Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 6

Life's Adventures: In Domesticity (Confessions of an Ex-Domestic Goddess)

Many moons ago, when I was first married, my husband toldpeople we lived in a hospital. He’s prone to exaggeration, but I was kind offanatical. I was raised by a stay-at-home mom who bought into the whole 1950sfeminine persona. So, I cleaned the house every day, sweeping and dusting. Idid all the grocery shopping and cooking. My first cookbook was a paperbackentitled The I Hate to Cook Book given to me by my mother-in-law. Inow think she was a visionary and knew how my house-wifey days would evolve. 

Fast forward a few years. Once I learned playing house gottedious, my love of shiny floors and squeaky-clean sinks died. I worked outsidethe house at a 9 to 5 job just like FDW. No way was I putting in 9 to 5 on theweekends inside the house. I luckily drew a mate who enjoys cooking. And hecooks good food from scratch. We lapsed into a nice routine of whoever got homefirst cooked. Whoever didn’t cook, cleaned up. We shared laundry and otherdetails around the house so we could get out to fish, ride bikes, hike, orparty with the Parrotheads. 

Then I found out I loved writing books. Now fast forward afew decades. Who the heck has time to do much of anything if you’re aself-taskmaster writing and promoting? Not this lady. I’m just very glad FDWstill loves to cook, grocery shop, and a few other domestic shores I’ve pawnedoff on him. 

But once in a while, I like to step out of my self-imposedwriting cave. Yesterday, while FDW vegged in front of sports on TV, I wentgrocery shopping…all by myself. When I hopped out of the car, I paused amoment. The carts were lined up on the sidewalk. People were rushing in and outof the automatic door. Could I do this on my own? I go with FDW once everycouple of months just to see if there are new things I might want. Plus, he’s avery linear shopper…list in hand, in and out…same stuff every week. I mightwant to try that oddball fruit on sale or see if they’re carrying Peach Brandyyet. But I hadn’t walked those aisles alone in ages. Just inside the door is aStarbucks, so with a caffeine jolt, I did the deed. 

Costco was on the schedule for today. Naw, I’ve had enoughof the grocery experience for now. FDW is there as I type. Yay, for him!

Reading and Reviews (Gallant, Grafton, Anderson)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'llshare my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read islimited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook atnight for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. BesidesRomantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while atrue story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven 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. 

Perilous Quest (Truth and Lies, book 3) by Jannine Gallant 

On a quest to find a lost treasure,will they fall victim to love . . . or murder?

As a genealogist and historical researcher, Brielle Quintrell often uncoverssecrets families would prefer to keep buried. Hired by the elderly scion of theCape Cod Bishops, a dynasty stretching back to the founding fathers, she can’twait to delve into their ancestry—despite her client’s skeptical grandson.

Weston Bishop has his hands full running his family’s cranberry farm, seeing tohis grandparents’ needs, avoiding his ex, and keeping his cousin out oftrouble. The last thing he wants is a genealogist digging into his family’spast and creating problems. Especially one as pretty and distracting asBrielle.

When old letters and diaries lead to more questions than answers, hinting at adangerous legacy, Weston is hooked. The idea of recovering a stolen treasure isalmost as tempting as his new partner. But after word of their search leaks,the two discover they aren’t the only ones determined to solve thecenturies-old crime. Someone will go to any lengths to find the prize—evenmurder. 

My Review 

How fun to mix genealogy, history,and a treasure hunt in a suspenseful romantic adventure. Brielle and Weston areappealing characters…a genealogist and a cranberry farmer. There are enough suspiciouscharacters to keep you guessing until the end as to who the villain is. A readyou’ll enjoy. 

Q is for Quarry: A Kinsey MillhoneNovel by Sue Grafton 

She was a "Jane Doe," anunidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarryoff California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff'sDepartment, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, herhands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab wounds, andher throat had been slashed. After months of investigation, the murder remainedunsolved...

That was eighteen years ago. Now the two men who found the body are nearing theend of their careers in law enforcement—and they want one last shot at thecase. Old and ill, they need someone to help with their legwork and they turnto Kinsey Millhone.

Kinsey is intrigued by the cold case and agrees to take the job. But revisitingthe past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of JaneDoe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer. 

My Review 

I thoroughly enjoyed the charactersin this book. The two old detectives jump off the pages, they are so wellwritten. The cold case research has lots of twists and turns. The suspense istense. 

When Oceans Rage: A Rivals to LoversSea Adventure (Woman at the Helm Mystery Book 2) by Rolynn Anderson 

To save her father, she must shutdown corporate espionage and unearth a murderer before the killer finds her.

A shocking inheritance of a shrimpboat from her estranged father entices MIT-trained Jill Morrell toresign from her cushy Seattle job. Her lack of experience boating or fishingsoon makes her a pariah on the Port McNeill dock. Worse: While she invests timeand energy into a successful prawn season, her father languishes in prison fora murder he may not have committed.

Ray Stewart, stepson of the murdered man, has a stealth agenda ofhis own. Ray aims to sue Jill for ownership of the million-dollar vessel. Infact, he’ll join Jill’s crew for the season to protect his family’s asset whilekeeping an eye on the ever-fascinating, unpredictable Ms Morrell.

The raging ocean pales in comparison to the violent and greedy folks out todestroy Jill’s livelihood. Though Ray and Jill are sworn adversaries, they mustjoin forces to find a murderer and identify traitors in their British Columbia community. 

My Review 

First off, Ms. Anderson gives usjust enough information about the prawning business to entertain us whiletelling the story and not sound like an instruction manual. That’s not easy todo. The title tells you Rivals to Lovers which is an interesting trope. Notonly is there tension and suspense involving murder and espionage, but thetension between the rivals keeps you turning the pages too. A great read.

DEEP WITHIN ME BOOK TWO – THE PROPHECY by Tina Donahue

Let's welcome back Tina Donahue to Discover... with her latest release. Good luck, Tina! Enjoy, readers!

Blurb:

 

Unrestraineddesire…and danger without end. 

TheProphecy, Book 2 

In the relentless war between theirclans, they’ll risk all for their forbidden love.

 

With Zeke Neekoma, Liz foundshameless passion. She indulged in her most wanton needs, drowning in his maleheat and exquisite strength. A traitorous act. Zeke is her clan’s most hatedenemy, a seer whose prophecies they wish to exploit. Enraged by her betrayal,the leader of her clan murdered Liz. 

Reanimated by her father—her clan’smost powerful healer—she’s determined to fight on Zeke’s side, using herhealing gift to help his people. Liz aches for a future with Zeke, to alwaysknow the ecstasy of his touch, the thrill of his body imprisoning andpleasuring her. 

Zeke desires the same. However, thereanimation changed something within her. Now when Liz heals, she grows weak.Fearful he may lose her forever, Zeke forbids Liz to use her gift. 

There’s no other choice. Her clan’sleader launches his next assault, a merciless plan that will test Zeke’shumanity, risk Liz’s life and threaten their timeless bond.

EXCERPT: 

Zeke easedhis foot from the accelerator to slow the vehicle. “You okay?” he asked Liz.

“Yeah.”

Her voicedidn’t rasp from her previous injuries…her murder. It was as though it hadnever occurred, the same as Zeke’s brush with death. After another deep breath,she stopped gripping his leg and rested her palm on his thigh.

Her hand’sweight sent a flood of warmth through Zeke that comforted and aroused him. Herecalled her willing submission and longing for his kisses, the hunger of hiscaress.

Withouther, he’d die, no longer caring what happened. With her, he had hope for thefuture, the first in years. All he had to do to make certain it lasted was tofind and kill Carreon. Not quickly, though. He needed the monster to suffer forwhat he’d done in the past to Zeke’s clan and family. To his little girlGabrielle.

A surge ofoutrage, quick and hot, tore through Zeke.

“You allright?” Liz asked, squeezing his thigh.

He foughtto control his anger and finally managed a nod. He’d deal with Carreon later.Right now, he had to see to Liz’s safety and her father’s. They were more thanten miles from his clan’s stronghold with few places to hide in this desolatearea. A precarious position. The only thing that might possibly save them wasthis route. Here, they shouldn’t run into Carreon’s three lieutenants who’descaped tonight’s battle with Zeke’s men.

Liztwisted slightly, trying to see in the back. Her father sat behind her. “Papa,you okay?”

“I’mfine.”

His wordsbounced in concert with the Jeep’s rough movements.

Liz blewout a breath.

Zekewelcomed the sound as much as he did her laughter.

Losing heronce was all he could bear.

Thecorners of his eyes were still sticky from tears, shed when he’d believed shewas gone from him forever. He’d thought, as Liz had, that she and her fatherwere only able to heal the injured, a gift bestowed on them by their mixture ofAztec and extraterrestrial blood.

Because ofCarreon and men like him, Liz’s father hadn’t told her the most importantsecret regarding their gift.

Not onlycould they undo damage from an accident or the bullets that had torn intoZeke’s chest, they could reanimate.

Earlier,Liz had been beyond simple healing, the delicate bones in her throat crushedfrom the pressure of Carreon’s hands. When her father finally convinced Zekethere was nothing he could do, that his love alone wouldn’t bring Liz back,he’d finally released her. Through his tears, Zeke watched Munez cradle hisdaughter’s face. He expected the older man to offer a farewell.

Instead, Munezpoured his healing gift, his life force into her. With astonishing speed, thelividity drained from Liz’s face, her complexion returning to its rich olivecoloring. She’d stirred as though awakening from a sound sleep, rather thanhaving come back to life.

Carreondidn’t know the full extent of the healing gift. If he learned Liz and herfather could reanimate the dead rather than merely healing the injured, he’d dowhatever he could to imprison them both. This time, he’d make certain theybrought back his lieutenants who were killed in battle with Zeke’s men.

The bloodfeud had already spanned thousands of years, all to gain power over eachother’s gifts or to hold on to so-called sacred territory. Many on both sidesclaimed it was a tribute to or preparation for the return of their ancientancestors. Beings who’d crossed deep space and had come to Earth millenniabefore.

While theUnknowns had bred with Liz’s Aztec ancestors, the Others had done the same withthe Comanche clan from which Zeke had descended, leaving generations like himwith the gift of prophecy.

Zekegrasped the steering wheel so hard his fingers hurt. He loathed his gift asmuch as Carreon coveted it. Until that monster was beyond reanimation, he’dkeep trying to capture and imprison Zeke so he could exploit the visions forhis own ends.

If it tookZeke’s last breath, he’d find Carreon and would destroy him. There was simplyno other—

Damn. The ashy light showed a suddenturn in the trail, interrupting his thoughts. As carefully as he could, Zekeveered to the right.

Liz’s handslid off his thigh.

Hejockeyed the vehicle past rocks and furrows, missing each. The ride was nowrelatively smooth, considering. It should have calmed him but didn’t. Why?

A quickcheck of the gauges told him the Jeep was operating properly. He scanned themoon-washed landscape, not seeing anyone coming their way. A good thing. Exceptsomething still wasn’t quite right.

What?

Her hand slid off my thigh.

Liz hadn’ttaken it back. It had dropped away from him.

Uneasy atwhat that might mean, Zeke slowed the Jeep and glanced over. His next breathfroze in his throat.

Liz’s chinrested on her chest. Her thick chestnut hair had swung forward, hiding herface. The ends shifted with the Jeep’s movements, as did her arms and legs. Shelooked asleep…unconscious.

Dead.

“Liz!”Zeke shouted.

AboutTina: 

Tina’s an Amazon and internationalbestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat withheart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, RomanticTimes and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book ofthe Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallioncompetitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in theNovel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked ata major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

 On a less serious note: she’s anadmitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and hasbeen known to moan like Meg Ryan in WhenHarry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engineairplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity fordummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes. 

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Bluesky: @tinadonauthor.bsky.social

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Newsletter: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/tinadonahue

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorTinaDonahue 

Life's Adventures: Hit and Run People Impact

I'm a believer in the philosophy, or is it a theory, that we are touched and changed by everyone we encounter in life. And of course, we do our own amount of touching and changing. There are those people who are in our lives for years, but the ones who only pass through, maybe one hit wonders, make a difference too. 

I'm not sure how some of these hit and runs have affected me, but the fact I remember them must add to the richness of life's ongoing adventure.

How far back can you remember? One of my earliest is of a tall, thin man with dark hair...a neighbor...whose dog ate my pet rabbit. I was three years old. It might be the realization that one animal could do that to another animal that sticks with me, but tall, dark-haired men always gave me pause.

When I was in fourth grade and the new kid at the school, Mrs. Tinharkle, my teacher, used me as an example of why she always let a fellow classmate, Betty, read to us each day. When a couple of kids complained about only Betty getting to read, she called me up to the front of the class and stuck the book in my hands. I read, but not smooth like Betty. I stumbled over words, and my voice shook with nerves. After a couple of paragraphs, she told me to sit down and said, "see. This is why I always choose Betty." In my mind, that teacher is an ugly witch. But I think she's the reason I forced myself to become comfortable speaking and presenting. No one would ever use me as a bad example again.

A few months before the transition to high school, I was talking to a guy about what it would be like. I shared I wanted to be on the cheer squad and date a letterman. His comment: "With your looks? You'll never date a letterman." I don't remember being particularly hurt by his opinion. He did go on to be a letterman in high school, and I did go on to date two lettermen over the course of my four years. Had my personality been different, that guy could've impacted my life horribly. I did bleach my hair blonde and start wearing a lot of makeup. Hmm...

I went to college in snow country. Having been raised in Phoenix, snow was an adventure. Between classes one snowy day, I slipped and went sprawling. From out of nowhere, big strong hands scooped me up. I gazed upward at beautiful blue eyes, chestnut hair falling across his forehead, and smiling lips. I don't remember what he said. I don't know if I said anything. And then he was gone. My embarrassment was huge, but his kindness has stuck with me all my life.

FDW and I celebrated one wedding anniversary by driving from Arizona to see friends in Minnesota. The first stop on our adventure was Tucson to see the kids. When we arrived, walking up their sidewalk, I fell and landed on my face, knocking out a front tooth. So the trip started with a bang. On the night of our actual anniversary, we stopped for dinner in Nebraska. We were on a tight budget, my mouth was a mess, and we talked about all of that. We also toasted each other for our anniversary. When we were done eating, the waitress informed us that the two men at the table over had paid for our meal. They were gone. I was awestruck. My mouth no longer hurt, and my heart swelled. 

There are plenty of people who I have in my life now or who have been in my life for prior years. I'm thankful for the lessons both good and bad they imparted. But it's these one hit wonders who have also shaped my life. Life's an adventure for sure, and the people we encounter are trail markers.

French, Love, and J. Arlene Culiner

Join me in welcoming back J. Arlene Culiner to Discover... Her book sounds fascinating. Enjoy!      

Frenchartist Nicholas Trier is gorgeous. And successful. And sexy. He’s a golden godwho lights up any room. He’s also arrogant, although the cluster of women surroundinghim don’t seem to mind — aren’t all famous men vain and impossible?

Despite the competition,artist Callie Patterson has decided that Nicholas is the key to her own fameand success, and she signs up for his two-week artists’ retreat in a Frenchchâteau. If she manages to charm Nicholas, who knows what will happen next?

From the moment she arrives inFrance, things don’t go according to plan. The château is magnificent, thecountryside is splendid, but it never stops raining, and daily life also meansbattling with the French language.

Callie is grateful for agrowing friendship with the château’s gardener, Michel Alexander, but even if shefinds him captivating — and far more interesting than Nicholas — she can’tconsider him a potential lover. Michel is probably as poor as she is.

Set in rural France, thislight-hearted romance touches on the contemporary art world and French history.

Callie Patterson, an unsuccessful artist, hopes that a relationship withthe irresistible and magnetic Nicholas Trier will pave the way to success. Shefollows him to France where, in a magnificent château, he holds his artists'retreats. But famous men surround themselves with hangers-on and demandcomplete loyalty.

Callie soon finds herself far more attracted to Michel Alexandre, the estategardener, who loves and protects trees and every living creature. But if shewants to make a name for herself, she’ll have to choose Nicholas and his world.

Except nothing is quite the way it seems, and perhaps success isn’t the mostimportant thing, after all.

Excerpt:
            Callie dropped her backpackand, uninvited, sat down on the soggy ground not far from where he was digging.She didn’t even own a houseplant, but a banal conversation about twigs andsaplings, was what she craved at the moment. “Okay, tell me why isn’t there ahedge here now.”
            “Because, years ago, thefarmer ripped out all the hedges to have larger fields for his agriculturalmachinery. Now we’re bringing back a balanced environment.”
            “You’re not planning toreplace every single hedge on your own, are you?”
            “Of course not,” he scoffed.Picking up a small spade, he loosened another patch of earth. “There arethousands of trees and shrubs to replant, and that would be an impossible taskfor only one person.”
            With gentle fingers, he spreadthe delicate roots of a tiny shrub, tucked it into place in the little hole,then tamped down the moist soil with his palm. Reached for another, and thenanother.
            She watched silently as heplanted, and strangely enough, it was almost a sensual sight. His hands werebroad, strong, and deeply tanned from working outdoors; his long fingers werebeautifully shaped. And under that denim shirt of his, there was the alluringsuggestion of tight sinew and warm, fragrant skin. Bear like? No, not exactly.Something more, something…
            “A penny for yourthoughts.” Michel was watching her with those disconcerting eyes of his, verydark, with heavy lids and thick lashes.
            She felt the blush as ittraveled upward, flooding her neck, her face. He hadn’t caught what she hadbeen thinking, had he? Perhaps he had. Surely, he’d seen how her gaze hadslipped over his hands, his arms, his chest, and shoulders. How incrediblyhumiliating! What vaguely plausible answer could she give? “Oh…just rememberingsomething.”
            “Ah.” Eyebrows raised in overtamusement, he smirked—rather cockily—then went back to working on the nexthole, the next shrub.

The Unpredictable Colors of Lovepublished by the Wild Rose Press
Purchase Links: https://books2read.com/TheUnpredictableColorsOfLove
Trailer: https://youtu.be/27nE-cCHNqM

Whatpeople are saying about TheUnpredictable Colors of Love

As always the author creates characters who are not always perfect, haveenjoyed full lives up to the point where she brings them together, and who areon a journey of discovery. The story is set within in the luxurious andlovingly renovated chateau and in the glorious countryside where its ancientfields and hedgerows are also being brought back to life. The perfect settingfor two people who might have given up hope on finding a soul mate to explorethe possibility there might just be a chance for them after all. Sally Cronin, Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

The charming setting of rural France is an excellentbackdrop to the book, which explores the dichotomy between urban andcountryside environments. It also examines the contrast between two vastlydifferent types of men: the arrogant and popular Nicolas, and humble, caringMichel. Indeed, the unfolding romance between headstrong Callie and thedown-to-earth gardener is delightful to behold, as is Callie’s transformationfrom urbanite to country-dweller. Michel supports and validates her, which isin stark contrast to Nicolas’s superior attitude and vanity.
A sweet, tender romance, with well-developed characters Icould root for, this is an immersive story, with its unique and picturesquesetting. Whispering Stories

Author Bio
Writer,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, in a Bavariancastle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, andbeside a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a Frenchvillage of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders,snakes, and weeds. Observing people everywhere, she eavesdrops on all privateconversations and delights in hearing any nasty, funny, ridiculous, sad,romantic, or boastful story. And when she can't uncover any salacious gossip,she makes it up.

Author Websites http://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog: http://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Authorlinks: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner 

Vampires in the White Mountains by Kate Hill

Please join me in welcoming guest blogger, Kate Hill. I too love the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Kate adds a fun twist to the area.

It'snot surprising that many of my stories are set in New England. I've lived there all my life. One of my favorite placesis the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It's the location of a setting thatappears in both the Darkness Therein (Ancient Blood 2) and the Immaculate(Ancient Blood 3). Jocelyn's house in the woods is a place where the characters,both vampire and human, go to meditate, practice magic, and train for importantevents like the battle against the First Father in the Immaculate. 

Whenthe characters visit Jocelyn's house, it's a way for them to break away fromtheir harried lives—usually they're in the middle of a crisis!— and focus onwhat they need to do. Surrounded by beauty and fewer distractions, they areable to

get in touch with their magic, their powers, and their connection tothe wild parts of themselves. 

I'veshared some photos of the White Mountains areaand an excerpt from the Immaculate. I hope you enjoy them! 

Whatare some of your favorite settings in books?  

The Immaculate  (Ancient Blood 3)

Heat Level: Steamy

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK2MCDF8

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-immaculate-kate-hill/1005704391

UBL: https://books2read.com/u/bzywNL 

Scarred in mind and body after a brutal attack, Mara travelsto Spainin pursuit of an explanation for flashbacks that hint at supernatural evil.There she meets Adam, a gorgeous vampire fighting demons of his own. Bound bymutual attraction and suffering, it seems they can heal each other, until theirromantic relationship turns potentially deadly for one of them. 

Note: The Immaculate was previously published. This re-editedversion contains additional scenes. The Immaculate contains scenes with sex andviolence. The story refers to past rape, past child abuse, and a past suicideattempt.                        

Excerpt:

“Good boy.” Vincent pointed a long, wiry finger at Adam.“Keep sharpening those telepathic skills. Someday, you’ll be a helluva psychic.But for now, we hunt.” 

The men fell silent. Leaving the vicinity of the house, theyentered the dark woods. To vampires, especially Immaculates, everything was asclear as day. They traveled swiftly and quietly through the trees.

 

The scent of a buck wafted on the air. The animal ploddedthrough a nearby creek. 

Though this particular prey wasn’t his, Adam’s pulse stillquickened with desire for the chase. He held back his animal instincts. It wasMatthew they wanted to assess. 

Vincent caught Matthew’s eye and motioned with his head inthe direction of the deer. 

For a moment, Adam thought Matthew might refuse, but hisbrother’s vampiric scent was strong. Pure, animal excitement rolled off thedoctor. He fixed his unblinking gaze on the buck. Simultaneously, the antleredcreature and the vampire bolted.

Matthew moved so swiftly through the trees that for severalmoments, Adam and Vincent nearly lost him. Matthew’s initial attack had takenthem by surprise, but soon they fell into step and had him in sight. 

Adam bounded through the trees, branches lashing his face,and followed Matthew over a brook. The scent of trees, damp earth, and thebuck’s fear hung on the air. Running wild and free through the forest was soexhilarating, yet they weren’t free. Not really. No one was free until theFirst Father was destroyed. 

AboutKate: 

Kate Hill is a vegetarian NewEnglander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she's not working on herbooks, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, andresearching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog thatis dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate alsowrites as Saloni Quinby. 

Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com. Join hernewsletter at https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter. 

Contact Links: 

Website: https://www.kate-hill.com

Blog: https://kate-hill.com/blog/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katehillromance/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katehillromanceandmore/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateHillRomance

Reading and Reviews (Jackson and Hart)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'llshare my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read islimited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook atnight for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. BesidesRomantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while atrue story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven 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.

Born to Die (An Alvarez & Pescoli Novel) by Lisa Jackson 

A sad, strange coincidence. ..that's Dr. Kacey Lambert's initial response to the deaths of two women whobear an uncanny resemblance to herself. It's not like there was any realconnection between Kacey and the B-movie actress or the elementary school teacher.But Detective Selena Alvarez suspects otherwise.

Can Be. . .

One of the bodies contained traces of poison at the time of death. Selena andher partner, Detective Regan Pescoli, can find no motive for murder. But Kaceyhas started to notice ties between the dead women's lives and her own--allclose in age, born within miles of each other. And all have links to TraceO'Halleran, the man Kacey just started dating.

Deadly. . .

The deeper Kacey digs, the more reason she has to fear. More look-alikes aredying, and the killer is getting bolder and more brutal. And Kacey knows it'sonly a matter of time before hers is the next name on a list of those who wereborn to die. . .

 

MY REVIEW:

I waited too long to review thisbook. My memory… But I do remember that I enjoyed it. I refuse to finish booksthat aren’t entertaining me. The only thing that made me scratch my head wasthere were so many women. Not that I have anything against women, I am one. Butthe lack of diversity was noticeable. The cops are women, the detective isfemale, the doctor is a woman. I was beginning to think it was an all-femalebook. But there is a hero, Trace O’Halleran, and his characterization isappealing. It’s a suspenseful read I can recommend.

 

Dirty Little Secrets (A J.J. Graves Mystery) by Liliana Hart 

J.J. Graves has seen a lot of deadbodies in her line of work...She's not only in the mortuary business, but she'salso the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder isdiscovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her bestfriend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice. The murders arepiling up...When a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep withplans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has todecide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create thespine tinglers he's so well known for. Passions are rising...J.J and Jackdiscover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'slife is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of herown—secrets that make her a perfect target in a deadly game. 

 

MY REVIEW:

J.J. is actually in a bad financial way,in a tiny town where not enough people die, and trying to hold on to themortuary that her parents left her. J.J. is a great character and so is her copfriend Jack. The story is clever, but the characters in the story are what Ienjoyed the most. Her fast-fall relationship with Brody rubbed me wrong. Therewere holes here and there in the plot. But all in all, I enjoyed it for themost part.

Guest Author Spotlight with Tina Donahue

Let's welcome Tina Donahue to Discover... Her newest release sounds pretty spicy, Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance. Read on for a PG introduction and a sample of a hot new offering from Tina.

Shecan heal the dying…

Twomen—enemies of her people—will stop at nothing to have her gift, her desire andlove

 

TheProphecy, Book 1

 

Trapped in a blood feud, Liz usesher healing power to bring Zeke Neekoma from the brink of death so her clan canexploit his prophecies. During the ceremony, she drapes her nudity over his,experiencing his building strength, the stunning pleasure of his caress as hetakes her without warning, using her as he wills. 

His hunger for a woman he’ssupposed to hate isn’t what Zeke expected, nor does he intend to deny himself.Kidnapping Liz, he’s resolved that she heal his brother Jacob ambushed by herpeople. At his stronghold, Zeke keeps Liz captive to his and Jacob’s desires.The brothers pleasure her without restraint and in ways she’s never known.Before, her life was filled with loneliness and wanting. Now… 

Used by two powerful men,threatened by her clan’s determination to get her back, Liz risks all as shesurrenders to Zeke’s and Jacob’s lust, the ecstasy of their touch and her mosttraitorous needs.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL3T3JBF

Excerpt:

He lay inthe center of the king-sized bed. His breaths were quiet, his eyes closed, legssprawled, one arm draped over his head as though he was sleeping.

The bulletholes in his muscular left pec contradicted that notion.

Forcingdown a swallow, Liz pulled her attention from his wounds—three perfect blackcircles—to his face.

Her lipsparted on a quiet sigh. Rarely had she seen a man wear such a look of serenity.So unlike the terror she’d witnessed on Carreon’s features or those of his menwhen they’d been so close to death.

ZekeNeekoma was different. The words boyish and innocent came to mind, which Lizdismissed quickly.

Looking tobe in his early thirties, he was no boy. Nor was he innocent. His size, surelysix-three, his sharp, masculine features and powerful form were perfect forbattle against men and pleasure with women.

Heatsuffused Liz, making her limbs feel heavy and weak. She recalled what Carreonand his men had told her about Zeke, no doubt a mixture of truth and lies. Notknowing which was which, she moved deeper into the dimly lit room.Spanish-style lamps created pools of honeyed light, giving the space a sacredfeel one might experience in a church. The cherry-wood four-poster dominatedthe sparsely furnished chamber, while a series of leather wing chairs—reservedfor observers—circled the bed.

The manwho’d been guarding Zeke left the room. Carreon and his men went to theirseats, their weight causing the chairs’ legs to scrape against the polishedhardwood floor.

For onefoolish moment, Liz thought the intrusive noise would cause Zeke to open hiseyes and lose his blissful expression. That he’d ask why they’d pulled him fromsuch blessed rest and what appeared to be happiness.

This mandidn’t want to be healed. Liz knew it in her soul; saw it in the upward curveof his beautiful mouth. Was he the same as her father, tired of fighting? Orwas he welcoming the end so he could reunite with someone he’d loved?

Hisparents and siblings, perhaps…or a wife.

A new rushof warmth stung Liz’s chest.

Disturbedby the sensation and her aching loneliness—the need for a powerful yet good manat her side—Liz recalled what Carreon’s lieutenants had claimed the first nightshe’d come here.

“He’ll murder our women andchildren so our line dies out, just as his kind have always wanted.”

If thatwas the truth, then Zeke was no different from Carreon, who hunted the weakest,eliminating them first. Once more, she examined Zeke’s face, lingering on hismouth. Instead of a sneer or a smirk, she imagined him smiling at her, his grinhonest, reaching his eyes, his wanting of her obvious and—

Stop it.

What wasthe matter with her, indulging in a romantic fantasy when she was well aware oftheir people’s conflict and unending hatred for each other? Even if Zeke wasn’ta murdering psychopath, he wasn’t likely to be stirred by a woman from an enemyclan. So why was he affecting her like this? Was it a power he had…or somethingelse. Perhaps the truth as to who he really was?

Ignoringher persistent longing, Liz replaced it with a healthy dose of distrust. “Thisis Zeke Neekoma?”

“You soundsurprised,” Carreon said. “Why?”

AboutTina: 

Tina’s an Amazon and internationalbestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat withheart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, RomanticTimes and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book ofthe Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallioncompetitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in theNovel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked ata major Hollywood production company in Story Direction. 

On a less serious note: she’s anadmitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and hasbeen known to moan like Meg Ryan in WhenHarry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engineairplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity fordummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes. 

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Newsletter: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/tinadonahue

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorTinaDonahue 

Life's Adventures: Truth is Funnier Than Fiction

Years ago, when my brother was in his tile laying days and working for someone else, he spent one awful night in a cheap motel. He had me in tears...the laughing kind...as he told the story of his misery. I knew I'd have to use it someday in a book. And I did eventually. In the book, I added my guy to a band and a struggle with sobriety, but the night was directly taken from my brother's mirserable night in the motel from hell. This is the fictional scene resulting from a true-life adventure.

At room number four, heunlocked the door and wrinkled his nose at the smell of mildew and stalecigarette smoke.

What do I expectfor $44.95?

His boot sole caught onthe carpet, bunched and torn at the doorjamb, and sent him on a stutter-step tokeep his balance. “Damn.” The genuine fake leather upper had pulled away fromthe sole on his left boot.

He felt around on thewall and flipped on the overhead light. The bulb flickered for a moment, longenough to see the bedside table lamp, and went dark. He threw his bag on the mattress, switched on the lamp, andplopped down on the lumpy, squeaky bed. His stomach growled. After turning onthe wall heater, he settled down to eat his fast food burger.

The TV sat lopsided onthe scarred bureau. When a glance around the room didn’t give up a remote, he stretchedforward without risingfrom the foot of the bed, and punched the on button. Static greetedhim on the three local channels available. Maybe he should change rooms.

“Bugger that.”

It probably wouldn’tmatter anyway. He’d read. What he needed was a good night’s sleep. A fullstomach and a shower should help secure one. He vowed not to look at thebedding too closely when he pulled back the cover.

In a half-hour, naked,he slipped into bed, opened his book, and closed his mind to money woes as hebegan his ten-minute meditation. Relaxed, he focused on the book.

Sometime later, hejerked awake and knocked the book from his chest. He was freezing. Pulling thesheet and blanket over his head didn’t stop the chill that reached all the wayto his toes. Silence. No click, click, bonk noise of the heater. He slid one armout, brought his cell under the covers, and pushed a button. Four twelve a.m.

Reluctantly, he switchedon the lamp, shivered out of bed, and padded three feet to the heater. Heleaned over and shut it off, then turned it on. Punched low, high, and fan-onlybuttons over and over, then pounded on the plastic top.

“Son of a…”

Switching off and ononce more got no results. His toes were iced by the outside air flowing underthe door. He grabbed his jeans offthe chair and stuffed them along the bottom of the door then climbed back underthe covers.

The thin blanket andsheet were no match for the drop in temperature. After fifteen minutes oftrying to think warm, he had an idea. Out of bed, he jogged to the bathroom andturned the shower to hot, full blast. Immediately, the air around him warmed.The chill on his skin subsided before he headed back to bed and yanked off thesheet, blanket, and pillow. He slipped on his shirt and underwear and carriedthe bedding back to the bathroom. The floor looked kind of nasty, but thesheet, doubled over next to the shower, covered the old linoleum. Wrapping theblanket around him, he settled on top, bumped his knees on the wall, andhunched his shoulders to fit. Good thing he wasn’t a particularly big man. Hislegs were long on his five-foot ten frame and difficult to fold small enough,like a stork squeezing into a wren’s nest. Hopefully, the running, hot waterwould keep him warm enough to get a few more hours of sleep.

“Ass wipe.” The curse,directed at his shyster boss, muffled into his pillow.

Another curse athimself for all the wrong decisionshe’d made that landed him in this position didn’t fully form on his lips.Instead, he recited Step Ten. Continue the personal inventory. What the hell…this might be a crummyhotel, and he was cold and tired, but he feltevery shivering, crappy moment of it. Not that a shot of Chopin Vodka towarm him didn’t cross his mind. He would’ve had several and a few snorts thistime last year. And wouldn’t have felt the cold…or the hard floor…or much ofanything else.

Thoughts of a fewnights in crummy hotels when his band, Flash Theory, struggled to make a namefor themselves played in his head. That brought him wondering about Ian, the English drummer who shared hisarrest date.

“Bugger you, Ian.” Theprofanity he’d adopted from the Englishman rolled over his tongue with a smile.He hadn’t contacted his favorite band mate and best friend since sobriety. Theyweren’t a good influence on each other. Maybe one of these days…

About an hour and ahalf later, Jake woke, cold again and his legs cramping. He pulled his knees tohis chest and rolled toward the bathroom door, glancing at the ceiling.

“What the…”

Strips of paint hunglike confetti from a New Year’s Eve party. Had the ceiling looked like thatlast night? He scrambled to his feet, tangled in the blanket, and tripped onthe sheet bunching on the floor. Catchinghimself on the back of the toilet, his hip hitthe bar on the shower door. “Ow!”

After shutting off thenow cold shower water, he extricated his legs from the bedding and surveyed theceiling again.

“Ah, man.”

Surely he hadn’t causedthat. The place was a dump. Yeah, probably already peeling long before heturned on the shower.

The time hadcome to flee the motel from hell.

After throwing theblanket and sheet on the bed, he brushed his teeth, and smoothed his beard witha comb. He ran a brush through his hair as he squinted into the cloudy mirrorabove the sink. Dark curls fell onto his forehead in spite of his effort. He stuffedhis toiletries in the duffle, then loped to the door and retrieved his jeans from the floor. His frozen jeans. Damp air combined with below freezingwind from under the door hadrendered his pants stiff.

He slumped back on thebed and laughed. “You know, Winters, if you weren’t so pitiful, you’d be amusing.”

You can find this story in full in either The Power of Love and Murder (A Wild Horse Peaks Book)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPVTDH7B

 or in Wild Horse Peaks: The Complete Series.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD4Z1V6P

In the Book

Blogging about life's adventures and books...

Adventures past, present, or future. And my books--then and now. 

RELEASE DAY OCTOBER 15, 2024
It took me three years to get around to it, but I finally compiled the short stories with a Christmas theme into a book, Have Yourself a Quirky Little Christmas . I've been so busy writing full length books in my series, I kept putting off getting the Christmas stories edited and polished. At last!
I had fun with these. They aren't typical, hence the name of the book. These stories are not meant for children, but adults and young adults can enjoy the quirky tales.

Six quirky Christmasstories sure to brighten your holiday lights. 

An Elfin Secret

Candy Cane has never actuallyseen her father. Could he be Santa Claus? Did her mother have an elf romance?What happens if she’s right? 

On the Way to the SnowBall

Nicholas Claus could bedelusional, or he might be the sanest person in the elevator. Christmasmiracles come when you least expect. 

Never Alone on Christmas

After decades of dancing hisway from woman to woman, Jonathan Jay Somefun now findsvariety-is-the-spice-of-life tasteless. Will this be the Christmas he finds hisnew style and ends his lonely days? 

Love in the Vault

A kiss under the mistletoe, agun in her ribs, and a lockup in the company vault. If her best friend Cricketarranged this joke, Eleanor will never speak to her again. Or is it a joke? 

A Tropical Holiday

Fresh off divorce, Yuma Camryis winging it alone in unreasonably cold Mexico. Whether she’s wanderingthrough ghostly Mayan ruins under a cloudy sky or lying on a chilly beach inthe bikini she paid too much for, can a stranger with even stranger ideas helpher reconnect with herself this Christmas? 

No Room at the Inn

Sadi Anne hates Christmas.Volunteering to work through the holiday season is the only way to keep hermind off that heartbreak Christmas three years earlier. But when the hotelloses her reservation, a truck smashes her parked car, and three wisemen cometo the rescue, this may be one Christmas she won’t want to forget. And neitherwill the man who broke her heart.

Available in eBook and print:

CLICK HERE TO ORDER ON AMAZON