Kristin Daniels

It's here, it's here! The cover for Leap of Faith! Isn't it gorgeous? Ellora's Cave's Syneca simply NAILED it. This cover fits the book to a tee. And look -- it's Cavman Alex there on the bed! His bedroom eyes are perfect, as is the rest of him! Sigh. I'm completely in love with this cover!

I'm very excited to tell you all about my soon-to-be-released new book! Leap of Faith will be available through Ellora's Cave Publishing next Friday, October 28th! What's so amazing is that I just finished edits for this book yesterday. I emailed them back to my wonderful editor, and wha la, a couple hours later I have a release date. I'd love to show you a cover, but it's just so brand-spanking (hint, hint) new that I don't have one for it yet! In the meantime, here's the blurb for it and a short excerpt. Enjoy!

Blurb:

When her grandmother bequeaths her a black pearl choker, Mia’s intrigued. Even more mysterious is the note accompanying the gift, telling Mia her heart will know when it’s time to wear the necklace. And it does. As she dresses to attend a company party, Mia is drawn to the choker, somehow knowing it’s time to wear it.

At the party, Mia meets Logan, and their attraction is instant. Only after they go for a walk—and after an unexpected, mind-blowing encounter under the full moon—does Mia learn who he is—the man vying for the same promotion she’s worked so hard to win. Mia flees, with Logan hot on her trail. Once more they give in to their smoldering attraction, afterward discovering the small charm hanging from the choker’s clasp—a charm engraved with a love spell.

Could their sizzling desires be nothing more than a magical push from her grandmother? Or does her heart truly recognize Logan as The One? To find out, Mia will have to take…a Leap of Faith.

Excerpt: 

A moment of silence hung between them, but the feeling wasn’t uncomfortable. He felt like he didn’t need to rush anything with her. So why the hell he blurted out his next words without a second of forethought, he didn’t have the slightest clue.

“I want to kiss you.”

He’d caught her just as off guard with that statement as he’d caught himself. She lifted an eyebrow and held her breath. “What?”

“I know, I know. It’s crazy, right? But ever since you dropped your plate at my feet, I’ve been dying… Your lips… All I can think about is kissing you. It’s as if I’m being…”

“Drawn—” she said.

“Drawn—” he said at the exact same moment. He inched closer, feeling that pull, that crazy tug all at once and everywhere in his body—his head, his heart and places further south. “Yes. It’s…”

“Strong,” she finished.

He nodded. “Strong. Definitely.” No doubt in his mind. He’d never experienced a pull so powerful. His lips itched to take hers. His hands shook so badly with a need to caress her skin, he thought he’d choke. He hardened just from another quick glance at her lips. “Maybe we should—”

“Test it and see…” she offered.

“Yeah, a test.”

He leaned in closer, tentatively, gauging her even though she was the one to suggest they try it out. When she held her ground and didn’t budge, he pressed his lips against hers. They came together softly at first. Then a hunger, an inexplicable craving, overtook him. He couldn’t stop himself from sliding in further on the bench until their bodies collided. Nor could he hold back from wrapping his arms around her.

She grabbed on to him at the same instant. Their mouths opened and their breaths mingled. Tongues slid easily against one another. The kiss was overrunning with passion, full of questions without a single answer in sight.

He cupped her nape, holding her close as he tasted her over and over. And she was right there with him, giving as good as she got, delving deeper and driving him crazier.  God, he could stay like this forever. She kissed him like she was born to, and he couldn’t get enough. 

Have a great weekend!

I posted on Facebook that I would love to share a little of the hot and sexy goodness that I managed to write yesterday, but I was pretty sure the Facebook police wouldn't like it too much. They can be sticklers about stuff like that, yanno. So, I figured what the hell, why not post it here...

* * * * *

“Up,” he ordered. “On the counter.”

Without releasing her grip, she let him lift her to where he wanted her. He held her there, with her ass on the edge of the counter, teetering and unsure, yet eager for anything and everything he had to offer her. He brought his hands between them once again, fingering the string inside the shorts where it lay hidden next to her skin. He met her stare as he pulled the cord slowly, inch by little inch, until it popped free of its bow. She bit at her lower lip and turned her gaze away from his, her heart going haywire as he worked his fingers underneath the waistband of his borrowed basketball shorts.

“No, Laine. Stay here,” he said, bringing one finger to her chin and turning her back.

Oh, she was here. Maybe she was too here. She’d dreamed of this for too long, of him touching her like this, of him calling the shots and taking care of her. Tears stung her eyes again, but not because of any sadness or anger or fear.

“Get out of your head, baby. Just feel this. All of it. Feel me.”

God, she did. She felt him. She felt every touch with a crazy, super-sensitivity she’d never experienced before. She felt his breath hot on her face. His hips nestled between her shaky thighs. The heat dancing from his fingertips as he first loosened the waistband of the shorts, then the fire from them as he skimmed over her belly, heading lower. She felt her wetness coat them as he slicked them between her folds, as he brushed over her clit for the first time.

* * * * *

Hope you have a great, um, day!

Kristin

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Ellora's Cave's RomantiCon rocks. It's simply the best time you can have with your clothes on! And this year was amazing. Truly. I know, I know, I say that every year. I suppose that's because this Con just keeps getting better and better every year. Here's my quick recap:

I drove over to Akron, OH on Thursday. It's not a bad drive in from Chicago, but it is a booooring one. I arrived around 3 or so and waited for my roomies, Mari Freeman and Samantha Kane to arrive. I get to see them only a couple times a year, so there's always lots of hugs and laughter once we get together. The Meet and Greet was held Thursday night. What I love most about the Meet and Greet is getting the chance to reconnect with all the friends I've made in the previous years.

Paige Tyler, Me, Mari Freeman and Kaily Hart at Thursday Night's Meet & Greet

Again, the night was filled with lots of hugs and laughter and, oh... Did I mention Cavemen? Sigh. Yes, there were the Cavemen. I knew Rodney and Angelo, but all the other guys were brand new this year. And I have to apologize to the guys from years before, but this year's guys? They were great. The best. So personable and friendly... and so damn hot.

Johnny B, Ace, Nick, Angelo, Kory, Cole, Georgio and Manuel. Sigh.

Several workshops were held during the day on Friday. I attended a great one held by my editor and the publisher at Ellora's Cave, Raelene Gorlinsky. She talked about the Path to Purchase at EC. Great info for aspiring and current EC authors. Then came the Act it Out workshop. This one is always a ton of fun. Volunteers act out some rather... Well, let's admit it -- we've all written an awkwardly worded sex scene at one point or another. His mouth went where when her body was turned what way?? Kudos to the great "actors" who showed us just how impossible some of those scenes can be.

Me and Kaily Hart at the Stone Age party.

This year's RomantiCon theme was The Time Machine. At Friday night's party, we went way, way back to the Stone Age. I know for a fact that I've never seen that much animal print or fur in one place before. Everyone looked amazing, including, yes, the Cavemen. Loin cloths, anyone?? Again, sigh. After the guys entertained us with some hot performances, we danced the night away, closing down the party at a way-too-early midnight. It was probably for the best, since we all had to get up for more workshops the next morning.

Mari Freeman, Samantha Kane and me with the guys.

Me with Kory and Johnny B

There was a pole dancing class, Cougar Games and a few hypnotherapy sessions to help your writing/muse on Saturday. Then we all went forward in time to the Future Party and Awards on Saturday night. Sci-Fi and Steampunk and fire dances, oh my! The night flew by, we were all having so much fun.

Cole. Sigh.

Sunday brought the workshop Mari, Samantha and I put together. The Games for Grown-Up Girls workshop was exactly what it sounds like -- a few of your favorite childhood games sexified. We gave away some great gifts: books, fun party favors and even some naughty candies. We're going to have to come up with something pretty great for next year to top the fun we had this year.

Me, Rodney, Samantha Kane, Angelo and Mari Freeman after the bingo party.

The whole event wrapped up Sunday night with the pajama bingo party. Rodney and Angelo did a great job hosting the night. What's better than two sexy men who are funny, too? I was sad to see the weekend come to an end. All too soon Monday rolled around and it was time to head home. And here it is, Friday morning, and I'm still missing everyone. I suppose I should have it figured out by now -- it takes a long, long time to come down from EC's RomantiCon high. I, for one, can't wait until next year.

Kristin

The best convention of the year, that is. Yep, Ellora's Cave's RomanitCon is happening next week! 

The fun begins Thursday, Sept 29th with a Meet & Greet party, and continues on until the whole shebang wraps up on Sunday night with a game (or more) of pajama bingo. In between times are some great workshops, a sexy, ahem, Sexporium -- which includes an author book signing, performances by the Cavemen and even a few burlesque and pole dancers -- all topped of with some of the best nighttime parties you'll find anywhere. 

And I'm getting in on the action, too! Mari Freeman, Samantha Kane and I are hosting the Games for Grown-Up Girls workshop on Sunday morning from 10-11. And yes, this is just what it sounds like. Take a few of your favorite childhood games, sexify them, and what have you got? You've got: Pin the C@ck on the Cover Model (hold on girls, not a REAL cover model!), Shake That Thang! (think c@ck fighting, with a twist), and Blow for a Book (balloon animals like you've never quite seen before). They'll be hot little prizes, maybe even one or two hot BIG prizes :). Come (again, ahem, LOL) join in on the fun!!

I honestly can't wait for the fun we're all going to have, to see the great friends I've made in the previous years, and to just hang out with other lovers of erotic romance. Look for blog posts coming soon -- I'll be posting pictures (and maybe a few stories) from next weekend!

Kristin

It's September, folks. For a lot of us that means back to school, the end of hot summer days as the first signs of fall start to appear, and , let's face it, getting ourselves in the mindset of winter arriving along with the upcoming holidays.

But for me, September means even more. September, you see, is World Alzheimer's Month.

I've talked before about my mom, and how she's afflicted with this horrible disease. What I've probably never mentioned before is that her mother had it as well, as did my grandfather on my dad's side.

I'm not going to lie, the fact that so many in my family have suffered through this scares me to death. Is it hereditary? Yes, it can be. Will I get it? Will my kids? I have no clue.

We talk about this quite a bit in my family--honestly, with something like this, you have to. But I'm doing even more. Not only is September World Alzheimer's Month, but here in Chicago, it's also our month to host the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Bradley Cooper in his purple Alzheimer's shirt.

I have my own team this year, in honor of my mother and my grandparents. Next Sunday, come rain or shine, I'll be down at Montrose Harbor, ready to walk my little heart out. So many of my family and friends -- even some writing friends whom I've never met -- have donated to my walk. My heart has has been touched so many times. It's hard for me to express how much everyone's support means to me. I've cried happy, yet sad, tears more than once through this experience.

So, as I gear up for the Walk, remember you can help, too. Awareness is critical. Let's all GO PURPLE on Sept 21st!!

And let's also hope that very, very soon, scientists will find a cure for his terrible disease!

Kristin

I'm pretty sure I jinxed myself this week. Everything was going along great -- the kids are back in school, I had the house to myself, ideas were flowing and my fingers were flying on the keyboard. Monday and Tuesday totally rocked. Then, on Tuesday night, feeling all uppity about myself, I posted on Facebook: So this whole everyone back to school thing has done wonders for my word count totals

Innocent enough, right? I was just so thrilled that I'd had 2 really good writing days -- in a freaking row. 

Aaaaand -- wait for it -- here comes the jinx part. 

I never should've said anything. Even as I typed that happy little innocent post, I said to myself, Now watch, this is going to blow the rest of the week. 

And yeah. It pretty much did. So far, anyway. 

In all fairness, the scene I've been working on since Wednesday morning has been a touchy one. A confession scene, and not just a one-sided one. Both the hero and heroine have something to get off their chests. But, oh dear writing gods: Come on!

I'm not really a superstitious person. Not like, say, my grandmother was. She'd see a chair rocking with no one in it and FREAK. (Side story: One time, my mother walked into their house carrying a garden hoe -- why? I honestly have no idea, lol -- My grandmother made her walk out of the house backwards so she would take all the bad "whatever" back out with her the way she came. Weird, right?) So why is it that every time I say I'm going to write such-and-such amount of words today, that I end up struggling to get even 10? That if I post on FB or Twitter that Today I'm going to finish this chapter, scene, whatever, that that's a sure-fire indication there's no way in HELL that will ever happen? 

I want to talk about my writing, I really do. But man, maybe I just shouldn't. Not until after the fact. Anyone else feel this way? Or am I alone in my semi-superstitious nuttiness? 

Anyway, here's me, off to do... Well, maybe something today. Maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see, right?

Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone!!

Kristin

Summer, that is.

I can't believe how fast it's gone. Mine started that first weekend in June at the Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Together. That was such a fun weekend, full of seeing old friends and making new ones. Here's the Ellora's Cave group of authors (I'm in the back row, in pink):

Then came our annual Florida trip in late June. We stayed in a new location this year, which was gor-ge-ous. But the trip was chock full of, well... Let me put it this way. 2 tickets on the drive down, courtesy of the state of Kentucky (one for hubby and another for our daughter who drove her own car), coming thisclose to getting thrown up on by a child at a public rest stop, a car accident in downtown Birmingham (NOT my fault, and we were all okay!), chipping a crowned tooth on -- get this -- a piece of frozen dark chocolate, all ending with our daughter locking her keys in her car mere minutes before leaving for the fifteen hour ride home. Sigh. But all of that was mixed in with hot weather, constant sun, and wonderful times with amazing family and friends. When I look at it like that, it definitely makes all that other stuff we went through so very much worth it.

The view from our balcony.

My daughter's boyfriend fished quite a bit while we were down there.Here I am, petting one of the sharks he caught moments before we put him back in the water. Cool, huh?

And then there was July and August. Where the heck did they go? Most of the time was spent doing this or that, getting some writing in whenever I could and generally just trying to enjoy the summer. I've spent a lot of time with my husband out where we keep our RV, finally working on the landscaping and enjoying some alone time with him now that the kids are older and don't want to go out there too much any more (Is it bad for me to say that that's just fine with me? LOL).

And now, here we are, days away from September and the beginning of fall. School has already started (YAY!), and I'm working on getting myself back into my fall/winter writing routine. I have the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's coming up mid-September that I participate in (in honor of my mother and grandmother), then, on the lighter side, I'm attending the Ellora's Cave's RomantiCon convention at the end of the month. I'm so looking forward to that! It's one convention that truly stands apart from all the others I attend every year. Other than that, it's just writing, writing, writing -- hopefully mixed with a release or two in there somewhere!

I hope your summer was just as relaxing and/or as fun as mine was. Here's to everyone having a stellar fall, and a productive winter. Hmmm... Is it spring yet?

Kristin

You know, you gotta love it when an idea works.

Yesterday, I was sitting at my computer working on my latest book (which at the time involved a lot of me staring at the screen and thinking), when an idea of what I should do next popped into my head. It just hit me, WHAM, and I thought to myself, "Ohhh, I like this." And the more I thought on it, the more this little idea grew into a bigger one which tied in with a scene that will happen later in the book.

It's funny, because the idea was a little one, not a plot twist or a big to-do in the book. It was just something to move the story forward. And the fact that I can now swing it back around to touch on it later, well, it just made me very happy.

That's what I love so much about this career I've chosen. Little ideas can turn into big ones, or they can stay small and work perfectly right where they're supposed to. Writing, for me, is one surprise after another and I love waking up each day not knowing what my writing will give me.

Kristin (who is anxiously awaiting her writing surprise of the day...!)

Hmmm, my last "Is it hot in here" post centered mostly around the images I have in my head of my hero from a current WIP. This time though, I'm here to tell you that I'm melting. Literally melting. Into a big puddle on the floor.

Yep, we've been having a heat wave, baby. With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees and heat indices even higher across most of the US, everyone's sweating their buns off, and not necessarily in a good way. I've been battling the hot weather by pretty much staying inside--which translates into me working, working, working. Okay, maybe just two of those workings! A girl needs to chill (no pun intended!) once in a while, right?

But relief is on the way--storms are 'a-rolling through. Let's hope they cool things off just a little. I'm not ready for fall just yet, but being able to actually breathe when I go outside would be a welcome change!

So, here's to cooling off -- however you choose to do it!

Stay cool, and be careful out there if you can't!

Kristin