Things are a Changing for 2013

 

 

 

2013 will kick off with a few changes to this blog, and a chance for readers who comment to win a book at the end of each month. 

Monday – Tidbits and musings about a current work in progress or a new release.

Tuesday – Tuesday’s Wench spotlights at least one of a group of very talented authors!

Wednesday – The Bucket List (so what if this is one of the overused terms for 2012…it works here) will focus on travel.  Places I’ve been…over 50 countries and counting…or places I dream of going.

Thursday – Thursday’s Wench.  This group of authors is so talented they get two days!

Friday – Book of the Week.  A book I’ve read will be in the spotlight.  I have quite a print books that I've read and will spotlight one each week.  At the end of the month anyone who has left a comment on any of the week day features will be entered into a drawing for one of the books spotlighted each Friday. Some of these are signed by the author.

Saturday and Sunday may or may not have posts since they will be for guests who contact me requesting a spot.

So there you have it…a glimpse in what will be happening here in 2013. 

And a Happy 2013 to one and all!

Thursday's Wench-Holley Trent

Not only is Holley Trent one of the Wenches of Words, she is a delightful lady!  And her work is delightful too.  Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas releases 12/21…(tomorrow if you’re reading this today) and I already have my finger poised to hit download.  Or maybe I’ll preorder today so her book will be waiting for me in the morning!!!!

Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas

Author:  Holley Trent

Publisher:  Musa Publishing 

BLURB:

Santa gets more than he bargains for in his marriage of convenience to the queen of snark.

All Gillian wanted was to pick up a third job so she could buy her preschool students Christmas gifts. She didn’t think she’d be the one getting picked up instead.

Her new boss, Nicholas Roth, is the big man in charge at Santa Incorporated—what Gillian thought was a seasonal staffing agency. But the sexy CEO has a holly jolly secret; he’s an equal opportunity employer and most of his staff are elves.

Santa has another secret. When he’s not delivering toys for his charity, he’s contending with political unease in the magic realm. To take his father’s throne as king of the elves, he has to get married…and only magic-proof Gillian will do. Gillian agrees thinking Nick will cut her loose after the busy Christmas rush, but he has other ideas.

Nick wants a permanent Mrs. Roth but Gillian doesn’t think she’s it.

EXCERPT:

He dropped the smirk and stood with a preternatural speed. I blinked, and the next thing I knew Nick was in front of me with his hands clamped around my arms. His expression was dark—more Krampus than Saint Nicholas. When he spoke again, his voice was completely without mirth. All joking aside, literally.

“Gillian, your mouth is going to get you in trouble.”

I squirmed beneath his strong grip, which only caused him to pull me in tighter. My heart pounded so hard that my pulse thrummed in my ears, blocking out all other sound. With a great deal of apprehension, I looked up into his face expecting to see anger, but instead read something else in the hard set of his jaw and the icy blue gaze: a kind of neediness that seemed untouchable. Or at least Nick thought it was.

I looked away. He may have had magical insight to my desires, but I felt invasive reading the emotions he thought he had so locked down off his face. They were private things I didn’t want to concern myself with.
When I looked up again his face was softer, giving less away. He really was handsome, especially when he wasn’t acting like he knew it. I cleared my throat and averted my gaze to his chest. “If you dislike my mouth so much, fire me.”

“You don’t want that.”

“It’s just a job, Nick.”

“You’re lying. You know and I know there’s something going on here.”

I finally shrugged off his arms and backed up a few paces…or I should say, Nick let me. Nick didn’t let anything happen he didn’t want. “I’m in a North Pole dormitory and being hit on by a six-foot elf.”

He scoffed, that smarmy demeanor of his having returned, and jammed his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “You think this is mere flirting?”

“Isn’t it?” I knew better. My body knew better. His did too, obviously, judging by how happy he was about having me pressed against him moments before.

“No. There’s a lot at play you don’t understand.”

“So explain it to me.”

Nick shook his head and turned his back to me as he walked out of the kitchen and toward the outer door. “Get some sleep. I’m sure the girls won’t bother you on the sofa. There should be some spare blankets around somewhere.”

“I’m—”

“Goodnight, Gilly,” he said without meeting my gaze again. The moment he shut the door, the elves came out.

Buy Link:  http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_36&products_id=505

Wendy Ely Guesting Today

Wendy Ely is our featured author today.  Check out her latest release, Confessions. 

 

Wendy Ely is a contemporary romance author. She writes some romantic suspense, really hot stories, and the wonderful happily-ever-after. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her own real-life hero and her two teenagers.
Wendy loves to hear from readers: authorwendyely@gmail.com

Confessions
by Wendy Ely

Can Chelsea and Jordan find their child, and rediscover each other?

When Chelsea Montgomery vanished eleven years ago, her hometown thought she’d been abducted. In truth, she'd given up the daughter she'd secretly had with Jordan Case.

Now he confronts her to help find the child. With a little girl's fate hanging in the balance, will the uneasy partnership -- stained by the past -- transform into something else?

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EXCERPT

 

“I should never have kissed you. Not right now, anyway.”

“Sit down, Jordan. I need to tell you something.”

To her surprise, he sat down next to her on the couch.

She shifted in order to face him. He deserved as much.

Then he grabbed her hands with his. “Tell me everything. What’s life like for you and our child? What’s her name?”

“Elizabeth.”

“When are you going to bring her home?”

“Home?”

“Yes, to me. You and Elizabeth need to come home. Now I know about her, I want us to be a family. When can I meet her?”

She sucked in her breath. Now or never. “Jordan, we’re not coming home,” she whispered.

He dropped her hand. “What? Why the hell not?” He stood up and paced the room.

 

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Desert-Secrets-Book-ebook/dp/B00A3FVT84/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355926907&sr=1-1&keywords=wendy+ely#reader_B00A3FVT84

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Tuesday's Wench...Dusty Crabtree

Today we have the delightful Dusty Crabtree is our featured author.  Her book YA book Shadow Eyes has me wanting more.  Plus, I love the cover!!!!

Shadow Eyes

By Dusty Crabtree

Iris thought she could ignore the shadows...until they went after everyone she loved.

BLURB:

Iris Kohl lives in a world populated by murky shadows that surround, harass, and entice unsuspecting individuals toward evil. But she is the only one who can see them. She’s had this ability to see the shadows, as well as brilliantly glowing light figures, ever since an obscure, tragic incident on her fourteenth birthday three years earlier.

Although she’s learned to cope, the view of her world begins to shift upon the arrival of three mysterious characters. First, a handsome new teacher whose presence scares away shadows; second, a new friend with an awe-inspiring aura; and third, a mysterious and alluring new student whom Iris has a hard time resisting despite already having a boyfriend.

As the shadows invade and terrorize her own life and family, she must ultimately revisit the most horrific event of her life in order to learn her true identity and become the hero she was meant to be.

EXCERPT:

I meandered slowly to my locker. Even though I didn’t need anything, I rummaged through it as if I were searching for a tool on a job that paid by the hour. The longer I waited, the less people and, therefore, shadows would be waiting for me when I stepped into the parking lot.

I hated crowds and tried to avoid them as much as possible. Three years of dealing with the visions had taught me how to cope in various ways, but I’d never gotten used to walking among herds of people that were ignorant of the truth I was forced to see. It was like being the only one wearing ultraviolet glasses that unveiled every germ and bacteria around me and having to constantly witness unsuspecting people touching things and getting into things that are disgusting and potentially dangerous. Some people would feel lucky to have such insight. Me? I felt trapped, helpless, and exposed.

Luckily, since it was Friday, everyone wanted to get away from school as quickly as possible. By the time I stepped outside, the parking lot was basically empty. Only a few cars belonging to football players remained.

I began to trek the long distance to my car, which was at the end of the lot due to my near tardiness every day for the same reason I always left late. However, even though the lot was void of people, a couple of dark figures loomed over and around a yellow Camaro to my right. I recognized it as Marcus Beaman’s new car. He was a well-known football player and had been bragging about the birthday present for three months since he got it in June.

Why were these shadows out in the parking lot without any humans around? The bizarreness of it made me pause, and my mind began fabricating all possible explanations—none of which I could do anything about. Lost in my thoughts, I must have peered at them with critical eyes just a tad longer than was safe. One of them stopped, inclined its head to glare at me, and flashed an evil grin. I shuddered, closing my eyes tightly in an attempt to erase the image and pretend the scene away as I cowered toward my car like a timid little girl.

I threw open the driver’s side door, jumped in, tossing my backpack on the passenger seat, buckled my seatbelt, and locked the doors. As if that would help.

BUY LINK: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=176

And also available at Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks as well as other 3^rd party distribution sites.

Thursday's Wench - Clarissa Johal

Clarissa Johal shares interesting tidbits about herself with today's interview.  Her book, BETWEEN releases tomorrow and here we gain insight into this terrific author as well as a peek at her new book!

So without futher ado...here's Clarissa Johal

Tell us about yourself…

I write adult paranormal but also have a YA fantasy out. I love ballet, photography, fencing and running with my dogs. I’ve lived in so many places that I’ve lost count, but I was born in California. Right now, I live in North Carolina with my husband, two daughters, dogs, cats, tanks of fish, rescue turtles, rats, gerbils...the list goes on. I used to work in veterinary medicine and as a zoo keeper volunteer. These days, I try and help out with very basic wildlife rescue rehab when I can, which doesn’t explain all the other animals in my house, but I’m a sucker for strays.

Tell us about your Book…

Between will be released through Musa publishing on December 14, 2012.

Synopsis:

Since Lucinda was a young girl, she's been able to see spirits, a gift that didn't come without its problems. Now, a dedicated, young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that everything can be saved. When Lucinda is involved in a car accident that kills her fiancé, she is devastated and moves to a small town to live a life of self-imposed exile. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. However, there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire. The spiritual activity around her intensifies as Lucinda is increasingly haunted by memories of the accident. As she is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she surprisingly finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life...but a battle for their salvation.

 

Here's the Musa link to get a sneak-peek at an excerpt:  http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=493

BBQ? Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Kansas City?

Oh yikes, none of the above. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 20 years now.  My family is complicated. My younger daughter eats chicken, but doesn’t like fish, save for tuna. My older daughter eats fish of all kinds but no other meat, I don’t eat meat or fish, and my husband eats almost everything. Nobody eats beef, pork or lamb, because they don’t like it. Makes for an interesting dinner.

How can readers find you?

Just look over their shoulders. Haha, kidding.

Author website: http://clarissajohal.com/

Blog: http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarissaJohal

 What are your five favorite Novels?

Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser, Lirael by Garth Nix, and the Skullduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy. I also really love Shakespeare.  

If you could only have one vice what would it be?

I’m boring as I only have one vice now! But it’s mine so I’ll stick with it—I’m an unapologetic coffee drinker. And it has to be Peet’s Sumatra.

What do you prefer Roller Coasters, Carousels or the bumper cars?

I used to love roller coasters. On the first date I ever went on, I rode every single roller coaster at the California State Fair and ended up getting sick in my purse. That cured me from roller coasters forever. The guy even asked me out again but I was just too mortified. I’d probably pick carousels now. And I’d have to ride the seahorse or I’d have a grown-up tantrum.

What are you working on now?

My next paranormal novel. It’s about a young woman that gets struck by lightning and then begins to experience unexplainable things. That’s all I can say.

What’s your favorite movie?

One favorite? Right now it would have to be Castaway on the Moon. It’s a Korean film that came out in 2009. Big Trouble in Little China and Woman in Black with Daniel Radcliffe are close seconds.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

The Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland, hands-down. My husband and I backpacked all over the UK many years ago and I fell in love with Loch Skeen. I actually got choked up when it was time to leave. I wanted to sleep on the moors. The remoteness and beauty of the area really struck me.  

 Are you a Plotter or a Panster?

Oh, panster all the way. I have a general idea of plot and maybe one character, it may even be a supporting character, but I never know what’s going to happen until the characters tell me. With the exception of Between, which I wrote from beginning to end, I usually start by writing a random scene and it will build from there. If I tried to plot everything out, I think it would destroy my creative drive completely.

 Where do you find inspiration?

In art and in mythology. My favorite artists are Waterhouse, Michael Parkes and BROM. I love reading all kinds of mythology but especially Celtic and British.

Name 5 things that are on your desk right now?

Victor, my gargoyle, a handout from MOMA featuring one of Tim Burton’s awesome drawings, a painting my daughter did in grade 5, a lava lamp, and my Nikon camera.

How do you handle writers block?

With oven mitts. Kidding. I jump on my trampoline and I blog. Usually in that order.

Visit Clarissa Johal on her website: http://clarissajohal.com/ and blog. http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/. Stay connected on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9 and Twitter. https://twitter.com/ClarissaJohal

 

 

 

Wenching Tuesday - Samantha Combs

Tuesdays and Thurdays will be devoted to the Wenches of Words...A fun group of authors that will entertain you with their work. 

Today's Wench is Samantha Combs!!!

Waterdancer
by Samantha Combs

For Bailey Wasserman, being Bailey has recently become an incredible challenge. It's not enough that she must come to terms with her mother's new husband, their new life, and a new surfer boyfriend. When she meets her real father for the first time, she discovers a secret family trait that will alter the course of her own life and those she loves…maybe forever.
Bailey and her mom have always met life’s challenges as a team of two, more like best friends than mother and daughter. But her mom’s recent marriage has changed all of that, and having her little brother Landry is the only good Bailey can find in that union. The move to wealthy Del Mar from their humble beginnings has turned Bailey sour, until a chance meeting with surf hottie Jack West. Then Bailey’s father, with his annoying Zen-surfer lingo and a talking turtle he claims is no less than her spirit guardian, reenters her life and threatens the only relationship Bailey thinks is working in her world. She soon finds out that’s not all his arrival will do. His presence and their shared family trait could ultimately force Bailey to make a decision that will alter the course of her own life and those she loves…forever.

Excerpt

My mom dropped me at the edge of the high school driveway. “Honey, are you sure you don’t want me to go in with you?”
I glanced out the window of my mom’s car. Already we were attracting more attention than I wanted. Why did my mom have to park right in front of the school, not at the edge of the parking lot like I’d begged her to? Wasn’t it bad enough that she had married Warren in the first place and plunked me down in the middle of this alien nation like Valentine Smith in Stranger in a Strange Land? It was true, my mom, the former Sharona Wasserman, couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Warren Meyers. But I’d failed to consider the consequences of her marriage at the time. If I had, I would have realized at some point that a man that made as much money as Warren would never want to live in our simple three-bedroom house in Otay Mesa, three miles from the border and a hundred miles from the world he was used to living in. No, the first chance he got, he whisked us away to Del Mar, the most beautiful city I’d ever seen.
I’d learned to love it. It was perfect all summer long, and I went to the beach every day and sometimes didn’t come back to the gorgeous rented condo full of brand new furniture till well past nightfall. Then we all went to restaurants or had take-out, ’cuz Mom hardly cooked anymore, but I had never seen her so happy. I had to admit, my brother seemed pretty happy, too. I could fake my own happiness where appropriate. It didn’t really matter that Warren didn’t seem to like me so much. He loved my mom, and that was all that mattered, wasn’t it?

Buy link:
http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=376

A Middle Grade Book to Gift!!

I love to discover authors living their dream!  Rita is a great example and her middle grade book is one the child in your life that reads eBooks will enjoy!  The child in you will enjoy it too!  Yes, I confess...I read middle grade and young adult books for my inner-child!!!!

Rita Monette was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. After retiring from her “real” job as an administrative assistant for the State of Michigan, Rita began doing what she always wanted to do…write and paint. Five long years later, Musa Publishing offered her a contract for her debut middle grade novel, The Legend of Ghost Dog Island, which also includes her artwork. Her stories are set in the beautiful, yet mysterious, bayous and swamps of her home state. Rita now lives with her husband, four lap dogs, and one lap cat, in the mountains of Tennessee. 

The Legend of Ghost Dog Island 

By Rita Monette

Book Genre: Middle Grade

Tagline:  Behind Every Legend Lies the Truth

Blurb:

Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her fisherman father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.

Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs…which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there’s nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He would know. He’s spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swamps. But Nikki and her new friends uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legend, and town folks aren’t talking. Then her beloved beagle goes missing.

Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Island…before it’s too late.

Excerpt:

 Mama closed the door behind her. She knew once Papa got going on one of his tales, there was no stopping him.

The last traces of daylight seemed to disappear in a hurry, as if Papa had ordered it away. The glass globe of the kerosene lamp clinked. He touched a match to the wick and adjusted the flame until it filled the room with pale light and gray shadows. He motioned me to sit next to him on the worn sofa.

I hurried to his side, not knowing what spooky legend he was going to tell this time. But as scared as I’d get, I always enjoyed hearing ’em.

“Mais, there’s a legend told around these parts.” That was how they always started out. He leaned down so the light from the lamp made eerie shadows across his face.

I rolled my eyes, determined not to get spooked this time.

“Folks say there’s something living out yonder,” he went on. “Legend has it the monster lures dogs to the island using evil spells. Then at the peak of the full moon, they’re turned into hollow spirits with glowing eyes.” Papa put on his eeriest sneer. “That there’s Ghost Dog Island.”

“Ghost dogs?” I pulled my knees up against my chest and wrapped my arms around ’em tight. My mind conjured up images of a huge monster with drippy fangs and dogs with bright yellow eyes. I thought about the feeling I had of something watching us. Was there really a creature out there? Did it have its eye on my best buddy? I shuddered.

IEEEOWWWOOOO-oooooooo! The howling sound echoed again across the bayou.

Links

Book trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB51g_CnuNE

 

Musa buy link:  http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=445

 Blog link:  http://ritamonette.blogspot.com

Web site:  http://ritamonette.com

 

Black Friday Book Signing!

I'll be hanging out with several of my author friends on Friday at Barnes and Noble at 9370 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster.  Hope you can stop by and say 'hi'!

Emerging Magic - Here at Last

Emerging Magic, the second book in the Magical Love series is out!  Yep, I'm happy dancing and on top of that I'm very relieved.  Due to the tight release schedule Barnes & Noble asked me to order copies for the book signing they've setup for the day after Thanksgiving.  Much to my relief the books arrived Friday afternoon!  Now if B&N's order doesn't make it through their system we can fill in with the copies I have on hand.

It has been a long haul in between book and I confess a lot of the blame is mine.  If I hadn't let certain issues put me a non-writing zone, the book would have been done and in my editor's inbox well before she got hit with some stuff that put her way behind.  But that's all water under the bridge.  Emerging Magic is out now and the third book in the series is coming along nicely!

So here's a little peek at Emerging Magic!  And if you live in the Denver area, hope you can stop by Barnes & Noble at 9370 Sheridan Boulevard Westminster, CO on November 23rd.  I'll be there with my author friends, Melissa Mayhue, Jenn LeBlanc and M.L. Guida. We'll be there from 10-3:00 so stop by and say 'hi'.

Emerging Magic
by Lizzie T. Leaf
Published by: Passion In Print Press

Blurb:
Against her will, the Cailleach puts into play the magic to unite another pair of soul mates.

Loneliness drives Cori Sparks to chocolate. The fledging witch's desolation also compels her to attempt using her emerging magic in the quest for love. Unsuccessful, she turns to a dating website and discovers what may be her perfect match.

Rob Vesha is tired of the money hungry women he meets. Given his gene pool he doesn't think the real 'him' would excite them as much, but he can't share enough to find out for sure. On impulse he turns to an internet dating site and discovers Cori.

Can their love survive his family reunion in Transylvania?

EXCERPT:

Cori attempted to quell the butterflies in her stomach. Agreeing to this meet up could prove to be the smartest thing she’d done recently, or get her certified for the state mental hospital in Pueblo. Either way, game on. Her lists of ‘if onlys’ hadn’t prompted her to cancel which was a major step for her, though admittedly she’d come close a couple of times.

ScottishRab, or Rabby as he signed his email appeared to have his shit together. Like her, he owned his own company, though Cori was still unclear on the type of business. Definitely good looking, even if the facial hair would need to be discussed. Still there had been some magnetism about him; maybe it was his eyes that drew her—sad and intense. His rich baritone had her at the first hello when he called last night. Brief as it had been, their conversations gave her more thrills than a box of chocolates. No matter what the connection proved to be, she hadn’t hesitated very long before saying yes when he suggested they meet for coffee.

When Cori’s feet carried her through the doors of the coffee shop directly across the street from her travel agency, she questioned her logic in setting this as their meeting place. She stopped and took an inventory of the customers sipping their caffeine of choice and chatting. A long hiss made her realize she’d been holding her breath. Chill! It looked like she accomplished her goal to arrive first. Ordering a non-fat latte, she located a table against the back wall that offered a little more privacy and less noise.

If only I’d lost another ten pounds before I agreed to meet him. Though I did get into this outfit. It’s been hanging in the back of the closet so long I’d forgotten about it. The pencil skit had skimmed over her hips with ease and the scooped neck top showed off the girls without screaming porn queen.

Still, doubts nagged at her. A quick glance around didn’t show any signs of her coffee date and thankfully, none of her staff. She had time to get out if she acted quickly.

Keep your ass in that chair! You’re playing the “if” game again and it ain’t gonna do any good, sister. You agreed…you’re here! Now suck it up. You threw the friggin’ whip of self-flagellation in the trash weeks ago.

Okay, she surrendered. Her inner voice always won these arguments anyway.

But what if he cruised by and decided he didn’t like what he saw? There you go again! Girl, do you need to be bitch slapped to get your head straight? Could be…

“Cordellia?”

Pulled from the latest battle with the voice in her head Cori looked up; suddenly grateful her behind occupied a chair. The dark mustache from the picture no longer perched over his full, sensual mouth and the over-bleached hair was now black. Up close, the chiseled jawline appeared strong enough to be carved from granite. That jaw, combined with soulful dark brown eyes left no doubt her meet-up had arrived. Instead of the haunting expression she’d viewed in his picture, tonight his eyes held a twinkle, but sad or laughing, they still managed to probe into her soul.

“Rabby?”

He offered a sheepish grin as he set his coffee on the small bistro table and pulled out the chair across from her. “Actually, people call me Rob. Rabby is a childhood nickname.”

The pink tinges that crept up to color his high cheekbones delighted Cori. Goddess, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen a man blush. “Not a problem. My friends call me Cori. Cordellia is just for the official documents.”

Surprised at the ease they lapsed into conversation, Cori couldn’t believe it when Rob suggested dinner. Her watch verified the time and a grumble from her stomach confirmed the need for food.

The staff at the downtown pub appeared to know Rob. Greeted by a friendly server who led them to a table in a secluded corner, he questioned Rob on what he thought about the Rockies  chances for the upcoming season.

When they finished their baseball analysis, the man handed over the menus and Rob quizzed him. “How’s the Scottish Salmon, tonight?”

“Great like always, Rob. Shall I have the kitchen set aside a serving for you? And do you want to start out with a Scotch Egg like usual?”

Does he take all his dates here? Just my luck, a hunky, woman-hungry jock!

“We’ll look over the menu before ordering anything, but thanks. It’s not just me tonight.”

That answers the date question. Rob’s including her in their food selection gave Cori a warm sensation.

He directed his attention on her and grinned. “I grew up mostly in Scotland and miss the food, though I confess this is a little more gourmet than the home cooking I ate as a child.” He squeezed Cori’s hand. “Am I too presumptuous in assuming you’d enjoy coming here?”

“I enjoy foods of the world.” That statement would earn her a liar, liar, pants on fire comment from Emma if she’d heard it.

As long as I’m not another notch in your ‘man belt’ I can fake drooling over fried bugs if I need to.

And for that thought, her sister would smack the shit out of her demanding to know why the hell she’d give up her own choices to please a man.

She pushed thoughts of her sibling away and turned to focus her attention on her date. Lost in the intensity of his gaze Cori had to remind herself she’d known this man a few days and all of their conversations had been through emails or phone. No way in hell could she feel something all ready? Love at first sight didn’t happen in her world. Okay, but maybe lust at first sight does. I can go with that.

http://www.passioninprint.com/ShowBook.php?CR=LTL_EMERGEMAGIC

http://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Magic-Lizzie-T-Leaf/dp/160820376X/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1353333276&sr=8-16&keywords=lizzie+t+leaf

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emerging-magic-lizzie-t-leaf/1113769362?ean=9781608203765

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-emergingmagic-1005809-140.html

Whet your Regency Appetite with Captive by Vonnie Hughes!

Allow yourself to be held captavie by Vonnie Hughes and her stories!  Vonnie shares a little about herself and her latest release at Aurora Regency.  The title alone is enough to make me want to read the book!!!

 Bio: 

Vonnie Hughes is a New Zealander living in Australia. She loves animals and jogging. Vonnie writes Regencies and romantic suspense novels along with short stories. She is presently working on a romantic suspense, working title: Innocent Hostage and a Regency novella, working title: A Tale of Two Sisters. 

Her earlier book Coming Home is about a soldier and a nurse, thrown together during the Napoleonic wars, who find more danger on their return to England than they ever did on the Iberian Peninsula.  

The Second Son is actually a prequel to Coming Home. A second son, filled with angst, stands to inherit a title and property through the death of a brother he has always loathed and mistrusted. A young disabled woman teaches him how to find his self-respect and how to love.  

Another Regency Historical, Mr. Monfort’s Marriage, has businessman Matthew Monfort inveigled into marrying an earl’s daughter. With good reason he loathes the ton, so his new wife needn’t think she’s going to win him over, even though she’s quite delightful…and intelligent…and sweet…However Verity shows him that not all members of the ton are idle layabouts and that he can do much good with his largesse and with—shock, horror—the unexpected and embarrassing title conferred on him by Prinny.

CAPTIVE

By Vonnie Hughes 

Tagline: 

When Alexandra Tallis sets free the attractive man her sister stupidly tried to hold captive, her actions lead not only to a love she never thought to find, but also to a horrific family secret that threatens that love.

BLURB:

When Alexandra Tallis discovers that her witless sister has imprisoned their father’s nemesis, Theo Crombie in their attic, she quickly frees him, fighting an unladylike impulse to keep him as her own special captive. Despite the brutal beating she receives from her father for her actions, Alexandra continues to yearn for the delicious Mr. Crombie even though she knows that nothing will ever come of her dreams.

Injured and shackled in a stranger’s attic, Theo unexpectedly discovers the woman of his dreams. But how can he pursue those dreams when her bizarre family’s complex relationships threaten the very foundation of his existence? Somehow Theo must find a way through this maze to claim his lady.

 EXCERPT:

“Oh, no, Emmaline! Please untie him. Let him go.”

Whatever would her sister do next? At seventeen, she was an eligible man’s worst nightmare. And this latest escapade—

“Don’t be such a bore, Lexie. ’Tis a great joke! For once, Papa will thank us. Especially when he finds out who it is we’ve trussed up.” Emmaline laughed her silvery, seductive laugh that drove men wild and irritated women.

“Thank us? He is more like to beat us. You cannot capture someone and bring him here and…and just tie him up!”

“Of course I can. I already have. I shall lock the two of you in here together and then raise an outcry. Papa and the servants will come running and—,” she waved her pretty hands in the air, “—the rest will take care of itself. Papa’s investment problem will be solved, and with a bit of luck, you might even be married by next week, sister.”

“Are you out of your mind?” rasped an angry voice from the darkest corner of the garret.

“Ah, you’re awake!” trilled Emmaline.

Alexandra Tallis gulped. She was doing her best not to look at the near-naked man half-hidden in the shadows. But her eyes refused to behave. Stripped to the waist he was a wondrous sight, all muscle and taut sinew. His arms tensed and strained as he struggled to escape.

“Get me out of here,” he snarled.

Alexandra blinked and looked more closely, but her eyesight was not the best. She lifted a candle from the wall sconce and took a step forward. And another.

“You’re bleeding!”

He swivelled his head to look in her direction. “Sense at last. Yes, I’m bleeding. I’d be obliged if you’d free me from these bl—these ridiculous bonds.” There was a clank and rattle as he tried to move.

Gracious! Emmaline hadn’t just tied the man up—she had chained him. Alexandra closed her eyes for a few seconds.

“Emmaline! How on earth did you manage—?”

“Davy did it for me. Well, he would fight, so Davy had to subdue him.”

“What did that witless boy do? Shoot the poor man?”

“Yes, actually. He did,” the man muttered.

 Aurora (Regency)

Captive
http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=435
 

All of Vonnie’s books are available on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Vonnie+Hughes&x=18&y=20

Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website http://www.vonniehughes.com and blog. http://vonniehughes.blogspot.com.au

Stay connected on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VonnieJHughes and Goodreads.

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5605111-vonnie-hughes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sara Daniel shares Zane's Art!

Another excellent Musa Publishing author to check out!!!

 

Finally Ever After: Zane’s Art

By Sara Daniel

Early this year when Musa posted a submissions call for a series called Finally Ever After, I jumped at the opportunity. The stories were to be short, happily ever romances about lovers who have loved each other and lost.  Now, they have a second chance to create the happy ending they didn’t get the first time. 

I love characters with a past history, especially in a short word count. They have instant attraction and long-standing unresolved conflict—the perfect elements for a fast-paced, emotion-packed read.  Zane’s Art had all these things coupled with a strong present conflict.  The story flowed out of me so fast I knew it was meant to be!

 

Zane’s Art

High school art teacher Julianne Truman's last chance to save her beloved art department from budget cuts is to sell the old sketches that her former boyfriend—and now famous artist—Zane DeMonde drew for her. But is she prepared to let go of his artwork and the last traces of him in her life?

Desperate to save his artistic reputation from the exposure of his early works, Zane returns to the home town he wanted to forget. He accuses Julianne of profiting from his success and demands she take his art off the market and cancel the auction.

Their high school attraction flares back to life, forcing Julianne to choose between the students who count on her and the man she never stopped loving. 

A high school art teacher must choose between her students and the artist she never stopped loving.

 Excerpt:

“Cancel the auction.”

Julianne Truman’s head snapped around at the hard male voice. The stapler fell from her hand and cracked open on the floor, as she caught sight of the extraordinary face that went with the voice. Her knees shook as she climbed down the ladder. She hadn’t faced Zane DeMonde in nearly fifteen years. At one time she’d believed he’d be part of every single day of her future.

“Zane, I didn’t expect you to come.” She stepped toward him. His black hair was a little shorter than the last time she’d seen him, but at shoulder length it was still far longer than most men’s. Gone were the black hoodie and ripped jeans of his youth. Now he wore chinos and a sharply pressed blue button-down shirt, open at the neck.

The dark storms in his cobalt blue eyes were exactly the same as the day he’d walked away from her. “Cancel the auction. The sketches and painting are not for sale.”

She swallowed. “I own them. If I choose to sell them, that’s my business.” And it was breaking her heart to part with the only piece of him that she’d been able to hang onto all these years.

“When they have my name on them and you’re getting rich off me, it’s my business.”

Getting rich was so far from the truth Julianne would have laughed if her chest weren’t so tight. “It’s an honor to have you back in town.” At least her students would think so. Her brother would likely burst an artery. And she—well, she couldn’t even begin to process the mix of emotions she was feeling. “Do you have a minute to talk? I can explain what’s going on.”

“I know what’s going on.”

She hoped he couldn’t hear how hard her heart was hammering or sense how desperately she longed to wrap her arms around him and pick up where they left off fifteen years ago, as if he’d never left her. “Then you know that the arts are at the bottom of the school district’s priority list. To have supplies for the classroom, to restore the school mural, to give my students a chance to explore different mediums, the art program needs an alternate source of funding.”

“You’re the Dentonville High art teacher?”

She couldn’t help feeling defensive at his derisive tone. “Yes, and I love my job.”

“Do you? Or have you never moved beyond your high school life?” 

BUY LINK

http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=44&products_id=421  

To learn more about Sara Daniel and her work, please visit her website http://www.SaraDaniel.com and blog. http://saradanielromance.blogspot.com Stay connected on either or both of her Facebook pages

http://www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer

http://www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel Remember, Sara is also only a tweet http://www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel away.

 

A Scary Sort of Signing

Had a book signing Saturday at a local Barnes & Noble with some of my Paranormal author friends. The ASM who set up the signing gave a thumbs up to our dressing up for the event. Here is the results of our efforts. We had lots of people commenting and stopping to talk. Guess we drew attention!

From left to right:  Lizzie T. Leaf, ML Guida/JL Bowen, Hillary Seidl and Elizabeth Haysmont.

Had a fun time and thank you to B&N for their support and to all the great people who stopped by to say hi.  Some even purchased books.  Look foward to the next one!

Samantha Combs - Out to Scare!

No, really. I didn't misspell it. HELLOWEEN is my new book. My eighth publication and my third adult horror collection. I am pleased to announce it is available on Amazon. To give you a little taste of it, I'm including the first few lines of each of the six stories. Hope it whets your appetite and makes your skin crawl, even the tiniest little bit.

Samantha Combs delves into the darkness of the Halloween season, the decadence of October, and the evil of All Hallows Eve. And as usual, she asks you along for the ride. Come meet all her new friends; an inventive chef, an abused wife with an unusual solution, the invisible friend so different in adulthood than when you were a kid, the self-made woman who learns everything comes with a price, the woman of circumstance who learns neighbors can be more than just nosy,and finally, a quiet, unassuming wife who has paid far too much attention to her husband's, um, hobby. So, go ahead, mix, mingle, enjoy meeting them all, but remember...the scariest monsters are the ones safely tucked away, hidden in the normal, the regular, the mundane. And in the end, Good does conquer Evil....just not EVER the way you'll expect. Eat at JOE’s Reynaldo “Rey” Claude leaned over the wooden crate of tomatoes and inhaled deeply. The farmers market was always the best place to find the freshest ingredients for his culinary creations and Rey enjoyed his visits to gather the tasty produce. He strolled along the bustling wholesale market, making his choices and filling his basket. He was known there, and most vendors stopped to say hello and offer Rey a free sample of this, that, and the other. Which he took willingly. His food creations were like art pieces to him; each had to have its own special sauce. Pasta was pasta, but it was all about the sauce. He only wished his patrons felt the same. DEMON IN THE GPS Nadine Keller was running late. She still had a million things to do and had most of them on her mind, so when the GPS started talking to her, she didn’t immediately notice it. She had jumped into the Range Rover and flung the dry cleaning into the back seat. She dumped her overstuffed purse on the passenger seat and backed out of the mall parking lot. When she heard the calm, modulated voice telling her to turn left, she just obediently flicked on her signal and made the turn. Later, she would realize she didn’t remember programming an address into the GPS. She should have been wary then. GPS units didn’t just start talking to you out of the blue, demanding things. Not like husbands did. SKIN DEEP Darla Demples punched the elevator button to the tenth floor. She shifted back and forth on her fashionable high heels and transferred her briefcase from her right shoulder to the left. Impatient, she poked the button again and began to tap her slender foot. Damn! You’d think the head of one of the largest cosmetics company could get a damn elevator when she wanted it. Her gaze fell on her company logo, proudly emblazoned on literally every surface in the lobby: Dollyface Cosmetics. She read the catch phrase underneath, pride welling within her: Look like a living doll, forever. Dolly smiled wistfully, remembering how she came up with the slogan, after a sleepless night with a very cranky baby daughter. Denise was almost an adult now, in college hundreds of miles away. She knew she didn’t see her near as often as she should, but she always found a way to validate that. I’m working for her future. She knows that. My success will set her up for the rest of her life, her and her future children. IMAGINARY FRIEND Just because I’m telling you this story, doesn’t mean I’ll be alive at the end of it. I just want to clear that up. So there aren’t any surprises at the end. It’s how I kind of like to do things. I’ve never been one for surprises. Even when I was younger, when my birthday would come around, I made sure I knew all the plans ahead of time. I never wanted the surprise party all the other kids were begging for. Neither did Lenny. He hated them even more than me. Only, he couldn’t tell anyone. You see, Lenny was my imaginary friend. Or maybe I should say is. I’m fully grown now, with an education, a great job and even my own office. In fact, that’s where I am right now. Lenny is here, too, somewhere. He doesn’t always come out, only when he thinks I need him. I guess I needed him earlier. I suppose I should get the whole story out now, before they arrive. Just looking down at the bodies makes me a little scared of what they will think. What they might do to me. Lenny keeps saying I didn’t have a choice. He told me I had to do it. If not, I’d never be my own person. I’d never be free. New Neighbors Mindy Jasper hollered down the hall of her new house to her children. “Jackson! Danielle! Hurry or we’ll be late for your first day of school.” She peered down the hall, then had to flatten herself against it to avoid being crushed by both of her children as they came hurtling toward her. Her daughter came first and spun around Mindy’s jeans-clad legs, hiding from her brother, who was only seconds behind her. He stopped when he reached his mom and sister, but only because he’d tired of the game. His sister didn’t look terrified anymore, not now that she was next to Mom, and to him, it was only fun if she was. THE SERIAL KILLER’S WIFE She heard the back door creak open and shut. Even though he always tried to be quiet, she never missed that unmistakable sound. Elaine Gardner had heard that sound a million times. Most of the time, it meant that her husband Roland was coming in from work, or from tending the garden, or from taking out the trash. She knew when it didn’t mean that. When he came in way past midnight, she knew it had an entirely different meaning: it meant her husband, Roland Gardner, was returning from a kill. So, if any of these sound interesting or compel you to read them in some way, buy the book for a buck at Amazon and don't forget to tell me what you think. http://www.amazon.com/Helloween-ebook/dp/B009X3N9IA/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1351353822&sr=8-15&keywords=samantha+combs