Bail Out by Jade Chandler: Sneak Peek

BAIL OUT

A Brotherhood Bonds Romance

I was fortunate enough to have Jade Chandler, erotic and suspense romance author extraordinaire, share an excerpt with me from her new release Bail Out.

These bonds don't break...

     I stared out the front window trying to get my shit together. The simmering anger built into a raging fire. I wasn’t doing this. 

     “That’s none of your business.”
     “True enough.” He placed cash on the table and moved to leave.
     “Stay.” I placed my hand on his wrist and electricity sparked between us. My pride had already been decimated. Why did I care what this stranger thought of me?
     “I can get married.” 
     I spoke through gritted teeth, but I made sure he understood that option wasn’t happening. It’d be the same as letting my father win.
     The bastard threw his head back and laughed, I contemplated choking the life out of him even as his sexy laugh sent quivers through my belly. 
     “Princess, there are hundreds of men in Dallas who’d line up for the honor. Pick one, get the business and divorce his ass.” His dancing eyes landed on me. “What’s the big deal?”
     “The big deal?” I sputtered. I threw my hands up. “I don’t want to be married. My daddy didn’t get married to inherit the business nor my grandpa or his grandpa.”
     “You’ll kill yourself trying to catch Stone, but not get married?” He leaned forward. “What the fuck does it matter how you get the company as long as it’s yours?”
     “You ever had everyone look down on you, think you aren’t good enough?”
     His face went black. “Yup.”
     Something ate at him. I filed the information away before I admitted the next ugly truth. “They
look at me like that now. Why the hell would I add to it? Or give that windbag who calls himself my
father the satisfaction of making me?” I shoved down the hurt and let the pissed off reign free inside me.
     It burned away all the other emotion.
     Cocking his head to the side, he stared at me. No doubt reading the sad shreds of my soul. I felt like I’d been chopped up, wrung out and spit out a mangled mess at his feet.
     “True enough.” He held out a hand. “You got yourself a partner.” 

*******************

Want more?

The book is available now through Carina Press and other major retailers. You can purchase it here: https://www.carinapress.com/shop/books/9781488030581_bail-out.html.

If you want to stay connected with Jade and learn more about her other sexy romances, follow her on Twitter at @JadeChandlerRom.

Happy reading!

Heroes Are My Weakness: Book Review

I got off work early one day and parked myself in the Starbucks cafe at my local Barnes & Noble. Two hours later I had blazed my way through the first few chapters of the latest Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel. This led me to the romance section, where I bought every book of hers in stock. And the first one I read all the way through was Heroes Are My Weakness.

The Synopsis

After her mother's death, ventriloquist Annie Hewitt proceeds to the isolated island of Peregrine off the coast of Maine. Out of a job and out of money after trying to honor her mother in her final months, Annie dreads facing the island where the worst summer of her life took place.

Her fears are only intensified when she goes to the old Harp mansion in the dead of night to seek help, only to run into the man who raised her hopes as a young teenager before ripping them to shreds...Theo Harp, horror author extraordinaire.

As Annie and her puppets adjust to life on the island, she continues to run into Theo, whose previous psychotic behavior when they were her kids makes more than a little leery. But as odd events start to escalate and her life is threatened, she realizes the only person she can trust is the very man she once feared above all else.

The Puppets

Yeah, you read the above part right. Annie and her puppets.

I'm not going to lie, the first chapter nearly had me cursing myself for buying the book instead of checking it out at the library first. Annie is driving through a snowstorm and having in-depth conversations with her collection of puppets as she navigates the winter storm that has welcomed her to Peregrine.

It freaked me out. I had zero relation to Annie. But I loved the book I had read at Barnes & Noble and pushed through.

I'm so glad I did! I don't want to give away spoilers, but just know that the puppets actually end up playing an integral part in the story, and in a way that will rip your heart out but also deliver a satisfying conclusion to one of the story threads.

Annie

At first Annie was not my favorite. Mostly because of the puppets, not going to lie.

But as the story went on I fell in love with her. She's pretty but not gorgeous. She gave up so much to help her mother, a woman who wasn't the kindest to her. She goes out of her way multiple times to help others, and yet she also has a wicked sense of humor that had me laughing out loud.

I also like how she doubts herself, but realistically so. I have a hard time with heroines who are perfect, can do everything right, etc., but I also have a hard time with those who constantly question themselves, can't accept a compliment, etc. Annie was a realistic balance of the two and I wanted her to not only fall in love but achieve all of her dreams.

Theo

Theo's entrance into the story was P-E-R-F-E-C-T. I don't want to spoil, but just know that for a Regency writer/reader like myself it made my eyes go wide, my mouth drop open and my heart go rat-a-tat-tat.

Theo was also a hero that I wasn't sure about. The first half of the book paints a psychotic character that you can't possibly see being redeemed. Not only did he commit heinous acts against Annie when she was younger, but he's now a bestselling horror author. Creepy...

But by the end of the book not only is he redeemed, but you want him to have everything he wants, including Annie. I had an idea of where the book was going on this particular topic, but it was still done with a few twists I hadn't anticipated. Definitely a unique line for a contemporary romance, which made me fall in love with it even more.

The Alpha Hero & Gothic Themes

The book makes multiple nods to the Gothic romances of old, including the spooky mansion, brooding heroes and even a memorable run by the heroine from danger. I loved these elements, especially how well they fit into the plot despite the contemporary setting.

One thing I also liked was how Theo was truly an alpha hero, and yet one I liked. I've found in many books of late, at least to me, that alpha hero=jerk. Possessive, rude, harsh.

But he loves the girl, so that's worth something, right?

Not in the case of Theo. There's an awesome article from 2014 from Heroes & Heartbreakers titled "Alpha-holes vs. Alpha-gents" (http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2014/08/alpha-holes-vs-alpha-gents). Theo falls more into the alpha-gent category, and especially in the second half of the book I fell in love with him, from some of his more grand gestures to the smallest ones that affected not just Annie but others on the island.

The Final Decree: 4.5 stars

I love, loved this book. If I was just judging it on the first few chapters to third, it would be closer to 3.5, but the second half made it incredible. A unique storyline, memorable characters and multiple twists, as well as a mystery with a resolution that I never saw coming.

Well done, Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Well done.

Halloween Book Review: This House is Haunted

I love Halloween.  And fall.  And everything that comes in pumpkin flavor (chai lattes, caramels, pancakes, soups, etc.).

Along with this major love fest comes a love of movies and books associated with Halloween.  Which is why when I passed by This House is Haunted featured on the Spooky Table at my local library I couldn't resist.  And even though it wasn't a 5-star book for me, it was still an enjoyable read, especially when read at night with a glass of wine and the curtains thrown open to a full moon.

For those of you not familiar with author John Boyne, he's the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Beautiful but heart-wrenching novel about concentration camps in World War II.

Synopsis 

Boyne takes this novel back over 70 years from World War II to the year 1867.  The book opens up with spinster school teacher blaming Charles Dickens for the loss of her beloved father, the last member of her family.  Her father's sudden death leaves her alone in London.  That, along with the loss of her house and the realization that her only tie to the city is her work with her school, prompts her to make a change.

Enter a mysterious ad in the paper for a governess.  Eliza answers the ad and is offered the position almost immediately.  Her train ride proves uneventful, but as soon as she arrives in Norfolk she becomes the target of a chilling and unnatural force.  This is followed by the revelation that aside from her two young charges and two other servants she is the sole occupant of rambling Gaudlin Hall.  Her absent employer continues to stay away, leaving Eliza to question not only the tragedy that left Isabelle and Eustace without parents, but her sanity as accidents continue to happen that threaten her health and eventually her life.

As the accidents grow even more violent and past events come to light, Eliza becomes trapped in a supernatural fight between good and evil.  She can't leave the children behind to the madness plaguing the house.  But it won't be long before the demons of Gaudlin Hall finish her off, once and for all.

What I Liked

Style

Boyne's writing style is enjoyable.  The details he included gave me pictures of the setting, from the small but cozy home Eliza shared with her father to the slowly decaying yet still regal Gaudlin Hall.  Boyne also didn't just rely on sight to tell his story.  Authors who incorporate the other senses automatically get props.

Creepy Kiddos

Isabelle was an unexpected and welcome change to the traditional spooky housekeeper, butler, gardener, etc. (although there were several creepy  She came across as a little serial killer in the making. And yet Boyne managed to make her a sympathetic character, too, as the story progressed.

Wednesday Addams would do this character justice

Eustace, on the other hand, wrapped his way around my heart as we got deeper into the story.

Plot

I enjoyed the story. This was my first Gothic ghost book ever, so I liked the change of pace compared to the historical/cozy mysteries and Regency romance I normally read. The end was a little anti-climatic, but the build-up to the story and the suspense with the absence of adults in the house was done well.

What I Didn't Like

Boyne Isn't a Woman...

I love when writers tackle characters outside their own experiences. When done well (i.e. To Kill a Mockingbird) you've got the makings of a classic, or at the very least a book you can't put down.

Unfortunately, there were multiple scenes where I felt like Boyne just didn't have a clue how women are. Eliza's obsession with men looking at her, checking her out, responding to flirtations, etc., came across as cliche and at times frustrating.

Don't get me wrong, women notice. We fantasize. We worry about our appearance. We want love, romance, adventure, etc.

BUT...

It just got to be over-the-top and distracting from the story.

Eliza

I didn't get to know Eliza that well. I admired her tenacity in pursuing the mystery and her dedication to staying with the kids, but I didn't get to know much about her aside from her missing her father, thinking she's plain and secretly wanting a romance.

If It Were a Movie...

Kate Maberly

Kate Maberly, who I know best from The Secret Garden (1993, best version ever), could do Eliza justice and bring some depth to the character. I wouldn't describe Kate as "plain," but her turn as Mary in The Secret Garden shows her ability to fade into the background as well as wow with subtle character development.

Final Tally

I'd give this book 3 stars. Recommended for Gothic, ghost and Halloween fans. Not one I'd pay full-price for again, but still a decent read.

Writing a Romance Scene: Challenges & Tips

Once again I have failed at blogging regularly. So once again...I'm going to give this thing another shot.

Did you know writing a romance scene is the hardest thing ever?

I had gotten within a few thousand words of my 70,000 mark when it happened. My hero and heroine were in a dark room with a dying fire, hormones blazing, chests heaving...and I panicked.

Confession: I've never written a sex scene before.

I started to write it. The kissing was pretty easy; I've written that before. Even the beginning of the foreplay flowed naturally.

But then the clothes started coming off. And the panic started. The scene started to read more like a medical manual or a maintenance how-to; "Insert Thing 1 into..."

How did authors write red-hot romance scenes? And how did I avoid writing the overly long or awkward scenes that I as a reader skipped over.

My first stop: my critique group. What did they do to overcome the romance hurdle?

Some of the best pieces of advice I got:

1. Create a sexy playlist. The author who suggested this reminded me to keep in mind what kind of scene it was when finding songs. Was it hot and heavy? Erotic? Or more sensual?
2. Watch sexy movies. Some suggestions: Pretty Woman, TheNotebook, Phantom of the Opera (the Gerard Butler version), An Affair to Remember, Shakespeare in Love, Romancing the Stone and Dirty Dancing.
3. Wine. Drink it.
4. Read your favorite authors. The other three suggestions worked well, but this one worked the best. Just reading some of my favorite authors and their romance scenes, noting the language that was appropriate for the time period and how they led up to the main event, was a huge help. Just maintain an awareness when you go to write that you're not letting some of your muse's work bleed into yours.

These suggestions helped quite a bit. But I still struggled when I went back to add in detail or expand on some of the scenes.

Enter Laurel Clarke, my saving grace when it came to synonyms and suggestions. Her first thesaurus included synonyms for anatomical parts of both the hero and the heroine, and the second thesaurus provided an excellent overview of words to use for lovemaking:

The Lady Parts & Man Bits Thesaurus: https://laurelclarke.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/sexy-thesaurus-romance-erotica-words/

The Doing It Dictionary & Thesaurus: https://laurelclarke.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/the-sexy-thesaurus-list-action-words-to-use-in-your-romance-novel/

The "Twenty Steps to Writing Great Love Scenes" from Karen Wiesner was also a huge help: http://www.writing-world.com/romance/love.shtml. Not only does she give great advice based on what you're comfortable with as an author, but she also constantly reminds you to keep the details of your story in mind, from what your characters would be comfortable with to what type of language you'd use. The two best pieces of advice I took from her article?

Sometimes a very short scene can sum up an erotic encounter better than two to five pages of graphic detail can.

Your book won't be seamless if you don't chronologically. It'll sound like the author (the characters, too?) is on acid. Keep in mind that each sensual scene should be an outreach, a layering of the characters, showing their growth towards each other.

The last one resonated with me because I desperately wanted to skip the sex scenes and come back to them. For some this may work great, but powering through it I was able to hang on to the anger, the disappointment, the hopelessness that brought the characters to that moment. If I would have come back to it later, I don't know if I could have captured that same emotion.

The romance scene is still in progress. My first draft made me want throw down my pen and give up. The second draft made me feel a smidgen better. It will probably be another five to six drafts and countless edits from my critique group before I feel confident enough to submit.

But it's there. On paper. And I'm 5,000 words from typing...

THE END

ENOUGH: Exclusive Excerpt & Interview with Debut Erotica Author Jade Chandler

ENOUGH

Jade Chandler, erotica author of Enough, joins me today to share an exclusive excerpt and a behind-the-scenes look at her inspiration for the sexy male protagonist of her debut novel.

Synopsis

     She wanted nothing to do with me. Well, that's too f*cking bad.

     My MC brothers call me Dare for a reason. I never back down from a challenge. And Lila was the sweetest challenge I ever faced. 

     From the moment she walked into my tattoo shop, she was going to end up in my bed. Tied up, moaning my name and begging for more.

     Her past was a nightmare and I couldn't guarantee her a future. But I could promise her a good time.

     I didn't know what we would turn into, let alone how hard it'd be to stay away after my selfish ass sent her packing.

     Problem is, my girl is hot, so the same men I call brothers tried to claim her.

     There's not enough bourbon in the world to help me forget the love we shared. But to get her back, to prove she's more to me then a quick lay, I'll have to tell her the secret I've been hiding from everyone.

     Before she's gone forever.

Exclusive Excerpt

Lila

     I bit my lip. "I'm, uh, sorry..."

     In two huge strides he moved into my space, bent his head and captured my lips. Hard. Bruising. The kiss demanded surrender.

     I released the pent-up sexual need, feeding it into my kiss. He stepped back before he wrapped his arms around me, dragging me into him. I tangled my fingers in his long hair. I sucked his lower lip, worrying it between my teeth.

     His lips left mine but I held onto his hair.

     "We're not done here." He squeezed my hands. "But I gotta jet. Be back in two hours. Then we talk."

    His scent surrounded me, and ripples of desire ran down my spine. I released his hair when he stepped away, the corn silk-soft strands slipping through my fingers.

     his gaze bore into me for a long moment, and I read an entire love story in mere seconds. The fiery attraction, all-consuming lust and eventual heartbreak-always my love story.

Speed Date with Jade Chandler

1. Who would play Dare in the movie version of Enough?

Chris Hemsworth. He has the look of Dare in mind. Plus can we say oh-so-sexy.

2. Interesting writing quirk?

Interesting writing quirk is a hard one. I don't write naked or anything, and I generally write in order. I have to listen to music and I write fast in the first draft. Even if I try and slow down my writing it doesn't improve the writing; I just end up distracted. My favorite writing spot is a recliner in the living room. My kids are watching TV and I have in earphones writing away. Is that quirky?

3. Inspiration for those sexy love scenes?

Imagination! And a kick ass sex scene playlist. Since I write erotic romance sometimes I have to do research for the kinkier scenes. I am very grateful for Google incognito. But I have already had several people ask if I've tried all the scenes in the book...uh, nope. But I love writing them.

4. Strangest thing you had to research for this book?

C*ck piercing was the strangest thing I researched since my hero has a very sexy and useful apadravya piercing. However, I will warn you the pics are graphic and not always something you want to see. :)

5. Favorite motorcycle?

Harley Dyna Wide Glide. Also the one that Dare rides.

Find Jade online:

http://jadechandler.com/

https://twitter.com/jadechandlerrom

https://www.facebook.com/JadeChandlerAuthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15158928.Jade_Chandler

Want to buy the book?

https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Motorcycle-Romance-Jericho-Brotherhood-ebook/dp/B01EEXM9KW

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29833324-enough

Chalk on the Dance Floor: A Regency Tradition

The Regency era. The words inspire thoughts of elegant gowns modeled after Grecian goddesses, elegant balls, and of course the historical romances we can't get enough of.

But one thing I didn't hear about until I started researching balls and soirees for The Earl's Scandalous Lady was the use of chalk on dance floors.

Side note: did anyone else try eating chalk as a kid?

Okay, so it didn't quite look like this. But according to Historical Hussies (http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html), the wealthiest ton hostesses would have elaborate chalk drawings done on their dance floors.  Not only did this provide traction for dancing slippers, but it spoke to the wealth and prestige of the house. Historical Hussies' article also provides an excellent summary of the types of dance floors and how ballrooms were laid out for big events.

The Queluz National Palace Ballroom, located in Queluz, Portugal

Thanks to Cheri Champagne for the photo!

Fast Facts for Writers

Unfortunately images of this practice were hard to come by.  But for those historical writers out there, a couple fast facts in case you want to use this for future projects:

• This was a practice done most commonly between 1808 and 1821.
• Not a standard practice for just any ball. Events had to be special, and usually only the wealthiest families did this.
• Artists were hired to do the drawings.
• Designs could be anything: nymphs, symbols, flowers, or even people.
• Dancers would rub chalk on the bottom of their slippers to prevent slipping, especially during the more vigorous dances.
• Hostesses with more worn floors could use the chalk to their advantage: wow their guests with their beautiful designs, ensure the safety of dancers and cover up their home's flaws.

Did I Step On His Nose?

The best, and perhaps unique, drawing example I found was courtesy of Donna Hatch and Allison Thompson, who shared that at the annual hunt ball in Warwick in 1813 "...the floor of the ballroom sported a colored-chalk full-length figure of Guy, Earl of Warwick, 'in complete armor,' as well as another gentleman 'in the uniform of a Member of the hunt,' taking a flying leap over a barred fence."

I personally would find it a little odd to look down and be happily dancing across someone's face. 

But maybe that's just me...

Thank You

The articles below, especially the one by Kathryn Kane, were very helpful in researching this practice. While I only make a brief reference to it during a scene where my hero and heroine end up out in the garden together at a ball (scandalous!), I love slipping in those unique details that make the past come alive.

Resources

• Historical Hussies: http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2013/08/regency-ballrooms.html
• Cheri Champagne: http://cherichampagneauthor.blogspot.com/2012/10/something-british-monday-in-drawing-room.html
• Donna Hatch: http://donnahatch.com/regency-ballrooms/
• Kathryn Kane: https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/the-now-vanished-ephemeral-art-chalking-the-regency-ballroom-floor/
• Allison Thompson: http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol31no1/thompson.html

Book Review: Murphy's Law (Historical Suspense with a Dash of Romance)

I recently took a lovely vacation to Florida for a mini girls' reunion. 6 days away from home meant I needed to pack at least book per day. Thank God for Southwest, where I can take a suitcase of books and not pay extra.

On my trip from Kansas City to the coast I happened to crack open the pages of my now new favorite mystery series...

Quick synopsis, courtesy of Goodreads:

Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of late nineteenth-century America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.

If she can't clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

Bowen pulled me in right from the beginning with her vivid descriptions, from Molly's frantic train ride from the scene of her crime to the elegant streets and shops just a few streets away from poverty-stricken burrows in London to the bowels of a ship stuffed with immigrants on it's Atlantic crossing.  I cared not just for Molly but for all the immigrants; little details were used to great advantage, and it definitely provided me with a fresh perspective on this time period.  The scene where the immigrants disembark see Lady Liberty for the first time was especially moving.

The mystery itself, as some on Goodreads have pointed out, was a little too convenient at times, but I didn't guess the bad guy 'til it was revealed at the end, and it was still a fun ride.  I am a romance junkie (gasp! Who knew?), so the developing relationship between Molly and handsome Detective Sullivan was an added treat.

The best way to demonstrate my love for this series is that I went out to three bookstores and tried to find the next one...

That face when you can't find your book 

and you want it NOOOOOW...

But alas, it was not to be. Which resulted in a mad dash to Amazon to promptly order the next three...

If It Was a Movie...

Something new I'm trying for my book review posts: picking out actors and actresses who would play the lead roles if the book were made into a movie. For Murphy's Law:

Karen Gillan as Molly Murphy

Aside from hailing from the same region as Molly (Karen is from Scotland), this girl kicks butt as Amy Pond, companion to the Eleventh Doctor in the rebooted Doctor Who, and as Nebula, the devilish blue fiend in Guardians of the Galaxy. Perfect for feisty, independent Molly Murphy.

Peter Mooney as Detective Daniel Sullivan

Peter Mooney hails from the other side of the pond, namely Canada, and served as Officer Nick Collins in the series Rookie Blue. Aside from being boyishly handsome it wasn't hard to picture Peter in the role of Detective Daniel Sullivan, an intelligent and charismatic member of the police force who doesn't quite know how to handle the relentless Irish immigrant he knows is hiding something. His attraction to a potential murder suspect doesn't make it easy, and even more so when she keeps showing up wherever there's trouble.

Final Tally: 

4.5 stars and highly recommend!

Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15793189-murphy-s-law

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Murphy-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250014085/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=