Vivienne Diane Neal's Blog, page 59

Virtual Book Tour - Kiss My Lips by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku

Title: Kiss My LipsAuthor: +Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku Series: Holiday Series, #2Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Multicultural/InterracialISBN: 978-1502776549 (Paperback)Publication Date: Wednesday 29th October 2014Cover Artist: Love Bites And SilkKiss My Lips (Holiday Series Book 2) is a sequel toStolen Valentine Kiss (Holiday Series Book 1). Add to Goodreads


Blurb
Will one kiss seal their love? Accepting Logan’s marriage proposal was the most exciting event of Lorna’s life. But deciding in what country to marry her fiancé proved to be more than a tearful ordeal. When Lorna’s dad announced unexpected news, the wedding wheels spun in a different direction. With other family members stirring conflict, would there be a wedding? Or would their shared kiss deepen their desire?

The doorbell sounded.Lorna lifted her teary face out of her aunt's arms. "Who else are you expecting this morning? You’ve got more surprises in store for me, Auntie?"Instead of answering the question, her aunt glanced at her brother.
"Please get the door, Kanu. I'll quickly get changed. Make my guest welcome, will you?"
Lorna looked from the woman rushing off to her father, who was striding towards the front door. She plucked out a handful of tissue from her bag, wiped off streaks of wet mascara and sat on the black leather bar stool by the kitchen island. She poured herself a glass of mango juice and was sipping the drink when her father came back with Logan in tow.
The glass slipped out of her right fingers but she rescued it with her left hand. Her stomach muscles contracted. Her feet rushed ahead and she threw herself into Logan's outstretched arms.
He scented of warm balsam. She inhaled as her head rested on the hard plane of his chest wall. Pure joy leaked out of her heart, flooding her entire body. The arms holding her were all taut muscle and strength. She wrapped her arms round his black silk shirt and burst into tears.
"Maybe I should leave you two," her father excused, walking in the direction of the second guest bedroom through the hallway.
Logan guided his fiancée to the pale green, moriko leaf upholstered sofa. He sat down and pulled her to sit across his thighs.
Lorna sobbed.
Logan let her cry. From time to time, he wiped her face.
Through her tears, she saw a tiny trickle of moisture drop down one lane on his cheek. "Are you crying, Logan?" she asked, not quite sure he understood her pain. She wiped one finger over the wetness and then, she saw another small tear, drop out of his right eye.
With her face only inches from his, Lorna kissed his half-parted lips. The kiss was raw and hungry as her tongue dived into his mouth, demanding and taking. Her nipples stiffened in her body-hugging top and she pressed her breasts into his torso.
Logan's arms crashed around her shoulders and the chiseled wall of his chest teased her nipples taut. Wild fire raged as his tongue dipped into her mouth, taking control and sending flickers of burning heat through her thighs.
"Your dad and aunt are here, sweetheart. Do you want me to show them how much you mean to me?" Logan's sensible words brought her back to her aunt's living room. She leaned her head on his forehead.
"When I saw the tear drop from your eye, fireworks exploded in my chest. You cried with me, Logan," she said in awe.
 "Did I?" Logan shrugged, running one finger across her lips. "Love is a strange emotion, Lorna. Your pain is my pain and your joy is mine."



Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords


Stella’s a fun loving mother of two, married to her very own gorgeous alpha male who satisfies her romantic appetite.
Writing romance novels is now her full time passion. In 2010, Stella created Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels laced with the right cocktail of blazing passion, intrigue & toe-curling romance set in fascinating Africa, enticing Europe and America. There are seven contemporary romance novels in the basket; Loitering Shadows, Stormy Defense, Beyond the Lady, The Gardener’s Ice Maiden, Sparkling Dawn, Husband to Rent, Stolen Valentine Kiss (Holiday Series #1).
My first historical romance is on my writing desk at the moment. In my leisure, I go swimming, reads romance novels, go to the Cinema and watch TV.
Flirty & Feisty Romance wishes you an amazing holiday season.

Our promise...is to deliver an intensely emotional experience you'll never forget.

Website Blog Amazon.comSmashwords
CreatespaceFollow on TwitterFollow on FacebookBe My Friend on GoodreadsMy Pins on PinterestFollow on Google+



Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win the $10 Amazon Gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kiss My Lips Teaser Kiss My Lips Teaser

Let’s Talk About Stress and Dating by Vivienne Diane Neal

As humans, we cannot survive without stress, no more than we can survive without each other. Stress is necessary because it helps us to cope with every day life's situations. However, when it comes to dating, the tension can become more overwhelming, especially during the holidays.
When you meet someone for the first time, you may be under extreme pressure to be on your best behavior because you want to make a good impression, especially if you are interested in pursuing a romantic relationship. But first you must get to know that individual, date him or her for a period of time and then try to create and maintain a healthy and fun experience, which can add more strain to an already demanding courtship.
Stress is the pressures, strains or changes placed on the body, which can affect your physical, mental and emotional well-being. However, too much stress can seriously affect your psychological and spiritual well-being if you do not know how to handle or cope with these types of demands. When you are under too much stress, it is important to recognize it and do something about it. Unmanageable tension can lead to illnesses and chronic diseases. Nevertheless, you can improve your resistance to too much worry by learning how to manage and control your life during the dating phase.
It is important to remember there are some occurrences in life that are just out of your control. There are many experiences in life you can learn to handle by identifying the stressors: actions that make you feel anxious and concerned. Here are some recommended ways to deal with stress, which will enable you and your mate to have an extraordinary love life.
Eat a well-balanced meal. When you are under additional stress, make certain you eat more foods high in the B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Zinc. These foods would include whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, nuts, legumes and lean meats, respectively.
When you and your mate are angry, nervous or upset with each other, try physical activities such as walking, jogging, exercising, bike riding, skating or dancing.
Share your anxieties with each other and with friends, relatives or other couples by talking about your concerns or worries.
Know your limitations. Enlist the assistance of others if you find your relationship to difficult to handle.
Have some fun. All work and no play will put your relationship on edge.
Plan a schedule as to when you and your companion will be together just for romance. Not everything can be important at the same time.
Avoid self-medication. Even though you can use drugs to relieve stress temporarily, drugs will never remove the condition that causes the strain in the first place. In fact, some medications may become habit forming, create more problems and destroy a relationship; pills should only be taken on the advice of your physician.

Simple Money-Saving Tips for Singles and Couples by Vivienne Diane Neal

No matter how much money a person makes or has, there never seems to be enough. It is important to remember that the good times do not last forever, and one must always save for a rainy day.  Even if you put aside a set amount of money every week, there are no guarantees that you will have enough on hand if some unforeseen setback arises.
People used to say, “Another day another dollar.” Nowadays, that dollar has shrunk to where stretching a buck seems to be a challenging task. Food prices and other necessities seem to be going up, but earnings are not keeping up with inflation. Interest rates on savings are near zilch. Unemployment is still high in certain regions of the country, and many companies are cutting back on employees’ benefits, namely health insurance, paid sick leave, or are contributing less to retirement funds. But you can boost your money. By following these simple tips, you will end up saving and having more money in no time, and when you are ready, start investing in the stock market to receive more of a return on your money. No matter what people say, pennies add up.
Tip No. 1 - Try to live below your means. This may not be easy if you are making large sums of money. The old adage: the more you make, the more you can spend is not being financially sound, especially in today’s economy. You may not need three cars, five pairs of sneakers, twenty pairs of shoes, fifty handbags or a sixty-inch TV in every room. If you have all of these items, you may want to sell some of these things and earn extra cash. Even the rich must cut back at some point.
Tip No. 2 - There is a difference between want, and need. You may want to buy an expensive item, but that extravagant piece is not worth the price if you end up in debt. You do need food, clothing, and shelter. You can cut back on food and still get all your required nutrients, and buy low-priced clothing and still look fashionable. There is no need to spend $200.00 on a blouse. It in all probability, the top cost $2.00 to make, and the person who constructs that shirt may only make one dollar or less a day.
Tip No. 3 - When it comes to your home, you can cut back on your gas and electric bills. Use energy efficient incandescent or florescent light bulbs. Never leave lights on in unoccupied rooms. You can save money if you do your laundry before 10 am and after 10 pm, while there is no heavy demand on the electrical system. You will save money if you wash your laundry in cold or warm water. Using hot water all the time can be costly. An overloaded washer will use more energy; the same is true for an under loaded washer. A front-loading washer uses less energy and water than a top-loading washer does. You will save money if you dry your clothes on a clothesline. To avoid ironing, hang your clothes in the bathroom while you are showering; often, the steam will remove the wrinkles.
Tip No. 4 - Test your refrigerator to make sure you are not losing energy. Place a sheet of paper at the base of the refrigerator and close the door. If the paper slips out, replace the gasket. Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator to remove dust. Too much dust can cause your refrigerator to generate more power and a higher utility bill. Set the refrigerator temperature at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at zero degreesFahrenheit, and keep the freezer packed or packed with bags of ice to prevent waste of energy. Never let ice build up in the freezer. It is time to defrost the freezer when the ice is l/4 inch thick.
Tip No. 5 - Use your automatic dishwasher when you have a full load. You can set the water temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting at 120 degrees Fahrenheit will destroy the bacteria. Instead of using the drying cycle, open the door and air-dry the dishes.
Tip No. 6 - Your oven uses less energy than the top burners. A convection oven uses less energy than a conventional oven. A microwave uses energy economically and cooks food quickly.  Copper and aluminum bottom pots and pans are excellent conductors of heat and great energy savers. Cast iron pans hold heat longer and can be removed from the burner during the last ten minutes to allow the heat to finish cooking.
Tip No. 7 - Turn off the air conditioner in an unoccupied room. Set your air condition at 78 degrees to keep the room temperature comfortable. Always clean the filter at least once a month. A fan uses less energy than an air conditioner.
Tip No. 8 - When you buy major appliances, look for the highest energy-efficiency ratio. The higher the number, the less money it will cost to operate that appliance.
Tip No. 9 - Repair leaky faucets. Every drop of water lost means more money out of your pocket.
Tip No. 10 - Having health coverage is fundamental. The Affordable Care Act puts consumers back in charge of their health care. Under the law, a new “Patient’s Bill of Rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health. To read the full law, click here. To find detailed technical and regulatory information on the the Patient’s Bill of Rights, click here. Health insurance may not seem important when you are a young adult, but as one gets older, the need for health care and coverage becomes even more important, and to find an affordable health care plan can be daunting. There are programs such as Medicaid for the needy, and Medicare for people age 65 and over. When it comes to buying prescription drugs, you can comparison shop. Not all pharmacies are the same when it comes to pricing drugs. Consider generic pills, which cost less than most brand name drugs. By purchasing generic medicines, you can save a lot of money, sometimes up to 75%. Many pharmacies offer discounts to senior citizens, which can add up to real savings. You may save money by using a mail-service or mail order pharmacy, especially if you take one or more drugs regularly. Some pharmaceutical companies have programs that will assist people who may be on low, limited or fixed incomes. For your dental care, consider a dental school where students under strict supervision work on your teeth, and you will save a great deal of money. If you need oral surgery, only a licensed dentist will perform the procedure, but the cost will be less than if you go to a private dentist.
Tip No. 11 - If you are working, try to save up to twelve months in emergency funds. If you can save more, fine.  It used to be six months, but it is best to be on the safe side.
Tip No. 12 - Lastly, never bite off more than you can chew. If you want something, and you cannot afford it, wait until you can or do without it.
* * * *

The World Stage: Haiti

Kehinde Wiley Creates Signed, Limited Edition Benefit Print
Image credit: KEHINDE WILEY “The Sisters Zénaïde and Charlotte Bonaparte (The World Stage: Haiti)” 2014 Archival inkjet print on Epson Hot Press Bright 300 grain paper Paper 27.5 x 22 inches Image 21.321 x 16 inches Edition of 30 Publisher: The Lapis Press, Culver City, California Courtesy of the artist and Roberts & Tilton, Culver City, California 




In an amazing example of international collaboration and dignity through the arts, Ciné Institute is excited to announce Brooklyn based painter Kehinde Wiley has created a signed, special edition print from his new exhibition The World Stage: Haiti benefitting Ciné Institute, Haiti’s only film school. After visiting the college for art and technology in Jacmel earlier last spring, Kehinde Wiley has generously created a limited run of signed, special edition print of The Sisters Zénaïde and Charlotte Bonaparte (The World Stage: Haiti) with 100% of proceeds going to Ciné Institute to build a brand new computer lab!

To order this exclusive signed, special edition print by Kehinde Wiley benefitting Ciné Institute, click here to download an order form and contact Valerie Boucard.
100% of proceeds go to Ciné Institute to build a brand new computer lab.

That Person You are Dating is Probably Married - How to Recognize the Seven Warning Signs

Often we read or hear about men and women, who have met someone, fell madly in love, and became physically and emotionally involved with that person, only to discover that the individual they trusted the most was married. There are always warning signs when relationships are built on dishonesty. Do people consciously or unconsciously ignore these signs?

Whether they realize it or not, people who cheat on their spouses always give themselves away, and cheaters will avoid telling the person about their marital status because they want to maintain a back street liaison or have their cake and eat it too. In other words, everything is hidden and kept in the dark. Whether you are a man or a woman, you can protect yourself by recognizing these seven warning signs, what they may imply and facing them head on:
Warning Sign Number One - The person who never invites you to their home will probably have the following excuses:  She or he is sharing a room with several roommates who keep a clutter and dirty home. The roommates are loud and obnoxious, and you would be uncomfortable around them. The individual would be too embarrassed to invite you to their pad. That person is probably married with children.
Warning Sign Number Two - The person can only see you during the week, usually one day a week, because he or she works long hours on the weekends. When the person gets home, he or she is just too tired to see you or go out with you on a date. The individual is spending the weekends with the spouse and children.
Warning Sign Number Three - He or she will never take you out to a restaurant or accompany you to special events or family gatherings. The excuse will be, the person does not enjoy eating out and would rather have a home cooked meal. He or she will even go so far as to bring the food and cook it in your home. The individual is shy around too many people or does not enjoy being around crowds. The person is afraid someone will recognize him or her and expose their dirty little secret.
Warning Sign Number Four - During the holidays, he or she will suddenly have to leave town on business or will disappear for a while. While you are sitting home alone sipping wine and crying your eyes out, your “lover” is vacationing with the spouse and children and is having a fantastic time.
Warning Sign Number Five - The person will give you a cell phone, mobile or beeper number but will never give you their home phone number.
Warning Sign Number Six - You never meet the person’s parents, relatives or friends. The reason given: He or she is a loner and on bad terms with the kinfolks, or they live in a foreign country or were raised in an orphanage.
Warning Sign Number Seven - The person does not have a home address but a post office box. The reason given: He or she travels maybe ten months out of the year and constantly lives out of their suitcases and spend their time in hotel rooms, so a permanent residence would not make much sense. It would be too costly.
When it comes to the warning signs, I am generalizing here. These signs do not necessarily mean the person you are involved with is being deceitful or dishonest. The focus here is on men and women who have been in long-term relationships and may have had these sentiments. As the saying goes “If it acts or looks too good to be true, the individual is probably living a lie.”

Meet Joi Miner, Author of Vices

Joi Miner, AuthorVices - The debut novel by Alabama Author Joi MinerPage Count: 320Genre: Erotic DramaPublisher: Nayberry PublicationsRelease date: October 31, 2014Preorders available: September 24, 2014 Paperback Preorder Link Digital Preorder Link

Synopsis
Everyone wanted a piece of Bonnie, but no one could… until Bonnie was at peace with herself.
Fresh out of an abusive marriage, 25-year-old Bonnie Jones is on a mission to recapture the youth her ex-husband, Keith, stole from her. With her young daughter, Zion in tow, she has to rebuild her life from the ground up. She finds solace in her poetry journal, cuddling with Zi, and the ability to leave her pain on the stage at the weekly open mic poetry readings.

When she has an itch she needs scratched or longs for companionship, she has her choice of partners to help soothe her suffering. Her one condition: they don't spend the night. After Bonnie falls asleep, her demons have their way with her. Eventually, they begin to invade her waking hours and no amount of writing, sex, or time with Zion can keep her from having to face them.
~~~~~
Five Things to Know About Author Joi Miner
When did you know that you were destined to be a writer? I have always loved to write, but I think I realized I was meant to do more with my writing when I started to get paid to write poems for my classmates in middle school and high school. It was around that time, too, that my creative writing teacher tried to get me suspended for plagiarism, because she said my writing was too good to have been written by a high school senior. I figured that could have gone one of two ways, I could have taken it as an insult and never written again or I could have, as I did, take it as a compliment and use it as motivation. I dedicated my first poetry collection to her.
Tell us a little about Vices?  Vices is an erotic drama. The main character, Bonnie Jones, takes you along on her journey to rediscovering herself after leaving an abusive marriage. You get to see her get into some very interesting fixes, get her heart broken, and find herself massaging away the pain and case of the lonelies by entertaining the company of the opposite sex. Vices is what I like to call “autobiographical fiction.” It’s my life with a little bit extra thrown into it. It’s a very raw story, but I feel like it’s relatable. We all have been where Bonnie is or know someone who has.  It’s my first novel and was picked up for publication by Nayberry Publications. It’s set to be released on October 31st of this year, my 33rd birthday. *Gasp I just told you my age*
Now tell us something personal about you. What is your favorite color? Blue. When I was in kindergarten, they told me that pink was for girls and blue was for boys. But, I liked blue. I’ve made it my business since then to wear as much blue as possible.
Do you write full-time or do you have another profession? I wish I was a full-time writer. For the last two years, I have been employed with Sykes powered by Alpine Access as a full-time work at home Customer Care Professional. I am also a full-time English/Creative Writing student at Southern New Hampshire University Online in my Senior Year (Class of 2015. Woohoo!). As if that weren’t enough, I am Owner and Co-Founder of a small for-profit company, Poetic Advisory, LLC.
What was the best advice you have received as a writer? The best writing advice that I have ever received was to never take writing advice. Lol. Everyone is different. No one can tell you how to be your most original self. There are even debates about the basic writing techniques, so you need to find and do what works best for you.
***
Find Joi Miner on her personal website: www.joiminer.com
And on Social Media:
Instagram @joihenTwitter @joiminerFacebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/joiminer2Personal Facebook page: www.facebook.com/joiminer
Also visit my publisher, Nayberry Publications’ website and Facebook pages:
http://www.nayberrypublications.comhttps://www.facebook.com/nayberrypublications

Let everyone know where they can find your book.  Vices will be available on Amazon, Joiminer.com and NayberryPublications.com.

Meet Ronald Gordon, Author of A Daughter’s Rage

Ronald Gordon, Author
Five Things to Know about Author Ronald Gordon

When did you know that you were destined to be a writer?  At age five, I used to write stories about my day at school. The kids that were nice to me, I would make them heroes and the bad kids would be villains that we kicked out the school. I used to write about everything happening around me. My mother had a few psychic friends that would say I was born a writer and one day would become a famous writer. So, I guess you could say I've been writing as far back as I can remember.
When did you finish your first book and what’s the title? The Price of Life was completed 1980 but never published. A Daughter's Rage was completed in April 2014.
What is your favorite color? I like white because it's clean and pure. I'm kind of a clean freak. When thinking about furniture and decor, especially bedding, I like white. When it comes to clothing, I prefer darker colors, especially suits.
Do you write full-time or do you have another profession? Depression knocked me out of work in 2005. In the height of my depression in 2006, I was inspired by a Facebook friend to pick my pen back up. I did just that a week or so after that conversation. Doing that broke the seal on a buried passion. In writing, I found solace and peace of mind, while being physically and mentally abused by depression. I haven't looked back since, and can't imagine not writing.
What was the best advice you have received as a writer?  I once told the late Maya Angelou I wanted to be a writer and what I was saying was that I wanted to be a published writer. She told me, "Then write baby and remember the passion you put in will come out."'
~~~~
A Daughter's Rage is available now on Amazon .

Get Social with Ronald:
Twitter: @mrkick316Pinterest:@mrkickrgFacebook Fan Page: Ron Tha Writer Facebook Personal Page: Ronald Harvey Gordon

Amazon Authors Can Now Directly Connect With Their Buyers, Thanks to Amazon List Network

What if authors could know, and directly connect with those buying their books? Until now, the one unknowable, for authors on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and other online booksellers has been: "Who's buying my books? How can I directly connect and network with them?"
Now, authors can do just that. How? the answer is clear: Amazon List Network. ALN makes it clear they are not officially associated with Amazon; iFOGO wholly owns Amazon List Network, and the amazonlist.net and .org domains.

ALN's Mission is to make it possible for the author/buyer connection to take place, by the placement of the ALN Logo inside/on book jackets, and select book manuscript pages. The logo, placed in eBooks, is directly linked to the author's custom ALN profile/group on the Amazon List Network. Print books provide the web address where buyers may connect.

Authors are able to: Zero-in and target buyers to their Amazon (and other bookseller) presence; Invite buyers to ALN where they can interact directly, and know when an author's next book is coming. Authors may also locate buyers, and plan signings and other events in their geographical area.

Furthermore, authors may invite buyers to ALN where they can interact directly; get to know who their Amazon Buyers are, by networking with them; make them special offers, and providie information they cannot get elsewhere.

Consider the number of authors and the millions of books on Amazon. The fact is, with ALN, authors may market their entire Amazon Catalog without the clutter. It's like doubling their Amazon Catalog and more; by selling directly from Amazon, and their own ALN website.

Simply put, authors may paste their Amazon Widgets on ALN (Amazon List Network), and get their own dedicated page they design to suit themselves.

The list of advantages is endless: including blogging, posting photos, videos, forums, discussions, book-trailers, posting excerpts, private email without SPAM. and more.

Best of all, membership in ALN, Amazon List Network is completely free.

Because there is power in numbers, buyers are attracted to a network where they can connect with authors, join the author's group or circle, get previews of their coming books; exchange messages, and more —none of which they can do on Amazon, Smashwords or any other bookseller site.

While many opportunites exist to help authors improve sales, and build a following, Amazon List Network offers more than we have seen elsewhere. Facebook is not the answer, neither is Twitter or other high-profile networks. ALN is personal.

See complete details at: http://AmazonList.net
My ALN Page
Not affiliated with Amazon, Inc.

Searching for the Right Soul Mate by Miss Know It All

Miss Know It AllPeople are always saying they can never find the right soul mate. There is a process that one must go through in order to find that special someone. Once you have met that person, the next step is dating.
Dating is a good way to get to know someone. By spending time with a prospective partner, you are getting acquainted with that individual. It is not a get quick fix or a rush to find a live-in lover or a spouse. So, avoid talking about marriage, having children, buying a house or moving in on your first date.
Desperation will immediately turn off a prospective love interest. Before jumping the gun, see if the person is ready to commit to a long-term and serious relationship. Don’t think the person is ready because you are anxious to get married. Let him or her decide if they are ready to take the relationship to the next level.
When the dating becomes more meaningful, it may lead to a courtship, which is a deeper level of commitment. During the courtship phase, people may contemplate living together or tying the knot.
Before bedding down with someone, get to really know that person. And remember, that ninety day rule may not work for everyone. What’s the rush? Giving up the goodies on the first, second or third date is not a guarantee that you will snag a sincere mate. Instead, you may be seen as a person with benefits, not to be taken seriously, and blow your chances of ever having a genuine and loving liaison.
There are no written rules that say you have to be romantically involved with the person you are dating. So relax, tread cautiously and have fun.




You can start searching for someone special by checking out One World Singles - An all inclusive dating site and the coolest place to meet the nicest singles from around the world. All colors, ages (18+) religions, ethnicities and lifestyles. Browse through thousands of profiles, upload your own photo and personal details, see who is online, meet your soul mate, instant messaging and begin having fun! If you are seeking marriage, love, dating, companionship, a soul mate, friendship, online romance or just a pen pal, then this site is for you.

Bringing You Romance Reviews First Chapters

The Science Fiction/Fantasy/Paranormal First Chapters is ready! In this issue, enjoy entire first chapters from Gail Koger, Nancy Corrigan and Laurie Olerich.
Choose the format which best suits you: pdf, epub or mobi/prc.
Happy reading!