Hey, all! Sydnie Riley, founder and president of Studs 4 Hire, here. My creator, Sherry James, is having one hectic summer so I said I’d handle the post for the month. Besides, Sherry is featuring the first two books in the Studs 4 Hire series during the Summer Solstice Bash here at Authors By Moonlight, so me stepping up to the blogosphere is perfect.

If you’ve never heard of Studs 4 Hire, let me just say we are a company that specializes in not only assuring women they are going to get an honest and conscientious contractor/handyman to handle all of their home improvement needs, but the sexiest! My business partners, Casey Burrows and Terri Alberry, pride ourselves on hiring the best! Trust me when I say, you’re going to want to rearrange your work schedule when one of our guys comes to make that home repair you’ve been putting off! In fact, I’m betting you’ll be so impressed with, ah. . . more like drooling over, our guys you’ll be purposefully clogging the drain, or backing into the garage door just so you can call Studs 4 Hire!

Okay, so Sherry was telling me all about this Summer Solstice Bash. How cool that you can not only win a Kindle Paperwhite, but a collection of e-books to go along with it. Wish I could enter! My story, Woman On Top, is one of those books. You’ll have a chance to find out about all of the shenanigans Trevor Vanden Bosch and I go through to figure out who’s on the level.

And if you want more Studs, be sure and check out Woman In Charge. Casey and Alex just might help you find your inner Elvis! And as a bonus, Sherry is giving away two e-copies of Woman In Charge to two lucky commentors to this post. How cool is that?!

Terri’s story is on tap for 2014, but this November you’ll get the chance to meet one of our sexy carpenters, Gil Boyd, as he finds a little Elf Trouble with a holiday loving sprite named Holly, and her dog, Jack Frost. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this fun, holiday story!

Now, all you have to do to enter is leave comments here, follow the Rafflecopter link on the right, or Tweet or Facebook about ABM! The more you do, the more your chances of winning the big prize.

In order to help you with the comment part of the deal, I’ll ask you a question. You answer. And boom! You’re entered.

What do you think is the sexiest part of a man’s body? His hands? His butt? His eyes? You tell me, just be sure to keep your answer appropriate for anyone reading this post.

Okay, so answer the above question, get entered in the drawing for the grand prize Kindle/e-book package, and get entered in the drawing for a copy of Woman In Charge. You have all of June to enter the big drawing, but just three days to enter Sherry’s. Entries close Sunday, June 16^th @ midnight CST. She’ll announce a winner on Tuesday, June 18^th! And if you can’t wait to find out if you’re a winner or not, you can always find the Studs 4 Hire books on Amazon and B & N.

Have a great summer, everyone. See you around Studs 4 Hire!
Sydnie Riley for Sherry James

www.sherryjames.com

I am SO EXCITED. The official release for Fender Bender Blues, my first published book evah, is this week! To celebrate, I’ve got an autographed copy giveaway going on at Goodreads. If you are interested in entering, there’s still 17 hours yet to enter.

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/51511-fender-bender-blues

On May 3rd it’ll be all over the place Fender Bender Blues was released exclusively at Amazon on January 24 this year before its official release. I wasn’t sure at first if I would like the Amazon-only release, just because I know of quite a few people who don’t have Kindles or the Kindle app, but so far it’s been a great experience, and Fender Bender Blues has received a lot of great reviews at  Amazon and Goodreads.

For anyone interested, I’ve got two more scenes to write on the second contemporary romance…finally! I’m so excited to get this second one finished and to start on a new project I’ve been brainstorming. I’ve decided to dip my toes into paranormal I won’t be hanging up my contemporary romance hat, but I think it will be good for me to have some variety in my writerly life.

It’s really been a great journey so far, and I’m just thankful to be where I’m at in my writing today, and thankful to be part of Authors By Moonlight.

Fender Bender Blues

Amazon Kindle ~~ Amazon paperback

Official release EVERYWHERE May 3, 2013

Goodreads giveaway

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“Classic cars, garden gnomes, and steamy romance? My kind of book!”

~Bestselling Author Kate Perry

“Reading Niecey Roy’s FENDER BENDER BLUES is like eating Lays Potato chips. Once you start, you can’t stop! It’s just that good! For a new (non-fattening) addiction, read Niecey Roy!!! ~Robyn Peterman author of HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

“Fender Bender Blues is a rip-roarin’ good time from start to finish. Filled with handsome men, crazy friends, and love scenes to rev up your engines, you don’t want to miss this one!” ~Amie Louellen, author of Brodie’s Bride and Love Potion Me, Baby

FENDER BENDER BLUES

Her life took a wrong turn. He’s driven by success. They didn’t count on crashing into love…

Rachel Bennett loved her job until the day she finds herself doubting her choices. Now she’s hunting for a new career, but starting over isn’t easy. Her plan is simple—no distractions until she finds her dream job. She didn’t plan on fate throwing her a curveball in the form of a fender bender with a sexy guy in an expensive suit.

Craig Larsen is a wealthy, successful business owner with a plan of his own: survive his current PR nightmare and stay away from his overly determined ex-girlfriend. His need for control and personal success is turned upside down when he meets Rach, a sassy redhead who can’t drive.

Soon they find themselves battling with Rach’s grumpy old neighbor, toilet-papering the trees of a high school nemesis, and fighting over the last slice of pizza. Can two very different people plus one fender bender equal a chance at forever?

EXCERPT:

“Now what?”

“Nothing.” Rach sniffed.

Craig shifted to eye her warily. “Since when do you answer me with single words?”

“Since I decided I’m not talking to you,” she answered with a shrug, crumpling up the white paper wrapper from her sub.

Craig leaned his face in close to her neck and enjoyed the startled jerk of her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. His breath shifted a few strands of hair at the nape of her neck as he whispered, “Why, because you want me?”

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

She’s enjoying this. The thought pleased him. Rach was on her back beside him now, her eyes closed. He glanced around the park to see if anyone was watching. No one was. He could swoop in for a kiss and no one would catch him. No one would care, he told himself. She won’t mind…

“I can feel you staring.”

Craig smiled down at her. “So what.”

She peeked at him with one green eye. “So stop it.”

“And if I don’t?” Maybe she’d tackle him, push him down on the blanket and…

She didn’t. She promptly closed her eye and went back to pretending indifference. “I’ll hit you, that’s what.”

“Not if I do this, you won’t.”

He’d only meant it to be a short kiss, but the pleasure of touching his lips to hers kept him there longer. Her tongue was velvet soft and warm against his and the slow mating of their mouths quickened his heartbeat even as he told himself, It’s no big deal, just a kiss.

She nipped his bottom lip and sent heat sliding through his body. The woman could kiss.

She whispered soft against his lips, “Now why don’t you admit that it’s you who wants me.”

Happy March! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! And Happy Easter!

These three things make me very happy because their arrival also means that Spring is close. Very close. Yippee! Although Mother Nature can still deliver some nasty days of snow, cold, and wind in March here in the Midwest, inclement weather doesn’t usually last as long when it does hit. Another huge boon to March is we know that warmer temps are just around the corner. That fact alone can help us tolerate one more day of crappy weather. Yes! There is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Dorothy! All we have to do is hang on a bit longer and it will come!

The same holds true for me as a writer. After months of working on the same manuscript day after day, I really start to look forward to—no matter how much I love my characters—wrapping up the story and typing The End. The need for a sense of accomplishment, and the call to move on to something new, is strong. Very strong. The exciting prospect of new characters and a new story tempt me to betray my current WIP and hop the fence to get to the other side where the grass appears to be, oh, so much greener. The trick is to ignore that temptation and “gut it out,” as my critique partner Julie Miller so eloquently told me. To gut it out means I have to—no matter how hard and painful—see that manuscript to fruition. Not always an easy feat for me.

But the flip of the calendar to March also reminded me I need to pick up the pace on my writing schedule for the year. Three months into 2013 and I’m already behind. Darn. Not what I’d hoped for when I set those goals at the end of last December. And in just two months the kids will be out of school for the summer. Yowza! For once I’d like to be on schedule—even better get ahead of schedule for a change. But I’m not pushing it. For now I’ll settle with simply being on schedule.

But each day I work, puts me one day closer to my goals. Progress is progress. I’m not knocking it.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the progression of a Sherry James manuscript, in this case ELF TROUBLE, a novella in my Studs 4 Hire series. I’m a visual person, and I tend to find editing/revising on hard copy along with the computer much easier. This is my process, and not necessarily the approach of all writers, but it works for me. Admittedly, it can be a bit overwhelming to see this rainbow colored mess I’ve created and then have to figure out a way to make sense of it all. Thank the stars for sticky notes! I really should kiss the feet of the person who invented these mighty little buggers. I love these things. And these days you can get them in all shapes, sizes and colors. Woo-hoo!

The second version will see some color, but not as much. And as much as I love color, lack of it on my WIP is a good sign. It means the book isn’t as rough in the second draft as it was in the first. I’m well on my way to reaching the finish line.

By the third draft I hope to see no color. And if I don’t that means the book is ready for submission. Once I’ve sent the manuscript on, I get to start the next one and start the whole process over again, and hopefully, this time the process won’t seem so hard, won’t take as long as the last, and for once I’ll be on schedule!

See you back here in April when I hope I can report I’m well on my way to finishing yet another book for readers to enjoy.

Sherry James

www.sherryjames.com
Twitter: @sherryjames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.james.315

~~~ Fender Bender Blues eBook is FREE March 5 through March 9~~~

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway right now, too!!! For anyone who shares Fender Bender Blues limited FREE days on Amazon via Facebook and/or Twitter, I’ll enter you in a drawing to win a signed paperback copy of Fender Bender Blues. Unfortunately, I can only ship to the U.S.

Did I mention Fender Bender Blues is also available in print through Amazon and The Wild Rose Press??? Squee!!!)

All you need to do is comment below that you’ve shared on Facebook  and/or tweeted the freebie, OR tag me in your posts so I don’t forget to put your name in the drawing!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

Share on Facebook:

Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy novel, is FREE for limited time on Amazon!!! If you haven’t snagged the eBook, you might want to do so now! FREE March 5 through March 9. Please, share with your friends

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

Share on Twitter:

RT #FenderBenderBlues They didn’t count on crashing into love… #RomCom for a limited time #free #ebook #Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

I absolutely loved writing this book. I knew after I wrote THE END that it would be my first published book (it’s certainly not the first book I’ve written). Just something about it… I just KNEW. I think maybe because I had fallen so completely in love with the characters I had written, and their story, I didn’t want to give up on finding a home for Fender Bender Blues with a publishing company. It only took me a couple of months to write, but the editing and the shopping it around really, really took a long time. I shed a lot of tears of frustration with every rejection letter I received. After awhile, it got to be too much. I took about a year off from submitting to agents. I was so burned out. I engrossed my time in work (I’m a legal assistant who also does corporate transcription). But the story called to me. I owed it to my characters to make sure they found their place in print. I decided to bypass submission to agents, and went directly to publishers. Within a week I had my first contract in hand. Within a month, I had another contract “maybe.”  Within two months, I signed with The Wild Rose Press and am still walking on clouds

Please take a moment to read the blurb and,  if you enjoy it, grab a copy for yourself

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

FENDER BENDER BLUES

“Classic cars, garden gnomes, and steamy romance? My kind of book!”

~Bestselling Author Kate Perry

Her life took a wrong turn. He’s driven by success. They didn’t count on crashing into love…

Rachel Bennett loved her job until the day she finds herself doubting her choices.  Now she’s hunting for a new career, but starting over isn’t easy.  Her plan is simple—no distractions until she finds her dream job.  She didn’t plan on fate throwing her a curveball in the form of a fender bender with a sexy guy in an expensive suit.

Craig Larsen is a wealthy, successful business owner with a plan of his own: survive his current PR nightmare and stay away from his overly determined ex-girlfriend.  His need for control and personal success is turned upside down when he meets Rach, a sassy redhead who can’t drive.

Soon they find themselves battling with Rach’s grumpy old neighbor, toilet-papering the trees of a high school nemesis, and fighting over the last slice of pizza.  Can two very different people plus one fender bender equal a chance at forever?

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

Thanks for sharing and entering in the drawing May the odds be forever in your favor!!!

EXCERPT

“Now what?”

“Nothing.” Rach sniffed.

Craig shifted to eye her warily. “Since when do you answer me with single words?”

“Since I decided I’m not talking to you,” she answered with a shrug, crumpling up the white paper wrapper from her sub.

Craig leaned his face in close to her neck and enjoyed the startled jerk of her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. His breath shifted a few strands of hair at the nape of her neck as he whispered, “Why, because you want me?”

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

She’s enjoying this. The thought pleased him. Rach was on her back beside him now, her eyes closed. He glanced around the park to see if anyone was watching. No one was. He could swoop in for a kiss and no one would catch him. No one would care, he told himself. She won’t mind…

“I can feel you staring.”

Craig smiled down at her. “So what.”

She peeked at him with one green eye. “So stop it.”

“And if I don’t?” Maybe she’d tackle him, push him down on the blanket and…

She didn’t. She promptly closed her eye and went back to pretending indifference. “I’ll hit you, that’s what.”

“Not if I do this, you won’t.”

He’d only meant it to be a short kiss, but the pleasure of touching his lips to hers kept him there longer. Her tongue was velvet soft and warm against his and the slow mating of their mouths quickened his heartbeat even as he told himself, It’s no big deal, just a kiss.

She nipped his bottom lip and sent heat sliding through his body. The woman could kiss.

She whispered soft against his lips, “Now why don’t you admit that it’s you who wants me.”

http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Bender-Blues-ebook/dp/B00B5L71YQ

Niecey Roy

Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy

Print & E-book available NOW at Amazon
Print available NOW at The Wild Rose Press

Available everywhere May 3, 2013
nieceyroy@gmail.com

http://www.nieceyroy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor

https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy

I love romantic comedy. Movies, books, you name it, this girl wants to read it, to watch it, to lose myself in all it’s silliness, the butterflies in the tummy, breathless first kisses, the laughter, the drama—I love, love, love it. I suppose you can see why I choose to write humorous contemporary romance . I just can’t get enough of it!

One of my favorite romantic comedies is 16 Candles. I remember when I was a kid I wanted to be just like Samantha when I grew up. Ha! I was also going to score me a totally hot boyfriend who looked just like Jake-y. My high school days would be filled with romance and drama and I was going to end up sitting Indian-style on a glass coffee table across from my Jake-y on my 16^th birthday. There was no other way life could possibly turn out. Nope.

Of course, my life didn’t quite play out that way.  Not only did my hair not turn red, but I didn’t get freckles, either. And, since I have dark black hair and naturally tan skin (I’m half Filipino, half Polish, what-a mix!) I’ll never be able

to color my hair red. I would look ridiculous as a redhead. However, I did fall in love with a dark haired hunk who I met in high school. Unfortunately, he was kinda already taken so I spent most of my high school years daydreaming about him. So no, I didn’t end up Indian-style on a glass coffee table with him on my 16^th birthday, but been lucky enough to spend every birthday since my 22^nd birthday with him. I’d say that’s pretty good

Though I can’t ever be and won’t ever be a redhead, in my new release, , the female protagonist, Rach, is a sassy REDHEAD who doesn’t drive so well

So I’m curious, were you as obsessed with 16 Candles as I was? Did you swear to your best friends, your journal, to your reflection in the mirror that your first romance would be just like in the movie? And if 16 Candles isn’t your favorite romantic comedy flick, what is?

Thanks for stopping by!

Niecey Roy

Fender Bender Blues, a romantic comedy

January 24, 2013 exclusive Amazon digital release

Coming May 3, 2013 everywhere

published by Wild Rose Press

nieceyroy@gmail.com

http://www.nieceyroy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/NieceyRoyRomanceAuthor

https://twitter.com/#!/NieceyRoy

Wow! I’m really excited to announce the reissue of the first book in my Studs 4 Hire series, Woman On Top, from Prairie Muse Publishing. It’ll be available in a matter of days at an unbeatable price from Amazon and other sources. If you missed the book the first time around, here’s your chance to add Trevor Vanden Bosch and Sydnie Riley’s story to your e-reader for a fun and romantic summer read.

Here’s a little teaser for you all.

Studs 4 Hire: Woman On Top
by Sherry James

He’s one hot carpenter undercover . . .

Trevor is directed to go undercover at Studs 4 Hire as a carpenter. His mission–seduce Sydnie into unknowingly giving him ideas to launch the Venus Bra for one of the ad agency’s biggest clients, Stardust Lingerie. But how can he steal her advertising ideas and win her heart, too?

. . . she’s one feisty boss with something to prove . . .

Sydnie Riley is tired of men always being the boss. After she’s cheated out of a promotion at her advertising job by her sexy nemesis and almost lover, Trevor Vanden Bosch, she decides it’s time she take charge of her life and career. She ditches her male-dominated corporate job, bands together with two college friends, and creates Studs 4 Hire, a contracting firm loaded with sexy electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. As the brains behind Studs 4 Hire, Sydnie’s ready to give the orders, not take them.

. . . . together they’ll battle each other’s shenanigans and weather one little deception that could keep them from finding their happily-ever-after.

And keep an eye out. The second book in the series, Woman In Charge, will be re released later this summer. If you’ve been a fan of the series since its original release, you’ll be happy to know that the never-before-published third book, Woman to the Rescue, is just down the road, too.

So what do you think of the cover? I think my publisher did a great job creating a new, hip look for the story and for the series. It’s pretty different from the original, which you can still see on my web site. The new hero is pretty hot in my opinion. Just like Trevor! And this heroine is as sexy and sassy as Sidney, the brains behind Studs 4 Hire.

Be sure to visit my web site for more. See you all back here July 8th.