I'm off to RWA in DC

The group of authors I'm traveling with this week is leaving today for Washington DC and the annual RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference. I'm looking forward to hanging out with lots of writers. It always gives me inspiration in my writing.

I'll be signing on Wednesday night for the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing. :) Check it out if you have the chance.

Also, we'll be sightseeing in our nation's capital. I think we're going to the Spy Museum. Should be interesting. :)
If you're in the area...stop by the signing Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
L

New in print at Amazon or B&N: Rogue's Run

New in print, Rogue's Run: Galactic Gunslingers 1 by Lara Santiago.

Purchase at Amazon click here

Rogue's Run
Galactic Gunslingers 1
Blurb:
[Menage Amour 48: Futuristic Romance with Menage a Trois elements, M/F/M]

Abigail Deveronne thought the worst thing that had ever happened to her was marrying Myron Smedly, until she woke up next to his dead body. Her odious childhood guardian promptly sends her across the galaxy to a second marriage by proxy.

On the way to her next marriage, the space craft she's on breaks down on Planet Delocia and the vile pilot insists she must obtain a repair component at the local Supply Hut. Abigail gets more than she bargained for when she traded "companionship" for a needed part to continue her journey.

Transport captain, Jesse Pelland, journeying to his primary ship after a clandestine business meeting, crash lands on planet Delocia and ends up bound in matrimony to a sheltered, young widow with numerous secrets. But it's her almost hidden rebellious streak he can't wait to explore.

A passionate bond develops on the trip to Abigail's home for new proxy documentation. Jesse explores the possibility of a relationship. Until they land and she's accused of murdering her first husband.

Read Excerpts HERE

Purchase at Barnes & Noble

Retro Release: Just One Embrace

Retro Release of Just One Embrace July 9, 2009!
15% off at Siren BookStrand until July 23, 2009


To Read excerpt or purchase Just One Embrace


Just One Embrace
The Tiburon Duet 2
by Lara Santiago


Blurb:
Crag of Tiburon exiles himself on Earth, guilt-ridden after losing his life partner in a tragic accident. One night, he steps in to aid a distressed Ellie Granger.

Daring to take a chance once in her life with a fascinating stranger, Ellie requests one night with Crag, resulting in an evening of incredible passion. They part reluctantly even as they both acknowledge the relationship can't be permanent. They keep their reason a secret from each other.

However, fate delivers a surprise.

Now, they must find a way to come together, either on Earth or Tiburon, even as treachery abounds and proof of a noble birth is required for their future.

Will Crag give up his sworn duty as Tiburon's Commander for one puny earthling whom he loves more than life itself?

Can Ellie relinquish a life she has fought for so valiantly to love her perfect soul mate?


Professional Reviews

5 Kisses: "Lara Santiago once again mixes two erotic essentials - a hot sexy man and the taste of chocolate. The depth of emotional pain individually experienced by both Crag and Ellie was tangible which only caused their union to be more beautiful and powerful in its ability to heal and give hope. Just One Embrace is an amazing love story coupled with action, adventure and a bit of intrigue. The love scenes epitomize the strong bond developed between these two incredible individuals and are hot enough keep you craving for more. It was also a lot of fun following the story of Gabrielle and Keller from Just a Kiss - both of the stories in this series are exceptional and I highly recommend reading." -- Kerin, Two Lips Reviews

5 Cups: "Ms. Lara Santiago has written a sexually charged story of inter-species attraction. Ellie demonstrates all of the qualities of an independent woman faced with unbelievable obstacles, while Crag displays all of the signs of a man in touch with his feelings. I enjoyed their wordplay, and their sexual encounters were out of this world. I found myself cheering for Ellie and felt all of the suspense and drama of the events that befell her in her quest for the man with the chocolate kisses." -- Kathy, Coffee Time Romance

5 Angels: "Brace yourself, Ms. Santiago has written another wonderful story that's not to be missed. Just One Embrace has steamy erotic scenes and a touch of Sci-fi elements that keep you addicted until the very end. Crag and Ellie spend one passionate night together and now she must decide if she can handle life on Tiburon, or if she wants to be alone on Earth. A manipulative woman wants what Ellie has and would do anything to keep Ellie away from Crag. I enjoyed watching Crag and Ellie fall in love and work their lives out. Thank you, Ms. Santiago, for another super story; I can't wait to see more." -- Becky, Fallen Angel Reviews

4.5 Kisses: "Lara Santiago penned wonderful characters with real emotional depth in this poignant, spicy read that tugs at the heartstrings. From the opening page, she gives the perfect amount of background information so you can't help becoming emotionally vested in her characters. Her world of Tiburon and the physiology of its inhabitants engulf the reader with each exquisite detail. Just One Embrace demands more than just one read! This dreamy book of pure romance and chocolate kisses has earned a definite place on my 'keeper' shelf." -- Shawn, Romance Divas

4.5 Stars: "Just One Embrace tells the story of Crag of Tiburon who was introduced in Just A Kiss. A powerful man on his home world, Crag had to come to terms with a personal tragedy before he could find happiness, especially with a woman from Earth. Even after deciding that he was willing to risk his feelings, he and Ellie are confronted with a vindictive woman, out to steal Crag's power. I really liked these two, especially Ellie. Here was a woman who had all of the disadvantages of life, yet still made a lot of herself. I so enjoyed it when she finally stood up for herself with those around her who wanted to put her down and I fell in love with Crag myself when he helped her. This tale actually addressed several different ideas; the fear that Crag and Ellie felt in regard to falling in love, the struggle that Crag faced when deciding just what was important in his life, and the distinctions of different classes and how Crag and Ellie overcame the beliefs of others and finally learning about their different backgrounds and beliefs and how they came to terms with them. Lara Santiago's Tiburon tales are great stories that I highly recommend, especially for readers who enjoy a little fantasy, a little conflict, and a whole lot of love." -- Trang, Ecataromance

4 Stars: "Reading about this alien world with its funny and unusual societal rules was great fun. Even the anatomical differences were humorous. Orgasms occur while touching lips and males secrete a chocolate flavor. Could anything satisfy puny human females better than sex with chocolate? Crag and Ellie are perfect mates, but this poor couple had so much to overcome to be together. I couldn't help rooting for them as they bravely went about jumping every hurdle placed before them, knowing success wasn't likely even if they defeated every challenge. They couldn't resist each other sexually and their trysts burned up the pages. The story is endearingly touching and will leave its imprint on your heart as well as your face, so be prepared to smile `til it hurts. I was delightfully entertained and undeniable aroused from beginning to end. While it was obvious the first book was about Keller and Gabrielle becoming a couple and undoubtedly contained a lot of world building, I wasn't aware of missing anything while reading this one. Certainly, Just One Embrace by Lara Santiago is a book you won't want to miss." -- Karen H., Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4 Stars: "Santiago blends sci-fi and steamy erotica in this two-book collection [The Tiburon Duet]. The stories will captivate readers looking for something imaginative and different. Cleverly written dialogue brings the characters to life in this entertaining read, and the alpha aliens are out of this world." -- Romantic Times Book Reviews

Retro Release: Just a Kiss

RETRO RELEASE
15% off - sale ends July 17th
Siren: All-Time Bestseller:
JUST A KISS [The Tiburon Duet 1]
by Lara Santiago

[Sci-Fi] Gabrielle stumbles onto an alien craft to escape jeopardy and kisses Keller at his request. But a kiss is not 'Just A Kiss' when you kiss the future king of Tiburon.
"lust, laughs and love...sexy reading!" —Roxanne St. Claire, "5 Stars. Nominee 2006 Reviewers' Choice Award" —Ecataromance, "5 Hot Tattoos" —Erotic-Escapades, "5 Kisses" —Two Lips Reviews, "4.5 Hearts" —The Romance Studio, "4 Stars" —Romantic Times BOOKreviews.

"Lara Santiago delivers in this fast-paced romance. Just a Kiss is a must read for those that love a good love story with a lot of steam." —Romance Readers Weekly: Book Club Selection

Siren: All-Time Bestseller
Fictionwise: #2 Bestselling Romance (6 months)
Ebooks.com: #3 Bestselling Erotic Romance
NOMINEE: Ecataromance 2006 Reviewers' Choice Award


Blurb:
What is the definition of a kiss? Is it universal? What if it wasn't?

Gabrielle runs for her life from a madman and stumbles straight onto the departure platform of an alien ship on its way back to Tiburon, a distant planet two galaxies away.

Keller, the future king of Tiburon, rests on a marble structure, obviously ailing from unseen wounds. He wakes enough from his delirium to plead with Gabrielle for a kiss. So she places her lips on his, kissing him in the only way she knows how. The kiss ultimately rocks her heart and soul and delivers a powerful orgasm directly after as she tastes a rich chocolate flavor.

However, a kiss has an entirely different meaning on Tiburon, and Gabrielle may have just mouth-touched her way into a permanent relationship with the powerful future leader of a planet of aliens.


Sensuality Rating: SIZZLING
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: Novel (39,000 words)

READ EXCERPTS

Retro Release: The Miner's Wife

RETRO RELEASE
15% off - sale ends July 15th

Purchase Link for The Miner's Wife: Click HERE

Siren Classic Collection #1
THE MINER'S WIFE [The Wives Tales 1]
by Lara Santiago

[Erotic Futuristic Romance] Hannah is sold into sexual servitude to a genetically bred stranger and finds love in the arms of her sexy miner. "scorch-your- fingertips sex" —Leslie Kelly, "5 Stars. WINNER 2006 Reviewers' Choice Award" —Ecataromance, "5 Angels" —Fallen Angel Reviews, "5 Hot Tattoos" —Erotic Escapades, "4.5 Hearts. Nominee 2006 CAPA" —The Romance Studio

To read EXCERPTS

I won First Place for Menagerie in Wisconsin!

Two weekends ago I attended the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America's conference in Green Bay.
It was in a word...lovely.
The conference was wonderful and very well planned. The people were amazing, friendly and warm. They made me feel right at home. The hotel was exceptional and nestled in woods off the beaten path.
And best of all...I won first place in the Write Touch Readers Erotica/Romantic Category for my book Menagerie. Woo Hoo!

Check out my award picture HERE.

Would I ever attend this conference again? You bet I would! And not just because I won the contest. I'd recommend it for all the wonderful things it offered. The food was good, the people were awesome and I already can't wait until next year.
I'd like to offer a special thanks to Virginia, Stacey and Donna for making me feel especially welcome.
Wisconsin rocks!
L

WisRWA...here I come!

Today, I'm leaving for Wisconsin and the WisRWA Write Touch Conference. :)

I'm very excited because I'm not only a contest finalist (for Menagerie in the Erotica category), I get to hang out with writers at a conference.
Writers, in case you didn't know, are very cool! :)

Also, you may not know this about me, but I like cold weather. Call me crazy.
Yes, I know I live in Florida, and it's nice, but after spending ten years in Colorado a while back...I miss the cold weather occasionally.

Here are the specifics for the conference...I can't wait.
http://www.wisrwa.org/conferenece.html

L

Movie Monday - Special: Ticket Stub Round Up

I'm one of those people who keeps ticket stubs from the movies that I see. I pull them from my pocket and tuck them into cubbyholes on my desk. I have collected quite a stack of them over probably the last couple of years or so. Probably because I'm half pack rat on my Dad's side. Also it gives me an alibi in case I'm ever falsely accused of anything. But I digress. :)

Anyway...in a recent house cleaning frenzy, I've decided to trash them, but not before I list and rate the bunch here. Indulge my trip down memory lane with my favorite past time. :)

On my scale, 5 Stars is best and means I probably went onto buy the DVD when it came out and conversely 1 Star is worst and I mourn the time and money I lost.

Here goes:

3:10 to Yuma - 9/15/07 - Awesome Western! I give it 5 stars...and I "did" buy the DVD.

Watchmen - 4/9/09 - I wanted this to be a better movie. Too grim and some key good story telling elements were ignored. 2 Stars

I Am Legend - 12/14/07 - Will Smith can do no wrong! Loved it. 5 Stars and I own it.

Beowulf: Digital 3D - 12/1/07 - It was okay. I thought the format was interesting 3 Stars.

Shoot 'Em Up - 9/9/07 - Over the top and graphic in many ways. But I thought the story line was excellent. 4 Stars

Invasion - 8/18/07 - Excellent re-make of a classic! 4.5 Stars

P.S. I Love You - 12/31/07 - I saw this in Arkansas with my MIL. Great movie. 4 Stars

Shooter - 3/31/07 - Great movie. Better than expected. Loved it. 4.5 Stars.

The Spirit - I can't find the stub, but I remember the pain and torment of watching it. The reason it gets one star instead of none is that I liked the comic book look of it otherwise...total Dreck. or is it Bleeck? 1 Star

Crank - 9/3/06 - Better than I expected. Still a few scenes stretched past my capacity for belief. 3.5 Stars

The Dark Knight - 8/9/08 - Excellent movie. Sad because it was Heath Ledger's last movie. 4.5 Stars

X-Files: I Want to Believe - 8/9/08 - I have seven seasons and the first movie on DVD. I thought this was pretty good, but the first movie was much better. 3.5 Stars

The Mummy 3 : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - 8/15/08 - The first two were much better, but I liked this one okay. 3 Stars

Changeling - 11/6/08 - No secret that I went to see this for Jeffery Donovan, but it was an excellent movie. 4.5 Stars.

Valkyrie - 12/26/08 - Tom Cruise is an excellent actor and he was great in this. 4 Stars.

Australia - 12/7/08 - I thought it started out slow, but I liked this movie very much. Plus...Hello...Hugh Jackman! :) 4 Stars

Defiance - 1/19/09 - Loved this movie! Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber...yum! 4.5 Stars

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - 5/1/09 - I loved this movie! Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber...double yum! 4.5 Stars

Star Trek - 5/8/09 & 5/10/09 - Yes. I've already seen it twice. My heart goes pitty pat at the mere mention of this movie. JJ Abrams is a genius storyteller and I give this 6 Stars...because it's my scale and I can if I want to. ;)

What's in your ticket stub collection?
L

How many is too many contests?

Okay, I think I might be a contest slut. I had quite a few books published in 2008 and I've entered quite a number of contests this year as a result. Like double digits. Sigh.
Or maybe I'm just hooked on contests. Or maybe it's a diabolical plan to get my books in the hands of people who might otherwise not have read me. Yeah, I like that answer best. :)

List of my books published in 2008 that may or may not be coming to a contest near you. :)

The Mercenary's Wife
Sins of Their Fathers - with Emma Wildes
Rapture Volume One - with Emma Wildes, Morgan Ashbury, and Gracie C McKeever
Menagerie - a contest favorite. Menagerie has been a finalist twice already. Yea!
Mr. Right
The Perfect Tool
The Mistletoe Mistake
The Prosecutor's Paramour - e-release also in Rapture Volume One
Sex or Suffer

Check them all out at my Siren-BookStrand page HERE
Happy Reading!
L

Wicked Wednesday: Riding Double

[Siren Menage Amour 75: Erotic Western Menage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, light bondage]

Tough as nails Skye Taylor considers love the mother of all four-letter words. She's witnessed too many failed relationships, and has no intention of ever falling in love.

Trent Harris wants nothing more than to show Skye how much he loves her, but with the bulletproof armor around her heart, he can't get close enough. Growing up on a Montana ranch with Skye as his playmate, and now lover, he's willing to take her any way he can have her.

Caleb Jennings knows real when he sees it, and Trent's love for Skye is as real as it gets. Trouble is, his love for Skye is just as real. He knows what they all need is love in the third degree to really spice things up.

These country boys show her how a cowboy stays warm in Montana. Skye will discover just how hot it can get when RIDING DOUBLE.

A Siren Erotic Romance

Riding Double Excerpts and purchase information

Check it out. :)
L

TV Tuesday: Castle

Hey, has anyone been watching Castle? It stars Nathan Fillion as a best selling author who killed off the lead character in his popular crime thriller series and is now shadowing a female homicide detective, Kate Beckett, to get inspiration for a new book series.

It's funny and clever and the dialogue is great...plus...Nathan Fillion has had my rapt attention since Firefly/Serenity.

I've chatted about this show with several of my author friends and we all love it.
Check it out.
L

Movie Monday - Star Trek

Yes...it's true. I'm a Star Trek geek and I adored the new movie. In true Trekkie fashion, I've already seen it twice over the past weekend. lol

JJ Abrams did an awesome and excellent job with this updated, alternate time line Star Trek story. I genuinely hope he's thinking about a sequel already because I am.:)
L

Menagerie is a finalist in the Desert Rose Golden Quill

I'm pleased and very excited to announce that Menagerie is a finalist in the Desert Rose Golden Quill contest in the Erotic Romance category. :)

Here is the link to see all the finalists 2009 DESERT ROSE Golden Quill Finalists.

I'm especially happy since this is the second contest final for Menagerie. :)
L

To read Excerpts or purchase CLICK HERE

Wicked Wednesday: Sinful by Raina James

[Erotic Ménage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, M/M, Public Exhibition] Love and lust spark the moment businessman Dylan Sanders and beautiful dance studio owner Khariss Lloyd meet. But will Khariss’s torrid past scare Dylan away? Or will Dylan get his own sinful desires met with the help of Michael O’Grady, the owner of the city's most wicked sex club?

To read the excerpts or purchase CLICK HERE