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Giveaways
Happily Ever Afters for Everyone Plus a #ReaderGiveaway
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Free Reads, Release Day Fun, Prizes and a Pampered Reader Giveaway
Tomorrow is a big day for me. March 1st is my birthday and the official release date for Playing with Desire, the first book in my new Pleasure Cove series with Harlequin Kimani Romance.
I’m so excited to share this new series with you! To celebrate the big day, I’m saying thank you to readers with giveaways and goodies.
First up, if you haven’t already read it, my short story Baby Be Mine is available in its entirety as a free read here on ReeseRyan.com and on Harlequin.com.
Here’s the skinny on this Valentine’s Day romance–an introduction to the world of my Pleasure Cove series:
When Mitchell Johnston returns to Pleasure Cove for the holidays, he finally gives in to his long-held passion for Monique James–his best friend’s flirtatious little sister. But after their memorable night together, they’re torn apart by the revelation of secrets and lies. Will the unexpected consequences of their night together finally lead them to the love they’ve been longing for?
Just click one of the links above to read the entire story on the site of your choice or via your smartphone using the Harlequin Book Breaks app.
Now for my Pampered Reader Giveaway!
Join my Playing with Desire Release Day Party on Facebook tomorrow night from 7-8 PM Eastern for a chance to win my Pampered Reader Giveaway which includes:
- An OliaDesign Diary String Key Leather Bound Notebook
- A full-size Early-Harvest Raspberry Body Butter from The Body Shop
- An Everyday Luxe Peony Gardens Home Fragrance Candle
There will be fun, games, music and prizes offered by authors like Deborah Fletcher Mello and Joy Avery. Don’t miss out on the party. RSVP now for this interactive online event. Then join us tomorrow evening for a chance to win more prizes.
Happy reading!
Please note: Physical prizes sent to U.S. mailing addresses only. International winners are eligible for a gift card instead.
And the winner of my Labor Day Weekend #ReaderGiveaway is…
Hi All,
For those of you in the United States, hope you had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!
The past few months have been pretty crazy for me with lots of writing, revisions and travel. It was nice to have a weekend where I got some relaxation in and time with my family. However, I managed to sneak some work in, too.
One of the things I enjoyed doing this weekend was picking out the journal and colorful pen set, pictured above, that will go to the contest winner of my Labor Day weekend giveaway along with a $25 gift certificate. Since I’m a journal and pen junkie, I couldn’t resist getting a set of each for myself. 🙂
Now, with no further ado, I give you the winner of the Reese Ryan 2016 Labor Day weekend #ReaderGiveaway: Sherri Hollister.
Congratulations to Sherri, who is also a writer. This journal is chock-full with creative inspiration and encouraging sayings. I know you’re going to love it, Sherri!
If you didn’t win this time, no worries. These journals were so awesome, I bought out the entire stock and I’ll be giving them out quarterly to my awesome, patient VIP readers whom I adore. So look for another opportunity to win during the fourth quarter giveaway in late October or early November.
I’ll be answering some of the excellent reader questions I received during the contest via video right here on the blog. So, be sure to subscribe to my blog (6th block down in right sidebar) to stay tuned to the latest shenanigans and/or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.
Now, this girl has a proposal to write for Book #3 in my Pleasure Cove series and an indie project to edit. Stay tuned for more info on the series and my coming indie release.
Namaste,
Final Day of Labor Day Weekend Giveaway Contest
Today is the last day to enter my Labor Day Weekend giveaway exclusively for my VIP Readers. I’m giving away a lovely journal, a set of colorful pens and a $25 gift card from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes or Starbucks–winner’s choice. If you’re not a VIP Reader already, entry is easy peasy.
- Step one: Join my VIP Reader mailing list. (See the box on the top of the right sidebar.)
- Step two, email me and tell me how you spent your summer.
- For a bonus entry, ask me a question about my new Pleasure Cove series or March 2017 release PLAYING WITH DESIRE.
Please note: This contest is open internationally. However, only the digital gift card will be sent to winners outside of the United States. The physical items will only be shipped within the United States or Canada.
It’s been great connecting with all of you and hearing about how you spent your summer. Readers have posed some excellent questions which I can’t wait to answer in future vlogs, right here on this blog, so stay tuned.
Good luck on your entry and Happy Labor Day!
Her Kind of Man by Elle Wright — Launch Day
Happy Launch Day to fellow author Elle Wright! Check out Book #3 in Elle’s Edge of Scandal series…Her Kind of Man. Get the skinny on Elle’s latest book, find out where to grab a copy, check out an excerpt and enter her contest for your chance to win the entire series. The contest widget is below.
ABOUT HER KIND OF MAN
When Mr. Right is oh so wrong
I’ll never let you go . . . Allina had always dreamed of hearing those words. But when her fiancé, Isaac, utters them, it isn’t a promise-it’s a threat. Scared and confused, with only moments before the wedding, Allina knows what she must do. Forget walking down the aisle; it’s time to run. Back to Michigan. Back to Kent.
Kent has loved Allina for longer than he can remember. Out of respect for their friendship, he’s never crossed the line, but when she turns up on his doorstep wearing her torn, tearstained wedding gown, the fire inside him ignites. He’ll do whatever it takes to make Allina feel safe-like the beautiful, desirable woman she is. But as Kent and Allina grow closer, and their passion pushes deeper, it’s clear that something bigger than a botched wedding still lingers between them . . .
Amazon: http://amzn.to/26jAjfW
iBooks: http://apple.co/23NY7Kh
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1r4fZz5
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1WhecSK
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1SAyxCY
ABOUT ELLE WRIGHT
Born and raised in Southeast Michigan near Ann Arbor, Elle learned the importance of reading from her mother. It was also her mother who, later on in her life, gave Elle her first romance novel: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. From that moment on, Elle became a fan of Ms. Jenkins for life and a lover of all things romance. An old journal she wrote back in college became her first book (which she still wants to publish one day).
Website: http://bit.ly/1WhehWo
Facebook: http://bit.ly/23NYAvS
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1XMDHtU
ABOUT FOREVER
Website: http://bit.ly/247MdaF
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ROTBj0
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Vdc9Pk
Instagram: http://bit.ly/1U8DN0M
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/25IQt20
HER KIND OF MAN by Elle Wright
Forever / On Sale: April 26, 2016
HER KIND OF MAN Excerpt
Allina got up and carried her dishes over to the sink. She turned on the faucet and filled up the basin with water. “I’m going to clean up and get ready to go to the store.”
He finished up his plate and joined her at the sink. Not thinking, he dropped his mug into the dishwater, splashing the soapy water on Allina. She screeched and stumbled back. He reached for her, sensing she was getting ready to fall. Instead of preventing her fall, she ended up pulling him with her and they both landed on the floor, her on her back and him on his side.
“Ouch,” she groaned from her where she lay on the tile. “That hurt.” She wiped her face and pushed her hair back, leaving a few suds on her face.
He chuckled. “That was . . . clumsy.”
She laughed then. “It was crazy. How did I fall? There was no water on the floor.” She pointed at him. “It was your fault.”
He grabbed her finger. “It was not my fault you can’t stay on your feet.”
She flicked some remaining soap on him. It was a running joke with their crew. Syd was dramatic, Cali had no filter, and Allina was clumsy as hell. It didn’t matter where they were or what they were doing, Allina always seemed to get hurt.
Before he knew it, they were both laughing in earnest. She turned to him. “I needed this.”
He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Glad I could help. I’ve never met anyone who is more accident-prone than you.”
She grinned, her eyes gleaming. “Hey. Don’t say that.”
He stood up and held out a hand to her. When she placed her tiny palm in his, he pulled her to her feet.
Brushing off her clothes, she murmured, “My body is al- ready sore from that run. Now my back is throbbing.”
“Maybe you should go lie down for a little bit before we go to the store,” he suggested. “I have a heating pad some- where if you need it.”
She waved him off. “I’m good.” Peering up at him, she smiled again. A wide grin. “I need to keep moving.”
Kent observed her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dancing and he found himself inching closer to her. A piece of her hair was stuck to her forehead and he pushed it to the back.
“I must look crazy,” she said, smoothing a hand over her hair.
One of the things Kent found so attractive about Allina was her sultry, deep voice. She talked like she was singing a lullaby. It was low, even, and sexy as hell. And what made it even better was she had no idea it could have an effect on a man.
As if he had no power or control to stop himself, he leaned closer. She peered up at him and froze. Instead of retreating, she stayed where she was, her eyes on his.
The air changed in that instant. He brushed her cheek with his thumb and she gasped. Their noses were almost touching. He knew he should step back, walk away, but he couldn’t. His body had a mind of its own.
His nose bumped into hers. Her breath still smelled like the honey from her tea. It was warm against his skin. He wanted to kiss her, more in that moment than ever before. Then her lips brushed against his. It wasn’t a full-on kiss, but enough to make him want more. He framed her face with his hands and kissed the corner of her mouth, enjoying her sharp intake of breath. She squeezed his biceps, her nails digging into the sensitive skin.
“Kent,” she whispered. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do you want me to?” he asked, unable to keep his eyes off her mouth. It was amazing how one simple touch had opened up the box that labeled them “very close friends.” He imagined how it would feel to really taste her, to feel her tongue against his, to touch her the way he wanted.
But then where would that leave them? Confused and awkward around each other? Allina wasn’t just any woman. He couldn’t do her first and ask the hard questions later, be- cause she deserved better than that. They had never really talked about sex with each other before, but knowing her the way he did, he figured she was careful about who and what she did. Being with her, or even kissing her, was a game changer. But, damn-it, I want to.
Sighing, he stepped back. He scratched his head. “I’m sorry. This isn’t right. We better get going.”
Then he left her standing there in the kitchen.
Serial Novella Launch: Playing by the Rules
I’m excited that today is finally the launch of my VIP Reader Lounge where I’ll share free reads and other reader goodies. To kick off the opening of the lounge, today also marks the release of the first installment of Hunter and Merrie’s love story. Playing by the Rules is the prequel to my Playing with Bad Boys series that will launch in early 2016.
Playing by the Rules will be released as a free read to my VIP Readers over the next 12 weeks. The cover is above and the summary is below.
Not on the list? Join my VIP Reader mailing list using the form at the bottom of the post and find out how you can get up to 12 entries in my $25 Gift Card giveaway.
Happy reading!
Summary
After five years and zero commitment, Meredith “Merrie” Jane walked away from her long-term relationship. She wants to be with someone she can start planning her future with. A man who will love her madly and deeply. When she crosses paths with her ex’s brother at a party six months later, the last thing she expects is to discover that he’s been harboring feelings for her and that she has feelings for him, too.
Hunter DeSeau adored Merrie long before his competitive younger brother asked her out. Unable to dismiss his feelings for her, he spent the past year distancing himself from them both. But now that their relationship is over and done, he’s faced with the hardest decision of his life. Break the rules and pursue the woman he wants more than anything in the world or keep putting everyone else’s happiness ahead of his own.
Merrie has spent her entire life playing by other people’s rules. As she examines her feelings for Hunter, she realizes a startling truth. She’s been with the wrong brother all along. But choosing Hunter means exposing herself to gossip, rumors and hard feelings. In a society where perception is everything, is their love worth the risk?
Get to Know Tasha L. Harrison Author of The Lust Diaries Series
Today we get to know Tasha L. Harrison, author of The Lust Diaries series. She reveals the first book she was obsessed over, talks about life as an indie publisher, and offers insight into her unapologetic heroine of The Lust Diaries, Yves Santiago.
Tasha thank you for visiting with us. Please tell readers three things we should know about you.
- I write filth. I enjoy writing filth more than anything else. I write the stories that I want to read; stories about people of color that are so difficult to find in mainstream romance.
- I’m kind of a gypsy. I’ve lived a bunch of places, but I don’t really call any one place home. Home can be anywhere as long as my boys, my hubbie and my boxer pup Cassius are there.
- I’m kind of an introvert (aren’t most writers?), but if you give me a beer or whiskey or chicken wings, I will become the life of the party!
Every great writer is also an avid reader. So when did you first fall in love with books? What prompted you to become a storyteller?
The first book I remember being completely obsessed about was Charlotte’s Web. I must have checked that book out no less that fifteen times. I still love that story.
I think I have always been a writer, but I first tried my hand at storytelling in middle school when I drew and wrote a comic strip for myself and my best friend at the time. They were mostly tales of boy crushes and winning the yearly talent show (which we often did. I could dance back then too 🙂 After that I wrote quite a few poems and short stories, but I didn’t begin writing seriously until my late twenties.
Tell us about the premise of The Lust Diaries and your heroine Yves Santiago?
Yves Santiago is a the kind of unapologetic woman who lives her life full out. After being in an abusive relationship, she is just learning what she wants from relationships and how to love again. The Lust Diaries is her journey to finding a love that is the right fit for her.
You’re both the author and the publisher of The Lust Diaries. What do you love most about being an indie author? What do you find most challenging?
I tried submitting my books to traditional publishers and after numerous rejections, I just found that process too soul crushing to repeat again. At the time, self-publishing was becoming more common and I figured I would try my hand at it. The learning curve is steep and things are always changing, but I wouldn’t trade being an indie author for any other form of publishing. Wearing all of the hats is overwhelming at times (especially when it comes to marketing and promotion), but honestly, I like the fact that whatever success I gain is because I did the work. I love being an authorpreneur!
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m currently working on Having it Both Ways which is book 3 of The Lust Diaries. I have two more novels planned in this “world” and then I plan to write a few standalones because writing a series is EXHAUSTING.
Thanks for being with us today, Tasha, and good luck with the rest of your tour.
Thanks!
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter contest for a $100 Amazon Gift Card below:
Woosah (or How to Dodge Rocks and Keep it Moving)
Hope you’re having a fantastic Friday. Mine got off to an interesting start that resulted in a cracked windshield when I failed to dodge the rock that came flying at me from across the highway. An unexpected development that could have easily ruined my day. Instead, I took a cue from Bad Boys II. (Isn’t that where everyone gets their life wisdom?) I woosahed and chose to let it go. No need in allowing a random event to drag down the trajectory of my day when there were so many good things in store.
So, in the spirit of keeping it moving, I went on with my day. I used Rafflecopter random winner selection function to pick the winner in my Summer Reader #Giveaway. I honestly couldn’t be happier about the the name that popped up. Reader, Monica KL deserves this win. (See, sometimes random good things happen, too.) 🙂 I’m excited about creating a jewelry piece from my Sinfully Sweet Handmade shop, just for Monica.
Moments ago, I announced the winner and revealed the cover of Playing It Safe, the first book in the Playing with Bad Boys series, to my VIP Readers. If you’re not on my VIP Reader Mailing List, you can join by clicking the link. You’ll be among the first to hear about book and event news. Otherwise, stay tuned for the cover reveal here on my blog in the coming weeks.
Speaking of blogs, over on the Contemporary Romance Cafe my post Sex, Food and Rock N Roll takes a little walk down memory lane of the role food plays in my stories and the power of having characters share a meal. Here on the Reese Ryan Diaries, I started a series where we get to know authors of color who write in a variety of genres. Be sure to check them both out.
Now it’s time to put my head down and get back to work on Book #2 in the series.
Woosah!
Photo courtesy of Grand Velas–Yoga and Pilates.
Revisions, Revisions, Revisions
I awoke this morning with the nagging feeling that I’d forgotten something, and alas, I had. My Friday post.
While I hate to have missed my Friday, I’m feeling pretty amazing about the reason I forgot my post yesterday. I was neck deep in revisions of Book 1 of my new series.
It felt good to not only be working on my series, but to be so excited about working on the book again. Thanks to some fabulous beta readers I received some fantastic feedback on the book. Reading their feedback again the other day got me excited to dive into the project again. While they identified several things they loved about the book, there were a couple of issues mentioned that had been nagging at the back of my head, too. One of which called for me to roll up my sleeves and make some serious changes. For a chronic procrastinator, that triggers one thing.
Procrastination.
A side-stepping meltdown in which I will work on any and everything (gardening, jewelry making, visiting with my next door neighbor, yoga, chatting on the phone with friends and helping my husband change the oil in the car) except the task at hand.
I’d like to say that all of this craziness is just part of my process. As if I’m Andy Warhol, F. Scott Fitzgerald or some other notably brilliant creative artist. However, my procrastination is simply rooted in fear and just another one of those bad habits that I need to let go of.
I’m working on it.
On letting go of that bad habit and…FINALLY…on revising my manuscript.
Yesterday morning, after yoga I took a little time to meditate and set my intentions for the day. One of which was knocking out the first fifty pages of revisions on my manuscript. The other was to submit a proposal to a traditional publisher I’ve been eyeing. (Another task I’d been procrastinating on out of fear.) I’m happy to say, I completed both projects yesterday.
Today I’ll continue revisions and focus on two other tasks:
- My local RWA Chapter’s Book-in-a-Week Challenge. No, I won’t actually be producing a book in a week. During BiaW we focus on making our work in progress our priority and write as much as we can each day during the challenge. Since my focus is revisions right now, I won’t be writing a lot, but I will be writing.
- Writing daily. This is something I’ve been avoiding for a long time, but for a stop-and-start person like me, I think it’s time I try adding writing every single day to my routine. Since today is August 1st, what better time to start than today?
But before I go back to work, I want to let you know that my journal/handmade jewelry giveaway ended. I’ll announce the winner in this month’s newsletter on Friday, August 7th. So stay tuned to find out if you’re the winner. If you’re not on the mailing list, be sure to join for the latest book and event news and your chance to get in on the next contest in the fall.