Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 76

Welcome Allison Knight and Alabama Crimson Tide to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?

ALLISON: I'm an Alabama University Football fan. I don't fly a flag, I don't go to their
games, but on Saturday when they are on the field - don't bother me.
'Roll Tide'! I do no writing on Saturday afternoon during the season.

We moved to Alabama in 1997 and I learned quick enough, there are two
seasons here in Alabama. We have Football season and the rest of the year.
You have two choices. You either route for Auburn or for Alabama.
I chose Alabama.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



ALLISON: Trent Richardson was Mark Ingram's partner, and Mark kinda
overshadowed him, but now that Mark has signed with the Saints,
Trent will get a chance to show just how good he is.

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time 'Bama player?

ALLISON: I'm especially fond of Julio Jones. First he played well. And he wasn't
afraid to play with injuries. But I have to also admit, when your
granddaughter went to school with the guy, you are interested. He's a
local kid, and his mother works for my cleaning lady. I know first hand
this kid is a really nice guy. Unfortunately he's gone pro and is now
with the Atlanta Falcons.

STEPH: Who's the Tide's "evil" nemesis?

ALLISON: Auburn of course, but Mississippi State runs a close second. The
Auburn game is on November 26 and Mississippi is on the 12th of
November. You better believe I'll be glued to the TV on both those days.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

ALLISON: When we lived in Indiana, I went to a Notre Dame game.
I remember the excitement. The problem is of course, a lot of
noise, the stands were not that comfortable when you are 6 months
pregnant, and you miss a lot of the game trotting back and forth to the
restroom.

I do remember the half time show, because they had their trademark
Scottish guard. At the time the school was all men. The Scottish guard
were in kilts, with those tall hats, their plaids flappingin the breeze.
They also had an impressive band. Quite a spectical.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

ALLISON: No, nor do I fly an Alabama University flag, but I sure know a lot of people who do!

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

ALLISON: Who eats! I get too excited and would probably throw food all over the
living room. During half time we frequently have pizza or chips and dip.
It depends if we have people watching with us.

Blurb for Battlesong:
Their marriage begins with a lie. Tricked into wedding young Laren Blair, the daughter of a Scottish laird, Arthur ap Brynn Ffrydd, an English baron, abandons her at his keep. When he finally returns six years later she has won the affection of his people but all he sees are the changes she has made. Their battles begin.



She fears her life will be as miserable with Arthur as it was with her cruel father. He envisions losing his property to her Scottish clan. As they learn to tolerate each other, desire draws them together. When Laren is kidnaped and Arthur is wounded in battle they realize they love each other. Reunited, can their love withstand the strain of another lie?


Reviews for Battlesong:

The Romance Studio
Reviewed by Theresa B.

This was a story about a Scottish bride and an English Baron. Tension was still tight between the two sides and mixed marriage was frowned upon though Laren's father had his own devious reasons for the marriage.

Allison Knight did a good job with the characters and the historical detail.


The Pagan and The Pen Book Reviews
Reviewed by Violet

Ms. Knight just keeps getting better. Battlesong is the follow-up to Heartsong, though one doesn't have to read Heartsong to fully enjoy Battlesong. From the second I picked it up, I was whisked away to Medieval England. It's a dangerous, romantic time that Ms. Knight vividly and expertly recreates.

The characters are fully realized and full of life. Laren is a woman to admire. Her grit and strength create sparks in any setting, but especially in this one where women were considered property. Arthur is rash, headstrong, handsome, and true to his values-a perfect recipe for a hero.

Battlesong is an enjoyable, relaxing read that provides the perfect escape for a rainy afternoon. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical romance.

Welcome Author Carol Preflatish & the Colts to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

Here's Carol to gush about her team, The Colts!



STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?



CAROL: My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts and I've been a fan for over ten years.



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



CAROL: I've always been a sucker for the kickers. My favorite Colt is their kicker, Adam Vinatieri, but a very close second is their wide receiver, Austin Collie. Both players are very dedicated and have played with injuries that could have ended their careers.



STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Colts player?



CAROL: My all time favorite Colt would be Brandon Stokley. He was a wide receiver that played for the Colts a few years ago. He was always the one player that could pull out a catch when they really needed it. Unfortunately, he suffered a lot of injuries and the Colts released him. He played for the Denver Broncos for a while and he's now with the Seattle Seahawks.



STEPH: Who's the Colts "evil" nemsis?





CAROL: That would have to be the New England Patriots. No matter how good or bad either team is for that particular season, you never know who will win and you can always count on an exciting game. Both teams have such superb quarterbacks, that it's really a joy to watch them do battle.



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



CAROL: I went to my first Colts game last year and I loved it, even with the horribly high seats we had. The energy is so exciting and when the team is announced and they run onto the field, I got shivers. It was so cool. It also feels like a much slower pace than on television because you have to wait for the commercial breaks at the game. At the game we were at, we sat next to a husband and wife and the husband normally works security on the field for the game. It was his day off so they came to watch the game together. It was really interesting to hear some of the inside stuff they said. For instance, we got really cold during the 4th quarter. He said that Peyton Manning gets hot toward the end of the game, so he wants the heat turned off.



STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



CAROL: I own two jerseys. I have a Brandon Stokley, which I don't wear since he doesn't play for them anymore. My other jersey is a Peyton Manning jersey. I bought it because I needed a jersey and I couldn't find a Vinatieri or Collie jersey, but I'm on the lookout for either one this season.



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



CAROL: I always pop a big bowl of buttered popcorn to eat and Diet Pepsi to drink while I watch the television pre-game. I do have a special sandwich that I always fix for the Super Bowl. it's Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Mini Sandwiches and you can find the recipe on my Food blog at http://tinyurl.com/3lfnree





Blurb





Nathan Perry, having recuperated from a Gulf War injury, returns to his hometown of Mystic, Massachusetts to become the town's first ever police detective.



His first assignment is to discover who has been stealing valuable antique signs from the town's businesses and why. Even though he's a hometown boy, Nathan finds some of the residents less than cooperative with his investigation.



During his investigation, Nathan is surprised to find out who is involved and what the thefts are linked to.



This book will be available as a Kindle ebook later this fall. Watch my web site for news on the release, http:CarolPre.webs.com

Welcome LE Harvey & The Philadelphia Eagles to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

STEPH: Let's welcome author LE Harvey to the blog! Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?



LE: Philadelphia Eagles. I've been a fan since childhood: a cousin of mine was an Eagles Cheerleader and being a Philadelphian, it was only natural! :)



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



LE: Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills. I like anyone who has a "no fear" approach to the game. :)





STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Eagles player?



LE: I think I 'd have to say Donovan McNabb. He is an incredible player and always had a great sense of team.



STEPH: Who's the Eagles' "evil" Nemesis?



LE Dallas, of course!



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



LE: If memory serves, the last football game I attended was a college game where my cousin was cheerleading. But I am excited because this year, I will see my first pro game: Eagles vs. Buffalo thanks to my wonderful partner! :)



STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



LE: Not yet ;)



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



LE: I'm like a goat during football games: I'll eat anything! :)



Trailer video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz7QZL...





Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935407732?t...





My website:

http://www.leharvey.com/index.html





Blurb:



Carol Mathers: born a sickly child, in a home fraught with undercurrents that threaten to sweep away any chance she might have for a normal life. Now in her mid-thirties, she's a highly sought-after IT guru in St. Louis. She has built a great life for herself with her partner, Alexandria, even though the two face prejudice as lesbians, and as an interracial couple -fighting tragedy and sometimes, finding triumph. During her tumultuous life, Carol discovers that she has acquired AIDS as a result of a childhood transfusion from the dark period of time before AIDS was widely known... or understood, not even by the medical profession. Now, the two women face even more obstacles, prejudice, and a strange, new life as AIDS patients. Carol learns just how much her chaotic past has affected her, and how she can never really escape it, even as she tries to move on with her life. An unexpected event creates even more pain and tragedy in Carol's life, and causes her to wonder about the meaning of and purpose of her own life... or if there is any purpose at all...



Reviews:



"Rich!" -Chelle Cordero, author



"I really like it! It reads well and it moves really well. And, you literally paint pictures very well. I get very clear mental images while reading the book!" -Lloyd Kaneko, author





"As I read "Imperfect," I saw both Carol and her partner Alexandria as strong, determined characters. But they were facing a lot: prejudice, sexism, baggage from the past. Is love enough? Is strength enough?



The ending hit me like a ton of bricks because I really liked these people,...I must tell you that after your powerful ending for Imperfect , I'll be waiting to read Impeccable as soon as it's hot off the press." - Malcolm R. Campbell, author

Welcome M.S. Spencer and the Vikings to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?


M.S. SPENCER: The MEN IN PURPLE. They have the best helmets, don't they? Seriously, I've been a fan of the Vikings since 1975 when I moved to Chicago for graduate school. A couple of classmates came from Minnesota and we would watch every single game on our little black and white TV, eating our chili on tray tables. Though not exactly an obsession (well, maybe) I still get very emotional when I watch them play. Unfortunately, their games don't always air here in Washington. Someday when I win the lottery I'll spring for one of those TV football packages.

My family always found my devotion a bit freakish but grew used to it. The best birthday present they ever gave me was a scrapbook filled with stuff about the Vikings. I keep it next to Calvin & Hobbs books.

STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



M.S. SPENCER: Well it WAS Brett Favre. They have a new coach this year, Leslie Frazier, who filled in after last year's natural disasters (the Metrodome collapse and snowed out games) and have changed a lot of the roster. If Adrian Peterson stays, he'll be great. Visanthe Shiancoe is also wonderful at tight end. I'm not a big fan of Donovan McNabb, but the backup Christian Ponder looks really good—I just watched highlights of the Houston pre-season game (Vikings 28-0).

STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Vikings player?

M.S. SPENCER: Fran Tarkenton—who else? I was such a big fan I actually read the mystery novel he wrote (not much of a mystery but a fascinating insight into the game). After that Alan Page, the great defensive tackle & member of the Purple People Eaters, the bane of quarterbacks everywhere. He played for the Vikings from 1967 to 1978, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and went on to be (wait for it!) a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Talk about versatile…

Third is of course Ahmad Rashad. As a Vikings fan in Washington DC with a mother who hated football, I watched a lot of games alone with the door closed. I'll never forget the Browns game in 1980 when Tommy Kramer sent a "Hail Mary" pass down the field to Ahmad Rashad as time expired resulting in a 28-23 victory. I was jumping up and down and screaming in ecstasy. My mother threatened to call an ambulance.

STEPH: Who's their "evil" nemesis?

M.S. SPENCER: You mean team? Some might say the Chicago Bears, but I say Green Bay—my son's favorite team (coincidence? I think not). Actually, while they are great rivals I root for Green Bay whenever it's playing someone else. I was in heaven for the couple of seasons that Bret Favre played for the Vikings. Like having the cherry on top.

STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?

M.S. SPENCER: Yes, I've been to Redskins games. I live in Washington and do love the team (although it's not as visceral an adoration as I have for the Vikings). Redskins fans are really the best in the world—and they've had to deal with even more adversity than Vikings fans! There's nothing like an open stadium and real grass. One of the things that endeared me to the Vikings was when they played outside (before the Metrodome, aka Mall of America Stadium). You had to be tough to play in Minnesota in the winter—it was too funny watching teams like the Dolphins try to keep up in a blizzard. Of course I went to many a college football game (Ivy League, so it was more a drinking than a sporting event). My son took me to a UVA game—we had a blast. UVA students always dress up for the game—it's a tradition & so refreshing to see young ladies in dresses & young men in khakis.

STEPH: Do you own a jersey?

M.S. SPENCER: Of course! Although I'm a bit superstitious. If the game isn't going well I take it off.

STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?

M.S. SPENCER: My own chili—hot, with lots of toppings. I don't take any shortcuts, starting with fresh ground spices and whole tomatoes. Ask my kids (and their friends!)—it's the best. Plus homemade coleslaw. Back in my slimmer days, I'd scarf up cornbread slathered in butter and a couple of Geary's Pale Ales to go with.

Fun Facts about the Vikings:

In their opening game on September 17, 1961, the Vikings gave their followers a little taste of what the next 47 years would be like when rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench. Tarkenton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as he led the men in purple to a 37-13 victory over the Chicago Bears.

In 1986, exactly 25 years later, Tarkenton would become the first Vikings player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Only four NFL teams have played in more Super Bowls, and only one (the Dallas Cowboys), have more playoff appearances.


Biography ~ M. S. Spencer

Although M. S. Spencer has lived in Chicago, Boston, New York, France, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and England, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. Once she escaped academia, she worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several library systems, both public and academic, and at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. She divides her time among Virginia, Maine and Florida. All of this tends to insinuate itself into her works.

Ms. Spencer has two fabulous grown children, Spencer and Emma. She has only one cat (down from three, plus a dog, a snake and two hamsters). It's a quiet household now, but since her study window looks on a park and river there is plenty of wildlife to distract her from her writing.

My latest release is Losers Keepers, the story of a romantic triangle enmeshed in murder, set on the Atlantic barrier island of Chincoteague.

Losers Keepers, by M. S. Spencer
Published July 27, 2011 by Secret Cravings Publishing
eBook, 72,000 words, ISBN 978-1-936653-95-9
Contemporary romantic suspense, M/F, 3 flames



Blurb:
Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk. It's just her luck that her first week on the island she's in the right place at the right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn't know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn't know she doesn't know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms of her first tempestuous passion?

Buy links:
http://www.secretcravingspublishing.c...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Losers-Keepers-...

allRomanceEBooks.com:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...

Book Strand: http://www.bookstrand.com/losers-keepers

You might also be interested in my first novel Lost in His Arms, romantic suspense set in the spinning world of 1991 when countries fell like flies and a CIA fixer had his hands full. Or try my second novel, Lost and Found, in which we follow a desperate wife searching the wilds of Maine and Florida for the husband who disappeared.
Buy Links for Lost in His Arms and Lost and Found:
www.redrosepublishing.com/books/produ...

www.redrosepublishing/books/product_i...

All three books are also available here:
www.amazon.com
http://allromanceebooks.com/
www.fictionwise.com
www.bookstrand.com

I'd love to hear from you! Contact M. S. Spencer at
www.MeredithEllsworth.com
http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/mssellsworth

Welcome Fran Shaff to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Quarterback



FRAN: Steph, thanks much for inviting me to be a part of your football guest blog series. I'm thrilled to be here!



STEPH: It's great to have you here, Fran! Who's your favorite football team, and how long have you been a fan?



FRAN: Steph, I've been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since the mid 70s when I began to watch pro football. I was living in Northern Illinois at the time so they were sort of a "home" team since they played some of their games in nearby Milwaukee in those days.



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



FRAN: Aaron Rogers has been tremendously impressive since he took over Brett Favre's spot as quarterback. His skill and ability have blown me away. I hated to see Brett leave. How would we ever win again? Rogers came in following one of the best NFL players of all time and led the team to a Super Bowl victory in very short order. Wow!! He never gives up. He's inspirational.



STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Packer player?



FRAN: That is a very difficult question because there have been so many outstanding players for the Packers in the last thirty plus years. Naturally, Brett Favre is a favorite. Reggie White was fantastic on defense. I loved watching him play. But I guess my favorite Packer player of all would be Sterling Sharp. Watching receivers make great catches is one of the most thrilling things about football, and it seemed he caught everything he could see.





STEPH: Who's the Packers "evil" nemesis?



FRAN: The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears are tied for the honor of being named as the Packers' "evil" nemesis. The Packers have great rivalries with both of those teams, though the Bears have been around a LOT longer than the Vikings have. When I lived on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border years ago I saw a sign along the beautiful St. Croix River separating the two states. The sign sported caricatures of injured Packer and Vikings players shaking hands. So I guess they're not nemeses as much as they're rivals, huh? Since my husband is a Bears fan, when our two teams meet we've got to try to maintain peace in the family, so we can't consider either team "evil." (But my Packers DID walk over the Bears last season right into the Super Bowl, didn't they? I think Hubby thought my team was a little evil that day. ☺)



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



FRAN: No, Steph, I've never had the pleasure of attending a pro football game in person. The view's probably better on TV, but I'm sure the excitement is palpable when a fan attends a game in person.



STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



FRAN: I have tee shirts and sweatshirts, of course, even a cap, but no jersey.



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



FRAN: Whatever we're having for lunch is my football food since most of the games start at noon in the time zone where we live.



You know, Steph, I enjoy NFL football so much I just knew one day I'd have to combine my love of the sport with my passion for writing. "Male Fraud," my most recent romantic comedy and the result of meshing football and storytelling, made its debut recently. Here's the blurb:



Terry Fiscus wants to be a trainer for the pro football Chicago Cyclones. Coach Dan Barringer doesn't believe a woman belongs in a men's locker room. Terry really, really wants this job so she disguises herself as a man, and Dan hires her. When Dan meets Terry outside of work and gets to know her as the lovely "Teresa" he falls in love, and so does Terry. As she tries to manage her double life things get extremely complicated and side-splittingly funny.







"Male Fraud" is available as an e-book at most major e-book stores. It is also available in paperback at Amazon as part of my "Romantic Comedy Collection." A video book trailer, excerpts and more information are available at: http://sites.google.com/site/malefrau...



Thanks so much, Steph, for inviting me to be a part of your special football event. It has been a real pleasure to be here.

The Count's Lair - 2011 Winner, Silver, Reader's Favorites in Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Imagine my surprise when I popped into my email the other day and discovered that my book, The Count's Lair, won the 2011 Reader's Favorites, Romance:Sci-Fi/Fantasy Silver award. 2nd Place. That's not too shabby. :)

A little about The Count's Lair

The story was a natural, organic story that grew out of "The Hungarian." Count Anton Varga had been the "villian" in "The Hungarian." As werewolf, Anton was finding it hard to control the feral nature of the beast as a man and sought attention from Katherine, Matthias's wife. Then, a chance encounter with Lady Amelia Andrassy in the Duma bookstore changed everything for him and made him question his motives, his wants, his desire, and even the direction of his soul.



That lay the ground work for "Moonlight Sonata," a 21K "prequel" free read. Anton seeks out Amelia to offer his emotional support just after the death of her cheating husband. Amelia welcomes his friendship, but is not ready for more. Instead, she goes off on a six week piano tour of the Austrian-Hungary Empire to find herself.

The Count's Lair was my 2009 NaNoWriMo project. I met with my friened, Jenifer Ranieri at the local coffeehouse to work on the project and had a blast. I wrote close to 54K words that November and met my NaNoWriMo goal, but there was more to go. I actually finished the novel the following January.

The novel is set in Budapest, Hungary in 1901 during the Christmas season. Ah, what a romantic time of year to fall in love. Anton has also taken a personal journey, traveling to Sopron, near the Austrian border to find peace with his soul. He determines in order to win Amelia's love, he must forgive himself for his past indescitions and be a "noble" man - one deserving of Amelia's affections.

Why Budapest? I had an opportunity to travel to Budapest in 1997 as part of a USO tour and I loved the city. The people were so open and friendly. The aritecture was haunting, yet beautiful, capturing the ambience of the immediate past century. It was a place where you could believe werewolves might exist.

Anton and Amelia's story had to be one of the most favorite stories I've written to date. He's the dark, brooding, handsome count, Amelia is the idealist, wanting to fall in love, but afraid it won't meet up to her expectation. It's a great story. Here are some reviews:

Ralph Fienes, Character inspiration for "Anton"


5 Stars, Readers Favorite:
The Count's Lair is filled with suspense, mystery, passion, and the paranormal.

5 Stars, Long & Short Reviews
Want a recipe for a great story? Take an awesome writer like Ms. Burkhart, stir in her intimate knowledge of Hungary, her innate ability to create wonderful characters, a book-full of suspense, mystery and passion and you get a book you can't put down.

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists Time of Series
Budapest Moon book two The Count's Lair is everything a romance novel should be.

Pen and Muse Reviews:
Burkhart does it again with book two in the Budapest Moon book series, The Count's Lair. The second book is filled with passion, chock full of paranormal goodness, romance, suspense and mystery.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:
The manor had grown quieter. The orchestra still played music, but at a softer tempo. The clattering of dishes and the clicking of glasses came from the direction of the kitchen.

The guest rooms were deep within the mansion, toward the south end. Anton took Amelia to the last room in the hall, facing east. He opened the door, and she followed him inside. The room was dark. He flicked a switch near the door, and a small lamp on a dresser came on.

Amelia surveyed the compact room. A double bed rested against the side wall, next to a small door. On the opposite side of the bed was a nightstand. Across from it, next to the fireplace, was a dresser, along with a mirror and another small door.

Anton walked toward the door on the other side of the bed. "This is the washroom, and a small closet is over there."

Amelia nodded. Anton placed her vase of flowers on the dresser. She went to the window and looked out. It faced the Danube and the parliament building.

"What a nice view," she whispered.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pressing his chest against her back. "That's why I chose it for you. The view is magnificent."

His seductive voice and intimate touch made her insides grow warm. She loved to feel the full length of his hard body against hers. They didn't say anything for several minutes. Then he slowly turned her in his arms and kissed her.

She molded her body to his, threading her fingers through his hair, pulling him toward her. She needed to feel him. His sweet tongue pierced the warm barrier of her mouth, and she gladly allowed him to explore. Uncomfortable warmth pooled inside her and slowly radiated out to her arms and legs.

Amy Adams, inspiration for "Amelia"


"I've missed this," he whispered between deep kisses. "So have I." He trailed his honey wet lips down her neck. "I've dreamed of you, Amelia. I've dreamed of you running your hands over my body--" She placed her hands against his cheeks and broke contact with his mouth to look into his eyes, recalling her earlier thoughts about turning him into a mess. "You want me to touch you? More intimately?"

He said nothing, only his eyes, now a deep sapphire blue, expressed his desire. She placed her hands on his white shirt and slid them under his dinner jacket. He wiggled his shoulders, and the garment dropped to the floor. Then she wrapped her hands around his neck, undid his tie, and placed it on the dresser.

He put his hands on her waist, drawing her closer. She started at the top button on his shirt and unfastened them. Her fingers fumbled on the third or fourth one, and he placed his hands over hers, helping to guide her. When she finished, his white shirt hung loosely over his shoulders.

BUY LINKS:
PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Moon-B...

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budap...

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

SONY EBOOKS
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/step...

Welcome Dee Ann Williamson and the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Football Blog Stop Tour!

Goodbye summer, here comes football season! I live in Nebraska and we don't have a professional team, but we have a huge college team at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. They are the Nebraska Cornhuskers. One may either love or hate the Huskers and I am one of the super fan-a-tics.



Preparation for game day is and can be comical. People around here don't plan weddings or parties on football Saturday when Nebraska is playing. And most people know that the best time to go shopping is during the game as the stores are sparse.

I don't own a jersey in the school colors of red and white but I do own over 30 t-shirts and sweatshirts including jackets, slippers, books, earrings, and a gazillion other Nebraska related stuff. I do draw the line at wearing the goofy bright yellow corn cob headgear. Nope, I'm not that crazy.



Going to the stadium in Lincoln that seats over 80,000 people is incredible. The air is electric and seeing the sea of red is breathtaking. Or maybe I can't breathe because I'm squished onto a bench seat hip to shoulder with people I don't know. Everyone should experience it at some time in their life. There is nothing like it. Be prepared to find a new best friend sitting next to you whether you like it or not.



If I don't get to a game at the stadium I'll have people over or I'll go to a family member's house to watch the game. Oddly enough I watch football with other Husker fans and they're all women. Our husbands don't like football. We're the ones screaming at the TV, jumping up and down for bad calls or touchdowns or we'll high five each other. I would say we're easily a lot louder than guys and just as passionate.



I've also driven to away games or flown to bowl games. The stadiums that I've driven to such as Kansas, Missouri or Iowa remind me of a high school football field including a track around the turf. I've flown to Arizona, Texas and California for bowl games and they're the best because you can legally drink beer in the stadium and hang out with a bunch of drunken Nebraska fans especially after a win. Nothing beats being in a different state, taking over the bar and singing 'The Nebraska Fight' song at the top of your lungs.



A lot of great players have graduated from the University and have gone on to play in the NFL or coaching. For example, most recently Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle was a first round draft pick and is now playing for the Detroit Lions. "Yeah Suhhhh!"

He is a great guy with a big heart and gave back to the college within a week or two of being drafted. He donated over $2 million dollars to the college so they could improve the strength and conditioning program. What a guy!



Formerly part of the Big 12 Conference the college jumped ship and is now in the Big 10 Conference. Former rivals were Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado and now, the schedule is going to be rough. Or rougher. The team is scheduled to play powerhouses such as Ohio State, and Michigan just to name a few teams. Excitement is building as I read more about the team's preparation. I can hardly wait till the first game on September 3rd against Chattanooga. Click here to see the schedule. Go BIG RED!



Dee Ann Williamson is an aspiring author and a marketing consultant by day. Besides being a super football fan and glued to the TV both Saturday and Sundays, she loves boating and reading. Stop by http://facebook.com/deeann.nebraska to learn more about her. She is a marketing professional who has promoted authors through the creation of business cards, postcards and fliers, etc.. She has also arranged book signings and taught classes on how to market and promote your book.

Welcome Anne Patrick & the Colts to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

STEPH: Anne, welcome to the blog. Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?



ANNE: The Indianapolis Colts has been my favorite NFL team since Peyton Manning started playing for them.



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



ANNE: Peyton Manning of course. I followed Manning's career when he was with Tennessee and knew he was going to be one of the greats. I even have an autographed rookie card that my little brother has been trying to get from me for years.



STEPH: Who's your favorite all time football player?





ANNE: That would be a tie between John Elway and Marcus Allen



STEPH: Who's the Colt's "evil" nemesis?



ANNE: I'm drawing a blank here. If we were talking college ball it would be Nebraska. I'm an OU (I'm a former Okie) and Kansas State fan.



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



ANNE: I've been to a few at Arrowhead Stadium, and the atmosphere is electric. My fondest memory is a game between the KC Chiefs and SF Forty-niners. I got to watch from the end zone as the legendary Jerry Rice made two touchdowns!



STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



ANNE: I have two. A John Elway and a Marcus Allen.



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



ANNE: Nachos.



Anne's Bio:

Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. Her heroines are usually strong willed, witty, and often very opinionated…combinations that usually land them in situations where death seems imminent. When she's not working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.



Here is the blurb from my latest release Journey to Redemption.



Detective Morgan Reynolds thought her nightmare was over when serial killer Gerald 'The Slasher' Tate was sent to prison for her husband's murder. But she was wrong. The Slasher has escaped and he's making it even more personal this time. Tate has kidnapped her son and is giving her 72 hours to find the answers he wants or Jared dies.

Buy links:



http://www.amazon.com/Journey-to-Rede...

http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/...



Reviews:



4.5 Books from LASR - Journey to Redemption is police drama that builds suspense while carrying a blossoming romance, all at a fast clip. The police work is believable and interesting. Morgan's terror at her son's disappearance and her efforts to rescue him are riveting. I found her steps to keep her relatives ignorant of the drama almost touching. She is definitely a lone desperado.... Journey to Redemption builds great suspense and has a creative twist to tie the loose-ends together. Ms. Patrick has developed a wonderful back story for this novel and it carries the plot along nicely. Her characters have the potential to carry another novel; her confident writing in this genre will make you want to pick up another one of her books. I plan to.



Book Wrenches rated it 4 ½ out of 5 – I was riveted by this physiological thriller from the moment I opened the book. I am hard-pressed to come up with a specific genre to put it in since it combines so many: from the mystery of a whodunit to the growing feelings between Morgan and Chase; there are so many other elements in between. The entire book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen. The story was fresh and memorable. Ms. Patrick is truly a talented storyteller. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good crime mystery.

Welcome Jeanne St. James & the Steelers to the Football Blog Tour Stop!

STEPH: Welcome to the football blog stop! Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?



JEANNE: I'm a huge Steelers fan! I became a fan back in 2001. Never watched football before that.



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



JEANNE: I'd say Hines Ward. I always love his smile. He's a very versatile player and no matter how hard he's hit it's rare he doesn't come up without a smile! I'm glad he won DWTS though I refuse to watch that show.



STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Steelers player?



JEANNE: Jerome "The Bus" Bettis. Awesome guy!





STEPH: Who's the Steeler's "evil" nemesis?



JEANNE: I'd have to say the Eagles. I know the Bengals and Browns are nemeses also being so close to Pittsburgh. But we HATE the Eagles. I won't go into the reasons. ☺



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



JEANNE: Yes, I've been to quite a few games as well as Playoffs and a Championship game. All at Heinz Field. It's usually COLD! I wear lots of layers. You can usually only see my eyes during the game since I'm so bundled up. Though the last game I was at it was warm and I was sweating. The fans are great and you really get caught up in the excitement of the crowd.



STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



JEANNE: I own 3 jerseys and want to get a couple more (a Bradshaw and a Lambert jersey). My French bulldogs also have jerseys!



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



JEANNE: I never eat at the games. I always eat before or after. I usually hit Primanti Bros. for one of their famous sandwiches!





What could be better than waking up next to a hot guy? Waking up sandwiched between two of them.



Quinn Preston, a financial analyst, is not happy when her friends dare her to pick up a handsome stranger at a wedding reception. What better reason to give up men when her previous long-term relationship had not only been lackluster in the bedroom but he had cheated.



Logan Reed, a successful business owner, can't believe that he's attracted to the woman in the ugly, Pepto-Bismol colored bridesmaid dress. And to boot, she's more than tipsy. After turning down her invitation for a one-night stand, he finds her in the parking lot too impaired to drive. He rescues her and takes her home. His home.



The next morning Quinn's conservative life turns on its ear when Logan introduces her to pleasures she never even considered before. And to make things more complicated, Logan already has a lover…



Tyson White, ex-pro football player, is completely in love with Logan. He has mixed emotions when Logan brings home Quinn. But the dares keep coming and things heat up with the three of them. Nevertheless Ty wonders: will adding Quinn to the mix end up enhancing or destroying Logan's and his relationship?



Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme & content, male/male sexual practices, ménage (m/m/f).



BUY LINK: http://www.loose-id.com/Double-Dare.aspx



WEBSITE:

http://www.jeannestjames.com/



Excerpt:

Quinn Preston almost choked on her Alabama slammer when her friend elbowed her in the ribs. "Ooof."



She saved her drink before it could spill all over her ugly bridesmaid dress. Yeah, that would have been a shame: to ruin such a nice, frumpy, pukey pink taffeta dress. One the bride had said she would be able to wear in the future. Like to a cocktail party. Or maybe her own funeral. Yeah, right. No one in their right mind would want to get caught dead in this thing.



Ruining the dress wouldn't have been a loss, but losing her drink would have. She was drinking slammers for a reason -- to get good and drunk.



Lana nudged her again. "You see that?" She nodded her head toward the back of the room.



"What?" Quinn really didn't care what Lana was excited about. She just wanted to get this day over with. She was tired of watching the happy couple. She was tired of pasting on a plastic smile for the photographer. And she was really tired of listening to the sappy congratulations. All things she might never have -- the wedding, the husband, the bridal bliss. And something her parents never failed to remind her. Especially now that she was in her early thirties. And single. Again.

Welcome Jillian Chantel & The Saints to the Football Blog Tour Stop

STEPH: Who's your favorite football team? How long have you been a fan?



JILLIAN: I'm a fan of the New Orleans Saints- The Who Dat Nation. I live only two and a half hours away from the city of New Orleans and it is a place I've loved to visit since I was a teenager. I am really more into college football and professional soccer and hockey than American football, but I do love me some Saints Come Marching In. I've been following them since I was in my teens.



STEPH: Who's your favorite player "playing" right now? Why?



JILLIAN: Drew Brees is the quarterback. I think it's awesome that he and his wife have set up a foundation called the Brees Dream Foundation. They have already raised over $7,000,000.00 to go back into the local community. I think that is spectacular and a great way for him to use his celebrity. I have great admiration for him,







STEPH: Who's your favorite all time Saints player?



JILLIAN: Archie Manning was the quarterback when I got interested in them, so I guess I'd have to pick him although there have been many more great players on the team. And they all look amazing in those pants they wear, right?



STEPH: Who's the Saint's "evil" nemesis?



JILLIAN: Probably Tampa Bay Bucs. That's kind of amusing to me since they are from my state but I actually live closer to New Orleans and Atlanta so I'd pick them over Tampa to root for. I like what I call "local" teams.



STEPH: Ever been to a football game? What's it like?



JILLIAN: I've not been to a pro game. Almost went once but got sick. Had tickets and everything. I've been to many college ones and if they are televised, it seems like more time is spent on commercial breaks than playing. I imagine it's the same with a pro team.



Steph's boys wearing their Saints Jerseys





STEPH: Do you own a jersey?



JILLIAN: Nope. Not for the Saints. I do have a couple of hockey sweaters (jersey, in hockey-speak). I'm not much of a t-shirt or casual shirt wearer.



STEPH: What's your favorite food to eat during the game?



JILLIA: A special recipe I make in the crock pot called super bowl dip which has hamburger, tabasco, Mexican Velveeta, cheddar, old English cheese, and Rotel tomatoes. Served with tostada chips, of course. It's hearty enough to be supper.



Jillian Chantal is the nom de plume of a lawyer moonlighting as a writer of romantic fiction. Most often she can be found either at her keyboard banging out words, working on a legal issue or just surfing the web and calling it research. Her other guilty pleasure is her one-sided love affair with the actor Alan Rickman. She owns all his movies and would probably give away her cat for a chance to meet him. She'd keep her children, though. It would be a sacrifice, but she would be brave.



Her latest release is Redemption for the Devil available at Desert Breeze Publishing.







Blurb:December, 1920: Mary Margaret Kincade, known as Peg, a devout Catholic, is the only child of an Irish adventurer presumed dead in an Arctic expedition gone awry. When her odious cousin comes to take over the family business and presumes to force Peg into marriage, she decides to make a new life in America by working her way across the ocean on a cruise liner.



Liam Cormac, a Protestant member of the Irish Republican Army, fighting for freedom from English rule, signs on to the same ship with the intention of blowing it up in the middle of the ocean.



Liam and Peg encounter each other in the first class passenger lounge and the attraction is mutual. When Peg is taken hostage by Liam's partner, Liam has to make a decision about where his loyalties lie- with his country and his mission or with an Irish Catholic lass.





You can find Jillian on the web here: www.jillianchantal.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JillianChantal

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jillian.ch...

SirenBookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/jillian-cha...

DesertBreeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....



Booktrailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izodnX...

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...