Awesome Romance Novels: 26 Black Friday #Kindle eBook Deals!

Awesome Romance Novels: 26 Black Friday #Kindle eBook Deals!: All these great books are being offered at bargain prices. They might be available for other e-readers (Nook, Kobo, iBook), but for ease of...

On Conversations: #AAMBookclub #author Tiss Devane

Please join me in welcoming author Tiss Devane to Conversations today! Tiss is here to talk about her new novel, Stitching Love. So, check out the cover, blurb and excerpt below. 

Lisa ~
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Stitching Love

In Part one of this debut series from Tiss Devane, Skyla Richards is a planner. But, all the forethought and organization on the planet can t prepare her for the events that are about to alter her world. After her six year marriage ends bitterly, her job becomes her refuge until Jonathan Bass enters her life. He s a young, handsome co-worker whose future includes an Ivy League opportunity and his upcoming nuptials to an unstable fiancée, Mia. But that doesn't stop him from recruiting Skyla to help him sew a few wild oats before the clock winds down on his bachelorhood.

His relentless pursuit has her tossing her to-do lists into the fiery flames of passion and reacquaints her with feelings she'd long since forgotten. And her feminine wiles has him rethinking his engagement and ultimately, taking a ring off of it. But while their hearts continue to align, their careers split into opposite paths when she gets promoted and his Princeton plans are jeopardized when his manager accuses him of dark and menacing acts. With Skyla's assistance, he rebounds and the two resume their future plans. But while they've been ring shopping and deciding wedding dates, Mia has been sulking and contemplating the fastest way to bring their relationship to a shattering demise. And what she comes up with will permanently transform all their lives.




Excerpt from Stitching Love

     We gazed out at the skyline in silence.  He reached back and cut my desk lamp off leaving only the city scene outdoors illuminating the room.
     “Sometimes, I could just look up at the stars all night,” he said, staring at the sky in wonderment.
     “You have that kind of time?” I asked, looking up at the sky.
     He turned to me and with a piercing look replied, “I make time for beautiful things.”
     I could feel myself blushing and started fidgeting with my Blackberry.
     Just then, he leaned into my neck and inhaled deeply.
     “Damn, you smell good,” he whispered, allowing his lips to brush lightly against my earlobe.
     My palms started to sweat as he moved closer.  I quickly turned to cut my lamp back on and dropped my Blackberry.  He bent to pick it up and placed his face as close to my leg as possible, blowing on it while slowly standing. My flesh tingled as the warmth of his breath traveled up my calf and reached my thigh.
     “Here ya go,” he said in a low tone, handing it to me.
     I clumsily took it, inadvertently hitting the send button on the earlier reply I’d typed Phillip.  But I didn’t care.
     He sat on the edge of my desk and swallowed my hand with his while drawing me between his legs.
     “What did you want to talk about?” he asked, taking his fingertip and gently sweeping a portion of my hair behind my left ear.
     “Oh….um, um…” My brain searched for words while my eyes became stuck on his lips. “It’s Angelica,” I said.
     “Yeah, what about her?” he asked, continuing to come closer.
     My heart started racing and I felt weak.
     “She…she’s gotta do something,” I mumbled.

     “Something like what?” he whispered, lips lightly grazing mine.  I wanted to pounce and run away at the same time.


Tiss Devane hails from the Southside of Chicago and wears many hats including mother, wife, business owner, columnist and now romantic novelist. Some of her other literary efforts range from poetry to political commentary. But her first love is fiction. Her passion for storytelling can be traced back to the often funny but always captivating stories she heard while growing up which ignited her imagination and sparked her creativity.

Find the author:
Twitter @TissDevane

On Conversations: #interview with #AAMBookclub #author LaShanta Charles

Please join me in welcoming author LaShanta Charles to Conversations today! LaShanta is here to talk about her new novel, Splitting Karma. So, check out the cover, blurb and excerpt below. And don't forget to check out her interview too, and get to know LaShanta Charles!

Lisa ~
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Splitting Karma

Taylor Williams didn’t grow up with the loving parents, white picket fence, and a dog. She’s struggled to get where she is and knows that with all she’s endured, life can only get better. At 28 years old, she hails as one of the country’s top divorce lawyers and is ready to slow down and start a family with her husband. The only problem is he shuts her out and has treated her like everything but a wife since the night he came across her and his boss in a compromising situation. In spite of her innocence, she’s determined to make it up to him.
 

Isaac Warren is bad business; the kind of bad business that requires focus and determination in order to stay alive. It’s also the kind that caused him to shut himself off from serious relationships after the brutal murder of his fiancĂ© three years ago. Now his cold exterior keeps him at bay from everyone except those he considers family and right now that list doesn’t have room for anything more than the occasional tryst and nothing more, especially not with the highly acclaimed lawyer he’s accidentally stumbled upon.
 

*This novel is only recommended for readers 17 and older*



Excerpt from Splitting Karma

      My eyes flew open as I quickly sat up in the bed. What was that noise, a door slamming? I scanned the dark bedroom and waited for another sound. The voice I heard shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did.
      “Where the hell is my dinner?” Aaron’s voice boomed through the house.
     I scrambled from the bed, falling to the floor, my feet tangled in a mess of sheets and blankets. Ignoring the pain in my wrist and hip from my ungraceful fall, I slipped my robe on and practically ran down the flight of stairs.
     “Taylor, get your ass down here! A good wife wouldn’t let her husband go hungry!”
     I spotted him standing in front of the open refrigerator, his back to me. Without a word I made my way to the oven where his food was already fixed and waiting. I could feel his eyes on me, tracking my every movement as I slipped in front of him and grabbed a beer from the fridge. I refused to meet his eyes. Instead I stole a glance at the time on the microwave. It was a quarter past three. Working late again, huh? “I made you shrimp carbonara. I hope you like it,” I said as I placed the beer and food on the island in the center of the kitchen. Finally meeting his eyes, I pulled the stool out for him. He said nothing, simply stared at me. My heart pounded in my chest. Why wasn’t he responding? “I kept it warm for you,” I said as I closed the refrigerator and took his hand. Without protest, he let me guide him to his seat. I tried to give him a quick peck on his lips, but he turned his head away. A smirk played at the corner of his lip. My lips settled for his cheek and I stepped back. “How was your day?” I asked.
     “I want to take a shower when I’m done eating,” he replied.
     And just like that, I was dismissed. I took my time going upstairs, hoping he’d call me back. I could at least get a hug, right? I knew that would never happen, but that didn’t stop me from lingering on the stairs. The only sound that came from his direction was the fork as it scraped the plate and the occasional soft thud from him placing his beer bottle on the counter after he sipped. By the time he made it to our bedroom I had a fresh pair of boxers and pajama bottoms laid out for him and the shower was the perfect temperature. He undressed as he made his way past me in silence. I quickly scooped up the trail of clothes he left in his wake. While he showered I tossed his towel into the dryer, so that it’d be warm for him when he used it.
     “Dinner was actually very good. I’m impressed,” he said when he finally emerged from the bathroom.
     “Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.” I tried not to be, but I was mesmerized by his body. At 32 years old, he looked just as good as he did when we first met and he was only 25. His smooth, brown skin pulled tight against muscles that teased me with their presence. Not big and bulky, but just right for his 6’ 4” frame. His wavy hair was always kept cut low, cropped close to his head. Beautiful brown eyes stared back at me from behind dark lashes. If he’d smile – which I knew he wouldn’t – I’d see perfect teeth lined up behind those thick lips. He glanced at the boxers on the bed then smiled smugly as I gave them to him. I snapped my mouth shut, realizing he knew I was admiring him.


Interview with LaShanta Charles

When did you start writing, and was there a significant event that prompted you to do so?
 

I started writing while in high school, around the age of 15. I remember writing a “story” that literally never ended. I would pass it along to my classmates and friends for them to read and they would be enthralled and begging for more. I like to think that was my first following! I’ve had a beautiful relationship with writing since then.

What do you enjoy the most about writing?
 

I enjoy creation! I love when that tiny spark of embers becomes a full blown raging inferno of 80,000+ words. I love the struggle of developing complex characters. I love filling in blanks within my plots, answering questions enough to give you that “aha” moment, but not so much I give you every single detail and leave nothing to wonder. I love seeing a finished product, a work that I put my heart and soul into, knowing that someone somewhere will either love it or hate it and I’ll be fine either way.

What was the hardest part about writing your book?
 

The hardest part was editing. I wanted to make so many changes (I actually made quite a few); even after my book went to the editor I was still making more changes! Then to receive it back from the editor with critique and suggestions, it was like someone was deciding my newborn baby could only have blue eyes and not brown. It was by far the worst part of it all.

Where do you get the inspiration to write?


I draw inspiration from just about anything, literally. For example, I just saw someone eating an apple – my current heroine will undoubtedly love snacking on peeled apples. I’m inspired by my surroundings, which are constantly changing, therefore I change as well.

Who is your favorite author and why?
 

I honestly don’t have a favorite author! I know that’s a terrible answer, but there are just way too many for me to pick just one! I’ll read just about anything with a great plot.

What do you like to do when you are not writing? What is your ultimate luxury?
 

I’m super lazy, so anything that requires physical effort is a no-no! I love to read and I love to eat; and I love to do it all at home alone – no kids, no husband, just me, my food and my books. This can also be applied to different settings such as a beach, an airplane, etc.
 

Tell us something funny about yourself that not a lot of people know about?
 

Hmm, I sometimes eat a spoonful of flour…can’t believe I’m sharing this! I’m pretty sure there’s some logical explanation for it and I should probably mention it to my doctor, but nope, I’m good.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

I love interacting with readers, so feel free to contact me and let me know how you’re doing or what’s going on with you!


LaShanta Charles was born and raised in the small town of Orangeburg, SC. She has always been an avid reader of all genres, but Urban / African American Fiction has always been her true love and is what inspired her to pursue a writing career. In high school, she began letting her classmates read the short stories that she would write and based off of their feedback, her passion for writing pushed her to become a published author. She published her debut novel, Lovely Lies, in 2013 and released the sequel, Lovely Lies 2, in February 2014. Currently she is preparing to release her third novel, Splitting Karma, along with other projects. In recognition of her work, LaShanta was named National Black Book Festival’s 2013 Best New Author and was nominated for 2013 Breakout Author of the Year through the African American Literary Awards Show. Lovely Lies was also awarded Most Underrated Book of 2013 for the Literary Scream Awards.

Connect with LaShanta Charles: Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

On Conversations: #bestselling #romance #author Melinda Curtis

Please join me in welcoming the award-winning contemporary romance author, Melinda Curtis to Conversations today! Melinda is here to talk about her new novella, The Christmas Date, the third story in the Christmas, Actually collection. So be sure and check out the cover, blurb and excerpt below!

Plus, readers of this blog will be emailed a FREE sweet, fun novella set within the Hollywood Rules world by signing up for Melinda’s book release email newsletter HERE.

Lisa ~
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THE CHRISTMAS DATE

The Christmas Date is the third novella in Christmas, Actually – three holiday stories about three siblings living in Christmas Town, where tradition has it that a kiss on Christmas Eve in the town square gazebo will lead to wedding bells in the new year!

Gina Vernay was in an accident as a child and has a scar down her right cheek.  Since then, Gina has always sat on the sidelines, lacking the self-confidence to shine.  Wanting what many of her friends have – love, a family – Gina signs up for an online dating account.  But her picture doesn’t show her scar.  And she’s always too busy running The Tea Cup in Christmas Town to meet anyone, much less a man to share a kiss under the mistletoe in the town’s gazebo.  But when one persistent on-line suitor arranges to meet her on Christmas Eve, Gina’s life turns upside down.





Excerpt from The Christmas Date by Melinda Curtis

     In the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning, Gina stood at the edge of the town square and traced the deep, jagged scar that ran from her left temple to her jawline with the tip of a gloved finger, as if her touch could erase the past. The small ball of worry, the one that hadn’t let her sleep last night, expanded like bread dough in her chest, pressing against her lungs.
     I should have told him.
     Snow fell silently, blanketing the square and the balsam firs lining it. The trees, mistletoe gazebo and surrounding quaint old buildings were draped in holiday lights. The town square looked like a snow globe, beautifully pristine and peaceful. The wind swirled around her, stealing her worried breath.
     A whistled tune drifted through the darkness. “Jingle Bells.”
     A block away, a figure appeared on Taylor Street. Nick Banning, the town handyman and whistler.
     Gina sucked in cold, much-needed air. There was too much to do today for her to wallow in what-ifs. She hadn’t told him and this afternoon she’d face the consequences.
     Carefully, Gina walked along the snowy sidewalk toward The Tea Pot. She’d bought the corner shop from her aunt last summer, trading in safe columns of numbers and isolated cubicles for early morning pastry making and running the place where everyone in town gathered.
     Arriving at her doorstep just as she did, Nick finished a whistled chorus, his breath mingling with snowflakes. “Morning.” He had a boxy tool bag slung over his shoulder. Holiday lights softly illuminated his handsome, reassuring features. Nick was one of the few people in the world who made Gina feel at ease, despite her scar.
     She hurried to unlock the door and get them out of the cold. Once inside, she scuffed her boot soles across the extra large doormat, ridding them of snow. “When I asked you to show up first thing, I didn’t really think you’d show up this early...whistling.”
     “No reason not to whistle.” He stomped the snow from his feet, first on the outside grill, then on the inside mat. “Big day today.”
     She had the distinct impression that he knew she had a date this afternoon, and was teasing her about it. Gina flipped on the lights and peered at Nick. He tugged off his knit cap and slid it into a coat pocket, revealing short dark hair, a gaze that didn’t mock and a familiar, lopsided grin.
     Nick caught her staring. His grin widened. “What? You forgot today’s Christmas Eve? The annual Christmas pageant? The night Santa Claus comes to town?”
     “No...I...no.” Of course he didn’t know about her blind date. Well, it wasn’t exactly a blind date. In her continued quest to de-comfort zone herself, she’d signed up for an online dating service and had been instant messaging a guy named Football20 for a week. He was going to introduce himself to her in person this afternoon. They planned to have coffee together. That was, if he didn’t take one look at her scar and bail.




Melinda Curtis is an award winning, USA Today recommended, Amazon best selling author.  She writes independently published, steamy Hollywood Rules series as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except a lot hotter.”  Melinda also writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet and emotional romances for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”.





Connect with Melinda: 
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