Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 14

Strong Women or the Weaker Sex by Jan Selbourne

MUSE MONDAY

Writing is more than just listening to our muse and getting inspired to create. There is usually a good deal of research authors put into their stories. Jan's post is about the work, and I know you'll find it interesting. Read on!

Historicalfiction requires research. If we want to transport readers back to another timeand place, our characters must be living there with its customs and laws andbeliefs.

Forexample – coaches of the early 18th century were devoid of springsand lumbered along at four miles or less an hour. By 1820, with lighter, wellsprung coaches and improved roads, they travelled at the dizzying speed of tento twelve miles an hour, stopping frequently to change horses. Today driving 50miles means nothing more than putting the car into gear and the foot on thepeddle.

Ittook my ancestors three long arduous months to sail the 13,000 miles fromBritain to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope. Today I can travel the 10,573miles in 22 – 23 hours.

Whatstands out during research is the influence of women throughout our history.Dubbed the “weaker sex” or “imbecillitas sexus”, derived from Roman law,literally meaning the weakness of female mental power, women stepped up timeand again to face adversity and deprivation. It’s hard to believe that beforethe 1960s married women couldn’t own a bank account without their husband’spermission. Worse, over a century ago, husbands had the right to prevent theirspouses from working.

It’sno wonder women’s suffrage grew in the mid-19th century and the FirstWorld War had a huge impact on their struggle. Despite early opposition,thousands of women joined the war effort, working in areas that were previouslymale only occupations.  

BeforeI talk about my character Gabrielle, I must relate an amusing true storyof that early opposition. In 1914, the British War Office turned down an offerof help from Scottish doctor Elsie Inglis with “My good lady, go home and sitstill.” Undeterred, Dr Inglis set up the Scottish Women’s Hospitals on thefighting fronts.

Gabrielle,Perilous Love, was a product of the genteel upper-class world ofservants and country homes in pre-war England. She was expected to marry well,and she did, to Adrian Bryce whose wealth spread from England to Europe. Theysoon discovered they had little in common and after two children led politeseparate lives. In truth, they can barely stand the sight of each other – untilBelgium in the summer of 1914. There, a terrible betrayal reveals the realreason why Adrian decided to join her, forcing them to flee as World War Oneerupts over Europe. From pampered comfort to hiding in a barn loft withoutmoney or food Gabrielle has no choice but trust the man she despises. Theenormity of their predicament hits home when he’s injured. It’s now up to herto find food and means of escape. An abandoned farmhouse almost breaks herbecause she’s never boiled water, let alone cooked, and has no idea what tolook for.  But, gnawing hunger, fear ofcapture and two children at home are powerful teachers. Grabbing what she hopesis edible she finds filthy farmer’s overalls in the washhouse. Shedding hertorn dress, she struggles to put them on, unaware they are back to front. Sheruns out the rear door – and stops. In front of her is their escape in theshape of a scruffy plough horse. If she can catch it, if she can find a harnessand wagon, they might, just might, blend in with the thousands of Belgiansfleeing the brutal invasion. 

Likeso many women of that era, Gabrielle discovered what she was truly capable of.

Perilous Love blurb -

Gabrielle Bryce’s plan to endher miserable empty marriage is thwarted when her estranged husband Adrianabruptly announces he’ll accompany her and their two children on the annualtrip to Belgium. Unknown to anyone, Adrian is under orders from the Britishgovernment to find proof Gabrielle's Belgian uncle is secretly supporting theGerman Empire’s quest for war.

The proof Adrian finds couldkill them, and they run for their lives as the German forces cross the border.With only a stolen horse and buggy to their name and facing danger, brutality,and painful truths about themselves, they reach safety as two different people.Waiting for them are charges of treason and a woman who’ll stop at nothing tosee Adrian dead. 

Excerpt – 

“What’s thematter, Adrian? The cat got your tongue?” Gabrielle whispered nastily. “You owe me the truth, because I am thepoor fool who is the last to know about anything.”Her face flared red with anger. “You and Uncle Henri shared the delectable German harlot, you knew Belgium would beinvaded, Uncle Henri has German guards ready to shoot us. What else has been going on behind my back?” 

When he didn’treply, the bubbling volcano erupted. “Stand up and talk to me you devious,lying bastard!” She yelled then looked fearfully at the closed door. 

Her jaw dropped when Adrian shruggeddismissively. “What does it matter now? We have no feelings for each other.” 

“What does it matter?” She spluttered. “I’ve just been told your  Germanwoman who is also Uncle Henri’s German woman, followedyou to meetings with the Secret Service Bureau.Has it escaped your    attentionthat we have two children relying on us? No, they rely on me, and I am stuck  in this room with you.” 

She stepped backas Adrian scrambled to his feet, his eyes blazing. “Don’t yell at me, Miss Pure as the Driven Snow. I have aquestion for you, what does Brian Charlton find so interesting in my home? 

Buy links –

PerilousLove - Kindle edition by Selbourne, Jan. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661584.Jan_Selbourne?from_search=true

http://twitter.com/JanSelbourne

https://www.facebook.com/jan.selbourne

https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Selbourne/e/B0184OSZ6E/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-selbourne-2817b6140/

JanSelbourne

https://nomadauthors.com/

https://nomadauthors.com/JanSelbourne

Twitter   Jan Selbourne @JanSelbourne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me, Snakes, and All About Charming Alice by J. Arlene Culiner

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome back to Discover... my guest, J. Arlene Culiner for Fearless Friday with a fascinating post. Snakes and romance!

It was a warm beautifully calm afternoon inthe village where I live in France. Birds were singing in the tall trees in mygarden (jungle), and I decided to go sit in the (rather wild) cobbled courtyardjust behind my house. I was about to step through the doorway when I lookeddown and saw, a mere two feet away, a very long snake. There it lay, perfectlystill, sunning itself. Was it aware of my presence? Probably not. 

I was shocked at first (a natural reaction,apparently, when most of us see reptiles), but I calmed myself, letfascination take over. It was a fairly largesnake, possibly 4 or 5 feet long, and wonderfullybeautiful. In the sun, its scales had turned a phosphorescent green-gold, and itwas also remarkably elegant. 

I do my best in life to harm no creature,and I didn’t want to ruin the snake’s obviously pleasurable sunbath. Taking afew slow steps backward, I sat down on a chair and let myself bask in this raremoment with an unknown creature. So there we were for the longest while, bothof us perfectly at peace, doing nothing, and enjoying the calm. 

That snake was probably a Western whipsnake. Females can grow to six feet in length, and they are verypowerful. They can be obstinate when annoyed, twisting about on the ground,biting and striking. This tactic enables them to overcome threatening enemies,but poses no problem for humans. In fact, like most snakes, they prefer to fleehumans, weaving away to safety through grasses and hedges. 

The delightful time with thisparticular snake came to an abrupt halt when the telephone behind me rang. Istepped back to answer, and when I returned, the snake had gone. It never again appeared in my courtyard, but it did send me a messageof sorts: a few months later, I found its outer skin close by—snakes and otherreptiles shed their skins periodically in a process called Ecdysis. 

Thatsnake did me a favour. It broadened my world, and I have since sought other snakesin the wetland habitats they are so fond of, in dry grasslands, and ponds. I’m alwaysthrilled when I spot one for familiarity has vanquished fear. And it is myappreciation of these hated creatures that inspired me to create the heroine ofmy contemporary romance, All About Charming Alice. 

Aliceis a former actress who has changed her life by moving to a semi-ghost town inthe Nevada desert. She now works as a herpetologist, studying, photographingand protecting snakes—“the mostunloved creatures on Earth. As she explains: 

“All snakes arepassive, and they would much rather slide away to safety than strike. If youleave them alone, watch them from a distance, they’d never think of hurtingyou. Even if most people are instinctively afraid of snakes, snakes aren’tinstinctively afraid of people, so they sometimes slide into backyards,innocently passing through on their way to somewhere else. They should be leftalone, of course, but people kill them as soon as they notice them. Then,there’s the danger of habitat destruction, and rattlesnake roundups. Very fewsnakes manage to survive their first encounter with humans.” 

All About Charming Alice 

Trust in love and solutions will appear 

Alice Treemont hasno intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town,she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the mostunloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests? 

Jace Constant is inNevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’sdisgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmeresweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him. 

So why does the airsizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too manycompromises. 

PurchaseLink : https://books2read.com/Charming-Alice

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2VyHtsY7A 

Writer, photographer,social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner,was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe onfoot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, a Bavarian castle,a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutchcanal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of nointerest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and allweeds. She particularly enjoys incorporating into mysteries, non-fiction, andromances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversationswith very odd characters. 

AuthorWebsite: http://www.j-arleneculiner.com

And here are all mylinks in one place: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner

 

Starting Over by J.L. Regen

 FEARLESS FRIDAY

Readers, welcome back J.L. Regen to Discover... Starting over can be scary and just might require some fearlessness.

Many years ago, Iaccepted a job that I hoped would be a steppingstone to bigger and greaterthings. 

At the six-monthpoint, I learned that the company was heading toward financial ruin. The dayafter I left, it folded. I’d only been working for a few years after graduatingwith my B. A. in Marketing, and I thought my world was crashing. How could mydream job end so abruptly? 

This is what Margoin Secret Desires goes through when she must find her dream job: She hasto ask herself a million questions that lead to one resounding reality: What doI want to do with my future? 

In my case Iwanted to be in management and make decisions for the financial health of thecompany. 

I knew I’d have toacquire a master’s degree so when I chose my next job, I did so with the handsof a heart surgeon, aware that any move too far to the right or left would cutoff my career longevity. 

I do hope you’lltake a peek at Secret Desires because Margo is a girl when the bookopens and by the time you close the last page, you’ll agree that Margo is arisk taker worth cheering on.

BLURB

Margo Simmons is ecstatic when she inherits her uncle’sManhattan apartment and a handsome sum of money. To her chagrin, she must begainfully employed in a job for a year. 

Margo’s life has complications. She anguishes over how tofulfill her secret desires for a loving relationship with her dream man becausehe is still emotionally tied to his deceased wife and afraid to open his heartagain. 

To replace her fractured childhood growing up with a distantstepfather, Margo becomes the foster parent of a child who longs for closeness.Secret Desires is written from the heart and speaks to anyone who has suffereda loss and wants to start over.

Aboutthe Author

JLlives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, hasshort suspense stories online, and has taught special education and English asa Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporaryromance. She has also published three nonfiction books.

JLRholds a Master of Science in Business, Medical, and Technical Journalism aswell as two others in ESL and Education. She has published on a variety oftopics from cochlear implants to the economy and has conducted workshops–domestic and foreign–on the nuances of business communications for managersand start-up companies. She is the leader of her own enterprise with trainingprograms for entrepreneurs–all levels and recently published two books–Jamie isAutistic: Learning in a Special Way and Go for It Leadership Handbook for AllStudents.

Shecan be reached at joan@joansbookshelf.com

Go tomy website for information at joansbookshelf.com or my Blog athttps://writerjr1044.wordpress.com/

The Case of the Wicked Tattooed Author by Fiona McGier

WICKED WEDNESDAY
You are in for a treat, Readers. My guest, Fiona McGier, had me laughing three sentences into her post. Enjoy this delightfully Wicked Wednesday read.
Wicked Wednesday. What does that mean to me? I've been told I'm a wicked woman because I've got a lot of tattoos--12, to be exact--counting the ones that got worked on twice as 2 each. I've been getting ink done since the late 70's, when the only females who got them were hookers and Cher (then married to Gregg Allman, a multi-inked man, who sang to her, "I'm no angel.") Mom ran into the bathroom and swore in Polish for a while when I first showed it to her. Dad said, "Oh great! Now when we find your decapitated corpse in the gutter, we'll be able to identify you." Sigh. I was an English major taking honors classes to become a high school teacher. I don't know how that translates to dead in a gutter, but you know the way parents can be. My husband got his first of two, on his 40th birthday. I threw him a huge surprise party. When his mom saw it, she turned to me, saying, "This is all your fault, right?" I pretended to wipe at a tear in my eye, and hugged her, thanking her. When she asked what I was doing, I explained, "Do you know how long it's been since any woman told me I was bad for her son? You make me feel young again!" Everyone, including her, laughed.  Now that our 4 kids are adults, only the 2nd one has 2 tattoos himself. He got his first one when still in college (carrying on the family tradition!) I went with him and he went to my guy, so I got a small one in solidarity with him--a real mom/boy bonding thing. LOL! But my oldest son asked me after my last one, "Are you done mutilating yourself yet, Mom?" Some people just don't understand. Some think they're wicked. I think they're a fun way to show the world what is important to me--which is my family. 
I also love dark chocolate with a fervor I usually reserve for sex. So when I discovered Diana's Banana Bites, which are slices of banana coated in luscious dark chocolate, then frozen, I realized my dreams had come true! No longer do I have to feel wicked guilty about eating a dessert. Bananas supply needed potassium, right? So they're good for me. YUM!
In my latest book,  Learning to Love , Elena needs to escape from the hell her life has become, on the dying planet Earth. Single young, hopefully fertile females are not allowed to board the starliners that travel between planets. But she saves money in cash-chits, and offers bribes, including to the young man who books her passage on the starliner. She offers him a variation of sex that as an unmarried man, would be illegal if they were to be discovered--in the prologue! But the first chapter details how the passengers are put into suspended animation for the 10 years of travel they'll be doing, to get to Mesa Verde, one of the first planets to be colonized years ago. And from then on, Elena is a model of decency, hoping that no one could follow her, so she'll be safe. So was she wicked? Or was she just doing whatever she had to do? That's the way I look at it. And if eating the native plants from her new home planet will turn her skin green? She doesn't care--it's a small price to pay for safety and sanity.
Blurb: 

Elena, an English teacher, ran away from her life on the dying planet Earth, to accept a job on Mesa Verde. Dakota, in her first class, knew she was the woman for him. She rebuffs him because she has a secret. Can Dakota convince her to accept his love? And can he help her stay on the planet when an earther with a grudge pursues her?:

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/4jNBrX 

Blog and Website: http://www.fionamcgier.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/fionamcgier--Download 1st 20% of my books free!
Free Download: Prescription For Love: https://books2read.com/u/boEQD0

Amazon Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Fiona-McGier/e/B003J8QJGE

Goodreads profile:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2987252.Fiona_McGier

A Birthday with the Gift of Murder #cozymystery

My sister and I enjoy achocolate martini twice a year, once in the spring for her birthday and againin the fall for my birthday at the Hasayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona in thesaloon called the Peacock Room. This tradition is what led to the cozy mysteryseries I’m writing with co-author Joyce Proell. 
Candy,Cigarettes, and Murder released in March. 
Book two,  Reading, Writing, and Murder  is set to release in September.

When Sisters Emma and Nic check in at the storied Dulce Innfor a relaxing, birthday weekend, they don’t expect a madhouse of temperamentalartists or getting entangled in two murders. Using their love of all-thingsmystery, and despite a surly detective who stands in their way, can theChocolate Martini Sisters tackle the caper, unsnarl the web of secrets, lies,and vengeance to catch the killer?

EXCERPT:

Before the waitress could openher mouth, Shaw bit into her. “What is the sauce on this chicken supposed tobe?”

“You ordered the SouthwestChicken in Chipotle Cream.”

“I’m quite aware of what Iordered, young woman. What’s your name?”

“Karen, sir.”

“Karen what?”

“G-Gonzalez. Karen Gonzalez.”

“Well, Ms. Gonzalez, instead oftelling me something I already know, why don’t you tell me what a chipotlecream should taste like?”

Is that Nic coming from the Azul?

The young woman’s bottom liptrembled, and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.“Do you know?”Nic braced her hands on thetable, ready to spring to the hounded girl’s rescue. “What a jerk.”“I don’t know how he cancomplain.” Her sister spoke around a mouthful. “It’s what I ordered, and thesauce is delicious.”“Em—”

“Sit back and eat. No need foryou to make a scene.” She swallowed and feathered fingers in the air. “We’llhave a word with the manager on how well Karen responded and leave her a goodtip. That’s a better way to seek justice for her than disrupting everyone’smeals.”

Two tables over, Karen’sshoulders hunched and her chin dipped before the haughty restaurant critic.“Could I get you something else, sir?”

“If I’d wanted something else, Iwould’ve ordered it.” The veins in his temples bulged. “Get me the chef. Now!”

“Yes, sir.” The server hustledout of the dining room.

“I hope the head chef is the typeto light fireworks rather than bend over backwards for the ass.” One glance at Emtold her she didn’t feel the same.

Her sister released a sigh. “Thisis supposed to be a quiet dinner in the ambience of a fine hotel. The start ofa relaxing weekend.”

“Good grief, Em. You don’t getthis kind of entertainment without paying for it. This is like dinner theater.”She shoveled in a healthy bite of mushrooms and beef, giving an appreciativehum to accompany her chewing.

The double doors ofthe kitchen flew open. Out came a stocky man dressed in a double-breasted whitejacket with gold buttons, black slacks, and a burgundy ascot at his throat. Ifthe outfit didn’t clue the restaurant patrons as to his profession, the poufychef’s hat hanging to one side would. Like a charging bulldog, he tore a path directlyto Shaw, clasped one hand in another in front of him, and nodded his head. “I’mHead Chef Grayson Payne. What seems to be the problem?”

Em could be resting on the stairs. BOOK LINKS:

Amazon US

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN96RS4G/ 

Amazon UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BN96RS4G/ 

Amazon Canada

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BN96RS4G/ 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71969141-candy-cigarettes-and-murder 

Bookbub

https://www.bookbub.com/books/candy-cigarettes-and-murder-a-chocolate-martini-sisters-mystery-book-1-by-brenda-whiteside-and-joyce-proell

The Origin of Lafayette Falls by Patricia Preston #BillionaireRomace

MUSE MONDAY

Patricia's muse guided her to some home town comfort. Please welcome my guest today on Discover...

Having grown up in a small town, I wanted to recapture thefriendliness and familiarity that small towns evoke, especially the prettyhistorical downtown areas and court squares. 

My parents grew up in Tennessee and it’s like a second hometo me. The area was always my first choice for a setting because I’m familiarwith it. Nashville is surrounded by higher terrain known as the Highland Rim.Bordered by the Tennessee River, the area has many small rivers, rocky creeksand waterfalls. The beautiful rolling hills are bordered by the Tennessee andCumberland rivers. The northern part of the Natchez Trace travels through thispart of the state and provides a gorgeous drive in the fall. The fictional townis about 60 miles southeast of Nashville 

 I’ve visited many ofthe small towns in that area. Those towns provided a lot of inspiration for thehistorical Lafayette Falls downtown area. Like most towns, it has expandedbeyond downtown over the decades. I wanted Lafayette Falls to be large enoughto have shopping centers, a variety of business, restaurants, schools, and amodern medical center. Plus, it is home to some amazing characters and theirromantic stories.

ONE WEEK IN PARADISE WITH THE BILLIONAIRE WHO CAN RUIN HERLIFE 

After a summer fling six years ago, Marla and Carson wenttheir separate ways. Yet Carson Blackwell still has feelings for Marla.Desperate to rid himself of his infatuation, he offers Marla a deal she can'trefuse. In exchange for a week in Hawaii as his "pretendgirlfriend," the billionaire promises a generous yearly donationto Marla's community clinic in Lafayette Falls. Will he finally freehimself of unrequited love?  

Dr. Marla Grant must navigate a high-stakes game of love and deception when sheagrees to be Carson's fake girlfriend. As old passions resurface and the pastreturns to haunt her, she fears what will happen if Carson finds out he's theunsuspecting father of her little girl. Will she make it back home toLafayette Falls unscathed? Or will one week in paradise destroy herregardless? 

One Week in Your Arms is a 75 k wordmainstream romance. Heat level: warm.

On sale for 99¢ at most ebook retailers.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2LXSVR

Completelist of retailers and library lenders https://books2read.com/OneWeekinYourArms

Excerpt:

With the envelope open, she peeped inside to seeone folded sheet of stationery.

After six years, what could he possibly have tosay?

She pictured him standing beside a black truckin the drive of Mayfair Place, a turn-of-the-century estate belonging to hisgrandmother. It was time to say goodbye to the only man who had ever swept heroff her feet.

The wind made a mess of Carson’s unruly darkhair. His blue eyes were hidden by a pair of mirrored lens aviators, and hisalpha-male physique tested the seams of his polo shirt. “If I’m ever back intown, I’ll look you up,” he promised as their casual affair came to apredestined end.

For three weeks, they had been together, andfinally, the time had come for them to go their separate ways. She had knownthis moment was inevitable, but she hadn’t realized it would be so difficult.She told herself the feeling would pass.

She forced a bright smile of goodwill. Afterall, they weren’t parting in anger, or in love, for that matter. And it wasunlikely that she would ever see him again. 

AuthorBio: 

Award-winningauthor, Patricia Preston, enjoys writing swoonworthy mainstream romances withcharming heroines and irresistible heroes. All her books, regardless of thesubgenre, are traditional romances featuring an emotional and compellingromantic journey. The books have captivating characters, romanticsettings, and fun, feel-good moments that will leave the reader smiling. Theseries books can be read as stand-alone romances. Many of her interests and favoritesare often reflected in her books. She loves old homes, romantic décor,antiques, flea markets, history, music, graphic art, and cooking. 

Website: https://www.patriciaprestonauthor.com  

Jealous Villains and the Good Guys by Susan Leigh Furlong

WICKED WEDNESDAY 

Enjoy my guest's great take on finding the perfect villain for Discover... Wicked Wednesday. Thanks for this, Susan Leigh Furlong!

Nothing is more wickedthan a villain who has it out for the hero. Storms and hungry animals are allvile, but there’s nothing like a good villain. Sort of like a car wreck. Youknow it’s appalling, but you can’t look away!

Villains come in allshapes and sizes, and so many stories cry out for a bad guy (or gal) to cause troublebecause if everything were easy for the hero, the book would double as a sleepaid. There are many ways to go about finding your wicked villain. Here aremine.

I needed to create aworthy bad guy, one who if he were the hero, and not so nasty, could beadmired. It took a lot of thought and tweaks, but I finally found Simon Duffyfor my Revolutionary War novel, DESPERATE HOPE.

Colonel Simon Duffy ispart of the British occupation force in New York City in 1778. His mission isto test the loyalty of the locals and expose any of George Washington’s spies, whichinclude my hero, Gavin Cullane, and my heroine, Tansy Carter.

My first question washow did Duffy become the way he is? What is his backstory? Duffy is on thewrong side of good and evil for many reasons, but feeling sorry for him is outof the question. He’s still the bad guy.

Gavin’s first meetingwith Simon Duffy on the prison ship exposes the truth about Duffy’s background. 

The captain introducedGavin to a skinny forty-year-old officer with a sharp nose and buck teeth namedSimon Duffy who would be his handler on shore. Colonel Duffy stood next to theship captain’s desk with arms akimbo and his nose in the air and bragged aboutbeing highly educated. However, Gavin, who’d been raised as a servant among thetruly high-born, recognized the signs of his low beginnings by the frequentrubbing of his sweaty hands down his sleeves.

“What do you know about spying?” Duffy asked him in a scratchy,raw voice.

“I can learn,” said Gavin.

“I am certain you can,but we British have been doing it for a thousand years, so you cannot outsmartus.” Duffy sniffed. 

When we learn why Duffychose Gavin to be a double agent for the British, we know there’s nothing buttrouble ahead for our hero.

 

“You made a good choice with this one,” said Duffy to the captaina few days later. “He is clever enough to be useful, but not so clever as toavoid the trap we will set for him. At the right time, this Gavin Cullane willdeliver to us something that will change the course of this war in our favor,after which we will hang him. If, on the other hand, he does nothing of valuefor us, we will still hang him.” Duffy gave a throaty laugh. 

Later, at a fancy partyheld by Loyalist sympathizers, Duffy confronts our hero. Duffy seems to beoffering advice, but in reality he’s bragging, something he can’t resist doing. 

Instead of taking his next shot, Duffy tossed his cue on thebilliard table and moved over to a small wooden table where the men sat to playchess or cribbage. “Enough billiards. Sit down. Have a whiskey?” He pointed tothe decanter and the drink glasses. “I’ve already had a drink or two, but who’scounting?”

“No, thank you,” said Gavin.

Duffy downed the whiskey left in his glass in one gulp.

Gavin concentrated on relaxing his shoulders and his face as hetook a seat across from Duffy, trying to appear unconcerned while facing theman who could send him back to the prison ship or hang him.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Duffy leaned back in his chair.“Duncan tells me you were a servant in this house.”

Gavin nodded.

“You’ve moved up in the world from lowly servant to invited guest,but you still don’t feel like you belong here, do you? Remember, it’s all anact, a game. Did I tell you where I came from? A hovel next to the river, but Idecided I wanted out and up, and here I am. It’s all an act. Nobody can tellwhere you were born if you watch, learn, and play the game, and I’ve learned itwell.”

He flicked his hand as if to dismiss all the wealth and class ofthe Duncan house. 

Duffy’s low character deepenswhen we learn how Duffy uses people as stepping stones to his goals, fatalstepping stones. When my heroine, Tansy Carter, visits Colonel Duffy, trying tofalsely convince him she can send a spy message that will lead to the defeat ofthe colonists, his arrogant demeanor makes her skin crawl, but she must becareful. He is dangerous. 

Duffy’s tongue peeked out of his mouth as he licked his lower lip.“Cullane has so little to offer a woman such as yourself. I could do so muchmore for you, give you a position in society and its accompanying wealth.Sadly, I find myself without a wife, and I do so enjoy having a woman at myside.”

He didn’t mention what Tansy already knew from the gossip thatraged through a population with little else to take their minds off the war.Duffy’s first wife had given him the prestige to secure a commission in thearmy and then disappeared without a trace while his second wife had left himwith a fortune and then was found floating in the river. All investigations ledto naught. 

Villains need to beclever and competent, a match for the hero. Otherwise, the suspense is lost,and there goes the reason to keep reading.

Gavin and Tansy,disguised as a bumbling farmer and his wife, board a ferry to escape out ofBritish held New York City to the Continental held territory in New Jersey.Duffy boards the same ferry. 

Simon Duffy held hisback stiff and resisted the urge to turn around and glare at the farmer and hiswife seated in the back of the ferry. He recognized the pair as Gavin Cullaneand Tansy Carter, despite their ridiculous disguises, which he had to admitmight have fooled him, but he knew her from her voice. He would never forgetthat voice. Her almost musical lilt and pitch from the few minutes in hisoffice haunted him, especially at night.

That day her tremulousfingers had given her away as terrified, despite the control she tried topresent as she stood in front of him. Still, she held herself aloof, valiantlytrying to appear confident, and her false attitude of arrogance aroused him. Heloved a woman who challenged him, a woman he needed to conquer and force tosubmit to his will. Tansy Carter was such a woman, and he wanted to see herwrithing beneath him, begging him to stop.

Gavin Cullane, on theother hand, had the cause of colonial freedom, and it made him weak. Duffy’sambition had nothing to do with any cause except to get himself on a pinnacleabove everyone else. He curled his lip, thinking about how far he’d come fromhis wretched beginnings, but he had so much farther to go. If he could becomeking, he would, but since that wasn’t possible, he’d settle for being afour-star general, the highest rank in the British army, and nothing less.

The two disguisedbumpkins in the back of the ferry would make that happen for him. He licked hislips thinking about the glory he’d get from the capture of the two Continentalspies who had made it possible for him to misguide Washington about thesaltpeter supply. He was so close he could almost taste it!

 

Duffy relentlesslychases and harasses Gavin and Tansy. He imprisons Tansy’s teenage nephew, beatsinformation out of a local preacher, burns down the house of a patriot family,and eventually captures Gavin and Tansy. His plans for both of them are heinousuntil Duffy meets his own unfortunate end, as all good villains must, at thehands of the hero, making it hard to feel anything but victory for his defeat. 

Simon Duffy, his guttorn by the knife, moved from one British encampment to another over the nextsix months. Along the way, a sympathetic country doctor treated his wound, butcould do no better than to leave him with a jagged stitched-together stomach, unableto eat a proper meal, and in constant pain.

Duffy eventually foundBritish troops east of Philadelphia near Monmouth County, New Jersey, as thesoldiers marched in retreat after their defeat by Continental troops at theMonmouth Creek battle.

Demanding to be taken toBritish General Clinton, Duffy prepared himself to receive accolades forescaping from dangerous patriot spies, only to find chains being locked aroundhis wrists and himself under arrest for his role in the saltpeter fiasco. Hemarched the rest of the way toward the coast where he was imprisoned until theend of the war when any record of him disappeared.

 

There are a lot ofcharacteristics of a great villain, and each is unique to the narrative, but myfavorite necessary trait is that he is jealous of the hero. Deep in his subconscious, he wishes hecould be the hero and the fact that he is not is his strongest motive to dowrong. 

Thebest bad guy can bring out the best in the hero!

BOOK LINKS

books2read.com/u/meK1xz

Also available at www.SusanLFurlong.com

Susan Leigh Furlong always wanted to be a teacher. Shealways made up stories as a child. Her first officially published work was anarticle written for a children’s magazine entitled “The Dumbest Kid in School.”Historical Romance is Susan's favorite type of book. A bookstore is herfavorite place in the whole world.

Reading and Reviews (Fuller and White)

I'm anauthor, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews ofpresent and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write,but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hourof my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but notexclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in awhile a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream characterdriven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past.Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

The Mockingbird Drive by A. C. Fuller 

Fivepeople are dead at a small Las Vegas newspaper...
The police and the media are running with the"official story"...
But Alex Vane is after the truth.

Alex Vane was once a top investigative journalist. Now he peddles celebritygossip and clickbait listicles, watching from a distance as his wife moveson with her life - without him. But Alex's past catches up to him when helearns that an old source, James Stacy, has been killed in a random massshooting.

James left Alex one last scoop: a 50-year-old hard drive that may contain asecret worth killing for...and the name of the one person who can helphim access the data. That person is Quinn Rivers, a paranoid and reclusivecomputer expert who believes the CIA is tracking her every move. And she maybe right.

When Alex shows up at her door with the hard drive, armed operatives are rightbehind him. Now Alex and Quinn are on the run. There is no one to trust, nowhereto hide, and nothing but the hard drive to prove that James Stacy's deathwasn't random at all. 

MY REVIEW

First off, I found this book entertaining. Ithink Mr. Fuller does a great job with character portrayal. The story is very“now” with lots of terminology and techy stuff so that part was lost on me hereand there, but I was able to catch up and get the gist of it. If you don’tbelieve in the dark world behind government and the movers and shakers, thenyou might have trouble suspending belief enough to enjoy this read. I didn’thave ANY trouble with that. I like a hero who isn’t all good and has faults. Iwould definitely read another book with Alex Vane as the main character.

AMAZON BUY LINK

 

Causefor Elimination by Marla A. White 

Reclaiming her life after adevastating riding accident, equestrian Emily Conners’ world shatters againwhen she discovers her friend and boss lying in a stall with a smashed skull.Now jobless and with a handsome cop underfoot investigating the case, she'storn between wanting the killer found and keeping her own secrets safe.

Detective Justin Butler always gets his killer,but this victim has a stampede of enemies and few leads to go on. Stonewalledby the tight-knit equestrian world, he looks to Emily for help, but she’sstrangely reluctant. Is she hiding something, or is she afraid of their growingattraction?

As the search for the murderer heats up, theirhearts become entangled and their lives at risk, forcing Emily and Justin towork together to find the killer before they strike again.

 

MY REVIEW

I bought this book because itis about the horse world. One of my all-time favorite authors is Dick Francis.But Francis wrote about racing not the equestrian world. That’s okay. I likehorses and learned a little about this other horsey world. The main gist of thestory is about a murder within that community and the detective who is tryingto solve the crime with the aid of a pill-popping equestrian, Emily, who he’sfalling in love with. At first, I puzzled over the heroine and her addiction.Ms. White was brave in writing such a flawed protagonist. But I must say shehandled the touchy subject well. There were times I wanted to slap Emily upsidethe head, and maybe that shows I got into her character. I enjoyed the charactersDearg and Lottie as well. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Toasting Murder with a Chocolate Martini

Mysister and I enjoy a chocolate martini twice a year, once in the spring for herbirthday and again in the fall for my birthday at the Hasayampa Inn in Prescott,Arizona in the saloon called the Peacock Room. This tradition is what led tothe cozy mystery series I’m writing with co-author Joyce Proell. Candy,Cigarettes, and Murder released in March. Book two, Reading, Writing, andMurder is set to release in September.

Ourfictional Chocolate Martini Sisters are Emma (Em) Banefield and Nicole (Nic)Earp. They find a lot more murder and mayhem at the Dulce Inn in our fictionaltown of Wyatt, Arizona than my sister and I find in the Peacock Room!

Nic isthe younger sister and prone to jumping to conclusions when she and Em are followingthe clues to catch the murderer. Em is an analytical sleuth, more cautious thanNic. Both sisters are keen observers and love to people-watch. Nic is a freelancetravel writer and ex-teacher, carefree and arty in her style. She loves hats.Em’s style

is non-fussy and monochromatic. She’s an aspiring mystery author andalthough retired, she still advises on psychiatric/social cases.

Overthe next few weeks, I'll share some never-before-seen excerpts and photos ofthe inspiration behind this really fun to read series.

Penelope giggled. “I have a reasonably goodmemory for faces and names, but yours in particular stuck with me. Our town,Wyatt, is named for another Earp who gave the Dulce Inn a reputation back inthe day.”

“Ah, yes. I can’t claim any relation,although my second husband, my ex, swears he’s a descendant of the famous Earpbrothers.”

“Wow. How fun.”

She snickered. If the clerk knew Rodney, shewouldn’t use the word fun. “So, what’s with all the activity and art today?”

“This weekend is the first ever art festival heldat the town square. Art Fair on the Square.” She gestured toward the door. “Thereare lots of artists staying here, so the inn decided to capitalize on the eventand have an art competition. We’re asking guests to vote on the art displayedin our lobby. There’ll be a dinner and dance Saturday night to announce thewinner.”

“Super.” Nic hadn’t danced in a few years.She’d probably have trouble getting Em to a dinner and dance. In fact, she’dguess her sister sat at the bar right now, bemoaning the busy atmosphere of theinn this weekend. Too hectic, she’d complain. A lively change might do her goodthough. Em had done well getting over the death of her husband, but a littlestep outside of her comfort zone wouldn’t hurt.

“I love your hat.” Penelope’s bubbly voicedrew her from her musings.

She slipped the twisted .

The front desk clerk tilted her chin. “Ican’t pull off wearing—”

“These are to be displayed among the contestart pieces,” a boorish man interjected. His elbow bumped Nic as he shoved a triptych of three interconnectingdrawings across the reception counter. Penelope jerked her fingers away toavoid having them smashed by the frames. “See it gets taken care ofimmediately.” As if expecting his directive would be carried out withoutquestion, he spun on his heel, cutting away so fast the air lifted the thinningsilver and golden-brown hair atop his head.

“I hope all the artists aren’t as rude to youas that ass.” Not only rude, but the cruel glint in his hazel eyes when hescoped Penelope’s face gave off bad vibrations. And she trusted the vibes shesensed in people. This was not a nice man.

 

BOOKLINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada 

Goodreads 

Bookbub

 

A Road to Getting Published by Lynn Griffin #WWII #publish

MUSE MONDAY

I love stories of how a writer gets her book out into the world. You'll enjoy Lynn Griffin's post today.

They say yourchildhood shapes your life, but you choose which path you take.  

Pinch me now. I am atraditionally published author! It’s amazing I can say I am a published author. 

The thing is I haveperpetual imposters syndrome, and therefore I’ve never had the confidence tosubmit my work. That was until one day, when a new friend, who turned out to bean editor in our critiquing group, suggested I should get my story out there before‘I popped my clogs.’ Yes, she was that blunt! But she had a point. It became thepush I needed. 

I have always writtenaround the full-time paid job. My work took me to places that I never dreamed.I met people that were remarkable, honest, vulnerable, and wonderful. Theyshared their stories. They made me laugh in the face of adversity, and theirstories brought tears to my eyes as they spoke of their love and devotion. Eachof those wonderful people were survivors. They were my inspiration. They are myhero’s. 

My latest novelsSecrets, Shame, and a Shoebox and its sequel The Twenty-One-Year Contract arestandalones and based around WW11 which leads to 1960s. 

So, back to howpublication all came about. When the invisible big bad wolf came knocking oneveryone’s door in 2020, I was living and writing in Spain. When we returned tothe UK my imaginary friends continued to keep me awake. Yammering away. Still tellingme their stories.  Telling me what towrite, what to say, and how important they were. I had to listen, after all,who am I to argue? Because my ‘little friends’ had so much tosay, this particular book ended up being humongous! It weighed in way over 180,000words. Of course, I knew I wouldn’t get away with that, but you can’t blame agirl for trying. 

Then the search forthe perfect publisher began. This may sound obvious, but often writers fallinto the pothole by not submitting to publishers that:

Are open tosubmissions.

And equally important,those who published work that fitted with my genre. 

Three months later, afterensuring the final product was polished, shiny and everything in between, I wasoffered a contract! I’m still stunned. 

Though it wasn’t assimple as that as you can well imagine.  The180,000 words needed some cutting back which was hard, but necessary and becameanother huge learning curve. Then believe it or not, writing is hard enough,but once you have a contract, the real work begins. 

I put my fingers onthe keyboard, listened to my editor and went for it. 

To my delight itresulted in my debut, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox being born, followed by TheTwenty-One-Year Contract. 

Of course, there ismore to this than I can share right here, but all I’m saying is if I can do it,and you are a writer with the dream, do it now. Try before it’s toolate!  

One last word, ortwo: If you are a reader, or writer, thank you so much for taking the time to readmy books. The reviews have been wonderful. They are important to any author,but I can’t thank you enough. I am still humbled, and always will be. Allwriters are encouraged to read, and I am naturally an avid reader. I don’trestrict myself to one genre, just check out my reviews on Goodreads or BenShepard and you will see for yourself.

Only a simple shoebox, but withlife-changing secrets…

Blurb:

Fourteen-year-old Kathleen Gray— talented,a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life inrural Somerset, with a doting family. Suddenly, they are gone, she has onlyUncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her. Kathleen takesa chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a newlife built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly haveimagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers.

BOOK LINKS: 

mybook.to/twentyone

https://books2read.com/u/3JER1P

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-One-Year-Contract

https://www.amzn.com/1509239723

https://www.amzn.com/B09THQKFJS

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn1509239723

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Shame-Shoebox

https://wildrosepress.com

https://fb.watch/b3c2bZPyRF/

FIND LYNN HERE:

https://www.instagram.com/lynngriffinauthoruk 

https://www.Facebook.com/lynngriffinauthor/

https://www.twitter.com/lbgriffinauthor

https://www.wifeinthewest.com 

@LBGriffinAuthoruk