Showing posts with label amazon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amazon. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 June 2013

New Release! 'Once Upon a Twist' by Aimee Duffy and Michelle Smart

When the sun goes down, guess what’s coming out to play…?

Glass Slippers and Combat Boots


Once upon a time in a land far, far away, the creatures are coming...

In a land run by misogynists, where fair maidens are deemed liable to fall in a dead faint at the sight of blood,
Prince Charming is worried – the creatures that have destroyed their neighboring kingdoms are coming for them. He judges it imperative to get all the females to safety, but first he needs to break the enchantment enslaving his One True Love to her hateful home. Oh, and there’s the small matter of the Ball to get through too.

But when the creatures reach them ahead of their expected time, all plans are foregone. Can Ella break her wicked stepmother’s enchantment? Can she save her handsome Prince and the kingdom before midnight strikes? And can she show his soldiers what it really means to kick  a monster’s butt? The clock is ticking…

Reunited With Red

Many, many years later…

When Ruby visits her grandmother in the deep, dark forest, she stumbles into a nightmare. Her grandma’s been attacked by a wolf-like creature, and an ancient disease that turned people into monsters is back… and so is the cold-hearted ex she walked out on a year ago.

Now she has to either accept Jeremy’s help or face becoming a monster herself. Fighting alongside the man she once loved isn’t easy, especially when she discovers there’s more to Jeremy than the cheating bastard she took him for.

As they fight to survive the disease and save those they love, can they keep from falling for each other all over again?

Glass Slippers and Combat Boots excerpt

“She murdered my father – I can’t prove it but I know it was Christell who put the poisonous spider in his bed. If she could, she would kill me too but my fairy godmother put her own enchantment on me that stops Christell or my stepsisters from killing me. It doesn’t stop them beating me when the mood takes them, but it is impossible for them to decapitate me or remove a limb or stop my heart from beating.”
“Why doesn’t your fairy godmother break the enchantment?”

“Ha!” Ella rolled her eyes and heaved herself up. “I haven’t seen her since my father’s funeral. She’s elderly and very scatty.”

James’s easy-going smile had vanished. His brow had furrowed and he stared at her for long moments before speaking. “Christell’s taking an awful risk letting you into the forest every day.”
“Like most of the humans in this land, she avoids the forest.” She dragged a finger along his stubbly cheek, tracing the long scar that ran along it, a permanent reminder of the war he had been fighting in for King and Country. “But you are braver than most humans.”
Darkness clouded his eyes. “I wish you had told me before… Ella, we need to find a way to break the enchantment.”
“Until my fairy godmother shows up, there is no way. Christell’s magic is too powerful and personal for an unconnected sorcerer to break it.”
“It’s not safe for you here,” he bit out. “I wanted to marry you and take you as far away as I could. It’s not safe here for anyone.”

Reunited With Red excerpt

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get the gun. Stay there,” he added when he heard the water splashing around her.
The splashing stopped, and she didn’t speak. He pulled a small torch from his pocket, clicked the button. Nothing happened. Shaking his head, he considered waiting for the clouds to pass the moon so he could see properly. That could take minutes they didn’t have.
Dropping to his knees, he felt blindly around the ground, but it was like looking for a natural blonde at Hugh Hefner’s. Then again, he’d be able to find Red there—or anywhere—even without the gift of sight. She may still be in the water, but he could remember her lavender scent, remember her silky smooth skin. Remember how his body fired up like it had been injected with a semi-lethal dose of hormones when she was in a ten foot radius.
“How…d-do you kn-know it will f-f-follow us.” Her teeth rattled together as she spoke.
Without the heat of his body, she must be freezing. He increased the speed of his search, thought about leaving the damn thing. After all he had plenty more at home, what was one shotgun when he had one in every closet? But keeping her alive for the journey back was more important than keeping her warm.
“J-J-Jer…?”
He considered how much to tell her, after all, he’d signed away the right to be honest with anyone, even the rest of the world when the half-dead creatures started attacking in the night. When he realized what had started it all, he had sworn he would put an end to what he helped create, even though opening his mouth meant he risked jail. Or worse, the other person’s death.
He’d been responsible for enough deaths already.


Buy Links:
Amazon UK / Amazon US

Michelle’s Links: 
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Aimee’s Links:
Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Pinterest / Google +





Tuesday, 19 February 2013

TagLine Tuesday #TLT

Welcome to another TagLine Tuesday and more great titles! If any of these covers or brilliant taglines hook you in then check out the links and find out more.

If you're an author and  want to take part then drop me a line at SusieMedwell@gmail.com - all I need is a cover, buy links and a catchy tagline.

If you enjoy reading erotic romance why not check out Tagline Tuesday over on my Zara Stoneley blog.

  
WINTER OF THE PASSION FLOWER by Annie Seaton

Sexy heroine seeks captain for time-travelling submarine.

Buy from - Amazon (US), Amazon (UK)    








ISLE OF SENSUALITY by Aimee Duffy
Who knew being with Mr. Wrong could be so right? 







THE ITALIAN INHERITANCE by Louise Rose-Innes

A sizzling summer romance on the Italian isle of Capri.

Buy from - Amazon (US), Amazon (UK) 

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

TagLine Tuesday #TLT

Welcome to another TagLine Tuesday and more great titles! If any of these covers or brilliant taglines hook you in then check out the links and find out more.

If you're an author and  want to take part then drop me a line at SusieMedwell@gmail.com - all I need is a cover, buy links and a catchy tagline.

If you enjoy reading erotic romance why not check out Tagline Tuesday over on my Zara Stoneley blog.

MISTRESS FOR MAGNUS by Ann B Harrison

If you had to become someones mistress for six months to save
everything you love - would you?

Buy from - Amazon (US) 






PRIVATE LOVE IN A PUBLIC PLACE by Toni Kenyon

Like your rockers hot with a side of sweet seduction...


Buy from - Amazon (US),  Amazon (UK),  iBookstore,  Smashwords 








BLIND LUST by Annie Seaton

A wager between the gods can change your life. Even if you are a witch

Buy from - Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes and Noble   

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

TagLine Tuesday!

Welcome to Tagline Tuesday! If any of these covers or brilliant taglines hook you in then check out the links and find out more.

If you're an author and  want to take part then drop me a line at SusieMedwell@gmail.com - all I need is a cover, buy links and a catchy tagline.

If you enjoy reading erotic romance why not check out Tagline Tuesday over on my Zara Stoneley blog.

TREE CHANGE by Tea Cooper

Forced to choose between the world she wants and the man she loves Cassia opts for fame and fortune - but one taste and she's hooked again…

Buy from - Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Breathless Press







HER NEW WORST ENEMY by Christy McKellen

Their no-strings weekend affair should be the easiest thing in the world to walk away from, so why are they finding it so difficult?

Buy from - Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo






A VENGEFUL AFFAIR by Carmen Falcone

Revenge was never so sweet...

Buy from - Amazon | Barnes&Noble
 

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Are you ready to hang up your Christmas Stocking?

I'm quite an organised person, but it doesn't matter how many lists I've got, December always seems to be a mad busy time. So, I decided I would sneak my 'catch up' blog post in now before things get really, really chaotic!

If you've been here before, you'll know I write under two names - and I thought I'd let you know what 'both' of me are up to, as my Zara Stoneley blog concentrates more on excerpts and guest posts.

I've been busy setting up and arranging lots of blog posts for the festive season and I hope you will pop back to meet my fabulous guests. On this blog I'm featuring some amazing new authors - if you haven't heard of them then don't forget to check out the excerpts and interviews.

If you missed the wonderful Tea Cooper, talking about her new release 'Tree Change' then you can find the interview here, and her website here.

On 18th December I'm thrilled to be welcoming Aurelia B Rowl with her debut, a Christmas romance, 'Christmas is Cancelled', on 11th January Christy McKellen will be here talking about 'Her New Worst Enemy' (phew, hot cover) and on 22nd January I'm thrilled that Aimee Duffy is coming back to tell us about her latest 'Isle of Sensuality'. (They've all got amazing covers btw!)

Over on my more erotic Zara Stoneley blog I've got Victoria Embers talking about vampires today, on 17th December I've got the brilliant and very prolific Doris O'Connor, on the 28th December the inspiring Raven McAllan is dropping in and on 1st January Kayla Jameth is kicking off the New Year for us!

And what about me? Well, in December you can find me on my travels at various places with my Zara persona in full flow... 13th December with Victoria Embers, 18th December with Allie A Burrow (look out for her mega giveaway), 20th December I'm at Tea Cooper's escaping the UK freezing fog and on 17th January you will find me with Raven McAllan.

And, at this point, I'd like to say a massive, massive thank you if you've bought a copy of my erotic Christmas romance 'Good Enough to Share' (and sorry if I've been over enthusiastic talking about it!), I've been amazed and over the moon at how well it is doing (still sitting at #1 on Amazon UK), and very touched at the wonderful reviews. As a writer I appreciate it so much when people take the time to say they enjoyed the read - thank you. And to all the people who have asked about another story in the series - yes, it's on the way!! I just can't decide whether to let you know what happens next with Dane and Holly, or to let Sophie tell her story - any views on which you'd like to read first?! (And sorry Charlie and Anna - you get a turn, but you're so laid back I'm sure you don't mind waiting!)

What else have I been up to recently? I've set up my new website, which still needs a few tweaks but I'm fairly pleased with it - let me know what you think! I've completed the first round of edits for 'Text me, Tweet me, Need me' - my debut as Susie Medwell, and am looking forward to telling everyone more about that in the New Year. The edits are also in for my Breathless Press short story and I've got another story for Xcite at first draft stage...


I've already decided on one New Year's resolution for 2013 - to be more disciplined about my social networking... so yes, you won't have to put up with my chattering on Facebook and Twitter quite as much (well that's the plan!). I have got so many projects on the go that I need to make sure I find as much writing time as I can. My main projects for next year are a novella for Xcite, a follow up novel to 'Riding High' (featuring James) that a few people have asked me to write, plus the next story in the 'Good Enough' series. I also have my first paperback due out in February which is very exciting! With my Susie hat on, I'm looking forward to becoming a published author with Lyrical Press, and I have another contemporary novel planned out and begging me to write it.

So for the rest of 2012?

Well.....I've got a truly daunting TBR pile - many written by my brilliant author friends, and I'm determined to hide behind the Christmas tree at some point and read (and review) them all! I also want to chill out a bit, visit my virtual friends, then have a very traditional Christmas here at home - with all my family visiting, the full Christmas turkey dinner on the table and a few glasses of wine! I'm (fairly) sure I'll be ready to hang up my Christmas stocking come Christmas Eve - and I'm not going to tell you what I want to find in it! What about you? What kind of Christmas are you looking forward to? Hope it's a good one.


Sunday, 18 November 2012

Everybody hates me!

Okay, that might seem a bit melodramatic, but that's how it can feel when somebody hates your baby, sorry story.

You've slaved over a hot laptop - in between the dreaded day job, running round after kids, burning the dinner and shoving the dust bunnies further out of sight. You've battled with the plot, argued with the characters, waded through the sticky middle and finally typed The End, and hit send.

Stalking your inbox becomes part of your life for hours, days, months. And then it arrives. Someone likes what you've written - likes it enough to offer you a contract.

So you have a publisher who likes the story, you have an editor who shares your fears and frustrations as you knock it into even better shape, you have confirmation that you can write. And you have publication day!!

Now, instead of stalking your inbox, amazon takes over. Rankings and reviews rule your waking hours. And there are days when life couldn't get better when you go up the rankings, and slow days when you're a bit down because your story has dropped. And there are brilliant, word inspiring days when you read a four or five star review from a complete stranger. Then, there are days when you get a one or two star review and you feel like you might as well give up. So you have a glass (or two) of wine, dig out the secret supply of chocolate .... and then what?

Well, this is (part of) what I have learned from reviews, whether they are scathing, non-committal or non-existent;
1. Nobody hates you. This is not personal, it's about your story not you as a person.
2. Some people just won't like your story, full stop - which is fine. They may not like your 'voice' (in which case they probably won't come back), or they might not like this particular story line, or one of the characters, or the setting (in which case they might still be tempted to read another of your stories).
3. The more copies you sell the greater your chances of independent reviews (i.e. not from your mum, best friend, cp etc.) being posted - good and bad.
4. Free can be tricky. Offering your story free will push it up the rankings, it will make it more visible, it will increase your chance of sales after the free period ends. But, there is a downside. If your story if offered free then you will undoubtedly have  it downloaded by a lot more people, but some of these people download indiscriminately. If people are paying, they will read the blurb, read any warnings, read the free excerpt and decide whether they really want to part with their hard earned cash. If it's free, sadly a lot of people will download because they just like the title, or the cover, or they just saw the word 'free'. I recently read a one star review that had been posted on one story (not mine) which said it was too short and so not worth the money! It was free, the word count was included in the description...
3. Titles can be misleading, blurbs can be misleading. Sometimes what you get and what you expect aren't the same thing. Maybe the reviews aren't about bad writing but expectations not being met, maybe the marketing of your story hasn't quite hit the mark.
4. We all like different things and so you can't please all the people all of the time. Whoever you are. For a quick and easy example look at Fifty Shades - it has been a massive success sales wise, but it has its critics as well as its dedicated followers. Looking at the reviews today, there are just under 5000 in total. Of these, 2k are five star reviews, 1.5k are one star reviews, and the remainder are split pretty evenly between two, three and four star. Does EL James care? Well I don't know the answer to that one, but I don't think she will let those bad reviews stop her writing, do you?
5. All publicity is good publicity. I don't agree one hundred per cent with this, but close. If someone leaves a one star review saying 'this is pants' then it isn't very helpful. But, if they give a reason e.g. 'the hero was too alpha for me', 'this was too raunchy', 'I don't like stories about kittens' - then it might give someone else a reason to buy it!

6. If you get a review, good or bad, it means someone has been willing to read your story and has bothered to write a review. It wasn't your mother, brother, best friend or crit partner - it was a stranger who was interested in your writing.
And lastly 7. Some people just like complaining!

I'd love to say I am one of those people who doesn't even bother to read reviews, but I just have to check up every now and again... But I'm so grateful to every person who has bought one of my stories, I'm thrilled some people have enjoyed them and sorry that I can't please everybody.

I very rarely leave reviews myself, and I'd never leave a scathing review for a story. For a kettle maybe, not for a story. Fiction is subjective, a matter of taste, something very personal - so I can't really see the point in declaring in public 'this didn't work for me'. But I might well contact an author and say 'I loved this story, but I was frustrated by...'

What about you? Would you leave a one star review and advise someone not to give up the day job?!