Nicole Austin - Romance Author

{July 18, 2008} Time to buckle down

I’ve got to get out of the lazy days of summer mode and get writing! Vacation is over and its time to do some work. No more aimlessly surfing the net, procrastinating by playing on-line scrabble, or wasting time adding pictures to my collection. I’m going to be focused and disciplined. I’m going to write 10,000 usable words a day.

Sound good? Yeah, I thought so. But seriously, y’all know better, right? My muse has absolutley no concept of discipline and wanders from one story to another without rhyme or reason. *deep, long-suffering sigh*

I am going to attempt to get the muse under control and get some work done. Just wanted to let y’all know so you don’t worry if I disappear for a while. *crossing fingers* That will mean it worked and the muse is behaving.

Oh, stop laughing. Stranger things have happened! In fact, stranger things do happen all the time in my world of fantasy and fiction. *G*

{July 16, 2008} Thursday Thirteen #61

Thirteen national parks I want to visit

Yes, I just came back from vacationing in the Smoky Mountain National Park and I’m ready for another trip. Reality sucks! I’ve been taking a mental vacation and here are 13 parks in the U.S. I’d like to visit.

1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

2. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (I’m headed there in November)

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (I’ve only seen it for a mile above through an airplane window)

4. Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

5. Yosemite National Park, California

6. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

7. Petrified Forest National Park, Airzona

8. Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

9. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

10. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

11. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

12. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

13. Glacier National Park, Montana

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Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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{July 15, 2008} Tied Up, Tied Down by Lorelei James

Blurb:

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

Nic’s Recommendation:

Tied Up, Tied Down is book 4 in the must read Rough Riders series. I love this scorching hot series and have highly anticipated each new release. I’m so glad Ms. James wrote Skylar and Kade’s story. They captured my interest in Cowgirl Up And Ride when Kane—Kade’s twin—wronged Skylar and Kade pulled a switch on her, assuming his brother’s identity. A surprise pregnancy is only one of the major hurdles Kade and Skylar must overcome. They both have a lot of mistakes to make up for in order to redeem themselves.

*Spoiler alert*

I have a few issues with this installment of the series. There has to be a book missing between 3 and 4—the story of Chassie and Trevor. In Long Hard Ride, book 1, Trevor was in a relationship with Edgard, who returned home to Brazil when Trevor couldn’t give him what he needed. In Cowgirl Up And Ride, Trevor was working for Chassie’s father and was her “squeeze”. There’s wasn’t much about them in the story. Shockingly, in Tied Up, Tied Down, Chassie and Trevor are now married. *insert sound of tires screeching on asphalt* How’d that happen and how’d I miss it? I have so many questions about this couple.

My other picky issue with the whole series is that there are way too many characters with “C” names. LOL! Many times its difficult to remember which “C” is who and how they are connected to the others.

That said, the Rough Riders are a great set of books, Tied Up, Tied Down is not to be missed, and Ms. James is a wonderful writer whose name is at the top of my autobuy list. Good stories draw you in and give the reader a vested interest in the characters, as this series has done that for me. I can’t wait to read what’s happening with everyone and want to know more about all of the characters who feel like old friends. I really hope there will be more steamy and emotional stories of the McKay and West families in the future!

If you have not read the Rough Riders series, I highly recommend you pick them up from Samhain Publishing. You won’t be disappointed. And psst, Ms. James, if you happen to read this, we need Chassie and Trevor’s story. Please!

{July 12, 2008} Gettin’ Naughty

Why not watch some porn? You just might learn something.

{July 9, 2008} Thursday Thirteen #60

Thirteen things about my group vacation

I highly recommend everyone take a week off work and spend it relaxing with friends. Even though there were tons of vacationers in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge creating a traffic nightmare we still had a blast.

1. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is beautiful. There are lots of places to stop and hike or relax.

2. Rafting on the Pigeon River was amazing. Our guide had a great personality and made the trip a lot of fun. (You can’t see me in the picture, but I’m the 3rd yellow helmet back on the left side)

3. I got to spend time with my son-in-law and daughter, who I don’t get to see very often.

4. My daughter and son fell right back into their old habits of bickering over almost everything. Yes, some things never do change!

5. With so many people in one house I expected there to be difficulties but friends, new and old, got along great.

6. Our kids made great new friendships that will hopefully remain strong over the years to come.

7. The husbands went grocery shopping and even cooked for us. They totally spoiled us.

8. Keeping such a large group fed was a challenge. We mostly kept things simple by cooking on the grill.

9. The ladies took over the dining table and turned it into laptop central. Many late night talks happened around that table.

10. Avoiding the crowds and watching fireworks from our balcony was very nice.

11. We had a great view from the balcony, which was a popular spot for reading and chatting.

12. Mornings made it obvious why they were named the Smoky Mountains.

13. I really love the mountains and hope to one day make a move from Florida to mountains in the west.

Our group vacation was so much fun that plans are already underway for our 3rd annual vacation next summer in either Las Vegas, Colorado or West Virginia.

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{July 8, 2008} A Legal Affair by NJ Walters

Blurb:

A night of secret passion could immerse this lawyer in red-hot gossip.

Alicia Flint enjoys her community, her home, and her career as a lawyer. But since her livelihood depends on her spotless reputation, it’s not easy to even date in this small town, much less take a lover.

Then a chance encounter with a stranger at a friend’s wedding tempts her to do something she’s never done before—have a red-hot, one-night stand. The guy will be gone tomorrow; no one need ever know her delicious little secret.

Gill Baron has come to Jamesville to visit friends and figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. As a newly retired, burnt-out cop, he’s not looking for love, but he won’t say not to a night of no-strings sex with the seductive brunette. A night that leaves him wanting more.

When she meets the investigator on her latest case, Alicia is shocked to come face-to-face with Mr. One-Night-Stand. Jamesville doesn’t need another lawyer-related scandal to gossip about, but the truth is, she needs Gill’s top-notch investigative skills.

Their attraction is too deep to keep the town clueless of their affair forever. When Jamesville finds out, Alicia wonders if her reputation—and her relationship with Gill—will weather the storm.

Nic’s Recommendation:

A Legal Affair is book 5 in NJ Walter’s Jamesville series. Alicia was first introduced in book 4, The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke, and I was thrilled to discover she was getting a book of her own. Alicia has a lot of passion lurking beneath the surface. Gill is the perfect temptation to get the buttoned-down lawyer to relax and live a little. They are perfect for each other, and boy do they heat things up…whew!

Those who have lived in small towns will immediately understand how problematic gossip can be. City folks will get a taste of small town life from this heartwarming series. I highly recommend you visit Jamesville and see for yourself.

A Legal Affair will be available from Samhain Publishingon July 15, 2008. Once you start reading the Jamesville series, you’ll fell like a member of the town and be hooked on these fabulous stories.

{July 4, 2008} Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe and wonderful day everyone!

{June 30, 2008} Add Some Sizzle To Your Summer!

July is getting hotter by the moment!!!

This month some of the most sizzling authors from Ellora’s Cave and Cerridwen Press are joining The Hussies to help put some sizzle in your summer.

Grab something cool and join us in a huge contest. Each author is giving away a prize. We have various goodies including downloads and signed print books.

So come on, what are you waiting for? Have fun and good luck!! Click on the graphic below to enter the contest.

{June 27, 2008} Ouch!

I finally did it. Screwed up my courage and went got the tattoo I’ve been thinking about for the past few years done. OMG! It hurt so bad. I can’t even describe how bad, but it felt like he was using a combination blowtourch and meat grinder on my back. LOL! I’m very happy with the results though.

The picture isn’t great. It was all lotioned up and my son was the photographer. I love the colors! It measures 5 1/2 inches high and 7 1/2 inches wide.

{June 25, 2008} Thursday Thirteen #59

Thirteen Things I Want To Do On Vacation

For 4th of July week some friends and I rented a huge luxury lodge in the Smoky Mountains. I’ll be off from work for 18 days. Woohoo! I can’t wait! This will be our first road trip in the new car. I’ve made a list of things I want to do, even though I never get to them all.

No TT for me next week since I’ll be on the road.