Monday, October 20, 2014

This Week's Special Guest - Tianna Xander


Tianna Xander is the author of several paranormal, time-travel and science fiction romance novels. She loves reading everything from romance novels, murder mysteries and encyclopedias, to handbooks on solar energy. Tianna is the first to admit she spends far too much time surfing the internet and chatting with her online friends and critique groups.

Having written several novels and working on at least one more at any given time -- Tianna still finds time for her family, friends and her many pets. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, three cats, two big dogs and one occasionally terrorized Netherland Dwarf bunny. Her life is anything but boring.

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In 2008, a secret faction of Paradise Montana’s paramilitary force, Tudra, took the hidden shifter town by force. The members of this previously unknown unit, prided themselves in being what the forefathers of the town had meant them to be—protectors of all.

These men, all with unquestionable honor and loyalty to the innocent people of Paradise, stamped out the corrupted council, and their force, putting the rightful alpha in charge once more.

Adam Greer, son of one of two ruling houses of Paradise, set out on a mission—to convince as many shifters as he could to return home, in an effort to restore Paradise to its former glory.

Their first mission—find TJ Michaels, bestselling suspense author and suspected grandson of the murdered Tudra commander, Theodore James Greenly. Instead of TJ, the men find his adopted daughter, Nina Bidel.

Writing as TJ since his untimely death, Nina is on the run from those who wish to silence TJ’s voice in paranormal suspense. It seems that Mr. Michaels knew too much about Tudra doctrine. The corrupt council put a hit on his life and ultimately killed him. Unfortunately for them, Nina inherited his computer and outlines and continued to write under TJ Greenly’s assumed name. The rogue Tudra, then shifted its attention to her.

Frightened and alone, Nina accompanies Adam and Nick back to their home, where they can easily protect her. This makes Nina the first stranger in Paradise in decades and is where the Paradise saga begins.

Though most of the stories of Paradise can be read as stand-alone books, to better follow the struggle of the men and the alpha’s attempt to restore the town, I’ve added the reading order below.

Reading order:

A STRANGER IN PARADISE

GATES OF PARADISE

RETURN TO PARADISE

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

ROAD TO PARADISE

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

NAKED IN PARADISE

SEDUCTION IN PARADISE

LOOKING FOR PARADISE

HEALING IN PARADISE

MELODY IN PARADISE

A SUMMER IN PARADISE

MEMORIES OF PARADISE

HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE

LOST IN PARADISE

VISIONS OF PARADISE

A FAIRE IN PARADISE

How the series began: Given a tarot card in the tarot series, I originally wrote, A Stranger in Paradise as a stand-alone book. After all, it was a part of the tarot series. After the story released, readers from all over the world wrote and asked when I would write another Paradise story. Several months later, Gates of Paradise followed as an add-in Halloween story.

I really had no intention of taking the series to where it is at 16 books. One or two holiday stories and the original tarot story was all I had planned at that point. Then, as I plotted and wrote Return to Paradise, the Sabbat Slayer made his first appearance.

I couldn’t have a serial killer with only one or two kills. How is that a serial killer? At that point, the true Paradise series was born, much to my readers’ delight. Now, after 6 years and 16 books, the Paradise series is still going strong. Some of the books are true stand-alone books, while others bring the conclusion of the romance, while continuing a serial type story that keeps the plot of what’s going on in the town in a particular point in time moving.

The first serial within the series was the Sabbat Slayer. Now it is the three carnival women. Milla, Alexa, and Nadya will all get their stories while moving a mini serial forward within the series. I’m sure this will upset some readers who will want instant gratification on the carnival folk, but what is a series without something to connect them all together? You have a bunch of books that have similar names, with nothing to tie them together other than a name. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.

Since everything in life ties one thing to another, it only makes sense to me, to tie the lives of my characters together. I apologize if this disappoints anyone, but I feel as though it takes people to make a town and the people of Paradise have become a family to me. I cannot, in good conscience not connect them the way a real small town would connect with the people who live there.

Pick a book, read their stories and see if Paradise is the kind of town where you could see yourself living your happily ever after. The heroes and heroines in my books come in all shapes, sizes, age, color and national origin. If you’re the type of person who loves to put yourself in the hero's or heroine’s shoes. I might just have the story for you.

Happy Reading!

Tianna

VISIONS OF PARADISE by Tianna Xander

Paradise Series Book 16

Can Milla finally settle down and have a family of her own or will the carnival be her life…forever?

Milla leaves the carnival where she made her living for twenty years, with visions of finding the perfect town where she could make a new life for herself. At forty-five years old, it’s too late to hope for children, but happiness is still within her reach. However, the owner of the carnival doesn’t want to lose his best fortuneteller. When he and his carnival follow Milla to Paradise, he discovers that his people aren’t the only ones with secrets.

Being bond mates never crossed Jonas’ and Mel’s minds. Hell, they don’t even like each other and barely get along. However, when they find a woman frightened and alone, they put their differences aside to help her secure the most basic of human, or shifter, rights—the freedom to choose.

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A FAIRE IN PARADISE by Tianna Xander


Paradise Series 17


What’s going on in Paradise? Apparently, shape shifters are real and they’re attracted to middle-aged plus-sized women.

At least that’s what Alexa finds when she gets to Paradise. She doesn’t expect to find her friend Milla there, happily dating two men. It doesn’t help matters when she finds out that all of the single guys are gorgeous and the town motto is to care for and protect all women and children. In fact, the whole thing sounds too good to be true.

When the townsfolk suddenly start shifting into wild animals in front of her, Alexa is certain she’s gone mad. Is she strong enough to stay in Paradise with its strange secrets and the two hot guys she’s falling for who insist she is their mate?

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Thursday, October 2, 2014

This Week's Special Guest - Lucy Monroe


Award winning author Lucy Monroe sold her first book in September of 2002. Since then she has sold more than 50 books to three publishers and hit national bestsellers lists in the US and England.

She's a passionate devotee to the romance genre and loves talking writing, the industry and books with other writers as well as readers. Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten.

Whether it's a passionate Harlequin Presents, a sexy single title for Kensington or a steamy historical or paranormal for Berkley, Lucy's books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all.

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I have always been fascinated by the brooding Russian hero, but somehow never actually wrote one. When the idea of writing the stories for two old-money but very unconventional San Francisco heiresses came to me, I'm not sure why, but I knew both needed her Russian-American brooding hero. Those are the heroes I love best, the men with their feet stuck in two worlds (the one they come from and the one they live in now). Viktor has a Russian heart (he denies even exists) with an American head and he drives Madison crazy, but that's nothing new for these two who have been circling each other for years. I adore the hero that decides it's time to make his move and makes it, so it comes as no surprise that's exactly what Viktor does.

Fun notes of trivia - I went on a research trip to San Francisco with my youngest daughter for this duo and we rode a pedicab from the warf back to our downtown hotel (much of it on sidewalks as the streets were clogged with traffic).

I bought my first pair of Juicy Couture earrings on this research trip. Little dangly elephants that I wear all the time.

The traditional Russian lacquer box mentioned in the book is one I saw in an antique consignment shop, which I later bought and gave away as a reader prize off of my FB page.


AN HEIRESS FOR HIS EMPIRE by Lucy Monroe

Ruthless Russians mini-series
Harlequin Presents #3274
October 2014 (09-16-14)

The story: Innocent debutante Madison Archer has hit the headlines for a scandal not of her making. Now, marriage to the unscrupulous Viktor Beck is the only way to save what’s left of her reputation!

The contract: Maddie has always featured in Viktor’s plans to take over her father’s company and expand his empire. The intense attraction between them only sweetens the deal he’s offered....

The secret: Though love doesn’t beat in Viktor’s heart, he’ll show Maddie just how hot their chemistry can be. But even this corporate shark is in for a shock—his wild socialite is still a virgin!



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WIN - Leave Lucy a comment this week here at the Tiki Hut and your name goes in the hat for a signed copy of A VIRGIN FOR HIS PRIZE (Book 2 in the Ruthless Russians duo.) - Please leave your email address so Lucy can contact you for your address if you are this week's winner!  Good Luck!