Covers - Genres - Rings and things...

We talk a lot about inspiration and story ideas, where they come from, how we reach our goals as writers, but I’m curious how readers are inspired to pick up books by unknown writers and hope it wasn’t a mistake? Every editor has a different idea about it–some seem to feel the “perfect” blurb or tag is the attraction, others (authors included) feel that the cover is the lure. I know myself I have on more than one occasion been lured by a spectacular cover, only to find a very disappointing book behind it.

I’ve been pretty blessed with the covers of my books, they’ve pretty well all been done by good artists who know what catches the eyes of readers, but also reflects the story within. Some of my favourites have been done by Kayden McLeod, who is truly one of the most talented women I have ever known, everything she touches is a thing of beauty and imagination. (If you have any doubts, look at my website–her work is all over it!)

Apart from snappy, eye-catching covers, I think genre is a huge lure. I pay more attention to books listed in the subgenres I love. For me they tend to run paranormal and historical over contemporary. Anything in the fantasy line is also hugely appealing. If I can get a book that mixes it all into a solid story, I’m a devoted fan for life.

Despite it being the genre of my very first release, and a few of my better works since, it’s been a long time since I released an Historical Western. A couple of weeks back, the newest title on my catalogue signalled my début with Eirelander Publishing. To my happy surprise, it’s also going to herald my first audio release later this month. I can’t wait to hear it myself!

So, what does lure you, the reader, into purchasing that first book by an unknown to you author? What elements are the most important in getting your attention?

Here’s a look at my newest book, and there is a very cool contest happening at the moment, so read to the end!!

RETURN TO LOVE

Genre: Historical Western - sensual romance

From the Publisher

Barnes and Noble 

Amazon

COMING SOON in Audio

Blurb: Clay Butler is a man who rules the quiet town of Cedar Springs with an iron will, and a code of honor that defines all he is. But the past haunts him, and the loss of a woman who was his second chance at happiness weighs heavily on his over-burdened mind...

Excerpt:

The stage came thundering to a stop a short distance from the Lucky Star Saloon, and the driver, a man called Noah, shouted greetings, his laughter filling the air outside the carriage. Inside, the sole passenger fought down waves of nerve-induced nausea.

Amber Hamilton clutched her stomach for a second, and offered Noah a weak smile when he opened the door and held out his hand to help her to the street. The ground below her feet was hard, still frozen by winter. In a few weeks the road would be a mire of mud.

“Butler’s gonna be a happier man than he’s been lately, once he sees you, Miss Amber.”

Her smile brightened a little and she touched his arm in a gesture of appreciation.

“I hope you’re right, Noah,” she replied, though the knot of apprehension didn’t ease in the slightest.

“I know I am, ma’am,” he said with a grin.

Amber hesitated, stared up at the balcony that ran across the front of the club. Clay’s door should have been open. He should have been perched at the corner, smoking, smiling at the people who populated the busy street. The shutters were still down, and there was stillness about the place that was unnerving.

“He’s not out of town, is he?” Inside, she knew he was only a short distance away; she could feel his presence as keenly as if he stood next to her.

“No, ma’am,” Noah answered, then turned to shout at Walker.

Amber turned as well and saw guarded curiosity in Jesse Walker’s light blue eyes as he halted next to the stage. He hadn’t changed much in the past six months. Walker was still the scruffy, attractive, mysterious, outwardly hard man she’d always felt mildly intimidated by. Yet, there was a peace in his manner that had been absent before. She spotted the silver star pinned to his vest and inquisitiveness all but ran away with her.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Walker.” She smiled. “Sheriff Walker?” she corrected with enough surprise to make it a question. Jenny and Austin had always wanted him to be the Sheriff of the town, he’d never been interested. She admired Jesse, he was one of the few men who challenged Clay, and kept him from crossing lines from which there would be no returning.

“Butler know you’re back?” Walker acknowledged her greeting with a nod of his head, and ignored the query she hadn’t directly made.

* * * CONTEST * * *

I'm holding a fun Post-Halloween contest, and the prize is a lovely ring that is a replica of one featured in the popular TV series THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. The winner will be announced in one week and is open to everyone, so have fun!

http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com/2012/11/vampire-diaries-scavenger-hunt.html

Denysé

Denysé Bridger

"Live the Romance, Become the Fantasy..."

** Best-Selling Author of 2011 **

WEBSITE: http://www.denysebridger.com

Fantasy Pages (general): http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com

Bound By Passion (adult content): http://boundpassion.blogspot.com

Sweet N Sexy Soulful Quotes

Hello everyone and welcome to another addition of Soulful Quotes. Today, I have several great stories I think you will like for this month's feature. Each one of these authors has a book or novella in an anthology centered around the romantic holiday of Valentine's Day.


The books I feature today are from authors who were not afraid to be soulful, sappy, and/or suggestive when it came to their heroes. So, grab a seat, and pick up a pen and paper so you can add these to your TBR list.

Happy reading!

“Hi, baby,” he whispered, one big fist sinking into her chignon and destroying it. “I missed you something fierce. Let me kiss you. Now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting you go until we know so much about each other, you’ll either hate me or never leave me again.”

***

He knew he was brash.

But sweet Jesus, she melted against him just as she had that night a year ago in the room at The Drake. She was hot and supple, her fine amber hair streaming over his hand like a warm river, her breasts flush to his chest, and he ached for more of her.

“Let me put this down,” he got out, his voice raw with all the pent up need, the worry, the longing all year long to have her once more. She looked enchanted, less stunned, but compliant as she watched him put his grocery bag on the table. Then her hands grabbed his lapels and pulled him against her.

Good start, baby. His arms surrounded her, his mouth took hers and oh, Christ is she food for my soul. Her lips were the same satin that he kissed in his dreams. Her tongue, the same eager partner to his in a duel to seize more of the other.

“Mara. Mara, honey.” He couldn’t stop saying her name as he claimed her with his lips on hers and his hands all over that toned body. “I’ve looked for you everywhere.”

“Did you?” she asked in a tiny voice, her gaze sweeping his features, her fingers tracing his cheekbones, the outline of his mouth, his jaw.

At once a wall clanged down between them—and she shook her head.

Reality changed her features from ravenous lover to confused teenager. “You can’t tell me that you— You aren’t—”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Sweetheart, let me explain.”

“No.” She took a step backward. “You? You are the President of Capitol Communications? No. No, no.”

Jason knew if he rushed her, if he crowded her, she’d freak. He had no idea if she had a hard-assed-broad persona, but he was definitely not interested in bringing any out. He stood his ground. “My name is Jason Sherwood. I am the president and CEO of Capitol. I was a year ago. I am now. I have been looking for you ever since last Valentine’s Day at The Dr—”

“Is that what you’re doing here?”

“What?”

“Using that night to blackmail me into giving you my company?”

So much for not wanting to summon the bitchy female exec. He turned on his heel. Went for his bag and a bottle of the wine. Calmly putting them on the kitchen counter, he sensed her watching him. Like a trapped animal watched a hunter. Why was that? She was not his. Not by a long shot. Yet.

~ Cerise DeLand, Be Mine

Jack slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the box of candy hearts. Ellie gaped at him when he shook a handful into his palm. “Here. Hold this,” he ordered, thrusting the box into her hand.

Her fingers closed around it automatically. Her forehead creased into puzzled lines as she stared at the box. “Were you afraid we’d run out of things to talk about?”

“Nope. I just like these,” he said, sorting through the candies is his palm. A smile quirked his lips when he found the one he wanted. He plucked the tiny pink heart from his hand and offered it to her. “But this is what I really want to say.”

“Be Mine,” she whispered, her gaze fixed on the chatty confection.

“I don’t know why, Ellie, and I don’t know how. I just know I have to try.”
~ Margaret Ethridge, Be Mine
(from BE MINE, VALENTINE Anthology)

* * *

His compassion touched her heart. “Are you betrothed or belong to a woman in marriage?” she asked.

The arrow snapped as his startled gaze met hers.

“If you ask because your breast is bare and my hand is upon you,” He tossed the broken shaft aside, and shed his shirt ripping it into strips. “I assure you my only intention is to render aid.” His hands covered with her blood, he retrieved a small flask from a leather pouch secured to his breeches and pulled out the stopper.

“What is that?”

“Communion wine.”

Valentina gasped. “You think I am dying.” She lowered her gaze to her bosom and saw the broken arrow, blood leaking around it which had soaked the front of her dress and shift beneath.

“Not for your last Eucharist. To clean the wound. The Lord be praised, the arrow is not deep. Your angelic flight distracted me when I shot and lessened the force of the arrow.”

“You are a priest?”

“Still want to know if I have a wife?”

“I am a believer. I would be a good wife for a priest.”He laughed. “I shoot you in the chest, and you propose marriage? Let us preserve your life before we begin our courtship.” He poured the wine around the wood protruding from her chest. “Although, I must admit, we are beginning rather poorly. Sit up, there’s a girl.”

~ Jennifer Johnson, Valentina: The Untold Story

(from BE MINE, VALENTINE Anthology)

“I bought them when I stopped at a store on the way up here,” she said, taking the small box from him. She shook out the slender deck and showed them to him. “Each one has a question on it, it’s a game for Valentine’s Day. Want to play?”

“What’s the purpose?” Suspicion and amusement vied for dominance in his expression as he looked at her.

“They’re called The Conversation Cards, they’re meant to stimulate talking to each other,” she said.

“I can think of better stimulations, sweetheart.” He laughed.

She rolled her eyes and selected a card. “What’s the first thing you notice in a person?”

“Is there a point to this?”

She made a face at him. “It’s a game of sorts, allowing you to get to know things about the person you’re with,” she said. “It wouldn’t pain you to play along, would it?”

He took the card from her and looked at it. White and red, simple and sweet. The kind of thing teenagers might enjoy, and yet there was something very sweet about the hearts and red script. He shrugged.

“The first thing I noticed about you was your honesty,” he told her. “But that was in your letters. When we met, I noticed the light in your eyes. You were so alive and filled with passion.” He leaned forward and touched her cheek, his thumb tracing the curving slope. “You still don’t seem to understand how much beauty that can create in a woman, or how seductive it is to a man.”
~ Denysé Bridger, The Conversation Cards

(from PAS DE DEUX Anthology)

* * *

“I think from the first day that I saw you struggling with the sign out front I’ve been in love with you. Fierce, honest, independent, someone who could stand on her own or next to the person she loved. That is how I see you, how I have always seen you.”
~ Brigit Aine, Her Secret Admirer

(from PAS DE DEUX Anthology)