SEX, LIES, AND THE WICKED TAWNY WEBER

It's been one of those mornings--have a cup?

My guest is romance author, Tawny Weber. I don't think it's a secret that I enjoy Tawny's books. I do believe I've read them all. They're a lot of fun and so is Tawny Weber.

I recently had a chance to read the second book in her Undercover Operatives, Sex Lies And Midnight. It's fun, engrossing, and dayum, it's HAWT! Did I mention sexy? Especially these men in the Black family—even the patriarch himself (who isn't in a real relationship—just sayin’). 

If you enjoy a light read that gives you a break from all the jobs you have, this is the series to read and enjoy. It makes you laugh, the characters make you drool and have to fight off covetousness, but you walk away refreshed and ready to tackle the day. J

The premise of the series is a single father, Tobias Black, con artist extraordinaire, who successfully raise three extra-ordinary children after the death of his wife. They all have unique skills but a situation develops that rips the family apart. They’ve all gone their separate ways and have been estranged from their father ever since.  Tobias has some crafty ideas for getting them back home and allow for healing. He’s playing a dangerous game because his enemies are circling and he’s the target. Or are they? Let’s just say, Mr. Black has some interesting contacts (I’d LOVE to see his story).

The second story involves Maya Black. She’s lovely and exotic—when she isn’t trying to be dull as dishwater. She’s left the wild life and computer crime behind her, along with her father.  Family ties are strong and while she has been deeply hurt by her father, when he’s in danger she’s willing to fight, and fight dirty, to keep him out of jail.

Ah, but in this story, nothing is as it appears to be, least of all Maya and her *stand-in* boyfriend. Let the undercover games begin and boy do they! This story is fast paced, characters are distinct and all seem to have a hidden agenda.


I seriously love the premise of this series. I'd love to see it continue and tell Tobias' story and romance, and tell the delectable Hunter's story. Now there's an intriguing character. You gotta write it Tawny!


BE SURE TO STOP BY NEXT WEDNESDAY WHEN TAWNY WILL BE SHARING KISSES WITH US. IT WILL BE FUN TO SEE WHAT SHE COMES UP WITH. :-)

Born into a con artist family, Maya Nicholas abandoned the grifting life to live on the straight and narrow (and somewhat dull) years ago. But when her family is threatened—and the swindlers are on the verge of becoming the swindled— Maya swings into action. All she needs is a stand-in boyfriend, and the charming, tasty-as-sin Simon Barton will do quite nicely, thanks.

But Simon has a little lie of his own. He's FBI, and Maya is his inside track to her less-savory relations. It's a mutual using, which quickly turns into a scorching mutual attraction.

In fact, their naughty little sexcapades are the only things they aren't faking! Excerpt 


BUY:  AMAZON, Barnes And Noble, e-Harlequin

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Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy stories for Harlequin Blaze since her first book hit the shelves in 2007.  When not obsessing over deadlines, she’s shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking or hanging out on Facebook and Twitter.  Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com  

In December of 2011 Tawny launched her Undercover Ops series with SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE.  The second book in the series, SEX, LIES & MIDNIGHT is on shelves in January 2012, quickly followed in February by SEX, LIES & VALENTINES.  Be sure to follow Tawny on her Holiday Survival Tour as she celebrates these three books with contests, giveaways and lots of fun.  You can read the first chapter of SEX, LIES & MISTLETOE on her website, all you have to do is join the Reader LoveFest!


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MIA MARLOWE—My Cup Runs Over

My guest today is historical romance author, Mia Marlowe. She and Connie Mason (I've long admired Connie) teamed up to write The Sins Of The Highlander, set in the time of Mary, Queen of Scots. They have a series in the works. It will be interesting to see what these two storytellers come up with.


After wrestling with Mia a bit (I'm pretty tough, too, ranching in the Ozarks), I did get her to tell us a little about herself some of the things she's had to overcome. I'm delighted she's visiting Over Coffee.

Hello Sia and all your lovely blog-ettes! I’m so excited to be with you today, but I gotta confess something. When I first saw your guidelines for blog posts and your suggestion that I write about ME, I wilted a bit inside. Writing about myself is the hardest thing I do as a author. I suffer from chronic Midwest-itis. Comes from a lifetime of being trained never to be the grabby child and always to take the smallest piece.

Of course, I don’t live in the Midwest now. My DH and I have made our home in Boston since 2007. Who’d have guessed a pair of Ozarkians could settle down and enjoy life in Beantown? I’ll admit there have been some adjustments. Driving here requires nerves of steel and the reflexes of a cat. But all those things you hear about New Englanders being cold and stand-offish just aren’t true. Every time I get behind the wheel, other drivers honk and give me friendly hand signals. Of course, in Missouri we used a different finger to wave at folks.

Another thing Sia suggested was that I share my personal challenges. So here goes. Until 2008, I took my good health for granted, but that was the year I was diagnosed with cancer. No one was more surprised than me. Hearing that C-word is a surreal kick in the pants.

 

However, we caught the cancer early and my prognosis is excellent. I’m cancer-free and counting. November 2013 will mark 5 years since my diagnosis and I’m looking forward to the lovely day when I can finally use that other “C-word”—Cured! Thank you, God.

I share this because if your doctor suggests any kind of cancer screening test, you really should take it. What you don’t know can hurt you.

Other tidbits about me: I’ve been married to the same great guy for more years than either of us was single. We have two daughters. We love animals and have had two horses, I don’t know how many assorted dogs, cats, goldfish and one gerbil I thought would never die. And my DH still knows how to show a girl a good time. Because he works in the travel industry, we’ve been able to take some really fabulous trips all over Europe and the US. I’m lucky and I know it. My cup is so full it’s running over and making a mess all over the place.

I’m a great list maker. Mostly because if I don’t write it down, it’s likely not to get done. So I routinely post “bucket lists” of things I want to accomplish. (The latest incarnation is on my website www.miamarlowe.com )

People always ask where I find ideas for my books. They’re all around me—in music, art, overheard conversations at the coffee shop... I’ve often said if I was a reality show, I would canceled because my life is too boring. At least on the outside. Actually, my life is filled with tons of drama, excitement and angst, but most of it never really happens. Except inside my head. And in my books.

    

I’ll wrap this up now because I know Sia is going to tell you about my new release SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER and believe me, it’s much more interesting than I am. So finally I’ll share that recently I heard a country song that stuck with me. (This was a real surprise to me since I’m a classically trained soprano and my kids routinely accuse me of being a musical snob.)  The chorus went like this: “God’s great. Beer’s good. People are crazy.”

I agree with two of those sentiments wholeheartedly. I’ll let you guess which ones!

Make your guess, or share which ones you agree with and you’ll be entered in the drawing for SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. Or you can ask me a question. Just remember I write fiction. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make something up.

Thanks again, Sia!

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER

 – IN STORES JANUARY 2012

Abduction…

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his strong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease.

Obsession…

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever.

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander? Excerpt

BUY: AMAZON, BARNES and NOBLE, CHAPTERS INDIGO (canada)

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Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together, they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, the first of which will be in stores in Fall 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.

MONDAY MUSINGS: The Joy Of Savoring Life

Come on in and sit a spell.

Savor: property of a substance that can be identified by the senses. To take pleasure in. To enhance or enrich 

December day in Missouri

The last couple of weeks we’ve had some fabulous mild weather and a lot of sunny days. It’s been warm enough in the middle of the day to be outside in long sleeves. I turn off the heat until about an hour before sundown. Temps drop quickly as the sun sets. Friday was one of those days where it was in the upper 50’s, lots of sunshine—stiff breeze though, so a jacket was necessary.

I savor these December days because I know our winter snow usually hits us in January and February.

Today the scene was wonderful around the homestead. The birds were gossiping around the feeders, horses frolicking and kicking their heels in the pasture. Fed them some apples and got lots of soft nickers and rumbles of appreciation. Me Sassy darlin’ gave me hugs—that’s her head over my shoulder contentedly munching her apple and leaning on me. Apple kisses. J

Beautiful but ugh!

I know come January I’ll be seeing more of this:

I think this year has taught me some lessons on savoring life. The little moments that makes lasting memories. Sometimes we get so caught up in chasing the big things we forget that it’s the little things that really are important and add contentment to the soul.

This year I want to savor things. Let them soak into my soul. I want to concentrate on those things that are important—good health, family, and friends.

I would like to get rid of guilt. Instead of zeroing in on all the things I can't do or should have done; I’m looking at what I have accomplished. There will always be those things I can beat myself for not doing. But what’s the point? All you can do is the best you can do on any given day—that changes daily. Guilt tends to put me into the negative and accomplishments move me into the positive—a much better place to be both mentally and physically.

I’m also not beating myself up over my creative endeavors either with the ranch or my writing. I used to be able to sit down and write and the words just flowed—thousands at a time. In the last eighteen months there have been days I’m lucky to be able to verbally string together a sentence or two without stuttering. My body has been warring against an invasion and it’s wrapped up in that function and not extras. Writing is hit and miss. I might write two days in a row and skip three. I might write well for a half hour or an hour before the words stop. I’ve decided to stop comparing myself of today to what I was able to do two years ago. That was then, this is now. It will change again, but until it does I’m celebrating what I can do.

Welcoming the sunrise with the wind
in my hair

For me, this is the year of savoring. Of tasting life. I’m taking pleasure in the sunshine, the wind in my hair, watching the antics of my animals at play. Watching my garden grow. Seeing another sunrise.

• What are you going to savor this year?