Well, the lovely Sharon Struth, author of The Hour Glass--Finalist National Readers' Choice Awards for Best First Book​ and
Winner of the Chatelaine Award For Romantic Fiction--got muscled off my 5 Things never to do posting by Sophie Shaw, heroine of Sharon's up-coming title Share the Moon. Sharon didn't put up a fight, so never a fan of slapsies, I figured she knew something about Sophie that I didn't. Hence, I ducked and let the pair of them get on with it...(and I'm very glad I did, looks a mega cool book).

Thanks for inviting me to your great blog, Incy! I was about to write this blog post myself, but Sophie Shaw, heroine in SHARE THE MOON, reminded me she had some pretty sound advice for both the ladies and the guys on a very important matter. So take it away Sophie…

        5 Things Never to do When You Meet that “Special Someone”
                                By Sophie Shaw, Senior Reporter, Blue Moon Gazette

Small town life is great, but it has its limitations. Since my divorce, I’ve concluded the available men in Northbridge, Connecticut are as predictable as the assortment at the dollar rental video store, filled with decade-old hits I’ve seen so many times they hold little interest.

So the day I stumbled upon Duncan Jamieson at the lake, I was ready to high-five the trout!

It’s not like I’m desperate. Let’s just say my dating life has been as meager as the line of men waiting for a pedicure. It isn’t non-existent, simply short. So a man like this falling from the sky was kismet.

                                                                   Or so I thought.

We both tripped up in our courtship journey and did stupid things along the way. I’d like to offer this advice to my readers—both male and female—about what you shouldn’t do when you meet the man/woman of your dreams.

Early reviews are in! 5-Stars for Share the Moon

“There is not a detail of setting or character left for us to guess at. Struth gives her readers exactly what is in her head to create a fully-realized town and the people in it. We know every facial tick, every thought--what we don't know is the mystery hiding just behind each face, in each head. Struth gives her readers just enough to pull us along, to make sure we keep turning the pages--and just when you think the mystery is solved, it takes another turn.”

Blurb Share the Moon Blue Moon Lake Novels, Book One

Sometimes trust is the toughest lesson to learn.

Sophie Shaw is days away from signing a contract that will fulfill her dream of owning a vineyard. For her, it's a chance to restart her life and put past tragedies to rest. But Duncan Jamieson's counter offer blows hers out to sea.

Duncan still finds Sophie as appealing as he had during boyhood vacations to the lake. Older and wiser now, he has his own reasons for wanting the land. His offer, however, hinges on a zoning change approval.

Bribery rumors threaten the deal and make Sophie wary of Duncan, yet she cannot deny his appeal. When her journalistic research uncovers a Jamieson family secret, trust becomes the hardest lesson for them both.

Book Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOsUDbViLQk

Author bio:

Sharon Struth is an award-winning author who believes it’s never too late for a second chance in love or life.  When she’s not writing, she and her husband happily sip their way through the scenic towns of the Connecticut Wine Trail. Sharon writes from the small town of Bethel, Connecticut, the friendliest place she's ever lived. For more information, including where to find her other novels and published essays, please visit www.sharonstruth.com

About 18 months ago, I tripped over a writer on Facebook who had, and continues to have, an amazing ability to make me laugh—always a plus. But, more than that, her tenacity shamed me and her infectious fearlessness lured me over to the dark side, that place where the words ‘no’ and ‘can’t’ do not feature. Here was a woman, I decided, I wanted/needed to know. She was just so damned naughty, in a way that positively charmed. So, I familiarized myself with some of her work, and wow…just wow. Sofia Harper (known to some as Melissa Blue) writes heroes you want to reach for and stroke, sometimes with your fingers, more often with your tongue (just check out the abs below).

So today I'm excited to host the delicious Sofia Harper. To have her grace my blog is a privilege. And, she’s going to provide you with a sneaky peek at her forthcoming title (out 9th September), Hot Knight in Paradise—you have been warned.  

Over to you Sofia, tell us something about your hero...

If I had to describe my hero from HOT KNIGHT IN PARADISE, Marshall, I'd say he's sweetly dirty. He's the kind of man who'd make sure you're OK. His former job as an attorney has given him the ability to read folks pretty well. So, if you're full of crap and are lying about being OK, he's going to push, nicely-ish. All right. The best evidence is actual proof, so hows this for a teaser:

“I'm not going to stand out here all night while you try to suss out the possibilities.” He put out his hand. “Give me back the water.”
     Surprised at his sudden abrupt tone, she shoved it at him. “Fine.”
He took it and put something else in her hand. She clicked on the flashlight to see what the small object was, and her heart shot up into her throat. A switchblade. On instinct, she flicked it open and aimed it at him.
     But Marshall had already turned around and started walking away. By the time the fear burned out, she realized he’d given it to her to protect herself.

See. A nice-ish guy. He's also choosy about his lovers. Doesn't sleep with just about anybody. If he sleeps with you, he calls the next day if that's what he's promised. He's a complete gentleman.

     He was not softening.
     “Raise you a dollar.” She placed her cards face down on the table and slid quarters into the large pile. For a woman halfway to drunk and just shy of tipsy, he had to say, she played well. Up fifteen bucks. Taken two shots and had bet it all the last hand and won. She leaned on the last quarter and he got another view of her breasts. Blood rushed from his head and his mind went fuzzy. Nope, definitely not softening.
     She was a troublemaker in a five-foot-four tight little package. He needed to be rid of her, and the sooner the better, keeping with his personal policy.

But, why of all things would I ever call such a sweet man dirty?

Yup. That's my hero in a nutshell. How would you describe your favorite heroes?

Thanks for that Sofia, I'm sold (and salivating). Want to know more about Sofia Harper? Here's her bio:

Sofia Harper started writing contemporary romance a long, long time ago. When Sofia's not spending time with imaginary people in her head, she's corrupting two little trouble makers. Currently she lives in California where the wine is good. She also going full-throttle on the ride called publishing. These two thoughts are not related.
You can also find her here:

Website: http://sofiaharper.com
Blog: http://sofiaharper.blogspot.co.uk/‎
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sofiaharp‎

And lastly, here's the blurb to HOT KNIGHT IN PARADISE

Stranded in paradise with no way to get home, Leah Smith needs a miracle, and fast. Instead, she gets Marshall Jackson, surely the sexiest man alive. Too bad he's got an emotional wall around himself--and her only hope of getting off the island ... Marshall has a strict no damsels in distress policy, but there's something about Leah that makes him want to break his own rules. He agrees to let her work in his bar until she earns enough to get home. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny the scorching attraction between them. Soon hot island nights provide balm to their wounded souls, but will these two flawed exiles make peace with the past in time to claim the future they deserve together--or will paradise be lost?

Buy links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

My guest, Michelle Smart, and I share the same publishing house - Entangled Publishing - but her book Tempted by Trouble is coming out way ahead of mine (not that I'm jealous), in fact, you can get it now if you follow the links. But first you ought to know what you are getting into.  I'll start with the cover (cos it's hot) and provide a few links (cos it's polite and professional) then I'll hand you over to Ms Smart who reviews her own book (cos she's not shy) then you get a sneaky peek at an excerpt (that is one butt ugly word).

And now for the except:

“Excuse me, buster, but I think you’ll find we both lost control. The only difference is I’m not the one making excuses for it. We’re both adults. What happened between us was inevitable—it has been since the day I arrived here.”

Buster?

He raked a hand through his hair, trying to think of the right words to explain everything that was simmering within him.

She was right. It had been inevitable since the moment he had stood before her at the airport parking lot and been consumed with a hunger that refused to be sated. “All I’m saying is that nothing can come of this. My position hasn’t changed. There is no future for you and me.”

“Of course there isn’t,” she said. “How could there ever be a future for us when you refuse to let go of the past?”

His hands balled into fists, the acid in his guts bubbling. “It’s not a simple case of letting go. I can’t forget what you are.”

“Will you get over yourself!”

The loud shrillness of her tone jolted them both but did nothing to stop her from slipping off the Steinway and rising in front of him.

“For a start, Mr. Ego,” she said, prodding a slim finger into his chest, “I do not recall asking for a future with you. For another, I am not the screwed-up teenager you remember or the tarty ‘It Girl’ who caused so much destruction. Not anymore. I have spent the past five years trying to make something of my life…”

“Make something of your life? You call working stupid hours serving food making something of your life? When you’ve got a God-given talent you’re hiding away from the world?”

“Don’t you dare put down my job. It might not be glamorous, but it’s honest work.”

“At least there is something honest about you.” It was a low blow and he regretted it the second the words left his mouth.

“How dare you?” she seethed, jabbing harder at his chest, her blue eyes ablaze. “I know I was a rude, drunken, spoiled brat and believe me, I am sorry for the harm I caused. But I am not that person anymore. If I could make amends with you then I would, gladly. Just tell me what I can do to put things right. In the meantime, I would thank you not to keep throwing my past in my face like you promised you would. I can’t change it and no amount of sniping from you is going to change it either. Get over it.”

...And that is it, a wonderful introduction to Michelle Smart, whom I would like to thank for being gracious enough to grace my blog with her modesty and talent.  I'm just going to repeat the title of her book one more time 'Tempted by Trouble'.  Cheers Michelle!