Hot Paranormal Blog Hop Winner!

A big congratulations to Emily, who won the free e-book copy of Haunting Memories.

Another thanks to everyone who visited and participated! It was an awesome blog.

Hot Paranormal Nights Blog Hop!

 

Welcome everyone to the Hot Paranormal Nights blog hop!

For the blog hop, I'd like to feature my latest romantic paranormal release, Haunting Memories. I'll be giving away a free e-book copy to those that comment on this post.

Sivney Forsàidh is a vampire with a sordid past. As one of the main forces of a paranormal investigation in Rome, he has a full plate that rarely gives him time to think about anything outside of work. He has spent too many years alone, and has trouble seeing a life that revolves around anything other than solitude.

Kyrien has lived his entire life in his uncle’s shadow. He struggles constantly with the knowledge he was made into a vampire solely for the purpose so another can discover his existence. He opens a popular nightclub named Calamity and focuses on little else. He resigns himself to eventually being revealed to his mate—or not, as the years that pass come to show.

A rash of crime breaks out across the holy city and brings the duo ever closer. They try and soothe their solitude with each other. The bodies start to pile up, and the ghosts of the past show their faces. These two must fight to stay together, and keep their newfound life together from falling apart.

Story Excerpt

Positioned in front of the door was a large man that smelled distinctly of lycanthrope blood. He was easily over six-and-a-half feet tall. If Sivney had to guess, the guy was most likely from Spain. The bouncer had dark brown hair, equally somber eyes, and a naturally honeyed color to his flesh. If vampires didn’t find the smell of lycan blood repulsing, he quite possibly would have wanted to take this one to bed. As it was, he only shared his body with those he might be able to taste in the process. Not that he did a whole lot of that, but it was always fun to entertain the possibility.

The man, who presumably had quite an adept scent of smell, seemed to almost instinctually be able to pinpoint his specific scent. Without a single word or straight glance exchanged, the bouncer opened the door with a sense of urgency. As Sivney passed into the dim darkness of a bustling nightclub, he caught the lycan murmuring something into what Siv assumed was a microphone or two-way radio. He couldn’t make out the exact words over the pulsing beat of what was known these days as “dubstep” music, but he figured he was calling out the first warning. Siv was too distracted by the music to care. He kind of liked the deep bass drops, the spotty vocals, and the bright personalities that it usually brought with it.

The only thing that he hated about being a member of the Garden is that he could not just blend into the crowds. No matter what he was doing or where he went, paranormal creatures always thought that he was there to arrest them. No sooner than Siv took another step forward another vampire approached him to obviously intercept him. From the looks of it, this guy had to be one of the ones that ran this club or at least one of the proprietors. He had that confident kind of look about him that reeked of self-importance and misplaced entitlement. Siv hated those types. Whoever this guy was, he was one of the ones that was noticed when he walked into a room for all the wrong reasons. That went without saying. Sivney knew what that was like.

Siv’s brows rose slightly when the vampire came to stand before him along with two of his brethren. The notably younger vampire was a handsome one, but he needed that cocky smirk smacked off of his face. He had high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a head full of tightly wound blond curls. Strange amber eyes bore into his and Sivney was quick to meet the hard stare with an utterly un-intimidated one of his own. This was a kind of stare off that he often found himself locked within. For some reason or another, younger ones of his kin liked to think they could step toe-to-toe with him. If they only knew what it was like to be one of his kind, or the pain that came accompanied with meeting his fist, they wouldn’t be so high and mighty.

It was the silk voice of this blond vampire that spoke with velveteen superfluity towards him. “What brings you to Calamity?”

“Just having a look around,” Siv commented idly. He slowly folded his hands across the dark button-down that he still wore from the ceremony at the Council’s headquarters. He was trying to be nonchalant. Whether it was working or not, Siv couldn’t say.

The young blood was quick to narrow his eyes at Siv’s evasive answer. “So this isn’t a visit that we should be concerned about? You haven’t been sent by the Council?”

“Do you always greet your house guests so warmly? I would think if you were worried about me causing a scene that you would be offering me a drink and perhaps some company for the evening,” Siv stated with a smirk.

The kid looked like he might lunge right for Sivney. He bristled and instinctively dropped his hands to his sides, so that he might be ready to defend himself should the time call for it.

“That’s enough, Charlesely,” a voice that didn’t belong to any of the three goons before him sweetly sang with a singsong lilt. It brought shivers to his spine and a start to his loins that he hadn’t felt in a long, long, time. He knew that voice.

The ethereal creature whom had spoken those eerie words stepped out from behind the blond youngster was one that nearly made his blood run hot in his veins again. If Sivney hadn’t been a man of better senses, he would have fainted right then and there on the spot. His eyes widened as he attempted to take in the sight before him and it made his long dead heart quiver with anxiety.

It was as if he was looking right into the sullen grey eyes of his long dead lover, except what was reflected back at him was of a warm summer’s radiant gold. This boy that stood before him looked just like his Johann. Where his beloved had hair the color of silk spun from the star’s silvery light itself bustling from his crown, this doppelganger had hair with the hue of vulgar burgundy wine. The layers were pin-straight and fell in feathering waves about the pale flesh of his subtly masculine face. His exquisiteness was enough to take Siv’s breath right out of his lungs and leave him without words to say.

The vampire’s build was slight like his Johann had been, but spoke of telltale power still within those preternatural muscles. He was a little shorter than his mate had been and was a slight more waifish in stature. This gentleman looked like he had more of dancer’s build where his mate’s had been that of a seasoned swimmer. Either way, it was a close enough resemblance that he could feel the blood drain from his very face. If vampires could become any paler, Siv felt that he would have resembled freshly fallen snow in that moment.

One delicate porcelain hand was thrust forward in the attempt of a shake, and Sivney just looked down to it as if it might scald him should he touch it.

“You are all dismissed,” the seemingly affluent vampire murmured to his little group of followers as he retracted his hand.

“This must be quite a shock to you, Sivney,” the male tried to say gently.

“How the fuck do you know me and why do you look like… Why do you look like him?”

“My name is Kyrien. Johann was my uncle,” he said simply.

Buy Link

Book Tour Information

There's a book tour continuing on until August 1st with prizes of $15 Bookstrand Bucks and a free e-copy!

About Me

Leontii Holender lives in the sleepy little town of Greenville, South Carolina. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised all across the United States. She has lived mostly in the southern states with large cities. She's called New Orleans, Memphis, and Atlanta home, just to name a few. She moved into the area in order to help take care of her ill mother and has since found herself with a plethora of free time to write.

Leontii has been writing for about eight years now and is a full-time author. The writing bug bit her rather early in her life and since she discovered she enjoyed it, she hasn’t stopped. She started writing short stories in high school and has since moved on to focus on novels. She likes writing erotic fiction the most and tends to lean towards strong elements of horror, suspense, fantasy, mythos, and the paranormal.

Website

Facebook

Blog Hop Winners!

I just wanted to make a little announcement of the winners of my prizes from the Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Blog Hop!

A big congratulations to:

Juana, who won the $10 Siren Bookstrand Bucks

Deasuluna, who won the free e-book copy of Haunting Memories!

Thanks to everyone who participated and visited!

The grand prize winners will be announced later this week. Look for the prizes Juana and Deasuluna later this week as well!

Lisabet Sarai

Is Money Sexy? 

By Lisabet Sarai

If you scan the blurbs for recent romance best-sellers, you might come away with the notion that billionaires make the best lovers. Even before FSOG, rich guys were popular fantasy fodder, but the number of obscenely wealthy protagonists has climbed exponentially since. My primary romance publisher, Total-E-Bound, has a whole series of “billionaire” anthologies – Bound to the Billionaire, Promoted by the Billionaire, Sharing the Billionaire, and so on – and they sell very well. Apparently many readers feel that money is sexy.

I guess I can understand this, at some level. Today's billionaire plays the same role as the fairytale prince of yesteryear. He can fulfill the heroine's (or second hero's) every desire – not just physical desires but material ones. Especially given the worldwide economic downturn, I can see how a hero who could solve your financial problems with a snap of his fingers might be very appealing.

At the same time, I've never personally cared whether a lover (or a hero) was wealthy. The whole question seems irrelevant to me (perhaps because I've always been able to support myself by my own efforts). The trend seems a bit of throwback to an earlier time when women married mostly for financial security. Furthermore, relationships between a rich individual and someone less financially advantaged are not nearly as easy as some romance novels would have you believe. There are likely to be huge gaps in values and expectations that are bound to take their emotional toll.

I grew up in a middle class environment. I'm a third generation bargain-hunter at Filene's Basement. (If you don't know what that is, Google it!) I don't care what brand of watch I wear, as long as it tells the time. I'd consider spending $500 on a pair of shoes just because they had a designer label to be a ludicrous waste of money. On the other hand, my wealthy brother-in-law, although he's no billionaire, cares deeply about things like this. They're part of his self-image. I'm not criticizing him, just highlighting the differences in our perceptions of what is important.

Given the above, you might well ask why I have contributed a story to TEB's most recent billionaire book, Bound to the Billionaire. Okay, I admit I'm hoping to cash in (so to speak!) on the billionaire craze. However, I also wanted to explore the sort of issues I've raised above. What happens when two individuals from different social worlds are drawn together? Can love indeed bridge the gulf in circumstances, expectations and ideology?

You'll find the blurb and an excerpt from my historical “billionaire” tale Challenge to Him below. It's part of the anthology Tied to the Billionaire, which also includes stories by Amy Armstrong, Sam Crescent, Tanith Davenport, Cheryl Dragon and Willa Edwards. The book is available now for pre-order at the Total-E-Bound site(http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=2243), at a 15% discount. It will be released to other sites on the 16th of August.

Leave a comment, including your email address, on this post, and I'll enter you into a drawing for a $10 Total-E-Bound gift voucher – enough to cover the cost of this book or one of TEB's other great titles.

What do you think? Is money sexy?

For more information about me and the many genres in which I write, visit my website Lisabet's Fantasy Factory (http://www.lisabetsarai.com) and my blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com).

Challenge to Him by Lisabet Sarai

BDSM historical erotic romance

All the wealth in the world can’t buy willing surrender.

Andrew MacIntyre, heir to a vast empire of railroads, mines and mills, is the second or third richest man in America, and by far the most eligible bachelor among the society folk summering in Newport, Rhode Island. His mother has filled their opulent mansion with marriageable daughters of bankers and industrialists, but Andrew knows none of these callow young women can satisfy his perverse sexual needs. No respectable girl would ever consent to being bound and beaten, to serving and obeying him the way he craves. His money gives him the freedom to purchase anything except his heart’s desire—a submissive partner to share his life.

Independent, progressive and well-educated, labour activist Olivia Alcott has dedicated herself to improving the lot of the workers who toil in the factories that have made Andrew and his class so wealthy. The strike she organises triggers a confrontation between her and the handsome billionaire. Although their disparate backgrounds and values make them natural foes, something stronger draws them to one another—an intuitive recognition of complementary fantasies.

Andrew offers Olivia a bargain— better working conditions for the mill staff, in return for a weekend of her unquestioning obedience. Olivia will help him deflect the attentions of the potential mates assembled by his mother, as well as providing more intimate services. Given Olivia’s origins, a more enduring relationship appears impossible—but Andrew is not the sort to give up something he wants.

Excerpt (rated R)

“I can’t do this, Andrew. I’m sorry.” 

Andrew and Olivia paused together atop the mezzanine stairway that led down to the Great Hall. Music filtered up, along with the swell and ebb of conversation. Although it was barely nine p.m., Catherine MacIntyre’s ball was already in full swing. Her guests had arrived earlier than they would have under normal circumstances, eager to survey the competition—and to catch a glimpse of the unorthodox house guest Andrew had invited to participate in the closely scripted rituals of the wealthy. Gossip had spread the news far and wide. Functions at Wavecrest were usually well-attended in any case, but no one wanted to miss tonight’s festivities.

“Of course you can.” He tucked her arm under his and pulled her body closer. The French perfume he’d bought surrounded her with an aura of roses, but underneath, he thought he caught a whiff of her feminine musk. “You look exquisite—the gown is perfection—and you’re far cleverer than any other girl attending. You’ll charm everyone.”

He surveyed his companion with smug approval. With its simple, elegant lines, the peacock-blue silk he’d commissioned suited her to a T. The low-cut neckline left her arms bare and exposed a generous but not improper expanse of fair skin. The fabric clung tightly to her breasts and torso, then flared out over her hips and swept to the floor in a sapphire cascade. Unlike some of the fussy fashions he’d seen, the gown had little ornamentation, aside from the ribbons that hung from the waist, draping the skirt in gleaming loops of satin. 

Diamond teardrops swung from her earlobes. A matching diamond on an almost invisible chain nestled in the hollow of her throat and a blue-dyed ostrich feather arched over her upswept, mahogany-brown curls. 

Yes, the outfit was worth every penny of the small fortune he’d paid for it. Olivia Alcott was a pearl without price.

Olivia shook her head. “They’ll know the instant they set eyes on me. I’ll die of embarrassment.”

“Nonsense. No one can tell whether you’re wearing undergarments. With your figure, you’ve no need of a corset, and it’s warm enough that your nipples are scarcely visible…” He punctuated his assertion with a tweak that made her gasp.

“Don’t!” She jerked away from him. He held her fast.

“Olivia, did you not agree to be my consort this weekend?”

“Yes—yes, sir…”

“And to obey me without question?”

“And have I not done so?” Her eyes sparkled in her flushed face and he knew she was reviewing the same glorious recollections that had him half hard in his tailored tuxedo trousers.

“Yes, yes, you’ve satisfied me in every way, my lovely slut. Tonight, though, I need you more than ever, here by my side. I must make it clear to my mother and to society at large that I am not in the market for a wife.”

“So I’m to play the role of your mistress, then?” The sharpness in her voice surprised him. He brushed his lips across her ripe ones, savouring her sweet breath. 

“What do you care what those hypocrites think of you? You’ll never see them again.”

Olivia did not answer. She peered down the stairs, into the brightly lit hall—the lion’s den. “You’re right,” she answered at last, her voice low and resigned. “It doesn’t matter at all. Let us go.”

Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Hop

Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Hop

Welcome everyone and thank you for visiting my page for the Hot Summer Romance Giveaway Hop. first things first, right? What can you win from the Hop by commenting?

Prizes

Grand Prizes

~ Kindle Fire 

~ $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.

My Prizes

~ The first two e-books in the Garden of Elich series, In The Devil's Snare and Haunting Memories.

~ $5 Bookstand Bucks

Note: Please leave your e-mail address in the comment you make on this blog post to be entered in a chance to win the prizes. Also, both prizes can be won by international commenters.

Haunting Memories

Haunting Memories, the second book in the erotic romance series the Garden of Elich release on July 24th and is available for pre-order.

Here's a little more information on the book and another chance to win great prizes coming up this month!

Blurb

Sivney Forsàidh is a vampire with a sordid past. As one of the main forces of a paranormal investigation in Rome, he has a full plate that rarely gives him time to think about anything outside of work. He has spent too many years alone, and has trouble seeing a life that revolves around anything other than solitude.

Kyrien has lived his entire life in his uncle’s shadow. He struggles constantly with the knowledge he was made into a vampire solely for the purpose so another can discover his existence. He opens a popular nightclub named Calamity and focuses on little else. He resigns himself to eventually being revealed to his mate—or not, as the years that pass come to show.

A rash of crime breaks out across the holy city and brings the duo ever closer. They try and soothe their solitude with each other. The bodies start to pile up, and the ghosts of the past show their faces. These two must fight to stay together, and keep their newfound life together from falling apart.

A Siren Erotic Romance

Book Tour

During the book tour, I'll be giving away another e-book copy of Haunting Memories and $15 Bookstrand Bucks.

Also, there will be a chance to find out information about the two steamy hunks that are the main characters via profiles, character interviews, excerpts, and much more!

Facebook Event Page

About Me

Here's where you can find a little information about yours truly, my upcoming release, WIPs, and much more!

Website  ~  Facebook

Leontii Holender lives in the sleepy little town of Greenville, South Carolina. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised all across the United States. She has lived mostly in the southern states with large cities. She's called New Orleans, Memphis, and Atlanta home, just to name a few. She moved into the area in order to help take care of her ill mother and has since found herself with a plethora of free time to write.

Leontii has been writing for about eight years now and is a full-time author. The writing bug bit her rather early in her life and since she discovered she enjoyed it, she hasn’t stopped. She started writing short stories in high school and has since moved on to focus on novels. She likes writing erotic fiction the most and tends to lean towards strong elements of horror, suspense, fantasy, mythos, and the paranormal.

Participating Blogs

Stacy Juba!

Welcome Stacy Juba! We're so excited to hear about your new book. Tell us more about it!

Sink or Swim

A fun beach read endorsed by contestants from Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race. Ambitious personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on Sink or Swim, a hit reality show. Not only does she lose and have to walk the plank, but after the game show ends, the terror begins. Upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she has attracted a stalker masterminding his own twisted game. She struggles to focus on her health club job and celebrity endorsement opportunities, but her stalker has other plans. As her former competitors get knocked off one-by-one, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker's bizarre rules. She's also being shadowed by hunky photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for a spread in the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be what he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must once again walk the plank...this time for her life.

Available in e-book and audiobook formats from retailers including:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Sony Reader Store

iBookstore

Kobo

Audible

Excerpt

Cassidy sat poised in her chair as former contestants filed onto the soundstage at WBC in New York. Together, the studio audience and television viewers had watched the recorded footage of her walking the plank. Gabriel would now interview the competitors from the inaugural season one final time.

More importantly, he would announce her prize. If it erased most of her debts, then it would at least make this whole embarrassing experience worthwhile. Cassidy’s heart kicked in her chest and sweat moistened her brow.

As one of her old teammates entered, her heart rate skyrocketed for a different reason. Josh Sanchioni slid into a bucket seat, carrying himself stiffer than normal in his sharp gray suit. Studio lights caught his sunbleached strawberry blonde waves, brightening the reddish gold tints.

Cassidy slipped her gaze to his leather shoes. If Josh hadn’t been engaged, they could have been an item. Instead, they’d been good friends until that one evening when the cameras were off and they almost kissed. They’d both realized their mistake and backed away. Things were strained until Josh walked the plank a week later.

Tonight, not only did Cassidy have to face Josh, she would probably meet his fiancée.

Her cheeks heating, Cassidy focused on the competitor beside Josh as a distraction. Adam Horton sat erect, hands folded in the lap of his olive green khakis. He wasn’t military, but he dressed like an Army wannabe. His reptilian eyes drilled into Cassidy, his angular face revealing the shape of bones underneath. A blond goatee darkened his pointy chin.

Cassidy shuddered involuntarily. Adam never said much, but he made her uncomfortable just the same.

Fun Facts About the Fictional TV Show Sink or Swim

Sink or Swim, nicknamed SOS, is one of the hottest shows on TV. In the book, we meet the contestants as the show is ending and they are returning to their normal lives. But their lives will be forever impacted by their stint on Sink or Swim...and not in a good way.

The Premise: Under the show’s setup, 12 contestants assisted as crew members aboard a Tall Ship and competed in four teams. The “real” crew awarded points to the teams based on skill and neatness with team members pooling their numbers to win privileges like movie nights, dinners in the officers’ mess, or a special event such as a luau. Jobs included furling and unfurling sails, scrubbing toilets, chipping paint off bulkheads, and serving food. Low-scoring teams completed embarrassing tasks such as doing the hula as their competitors’ entertainment. Once a week, a contestant walked the plank and left the show.

Who's Who in the Cast

Here are the most important personalities from the show in terms of what happens once the cameras are turned off.

Cassidy Novak

She’s a personal trainer who wants to launch her own chain of fitness centers and help people to lead healthier lifestyles, but due to her college loans, her only immediate chance at becoming an entrepreneur was winning a million dollars on Sink or Swim...which didn't happen. 

Josh Sanchioni

Josh and Cassidy shared a few special moments aboard the ship. His mission is speaking out about domestic violence. Unfortunately, Josh is engaged.

Gabriel Collins

He left the soap opera world 15 years ago and hopes hosting Sink or Swim will be his big comeback.

Adam Horton

He dresses in military fatigues and has a weird way of looking at Cassidy.

Reggie Elliott

A New Jersey bred ladies man who wants to use his fame to pursue an acting career…if he lives long enough to move to Hollywood. 

Felicia Fowler

Daughter of a famous movie director, Felicia has a bad attitude and decided that she doesn't like Cassidy. 

Six normal people who were thrust into the spotlight. Only four will survive.

Visit Stacy Juba's website for more information on Sink or Swim and her other books for adults, teens and children.

Jess Buffett!

Let's all give a warm welcome to Jess Buffett who's with us to share a little about her latest release Dmitri's Little Spitfire.

jessbuffett@gmail.com

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | SIREN | SILVER | TWITTER

Meet Elijah Collins

Name: Elijah Collins

DOB: April 3rd

Height: 5”4

Eye Color: Iridescent

Species: Unknown

Rank: N/A

Biography

Elijah has been under the control of Potestas for as long as he can remember. Before that he was a child in the foster care system, with no family and no friends. His smaller stature left him a target for bullies, and it was only the friendship of Sawyer and Riley McLeod that gave him hope. He wants to believe that he can have his happily ever after, but doesn’t think he deserves it anymore. And he has a secret, one that not even he has all the answers for.

Favorites 

Food: Chicken Caesar Salad

Color: Violet

Movie: Fast and the Furious

Song: Rebirthing by Skillet 

TV Show: True Blood

Dmitri’s Little Spitfire [Hunter Clan 3]

Elijah Collins is ashamed. Used to hurt his friends by Potestas, he now finds it hard to even look someone in the face. Especially Dmitri, his mate. When a truth about Elijah is discovered, Potestas also find out. Now that they know his true worth, he becomes an even bigger target than before.

Dimitri Kalas has always prided himself on being calm and in control. It is his job to help protect his Clan, and most importantly his mate. But when he finds out that the people responsible for hurting his Kayan’s mate have also been abusing his mate, he becomes incensed.

Will Dimitri be able to convince his mate that he is worth love and forgiveness? Or will Elijah allow his guilt to consume him and turn himself over to the enemy in order to keep his friends safe?

BUY