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Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazon. Show all posts

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Should I Be Flattered?



I was doing a search on Amazon for copies of an older book whose copyright has recently reverted when I was surprised to find a used copy of Assassin’s Kiss, with “slight highlighting and underlining marks” available from a bookseller.

I have to admit that I was curious and ended up buying the copy. What was marked and why?
My former editor (Pamela Campbell) was underlined, once in the publication notification and once on the dedication page where I acknowledged all of her hard work. Okay, I’ve checked out publishers and editors before. That’s not too alarming.

The next thing I noticed was that all of the erotic scenes were bracketed (I assume this was what the seller was referring to as highlighting). At this point I’m a little worried that this person was studying just the erotic bits. I do not want to find my love scenes in another person’s work, who would? Yes, I jumped to that conclusion.

Then I remembered my early days in RWA, when I was trying to figure out pacing and just where to put what, when plotting my book. I studied the genre I was interested in, which at the time was the very popular, category romance. I took those books apart, but I took the entire book apart, not just the love scenes. I looked for the “magic formula” because I was convinced that there was one. At the time, the heroes and heroines were for the most part, all perfect and the hero rescued the damsel in distress in the nick of time and everyone lived happily ever after.

Sounds simple but there’s much more to creating a good story whether it’s a sweet or scorching romance, category or single title. It took years to figure out what worked and what didn’t, find my voice, create a story that I was proud of. Along the way, I studied books that I liked and ones that I didn’t.

Even bad books can teach you something and as authors I think we are always studying, whether we realize it or not. In the end, I can’t know what was in the person’s mind that studied Assassin’s Kiss. Maybe, they were searching for an editor and trying to determine what that editor might like. I hope they found studying my book worthwhile.  

It feels odd that someone “studied” a book that I created but in a way, I’m a little flattered and hope they learned what they needed to know, whether it was something they liked or disliked. I wish them well.

Whatever is on your agenda as we pass the half-way mark for the year, I wish you all well.

Until next month, happy reading!

Paris Brandon

No Holds Barred
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/7Oyq4j


Friday, February 26, 2016

Amazon's New Error Free Book Policy - How it May Affect All of Us

March 11, 2016!
What's that saying, Hell is paved with good intentions? While I wouldn't call Amazon Hell (not today anyway) their new stated policy to take down books with an excess of typos/mistakes might create a hellish scenario for those of us who put the time, money and effort into trying to create professional, high quality books.  How you ask? It's simple.

Amazon has stated that they will take down books that have reviews complaining about mistakes. Some reviewers complain about mistakes in nearly every review. Some think there are mistakes where there are none. Sometime, in our greater creative wisdom (ahem) authors make up our own words and a reader without vision might see those creative tidbits as mistakes.

I've already had a conversation with a very sweet lady who tended to mark all her reviews down a star and mention typos as the reason. She admitted my books were really pretty clean, but she found one or two things and didn't think anything of mentioning it in her reviews. Like a lot of people who don't write books, she assumed that books which had been professionally edited should be entirely clear of mistakes. She doesn't know how impossible this is.

As proof, I give you this story. A group of editors once decided that they would finally do the impossible and release a completely error free novel. They put the book through a hundred different edits with several different editors. When the day came that they finally thought the book was ready, they released it. Within the hour they got the dreaded feedback...there was an error. The title had a typo in it. LOL I feel their pain.

None of us likes to find out we've used the wrong word or have a typo in our work. I, for one, will go right in and fix whatever's wrong immediately and resubmit the book. (One of the great benefits of publishing your own work!) But realistically, nobody can expect perfection. Well, apparently nobody but my reviewer. LOL Unfortunately, when reviewers mention a typo it's kind of a permanent fixture in a book's review bank. And if you get a few of these, you're going to draw the attention of Amazon's grammar police. Hopefully they will take the time to check the actual quality of your work before gonging you, but they've stated that they'll be using actual human type people to check for errors. And Amazon has how many books on its cyber shelves? It seems there might be some mistakes made along the way. In fact if you go with Amazon's history of trying to manage (read control) reviews, you KNOW there will be mistakes.

My advice is to let your readers know how their absolutely reasonable observation about a typo in a review might affect you. Do as I did and very politely ask the favor of getting an email outlining the mistake instead. And hopefully your reviewer will be as kind and wonderful as mine and do you that favor. If you take great care to put out the best possible work, you should be fine. But we all know how best intentions can bite you in the boohind. So a few precautions might just be in order!

Happy reading/writing everybody!

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Leaving 2015 behind...




This past year was as many years before, a year of change and possibilities, a year of growth and a year of just plowing through the tough times because I believed it had to get better. I’m old enough to know that I shouldn’t tempt fate by asking how much worse it could have been because every time I do that the universe reminds me that it has a sense of humor and that’s not always a good thing.

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions because I know myself well enough to know that if I somehow didn’t accomplish them all, I would feel guilty. Who needs that much negativity?

After giving it some thought though, I realized that for some reason I’ve always felt as if whatever I’ve done “wrong” one year should be the focus of getting right the next. This year, that doesn’t make as much sense as it has in the past. I don’t want to drag the negative energy that came with all of last year’s baggage into 2016. Maybe this can be the year I simply close the door and start fresh.

This is a year of possibilities. Self-publishing is something new that I want to try. I already have one project in the works and am researching formatting and distribution options to use as a test. Work is only one part of my life though. This year, I plan to drink the wine and eat the chocolate, enjoy life and loved ones and not stress over whatever situation tries to test my sanity.

I’ve lived in jeans and sweatshirts and tennis shoes for most of my adult life. I don’t plan on ditching them anytime soon but I found a copy of an old book with patterns for what are charmingly called “Peasant Chic”. Oh, shades of my hippie days. Stay tuned, I may even take a selfie wearing some of the lovely turquoise jewelry my husband has given me over the years that I usually save for special occasions.

Make every day is a special occasion. That’s my motto for the coming year and my wish for you. 


Until next month,
Happy Reading!
Paris Brandon
Entice Me: I’ll Be Seeing You by Paris Brandon

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween with Love from @JessieClever and her latest novel When She Knows #RB4U

The Power of Love and Learning That You Are Stronger Than You Think

The heroine of this title came to me as I said goodbye to my twenties.  It was a rocky send off as occurrences in my personal life threatened my resolve and strength.  You never expect to encounter situations of extreme illness in your family, but sometimes it strikes with swiftness and irreversible damage.  My weapons of choice were pints of ice cream and chocolate bars when things seemed to become unbearable, like there seemed to be no end.

But the end did come, and when I reached it, I saw the clouds lifting.  I saw the light filtering in.  And I realized I had made it.  Things weren’t better.  Family members were not cured.  We had simply learned a new normal that became part of the everyday.  Some dreams were discarded.  New ones made.  But still, we made it.

Because we loved each other, and with that love, we defied that which had the power to bring us down.

It was this thought that shaped Shannon Wynter in When She Knows.  Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Shannon is left to care for her agoraphobic father.  She muscles this burden with a single-mindedness that excludes other aspects of life, including romance.  But through this story, she discovers the power of love that has been there all along.


When She Knows: Franconia Notch Trilogy Book One by Jessie Clever


His latest problem is her newest assignment.

Shannon Wynter has it all figured it. Abandoned by her mother and left to care for her agoraphobic father, Shannon focuses on building her career as a journalist to the detriment of all else including her love life.

Ian Darke has his own problems. Battling past failures, Ian sets his eyes on launching a new factory for his father’s defense firm. But it’s the very father he failed that will do anything to sabotage Ian’s progress.

And when Shannon follows an anonymous tip that leads her to Ian’s factory door, the last thing she expects to discover is what she already knows.

Goodreads Link:



Purchase links:

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1SWp4R9
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1M6StJw
All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/1IHyZsj

About the Author:

In the second grade, Jessie began a story about a duck and a lost ring.  Two harrowing pages of wide ruled notebook paper later, the ring was found.  And Jessie has been writing ever since.

Armed with the firm belief that women in the Regency era could be truly awesome heroines, Jessie began telling their stories in her Spy Series, a thrilling ride in historical espionage that showcases human faults and triumphs and most importantly, love.

Jessie makes her home in the great state of New Hampshire where she lives with her husband and two very opinionated Basset Hounds.  For more, visit her website at jessieclever.com.

Social Media Links:


Monday, December 1, 2014

Remind Me with @AuthorNicMorgan




Welcome to Romance Books 4 Us everyone. I'm your tour guide for the day, Nicole Morgan and as some of you may have noticed I drop by with a new post on the first of every month and either ramble like a fool or amaze you with my intellect. LOL. Okay, yes that last one was a stretch, but...I've got you smiling now, don't I? Now that you're good and loosened up, go ahead and kick your shoes off, sit back, relax and enjoy!


Remind Me

Have you ever needed to be reminded? I think we all have a time or two. Sometimes we forget to feel while we're just going through the motions. So this holiday season please don't forget to hug and kiss your loved ones. Life is just too short. Happy Holidays everyone! 



After 12 years of marriage, Priscilla Blackwood has decided to leave her husband. Retreating to their mountain cabin, she hopes the time away will help heal the heartache she feels from leaving the only man she’s ever loved.

When Max Blackwood returns home to find out that his wife has left him he is devastated. Refusing to give up on her or the life they’ve built together, he sets out to find her before it is too late. When a winter storm hits, his plan to rescue their marriage careens off course.

Will being stranded together in a blizzard be enough to repair their broken relationship? Or will Max be forced to say goodbye to the woman who stole his heart so many years ago.


Adult eXerpt 
His chest contracted and expanded in painful successions. Everything he'd become had been inspired by her. She'd walked by his side, fought for their life together, and become more than a wife...she'd become his reason for being. To not have her, to live without her, it was too unbearable for him to consider.
He couldn’t help himself from reaching down and wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight. To his surprise, he didn’t feel clothing or pajamas. He couldn’t remember much of what happened after he got here. Feeling her naked skin made the rest of it inconsequential.
She felt unbelievably good under his touch. His fingertips gently rubbed at her back, trailing along the curves of her shoulders and sides. As he allowed his hands to wander further down, he felt the round globes of her ass and palmed them in his hands.
His cock instantly responded to her soft body and began to thicken and harden underneath her. He breathed in deeply and took in the scent of her hair. The familiar smell of that minty shampoo she always used made the moment that much more real.
“Cilla,” he whispered while gently brushing the hair from her face.
She stirred in his arms and looked up at him through sleepy eyes. “Max. Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“Your head. It looks worse this morning.” She reached up to touch it, but her actions were halted.
He raised his arms and placed them underneath hers, pulling her up to him. He didn’t wait for an invitation or a sign of acceptance. He just took what he wanted, what was already his, and what he had no intentions of letting go.
He crushed his lips against hers and swiped his tongue inside her mouth. The delicious flavor of her kiss had never tasted so sweet. Her soft body melted against his as she met every part of his kiss. Her tongue stroked against his as they fed off of one another.
Her acceptance was one of the many things he loved about his Cilla. Such a sweet and loving wife, but in bed she could set his soul on fire. She never held back or pretended to hide her true self. She embraced her sexuality and how good they were together.
He lifted his hips and ground his cock against her body. Dropping his hands, he slid one between their bodies and searched for the warmth between her thighs. It didn’t take him long before he found exactly what he had been pursuing. Her closely shaven hair felt like freshly spun silk underneath his calloused fingers.
He let out a groan filled with a combination of frustration and delight. He loved Cilla anyway he could get her, but he’d always preferred a smooth shaven pussy. It was a predilection of his that she never seemed to forget. Proving, as always, that she loved to please him.
He slid his fingers past the slick folds of her pussy and dipped his middle finger inside. A whimper tore from her, which he quickly swallowed. He loved feasting on the lascivious noises that came from her. They were like fuel to his fire, encouraging him to take more.
Hot juices coated his finger as he continued to play with her, ensuring her readiness for him. He pulled his finger out and worked her wetness up and down along her slit. With his thumb he pressed against her clit and strummed it. He alternated his pressure, touching soft and then hard, moving faster and then slower. He continued the taunt until her body started to squirm against him. His cock twitched in anticipation when he felt her start to move. He knew his Cilla and knew she was past the point of no return.
Pulling his hand out from between them, he lifted her up, effectively breaking their kiss. They stared at one another breathlessly as he pushed her back until she hovered over his cock. She straddled him as he positioned himself at her entrance. With his cock fisted in his hand he looked into her eyes like he had so many times before. They were blue and absolutely breathtaking. There wasn’t a spec to her irises that he didn’t know. He studied every microscopic millimeter of those eyes and knew them as surely as he knew her body. He sensed her hesitation despite her readiness. He knew they needed to talk about her letter, about why she did it and about so many things. This wasn’t the time, though. He needed this, and from the gaze he saw in her eyes, he knew she did, too. She didn’t say a word as he pushed himself forward. Her head dropped back and her body arched into his thrust.
Sweet Jesus.
Max grabbed onto her hips and squeezed her soft skin. She held him so snug in her wet heat. Each and every time felt like the very first. He couldn’t count the moments he’d told her their bodies were made for one another. It was a fact that had been proven to him over and over again. Her pussy held him like a velvet laced vice. There was nothing as exquisite as having his cock held by his Cilla. 




Purchase links:

That's all for me this months, guys and gals. 
I'll see you here next month,

Same bat time...Same bat channel.




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 also has a recurring monthly column in Book & Trailer Showcase's eMagazine, is a proud member of the Romance Books 4 Us Gold Authors, as well as Sweet and Sexy Divas. In addition, Nicole is one third of the scintillating trio, Mile High Muses and is the twitter coordinator for Marketing for Romance Writers.  


Find out more about Nicole and her books by visiting her website, blog, Google + Page, Twitter, Facebook and her Yahoo Group, Nicole’s Think Tank.

Keep up to date with Nicole:



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