Blog Bash Day 8 with Virna DePaul + Giveaway

LINDA HOWARD

I have been a huge Linda Howard fan for a quite a long time. My all-time favorite book by her, however, is Dream Man. In my opinion, the story is the perfect example of what makes Howard such an amazing author—she effortlessly weaves a compelling suspense without ever once losing sight of the emotional and complex journey of the hero and heroine as they fight their way to their happily ever after. You can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that Tara Parsons, Senior Editor with HQN books, referred to me as a “young Linda Howard” when discussing my debut novel with the line, Shades of Desire.

In Shades of Desire, the heroine is a world-famous photographer who takes a picture she shouldn’t have just before she goes blind. Afterwards, she must help a cop track down a killer who’s put her in his sights.

Shades Of Desire comes out in April of 2012. But before that, I have two other releases.

Dangerous To Her is my debut with the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line. It’s about a cop who goes undercover to investigate a judge and ends up reuniting with his college love and the daughter he never knew about.

Finally, Chosen By Fate, Book 2 in the Para-Ops novels with Berkley. This book continues the story of the world’s first Para-Ops team as it attempts to solidify a tenuous peace between the nation’s citizens.

As you can see, I not only love reading romantic suspense, but I love writing it. I’m constantly working to improve my craft so that maybe someday, I’ll hold a place on a reader’s keeper shelf just like Linda Howard does on mine.

Blurb of Dream Man:

Had she finally met the man she longed for...or was she dreaming?

Marlie Keen was trying to lead a quiet, ordinary life. She thought the knowing -- the clairvoyance that allowed her to witness crimes as they happened -- had been destroyed in the nightmare of her past. Then one night it returned with a vengeance, and she desperately needed to find someone to make it stop.

Detective Dane Hollister of the Orlando police department had never met anyone like Marlie. He had doubts about her clairvoyance, but there was no doubt how much he desired her. Her soft, sweet scent set his blood afire, and he wanted to wrap her in his arms and chase the sadness from her eyes. To Marlie, Dane was all heat and hard muscle, and he made her body come alive as it never had before. But not even she could foresee where their passion would lead: a hungry quest for the elusive, dreamy ecstasies of love...and a dangerous journey into the twisted mind of a madman who would threaten their happiness and their lives....

ENGLISH TOFFEE

Have you ever heard of the Freshman 15? You know, those 15 pounds that young girls tend to gain when they transition from high school to their college years? If you haven’t, you’re luckier than me.  And then there’s the Romance Writer’s 20. Or 25. Or heyyyy, maybe even 30. That’s the weight some writers might gain once they decide to seriously pursue publishing. Well, in either case, in my case, I can say that English Toffee would be a significant contributing factor. Sweet, chocolaty, smooth. The perfect companion to a great book.

Ingredients

14 tablespoons (1 stick, plus 6 tablespoons) butter

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cold water

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Dash salt

1 (6-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips or thin chocolate bars

Directions

Generously butter a cookie sheet.

Put butter, sugar, and water in a heavy pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Bring to a bubbling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove spoon from pan, and cook to a very brittle stage (300 degrees to 310 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Or, make a cold water test: candy will separate into hard, brittle threads when dropped in cold water. Remove from heat and add nuts to mixture. Add vanilla and salt. Pour onto prepared cookie sheet and spread to 1/4-inch thickness. Cool slightly, top with chocolate chips or chocolate bars, and spread as it melts. Cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

SAM WORTHINGTON

 

DANIEL CRAIG

 

Look at their pictures. Do I need to say more?

Virna DePaul

http://www.virnadepaul.com/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1555372930

http://www.twitter.com/virnadepaul

http://www.justsoldabook.com/

VIRNA’S UPCOMING RELEASES:

Dangerous To Her

comes out Aug 23, 2011

For years, court reporter Mattie Nolan kept her child a secret. The man she once loved chose his dangerous job—undercover cop—over her. But now, Sacramento detective Dom Jeffries is all that's standing between her and the drug kingpin set on revenge against everyone who put him away. Including Mattie.

Though teetering on the edge of burnout, Dom goes undercover as a bailiff in Mattie's courtroom. While he pretends not to remember her, thoughts of her touch, her smell and the smile that had been his alone keep resurfacing. Then he uncovers the secret she's protecting. To save the daughter he's never known and the woman he's never forgotten, Dom's ready to sacrifice not just his job, but his life…

Chosen By Fate

comes out October 4, 2011

Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O’Flare can hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith—a ghost with no memory of her human existence, one who cannot experience touch without pain.

No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so Wraith’s time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity and experience one night with Caleb. Willing to risk any amount of pain, Wraith propositions him. But when a sign of impending death appears on his chest, Wraith sacrifices her own needs on the chance that sex with her could kill him.

Caleb doesn’t understand Wraith’s change of heart but refuses to let her push him away. As the team travels to Los Angeles to investigate a series of crimes in the feline community, Caleb sets out to prove to Wraith that pleasure and love are worth any risk, including death.

*~* GIVEAWAY *~*

Answer the following question to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

I write contemporary romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense. WHICH do you find hotter? Cops or Vampires?

Thanks so much for having me here, JoJo, and
CONGRATULATIONS on your anniversary!

*** Giveaway ends tomorrow night 8-11 at midnight, winner named here

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