Awakening Desires

A Little Christmas Cheer

2009-12-18T07:36:00.002-04:00

Looking for a little Christmas cheer?

Check out the Carol of the Bells, performed by The Muppets. It will make you smile.

NEW RELEASE!

2009-12-16T09:12:00.002-04:00

Sweet Charity, book 3 in the Project Alpha trilogy, is now available from Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

BLURB:

Third in the Project Alpha series

Earth 2133

Adrian is an Alpha—a genetically enhanced assassin—thought dead by the people who created him. Living outside the Gate, a high tech shield that protects the enclosed city from the contaminated and lawless land outside, he is the leader of the Resistance, living only to bring down the Gate and the people who sought to kill him.

Charity Caruthers is the daughter of one of the most powerful and brutal men in the inner city—the General. She risks everything sneaking outside the Gate to get a message to Adrian.

Passion explodes, ripping apart the foundations of both their lives. Charity begins to understand true sexual desire as Adrian teaches her the passion to be found in dark fantasies. Loyalties are tested and trust pushed to the limits as the final confrontation is at hand. Some will die. Some will live. And Adrian and Charity’s fragile relationship could be the final casualty in this war of retribution and freedom.

Project Alpha: Futuristic assassins on a deadly course with love. Books 1 and 2—Embracing Silence and Have Mercy—are now available.

Countdown to Christmas

2009-12-14T07:41:00.002-04:00

Do you realize it's only 11 days until Christmas? Where has the time gone. I've been so busy trying to get projects finished up before the holidays, and do some shopping and some baking, that the time has flown by.

I have a new release on Wednesday and a couple of guest blogs before the end of the month, but as of Saturday, December 19th, I am "unofficially" on holidays until January 4th. I need a break and I've decided to take it.

Sure, I'll be checking emails and popping in to my yahoo groups now and then, but I'm not going to stress if I don't. As for writing...who knows. I don't plan to start anything new. My brain needs a break.

In the meantime, I have a book to finish and another one releasing this week so I better get busy. Have a great week!

Contest Reminder!

2009-12-12T06:47:00.002-04:00

SWEET CHARITY SNEAK PEEK CONTEST!

To celebrate the release of Sweet Charity --the final book in the Project Alpha trilogy--from Ellora's Cave on December 16th, I'm giving away a download copy. Go to my website and click on the "contests" page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Winner will be announced on December 15th.

Putting the Merry Back in Merry Christmas

2009-12-11T06:24:00.002-04:00

Holidays got you feeling a bit like a grinch? Are your to-do lists thicker than War and Peace? I've got a few tips that might help.

Check out my guest blog over at The Romance Studio Blog.

Holiday Baking

2009-12-10T06:51:00.003-04:00

One of the wonderful memories from my childhood revolve around all the treats that were available at Christmas. My mother was a heck of a baker and used to make tons of cookies and cakes for the holidays. To this day, I've never tasted cookies as good as hers.

Off the top of my head, I can remember chocolate chips, brownies, naniamo bars, date crumbles, short bread, snowballs, fudge, peanut butter/marshmallow cookies, cream cheese and cherry cookies, light fruitcake, dark fruitcake, cherry cake, pineapple cake, date bread, and I'm sure there was more. There were always a few different kinds of freezer squares as well.

Mom always had plenty of baked goods to put out for guests. And we had a ton of folks come by our house when I was a kid.

I'm older now. The family home is long gone, many friends and family have passed on or are living scattered around the world. It's the way of things, I suppose. But nothing will ever match those wonderful childhood memories of home.

Mom doesn't bake like she used to. She's older, it's expensive and there are just not as many folks eating sweets nowadays. Thankfully, she still sends fruitcake every year. Yes, we love fruitcake in our family. Mom's is out-of-this-world good.

I bake a few favories--cherry cake, fudge and short bread cookies. Folks don't drop in around the holidays much anymore. Used to be everyone spent at least one day "visiting" over the holidays back in the seventies. I miss those times. They were simpler and I lived in a small community were folks knew their neighbors. It's harder in the city to make those kinds of connections.

Still, I love the holiday season and will bake and share with those friends and family who live nearby and drop in for a visit.

What will you be baking this holiday?

Holiday Entertaining

2009-12-08T06:42:00.003-04:00

This is the time of year when most of us have friends and family over to our homes to celebrate the season. Holiday entertaining doesn't have to be stressful. Check out my Ladies of the Club Blog post for tips and suggestions on how to survive holiday entertaining with your sanity and humor intact.

Monday, Monday!

2009-12-07T07:43:00.004-04:00

Good snowy morning and welcome to Monday!

Winter arrived with a vengeance yesterday, dropping 15 inches of snow on us. It's a winter wonderland out there this morning. Of course, being the first snowfall of the season, drivers need to remember how to drive in the white stuff.

I was out yesterday morning before the snow storm began. I was wearing sneakers. I miss that already. LOL We were all cozy inside Sunday afternoon. I baked a cherry cake and hubby and I curled up on the sofa and watched The Muppet's Christmas Carol. I love that movie. What can I say? I'm a kid at heart.

Have you watched any holiday movies yet?

Huge Print Book Sale at Ellora's Cave

2009-12-05T12:24:00.006-04:00

Looking for some fabulous baragains for Christmas. Check out the End of Year Blowout Sale at Ellora's Cave. There are tons of print books on sale now!

You can buy the Dreams of the Oasis IV Anthology for only $4. If you haven't read the first book about the Shadow Ryders--"Shadows Stir", then you can now!

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Are vampires more your style? Check out Dalakis Embrace, which contains Harker's Journey and Lucian's Delight, books 1 & 2 of the Dalakis Passion vampire series. This book is now only $4.

Three Weeks...

2009-12-04T06:59:00.003-04:00

I glanced at the calendar this morning and realized it's only three weeks until Christmas. The time is flying by so quickly. I'm hoping to mostly finish my holiday shopping this weekend. I'll probably bake a cherry cake too. It's one of the tradions we have each year. Next week I'll probably make shortbreads and, the week after that, fudge. So much good stuff to eat, so little time. *g*

What are your plans for this weekend?

Please Vote....

2009-12-02T06:58:00.003-04:00

Alexandra's Legacy, my latest Samhain release, is up for Book of the Month at Dark Diva Reviews!

Check it out and VOTE for it, or any other book you enjoyed this past month! You have until December 7th to place your vote.

December Newsletter and New Contest!

2009-12-01T08:33:00.004-04:00

Good morning and welcome to December!

It's that time of the month again. The December issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now availalbe. If you're not receiving it, then you’re missing out on all the latest news, author interviews, excerpts and tons more!

Be sure to check out the this month’s author interview with Katherine Kingston.

As well, each month, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win next month is to go to Awakening Desires Newsletter to join. While you’re there, you can check out back issues of the newsletter.

SWEET CHARITY SNEAK PEEK CONTEST!

To celebrate the release of Sweet Charity --the final book in the Project Alpha trilogy--from Ellora's Cave on December 16th, I'm giving away a download copy. Go to my website and click on the "contests" page for details on how you can enter for a chance to win.

Monday, Monday

2009-11-30T06:47:00.002-04:00

Good morning and welcome to Monday!

I honestly didn't do much this weekend. Hubby was working all weekend, but we did manage to get out on Saturday morning for breakfast and some shopping. I'm getting my Christmas shopping done, slowly but surely. Not too much left to buy.

Mostly curled up on the sofa and read some old books.

How about you? What did you do this weekend?

Black Friday!

2009-11-27T06:51:00.002-04:00

Good morning and welcome to Black Friday, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. The Friday after Thanksgiving, it kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Many stores will have huge sales and people will start lining up the night before to get a deal.

Why is it called Black Friday? It's the time of year when many retailers go from being in the "red" to being in the "black." So why you may be moaning about crowds and lineups, retailers will be celebrating.

If you're brave enough to venture out to the stores today...good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T07:23:00.001-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the USA! Travel safe and enjoy family, friends and food on this wonderful holiday!

New Release Date!

2009-11-25T07:12:00.002-04:00

Sweet Charity, the third and final book in the Project Alpha trilogy, will be released on December 16th. YAY! Love that yummy cover.

Earth 2133

Adrian is an Alpha—a genetically enhanced assassin—thought dead by the people who created him. Living outside the Gate—a high tech shield, which protects the enclosed city from the contaminated and lawless land outside, he is the leader of the Resistance, living only to bring down the Gate and the people who sought to kill him.

Charity Caruthers is the daughter of one of the most powerful and brutal men in the inner city—the General. She risks everything, sneaking outside the Gate to get a message to Adrian.

Passion explodes, ripping apart the foundations of both their lives. Charity begins to understand true sexual desire as Adrian teaches her the passion to be found in dark fantasies. Loyalties are tested and trust pushed to the limits as the final confrontation is at hand. Some will die. Some will live. But will Adrian and Charity’s fragile relationship be the final casualty in this war of retribution and freedom?

Read an Excerpt

New Moon Mania

2009-11-23T06:59:00.004-04:00

I freely admit that I haven't read the books. So many books, so little time. I do know that the critics haven't been kind to either of the movies Twilight or New Moon. But guess what? I like them.

They're great popcorn movies filled with lots of teenage angst, unrequited love, vampires and werewolves. What's not to love?

Hubby took me to see New Moon yesterday for my birthday. It's a darker movie than Twilight, but I enjoyed it.

I'm team Jacob all the way. LOL

Reflections

2009-11-22T09:00:00.004-04:00

Today is a day to sit back and reflect on my life, where I am personally and in my career. It's my birthday. And like on New Year's Eve, I like to think about what I've done, or haven't done, over the past year.

I honestly don't worry about age. I'm 45, but I feel about 25, so it's all good. But, time does have a way of passing quickly. I find the older I get the faster time goes. I honestly don't know what happened to the past decade. It disappeared in the blink of an eye. So, I'm re-evaluating all aspects of my life and plan on making a few changes in the coming year. Not big changes, just small ones that will improve the quality of my life.

Hubby took me out to breakfast this morning after he woke me with fresh orange juice and a present. Later, we're going to the movie. It's a good day to be me.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Flashback Friday!

2009-11-20T07:01:00.003-04:00

Threads of Destiny is the fourth book in the Tapestries series. This one takes a bit of a different twist from the earlier books and it led to a spin-off series--Project Alpha.

BLURB:

Marc Garen knows and understands the laws of his world. On Javara, women are scarce and brothers must share, although only one can be her husband. But he is lonely to the depths of his soul and longs for a woman of his own. Suddenly the tapestry hurls him into a violent world…to the woman who has haunted his dreams.

Kathryn is a scientist, fighting to save two genetically enhanced super soldiers from termination when the man of her fantasies appears and magically transports them all to safety. Now three men share Kathryn’s bed, all bent on satisfying her every desire. But Marc is resolved to make her his alone. He has three days to convince her…before the tapestry returns.

Read an Excerpt

Purchase book

Want to Win a Print Book

2009-11-18T06:41:00.002-04:00

By The Book is now available in print. To celebrate, I’m giving away two PRINT copies. To find out how to enter for a chance to win, go to my website and click on the “contest” page for details.

Amanda Barrington has moved to Jamesville to start a new life, but someone in this quiet town is trying to kill her.

Former soldier, Jonah Sutter, has returned home to help his sister pick up the pieces of her life. Sparks fly when he and Amanda meet.

He takes on the job of fixing the wiring in her house and ends up protecting her from her stalker. When Amanda is attacked again, all bets are off. And Jonah is no longer playing By The Book.

Monday, Monday...

2009-11-16T07:01:00.002-04:00

Good morning and welcome to another week. I was watching the Toronto Santa Claus parade on television last night and I realized it was only 40 days until Christmas. Time is slipping away quickly.

Did a little bit of shopping on the weekend. Still don't know what I'm getting for hubby. Thankfully, the gifts don't really matter. As long as we're together, have a roof over our heads and food on the table, it's a wonderful Christmas. I never take any of the blessings in my life for granted. The presents, decorations and all the other stuff is just the icing on the cake.

Have a great week!

Publishers Weekly Blog

2009-11-14T17:45:00.003-04:00

Barabara Vey over at the Publishers Weekly Blog gave a shout out for Trick or Treat this past Friday!

How cool is that. :-)

Flashback Friday

2009-11-13T06:55:00.003-04:00

It's Friday the 13th, but I don't think that's a bad thing. After all, it's Friday!

It's been a few weeks since the last Flashback Friday, but I'm picking up where I left off with the Tapestries series.

Woven Dreams is the third book in the Tapestries series.

BLURB:

In Javara, women are scarce and brothers must share a woman, although only one can claim her as a wife. Scarred and maimed from a battle fought almost a year ago, Jarmon Bakra is afraid chances are slim that he and his twin brother, Garrik, will find a bride.

While on a hunting trip, the brothers stumble upon a woman claiming to be a tapestry bride. Now that fate has dropped a beautiful, courageous woman in their path, they will both use all their sexual skills separately and together to convince her to stay.

But Genny has secrets of her own and they have only three days to uncover the truth.

Read an Excerpt

Purchase book

5 Book Review for Alexandra's Legacy

2009-11-12T07:16:00.002-04:00

Long and Short Reviews has given Alexandra's Legacy 5 Books. Here's a snippet of what the reviewer had to say:

"N.J. Walters has written a love story. Granted, the hero and heroine are not your everyday boy and girl in love. After all, they are wolves at heart, and wolves do mate for life. And when these two finally do mate, the heat can peel the paint off the walls...N. J. Walters writes with such passion and gives so much to all of these characters. This is one to read more than once and enjoy every time. But don’t be surprised if your fingers blister just a bit; I promise it is worth it in the end."

~Holly

You can read the entire review at Long and Short Reviews .

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T08:58:00.004-04:00

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the USA. Many countries around the world mark this day as we all stop and remember the men and women of the Armed Forces who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their countries.

Lest We Forget...

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)