{Blogoversary Celebration} Kait Ballenger's Top Five Bookish Pet Peeves + Giveaways

This is last day of my blogoversary celebration and I have a special guest who's stopped by, author Kait Ballenger! I met Kait a few months ago via blogging and Twitter, she's super cool and loves sexy alphas and strong heroines like yours truly so we hit it off immediately. Her debut new release, After Dark (with Gena Showalter), hits shelves this June, but today Kait's here sharing some of her bookish pet peeves with us...you know you have them too!

A big thanks to all the authors who participated and all the readers and fellow bloggers for making this blogoversary such a fun celebration! I truly appreciate all the love and support you've shown me with your comments and tweets! <3

My Bookish Pet Peeves by Kait Ballenger

I love reading great books, and I think it’s safe to say that pretty much every successful author out there ended up where they are now because one of thing: they love reading, too. What other than love would cause someone to slave away hours a day writing their first unsold novel with no guarantee of pay? As classic book nerds, most authors love to talk about what they love and don’t love about their all time favorite novels, so when Lori asked me to write a post about my top five bookish pet peeves for her blogoversary, it was easy to figure out my top five bookish pet peeves: they’re exactly the things I strive to make sure my novels don’t have. So when I share these five bookish pet peeves, I’d also like to make a promise. I promise that, to the best of my ability, the following things are something you will NEVER find in the pages of a Kait Ballenger novel. So here you have it, from least to greatest, my five bookish pet peeves:

{Blogoversary Celebration} Chapter One Preview of "Binding the Shadows" by Jenn Bennett + Giveaway

Happy Monday! Ok, so Monday's aren't exactly the best but I have a special treat that's sure to make your day a little better. Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I'm honored to have her on the blog today! Jenn has an exclusive preview of the first chapter of Binding Shadows, the latest book in the Arcadia Bell series (out May 28th) and a fabulous giveaway! How's that for a Monday? ;)

Chapter One Preview of Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett

I scrambled through the second-story window and balanced on a square section of slanted roofing above a portico on the first floor. Lon followed, biting out obscenities. I’d never seen him move so fast. Fire is a good motivator.

We hugged the outer wall of the house, flanking both sides of the open window. A sharp night wind whipped my hair around my face and shoulders as I butted my shoulder against the siding.

Where is Merrimoth now? I thought.

“Left the room to search for the gun,” Lon said in a low voice.

{Blogoversary Celebration} Tish Thawer Turns the Tables and Interviews Me! + Giveaway

Paranormal Romance author Tish Thawer is also an awesome friend who I couldn't exclude from the blogoversary celebration! Usually I'm the one asking the questions when it comes to interviews, but Tish decided to shake things up and interview me on the subject of blogging this time around.

There are also two fabulous giveaways from more fantastic authors to enter so pull up a seat ;)

I can't tell you how thrilled I was when Lori said I could switch the author/blogger tables, giving me the chance to interview her for her Two Year Blogoversary! To say I was honored was an understatement. I can happily share that I've known Lori for over two years from our interaction on Shelfari; she, as one of the awesome admins of my favorite private group, VWF, and I, as a Shelfari Librarian. So, when my first book, Scent of a White Rose was published, it didn't take more than a second for me to think of Lori as one of the initial people I wanted to read and review my work. And not just because she was my friend, but because if you haven't noticed, she has 1000+ GFC followers, which is only a small indication of just how successful Romancing the Dark Side is. So who is Lori? Read on and let's find out...

{Blogoversary Celebration} Red-hot Excerpt from "Covet" by Felicity Heaton + Giveaway

I have one of my fave indie authors in paranormal romance stopping by the blog...Felicity Heaton! I haven't read a book by her that I didn't love and am honored that she has joined the blogoversary celebration. Felicity's books are full of sexy supernaturals and today she's chosen to share a red-hot excerpt of the first book in the Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series, Covet! Enjoy the sexiness...

It’s fantastic to be here to celebrate the blogoversary of a wonderful lady. When I was asked if I wanted to take part in the celebrations, I jumped at the chance. I thought long and hard (pun intended) about which excerpt to use for my post and in the end I couldn’t resist sharing a red-hot snippet of Covet, the first book in my Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series, as we’re closing in on the release date of the sixth and final book in the series.

But first, a little background. The Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series is centred around the vampire owners of London’s premier erotic vampire theatre, Vampirerotique, and the sassy, strong, stubborn women who claim their hearts and bring them to their knees! (quite literally in one case)

Our first visit to Vampirerotique, Covet, centres on a sexy Spaniard vampire of elite blood and the owned female human he has been lusting after for two long years.

So what has been stopping Javier from taking his relationship with Lilah from one of business as her boss to one of wicked pleasure?

Lilah is owned against her will by a powerful aristocrat pureblood, Lord Ashville, and touching her out of desire will land a death sentence on Javier. His caress will bring her only pain and her master will sense it and the violation of the sacred law of their kind. Javier has fought his desire but his will to resist is growing weaker each night and he isn’t the only one harbouring feelings for someone forbidden. Lilah wants him just as much as he hungers for her, and when the two end up alone together in a private box during a performance at Vampirerotique, the passion that has simmered between them since the night they first set eyes on each other explodes into flames that consume them both.

{Blogoversary Celebration} Meet Nexi Jones from "Werewolves Be Damned" by Stacey Kennedy +Giveaway

Happy Friday! Who's joining the blogoversary celebration today? It's the awesome Stacey Kennedy! I love reading the sexy alphas and kick ass heroines she writes...and I must confess her latest hero, Kyden, is beyond swoon-worthy, but I digress. Stacey's here to give us the inside scoop on the heroine of Werewolves Be Damned, the bold and daring Nexi Jones...let's get started ;)

Character Profile: Meet Nexi Jones

Stacey Kennedy’s an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

In her newest release, WEREWOLVES BE DAMNED, we are introduced to a whole smorgasbord of supernatural characters from the Otherworld, but today, Stacey’s here to chat about the heroine in the Magic & Mayhem series.


1. Where is your character from?

She’s originally from the Otherworld, but a power-hungry vampire killed her mother when she was only a few months old. You see, the magic a witch holds in her blood can transfer to a vampire if he drinks from her. So, in wanting a safer life for her, (a peaceful one, far from danger), her father blocked her magic, which turned her into a mortal. Then he placed her with two parents (humans) in the Earthworld looking to adopt, which were Frank and Gloria Jones. She lived in Carson City, Nevada.

2. How old is your character?

She’s twenty-five years old. Of course, now that she has returned to the Otherworld and her block on her powers has been lifted, she will only age until she’s thirty-years old. Once she reaches thirty-years old, her immortality will settle in, and she’ll be thirty forever. Lucky, girl, right?!

Book Tour: Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan {Character Interview + Giveaway}

Welcome to my stop on the Fractured Soul Book Tour via Dark World Books. Today author Rachel McClellan is sharing a fun character interview with the heroine of the Fractured Light series, Llona. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win your own copy...enjoy!

Character Interview with Llona from Fractured Soul

Interviewer: Today we have a special guest, Ms. Llona Reese from Fractured Light and Fractured Soul. How are you today?

Llona: I’m good, thanks. 

Interviewer: We appreciate you speaking with us, as we know how busy you are at Lucent Academy. Can you tell us a little about the school?

Llona: It’s like I expected, most of it anyway. The rules are sometimes strange, like we can’t do anything competitive and we get in trouble if we question anything.

Interviewer: What didn’t you expect?

Llona: (laughs) I didn’t expect to find so many Vykens lurking outside the school, and I sure didn’t expect to learn how our blood is being sold to them. But most of all, I didn’t realize how much I was going to learn to love Auras for the good in them. They just haven’t realized their full potential yet.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Claimed by Stacey Kennedy

*ARE YOU READY FOR THE SEXINESS?*

The Reveal...

CLAIMED

Club Sin, Book One

Stacey Kennedy

Publisher: Loveswept 

(Random House Publishing Group)

ISBN: 9780345548306

Release date: August 5, 2013

About the Book...

A novel of erotic discovery and forbidden desire that goes beyond Fifty Shades of Grey.

Presley Flynn is ripe to experience her secret fantasies . . . and Dmitri Pratt wants nothing more than to fulfill them. Once inside the elite Club Sin in Las Vegas, Presley is nervous but excited—and determined to surrender to her every desire. Dmitri is her Master, and his touch is like fire. With each careful, calculated caress, he unleashes her wildest inhibitions, giving her unimagined pleasure.

Presley is different than the other submissives Dmitri has mastered. The BDSM lifestyle is new to her, and so are the games they play at Club Sin. From the start, Presley stirs emotions in Dmitri far beyond the raw purity between a dom and the perfect sub. For the ecstasy they share goes beyond the dungeon, igniting a passion that claims the very depths of the heart.

Claimed is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Buy the Book:

Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Blogoversary Celebration: Early Sneak Peek at "Elysian Fields" by Suzanne Johnson + Giveaway

I'm super excited to have author Suzanne Johnson stopping by the blog today! If you're a fan of DJ and the Sentinels of New Orleans series you're going to love this early sneak peek at Elysian Fields Suzanne is sharing with us...and if you're new to the series, I highly recommend them!

Early Sneak Peek: Elysian Fields (Sentinels of New Orleans Book 3)

First, a very happy second Blogoversary to Lori and Romancing the Dark Side!

The months before a new book release are always kind of a “hurry up and wait” thing, so I’m impatiently waiting for readers to be able to see what’s up with the characters of my Sentinels of New Orleans series…only Elysian Fields isn’t out until August 13!

So while you’re wondering how our wizard DJ’s going to react to that last scene of book two, River Road (you know the one, where Alex changes the rules—yeah, I knew you’d remember), here are a few other things for you to look forward to…

Blogoversary Celebration: Exclusive Excerpt of "Sealed with a Curse" by Cecy Robson + Giveaway

My blogoversary celebration continues with the fabulous and talented Cecy Robson who's joining me today. Cecy is teasing us with an exclusive excerpt from the first installment of the Weird Girls series, Sealed with a Cursed... If you love a feisty heroine in your books, this book has four and some swoon-worthy men, just in case you need a little extra incentive to read ;) Oh, and did I mention there's a giveaway? *Carry On...*

 

Sneak Peek of Sealed with A Curse by Cecy Robson

“Where to, lady?” the cabbie asked.

Blogoversary Celebration: Author Tiffany Allee stops by with an Exclusive Excerpt from Lycan Unleashed + Giveaway

Over the past two years of blogging, author Tiffany Allee and I have bonded over our love of paranormal romances, man candy, Pinterest and Supernatural (Dean Winchester, specifically!).

You can often find us tweeting on these yummy subjects, so it was a no brainer to ask her to be part of my blogoversary celebration!

Tiffany's sharing an excerpt from her latest paranormal romance release, Lycan Unleashed and I'm giving one lucky reader the chance to win one of her books so stick around and show Tiffany some love ;)

First of all, a huge thanks to Lori for inviting me to be a part of the blogoversary here at Romancing the Dark Side. I enjoy this blog, and am so excited to participate!

Today, I’ve decided to share an exclusive excerpt from my newest release, Lycan Unleashed, which is the third installment in my From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series. While the series has a bit of a mystery that comes together in the end for those who read all of the books (and there are repeat characters and cameos of previous and future main characters), each installment can also be read as a stand alone book.

This scene features Astrid Holmes, a paranormal unit detective with the Chicago Police Department, and Mason Sanderson, an agent with the OWEA (think FBI for otherworlders). They are working a case together, but have a history. As you can see in this scene. ;-)

Blogoversary Celebration: Deleted Scene from the Sons of Wrath Series by Keri Lake + Giveaway

I've handed over the blog to the awesome Keri Lake while I'm off celebrating my birthday today (I'm an Earth Day baby so I promise to recycle all the wine bottles I drink tonight...LOL) and she's sharing a special treat with us. Soul Avenged is one of my top reads for 2013 and I'm super excited to share a deleted scene from the second book in the Sons of Wrath series with you all...courtesy of the fabulous Keri of course! If you haven't already met the Sons of Wrath you'll want to after reading this! And now, onto the good stuff... xoxo

Deleted Scene from Book #2 of Sons of Wrath series by Keri Lake

Calla emerged from her bedroom, dressed in Ayden’s clothes.  Not bad.  They fit okay, aside from the fact that Calla’s breasts were a bit fuller and stuck out like tuning knobs through the thin white t-shirt.  Smoothing the bouncy curls that she’d added to her hair, she made her way downstairs.  Halfway down the staircase, she stopped, noticing Gavin, Zeke, Calix, Kane and Ayden all waited in the foyer, the gaze of three demons tracking her every step.

Zeke whistled.  “Damn sexy.”

Gavin cleared his throat.  “Lets roll.”

“Where are we going?”  Ayden asked.

“We’re switching it up a bit,” Zeke said with a grin.  “A hoedown baby!”

The smile on Ayden’s face quickly morphed into a frown.  “What?”

“Country bar tonight.  I want a girl in a cowboy hat and boots.  Need a little variety, ya know?  No offense Ayden, goth chicks are cool and all, but man cannot live by bread alone.”

Gavin frowned.  “It’s better when you don’t talk, Zeke.”

The demons, Calla, Kane and Ayden filed out of the mansion and piled into the SUV, parked in the circle drive.  After a long drive and little scenery, they reached the bar. Situated out in the middle of nowhere, the building looked more like a shack, flanked by a hardware store on one side and open field on the other.  Half the neon sign glowed, turning what should have been a misspelled, Tuff Bucks Bar into fucks Bar, when the B flickered.  Motorcycles and pick-up trucks lined the parking lot.

Good grief.

The brothers wouldn’t stand out at all, dressed like the mafia in their button down shirts and leather trench coats; and Ayden, vampy as usual, in her leather getup.  Calla glanced down at her casual jeans and t-shirt and breathed a sigh of relief.  Probably the only one who’d somewhat blend into the crowd, she hoped.

Blogoversary Celebration: "A Demon's Rules for a Successful Blogoversary" by Jaye Shields + Giveaway

Today kicks off my two year blogoversary celebration and the sassy Jaye Shields is taking over the blog, along with one of the sexy heroines from her Sex Demon Trilogy! Enjoy ;)

Happy Blogoversary from Jaye and the Sex Demons!
Lori once called my book, Confessions of a Sex Demon, “steamy, seductive and scandalous”. Well, right back at ya. With long, chocolaty brown locks and full pink lips, I’ve been tempted to turn Team Lori for some time now. After all, as an author of The Sex Demon Trilogy…well…let’s just say I get a bit horny from time to time. Why must bloggers be so foxy and witty these days!

To punish/celebrate with Lori, I’ve decided to set one of my sex demons loose on Romancing the Dark Side.

Hello foxy readers of the Romancing the Dark Side Blog, my name is Zahra, succubus extraordinaire from Confessions of a Sex Demon. Romancing has been so good to me in the past that I couldn’t resist stopping to by to wish her a happy blogoversary and make sure she’s serviced well on her big day!

So here’s my rules for a successful blogoversary:

1. Don’t let a demon bake your birthday cake, he/she’ll roofie it every time.

2. Only invite a sex demon if you intend to sleep with said sex demon, because no one dons a birthday suit faster than my kind. *begins stripping*

3. Vampire’s make the best party planners because they can either hypnotize the party poopers into a better mood…or kill them.

4. Any gifts that fall outside the lines of books and bondage toys should be discarded and the guest tossed out.

5. Treat yourself to a foxy new outfit, only the graphic artist’s naughtiest ideas will do. We’re talking scraps of fabric and lots of cleavage. After all, the blog is called ROMANCING THE DARK SIDE. ;) It’d only fit that on your blogoversary you get drunk and seduce the dark side instead.

XOXO and Happy Blogoversary!

Zahra Aniron and Jaye Shields  

Mini Review: Temptress by Lola Dodge

Title: Temptress
Author: Lola Dodge
Series: Manhattan Ten #1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: ebook, 114 pages
Source: Author
Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N

Kiss your powers goodbye.

Kidnapping a super-powered suspected felon from a Vegas bachelor party is another day at the office for Jenny Ray, alias Temptress. With one kiss, any naughty supe’s powers are hers. Except this time she’s caught by her mark’s boss, who’s no ordinary superhero.

It’s Thinktank, leader of the toughest hero crew around. One destroyed men’s room and near-toilet-drowning later, Jenny’s forced to steal an innocent hero’s powers.

For a super brain, Tank’s feeling pretty idiotic. First, he let Jenny close enough to get to him. Second, he’s helpless against the tide of desire that rises in him every time he kisses her. Which he’s doing a lot, since she’s trying to give him back his power—only it’s not working. As he shadows her on her various freelance casino security jobs, he realizes she’s no she-demon—she’s a time bomb. Her acquired powers are shredding her, body and soul.

As they give in to desire, a shadowy figure from Jenny’s past surfaces with a kidnapping plan of his own. Jenny will do anything—even level Las Vegas—to rescue the man she loves. But there may not be anything left of her when the dust settles.

Product Warnings: Contains high-stakes poker, high-end cocktails, and high-flying over Las Vegas skies. Never drink and fly!

A fresh and sexy take on superheroes...left me wanting more!

{Cover Reveal + Giveaway} The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles

The Reveal...

THE AWAKENING: AIDAN

By Abby Niles

Imprint: Covet 
Expected Publication: April 21, 2013

About the Book...

Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap. Then she meets Aidan O'Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn't want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O'Connell knows he'll one day meet a woman who'll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he's certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?

{Free} Smashwords Book Promo: Charmeine by Emily Guido

From now until April 19th, author Emily Guido is giving readers the chance to download the first book in her paranormal romance Light-Bearer Series, Charmeine for FREE via Smashwords! Read on for more details, the smashwords coupon and feel free to share the news with friends, every girl can use a new free read, right? Enjoy!

Can romance develop between a Heavenly Light-Bearer and a Hellish Vampire Blood-Hunter?

Tabbruis is an extremely attractive Blood-Hunter who has reconciled himself to be alone forever. Over millennia Tabbruis has wandered the Earth alone, aimlessly living through many historical events.

Charleen (aka Charmeine) was found in 1997 as a teenager, unable to remember where she was from or where her family was. She was sent to an orphanage where she met her best friend, Shane. With determination, she works hard and becomes a school teacher.

Tabbruis comes to her aid when she is attacked by a Blood-Hunter. Charmeine’s power as a Light-Bearer, one who throws lightning, is triggered when she meets Tabbruis, and it grows exponentially.

When they meet, the attraction is immediate, romantic and passionate. They are polar opposites and clash together in a dramatic way.

Will Charmeine and Tabbruis fulfill their destinies? Will they realize their importance in both the Blood-Hunter and Light-Bearer world?

Free Smashwords Coupon 

HB94P

Review: Werewolves Be Damned by Stacey Kennedy

Title: Werewolves Be Damned
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Series: Magic & Mayhem #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Entangled Edge
Format: ebook, 267 pages
Source: Publisher
Release Date: April 15, 2013
Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.

Stacey Kennedy has created an intriguing world of supernaturals and magic that keeps you guessing and leaves you craving more!