Guest Post with Author Erin Nicholas and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Erin Nicholas. Erin is currently on tour promoting her book Anything You Want and has stopped by today to chat. Before I give the floor to Erin, lets get to know her a bit.

I've been reading romance since my mom first let me into her book cupboard when I was about fourteen.  LaVyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood, Debbie Macomber... they took my 'happily ever after' ideas from animated princesses to real people in the real world.

I've been writing romance almost as long. Many a family car trip was spent with my head bent over a spiral notebook in the back seat. I'll confess that my very first attempts at fiction were fantasy and paranormals, influenced by my father's love of the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the original Alice in Wonderland. If Harry Potter had been around, I'm sure he would have been on the bedtime story shelf as well.

But it wasn't long until I started writing about true love and that's where I've been ever since.

I'm so thrilled to be able to share these stories with you! I hope that they make you smile, sigh, maybe even choke up a little. Most of all, I hope that they help you believe in magical things like first kisses, the spark of passion, and the power of true love.

Places to find Erin:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Love and Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I really like opposite attract stories—probably because I’m living one with my hubby of eighteen years… but that’s a blog post for another time.

But what is so attractive about opposites attract stories? Well, I like to think of it like chocolate covered pretzels.

That’s right.

Oh, first the disclaimer: I really do believe anything can be improved by putting chocolate on it.

Now I’m not going to try to convince you that chocolate covered pretzels are the best snack ever or anything.

I mean, there’s always chocolate covered coffee beans, chocolate covered popcorn, chocolate covered peanuts—okay, you get the idea. But the pretzels are worth some attention.

What makes them so good? It’s the combination of salty and sweet of course.

I would tell you that if I ate one hundred pretzels I’d be pretty tired of them by the end. Same with Hershey kisses. Hey, I like kisses as much as anyone, but one hundred? I think I’d be sick.

But one hundred chocolate covered pretzels. Yes, I could do that. The salty and sweet balance each other, making them not too dry, too salty, or too sweet. Just right and hard to get enough of.

Much like a great relationship.

Let’s say the “salty” in the relationship is a sassy girl who’s had a few tough breaks. She’s been on the road, trying to make her music passion into a career without much luck. Then a girls trip to Jamaica and too much rum results in a one-night stand that leads to a drained savings account, maxed out credit cards and… morning sickness.

This girl needs a little sweet in her life, right?

Enter a guy who loves his hometown so much that he’s stayed and is now the co-owner and chef of the popular local restaurant. He also loves his adopted family so much—especially his brother—that he’s willing to do anything to keep the salty, sassy woman away so she can’t break his brother’s heart… again.

Well, as you might expect, the salty and sweet make a pretty great combination that neither can get enough of.

I think that’s the best part of the opposites attract situation. The two people bring out the good in each other and help tone down the parts that are a little too much.

Our sweet hero shows the salty heroine that she doesn’t have to do it all on her own and that being salty can be something to be admired. The heroine takes in his sweetness but also shows him that a little spice is nice.

When I think of stories like this I think of one of my favorite movies of all time—Pretty Woman. If you’ve seen it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Vivian’s a prostitute, Edward is a rich executive. They definitely don’t see eye to eye on many things, but they also bring out the best in each other.

As far as books go, there are two of my all-time favorites that come to mind and both are by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Heaven, Texas and Nobody’s Baby But Mine. If you haven’t read these books, do yourself a favor and go straight to Amazon.com right now!

So, what do you think of opposites attract stories? Or covering things in chocolate? =)

Don’t underestimate the importance of keeping chocolate handy for lots of reasons!


Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never wanted…

It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her musical dream, she’s stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined credit history—and morning sickness.

Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent streak and calls the only person who won’t hang up on her. Luke, the man she left behind.

Marc Sterling’s first instinct is to protect his business partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think she’s talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite direction.

When he shows up at her hotel room, there’s something in the air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart mouth—and purple panties—still drive him crazy, but now it’s a different kind of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest airport.

And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she’ll only say “I do”, Marc realizes he’s just crazy enough—about her—to forget whose heart he wanted to protect.

Warning: Contains two people who don’t like each other very much, a Toyota that can’t quite handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And foreplay with—what else—pie filling.

Places to Purchase:

| Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

Check out the other books in Erin's Anything & Everything series:

Click on cover for more info.

Want to win some goodies from Erin? Check out what's up for grabs.

Up for grabs:

• 1 lucky commenter will win an eBook copy of any of Erin's backlisted titles
• 1 lucky commenter from the ENTIRE tour will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

To Enter:

• Please leave a meaningful comment for Erin. 
• Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered. 
• Giveaway ends June 18th.

Good Luck =)