Showing posts with label Stephani Hecht. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephani Hecht. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

BETWEEN THE PIPES by Stephani Hecht

Blue Line Hockey, Book 2
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Date published. March 1st, 2011
ASIN: B004R1Q23M
Contemporary MM
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Trey always thought he would be in the big leagues for the NHL. What he didn’t expect is reality slapping him hard in the face and having him on a losing farm team, broken dreams and nothing else. When he is forced to coach kids at a local rink, Trey knows his crappy life is now on the way to hell….until he meets Officer Wade. Then Trey finds out that love will find a way no matter what you can do to stop it.

Wade is proud of his little town and sure the local farm team is last in the league but that new goalie is sure to bring big things. He never expects the sparks to fly between them or the hunch that Trey is hiding something. Can Wade get Trey to believe in their burgeoning relationship to share what secrets he holds?

I loved the first book, OFFSIDE PASS, and found the second book, BETWEEN THE PIPES to be just as enjoyable. I have to stress that even though this is a standalone story in the series, it is best to read them in order to get the full back story of the brothers and what brought them to the minor leagues. Ms. Hecht is a talented author who knows how to deliver a delightfully sinfully sexy story that will steam your nights up and keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. The writing was tight, the story flowed smoothly and the characters were well rounded.

Trey thought he would reap the bounty of being on a major NHL team, the endorsements and the fame. What he gets instead is a losing farm team and a broken down life. Forced to coach a kid’s hockey team, Trey feels like his life just went to hell in a hand basket. Meeting Wade was something Trey never anticipated and finding the man sexy as hell leaves Trey reeling. These two are pure combustion. The sparks fly between Trey and Wade and I loved how they connected together. Ms. Hecht delivers a set of characters that fairly brim with testosterone and sex appeal. I love how this author creates complex characters that leave the reader aching for more. The secondary characters kept the story moving smoothly and I am eager to see which brother is next to fall in love.

BETWEEN THE PIPES is a sexy tale about two people finding they need to trust their hearts in order to let go of a past that may mar their chance for a future. If you are looking to read a series about hot hockey players, this is the one to grab. I am eager to see who falls next in the Blue Line Hockey Series. Ms. Hecht is a wonderfully talented author who can keep her readers spellbound till the very end.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Monday, July 18, 2011

OFFSIDE PASS by Stephani Hecht

Book 1in Blue Line Hockey Series
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Date published: January 1st, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-55487-761-4
ASIN: B004IEA8LU
Contemporary, M/M, Romance
E-book
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained by Publisher


Devon Canton and his brothers were the up and coming hockey stars until the bottom fell from everything they worked for. Now instead of endorsements, NHL recognition and playing for the big leagues, they are playing for the worst team ever, the Battle Creek Hawks. It doesn’t help that for their first game, they are tossed out for brawling…with each other. Reporter Saul Davis knows there is more to the story when he sees Devon in that first game. Rebuked for an interview, he digs deeper and finds out a secret about Devon that will rock the hockey world and possibly destroy this once promising hockey player. Saul never anticipates falling for Devon while digging in his past. But the question haunting Saul now is can he kill this breaking story as he falls deeper for Devon or should he put his career above love?

OFFSIDE PASS is a fun, sexy romp in the world of hockey. Ms. Hecht is a talented author who completely captivated me with her debut in the Blue Line Hockey series. This first book sets up the series as well as introduces us to the Canton brothers-Devon, Trey, Chad and Brock. What I loved about this book was how memorable the character was and the story was quite enjoyable. It had complex and interesting characters, a fast paced storyline with some simmering sexual tension between Devon and Saul to keep things interesting. Ms. Hecht does an amazing job keeping the story flowing smoothly and kept my interest until the very end.

Meet Devon Canton. He once had a promising career in the NHL, endorsements and all the trappings until it came crashing down around him. Now he plays for a crappy team, Battle Creek Hawks in an arena that looks like a strong wind could knock it down. It’s a far cry from the fame and glory he got a glimpse of. I loved Devon. He was a strong alpha hero who tries to resist Saul but in the end, the heart gets what it wants…namely Saul. The romance between Saul and Devon is, at times, sweet and tender to hot and sexy. The Canton brothers were fun and entertaining bunch of characters and I was amused by their antics in this novella. The secondary characters helped move the story along nicely as well.

OFFSIDE PASS is a fun, sweet and highly entertaining story of hockey players finding love. I loved how we saw how these brothers had it all then something happens to have them fall to the downside. Devon and Saul find a love worth fighting for. If you are looking for a fun, sweetly romantic tale with characters to fall in love with, then grab OFFSIDE PASS. I am anxious to see which of the remaining Canton brothers falls in love next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Friday, November 27, 2009

ANGEL WARRIORS Book 1 in series by Stephani Hecht

Publisher: Extasy Books
Date published: March 2008
ISBN: 978-1-55487-040-0 (E-book)
978-1554871193 (Paperback)
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
Ebook/Paperback
Obtained by Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn




CLICK TO PURCHASE A EBOOK! A war is brewing between Heaven and Hell. When Abdiel didn’t go over with Lucifer when he tried to take over Heaven, his family cut him out of their lives and he turned into a solitary Angel, determined to be alone even from his fellow angels. The leader of the Angel Warriors, Michael, has come to bring Abdiel into the land of the living and in the process to find a love so powerful it will shake the heavens.

ANGEL WARRIORS
is a fast moving story full of memorable characters that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Ms. Hecht does a great job in creating a world full of Angels, demons and other creatures. I loved the way this author was able to pack the book full of interesting characters while never slowing down. The reader is introduced to Abdiel’s Angel Warriors Team: A punk empathy named Cam and lovely Gabi, a healer that Abdiel can not resist. ANGEL WARRIORS delves into an ancient prophecy and this author keeps the action on high even as the reader is falling along side Gabi and Abdiel as they find a love so powerful it shakes the heavens.

Meet Abdiel, an angel who didn’t side with Lucifer when he tried to take over Heaven and in the process found himself thrown to the wolves by his own family. A recluse, he is drawn into a battle that has been brewing for centuries. Michael delivers him to his own Angel Warrior team and in the process Abdiel finds a love that heals a heart and soul scarred by past betrayals. I loved the way Abdiel was perfectly content in his miserable life and Ms. Hecht does a great job keeping the story flowing with charming secondary characters. When Michael comes and interrupts Abdiel, he finds himself tossed down to earth to help a newly formed Angel Warrior Team. The sparks fly when Gabi and Abdiel meet again and the reader is rooting for them to get their Happily Ever After, even as demons literally come up from hell and a prophecy comes into play. Can this new Angel Warrior team fight back the hordes of demons while falling in love?
ANGEL WARRIORS is a fast paced, action adventure with a wonderful romance that will keep the reader glued to their seats. Add in a gripping ending that will have you racing for the next book, Captive Angels and the reader will be transported by Ms. Hecht’s wonderful story. I am eagerly awaiting the next book and can not wait to read more on the ANGEL WARRIORS. Ms. Hecht is fast becoming my favorite author with her masterful storytelling and a great cast of characters. Run, don’t walk to grab this page turner and get ready for an explosive new series.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

Friday, August 21, 2009

MAD BLOOD by Stephani Hecht

Published by eXtasy Books
Date issued: April 2009
ISBN: 978-1-55487-270-1
Paranormal, GLBT, M/M
E-book
Reviewed by Judie



CLICK TO PURCHASE! Dante Toren was a bad mother (shut your mouth) vampire who took names and let others take notes for him. Dante was a tortured vampire along with his brothers, but somehow they were able to let the past stay there and Dante, well it was difficult for him to leave the past behind, causing him to leave his brothers without a forwarding address and one young man waiting for him to return home. One night, Dante helped a young man get home before curfew and what he discovered would bring him back to the family and the love of his life! Brenden in charge of communications, would receive the call about a vampire in need of help, it was Dante. Brenden couldn’t let Dante die, not the love of his life, even though Dante never noticed him. Brenden arrived first with his team, saw a female going for broke on Dante’s neck. He took care of her by drinking her blood first and saved the man he was going to have, even if it killed him in the process.


This book is an awesome read, if you like vampires and hot male love exploding right before your eyes. This story will have you hooked from the start! The way Dante and Brenden fell in love was so hot, Ms. Hecht always made you aware of Dante’s tortured life and all the other characters like to remind him also but, that didn’t stop Brenden, it made him crave Dante more. He could care less about his past. Brenden wanted forever with Dante and he would stop at nothing to make it so. I was on the edge of my seat reading this book, so many ins and outs for Dante, but he took it all to heart and he was such a delight to read about, I wanted more of this story. This awesome read lets you know that love does cove a multitude of faults. I loved the story and the two strong males that did what it took to become mates. I know they had mad love for each other and MAD BLOOD as well!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Welcome to Stephani Hecht's guest blog


Look Inside my Twisted Mind


When people find out that I write about angels, demons, vampires, elves and even a sea serpent who lives in the Detroit River, the question is always the same, “Where do you come up with your ideas and what kind of meds are you on?” I’m happy to report that I’m on no medication, I am just blessed with a very overactive imagination. So the question remains, how is it that the ideas in my head become a book?

The idea for my Archangel Series started simple enough. I wanted to write a book about angel warriors who live amongst humans. Simple enough, right? I spent four years researching angels and weapons. Four years of planning on how this book would go and how the angels would act. Four years knowing exactly how everything would be. Finally I sat down to write it and then that’s when it happened.

Cam.

He started off as a simple side-kick. The one who was supposed to introduce the hero to humans and Earth. Little did I know Cam would not be happy just sitting off to the side like some wallflower. He took over and before I knew it I had a smart-ass, cocky son of a gun who suddenly decided he was going to run the show. How did I realize that? My first clue was when I wrote this:

“Stop it.” She laughed. “Don’t you have one of those human college courses to go to?” For some insane reason, Cam insisted on enrolling at the local college. He always said it was because he wanted to learn as much as he could about humans. Gabi knew better. Cam loved the human race and truly enjoyed mingling with them, being one of them.


“Yeah, I have religious studies.”


“Cam, you’re an angel. You are religious studies.”


“I agree.” He shrugged on his backpack. “But Ana insisted, and I must always obey my big sister.” With that, he grabbed a Coke out of the fridge and turned his iPod on. He flashed her a peace sign, then ran out the door.


That wasn’t the end of it either, before I knew it Cam had seven brothers and one sister and they were all just as unusual of he was. They fought, they swore and basically did everything that traditional angels were not supposed to do. Then the real shocker happened when Cam lost his virginity to a succubus. Suddenly my series went from being about angels who were all holy and good to angels who humped and cussed. Not what I had been dreaming for those four years, but that’s what happened and I knew there was no way I could change it. It worked for me and I couldn’t imagine my angels any other way.

Once the books were released I was stunned to find that most people embraced my unconventional angels, so of course I had to push the bar once again. Thus the Drone Vampire Chronicles were born. I wondered to myself how it would be to have vampires who totally went against every stereotype, ones who were poor, unwanted and at rock bottom? Then the Toren brothers came to me. Three brothers who are fresh from spending ten years at a paranormal prison, broke and struggling to survive. The first book in the series, Blood Lust, starts off with them in a parking garage, hunting kobolds, because it’s the only job they can get.

“Why do parking garages always smell like piss and ass?”


Kane barely held back the groan at his brother, Dante’s, whispered question. The idiot may as well have shouted it in the deafening silence of the garage. First, because the creatures they were hunting could hear the smallest of noises, and secondly because the question was so annoying it grated on Kane’s very last nerve.


That’s not the garage you’re smelling. It’s your breath backfiring on you, he replied via the same telepathic link he’d shared with his brothers since they were small children. Now, let’s keep all of our conversations in stealth mode, shall we? The last thing we need is for these bastards to know we’re here.


Dante raised his hand and huffed into the palm, testing his breath’s foulness for himself. He must have found nothing because his dark eyes narrowed in a scowl. You suck, Kane, and not in the normal vampire way either.



The chapter ends with the three brother feeding the bodies of the kobolds to a sea serpent who lives in…you guessed it, the Detroit River. In the book you also find out that there are two classes of vampires, the Pure Born, who are vampires from birth and considered upper class, and the Drones who are consider inferior because they were once human. The Drones are segregated into clans, have no basic rights and face growing persecution.


Yes, my books can be a bit different, but I honestly think I don’t have the power to change that. I write what’s in my heart and I’ve discovered my heart is a bit twisted and demented at time.


Now it’s contest time! Leave a comment and I will pick a winner at random. The prize will be a free PDF download of anyone of my past releases, winner’s choice.


-Stephani

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Welcome to the Wicked Writers guest blog

Welcome Wicked Writers to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us. Please introduce yourselves.

My name is Marc Jarrod.

Hi, my name is AJ Llewellyn and I write gay erotic romance novels for eXtasy Books!

Welcome to Stephani Hecht!

Welcome to Regan Taylor!

Hi! My name is C.R. Moss. I have stories published through eXtasy Books and am contracted for more at Devine Destinies.

Welcome to Tianna Xander!

Bonnie: I’m Bonnie Rose Leigh and I’m currently published in Erotic Romance at eXtasy Books and Cobblestone Press. To find out more about me, please visit my website, which is updated regularly or my Yahoo Group.


Did you always want to become a writer?


Marc: Not until the last 4 years. I never really thought about it.

AJ: Yes. I wrote my first book when I was nine. I was a rather gruesome boy. I was obsessed with horses and death – the latter, probably because of the death of my mother when I was six. So I wrote a horse book. Everyone died at the end, including the horses!

Stephani: I have always loved a good story. When I was young, my father would read to me every night and I dreamed of someday writing the same tales.

Regan: Actually no! I’ve always been a reader. A dedicated Reader and hated writing in school. All that “stuff” they make you do and ask you questions about. My first published book was a non-fiction for people with disabilities, as was the second. Writing non-fiction is way different from fiction. I much prefer fiction, which I started writing as an escape from my day job.

CR: Yes. I’ve always had an overactive imagination and had been creating stories since I started to read but I truly knew I wanted and was going to be a writer when I received an A in English in grade school.

Tianna: Actually, I never liked writing when I was younger but I loved telling stories. I started writing about fifteen years ago. It was mostly to get the ideas out of my head. I first started writing for publication about seven years ago.

Bonnie: Not really. I’d enjoyed writing in high school and college but reading was my true passion. It was my DH who encouraged me to give writing a try. I’ve not looked back since.

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

Marc: The most interesting fact for me, is when I start writing, it takes awhile to get going. That is when I get writer’s block, and as a result, I am not sure where to take the story. Once I get over it, though, and I finally drum up a plot, characters etc. Then my fingers fly over the keyboard.
The least interesting fact, writing is tedious to say the least because you are constantly going over your story to see if it sounds right.

AJ: I love all of it...least interesting? The reams and reams of papers I have accumulated with notes, edits, rewrites. I was taught old-school style and have convinced myself I need all those early drafts.

Stephani: The least interesting thing by far would have to be all the edits. People don’t realize how much hard work goes into making a book shine. I can’t tell you how many cups of coffee I’ve gone through or how many sleepless nights I’ve spent tweaking my latest creation.

I think the most interesting part is being able to make your characters and ideas come to life. The characters are so real in my mind and I love being able to share them with the readers.

Regan: I love the research. I could spend days doing some of the research and never want to stop. Least? Writing a synopsis. Yuck Tooey!

CR: For me the most interesting fact about writing is the research and learning new things. I love to learn. The least interesting facets of writing for me are deadlines and galleys.

Tianna: Probably the edits because you have to reread and correct a manuscript that you’ve already read fifty times.

Bonnie: Creating the characters and their worlds, watching a series or book take shape before my eyes. Least interesting: has to be the editing. I find editing very boring. LOL

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

Marc: Don’t have a book in a book store—yet. LOL
I do have a book in print from the Sanguinary Seduction anthology series in which I was a contributing author. I was very proud to see my words in a hard copy.

AJ: I celebrated my first release by kissing the cat and the dog. Nobody else was home. I saw my book Phantom Lover go onto the shelves and on display and IN THE WINDOW at A Different Light and I cried like a baby. On the display I was next to Stephen King and in the window my book was next to a bio on John Lennon.
A special ritual on release day? Yeah Danny, I turn into a promo homo posting endless excerpts all over Yahoo!


Stephani: For my first release, I went out to eat at Red Robin. I know, sooooo glamorous. I don’t have any special rituals for release days. Unless you count doing the happy dance because it is such a high to see my cover up.

Regan: Hmmm, first release….I went to dinner with a friend. The first one I actually saw in a bookstore was Her Eyes (written with Jennifer Cloud and out with Amira Press). I work(ed) for my local Walden’s and they gave me front cap placement. I looked at it and thought it look really familiar but it took me a second to realize it was my book!

No ritual – I’m always into the next book so I just go to dinner with a friend.


CR: I planned a spa day with a friend. My books are only available on line at www.extasybooks.com and amazon.com so far. I haven’t started a special ritual yet for releases. I’m normally already working on another project so my mind isn’t on the release except for promotion purposes.

Tianna: We went out to dinner. It was amazing to see my book in a bookstore. So far I’ve only seen my book in one small independent bookstore because my books are mainly POD.

Bonnie: The night Taliff’s Cure came out, I celebrated by reading. LOL I took the night off from writing but did send out a bunch of promo. After every book I finish, I try to take a day or two to unwind. I’ve not seen my book in a bookstore yet, that will happen January 6th when I have my first book signing.

How did your family react to fact that you also write romance novels? Have your family read your books?

Marc: My wife has read the anthology story but not any of my other books. She is very happy for me.

AJ: My family does not read my books although my brother came to my big book signing at A Different Light. My father read “Phantom Lover” and called me and said, “Why did you send me this book? It’s disgusting.”
I said, “Dad, you read the whole thing?”
He said, “Yes, I did.”
I said, “But dad, the first sex scene is on page 8, didn’t you see where this was going?”
He said, “But there’s a good story in there. I had to see how it ends!”
I still laugh about that conversation but I have never given him another book to read. My brother calls me his porn star brother. LOL.


Stephani: My mother and sister read every word I write. I’ll admit, there are some of my family members who have issues with the dark paranormal side of my books. I think they are all proud to have a published author in the family though.

Regan: My parents are both dead and my sister is….well never mind. My aunt read Spell Across Time and she’s a former nun who got married twice after that (yeah, they can leave and do that) and she wrote me and said “you have sex in your book.” She hasn’t read any others.

My cousin (who’s in his mid-50’s and works for Barnes & Noble) read Miranda’s Heart –what is now majorly re-written with about 10,000 more words and re-released as Jason’s Accord with eXtasy and he started falling in love with Miranda. He told me so!


CR: They like the fact I’m writing romance more than when I was writing horror. Yep, my family has read my stories and so far they like them. After reading Dirty Little Secret hubby mentioned he wonders what goes through my head sometimes.

Tianna: My sisters have but my mother and I both agree that it’s probably best if she doesn’t read them. LOL

Bonnie: My family are very supportive. My DH hasn’t read anything I’ve written and though I make sure my mom has a copy of everything, she’s never said whether she read them or not. But they tell me how proud they are all the time. That’s more than I could have hoped for when I started this career.

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

Marc: I used to read a lot of books from James Patterson and Lisa Jackson among others. I cant say they influenced me because I don’t write their type of genre.

AJ: I read non stop. I love Rick R. Reed, I think he is a genius. I love the Neil Plakcy “Mahu” series. Victor J. Banis and William Maltese are true heroes and I love Stephani Hecht’s Archangel series and what else? Oh, I love non-sexy authors like Sue Townsend and Mia King. I love many Hawaiian authors such as Armine von Tempski and John Papa I’i.

Stephani: I read three to four books a week, so it would be impossible to name my favorites since there are so many. I like erotica, romance, and crime books. My husband faints when he sees the book bill every month.

Regan: OMG, I’m a total reader! I usually read 3-4 books a week (but don’t tell my publishers that!) Alexander Dumas is my all time, forever favourite. I think his greatest influence is bringing about justice to those who deserved it in very devious ways.

CR: Yes I’m an avid reader. My favorite author is Anne Rice. I’m currently reading the Dune series by Frank Herbert. And I’d say along with Rice another influence of mine would be Stephen King.

Tianna: Oh, yes. I love Christine Feehan, Lynsay Sands, Katie McAllister and more. I only buy authors who are on my auto buy list at this point but it still gives me lost of books to choose from.

Bonnie: Oh yeah. Even during my busiest writing times, I read at least 10 books a week. I read a lot of authors who write paranormal romance, Christine Feehan, Sherryilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian, Lauren Dane... I have a list of some of my favourite authors on the links page on my website.

Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

Marc: I don’t feel their lives take over my life. However I do feel their pain and conflict they go through.

AJ: Kimo and Lopaka are very real to me – my guys from the “Phantom Lover” series. They are always in my head. My boyfriend just told me this morning that I sounded like Kimo when we were discussing going out to dinner to celebrate my news today that I am a finalist for the EPPIE Awards in the GLBT division for my book “Beyond the Reef.”
I guess there’s a little of me in all my characters but I only wish I could be as hot as Kimo! I suggested to my boyfriend we could celebrate in bed. He wants to go to a fine restaurant. He said, “God you sound like Kimo.” So we’ll go to a restaurant and then I better get what I want after that!!


Stephani: When I’m deep into writing one of my novels it does feel like the characters have moved in. They drink all the pop and never pay rent either. LOL Sometimes I get so caught up in their stories that I can’t pull myself away from the keyboard and my house get dirty, the kids are running around like street urchins, and I’m existing on nothing but coffee and Cheetos.

Regan: You mean there are authors who don’t? They eat, drive to work and sleep….well the hot guys don’t exactly SLEEP with me. They are busy doing other delicious things…to me of course.

Honestly, yes, they become a part of the fabric of my life. They do take over. For Nano this year I did the sequel for Jason’s Accord, Amazonia which is Michael LaRosa’s story. I hadn’t thought of Michael as that hot until my editor, Bea, got me thinking about him over the summer. I knew that was the book I was going to do for Nano because I’d been dreaming about it and knew it would flow. Once I got started it flew. What I found though is that Stavin (think Alex O’Laughlin), a secondary character who you actually meet in America’s Hero (Champagne books March 2009) (don’t ask, there is a connection) caught my attention and he quickly started taking over the story. Stavin will have his own story in due time…although the dark haired guy who just wants a woman of his own haunts my dreams on a regular basis. I finished the first draft of Amazonia a week ago, coming in at 73,000 words and put it down to let it simmer and let it unfold a bit more in my mind before starting edits. In the past week I did an edit on His Eyes (Mike Malone’s story from Her Eyes) and a re-write on The Photograph where I’m making some big changes. For the first day it was just fine…then all of a sudden Michael was showing up in my mind almost constantly. Usually they mellow out when they “get the girl” but he’s not relaxing very much.

As to role models – generally my villains have characteristics of people who messed with my life. I use the mean, nasty, vicious things they did to me or people I know for things to happen to my characters. The difference is the characters have happy endings.


CR: My characters tend to stick around with me as I write and sometimes they’ll chatter in my ear as I fall asleep.

Tianna: Most of my heroes are based, in part, on my husband. Gabriel, from Alicia: The Awakening is most like him in personality where Merrick, from Return to Paradise is most like him in physical appearance.

Bonnie: Most definitely. When I’m working on a story, I’m totally involved in their lives, learning about them, their dreams, their worries, the challenges they face. Each book, each character is unique in their own way—at least that’s my hope. I don’t particularly pattern my characters after anyone I know. Like I said, they’re each uniquely their own person with their own lives. I’m just lucky enough to get to write about them.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?I

Marc: I get inspiration, sometimes from dreams, other books, sometimes even TV shows.

AJ: Oh man...everywhere. I hear conversations and I just go. I was at a brunch one day – I rarely go to these things because I think how much time I am taking away from work – but I went and one of my dearest friends was talking about her love for her girlfriend and how she had no idea why God allowed her to be the one to beguile her lover but she was grateful for it each and every day. I asked her for permission to steal the line and I used it and the word in my Kimo and Lopaka book “Beguiled.”

Stephani: Usually I have a character pop into my head and they won’t leave until I tell their story. I use music to inspire me the most.

Regan: I’ve dreamt most of my books. I find for the most part I wake up each morning and another scene is playing out in my mind. I just need to get up early enough to write for an hour before dealing with the day.

CR: The Si’Ludo world started with a dream I had one night. Other stories have been inspired from songs, television and other people.

Tianna: Inspiration can come from anywhere. The idea for Narian Summer came from a stack of large coolers where I work. I stared at them for a long time during a lull while at work. Suddenly, they were no longer coolers but stasis pods.

Bonnie: Like Regan, I’ve dreamt most of my books or at least major turning points or the characters themselves. Music as well really inspires me as well. I found that for the Serenity series, Lacuna Coil and Without Temptation really helped me reach my characters and submerse myself in their stories.

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

Marc: Yes manly because I am a male author and it is hard to write from a female perspective on what she is feeling while being made love to.

AJ: I’m sorry I am a horny guy I guess. I don’t. My only concern is I never want to reproduce a scene. I also use the bedroom as a last resort.

Stephani: I did at first, but it’s getting easier for me. The only time I have trouble is when I’m writing out in public. I always worry about someone reading over my shoulder.

Regan: Sometimes. I’d ahhhh, errr, would rather do them than write them.

CR: Sometimes

Tianna: Sometimes. It just depends on how long it’s been since I wrote a love scene and whether I’m distracted or need a bit of ‘research’. LOL

Bonnie: Oh yes, love scenes are the most labor intensive for me to write. Like in real life, I want the reader to feel the emotion as well as the heat.

What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?

Marc: I would say, One Dangerous Woman. Charlotte Jackson, the heroine is a kick-ass political assassin, but shows her vulnerability in a botched hit.

AJ: Beyond the Reef. It’s quite autobiographical. I love them all...they are all little pieces of me.

Stephani: Since Cam and Amadeaha are my favorite hero and heroine, I would have to pick their book, Angel’s Blood. I have loved Cam since the beginning of the series and I love the way Amadeaha takes care of him. After everything he’s been through he deserves that.

Regan: Oh gosh….America’s Hero these days (but don’t tell Michael or Stavin). Austin Quinn is a Hollywood hottie who plays American Heroes in the movies – so he can be every hero in each of my other books. I love the tag line – He plays America’s Hero, She IS America’s Hero.

CR: My favorite story so far is my work in progress Postponing Eternity, due out in the summer of 2009, which has my favorite hero (JT) and heroine (Calissa). JT and Calissa overcome a lot to be together and were the people in the dream I had which sparked off the whole series.

Tianna: Mia’s Discovery.

Bonnie: The book I’m currently working on is my favourite book. Just like when I work on Two for Twila that will be my favourite book. I can’t choose between them. It’s like choosing between your children. You love them each differently but no less or more than any other.

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

Marc: The hardest book was on that was accepted by an e-pub but then the e-pub went out of business. It was a time travel book where the main character, Ethan Sanders, is transposed to 1865, right at the tail end of the Civil War. I had to do a lot of research to make sure I had my facts right about the war itself.

AJ: The hardest was “My Hawaiian Song of Love” because I wrote it from a woman’s POV. It did very well but I worked very hard at that one.
The easiest was “Shipwreck Bay” which I wrote in a day. I had a lover who cheated on me and it just poured out of me.


Stephani: Captive Angels was really hard to write because that is the one where Cam is taken to Hell and tortured. It was difficult to write those scenes because I could see his suffering and it broke my heart.

The easiest book to write was Angelic Redemption, which is going to be released soon to eXtasy Books. It is the second book with Cam and Amadeaha as the hero and heroine. Their story just flowed for me.

Regan: Right now it’s the Gilded Cage because it’s very dark but it is a story that needs to be told. Easiest would be a tie between America’s Hero and Amazonia.

CR: My favorite story so far is my work in progress Postponing Eternity, due out in the summer of 2009, which has my favorite hero (JT) and heroine (Calissa). JT and Calissa overcome a lot to be together and were the people in the dream I had which sparked off the whole series.

Tianna: Thor’s Hammer was the hardest to write. I think because I was giving a human mate to a god who was already supposed to be mated. The easiest was a toss up between Virgin’s Blood and Alicia: The Awakening because they just seemed to flow out of me. I wrote both full length novels in less than six months.

Bonnie: Right now, the easiest book to write so far has been Taliff’s Cure. I didn’t have a fan base then. I didn’t worry that my loyal fans would be disappointed in my effort. Now, that’s my worry with every new book I write, which makes a book I’m working on the hardest to write every time. I only breathe with relief once the reviews start coming in.

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

Marc: Ethan Sanders because I would love to be able to travel through time.

AJ: I would be Lopaka, married to Kimo. Because they have the kind of love and life I would want to have.

Stephani: I would love to be Rachael. Not only is she a kick-ass archangel, but she can control the weather. It would be cool to have that power.

Regan: Definitely Cass Winter – I’ve always wanted to go up in the space shuttle and the one time I got to fly the F/A-18 simulator was one of the most outstanding events in my life.

CR: The hardest story to write was Holiday Spirits. The easiest stories to write were Dirty Little Secret and Dirty Little Lie (TBR 02.01.2009)

Tianna: Oh, I don’t know. I like Tasha’s strength and Alicia’s determination. I’m not going to say any of the women from one of my ménages. I’m not opening that particular can of worms. LOL

Bonnie: Abby from Sheltering Abby or Eve from Taliff’s Cure. I want to be the kickass woman they ended up being. LOL

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

Marc: If you are talking of going to the future, I would love to go at least 200 years forward just to see how far we have advanced in technology. Presently, we are reaching the Jetsons age minus the space ship. Would we at least have flying cars to travel with one hundred years from now?
If it is the past, for some reason, being it Thanksgiving, I would love to travel to the time when the Pilgrims reached Plymouth Rock.

AJ: I would go to 1893 and convince Queen Lili’uokalani not to abdicate her throne and the Kingdom of Hawaii to the US.

Stephani: I think it would be interesting to go back to the early 1940’s so I could see my grandfather in his Navy uniform. He was aboard the USS Princeton when it sank and his stories about how they survived are just fascinating.

Regan: Ah! Read America’s Hero! It’s all in there!

CR: I’d travel to the time period when the pyramids were built to learn the truth of their construction.

Tianna: I’ve always had an interest in the mid nineteenth century.

Bonnie: I’d travel into the future instead of the past. I want to know how we end up as a people, what our culture will be like 100, 500, 1000 years from now. Will humans have learned that violence and aggression aren’t the answer for everything and is there life out there in the universe besides us? There are so many things I’d like to know... LOL

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

Marc: Sometimes I do and it is classical because it is so soothing.

AJ: Yes, all Hawaiian mostly. Keali’i Reichel, Uluwehi Guerrero and Keola Beamer. My vampire books I write usually to Taj Mahal!! LOL.

Stephani: I have to be listening to music as I write. Not only does it make the time go by smoother, but it helps inspire me. I like Coldplay, One Republic, Rob Zombie, Saving Abel, Buckcherry, to name just a few.

Regan: Sometimes. For Travelling Bride (the first draft which is Rick Hansen’s story from the Bride Series) I was obsessive about listening to all of my Melissa Etheridge CDs. For Mistaken Bride (Kendrick’s story) it was Hero by Enrique Igelses. There is one scene at the end where Mandy realizes why he did what he did and at that moment she falls in love with him. That song was the epitome of that scene.

Otherwise I’m in my own little world.


CR: Most times I do. I have satellite television so depending upon my mood and what I’m writing determines the channel I turn on, either the Spa channel (music that you’d hear in a massage therapy session) or Octane (plays a lot of Alternative). Though, if I’m having trouble with a piece, I’ll work in silence until I get through the rough patch.

Tianna: Sometimes. It varies between classical, romantic, new age and rock and roll.

Bonnie: Definitely. I listen to a lot of alternative or new age or rock when I’m writing. During my downtime it’s country music all the way.

If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?

Marc: Time Eternal, my time travel book. It could be done, because Ethan Sanders shows the folks in 1865, the technology and knowledge he has from 2008.
I would like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaugn from the Wedding Crashers or Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church from the movie Sideways.

AJ: Phantom Lover. Oh...Francesco D’Macho as Kimo and Damien Crosse as Lopaka.

Stephani: I would start at the beginning of the series with Angel Warriors. I think Cam Gigandet would make a great Cam and not just because they share the same name. LOL That actor reminds me a lot of Cam they are both so hot.

Regan: I think America’s Hero and I’d cast Brad Pitt as Austin Quinn and me as Cass Winter! Seriously I’d want Nicole Kidman as Cass.

My friends all think The Spell should be a movie and if that were the case I’d go with Matthew McConaughey as Ryan Matthews, Alex O’Laughlin as Adrian James and Sandra Bullock as Kelly McKenna.


CR: The Mystics right now would be the book of choice and the cast would be as follows: James Scott as Cor ~ (he’s EJ on Days of Our Lives) He’s a handsome dark haired Scot. Daniel Goddard as Gaven ~ (he’s Cane Ashby on The Young and the Restless) Lighten and lengthen his hair a bit and he’d be a nice fit for the character. For Rhys and Rand another author once said he could see Hugh Jackman playing their parts. And my critique partner mentioned Alyssa Milano (Charmed) for the women in the trilogy with wigs to change up the hair colors. And Maggie Gyllenhaal as Avalena in The Redeemer since I liked her work in the movies Secretary and Stranger Than Fiction.

Tianna: I think the Chosen series would make a good movie or movies. Would I be a hussy if I said it would starring me and Gerard Butler? LOL Seriously though, I don’t know who would be a good choice for actors.

Bonnie: The Protector’s Destiny. I think it and the series it’s a part of has the most potential so far for that type of thing. I have no idea who I’d cast though. LOL

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

Marc: I have a book to be released December 15th. It is titled, Fever Black’s Christmas Wish. It is a vampire story and the tag line reads, His greatest Christmas wish was to be normal...Her greatest wish was to join him in immortality.

AJ: I am working on many books – in the Phantom Lover series I am finishing up “The Cannibal King’s Husband.” That is a title I adore. Let’s hope the book lives up to it!

Thanks for the questions, Danny!!


Stepani: After Cam’s books are done, Michael will finally have his story told. I can’t wait for his heroine to bring him to his knees. I also think Michael is long overdo for his HEA. He’s devoted his entire immortal life to leading the angel warriors and he’s never taken anything for himself.

Regan: Always!

For Nano I did Amazonia which is Michael LaRosas’s story – he thought he was in love with Miranda from Jason’s Accord and when Miranda married Jason Michael had a hard time with it and went off in his space shuttle – it takes place 500 years in the future. He crash lands on Amazonia, a planet inhabited by Amazons from Old Earth – the ones who left at the time of Atlantis so they missed the debacle at Troy. I’m about to start my first round of edits on it to get it ready for submission.

The Photograph is a time travel that takes place in nearby Napa, California. When one of Carrie Taylor’s romance heroes shows up in her bed she begins to live her own true life love story. It’s off to a beta reader and I hope to submit it by the end of December

And His Eyes I just finished a serious edit and am looking for a BETA reader to really critique it up and down before I submit it. I hope to also have that one ready to submit by the end of December.

Mistaken Bride and The Spell are both out in submission now so I’m hoping to hear something soon.

Thank you Danny!


CR: I’m currently working on Postponing Eternity the first book in the Si’Ludo Prophesy series due out through Devine Destinies next year and a story for extasy’s tarot series called The Decision based on the Wheel of Fortune tarot card. Information about these stories and others can be found on my website

Tianna: Yes. I’m always working on something. I’m getting ready to release my Christmas story, Return to Paradise, December 1st. I have another more mainstream story, The Prophecy, due to release at Devine Destinies in February. Bonnie and I are working on a new Narian Rebirth story. I’ll soon be starting the fourth Chosen series book and Trouble in Paradise will release sometime next year.

The blurbs are already up for most of them but the new Narian story is about a woman investigator who witnesses a vampire making a kill. The vampire gives chase and she runs to hide in a small town—the very town where a large group of Narians are searching for stasis pods. The question is, will her mates or the vampire find her first?


Bonnie: Of course! I’m working on several things right now. I’m finishing up Serving Sera, my 4th book in the Serenity series which releases in just over a week. I’m also working on a story with Gabriella Bradley due to come out January 15th, Seducing Serena and a story with Tianna Xander, First Caress, the first book in the Kinross Triad series which is scheduled for a February 1st release. Not to mention I’m also editing The Protector’s Jewel the second book in The Protector’s Series scheduled for a January 1st release. As you can see, it’s going to be a very busy next few months.


Thank you for interviewing me and the rest of the Seven Wicked Writers Danny!