Tina Gayle's Blog, page 3

Looking for #Romance and #Ghost - McKee's Ghost @AnitaPhilmar

McKee’s Ghost is a sensual romance that is included in the box set
The Good, the Bad and the Ghostly.




Amazon


It’s also available as a standalone which includes a bonus story called McKee’s Family


Amazon





Blurb for McKee’s Ghost


His fiancée called off their engagement after be accosted by a ghost in his house.


Now, a beautiful ghost detective has shown up at his ranch, saying his brother has hired her to take care of the unwanted spirit.


Konnor McKee is more than happy with PSI Agent Ruth Oliva Wilson. One look and he was hooked. Now, if he can only get some help from a ghost, he might be able to secure himself a bride after all.


With the return of his ex-fiancee, his life is turn upside down by an angry ghost, a vindictive woman and a sexy medium. Konnor doesn’t know which way to turn.


Can he get everyone out of this alive and marry the PSI Agent?


Or has he lost all hope of a happy future because of the ruthless ghost of one of his ancestors?  




Excerpt:
Taking his anger with himself out on the young man, Konnor grabbed the glass. “And when exactly did you see Miss Wilson?”
Henry shuffled backward. “I saw her around the corner of the house when I was heading home. But then, I couldn’t leave.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I figured you might want me to be close by. Maybe act as a chaperone or something, so she doesn’t hogtie you into marrying her.”
Konnor set the full glass of water on the kitchen table next to a bowl of apples. “I’m not a young buck like you. I can have a woman visit without taking advantage of the situation. Now, skedaddle.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t mind staying a while longer if you need me to.” Henry edged along the counter to the back door and pointed to the table. “I also cut up some meat and set out the biscuits you made this morning.”
“Thanks. Now get. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.” Konnor waved the boy out of the house and surveyed the food. With the table set with plates and silver, they wouldn’t have to wait to eat.
Nevertheless, what would Ruth think? Would she be happy with a cold meal? Or should he heat something else up?




The Good, the Bad and the Ghostly.


Amazon


It’s also available as a standalone which includes a bonus story called McKee’s Family


Amazon


Thanks for sharing,

Tina

#RomanticTravel with Iris Blobel and #Excerpt New Beginnings #romance

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to travel to the Australian Outback. One night, we sat by the campfire and with clear skies we were able to locate the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, as well as planets that were only visible due to the clarity of the atmosphere.
Since then I consider “stargazing” as very romantic.





~~  New Beginnings ~~





♥♦♥  BLURB ♥♦♥


The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.
Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.
Mark O’Connor, attorney in Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not his casual lover Linda.
But then there’s Zach, Sophie’s sexy neighbour from across the road… and a very good friend of Clara’s.
Will unravelling the mystery unravel Sophie and Mark’s promise of a future?




AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2a1BSJ7
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/29FTb4B
AMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2a9yKgW




♥♦♥5 STAR REVIES ♥♦♥


Sophie is barely a woman herself yet she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. After her father abandons her at a young age and her mother passes away, she's left to raise her 8 year old sister Mia on her own.
When Sophie and Mia inherit a house in Hobart, they pack up all their belongings, which sadly fit in a few suitcases and move. After meeting with the gorgeous and sweet lawyer, Mark, Sophie and Mia set out to make this their new home.
But after everything Sophie's endured, she can't help but to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if it's a mistake? What if it isn't her house? What if, this last shot at building a life is taken away from them in an instant.
Iris does an incredible job of creating characters you can't help but to be on their side as you hold your breath wishing for a happy ending.


***


Wow...what a tangled web we weave! Sophie has got it coming in all directions with the mystery of the testator.
These are the type of stories that I love...since it has a bit of everything in it. Not only do we get a bit of a love triangle but add some mystery and thriller to it. Now, that makes a perfect book by Ms. Blobel!
But let me remind you that this is nothing new since I find myself always wrapped up in this author's writing since she writes with emotion and feelings. Whether it be anger, happiness, sadness - you name it...Ms. Blobel gives us the whole package in her stories!




♥♦♥EXCERPT ♥♦♥


Sophie Levesque stared at the attorney in front of her, waiting for some answers. She and her little sister, Mia, had been quietly sitting in Mr. O’Connor’s office for more than half an hour, learning about the details of their inheritance.
Once he was finished, silence hung in the air before she asked with raised eyebrows. “Who?”
“Clara Catherine Bellinger.”
Mia leaned closer to her elder sister and gave a soft tug on Sophie’s shirt. “Who is she?”
Sophie shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a clue.” Then turned her attention back on Mr. O’Connor and asked the same thing. “Who is she?”
The handsome attorney on the other side of the massive desk leaned forward and rested his elbows on it before he started to repeat his earlier speech. Although hearing his words, Sophie still found it all very hard to comprehend. Here she was in this old office, furnished with heavy antique oak furniture, the curtains in a pretty shade of aubergine, and the carpet beneath her shoes thick and warm in a matching shade, hearing about an inheritance from someone she’d never even heard of.
Startled by the subtle sound of the clock chiming across the road, Sophie’s gaze turned to the window, where she saw the post office building across the road. It looked impressive and old. It’d been only a few hours since they’d arrived in Hobart, the most southern capital in Australia, but she already liked it. A lot more than Sydney, the place she’d lived all her life.
Hauled back from her thoughts, she heard Mr. O’Connor say, “I believe she was a distant relative of yours. I’m afraid I don’t have any further details.”
Sophie arched an eyebrow in disbelief, doubting the accuracy of it all. Not only did she try not to question his competence as a lawyer, but she also hoped it wasn’t a dreadful misunderstanding.
With a slight shrug of her shoulder, she asked, “Why not?”
He met her gaze steadily. “Pardon me?”
Sitting up straight, she repeated, “Why not? Why aren’t there any further details?”
He rubbed his chin with his fingers, his unease now obvious, and although she almost felt sorry for him, she tried not to care. She needed to know more. And not just the what, but why and who as well.




♥♦♥MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥
IRIS BLOBEL


Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London, as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.
Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.




Social Media Links:
Click here to subscribe to Iris’ Newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/iris_blobel/
Thanks for sharing,
Tina

Interesting #RomanticTravel by Charlene Raddon and #Romance #Excerpt

Since I was a child I’ve wanted to travel the Oregon Trail and experience what those intrepid pioneers experienced as they traveled across the vast unsettled West. Now, decades later (I won’t say how many) I still love to travel and I’d still love to travel the Oregon Trail, what’s left of it. 


So, when I wrote my first book, the Oregon Trail was a natural location for me to choose for setting my story, Tender Touch. It’s a tale of fear, desperation, escape, prejudice, love and the kind of courage and endurance it took all those pioneers to make such a trip.

 


Blurb: 
Three nightmarish years of marriage had shattered Brianna Wight’s sheltered world. Faking her own murder, she fled St. Louis…harboring terrible secrets that could mean her death.


The tragic loss of his Indian wife left Columbus Nigh a wanderer; necessity made him a wilderness guide. But now he found himself drawn to the enigmatic woman who’d hired him to lead her westward. Her gentle strength stirred his lonely heart…her tender beauty aroused his deepest passions.


But the perils of the Oregon Trail paled beside the murderous wrath of the man who tracked them across the harsh frontier. Brianna knew the only way to save herself and Columbus was to risk their tender love. Only then could she free herself from the horrors of the past—and embrace a rapturous future.


Excerpt:


St. Louis, Missouri, April 1849
Brianna Wight’s heart pounded as she reluctantly fol­lowed her housekeeper’s son inside the dingy, cavernous livery stable. She felt as though she were entering the very bowels of hell.
Heat from the blacksmith’s shop blasted her delicate skin through her clothes and fluttered the veil covering her face as she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dark­ness. The flames leaping from the forge and the murky silhouettes of men, dancing about the fire like so many devils, were all she could make out.
Harsh, angry voices flew at her out of the blackness, like hurtled knives. Instant terror stiffened her body, and she threw up an arm to shield her face.
“Wait your turn, stinkin’ squawman. Whaddya need yer horse shod for anyways? It’s only one o’ them Injun ponies. Get back to yer slut squaw an’ have her pick the lice from yer hair, why doncha?”
The voice that answered was soft, deep and—Brianna thought—deceptively calm, but the words were unclear.
“Why, you bastard!” the first voice yelled.
The sound of flesh and bone striking flesh and bone froze Brianna. Her heart stuttered. That sound was entirely too familiar, as was the pain that always followed. She tensed, waiting to feel the expected blow.
Instead, a man sailed toward her out of the smithy. Brianna screamed in the instant before he slammed into her. Together, they tumbled to the straw-littered floor in a tangle of arms, legsand skirts.
“You blasted squawman!” someone bellowed. “Look what ya done now. Get up, damn you! That’s a lady you’re laying on.”
Brianna fought for air and shoved frantically at the heavy man weighing down her already bruised and bat­tered body. Pain from a hundred places threatened to rend her unconscious. Inside her head, a voice shouted, “It’s not Barret!  Not Barret! ” But the fear had her in its grip. She could not stop battling for her life, as she had been forced to do, so many times before.
Close to her ear,a low rumbling voice muttered, “Hell- fire! Give it up, woman. I ain’t gonna hurt you.”
Hands like steel bands pinned her wrists to the hay-and horseshit-strewn dirt floor. His panted breath warmed her cheek, smelling of tobacco, and, oddly enough, apples. Brianna felt her breasts flatten against his hard chest, felt that same hard chest expand and deflate along with hers, as they each gasped for air. Something stirred inside her, something she had never felt when Barret held her this way, something that left her confused, as well as scared.
“All right,” the low voice rumbled. “I’m gonna get up now.”
The weight lifted from her body. He towered above her, ten feet tall and at least three across. As she lay there staring up at him through her veil, still fighting off the fear, he reached down to offer her a hand up. She could see better now, well enough to note that his palm was dirty and callused, the smallest of the long, slender fingers missing a joint.
“You all right?” he asked, not unkindly
Before she could gather enough sense and wind to answer, Sean and his mother were there, bending over her. Brianna groaned as they hauled her to her feet. Every bone in her body ached. It was all she could do to stay upright while Mrs. O’Casey brushed the dirt and straw from her rumpled skirts. She refused to give way to the tears and pain and terror that threatened to engulf her. If she couldn’t even survive one day of freedom without knuckling under, how would she live long enough to start a new life?


Charlene Raddon’s first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when a vivid dream drove her to drag out a typewriter and begin writing. She’s been writing ever since. Because of a love for romance novels and the Wild West, her primary genre is historical romance. At present, she has five books originally published in paperback by Kensington Books. More recently these were published as e-Books by Tirgearr Publishing. In May, 2016 Charlene self-published her ebooks with new covers. Charlene also designs book covers and other graphic materials for authors at her site, http://silversagebookcovers.com.


Links:
Buy link for Tender Touch: https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Touch-Charlene-Raddon-ebook/dp/B01DYEJAYA/
http://charleneraddon.com
http://charleneraddon.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/charleneraddon
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000APG1P8

Thank for sharing,
Tina

A #RomanticTravel Suggestion & #Excerpt from Brothers in Blue: Max @JeanneStJames

One of my favorite places to go in Fall is Moosehead Lake in Maine. I’ve stayed several times in the quaint town of Greenville, ME, at the south end of the lake. It has no commercialization at all. Everyone is friendly. Every morning and evening, it is a habit to go “hunt” for moose. Hunting, as in a camera, not a gun. The majestic beasts are impressive in person. You can find them grazing in and around bogs. There’s plenty to do there every season. It’s a hidden gem!






New release by Jeanne St. James: BROTHERS IN BLUE: MAX





Book 1 of the Brothers in Blue trilogy
Genre: Contemporary Erotic romance involving an Alpha man in uniform!
Length: Novel


Blurb:


Big city party-girl Amanda Barber has been spoiled most of her life. But life for Amanda suddenly becomes a major challenge: adapting to small town life, dealing with her handicapped brother and constantly butting heads with a frustrating local cop.

As a police officer and former Marine, “responsibility” is Max Bryson’s middle name. Never having been in a serious relationship, he has no plans for being in one in the near future. He likes being his own man. And even if he were interested in a serious relationship, he certainly wouldn’t choose it to be with someone so immature and irresponsible as Amanda. But no matter how hard he tries, he can’t get sexy Amanda out of his head or his heart. Watching her mature in front of his eyes, his protectiveness towards her only strengthens.

Bossy and possessive aren’t the only words Amanda uses to describe this frustrating cop. She can’t deny just looking at the man makes her tremble. But she’s done with having anyone control her and this man isn’t going to be any different. Or is he?


Excerpt:


She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled her nose into his neck. She could feel his strong pulse against her cheek.
It felt so good to be in his arms. She circled his tattoo with her finger. Semper Fi. Mary Ann had made sure to tell Amanda that it meant “always faithful.”
“Did you always want to be a cop?”
He had one hand on her hip and the other on her thigh, rubbing it slowly back and forth. “Yes.”
She waited a moment, and when he said nothing further, she prodded. “Why?”
His deep voice resonated through his chest. “I was always in awe of my grandfather and my father. That’s why I followed in their footsteps. That’s why all three of us did. The Marines first, to serve our country, and then the police department, to serve our community.”
“To protect and serve, huh?”
The pride exuded from his words. “It’s the Bryson family motto.”
She moved her nose up to nuzzle him behind the ear. “Well, you can protect and serve me anytime.”
“I’d planned to since the minute you bitched me out in that parking lot when you first came to town.”
She raised her head, pushing herself up with a palm against his chest. “You were only trying to get into my pants.”
“True…” he said slowly.
Amanda grabbed a nearby decorative pillow and whacked him.
“Hey! You didn’t let me finish. True, but when you saw me in my uniform, you just wanted a big ol’ piece of this bad boy.” He opened his arms wide as if offering himself to her.
Amanda whacked him again. “Yeah, right.”
“You can’t say you didn’t want this.” He reached out, and his long fingers cupped her face as he leaned in to kiss her. It was only a slight brush, leaving her wanting more.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Would you have kissed me if I had torn up the ticket?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“For twenty-five bucks? Get real. I wanted to take out that retractable metal stick you carry and beat you over the head.”
Max laughed. “You mean my ASP baton?”
“Whatever.”
“Only because you were sexually frustrated.”
“You wish.”
He poked her side gently. “Admit it.”
“No.”
“C’mon.”
“Okay. You’re right. I was sexually frustrated because I couldn’t jump your bones right there in the middle of town, in the free parking lot on the pavement amid a bag of spilled dog toys, while Greg looked on. Satisfied?”
His smile widened. “Yep.”
“Good. Now kiss me again.” She grabbed the back of his head and pulled it down until their lips were a breath apart. “And do it like you mean it this time.”
The light peck was easily forgotten as he claimed her mouth with his, crushing her to him. This was what she had been waiting for. She groaned into his mouth, tangling her tongue with his. She felt a twinge and wiggled her hips in his lap, feeling his body harden.


Buy link:  http://www.loose-id.com/brothers-in-blue-max.html


Author Bio:
 Jeanne St. James is an erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only 13 started writing when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.
She has a few new releases coming up in 2016 and 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter.


 Website: http://www.jeannestjames.com
Blog: http://jeannestjames.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jeannestjames
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeannestjames
Newsletter: https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=JJ4625816541890


Thanks for sharing,

Tina

Don't Miss Out On Scandalous #Spirit #Ereader and #Win

STUFF YOUR E-READER with Scandalous Spirited ReadsWednesday, October 5, 2016!​66+ FREE books and $0.99 BARGAINSPlus Last Chance to WIN a $300 Amazon Gift Card.Just answer one simple question when you enter the giveaway.
By sharing about the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Linked In -you increase your chance to win!
Enter the giveaway here.
No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited.Contest ends October 5, 2016. Winner will be notified on October 6, 2016.
*** By entering this competition contestants agree to subscribe to the
Scandalous Reads newsletter and further giveaways from CPM Books.
You also agree to receive author news from: Ashe Barker, Cara Bristol, Cassie Alexander,Fiona Murphy, Iona Findley, Kathy Kulig, Rachael Slate, Rebecca Hunter, Ruth Staunton, S.N. McKibben***

Tina

An Alaska #RomanticTravel & #Excerpt from Staking a Claim @DevonMcKay2014

My romantic getaway would be Alaska. I lived there for 27 years and have yet to find a more beautiful place, which is one of the reasons I wrote Staking A Claim.
~ Devon McKay
 

Staking A Claim
Blurb:                 
For most people, seeing Alaska is a dream come true. For Miami Beach resident, Samantha Held, it is merely a job assignment. Creating an advertisement for vacationing in the state gets her one step closer to achieving her career goal—partnership in Kolinsky’s Advertisement Agency. 
Blake Langford is not willing to accept any exploitation of his beloved state, no matter how desirable the striking, southern blonde bombshell with fiery green eyes is, and he’s determined to sabotage Sam’s goal in every way. Falling in love with the enemy, however, was never part of the plan.
 

Excerpt:
     Fuming, Sam held his gaze as she considered his offer. She couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to be dropped into her lap. She could learn everything she needed to know about Alaska and have a handsome, but overly protective, guide of the state to show her. Not to mention what his knowledge could do for the brochure.
     It would also mean more time in his temperamental company.
     Sam considered her options. She had gotten lucky finding Carlton Landing, but what about locating her elusive hotel? As proven last night, it was more than evident she couldn’t even read a map correctly. So, what real choice did she have?
     She pictured her new office…the view of the ocean…the partnership. She was willing to take the chance. Besides, she’d never been the kind of girl who shied away from a challenge. Hell, so far, her life had been a series of challenges.
     “It’s a deal.” Her voice came off cool and professional despite the quickening of her heartbeat. She offered her hand to shake on the agreement. “We haven’t officially met. Samantha Held. I go by Sam.”
     “Blake Langford.” He extended his, grasping her hand and repeating the name she already knew by heart. He held onto her grasp for a minute longer than necessary. “I go by Wolf.”
     Again, the breathtaking grin resurfaced, and an odd pulsation spiked through Sam, leaving her insides quivering like a bowl of gelatin as she second guessed her decision.
     What kind of fool makes a deal with a man called Wolf?


Book Purchase Link(s):        
https://www.amazon.com/Staking-Claim-Devon-McKay-ebook/dp/B014BWB7Q8/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/staking-a-claim-devon-mckay/1122590522?ean=2940150802971
 

Author Bio:
Devon McKay writes contemporary romance with a western flair. If she's not writing, she's busy with chores on her small ranch, working on a stained glass project or walking one of her three dogs through the woods. Her greatest joy is putting a smile on a readers face and hearing from fans. 

Author Links:          http://devonmckay.weebly.com/
     https://www.facebook.com/DevonMcKay2014 
     https://twitter.com/devonmckay2014 
       dev.mckay@yahoo.com



Thanks for sharing,

Tina

Till Life Do Us Part by Carmen Stefanescu and #RomanticTravel to Romania

Fall #Romantic  Travel


It’s true that Romania, my country,  is the homeland of Count Dracula, the infamous vampire, but when you visit the country in autumn you are not only going to enjoy its imagery of medieval castles but also spectacular views of autumn’s finest foliage.
 You can enjoy romantic walks in leafy parks dusted with crunchy auburn, red and gold leaves. 


Or visit the rural areas for a rustic experience and fill your lungs with the strong, fresh air in the mountains. It’s also hard not to feel starry-eyed among the rolling hills and fragrant vines of wine regions.
And what place can be more suitable for rekindling the sparks of love than a visit at The Gate of the Kiss that features a kiss motif on the gate pillars?



                            Till Life Do Us Part



Blurb
Barbara Heyer can hear voices of dead people. They whisper of their deaths, seek comfort for those left behind, and occasionally even warn her about future events. But when Barbara’s brother, Colin, is accused of murder, it will take more than her gift to prove his innocence.
Becoming smitten with the handsome investigator, Detective Patrick Fischer, is a serious complication given his assignment to her brother’s case. Barbara senses there is something far deeper—and perhaps much older—than the surface attraction between them. Could that be why she’s visited by a mysterious woman named Emma in her dreams? Could past life regression tie all the seemingly unconnected events together?
Barbara and Patrick must overcome heartache to find the truth to save Colin, and perhaps themselves.


Excerpt
Patrick poured the bubbly liquid into the glasses. He offered one to Barbara and raised his.
“To the undercover, paranormal investigator, Barbara.” He smiled and touched his glass to hers, looking straight into her eyes.
“To you, too, Patrick, Detective Fischer. If  it hadn’t been for your determination to find out the truth, many families wouldn’t have had the small consolation to see their relatives’ murderers behind bars.” She took a sip of the champagne.
“There’s something else I’d like to tell you,” Patrick said. He cleared his throat and took one of her hands in his. “It’s something that I wanted to tell you... to ask you for a while, but it never seemed the right moment.”
She heard the tremor in his voice and was sure what was to come. Yet, she didn’t want to make it easier for him. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the touch of his hands. He was in love with her as she was with him.
“So, as I was saying... I want to ask you if—”
The telephone rang again, cutting like a steel blade through the thick emotional atmosphere surrounding them.
“Oh, not again.” Barbara rolled her eyes upward and headed to the bloody thing. She picked up the receiver and said in a voice that sounded a bit irritated, “Yes. What? Who? Yes, one moment, please.” She turned to Patrick, “It’s for you. An emergency, it seems.”
Patrick grabbed the phone, “Yes, Fisher here. What? When? I’m on my way,” he said and put down the receiver.
“I’m sorry, Barbara. There’s an emergency, indeed. Bruce has been injured. He’s in the hospital right now.”
“Oh, goodness. Is it bad?”
“I’ve no idea. They didn’t say. I’m going there. Sorry I spoiled the evening.”
“No need for apology, Patrick,” Barbara replied hiding her disappointment. “Duty comes first in your job, I know.”
“I’ll call you. Soon. There was something important I wanted to tell... to ask you. Goodnight, Barbara,”  he said and kissed her hand affectionately. He hurried outside.
Barbara stood in the middle of the room. It looked empty and cold without him. She took the bottle of champagne, pushed the cork back into it, then went to the kitchen and put it in the fridge.
Moments later, she returned to the living room. With a reflexive gesture she picked up the packet of cigarettes Patrick had forgotten on the table. She weighed them in her hand for a moment and smiling, opened a drawer of the bookshelf and placed the cigarettes inside. She took her book from the bookshelf and sat on the couch, enveloped by the faint smell of aftershave left behind by Patrick.
Jack stretched, then came to Barbara and curled up in her lap.
“Yes, Jack. It is like that. It’s always been like that. Just you and me.” She sighed and opened the book. She failed to notice a faint light hovering outside the window.





Author Bio
Carmen Stefanescuresides in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
High school teacher of English and German in her native country, and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world that of the books.
Several of her poems were successfully published in a collection of Contemporary English Poems, Muse Whispers vol.1 and Muse Whispers vol.2 by Midnight Edition Publication, in 2001 and 2002.
 Her first novel, Shadows of the Past, was released in 2012 by Wild Child Publishing, USA.
                   Carmen joined the volunteer staff at Marketing For Romance Writers Author blog and is the coordinator of #Thursday13 posts.
Other books by Carmen Stefanescu:
Shadows of the Past – paranormal/light romance/light historical/light mystery
https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-the-Past-ebook/dp/B00AK2D9I8/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354874514&sr=1-15&keywords=shadows+of+the+past#nav-subnav


You can stalk the author here:
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/
https://twitter.com/Carmen_Books
http://www.pinterest.com/carmens007/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624397.Carmen_Stefanescu
https://plus.google.com/117216040843648957646/posts
http://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Stefanescu/e/B00APVDGAA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30115839-till-life-do-us-part


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16249401-shadows-of-the-past
Trailer for Till Life Do Us Part: https://youtu.be/UbuntlWISc0
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Till-Life-Do-Us-Part-ebook/dp/B01GGKSQEY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1464868076&sr=1-1&keywords=till+life+do+us+part


 Short URL for Amazon:    https://goo.gl/H0dqkb
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/till-life-do-us-part-carmen-stefanescu/1123896837?ean=9781625263858
 Thanks for sharing. Those are some beautiful pictures,
Tina

Fall #RomanticTravel with Linda McLaughlin #romance #excerpt

Fall #RomanticTravel: Quebec
Quebec is one of the most romantic cities in North America, seeming more European than NorthAmerican. It’s also one of the settings I used in my French & Indian War-set historical romance, Rogue’s Hostage. When I was writing the book, my husband and I took a vacation to Quebec Province so I could do some research. We started in Montreal, where I managed to figure out how to navigate the Metro using my college French.


After a few days exploring Montreal, we took the train to Quebec, and I fell in love with the charming old city, though I had to keep reminding myself that the setting in my book was the previous city, the one that was destroyed by the British shelling. I was particularly interested in visiting Notre Dame des Victoires, the small church in Lower Town which was destroyed in the shelling, but later rebuilt in the same style. In the book, Mara seeks comfort inside this lovely little church.



Since I wanted to stay in the old part of the city, I booked us a room at Chateau Frontenac, the venerable Canadian Railway hotel. Picturesque setting, but we were pretty sure they gave us the smallest room in the place! Instead of a view looking out toward the river, our window looked down onto an alley. Ah, well, we didn't spend much time in the room anyway. We were far more interested in wandering the winding streets, taking pictures of the old houses and the fort and battlefield.


On the last day we took a boat ride on the St. Lawrence for spectacular views of the city and countryside. What a beautiful area! I'd love to go back some day.


(Note: I took this trip back in the pre-digital photography days so any photos are from my Art Explosion CD collection or DepositPhotos.com.)


Rogue’s Hostage
By Linda McLaughlin
Historical Romance


Blurb:


His hostage... 


In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.


Her destiny...


French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left.  But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.


Buy Links:
Available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks,Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

Excerpt:
Note: In this excerpt, Mara meets Jacques’s aristocratic half-brother.
Mara soon fell in love with Quebec. During her first three weeks there, she took every opportunity to explore the town. She peeked into shop windows, listened in on conversations, and absorbed all the sights, sounds, and smells of a city.
She climbed the rutted, muddy road to Upper Town and happily wandered the streets, enjoying the pale sun that peeked between the tall buildings and around the church spires that seemed to reach right to heaven. At last she had found her way back to civilization.
She smiled at passersby, most of whom looked at her askance. She could not blame them, knowing that in her worn linsey-woolsey she must appear the lowliest of peasants. If only she had a new dress. Perhaps when she finished working off her captivity Jacques would pay her real wages, enough to buy material for a gown. Her fingers itched to take up needle and thread again.
She passed by the Ursuline Convent and stopped to stare. What induced a young woman to enter into that kind of cloistered existence, to vow never to marry? Not that marriage was so wonderful, but to voluntarily give up any chance of having a child of one’s own, that she could not understand.
Since the weather had warmed up a little, green buds were starting to appear on the trees lining the river. Occasional patches of snow still dotted the cliffs, but spring was in the air, and as the earth awakened from its winter sleep, so did her senses. All she had needed was hope. A person could live indefinitely on hope, she decided.
Free. Soon she’d be free.
Earlier that morning, the city had buzzed with excitement when the sails of a ship were spotted upriver. When she returned to Lower Town, she saw that a crowd had gathered at the docks to greet the arrivals. Several high-ranking French officers were among the passengers. Mara gaped at their fine, white, woolen uniforms.
The crowd called out to the shortest of the men.
“Bougainville, what news from France?”
The officer just grimaced and shook his head. Disappointed murmurs swept through the onlookers, and they began to disperse. Ah, Mara thought. The war must not be going well for the French. She smiled to herself, trying to hide her satisfaction. Perhaps it would all be over soon and she could return to Geneva.
She had started to head back to the tavern when her attention was caught by the taller officer. He was slender, with gray eyes, and there was something about him that seemed familiar. Puzzling.
He turned to a soldier in the crowd. “You, there. I am looking for a particular officer. His name is Jacques Corbeau. Do you know him?”
As the soldier shrugged and shook his head, Mara stepped forward. “Excuse me, sir. I know where Lieutenant Corbeau can be found.”


Author bio:
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history, so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team of Lyn O'Farrell.


You can find her online at http://lindalyndi.com
Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor
Twitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Thanks Linda for sharing. Now if I can only get to Quebec.

Tina

A #99cents #sale on IT Exec's Baby by @AuthorTinaGayle #romance

The 1st book of the Executive Wives' Club is99cents - Marketing Exec's WidowNow2nd book is on #Sale for #99cents




Brie Sullivan has a new baby girl and there are a million things to do, but Brie doesn’t have the energy to keep up. Why? She’s still grieving for her husband and suffering from baby blues, but she won’t let that stop her. She’s come up with the answer--find a new husband to be the father of her kids.

Jason Clark has been doing everything he can to help Brie. He loves her but can he accept her proposal of marriage knowing she’s not thinking clearly about the future?



Excerpt:

A tall silhouette stood behind the glass panels framing the door. She paused, her hand resting on the doorknob. “Who is it?”

“Brie, it’s me, Jason. Is everything okay?”

Wonderful, he wouldn’t stay long, not after everything that had happen during Isabella’s birth.  Then again, could she blame him? She had clung to him as if he were a life line, becoming upset if he even stepped away from the hospital bed.

A little voice sounded in her head. Don’t invite him in.

She nodded her agreement. He didn’t need to see the dirty dishes in the sink or the half-folded laundry in the living room or that she hadn’t vacuumed in more than a week. She brushed back her hair and then flipped the deadbolt.

Inching the door open, she peeked through the crack at the son of one of the executives’ wives. Marianne had requested her son help Brie, just handle a few small jobs around the house so she wouldn’t have to. Thankfully, Jason had agreed. Now, he seemed to arrive whenever she needed help.

The chilly night air touched her cheek. Afraid he’d see her tears, she brushed her hands quickly over her face and rushed through her greeting. “Hey, Jason, we’re all fine, so you can just head on home.”

“I’m in no hurry.” He edged forward, his hand resting on the door. The gap widened. “I had a job at a house down the street. They needed a toilet reseated. Only took a few minutes, so I decided to stop by on the way home and see how you were doing.”

Brie blocked the door from swinging open any further. She struggled for a way to deny him entrance. His mother was one of her best friends. He coached her son’s little league baseball team, and had stood beside her during the birth of her daughter.

“Jason, it’s really not a good time. The house is a mess. The kids are in bed and well...” Her cordial manners sent a bullet of guilt through her for being so impolite. She edged back a step. The crack grew wider. “If you want to come inside, I guess I can rustle you up something to eat.”

Yes, food, the ever-ready gift of peace.

She’d hide in the kitchen, while he rested in one of the recliners in the living room. Then once she had everything ready, he’d eat, leave, end of story. He’d head home, and all would be right with the world. She frowned as he stepped across the threshold, but did she really want to cook?






Read First Chapter of "IT's Exec's Baby"
Purchase ebook at:


Smashwords | B&N | Kobo | Apple | At Amazon (worldwide link)


Thanks everyone for your support


Tina

#RomanticTravel Lake George, #NewYork and #Excerpt A Taming Season by @GemWriter

Thanks for hosting me for the Fall #RomanticTravel Exchange.




One of my favorite places for a romantic vacation is Lake George, N.Y. My family used to vacation there every summer when I was growing up, and my husband and I have continued the tradition. Which is why I’ve set the first Love at Lake George Novel, A Taming Season, right there!


A Taming Season: A Love at Lake George Novel


Genre: Contemporary Romance


Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1UwbK9d


Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/1RCcQeU




Blurb:


Before she can move on, help other women, Zoe needs to heal herself. Her Cinderella life shattered three years ago one fateful night, leaving her a young widow, scarred inside and out. In an attempt to reclaim her life, bury her demons, and save her job, Zoe sets out for picturesque Lake George to claim the treasured family cottage she recently inherited. The place where she found happiness—before. Reboot, restore to an earlier time.


What she finds is a rundown shack.


The neighboring resort mogul, Jason Rolland, whisks in to her rescue, insisting Zoe stay at his upscale Lakeview Lodge. The wealthy, handsome, star of his own radio show, Jason's Lair, he's a terminal bachelor. But Jason figures he might use the gifts God gave him to convince the sexy redheaded stranger to give up the crumbling eye-sore next door. A challenge he’s definitely up for. He’s been trying to buy the cabin—and demolish it—for years: the last reminder of his own tragic, childhood memories.


Zoe can’t deny her attraction to the tall, dark-haired Jason with his pool-water blue eyes. Definitely fling material—if she can just get past those flashbacks from the night everything changed. And the knowledge that when it comes to happy-ever-after, you usually don’t get a second chance. Hardly possible with the Tiger of Jason’s Lair.


What Jason doesn’t figure on is Zoe’s charms melting his emotional armor. But with his reputation, can he ever win her heart? Can a tiger really change his stripes? Or will their pasts come back to bite them both?














Excerpts






Even from twenty feet away, Jason caught the flare of anger in Zoe’s eyes.
“So you took her right of way and forced her out. Leaving her—and now me—with a worthless piece of land.”
He tipped back his head and squinted, studying her.
Not such a soft, vulnerable little thing after all. This one has a streak of wildcat, though quite ingeniously disguised.
“It’s not exactly worthless.” He spat the four words out, one at a time. “And I didn’t take Delia’s right of way, Ms. Anderson. I purchased it, fair and legal.”
Zoe stalked back, stopping inches away and glaring up at him. She folded her arms across her chest. The action pushed her freckled cleavage into view.
He couldn’t help it. He was a man, after all. His eyes sometimes had a mind all their own. They strayed down toward those luscious looking, speckled mounds. He also couldn’t help the corner of his mouth twitching, just once.
Yup. Spotted mountain wildcat.
She caught him. When he lifted his gaze, her gold-flecked, green eyes had darkened to flint. She made a dangerous, guttural sound as her fisted hands dropped to her sides.
“My attorney,” she said, stomping past him, “will be the one to determine exactly how fair and legal.”




Author Bio:


Claire writes emotional romance. Her heroes are hot, her heroines strong and brave: a combination lighting the spark to fan the flames of your most intense romantic fantasies. Claire's characters are human—they make mistakes, get clumsy sometimes, and they're not too proud to laugh at themselves and each other.


She writes in contemporary and paranormal romance, as well as women’s fiction. Claire's books are like a thrill ride at a theme park. Whether it's spooky-scary, angst-ridden relationships filled with gut-wrenching turmoil, silly chuckle moments, or face-fanning sex, Claire guarantees to take you on an emotionally intense romantic journey.


Links:


Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter        
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Pinterest


Thanks for sharing. Lake Charles sounds like a great place to visit,
Tina