Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 68

Book Review Tuesday - The Titan's Curse

Book Review for: "The Titan's Curse"
Written by: Rick Riordan
Hyperion Books
ISBN: 978-142310148-2
Avail in: Print and Ebook
4 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

"Full of Action and Adventure!"

The Titans Curse is a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat addition to the "Percy Jackson and Olympians" set. This is the 3rd book in the series. Percy is now fourteen. He's sent on a mission with his friends to recover two half-bloods, but Kronos' army wants them, too. What makes the diAngelos so special and what is "The Titan's Curse?"

The novel opens with a battle over the diAngelos, two half-bloods staying in a military-like school. The goddess, Artemis, intervenes to help. The diAngelos are saved, but Annabeth, Percy's friend, is kidnapped. Artemis goes on the hunt and sends her hunters to Camp Half Blood to keep them safe, putting her lieutenant, Zoe Nightshade, in charge.

While at Camp Half Blood, Zoe rubs everyone the wrong way. The Oracle also makes a surprising appearance with a prophecy. Soon, everyone learns Artemis is in danger and Kronos' minions want a child of the big 3 (Hades, Poseidon, Zeus) for a very evil purpose. Zoe takes Bianca, Grover, Thalia, Zeus' daughter, with her on the quest. Percy follows along, but is soon discovered. Action, adventure, and danger are on the menu. Can Percy and the Olympians find Artemis and Annabeth and prevent the titan's curse from coming to fruition?

Riordan's writing style is crisp, sharp, and easy to read. There's a very comfortable flow to his writing which pulls them along, making them feel like a member of Camp Half Blood.

What I enjoyed about the novel was how it appeals to younger readers. There's likable heroes and Riordan's modern take on the Greek gods make them interesting to a new, younger modern audience.

Watching Percy grow and interact with his friends is heartwarming. I love how the story has a very silent, but resonating message of the power of friendship, loyalty, and honesty.

Percy's a bit more mature as character, but still reckless in ways. He's loyal to the bone – especially to Annabeth. Thalia, Zeus' daughter, was also a delight to meet. When her loyalty is tested, Thalia finds strength in her noble lineage. What I enjoyed about the diAngelos and their mystery was trying to put the clues together to figure out who their Olympian parent was.

The ending does not disappoint. It's loaded with a lot of surprises and some heartwarming moments.

"The Titan's Curse" is a middle school/young adult fiction. I would recommend this story for 4th grade on up.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Percy. Have you read a book? Watched the movie?

4th of July Fun Facts & Trivia!

Happy 4th of July to all! I'm on Catalina Island just off the coast of CA near Los Angeles, celebrating America's birthday. The USC marching band kicks off the fun opening up the golf cart parade. Golf carts drive down the main street in festive decorations. Afterwards, we have a BBQ by the water. Then we scope out a spot on the beach and watch the fireworks over Avalon Bay. I'd love to hear how you celebrate the 4th. Today I've got some 4th of July Trivia, Fun Facts and a Giveaway. Enjoy!
America's big "beef" with Britain? There was taxation without representation. The colonies were not represented in the British parliament.

Betsy Ross sewed the 1st American flag in May or June 1776.

The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on 8 July 1776.

Congress declared the 4th of July a federal holiday – in 1941!

Calvin Coolidge
President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July.

On the original American Flag, 13 stars are in a circle, representing that all the 13 colonies were to be considered equal.

Benjamin Franklin was the oldest man to sign the Declaration of Independence. He was 70.

America is 236 years old today.


Giveaway: Answer one of the questions below correctly and leave your email address. I'll pick one winner to receive a copy of my vintage romance, "Journey of the Heart." It's the summer of 1946 in Sonoma, California. Will Rachel willing to take a journey of the heart with James to keep her winery?


Question: What do the colors of the American Flag mean?

Question: Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner? It's the same "tune" as what British song?

Question: What 3 presidents died on the 4th of July?

Bonus: What was the 14th State admitted to the Union?

Get the bonus and one of the questions right, win, and receive a copy of The Faberge Secret along with Journey of the Heart.
References:
http://www.fourthofjulytrivia.com/
http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail...

http://www.cleveland.com/pdq/index.ss...

Book Review Friday - Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Book Review for: Pillars of the Earth
Written by: Ken Follet
New American Library/Penguin
ISBN: 978-0-451-22524-5
Avail as print & ebook
5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

"Pillars of the Earth" is full of greed, ambition, betrayal, loyalty, and love. Set in the 1100's England during the troubled times of Stephen and Maud, their clash for the crown challenges the lives of the lower classes in unforeseen ways.

The story takes places over several decades. The novel opens with a woman cursing a knight, a monk, and a priest at the hanging of an innocent man, raising the reader's curiosity immediately. From there, the reader meets Tom Builder who is fired from a project. With no money, he can't support his family. His wife dies in childbirth and Tom abandons the child. Feeling bad, he goes to recover the baby only to find out the monks found him and are willing to raise it.

Prior Phillip takes over the crumbling Kingsbridge Cathedral and faces many obstacles. Percy Hamleigh, the local landowner, learns the local Earl is plotting against the king. His son, William, brings the traitor to light and eventually the Hamleighs are rewarded. Aliena, the Earl's daughter, fights with passion to obtain the castle stolen from her. Follet masterfully weaves the lives of Tom, Phillip, Percy, William and Aliena together against a backdrop of greed, war, betrayal and secrets. Will truth and love prove to be the pillars of the Earth that overcome the darkness of the soul?

Follett's writing style is a bit stilted at times, but as the story progresses, I became used to it. The plot is slow, but I learned that every event is succinctly linked to the last and there were times I had to really think about what had happened. In that regard, I really enjoyed how the book made me consider the plot and characters.

The characters were not only interesting, but compelling. Even the monks, who are men of God, have human failings. These characters will make the reader cry, laugh, smile and cuss.

Follett is a superb storyteller. Pillars of the Earth is an epic historical fiction that takes the reader to another time and place with ease. There's plenty of action, suspense, adventure and romance. The novel taps into primal, core emotions and will resonate long after the last page. While the novel took me several months to read, it was worth it. If you're a fan of historical fiction, I'd give Pillars of the Earth a try.

California Thursday - Ansel Adams

Growing up in New Hampshire, I had no idea who Ansel Adams was, but I loved his photography. My favorite is "Monolith, the face of Half-Dome" and a winter picture, "Half Dome Apple Orchard." What I love about his photography was how detailed the picture was using black and white tones. The detail made me pause, whistle, and say "that's really cool." For me, "Monolith," is simply majestic, and "Apple Orchard" captures the beauty that I find in winter.

Now I knew a majority of his photography was taken in Yosemite, but silly me, I didn't realize he was a native Californian until this year when my son, Andrew, picked Ansel Adams as his wax museum project for school.

Andrew and I learned a lot together and now we both share a love of Adams' photography. His favorite is: "Mt. Williamson."

Ansel was born in San Francisco in 1902. Hyperactive, he was also a sickly kid. He had no patience for sports, but he loved being in nature. When he was 12, he taught himself piano and began grooming himself to become a professional piano player until his dad took him to Yosemite for the 1st time in 1916. His father also gave him a Kodak Brownie camera on the trip and Adams' love of photography was born.

In 1917, Adams joined the Sierra Club were he nurtured his sense of respect for nature. The Club's goal is to preserve nature's wonders. Adams fit right in and over the years was very active in the club.

He picked up photography and dark room techniques quickly. His 1st photos were published in 1921.

Adams did it all – he experimented with soft focus and etching, but he preferred a more realistic approach to his photography relying more on sharp focus, heightened contract, and precise exposure as well as expertise in the dark room.

In 1927, he took "Monolith" (my favorite). He also published his 1st portfolio: Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras.

In the 1930's, Adams expanded on his work, focusing on detailed close-ups and large forms. In 1931, the Smithsonian hosted his 1st solo museum exhibition. Most of the photos used in the show came from the high sierras.

In the 1940's during World War II, he went on several photographic assignments for the government. One included traveling to the Aleutians and taking pictures of secret Japanese installations.

In 1963, he released his 4th (and last) portfolio – What Majestic Word. The 1960's also saw major art galleries begin to exhibit his work.

In the 1970's Adams worked to reprint negatives from his vault to satisfy demand for his work. He did experiment with color, taking portraits mainly of landscapes and architecture. Adams didn't like color. He couldn't control the balance as well as a black and white photo and he found color distracting, but he does have some color prints.

Did you know? His photography "The Tetons and The Snake River" is one of 115 images on the Voyager spacecraft?

QUESTION AND GIVEAWAY: Adams took the first official portrait of a president. Who was the president?

Answer the question and leave your email. I'll pick a winner out of the right responses to receive a copy of my upcoming vintage release, "Journey of the Heart," set in 1946 Sonoma California.

Guest Post: Must Read Romance Books for the Teenager

Teen romance novels are rarely just about romance — often, these novels are intertwined with action, adventure, deceit, or any number of other things. So when you are looking for the very best in teen romance novels, you might not necessarily find them in that particular section in your bookstore. Here area a few of the most popular and entertaining teen romance fictions of today:

Twilight

The Twilight series is a good place to start. While there are heavy elements of the supernatural — vampires and shape shifters — this book is also very heavy on romance and love. The plot follows Bella Swan as the falls in love with a vampire Edward Cullen. She also has a thing for a shape-shifting wolf named Jacob Black. Soon Bella finds herself in peril as a rogue group of vampires marks her as a target, and Edward struggles to save the love of his life. This is the first part of a four part book series. The next is New Moon, which digs into the budding romance between Bella and Jacob. Eclipse is the third and sees a struggle for Bella to choose between her loves. The fourth is Breaking Dawn, and it allows readers into the marriage of Edward and Bella and the drama behind her becoming pregnant with a Halfling.

The Vampire Diaries

As a result, of course, of the Twilight series’ success, vampire novels are all the rage right now. So when looking into teen romance books, another popular vampire series will also emerge. The Vampire Diaries was a widely popular collection, much like Twilight. However in this story, Elena Gilbert struggles between her love for two brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore. While threats and drama abounds, offering a consistent page turner in every book, the real enticing aspect of this story is finding out who she ends up choosing and why.

The Hunger Games

Another book that you will find in teen romance, and which has recently captured the imaginations of young and old readers alike, is The Hunger Games series. This three-book set details a world in the future that features different districts of the country. Each year, a boy and girl are selected from each district to fight to the death in an arena of sorts. The romance is Katniss having to find out through all three books whether she is in love with her boyfriend/best friend Gale, her tribute partner Peeta, or if she is even capable of loving at all.

All in all, these novels lay out well over ten novels to get you started into the genre. If you want to find out where all the teen romance is, it is intermixed with a lot of the action and adventure books as well. These added plot points have caused all three of these novel sets to become widely popular media presentations. The Hunger Games is one of the top grossing movies of all time, and the same could be said about each of the Twilight films that have come out in theaters. Finally, The Vampire Diaries has inspired an incredible popular television show offering the same romantic struggle Elena Gilbert faces within the book.

Sheila Tribbs loves indulging her guilty pleasure — teen romance fiction — and she is a contributing author at http://flowerdelivery.net.

The 7, 7, 7

Laurel Hawkes, Jillian Chantel and Melanie Atkins tagged me in their facebook posts, and I've been tagged a couple of other times on facebook, too. I think I'm ready to follow through. I'm taking the broader possibility of page 7 or 77.

1. Go to page 7 or 77 of your work in progress (or most recently completed novel).
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy down the next 7 lines and post them as they're written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other authors, Jude Urbanski
Maria Hammerblad
Shana Galen
Tami Dee
Diane Craver
Paula Martin
Cheryl Pierson

From The Secret Door, my WIP, I chose what's currently page 7, which will change once the editing is done, but for now here it is:

Meklau stood, a shard of glass embedded in his neck and blood pooled at his front paws. His eyes lost focus. Meklau's howl was low.

Zoltan stumbled off the main road and into the bushes, collapsing next to a tree. He heard the humans scatter forward.

"Bloody Hell!"
"Let's go!"

Zoltan couldn't make out the rest of what was said, but he heard an engine roar to




Have Fun, All!
Smiles
Steph

Welcome Guest Author - Ann Miller

Interview With Ann Lee Miller, Author of Kicking Eternity
Winner of First Place Long Contemporary in the Romance Writers of America Faith, Hope, and Love Contest

Note: Anyone who leaves a comment with an e-mail address (JaneReader[at]msn[dot]com) will receive a free e-book copy of Kicking Eternity. Those who don’t want to leave an e-mail may contact Ann for their free book at AnnLeeMiller.com.


STEPH: I don't know much about Kicking Eternity. What's it about?

ANN: Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.

The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ live. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.

Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.

Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late?

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

ANN: One year.





STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the story?

ANN: My daughter has had a passion to become a foreign missionary since she was in first grade. She just completed her junior year of college and is still headed for missions, probably to an orphanage in Peru. Also a close family friend fell in love with a young man and felt strongly that God told her to marry him. When the guy broke off the engagement, she was devastated on multiple levels. In Kicking Eternity the hero has to come to terms with the same dilemma.

STEPH: What's the theme of the novel?

ANN: Kicking Eternity is all about chasing dreams—our dreams, God’s dreams, and the mixed-up tangle of both.

STEPH: Raine is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weaknesses?

ANN: Raine is utterly committed to Jesus. She’s tenacious, self-sacrificing, and humble. But she’s pigheaded once she gets stuck on a course of action. She’s lonely, and sometimes she tries too hard to fit in.

STEPH: Drew is the hero. What does he find appealing about Raine?

ANN: Drew is attracted by Raine’s faith that matches his own. She’s gorgeous and doesn’t have a clue. They work together as if they’d done it all their lives. Teasing her becomes his favorite sport because she’s so easily flustered.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

ANN: Drew and Raine encounter each other or their footsteps on the beach every morning when they individually seek God. Drew worships with his guitar. Raine is attracted to Drew through his worship of God.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for the story?

ANN: I traveled to New Smyrna Beach, even though I once lived there. I took lots of pictures and asked questions wherever I went. From home I researched on the internet.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

ANN: I have a Nook.

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

ANN: I wrote my first draft of my debut novel fifteen years ago, but have been writing seriously for the past 10 years.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

ANN: I detest plotting, but consider it a necessary evil. I plot every scene for the whole book before I actually write the book. It takes… forever. My first two books were written without plotting. Going back through whole books to fix plot lines felt counterproductive.

STEPH: Tell us a little about the state/country you live in.

ANN: I live in Arizona where rain comes from sprinklers. This time of year all the cacti are in bloom across the desert like an army of pencil-thin porcupines with bows in their hair. In the summer the thermometer can read 117 degrees. People say it’s a dry heat, but try sticking your head in the oven at 117 and see whether it feels hot to you. Phoenix is one magnificent hot flash from Mother’s Day to Halloween. But the entire population of Canada winters here, so sunshine has its fans.

AnnLeeMiller.com
Twitter @AnnLeeMiller
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Lee...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kicking-Eternit...

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kicki...

Bio: Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives.

Book Blurb:
Fresh from college, Raine scores a teaching job at New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp. A crush on the camp rebel/art teacher threatens to derail her plans to teach orphans in Africa. The broody recreation director spots her brothers meth addiction and Raine's enabling. Raine believes she is helping her brother--until lives are threatened.


Endorsements:

“Ann Lee Miller writes stories straight from the heart with characters who'll become friends, remaining with you long after you turn that final page. You won't want to miss Kicking Eternity!”
Jenny B. Jones, Author of the Katie Parker Production Series from Think and The Charmed Life Series, and other single titles from Thomas Nelson

“In Kicking Eternity, Ann Lee Miller masterfully weaves the delicate web of emotions experienced in that turbulent ‘twenty-something’ stage of life. Powerful family dynamics, intense loyalty challenges, and tender new loves find their niche in your heart as this story unfolds layer by lovely layer.”
Mesu Andrews, Author of Revell titles Love’s Sacred Song, and Love Amid the Ashes, which won the 2012 CBA Book of the Year, New Author Category

CA Lighthouse Series - Battery Point, CA

I love exploring California's lighthouses – even if I haven't had a chance to visit one yet. ☺. I've discovered that a majority of lighthouses are in the San Francisco area, so for this adventure, I opted to visit Battery Point, in Crescent City, CA.

Crescent City is just a couple of miles south of the Oregon border. Sound familiar? When the recent 2011 Japanese Tsunami hit, Crescent City was struck with higher than normal waves that ripped out docks and swept a photographer out to sea.

For me, the most interesting part about a lighthouse is the history and Battery Point has several stories in it's past. In 1855, the ship, America, burned in the Crescent City harbor. 3 cannons were recovered and mounted on the northern entrance. The cannons were used in Crescent City's 4th of July celebration, earning the name Battery Point.

In May 1855, Congress set aside 15,000 dollars for the construction of the Battery Point lighthouse. It was built on a tiny islet connected to Battery Point by an isthmus at low tide. Due to the location, the lighthouse can only be accessed at low tide.


The lighthouse opened with a 4th order Fresnel Lens. (A Fresnel lens allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design. Compared to conventional bulky lenses, the Fresnel lens is much thinner, larger, and flatter, and captures more oblique light from a light source, thus allowing lighthouses to be visible over much greater distances.)

The first lighthouse keeper was Theophilis Magruder. His starting pay was $1,000, but when he received a 40% pay cut he resigned. (Author's Note: I'd quit too if I had a 40% pay cut!)

In 1953, the lighthouse became automated. The Del Norte Historical Society became involved and now the lighthouse is a museum. The lighthouse is also listed as a private aid to navigation and is still in use.

In March 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck in Alaska, triggering a tsunami. Waves raced southward, hitting up to 20 feet in Crescent City. Incredibly, the lighthouse received no damaged, but Crescent City suffered the most damage on the Pacific Coast.

Watch where you step! The lighthouse has a ghost that haunts the halls.

Interesting side note: Battery Point is the setting for 2 novels: "Walk Across the Sea," by Susan Fletcher, a historical YA fiction, and "The Lightkeeper's Daughter," by Colleen Coble, a 2010 inspirational romance.


Question: Have you visited a lighthouse? What did you like about it? Any stories you'd like to share?


References for this blog:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_...
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/ligh...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_...

Character Interview with Mihai Sigmaringen from "The Wolf's Torment"

ABOUT THE WOLF'S TORMENT: It's 1865 in Moldavia, a country nestled against the shores of the Black Sea, and Crown Prince Mihai Sigmaringen returns after receiving an education in England. His best friend, Viktor Bacau joins him. Mihai is intent on modernizing his nation, but he's also a witch, and it's time he embraces his heritage. The tasks in front of him are many including getting married.

Lady Theresa von Kracken arrives in Constanta as Mihai's intended. Mihai has vowed not to fall in love again, but Theresa manages to break the battlements around his heart.

In an unfortunate twist of fate, Viktor is bitten by a werewolf. Viktor's transformation threatens everyone around him including his wife's safety and Mihai's happiness with Theresa. Viktor's bite is the wolf's torment.

Interviewer: Mihai, How did you find out you were a witch?

Mihai: I've always known. My mother was a very powerful witch who practiced white magic, but she was killed by a dark witch, Hecuba, when I was ten. I had no desire to explore this part of my heritage until recently.

Interviewer: How did your parents meet?

Mihai: When my father was the Crown Prince of Moldavia he met my mother while attending a grand ball in Wallachia. My mother was a gypsy witch, promised into servitude by her father to Hecuba. My mother did everything she could to avoid serving Hecuba and that night, she had run away from her father. The moment my father saw her, he knew she was the only woman for him. She was honest about her plight and he hid her, contriving a false royal identify for her and then marrying her.

Interviewer: What piqued your curiosity about your heritage?

Mihai: My dreams I shared with Theresa von Kracken sparked my interest, but I have to learn to protect my family.

Interviewer: And who might this Theresa be?

Jon Hensley circa 1985
inspiration for "Mihai"

Mihai: Theresa is my fiancée. She's very attractive and I enjoy spending time with her. She's a breath of fresh air, but I fear I'm not as attentive as I'd like to be. I care for her very much, but I need to find the right words to tell her.

Interviewer: Is Theresa a witch like you?

Mihai: She is, but she doesn't know she is. Her family is a royal witching family, but her father has decreed she's not to know about her heritage.

Interviewer: So, you're keeping secrets from your fiancée?

Mihai: I'm not happy about it, but I'm honoring my future father-in-law's request. The situation is complicated.

Interviewer: How is it complicated?

Mihai: My best friend, Viktor, is being stalked by a werewolf – and my sister, Sonia, is madly in love with him.

Interviewer: Sounds like you've got your hands full.

Mihai: Yes, and I must learn my lessons well –and quickly.

Interviewer: Who is giving you witching lessons?

Mihai: Theresa's sister, Beatrice.

Interviewer: Do you think your mother would be proud of you?

Mihai: There's never a time when my mother is far from my thoughts. I want to be the kind of witch she was and I hope I live up to those expectations.

REVIEWS:
Pen & Muse: "A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot."

Long and Short, 4.5 Stars: Nominated for Long & Short's Book of the Week, NOV 2011. The Wolf’s Torment is certainly more than a story about a werewolf. There is quite a bit of depth in this multifaceted story of a family’s struggle with life, love and loss.

Reader's Favorites, 5 Stars: "The Wolf’s Torment has it all, witches, werewolves, a vampire, princess and prince. This is paranormal romance at its finest.

Joy Cagil, Amazon Reader, 5 Stars: This novel is not only a highly entertaining page-turner but also it boasts its author's mastery of fiction. I loved it."

Dina Hickman, Amazon Reader: "Stephanie creates the perfect blend of romance and suspense in her novel, "The Wolf's Torment."

Romance Reviews: 3 Stars: "I would highly recommend THE WOLF'S TORMENT. You will find it satisfying, even as it leaves you hungering for more."

Keena Kincaid, Amazon Review, 5 Stars: "Ancient heritage and modern technology collide in the dark, tense tale The Wolf's Torment by Stephanie Burkhart."

Mona Risk, Amazon Review: 5 Stars: "I enjoyed this book enormously and read it in one sitting."

BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzHE2s...

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Her voice was matter-of-fact, pricking at his faults, but damn if she wasn't beautiful in the firelight. The rest of his plans for the evening could wait.

He held up his glass. "Would you like a drink?"

"What is it?"

"Brandy."

She clapped her hands and a smile tipped the corner of her lips. "I've never tried it, but it smells like it would be an interesting adventure."

He chuckled at her lightheartedness and went to the hidden bar, disguised as a closed shelf in the library walls, and removed a clean glass. He poured her the drink and gave it to her, his eyes sweeping over her face, probing her soul. Her emotions were an open book.

Jennifer Ferrin inspiration
for "Theresa"

She wanted him to touch her. She ached for it. She wanted him to drive the loneliness away. The thought of sharing a more intimate embrace with her was enticing. He held up his drink and they clicked glasses, sipping the amber liquid.

She didn't gag or choke, but swallowed hard and narrowed her eyes. "What a crisp adventure. I do believe it's warming my stomach."

He chuckled and held out his hand. She gave him the glass. He put it on the desk, then leaned against it again.

A burning curious look came into her eyes.

"Come here." His voice was raw and husky. She walked toward him slowly, her hips swaying.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm sorry you were lonely."

She stopped in front of him and he lunged out and grabbed her waist, pulling her closer, settling her between his legs. Her body pressed against his and she put her hands on his chest.
For an instant, an intensity stole into her expression, an intensity he hadn't spotted before.

"I don't believe I've ever been this close to you."

"No, I don't believe you have either, but I rather enjoy it. I hope you do as well."

"Lent starts tomorrow."

"What do you say we do a little sinning tonight so we have something to be penitent for?"

Her face grew eager at the suggestion. Damn. His blood raced through his veins as his heart hammered in his chest. Desire for her overtook his senses. He had an intense awareness of her thrumming through his body.

"Such naughty thoughts, my Prince."

Desire smoldered in her eyes. He wanted to kindle that into a raging fire. For him alone. He claimed her sweet lips, crushing her against his body. She slid her hands up his chest and clutched his shoulders. Her body tensed, needing release. He deepened the kiss, refusing to let her escape. God, no, he refused to let his woman out of his arms. Mihai traced the soft fullness of her lips and she parted her mouth for him. Lord, her mouth was soft and sweet and giving. His tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, coaxing her to explore his.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Moldavian-Moon-...

BARNES & NOOK NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/molda...

ALL ROMANCE BOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...

PUBLISHER'S LINK: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?f...

New England Saturday - A day at Hampton Beach

I remember when I was a young girl in the 1970's I'd get very excited when my parents told me the family was going to Hampton Beach. Mind you, the New Hampshire coastline is not long, (it's the shortest state coastline in the U.S.) but I think it was the simple ambience of going to the beach that I loved.

My family would leave in the morning after packing picnic/lunches, towels, umbrellas, and sun tan lotion – along with my pails and shovels. What made the day really special though is meeting up with my granny, grandpa, Auntie Sue and the rest of my family. I loved riding the waves (even though the water was always cold!) scouring the rocks for muscles, crabs, and lobsters, building sandcastles, and playing on the playgrounds. Hampton Beach is full of fond memories, so any chance I have to visit, I always try.

Once I left NH and joined the Army, I definitely missed visiting the ocean. There's something about the water that is beautiful and in that beauty, calming and peaceful.

I've been back a handful of times and while the beach hasn't changed much in it's look and appearance, it certainly has gotten busier.

The Hampton Beach Village District formed in 1907 with the goal of providing electricity to the summer tourists.


In 1988, the chamber of commerce organized the Hampton Beach seafood festival. It's held the weekend after Labor Day to extend the summer season. The event helps local non-profits and has earned "One of the top 100 events in North America."

The chamber of commerce also sponsors a sand sculpting competition. Established in 2011, the contest starts 15 June and lasts until 23 June this year.

There's a lot more stuff to do and if you're in the area, you can visit http://www.hamptonbeach.org/ for more info.

The last time I went to Hampton Beach was August 2010. It was bittersweet. My sister and son, Andrew, were with me. Andrew's a California boy, so I think he was a little homesick. He dipped his feet in the Atlantic Ocean, but that was it – he didn't dare to go further. He thought the waves would suck him in. Maybe next time I'll get him on the rocks to go crab hunting.

Question for you: I'd love to hear about your favorite beach. Drop me a line and share your memories. I'll pick one lucky winner to receive a PDF copy of my free read, Moonlight Sonata.

References:
http://www.hamptonbeach.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_...