Cover art

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    Venom in the Veins, Elemental Assassin #17, to be published June 12 …

    8 Comments

    I’m pleased to announce that I will be self-publishing Venom in the Veins, Elemental Assassin #17, on June 12. Woot! I know you guys have been waiting for Gin’s next adventure, and I’m so happy to finally have a release date for the book.

    VENOM IN THE VEINS BOOK DETAILS

    Ebook: $5.99 and available for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Barnes & Noble e-book / Google Play / iBooks / Kobo / Smashwords

    Print: The print book won’t be available to order until release day, June 12. I’ll share those links as soon as they are online. The price will be $14.99.

    The print book will NOT be stocked in your local bookstore so you will have to order it online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Also, the print book will be trade paperback size—not the smaller mass market size as the previous books in the series. The trade paperback size is all that is available to self-published authors, so there is nothing that I can do to change the book size.

    Audiobook: There will be an audiobook, and the awesome Lauren Fortgang will once again be the narrator. I’ll share more info about the audiobook as it becomes available.

    Cover art: The cover art was once again done by the awesome Tony Mauro, and the cover model is Alexa Martino.

    Description: Here is the book description:

    Blood might be thicker than water, but venom is stronger than just about anything … 

    It was supposed to be a nice, quiet, simple dinner with friends—but nothing is ever nice, quiet, or simple when you’re Gin Blanco, the Spider, notorious assassin and current queen of the Ashland underworld.  

    This time around, someone seems to be targeting Stuart Mosley, the president of First Trust bank. Lots of people have grudges against Mosley, but the more I investigate, the more Mosley’s problems seem to be connected to some of my own, especially when it comes to the Circle, the evil, shadowy group that is secretly responsible for much of the crime and corruption in Ashland. 

    But when another blast from my dark and deadly past as the Spider comes to light, I wonder if I’ll be able to survive this dangerous new enemy, who has a burning thirst for revenge that will only be satisfied with one thing: my death.

    Read an excerpt: To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the look at the cover art and other info. Thanks! 🙂

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    Check out the cover art for Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1 …

    I am thrilled to finally share the cover art for Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1. Woot! 🙂

    Fun fact: Tony Mauro, the cover artist for my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, also worked on this cover. However, this is not the model from the Elemental Assassin series.

    Pre-order the book: Kill the Queen will be out on Oct. 2. As of right now, there will be three books in the series. Here are the pre-order links:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon paperback / Barnes & Noble e-book / Barnes & Noble print book / Books-A-Million / Google Play / iBooks / IndieBound / Kobo

    Book prices: The e-book is $10.99, and the print book is $16.99. However, if you pre-order the print book, you can probably get it a little cheaper since retailers usually give customers the lowest price before release day.

    And please do not complain to me about the book prices, especially the ebook price. My publisher sets those, not me, and I have zero control over them. Zero control!

    Audiobook: There will be an audiobook, and I will share those links as soon as they are online.

    Epic fantasy: I’ve gotten some questions about what genre this book is. Kill the Queen is adult epic fantasy — NOT YA fantasy.

    There is sex, language, and violence in Kill the Queen, just like there is in my Elemental Assassin series.

    That being said, if you like my YA books, especially my Mythos Academy series, you will probably enjoy this one too. There are some nods to Roman, Norse, and other mythologies in the book, but this is much more of an adult read than my YA series. And like all my other books/series, Kill the Queen features a strong heroine, lots of action/fight scenes, a hint of romance, and magic/worldbuilding, among other things.

    Book description: And here is the book description.

    The thrilling first novel of the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when a member of the royal family becomes a contender in a clash for the crown… 

    In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

    But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

    Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

    But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

    In other words: I’m pitching the book as Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kickass heroine.

    Praise for the book: Here is what some folks are saying about the book.

    KILL THE QUEEN is the definition of epic fantasy: exciting, original, and filled with characters who jump off the page. Jennifer Estep enters the arena and takes no prisoners. Long live the Winter Queen. — Ilona Andrews #1 New York Times bestselling author

    Kill the Queen rocked my world! With court intrigue, a cast of fantastic characters, epic political sweep, and a slow-burn romance to die for, this book had me rapt. I only regret I devoured it so fast. And that I didn’t write it. More please! — Jeffe Kennedy, RITA® Award winning author of The Pages of the Mind

    Read the first chapter: To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the look at the cover art and other info. Thanks!

  • ‘Tis the season for holiday romances …

    4 Comments

    It’s October now, which means that the holidays are right around the corner — and that the bookstore shelves are full of holiday romances.

    I really like reading holiday romances, and they always seem to have the loveliest covers. I am a sucker for a pretty cover. LOL. Here are some holiday romances that I’m hoping to either read myself or give as gifts this year. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.

    Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

    Out now

    (A standalone Heartbreaker Bay novel)

    Meet cute…

    Run for the hills—temporarily. That’s Colbie Albright’s plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie’s so over it that she’s under it. She’s also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she’s pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won’t be a stranger for long.

    Make merry…

    Spence’s commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn’t have to worry about the powerful—okay, crazy hot—chemistry he’s got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself… just because she’s gorgeous and a great listener…just because she “gets” Spence immediately doesn’t mean he won’t be able to let Colbie go. Does it?

    …and hope for a miracle.

    Now the clock’s ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime.

    My thoughts: I see so many good reviews for Shalvis’s books, and I keep meaning to read more by her. Plus, I have her 2016 holiday romance — The Trouble with Mistletoe — in my TBR pile. So I’m hoping to read that book and this new one.

    Christmas in a Cowboy’s Arms by Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas

    Out on Oct. 3

    In the wild and untamed West, it takes cowboy’s embrace to see you through a long winter’s night. Stay toasty this holiday season with heart-warming tales from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.

    The Beating Heart of Christmas

    Whether it’s a lonely spinster finding passion at last…an infamous outlaw-turned-lawman reaffirming the love that keeps him whole…a lost and broken drifter discovering family in unlikely places…a Texas Ranger risking it all for one remarkable woman…two lovers bringing together a family ripped apart by prejudice…or reunited lovers given a second chance to correct past mistakes…a Christmas spent in a cowboy’s arms is full of hope, laughter, and—most of all—love.

    My thoughts: My mom loves reading historical westerns, so I’m going to buy this for her as an early Christmas gift. Plus, I met Mr. Greenwood at a conference several years ago, and he was a lovely gentleman.

    A Snow Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

    Out now

    It’s a Christmas affair to remember as a Hollywood mogul discovers his inner cowboy—and the woman of his dreams—amid the rugged beauty of Wyoming. 

    Raine McCall would take snow-covered mountains over a star-studded premiere any day. But when hotshot movie executive Mick Branson arranges dinner on Christmas Eve to discuss a work opportunity, she’s intrigued—by the offer and the man. She’s a no-makeup, no-frills single mom, who’s happy with her quiet life. Sharing chili cheeseburgers and sizzling kisses with Mick is sure heating up her holiday, but country girl and power player don’t mix… 

    It’s not just work that’s brought Mick back to Mustang Creek. Since he first visited to oversee a documentary, free-spirited graphic designer Raine has been in his head. Her approach to life is as unconventional as her quirky holiday ornaments. Their attraction is undeniable—and so are their differences. Putting down roots in the Wild West wasn’t in the script. But there are some Christmas gifts you can’t walk away from, even when they turn your whole world upside down…

    My thoughts: I love westerns and Hollywood stories, so this seems like it is right up my alley.

    Western Christmas Brides by Lauri Robinson, Lynna Banning, and Carol Arens

    Out now

    Three heartwarming stories of Christmas in the Wild West. 

    A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson 

    Pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove’s eligible men. A list that Teddy White sees—and he’s not on it! Time for him to act so that both their Christmas wishes can come true. 

    Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning 

    Dedicated new teacher Christina Marnell feels her heart race as she watches Ivan Panovsky chop wood for the school. She had ruled marriage out, but Christmas is a time when miracles can happen… 

    A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens 

    Kitson James and Livy York both have secrets, but can their love overcome the lies they’ve told? A Christmas kiss might help…

    My thoughts: Harlequin usually puts out a historical western romance anthology every year, and I always buy the latest anthology for my mom.

    Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan

    Out on Nov. 28

    She’ll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle… 

    Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi’s temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry. 

    Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there’s nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel. 

    Ethan’s kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas? 

    My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed Morgan’s other books, and this is the latest book in her From Manhattan With Love series. Plus, I think the covers for this series are really fun.

    What about you guys? Do you read holiday romances? Which books are you looking forward to reading this season?

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    New covers for Bigtime superhero books …

    4 Comments

    [row cols_nr=”2″][col size=”4″]

    Book #1

    [/col][col size=”4″]

    Book #2

    [/col][col size=”4″]

    Book #3

    [/col][/row]

    Some of you have seen these online already, but I have put some new covers on my Bigtime superhero paranormal romance series. The books are still the same, but I wanted to update the cover art and give the series more of a comic-book feel.

    The covers were designed by the awesome Jenny Zemanek of Seedlings Design Studio. Thanks, Jenny!

    [row cols_nr=”2″][col size=”4″]

    E-novella #3.5

    [/col][col size=”4″]

    Book #4

    [/col][col size=”4″]

    E-bundle

    [/col][/row]

    The covers are all so cool that I don’t know which one is my favorite. Maybe A Karma Girl Christmas, or Nightingale, although I really like them all. 🙂 Which new cover do you guys like the best?

    If you’ve never checked out the series, my Bigtime books are paranormal romances that feature superheroes and ubervillains. They are very fun, zany, and campy — sort of like the Batman show with Adam West or Wonder Woman with Lynda Carter.

    Book #5

    As of right now, I do not have plans to write any more books in my Bigtime series. I’m currently writing three other series — Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy spinoff, and Kill the Queen epic fantasy series — which is all that I can juggle. So the Bigtime series is the odd series out. I hope to get back to it someday, although I have no idea when that might be. Not anytime soon, though.

    The books (with the new covers) are available at all the usual sites in ebook format — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. The books are also available in print format from Amazon and will be available in print format from Barnes & Noble and Ingram in the next few weeks — in case you work in a bookstore and want to order some print copies.

    Karma Girl — Amazon Kindle — Amazon print

    Hot Mama — Amazon Kindle — Amazon print

    Jinx — Amazon Kindle — Amazon print

    A Karma Girl Christmas — e-novella — Amazon Kindle — also available in the print version of Karma Girl

    Nightingale — Amazon Kindle — Amazon print

    The Bigtime Bundle — e-bundle — Karma Girl through Nightingale — Amazon Kindle

    Fandemic — Amazon Kindle — Amazon print

    I hope that everyone enjoys the new covers and gets a chance to check out the series, if you haven’t already. Happy reading!

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    Unraveled, Elemental Assassin #15, cover revealed …

    8 Comments

    UnraveldToday, I thought I would share the cover art for Unraveled, Elemental Assassin #15, Aug. 30.

    The cover was once again done by Tony Mauro, and the model for Gin is Alexa Martino. I really like the red tone to this one, and I love the spider rune branded on the saloon doors.

    Unraveled is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon print / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / Google Play / iBooks / Kobo / IndieBound

    It will be a while before the pre-order link for the audiobook goes online. That is usually posted about six weeks before the release date. The audiobook will be available through Amazon and Audible, and the awesome Lauren Fortgang will once again be the narrator.

    Here’s the description. Beware of spoilers for previous books in the series, especially Bitter Bite, book #14:

    What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy? 

    As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.

    So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.

    Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight …

    I love westerns, and I always thought about writing a western-type story. So this is sort of my version of that — Spider-style. 🙂

    You can read the first chapter of the book here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab. Again, it does contain spoilers for previous books in the series.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the cover art.