Tina Gayle's Blog, page 30

Tempered Dreams (Book 2 in the Tempered Series) #EggcerptExchange by @psthib

 Tempered Dreams (book 2 in Tempered series)


 
Blurb: Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents.  Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife.  Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened?  Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another? 
 
Excerpt: “Spend the day with me,” he urged. “We’ll go to my place. I’ll take a short nap after which we’ll do whatever your little heart desires.” 
“Anything?” she teased.
Her voice was as enticing as silk and just as alluring. Her excitement set fire to his blood. “Anything.” he assured in a thick voice.
His smoldering gaze, as tender as a caress and just as potent, lowered to her lips, lingered, then raked over her in a hungry gesture before returning to capture hers in a heated embrace. Trina felt as though he was touching her in the most intimate of ways. Her cheeks grew hot, her breath lodged in her throat. Desire washed over her in angry waves. She swallowed hard and tucked trembling hands in her lap, desperately trying to form a coherent sentence. “Please, Scott, don’t look at me like that.”  
He could actually feel her trembling response across the table. His voice lowered another notch. “Like what?”
Trina shook her head. “Like you’re starving to death and could eat me up. Didn’t you have enough food?”
Pushing his plate away, Scott stood and held his hand out to her. Trina placed a trembling one in his firm grip. Pulling her gently to her feet, Scott raised it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “Food is not what I’m hungry for,” he informed her in a husky whisper.
Trina waited as he paid for their meal then followed him to the parking lot as gracefully as possible on legs that wobbled. He paused and in a silent gesture, signaled for her to give him her car keys. His fingers brushed sensuously over her wrist and palm, grasping hers gently when she placed them in his hand.
Locking his heated gaze with hers, Scott raised their clasped hands to his lips, this time lingering over the kiss. He nibbled on her knuckles, teasing the back of her hand with his mouth, then, in one swift movement, turned his attention to the sensitive flesh of her palm and wrist, relieving her of her keys and her senses.
Trina felt the caress to the very core of her being. She moaned, leaning against his hard frame when he pulled her closer. His heat enveloped her until she burned with him, for him. And his lips had never even touched hers.
 
Purchase Links:
Kindle http://amzn.to/151vRiH
Nook http://bit.ly/1b1jrNu
Smashwords http://bit.ly/173ypSN

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”
  
Links:
Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib

What Can You do on #MFRWorg as a #MFRWauthor

Authors CAN DO Book Promotion Okay so now you’ve sold the book – what do you do? The days of the publisher promoting your book is long gone. From the brand new to the seasoned author, self published to large press you have to do most, if not all the leg work.

Trying to figure out where to start is the hard part. We all want the cover of Romantic Times, but my budget laughed so hard tears came to its’ eyes. I need to find a cheaper way. Much cheaper. Like free.

So I started small. How do you get your name out there anyway? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, hit all the social medias you know about and create a presence. Now I’ll admit I haven’t tried all of them. I don’t have the time. Some days I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get it all done, but I keep my ear to the ground and listen when someone else is working with an new one. If is sounds like something I should get into I do.

Create a blog. I fought this one because I didn’t feel I had time to write, but I realized I have a lot of knowledge about writing so put one together, I try to post once a week. You can check it out at www.barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.com

Do guest spots on someone else’s blog. I find this fun to do, although sometimes I have to rack my brain to come up with a subject I haven’t done before. Most ask for a writing related post, but some have interview questions, or just let you send a blurb, excerpt and cover image.

Chat’s are good. I’ve done a few of them. Of course when I do them you can hear the crickets chirping in the back row but I always do them armed and ready. I create my own questions so there is constantly something coming across. I don’t just promo my books – and with 13 titles I can fill several hours of nothing but promo. I try to give a little insight to me and my writing process.

Join groups. I stick to Yahoo, but I have become part of some really great ones. MFRW is one. There is so much knowledge out there and many of the authors are more than happy to share.

Do you have access to print copies of your book? Then do book signings. Go to your local book sellers and set up a signing. Try to have more than one author to sign with you if you can. The more authors the more it will help bring the readers in.

Over the next few blogs I will go into more detail about what I have learned to promote myself on a shoestring. I’ll go into what worked for me and what didn’t work For now, I hope this will help you get started.

See you next month!
Barb:)
Writing for Barbara Donlon Bradley started innocently enough, like most she kept diaries, journals, and wrote an occasional letter but she also had a vivid imagination and wrote scenes and short stories adding characters to her favorite shows and comic books. As time went on she found the passion for writing to be a strong drive for her. Humor is also very strong in her life. No matter how hard she tries to write something deep and dark, it will never happen. That humor bleeds into her writing. Since she can’t beat it she has leThis is a post from http://mfrw.blogspot.com I am a member and enjoy the great advise these wonderful authors have to share. Stop by their site and find out more about the art of writing and promoting. Tina

#EggcerptExchange A Sharp Bend in the Road by Gerard Bianco

 
Blurbs: "A Sharp Bend in the Road" showcases a carnival of amazing and totally different types of stories. From a story about a young man's encounter in an elevator, to a gay couple in a jewelry store, to a woman entering a retirement home, Bianco's characters are real, yet colorful and unique. He has a gift in creating genuine dialogue making each story come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. 5 stars for sure! A fine collection written by one author who clearly knows his craft. --Susan Violante for Reader Views
 
"A virtuosic collection of stories followed by the sharp blade of a killer novella as the final act. Gerard Bianco's stories do not creep up on you: they fall upon you like a raptor plummeting, wings folded, golden eye ablaze. Their signature swirl of caustic irony is bitter, often brutal - a gleam of talons and a sudden cry - resulting almost always in a small death of the heart." -Dianne Benedict, Author of Shiny Objects
 
Synopsis of four of the seventeen stories:
 
From “A Process of Elimination.” When a man purchases a remote log cabin in the Adirondacks, he believes he has found a peaceful haven, until he discovers a stranger dead on his living room rug.
From “The Organization.” A man, looking for a new adventure, joins a unique organization and quickly learns that getting what you want can sometimes lead to unimagined consequences.
From “A Sharp Bend in the Road.” Following a devastating fall, Rita finds herself standing outside the dining hall at an independent living facility. She squeezes the handle of her cane, and her knuckles turn white. Her wire-rimmed glasses accentuate the tears she tries to hide. After eighty-two years, and a lifetime of memories, Rita believes she's been abandoned at the mouth of a fiery dragon that will swallow her up-and she is terrified.
From “The Long Ride.” Two couples set out on a vacation in Maine, only to find their dreamy trip has turned into a getaway nightmare.
Eggcerpt: The Organization             I’m on the run—forced to flee. I must keep moving. It’s the basic rule of survival. Problem is, I can’t run forever. My money, for one thing, is almost gone. I’ve got to stop sometime. Only not yet. I need to be convinced they’re not following me.             I hope it’s not too late. I’m not certain, but this afternoon I thought I was being followed. Do they know where I am? Are they watching me? Waiting for the right moment to grab me? Or is my mind playing tricks? Why do I think they’re closing in on me?             My life is a total nightmare. And I can’t blame anyone but myself. I never appreciated how lucky I was. I took my lifefor granted—as if I deserved all the good things that came my way. If only I had understood the true worth of my life, I never would’ve gotten into the mess I’m in now. At twenty-nine, I was married to a beautiful woman. We enjoyed a spacious modern home. I worked hard at a decent job and built up a considerable savings. My future looked promising. Yet, with all my good luck and fortune, I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I’d always sensed there was something missing in my life. What that might be wasn’t obvious. I could locate no loose ends or red flags, and yet something gnawed at me every day like an unrelenting toothache.             I tried to figure out the source of my discontent, and I attempted to fill the void in many ways. I studied the philosophies of Eastern religions. I poured through self-help books. I meditated. Yet, no matter what I tried, the approach was never enough to fill the emptiness I felt in my gut. Then, one evening, while my wife, Meg, and I were at a dinner party, I overheard bits and pieces about a secret society called the Organization. No one knew much about them. One man believed they were a powerful group that could make things happen. A cute blond in a short black skirt said she’d heard rumors the group had infiltrated the government. Around the table, the discussion continued until our hostess, appearing somewhat nervous, said, “I think it’s best we not talk of these things.” The conversation immediately took a sharp turn toward a more pleasant topic. My curiosity was ignited. I was hooked. I’d heard about secret orders and how their members had the power to influence culture and society. I admired how their exclusivity insured a boon for their members. Deals went down among those who belonged that insured both fortune and fame. A powerful and surreptitious cadre, late-night ancient rituals in darkened rooms, covert symbols of good and evil, business conducted furtively—what could be better? Was this the answer to what I was looking for? I needed to find out. I needed to know more about the Organization: who the members were and what they stood for. I began my quest the following day.  
Gerard Bianco shares a fresh voice in short storytelling.  A Sharp Bend in the Road redefines the art of the short story collection. Seventeen stories, built around absorbing characters, strong conflicts, and sometimes dark and absurdly humorous ingredients, prove that the journey through life never travels in a straight line.
 
 
 
 
Bio:
 
Gerard Bianco is an author, artist/illustrator, and writing coach. He holds an MFA in Writing from Albertus Magnus College.
 
His works include:

The Deal Master (2006) A mystery/thriller novel. Won the Editor's Choice Award and the Publisher's Choice Award.

Discipline: A Play (2012) A love story and a laugh-out-loud comedy that uses wit to depict human frailty. It won the Editor's Choice Award, 2012, and was a Finalist in the 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards.

His short stories have appeared in various literary journals. His lessons, exercises, and advice on the art and craft of creative fiction have appeared on the web and in the book, Now Write! Mysteries: Mystery Fiction Exercises From Today's Best Writers and Teachers.(Tarcher, 2011; Edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson.)

His latest book, A SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD: 17 INTRIGUING STORIES, published January, 2015.

Gerard divides his time between Portland, Maine and Boston.
 
Purchase the book:
 
Amazon link to “A Sharp Bend in the Road” Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-Bend-Road...
 
Amazon link to “A Sharp Bend in the Road” paperback edition: http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-Bend-Road...
 
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Gerard-Bianco/e...
 
Author Contact Info:
 
My website: www.gerardbianco.com
My blog: www.gerardbianco.blogspot.com
http://www.writercoachingprograms.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/GerardBianco...
Google +: google.com/+GerardBianco
 

#EggcerptExchange by @ashley1066york -- The Saxon Bride

The Saxon Bride by Ashley York
Blurb:
 In war torn England the battle lines between Saxon and Norman are clearly drawn. The Saxons must fight for everything they have in the hopes of winning their country back from the Normans who are determined to break their resistance. 
Rowena Godwinson, the sole remaining member of the defeated royal family, stands proudly against the Normans that would trample them underfoot but her nobility and grace make her an ideal pawn in the Norman King William’s play for power with the Saxon people. When he decrees she marry a powerful Norman knight, her subjugation appears to be complete. The handsome soldier with the kind brown eyes and gentle touch is a threat to her determination to defy the interlopers. Can she hold firm to her Saxon heritage and refuse to give in to his advances?
John of Normandy wants only to prove himself worthy of the king's trust. He is rewarded for his service and loyalty with land, titles and a Saxon beauty for a bride. John balks at the marriage, driven by the secret guilt of knowing Rowena's father died by his sword. However, John's reluctance is soon replaced by a burning desire to please this woman and win her over as well as her people.
 As their people look to them for guidance and peace, can John and Rowena find a love that unites all of England?
Website: www.ashleyyorkauthor.com
Facebook
Twitter: @ashley1066york
Amazon  
BarnesandNoble  
Apple
KOBO  

King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court #EggcerptExchange by Kim Iverson Headlee

Love this book? Please join Kim's All-Stars Street Team!

TITLE – King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court (#KASIWC)
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson Headlee
GENRE – Science Fiction/Fantasy Time-Travel RomancePUBLICATION DATE – 1 November 2014 (ebook); 30 April 2015 (audiobook); 30 November 2015 (hardcover)LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 350 pages/70K wordsPUBLISHER – Lucky Bat BooksCOVER ARTIST – Jennifer DoneskeINTERIOR ARTISTS – Jennifer Doneske and Tom DoneskeFEATURE-LENGTH SCRIPTS – Registered trilogy: adaptation of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain, adaptation of KASIWC, and original script The Once and Future Queen; all available upon request.


SYNOPSIS
Morgan le Fay, 6th-century Queen of Gore and the only major character not killed off by Mark Twain in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, vows revenge upon the Yankee Hank Morgan. She casts a spell to take her to 1879 Connecticut so she may waylay Sir Boss before he can travel back in time to destroy her world. But the spell misses by 300 miles and 200 years, landing her in the Washington, D.C., of 2079, replete with flying limousines, hovering office buildings, virtual-reality television, and sundry other technological marvels.

Whatever is a time-displaced queen of magic and minions to do? Why, rebuild her kingdom, of course—two kingdoms, in fact: as Campaign Boss for the reelection of American President Malory Beckham Hinton, and as owner of the London Knights world-champion baseball franchise.
Written as though by the old master himself, King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee offers laughs, love, and a candid look at American society, popular culture, politics, baseball...and the human heart.
BUY LINKSAmazon Kindle:
US | UK | CA | AU | BR | DE | ES | FR | IN | IT | NL | JP | MX

EPUB format for:
Nook | iPad/iPhone | Kobo | Smashwords

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Bee Zee Books | BookBzz | BooksGoSocial | Goodreads |
Character interview of Queen Morgan on Love My KindleEXCERPTKing Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court
by Mark Twain
as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee


Chapter XI: The Queen in Search of a Baseball Club
CLARICE HELPED ME pack my clothing and accessories for the relocation to London: just what I would need for the first brace of weeks, which amounted to eight large traveling cases, one of which was devoted to my hair accoutrements and cosmetics. Not long after arriving in this century, Clarice had introduced me to these wonderful products, which allowed me to create the same visual effect as I had done for decades with the aid of magic; now you sit privy to the secret of how I could cast ever so many enchantments for President Malory and remain looking as glorious as ever.While I was yet sorting through my garments deciding which to bring and which to leave, my thoughts turned toward a leaving of another sort. I must have appeared sorrowful, for of a sudden Clarice asked if aught ailed me.“I shall miss you, Clarice, when I get to London.” Since that answer represented only half the truth, I hurried on with: “And yet I know that you shall perform your duties in continuing to oversee my office here in Washington to the utmost of your considerable abilities.”That made her smile, and she thanked me for the compliment, but her look turned shrewd. “I imagine you’ll miss President Hinton, too.”“Of course I shall. She has become as a sister to me.”I resumed examination of the dress I had been holding, a sexy little black thing that I would have loved to have worn only for Accolon…“Please tell me about him,” said Clarice.“I beg your pardon?”The shrewd look was back. Mayhap it had never left. “Sir Accolon. Queen Morgan, you have not—um, partnered with any man of this century more often than once to my certain knowledge, since I manage your schedule. I suspect that you have not yet found anyone you like, let alone love, as well as he. No one of this era could make you go all moony-eyed while looking at a dress; therefore, you must be thinking about Accolon. So, please tell me about him.”Ha. I knew I had chosen her as my trusted adviser for good reason, and I rewarded her accordingly. As the memories swirled about in my mind, making me yearn even more acutely for Accolon’s company, I said:“He was a knight with very few peers during his lifetime, excepting only Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. And my brother—those three were the only knights who ever bested him in single combat. So naturally, he was big—in all parts and portions—and muscular, and very strong, yet as a lover he was no brute, but as tender as any virgin maid could ever wish for. His intellect was nearly as keen as mine, as was his eagerness to assist me in righting the wrongs inflicted upon me by my brother. He had hair as glossy black as a raven’s wing, which he kept short-cropped in the old Roman style; he once said it was more comfortable under the helmet than having masses of hair stuffed up under and making the head sweat overmuch. It had a fine curl to it that I found most endearing. His eyes were an unforgettable shade of blue, and he had a strong chin that he kept clean-shaven…Lord God in heaven! Who on earth is that?”
HARDCOVER EDITION PLATE: Sandy/Accolon baseball cardCAPTION: A Knight with Few Peers
While I had been discoursing on Accolon’s virtues, Clarice had activated her screen, which was now displaying the image of a man who could have been my dead lover’s twin.Clarice grinned. “You said the other day that you wanted to find another general manager for the Knights. This man is Alexander Leroy ‘Sandy’ Carter, former WBF second baseman and 2073 Tournament MVP for the Connecticut Yankees. Since his retirement as a player, he has served in various capacities for several teams, including as a GM. He is a renowned expert in all matters baseball.”In any era, when something—or someone—sounds too good to be true, it—or he—usually is. I asked, “If he is so valuable, then why does he not stay with one team?”A look of chagrin crossed her countenance. “Sandy Carter is what we call a ‘loose cannon.’ He can be temperamental and wild, and he gets into fights with players and coaches and…sometimes even with his bosses. And not just verbal fights, either. Usually his points are quite valid, but his means of expressing them don’t earn him any friends.”In a word, then, passionate. Passionate men I understood and could work with. It had been thus with Accolon at the start of our association, and look at all I had been able to accomplish with him. Everything I had ever desired, except King Arthur’s throne.Wit I well that lying and gullibility were two facets of human nature that had not changed in the last fifteen centuries and shall not change in the next fifteen, either. I had learned this while trying to evaluate potential new Knights for the team. Everyone speaks glowingly of his accomplishments and accolades; no one ever mentions his flaws or mistakes or regrets unless a wise employer chooses to ask specific questions of this ilk. Yet Clarice had offered the bad along with the good of this man. Still, I would be forced as a point of honor to relinquish my coveted title of The Wise if I accepted her words at face value; upon turning the thought-receptors toward me, I soon verified everything she had told me about this volatile man.I asked, “Is Sandy Carter available now?”Clarice’s grin returned. “For the right price, Queen Morgan, anyone is.”It took only one call, and Sandy Carter expressed exceeding pleasure and eagerness to accompany me to London as general manager of the Knights. The fact that I had worn the sexy black number during the call saved the team quite a sum with regard to Carter’s agreed-upon salary.Neither as queen nor as ball club owner do I ever make idle promises. 

REVIEWS:
5* Blue Ribbon Romance Junkies Review: "Packed with politics, pop culture, sports, business, time travel, magic, deceit, humor and love, this story will keep you enthralled right up to the end. Whether you have ever read an Arthurian romance before or not, give this one a try. I am sure you will love it as much as I did." ~ Dottie of Romance JunkiesArthurian Romances: 5* "KASIWC is irresistible, passionate, and intriguing. Definitely check out this amazing new Arthurian Romance!"

Author Promotion - Sites to Check Out #MFRWauthor

In the constant search for Author Promotion, I have found a few author-friendly sites that help get the word out about my book.

When looking for a place to blog or do a guest stop, I look at Long and Short Review.

Here are the  Free Promotional Opportunities - Long and Short Review offers to Authors

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/advertising/

Here's what they say on their site.
Guest BloggingThis is a FREE promotional opportunity!
We offer daily guest blog spots in all genres. The only requirement is that you blog about something besides straight book promo.
Click here to request a guest blogging spot – Please specify which genre you write in.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Author InterviewsThis is a FREE promotional opportunity!
Are you a multi-published or a brand new fiction author? Do you have a book being released? Do you have news you would like to share? One way to do that is through an author interview! We will feature interviews on a nearly daily basis and all you need to do to have yours featured is to email us with your request and specify what genre you write in.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Also, I am a member of Manic Readers. It is free and you can post your books with them. They also have an automated way to submit your books for review.      https://www.manicreaders.com/

Here's what they say on their site.  Free promotion via Author Pages Simple Author Page creation... No HTML code requiredPromote your books by adding your current and upcoming releases, bio, photos, book trailers, blurbs, excerpts, web links, and more Request a book review Registered authors can use our online submission form to request reviews Professional services
Also as I've stated many times take a look at Marketing for Romance Writers. They have a number of sites where romance authors can promote. They are also a great group to get more ideas on promotion.

http://www.marketingforromancewriters.org/

These are just a few places I've found to be helpful in my constant journey to promote my books. I hope they help you.

Have a great weekend,

Tina

 

#EggcerptExchange More Pennies Than Water by Steven Harz

BLURB:In his third collection of fiction and poetry, award-winning writer Steven Harz once again connects readers to stories containing emotions with which we can all connect. In "More Pennies Than Water" he covers themes of loves lost and found as well as rebirth of life and coping with death. Appearing regularly in 'The Iron Writer Challenge," "Tipsy Lit" and "The Germ" Steven's works continue to force laughter and tears, often simultaneously. 

Praise for Steven’s work: 

“LOVE this. Started to read it, couldn't put it down....and have gone back to read it again. Completely captivated. Such powerful feelings behind this writing. I feel like I am looking not Steve's open heart and somehow invading his privacy. So much heart and soul....deep emotion. Reminders of memories lost.” 

"Thanks for bringing the memories roaring back Mr. Harz in the most 'Springsteenish' of ways" 
WEBSITE:The Poetry Blog of Steven Harz        The Poetry Blog of Steven Harz
Trying to arrange a lot of words into the proper orderView on www.stevenharz.comPreview by Yahoo 

PURCHASING THE BOOK:More Pennies Than Water: a collection of poetry and fiction - Kindle edition by Steven Harz. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.      More Pennies Than Water: a collection of poetry and fiction - Kindle edition by Steven Harz. Literat...
More Pennies Than Water: a collection of poetry and fiction - Kindle edition by Steven Harz. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading More Pennies Than Water: a collection of ...View on www.amazon.comPreview by Yahoo 


EXCERPT:Aladdin’s lamp  Beneath where your hair
 falls when wet
and just above where my arms rest
during morning shower hugs
is a birthmark in the shape of a magic lamp
that at used to make you laugh buthas made me thankful each dayfor our too-brief one thousand and one nightsand beyond my arm is a fist that had been used in anger in the weeks and months after that daybut now stays peacefully clenched looking like a tightened question markand because the impact that stole youstruck me with such physical force and mental velocity that my fingers went and have since stayed numbso on cold days and there are manyI use the mittens that you carefully crocheted pink while pregnantas handcuffs rather than boxing glovesI am now without our tangled sheet mornings and I must strain to see your faint freckled smile while each day changing diapers or turning skate keys my head echoes with silent flashbacks  of a drive-in first date or truth-or-dare lies and spin the bottles kissesand each day alone in the shower I burn my skin to collapse the years so that I can once again hold you close enough to rub the lamp and make three wishes for another tomorrow
 Thanks Steve for sharing,


Tina

What Color Roses Do You Want to Send on Valentine's Day?

With today being Valentine’s day, I thought I would refresh everyone’s memory on what the different colors of roses mean. You don’t want to send the wrong impression.

Red Roses say, “I love you.” And are the ultimate symbol of romance and enduring passion.

Pale Pink Roses imply grace, gentleness and joy.

Light Pink Roses express a sense of fun, happiness, and whimsy.

Deep Pink Roses say, “Thank you.”

Lilac Roses indicate the sender fell in love at first sight with the recipient and is enchanted. Because the meaning for lilac roses aren’t as widely known, it’s best to send a card with them.

White Roses symbolize truth and innocence. They also send other messages like, “I miss you,” and “You’re heavenly.”

Coral Roses express one thing through their color, desire.

Peach Roses signify appreciaation, gratitude, modesty, and also can convey sympathy.

Orange Roses communicate enthusiasm, desire and fascination on the part of the sender.

Yellow Roses indicate friendship and freedom, not a sign of love.

A Dead Rose, regardless of original color, says “It’s over.”

Hope you have a great Valentine’s Day and here's an excerpt from Summer's Growth



“No reason for her to stay bottled up in the house with an old maid like me,” Mattie grumbled.

Alone and feeling sorry for herself, she stared at the cold ashes in the fireplace, a black mess with no hope of burning again. Just like her life. Once Amber assumed the job of keeper, she’d be free to do anything she wanted.

The sound of a car in the driveway alerted Mattie. “Amber must have forgotten something.” She walked out of the study on her way to the front door.

Surprised by the sight of Quincy coming up the stoop with bags in his hands, she leaned against the doorjamb. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

“I thought you might be hungry.” His winning grin prevented any objection she might have had.

Flustered, she sputtered, “But—”

“You said you didn’t want to go out, so I brought dinner in.” Not pausing, Quincy pushed his way past her.

His reasoning seemed logical, but Mattie wasn’t sure of his true intentions. She rushed to catch up. “Quincy, you really didn’t have to do this.”

“Sure, I did. I invited you to dinner, didn’t I?” he said over his shoulder on his way to the kitchen.

She longed to tell him to leave, but she couldn’t. Not after he’d gone to so much trouble to bring her dinner. His thoughtfulness disarmed her, weakened her knees as well as her resolve.

“I hope you’re hungry.” He pulled a rotisserie chicken and potato salad from a bag. “I even have dessert.”

From another one, he unearthed a pie and showed her the label. “Apple pie and,” putting down the pie, he reached back in, “ice cream.”

Delighted, Mattie squelched her giddiness by protesting against his efforts. “Quincy, you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. I planned on having a sandwich for dinner.”

Heedless of her words, he stashed the ice cream in the freezer and retrieved one more item from a different bag. “And these are for letting me have dinner with you.”

Quincy held out a bouquet of deep red roses, catching her completely off guard. Shocked appreciation snatched her breath away. Hands shaking, heart quaking, she stood rooted to the floor. She didn’t know how to handle this situation. No one had ever given her flowers before.

Mattie clasped the roses to her chest, mesmerized by their beauty. “Thank you, Quincy.”

Not releasing his hold, he stared into her eyes.

She couldn’t help but yield to the powerful forces between them, and swayed into his arms. Enclosed in his warm male strength, she trembled.

He ran his hand along her spine and slowly leaned closer.

She waited, expecting the soft caress of his lips on hers. At the last moment, he diverted his kiss and his lips brushed her forehead instead.

Stunned, she could only stare.

“Mattie, I’m trying not to rush you and take it slow, but I won’t deny I want you in every way a man could want a woman. So for now I need you to promise me something.”

Lost in the velvet warmth of his eyes, she knew she’d promise him anything. She placed her hand on his chest and breathlessly asked, “What kind of promise?”

Read First Chapter of "Summer's Growth"  Purchase ebook at:
www.smashwords.com www.amazon.com  Have an awesome day,Tina

#MFRWauthor @AuthorTinaGayle Sharing Stormy - A romance story for #BabyBoomers

There are a world of stories out there about young love but what happens when you are past your twenty, thirties, forties, has love passed you by?


I believe you can fall in love at any age. Yes, there are new challenges but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it.


Stormy is a short story about two people who want to give love another chance.


See book in Kindle Store

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Blurb – Can friends become lovers? Even after the age of forty?
He’s wife is dead. She’s divorce with adult children.
For two years, Daniel and Karen have consoled each other during the trails of losing their spouses. Now, they are ready to turn their friendship into a loving relationship. After sharing a night of passion, all appears golden for a bright future for Karen and Daniel until she receives a call from her children saying her ex has had a heart attack.
Torn between, her need to support her children and her desire to be with Daniel, Karen leaves him and flees to the hospital. Coming face to face with  her ex-husband’s new, trophy wife, Karen begins to question exactly why her marriage fell apart. Was she to blame, and if so, should she try again?
On the outside looking in, Daniel must now convince Karen to let go of her past mistake and share a future with him?



Excerpt:


The dim light shining up ahead drew her attention. She figured Daniel must have left the porch light on for her. Then why didn’t he return her calls?

Was it his way of keeping her from backing out?

Seeing his new F150 truck in the driveway, she pulled in beside it and gathered her things off the passenger seat. “Daniel Slater, you have some real explaining to do.”

She stashed her keys in her pocket and zipped her nylon jacket closed before she swung open the car door. Rain pelted her as she dashed for the front porch. Splashing through multiple puddles, she skidded to a halt by the oak door.

Breathless and feeling completely soaked to the skin, she jabbed at the doorbell. No sound met her ears except the relentless ting of the raindrops hitting the cabin’s tin roof. She pounded on the wooden partition with her fist. “Daniel, let me in.”

Recalling the key he’d given her, she dug into her pocket and pulled out her key ring. The porch light helped her identify the right one, and she inserted it into the lock. With a quick twist of her wrist, she opened the door and stepped onto the gleaming hardwood floor.

A light in the kitchen lit the large open area. The dining room and living room cast in shadows showed no occupants. 

“Daniel,” she called out and dumped her things on the small table just inside the cabin. She peeled off her wet jacket and dropped it over a hook on the wall before she toed off her muddy sneakers and set them on the plastic mat by the door.

Still not hearing any reply, Karen turned for the stairs leading to the master bedroom, located in the loft above the living room. She noticed the soft glow on the ceiling from a light and decided he must be resting up there.

“Damn it, Daniel, if I find you with a young chickadee like I did my ex-husband,” she growled as she trudged up the staircase. “I might be tempted to...”   
Her gaze immediately fell on the empty king-size bed. Exasperated by her inability to find him, she quickly scanned the entire room...desk area, open closet, bathroom... the door closed. Light glowed through the seam between the floor and the bottom edge. “Daniel, if you’re in the bathroom come out this minute.”
The entrance opened, and he stood in the doorway.
Problem, he wore only a towel.
Awe, shit... she didn’t need to see his bare chest covered in crisp dark hair, the sculptured muscles of his arms and shoulders, developed pecs, and thick thighs.
Damn, how was she supposed to resist such temptation?



I also have this book on NetGalley at the moment and have gotten some great reviews.




Here's some I'd like to share -




NetGalley Members Say...
 Yvonne DanielsRecommends This Book
    StronglyI enjoyed reading this book I hope that there will be more parts to the story, I connect with the characters from the first page. I read the book to the finish the same day.. It is hot , steamy and romantic I would recommend this to all of the fans that like a hot romance with characters that you can identify with Sam DestinyRecommends This Book
    YesThis was a sweet story and an easy read. I am actually a fan of Daniel because he seems to be a truly amazing man. You need distraction? Something that you can drown in and yet won't need weeks to get through This book absolutely is it! The steam is well written and amazing, the love scenes ultimately cute. Nice read, really. Cloretta DanielsRecommends This Book
    YesSweet story about new love with a widow and divorcee. I loved the development and implementation of their love and how it effects their life. Just because they are adults their new relationship is interrupted by life. Alison FittonRecommends This Book
    YesA great read! I enjoyed that the characters were older and had some life experience. Many of us now have gone through divorces or know someone who has had a life changing event. 

Karen and Daniel had worked together and been friends for awhile before they both began to wonder “what if”. Well, Daniel took care of that when Karen arrived at his house for a weekend visit! 

Since they had been friends before they were comfortable and able to read each other well knowing when to slow things down or to finally let go of the past and take a big leap. Although Daniel did have a bit of trouble being patient at times which ultimately got him exactly what he wanted. 

I will also post on Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook. Jennifer TablerRecommends This Book
    YesI enjoyed this book. It was short but sweet. I think a book before this one would of made a pretty good book. It had some hot sex scenes. One thing I didn't like is that I couldn't make a description in my head about the 2 main characters. I didn't know what they looked like, how old they were and what they did for a living. Overall pretty good book. Paula FordRecommends This Book
    StronglyI loved this book! I got lost in it! Tina created the people in the book that have a lot of substance to them. I love the way she wrote about the issues Karen faced with ex husband & how she finally let it go. I loved how Karen helped Daniel get over losing his wife. I loved the way were together as friends first then lovers. I would recommend this book if want an excellent read!

Hope you decide to check it out,
Tina

The Old Saying about Lemons - #MFRWauthor @AuthorTinaGayle

We all have those days that nothing goes right, but we can still be thankful for all the wonderful things in our life.

So I'd thought I'd share a few things to brighten your day if things aren't going exactly great.



I love to read Will Rogers to brighten my day. Here are a few of his quotes.

"Everyone is ignorant, only in different subjects."



"Nothing you can't spell will ever work."



"People are getting smarter nowadays; they are letting lawyers, instead of their conscience, be their guide."



"No man is great if he thinks he is."



"I guess truth can hurt you worse in an election than about anything that can happen to you."

Or



Hey, what is the saying about lemons. I like to make Lemon Curd.
Really good on scones. [image error]

6 Tbs unsalted butter--softened at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. grated lemon zest

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer about 2 minutes. Slowly add the eggs and yolks. Beat for 1 minute. Mix in the lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled, but don't worry...



In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. (The curdled appearance disappears as the butter melts) Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Be patient, this takes about 15 minutes. When you dip a spoon into the mixture and draw your finger (careful, it's hot) down the middle of the back of the spoon it will leave a path. Or, if you're like me and cook with a thermometer, it will read 170 degrees. DO NOT let the mixture boil.



Remove from heat and stirr in the zest. Transfer to a bowl and press plastic wrap on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in refrigerator. The curd will continue to thicken as it cools.

Covered tightly this will keep in the fridge for a week and about 2 months in the freezer.



Also, I'm thankful for you. If not for you, no one would read my blog...so thanks for being you.



Hope your day improves and life treats you better,



Tina