Help! My Series Needs a Name!

Hello My Friends!

As you may know, I am currently working on a steamy four-book series (with a novella thrown in for good measure). The one thing this series needs is a great name. For some reason, I am having a seriously hard time choosing just the right one. I'm looking for something romantic, sexy and fun. 

Here's what our team came up with so far:

Fall Into You 

Full Hearts 

Ever After

Please vote on your favourite or suggest a new one if something comes to mind!

Thank you in advance for your help! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend so far!

All the best,
MJ

WIN a $50 iTUNES Gift Card with MJ's Steamy Reads Featuring the Incredible Lee Moore

Hello All!

I am sitting outside at our patio table in the shade, getting a little writing done, and feeling completely blissful surrounded by the beautiful weather, the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze and the birds singing. I hope you get some time to enjoy all the best that this season has to offer, as well. 

To shake things up a bit, I'm giving away an iTunes Online Gift Certificate for $50 this month, so make sure to enter!

MJ's Steamy Read for June is a wonderful novel, Just Friends, written by the wonderful Lee Moore. Lee is not only a talented writer, but an amazing friend too. Lee has been a huge support for me from the start, so now it's my turn to return the favour!

For your chance to win like Lee on Facebook and/or follow on Twitter on the links below!

Just Friends is an absolutely engrossing and steamy love story that I found myself thoroughly lost in. I hope you will love it as much as I did! 

All the best,

MJ

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Friends

Re-Released with 6 additional chapters! 

Have you ever wondered what if? 

A Freak Ice storm took the power out in much of the area, but when it comes back on, Andy checks his social media account to find the only girl he's ever truly loved asking for help. Of course he has to help, doesn't he? 

Twenty years ago, she stood him up for the homecoming dance. He is willing to help her out, and maybe, just maybe; the two of them can have a second chance together. 

Watch as he falls in love all over again, and gets more than he bargained for. 

This story is for a mature audience of 18+ for language and sexual situations. Approximately 31k words and NOT part of any series :) 

This is an erotic romantic story that was influenced by real life events, a power outage and too many hours watching Christmas movies.

About Lee Moore: 

Hello everyone! I write mainly erotic romance and erotica in various themes. Most of my stories are explicit in nature at some point (but not all..) so I want to warn you in advance!

Many of the themes I portray are things that interest me in real life; menage's, exhibitionism, light BDSM and Dom/Sub themes.

MJ's Steamy Reads Features the Extraordinary Aly Martinez!

Hello All!

In order to make up for the long delay in releasing Breaking Love, I am featuring a new author each month until November. They all write steamy romance novels that have made me swoon, so I'm betting that you will love them, too! As promised, I will be hosting Rafflecopter giveaways of $25 Amazon Gift Cards, and I'm starting it right now!

This month, I am excited to bring you two books written by my wonderful friend, the very talented Aly Martinez. And let me tell you about Aly—she knows great sex.

Her first book, Changing Course, came out in January, and she has quickly followed up with her second novel, Stolen Course (coming out May 21st!). They are books one and two of her three-part Wrecked and Ruined Series. (No cliffhangers here, just three fabulous stories!).

To enter the drawing for the Amazon Gift Card or 1 of 5 e-copies of Changing Course:

Like Aly on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyMartinez  

and/or follow her on Twitter here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyMartinezAuth

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)

**Each book in this series can be read as a stand alone.**

I met Sarah Kate Erickson when I was twenty-one years old. I was lucky enough to keep her for seven years before a tragic accident stole her from me. She didn’t die, but sometimes I think it would have been easier if she had. 

I lived in a haze for those four years after the accident. Catering to her every need, even though she hated the very sight of my face. I tried to hold on to her and the future that we were supposed to build together. But you can’t hold on to someone that doesn’t exist anymore.

It wasn’t until I met Jesse Addison, a barista at the local coffee shop, that I realized I didn’t just lose Sarah that tragic night, I lost myself as well. Jesse taught me how to let go of the past and learn to love again.

But what happens when your past haunts your present and the woman you used to love refuses to accept the woman you can’t live without?

Buy Links: (Will be 99c until the 22^nd)

Amz: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2FHKGM
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00I2FHKGM
BN: http://bit.ly/1iG4JNi

Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)

**Each book in this series can be read as a stand alone.**

I fell in love with Manda Baker eight years ago, and I loved her to the core of her soul. We were supposed to have that elusive happily ever after and spend a lifetime together. But that was all before she was STOLEN from me. 

Her best friend, Sarah Erickson, killed her. It wasn’t intentional. It was far worse. Everyone claims it was just an accident, but I can see through the lies. Even if it’s with my dying breath, I will make her pay for what she did. 

Fate hates me. It robbed me of my first love and left me to navigate through this world emotionless and numb. Then, one day, spiteful fate gave me a woman to fill my shattered soul and make me feel again. It gave me Emma Jane Erickson. Now I spend my days searching for the answers that will ruin Sarah and my nights falling in love with her sister—the one person who is bound and determined to save her. 

But what happens when everything you know to be true explodes around you? Who will be left to pick up the pieces, and who will need to be saved from the wreckage?

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19169739-stolen-course

Buy it Here!: AMAZON.COM               http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KF2SCWQ
                    AMAZON.CO.US            https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KF2SCWQ
                   BARNES AND NOBLE    http://bit.ly/1gHBFe0

Here are a couple of Stolen Course teasers to whet your appetite...

About Aly

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyMartinez

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyMartinezAuth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AlyMartinez

Writer's Block: 6 Ways to Get Your Characters to Speak to You Again

Hello All!

Yesterday I received an email from a fellow writer asking what I do when I have writer's block. Once I finished the answer, I thought I might as well blog it in case it helps anyone else. So here are the 6 things I do when my characters stop speaking to me...

When I'm stuck I generally do one of the following: 

1) Go for a long walk. I like to be out in nature with my dog, so I take her to the woods where I can really be alone with my thoughts. I try not to think about the book for a while, but just let my mind wander.Eventually I start daydreaming about the story until it picks up where I left off. 

2) Re-read what I've written. From start to finish. I helps me connect with the characters and ask myself if what I have them doing is realistic for each of them. Can people relate to it? Is there something I don't like about the story that is getting me stuck? This also helps if I have lost confidence in what I'm doing. I might have started having doubts about the story, my ability to write, etc. Going back over it allows me to see that I do like what I've written so far and that I can do this.

3) Read blogs about writing/writers block, etc. If you check out my tweets, I've sent quite a few links to blogs that were really helpful to me. 

4) Move On in the Story. Skip the part you are on and write a scene that will come later in the book (and that you know what is going to happen). This can help because you are still making progress. With my second book I had to do this a couple of times. I wrote myself into a real corner and it took me a while to figure out how to get out of it. 

5) Leave it for a while. Maybe a day or so. Do non-writing things. Clean out a closet, go out with friends, do yoga, cook a great meal. Getting rid of some project that I have hanging over my head can help to clear the space it takes up in my mind so I can get back to writing. Doing things I enjoy relieves stress, which helps the process flow again when I am ready to sit back down. 

6) Have a Little Faith. Trust that the ideas will come flooding back in very soon. They will. You started writing because you have a story to tell. You'll finish it. Worrying about writer's block only serves to block your mind and take your thinking from the creative right brain to the lower level thinking of the amygdala, which is what we use when we are in fight or flight. Ever heard of an author writing a novel while being chased by a bear? Me neither.

So believe that you'll get back into the groove any minute now. Have a glass of wine (or a tea if that's your thing). Be confident. The story is already in you. When you relax it will come out. 

And that's about it. Post your comments below if you have any tips to share with others. I'd love to hear from you!

All the best to you and yours,
MJ

Some Exciting News from the Desk of MJ

I’m excited to share the first details of a big announcement with you.

I have been incredibly fortunate to be offered a four book deal with HarperCollins Canada!

With the deal in the works, it means that Breaking Love will sadly be later than I had hoped. I promise that you will have it in your hands by the end of November 2014. 

I have been working on a little something special for you this summer that I hope will make up for the long wait. (Here’s a hint: it’s Ben and Alicia’s story, called Don’t Let Go, and it’s about their sweet, hot lifelong love.) I am SO excited to fill you in on the whole story in May. 

Please keep checking back with me, as I will be hosting some fun giveaways in the months to come!

I wish you all the best this spring,

MJ

The Importance of Body Language

Happy Spring Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted anything so I thought it was about time that I got on it. I have some exciting news to share with you in a couple of weeks, but for now I was thinking about some of the little things that keep romance alive regardless of how long you've been with someone, how old you get or how big your thighs might be.

I'm writing this for women but the advice goes both ways (except maybe the part about the lip gloss). I'm not trapped in 1950 assuming that only the woman is responsible for pleasing her man. If you've regularly read my posts, you'll recall that I've written a few aimed at men and how they can up their game. Keeping each other happy is of the utmost importance when it comes to the longevity of any relationship.

When people are together for a while, they sometimes forget to keep up with all of those tiny acts of love that had your motor running hot when you were first together.  Here's a list of 5 to work on. I guarantee they'll bring back that lovin' feeling...

1. Eye Contact - When is the last time that you gazed into your fella's baby blues? I mean really gazed into them, noticing the little flecks of colour within, the size of his pupils, his eyelashes lowering as he blinks? Often it's easy for people to go days or weeks even without really looking at each other. We might be talking with each other as we sit side by side in the car or on the couch, or while we are cooking and doing other important tasks, but we don't actually look at each other. So take some time this week to sit facing each other while you eat a meal or have a coffee or just have a talk. Put away the handheld screens and look at each other. Even if it's just for a minute each day, you'll notice that it makes a huge difference in how close you feel. 
2. Touching - Take some time to flirt with your body. Give him a big hug or a lingering kiss before he heads out the door (or when he comes in), touch his arm, lazily run your fingertips over the back of his hand, etc. Touching feels good for everyone, men included. This is just one little way you can make him feel adored. 
3. Smile - Remember when you first were together and you're face used to light up when you saw him? Yet, do that. Smile at him often as you go through your day or evening together, especially when you greet each other. Give him that look that shows him he's the only one for you. 
4. Play up your (ahem) Assets - Ditch the flannel pajama bottoms (I'm talking to myself here) and put on something a little more flattering. You can still be comfortable (yoga pants, anyone?) but try to show off what you've got when you are hanging around the house. Throw on a little lip gloss when you think of it, maybe that perfume that drives him wild, then make sure you need to accidentally-on-purpose reach something on the other side of him so he gets a nice whiff. 
5. Lean In and/or Tilt Your Head - Both of these subtle forms of body language show that we are interested in the other person and are engaged in what they are saying. Really focus on him and not what else is happening in the room (unless, of course, you have a child who is playing with matches or there is some other urgent issue to deal with). Listen to him the same way you want to be listened to. 

Now, there's your spice-things-up homework for the next couple of weeks! I hope it is helpful and that you'll have fun with it!

Wishing you a hot spring,
MJ

Sephora Giftcard Giveaway with Emma Lauren

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Valentine's Day from fellow author Emma Lauren and myself! 

Enter now to win a $50 or $25 Sephora Giftcard and get yourself a little treat! 

Click here to buy a copy of Emma's Smokin' Hot Book WHEN IT'S LOVE (It's one of my favourite sexy reads!)  http://tinyurl.com/mc7v6ty