Sherry Gloag

Six Sentence Sunday ~ 29th Jan

2012-01-29T06:00:00.003Z

Thank you to everyone who leaves comments, and visits every week.

Today I am sharing more from of my Valentine Story about Henri Gasquet, hero in His Chosen Bride.

His father’s bald statement rocked Henri back on his heels. “You?”

“It is a year since my heart attack,” the king said again, “and for the most part I have accepted the dictates of my doctors and advisors, and am now taking a leaf out of my son’s book before my heir drops dead from physical and emotional exhaustion.”

With a snap the king closed Henri’s diary, leaned back in his chair. Instead of pushing it towards him, the king slipped the diary into one of the desk drawers his gaze still focussed on his son.

“So you, my son, are on leave until I say otherwise.”

Please hop on over to SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY to read more fabulous snippets on offer this week.

Sweet Saturday Sample 28-1

2012-01-28T06:00:00.001Z

I just want to thank everyone who visits me on Sweet Saturday Samples and to say how much I appreciate your comments.

This week I am sharing a sample from my Valentine story His Chosen Bride, to be released by Astraea Press. When I wrote my current release, From Now Until Forever I didn't expect it to turn out to be the first of four stories about the Gasquet Princes, but then the characters 'insisted'!
His Chosen Bride is Prince Henri's story.

She lost track of time until the flames caught her attention once more. They flickered from orange to gold, to silver, to white.

A flurry of snowflakes masked the flames and for a second Monica watched the most beautiful, pristine snow-scene she’d ever seen. Her lips curved in longing. How she’d love to get a toboggan and slide down that slope. She knew where it was, and had done just that many times in her childhood, first with her parents and then, in clandestine manner, with her brother. Sneaking an old tin tray from the back of her mother’s walk-in pantry, she’d then grabbed Billy’s hand and they’d rushed out the back gate, heading for the lakeside track that led up into the hills.

Darkness, dense and thick with grief dropped over the scene. Startled and disconcerted by the strength of emotion emanating from the vision Monica shifted to her knees, ready to stand, when a voice, a deep male voice, sharp with fear called out her name.

“Monica!”

She knew she’d never heard the voice before, and yet—it was as familiar to her as the image she saw in her mirror each morning.

“Help me, Monica.”

Desperate for more clues, she searched the darkness within the flames until it sputtered and faded. With a curse she jumped up and ran for the phone. With her outstretched hand hovering over it she halted and let her hand drop to her side once more. What could she say? What would the police or rescue team think of her if she called them and told them she’d seen a vision of a man in distress?

They’d laugh in her face and classify her as a lunatic. Well, maybe not. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d contacted them with positive information but something—an instinctive gut reaction told her what she’d seen this time hadn’t happened yet.

Please welcome author Ann Montclair

2012-01-25T10:50:00.000Z

So Many Opportunities: Only One Story
By Ann Montclair

So, you’ve written a book. It’s completed, polished, and ready to be shopped. You’re excited, right? After all, this is the moment you’ve been awaiting. You’ve composed your two page synopsis and one page query letter, and are ready to make the biggest decision of all—to whom do you send your inquiry?

Traditionally, you’d query a list of agents and hope one requested a chapter, but with the advent of electronic books, many publishers will accept direct inquiries from un-agented, first time authors. What do you do?

Figure out your intentions and form a plan.

Writers must decide if they want to pursue print or electronic publication—knowing one takes a long time and the other might nibble within weeks. Authors should decide if they want to work with a small or large press. And don’t forget to consider if your career might benefit from securing an agent. Once those decisions are made, writers must be prepared to wait accordingly. You have one story to sell, and you want to make sure it gets into the best position for that sale; that’s why planning is essential for a prudent business move.

I took an academic sabbatical from my position as a tenured college English professor to pursue my writing. I desired publication as quickly as possible, so I decided to query electronic publishers as well as traditional venues. Within a month, I had been offered a contract with Soul Mate Publishing.

A contract! My first novel, The Billionaire’s Bauble, sold! And fast…

I barely had time to utter a prayer of thanks before I received two more offers for my Bauble. Then an agent I’d queried wanted to read it, and months later, a giant in the romance industry expressed interest.

I am thrilled to have The Billionaire’s Bauble with Soul Mate Publishing; as I am equally pleased to have two more contemporary romance novels, One Wet Summer and Good Things Come in Tall Packages, forthcoming in May 2012 and August 2012 with Musa Publishing. My dreams have come true, and I hope to entertain readers for years to come with romance novels yet to be penned.

The lesson that I hope to share is this: as an author, you need a plan. You need to understand that there has never been more opportunity or access to publication, but if you want to press with the traditional publishers, like St. Martins or Harlequin, you need patience. Those large houses don’t have the turnaround small houses have. Agents take months to respond and big publishing houses can take up to a year. I don’t regret the decisions I made to get my stories to press. Soul Mate Publishing and Musa Publishing have proven wonderful venues for my novels—rich with learning opportunities, willing to help me grow as an author of contemporary romance. I trust I made the right decisions for my stories and for me.

And you need to make the right decision for you. When that first novel (or that next novel is ready to send), know this: writers have choices. Plan to succeed and you will!

***

Ann Montclair’s first contemporary romance novel, The Billionaire’s Bauble, is available as an electronic book at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Billionaires-Bauble-ebook/dp/B006QQWY42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326811080&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-billionaires-bauble-ann-montclair/1108117604?ean=2940013699595&itm=1&usri=the+billionaire%27s+bauble

and Soul Mate Publishing http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/the-billionaires-bauble/

You can also visit her at http://annmontclair.com/

The Billionaire’s Bauble blurb:
Sloane Porter arrived at Grant Oil knowing if she didn’t land the executive assistant position, she would have to leave Fairbanks and return home to New York. To a life she’d thought she’d left far behind. She hadn’t spent years earning her degree and becoming her own woman just to move backwards. But when Sloane enters the CEO’s office and realizes he’s the same man she’d kissed in a Fairbanks bar two years earlier, a man she couldn’t forget, she discovers running away isn’t always the best option . . .

Excerpt from Chapter One:

"I'll be all yours in a moment, Ms. Porter," David said absentmindedly to the final interviewee entering his plush Fairbanks office. The walnut and steel door swooshed closed as the woman approached his desk. He didn't glance up from his paper pile, but he could smell a hint of Chanel perfume, and he already liked the confident click clack of the candidate's heels across his tiled office floor.

"Yes, sir. Take all the time you need," the applicant purred, and remained standing, waiting for David to ask her to be seated.

He enjoyed making his prospective employees squirm—just a bit—as they waited to find out if their futures would be linked with his Fortune 500 company. Everyone wanted a piece of the pie, but only one person would be hired to become the newest administrative assistant to the CEO and owner of the billion dollar enterprise.

David Grant required a team of personal aids to scurry after him and keep things running smoothly so he could wrangle the S & P and rough up those big city corporate honchos. He smiled to himself. The new figures looked strong, and Grant Oil was set to double up.

David slowly lifted his eyes to observe every detail of the young woman.

He started at her shoes, a serviceable pair of two-inch heels. Check. She wasn't wearing stilettos, a sure sign of self-indulgence if worn to the office. Good.

Her legs were lean but strong; he could see calf muscle but no knee. Check. Modesty was key to creating a productive workplace. He didn't want to see thighs at Grant Oil. He demanded a focused environment, and that meant no glimpses of distracting flesh.

As his inquisitive eyes moved to the woman's hips, he noted she was full figured despite her athletic legs. Her blue wool pencil skirt did little to hide her feminine curves. Wool was a smart choice because June could be quite cool in Fairbanks, despite the sun's bright glare.

Her arms were to her sides and her fingers hung loosely. Light pink paint adorned each small nail. No wedding ring decorated her slim pale fingers, though she had quite a nice ornament on her left pinky finger. A 2-carat diamond sparkled in the late afternoon sunshine coming through the giant paned window above his desk. Terrific. She didn't have a husband to keep her home. David needed assistants who moved as quickly as he did.

The woman's matching suit coat jacket was finely tailored, and the small leather covered buttons were undone so David could see the crisp white silk shirt that almost disguised a full bosom.

Her throat was long and he could see a pulse. Good. She was nervous, despite her calm demeanor. A few wisps of auburn hair had escaped from her chignon, but they curled artfully along her neck, just touching her suited shoulder. David appreciated the softness a few misplaced hairs could lend to a businesswoman. A woman should be soft—even in the rugged oil business. He wanted a woman to be a woman.

As he continued his deliberate perusal, he noted her dimpled chin, full pink lips, and pert nose. When he finally arrived at her eyes, he almost lost his composure.

"It's you," he managed as his throat clamped tight. If he had been kicked in the gut, he couldn't have been more affected.

A quick flash of recognition quickly became all business as her brilliant green eyes smiled at him, twinkled even. She extended her hand across his glass-topped desk and said, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Grant. Thank you for the opportunity."

David felt her small hand go instantly hot. He stood then, and she stepped back, pulling her hand from his strong grip. He could see a flash of confusion and then determination well up in her remarkable eyes.

"I understand you are here for a position in my company," he assuaged. He read her name from the top of her resume again: Sloane Porter. "I apologize for my familiarity, Ms. Porter, but you are the woman I danced with a couple of years ago at Hal's. Right?"

Tuesday Tales 24th - Games

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000Z

Thank you for dropping in to read this week's TUESDAY TALES
The prompt is 'Games'

“Com’on.” Brad led the group of fellow ten-year-olds across the park towards the trees. “It’ll be easy.”

He heard the muttering behind him and hefted his mini crossbow from one hand to the other. He patted the knotted tie that held his arrows against his back. Jeff was carrying a bag of apples, and Will and Harry had tagged along to watch.

“Hey!” Will called to his friend Logan, you coming to see Brad split an apple on top of Jeff’s head?” He’d never heard of William Tell but that didn’t matter.

“Don’t be daft, he can’t do that!” Logan loped across the grass to join the group and on spying another friend invited them along.

“Where we going?” Tyler, the tenth boy to join the group, demanded.

“Dun’ know.” Will admitted.

“There’s a clearing that’s big enough just along the path that leads to the tennis courts.” Brad called over his shoulder. “Not many people use it so we won’t be disturbed.”

Brad’s confidence plummeted with each addition to the small band of boys now crossing the park. Several adults, he noticed, were watching their progress towards the trees. Perhaps he shouldn’t have accepted Jeff’s challenge?

He looked across at his best buddy and noted the freckles standing out against the pallor of his skin. Was he regretting the challenge? And would he withdraw it? Anger joined his fear when he heard his silent prayers he wouldn’t have to follow through.

It all seemed such a lark last night when they’d been trolling the ‘net and come across the story of William Tell, who in an effort to avoid being imprisoned shot an apple off the top of his son’s head.

Now, as the group of boys increased, it turned into something more like a nightmare than a game.

From the corner of his eye Brad saw two men approaching. One was Jeff’s father. What was he doing here? Why wasn’t he watching the game on TV?

“Nah! My Dad won’t notice,” Jeff assured him last night when they plotted this. “He always stays in and watches the game, and my Mom goes round to Aunt Bella, so no one will see us.”

“What you doing, boys?” Jeff’s dad asked with an easy smile.

Hadn’t he noticed the crossbow, Brad wondered and shifted it closer to the ground, and cringed at the glee in Will’s response.

“We’re gonna’ watch Brad shoot an apple off Jeff’s head.” he shouted.

As one the group halted.

Brad wasn’t sure who the second adult was, but vaguely thought he might be the deputy sheriff he’d seen in school a few weeks ago after a spate of thefts.

Shifting his gaze from the deputy Brad stared at Jeff’s Dad and waited for his wrath to descend upon them. The man’s rueful grin disconcerted him.

“Well now,” he said, letting his glance encompass all the boys. “That’s a mighty fine idea, but perhaps we can offer a little help here.” With a gesture towards his companion, Jeff’s dad laid a hand on Brad’s shoulder.

“You heading for the knoll clearing?”

Bemused, Brad nodded.

“Let’s get going then.”

With Jeff’s dad in the lead and the deputy bringing up the rear, the boys trouped further into the trees until the clearing opened up in front of them.

“Let me look at your bow.” Jeff’s dad held out his hand took the weapon and inspected it thoroughly. “Your Dad is an excellent craftsman,” he said, after turning it over in his hand for a few moments. He leaned behind and pulled the arrows out of Brad’s makeshift quiver and accorded them the same meticulous attention before nodding.

Jeff blanched when his father instructed him to stand against a tree and dragged his feet as he crossed the clearing and leaned his back against it.

“Deputy, perhaps you’d be good enough to mark the tree just above my son’s head.”

They all watched the deputy remove his camping knife and cut a nick in the tree bark. “That do?”

“Good enough.” Jeff’s dad nodded, and ordered his son to join the group again. “Did you bring an apple?”

Dumbstruck, Brad grabbed the bag from Will and handed it over.

“As we don’t have any means of pinning the apple to the tree, we’ll have to draw a circle instead.”

It didn’t take long, and before Brad knew what Jeff’s dad intended, the man once more stood beside him.

“Now then, Brad. Do you see the mark I’ve made?” He waited for Brad’s acknowledgement . “Very well, we’ll do this properly, come over to the tree.”

His panic rising with every second, Brad found himself moving forward.

Jeff’s dad took his arm and walked beside him as together they paced out fifty yards. The distance seemed enormous to Brad and the lump in his throat threatened to choke him.

The boys no longer shuffled or whispered and it seemed even the birds and the trees were holding their breath.

“William Tell was a grown man, so I think we can make allowances for your age and size.” With a grin Jeff’s dad sought affirmation from the sheriff.

Why were the adults grinning? When he’d seen them coming, he’d expected them both to put a stop to their game, expected to be able to back out with dignity and now both men were going to force him to go through with something terrifying. The trembling started in his knees and spread to his hands within seconds. His chest tightened making it hard to breathe.

“Now then, young Bradley,” Jeff’s dad paced out twenty steps closer to the target and instructed Brad to stand on the cross he’d dug into the ground with the heel of his shoe. “Stand here, steady yourself and make sure your breathing is even and your hand is steady. Take all the time you like and then fire your arrow at the round mark I’ve made on the tree.”

The next five minutes passed in a blur, broken only by a volley of clapping. As if coming out of a dream he looked up, and round, at the shining, excited faces.

“Well done, lad.” The sheriff’s voice cut through his stupor. “That was a fine piece of shooting.”

Before he could bask in the praise, the man’s tone changed and encompassed all the children.

“Luckily for all of you, someone informed us they’d seen you in the park. What you proposed today was both stupid and dangerous. What if you’d missed, Brad? You could have killed young Jeff here.”

The nearer they’d come to the trees the more vivid such an outcome had become to Brad.

The lecture was issued in firm but understanding words and left each boy in no doubt of the seriousness of the occasion.

The boys that trouped out from the trees bore little resemblance to the ones that entered them. Each child now knew that some games could so easily end in tragedy, and heaved a sigh of relief that this time they’d been lucky.

Six Sentence Sunday

2012-01-22T06:00:00.002Z

Thank you to everyone who leaves comments, and visits every week.
Today I am sharing more from of my Valentine Story about Henri Gasquet, hero in His Chosen Bride.

He planted his knuckles on his father’s desk and leaned forward. “I can’t just take off and leave them all in the lurch.” He pushed away. “It is ridiculous for you or anyone else to expect me to walk away from my duties. Who would take my place?” he challenged, knowing every project mentioned needed his influence and prestige to press the projects forward.

“I will.”

Please hop on over to SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY to read more fabulous snippets on offer this week.

It's official :-)

2012-01-19T15:57:00.000Z

Astraea Press has accepted my Valentine story, His Chosen Bride, the second in the Gasquet Princes series.

Unlike his youngest brother, Prince Liam, Henri Gasquet, heir to his father's throne, is prepared to marry a bride chosen by his parents, until he meets Monica Lattimer...

Liam's story, From Now Until Forever, is avaiable to buy at:
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105194

http://www.amazon.com/From-Now-Until-Forever-ebook/dp/B006GYAV44/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322854797&sr=1-1-spell

http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Now-Until-Forever-ebook/dp/B006GYAV44/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322854884&sr=8-1-spell

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sherry-gloag-from-now-until-forever?keyword=sherry+gloag+from+now+until+forever&store=book

nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sherry-gloag-from-now-until-forever?keyword=sherry+gloag+from+now+until+forever&store=ebook

Tuesday Tales ~ Broken

2012-01-17T06:00:00.005Z

Thank you for dropping in to read this week's TUESDAY'S TALE

The prompt is 'Broken'

The rosy sun climbing above the horizon enticed the cold mist to rise and hide the road ahead of the solitary rider.

Without compunction Roul had stolen the horse from the field when his car broke down. Well not ‘stolen’ precisely, he’d left his contact number under his windscreen wiper for the owner to contact him when they discovered their animal missing.

The road ahead disappeared into the rising mist and like his thoughts left everything to the imagination.

When he’d last seen her, Serena melted in his arms with sighs of delight and promises of forever together. Now, less than twenty four hours later, she’d left a message on his voice mail retracting her promise.

Why?

What could have happened to change her mind? They’d known each other forever and been partners for six months.

He cursed the phone call demanding his presence in the office for a meeting that never happened. One his secretary claimed to know nothing about.

Who had made the call and why? Why had Serena broken off their engagement? And his car—, was the breakdown connected in some way to a sudden sequence of unexplainable events?

And the supposed meeting?

Not something that appeared out of the blue, but one he’d been expecting, connected to a long and sometimes tedious process of negotiation on his proposed offer for the failing electronics company he’d had his eye on for months now.

He rounded the corner of the village he and Serena fell in love with the moment they saw it and at the first opportunity left the road and urged his horse to follow the country tracks that led to the back of the home they shared.

The rising mist cloaked him in invisibility as he approached the woods bounding the north side of the property and he slowed his mount to a trot. When he came to the stone built wall he guided the animal to the little ivy covered gate.

Thirty minutes later, protected by the huge trunk of an old oak tree Roul stared at the two cars parked in front of the house and cursed.

The broken engagement, the phoney business call, and the vehicle breakdown, all slotted into place.

He prayed that the coffin sized box the two men carried to the back of the 4x4 did not carry the body of the only woman he’d ever loved.

He watched them slide the box inside before returning indoors then calculated the distance from his hiding place to the garage and the ancient Volvo kept there for emergencies and back at the upper windows of his home. Was anyone watching the area from there? If so, his cover would be shot to hell.

Was Serena alive?

His heart lurched. Was she a part of the cross and double cross situation? He shook his head. Surely not!

Why would she promise to marry him if she’d no intention of following through? Why not just keep stringing him along?

Roul let loose with a volley of curses when Joseph Bailey, CEO of Eagle Electronics strode from the house.

“Take the girl to the house in Scotland. Keep her there for a week and do not let her out of your site.”

Bailey slid behind the wheel of the red Ferrari, gunned the engine and left a shower of gravel behind as he disappeared round the bend in the driveway.

Thank you to everyone who visits and especially those who share their thoughts. And last, but not east to Jean Joachim for creating the opportunities Tuesday's Tales offers the participants.

Six Sentence Sunday

2012-01-15T06:00:00.034Z

Thank you to everyone who leaves comments, and visits every week.

Today I am sharing more from of my Valentine Story about Henri Gasquet, hero in His Chosen Bride.

“What!” Shock propelled Henri from his chair, and anxiety chased him round the room while he tried to remarshall his scattered thoughts. “I don’t have time to take leave of any kind,” he snapped. "This morning I am presiding over the ceremony to lay the new foundations for the bridge that will connect the west of our country more directly with the east.”

He tunnelled his fingers through his hair.

“This afternoon, I have a meeting with the backers about the funds for Melanie’s riding school for the disabled; and this evening I am giving a speech to the leaders of our financial sector.”

Please hop on over to SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY to read more fabulous snippets on offer this week.

Inspiration - and 'where to next?'

2012-01-13T11:10:00.000Z

For the last few years I have had an 'on-off' relationship with one of my WIPs. For months my Regency romance refused to give up its ending, which in turn meant that every avenue I travelled to reach an unknown destination resulted in a dead-end, blank wall - well make that page.

Today, while, would you believe, I was spreading butter on my toast, yes really! LOL
The phrase 'down the pike' popped into my head. Inevitably I asked 'what about 'down the pike' and wey-hey, just like that I've got the ending for my Regency!

They say 'It comes to those who wait.'

Not long ago, after having no working title for this story, one of my secondary characters provied that, and now today is the day that has revealed the final route to end my Regency WIP , No Job For A Woman.

Tuesday Tales ~ Lies

2012-01-10T06:00:00.030Z

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales. Each week a number of authors write to a prompt. This week's prompt is lies.

~ ~ ~

Jenny skipped along the street, her pigtails flying, her eyes shining, and a permanent smile on her face. She carried her present for Shirley in the plastic carrier bag hanging from her arm, her Cinderella costume blowing in the breeze. Today her bestest friend was celebrating her ninth birthday with a fancy-dress party, and next week it would be her turn. Somehow, the figure nine seemed more grown-up than eight. Nearer double figures.

“You going to Shirley’s party?”

She’d seen the boy in the school playground. Always on the edge of a group, always watching, and, she shivered now, something about his eyes made her uneasy. Today was no different, and his costume didn’t help. His smile was inviting, warm and almost gleeful; yet, secretive, Shirley decided.

“What are you dressed up as?” She studied his cape and the scythe he carried, its blade gleaming in the sun.

“The Grim Reaper,” he said. “And my friend Herakles will be joining me in a moment.”

Damien, that was it! She’d never liked the name because it always made her think of demons; and demons, she knew, were scary. Lately they filled her dreams, turning them to nightmares.

She never quite saw their faces in her dreams, only heard their laughter, when it turned dark and evil and woke her up.

For the last couple of nights, she’d tried in vain to wake from the nightmares. The demon stood there watching her. Whatever she did, wherever she went in her dreams, the demon stood there watching in silent celebration.

Jenny looked at the boy walking beside her. Strange, she’d never noticed before, but if her demon had a face it would be like Damian’s.

“How old are you?” she asked in an effort to shake off her qualms. “Aren’t you too old to come to Shirley’s party?”

“Age, is in the head.” Damien smiled. “After all, you think nine as far more grown-up than eight, don’t you? When in reality it’s just the beginning of another day, another number you’ll hang on to for a year.

“If you’re lucky, that is.”

His eyes, dark as obsidian, gleamed in the sunshine, his hair reminded her of the huge raven that stole food off the bird table this morning, and cawed at her mother when she chased it away.

Sometimes, in a certain light, Damien reminded her of the old man who lived in the end house on the street. Rumour and gossip abounded about him, and the school children ran past his home; half hoping he’d come outside, and terrified he might!

“Never see a light on in that house, me dear,” old Mr. Hawkins, from two doors down, told her one day. “Best to stay clear of the place. That’s what I say.” And cackling he’d wandered off into the nearest shop.

Jenny stopped at the pedestrian road crossing and waited for the lights to change from red to green.

“It’s safe to cross now.” Damien told her.

She stepped into the road, thankful Damien hadn’t followed. Reflected in the shop window ahead of her she saw him standing on the pavement, watching her, his smile one of satisfaction this time.

She didn’t hear the car that ‘came from nowhere,’ didn’t hear the screams of horror that filled the air when the car never stopped, never saw Damien vanish into thin air, to reappear beside the driver of the car.

“Promise me she didn’t suffer,” he demanded of Herakles. “I didn’t like lying to her, she was a sweet kid.”

“She didn’t suffer,” his companion assured him.

To read more from other participants hop on over to

Tuesday Tales

Six Sentence Sunday

2012-01-08T06:00:00.001Z

Thank you to everyone who leaves comments, and visits every week.

Today I am sharing more from of my Valentine Story about the brother, Henri, of the hero, Liam, in my current novella, From Now Until Forever, published by Astraea Press.

“I have not been unaware of the burden you have carried since my heart attack a year ago. Combining your own commitments with those you took over while I recuperated would have felled a lesser man.”

Feeling the heat burn his cheeks, Henri shifted in his chair.

The past twelve months had been tough, and for the last six, his advisors almost competed with each other in counselling him to slow down unless he wanted to occupy his father’s hospital bed.

“I am also aware you have ignored their advice to cut back. So I am decreeing that of this moment you are on indeterminate leave of absence.”

You'll find plenty more great offerings at Six Sentence Sunday

Review ~ Protecting Rose by Cheryl Yeko.

2012-01-04T13:34:00.001Z

Protecting Rose
Cheryl Yeko
Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Romantic Suspense.
Buy Link:
Released Dec 2011

Review requested and book provided by the author.

Review: Protecting Rose starts fast and continues apace. No sooner has Detective Nate Stone wrapped up one case than another all but ‘rolls’ into his lap in the shape of an amnesiac he names Rose.

When an out-of-control car speeds past Nate, he knows it’s going to roll off the road. What he did not expect, when he stopped to give assistance, was to be shot at.

What starts, for Nate, as the need to protect someone who is in danger, turns into an emotional roller coaster for the down-too-earth cop. With little more to go on than the evidence of an out of control car and an unidentified shooter, Rose becomes far more than ‘just another case’.

Ms Yeko’s plot is fast paced and tightly presented. Her writing style is dynamic. Her characters are so realistic they persuade you to continue reading about them from start to finish without stopping for anything or anyone one else.

Because every word the author uses, counts, she manages to pack an amazing story into a surprisingly few pages and you still close the book feeling you have been gifted a full-length mystery, suspense, romance.

Ms Yeko is an author to add to your TBR lists and to keep an eye out for.

Tuesday Tales - Kisses

2012-01-03T06:00:00.003Z

Thank you to everyone who drops by to read my Tuesday Tale, and thank you to Jean Joachim for the opportunity to participate.

Today's prompt is 'Kisses'

“Suppose we talk things through rationally?” Rose Kiss cast an irritated look at her companion. “You come here today and tell me you are leaving tomorrow, to take up a new job on the other side of the country, and you want me to go with you?”

Ronald Blickling offered his famously charming smile and nodded.

“How long have you known about this move?”

“Three weeks.” A cautious frown replaced the smile now.

“I see, and in those weeks it never occurred to ask me in time for me to make the necessary arrangements for such a move?”

“What’s to arrange?” Genuine puzzlement filled his voice. “You live in a two-bit town, and have a two-bit job teaching kindergarten kids, and your flat is smaller than a basic rabbit hutch. What’s to arrange?”

Sunlight sparkled on the spring-green grass covering the valley hillsides. Dots of white, sheep, grazed peacefully. The hum of bees droned in the public flowerbed next to the solitary park bench. And unseen from her seat, friends went about their business, knowing her word was good and dependable.

And, she acknowledged, she wanted the same. For the first time since she first me Ronald, she realised she’d allowed his charming smile the glamour of his words and the emptiness of his promises lure her into thinking her really cared.

If he did, if he really wanted her to go with him, he’d have told of his new job, his intended move much earlier.

It galled her to realise she’d hitched her dreams to an illusion. He hadn’t deceived her. Not really. She’d revelled in his kisses, his promises of forever, of a shiny new tomorrow, and allowed herself to be carried away on a carpet of her own delusional dreams.

And she admitted, as she looked at the man beside her, she’d enjoyed the envious sighs of her friends when they saw the two of them together.

Next to her, Ronald looked at his watch. A big shiny gold watch, she noticed.

A replica?

Why had it taken a false invitation for the scales to fall away? That’s all Ronald was, a great big fat phoney, well not fat, she admitted, but still a phoney.

“Thank you, for the thought,” she didn’t even try for a genuine smile, polite was sufficient for ‘goodbye’. “I happen to like my two-bit town, and my two-bit job, and most of all I love my honest-to-goodness-down-to-earth-hundred-bit friends.” Standing now, her hands fisted on her hips, she stepped back studied his shock. That, she noted with grim satisfaction, was genuine.

“You don’t mean that? You’ll be sorry.” Hard as bullets, he shot the accusation at her.

“Oh, but I do! Thanks to your belated invitation, I know moving anywhere with you would be a wrong decision.”

She spun on her heel and walked away without a backward glance.

You will find more tantalising Tuesday Tales Here

“When there is an original sound in the world, it makes a hundred echoes.”

2012-01-02T13:53:00.001Z

“When there is an original sound in the world, it makes a hundred echoes.”

John A. Shedd

Words are a bit like this.

One of the gremlins that so often slip through the editing net while preparing a manuscript for submission to a publisher is what is termed ‘echoes’ by the editors who plough through those lucky enough to make it onto the editors piles.

‘Echoes’ is another word for ‘repetition’. And it is surprising how many times ‘echoes’ creep into your work.

It may not be the same word that echoes through the whole story. You may find certain words litter several chapters and then the echoes change in the following ones.

Today I was working through a particular chapter searching out two words. ‘Season’ and ‘children’. ‘Season’ turned out to be under control, but ‘children’? In one particular page the word was everywhere. In almost every sentence.

And the horrifying thing was I’d ‘read’ over the echoes several times and only discovered them when I went in and used the ‘find’ facility.

Some echoes are permissible, but too many, and they simply become an annoyance that disrupts the writing flow, and pull the reader out of the story.

As I use all these awesome gadgets within the program and other software available I give thanks I do not have to struggle through the days of the typewriter, and my respect for those authors rises with each mistake my computer ‘gadgets’ discover and correct.

From Now Until Forever

WINNER of From Now Until Forever Contest

2012-01-01T20:31:00.000Z

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received.

And the winner December's Giveaway is...

Zee Monodee

Congratulations Zee

Six Sentence Sunday

2012-01-01T06:00:00.001Z

Best wishes for 2012 to you all.

Thank you to everyone who leaves comments, and visits every week.

What better way to start the New Year than to start with a new story? So Today I am sharing the opening six lines of my Valentine Story about the brother of the hero in my current novella, From Now Until Forever, published by Astraea Press.

“You wanted to see me?”
Henri waited for his father to indicate he sit before dropping into the chair in front of the king’s desk.

You'll find plenty more great offerings at Six Sentence Sunday

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000Z

Thank you to everyone who has shared my path during 2011.
I treasure your gifts of 'being' a part of my life.

And wish you all,

all the best for 2012

"Remember today, for it is the beginning of always. Today marks the start of a brave new future filled with all your dreams can hold. Think truly to the future and make those dreams come true."

unacknowledged

Tuesday Tales #4 -Wishes

2011-12-27T06:38:00.042Z

Welcome back to this week's Tuesday Tales. And thank you to everyone who visited and left a comment last week. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

This week's prompt is 'Wishes'

“A source close to Pattie Cratchet revealed the film star told everyone at the New Year’s Eve party she wished she’d never entered the competition that brought her to the attention of today’s leading film director,.” The radio announcer’s plumy voice filled the elegant bedroom.

“According to the source, who wishes to remain anonymous, the world famous film star declared she missed her family and regretted that fame made it impossible to see them as often as she’d like.

“Records show that Ms. Cratchet comes third in the list of the most highly paid female film stars. For those who enjoy a less lucrative life this may seem surprising, as Ms Cratchet is often considered as the lady that has it all. Apparently, according to our informant, this is not the case.

“For someone who spends so much of her time in the public eye, very little is known about her personal life, and her family in particular."

“Turn that thing off.”

Her voice, muffled by the closed bathroom door, James took his time in responding. He’d lived with Pattie for seven years now, and the radio presenter’s comments brought home to him how little he too, knew of his partner’s life before they met.

“Why don’t you talk about them?” he asked when she entered the bedroom, one towel wrapped round her body and another round her head.

“What? Who?”

In the mirror he caught the shuttered expression on her face.

“Your family.” Stating the obvious, he sat up from where he’d been lounging against the pillows on the bed. “It’s true what that guy said. You never talk about them.”

“So?”

It wasn’t anger he heard in her voice, nor was it indignation. She sat with her back to him and released the towel capping her wet hair, and dropped it on the floor. Her eyes, normally brimful with laughter were dark with emotion. The colour had drained from her face and without the mask of makeup, he noticed her pallor. Her throat bobbled.

Nerves, he wondered, or something more?

“Who was at the party last night that knows you so well they know something about your family, you don’t want revealed?”

“You have that backwards, James.”

A coldness he’d never heard in her voice before chilled him to the bone, and for a moment he regretted starting this conversation. But, he reminded himself, he’d suggested tonight’s dinner at a top restaurant to propose to her, to make their life together permanent. He dug his hand into his pocket and fingered the ring box tucked in there.

“Sheryl Stagwell is sore because she asked me if I had any brothers and I told her if I had I’d make sure she didn’t ever manage to get her avaricious claws into them.”

“That was asking for trouble,” James agreed with a grin, and rose from the bed and crossed the room to stand behind her and feather his fingers down her neck and over her shoulders and arms. “I don’t see them.”

Looking into the mirror, Pattie’s puzzled gaze met his satirical one.

“Claw marks, my dear. I don’t see any.”

With a gurgle of laughter, Pattie raised her arms, hooked her hands round the back of his neck and pulled his mouth down to meet hers.

“Randall pulled her away before she said anything else.” She switched on her hair dryer, and for several moments James watched her tease her hair into her preferred ‘naturally tousled’ look.

“Randall Stockman was there?” The presence of the world renowned classical pianist, and son of a former president, surprised him. He’d have been there himself if he hadn’t been wrapping up the final shoot of his own film, in London. He’d made it home to LA at four in the morning.

“Why not?” She tossed her head, sent him a defiant glare, inhaled a deep breath and added. “He’s my brother.”

The bottle of Pattie’s favourite scent he’d just picked up, slipped through his fingers, and fortunately, landed in the crumpled heap of damp towel.

“Randal Stockman is your brother?” Stunned into silence, his hand connected with the ring box. His partner was the daughter of a former president and he’d almost asked her to marry him. How had she managed to evade the publicity for so many years?

“See?” Sadness filled her voice and darkened her eyes. “Already your attitude to me is changing.” She clicked off the dryer. “All I’ve ever wanted is for the man in my life to see me for who I am, not for who my parents are.”

He couldn’t deny it. They’d lived together for seven years and in a second he’d begun to think of her differently. His fingers firmed round the little box and he pulled it from his pocket. Waiting for the right place, the right time, no longer mattered. Only Pattie mattered.

He dropped to one knee, took the dryer from her hand, tipped her chin up until she looked him in the eye.

“You’re right, I can’t deny it. For a second there, the thought of your influential family nearly sidetracked me. But in every other respect you are wrong. Nothing will deter me from asking you to marry me. I intended to ask you after dinner, but here and now feels more right.”

Her eyes rounded in surprise, narrowed with laughter and gleamed with delight.

Without a word she grabbed his head closer and kissed him, hard. “I love you so much. And for almost as long as I’ve known you I’ve wished to marry you. Now you’ve made my wish come true. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

A reminder, you can find more awesome stories at Tuesday Tales

TRS Cristmas Party 19th - 23rd December

2011-12-23T06:00:00.001Z

http://trsparties.com/

The Romance Studio Christmas Party19th - 23rd December

Day Four

Leave a comment here and at TRS telling me why you'd like to win a pdf copy of From Now Until Forever.

The winner will be drawn tomorrow 24th (UK) time.

Day Three

Today I am sharing more about From Now Until Forever

Day Two

All day today I am talking about different aspects of my writing life over at The Romance Studio Party hop on over there and then return and leave a comment here TOO for a chance to win another great prize today.

Win a pdf copy of Duty Calls

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Day One

Hop on over to The Romance Studio Christmas Party for another chance to wind a pdf copy of From Now Until Forever

All you have to do is leave a cemment here and at The Romance Studio Party site.

Plus there are lots of other authors also offering fabulous giveaways.

Author Cheryl Yeko talks about Protecting Rose

2011-12-20T06:00:00.061Z

Author Bio:

I live in Wisconsin with my husband Patrick. I love to read, write, play piano and spend time with my grandchildren.
I’ve spent most of my professional life as a legal assistant, but can also include realtor, small business owner, and virtual assistant/mobile notary to my varied background. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America as well as a Pro-Liaison for the Wisconsin Chapter.

My Journey to Publication.

Oh, what a difference a year makes. My husband, Patrick, bought me a kindle one Christmas and changed my life. I rediscovered my love of reading. I especially love romantic suspense and paranormal. After two years of marathon reading, I finally came up for air and was struck with an epiphany. I wanted to write a romance novel and I determinedly set out to learn the craft. I signed up for some online classes and buried myself in library books and started my manuscript for Protecting Rose.
I went into total book mode and for the next year, I spent every spare moment learning and writing. I work full time so I wrote in the middle of the night, on my lunch hour, after work, on weekends, anytime I had a spare moment. I was consumed with it. When I would start to burn out, I would pick up my Kindle and take time to read a book, and I was filled up again with motivation. It took a nearly a year to write and edit Protecting Rose.

Blurb:
Rescuing damsels in distress is all in a day's work for Detective, Nate Stone. After saving a beautiful woman from a burning car and assassin’s bullet, he vows to protect her. But the determined assassin always seems to be one step ahead of the game. Suspecting a leak within his Department, Nate takes her and runs. He soon discovers that the hardest part of the mission is resisting his desire for the woman who trusts him with her life.
She awakes in a hospital with no memory, only to discover that someone tried to kill her. Her only chance to survive an assassin’s game of cat and mouse is the man who saved her and who has promised to protect her. She may not know her past, but she knows her heart, and it longs for her protective warrior who ignites a passion in her she can't deny.

~ ~ ~

Imagine my joy and excitement when two out of the three publishers where I submitted, Protecting Rose, wanted to publish it. Then, to top off the year, it was chosen as a finalist in the 2011 launching a Star Contest. Life is good!

2011 has been a wild ride and I am looking forward to seeing what 2012 brings.

My future goals:
My Kindle library continues to grow at an alarming rate and I just added, Protecting Rose, to my bookshelf. Whoo Hoo! I hope to be working part time and writing full time in the near future, instead of writing part-time and working full time.

Wish me luck!

You can buy Protecting Rose at - http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/protecting-rose/
Website: http://www.cherylyeko.com/
FB: mhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Yeko/167503089995030#!/pages/Cheryl-Yeko/167503089995030
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cherylyeko
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/eOJ9Tk5OokM

Tuesday Tales #3 Christmas

2011-12-20T05:55:00.002Z

Welcome back to this week's Tuesday Tales. And thank you to everyone who visited and left a comment last week.

The promt today is 'Christmas'

“Tell me about your favourite Christmas.” Melanie sat back and watched the two brothers stare at each other as if they’d been pole-axed.
“Surely you celebrated Christmas at the palace?” Concern for the royal siblings pushed her back in her chair.
“Well,” Liam hesitated, stared at her, cleared his throat and sat on the arm of her chair, which left his elder brother and the heir to the throne of a tiny European country bordering Switzerland casting a puzzled glance at both of them.
“We grew up with the knowledge that Christmas belonged to our people.” Henri started slowly, and when Liam nodded, settled on the other arm of Melanie’s chair. “It wasn’t like here in Britain where your Royals do a Christmas speech to the nation while holidaying in the wilds of Norfolk. We were physically on display.”
“What! All of you?” In sitting up Melanie nearly sent both brothers flying. “Surely you had some family time together away from the media spotlight?”
The following silence pounded in her head as she imagined the royal siblings on a palace balcony. One of those she’d laughed about the first time her husband introduced her to the palace. She couldn’t say her own Christmas’s had been full of joy, but those of the Gasquets’ carried a different kind of emotional deprivation. She knew from years of association with the King and his queen, they were good, loving parents, so why had they allowed their country to take precedence over their children’s needs on that one special day of the year?
“I thought mine were bad,” she muttered and started when Henri broke through her thoughts.
"What do you mean?” he asked.
“Fists for kisses.” Liam stated flatly, and with a reminiscent grin changed the subject.
“Do you remember that year when, after we came in from the first balcony appearance, we ran off and hid?”
Henri’s laugh eased the tension and redirected his thoughts to the ensuing mayhem. The whole palace had been turned upside down and the search involved everyone.
“We didn’t know anything about security because of threats from the insurgents, or the likes then. To us it was just a bid for freedom from the monotony of routine on a day when we knew from the television other people had a really joyful time.
“The parents even called in the air force to join the search.”
Melanie laughed aloud when Henri slanted a rueful grin in her direction.
“And all this time, you were where?”
“Where do you think four boys, up to no good, would go in a palace?”
“You didn’t!”
“We did!” Liam joined in his brother’s recollections.
“Weren’t you frightened? Wasn’t it dark and damp in the dungeons?” When the shook their heads she added, “I thought all dungeons were dark and damp.”
“No. Not at all.” Henri contradicted. “We often played down there and had managed to store a collection of candles, torches, packets of biscuits. And…” he paused before continuing in a conspirital tone. “We found some old chairs that had been junked at some time and a rickety old table from one of the other rooms down there.”
“We decided it was one of the warden’s rooms.” Liam added with glee. “When we went upstairs the whole place was in uproar. We were grounded for a week and the dungeons were locked up after that.”
The front door bell interrupted any further reminiscences. “That will be Monica.” Liam rose and departed to admit their visitor.
“Monica?” Henri’s eyes turned wary. “You’re not match-making are you?”
Used as she’d become to her brother-in-law’s directness, Melanie still found it disconcerting at times.
“Monica is my partner in the riding business,” she said primly, before adding firmly, “and I would never try to set her up with an unwanted partner.” Two could play the direct game, she thought. “She’s alone this Christmas and arranged to join us long before we knew you were visiting us too.”
Henri looked up when his brother re-entered the room and fought the shock that sucker-punched him in the chest when he studied the newcomer.
He’d heard the phrase, ‘hair like spun gold,’ and suddenly understood why some unknown man he’d formerly rubbished as witless had waxed lyrical. Her hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders before turning in. Her eyes reminded him of the emeralds in the royal vault back home. Large, round, and instead of reflecting colour hers held a myriad of emotions.
Skin like alabaster…
No! He shook his thoughts clear, her skin was rosy from the cold breeze outside, her lips held the ghost of a smile tinged with accusation and it was directed, he saw, at his sister-in-law.
She rose, shot across the room and threw her arms around her friend.
“It’s not what you think.” Melanie assured her, in gentle tones. “Remember we told you about trying to persuade Henri to join us this year?”
The girl nodded.
Well hardly a girl, Henri admitted as he slid his tongue round inside his suddenly parched mouth.
“Well,” Melanie continued, “It was your suggestion we appeal to the king to get Henri to join us for Christmas—"
What? His eyes narrowed, this slip of a chit had schemed with Liam and Melanie to turn his life upside down? Anger and indignation warred with the throbbing south of his belt. Any thought of immersing himself in a holiday flirtation shot out the window.
Straightening his shoulders, his lips thinning, he bowed, and said in his most royal tone. “So I owe the total disruption of my life to you, do I? It’s always good to know who your enemies are.”
He ignored the shocked gasps from his family and kept his gaze fixed on the woman. What had Melanie called her? Something similar to hers, he remembered, and then it came to him.
Monica!
Well, he thought grimly, he’d go to great lengths to assure this woman she was quite safe from him.

A reminder, you can find more awesome stories at Tuesday Tales

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-12-18T06:00:00.008Z

Today's 'Six' moves o a little bit from yesterday's Sample, and as alway I appreciate your comments and thank you all for you company and support every week.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I am sharing samples with you throughout December.

“Won’t it be easier if I sit at the table?”

“Our assailants may have left someone behind to watch this place. I see no point in making ourselves easy targets for our uninvited visitors.” Gently, she removed the bloodied cloth he’d pressed against his arm. “Let’s look at your wound,” she added, pushing forward onto her knees. She curled her tongue round her upper lip in a way so familiar, his love for her swamped him, leaving only wonder he’d found the other half of himself.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received during December.

Sweet Saturday Samples

2011-12-17T06:00:00.048Z

Welcome to another Sweet Saturday Sample. And thank you to everyone who stops by every week. I hope you enjoy the sample my my latest release today.
There will be more tomorrow.

“Use this to stop the bleeding.” A dishtowel landed on the floor in front of him. “And put some pressure on the wound.” She slammed the outer door shut, cutting off the sunlight.
“It’s true.”
“What’s true?”
For a second a ghost of a smile tilted her lips before it faded again. Guilt for the loss sat heavily on his shoulders.
Because of his obsession to live a ‘normal’ life, he’d endangered Melanie. The ache in his arm threatened to steal his concentration. In his arrogance, why had he thought he’d manage to keep his identity and location hidden?
“You can smell your own blood.”
It warred with the forgotten bacon congealing on their breakfast plates on the table above him, the toast going stiff in the toaster, and the coffee that never made it to their mugs.
He pressed the cloth more firmly against his arm. He expected Melanie to join him, to seek safety. Instead she stalked to the window, rammed the gun butt against the lower windowpane, and focused her attention on the road.
“Care to explain why someone’s got you in their sights today?”
If he anticipated sympathy, he didn’t get it. The woman at the window had morphed into a hard, disciplined stranger before his eyes. Until this moment he’d assumed her to be his friend, his lover. Instead she’d covered his butt, protected him—.
A tenuous memory tapped his brain, demanding attention, only to vanish beneath the sound of Mel’s sudden approach.
He stared at the blood-soaked cloth and wondered if he’d ever see his home and family again.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever
and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments
received during December.

Tuesday Tales #2 Holiday

2011-12-13T06:00:00.003Z

Welcome back to this week's Tuesday Tales. And thank you to everyone who visited and left a comment last week.
The promt today is 'Holiday'

Hollywoodreporter.com

Henri Pierre Gasquet hesitated before knocking on his father’s office door. They’d shared breakfast together less than an hour ago and talked over many things, including Henri’s killer schedule for the next several months. The king had given no indication of the need for a formal meeting this morning. With a fatalistic shrug, he knocked, waited a second, then turned the handle and entered the room.

“You wanted to see me?” Henri waited for his father to indicate he sit before dropping into the chair in front of the king’s desk.

“I have not been unaware of the burden you have carried since my heart attack a year ago. Combining your own commitments with those you took over while I recuperated would have felled a lesser man.”

Feeling the heat burn his cheeks, Henri shifted in his chair. The past twelve months had been tough, and for the last six, his advisors almost competed with each other in advising him to slow down unless he wanted to occupy his father’s hospital bed.

“I am also aware you have ignored your advisors to cut back. So I am decreeing that of this moment you are on indeterminate leave of absence.”

“What!” Shock propelled Henri form his chair, and anxiety chased him round the room while he tried to remarshall his scattered thoughts. “I don’t have time to take leave of any kind,” he snapped. “There is the ceremony for the opening of the new foundations for the bridge, that will connect the west of our country more directly with the east, this morning—” He tunnelled his fingers through his hair.

“This afternoon, I am talking to the backers of the new foundation for the riding for the disabled Melanie started; then I am giving a speech to the leaders of our financial sector.”

He planted his knuckles on his father’s desk and leaned forward. “I can’t just take off and leave them all in the lurch.” He pushed away. “It is ridiculous for you or anyone else to expect me to walk away from my duties. Who would take my place?” he challenged, knowing no one else carried his significance or weight to press the projects forward.

“I will.” His father’s bald statement rocked Henri back on his heels. “It is a year since my heart attack and for the most part I have accepted the dictates of my doctors and advisors, and am now taking a leaf out of my son’s book before my heir drops dead from physical and emotional exhaustion. So you, my son, are on leave until I say otherwise.”

A lenient parent in most things, there were times when his father’s tone brooked no argument. This was one of them Henri acknowledged. Feeling like a recalcitrant four-year-old Henri recognised that tone of voice now and sighed.

“What am I supposed to do?” For the life of him, Henri failed to conceal his sarcasm. “Twiddle my fingers? And for how long?”

“Until I say otherwise.” A beam of sunlight transformed the king’s thatch of grey hair to silver. His eyes conveyed simultaneous messages of understanding and determination. He rose and rounded his desk. Resting his hand on Henri’s shoulder, his tone gentled. “Get away, right away, and relax. Do you suppose I found it easy to watch you running yourself into the ground in your efforts to combine your schedule with mine? And now—? Now,” he paused, waited for a reaction Henri swallowed before continuing. “Now it is time for me to take up the reins again.

“The plane is waiting to take you to Scotland. Melanie and Liam hope you will remain with them for a couple of months at least, until you are fully rested. If the thought of staying beyond Christmas stifles you, Liam, did suggest if you could not tolerate remaining in one place that long, you take a leaf out of his book and travel the world for a few months.

“We are no longer faced with the same security problems the insurgents caused for your brother and Melanie, so if that is what you want to do—” The king’s face crinkled into genuine mirth. “I promise you, your body-guards are all well known to you.”

With a harrumph Henri failed to hide his amusement. Liam’s marriage to his protector was a standing family joke now.

“I gather you have talked with Liam and Melanie, and not doubt held a family conference on the matter, therefore I will go. I have no choice in the matter. But I’ll remind you, unlike my brother, I am prepared to marry for convenience. It worked for you and mother. I see no reason, why, if she is chosen with care, I cannot emulate your example.”

Henri wondered whether he imagined the shudder of distaste that flipped across his father’s face, it was gone so quickly.

“Your transport awaits you—” Was all his father said before wrapping him in a bear-hug. “Go talk to your mother before you leave.”

A reminder, you can find more awesome stories at Tuesday Tales

HO! HO! HO! HOLIDAY SPICE: CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR NAUGHTY OR NICE BLOG HOP TOUR (DEC 12-19)

2011-12-12T05:50:00.000Z

HO! HO! HO! HOLIDAY SPICE: CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR NAUGHTY OR NICE BLOG HOP TOUR (DEC 12-19)

It was revealed on the news last night that the beckhams purportedly paid £35.000 for their Christmas trees.

While this is not the tree in question, it did get me thinking. The newscaster - inspite of the roling ticker at the bottom of the screen stating 'trees' - implied they'd paid that amount for one tree, and maybe some people do.

But it got me thinking. We here talk every year about the commercialism of Christmas and yet we seem to be compelled to go out and shop until we drop every year, in order to offer gifts to our nearest and dearest.
Children's wish lists these days are enough to turn our hair as white as Santas

Sadly, I no longer have it, but my son carved a beautiful animal out of wood while at school and gave it too me for Christmas. I treasured it at the time and still mourne the loss all these years later. But... I still have the memory. I can still remember the anticipation on his face when he handed me the parcel. I can still remember the overwhelming love surrounding the gift and all it represented. So it iwas a bit scew-wiff, but I didn't care, to me it was beautiful, and worth more than a sleighful of gifts.

Several years later it was his father's turn to ''fill up'. For several years, he'd been searching for a single jazz record. He'd taped it off the radio, but didn't get the name of the tune or the artist. On this particular Christmas our son handed him his gift, and when DH opened it, he cried, it meant so much to him.

No amount of money could or would better the value of those gifts to us. In both cases our son spent time ensuring we received gifts we'd treasure.

to you all, and thank you for being a part of my life.

Hop on over to Enchanted Muse Press to read some more fantasic blogs

TOUR RULES!

1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, December 12, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, December 19, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
***Winners will be drawn and posted December 20th! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

GIVEAWAY

Answer the question below to win a copy of my hew novella,

From Now Until Forever

Leave a comment sharing your favourite Christmas Day memory, it can be something physical, an action, a thought, a picture, anything. Please remember to include your email.

www.sherrygloag.com
Astraea Press
The Wild Rose Press
eTreasures

Character Interview Series with Tricia Schneider

2011-12-12T05:15:00.001Z

Tricia Schneider's Interview with a Witch and a Werewolf

My name is Tricia Schneider and I'm a paranormal romance author. I have two short stories currently available in The Merriweather Witches series. Since this is my very first official character interview, I decided to travel to the home of Lord Jeremy North in England and talk with the characters from my first short story, The Witch and the Wolf.

After knocking on the door for what seemed like several long, long minutes, I wondered if Lord Jeremy North had decided to ignore my request for an interview. He was temperamental at times. I shivered as the snow continued to fall and promised myself that if he or his man, Amery, didn't answer this door in another twenty seconds, I was driving to Caldwell House to interview Sebastian Collins from The Witch and the Vampire, instead. At least I knew Sebastian's butler would answer the door! A moment later, the door creaked open and my hero, Lord Jeremy North, stood upon the threshold looking sexy as hell with his dark hair and green eyes.

Jeremy: "Again? Why must it always be snowing in your imagination? And where's your cloak?"
Me: "Hello to you, too. I left my jacket in the car. I didn't think it would take an eternity for you to answer the door."

Jeremy: "What is a car?"
Oh, yeah. He's from the early nineteenth century. He doesn't know about cars, yet. Hmm...apparently I can travel time and cross oceans within seconds. All without a jacket. Awesome.
Me: "I meant carriage. Can I come in?"

Jeremy: "Of course." He moved aside, allowing me some space to enter. "You're not going to faint, are you?"
Me, following him in and shaking the snow from my hair: "No. Unlike Lillian, I have not been trudging through the blizzard for hours. And I can feel all my fingers and toes, so there's no need for you to help me undress." I paused, looking at him from top to bottom and reconsidered. "That is unless..."

Lillian appeared. She raised a dark eyebrow, catching that last statement from me and I blushed. So, okay, I had a crush on my hero. Who wouldn't?? But, Jeremy paid me no mind. His eyes and his heart were Lillian Merriweather's. In fact, he turned to her and his face brightened.
Lillian, however, is a forgiving sort, especially regarding her creator...me. She smiled warmly and came forward to take my hands in hers.

Lillian: "You're here. At last! Welcome!"
Me: "Yes, er, thank you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they led me into the drawing room where I found a nice, comfy seat. Lillian sat beside me and Jeremy sauntered over to the fireplace where a cozy fire warmed the room nicely.

Lillian: "Where shall we begin?"

Me, taking out my notebook and pen: "Well, my readers would like to know a little about you both. Maybe we can begin with how you met?"
Lillian: "Very well. I was running away from my evil Uncle Arden and his intentions to marry me off to one of his old...very old, friends. I found Lord North's house quite by accident when I became lost in a blizzard. He kindly took me in, even during some unforeseen circumstances."

She looked at Jeremy and smiled.
Jeremy: "Yes, once a month, during every full moon I send the servants away from the house. Only my man, Amery, remains with me. It was unfortunate that Lillian happened upon me during that particular moment. You see, I suffer from a curse. I'm a werewolf."

Me: "That must haven been awkward."
Jeremy: "As a matter of fact, yes. Of course, I could not explain to her. No one but Amery knew of my condition. We took great measures to keep people protected from the monster I become. When she arrived, we had great difficulty deciding what must be done."
Lillian: "To add to that dilemma, Lord North had no idea that I was being pursued. I fear, if he knew the truth, he'd have never opened that door, and I would have frozen on the doorstep!"
Jeremy, smiling with affection toward Lillian: "Of course, that's not true."
Lillian: "But, I had other secrets, too, did I not?"

Me: "Okay, okay, let's not give too much away. You know, I still want people to buy my book!"
Jeremy: "Well, that seems rather nonsensical. You've already given away our secrets from the title. Readers will know I am a werewolf and Lillian is a witch. The very identities we've sought to keep hidden, you've announced quite plainly for all to see."

Me: "Well, when you put it like that..."
Lillian: "Although, I haven't explained how Lord North handled having a woman in his house during a full moon. Or what happened when my uncle-"

Me, raising my hand: "Yes, I think that's enough. I don't want to overstay my welcome. I'm sure you want to get back to...whatever you two were doing. I have what I need now. Thank you both."

I stood, my notebook tucked safely under my arm. Lillian stood with me, smiling.

Lillian: "Of course, you want to get back to your writing. You have much to do."

Me, lifting my head to look at her: "I do? But, I wrote your story. And your sister's story. What else do I have to do?"
Lillian, smiling: "Melora and I are not the only Merriweather's in England, you know."

Me, startled: "Oh? And who are they? What's their story?"

Jeremy, sighing with impatience: "Is that not your duty? You are the author here. Go! You have stories to tell!"

See, I told you. Temperamental.
~Tricia

To buy The Witch and the Wolf :
The Wild Rose Press: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/the-witch-and-the-wolf-p-4136.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Wolf-ebook/dp/B003WQBDX2/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

About the Author:

Tricia Schneider is an author of paranormal and gothic romance fiction. Before the supernatural took possession of her pen, she worked in a bookstore as Assistant Manager and bookseller. Now she writes full-time while raising her 3 children. She lives in the coal country of Pennsylvania with her WWII re-enactor husband.

For more info about her and her books:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/triciaschneider
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/triciaschneider

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-12-11T06:00:00.031Z

Today's 'Six' follows on from yesterday's Sample, and as alway I appreciate your comments and thank you all for you company and support every week.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I am sharing samples with you throughout December.

“How am I supposed to keep the prince here?” Melanie had asked her boss several months earlier.
“You do whatever it takes.”
His succinct reply left little room for interpretation, but she doubted he meant for her to tumble into love with the prince, let alone marry him.
By falling in love with and marrying Liam, she’d crossed the line from professional to personal.
Another mistake.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever
and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received.

Character Interview Series ~ with Deena Remiel

2011-12-11T05:55:00.037Z

Agremon Dishes About His Charming Self By Deena Remiel
Please pardon the following blog post. I was going to write something completely different, but Agremon busted into my office and snatched my computer! Before I had a chance to get it back, he’d already written this and locked it so I can’t change it. Silly demon… doesn’t he realize I can write him out of a storyline? ~ Deena Remiel

Agremon Dishes About His Charming Self By Agremon the Terrible

I’m gonna lay it on the line for all of you right now. If you wanna live, don’t mess with me. They call me Agremon, The Terrible, and I live up to that reputation. Don’t piss me off, don’t look at me funny, and don’t even breathe in my direction. I WILL come to you in your dreams and scare you literally to death. You’ve been warned.

Why am I such a delightful fellow? You try spending eternity being scorned by The Brethren and sucking up to Satan every freakin’ day. He has me running around his cult compound like I’m some grunt or slave. Okay, so I am his henchman, but where are the perks he promised me, I ask you? And now Satan… oh excuse me, he’s calling himself Namirha these days, is on my butt to find this kid he thinks is the answer to his gaining ultimate power over the world. Yawn. I’ve got something else in mind for her, but if I tell ya, I’ll have to kill ya. Now that doesn’t sound so bad come to think of it.

I guess I’m supposed to be talking about TRINITY, A Brethren Novel, but really, why would I want to acknowledge the Brethrens’ immortal existence when I’m more appealing and immortal, too? All right! So they look prettier than me. And women swoon over them. I used to look like them… once. Before I gained immeasurable power, that is. I’d much rather look like I do now. I scare the crap out of people and that suits me just fine. Not sure if it’s my razor sharp needle-like teeth, or the thorny protrusions all over my body that does it. It could be my charming personality. Whatever kills them, though, it’s all good to me.

Hey, I know you. You like sarcasm, a sharp wit, and bad demons. I come by all that naturally. When others are dying for Michael and Raphael trading cards, you’ll be clamoring for one of ME! Embrace your inner demon… start an Agremon fan club in your neighborhood. I promise to give you anything your measly, human heart desires. Now, get the hell out of here! You’ve wasted enough my time! Hell, I guess I should tell you to read Trinity, A Brethren Novel. But NOT for the Brethren! Read it because I’M in it!

Web Links:
www.deenaremiel.com
www.decadentpublishing.com
http://riseofthebrethren.wordpress.com
http://paraposse.blogspot.com
http://plotmamas.com

Buy Links:
Decadent Publishing - http://www.decadentpublishing.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=trinity&osCsid=3cf628390ad0368577356f4fe90fe679
Amazon.com - http://tinyurl.com/3s9g5qr
Barnes and Noble- http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Trinity/Deena-Remiel/e/2940011230776/?itm=1&USRI=deena+remiel
1 Place for Romance - http://1placeforromance.com/romantic-fiction/trinity/prod_3953.html
All Romance eBooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-trinity-509849-140.html

Sweet Saturday Sample

2011-12-10T06:00:00.025Z

Welcome to another Sweet Saturday Sample. And thank you to everyone who stops by every week. I hope you enjoy the sample my my latest release today.
There will be more tomorrow.

Security!
Even her job guaranteed none of that.
She dialled again, updated her boss then let the memories in, while she searched for the gunmen.
She’d spent the last three years trailing the youngest son of the ruler of a largely unknown kingdom that held more wealth within its boundaries than many of the largest nations in the world. Some claimed its wealth rivalled, if not exceeded, Switzerland. And she’d spent the last six months married to him.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever
and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received.

Character Interview Series: Lynda Kaye Frazier talks to Mercy

2011-12-09T06:00:00.002Z

My name is Lynda Kaye Frazier and I write Suspense Romances. I’ve finished my first book, Rescued from the Dark, and I’m half way through my second. Yet to be published, but hopeful.

A little background on the story.

Rescued from the Dark:

What if you woke up from a nightmare to find you're trapped in a world of darkness, with no memory of how you got there? Rescued from the Dark is a passionate, gripping story about an FBI agent, Jason Michaels, who risks everything, even his life, to save Mercedes Kingsley, the FBI intern who stole his heart, then walked away.

Mercedes finds herself caught up in and International nightmare, trying to remember who she can trust and who she can't. With the kidnappers vowing to get her back, no matter what the cost, for their secrets that are locked in her memory. In a race against time Jason and Mercy struggle to fight their attraction, and put their differences aside, as they launch a manhunt with the FBI to save their country and each other.

I am interviewing Mercedes (Mercy) Kingsley. She is an FBI intern waiting on a response from her application to the Academy. She's struggling with her need to be part of the FBI and her attraction to a fellow agent, Jason Michaels, while hiding a secret that will destroy everything she has worked so hard to build.

Lynda: “Welcome Ms. Kingsley. I've asked you here to go over a few items in your application for the Academy. I’ve reviewed your paperwork and would like you to tell me about the incidents that caused your father’s retirement 10 years ago.”
Mercy; Mercy swallowed hard and rubbed her sweaty palms together. "It was a botched kidnapping that ended my father’s career." They just don’t need to know what else ended that night.

Lynda; “Could I have details please, I need it for the application. You failed to give information that we will need for the review board.”
Mercy: “My parents are partners in a software firm. There were threats made to the company and I was kidnapped because of them. My Father, and his partner Ron Daily, found out where I was. My Dad did not follow protocol and he came in without back-up. But because he did, I was saved. His career died that night and so did my dream to be an agent. I could not apply for the Academy as long as my dad struggled to get his life back. But, as you have read, it’s been 10 years and I realized that being an agent was the only think I wanted to do. So I pursued the internship and applied to the Academy.” Mercy’s heart was racing, stay in control, this will be over soon.

Lynda: “Are your parents fine with the decision? You know your father will be interviewed, and I know him. His opinion will be taken into account.”
Mercy: “I know how this will affect my parents but they will back my decision. I didn’t want to tell them until I had my acceptance letter.” Mercy swallowed past the lump of fear that swelled in her throat. I don’t want to tell them until I’m in the Academy. Ron said they weren’t going to talk to my dad. What changed?

Lynda: "I see that you had counseling after the kidnapping and treatment for anxiety. You also suffer from claustrophobia. Those are issues that need to be resolved before the board review. It will affect your ability to be an agent.”
Mercy: Mercy clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into the palms of her hands. How did they find out? Ron said no one would know, and I would have time to figure a way around it. What else can go wrong? “My counseling was complete and I was released. I attached my past medical records in my application. My issue with claustrophobia is in the past. That should also be stated in my medical papers.”

Lynda: “It is. I just wanted to hear you say it, and make me believe it. During the Academy you will be working closely with Ron Daily and his team. Will that be a problem for you? I see you have a close relationship with them, and a personal one with Jason Michaels. Have you read the rules Mercy? We have guidelines, and if this is an issue I want to know now.”
Mercy; Mercy’s chest tightened and her hands shook under the table. Her throat burned as she struggeled to catch her breath. She had to stop the panic attack before it ruined everything. It will kill her application quicker than that kiss. The memory still warmed her lips but she knew the rules, and the pain she saw in his eyes as she walked away will always haunt her. “It will not be an issue. Agent Daily and his team have helped me during my internship, and that’s all. We have a close working relationship only. Mr. Michaels and I do not have any kind of relationship, nor do we plan on having one. We both are aware of the rules and what is at stake if any are broken.”

Lynda: “Ok as long as you are aware that they will also be interview”
Mercy: Mercy took a deep breath as the phone rang.

Lynda: “I need to take this. I believe I have everything I need. I will contact you when the board reviews your application. Make sure you discuss this with your family. We will be contacting them soon”
Mercy quickly left room as her heart pounded in her ears. She had to find her parents and talk to them, but she had to see Jason first, if he’ll see her. Mercy swallowed past the fear in her throat. She has told so many lies to hide the truth, and hid a few secrets she’s not ready for anyone to know, and it’s all closing in on her fast.

Follow my steps to publishing 'Rescued from the Dark' on my website and blog.
http://www.lyndakayefrazier.com
http://www.lyndafrazier.blogspot.com

Character Interview Series ~ HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME by Chicki Brown 2

2011-12-08T12:27:00.000Z

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME by Chicki Brown

I am continuing my interviews with the seven singles sharing a summer house in Beach Haven, New Jersey. Since I’ve previously talked with two of the women, today my subject is the most vocal of the male residents, college drama instructor, Ogden “Kip” Lee. When I step outside onto the back deck, I try not to show my reaction at finding him wearing only a pair of baggy shorts and a pair of sunglasses. Kip’s physical appearance is impossible to ignore. I honestly expect him to cock an eyebrow and ask if I can smell what he’s cooking.

Hot Fun in the Summertime by Chicki Brown – On Kindle http://amzn.to/dWZSxA and Nookhttp://bit.ly/k4Z172

Kip: (clasping his hands behind his head and his biceps suddenly expand like he blew them up with a bicycle pump.) “So, what can I do for you?
Me: (Wow, loaded question. I sink into the cushioned Adirondack chair next to him and place my recorder on the table between us.) Do you mind?

Kip: Not at all, sweetheart.
Me: (Normally I would’ve launched into a speech about political correctness after being called sweetheart by a man I just met. But somehow I sensed that he didn’t mean it in a condescending way.) You know I’ve already spoken with Shontae and Kinnik, but before I leave I’d like to get the male perspective on your summer arrangement. Why are you here?

Kip: (removes his shades and rests them on the table) You mean the ladies didn’t give you their opinions already?
Me: They did, but I’d like to hear it from you.

Kip: No reason to front. I’m only here to relax and party. No goals. No ulterior motives. I work hard while school is in session, but once vacation starts I leave Professor Lee in New York and go back to being just plain old Kip.
Me: (thinking there was nothing at all plain about this chocolate Adonis) So, how do you see things going this summer?

Kip: (scratches his chin and smiles) To tell you the truth, nobody ever knows how it’s going to go. This summer I’m the only one who’s not waiting for something. They’re all on some kind of countdown.
Me: Which of the countdowns do you see coming to fruition?

Kip: From what I’ve picked up from listening to the women, Jo’s hoping Walt pops the question. It’s not happening, if you ask me.
Me: What do you mean?

Kip: (snickers) Walt’s been married twice, and he and Jo have been together five years. I know what a man looks like when he’s content, and in my opinion he looks pretty content with things just the way they are. Doc has a plan, and for his sake, I hope Linda’s finally ready.
Me: Why?

Kip: (sighs and then smiles) Because he’s banking on it. Ever since last summer, he’s basically taken himself out of circulation for her. If it were anyone but Lin, I’d say he made a stupid move.
There are too many women in this world to sit around waiting for one to decide whether she wants you or not. I don’t think she’d do it on purpose, but I hope Lin doesn’t end up jerking him around.
Me: You said everyone is waiting for something. I didn’t get that impression from Kinnik.

Kip: (chuckles) As long as there are men around, K always has a target. I’m afraid she’ll use her mojo on Devon.
Me: Afraid? Why?

Kip: Shontae won’t have a chance if K aims both barrels at my boy.
Me: She is stunning.

Kip: Kinnik isn’t just beautiful. She’s got skills. (He winks, and I choose to let the comment slide.)
Me: But Shontae seems to be a really sweet person.

Kip: (frowns) She is, and that’s the problem. Sometimes being sweet can work against you. She doesn’t know how to fight dirty. It’s not in her. Fighting dirty is all Kinnik knows. I just hope I don’t end up having to pry their claws out of each other.
Me: I understand you invited Devon this year. Do you see him fitting in with a group that’s been together three years?

Kip: Devon can adapt to anything. That’s why he’s such a good actor.
Me: From what I’ve seen, you folks are in the minority here on the island. Does that bother you?

Kip: (The way his mouth twists, I see I’ve hit a tender topic.) Not me.
Me: Do you think your neighbors are as open minded?

Kip: No matter what their attitudes are, I’m still gonna do Kip. The neighbors don’t have anything to do with my social life. Besides the ladies vacationing in Beach Haven don’t have any problems with it. As far as I’m concerned, women are women. I believe in equal opportunity.
Me: Well, I hope your summer turns out to be all you’re expecting.

Kip: (scans me from head to toe before returning his sunglasses to his face with a devious smirk) Oh it will. Why don’t you stick around for a few days? You’d fit right in.
Me: (feeling a bit uneasy from his scrutiny and the underlying sensuality in his tone) Thanks, but I have a deadline to meet and my editor won’t take any excuses. It was great meeting you, Kip.

Kip: (clasps his hands behind his head once more) You too, sweetheart. If you change your mind, we’ll make room for you.

On Kindle and Nook: http://amzn.to/dWZSxA & http://bit.ly/k4Z172

You can follow Chicki Brown at:
Website: http://www.chicki663.webs.com
Personal Blog: http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@Chicki663
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown

Interview with Jana Richards, author of “The Girl Most Likely”

2011-12-07T06:30:00.001Z

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, along with two university aged daughters and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou.

Interview with Jana Richards, author of “The Girl Most Likely”
Cara McLeod here, your host of our local events TV show, Rochester Noon. Today Finn Cooper will be my co-host as we interview writer Jana Richards. Jana is a special guest for us because she’s written a novella featuring Finn and me and our rocky road to happily ever after. Without further ado, let’s begin the interview.

Cara: Welcome Jana! Thank you for being our guest today.
Jana: Thank you for inviting me.

Finn: Is this your first time on live television? It’s a bit unnerving, isn’t it?
Jana (staring nervously at the camera): Yes, this is my first time. Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

Cara: (handing her a glass of water) It’s probably you. Now Jana, as I said, you’ve written a story about Finn and me called “The Girl Most Likely”. How did you come up with that title?
Jana: (takes a sip of water) You inspired it, Cara. In high school you were the girl voted most likely to have the perfect marriage, as well as being voted most likely to be running a Fortune 500 company by the time you were thirty. And since this story is about you and your fellow Class of ’85 classmates and your 25th high school reunion, the title seemed appropriate.

Cara: Yeah, well, those things didn’t pan out for me. My first marriage failed and I’ve never run any Fortune 500 companies.
Finn: (taking her hand) Maybe things didn’t turn out the way you envisioned in high school but in the end, things turned out great.

Cara: (smiling) They really did, didn’t they? Life doesn’t always give you what you want, but sometimes it gives you what you need.
Jana: Aren’t those the lyrics to a Rolling Stones song?

Cara: Jana, let’s get back to you. Why did you feel the need to tell our story?
Jana: When the call came for submissions for reunion stories from The Wild Rose Press, I looked at possibly writing the stories of some of your other classmates, but it was your story and Finn’s that really called to me.

Finn: Why us? What makes our story different?
Jana: Well, for a start, Finn, you’re eight years younger than Cara. That’s a little different from a typical romance novel couple. Then there’s the whole weight thing. I knew many readers would be able to relate to Cara’s struggle to lose weight and look good for her high school reunion, especially when her ex-husband was going to be there with his new hot, young girlfriend.

Cara: I had to shape up for the reunion. I still had a little pride left.
Jana: But what I found out in the writing of this story was that Finn could totally relate to Cara’s desire to lose weight. You could understand the struggle she faced to get fit, couldn’t you Finn?

Finn: Totally. I was once obese myself. Through healthy eating and exercise over a two year period, I lost 128 pounds.
Jana: No one looking at you now would believe you were once fat. It took unbelievable strength of character to get where you are now. You’re amazing, not to mention totally gorgeous.

Cara: (smiling fondly at Finn) Right on both counts, Jana. Finn is gorgeous and amazing. He’s also a terrific physical trainer as well. He helped me get in shape.
Finn: After I lost the weight I wanted to change everything about my life. So I become a trainer to help others get healthy.

Cara: (turning to Jana) What else besides Finn’s weight loss makes “The Girl Most Likely” a little different?
Jana: I think it’s different because rather than being an outsider in high school, you were one of the popular kids. In many reunion stories, an outcast in high school returns to triumph over the popular kids who were mean to him back then. I love those stories, but I wanted to tell your story because you were exactly the opposite. You were popular in high school and now you’re returning to the reunion as a loser.

Cara: (wincing) That’s harsh.
Finn: Cara’s never been a loser, and never will be.
Jana: Maybe not, but you felt like a loser, didn’t you, Cara? You worried that people at the reunion would either pity you or laugh at you because your perfect marriage failed, your perfect figure went south, and your career consisted of being a junior assistant at a TV station. Serving coffee to guests of Rochester Noon was hardly the career you’d envisioned for yourself in high school.

Cara: No, I thought I’d be an executive with a six figure salary by the time I was thirty. So much for that idea. But my marriage wasn’t a total waste. Even though it failed, I have two beautiful daughters that I’m very proud of.
Jana: I know you are and I think you’re a terrific mother. But what makes “The Girl Most Likely” really different is Finn’s secret.

Cara: Finn’s secret?
Finn: How did she find out about that? Did you tell her?
Cara: Well, I might have mentioned it in passing…
Finn: (groans) Does everybody know?
Jana: Only people who read the book. Or see this interview. Finn Cooper is an unusual romance hero because he’s a—

Finn: Cut to commercial! Quick!

Sherry, Jana here. Thanks for having all three of us on your blog today. I hope you enjoyed the interview!
Sherry: I did indeed, thank you for visiting with us today And thanks too, to Cara and Finn for doing such a terrific interview.

Blurb:
Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, “fat, frumpy, and over forty.” The thought of facing former classmates—and the ex-husband who dumped her—at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help—but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?
Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She’s everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing—she can’t get past the fact that he's eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him—love?

Excerpt:
He chuckled. “Jessica better watch her back. You could give her a run for her money.”
He heard Cara’s throaty laugh, and various parts of his anatomy tingled in response. “Yes, that’s my evil plan. Take over Rochester Noon, then the world.”
“If you set your mind to it, I’m sure you could do it.”
“Thanks Finn.”
“For what?”
“For believing in me.”
“Are you going to be okay now?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
He wanted so badly to tell her he loved her, adored her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world. But fear stopped him. Was she truly over her ex-husband? Why else would losing weight for the reunion be so important to her if not to impress Peter?
“I’ve got to run. Thanks again. I’ll talk to you later at my condo, right?”
“Absolutely. I can hardly wait to hear about your big TV debut. Break a leg. Isn’t that what they say in show biz?”
She laughed. “Yeah, that’s what they say. Bye.”
Finn replaced the receiver and closed his eyes. He hoped everything went well with this interview. Cara deserved to realize how amazing she was.
If she did come to that realization, would there still be room in her life for him?

JANA WILL BE GIVING AWAY: one $20 GC to The Wild Rose Press to one randomly drawn commenter AND a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the goddessfishpromotions tour – the more you comment, the better their chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/09/virtual-book-tour-girl-most-likely-by.html

Website: http://www.janarichards.net
Blog: http://janarichards.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jana-Richards/157005711005866

Character Interview Series ~ Melanie and Liam talk to their author

2011-12-07T05:50:00.002Z

Character Interview Series continued:

From Now Until forever Blurb:

For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?

Interview:
SG: Melanie, tell us how you copped the assignment to protect a prince?
Melanie: As a member of the palace security I’d worked closely with his father, the king. He insisted I got the job of looking after Liam.
Liam: *mutters* I’m a grown man, I didn’t need looking after.
Melanie: *indignation* No? Then what about the day the insurgents nearly killed you?
Liam: That was one day, after three years of my managing just fine.

SG: *hiding a wry grin, she turns to Melanie* Had you met the prince before the assignment?
Melanie: I’d seen him around, but not been introduced to him. He prefers horses to people…
Liam: I did! I’ve admitted that, but not anymore. I know where my priorities lie now.
Melanie: *grins, and in an aside to me* It took a while, but he got there in the end.

SG: *turns to Prince Liam* How did you feel when you discovered Melanie was being paid to protect you?
Liam: I -what do the Americans say- 'plead' the 5th Amendment.

SG: You’re not an American, you can’t do that.
Liam: Very well, I am a prince. *He gives me a haughty stare –but his eyes are twinkling.*
Melanie: * gasps* Liam, you didn’t just say that! Apologise at once and answer the question.
Liam: *grins openly* No Mel, I’m not answering that question. If folk want to know my reactions then I suggest they buy From Now Until Forever to find out.

SG: *sighs, knowing when she’s beaten. One more question to Melanie, then.
Melanie: *nods in agreement*

SG: What did you think of Prince Liam’s homeland the first time you saw it.
Melanie: In a word? 'Awesome.' When I first saw those mountains, they reminded me of you and me, *she turns to Liam and grinned.*

SG: Explain.
Liam: *Stands and tugs on Melanie’s hand before speaking.* You said ‘one question’. That was it.

SG: * swallows another sigh.* Thank you both for your time.

SG: watches them leave and knows she’ll miss both of them.

Author Bio:
Multi-published author, Sherry Gloag is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel. While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.

Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

Thank you for visiting with Mel, Liam and myself, today.

Author website: https://www.sherrygloag.com

Author blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/

Buy at: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7105194

Book Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D7sLoMWp0o

Tuesday Tales

2011-12-06T06:00:00.001Z

I am delighted to be part of the Tuesday Tales group of writers.
This week the prompt word is ‘fire’.

So, for my first effort in Tuesday Tales, here is a complete short story.

Pictures in the Fire

Snow, silent as stealth, filled the driveway beyond her front door. Inside silence filled the room while she sat staring at the fire.

“Can you see the pictures in the flames?” Her mother’s voice came across as clearly as if she stood next to Monica.

She’d been five the first time her mother asked the question. Five and eager to experience a new adventure. For hours she’d sat in front of the fire, its orange flames curling round the logs her father cut and hauled in each morning. At first she’d pretended to herself and her mother she’d seen all sorts of things. The pony she wished for peering over the stable door that didn’t exist, the baby brother who arrived two years later, and the puppy her best friend Lillian received two days later. She even imagined she saw the letters written in the flames of the name Lillian chose for her new friend.

“You’ll never guess what I just got?” Lillian had bounced into the school playground her face glowing with excitement.

“A puppy?” Until she heard the words, saw her breath mist in the cold playground air, she’d not realised she’d spoken aloud.

Deflated, Lillian glowered at her. “How’d you know that?” Then she’d beamed her usual sunny smile. “I s’pose my Mom told you, and made you promise not to tell.”

Not quite sure why, Monica remained silent, but thought perhaps that’s how she knew.

When Lillian asked her to guess the puppy’s name, Monica sealed her lips and hoped that her best friend would not say ‘Jasper’.

“Jasper.” Lillian squealed while jumping up and down on the spot and clapping her hands together.

A frisson of trepidation skittered up Monica’s spine. How had she known? Had her friend mentioned a liking for the name? If so, she couldn’t remember. The frisson of fear grew, when later that evening she told her mother and was met by a concerned silence.

Her mother’s smile usually so open and encouraging, faltered and slipped away altogether. Her smoky blue eyes usually filled with love and laughter turned chilly. Her voice, when she answered was the most frightening of all.

“Don’t tell lies, Monica.” Instead of the usual bed-time hug, her mother stepped back from the bed, ordered Monica to say her prayers twice and to include a request for forgiveness for telling lies, before halting in the doorway, her hand on the knob. “And if this is the result of sitting staring at the fire so much, I suggest you find something more constructive to do with your time.”

The slamming of the bedroom door punctuated her mother’s words.

Miserable, confused, and suddenly tired beyond sleeping, she’d pulled the covers over her head and cried into her pillow throughout the night.

In the morning, Monica decided her mother’s smile could freeze the fires of hell. Her jittery stomach refused to accept the breakfast her mother placed in front of her and she left for school feeling sick, tired and hungry all at once.

When Lillian ran up to her Monica smiled with relief, at least she had her friend. And then she noticed Lillian’s stony-faced glare.

“My Mom said she never told you about the puppy so how did you know, and how did you guess the correct name?”

To Monica it seemed everyone in the playground stopped and waited for her answer. Isolation, heavy and penetrating weighed down on her shoulders. What could she say? She didn’t know, so took the easy way out, and simply shrugged.

In that moment everything changed.

Her life changed.

At school, when she approached conversations stopped. Instead of sharing camaraderie her former school friends ignored her. She learned to stand alone.

At home her young brother continued to give her his unconditional love, but her parents, Monica noticed, walked around her as though she’d caught the plague. She learned to stand alone. Only young Billy penetrated the barrier of self-preservation she erected.

And now? Now, nearly twenty years later she sat in front of her hearth, her hands cradled round her knees, and watched the images of her mother playing with her in the snow in the days before she’d encouraged her daughter to seek pictures in the flames.

For months before she’d died, her mother had accepted the healing her daughter offered to alleviate the pain.

Durng those months they talked. Really talked.

“I’m sorry.” Her mother’s frail voice drew Monica’s attention as she sat at the hospital bedside.

“Sorry?”

Bewildered, she searched for explanations and come up empty. Her parents had dished out edicts as she’d grown up and if she ever returned home after escaping at sixteen, she was usually met with disapproval.

“Your grandmother had the ‘gift’,” her mother started. “It frightened your father, and when you developed it he threatened to walk away from us. I promised him I wouldn’t let you develop your gift if he stayed.”

No wonder her father treated her like a pariah, Monica thought as she struggled to marshal her thoughts.

And the irony?

He’d left anyway. Maybe not for ten years, but he’d left her mother for a ‘newer model.’ And she’d been shattered. Filled with an unexplained guilt about the breakup, Monica had taken off a few months later.

At first she’d buried the experiences that bombarded her. Later when new friends discovered her ‘gift’ they’d come to her for help and advice. Finally after some hefty pleading she’d succumbed and let the feelings and ‘knowing’ in.

The sense of isolation, both inner and outer, eased, and in time disappeared. She felt complete, if not quite comfortable with circumstances. And now her mother informed her it was genetically inherited.

The relationship between them grew closer, and finally Monica recognised that barely remembered loving glow in her mother’s eyes.

“Yes, I remember when you encouraged me to look for the pictures in the fire.” Monica’s words shimmered on the silence around her.

“Never stop.” Her mother’s voice, as loud as her own, filled Monica’s mind. “Never stop watching. Never stop dreaming.” Her mother’s voice faltered, dropped. “Fire, like love can burn or warm. Never let the fire within you go out.”

A log in the grate shifted, sending sparks soaring up the chimney. The silence around her shimmered and settled, and a warmth like a scarf, wrapped around Monica’s heart.

To read more exciting adventures and romances in

Tuesday Tales,

click HERE

Character Interview Series presents author Roxanne Kade

2011-12-05T15:32:00.000Z

Character Interview from author Roxanne Kade

ALL AMBERLYN DARKSKY HAS EVER WANTED IS TO BE NORMAL. BUT WHAT IF NORMAL IS EVERYTHING SUPERNATURAL & LEGENDARY?

Hello, everyone. My name is Roxanne Kade and I am the author of THE BLOODY CRESCENT BOOK 1: THERIAN. Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Amberlyn Darksky. When Amber received her acceptance letter to Cyprus Falls University, little did she know that her life would change forever. Vampires, werewolves and dark family secrets would soon lead her to her true destiny.

ROXY: Hello, Amber. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today.

AMBER: *nods head slowly* Hello.

ROXY: The last few months have been anything but easy for you. How are you holding up?

AMBER: Um...Okay, I guess. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to feel any more. So much has happened and so much has changed. I just have to take each day as it comes.

ROXY: Well, I'm sure things will get better. *reaches over and pats Amber's hand* Let us start from the beginning, shall we? For so many years Carmine kept you hidden on the family estate. Didn't you ever wonder why? Didn't you ever think that there was more to it than him just wanting to keep you safe?

AMBER: When I was younger, I guess I never knew any better. My father was my world and he made me believe that staying hidden was for my own protection. I never understood why until I was a little older. Carmine always used my "gift" as an excuse for keeping me from enjoying life. He said people would never accept me. That's when Guili and I started with the college applications. I had to show Carmine that I was as normal as anyone else. I never thought that there was something more to the story...

ROXY: This "gift" you speak of. Tell me more about it.

AMBER: Oh, I don't know. I really shouldn't speak about it.

ROXY: Come on! It's me, Roxy, you can tell me anything.

AMBER: *sighs* Okay, fine. I suppose it is the least of my problems at the moment...ever since I can remember, I've been able to see people's memories. And I feel every emotion that comes with those memories. It's a curse really.

ROXY: Are you crazy? That is an amazing gift to have. I can only imagine the things you have seen. What did you see when you touched me?

AMBER: Please, I'm really not in the mood to discuss this any further. Could we just move onto something else?

ROXY: Okay, okay *holds up hands* Tell us about Tayelon.

AMBER: *blushes uncontrollably* Next!

ROXY: Oh no! You're not getting off that easily. Tell us about the first time you ever saw him...you thought he was "smoking hot", right?

AMBER: Yeah, he was. He still is! The first time I saw him I lost all control of myself. I couldn't speak, I couldn't think. I thought my heart was going to literally leap from my chest! I couldn't stop staring into his eyes. Oh, he has the most gorgeous hazel eyes!

ROXY: Hmm, something tells me you don't hate him as much as you want us all to believe.

AMBER: But I do...I mean, after what he did, how could I not!?! He almost killed me! And even though he didn't kill Carmine, he played a major part in it. If only he had been honest with me from the beginning, maybe things would have ended differently.

ROXY: Can you really blame him though? Would it have made any difference if he had told you the truth from the start?

AMBER: Of course it would have. I accepted him for what he was and if he had told me about Carmine and the history with his family, perhaps I could have changed things. I needed answers. I needed Carmine to tell me the truth, but before I got that chance, Tayelon and the rest of the pack rushed in and killed him!

ROXY: Okay, but surely you can understand why they did that. Your father was an evil fiend after all.

AMBER: Yes, that's true. But he was still my father. How do I not hate Tayelon for taking him from me?

ROXY: Amber, I still get the sense that you love Tayelon. Do you?

AMBER: I...I...*squirms in her chair* I hate him, I do. But I can't stop thinking about him, and wanting him. My heart aches every time I think of him. *sighs* Loving and hating someone at the same time is too exhausting. It's driving me crazy.

ROXY: That brings me to the next question. Maghon Thomas of Abbeville, LA, wants to know if you'll ever be able to forgive Tayelon for the choices he made?

AMBER: I don't know...in a way I have. But I'll never forget what he did. He lied to me, hurt me in the worst possible way. I don't know if there's any way we could ever go back to what we were before. I'm just so confused at the moment. I don't know what to believe...all I wanted was to be normal...*holds head in hands and silently begins to sob*

ROXY: I think that is our cue to wrap things up. Join me again on December 15th when I will be chatting to *cups mouth with hand and whispers* Tayelon Cree, who will tell us his side of the story.

THE BLOODY CRESCENT BOOK 1: THERIAN

BLURB:
All Amberlyn Darksky has ever wanted is to be normal. But what if normal is everything supernatural and legendary?
Amber has never been ordinary. She has a gift, the ability to see memories through simple touch, and for her it’s a curse. Especially when she has to relive her mother’s death the night she was born, through her father’s eyes. Leading a sheltered life for years under his constant watch has her yearning for freedom and her acceptance into Cyprus Falls University gives her just that.
She is immediately plunged into a world of true love, heartache, seduction, and horror. With a deepening affection for Tayelon Cree, whose sparkling hazel eyes leave her breathless, and the undeniable allure of Lucard Colbaine, who seems to be immune to her gift, can she accept what either of them represent in her life? And what about the steely-eyed vampire who invades her dreams? When the blackouts and nightmares begin, Amber fears the pain that rips into her soul and threatens to destroy her. Before long she is faced with the truth of her destiny as well as the devastating secrets that surround the people she holds dearest; dark secrets that will truly change the course of her very existence. Amber doesn’t know if she has the strength to accept the hand fate has dealt her. She will have to fight as hard as possible to remain human while the beasts inside her rage to take over.

For more info on THE BLOODY CRESCENT BOOK 1: THERIAN go to http://www.48fourteen.com/catalog/therian or visit my BLOG at http://roxykade.blogspot.com

Join me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bloody-Crescent-Book-1-Therian/268069359875004
or follow me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/RoxyKade

You can buy your copy of THERIAN from the 48fourteen website, or from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WJC9HQ/
and B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/therian-roxanne-kade/1106608381

Also, don't forget to enter the 48fourteen WIN A KINDLE FIRE COMPETITION - https://www.48fourteen.com/win-kindle-fire

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-12-04T06:00:00.056Z

Today's 'Six' follows on from yesterday's Sample

As alway I appreciate your comments and thank you all for you company and support every week.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received during December.

A mistake. Not her first. Probably not her last, but still, a mistake.

Melanie aimed her weapon, fired, and took satisfaction from the distant bellow of pain. She shifted the gun from one hand to the other, flung the door open, and yelled for Liam to take cover.

*A grim smile twitched her lips.

(*This snippet has been edited)

Click Six Sunday Sentence for more offerings

Today Elaine tells us how Matt Gets Jilted

2011-12-03T06:00:00.005Z

Matt Gets Jilted

Welcome to Sherry’s blog! My name is Elaine Cantrell, and I’ve been blogging for Sherry for the last two days. If you’re interested in me and my writing, check out my website at http://www.elainecantrell.com. I have some nice free reads there.

If you’ve been following for the last few days, you know I’ve been talking about people who get jilted-just like my heroine Marley Matthews in The Table in the Window. The book is coming out in the next few days and can be purchased at http://www.astraeapress.com. Continuing with my jilted theme, I’d like to talk a bit about my other Astraea Press release A New Dream.

Here’s a blurb about the book.
What do you do when you lose everything?

After an auto accident destroys his NFL career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.

Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef’s Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager’s broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.

Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

Of course, before Matt meets Violet he had a fiancée, Stacey Thomas. In this excerpt from A New Dream Stacey agonizes over the accident that took Matt’s football career away.
~~~

Stacey shuddered and splashed some more water on her face. The nausea had passed now. She staggered back into her bedroom and threw herself across her bed. Matt’s legs looked horrible! She’d give anything not to have been at the hospital when the bandages came off. It had been bad enough when a sheet covered Matt, but to actually see his mutilated legs turned her stomach and made her feel faint.

She knew one thing, though. Until this afternoon she hadn’t really understood that Matt’s football career had ended. Oh, she realized he had lost a leg, but somehow it hadn’t been real to her until she saw it for herself. Rolling over, she curled into a tight, little ball. She had had such fun going places with Matt. People always recognized him
and wanted his autograph. He had plenty of money too, and he wasn’t stingy with it. The fame and money had thrilled her, but it was all over and done with now. No more autographs or big money.

Her stomach lurched again. She had more than just fame and money to worry about. Matt had wanted to kiss her this afternoon. In fact, when the doctor came in to take off Matt’s bandages he had caught her sitting on the edge of the bed kissing Matt. The doctor had kidded him about it, but she hadn’t minded being interrupted at all. She…didn’t like to touch him too much now.

Her thoughts drifted to the afternoon of their accident. Their parents wouldn’t approve, but she and Matt had gone to Greenville and checked into a luxury hotel that morning. They had spent his last day of freedom in bed together. She drew a deep, shaky breath.

The day had been everything she’d dreamed it could be. Her body tightened with the faint echo of passion. Matt was a good lover.

Oh, why did they have to have such a terrible accident? What would happen to Matt now? Her engagement ring winked and twinkled as it caught the light. She stared at it for a moment and began to cry.

~~~
Pretty bad, huh? Yeah, she jilted him the next day. She didn’t have the nerve to do it face-to-face. She returned her engagement ring by messenger. What a witch! Oh, well. If she hadn’t jilted Matt, he never would have met Violet. In my story Violet works in a bakery before she opens her own catering business. If you’ll leave me your email address in a comment I’ll email you a PDF copy of her favorite dessert recipes.

Can I brag for a minute? Romance Junkies gave the book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and said, A NEW DREAM is a wonderful contemporary romance with heartwarming characters and heartfelt moments. Elaine Cantrell creates a beautiful, believable relationship with old fashioned values that adds sweetness to the story. All of her characters were likable with emotions and reactions that one can relate to. My favorite though had to be the hero Matt, who had to face a very difficult reality. His growth and the way Ms. Cantrell portrayed his struggles with coming to terms with the changes in his life was nicely done. This is one of the best inspirational romances I’ve read in a while.

Romantic Times gave it four and a half stars and said, Readers will love this touching and inspirational story in which a former football player learns to live his life under new terms after a tragic accident.

I’m also tickled pink to tell you that A New Dream is on the publisher’s bestseller list!

The book is available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=677872&mode=product&product=2676585 or at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+dream+

In a few days I’ll pick the winner of the contest I offered yesterday. I hope each and every one of you have the merriest holiday season ever, and don’t forget to give books to the readers on your list. Sherry, thanks so much for letting me come. I’ve enjoyed being with you and your readers.

Congratulations, Elaine, and best wishes with your new Christmas book, thank you, too, for visiting with us here these last few days.

Sweet Saturday Sample

2011-12-03T05:59:00.003Z

Welcome to another Sweet Saturday Sample. And thank you to everyone who stops by every week. I hope you enjoy the sample my my latest release today.
There will be more tomorrow.

To celebrate the release of my new book From Now Until Forever by Astrea Press, I will share samples with you throughout December.

GIVEAWAY

At the end of December I am giving away a PDF version of From Now Until Forever
and will use random.org to choose one lucky winner from all the SSS comments received.

So! It began.
In his usual no-‐‑nonsense manner, Paxman, her boss, had updated her on events in the phone call she’d received just over ten minutes ago. It hadn’t given her time to warn Liam to get back inside, let alone for her to make any moves towards vacating the farm. As the head of palace security, Paxman focused on the job at hand and kept his missives brief. As her surrogate father—well, she owed him everything.

“Our man inside the British Embassy says Drake Guillespie, and his son deBonet, the rebel leader, are heading north and expected to pick up company on the way. Contact the Caretaker.”

In other words leave the farmhouse immediately. Brevity notwithstanding, from his information she’d assumed they’d have time to evacuate the place safely, instead of being embroiled in the middle of a gun battle.

Character Interview #7 by Heather-Hiestand

2011-12-03T05:55:00.007Z

Character Interview #7 Dec 3rd

December 24, 1892
Eliza Dunney: Welcome to London Housemaid Monthly, Miss Fenna, and thank you for being our subject for this month’s feature. How long have you been in service?
Linet Fenna: Three years now.

Eliza Dunney: Did you start out as a housemaid?
Linet Fenna: No, I was a maid-of-all-work for a small household, starting when I was seventeen. Last year I came to the Guterman’s house as second housemaid.

Eliza Dunney: Is it your dream to be a housekeeper one day?
Linet Fenna: Well, if I don’t marry. Not many other choices these days.

Eliza Dunney: Did you once have different dreams?
Linet Fenna: She smiles. My early life was anything but traditional. Of course, I can’t speak about it, since my family was a bit, well, unusual.

Eliza Dunney: What happened to change the course of your life?
Linet Fenna: Prime Minister Gladstone decided only the British Air Force, the Blockaders, belonged in the skies. Anyone who was known to have an airship was arrested. She shudders.

Eliza Dunney: Wasn’t anyone who owned an airship an air pirate?
Linet Fenna: A free trader, more like. Don’t you think taxes on luxury goods are too high?

Eliza Dunney: You do have a point. Did you have help escaping during the arrests?
Linet Fenna: No, I’m completely on my own now.

Eliza Dunney: The sound of chugging can be heard in the air. That sounds like an airship, Miss Fenna.
Linet Fenna: Yes, I suppose you are correct. Looks wistful. I remember when that was a happy sound.

Eliza Dunney: Do you think the free traders will ever rise again?
Linet Fenna: The prime minister is an old man. Hopefully the next government will be less restrictive. But Gladstone wiped out a generation of airship captains. When the new captains emerge, they will be young and hungry.

Eliza Dunney: And handsome, I hope?
Linet Fenna: She grins. Airship captains? Trust me, they are always handsome, and very sure of themselves!

Eliza Dunney: Thank you for sitting with us today. I’m sure you must get back to your duties.
Linet Fenna: Oh yes. The first housemaid is ill and the Gutermans have many guests arriving later today for the holidays. I have much to accomplish!

Eliza Dunney: Good luck to you, Miss Fenna!

Author bio:
Heather Hiestand is the author of seven novels as well as many novellas and short stories. Her imagination keeps her entertained with romance, mystery and futuristic/fantasy story ideas, many of which eventually become words on a page. She lives in Washington State with her husband and son. For more information, see her website at www.heatherhiestand.com.

Captain Andrew’s Flying Christmas Blurb:

Housemaid Linet Fenna would rather be an air pirate than a servant. When she finds the ladder to an airship dangling outside her garret window on Christmas Eve, 1892, she ascends to the skies above London on her late father’s flagship dirigible, the Christmas. The new captain is someone she never expected to see again, a dangerous, sexy foe. Is the Fenna family nemesis offering Linet her heart’s desire or a dastardly trap? Captain Andrew’s motivations are as foggy as the coal-soaked sky. Prime Minister Gladstone’s Blockaders, a horde of automen and a teenage girl named Hatchet want Linet to fail in her quest to discover what happened to her missing family, but she is determined to have a happy Christmas.

Captain Andrew’s Flying Christmas links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Christmas-Steampunk-Smugglers-ebook/dp/B005WASTQK
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96889
BN
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Captain-Andrews-Flying-Christmas/Heather-Hiestand/e/2940013314191
ARe:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-captainandrew039sflyingchristmas-624819-339.html

Elaine Cantrell introduces us to Marley's New Guy

2011-12-02T06:00:00.005Z

Marley’s New Guy

Welcome back to the blog! I’m romance writer Elaine Cantrell, and Sherry was kind enough to invite me to her blog. If you’re curious about me and my writing, check out my website at http://www.elainecantrell.com. You might also like my blog which is found at http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

Yesterday I promised I’d tell you what my heroine in A Table in the Window did when her fiancé jilted her. Uh, I mean what happened after she cried a river and went shopping to make herself feel better.

In this excerpt, Marley is Christmas shopping and stops to eat at the restaurant where her fiancé jilted her.

Excerpt:

Barton’s hostess picked up a menu. “Table for one?”
“Yes.” Marley’s eyes prickled, but she swallowed hard and followed the hostess to a small table near the kitchen. Guess they saved the nice window tables for hunks like Michael.
She sat her purse and packages in the empty chair beside her and tried not to stare at the table where it had all occurred. Her heart burned. Maybe she shouldn’t have come here after all.
“Hi, may I take your drink order?”
Marley looked up and saw Robert, the waiter who’d served her and Michael on that awful day when Michael broke up with her. She blushed and hoped he didn’t know why. “Maybe some hot tea,” she decided, “and I know what I want to order. I’d like a chicken salad plate.”
He smiled at her. “Coming right up.”
As he vanished into the kitchen, Marley heard someone yell, “Hey, Rob, what are you doing here? Your shift’s over.”
So Robert’s friends called him Rob. Marley liked that name better. Robert sounded like someone her father’s age, but Rob sounded young and upbeat. Wonder why he wanted to hang around Barton’s after his shift ended? Didn’t he have some place he needed to be at Christmastime?
He returned to her table and set her tea in front of her. “Have you ever tried tea the way the English drink it?” he asked. “I brought you some cream in case you’d like to try it.”
“Thank you, that’s very thoughtful,” Marley answered. “Maybe I will try it.”
She thought he’d go away, but he remained standing beside the table. “Uh, is there anything else?” she asked.
He smiled at her. “My shift’s over. If I’m not bothering you, I wondered if you’d like some company for lunch.” His eyes twinkled. “In case you’d like to know, you’re the first customer I’ve made that offer to.”
How strange. She’d seen this guy in Barton’s for over a year now, yet she couldn’t have described him to save her life. She paused for a quick inspection. He wore black trousers and a long-sleeved white shirt with a red and black striped tie. A green bib apron covered his shirt and tied around his neck and waist. He’d spiked his short, blonde hair ever so slightly in front. He had blue eyes and a square jaw and definitely wasn’t as buff as Michael who spent a lot of time in a gym. Michael was taller too.
The sparkle in his blue eyes decided her. “Sure. Have a seat.” She swept her packages and purse into the floor, and he sat down beside her.

Oh, she’s done it now! Can Rob be the one to mend her broken heart, or will she find that rebound relationships never work?

If you like the sound of A Table in the Window, please check it out at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1651593&mode=product&product=7885677 or at Amazon. By the time you read this it has released. Find it at: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677

Marley works at a bakery in New York City. I nagged her until she agreed to share her recipe for chocolate cake. If you have a better recipe, let me know. This is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. In fact, if you post a recipe for us I’ll throw your name in a hat for a book giveaway.

Marley’s Chocolate Cak
2 cups flour
4 TBSP cocoa
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 stick butter
1 tsp soda
½ cup cooking oil
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla

Sift flour and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Place butter, oil, water, and cocoa into a saucepan and bring to a rapid boil. When mixture boils, remove from heat and pour over sugar and flour mixture. Mix well with spoon and add buttermilk, soda, eggs and vanilla. Beat lightly and pour into greased and floured 13 X 9 X 1 ½ inch pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Wet Chocolate Frosting
1 stick butter
4TBSP cocoa
6 TBSP evaporated milk
1 box powdered sugar

Place butter, cocoa, and milk in saucepan. When mixture comes to a boil remove from heat and add 1 box powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Pour over cake while hot.

Character Interview #6 - Margan Kearns

2011-12-02T05:58:00.000Z

Author Morgan Kearns and Baseball Bad Boy Grayson Pierce

I am Morgan Kearns; former journalist, current author, and mother of four children to keep things interesting. I write contemporary and paranormal romance.

My second novel, IN IT TO WIN IT, is the story of Sportscaster Jane Alexander and Baseball Bad-Boy Grayson Pierce.

Tabloids love Grayson, and I’ve gotta admit I’m pretty fond of him myself.

MK: *shakes his huge hand* Hey, Grayson, it’s really good to see you.
Grayson: It’s great to see you, too, Morgan. How are things? You torturing Xavier yet?

MK: Torturing? Is that what you think I do?
Grayson: *laughs* Hell, yeah. You’re pretty sadistic.

MK: *rolls eyes* It’s a good thing you’re story’s already done.
Grayson: Seriously, you’re writing his story, right?

MK: I am. He’s an interesting guy.
Grayson: *nods* He needs a good woman who’ll love that chip off his shoulder. Do you know who she is yet.

MK: Of course. You know her, too.
Grayson: Really?

MK: *holds up hand* Before you ask; no, I won’t tell you who she is.
Grayson: Damn.

MK: Let’s talk about Jane.
Grayson: My favorite subject.

MK: How are things going between you two?
Grayson: *shakes his head and grins like a fool* She’s good. She’s great. We’re great. Did you know we’re getting married?

MK: I did hear that somewhere.
Grayson: *laughs* Yeah, I’m sure you did.

MK: How’s the long distance thing working?
Grayson: *frowns* It sucks. Last year was brutal. But I don’t have to report for spring training until February so we’re spending every possible second together ‘til then. After that … I don’t want to think about it.

MK: Tell me about the first time you saw Jane after fifteen years.
Grayson: Seeing her was like a two-by-four to the chest. She looked amazing, better than I’d imagined. I didn’t expect her to be standing in the locker room.

MK: She is a sportscaster.
Grayson: Yeah. I know, and I expected she’d be shoving a microphone in my face at some point, but I didn’t expect her to show up when she did. I really threw me for a loop.

MK: You were kind of a jerk to her.
Grayson: *laughs* Kind of? I was a complete and total ass! The stricken look on her face nearly killed me. I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and never let her go. I’m surprised she didn’t slap me silly.

MK: What does the future hold?
Grayson: I don’t know beyond the wedding. I travel a lot. Her job keeps her in Salt Lake. We’re taking things one day at a time. She loves me, that’s all that matters to me. And she’s amazing.

MK: What about kids?
Grayson: *big cheesy grin* Yes.

MK: Is that an announcement?
Grayson: *raises brow* You tell me.

MK: *laughs* Touche. Okay, this question is for Liza; Do you have any available friends she could date?
Grayson: *shrugs* A lot of the guys are still single. Would I set them up with someone as sweet as Liza? Probably not. But, if you’re to be believed, and Xavier can be tamed, then anything’s possible. Give me her number, I’ll see what I can do.

Jane sticks her head in.

Jane: Oh, hey, Morgan. I’m sorry to bug you guys, but I need to steal him away. We’re going to be late for the appointment to pick out Save-The-Date cards.
Grayson: Thanks, babe. We’re almost done.

Jane leaves.

MK: Last question. What’s Santa bringing Jane?
Grayson: *grins* I know it’s cheesy, but I got her diamond earrings.

MK: Not cheesy at all. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

Jane and Grayson’s story is IN IT TO WIN IT and can be found on:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VS3H84/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1CW6VS8GQA0RDH1SBS4H&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-it-to-win-it-morgan-kearns/1030917200?ean=2940012678997&itm=1&usri=win%2bit%2bkearns

Other ebook: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/75280

Autographed Paperback: http://morgankearns.com/contemporary_romance_.html

Jilted! Elaine Cantrell explains...

2011-12-01T06:00:00.118Z

Jilted!

Have you ever been jilted? Once upon a time I was, but even though he didn’t mean to do me a favor, he did anyway. If he hadn’t wanted to date that silly little girl… Well, if he hadn’t wanted to date someone else, I never would have met my husband, the love of my life. I always thought that term was probably invented by romance writers who wore rose colored glasses, but I was wrong. I found my soul-mate, and I can truthfully say I love him more today than I did the day we got married.
It’s interesting to see how people cope with being jilted. This picture was taken in China when a jilted bride tried to jump out of a window. Notice that she’s wearing her wedding dress. Lucky for her the guy who caught her had plenty of strength in his arms.

And what about this? The Farmers Almanac tells the story of one jilted woman who invited people to her wedding reception (She couldn’t get her money back.) and asked them to contribute to a couple of charities she had selected.

In my new Christmas short The Table in the Window, my heroine, Marley Matthews, also gets jilted. The skunk called her and asked him to meet her in their favorite restaurant. Here’s what happened...

“Hey, there,” she called, even before she reached the table. “Seeing you makes up for the lousy weather.” She smiled as she took her seat and busied herself with removing her wet coat.

Michael, who wore the wheat‑colored sweater she’d bought him last month, stared out the window as if he saw something far more fascinating than rain and fog. He hadn’t met her eyes once, and he didn’t have the hint of a smile on his face. “Hello, Marley.”

The waiter, a guy whose name tag identified him as Robert, approached to take their order. “What’ll it be?” he asked with a smile. “Hot chocolate? Coffee? Or do you need something stronger to warm you up?”

“Coffee,” Marley answered.

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away. “I’m not having lunch.”

Marley’s eyebrows shot up. As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.” Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh…Marley…I have something to tell you.” He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped. “What is it, Michael? What’s wrong?” Was he ill? Had he lost his job?

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and tried to bite him. “I…I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head. “Who did you meet?”

He’d pitched his voice so low she had a hard time hearing him. “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked. He wouldn’t hold hands with her. He wouldn’t look at her. Cold more intense than that outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong. “I...I don’t understand.”

His eyes met hers briefly before they slid away. “Yes, you do. I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”

Pretty tacky to do it in public, wouldn’t you say?

If you’d like to find out how Marley copes, check back tomorrow.

The Table in the Window is published by Astraea Press, and available at
://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1651593&mode=product&product=7885677

Character Interview series #5 Lindsay Downs

2011-12-01T05:50:00.000Z

Character Interview for Dec 1

Interviewer: Today I’m joined by Special Agent Emily Dahill, CID.
Emily Dahill: *nods greeting*

I: Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself?
ED: Is that a size joke? Just because I’m only five one doesn’t make me small. I like to think of myself as a stick of dynamite packed in a bullet.

I: I’m sorry. What I should have said was tell us where you’re from and some of your Army background? Like, did you always want to be a CID agent?
ED: Being a Army brat I really never had a home, a house yeah, in one Army base or another all over the world. It wasn’t until I took the post at Fort Del Gue did I finally get the home I’d wanted all those years. And as for being a CID agent, yes that was a lifelong dream of mine. I get the best, for me at least, of both worlds. I’m still in the Army and I have a wonderful opportunity to help protect soldiers from criminals.

I: Even if the criminal is a soldier?
ED: Even more so. There was this one case, you all will get to read about it in January I think. Anyway, this one soldier had committed a crime before enlisting and wasn’t caught until years later. It’s a really fascinating story that I’m sure everyone will enjoy reading.

I: Isn’t that the case where *scratches head thinking* what’s his name makes an appearance again?
ED: *her brow furrows in disappointment* Yes, actually this was the second time in recent memory, which with him is the only recollection I have. If it’s the same person, whom we’ve come to call ‘the brown-haired man’, I think we first met in Iraq but with the helicopter crash and everything that part of my memory is lost. The shrink says it’s some form of amnesia that may or may not improve.

I: *interrupts* But you can describe him, right?
ED: Ah, no. I recognize him at the time I see him but put me in front of a sketch artist and forget it. Blank. Too bad Dakota can’t talk then he’d be able to give a really good description of the man.

I: Speaking of Dakota, where is he? I’d have thought he would have come with you today.
ED: He was going to come but decided to stay back at Richard and Alison’s house. Seem the kids and their new puppies are stopping over for some training.

I: Those are the ones from the newest book, A Dog Gone Christmas?
ED: Yes, and I hope I didn’t give too much of the story away. It’s really sweet and very heartwarming. I did bring the backcover blurb so everyone who stops by can see for themselves. The author is also donating a portion of the royalties to the local collie rescue group.

I: Great, you didn’t by any chance bring the blurb for your first book, you know the one where Dakota out fishes you and your friends.
ED: *BLUSHES* Grrrrrr. Yes I did and I was told by the author that one lucky person who leaves a comment gets a chance to win both books. *Emily answers her cellphone* Sorry but I’ve got to get back to the house. Seems Dad just showed up. It’s been nice talking with you. Oh, here’s the blurbs I brought. *hands a sheet of paper to the interviewer.

I: It’s been a pleasure having you and say HI to your father for me. *Shakes hands with Emily then turns to the camera* here are the blurbs my guest mentioned:

Emily Dahill, CID Part 1
Final Mission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. Emily Dahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CID agent. Who could this new partner be?

A Body in the Snow- Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determined foe. Who will survive?

Right Place, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of her life.

Dog on Fishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimate your partner. He might surprise you.

A Dog Gone Christmas
When a call for paws goes out, five friends bring their collies without question to a friend’s house. They learn the collies are needed to help seven children with the grief of losing a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Now, with seven friends, four collie yearlings and their mother, they set out to help the children.

Not far away a mother hopefully leads her seven puppies to safety from a man intent on selling them for illicit purposes.

By a miracle of fate the two mother collies find each other right before the man sells the puppies.

That Christmas morning will be one the children will remember all their lives and they are united with the puppies.

Links for Emily Dahill, CID Part 1
To request an autograph on your kindle (my author page)
http://kindlegraph.com/authors/ldowns2966
Astraea Press
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662256&mode=product&product=5192868
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Emily-Dahill-CID-Part-ebook/dp/B005F5D2JG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322547289&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emily-dahill-cid-part-one-lindsay-downs/1104547210?ean=2940013148963&itm=2&usri=lindsay+downs
Bookstrand
http://www.bookstrand.com/emily-dahill-cid-part-one

Links for A Dog Gone Christmas
To request an autograph on your kindle (my author page)
http://kindlegraph.com/authors/ldowns2966

Astraea Press
ww.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1651593&mode=product&product=7885672
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/A-Dog-Gone-Christmas-ebook/dp/B006DTZ7LE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322547349&sr=1-2

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1107746543?ean=2940013541320&itm=1&usri=lindsay+downs

All Romance
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-adoggonechristmas-646475-148.html

The Review of Amber's Book

2011-11-30T06:00:00.040Z

KISS ME SLOWLY
Amber Lea Easton
BookStrand
Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
94,228 words
Spicey.

Book provided and review requested by author

Review: The first four words of this novel set the tone for the whole story. Every word offered has been chosen with care and not one of them is overwritten. If you are looking for a quick read, then not only the length but the content of this book will not give it to you.

This is a book to savour; to take into a corner and read without interruption, but not one to be rushed. In her debut novel Amber Lea Easton provides a quality of writing and story content many writers strive for. Her characters are full bodied, three dimensional, with their faults, their dreams and their goals. And as is the way with any good story, and this is a good story, all those go to the wall when the author chucks in curve-balls the size of Everest.

At a time of global bank scandals, and lack of trust in the financial world, this story of illicit diamond smuggling, dirty money, false trails and a host of interested parties intent in silencing Ms. Easton’s hero, Jonathan Alexander and his ex-girlfriend, now the only person who can possibly keep him alive, Grace Dupont.

Chuck in the Florida Keys heat and sizzling romance and you have all the ingredients for a fast paced suspense romance, which Ms. Easton supplies.

For readers who enjoy suspense novels, consider this book. For those who look for romance and something more, consider this book. For those on the lookout for new author to read, then consider this book. And watch out for more from this exciting new writing star.

Amber Lea Easton's website http://www.amberleaeaston.com

book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI89yCQHrHg

bookstrand website is: http://www.bookstrand.com/kiss-me-slowly

Also available at Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/vafDAb

Charater Interview # 4 Meg Mims

2011-11-30T05:58:00.056Z

What do you get when you pair up a wealthy, well-bred heiress – sheltered and educated with an impulsive streak – and a gambling, mercenary Texan cowboy?

Double Crossing is a twist on “True Grit” but it takes place on the 1869 Iron Horse – months after the Union and Central Pacific railroad lines joined at Promontory Point. Nineteen-year-old Lily Granville is stunned with her father is murdered and vows to track the killer across the country to California - who also stole a valuable gold mine deed.

Once Lily arrives in Omaha, she discovers that someone is now tracking her. Could it be the killer? And why? Lily decides to enlist “Ace” Diamond, who agrees to protect her – for a price.

Q for Lily – how did you feel when you first met Ace?
A – Since he literally crashed his way into my life, I did feel a twinge of compassion… he was injured, and I felt my Christian duty was to help… until I caught sight of his Confederate belt buckle with the Texas Lone Star. I *know* my father would never have approved of an ex-Rebel soldier – and that deepened my guilt. However, after someone searched my hotel room and my personal belongings, I had no choice but to hire Ace Diamond for protection. He was the most unlikely “angel” as an answer from God after I’d prayed for help! I suppose beggars can’t be choosers, though.

Q for Ace – what was your first impression of Lily?
A – First time I set eyes on that pretty filly, all golden-haired and sweet, with the most kissable mouth, I was bushwhacked. Couldn’t remember my own name.

Q for Lily – were you surprised that Ace bargained with you over his fee?
A – To be truthful, I was. I offered him a fair wage, but then he demanded an exorbitant amount in addition to the expense of a Pullman ticket! But it made sense that he had to be near on the train. Still, he insisted on a bonus once we reached California. And I was furious when I discovered that Ace had bragged to the other gentlemen in the smoking car about that bonus I promised my uncle would pay - him when we arrived in California! And that was before we were halfway across country. Really, Mr. Diamond was quite presumptuous. And forward, given his roving—well, let’s just say he’s no gentleman. I shouldn’t have been surprised at that!

Q for Ace – why did you accept Lily’s offer?
A – Easy as ropin' a baby steer, riding shotgun on a train. But that stubborn little gal sure fooled me. I earned my fee. And then some.

Q for Lily – before the railroad trip, what was your dream for a happy future?
A – I wanted… well, I wasn’t really certain what I wanted and whether I'd be happy becoming a missionary to China. I know my father wanted me to marry and provide him with grandchildren. He believed I deserved a decent man, a good provider and one who supported my ideas. I did want to experience adventure and independence, since I'd lived a sheltered life in Evanston, just north of Chicago, but I also wanted to come home again where I felt safe. I so enjoyed long talks with Father, sketching my pet lizard in the lovely garden and watching the leaves change in fall and the snow fall in winter. Father’s death changed everything, however. I was devastated. And I *had* to see that justice was done.

Q for Ace – what about you, same question?
A – A good woman in a nice, cozy bed. I’ve got my eye on a certain woman now.

Hmm -- seems Ace is a man of few words. Lily will soon find herself in hotter water in the sequel, Double or Nothing -- I hope readers are looking forward to more adventures!

W
Where we can find your book?
Astraea Press – http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=5907170
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Double-Crossing-ebook/dp/B005GWEMCO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314051844&sr=8-2
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-crossing-meg-mims/1104769443?ean=2940013174597&itm=14&usri=double%2bcrossing

Find Meg at; http://www.megmims.com
and
http://www.double-crossing.com

Amber intrviews Grace and Jonathon

2011-11-29T06:00:00.048Z

Setting: Sorry, I’ve been sworn to secrecy. All I’m allowed to say is that the humidity is like a layer of sticky lotion on my skin, the rum punch is excellent, the Caribbean is lapping against a white sand beach not far from where we’re sitting and the sound of steel drums blends perfectly in rhythm with the swaying of the palm trees.

Me: I’m sitting here this afternoon with Jonathan Alexander III and Grace Dupont, the stars of Kiss Me Slowly. Thanks for meeting me. I know it wasn’t easy getting here.

Grace: If it were easy, then it’d be boring, right?

Jonathan: And we’re definitely not boring.

Me: That’s an understatement. (Laughter all around as the waitress brings us another round of rum punch.) Tell me, Grace, what was it like seeing Jonathan again for the first time after he broke your heart years ago?

Grace: Ooo...you’re going there, huh? Okay. Well, it was like a sucker punch to the gut. A part of me enjoyed seeing him desperate and in trouble...on your knees, boy, beg for my help--

Jonathan: I never begged, by the way. She likes saying I begged, but that never happened. I asked. Politely.

Grace: He begged...I should have made him crawl, but I didn’t think about that until afterward. Anyway, there was another part of me that wanted to lash out, hit him maybe, have an all out argument and then spend the rest of the night making up. (She smiles and pokes the ice in her glass with a straw.) What’s that cliche? There’s a thin line between love and hate?

Me: What made you go to her, Jon? I’m sure you knew she’d feel that way.

Jonathan: I didn’t trust anyone around me. I felt trapped. Grace is and always has been the best at whatever she does, whether it’s sailing or forensic accounting. I had faith she’d put our history aside and prove my innocence.

Grace: For a pessimist, that was an awfully optimistic thing to do.

Jonathan: I guess it was, wasn’t it? How unlike me. (He laughs as he links his fingers through hers on the table.)

Me: Grace, did you ever consider the possibility that he wasn’t as innocent as he seemed?

Grace: Who is? We’re all liars in one way or another. There are more gray areas than not in life. At least that’s how I see it.

Jonathan: (rolling his eyes) Please, don’t get her started about justice and gray areas...she’ll get all worked up and not in a good way.

Grace: What’s that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting I have a problem with justice?

Jonathan: Not suggesting...stating.

Grace: Yeah, well, thankfully for you I question the black and white and believe in gray areas. It’s what I do...look beyond the obvious to what lies beneath.

Jonathan: Yeah...I’m thankful for that and many, many other things about you. (He smiles at her and squeezes her hand.) I would have crawled...if you’d have asked, I would have crawled.

Grace: I’ll keep that in mind for the future.

Jonathan: (Looks at me with raised eyebrows.) See what I’m dealing with? The Dupont ego is legendary.

Grace: You like my ego just fine. (She laughs.) And, for the record, I like it when you’re on your knees.

Jonathan: Oh, I know you do, babe. I know. Likewise.

A brief excerpt from Kiss Me Slowly below:
“I’d prefer whiskey.” He drank the water, but couldn’t take his gaze from the blood that stained her. His blood on her. “Dead or jail by Monday. I knew it.”

"You’re not dying.” She tugged his T-shirt over his head. Her eyes snapped with an inner fire that hypnotized him. “If you’re going to be teamed up with me, I need you to fake some optimism.”

Regret washed over him for the things he had never said, for not following through with their plans, for not being the man she had expected him to be, for years of wasting time with if-onlys. Bad timing for regret.

“Bloody mess,” she whispered.

He glanced at the blood dripping down his chest and used his fingers to find the bullet wound that had taken a good chunk out of the top of his left shoulder. He finished the water and carefully set the glass aside while avoiding looking at her face.

Her hands were on him, too, examining his shoulder. When she leaned across him, her breasts brushed against his face. Perfectly round and tan, barely concealed by the plunging green fabric.

God, what he wouldn’t give for a taste. God, what he would give for an ounce of his sanity to return. No time for this kind of thinking. No time.

Kiss Me Slowly by Amber Lea Easton

Available at http://www.amazon.com/
and, for all other PC and ebook formats, at http://www.bookstrand.com-kiss-me-slowly/
Also available at Barns and noble: http://bit.ly/vafDAb
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI89yCQHrHg

Character Interview #2 Please welcome Chicki Brown...

2011-11-29T05:48:00.001Z

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME by Chicki Brown

On Kindle and Nook: http://amzn.to/dWZSxA & http://bit.ly/k4Z172

Seven very different singles – four women and three men – rent a New Jersey beach house for the summer: author Shontae Nichols, self-employed accountant and realtor, Linda Harris, Linda’s sister, hip-hop video dancer Kinnik Watkins, cosmetologist, Jovita Blassingame, Calculus professor Curtis “Doc” Whetstone, actor and drama instructor, Kip Lee, and new housemate, up and coming film actor, Devon Burke.

During their two month stay, romances bloom, friendships are tested and when a tragedy strikes one of the housemates, they all learn the answer to the age-old question: Can men and women

Interview with Kinnik Watkins, the female antagonist in HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

I have been invited to Beach Haven, New Jersey to the house where Kinnik Watkins and her friends are spending the summer. To give us some privacy, we cross the beach and sit in the gazebo about 100 feet from the house. All the tall, voluptuous bronze goddess is wearing is a microscopic bikini and a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Me: (I stand and introduce myself.) Before we get started, can you tell me the correct way to pronounce your name?

Kinnik: (with a coquettish smile I find a bit strange.) It’s Kinnik. It rhymes with unique.

Me: You’re my second interview. As I explained to Shontae, I write for a magazine that wants to do a story about real singles living at the Jersey shore, considering how the TV show has become such a big hit.

Kinnik: (She slides her shades to the end of her nose and glances at me with soft, light brown eyes.) Something’s always on and popping on that show. I love it.

Me: (I sit on the chaise next to where she is reclining.) Thanks for agreeing to talk with me.

Kinnik: (flashes a captivating smile and runs her manicured fingers through the long strawberry blonde hair that complements her café au lait complexion) Sure, why not? You’ll probably need me to straighten out whatever Shontae told you anyway.

Me: I’m going to ask everyone the same questions, and I’ll be taping this, if you don’t mind.

Kinnik: (She crosses legs that make me want to hurry and call the nearest plastic surgeon for an emergency liposuction appointment.) No problem. I’m used to being recorded.

Me: I understand this is your third year together, so you must know your housemates pretty well. Can you tell me a little bit about each of them?

Kinnik: I guess this is the best they can do when it comes to vacations, considering none of them are really big money. I’m only here because my sister begged me to come. Personally, I think she has something up her sleeve.

Me: (checking my notes) Linda’s your sister. Is she older or younger?”

Kinnik: (rolls her eyes) Older, and she always has to make it a point to remind me. “She says she wants to talk to me about my career. Since she paid my rent for the summer, I couldn’t very well refuse. Linda doesn’t like me dancing, but I am not a nine-to-five person. She forgets that I make more than she does in a year, and I have two kids to take care of.”

Me and Jo have been friends for years. She’s for real people, the only one in this house that doesn’t judge every more I make. Jo is my makeup artist and hair stylist and she’s got mad skills. She’s just here to chill and see if her old man is going to pop the question.”

Me: Tell me about the men.

Kinnik: (Flips her hair over one shoulder) “Kip is my boy. We spent some time together during our first summer in Beach Haven, but that’s ancient history. Kip’s here to see how much coochie he can conquer in eight weeks. Doc, well there isn’t much I can say about him. When he doesn’t have his nose stuck in a book, he’s sniffing after my sister. Linda is the only reason he’s here, but he’s wasting his time, if you ask me. Kip and Devon provide the testosterone. They’re both so fine; you can hear the panties dropping when they walk into a room.

Me: You forgot Shontae.

Kinnik: (with another eye roll) No, I didn’t. She’s just not worth mentioning.

Me: Why is that?

Kinnik: “Because she’s easily forgettable.”

Me: “That’s funny. Shontae seemed very pleasant.”

Kinnik: (stiffens and haughtily raises her chin) “That’s because you don’t know her. That bitch is boring as hell and thinks she’s better than everybody else. I can’t understand why. All she does is stay closed up in the sunroom banging on her laptop. She lives in her little fantasy world cooking up stories in her head. Shontae wouldn’t know how to deal with a real man if her life depended on it. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. I can’t stand her cheap dressing, snobby ass.

Me: Do you think each of your housemates has a motive for being here this summer?

Kinnik: They sure as hell do. Doc is chasing Linda. Jo says she’s researching her new stylist business, but she’s really waiting for Walter to ask her to marry his dusty old ass. She’s been waiting for five years. Devon is rehearsing for the lead role in the new movie Denzel’s directing, and he needs to study the script.

Me: (smiling at the way she’s avoided telling me about herself.) “So what about you, Kinnik? Why are you here?”

Kinnik: I’m just breezin’ in and out when I’m not in the Hamptons with Q. I’d much rather be there.”

Me: That’s Q.E., Quentin Edwards, the rapper?

Kinnik: (a proud smile lights her beautiful face) That’s right. I’ve been staying with him for the past couple of months, but Linda insisted I spend some time with her.

Me: Isn’t Q.E. the one who was recently assaulted his personal assistant?

Kinnik: (puckers her lips then sucks her teeth) That’s never going to court. The heifer is still working for him, so she can’t be too upset about him clocking her in the head and pushing her into the pool. (Her face spreads into a proud smile.) “Yeah. This place is okay, but his estate is off the chain. It’s all about luxury. The food is better, and I don’t have to do any housework when I’m there. His chef and butler wait on me hand and foot.”

Me: “So are you two a couple.”

Kinnik: (her eyes becoming flat and unreadable as stone before she picks up her sunglasses and puts them back on.) “When we’re together, we’re a couple.”

Me: (the thread of warning in her voice lets me know it’s time to end the interview.) “Kinnik, it’s been a pleasure. As I mentioned to Shontae, maybe I’ll be back at the end of August to hear what actually happened during your vacation.”

Kinnik: (rising to her impressive full height. Adjusts her bikini to make sure it’s covering everything important.) Yeah, check in and see who’s left standing.

You can follow Chicki Brown at:

Website: http://www.chicki663.webs.com
Personal Blog: http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@Chicki663
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/chicki.brown

Amber Lea Easton tells us why she writes

2011-11-28T06:00:00.050Z

Please welcome Amber Lea Easton today, when she tells us 'why she writes'.

Why I write romance

I’m a firm believer in romance and love. Call me naive if you’d like or a Pollyanna if you choose, but there’s something about a happy ending that really lights up my world.

Let me tell you about my own love story. When I was twenty-seven, I met a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed mountain boy named Sean. He swept me away from our first meeting and proposed to me only three weeks later after filling his apartment with wild flowers he’d picked along side the road. I said yes without hesitation.

My “yes” sent my friends into intervention mode. I was never the relationship type...and my friends knew this. I couldn’t care less about having a boyfriend, let alone getting married. Oh, I loved men, that’s true. Back in my twenty-something days, I had more guy pals than girlfriends. I was okay with being single. But Sean...wow...the man sent my nervous system into electrical overload.

Long story short--we married six months later and ended up having two gorgeous kids. Happily ever after, you ask? No. He died six years ago, leaving me a widow with two kids to raise solo.

I still love him.

So, you see, I write romance because I believe in true love, soulmates and passion. I know love exists. I also believe that, if you’re not in love with something whether it be your hobby, your life, your pets, yourself...if you’re not passionate about something...then what’s the point? Yes, I’m a widow who’s flying solo at the moment, but I love my writing, my kids, my pets, the view outside my window, my ability to laugh at myself...I love.

To me, love is all that matters at the dimming of the day...and that’s why I write romance novels.

Please come back tomorrow when Amber interviews Grace and Jonathon.

Blurb:
Neck-deep in a set-up that could have him in jail or dead by Monday, Jonathan Alexander trusts no one in his inner circle. It’s Saturday. His only hope is Grace Dupont, the best forensic accountant in Miami. But there’s a glitch with that idea. She's also his ex-girlfriend who would rather watch him drown than throw him a life vest. Going to her feels desperate...because he is.

Grace enjoys seeing Jonathan squirm. On your knees boy, she thinks as he pitches for her help. Always a sucker for the dark-haired-blue-eyed boys, she risks her precariously balanced life of secrets to help him. Helping him slaps a target on her back--she's the key to proving his innocence and that's a bad, bad thing.

Trapped in whirlwind of conspiracy, murder, million dollar money trails and diamond smuggling, Jonathan and Grace flee to the sea to stall for time to prove his innocence. Romance sizzles beneath Florida Keys’ sunshine. Both scoff at happy endings. Both doubt justice. Both know each kiss could be their last.

Amber Lea Easton, author of Kiss Me Slowly available on
www.amazon.com and
http://www.bookstrand.com/kiss-me-slowly.
Follow Amber Lea on
Twitter as MtnMoxieGirl,
Facebook or her website at http://www.amberleaeaston.com

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI89yCQHrHg

Character Interview Series #3 by Jennifer T. Alli

2011-11-28T05:55:00.003Z

Interview with a Vampire.

I suppose I should tell you a little about me. My name’s Jennifer T. Alli, feel free to call me Jen J. I write paranormal romance novels and am getting quite prolific. Not anywhere near as many as Kresley Cole or Gena Showalter who I adore, but still…I have 5 books under my belt and a sixth on the way. I realised the other day that I’ve written over half a million words and I think anyone would agree that’s a lot. I’ve been writing for quite some time, initially I kept my writing private but then I discovered the internet and made everything public. The internet is awesome and I met some lovely people by posting my work online but after 3 separate cases of plagiarism I decided to start self publishing and so here I am.

I think that’s probably quite enough from me we’re here to have an interview with a vampire not listen to my ramblings. If you’ve not read anything in my Elemental Passions series then I suppose I should introduce you to Lucian. I still don’t know whether I’d be intimidated or enticed if I met him in a dark alley late at night. Dark hair, even darker eyes, tall and wide with a no nonsense mouth that only a certain someone has ever managed to make smile. If I’m honest he has a bit of an attitude problem so bear with us I’ve had to coerce him into this interview but here goes.

JTA: “Evening Lucian, how are you tonight?”
Lucian: “Busy. Just ask your questions so I can be on my way.”
JTA: *mumbles to herself* “Rude much?”
Lucian: “I’m a vampire, I can hear you.”
JTA: “Fine, tell us a little about yourself.”
Lucian: “Are you serious? If that’s the sort of question you’re going to ask then I’m leaving.”
Sara: “Lucian, you agreed to do this remember? If you don’t want me to wear my sword crafting clothes you’re going to do this. Ask your questions Jen.”
JTA: “Okay, so we’ll try that again. Tell us a little about yourself.”
Lucian: “If you haven’t already guessed I’m a busy man. Wars don’t win themselves.
JTA: “War? Do tell.”
Lucian: *Sighs* “I’m not going to be able to get out of doing this am I?”
Sara and JTA: “No.”
Lucian: “Fine. I’ll tell you about myself. I’m a vampire. The oldest of my kind and I’ve spent hundreds of years at war.”
JTA: “Why?”
Lucian: “Because I got sick of people trying to take my head when I was asleep. My people needed a leader otherwise we were going to get ourselves all killed by silly humans like you. For the sake of pride if nothing else. We don’t need to kill as we feed. William didn’t quite understand that but don’t worry, I fixed that problem easily enough.”
JTA: “You’ve made me want to know more. Spill it! Tell us what happens to you in your story.”
Lucian: *groans* “This is going to take much longer than I was told it would…If you must know I was trying to win a war when this woman shows up and ruins everything…Well at the time I thought she was going to ruin everything. I know better now. But it still stands that she was a distraction. One that literally came into my life and turned everything upside down. I wanted to bite her so badly…She was a walking, talking temptation especially in those ridiculous clothes she uses to craft her swords.
JTA: “You’re a vampire, you’re meant to bite people and you said it yourself you don’t need to kill as you feed. I’m not seeing the problem. If you wanted to bite her you should have just done it.”
Lucian: “You sound just like Sara. It was complicated.”
JTA: “Complicated? That means interesting. Spill the beans.”
Lucian: “I’m not telling you anything. Why would I want to publicise my one and only weakness?”
JTA: “Good point, good point…But we do find out what it is if we read the book right?”
Lucian: “Sadly I can’t kill everyone who knows the secret all I can do is keep it contained.”
JTA: “Fine, next question. Tell us about your relationship with Sara.”
Lucian: *A small smile touches his lips.*
JTA: *mumbles to herself* “A smile like that should be illegal, it’s a lethal weapon. Yup, I’ve decided if I met him in a dark alley I’d definitely be enticed…”
Lucian: “My relationship with Sara is complicated. The relationship between a vampire and his bride always is.”
JTA: “Details!”
Lucian: “I didn’t want her. The first time I saw her, smelt her blood I knew she was the one but I left her…unconscious on the street.”
JTA: “You did what? You really left her passed out alone on a street? Anything could of happened to her!”
Lucian: “But it didn’t. I assigned someone to watch her but I knew without even speaking to her that she was going to be trouble. She was on fire and calling out for help. What normal person does that?”
Sara: “I was cursed at the time.”
Lucian: “You’re not really saying anything that contradicts my point. In fact, that’s another point. I was trying to win a war and this woman, who I didn’t even want anywhere near me forces her way into my life and says that I’m the cure to her curse. If that isn’t a distraction then you tell me what is.”
JTA: “So you don’t want her then?”
Lucian: “………If you ever make such a suggestion again I’ll cut your tongue out so that you can’t ever ask such a ridiculous question again. She’s mine.”
JTA: *mumbles to herself* “Changed my mind, I’d be terrified if I met you in a dark alley. I don’t think I’m ever leaving my house at night again.”
JTA: “Fine, so you want her. That’s fine, keep her. If you had to describe Sara in one word then what would it be?”
Lucian: “I’ll describe her in three.”
JTA: “But I said one…” *Remembers the flash of red in his eyes* “Fine, have three.”
Lucian: “In a nutshell Sara is brave, fierce and a menace to my sanity.”
JTA: “That was more than three…but moving on. Sara, I know we’re technically not interviewing you but could you describe Lucian in a word?”
Sara: “Determined.”
JTA: “Well I was going to go for rude but to each her own…”
Lucian: “Are we done yet? Some of us have better things to do.”
JTA: “Fine, you can go I just have one last question for Sara.”
Lucian: “I told you she was a menace to my sanity. I can’t leave her anywhere by herself. She’s a magnet for trouble. Just ask your question and we’ll both leave.”
JTA: “Fine. Sara, can you tell us a little about the Elemental Passions series as a whole?”
Sara: “Well the Elemental Passions series is about four people who have each been cursed. Each curse is different and we’ve got to try and figure out a way to break it. Lucian was the cure for my curse but I needed the one to cool my flame and who better than a vampire? If he’s not touching me he can be freezing at times. Is that everything?”
JTA: “Just one last thing I promise. What was your curse?”
Sara: *Smiles as she gets to her feet* “If I hadn’t met Lucian I would have died. If you want to find out more about my curse and my three siblings of the soul then the information is out there somewhere right?”
JTA: “Yeah, it’s on my blog.”
Sara: “Perfect.”
Lucian: “Can we go now?”
JTA: “Yes, go.” *Waits until they’re both gone* “I think I’d rather be dead than tied to that man for all eternity…to each her own I suppose.

To find out more about Jennifer T Alli visit her at: http://jennifertalli.wordpress.com/

Day 3 Joselyn Vaughn's Hauntings of a Heart - The review

2011-11-27T06:00:00.058Z

Title: Hauntings of the Heart
Author: Joselyn Vaughn
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Mainstream Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Length: Full 210 pages
Heat: Sweet
Rating: 5

Review requested, and book provided, by the author.

Review: Hauntings of the Heart is a romance with a difference. Yes, boy meets girl, but then the author fast forwards fifty years…

Ms. Vaughn pitches her readers in to the world of ‘silver-surfers’, committee meetings and fund raisers. And a townful of gossips.

What would you do if you were offered one million dollars for something you loved? When a lawyer, on behalf of her unidentified client offers Minnie Schultz that much money she refused, although in dire financial straits at the time. She’d bought the bed and breakfast property that once belonged to the family of the only man she ever loved and did not intend to let it go to some nameless, faceless client with more money than sense.

Gordon Anderson is on a mission to reclaim his family home before his mother’s health fails completely. The longer the present owner holds out against his offer the more distressed his mother becomes, so he decides to take matters into his own hands and returns to the town his family fled from fifty years ago.

And a lot can happen in that time. Ms. Vaughn fluently weaves in the back story with the present day events. Not only does the author create a charming story peopled with captivating characters, she chucks in enough conflict to have her heroine’s head spinning. The hero, on the other hand, has made his mark in the world, has children and grandchildren. And yet his world feels incomplete until he confronts Minnie at her home, his former home.

As if ghosts from the past are not influential enough in this story, Ms Vaughn adds contemporary ghosts to the mêlée. And of course where you have a current ghost you have ghost hunters.

The Hauntings of the Heart is populated by a vibrant cast of loveable characters, with perhaps one exception, and even then, Ms. Vaughn entices her readers to feel compassion for the woman.

The author’s writing style is both vibrant and fluent, filled with passion and pace, and the result ends in a book you can return to many times when in need of a heart-warming HEA story that will leave readers feeling satisfied and fulfilled.

Buy Links:
Astraea: http://astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7355585

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hauntings-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B005Z8WJRY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319568032&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1106922258

Contact Links:
Email: jvaughn@joselynvaughn.com
Webpage: http://joselynvaughn.com
Blog: http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joselynvaughn

Adora returns ~ Character Interview series

2011-11-27T05:59:00.036Z

Character interviews: Today Adora has another revealing character interview with Mac Caldwell, hero of Now and Forever 1, a Love Story:

Adora: So, Mac, hunky guy, how are you today?
Mac: A little annoyed, Adora. Danny Maine said he got his name in the title of his book by sleeping with Jean. Well I’ve been sleeping with Jean for a much longer time and I don’t have my name on a book though she said she would!
Adora: Really, Mac. Grow up. Jean is telling you what you want to hear, just to get at your hot body. And it is hot, I’ll admit that!
Mac: *blushes* Thanks, Adora. She has actually said I’m her favorite hero. Oh, don’t tell Callie about Jean and me. I haven’t slept with Jean since I started sleeping with Callie. Don’t want to get them confused, Jean might write Callie out of the next book and I’d be a horny and frustrated guy. Not to say I don’t love Callie…
Adora: Yeah, yeah Mac. We get it. You love Callie’s body, be honest here.
Mac: Callie is more than a body to me, Adora, you know that. Why are you trying to cause trouble between us?
Adora: Okay, okay, Mac. No harm meant *Adora holds up her hands*. Geez. Sensitive aren’t we? So tell me, what is your favorite position with Callie?
Mac: Any position. I love making love to her anyway I can. And you can print that…wait…is Jean going to read this? *Mac starts to sweat.*
Adora: She better read this or I’m quitting!
Mac: Then maybe you should take back what I just said.
Adora: *wearing an evil grin*, Too late, Mac. It’s already in print.
Mac: Oh, crap!
Adora: So how many times a week do you and Callie make love *Adora picks up pen, poised over paper*
Mac: What? I’m not going to answer that. Jean said you’d try something like this. She said to stick to the plot of the book. Ask me about the drug gang…or how I felt about Callie doing things without telling me…
Adora: Doing what things? Is Callie sleeping with someone else?
Mac: She is? Where is he? No, no, that’s ridiculous. Callie would never…
Adora: Is she sleeping with Danny, the hero of Now and Forever 2?
Mac: She’d never do that! Eliza would kill her. I would kill her, then we’d both kill Danny. *Mac comes halfway out of his chair*
Adora: Had you going there, didn’t I?
Mac: Danny said you were a real ball buster and I didn’t believe him. Maybe I should ask you who you’re sleeping with…there’s a rumor you made a play for Danny but he turned you down.
Adora: *blushes* That’s all we have time for today *gestures neck cutting with her hand to cameraman.*
Mac: You don’t get off that easy. I want to talk about the book.
Adora: Come back again soon, Mac. For “Love Talk”, this is Adora Smutz, signing off!

Check out the book on my www:jeanjoachimbooks.com

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-11-27T05:55:00.002Z

Today is the ending of Thanksgiven, my short story. Thank you to everyone who has been following it every Saturday and Suday this month. I hope you enjoy this final snippet.

And thank you for your company and comments, every week, they are all appreciated.

"Did you really say you've always loved me?"

He nodded, captured her carressing hand and kissed her palm. "Always and forever, only you."

"Good," she said, reasting her head against his shoulder. "I feel the same way about you."

"Then let's go home," Luke suggested, and gave thanks his love of a lifetime lay cradled in his arms.

Thank you for following my short story, Thanksgiven all this month.

You'll find hundreds more great snippets at Six Sunday Sentence.

Minnie Schultz interviews author Joselyn Vaughn

2011-11-26T06:00:00.025Z

Today Minnie Schultz, from Hauntings of the Heart, interviews Joselyn Vaughn the author.

Minnie: Everyone probably wants to know why you write romance, but I think the answer to that is obvious. Romances are wonderful stories. What’s better than a happy ending?

Joselyn: Not much. I have to agree.

Minnie: So let’s get to the real dirt. How did you meet Mr. Vaughn?

Joselyn: We first met my freshman year in college—

Minnie: And it was love at first sight.

Joselyn: Umm, no. We didn’t talk again for two years.

Minnie: Why not? He’d awfully cute. Someone could have snatched him away from you.

Joselyn: Not a chance.

Minnie: Why not?

Joselyn: One word. Mullet.

Minnie: Ah-ha. I see. No wonder he was still available two years later. I hope he rectified that unfortunate hair decision.

Joselyn: Well, he shaved his head and grew a goatee. But it’s a much better look for him.

Minnie: So then what happened?

Joselyn: He ran down three flights of stairs to hold the door open for me as I was moving into my apartment at the beginning of the school year.

Minnie: A good ploy. Did you drop the box so he could carry it for you? That’s my go-to suggestion.

Joselyn: No. I didn’t see him much after that.

Minnie: But didn’t you live across the hall from him?

Joselyn: Yes, but I travelled a lot with the cross country team.

Minnie: Well how did you finally get his attention? I can’t believe you didn’t call me for help. My friends and I could have straightened this out in two shakes.

Joselyn: My roommates and I tried to get him to come over to fix things, but every time we’d knock on the door we’d get one of his roommates.

Minnie: Were they single?

Joselyn: Yes, but they had committed much worse hair atrocities than mullets. I can’t even describe them, besides there was only one man over there I was interested in. So finally, it came down to the Christmas banquet. Somehow my roommates and I decided I should ask him. Roommate #1 said she would ask him for me (since she was friends with him), but she was already in her porky pig pajamas and she wasn’t going across the hall dressed like that. She said she would call. Roommate #3 was on the phone, so Roommate #2 went across the hall to borrow their phone. (This would have been so much less complicated after the advent of cell phones. J) Roommate #1 tried to call, but the guys wouldn’t answer their phone, thinking it was something weird with their phone being used in our apartment.

Minnie: Did you finally get him to go to the banquet with you?

Joselyn: Yes. If I remember, I had to call him myself when our phone was free. Mr. Vaughn was oblivious to all the previous adventures as he was studying for a Spanish test. Hey, what are you writing?

Minnie: Oh nothing, never mind me. And what exactly did you do after that?

Joselyn: Give me that notebook. Hey! Minnie! This better not end up on your blog. Where are you going? Come back here.

I can’t believe she can run that fast.

Blurb:When lost love shows up on your doorstep, what do you do? Minnie Schultz slams the door in his face. She and Gordon Anderson have a history—close to ancient history, given the fifty years since their last encounter. After all that time, it might seem like water under the bridge. But the water pours from the plumbing in Minnie’s bed and breakfast, the Lilac Bower, uncovering all the secrets and heartache between them. With the help of some paranormal investigators, an Elvis impersonator and a couple of nosey friends, can Minnie and Gordon find the future they were meant to have?

Buy Links:

Astraea: http://astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7355585

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hauntings-of-the-Heart-ebook/dp/B005Z8WJRY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319568032&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1106922258

Contact Links:
Email: jvaughn@joselynvaughn.com
Webpage: http://joselynvaughn.com
Blog: http://joselynvaughn.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joselynvaughn