Guest Post: Candice Gilmer

I'm so excited to have Candice Gilmer on the blog today talking about her latest release, Rescuing Rapunzel! This is a book I'm really looking forward to reading. So, without further ado...

Do You Take The Stickers Off?

By Candice Gilmer

First off, I’d like to thank Sondrae for having me here at her blog, this is totally awesome, and I’m thrilled to be here. So thrilled in fact, I am giving away an ebook copy of my latest release Rescuing Rapunzel, to one lucky commenter. So be sure to comment and say hi! 

Anyway, today, I thought I’d talk about those stickers. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones they put on your new computer or phone, around the edges, maybe in between the keys, to keep your computer nice and neat and tidy, or keep your phone screen clean.

I just got a new laptop, my first one in about eight years, and it’s covered with those protective little clear stickers. Around the keys, the edges of the monitor, everywhere, all for the sake of keeping it nice and neat, and of course, I left them on. 

So excited about my new computer, I showed my mother. The first words out of her mouth?

“You’re supposed to take those stickers off, Candice.” 

I blinked. “Well, it keeps it nicer longer if you leave them on.” 

She rolled her eyes. 

I have a point, though. I do. I leave mine on, forever trying to press the air bubbles out of them so the stickers look “factory fresh.” At least, until they get crumbs under the edges, and you can’t press them back down again. 

I can’t help it, I like my things to be “just… so…” I tease my husband constantly about his OCD, but I find I have a touch of it myself. Though I consider mine just wanting to be neat and orderly (I don’t have to check my alarm clock three times before going to sleep, but I do have my quirks). 

As I write, I find that my characters sometimes pop up with little touches of OCD when I’m not looking. 

In Rescuing Rapunzel, I laughed out loud as I wrote the following scene, because I had no idea that my hero Nick was one of those “orderly” men.

Excerpt:

Nick turned to look at me. “Rapunzel, do you wish to leave this tower?”

I nodded. “Of course I do. To walk in the world, to feel the grass under my feet? That seems a most joyous experience. To dance in a stream, to feel wet sand in my fingers. All experiences I wish to have.”

“Then come with me.”

“I cannot. There are such horrors in the world. Bandits, robbers, evil beings who will hurt me, or worse.” I took a few steps toward the window. “I cannot go down there. My hair alone would render me helpless.” As if to punctuate my words, the bundle of hair I had piled on the bed hit the floor with a loud thud, jerking me to the side, and I fell into the bed. Sighing, I kicked the bundle, loosening the tight pull on my head.

I could not begin to imagine trying to run with my hair hanging behind my head.

“Are you all right?” he asked, crossing the room.

I shook my head, then nodded. “I am fine. This hair can be a burden.” I kicked at one of the braids with my toe.

He came a little closer, taking a seat on the floor near the now knotted rope of hair.

“The world is not horrible.” Nick grabbed my braids and started coiling them in a neat pile.

“Of course it is. Mother told me of the wars between the provinces, the bandits and marauders in the woods, how they would as quickly kill as help you.”

I could not help watching the way he neatly worked through a tangle of the braids, as though he had done it all his life.

“The Great Wars are over,” Nick said. “They have been for a good many years now. The king’s seat is secure, and he takes great pains to make sure the White Mountains are safe.”

I did not want to believe his words, so I stared at his hands as he meticulously worked with my hair so as not to inhibit my movement. The sight flabbergasted me. “But not here. Not in the Black Forest. Here is where the awful life, the horrible--”

“You have lived here your entire life. Have you ever seen anyone in the woods before me?” He ran his hands over the braids as he finished.

I could not take my eyes off the braids. It seemed such a silly thing, to be mesmerized by him fixing my hair for me, but it stunned me all the same. Mother had never helped me. She had never taken the time. My hair had always been my burden to care for, to move around and live with. I found I could not catch my breath.

As I wrote that scene, laughing out loud, my husband wanted to know what was so darn funny. I told him I’d made him a hero in my book. I didn’t mention, of course, what part of him I adopted into my character... 

Again, thanks for stopping by. Remember to comment, and let me know if you too don’t take your stickers off, (or really any old thing), to register to receive a free copy of Rescuing Rapunzel.

Rescuing Rapunzel

The Charming Nobles Book 1

Getting Rapunzel out the tower is only half the problem...

Rapunzel longs to live in the world she sees through her window, but

more than her tower keeps her trapped. Her mother has taught her

obedience without question and filled her with fear. She knows she

will never reach the ground. Then Lord Nicolas von Hohburg scales

her wall, breaks into her life, and changes everything.

Nick has resigned himself to a life of duty when Rapunzel's song calls

him to her tower. Soon she has his heart wrapped in her lengthy tresses and he can think of nothing else. But his responsibilities and sense of duty threaten to come between them...

Warning: A scheming witch, a damsel in distress and a Charming Noble who just might save the day. 

Candice Gilmer leads a dangerous double life as a mommy and a writer. In between diaper changes and boo-boo healing, she writes stories usually to the tune of children’s television shows.

Growing up in the Midwest, Candice stays close to her family, especially the ones with basements when the tornadoes come around. She also works as a hairdresser, which she’s done for over fifteen years, and brings her laptop to work so she can write between clients.

When she’s not writing, styling hair and taking care of her family, she gets together with her girlfriends for gossip and coffee while her husband hunts ghosts with Wichita Paranormal Research Society.  All in all, she stays very busy, but really, she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Well, maybe a little less children’s television.  

Website: http://candicegilmer.com

Blog: http://candicegilmer.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Candice-Gilmer/96543284794

Twitter: http://twitter.com/candicegilmer

Get your copy of Rescuing Rapunzel at Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Lyrical Press, and digital bookstores everywhere!


Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy! Contest runs through July 4th and the winner will be announced on Thursday.

Madly in Love Monday - 6/25

So, I usually make it a point not to write about Young Adult books on this blog. Not because I don’t enjoy some of them, who doesn’t love Harry Potter?, but because of the maturity of my books. Basically, I don’t want anyone to feel deceived as to the nature of my books, which are explicit romances. BUT, I am so ‘madly in love’ with this series, I decided to bend my rules this once. And since the next book in the series is coming out this week, SOOOO EXCITED!, I figured this was the perfect time.

Another blogger made a post about My Soul to Take, the first book in this series, and it sounded so interesting and the cover was so compelling, I immediately put it on my TBR list. But, as with most books on my TBR list, I didn’t get to it until months later. In this case, last month. As soon as I read the first book I was hooked, I stayed up late, read during my lunch breaks, and even woke up early a couple times (which for me is truly saying something) until I’d read all of the books currently out in this series. I loved the main characters. Ms. Vincent has a real talent with characters and subtle nuances. I liked a character when she wanted me to like him, disliked one when she wanted me to, and experienced all the slides of emotion right along with Kaylee, her main character.

In short, whether you enjoy Young Adult novels or not, I’d suggest giving My Soul to Take a try. It is a magnificently crafted book, and the characters and interesting and diverse. I am wiggling in my seat, barely able to contain my excitement for Before I Wake, the next book in the series, releasing tomorrow!

Blurb: 

She doesn't see dead people, but...

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next...

Amazon buy link

Madly in Love Monday - 6/17

Another Monday morning. Uhg, I know. I like it no better than you. But if there's an upside to Monday, it allows me to do another Madly in Love post and talk about some of the amazing books I've discovered. And since I took such a long break from the blog a few months ago, I have plenty of amazing books I can talk about with all of you!


The first thing I noticed about Chairman of the Whored was the cover. So evocative and enticing. It intrigued me, but I ended up not buying the book until recently when I ran across the book while surfing on Amazon, one of my favorite pastimes. And even then, I was a bit hesitant to start. The idea of a heroine who was a whore just wasn't working for me. But I did pick it up, and boy was I glad I did. 

Lucy V. Morgan has a very interesting and unique writing style. It took me a little while to get used to it, and to follow along with the train of thought, which often feels a bit like a runaway train, but once I found the flow of the story, I was completely hooked. The main character Leila has become one of my favorite heroines. She's quirky, but so utterly charming and likable. The hero feels like he was literally made for her. The story as a whole, which continues in the second book, The Whored's Prayer, makes you laugh and cry along with the characters, and is a truly moving tale.


This book is not for everyone. Even though I absolutely adore it, I realize that it is not your typical romance. But if you enjoy explicit tales, and are looking for something to read, I HIGHLY recommend this novel. Leila as a character alone is enough to make this tale worth your time, and the secondary characters are just as diverse and interesting. 

blurb:

Dark. Debauched. Delicious... Is she ready to go under his knife?

Leila Vaughn is a tax lawyer at a prestigious London law firm. And a whore. She didn't take the night job just to pay off her debts-- an affair with an older man once stirred a pit of darker desires. Now her year as an escort is almost over, she's ready to lock up her alter- ego, Charlotte, and be normal once again. What's bad is that her colleague, Matt, just caught her out. What's worse is that their boss Joseph is with him.

Matt wants to rescue Leila. And she should want what he does--monogamy and escape from the city--if she's going to be normal, right? But her boss is as familiar with the slippery world of escorting as she is, and that makes him hard to resist. In London's tightest circles, he's known as the Chairman of the Whored. Bold, sharp and ruthless, he's everything Leila is trying not to be--so why can't she say no to him?

Three jobs left before she pays off her debt. Two men playing games she can't handle. One alter-ego, banging against the mirror. In a dark hotel room, the glass is about to break...

WARNING: Contains clever lawyers with a penchant for violence, and an
alter-ego like Tinkerbell on meth.


 Leave a comment and tell me what book you love!

Madly in Love Monday - 6/11

Wow. It's been a long time since I've done a Madly in Love on Monday post. For anyone who doesn't remember, or for those who're new to the blog, Madly in Love on Monday is a post where I share a book I'm "madly in love" with.

 

Today's pick is a series I've recently discovered by Nalini Singh, the psy-changeling series. Now, I'm only four books into the series, but I've decided to feature the first book, although all of the four I've read have been superb. When I first heard about these books I was a bit hesitant. The idea of a lead who didn't feel didn't sit well with me, and it turned me off of the series, despite the numerous recommendations I kept running into for it. I'm not sure what finally possessed me to pick up the first book, but boy am I glad I did. Sasha, the heroine, has become one of my favorite heroines. She's got a perfect blend of vulnerability caused from years of emotional neglect, and strength of character and will. She proves herself more than capable of going toe to toe with the Changeling Alpha, and that she possesses a heart of gold. The world Ms. Singh has created is unique and interesting, without alienating the reader from the lives of these individuals that live so differently. 

 

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a clever paranormal romance. 

 

blurb:

Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart… 

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

Are You a Fan on Facebook?

Today, I noticed I had 95 likes on my facebook fan page, which is only five people away from 100! So I think it's time to celebrate and have a little contest!

So here's the deal. If my fan page has at least 100 likes, let's say by the end of the month, I will give away to a randomly chosen follower a $5 gift card to their bookstore of choice whether it be Amazon, B&N, or other (as long as they do digital gift cards).

On July 1st, I'll choose a winner and announce it on my facebook page, twitter, and here of course, and I'll send the winner a personal facebook message to claim their prize. For the purposes of this contest, you don't need to be a follower on any of my other social networks (besides facebook), but I'd love to see all of you there as well!

So tell your friends, and spread the word! Anyone who likes before July 1st, as long as the 100 is met, will get thrown into the drawing for the gift card!


Here's the link to my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sondrae-Bennett/177510252275496


Hope to see you there!

Six Chances to Win!

That's right, six different chances to win a copy of Worth Fighting For (as well as two other books)! Each of the following blogs posted a bit about the book, as well as Howl by Silke Juppenlatz and Fire's Ice by Brynna Curry. One commenter from each blog will win a copy of the books. So head over to all six and comment on all of them to increase your chances! 


Rachel Firasek's Blog
Lisa's World of Books
Jess resides here
Sugarbeat's Books
Earth's Book Nook
Book & Movie Dimension


Here's a bit more about the books you can win:

All’s fair in love and war.

As leader of a fox skulk, Cody is used to feeling protective. But when his best friend, Misty, gets attacked, his panic has nothing to do with duty. Suddenly, he’s noticing Misty as a woman instead of the girl he grew up with. But pursuing those feelings would risk their friendship, something he's unwilling to do.

Misty's tried everything, without success, to convince Cody she's not "one of the guys". Yet now that he's looking at her like she always dreamed, he pulls away every time she gets close.

Danger lurks in the background, waiting to pounce. Someone plots against the foxes, leaving them all in jeopardy…especially Misty. Will Cody overcome his fears in time to save the woman he loves?


*****


When life hands you wolves, howl.

The alpha wolf in Zalin's pack is slowing going insane, which is tough enough to contend with, but the guy is gunning for the woman Zalin loves--the rancher's daughter who saved his hide. He's torn between taking off to avoid a confrontation with the Alpha, and sticking around to protect Lucia. Opening his heart to her is not an option-- he's had enough rejection to last a lifetime.

Lucia is fascinated by the "wolf" she saved--at the time unaware he was more than a canine. Zalin seems out to save her from his Alpha, but she wants more than protection from him. When spilled family secrets make her doubt everything she knows, she turns to Zalin for stability, only to learn he's planning to leave.

Will Zalin desert the one he loves when she needs him most, or will he howl a challenge on her behalf?


******

Born the son of a Scottish laird a thousand years ago, but now trapped by his cousin's spell, Devin McLoch has seen countless battles and death. The erstwhile thief has turned away from darker pursuits to lead a life of peace, protecting those he loves and considers part of his clan. However, there is one woman he can never forget, who must be given a chance to change, to accept her heart and his.

Arianne Farrell is just as dangerous and intoxicating as her power. Imprisoned in an ancient stone dance more than a thousand years ago, her only chance at freedom from the spell is through love--a love she denied. When Devin asks for her aid to save another from imminent death, she realizes there is more at stake than just her freedom or her heart.

WARNING: Two stubborn sexy wizards using magic with no bounds, scorching love scenes, and happy ever after. Ever play with fire?