Thursday, February 5, 2015

Ship of Dreams by Reilly Ryan

Summary:
An attraction fated to go down in history...if they survive.

Liar. Thief. Con man. James Hyde keeps these labels well hidden under the veneer of a high-class gambler. He knows how to charm his way to where the money is, and right now it's aboard the world's must luxurious ship, ripe for the taking. From the moment he locks eyes with Will Woods, though, James is tempted. Tempted, for once, to be the kind of man that another can trust with his heart.

Will is sailing toward everything he's ever wanted: marriage and family. His instant attraction to James is a complete surprise--and too powerful to ignore. In his arms, Will rediscovers passion he's kept long buried. And it tempts him to abandon the safety of wealth and position. Perhaps even his family's good graces. All for James--a man who is only now beginning to understand the meaning of honor.

Then there's the last obstacle standing in their way. Their ship of dreams...is the Titanic.


I have to admit that the characters of Will and James didn't exactly grab hold of my heart as I hoped they would.  After all, it is the Titanic so we know what happens to the ship and so many of it's crew and passengers, although we don't know what happens to the characters in this story.  The tale is well written as is the characters, I just didn't find the connection I often do when reading a book.  Once I begin a book I never give up on it and as so often I'm glad I didn't.  As the story progressed, I found myself being pulled into the story deeper and deeper.  If you enjoy historical fiction then I definitely recommend adding this to you list. As I said, I would have loved to have had Will and James grab me more but even so, the story is worth the read.

RATING:


He went by James, but his real name was Warren James Hyde. He was a liar, a cheat and a thief, and he believed he was about to make his dreams come true.

She was called the ship of dreams, but her name was Titanic. She was the largest, most luxurious ocean liner of her day, and she was doomed.

*****
He had an inkling the cops were after him. Guilty conscience, maybe, but when he glanced back over his shoulder as he handed his ticket over, he caught a glimpse of their silver buttons shining in the sunlight. “Thank you, gents,” James said quickly and hustled up the gangplank onto the ship.

The ship that was going to solve his current problems by carrying him several thousand miles away.

He felt his heart racing in his throat and put his head down. He told himself they wouldn’t follow him on board. The ticket in his hand said first class on it. No one would take him for a criminal. Only respectable people could afford a trip on the Titanic.

Too bad he could hear their thunderous footsteps behind him.

He took off running now, sprinting through a decorative doorway and down a long hallway. It was like being trapped inside a tunnel. Nowhere to run. He dragged his hand along the doorknobs of the staterooms, hoping one would give way.

One did, and he ducked inside, shoving the door closed behind him. A moment passed before the man he’d intruded upon registered in his vision. James opened his mouth, hoping for a good story to come out.

“Hide me.” He found that the eyes he looked into were dark chocolate brown and sympathetic. Wide and startled, but sympathetic.

Quick-thinking, the other man threw open the door to the cupboard. James stepped inside, listening to the cops drawing nearer. As an afterthought, he grabbed a handful of the other man’s shirt and pulled him into the cupboard too, tugging the doors closed behind them. Closing them up together in the darkness.

He held his hand against the stranger’s chest, keeping him still and silent. His pulse pounded, hard in his chest and loud in his ears. He became aware of certain things—the heat from the other man’s body, and the strong muscles beneath his palm.

“No one ’ere.” The statement was accompanied by the shuffle of feet, and the door to the stateroom swinging closed.

James held his breath for another moment, closing his eyes. When he opened them, the other man looked at him, so close up that his vision went soft, like it would on the face of someone he was about the kiss. His heart beat fast now not just from fear, but excitement.

He shoved the cupboard door open. “Thanks.” He knew it was time to run, but felt reluctant to go. He was impressed by the other man’s quick thinking, and his acceptance of the situation. His willingness to not betray James’s secret.

“What the hell—” the other man began to ask, but James was already gone.

*****
When the door opened again, Will Woods thought perhaps the strange man had returned. He hoped for it. His mind still reeled from the surprise, and he began to feel as though the strange encounter hadn’t happened at all.

Instead, his mother crossed the threshold into his stateroom.

“I thought I heard a noise,” she said.

“It was nothing.” He stepped close to her, settling a steadying hand on her arm. In the months since his father’s death, his mother had grown frail before his eyes. Once a strong woman, now she faltered. That was why they were headed back home.

A step behind her was his fiancée, Annie. She reached out for his mother’s arm just as he had done, and then smiled at him over his mother’s shoulder. “It’s nothing,” he assured her. Together, the two of them helped his mother back into the room she was sharing with Annie.

There were two dark wooden beds, and he guided his mother to a comfortable seat on one. He sat beside her, resting his hand against the soft linen. “What do you think?” she asked him.

“It’s lovely.” He scanned the room, taking in the rich, dark wood of the dresser that separated the beds. “Annie?” he asked, and watched her head come up and her eyes blink as though she’d been raised from a trance.

“It’s beautiful.” She ran one hand along the woodwork. She ducked her head to look at Mrs. Woods, her green eyes wide and clear. “How are you feeling now?”

His mother nodded, as though to indicate she was better. “I thought I heard a noise.” She smoothed her hands down against her skirt and began to rise to her feet. He put his hand to her elbow to steady her. “We should go on deck, to see the ship off.”

“We don’t have to,” he said.

“I want to.” Her eyes turned fiery and snappish for a moment, and he glimpsed the strong woman who’d raised him. He didn’t see her very often anymore.

They fought a crowd all the way up onto the main deck. He couldn’t help scanning the crowd for the mysterious man who’d burst into his stateroom, wondering who he was. The classes were kept strictly separate on the Titanic, so he couldn’t have been some third-class riffraff. It was a mystery, one that had him intrigued.

He’d felt a strange physical pull toward the charismatic stranger, the likes of which he hadn’t felt in years. Will thought he’d left that sort of thing behind.

*****
Standing casually at the rail, James looked down. The side of the ship was high enough to make his head spin for a moment. He thought about falling, plunging into the murky waters below. He closed his eyes and opened them again, this time directing his gaze to the people surrounding him on deck. They all seemed to have the glint in their eyes that only came from security and money in the bank. They chattered gaily and waved to those they were leaving behind, while he stood at the railing, silent and alone.

He looked up at the funnels that rose high from the deck. Plumes of smoke sliced into the sky.

There was another man looking up at the same time.

Perhaps because they were looking in the same place, at the very same thing, their eyes met for a moment. He felt an electric shudder go through him, because it was the man he’d just encountered. The one with the beautiful dark eyes, who’d hidden him in his stateroom with almost no questions asked. He received a funny little smile, which he returned with a grin of his own.

James watched him after he turned away. He was with an older woman, who had deep lines set into the skin around her mouth and wore a sparkling diamond pin on her lapel. He figured she was the man’s mother and dismissed her.

The woman clinging to the stranger’s arm was another story. She had long, dark hair and roses of life in her cheeks as she pressed close to him. He felt an uncharacteristic stab of jealousy, flashing back to the moment when he’d been just as close physically. He turned away from them all, his gaze seeking more likely victims. He needed money, and he needed it before the ship docked in New York.

*****
“What do you think?” Will asked Annie.

“It’s amazing.” She seemed breathless. Times like this, seeing the wonder on her face, reminded him that she was nearly ten years younger than he was. Her youth made him feel young again. When she saw things for the first time, he could remember what it felt like to be young and free from care.

He turned to his mother, reminded of his duty. He smiled gently at her, and she smiled back silently. His father had been British, and they’d taken him back there to face the last stages of his illness. His mother was American, as was he, and it was time to go home. Still, he could understand her reluctance. Although familiar, everything there would be different now.

He looked at the crowds around them. Excitement hung in the air—even the ship herself was new and untested, although she was said to be the biggest, strongest and most expensive ship in the world today.

His gaze moved upward, to the four smokestacks pointed heavenward. Only three were operational. The fourth remained quiet and still, pristine. It embodied the true spirit of the Titanic—existing because the White Star Line believed the excess of having four funnels was preferable, even though three would do. He had to agree it gave majesty and symmetry to the look of the ship, not to mention an instantly recognizable uniqueness.

As he lowered his eyes from the fourth funnel, he noticed a man sharing his line of sight. They had looked up at the object at the same time, and now their eyes happened to meet across the deck. It was the man who’d intruded on his stateroom before.

His hair was dark blond, streaked as though by a sun that did not shine strongly enough in England. He must have spent some time on warmer foreign shores. Will recalled from their earlier meeting that the eyes that met his were the color of the sea far below their feet and the sky above their heads. He found himself smiling, recalling their earlier encounter.

The other man’s smile in return was glorious and bright. His full lips parted and dimples appeared in both of the man’s cheeks, deep grooves enhancing his smile, making Will feel as though he was receiving something truly special and precious. He would see this man again. He was sure of it. He would make sure of it.

“I’d like to go back to my room.” His mother’s voice was so quiet it was nearly lost in the crowd.

He felt the blood rush into his face, and he wondered whether either of the women had witnessed the strangely transcendent encounter. He wanted to stay, but when he saw her skin pale and papery, he knew he had to see to her. “Yes, of course,” he agreed.

*****
They traveled through a maze of narrow halls back to their staterooms. Will opened the door for his mother and watched with concern as she sank gratefully into one of the elegant chairs. When had she grown so old? he wondered. It seemed to have happened overnight.

Uncomfortable with the thought, he turned his attention to Annie. “Are you excited?”

She nodded fervently, but he couldn’t ignore the shadow darkening her eyes.

“What is it?”

Annie closed her eyes for a long moment, and when she opened them again, her long lashes were damp, but no tears fell. “It’s always hard to leave. Even when there’s everything to look forward to.”

“Oh, Annie.” He pulled her into an embrace. He liked the way she felt in his arms, her body compact and soft, with the top of her head underneath his nose where he could inhale the scent of her hair.

“Will.” His mother’s voice was a sharp intrusion, and he reluctantly removed his arms from their place around his fiancée. She didn’t need to say any more, but she continued, “I expect you to behave properly.” They were words he had heard hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. He was too old for them, yet he bowed his head as guilt rose up within him. It was only this recent setback with his father that had thrust him back into the child’s role, the son underneath the thumb of the mother. He knew his mother needed him now more than ever, but his spirit bristled at it all the same.

“We are engaged,” Annie pointed out.

He cringed inside, knowing it was the wrong thing for her to say, but he knew it was his duty to back her up. “Yes.” He loved Annie, and he wanted a wife and a home and a family. But a fleeting remembrance of the man on deck flashed through his consciousness, forcing him to acknowledge that a small, wild part of him wanted not only love and safety, but also something more, something he’d never experienced.

“I’m going to rest here until supper,” his mother said, changing the subject. He nodded, in agreement and sympathy. He knew she would want him to stay with her. He also knew he couldn’t do it.

“I’ll see you before supper.” He moved to kiss her lightly on the forehead. Then he turned to Annie. A silent negotiation took place, one where Annie agreed to remain with his mother. He smiled his thanks to her, and kissed her on the forehead as well.

Then he was free to explore the cavernous ship.


Author Bio:
Reilly Ryan read her first romance novel at the age of twelve. Her mother paper-clipped the pages with the sex scenes closed to try to keep her from reading them. That plan, while well-intentioned, obviously didn’t work. She’s been reading and writing romance ever since. She currently lives in Oregon with an ill-behaved tabby cat and lots and lots of books.


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Release Day Blitz: Strange Magic Part 2 by Michelle Mankin

Title: Strange Magic Part 2
Author: Michelle Mankin
Series: Magic #2
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: February 5, 2015
Cover Design: Michelle Preast
Summary:
Billy Blade is a hardworking, hard living, razor sharp musical force. Mysterious behind his dark shades, the rough around the edges Texan mesmerizes with his haunting harmonica and tantalizes with his dangerous looks and smooth country charm. His latest album is topping the charts. He’s the newly crowned King of the Bacchus Krewe. He’s definitely living the rock star dream.

Exotic Creole beauty Thyme Bellerose couldn’t be more content. She has it all. An adoring grandmother. A handsome Tulane medical student beau. A satisfying job in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Her life is as rich as the ice cream she creates. She’s got everything under control.

But control is an illusion. Dreams can turn into nightmares. And now during Mardi Gras, otherworldly powers stand ready to shape their destinies in ways they could never imagine.

Shadow and light. Magic and mystery. Reality and myth. All come together in a place where rules bend and lines blur. Even those between life and death.

***Please note: This is Part Two, the finale of STRANGE MAGIC.***






Trailers:









Author Bio:
Michelle Mankin is the Amazon bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Romance with subtext.

Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.

For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn't kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.

Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.

Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series.  These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.

Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the Magic series.

When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.


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Strange Magic Part 2

Strange Magic Part 1

Dream Magic: October 2015

Twisted Magic: Coming Soon

Tempest Series: GOODREADS
Irriesistible Refrain

Enticing Interlude

Captivating Bridge

Relentless Rhythm

Unforgettable: Coming Soon

Brutal Strength Series: GOODREADS
Love Evolution

Love Revolution

Love Resolution

Love Rock'ollection




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Cover Reveal: Give Me All of You by FL Jacob

Title: Give Me All of You
Author: FL Jacob
Series: Black Hollywood #3
Genre: Erotica, New Adult

Summary:
Beth Emmons would not allow herself fall in love.  She’d been burned in the worst way possible, leaving her with a secret that made her the black sheep of the family.

Jake Martin wasn’t looking for love.  After his ‘true love’ married another, he kept to himself and lived the life of a bachelor.

When their paths crossed in Mexico, they couldn’t get enough of each other.  Beth kept to her ‘friends with benefits’ plan, while Jake wanted more.  A pregnancy scare caused Beth to run from Jake.  Jake gave Beth the space she needed even if it was going to kill him. Christmas at the Black Hollywood Club reunited them and made them stronger.

Now, the family Beth wanted to forget pops back into her life needing her full attention.  All the while, Beth’s secret is busting at the seams causing her to once again distance herself from Jake.  Jake decides enough is enough and vows to fight for the love of his life, his real true love.

Will Beth be able to give herself to Jake?  Can Jake’s love give Beth the strength she needs, or will her secrets cause them to fall apart again, leaving them shattered . . . unable to pick up the pieces.

***Give Me All of You is book 3 is the Black Hollywood Series.  It can be read as a standalone.***





Author Bio:
I am a mommy of two, wife to an amazing man, and full time employee. Life is crazy and busy! I started writing again during a darker time in my life in a group write in a Facebook group. They brought back my passion for writing that I haven’t felt since high school and helped me through hard times. 

Starting this process was tedious and nerve-wracking, but my amazing ladies and my fabulous husband have inspired me to take my love for writing to the next step.

My current books are Have I Told You, I Won't Give Up on You, A Very Merry Black Hollywood Christmas, all part of the Black Hollywood Series. Coming Soon will be Give Me All of You, book 3 in the BH Series. 

Coming later 2015, One in a Million. New Characters, New story, Standalone! More information coming soon.


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Have I Told You #1
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I Won't Give Up on You #2
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A Very Merry Black Hollywood Christmas #2.5
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Inevitable by JL Beck

Title: Inevitable
Author: JL Beck
Series: A Kingpin Love Affair #2
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: February 2, 2015
Summary:
A love story that can only end in tragedy...

She was never part of the plan.
She was never to become anything.
She was simply a payment, and once the debt was settled, she would be nothing to me.

She thought her life had changed in a blink of an eye the moment she came home to see her father strapped to a chair, a gun being held to his head. It was my life that changed that day, not hers.

The blood of my enemy ran through her veins, and no matter how much she wanted to save me, she never would have. I am a monster. I can't be saved. I would consume the world in a blaze of fire before my need for vengeance was ever fulfilled.

They say the truth will set you free…

I thought she had betrayed me in ways I never expected, but in the end, it was I who had committed the ultimate betrayal.

Doubts ruin, truths hurt, and just one lie can destroy an entire army. If being the king has taught me anything, it's that everyone desires the truth, but no one wants to be honest.

The monster inside of me has been set free, and I will stop at nothing to destroy my enemies.

I am a living, breathing, killing machine... This war has just begun.

Clutching my head in my hands, I bend over. I'm angry with myself for feeling as if I'm not strong enough to handle this. It's more than just a war with John; it's a war with myself to be the man I need to be, the man my mom wanted me to be. 

Without thinking, I kick the coffee table in front of me as my anger and frustrations boil over. I can't do this; I was never taught how to deal with this shit. When you live a life like mine, you know nothing but strength, power, privilege, and entitlement. You grow up believing you're better than everyone else and can do whatever the hell you want. I have lived my life believing I'm invincible, so imagine my shock when weakness and vulnerability smacked me in the face. I never considered the possibility that I, the feared and powerful leader of the King empire, could fall to my knees, no longer untouchable. 

And yet, here I am...broken and alone with no fucking clue about what to do next. 

With all my strength, I haul my ass off the sofa, my mind blazing with things I 
can't control. Did loving her make me weak, or am I bringing myself down? Do I only have myself to blame for my downfall?

"You’re what you make of yourself, Alzerro." I suddenly hear my mother's soft, comforting voice. I'm taken back to when I was a toddler and would snuggle in her lap while she shared bits of wisdom and ran her fingers through my hair. I always felt so loved and safe in her arms. Looking back, I think she somehow knew she wouldn't be here when I grew up, so she made sure she gave me those cherished moments and memories to always hold on to for comfort and guidance.

I can’t do this, Mom...I can’t fucking do this…My chest is heaving, and as I whip open the back door to run, I realize I have nowhere to go. I am a little boy again, trapped and afraid. 

“You're stronger than this, Figlio. You can do what needs to be done. I believe in you.” Her voice is merely a whisper in my mind, but it rattles my heart so much that I feel as if I'll pass out. Instead, I walk outside and sink to my knees in the backyard, welcoming the darkness as it encompasses me.

“Come on, Alzerro, we must be going now, and we don't have time for you to change," my mother yelled up the stairs. She was always telling me what to do, what to wear, and how to act. My mom checked my appearance every time we left the house. Sometimes I wore the wrong shoes, chose the wrong tie, or had wrinkles in my clothes. No matter how small the imperfection, I had to keep trying until I met her high standards. She wanted me to be perfect, but I never understood why. 

“Mom, I don’t want to go," I complained. Whining never did me any good, so I had no idea why I was acting like a brat.

Looking me straight in the eyes, she smiled. My mom was breathtaking and beautiful in her own way. 

“We all do lots of things we don’t want to do, Alzerro. That is the lesson in life: sometimes things are hard, and it’s impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel," she began to explain. My mom bent down to adjust my tie, like I knew she would, before continuing, "but once you reach the end of the tunnel, you can look back and say, 'That wasn’t so hard now, was it?'"

I pondered what she said for a moment before asking, "Have you ever had to do something like that?” 

Her head tipped to the side as she examined her work, and for a second I thought she wouldn’t answer me. Then she crouched down to my eye level and stared at me for a moment. 

“We all have to do things we don’t want to. I have done my fair share of things I never wanted to do, as have many of the people around you. There will come a time in your own life when you have to make choices and do things you don’t want to. When the chance arises, grab it and hold on. If you do what you think is right to the best of your abilities, I promise that you will come out a new, better person in the end…” 

The memory spirals out before I can finish my thought. I come to my senses and feel the plush grass beneath my hands. Tears streak down my face, and as I wipe them away, more appear. I take deep breaths, trying to steady my rapidly beating heart. 

There is no other way around all of this. I know that in the end, I won't have to make a choice for it has already been made. My choice is a life with Bree; I choose love.



Author Bio:
J.L. Beck is the Best Selling Author of the Bittersweet Series, and Indebted (A Kingpin Love Affair Vol:1). She lives in Elroy, WI with her husband Brandon, and daughter Bella. 

Since the moment she could reach the shelves on the book shelf shes been reading, thus influencing her to write. Her favorite books are those that leave an imprint on your soul. You know the ones, that have you putting everything off because you have to find out what happens next.

When she's not writing or reading you can find her picking up after her three year old daughter, or explaining to her husband why its unsafe to do something any other way, than the way your wife told you too. 

Shes a huge fan of all things drama, with shows like The Vampire Diaries, and Arrow being some of her favorites. She's addicted to all things social media, caffeine, and Starbucks. 





Inevitable (Currently $.99)

Indebted (Currently free)
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Release Day Blitz: Smokescreen by Ahren Sanders

Title: Smokescreen
Author: Ahren Sanders
Genre: Adult, Romance
Release Date: February 5, 2015
Summary:
Stella Sullivan
Bright. Dedicated. Loyal.
The day I walked into his boardroom, I had no idea my life was about to change forever. It was supposed to be a simple proposal that would catapult my career. The chance to help Hurst & McCoy save one of their flailing business lines seemed simple enough. However, I never expected that one look at Maxwell McCoy would have me grasping for control. He’s demanding, charming, powerful; most of all he’s beautiful, inside and out. As hard as I fought against the attraction, he broke down my defenses. But he’s hiding things. Even when secrets, lies, and greed threaten everything I have worked so hard for, I couldn’t walk away. There’s no denying, the moment my eyes landed on Maxwell McCoy was the moment I became his.
Maxwell McCoy
Rich. Brilliant. Powerful.
People only see me as CEO of Hurst & McCoy. The ruthless businessman whose mere presence demands respect. People don’t know I chose to leave a life I loved in order to protect my father’s legacy and reputation. When my company’s future was threatened, I had no choice but to seek assistance. The day Stella Sullivan walked into my boardroom was the day my heart started beating again. One business proposal, from the topaz-eyed beauty, changed my life. She tried to deny our unyielding chemistry, but I wouldn’t. I should let her go, but I didn’t.
The smokescreen I created soon comes crashing down, forcing me to fight for everything I love.

     Stella groans lightly and rolls over. I’ve been watching her from my desk for half an hour, trying not to wake her. But as soon as she realizes my side of the bed is empty, she sits up dazed. Her head turns toward the bathroom and then turns to me.
     “What are you doing?” she asks sleepily.
     “Working a bit.”
     “What time is it?”
     “A little after seven.”
     “Why the hell are you up? Do you ever sleep?” She falls back onto my bed and the sheets slip down her naked body.
     I jump to my feet and make my way to her side of the bed in a second. “Yeah, I slept, then I worked out, showered, and decided to work until you woke up.”
     “You worked out? Showered? What the hell is wrong with you? I thought we weren’t going anywhere this morning.”
     She throws an arm over her eyes and I take the opportunity to kiss the skin up to her elbow, then pull her arm down so she has no choice but to look at me.
     “I didn’t go anywhere. I have a home gym down the hall. I showered because I was gross, and we are staying here this morning. We have a meeting at ten, but until then, it’s us.”
     “You have a home gym? Where?”
     “Yeah, babe, there’s about two thousand square feet you’ve not seen yet. Two more rooms and a gym.”
     “What?”
     “Babe, you’ve only been here a few times, I haven’t had time to show you.”
     “This is a whole lot of information for me this early, without coffee. Remember I’m not a morning person.”
     “So you keep saying, but I love proving you wrong.” I kiss her softly and slide my hand under the sheets and down until it reaches her pelvic bone.
     My fingertips run lightly back and forth from hipbone to hipbone until her breath catches. Every time I hear that small sound, I know she’s getting turned on. Then my hand slinks lower to her slick heat and I press one finger in, sliding her wetness back and forth. “You are the best morning person I know.”
     “That’s because you give me orgasms before my coffee.”


What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
It was my love of reading. Story and plotlines have always run through my head when I finish a book, but the publishing industry was an enigma to me. So I just kept reading for enjoyment. Then one-day I was watching a morning program that mentioned all the mom’s on the upper east side of Manhattan reading ‘mommy porn’ on their e-readers. That piqued my interest. I picked up this ‘mommy porn’, which is now known as The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy. This started my obsessive love affair with the Contemporary Romance genre.

When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
Character Development!  This includes names, families, physical traits, and personalities. And not only for my main couples. If you’ve ever read my work, you will notice I have a barrage of supporting characters that help contribute to my stories. I love creating them.

When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I mostly stick to the Contemporary Romance genre. My favorite style of book is one that gives me strong characters, an emotional connection that bleeds through the pages, and a HEA.  

If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
There are too many to list. My respect for each and every Indie Author runs deep. It takes courage, passion, and strength to put your work out to the public. But I’ll admit, one person on the top of my list is Kristen Ashley.
I do have a project in the works that is in early planning stages. Hopefully, I’ll be able to release information soon.

Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
This journey came later in life. After college, I spent 13 years in the corporate world. Then in April 2013 I started my first book, Surrendering. It was published in November of the same year.

Author Bio:
Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing. They have one amazing daughter.

Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand. I started writing my Surrender Series, in the spring of 2013 and have received incredible support from the Indie community. Throughout this year, I have been privileged to meet some amazing people that I am thankful to have in my life.


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