Win a $300 Gift Card at the New Year's Blog Hop!

Welcome to stop #77 of the New Year's Blog Hop!

To enter the giveaways, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below. 

Every year I tell myself "This is the year where I actually keep my resolutions! I'll lose weight this time, I'll be more organized this time, I'll exercise more this time..." and so on, and so on. And I usually fail miserably at most of them. So this year, I've set myself a few goals that I think I should be able to keep: 

1. Publish two more books. (I managed this in 2012, so I should be able to do it again.)
2. Read adventurously! Continue trying new authors and new genres. Challenge myself. I did this in 2012, and it worked out marvelously. 
3. Continue working on the organization thing. I don't want to end up in an episode of "Hoarders." (I've hired someone to help me, so I think this has a real shot. You can actually walk around my office now, so there's already progress!)

I will still work on my weight and exercising, but I think I'll try to baby-step them this time. Maybe that way I'll feel encouraged instead of discouraged when I'm not knocking those out of the park right away. 

Now it's your turn: What resolutions are you making for 2013? And which ones did you achieve in 2012?

***

If, like me, you want to challenge your reading self by trying new authors and new genres, you might want to check out my Blood and Honor romantic suspense series, which is set in Italy among the Calabrian Mafia. The series chronicles the battles--both bloody and romantic--between two warring Mafia clans. Books 1 and 2 are available now. Here's a taste of Book 1:

A woman on the run. A damaged Mafia don. A rival bent on revenge...

Kate Andretti is married to the Mob--but doesn't know it. When her husband uproots them to Italy, Kate leaves everything she knows behind. Alone in a foreign land, she finds herself locked in a battle for her life against a husband and a family who will "silence" her if she will not do as they wish. When her husband tries to kill her, she accepts the protection offered by a wealthy businessman with Mafia ties. He's not a mobster, he claims. Or is he?

Enrico Lucchesi never wanted to be a Mafia don, and now he's caught in the middle of a blood feud with the Andretti family. His decision to help Kate brings the feud between the families to a boil. When Enrico is betrayed by someone in his own family, the two of them must sort out enemies from friends--and rely on each other or die alone. The only problem? Enrico cannot reveal his identity to Kate, or she'll bolt from his protection, and he'll be duty-bound to kill her to safeguard his family's secret. 

Attacks from without and within push them both to the breaking point, and soon Enrico is forced to choose between protecting the only world he knows and saving the woman he loves. 

Excerpt: 

Enrico raised a hand in greeting to Kate, and she returned his wave and started descending the steps. She headed straight for him, her auburn hair gleaming in the sun, a few strands of it blowing across her pale cheek and into her green eyes. With a delicate hand, she brushed the hair out of her face. Enrico’s fingers twitched with the desire to touch her cheek like that, to feel the slide of her silky hair. A small, almost secretive smile crossed her features, and he swallowed hard. Dio mio. He felt that smile down to his toes.

She stopped a couple feet from him. “Signor Lucchesi, it’s good to see you, as always.”

He bowed his head slightly. “And you, Signora Andretti.” He paused, a grin spreading across his face. “Since when did we get so formal, Kate?”

She half-turned and motioned to the doorway behind her. And that was when he noticed it—a bruise on her right cheek. Merda! Had someone hit her? Tearing his eyes off the mark, he followed her gesture. A tall, sandy-haired man, well-muscled and handsome, leaned in the doorway, his arms crossed. “My husband, Vincenzo, is here.”

Enrico’s smile receded. He looked back to Kate. “I’d like to meet him.” And if he did this to her, he’s going to pay.

Want to know what happens next? You can find Revenge at these retailers: Amazon US (Kindle), Amazon UK (Kindle), Amazon Canada (Kindle), Apple, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble UK, Diesel, Kobo, OmniLit, Smashwords, and Sony. 

If you prefer print, Revenge is also on Amazon US (paperback) or Amazon UK (paperback).

***

Prize Giveaway!

To thank you for visiting my blog and participating in the New Year's Blog Hop, I'm giving away a $15 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice)! To win, you must post a comment with your name and email address. Comments without an email address will be discarded. For additional chances to win, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand Prize Giveaway!

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. (Comments without an email address will be discarded.) Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (international)

2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N gift card (international)

3rd Grand Prize: A huge swag pack stuffed with books and more! (U.S. only)

To continue hopping, click the link below!

http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/p/new-years-blog-hop.html

"Revenge" .99/£.77p Sale Ends January 1st!

FINAL WEEK AT .99/£.77p! 

Loved Sempre and Crow's Row? Looking for bad-boy heroes who live by their own rules? Check out Revenge (Blood and Honor, Book 1). This sexy, gritty, romantic suspense Mafia thriller earned 5 stars “Top Pick” from The Romance Reviews (TRR). 

The Bengal Reads blog said: "Here is to a WHOOPING 5 Stars. If I had to describe this book in about 4 words it would be action-packed, sexy, romantic, and adrenaline rushing.... This would make a kick butt movie! There were times when I was fanning myself, sitting on the edge of my seat, and so mad I had to put it down. The steamy scenes were oh so delicious!"

A woman on the run. A damaged Mafia don. A rival bent on revenge... 

Mafia don Enrico Lucchesi struggles to preserve a fragile truce with the Andretti family. But when Kate Andretti flees from her abusive husband, Enrico won't leave her in jeopardy. Can he save her without reigniting the bloody feud between the families? 

*** Regularly $4.99, Revenge is on sale now for only .99/.77p! Sale ends January 1st! ***

Amazon US Kindle, Amazon UK Kindle, Amazon CAN Kindle, B&N Nook, B&N Nook UK, All Romance eBooks, 
OmniLit, Kobo 

Also available in paperback: Amazon US Paperback, Amazon UK Paperback 

My Favorite Books of 2012

Last December, I shared my favorite books of 2011. Since I love sharing great reads with other people, here are my favorite books of 2012. (Note that these are books I've read in 2012--that doesn't mean they're all new books, only that I've just now discovered them.) 

This was a year of mostly "adventure" reading for me--trying new authors, new genres, and stepping out of my comfort zone. Most of the time I enjoyed what I read, and a few times I was blown away. 

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel. I'm only halfway through this book at this point, but I already know that it'll go down as my favorite book of the year. A 500+ page book about Thomas Cromwell, the commoner who eventually became the right hand of Henry VIII, wouldn't be a page-turner in most hands, but Hilary Mantel is no ordinary writer. Within a few pages, I understood why she won the Man Booker prize in 2009 for this book. As soon as I finish this one, I'll be picking up Bring Up the Bodies, her second book about Cromwell, which just came out this year. Mantel is a phenomenal author at the top of her game. (Though I'm glad I'd watched "The Tudors" a few years ago; this helped me keep all the players in Wolf Hall straight!)

Fake Kate, David Wailing. I LOVED this book. It was amazing from the very start, and the author has true talent. The story sucks you in and doesn't let go (I was late to an appointment because I just couldn't put it down). I laughed many times while reading because the descriptions and characterizations were so utterly on the mark. Wailing is especially good at writing female characters; I never felt any false notes in how he portrayed the main character, Belinda. 

Fake Kate is loaded with twists and turns, so many that I was surprised over and over while reading--just when I thought I knew where the story was going, bang--nope, we're headed somewhere else. Somewhere even better! I also loved Wailing's Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin. 

Note: You can get Fake Kate for FREE on Amazon Dec 23-27th! 

Deadly Addiction, Kristine Cayne. I loved Kristine Cayne's first book, Deadly Obsession, but this one is even better. She's managed to blend a great suspense story full of twists and turns with a very hot romance. I highly recommend it, especially if you love romantic suspense. (Full disclosure: Kristine is my critique partner, but I'm certainly not the only one who thinks she's awesome--RT Book Reviews gave her first book, Deadly Obsession, 4 1/2 stars, Top Pick! status.) 

Lover Reborn, J.R. Ward. The latest in Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series. If you've never heard of it, all you need to know is it's about bad-ass, kick-ass vampires, and if you love paranormal romance, you need to read these books NOW! This is now my third favorite BDB book (#1 being Z's book and #2 being Hollywood's). I had no idea how J.R. Ward was ever going to make things good for Tohr again, but she did. Lover Reborn is a realistic portrayal of grief and rebuilding that made me cry several times. The subplots blended in seamlessly and kept the book moving. One of the best books in the series. I can't wait for the next!

Juliet, Anne Fortier. A beautiful retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" as well as an examination of the real-life events in medieval Siena, Italy, that inspired Shakespeare's play. The author alternates the story between modern-day Siena and the story of Julie Jacobs and her relationship with Alessandro Santini, and the medieval story of Giulietta Tolomei and Romeo Marescotti, who were victims of the feud between the Tolomei and Salimbeni families--a rivalry that echoes into the present day. Both storylines are fascinating and rife with secrets, passion, and betrayals. 

The Italian setting (both modern day and medieval) is rendered with exquisite detail and left me longing to explore Siena someday. If you love Italy and love great love stories, pick this one up!

The Good Daughter, Diana Layne. An exciting Mafia story (any guesses why I was drawn to it? ;) ), with a little romance woven in. Diana Layne has a gift for dialogue and drawing characters with a few words; I could picture her characters quite clearly and "hear" them perfectly. She also writes vivid, punchy, action scenes. The story has a number twists and turns, along with surprises, both good and bad. I very much liked the characters of Nia, Sandro, and Angelo (one of the mobsters). Their parts of the story were very absorbing, and Nia and Sandro's love story was touching. Again, I'm not the only who thinks this book is great: RT Book Reviews gave this one 4 1/2 stars, Top Pick! status. The Good Daughter is a prequel to Layne's "Vista Security" series, and I've already bought book 1, Trust No One, which I expect to be as good as this one. 

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte, Diane Kelly. I don't normally read humorous suspense stories, but I thought I should branch out and try something new. I'm so glad I did. This book made me laugh out loud several times (no easy feat) and chuckle many more. It's a good thing I wasn't reading it in public or people would have thought I was a lunatic. 

Breaking Point, Pamela Clare. This is the first Pamela Clare book I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. Very exciting romantic suspense about an undercover U.S. Marshal and a journalist who are kidnapped by drug dealers in Mexico. Gritty, twisty, and steamy--you won't be able to put it down. (Although this is not the first book in the "I-Team" series, they appear to be only loosely linked, and it wasn't a problem to read this one out of order.)

Blindsighted, Karin Slaughter. Karin Slaughter gives Thomas Harris a run for his money. While her villain in this book isn't as charismatic, the crimes are inventive and gruesome, and they'll stick with you a long time. I really liked the main characters, Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena. All of them were well-drawn and you come to care about them even when they do things that are less than likable. Slaughter's writing is a cut above most of what I've found in other serial killer books. 

A word of caution: This book isn't for the faint of heart. It is very gritty, and Slaughter doesn't spare you the details. 

A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness. Exciting start to the series, and a great take on witch, vampire, and demon lore. I wish there'd been a bit more about the demons (or daemons, as they're called), but perhaps that will come in later books. 

Ready Player One, Ernest Cline. I enjoyed this one quite a bit; I'm sure it'll make a good movie. I even got choked up during one part, and I could hardly tear myself away from the book once it got going. (There's a little slowness in the first quarter while Cline is setting everything up, but it's worth your while to get oriented before the story takes off.) Your enjoyment of the book is probably proportional to how much you remember the 80's and whether you played a lot of arcade games back then. If you're a child of that era like me, you'll find yourself smiling a lot.

Anvil of the Craftsman, Dale Amidei. I don't normally read political thrillers, but I'd heard so many great things about this one, that I had to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did. Though the first quarter was a little slow at times, I was soon absorbed in an engrossing story about what it takes to win a war and rebuild a nation--in this case, Iraq. One of the things I really liked about this book is that you don't just get the point of view of the good guys; you get many perspectives, and by the end, I felt that I had a much better understanding of the Iraq conflict and the various peoples involved in it. 

Extremely well-researched, with taut, thrilling action scenes (I was ready to high-five the characters at the end) and well-rounded characters.

Sempre, J.M. Darhower. J.M. Darhower's Sempre is a blend of genres--part young adult romance and part grown-up Mafia story; truly The Godfather meets Romeo and Juliet. And somehow the author also manages to tackle the subject of human trafficking. The scenes of life in the Mafia are chilling, and the conclusion of the book was wrenching.

Walking the Edge, Zee Monodee. This book had me guessing over and over and over. I wasn't sure how it would end or what was going on until late in the story. I'm not going to say much about the plot or the characters because I don't want to give anything away. At the beginning, I thought I knew what the story was going to be, but I so didn't!

Rogue Rider, Larissa Ione. As usual, great chemistry between the hero and heroine (Reseph and Jillian). Despite everything Reseph did as Pestilence, you're rooting for him to overcome his demons (literally). Jillian was quite likable and strong without being bitchy. I had no idea how Ione would ever redeem Reseph, but she managed to do it. I'm sad to see the Lords of Deliverance series end, but I'm glad the Demonica series is continuing with Reaver's story, which sounds like it's going to be a doozy!



I don't normally run across any erotic romances that I'd put on a list of my favorite books of the year, but this year there were two:

A Measured Risk, Natasha Blackthorne. It's set in the Regency period, has a too-die-for alpha hero, a likable heroine, and an interesting storyline. I really enjoyed this book and ripped right through it. Blackthorne puts you smack into the characters' heads and bodies, so you feel what they feel, and the chemistry between the leads was electric. Definitely one of the best erotic romances I've read this year. Jonathan Lloyd, the Earl of Ruel, is my Christian Grey!

Broken, Megan Hart. One of the best erotic novels I've ever read. Megan Hart has serious writing chops. This isn't a "romance-y" book--the emotions are real and raw, and the situations are heartbreaking. The tension mounts and mounts, and I didn't know how the story was going to play out until it did. I won't say any more for fear of spoiling the book. 

If you want to see more of my recommendations, feel free to friend me on Goodreads. 

It's your turn: What books have you enjoyed most this year?

Save Big with a Boxing Week Sale from Kobo!

Kobo is running a Boxing Week sale that you won't want to miss! 



Don't have a Kobo reader? Shop Kobo ereaders!

Boxing Week Sale (Canada and United States)

      Save a ton on this year's best eBooks! Up to 80% off!

      December 24 - December 31st (11:59 PM)

"Revenge" Book Giveaway Today at Steph's Book Retreat!

Today I'm giving away three e-book copies of Revenge (Blood and Honor, #1) at Steph's Book Retreat! 

To win, all you have to do is go to the following post and comment. 

http://stephsbookretreat.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/512/

Happy Holidays from Dana Delamar and Steph's Book Retreat!!!

Book Giveaway and Hot New Erotic Romance from Kristine Cayne: "Under His Command"

Today I'm jumping-up-and-down excited to announce the release of Kristine Cayne's first erotic romance, Under His Command, the first book in her new "Six-Alarm Sexy" series, about a group of Seattle firefighters and their red-hot romantic lives. 

Since I'm Kristine's critique partner, I've had the privilege of helping her develop this series from the beginning. The series grew out of a short story, Aftershocks, that she contributed to the excellent romance anthology, Romance in the Rain. (My review is here.) 

To celebrate the release of Under His Command, Kristine is giving away an ebook copy of Romance in the Rain! To enter the contest, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below. 

Under His Command is hot, hot, hot from beginning to end, and like Kristine's other heroes, I fell hard for Jamie Caldwell from the start. (I already loved him from Aftershocks, but Under His Command only deepened my appreciation for what a sexy, loving, alpha male Jamie is.)


What's the book about?

A firefighter desperate to save his failing marriage earns the trust—and the sexual submission—of his controlling wife in the most pleasurable of ways.

After an explosive one-night stand results in pregnancy, Jamie Caldwell is thrilled to marry the perfect foil to his Dom side. But when his submissive wife starts cringing every time he gives a command, Jamie shackles his dark desires. A bout of rough, frenzied reunion sex makes him wonder if now he should free the Dom he’s kept in chains and teach Erica the joys of submission and sexual surrender.

Erica Caldwell secretly loved every sinful thing Jamie did to her on their first night together. However, terrified she’ll become a codependent doormat like her mother, she repeatedly rejects Jamie’s dominance, despite craving the kind of release only he can give her—the release that comes from yielding to Jamie’s every demand. 

Hoping that the trust required by BDSM will help them rebuild their faith in each other, Jamie and Erica embark on a journey of sexual exploration. But is it too late to repair their crumbling marriage?

Excerpt


Something soft and cool slid over her eyes. “What’s this?” she asked, reaching for it.

“Shh… It’s just a blindfold. To heighten your senses.”

Like she needed her senses heightened? He’d already taken her places she’d never been. “I’m not sure about—”

His hand smacking her butt cheek completely derailed her train of thought. “Did you just slap me?”

“That was a spank. Now turn around.” He tied the scarf over her eyes, plunging her into darkness. 

She really should resist, tell him to stop. Something. But she didn’t. “Okay. Why should I let you spank me?” she asked. So far this night had been like nothing she’d expected. Jamie was skilled and unpredictable. And she was genuinely curious.

“Because you love it.” His fingers trailed down the crease between her cheeks and dipped into her. Her body convulsed, pushing against his hand to take more of him. What was it about fingers that felt so darned good?

Another smack, this one a little harder, had her trembling. “See how wet you are? How good it feels?” he said. 

He was so right.

I love it! Where can I buy it?


Amazon US   Amazon UK   Amazon Canada   Amazon Germany    Amazon France 

Book Giveaway!

You can win an ebook copy of Romance in the Rain, which contains Aftershocks, the prequel to Under His Command and the Six-Alarm Sexy series. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post and be sure to include your email address. Comments without email addresses will be discarded. 

For additional chances to win, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Award-winning author Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

Kristine’s heroes and heroines are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.

Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

To learn more about Kristine and her stories, visit her: 

Website    Blog    Facebook    Twitter    New Releases List    Goodreads 

Win a Three-Pack of Scorching Hot Books at the Candy Cane Kink Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to stop #50 of the Candy Cane Kink Giveaway Hop!

No doubt you're still in the thick of holiday shopping. While I always end up at the mall at least once, I tend to do a lot of my shopping online, and since I come from a family of book lovers, Amazon and B&N are always among my stops. And of course, I end up buying one or two things for myself (because shopping is HARD and I have the willpower of a gnat). 

If you're anything like me, you'll be adding a bunch of books to your shopping cart, so I'd like to suggest a few red-hot sexy reads that I discovered this year.

Romantic suspense: Kristine Cayne (Deadly Vices series -- I've fallen in love with each of her sex-god heroes), Pamela Clare (I-Team series -- very appealing alpha males!) 

Paranormal romance: J.R. Ward (okay, I discovered Ward before this year, but she's released new books in both the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Fallen Angels series -- super-sexy alpha vampires and angels) and Larissa Ione (both the Demonica and Lords of Deliverance series -- sex demons!!! What more do I need to say?). 

Historical romance: Delilah Marvelle (Scandal and Rumor series -- as Delilah says: "I don't write bodice rippers. I write trouser rippers. Get over it." These books are hot!!!)

Erotic romance: Lorelei James (Rough Riders series -- oh, those cowboys!), Natasha Blackthorne (A Measured Risk--The Earl of Ruel is my Christian Grey), Nina Lane (The Erotic Dark -- much darker than Fifty Shades), Emma Holly (Billionaire Bad Boys Club -- don't you just love that title?), Megan Hart (Broken -- beautifully written *and* scorchingly hot), Summer Daniels (Summer's Journey: Collection One -- a woman's journey of sexual self-discovery following a divorce), Kristine Cayne (Under His Command -- so hot you'll get blisters!)

What are your favorite red-hot romances or romance authors?

***

Now that you've read my recommendations, are you wondering what kind of books I write? Of course you are! :)

My current romantic suspense series is called Blood and Honor and is set in Italy among the Calabrian Mafia. This gritty, sexy series chronicles the battles--both bloody and romantic--between two warring Mafia clans. Books 1 and 2 are available now. Here's a taste of Book 2: 

An Interpol agent playing a dangerous game. A Mafia princess desperate to escape. A man determined to exact retribution...

Nick Clarkston, a young Interpol agent, threatens to undo the fragile peace between the Lucchesi and Andretti families when he tries to take down the Mafia don father who abandoned him. He allies with his father's sworn enemy, a mobster both devious and ruthless. The mobster's alluring daughter helps Nick negotiate the murky criminal underworld, but he soon learns she's using him. Trapped, and with nowhere to turn, Nick makes a tragic mistake that plunges him further into danger.

Delfina Andretti appears to be the typical Mafia princess--but this princess wants out. Delfina dreams of being a fashion designer, and hooking up with Nick is her ticket out of an arranged marriage. Her feelings for Nick are genuine, but he's leery of her. Even worse, his heedless drive for justice threatens to get them both killed and to put everyone Delfina loves behind bars--unless she and Nick can forge a new future for their warring families.

Excerpt:

Nick turned the music up and caught Delfina’s eye. Was it just his imagination, or had she been admiring his bare arse? “Watching me, were you?” he asked, keeping his voice pitched low.

She blushed, roses staining her cheeks. His chest felt lighter than it had in weeks. “I’m not answering that.”

He strode over to her and leaned in, forcing her to sprawl back on the bed, caged within his arms. He placed his lips near her ear. “Your blush told me everything. Every single naughty thought you were having.”

“Madonna,” she muttered and braced her hands against his chest. “You’re getting a swollen head.”

He darted his tongue out and ran it along the edge of her ear. “Most certainly.” He put a knee up on the bed and rubbed his hard aching cock along her thigh.

She laughed and pushed against him, but he didn’t budge. “Time to get undressed,” he whispered. Her hands went to the buttons that ran down the front of the silk blouse tucked into her skirt. She played with the top one. 

“Now?” she asked, her voice lilting and playful.

“Now.” He rumbled the word in her ear and she shivered. “Take it off. I want to see you. All of you.”

***

Want to know what happens next? You can find out in Retribution (Blood and Honor #2), available at these retailers: Amazon (Kindle), Amazon UK (Kindle), Apple, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble (UK), Diesel, Kobo, OmniLit, Smashwords, and Sony. If you prefer print, Retribution is also on Amazon (paperback) and Amazon UK (paperback).

***

Prize Giveaway!

To thank you for visiting my blog and participating in The Candy Cane Kink Hop, I'm giving away three ebooks to one lucky winner: Natasha Blackthorne's A Measured Risk, Emma Holly's Billionaire Bad Boys Club, and Kristine Cayne's Under His Command! To win, you must post a comment with your name and email address. Comments without an email address will be discarded. For additional chances to win, follow the instructions in the RaffleCopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To continue hopping, click on the next hop stop below!

Win a $200 Gift Card at the Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop!

Welcome to stop #68 of the Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop! 

To enter the contests, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below.

Since my books are set in Italy, I thought I'd talk a little bit about how the Italians celebrate Christmas, which they call Buon Natale. 

Christmas-related celebrations in Italy often start December 8th, with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, but the traditional Christmas season starts December 24th and runs through January 6th, or Epiphany. During the week known as Novena (the week before Christmas), children dressed as shepherds travel from house to house playing pipes, singing, and reciting Christmas poems. Everyone fasts for the twenty-four hours prior to Christmas (Christmas Eve), which is broken by a celebratory dinner known as cenono. The meal is often features two of my favorites, panettone (a light cake) or pandoro, for dessert. 

Santa Claus is known as Babbo Natale (Father Christmas); however, although Babbo Natale is becoming more well-known in Italy, he isn't the traditional gift-giver. That honor belongs to a kind, but ugly witch, named La Befana. In Italy, children don't receive their gifts until January 6th because that is when the three wise men gave the baby Jesus their gifts. 

According to tradition, La Befana got lost trying to find the baby Jesus, so she slides down the chimney and leaves presents at every house that has children in case baby Jesus is there. If the children have been good, she fills their stockings and shoes with good things, but naughty children get coal!

***

Now that you've learned a little bit about Italy, are wondering about my series that's set there? Of course you are! :)

My current romantic suspense series is called Blood and Honor and is set in Italy among the Calabrian Mafia. The series chronicles the battles--both bloody and romantic--between two warring Mafia clans. Books 1 and 2 are available now. Here's a taste of Book 1: 

A woman on the run. A damaged Mafia don. A rival bent on revenge...

Kate Andretti is married to the Mob--but doesn't know it. When her husband uproots them to Italy, Kate leaves everything she knows behind. Alone in a foreign land, she finds herself locked in a battle for her life against a husband and a family who will "silence" her if she will not do as they wish. When her husband tries to kill her, she accepts the protection offered by a wealthy businessman with Mafia ties. He's not a mobster, he claims. Or is he?

Enrico Lucchesi never wanted to be a Mafia don, and now he's caught in the middle of a blood feud with the Andretti family. His decision to help Kate brings the feud between the families to a boil. When Enrico is betrayed by someone in his own family, the two of them must sort out enemies from friends--and rely on each other or die alone. The only problem? Enrico cannot reveal his identity to Kate, or she'll bolt from his protection, and he'll be duty-bound to kill her to safeguard his family's secret. 

Attacks from without and within push them both to the breaking point, and soon Enrico is forced to choose between protecting the only world he knows and saving the woman he loves. 

Excerpt: 

Enrico’s hand dropped from Kate’s forehead to caress her cheek, his fingers skimming over the bruises Vince had left. Then his thumb traced over her swollen lip, his face darkening. “I could kill him for this.”

Kate felt a jolt. Did he mean that? He looked so grave. She didn’t want him to do something foolish; he’d already taken enough risks for her. “I’m okay. Just a little beat up. I’ll be fine in a few days.”

He crouched down beside her and took her hands in his, resting them in her lap. “I will protect you from now on. I swear it. You will never be unsafe again.”

Kate’s throat constricted painfully and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks again. Jesus, how did he know just what to say? This man who looked at her with such tender eyes couldn’t possibly be a mobster. Certainly her faulty Italian was to blame for what she thought she’d overheard. 

Enrico leaned forward, one of his hands going to the back of her chair, the other releasing her hand and cupping her knee. He was now just inches from her, his eyes darkening with care, with… desire. Kate inhaled in surprise, her body suddenly on alert. He smelled sharply masculine, like citrus and pine trees mixed together, a hint of something that was all him underneath. He was too close, much too deliciously close. Her heart hammered out of control. She should stop this. She was still married, even if her husband had tried to kill her. 

Enrico let go of her knee and placed his fingers under her chin, tilting her mouth to meet his. Kate stiffened, but after his lips touched hers, she relaxed and forced herself to stop thinking, forced herself only to feel, only to hear. The satiny brush of his lips across hers, the touch of his hands on her face, his fingers tracing her cheekbones. The groan low in his throat when she opened her mouth to his, when she let their tongues touch. He groaned again, the sound more urgent when she opened her mouth wider, her tongue swirling around his. 

He pulled her up from the chair, his large hands sliding down to her ass, crushing her to him greedily. When she felt the bulge of his erection against her belly, a warm tingle ran through her, zinging down between her legs. 

My God, he was an amazing kisser. And if she wasn’t mistaken, his body was going to be amazing too. He was all hard slabs of muscle and sinew, granite next to her softness. She ran her hands across his wide shoulders and down his back. Jesus. This was going to be out of this world—

He broke the kiss, both of them breathing fast. She looked up at him, confused. Why was he stopping? 

“Are you certain you want this?” he asked. “A lot has happened—”

“I’m sure. Very sure.” 

His lips curved into a slow smile. “Then we need some place more private, yes?”

***

Want to know what happens next? You can find out in Revenge (Blood and Honor #1). 

Regularly $4.99, Revenge is on sale now for only $0.99, for a limited time at most retailers. 

You can find Revenge at these retailers: Amazon US (Kindle), Amazon UK (Kindle), Amazon Canada (Kindle), Apple, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble UK, Diesel, Kobo, OmniLit, Smashwords, and Sony. 

If you prefer print, Revenge is also on Amazon US (paperback) or Amazon UK (paperback).

***

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