Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Kickoff Blog Hop: Sensual Reads, CataRomance, Single Title


Greetings one and all!
Before we get started today, let me first thank the ladies at Sensual Reads and CataRomance, Single Title and CataNetwork Reviews for creating such a fantastic way to start of the summer, and a special congratulations on the revamp and updates to your sites.

The reviewers at Sensual Reads bestowed the best news an author can have not that long ago about Ink Master, Ellora's Cave Taboo,
http://sensualreads.com/?page_id=8812, tied winner for Best BDSM for 2011! It was a delight and an honor and it's thrilling to be part of their relaunch blog hop.

Now that you're here, I hope you'll stay for a little while, have a look around at my new blog and previous blog posts, but more so, that you'll have fun during the blog hop. You'll discover there are dozens of excellent authors and blog groups participating and there are plenty of prizes in store.

For more information about the Summer Kick Off Blog Hop, try these links: http://sensualreads.com/
http://cataromance.com/ or http://singletitles.com/

Celebrating the CataNetwork relaunch are the following authors:

1. Alice Anderson 22. Heather for Rebecca Sinclair (INT)
2. Leila Brown 23. A.J. Llewellyn
3. Cynthia Eden 24. Dominique Eastwick
4. Emily Heisler 25. Cinsearae S.
5. Elise Hepner 26. Helen Hardt
6. Sascha Illyvich 27. The Wiccan Haus Series
7. Ali Atwood 28. Jessica Frost
8. C.H. Admirand 29. Amber Kallyn
9. Tory Richards 30. Ann Montclair
10. Deborah Macgillivray 31. Jude Liebermann
11. Linda Kage 32. Leslie C. Ferdinand
12. Avril Ashton 33. Nara Malone
13. Novelist Johnny Ray 34. Vijaya Schartz
14. Amy Romine, Suspense for the Romantic Heart 35. Frances Stockton
15. Cassandra Carr 36. Sara Daniel Romance Author (INT)
16. Lee Ralaine 37. Kacey Hammell
17. Adriana Kraft 38. Author Fierce Dolan - Writing Utopia
18. ttq, pat potter, lynn kerstan, anne stuart, maggie 39. Natasha Blackthorne
19. Sue Swift/Suz deMello 40. Sierra Dafoe
20. S. Dora 41. Nancy DiMauro
21. Nancy Gideon 42. Karen Kennedy Samoranos
My understanding is that each author or site has their own blog post, check them out, enjoy and participate in the contests offered. You're sure to have a great time, find new authors for your summer reading list, and what better time to read than at the beach or lounging in the mountains or sitting on your porch with a margarita and some 'you time' away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.

As this is the Summer Kickoff Blog Hop, I thought what better topic to post about than summer reading! This year, especially with the dawn of interest in all things BDSM related with thanks to E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey series, it seems that adult women are becoming invested and interested in what's been called Mommy Porn. Now this term can be seen in a negative light, or it can be seen in a positive one. What's wrong with women enjoying a well-written, sensually charged, sexy book and not being ashamed to admit it?

While I'm a huge fan of the Kindle, and any ebook reader for that matter, the primary reason for my enjoying my Fire is entertainment and a place to take many books with me during summer travels. Car trips, a big family vacation, day trips to the zoo, visiting family and friends, all provide opportunities to read. After all, Stephen King himself has said, " “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”

I've had many great jobs in my life, from working in hospital pharmacy delivering necessary medications for patients, taking care of animals as a Vet Tech, and teaching Social Studies to sixth and seventh graders in Baltimore, MD, but nothing has been as rewarding as writing. Now that I'm published with Ellora's Cave, with eight books and more coming soon, it's been a dream come true.

With thanks to reviewers like Sensual Reads, my hotter romances, Quarterback Blitz, Field of Play, and Ink Master have gotten excellent reviews and my latest m/m for Ellora's Cave Spectrum has also gotten great nods from reviewers and readers alike. But I've always believed reading is the key to good writing.

So now that we've got that taken care of, let's talk summer reading! What books are on your summer reading list and why? What authors are your go-to 'must have' books for your Kindle, Nook, or beach bag?

I've honestly not decided if I'll read Fifty Shades of Grey and the subsequent books, not because I have anything against the author, I actually congratulate E.L. James on her success and wish her well, but there are many authors of BDSM Erotic Romance and Erotica for women that I also admire and intend to read over the summer. Books by Joey W. Hill, the original Story of O, research books for my hotter BDSM works, and books on magic and illusion are on tap for me this summer. Every book is for fun and every book is a learning experience. Also, if you like D/s works of Erotica or Erotic romance, there's an excellent article in the latest Romantic Times Booklovers Reviews magazine featuring authors of the BDSM subgenre and recommended reads.

There are also books by some of my favorite authors, Karen Rose, J.R.Ward's next Fallen Angel book, any and all Romantic Suspense that I can find, and sensual Historical Romances are on my reading list. Hopefully, I'll have time to read them all.

Of course it would be lovely if you'd add one of my books to your summer reading list. If interested in learning more about them, check out my author page at Ellora's Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-527-frances-stockton.aspx

All books are available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, All Romance Ebooks, Sony and several third party vendors.
Seductive Persuasion, Rhiannon's Pride (books 1&2 of my Historical/Paranormal Panthera series for Ellora's Cave Blush, formerly Cerridwen Press) are available in trade paperback and ebook formats.

Likewise, Quarterback Blitz, Ellora's Cave Sophisticate, is also available in print and ebook.
Other titles in the Panthera series include Sea Captain's Ghost and Arrington's Claim, are in ebook/digital formats at all venues mentioned above.

Field of Play, Ink Master and Playing Doctor, all EC Romantica titles, are available in ebook/digital.

But as much as it would be nice, I hope you'll go back up to the top of this page and check out all the books by all the authors participating in the blog hop. It's time to kick off summer in a huge way.

On that note, here's your opportunity to win either your choice of an Amazon.com giftcard sent to you via email or an Ellora's Cave giftcard sent to you via email or two digital copies of any book mentioned in the list above. This contest prize is open to all participants with access to Amazon, Ellora's Cave, or if you're blog hopping from around the globe, perhaps the two digital copies of my books will do the trick?

Okay, right here on my blog, comment and let me know what books are on your summer reading list! The list does not have to include one of my books, be honest, have fun, share what intrigues you most. Sometimes the greatest summer reads are the unexpected ones.

It's that easy to be entered into the random drawing. The contest winner's name will posted at the close of the contest. Contest dates: 6-5-2012 until 6-10-2012 (ll:59pm EST). Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you!

If you're on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Pinterest follow or friend me at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/frances.stockton
http://www.twitter.com/francesstockton
http://pinterest.com/francesstockton/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/116658666269819608114#116658666269819608114/about

You can also check out my website and web blog, http://www.francesstockton.com/blog/ for updates on upcoming releases. And, big news is coming soon! Stay tuned.

Have fun, leave a comment right here on this blog, let me know what books are on your summer reading list, and you're entered in the random drawing.

Until next time,
Frances Stockton









23 comments:

  1. I am so glad you like my review of your great book, Ink Master. You really deserved the award for such a great book!

    Candy Bezner

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  2. I have so many books on my summer read, it would take me forever to tell you my TBR list. I usually read about one book a day. I can tell that tonight I'm starting One Wet Summer by Ann Montclair.
    Your books sound interesting. I'm going to have to put them on my TBR list.
    janna@jannashay.com

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  3. Candy, it was an honor to receive such a great review and award.

    Janna, sounds like an awesome book, I'll add it to my TBR list, too. Thank you for participating and the compliment. Good luck!

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  4. I have quite a long TBR list, but I'm very excited for Jeaniene Frost's new release Once Burned!
    I'll be adding your books to my TBR list now :)
    laceyblossom1@gmail.com

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  5. Thanks for sharing, Lacey. Will add that one to my list, too. It's definitely growing.

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  6. right now I am in the process of reading J R Wards Blackdagger Brotherhood series and am on book 6. I absolutely love them! Thanks for the giveaway. Gale pgan427@yahoo.com

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  7. I love, love, love all of J.R. Ward's books, especially the Brotherhood! They are my must haves the moment they hit the shelves. Thanks for commenting!

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  8. Congrats on Ink Master!

    I don't read anything different during the summer, what ever looks/sounds good I read. I am looking forward to Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris and Magic Blade by Ilona Andrews.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  9. One of my "auto-buy" authors is Cherise Sinclair. She writes great BDSM romances. Super Alpha Doms and fiesty subs. My Kindle is filled with her stories.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  10. Another author I'll add to my growing list of TBRs. Thank you!

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  11. Tara Lain's BEACH BALLS is on my list, and so is Arne Bellstorf's graphic novel BABY'S IN BLACK. And those are just a couple...

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  12. Excellent! Thank you for commenting.

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  13. The Lion's Den: Knights of the Darkness Chronicles by D.N. Simmons and Beach Balls by Tara Lain. There are more but I just had a brain hiccup!

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  14. Hi, Frances...you're a 'new to me' author...nice to meet you! Your books look VERY good...I'm gonna have to throw them in my TRB pile too! A few already there are Gena Showalter's, The Darkest Surrender and The Darkest Seduction, Bianca Sommerland's, Game Misconduct and Defensive Zone and Pamela Palmer's, Ecstasy Untamed. Thx for the AWESOME giveaway op! :)

    barbbattaglia @ yahoo.com

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  15. Thanks for the contest, interesting site.
    I'm reading,Surrender to the Devil,byLorraine Heath. ;-)
    Deb P
    r.d1@myfairpoint.net

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  16. I've joined Goodreads recently and my reading list has EXPLODED! :) There is a new Lorelei James book I'm excited about but really I've just been reading a lot of Laurann Dohner, Olivia Cunning, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn - quite the mix!


    brunettelibrarian AT gmAil . c0m
    The Brunette Librarian Blog

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  17. My summer reading list is growing daily!! I have many authors that I will be reading such as: Bianca Sommerland, Lorelei James, Lenore Elliott, Mari Carr, Cari Silverwood, Sylvia Day, and so many more. Thanks for being on the hop!
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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  18. Thank you so much for commenting, everyone! Apologies for the late response, been doing family stuff and on a date with my hubby.

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  19. Great post. I love reading on my Kindle too. Though mine is just a regular Kindle, not the fire. :)
    I have a GIANT TBR list! And of course I will be adding some of yours to the list, especially Ink Master! Some of the others that I have on my list are The Immoral Rules by Julie Kagawa and her Iron Fey Series, Bound to Seduction and Enratpured by Elisabeth Naughton, The Saint and The Cheif by Monica McCarty, Nobody's Perfect by Kallypso Masters, The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter...I could go on forever! Those are just some to name a few. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
    trb0917 at gmail.com

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  20. Hello everyone! Now that the Summer Kickoff Blog Hop has come to a close, it's time to announce the winner. Courtesy of a random drawing, if Barbara, email address barbbataglia @ yahoo dot com can give me a shout at francesstockton569@gmail.com, that'd be great. You are the winner, Barbara! In your email, let me know which prize you'd like. See the blog post to chose.

    Thank you very, very much to all who commented. I hope you have an excellent summer filled with great books and relaxation.

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  21. I'm sorry I couldn't give something to everyone. I'm very grateful for the participation. Stay tuned, more contest opportunities are coming soon.

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