WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!!

Okay I’ll just start out by saying this contest was hella crazy. Why?

Last Cover Model Contest, I received about 500 votes, spread out over a two-week period.

This time?

Three times as many!!!  And that was in just 4 days of voting!!  Holy hell, ladies and gents, you were all over these guys!  Ha!  Votes continued to come in up until midnight.

Before I get to the winner (don’t peek!), I want to say thank you to some folks who helped out with this contest and made it a success.

First, to David Wagner, for weeding through all the portfolios submitted for the contest, and narrowing down some smokin’ hot guys.  Damn, they were sexy and I’d have never stumbled upon them without David’s help.  Authors, seriously, check out David’s cover work.  He’s so easygoing, fun to collaborate with AND he has connections to some truly stunning men!

Second, to the four gorgeous candidates – Mickael, Rafael, Daniel and Jason.  Thanks so much for possessing superior genetics and making this contest an absolute blast!  If I could’ve squeezed all four of you onto the cover, I would have!

Third, to my pimps … all the kickass bloggers who helped me spread the word, enormous thanks to each and every one of you!!

And finally, to my readers, thank you for helping me choose the model for Gavin’s book!  I love the fact that you all play a role in my stories – a huge role, since a story’s cover is what draws a reader.  Thanks to you, Gavin now has a (very) handsome face—one I shall drool over, I mean, muse over as I finish writing his book.  If you opted in for it, your name will be included in a Special Contributors page of Soul Enslaved just for stopping in to vote!

Okay, now for the WINNERS of the Rafflecopter giveaway!!!

The TWO winners of a $50 Amazon giftcard, Sons of Wrath Property of Gavin t-shirt and swag are:

SIERRA MCBRIDE

HOLLY COLLINS

The FIVE winners chosen to receive an eARC of The Fallen (publishing in April) are:

STEPHANIE FREDRICK

CYNTHIA B. CLUBBS

MICHELE AVERY

NENA MF

BOBBI-VAUGHN READER

I’ll be emailing all winners with the details!!

Now that we have all that sorted … are you ready to see which drool-worthy candidate YOU chose??

I’m so very excited ….

Very very excited ….

Thrilled to announce that the incredibly sexy

DANIEL SOBIERAY

will represent the face of Gavin for Soul Enslaved!!!

Le swoon!  That wicked smile!  Those beautiful eyes!  That chiseled physique!  Daniel will make one fine-looking Wrath demon … very happy to have him on the cover!

And I had the pleasure of chatting with David this afternoon, brainstorming ideas to make this cover hot hot hot!!  So you’re in for a treat, ladies … as you know, Gavin has his own style and it’ll surely come through in the design we’re planning.

If your guy didn’t happen to win this particular cover—and I’m asking that all voters please be respectful to all candidates in the contest—you still played an enormous role by getting to know the character, spreading the word and taking the time to cast your vote.  And for that, I’m incredibly grateful!  There will more opportunities throughout this series for all of you to own a part of my stories.

So when is Soul Enslaved coming??

I’m working on Gavin’s story as we speak.  I will keep you updated as it gets closer to publication!

In the meantime, I’ll be publishing a FREE short erotic novel, titled The Fallen.  That will come out sometime in April and is the story of Xander, the fallen angel in the Sons of Wrath series.  This book is a standalone and NOT part of overarching story that spans the series.  Keep an eye out for that!

Thanks so much for reading <3

CHOOSE MY COVER MODEL 2014

The votes have been tallied and we're down to TWO smokin' hot finalists for the Cover Model Contest!! Thanks so much to all my email subscribers who came by to vote!!  I know it wasn't an easy choice.  All four these guys were dayum sexy.  Thanks to you, the rest of the world can bite their nails over half as many.

So ...

Wanna know who the finalists are??

Hop on over to the Voting Booth and check them out!  This round is open to EVERYONE.  Tag friends on FB for extra points in the Rafflecopter!!

Hurry ... you only have until March 9th to get your votes in!  Voting booth will close at midnight.  Vote more than once!

GO, GO, GO!!!!!!!

Voting Has Begun!!

First round voting is under way!!

Yesterday kicked off the Cover Model Contest for SOUL ENSLAVED (Gavin’s book).

I’m letting readers select the best candidate from the four smokin’ hotties I’ve narrowed down by some miracle of the gods.

Phew!  Votes are pouring in and I must say, this is getting pretty.  damn.  exciting!!

It’s a good mix at this point, though I refuse to TOUCH these until it’s time to determine the winner.

Email subscribers will get to choose the TWO finalists that everyone will have a chance to vote on (beginning MARCH 6^TH-9^TH, 2014).

Wanna see all FOUR sexy candidates and choose YOUR favorites before the first round voting ends on March 2^nd???

Head on over to THE VOTING BOOTH!

Not signed up for the VIP Email list?  No problem!  Sign up here then get ready to join the fun!!

Cover Model Contest Update!!

It’s that time again!

Pull out your drool bibs, stock up on batteries, shine your computer screens and slip into something comfortable cos it's about to get steamy!

The next book in my Sons of Wrath series is Soul Enslaved (Sons of Wrath #3),  and I decided that, since the first Cover Model Contest was so much fun, why not let readers choose the face of Gavin’s book?

Add SOUL ENSLAVED to your Goodreads shelf:

ADD SOUL ENSLAVED

Anyone who’s read previous SoW books, knows the eldest Wrath brother carries a certain air about him.  Like one reader said to me, “… a man who looks like he can kick your ass and turn you inside out, then adjust his Armani 3-PC like nothing happened.”

I'm not even gonna lie ... I was nervous trying to find a face for his book.  My Pinterest boards were going wild for a while there--like I was subconsciously hoping to mash all the Gavin inspiration together and pinpoint the right guy.

For those who might be new to this CMC thang, you’re in for a treat!  The last Cover Model Contest was tons of fun.

Check it out: COVER MODEL CONTEST 2013

This time, I had some help recruiting these guys.  Huge thanks to the awesomely awesome David Wagner for weeding through nearly 500 candidates and pulling out the best of the best for our beloved Gavin.  I’ll tell you what—I thought it was tough going through all those pics for Logan’s book, but take a well-established and respected photographer’s casting call and you end up with massive sensory overload.

Perfectly carved muscles*~*~*~Chiseled jaws*~*~*~Gorgeous eyes

And some of those poses are just … le purrr.

I should've been a photographer.

I can’t even begin to tell you how f**king excited I am right now!!   Four sexy candidates are on board for this contest and I'd take any one of them for Gavin's book.  Good thing I don't have to choose because every one of them have drool-worthy features. In fact, I wish I could just put all of them on a cover, titled Four Smokin' Hot Guys on a Cover.

No story needed--no one would get past the cover anyway.

So what’s next??

The contest is going to be slightly different this time around.

Readers who are signed up for my VIP Email List are going to get a profile on each of the candidates I have in the pool.  THEY will get to drool over each entry and choose the TWO finalists.

Once the two finalists are chosen, I’ll post the voting booth, just like last time, for everyone to vote for the best man who will represent Gavin in Soul Enslaved.

Not yet signed up?  No problem!  Just click the link below, enter your email address and voila!  You’re in!

YOU WANT to be in, not only for the contest, but also because my email subscribers will get coupons for my books.  And I won't flood your inbox with a bunch of spam either--unless you consider half-naked men with muscled bodies like Spartan warriors to be spam.

In that case, don't sign up.

When is the next Cover Model Contest??

Email subscribers will receive a password to view and vote for the TWO finalists on February 26^th – March 2^nd.

Everyone will have the chance to vote:

March 6^th – 9^th  -- ONLY 3 DAYS!!

I will announce the winner on March 11^th

A cool little swag pack AND a $50 Amazon gift card are up for grabs!

PLUS …

FIVE winners will be awarded e-ARCs of my upcoming erotic novella, The Fallen!

ATTENTION BLOGGERS!!!

I need your help spreading the word about the contest!!  If you’d like to participate in the Cover Model Blast, March 6^th – 9^th please sign up via the form below:

[gravityform id=10 name=CoverModel Contest Blast 2014 description=false]

Okay, recap …

• FEB. 26^TH – MAR. 2^ND:  Readers signed up to my VIP email list will vote on the 4 candidates
• TWO finalists will be chosen
• MAR. 6^TH - 9^TH:  I’ll set up a PUBLIC voting booth right here on the website where EVERYONE and their brother can come and vote for the face of Gavin
• Swag pack and $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs PLUS ARCs of my upcoming erotic novella, The Fallen
• As before anyone who votes will be added to a Special Contributors Page of Soul Enslaved.

GO FORTH AND SPREAD THE WORD!!

I'll have prizes set aside, including giftcards, and flash giveaways for those who share the news and tag friends!

YOUR INBOX IS ABOUT TO GET HOT!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1) here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

 Grab a copy of Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2) here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Here's What's Coming in 2014

Wow! Can’t believe a month has passed since I last blogged.  Okay, I kinda CAN believe it’s been a month because a lot of crazy shiznit has gone down in the last few weeks, sweeping me up like a tornado and tossing me around.

The holidays are always busy, but this year, it seemed like everything was non-stop.  Just before Christmas, we mourned a death, had a family member hospitalized and dealt with a major power outage that affected a good chunk of the state.  After Christmas, we packed up the kiddos and headed down to Texas to visit my best friend.  It was kind of a spontaneous trip – I seem to like those best these days.  But we returned in time to get slammed by a nasty storm that left us buried in a foot and a half of snow and ice.

Just this past weekend, hubs and I drove two hours north of where we live to pick up a new member of the family – our sweet little Labrador pup, Polar, so named for his pale, almost white-looking coat.  I’ve always had big dogs growing up so I was ready to welcome him into our home.  What I’d forgotten is how much WORK those first few days home with puppy can be!

Holy shit.  Like, all the time.

He absolutely kills me with cuteness, but I’m looking forward to getting past the potty training stage.

As a result of all this craziness, I haven’t been online as much as I’d like.  Another big reason for that though, is I’m writing two projects simultaneously, with another in the works.

For those who don’t follow my FB page, I’m finishing up an erotic novella that’s sort of a spin-off from the Sons of Wrath world, titled The Fallen.  This is the story of how Xander came to be a fallen angel.  Back in December, during the virtual release party for Soul Resurrected over at Bitten by Books, one lovely reader asked about him.  I sort of stuffed that thought aside, thinking, if there’s time, perhaps I’ll explore that a bit later.

Ho ho.

I should’ve known better.  Like most of the alpha males floating around in the oversized bachelor pad I call a brain, he refused to be ignored or ‘back burnered.’  So I jotted a few notes down for kicks.  That snowballed into a few thousand words.  That snowballed into a few more thousand words.

Two weeks later, I’m approaching 32K.

I know I’ve said that each book is dark.  Soul Avenged was dark.  Soul Resurrected was darker.  This book is the darkest thing I’ve ever written to date.  Cringe-worthy, in some cases.  Consider yourself warned.

Add The Fallen to your Goodreads shelf:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20429000-the-fallen

So because I like to get the crap news out of the way first, I’ll tell you the bad.  Soul Enslaved doesn’t have the wordage that I’d have liked at this point.  It’s been slowed down by this shiny shiny that I’ve stumbled upon.

Not to worry though, come hell or high water, Soul Enslaved will be in the hands of my editor on the date promised.  I don’t really have a choice there, as she has other clients with deadlines.

Therefore, even if that means I don’t sleep for DAYS and I end up having hallucination of lycan wolves lurking in the shadows of my bedroom, which gets me thrown into a padded room with a cozy shirt that ties at the sleeves, this book is going to be written and delivered.

The good news is, The Fallen will be out VERY soon.

And the even better news??

It’s going to be F.R.E.E.

That’s right!  I’m putting this baby out there for nothing because this was a request from a reader and it’s been a blast to write.

So keep an ear out for that announcement because I won’t be running a huge tour or anything.  Though if there are any bloggers that might want to help spread the word on Release Day, please fill out the form below because I’d LOVE to get your help!  And you get to shout about a free book – that’s always a plus.

[gravityform id=9 name=TheFallen Release Day Blast]

Okay, so The Fallen is coming, followed by Gavin’s story in Soul Enslaved.

I’ve got even MORE news – I’m telling you, the past few weeks have been Cray-Zay.

The second annual Cover Model Contest will soon be underway!!  I’ve enlisted the help of David Wagner, photographer extraordinaire, to help me find some super smokin’ panty dropping hotties that would make one fine looking demon brother.  We’ve already talked about this cover and I can assure you, it’ll be Gavin-worthy.

There are a number of sexy faces on the scene these days, so if you’ve come across someone you’d like me to consider for the contest, post the link to his FB page in the comments below and if he fits the character, I shall check out the goods.  Er, by that I just mean, the level of hotness and muscles.  Not like, you know, the packaged goods or anything.  Here’s an example of a newbie I came across recently:

https://www.facebook.com/AssadShalhoubModelingAndFitness

Ahem. **dabs drool**

Moving on.

The Fallen

Soul Enslaved

Cover Model Contest.

Mark your calendars ...  2014 is gonna be one helluva year!!

Soul Resurrected Scavenger Hunt Winner!!

Happy Humpday! Ordinarily this would be just another Wednesday in my week.

Not today though.

Today it is THE DAY that I get to announce the winner for the Soul Resurrected Scavenger Hunt and FINALLY reveal what’s in that mysterious black box!

After going through the answers, which honestly made me feel like a teacher grading papers – kinda cool – I narrowed it down to a handful of submissions that had 100% correct answers, including the bonus questions!

Man, you guys know your Sons of Wrath trivia!

If you’d like to check out the answers and compare to your own, I’ve uploaded the answer key here (it’s an Excel file):

[wpdm_file id=10 title="true" ]

So as I said, a handful of submissions scored one hundred percent.  Unfortunately, I can’t award this prize to all of them – as much I wish I could because they rock for tracking down these answers!

Instead, I turned to my beloved Random.org to pick a winner for me.

And so … the winner is …

{{drum roll please}}

Miki!!!

Congratulations!!

You’re probably wondering what you’ve won, eh?

Here’s what’s in the mystery box:

1 - $40 Amazon gift card

1 – Limited edition print signed by Julian Christian & Keri Lake

1 – Signed copy of Soul Avenged

1 – Signed copy of Soul Resurrected

1 – Bookmark

And in addition to this, I’ve got a special prize just for you …

First, you’ll need to pick a sLoganism.

Say what?

A sLoganism is your favorite ‘Logan’ line from Soul Resurrected or Soul Avenged.  You know Brother Logan says some messed up shiznit on occasion, well, he also has some sweet melt-your-heart-and-panties lines too.  So take your pick.

Not only will I send you one of the t-shirts, but whatever sLoganism you choose will be included in my Sons of Wrath store for others to purchase!!

Miki, I’ll be emailing you soon with all the details, so keep an eye out for that.

Thank you so much to all the bloggers who participated in the Scavenger Hunt!

And huge thanks to all the hunters who tracked down the answers to the questions!  This was a lot of fun – definitely something I’d repeat.  Although … might have to make the questions a bit more challenging.

The Cover Model Contest is coming up next and trust me, you’ll wanna be signed up to my newsletter because ONLY newsletter subscribers will get sneaky peeks of all those drool-worthy contestants.

Sign up is easy!

Just go here:  http://eepurl.com/HJPHH

Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday!

Soul Resurrected Update!!

Whoa!  Just noticing that it’s been two weeks since I last blogged! Good reason for that though.

It’s been a preeeeeeeetty busy start to July!  First, the cover model results … did y’all see those?  If not, go take a peek because it’s worth looking at the winner’s photo one more time even if you have seen the results:

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

Julian is so … le sigh.

He makes one very sexy muse for this character.  A great pick for the cover.

Okay so that’s one reason why I haven’t been blogging the last couple of weeks, but I’ll get to that in a sec.

Last week was my sister’s bachelorette party and I celebrated with her, friends and family down in Detroit.

Check out the bride-to-be:

 My other sister was also in town and I was VERY excited to hang out with her at my nephew’s birthday party:

 Miss her ❤

So that was my busy weekend with the family.

Going back to the book cover …

Julian’s photo shoot was last Sunday and let me tell you, in the thick of prepping Soul Resurrected for beta readers, I found myself slipping in and out of focus.

So.  Distracted.

Especially when photographer, David Wagner, sent me some images of Julian at the beginning of the shoot.

Holy Hella Hotness.

This cover is going to rock ... so frickin' excited!!

Yeah so much as I tried to concentrate after that, visions of chiseled abs and pecs mercilessly danced through my head.

Then there were the 300 or so additional images that David sent later in the evening that left me … totally done.  Like don't talk or look at me because my eyes are glued to the computer screen for the next hour done.

Good God.  I have no idea how I’m going to narrow it down to one pick.

By some miracle though, I did eventually finish up the final edits to Soul Resurrected and it’s in the hands of some very badass betas with sharp pens.  I hope they tear the everloving shit out of that thing and leave me with a ravaged, bloody mess.

So what’s next??

Well, I’m going to be opening the Official Sons of Wrath Store.

And …

I promised to put together a page for all the handsome faces I’ve stumbled upon during the Cover Model Contest.  So these two will be my focus for the next week while I try not to obsess over the fact that quite a few people are reading my book right now.

*breathes into paper bag*

David and I are choosing the final image for the cover and I’ll be scheduling the Cover Reveal VERY soon!!!

After that, I’ll be putting together some fun stuff for the Soul Resurrected Blog Tour.  Might do something a little different this time … I’ve got some crazy ass ideas floating around my head for that.

OH!!  And remember the sexy Italian model that I chose for Calix's cover?  I'm going to give you guys a little sneak peek of him too!!

I’m also going to be treating August as sort of a NaNo month and will be busting my butt to write Soul Enslaved (Gavin’s book).

All you Gavin fans will be pleased to know that the search for his cover model will begin soon!!

Phew!  Lots coming up ...

But I’m curious to know how YOU guys see Gavin … anyone come to mind when you think of this character?  Actors, musicians, your local Starbucks barista???  This will help me in the narrowing down sexy candidates process.  Not that I'm complaining, but it's not an easy job, ya know?  i kinda want to scoop all of them up and make a big sexy alpha sandwich for the cover.  So give me some input!!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

And The Winner Is ...

Yeah, okay I said I was going to post the results tomorrow, but ya know?

Who’s gonna complain that they’re a day early???

Man, I’ve never been so eager to calculate a spreadsheet full of numbers in my life!!  I attended a wedding on Saturday and all I could think about, aside from the relentless loop of AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long playing in my head (thanks, Cheeks!), was how badly I wanted to get home and do my homework.

For months I’ve been going through portfolios, searching for the face of Logan and now, I finally get to announce him!!

Before I do, just want to quickly thank some people who were an integral part of this contest and made it a successful venture:

To all of the models:

Not just the final five, but ALL the guys (over 200 candidates) who submitted their portfolios. Thanks so much for the daily distraction and for taking an interest in the contest!

To my top 5 candidates

(Michael Ceorgoveanu, Julian Christian, Jon Mahoney, Ajdin Sefer and Adriel)

I had no idea what to expect with this contest.  You guys made it fun and exciting, not just for me, but for readers as well.  Your drop dead good looks combined with your bios and interview responses brought such variety to all the different traits of this character—from cocky bad boy, to Logan’s tortured side.  Thank you so much for taking the time and participating.  And uh … for giving me something to stare at the past few months, of course.  *coughs*

Definitely something I’d repeat.

To the bloggers who helped me spread the word:

Love my pimps!

Booked and Loaded, Bookaroo-Ju, Reality Bites Let's Get Lost, Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews & Goodies, Paranormal Book Club, Prufreads Blog, Book Lovin Mamas, Under the Covers, Reading Between the Wines Book Club, Romancing the Dark Side, Got Fiction, Fictional Candy, Herding Cats & Burning Soup, Talk Supe, Reading Infection, The Drunken Pervy Creepers, The Autumn Review

Thank you so much!

Finally, to my readers:

I wanted to find a way to make you a part of my next book, to give you something fun and entertaining as you patiently await Logan’s story.  Even if your guy didn’t win, you own a part of this story because you got to know the character, you participated, you provided your input, you spread the word and your name will be included in the acknowledgments (if you opted to be included)!

I can promise you that there will be more opportunities throughout this series for all of you to own a part of my stories.  Thanks so much for reading them and giving me a big reason to love what I do.

YOU made this contest a success!!

Okay, on to the winners of the $50 Amazon gift cards and t-shirts:

Congratulations to Elizabeth K. H. and Judith C.!

I also picked another winner from the comments on the voting page for a Sons of Wrath Swag Pack:

Congratulations to Veronica de Luna!

I shall be emailing all of the winners today.

AND NOW …

to find out which sexy candidate I’ll be drooling er, will serve as my muse for book two.

The votes have been aggregated, calculated, obsessed over.

And I’m incredibly excited to announce that ...

JULIAN CHRISTIAN will represent the face of Logan for Soul Resurrected!!

If you happen to recall from his spotlight (did anyone read what I wrote or …) I mentioned that it was this photo that got me all tingly about advancing him to the finalists:

 I can't help it ... now every time I look at this photo, the song pops into my head.  Thinkin' its his badass expression ...

This is good.  Very good.

After all, it was this song that inspired the character.

Guess what?

The genius photographer behind this photo, David Wagner of WagnerLA Photography, will be working with me on the cover design, which means, (not that he needed any help, mind you), Julian will be looking dayum good when it’s all said and done.

I mentioned in a previous post that David also photographed the sexy Italian model who will be the face of Calix in book four.  And um … wow.  I’ll share those as soon as I can.  Excuse me ... *picks jaw up off the floor*

And since Soul Resurrected (Book Two) is slated for fall publication, y’all get to see the final results very soon as I’ll be scheduling the cover reveal next!

HolyHotDamnSomeoneKnockMeTheHellOut.

Gonna need something hard-hitting to tone down my excitement a little!!

Quickly, I’ll just mention that I’m nearly finished with my edits.  I know, I know.  WTF?!  Well, more than anything, I want to give you guys a great story.  I can’t bring myself to throw out a bunch of shite for the sake of a deadline.  So I’m slightly behind but will be handing off the manuscript to my betas next week.

Betas … I’ll be hunting you down soon!

Lastly, if your guy didn’t happen to win this particular cover—and I’m asking that all voters please be respectful to all candidates in the contest—fret not, for there are plenty of books and novellas plotted for this series.  You might just see his handsome face on a future cover!

Gavin’s book is next … and I can’t WAIT to begin looking for the gorgeous face that will represent him in Soul Enslaved.

Thank you again for helping me choose the guy.

All five of the candidates are absolutely drool-worthy, and if left up to me, would've been squished together onto one cover.

Come to think of it ...

What a smokin' hot mess that would've been!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Spotlight: JULIAN CHRISTIAN

About Julian ...

I have a great deal of experience as a model and an actor. I have had formal training as an actor at NYU. I believe my portfolio speaks for itself. I love being in front of the camera for beauty and art of creating something inspiring. I have had appearances on Ugly Betty, The Colbert Report and a FX network series called Terriers. I have done several tv commercials and infomercials for companies including Brookstone, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Cox Communications and LG phones. I have modeled in the past for the likes of Men's Heath magazine, Saks 5th Avenue, Chase, Claiborne underwear, Nikon and others.

Why I Chose Julian as a Finalist:

The obvious?  His jaw-dropping physique and striking good looks.  Aside from that though, this guy has an intense expression that's just incredible.  And if you've read Soul Avenged, you know that Logan isn't a happy-go-lucky guy.  He's mean, brooding and totally alpha.  So when I came across this pic for Julian, I was instantly SOLD:

Now on to the interrogation:

Tell us 3 interesting things about yourself that most would not know:

1. I have a masters degree from New York University in Occupational Therapy

2. I have studied acting and I am passionate about pursuing my acting career.

3. I am a voracious reader. I read anything and everything I can get my hands on. I love alternate history books

What are your interests/hobbies?

I have 2 French Bulldogs whom I love a great deal. I volunteer with the Special Olympics and Ronald McDonald House. I love to surf, snowboard, mountain climb, bike and hike.

Where’s the perfect location for a first date? (can be anywhere in the world—real or fictional)

I would have to say the North Shore on Maui. After a day at the beach surfing or learning how to surf and watching the sun set we would finish off the evening with a dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Mamma's Fish House.

Who is your role model/influence?

I always try to live my life as how Jesus would. I don't always do but it's my goal. Not to judge others, to love my neighbor as much as I love myself.

What do you do to keep in tip-top shape?

I do cardio 4 to 5 times a week and I also train with weights for strength. I also try to eat clean, unprocessed, organic food for about 90% of the time.

Quick Fire Round:

Life motto to live by:  Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

Skiing or Surfing:  Surfing

Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption

Favorite song/band: In a Big Country/ Big Country, second would be Depeche Mode, yes I was a kid in the 80's

Favorite book: The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas, second: favorite 1984 Orwell, third: Animal Farm Orwell

Favorite drink: Green Tea, iced or hot, second is fresh squeezed lemonade

Guilty pleasure: Sushi, vegan ice cream

For more sexy pics,

Follow Julian on Facebook

Julian's Acting Work:

(Click on 'Full Screen'):

Wanna vote for Julian??

You'll be taken to the Cover Model Voting booth!

Bring a friend to increase your chances of winning one of two $50 Amazon gift cards.  Leave a comment on the voting page and you might just score some Sons of Wrath Swag!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Spotlight: MICHAEL CEORGOVEANU

About Michael ...

I am half Romanian and half French.  I do stunts, I'm a thrill-seeker and an adrenaline junkie.

As a model, I have been very fortunate to work with top companies such as Harley Davidson, Stacy Adams, Christian Couture, Divulge Magazine and ICON to name a few..

As an Actor, I have been very blessed to have worked on many different television shows like CSI NY, Deadliest Warrior, How I Met Your Mother, Instant Recall and I have also played the lead in many music videos as well.

WHY I CHOSE MICHAEL AS A FINALIST FOR THE COVER:

Not only does he have a drool-worthy physique, this candidate embodies Logan's rugged persona.  Take a look at his head shot one more time, ladies ... he's definitely got the sexy rough and tough fighter look going for him--a total badass package, complete with tat and a bike.  Check out this pic:

Now on to the Interrogation:

Tell us 3 interesting things about yourself that most would not know:

1. I'm pretty much a straight edge. I don't smoke, do drugs and not a liquor drinker

2. I'm a philanthropist and enjoy helping others who are weak and in need.

3. I look up to Ellen Degeneres as a role model and look to continue her work giving to those in need once I make it as a successful actor.

What are your interests/hobbies?

Classic Muscle cars, Motorcycles, Basketball, Football , All other sports, Music, Movies, Snowboarding, etc...

Where’s the perfect location for a first date? (can be anywhere in the world—real or fictional)

I'm the kind of guy who likes a steady pace and comfortable surrounding where you can be yourself. Like going for a hike and having a picnic or something in that area.

Who is your role model/influence?

Brad Pitt

What do you do to keep in tip-top shape?

I play sports. I've never worked out in my life. It's mostly genetics because I'm Romanian and French and the rest is trying to eat healthy food and playing sports to stay active.

Quick Fire Round:

Life motto to live by: Life is too short, make the most of it!

Skiing or Surfing: Surfing

Favorite movie: Fast 6

Preferred music genre: Rock/Rap

Favorite drink: Corona

For more sexy pics,

Follow & Like Michael Ceorgoveanu:

Michael's YouTube Acting Reel:

Wanna vote for Michael??

You'll be taken to the Cover Model Voting booth!

Bring a friend to increase your chances of winning one of two $50 Amazon gift cards.  Leave a comment on the voting page and you might just score some Sons of Wrath Swag!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Spotlight: AJDIN SEFER

 About Ajdin ...

I'm a 23 year old that was born and partially raised in Europe. Been in the States for a little over 14 years. Got my degree in Business Administration and  currently finishing up my bachelors in Business Management. I love fashion and trying out classic, current, or upcoming styles. Very outgoing person that gets along with everyone. Love playing all kinds of sports and working out. Got experience in international modeling, runway fashion shows, website shoots, model prints, promotional modeling, acting, and also starred in a commercial in Montreal coming out Fall of 2013.

Why I Chose Ajdin as a Finalist:

He has an amazing look, very attractive, and need I point out those perfectly chiseled abs??  But what caught my eye is the 'cocky bad boy swagga' this guy's got goin' on--my favorite alpha trait.  And Logan is a baaaaad boy.  Check out this pic of Ajdin:

On to the Interrogation ...

How do you pronounce your first name?

I-Dean (A & J make an I sound)

Tell us 3 interesting things about yourself that most would not know:

1.  Moved to U.S. when I was 9

2.  Was flown out of country to film a commercial

3.  Have over 30 aunts and uncles 

What are your interests/hobbies?

Gym, hanging with friends, sports

Where’s the perfect location for a first date? (can be anywhere in the world—real or fictional)

Dinner and a movie. Something like Olive Garden, not too fancy for a first date

Who is your role model/influence?

My mom

What do you do to keep in tip-top shape?

Diet and attend gym 5 days a week

Quick Fire Round

Life motto to live by:  You want something? Go get it!!!

Skiing or Surfing: Snowboarding 

Favorite movie:  Probably Happy Gilmore

Favorite song/band:  Jason DeRulo, Chris Brown 

Favorite book:  Don't read much but Catcher in the Rye

Favorite drink:  Coconut Ciroc

For more sexy pics,

Follow & Like Ajdin Sefer:

Wanna vote for Ajdin??

You'll be taken to the Cover Model Voting booth!

Bring a friend to increase your chances of winning one of two $50 Amazon gift cards.  Leave a comment on the voting page and you might just score some Sons of Wrath Swag!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Spotlight: JON MAHONEY

 About Jon ...

I am a 23 year-old strength and conditioning coach based out of Rochester, Michigan. I work at an athletic training facility in Madison Heights that specializes in baseball training. I also do small group and individual training. I am currently prepping for my first NPC Men's Physique Competition on May 25th in Grand Rapids.

WHY I CHOSE JON AS A FINALIST:

Is it shallow to say that bod caught my eye?  I don't care.  Jon has one helluva physique and for those who've read the book - ya know my demon brothers ain't small.  In fact, they're a brood of sexy beasts.  The bonus is that in addition to a great body, Jon's got a handsome face to go along with it.   Let's uh ... take one more look at the body though:

Now on to the Interrogation:

What are your interests/hobbies?

Weightlifting, self-improvement, reading, training dogs, hunting, cooking, and enjoying the company of good friends.

Where’s the perfect location for a first date? (can be anywhere in the world—real or fictional)

I think the best first date is something simple like grabbing a drink or cup of coffee and getting to know one another better.

Who is your role model/influence?

Arnold Schwarzenegger

What do you do to keep in tip-top shape?

I train very hard doing weight training 4-6 days a week, as well as, conditioning and cardio a couple days per week. I am very conscious of my diet and eating healthy.

Quick Fire Round:

Life motto to live by: A real man is a violent one, and masculinity is nothing if not restrained aggression. Philosophers praise manly reason because it evidences self-control – that is, control of our own violent natures. To be a man is to be five seconds away from killing someone

Skiing or Surfing: Skiing

Favorite movie: The Big Lebowski

Favorite song/band: Iron Maiden

Favorite book: The Art of War

Guilty pleasure: Cupcakes

For more sexy pics,

Follow Jon Mahoney:

Wanna vote for Jon??

You'll be taken to the Cover Model Voting booth!

Bring a friend to increase your chances of winning one of two $50 Amazon gift cards.  Leave a comment on the voting page and you might just score some Sons of Wrath Swag!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Know What Begins On Monday??

Back in February, I had this really good idea for my next book:  let my readers vote for the cover model.  YOU buy my books, YOU immerse yourself in my world and become invested in my characters.  Why not let YOU make the final decision?  Really, how often do you get a chance to pick the face for a cover? Sounded great to me! Because I had NO idea what to expect, I decided having it sometime in June would allow me to scramble for a Plan B in the event this one bombed and I was left begging random guys off the street to let me slap them on my book.

Thankfully, Plan A worked out brilliantly.  Candidates rolled in from all over the world, blowing me away with their handsome faces.  By some miracle, I managed to narrow the pool down to FIVE smokin’ hot finalists that I think would capture the look of Logan.  FIVE!!  Out of all those absolutely stunning men.  It wasn’t easy, but I did it.

Still, the contest seemed SO FAR AWAY …

Know what’s crazy?

Spotlights go live next week!!  One candidate will be featured every day, beginning on Monday.  Candidates will be revealed in the order of their teasers.  For example, Teaser #1 will be Monday, Teaser #2 on Tuesday and so on.  A short bio, why I chose the candidate, and interview questions will be included in each spotlight.

Is your trigger finger ready?

Voting will go live on

FRIDAY, JUNE 14th at 6pm EST

Mark your calendars ~ Tell your friends

Every friend you bring to vote gets you one step closer to winning one of TWO $50 Amazon gift cards that I’ll be giving away for this event!

PLUS ...

Every one who votes will be included on a special Contributors page of Book #2.

Voting runs June 14^th – 28^th

You still have time to catch up on your reading and learn more about Logan before you cast your vote!!

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Add Soul Resurrected to your Goodreads shelf:

Cover Model Teaser #4!! #CoverModelContest #SonsOfWrath

It’s happening again … I’ll blame it on the fact that Soul Resurrected is written, in edits, and I can’t really torment my characters much, that I feel the need to take it out on all of you.

My diabolical half has, once again, coerced my (otherwise angelic) self into serving up another inbox teaser from the Cover Model Contest.  By now, you know the drill:  a cropped, blurry, pixelated, ripped body—cruel on my part, I know.

I’m certain you haven’t even bothered with my ramblings this time and have scrolled straight for the goods.

For those who haven’t bailed on me yet, thanks for sticking it out.  You have incredible willpower because, yeah, I’d have skipped the first half of this blog post too and zeroed in on what’s really important here.

I'll keep this brief.  A reminder:

JUNE 10-14   COVER MODEL SPOTLIGHTS (Get to know these guys)

JUNE 14-28TH  THE VOTING BEGINS!!

And just for stopping in to vote, you'll not only exercise the power to choose my next cover model, I'll also include you in the acknowledgments of book 2 on a special 'Contributors' page AND you'll score VIP access to nab the book before its released!

I’m still going through all of the entries, as they continue to come in.  Keep in mind, the contest runs until June, meaning there will be lots of perfectly sculpted abs and pecs (and biceps ... mmm) to keep my salivary glands in working order.  And lets not forget those lady-killing smiles to go along with them!

Sa-woon!

Oh wait … you guys haven’t seen those yet.  Sorry.  *snicker*

I’ll keep at it though, because I want to give you one kickass cover for the next book.  One you’ll hold in the palm of your hand, biting your lip as you ponder what exactly a washboard stomach tastes like.

All right.  Enough of my blah-blah-blah.  I know what you really want.

Believe me when I say, it hurts to have to mess with these pics.

Here's today’s teaser:

And if you're reading this at work, make sure your boss doesn't catch you licking the screen …

Le sigh.

Somewhere in the world, this body, hidden beneath a perfectly normal t-shirt, is leaving behind a wake of distraction in every female he passes.

(Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/swooning%20gif )

The Cover Model Contest runs until June 7th and YOU will vote on the final guy for the cover.  Book two is Logan's story.  Want to know more about him?

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Teaser #3!! #CoverModelContest #SonsOfWrath

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I have another finalist for the Cover Model Contest. First though, a little blah blah blah and then I’ll give you what you came here to see.

The entries continue to trickle in for this contest—from all over the world, which is actually pretty cool.  The challenge is weeding through all these entries to find ‘the one’ most aligned with my character from book two.

This is not an easy task.  Sure, it sounds fun as all hell to drool over chiseled bodies and handsome faces.  The fact remains, I’m on a mission to find the most fitting guy for the cover.  And I can’t speak for all writers, of course, but I happen to be one picky biotch when it comes to my muse.  So to have found four suitable candidates is nothing short of a miracle.

I mentioned it before, but here is what I have in mind for this contest:

During the week of JUNE 10^TH – 14^TH, I will be spotlighting the candidates.  This is when you’ll FINALLY get to see their faces in addition to those muscly bods.  (I promise to lock away my inner tease who likes to torment you by blurring and cropping the pics).  They’ll provide more pictures, bios, as well as links where you can like/follow them and get to know who these guys are before you vote.

Voting will commence on JUNE 14^TH and continue through the 28^th.  I’ll be running a giveaway at that time as well, and anyone you bring along with you to vote will increase your chances of winning.  So if you KNOW someone who likes paranormal romance, tell them to check out Soul Avenged to get themselves all cozy and acquainted with this character before the voting begins!  And if your friend pops in to vote, you’ll score a bonus entry into the drawing.

Okay okay.  Enough with the deets.  Let’s move on to the candy, shall we?  You know the deal—cropped, blurred.  Sorry!  I promise you’ll see much more in those spotlights.

I happen to know today is his birthday too, so let's show him some love.

I give you today’s teaser …

Too bad you can’t see the cute smirk to go along with this pose.

*evil, taunting laugh*

Hot DAYUM.

Oh yes, that's ink on that muscled bicep!

No doubt, this guy is raising temperatures wherever he goes ...

(Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/fanning%20self )

The Cover Model Contest runs until June 7th and YOU will vote on the final guy for the cover.  Book two is Logan's story.  Want to know more about him?

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Contest Teaser #2!!

Ever get in one of those really wicked moods?  The kind that insists you stir up a little trouble? Yeah, I’m feeling that right now … so I decided to channel this mischievous energy and torment all of you with another teaser for my Cover Model Contest.  haha!

I’m telling you, somewhere deep inside of me is a dark and deranged scientist just itching to escape and raise some hell…

After all, it takes a twisted mind to morph a perfectly good photo of a muscled body into a maddeningly blurred version of the original.

Who does that?!

Only a crazy person.

But in my defense--again--can’t show off these tasty mancandy treats until the day of the contest, so you’ll just have to salivate over what little bits and pieces I can offer until then.

I promise you’ll not be disappointed when it comes time to vote.  I’ve been toiling away, hand-selecting the finalists from over 100 entries that I’ve received over the last couple of weeks.  And they keep trickling in!  Remember, this contest runs until June, people!

*sigh*

Say what you will, its NOT easy picking through images of half-naked men whose pecs and abs look like they were chiseled to perfection by an old master.

Anyway, I know you didn’t come here today to read my ramblings, so I’ll just cut it short and show you the goods.

Go ahead … brush your fingers across the screen.

It’s okay to touch.  *snicker*

Imagine these abs cloaked behind the white button-down shirt and tie, sitting across from you at the next Board meeting.

Le purrr ...

That visual ought to make even the most painful three-hour meeting a little more tolerable (if not downright exciting).  Just make sure the object of your ogling doesn’t catch you sitting there biting your lip the whole time.

Although, maybe that's not such a bad thing, come to think of it.

*raises coffee cup*  Cheers!

The Cover Model Contest runs until June 7th, after which, I'll be narrowing down the contestants and YOU will vote on the final guy for the cover.  Book two is Logan's story.  Want to know more about him?

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Cover Model Contest Teaser #1!!

It occurred to me recently, that I'm being quite selfish with this whole Cover Model Contest.  I mean, here I am, talking about these sexy entries I'm getting and giving you nothing in return. I’m not kidding when I say I’ve had some pretty hunky photos come through my inbox the past couple of weeks.  It’s like waking up Christmas morning every time I go to check my email.

So I decided to do the right thing ... early on, I learned that sharing with others is good.

Unfortunately, I cannot show you the entire picture, because well, that would be cheating.  Ha!  Did I mention I have an evil half who, despite my best efforts to be nice, likes to add a little torment?

Can’t see the goods before the contest!!  So I’m just going to show you a maddening, pixely, blurred little teaser—that will leave you scratching at your computer screen to make it clearer—of what I have to go through—the pain and suffering of having to stare at these muscly, sexy bodies every day. **clears throat** Yes, stare.  It’s the only way you can pick up the details you need to make an informed decision.

And it’s … an incredibly tough job.

So keep me in your thoughts.

Here is today’s teaser. Take a nice long look and try not to get drool all over the computer keys:

Keep in mind, these are REAL people, people!  Not a CGI android of a human being.  Somewhere in the world, this body is stretching out on a bed, tangled in sheets, as he’s just waking up.

You’re welcome for that visual …

This was an early entry and I’ve been receiving focus-scrambling images like this for the past two weeks.  So yeah, to say that I've been a little distracted is an understatement.  I’m going to need my readers to choose the final guy, coz to be honest, I’d have one big man fest on my cover if I had to pick.

I mentioned in my Male Call post that the next book is Logan's.  If you want to know more about this sexy alpha before the contest, you can grab a copy of Soul Avenged by clicking HERE.

Okay, that is all.  Have a great week!

As you were …

Male Call: Fun and Exciting News!!

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I had this great idea for a Cover Model Contest.  I’ve been keeping this kind of low-key because it’s somewhat experimental for me.  See, there were many unknown variables in this venture and I didn’t want to go all public and get caught up in something that I’d end up regretting. Like what?

Well, when I sent out flyers to local gyms and college campuses asking for photos of sexy alpha male types, that could’ve very well been a disaster—an open invite to some, uh, interesting entries…

BUT!

I’m thrilled to say that the entries are coming in and they are very nicely done, very professional.  Kudos to all the entrants who’ve submitted pics so far.  Not that I needed any more reason to love this job, but you just added a whole new level of fun to the daily grind.

Man, it’s my turn to be professional and try not to act like a giddy schoolgirl over these muscly bods…

So here’s how this thing is going to work:

And to set the mood for this post--I hope you don't mind--I've sprinkled some Mancandy throughout ... add a little sugar and spice.  The ones I've received for the contest are not included in this mix, but I have to say--they are just as yummy!

I’m running the contest until midnight on June ^7th.  Once all entries have been received, I will begin drooling over er, I mean, narrowing the contestants down to about two or three that I think closely resemble the character in book 2.  Depending on how many entries are received, there may be up to five or six finalists selected.

What’s next?

I’m putting the vote to my readers!  That’s right!  YOU will pick the next hunky alpha to appear on the cover of book two!

*coughs*  You're welcome for that one ...

As I’ve mentioned throughout the Soul Avenged blog tour, Logan’s book is next.  Pick up a copy of Soul Avenged to learn more about his character and help me select the right guy for the cover!

Excuse me a moment ... *dabs drool at corner of mouth*

You’ll want to catch up on your reading anyway because I’ve got some pretty fun giveaways coming up.

I’ll be accepting entries all the way through June so if you happen to KNOW a sexy alpha type who might be trying to build his portfolio—physically fit, between the ages of 21-35—have him send a head and torso shot to keri@kerilake.com .  Indicate ‘Model Search’ in the subject line and be sure to include contact information.

If he’s got the look, he might just land himself on the cover of the book!  <<hey, I’m a poet and didn’t know it, check that out!

Rope ... *zones out*

And if you know of a gym that’s just teeming with these drool-worthy Adonis types, shoot me an email and I’ll see about having flyers set out there.  Just think, the guy who catches your eye and makes your pulse rate fly could be sitting snug in your palms.  Just sayin!  Don’t be shy…  <<I'm on a roll here, people!

AND

Anyone you refer who makes it to the final round is going to earn YOU a sweet little prize ...

*long stare*  you see?  I get WAY too distracted.  I need your help to choose!!

Whataya say?  Are you up for the task?

Now go back and read this blog post again because I'm certain you have no idea what I said ... hell, I don't even remember what I said so I'll surely be re-reading this.  Again.  And again.  And again.