How awesome is it that we are to our last Featured Author of
the year? It is so hard to believe that
2019 will be over in a few short days and 2020 will be rolling in. How about we finish our year out with a bang
and welcome Melanie James to our Reading Nook.
For most of you Ms James is probably not a stranger. She has brought us some wonderful stories
with her Paranormal Romantic Comedies. These
witches are real women, okay not real in the sense that you can go visit their
house, but their actions and behaviors make them seem like your best group of
girlfriends. They laugh (which we do
with them as it would be rude to just stare, well that and the stories are
absolutely hilarious), they cry, (a box of tissues might not be a bad thing to
keep on hand), and they love (they actually make me a little envious, both of
their tribes and their hot guys).
If you have not read one of these books yet, you are going to
want to grab a copy of Accidental Leigh.
This book is going to make you laugh until you cry and then you will
laugh a little more.
Accidental Leigh: A
Paranormal Romantic Comedy (Literal Leigh Romance Diaries book 1)
Published on June 11, 2014
Author Melanie James
A laugh till it hurts paranormal comedy!
How does a girl become a witch? By accident, of course!
Leigh Epstein is a grief stricken and lonely elementary school teacher that is devastated by the brutal and unexpected death of her true love at the hands of a careless writer. She overcomes her grief by taking matters into her own hands and takes up a little romance writing to resurrect her vampire-werewolf book-boyfriend. Leigh gets more than she bargained for when she discovers that every steamy erotic scene she creates is magically reenacted by her family, friends and coworkers.
In her hilarious first diary, Leigh unwittingly sets her parents up for a weekend dinner party that they will never forget. She has two weeks to find out what her new found magic is capable of. Can she prevent a wild erotic encounter that could devastate her sweet parent’s marriage? What and who else will get caught up in her magic spells?
Read a story so witchingly fun that you won't be able to put it down, and you will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the Literal Leigh Romance Diaries!
This paranormal romantic suspense contains witches, witchcraft, magic, adult language and situations, and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Accidental Leigh is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
How does a girl become a witch? By accident, of course!
Leigh Epstein is a grief stricken and lonely elementary school teacher that is devastated by the brutal and unexpected death of her true love at the hands of a careless writer. She overcomes her grief by taking matters into her own hands and takes up a little romance writing to resurrect her vampire-werewolf book-boyfriend. Leigh gets more than she bargained for when she discovers that every steamy erotic scene she creates is magically reenacted by her family, friends and coworkers.
In her hilarious first diary, Leigh unwittingly sets her parents up for a weekend dinner party that they will never forget. She has two weeks to find out what her new found magic is capable of. Can she prevent a wild erotic encounter that could devastate her sweet parent’s marriage? What and who else will get caught up in her magic spells?
Read a story so witchingly fun that you won't be able to put it down, and you will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the Literal Leigh Romance Diaries!
This paranormal romantic suspense contains witches, witchcraft, magic, adult language and situations, and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Accidental Leigh is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Official published review:
The power of the pen
This book was hilarious! I’m still wiping tears from my eyes
after laughing so hard. The story went smoothly from one absurd situation to
the next with an underlying hint of a real connection. Leigh might be new to
her powers, and a bit of a disaster when using them, but she is stumbling along
with no guidance. I know that this is the only book in the series with a
cliffhanger, but I can’t wait to see if Hunter becomes a permanent side piece,
if the girls and their guys survive their current curse, and if Leigh manages
to get control of her magic. I guess I will just have to grab the next book to
see what happens.
4 stars
A GR BB
And why stop there? Ms
James has created two spinoff series from her Literal Leigh Romance
Diaries. You get to see a little more of
her characters as well as meet new ones and the best part is that you are going
to laugh just as much with these series.
Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation: A Paranormal Romantic Comedy (Tales from the
Paranormal Plantation book 1)
Published to Amazon on June 16, 2015
Author Melanie James
A Laugh Till It Hurts Literal Leigh Romance Diaries Spin-off
Everyone’s favorite witch, Gertie O’Leary, is back! And she has a story of her own to tell.
“One thing I’ve learned about running a shelter for paranormal creatures, you can’t afford to let your guard down. It all started when I welcomed an enchanting new guest to my plantation. Strange things started to happen. Well, more strange than usual. I was caught off guard by some conflicting feelings and it spurred me on to get Brad, the love of my life, committed. To moving in with me, that is. In any case, I was willing to do whatever it took: love spells, black magic, and something so naughty I’d rather not mention it here. Nothing worked out quite the way I planned and I ended up having to go to hell and back just to save my own self! If it wasn’t for Marie Laveau and the rest of my friends, I wouldn’t be able to share this tale with you in my memoir, Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation.”
This paranormal romantic comedy contains werewolves, shifters, witches, wizards, Norse myths, and adult humor. Gertie's Paranormal Plantation is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Everyone’s favorite witch, Gertie O’Leary, is back! And she has a story of her own to tell.
“One thing I’ve learned about running a shelter for paranormal creatures, you can’t afford to let your guard down. It all started when I welcomed an enchanting new guest to my plantation. Strange things started to happen. Well, more strange than usual. I was caught off guard by some conflicting feelings and it spurred me on to get Brad, the love of my life, committed. To moving in with me, that is. In any case, I was willing to do whatever it took: love spells, black magic, and something so naughty I’d rather not mention it here. Nothing worked out quite the way I planned and I ended up having to go to hell and back just to save my own self! If it wasn’t for Marie Laveau and the rest of my friends, I wouldn’t be able to share this tale with you in my memoir, Gertie’s Paranormal Plantation.”
This paranormal romantic comedy contains werewolves, shifters, witches, wizards, Norse myths, and adult humor. Gertie's Paranormal Plantation is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Official published review:
Gertie finally gets her keeper….er partner
This book is so funny you are going to laugh until you cry.
Gertie is so sweet and innocent and too naive for her own good. Especially when
her enabler is not much better, just full of knowledge about today’s world.
It’s a good thing Brad is in her life, if only she can get him to stay. But
first she has to get through some hilarious situations and past the snarkiness
her friends are throwing around. I don’t know what is going to happen next on
the plantation, but I can’t wait to read all about it.
4 stars
A GR BB
Karma Inc. (Karma Inc
Files book 1)
Published to Amazon on July 14, 2015
Author Melanie James
A Laugh Till It Hurts Literal Leigh Romance Diaries Spin-off
Witches, Werebears, and Imps. Oh my!
Waiting for Karma is fine—for the patient. But for the rest of us, it sure would be nice to give Karma a little nudge every once in a while.
Was it one too many dates that turned out to be losers or liars? Have a problem with two-faced backstabbers? And don’t even start with the so-called customer service centers. There comes a day when enough is really, truthfully, enough already. For Kelly and Esmeralda, two snarky single witches, that day was yesterday. After applying their witchcraft to dish out a little magical payback, they realize they have a penchant for the dark art of revenge. And who’s to say a witch can’t make a few bucks with a talent like that?
Doing the odd job was fun and gratifying. Then along came an unusual client with a pitch for an idea, “Karma Inc.-Reality TV.” The witches set up shop in the sleepy little town of Caldron Falls, Wisconsin. By enabling the good citizens to settle old scores, they hoped to transform the town into a virtual coliseum of televised revenge. It didn’t take long before a few inconvenient and unexpected dead bodies began to pile up. To complicate matters, Caldron Falls just happens to have more than its fair share of paranormal creatures, not to mention a Chicago mobster seemingly bent on taking over the town.
Can Esmeralda and Kelly solve the rash of unexplained deaths before they get the blame and end up behind bars? What will Marie Laveau and the Witches Union have to say about this? And as any fool knows, Karma carries a round-trip ticket.
This paranormal romantic comedy contains witches, imps, shifters, and a Reality TV show! Karma Inc contains adult language and situations, and is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Witches, Werebears, and Imps. Oh my!
Waiting for Karma is fine—for the patient. But for the rest of us, it sure would be nice to give Karma a little nudge every once in a while.
Was it one too many dates that turned out to be losers or liars? Have a problem with two-faced backstabbers? And don’t even start with the so-called customer service centers. There comes a day when enough is really, truthfully, enough already. For Kelly and Esmeralda, two snarky single witches, that day was yesterday. After applying their witchcraft to dish out a little magical payback, they realize they have a penchant for the dark art of revenge. And who’s to say a witch can’t make a few bucks with a talent like that?
Doing the odd job was fun and gratifying. Then along came an unusual client with a pitch for an idea, “Karma Inc.-Reality TV.” The witches set up shop in the sleepy little town of Caldron Falls, Wisconsin. By enabling the good citizens to settle old scores, they hoped to transform the town into a virtual coliseum of televised revenge. It didn’t take long before a few inconvenient and unexpected dead bodies began to pile up. To complicate matters, Caldron Falls just happens to have more than its fair share of paranormal creatures, not to mention a Chicago mobster seemingly bent on taking over the town.
Can Esmeralda and Kelly solve the rash of unexplained deaths before they get the blame and end up behind bars? What will Marie Laveau and the Witches Union have to say about this? And as any fool knows, Karma carries a round-trip ticket.
This paranormal romantic comedy contains witches, imps, shifters, and a Reality TV show! Karma Inc contains adult language and situations, and is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Official published review:
Finding a little bit of Karma and a new main squeeze in the
country
I love this book! The motley crew of Karma Inc are a riot!
The more people they pick up along the way, the funnier they get. Not to fear
though, they use their powers for good. Until they meet someone new, but the
crew of Karma Inc won’t be oppressed for long. They root out the evil in their
midst and save the day all while making new friends and finding out that
Werebears are the perfect mates for witches. I can’t wait to see what this
coven gets into next.
4 stars
A GR BB
If you did not know Ms James from her Paranormal Romantic
Comedy series, maybe you have seen her writing in Milly Taiden’s worlds. Her books in the Paranormal Dating Agency collection
are some of my favorites. They fit
seamlessly with her Black Paw Pack books and they lead so naturally into her
Sassy Ever After books from Milly Taiden’s Worlds. Currently she has two books in her Black Paw
Pack series, starting with:
Fur Ever Yours: A
Paranormal Shifter Romance (Black Paw Pack book 1)
Published to Amazon on April 28, 2016
Author Melanie James
The legends and sagas of the Norse tell tales of mystic
warriors, the Berserkers. Heroes with hearts so fierce, loyal and courageous
the Gods endowed them with a supernatural gift—the spirit of the wolf. As the
time of the Gods faded into the shadows of yesterday, the wolf warriors held
fast to their old ways, becoming outlaws in their ancestral lands.
In a new age, in a new land, the packs rebuilt their lives faithful to their sacred ways. In the pack of Black Paw, one man stands above all others, Rafe Erickson. His unquestioned authority and skill have fulfilled all but one part of his destiny, to find his mate. What happens when he learns that his destined mate is bound to the twisted leader of a rival pack?
In the saga of Black Paw, there can be only one choice:
To follow your destiny at any cost.
***This is a paranormal shape shifter romance and contains sexy scenes. If you're looking for smoking hot alpha males you've picked up the right book! This book can be read as a stand alone!
In a new age, in a new land, the packs rebuilt their lives faithful to their sacred ways. In the pack of Black Paw, one man stands above all others, Rafe Erickson. His unquestioned authority and skill have fulfilled all but one part of his destiny, to find his mate. What happens when he learns that his destined mate is bound to the twisted leader of a rival pack?
In the saga of Black Paw, there can be only one choice:
To follow your destiny at any cost.
***This is a paranormal shape shifter romance and contains sexy scenes. If you're looking for smoking hot alpha males you've picked up the right book! This book can be read as a stand alone!
Official published review:
Escaping to destiny
If you are looking for intense emotion and unrelenting
action this is the book for you. The author starts the action with the first
page and keeps it moving until the very end. Mixed throughout she has the
emotional building of relationships with the alpha and his mate, the rest of
the pack, and even the beta and the doctor find a shift in their current
situation. I truly enjoyed this book and I loved the way the author set us up
for future books I can’t wait to read the next book.
5 stars
A GR BB
Her Twisted Tail Pack
books start where all good PDA books start, with an alpha male needing to find
a mate and Gerri stepping in to help him.
Ms James has written 6 books in this series, but I am always on the look
out to see if there will be more. They
start with the perfect lead in:
His Twisted Tail:
Paranormal Dating Agency (Twisted Tail Pack book 1)
Published to Amazon on July 23, 2018
Author Melanie James
Calder Lorenson inherits one hell of a mess when he’s thrust
into the limelight to fill the role of Alpha at Twisted Tail Pack. With
treachery in the ranks, Calder quickly finds himself in over his head. If that
wasn’t enough to deal with, pack law decrees that he must be mated.
With no time to spare, Calder does the only thing he can think of—asks for a little help from a famous matchmaker, Gerri Wilder. Will Gerri be able to locate his mate before the looming deadline? Or will Calder have to face the consequences set by pack law?
With no time to spare, Calder does the only thing he can think of—asks for a little help from a famous matchmaker, Gerri Wilder. Will Gerri be able to locate his mate before the looming deadline? Or will Calder have to face the consequences set by pack law?
Official published review:
Allowed to run into fate
What an auspicious debut for this author into the PDA world.
Gerri is once again put into a position to save the day, not just for these
two, but for the pack that needs a chance to grow and rebuild. I enjoyed this
story and can’t wait to read the next book by the author.
5 stars
A GR BB
As you can see, Ms
James has written so many exciting books and series (which I could go on about
forever), but I am sure that you would rather hear a little bit from Ms James
herself, so let us get right to the interview.
When did you first
realize that you wanted to be an author?
I don’t think I ever
really realized that I wanted to be an author. It just sort of happened. I
wanted to see if I could do it.
How long does it
typically take you to write one of your books?
Depends on the story.
I can write a novella in a few days. Longer books can take a month or better,
depending on how much research is involved.
Do you usually write
one book at a time or do you find yourself working on multiple books as your
muse takes you?
One book at a time.
What is your work
schedule like when you are writing?
Writing, writing
writing, eat, writing, writing, writing, writing, sleep.
What would you say is
your interesting writing quirk?
That I never write at
my desk. I will write on the couch, in bed, at the kitchen table or counter.
I’ve even been known to write in the bathtub, but never at my desk!
Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
From my head. It’s a
very twisted place.
When did you write
your first book and how old were you?
I was 30 ish. I’d
always written stories, but never a book from start to finish.
What do you like to do
when you are not writing?
Anything outdoors in
the summer. Camping, swimming, biking, hiking, traveling. I’m also an avid
reader and if left to my own vices, I would easily read a book or more a day.
What does your family
think of your writing?
They are very
supportive.
What was one of the
most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
My mind can be a very
dark and scary place.
Out of all of the
books that you have written, which is your favorite?
Fur Ever Wicked
What do you think
makes a good story?
Interesting
characters that you immediately fall in love with. A solid story with multiple
twists. I’m a sucker for HEA Romance so I have to have that happy ending.
As a child, what did
you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a
teacher.
What an amazing
writer, for all of the dark and scary places she takes her characters to she
still manages to give them each a HEA we would want for ourselves. Just look at her five contributions to Milly
Taiden’s Sassy Ever After collection. Each
of these books builds on the Black Paw Pack series and the Twisted Tail series,
in fact if you go to her website you
will see they are intermingled in her suggested reading order. You are not going to want to miss out on the
first book in this series (or any of the ones that follow after) okay, okay, I
might be a little addicted to her writing and you may be seeing her books in
our Featured Series posts throughout the year.
But seriously, you are going to want to grab this book:
A Hot Piece of Sass:
Sassy Ever After (Black Paw Wolves book 1)
Published to Amazon on July 1, 2018
Author Melanie James
There’s something very special about Tanner Larsen. He isn’t
your ordinary wolf-shifter. He’s more. Believing he’s been cursed by the gods,
he’s all but given up on finding his one true mate. When he catches the sweet
strawberry scent of his Fated Female, worlds collide and ancient legends are
revealed. Tanner discovers that his curse may be the only way to save his mate
when a rogue wolf tries to destroy the lovers’ destiny.
Official published review:
Never Hesitate
This book brings us a new look at Black Paw Pack and the
wolves who live there. These two characters had to learn the hard-way not to go
against their nature, lucky for them they had a bit of divine intervention
before they lost everything. There was so much action in this book and more
than one revelation of things to come in the future. I’m looking forward to
reading the next book.
4 stars
A GR BB
Before we go, here is
just a little more information about Ms James and her social media links. Be sure to show her the love and follow her
as well as sign up for her newsletter.
And don’t forget to fill out the form to be entered to win a book by the
author and one of my new pinup girl book pillows for adults.
Happy Reading
Sydney
About the Author
Melanie James, NYT and USA Today bestselling
author of the Literal Leigh Romance Diaries writes laugh-out-loud
romantic comedies, steamy paranormal romances, and erotic contemporary romance
books that will have you reaching for the ice. With over 25 books to choose
from you are sure to find many additions to your romance library. Melanie is married
to a wonderful man who supports her dreams and goals. She has two children,
three step-children, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and an adorable grand-baby.
Melanie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Letters & Science degree. Melanie is working on her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Wisconsin Stout.
Melanie graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Letters & Science degree. Melanie is working on her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Wisconsin Stout.
Author’s Website: https://www.authormelaniejames.com
Author’s Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieJames/
Author’s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8109273.Melanie_James
Author’s BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melanie-james
Author’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniejamesauthor/
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I enjoyed getting to know this author through your interview. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to read my blog. I am glad you enjoyed the interview. Look for more in the year to come. :-)
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