February

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Riddles and Rhymes

A Reality in the Fiction episode

If you've read the D-Strings trilogy of the Silver Strings series, you'll remember a lot of emphasis is on song writing. A lot of conversations stem around verses and song writing and each chapter begins with a snippet from one of their songs. In Rising Sun, the first in this series, Matt and Jules collaborate. In Half Moon, Jules stays in the biz writing for other bands, and it's here she branches  out into a completely different style than when co-composing with Matt. 

At some point, Jules is reflecting on how her song style has changed. She admits to stringing together words and meaningless phrases that sound good together and that "To her surprise, these meaningless, yet poetic songs [became future chart toppers.]"

The reality in the fiction is this. Musician's for years have been saying the same. Time and time again, they're asked to explain a song that truly has no meaning. John Lennon continually laughed at the misconceptions of and the attempts to decipher his lyrics. Here's one of the many times Kurt Cobain spoke about lyrics being just that--lyrics nothing else. 

(2:30) I notice people expect a thematic angle to our music... they want to read into it... i was just writing pieces of poetry... pieces of poetry... garbage that would spew out of me... and then i find myself having to come up with explanations for it...

And that sums it up nicely!

---

Excerpt from Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars, Silver Strings D-String trilogy.

“Can I ask you something?” Matt brought his hand from her hair to splay his fingers through hers.

“’Kay…”

“Which album is better?”

“That’s an impossible question…” She considered and reconsidered, wanting to give him a real answer, but she really couldn’t decide between the two. They were both just as great in different ways. “I love them both, just as much.”

“If you were going to be stranded on a desert isle, which one would you take?”

“A desert isle? Like with cactuses and scorpions and geckos?”

“Now, his hand went back to her hair, but it was to pull. “A deserted island, Gilligan. And it’s cacti.”

“You’re not a real professor you know…”

Toying with one of her ponytails, he raised his brows. “Oh really? So why did you work so hard for that ‘A’?” When she blew out an exasperated breath, irritated that he had bested her, as usual, in their repartee, he shot her a victorious grin before tugging on the ponytail. “You’re changing the subject.”

“Well…” she mused, “You mean, I know I’m going to be stranded? In advance enough to plan out my album collection?”

“Cari…” Matt warned, in that coated-with-the-sex-rumble which always came from deep within his throat. “You’re fixing to get it… and get it good…”

“It’s an impossible question… I mean it…”

“Just try…”

Another loud sigh expelled through her lips, this time from frustration at the situation. How could he seriously expect her to choose between the two albums? But there he was, patiently waiting. She could feel his anticipation of her answer in the darkness.

“The first one, I love for the lyrics, the way the words flow. I guess if everything else disappeared but the words, the songs would still be phenomenal.” She reflected on the two albums and chose her words in careful honesty. “The second easily has the best guitar riffs I’ve ever heard—EVER. To be honest, I don’t understand the words to half of the songs. I’m not sure they’re real words. But every time I hear any song from that album, I want to grab the guitar and start ripping.”

“Favorite songs?”

“Oh c’mon already… that’s too hard, and you know it. I did what you asked…”

“Not exactly—but good enough, better maybe…”

“Thank you!” She breathed the words dramatic. “Why the quiz?”

“On Precious Jewels, every song is from something.”

“Something?”

“Something about you. I know you had to have figured that out.”

“Every song? I mean, I knew two. Three, really I guess.”

“Three?” Matt squeezed her tighter, his earlier tension gone. Knuckles brushed her neck, and her fingers were massaging on his scalp. “Three? Damn girl, this is going to be fun. You got homework to do.”

“Every song? And you called me a stalker. Can’t you just tell me? What they mean?”

“That’s no fun…”

“I could make it fun…”

“No doubt about that…” he growled, reading the look in her eyes.

His gaze changed, and his every movement stilled. “Can I ask you something else? Something about your songs?”

“Sure.” But in mistakenly thinking he was speaking of Julian songs, she was unprepared for the question.

“When you recorded ‘Rightfully Mine,’ were you… were you crying, cari?”

The room faded, and she was back in the studio, Marc and Candi having left her to record in private, the technician a silent entity behind glass. The feelings of that day assaulted her. Sitting alone in that room with the world beyond the glass partition had seemed symbolic. Possibly sitting, where only weeks ago, Matt had but hadn't cared to stay.

“I'm sorry, Jules.” His arms encircled her, tightening with emotion, and she realized she had nodded in answer to his question. “After almost every session, I drove to the beach or to my room at my old man’s house and cried my eyes out.”

“Can we not talk about this?” It hurt too much. It was the past, and they were in the present. She was done with hurting.

His lips brushed hers gently, again and again, until the kisses were possessive and demanding, until the pent up emotions hanging in the moment were lost in lovemaking.

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A Picture is Worth…

We’ve all heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

But if it doesn’t belong to you, those words may eventually come to you in the form of an email and money owed for its real worth and more!

In the wake of several bloggers receiving cease orders to take pictures down from their blog, and one blogger under the threat of a lawsuit as well, images are being ripped off blog pages by panicked bloggers whose only crime was to post a promo given to them by an author or authors tour company.

What’s going on? Seems celebrity images from google search and other images are commonly used to make book teasers.

Seriously? Yeah.

What about those hot Jack teasers?

Safe. Ever wonder why I use the same images over and over?

First because it’s not easy to find men hot enough to pass for Jack on stock photo sites ;)

And second because when I do, I pay for my images and scour free stock photo sites for others—and this cuts into the amount I have available to use.

Lisa Gillis and Rock Star Read teasers are safe.

Here’s a hint to make sure you know your blog is safe.

Don’t upload teasers. Always link to them from the author’s website. (Right click, copy img url)

I don’t expect bloggers to just take my word that I’m responsible with my teasers. This is the reason one entire page of my website is devoted to teasers. It lets you choose the ones you like best and most importantly gives you peace of mind because it takes the liability from you and puts it on me.

Based on the 9th circuit court of appeal ruling in Perfect 10 v. Amazon:

When a site like Google hosts html that instructs a users browser to point to (i.e. “display”) an image hosted by a third party, the first party (e.g., Google) does not violate either the copyright owners right to copy or their right to display as those terms are defined under US copyright law. Like Google’s actions with regard to full size images in Perfect 10 v. Google and Perfect 10 v. Amazon, the web page included html that instructed a browser to point to an image at a third party site. Under US copyright law, this action does not violate the display right of the copyright holder and it does not violate their right to copy.

By never uploading the image to your server or website, you are not violating any US copyright law.

A picture is worth…

Speaking of pictures worth and teasers… an excerpt from Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars because we all know if there is anything I love more than teasers, it's excerpts!

“What bands do you listen to? Influence you?”

      Jules laughed and pretended to look at a nonexistent watch. “I was told this interview was only twenty minutes. That answer will take all day.”

      They both laughed, and Jules named off Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Aeroplane, Queen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin… “I LOVE KISS… oh and, have you heard ‘Don’t fear the Reaper’, just came out by Blue Oyster Cult? And ‘Love Hurts’, by a band called Nazareth. OH, OH, you’ve heard Foghat’s ‘Slow Ride’ right? I LOVE it. Pink Floyd, can’t forget. Um, RUSH, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, The Stones, of course, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper…”

      Jules began again going through the alphabet, not wanting to miss a band. Besides, as long as she was rattling off bands, the closer the end of the interview was with fewer embarrassing questions.

      At least, it was her plan, but when she paused for a breath between Lynyrd Skynyrd and John Lennon solo, the young woman slid a photograph across the table. The black and white picture had been pulled from a stack of prints extracted from a folder.

      Clamming up, Jules leaned forward. She knew this routine. She would be shown a picture of Dan helping her off of the bus, or Ken backstage, making her taste his drink, or some other innocent something, totally out of context. Journalists seemed to love shocking a response during interviews, to glitz up their creation.

      But the picture resting on the table was of her and Matt.

      In a clear shot, the photographer had been lucky enough to be at the precise angle, and click the shutter at the precise three seconds needed to end up with this picture. Matt’s tongue to her cheek.

      She clearly remembered the day. A fresh snow had fallen. They were loading the bus that morning and snowballs were flying like crazy from all directions. Except for Matt, they were all born-and-bred California kids, so snow was a major deal. Candi and Dan had never seen snow until this tour. Jules had traveled some with her parents, but the snow destinations she could remember were few and far between.

      “Hey Jules,” Matt called. She had gotten too cold and was abandoning the snowball fight to board the bus and warm up. At this hail from the husky voice she loved, she paused just before taking the first step up. “Jules!”

      Unsuspectingly, she turned into a perfect pitch. Matt’s large snowball slammed into the side of her face, painfully so, and broke on impact.

      Her yelp brought a remorseful Matt running. He squeezed her into a hug even as he couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh, VooJu! You should’ve seen your face. Wish I had a picture!”

      How ironic!

      The shock faded some, and high on hysteria, she quipped a line from a sitcom they had taken on as a private joke. “Oh, my nose!” Her exclamation had modulated the girl on the show perfectly, whose nose had been broken by an accidental football throw. She flicked some of the snow from her shoulder onto him and then hit him for good measure.

      And that’s when it had happened.

      Laughing as he begged an apology, he’d licked the remaining snow from her face!

      As a chorus of “ews” and “raunchys” had chimed, she’d slapped at him again and stepped on the bus. Apparently, whoever the photographer had been hadn’t been on the bus. Because when Matt had boarded, feeling bad about hitting him, she’d broken her public affection stance and told him there was snow on his mouth…

      Jules tapped her fingers on the glossy photo. “Huh. Good one. Matt is such a clown. Do you mind if I keep this? I’d love to blackmail him with it.” Here she laughed.

      While she was still congratulating herself on her answer, another photo came her way, and she picked it up. Matt and her dancing. Their only physical contact was Matt’s hands holding her waist flush to his. Her arms were slightly raised as if in rhythm to the song. Although his tongue was in his mouth in this picture, their lust for one another was obvious in their eyes.

      An after party. Jules struggled to place it, but one hotel suite was pretty much the same as any other. She was at a loss for words, because she’d never known they looked that way together. Perfect. In love.

      Spellbound she continued to stare and quietly admitted, “A picture is worth a thousand words I suppose…”

above excerpt from Lisa Gillis' Six Silver Strings Series: Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars

    

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Soul Mate Sightings

Did you know the moment you met your soul mate?

I met my soul mate at the carwash. True story. One of the outdoor coin operated rigs. Wearing a red dress and red heels, I wrestled the spray wand, dodging the ricocheting mist of the soap. A white Camero slowed to a stop--an older souped up model, suggesting it's owner is skilled under the hood;) The driver leaned out the open window. "Nice car!" He complimented my red Mustang. I know. I've often wondered if I hadn't matched my car that night if I would have still caught his notice. Exiting, he relieved me of the spray wand and took over the job. "You should take better care of it." If I answered, I don't remember. "Not let it get so dirty," he elaborated. What an ass, right? I didn't know it at the time, but that was my soul mate talking...

Fictional soul mates are easier to recognize. Have a favorite true or fictional soul mate story?

Now take a 

Soul Mate Sighting Jules Breaux and Matt Loren

“But he’s a guy…”

“Yeah, I know, but Marc told him he could try out.” Jules did not even pause in her tidying up of the rec room as she shrugged in answer to the roll of Starla’s eyes.

“But he’s a guy.”

“We don’t have to let him in the band. Just be cool to him when he gets here. Then we can keep looking.” Snatching an ashtray, she dumped it into the trashcan she carried.

“You told Marc it was going to be all girls, right?”

“Yes, Star, yes.” One of Marc’s discarded shirts had the misfortune of being handy enough to double as a dust rag, and she swiped it over the drum stool and heads.

“So why would he…” Star trailed off, clearly peeved.

Holding the shirt, Jules surveyed the room. The area was cluttered with an assortment of guitars, a drum set, and a few other varied instruments, as well as a pool table, stereo, and sofa. Once her father’s toy room, the area had gradually become mostly her and Marc’s chill zone.

And now, it was begging to be a band practice room.

“Probably for a bag of weed, or wax for his board. Yeah, probably the wax since the guy works at ‘The Surf Shack.’” All of Marc’s surfer tribe smoked weed.

To that logic, Starla expelled a frustrated scream just as the doorbell chimed.

“Remember, be cool to him.” Jules turned a warning glance on Star as they filed down the hall to answer the door. “It’s not his fault my brother is a—”

“Okay!” Star hissed the interruption, motioning with a jerk of an irritated hand for Jules to proceed. Obviously, she wanted this inconvenience over and done with.

When Jules unlatched the door and pulled it open, both girls exchanged a quick surprised glance, and all traces of animosity dissipated. She found herself eye level with a shark’s tooth on a hemp string, resting just below the neckline on a white tee shirt. The neck it encircled was long, masculine, and tan. Tilting her chin, she stared into a face which fluttered her insides and flushed every cell. His eyes were as dark as the hair spilling around his features, and her gaze seemed glued to those chocolate pools.

“Hi! Come in!” Star edged forward when Jules couldn’t find her voice.

“He’s so fine!” Jules mouthed as she and Star led the way down the hall to the rec room. Maybe this audition would be a waste of time, but it would be an enjoyable waste.
t He had sauntered straight to her father’s drums, and currently stood assessing the white Pearl set with sheer reverence. A pair of drumsticks extended from one of the back pockets of his jeans, and her gaze lingered, transfixed by this area of his anatomy.

When he turned, she tried to jerk her eyes to his face, but was waylaid by the new eye candy. Until now, she had only curiously scoped out a guy’s crotch. Now, her heart pounded in a weird new way. Up. Up. Tee shirt hem. Surf Shack logo. Neckline. Adams Apple. Up. Lips. Helplessly, she lingered again. Up. Deep dark eyes framed by black lashes, enhanced by brows almost as black. A lock of dark hair fell over one of those brows, and he pushed it back as he waited for her to continue. His eyes skimmed down to the Wayward boots, seeming to stop for split seconds along the way, but by the time they met hers again, they were politely impersonal.

When she couldn’t seem to speak, and Star didn’t chime in, he curved an arm behind his back, whipping the sticks from his pocket. “Let’s rock!”

above excerpt from Lisa Gillis' Six Silver Strings Series: Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars

    

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Storm's Eye Released on December 15th!

Exclusive Extra Long Teaser

Kicking off my flip flops, I approached the guitar neck, descended the incline, and sat with my knees pulled up in the inch or two of water.

My thoughts contorted like the surface reflections, my future seeming as mysterious as the shimmering shadows. There was no doubt this could be my dream house, my dream life with the man I loved. But not so dreamy was all I was beginning to see that came with him.

The crazy hours. The active life. A loud hoot of laughter sounded over the pounding music as if to enforce this point. The moody and presumptuous rock star.

Scooting up enough so lying back would leave my head out of the water, I reclined. After staring at the stars a bit, I closed my eyes.

The displacement of water rippling the ends of my floating hair was my cue that I was no longer alone. My lids fluttered open, seeing the light behind me blocked by a shadow. Jack eased down, and without touching me, lay back in the same manner.

He was the first to break the silence, a minute or so into it. “All good?”

The satellites among the stars winked and blinked, and I let a couple of breaths expel. “Sure.”

“It just seems like you’ve been mad at me all day.”

Now I did turn my head to study his profile. “Me? Mad at you?” Emphasizing the pronouns, I looked back to the sky when his head turned to me.

The feel of his gaze roving my face was a physical thing, but the humiliation of last night kept me from meeting his speculative eyes.

“I’m not the one mad if that’s what you’re saying.” His words were quiet, unsure.

“Aren’t you?”

“Why would I be?”

“I don’t know!” Emotion clogged my throat, and for a split second, I debated running from what had become a confrontation. Maybe Jack was right. Maybe I always ran when I could.

Damming up my feelings, I struggled to keep my voice from wavering. “It is not fair for you to hold the same shit against me that you’ve done.”

“Meaning?”

“It’s true I was kind of a slut. But I tried not to let it touch Tristan in any way. I thought—I mean—I know he looked forward to spending the night at Liv’s.” Stealing a quick sidelong glance, I pushed on, reluctantly spilling my past. “They would plan for two weeks the movies they were going to watch and what they were going to eat. I never thought he wondered where I was.”

A sad sigh left my lips, and just as quickly, the confused simmer of emotions boiled over. “But damn it, Jack, I was getting mine off a couple of times a month. You can’t tell me you weren’t every damn night!”

“So you’re thinking I’m pissed about what Tristan said last night?”

“Obviously you are.”

“I don’t like thinking about it. Hell, I can’t stand thinking about it—”

“You know, I was kind of wild in college, but I never had continuous random hookups until after you. That day with you, I had never had that connection before. And I made the mistake of thinking it was out there for me again. That fate was not so fucked up to make just ONE freaking man THAT guy.” The years of loneliness converged into this moment as I softly spoke. “I wanted that again, and thought that all I had to do was…”

“Was what?”

“Was keep looking until I found him.”

“Why? When you already found him?”

“You know why.”

“I don’t, Mariss…”

Now, finally, I looked at him, the anger and angst in my heart softening with his candor. “I think that’s one of the things I love about you. You’re from a different world and don’t even know it.”

“Not really.”

“Mmh.” I let it go and breathed an unburdened breath.

Behind us from the patio, the music thumped and voices rang out. Jack’s hand moved across the space between us to settle on my thigh. Not the least bit remorseful, his husky words were saturated with pride. “So I ruined you, huh?”

The cool night air could not keep the heat from flaming my face. Leave it to Jack to make an issue of anything sexual. “Yeah, I guess you did.”

“You guess? Maybe we should settle this right now.” Rolling to his side, he teased, trailing his fingers to naughty places.

With an exasperated sound, I pushed up, then stood, walking the several steps until I was deep enough to submerge into the tepid water. Without breaking the surface, I swam to the island and was not surprised when Jack surfaced next to me.

His kiss was wild and sweet, and my arms rose to rest on his shoulders, hanging on him as I often did when my knees went weak. My feelings were still mixed, and when I could think enough to remember why, I twisted some away from the tongue that so pleasingly scorched my ear.

“If you weren’t mad, then why wouldn’t you…” My words paused before I brokenly beseeched, “…fuck me last night?”

Deliberately, I whispered the dirtier word to entice him, because although I was still angry about the previous night, I still wanted him tonight.

Jack pushed me away enough to stare down into my face. “I told you last night!”

“Exactly. You said because of all the…” Trailing off as I suddenly gleaned the misunderstanding, I stepped back to him, dropping my head onto his shoulder. “I feel like an idiot.”

Just hours before that fight, I had been the one to turn down a quickie in the shower because going after each other like animals for days had taken its toll on my body. When confessing this in the shower, I had seen the guilt in his eyes.

“I thought…” I was whispering against his skin.

“Thought what?” Gently he probed as he held me tight.

“You know. What I just said. I thought you were mad because of what Tristan said.”

“I’m so sorry you thought that…” Like bands, his arms tightly and protectively encircled. “Damn, Mariss. I’m sorry. You don’t know how hard it was to try and convince you to go to sleep… And then when you ran out, I knew if I called you back or came to you, I would—I would be all over you.”

“I wasn’t hurting last night.”

“You had been drinking.”

“Yeah…”

“So how’re you feeling tonight…”

“Much better…”

“Maybe I should verify that. After all, you’ve had a couple of drinks…”

His head disappeared beneath the surface. When he came back up, I was gasping. Rewarding me with one of his smirks, he went back down.

A wary eye remained on our guests but no one turned their heads while I was getting head. With his first dunk, Jack had teased over my swimsuit, and now he wasted no time hooking one finger and dragging the thin strip aside. His hair floated around this fiery kiss, tickling my thighs and stomach as his tongue branded me.

He came up for air and leaned his forehead on mine.

“Mariss?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t always think the worst of me…”

“I don’t. I asked…and you said…and I just misunderstood.”

“I’m sorry…” He kissed the apology from his mouth to mine as he dipped a hand inside the front of the swimsuit. “I thought I was looking out for you…”

“And this morning?”

“I was giving you something to think about in the shower.”

“What made you so sure I was going to take a shower?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because I took a long one myself.” He dipped a hand inside the front of the swimsuit. “Did you?”

Raggedly, I made the truthful admission while he made me crazy with his lips on my neck and the tease of his hands. Since his body was blocking me from being seen, I didn’t protest at first, too caught up to care about anything outside our make-out session. He figured out my swimsuit unhooked from the shoulders. Peeling it down, he played with the unveiled curves, but when he knelt enough to put his mouth to them, I was slapped back to reality, looking over his head to the party beyond.

A nip. A tongue lash. A suck. His knee moved up between my legs, keeping warm the other part of my body, which was still throbbing from this same treatment. Jack stood up enough to rub another kiss to my lips and to push the fabric to my waist. When I felt the drag of it over my hips, I protested.

“Seriously? With everyone just right there?”

Was this the rock star life? Yet I knew the answer. No one had taken notice yet. Jack’s answer was a simple rock star answer. Barely raising his lips from mine, he raised his voice, and it carried over his shoulder across the water.

“Party’s over! Bye!”

His tongue reunited with mine as if the time apart to say those few words had been an eternity. Tilting my head, I watched in astonishment as the patio emptied in less than three minutes. Most of our guests even called out a cheerful good-bye.

Reassuringly, I sought out Tristan’s sleeping form on the couch before taking a dip under the water myself. It was strange to turn him on in all of the ways he loved but not be able to hear a response. Combined was the freaked half-fearful feeling to be in this position completely at anyone’s mercy, even a lover’s.

Sucking air into my burning lungs, I surfaced, whispering against his wet skin, “Can’t hold my breath as long as you…”

He hopped up onto the sunning island, pulling me with him, and when he occupied himself stripping me out of the swimsuit, I looked nervously to the house again.

“What about Dax?”

“Don’t worry about Dax. He’s as good as gone.”

The wet fabric made a splash in the inch of water beside us. My eyes fell to the dark shadow of his trunks in the deeper water where we had been standing.

Finally, I took him in, all wet and sexy beneath me.

Every breath and groan echoed over the water. I alternated my gaze from the stars in heaven to the rock star who was my current heaven.

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Countdown to Release

Storm's Eye will release on December 15th.

Until then it can be pre-ordered on amazon at a .99 price!

Is this the first you're hearing of it?

Check out the trailers and teasers to see how hot it can get in December

Created with flickr slideshow.

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Who is your book boyfriend this holiday? And do you want a new Kindle Touch to read him?

A lot of books are releasing and on sale this week, and many more planned through the holidays. Among them *cough* Jack and Marissa's hot and steamy Eye of the Storms that just went live! I'm so excited about this release that I wanted to do something special.

Along with Eye of the Storm release will be a giveaway of the new Kindle Touch!

I've never done a giveaway with a book release. I push the publish button, the book goes live, and the enthusiasm shown for Jack, Marissa, and Tristan always makes me teary and giddy. I want to give back, and wanted to do it in a big way. And at the same time, I want to introduce more readers to the Storm family.

 If you're a subscriber to Lisa Gillis Email That Rocks, you've already been entered, but you can earn more entries.

There's a rafflecopter ticket entry below

If you haven't subscribed to Rock Your Read, Email that Rocks, just enter your info to enter the contest. I promise, no spam. In fact, sometimes months go by with no emails in between book releases. Come rock with us!

Laura Taylor who is well known for her military, and romantic suspense novels, and Kristine Cayne who is well known for military, romantic suspense, and the hottest fire fighter novels you'll ever read have joined the giveaway. Their works have been on bestseller lists and have won awards. I want to introduce you because I'm pretty positive you will love their fictional worlds if you love mine.

Check 'em out 

On Sale now from Kristine Cayne

A Celebrity Stalking Story

Deadly Obsession (Book 1 of Deadly Vices)

$0.99 until Thursday

More Links Here

On Sale now from Laura Taylor

New Boxed Set Romantic Suspense

Love at the Beach

$1.99 until the 30th 

More Links Here

Just Released from Lisa Gillis

Rock Star Romance

Eye of the Storms

$0.99 Today

International Link

Keep up with the best Fictional Boyfriends

Outrageous Heroes of Romance

Kindle Touch Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A Little Déjà vu and A Lot More Fun

So you've heard this somewhere before? 

Sure

Read it in a book? 

Yes. But you've never read it like this. 

Eye of the Storms is the same Jack and Marissa story, but with expanded steamier scenes, all new scenes, and a whole new point of view.

We now read from Marissa's point of view instead of a narrative--Eye being the keyword equated to I. Jack also jumps in with several chapters of is own.

Ever wonder Jack's thoughts that fateful festival day? It's in the Eyes book.

Remember the fateful phone call? 

           The seconds ticked by, and only background sounds filtered through: the light pound of music, the whip of wind on the phone mic, the rumble of traffic. She didn’t know whether to imagine him in his car or standing on a porch at his home. Then he spoke, and both images dropped away.


           “Not mine, you’re not. You are not looking at my kid.” The denial was firm, and she wondered if he was willing it to be true, or if he actually believed it so. ~Excerpt From Jack Who?

Ever wonder what was happening on Jack's side of the phone that day?

          With each unreturned text and that last ignored voicemail I’d told myself I was ignoring her because I wanted to call her on my terms. Not because after five fucking years she decided she wanted some of Jack Storm again and hit me up...

         ...I closed my eyes against the sun, the sway of the trees, and the cottony clouds. I closed out my pool and the three smokin’ hot babes who drifted on floats—completely nude.
          
          “Not mine, you’re not. You’re not looking at my kid.”~Excerpt From Eyes of the Storms

    If you've read Jack and Marissa before, no doubt, you'll experience a lot of déjà vu. But fear not, you'll also be treated to the book in a whole new way. 

"Jack and Marriss were pretty great the first time around, but they are simply exquisite now. A bit sexier, a bit more rounded out, and simply fantastic."~GoodReads review from a reader of both books

Coming to Kindle November 17, 2014

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Laurel Canyon's Ghost Carriage Makes a Fictional Appearance #rock #romance #asmsg

A Fictional Rock Reality

Matt, still charged from the show, began kissing her before he even changed seats.

“The window…” Jules reminded, as he swung a leg over her way, and he obligingly leaned back long enough to twist it up.

“That’s not going to stop Bigfoot from reaching in the top and dragging you out by your hair,” he teased.

“Shut up…” she retorted and shot a wary glance to the open T-tops.

She had never told Matt that it was a human monster she feared. Matt knew the ghost stories of this area—the creepiest of them being the horse drawn carriage. Some said this apparition manifested for as long as a minute, causing panicked drivers and wrecks. But she could never bring herself to talk about her real fear, which was greater than a ghost carriage.

Settling in his lap, she returned his hungry kisses as he let the seat back as far as it would go. Matt took the rubber band from his own hair and twisted it into hers, a sure sign that he was crazy horny and wanted nothing in the way for now.

Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars, D-String Set in the Six Silver Strings Series, is a fictional rock romance rooted in reality. The realities of this book are found in the historical events and actual bands intertwined into the story of a 70’s rock band Cawaba and the rocky romance of two bandmates Matt Loren and Jules Breaux.

A few months ago, I mentioned the Laurel Canyon area, which is one of the main backdrops of this story, and the history and legends of the area. One huge paranormal legend lies at the intersection of  Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Lookout Mountain Road.

Numerous reports tell of a black carriage drawn by white horses, silently racing across the road during a two second glimpse before vanishing. The sighting has even caused wrecks when drivers try to avoid it. The most recent sightings are recorded only months ago.

Is this in Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars? You betcha! Along with the Rock and Roll Treehouse, mention of the Manson Murders, and legendary figures from the 70s crucial to Laurel Canyon’s history. But back to the white horses…

Here are 2 more excerpts from the trilogy.

When she and Star parted, Jules began the drive home and realized within two minutes that she shouldn’t be behind the wheel. She wanted to call Matt to come get her. She wanted to go home to him. To his home, which should be their home. To the couch, or the bed, or whatever Matt had tonight. The payphone was even in her hand with a dime in its slot when she remembered their last conversation about her drinking, and she replaced the receiver. Buying a coffee, she iced it, despite the store clerk’s revolted stare. Carrying it to the car, she chugged it in her usual manner before twisting the key.

Driving down The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, she took care, watching the lights and the light flow of traffic. She made the right from Sunset onto Laurel Canyon. With her foot barely depressing the gas, she glued her eyes to her headlights as they illuminated the steep road, curve after curve.

Coasting to a stop before turning onto Lookout Mountain, she noted the empty bus stop, and debated on lighting another cigarette. It was in that moment, when she glanced from the bus stop, back to the road ahead, that it happened.

The mythical horse and carriage apparition. In her imagination, the horses, and the carriage had always both been white, wispy, ghostly. But tonight, the horses were a majestic white, and the carriage black. Seeming to come out of nowhere, it lumbered across the road, and if she had blinked her eyes, in that time it was gone. But she was sure she hadn't blinked.

The blare of a car horn from behind jerked her from her state of shock, and she lifted her head from the steering wheel… wait, when had she dropped her head to the wheel? And when had a car pulled up behind her?

Forcing calming breaths into her lungs, she moved her foot from the break to the gas.

At last, she unclenched her knuckles from the steering wheel long enough to punch the code into the gate before pulling into her driveway in relief…

…Stumbled out of the car…

…Stumbled up steps and stairs… through the dark night… down the dark hallway…

…Tripped on more than one stair…

…A fearful eye stayed on the third story stairwell, which led to the master bedroom and her sleeping mother. Finally, she was easing her bedroom door closed.

“And forget you owed me a call due to common courtesy. WHY wouldn’t you WANT to call?” Distortion again. And that vulnerable inflection from Matt tore at her heart. “So I’m asking again, what’s going on? What’s been going on?” When she stayed quiet, unable to answer, he asked, “Can’t you just say it?”

“No. ” Her voice felt small, as if she were projecting it through a huge arena with a dead mic.

“You never can, can you?” A soft click and then seconds later the dial tone.

Trying unsuccessfully to process that statement, she smoked another cigarette before going up to her room and falling into her bed for more sleep.

The white horses ran through her memories as she dozed, and it was then that she came to the horrifying conclusion that she had dozed at the intersection last night.

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From You Tube: Ghosts Wanted: The Phantom Carriage of Lookout Mountain

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Jack Storm was more than a tour bus bang. He is a secret Marissa must keep at all costs--except one...

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Fallen For Rock ~ a Rock Romance by Nicky Wells JustDropped !

Fallen For Rock

 ‘A thrilling and delicious story of love and self-discovery woven around a broken romance that will make you turn page after page and cheer to the end.’

Love, life, loyalties. Nothing stays the same when Emily gets drawn into the world of rock.

Glossy and sophisticated professional high-flyer Emily has no time for nonsense such as the rock music her ex-boyfriend Nate adored so much. Yet when she unexpectedly comes into possession of VIP tickets—access all areas—for new rock band phenomenon, MonX, she can’t resist the temptation.

The fateful gig turns into more than one night, and Emily finds herself strangely drawn to this new and unfamiliar glittery world. However, only weeks later, MonX and her own universe fall apart with devastating consequences for all. When MonX lead singer Mike appeals for her help, she reluctantly embraces a new opportunity. But she soon discovers that while she may be a rock chick after all, a groupie she is not… Or is she?

Just exactly where do her loyalties lie? And what direction will her life take now that she’s left behind everything she treasured?

Warning! Fallen For Rock contains some explicit content and strong language that may not be suitable for readers under eighteen years of age.

Fallen for Rock SWAG Giveaway!

To celebrate the launch of Fallen for Rock and to spread some joy, I’m giving away the following items:

One Large Signed Poster of “Fallen for Rock”

Three Sets of Signed “Fallen for Rock” Swag (Postcards and Bookmarks)

Three Sets of Signed “Fallen for Rock SWAG SPECIAL” including 2 bookmarks, 2 postcards and 2 guitar picks

Five Sets of Signed “Fallen for Rock” Guitar Picks (two picks per set)

One Set of “The Complete Nicky Wells Swag” (signed): Bookmarks and postcards for Sophie's Turn, Sophie's Run, Sophie's Encore, Spirits of Christmas and Fallen for Rock

One Audio CD: Bon Jovi "Greatest Hits" (2010)

One Amazon Gift Certificate for £5/$7 or equivalent

  

 Enter HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Small Print:

Giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway entrants must be aged 18 or over. Giveaway closes at midnight on 14 August 2014. Winners will be notified by email.

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

Ultimate rock chick author Nicky Wells writes romance with rock stars—because there’s no better romantic hero than a golden-voiced bad boy with a secret soft heart and a magical stage presence!

Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous romance with rock stars—imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity, you’ll connect with Nicky’s heroes and their leading ladies.

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor at Siren 107.3 FM with her own monthly show. Rock on!

Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

Fallen for Rock

Join Nicky: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest

Did you know? There’s a single out now by Nicky’s fictional rock band Tuscq come to life! “Love Me Better” is available for download from Amazon, iTunes and many other places. 

Ten things you didn’t know about the rock star life — by Mike Loud

1)      You’re never alone. Ever. Not even on the toilet. Once you make it big, there’s always someone lurking somewhere, quite possibly with a camera.

2)      Rock stars work the most unsociable hours imaginable. When we’re recording, we’ll quite often start at two or three pm and then work through until four or five in the morning. No kidding. It’s intense!

3)      Temptation is everywhere, in every sense of the word, in every way you can imagine. The biggest temptation of all is to think you’ve made it big, and to let go of reality. I call that falling ‘off the cliff.’ Sadly, it happened to my lead guitarist, and the band was never the same.

4)      Contrary to popular belief, you don’t just get free upgrades to first class by airline staff, at least not anymore. I’ve tried.

5)      However, you can be certain to walk into almost any restaurant and be given a table at a moment’s notice. That’s got something to be said for it if you can’t be bothered to cook and the label is picking up the tab!

6)      The rock star life is actually pretty boring when we’re not touring or recording. They call it ‘resting’ but it drives me mad. I don’t do resting.

7)      We do have to pay rent and/or mortgages. That’s why most of us live in fairly ‘normal’ places unless the millions are literally rolling in.

8)      Self-doubt is an occupational hazard. Every song I write is ‘shite’ at some point. In fact, only the songs that don’t go through the ‘shite’ cycle turn out to be really crap. Sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder what my life wouldn’t have been easier if I’d stayed an architect. NOT!

9)      We’re hell to live with. Ladies, if you have visions of living in blissful harmony with your resident rock star idol, think again. We’re notoriously bad-tempered in the morning. Actually, we’re notoriously bad-tempered in the afternoon too. We hate being interrupted when we’re working. Ask Emily, she’ll tell you a story or three. We’re not proud of the fact but… we can’t help it.

10)   Being a rock star is like being a vicar. You don’t decide to be a rock star. It’s a calling and a vocation and an addiction. Once you know what you’ve got to do, you’re done for and there’s no way out. Bing a rock star totally rocks. Being on stage and seeing all of you cheer and clap and sing along gives me a high like nothing else. I’m totally addicted to it and wouldn’t do anything else, ever, not even in the darkest moments of point 8 above. It’s who I am and what I do.

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A New Rock Star Takes the Stage ( #asmsg )

New Release in Six Silver Strings Series by Lisa Gillis

A new Rock Star headlines my newest series... no, make that two rock stars! If you're a fan of G-Strings, Jack and Marissa's series, you've probably already guessed one of these rock stars. D-Strings released on June 16th (early release announced to email subscribers) and officially on June 19th.

Get ready to walk The Boulevard of Broken Dreams with these two Star-crossed Secret Lovers.

In an age of Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, they want it all...

EXCERPT

AND ANOTHER 

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