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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Hot and Cool Blog Tour: Guest Post with Authors Elle Kennedy and Vivian Arend

Today I am happy to welcome both Elle Kennedy and Vivian Arend to RFTC. Both authors are celebrating a book release and have teamed up to bring you the Hot and Cool blog tour. Please give Elle and Vivian a warm welcome.

A RITA-award nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently publishes with Signet Eclipse, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and Samhain Publishing. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Places to find Elle:

Vivian Arend in one word: Adventurous. In a sentence: Willing to try just about anything once. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.

Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.

Places to find Vivian:


Cool Canadians, Hot Contemporaries

November 20, Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy share a release day at Samhain Publishing: ROCKY MOUNTAIN ANGEL and GETTING HOTTER. We’re stopping off at some of our favorite blogs to ramble for a bit and share some COOL or HOT excerpts, just for fun. The theme for this post?

Hot Gossip Gals

Elle‬: Pick a theme!

‪Viv‬: Simple one—Gal Gossip. Not that we ever do that.

‪Elle‬: Never. It's not classy.

‪Viv‬: We're all about the serious. And classy.

(I just snorted so hard I scared the puppy)

‪Elle‬: LOL

‪Viv‬: But gal gossip does exist, and you've got some between Miranda and a fellow dance teacher. Co-worker gossip, hmmmm.

‪Elle‬: I do. And you've got Allison and her sister. Of course, the gossip is always about sex or sexy body parts, huh?

‪Viv‬: Not always. Only we'd have to commission a study to find out the percentages. Like...a pie chart comparing discussion of sexy body parts to gossip about shoes.

‪Elle‬: Oh, I like it. You can do that. I'll just carry on with my life.

‪Viv‬: In my spare time. Actually, I'm not about the shoes. I think I have more now than ever, but when we traveled? I had 3 pairs.

‪Elle‬: I could not care less about shoes. I bought my first pair of heels last month—at the age of 30—to wear to a wedding. And you know what happened? I didn't even wear them! At the last minute, I was like, this sucks! So I switched to flats.

(It says a lot that I brought the flats with me in my purse. Who are we kidding? Those heels were NEVER going to be worn)

‪Viv‬: LOL We are so not good girls. I hate shopping.

Elle‬: I hate shopping too. I'm an in and out person. Five minutes in a store, tops. I know what I'm there for, I get it, I leave. BOOM. Nailed it.

‪Viv‬: This is good; because when we finally get together in real life, I don't have to worry about you wanting to drag me out to the malls or something. Except...for a bookstore.

‪Elle‬: Ha! I was going to say you just have to worry about bookstores.

‪Viv‬: There's this awesome one in Halifax I got lost in for six hours.

‪Elle‬: When I was younger I dreamed of owning a bookstore/café.

‪Viv‬: *sighs*

OKAY...back to HOT gossip.

‪Elle‬: Right. Question—do we think the gossip scene between girlfriends/ siblings/ whoever has become a cliché?

‪Viv‬: A cliché? But, it happens. Only...wait, wait…

‪Elle‬: Well, not so much cliché, as an overused, convenient plot device.

‪Viv‬: The scene where someone says "You need to get laid..."? That one needs to die a fiery death.

‪Elle‬: Yep, I started a book with that scene once.

‪Viv‬: I wasn't going to mention that, but…LOL, yeah. I just read it this weekend and went “oh Elle, *HEADDESK*

‪Elle‬: Which one? Body Check?

‪Viv‬: You have more than ONE?

‪Elle‬: I may be guilty of more than one, yes. LMAO.

‪Viv‬: I won’t hit you too hard, I’m pretty sure I’ve used it myself (at least once) So, it's been established as truth? Gals gossip?

‪Elle‬: If they say they don't, they are lying. Gals gossip.

‪Viv‬: And sometimes that gossip reveals some SWEET tidbits

*cues up excerpts*
Getting Hotter

“So,” Andre said, catching Miranda’s eye in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors that took up one entire wall of the studio, “what’s his name and why don’t you ever bring him by the school?”

She finished her stretch, then walked across the shiny floor toward the two teachers. They’d all come in early this afternoon to go over some details about the recital, but now that they’d squared everything away they had some time to kill before students started showing up.

Plopping down on one of the mats, she grinned at Andre. “His name is Seth, and he doesn’t come by because there’s no such thing as Bring-Your-Fling-To-Work Day.”

Ginny, a slight blonde with big gray eyes and an endless supply of energy, snickered loudly. “Well, there should be because that sounds awesome.”

“So it’s really just a fling?” Andre’s brows drew together in a frown. “Doesn’t seem like your style, boss.”

“I’m just having a little fun,” she answered, her tone noncommittal. “It’s not serious at all.”

Ginny leaned back on her elbows, her elfin features filling with curiosity. “What’s he like?”

“He’s…” she sighed, “…the consummate bad boy. Smokes, hardly ever shaves, says what’s on his mind, rough around the edges.”

“Great in bed?” Ginny teased.

“What do you think?” she said dryly.

(LOL comment from Viv. You’ll notice in this next excerpt that the sister to heroine has a familiar name :D)

Rocky Mountain Angel

“You’re not talking, sis. Stop daydreaming about his ass, and answer the question,” Elle said.

“Abs.” The word snuck out.

Elle raised a brow. “Abs?”

Allison gave up. It was safer to talk about the physical side of things than the turmoil of emotion in her heart and head. “The man has got the most incredible butt, yes. And arms. And shoulders. But goodness, you should see his stomach.”

“Six-pack and all, I bet,” Elle teased. “You need to take pictures and post them.”

“Hands off.” Allison shook her head. “Forget I said you should see him naked. You just daydream about other cowboys and leave mine alone.”

“So he’s good then?”

Allison twisted to give her sister the evil eye. “You really asking what I think you’re asking?”

“Does he know how to burn up the sheets? Yes, I’m really asking. Because I need to live vicariously—” Elle shut her mouth with a snap.

Uh-oh. “What about that reporter Mom said you’re seeing?”

Her sister snorted. “Was seeing. Once. Maybe twice. It was terrible. He kissed like a wet fish. And I didn’t even try sex with him, not when he pretty much proved he didn’t know where or what my clit was.”

Allison laughed. “I don’t want to know how that happened.”

“I bet your cowboy knows where things are. Tell me you’re at least happily getting all the sex you can.”

A little over a week ago she would have had to lie through her teeth and ignore the sexual frustration she’d been feeling. Now? Now she was free to grin and gloat a little. “Oh. My. God. You have no idea.”

(Elle’s comment: That’s me!)


COOL CANUCKS, HOT CONTEMPORARIES is brought to you by two writers who are good friends in spite of their extreme opposite lives: big city/small town, west coast/ east coast, married/single.

Check out where the rest of the tour is happening here for more chances to win.

Leave a comment for your chance to win. Do you have any favorite girlfriends in TV or books? Or who do YOU like to gal gossip with?


A good bad boy is hard to find.

Seth Masterson has been lusting over Miranda Breslin since the moment he saw her on a Vegas stage. Now that he’s been asked to watch out for her as she opens a dance studio in San Diego, he’s all over it, figuring it’s his chance to get her in his bed. Except the stubborn single mom seems determined to deny their crazy-sizzling sexual chemistry. In typical SEAL fashion, Seth makes it his personal mission to prove her wrong.

Miranda got over her attraction to bad boys about the time one of them knocked her up at the age of eighteen. Seth’s mocking gray eyes and military-buff bod, though, are pure and utter temptation. And when a flooded apartment forces her and her twins to move in with him, she can no longer resist the urge to set off some serious fireworks between the sheets.

But give him her heart? No, thank you. Any involvement with Seth will be strictly physical—and temporary. So when Seth decides permanent is what he wants, Miranda must steel her defenses before she does something incredibly foolish…like fall in love.

Warning: This book contains a bad boy SEAL who knows what he wants and will go to any lengths to get it. Expect some graphic language, hot sex, seduction, hot sex, dirty talk, hot sex, a little man-on-man action, hot sex. Oh, and hot sex.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain Publishing |

Check out the Out of Uniform series: 
Click for more info. 


Sometimes even Angels must learn to fly…

Allison Parker needs a convincing excuse to come home to Rocky Mountain House. A hopelessly romantic reason that won’t let her mother suspect the truth—that Allison has discovered Mom is keeping a terrible secret from the family.

Gabe Coleman is struggling with two of the roughest parts of ranching: dealing with his bull-headed mule of a father, and making enough to pay the bills. When his old friend Allison offers to help him develop his ideas for organic ranching—in trade for pretending to be her fiancé—it sounds like the perfect set-up.

Yet the deception leads them in an unexpected direction, where their shared daily hells are erased by nights of heavenly distraction. It’s not supposed to be real, but once the gates are opened, there’s no denying they’ve found in each other a little bit of Paradise.

To break free of the past and face the future, though, will take more than temporary pleasures. It’ll take putting their hearts on the line.

Warning: Tortured hero with a guardian-angel complex, grief-stricken heroine willing to sacrifice everything for family. Break out the tissues, this trip to the ranch is a heartbreaker on the way to the HEA.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Samhain Publishing |

Click for more info.

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

Up for grabs:
  • 1 lucky winner will win a eBook copy of one of Elle or Vivian's backlist titles available from Samhain Publishing

    Tour Wide Prizes
    The following items are up for grabs throughout the ENTIRE tour

    GRAND PRIZE:
     Nook (wifi)

    SECOND PRIZES:
    #1- Cowboy Gift Pack (No, no real cowboys-sorry) 100th anniversary Calgary Stampede bag and cowbell. Paul Brandt CD, Print copy of ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEAT

    #2- A Navy Seal gift pack. (No, still no real Seals included– but keep dreaming!) Print copy of HOT & BOTHERED (OOU #1-3), and a bunch of fun stuff you really want to win.

    Winners for these prizes will be drawn from ALL comments at ALL tour stops, and will be announced on Elle and Vivian's blogs on November 23rd. 


    To Enter:
    • Please leave a comment answering the question: Do you have any favorite girlfriends in TV or books? Or who do YOU like to gal gossip with?
    • Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered into the tour wide giveaway.
    • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form

    Good Luck =)
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    36 comments :

    1. I like to gal gossip with my sister Maggie.

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    2. I like to gal gossip with my friend in the UK

      parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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    3. My friends and I have a "girls night out" monthly. The drinks and the gossip flow very freely ;)

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    4. I always loved to watch Gilmore Girls! I would love to gossip with Rory and her mom. In real life I always gossip with my sister-in-law. She is always up-to-date. ;)
      I love both series so much and can't wait to read the new books! Thank you for the giveaway!

      claudigc at msn dot com

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    5. Rachel and Monica on Friends were a favorite of mine.
      mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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    6. I'm always Tweeting, texting, and Skyping, my girlfriends back home. We "get together at least once a week for a gossip fest and have drinks and dinner. Even though we're not together physically, it's still a hoot.

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    7. I have two girlfriends that I am always gossiping with, usually via text since our schedules are all different.

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    8. On TV, I love Rachel and Monica. In real life, my best friend and my sister....

      maybe31 at yahoo.com

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    9. I love to gal gossip with my 2 best friends that I have been friends with for over 25yrs. We have been through so much together.
      lauratroxel@yahoo.com

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    10. I'm not a big TV fan. I'm to busy reading! Lol. Nora Roberts has some great gal pals in her trilogies. My fav gal pal is my sister and I have some great gossip gal pals at work. I just finished reading both of your new books ladies and I can't wait for the next one in the series! I am so looking foward to reading Dylan's story Elle! And when will we read Travis's story Viv? Thanks for the great books!

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      Replies
      1. Glad you enjoy the stories! Joel is next, and then Travis. So, soon-ish ;)

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    11. My friends and I meet monthly at a restaurant to eat, drink, and gossip. In between the monthly meetings, I have 3 friends that I talk to on the phone or go out with to catch up on what is happening in our lives.

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    12. Barbara arrowood
      The comment before this one was mine. My email address is barbjarrowood@aol.com

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    13. Woops! I forgot my email:

      kscathy AT yahoo DOT com

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    14. Sounds fantastic! Thanks for the great post and giveaway! I always thought it would be fun to have the 3 girlfriends from Friends, Rachel, Phoebe and Monica :)

      efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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    15. I am an odd ball I guess most of my friends are male and we don't gossip, loved the girl gossip in the excepts. Carin
      mawmom at gmail dot com

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    16. I meet up with a group of gal pals every few months for a little brunch and gossip.
      ivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    17. I usually chat it up a bit with my fellow nurse friends at work. there's always something interesting to talk about or look at when you work in a hospital:-) not sure about any girlfriends in movie or tv...

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    18. I like to gossip with my cousin and a couple of my girlfriends. We chat about our other friends, coworkers and celebrities.

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    19. I love to gossip with my sister. It took years for this bond to form, we are over 16 years apart.

      Awesome giveaway!

      Maria
      mramirezesquivel@yahoo.com

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    20. I have a girlfriend that I love to just chat with. Add a few margarita's and we are really awesome!
      mel
      bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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    21. I like to keep things really close to the vest, so I'm actually not huge on the gossip. I also really dislike shopping, shoes & dresses... someone should revoke my girl card :-P. I'm always intrigued when I read about really close female friends who share everything with each other (case in point: Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet) because I always think "Wow, I'd never tell anyone THAT!", haha.

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      Replies
      1. *passes Cris honourary Canadian 'not a girl' card* :D

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    22. I gossip with my best friend. I don't have a book girlfriend. jepebATverizonDOTnet

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    23. I don't gossip that much but when I do it's with my sister or a opulent of friends at work that I TRUST!
      Lorimeehan1@aol.com

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    24. I gossip with my oldest sister.
      elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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    25. I always loved Lane Kim on GILMORE GIRLS (Rory and Lorelai Gilmore lost a few points with me once they started making all the wrong choices in love)...she was a total rock music obsessive like me, so I would have loved talking with her. I play things close to the vest, but I can always speak freely with my mom and a few select galpals...


      vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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    26. I gossip with my mom. Thanks for the chance to win!
      natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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    27. My sister is my bestie for gossip and girl-talk :) Gotta love sibs ;)

      f dot chen at comcast dot net

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    28. The cover art is amazing :)

      Who I gal gossip with, I would have to answer Michele. A lady I met thru her daughter and mine. The both go to school together... It is funny that we share the same birthday but she is 7 years older than I am(Nope not sharing the year cause it's a lady's best kept secret)

      Congrats on the book and good luck with the tour
      Happy Thanksgiving.

      Beckey

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    29. That's what best friends are for. A coffee & a chat.

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    30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    31. I like to gossip with my friends and my friends fcebook :)

      filiafantasy at gmail dot com

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    32. I gossip with my mom. :)
      shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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    33. I gossip with my mom.

      bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    34. I still gossip with my friends from college, although not as much now. I haven't really found any good girlfriends where I live yet. I loved the format of this post, it was so much fun to read :).

      Thanks for having the giveaways!

      --Alicia
      dmr8888 at yahoo dot com

      ReplyDelete