Texty Ladies » paranormal

Interview with Melody Lane

Pamela Sweet — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:30:15 +0000

I’m so pleased to bring you today my interview with super cool romance author Melody Lane. Melody, thank you so much for the interview and for visiting us at Texty Ladies!

Will you please tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been a registered nurse for many years working in a variety of settings. You name it, I’ve worked it. Although I have a full-time day job, I dream of writing full-time like a lot of other authors. My favorite things to do are going to concerts, listening to rock music, traveling and reading. I live in the beautiful countryside of Michigan, but often wish I lived in a New York City high-rise or brownstone.

Please tell us about your upcoming release, “Rock Me.”

Jenny Page is a Midwestern nurse who has always had trouble with men. When her favorite British rock star fantasy man, with women issues of his own, becomes her patient Jenny knows she’s in for trouble. After he admits harboring a nurse fantasy, the sparks begin to fly. Their sizzling starts before he leaves the hospital to continue his concert tour, and grows into an out-of-control inferno when they meet up in New York City for a weekend of uninhibited passion and unexpected love. I am happy to say that ROCK ME is available at Ellora’s Cave as an e-book and print book! http://www.jasmine-jade.com/m-417-melody-lane.aspx

What makes a man sexy?

Every woman defines sexy differently. For me it is a combination of rugged handsomeness, confidence and intelligence. If I had a choice, I’d like tall and fit too! He doesn’t have to be picture perfect, but he had better know how to carry on a conversation. I’d be so disappointed to find out a man I’ve lusted over for years didn’t have a thing between his ears but empty space.

If you could tour with a band right now, which one would it be and why?

I have quite a few favorite bands that I’d love to spend time with. Def Leppard is one of them. I’ve met this band many times over the years. Every one of them is handsome and sexy and talented. A couple of them are very funny. I could kickbox with one, play golf with another, watch movies, discuss the history of music, and drink Guinness. Sounds like a fun summer to me!

When did you first start writing?

I’ve always wanted to write as long as I can remember. After I had an article published in an international nursing magazine, I realized how much I wanted to do it on a regular basis. But I didn’t do anything about it. Time, family, all the reasons everyone gives. After my father died in 2002, I realized that life was short and I was capable. I just needed to put my mind to it. But where was I going to find the time? The answer. I gave up television. Instead of watching television when I got home from work, I started writing. I allowed myself no excuses. ROCK ME is my first erotic romance.

What aspect of writing do you find easy? Difficult?

Dialogue is the easiest and most enjoyable. I find character development and motivation is the hardest for me to write.

Have you or would you like to write in a different genre?

Paranormal romance. I just finished my first novel and hope to get a contract. It’s called Love On The Prowl. Here is a blurb:

When Dr. Ariel Summers starts her dream job in the newly elected Mayor of New York City’s administration, she has no plans to fall for anyone. But the lust-filled banter and intense physical attraction she has with the Mayor’s security expert, wereleopard Nicholas Savage, does not make things easy. Not all citizens are embracing the Mayor’s agenda for paranormals being out in society and threats are being made. Clues to the identity of their enemies start unraveling once Ariel and Nick stumble upon angry clowns calling themselves the Carnival of Sins. By the time they realize the Mayor is not the only one in need of protection, it might be too late for love.

What do you like to read?

Romance, suspense, mystery, paranormal.

Do you have a writing schedule or word count you try to meet?

After I get home from work and do all the little things I need to do in preparation for the next work day, I let out a breath and sit down in front of my computer. This is the part of my day I most enjoy. I write from around 8 PM until 11 PM during the week. On weekends, I write more if I don’t have plans. Most often Sundays are my longest writing day. Sounds pretty boring, doesn’t it? But don’t get me wrong. I can be fun! If a favorite band of mine is in town or I get an offer for some other form of entertainment, I’m there!

Have you ever considered another career?

Since I’ve been a nurse forever, the only other career I’ve considered is writing. I’m working on that one.

Do you enjoy any hobbies when you’re not writing?

I’m a huge rock music lover and enjoy seeing my favorite bands whenever I can. I long for the front row at every concert and am disappointed if I’m not there. I crush hard on my rock star men. Some of my favorites are who I adapt my characters from. When I write about them, it makes me feel like they’re a little more accessible to me. Of course I don’t really know them, but that’s fine. Reality can’t get in the way of fantasy.

Traveling is another passion of mine and I can never get enough of it. I love to write about the places I have visited. I’ve been to New York City and London, England numerous times and tend to use them as a backdrop for my stories. I love walking around the busy cities and seeing the sites. The theater, museums and multicultural cuisine all appeal to me along with fruity white wines and girly martinis.

What or who inspires you?

Music. It relaxes me. It excites me. It makes me think.

What is the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you?

I’m a big fan of New York City. I once went there with a past love who had planned a dinner in Little Italy. When we got there our table was already set with a red rose and a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio. I am no longer with him, but continue to go back to that restaurant in Little Italy every time I can. It is called Da Gennaro on Mulberry Street. I enjoy the ambiance of the area and seeing the charismatic manager, Momir. Tell him that Melody sent you!

Will you please tell us about your works in progress?

I’m working on a couple of things at the moment. Besides my recently completed paranormal romance, I have a couple of contemporary erotic novellas I’m trying to finish–one is about a fireman and the other about a NYC actor. I’m also working on an erotic romantic suspense novel.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

The business is difficult, so tenacity is a trait you must have. Don’t give up.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

I love hearing from my readers. Feel free to contact me on my website, http://www.melodylanebooks.com or on Facebook.

Thanks Pam!

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Thank you, Melody! It’s great getting to know you better. We look forward to all of your future releases!

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Review of ROCK ME by Brenda Talley at The Romance Studio.

Her characters were great in dealing with each other as well as the conflicts which occurred. The sexual scenes were hot and explicit. They did not, however, take away from the great storyline written here. It is definitely a book that readers will love, regardless of favorite genres. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Overall Rating: five hearts. Sensuality Rating: explicit.

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Poetry Play Thursday will return next week with a unique twist. ?!?!?!

In celebration of National Poetry Month, I will be posting a different poem each day in April near the top of our sidebar. Please feel free to post any thoughts you’d like to share about it in our comments.

Poets.org has great information about this April celebration and some fun ideas on what you can do to take part. I love their idea for Poem In Your Pocket Day, and you might want to consider joining their Free Verse Project. The prize is pretty darn awesome!

BB’s Review: The Laird of Stonehaven by Connie Mason

BetaBabe — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:54:36 +0000

The Laird of Stonehaven

by Connie Mason

Leisure Historical Romance

From the back cover: VISIONS…

He appeared nightly in her dreams–magnificently, blatantly naked. A man whose body was sheer perfection, whose face hardened by desire, whose voice made it plain he would have her and no other.

AND PROPHESIES

Blair MacArthur was a Faery woman, and healing was her life. But legend foretold she would lose her powers if she gave her heart to the wrong man. So the last thing she wanted was an arranged marriage. Especially to the Highland laird who already haunted her midnight hours.

Wow. This is one hot love story. It’s the kind of book you’ll not want to put down once you start reading because you have to know what’s going to happen next. Full of great characters and an enthralling storyline makes this one of my favorites. Our heroine is Blair MacArthur. She was born a Faery woman, which means she has special healing powers. The story takes place at a time when women were being burned at the stake for witchcraft. Blair cannot harm anyone. Her purpose in life is to heal and help people. Her father, Douglas MacArthur (the Chief of the Clan MacArthur) knew that Blair’s brother, Niall, was jealous of her and wanted to harm her. Before Douglas dies, he summons Graeme MacArthur, the Laird of Stonehaven, to his bedside. Douglas’ dying wish is that Graeme marry his daughter Blair and take her to safety–away from her brother who was heir to Douglas’ position as leader of the MacArthur Clan. Blair had started having very intimate dreams of a man whose face she could not see…who came to her in her dreams completely naked. The night before Graeme’s visit with her father, Blair sees the man’s face…and then when Graeme appears, she knows he is the man who she is with in her intimate dreams. One look at him and she is so taken with him that she knows she could fall in love with this handsome man. Graeme marries Blair in a rushed wedding ceremony and later wonders what on earth he has done–he’s married a witch. The story just gets started with the wedding and gets more interesting page by page. You’ll end up loving Graeme yourself ladies! He’s yummy!!

Because I couldn’t put this interesting book down (mostly because of the very HOT love story) – I give this book 4 cocktails!

BB’s Review: The Scot, The Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

BetaBabe — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:32:16 +0000

The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

Berkley Sensation Contemporary Romance

From the back cover: He sought his birthright. Long ago Rory MacKenzie’s Scottish ancestor lost the bewitching woman he loved and regretted it forever. Before he died, he sent her his greatest work of art, a beautifully carved unicorn, as a token of his eternal devotion. Now, Rory is determined to reclaim the unicorn and restore his clan to glory.

She fought her birthright. Like all the women in her family, Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to the mysterious wardrobe in the family attic. Legend says that only the girl who possesses the magic of her ancestor can reveal the treasure within. But Vickie refuses to believe she is any sort of enchantress.

They both got more than they bargained for. When Vickie unexpectedly opens the wardrobe, the unicorn makes her dreams come true–until the handsome Rory shows up with his own plans for the unicorn, and for Vickie.

It is the charm…or is the Scot just that charming?

When Victoria Cartwright’s grandmother died, she inherited a special key. The key was passed down from generation to generation to the females in the family to open a large wardrobe in their family home’s attic. Only the female who was a true witch could open the wardrobe. Vickie did not want to be a witch…she wasn’t as far as she was concerned. Her two friends talk her into trying the key. She hesitates and thinks it’s nonsense. When the key opens the wardrobe, she knows she is a witch, like her Nana Lili and those before her. From the minute she opens the wardrobe, she starts having dreams, erotic dreams, wherein a handsome Scot in his kilt and her become very passionate while riding on a beautiful carousel. Then, the gorgeous Scot, Rory MacKenzie, shows up at her door. At first he hides why he is really there. He needs to prove this unicorn is from his ancestor’s carousel. There will be a small hidden compartment in the unicorn that will prove who really owns it. Rory needs to find the key that opens the compartment, prove the unicorn belongs to his family, and take the unicorn back to the original carousel to renovate it and make it run once again. His village thought it was cursed the day his ancestor sent the unicorn away because the livelihood of the village disappeared. The carousel brought people from everywhere to ride it. Once it was taken apart, and one piece sent away, it no longer ran. Now Rory must bring it back to its full glory once again and break the curse. He goes intending to buy it back no matter what the price. Once he meets Vickie, he realizes that he too has been dreaming of her on the carousel. They find out that they have been having the same dream together…and they continue. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter.

Annette Blair really hits the mark with the story. You can actually hear Rory’s Scottish brogue when he speaks to Vickie. Their witty exchanges are wonderful and quite hilarious. I totally enjoyed reading this story and I think you’ll like it too!

Because I loved this book and would read it again, I give this book 4 cocktails!

BB’s Review: My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

BetaBabe — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:38:16 +0000

My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

The Berkley Publishing Group / Published by the Penguin Group

From the back cover: He swore off women. She swore off men…Jason Pickering Goddard’s career as a playboy hockey star comes to a dramatic halt when he tragically damages his legs in a car accident. Swearing off women, he decides to stand in as Director of Special Events at the Pickering Foundation in the interim–knowing his celebrity status will greatly help the foundation’s foster home for boys.

But neither expected this kind of magic. A sexy witch cursed by a cheating ex-fiance, Kira Fitzgerald has closed the book on men. But a new chapter in her life opens when she’s appointed as Jason’s coordinator. The clash of their strong personalities ignites Jason’s competitive streak and sparks an inner fire that threatens to melt the ice around his heart–a slow warm-up that weakens Kira’s own defenses. And there’s not a spell strong enough to save her.

This is a wonderful, sexy, fun story. It has a hunky jock, a beautiful witch, a ghost story and a bit of magic. Annette Blair has such a great writing style! I love the way she describes everything…with such humor. I was laughing out loud at some of our heroine Kira’s descriptions…comparing the hunk Jason’s endowment with her ex-Charlie’s “cocktail frank in his pants, which pretty much defined the sex.”

Kira was at a point in her life where she needed a change in location and job. She had caught her fiance Charlie and her sister Regan having sex right before she was going to mail out her wedding invitations. Betrayed and broken hearted, she escaped for a new life when she was hired by Bessie, Jason’s grandmother, as coordinator for the Pickering Foundation. Jason walks in her office just after she puts a spell on Charlie (the Penis as she calls him). It’s a hilarious and bumpy start to their relationship. Jason only plans to be director for six months, until his knee can heal and he can be back on the ice..as the Ice Wolf of his NHL team. Kira and Jason become very attracted to each other, but both have sworn off relationships. This makes the story all the more fun. They both try not to care too deeply, knowing it will end soon. They make the best of their time together organizing a Haunted Mansion Ghost tour, a Christmas ball and an adoptive parent get together for the boys and prospective parents. Jason and Kira get into some very hot and heavy foreplay throughout the planning. Their feelings escalate, she falls for him, but he keeps reminding her that he’s going back to hockey…his only true love. You’ll have to read the book to know all they go through and how they end up. You’ll love it!

Check out http://www.witchychicks.blogspot.com for more on Annette Blair.

Because this is one fun and really sexy book–I give this book 3 cocktails!

Review by BB: ELIJAH: The Nightwalkers by Jacquelyn Frank

BetaBabe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:54:04 +0000

ELIJAH: The Nightwalkers by Jacquelyn Frank

Zebra Books - Paranormal Romance / Kensington Publishing Corp.

From the back cover: They are called the Demons, one of the elusive Nightwalker races living in shadow and struggling for survival against their human enemies. Their proudest warrior is Elijah, a man who bends for nothing and no one…until one woman brings him to his knees…some feelings you just can’t fight.

He is known as the Warrior Captain–a master of every weapon, a fierce soldier sworn to protect his kind. Powerful, relentless, merciless, Elijah has always won every battle he’s ever taken on–until now. Ambushed by necromancers, he is left for dead only to be discovered by the woman who could very well deliver the final blow…Siena, the Lycanthrope Queen.

With three centuries of warring, little more than a decade of uneasy peace has existed between the Lycanthropes and Elijah’s people. Now, after a lifetime of suspicion, the warrior in Elijah is consumed with a different battle–winning Siena’s heart by giving her pleasure beyond all boundaries. What starts as attraction and arousal soon burns into a passion with consequences that will echo through the ages for both their people. And as would-be enemies become inseparable lovers, another threat approaches, one with the power to destroy them all.

“Jacquelyn Frank knows how to write an intense, rip-roaring good read! Cathy Maxwell

Other books: JACOB, GIDEON, NOAH and DAMIEN: The Nightwalkers.

Elijah is the tall, tan, handsome, blond Warrior Captain of the Demons. He is ambushed and hurt badly. Siena comes to his rescue to keep the peace between her people, the Lycanthropes, and his, the Demons. Siena is Queen of the Lycanthropes. She can shape shift into a three forms–a beautiful Amazonian woman, a Werecat (half cat/half woman), and a mountain lion. Although the intermixing of species is forbidden, Elijah and Siena can’t help but fall madly in love with each other. The species unite to fight several evil Demons and their followers. This story is full bodied and so interesting you’ll want to keep reading to see what happens and how they end up. I suggest this book be read in the winter, because it will keep you very, very warm…if you know what I mean! Actually, you can read it anytime because you’ll love the extreme detail Jacquelyn Frank uses to create this life-like other world. The world of the Demons, Necromancers, Vampires and Lycanthropes she creates is so extremely detailed and interesting–she makes it real. I was always under the impression that Demons were all bad (too many bad movies I guess). After reading this book, I realized my prejudice and came to understand there is good in every species. I’ve always known it about people, but, until this book, never really thought about it for other species. Very enlightening Jacquelyn! You end up loving these characters…no matter what they are.

Because this is one HOT, detailed, good read–I give this book 3 cocktails!