HOT SUMMER NIGHTS BLOG HOP WITH BOOKS TO GO NOW.

Well hello there, and welcome to Kook's Nook.  If this is your first time here, well you are in good company because surprisingly enough, it's my first time as part of a blog hop.  So grab a mug or glass of something you fancy, make yourself comfortable and help yourself to the delicious array of biccies I have on offer,

As part of the blog hop I am giving away a $10 Amazon voucher AND a copy of my book Without Saying A Word.  All you need to do is follow/hop around each of the authors featured on the hop and one lucky winner could win

1st Grand Prize: (1) Kindle Fire!

2nd Grand Prize: (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card

Authors participating in the hop are:
So I hear you ask, how am I going to entertain you?  Well, I thought seeing as this is my first time on a blog hop and as my novel features a MALE virgin, I would talk about first times.

The term 'first times' can conjure up all kind of thoughts.  The first time I saw my child, the first time I met my husband.  The first kiss, and yes even the first time you make love with your partner.  It's the anticipation of something new happening.  My mind races, envisaging what 'could' happen. Running through scenarios left, right and centre. Yet nothing really prepares you for what happens.  Take for instance the first time I met my husband.  We met online and after a few weeks of chatting, we finally met in person.  At first there were nerves.  However, as we chatted and he helped me cook dinner, for some reason for me, I felt that I had known him for longer.  I enjoyed being with him.  He made me smile, and his off beat sense of humour struck a chord within me.  As for wanting to take him upstairs and well...... I had to restrain myself.  This was after all our first meeting, and being the impulsive woman that I am (attempts an innocent look) this was rather difficult for me.  Our first kiss felt as if I had come home at last. 

A year later we were married.  We have been married 7 years in August and together now for over 8.  We have three children and two insane cats, and there are times when things are rocky and up and down, but we work through them.

For Matt; marriage to me is his first time.  For me, it was my third, but it is my first time at seeing a relationship through.  My first time where I cannot walk off in a huff because something isn't going my way, nope. We work things through together; and this is the sort of thing I try to write in my novels.

So what first time for you sticks out in your mind?  Is it when you saw your baby new and innocent? or perhaps even the first time you tried some new recipe and it went tits up?  I would love to know, so please leave a comment below.  You may even win the voucher.

Here is an excerpt from my novel Without Saying A Word.  I hope you will like Rhean's first time and pehaps could encourage you to read my work.

“Worked though, didn't it?” Rhean grinned at her, as his fingers stroked her arm sensuously enticing her to be aware of him. The softness of her skin slid against his roughened fingertips. His body reacted sharply. Rhean looked into the deep languid pools, searching for a flicker of awareness from Laura. He knew an attraction between them could be perilous, but felt an overwhelming need to know how her lips would feel against his. Their gazes meshed, the air around them electrified, and for a second he was afraid to take things any further.

Rhean saw the conflicting emotions in her face and knew deep down that now was his chance. He seized it. Moving closer to her, his thigh pressed against hers.

“Laura,” he whispered her name raggedly. When she tried to turn away, Rhean stroked her face with a long finger back to him.

“Please,” he begged, his voice harsh and raw with emotion.

Their breaths mingled, and his hand rested on her smooth cheek, caressing it with his thumb. At the same time, yet hesitantly, gently, his mouth covered hers. A delicious sensation of caressing more than kissing flooded him. Rhean's lips thrummed from the feel of her mouth on his, but then as if in a blind panic she turned her face away from him, and broke their kiss. Rhean pulled her back into his arms

″No,″ he whispered, “Trust me Laura.” As they embraced, his mouth recaptured hers crushing her to him, deepening the kiss. Tentatively his tongue slipped onto hers. Stroking, dancing, they melded into one, aware of nothing but each other.

Rhean's heart soared. He was lost in the heady sweetness of her taste on his tongue and his lips. Finally, he hoped, she would be his.

“Mother!” Rhean and Laura moved apart. They looked at James, standing in the doorway with an amused expression on his face. Laura's face flushed red and Rhean stood up, feeling as though he had been caught with his hands in the cookie jar. He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets then relaxed after the wink James gave him.

 

So there you go Laura and Rhean's first kiss.  Did that whet your appetite to read more?  If so leave a comment and you could be in for a chance of winning.

Keep it Kooky guys!

 



COMING SOON. THE BOOKS TO GO NOW HOT SUMMER NIGHT'S BLOG HOP!

Guess what? It's getting close to the official start of Books To Go Now's Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop.

I am so thrilled to be a part of this.

Guys please comment on your main/first post if you want to be eligible for the Grand Prizes.

-We have TWO grand prizes. Please go to EACH blog and comment about their hottest summer nights. Just make sure you leave their email address and name to be entered to win.

Here is the main blog page Books To Go Now and here is a list of all the participants  taking part in the hop.

What are the Grand Prizes?

We are going to also offering two Grand Prizes!! In order for readers to take part, they must leave their comment and email address. Two winners will be chosen at random and notified no later than May 31, 2013.

1st Grand Prize: (1) Kindle Fire!

2nd Grand Prize: (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card

SEXY SNIPPETS

Hi chaps.

Today I am thrilled to take part in sexy snippets, so here for your pleasure is an extract from my new release WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, available from Amazon co/com and coming soon from Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.  Also check out the Books to Go Now website for other fabulous releases.

Enjoy

 

 



Laura showed Rhean how much he excited her, using her lips and tongue. She found her young virginal husband so incredibly arousing. His firm muscular body beneath her was a smorgasbord of delights. Laura lapped her tongue around his nipples, and then further down, teasing his erection with her hands. He rolled over, giving her better access to his body. Laura touched him ever so lightly with her tongue, dipping the tip into the fluid she found there. Her name in a muffled groan from Rhean’s lips thrilled her

 

I hope you enjoyed this rather enticing snippet.  If so and you would like to read more, look for Without Saying A Word on Amazon.

 

Hugs

 

Kooks xxxxxxxxxxxxx



WITHOUT SAYING A WORD IS RELEASED SOON, HERE IS AN.EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT!!!!!

Hi everyone.

Well it's official, WITHOUT SAYING A WORD is going to be released this week.  So, I thought I would give my lovely followers a sneak peek at an exclusive extract, never before read by anyone apart from the publisher and my editor. 

“Laura, what happened between you and Max?”

Laura's eyes snapped open. She sat bolt upright on the sofa. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “What did you just say?” Laura wondered for a moment if she had been asleep and experiencing a nightmare. She glared at Rhean, standing in the doorway, wiping his hands on a tea-towel.

“I asked what happened between you and Max,” Rhean repeated softly.

Laura shook her head incredulously, tapping her ear with her finger.

“No, I wasn't dreaming. What the Dickens brought this on?” she asked, her voice shrill.

“Laura, I have been nothing but honest with you since we met. I thought if you told me what went wrong with you and Max, it might help.”

Laura pursed her lips. She should have known this question would crop up, even after all the counseling she had been through. She could not think about that day without shuddering, and feeling ashamed. Laura knew she had the courage within her. Well, if he wanted to know, so be it. The delicious meal she had enjoyed earlier left a vile aftertaste in her mouth, and her stomach throbbed in response to her tumultuous emotions.

Laura stood up. She found it easier to pace and talk, desperately avoiding the stricken expression on Rhean's face. She saw he was sitting in her favorite armchair, leaning forward.

“From the look on your face and the way you asked the question, I get a nasty feeling that you know already,” she said.

Rhean nodded. “I know some, not all,” he admitted softly.

Laura bobbed her head, and let out a whoosh of breath, desperately needing to compose herself.

“You would have thought that after a year of counseling this would get easier to talk about.”

“Some things are never easy,” Rhean replied, his voice as soft as a whisper.

Despite the fire raging away in the hearth, Laura felt chilled to the bone. She rubbed her arms and shoulders, and knew she could no longer put it off.

“Max and I were married for just over twelve years. We'd met at a friends' party, started dating and six months later he asked me to marry to him. Max worked for the local council, as one of the finance team. So his job was secure, and we had a lovely home. I didn't want for anything. When Maisie, Theo and James arrived, Max was a great father, attentive, even spoiling them at times. Because of his job, he spent time away from home on courses and business trips, and I never thought anything of it. If I had to get in touch with him, I’d leave a message with his secretary.”

“Anyway, one day, I came home from the shops. It was so stupid. Maisie had asked for a certain meal that night, and I'd forgotten to get the ingredients, so I had to make a special trip out. I came home and found Max's wallet on the table. He was supposed to be at work. When I picked up the wallet, a slip of paper fell out. I picked it up... and went upstairs and er...well, I found Max screwing another woman on our bed.″

Laura let out another deep breath. Now for the hard part.

″Max went all apeshit at being caught. The next thing I knew, he's called me every single name under the sun, and hit me. But he didn't stop. He kept on, hitting, slapping, and kicking me. It was as if he wanted me dead. You know the stupid thing about all this? I didn't fight back. I should have found it within me to bite him. I should have kicked him in the balls. I should have run from him. But I didn't. I fell over one of her shoes, hit the ground and before I could catch my breath, he kicked me in the chest.” Laura's voice broke. “This was Max, for crying out loud. He had never raised a hand to me, and never even yelled at me. We had discussions, but hardly argued. Max was easy-going and I thought he loved me. I tried so hard to be the best wife I could be. But it wasn't enough for him.”

She shook her head, and paced to and fro in front of Rhean. She hoped he wasn't too disgusted with her at being such a wimp.

 

And that's all you are going to get........for now.  Please keep your eyes peeled to my Facebook page and on Kook's Nook for links.

 

Would just like to take this opportunity to thank Jennifer Conner from BOOKS TO GO NOW, my editor Marilyn and Danica Winters for all their wonderful help, and isn't the cover art fabulous!

 

Keep it Kooky!

Raven's Being Impulsive!

It's Kooky here, waving hello and welcoming you all to her cosy little nook!

Today I have the honour of welcoming Raven McAllen to this little part of England to talk about her new release Impulse.

So here with coffee and shortbread, I hand over Kook's Nook to the more than capable hands of the wonderful RavenMcAllan

Raven McAllan releases a steamy novella via Just Ink Press LLC 

IMPULSE is set on Isola Dei Sogni, an island where dreams and fantasies become reality and love may tackle when least expected.

 

Long Blurb:

 

Dylan has arrived at Isola Dei Sogni to help out .....with reluctance and just as a favor. Then he meets Mia.  If she's the person he's supposed to assist, then maybe the visit won't be the waste of time he thought after all.  His attitude has changed, and when he hears Mia wants to give him his fantasy, Dylan is never one to disappoint a lady....he hopes.

 

However, fantasies and dreams are all well and good, but even here, reality creeps in.  Can Mia and Dylan overcome that to reach their happily ever after?

 

EXCERPT:

 

 

"Inside".  His voice was hoarse. "Touch inside.  In the way you'd like me to touch you.  Show me Mia.  Show me"

 

Her body was on fire as she moved her hand.  She'd show him, and rejoiced that she'd found a person who desired her so much.

 

"Like this?" With an insouciance she wouldn't have believed she had, Mia wet her fingers and moved them to her pussy.  Slowly she pushed inside herself.  The look on his face gave her courage to move them further inside.  As she scraped the walls of her channel, her clit tingled and sharp arrows of pleasure honed in on her nipples. Her juices coated her fingers and without conscious thought, she moved her hand to coat her nipples with her essence.  She trembled as she returned it to her heated sheath.  her head fell back and she gave herself to the sensations that bombarded her.

 

"My turn" Dylan stood up and pushed his chair back. It fell over and hit the floor with a bang.  Mia jumped at the unexepected noise and her hand moved out of her channel and dropped onto her lap.  He lifted it to his lips.

 

"Ah, so good, it tastes of you."  Goose bumps covered her skin as he put her fingers into his mouth and licked them one by one.  "Now I can't wait, my lovely Mia.  Are you ready?"

 

                                                                      *****

 

Raven lives in Scotland with her husband and their two cats.......their children having flown the nest, surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspires a lot of the settings in her books.

She is used to sharing her life with the occasional deer, red squirrel and lost tourist, to say nothing of the scourge of Scotland....the midge!

 

A lover of reading, she appreciates the history inside a book, and a chance to peek into the lives of those from years ago.  Raven admits that she enjoys the research for her books almost as much as the writing; so much so, that sometimes she realizes she's strayed way past the information she needs to know, and not a paragraph has been added to her WIP.

 

Her lovely long-suffering husband is learning to love the dust bunnies, work the Aga, and be on stand-by with a glass of wine.

 

You can find out more about Raven at the following links

 

Website  Blog  Facebook Fanpage  Facebook profile  Twitter

Hi Kooks, thanks for inviting me over today.  Now that's the official bit, so now shall we drink that amazing smelling coffee and gossip?  I've bought the G-f cookies.

I'm so pleased to be part of the Just Ink family, it's been a fantastic ourney, and we've only just started.  Book two is well under way, and as wee treet, here's an teaser.

Temptation:

Marloth Ducaine was worried. Deep down hold on to your balls worried, and he didn’t like the feeling one little bit. What on earth had compelled him to get a

brochure for the resort sent to the woman his boss fancied he'd never know. But he had,and she'd shared it and now Marloth was going to suffer the consequences. Faran had growled incessantly since he found out, and Marloth feared for his fur. It was he last time he tried to do anyone a good turn.

Even if it did work in my favor.  Maybe. And I can't lie to myself and pretend I didn't know who else might see it.

He shook his head and his fur rippled out in waves of gold and black. He had a nasty feeling he was in for a bollocking and knew it was deserved, even if he could say he acted in other people's best interests. The fact it was in his own as well he ignored. Just for once he'd like to look honorable.

"Marloth to the control room. As a human." The call over his radio did nothing to reassure him. The addendum 'as a human' just pissed him off. Why couldn't he have the choice?

"Now."

Well that was clear enough. Faran sounded as annoyed as Marloth felt.

Maybe he'd just better do as his boss requested. Marloth began the transformation from Tiger to human. As usual his golden hair was the last part of him to shift. He ran his fingers through it and unsnagged a couple of knots, and wondered if he aught to have it trimmed.

What do you think?
 and look….

Be sure to comment below to win a FREE copy of Impulse! Two winners will be chosen.  Also head over to the Just Ink Press blog and leave a comment there with links to any shares you might have to be entered into their Grand Prize drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card!

 

How does the Grand Prize contest work?

Comment = 1 entry (multiple entries possible; one per blog and one on the Just Ink Press blog


Shares:

Twitter = 2 entries (multiple entries possible, but must show links)

Facebook = 3 entries (multiple entries possible, but must show links - if on profile, it must be public) 

Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Oh and I forgot the buy links for Impulse… just incase you don't win one of the copies if you comment…

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impulse--‐Isola--‐dei--‐Sogni--‐ebook/dp/B00CLTRTF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital--‐text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367438733&sr=1--‐1&keywords=Raven+McAllan

http://www.amazon.com/Impulse--‐Isola--‐dei--‐Sogni--‐ebook/dp/B00CLTRTF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital--‐text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367438733&sr=1--‐1&keywords=Raven+McAllan

Gobsmacked

Waves hi from her chair in front of a bulging bookcase. 

Greetings chaps.  This is terrible, two blogs in a month.  Well naughty me.  Anyhoo, I have news, yes more news.  As if finishing the first round of edits of Without Saying A Word wasn't enough, on pril 12 I was offered a contract for The MisAdventures of Pann Haggerty from

SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING

This is a major publisher in America and these amazing people want to publish my Pann Haggerty.  I'm still gobsmacked even after signing the contract, and finding out that any sequel/s are to be submitted to them for first refusal.

The proposed release date for Pann is 28th August.  So over the next few weeks I am going to be a busy bee and work hard revamping the manuscript.  Pann for me really is a joy to write.  I love being in her mind, and able to experience the mishaps she does, whilst keeping my own dignity intact.

For us Brits, the closest I can get to a visual image of Pann is Miranda Hart, but with longer hair and slightly shorter.  Her mannerisms and the way she speaks is spot on, even though darling Pann has been around in my head for well over a year.  As for Joe, ladies cast your mind to the Gilmore Girls and think of Luke Danes aka Scott Patterson.  Only taller and stockier and with a great sense of humour, a loving heart for this insane British lass and so much patience.

So there you go in a nutshell.  Pann really is not a traditional love story.  My central characters are in their 40s, proving that life really starts with your flirty forties and boy is Pann flirty. 

Each chapter is a different state.  At the back there is Pann's recipe book.  All of the recipes are tried and tested by me, and made on a regular basis.

I do hope that you will enjoy reading Pann as much as I have had writing her.  Of course this is only the first one in the series.

Not sure if anyone remembers the old American style series on television with the booming voice for the intro something along the lines of "Previously in the Adventures of Champion the Wonder Horse", well this is how Pann came about.  A series about a fairly crazy English lady travelling around America in an RV after picking her son's underpants up for the last time,

I think we all get like that.  Our lives can be predictable and mundane to the point where we feel we need to break out and do something.  In my case something stupid.  I have been known to run around the living room topless yelling "boob alert" when I am on my own, or moon my neighbours over the road through the net curtains, why you ask? Because I want to!

So if you want to, please follow my blog as I will posting more info about Pann, showing off cover art and of course featuring authors from Books To Go Now and Secret Cravings Publishing, both of whom I am proud to be an author with.

2013 really is turning out to be a fabulous year so far.  Thanks for your support

Keep it Kooky xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

News, News and MORE NEWS!!!

Peers from behind a book.

I cannot believe it has been over 5 months since I last blogged. So what has been happening I hear a few of you ask?  Well, I took some time out from writing, I cancelled my contract with my publisher and revamped Without Saying A Word and resubmitted it to Books To Go Now, who offered me a contract and here without delay is the new cover!

Beautiful isn't it? This captures my hero spot on, the way he looks at Laura as if she is the only woman in the world for him. My first lot of edits should be due this week and of course I am nail biting in anticipation. 

More news...The wonderful Heidi Betts has dedicated her new Harlequin Desire novel to me (Amanda Jane Ward) entitled Project Runaway Heiress it is available now and well worth a read. Her British hero is charming, funny and incredibly sexy.

I am also part of the Books To Go Now Blog Hop starting in May
I will be giving away swag so watch out for news on Facebook, twitter and of course on here too.

As for the writing, well I am continuing to write despite Tonsilitis, and currently working on the first of a series about six English Clergywomen. The working title of the first one is English in Paradise, and this is Rachel's story.  Will post snippets as work progresses.

Finally, I am stoked to announce that I am being confirmed in the Anglican church on June 19th.  At the midnight mass service in Bromham, I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was then I realised what I had been putting off for so long. 

Anyway, to all those that follow the Nook, I am back, I am writing and I am still as quirky as ever.

Hugs to you all

TTFN and keep it Kooky

Manda xxxxxxxxxxxxx