YA Paranormal Romance, INBETWEEN, by Tara Fuller

CHECK OUT THE COVER REVEAL FOR YA PARANORMAL ROMACE AUTHOR TARA FULLER!!!! INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death, #1), IS SET TO RELEASE FROM ENTANGLED TEEN AUGUST  7, 2012

http://tarafuller.com/inbetween/

Blurb:
Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Inbetween-Tara-Fuller/dp/1620610833/ref=lh_ni_t


Add to your Goodreads TBR:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13055677-inbetween

　

　

EXCERPT:

　

Chapter 1

Finn

Sometimes Emma made me feel so alive, I almost forgot I was dead.

Almost.

I sank down onto the side of her bed, amazed by the blazing wildfire that swept through me whenever Emma was near enough to touch. I took a deep, unneeded breath, and settled down on my side next to her. The mattress didn’t sink. The springs didn’t groan with the weight of an extra body. The distance between us was an impossible void. Inches that might as well have been miles. Miles that left me wanting in so many ways that I ached.

Even the sun couldn’t resist her. Its glowing rays caressed her skin, and stained her hair the satiny color of summer wheat. Before I knew what was happening, my hand followed their lead. Cells ignited. My skin burned, screaming with the agonizing need to touch—

"What do you think you’re doing?"

I jerked my hand away just as Easton melted up from the polished hardwood floor beneath the window. Like an oil slick coming to life, he unfolded his long, shadowy legs until he was just an ink blot against the square of tangerine sunrise behind him. His violet eyes pinned me like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Which, I kind of was.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Yeah, looked like nothing." He strolled across the room accompanied by a wave of sulfur and smoke, the black serpent tattoo on his neck glinting. "What were you planning to do, recite her poem? I swear to God, if you were still alive I’d confiscate your man card."

I ignored the barb and scrunched up my nose. "Jesus, Easton. Don’t they have a shower somewhere between here and the afterlife?"

"Screw you. You didn’t just have to tow somebody’s grandpa to Hell." He brushed something chalky and grey off of his cloak and a shudder worked its way down my spine. God only knows who or what it belonged to. "Besides I wasn’t the one about to feel up a sleeping human."

"I wasn’t—"

"Save it." He waved his hand. "We have work to do. I don’t have time for your useless obsession with the human today."

"Will you please stop calling her that?"

"What?" Easton glanced up from Emma’s vanity, where he’d been inspecting the various lotions and bottles like he was on some alien planet. Then again, Easton had been dead for something like four hundred years, so all of her stuff probably was sort of alien to him.

"The human. You make me sound like a freak. It’s not like we’re a different species for God’s sake. We were humans, too, or don’t you remember that far back?"

"Were. Past tense."

We could have gone back and forth like that for hours, but the call came. It always did. It started in my bones—a cold so cutting that it sliced through me like a machete. When I looked up, Easton’s jaw was clenched, his muscles taut and ready. He slowly closed his hand around the handle of his scythe that burned black and softly smoked at his side. I flexed my fingers as the icy ribbons of death worked their way through each one of my limbs.

"Can you take this one for me?" I asked. "You’re already going to be there, and I just got back—"

"No," Easton said. "Hell no. I have my own job to do. I can’t keep covering for your sorry ass. Besides, you’re already on thin ice with Balthazar. Don’t push your luck, Finn. Just keep your nose down, collect your souls, and thank the Almighty that you don’t have my job. Now let’s go."

"Yeah, but…" My eyes returned to Emma. Sleeping. Perfect. Safe.

"For the love of God. She’ll be fine, you pansy." Easton clamped a hand over my shoulder and dragged me from the bed.

"How do you know?"

He shrugged. "I don’t."

With that he vanished, consumed in a flash by the keening wails of the damned. The screams beckoned. Clawed at me from the inside out.

Rule one as a seeker: Death doesn’t wait for anyone.

And it sure as hell wasn’t waiting for me now.

TIME SLICE by Kerry Downing.........

I am thrilled to be apart of the Blog Tour for TIME SLICE by Kerry Dowing! His new book TIME SLICE has been released from Camel Press and is a must read for anyone who loves books about real people with some really kick butt Time Travel aspects.

REVIEW: Do you ever wonder where time went? While you were working all these years, getting up every morning to support your family, what was going on at home? I am sure you have an idea of what your family is doing, but someone through time, minute by minute you have slowly lost part of them and they you. Time stretches on and it is time to retire, and for Roy Washburn life isn't exactly what was waiting for him at home all this time. With too much time on his hands and nothing to do his wife is at a complete loss and a daughter that is less than daddy's little girl.

In comes The Traveler, a mysterious stranger he meets at the mall and now the portal to alternate worlds is at his fingertips. Not only that, but to travel through time is one of the most fascinating possibilities of all I think. When Roy finds a weird cylindrical tube at the mall while waiting for his wife, life is seriously about to change.

Roy is a good guy, despite his issues he is really trying to get a handle on his life now that he is retired and understand how he lost his connection to his wife and daughter. A fantastic adventure that will have you one your toes until the last minute. You will be wrapped around the life of Roy Washburn and his travels throughout time and space that your own imagination of what could be will take you away!

Kerry Downing web site:http://www.kerrydowning.com

Kerry Downing blog:http://kgdwrites.blogspot.com

Kerry Downing Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/KGDWrites

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Time Slice blog tour site:http://timesliceblogtour.blogspot.com

Time Slice Book Summary

Ordinary People. Extraordinary Adventures. Science Fiction with Heart.

Newly retired workaholic Roy Washburn is not ready for a life of leisure. On a trip to the mall with his wife, he finds a small metal cylinder with odd markings. One nudge of the cylinder's triangle-shaped pointer and Roy finds himself embarking on an exciting new adventure in the Time Stream.

There he meets The Traveler, a tall, gangly being who shows Roy how to use the cylinder to visit other civilizations that co-exist on "his" Earth, each occupying a different, thin Time Slice. The Traveler solicits Roy's help in recovering an object invented by his murdered father and beyond his own reach. Roy is his last hope.

At first it seems that the Traveler's wish might be easily granted. But after Roy's wife Emily becomes ill and his daughter's long-held resentments rise to the surface, he can no longer "travel" at a moment's notice. He also discovers the very real physical and mental risks involved in roaming the Time Stream.

Despite the dangers, Roy is determined to help the Traveler. But he can't do it alone. Fortunately he has a loving wife and a core group of loyal friends. But first he must convince them--and his daughter--that he isn't crazy ...

Kerry Downing's Bio:

Kerry Downing set out to become a meteorologist, but was hooked by the world of computers instead, becoming a systems analyst and programmer. Astronomy and science fiction are his passions. He’s been gazing at the stars at all hours of the night since the age of 10, when he received his first telescope. As for science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke and his brand of “it really seems as if it could happen” has always been his favorite. In the 90s, Kerry found the third love of his life: his wife, Lucy. They live in St. Louis, Missouri, with their five children. Time Slice is Kerry’s second science-fiction novel. His self-published, debut work is The Collective.

Paperback
Price: $17.95
ISBN: 9781603818520
Pages: 256
Release: June 10, 2011
Amazon buy link http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603818529?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes&Noble.com buy link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-slice-kerry-downing/1102590047?ean=9781603818520&itm=1&usri=time%252bslice

eBookPrice: $4.95

Kindle buy linkhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052MNKT4?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy linkhttp://search.barnesandnoble.com/Time-Slice/Kerry-Downing/e/2940011342554

Smashwords buy linkhttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61838?ref=tributebooks

Valentine's Day Fun ..... Enter to win free ......

Author Toni Aleo and Lisa over @ A TASTY READ have a very special Valentine's Day Treat for everyone! Check it out ...................



"Valentines is only 4 days away and everyone's getting into the loving mood!!! Not only am I discounting Taking Shots for that day but Lisa over a A Tasty Read is spreading the love by hosting my give away and then one of her own!!!

Here's the details from her blog, A Tasty Read:

TO ENTER, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS:

(1) Become a FOLLOWER of A Tasty Read Romance Review Blog, by either Joining the Site or Following by Email. Its on the side of the blog!

AND IF YOU WANT TO BE ENTERED MORE THAN ONCE:

(2) Follow A Tasty Read on Twitter and/or "LIKE" A Tasty Read on Facebook

(3) Follow Toni Aleo on Twitter and/or "LIKE" Toni Aleo on Facebook

 PRIZES

She will be Giving Away HER BEAUTIFUL, "A TASTY READ" Pen, along with The New Release of you choice.

Valentine's Day is all about YOU right!! Oh yeah..and some yummy V-DAY Candy to make it EXTRA SPECIAL!!

And Toni, (aw shucks! hehe) being as sweet as she is, will be GIVING AWAY An E-BOOK of her latest Release, TAKING SHOTS, the first book in her Assassin's Series.

 These are great prizes ladies! You should go enter and like her page! Its all about love on Valentines, so why dont you go get you a does. I mean ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE right?" ...... Toni Aleo

Spencer Seidel's LOVESICK Blog Tour and scavenger hunt..........

Lets welcome author Spencer Seidel who is stopping by Book Junkie on this LOVESICK Blog Tour. His newest mystery, LOVESICK, releasing in June 2012 in paperback, but is now avail on Amazon (e-book). Enjoy the interview, and don’t forget to read the two Excerpts that follow the scavenger hunt! There is a link to tomorrow’s blog spot on the tour so you can follow along!!!

1. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Of course! I never feel that a book is perfect or complete. I could edit and revise forever. But I really do like Lovesick and my characters and believe in them, so I have to stand behind it as is.

2. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

After reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster about six times each as a kid (and more again as an adult), I knew that writing was something I wanted to do.

3. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The most challenging thing about being a writer for me is keeping the faith that it’s something worth doing. It’s awfully easy to get carried away by the doom-and-gloomers in the industry, or with the ego-maniacal folks in the industry you run into occasionally who don’t seem to realize that we’re all in this together. It’s a tough, tough business, and sometimes it’s hard for me to separate that from craft.

4. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yes. Keep writing. I meet too many authors who write one book and then lose themselves trying to sell it. Some books sell, some don’t. That’s a fact of life in this business. You’ve got to always be writing your next book. I think it’s the only way to be successful.

5. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Just that I’m so glad I have readers! Thank you for spending time with my characters. I hope we have a long, complicated relationship!

BLURB:

Late one night out on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland, Maine,
the police discover an incoherent teenager sitting in a pool of blood,
holding the body of his best friend and the murder weapon. The girl
they both love has been missing for weeks.

The kid’s jealousy clearly drove him to murder. He says the missing
girl is the love of his life. She also happens to be the girlfriend of
the murder victim.

It’s an open and shut case, or so most of Portland thinks.

Dr. Lisa Boyers, forensic psychologist, receives a call from an old
friend, a connection to her troubled past. Attorney Rudy Swaner wants
her to interview the young killer Paul Ducharme, who is claiming he
doesn’t remember the events leading up to the murder.

In her jailhouse interviews, Lisa helps Paul to recover his memories.
But something about Paul’s disturbing love story shakes Lisa to the
very core of her being. To understand Paul, she is forced to confront
her own ugly violent secrets.

Media attention mounts. Reporters stream into Portland. All eyes turn
to the psychologist who seems intent on exonerating the vicious teen
killer. Soon Lisa finds herself the focus of an over-zealous reporter
with a knack for digging up dirty secrets.

But the killer who has Lisa in the crosshairs already knows them all.

 

 

EXCERPT #1

“He’s got a knife!” Jimmy said after seeing the glint of a blade in the kid’s hand. Jimmy brought his gun up and squared it at the kid.

Christ! Jimmy thought, his heart trip-hammering in his chest, I might have to shoot this sonofabitching kid. And on my first night. “He’s got a knife!” he said again.

The kid looked confused and held up his left hand. In it was a serrated knife, the kind a hunter might use to skin a deer. The kid looked almost surprised to see it.

He started shaking. He dropped the knife and then threw up on the ground next to the body on his lap.

Jimmy gagged at the sight and sound of it. He could smell the blood from where he stood, a coppery, organic stink.

EXCERPT #2

The kid sat in a small lake of it. Jimmy’s stomach roiled in protest, and he thought he might throw up himself.

“Don’t you fucking move!” Bruce said to the kid. “Don’t you fucking move!”

A siren in the night. Getting closer.

“Can you help me? There’s something wrong with Lee. He’s not breathing.” The kid bent over the victim.

Jimmy said in a low whisper: “That kid isn’t right. Something’s wrong with him. In the head I mean. And look at his eyes, Bruce.”

“Tell me something I don’t fucking know, for Christ’s sake.”

Jimmy ignored this and said, louder, “What’s your name, kid?”

Jimmy caught another harsh look from Bruce. Rooks weren’t supposed to say anything unless told to, but Jimmy ignored the silent reprimand. The kid looked up and stopped rocking his body. http://www.sithereandread.com/

MARKED IN MEXICO by Kim McMahill .......

In Kim McMahill's latest from Inspired Romance Novels called MARKED IN MEXICO , an idyllic Caribbean vacation turns deadly when hostages are taken at one of Mexico’s most popular Mayan ruins. The kidnappers believe the abduction will be a simple way to negotiate the release of a colleague from a Texas prison, but the stakes become much higher when they realize one of their hostages is the daughter of a powerful U.S. Senator and another, an ex-Army Ranger who has no intention of playing by the rules.

After a daring escape the Senator’s daughter, Jessica, and the ex-Ranger, Jack, must endure a terrifying manhunt and a desperate fight for survival. While trying to stay alive in the unforgiving jungle they forge a bond that will last a lifetime and find love neither wanted, but were unable to avoid.

What a great adventure this book was, from the start I knew I would just love Jessica. She is a successful woman with a good head on her shoulders and strong as hell. Well, that is unless it comes to standing up to her father. Knowing that the political life that she was born into many sacrifices have to be made and making him happy even if it means compromising on her own happiness, that is what she is willing to do. Unfortunately it has sidelined her on her personal life with a total ass of a boyfriend. I do use that word lightly because frankly he is a user, a liar and a cheat, not to mention a complete and total jerk. Actually the man just might be the poster child and king of all jerks out there.

Wanting escape and needing a break after a horrible loss in a court case she runs to Mexico on a much needed girls vacation with her best friend. Little did she know that this trip would be the catalyst for her life changing in such a dramatic way.

Meeting Jack, the dark, sexy and shy (?) guy who just seems to be one of the gang she is almost at a loss for words. Yes he is cute and blushes but there is something dark about him that she can’t quite figure out. I do love their banter, or really a sarcastic flirt. But Jack’s head is still in his past when it comes to women and all his walls are up with it comes to Jessica. She makes him feel alive again and he isn’t willing to let her die. Die you ask, that is because they have been taken captive by drug traffickers with 3 others in hopes that one of their partner’s will be released from a Texas prison.

Very fast things turn deadly, especially when one of the captives lets the cat out of the bag and lets the kidnappers know exactly who Jessica is and her relation to a very powerful US politician. On the run for their lives the two can’t help but bond. But it is much more than that. Their personalities really shine with their strengths as individuals and complement each other greatly. Before you know it their relationship is sizzling hot and neither one can start to deny the passion or the underlying feelings that they would both like to hide. Although extreme circumstances they are falling in love.

With all the suspense and close calls I was on the edge of my seat desperately trying to read faster and faster just to find out what was going to happen. The author has really created two characters who not only are cohesive and charming but who have depth and personality that bounces off the pages. The supporting characters, from their friends, family and the other victims really hold solid in their characterization which all together forms a very solid, sensual romance with a hot streak of suspense that will keep you on your toes!

5 STARS- LOVED IT! COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN

Author: Kim McMahill

ISBN:978-0-9847645-4-9

Pub Date:January 13th, 2012

Publisher Name: Inspired Romance Novels

You can read more from at www.kimmcmahilll.com . This book is available from Inspired Romance Novels . You can buy it here in Format :PDF, PRC, HTML, Mobi, Epub.

Winner, Claimed by a Spymaster by Tara Kingston....

 CYP is the winner of Tara Kingston's Claimed to the Spymaster !!!

HOT ZONE by Catherine Mann

What can I say, I truly love this series, so when I got my hands on HOT ZONE by Catherine Mann. This is actually book 2 , (Book 1: COVER ME released in July 2011), in the Elite Force series.

Action for the first words until the last page you will fall in love with Hugh and Amelia. At times I wanted to hell out loud at Amelia and Hugh, like a scary Sci Fi movie where you the audience can see the bad guy waiting in the shadows while the man characters are clueless to the danger that is only seconds away, I was on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I could just to see what the heck was going to happen. 

Their relationship, or rather lustful attraction will really give you goose bumps because not only is Amelia successful and smart and at the top of her game, but she is a complete sweetheart and a lush when it comes to her new nephew. Trapped under thousands of pounds of rubble from a horrible earthquake, Hugh comes to her rescue just when she is about to give up. She is strong as hell to go through what she went through, buried alive holding onto her little nephew who is still only a little baby, but realizing that Hugh, a man she can't even see but shadows is risking his life to save theirs.

Hugh is wildly sexy and so Alpha it will make you sigh with his tender heart. He is also a hard core or go home sort of guy and when he finally gets Amelia and her nephew out of the rubble he can't help but still think of her. But duty calls him back to the mission, that is until the little boy is kidnapped by some serious human traffickers so won't think twice about taking out Hugh and Amelia in a heartbeat when they spoil their plans.

High adventure, high octane romance that keeps the drama high, the action intense and the romance sexy, make that smokin hot sexy.
Whatever you do, because this book can most definitely be a stand alone, keep your eye out for book three, UNDER FIRE to release in May 2012!!!

For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined…

And desire-filled nights…
Amelia’s trip to the Bahamas to help with an international adoption has been no vacation, but the hardest part is yet to come. As Amelia and Hugh are pulled unawares into a deadly smuggling scheme, simmering beneath their growing need to protect each other is a compelling attraction they’re both determined to deny…

Guest Author and Giveaway with Tara Kingston......

Welcome back to Book Junkie's Book Blog, Tara Kingston! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your second book in the Claimed series, Claimed by theSpymaster?

Thanks, Brande…it’s great to be back! Claimed by the Spymaster is the story of a Russian actress snared in the web a British spy casts to catch a ruthless traitor. Here’s a little about the plot:

Russian actress Valentina Baranova travels to England to marry, but it’s anything but a love match. Betrothed to a cunning and ruthless English lord, she’s the sweetener in a deal that will put stolen British documents in Russian hands and curry the Czar’s favor for her father. Determined to flee her loathsome intended, she flees him—and promptly falls into the hands of his most bitter enemy.

Spy for the crown Alec Jameson, Lord Carrington, is on a mission: unmask the traitor responsible for his brother’s death before the blackguard can further betray Queen Victoria’s empire. Capturing Valentina to use as bait, he spirits her away from London. Despite his efforts to resist the beauty he’s snatched from his enemy’s grasp, Alec claims Valentina for his own while she lays siege to a long untouched part of Alec’s existence—his heart.

 Why Historical Romance and why Pirates, have you thought about another genre?

I’ve loved historical romance since I discovered the romances of Johanna Lindsey and Teresa Medeiros…hot heroes in settings so different from my everyday life…what could be more delicious? There’s something about being transported to another time and place that makes reading such a pleasure for me. One  of my favorite era is the Colonial period when pirates and privateers commanded sleek vessels on the high seas. The hero of my first story for Ellora’s Cave, Claimed by the Captain, is a man of the sea, a ruthless privateer with a letter of Marque from the American government. Who wouldn’t want to be swept away by a swashbuckling sea captain? I also adore the Victorian Era in England. Claimed by the Spymaster is set during that time of daring spies serving the Crown as Britain extended Victoria’s empire. I love spies—daring, intelligent, sexy men like James Bond and John Steed—the cool, unflappable secret agent whose only weakness is the woman he loves. Totally hot!

I also enjoy contemporary romance. I’m working on a contemporary inspired by Pride and Prejudice and I’ve completed a short contemporary about a breast cancer survivor rekindling a steamy relationship with a man she thought was long gone from her life.

How did you come up with the plot for Claimed by the Spymaster?

The plot for Claimed by the Spymaster was inspired by the old British series, the Avengers, and the movie that followed. Ralph Fiennes was utterly hot as John Steed in the movie. Pairing the cool British agent Alec Jameson with a fiery Russian heroine created sparks and conflict, and ultimately, passion.

Was it easy to decide what challenges to throw at Alec and Valentina?

The challenges facing Alec and Valentina flowed naturally from their conflicts. Valentina’s father, a spy for the Russian Czar, capitalizes on Valentina’s success as an actress as a cover for his travels through Europe buying secrets on behalf of his government. When his latest deal with the devil tangles them with a high-ranking English traitor, Valentina becomes a pawn between a man motivated by greed and the British agent out to unmask the traitor at any cost. Torn between her feelings for Alec and her loyalty to her father, Valentina must follow her heart while surviving the traitor’s wrath. I have to admit I loved writing this story!

What else is in store for the Claimed series?

I’m working on a novella set in the American west, Claimed by the Gunslinger, and I’m brainstorming a Steampunk setting with a skypirate. I’d love to know what readers might be interested in seeing.

I’m also thrilled that Claimed by the Captain is now available in a wonderful anthology of pirate-themed stories by Scarlett Scott and Eliza Knight. The anthology’s called Pirate’s Past and it’s now available as part of the Ahoy! series from Ellora’s Cave. Three steamy pirate stories in one volume…how awesome is that!

If the series was going to be made into a TV series or film, who would you like to see playing Valentina and Alec?

Ooh, love this question! For Alec, I’d have to cast Ryan Gosling. He’s so sexy and intelligent and athletic, while for Valentina, I’d think Rachel McAdams would be a fantastic choice.

Do you have any other projects you are working on?

I’m working on an erotic novella inspired by Jane Eyre…Michael Fassbender’s brooding performance in the latest incarnation of Jane Eyre has inspired this retelling.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a day job? How do you divide your time?

I divide my time between my writing, my day job as a librarian, and spending time with my wonderful hubby. We have a blast when we’re together, so it’s a great balance.

If you could live during any period in time, what would that be and who would you be?
The Victorian Era would be my first choice…such an exciting time for women! I’d love to spend time in the shoes of a brilliant and adventurous journalist like Nellie Bly.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask the readers?

Absolutely. First, what’s your favorite era…which time period draws you to a book? What draws you to a book? What do you prefer - ebooks or print?

I love to hear from readers. Contact me at tarakingstonromance@gmail.com, or better yet, friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***

Tara would like to give a copy of Claimed to the Spymaster to one commenter who answers this question: What historical era is your favorite setting for romance?

Winner Chosen Jan 19th

Please leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win!

And the winner is .............

And the winner of TAKING SHOT by Toni Aleo is............

Tamsyn

Guest Author and Contest with author Toni Aleo.............

Today I would like to welcome author Toni Aleo, she just released her first ever book this fall, a super sexy and absolutely fantastic sports themed romance called TAKING SHOTS, this one you just have to check out!!     I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review her book, which you can read all about HERE. I hope you enjoy this interview and the review,  but I have decided since I love this book so much I just want everyone to read it, so tomorrow I am picking a winner for one copy via Amazon! So leave a message for Toni and I will pick a winner from those who comment.                               

1. If someone were writing a story about Toni Aleo what would your blurb say? Toni Aleo is a twenty eight year old mother of two, married to her high school sweetheart. From a military family, Toni was born in Germany and was raised in Clarksville, TN, where she still lives today. She is a hopeless romantic, she loves love stories and being able to write them fills her with all the happiness in the world. She loves music, reading, photography, and being a mother. She is country to the core, she says ain’t, and drinks sweet tea. She is an intense Predators hockey fan and will tell anyone that Shea Weber is probably the best hockey player known to man. She tends to talk a lot and ramble about things she is passionate about.

2. Can you tell us a little about your newest release TAKING SHOTS that isn't in the blurb? Taking Shots is my baby. It took me seven months to write it and I just love Elli and Shea. It is about a woman that had been through so much heartache and the heartache doesn’t seem to end until she meets that one person, that takes her breath away. Shea is the perfect man with all kinds of imperfections. He complements Elli; he makes her a better person as she does for him. They are better together and when they are apart you feel the pain as if you were going through it with them. You beg for Elli to stop being so insecure and stupid. To just love Shea, not to listen to her family, but to just love.

3. What was your inspiration behind the creation of TAKING SHOTS?
Hehe, well…I have admitted to being a BIG hockey fan. I basically went to EVERY playoff game last year and watching a certain hockey player inspired me to developed Shea Adler. I wrote regular boy meets girl kind of books before but I had never ventured into sports because I didn’t think I could do it justice. When I started Taking Shots, I actually quit because it wasn’t flowing, but then I met my favorite hockey player. I came home, opened the outline for Taking Shots and things just came out in the masses. It was nuts, and I kid you not that I would write hours at a time and I wouldn’t stop. If you were to pick out a major event in the book, I could tell you what that came from. A lot of the book is inspired by everyday things that happen to me, or how me and my husband are, or how my friends and I act. A lot of my book is personal stuff, and I love that people are connecting with it.

4. What was your favorite scene to write in TAKING SHOTS?
The ending. When Shea breaks that glass and tells Elli he loves her, my heart melts and I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Then she sings for him and he gives her the ring, OH! My heart! It was the best!

 5. Was there any one scene you were forced to leave out or regret not putting in?
No, not really. This book is long, and I love it that way because its everything I want in a book. Most romance novels are short and sweet, throw some sex in there and they are done. I wanted to give everyone the whole relationship, so they could love Elli and Shea as much as I do.

6. What can readers expect from book two, TRYING TO SCORE? Oh, you can expect some drama. Fallon and Lucas are awesome. The gist is that they dated when she was in college and broke up because Lucas cheated. Well he comes to the Assassins in Nashville, and meets up with Fallon because her wine company is the sponsor for the Assassins. Sparks fly when the two see each other for the first time again, and off starts Lucas trying to get her back because he still loves her. Fallon is so confused that sometimes she comes off as bi polar. Poor Lucas is trying so hard to convince her he is a changed man that he basically does everything to get her back, but then Lucas learns of the secret Fallon has been keeping and all hell breaks loose.
Just like with Taking Shots, you will follow the chase, their ups and downs, and will basically fall in love with these two. I’m really excited about the release of this book because my little group of readers says it’s better than Taking Shots. I hope everyone else thinks so, too.

7. What accent is sure to make you swoon? Oh goodness me, give me a Boston, Irish, or Canadian man and I am swooning something serious. WOOWEE!

8. What was the most challenging thing you’ve done in the name of research that might have been out of your comfort zone? For the third book in the series, I had to look up things that could go wrong in an abortion and seeing those images and things like that really messed with me. I am totally pro life but my character was forced to get one and I needed to know what could go wrong when she had the procedure done.

9. Please share with us something that readers would be surprised to learn about you. I have an intense hockey temper. I have been kicked out of my husband’s hockey game countless time. It’s very intense and people don’t like to go to games with me because of it. I’m pretty sure it embarrasses my husband, but thankfully, he still loves me!

10. What is the most challenging thing for you about writing a series? Keeping it good, and not repetitive. I hate books in a series that are basically the same thing just different names. I want each book in the Assassins series to be new and awesome. I want people to feel the love in each and every book. I don’t want people to say that it is all the same.

11. How can the readers stay in touch with you online? I am a social networking freak! I have a blog, Facebook page, twitter, Goodreads, and an Amazon author page. I love hearing from my readers! Here are the links:
Blog: tonialeo.blogspot.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tonialeo1
Twitter: tonilovesweber6

12. Favorites List… fill in the blank a. Favorite City

 New Orleans, I went there this past Thanksgiving and I will never forget it. I had such a blast!

 b. Favorite Romance book of all time (your go to book you can read over and over again) Oh goodness, this is a hard one because if I went classic, it would be Pride and Prejudice, but if I keep it modern it would be either Kristin Higgins: Just one of the Guys, or Julie James: Practice makes Perfect.

 c. Favorite type of hero: I love me a sexy cowboy, but my heart belongs to Hockey players. There is just something about a man skating around and knocking into other men, that just does it for me!

 d. Favorite Quote: All you need is love, love is all you need. – The Beatles.

13. If you could ask readers any one question, what would it be? What made you want to read my book?