Monday, September 30, 2013

Meet Me Monday's with Nona Raines

Please welcome my next guest, Nona Raines. Read her work. She is fabulous!!!


His Kind of Woman info for Meet Me Monday:

Blurb:
When Roy Girard went looking for Victor Varrano, he never expected a woman to answer the door. He soon discovers that Victor is now Venetia. Roy's startled, but even more surprised by his attraction to her. As they spend time together, he doesn't want to let her go. But she's sure to dump him when she learns his secret.
Venetia's falling hard and fast for Roy. But when she learns that his brother was the bully who tormented her in high school, she's shattered. She can't wrap her head around the fact that the man who made such amazing love to her could so completely betray her trust.

Excerpt:
Venetia studied the slip of paper in her hand. Roy Girard? She didn’t know him. He wasn’t the type of man a woman would forget. A big man, but not fat. He didn’t look like a gym rat but someone who kept in shape with physical labor. His blond hair was a bit shaggy—it needed a good trim. And a mustache. She didn’t much care for facial hair on men, but on him it looked good. Damn good.
He liked her looks too. There’d been nothing creepy in the way his gaze had drifted over her. She’d felt admired. There’d been a spark between them.
She shook her head to clear it. Hold on, you have no clue about this guy. Now is not the time to be thinking with your panties. Focus, girl, focus.
He wasn’t someone from the past. God knew there wasn’t much she could forget about her youth, though she’d tried to wipe it from her memory. But try as she might, she couldn’t forget the time when she was known as Victor.
But she’d never really been Victor. She’d known that, or at least had known that she was somehow different, since she was a child. And as she grew and that difference made itself clear to others, her life had become a nightmare.
At home, there was no way to explain it. Her parents wouldn’t, couldn’t, understand because she had no words to tell them: Mom, Dad, I know I look like a boy, but I’m really a girl.
She tried for years to pretend. Tried to be the son her parents wanted. Tried to fit in at school, so no one would guess her secret. Never muscular enough to be a jock, she’d managed to join a few clubs and garner some good friends. But she’d still ended up being a target. She’d been taunted and bullied mercilessly, called every dirty name in the book, shoved into lockers, punched and kicked in the locker room, beaten up with regularity off school property. Her friends had been as helpless against the mean kids as she was. And when adults had intervened, the bullies just got sneakier.
And the saddest thing was the feeling that somehow she’d deserved it. That the creeps had in some way figured out that she was a boy who wanted to be a girl. The cruelty and beatings were punishment that she had coming, for being a freak.
She remembered every one of the bullies. Their names were burned into her brain. Sam Ennis. Gabe D’Annunzio. Travis Lemcke. She hated their guts. People might say forgive and forget, but Venetia just couldn’t do it. They’d made her life hell and had driven her to the brink of suicide.
She shook her head. That was the past. She knew who she was, and those boys couldn’t hurt her anymore. But this Roy Girard. Who was he? And what did he want with her?

His Kind of Woman, available exclusively at Loose Id:
http://www.loose-id.com/his-kind-of-woman.html

**A note from me. I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this book from Nona and even though it was something different for me, I absolutely loved it!! Check out my review at Twinsie Talk**

1.      How has your journey in publishing been? Anything you would or wouldn’t do again? 
I think I’ve been very lucky. I’ve been treated very well by my publishers and have no complaints on that regard. Any mistakes have been my own. If I were to do it again, I’d be a lot more prepared before my work was published. There’s so much more to it than writing a story.

2.      What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?
I’m excited by the romance I’m currently working on. It’s my first story featuring a character who’s a bit more mature, a single mother. She decides to let down her hair when she has a chance encounter with a younger man. I don’t have a title as of yet, but as soon as I do, you’ll know!

3.      What/Who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing and reading. My parents encouraged me by having books around the house and taking us kids to the library. Both my parents were great readers, and my dad, who grew up in a very poor household, told me how he used to love going to the library and immersing himself in the books there. I followed his lead and loved losing myself in stories. Eventually I wanted to try writing some of my own.

4.      How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in grade school, but when I realized as an adult I wanted to try to get published, I had a terrible time finishing anything. I just couldn’t get the hang of plotting. I tried for years to get it right. Finally I realized that time was marching on and somewhat desperately decided that come hell or high water I would finish a book!

5.      What advice would you give a new writer just starting out? 
As I mentioned in answering the first question, try to do as much preparation as you can before your book is published. Make connections with authors and readers, and try to learn as much about promotion as you can. And of course, try to write the best book you possibly can.

6.      Are you a pantser or a plotter? 
A little of both. I plot out the main events in the book, but some of the best moments arrive to me unexpectedly J.

7.      Who is your favorite author? 
There are too many to name, but I hope no one will mind if I mention two of the grande dames: Kathleen Woodiwiss and Roberta Gellis. They’re the ones to blame for my obsession with romance.

8. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I wish I could say I always considered myself one, but I guess I needed extrinsic recognition—when my first romance was officially published.

9.      What is the hardest part about writing for you?
Being disciplined enough to sit down and do it regularly!

10. Do you do research for your books or does it all come from your head?
There’s research involved, for example when it comes to character’s careers and other matters. In my most recent story, His Kind of Woman, I did do quite a bit of research on transgender issues.

11. What is your favorite colour?
It depends on my mood.

12. What is your favorite food?
Any kind of pasta.

13. What is your favorite smell?
The smell of hot cocoa.

14. Do you have any strange habits? 
Do you think making up songs and singing them to my dog and cats is strange? I don’t! 

Thanks so much for having me here today, Jo-Anna! To thank everyone who’s stopped by, I’d like to offer a $10 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice) to one random commenter. Please just leave a comment and share your strange habit with us! Please include your email address so I can contact you in case you are chosen.  This offer is only good for today—I will select a winner randomly tomorrow and contact him/her within a day or two.

Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com





Sunday, September 29, 2013

Excitement!

So on Tuesday of this week, October 1st to be exact, Twinsie Talk Book Reviews (the review blog that I'm apart of) will be hosting my 3rd cover reveal and 2nd release day event! In the Heart of Yesterday, A Heart Story #1, will be released that day and I'm very excited about this. So far the ARC's I've given out have had good reviews but I'm still nervous about the world meeting Jesse and Rave. I'll get over it. I will. I just need to go cry in a corner for a little bit.

Keep watch as the cover will be revealed that day too! Thank you to my girl at Barbeth Publications for the beautiful ebook covers! 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Spotlight Saturday's with Nona Raines


Her Perfect Man:
Kim Hansen has terrible luck with men. When her sexy downstairs neighbor shows a more-than-neighborly interest in her, she's suspicious. She's been burned too many times, by too many guys. Steamy sex is one thing, but Charlie Keller is smart, hot and successful—so what could he want with her besides a few nights of pleasure?

Though Kim does her best to shut him down, Charlie's not put off by her attitude. He doesn't scare easy. Kim thinks she's clever, using sex to maintain an emotional distance and to keep him off guard. But Charlie sees through her tough exterior to the tender heart beneath.

But Kim needs to be won over. Sure, their bedroom action is awesome, but given her past mistakes, she's convinced Charlie is too good to be true. Just too perfect. But if Charlie has his way, he'll prove that he's the perfect man for her.



One Good Man:
Just one touch...that’s all Andie Benedetto wants when she glimpses her father’s sexy neighbor. Images of deep, long kisses and down and dirty sex heat up her fantasies. When he catches her watching him, she’s embarrassed but undeniably turned on.
                                   
Just one weekend...that’s all Matthew Vostek can offer Andie. He recognizes her shyness, but also senses her desire, the same desire he feels. Maybe they can fulfill each other’s hottest fantasies.

Just an adventure...that’s what Andie tells herself. Tired of playing the good girl, she’s ready to accept Matthew’s challenge and enjoy the most exciting sexual escapade of her life. But when the weekend is over, will Andie finally take what she wants instead of settling for second best?


 Take This Man:

The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.

The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised and pushed her away—into another man's arms...and bed.

When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he’s worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him, but one look from those smoldering dark eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system. Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?


Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/nonaraines

Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

Find Nona at