~ Symposium: Swinging on a Star ~

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my March Symposium!

Since this is my birthday month, I have wishes on the brain. Although my greatest wish is for the health and happiness of my friends and family, I wanted to do something a little more fun for this month’s symposium. 

Because of this, I’ve asked my friends and fellow authors to pick their three most outrageous wishes to share with you. Read on and find out what everyone had to say!

LAURIE ROMA: If I had a genie in a bottle and could have three of the most outrageous wishes I could think of, the first would have to be a sort of catch all. I want magic...or the ability to make my own wishes come true. It might be considered cheating, but who cares. LOL. My second wish would be to visit some sort of alien world, or one of my own creation. I wouldn’t mind having a few Dragon Warriors to call my own. But really, can you blame me? My last wish is something I consider more of a goal than a wish. Someday, I would like to make the NY Times Best Sellers list. I think if that day comes, it’ll be like touching a star...

Feel free to share your most outrageous wishes in the comments section of this post!

Tessa Campbell is a woman in an impossible situation. As the owner of an event planning company, her days are usually filled celebrating the best moments of people’s lives, but all of that changes when her father makes a grievous mistake that may cost him the job he loves. He is depending on her to fix his mistake, but nothing is ever as simple as it seems. In order to save him, she must find a way to reason with his boss...the man everyone calls The Beast.

Drake Vidal has a dangerous reputation. A ruthless business man who has taken Vidal Labs and Technology to the top of the industry, he expects perfection from everyone who works for him. He has never believed in love, but all it takes is one look at the gentle beauty that comes to him to plead for her father for him to lose his heart. Can she find a way to see beyond the savage veneer he portrays to the world to discover the good hidden beneath, or will she think he isn’t worth taming? For who could ever really love a beast?

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S.E. SMITH: Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have my wish I wish tonight…What should I wish for? My first wish is to travel to the stars and beyond. I’ve always been fascinated by what is out there. So my wish would include meeting other, non-threatening, species and discovering new worlds much like my characters do. My second wish would to live in a world where paranormal creatures lived and thrived beside us. In my Magic, New Mexico series, they do. They are normal in an abnormal way. I would love to have a best friend who was a werewolf, or a vampire, or even a garden troll. My third wish is to become one of those paranormal or sci-fi characters. I think it would totally rock to be a shifter, or a witch, or an alien dragon shifter with a symbiot of my own.

Dagger is a Trivator warrior. He is known for his dark and dangerous edge, making him the perfect warrior for impossible missions. He fears nothing, until he meets a young, delicate human female who wakens his heart. Her gentle touch, soft voice, and her shy sense of humor touch him in a way he never thought could happen. The thought of anything harming something so beautiful and fragile fills him with terror.

Jordan Sampson is slowly adjusting to her new life on a strange planet far away from war-torn Earth. She had been seventeen when she was brought to the Trivator’s home world of Rathon along with her older sister, Jesse, and younger sister, Taylor, a couple years earlier. Fear, confusion, and uncertainty of what the future holds threaten to drown her as she tries to fit in. There is only one hope that keeps her going. It is the handsome alien male that stirs something deep inside her and makes her feel whole. 

When Dagger is captured during a mission and sold to the illegal Fight Rings, it is only the memory of Jordan that keeps him going. Time blurs as he slowly sinks deeper and deeper into a world of violence and pain until he becomes more animal than Trivator. 

Jordan knows Dagger is out there, somewhere. She can feel him in her heart. The heart she gave to him the first time he held her protectively in his arms. 

When she discovers where he is being held, she refuses to let anything stop her from rescuing him. What Jordan doesn’t realize is that she has been Dagger’s hope during his captivity. The one thing that holds the thin thread to his sanity. 

The fight to save Dagger takes Jordan on a journey that she hopes they both survive. The star system is a dangerous place for a young human female and a damaged Trivator warrior. Can Jordan reach Dagger in time, and if she does, can she heal his shattered soul?

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NJ WALTERS: When Laurie asked me to imagine I had a genie in a bottle and could have three outrageous wishes, I had to stop and really think about it. I’m the type of person who is pretty content with what I have. BUT...if I had three wishes, I’d take a trip to Scotland. I’ve always been drawn to the landscape and castles, and I would do a tour of the Scottish and English countryside. I’d also love to see the Redwood Forests of California and while I was on the west coast, I’d slip over to see the Glass Beach at MacKerricher State Park. With my final wish, I’d visit Arizona. I find the rock formations and desert landscape beautiful.  Not sure if those things will ever happen considering I really don’t like to travel. Only time will tell. If only my genie could instantly transport me there.

Now that the five-thousand-year curse that kept him and his fellow shapeshifting warriors trapped in animal form has been lifted, Mordecai doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. He is free—in theory.

Hell left its stain on his soul, and his relationship with the warriors who once trusted him is uneasy. The only bright spot in his life is Jessica, whose shining innocence he dare not taint with his inner darkness. But it’s getting harder and harder to stay away from her.

Jessica longs for the days she and Mordecai shared an easy friendship. Now he seems as distant as the stars. He denies there’s a problem, but she’s determined to penetrate his shields.

Hades has been plotting his revenge from his prison. He can’t harm Mordecai without harming himself. But there’s nothing to stop him from wreaking havoc by hurting the one woman Mordecai would give his life to protect—Jessica.

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LACEY THORN: My three most outrageous wishes…Wish number one: I want to be my ideal of the perfect weight for my height (notice I’m not changing my height) and never gain a pound no matter how much I eat or exercise! My ideal may be different from someone else’s but this is all about me! Lol! Wish number two: I want to have just enough money to keep me and my children able to live a comfortable life without worry. I don’t need to be a millionaire. Wish number three: I’d like a machine that allows me to place a book inside it which it will bring to life. I can step between the covers of my most cherished novels and live out the role of the character of my choice. This is so much better than a movie or television show. I have a huge stack just waiting for this machine! Yummy!

The lone Jaguar...

Gideon prefers to stay on the outside, watching, but he’s willing to step in and protect when needed. He doesn’t want family, keeps friends at arm’s length and refuses to believe there might be a woman out there meant to be his and only his. Men like him don’t have mates.

A Woman Undone...

Vic only has one use for men, and it sure as hell isn’t to protect her. She was a Marine. She takes care of herself. She feels the intense burn of desire and knows what others think. There’s only one way to prove them wrong. Sate the lust and walk away.

Mine...

He’s sure he can fight the need for her even with the touch of fever in his veins, but he never counted on fighting her need as well. Neither of them wants a mate, but the beast inside Gideon is ready to stake a claim.  And if that happens, one night might turn into forever.

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SUSAN HAYES: I was raised on stories like the Monkey’s Paw, so if I ever found a wish-granting entity, it would probably take me a month to come up with a wish and then run it by a lawyer to check for loopholes. If I set my paranoia aside though, these would be my wishes. An income that would support me for the rest of my life and allow me to buy a private Villa on a tropical island. Complete with staff, of course. I’d wish for a pill with no side effects that would make me lose weight quickly and easily. I’d ask for just one more hour with my little brother, Corey.  I never got to say goodbye or tell him that I loved him before he died. My greatest regret is that I never said the things I should have, because I thought we had all the time in the world.

As the future CEO of Forrester Industries, Lucas Forrester has the kind of life most men only dream of. He’s travelled the world, brokering deals and sealing contracts that have benefited the company while making a name for himself as a cold, calculating negotiator.

At work, Luke lives behind his corporate persona, but when a chance encounter with a beautiful and caring stranger brings out his true nature, he finds himself reluctant to go back into hiding.

Veronica Hood’s life will never be mistaken for a fairytale, but she’s proud of what she’s accomplished so far. After years of planning, she’s finally got her own coffee shop, with enough money coming in to stay out of the red and pay for her grandmother’s medical bills, too. When Lucas sees her delivering food to the hungry, he appoints himself as her protector, stealing her heart and starting a whirlwind love affair straight out of a storybook.

The trouble is, Lucas isn’t the only one who has fallen for Ronnie. When her stalker finally emerges from the shadows, Luke will have to fight for his redheaded angel. In the end only one of them can possess her, but who will be the victor...her champion or the dark-hearted wolf?

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JENIKA SNOW: When I was younger I wished for a lot of things that were totally outrageous and off the wall. And I still wish I could do them now! I’d love to be able to fly. I wouldn’t really have or need any place to go, but just to go up in the air and away from everything would be incredible. I would also love to be invisible. This is one of the big ones I had when I was younger. To be able to walk around and experience things without anyone seeing, or even judging you, brings freedom to a whole other level. I’d also like to be able to think of something I want it just “poofs” right in front of me. I’d never have to leave my house again, or at least not for the things I hate doing…grocery shopping!

Drevin South, the last unattached original Grizzly MC member, knows that at this stage in the game he’s probably missed his chance at finding love. But when Allie Harper comes into Steel Corner, his bear won’t back away, and he’s not about to fight the bastard on this.

Allie is starting over, staying healthy and hoping to start a life in the small Colorado town of Steel Corner. When she meets grizzly bear shifter Drevin something inside of her awakens. He frightens but arouses her, making her want things she’s never thought she’d be lucky enough to have. But her past is tainted, and she doesn’t know if anyone could love her if he knew the truth.

Can Drevin accept Allie’s dark past enough to make her his old lady? Can he show her that she’s all he wants, and that he’ll do anything to make her his?

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SAM CRESCENT: Well, I’ve been asked to go as extravagant as I want and I’m going to do that. If I could have three wishes, what would they be? Here are the three that have come to mind right now. A fully paid trip around the whole of America and Canada. I would love to go and visit all of the authors I adore, and to get to know my readers. To be able to eat what I want without putting on a single pound. I love food, cooking and baking, but it doesn’t love my hips. To be a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, that would be a dream LOL. You did say we could all dream. Happy Birthday, Laurie.

An eye for an eye.

Alex doesn’t have a clean past. His is filled with betrayal, anger, hurt, and loss. All he had to do was protect a young woman, Preston’s sister. Instead she ends up dead, and Alex hides the evidence, keeping silent about it for ten years.

A tooth for a tooth.

Alex’s mistakes have caught up with him. He may be part of The Skulls, but he knows better than most that the MC wants him gone. Everything he’s sacrificed means nothing in the face of one man intent on hurting him by hurting the people he cares about, including his newfound love, Sunshine.

A life for a life.

Sunshine, Michael, Tabitha, Tiny, The Skulls—who will survive, and who will die? Will Alex have to face this alone? Or will The Skulls pull through for the man who has always been in the background of their lives? The countdown is on.

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ROSANNA LEO: Thank you, Laurie, for allowing me to play here once again and happy birthday! 3 wishes, huh? Well, I'm a greedy girl and I could do a lot of damage with 3 wishes, but let's see if I can contain myself. Wish 1 - I would like English actor Richard Armitage to take on new role and become my personal manservant. It wouldn't be a tough job - no heavy lifting involved - but it would require him to rub my back a lot and bring me snacks. Oh, and sex. A lot of it. So perhaps, in retrospect, he might have to do a bit of heavy lifting. Wish 2 - Putting aside dreams of Mr. Armitage for a moment, I wish my two teen sons would somehow remember that their mother is the light of their lives. They would be required to tell me, at least twice daily, that they love me and think I'm so much cooler than other moms. And I want my hugs back. Since they became young men, they seem to have decided hugging Mom is no longer an option. Wish 3 - Again, forgetting Mr. Armitage, I suppose I should make a wish that includes my long-suffering husband. I would love for us to be able to retire early and travel to all the places we've dreamed of seeing. There. 3 wishes. I think they're all doable, don't you? Now get over here, Richard Armitage, and rub my feet.

Failed actress Winn Busby is at the end of her rope. With no money and no prospects, she accepts the one job she never thought she’d see on her résumé. Professional bridesmaid. It should be easy. If only the idea of weddings and vows didn't give Winn a case of the hives. Her role becomes more challenging when she's told a reporter will shadow her work for a men's magazine article.

Working for Player Magazine is Patrick Lincoln's worst nightmare. A former political journalist, he used to write thoughtful columns for one of Toronto's most respected papers. That is, until he was blackballed for allegedly sleeping with the boss's wife. Overnight, Patrick becomes the city's most reviled bad boy. And now he's forced to write a seedy expose on, of all things, a bridesmaid.

Patrick begrudgingly accompanies Winn to a series of strange weddings. As they are forced to work together, he learns there is more to the stand-in bridesmaid than puffy dresses and pretty speeches. She, in turn, begins to question whether or not Patrick actually deserves the derision of his peers. As much as they fight their attraction, it begins to threaten their work and their sanity.

For so long, Winn has felt second-best. A stand-in. She finally meets a man who believes in her value. But can she let go of the past and accept him?

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WILLOW BROOKE: Thank you to Laurie Roma for having me! I actually felt myself slip back to a kid thinking of outrageous wishes of horses and giant candy factories with a swimming pool full of gumballs.  Those are silly, of course. I’d rather wish for an endless shopping spree for shoes and clothes and all things books! And, since my closet is small and there isn’t much room for all of the ancient artifacts and treasure chests in my house, the next wish would be for a huge lodge style home on more acreage than one could walk in a month.  It’d have to have horses and cows, and a waterfall that pooled into a naturally hot steamy lake for swimming under the stars.  I’d need a library for all of my books, which would need me to wish up more hot steamy books by all of the other fabulous authors here! I could go on and on, wishing my little sexy genie to grant, but if he was hot, maybe there wouldn’t be much ‘wishing’ needed… ;)

In book two of Southern Bred:  My name is Brandon West. I was born in this small town and have lived here my entire life.  Some people leave, some come back, but I never wanted any part of that.  This is my home and I’m proud of it.

Growing up in these parts, either you’re kin to half of the town and dated the other half at one point or another, or you are a passer-by—meaning you won’t be here long.  

With that outlook, imagine my surprise the day a little she-devil in stilettos and designer clothes drove up our dusty road—you guessed it—everything changed.

Facing lush lips, full hips, long legs, and eyes that can see straight through to your soul are hard to ignore, so what started as a plan for a few nights of fun, soon got a little more complicated than I anticipated.

When left with no choice, what do I do?  Well, what else is there, besides tying her little fine ass up and teaching her a lesson, country style. 

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AMAZON

OLIVIA BLACK: If I was granted three outrageous wishes what would they be? This is a hard question. It actually took me a while to think about what I would really want. I needed to think outside the box. Like most people, I usually wish for regular everyday things – good health, enough money to pay my bills, and maybe even one day fame and fortune. Pushing all those regular thoughts away, I decided to dream BIG. My first wish is to take my daughter on an extravagant vacation. A year on a cruise ship traveling around the world. We love watching the Travel channel together and I think it would be amazing to see it all in person versus while we’re sitting on the couch. My second wish, having one of my books made into a movie. And for my third wish, I decided to ask my daughter what she would want. She wants us to have different homes around the world.  

You have to be the best to go to war with the worst. That’s the motto the agents of the Federal Paranormal Agency live by. They train hard to hunt down those that go rogue, enforcing the laws set down through the ages. They deliver justice to those that break the laws and save the innocent. They are the enforcers of the paranormal world.

Braig Rabgix is an ancient vampire and an agent for the Federal Paranormal Agency. While following a rogue wolf shifter that deals in human sex trafficking, Braig finds his True Match among the victims. He takes the scared human home and tends to his wounds, gently wooing the man meant to be his.

Beaten and held in a cage, Daniel Bombelles has lost touch with who he really is. The world flashes by him in shades of pain. When he’s saved by a stranger with hypnotic brown eyes, something inside Daniel says that he can trust the handsome vampire.

The danger isn’t over. The rogue wolf that tortured Daniel is on the loose in New York City and its Braig’s job to track him down. But there’s a difference between justice and revenge, and Braig is willing to cross the line.

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KALI ARGENT:  Happy Birthday, Laurie! Oh, three extravagant wishes! I’m not overly concerned with material possessions, but I admit that I’ve always wanted to live in a castle. Not a large castle, but definitely one with turrets and maybe even a clock tower. My second wish is easy. I want to eat all the chocolate and cookies I want and never gain a pound or feel any discomfort. Moderation is so overrated. For my third and final wish, I’m not really sure what I’d ask for, to be honest. Maybe a superpower. Not telepathy, because that sounds exhausting. Ooh, I think I’d like something magical, like the ability to wave my hand, and ta-da! My house is clean! With three boys at home, that would definitely come in handy.  

Deep within the fortress of Pandora, Lieutenant Vane Schiva has spent millennium guarding precious artifacts and ancient secrets from around the universe. As the son of a decorated commander, he has always been a soldier first, putting the needs of his people before his own desires. So when the compound is breached and he’s sent across the galaxies to track down the thief, he never imagined the assignment would lead him to the only thing he’s ever wanted for himself.

Growing up in New Orleans, Charlotte Rousseau has seen her share of the strange and unexplainable, but everything she thought she knew about the world is about to be tested. What started as any other day, quickly spirals into a nightmarish reality, leaving her no choice but to place her trust—and her life—in a stranger’s hands. Safety comes at a price, though, and Charlotte soon realizes her only chance at survival means leaving behind her fears and following Vane into the fire.

Faced with the threat of war, new alliances are formed and old loyalties are tested in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. While emotions run high and sexual tensions simmer, Vane still guards a dangerous secret, one that could cost him everything in the end. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect Charlotte, though, even if that means turning his back on his own people.

War is easy. Love takes courage.

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Check out Kali's March Friday Faves!