@carlaswafford Brothers of Mayhem: Hidden Heat, Full Heat, and Naked Heat. #onepercenters #motorcycleclub #spicy #booktok and yes, I did more than watch #sonsofanarchy for my research. Ask and I will tell you how.
♬ original sound – AuthorCarlaSwafford
Category: Full Heat
Pile It on
You know what I like about romance books? Of course, the hot sex, but truthfully, the layers my favorite authors weave into their stories. For romances, there should be two main plots in the book.
One, of course is the mystery of romance. You know, the mystery of how they come to understand they should be together (not just because they are compatible in bed, though that is important as it is in relationship) and how they work out their happy ending. A lot of this is internal conflict because love is emotion. Like duh, right?
Second, what is going on in their lives that pull them together? Or make sure they are at the same place at the same time? It can be a missing child, a failing ranch, a killer on the loose, etc. You get the idea. This is the external conflict.
Then you can layer on more. Maybe the two main characters’ families are mortal enemies (Jake: A Southern Crime Family Novel), or hero has a problem with being touched (Full Heat: A Brothers of Mayhem Novel), or heroine reappears after disappearing years before (Circle of Deception: The Circle series). That’s right. The hero and heroine should never be perfect. One can be a little less perfect than the other, but both should have faults. That makes them so much more interesting.
Just be careful with the layers and plots. As an author, it’s important to keep up with
them. The plots need advancement throughout the book, and certainly need to be solved completely by the end. The layers need to show up along the way too. Usually, those faults need to be improved or a promise of improving. Not all of them, but the major ones. At the end of the book, the characters have to be better for knowing each other.
The only exception to solving a plot or improving a fault or more within a book is when it’s part of a series involving one main character. Such as Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series, Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series, Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, etc.
Personally, I’ve quit reading series with a same main character. I get bored, and after awhile, the hero/heroine gets on my nerves. Maybe because they do not seem to grow and learn from their mistakes. Don’t get me wrong. The series above and many others are great series (they wouldn’t be NYT best selling books if they weren’t) but it’s just not my thing, my taste.
My series have a couple threads that run through them to connect, but nothing major. That’s why most can be read as standalones. The Southern Crime Family series is 
currently the only one that will need to be read in order. Only book one (Jake) is out. Book two should be in the summer of 2020. The series is about three brothers and their
journey to find love and the true killer responsible for their father’s death. Each book is about a brother.
Another thing about plots. In my books of 60,000 words or less, I try not to throw in a complicated plot(s). Simple is best. If you didn’t, you would limit the romance in such a small book. And no, geez, that doesn’t mean putting in more sex. Romance is emotion. Getting to know each other’s personality traits, understanding why they do the things they do, often learning to trust each other, they are all part of a romance.
For that matter, I write for entertainment. The only place I teach a person something is through my blog posts here (or the workshops I do on occasion).
BLOGGERS: I HEART YA BOOKS
A couple weeks ago, I came across my list of book review sites/bloggers I like and decided to let my readers know about them. Kind of give back to them what they do for all authors out there. You may find a few books you have to buy.
The first site I’m pointing you to is one of my favorites. Yes. She loved my first two books in the Brothers of Mayhem series and even understood my heroine so well in HIDDEN HEAT she almost made me cry with happiness.
Side note: If you’re wondering about book three in the series. I just haven’t sent it out to be reviewed.
Here’s the link to her blog:
https://iheartyabooks.blogspot.com/
And her link to her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/IHartYABooks/
She told me once that she likes more than just YA books. So true, considering the only thing about my books being YA is the age of the heroines and heroes. HA!
Oh, I see on her blog that she said, “I review Mature YA, New Adult and Adult Books. Romance is my heart!”
If you’re interested in the review of HIDDEN HEAT, click below.
http://iheartyabooks.blogspot.com/2016/02/newrelease-blast-review-excerpt_16.html
And here’s FULL HEAT’s review. Click below.
http://iheartyabooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/newrelease-review-for-mc.html
Let’s Celebrate With Giveaways
Today, I’m celebrating five years and seven books in publishing. On Tuesday, October 18, 2011, is when it all began, and I want to thank those who have and will read my books.
I’m giving away swag (cups, pens, jar openers -the red circle, book marks, etc.), and books, and gift cards.
How do you obtain such wonderful stuff? By telling me ONE of the following. Yep, you only have to answer one, but feel free to answer more.
1) What do you like about outlaw MC books?
2) What do you like about mercenary/spy/assassin books (similar to my Circle series)?
3) What other kind of book do you enjoy reading?
Be sure to leave me your email address. It will be used for the giveaway only.
Be aware that FULL HEAT, the second standalone book in the Brothers of Mayhem series, is on sale for 0.99 cents for a limited time.
AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE KOBO BOOKS A MILLION
And CIRCLE OF DESIRE is on sale for $1.99.
If you want to know about future books, giveaways, and sales, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Click here and fill out the form.
NAKED HEAT is due to come out the end of February 2017.
Below are the books that make up The Circle series.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00009]](https://carlaswafford.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/circleofdishonor_final_600x911.jpg?w=184&h=279 "Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00009]")
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00009]](https://carlaswafford.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/circleofdefiance_final2.jpg?w=184&h=280 "Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000039_00009]")
Winners will be announce after 9 p.m. tonight!
Celebration Starts Tomorrow
Tomorrow, I will be celebrating five years published. My first book, CIRCLE OF DESIRE, came out Tuesday, October 18, 2011. Pretty neat, huh? Same date and day. If you want to check it out, it’s on sale for $1.99 (e-book). Think James Bond and Le Femme Nikita.
Per one reader, Nikki, “I can’t even tell others how much I loved this book! I don’t read spy stuff, but this storyline works and is probably the HOTTEST set up I’ve ever read.”
Here’s an excerpt.
As soon as [Collin] walked into the suite, he knew something was wrong. The whirl of an electronic device starting up filled the room and a small green light bounced off the wall and then disappeared. He guessed it was now dancing on his back.
“Olivia, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” He raised his hands and slowly turned around.
Feet spread apart, dressed in black with a sporty red trim jacket, she held the sniper rifle they’d recently returned to her and forwarded to the hotel in several containers. He’d been impressed by its microcomputer, perfect for shooting in any kind of weather. Presently she had one eye to the night sight. Damn, the woman was stronger than he gave her credit for as she was holding, elbows out, an eighteen pound rifle and it barely moved.
“You do know from this close of a range my torso would disintegrate into a hundred thousand tiny pieces, spreading blood and me everywhere in the room.”
“Like I care,” she spit with menace. Her hand trembled and the barrel wobbled.
“Can we talk about whatever has set you off?” He hadn’t expected her to become so angry about his turning her down.
She shifted the rifle against her cheek, probably easing up a tight muscle. “I thought this job was too easy. What was the real reason I’m here? Have you worked out some type of trade with Jason?”
Damn! He didn’t need this now. The sun was peeking around Camelback Mountain. They needed to get out of there.
“No. You’ll have to trust me.” He was a crazy f**ker as all he could think about was how damn good she looked holding that rifle.
“Oh, that makes a world of difference. Not!” She made another adjustment of the pad next to her cheek. “You get me all hot and bothered and then ignore me. You never finish what you start and I can’t–” As she crumbled to the ground, Rex caught the rifle.
“Motherf**ker! What were you thinking? You’re going to f**k around until she kills you? Bloody hell! There wouldn’t be anything left for me to pick up.” Rex started breaking down the rifle, slapping each part into the shaking hands of one of his men.
Collin knelt next to Olivia, pressing two fingers to the artery in her neck. His heartbeat matched hers as it continued to speed up.
“What did you shoot her with?” Collin asked as he smoothed her hair out of her face.
“The same as you did before. Twilight.” Rex sneered.
“Damn, she’s going to be pissed again. We can’t keep knocking her out.” Collin scooped her into his arms. “Let’s go. Thank goodness we’ve got a private plane back.”
“I’m all for dumping her out over Texas.” Rex followed leaving the clean up for his crew.
“Now what has Texas ever done to you?”
~~~
And just so happens, tomorrow, FULL HEAT will be on sale for a limited time for 0.99 cents (e-book). Here’s what reader Pinky had to say about it. “Carla Swafford does an amazing job at bringing to life the workings of a Motorcycle Club. The love scenes sizzle and do not disappoint.”
Be aware, that my outlaw MC books are close to true life. Not saying all are this wild and dangerous, but most are. At the same time, this is fiction and I take much license with it, in order to make it a romance. YES!
Here’s an excerpt of FULL HEAT.
Storm had watched her luscious lips move, not hearing one word. He’d never seen lips that needed to be kissed, bit, and sucked as much as hers. Hot damn! Every inch of her begged him to taste her. Usually, he lusted after big tits like the ones so many of the old ladies in the club flaunted. He had a feeling he was about to switch to a handful. Yeah.
Small ones with hard little nipples perfect for tweaking.
His gaze drifted back up to her face.
One trimmed dark brow lifted as he looked into her eyes. Instead of embarrassment or anger, humor twinkled in their mossy depths. Sh*t! He f*cking loved that, a woman who didn’t play hard to get but didn’t throw her body at any available male.
Too bad he had to scratch the idea of her being a porn star or a stripper. If she had been, convincing her to remove her clothes would’ve been so much easier.
One thing was for sure: he needed to teach her the danger of walking into a biker’s bar without a bodyguard.
~~~
Here are the links to purchase the books tomorrow. Oh, before I forget, be sure to come back here tomorrow. I will be giving goodies away. More people who show up, the more goodies that will be given away.
AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE KOBO BOOKS A MILLION
If you want to know about future books, giveaways, and sales, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Click here and fill out the form.
Thanks!
Brothers of Mayhem Ride Again
Release date July 19, 2016 in ebook only.
From the author of Hidden Heat (“Filled with action, deception, and emotional and sexual tension.”—Publishers Weekly), the Brothers of Mayhem MC rides again in an explosive novel of wounded hearts and undeniable heat.
Forget shining armor. Motorcycle shop owner Mary Jane Parker could use a knight in black leather right about now. A local gang has been extorting her for protection money, and standing her ground would be a lot easier with the Brothers of Mayhem at her back. She just needs to convince the club’s new president to take the job. The powerful, brooding biker claims he’s not interested—but if his version of tough love is supposed to be punishment, Mary Jane would gladly misbehave for the rest of her life.
Storm Ryder has no interest in rescuing anyone but himself. He spent three agonizing years in prison, and there’s no way in hell he’s going back, not over a spoiled rich girl who’s flirting with trouble. So why does he find himself craving Mary Jane’s lips—and holding her close when he should be pushing her away? Deep down in his tortured soul, Storm knows she’ll be there for him. And when Mary Jane needs him most, he’ll find the courage to give her everything he’s got.
Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Random House
Look for Carla at the following places.
Coming Tuesday, July 19
A teaser for you.
Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Random House
Look for Carla at the following places.
Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram Website
Be sure to LIKE my Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/CarlaSwaffordAuthor/
I will be sending out an excerpt in my next newsletter – probably tonight – so be sure to go and sign up to receive a copy. Oh, and I do giveaways too.
What People Are Saying . . .
This is what readers on Goodreads are saying about HIDDEN HEAT coming out February 16.
“This is a great ride that has a lot of surprises . . . I am looking forward to see what’s next from this author because I have become a fan.”
“I promise you will love it!!”
“I completely enjoyed this story, it’s many plot twists & turns had me riveted. I loved Thorn’s crazy relatives!”
“Overall Hidden Heat is a fantastic introduction to the Brothers Of Mayhem with more characters to be explored such as Wolf, Angel and of course Storm…his story is not yet over.”
“Fans of the genre will love this book. I have added the author to my must read authors’ list.”
“Wow! I really liked it. This author will definitely be on my watch list.”
“There is a LOT of drama and angst and twists, so there will be no further story line hints given… READ IT…. and start begging Carla for the sequel!”
“A thrilling story, full of surprises, intrigue, steamy passion and some really nasty sounding dudes (makes a change from everyone looking hot and sexy). I loved it.”
“For me it was fast paced and an exciting read. Will definitely be looking for more of the Brothers of Mayhem in the future.”
“I really liked Thorn. A LOT.”
“Cassidy is a tough chic that looks out for her brother.”
“The bat swinging bundle of hotness who busted into the Skull and Bones is none other than the daughter of the founding Skull…
“Swafford wrote a compelling story of how far will the love for a brother take you.”
“I liked the fact that Cass was a kick ass take no prisoner chick, and Thorn (Holy hell) he sounds totally HOT!”
“I couldn’t put this book down.”
“This is my first book by this author and I loved it.”
“I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.”
“My Favorite Moment: I really loved when Cassidy found out the real story about who Thorn is.”
“Super easy read, great flow, great character development and I really enjoyed it.”
“Cassidy was a strong female lead and even though she knew something would get her into trouble, she did it anyway because she knew without a doubt it was the right thing to do.”
“The plot is fairly well developed with about as much mistrust as you might expect within the motorcycle club . . .”
“Every few pages, just when you think you have a handle on the plot line another twist comes along.”
“I was instantly pulled into this story. It was an easy read. It had a great flow to it. I am looking forward to the next in the series. ”
“I could not put this book down. I loved Cassidy and her determination to protect her brother from the harsh life within the MC.”
“Such an amazing and exciting story!! Started reading and could not stop until I was completely finished! 100% recommend!!”
“I hated to say goodbye to Cassidy and Thorn. 5 stars!!”
“Carla S[w]afford has a new fan due to her depth of characters and twisting plot lines”
“Two very different people, with lots of plot twist to make you keep reading to find out more.”
“Carla is great at weaving suspense into her romances so this was hit for me.”
Hey, I believe in celebrating the positive! Thank you, everyone! I can’t wait until you read Storm’s book (FULL HEAT). It’s going to blow your socks off! An angst filled hero and a laid-back heroine. What a switch, heh?
FULL HEAT coming July 5
Forget shining armor. Motorcycle shop owner Mary Jane Parker could use a knight in black leather right about now. A local gang has been extorting her for protection money, and standing her ground would be a lot easier with the Brothers of Mayhem at her back. She just needs to convince the club’s new president to take the job. The powerful, brooding biker claims he’s not interested-but if his version of tough love is supposed to be punishment, Mary Jane would gladly misbehave for the rest of her life.
Storm Ryder has no interest in rescuing anyone but himself. He spent three agonizing years in prison, and there’s no way in hell he’s going back, not over a spoiled rich girl who’s flirting with trouble. So why does he find himself craving Mary Jane’s lips-and holding her close when he should be pushing her away? Deep down in his tortured soul, Storm knows she’ll be there for him. And when Mary Jane needs him most, he’ll find the courage to give her everything he’s got.
****
He kinda makes you think of this photo.
***
Author Meda White and myself are having an Angel and Demon Party with lots of giveaways. Come by and say you’ll be there on February 16, 2016. That’s the day HIDDEN HEAT will be released. YAY!
We will be giving away gift cards, books, and swag. A few of these for example.
The red oval is a jar opener/coaster. I’m sure you can guess what the other two items are. HA!
***
Staring Feb. 8 on Goodreads is Romance Week. Be sure to stop by my profile and ask me questions. By the way, here’s my choice for most romantic quote.
***
I will be signing at several places this year.
April 7, 2016: The Novel Experience, Atlanta GA
June 11, 2016: Heart of Dixie Romance Readers Luncheon, Huntsville, AL
October 1, 2016: Moonlight and Magnolias Conference, Peachtree Corners, GA
November 5, 2016: Southern Magic Romance Readers Luncheon, Birmingham, AL
***
If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you know that I love hockey. If you’re in Nashville on February 20, I’ll be at the Predators’ game against LA Kings. Let me know if you’ll be there, and I’ll meet up with you and give you some swag. Hope to see you there.
Whew! That’s it for now. Time for me to get back to working on NAKED HEAT (after the game tonight). That’s Wolf’s story. He’s kidnapped the love of his life, and he’s in deep do-do. LOL!
A Growth of a Series
First, I love reading books with bad boy heroes. Hell, I married one. If you’ve ever read my Circle series, you’ll know how much I love writing about dangerous, ill-tempered (HA!) men.
When I began writing the Brothers of Mayhem series, I had already read a couple MC (romance/fiction) books and watched all of the Sons of Anarchy. Click here to read my post about researching the series.
So I thought readers of MC books would be interested to know that the first book (HIDDEN HEAT) of the Brothers of Mayhem is not the typical MC story. The majority of the bikers in that story are not good guys. But you will see a shift in book two (FULL HEAT – Storm’s story). It has a mixture of good and bad. New blood.
By book three (NAKED HEAT – Wolf’s story) you’ll see more of the brotherhood that you come to expect in a MC romance. And in the fourth book (RAW HEAT – Cutter’s story), the club heals and the brotherhood tightens.
It’s like this, throughout the series, each book can be read separately as stand-alones, but like the romance in each story, the club has a path to take with all of the ups and downs. The growth of the club as an unit will ensure its survival. In the end, it will have the right guy in place and everyone will be happy. *sniff* I do love for my people to have a happy ending.
And you could say each story has something for everyone, from the unique MC story to the hard core.
Watching The Voice
If y
ou don’t know already, I’m a big fan of Adam Levine. I love Maroon 5. And yes, I enjoy Pharrell (talent galore) and Blake (funny!). So watching The Voice makes sense. The blind auditions are the best part (along with Adam). In fact, Adam is who I based Thorn (HIDDEN HEAT) on. Just had to say it. Now back to my writing (FULL HEAT).
Carla Swafford, Author 