Winners!  Winners!  The lucky winners from last week’s blog are:

Final Vow by Kathleen Brooks – Carole Pickett

Charlie’s Angel by Shauna Allen – Alison P.

Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly – Toni

Texas Hold ‘Em by Christie Craig – Robin Tindle

Email me at: christie (at) christie-craig.com with your delivery information and we will get you your prizes.  Congratulations!

The correct answers were: 1C, 2D, 3A, 4B.

Now for our last week of Name that Author fun…remember each author is generously donating a copy of the book spotlighted.  All you have to do is match them to their personal item (purse, work space or shoes) below for your chance to win.  Ready?  Let’s go!

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First up, my friend and new Texas resident, Laura Drake.  You’ll love her cowboy romances as much as I love her big personality.

Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together.

James “JB” Denny doesn’t stay where he isn’t welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can’t work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance?

***

Second, a friend and one of the kindest, most giving ladies you’d ever hope to meet.  Her Inspirational romances touch the heart as well as add a dash of intrigue–Jan Nash.

Kate Ballard thinks attending a gala on a luxury yacht honoring her old college friend will be the time of her life, but secret cell phone videos, threats to her family’s safety, and a hidden sniper force her into a world of deception and lies. Can her faith erase such horror? Though powerless, she relentlessly tries to outsmart her captor and return to the love of her life. Her husband, Tom, refuses to accept his wife’s decision to leave and discovers that he must revisit his past. With the help of an unlikely ally, he finds evidence of theft and murder tucked away in an old storage locker. When his investigation starts to uncover the truth, he struggles with whom to believe. Will he trust his heart, or the deception before his eyes? One thing’s for sure, nothing can stop him from reuniting his family, not even a force as great as Invisible Surveillance.

***

A fellow Killer Fiction gal, Jana DeLeon writes edge-of-your seat stories in Louisiana you are gonna love!

It was a hell of a long shot….

CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever-in Sinful, Louisiana.

With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world’s largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she’s determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play.

Unfortunately, she hasn’t even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard. Thrust into the middle of a bayou murder mystery, Fortune teams up with a couple of seemingly sweet old ladies whose looks completely belie their hold on the little town. To top things off, the handsome local deputy is asking her too many questions. If she’s not careful, this investigation might blow her cover and get her killed.

Armed with her considerable skills and a group of elderly ladies the locals dub The Geritol Mafia, Fortune has no choice but to solve the murder before it’s too late.

***

And, lastly, I will play again because it’s so much fun.  I will throw in winner’s choice of any of my backlist titles.

***

A. Laura Drake

B. Janet Nash

C. Jana DeLeon

D. Christie Craig

1. Whose little shoes?

2. Who sits and writes great stuff there?

3. Who keeps their goodies in this purse?

4. Who is brave enough to pull off THIS shoe?

Start your guessing!  Check back next week to see if you’ve won…Good luck! 

WINNERS!  WINNERS!  The winners from last week’s blog are:

The Valentine’s Day Disaster by Lori Wilde – moojuice

The Witch on Twisted Oak by Susan Muller – Julie S.

Had to Be You by Robin Kaye – Charity Drake

Email me at: christie (at) christie-craig.com with your choice of print or e-book and your delivery information and we will get you your prizes.  Congratulations!

I hope you enjoyed our matching game and getting the chance to learn a little more about each author and their books.  If you’re curious, the correct answers from last week were: 1C, 2A, 3B.

Moving right along, we have two more weeks of authors lined up for you!  So, let’s get started!  As a reminder, each author will share with you about the book they are generously donating as a gift, then below, there will be photos of either their work space, purse or shoes.  Your job will be to try and match the author to their personal item.  Random winners will be selected the following week, so check back.  Ready?

First up, I have my friend and one of your favorites, Kathleen Brooks.  She’s a NYT Bestseller and you all love her Bluegrass Series.

As the ultimate bodyguard, Ahmed’s focus has been protecting the lives of everyone he cares about.  When the darkest part of his past resurfaces, Ahmed knows he must go on the offensive to protect his future . . . a future with the one woman that can match his toughness and return the love that was once robbed from him.

Bridget Springer’s private security work involves training with a mysterious man feared by many in her line of work. She finds herself drawn to Ahmed despite his attempts to remain distant. 

Bridget vows to help Ahmed in his pursuit of justice, not knowing the full danger that she would find along the way.As Bridget and Ahmed’s passion heats up, so does the threat from Ahmed’s oldest enemy.  Can they defeat him and finally be free to pursue their chance at love?

***

Second, the ever-sassy, Angel-lovin’ Shauna Allen is here offering her latest in the Cupid Chronicles . . . a series that many of you have come to love! (***Please note, e-book only.)

Miserable and unsettled in his predictable, suit-and-tie existence, Charles Benson is finally waking up and realizing a few things. He hates what his life has become.

But instead of a change, he finds himself thrust deeper into more of the same . . . only worse.

Or is it?

Tattooed. Pierced. Outspoken. Fiercely sexy.

Jaded after being burned by an unreliable dreamer, Kami Monroe secretly craves the stability Charles represents, even as she rolls her eyes at his uptight monkey suits.  It wouldn’t be a problem except for the unexplainable and explosive chemistry sizzling between them and their heartbreaking baggage.

Add an angel to the mix getting one last shot at Love Detail, and you could have a match made in Heaven . . . if they’d just get the hell out of the way.

***

My good friend, Diane Kelly has joined us with her unique take on romance, comedy and the IRS in one of her Tara Holloway novels.  You’ll love her if you don’t already!

Tax cheats, beware: The Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has a new special agent on its payroll. A recovering tomboy with a head for numbers, Tara’s fast becoming the Annie Oakley of the IRS—kicking ass, taking social security numbers, and keeping the world safe for honest taxpayers. Or else.

Tara’s latest mission finds her in hot pursuit of ice-cream vendor Joseph “Joe Cool” Cullen. Along with frozen treats he’s selling narcotics—and failing to report his ill-gotten gains on his tax returns. Over Tara’s dead body. Then there’s Michael Gryder, who appears to be operating a Ponzi scheme…with banker Stan Shelton…whose lake house is being landscaped by Brett Ellington…who happens to be dating Tara. If following that money trail isn’t tough enough, now Tara must face a new conundrum: Should she invest her trust in Brett—or put him behind bars? New love always comes at a cost but justice? Priceless.

***

And, I’ve decided I can’t let my friends have all the fun.  I’m tossing my hat in the ring.  🙂

The last thing veterinarian Leah Reece needs is a man in her life. They’re nothing but trouble-and not even the fun kind. But when her apartment is broken into and Leah suspects Rafael, her dangerous half-brother, of foul play, she can’t deny she could use a little help. She just never expected that help would come with twinkling blue eyes and a sexy smile…

All PI Austin Brook wants is to nail Rafael DeLuna, the man who framed him for murder. He’ll do anything for information-even lie about his identity to charm Leah, DeLuna’s half-sister. But her sweet dimples and fiery spirit soon make her more than just his only lead. Leah becomes his every desire. As Austin closes in on DeLuna, it’s clear he won’t go down without a fight. Now the only way Austin can protect Leah is to reveal all of his secrets and risk losing her for good.

***

A. Kathleen Brooks

B. Shauna Allen

C. Diane Kelly

D. Christie Craig

1. Who’s boot is that? Any clues in the *lovely* pants?

2. Who can rock this color purse? Any guesses?

3. Who makes magic happen at this desk?

4. Who would carry this purse? Look carefully…this one should be easy.

Okay, it’s all up to you now.  Start guessing then check back next week for the answers and to see if you’ve won, and for our next round of guests!  Good luck!

WINNERS!  WINNERS!  The lucky winners from last week’s blog with Shauna Allen are: Jan Murphree, Cassie Whitman, Kathleen O., Mary Yolanda Vassallo, and Anneliese Carinc!  Email me at: christie (at) christie-craig.com with your preference of e-reader and I’ll get you your copy of Charlie’s Angel.  Congratulations!

Well, as many of you know we’ve just come off a fantastic week of celebrating Texas and Romance at a gigantic Facebook party.  It was wonderful!  Well, I’m still in the mood to have some fun.  How about you?  So, I’ve gotten together with some of my best author friends and over the next three weeks we’ve devised a little game for you.  It goes something like this…

Starting today, then over the next two Tuesdays, myself and a few of my friends will be posting photos here of either our work spaces, our shoes, or our purses.  You know, our most sacred things!  Anyone who’s participating is also offering up a wonderful book prize, so I’ll be posting their book covers and blurbs for you.  It’ll then be YOUR job to match up the book and author to their personal item.  Think that sounds easy?  We’ll see.  Random winners will be drawn and awarded one of the author’s prizes the following week, when we’ll do it all again!

You ready?  Let’s do this thing!

Who are the authors up for grabs this week you ask?  Well let me introduce you and let you know what they’re offering!

First up, the lovely Lori Wilde.  One of my oldest friends in this business, she’s as sweet as she is pretty.  She’s giving away a copy of her latest, The Valentine’s Day Disaster.

A Twilight, Texas Novella

Next, we have my walking buddy and NWHRWA chaptermate, Susan Muller.  Her Paranormal Romantic Suspense novels will thrill you to the edge of your seats.  She’s offering a copy of The Witch on Twisted Oak.

A powerful psychic is brutally murdered. Secrets are revealed. An old enemy is out for revenge.

Detective Ruben Marquez is thrust back into his childhood memories when he investigates a gruesome murder that occurs only feet from his mother’s home. Is the killer somehow connected to his own past? Is the beautiful, mysterious daughter of the victim, someone he can trust? Or is her revelation that she’s a witch a sign he should stay clear. But how can he, when it appears she’s next on the murderer’s to-do list?

In the ultimate test of courage, he uses himself as bait to protect all he holds dear . . . his career, his family, and the Witch on Twisted Oak.

***

And lastly, my friend Robin Kaye.  I know you love her sexy novels full of the bad boys from Red Hook.  So do I.  She’s graciously offered up a copy of her newest book, Had to Be You.

Slater knew tragedy from a young age, but with the support of his foster family, he turned his life around. Now, back from a stint in the Navy, he’s packed up his motorcycle and returned to Red Hook to help to run the family restaurant—a job that comes with a tantalizing upside. Her name is Rocki.

Flirty, sweet, and outgoing, Rocki brings in crowds as the lead singer of the house band. And although she’s unable to resist the charms of this intense bad boy, she refuses to open her heart to him. Until a family crisis shatters Rocki’s easygoing demeanor, exposing something from her past she’d always hoped would stay hidden.

But Slater knows a thing or two about family secrets—and he sets out to prove to Rocki that their relationship could finally give them both a future worth believing in.

***

Now the work begins.  Time to put your matching skills to the test.  Assign an author to a photograph in the comments section for your chance to win.  Good luck!

A. Lori Wilde

B. Susan Muller

C. Robin Kaye

1. Desk
Who writes here?

2. Purse
Hmmm…see any clues?

3. Shoes
These look like they’ve seen some miles!

Hi, everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  This is a very special week as I join 21 other authors in a week-long Texas Romance Celebration on Facebook where we’re having tons of fun enjoying all things romance and all things Texas.  You see, March 2^nd is an important date down here in the Lone Star State.  Sure, it kicks off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (hey, that’s big stuff down here!) but it is also Texas Independence Day, because back in 1836 Texas broke from Mexico to create the Republic of Texas.  Betcha didn’t know you were gonna get a history lesson, did ya? 

Well, here in Texas we take a few things pretty seriously.  Our heritage, our rodeo, our food, and our cowboys.  And this week, all of us authors who write Texas-based romances got together to celebrate that with our readers with tons of giveaways of books, gift cards, and a grand prize of a loaded down Kindle.  You DO NOT want to miss the fun!  Here is the link to join up if you missed it: https://www.facebook.com/events/606125616119893/613284262070695/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Now, for my guest today, I’ve invited back an author you’ve seen a few times.  She’s taking part in the Texas Romance Celebration, and she’s also my friend, assistant, and she writes sexy, sassy books that I know many of you enjoy, so I keep bringing her back when she has a new release.  She just put out her latest, a Cupid Chronicles novella called Charlie’s Angel, which is, of course, based in Texas.  Please welcome, Shauna Allen!

***

Thanks, Christie!  And hello again, all!  Thank you for having me back on Laugh, Love, Read! 

Well, as CC said, I did just release my latest book, Charlie’s Angel.  If you’re familiar with my stories at all, I write sexy, light Paranormal romances that are a twist on the angel/cupid theme.  My matchmaking angel, Michael has been given some humdinger matches over the course of my books, and Charlie’s Angel is no exception.  Now by humdingers, I mean a surly tattoo artist and a mousy accountant; a wounded, mysterious man and the girl-next-door, running from her past; a fallen angel and a woman who embodies everything he thinks he fell from grace for.  I’m currently working on Book IV of the series, which will hopefully be out this summer, and I’m particularly excited about this one because I’m resurrecting a beloved character from one of my other books and giving him his own story.  Everything has been building and culminating toward this moment.

Now, as Christie also said, I’m taking part in the Texas Romance Celebration this week because most of my books do take place in Texas.  (Not all of them.  I moved a bit into Arizona because I have a character from the Navajo Nation.)  But, overall, I have kept to the old adage, ‘write what you know.’ And, being a Texas girl, I know Texas.  Being raised in the Austin area, that’s where my series started.  And, having a love for bad boys, I used the micro-setting of a tattoo studio.  When my characters needed to travel, we moved to my favorite place in the world—the Texas Hill Country. 

I’ve even gone so far as to write an entire novel (not a part of the Cupid Chronicles) called Elvis is a Keeper, which some of you may have read, that takes place 100% in the Hill Country as my heroine works the lakes as a fishing guide.  Still not convinced how much I love it?

Here’s a small excerpt from Elvis:

The cool air snapped at their faces, making his eyes dry behind his sunglasses. He looked—really looked—as the lake passed by in flashes of perfection, making him acutely aware of how beautiful it all was.

They skimmed over water that was so blue it appeared nearly black in some places and a mossy green in others. Lake houses sat snuggled in their perfect coves like elegant dreams, their trees just starting to lose their green with the burden of fall. Huge limestone cliffsides sagged like craggy old men’s faces, whiskered with drying greenery.

Now, with her—perhaps because of her—he saw the appeal of this place. The perfect wonder.

All too soon, she slowed the motor, then shut it off completely and dropped anchor in a half-moon-shaped cove surrounded by trees and brush. The blip of a fish slapping the surface and the rustle of the breeze through the brush were the only sounds at that moment.

She sat still, not moving or talking, understanding the occasional need to just listen.

So, tell me, do you love Texas?  Some other place?  Where do you find peace? 

***

Charlie’s back!

Miserable and unsettled in his predictable, suit-and-tie existence, Charles Benson, Jr. is finally waking up and realizing a few things.

He hates his life.

But instead of a change, he finds himself thrust deeper into the same ol’, same ol’, only worse.

Or is it?

 Kami Monroe.

Tattooed. Pierced. Outspoken. Fiercely sexy.

Jaded after being burned by an unreliable dreamer, she rolls her eyes at Charles’s uptight monkey suits and Polo shirts, even as she secretly craves the stability he represents . . . not to mention the unexplainable and explosive chemistry sizzling between them.

There’s only one thing stopping them. Each other.

Second chances . . .

Add to the mix an angel getting one last shot at Love Detail before moving up the ranks, and you could have a match made in Heaven . . . if they’d just get the hell out of the way.

Available now from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nqonco8

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/knl8s35

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/nx2s6wh

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Thanks so much for being here, Shauna!  Love the Hill Country and your lovely descriptions of it!  Share with us your thoughts and five lucky commenters will win a copy of Shauna’s newest release, Charlie’s Angel!  Be sure and check back next week to see if you’ve won!

***

Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas.  She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three awesome teenagers.  She is the award-winning author of the Cupid Chronicles series, including the newly released Charlie’s Angel.  Shauna is also a freelance editor and personal assistant to two NYT Bestselling authors.  She loves all things sexy, sassy, and Gerard Butler.

Shauna would love for you to visit her at her website and blog at: www.shaunaallen.com

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/shauna.allen.12

Twitter : http://tiny.cc/s0dlmw

Goodreads : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916632.Shauna_Allen

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/shaunaallen7/

You can also sign up for all the latest Shauna Allen news with her Angel Kisses Newsletter here! http://eepurl.com/D_RcP