Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 60
August 20, 2018
Reasons to Write a Book About the #Navy by Dee S. Knight #military
MUSE MONDAY
Please welcome Dee S. Knight as my guest blogger. It's a great post. Fun read so enjoy!
I was raised as a Navy brat. That's the long and short of it right there. My dad loved the Navy!! When he left home as a teenager, the Navy became his home and he wasn't shy about letting people know how proud he was to serve. He didn't have an easy job—he was a boiler tender, one of the men who worked in the bowels of the ship and worked with the giant boilers used to power the ship. Lots of noise, heat, and (we found out later) asbestos everywhere, used as fire retardant. He was gone at least eight months out of every year, except for his two tours of shore duty, a total of 6 years out of the 24 he served. It wasn't an easy life, but still he loved it. The reasons why are part of why I wrote Naval Maneuvers. I really wanted to highlight these three factors about military life, and especially about the Navy.
1. Military service isn't only hard on the men and women who leave their families, it's hard on the families. When a spouse is gone for months at a time, the person at home is responsible for the children, the home, the vehicles, their own jobs (because pay in the military is often not enough to support children, homes, and vehicles by itself), and everything that stuff involves. On the one hand, it's an honor to represent the service member, but on the other hand, it's like having a fist fight with one arm tied behind your back. Then, after handling everything for months by yourself, your service member comes home and expects to take back have the responsibility. That is very hard! It's difficult to hold a relationship together and those who do deserve a lot of credit and respect.
I highlighted the family situation especially in Weighing Anchor, when Mel Crandall refused to fall in love with a serviceman because of her childhood memories. Her father seemed to miss all of the important events in her life because he was away. Yup, that really happens. My dad missed holidays, birthdays, and my mom's serious illness.
2. The military isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. On our block in Virginia Beach, only one neighbor was not in the Navy. So a certain camaraderie developed. We all knew when ships had to be met or farewells had to be made. A wife at home had support from others who went through the same trials. It wasn't the same as having the spouse at home, but every wife (or now, husband) knew there was a lifeline of sorts in others experiencing the same thing.
I highlighted this in Weighing Anchor, also. Mel's mom reminds her of the "family" they had in the service families they had around them.
3. Someone has to do the dirty job of keeping the nation safe. This has been a truth since countries first had boundaries and armies and navies to defend them. I wanted to highlight that service members are not social misfits who can't do anything else so they entered the service. Unfortunately, that is a view held by a lot of people—that if you can't get into college or learn anything else, you can always go into the service. In each Naval Maneuvers story—Weighing Anchor, Dropping Anchor, and Anchor Home—I wanted to show that whatever you do in whichever service you join, the job is an important one. A necessary one for the existence of a sovereign nation. If not our service members—and in Naval Maneuvers, obviously, our Navy—where would we be?
Now, I know that every serviceman or woman isn’t a saint. The military is, after all, a microcosm of the general population. But I also know the sacrifices members make to go to foreign lands to guard and protect our interests, and I know through experience the difficulties their families go through while they’re away. While I tried to make the book fun to read, and yes, sexy (because after all, that's fun!), I also wanted to show the three points made above.
I am unashamedly patriotic and pro-military, despite its problems and shortcomings. I was raised in the service and married a man who also was raised in the service. And, yes, I'm proud of that fact. So my life served as my muse for writing Naval Maneuvers. I hope readers enjoy it!
Blurb for Naval Maneuvers:Men and women of the armed forces experience desire and love pretty much like everyone else. Except, well, there is that uniform. And the hard-to-resist attraction of "duty, honor, service" as a man might apply them to a woman's pleasure. All things considered, romance among the military is a pretty sexy, compelling force for which you'd better be armed, whether weighing anchor and moving forward into desire, dropping anchor and staying put for passion, or setting a course for renewed love with anchor home.
Buy links:AmazonBookNookKoboSmashwordsBio:A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex. Writing was so much fun Dee decided to keep at it. That's how she spends her days. Her nights? Well, she's lucky that her dream man, childhood sweetheart, and long-time hubby are all the same guy, and nights are their secret. For romance ranging from sweet to historical, contemporary to paranormal and more join Dee on Nomad Authors.Author links:Website: https://nomadauthors.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnightBlog: http://nomadauthors.com/blogAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
Please welcome Dee S. Knight as my guest blogger. It's a great post. Fun read so enjoy!I was raised as a Navy brat. That's the long and short of it right there. My dad loved the Navy!! When he left home as a teenager, the Navy became his home and he wasn't shy about letting people know how proud he was to serve. He didn't have an easy job—he was a boiler tender, one of the men who worked in the bowels of the ship and worked with the giant boilers used to power the ship. Lots of noise, heat, and (we found out later) asbestos everywhere, used as fire retardant. He was gone at least eight months out of every year, except for his two tours of shore duty, a total of 6 years out of the 24 he served. It wasn't an easy life, but still he loved it. The reasons why are part of why I wrote Naval Maneuvers. I really wanted to highlight these three factors about military life, and especially about the Navy.
1. Military service isn't only hard on the men and women who leave their families, it's hard on the families. When a spouse is gone for months at a time, the person at home is responsible for the children, the home, the vehicles, their own jobs (because pay in the military is often not enough to support children, homes, and vehicles by itself), and everything that stuff involves. On the one hand, it's an honor to represent the service member, but on the other hand, it's like having a fist fight with one arm tied behind your back. Then, after handling everything for months by yourself, your service member comes home and expects to take back have the responsibility. That is very hard! It's difficult to hold a relationship together and those who do deserve a lot of credit and respect.
I highlighted the family situation especially in Weighing Anchor, when Mel Crandall refused to fall in love with a serviceman because of her childhood memories. Her father seemed to miss all of the important events in her life because he was away. Yup, that really happens. My dad missed holidays, birthdays, and my mom's serious illness.
2. The military isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. On our block in Virginia Beach, only one neighbor was not in the Navy. So a certain camaraderie developed. We all knew when ships had to be met or farewells had to be made. A wife at home had support from others who went through the same trials. It wasn't the same as having the spouse at home, but every wife (or now, husband) knew there was a lifeline of sorts in others experiencing the same thing.
I highlighted this in Weighing Anchor, also. Mel's mom reminds her of the "family" they had in the service families they had around them.
3. Someone has to do the dirty job of keeping the nation safe. This has been a truth since countries first had boundaries and armies and navies to defend them. I wanted to highlight that service members are not social misfits who can't do anything else so they entered the service. Unfortunately, that is a view held by a lot of people—that if you can't get into college or learn anything else, you can always go into the service. In each Naval Maneuvers story—Weighing Anchor, Dropping Anchor, and Anchor Home—I wanted to show that whatever you do in whichever service you join, the job is an important one. A necessary one for the existence of a sovereign nation. If not our service members—and in Naval Maneuvers, obviously, our Navy—where would we be?
Now, I know that every serviceman or woman isn’t a saint. The military is, after all, a microcosm of the general population. But I also know the sacrifices members make to go to foreign lands to guard and protect our interests, and I know through experience the difficulties their families go through while they’re away. While I tried to make the book fun to read, and yes, sexy (because after all, that's fun!), I also wanted to show the three points made above.I am unashamedly patriotic and pro-military, despite its problems and shortcomings. I was raised in the service and married a man who also was raised in the service. And, yes, I'm proud of that fact. So my life served as my muse for writing Naval Maneuvers. I hope readers enjoy it!
Blurb for Naval Maneuvers:Men and women of the armed forces experience desire and love pretty much like everyone else. Except, well, there is that uniform. And the hard-to-resist attraction of "duty, honor, service" as a man might apply them to a woman's pleasure. All things considered, romance among the military is a pretty sexy, compelling force for which you'd better be armed, whether weighing anchor and moving forward into desire, dropping anchor and staying put for passion, or setting a course for renewed love with anchor home.
Buy links:AmazonBookNookKoboSmashwordsBio:A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex. Writing was so much fun Dee decided to keep at it. That's how she spends her days. Her nights? Well, she's lucky that her dream man, childhood sweetheart, and long-time hubby are all the same guy, and nights are their secret. For romance ranging from sweet to historical, contemporary to paranormal and more join Dee on Nomad Authors.Author links:Website: https://nomadauthors.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnightBlog: http://nomadauthors.com/blogAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
August 15, 2018
I Have Met the #Villain...and She is Me by Michal Scott
WICKED WEDNESDAY
Anna, aka, Michal, has such a unique take on creating villains. Read and enjoy my guest!Authors are always cautioned to avoid Snidely Whiplash clichés when creating villains. “Remember,” we’re told, “Every villain is the hero of their own story.” But how do you do that? My answer: create characters that share a value I hold dear, but have it twisted. For instance I love justice. I hate when the bad guys get off with sentences lighter than they deserve, (if they’re caught and/or tried at all). My blood boils when CEO’s give themselves bonuses from taxpayer money used to bail out their too-big-to-fail companies. Don't we all? If we had the power to make them pay, how many of us would exact what we believe is just punishment rather than give them a chance to repent? Every time I binge watch Law & Order I root for guilty verdicts and am crestfallen when not guilty is announced. In my novella Judge Aaron “Hangman” Denton’s lives only for justice and is dismayed when my heroine’s botched execution provides opportunity for her to be found innocent and receive a pardon thus voiding his sentence. For him, her innocence is a technicality. Sentence once pronounced should be carried out for justice to be done. Since the system refuses to do it, he takes it upon himself to make sure Mary hangs. Wicked, right? But who can’t identify with the sentiment? I gnash my teeth when, in a favorite Law & Order episode, proof of guilt is excluded on a technicality. Yikes! I just looked in the mirror and saw Aaron Denton looking back at me. This is why I love writing romance in general and loved writing One Breath Away in particular. When a value I hold dear gets trounced in real life, I can have a villain trounce it on the page but have it turned round right in the end.
Blurb: Sentenced to hang for a crime she didn’t commit, former slave Mary Hamilton was exonerated at literally the last gasp. She returns to Safe Haven, broken and resigned to live alone. Never having been courted, cuddled or spooned, Mary now fears any kind of physical intimacy when arousal forces her to relive the asphyxiation of her hanging. But then the handsome stranger who saved her shows up, stealing her breath from across the room and promising so much more. Wealthy freeborn-Black Eban Thurman followed Mary to Safe Haven, believing a relationship with Mary was foretold by the stars. He must marry her to reclaim his family farm. But first he must help her heal, and to do that means revealing his own predilection for edgier sex. Then just as Eban begins to win Mary’s trust, an enemy from the past threatens to keep them one breath away from love…Excerpt:
His smile turned up the heat in his gaze. Mary frowned, painfully aware the smell of her passion lingered in the air, despite the woolen barrier of her skirt.He stepped forward so his hand-stitched boots stood toe-to-toe with Mary’s second-hand shoes. “Eban Thurman, at your service, Miss Hamilton. May I get you something to drink?”At her service? The air congealed. Mary gasped, trying to suck in air too solid to inflate her lungs.“No—no, thank you. I’m not thirsty.” Her stutter mimicked the tremor between her thighs. She clasped her hands and planted them hard against her lap.“It’s a really hot night.” He turned his hand palm up in a silent plea. “Perhaps you’d find a waltz more cooling.” He eased his fingers into her clenched hands. “May I beg the honor of this dance?”“Beg?”“Yes, Miss Hamilton.” He tilted his head, slanting his smile to the right. “Beg.”“You don’t strike me as the begging type, Mr. Thurman.” “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” He tongue-swiped his full lips as if he’d just tasted something he wanted to taste again. “I know when it’s time to beg.”She pursed her lips into a frown, fought back the urge to grovel and won. Barely.
Bio:Anna Taylor Sweringen writes erotic romance as Michal Scott. History has been an old passion of hers. Romance a recent one. The opportunity to combine the two came in the publication of One Breath Away. Michal has been writing professionally since 2008 and belongs to the inspirational, gothic and erotic romance chapters of Romance Writers of America. An unexpected, but intriguing combination of genres for a retired minister.Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/2Bim5o7Amazon: http://amzn.to/2AjtzUeWebsite: www.michalscott.webs.com Twitter: @mscottauthor1
August 13, 2018
Hot! Hot! Hot! #SummerReading #girlpower
Summer scenesHot! Hot! Hot! That certainly describes August in Arizona, but there’s plenty more besides the temperature that’s hot in August. It’s my birthday month. It’s the next step in one of my audio books. It's Chino Valley Days and an annual book signing event. It’s time for a couple of girlfriend outings—girl power! All hot events in my opinion.
I’d just as soon ignore my birthday, but at least I get lots of attention from my family. Since Mom and sister live in one direction and son and family live in the opposite direction, I get two
Have your cake and eat it too!celebrations. And then FDW is taking us to a Diamondbacks baseball game. All good reasons for me to notignore my birthday.I’m super excited the first book in my Love and Murder Series, The Art of
Buy Link
Love and Murder
, is soon to be out in audio. My task right now is to listen to the narrator and check her for mistakes. I haven’t read the book in years, never listened to it, and I’m enjoying the experience. I’d forgotten there’s some hot suspense and hot romance in this story.
Books in Chino ValleyOn Labor Day Weekend, I’ll be joining a few other authors to sell and sign books in Chino Valley, Arizona. This is an annual event that features a parade, food, and vending tents. We always have a good time. If you’re in the area, pleasecome out to Memory park from 8 am to 1 pm, on Saturday, September 1.
Fun with friendsGetting together with female friends is always a good time, in a cool restaurant, and out of the hot Arizona summer. Payson will have to put up with a group of us, but it’ll be a quiet one on one in Oro Valley.And I won’t be sorry to see summer slip away. It’s no secret…I hate summer. Come on fall!
August 6, 2018
The Irony of Paradise by D.R. Ransdell #romance #Greece
MUSE MONDAY
Please welcome my guest, D.R. Ransdell. Love the islands and always wanted to go to Greece. But there are pitfalls...read on!Irony is a friend to the storyteller because ironic twists hook your readers and leave them rooting for more—especially when the ironic ending is something they didn’t imagine until you laid it out for them. Hence, an idyllic island setting is actually the perfect backdrop for a troubled romance. After all, what could be more romantic than a Greek island with private beaches, sparkling waters, and colorful sunsets? On the other hand, in our own lives, how many times have we planned the perfect romantic vacation only to have it backfire? The charming hotel we picked out was staffed with snippy workers, the remote location was visited by everyone and her grandmother, the tourist attraction was so overpriced we couldn’t enjoy it? I fell in love with Greece one summer on a university tour. I loved the archaeological sites, the rugged beaches, and the nights of bouzouki music. I fell in love with the sounds of a language I couldn’t understand and a people who loved late nights as much as I did. When I returned to the U.S., I started studying Greek. I ripped through four semesters and took a job on the island of Rhodes. It was my dream job! I would spend a whole year teaching English in Greece, learning Greek, and living the life of paradise! But Rhodes wasn’t paradise. The people weren’t friendly to me unless I was spending money, my salary was so low the most I could afford at a bar was a coffee, and the beautiful summer was followed by incessant, chilly winter rains. Who knew? But as any writer knows, hardships are the stuff of fiction. And thus for Island Casualty I created by own paradise, complete with those same beaches and bouzouki tavernas, and then proceeded to torment my characters accordingly. Andy Veracruz heads for Amiros for a well-deserved vacation, but his main goal is to romance a woman he’s met back in California. Before he can get very far into his quest, however, he makes a casual acquaintance at a café. The man accidentally leaves behind a package—which turns out to contain an engagement ring. At that point Andy loses his concentration. Who can enjoy the beach when an engagement ring needs to be returned? What can be done when its owner suddenly disappears? Andy’s vacation turns into a manhunt, a tale of unrequited love, and a cautionary tale all wrapped up in an island that’s really no paradise. That’s both the irony and the hook. So if you’d like to make a quick armchair trip to Greece, you might like to check out Andy’s adventure. You’ll get a taste of paradise, but you get to leave before it’s too late! Book Blurb: Low-down: A lost engagement ring, whizzing bullets, and a midnight Vespa ride add up to a terrible vacation! When Andy flies to a Greek island for a holiday with Rachel, he expects to spend afternoons swimming and nights making love. But at an outdoor café, he meets a fellow traveler who accidentally leaves behind a package. Before Andy can return it, the man disappears. When Andy substitutes in a bouzouki band, he learns more about the island and its missing man than he intended to. By accident he winds up in the midst of a family saga worthy of the ancient Greeks themselves. He yearns to return to California, but how can he abandon his new friends before unlocking the island’s secrets?
Excerpt: I locked the apartment and took a bus to LAX. A couple of hours later I boarded a flight to Athens. By the next night I was on a ferry bound for the Dodecanese islands. For twelve hours I watched the waves, imitated the natives by swinging my new plastic worry beads, and mourned a woman nicknamed Butterfly. I hadn’t picked out the name myself. One of her previous lovers had seen to that. He’d used the Italian version, Farfalla. Either way the nickname fit. Like all butterflies, she’d been beautiful, ethereal, unique. She’d flitted around from one man to the other as a real butterfly skips among flowers. I’d watched her in perfect wonder along with all the other men who came under her control. “Enough,” I told myself time and time again. But I never listened. Instead the words kept haunting me. Butterfly, Farfalla, Butterfly, Farfalla. I went back and forth and back again. Fooling around with the dictionary on my phone app, I found that the Greek version was even more sonorous. It was Louloudi. Loo-LOO-dee. I said the syllables over to myself as a mantra. Louloudi, Louloudi, Louloudi. By renaming her, I hoped to push her away. Buy Links:Amazon link: http://mybook.to/islandcasualty2 B & N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/island-casualty-d-r-ransdell/1120979158?ean=9781938436307August 2, 2018
The Inspiration for #Suspense, Passion, and Fun #review #series
After receiving a new review for
A Legacy of Love and Murder
, series book three, from Long and Short Reviews (LASR), I had to share a few tidbits about the book...like where did I get my inspiration and just why did I set it in Austria. Getting a review from LASR is not an easy feat, and getting a 4 STAR review is fantastic. They found my book fun, suspenseful, and just enough romance in this edge of your seat story. I used passion, too, for art, love, and keeping Austria free."I was on the edge of my seat wondering how far the villain would go! I really enjoyed reading A Legacy of Love and Murder. The pacing and suspense are very well done, and Tobias and August make a great couple. While this is book three in the series, it stands alone very well. Fans of romantic suspense would do well to pick up a copy today."In book one of the series, Lacy Dahl learns she is next in line to inherit an Austrian castle and estate
Friend and inspiration, Hartefrom a grandfather she doesn't know. She didn't know her parents since they died when she was a baby so it seemed fun to make one of them a wealthy castle owner. Why Austria? I'm never totally sure why I choose settings, names, personalities, etc. I have a friend in Austria I'm very fond of and he's good looking so he might have been inspiration to create a hero who speaks German. I've been to Austria and fell in love with the landscape and the people. It wasn't a stretch for me to visualize the country and plop you down in the middle of it with the spectacular Alps as a backdrop.
Austria, with Harte years agoI had a lot of fun with the two main characters. August (named for my birth month), who is Lacy's daughter, is feisty and a bit flighty. She's twenty-three, owns an art gallery, and is passionate about art. And then there is Inspector Tobias Wolf. Think Austrian James Bond. He's thirty-nine, sophisticated, and comes from a family of wealth living in their own castle. They make an interesting couple. She calls him Wolf.In Austria to meet her great-grandfather and explore his castle estate filled with priceless art, August Myer arrives to find he’s died suspiciously. As one of the heirs, her life is in danger, turning this fairytale Alpine adventure into a nightmare of veiled threats, unexplained accidents, and murder.
Inspector Tobias Wolf splits his time between his profession and fighting the spread of neo-Nazism. But when the beautiful, intriguing American crosses his path during a murder investigation, ensuring her safety challenges his priorities…and his heart.
When August learns the handsome inspector is concealing a personal involvement and the death of her great-grandfather is somehow connected, she takes the investigation into her own hands. The outcome could be the death of both of them.
So, come with me and I'll show you Austria and take you on a bite-your-nails suspense outing with a bit of sexy love and humor.
Inheriting an Austrian Castle is an Alpine fairytale for August, until someone begins killing the heirs.
Buy Links:
AMAZON
iTUNES
GOOGLE PLAY
BARNES AND NOBLE
July 30, 2018
Genre Hop Part I by Laura Strickland #visceral #mystical #historical
MUSE MONDAY
This is the first of a series of five posts by multi-published, multi-genre author Laura Strickland. I've asked her to share with us a little about her genres, and maybe you'll find something new you'd like to read!
Confessions of an Inveterate Genre-Hopper
Readers and fellow authors often ask me why—and how—I write in so many different genres, everything from Scottish Historical Romance to Steampunk Adventure, to Romantic Comedy. Fans seem perplexed by my constant switch-ups but I have to confess, for me genre-hopping’s not as strange as it may appear. I’ve loved Scottish Historical Romance for as long as I can remember. My Scottish Historical, Devil Black , was the book that let me break through with my fabulous publisher, the Wild Rose Press. But for me, writing is a visceral-yet-mystical experience. I need to feel the emotions of the work first, and then get it out onto the page. For that reason, I’m purely a pantser. If I write an outline, the emotions have been exorcised and I no longer feel the urge to write the book. And if I write in one genre too long, I begin feeling as if I’m penning the same story over and over again.
Part of this no doubt stems from the online writing community to which I once belonged, called Fanstory. Fanstory is a wonderful resource for any writer or aspiring author wishing to flex some writing muscle. Multiple contests are posted, most with prompts. Writers are given a specific word count and a deadline. GO!
With that kind of training behind me, it got so I could see a prompt on virtually any subject, and float an immediate idea. It’s a bit like showing a red flag to a bull. Now when I see a submission call, I can’t restrain myself, even if it’s for a genre I’ve never attempted.
My advice to fellow writers and readers longing to pen their own stories is, go for it. Don’t be afraid to take a chance—on a different genre, a new style, or an unusual subject. Some of the best stories come when we reach beyond ourselves. What fresh genre have you always wanted to try?Of course, some books tend to defy genre, like my latest release, Cinder-Ugly:
Blurb:From the moment Cindra is born, misshapen and ill-formed in face and body, her beautiful mother hides her away, allowing the world to see only her other three perfect children. Cindra, raised by an aged nurse and assigned humble duties in the kitchen, receives little affection and plenty of abuse from both her mother and sisters. Starved for beauty, she longs most of all for love.Prince Rupert, newly returned from an education outside the kingdom and forced to take over duties as king, sees the beauty of Cindra’s spirit. In her sister-in-law’s garden, he courts her with rare flowers and nearly makes her forget her mother’s hate. But when war tears them apart, will Cindra have the courage to stand on her own? And when faced with the challenge of leading Rupert’s subjects through a siege, will the strength of her compassion be enough to sustain a kingdom?Author web site: http://www.laurastrickklandbooks.com
Buy links: Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Ugly-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B07DR7NJC2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530966097&sr=8-1&keywords=cinder-ugly+Laura+StricklandAmazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Cinder-Ugly-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B07DR7NJC2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531268660&sr=1-1&keywords=cinder-ugly&dpID=51u3GtUb-hL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srchAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinder-Ugly-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B07DR7NJC2Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cinder-ugly-laura-strickland/1128872584?ean=2940162102601 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cinder-ugly
July 28, 2018
Reading and #Reviews (Henderson, Gallant, Thomas, and Dean)
I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or a reader at night for the last hour of my waking day.
I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is a Romantic Suspense by Alison Henderson entitled Undercover Nanny. I'm not quite finished so you'll have to wait until next month for the review. But I also like detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.
Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author!
Wilde Thing by Jannine Gallant
I love the Wilde brothers. This is the 4th book in the series so I highly recommend reading each of the Wilde brother's Romantic Suspense stories. This handsome, wild Wilde brother, Tripp, never took notice of the friend of his sister who had a mighty crush on him. Now, she's grown, and he can't believe he never paid attention to her. Hannah has matured and although Tripp still causes her to go all limp, she's not the insecure little girl anymore. Add to that a mystery of who killed who and why are they after Tripp and/or Hannah and you've got a complete read.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
Seeking the American Dream
by Heidi M. Thomas
This is a WWII Historical Drama. Heidi transports the reader to another time and place. From post WWII Germany to the sometimes-brutal Montana ranch life, this novel explores one woman's journey as she faces impossible odds to live her dream. You won't be disappointed. This is book one in the series.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
Haunting at Spook Light Inn by Alicia Dean
This is a Gothic Mystery Romance. This is the first novel I've read by Alicia and it won't be my last. I loved the premise of a non-believer getting spooked and then owning her experience. The characters are vivid and I love character driven novels. Alicia does an excellent job of taking us with them to live the events that shape their lives. I don't often miss my bedtime with a story, but this one had me staying up late to finish.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is a Romantic Suspense by Alison Henderson entitled Undercover Nanny. I'm not quite finished so you'll have to wait until next month for the review. But I also like detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.
Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author!
Wilde Thing by Jannine GallantI love the Wilde brothers. This is the 4th book in the series so I highly recommend reading each of the Wilde brother's Romantic Suspense stories. This handsome, wild Wilde brother, Tripp, never took notice of the friend of his sister who had a mighty crush on him. Now, she's grown, and he can't believe he never paid attention to her. Hannah has matured and although Tripp still causes her to go all limp, she's not the insecure little girl anymore. Add to that a mystery of who killed who and why are they after Tripp and/or Hannah and you've got a complete read.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
Seeking the American Dream
by Heidi M. ThomasThis is a WWII Historical Drama. Heidi transports the reader to another time and place. From post WWII Germany to the sometimes-brutal Montana ranch life, this novel explores one woman's journey as she faces impossible odds to live her dream. You won't be disappointed. This is book one in the series.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
Haunting at Spook Light Inn by Alicia DeanThis is a Gothic Mystery Romance. This is the first novel I've read by Alicia and it won't be my last. I loved the premise of a non-believer getting spooked and then owning her experience. The characters are vivid and I love character driven novels. Alicia does an excellent job of taking us with them to live the events that shape their lives. I don't often miss my bedtime with a story, but this one had me staying up late to finish.
BUY LINK CLICK HERE
July 27, 2018
Kids and #Horses Can't Go Wrong by Julie Herman #Equestrian #Mystery
FEARLESS FRIDAY
I'm really happy to have Julie Herman guesting today. It's not often I get to introduce you to a middle grade (ages 8-12) novel. This is an equestrian novel and that is exciting for me too. My favorite author was Dick Francis and his horsey mysteries. Julie has a story about what led to this book that's all about fearless kids. Read on and enjoy!
When my daughter was young, her first word was “pony.” She loved riding, no matter how much work was involved. Getting on the back of a horse was like flying, she said. It didn’t matter if she was having a canter around a ring or going over fences. (Although she loved fences MUCH more than she did plain old ring work!) Through my girl-child, I got involved with the United States Pony Clubs. This is a great organization, a program similar to Scouting except we uses horses as our teaching medium. As part of my work, I get to travel all over the United States and be in the barns with our members while they compete. Our competitions are different from most horse shows — no parents in the barns! We don’t exactly turn them lose on their own, we have horse management judges there to keep an eye on things.I can always tell the first-time competitors: they’re the ones escorting their parents out of the barn and then skipping back with their pigtails flying, happy for the freedom of being part of their team, being with their horse — and being responsible for themselves without anyone telling them what to do. At our Pony Club Rallies, it’s not all smooth sailing, but smoother than many modern parents imagine it could be when you let children be in charge of themselves! I’ve had teams lock small teammates in their tackroom (ostensibly to keep them
clean, but I think it was just so they could find them — six-year-olds can disappear quickly!) had thirty competitors come crashing into the horse management judging office when the pinata I’d hung in the doorway spilled it’s contents onto the floor, and watched children who had kept themselves to a strict schedule, all while caring for themselves, their horse and their team.So what’s a writer to do when faced with all this controlled choas? Write about it, of course! Thus BURNED was born.
Sophie wants nothing more than to spend all her time riding her beloved horse Cricket with her friends and their horses. Then the local tack shop burns down and her mother is accused of arson. Sophie must ride to the rescue or risk losing everything.I have so enjoyed seeing the happy grins on children’s faces when they pick up the book and discover that a character shares their passion for horses. Their parents purchase the book, then they gallop off for some reading time. I often hear back later that they loved the fact that Sophie gets back up and gets back on the horse (both literally and figuratively) just the way they are taught when they take a tumble. (Although, as Sophie’s trainer, Queenie would say — don’t get back on if you bump your head, childhood concussions are serious business!) So if you know a child (or adult) who loves horses and the freedom to fly across fields and fences that they bring, I’d love it if you introduce them to Sophie. They’ll have a lot in common.
BURNED BUY LINK CLICK HERE
MORE ABOUT JULIE CLICK HERE
I'm really happy to have Julie Herman guesting today. It's not often I get to introduce you to a middle grade (ages 8-12) novel. This is an equestrian novel and that is exciting for me too. My favorite author was Dick Francis and his horsey mysteries. Julie has a story about what led to this book that's all about fearless kids. Read on and enjoy!When my daughter was young, her first word was “pony.” She loved riding, no matter how much work was involved. Getting on the back of a horse was like flying, she said. It didn’t matter if she was having a canter around a ring or going over fences. (Although she loved fences MUCH more than she did plain old ring work!) Through my girl-child, I got involved with the United States Pony Clubs. This is a great organization, a program similar to Scouting except we uses horses as our teaching medium. As part of my work, I get to travel all over the United States and be in the barns with our members while they compete. Our competitions are different from most horse shows — no parents in the barns! We don’t exactly turn them lose on their own, we have horse management judges there to keep an eye on things.I can always tell the first-time competitors: they’re the ones escorting their parents out of the barn and then skipping back with their pigtails flying, happy for the freedom of being part of their team, being with their horse — and being responsible for themselves without anyone telling them what to do. At our Pony Club Rallies, it’s not all smooth sailing, but smoother than many modern parents imagine it could be when you let children be in charge of themselves! I’ve had teams lock small teammates in their tackroom (ostensibly to keep them
clean, but I think it was just so they could find them — six-year-olds can disappear quickly!) had thirty competitors come crashing into the horse management judging office when the pinata I’d hung in the doorway spilled it’s contents onto the floor, and watched children who had kept themselves to a strict schedule, all while caring for themselves, their horse and their team.So what’s a writer to do when faced with all this controlled choas? Write about it, of course! Thus BURNED was born.
Sophie wants nothing more than to spend all her time riding her beloved horse Cricket with her friends and their horses. Then the local tack shop burns down and her mother is accused of arson. Sophie must ride to the rescue or risk losing everything.I have so enjoyed seeing the happy grins on children’s faces when they pick up the book and discover that a character shares their passion for horses. Their parents purchase the book, then they gallop off for some reading time. I often hear back later that they loved the fact that Sophie gets back up and gets back on the horse (both literally and figuratively) just the way they are taught when they take a tumble. (Although, as Sophie’s trainer, Queenie would say — don’t get back on if you bump your head, childhood concussions are serious business!) So if you know a child (or adult) who loves horses and the freedom to fly across fields and fences that they bring, I’d love it if you introduce them to Sophie. They’ll have a lot in common.BURNED BUY LINK CLICK HERE
MORE ABOUT JULIE CLICK HERE
July 23, 2018
My Traveling Muse by Kay Harris #Scene #Setting
MUSE MONDAY
Please welcome Kay Harris to my blog today. In my opinion, scene setting is so important and Kay has a real handle on that!Thank you so much for having me, Brenda! My muse for many of my books, but most poignantly for my recent release “Lost on the Road to Love” is the art of travel and the amazing places it has taken me to. Book 2 of the I Want Morrison series takes place on a travel show where the hero and heroine take their trek to love across the globe in a heart-filled adventure. Rather than go into each of the sites Henry and Chelsea visit on their journey. I would like to talk about the city that starts it all, the city our protagonists call home. It is none other than the City by the Bay. I have a love affair with San Francisco that comes out clearly in the four books of the series, all of which take place at least partly in that beautiful Northern California metropolis. Like the fog that envelops it, San Francisco is blanketed in an indefinable essence. The city itself has a soul that is both rough and raw while at the same time regal and refined. For visitors, there are myriad ways to explore all it has to offer. First off, there is so much more than the Wharf. Sure, everyone has to see it. But once you’ve done it, leave that behind and go exploring. Still near the shore but closer to downtown there’s Coit Tower, the iconic Ferry building, which houses restaurants and shops and often has a farmer’s market right out front, and the long stretch of the Embarcadero. Turn inland and walk down Market street. Check out the venders, and frequently, the entertainment found there. Follow that or take the streetcar to Chinatown and the Civic Center area. See the amazing city hall, symphony hall, and opera house. Don’t forget all the great museums including the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Deeper still into the heart of the city is Golden Gate Park. This gorgeous stretch of nature and peace features yet more incredible museums as well as the Conservatory of Flowers and the Botanical Gardens. Add to the cultural wonders San Francisco has to offer amazing food, great shopping, and public transportation that can take you anywhere you want to go, and you have one incredible trip. If you think I’m in love with the city that Karl the Fog likes to eat up each morning, you’re right. And my books serve as a love story to the city itself. San Francisco, she is my Monday Muse!
Blurb: Take two best friends, add some benefits, and it may take a map to find their way to love.
On the road for eight months as part of the crew for a travel show, Chelsea Morrison expects to work hard, endure long nights, and enjoy some wicked adventures. But she doesn’t expect to fall head over heels for the show’s star.
Henry Rush, son of a legendary rock star, is leery of women. He learned early they only want him for the fame that rightly belongs to his father. But when an intense friendship with Chelsea leads to so much more, he has to confront the one thing he’s avoided all his life.
Can these two friends navigate their way to a happy ending?
Excerpt:I rested my hand on my hip. “Are you saying you find me irresistibly attractive?”
“Yes.” He gave a firm nod. There was no mirth in his eyes or in the set of his mouth.
I narrowed my gaze and scrutinized him. “I thought it was because we’re so close, remember.”
“Yes. And you’re insanely hot.”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
I shook my head.
“Wanna make a bet on it?” he challenged.
“What?”
“You get naked for me. And if I am disappointed, you win the bet. If you’re as hot as I think you are under those clothes, I win. In fact, I already know what I want if I win. I want to see one of the films you’ve made.”
I stared at him, my mouth agape.
“What do you want if you win, Chels? Not that it matters. Because you won’t win.”
I finally found my voice. Because I couldn’t turn down this opportunity. “If I win, you sing for me.”
“Done.” He settled farther into the couch. “I’m ready when you are.”
Buy Links:AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2Hu9T3RB&N: http://bit.ly/2sAWhR8AMAZON CA: http://amzn.to/2FgCOrmAMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2oaDGGNAMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2oayG56 THE WILD ROSE PRESS: http://bit.ly/2BjHYmL
Kay Harris has had a diverse career with jobs ranging from college professor to park ranger. Now she adds author to her repertoire. Kay writes romance novels that contain a little bit of sweet, a dash of sexy, a touch of heartbreak, and a whole lot of fun! Kay grew up in the Midwest and has since lived all over the western United States including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. She loves to hike, is obsessed with museums, and enjoys taking her extremely tall and very handsome husband on adventures.
You can find Kay here:WEBSITE: http://www.kayharrisauthor.comBLOG: https://www.kayharrisauthor.com/blog/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KayHarrisAuthorFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKayHarris/GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15060640.Kay_Harris BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kay-harris
July 19, 2018
Start a New Book #romanticsuspense #series #writing
I've started writing a new romantic suspense, a new series. I've decided to post weekly updates on the status of my WIP (Work In Progress). Feedback and questions are welcomed.
The setting for this series is based on a real life mining town turned ghost town turned tourist town. I fell in love with Jerome, Arizona years ago. In order to have more flexibility with the lay of the land and the history, I've renamed it Joshua. All the people in Joshua are purely from my imagination.
Joshua hangs on the side of Nefertiti Hill. Between the late 1800s and the early 1940s, Joshua was a booming, wild and woolly, western mining town. But when the ore and gold ran out, the town fell on hard times. By 1950 there were less than 100 people. In 1964, hippies descended on the town squatting in abandoned homes and buildings. In this group of hippies, is the beginning of the family I will tell the stories of in my series.
Not all of the original citizens were happy about the new arrivals. Some of those hippies took up permanent residence, ended up on the town council, and helped turn Joshua into the art and tourist center it is today. It is still just a square mile, hanging on the side of Nefertiti Hill and there are rumors of ghosts. There are still some of the original hippies and artists. And there are plenty of romantic suspenseful stories to tell about
Joshua and its inhabitants.
So, where am I with the first book in the series? I've sent off the first 67 pages of book one to my CPs (critique partners) for their feedback. I have all of my characters outlined and dying to walk through my pages. There's an old murder unsolved, there's a subplot that dates back to 1969, and human bones have been uncovered but not identified.
Magpie Mackenzie, of Magpie's Mercantile, has met Zack Peartree who reminds her of someone who disappeared twenty-eight years ago. Zack feels a strong pull to Magpie. I shouldn't do this, since it could very well change before the book is published, but what the heck. Here's my opening few paragraphs, for now anyway:
Laughter mingled with the jangle of the bell above the door. Magpie MacKenzie glanced over her shoulder from atop the stepping stool where she arranged music boxes on the top shelf of a four-tiered display.Three women and two men tumbled into the shop, apparently anxious to leave the cold outside. The late afternoon sun now blazed through the front windows of Magpie’s Mercantile, but she guessed the warmth was severely neutralized outside by the chilly wind snaking through the mountains. What happened to the chance of snow? “Good afternoon.” Magpie descended the stool, holding her long skirt up a bit so that her boots wouldn’t catch the hem as comments sprinkled the air.“Hi.”“Oh, it’s warm in here.”“What a great store!”The sweet sense of pride that enveloped her whenever someone appreciated her shop never grew old. Although the entry into the mercantile was narrow, the space beyond was four times as deep as it was wide. As soon as the door closed behind patrons, they were immersed in textile creations on the left; music boxes, some small wooden instruments, and pottery displayed on the right. The counter nestled next to the music boxes and down the narrow aisle, deeper into the shop, customers found carvings, sculptures, and paintings. Turning, ready to welcome her customers, she caught the gaze of a man at the rear of the group. She froze. Something about the way he angled his head to the left…the same habit Mark had had when he found something she said amusing. Longish black hair waved around his ears. His deep green eyes beneath thick, arched brows gazed into hers, and he smiled.Her heart rose to the hollow spot in her throat. It can’t be Mark. This man is much too young. Mark would be forty-five by now, two years older than me.
I'll check in next week and update my progress. I'll be working on dropping in some back story in the form of flashbacks. There's a story within the story in my mind. Wish me luck!
The setting for this series is based on a real life mining town turned ghost town turned tourist town. I fell in love with Jerome, Arizona years ago. In order to have more flexibility with the lay of the land and the history, I've renamed it Joshua. All the people in Joshua are purely from my imagination.Joshua hangs on the side of Nefertiti Hill. Between the late 1800s and the early 1940s, Joshua was a booming, wild and woolly, western mining town. But when the ore and gold ran out, the town fell on hard times. By 1950 there were less than 100 people. In 1964, hippies descended on the town squatting in abandoned homes and buildings. In this group of hippies, is the beginning of the family I will tell the stories of in my series.
Not all of the original citizens were happy about the new arrivals. Some of those hippies took up permanent residence, ended up on the town council, and helped turn Joshua into the art and tourist center it is today. It is still just a square mile, hanging on the side of Nefertiti Hill and there are rumors of ghosts. There are still some of the original hippies and artists. And there are plenty of romantic suspenseful stories to tell aboutJoshua and its inhabitants.
So, where am I with the first book in the series? I've sent off the first 67 pages of book one to my CPs (critique partners) for their feedback. I have all of my characters outlined and dying to walk through my pages. There's an old murder unsolved, there's a subplot that dates back to 1969, and human bones have been uncovered but not identified.
Magpie Mackenzie, of Magpie's Mercantile, has met Zack Peartree who reminds her of someone who disappeared twenty-eight years ago. Zack feels a strong pull to Magpie. I shouldn't do this, since it could very well change before the book is published, but what the heck. Here's my opening few paragraphs, for now anyway:
Laughter mingled with the jangle of the bell above the door. Magpie MacKenzie glanced over her shoulder from atop the stepping stool where she arranged music boxes on the top shelf of a four-tiered display.Three women and two men tumbled into the shop, apparently anxious to leave the cold outside. The late afternoon sun now blazed through the front windows of Magpie’s Mercantile, but she guessed the warmth was severely neutralized outside by the chilly wind snaking through the mountains. What happened to the chance of snow? “Good afternoon.” Magpie descended the stool, holding her long skirt up a bit so that her boots wouldn’t catch the hem as comments sprinkled the air.“Hi.”“Oh, it’s warm in here.”“What a great store!”The sweet sense of pride that enveloped her whenever someone appreciated her shop never grew old. Although the entry into the mercantile was narrow, the space beyond was four times as deep as it was wide. As soon as the door closed behind patrons, they were immersed in textile creations on the left; music boxes, some small wooden instruments, and pottery displayed on the right. The counter nestled next to the music boxes and down the narrow aisle, deeper into the shop, customers found carvings, sculptures, and paintings. Turning, ready to welcome her customers, she caught the gaze of a man at the rear of the group. She froze. Something about the way he angled his head to the left…the same habit Mark had had when he found something she said amusing. Longish black hair waved around his ears. His deep green eyes beneath thick, arched brows gazed into hers, and he smiled.Her heart rose to the hollow spot in her throat. It can’t be Mark. This man is much too young. Mark would be forty-five by now, two years older than me.
I'll check in next week and update my progress. I'll be working on dropping in some back story in the form of flashbacks. There's a story within the story in my mind. Wish me luck!
