Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
The Magic of Christmas: Books
Holiday / December 16, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Whether you call it Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply: the holiday season. I love this time of year from the hustle and bustle of shoppers to the profusion of Christmas lights springing up like a verdant field of wild, glowing flowers in the night. Some areas are decorated to the nines, with specialized themes or stories told in imagery while others are simply lights spilling out like gems for the night sky to admire. Finding the Perfect Gift The season is a challenge to how much you know about the people you love. Do you find them the gifts they asked for? The gifts that they would appreciate? Do some items stand up, waving their arms and yell: I would be perfect for him or her! The retail stores are packed to the gills with new items from clothes to books to music and electronics. Video games are often popular and the tried and true stuffed animal remains a seasonal favorite. It doesn’t matter that the stores have been laden with holiday ornamentation since October (and sometimes even earlier). They take…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Celebrate!
Holiday / December 15, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations Since we began the giveaway on Black Friday, the The Daily Dose with the help of many fabulous authors has given away more than 30 gifts to the friends, sons, daughters, brothers, mothers and fathers of loved ones who nominated them for gifts. What began as a desire to give back some this holiday season has turned out far better than I could ever have imagined! As we end our holiday giveaway, we have just one final giveaway left. Today, I am offering three copies of my latest e-book novel: PRIME EVIL for the ones you nominate. Come away with me to the farm rich countryside of Northern Virginia as hedge witch Chance Monroe fights for her way of life when serial killer Randall Oakes returns from the dead. Chance must confront a troubled past, a supernatural adversary and a sizzling passion that has lain dormant for years. PRIME EVIL Nearly a decade ago, Randall Oakes left hedge witch Chance Monroe for dead. Now he’s back along with her ex-lover, Jack. The FBI wants Chance in protective custody, but Chance knows it won’t be enough to protect her from Oakes. Connected…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Kitty Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Holiday / December 13, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations What do you get with a werewolf named Kitty, a radio show and a fresh look at werewolves in literature? The answer is Carrie Vaughn‘s exciting first book in the Kitty Norville series: KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. My husband picked this up on a whim because the title sounded like something I would read and as usual, he was right. I adored the fresh take on werewolves and supernatural politics set against the backdrop of a night time talk radio show. Vaughn captures the nuances of talk radio, but adds wonderful spice with Kitty’s very “normal” reactions to the supernatural world in which she exists. Today, Carrie Vaughn is giving away an autographed KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR with a bonus homemade CD of the playlist. I think whomever you nominate for this gift is in for a real treat. KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is the first in a series of six published novels with the seventh being released this January. If you’re looking for a fresh take on werewolves, supernatural politics and sexy, fun humor, this is the series for you. KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR Kitty Norville…

Saturday Smackdown: Fairy Tale Style
Holiday / December 12, 2009

In honor of The Princess and the Frog today, our Saturday Smackdown features two classic princesses that have inspired generations of girls for more than half a century each. Arguably, since both are based on classic fairytales that are centuries older than their animated counterparts, their influence is considerable on classic and modern romantic literature. Fairy Tales The beauty of a fairy tale is the transcendence from everyday life to a magical place or time where happily ever after is not only possible, it is required. As a culture, we love fairy tales; we love the idea of the underdog triumphing, of true love’s first kiss and of love at first sight. We believe in men who will slay dragons to be with the one they love and of men who see beyond the shallow and innocuous to the true beauty that is within. You will find all of these qualities in our two superb fairy tale contenders. However, it is up to you to choose which one is the better. One lucky commentator will win a $10 gift certificate to Amazon next Saturday just in time for that last minute shopping! Click here to read more and see how…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Come to Ashby and See
Holiday / December 11, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations REMEMBERING ASHBY is a tale of love and passion that began as the backstory for the upcoming novel THE FORGOTTEN. As with all stories, it took on a life of its own. Melanie and Adam are very dear to my heart and their love story is one of sweet romance, rich history and tender passion. Today, I want to share this romance with someone you love. You may also enjoy the free short story that follows it and leads to the sequel. Discover Forget to Remember on my website. REMEMBERING ASHBY Peace among the clans has been nonexistent for the past centuries. But now that clan Lairds have decided to summon the God-touched people from their magical Isle to perform the rituals of Beltane to bless the peace talks between the clans, peace is within reach. Melanie is honored to be chosen as one of six maidens to represent the Goddess at this important event. She is meant to be a vessel for the power of the Goddess while forgetting the failures of humanity during the festival. She knows should be concentrating on her part as a Maiden of the Hunt,…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Frolic and Play, the Paranormal Way
Holiday / December 10, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations Good morning, the weather outside is truly getting frightful as the cold snap seems to be here to stay in the United States. It was 25 degrees Fahrenheit in Texas yesterday morning — brrrrr cold. But we’ve been handing out some hot books to ward off the chill all week and today is no exception. Joining us for today’s giveaway is author Shirin Dubbin. I met Shirin via Twitter over the summer when her book KEEPER OF THE WAY released. The story was delightful and the author even more so. I now count Shirin among my very dearest friends, few others out there really get me and she is definitely one that does. We often joke we’re sisters from another mother. Her giveaway today is a wonderful combination of fae and vamps and weres, oh my! So let’s frolic and play, the paranormal way! All books will be sent via Buy This Ebook For A Friend option on Fictionwise. Check out the great eBooks that Shirin has picked out: Keeper of the Way Aftermath cleaner, Nia Mora, is destined to die–tonight. Severin, the inscrutable and utterly delicious harbinger of death has…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Do You Hear What Ian Hears?
Holiday / December 9, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General ObservationsPersonally, I’m having so much fun with our Holiday Blog giveaway and today we are featuring author Nikki Duncan and her tremendous SOUNDS TO DIE BY. Nikki is a great writer, a fun friend and definitely someone I enjoy talking to and reading. Give this tremendous e-book to someone you love this holiday season. The best part of the book is it is just the first in the series of her Sensory Ops so there are more hot tales to come. What did I think of Ian and rookie FBI agent Kieralyn? SOUNDS TO DIE BY has a pulsing, rhythmic beat that mixes Boston sensibility with Miami sound machine to create a passionate movement that sustains throughout the novel. SOUNDS TO DIE BY Rookie FBI Agent Kieralyn Beckett is in a delicate position. Her team refuses to buy into her theory that a string of kidnappings is connected. If she pushes too hard, they’ll discover the latest victim was her college roommate and boot her off the case. A garbled recording is the only evidence, and there’s only one man who can decipher it. The hard part will be convincing him to…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Maggie Christmas
Holiday / December 7, 2009

The Daily DoseSmattering of Romance, Paranormal, and General Observations Last week, the The Daily Dose gave away Rosemary Clement-Moore‘s THE SPLENDOR FALLS, this week we’re offering the trilogy that earned Rosemary a RITA during the recent Romance Writers of America national convention. Her trilogy of books focusing on Maggie Quinn, a high schooler with a gift, a grandmother, stable parents and a hot young grad student who’s interested in her. The young adult series begins with PROM DATES FROM HELL where Maggie struggles with her awakening gifts and senior year (and not necessarily in that order). HELL WEEK follows Maggie through her first semester at college and the infamous hell week associated with pledging a Greek house. The third and final installment in her Girl vs. Evil trilogy is HIGHWAY TO HELL and a Spring Break gone awry. These books are laugh out loud funny, deliciously written and terrifically engaging. All three are autographed by the author and available as a gift to the person you nominate. Learn more about these terrific books: PROM DATES FROM HELL From School Library Journal: Under normal circumstances, Maggie Quinn would want nothing to do with the vicious, elite clique at her high school….

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: A Strangely, Beautiful Gift
Holiday / December 4, 2009

Capping off this fabulous week of holiday blog giveaways is Leanna Renee Hieber. Leanna paid a visit to the Daily Dose for a fabulous conversation about her beautiful Victorian fantasy. Today, Hieber is offering a signed copy of both of her books and a $10 dollar Barnes and Noble gift certificate as an exquisite gift package for someone you nominate. Discover her beautiful books: Visit The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…. Discover Dark Nest Winner of the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in published…

Daily Dose Holiday Blog Giveaway: Going Green with ARe Bucks
Holiday / November 30, 2009

Think Green this holiday season in more ways than one as author Kellyann Zuzulo is giving away $25 in ARe bucks. All Romance eBooks is an online bookseller who deals exclusively in eBooks. You can find all of Sapphire Blue Publishing’s authors listed there, moi included. This is a fantastic gift for readers of romance who also enjoy ebooks. Djinn in the Box A journalist by training, Kellyann has worked as a writer for Yankee Magazine, Cobblestone magazine, and national consumer and health magazines; as a book development editor; as a media relations representative; and as a director of communications for a non-profit. Her novel, A GENIE IN THE HOUSE OF SAUD, draws upon her experience as a former managing editor of two publications for the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC. Her second novel, The Third Wish is available in eBook from Sapphrie Blue Publishing. Kellyann is a smoking hot writer and a terrific storyteller. So enjoy the chance to go green this holiday and nominate a friend or family member to win. Click here to read how to enter Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.