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Monday, December 31, 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM RB4U!




We hope 2019 brings good luck, health, and fortune to you and yours! A glass of champagne and a side order of wonderful chocolates sounds great!

Marianne Stephens
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.romancebooks4us.com

photo: Flickr: ori2uru's photostream

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Matrix Crystal Hunters Book Trailer by Janice Seagraves

I just make a book trailer for Matrix Crystal Hunters. Please let me know what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZjmGEhWANw



MatrixCrystalHunters_200
Blurb: Team Alpha Three’s spaceship is out of power after fighting a wormhole, and parked on the primitive world of Zenevieva. With half the team sick from radiation poisoning, the team commander entrust geologist, Maya Gladstone, to find enough matrix crystals to power up their spacecraft, so they can go home to Earth. Vach Namaste of the powerful Clan Namaste, a native of the planet, has desire the lovely Maya since she stepped off the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. He’s hounded her every step since. As Hymeneal Night approaches, he makes plans to take her as his bride… willing or not.
~*~

Excerpt: As promised, Maya bought another cheap tote so she wouldn’t damage her prize. Then she worked her way through the bazaar, buying supplies for the next day’s trip. As she went from tent to tent, hunting down the few veggies, fruit and other types of food that she could digest, she caught glimpses of the Zeeman following her. She tensed. What does he want with me?
She stalked completely round one of the tents to come face to face with him. Now’s my chance. “Why are you following me?” “What? I don’t know what you mean.” He took a step back. Maya grabbed a fistful of his dark brown robes. “Yes, you do. You’ve been dogging my steps from moment I set foot on your planet.” She suddenly noticed that the young man was bigger than she’d thought. His chest was deep and his shoulders broad. His arms were larger than Bobby’s and he worked out. And here I am, holding him by his clothes. He stared at her hand. “I like you and want to get to know you. If you were one of my people, I would woo you.” She realized his robe wasn’t made from the rough, homespun fabric used by the common Zeeman. Is he a clan lord? Maya loosened her grip on the silky material. “Who are you?” He moved back and swept his arm down in an elaborate bow. “My name is Vach Namaste of the Namaste clan. It would please me if you remembered it.” With a flutter of his robes, he hurried away, weaving through the crowd. It wasn’t until he had disappeared that Maya realized that he’d been speaking to her in English.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Vach finally reached the edge of the bazaar, where he had tied up his steed. He patted its thick neck. “Hey, Brawley.” His mount woke up with a snort, then lipped at his hand, demanding a treat. It was still standing in the same place that he left it and no one had bothered it. No one would dare touch a sherakey, not even this sleepy fellow. Reaching into a pouch, Vach dug out a sweet lump for his mount. Giving him the treat, Vach turned to see if the human female had followed. She hadn’t. He felt disappointed. But she wasn’t of his race and didn’t understand the proper way to act. If she wanted him to woo her, she should have followed him. If she didn’t, then she should have knocked him on his well-bred butt, just like the human guard had suggested. Vach had wanted this human female since he saw her step out of the spaceship on that astonishing day a year ago. Her blue eyes drew him closer. Her long, red hair made him want to run his fingers through it. Her curves sent flames of desire flickering through his body. He’d taken to coming into town regularly to stroll by the compound, just to see if she would be there. Today had been one of those rare good days when she was there to follow. He learned a little more about her each time. Now he knew she wanted to find something. If he knew what it was, maybe he could find it for her. Climbing up on the saddle, Vach clicked his tongue and his mount started down the dusty road toward the Namaste bachelor compound. He contemplated his plan for Hymeneal Night. Vach already knew from eavesdropping at the map seller’s tent that Maya would be out on the desert, all alone. And then he’d get his chance to have her.


~*~*~*~*~

Monday, December 24, 2018

Who was King Wenceslas and What the Heck Is Figgy Pudding?


Who was King Wenceslas and What the Heck Is Figgy Pudding?

The Scoop On Your Favorite Christmas Carols



Have you ever wondered, as I have, about the origins of some of our most beloved Christmas songs, and about some of the strange words and phrases in those songs? Wonder no more. Here's the inside story.

"Good King Wenceslas"

'Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.'

King Wenceslas was born into the royal Premysl dynasty in what is now the Czech Republic. His grandmother was murdered by an anti-Christian group, of which his mother was a member. The good king himself was murdered by his brother in 929. Not so cheery, huh? Wenceslas was named a saint and his feast day is celebrated on Dec. 26, also the feast of St. Stephen.

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

'Oh, bring us a figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding,
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer.'

Figgy pudding is a steamed English dessert, better known as plum pudding, that dates back to sixteenth century England. It's not anything like Jell-O. It's made with dried fruit and figs, hence the name. At one time it also included suet, the white fat found around kidneys and loins in cattle and sheep.



"It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas"

'A Pair of Hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
  Is the wish of Barney and Ben.
  Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
  Is the hope of Janice and Jen.'           

Any boomers out there? Do you remember Hopalong Cassidy, the cowboy? I loved him. Watched his show every week. Had a crush on his cute sidekick, Lucky. Did you know the Hopalong boots in this song referred to Hopalong Cassidy? I didn't. I don't even know most of the words so missed the Hopalong reference all together.

2018 Update: There are some who want to ban this song because it’s sexist. It says boots and pistols are for boys and dolls for girls. When the song was written, things were more sexist than now. Enjoy the song, and if your daughters want cowboy boots and your sons want dolls, go for it.

"Mistletoe and Holly"

'Oh by gosh, by golly, it's time for mistletoe and holly,
Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents,
Countrysides covered with snow.'

The use of mistletoe and holly goes back to our pagan past. Pagans believed mistletoe, holly and ivy protected us from evil spirits and also encouraged the return of spring.

"Here We Come A-Wassailing"

'Love and joy comes to you,
And to your wassail too.
And God bless you
And send you a Happy New Year.'

Anyone ever seen a wassail? Me neither. Sounds like a furry little animal. A wassail is a drink, warm mulled ale or wine. Yum. Perfect for sipping on cold Christmas Eves. The word comes from an old Anglo-Saxon toast, "Waes hael," meaning to be in good health. Now you know what a wassail is.

"The Christmas Song"

'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.'

I think we all know what a roasted chestnut is. I've never tasted one, but I hear it's low-fat and tastes more like a sweet potato than a nut. I've seen vendors on Philadelphia sidewalks selling roasted chestnuts, but I've never had the inclination to try one.



"Auld Lang Syne"

'Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne."

What the heck does all that mean? No one is sure. The poet Robert Burns put the words to paper in the eighteenth century. The song likely has its roots in Scottish literature. Roughly translated, auld lang syne means "the good old days."

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

'Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.'

Rudolph was created in 1939 by a copywriter for the Montgomery Ward department stores. Gene Autry was approached to record the song but didn't want to. His wife talked him into it. The rest, as they say, is history.

2018 Update: Some want to ban this song because it represents bullying. I never thought of it like that. I suppose it is saying Rudolph was bullied. I enjoy the song. And Rudolph wins at the end.
Image result for rudolph the red nosed reindeer 1964

Last by not least -

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"

'She'd been drinking too much eggnog,
And we begged her not to go.
But she left her medication,
So she stumbled out the door
Into the snow.'

Don't you love this song? Makes no sense, but it's such fun. Does anyone still drink eggnog in these more health-conscious times? I used to enjoy eggnog (without the alcohol) when I was a child. No way would I touch the artery-clogging stuff now. But that's just me. If you enjoy it, especially with a little Irish whiskey, go for it.

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, everyone."

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year. I raise a goblet of wassail and a cup of eggnog to one and all.












Merry Christmas Everyone! Happy Christmas Eve Eve. I am proud to report I have gone from being the least ready for the holiday of anyone I know to just about ready! This is the best part, the cookies are baked, the presents are wrapped, and I'm sitting here with my mom watching a Christmas movie.

I am a terrible photographer, but you get the idea.


One of our favorite traditions is to bake a lot of cookies and make candy and give them to neighbors, friends, everyone my husband works with...it's three crazy days with my sister in law and worth every single moment. 


What do you do to celebrate the winter holidays? 

Thank you so much to all the readers who make it possible for me to have the job I always dreamed of. I have set Captive for Christmas to be free at Amazon starting tomorrow for the next few days as a thank you! So Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy all the holidays you celebrate. May 2019 be a happy healthy year for all of us!

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Do You Love Series?

Anthology or Series? This was one I participated in from 2015. Short run but very successful.
Sharon Hamilton here. I have a question for you. We'd love to hear from you, both as a reader and as a writer.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT SERIES?

Do you love to binge read? Are you a series lover? I know I am. So, in your opinion, what makes a great series? What is it that makes you pick up that Book 1 and go non-stop until you finish them all?

If I love the author's voice, I can binge read for two days straight. In the case of an anthology, again, I remember that this is a smorgasboard of tastes and styles, and I may not love every one of them, but I usually find several that are worth my time and money. As an author, it's a great way to get discovered, especially when your genre or your pen name is new. As a reader, it's an inexpensive way to find new authors you can then go on to follow, especially if the work is new.


Here are some elements I think a great series should contain. But we'd love to hear what you think.

1. Either the same character is the hero throughout the whole series, or is in every book in the series, sometimes the hero changing per book. And, you can bundle them for an additional way to release to the readers. The files are big, but we love our super readers, don't we? Audio bundles sell the best in my book.

2. There is a common theme, such as "Bad Boys" or "Bachelors", but the mini-series is part of an overall arc within the author's genre. Sometimes some characters appear more often. Many times, these are the ones readers like, and have told the author about why they wanted to see them again.

3. Without doing cliffhangers (some authors do this successfully), at the end of the first book, you are compelled to read the second one. Each book sells and draws traffic to the other books in the series. In the case of a multi-author series like the one below, the call to action is different for each book, but the setup is the same, so readers get to see how the new author in the series will handle the call.


New multi-author series starting 1/15/19


4.  Creates reader engagement. Don't you love seeing your favorite characters on TV? Aren't you sad when the series is over? Look at the success of the Outlander books - all over 1000 pages long! Something that was said couldn't be done! But we can't get enough of Jamie and Claire, can we?

So what about you? If you are a reader and have questions, either I or one of my RB4U sisters will be happy to chime in. This post is for everyone. What do you love about series? Why? What is it that you look for in a good series, say, with a new author?

And for authors, do you keep a series Bible like I do? How do you keep track of all the kids, eye colors, wedding dates and names of parents and exes? What do you love about doing a series, either multi-author or a set of your own?

Thank you again for showing up today. We'd really love to hear from all of you, authors and readers alike!

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Stone Hard SEALs: Complete Collection is Available NOW!


TIARA GIVEAWAY BELOW!

Stone Hard SEALS Collection by Sabrina York
Don’t miss this binge-worthy series featuring action, adventure and steamy romance in exotic locations.
Hot alpha military heroes, strong snarky heroines, laugh-out-loud of humor and a tiara wearing Chihuahua.

What Readers are Saying About Stone Hard SEALs
“Sabrina York knows how to write Alpha males”
“Who doesn't like hard-bodied SEALS in action?”
“I love an alpha male who fights just as hard for his woman as he does for his country.”
“If you like sexy men in the military, bold women and HEA with a little danger thrown in-BUY THIS BOOK!”
“Snappy dialogue, hunky alpha heroes, plucky heroines, steamy hot sex, what more can one ask for?”

A hostage rescue mission turns Ryder “Stone” Maddox’s world on its ear when he comes face-to-face with his greatest fear: A woman he cannot resist. But he has to resist Lily Wilson. He’s vowed never to fall in love. Besides, as the daughter of a senator, she is definitely off-limits. Lily sees things differently. Irresistibly drawn to this hot, hard SEAL, she is determined to prove they belong together…and that her man does not have a heart of stone.  (Originally published in the NYT and USA Today Bestselling Hot Alpha SEALs collection)

Drake Ronan is all man—a rock hard SEAL who doesn’t need help from anyone. Doesn’t need anyone. But when he’s shot during a dangerous rescue mission, and has to rely on a beautiful nurse to survive, he realizes he has to rethink his resolution. Suddenly he can’t imagine his life without Brandy in it. It’s a damn shame she has a secret that could ruin everything.

Mason Steele expected to be a SEAL until the day he died. And he was. A pity they revived him. Now he’s been mustered out of the Navy and his life seems wholly unsatisfying. He misses the action; he misses the camaraderie; he misses being able to use his tightly-honed skills. He’s lucky to have snagged this job with Ryder’s Stone Hard SEALs Services as a bodyguard—it provides some hope for his future. But the last thing he wants to do is babysit a spoiled heiress who is obsessed with the color of her nail polish and carries a Chihuahua in her purse.
But there’s more to Pansy Hightower than can be seen at first glance. She’s smart, sassy and determined to save the business her late mother built. She resents having a guard dog and does what she can to lose her muscular shadow. But when it becomes clear that someone is targeting her—perhaps for the same kind of fatal “accident” that befell her mother, she decides having the 240 pound SEAL with killer instincts and lethal hands at her back might be a good idea after all.
Until they share a kiss, that is. Until those lethal hands prove they have other talents as well. Talents that leave her breathless and wanting and weak. The last thing either of them wants is a relationship, but the scorching passion between them cannot be denied…even though it will undoubtedly spell disaster for them both. (Originally published in Kindle World)

It’s insane to want him, this beautiful, strong, sexy man. Not just because her hot bodyguard is tasked with herding her safely through the exotic night markets of Hong Kong. And not just because she’s his boss. But because they are worlds apart. What they have can only be a fling. It can’t last forever.
But Garrett has other ideas. (Originally published in Kindle World)

Book Five: Hot Rod
A standard witness protection mission goes wrong, thrusting Matt Tate and his target, a wise-cracking hooker named Vixen LaFleur, into a fight for their lives. But flying bullets and lurking villains are not nearly as dangerous as risking the heart. Against his will, Matt is attracted to the dauntless, exasperating woman he’s supposed to be protecting, but she is harboring a secret. One that could heal his wounded soul, or crush it. (Originally published in Kindle World)

Returning to his hometown to sell his hated father’s ranch, the last thing Luke Grant expects to find on his first day in town is a reason to stay. But there she is, Melissa Divine. The girl he loved all those years ago.
But Melissa has changed since those innocent days. She’s just escaped from a hellish marriage and wants nothing to do with any man. Especially not this big, burly alpha biker who reminds her of her ex.
Can this former SEAL change her mind before his time runs out? (Originally published in Kindle World)

Dane Coulter is mourning the loss of his best friend, fellow Special Ops buddy, Cody. Oh, Cody didn’t die. It’s worse. He’s getting married. Cody is, in Dane’s opinion, whipped.
Dane swears he will never suffer the same fate. But when he meets a woman who can take all his dominant loving and beg for more, he realizes he may have met his match. It’s a damn shame she’s the one woman in the world his man-code deems untouchable…his best friend’s sister.


Win the Stone Hard SEALs Collection Tiara!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of award-winning hot and humorous romance. Her heroes range from valiant SEALS to sweaty cowboys to hot Highlanders and more. Check out her latest awards for Susana and the Scot including a 2017 RITA nomination and the
2017 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Winner.
Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and tiara giveaways.


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CONTEMPORARY

Stripped Down Cowboys (And Prequel Novellas)
Stud For Hire, Book 1
Spurred On, Book 3

Prequel Novellas
The Real McCoy, Prequel Book 1
Come Hell or High Water, Prequel Book 2
Protect and Serve, Prequel Book 3

Tryst Island Series—Steamy Contemporary Romance
Rebound, Book 1
Dragonfly Kisses, Book 2
Smoking Holt, Book 3
Heart of Ash, Book 4
Devlin’s Dare, Book 5
Parker’s Passion, Book 6

Stand Alone


HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Noble Passions Series
Dark Fancy, Book 1
Dark Duke, Book 2
Brigand, Book 3
Defiant, Book 4
Folly,  Book 5

Untamed Highlanders
The Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy
Laird of her Heart, Book 1
Her Hot Highlander, Book 2 (Coming Soon)
His Highland Lass, Book 3 (Coming Soon)

Waterloo Heroes
Tarnished Honor, Book 1
Call of the Wild Wind, Book 2

PARANORMAL


COLLECTIONS

Elite Metal/Action Adventure


Want Something Different?

SCI/FI SPACE OPERA (writing as SAM YORK)





Saturday, December 15, 2018

'Tis the Season with @AuthorNicMorgan #Holiday #Romance #Tradition #RB4U


Welcome to Romance Books 4 Us, I'm your tour host for the day, so sit back, prop up your feet and get comfy. I'm about to share some goodies with you.


'Tis the Season

Hello everyone! Happy December 15tih. Now that there are only 10 days until Santa slithers down our chimney many of us are going through our Christmas traditions. Some old, and some new, there are many types of things that friends and family can do to share in the joys of the season. 

Here are just a few of my favorite things to do, especially on a chilly winter night when the flakes are falling and the streets are sparkly white....

  1. Watch Christmas Vacation... I just love that movie! 
  2. Drinking hot cocoa with extra tiny marshmallows... so yummy! 
  3. Curl up with one of my favorite reads and a glass of Reisling. 
  4. Drive around the city and look at Christmas lights with my daughters. 
  5. Christmas shopping... not for the best deal or the latest fad, but for that one special gift that you know will make someone smile. 😃


How about you? What are your favorite traditions? Is there one that is your absolute favorite? Or is there one that you'd love to begin? 








Enter the Romance Books 4 Us Monthly Contest HERE 


Thank You for joining me today! I'll see you all next month on the 1st. Have a great month and remember to check out Romance Books 4 Us for some awesome reads! 

Nicole Morgan is an author of erotic romance novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful back story. Erotic romance mixed with good old-fashioned whodunit. While she's written everything from contemporary to paranormal her leading men will more than likely be wearing a uniform of some kind. From military to police officers, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. From her very first novel about Navy SEALs to her more recent releases you will be sure to find a few twists and turns you were not expecting.

She is a proud member of the Romance Books 4 Us Gold Authors and also one of the Sweet N Sexy Divas.  


Until next month lovies ~ Nic 


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