Today’s guest is the fabulous Mina Khan–a truly kind and funny lady (she always makes me smile) and a fabulous writer. Welcome, Mina!

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Woot! It’s so great to be here at Cynthia’s blog in October because one of many fun things we bonded over is our crazy-love of Halloween. The more spooky thrills and chills, the more varieties of candy, the better it gets! Not surprising given I write genie romances, with supernatural beings who can melt into shadows and grant the most hidden wishes. So to celebrate, I’m giving away Halloween-themed bookmarks, bags of dark chocolate and signed postcards to two readers who leave comments here.

I also have an unusual ghost story to share. My multicultural short, “DEAD: A Ghost Story,” was released in October. Oh yeah! A chilling ghostly tale is perfect for Halloween, don’t you think? Check out the cover:

Unlike my other published stories, DEAD is NOT a romance. In it, Nasreen – the Indian-American protagonist grapples with her life and death in West Texas.

DEAD was inspired by the many immigrant wives I met during my time as a business reporter in West Texas. For the most part these women are invisible to the mainstream society for various reasons – language barriers, isolation, and unfamiliarity with their adopted country’s laws and social mores etc. So this story was written to recognize them and to highlight a usually hush-hush part of the immigrant story.

I have readers who love my genie romances, so why not write another one instead of trying on a completely different genre? Because the idea of all the invisible Nasreens in the world sort of haunted me until I’d written the story. In doing so, I discovered a different side of myself, a new voice inside.

If you’d like to check DEAD out, here’s the Amazon link.

 So what’s your favorite Halloween read and why? Share and you could be one of the two lucky, randomly chosen people to win the prizes mentioned above.

Oh! My debut story, THE DJINN’S DILEMMA is turning a year of existence in November. Don’t miss my DJINN’S DILEMMA BIRTHDAY BASH with prizes and surprises galore. Several of my author friends (including our wonderful hostess) are joining in the celebrations by giving away their books, and there will be gift certificates, peacock-themed prizes (genies & peacocks go together, right?), art, chocolate and more! The bash starts Nov. 1 and will continue throughout the month.

To make sure you don’t miss the genie-licious giveaways, like my Facebook Author Page.

More information about Mina’s books

Author Bio:

Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She grew up in Bangladesh on stories of djinns (pronounced “gins”), ghosts and monsters.

These childhood fancies now color her fiction. She daydreams of hunky paranormal heroes, magic, mayhem and mischief and writes them down as tales of romance and adventure.

Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from her second novella, A Tale of Two Djinns, is donated to UNICEF for education. Two Djinns is a Romeo & Juliet tale with genies, feminists and a happy ending.

Her newest release, DEAD: A Ghost story, is NOT a romance. It’s a multicultural ghost-story that highlights a little known aspect of the immigrant experience.

Other contacts:

Goodreads Author Page

Blog: http://minakhan.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @SpiceBites

I am in countdown mode. 😉 ANGEL IN CHAINS will be releasing on 11/27/12, and I can’t wait! But, I’m actually feeling extra excited today b/c my wonderful publisher sent me some early author copies–so now I can share them with you. I’ve got five copies of ANGEL IN CHAINS that I’d like to giveaway. Want to win? Then, just leave me a comment. And let’s make the comment process very easy. We’re incredibly close to Halloween, so just tell me your favorite Halloween costume. Mine’s Medusa. Give me plastic snakes to twine in my hair, and you’ve got a very happy woman.  (Giveaway note: The giveaway is open internationally, and the giveaway will stay open until 11 PM–Central time–on 10/31/12.)

Also, in case you haven’t read the excerpt from ANGEL IN CHAINS, here’s a peek for you:

***

“They’re probably hunting you now.” He walked away from her and headed toward the window that looked out over the street. “Hunting us,” he added quietly and realized he was anticipating the fight. When had he come to crave the fury? When had the bloodlust grown so within him?

She stood as still as a statue before his door. Her hand was up, hovering above the doorknob, and he could almost feel the fear rolling off her in waves.

But then she took a deep breath, and he saw her small shoulders straighten. She shoved back the heavy tangle of her hair and turned to face him. “How did you get us away from them?”

Az shrugged once more.

She took a step toward him. “You . . . you know what they are, right?”

Amusement flared in him. “I did notice the claws.” Rather hard to miss those.

She blinked, and her eyes narrowed as she studied him. He’d never seen quite that shade of green before. She crept closer, bringing that light scent of strawberries to him. When she stopped, she was less than a foot away from him. It would be so easy to touch her.

Though he knew well just how dangerous a touch could be.

Yet she stood close enough to kiss. But angels weren’t supposed to kiss mortals . . .

You’re not an angel anymore. The whisper came from deep inside of him. The same tempting whisper that he’d been fighting since his fall.

You’re not an angel. Do what you want.

You’re not an angel. Take what you want.

He was discovering that he could want many things.

The top of the woman’s head barely reached his shoulders. She tilted her head and stared up at him. Then her gaze swept down his body.

Az stiffened even before she whispered, “What are you?”

Rather insulting question. “I’m the man who saved your life.” Did she need to know more? He didn’t think so.

Her hand lifted and pressed against her mouth. A small trace of blood still rested near her lips. “There were three of them, and, you’re big and all, but there’s still just one of you.”

She might just be one of the most ungrateful humans he’d ever encountered. Stifling a sigh, Az inclined his head. “You’re welcome.”

She stared in surprise for a moment. Then she laughed. A soft, strangely lyrical sound spilled from her lips, and her wide smile lit up her face.

Not just pretty.

Az tensed as the wave of need hit him. Not lust for blood or death. This time . . . the lust was just for her.

You’re not an angel anymore. Take what you want.

“Yeah,” she said, as her laughter faded but the smile still lingered on her lips, “thanks for saving my ass.” Then she held out her hand to him. “My name’s Jade. Jade Pierce.”

He stared at her hand. She wiggled her fingers at him. Slowly, Az lifted his own hand and caught those wiggling fingers. Soft. “I am Azrael.” He dropped her hand. He hadn’t used the name Azrael in centuries. “Most just call me Az.”

“Well, Az, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Her gaze slid over his body again. “But I’m gonna have to ask, once more, just what are—”

The door crashed in behind her. She didn’t scream this time, but maybe Az just didn’t give her a chance to scream.

Because as the three black panthers—fully shifted panthers—leapt into the room, jumping over the broken door, Az grabbed Jade and threw her toward the couch.

Then he ran right for the snarling beasts.

He should have known better than to let down his guard. Shifters and their damn acute senses. They’d caught his scent, her scent, and followed them right through the Quarter.

“I warned you,” Az snapped and leapt at the nearest panther. He caught the beast’s front paws and shoved the giant cat back. “You should have listened.” There would be no more warnings now. Only death.

***

I always enjoy it when guests come by to visit my blog. 😉 And today, I’m very happy to have fabulous author (and friend!) Katie Reus here with us.  Thanks for coming by, Katie! And congrats on your release!

Thank you so much to Cynthia for having me here today! As a thank you I’d love to give away a digital copy of my recent release, Fatal Deception, to one commenter.

Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres to read and to write in. I love the blending of romance and suspense! There’s nothing hotter than reading about two people falling in love while running from dangerous villains. Over the past year I’ve been self publishing a series of romantic suspense stories (Red Stone Security series) and the reader email I’ve received has been amazing. If you’ve read No One to Trust and Danger Next Door then you’ll know that Harrison is the married brother of the heroes in the first two books. A similar theme in many of the emails I’ve received is readers wanting to know why I didn’t write Harrison’s story. I had always intended to write his story as the third book in the series, but I guess the natural assumption was that since he was a married character he wasn’t getting a story. And that’s definitely not the case!

I’ve been married for almost nine years (gah, how is it that long already?!) and for anyone who is married or in a long-term relationship, I’m sure you know how tough things can be sometimes. It’s definitely not rainbows and unicorns all the time because that’s just life. And that’s the reason I wanted to write a story about a couple already married. Even though they’ve already said their ‘I dos’, they have issues to work through just like the couples in the first two books. This book has only been out a couple weeks but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the reader emails telling me they love reading about a married couple so I hope if you check it out that you enjoy it too.

Today I’d like to share a brief excerpt Fatal Deception:

***

Harrison gripped the steering wheel of his truck so tight his knuckles were white. He should be in a great mood, but there was a dark cloud that had been hovering over him the past few weeks. The wall that had been growing between him and his wife was getting higher every day.

Taking the turn a little too sharply into the quiet Coral Gables neighborhood where he lived with his wife, he wasn’t surprised when she didn’t bat an eyelash in the passenger seat.

It took a lot to get Mara riled up, but lately she’d been edgy and distant. At first he’d wondered if it was because they’d gotten married so soon after meeting each other. From engagement to marriage had been less than a year. They hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other and the sex had been off the charts. Thankfully nothing had changed in that respect, but for the past few weeks she’d been leaving early from the shelter where she volunteered, and was evasive about where she’d been going afterward.

“It was good to see Grant so happy,” Harrison said as he steered into their driveway and waited for the garage door to lift. His brother was in a better mood than Harrison had ever seen him. Over six months ago, Grant had been injured in an explosion that left his face, back and one of his arms scarred. Until getting involved in a relationship with Belle, his new next door neighbor, he’d been close to becoming bitter and reclusive.

Mara nodded tightly, her normally relaxed features holding a hint of unease. “I agree. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s him.”

They’d just come from a barbeque at Grant’s place to meet his girlfriend/soon-to-be-fiancé and her extremely large extended family. They’d had a good time, but Mara continued to pull away from him emotionally and he was about to lose his mind. What had happened to make her withdraw from him?

“Do you think he’ll propose to her?” Mara asked, the question surprising him. Lately whenever they spoke he was the one who initiated conversation.

“Yeah, he showed me the ring.” His brother had been so nervous, but there was no way his girlfriend would say no.

Mara chuckled softly and, for the first time in weeks, it didn’t sound forced. “I wondered why he kept patting his pants pocket all day.”

It would be just like his wife to notice something like that. Not much got past her, a trait he found sexy, but right now he was wired too tight to play nice. As the garage door closed behind them, she started to get out of the truck but he placed a hand on her forearm. Tensing under his touch, she turned to look at him, her normally bright green eyes filled with anxiety. “What’s been going on with us the past month?” he asked softly, though the question sounded like a sonic boom in the quiet enclosure.

She pasted on a bright smile that might have fooled anyone else, but he could see the wariness in her eyes. “What are you talking about?” Placing a hand over his, she squeezed gently.

“You know exactly what.” His voice was a low growl, but she barely seemed to notice. Or if she did, she was ignoring it.

Instead of responding, she turned in her seat and slid one hand up his arm as she started to crawl toward him. He inwardly groaned when he realized what she was doing. The past few weeks anytime he wanted to talk, she literally jumped him. Sex was her way of distracting him. And it normally worked. Not tonight though. Placing his hands on her shoulders he held her away from him. His erection pulsed against his fly, pissed as hell that he’d stopped her.

The hurt in her eyes was real and that tore at him. “Are you stopping me?” Okay, and the hurt in her voice was even worse.

“We can’t use sex to fix everything.” God, was that actually him talking? His hot wife wanted to have sex in his truck. He should have her naked and riding him by now.

 ***

Fatal Deception description:

Mara Caldwell is a woman with a dark past. She made a clean break from her old life, never imagining her secrets could come back to haunt her. When an old enemy surfaces and threatens the world she’s created for herself Mara is prepared to give up everything, including the husband she loves if it will keep him safe.

Harrison knew his wife had secrets when he married her, but when he discovers the truth, it’s far worse than he imagined. He’s determined to protect her from a deadly enemy who wants to destroy her, but her lack of faith in him infuriates and wounds him. They must work together to keep her safe, but the man they’re up against seeks to destroy everything they’ve built together. Including their lives.

Warnings: This book contains light bondage, hot sex, graphic language and a villain hell bent on revenge.

Purchase info: Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble and Kobo Books

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Just leave a comment and be entered to win. Open internationally.

I now officially have a Street Team! Would you like to join?

Well, okay, first, you may be wondering…what is a Street Team?  And what do I have to do as part of the team?

If you are interested in helping me spread the word about my books, then the Street Team is for you.  Musicians often use Street Teams a great deal–Street Teams are people who “hit the streets” to promote a group or product, or, in this case–they promote books. For my Street Team, members will be primarily hitting the cyber streets. 😉  In return for Street Team participation, members will receive special prizes, ARCs, and some “bonus” perks.  In addition to my normal giveaways and contests, I’ll have special Street Team only contests that I run for members.   Street Team members can participate as much or as little as they like–it is all up to the individuals.

If this is something that you’re interested in doing, you can join my Street Team here (it’s a special group on Facebook).  Thank you!!!!

And…one final note…if you’d like to read the first chapter of ANGEL IN CHAINS, Kensington has it posted!

Update: Thank you all SO much for sharing your stories with me!  You had me fighting the urge to try the Bloody Mary routine once more. 😉 I randomly picked a winner, and that commenter is…latisha depoortere. Congrats!!!  (Psst..more contests are coming soon!)

I’m very excited about a new book that I hope to release very soon (it’s October–come on, I HAD to release a paranormal during this spooky month!).  Here’s the cover for the book:

And here’s the blurb:

Don’t go into the woods.

Sixteen-year-old Anna Lambert knows that the woods near her new home aren’t safe. She’s seen the wolves that stalk through that dark forest, but Anna doesn’t scare easily.

Anna is cursed–or gifted, depending on how you look at it–with the ability to find anyone or anything that is lost. So when folks start disappearing in the small town of Haven, Anna’s father, the sheriff, has to use her special skills as they begin to hunt for a killer.

But the killer isn’t exactly human. As Anna is pulled deeper into the secrets of Haven–a town that is truly cursed–she finds herself falling for two, equally mysterious boys. With the danger closing in, one of those boys may just turn out to be her savior. And the other? He could be a very big, very bad…beast.

Beware of beasts…and boys…with bite.

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THE BETTER TO BITE will be the first YA that I release, although it is not the first YA that I have written. I actually wrote my very first YA novel almost 16 years ago. So, ahem, I guess you could say this one has been a long time coming. 😉

As I wrote THE BETTER TO BITE, I thought of it as Veronica Mars meets Little Red Riding Hood–with werewolves.  I had such an incredible time writing this story, and I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that readers enjoy it, too.

And just because I’m releasing a YA novel, it does not mean that I won’t be writing adult stories, too. I promise, I’m definitely still doing them! Actually, I’m working to have an adult paranormal romance come out in just a few weeks, too, and then I have a December release with Kensington Brava (ANGEL IN CHAINS)…and in 2013, well, I’ve got at least 7 adult releases scheduled.  I love writing–and I love to write in several areas, so no worries on that score.

I will be planning some giveaways  with THE BETTER TO BITE, and as soon as the book is available, I will be back to spread the word.  In the meantime…since it is the Halloween season, why don’t we do a giveaway today?  I’ll give a $15 Amazon gift card to one commenter. You just tell me…what’s your favorite spooky ghost story to tell around Halloween?  My heroine, Anna, in THE BETTER TO BITE, sure does enjoy spooky tales. And so do I!  I’ll pick the random winner on 10/6 at noon (Central time). Good luck!!!

(And I’d like to send out a big thank you to my wonderful cover artist, Pickyme!)