D.V. Stone's Blog, page 15

Around the Fire Anniversary Spotlight with Mary Morgan.

Order of the Dragon Knights Series Anniversary Celebration and Sale 
Time-travel Historical Fantasy and Paranormal Romance
by
Mary Morgan
Order of the Dragon Knights ~They were an ancient order, descended from the great Tuatha Dé Danann, the Sidhe, or in simpler terms: the Fae. Half-human and half-fae, each knight blessed with mystical powers. Given to them were holy relics from the Fae and guardianship over their Dragons.

They were known as the Dragon Knights.

However, some believed the Order had too much power and they tried to possess it for themselves. They were evil and twisted, and their plan succeeded one fateful night. The brothers of the Clan MacKay—Dragon Knights, fought a battle. Blood spilled onto holy ground, bringing forth the wrath of the Fae. Their relics were taken, and the Order was banished—each name stricken from the hallowed halls of the Fae.

The Clan MacKay is no longer. The Dragon Knights have scattered across the land.
Yet out of the darkness, they will each fight for redemption, and the women they love.
For a limited time, Dragon Knight’s Sword is on sale for 99¢ from Amazon. Grab your copy today or collect them all! Sale dates: 5.11.23 – 6.02.23

Available at AMAZON
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7QR2T3 )
Book Trailer for Dragon Knights: https://youtu.be/iEruV9P6PtU About the Author: 
Multi award-winning romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.
Mary's passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.
If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of fantasy, then travel back in time within the pages of her books.
Connect with Mary here ~
Website/Blog:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/
Amazon Author:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan
Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan
Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Mary-Morgan/B00KPE3NWI
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-morgan-2634a77a/  

Around the Fire Tales of My Travels

It's been a minute since I've talked about my travels. Many of you know that my husband, Pete and I bought a 5th Wheel camper a few years ago. Her name is 2HOOTS. Thus named because if you know anything about us we can be a bit crazy. Also, I have a thing for owls and she'd decorated in the Owlish motif. She's 41ft long and 13ft high, and yes I drive her mostly on the highways but occasionally into gas stations. It can be a bit tricky. The length I don't worry overmuch but the height scares me. I still duck going under overpasses and bridges even though they are tall enough. One of our purchases was a RV GPS. You plug in the specifications and it plans the route for you. 
So, on with the travel for 2023. We left on New Years Day. It's a great day to get on the road early. Traffic is light and we had good weather. Our first stop is a regular for us. Harrisonburg, Virginia has a KOA not far off the Highway. Pete's sister, Lori, lives about an hour away and this gives us a chance to visit her. Lori joined us for breakfast at Cracker Barrel near Waynesboro. 
After a yummy pancake breakfast we were off south on the interstate for a sleep over in Enfield NC, then South Point, SC. The following morning we made our winter destination of Perry FL, where Pete has worked for the past two year. Taking several days to travel sure saves on the mind and body. We met a fellow in Florida who says he had a 3-rule. Sounds great to me. He either drives three hours, or miles and stays for three days. It's nice to be retired.
Posting about our time in Florida has been done so I'll share with you our return home in April. We took about 2 weeks to come back to NJ planning to be back by the book signing at Brook Hollow Winery in Columbia NJ.
The first stop was a Harvest Host. Check it out at harvesthosts.com This was our first time using the service and we were very happy. The site was a Farmer's Market and Orchard called Lanes not far from Macon Georgia. We boondocked in the parking lot for the night before heading to our campsite in Pigeon Forge Tennessee for a few days. Visiting Smokey Mountain National Park was amazing. Cold but amazing. In three days time I went from sea level and 80 degrees, to 6,000 ft above and 36 degrees. I've added some pictures below. Come on back next time to hear more. This blog is getting long and I want to tell you about two books I  listened to during the trip. ​When traveling, I enjoy listening to books, so this was the audio version. 
If you saw the movie iRobot and never read the book, you are in for a surprise. The only thing in common was the missing robot.
The book is really several short stories tied together as an interview of robopsychologist Dr. Susan Calvin.
The book is thought-provoking, interesting,  and the audio is well done. Occasionally a bit dry, but overall I stayed engaged. ​The Awakening: The Dragon Heart Legacy review of the Audio book.
What an engrossing story. Amazing world and character building. A modern-day Fae tale that transports you from the USA to Ireland, to the Fae world of Talamh, and back. The relationships, both good and bad, are real. The friendship between Breen and Marco makes you want to be their friend too. A story of loss, toxic motherhood, and magic that will have you wishing for more. I can’t wait to listen to the next book.

Around the Fire New Release Book Spotlight with Virginia'dele Smith

Take A Chance On Love 
by
Virginia'dele Smith
​April 2, 2023
Quilts & Quilting 
Contemporary Christian Romance 
Clean & Wholesome Romance
She’s sure forever is a fantasy. He won’t settle for less than a soulmate. Can these playful pals open their hearts to each other?
Dr. Landry Stark is hamstrung by trauma. After escaping abuse as a teen, the saucy physician doesn’t dare reach for anything beyond the sense of belonging she’s found in small-town Oklahoma. And though she enjoys flirting with her firefighter bestie, she knows better than to give in to her feelings…until in the wake of tragedy, he steals a kiss.
Daniel Davis’s roots run deep. Convinced his parents’ wedded joy is too rare to duplicate, the six-foot-tall boy-next-door’s delight over finally claiming his beautiful friend’s lips wars with worry that they’ll ruin their easy companionship. And the tension mounts when he convinces her to move in so they can temporarily foster a child hurt in a devastating explosion.
Discovering the simple pleasure of having someone to share life’s load, Landry grapples with uncertainty when she is called to New York City to respond to a medical crisis. And though Davis is unsure where their relationship stands in her absence, even the start of a global pandemic can’t dim his dreams of a lifetime spent loving her.
Can they turn a terrible disaster into happily ever after?

Take a Chance on Love is the sweetly intense fourth book in the Green Hills romance series. If you like independent heroines, true-blue heroes, and tight-knit communities, then you’ll adore Virginia’dele Smith’s silver lining.
​
Take a Chance on Love to risk everything today!
www.amazon.com/Book-Take-Chance-Green-Hills-ebook/dp/B0BPNNQJ3D
​
What others are saying.
Faith and love conquers all!!!!
I love the way Ashli can draw you into her stories and make you feel whatever the characters are feeling.
Ashli Montgomery is a wife, a momma, and an author whose passion is sharing love stories, books, quilts, yoga, recipes, and her favorite things in life. She is quilting to mend the mind by spearheading and educating a community of quilters through Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched to use her quilting hobby as a platform to advocate for an end to Alzheimer's disease.
Ashli writes wholesome and heartfelt, small-town romance under the pen name Virginia’dele Smith to honor Syble Virginia Tidwell, Adele Gertrude Baylin, and Etta Jean Smith. These three cherished grandmothers were beautiful role models, teaching Ashli to love without judgment and to always put family first. Through Grandma Syble’s journals and appetite for books, through Momadele’s priceless cards and handwritten letters, and through many, many hours of visiting over fabric at Mema’s kitchen island, Ashli also learned to treasure words.
You are invited to join Ashli in Green Hills and learn more about Virginia’dele Smith and the many hats she enjoys wearing by subscribing to Ashli’s newsletter,  The Gazette , at AshliMontgomery.com.

Around the Fire is in Love With May!

May is one of my favorite months. This year marks my 29th Anniversary with Pete. We were married in Lafayette Federated Church on May 14th, 1994. Though we almost burned down the church with the Unity Candle. When we went to light it, the hot wax ran down our hands, and we nearly dropped the candles. 
Here's a picture of us with my son, RJ. He was a little stiff but a good sport, except he didn't want to stand with the flower girl. 
May is also my birthday month. When I was a kid I thought the parades were for me. Lol, nope it was traditional Memorial Day. From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30, now it's the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces.
Traditionally, people visit cemeteries and memorials on the day to honor and mourn those who lost. Many place American flags on the graves of military personnel in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.
Happily this Month my lovely daughter in law will graduate from nursing school. Congratulations to Veronika her pinning is on May 11th. I hope you'll send your prayers and good wishes for a long and fulfilling career as she touched lives with her healing hands.

Congratulations to Joannie, last month's winner of a signed copy of Sea Hunter via my newsletter. If you are interested in my monthly drawing you should sign up. Here's the link
mailchi.mp/bb4a75d3c449/mortar-pestle-free-sample-book
I know I've been doing birthdays, but this month I changed it up a little and to see who was married in the Merry Month of May? Sign up and maybe you'll be my next random winner.
​We just returned in time for my author signing at Brook Hollow Winery in Columbia, NJ's Day of Wine and Romance hosted by Roz Lee.
​This is the first time I've seen my sister since December. We're a bunch of clowns in my family, so mugging for the camera is a natural thing. Notice the shoes or lack thereof. 
If you missed this one I'll be at the following places planned so far this year.
Passaic County Book Festival
Saturday, June 10, 2023, @ 11:00 am
Weasel Brook Park
745 Park Drive, Clifton, NJ, 07012
RomantiConn 2023: A Romance Author Signing Event Jul 8
Trumbull Marriott Shelton 180 Hawley Lane Trumbull, CT 06611
For more information and tickets
https://www.kittyberryauthor.com/romanticonn-author-event.html
 
Fall In Love New England 2023
Join sixty-plus romance authors entertaining readers in a fun-packed two-day event. Ticket options are available. October 20 & 21, 2023
Oct 20, 11:00 AM EDT – Oct 21, 7:30 PM EDT
Marlborough, 181 Boston Post Rd W, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA
https://www.fallinlovenewengland.com/ booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/106783/sophias-magic-beans
​If you never thought you could be a book reviewer, here's your chance. Sophia's Magic Beans is available for a limited time on Book Sprout. What you do is vist the link, download the book, read, and then add a review. What is the review? Simple.
1.    I just read ____________________
2.   By ___________________________
3. Genre or type of book ____________________________-for example Romance, fantasy, mystery.
4.   Rating from 1 to 5 ______________________
5. One or two sentences about what you like and or disliked. ______________________________.
See how easy! Reviews are important to authors and help other readers find our books.
I received this email just the other day!
Congratulations on being a winner in this month's Creme de la Cover Contest!
All of the credit goes to Sydney Winward, the cover design artist. She's also an amazing author and woman. You should check her out at
https://sydneywinward.com/ 



My prize is a full-page color advertisement in June's issue of InDtale Magazine.
You can get a peek at the magazine at
https://indtale.com/ here.



I was looking for a quote for May but found this one and love it. Sometimes we're so busy chasing that we just forget to be. 
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
— Nathaniel Hawthorne
 
So enjoy this Merry Month of May. Oh, there's a poem.
O the month of May, the merry month of May,
    So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!
O, and then did I unto my true love say:
    "Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my summer's queen!
    Now the nightingale, the pretty nightingale,
    The sweetest singer in all the forest's choir,
Entreats thee, sweet Peggy, to hear thy true love's tale;
    Lo, yonder she sitteth, her breast against a brier.
    But O, I spy the cuckoo, the cuckoo, the cuckoo;
    See where she sitteth: come away, my joy;
Come away, I prithee: I do not like the cuckoo
    Should sing where my Peggy and I kiss and toy."
O the month of May, the merry month of May,
    So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!
And then did I unto my true love say:
    "Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my summer's queen!"​
Thomas Dekker (c. 1572–1632

Around the Fire with Contemporary Romance Author, Linda Griffin.

Hi, Linda. I'm glad you can join me around the fire today. What can I get for you?
 I think I’ve told you about my hot chocolate addiction before, and now that we’re headed into warmer weather, I’ll have to mention that I love me some ice-cold sweet tea, especially with fresh, hot popcorn.

I've been spending time in the south and they specialize in sweet tea. So, while I grab a frosty glass and pop some corn, will you introduce yourself?
Who you are other than your bio?
I’m someone who believes that beauty feeds the soul, so I spend a lot of my free time in art galleries and museums, as well as savoring the beauty in nature. I also have a T-shirt that reads “Look for Beauty,” which I gave to Teresa in The Rebound Effect.

Ah, beauty surrounds us. We only have to look. I was just in the Smokey Mountains and let me say Wow! What interests besides writing do you enjoy? 
Other than those I’ve mentioned before, I like working jigsaw puzzles (like Frank and Kayla in Reluctant Hearts), although I’m not very fast and rarely work anything over 500 pieces. I also love watching Jeopardy and can often be found doing both of those at once.

My hubby and I love to do puzzles. Unfortunately our cat resents the puzzles and knock everything off the table. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
There are many answers to that question, but I’ll tell you my first one! I was six years old and read a Little Lulu comic book in which Lulu goes to a land of magical rocking horses. She then wakes up from what she believes was a dream only to find she has her horse’s tail in her hand. I stole that plot device for my very first story, “Judy and the Fairies.”

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
When the muse is active and the words are flowing, it definitely energizes me, which is a good thing because it also exhausts me when my characters favor carrying on conversations in the middle of the night.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I read them all but try not to take them too seriously. As Richard P. Brickner pointed out, a novel is just a drink of water to a reader, even though it’s an ocean to the author.

I love what's called Easter Eggs and use them often in my work. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
In Seventeen Days, the hero mentions an author who is actually a character in an unpublished story by my older sister. It wasn’t intentional, but an eerie coincidence, that something that happens to a character in Reluctant Hearts happened to me after I’d sent in the manuscript.

What was your hardest scene to write?
The climactic scene (no spoilers!) in “The Shape of Life” novella in Reluctant Hearts because I had looked forward to writing it and wanted to do it justice.

What is your favorite T-shirt with graphic or Meme?
I’m retired, so jeans and T-shirts are my regular attire, and I buy a lot of them on my travels. I have many favorites, but one in particular includes the words “Ask me about my book.”

Ha, I need that one. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be? Normally it would be something chocolate, but right now I’m craving grilled cheese and tomato on sourdough!
Oh, yum. I just had a BLT on sourdough from a restaurant we saw on Guy Fieri's Triple D. It was delicious! Linda, thanks again for sharing your time with us Around the Fire. Would you leave a bit about your book and where to find out more?  

​RELUCTANT HEARTS
by 
Linda Griffin
Contemporary Romance

Four couples, four stories:
Darien Francis and Richard Li meet during a bank robbery, but she’s afraid to love again.
Shane Kenniston and Beth Parker are reacquainted years after she had a crush on him, but she is a recent widow, and Shane’s life was upended by a false accusation.
David Early and Kate Howard meet in the Laundromat, but her life is consumed by the needs of her disabled child, and David isn’t ready for the responsibility.
Realtor Frank Ellison meets Kayla Barnes at an open house, but a mistaken first impression derails any chance of romance.
Can they all overcome the obstacles to love?

Buy links:
https://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Hear...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relu...
https://books.apple.com/us/book/reluc...
https://bookshop.org/p/books/reluctan...

What others are saying
Reluctant Hearts by Linda Griffin is an engaging collection of four distinct short stories about
finding love even when we aren’t looking for it…Linda Griffin has a keen sense of timing and a
knack for shaping characters that are endearingly realistic and so easy to fall in love with!...Each
story and couple are so engaging that you’ll be hard-pressed to choose a favorite...Fully in the
realm of contemporary, the cast are working through issues familiar to all of us, adding that
enchanting sense that good things can happen in our modern, problem-filled world. However,
despite the difficulties the couples face, the romances discovered in Griffin’s writing are as light
and sweet as a lemon meringue pie. If you’re looking for a gentle collection brimming with
possibility, curl up with a copy of Reluctant Hearts.~ Indies Today More about the author:
I was born and raised in San Diego, California and earned a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. I began my career as a reference and collection development librarian in the Art and Music Section of the San Diego Public Library and then transferred to the Literature and Languages Section, where I had the pleasure of managing the Central Library’s Fiction collection and initiating fiction order lists for the entire library system. Although I also enjoy reading biography, memoir, and history, fiction remains my first love. In addition to the three R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel.
My earliest ambition was to be a “book maker” and I wrote my first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a comic book, at the age of six. I broke into print in college with a story in the San Diego State University literary journal, The Phoenix, but most of my magazine publications came after I left the library to spend more time on my writing.
My stories have been published in numerous journals, including Eclectica, Thema Literary Journal, Avalon Literary Review, The Nassau Review, and Orbis, and in the anthologies Short Story America, Vol. 2, The Captive and the Dead, and Australia Burns.
Member of RWA, Authors Guild, and Sisters in Crime
Social media links:
https://www.lindagriffinauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin...
https://twitter.com/LindaGriffinA
https://www.instagram.com/lindagriffi...
https://www.pinterest.com/lgriffin083...

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Ruth A. Casie.

The Lady and the Barrister – Book 1
The Return of the Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea Series
by 
Ruth A. Casey

She swore she’d help him find his soul mate. Will she realize he already has?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his mother’s
great aunt and becomes the 8 th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent
residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every
mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the  subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Reginald Younge who doesn’t always play by the rules wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying a Ravencroft would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance for a campaign event and has an ulterior motive.

With two men vying for her hand, who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down to earth barrister turned  duke?

What others are saying
The Lady and the Barrister according to NN Light: …Ruth A. Casie is impeccable
when it comes to historical research. She imbues all her research into her writing and the result
is an immersive reading experience. Every detail, every feeling, every yearning is exquisitely
described. Trust me, it’s worth the read for the descriptive narration alone.
But in my personal opinion, it’s all about the characters. Lady Anna is a heroine you’re going to
adore. She has compassion. She’s an emotional creature but she’s also a woman whose feet are
firmly planted in reality. When she concocts a plan with her dear friend, little do they realize
they’re perfect for each other. Each character is written with purpose and etched beautifully. I
connected with them all…
If you’re looking for a historical romance with all the feels, pick up The Lady and the Barrister. I
can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Heat Rating PG
Buy Link Amazon KU  Amazon KU RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages you’ll discover ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense, mind boggling drama, and heart melting emotions featuring strong women and the men who deserve them. She currently has three historical series, The Druid Knight, The Stelton Legacy, and The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/ marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. Grab your favorite cup of tea, or an ale if you prefer, and join her heroes and heroines as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after.  Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!

 Social Media Links:
Website: https://ruthacasie.com/
Ruth’s Newsletter Signup:  http://ruthacasie.com/contact.html#newsletter       
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/
Facebook private reader’s page, Casie Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963711677128537/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RuthACasie
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/ruthacasie
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie
Personal Blog:  http://www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-seitelman/6/6b7/964
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ruthacasie/
YouTube:  https://bit.ly/YouTube-RuthACasie
AllAuthor: http://ruthacasie.allauthor.com
I’ve negotiated with my granddaughter (who I am hugging in the picture above) to help me get started in Tik Tok. You can find me at #RuthACasie and at #BookTok

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight. Carousel Plaza by Karen Cino

​Carousel Plaza
by
​Karen Cino

​March 29th 2023
Contemporary Detective Fiction
​
When Macy inherits a beach house from her aunt, she discovers secret rooms filled with relics from the past - including a dead body. Things get even more complicated when an old flame begins investigating the murder. Macy must find out who the killer is in order to piece together the secrets buried in a diary left for her by her aunt, unleashing the mystery of her past.

BUY LINKS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carousel-Plaza-Karen-Cino-ebook/dp/B0BR8LYR57
Barnes and Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carousel-plaza-karen-cino/1143104531
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/carousel-plaza
ibook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6445797952
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1350238

About the Author
Karen Cino is a multi-published author. Her daily walks down at the boardwalk are what gets her muse going. It clears her mind and helps her find realistic plot ideas and characters, boosting up her muse. Karen loves writing about local places that people can relate to. 
Karen loves the summer, loves the beach. Her previous books were written and take place in various places across Staten Island. Karen relocated to the Jersey Shore in 2015 and traded in the Staten Island Boardwalk for the Jersey Shore. Her Cookie Cutter Cozy Mystery Series takes place at the Jersey Shore.
Karen is a member of Women’s Fiction Writing Association and New Jersey Romance Writers. She resides in Toms River, New Jersey with her boyfriend and two cats. 
Currently, Karen is working on a Women’s Fiction novel as well as a new Cozy Mystery series.

Find out more by following the Author
Website: https://karencino.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Cino/author/B008LCG31Y
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4444484.Karen_Cino
Facebook: https://facebook.com/karencino
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063487849577
Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/jGP7wi
Email: Karencino@aol.com

Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Vicky Burkholder.

Raining Jelly Beans
by
Vicky Burkholder
Jelly Beans and Spring Things
Release day April 17, 2023

Will their future rain Jellybeans and will love win over evil?

Delia loves her life at the lodge but when an email arrives threatening her happiness, she vows to fight to protect her children. Hoping her ex won’t follow through with his threats, she confides her concerns to a local cop and her brother’s best friend Noah.
Noah has loved Delia from afar for a long time. But he knows she’s off limits because she’s Max’s little sister. So, when she asks for his help, he puts his love on the back burner to find her kidnapped twin girls and put her ex-husband behind bars.
 
The Wild Rose Press: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/bookauthor/vicky-burkholder
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raining-Jelly-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BVRQQMN4
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/raining-jelly-beans-vicky-burkholder/1143016056
Google Books: Books by Vicky Burkholder on Google Play
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/raining-jelly-beans/id6445620749
Friends to Lovers, Family Life, Children in Danger, Divorced, Second Chance Love
Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Suspense
Published by The Wild Rose Press
​As her alter-ego, Vicky has multiple homes all over the universe. She looks human - for the most part - but when she starts writing about characters being able to move things or flicking fire from their fingertips, or changing the course of rivers, people tend to get a little freaked out. She found the one guy out there in the universe who loves her for who she is and they've been together forever and raised four wonderful (now) adults. Her career includes work as a technical writer/editor, a stringer for the local newspaper, and an editor and copy editor for various publishers. At various times in her life, she has been a teacher, a secretary, a short-order cook, a computer specialist, a DJ, and a librarian. When not editing or writing, she can be found in the kitchen creating gluten free goodies for her family.
 
For more about the author 
Website:  http://www.vicky-burkholder.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Burkholder
Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1264928.Vicky_Burkholder
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicky-Burkholder-535739543163598/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickyburkholder
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-burkholder
 
 
For Other Works by Vicky Burkholder
Please be sure to stop by her Website to see all of her works

Around the Fire Welcomes Award-winning author Seelie Kay who writes scintillating tales of lawyers in love.

Thank you, Seelie, for joining me Around the Fire. I have a pot of French Roast ready to go. While I pour why don't you introduce yourself by telling us who you are other than your bio?
I won my first national writing prize in third grade and never stopped writing. My writing career supported me through college and law school, and has played a role in every job since. In 2002, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Writing was my savior, through the best and worst of times.

One of my besties struggles with that and I know the toll it can take. I'm so glad you found an outlet to help you through. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?
I love to cook and bake, and entertain. As a parent, I had the opportunity to create some pretty unique birthday parties, including a county fair. As a lawyer, I was the party planner. I once threw a Titanic party, complete with the original menu on that final evening and actors portraying passengers relaying what was happened. I still have my crystal chunk of the iceberg!

What fun! We've hosted murder mystery parties. Last Train from Paris we had a french menu, music, and my hubby built a traincar in our living room. We should host together.  Who is your network or support system?
My publisher, Extasy Books, has created a pretty tight writing community. We share a lot of information and provide support when needed. I am also a member of the Marketing for Romance Writers (MFRW) group, which is also a valuable resource.

Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
I read a wide variety of genres, but legal and crime fiction are my weakness. Writers like J.D. Robb, Stuart Woods, and James Patterson always tease my imagination.

I never heard of them. Bazinga! You might as well read from some of the best. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
I don’t know how outrageous it is, but I can turn your hair green, pink, or purple with Jell-O!

What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
I live in a typical suburban neighborhood. We all built our homes and most have lived here for 30 plus years. Green space is very important here and there is a nature preserve and a park a few blocks away. For fun, we monitor “visitors” with our backyard RING. Sometimes, it’s a possum or a skunk, other times, deer or coyotes. The coyotes caused quite an uproar on our neighborhood bulletin board!

Our visitors are similar except for Black Bears! Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing has always been my primary stress reliever. When I get into “the zone,” I write for hours without interruption.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Stick to writing! The practice of law really prevented me from writing books until much later in my career.

What does literary success look like to you?
I am not into writing books for the money. I get satisfaction every time I hold a new book in my hand. Positive reviews are the icing on the cake!

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It depends on the topic. I do a fair amount of research for most books. I can “Google” with the best of them. However, I write about lawyers in love, so most of my stories are inspired by personal experiences, which point me in the right direction.

How do you select the names of your characters?
I use an old phone book. I turn to a random page, pick a last name, then figure out what first name fits.

Many of today's people never had a phonebook in hand. I keep a small one in my glove compartment for emergencies. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I have had a troll for years who automatically assigns my books the lowest ratings—with no explanation--which is maddening. However, I use most reviews to determine whether they respond to the story. When something falls flat, I take note.

If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
Pain au chocolate (croissant dough wrapped around sticks of chocolate). They are my guilty pleasure.

Those sound wonderful. I may have to try making them. Seelie, it's been wonderful getting to know you. Before you start on your next writing adventure, will you leave us a bit of information about your new series? It would be great for our other visitors to know where to find out more about you, too. And everyone, be sure to scroll down to the exciting Book Trailer. Feisty Lawyers Bundle
(Three books from the five-book Feisty Lawyers series, including Snatching Dianna, Infamy, and Cult.)
By
Seely Kay
Release Date:  February 17, 2023
Romantic Suspense
Three flames


 
Blurbs
Feisty Lawyers Series
They’re smart. They’re feisty. They play to win!
The lawyers who make up The Agency are committed to bringing justice to situations in which justice is not normally found. At the behest of the President, they intervene in matters that impact Americans around the globe. Human trafficking, terrorism, cults, and the disappeared are just a few of the cases with which they are tasked, and they execute uniquely designed solutions with determination and no small amount of courage. Their journey begins with an American law student kidnapped by a sex slave traffickers. It ends with justice served. Three heart-stopping adventures from a five-book series are combined into one scintillating bundle of romantic suspense, including Snatching Dianna, Infamy, and Cult.
 
Snatching Dianna  
The hours are counting down as investigators try to prove that Dianna Murphy has been snatched. Unfortunately, without witnesses and solid evidence, all the police really know is that she is missing.  
When suburban Milwaukee law student Dianna Murphy fails to connect with her roommate, there is no real evidence that she has been snatched. Until Law Professor Janet MacLachlan, a former covert agent, discovers a single clue, one that points to a taking by a slave trafficking cartel. In a race against time, Janet recruits her husband, secret agent Cade Matthews, small-town Police Chief David Manders and his wife, criminal defense attorney Julianna Constant, and other law students to uncover the truth. Can they prove she has been taken, before Dianna disappears without a trace?
 
Infamy  
Infamy. An evil or wicked act. Terrorists bent on revenge have found a way to make planes disappear from the sky, without a trace. And when one winds up buried in a Wisconsin cornfield, it’s a race against time to rescue the passengers from certain death.  
When international law attorney Sheikh Harun Ali is lured to the Amazon and warned of a frightening plot against the United States, he and his wife, Marianne Benson, enlist the assistance of their neighbors, covert agent Cade Matthews and his wife, Constitutional Law Professor Janet MacLachlan. Ultimately, these feisty lawyers are pushed to the wall, desperate to find a plane that has been buried in an unknown cornfield, the passengers still on board. The terrorists’ hatred for the Alis is absolute—the Alis once left their organization bankrupt and broken—but they hate America more. And their fiendish games are just beginning. They are seeking a much bigger prize, one that could destroy a nation and possibly the world. An act that will live in infamy.
 
Cult (winner of the Editor’s Choice Award)  
It’s supposed to be a simple assignment. A quick trip to a South American country for an “in and out” fact-finding mission. Unfortunately, the cult has other ideas.  
When college students begin disappearing from American campuses, a notorious cult, God’s Delight, is the primary suspect. God’s Delight has been hosting shows featuring sex, drugs, and rock and roll around the country, and young people are flocking to them. 
Among the missing is the President’s goddaughter, and he wants answers. When he asks Agent Cade Matthews, a member of a secret covert organization, to find her, the mission appears fairly straightforward. Find the God’s Delight compound, determine whether a welfare check on American cult members is warranted, and get out. Simple. Clean. Easy. 
Cade sends newly-married Agents Dianna Murphy and Anders Mark to the University of Wisconsin to follow the trail to God’s Delight, but when they wind up in Bolivia, things go sideways. Suddenly, what appeared to be nothing more than a simple in-and-out could cost Dianna her life. When an Agency extraction is ordered, chaos erupts, and the question becomes, will anyone survive?
 
What others are saying.
“To me this is one of those series that I will be reading over and over again. From the very beginning I was drawn in, it’s got action, danger, suspense, and even, romance. I can’t recommend this series and Author enough…I highly recommend reading this whole series. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next.” (Goodreads review)
“Seelie Kay has an unforgettable imagination, and will keep you wanting more. You can tell she brings her all, while reading this story. I love her characters, especially the strong-willed, independent women. This is a must read! Along with the rest of her Feisty Lawyers Series. Well Done Seelie Kay, Well Done.” (Goodreads review)
“This author really knows how to deliver an edgy, and dramatic story. It was heart in throat entertainment. A complicated and colourful cast filled with many events that left me gasping and wondering if I read it correctly. I was captivated and intrigued. These kinds of stories are what keep me in my happy place. They keep me entertained and out of my head. I have travelled the world and experienced every feeling and moment with theses characters. Seelie Kay has a knack for enrapturing an audience and it is a dangerously decadent state to be in, and totally addictive.” (Goodreads review)
 
More About the Author
Award-winning author Seelie Kay writes scintillating tales of lawyers in love, sometimes with a dash of kink.
 
Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in twenty-two works of fiction, including the new paranormal romance series Donovan Trait, as well the erotic romance Kinky Briefs series and The Feisty Lawyers romantic suspense series. She also authored The Last Christmas, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, The President’s Daughter, Seizing Hope, The White House Wedding, and participated in the romance anthology Pieces of Us.
When not spinning romantic tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently, she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine. 
Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you! 
Seelie can be reached at www.seeliekay.com, www.seeliekay.blogspot.com, or on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
 
Find out more by following Seelie
Website:   https://www.seeliekay.com
Blog:  https://www.seeliekay.blogspot.com
Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/seeliekay51/
Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/seelie-kay
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16492565.Seelie_Kay
TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@authorseeliekay
Newsletter sign-up:  https://rb.gy/w69pim #wsite-video-container-872577760376425150{ background: url(//www.weebly.com/uploads/b/81573318-373... } #video-iframe-872577760376425150{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-872577760376425150, #video-iframe-872577760376425150{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-872577760376425150{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } }

Around the Fire with Jelly Beans & Spring Things Book Series.

One of my pleasures of being in the writing community is having things in common. Chatting with like minds about being an author. We are a helpful community with everyone sharing their experiences and advice. The support offered is amazing. But the other thing is when we get together to write a line of books. My first cooperative was 911, What's your emergency? as part of the Australia Burns books to raise money for a good cause. Then came Rainbow Sprinkles, a One Scoop or Two Book. Just last month Sea Hunter part of the Mortar & Pestle by various authors released. And now we have Jellybeans and Spring Things. 
Today release day for  Sophia's Magic Beans and I wanted to share my blog with the other writers in this marvelous -> (every time I use this word I think of Billy Crystal)  series. 
​
I'd also like to share word from The Wild Rose Press Co-Founder/President Rhonda Penders.
Here's the link to the series www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BTCHPR6F Sophia's Magic Beans
by
D. V. Stone
In a small New Jersey town, sometimes fairytales do come true.
Release April, 10, 2023
​
Calliope Novak’s candy store made it through the shutdowns, but she still struggles with everyday costs. She juggles chores, work, and making time for Sophia—her six-year-old. Personal life? Non-existent.
Luke O’Brian confronts his boss and mentor after discovering his law firm’s involvement with a crooked politician and is reminded of the non-disclosure agreement he’d signed. He can’t break it without evidence—evidence that he can’t access after he’s escorted out of the building by security. Devastated, he reluctantly returns to his hometown to regroup.
Lake Unami in Northern New Jersey is a magical place. Rainbows and unexplained coincidences seem more normal than not. Guardian angels, bookstore owners, and an endearing cast of characters all come together to bring happiness and love to Calliope, Sophia, and Luke.
April 10, 2023
books2read.com/Sophiasmagicbeans
​If you enjoy the town of Lake Unami and it's residents, then you should grab a copy of Rainbow Sprinkles 
 https://books2read.com/u/38QEoa Here are a few more books from Jelly Beans and Spring Things Series. ​Bunny Hunt
by
Margaret Carter
​April 10, 2023
Melanie, a professional doula struggling to conceive a baby of her own, has a strange encounter at a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. After she rescues a wild rabbit from a runaway dog and the animal seemingly changes into a heavily pregnant, human-size rabbit woman, Melanie convinces herself she saw only a woman in a costume. But that same night a desperate plea for help sounds inside her head. In response, she undertakes a trek that feels like a dream—until it becomes urgently real, forcing her to stretch to the limits of her training and beyond. What reward will she win if she succeeds?
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BTCH4MCW
When the Hope Rose Blooms
​by
Annette Miller

Blair Mallone, an elf agent for the Holiday Security Agency, is given the assignment of protecting a magical flower called the Hope Rose. When she arrives in the small town of Garland Falls, MN, she finds security around the rose lacking. But the man charged with the rose's protection definitely isn't lacking anything, except taking his task a little more seriously.
Lucas Callahan is one of the fairy folk known as a Green Man. He's been in charge of taking care of the Hope Rose for years. When Blair Mallone comes into his life, he's surprised at how attracted he is to her. He reminds himself he needs to focus his attention on the rose, but Blair sneaks into his thoughts at odd times.
A band of evil fairies have made it their mission to steal the Hope Rose and snuff out its light. Blair and Lucas have to fight their growing attraction and concentrate on protecting the Hope Rose, or all the realms will be destined to despair forever.
April 3, 2023
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BTCF5CZ7​ Rescuing Jellybean
by 
​Nicki Pascarella
​
When Conner Sullivan follows a trail of jelly beans to find an orphaned Sheltie, he immediately knows that he wants to adopt the beautiful dog. The only thing standing in his way is sexy Rainey Thibodeau, the uptight workaholic farmer who runs the Moose Pond Dog Rescue.
No matter what, Rainey won’t give in to Connor. So what if he has the body of a Greek god, hair the color of a penny in the sun, and the eyes of an angel. The arrogant ass stole her heart over fifteen years ago, and he won’t get one more thing from her... including the dog called Jellybean.
April 5, 2023
http://bit.ly/3WXYDSX​
https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Jellybean-Jelly-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BTCDN5MZ​ The Jelly Bean Jump Project
By Terry Segan
Fate drew them together. Will their dream of time travel keep them apart?

Keira longed to do something amazing with her life. When offered a chance to join a time travel
program, she didn’t hesitate. With her soulmate by her side, nothing could be more perfect.
Grayson never believed happiness would find him until he met Keira. Lightning struck twice
when both got accepted into The Jelly Bean Jump Project, a time travel experiment. Only a
handful of applicants made the cut each year.
One of the requirements—no family ties. Keira and Grayson were alone in the world except for
each other. An adventure of a lifetime awaited, until a glitch in the system threatened to tear
them apart. Would they walk away from their fantasy or surrender their hearts in exchange?

April 17, 2023
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Project-...-
ebook/dp/B0BVRW4H3Q
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-jel...-
things-by-terry-segan Raining Jelly Beans
by
Vicky Burkholder

Delia loves her life at the lodge but when an email arrives threatening her happiness, she vows to fight to protect her children. Hoping her ex won’t follow through with his threats, she confides her concerns to a local cop and her brother’s best friend Noah.
Noah has loved Delia from afar for a long time. But he knows she’s off limits because she’s Max’s little sister. So, when she asks for his help, he puts his love on the back burner to find her kidnapped twin girls and put her ex-husband behind bars.
Will their future rain Jellybeans and will love win over evil?
April 17, 2023
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVRQQMN4​ Back in Time with Jelly Beans
by
Michelle Godard-Richer
A sweet time-travel romance.
Fueled by curiosity, and her dream of becoming a big-time journalist, Bella Thomas digs deep into the history of her small town. Mayflower thrived until the local Jelly Bean factory burned to the ground in 1927, killing handsome founder, Henry Hinchcliffe, and devastating the economy.
In a twist of fate, instead of Bella finding the past, she's snatched out of the present and transported to the factory a year before the fire. There she is rescued by the sweet and swoon-worthy Henry.
Bella can’t stop herself from falling for him even though he’s destined to marry another and suffer a tragic fate. Without any regard for her own happiness, Bella is determined to prevent the fire and save Henry. Even if he can never be hers.
Release June 12, 2023
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1HL73RR
Blame it on the Moon
by 
Marilyn Baron
Can she blame the Blood Moon for her lost years?
What if you went outside one evening to observe the Blood Moon and when you came back
in, it was three years later, on the night of the next Blood Moon. And everything had
changed during those lost years. There was another woman in your husband’s bed,
younger and slimmer than you. Your daughter had gotten married to the man whose mother
had taken your place. They have a daughter, who was named after a missing and
presumed dead grandmother—you. What would you do? Try to reclaim your life? Or realize
it was the time and the season for starting over?
June 21, 2023.
​
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-case-of-the-missing-botticelli-a-massimo-domingo-mystery-book-1-by-marilyn-baron 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=marilyn+baron&qid=
​