I got the chance to talk with Author Shanna Swenson on her blog, The Writer's Block. We had a lot of fun talking books. Here's the link.

http://shannaswenson.com/my-blog/the-writers-block-interview-with-fellow-indie-author-amanda-v-shane

Hello Wine and Romance Novel Lovers, and happy Wednesday! Today, I have a beautiful pairing for you, especially if you are in the mood for a haunting, fantasy romance kind of experience. Grace Draven's Eidolon and Phantom Chardonnay are perfect together. Eidolon is the second book in Draven's dark romantasy Wraith Kings series, which I highly recommend. It extends Brishen and Ildiko's story so you should definitely read Radiance (Book 1) first. I just heard that the third book, Ippos King, is out now also so you may as well grab the whole series. Once you have your books in hand, settle in with a glass of Phantom Chard and enter a whole new world of fantasy, complete with plenty of danger, intrigue, and romance. Thrilling!

**Sequel to RADIANCE and Book #2 in the Wraith Kings series**

In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis unleashes a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to save his throne.

Three kingdoms on the verge of war must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king will raise an army of the dead to challenge an army of the damned.

A tale of alliance and sacrifice.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EGXF8M6

From my review:

I'm in love with this series! Brishen and Ildiko... what can I say, I fell in love with both of them in book 1 of this series and I still can't get over their enduring, unique story. Their romance is beautiful, as is Draven's storytelling. I really appreciate how their relationship developed without any of the usual tropes popping up. It really makes this fantasy romance feel like a fairy tale for adults and I love that. I'm excited to read Anhuset and Serovek's book, The Ippos King, next. Their relationship has been smoldering in the background of this series and I can't wait to see what Draven does with them.

Happy Book Teaser Tuesday!

Pale, cold mistress of the serpent’s lair, blood red lips and coal black hair…

Haunting, Dark Fantasy Romance
Odile, Legend of the Black Swan

Perfect book for the spooky month of October! Full of sorcery, spirits and sultry romance.

Available on Amazon

Something about hitting the first day of October makes it feel like we are officially into the  fall. Brisk cool air, pumpkins spice everything and sweater wearing may now commence at will.  That's how I see it anyway. Here are 15 great quotes put together with some beautiful fall images to ring in the autumnal season. Feel free to share them around with your friends. Happy October, everyone! What are some of your favorite things about this time of year?

"In the entire circle of the year,
there are no days so delightful
as those of a fine October."
- Alexander Smith

Autumn is a second spring
when every leaf is a flower.
-Albert Camus

And all at once
summer collapsed
into fall.
- Oscar Wilde

Ah, lovely October, as you usher in the
season that awakens my soul, your awesome
beauty compels my spirit
to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze
and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.
-Peggy Toney Horton

My favorite color is October.
-Unknown

The leaves are changing,
I feel poetry in the air.
-Laura Jaworski

"October had tremendous possibility. The summer's oppressive heat was a
distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world
full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe
in miracles."
-Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed

Wild is the music of autumnal winds
Amongst the faded woods.
-William Wordsworth

I'm so glad we
live in a world
where there are Octobers.
-L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Life starts all over again
when it gets crisp in the fall.
-Jordan, The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald

October is about
trees revealing
colors they've
hidden all year

People have
an October
as well

-Jm Storm

"I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze.
The sweet chill of pumpkin
and crisp sunburnt leaves."
-Unknown

Autumn is the time of year when nature says, "Look how easy,
how healthy, and how beautiful letting
go can be."
-Toni Sorenson

October was always the least dependable
of months... full of ghosts and shadows.
-Joy Fielding

"Autumn leaves are falling,
filling up the street;
golden colors on the lawn,
nature's trick or treat."
-Rusty Fischer

Stay tuned to the blog this month for more lovely words fit for the season, some steamy paranormal romance novel recommendations and spookishly good book sales!

Pale, cold mistress of the serpent’s lair, blood red lips and coal black hair…

Haunting, Dark Fantasy Romance
Odile, Legend of the Black Swan

Perfect book for the spooky month of October! Full of sorcery, spirits and sultry romance.
 Available on Amazon

Happy Wine & Books Wednesday, everybody! This week's pairing comes from the last of my summer tbr list and feature's Author Melissa Mayhue's magical Soul of a Highlander and Lindeman Wine's Savignon Blanc. Both were light, fun and easy to get into *wink. If you love time travel romance with fae magic and sexy highlanders, then for sure give Mayhue's Daughters of the Glen Series a try. Happy reading and don't forget the wine!

Nine years ago, Faerie Magic saved Mairi MacKiernan at the cost of her dreams of happiness, snatching her from her life in 1272, and depositing her in the twenty-first century. Now, she must save the last Daughter of the MacKiernan family...who was murdered in 1295. Transported back in time at her request, Mairi finds herself captured by the same evil men as before! Is this the price the Faerie Magic requires of her this time?

Ramos Servans has dedicated his dreams to service as a Guardian, but when he discovers the evil unleashed on the Mortal Plain by his father and their people, he swears he will atone by ridding the world of Nuadian deceit. Part of his mission involves rescuing a lovely Highland lassie, and in the passion that grows between them, Ramos and Mairi find a new dream.

But falling in love can be dangerous when Faerie Magic is involved. Dreams may not be the only cost....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011UJMLG

From my Review:

This is my first read from this series and this author and now I want to read the rest. I loved Ramos and thought Mairi was a very cute character. The intrigue kept me reading and the romance was sweet.

Pale, cold mistress of the serpent’s lair, blood red lips and coal black hair…
 
Enter the world of the Black Swan, a dark and seductive tale where things are not always as they seem. Odile is the reviled villainess of Aarroughac, a castle inhabited by the evil wizard, Count Rothebart. After a sinister magic sweeps through the land and results in death, Odile is accused of the crime. Von Rothebart vanishes, leaving her to face the wrath of an entire kingdom alone until a mysterious stranger with powers of his own comes along.  
 
With vengeance as his guide, Lord Azarus di Caspari hunts an ancient curse. When he crosses paths with the Black Swan of legend, he immediately makes up his mind to use the temptress’s magic for his own devices. But when Azarus learns that the story of the sorceress might not be true, disappointment gives way to desire. Spells are cast and secrets are revealed, but can love exist in the shadow of two dark hearts such as theirs?
 
Are the tales of the Black Swan true? Is she a murderess and an evil sorceress to be feared or is she the only thing standing between true evil and the fall of a kingdom?  Only time will tell as the magical story of the Black Swan unfolds.
 
 
Odile, Legend of the Black Swan is a stand-alone fantasy, fairy tale romance inspired by the legendary ballet, Swan Lake.
 
An Enchanted Lands Romance.
 
18+ This adult fairy tale contains sex and some violence. If these things offend you please don’t buy this book.

Happy Wine and Books Wednesday! Summer here in Colorado is winding down now, yet I still have a sultry, steamy pair for your romance reading pleasure. Today's wine / book pairing is brought to you by Author M.L. Broome's absolutely delicious reverse age-gap romance, Alchemy Unfolding and William Hill Estate's Savignon Blanc. This pair has all the California feels. Get lost in the sun and the surf with Addy and Josh (Have I mentioned Josh yet? *Alert: perfect book boyfriend material here! ) Check out my review and buy links down below then go grab up that last bit of summer and sit back with your own copy of Alchemy Unfolding and a glass William Hill. Happy reading!

Who loves a steamy reverse age gap romance with a sexy as sin surfer? Who doesn't? Come meet Josh, your next book boyfriend.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
Thank you, John Lennon. You certainly have me pegged. 
I had a plan for my life and it did not include walking in on my boyfriend schtupping his secretary. 
What’s a girl to do? If you’re saying to relocate across the country, ding-ding-ding—we have a winner. 
My new plan was no plan at all. Just work and fun in the San Diego sun. I wasn’t  looking for love but it found me, regardless—in the form of a gorgeous, golden surfer. 
The only issue? He’s thirteen years younger. Oh, and his friends hate me. 
And, because the universe has a warped sense of humor, my ex just transferred to my San Diego hospital, gunning for a second chance after his illicit tryst went south. 
So many choices, so little time. Do I follow my heart and veer into unknown territory or return to the path I’ve always known?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B089XPGHVB

From my review:

M.L. Broome's Alchemy Unfolding is a sweet, steamy, age-gap romance. I haven’t read very many age-gap romances, but this one drew me in right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. Broome’s writing is excellent and Addy’s inner monologue had me chuckling more than once. Her character has quite a few confidence issues that cause obstacles for her and Josh, along with other outside influences that test their relationship, in the form of nasty exes and jealous friends. It was kind of a roller coaster ride, but that just made the hea all the more satisfying. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Would recommend to contemporary romance readers.

The Tides of Atlantis books got to go to the beach! Here's a reader photo of all three books in the series lounging on vacation at the beach.

Happy Wine and Books Wednesday! I have a great pairing for you all today, especially, for you mythology lovers out there. You know how much I love Greek mythology in my fantasy romances so I'm super happy to introduce you to paranormal romance author Carly Spade and her new book, Hades. This mythology re-imagining goes perfect with Carmen Stevens' bottle of Shiraz so grab a copy of Hades today and pour yourself a glass for a fun adventure in mythology romance. Cheers!

Stephanie Costas has always had a passion for humanity. As a digital forensics examiner, she fights bad guys from the technical front. When a closed cold case is dug up, she finds herself becoming consumed to set things right. No amount of eighties music or repeated viewings of her favorite movie Dirty Dancing were enough to distract her. She needed a vacation in the worst of ways.

When she set foot in the gorgeous tropical resort in Greece, she had no idea she'd meet a man claiming to be Hades, god of the Underworld. And she certainly had no idea that he was telling the truth. Her Greek vacation was about to become very...interactive.

A Hades/Persephone re-imagining.

**The Contemporary Mythos series will feature a different Greek god in each book re-exploring their myths and combining contemporary romance tropes. Though they will all stand alone, the stories will also intersect for those that read them all.**

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B089ZZ1YMZ

From my review:

This was such a cute twist on the Hades of Greek myth. I really enjoyed what Spade did in her re-imagining of the god of the Underworld. Stephanie was an adorable character and it was fun watching her work her way into the gruff god’s heart. Would recommend to paranormal romance readers who enjoy mythology stories.


**Be sure to check out my new Of Myths & Monsters section here on the website for fun mythology facts and to see how I've used mythology and folklore in my books.

Happy Wine and Books Wednesday! I'm back after a crazy week of getting the kids ready for the start of school and my husband having a minor surgery. All is well now, we're all getting back into the swing of things and I'm happy to have a moment to get this week's Romance, Reads & Wine post up. This lovely end of summer pairing is brought to you by Auhtor Shanna Swenson's Abundance, the first book in her contemporary cowboy romance series and indie wine maker David Akiyoshi's absolutely wonderful Viognier. I enjoyed both so much and I'm sure you will too. As the summer here in my neck of the woods comes to a close, nothing could be sweeter than a sultry Texas romance and a delicious glass of wine to sip as I read. Grab up a copy of Abundance, pour yourself some Viognier and join me. Buy links and my review of Abundance are down below. Happy reading, everyone!

Misfortune comes to us all in some form...

For Natalie Cameron, misfortune came in the most unspeakable way imaginable, now she must try and rebuild her life while fighting her own dark demons, the town speculation, her arrogant brother and her raging desire for the kindest man she’s ever met.

Natalie Cameron, along with her young daughter, Dallas, is on the run from a past that threatens to destroy her sanity. When her car breaks down on the side of a two lane Texas road, Jack Kinsen, her parent’s ranch foreman, unknowingly comes to her rescue. His kind eyes and sincere charm make him an easy target for Natalie’s trust issues and pent-up aggressions. But it doesn’t take her long to realize that her attitude towards him has a lot less to do with jealousy and a lot more to do with the fact that his closeness sets her on fire like no one else ever has. His sincerity begins to disarm the front she guards so vigilantly. If she isn’t careful, she could find herself lost to him….

At first glance, Jack Kinsen is fascinated by Natalie Butler Cameron and her child with her most curious gift. Natalie is the beloved only daughter of Jack’s employers and he’s not only baffled by her indifference to him but mystified by her unwarranted anger. She starts to awaken something primal within him, but will his compassionate nature be enough to break down the walls she hides behind or are her wounds simply too deep to heal?

Just as Natalie’s fate begins to turn around, unknowing danger lurks on the horizon. Natalie's disturbing past is about to make an unexpected return...and with vengeance.

Abundance is a charming novel that will sweep you away with romance, drama and suspense as it expresses the depth of raw human emotion and the strength it takes to overcome tragedy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HDRY4DR

From my review:

A sweet, steamy, dramatic Western Romance. This story was heartrending. I was a little concerned in the beginning by Natalie’s treatment of Jackson, but as the story developed and her past terrors were revealed, it became understandable. I really fell in love with Jackson’s enduring, loyal, cowboy hero persona and I was really happy to see things work out for the two of them. Great first story set in this small Texas town!