Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Summer Solstice Special Thanks

Welcome New Subscribers!

I'm so pleased to welcome new people to Layla's List, and I want to thank everyone who participated in the blog hops. I'd like to do something special for all my readers, especially in case you're new or didn't get a chance to participate in the recents giveaways.

A Summer Solstice Special Offer
Today through the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21, Book 2 in the SECRET LIVES OF HOUSEWIVES series, My Secrets Revealed, is only 99 cents. Book 1, My Secrets Discovered, is FREE every day.

You can download My Secrets Discovered for free at: All Romance Books (all file types supported), Smashwords (All file types supported), Barnes & NobleKobo, and iTunes.

My Secrets Revealed is on sale for 99 cents at Amazon and All Romance Books (if you need an epub or pdf file).

You can read excerpts for all the MY SECRETS books at All Romance Books.
Thanks again for being a reader. I'm so happy you're here!
xo, Layla

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Book Launch Contest

Yay! Parallel Lives Part 1 is now live on AmazonKobo,  iTunesBarnes & Noble, and All Romance Books!



I'm very excited to introduce this new story in a serial format, similar to your favorite TV shows. There's a total of six parts, which will be released weekly. Part 1 launched today, Part 2 will be released on June 24, and Part 3 goes live on July 1. We'll take a short summer break, and Parts 4-6 will be released weekly starting September 2.

I'd love to get your help with the launch, and I want to make it fun so here's the deal. Share my Facebook post or reTweet my Tweet and be entered to win a signed beach art poster by Joe Gemignani, the cover photographer!


I should be able to track your shares, but it's a good idea to comment below as well to make sure you're entered. The winner will be announced on Sunay, June 22.


Thanks, and good luck!

Winners Announced! Thank you all for participating!

A big, hearty thank you to everyone who visited and participated in recent events! Congratulations to the winners named below.

June is such a busy month, and there is another contest coming up! So if your name isn't posted here, stay tuned by getting on Elyse's Hot List or subscribing to the blog. Details for the next contest are on the way!


The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party
Winner of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX ebook is Amber Hall.

Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014
Winner of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX ebook is Jessica Crawford.
Winner of the signed Beach Art Poster is Bobbi Kinion.

Winners have been notified by email.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014


Welcome to Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014!

Blog hops are a great way for authors to give back to their readers and fans by offering some type of giveaway. Many authors offer signed copies of their books, but you can win anything from gift cards, to free ebooks and print books, to Kindle ereaders.

Each author (I'm one) participating in the blog hop will be offering some type of giveaway on his or her site, and I'm giving away a free ebook copy of My Secrets Revealed.


To enter, all you need to do to enter is join Layla's Mailing List!

That's it & you're in! 

(Join here or at the top right side of this page.)

In addition to what each author is offering, the Summer Splash Blog Hop is also offering several grand prizes—including a Kindle Fire and lots of Amazon Gift Cards—just for participating in the Hop with tweets, Facebook posts, book purchases, and more. Ready? Get started now at the Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014. (But first don't forget to join Layla's List to enter the drawing for a free ebook copy of My Secrets Revealed.)

Enter to win the Grand Prize HERE.
BLOG HOP BONUS: While you're there be sure to visit the 99c Sale Page. During the 4 days of the hop only, many authors (including me) are offering titles for only 99 cents.

Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014


Welcome to Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014!

Blog hops are a great way for authors to give back to their readers and fans by offering some type of giveaway. Many authors offer signed copies of their books, but you can win anything from gift cards, to free ebooks and print books, to Kindle readers. 
  
Each author (I'm one) participating in the blog hop will be offering some type of giveaway on his or her site, and I'm giving away a free ebook copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and —because Leah loves the beach—a free signed art poster by photographer/artist Joe Gemignani! 



To enter, all you need to do to join my HOT LIST (top, right of this page)! That's it, and you're in!
In addition to what each author is offering, the Summer Splash Blog Hop is also offering several grand prizes—including a Kindle Paperwhite, $50 Amazon Gift Card, & book giveaways—just for participating in the Hop with tweets, Facebook posts, book purchases, and more. Ready? Get started now at the Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014. (But first don't forget to sign up for my Hot List for a free ebook copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and signed art poster ;-)



Enter to win the Grand Prizes HERE
BLOG HOP BONUS:  While you're there be sure to visit the 99c Sale Page. During the 4 days of the hop only, many authors (including me) are offering an ebook for only 99 cents.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

New Series Cover Reveal & Launch Dates

Cover photo ©Joe Gemignani. Cover design by Janet Aiossa.

I'm so excited to reveal the cover for Parallel Lives, my new six-part serial drama to be released in weekly "episodes." In this new series, Leah Gold gets mysteriously transported to a parallel world, which appears to be an alternate version of her life, one with some radically different circumstances—like still being married to the man she divorced fifteen years earlier.

And that's just the beginning of the nightmarish journey. Everything Leah encounters increases her desire to return to her own world—until she comes face to face with evidence that the one decision she's regretted for thirty years is reversed in this alternate lifetime. Now, she's torn between two parallel lives with seemingly no way to merge them.

Part 1 of Parallel Lives will be released June 17. Parts 2 and 3 will follow on June 24 and July 1. Then we'll take a summer break (like your favorite TV series) and resume the story with weekly releases of Parts 4, 5, & 6 beginning September 2.

I will be sending subscribers advance notice of releases, previews, and some surprise bonuses, so please subscribe to Elyse's Hot List to be sure you don't miss a thing.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party

Welcome, romance readers! Here's an excerpt from The Prince Charming Hoax to help you answer the quiz question:



The phone was ringing when Leah turned off the shower. She ran to pick it up, her wet feet slipping on the tile and her hair leaving a trail of water droplets as she raced through her bedroom. She grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”

“Leah, where have you been? Why aren’t you answering any of my messages?”

“Doug?” Damn, she should have checked the call screen.

“Yes. Remember me?”

“Look, I’m dripping wet from the shower, Doug. This isn’t a good time.”

“I’ll be in meetings the rest of the day. I have to talk to you, now. Get a towel. I’ll wait.”

Leah walked back to the bathroom and wrapped herself in her terry robe and pulled her hair back in a clip. “What is it?”

“Leah, have you listened to your voice mail or checked your email since yesterday?”

“No.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ve been busy with Ali.”

“You can tell me about that later. I have some important things to go over with you.”

Leah hated when he took on his corporate “I’m Mr. Important” voice with her, but he didn’t give her a chance to interrupt.

“I'm flying out tonight, and I’ll be away for three weeks,” he continued. “Things are very unstable with the Euro right now, and I have to secure our investments. I won’t be here when you and Ali arrive, but I want you to know that I’ve arranged to have the corporate apartment ready for you. You can stay there indefinitely until I’m able to leave Amanda and get a real place for us.”

“Ali and I aren’t coming to New York, Doug.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not coming to New York to be some high-price courtesan you keep until you’re ready to leave your wife. I never intended to be the other woman, Doug. You are always on the verge of leaving your wife, but you never do. The deal was that when I came to New York, we were going to be together—out in the open. Not hiding like two criminals.”

“It’s not like that, and you know it. I’d leave Amanda in a second if it weren’t for the kids. I can’t leave right now, but I will. I promise I will, as soon as I can. The important thing is for us to be together, Leah.”

He paused and his tone softened. “I love you so much. And I need you now more than ever. Please, Leah. Be patient a little while longer.”

Leah sat on the bed and closed her eyes. She felt herself wavering. She could see his face, his expression when he looked at her lovingly.

She opened her eyes. “No. If you love me, show me some respect. Acknowledge me to the world. Tell everyone I’m your woman.”

“I will, Leah, I promise. It won’t be long now, I swear. But, there are some things I have to take care of first.”

“You know what? I have some things I have to take care of, too, Doug. Like me and Ali. And she deserves a mother who doesn’t hide in dark corners and corporate apartments.”

“What are you going to do, Leah? You were all set to come.”

“Yes, well, now I’m all set to stay. Roxie has found me a very nice place on the beach. Ali and I will be just fine.”

“Leah, meet me in Paris, and we’ll talk this over. I can get you on a flight tomorrow.”

“No way. Ali graduates next week. I’m not going to Paris. Look, Doug. You go to Paris. Save the world economy. I don’t give a damn any more. I don’t want to hear it, any of it. You were very convincing the other night. You’re right. Your children need you.”

“Leah, please think about it a little more. I need you in my life. Maybe after Ali leaves for college, we’ll go away together. We can go to Napa Valley and stay in one of those wonderful bed and breakfasts. You can go to the spa—”

“I’m not taking another trip with you under an assumed name. I’m not taking separate flights and lying to protect you any more. Don’t you get it, Doug? It’s over.”

“Leah, they’ve buzzed me three times for my meeting. I’ll call you—”

“Don’t. Go to your important meeting, Doug. Go to Paris. Just go. Good-bye.” She clicked off the phone and tossed it on the bed.

* * *

Hope you've enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the visit!

Sizzling Summer Reads

Welcome! Here is the blog post to read to answer to the question posed at The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party:

(From My Secrets Revealed)

Personal transformation can take place in an instant, but sometimes it takes a few days to get accustomed to the change. I stared at my pseudo reflection in the sliding glass door that led from my kitchen to the backyard patio. Not quite the same as looking in a mirror, but the image was clear enough to catch me by surprise.

I smiled and ran my hand over my super-short, almost boyish haircut. The sunlight caught the blond highlights, another surprise. My eyes traveled down the length of my reflection revealing a temptress clad in a tight red corset edged with black lace that clenched my waist tightly, accentuating the fullness of my breasts and hips. Below the bottom of the corset, a matching garter belt stretched snugly across my hips with long elastic straps extending to the top of my thighs where they attached to black lace stockings. A tiny black sheer thong and black patent leather high heel pumps completed the outfit.

Twenty-four hours ago, I had shoulder-length mousy brown hair and wore stretch knit elastic waist pants with a matching top. What a difference a day makes!

“This is who you really are, Jen Hauser,” I said, pointing my finger at the reflection.

I turned my attention to making breakfast for my lover. I looked down the length of the six-foot granite countertop island, which extended to an eat-in counter at the far end. The counter was bare and sleek except for the two place settings stylishly arranged at the eating area. I smiled with satisfaction at how the plates were centered precisely in the middle of the placemats, topped with matching cloth napkins sculpted into perfect fans. A tall glass of iced tea and a large coffee mug waiting to be filled sat next to each place setting. A platter of sliced fruit and a basket with fresh-baked bread wrapped in a napkin to keep it warm were placed within easy reach.

I heard my husband’s footsteps coming down the steps from our upstairs bedroom and quickly turned to the stove to start the eggs.

“Perfect timing, Mark. As usual,” I called out.

Just as I was about the crack the egg in the pan, I felt his strong arms surround my waist and his lips on my neck. “What are you making, Crêpes Suzette?” he whispered as he nuzzled behind my ear.

I felt chills travel down my neck as he brushed his lips along the path from my ear to my shoulder. As his hands moved up to squeeze my breasts, my nipples sprang over the top of the low-cut décolletage of the corset. I closed my eyes and leaned back into him, feeling the poke of his hard cock against my exposed cheeks. My thong slipped aside as his bulge pressed deeper between my legs.

“No, my love,” I whispered between gasps. “Crêpes Suzette are for dessert, and you haven’t even begun the appetizer.”

Mark spun me around. His short robe was untied, and he wore nothing underneath. With one swift move, he took the egg from my hand and put it down as he leaned over to turn off the stove burner. He then turned his attention to my outfit, and a smile stretched wide across his face. He ran his fingers along my breasts, which had escaped from the corset entirely and were now resting on top of the bustier. My dark pink nipples contrasted against the milky white mounds that heaved up and down with my breathing.

“I’d rather have Crêpes Jen-ette, anyway.”


Hope you enjoyed the excerpt!