Born Of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Born of Night

New from St. Martin's Press is #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon's 3-book series, 'The League'! With over 19 million books in print, Sherrilyn Kenyon is renowned the world over as "the reigning queen of the paranormal genre that she pioneered long before the world had heard of Twilight." Fans (also lovingly known as 'Kenyon's Minions') are at the edge of their seats in anticipation for this thrilling new series. The first book from 'the League' series, 'Born of Night', is available as of September 29th!

About the book:

In the Ichidian Universe no one was safe people were dragged from their homes and killed in the streets. Victims of a ruthless tyrant who was bent on being the sole ruler. Those who opposed him formed an alliance called The League, which fell under the leadership of the Quorum.

The Quorum realized that the best way to keep trouble from starting was to cut it off at its knees. So a separate group of soldiers was needed, The League Assassins. Highly trained and highly valued, they are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption...

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades was born and trained to slaughter. Refusing to be a pawn, he turned his back on the League and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him. Now his assignment is to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father's political alliance has made her a target. She wants nothing to do with politics, yet she is forced to submit to protection or die.

And as her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them most-- each other.

::FREE PREVIEW::

The first 159 pages are available to read for free at :

http://www.officialsanctuary.com/league_series/born_of_night_excerpt.html

::Check out the book trailer::

Link to Official Sherrilyn Kenyon Sites:
http://www.Livetheleague.com
http://www.Sherrilynkenyon.com
http://www.Officialsanctuary.com

Sneak Peek October with Shayla Black

Seduce Me In Shadow
by Shayla Black

Ex-Marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash.

Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book’s existence, she will jeopardize magickind’s most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard’s number one target. Caden has never trusted magic’s cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic—even if it means risking his heart.

To read more about this fabulous series by Shayla Black, check out: http://doomsdaybrethren.com/

Did You Enter Our Sensual September Contest?

Our month long Sensual September contest is almost over. Tuesday, September 1 - Wednesday, September 30, 2009 remember, you can comment on any post here at our blog (during the contest period), and your name will be tossed into the hat for a cool prize drawing. One comment equals one entry into the hat. So the more comments you make throughout the contest period, the more your chances to win!

The prize this month is an author bookmarks and more packet, a lovely Egyptian Cat talisman pin, and the new book out from author Susan Kearney, Lucan!

Contest ends midnight, September 30, 2009. Winner will be announced October 1, 2009 here at the MMC blog.

So get those entries in now and leave a comment! :-D
Good Luck!

Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.
Contest void where prohibited by law.

We strive to make our prize winners happy! However, as with all our contests, it is the participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails in order to claim your prize.

Any prizes that go unclaimed for 30 days after the close of a contest will be placed back into the MMC prize vault, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Shifting Tides Release Day!

I am thrilled to announce the release of my bestselling trilogy in one volume!
Shifting Tides is out now in paperback!

Venture beneath the shimmering waves of a turquoise ocean and discover the portal to an enchanted realm in this paranormal erotic romance collection from author Cassandra Curtis. One man’s ultimate quest for power troubles an undersea world already rife with dark danger and political intrigues, forcing three women to face down their fears and embrace their destiny.

In Beneath A Midnight Sea, Terri Fletcher is a woman who knows how to flirt and how to meet men…just not how to keep one. When she comes home after attending a workshop on how to find Mr. Right, the last thing she expects is to find him, wet, naked, and passed out behind her house. Destin MacCodrum, a shape shifting selkie, survives both a strange storm at sea and a shark attack, only to wash ashore minus his sealskin cap. Much has changed since his last visit to the world of the land-dwellers. Including his resistance to the lusty charms of their women, namely his beautiful rescuer. Unable to change back into his aquatic form without his cap, Destin suspects Terri may have hidden it to keep him with her, just as all the legends say. Together they must learn trust, while another plots in secret to destroy Destin’s world beneath the midnight sea.

In Song of The Sea, Terri’s cousin Vivilyn Ondine is a runaway bride escaping a mafia wedding. When private investigator Peter Varien is hired to find her he suspects something is fishy. He just didn’t expect it to be the bride. He manages to track his quarry down at a nightclub in Memphis, where she’s belting out jazzy torch songs with the boys in the band. She’s every man’s desire, with a body born of sin and a voice that enthralls, putting men under a sexual spell. A sea siren, Viv is having the time of her life among the land-dwellers. She’s never fallen in love, never truly surrendered—until she meets the handsome private eye. Soon, Peter and Vivilyn are in a race against time, and must join forces to defeat a dangerous enemy who will stop at nothing, even murder, to capture Viv and force her to reveal the location of the magical pearl known as the Soul of The Sea.

In Soul of The Sea, Jill Kohlson is a woman looking for answers and bent on revenge. Her plans take a side turn when she travels to Mermaid Isle and meets the handsome Botoa brothers.
Gavin and Garde are twin Dolphine Botos, a race of Brazilian shape-shifters that according to myth and legend, can claim your soul and take you to the Encanté, an enchanted undersea world. The twins share everything, including their lovers. For the first time in her life, Jill can explore all her sexual fantasies and appease her hungry appetites. She knows there is no future in the summer fling, especially if the brothers discover her secret; a magical amulet she wears to disguise her true nature. When the twin's foster father Silas Mariner is kidnapped, Jill realizes her one chance to find answers has disappeared too. With the help of her friend Melissa, she infiltrates the compound of crime boss Nick Sharkey, and must make the toughest decision of her life. Fulfill her lust for revenge, or risk all to save the twins and the one she loves.

Meet the heroes and heroines in Shifting Tides.

Destin and Terri

Excerpt 1 from Shifting Tides, ©2009 , by Cassandra Curtis.

Terri forced herself to stop ogling the sexy stranger. He worked out—a lot. But those rippled abs and long, sleek muscles didn’t come from a gym. At first, she’d been too worried about him to notice what an incredible specimen of man she’d found.
Oh my…those dark, almost black eyes, and the inky hair. She just knew when it was dry, clean of sea water and sand, brushed straight, it would feather through her fingers in a silky, dark wave. She tried to peer closer at the strange tattoo on his inner bicep. It was a circle of black. Inside, lines formed an interwoven petal-like design. She’d seen this same tattoo somewhere else, long ago, but couldn’t remember where.

The approaching siren interrupted her thoughts. She should be ashamed. The man was hurt. He could be married with kids at home, his family worried about him. And she hadn’t thought to ask if he needed her to call someone for him. All he seemed concerned about was his baseball cap. She vowed to look for it in the morning.

She excused herself and went to meet the medics. The two men followed her to the deck. While one of them asked Destin questions, the other opened a case and began treating the wound—which was a heck of a lot smaller than she remembered! It looked like nothing more than a nasty scratch and a couple of small puncture wounds. What the—?

“What type of animal did you say attacked him?”

“Umm, shark. It looked like a shark bite to me. And there was lots of blood. He passed out.”

“Could be, judging by the teeth marks, but if it was, your man got lucky. It was probably a baby.”

Destin shot her a warning glance. But why? She knew the gouge she’d seen wasn’t from a baby shark.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” One of the medics asked, while the other expertly debrided and bandaged Destin’s thigh.

“Three.”

“Who is president?”

“Of what?”

A look passed between the paramedics. “The United States.”

“He’s not from here. He’s visiting from Scotland,” she interjected, worried now that Destin would wind up in the hospital’s “special wing.”

One of the men stood to shine a light in his eyes. Then he made a notation on a clipboard. “You know what day it is?”

She tried to “mouth” the word Friday, but quit when she noticed the medic glance from Destin to her.

“Ah, Friday.”

The medic shot her a disgusted glare. “Can you tell me what year it is?” He asked Destin.

“I will answer no more of your foolish questions.”

“I can’t help you if you won’t answer the questions.”

“I need no more help.”

“Fine, the docs in ER can deal with you, buddy.”

“Nay. I’ll not go to your hospital.”

“Look, if you don’t go, then your insurance won’t pay for our trip.”

She had no idea if that was true or if the medic had said it to cajole him. But Destin wasn’t easily cajoled…or anything else it seemed. He folded his arms in front of his broad chest and shook his head.

“I stay right here.”

“I…umm, I don’t think he has insurance anyway.”

“No insurance?”

She glanced at Destin, and he shook his head. “I guess not.”

“Well, then if you are refusing to go to the hospital, there’s nothing more for us here. Keep off the leg for a while if you can. And you might want to see if your girlfriend has antibiotic ointment and fresh bandages for tomorrow.” He repacked his case, while the other man handed a clipboard and pen to Destin.

“It’s a release I need you to sign, saying that you are refusing transport.”

He scrawled something on it, then handed it back to the man.

“He should follow up—make him go to a doctor Monday.”

“I will.” She ignored Destin’s fierce scowl.

The medics nodded to her as they left.

She scooted her chair closer to his, and sat down beside him. “Destin, you really should have gone with them. You could have hit your head when you passed out and be suffering from a concussion.”

“You truly worry for me? A stranger?”

“Of course I do. Anyone would.”

“Nay. Few would. And surely not a land-dweller.” He reached out to touch her hair, then leaned closer, whispering, “Fair beauty…”

“Now, I’m really worried,” she quipped. “Definitely a concussion.”

His lips were mere inches from hers. He leaned in. She tilted her head and met him halfway. The ocean’s roar echoed in her mind. Her senses were overwhelmed as she sank beneath his kiss.

He tasted of salt air and the sea. His hands cupped the back of her head and his fingers wove through her hair. He gave a gentle tug, and she opened her mouth.
Now she was the one who felt light-headed. His tongue dove and fluttered, teasing her, tempting her. She placed her hands on his smooth chest and glided her fingers over the rock-solid pecs. Like warm satin over steel. Liquid heat flooded her, sensitizing her skin to his touch. She squeezed her thighs tight.

He pulled back, eyes glittering with some distant emotion. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it was wonder. He caressed her face with a butterfly’s touch, as she took huge gulping breaths and tried to gather her scattered wits. Despite what her mother thought, she’d been kissed plenty of times—but none like that!

Peter and Vivilyn
Excerpt 2 from Shifting Tides, ©2009 , by Cassandra Curtis.

She fingered the silk tie dangling from her hands and cinched it tight around her waist. Heat flooded her cheeks when she recalled how he’d used the strip of silk, tied her wrists to the headboard, and made her helpless. She’d fought him, then realized she’d also have to fight herself, and gave in to his domination.

God, what was wrong with her? She’d never felt this burning need before, never wanted any man this much. She looked at her hands. Faint indentions still marked her palms from where she’d dug her nails. She also had delicate bruises on her wrists from struggling against the silk after Peter tied her to the bedposts.

Viv glanced at the coffee maker. She sighed and dumped the stale brown liquid from the pot into the bathroom sink. Where the hell was he? If he did work for Nicky, he was probably somewhere sweating a few bullets himself this morning.

A non-ensorcelled man could not be trusted. Hadn’t her mother told her that her entire life? Her beloved Uncle Mack’s marriage to his witch-woman had also failed because his enchantments and her aunt’s powerful earth magick cancelled each other out. Then again, it could be because her uncle’s ex-wife was a difficult woman, equal in power and might, who refused to back down. That wouldn’t sit well with her uncle, a prince of the seas.

But Peter had no animal power, no fey magick. He was just a human. She shouldn’t need anything more than her natural sex appeal to captivate and keep him. Unless all this time landlocked had caused her to lose some of her power? Was that even possible? Panic hit her. She glanced up into the bathroom mirror and tried to see a difference.

Dark circles bruised the skin beneath her eyes. Too many late nights and not enough sleep. She splashed cold water on her face and then caught a glimpse of something else reflected in the mirror that gave her hope. His trench coat slung across the chair near the sofa. If he wanted it back, he’d have to see her again.

The coffee pot forgotten, she absently set it on the bathroom counter and hurried across the room to grab the coat. She held it to her face and sniffed the fresh musky scent of his cologne on the lapels. She reached a hand down into the pocket. And felt the edges of something.

She pulled out a color photograph—of herself. She remembered she’d been “land-locked” for only a couple of weeks when the photo had been taken. Nicky had insisted. If she hadn’t known exactly who and what Nick Sharkey was, she might have fallen for the smooth, handsome façade and the wide, charming smile as he joked with her and took her picture.

He even encouraged her singing career, something her parents abhorred and tried to prevent. Of course, she knew why he wanted her in his clubs. Nick Sharkey savored power, and the ultimate control. She was simply a tool to achieve his goals. Having her in his bed as his wife also protected him and provided an added bonus, a permanent hostage against his worst enemies—the Undines—her people.

Now it seemed she’d merely bypassed one trap for another. She wondered if Peter knew he could name any price and Nicky would pay it to get her back. Her hand shook as she returned the photo to Peter’s coat pocket. Her legs wobbled, and she slumped into the sofa cushions. Well, she had suspected he’d been the one following her, that he might be some human Nicky hired.

Peter must have called his boss by now. How long before Nicky’s men showed up in the hotel lobby? She guessed she had a few hours head start at best.

Garde, Gavin, Jill, and Melissa
Excerpt 3a from Shifting Tides, ©2009 , by Cassandra Curtis.

She wove among the tourists, flip-flops kicking up sand, and removed her sunglasses when she saw the sign: Mariner’s Treasures of the Deep. No one seeing the dinky excuse for a gift shop would ever guess the true value or the priceless nature of some items hidden within the shack. Sneaky old pirate. Silas Mariner had made good on his promise to her, though. Now it was her turn. So why did her stomach fill with dread?

Jill blinked, her eyes adjusting from bright sunshine to natural, indoor light, and then blinked again at the unexpected sight less than three feet away.
Dear Neptune! The man was too beautiful. Long waves of honey dark hair, gathered by a strip of thin rope, hung past his shoulders. Seashells suspended from a few braided strands. He carried the scent of ocean breezes and warm tropical nights spent in a haze of sexual delight. Her mouth watered and her stomach clenched. Mmm…she was hungry for a taste.

She admired his rippled abs and strong back as he bent to retrieve a large conch shell from a bag and move it to a bottom shelf in the gift shop. With his tanned chest and arms bare, Jill could see the telltale mark of his clan tattooed on the inside of his bicep.

A stylized tribal tattoo, waves within a circle. The fluted tail fin of a Dolphine boto in the center. They were supposed to be extinct. Nothing left of them but myth and legend…Brazilian shapeshifters that, in the guise of human desire, could claim your soul and take you to Encanté, an enchanted underwater world. Twins. She remembered now. The Dolphine race had always calved twins. Yet here stood one of them. So where was this one’s brother? She warned herself to be on guard. Many pretty things came from the Amazon, and the prettiest were often deadly.

Could he sense the sea magick in her? She fingered the earth amulet around her neck. Well, she’d wanted to test it to make sure it worked before she put her plan in motion. What better way than to wear it in the presence of a male Dolphine?
When he straightened, their eyes locked for a brief minute. Her heart pounded in equal amounts excitement and no little amount of fear. Dolphines and their common, non-magickal distant cousins, the dolphins, were known as fierce fighters and enemies of all sharks.

Deep-set eyes the color of midnight blue lapis drifted over her figure, lingering on her breasts. Did she pass inspection? She glanced down…difficult to tell since he wore board shorts. A whisper of sound escaped his lips. She looked up and realized she’d been caught staring at his potential assets as well. Heat flushed her cheeks, but did not stop her arousal or her determination.

“Is the owner here?” The question tumbled from her lips, her breath caught on the flash of pearl white teeth as he smiled.

“No. I will have to do. Garde Botoa,” he introduced as he took her hand. But instead of shaking it, he pulled her closer and kissed her on each cheek. The contact of their joined hands tingled, and zings of static electricity danced where his lips brushed her face.

Desire hit her full force, leaving her legs shaky and her nipples tight. In her mind, she could hear his soft accent, his gentle words of enchantment. He meant to bespell her with passionsong! A normal human would never recognize the seductive call for what it was—imposed lust, carnal fire. His will dominant over her and none the wiser.

Except she wasn’t your average woman. Or even completely human. She was more, and the knowledge brought a smile to her face…because he didn’t know!
The amulet had worked!

Excerpt 3b from Shifting Tides, ©2009 , by Cassandra Curtis.

Melissa saw two doors and tried opening them, but both were locked. She continued along the path until it dead-ended. Right or left? She listened for Jill’s voice, or any sign of a door opening or closing. Not hearing any movement or noise, she decided on the right branching hallway.

A sudden, high-pitched cry drew her attention. Not a baby, more like an animal. Whatever made the sound was in terrible pain. And it was coming from behind a door ahead to her left. Should she try going for help? The sound repeated again and again. She couldn’t ignore it. The thing sounded desperate.

Melissa forgot about Jill and ran for the door. Four large tanks sat inside the room. The sound came from the largest tank. She reminded herself that a hurt animal could be a dangerous animal, and peered cautiously over the clear rim. A lone bottlenose dolphin cried out, swimming sideways in an ungraceful arc. She noted the ripped and bloody fins, and the gouge marks in the creature’s side. Mutilated, the dolphin struggled, but managed to swim over to her, the mournful sounds so loud she knew it didn’t have long before it would go under and possibly drown.

Intelligence lurked behind those dark blue eyes. Poor thing. She needed to get it on a gurney and into her hospital at the marine lab. Needs antibiotics and surgery, stat! She’d have to find help fast. But as she started turning away to do just that, the dolphin emitted a different pitched squeal and pressed its nose and mouth to the glass. It breathed, creating a fogged surface. Astonished, she watched as the animal’s nose pushed against the glass. The head moved up and down.

She blinked. No. No it can’t be. Impossible. She raised her hand to the glass and traced the letters and words that emerged on the other side of the tank.

Help! Save me. Save us.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and rubbed her eyes, but the message was still there. “Us?”

Find friend.

No way this was happening. Dreaming. That’s it, she was probably still in her bed and this was nothing more than a very vivid dream.

I hope you've enjoyed this peek into the Shifting Tides world. :-)
Purchase at: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/ShiftingTides.html
or through Barnes and Noble HERE!

.:::Contest Time:::.

If you read the blurbs and the excerpts above,
you will probably know the answer to this question.
How is Terri related to Vivilyn?

Please email your answers to cass@cassandracurtis.com
for your chance to win a cool Shifting Tides goody bag that includes:
A Shifting Tides mouse pad, Cassandra Curtis pen, Cassandra Curtis magnet, an autographed copy of my paperback book Shifting Tides, autographed bookmarks,
and a handcrafted book tote bag! Cool swag, huh?

Contest ends midnight October 3, 2009.
A winner will be chosen at random from all entries received and will be announced here
and at my blog on October 4, 2009.
Good Luck, ya'll. ((hugs))

Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.
Contest void where prohibited by law.

Weekend Romance: 12 Tips to Follow When Shopping for a Wedding Dress

12 Tips to Follow When Shopping for a Wedding Dress
by: Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to shopping for your perfect wedding dress it can pay to be aware of the potential pitfalls you may encounter. To help you with such a big decision here are 12 tips which should make you dress shopping experience easier & more enjoyable.


1. Set a price limit on how much you’re willing to spend on a a gown.

Wedding dresses come in a broad range of prices, from just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. So it is always a good idea to set a budget before you start looking. When you first approach bridal boutiques, quote them a figure around 10-20% less than your intended budget. Sounds crazy, but sales personnel will often try to tempt you with more expensive gowns at prices slightly higher than the figure you have given them.

2. Know your figure shape.

When you look through bridal magazines you are presented with images of glamorous, ultra slim models who look amazing in anything. Remember that in the real world we can’t all look fabulous in every style of wedding dress. Take some time to research your body shape & the styles that will suit you. A good bridal boutique should be able to guide you, but it is always a good idea to know yourself which shapes will flatter you & which ones won’t.

3. Ask for bridal shop recommendations.

Word of mouth is vital to any business & people will talk about good & bad experiences they have had with vendors. If you know someone who has recently got married, talk to them about the bridal boutiques they visited & the service they encountered. Another optionis to do some research online. There are a lot of websites out there that will offer consumers the chance to rate businesses they have used & wedding forums maybe able to gleam you some information about certain vendors in your area.

4. Shop during the week.

If you can choose a weekday to go shopping for your gown. Weekends are always busy & you could find it impossible to get an appointment when you want one. Having the full attention of the sales assistant for as long as you need it is important. Another choice would be an evening appointment as some bridal stores will stay open later on some days.

5. Fib about your wedding date.

At some point you will be asked when your wedding date is. It is a good idea to lie & give a date about 4 weeks prior to your real wedding day. This will give you some time to ensure the gown arrives & all alterations can be completed satisfactorily.

6. Bring a buddy with you.

Taking a friend or family member with you is always a good idea. They can give you their opinion on what suits you best & stop you from blowing the entire wedding budget on a deisgner couture dress. It is all too easy to get carried away or be coerced by the sales assitant into spending more than you have or into buying a dress which is simply hideous on you. Make sure whoever you take has a cool sensible head on them!

7. Take your time when choosing a gown.

Your wedding dress is a vital purchase. Every time you look back at your wedding photographs & video your will see it. Each time you do you should be as blown away by it as you were the first time you saw it in the shop. With this in mind it is important not to rush into a purchase but take your time & make sure you pick the right gown. Remember the dresses in the shop are samples & the one you choose will be made especially for you to your size. So unless you are buying a sample sale, you will not miss out because someone else got there first. Try to narrow your choices to 2 or 3 gowns & then take some time to review your notes & even compare them online. When you think you are ready, go back & try them on again.

8. Ask the store lots of questions.

Bridal stores can have many hidden fees & policies that you may not be aware of until it comes to purchasing a gown. Make sure you ask lots of questions about how they operate & how you will get the gown of your choice. Here are some important things to find out:

• 1. Who’s the manufacturer of the dress?
• 2. How long will it take to get the dress in?
• 3. What kind of payment policies does the shop have?
• 4. How much of deposit is required? Can you pay by credit card?
• 5. What is the store’s refund & cancellation policy? (get it in writing!)
• 6. What are the costs of alterations? (get a written estimate)
• 7. Are there extra shipping fees? Size fees for extra large sizes or petites?
• 8. Are their rush order fees? (if you have to have your gown sooner)

9. Bring a vinyl tape measure with you.

You will need to be measured at the bridal store & you should check that they measure you with a vinyl tape not a cloth one. Cloth tape measures will stretch giving inaccurate measurements. Take a vinyl tape in your bag just in case. The measurements they should take will be your bust, waist, hips & from the hollow of your throat to hemline (for length).

10. Don’t base your choice on dress size.

Clothing manufacturers vary in their sizes, as there is no standard for dress sizes to be uniformly the same. You may already find that you have to buy clothing from one store in a size larger than clothing from a store down the road. The same is true with bridal gowns, that is why it is important to get a gown made up to your exact measurements to ensure a perfect fit.

11. Don’t put your gown on a layaway plan.

Be careful of paying for a gown in installments when you haven’t yet received it. The manufacturer could go out of business or discontinue that particular design.

12. Make your own headpiece.

Bridal headpieces, tiaras & combs can cost your anything from $70 to $200 dollars in a bridal store. But if you are creative you can make your own for under $30. There are lots of books available with designs to copy or which can help you get started. Visit online craft & bead retailers for all the equipment & supplies you will need. An alternative option is to rent one from a resale or consignment store.


About The Author
Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1weddingsource, today’s leading wedding planning social networking site. Visit http://www.1weddingsource.com/store for more information.

The author invites you to visit: http://www.1weddingsource.com

Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/relationships/article_3269.shtml

Gown by: Natalia Misslin

This Just Seen At Barnes and Noble Website

Save Money and Pre-order it now over the weekend!

Cool huh?

Cassandra Curtis...Bringing adventurous erotic paranormal tails to discerning readers since 2006.

Autumn in England by guest blogger Imogen Howson

Hi, I'm Imogen Howson. Thank you to the Midnight Moon ladies for letting me guest blog at their Cafe!

I live near Sherwood Forest, in England, and we've definitely come to the end of summer here. Two days ago, I was out and a single leaf - just one - floated down out of the trees in front of me, like a note that autumn had arrived. There are patches of toasted gold appearing on the other trees, and just that first edge of coolness in the air when we go out in the morning.

In my family, we have a few autumn traditions. Once all the leaves have turned, we go for a day out in Rufford Park, which surrounds the ruins of a medieval monastery. There's a long avenue of maple trees there. It's beautiful in summer, but in autumn the leaves turn bright butter-gold, with a silky, leathery texture that reminds me of dragonskin. (Of course I can be reminded of dragonskin!) I collect a bunch and use them to line a big wooden bowl of spice-scented pot pourri that stands in our kitchen.

We chase leaves, and walk around the cold grey lake, and visit the statue garden. Then, chilled and a little tired, we go home for steak and kidney pudding and spiced cider. Steak and kidney pudding is, I swear, delicious, and mine looks much better than that picture on Wikipedia.

I got my recipe for spiced cider from a Christmas recipe book, and I definitely make it at Christmas, too (it goes very well with sausage rolls). But it's become a traditional autumn treat, as well. The longer you cook it the more the alcohol evaporates, so it's not a strongly alcoholic drink, but I don't recommend giving it to young children!

Spiced Cider

4 UK pints (5 US pints) cider - dry is better, but sweet is okay
8 oz (slightly over 1 cup, packed down) soft brown sugar - less if you're using sweet cider
Juice of two oranges
8 cinnamon sticks
24 cloves
1/2 whole nutmeg, grated

Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan and heat till piping hot.

Sometimes, of course, as the weather grows colder, it's nice to escape into a world with no winter at all. My latest ebook, Heart of the Volcano, published by Samhain Publishing, is a fantasy romance set in a desert land of blazing sky and glittering white sand. I wrote it last winter, and I think I must have been rather keen on getting some vicarious warmth, because not only is it set in a desert, it has an active volcano and a heroine who's a lava-shifter.

Caught between love and duty, can she make an impossible choice?

Five years ago, Aera was called away from everything she had ever known: her home, family, and Coram, the boy she was growing to love. She was given no choice. As the only living lava-shifter—able to transform her body into molten rock—she is destined to serve the volcano god as his fire priestess. Now, before she takes her ordained role, she must face her final test. Execute a criminal sentenced to death for the most unforgivable of all sins. Blasphemy.

She’s shocked to discover it’s no anonymous law-breaker waiting chained at the center of the labyrinth. It’s Coram. For the crime of being a gargoyle, a winged stone-shifter. A gift akin to hers…except his gift is unsanctioned by the temple, his powers proclaimed unholy.

If she refuses the test she will betray her god and condemn her family to dishonor. To pass it she must kill the boy she used to love…the man she still does.

Warning: Contains violence, tears, self-sacrifice, a little bit of I-can’t-bear-to-leave-you-but-I-have-to sex, and a heroine whose touch melts the hero—um, literally.

To win a copy - to keep you warm while you wait for your spiced cider to heat up, maybe? - go to the excerpt page to read the excerpt, then email me at imogen AT imogenhowson.com and answer the question "How does Coram free himself from his chains?". I'll enter you into the draw, and post the winner tomorrow.

And please do post in the comments and let me know your favourite cold-weather-comfort food or drink!

www.imogenhowson.com
http://imogenhowson.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/imogenhowson

Thursday Thirteen: Rock And Roll Heaven

Rock and Roll Heaven - 13 singers and musicians we miss...

1. Michael Jackson - the self-proclaimed "King Of Pop" who sold millions of records while collecting 13 Grammy Awards and the hearts of adoring fans around the world, died June 25, 2009 at the age of 50 from either an accidental overdose or manslaughter/murder, depending on who you talk to.

2. John Lennon - murdered by Mark David Chapman , December 8th 1980. He was 40 years old





3. Janis Joplin - died on October 4th, 1970 from an overdose of heroin at age 27




4. Bobby Hatfield - of The Righteous Brothers, died November 5th, 2003, at the age of 63. His was the voice that was featured on the 1965 hit, "Unchained Melody"



5. George Harrison - The Beatles' lead guitarist lost his battle with cancer at the age of 58, on November 29th, 2001




6. Jim Croce - singer / songwriter who recorded "Operator" and "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" was killed when his chartered plane snagged a pecan tree during takeoff on September 20th, 1973. He was 30 years old

7. Freddie Mercury - lead singer of Queen died on November 24 th, 1991 at age 45 of AIDS



8. Jim Morrison - lead singer of the Doors, died July 3rd 1971. The 27-year-old was found dead in his bathtub. Speculation abounded as to the exact cause of death, but no autopsy was performed. His 27 year old widow, Pamela, died of a heroin overdose in April, 1974




9. Elvis Presley - the King of Rock and Roll, died of heart failure at his Graceland mansion on August 16th, 1977




10. Bon Scott - of AC/DC, died of alcohol poisoning on February 19th, 1980. He was 33




11. Joe Strummer - lead singer for the landmark British punk band The Clash, suffered a fatal heart attack on December 22nd, 2002, at the age of 50




12. Ronnie Van Zant - member of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose single "Sweet Home Alabama" reached number 8 in 1974, died with several other band members in a small plane crash on October 20th, 1977. He was just 29




13. Stevie Ray Vaughan - guitarist whose highly charged and expressive solos turned a new generation on to Rock / Blues in the 1980s, was killed on August 27th, 1990, when the helicopter he was taking from a gig in East Troy, Wisconsin to a show in Chicago, crashed in dense fog, killing everyone on board. Vaughn was 35 years old

If there is a Rock and Roll Heaven,
can you imagine the wild jam session going on there?

Your music shines forever, so play on...play on.

And the winner is...

I assigned a number to each of the comments on Monday's post, and chose the winner using a random number generator. The winner of a copy of Damned by Blood (or another Faustin book of their choice) is:

Cory

Congratulations!!!! Cory, please contact me via email at evbyrne at gmail dot com to collect your prize.

Thank you all for your comments. I had a great time here.

Want a second chance? I have another contest running on my own blog. I draw the winner tomorrow, so there's still time to enter.

Best,

Evie

Reincarnation of James Dean

Have you ever looked at someone and wondered if they are a famous person or related to them?

I bet you've seen people who were look-a-likes with many of the same facial features and traits. Some people are near mirror images of their counterpart

I saw this picture and wondered if anyone else can see the similarities to James Dean? My bff says it looks more like a young Clint Eastwood to her. Either way, he's too yummy to pass up.

Have you ever been told you look like someone famous? Do you have a friend or a relative that looks like someone famous?

Tuesday's Special: Food Meme

The special today is a sampler plate of tasty treats from bluegrass country.

If you chose to do this meme, you must leave a comment and a link to your blog post where we can see the five tasty regional treats you chose from your neck o' the woods.
Remember to include links to each treat on your blog!

Ready? Let's start.

1. Hot Brown

2. BBQ Lovin' Folks

3. Derby Pie delish

4. Dippin' Dots

5. Ruth's yummy bourbon balls

Birth Order and the Romantic Hero

Hello! My name is Evie Byrne and I’m very happy to be guest blogging here today at the Midnight Moon Café. Tomorrow, Damned by Blood, the third and final installment of my Faustin Brothers trilogy releases as an ebook at Samhain.

To celebrate, I’m giving away a copy of Damned by Blood--or another book from the trilogy, if you prefer--to someone who comments here.

The premise of the Faustin Brothers series is deceptively simple. Each brother must win a bride during the course of his book. In the process, though, he is tested to his limits, emerges from his trials a better man--and of course, finds true love.

The Faustin brothers happen to be vampires. The fact that they are brothers will clue you to the fact that these are not ordinary vampire books, nor are the brothers ordinary vampires. The classic vampire might have brethren, or “children,” but my vampires are born as vampires. They have a mom and a dad and were raised in a modest house in Brooklyn, and retain close family ties.

Now that the series is complete and I’m looking back over it, I've discovered that without thinking about it--in fact, without ever reading about the subject beforehand--I created three brothers who conform to classic birth order personality types. I read about the birth order theory for the first time this week, during a random Googling session.

Surprises like this are one of the most best things about writing. As a story develops, it takes on a life and intelligence of its own. Somehow, the story becomes smarter than the author.

I'm fascinated by how the pieces fit in retrospect. I knew each of the brothers was very different. That was the fun of writing them. What I didn’t realize was that they were following a recognized pattern. This realization got me to wondering which personality type makes the best romance hero? The charming last born? The unpredictable middle children? Or the eldest--the natural born leaders? And what about only children?

Let me take a step back and show you what I mean. Here I’m quoting from a website all about birth order and personality: www.birthorderandpersonality.com.

First Born Traits

Strengths: Greater level of confidence, taken seriously, patient, organized, strong powers of concentration, confidence to dream and plan, feel supported, and feel they will be respected for what they do.

Weaknesses: Have an innate fear of being dethroned, perfectionists, overachievers, feel as though they are never good enough

Mikhail, the hero of Damned by Blood is the eldest Faustin brother. Since birth, he’s known he will one day be the leader of the family. When the book opens, he’s just taken that responsibility on his shoulders. He’s serious, uber-responsible, authoritative, and seemingly cold. Because he’s so tightly wound, I knew intuitively that his greatest dread would be losing control, so of course I paired him with a woman who would force him do just that--to let go.

Traits of the Middle Child

Strengths: Peacemakers, mediators, able to keep secrets, not spoiled, take risks, are realistic, get along well with others, read people well, independent, loyal to supporters, competitive, and imaginative.

Weaknesses: Hates confrontation, stubborn, cynical, suspicious, and rebellious.

Gregor of Bound by Blood is the middle child. Caught between Mikhail, the family’s annointed prince, and the indulged baby, Alex, Gregor has to strike out on his own and finds success on his own terms by becoming a nightclub entrepreneur. In classic middle child style, he does so in direct opposition to Mikhail’s isolationist tendencies, opening a club that facilitates human-vampire contact. He must overcome his cynicism and stubbornness in order to learn that the love of his destined bride is not a burden, but the greatest gift he could ever receive.

Last Born Traits

Strengths: Outgoing, sociable, affectionate, caring, creative, empathetic, and confident.

Weaknesses: Spoiled, manipulative, immature, self-centered, and capricious.

Alex, the youngest Faustin, leapt onto the pages of Called by Blood like a classic last born. Of all the brothers, he was the only one who wanted to get married, and he rushes headlong into courtship, inadvertently terrifying his human mate, who, it turns out, isn’t too keen on marrying a monster. His recklessness almost ruins his dreams. In fact, it nearly kills him. And interestingly, only big brother Mikhail’s insistence that Alex finish what he started keeps Alex from retreating when it looks like there's no hope. But in the end, it is that innate last born charm, which Alex possesses in spades, that wins his bride over.

So here’s a few questions for you. Comment on any of them below and you’ll be entered into a drawing one of the Faustin Brothers e-books:

• What kind of man is your favorite type of hero? The reckless charmer (last born)? The skillful negotiator/wild card ( the middle child)? The confident leader (the eldest)?
• Do you know the birth order of your favorite romance hero? Does it fit the pattern? Personally, I’m trying to remember if my favorite, Jamie Fraser of Outlander, had a big brother who died, or if he was always the eldest. He certainly wears authority well, like a first born.
• Where do you fall in terms of birth order? Does that affect your preferences in a hero? I’m a first born, myself, and though I love all three of my Faustin brothers, I know I relate to Mikhail the most.

This post is getting long, so I won’t be able to talk about only children (I haven’t written about one yet, but Lord help me, I’m married to one!) or heroines. However, I will note that a lot of heroines seem to be only children--either that or cursed with awful siblings. What is up with that?

If you want to learn more about the Faustin Brothers series, check out my website. There you can read blurbs, excerpts and reviews. Different excerpts and purchasing info is available at Samhain. For another contest opportunity, visit my blog on Tuesday the 22nd.

Contest deadline is noon, Wednesday, September 23, 2009. The winner announced shortly after, so remember to check back to see if you've won!

Thanks for reading!

Evie

Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. Contest void where prohibited by law.

Beauty And The Eye Of The Beholder

Beauty And The Eye Of The Beholder
by Grace Draven

Ever seen those memes and polls that circulate through blogland with a topic like “List 10 actors you’d have a one-night stand with…” or “List 10 favorite movie characters you think are hot…” or “Post 15 of the hottest men in entertainment and why you think so.”

I love these memes. I don’t always participate in them, but I love to read them. Wanna know why? Well, for one, they’re just good fun. I like seeing who other people think are nom-worthy. Sometimes I’m like “Oh yeah, totally agree. I’d be all over that.” Other times I think “Eh? Really? I don’t see it, but okay.”

I also like reading the responses to these things because they are incredibly revealing from an author’s observation. I learn a great deal from them—mostly that the idea of beauty being in the eye of the beholder isn’t just a tired cliché. It also makes for an interesting challenge to the writer. We want our characters to appeal to as broad a base of readers as possible. That includes the physical descriptions. But you can’t please all the people all the time, so I think character description really has to be thought through and considered. In the end, I write heroes with traits I personally find attractive.

Depending on the scene, the tone, the moment or the POV, I’ll either focus or gloss over a particular description. I think by keeping that imagery a moving target, I can invite the reader to come in and customize their mental image of the character to their visual preference.

I’ll let you in on a secret—I like ugly men. Well, I don’t think they’re ugly. I think they are men with faces of great character. My spouse, however, is a little less complimentary and says I have strange tastes for ugly men. I think this worries him, considering I married him. ~smiles~
I’m a nose fangirl, folks. I like a big snoz. Not like a Jimmy Durante snoz. No, it has to be a long, thin blade of a nose. If it’s hooked, all the better.

I think a nose adds great character to the face. See, Brad Pitt wouldn’t garner a second look from me, even though a part of me acknowledges he has that boy-next-door handsomeness. He just doesn’t have the requisite snoz. No, give me Michael Wincott or Gabriel Byrne any day. The voice is a plus too, especially in Wincott’s case.

Add cheekbones so prominent, they can cut glass, and baby I’m there!

My dream guy? Tall, lean, long black or red hair, hooked nose, high cheekbones and wears glasses. Beard is optional.

So here’s Grace Draven’s Hotness Hall of Fame:

Alan Rickman



David Wenham



Geddy Lee



Jason Momoa

Jay Tavare




Mads Mikkelsen



Michael Wincott




Richard Armitage

Changing Thumbelina Winner is...

Lynne Roberts!

Congratulations, Lynne!

You've won a copy of Changing Thumbelina by Emily Ryan-Davis!

Please email us at the midnightmooncafe @ gmail .com (no spaces) in order to collect your prize!

My thoughts on the Hero~ by guest blogger Melisse Aires

I want to thank Midnight Moon Cafe for inviting me to blog!

Romance writers hear the terms Alpha, Beta and Gamma all the time in reference to heroes.

But what I really like are Nice Guy heroes. I do! I don't care for ruthless business magnets that force young women into seductive roles to keep the family business afloat. I'm not interested in the sheik who kidnaps his pregnant girlfriend so he can keep the child in his oasis palace whether she wants to stay or not.

I just want to slap those guys and ask them what the heck is wrong with them! Where are your manners?

Perhaps it is all the years I taught preschool coming out. I worked hard to teach social skills. Wait your turn. Say thank you. Do your fair share of putting away toys. Be nice. Good job! You are Buddy of the Day!

I like guys with integrity and listening skills. Guys who are part of functional families, even if that family is of the vampire variety. Guys who have friends, who care about others. Guys with goals.

A man can be a leader, an alpha, and not be a jerk. I believe this. That's what I write. My favorite comfort reads are populated by this type of hero, too. Julia Quinn, Jayne Castle, Karen Templeton, Linnea Sinclair--they all have heroes you could trust with your six year old in an emergency.

So my stories are populated with guys I think are good people. Jagger, the white tiger shifter hero in Del Fantasma: Tiger Juice, respects his granny. Vare, my master vampire in Shadow Rescue, is moved by compassion. Kaistril in Cybot Awakened, patiently teaches my harem girl heroine some real (space) world skills.

Of course, since this is romance, it doesn't hurt that they all look delicious. But that is a different blog post!

~ Melisse Aires
www.melisseaires.com

It's 8 o'clock, do you know where your divine feminine is?

Hi everyone, and thanks to the MMC ladies for inviting me to take up some blog space today. My name is Emily Ryan-Davis and I write paranormal romance along with some other things. Today I'm giving away a download of my short story "Changing Thumbelina," which is in part about Thumbelina's grab for her feminine power.

I credit my feminist World Mythologies professor for my fascination with the divine feminine. She walked me through Barbara Walker's THE WOMAN'S DICTIONARY OF SYMBOLS AND SACRED OBJECTS and THE WOMAN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MYTHS AND SECRETS during the second lecture of the semester and I became a believer. Women own the power of conception and creation and naming. World myths credit us with the fall of civilizations and the rise of strong men. We are born with weapons and strengths unique to our sex. What is not divine about that?

At the time, the concept of the divine feminine was a foreign one to me, but I understood immediately, as if the instinctive memories had been uncovered by the power of a couple of new angles. In "Changing Thumbelina," the very adult Thumbelina comes into her power when she finally realizes she's free to name herself, to scrub herself clean of the names thrust upon her and build an identity based upon self-perception. As Tina, she can choose life on her own terms. And she can choose lovers on her own terms.

Despite her newfound self-actuality, however, Tina's path is not clear: another woman fully aware of her power stands in the way. In a battle between equal wills, self-awareness is a priceless advantage that determines whether a victory is really a victory at all.

My interest in the divine feminine is not one I discuss frequently because I regard matters of mysticism and religion with a certain degree of preference for privacy - my beliefs may not be yours and if they are, I probably believe in a different way - but as I'm here writing about paranormal fiction, the confession is relevant. I've slowly come along to realize my paranormal female leads are powerful creatures and their power tends to stem from the divine feminine themes of creation, motherhood, sexual strength and dominance (even if they aren't necessarily dominant women).

And since I'm talking about it, I'm curious about you and your divine feminine.

Have you discovered her yet? I hope you'll share your thoughts on the concept and perhaps even your moment of realization. Remember that added incentive, as one forthcoming commenter will receive a download of "Changing Thumbelina."

-

Twitter: emilyryandavis

Emily Ryan-Davis writes for e-publishers Freya's Bower and Ellora's Cave.

Thirteen Awesome Scented Candles

I have a candle addiction and I'm not ashamed to admit it! With no

further ado, thirteen of my favorite candle scents.

1. Birds of Paradise - my absolute favorite scent!
2. Cream Brulee
3. Baby Powder **
4. Georgia Peach **
5. Ocean Dream
6. Calla Lily **
7. Moonlight Path
8. China Berry
9. French Vanilla
10. Morning Mist
11. Caribbean Breeze
12. Rose Petals **
13. Honeysuckle

I buy most of my candles from Mary's Candles, and Candle Moods**.

Paperback Cover for Cassandra's book

Just wanted to let ya'll see the cover
and back of my soon to be released paperback from AQP.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Swayze

Patrick Swayze, 57, passed away on Monday, September 14th, 2009 after battling stage IV pancreatic cancer. Although he has been in a string of popular movies, I will forever remember him as Sam from the movie Ghost.

Rest in peace, Mr. Swayze. You will be greatly missed.

Getting Ready For October

Whew-wee, got some fun stuff planned for ya'll this comin' October! Parties, games, costume contests, and prizes galore!

Behind the scenes, it's been busy. And one of the things I've been doing this last two weeks is learning about this place called Second Life. It's a mind-trip, ya'll.

We are planning reading dates and guest appearances in SL (Second Life) this October, so those will be announced soon. But in the meanwhile, if you want to meet me or think you might like to go to a reading, you'll want to check out SL beforehand, join our newly formed group there (Midnight Moon Cafe Authors & Fans), and take a little time to get accustomed to the place as it can be tricky.

I've been posting about my adventures in SL on my personal blog on my website, so check it out to learn more: http://cassandracurtis.com/blog

Our group in SL is not a "physical" one or a "destination-type place" but a lot like our Yahoo group. That's where I'll give information and chat about where I'm at and what I'm up to in SL. :-)

Now, there are some computer requirements in order to run the SL viewer and those are listed here: http://secondlife.com/support/system-requirements/

If you already have an account in SL, check me out. I'm listed there as Cassandra Sharktooth! lol.
I'll be easy to spot, I'm the chubby redhead flying into the ocean and bangin' her head against walls, trippin' over sidewalks and generally stumblin' through my second life...not much different from the first one! lol.

I hope you'll be able to make it this October and partake in some of the fun events we have planned in SL.

((hugs))
Cass "the Shark" Curtis
hehe

Winner of All Fired Up by Kristen Painter

The winner of All Fired Up!
donated by our guest author Kristen Painter, is...

::drumroll please::

Rachie G.

Congratulations, Rachie!
Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail. com (no spaces)
with your preferred ebook format so we can make sure you receive your prize!

Guest Blogger - Kristen Painter

Hi! Samhain and Orbit author Kristen Painter here. Thanks for having me! I'm excited to talk about my debut paranormal romance today. As my way of saying thanks, one lucky commenter will win an electronic copy of my best selling book, ALL FIRED UP. Read the excerpt here or skip the suspense of the contest and buy your own copy here.

Did you ever wish you could change something you’d done in your life? Say yes instead of no? Change a decision? Pick a different path?

ALL FIRED UP is all about that premise. The phoenixes are messengers of change who work for the goddess of love. They provide those holding their talismans three chances to make those changes, but sometimes things don’t go the way you had imagined.

What would you change about your past if you could? Something big? Something small? Would you redo something differently? What would it be?

I once turned down a chance to blow glass. I know that seems like such a simple thing, but it’s one of those things that’s stayed with me over the years, probably because I love creative stuff like that. Why did I turn it down? I was a kid and the thought of putting my mouth on the end of that tube where the strange glass-blower man’s mouth had just been creeped me out. Lol

So how about you? What would you change?

--------------------

Where to find me:

Yahoo Group:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kristenpainter/join
Blog: www.kristenpainter.blotspot.com
Twitter ID: Kristen_Painter

Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. Contest void where prohibited by law.