With more attention than she ever imagined, how can she tell if this is real or fantasy?
Chased by a group of angry men. Saved by quite a hunk.
This is not the résumé Ginger Halloway ever imagined having. But thanks to a miracle pill, which makes her size 22 body instantly sexy, that’s what happened.
Yet, now Lance Franklin is showing interest in her, and she can’t figure out if he really likes her for her, or if it’s just because of a bizarre drug.
And her wild bunch of friends, The Misfits…well, they’re always getting her into some interesting situations.
So, yep, business as usual. Except for the guy. What the hell should she do about him?
Hi, readers! Just wanted to inform you that Blue Vision, a science fiction romance and book one of the Code of Endhivar Series, is available on Amazon again. I republished it this week…yay! 🙂
If you need to get it from somewhere other than Amazon, it is on Smashwords now, and should be distributed to Barnes & Noble and Kobo soon.
In any case, if you’ve never read this book, I hope you have a chance to do so. I guarantee you’ll enjoy Brooke and Colin’s journey the way I loved writing the story. 😉
Happy reading, as always! And have a wonderful holiday season!
Please welcome back to the blog, crowd-pleaser Marie Lavender. With a shiny new release out, Marie takes a pause to answer some questions about multi-genre writing and staying outside the box. Oh! And she has a WIP on the go too. Hey, Marie.
1.
With so many sub-genres to choose from, romance fans are truly fortunate. How do you define your work? Are you a traditional romance writer?
I actually prefer to define myself as a multi-genre author because I’m truly all over the place when it comes to the type of books I write. After releasing a children’s fantasy in 2015, I took a hard look at my works-in-progress, and then realized I needed to make a change instead of just calling myself a romance author. Some of the stories I have planned are dystopian or have time travel themes. I’ve even tried my hand at horror. Compared to…
I am happy to announce that the final book of the Heiresses in Love Series, Upon Your Love, is officially out! Woo hoo! 🙂
This full-length, historical romance/family saga novel is available on Amazon, through my publisher and CreateSpace. Usually, sites like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million are added later.
I’m very excited to show this book to readers! ♥
Here is the blurb:
The Hill family saga concludes as loyalties are questioned, faiths will be tested and undying love may come at a terrible cost…
Fara Hill, mother and faithful wife, is torn between her family at home and her urge to be at sea. Soon, she learns some disturbing truths. Was the past a fairy tale instead of reality?
Chloe Hill, loving wife and young mother, questions her faith when her husband sets an ultimatum she cannot meet. Will she be able to keep her marriage from falling apart?
Adrienne Bellamont Hill, born of a valiant captain and a fiery redhead, is untamed to her core and will bow to no man. Then Christian du Plessis enters her life with an offer she can’t refuse. Discovering the man behind the polished gentleman, she is drawn to him in many ways. Holding out for love is a family tradition, but can she resist the temptation of passion?
Christian finds this young woman to be a fascinating challenge, and is torn between keeping his distance from her and succumbing to her charms. A fierce battle of wills ensues as he sees she is much more than he ever imagined.
But danger lurks, threatening to destroy everything…
Can these two strong-willed individuals unite in the cause before time runs out?
And here’s a brief excerpt:
“Then, it’s settled. Shall we pick you both up at eight o’clock?”
Adrienne nodded. “That is fine.” Her mother sent her another warning glance, which she couldn’t interpret this time.
After the gentlemen said their goodbyes and left, the ladies went their separate ways, but not before Adrienne’s mother grasped her arm, staying her. She groaned inwardly as she realized she was in for a lecture.
“Tell me what is wrong. You were quite rude to Monsieur du Plessis.”
“Was I? I don’t remember.”
When her mother narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, she felt a sense of unease. Fara Hill could be formidable when she wanted to be.
“What has transpired? Did he offend you in any way at the Broussard’s party? Are you pretending for Elena’s sake? I saw the way she looked at his friend, Monsieur Laroque.”
That her mother struck a little too close to home made her stomach reel. She sighed and mimicked her Maman’s move, her arms over her breasts.
“No, of course not. I suppose I did behave poorly. That was never my intention.”
“You can tell me anything, chére,” her mother claimed, softly.
She was grateful, but she had the feeling she shouldn’t tell anyone about the matchmaking scheme. Only Eric knew at this point. No one else would understand, and she couldn’t guarantee that Elena wouldn’t find out somehow. There was, however, a deeper concern at the moment.
“He… unsettles me.”
“You don’t trust him?” her mother’s brow furrowed.
“I believe I can. That’s not the disturbing part.” She felt the heat settle on her cheekbones as she blurted, “I feel different around him. Maman, I couldn’t stop staring at the man the other night. And today, I felt jealous. Jealous! How ridiculous!” she cried. “Something is certainly wrong with me.”
Fara pried Adrienne’s hand loose from her clasp on her upper arms, and then led her back to the settee. “There is nothing at all wrong with you. It seems you’ve developed a tendre for this man.”
For a moment, it seemed she had no breath in her lungs. “What? That’s mad. For Christian? No! I can’t… not after Robert.”
Her mother squeezed her hand. “It is perfectly all right to move on; it is natural even. You are allowed to love again, chére.”
“I have to stop this now,” she muttered, appalled that her mother thought she might be infatuated with Christian. “I can be a reasonable woman. I will be around him for Elena’s benefit, oui? But, I can’t have feelings for someone I just met.”
Her Maman’s quiet reply was disturbing. “You’d be surprised.”
“We are only friends,” she protested. And were they even that? Beyond their matchmaking plans, what were they exactly? Business partners perhaps, but even that seemed a trivial way to define it. Still, it was too disconcerting to entertain.
“Some of the best unions begin in friendship.”
“No,” she said, with a scowl. “We can only be friends.” She just had to keep telling herself that. And perhaps her body would listen as well, as she’d noticed the strange magnetism which drew her to him. She burst to her feet. “I can’t think about this right now. I must go.”
“Chére—”
“No, Maman. I… I need some air. Pardon me.” She fled from the room.
I’m actually from the Midwest. I was raised in a family of five, with many extended relatives as well. In college, I majored in Creative Writing, and well, here I am.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
My latest news is that I have two books coming out in February. One is a story that will be featured in the Valentine’s first kiss anthology, Cupid’s Arrow, and then subsequently released on its own. The story is called The Missing Piece, and it’s a new adult romance. The second is Upon Your Love, a historical romance/family saga and full-length novel, as well as book three of the Heiresses in Love Series. I am very excited for readers to discover both of these books!
I have excellent news! Second Nature, book one of the Blood at First Sight Series, will be available for free on Amazon Kindle from May 14th to May 18th!
Yay! 🙂
So, mark your calendars or leave yourself a reminder somewhere, and you can get a free copy of this paranormal romance/urban fantasy novel! Don’t forget to tell your friends about this awesome opportunity! It only lasts for five days. 😉
Great news! I just found two new awesome book reviews for Second Nature, my latest paranormal romance/urban fantasy release! Yay! Here is one from Crystal’s Many Reviewers site:
I’ll go ahead and admit it. Ever since Twilight, I’ve been a sucker for the forbidden human/vampire romance. That’s what attracted me to this book, and I was not disappointed.
Desiree has lost in love big time. She found her husband with another woman and now has supported her own sister in getting married and expecting a baby. She’s happy for the people in her life who deserve and get love, but finds herself wishing it could be for her. Alec is a vampire. He’s old, and has a system for getting his needs met. But when Desiree comes into the picture, she turns his world upside down. Can they make this unconventional love and passion work? Or is it doomed…
TBM: How do you imagine the ideal reader of your book?
ML: I imagine the ideal reader of my book to be a romantic who doesn’t mind bit of history and suspense thrown into a love story. Anyone who loves a good story and enjoys a thrill while learning about new places would be a potential reader.
TBM: How was the writer inside of you born?
ML: When I was young, I absolutely loved the written word! I would pour over books, eating up the narratives within. My imagination was huge and my family would often find me acting out my own stories with dolls and such. This eventually translated into writing stories, and I’ve been writing them ever since.
TBM: What genres do you work with and why are you attracted to these forms of writing?
This review is from: Upon Your Honor (Kindle Edition)
Author Marie Lavender creates an epic novel, as her characters travel from the docks of New York City, in 1881, to New Orleans. Via carriage, ship, or horse, Chloe Waverly attempts to escape the clutches of her unwanted fiancé, Lamonte Beckett, with the help of Gabriel Hill.
Having already suffered the loss of her mother, the death of her father leaves Chloe at the mercy of society and the whim of a man who claims her father intended they marry. Unwilling to commit herself to a loveless relationship, Chloe stows aboard a merchant ship making it’s way to New Orleans. The telling of her daring escape is exciting and one of the…
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Noteworthy Quotes from Marie’s Books!
__“We cannot choose who we love.” – Captain Grant Hill, UPON YOUR RETURN
__What was it, and why was she drawn to him? “Tell me,” she demanded, echoing his words from before as she gripped the lapels of a fine black silk shirt he wore. Its coolness penetrated her fingertips. What an odd fabric for a thief to wear. “Who are you?” she asked in a hoarse tone, oddly desperate to know. – Myah, BLOOD INSTINCTS
__“Play nice, sweetheart. I don’t have to be easy on you.”
“You’ve certainly proven that already.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” – Alec and Desiree, SECOND NATURE
__He remembered the strange chanting he’d heard before. “You’re practicing witchcraft? That’s a new one.” – Ethan, MAGICK & MOONLIGHT
__Mortified, she stammered, “Ah, forgive me. I’m clumsy.”
He grinned. “No harm done.”
Oh, damn…why did he have to smell so good? His unique cologne was like heaven in her nose. Her insides unfurled, stirring in a way she’d never felt before. She clenched her nails on his silken dress shirt, as he’d discarded his blazer in the car. Exposed now, his shoulders appeared broader. Irresistible. She wished fate would stop sending signs this man was the type she should be attracted to; she knew better than to fall for such a fairytale. – Ginger, CHASING GINGER
__Then, it seemed her body was leaning toward him of its own volition. His gaze fell to her mouth and she began to tremble before he set his lips to hers. Her hands grasped his shirt, and she detected a set of fine muscles there.
Sure, she’d been kissed before, but never like this. His kiss was a wonder not often spoken of, an exploration of certainty and passion. As she melted into his arms, she wondered why no one had described it to her before, the insistent thud of her heart or the warmth in her stomach, the way her fingers itched to touch or pull him closer. How could lips provide such comfort yet also a passage into a world she hadn’t known before but yearned for now? – Aly, THE MISSING PIECE
__He reached out and touched her cheek. The contact was cool, yet it sizzled with energy. “Too curious,” he murmured. “What will I do with you?” – Colin, BLUE VISION
__She touched her lips. She had been with one man long before she was kidnapped, and kissing had certainly never felt like that. “You can’t exactly call this platonic.” – Caitlyn, DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART
__“You’re mine,” he muttered hoarsely against her mouth. “I should never have forgotten that.” – Vince, SECOND CHANCE HEART
__“It’s short for Rosanna. It’s spelled with an A, but it sounds like ‘ah’.” She lifted her chin. Suddenly, she liked her name. It was different and that wasn’t a bad thing. – Rosie, A LITTLE MAGICK
__“Are you seducing me?”
He chuckled. “How am I doing?” – Patrick, LEATHER AND LACE
__“Not into bondage, sweetheart? That’s a pity.” – Lance/Damien, RANSOM – Won the One Liners’ Contest on Facebook!
__His eyes were steady on hers. “It’s going to be okay. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you.” – Joe, PURSUIT
__She flinched as the gun clicked in the empty chamber. He laughed, then stepped away. “Bastardo!” she yelled. – Carmen, HAUNTED
__“Why did you come back?” he groaned against her lips, holding her to him with a hand cupping the back of her head and neck. – Daniel, PERFECT GAME
Want to learn about your favorite character’s name? Look no further!
Marie’s Indie Books
Historical Romance - Victorian
Futuristic Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Romance
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Light Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Steamy Romantic Comedy
New Adult Romance Story
Science Fiction Romance
Modern Romantic Drama
Contemporary Romance
Lighthearted Children's Fantasy
Universal Books Page
Marie’s Backlist (will be revised and released into collections)