Mallory Soto, Author at EverAfter Romance

Author Archive

Guest Post

Guest Post: A Guide to Vampires from Juliette Cross

Mallory Soto
Apr 04, 2017

The first time I saw the 1980s flick Lost Boys, my teenage heart raced with excitement and was thoroughly stolen by the dark and broody Jason Patric. From that moment on, I was hooked to the vampire romance. And while there have been dozens of adaptations of the beautiful monster—from sensual to beastly to kickass to sparkly—they all possess this indefinable allure we can’t resist. Though our favorite vampires fall under more than one category, let’s break it down and look at the different types and why we love them.

The sensual seducer. This falls into the category of Lestat or another of Anne Rice’s vampires who lure their prey to the dark with sensual promise, then bleed them dry. This vampire’s ageless beauty and magnetic power is potent. The victim of their seduction can lead to either their death or the most powerful love of all. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the count’s powerful hold over his beloved Mina pulls her into his dark embrace, exactly where she longs to be.
The wounded monster. The one who is haunted by a tragic past and heartbreak and who uses his power to seek vengeance on his enemies. I can’t help but think of Dracula Untold in which Vlad III (played by the lovely Luke Evans) becomes the monster to save his family and his people. Of course, it has tragic results, but he pounds his enemies into dust—literally—for what they’ve done.
The sparkly protector. Okay, okay. Let’s talk about it. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga introduced a brand new kind of vampire—the sparkly, vegetarian type who prefer to live nobly among humankind. Whatever you may think of the series, one thing is for certain. Meyers developed a unique, original vampire who, in my humble opinion, is a heroic, noble kind of beast. And I find him delicious, especially when Edward is fighting off temptation and losing. 😉
The kickass warrior. Hell yeah. This happens to be my favorite. You can find him in any number of fabulous book series. Dmitri and Viper in Nalini Singh’s The Guildhunter series, Lucan and fellow hotties in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series, J.R. Ward’s The Black Dagger Brotherhood, and on and on. These guys are super alpha and deadly as ever. There is no subtlety to their allure. It’s a punch to the gut that melts right down into your panties. These vampires make for one sexy, action-packed, intense love story.

Cover Reveals

COVER REVEAL: ON THE LINE by Stina Lindenblatt

Mallory Soto
Mar 17, 2017

I’ve got to be honest, we’re a little thrilled about revealing this one. We love Stina Lindenblatt, and do you know what we love almost as much as her? A good belly button. Welcome to Ice Hockey Romance, the belly button capitol of the Romance cover world. And this particular cover might be our favorite. Fill your eyes with this beauty below and don’t miss On The Line, out November 7th, 2017!

Guest Post

Guest Post: Cindi Madsen on Her Very First OTP

Mallory Soto
Mar 17, 2017

In my new release, Operation Prom Date, my heroine Kate is all about fandoms and shipping and OTPs (One True Pairing, if you’re not sure what that is). It’s basically the couple that you read about or watch on TV, and you start yelling at the characters to kiss already. The couple that makes you a little crazy, to the point where if someone disagrees with you or tries to say they should be with someone else, it might get ugly.

Here’s a small excerpt from when they first talk about ships:

“I ship Olicity the hardest.”

“‘Ship’ them?”

“I want them in a relationship. Like I’d put them in a ship together so they’d be forced to see they’re perfect for each other, bribe the writers to get them together, ship them. Partnership, friendship, please-God-put-them-in-a-relationship-already ship them.”

“Oh-kay.”

Exclusive Excerpt

Exclusive Excerpt: SNAPDRAGON by Kilby Blades

Mallory Soto
Mar 16, 2017

Cold? Colder than it’s been in, oh, all winter? Warm up with this fantastic excerpt from Snapdragon by Kilby Blades!

Michael ushered her to his car—a dark gray Maserati that suited him somehow—and tucked her safely inside. She hadn’t noticed until after he closed her door that in place of formal shoes, he wore black and white Converse All-Stars. This detail made her smile.

She watched him discreetly for several minutes as they sped down city streets. From the reverence with which he handled his car, and the obvious enjoyment with which he drove it, she got the sense that he was not just another handsome boy with an expensive plaything—he had a gentle way of handling anything he touched, and seemed like the kind of person who treasured his possessions.

Yes, Darby realized. There was something different about Michael. Already, she had a tender curiosity about him. She thought back to their easy conversation on the beach—she liked smart people who knew how to have a good discussion. Even their small talk about wedding gropers and fake engagement rings had been refreshingly real. She recalled the chemistry in his hotel room, also surprisingly reactive. She was already looking forward to the end of the night.

“What?” When he asked, she knew she had been caught watching him.

“The way you’re touching your car…I think I’m getting a bit jealous.”

The corner of his lip quirked up. “I thought we said no jealousy.”

“We agreed that our jobs came first, but we never actually agreed on rules,” she pointed out.

“Should we?” He shifted gears and glanced over at her as they turned south onto Lake Shore Drive.

“Maybe there’s only one…” she mused. “No hard feelings about competing priorities.”

“Is that enough for you?”

She thought back to how inflamed she’d been at his comment about women being biologically incapable of not wanting commitment.

“Still think you’re going to break my heart?” Darby teased.

“Maybe I’m worried you’ll break mine.” His mouth widened into an even fuller smile. He smiled a lot. Working in medicine meant Darby was often surrounded by illness and despair. She appreciated that Michael seemed happy, albeit a bit intense.

“How about this? We promise each other that when it ends, it ends in a single word—whether that be tonight or a year from now. No awkward confrontation. No messy breakup talk. That’s the shitty part anyway, right? We agree to keep it fun and simple. And, when it stops being fun, or stops being simple, it’s over.”

“Sounds sensible.” There was hesitation in his voice.

Q&A

Q&A: Sabrina Sol of DELICIOUS SATISFACTION

Mallory Soto
Feb 28, 2017

Have you ever clicked with someone just based on their OTPs? Well, now you have. Don’t miss this fantastic Q&A with Sabrina Sol, author of Delicious Satisfaction!

FAVORITE MOVIES:

What are your five favorite movies with romance or romantic elements?

When Harry Met Sally

The Proposal

Sense & Sensibility

Sixteen Candles

Clueless

Describe your favorite scene from each one (you can include a Youtube clip if you want as well).

When Harry Met Sally: My favorite scene is at the end when Harry finds Sally at the New Year’s Eve party and lists out every weird reason why he loves her.

The Proposal: Any scene with Ryan Reynolds in it. But if I have to pick just one it’s the one where he tells her to marry him so he can date her. And then they kiss!

Sense & Sensibility: Although I do love the romance between Elinor and Edward, I’m always more invested in the unrequited love that Colonel Brandon has for Marianne. So my favorite scene is when Marianne wakes from her coma and thanks him for bringing her mother. That scene is a glimmer of hope that she will finally give him a chance!

Exclusive Excerpt: CADE’S LOSS by Selena Laurence

Mallory Soto
Feb 27, 2017

Welcome back to the post Oscars work grind? Need something to take the weird taste of confusion out of your mouth? Reward yourself with this peek at Cade’s Loss by Selena Laurence!

There was nothing that soothed Cade’s battered soul more than the ocean. He’d been that way as long as he could remember, spending every available moment at the beach, in the water, following his dad from wave to wave until he’d been better on a board than the old man. As he looked at the water now, he could almost see the outline of his dad’s form, riding the long tail of a wave midway out, sun on his hair that was the exact color of Cade’s, water spraying on his tan skin, weathered from the years of being outdoors. The familiar ache that was his companion so much of the last six years caught him like a hoof to the gut, and he swallowed, tasting the lime and tequila in the back of his throat as he blinked the painful image away.

And that was when he saw her. She was leaning on the glass wall that ran along the edge of the deck, her blonde curls blowing in the light breeze that came off the water. She had on a sundress, white cotton, like a little girl’s, but it was backless, tiny straps running over her slim shoulders, and with the sun shining through it, the long skirt was nearly transparent. He could see enough to know that she was wearing thong underwear or none at all, and that her legs were long and lean, curved in all the right places.

“Why Being a Rake is a Total Bore: The Incredible True Confession” by Ingrid Hahn

Mallory Soto
Feb 20, 2017

Mistress Hahn was supposed to entertain you today, but she sent me an urgent message begging for help.

The timing could not be more perfect. I have been longing to set the record straight on a number of matters pertaining to what is really involved in maintaining a less-than-sterling reputation. I most certainly am not soliciting your sympathy. I simply wish for you to understand that it’s not as effortless as it seems.

Carousing. Everyone uses that word. Does anyone know what it actually entails? Making merry is all well and good. Lively company is a fine thing. To a certain extent. But a man reaches a certain age, and the lure of a good book by the fireside with a fine glass of wine becomes more appealing. I know. It was a strange realization for me, too. At the age of eighteen, nothing sounded more dull. At twenty-five, I was more compassionate toward the old men who found pleasures in such things. A few years later—I won’t say how many—and I became that old man myself, decades earlier than anticipated. Or I would liked to have done, had I not had a reputation to maintain.

Which brings me to what it takes in maintaining one’s reputation with women. Let me think. All right, I won’t lie. I can’t find any downside to this one. If a woman seeks my company with certain expectations of what I might provide for her…never mind, let’s skip this one.

Horseflesh. You must have an intimate knowledge of all the fastest horses in the country. You must be able to detail who owns which animals, who bought which horse when and for what price, and all the particulars therein. I myself like horses very much. Not so much as my dear friend, the Earl of Corbeau, but I do like them. But sometimes a man wants to enjoy the company of his animals without being surrounded by young Corinthians in their finest, carefully appointed plumage who want the opportunity to try besting you to prove themselves.

Guest Post: Heather Van Fleet’s Top 5 Obsessions

Mallory Soto
Feb 17, 2017

Just what we needed: A list of really tempting things to distract us all weekend from a Romance author we love.

We’re sharing the wealth with these obsessions from Heather Van Fleet.

5. Pretty Little Liars

I was late to the game when it came to this show. My oldest daughter, who loves it to pieces, kept pushing it on me, wanting to talk end games and ships and what not. So, toward the beginning of last year, I believe it was during spring break, I sat down and watched every single season and episode of this series just to make her happy. In the end, my eyes were bleeding from all the twists and coupling off, but…color me addicted. I’ve not read any of the books in the series (shame on me, I know) but I’d say this is good enough for a middle-aged Mama like myself.

4. Outlander
Not sure if I’m more obsessed with the show, or with Jamie, but hey…I’m on this bandwagon for life. These books and the TV show have turned into a pop culture phenomenon and I, personally, can’t get enough of it. Every Saturday night, I sneak out of my house and drive the ten minutes to get to my parents’ house just so I can watch the show with my equally as obsessed Mom. We curl up, eat some popcorn, and turn off all the lights just to get the theatre ambiance whenever we’re watching. Every week is a surreal experience that I keeps me coming back for more, though I know what’s about to happen. Most of all, it gives my mom and me time to just hang.

Guest Post: Lise Arin on Her Favorite Kinds of Stories

Mallory Soto
Feb 14, 2017

Among contemporary novels, my favorites are always set sometime in the past. I just can’t get interested if the setting is one that I recognize and can judge for myself. It doesn’t seem compelling to me to hear what my peers have to say about the world that we share. I consider myself to be an astute observer of human nature and of culture, of our current way of life. I don’t need to be inside my neighbors’ heads. Life would be unbearably noisy if I didn’t content myself with my own thoughts. Likewise, I consume the news, but never the op-eds. I form my own opinions. I watch movies and episodic television, but never read reviews. What I seek is an escape from the world that I know, as well as anybody can.

Historical fiction takes me on an incredible journey back in time, to the past – a foreign country, to be sure – where everything is mysterious, from the most enormous political questions of the day to the most minute quotidian realities. I enjoy descriptions of picturesque or sublime landscapes no longer extant on earth, food no longer eaten, clothing so luxurious it hurts, battles fought and won over issues easy to understand and empathize with. The cadence of obsolete speech charms me; the philosophical discussions of our ancestors weren’t mere parlor games, as they seem to be today, but genuine explorations of the human condition. The stakes seemed higher in the past, and people lived more viscerally, with a greater understanding of what it means to be mortal on this earth.

Deal Alert: Madeline Martin, Nicola Claire, and Kelly McClymer

Mallory Soto
Jan 26, 2017

It is unseasonably beautiful here, which means it’s time to share some unseasonably beautiful steals! Get these great books from Madeline Martin, Nicola Claire, and Kelly McClymer while they’re on sale!

Purchase Online
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
iBooks
Kobo

Deception of a Highlander by Madeline Martin

“A promising debut.”—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Scottish Romance doesn’t get much steamier—or more dangerous—than a spy hunting her quarry, and losing her heart to him instead.

To pay a seemingly impossible debt, Mariel Brandon has become a spy for Aaron, one of England’s deadliest minds. Aaron’s latest mission for the sharp-witted and daring Mariel is to find two people in a heavily fortified castle on the Isle of Skye, a castle headed by the clan MacDonald and the powerful Kieran. Mariel is to seduce Kieran and get him to take her to Skye. If she succeeds, Aaron promises to let Mariel’s young brother go, and to free both of them from their debt. If she fails, her brother will die.

What she doesn’t count on is craving Kieran MacDonald almost immediately upon meeting him. Now Mariel must keep a secret from Kieran—one that could get them both killed—as she tries to form a plan that will save her brother, get her out from under Aaron’s thumb once and for all, and keep her in Kieran’s strong arms forever.

Fearless by Nicola Claire

Nicola Claire’s captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century – brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector…

Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?

Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.

But society is not ready for a female surgeon.

Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna’s downfall.

Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?

Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he’d rather you didn’t know.

But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.

Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.

A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart… just like old Jack.

Purchase Online
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
iBooks
Kobo

The Fairy Tale Bride by Kelly McClymer

From USA Today Bestselling author Kelly McClymer comes a tale of two stubborn hearts locked in a duel between honor and happily-ever-after.

“…filled with original, fresh characters, the necessary bad guy, an overbearing mother-in-law and love thwarted and restored.” — Savannah
“The uncertainty of what will happen next, the lies, the deceit all make this a book you don’t want to put down.” — Eileen

Miranda Fenster, known throughout society as the Fairy Tale Miss because she insists that happily ever afters are possible even amongst the arranged marriages of the Victorian aristocracy, is on a mission. Her goal? To rescue her brother. Her adversary? Simon Watterly, Duke of Kerstone. A man who almost offered for her five years before.
Simon has a mission of his own.

Furious with his late father and disillusioned by the honorable facade of society, he believes that family honor requires the ultimate sacrifice from him. Unfortunately, Miranda is determined to change his mind. Will Simon get his wish or will Miranda make him see he deserves a happily ever after?

1 2 3 … 25 Next »