Welcome to #ComedyBookWeek, an annual, online celebration of humor in writing. I’m hosting Nicki Elson and her new release, WHEN IT HOOKS YOU. You can read my 5 star review here. Today Nicki’s sharing a humorous excerpt from the book.
NICKI: I have a lot of favorite funny moments in this story, but I selected this one to share today because it’s the one that cracked me up the most while I was writing—plus it comes with a bonus fun-fact about tigers. Thanks for having me over, Jen!
JEN: This TOTALLY made me snicker. Plus, it was educational!
Excerpt from WHEN IT HOOKS YOU by Nicki Elson
The rain persisted, so they decided to stay at the museum for lunch, sitting at a table in the middle of the towering atrium that separated the historic part of the museum from the newer wing.
“This is more impressive when the sun is shining.” Lyssa frowned, her eyes raised toward the thousands of drops racing down the enormous glass wall.
“It’s still pretty cool,” Trish said. “A dreary day is sort of nice once in a while. Not every day can be sunny. Though I imagine that—” she tilted her head to indicate a spiky lime green spire; it was made entirely of glass and rose straight up from the floor near the window “—is amazing when the sun hits it.”
Lyssa sighed. “Yeah, it is. Guess this means you’ll have to come back soon so you can see it.”
“Definitely.” Trish smiled. “You know what that thing keeps making me think of?”
“What?”
“A tiger penis.”
Lyssa choked on her ice water and threw her hand to her mouth, her eyes going wide in shocked question.
“Sorry,” Trish said, not making any effort to sound the least bit remorseful. “Tigers have barbed penises. It helps them stay in while mating.”
Dabbing at her lips with her napkin, Lyssa asked, “Why do you know that?”
“After I started relating to the feline, I did a little Googling. Fascinating creature, the tiger.”
“I bring the girl to a museum, try to show her a little culture, and she turns a Chihuly into a giant phallus.”
“I’d say the artist did a fine job of that all by himself.”
Lyssa’s gaze scanned the length of the piece. “I suppose he did. Still, this could be a sign that it’s time for you to get yourself some.”
Trish laughed but declined to respond, instead giving her attention to the menu. Adam Helms was the first man to make her seriously consider losing her revirginity. If his kisses were any indication, a night of wrestling between the sheets with him could be the one way to top their perfect second date.
Tag: contemporary romance
#IWSG: Ramping Up for Release
Welcome to July’s Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex J Cavanaugh. Join us HERE.
Happy summer in the northern hemisphere! How’s your summer going? I love swimming laps in my outdoor pool…
…and I can’t wait to watch swimming and other sports in the Olympics.
I don’t love a day job extra project that involves writing long papers with an August deadline. Fiction writing is WAY more fun!
I’m ramping up to release my next novel on 10/1/16: New Adult Sports Romance SPIKED (Blocked #3). Spiked features the awesome sport of swimming.
We plan a cover reveal and review tour as well as a Facebook party. I hope to put the first two novels on sale, too. Any other marketing strategies you recommend?
If you’d like to help host the cover reveal for Spiked on 8/1/16, sign ups are HERE.
(Warning: this cover contains another shirtless man. But my character’s personality is much more important than his abs, I swear!)
WHEN IT HOOKS YOU by @NickiElson3D #Contemporary #Romance #New #Release #Review
When It Hooks You by Nicki Elson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hooked on Nicki Elson‘s Books!
At age 27, law firm receptionist Trish is tired of the dating scene. She’d turned down a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Kurt, but when she thinks he’ll ask again, this time she plans to say yes.
When Kurt instead dumps her, Trish comes up with a new idea: she’ll only go on three dates with any guy. After three dates is where the heartache starts. What could possibly go wrong?
Cliff is a college friend who’s also an attorney at her law firm. (I happen to love Cliff and can’t wait for his story, coming next.) Trish mistakenly thinks Cliff is gay and tries to set him up with a guy. The gay guy is suspicious about Trish matching up with a lesbian on their double-date.
“You’ve got ‘I love dick’ written all over you. You might as well wear a T-shirt proclaiming it.”
Trish’s mouth opened wide in a silent gasp.
“See?” James pointed at her lips, his finger rotating. “The perfect shape and size. You know what you want in there.”
Cliff has the hots for Trish, but she’s more intrigued by stylish businessman Adam, a client at the firm. Adam overhears Trish’s three date max plan and their flirtation begins.
When Adam takes her on a dreamboat third date, including a surprise candlelit dinner on a yacht on the Chicago River, she’s definitely impressed.
“Does this look like a good spot to drop anchor?”
“Perfect. You seriously should get a job planning dates for The Bachelor.”
Trish and Adam develop feelings for each other that transcend the three-date limit. She wants to make an exception for him, but he may be unable to veer off their careful plan due to his secret past.
I definitely enjoyed this contemporary romance, and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
View all my reviews
Nicki writes spicy fiction with a sweet and dreamy center. She does other stuff, too—like obsess over reality TV. Writing fiction wasn’t something Nicki set out to do; it just sort of happened when she realized writing reports was by far her favorite part of her investment consulting position. She traded stock allocation and diversification for story arcs and dialogue and now weaves her creative writing time in with the other activities of her busy life with her family in the Chicago suburbs.Swim Recruit in #Charity Anthology LOVE UNRESTRICTED
I’m excited to sign books at the Glass City Author Event in Toledo, Ohio on 10/8/16.
The event organizer, Kimberley Beale, has put together an anthology to benefit the fight against human trafficking: Love Unrestricted.
Proceeds benefit RISE: Recovering Individuals from Sexual Exploitation.
Cover Reveal: Hearts in Florence by @AMWillard1 #romance
#NA #Sports #Romance DEBT by @RachelDAuthor #SALE only $.99
Over 400 Pages
Standalone Novel
New-Adult Romance / Sports Romance

Expected Release Date:March 2016
The Debt Collector
Kyla Hensley
New-Adult Romance
Sports Romance
Links:
Rachel Dunning hit the scene in August 2013 and is the author of the highly praised Naive Mistakes Series, Truthful Lies Trilogy, Johnny Series and the paranormal romance series, Mind Games.
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Cover Reveal: Abandoned by @ElisaDane #YoungAdult #Romance

Abandoned
Elisa Dane
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: February 15th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
My name is Tierra Owens, and I like to kiss. A lot. It numbs the hollow ache in my chest and—for a few minutes—makes me forget how truly alone I am. My mother is an alcoholic. She hates me and insists I’m the reason she’s not married to my father, whom I have never met. My best friend, Kaylee, is the only person who knows the real me. Everyone else sees what I want them to: a happy, confident, popular girl who has the world at her feet.
I am a fraud.
Relationships are forbidden. I avoid them at all costs. Sex? Emotions? Those things make a person vulnerable, and vulnerability always leads to heartbreak. When my childhood crush, Mattie shows up at school my world tumbles off its axis. The shell I surround myself with feels more like a pathetic crutch than a protective barrier, and I find myself wanting things. Daydreaming about what it would be like to have a boyfriend, a relationship—love.
The sad fact is: I’ll never have any of those things. I am unworthy—trash. Which is why my mom abandoned me.
Author Bio:
ELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she’s a proud mother to three All- Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it’s her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.
Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she’s human.
#SALE Spanish Nights by Valerie Twombly @FangedFantasy
A Jinn’s Seduction, Book 1
by Author Valerie Twombly
Print Length: 150 pages
Publication Date: September 24, 2014
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1NDQbSX
AllRomance: http://bit.ly/1Pi5EE4
Begin A Jinn’s Seduction now for only 99 Cents.
Book 2: Sultry Nights – coming March 7
in the Shades of Desire 2: Sexier by the Dozen box set.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SDfG8p
B&N: http://bit.ly/1HjSlWj
iBooks: http://apple.co/1YnRfgt
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1N24ICy
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1SSN60a
ARe: http://bit.ly/21bNtce

BLOCKED is on SALE #NA #College #Sports #Romance only $.99
“Lucia hopes her scholarship will bring her closer to gorgeous athlete Dane. But there’s something major in the way of their romance — their parents are facing each other in the US presidential race! Will opposites attract in this fun, sexy read?”
“Lord forgive me for I have sinned and lusted over the hottie known as ALEJANDRO. Yup, dibs he’s all mine, chicas.”
~Nelly from Romance Bytes
New Release: ACED (Blocked #2) #NA #Sports #Romance #Giveaway
Title: ACED
Series: Blocked #2
Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez found her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in Jennifer Lane’s Blocked series, it could be her brother Alejandro’s turn to get lucky in love.
Medical student Alejandro’s hot Latin looks get him plenty of attention, but his deep faith and admiration for his father keep him on a righteous path, with no time for something as frivolous as love. He strives to do the right thing—study diligently, take care of his siblings, represent the family well—so why does he feel so unfulfilled?
Enter Lucia’s friend and teammate Maddie Brooks, who shines at blocking the ball and acing the serve. Too bad this graduating senior isn’t so confident about her life off the court. Her longtime boyfriend has just bailed on her, and med school applications loom large. Oh, and a nerve-wracking tryout for Team USA also approaches.
Maddie meets Alejandro when he visits Lucia at school, and she’s soon drawn to his sharp mind. Alejandro is similarly intrigued by Maddie’s talent and strength. But will personal biases and family politics smother the slow burn of their attraction? Unless Maddie can learn to believe in herself, and Alejandro can become his own man, their kindling romance hardly stands a chance.
Will either of them be bold enough to try something new? Find out in this emotion-rich story that refuses to shy away from life’s hardest questions. Because love is worth the risk.
“Jennifer’s characters always interact with each other in a very comfortable pattern of easy and witty banter. She is exceedingly good at dialogue. Aced is a very brave book. Like Blocked, it is not simply a fluffy, sweet and cozy romance.”
~Teresa from Goodreads
“Lord forgive me for I have sinned and lusted over the hottie known as ALEJANDRO. Yup, dibs he’s all mine, chicas.”
~Nelly from Romance Bytes
“The plot is so well paced, I was reading until the wee hours of the morning.”
~Karie Deegan from My Reading Reality
“Blocked captivated my attention from start to finish and Aced does not disappoint. Hotheaded Alejandro meets his match in stubborn and confident Maddie.”
~Aaliyah from Goodreads
1) Join us for the Facebook party 12-2-15 HERE. Over 25 Authors with prizes!
2) Leave a review on Amazon on 12-2-15 for a chance to win $25 gift card.
3) And enter the Rafflecopter Release Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she’s a therapist, and by night she’s a writer. She can’t decide which is more fun.
Jen adores creating sporty heroines and hot heroes in her college sport romances. Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez found her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in the Blocked series, it’s her brother Alejandro’s turn to get lucky in love. Aced launches in December 2015.
A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen writes swimming-based romances as well: Streamline, a military mystery, and the free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic-suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior.
Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and visiting her sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.






































