5 Things To Do This Summer

 

 

Summer is Here!

 

It’s the first day of summer. Here are 5 things I love to do during the summer.

 

1. Head out to a local park. Most cities have green spaces, so even if you can’t get out to the countryside, you can enjoy some nature.

 

2. Get an ice cream from a specialty shop. If you’re going to have ice cream. Make it count. Splurge on the good stuff. Bonus if you walk to or from the ice cream parlor.

 

3. Sit out at night and look up at the stars. I live in the city, so it’s never really quiet or dark. But late at night it’s not quite so noisy and I can still see the moon and the brighter stars. If you’re outside the city, you have a much better view, so get outside and enjoy it.

 

4. Pretend to be a tourist for at least one day. There are so many things in our cities and towns that we don’t pay attention to because we live there. Tourists do and see things that we don’t. So look around your own city or town, pick at least one thing, and do it. Last year, I did a tour of an older gothic-style church. And after the tour, I had tea and treats in the crypt. It’s something they do for a few weeks every summer. It was fun and those church ladies know how to bake.

5. Sit out on the balcony (or patio if you have one) with a cool drink and a good book. And if you’re looking for something to read, you might want to check out my latest release, Christina’s Tapestry.

Christina’s Tapestry

Tapestries, Book 1

Captivated by a lush tapestry she sees in a shop window, Christina Beaumont impulsively buys it, never imagining how that one action will change her life. The magical tapestry not only transports her to a world that resembles medieval Earth, but also into the arms of two massive warriors who both want to claim her.

Jarek and Marc, brothers of the House of Garen, are elated to discover the tapestry has delivered Christina to them, but ancient tradition dictates that they must compete for the right to be her husband. Both separately and together, the two will indulge Christina in every sensual way possible, taking her to passionate heights beyond even her most intense fantasies.

As the time for Christina to choose between the two men draws near, she is confronted with another option: she can return to her own modern world. Fearing their loss, Jarek and Marc will join forces to convince Christina to stay with them, even as they fight a rival family for the right to keep her as their very own . . .

This is a revised edition of a previous published book.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDNPRN3/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/834414
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christinas-tapestry-n-j-walters/1107145653
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christina-s-tapestry-1

 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

                  

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

 

Romance…Variety is the Spice of Life

The romance genre is unique in that it has a huge variety of subgenres. A romance can be contemporary, paranormal, erotic, suspense, western, fantasy, science fiction… The list is endless. Even or a police procedural. You get the drift. A paranormal romance might be a lighthearted comedy or it could be extremely dark and dangerous. Same with the science fiction and fantasy. There is no end to the variety or combinations a writer can use to tell a story.

It’s one of the reasons I love reading and writing romance. There truly are no limits but one—a happily ever after, or HEA. The HEA or HFN (happy for now) is the cornerstone of a romance. If it doesn’t have it, then it’s fiction.

The relationship is also the driving force in the novel. All the other characters, drama, and setting are there to drive the relationship forward.

I’m always amazed by the imaginations and talent of my fellow romance writers. They tackle issues huge and small within the pages of their books. You can cozy up with a western (historical or contemporary), go on an exotic journey with a billionaire to the other side of the world, learn what it’s like to be a part of a wolf pack, be drawn into the struggles of a working mom or a wounded veteran. There is something for everyone in the romance genre. All you have to do is look.

One popular contemporary trope is the second chance at love. This isn’t quite that, but Enticing Emma is getting a second chance. This book was originally published in 2005 as Heat Wave, but has been given a second chance as Enticing Emma, the second book in the Summersville Secrets trilogy.

Enticing Emma
Summersville Secrets, Book 2

Damaged by betrayal . . .

Emma Howard learned the hard way that charming, good-looking men can’t be trusted, and she’s perfected the art of keeping her distance—until Tucker Martin moves into her apartment building. Their immediate physical attraction to one another is explosive, and she welcomes the opportunity to explore her newly awakened sexuality. But after a heated night of passion, Emma pulls away, unwilling to believe that a man who has everything she wants will want to stick around.

Driven by desire . . .

Tucker has wanted Emma since the first moment he laid eyes on her, and his need only grows more intense after they spend one amazing night together—until Emma goes from insatiable to unreachable. Bewildered but not broken, he’s determined to prove to her that he’s as sincere as he is sexy. And as Tucker patiently sets out to win the woman of his dreams, he knows Emma will have to face her past before they can indulge in the pleasures of a deeply loving future.

This is a fully revised edition of a book originally published in 2005 as Heat Wave.

BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01E62K6XI
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/629366
Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/k8TUiv


N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit me at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

Last Minute Crazy Gift Ideas

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. The lights, the cookies, the ugly holiday sweaters, the senseless gag gifts all make me giddy with excitement. If you're still searching for that one special gift to give someone, behold some gems I found...

 
How many times have you wanted to leave a note on the monster truck that has parked diagonally, taking up 3 spaces? Here ya go! Little messages of joy just waiting to be spread around.

If your SO happens to be the asshat who parks like that, you may want to consider buying them this book:

Trust me, more people need this book than you think. They don't teach this stuff on Sesame Street. 

Both of these winners are available here:

http://heavy.com/gifts/2017/11/top-best-funny-gag-gifts-christmas-ideas-men-women-kids/



Need to buy a present for a crazy cat lady, er, cat lover? Here's something I bet they don't have. (Hint: It can be useful for dieters as well.)

http://dodoburd.com/fun-cat-gifts

If you're anything like me, you roll your eyes and mutter "For fucks sake" at least 150 times a day. Chances are you have a friend who feels the same when they're at work (perhaps regarding their boss), only they can't actually verbalize the words out loud. Or, they're so close to the breaking edge of verbalizing those works out loud that they're in danger of getting fired. This mug will help them to remember paychecks come in handy every 2 weeks.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/571114159/oh-for-fox-sake-funny-gag-gift-mug-funny?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=funny%20birthday%20gift&ref=sr_gallery_18

Shameless plug alert: Know someone who's an avid romance reader? This romantic comedy is on sale for $.99 for the whole month of December. No joke. (Why yes, it is my book.)

https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Cougar-Tiffany-N-York-ebook/dp/B013F2U6BW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513370458&sr=8-1&keywords=the+accidental+cougar+tiffany+n.+york

And last but not least, for the person who has everything:

https://www.babble.com/crafts-activities/?pid=9189

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Visit my website tiffanynyorkauthor.com for more info on my romances. 

The Lure of a vampire

What is it about vampire’s that is so intriguing? Is it their power? Immortality? Strength? Whatever it is, vampires have drawn people in for centuries. Let’s have a look at what a vampire is and how it’s evolved into the most talked about fictional characters.

Vampires are most often dead. In past lore, vampires were created by one vampire drinking the blood of a human, killing them. The human would then be buried, assumed dead, and would rise some time later as a vampire.

 Another way a vampire is created is a vampire drinking the blood from their victim until their heartbeat slowed, then forcing the victim to drink the creators blood. The victim would then be a vampire.

Another belief is that a vampire could bite a person, but not kill them. The victim may carry on living as a human for years, but upon their death, would then become a vampire.

Where did the idea for vampires begin you might ask? Some say it began with Dracula. Vlad (the Impaler) 'Tepes' Dracula, who lived between 1430 and 1476. We’ve all heard the horror that Vlad inflicted on his victims, including impaling them, blinding, skinning, castrating, dismemberment and much more. It is said that Vlad never claimed to be immortal, which was evident when he was killed and his head presented as a trophy to the Sultan of Constantinople. So where did Dracula come from in regards to Vlad? The peasants of the time painted him in the supernatural light, bringing forth the rumor that he was of the undead, but it wasn't until Bram Stoker created his vampire Dracula that the blood sucking damned vampire was popularized.

The ancient vampires of Eastern Europe describe their vampires as half-rotted corpses crawling from their grave to which they must rest in each night. In modern lore, the image of a vampire is quite different. Gone is the shriveled, impish fiend worn by the ages as depicted as Nosferatu and in its place the vampire has become somewhat of a creature of great beauty with pale skin and fanged teeth.

Then we have Bela Lugosi who the mere mention of his name makes a person think of Dracula. Lugosi’s vampire was suave, wore a tuxedo and long black opera cape. His voice held a thick, rich Hungarian accent that was thought to be sexy. Bela Lugosi posed an image of the vampire that would be remembered and imitated even in such characters as The Count on Sesame Street or even the cereal Count Chocula.

However, there was one thing missing. Bela didn’t have fangs. Although Bram Stoker’s novel mentions peculiar sharp white teeth, it wasn't until late 1950’s when the fangs began their popularity. Today, however, fangs are the norm for vampires, as is drinking blood.

Buffy the vampire Slayer really drew people’s attention to vampires and why not. Angel was one sexy vamp, but instead of running around killing innocent victims, he chose to “Help the helpless” And what about Spike. He started out as a sniveling human, turned to a vampire and became a legendary vampire who loved to torture his victims. But it took Buffy to tame his soul and turn him into a kind-hearted vampire willing to sacrifice his life for the world.

Then we have Stephanie Meyers portrayal of vampires as “sparkling”.

So is it any wonder vampires have become revered over the centuries. They have gone from decayed, rotting grave dwellers to suave, sophisticated creatures with a conscience. And we can’t get enough of them. Each decade, it seems a new vampire is created with its own powers or flaws.

I am not immune to the lure of vampires. My Darkness series came about as a thought. What would happen if the sun was blotted out in a town with vampires? Mayhem of course, and so book one, Seducing the Darkness was created and seven books followed.  My vampires don’t all have powers, only the pure blooded original vampire’s posses the ability to transform, transport, and use mind control. The more diluted the vampire is, the fewer abilities they have. Sunlight does not make them go poof, but instead scorches their skin to produce boils, which are extremely painful. They can be killed by a stake to the heart, or decapitation. And they do not sleep in graves or in coffins.

Whatever the lure is, vampires have been around for centuries, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.

Check out the Darkness Series at www.champagnebooks.com
Author website: www.shielastewartsbooks.com

Darkness Books:

Seducing the Darkness
Desiring the Darkness
Embracing the Darkness
Charming the Darkness
Tempting the Darkness
Coming soon:  Consuming the Darkness: Surviving the Darkness

Print coming soon.

 

The Submissive Muse

Well, I was all set to tell you how excited I was to announce the release of my BDSM erotic romance, The Submissive Muse, which should have been out yesterday. However, Amazon is treating me like a side chick and not giving me the attention I deserve. Seems Amazon has a bunch of other side chicks, too, much to my dismay, and can't squeeze us all in at the same time.

So, I wait...and wait...hoping Amazon will call or text. Or make my book go live just to show me that the love is still there.

I leave you with my sexy, evocative cover.

One man’s misfortune is another man’s destiny.

Elizabeth Wolfe’s husband, John, had been everything to her—protector, provider, administer of pain. Still devastated, one year after his death, she decides to take her own life, but her plan is interrupted when she discovers an unconscious stranger in her barn.

Devan Carthy and John Wolfe agreed to an arrangement before he died—Devan is to seek out Elizabeth, exactly one year from his death, and bring joy to her life again, in exchange for a sizeable sum of money.

What begins as a friendship between a grieving widow and a mercurial artist blossoms into love as Devan reawakens her desire for living. His erratic mood swings and her need for pleasure and pain threaten their relationship, but it’s John Wolfe’s hold over them that may ultimately tear them apart.

Publisher's Disclaimer: This dramatic love story contains graphic sexual scenes, as well as discipline. If either of these offend you, please do not buy the book.

And an excerpt to whet your appetite:

She turned her back to him and began soaping up one of the wine glasses. He reached around and grabbed it from her hands, then threw it against the wall. It shattered into pieces.

She turned off the running water and faced him. "I'm going to start billing you for broken wine glasses. You broke another one the other night."

It was true, he had. After she pulled away from their kiss, he had smashed his glass against the wall. He had also overturned John's "sacred, off-limits" armchair in anger.

"Everything you do is my business. That was the deal." He stood a hair's length away, so close her perfume tickled his nose.

"We have no deal. What are you talking about?"

Shut up, Devan.

He blew out a long, slow breath in an attempt to calm himself.

"Because you take care of my horses, you think you also have a responsibility to take care of me?" Her voice quivered with emotion.

Yes, he did, but he couldn't tell her why.
"I can tell you when you're making a fool of yourself with a kid almost half your age."

"Screw you." She made a motion to leave, but he trapped her there with both his arms at her sides. "Let me go, Devan."

He wanted her so bad he could no longer fight it. If she didn't want him, he'd have to leave here for good, because the torture of denial was making him lose his mind.

"Tell me you want the college boy and I'll let you go."


She turned her face away from him. "No."


Devan grabbed ahold of her chin and twisted it around to face him. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you want him, and not me."
Her eyes flashed with frustration while she stubbornly pressed her lips together. She attempted to flee again, but he held her by the shoulders. Her angry breaths flooded his face as she squirmed to get away. "Why are you fighting it? Isn't it obvious you want me as much as I want you?"

* * *

Hope you're having a hot, juicy summer so far! 


Tiffany N. York lives in Southern California with her spirited son, diva Chihuahua, an ever-changing number of cats, and one tone-deaf parakeet. She writes fiction to escape reality. Her two romantic comedies, The Accidental Cougar, and The Meatball Mistress are available on Amazon. Her erotic romance, The Submissive Muse will be on Amazon any second now. Visit her at tiffanynyorkauthor.com