UPON YOUR HONOR spotlight and Reader Q&A on Book Escape End of May Event and Release Party

Join this event on Facebook for a chance to win lots of great prizes and learn about some new authors! You can catch me tomorrow, June 2nd between 3 - 4:00 p.m. EST. I will be talking about my new release UPON YOUR HONOR. There will be chances to win the book and you can ask me anything you want!

https://www.facebook.com/events/266212290218284/275409612631885/

Christina says, "Thank you!"

Thank You, Marie Lavender

christinacoleromance ♦ June 1, 2014 

From Christina: I want to thank Marie  for being my guest this week at Seasons of Love. It’s always a pleasure to visit with her. I hope you’ve enjoyed the week as much as I have.  
Marie says:

I want to thank Christina for hosting me. I’m also grateful to everyone who has dropped by to visit.

About Marie Lavender

 Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.Since then, Marie has published seventeen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and n paranormal stories.

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Marie’s giveaway has now ended. Winner will be notified within 24 hours.

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http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/MagickMoonlight
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104926404745289477307/posts
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/

• Available now!

Chance to win a free ebook of my new release UPON YOUR HONOR!

Drop by The Romance Reviews tomorrow, June 1st, for a chance to win a copy of UPON YOUR HONOR!  Answer the Q&A and you will be entered into a drawing for it.  Remember, you must register for TRR and be logged in before it will allow you to answer the question.  But, that is painless, I swear.

Event:

Book:

Excerpts from MAGICK & MOONLIGHT on Seasons on Love

Magick and Moonlight – Excerpts

christinacoleromance ♦ May 31, 2014 

A great weekend read…excerpts from Magick and Moonlight by Marie Lavender. Enjoy!

Excerpt 1

He cleared his throat.  “Is there a reason I found you naked out there?  I mean, you lost your clothes somehow, right?”
The secret smile she gave him made his throat feel dry.  “Do you want me to lie?”
“Of course not.”
“The ritual was best practiced in the nude.  Skyclad rituals are very common, you know.  The Goddess tells us, ‘You shall be free from all slavery, and as a sign that you be truly free, you shall be naked in your rights.’”
He lifted a brow.  “Even if that were the case, you didn’t walk there naked, did you?”
“Didn’t I?”
Maybe she was crazy after all.
“I didn’t walk at all.”
He thought she might be saying that she was transported by magic.  Yep, she was batty as hell.  He was so not touching that one.  He cleared his throat again.
A sharp cry startled him and instinctively, he reached forward and grabbed her when she started to fall.  Unfortunately, she ended up right in his arms.
Or maybe it was fortunate after all.  With her luscious lips so close, he could almost taste her.  And her scent…dear God, she was intoxicating, like a mixture of night air and jasmine.  “You all right?” he managed.
She nodded.  “My foot caught on a rock, I think.”
“Is it bleeding?”
“My foot or the rock?”  Her cheek dimpled.
He laughed.  “Your foot, of course.”
“No, I don’t think so.  It’s all right.”
“Good.”  He realized his mistake immediately.  Some strange instinct caused him to keep her close.  Stepping back would be a crime and she was seductive.  Knowing she was naked underneath his coat didn’t help anything.  She was way too accessible.  Heedless of the costs, he plunged a hand into the soft waves of her dark hair and lowered his mouth to hers.
She tasted like wine, potent and sweet.  He explored her mouth slowly, allowing her the chance to pull away or slap him.  He knew he’d deserve it.  He’d never stolen a kiss before, and he couldn’t think why he’d done it now.  But, she tasted delicious.  And her body felt so good against his.  He groaned and drew her closer.  When she moaned in return, he kissed her deeply and moved a hand down her back.  His hands wanted to roam further, but he held himself in check.  If he was a real gentleman, he’d pull away now.  Reluctantly, he did.
He drew back and tried to get his libido back under control.  “Ah…sorry.  I wasn’t thinking.”  He swept a hand through his hair.
He thought she looked just as shaken.  But she smiled a little.  “It’s okay.  No harm done, right?”
“Right.”

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Excerpt 2

When his truck was gone, she released a long sigh.  She also felt strangely bereft, though she had no idea why.  She shrugged it off.  Maybe she was simply tired.  It had been an eventful night.
She removed the coat and lifted it to her nose without thinking.  It carried his scent, of cologne and something very male.  It made her feel warm.  She carefully laid the coat on a table, then moved upstairs to locate something to wear.  At the closet, she paused.
She thought of Ethan Hamilton.  He had only been wearing jeans, a tee shirt and hiking boots.  He had looked really good though.  Ethan wore his hair long on top in dark brown layers.  His blue eyes were very compelling.  The moonlight had caught the color so perfectly, she had wanted to drown in his gaze.  He was tall and muscular, built very well.  And dear Goddess, his kiss was really something.  She had never felt like she had when he’d kissed her.  There was such passion, such power in his embrace.  She had nearly lost herself in the moment.
But, why had she told him what she was doing out there?  That was so stupid.  She wondered if she’d momentarily lost her mind.  The man made her want to be completely honest.  And that was just crazy.  Sure, he was a cop, or a former cop – she wasn’t sure – but, that didn’t mean she had to give him full disclosure.
She had told him her secret.  The implications really hit her then.  She could be found out.  What if he told someone?  Her grandmother had told her to be careful for a reason.  Her business might suffer because of it.  What if something worse happened?  What if they ran her out of town?  Or institutionalized her?  Panic could make people crazy.
This wasn’t good at all.

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For a chance to win a copy of Magick and Moonlight, enter Marie’s giveaway.

CLICK HERE FOR MARIE’S EBOOK GIVEAWAY

Winner will be chosen Sunday morning  7:00 AM CDT

Visit tomorrow for more information about author Marie Lavender and her books.

Article - "Love is a Spell" on Seasons of Love Blog

Love is a Spell by Marie Lavender

christinacoleromance ♦ May 30, 2014 

From Christina: Marie Lavender shares a few thoughts today about magic…the kind of magic that comes from love. Enjoy!

LOVE IS A SPELL

By Marie Lavender

Since Magick and Moonlight is about the practice of magick, I wanted to discuss love and how it relates to spells.  There are love spells, of course.  And some people may do them.  But, what I mainly want to talk about is the spell of love.  If you’ve ever been in love, you know what I mean.
For a time, you are infatuated, so overwhelmed with feelings that you don’t know what happened.  Everything that person does is amazing or wonderful.  If you’re lucky, you stay in love, but some of that freshness ebbs.  This is not a bad thing.  Love is no longer a shiny penny.  No, it is wiser and you can see the one you love in a new light.  You can see strengths and weaknesses, and still love them for it.  Because we recognize our own flaws, we can appreciate theirs as well.
There are going to be days that something annoys you, some little quirk.  There are going to be days when you don’t agree on something, usually something small.  But, we call those moments life.  If you’re a romance reader, you’re familiar with the fact that nothing is always rosy in a romance novel.  There are conflicts just like in life.
If you’ve found a forever kind of love, you are with that person for life through the ups and downs.  And if you’re wise, you recognize it isn’t always easy.  So, once the freshness of being in love wears off, you start to see if these little annoyances or quirks are things you can live with.  You decide you can.  Then what?  Well, then it gets good.  Because there are other moments when you are reminded why you fell in love with that person.  I hope they happen every day for you.  If you are in love, you will feel that “spell” again and again.  Life and its stressors may take you away for a time, but the one you love will always bring you back somehow.
In writing Magick & Moonlight, it was interesting to show this very normal progression in a metaphorical way.  Ethan falls under Jessie’s spell, but she doesn’t expect for the same thing to happen to her.  She tries to fight it because it’s safer for her to look at things practically, but we all know that love isn’t practical.  It is messy and it just happens.
The conflict does come in the book, however.  So, do they figure things out?  I guess you have to read Magick & Moonlight to find out!

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“Do you want me to lie?”

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Tomorrow, Marie will be sharing excerpts.  Be sure to stop by to read more.

For a chance to win a copy of Magick and Moonlight, enter Marie’s giveaway.

CLICK HERE FOR MARIE’S EBOOK GIVEAWAY

I'm visiting Seasons of Love blog this week.  Here is a promo that posted today:

Dancing in the Moonlight

christinacoleromance ♦ May 29, 2014 ♦ 1 Comment

Magick & Moonlight

by Marie Lavender

Messing with free will is always a bad idea…
Ethan Hamilton moves to a lazy little town in Oregon, hoping to escape his demons. But, instead he discovers a woman dancing nude in the moonlight. This woman who claims she is a witch dazzles him with her sensual presence. He thinks she’s crazy, but what if she’s not?
Jessie Anderson has been taught that her kind hides who they really are. And she has a problem on her hands. Someone knows her secret and she has to do all she can to protect herself. What other choice does she have? Jessie casts a love spell on a good man, a man with whom she can’t fight her attraction. The spell doesn’t work quite as planned – she ends up falling for Ethan.
To top it off, Ethan’s treatment of her, his “love”, is so addictive. Deep down, she knows the spell will wear off, and yet his feelings seem genuine. It’s just a spell…right?

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Be sure to visit tomorrow for Marie’s’s featured post.

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Don’t forget about Marie’s Ebook Giveaway!

Click HERE to enter!

And now, for another “snippet”…

“You’re a clever woman.”

Magick & Moonlight on Seasons of Love Blog

Magick and Moonlight by Marie Lavender

christinacoleromance ♦ May 28, 2014 

Please join with me in welcoming Marie Lavender for a return visit to Seasons of Love.

Magick and Moonlight

by Marie Lavender

 Love spells are dangerous…

Even more dangerous for those who cast them.

Marie says,

Magick & Moonlight was a joy for me to write.  It came to me as an image, of a man kicking rocks along the shoreline while the full moon sat above him.  He is lost in his own thoughts until he notices something out of the ordinary.  It was fun to show exactly what he saw and how he reacted to it.

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Tomorrow Marie will be back to tell us more about “Magick and Moonlight”.

On Friday she’ll be sharing a few thoughts about love and the spell it casts upon us.

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Marie will be giving away an ebook copy of “Magick and Moonlight”.

To enter, click below !

Marie’s Ebook Giveaway

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Until tomorrow, here’s a little snippet!

“What the hell did you do to me?”

New 4 Star Review for MAGICK & MOONLIGHT

Just came across this review on Amazon.

 When the Spell Wears Off, May 26, 2014

By 

The Kindle Book Review

This review is from: Magick & Moonlight (Kindle Edition)

Ethan sees the light from a campfire burning in the woods as he walks back to his cabin one night. He turns aside to check on the fire and encounters a woman, dancing around an iron pot set over the fire. She is nude and is chanting in an unfamiliar language. Her name is Jessie, and she claims to be a witch. He doesn’t believe in witches and believes that she is a bit “off.” He gives her his coat and he drives her home.

Jessie had not intended to tell him was a witch, and she is concerned that he might repeat what she said. She owns a store in the small town and she fears what might happen to her, to her lively hood, if anyone were to find out. To keep her secret, she casts a spell, causing Ethan to fall in love with her. Problems arise− she finds herself falling in love with him, and, then, spells do not last forever. What might happen when the spell wears off?

The author calls her book a paranormal romance, although she does admit that it may not be a “typical” paranormal adventure. I tend to agree. The only paranormal elements are that Jessie is a witch and she casts a spell. I would expect more paranormal activity than this.

On the other hand, as a romance, it is a good story, one you would enjoy reading. As always, Marie Lavender writes well, and she holds your interest. It is a short work, and I only wish that she had made it longer.

David Burnett for The Kindle Book Review
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

 

 

Guess Who and Meow, Meow, Meow?

Meow, Meow, Meow!

christinacoleromance ♦ May 27, 2014 

 

This week’s guest author is a cat lover. In fact, she’s got three of the little lovelies. Yep, I realize “cat lover” could apply to many of us! Cats are special. Maybe they’re even magical.
Our guest author’s three kitties are Emma, Smokey, and Katerina — also known as Kit Kat. Gotta love it!




Think you know who this cat-loving lady is?
Check back tomorrow to find out the identity of this week’s guest and see what story she’ll be sharing.
Here’s a quick look at what will be happening throughout the week:

• Wednesday: Our guest author’s identity will be revealed along with the cover art for the book she’s sharing.  She’ll also tell “the story behind the story” — her personal thoughts on writing the book.
• Thursday: Find out more! Our guest author will be sharing the book blurb with you…and not just in 25 words or less! You can read the blurb and find out what this story is all about.
• Friday: Our guest author takes center stage today.  You won’t want to miss her feature post.
• Saturday: Come back today for excerpts from this week’s book.
• Sunday: Our guest author will be wrapping up the week’s visit with links you can use to keep in touch.

And now…let me leave you with this enticing little  snippet from the book our guest author will be sharing:

“Is there a reason I found you naked out there?”

Guess Who: May 26

christinacoleromance ♦ May 26, 2014 

Pop Quiz!

You’ve seen this little charmer before.

Yes, she’s been a guest at Seasons of Love in the past.

I’m delighted to welcome her back.

It’s a different photograph, but the same talented author.

Do you know who she is?

Be watching for a hint tomorrow.

New 5 Star Reviews for MAGICK & MOONLIGHT, UPON YOUR RETURN & UPON YOUR HONOR!

Usually, I do these separately, but I found them at the same time, so what the hell, right?  How fun to be inundated with all these reviews at once!  Yay!  :)

Magickal short story, May 21, 2014

By 

Cryssy M

This review is from: Magick & Moonlight (Kindle Edition)

As a practicing Wiccan, I was excited to find a story where one of the main characters is a practicing Wiccan and not doing it for show. I was impressed with the knowledge imparted, especially when Jessie was casting the love spell and going through all the reasons why she shouldn’t be doing it. Most Wiccans that I know do exactly the same thing and most do not cast if it will harm another. Just like the Wiccan Rede states: “Harm None, Do What Thou Will.” Love spells fall in that category for most. And to see the negative repercussions fall into place was a nice surprise. It is clear that Ms. Lavender respects the Path enough that she asked for expert help and it was clearly given and used.
Jessie and Ethan are a well matched pair. Both with their own issues, but coming together, they were each able to help the other grow and love.
My only wish was that this book was longer, I did not want it to end. The writing was great, the characters bold and refreshing. Thank you Miss Lavender for a great read…I can’t wait to read some of your other works.

 

 

Beautifully written, May 21, 2014

By 

Cryssy M

This review is from: Upon Your Return (Kindle Edition)

I really did not know what to expect from Ms. Lavender. I had read her short story Magick & Moonlight and absolutely loved it, but wasn’t sure about her historical romances. Well, I am here to say, great job! The book was awesome. Set in the late 1800’s in France, the time of the World’s Fair and Napoleon. It is a story of 2 people from different classes who meet and fall in love. Of course, love is never easy. They are torn apart for years, only to come back together and struggle to finally reveal their love. Fara and Grant are two strong individuals that have to learn how to reveal what is in their hearts and let the past go so that they can move forward with their lives. Five stars for me….wish I could paste more stars up there!!

 

 

So So Good!!, May 21, 2014

By 

Cryssy M

This review is from: Upon Your Honor (Kindle Edition)

This is the second story in the Heiress in Love Trilogy and I must say I loved it more than the first one. This is the story of Gabriel and Chloe. Gabriel is the son of Fara and Grant from Upon Your Return. I love this idea and rarely see it occur in other series, where the subsequent novel is the child that is spoken about in the first book. Now it is Gabriel’s turn to find his way and to find love. The characters are fresh and surprising. The story well fleshed out. There is enough drama to keep the story going, yet enough of a love story to keep you hooked. I wanted Chloe and Gabriel to get together so bad, I would talk to my laptop to tell them to hurry it up. LOL. My boyfriend thought I was going crazy when I was speaking to the characters out loud. This is definitely a five star novel for me!!! Thank you Ms. Lavender for another wonderful novel. I can’t wait to read the next one!