Garland & Gould Talk Love & Curses

Debbie: Good morning all.

L.J.: Sorry, I’m late. Here’s your water. I’m glad the coffee shop had the brand you like. 

Debbie: Thanks. Today we are at the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, to meet with Ben Walker. Ben will be featured in each book of our Cursed Ink series.

L.J.: Mmm…wow, this is amazing coffee!

Debbie: Focus, Laura!

L.J.: Right. Um, yes, our first book is Love & Curses, and it seems Ben has been a bad boy. He’s gotten himself cursed and now has to watch all these different couples get their happily ever after.

Debbie: But we’ll let him tell you more about all that.

L.J.: Absolutely!

DEBBIE: Well, hey, Ben. Good afternoon. Glad you could take the time to meet with us.

L.J.: Yes! Great to talk to you at last.

BEN: Ladies.(nods head) Always a pleasure to chat with you two.

DEBBIE: (turns to Laura and shakes head) Soooo, we’re chronicling your life here.

L.J.: And the stuff that happens around you. You know, to the people you meet.

DEBBIE: Right. So, readers want to know how everything started.

BEN: How what started?

DEBBIE: Weren’t you cursed or something?

L.J.: Yeah. How did that happen? I mean you had to have done something really bad….

BEN: (rolls eyes) You’re talking about Calista.

DEBBIE: Yes! Tell us about your relationship.

BEN: What relationship?

L.J.: The two of you dated, right?

BEN: Yeah, but there was nothing to it. I don’t do relationships.

DEBBIE: What do you mean by that?

BEN: Look, I'm young, in the prime of my life. Does it make me such a bad guy to shy away from commitment? There's a heck of a lot of fun out there to be had.

DEBBIE: (cocks an eyebrow) So, you just use women for your pleasure?

BEN: No, it's not like that at all. It’s always a mutual thing. You know…just sex.

L.J.: Riiiiight. And Calista?

BEN: A miscommunication. Plain and simple. I thought she understood the no-strings thing. She thought I wanted more. When we realized we weren’t on the same page, we called it off.

DEBBIE: That’s not how I heard it.

L.J.: Me either. But anyway, how did that turn out for you?

BEN: It was fine. We went our separate ways.

DEBBIE: And…?

BEN: Her screwy Gypsy aunt. The old lady had to get involved and did some hocus pocus curse on me. (shakes head) I don’t even believe in that stuff. But there has been a lot of crazy shit that’s started happening.

L.J.: Like what?

BEN: Well, I saw Calista almost get killed. Course her boyfriend—

DEBBIE: Husband.

BEN: Oh, yeah right. Well, he was her boyfriend when it happened. Anyway, he saved her. Barely.

L.J.: What else?

BEN: Weird lightning in a clear night sky. Umm…you’ll think I’m crazy, but when the old biddy was doing her mumbo jumbo stuff, I thought I was going to freeze to death. It was some strange shit for sure. But I don’t believe in curses.

L.J.: And how’s that working for you?

BEN: Fine.

DEBBIE: So you left New Orleans. Why San Antonio?

BEN: It was time to leave and I had a friend that had some extra room for me in his shop, so why not? Having a great time out here hanging with my bros.

L.J.: Anything strange happening there?

DEBBIE: Yeah. Any more lightning or freezing spells?

BEN: It’s all good. (grins) How ‘bout you, darlin’?

DEBBIE: What?

BEN: You free to hook up?

L.J.: O.M.G.

DEBBIE: (holds up hand) Engaged.

BEN: So, no knot has been tied yet?

L.J.: (leans toward Deb) I think he’s avoiding the curse subject.

DEBBIE: (laughs) Me too.

BEN: Nothing to avoid. There is no curse.

DEBBIE: You just keep telling yourself that.

L.J.: So, what about Calista. What happened to her?

BEN: Oh, she finds her love and has a happy ending.

DEBBIE: And you?

BEN: That's a totally different story altogether. You two put me through the ringer.

L.J.: Oh, we’re so sorry about that.

BEN: No you’re not.

L.J.: Okay. So, we’re not.

BEN: I guess I'll see in the next couple of stories what you two do to me.

DEBBIE: Oh, you will.

BEN: Just so you know, I'm holding out for my own book.

DEBBIE: Really?

BEN: Yeah. Figure it comes down to the count. See who wins. Me or the old Gypsy.

L.J.: Hmm…tough choice.

BEN: (snickers) In the meantime, Andy and Calista have quite the story to tell.

L.J.: That they do.

DEBBIE: Well, thanks for talking with us, Ben.

L.J.: Yes! It was all very…enlightening. Okay, I guess we'll be hearing more from you.

BEN: You bet you will.

Debbie: (watches Ben leave down the walk) Damn. How the heck are we gonna make him likeable enough for his own book. I mean, I know his is the last story, but he’s got some serious learning to do before he’s ready for that.

L.J.: Torture. Make him suffer. Eventually, he’ll see the light.

Debbie: Umm, he HIT on me!

L.J.: Of course he did! I’m not surprised one bit. I hope your man knows he’s one lucky guy.

Debbie: Well, duh. (chuckles)

L.J.: I’m outta coffee. Walk with me, chickie. I’ll buy you a cupcake or croissant or something.

Debbie: I’d rather have a daiquiri. We could take one of those boat rides down the river and talk about the evil ways we can torture good ol’ Ben. Whip him into shape. I have so many wicked ideas.

L.J.: What a coincidence. So do I!

More

Love & Curses

Cursed Ink Book 1

BLURB:

Calista Page always gives her heart to the wrong guy. The latest one gives her a tattoo before he dumps her to move on to his next conquest. As she falls apart from yet another failed relationship, her sexy, steadfast neighbor holds her. Why can’t she find a guy like him?

Successful restaurant owner, Andy Mitchell pines for the girl next door. Tired of being her go-to guy, he decides to tell her how he feels. But fresh off her latest rejection, he wonders if he can convince her that this time love will last.

“Death is after you,” Calista’s crazy aunt warns. After cursing the tattoo artist who broke niece’s heart, she fears the black magic has splashed over to her. Gypsy mumbo-jumbo or not, Andy’s instincts kick in, but with Death determined to take Calista’s life at every turn, can Andy unravel the secret of Love and Curses before it’s too late?

Genre: Paranormal romance, suspense/thriller, erotic romance

Heat level: 4

Word count – 18k

Cover art by TygraPro Designs

BUY:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Love-Curses-Cursed-Ink-ebook/dp/B00AW1ZY3A/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357223462&sr=1-2

ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lovecurses-1036532-140.html

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/270756

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-curses-lj-garland/1114060043?ean=2940016139500

Meet the Author Monday Returns!

 First guests are LJ Garland and Debbie Gould, whose talents and creativity make them stand out among the crowd. Please make them feel welcome.

L.J. Garland:

Though born and raised in the south, L.J. Garland has lived on both the east and west coasts. She adores traveling, the latest adventures added to her Bucket List: Machu Pichu and Australia’s Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.

Married to her best friend for over twenty years, she spends her time home schooling three rambunctious boys, editing in the epub industry, and writing stories that she hopes catches her readers’ imaginations as much as the characters and plotlines captivate her. In her spare time (what there is of it LOL), she has a multitude of hobbies, including building archery equipment from scratch and creating stained glass. She has a passion for anything that goes Boom! …from fireworks to high-powered combat rifles…it’s all good. She and her husband are both rated helicopter pilots and spent their 10^th anniversary flying cross-country from east to west coast…an adventure she highly recommends.

Debbie Gould:

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of two Debbie and her mother moved to New Jersey, spending many happy years on her grandparents' horse farm. You'll sometimes find this setting as a backdrop in her work.

As a teenager, she and her mother found a new home in Vermont, where she currently resides. With a daughter in the Air Force (along with Debbie's six-year-old grandson), and two sons working for the family Well Drilling business, Debbie now shuffles her time between a full time job as a nurse and her writing career.

About seven years ago, while looking at over three hundred treasured books lining her shelves, she realized there was a multitude of stories of her own clamoring for release. Since then, she's seriously persevered in keeping the keyboard in constant motion.

Together:

L.J. Garland and Debbie Gould have been writing together for years...so much so, that they've reached the point where they finish each other's sentences. Which is great, because it saves time. They love brainstorming new ways to torture their characters and hope readers enjoy their stories. Find out what's in the works at their shared blog, Garland and Gould. 

In My Sights

A 1Night Stand Story

Pararescuemen Series – Book 2

BLURB:

Six months ago, Siobhan Cantrell’s world was changed forever by a sniper’s bullet. The incident transformed her from a secure confident woman to a recluse, afraid to leave her own home. When her friends urge her to re-enter the world of the living, they suggest Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand dating service. Nervous, she signs up and learns the company is renown for in-depth background checks and safe encounters. So, how dangerous could it be?

Sergeant Bobby Martin has witnessed Madame Eve’s magic firsthand. His teammate found true love through her service. Still a skeptic but giving in to peer pressure, the Air Force Pararescueman signs himself up. When he meets Siobhan, his doubts fly out the window—unfortunately bullets start flying in them. Determined to protect her from a sniper that won’t give up, Bobby vows to keep her safe. As their chemistry ramps up, so does the sniper’s attempts.

Can Bobby keep Siobhan alive, or will the killer catch them in his sights?

Genre: Contemporary, military romance, erotic romance, suspense/thriller

Heat level: 4

Word count – 16k

Cover art by Fantasia Frog Designs

BUY:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

ARe

Barnes & Noble  

EXCERPT:

“Look, I’m not gonna lie to you.” He loosened his hold on her while he perused her face, settling on her mouth. “I wasn’t sure about this one-night thing to start with, but after seeing you…well, I can definitely follow through. No problem.” He shifted his attention to her face, the naked heat swirling in his baby blues causing her breath to catch. “But after what all you told me, I want you to know I get it. We can play this thing any way you want. Fast. Slow. Or I can just hold you.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms, sending delicious tingles along her skin. “Though I’ll admit, that’s not my first choice.”

She stared at him. God, he was such a gentleman. Without hesitating, she lifted onto her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, crushed her mouth against his, and…holy crap, what a kiss! Her pulse jumped, her head spun. A fire sparked deep inside her, and her breath caught at the passion winding through her. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting exactly, but not anything like this.

Before she melted into a puddle at his feet, she broke the kiss and gazed up at him. “Does that answer your question?”

A sexy grin curved his lips. “Yes, ma’am.”

Love & Curses

Cursed Ink Book 1

BLURB:

Calista Page always gives her heart to the wrong guy. The latest one gives her a tattoo before he dumps her to move on to his next conquest. As she falls apart from yet another failed relationship, her sexy, steadfast neighbor holds her. Why can’t she find a guy like him?

Successful restaurant owner, Andy Mitchell pines for the girl next door. Tired of being her go-to guy, he decides to tell her how he feels. But fresh off her latest rejection, he wonders if he can convince her that this time love will last.

“Death is after you,” Calista’s crazy aunt warns. After cursing the tattoo artist who broke niece’s heart, she fears the black magic has splashed over to her. Gypsy mumbo-jumbo or not, Andy’s instincts kick in, but with Death determined to take Calista’s life at every turn, can Andy unravel the secret of Love and Curses before it’s too late?

Genre: Paranormal romance, suspense/thriller, erotic romance

Heat level: 4

Word count – 18k

Cover art by TygraPro Designs

BUY:

Amazon

ARe

Smashwords 

Barnes & Noble 

EXCERPT:

“I thought we were on the same page here, Calista.”

Bright gold eyes turned toward him. “I thought we were, too.”

“Good.” He trailed his fingers over her collarbone and down to her chest where he drew lazy circles over her damp, bronze skin. Damn if she hadn’t ridden him like a female jockey. Got them both across the finish line, too. If only she’d had a whip—

“I just don’t understand why we can’t go out to a restaurant and have an actual meal together.” She sighed, her breasts rising and falling enticingly. “It’s not like it’s a big deal.”

Not a big deal? One meal turns into two, and next thing, she’s picking out fucking china. Hell no. Ben gave her his special smile—the one that more than one girl had admitted made her panties wet—and ground his pelvis against her thigh. “C’mon, baby. We’ve had two weeks of fun, why ruin what we have by getting dressed? Le’me order us a pizza.”

“It’s been ten days.” She shoved him away and sat up.

He nodded. “Yes, we’ve been eating way too much pizza. Chinese. How about Moo Shu Pork?”

Scooting her long legs over the side of the bed, she perched on the edge of the mattress with her back to him, shoulders hunched. “So, what is it? Do I embarrass you or something?”

Ben scrubbed his hands over his face. This was exactly why he didn’t care for relationships. Games, wordplay, the struggle for control, insecurities—all of it a waste of time. Amid that were about three hours of hot, sweaty sex—sometimes more if the girl he was with understood the score.

Calista did not.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re gorgeous.” He moved closer to her, the thin sheet sliding away and the cool air wafting over his heated skin. As he reached to brush her long black hair to the side, a shudder coursed down his back. “And the tat on your shoulder makes you sexier than ever.” He trailed his fingers over his work, the tribal-style bird he’d inked two weeks—no, ten days ago. “My little sparrow.”

She twisted toward him. “So, you think of me as something you can keep caged?”

He bowed his head and squeezed his eyes closed. Damn it. Here we go. “No. Nobody’s caged. No one’s controlling anyone else.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “That’s the point.”

Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed. “So, all I am is a good time, right?”

“You sure sounded as though you were having a good time when you were riding me like there was no tomorrow.”

Her expression darkened, and tears welled in her eyes. Aw, hell. 

Sins of the Mind

Red River Series

BLURB:

Seven years ago, Abby Montgomery survived a brutal attack. Now she is ready to put her pain in the past and move on with her life. The problem is, one by one the men in her life are being viciously murdered.

The detective assigned to the case, Ethan Parker, has demons of his own to hide. As the danger gets closer to Abby, so does Ethan. But can they get past his secrets before the killer gets to them? Sometimes the sins of the mind are more depraved than the sins of the heart.

Genre: Contemporary, erotic romance, suspense, thriller, romantic suspense

Heat level: 4

Word count – 87k

Cover art by LFD Designs

BUY:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

ARe 

Smashwords 

Barnes & Noble  

EXCERPT:

“Moment?” He raised his eyebrows, tried for a surprised expression. “We were having a moment? Where was I?”

A husky laugh escaped Abby’s lips. She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her hand, his fingers encircling her delicate wrist. With great care, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the center of her palm. Her sharp intake of air told him she liked it.

“Is this the moment you were referring to?” He kissed her wrist. “Or this?” His mouth grazed along her skin, up the side of her neck to the tender point below her ear.

“Mmm.” She shivered.

He inhaled, reveled in her unique scent. A mixture of spicy vanilla and exotic flowers invaded his senses and sent the room slowly spinning. Primal lust roared through him, demanded he possess her in a rush of carnal passion.

But Ethan resisted.

Intent on enticing Abby into a wild, heated frenzy, he trailed the tip of his tongue along her throat. Her pulse hammered beneath his ardent attention, and he reveled in her response. His fingers slid over her supple skin. One hand sought the silky tresses adorning her head while the other coaxed her legs across his lap and then slipped around her waist.

He pulled back, stared into her lovely face. Eyelids fluttering, she sighed in his arms. When she looked at him, desire burned bright in her eyes. His heart stuttered at the sight, and hot need rushed to his groin.

“Abby.” Her name rolled from his tongue in a mix of desperation and lust. A voracious hunger to taste every inch of her body washed over him. The urge to kiss the small of her back, to run his tongue along her skin, delving and dipping into her secret, sensitive places, all but overwhelmed him. “Tell me to stop. If you’re not ready, honey, tell me to stop right now and by all that’s holy, I will. But you need to know how much I want you right now.”

Meet the Author Monday

Meet the Author Monday is returning. After way too many months, Meet the Author Mondays is returning with flair. We will kick off  January with LJ Garland and Debbie Gould. This dynamic duo has some great book together. Also appearing this month are equally charismatic and lovely Jessica E. Subject and Heather Long. All four of this month's guest are authors whose work I enjoy, and I think they will impress you with their talent. So don't miss out - mark you calendars and pop by every Monday to see who's visiting and who's on deck. Never know when you might find your next favorite author.