Krista Ames's Blog, page 96

Cover Reveal: Silk & Scorn by Cassandra Dean

No matter how much their mothers wanted Sarah and Arthur to wed, Sarah had loathed him. However, circumstance, and her late husband’s father conspire against her, and she is forced to turn to Arthur, for help. Perhaps she needs his legal expertise, but she refuses to acknowledge how handsome her oldest foe has become…or her reaction to him.
 
His childhood nemesis is the last person Arthur Davenport expected to require his services. When a spurious claim against her late husband’s estate brings Sarah Wetherall to his door, he can’t refuse the pretty widow, no matter how much he wants to.
 
Thrown together by fate, will they discover there is a fine line between scorn and passion?
 
The Silk Series, Book 2
Early Victorian Sweet Romance
Coming 19 February2014
Decadent Publishing
 
 
 
Excerpt:
 
15 February, 1847. Mrs. Wetherall.
 
He stared down at the name. There was something familiar about it, but he could not recall what it might be. He shrugged. She was soon to appear, and any familiarity would be quickly established.
At that, the door opened and a woman who could only be Mrs. Wetherall swept in, an obscenely large hat obscuring most of her face. A gown of uncommon simplicity clothed her person, but for all the garment was simple, it was obviously well made, which suggested wealth.
 
Ah, well, no matter if he knew her name or not. A wealthy client was always welcome.
 
Dunn trailed behind her, his expression as eager as ever. “Mrs. Wetherall, sir.”
 
Arthur inclined his head. “Thank you. That will be all.”
 
“Right you are, sir.” The clerk bobbed his head and left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
 
Arthur turned his regard to the woman. Currently she studied his qualifications, hung on the wall along with the framed pictures his mother had given him for his birthday every year since he’d become a solicitor. “Mrs. Wetherall, good afternoon. Please, seat yourself.”
 
Her shoulders straightened infinitesimally but she didn’t respond, instead continuing to regard the wall.
 
Irritation tugged, but he suppressed it. Emotion would get him nowhere. “Mrs. Wetherall?”
 
With a sweep of her skirts, the lady and her hat settled into the chair before his desk.
 
Frowning, he sank to his own seat. That enormous hat was absurd, still disguising her face. Why did women think such things were attractive? In addition to being ludicrous, it no doubt put undue pressure upon her neck.
 
Lacing her hands in her lap, the lady finally spoke. “I find I require the services of a solicitor in regards to my late husband’s will.”
 
The hair at the back of his neck stood up. No. Oh, Christ, no.
 
The hat tilted, exposing her face. Every muscle in Arthur’s body seized.
 
Mrs. Wetherall, formerly Miss Sarah Stanhope and the bane of his childhood, glared at him from beneath her ridiculous hat.
 
======================================
 
 
About Cassandra :
Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.
 
Fairy tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives, science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true passion was born.
 
So, once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance, Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell head over heels.
 
The love affair exists to this very day.
 
Cassandra lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
 
 
You can find Cassandra at:
 
CassandraDean.com~ Cassandra and Lucy ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Goodreads ~ Tumblr ~ Pintrest ~ Amazon.com
 
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Author, author.... LOVE AT STAKE by Victoria Davies

...read all about it !! 
  
Release Date: 1/27/13
Genre: Paranormal Romance
 
Synopsis:  Abbey is the lone human working for Fated Match, a company that pairs members of the supernatural community with their eternal mates. To snag a young vampire socialite as their next client, Abbey journeys to the home of Lucian Redgrave, the oldest vampire on the East Coast.  But he's not willing to allow his vampire daughter to use the agency...unless Abbey can first find his perfect match in a month. As Abbey coaches Lucian through his dates, she can't deny the chemistry between them.  But humans are toys for vampires, and risking her heart isn't a part of the plan.    Tagline: Hunting for love is a pain in the neck...
Goodreads   Amazon  Barnes & Noble
 
 
Author Bio:
My love for writing started young. Luckily I had a family who encouraged believing in magic and embracing imagination. From stories quickly scribbled in bright pink diaries, my love of storytelling developed. Since then my characters may have evolved and my plots may have grown decidedly more steamy but I never lost my love of the written word. Writing is not only a way to silence the wonderful voices in my head, but it also allows me to share my passions with my readers. I hope you enjoy my titles!
 
Currently I write from Toronto, Canada. While I have a healthy love for the unknown, this corner of the world will always be my home.  Website Facebook Goodreads
 
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Rock Star Ex by Jewel Quinlan

Rock Star Ex is Now Available in Audiobook Version
   Written by: Jewel Quinlan Listening Time: 3 hrs and 6mn Narrated by: Josh Goodman Blurb:
Social media consultant, Eve Everett, is less than thrilled when her business partner hooks them up with a job covering celebrity rock band Arsenal.  Their new lead singer, Devon Quinn, is the man who broke her heart five years ago.  But there’s no way Eve can turn down the assignment. It’s the big break their fledgling company needs. 
To boost Arsenal’s social media presence the band’s manager wants intimate coverage, especially of Devon,  which means traveling with the band  in their tour bus while they promote their new album.  It’s not long before Devon tries to rehash the past but Eve would rather leave it buried where it is.
When Eve is asked to be part of a music video, she decides it’s a great opportunity to reap some revenge by showing Devon what he’s missing. But soon she’s the one losing control. Will Devon once again claim her heart as well as her body?
Excerpt:
“It’s good to see you again, Eve,” he said softly so the others wouldn’t pick up on it.  He knew she wouldn’t want to hear it.  It couldn’t be helped, but it just had to be said.
            Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
            “That’s what I wanted to say the other night, but you didn’t give me a chance.”
            Big mistake. 
            Her eyes narrowed.  “I didn’t give you a chance?  Then I’d say we’re even.”
            “Look, Eve, things didn’t happen the way you’re thinking.  It wasn’t like that.”  He set the bottom of Tommy’s guitar on the floor, his hand on the neck, and leaned closer in to talk to her.
            “The way I’m thinking?” she repeated.  Standing up straight, she stuck one foot out to the side and said in a low hiss, “Look, Devon, the facts are the facts.  You left and I never heard from you again.  Not once.  It has nothing to do with the way I’m thinking.” 
            He tensed.  It was happening again.  She was misunderstanding him.  “No, look, that’s not what I mean, okay?”
            “Oh, then what do you mean?”  She cocked her head at him and waited.
            “It’s…it was hard on the road, to keep in touch with anyone, for a lot of reasons.  You don’t know what it was like.  I mean we were bouncing around from place to place, driving for long periods of time and then having to work until really late at night.  It was pretty much impossible to communicate.  Besides, you had no answering machine back then, remember?”
            She visibly puffed up.  “I see, so it’s my fault you couldn’t communicate with me?”
            “I’m not saying it was anyone’s fault, Eve.  Just that there was no way to call.”  He felt relieved.  He had finally been able to tell her, to explain.  Maybe now she would understand.  Well, when she calmed down at least.
            “And you couldn’t write a letter?”   She spoke quietly but the words dripped acid. 
            She had him there.  Even though she was several inches shorter he suddenly felt very small.  He looked down and stuck a hand in his pocket, not knowing what to say.  That was an even more complicated topic.
            Her cold eyes were on him.  The silence stretched on for another moment.  Before he could gather any other words to try to explain she turned and headed back up front, her ponytail slapping him in the face as she went.
 
Ebook Version Available At
Evernight Publishing
Amazon
All Romance e-Books
Barnes & Noble
BookStrand
Goodreads – add it to your reading list
Author Bio
From a young age, Jewel Quinlan had an abundant imagination and strong desire to write novels.  She particularly enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy romance. An avid traveler, she has visited fifteen countries so far (which she enjoys using as settings in her novels) and has plans to see more of the world. She has a particular fondness for Bavaria and studies the German language as one of her hobbies. During the day, she works as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, at night, she writes romance. She currently lives in Orange County, California with her two dogs; Shimmer and Penny.
For more information visit her website and blog or you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter
 
 
 
 
 

Happy Release Day to Jennah Scott and ONE NIGHT RIDE !!!

Available NOW !!
 Published by: Decadent Publishing Series:  1NSCover Artist: Fiona Jayde
Genre: Contemporary Western Erotic Romance
Length: 28 pages
   Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20710222-one-night-ride 

Blurb: Brett Colson’s ready to get back into the dating game. Competing in rodeos across the country kept him out of the game, so when he hears about the 1Night Stand service from a friend, he takes a chance. 
Bull rider Jace Peterson lost his first love over a year before to another man. Hitting his thirtieth birthday, Jace listens to his friends’ concerns;  he needs to end his self-imposed dry spell and enlist the help of Madame Eve. 
Brett and Jace expect nothing more than a satisfying one-night ride. But they’re wrong.
 
Purchase:     Decadent         Amazon        ARe          Barnes and Noble
 
Excerpt:

One night. Nothing more. A chance to break his dry spell. 
Jace held his phone like a lifeline and glanced at the message on the screen when it beeped.
Happy Birthday, bro. Go get laid already.  
Nosy, pushy friends. If he didn’t love them like brothers, he’d tell them to fuck off. Instead, he shoved the cell in his pocket and chuckled. 
Go get laid. Right. Thanks to his intrusive, gossip-worse-than-a-bunch-of-women friends, he stood in a bar in Denver. Preparing to meet his date. Shit. What the hell had he been thinking when he’d agreed to that? 
People packed the bar at the Castillo Resort. Denver in the middle of winter and the best ski conditions in a couple of years, kept high-end resorts full any time of day. Tourists, regulars visiting the same winter lodges every year, and snow bunnies galore. 
No, the stranger he’d planned to meet was coming for him, not vacation. Madame Evangeline, the owner of 1Night Stand, told him in the confirmation email not to worry about the location. Pay attention to the man. She’d said the match arranged would offer exactly what he needed: a way to end his dry spell. He hoped what she had said in her email and the reality of real life were alike.
 
Author Bio:
Born and raised in Texas, Jennah is a transplant to Missouri long enough ago she should probably consider that her hometown. But she will forever be a Texan. She loves to write any story that will make a reader smile, laugh, and maybe even cry (although you won't ever hear her admit that she cries). Whether the next story she writes is contemporary, urban fantasy, LGBT, or whatever other crazy idea she comes up with, there will always be love and romance in the midst of trials and turmoil.
When she's not writing you can find her on Twitter, with her family, or buried in a book trying to escape reality for just a minute.
 
Stay in Touch:
Website: www.jennahscott.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjennahscott
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jennah_scott
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jennahscott  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/Jennahscott

Book Blitz: Forgetting Fallenwood by Leslie D. Soule

Forgetting Fallenwood    Blurb: What happens when Ash accidentally makes her way through another portal, this time into the Other Realm, and forgets she ever went to Fallenwood? More importantly, how much of one's identity is made up of memories? Fallenwood 2 is the continuing journey of heroine Ash Kensington. Struggling with a deep sense of grief, sorrow, and overall confusion, Ash tries to work her way through to a deeper, underlying meaning. This search leads her back to Fallenwood, where the mystery unravels itself as she realizes that a very sinister force may be underlying everything… 
Author and Links Leslie D. Soule is a fantasy writer from Sacramento, California. She has a B.A. in English and is currently working on her first-ever quadrilogy, The Fallenwood Chronicles.    Buy Links: Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Forgetting-Fallenwood-Leslie-D-Soule/dp/1612356842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391576115&sr=8-1&keywords=Forgetting+Fallenwood   Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forgetting-fallenwood-leslie-d-soule/1116964600?ean=9781612356846   Melange Books:  http://melange-books.com/authors/lesliedsoule/index.html      

Tasty Tuesday & a Teaser ~ Jane Aislie

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser Every Tuesday we'll welcome an Author who will share a foodie type post with a recipe or two and some book promo! Today please help me welcome Jane Ainslie... *   *    *    *    *    *   * 
Hi, my name is Jane Ainslie, and I’m very happy to be visiting Krista’s blog today (thanks Krista!) I currently live in Adelaide, which is a small city on the edge of a desert in South Australia. I live here with my husband, and our four pet ferrets. When I’m not at my desk writing, (or telling the ferrets off for stealing my shoes and hiding them around the house), I work as a registered nurse in a big, public hospital. I have two books published so far; ‘Chai for Beginners’, which I had published in India, and ‘Her Sister’s Wedding’, which has been published in America by Decadent Publishing.
 
Along with writing, one of my other passions is cooking, so I was delighted when I discovered Decadent Publishing had a genre called foodie romance! What a perfect combination – food and love.  Her Sister’s Wedding is a contemporary romance about Australian food journalist Mandy, and American celebrity chef Jake. They meet in Melbourne when they both have to attend Mandy’s sister’s wedding. The attraction is instant and their affair features lots of lingering looks over delicious meals and drinks.
 
Which leads me to my recipe for today. At the moment it’s summer here, which can be a difficult time of year. Recently, we had a massive heatwave, and I had to get creative about what to cook. During these heatwaves, it gets so hot you can’t use the oven, because it heats the house up too much. Salads are fine for one or two nights, but after that, a gal needs to drag out her cookbooks and get inventive. So today, I’m going to share a lovely chilled soup recipe that requires no cooking in its preparation. It might sound a bit odd, but trust me when I say, I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love it, and it’s super simple to make. Of course, if you are in the middle of a polar vortex type weather event, you might want to follow this with a hot, sticky date pudding with cream…
 
CHILLED YOGHURT SOUP
2 medium cucumbers
2 cups of Greek yoghurt
2 cups of chicken stock
1 large clove of garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons of chopped fresh dill
1 cup of chopped walnut pieces
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Method: Grate the cucumbers into a saucepan, then add in the yoghurt and stock. Whisk until blended, then add all other ingredients. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Serve with crusty bread and a cooling drink.   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
 
BLURB FOR HER SISTER’S WEDDING: What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?   Melbourne-based food journalist Mandy Evans has Paris firmly in her sights. She’s got a chance at her life-long dream of studying art in the City of Love, but not before she has to be a ring-in bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding.   After setting up his latest restaurant in Melbourne, renowned American chef Jake Pearson is leaving for his next project in Miami. He’s the hottest ticket in anyone’s town, with a burning ambition to conquer the world, but not before he’s best man at his friend’s wedding.   When Mandy and Jake meet, the attraction is instant. He loves her sassy, natural style, and her appetite for great food. She thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread, or even martinis. Fate gives them a chance at love when they are partners at the same wedding, but can either of them compromise their ambitions to let love grow?     AUTHOR BIO: Jane Ainslie adores martinis, is a keen but hopeless gardener, and an avid reader of cookbooks. She currently resides in Adelaide, Australia, with her beloved husband and her four unruly pet ferrets.   Her blog can be found at www.janeainslie.com and she can be found on Facebook at Jane Ainslie Books.   BUY LINKS:    Amazon USA      Decadent Publishing   *   *   *   *   *   *  Giveaway  Jane is giving away an ecopy of Her Sister's Weddingduring her book tour but you can get a jump on entering now! 
 
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Author, author... M.S. Spencer and The Mason's Mark

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Thanks so much for having me here, Krista. I'd like to talk about my latest romantic suspense murder mystery released in January. I hope your readers are hooked!
Most of my new novel The Mason's Mark is set at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial. Three hundred and thirty-three feet tall, it sits atop Shuter’s Hill overlooking the colonial city of Alexandria, Virginia. Each level of the tower has a special theme. For example, the ninth level is sponsored by the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, an adjunct group of the Masons, and depicts how King Solomon's throne room would look. The rooms get dramatically smaller as you go up the levels, and the elevators that begin 61 feet apart on the first floor are only four and a half feet apart by the time you reach the top. The ninth floor opens onto an observation platform, from which visitors can see a panorama of Old Town spires and the white marble monuments of Washington, DC. Unfortunately for Claire, heroine of The Mason's Mark, she saw something else, equally spectacular but much more frightening.

But wait! There's more! The fourth floor of the tower contains a museum dedicated to George Washington. Washington served as the Charter (first) Master of the Alexandria lodge, and many of his letters and memorabilia are housed here, including the Washington family Bible. Since our heroine and hero meet in the museum, it follows that the Mason's Mark would also involve long lost papers, distant family scandals, and academic intrigue concerning our first President. Expect delicious mystery and even more delicious romance in this complex web of intrigue that is The Mason's Mark.

Here's the story:
In both the best and worst first day at work ever,  docent Claire Wilding meets the man of her dreams, but her carefully rehearsed guided tour of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial falls apart when she discovers a dead body. Together with Detective Ernest Angle, she's drawn into a dark world of black ops and Italian renegade masons. Also cloaked in mystery is her new love Gideon Bliss.  A George Washington expert, he haunts the Memorial, his manner evasive. What is his secret? Claire fears she'll fall in love with him only to learn he's a thief or even a murderer.
Juggling two eccentric mothers, an inquisitive sister, and an increasingly smitten Ernest, Claire must find answers to a complex web of intrigue, including which black ops agent to trust,  whether our first president strayed, and if she and Gideon will ever be together.
The Mason's Mark: Love and Death in the Tower (an Old Town Romance)
Secret Cravings Publishing, 2014
79,000 words, Romantic suspense, M/F, 3 flames

Buy Links:   Secret Cravings Publishing     Amazon      B&N

Excerpt (PG): Gideon Comes Back
When they reached Prince Street Gideon found a parking spot directly in front of her house, no small feat. Just one more way he’s special, thought Claire glumly. He walked her to her door. She unlocked it and turned to thank him, but he was already on his way to his car.
Ichabod greeted her with a snarl.
“I know. I forgot to feed you. Come on, Icky.” She found a can of cat food and emptied it into his bowl. Then she poured herself a large glass of water and took it to the living room to conduct an analysis of the evening.
So at any point did I come across as even semi-coherent?She tried to hack through the warm, fuzzy blanket of the evening. Gideon had been the perfect gentleman, ordering foie gras and champagne, pointing out the constellations with obvious expertise, helping her in and out of the car. It all seemed so…unreal. Like he was acting a part. Too perfect. And he’d sucked her in like soda through a straw. She slapped her forehead, forgetting that she still held the glass. Water sluiced across her face and ran down her front. She mopped it up with some tissues and vowed to hit the antique stores that weekend. I’ve got to get a coffee table. Preferably one with cup holders.
The doorbell rang. With the disintegrating tissue pressed to her face, she stood on tiptoe to check the peephole and looked straight into an unblinking sea-green ocean. Gideon. After a minute she remembered to open the door.
He stared at her with concern. “Are you all right?”
Claire pulled the tissue away and noticed black streaks on it. Her mascara must have run. Oh no, I bet he thinks I’ve been crying. She rubbed her eyes, hoping that wasn’t making it worse. “Fine. I spilled a glass of water, that’s all.”
“Oh.” He stood, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Um, could I come in for a minute?”
She pointed at the living room and backed away, then turned and leapt up the steps. A quick look in the mirror confirmed her suspicions. I look like something Ichabod’s been playing with. She fixed her face, wrung out her blouse, and returned with renewed aplomb.
Gideon filled the small space. Claire sidled around him and sat on a packing crate. He looked around the room. “So…er, have you just moved in?”
“Yes.” It struck her that he was more uncomfortable than she and drew strength from that. “About a week ago. Sorry about the mess. Won’t you have a seat?”
He dropped down on the loveseat but immediately sprang back up. He patted his rear, flummoxed. “Why am I wet?”
Claire put a hand to her mouth to suppress the giggle. “Ooh, I’m sorry. I forgot. That’s where I spilled the water. Here, let me.”
She retrieved a towel from the kitchen and began to dab at the dark blotch on his khakis. He stood it for a minute, then put a hand under her chin and lifted her up. “You’d better stop doing that. This is hard enough for me.” He blinked. “Do you…do you know how beautiful you are?”
The question threw her. How to respond? Yes? No? Tell me more?She decided to let him talk.
“Your eyes are the color of the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea on a cloudless day. I could sink into them and drown.” He touched her brow. “And these little cinnabar ringlets framing that soft, creamy face…” He wrapped one around his finger. “Wind one up tight and it could strangle me.” He took her hand. “Your fingers—so slim and delicate, like little stilettos. Sharp enough to gouge an eye out.”
Claire stepped away from him, bewildered. “You make me sound like a vicious animal. Why?”
His hands dropped to his sides. “Because I sense how dangerous you are.”
“Dangerous?”
“To me. Claire…I—” He gazed at her helplessly.
Someone had better take charge.
****

Biography
Although she has lived or traveled in every continent except Antarctica and Australia (bucket list), M. S. Spencer has spent the last thirty years mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. Blessed with two fabulous grown children, she has published eight romantic suspense/mystery novels. In an excess of optimism, she has recently heaved the entire ho to Florida with a detour to Maine, leaving behind the cherry blossoms, the monuments, and the political hacks.
Please contact me here:Blog: http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/msspencerauthorPinterest: http://pinterest.com/msspencerauthor/Facebook: www.facebook.com/M.S.SpencerAuthor


AUTHOR PAGES:
Secret Cravings Publishing: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=products_all&filter_author=56
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/M.S.-Spencer/e/B002ZOEUC8/
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/msspencer

Author, author... Haunt Me by Heather Long

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  HAUNT ME  Heather LongParanormal Romance

 Do you believe in second chances?
Recently divorced author MacKenzie Dillon has lost her writing mojo. When she inherits her great aunt’s haunted house in Virginia, she is determined to make a new start. The creepy old house provides inspiration but at what cost? Successful architect and paranormal skeptic Justin Kent returns to Penny Hollow to fulfill his father’s dying wish of revitalizing their small town. To do that, he needs the allegedly haunted estate at Summerfield. Mac, the new owner, may be gorgeous and spunky, but she refuses to sell. These two have a dangerous history that spans the ages, but will they discover the truth in time to save their lives?

Book Links:
Goodreads  Amazon Barnes & Noble
 
 
 
 
Excerpt:

Mac waited on the porch until Justin showed up, a burly, spotlight- sized flashlight in his hand. Fortunately, she’d found a pair of shorts on the washer, or she’d have been standing out there in her tank top and panties.
“Hey,” he said, sweeping his gaze over her.
Laughter gleamed in his eyes, but she couldn’t fault him for making fun of her. She hopped from foot to foot. “Thanks for coming.”
“Sure thing.” He turned the beam from the flashlight toward the darkened house. Lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating his amused face. “Ghost chase you out?”
“The power went out and the door is stuck.” She crossed her arms, mallet in one hand and phone in the other. She wasn’t letting go of either. Her heart continued to race, and she tried hard to keep the sob catching in the back of her throat from making an appearance.
Justin paused and turned the flashlight back on her. “Hey,” he said, taking a step toward her. His humor sobered to concern. “It’s an old house. We’ve got a storm coming. Chances are it’s just a blown fuse. I’ll fix it, okay?”
Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded.
“Mac.” Justin gave her arm a squeeze. “Really. Happens all the time. You want to come with? Or go wait in my truck?”
At least he’d managed the offer without making fun of her. Stop being a chicken... But she couldn’t resist staring up at the dark house. It seemed so much more ominous in the occasional flash of lightning. “I’ll go with.”
“Okay.” He held out his hand, and she passed him the mallet.
To his credit, he simply nodded and took the lead. She followed him and fought the urge to grab his shirt and hang on. He went to the fuse box first, but a few minutes of fiddling didn’t earn them any results. When he would have left the mallet behind to head out to his truck, she picked it up.
Justin glanced at the mallet but didn’t say a word. He put a hand on her arm, and the contact soothed the nerves doing jumping jacks in her belly. Supplies in hand, he went back to the kitchen, but the lights still wouldn’t come on. “All right, chances are it’s something at the power station’s end. I’ll make a couple of calls. Let’s check the door next.” Halfway down the hall, he motioned for her to stop. “Watch your feet.”
She glanced down at the shards of lightbulb glittering under the powerful beam of his flashlight.
“Stay right there,” he told her. Glass crunched as he made it to her door. It opened the moment he twisted the knob.
Mac wanted to cry. “I swear it wouldn’t open.”
“I believe you,” he said swiftly—almost too swiftly. “It’s late, you’re exhausted, and I think you could use a break from what goes bump in the night—especially with the storm rolling in.” Despite his tone, Justin wasn’t laughing at her. He could have— particularly after their conversation about ghosts. “C’mon, why don’t you come back to my place? You can have a guest room. We’ll come back and fix this in the morning.”




Author Bio:



National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does. 
Website  Blog Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads   Newsletter





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Author, author... Letting Go by Bridie Hall

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Please say hello to Bridie Hall...



Welcome, so great to have you here with us.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’ve worked with books all my life. I studied literature, I work as a translator, every spare minute I either write or read. Apart from that, I love travelling and learning new things. I can give any four-year-old a run for their money when it comes to being curious and eager for new knowledge. I’m a foodie and I adore good wine.   
Do real life events find their way into your stories?
I’m sure the things I write about are real life events in someone’s life, but I don’t usually write about something that has happened to me. That might be because nothing really exciting ever happens to me, so …   
Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?
Not deliberately, no, but I suppose some of it seeps in sometimes. I will write a dialogue between two characters and on re-reading it realize one of them has a speech pattern that resembles the pattern of a friend or a mannerism of someone who stood in line in front of me at the post office last week.   
Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?
Inspiration is different for each story, although I’m noticing all my stories revolve around a few basic themes, such as love, finding oneself, the need to feel accepted and appreciated etc.  But inspiration comes from various places. Perhaps the strangest one was when I read the word ‘apoptosis’ in a non-fiction book and then wrote a whole story based on that. It revolved around autumn foliage and corpses. I’m strange like that.   
When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?
I write whenever I can get some peace and quiet and I don’t have any pressing tasks for my day job to finish. Most often, I write early (very early!) in the morning. It’s not my favorite time to write because I’m more of a night person, but that’s the quietest time in my house.   
How do you feel about marketing your book?
I feel … surprisingly excited about it and thrilled to be doing this. I’m a shy person and I expected this all to be a burden that’s just a necessary evil when having one’s book published. But so far everyone’s been so nice, the book bloggers kind and eager to read Letting Go, I made new friends doing this. All in all, it’s been an exceptionally positive and entertaining experience.   
What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?
Twitter is perhaps the most useful (or personal) when it comes to reaching the readers, if the author has a large following, of course. I’m new to it, unfortunately. Otherwise, book bloggers or reviewers are very good at spreading the word about new books through reviews and blog tours. It also helps that MG and YA authors are all very supportive of each other. That’s my experience so far anyway.   
Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?
I like to first finish a book before submitting. My huge weakness is that I work on several projects at the same time, and that means that something that was started this year might not be finished until 2016 or later. I don’t think any publisher would be very happy with having to wait that long. ;-)   
Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?
Is there any that I wouldn’t? But seriously, I like to stretch my writing muscles and try myself at different things. I tried writing poetry, short stories, MG, crime stories, dystopian novels … I think it’s important for a writer to step out of their comfort zone, not necessarily writing things for publication, but just as an exercise. I’d love to write humor because I think that’s one of the most difficult things to write and I’m not very good at it.   
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?
Never, but every time, inevitably, some of my characteristics or views creep in. It annoys me, because it makes it difficult to write interesting characters – it feels like all my heroines are the same.    
Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, 
Favorite 5
1)   Favorite Male Actor - I think I was in high school when I was last asked that. Hm, let me think … I don’t watch many movies, so I’ll go with a TV actor instead and say Jensen Ackles because he’s easy on the eyes andtalented.
2)  Favorite vehicle - airplane
3)  Favorite way to relax – reading, a glass of wine (together or separately, depends on the company or lack thereof)
4)  Favorite ice cream – depending on the mood, if I need comfort, then chocolate, otherwise more fruity flavors.
5)  Favorite outfit – a swanky dress and a pair of kickass shoes
And for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be?  (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
Australia (Melbourne, preferably)
 
Where can our readers find you??  Twitter: @BridieHall13

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridie.hall.12Website/blog: www.bridiehallauthor.com

Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/bridiehall
 
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
 
Letting Go by Bridie Hall Blurb:  Isabella is left stranded at the airport, and her only chance of getting home is with her boyfriend's older brother, Harper.  When this good girl and bad boy set off towards home, it turns out that maybe she's not such a good girl after all.  And even bad boys have reasons for their bad behavior. The road trip is full of shocking revelations and unexpected emotions, bringing the two of them closer than Isabelle ever thought possible.   Maybe too close.   Published by Evernight Teen, 24th January 2014
 
Links:   Evernight Teen   Amazon   Amazon AU   Amazon UK   Goodreads
 
Excerpt
 “I just want to get it over with. One hour, you said?” she asked breathlessly, trying to hide her nervousness.
He grinned. “You’ll ask for more, trust me.” He took off his jacket, so he was now in his short-sleeved t-shirt.
“Right.”
From a drawer in the cupboard to the left, he took out two black aprons with thin white stripes, handing one to her. She watched him put on his, admiring how good he looked in it. The apron suited him. She hadn’t expected that. He had boasted about being a good cook, but she didn’t take him seriously, not really, and she didn’t expect him to look so at home in a kitchen. Especially not a kitchen like this.
“What?” he asked when he noticed her stare.
“Are you and Missy …?”
“Huh? No. We’re friends, that’s all.”
“That’s a relief,” she blurted. When he raised his eyebrows, she blushed. “I mean, you two earlier …” She pointed towards the entrance and made a gagging gesture. When his astonished eyes refused to leave her face, she busied herself with her apron.
“Are you sure you’re not jealous?” he called after her. She marched into the kitchen as if she knew what she was doing there.
“God, no!”
“Not even a bit?”
“I have a boyfriend, remember? You might know him? His name’s Jamie?”
“A tiny tiny tiny bit?” He followed her.
She turned to him. She couldn’t help but grin at his pleading expression. She liked how he was seeking her attention. It felt good. In a bad sort of way.
“I knew it,” he said, but she ignored him.
“Now what?” She looked around at the vastness of the place. “This looks scary.”
“I’ll tell you what this looks like—it looks sexy.” When she raised her eyebrows at him, he said, “I meant you in an apron.”
“Stop it, Harper.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I thought we would cook,” she said, confused, and jumped up to sit on one of the stainless steel counters.
“Get off,” he said.
“Wha—” She didn’t manage to finish as he grabbed her hand and pulled her off. “What was that about?”
“Never sit on the counters. This is a kitchen, not your bedroom.”
His statement struck her as hilarious. For a second, she couldn’t believe she’d heard right. He brought her here to teach her how to not worry about being proper and all.
She could see his shock when she suddenly laughed. She couldn’t stop. It was too funny, but she managed to mumble in between fits of laughter, “Prude.”
She stumbled back into a cupboard, leaning on it for support, still laughing.
“Cut it out,” Harper said next to her, but she could hear he was on the brink of laughing too.
“You gotta … admit … it’s hilarious,” she squealed, trying hopelessly to get some air.
“It’s not,” he said. When she stumbled again, he caught her. He was now laughing too, and they supported each other like two drunks. They were a heap of laughter. Isabelle had tears streaming down her cheeks and even when she managed to control the laugh, she still hiccupped with mirth every now and then.
“I thought I told you to stop,” Harper said, wiping her cheeks and clearing his throat.
When his warm fingers touched her red cheeks, Isabelle sobered. “I think your purpose here was achieved. I hadn’t laughed like that in ages,” she said and stepped away.
He let his hands that held her seconds ago fall to his sides.
“It felt good,” he said, subdued. “But we’re nowhere near done. Get a bowl and search for vanilla beans; we’ll be making panna cotta.”
“What’s that?” Her ignorant question stopped him dead in his tracks.
“You don’t … Never mind. You’ll see.”
“Why aren’t we making peas and cheese tart since you already offered to make it?”
He turned and walked back to her. “That’s for another time. We don’t want to get nostalgic and sad now.”
“I wouldn’t …”
“You’re underestimating the power of food,” he said, cutting her off, and then added, “We’ll make something sexy, instead.”
“Food isn’t sexy, no matter what this panotta is,” she countered.
“Panna cotta, Isabelle. Panna cotta.” He rolled his eyes at her, and she wasn’t sure whether it was because she didn’t know what panna cotta was, or because she thought food couldn’t be sexy.
Halfway towards the door with a ‘Storeroom’ sign on it, he turned, grinned, and said, “I never thought prudes could be sexy.” His dreamy eyes travelled the length of her body and stopped on her face. “But look at you …”
When he returned with two articles in his hands, she was still standing in the same spot. She hadn’t yet recovered.
“We’re strapped for time, so we’ll improvise,” he said.
Improvisation sounded bad, was Isabelle’s first coherent thought in the last five minutes. Really bad.
“Put two teaspoons of this—it’s gelatin—” he handed her the larger container “—into a small bowl and add four spoons of cold water.”
She held the container gingerly, following Harper’s moves around the kitchen with her eyes instead of doing what he’d asked. She had no idea what gelatin was.
“What?” He stopped in his tracks when he noticed she didn’t budge from her spot.
“Bowl?” she peeped.
“In that cupboard.” He pointed. He looked all business now. Relaxed, but focused. Isabelle couldn’t help but admire him. It was as if he had washed his sarcasm off of him as he washed his hands in the sink before he went to work. He seemed like he was enjoying this, like he felt at home in the kitchen. He looked sexy in his jeans, the black apron, his hair mussed and his defined biceps showing under his short sleeves.
She shivered, placing the container on the countertop. “I need to make a phone call,” she muttered.
 
 
 
One last thing before we let you leave us today. Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?  I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share.
 
Cottage cheese cake
8 leaves of gelatin
1 package of instant vanilla pudding (40 g)
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of sugar
2 1/2 cups of cottage cheese
1 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of mixed fresh berries
3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
 
Soak the gelatin in cold water for ten minutes. In the meantime, prepare pudding, using the pudding powder, milk and sugar, following the instructions for the pudding.
When the pudding is ready, wring the gelatin out and add to the hot pudding. Stir for the gelatin to dissolve. Put the pudding aside and let it cool. Stir it occasionally.
 
Into the cool pudding, slowly add the cottage cheese. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until thick and firm and then add into the pudding mix. Pour the mixture into a cake mold. Shake it a bit so that the mixture evens out. Put it into the fridge for three hours.
 
Carefully remove the rim of the mold and place the cake onto a large plate. Wash and dry the mixed berries and then decorate the cake with them. Dust it all with powdered sugar. Serve and enjoy!
  

Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser ~ Christina Cole

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday & A Teaser Every Tuesday we'll welcome an Author who will share a foodie type post with a recipe or two and some book promo! Today please help me welcome Christina Cole!

*   *   *   *  *   *  

Nothing Says Loving Like Something From the Oven
 
I have always loved cooking. When I was a little girl, I didn’t play “tea party”. Instead, I gathered up every cookbook I could lay hands on, picked out recipes, designed a centerpiece and table setting, and played “Let’s have a seven-course meal!”
Later in life, I set out to share my love of cooking by hosting “kitchen parties” for little girls. We made snickerdoodles, we made cranberry relish¸ we made -- a big mess! But, what fun we had! As a troop leader for the Girl Scouts, I made sure my girls had plenty of opportunities to learn cooking skills. Together, we baked bread, enjoyed progressive dinners, and even made sauerkraut for a craft fair -- receiving a lovely prize ribbon for the endeavor.
Cooking is part of my life, but for Kat Phillips in Not the Marrying Kind, being in the kitchen makes her feel a bit like “a silly goose among a flock of chickens.” The kitchen is definitely not her domain.
Oh, but her mother makes the most scrumptious apple pie you’ve ever tasted! Kat’s attempts at following her mother’s recipe may lead to unexpected consequences, but I’m sure you’ll love this tasty treat.
Note: Kat and her mother baked on a wood stove, but for modern cooks using modern appliances, I’ve updated the recipe to include oven temperature settings. You can use this recipe with your favorite double pie crust, or you can try a little trick I saw recently. Flatten a batch of canned cinnamon rolls to use for the bottom crust! I haven’t tried this personally, but it sounds like a yummy idea, especially for a cinnamon lover like me.
 Amanda’s Heavenly Apple Pie


6  to 8 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1  cup granulated sugar
1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2  teaspoons all-purpose flour
2  9-inch pie crusts
4 teaspoons butter (approximate)
 
Slice apples into a bowl, then toss with the sugar, cinnamon,
allspice, and flour until apples are covered. Heap the apples in a pie shell.
Dot randomly with about 2 teaspoons butter pats over apples.
 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out second half of dough. Moisten edge of bottom crust. Cover apples with top layer of dough and cut slits in top to let out steam. Slice off edges of excess pastry with knife. Press top and bottom together with a fork. Dot randomly with about 2 teaspoons butter pats on outer crust. Sprinkle cinnamon on top crust.
 
Place pie pan on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and continue baking for 45 to 50 minutes until apples are tender. Remove and let cool. 
 
 
You can meet Kat Phillips and her mother, Amanda, in my latest historical romance,

Not the Marrying Kind
Available now from Secret Cravings Publishing
Also available from
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand
 
 
Blurb:


Kat Phillips is not the marrying kind. She can’t cook, keep house, or sew a stitch. When her father takes sick and decides to sell the Rocking P ranch, Kat must either follow his wishes and marry the lackluster minister in town or find a husband for herself.
Joshua Barron comes to the Colorado Territory to make a new start. Nothing means more to him than freedom. He arrives at the cabin where he’ll be staying with his reclusive, crazy-as-a-coot cousin, and realizes Cody desperately needs a wife. His thoughts go at once to the long-legged redhead he met in the foothills.
When Kat realizes the handsome stranger is looking for a wife,  she’s determined to prove she’s got all the skills required to please a man...even if she has to lie to do it. She has no idea that Joshua is involved in a few lies of his own.



EXCERPT FROM: Not the Marrying Kind by Christina Cole
 
“I need your help.” Kat grabbed her friend’s hands again. “I’ve got myself in a bit of a fix.”
Lucille nodded. “Of course, just tell me what you need.”
“I knew I could count on you.” Kat breathed out a sigh. “It’s Mr. Barron,” she continued, quickly shaking her head at the girl’s concerned expression. “He’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with him.” Absolutely nothing at all, she thought silently. “The problem is he’s asked me to fix him a bite to eat. I guess he and his cousin are awfully busy with some project or another. I’m not sure exactly what, but, well, two men living out there in that cabin,” she said with an offhand laugh, “probably don’t know much about cooking.”
“Neither do you,” replied Lucille, stepping back and giving Kat a curious look. “Why on earth would that man come to you for a decent meal?” She laughed aloud. “What a thought.”
“He doesn’t know that I can’t cook.”
 
 
 
About Christina:
 
Christina Cole fell in love with words at a very young age. She’ll always be grateful to her grandfather and his patience as he taught her the joys of reading. Throughout her childhood she loved telling tales. She begged and pleaded for her mother to type them, but soon -- with her grandfather’s guidance -- learned to type for herself on his old Underwood.
Things have changed now. Her grandfather is gone, and so is the old typewriter, but Christina’s love for story-telling has remained strong. She now does her typing on a computer in a cozy little writing room filled with books, treasures, and a much-cherished photograph of her grandfather.
She is married, lives in the midwest, loves history, hates winter, and is happily at work on her next historical romance, “Keeping Faith” -- Book 2 of “The Sunset Series”.
 
Twitter: @Kcchristinacole
Facebook: Christina Cole’s Love Notes
Blog: Christina Cole Romance (christinacoleromance.com)
EMail: CCole@christinacoleromance.com
 
GIVEAWAY!
Christina will give away a PDF copy of “Not the Marrying Kind”.  To enter, leave a comment, please. Contest will run from Tuesday through Thursday. Winner will be chosen and notified on Friday, February 7th.