Thursday, March 28, 2013

CHANCES ARE excerpt


Prologue
London, England

He had been following her for days. Young, beautiful, and deliciously unaware of anything outside her field of vision or interest. Without a doubt, she had no clue that her life was about to make a hairpin turn and dead end abruptly.

It angered him that she was so careless and ill informed. Did she not watch television news or read newspapers? How could she not know that the most horrific killer of the 21st century had invaded London? A modern day Jack the Ripper had paralyzed the city, bringing terror to every heart. Why didn’t she know about him? How obtuse could she be?

Ordinarily he liked his ladies worldly and intelligent. Smart women provided that extra spark of excitement. A combination of skills, intellect, and beauty was a must. This one would provide barely any challenge whatsoever. And though beautiful, her physical attributes didn’t fit his needs. Normally he wouldn’t even consider her. So why this woman? He didn’t yet know. Perhaps it was her complete disregard of his existence. It was as if she were deliberately snubbing him. He didn’t take kindly to such ill manners. He was no one to be trifled with or taken for granted. She would pay for the insult.

Her routine rarely varied. She left her home at seven in the morning, stopped on the way for a coffee and pastry at Louie’s Drive-thru and arrived at work at seven thirty. The office she worked in was on the third floor. The light would come on at exactly seven thirty-three and he wouldn’t see her again until noon. That was when she came out of the office and dashed across the street for her take-out deli. Five minutes later, she’d run back to her office and there she would stay until she left at six.

When she arrived home, which was only five blocks from her office, she would be there till morning. She had no visitors and received very little mail. At ten o’clock, she would turn off a mind numbing television show or put aside the book she had been reading, visit the bathroom one last time, and then be in bed by ten-fifteen at the latest.

She worked too many hours, ate unhealthy food, didn’t get enough exercise, and spent too much time alone. Without a doubt, she needed a caretaker, someone who would work with her, shape and mold her, revealing her true potential.

When her time came to leave him, he would make sure he gave her a proper send off. As she breathed her last breath, she would look up into his eyes and see his immense regard for her. In her last moments, she would know and acknowledge his greatness and be grateful he had chosen her.
 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Recommend Monday

Good Monday All!

Hope you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend and you read some fabulous books that you're going to be telling us about today.

I have news! Well, sort of an announcement. Ahem...

Yipee!!!! Woohoo!!!! Woot!!!!! Yayayayayayay!!! Squee!!!

CHANCES ARE is finished!!!!!!!!

Of course there are copyedits, formatting and other things I have to do to get it ready for you but we're closer than ever. I can't give you an exact day--I wish I could. Be assured, the moment CHANCES ARE goes up for sale on any site, you will hear from me! :)

Also, I wanted to thank you so much for your input in serials, cliffhangers and what I should concentrate on next. I'm pleased to tell you that I started a new Last Chance Rescue novel. So far, details on sketchy to the max. However, I have the titles and they are: RUNNING ON EMPTY, RUNNING SCARED, and RUNNING WILD. Stay tuned for more details as the stories progress. Who are the characters? So far, I believe it will be Sabrina Fox, Riley Ingram (you met her in SWEET REWARD and will get to know her better in CHANCES ARE) and last but not least Aidan Thorne. Beware, things could change but that's the plan as of March 25, 2013 at 8:40 AM.

In between talking to new characters, I read an ARC of a wonderful romantic suspense by Naima Simone. It's called Secrets and Lies: Gabriel. I think it goes on sale in June, so be on the lookout for it. It's emotional, suspenseful and sizzling, my favorite kind of read!

Okay, that's it for me. I'm headed to some foreign location--not sure where yet--to see what an LCR character has got up her sleeve.

Be sure to check back later this week when I'll be sharing an exclusive excerpt from CHANCES ARE. One here and one on the Last Chance Rescue on Facebook.

Hope you all have a fantastically productive week. Now tell us what we should be reading!






Monday, March 18, 2013

Recommend Monday!

Good Monday All!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Our weather, especially on Saturday, was glorious. Sunny and 74 degrees. Spring is definitely on it's way to Alabama. Hope it's lovely where you are, too. Today will be stormy and wet, but that's okay. Gotta have the rain to make things grow and turn green.

CHANCES ARE is now at 211 pages and almost 63,000 words. Still have two scenes to add but I'm loving this longer version. Hope you will, too!

I have a question for you all. What do you think of serial romances? You know, where you get to read 2-3 chapters and then it ends in a cliffhanger. And then you get another installment, then another, etc. Do you like those? Have you purchased any? That seems to be a growing trend, so just wondered. Also, what about the 3 part trilogy--3 entire books but no HEA until the third book? I've seen a lot of those, too. Love them? Hate them? Never read one like that?

Once I'm finished with CHANCES ARE and send it off for copyediting (which I hope is very very soon) I want to start on something else. I'm torn between a brand new romantic suspense series I've been noodling or another LCR book. Want to weigh in on your preference? Maybe it'll point me in the right direction!

Tomorrow, I'm over at Kiss and Thrill, a romantic suspense blog where I was interviewed by the lovely author, Gwen Hernandez. Hope you'll come over and chat. Lots of fun questions were asked. And you can comment for a chance to win a signed LCR book of you choice. Here's the link: Kiss and Thrill

On the reading front, I just started reading Laura Griffin's Snapped and am really enjoying it. Starts off with a definite bang!

Okay, that's it for me. Must. Write. Till. The. End! :)

Happy Monday All! Can't wait to see what you're recommending today!


RUN TO ME Winners!

Congrats to Sharia Alexander, CL, Maryjane Diodati and Elena!

Ladies, I'll email you for your mailing address or you can send it to me at christy@christyreece.com.

Lots more chances to win coming soon!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

RUN TO ME Release!

Happy UK Release Day to Ethan's and Shea's story in RUN TO ME! To celebrate, I'm giving away three copies. If you'd like a chance to win RUN TO ME with its sexy UK cover, comment here with the sentence "I HEART ETHAN!" Also, leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Winners will be announced Monday, March 18. Good luck!


Monday, March 11, 2013

Recommend Monday

Good Monday All!

Hope you had a great weekend and read some fabulous books. Can't wait to hear what you're recommending today.

Last week I finished up revisions for MIDNIGHT LIES and sent them back to my editor. Did anyone get a chance to check out the sexy cover? I'll post it below to give all of us a Monday morning pick-me-up!

Also, if you've not had the chance to read the back cover blurb for CHANCES ARE, the book now has its own page on my website. Here's the link: CHANCES ARE 

And stay tuned because I'll be sharing an excerpt soon!

This week is all about the writing. Today especially should be a fabulous writing day. Rain all day long--a wonderful writing atmosphere!

Last week I read a riveting romantic suspense by fellow Alabama author Cynthia Eden, Die For Me. Wow, so many twists and turns in this book, and the finale was so fast paced, I was feverishly clicking my Kindle pages as I raced to the end. I know several of you have read and loved it, too. Another Recommend Monday success story!

Congrats to Keraae, Kara and BN100 for winning a signed copy of the UK RETURN TO ME. I'll contact you 3 soon for mailing info.

And, as promised, here's a Monday morning pick-me-up! What do you think?



Okay, I'm headed to London and Paris where Angela and Jake are in the fight of their lives. Wish us luck! Have a great week all!

Now, tell us what we should be reading!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Welcome MV Freeman!

Hey All! Hope you all will give a warm welcome to MV Freeman, a smart, funny and very talented author. Her debut book, Incandescent, is getting rave reviews. And after reading about her inspiration for her hero, it's no wonder.

Be sure to comment for a chance to win a copy.

Take it away MV!

The Inspiration for Mikhail

Sometimes, I dream of my characters. Other times, they pop up when I least expect it. Mikhail Petrov, the anti-hero in my current book, Incandescent, showed up one day in my subconscious and refused to leave. I was watching the movie “Eastern Promises” a film about the Russian mob in England. The main character, Nikolai, was played by Viggo Mortenson. He was a man who played a dangerous game (I’ll be obtuse, it would ruin the ending!).

What intrigued me was the charm and dark humor the Russian, Nikolai, carried. It was different and I wanted to be able to capture the essence of it. I have some clips showing Viggo Mortenson’s character and why he appealed to me--the first is one where he drives the heroine in the movie home:
http://youtu.be/cyrDoGdif_o   (Anna’s Ride home—look at how he charms her)

In Incandescent,Mikhail is much like the hero in “Eastern Promises”. He shares the same charm and dark humor, the difference is what drives him—desperation. He’s trying to free himself and those under his command from the choking chains of a ruling class. He’ll use anyone or anything to obtain his goal. Another difference—I gave him a great power. He controls Earth, Air, and Water, it is his job to maintain the balance in the weather over allotted area; something he takes seriously. In order to do his job, he needs a strong forth Element, Fire.

Still, for all his nobility—Mikhail is an anti-hero. In the clip below you see Nikolai (Viggo) preparing to prep a body for disposal (Don’t worry, you don’t see him actually doing it in this clip). I included it to again show the dark humor and how cool and lethal he came across. See what you think:
http://youtu.be/-JBot7oQuKM(Leave the Room)-- Nikolai tells the man to leave the room, I’d leave the room.

The film is filled with these amazing clips illustrating a character who exudes power but not always by shouting. His intimidation is in how he talks, his body language, and how he handles himself. In my book, I give my hero paranormal abilities—but that isn’t what defines him. I try to show this with his interaction with the heroine (although he does cross lines).

My anti-hero, Mikhail is pushy and at times rude, but when he gives his loyalty and his heart, he’ll do what it takes to protect what is his. Laurie is a determined woman who had to learn to know her own strength and in the end, she’s able to handle someone like Mikhail but it almost costs both of them their lives.

Tell me about the heroes in books you read, have you found one that stays with you long after you read the story? Which kind of hero do you like? Some like their heroes to be good men, but in books, I like mine to be dangerous. 

I am giving a digital copy (Nook or Kindle) to one commenter today. 



Author Bio: M.V. Freeman is a native of Minnesota, but calls North Alabama her home. She is a member of RWA, and the chapters: Georgia Romance Writers and Southern Magic. By day her mind is filled with medical jargon at the local health clinic, but at night she finds herself exploring alternate worlds within our own. Heavily influenced by Slavic languages and culture, you will find she weaves these elements into her stories. Her award winning debut novel INCANDESCENT is the first in a series. She is currently working on the second book in the series while plotting another set of stories. When she is not writing, she's reading, cooking, throwing around kettle bells, or making coffee.

Links: Amazon
Follow me on Twitter @MVFree


 

Some gifts are unwanted, and Laurie Hudson’s affinity for fire is one she hates. It has destroyed her relationship with her family and she has few friends. She’s fought hard to keep the fire inside suppressed, living a low key life as a bartender, until a brutal and charming man blows into her life.
Around Mikhail Petrov, her careful control disintegrates. She is at once drawn to his urbane, cool demeanor and irritated by his overbearing manner. Her options are taken away when he kidnaps her, forcing her into a fight she wants nothing to do with.

As she learns to survive, Laurie faces the hardest choice of all, her freedom or the destruction of the frustrating man she’s come to care for.









Monday, March 4, 2013

Recommend Monday

Hey Everyone!

Hope you had a fabulous week and weekend. Did you have any wonderful reads? If so, please share. I'm ready to jump into some great ones. Can't wait to see your recommends!

I just got back into town last night. Seven whole days away from the Internet! Wow. I actually didn't know if I could do it but what a way to get focused. I had some major revisions to do on MIDNIGHT LIES and having no distractions certainly helped. I'm almost ready to send it back to my editor and have to say, once again, that I adore Quinn Braddock. LOL I love Samantha too but there's just something about Quinn. Sigh.... (:

Now it's back to CHANCES ARE and completing it. And yes, I know it's been forever but I promise, it is coming. Once it's finished, I still have to get edits done but as soon as it's uploaded to buy sites, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops as well as here, my newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. Basically everywhere!

Oh, the UK version of RUN TO ME releases on on March14! Take a look at this sexy new cover!


Also, I have three paperbacks of the UK RETURN TO ME I'd like to give away. If you'd like to enter, just comment with: I want Noah! Also, be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. Winners announced next Monday.

I have lots going on this week, including finishing up MIDNIGHT LIES revisions, writing more on CHANCES ARE, finishing my last Rita entry and getting caught up on emails. However, one of my first orders of business is signing up for Lori Foster's Readers and Authors Get Together
Registrations begins today. Will you be going? It will be my first time but I've heard fabulous things about it. Can't wait!

Also this week, I'll be sharing the super sexy MIDNIGHT LIES cover over on my Ella Grace site, so be sure to take a gander over there if you get the chance.

Tomorrow, I have a special treat for you. Debut author MV Freeman will be here to talk about her first book, INCANDESCENT. And she'll be giving away an eBook copy, so be sure to come by and say hey! 

Okay, that's it for me. Hope everyone has a fabulous week. Can't wait to hear about your wonderful reads. And don't forget, if you'd like a signed RETURN TO ME with its sexy UK cover, be sure to say: I want Noah and leave your email address, too.

Happy Monday All!