Kissing the Captain @ EReader News Today

Hey, Y'all,
Kianna here. Just wanted to ket you all know I'm featured at ENT tiday! Please take a look at the post, which has four other cheap and free books you might enjoy. Click THE LINK BELOW to see the post. I encourage you to like, share, all that good stuff.

http://ereadernewstoday.com/bargain-and-free-books-for-11-19-14/6750739/

Have a great day :)

-Kianna

My 9 Favorite Books of All Time

Hey, y'all, 

First off, let me wish all the veterans out there a very Happy Veteran's Day. I'm married to a veteran, and am also the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of several fine veterans, so I know firsthand the tradition of honor, valor, and service you all represent. My hat's off to you all!

Can you believe it's already halfway through November? 2014 seems to have flown by. I've done more traveling, more writing, more marketing, more studying the craft than I've ever done before- maybe that's why the year seemed to go by in a blur. Here are just a few of the places I've been this year( I've added pictures, in the case I could find any):

Richmond, VA for the premiere of Iris Bolling's The Heart TV Series

New Orleans, LA for Romance Slam Jam 

Winston-Salem, NC for the Women and Girl's Project Spring Fling

Lillington, NC @ Harnett County Library

Lake Beuna Vista, FLA for AC Authur's Season of Shifters event @ Walt Disney World

Greensboro, NC for the Book Clubs United event

And I still have at least two more events before the year is out. It's been an exciting year, and I've truly enjoyed meeting so many of my readers face to face. I'm really looking forward to meeting even more of you, and seeing some of you again, in 2015!


Now to the good stuff: my top 9 favorite books of all time. This list was hard to make, since I love reading so much, but here goes nothing. Because I love you and want you to be happy, I'm linking to these books on Amazon so you can check them out, if you so choose. (You'll have to page through the widget to see them all.) Keep in mind that I'm multifaceted: a mother and wife, a writer and a history nerd, and my list reflects the truth of who I am :)

That's all for now. It will be a minute before my turn to post comes around again, so let me go ahead and wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season. Be sure to come back this Friday, November 14 when Loretta will kick of our Hot MAMA Land Hot Holiday Giveaway Days celebration- you don't want to miss it!

Throwback Thursday

I've been asked to take part in a Thursday Throwback chat today featuring the Ramseys. When I received the request, I was undoubtedly excited. More than that I struck by the amount of time that's passed since the release of that first title: A Lover's Dream- which was published in 2006, but actually written in 2003. Gosh! My son was a baby! I was still a relatively new author- a relatively new PUBLISHED author. I had actually been writing since 1994 and by the time I got around to ALD, I'd had about 4 published works and almost 15 unpublished works to my credit.

A connected series had eluded me however.

I guess it really hadn't eluded me, I'd actually not considered writing one- not understanding how much readers enjoyed returning to find out what their beloved (and not so beloved) characters were up to. Heck, I was one of them- from Karen Moning's Highlander Series (which actually sparked my decision to create Quest and Quaysar) to childhood faves like The Chronicles of Narnia and the Paddington Bear Series. I had a definite love for returning to the stories that followed characters I enjoyed.

At a book event at the Greensboro Public Library in North Carolina, I spent a great deal of time in conversation with the readers in attendance about our love for connected books. By the end of the event, I had the motivation I needed to get this thing started, but the actual plot path still eluded me. I did have the ingredients, though. I knew that whatever this connected story would entail would have to involve a family (because seriously, who comes with more drama than a wild family?) I knew there would have to be gorgeous men and women (this was a romance, after all-ha!) I knew there had to be secrets- tons of secrets. This ingredient was an easy one to come by since pretty much all my work deals with some hidden revelation to be uncovered as the story unfolds.

Different from my other stories, however I wanted the secrets comprising this series of stories to not only unfold more slowly but to also have been ones that were set in motion years- decades prior. I had completely enjoyed creating this series. The characters, the secrets, the passions, the settings...all of it has motivated me in the most phenomenal ways and it's rather bittersweet to envision a time when the story will come to its completion. I say bittersweet because part of me- a big part- is excited to see all the characters find the happiness they've fought for.

There are still two more stories (at least) to go. Readers are asking that I also include a Tesano Elders title, and there's a high probability that I will. But that's a ways off. There is still loads of drama to be recorded- Still more tense (and fatal) moments, more steamy encounters... Enjoy!

Baby, It's Cold Outside- Gotta Stay Warm Somehow!

Hey, y'all!
Even though it's always warm here in Hot MAMA Land, some places aren't so fortunate. As November wears on, and fall becomes crisper as winter creeps up, we're all looking for a way to stay warm. Curling up by the fireplace with cup of hot tea- our favorite fuzzy socks, and a good book. What could be more lovely?

I'll tell you. If the book can raise your body temperature all the more, that's what could be better! Turn down the thermostat, pick up a hot book, and save yourself some money, honey!

In need of a hot book? I humbly submit my Christmas themed erotic romance, Seducing Sheri, for your consideration.

One beta reader commented: "The heat between them was so hot, they were roasting chestnuts just by standing close to each other!" 

Want a little taste? Read the excerpt below:

 As her late model sedan breezed down NC 421, Sheridan Cole let her eyes scan the horizon ahead. She could feel the exhaustion setting in, so she blinked her eyes several times to push away the bleariness, then turned the dial on the console to turn the heat down. The digital thermometer in the dash displayed a chilly 38 degrees, typical for December in North Carolina. She knew if she kept the heat blasting, she'd fall asleep for sure.

It was Saturday evening, and outside the warm cocoon of her car, only a few other vehicles occupied the road. She'd chosen to leave her place just outside of Philly on Friday, planning her trip so she could spend the last leg in a traffic lull. She'd traveled I-95 south, then caught I-85 going west to get her to this point. After what she'd dealt with while driving in the city, and on the interstate highways today, she needed this break from bumper to bumper gridlock.

On the right side of the road, she glanced at the green and white road signs directing her journey. She didn't make this trip very often, and she didn't want to miss her exit. She'd only come home one previous Christmas, and that had been just after college, three years ago.

Her mother, Clara, was constantly asking her why she didn't come home more often. She'd been honest with her mother- Evelyn Yancey, her boss at the CPA firm, worked them extra hard around Christmas to prepare for the coming tax season. Most years, she was simply too exhausted to make the trip. Her mother hadn't seemed satisfied with the answer, but it was the truth. Mercifully, this year, her boss had taken a rare vacation, freeing everyone in the office to actually celebrate the holidays instead of slaving away at their desks.

This was one hell of a long drive. She ran a hand over her eyes, and reached for her now tepid coffee. Taking a sip, she continued to look for the sign that would direct her back to her tiny hometown.

Finally, the sign she was looking for came into view. NC 62- Climax Creek. Pressing down on the turn signal lever, she moved into the right lane, and took the appropriate exit.

The setting sun dipped low behind the clouds in the overcast sky as she drove through the town center. Through her tired, droopy eyes, she could see that not much had changed since she'd last visited. Most of the businesses were closed, but all of them were decked out in holiday finery. Fresh spruce wreaths, finished with red velvet ribbons, hung on the doors of every shop and store. The town's lit wreaths hung from every light post.

Climax Creek had two gas stations, a BP and a Kangaroo. There was a small Guilford County library branch, along with a couple of fast food places and a Walgreen’s. The town hall occupied a small sloping piece of land inside a traffic circle, and off the main road, there were at least four churches of different denominations. As she drove around the traffic circle, she groaned. They'd put the infernal thing in when she was in high school, and she'd always hated it. Aside from that, there wasn't enough traffic in Climax Creek to warrant a circle- the whole town had less than 1600 people. At least the trip around the circle let her get a good look at the town's Christmas tree. It was beautiful this year, with all white lights and ornaments of silver and gold.

She spotted Cool Beans, the local coffee shop that had been on Climax Road since she was knee high to a piano bench. Across the street she could see the florist shop, owned by Minnie Hughes, mother of her best friend and high school classmate, Carlotta.

When she passed Dunn's Grocery, she cringed. She knew the Dunn family well- especially the oldest son, Nick. Every time she passed the place, she thought about the same two things: the rivalry between the Coles and the Dunns, and how drop-dead sexy Nick was. She pushed the thoughts away. Right now, all she wanted was to get home to a warm bed.

Her eyelids dipped again, this time coming dangerously close to shutting completely. Shaking her head vigorously to fend off the sleepiness, she made a quick maneuver, turning left off the main road and into the parking lot of Cool Beans. If she was going to make it home safely, she had to stop in for a pick-me-up. The cold coffee in her travel mug just wasn't going to do.

Slipping the car into an empty spot, she cut the engine and got out. There were only four other cars in the lot, so she knew it would be pretty easy to get in, grab herself a dark roast, and get back on the road before her mom started calling her cell phone. Clara hadn't been crazy about her taking the long drive alone, but it was two days before Christmas. She didn't want to be anywhere near Philadelphia International Airport in the middle of the holiday travel madness.

The air held a biting chill, but the aroma of the coffee wafting from the shop brought a smile to her lips. Nothing could warm the bones like a good strong brew, and Paulina Gray, owner of Cool Beans, could brew with the best of them.

With her purse in hand, and her cell phone tucked into the hip pocket of her jeans, she pushed through the door into the warmth of the coffee shop.

Inhaling the heady aroma of the freshly ground beans and brewing coffee, she stepped forward toward the counter.

A man stood there, his back to her, fiddling with his cell phone. She assumed he was waiting on his drink, so she hung back a bit to let him have his personal space.

Paulina flitted over with a steaming cup in her hand, the ever-present smile lighting her face. "Here you go, Nick. Have a good evening, darlin'."

Hearing that name, her heart stopped. Surely she didn't mean that Nick. Over her now racing heartbeat, she sent up a silent prayer that another Nick, any Nick, had moved to town since she'd been away, and had endeared himself to Paulina enough for her to call him by a pet name.

The man took the offered cup. "Thanks, Lina."

Her heart dropped straight to the soles of her leather boots. She knew that voice.

He turned around fully, his cup in hand. As soon as he saw her, that sexy smile broke out over his full lips. "Sheri? When did you get back in town?" As he spoke, she watched the way his eyes moved over her body like a caress.

And just like that, her plans for a quick trip home for the holiday flew out the window like a bird escaping a cage.

***

Eying Sheridan Cole, Nick was suddenly very glad he'd stayed later than he intended to grab a hot chocolate. He'd spent the last hour or two sitting in the shop with his younger brother, Dalton. They'd been discussing possible courses of action to take now that Purcell Foods, Incorporated was chomping at the bit to buy out his family's grocery store. He and his brother acted as manager and assistant manager, respectively, and the surprise offer on the store had put quite a damper on their holiday. No one in the entire Dunn family seemed to agree on what to do about the offer. As the eldest child, and designated voice of reason, his stress levels had been high for the last two weeks from to get everyone to a consensus.

But now, looking at this tasty morsel of femininity that fate had seen fit to drop in front of him, he thought his Christmas spirit might be returning in full force. Wearing a pair of skin tight, dark denim jeans and an emerald green sweater beneath a black leather jacket, she looked like the best gift he could ever hope to unwrap. The clothes clung to her in every place they should, showing off the womanly curves she'd acquired. They'd known each other since childhood, but now, she was all woman and looked every bit the part.

She'd come a long way from the math genius in glasses he'd known in high school, and even from the recent college graduate he'd seen on her last visit. He watched her stand there, trembling like a chihuahua in a freezer, and waited for her to answer his question.

"I...uh....just got in. Decided to stop off for something warm on the way home." Her hand went to the straight, dark locks of her hair, hanging over her shoulders, and she twirled a few strands around her fingertips. Watching her do that just made him want to run his hand through the silken tresses.

He smiled, reaching out for her hand with his free one. "Welcome home. It's so good to see you. How long has it been...three, four years?" Her hand was shaky as he captured it in his larger one.

She nodded. "About that long, yeah." As if she realized she was playing in her hair, she stuffed the offending hand into her jacket pocket. Still gazing at him, those chocolate eyes wide, she asked, "How have you been?"

"Good, good." He took a sip from the cup of cocoa, through the tiny hole in the plastic lid. It was scorching hot, but somehow not as hot as Sheri. "Still managing the store. How about you?"

Her gaze flickered, dropped for a moment. "Still working at the firm."

"Well, you look fantastic. Whatever you're doing up in Pennsylvania is obviously working for you." He lifted her hand up to his lips, and kissed it.

"Ah."

The sound that slipped from her mouth may not have been intentional, but it was audible. He heard her sigh, loud and clear. Hearing her utter that throaty, pleasure filled sound made his pants feel about two sizes too small in the crotch. At this point, he had two options. He could either go stand in the corner, cross his legs, and think about last year's ski trip to Aspen, or he could invite her home with him. Right away, he knew which one he preferred, although, it would be quite a feat to drive in his current condition.

Paulina cleared her throat, and they both turned in her direction. "Don't hog Sheridan, Nick. Come on over here and tell me how you've been doing, girl!"

Releasing a long breath, Sheri excused herself and went to the counter to converse with Paulina. He watched her round hips swaying from side to side, then moved to a nearby table and sat down, covering his lap with his trench coat before he embarrassed himself.

He sat there and waited for the two women to finish their conversation, all the while wondering what Sheri would say when he asked her to come home with him. They were well acquainted, so she probably wouldn't slap him in the face, but he knew what he was about to do was still more than a little forward. Back in high school, she completely ignored him, preferring to spend time with her math books over dating. He hoped to God she'd changed her mind, because what was throbbing between his legs told him that if he didn't have her, he'd never get to sleep.

He waited what seemed like hours for her to finish chatting with Paulina and order her drink, while he shifted back and forth on the hard wooden seat. There just wasn't any comfortable way to sit in a chair like that when he was so damn hard. Finally, mercifully, she got her drink and turned back in his direction. "I was on my way home, so I guess I'd better get back on the road."

He stood, careful to close his coat as he did. Rather than announce his intentions now, and risk getting shot down in front of the gossiping Paulina, he offered his arm. "Let me walk you to your car."

She gave him a small smile, linked arms with him, and he pressed the door open with his elbow so they could step out into the cold night air.

Outside, they walked toward her dark blue sedan. He watched her face, and the way she seemed to be avoiding making eye contact. When she made a move to slip her arm out of his, he stayed her.

She looked up at him with those doe eyes. "What is it, Nick?"

He sat his cup on the roof of her car, then took hers and did the same. With both hands free, he cupped her face in his hands. "Sheri, why don't you come to my place?"

The long lashes fluttered. "I...didn't I just say I was on the way home?"

"You did." He dipped his head low, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

The same sound she'd made earlier, when he'd touched her hand, slipped out again.

She stepped back, pressed a hand over her mouth. "Oh, God. You heard that, didn't you."

He nodded. "Yeah. Both times." He kissed her lips again, loving how soft and yielding they felt beneath his. Unable to stop himself, he kissed her again, and again, giving her little pecks until his mouth, craving more of her, opened to slide his tongue between her lips.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, and that was his cue to pull her flush against his body, his hands resting on her hips. She relaxed into his embrace, and let the kiss deepen.

The chill of the night faded away, until all he could feel was the heat the two of them were generating. His hands moved around to cup her the full cheeks of her ass, and he gave them a firm squeeze. For the third time, she moaned; this time, the sound was muffled by his mouth covering hers.

He released her lips, pulled back for a moment. Looking down, he could see the desire shimmering in her eyes. "Do you want to stand out here in the cold making out, or do you want to continue this at my house? It's warmer, and much more private."

**I hope you enjoyed the excerpt. If you did, you can purchase Seducing Sheri for only .99 at one of the following retailers:**

Amazon

Smashwords

ARe

iBookstore

Until Next Time, 

Kianna

Forget Grammar and Just Do Me

Once upon a time, writers HAD to be grammatically correct. An editor would rework every single sentence until it was according to American English standard even though nothing was left of an author’s voice. During the beginning of my career, I noticed I could get away with an occasional “ain’t” but only in dialogue, and even then it was still irritating to read the way my sentences had been restructured to a point that it was killing my characters’ swag and personality. But over the last few years, I noticed how things have changed. All that woulda, coulda, shoulda is now possible. I can now write like “real” people talk. There will always be those who prefer not to read “slang” but now that I am an author who is in control of what she writes, I’m gonna tell it like it is. All of my books center around dialogue because that’s where my scenes begin. With my upcoming release, Do Me Baby, Rance Beaumont is a NBA player and a cocky one at that. Once you get the pleasure to read my newest edition to the Beaumont Series, remember it was dialogue driven. And when Rance speaks, it’s going to be “What’s up wit ya,” not “what is up with you” cause that just how I do. LOL

 

Angie

Let The Summer Madness Begin!

Hi, Y'all,
We're back from summer hiatus, and as Founding Mama, it's my job to get this summer thing started with a bang. I hope you had a lovely Fourth of July. I enjoyed a very small cookout at my home in Middle of Nowhere, North Carolina, attended by a total of eight people, myself included. What can I say, I like my summer gatherings as laid back and low-key as possible.
I wish I could say I've eased into summer, with a cool lemonade in one hand, and a notebook and pen in the other. This, unfortunately, is not the case. My six year old is out of school, and even though I've been dealing with my three year old all school year, the two of them together is too much, honey! My son is now co-signing his little sister's foolishness. She can't reach something she's not supposed to have? He gets it for her. She can quite open the door to the room she's not allowed in? Her brother rips it open with his super strength. Lordy, lordy. They are really putting a damper on my summer writing mojo.
Still, I will have respite, in a way. In about a week, I'm leaving for the Romance Writer's of America national conference. It's being held in Atlanta this year, the closest it's been to me in years, so I coughed up the registration fee. I intend to do as much networking and learning as I can, without damaging my fragile sanity. I've scheduled daily "decompression" breaks into my trip, so I can sit myself down, take a breath, and chill before I start hyperventilating in that fancy hotel. I also plan to get with some other writers I don't get to see that often, including Wayne Jordan and Beverly Jenkins, and I'm pitching to an agent as well. It will be a busy week, but I need this time to get away from my darling little ragamuffins and focus on my writing. Writing is, after all, what keeps me from having an epic, nuclear level meltdown. When you realize your babies have painted your walls with craft paint, or spilled straight pins all over the floor, you need a little something to take the edge off.
Well, that's it for now. At the time of this writing, I'm in the process of making another deal with Ellora's Cave, but it's not finalized so I'll tell you about it in my next post. In the meantime, don't forget my next release, Freedom's Embrace, drops August 1, and it's already up for pre-order at Amazon and BN. Thanks for all the love, and I'll see you on the flip-side.

Until Next Time,
Kianna

Persevere! You Will Get There...

Hey, y'all,
So, today I have what I consider to be a valuable word of wisdom to impart to you. As indicated in the post title, it's all about perserverance.

Going after you dreams isn't an easy undertakings. There are all kinds of obstacles that will get in your way, from self-doubt, to finances, to family and work obligations. For me, the things that could hamper my efforts are numerous- I have two young children, one with special needs; a husband in the military, a house to run, an another career as a freelance corporate writer. My days are hectic, filled with potty breaks, wiping noses, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, fielding what seems like hundreds of phone calls a day, attending to my freelance clients, and, somehow, writing fiction. When people ask me how I do it, I usually reply with this:

"I don't really know, but I don't sleep a lot."

Not  a glamourous or exciting response, but it's the truth. :)

Chasing the dream of writing fiction full-time is something I must do. In order for me to deal with the things I deal with on a daily basis, I have to believe it's a dream that really can come true. Otherwise I'd have a breakdown and just completely lose my sh*t. So I pull the early mornings, trying to wake up before the kids so I can write. As soon as I get used to getting up at a certain hour, they start waking up earlier. Crafty little scamps, aren't they?

So I stay up late and write. Or I escape to the library or a cafe on the weekends and write while my darling husband is with the children. I write in the therapy clinic waiting room on Monday when my son gets two and half hours of speech, occupational and physical therapy. I write in the hospitals and clinics I take him to for his never-ending string of doctor's appointments. I write in a Moleskin book I keep in my purse, on my cell phone's Writer App, on a scrap of paper laid against my steering wheel in the car. (Not while I'm driving, though.)

I have so many stories to tell, I can't stop. I must write. It is as much a part of who I am as my love of music, or the colors teal and purple, or my attraction to chocolate and Japanese animation. I must write, for me, there is no other option.

Recently, a dream of mine came true. I sold a book to a publisher that I've been trying to get in with for years. Not only did I sell to them, I sold the book no other house would touch. The heroine is a runaway slave and that seemed to really make folks uncomfortable. This was my  "impossible" to sell book, my one in a million shot, the story I could not just tuck away under the bed. I had seven rejections back to back before I sold it.

But I sold it.

Why? Because I am worthy, I am talented, I am good enough. And so are you.

You can grab Freedom's Embrace now on pre-order at Amazon, and it will hit your ereader on August 1st. Click the cover to get it.

You can also get it directly from Ellora's Cave. Add it to your wishlist here.

If you don't remember any of my ramblings today, remember this. No matter how hard and fast you have to run, a dream is always, always worth chasing.


Until Next Time,
Kianna

Feels like the first time. . .Release day of Forces of Nature

 Ten years ago, I was waiting like a kid at Christmas for the release of my first romance novel, Revelations. Finally, my book was going to be on the shelves of bookstores and people would get to read a story that kept me awake at night, that kept me from hanging out with my friends and family while I wrote it.

Back then, there were a lot of book stores around. Borders on every corner, Books A Million was the new hot spot and Waldenbooks was my favorite place to go in the mall.

 Fast forward 10 years and I have that same feeling today as Forces of Nature hits the shelves today. I still get in the car and drive around my city to look for my book on shelves. Seeing my book beside some of my favorite authors, like Brenda Jackson, Victoria Christopher Murray and Donna Hill sends a wave of excitement through my body. I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Then I pull out my handy dandy Sharpie --pink of course -- and sign the books. Today, I'm carrying autographed copy stickers in my oversized purse. And yes, I'm sticking them on every book I sign. :)

So, now the real fun begins-- getting to hear what the readers think of my baby. Forces of Nature was a true labor of love. I started writing this book about four years ago. Douglas and Crystal hold a really special place in my heart. Truly fire and ice. Here's hoping that you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed telling it.



And join me and my sisters from HOT MAMA Land on May 18 as we celebrate the release of Forces of Nature.

Comfort Zone

    One thing I’ve noticed in my writing is... I create characters with attributes that reflect me and what I like. (Ooh, did I just admit that?)
   I don’t smoke, so you rarely see a character who does that, this, or anything else I don’t like (for instance, eating biscuits with gravy. YUCK!) I can admit my habit because I understand the reason. It's where I feel most comfortable. I can write what it’s like to wiggle my fat butt into a pair of skinny jeans, or swaying my hips while walking in a pair of stilettos, because it’s what this diva does.
    But what I’ve learned as an author is that sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone. Now, I don’t recommend that for new authors because I’m always quick to preach, “Write what you know.” However, as a seasoned author, we have to continue to challenge ourselves as writers. Isn’t it all about growing and developing our craft? Well, of course it is.
   One of my challenges in this coming year is to create characters who aren’t anything like me (that’s hard). And especially, to create men other than the ones I find attractive (now that's even harder). LOL. But that’s what makes writing so fun.
     As an author I can escape to a tropical island and be made love to by the finest brotha, but the challenge is to create someone different, then step into that woman’s shoes (I'll try a pair of flats) and feel what it’s like to be her. Step two. I need to have an open mind so that the next time I see a man who isn’t chocolate with a beautiful smile, dark eyes, and a goatee (I’m pausing to pant), I need to identify some other attributes that another woman might find attractive.
     Hmmm, I think that’s going to be the challenge for my next book, or better yet, a novella. Remember, baby steps. I gotta master the technique first.

 

LOL,

 

Angie Daniels

Cutting Through the Holiday Madness

Hey, Y'all,
Well, it's that time of year again. The time when the malls are filled with shoppers, some of whom will elbow you in the mouth to grab that last Barbie doll. Traffic is backed up, parking lots are full to capacity, your phone is ringing off the hook with charity solicitations and telemarketers. It's enough to drive even a genteel Southern lady like myself to reach for the bottle. (Relax, it's just moscato.)

The point is, we sometimes need to escape the craziness forced upon us by an extremely consumerist society. Remember the true reason for the season- whatever that is for you. For most of us, this time of year is about celebrating 2012 and looking forward to 2013 with the people we love most, our family and friends. It's my hope that we all experience the glow of love radiating from those who mean the most to us.

Aside from the joy found in good company, sometimes we need to have some "me time." As women we often struggle with that concept- we give and give until we ourselves are empty vessels, exhausted, frustrated, and ready to smack somebody. Don't do it. While violence may be temporarily satisfying, it often leads to criminal charges. Stop, take a breath, and step back from the situation. Take the time to fill your vessel, by spending time doing the things you love. Maybe it's a spa day. Maybe you want to sleep in. Maybe you want to fill a target full of holes at the shooting range. Whatever your pleasure,this year, don't forget to take time for yourself. My husband will be incredibly gratified to know I've passed the advice he's (repeatedly) given me  to the Internets at large.

If reading's your thing, good news! Everyone who follows the Hot MAMA Land blog today will receive one entry into a drawing for a free autographed copy of my historical romance, Kissing the Captain, along with a Kianna Alexander pen, fancy bookmark, and a few other awesome swag goodies. Want more entries? Check it out- you can get one more by leaving a comment about how you cut through the holiday madness, and yet another entry if you share the blog via Twitter with the hashtag (#hotmamaland!). You can get a maximum of three entries!

From my house to yours, Happy Holidays!

-Kianna

You know what really makes a romance novelist mad?

Imagine spending months, even years, with the perfect man. He's a little moody, but he has a big heart -- among other big things -- and when you need him, he's right there. Then you have to say goodbye to him and share him with the rest of the world. Yep, your hero is on the shelves and you're left to deal with the men in the real world.

Yes, those men who don't hold doors and give you side eye when you -- in your five inch heels with your hands full -- don't hold the door for them.

Yeah, those men who holler, "Hey baby!" and get mad when you keep walking without looking back.

Umm, those quarterbacks and other "ballers" who think calling a female sports reporter sweetheart or gorgeous in press conferences and on TV is just fine.

I keep a journal and I usually keep it closed tightly. But I have to share this. Over the summer, I attended the first Charlotte Book Fair and was asked, why do I write romance?
The standard answer is it's fun and a great chance to write about love. Granted, that's true but real deal is real men make me sad.

For instance, once upon a time, I was in love with a man I ended up killing in Cautious Heart. He's Damien King, in case you wanted to know.
Well, much like Damien, the man behind the character was a lying cheater and add childish jerk to the list. So, why should I care that you have happy holiday wishes for me?

You -- the same person who tried to sleep with someone I considered a friend?
You -- the person who ruined my Christmases for three years in a row?
You -- the inspiration for a male character who died such a violent death I had to edit myself?

So, I write romance because I can forget people like "Damien King" are real.
I write romance because it gives me hope. I write romance because some real men just make me mad! I know y'all could do better if you tried.
I write romance because at the end of the story, I get a happy ending too. :)

The Love Scene vs. The Sex Scene

Sometimes, you want your lover to make love to you. You want to be caressed, you want to be kissed softly and sweetly and you want your hair to be stroked gently.

Then. . .sometimes, you just want to have sex! Or that other f-word. You want it against the wall, skirt hiked up, panties pulled to the side.

When I write, sometimes my hero and heroine want to have sex and sometimes they want to make love.
Take Freddie and Cleveland --the couple from More Than He Can Handle --they had sex more than they made love because Freddie Barker wasn't feeling Cleveland, a sexy firefighter who could have and had any woman he wanted.
Freddie didn't want to be like those other women, fawning over him, but she wanted him.
So, the first time they hit the bed: they were ***king. (LOL)

 All she knew was she had to have Cleveland inside her and fast.

            She took the condom from his hands. “Allow me,” she said as she pushed him on his back, then straddled his hard body. Freddie stroked his thick erection back and forth.

            “Miss Barker, you can do whatever you want to do,” he said with a sly smile.

            Freddie rolled the sheath into place then she guided him to where she needed him most. At first, it was a tight fit because it had been so long since she had been with a man and Cleveland was all man, thick and long. For a moment, it felt as if it was going to be too much for her to handle, but Cleveland shifted his hips and it was a perfect fit.

            He groaned as Freddie rode him slowly. Her intensity was building as they ground against each other and then it was as if she was possessed. She bucked like a stallion, grasping his shoulders as he pressed deeper and deeper into her wetness.

            “Oh, Freddie,” he exclaimed. “Damn.”

            She felt as if she was about to climax, but Cleveland wasn’t finished with her. He flipped her over on to her back, taking control of their rendezvous. Freddie arched her back, pressing her hips into his and matching him thrust for thrust until they were both spent from the experience. Collapsing in each other’s arms, they both exhaled. Freddie glanced at Cleveland, his eyes were half closed and he had a satisfied smile on his lips.

Now, of course, my characters make love. They revel in tender touches, feather light kisses and declarations of love and devotion (who doesn't!).

One of my favorite love scenes comes from Too Hot For TV.

Imani nodded, slowly feeling the tension easing from her shoulder. Raymond pushed the straps of her dress down her shoulders, kissing the skin he exposed. Imani shivered with desire as his tongue eased down the back of her neck. With his free hand, he unzipped her dress and it fell off her body, pooling at her feet. Raymond spun her around and drank in her image. She was clad in a pink lace strapless bra that held her breasts the way he wanted to and a pair of matching lace panties that clung to her hips and behind. Raymond ran his hand down the center of her chest, stopping at the waistband of her panties.

“May I?” he asked.

She nodded nervously. He pulled her panties around her ankles, then slipped his hand between her thighs. Imani was wet, hot and waiting. “I want to taste you,” he said, salivating at the thought of wrapping his lips around her bud. Raymond scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He could feel Imani’s heart beating in overdrive. “Are you all right?” he asked again.

“I can’t lie, I’m a little nervous,” she said as he laid her in the center of his king sized bed.

“We can stop.”

“We haven’t even started,” she said.

“If you’re ready, I know how I want to start,” he said as he slowly spread her thighs apart. With the palm of his hand, he stroked her wetness back and forth. Imani squirmed under his touch. Her body seemed to take on a life of its on, responding to Raymond’s touch in ways she never imagined that she could do. Easing between her thighs, he parted her wet lips with his fingertips, then gently licked the folds of flesh until Imani’s moans turned into screams of passion. “Raymond, Raymond,” she cried as he sucked her throbbing bud of desire. She was so sweet, so delicious. Better than he’d dreamed she would be. He licked and sucked until she trembled and exploded in his mouth. Propping up on his elbows, he looked into Imani’s sated face. “How do you feel?” he asked.

So which do you prefer (in books, that is): lovemaking or sexing?