Karilyn Bentley's Blog, page 25

#PlottingPrincesses guest #author Donnell Ann Bell & a new suspense #MFRWorg #RLFblog #RWAKOD

Welcome to a dear friend to the Princesses, suspense author Donnell Bell! Let's get to know Donnell:

Donnell Ann Bell grew up in New Mexico and today calls Colorado home.  A homebody at heart, she leaves the international thrillers to world travelers, and concentrates on suspense that might happen in her neck of the woods – writing SUSPENSE TOO CLOSE TO HOME.  The author of The Past Came Hunting, Deadly Recall and Betrayed, all of which have been e-book best sellers, her fourth release, Buried Agendas is due out November 7th and is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle. Her books have won or been nominated for prestigious writing awards, including The Epic Award for Best Thriller Suspense, Greater Detroit’s Booksellers Best for Best First Book and Best Single Title, and the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery Suspense. Donnell co-owns Crimescenewriters a Yahoo group for mystery/suspense writers. www.donnellannbell.com    

The Plot Thickened then Fizzled 
Good morning, Plotting Princesses, and thank you to my neighbor and friend Vicki Batman for an invitation to visit. (Our neighbor story is one we should blog about, don’t you think, Vicki?  Absolutely, Donnell!) But back to the topic at hand, I’m envious of all of you who get together to talk about a writer’s number one love:  Plotting!  One writer’s imagination is gold, a whole gang of plotters is like hitting the mother lode.

While I’m here to tell you about my upcoming release, BURIED AGENDAS, I’m also here to tell you about an interesting scenario that had/and still has my brain spinning.  Last week during a Broncos game a man disappeared during half-time. Happy go lucky, he posed with his family, and then left his seat and never came back.  It was a real mystery; even with his friends and family going on National television saying please help us find this man.  One neighbor insisted the police let everyone into Invesco Field (home of the Broncos) to search as one woman had become trapped inside for four hours before anyone found her.) The neighbor was sure that had happened to his friend.

My writer’s brain of course was all a twitter at this one.  Where was he?  Did he have a secret life no one knew about?  Was he a gambler and had a bookie’s thugs come after him?  Did he witness something inside Invesco field that he shouldn’t have?  What happened?

Yesterday, we got our answer.  He was simply tired of football so he took off.  Hitchhiked 130 miles to Pueblo Colorado and there he stayed—for a week.  
Well, that kind of let the air out of my poor little plotting head.  Of course I’m glad he’s safe.  But it’s ideas like this that make a person a writer, don’t you agree? If we don’t know the answer, we make something up!

Something else that makes you a writer is an idea grabbing your muse by the throat and saying “What about this?”  I’m married to a chemical engineer, and the stories he’s brought home during 32 years of marriage have kept me not only entertained, but sticking ideas in my “possibility” file.

For years I watched the series Dallas. Never got into the “comeback” show, but I loved the original.  Perhaps that’s where I got a germ of an idea for BURIED ADGENDAS, my November release from Bell Bridge Books. Only my wealthy family who lives on a ranch doesn’t own an oil company; they own a chemical company, and nefarious things are afoot.

I also love reunion stories.  I love to take an impossible situation, up the stakes and see if I can’t get two people meant to be back together. That’s the crux of the story surrounding Buried Agendas.  




Here’s the blurb:  
A devastating secret drove her from her lover’s arms.  Will a secret equally as deadly lead her back to him?

Diana Reid is an investigative reporter skilled at uncovering other people’s secrets.  It’s her own that she works to keep buried. Eight years earlier, she promised to leave her fiancé and hometown of Diamond, Texas forever. That pledge vanishes when she receives a letter stating people are going to die, implicating her hometown’s largest employer, and making a veiled threat against her mother. With no other choice, Diana will return to Diamond, albeit in disguise, to discover the anonymous author.

Brad Jordan moved on with his life after Diana walked out on him. Needless to say, she’s an unwelcome topic where he’s concerned.  Leaving his brother in charge of Jordan Industries, the family business, Brad pursued a law degree and is now mayor of Diamond. Just as he rebuilt his life, he plans to rebuild his struggling hometown.  Those plans are threatened when an El Paso physician notifies Brad that she believes Jordan Industries is conducting illegal practices and sacrificing the public’s health. 

When the doctor suggests bringing in Diana to uncover the wrongdoing, Brad naturally opposes the idea. Diana is the last person Brad wants to see personally or professionally.  Still, when she appears in Diamond, he’s forced to accept that a woman he vowed to forget may be his only option to get to the truth.  
 
Together Diana Reid and Brad Jordan face a dangerous adversary—one whose only intent is keeping a deadly agenda buried.

Find Buried Agendas at: Amazon ebook

Plotting Princesses, thank you for inviting me to guest blog today.  It’s been a pleasure.  Keep up the good plotting.  I’ll keep stopping by for fabulous ideas!

And thank you, Donnell, for being with us! Many hugs.

.@ChrisKeniston : Military Heroes #MFRWauthor #WoundedWarriors

Holy Heroes, Batman !
Sometimes when I see reruns of the sixties TV series Batman I wonder what happened to Alliterating Robin when he grew up? Did he become an alpha hero like Batman or evolve into a loveable beta hero?  
We all love a good book with a good hero. I'm especially fond of the strong beta hero. The guy with a sensitive heart and the patience of saint, but not so mild that people walk all over him. My mind immediately turns to Commander Harmon Rabb of the TV show JAG.  He had it all – except that it took him 9 years to get the girl! But he did – and in full mess dress too. Heaven's he looked handsome.
Some folks prefer the strong, take charge, high risk alpha hero.  And I'll admit, I wouldn't throw one back!  I love those Navy SEAL books.  The guy who takes on the bad guys and leaves them in his wake like debris after a tornado. What's the cliché? Could eat 'em with a spoon- lol.
Today, I'd like to take a minute of your time to mention real heroes. Everyday heroes, like firemen, and policemen, and the person who risks his or her own safety for a stranger in trouble. But more specifically, our military heroes. The ones who put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedom. And who too often come home to face challenges and hardships no person who fought for our country should.

For that reason I am honored to have the first in my Aloha series: Aloha Texas as part of a 7 novel boxset—Fast Men, Slow Kisses. Available now at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and Kobo for only 99 cents, all the proceeds from this boxset will go to support military veterans.  As an individual it sometimes seems impossible to make a real difference, but banding together with six other authors—including two princesses Pamela Stone and Linda Steinberg—and with the help of all our friends and readers, we hope to see Fast Men Slow Kisses say thank you to our veterans in a big way!  Please run, don't walk to your favorite vendor and pick up your copy today!
More on princess Chris Keniston and the boxset Fast Men, Slow Kisses can be found at:
chriskeniston.com,
on Facebook at Chris Keniston author,
or follow Chris on twitter @ckenistonauthor

#PlottingPrincesses welcome Merry Farmer with a new book, Trail of Kisses. #giveaway #MFRWauthor #rafflecopter

What a treat to have Merry Farmer come to the Plotting Princesses to help launch her new book: Trail of Kisses!
Let's get to know Merry: 

Merry Farmer is an award-winning author of historical romance. She lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats and enough story ideas to keep her writing until she's 132.





Blurb from Trail of Kisses: Someone is trying to kill Lynne Tremaine. After her father sentences two members of The Briscoe Boys gang to death, Judge Tremaine feels he has no choice but to send Lynne to Denver City along the Oregon Trail to live with her Uncle George…against her will. For Lynne, the only thing worse than being sent away to the wild west is making the journey with the handsome, arrogant, wicked man her uncle has hired to escort her. Especially when the anger she feels toward him begins to turn to something hotter. 

Cade Lawson is determined to prove himself to his employer, George Tremaine, after letting him down months earlier. But what he thought would be his second chance may, in fact, be a harsh punishment for his past mistakes. Lynne is headstrong, fiery, and determined to show him she is fearless. She is also beautiful and tempting, and when Cade sees just how afraid she really is underneath her brave act, he may be in danger of losing his heart to her forever. When her would-be killer attacks, it’s all he can do to keep Lynne safe.

He swore to protect her, but who will protect him from her? 
Buy link for: Amazon

Find Merry at: Website

And for the giveaway, click here: Rafflecopter

#PlottingPrincesses : a treasured friend, author Kella Carlton & why is the last book she read entitled Foreplay? #MFRWorg #RLFblog

The Plotting Princesses are uber excited to have visiting today Kella Carlton. Kella is sharing some great stuff about her FIRST book, Rocky Mountain Stranger. 
Congratulations, Kella and welcome to the PP!


Let's get a little inside info on Kella: Kella is excited to launch her first book Rocky Mountain Stranger and is currently writing book two in her Mountain Blue Clique Series. Kella enjoys gardening, scrapbooking, and photography. Visit her website to view her most recent pictures. 



Speed Round:

Favorite movie: Titanic 
Favorite Book:  Outsiders 
Last book read:  Foreplay 
Favorite color:  red 
Stilettos or flip-flops: stilettos 
Coffee or tea: coffee 
E-book or paperback: paperback 
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Grenade
Streak or not: Streak J
Favorite dessert: pastries
Champagne or gin: gin
Paranormal or Historical: historical
Ginger or Mary Ann: Mary Ann
Favorite TV show: Seinfeld
Hot or cold: cold
POV: 3rd
I'd die if I don't have: camera



Blurb from Rocky Mountain Stranger:
A pretty girl from a small, mountain town falls in love with a sexy but arrogant, big city cop.




 Excerpt from Rocky Mountain Stranger: 
         Strange.
         The log cabin sat unusually dark and quiet. A deafening silence whispered through the ponderosa pines, dripped onto the rhododendrons, and seeped over the stone pathway. Jady Royal rubbed the goose bumps prickling along her arms and ascended the cedar steps, where an unsettling chill had her looking over her shoulder and twisting her fingers into knots. She quickly turned the doorknob, eager to bolt inside and seek shelter from the creepiness.

Locked.

“Totally not-happening.” She retrieved the key from the hideaway built into the back of the birdhouse and opened the heavy wooden door.

Empty.

Staleness greeted her. Even the dog was gone. “Shadow!” The Labrador retriever ignored her call. She had anticipated his loyalty, tongue dripping, tail wagging. Where was everyone? A sense of abandonment crept up her spine. She thumped her arms to her sides and stared at the memo board.

Blank.

Poppy always left a message. She rifled through the mail on the hall tree, looking for a note. Finding none, she checked the floor and then sifted through the mail again. Drat. No note.

Odd.

With a lengthy exhale, she turned toward the living room. Poppy lifelessly stretched across the couch, quiet and still—deep in sleep, but he never took naps. His arm hung awkwardly limp over the cushion. She ran toward him and knelt beside the sofa. With droopy eyes, he stared straight through her.



Find Kella at: Kella Carlton Website Email

Find Rocky Mountain Stranger at:   Amazon

Michelle Miles: A Fair Weekend

The State Fair of Texas ended this past weekend. Every year I say, “Let’s go!” and every year we end up not going. Except this year we actually made it!

I remembered why we don’t go every year – it’s darn expensive! But you know…having not been in nearly two decades, it was a blast. The husband and I spent a small fortune on coupons, most of which we blew on food. Hey, you can’t go to the fair and NOT eat the food, right?

We arrived early to beat most of the crowd. By early, we were at the gate by 9 am. I’d purchased the tickets ahead of time because Kroger had them with a discount. That saved us a couple of bucks. Immediately inside the gate was the Chevy drive event. Now, I’m a Chevy girl all the way. Hubby is a Ford guy. We still managed to get along. ;) I paused to look at the new Tahoe. Candy apple red with this sleek knew interior, sunroof, drop down screen for the back passengers, third row seat, hidden storage in the back. I was in love.

The girl talked me into doing a test drive. My son was really excited because he could go too. I gotta say, the new Tahoe…very nice, Chevrolet. VERY nice.

I also test drove a Camaro and a Corvette. The Camaro was sleek and quiet but cramped in the back. But the convertible is nice. It had that heads-up display which I thought was really awesome. Never take your eyes off the road to see your speed.

But the Corvette… now that’s the stuff of dreams. I’d have to sell my house or my first born to buy that car but it was super HAWT. The seats were Italian leather and smelled divine. Heads-up display, push start, super cool console. The full-color display screen had a secret compartment behind it. It was so James Bond! I wanted it just for that. There was no door handle inside either – just a button to push to open the door. It was divine. I got a free t-shirt and key chain out the deal and the right to say I drove a Corvette for the rest of my life.

We made it to the auto show after that and saw all the new cars. That’s probably my favorite thing out there. The entire building has new car smell. Man salivated over the Charger and the Ford F250. The kid was just happy to do the racing simulator.

And the food? Where do I begin? Corny dogs, giant soft pretzel, foot long hot dog, ice cream, fried Cuban roll, fried pickles and countless samples in the food building. We were stuffed and sick all at the same time. And it was glorious. Even hours after being home, I’d swear I still smelled corny dogs and turkey legs.

By the time we left at 3 pm, it was PACKED. There were so many people it was hard to walk anywhere. However, it was well worth it. We had a blast.

What’s your favorite Fair food or activity?

.@VickiBatman - "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived" #MFRWorg #MFRWauthors #KOD #TWRP

Time to Party!
My Journey began a few years back when I took the challenge to write something. I am a huge reader. However, deep in my being was a tiny bubble, a kernel and I didn't dare admit anything to anyone about my secret desire: I wanted to write a book. 

But I was scared. Because writing a book meant showing it to someone to read it--right? Because books are meant to be read. Which meant what if readers don't like it? 

The idea of not being liked stifled me; so I shelved and shuttered the idea until...I was challenged. 

One of my favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom, a  Cinderella story set in the ballroom scenario. A not-so attractive girl who everyone takes advantage of desperately desires to blossom by becoming a ballroom dancer. A young man has the chance to be ballroom champion if he picks the right partner. These two come together and fulfill their dreams. 

Right before the big show, the young man admits his fear about dancing in a new way. The girl quotes an old family saying, "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived." Wow!

Knowing this, I decided to push myself where I'd "never gone before." I decided to have my manuscript published. 

It took a long time. And in between, I grew and bettered my writing and developed great writing friendships. Finally, The Wild Rose Press took a chance. 

I'm happy to announce the launch of:


Squee! 

A fun bit from TE: New Job. New Love. And Murder.
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. 
Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

How did I do?  If you like TE, find it at: Amazon ebookAmazon paperback bookTWRP ebookTWRP paperback book

And if you like parties, I'm hostessing a great one tomorrow with giveaways (think Kate Spade handbag!), excerpts, virtual cake, champagne, and great authors at:VB's sassy writer FB & party 
Please invite your friends and join our fun with: 
with guests:10 cst – Vicki Batman, Sylvia McDaniel11 – Paloma Beck, Lynda Coker12 – Angi Morgan1 – Alisha Paige Wilson, Donnell Bell2 – Elizabeth Essex, Karilyn BentleyKimberley Troutte3 – Liz Lipperman, Kristina Knight4 – D’Ann Linscott Dunham, Tina Gayle5 – Magdalena Scott, Betty Bolte6 – Melissa Keir, Kayelle Allen7 – Alexa Bourne, Barbara Barrett& Allie Harrison8 – And the winners are?

Move Over Marley, You've Got Nothin' On Me #crazydog #plottingprincesses by Karilyn Bentley

I'm sure you've all heard of Marley, the lab that ate his way through his owner's home. I often wondered what the owner did to cause their dog to go so crazy. So, for my audacity, the universe blessed me with a couple of crazy pooches. At the end of this tale, you can tell me what we did wrong.<g>

Hop in your time machine and journey back with me several years ago when we had first moved into our brand new house and Clara, aka Jaws, still walked among us. Warning: never buy a new house if you own a crazy dog (or a puppy for that matter). Just saying.

Okay, back to the story. Let me set the scene. Clara (the usual eater of the home) had to have surgery (no, it had nothing to do with eating the house, she'd calmed down by this point and only snacked on mail or any other paper item lying around, which BTW worked better than any other shredder). Hell Hound had torn a gash on his leg and was forced to wear the cone of shame so he wouldn't lick the boo-boo. Outdoor maintenance men were coming over, and since HH had a nasty habit of jumping on the doors and windows while barking, snarling and drooling, hence scaring the crap out of the guys, we had to lock him in the bedroom (why not the crate, you ask? B/c he ate through a solid steel crate to get to the windows and the UPS guy. Crate had a broken door and was therefore a no-go.).

When we got home we were met at the door by Hell Hound. A very excited, Hell Hound. The Hubster and I looked at each other and were like, did we not shut the bedroom door? Then we looked at the bedroom door. It looked shut. We looked closer. See the crack?




Yep, Hell Hound, while wearing the cone of shame which extended past his muzzle, used his claws to dig up the carpet to the foundation and when the concrete stopped him, he attacked the door, tearing off the lower back half, then bursting through it to escape. On the plus side, I now know how inside doors are constructed. <g>



Can you say determination? And in case you're wondering, Hell Hound was fine. A little freaked out, but no harm done. At least not to him. Our new carpet and door? Not so harm free.

Do you have any crazy dog (or any pet) stories? If so, share away. Until next time...

Karilyn Bentley
After the Moon Rises
Dragon Lover
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Do You Love Bad Boys?

As a writer and a reader one of my favorite types of plot is changing a bad boy into a guy that falls in love. I like to take a strong heroine who sort of knocks the bad boy on his knees. When I say bad boy, I don’t mean someone who is abusive or criminal, but rather a guy who you know deep down is really a good guy, but he’s just got some tendencies that need to be tamed.
In my new novel, The Relationship Coach , just released last Friday...I hope I’ve done that. I love Reed Hunter, but as far as my hero's go, he’s out there. He uses women for his own purposes and never intends to get married. So when he and his boss get dumped after their girlfriends attend my Relationship Coach’s Twelve Steps of Dating Seminar, Reed is out for blood. Her blood. As a documentary filmmaker he has the tools to either promote or destroy her business.  Come along for the fun ride where my bad boy gets knocked to his knees and Lacey Morgan learns the value of passion in The Relationship Coach.  
Here’s an excerpt:
A beautiful, professionally attired, longhaired blonde, wearing a short skirt that exposed boundless legs, owned the stage. Despite the fact she was going down, two things impressed him. Her Miss America smile and her mystifying ability to screw with people’s relationships-first his boss’s and now his. She strode to the edge of the stage. “Today, we’ve learned to recognize your expectations in a mate. You’ve learned you need to find someone who matches your lifestyle. Someone who challenges and makes you think about life differently. Someone who likes to do the same things you do, but encourages you to try new experiences.”Reed coughed to stifle the sound of laughter rumbling deep within his chest. People bought into this psychobabble crap?Lacey Morgan, dating guru, had convinced his girlfriend, Blair, to end their convenient sexual relationship. Since he wasn’t promising her a ring, a honeymoon or his last name, she’d decided to move on. And she had. Packed up, moved out, and left with a so-long-sucker text message.  “I know many of you were dragged here by a friend, coworker, or the significant other in your life. However you got here, I hope you learned something today that will help make your relationships stronger.”             Waving to the crowd, she strode from the stage. The audience stood and cheered, paying homage as if she were a rock star, not a therapist.            Blair’s leaving had brought Ms. Morgan to his attention. And he enjoyed nothing more than exposing shysters like Ms. Morgan who earned their often opulent lifestyles by feeding off people’s emotions. After he exposed Ms. Morgan’s devious ways, Blair would probably return and thank him.Shaking his head at the number of gullible people who believed her spiel, Reed stepped into the hallway, leaned against the wall, and stared as the audience streamed out of the door. Most of the women stopped to purchase a book or CD or DVD. He watched her assistants take their money with a mobile card reader. If the cunning cheater had a cash register, the cha-chings would have echoed through the hall.Yes, she was stealing from the lonely and vulnerable.
 Tell me have you ever experienced a bad boy? Did you marry one? Available exclusively at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Coach-Sylvia-McDaniel-ebook/dp/B00NLJHYG0. 

#PlottingPrincesses author @LindaSteinberg : wants to know What do the hero & heroine have in common? #MFRWorg #RLFblog

“But what do they have in common?”

 Emotion in Romance

How often have you read a romance novel where the sexual tension is palpable? Tingling, breathing heavily, you squirm in your seat, eager for the big payoff, wondering Will they/Won’t they/When will they? Of course, the would-be lovers can’t get together, because of a family feud, or a big misunderstanding, or he’s a firefighter and she’s an arsonist, fill-in-conflict-here.

But then that conflict gets resolved, and they are finally in each other’s arms (not necessarily in that order). And the couple suddenly realizes that not only do they share an intense sexual attraction, but that they like and respect and yes, love each other. 

And I as a reader scratch my head and wonder, when did this happen?

These are the kinds of books I close and think, I give them six months. And even an epilogue a year later, showing them smiling and happy and bouncing a baby on their knees, doesn’t change my belief. 

The kind of romance novels I love are the ones where emotional intimacy is developed right along with the physical. Where compatibility is not an afterthought. Where the reader yearns to see that couple together, not just for a night in bed, but for the rest of their lives. 

As writers, we sometimes get so caught up in building sexual tension that we don’t pay enough attention to the characters’ emotional growth. What do these people have in common? Are they both sports fans? Do they love animals? Does he ‘get’ her as no one else has before? Maybe they each have a secret from their past they’ve never dared to share with anyone else.

These are the characters I believe will have their Happily Ever After.  And I don’t need an epilogue to convince me.

Take a look at your keeper shelf. How many of your favorites have attained that position because the author not only titillated your senses, but took you on a stirring emotional journey? My guess is, all of them.


What are some of your favorite romances, and what makes them special to you?

















Linda Steinberg writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. Her books are available online and at her website, www.lindasteinberg.com.  Her contemporary romance, Only with the Heart, is featured in a boxed set with six other authors, Fast Men Slow Kisses, available at Amazon and other vendors on Oct 27 for the amazing price of 99 cents. All proceeds go to charity, The Wounded Warriors Project.  

Release day for CHRISTMAS BRIDES

It’s release day for CHRISTMAS BRIDES!
Huzzah, huzzah! I am so very excited!
And, I'm so very, very sorry!
Yes, that’s right—my delight comes with reservations, because  this means that the Christmas book season is now officially open. Which is why I am sorry. Because I’m not ready for it to be the Christmas Season, either. I’m not even ready for it to be Halloween, much less Thanksgiving or the Yule! 
So to assuage my guilt over having to force the holidays upon you, and to get into the proper spirit of the season, I am giving away five (5) copies of CHRISTMAS BRIDES, the marvelous anthology of four Christmas stories from historical romance authors Suzanne Enoch, Alexandra Hawkins, Valerie Bowman and me! 
My contribution to this collection is THE SCANDAL BEFORE CHRISTMAS, which came out as a digital-only release last December. So those of you who have waited patiently for the print version, now is your chance to read this charming story set in the Regency era countryside: 
Lieutenant Ian Worth needs a wife by Christmas. He has to find her, woo her, and wed her before he goes back to sea. Anne Lesley is a shy spinster with no prospects, so she accepts Ian’s hasty offer only for the security it will bring. But when a midwinter storm rolls in, things start to heat up between them…and they might just find the last present they expected: true, honest-to-goodness love…
So now that we are thinking of Christmas presents, what is the best Christmas Present you ever got? (For me it would be the horseback riding lessons I got the year I was in 5th grade. Oh the joy!) Or what would be the one present that you want, but really don’t expect to get this year (Like a kiss from Daniel Craig.) :)
Winners will be chosen by random from all comments made on Wednesday at 6pm CST. Be sure to check back to see if you’ve won.
To purchase CHRISTMAS BRIDES now: Amazon: Barnes & Noble: Books A Million