discover it's the new girl. All his senses tell him Rach will be important to him.
However the Rogues try to destroy the budding relationship. Will Rach decide to side with Brios or help stage an uprising?
Buy Links:
We hope you see something you like and wish you the best on the Read Something New Challenge!

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Saturday, April 21, 2012

Lynn Takes the Cake


Shelton taps on the door and Nevil shoulders him out of the way and pounds on it until it opens.
“Nevil, behave… HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYNN!”
 Shelton steps quickly inside and gives Lynn a big hug. He pulls Nevil to his side. “Lynn, this is my boyfriend, Nevil. I didn’t think you’d mind if I brought him along. He wanted to meet you.”
Nevil picks up Lynn’s hand and smiles into her eye. A rakish grin crosses his face. “Enchanted. Happy Birthday, love.”
Shelton lifts the bag he’s carrying. “Thought we’d make a cake today, to celebrate. Nevil says I’m being silly, since you have a degree in the Culinary Arts, but hey, who doesn’t like cake?” Hearing voices, he glances into the next room. “Oh, good. People are already here. Hi everyone!”
He joins the others and sets the bag on the table, moving books aside. “Nevil, can you help me with this?” He takes a Betty Crocker ‘Easy Bake Oven’ out of the bag. “Didn’t think you had a kitchen here,” he explains, smiling as he searches Lynn’s delightful blog. “Where can I plug this in?”
Shelton lines up the ingredients for the cake. “Hope you like chocolate chips!”
Chocolate Chip Cake
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
“If this was reality, we’d heat the oven to 350 degrees F.” Shelton fiddles with the ‘Easy Bake Oven’ then starts to mix the dry ingredients together. “Nevil, can you…Nevil?”
“Over here!” Nevil waves from the bookshelf. “Have you seen Lynn’s books? ‘Seducing His Wife’ and ‘Decadent Seconds’. Oh, and ‘Breaking Delia’s Rules’. This one says something about a ‘hottie from the pool’. Got to look into this one!”
“Definitely,” Shelton agrees. “But for right now, can you cream the butter and all that together? What else…”
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter, sugar and eggs (add the eggs in one at a time, beating after each addition).
4. Add sour cream and vanilla to the creamed mixture, mix well.
5. Slowly add flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mix thoroughly.
6. In another bowl mix the chopped nuts, chocolate chips, brown sugar and cinnamon.
7. Grease a tube pan (angel food cake pan).
8. Pour 1/2 the batter in the pan then sprinkle on 1/2 the chocolate chip mixture.
9. Add the remainder of the batter, then sprinkle the remainder of the chocolate chip nut mix on top.
10. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
Nevil looks at the eggs Shelton hands him and Shelton takes a step back at the wicked gleam in his sapphire eyes. “None of that! Lynn wouldn’t like a food fight…” He picks up a cup of flour and holds it threateningly. “Stay back or this goes right in your hair…”
“Okay! I’ll be good.” Nevil chuckles and pulls a bowl closer for the eggs. He nudges Shelton’s shoulder as Shelton returns to his side. “But only until we get home,” he purrs and nips Shelton’s bottom lip.
“Um… Just mix the ingredients,” Shelton mutters, flustered. They mix and stir and soon have the ingredients combined. Shelton slides the cake into the oven and sets the timer. “There! Now we have plenty of time to look over Lynn’s bookshelves. In the meantime, here’s an excerpt from our own book ‘Shelton’s Choice’.” 
“As a birthday gift, Nevil and I would like to give away a PDF copy of ‘Shelton’s Choice’ to a commenter who tells us what their favourite cake is.”
Happy Birthday!
Shelton’s Choice

After a year of bliss with Nevil, Shelton is offered the promotion he's been working toward at the bank. Unfortunately the new position is in another state, and Nevil doesn't want to move. As tension mounts between them, Shelton is given another challenge in the form of a besotted coworker. Torn between the pressures at work and at home, Shelton has to choose his future. That is, until Nevil takes the decision out of his hands.
Excerpt:
"Have you told him yet?"
"Hmm?" Shelton murmured, reluctant to put down the book he was reading. Only a few pages remained to the thriller, and he still hadn't a clue as to who the killer would turn out to be.
"Have you told your tall, dark, and wickedly handsome boyfriend that you're leaving?"
Shelton shot the man at his elbow an irritated glance. "What do you want, Ted?" He noticed the coffee shop was filling up and hoped his coworker wouldn't take the vacant chair at his table. Ted Pringle was personable enough, even attractive in a light blond, pansy, blue-eyed way. He was also a gossip, though, and lived to stir up trouble in and out of the office.
Ted threw his hands up. "Hey, I was only asking! We go in a few months, and—"
"Leave me alone." Shelton turned back to the book and skimmed the page to find his place. Ted touched his arm, and Shelton spun on him but swallowed his angry words. Ted's attention wasn't on him. The man looked across the room, a smile of triumph on his lips.
Shelton followed his gaze, and his heart jumped then settled into a delighted patter. Nevil stood in the doorway of the coffee shop, scanning the tables with his beautiful turquoise eyes. Wickedly handsome? Damn right he was. Even after a year together, Nevil's smile still had the power to melt his bones and leave him weak with want.


He waved the book when Nevil spotted him. A curious look passed over Nevil's face as he approached the table, and Shelton remembered Ted's hand on his arm. He pulled free, and Ted chuckled, his breath warm in Shelton's ear when he bent down and whispered, "Don't forget to tell him."
Shelton growled, then forgot all about Ted as Nevil, his eyes dancing with mischief, stopped at the table.
"What are you doing here? Sit down," Shelton babbled, feeling the warmth of a blush on his cheeks as Nevil glanced at Ted's retreating back.
"Okay, but only for a minute. I have a surprise for you, and I've already wasted enough time finding you. Off work early?" Nevil took the empty chair at Shelton's nod and leaned across the table. A teasing smile covered his face. "I may have to blindfold you."
Heat swept through Shelton at the ardent look in Nevil's eyes. God, he wanted Nevil to take him right there at the table. He agonized under the constraint of public opinion that kept him from kissing Nevil's smiling lips.
Nevil settled back into his chair. "Who was that?" he asked, nodding toward the crowd at the coffee bar.
"Just that annoying prick from Accounts I told you about."
"Gossiping Ted? What did he say? I wanted to smack his pretty face for standing so close to you."
"I'm sure he wanted to make you jealous, as if he ever could. So, about this blindfold..."
Nevil smiled and licked his lips, his look provocative. "You'll see," he teased and rose to his feet. "Come on, love, before I change my mind."
Feel free to contact me any time!
Dianne Hartsock
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