Sassy & Southern

Can’t Fake This Blog Party Winners Announced

Posted in General on December 14th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Thank you to everyone who participated in the CFT Blog Party to celebrate my debut release dayA! Here are the winners:

Kimberly Killion – Gena Robertson

Judi Fennell – Colleen Conklin

Cynthia Eden – Xandra James

Cat Johnson – Lisa Phillips

Susanna Carr – Jennifer Mathis

Katie Reus – Renee Bennett

Ella Jade – Barbara

Catherine Mann – Carrie James

Jillian Chantal – Sandy Tilley

Paige Tyler – Luna B.

Jillian Burns – Aretha Zhen

Mercy Celeste – Stacie D.

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Loveswept Holiday Blog Hop

Posted in General on December 11th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Welcome and thank for you celebrating the Loveswept Holiday Blog Hop and the release of my debut CANT’ FAKE THIS from Loose, Id. Here’s a snippet about the book:

A divorcee ready to reenter the dating world, Anna Ryan is determined to be the best “product on the market,” which requires a lot more experience so she propositions sexy police officer Chase Harris to teach her how to make hot, passionate love as opposed to just having sex. He takes it a step further, instructing each lesson based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

When I was writing the story, I had this idea to base it on the Twelve Days of Christmas. How fun is that because everybody loves Christmas carols, even the meanest Scroogies’ lips quirk at Jingle Bells. My favorite song is I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas mainly because White Christmas is my favorite movie – of all time. I love the costumes, Rosemary Clooney’s voice, and mostly Vera Ellen’s dancing. I’m a dancer, choreographer, and former dance instructor so I’m blown away for Ms. Ellen’s legs. Literately. She was so ahead of her time.

So what’s your favorite Christmas carol? I’m giving away a e-book copy of CAN’T FAKE THIS to a lucky commenter. Anyone who signs up for my newsletter gets a bonus entry. PLEASE TELL ME IN YOUR COMMENT IF YOU SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER. Sometimes I can only see email addresses and not names of new members. Thanks for visiting. Happy holidays!

Buy Kindle version on Amazon

Buy all versions at Loose, Id.  

Visit Casey at http://www.caseycrow.com

CAN’T FAKE THIS Excerpt

See the CAN’T FAKE THIS book trailer

Follow on Twitter caseyecrow and Facebook Casey Crow

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Jingle Balls Giveaway Blog Hop

Posted in General on December 11th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Thanks for joining the Jingle Balls Blog Hop and celebrating the release of my debut CAN’T FAKE THIS!

You know that show Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo, right? Of course you do. Patti Stanger rocks with her take no crap from anybody self. I love it when she says “the pecker does the picking.” Well, that got me thinking, in CAN’T FAKE THIS, Anna’s ***that other P word** does the picking. The attraction she feels for Chase is instaneous. Here’s a snippet to illustrate what I’m talking about:

Excerpt:

As I rummaged through my clutch for a dose of lip gloss, Marisol cleared her throat and cut her gaze across the room. I followed her line of vision and… Holy shit. I do believe my freakin’ heart stopped. He wasn’t supermodel gorgeous, not with his shaved head and height a tad on the short side, but his swagger… His near-predatory confidence as he maneuvered through the room made my eyes zero in on him. He locked on me, and I felt a slow, lazy smile spread across my lips. Suddenly we were the only two people in the room. My blood pressure hitched a degree with every step he took, and that feeling a girl gets when her heart beats so fast she’s on the verge of throwing up? Yep, I had it. I believe the technical term is “lust at first sight.”

A second later, his warm hand brushed my shoulder, and I’m not kidding, I thought I might melt right off that stool. Even the fine hairs on my arms stood on end, completely attuned to him and begging for attention. Needless to say, my nipples gave him a proud salute.

“Hi, I’m Chase Harris.” His heated breath tickled my ear as he leaned in to be heard over the country rock band jamming out twenty feet away.

My lungs folded and decided breathing was no longer necessary. The brief contact ignited a fiery liquid in the bottom of my tummy. My pussy simmered for the first time in years without the aid of batteries. “Anna Ryan,” I answered. “It’s nice to meet you.” Was it ever. I extended my hand, which he ignored for a hug.

My nostrils filled with the citrus scent of cologne, but underneath I detected something more masculine, more primal. I longed to bury my face in his soft gray fitted T-shirt. The garment outlined every perfect bulge. I couldn’t make out its graffiti design, but it very well could’ve said Eat Me and I would’ve happily obliged.

His gaze roamed my body, and the sexy glint in his eyes told me the risk of catching a cold in this black strapless mini was totally worth it. I might be in dire need of a boob job, but Chase didn’t seem to mind my negative As. Then the space between us grew cold as he left my side to hug Marisol.

“Cuba! Hey, woman. Great to see you.”

“Hey, yourself.” She flashed me a shrewd grin.

I so owed that girl.

 

I’d love to hear about moments you’ve had where the attraction blows you away. I’m giving away an e-book copy of CAN’T TAKE THIS to a lucky commenter. Anyone who signs up for my newsletters gets a bonus entry. PLEASE TELL ME IN YOUR COMMENT IF YOU SIGN UP. Sometimes only email addresses appear in my new member list instead of names.

A divorcee ready to reenter the dating world, Anna Ryan is determined to be the best “product on the market,” which requires a lot more experience so she propositions sexy police officer Chase Harris to teach her how to make hot, passionate love as opposed to just having sex. He takes it a step further, instructing each lesson based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Buy Kindle version on Amazon

Buy all versions at Loose, Id.  

Visit Casey at http://www.caseycrow.com

CAN’T FAKE THIS Excerpt

See the CAN’T FAKE THIS book trailer

Follow on Twitter caseyecrow and Facebook Casey Crow

16 Comments

Just Romance Me Jingle Bell Blog Hop – Best Things about the South

Posted in General on December 8th, 2011 by Casey Crow

 

Thank you for joining the Just Romance Me Blog Hop! I’m excited you are here to help celebrate the Dec. 6th release of my debut CAN’T FAKE THIS from Loose, id

CAN’T FAKE THIS is about a divorcee ready to reenter the dating world. Anna Ryan is determined to be the best “product on the market,” which requires a lot more experience so she propositions sexy police officer Chase Harris to teach her how to make hot, passionate love as opposed to just having sex. He takes it a step further, instructing each lesson based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…temptation in a hot package. For more, check out the book trailer and excerpt!

Buy the Kindle version now at Amazon

Buy now at Loose, Id.

The story definitely has my “Sexy, Sassy & Southern” trademark. Speaking of the South, I’ve put together my list of Top 10 Favorite Things about the South.

1. Sweet tea and sweeter accents          

2. Macaroni & cheese is a vegetable and pecan pie is a staple

3. Y’all is a proper noun                                    

4. Smocked dresses and hairbows as big as a little girl’s head

5. Front porches are wide and words are long                                                        

6. Sultry summer nights that start in April                                                                                        

7. Mardi Gras. Enough said.

8. SEC football. (Roll Tide!)                                                                                                                                                                              9. Pageants are serious business   

10. Everything is darlin’ and someone’s heart is always blessed

So what are your favorite things about where you live? I hope you’ll take advantage of the uniqueness of your area and enjoy it, no matter where you hail. One commenter will win an e-book copy of CAN’T FAKE THIS. If you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll receive a bonus entry. Thanks again for stopping by. Find me on Facebook at Casey Crow and Twitter at caseyecrow. I love to hear from readers!

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Attention Readers!

Posted in General on December 7th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Here’s your chance to grab some free reads and judge them. That’s right. You heard me. Okay, you read me. I said JUDGE. 

 

Huge thank you to Cindy for getting our judging sign-up live!

My local Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America is hosting the Silken Sands Self-Published Star contest and we want readers like you to judge. Go to our website for more details and to register. 
http://www.gccrwa.com/star-judging-form.php

They’ll be lots of volunteers so hurry. You can even pick your favorite catefory.

If you have a self-published book, enter it!

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Many Thanks for the Can’t Fake This Blog Party

Posted in General on December 7th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Wow! Thank you to everyone who stopped by and commented yesterday during the CAN’T FAKE THIS blog party. And an enormous thank you to the authors participating. I was blown away by all the response. I can’t tell you how much your support means!

Cynthia Eden has been kind enough to extend the party a little longer and invited me to her site today. www.cynthiaeden.  Giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!!!

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Mercy Celeste on writing Erotic

Posted in General on December 6th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Mercy Celeste is rounding out the CAN’T FAKE THIS blog party and giving away your choice of any of her books. Thanks so much for playing Santa today, Mercy! Take it away.

I didn’t always write erotic romance. I didn’t. I swear . I wrote sensual romance. A little paranormal, a western historical, several contemporaries. I’m very fond of contemporary romance. Not quite as much research has to go into the making of said manuscript. Unless, you know, you’re doing rocket surgery or something huge like that. But the thing is, I have one of those huge Rubber Maid storage bins full of rejected manuscripts. The sensual kind.

All of them rejected, time and time again. Maybe my writing wasn’t quite up to par yet, maybe I wasn’t hitting the right editors, I couldn’t get an agent to save my life. I did manage to sell one. To Cerridwen Press, which has now folded and been retagged as the Blush line at Ellora’s Cave. It didn’t sell very well. It was highly reviewed but there were just not that many sales.

But those Romanticas were flying off the shelf!

Now why didn’t I write erotic romance back then? I can hear you asking. You obviously can or you wouldn’t be here now, you’re saying. Simple answer- I wouldn’t let myself. I had this imaginary line drawn in my head that I didn’t want to cross. No ménage, no hanky spanky, no unsavory words for the human anatomy. DO NOT CROSS THAT LINE! Why? Honestly, I have no idea. I was much younger, I had young children. I worried that a teacher would find out. I worried what my grandmother would think. I worried what the neighbor would say or do if she found out.

I worried…that somehow having a dirty mind, which I have in spades, and letting the world know I have a dirty mind was something to be ashamed of. Newsflash! I have a dirty mind. I am a happily married woman, to the same man for 23 years, thank you, I’ve never cheated. And never thought to cheat. Just because I have a dirty mind coupled with an over active imagination AND a need to write stories that end in Happily Ever After.

Why did I start writing erotic romance when I was so dead set against it? Well, let’s go back to that book I sold that didn’t sell very well, shall we.

My dad of all people. Mr. Country boy redneck to the core with all the values of the ubiquitous small town southern man happened. He asked about the money I made from that book (remember most people think a book sale means an advance for an obscene amount of money) and I showed him my royalty statements. I didn’t even make a thousand dollars with that first book. I told him those women who write smut, they get huge royalty checks. (this was several years ago now). And he asks me why I didn’t write smut? I told him my weak whys. His answer was Can you write smut? Uh believe me I did some serious color changing right then when I nodded an embarrassed yes. So what’s stopping you?

And that was that. My dad died last year. We didn’t see eye to eye about a great many things. He was set in his ways. Belligerent. Small town. I left to live in the “big city” and got all liberal on him. But he gave me permission. He  told me not to worry about what other people thought. If they don’t like it then tell them where to jump.

So I did.

Then the recession hit and Kindle took off and the erotic literary world transformed with it. It’s taken me a few years to get here (eleven) but I can say without a doubt that I am where I belong.

Hi, my name is Mercy Celeste and I write erotic romance. I write ménage and some hanky spanky, I write boy meets girl erotic romance and I write boy meets boy erotic romance. Nice to meet you. There’s something here for everyone. Drop in any time, but be warned on Fridays things get sort of hot. And that’s just the way I like it.

I’m giving away reader choice of my four erotic romance. I have a m/f/m football ménage set during Spring Break on the Alabama Gulf Coast.(Double Coverage).

 A straight m/f traditional style erotic football romance, with a hot talking quarterback and the sassy mouthed girl he grew up with and over looked until she was constantly in his face. (Wicked Game, which incidentally made the Amazon top contemporary 100, was number one on Fictionwise for 4 consequtive weeks erotic contemporary category, and is currently number 3 on the Good Reads best dirty talker romance poll).

And then there is my bestselling M/M romance set in New Orleans, where a Cajun Bad Boy meets straight laced editor. (Behind Iron Lace jumped to the top ten on the gay romance chart on Amazon in its second day of release and has resided there ever since. It has risen as high as number 58 on the Amazon contemporary romance chart. And is a best seller in both the gay and contemporary categories on ARe.)

And my self-published M/M set in small town eastern Tennessee. (In From The Cold has made the Amazon gay best seller list, currently number 52 but that is sure to change. And is the number 3 best seller on ARe’s mystery/suspense list.

mercyceleste.blogspot.com

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Chat with Harlequin’s Jillian Burns

Posted in General on December 6th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Even before meeting Jillian Burns at the Romance Writer’s of America national conference in 2009, I was a huge fan of her’s. She is one of the nicest people I know and her books are smokin’ hot! I’m so honored she is here today and giving away a copy of her newest release, NIGHT MANUVERS.

Jillian Burns lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-two years and their three active kids. She likes to think her emotional nature—sometimes referred to as moodiness by those closest to her—has found the perfect outlet in writing stories filled with passion and romance. She spent her youth with her nose in a book, immersed in the worlds of Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennett, and believes romance novels have the power to change lives with their message of eternal love and hope. Her newest Harlequin Blaze, NIGHT MANEUVERS, is available now and her next Blaze, ONCE A HERO will be out in March 2012. For more information and excerpts you can visit her website www.jillianburns.com

Jillian is here to chat so please feel free to ask her questions about her writing, holiday traditions — whatever — because one lucky commenter will win NIGHT MANUVERS!

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Paige Tyler with Santa’s Wayward Elf

Posted in General on December 6th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Welcome Paige Tyler! Thank you for being Santa #10 today and getting us in the Christmas spirit with your  super hot and fun SANTA’S WAYWARD ELF. Take it away, Paige.
I love writing holiday romances, especially Christmas-themed ones, but when my hubby (who is also my writing partner!) suggested we write a story about one of Santa’s Elves, I was like, “You’re kidding, right?”  Silly of me, actually.  I mean, we pulled off a zombie romance in DEAD SEXY, which turned out to be an EPIC Award Finalist, by the way.  Hubby still had to do some convincing, but he did it, and as we outlined the story, I completely fell in love with the heroine Sosie, a guileless elf who doesn’t fit in up at the North Pole and ends up stranded in NYC on Christmas Eve where she meets and falls head over heels for a hunky cop.  I think you’ll fall in love with her, too!
 
Happy Reading!
Being one of Santa’s elves isn’t all sugar plums and candy canes.
 
At least not for Sosie. Taller than the other elves, she’s always had a problem fitting in at the North Pole, so when the transport sled she’s on breaks down in New York City on Christmas Eve, she can’t resist slipping away to explore the world of the “big people.” While she’s having fun, the transport sled takes off, leaving the naïve elf stranded.
 
Fortunately, handsome police detective Derek Clayton comes to her rescue, offering to let her stay at his apartment. Having heard horror stories about the big people, Sosie is both surprised and relieved to meet such a kind, sweet man. Not to mention one so gorgeous and well-built.
 
Even though Sosie expects the North Pole to send out a search party any day, she finds herself falling for Derek. She desperately wants to tell him she’s an elf, but knows he’ll never believe her. When the lies and omissions start to pile up, Derek can draw only one conclusion—Sosie is working for the mob boss he’s been after for years.
 
Just when things seem like they can’t get any worse, the chief of elfin security shows up to drag Sosie back to the North Pole. How is a runaway elf supposed to overcome a determined security elf, dangerous mobsters and a suspicious boyfriend all while keeping her pointed ears a secret?
 
Excerpt:
 
By the time the party wound down a few hours later, Sosie was more aroused from her fantasies than she’d ever been in her life. She was an elf in lust and nothing was going stop her from getting Derek into bed with her tonight. She didn’t care how much of a gentleman he was, there was no way he was sleeping on the couch again. In fact, if she had her way, he wasn’t going to be sleeping at all.
 
After they got back up to his apartment, however, her confidence faltered. But then she thought of the frustrated night she would assuredly have ahead of her if she didn’t proposition Derek, and how much she would regret it when she left.
 
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. “I had a great time at the party. It was very nice of you to invite me.”
 
He grinned. “I’m glad you came. I had a good time, too.”
 
Sosie nibbled on her lower lip. Okay, it was now or not at all. Time to be a bold elf. She looked up at him. “You know, I feel awful about putting you out of your bed again. I was thinking maybe you might want to sleep with me tonight.”
 
He studied her in silence, his dark eyes unreadable. Sosie held her breath as she waited for him to say something. What if Tracee and Linda had been wrong? What if Derek wasn’t as “into her” as they’d thought?
 
“If I share the bed with you, Sosie,” he said softly, “sleeping is the last thing either of us will be doing.”
 
She gave him what she hoped was a flirtatious look. “Good. Then the mistletoe won’t go to waste.”
 
His mouth curved into a grin at the tiny sprig of greenery dangling from her fingers. “Mistletoe, huh?”
 
“I thought I could put it wherever I want you to kiss me.”
 
He chuckled. “Honey, you don’t need mistletoe for that. I’ve spent the past two hours fantasizing about kissing every inch of you.”
 
Her pulse skipped a beat. “You have?”
 
“Uh-huh.”
 
Cupping her face in his hand, he bent his head to cover her mouth with his. This time, there was no hesitancy in the kiss. This time, his mouth moved over hers with an urgency that left her breathless, and she had to cling to his shoulders to keep from melting as his tongue plunged into her mouth to take possession of hers. It was as if he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. The desire was mutual. She couldn’t get enough of him, either.
 
With a groan, Derek swung her up in his arms and strode toward the bedroom. She’d never had a guy do something so romantic before—mainly because she was always taller than the elf guys she’d slept with—but she decided it was very hot.
 
Once beside the bed, Derek set her on the floor, letting her slide slowly and deliciously down his body. Arms still looped around his neck, she pulled him down for another kiss. This time, she was the aggressor, her tongue seeking his and exploring every inch of his tasty mouth.
 
Derek groaned and ran his hands down her back to firmly cup her ass through the tight jeans she wore. She murmured her appreciation against his mouth as he pulled her more tightly against him. His erection strained against his jeans, pressing into her tummy. Mmm. Well, that answered the question as to whether he was well built everywhere. It felt as if he had a huge candy cane hidden in there.
 
Suddenly impatient to see how well built, Sosie ran her hands down his chest to the bottom of his shirt and urgently pushed it up. Derek must have thought she needed some help because he reached back and pulled it over his head to toss it on the floor.
 
She’d thought getting a glimpse of him without a shirt last night had been a treat, but seeing all that sculpted muscle up close was even better. Figgy, he was gorgeous.
 
REVIEWS!
  
5 Hearts from Sizzling Hot Books!
“Sosie is an elf that has never really fit in at the North Pole, so she decides to try the South Pole. But, when the sled she is on has trouble, she is enchanted by the city lights, the BP world (Big People) and wanders away. Needless to say, the sled takes off without her and she is stranded in the city. Sosie is a charming character. She knows only what has been shown on the local North Pole news about the big world and so while a little bit knowledgeable, her innocence and naivety are absolutely charming and funny.
Derek is a detective with the NYPD and when he finds Sosie, he can’t just let her venture about on her own. Taking her home may have been the best decision he’s ever made or it may turn out to be the worst when things start to fall apart. Derek is definitely an alpha male, but a gentleman with a heart of gold who likes to help women in trouble.
I have to admit that I read Santa’s Wayward Elf in one sitting – I couldn’t walk away from Sosie. This is one of the most unique, sweet and yet still sensual holiday stories I have read in a long time. There wasn’t a slow point to be found in Santa’s Wayward Elf as Paige Tyler weaves for us remarkable characters within a fairytale life that really embraces the Christmas spirit and spreads it to everyone that touches the pages!”
 
 
5 Jumbo Mugs of Eggnog from Penelope’s Book Reviews!
“This is an adorable, well-written holiday romance. One of Santa’s elves gets lost in the Big Apple and has an unexpected adventure with a hot cop. Tyler did a great job with this story. It’s a fun twist on the legend of Santa Claus and the North Pole, with a romantic suspense plot-line.  The characters were wonderful, the sex was hot, and the ending was sweet. I will definitely be reading more books by Paige Tyler!”
 
 
 
 
Watch the Trailer!
http://youtu.be/oEz-Rlqp0G4
 
 
 
 
Buy it on Amazon Kindle!
 
 
*hugs*
Paige
 
“Stories so hot, they’ll male your cheeks blush!”
 
 
 Thanks again, Paige, for joining us. She is giving away a copy of another one of her hot Christmas romances SEXY SECRET SANTA so now you get a chance to check out both of her great works! 

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Holiday movies with Jillian Chantal

Posted in General on December 6th, 2011 by Casey Crow

Hello! Welcome to my time on Casey’s fabulous release day fun! I’m Jillian Chantal and I live on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida. I’m excited to be here and when Casey asked me to pop in, she asked me to talk a bit about my favorite Christmas movie. My absolute, favorite one is White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

 I usually watch it in the summer as well as at the proper season. I could probably quote the dialogue from the entire thing. It’s a fun tale and I love the costumes, the songs and the part where the General comes into the dinner and sees his men lined up. Brings tears to my eyes every time.

My second favorite “Christmas” movie is Die Hard. I mean, really, who doesn’t love Hans Gruber and John McCain?

In honor of Casey’s release, I’m offering a e-book copy of my book called Redemption for the Devil.

It takes place mostly in December, so I thought that would be appropriate. Leave a comment congratulating Casey or telling me if you prefer nice, smaltzy Christmas movies or one a little more hardcore. I like a bit of both. 

 Happy Release Day, Casey!  Jillian

 http://jillianchantal.com/books/

https://twitter.com/#!/JillianChantal 

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