Karilyn Bentley's Blog, page 6
June 26, 2017
Release day for BETWEEN THE DEVIL & THE DEEP BLUE SEA
It’s release day for BETWEEN THE DEVIL & THE DEEP BLUE SEA, the prequel novella to my new Kent Brothers Chronicles and we’re going to celebrate with a GIVEAWAY!
This enchanting novella was first released last fall as part of The Haunting of Castle Keyvnor anthology, VEXED. That anthology was one of four such books, each featuring four interrelated stories set in Cornwall, but Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea also stands alone to bring you a tale of smuggling, adventure, and, of course, true love.
In Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea our hero, Lord Harry Beck falls…into enchantment.
Just one bite…. Nessa Teague has never believed in the magic that swirls around her village like a fine Cornish mist. She’s never had need of it. Until the day Lord Harry Beck returns to Bocka Morrow and Nessa realizes there is nothing, including the blackest of magic, she won’t do to have him for her own.
and he could be hers. Harry Beck has left the Royal Navy only to find himself shoaled upon the rocky coast of Cornwall, where smugglers haunt every cove and treachery fouls the waters. His best hope to find the traitor selling secrets to the French is to charm the vicar’s observant and intelligent daughter, Nessa Teague.
But in a place where loyalty runs deeper than the deep blue sea, they’ll need more than charm to uncover the secret plot that threatens their country, and shakes their faith in the power and magic of true love.
Here’s an excerpt to whet your reading whistle:
Cornish Coast October 1811
At the Feast of Saint Allan in the tiny village of Bocka Morrow, it was said a girl could bewitch a man into loving her with one bite of a polished Allantide apple. Nessa Teague, being the daughter of the Rector of Saint David’s Church, and a quiet, dutiful sort of girl who never gave her parents a moment of worry, had never tried to bewitch anyone. Never picked or polished an Allantide apple. Never taken any part in the charming but heathen tradition. She had simply never believed in the power of enchantment. But that was before her Harry had come back. After twelve long years, during which Nessa had pined and longed and never once forgotten even a single moment she had spent in his company, Captain Lord Harry Beck had come back to Bocka Morrow. And there was nothing, absolutely nothing, Nessa Teague might not do to have him. “Gracious!” whispered her mother, drawing Nessa close to prevent her from greeting the slow-walking, tall man in weather-beaten blue. “What does a king’s officer think he’s doing in Bocka Morrow, walking about the village as bold as you please? He’s like to have his throat cut.” “He’s not a Revenue man, Mama.” Nessa kept her voice low in the vain hope that her mother would do the same. “He’s Royal Navy, can’t you see? It’s Captain Beck. He’s come back.” “Lord Henry Beck?” Her mother shaded her eyes to take a second look at the man making his slow way up the narrow village street. “I’d never have recognized him. He looks…” Magnificent. Heroic. Hurt. “…far older than he ought. If, indeed, that is Lord Henry.” Mama dropped her hand along with her regard. “He’s nothing to his brothers, certainly. I saw the young Viscount Redgrave with the marquess, in his carriage on his way up to Caste Keyvnor. Fine figure of a young man.” Aye. Nessa could not take her eyes from him, afraid he might disappear for another twelve years. Afraid she might blink and find he were nothing more than a shadow on the surface of the sea—another ardent, imagined daydream. “He’s been injured, Mama.” “Viscount Redgrave?” “No. Captain Beck. In the Battle of Lissa, last spring.” Nessa had kept track of him as best she could from her backward, hidebound village on the frayed coast of Cornwall. “And again, in another action in which his 36-gun frigate, the Lively, took two French fifth rates of 40 guns.” “Gracious, Nessa!” Mama tutted. “I don’t like this talk of ships and guns.” Her mother’s tone said what her words did not—that ships and guns were not a suitable topic of conversation for respectable young ladies. As if they did not live in Cornwall where the sea, its bounty, its opportunities, and, most importantly, its ships, were not of certain concern to all. “Wherever have you been hearing such tales?” Nessa heard tales of Lord Harry everywhere—she only had to listen. The fisherfolk along the quay talked, the newspapers that came from Truro celebrated, and the publican at the Crown & Anchor gossiped. “He’s a hero.” “Well, I suppose he ought to be, for his family’s sake, if nothing else, since he’s the Marquess of Halesworth’s spare.” Her mama turned the corner sharply, hauling Nessa along with her. “But he’s nothing to us anymore.” Nothing to Nessa, she meant. And Nessa could be nothing to him. Because she was nothing but a local rector’s middle daughter, who had been the unlucky age of thirteen years old when Lord Harry had left her father’s tutelage and gone off to the Royal Navy. She was just a nobody, who wasn’t supposed to gossip, wasn’t supposed to read the newspaper, and wasn’t supposed to pine after a man so far out of her reach as the Marquess of Halesworth’s spare for twelve long, lonely, unrequited years. And she certainly wasn’t supposed to polish up an Allantide apple with the single-minded intention of enchanting Lord Harry Beck into discovering that she, Nessa Teague, was his one and only truest love.
Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo
Giving away a copy to a random commenter: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done to try and win your true love?
This enchanting novella was first released last fall as part of The Haunting of Castle Keyvnor anthology, VEXED. That anthology was one of four such books, each featuring four interrelated stories set in Cornwall, but Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea also stands alone to bring you a tale of smuggling, adventure, and, of course, true love.
In Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea our hero, Lord Harry Beck falls…into enchantment.
Just one bite…. Nessa Teague has never believed in the magic that swirls around her village like a fine Cornish mist. She’s never had need of it. Until the day Lord Harry Beck returns to Bocka Morrow and Nessa realizes there is nothing, including the blackest of magic, she won’t do to have him for her own.
and he could be hers. Harry Beck has left the Royal Navy only to find himself shoaled upon the rocky coast of Cornwall, where smugglers haunt every cove and treachery fouls the waters. His best hope to find the traitor selling secrets to the French is to charm the vicar’s observant and intelligent daughter, Nessa Teague.
But in a place where loyalty runs deeper than the deep blue sea, they’ll need more than charm to uncover the secret plot that threatens their country, and shakes their faith in the power and magic of true love.
Here’s an excerpt to whet your reading whistle:
Cornish Coast October 1811
At the Feast of Saint Allan in the tiny village of Bocka Morrow, it was said a girl could bewitch a man into loving her with one bite of a polished Allantide apple. Nessa Teague, being the daughter of the Rector of Saint David’s Church, and a quiet, dutiful sort of girl who never gave her parents a moment of worry, had never tried to bewitch anyone. Never picked or polished an Allantide apple. Never taken any part in the charming but heathen tradition. She had simply never believed in the power of enchantment. But that was before her Harry had come back. After twelve long years, during which Nessa had pined and longed and never once forgotten even a single moment she had spent in his company, Captain Lord Harry Beck had come back to Bocka Morrow. And there was nothing, absolutely nothing, Nessa Teague might not do to have him. “Gracious!” whispered her mother, drawing Nessa close to prevent her from greeting the slow-walking, tall man in weather-beaten blue. “What does a king’s officer think he’s doing in Bocka Morrow, walking about the village as bold as you please? He’s like to have his throat cut.” “He’s not a Revenue man, Mama.” Nessa kept her voice low in the vain hope that her mother would do the same. “He’s Royal Navy, can’t you see? It’s Captain Beck. He’s come back.” “Lord Henry Beck?” Her mother shaded her eyes to take a second look at the man making his slow way up the narrow village street. “I’d never have recognized him. He looks…” Magnificent. Heroic. Hurt. “…far older than he ought. If, indeed, that is Lord Henry.” Mama dropped her hand along with her regard. “He’s nothing to his brothers, certainly. I saw the young Viscount Redgrave with the marquess, in his carriage on his way up to Caste Keyvnor. Fine figure of a young man.” Aye. Nessa could not take her eyes from him, afraid he might disappear for another twelve years. Afraid she might blink and find he were nothing more than a shadow on the surface of the sea—another ardent, imagined daydream. “He’s been injured, Mama.” “Viscount Redgrave?” “No. Captain Beck. In the Battle of Lissa, last spring.” Nessa had kept track of him as best she could from her backward, hidebound village on the frayed coast of Cornwall. “And again, in another action in which his 36-gun frigate, the Lively, took two French fifth rates of 40 guns.” “Gracious, Nessa!” Mama tutted. “I don’t like this talk of ships and guns.” Her mother’s tone said what her words did not—that ships and guns were not a suitable topic of conversation for respectable young ladies. As if they did not live in Cornwall where the sea, its bounty, its opportunities, and, most importantly, its ships, were not of certain concern to all. “Wherever have you been hearing such tales?” Nessa heard tales of Lord Harry everywhere—she only had to listen. The fisherfolk along the quay talked, the newspapers that came from Truro celebrated, and the publican at the Crown & Anchor gossiped. “He’s a hero.” “Well, I suppose he ought to be, for his family’s sake, if nothing else, since he’s the Marquess of Halesworth’s spare.” Her mama turned the corner sharply, hauling Nessa along with her. “But he’s nothing to us anymore.” Nothing to Nessa, she meant. And Nessa could be nothing to him. Because she was nothing but a local rector’s middle daughter, who had been the unlucky age of thirteen years old when Lord Harry had left her father’s tutelage and gone off to the Royal Navy. She was just a nobody, who wasn’t supposed to gossip, wasn’t supposed to read the newspaper, and wasn’t supposed to pine after a man so far out of her reach as the Marquess of Halesworth’s spare for twelve long, lonely, unrequited years. And she certainly wasn’t supposed to polish up an Allantide apple with the single-minded intention of enchanting Lord Harry Beck into discovering that she, Nessa Teague, was his one and only truest love.
Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo
Giving away a copy to a random commenter: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done to try and win your true love?
June 20, 2017
Guest Princess Tena Stetler! #Plotting Princesses #ParanormalRomance #amwriting #amreading
Please give Tena Stetler a warm Plotting Princesses welcome! We are so pleased to have Tena as a guest Princess today. Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance and cozy mystery author with an over-active imagination. Any given day you can find her at the computer with paranormal creatures gathered around her telling their tales. Her books spin the adventures of magical kick-ass women and the mystical alpha males that dare to love them.
Speed Round:Favorite movie: Avatar
Favorite book: Witness
Last book read: Immortal Unchained
Favorite color: Red
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops
Coffee or tea: Tea
Ebook or paperback: Ebook
Pencil or pen: PencilFavorite song: RoarStreak or not: NotFavorite dessert: ChocolateChampagne or gin: ChampagneParanormal or Historical: ParanormalGinger or Mary Ann: Mary AnnFavorite TV show: ScorpionHot or cold: HotPOV: ThirdI'd die if I don't have: Pizza
Blurb:
Years ago a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven, turned deadly.Excerpt from A Warlock's Secrets: Inside the house, a shadow passed by the huge bay window. She held her breath. Am I really going to go through with this? Walking up the steps to the house, she paused. Why would he leave such an expensive car sitting out when he had a four-car garage? She was stalling. Straightening her shoulder's she used the brass doorknocker. There was no answer. She knocked again.The heavy oak door creaked open. Tristian stood shirtless, his abs rippled as he raised one muscular arm to lean on the doorframe. The skintight blue jeans hung low on his hips and his hair tousled as if he'd not been awake long. When he stared at her, with those huge blue-gray eyes, tingles careened up her spine. She covered her mouth in case drool pooled in the corners her mouth. He was one sexy male. She sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. A brow arched, he peered questioningly at her then twisted to glance backward into the house. The sunlight streaming through the doorway accentuated several scars across his chest, rib area and a healed slash across his back. Who gets those kinds of battle scars and lives to tell the tale? Not going to ask. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. The corner of his mouth curved up in an inviting sexy-as-hell grin. "Good morning, Hannah.What a surprise."Find Tena Stetler at: http:www.tenastetler.comFind A Warlock’s Secrets at: Amazon
June 14, 2017
To Donut or Not? The Dilemma #noteatinghealthy #funfood
Did you know I’m a donut fiend? I LOVE them. A Lot. I especially love cake and buttermilk cake ones the best. I even like the small powdered sugared ones. (Big confession: Handsome and I pick these up as we head back from vacation. He has coffee. I have milk. LOL) But I’ve learned over the years not to eat them too often because of additional poundage in areas I don’t need additional poundage.
As time has passed and my kiddoes have grown and moved into their own lives, there isn’t anything I really need. No jewelry. No fancy dinners. But what I really enjoyed and cherished most of all: a walk on a Sunday morning to our local donut shop. Some years, this is easier to do than others. Kiddoes have plans. Handsome and I might be traveling. Or we have icky weather. But when the beautiful collision of people and time happens, we chat and ramble our way to our favorite destination.
After our Mother’s Day trip this year and the kids had gone, I turned to Handsome and said, “This is what I want every year. For my birthday. For Valentine’s Day. For Mother’s Day. A walk on Sunday morning for donuts.”He said, “Me, too.” By the way, my heroine from "Raving Beauty," featured in Just You and Me boxed set, has a huge affinity for Dee's Delicious Donuts. hehehe
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May 17, 2017
Cake Fail - if at first you don't succeed, go buy #happybirthday #newbook #boxedset #MFRWorg
I have baked for most of my life and especially so throughout my kiddoes younger lives. I even took cake decorating classes and always made sweet confections for family and friends.
And then there was yesterday. A cake fail. I really wanted to bake a layer cake for #2’s birthday. So after I removed the finished layers from the oven and let them cool, I did what I always have done--run my spatula around the inside edge, set a plate on top of the pan and flipped it over. Half stuck. I was like OMG. I set a lot of the broken pieces on top, wondering if I could do something with the mess besides cake balls (not my fav). I eyeballed the second layer and repeat and flip and half stuck.
I was feeling jinxed.
I decided Whole Foods was getting a nice visit from VB because I wasn’t going to waste my time with another possible failure.
I dumped the second layer on top of the first. Put the clear glass cake dome on top and pushed the stand in the corner. I also ate the nice chunky pan remnants and they were totally yummy.
So what does cake fail have to do with my new short story, “Raving Beauty?”Let’s take a peek at heroine Kelly Stinson who was coerced into representing Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse in the Sommerville Chamber of Commerce’s pageant. As Kelly struts across the stage, let’s take a read:
Gently, my pal nudged me forward. Hearing the audience’s whoops and claps, I plastered a smile on my face and took a step. The heel of my four-inch stiletto caught in a sizeable indentation in the hardwood floor. With a fast prayer, I managed to correct myself before executing a major swan dive off-stage and strode with the confidence one could summon when thrust into a group of girls ten years younger and twenty pounds lighter.
"Kelly is the owner of Creative Boutique which specializes in goods crafted by Sommerville locals. She loves to read, run, and misses her favorite companion, her kitty, Romper." The announcer bent toward the microphone. "How about a big Texas howdy for Kelly?"
Using the skills I'd honed as an erstwhile fashion model in the golden days of college, I crossed the stage toward the podium, paused with hands on my hips. When the applause had died, I pivoted to move center stage. As my heel caught another divot, grace abandoned me. With a pop-pop-pop, my ankle bowed cockeye, and this time, my worst nightmare came true. I tumbled over the edge of the stage.
Landing flat on my flipside, I blinked vacantly at the acoustical tile ceiling. Somewhere in my stupor, I heard a chorus of gasps, a pounding of feet, and someone hurdling over the rows of chairs, launching to my side. A hand swept along my face and down my arm, pausing intermittently to compress. I fluttered my eyes once. Twice. When able to focus a third time, I stared into the grass-green irises of Ben Stewart.
LOL. I love this excerpt, especially because it brings back my good ol’ days of when I represented my friend’s moped shop in a recreational vehicle pageant. There is good news about that venture—no swan dive offstage.
Preorder Just You and Me boxed set featuring my romantic comedy short story, “Raving Beauty,” at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCZWL6N
True confession time: have you had a baking failure?
May 9, 2017
Guest Princess Tina Susedik!
Please give a warm welcome to our guest princess, Tina Susedik!
Speed Round (one word only answer):Favorite movie:
Favorite book: A Knight in Shining Armor
Last book read: Missing : The Lady Said No by Jacquie Biggar
Favorite color: Yellow
Stilettos or flipflops: flipflops
Coffee or tea: tea
Ebook or paperback: Both
Pencil or pen:BothFavorite song: Thank You by Led ZepplinStreak or not: NotFavorite dessert: ChocolateChampagne or gin: ChampagneParanormal or Historical: HistoricalGinger or Mary Ann: Mary AnnFavorite TV show: NoneHot or cold: HotPOV: ThirdI'd die if I don't have: Wear a bra
One Line Blurb: Can Sarah and Jack survive dogs and puppies, wind and rain storms, Indians and unfavorable fellow passengers while their love blossoms on the Oregon Trail?
1000 Word Excerpt from The Trail to Love:Cold seeped into his bones. Something warm blew across his face and ears. Jack swatted at his ears and peeled one gritty eye open."Papaya!" He pushed at the horse's nose. "Go away." Papaya continued prodding at him. "Damn horse." He rubbed his cold hands together. In the dim light, he wasn't sure if it was morning or evening. The previous day's events came back to him. He sat up and wiped a hand over his stubbly chin. Tears burned behind his eyes.Papaya tugged at his sleeve until the only thing he could do was stand. "Dammit, horse, leave me alone." He pushed the horse to the side. The sun rising behind the mountains from the east cast a shadow on a tree Jack swore hadn't been there the night before.Standing at least twenty feet high, the trunk was twisted and gnarled like the arthritic hands of his grandfather. Several roots rose from the ground making it look as if it would walk away. Some of its massive branches drooped close to the ground, like arms dragging across the grass.As the sky lightened, he realized that, unlike the rough bark of the pines at this altitude, the tree's light brown bark was smooth. Was it the lighting, or did some of the bark actually seem golden while in other places it was rough and dark brown? The surrounding trees paled in comparison.Jack stepped closer. Pale green, oval leaves reminded him of an elm tree, only much smaller. When the wind blew, the undersides shimmered with a silvery glow.Had he been so distraught yesterday he'd missed the massive structure? The tree seemed to beckon, calling him to its embrace. He dipped beneath its branches.His hand shook as he reached out to touch the trunk. The instant he came in contact, his icy fingers warmed. Then his arm. He tried to pull away, but he couldn't move.Warmth spread through his body then settled in his aching heart. Was he hallucinating or was the tree humming? Had the tree actually whispered, "Love will come."A calmness settled over him and the darkness of the past few days diminished. Between the hanging branches a person, surrounded by a foggy haze, appeared. Actually, two people. One tall, the other waist high, with a smaller version of Jack's hat on its head. Suspenders held up too-short pants over the little one's plaid shirt. A woman and a boy? They held hands, swinging them back and forth as if they hadn't a care in the world. The woman's bonnet hung down her back, loose hair flowing to her waist.Was the tree showing him what Lily and his child would have been like if they'd lived? His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and he swore his heart cracked. As quickly as the despair washed over him, the tree hummed again and his heart warmed and peace settled through him.Then the woman looked over her shoulder. This wasn't Lily. The sun struck the vision. Instead of his wife's dark hair, this woman's shimmered like gold. Even from this distance, her sparkling blue eyes pierced through him.Her smile beckoned him, and when she crooked her finger, all he could do was follow. The closer he came, the farther away they moved, until their bodies faded and nothing stood before him except the large boulder he'd slept against.The tree. What if he touched the tree again? He pivoted on his foot, ready to run back and feel the twisted branches. What the hell? Maybe he'd lost his bearings while chasing the woman and boy. He spun in each direction. Nothing. The tree was gone. Poof. Was he losing his mind and dreaming the whole incident?Something light brown on the ground caught his eye. Jack picked it up, his fingers warming at its touch. Bark from the disappearing tree? Had it all been real after all? If so, then where had the woman and boy gone?Jack retraced the steps he'd taken to follow them. Only his own impressions in the dirt showed. He was going crazy. That was it. Crazy from grief. Maybe what he needed was to get away from the land and the memories it held.Papaya pushed against Jack's back, nearly knocking him to the ground."What do you think, old boy?" He ran his hand over the horse's soft nose and recalled Samuel Hunt's offer of a job from before he’d married Lily. "Should I see if Sam still needs someone to help take those crazy emigrants to Oregon?" As if he understood what Jack was saying, Papaya nodded his large head."Well, since I'm already crazy, I might as well listen to you."After a quick breakfast of cold biscuits and hard tack, he swung onto Papaya's back and headed back down the mountain. Back to his empty home and future.
Find Tina Susedik at: https://www.facebook.com/TinaSusedikAuthor/
Find The Trail to Love at: http://a.co/7NM7lgB
May 2, 2017
Michelle Miles: What's your inspiration?
I don't really have a lot to blog about lately. I'm kind of in a funk. My day job is a stressful mess at the moment and when I have that sort of disruption, it really messes with my writing chi.
So I look for inspiration elsewhere. I'm fond of gardens. I have a Pinterest board devoted to them. I constantly find fun and new pictures to pin. I found this one this morning:
It fuels my imagination. And then of course, there's the art by Anne Stokes. She's amazing!
I just love her dragons.
My awesome husband is in the process of building a deck for the gazebo I had to have. I have big ideas for it. It includes a curved flagstone pathway leading up to with purple ground cover planted between the stones. I bought lights for around the top. In my wild imagination it looks like this:
I'm not sure if it will turn out like this, but I hope it does. :) Pinterest and I are good friends. Can you tell?
So what fuels your inspiration? What makes you happy and sooths the soul?
So I look for inspiration elsewhere. I'm fond of gardens. I have a Pinterest board devoted to them. I constantly find fun and new pictures to pin. I found this one this morning:
It fuels my imagination. And then of course, there's the art by Anne Stokes. She's amazing!
I just love her dragons.
My awesome husband is in the process of building a deck for the gazebo I had to have. I have big ideas for it. It includes a curved flagstone pathway leading up to with purple ground cover planted between the stones. I bought lights for around the top. In my wild imagination it looks like this:
I'm not sure if it will turn out like this, but I hope it does. :) Pinterest and I are good friends. Can you tell?
So what fuels your inspiration? What makes you happy and sooths the soul?
April 27, 2017
A Texas girl dishes on life in the Rockies - High Altitude Gardening by Karilyn Bentley
What I want my garden to look likeYou know those perfect gardens and manicured lawns you see around big cities? They're pretty, aren't they? Unfortunately, those aren't available where I live. I guess if you wanted to hire a bunch of people to dig up rocks and plant flowers you might be able to make a go of a garden. Until the next herd of deer or elk come walking through it the next day, eating everything you planted.When we first moved here, I wanted to continue having a garden like the one I had in Texas. Nothing much, just some veggies and a few flowering plants. I love growing my own vegetables, although the insects would always manage to eat them, sometimes before The Hubster and I could. I was super-excited to try out my hand at gardening in the mountains where there aren't the same doggone leaf eating insects. So we went to the local gardening store and bought a flowering plant claiming to be able to live to -20 degree Fahrenheit and a plant of chrysanthemums. I was determined to have them live and bloom. My front flowerbeds were going to look awesome! Then a lady walked up, chuckling, asked if we were new to town. When I said we were, she responded with a thought so, those plants should be advertised as deer food, only the new arrivals try to plant plants. I laughed, but was determined to get them to grow, to spread, to smell and look pretty. To prove that lady wrong.
But yep, they became deer food, right down to the roots.
What my garden actually looks likeAlthough they did try valiantly to hold on to life and might even have come back, if it weren't for an Arctic front that dropped the temps below 0.Okay, lesson learned, no pretty flowers. Disappointed, I decided to try again and planted a whole box of daffodils and tulips. Six tulips attempted to come up. They don't look so hot, eh?
Sick looking tulipsBut at least the deer haven't eaten them.So far.
The Hubster and I plan to put in some local plants that bloom at high altitude and that are deer resistant. Like Russian sage and anything in the mint family. Apparently deer don't like plants in the mint family. Or rosemary. We shall see.
Meanwhile, I have a new book out! In case you missed it, Demon Cursed, the 3rd book in the Demon Huntress series, is available in an online store by you! Isn't the cover awesome? If you've already read it, may I ask that you leave a review on Amazon? Authors love reviews! :)Amazon | iTunes | B&N | TWRP
Stop back next time to see if I managed to get a plant to live and grow and maybe even bloom. Anyone on here know anything about gardening at high altitude?
Happy Reading!
Karilyn
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April 25, 2017
Guest Princess: Suzanne Pearson #InspirationalRomanticSuspense #NewRelease #PlottingPrincess
We are thrilled to have Suzanne Pearson as a guest Princess today on the blog!
Suzanne Pearson was born in the Congo to missionary parents. After graduating from high school, she and her family moved to Eugene Oregon, where she eventually met her husband. She didn't start writing until she was an empty-nester, and had the idea to write about a missionary in the Congo who gets into all sorts of trouble.
Suzanne, get ready for your Plotting Princess speed round interview! Ready? Set? GO!
Speed Round: Favorite movie: The Accountant
Favorite book: Honor’s Splendor
Last book read: Darkness by Karen Robards
Favorite color: deep, deep red
Stilettos or flipflops: A&M flipflops
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen: penFavorite song: Amazing GraceStreak or not: NotFavorite dessert: Anything with chocolateChampagne or gin: ChampagneParanormal or Historical: HistoricalGinger or Mary Ann: GingerFavorite TV show: NCISHot or cold: coldPOV: mineI'd die if I don't have: chocolate
One Line Blurb: Time is running out and someone is willing to kill to get what they want.
Excerpt from Love, Lies and Alibis: Rocky tugged on the leash but she didn’t budge. “Sure, we’ll be fine.” Why had Luke asked her that? It made her suddenly feel as though she and Rocky were on an island, separate and vulnerable. She crossed her arms and moved closer to the tree.What was she doing here anyway? Why had she agreed to this little excursion? This was all Luke’s fault. Who did he think he was to put this idea in her head? Adoption, babies? Dear God. Most days it took everything she had just to get out of bed. If she adopted Rocky, she’d be responsible for his welfare.The little bugger whined and tugged on his leash. “Sorry, baby.” How long had she been daydreaming? She rubbed the gooseflesh that was suddenly popping out on her skin. The wind was starting to whip around her legs. Dark clouds hurried across the sky changing the mood of the day to something dark and oppressive.Thunder boomed. Her eyes darted toward the mall. Where was Luke? Rocky yelped, straining at his leash.“Don’t be afraid.” The makeshift dog park was quickly emptying as people scurried to their cars. “Luke will understand why we returned to the tent.” She bent down to pick Rocky up as fat raindrops found their way through the branches of the tree. A twig broke away from the tree and bounced off Rocky’s shoulder. He shot one terror filled looked at Tiffany and raced away, ripping the leash out of her hands.“Rocky, no!” she cried. But he was beyond hearing. Stepping out from the shelter of the trees, rain pelted her, drenching her clothes. Her bangs were plastered to her forehead but at least her hair was too short to obstruct her view as she searched for the runaway puppy.Lightning flashed, and the scent of ozone hit her just as she saw a tiny dark body hurtling toward the cover of trees lined up like soldiers against the parking lot. Rocky slipped through a break in the trees and disappeared. She raced toward the spot slipping in the mud ringing the trees. Squatting down, she called his name. Her heart pounded as she frantically pushed branches aside until something nudged her hands. Rocky? Please God, let it be Rocky.Woof!“Good boy, good boy,” she crooned. “Come here, baby.” She could see him now. He was covered in mud and shivering violently as his terror-filled eyes searched hers. He took one step toward her extended hands and then backed away from her even as he let loose with an ear-shattering volley of barking.“Rocky, stop that. Come here.”Something hot and heavy settled against her back. “Luke?” Even before she caught the faint whiff of stale tobacco she knew it wasn’t Luke. Rocky would not have backed away from him.Her stomach knotted with fear. She forgot about Rocky as she struggled to break free. A branch slapped against her face and she cried out. The assailant wrenched her arms back and dragged her across the grass. Her heart pounded and the blood roared in her ears. Her foot caught on a tree root, momentarily stopping her attacker, but with a violent yank, her sneaker popped off and her foot came free. They were out in the open now, having left the trees behind. Struggling against her attacker, she frantically searched for someone who might see what was happening and come to her aid. No one.She was on her own. Her mind flashed back to a self-defense video from high school and she tried to remember what to do. Make yourself dead weight? Smash her head back into his nose?“Where are you taking me? What do you want?” Her screams disappeared in the howling wind.“You’re going to get it for me.”His lips pressed against her cheek, making her skin crawl. “Get what?” She tried dragging her feet to slow his progress but her toes barely touched the ground. His arms around her waist were cutting off her air supply. Short, quick breaths were all she could manage. Woof, woof, woof.Her captor faltered for one moment but then continued dragging her across the asphalt with Rocky nipping at their heels. Dear God, I know we haven’t been spending time together and, of course, it’s my fault. But, this would be a great time to let me know you’re real. A miracle would be really cool!A blinding flash of light stopped her would-be attacker in his tracks.Wow, God. Thanks.A horn blared. Tires screeched. Oh! Oh no.The assailant let loose a string of curses. “Let me go!” “Stop squirming.” The car hit a pool of water, fishtailing toward them. It wasn’t going to stop. It kept coming and coming and coming.She strained to break free from the Schwarzenegger-like arms holding her. Kicking back, she tried to connect with his knees, shins, anything that would make him loosen his grip. She didn’t want to die, not when she’d just begun to live. Luke, where are you? One minute she was tiring of her struggles to break free, the next, she was flying through the air. Straight into the path of the oncoming car.Her head bounced off something unforgiving. Pain ricocheted through her elbow and she thought she heard a bone crack. Rocks, mud, and gravel tore through her jeans and shirt as her body slid across the ground. And then it was over. She slammed into a rock-hard object. The air left her lungs and the smell of rubber burned her nose. Something warm trickled down the side of her face. Tiny hammers pounded against her skull. Through it all, she knew she needed to move, to run, before her attacker found her but her legs were twisted and her brain was getting fuzzy. As the darkness overtook her, one last thought raced through her mind.Run.
Find Suzanne Pearson on Facebook at: Suzanne PearsonFind Love, Lies and Alibis at:
Suzanne Pearson was born in the Congo to missionary parents. After graduating from high school, she and her family moved to Eugene Oregon, where she eventually met her husband. She didn't start writing until she was an empty-nester, and had the idea to write about a missionary in the Congo who gets into all sorts of trouble.Suzanne, get ready for your Plotting Princess speed round interview! Ready? Set? GO!
Speed Round: Favorite movie: The Accountant
Favorite book: Honor’s Splendor
Last book read: Darkness by Karen Robards
Favorite color: deep, deep red
Stilettos or flipflops: A&M flipflops
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen: penFavorite song: Amazing GraceStreak or not: NotFavorite dessert: Anything with chocolateChampagne or gin: ChampagneParanormal or Historical: HistoricalGinger or Mary Ann: GingerFavorite TV show: NCISHot or cold: coldPOV: mineI'd die if I don't have: chocolate
One Line Blurb: Time is running out and someone is willing to kill to get what they want.
Excerpt from Love, Lies and Alibis: Rocky tugged on the leash but she didn’t budge. “Sure, we’ll be fine.” Why had Luke asked her that? It made her suddenly feel as though she and Rocky were on an island, separate and vulnerable. She crossed her arms and moved closer to the tree.What was she doing here anyway? Why had she agreed to this little excursion? This was all Luke’s fault. Who did he think he was to put this idea in her head? Adoption, babies? Dear God. Most days it took everything she had just to get out of bed. If she adopted Rocky, she’d be responsible for his welfare.The little bugger whined and tugged on his leash. “Sorry, baby.” How long had she been daydreaming? She rubbed the gooseflesh that was suddenly popping out on her skin. The wind was starting to whip around her legs. Dark clouds hurried across the sky changing the mood of the day to something dark and oppressive.Thunder boomed. Her eyes darted toward the mall. Where was Luke? Rocky yelped, straining at his leash.“Don’t be afraid.” The makeshift dog park was quickly emptying as people scurried to their cars. “Luke will understand why we returned to the tent.” She bent down to pick Rocky up as fat raindrops found their way through the branches of the tree. A twig broke away from the tree and bounced off Rocky’s shoulder. He shot one terror filled looked at Tiffany and raced away, ripping the leash out of her hands.“Rocky, no!” she cried. But he was beyond hearing. Stepping out from the shelter of the trees, rain pelted her, drenching her clothes. Her bangs were plastered to her forehead but at least her hair was too short to obstruct her view as she searched for the runaway puppy.Lightning flashed, and the scent of ozone hit her just as she saw a tiny dark body hurtling toward the cover of trees lined up like soldiers against the parking lot. Rocky slipped through a break in the trees and disappeared. She raced toward the spot slipping in the mud ringing the trees. Squatting down, she called his name. Her heart pounded as she frantically pushed branches aside until something nudged her hands. Rocky? Please God, let it be Rocky.Woof!“Good boy, good boy,” she crooned. “Come here, baby.” She could see him now. He was covered in mud and shivering violently as his terror-filled eyes searched hers. He took one step toward her extended hands and then backed away from her even as he let loose with an ear-shattering volley of barking.“Rocky, stop that. Come here.”Something hot and heavy settled against her back. “Luke?” Even before she caught the faint whiff of stale tobacco she knew it wasn’t Luke. Rocky would not have backed away from him.Her stomach knotted with fear. She forgot about Rocky as she struggled to break free. A branch slapped against her face and she cried out. The assailant wrenched her arms back and dragged her across the grass. Her heart pounded and the blood roared in her ears. Her foot caught on a tree root, momentarily stopping her attacker, but with a violent yank, her sneaker popped off and her foot came free. They were out in the open now, having left the trees behind. Struggling against her attacker, she frantically searched for someone who might see what was happening and come to her aid. No one.She was on her own. Her mind flashed back to a self-defense video from high school and she tried to remember what to do. Make yourself dead weight? Smash her head back into his nose?“Where are you taking me? What do you want?” Her screams disappeared in the howling wind.“You’re going to get it for me.”His lips pressed against her cheek, making her skin crawl. “Get what?” She tried dragging her feet to slow his progress but her toes barely touched the ground. His arms around her waist were cutting off her air supply. Short, quick breaths were all she could manage. Woof, woof, woof.Her captor faltered for one moment but then continued dragging her across the asphalt with Rocky nipping at their heels. Dear God, I know we haven’t been spending time together and, of course, it’s my fault. But, this would be a great time to let me know you’re real. A miracle would be really cool!A blinding flash of light stopped her would-be attacker in his tracks.Wow, God. Thanks.A horn blared. Tires screeched. Oh! Oh no.The assailant let loose a string of curses. “Let me go!” “Stop squirming.” The car hit a pool of water, fishtailing toward them. It wasn’t going to stop. It kept coming and coming and coming.She strained to break free from the Schwarzenegger-like arms holding her. Kicking back, she tried to connect with his knees, shins, anything that would make him loosen his grip. She didn’t want to die, not when she’d just begun to live. Luke, where are you? One minute she was tiring of her struggles to break free, the next, she was flying through the air. Straight into the path of the oncoming car.Her head bounced off something unforgiving. Pain ricocheted through her elbow and she thought she heard a bone crack. Rocks, mud, and gravel tore through her jeans and shirt as her body slid across the ground. And then it was over. She slammed into a rock-hard object. The air left her lungs and the smell of rubber burned her nose. Something warm trickled down the side of her face. Tiny hammers pounded against her skull. Through it all, she knew she needed to move, to run, before her attacker found her but her legs were twisted and her brain was getting fuzzy. As the darkness overtook her, one last thought raced through her mind.Run.
Find Suzanne Pearson on Facebook at: Suzanne PearsonFind Love, Lies and Alibis at:
April 19, 2017
Failed Beauty Contestant #tiara #romanticcomedy #shortstory
I can hear you laughing way over here. Yes, I’ve been a failed beauty contestant, not once, but twice.
The first time was in high school in a program hosted by my hometown’s fire department. The real reason I entered was the $500 scholarship. I wanted to go to college and $500 would pay for a few semesters of community college. So I entered, wrote the essay, borrowed a black swimsuit, wore a sweet long dress of eyelet.
And didn’t win. In all fairness, I was selected from the 24 original entrants to be in the final top twelve. That part was cool. Picture in the paper! The girl who did get the tiara looked 24 not 17 or 18. She really looked like a beauty contestant.
Sigh.
The second time I was persuaded after a few margaritas to represent a friend’s moped shop in a contest hosted by a recreational vehicle show. I said no a few times. My friends worked on me and I said yes. This was six years after the first one. All I had to do was walk around in a swimsuit and heels which I did. One of the judges was a former NFL quarterback. Pretty embarrassing. The blonde with the cornrows won. She was younger too. All I’m saying here is sometimes, there’s funny stuff in our lives and it makes a great story.
Here’s a teaser from “Raving Beauty,” a romantic comedy short story in the Just You and Me boxed set:
"I can't believe I let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into this." With my eye on the teenage competition, I tugged the leg opening of my swimsuit into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily." "Daniel's a rat. He took advantage of your third or was it your fourth margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Hold still." With an old-fashioned teasing comb, she picked my brown hair into place at the crown of my head. The eerie suspicion I resembled a scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, Dallas, caused me to avoid looking in the mirror. "Close your eyes." She hit me with super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin' nowhere." My personal stylist needed to work on her aim, preferably with both of her eyes open. I spit-wiped the sticky spot on my right cheek. I hope nobody I know sees me like this. "There." The scrunch of her nose reflected how pleased she was with herself. "Feeling better?" Like a slab of beef.Preorder Just You and Me at:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCZWL6N
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-you-and-me…/1125868014
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-you-and-me
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1210908031
Confession time! Who had beauty contestant aspirations?
The first time was in high school in a program hosted by my hometown’s fire department. The real reason I entered was the $500 scholarship. I wanted to go to college and $500 would pay for a few semesters of community college. So I entered, wrote the essay, borrowed a black swimsuit, wore a sweet long dress of eyelet. And didn’t win. In all fairness, I was selected from the 24 original entrants to be in the final top twelve. That part was cool. Picture in the paper! The girl who did get the tiara looked 24 not 17 or 18. She really looked like a beauty contestant.
Sigh.
The second time I was persuaded after a few margaritas to represent a friend’s moped shop in a contest hosted by a recreational vehicle show. I said no a few times. My friends worked on me and I said yes. This was six years after the first one. All I had to do was walk around in a swimsuit and heels which I did. One of the judges was a former NFL quarterback. Pretty embarrassing. The blonde with the cornrows won. She was younger too. All I’m saying here is sometimes, there’s funny stuff in our lives and it makes a great story.
Here’s a teaser from “Raving Beauty,” a romantic comedy short story in the Just You and Me boxed set:
"I can't believe I let your loony brother, who's tormented me all my life, talk me into this." With my eye on the teenage competition, I tugged the leg opening of my swimsuit into place to better cover my hip. "Just because I did some modeling in college doesn't make me a pageant diva. Back then, I was incredibly skinny, and clothes fit easily." "Daniel's a rat. He took advantage of your third or was it your fourth margarita, Kelly?" Maggie Ackerman, my best friend and roommate, adjusted the scarlet satin sash draped across my body. Glittery stick-on letters spelled out Miss Yahoo! Ranch Steakhouse. "Hold still." With an old-fashioned teasing comb, she picked my brown hair into place at the crown of my head. The eerie suspicion I resembled a scary dame with Big Texas hair from the television show, Dallas, caused me to avoid looking in the mirror. "Close your eyes." She hit me with super freeze-it hairspray. "Now, that ain't goin' nowhere." My personal stylist needed to work on her aim, preferably with both of her eyes open. I spit-wiped the sticky spot on my right cheek. I hope nobody I know sees me like this. "There." The scrunch of her nose reflected how pleased she was with herself. "Feeling better?" Like a slab of beef.Preorder Just You and Me at:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCZWL6N
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-you-and-me…/1125868014
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-you-and-me
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1210908031
Confession time! Who had beauty contestant aspirations?
April 3, 2017
A Literary Mulligan
In the game of golf, a quick do-over is called a “Mulligan”—a chance to make a fresh start, or repair a bad beginning. During the past few months I have taken a Mulligan for my first three romances—the Dartmouth Brides trilogy of THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE, A SENSE OF SIN, and THE DANGER OF DESIRE.
I’ve done them over from start to finish—from the covers (by the brilliant photographer Jenn LeBlanc at Studio Smexy, and talented designer Patricia Pickyme Schmitt) to new epilogues. I took the opportunity to make the writing fresh by revising and re-focusing the narrative in a way that I simply wasn’t capable of when I first wrote those stories six years ago.
But the best part of going over these stories were the characters—impudent, rebellious Lizzie, shy, studious Celia, and larcenous, brilliant Meggs. Oh, what fun it was to revisit the young women who had first prompted me to write romance. It was like visiting with old friends I hadn’t seen in years—the conversation started right up where we left off.
I hope that readers will also like visiting these old friends, or will perhaps take the opportunity to discover them for the first time in vastly more affordable e-editions. THE DARTMOUTH BRIDES are on sale at all on-line retailers for the terrific price of $3.99 each. The three stories are also available in print, but must be ordered from an on-line bookseller.
So tell me, what do you think of the new editions?
Wishing you all happy reading! I hope you enjoy the adventure as much as I have.
http://www.elizabethessex.com/category/books/
I’ve done them over from start to finish—from the covers (by the brilliant photographer Jenn LeBlanc at Studio Smexy, and talented designer Patricia Pickyme Schmitt) to new epilogues. I took the opportunity to make the writing fresh by revising and re-focusing the narrative in a way that I simply wasn’t capable of when I first wrote those stories six years ago.
But the best part of going over these stories were the characters—impudent, rebellious Lizzie, shy, studious Celia, and larcenous, brilliant Meggs. Oh, what fun it was to revisit the young women who had first prompted me to write romance. It was like visiting with old friends I hadn’t seen in years—the conversation started right up where we left off.
I hope that readers will also like visiting these old friends, or will perhaps take the opportunity to discover them for the first time in vastly more affordable e-editions. THE DARTMOUTH BRIDES are on sale at all on-line retailers for the terrific price of $3.99 each. The three stories are also available in print, but must be ordered from an on-line bookseller.
So tell me, what do you think of the new editions?
Wishing you all happy reading! I hope you enjoy the adventure as much as I have.http://www.elizabethessex.com/category/books/
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