Character Interview

Well, I'm happy to announce my holiday filled night wrapping gifts and watching Christmas movies has brought me out of my funk. My family is coming in on Friday and I can't wait to see them!

Today, I'm at Reading Between the Wines Book club. I interviewed Julie, the heroine from my latest release, The Wolf Within. Brendan, the Hero, makes an appearance as well. It's a fun post so I hope you'll stop by and check it out.

 http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2011/12/wolf-within-by-sondrae-bennett.html

They also have a lovely review of the book on their blog HERE. "Sondrae Bennett story telling is consistent and precise which makes her Alpine Woods Shifters series just that much more enjoyable!"

Where is the snow?

The Christmas excitement hasn't hit me, yet. I'm still having a hard time believing it is only a week away! My shopping is almost done. I have one more gift to buy and I know exactly what I'm getting, just haven't picked it up yet. But even shopping was less exciting than in years past. Picking out gifts for my loved ones is usually my favorite part of the holiday season. As I peruse through stores, I can picture everyone's face as they open their present. But this year, most of my gifts are suggestions from the person or from someone else.

I think part of my funk lies with my recent move. This is the first time in my life I'm living somewhere warmer for the winter. Having grown up in Michigan, attending college in Syracuse, New York (now that is winter), and living in NYC, snow has been a staple in my winter/Christmas experience. But now, there's no snow. No knit hats with reindeer on them, no snow angels, or snowmen. And worst of all, very few houses with decorations and lights.

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is drive around the neighborhood and see all the different lights reflecting off the white snow. Colored lights, and white lights, and those decorated all in blue. I just love it.

Tonight, in an effort to get out of my Christmas funk, I'm going to brew up a steamy cup of hot chocolate, put on a Christmas movie (I'm banking on one being on tv since I don't have any with me, lol), and wrapping gifts to put under our tree.

What would you recommend I do to get in the Christmas spirit?

Six Sunday #5

Last week, I wasn't able to participate in Six Sentence Sunday, but I'm back again this week! If you don't know what that is, basically, it's exactly what it sounds like. Every Sunday, authors all around the Internet post six sentence snippets from anything they've written. It can be a published work, or a work in progress. Today, I've chosen to revisit the first book in my Alpine Woods Shifters series, Arctic Winds.

"Okay, I'll pick you up at eight thirty for dinner."
"Dinner?"
"Yeah, dinner. You know, like a date."
"A date?"
"I thought you said you were a fox shifter, not parrot," he teased with a glint of laughter in his eyes.

Arctic Winds is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and digital bookstores everywhere! For More information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.


See all participating authors at:

November Reads

I feel like I've read more than this in November, but I go by my Goodreads since I'm pretty good about keeping that current (and since I have a terrible memory). So here goes:

Snowballs in Hell by Eve Langlais - 3 stars - I really liked the first book in the series, but had a hard time getting into this one. Not sure why.

Stoneface by Tymber Dalton - 3.5 stars - I love Tymber Dalton, but was a bit disappointed by this book. It was missing some of the passion and some of the emotion she writes so well in her other books. Still, if you're a fan of hers, I would recommend the book. 

Artistic Vision, The Gray Court book 3, by Dana Marie Bell - 5 stars- Wow! I'm a huge fan of DMB and this book is a perfect representation of why. Amazing characters, interesting plot, and a perfect execution. Really a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance. 

Jealous and Freakn' by Eve Langlais - 4.5 stars - Another very enjoyable read by Ms. Langlais. Highly recommended. 







Some great reads this month, especially toward the end (and even more in the beginning of December!). Although Jealous and Freakn' was amazing, I have to give best read of the month to Artistic Vision by Dana Marie Bell. 

What book was your favorite November read?

Best Friends

I don't think any of us ever forget our best friends from middle school and/or high school. The bonds we form while discussing boys, eating pizza, and giggling like crazy during sleep overs remain strong throughout our lives. I still remember dancing to the Spice Girls, or singing Girl's Just Want to Have Fun at karaoke with my girlfriends from middle school, many of who I still keep touch with today. In fact, with Facebook, I'm able to keep in touch with just about all of them in one way or another.

But my very best friend and I have done more than kept in touch. To this day, we are still best friends, even when we live on opposite ends of the country as we do now. We get together a couple times a year, I travel to her beach house for a summer trip, or she heads to wherever I happen to be living (as I've stated in early blogs, I'm a wanderer, and up til now, I haven't stayed in one place too long). Tonight, is one of these times. My best friend since the first day of middle school is heading to San Diego to spend the week with me!

I've taken the week off work and have been planning a bunch of fun activities to do together. With our shared history, it's nice to get together, remembering the good times and the bad. Because even though we've both changed, grown, as people, our friendship has changed as well, and we are still as close as ever.

Six Sunday #4

It's Sunday, and I'm once again participating in Six Sentence Sunday. This week, I've decided to post another six sentence snippet from my latest release, The Wolf Within. Enjoy!

"Why did you kiss me today?" 

"I thought that was pretty obvious." Taking one hand off the wheel, he threaded his fingers through hers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her staring at their linked hands.  

"Brendan, you're a great guy..."

"Oh please. Don't tell me you're giving me the 'you're a great guy' break-up speech."

The Wolf Within is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and digital bookstores everywhere! For More information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.


See all participating authors at:

Thank You

First, let me announce that today I'm guest blogging about why I love shifters over at Romance Author Hotspot. It's a fun post, so please stop by and say hi HERE.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in America. A day when we're supposed to give thanks and think about all the things we're grateful for in our lives. I'm grateful for a lot of different things, my health, my family, my friends. But I'm also grateful to all of you. The bloggers and reviews who have reviewed my books and help introduce me to readers, the writers who offer support online when I'm feeling low or writing advice on their blogs. Most of all, I'm grateful to my readers. Those of you who've spent your hard earned money and your time (I know how precious time can be) to read my books. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Day 2

Today is day two of my blog tour for the release of The Wolf Within, Alpine Woods Shifters book 3. I'll be over at Night Owl Reviews romance talking about how we achieve our greatest desires, and relating it back to The Wolf Within. Comment for a chance to win a copy of The Wolf Within. See the post and enter HERE.

I'll also be checking in on yesterday's guest post at Guilty Indulgence. One commenter will have a chance to win a copy of any book from the Alpine Woods Shifter series. No one commented yesterday, so plenty of opportunity to win! Don't miss out! See the post and enter HERE.

Release Day! The Wolf Within!

Happy Monday everyone! Today is a special day, because today, The Wolf Within is released! I'm so excited about this book.

To celebrate, I'm over at Guilty Indulgence Book Club talking about the book. Not only do I have a guest post up today, but I'm their featured author of the week! Yesterday, they posted their review of Arctic Winds (found HERE), with more reviews to come throughout the week. To see my guest post, head over to Guilty Indulgence Book Club!


The Wolf Within is now available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, B&N, and digital bookstores everywhere! And if you're a Goodreads member, be sure to check out the Goodreads page.

Six Sentence Sunday - #3

Since tomorrow is release day (although some sites have jumped the gun and released it early) for The Wolf Within, Alpine Woods Shifters book three, I decided to pull my six sentences from it this week. Enjoy!

 

Heat pooled in her belly, and she felt her blood bubble. What was wrong with her? She shouldn't be turned-on by this primitive grunting and growling. As he moved closer, she gripped his shoulders, his breath falling hot against her skin. He ground his hips against her again, and his mouth claimed hers in a brutal kiss. Her head fell back with a clunk against the shelf." 

The Wolf Within is available at Amazon, and for pre-order at Lyrical Press, Barnes and Noble, and digital bookstores everywhere! For more information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com. 

 See all participating authors at:

And We're Live!

Once again, Amazon has released the book a couple days early! So even though the official release day for The Wolf Within isn't until Monday, the book is available for download for kindle and kindle apps!

So if you're looking for something to read on the plane ride home this Thanksgiving, or just a good paranormal romance to curl up with this weekend, grab your copy of The Wolf Within!


http://www.amazon.com/Within-Alpine-Woods-Shifters-ebook/dp/B0069TYLR4/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321735412&sr=1-5

Guest Post - Alpine Woods Shifters

Today I'm over at L.K. Below's blog discussing series, and talking about how the Arctic Winds became the first book in the Alpine Woods Shifters. It's also the first stop in my blog tour for The Wolf Within (releasing Monday). Check it out!

http://lbelow.blogspot.com/2011/11/arctic-winds-series-by-sondrae-bennett.html

Six Sentence Sunday - #2

I had so much fun reading everyone's Six Sentence Sunday posts last week, I decided to join in again! This time, I chose an excerpt from the first book in my Alpine Woods Shifters series, Arctic Winds.

“Then what are you worried about?” Samantha whispered, gripping his forearms. He didn’t answer, but his gaze lowered to her lips and he growled again, low and deep. From her position, pushed up against the car by his hard chest, Samantha didn’t hear the rumble so much as she felt it reverberate against her. With the car behind her and the equally unyielding chest in front of her, Samantha felt an unfamiliar spike in her desire as she realized there was no escape. She didn’t want one. She had no thoughts of running away from this man.

Arctic Winds is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, and digital bookstores everywhere. For more information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.

See all participating authors at:

October Reads

I'm a little late again this month, but since it's November, I wanted to share the books I read in October. Since I did a lot of rereading in September, I made sure all of my October reads were new books. I even went a step further and read mostly new authors to me (I snuck in a Kresley Cole book even though she's not a new author to me).

Kiss of a Demon King - by: Kresley Cole - 3 stars. This book would be rated higher, but compared to the other books in the series, I found it lacking. To be honest, I've never been a fan of "capture" romances, and even though this story had a nice twist (the man starting out as the prisoner of the woman), the first half of the book was exactly that. But as always, Ms. Cole is a phenomenal writer with likeable, quirky characters. And the last half of the book was extremely enjoyable.

 
Chocolate Damsel - by: a.c. Mason - 5 stars. I picked up this book for a couple reasons, not least of which was the interesting blurb, the numerous positive reviews, and the stunning cover (I know, I'm shallow, but I totally judge books by their covers). I was very happy with what I got. The book could have been fleshed out a bit, but I knew going in that it was a novella (in my opinion if you pick up a novella, you can't expect to get a full novel), and the character development and plot were spot on. Overall, I'd highly recommend this read to anyone looking for a historical werewolf novella.

Chocolate Temptation - by: a.c. Mason - 4 star. First, let me just point out how much I love these covers. The sequel to Chocolate Damsel wasn't quite as good as the first book, which is why I rated it a 4 instead of a 5. But in all honesty, it was another highly enjoyable read. I finished both books in the course of a weekend because I simply couldn't put them down. Highly recommended.

Demons are a Girl's Best Friend - by: Linda Wisdom - 2 stars. I really struggled with this book, and ended up putting it down before finishing. I wanted to like this book, and on the surface, all the elements were there to make an incredible read. But the end product fell...flat. The heroine's snarky attitude felt like a cheap imitation of really good spunky heroines like Mac Lane or the heroines in the IAD series. It tried too hard to fit the mold of what is currently "in".

Call Me - by: Lena Matthews - 3 stars. I got this book as a kindle freebie and glad I did. It was a good no holds hot sex read, which was exactly what I was in the mood for. But I don't know that I would have been as happy had I paid for the book. Take from that what you will.

Lucifer's Daughter - by: Eve Langlais - 4 stars. I stumbled upon a character interview by ms. Langlais on Bitten by Paranormal Romance. Side note: If you haven't been to Bitten by Paranormal romance yet, I highly recommend it! The character interview was so much fun, I immediately went out and bought the first book in the series --something that pissed off the other books waiting patiently in my TBR pile. Lucifer's Daughter was a unique and enjoyable read. My biggest complaint was that it was written in first person--something that is hard to do right in my opinion. As a reader, very few books work for me when written in first person (a few do, most don't). Other than that, very enjoyable. I'm currently working on the second book and will talk about it in my November Reads post.

So those were my October Reads. Top pick of the month has to go to Chocolate Damsel by: a.c. Mason.

What books did you read in October? What was your top pick?

Six Sentence Sunday - #1

So, this is my first time participating in a blogging phenomenon called Six Sentence Sunday. The name pretty much explains it all - six sentence excerpts. :) I've chosen a piece of my newest release, Chasing Paradise, book two in my Alpine Woods Shifters series.

Gwen stared blankly into his eyes for a moment before pushing her plate aside, standing, and very deliberately crossing to the doorway into the living room. Had he said something wrong? At the doorway, she turned around and glanced back at him. 

"Are you coming?" she asked, a sparkle in her eyes.

"Coming where?"

In answer, Gwen deliberately untied her bathrobe and let it slide to the floor. "Where that look on your face promised to take us both."

Chasing Paradise is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, and digital bookstores everywhere. For more information about me or my books, check out my website at www.sondraebennett.com.

See all the participating authors at: 

Vote for me!

The Wolf Within received a fantastic review from Whipped Cream Reviews earlier this week (see the post from yesterday) and as a result, it's up for book of the week! Voting runs Saturday and Sunday only, so head on over and check it out.

Here's the review again: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2011/11/wolf-within-by-sondrae-bennett.html?zx=86be10a6a3a32b35
And here's the place to vote: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm
I'm up against some amazing authors, so head on over and show your support!

Thank you! 

An Amazing Review for The Wolf Within

 Even though The Wolf Within won't hit stores until November 21st -- a date that's quickly approaching!-- Lyrical Press sent out a few ARCs (advance review copies). Already, I've received a very nice review from Manic Readers - 4 stars.

In addition, just this week I received an email notification about another advance review from Whipped Cream Reviews. Not only did they write me an amazing review, they put me in the running for their book of the week weekend poll. Voting only runs on Saturday (tomorrow) thru Sunday, so I'll post a link to the poll when I can.

Here's some quotes from the review:

...this is a book you need to read.

Sondrae Bennett spins a great tale that makes you drop everything else to read more

See the full review HERE!

TRR YES! Party

If you don't know about this yet, you absolutely should. The Romance Reviews (TRR) is a great review site, but they also run an author/reader interaction forum as well as hosting contests. This month, they're hosting a huge contest on their site called the Year End Splash (YES!) Party. They have some fun games and trivia, and each question you answer and game you play gives you a chance to win some great prizes. I'm one of the authors involved, so you might see the Arctic Winds cover/trivia if you stop by!

Happy Almost Halloween Weekend!

I'm participating at the Halloween Blog-a-Thon over at Paranormal Romantics. Each hours is filled with a guest post from a different author. I'm slotted for the 11pm blog spot, and you should all drop by and visit me! But you should also drop by and visit some of the other bloggers. Every individual blogger is hosting a giveaway and then the blog-a-thon hosts have a big giveaway. Grand prize will be winners choice: A Kindle Touch, or a Nook wifi, or $100 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Pretty huge! So don't miss out!

Here's the schedule of events:
Sat Oct 29^th
09 AM                     Ashlynn Monroe
10                           Alianne Donnelly
11                            Beth Caudill
12 PM                      Christa McHugh
1                              Debra Anatasia
2                              DL Jackson
3                              Felicia Rogers
4                              Heather Long
5                              LK Below
6                              Lisa Beth Darling
7                              Mima
8                              Monette Michaels/Rae Morgan
9                              Deena Remiel
10                           Rhonda Print
11                           Sondrae Bennett
12                           Robert C. Roman
Sunday Oct 30
9AM                       Danielle D. Smith
10                           Megan Hussey
11                           Lyric James
12PM                      Silke Juppenlatz
1                              Stephanie Beck
2                              Tarah Scott
3                              TC Archer
4                              Tricia Schneider
5                              Erika Scott
6                              Hailey Edwards
7                              Annie Nicholas
8                              Rebecca Royce
9                              Stacey Kennedy
10                           Sara Brookes
11                           J. Hali Steele
Midnight                 Closing comment

September Reads

September was the month of re-reads for me. While recommending reads on a forum, I pulled out a few titles I hadn't read in years and years and suddenly had a craving to read them again. Imagine my surprise when the month ends and I realized I didn't read anything new in the entire month! So, although I need to finish the last book in a series I reread this month, October is going to be a month of all new reads for me (minus the one book which I've already finished LOL)! So here were my reads for September:

Amber Beach by Elizabeth Lowell   5+/5. This is the first book in the series, and one of the best romantic suspense books I've ever read. Truth be told this whole series is really a home run. I highly highly recommend this book.








Jade Island by Elizabeth Lowell  5+/5. Probably my favorite in the entire series. This book really has it all, compelling characters, a fast paced plot that draws you in from the beginning, and everything in between.

 Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell 5/5. Not quite as superb as the other books in the series, but well deserving of a five. An excellent addition to a great series.













Sea Swept, Rising Tides, and Inner Harbor By Nora Roberts. All three 5/5. One of Nora Roberts best in my opinion. Having already read the fourth one in the first few days of October, I can tell you that I did not want this series to end. I just wanted to continue seeing into their lives. An excellent example of everything a contemporary romance can be.



So those were my September reads. What were yours?

And We're Good!

Alright, it seems like most of the major tweaks have been fixed. There might still be a few minor ones needed in the upcoming days, but I think the design held up pretty well in the transfer. It's a bit more whimsical than the previous one. A bit softer. I also have a few tweaks planned for my website and when I finish with those, the blog and the website will feel more connected. Not the same, but the color scheme is similar.

What do you think of the new blog design?

Under Construction

I'm going to be uploading a customized template today to the blog. Since I've never done this before, I ask for patience if things look a bit...off today. Hopefully it will be easier than anticipated and up and running before we know it!

Exciting News!!!

I can't believe it's already the end of September! It doesn't seem real to me. Time has just flown by way too fast. But some exciting things have happened this month. The most exciting being...

drumroll please

 I contracted my fourth book!

Lyrical Press has offered me a contract for the fourth book in the Alpine Woods Shifters Series, Worth Fighting For. Right now, the release date is set for July 9th. And since I know some of you who read Arctic Winds have been requesting it, I think you'll be pleased to know this book is about the local fox Premier, Cody!

Here's the working blurb:

As leader of a fox skulk, Cody is used to feeling protective of his people. But when his best friend, Misty, gets attacked, the panic he feels has nothing to do with duty. Suddenly, he’s noticing Misty as a woman instead of the girl he grew up with. Is he willing to risk their friendship to pursue a relationship with her?

Misty has loved Cody for years, but he’s always viewed her as one of the guys. She’s tried everything to show him how perfect they would be together, without success. Now, he’s looking at her like she always dreamed he would. But every time she gets close, he pulls away.

Neither see the danger lurking in the background. Someone is plotting against the foxes, leaving them all in jeopardy…especially Misty. Can Cody overcome his fears in time to save the woman he loves? 

Already, I've started working on my pre-edits and I'm so excited. I think this story is going to be a really special addition to the series! To celebrate, I'm being taken out to a fancy restaurant tonight. It's been a long time since I was able to put on a fancy dress and go out, so I'm looking forward to it very much. 

I also just got back from a girls weekend to Universal Studios in Orlando (yes, I went to Hogwartz), but I'll save that story for another day. I'm hoping to get some of the pictures before I write about it so I can share with you all, but I wasn't the one with the camera and so far haven't gotten them. Soon hopefully! 

Until then, hope you all have a good last day of the month and a good upcoming weekend. Anyone have anything fun planned?

Dog Behavior

As many of you who've been following this blog or any of my other social networks know, I recently moved. Not only did we change location, but we also moved from a house in the suburbs to an apartment in the city. Needless to say, the amount of space we have was cut exponentially.

Now, this really wouldn't be a problem. It's actually quite nice if you ask me. But someone in the family seems to be less than pleased. At least, I'm assuming that's the cause of the most recent development.

One of our dogs, the youngest, has developed some new behavior issues. Not only has he started chewing on the furniture (so far we've caught him before he's ruined anything), but he's been stealing things. And shoes are the least of it. He did ruin a pair of slippers, but he's also danced around with a couple bras in his mouth, multiple pairs of socks, underwear, and plastic water bottles. Yep, water bottles. They don't even need to be empty. This morning, I must have left a cabinet or a door open, because every few minutes he'd have a new one in his mouth. Luckily, we got them away before he sprayed water all over the house.

The logical conclusion is that he's not getting enough exersize. But believe me, that cannot be the case. We're at the dog park or beach at least once a day, more often two, and boy do those dogs get run ragged. They end up sleeping half the day away. But as soon as he's up, he's back to his bad behavior.

So, that's what I've been dealing with. My biggest concern is not that he'll destroy something, but that he'll eat something and get sick. We've already had to deal with that when he ate a rock and needed surgery to get it out. Not the smartest dog in the world, hehe. At the moment, I don't have a good idea to stop the behavior. Right now, we've resorted to blocking him in the kitchen while we're away, and keeping a close eye on him when we're home.


Anyone else had to deal with this kind of thing? How did you take care of the problem?

What I Did on my Summer Vacation...

I feel like I should be writing a book report about what I did this summer since I've been MIA for the past few weeks. The truth is far less exciting than it sounds though. Truth is, even though summer is usually a good time for me to catch up on reading, I didn't even do a whole lot of that this year. I did spend a fun week with my friend at her summer cottage off of Lake Michigan, which was a lot of fun. And I moved across the country. Literally. I am now residing in Sunny California! It's beautiful here, but definitely an adjustment. I still feel like I'm on vacation, not that I'm in my new home.

But all in all, things are good! Chasing Paradise was released last month, and I've been hard at work preparing The Wolf Within for its November release date. I also completed Book Four in the series, Worth Fighting For. No release date for that yet. Next on my writing plate is the first book in a new series. Don't worry, I'm not through with the Alpine Woods Shifters yet, just throwing something new into the mix. :)

As for the books I've read this summer...

June:

 Her Commander (The Orion #2) by Cathryn Cade. 6/10. Not as charming as the first book, but still an enjoyable read.

 Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (IAD #3) by Kresley Cole. 10/10. I didn't think Ms. Cole could top No Rest for the Wicked, but she just might have here. I say might because I don't know that I could choose. Both are great books. If you haven't read this series and like Paranormal Romance, I highly recommend it.

Dark Needs at Night's Edge (IAD #4) by Kresley Cole. 8.5/10. Not as good as the last two but still a solid addition to the series. Another great read.



July:

 Never a Princess, Always a Frog by L.K. Below. 8/10. Very nicely done short story. There were a few points that were breezed over, but overall, a great read.

 Hidden Star by Nora Roberts (reread) 10/10. Just as good as I remembered. Loved this story and the characters.

 Dark Desires after Dusk (IAD #5) by Kresley Cole. 8/10. I really struggled with this one. It was good, don't get me wrong, but probably my least favorite in the series so far.

 Captive Star By Nora Roberts (reread) 6/10. I remember this was my least favorite when I first read these books years and years ago, and the same was true here. Had a hard time relating to the characters.

Anchor by Jorrie Spencer 7/10. I really liked the uniqueness of the story, and the main characters. The story really captured me and drew me in. The only reason this didn't receive a higher rating, was that there really wasn't any romance in this romance book. They kind of tacked it on at the end, but it didn't feel natural or complete.

August: (as you can see I went through a superhero romance phase)

 Doms of Dark Haven 2 (Western Nights). 7/10. HOWEVER: Two of the stories in here I loved loved loved. The only reason this didn't get full marks from me was because one story I hated. I couldn't even finish it. I bought the book specifically for the Cherise Sinclair story and although I wish it had been longer, she didn't disappoint.

 Screw Superman (AKA Screwing the Superhero) by Rebecca Royce. 10/10. I absolutely adored this book. One of the best books I've read this year. I highly recommend it.

 Banging the Superhero by Rebecca Royce. 8/10. Not as good as the first, but still a fantastic read. I will definitely be buying more from Ms. Royce.

 Who Wants to Date a Superhero by R.G. Alexander. 7/10. This was a fun read. I really liked the heroine and I love R.G. Alexanders use of reality tv in her books. Recommended for anyone who likes superhero romances.

 Bunny and the Bear by Eve Langlais 6/10. I really liked this book but there were a few things that tripped me up. I don't want to give anything away, but I wish she'd run with the idea of a bunny shifter instead of...well, if you read the book, I think you'll see what I mean. Also, the use of pie in reference to a woman's sex was a bit strange. And when both characters used it independent of the other, it threw me off. Overall, a cute read, and I will read more from Eve Langlais in the future, but there were a few things that threw me off about this one.

Okay, I think I'm caught up now! Whew, guess I read more than I thought (although still a bit short from usual).

What were your favorite summer reads?

Chasing Paradise Guest Blog #2

Today I'm blogging about the power of words over at Stephanie Haefner's blog. If you don't know Stephanie, well, you should. She's great. So head on over to her blog, The Writer's Cocoon, and check it out!

http://thewriterscocoon.blogspot.com/2011/08/awesome-magificent-fabulous.html

Guest Blogging and a contest

I'm over at Bitten by Paranormal Romance today and giving away an ebook. One lucky commenter will have a chance to win either Arctic Winds or Chasing Paradise. So if you've already read Arctic Winds, you can pick up the second one, and if you haven't, now's your chance!

Hope to see you all over there!

http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance.com/2011/08/guest-paranormal-romance-author-sondrae.html

Release Day!

Release day is finally here! And with it the second book in my Alpine Woods Shifter series. I have to admit, its almost more nerve wracking the second time around. I just hope I don't let my readers down and they enjoy Chasing Paradise as much as I enjoyed writing it. Gwen was a hard cookie to crack, but she's got a large heart and it was so much fun writing an otter shifter.

Throughout this week, I'll be all over the bloggerverse doing interviews and giveaways, so be sure to check back in to find out where I am. There are even a few contests going on for a chance to win.

And be sure to check out Chasing Paradise available now at Lyrical Press, Amazon, and digital bookstores everywhere!

Chasing Paradise Excerpt

Chasing Paradise

Available Monday, August 1st

When she stopped in front of him, her eyes locked on his and he was powerless to look away.

“Hi.” Her gaze shifted to the side as if searching for something to say. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier, or thank you for saving me from the wall. I’m Gwen.”

She thrust out her hand to shake his, and Ethan stared at it. How would she react if he pulled her into his arms and ravaged those beautiful lips like he wanted to? Instead, he gave her a smile and shook hands.

“Actually, you did manage to thank me.” Utterly charming him in the process, too.  The blush that stole over her cheeks only endeared her to him more. “I’m Ethan. Can I buy you a drink, Gwen?”

Her gaze drifted to the open doors behind him. “I probably shouldn’t. I try not to mingle with guests.” She continued to stare into the bar before glancing back at him, her doe-like eyes hiding nothing. She wanted to stay with him and was fighting an internal battle with her conscience. It would be easy to tip the scales in his favor.

With any other woman, he’d swing his arm around her shoulders, and guide her toward the bar with a charming smile. Instead, using his intuition as his guide, he cupped her cheek with his hand. Her eyes closed as she nuzzled her face against him but flew open moments later as he drew her closer. His other hand slipped around her waist as he tilted her chin up, aligning her lips with his.

As soon as his lips brushed against hers, his wolf growled low in his chest. Something about this woman captivated him. The need to touch her, taste her, move inside her, was unbearable. Resisting the urge to crush her against him proved difficult and he struggled to keep the kiss light.

Despite his resolution, the feel of her lips parting in silent invitation proved too much for his tightly-strung control. His tongue thrust inside, exploring her mouth as his arms pulled her tighter against him. Her hands closed into fists, pulling at him as if to draw him closer. Breaking away, he gasped for air, need setting him on fire. Gwen rested her head on his shoulder, panting as well.

“What say we skip the drink and go back up to my room?” Ethan suggested, desperate to know her better.

“No.” Her quick reply was so unexpected, it took him a moment to process.

No? He thought they had been on the same page. Her hands were still fisted in his shirt, her body a comfortable weight in his arms. Everything indicated she had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had. Hell, she’d practically melted against him. What had he done wrong?

The moment he’d met this woman, everyone else had ceased to matter. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. It devastated him to think she might not feel the same way. Letting her go tonight would be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. If that was what she wanted, he’d find a way to walk away. But it wouldn’t end there. Wolves were persistent when they wanted something and he wanted Gwen. Nothing would stop him from coming back until she was ready for him. He’d win her over eventually. No other outcome was acceptable.

“My room is bigger.”

It took a moment to process the meaning behind her words, but once he did, his soul leapt and he fought the impulse to howl.

Vacation Time!

That's right! I'm heading out to take a needed vacation! A woman who I've been best friends with since middle school owns a cabin up on Lake Michigan. So for the next week, I'll be lying on the beach, swimming, and who knows what else. The best part is, it looks and feels like the ocean, but no salt and no sharks! Although I am taking my laptop and fully anticipate to get in some writing and revising on my current wip, I am looking forward to the rest and relaxation. So I may be a bit scarce the next week, but I'll be back come Thursday or Friday--this trip timeframe is morphing on a daily basis, lol. And when I get back, I promise to spend more time blogging and visiting. Until then, stay cool everyone!