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Friday, August 30, 2013

Virtual Book Tour: Marco by A.J. Kelton and #Giveaway! #GLBT #romance #CBLSpromo


Happy Friday, everyone! Today we're featuring an awesome m/m romance as part of the CBLS virtual book tour! The author's also sponsoring a giveaway, so don't forget to scroll all the way down past the yummy excerpt for a chance to win! Enjoy!


Marco
by A.J. Kelton
Erotic Gay Romance
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: May 18, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Length: 244 pages

Available at:




Description:
Being a superstar can give you everything but true happiness.

Marco, in the public eye from childhood, has everything but the one thing he truly wants. Someone to love him for who he is. Evan, Marco's lead guitarist and part-time lover, tends to Marco's needs, from broken heart to media disaster. He keeps his love for Marco secret for fear of ruining the friendship. Jaron would give anything to reach superstar status, given the chance to work beside Marco, he sees it as the perfect way to realize his dream. Will Marco ever see Evan as more than a friend or will Jaron finally get the stardom he dreams of?

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.


Excerpt

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and stopped a second to glance up. His heart stopped as he stood there staring at what was walking up the carpet, not able to believe his eyes.

The black leather jeans seemed molded to his long lean legs, the sides intricately laced showing just the right amount of skin, enough to show off his perfect legs but not so much that it made you scream cheap. No those pants screamed “Fuck Me!” if they said anything at all. If Jaron had to guess those jeans alone probably cost more than he made in a week. The black sheer shirt, although silky in appearance, was loose flowing and like the pants had laces up the sides, but at intervals where the shirt looked like it would fall off at any moment. The aviator glasses accented his chiseled features instead of diminishing from them like many sunglasses tended to do. 

He paused a moment, smiled at the crowd, tossed his head so that his collar length dark hair swung about his face. This action alone brought another round of ear shattering screams. He grabbed a marker from someone and started signing the many magazines, scraps of paper, or whatever the fans had managed to grab when they realized who was walking in and that he was willing to sign a few autographs. He turned back toward the nightclub and swaggered toward the door. Swagger was definitely the way Jaron would have put it. No one walked with that much swing in their hips naturally.

Great, this was just what he needed, not only would he have to hear about his failure to get in from Ashton but Marco Romero also would know that he had failed to get an entry into what was surely to be the hottest club in the city.

“Come on pretty boy.” Marco smiled at him as he grabbed his arm and turned him around. Slinging his arm over Jaron's shoulder, he pulled him close. A surge of desire coursed through his body as he realized that Jaron seemed to mold perfectly to his side, almost as if he was made for him.

There was no way that this could really be happening. No way that Marco would take pity on him and get him into the club. This was fantastic, this was so going to go into his article. He was one step closer to his all access to Marco and he knew it. He didn’t know what the sudden change was but it didn’t matter, he was going to use this to his advantage.

Jaron noticed that even the guards at the door seemed to be awe struck by the appearance of the hottest star in the century. He felt like he was standing in the middle of a strobe light with the constant flash of the camera and Marco’s model pose. He tried to copy his pose, to not be one of those people who stood awkwardly by the star’s side. He’d seen it in several pictures that were printed and always said if he got his chance he would be ready. He spent hours in front of the mirror even now perfecting his pose.

“Should have known you would have an invite,” he muttered under his breath.

“Oh I don’t, do you really think they would turn me away though? Do you know what could happen to this club if I was to mention that they refused me entrance? Do the words ‘here today gone tomorrow’ mean anything to you?” He smiled, giving a slight nod to the bouncers as they rushed to open the door for him. “You are now cool by association, isn’t fame grand?”
  
About the Author:
A.J. Kelton are the dynamic writing team of Angel and Jordan. The couple met online several years ago on an Alexander fan site and have been friends ever since. Angel soon found that Jordan had a flare for storytelling with several half-finished stories on her computer. Angel encouraged Jordan to finish the stories and with help in creative description she decided to send the stories off to MLR press. They were both shocked and excited when they got the news that Faelon was accepted for publication. While Jordan may have a flare for storytelling she doesn’t enjoy the smaller details in getting a story ready for publication. That is where Angel comes in; she spends countless hours getting the story ready after line edits, going over each line in proofing and formatting, making decisions such as covers and fonts, all things that Jordan just has problems focusing on.

Angel is always on the lookout for her perfect mate, a cross between Ethan from Under the Australian Sky and Evan from Marco.  Until Mr. Perfect appears at her door, or in front of her booth wanting an autograph she loves to read, take pictures and attend concerts of all kinds. She loves all things 80’s. Angel lives in Texas with her two dogs, Daisy a beagle who she insists is nothing like snoopy and her Chihuahua Bonita.

When not writing Jordan loves to read anything from Amish romance to the dark taboo books of fiction both M/M and Het. She is a very avid reader, except when writing because she doesn’t want to be influenced by what she is reading. Jordan loves to travel and often her latest vacation spots show up in his books. While Jordan is always looking for that perfect place to live at the moment she can be found in Kansas.

Both writers have solo projects coming out in the future, Angel with Misunderstandings under the name Angel Rothamel. Jordan with Legion under the name Rider Jacobs.

Both authors would love to hear from you. You can contact them at AJKelton@AJKelton.com. You can also find them on Facebook under both AJ Kelton, Angel Rothamel and Rider Jacobs.

Connect with A.J. Kelton


Yahoo Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ajkelton


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com


Friday, August 23, 2013

Elodie Parkes Shares Her #Erotic #Romance #Newrelease!


Happy Friday, everyone! I'm so happy to welcome erotic romance author Elodie Parkes to the Divas today. She's here to tell us about her new release and to share some news about a giveaway she's offering. Welcome, Elodie!

Hi Nona,

Thank you for inviting me to your fabulous blog to celebrate the release of my erotic romance, The Old Star.

The love story has paranormal threads, a little mystery and magic, it’s erotic and I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I loved writing it.

The idea came to me when I was working. Sometimes in my job I have to travel to places where an antique has been offered for sale to the place I work. I had to go look at a chaise longue that was in a semi derelict house. The place was going to be demolished and so I was to buy the item, get it loaded in the truck and bring it back to the store. The guy selling it was just lovely.

Sometimes I will notice a guy whose looks help me create a "Swoon" worthy man in my stories, but usually he just happens. It’s like a magic trick, as soon as I know his name he appears and even I fall in love with him. Sometimes and I swear this is the truth, he says and does things and I have no idea where it comes from. Later I will remember and it will make me smile. For instance, I love Owen who is my lead male in The Old Star, but a character nicknamed Ash from my last release, The Winter Girl, I totally love him, he’s such a dude, and such fun.

In real life, I’m greedy I like the guy in a whole package…you know the toned, muscular body, smooth skin, lovely eyes, blue or some other light color. Hair can be long, short, dark, light, as long as it’s clean. I do really like the shape of the hips and muscles of a good looking guy that go into a V shape and disappear into their jeans. Sigh… I like intelligence too…

Before I forget why I am here visiting your blog, here’s the blurb for the new release erotic romance, The Old Star:

She was looking for new office space...but it found her…what’s hidden in this spooky place?

When Cathy Faraday goes out from her office to buy morning tea, a set of circumstances send her on a different route from the one she would normally take. Waiting on a street unknown to her is a house. Old and left to fade away the house looks shabby against its neighbors. The whole row of houses are now offices and Cathy sees a ‘for let sign’ outside the place. Something draws her to the house. Someone watches from the third floor window.

Cathy applies to rent the building to expand her dating agency business. As she begins to make it ready, the house reveals its secrets.

Erotic romance, with a twist of paranormal, set in contemporary England this story will haunt you.
Graphic sex/love scenes. 18+ only.


It’s released from Hot Ink Press on Kindle today August 23



Check out the sexy new trailer The Old Star August 23 release from Hot Ink: 
http://youtu.be/zeHJ1lewAKU

widescreen
standard


Here’s an excerpt, 18+ R rated

She pulled at his T-shirt and he helped her take it off. Cathy’s eyes darkened as she ran her hands along his muscled chest and kissed down his chest to his stomach. His low-rise jeans showed the shape of his lean hips and a thin line of hair going down his stomach. She looked up into his eyes as she unzipped his jeans and pulled them down to his ankles. She kissed and licked down his stomach and then along his cock and saw it start to harden.
She hadn’t noticed before, but he was wearing slide on shoes with no socks, and now she got him to step out of his clothes and shoes, until he was naked before her. His erection was full now and she looked into his eyes as she kissed him and took hold of his cock.
Owen groaned. “Take off your clothes, now, Cathy.” He stopped her kissing him. “No more kisses until you’re naked. I want you naked.”
His words made her throb with pleasure between her legs and her nipples hardened. He took her T-shirt off and then her bra and dropped them gently to the floor. She unzipped her jeans and began to push them down. Owen knelt and pulled them down to her ankles. He put his fingers into the side of her panties and then kissed her stomach before he took hold of the front with his teeth and pulled them down slowly, his fingers sliding down her thighs and his lips brushing against her until she was moving her hips wanting his mouth on her clit.
Cathy closed her eyes and let the feelings flow over her. She wanted his tongue inside her, his fingers too, she wanted to suck his cock until he groaned and thrust into her. The need for sex had never been so urgent and so intense.
****

Copyright Elodie Parkes 2013
****

I’m running a celebration prize draw because I am so excited about this book.

First Prize, WIN a $25 Amazon gift voucher to buy what you want and the kindle copy of The Old Star gifted from Amazon



Second prize, WIN a kindle copy gifted from Amazon of both The Old Star and The Winter Girl the latest release erotic romances.



Lily Prescott is only just over a relationship break up when she decides to take up residence in a house left to her by her recently deceased grandmother. Her corporate law job takes a back seat as she licks her wounds in the small country town. She looks around the main shopping street and discovers people who will befriend her, but she also runs into the town’s most eligible bachelor and secret bad boy, Starr Forrester.
Loved for his lifelong association with the town, Starr hides his methods for staying single well from his friends. He’s nearly thirty, gorgeous, a designer, owns a business and on the lookout for his ‘Winter Girl’….
Will it be Lily? What is a ‘Winter girl’?
Fun, sex, romance and a little twist of the paranormal, makes this a must read erotic romance.

Third prize, WIN the kindle copy gifted from Amazon of The Last Time



Steamy, erotic romance with a twist of mystery. Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.
Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out... yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.
The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.
Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.
Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?
With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.


ALL prizes are international. Please enter via the rafflecopter and leave the address your prize would be gifted to if you win one of the three prizes. Choose any of the entry requirements not all.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


About Elodie
I live in the United Kingdom and I work in an antiques shop as well as writing. I have two dogs that keep me fit with their need for walks. I love the countryside and the coast.
I write romance, contemporary, and erotic with a twist of mystery, suspense, or the paranormal, now and then. I like to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale. My books are always steamy.

Find Elodie online at:

Find Elodie’s books at:
Thanks so much for being here today, Elodie, and we wish you much success with your new book. It sounds awesome!

Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com



Friday, August 16, 2013

Mia Downing's #New #Erotic #Romance and a #Sale!

Happy Friday, everyone! I have a treat for you today. Writer friend Mia Downing is visiting and sharing some exciting news about her books! Take it away, Mia!
Book 1 in Spy Games


Hi, I’m Mia Downing! I just released the third book from the Spy Games series and I love writing erotic romance. It’s fun to give the characters angst and drama to work through and then get to use the sex scenes to further develop their romance. In real life I’m fairly boring—married for 18 years, have two kids and a small farm. Don’t pity me—I like my life the way it is. I get enough outside excitement from the books I write!

To celebrate the release of Spy Games: Endgame to Amazon, The Wild Rose Press is graciously offering for sale the first two books in the Spy Games series. The sale is taking place at all distributors! Now is the time to get a jump on this great series.

The Wild Rose Press is offering my back list of books on sale for 50% until Friday, August 16! Click the link above to visit my page there! 
Book 2 in Spy Games

Book 1 of the Spy Games Series! $.99 at all distributors!

Emma Walters didn't choose to be a spy, but when her crazy father was caught selling bombs to the wrong people, she was given a choice--become a spy or rot in jail. Her exciting new life as agent Kate Wells becomes more so when she discovers her new boss is the agent--undercover and investigating her father at the time--who took her to third base. Emma is already half in love with the dark and dangerous Chase Sanders. Kate wants nothing more than for him to finish what he started, but he's the devil incarnate. And one doesn't make deals or fall in love with the devil.

Mia's newest!
If someone had told Chase he'd fall in love with a certain virgin when he was on his last mission, he would have shot them dead, sniper style. She was nothing more than collateral damage, damn it. But watching the sexy new spy morph into a bombshell killing machine is too much to bear. So when the powers that be command him to train her in the art of seduction for her first--and possibly last--mission, he's scared witless. Making love to Kate means preparing her for sex with another man.

Somehow, Chase has to find a way to get Kate in--and out--of her mission without dying. And without falling in love.

This book is an erotic romance. It contains graphic language, explicit, smokin' hot sex, ménage, lots of juicy conflict, some suspense, a dark and dangerous spy boss and a spunky bombshell heroine.

Available at:

Here’s a little excerpt from Spy Games: Trained for Seduction if I haven’t convinced you yet!

Excerpt:

“I guess it’s time for…you know. Dinner’s over.”

He frowned, and for once she could see the wheels turning behind his brown eyes. “How about I make you a deal?”

“A deal with the devil is never productive.” He grinned, and she sighed. “Tell me.”

“We have all weekend, and I’m a very compassionate, very patient man. What you lack in your life is control. I’m going to give you control over when we make love. It’s your call. I will wait patiently until you can’t resist my charms any longer.”

Control. She liked that idea, because he was right. The only things that were keeping her from jumping him now were the facts that she had to be here and she was scared as hell. If this were a date, she’d still be scared as hell, but she’d be more than willing to make the leap. “What happens if we make it to Sunday night and it hasn’t happened?”

“Then we have a problem. But I have faith in my seduction skills. It didn’t take much to get you hot for me before. I don’t need until Sunday night.”

“Ego, Chase, ego,” she whispered. But that offer took an incredible amount of stress from her, and she heaved a sigh of relief. “So how will you continue charming me?”

“Well, we have dishes to do, and since you cleaned your plate, I promised you a movie.”

“I’d like that. I haven’t really watched much in the past year.”

“Neither have I. So we’ll make popcorn, and sit on the couch, and if you’re a very good girl, I’ll let you hold my hand.”

She thought of his hand in hers, those long fingers caressing hers. She bit her lip. A deal with the devil was definitely not a good thing. “And if I’m a bad girl?”

The ego returned, and he smiled a devilish smile. “Then we won’t need to worry about Sunday.”


To take advantage of the half-price sale of Mia's other books, visit her page at The Wild Rose Press 

What an awesome sale! Congratulations on your new release, Mia. Friends, I've read the first two books in the Spy Games series and let me tell you, they are thrilling, romantic and sexy. I can't wait to start reading Endgame!

Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

#Review by Rach - From the Ashes by Daisy Harris

Hey folks, it's time for the next installment of Reviews by Rach. Today we have From the Ashes by Daisy Harris, a m/m contemporary erotic romance. 


Before the review, we have the blurb, and a great excerpt. Check it out: 


When an accident burns down Jesse’s apartment, he’s left broke and homeless, with a giant dog and a college schedule he can’t afford to maintain. And no family who’s willing to take him in.



Lucky for him, a sexy fireman offers him a place to stay. The drawback? The fireman’s big Latino family lives next door, and they don’t know their son is gay.

Tomas’s parents made their way in America with hard work and by accepting help when it was offered, so he won’t let Jesse drop out of school just so he can afford a place to live. Besides, Jesse’s the perfect roommate—funny, sweet and breathtakingly cute. He climbs into Tomas’s bed and tugs at his heart. Until Jesse starts pushing for more.

Their passion enflames their bodies but threatens to crush Tomas’s family. Tomas is willing to fight for Jesse, but after losing everything, Jesse isn’t sure he can bear to risk his one remaining possession—his heart.


Warning: Contains an angry older brother, judgmental best friends, a slobbering bull mastiff, and enough red-hot gay loving to make a porn star blush.



Excerpt:

The gay guys Tomas hooked up with never seemed to find what he did to them demeaning, but he’d been raised to believe it was.

That was fine when it came to hookups at strange bars in the city, but the kid curled up on his couch watching television wasn’t like those guys. He was sweet and had had a tough time. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way Tomas treated men, even if Jesse thought that’s what he wanted.

By the time he pushed open the door from his bedroom into the living room, Jesse had twisted into the fetal position on the couch, and fallen asleep.

“Jess?” Tomas touched his arm, trying to shake him awake. He needed to get Jesse off the couch long enough to unfold it into a bed.

“Hmm?” Jesse flopped onto his other side, almost falling off in the process.

Tomas shook his head. “All right.” He went to the other side of the loveseat and worked his arms under Jesse’s knees and shoulders. “Up you go.” He lifted.

Waking up, Jesse wrapped his arms around Tomas’s neck.

He smelled like soap from Tomas’s shower, overlaid on the scent of ashes. Jesse pressed a kiss into his shoulder.

“You can take my bed tonight,” Tomas whispered. He tried to ignore the throbbing in his belly and the urge to set Jesse down and lie on top of him.

When he laid Jesse on the bed, Jesse didn’t let go. “I could be rocking your world right now,” Jesse breathed in his ear.

Soundlessly, Tomas gasped. He couldn’t leave the circle of Jesse’s arms. Jesse was stronger than he realized, and in that moment, Tomas was far too weak.



And now for the review - I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I LOVED this book. For a hot M/M romance, it was so damned sweet it made me tear up at points. Tomas has been taught that his desires to be with men are wrong. He's trying so hard through the first part of the book to chase away those thoughts, trying to be strong and love himself, but the years of his brother's anger and his firefighter buddies' slurs about "faggot" this and "faggot" that have done a lot of damage. 
As for Jesse, he's been disowned by his parents, cast out because he's gay, and when a fire devastates the small home he'd managed to make for himself, he's lost. He's lost his home. Again. But when Tomas sees how distraught Jesse is, he offers a place to crash and a shoulder to cry on. Things quickly heat up between the two men, but living a mere few yards from his parents makes Tomas cautious. 
They fight, they make up, they fight some more. Each has to come to terms with their sexuality, their family, and their love. Jesse and Tomas were both deep, well-damaged characters who you just can't help rooting for! Through the twists and turns of this sexy story, I was enthralled by these two and the journey they share, and when it was over, I thought... what, that's it? Not because the ending was disappointing, just because I was disappointed about the story being over. Definitely a must-read for lovers of erotic romance, M/M style.  

Five out of Five Divas!   


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex tends to get completely out of hand.

She writes about fantastical creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an episode of The Walking Dead.

Want to learn more about new releases, general news and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX

Find me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/thedaisyharris

Like me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daisy-Harris/185042351535537

My filthy Tumblr feed can be found at: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/holsumcollege

Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/From-Ashes-Fire-Rain-ebook/dp/B00C4U6MOC

Samhain buy link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/from-ashes-p-72937.html

Barnes and Noble buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-ashes-daisy-harris/1115084890?ean=9781619217980


Daisy will be awarding a $20 gift card to Starbucks to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so make sure to leave your comment below! 


Thanks for stopping by! 
~Rach

Friday, August 9, 2013

How to Get Good Reviews on Amazon - #Book Blast, #Review and #Prize! #goddessfish



HOW TO GET GOOD REVIEWS ON AMAZON
By
Theo Rogers

BLURB:  
How To Get Good Reviews On Amazon is a simple, no-nonsense guide that teaches exactly what it says it does. Based on both psychological science and thousands of hours of conversation with some of Amazon’s top reviewers, it takes you behind the scenes into the reviewing subculture that has grown up on Amazon’s website. It gives you a deep, insider’s knowledge of how the top reviewers think and operate. It not only shows you what to do: it takes you inside the reviewers’ heads so that you can see for yourself both how these techniques work and why they’re so effective.

Lessons include:

·        A simple, four-part formula for writing emails that get your work reviewed.
·        Three things never to say when communicating with reviewers!
·        How to pick reviewers who are more likely to give you a good review.
·        How to reduce the chance that a reviewer you contact will post a bad review – even if it turns out they don’t like your work!
·        How people get caught out when receiving reviews from friends and family.

This book teaches an honest, straightforward approach that works. It works because it’s not based gimmicks or tricks but on a real understanding of how Amazon reviewers operate: most of all on what they expect from authors and other sellers. If you want to know how to talk to Amazon reviewers in a way that will make them respect you as a professional and see you as the kind of seller they actually want to help, this is the book for you.

 
Excerpt:

Sellers do quite often turn up on forums on Amazon, specifically asking for reviews. Unfortunately, a while ago Amazon changed its policies to expressly forbid this sort of behavior in all forums but one: the Meet Our Authors forum. The trouble with this is that the Meet Our Authors forum is very largely just a bunch of authors spamming each other. Very few seem to have any real interest in what the others are saying.

Despite Amazon’s rule against using its forums for self promotion, people still do it. And in practice the reception that authors and other sellers get when they post on any of the multitude of forums does vary. To some degree it depends on how the author or seller handles themselves.

The other thing you should always be extremely careful about is paying close attention to the codes of behavior considered appropriate among the forum regulars. Different forums have different levels of tolerance for authors or other sellers seeking reviews, or otherwise promoting themselves. For example, the Romance forum has a reputation as a place you should absolutely never leave this kind of post – unless you actually want to be ripped to shreds. Indeed, the Romance forum has developed a reputation as an extremely hostile place for authors in general. So it is important to do your homework on the specific forum you’re considering using.

Nona's review:
Question: How do you get a review on Amazon?
Answer: You ask for one.

Okay, it’s nowhere near that simple. But it’s something I honestly did not know when my first book was published. I had no idea that it was possible to approach an Amazon reviewer and ask her to read my romance. Some authors are very promotion savvy and others, like me, are slower to catch on. Writing the book is only half the battle. We then have to promote ourselves and our book. It can seem overwhelming and sometimes downright scary.

And we need reviews! The more reviews you get, the more attention your book receives and the more copies it’s likely to sell. And where will those reviews give you the most bang for the buck? Amazon.
Sure, there are other booksellers out there, but let’s be real. Amazon’s the biggie.

Now when I say “bang for the buck”, that’s just an expression. Mr. Theo Rogers, author of “How to Get Good Reviews on Amazon” would never advise you to buy reviews—or heaven forbid, offer a bribe in return for one. Nor would he advise you to create a fake account to give yourself five stars. And PLEASE don’t get all your friends and relatives to sign on and give you stellar reviews.

Theo Rogers is himself a popular Amazon reviewer. That’s what makes this booklet (48 pages) special. He’s an insider. He knows the community, its members, its inner workings.  It’s a tight-knit group. And most of all, it’s a group of people who love books. They take reviewing very seriously, and they do it for love.

Mr. Rogers spends some time explaining reviewer rankings and what they mean. A review from someone with a high ranking can help boost your book. He also tells you how to select possible reviewers for your book and how best to approach them. And he tells you specifically what NOT to do. An author must tread carefully, especially around the Amazon forums. A blunder there can backfire.

He also provides links that help explain his points and save readers time and frustration for having to search for this information ourselves.
  
Though some of Mr. Rogers’ advice seemed like common sense, some of it seemed counter-intuitive and surprised me. But when he explained his reasoning, I nodded and thought, Oh, I see. His book offers some very thought provoking and solid advice. I recommend it for any author who would like to try his/her hand at approaching a high-ranking Amazon reviewer in hopes of a review.

Of course, there’s never a guarantee of a good review. The most you can ask for is an honest one. But if you follow Theo Rogers’ advice, choose your prospect wisely and approach him/her courteously, your chances are much improved. Thank you, Mr. Rogers!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review J. 

Purchase How to Get Good Reviews on Amazon: 
 and


AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Theo Rogers combines years of coalface experience on Amazon's website with formal training and qualifications in a range of business and social science disciplines. He's spent literally thousands of hours talking with Amazon reviewers, getting inside their heads, and learning what makes them tick. He's spent almost as many hours observing the carnage that so often takes place on Amazon's forums. In the process he's developed a deep insider's knowledge of the reviewing subculture that's grown up on Amazon's website.

He's also seen a lot of authors and other would-be sellers make the same mistakes in their dealings with that subculture - over and over again.

As a result of his experiences, Theo has come to believe that yes, there is a simple formula that works: a way of dealing with reviewers that's honest, powerful, and extremely effective at winning reviewers over, getting them on your side, and making them actually want to help you.

https://www.facebook.com/TheTheoRogers

Wait! There's more!

Theo Rogers is offering a $100 Amazon gift to one lucky individual! Just check out the Rafflecopter below! Follow Theo's tour here and comment! The more you comment, the better your chance of winning! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com


Thursday, August 1, 2013

#Romance VBT and #Review: Searching for Superman by Ute Carbone #CBLSpromos




Searching for Superman
by Ute Carbone
Contemporary Romanctic Comedy
Publisher: Champagne Books
Release Date: June 3, 2013
Heat Level: Sensual
Word Count/Length: 55,000 words/166 pages



Available at:
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Description:
Stephanie Holbrook has finally found a job she really loves: working as an assistant to Conrad Finch in a small regional theater that’s about a three dollars and a power outage from being torn down. Stephanie wishes her love life would be as perfect as her job. She’ll be thirty on her next birthday and she still hasn’t found Mr. Right.  According to Stephanie, Mr. Right has to be strong and brave, with great values and good looks. A guy a lot like Superman. 

When Doug Castleberry shows up at her niece’s birthday party dressed as Superman, Stephanie is positive he’s not the real deal. Sure, he’s great with kids and he’s kind of cute. But he’s just a high school teacher making extra money by dressing up for kid’s parties. Hardly the strong, brave, and drop-dead gorgeous guy she’s looking for.

As the theater teeters ever closer to the edge of disaster, Doug proves to be a better man than Stephanie had ever imagined. Could he be the Superman she’s been looking for all along?



Excerpt:
As though her frustration had been carried across the airwaves, a white van with a castle stenciled to its side pulled into the Spellman’s driveway as Stephanie hung up. None too soon. She surveyed the damages. All the balloons had been popped. The presents had been opened in an attempt to restore order among the birthday guests. Wrapping paper was strewn across the floor in three rooms. Some of the girls were playing catch with a new Barbie doll. And several other children were using a new jump rope as a makeshift whip.

Steve had taken Max, who had somehow fallen asleep despite the ruckus, upstairs for a nap. Liz was attempting to clean bits of cookie dough from the counters and floors. Stephanie squared her shoulders, ready for a showdown with the belated Cinderella.

She marched down the driveway, ready to tell the Castle Creature just what she thought of abhorrently tardy behavior, when out of the van jumped Superman.

He didn’t look so much like Superman as a man dressed for a Halloween party. He was too short for a superhero, for one, only a few inches taller than Stephanie. He was more wiry than muscular. He was cute, though. He had a full head of light brown curly hair and nice eyes. Not blue, like Christopher Reeve’s had been, but hazel. The eyes were looking right at her.

“Spellman?” he asked. When she didn’t answer, he smiled apologetically. “The GPS in the van isn’t working. And this development is a maze. I felt like I was in an episode of Lost. In which I was really lost. I figured I’d eventually run out of gas and Jane would have to put out an APB.” He looked at Stephanie with those hemlock eyes again. “Sorry.”

“You are not supposed to be Superman.”

“What?” He went to the van and drew a paper off the seat.

“I’m sure. Yup. Says right here. Superman.”

She took the paper from him and crumbled it. “You are supposed to be Cinderella.”

“No.” He looked at her with a combination of horror and confusion. “Cinderella?”

“It’s a princess party. So you better have Cinderella in that van of yours.”

“It’s not my van. And, no, I don’t have Cinderella hiding under the backseat.” He gave her a no-harm-no-foul sort of shrug.

“Let me call Jane.”

Stephanie waved her cell phone at him. “What do you suppose I’ve been doing for the last hour?”

“Okay, okay. She’s probably... Let me go back to the shop, see what I can do.”

He turned to get back into the van. She gave his cape a tug. “You are not leaving. You can’t leave. There are twenty-five children terrorizing my sister’s house and you have to stop them.”

“You’re not Liz Spellman?”

“No. I’m her sister. It doesn’t matter. You get in there and do whatever it is you do or I’ll get you fired.”

“That would be great,” said Superman. “Seriously, if you could get me fired.” He smiled. She glared at him. “Twenty-five?”

She nodded and he shook his head. “No offense to your sister, but is she nuts? The kid is five, right? All the magazines say age plus one.”



***Nona’s Review*** 

(Disclaimer: I purchased this book myself.)

This story was a fun read made more enjoyable by two very likable main characters. Discovering that the story takes place in my stomping grounds of upstate New York was a pleasant surprise. Stephanie’s bad experience with a former boyfriend has made her reluctant to risk her heart again. When she tells her sister that her ideal man is “Superman”, I had to roll my eyes. What mortal man can fill those shoes? Or should I say, can fill out that costume. Having Doug, the hero, show up at her niece’s party dressed as the Man of Steel was a cute turn of events.

Doug’s taken with Stephanie right away, but she’s a hard sell. Doug may not have super powers, but he’s smart, good looking, a devoted teacher and all around good guy. Still, he finds himself firmly in the friend zone.  Stephanie, in the meantime, is wooed by a local rocker and a hunkalicious firefighter while trying to save the local theater where she’s employed.

Stephanie’s boss Conrad and Conrad’s crabby mother are among the supporting characters that add to the fun.  The efforts to save the theater, a local landmark, from demolition and to make it a thriving concern in the community make an interesting subplot. There’s even a bit of mystery as our hero and heroine realize that someone is actively trying to undermine their efforts to save the theater. Oh, and did I mention that a wackadoodle named Merry becomes obsessed with Doug?

I only wish there hadn’t been quite so many obstacles in the way of Doug and Stephanie, and that the author had allowed them to get together sooner before the “black moment” that temporarily tore them apart. I was a bit irked that Stephanie made Doug wait so long before realizing he was “the one” and I wish Doug had given his inner nice guy a kick in the pants and been more assertive with her.

Though the heat rating of the story is sensual, in my opinion it’s fairly mild.  The one lovemaking scene between Doug and Stephanie is short and not explicit. I’d recommend Searching for Superman to any reader who enjoys light, sweet romance with a generous dash of humor.



About the Author:
Ute (who pronounces her name Oooh-tah) Carbone is a multi-published author of women’s fiction and romance. Her romantic comedy, The P-Town Queen, was selected as Champagne Books novel of the year for 2012. She and her husband reside in Nashua, NH. They have two grown sons.

Connect with Ute Carbone
Blog 
TellingStories (available daily via Paper Li) 

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Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com



TRR

The Romance Reviews