Kris Bock's Blog, page 28

A #SweetRomance on sale for #99c - #Romance and Rescues at the Cat Café #MFRWorg

After a rotten week, Holly jumps at the chance to go on a rescue mission. Dozens of cats are stranded in a remote house where the owner has died. They’ve been abandoned, and she can sympathize. But she did not agree to make the road trip with Dustin, her rival and biggest headache at the cat café where they both work.

Dustin has given up trying to get Holly to like him. Still, a long drive through a snowstorm and an overnight in a house full of cats might bring them together—or result in his violent demise. But what they find is worse than they ever imagined: no lights, no heat, the snow still coming down, and over twenty hungry, skittish cats. They’ll have to work as a team to survive and save the animals.

One thing is certain—if they make it back alive, their relationship won’t be the same.

This title stars Merlin, the Maine coon cat readers adore, and many more cats to fall in love with. It includes the tropes two against the world, antagonist to lovers or enemies to lovers, and forced proximity.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, cozy feeling of cuddling a purring cat. 

Join my newsletter and get a glimpse into the Furrever Friends Cat Café with a free sweet romance novella complete at 35 pages. Lions and Love at the Cat Café is available in PDF, MOBI, and ePub. Get it free when you sign up for the Kris Bock email newsletter.

The Genie’s Gift - #MGlit #fantasy w/mythology of The Arabian Nights - #99c sale!

99 cent sale!

The Genie’s Giftis a lighthearted action novel set in the fifteenth-century Middle East, drawing on the mythology of The Arabian Nights.

Thirteen-year-old Anise, shy and timid, dreads marrying the man her father chooses for her. Her aunt tells her about the Genie Shakayak, the giver of the Gift of Sweet Speech. He lives high atop Mount Quaf, many weeks’ journey across a barren desert. The way is barred by a dozen dangers and trials. But those few who cross the desert and defeat the guardians of the mountain receive their reward. From that day forward, their words drip like honey from their lips, charming all who hear them, and no one can deny them anything they ask.

Anise is determined to find the genie and ask for the gift, so she can control her own future. But the way is barred by a series of challenges, both ordinary and magical. How will Anise get past a vicious she-ghoul, a sorceress who turns people to stone, and mysterious sea monsters, when she can’t even speak in front of strangers? Will she ever reach the top of Mount Quaf—and if she does, can she convince the Genie to give her the gift?

For ages nine and up. A teacher-reviewer says, “Because this book presents realistic life in 15th C Arabia, it could easily fulfill CCSS needs to integrating literature into the Social Studies curriculum.” Get Lesson Plans for teaching or homeschooling.

Chris Eboch is the author of over 60 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting.

Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/or her Amazon page, or check out her writing tips at her Write Like a Pro! blog.

#Recipes from the Cat Café plus a free #SweetRomance novella #MFRWorg #Romance

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. These sweet romances will leave you with the warm, fuzzy feeling of cuddling a purring cat. 

"Recipes from the Cat Café" provides 13 of the recipes mentioned in the novella and books 1-3: 
Thumbprint Cookies
Chai Tea Shortbread Cookies
Cookie Dough Brownies
Easy Espresso Brownies
Rocky Road Fudge Bars
Salted Caramel Blondies
Cherry or Cranberry Scones
Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Boston Cream Cupcakes
Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes
Apricot Shortbread
Lemony Frosted Sour Cream Cookies
Gingery Molasses Cookies
Subscribe to my newsletter to get them free! 
You'll also get Lions and Love at the Cat Café, a free 35-page story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, free for subscribing. 
Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter here!

To learn more about the cat café series or my other work, visit www.krisbock.com or Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) You can also follow me on Amazon (go to my author page and click on the "Follow" button to the left) or BookBub (button in the upper right corner) if you only want New Release Alerts.

The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Each book is a complete story with a happy ending for one couple (and maybe more than one rescued cat). These sweet romances will leave you with the warm feeling of cuddling a purring cat. See the series page on Amazon.

Here's your chance to win Gift Cards! Plus get #romance #FallReads free for review or free w/newsletter signup! #contemporaryromance #sweetromance

Pre Holiday Mega Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow authors on various social media to gain entries for the giveaway. You might learn about some great new authors and books – as well as win free books or gift cards!
Enter here.

Check out more new authors and books – for free!
Contemporary Romance - Free for Review: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/VFF7qPb
If you love contemporary romance and could use some books by new-to-you authors, check out this group. It has billionaires and blue-collar workers, romantic suspense and sweet romance stories – all free in the hopes you'll leave an honest review.



Super Sweet Romance: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/I71P9hO
In stressful times, a sweet romance can comfort. Get "Reader Magnets" – stories, novellas, or full novels that are free in exchange for signing up for the author's newsletter. (Unsubscribe any time.) You'll find a story set in the world of my cat café, a rom-com short with a dog, several beaches, and a comedy about a kindergarten Christmas program.

Kris Bockwrites novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her

Check out #FallReads some free, some in #KindleUnlimited - lots of #Romance plus suspense and more!

Whispers in the Dark is romantic suspense with archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Reviewers give it a 4.3 star average: “A great read with a strong plot line & likeable characters!” Get your copy today, on sale for $.99 until Oct. 7 at Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page! 
Historical Fiction Reads:  https://storyoriginapp.com/to/N7npV5m

Get your KU #FallReads – Lots of historical romance, some fantasy, time travel, mysteries, a military fiction with Alexander the Great ... You'll also find a female Pinkerton detective, a Regency retelling of Jane Eyre, Greek Myths, my middle grade fantasy The Genie's Gift, and many more in Kindle Unlimited.

Clean, Small Town Women's Fiction & Romance: Free for Review: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/TwGTFYC

Check out fun romance books you can get for free! All are sweet / clean titles set in small towns. (Reviews are not required but you can claim more free books if you read/review/share your review links on the site.) 

October Romance Book Fair:  https://storyoriginapp.com/to/mnOTcb0

Small towns, beautiful beaches, big cities, Paris, cat cafés, a hurricane, a Druid's portal ... Find a great new read! Whether you like cowboys (Yeeha!) or princes, aliens or tattooed Mafia bad boys, dog lovers or cat fans, you'll find great Fall Reads in this bunch of books! Many are 99 cents and some are free.

Kris Bockwrites novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her
Kris also writes romantic suspense set in the Southwestern U.S. If you love Mary Stewart or Barbara Michaels, try Kris Bock’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue in the Southwest. Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) 

#99c SALE Oct. 1-7: Whispers in the Dark, #romance and #suspense among Southwest archaeology ruins #RomanticSuspense

“This book was a delight from start to finish!”

Archaeology student Kylie Hafford craves adventure when she heads to the remote Puebloan ruins of Lost Valley, Colorado, to excavate. Romance isn’t in her plans, but she soon meets two sexy men: Danesh looks like a warrior from the Pueblo’s ancient past, and Sean is a charming, playful tourist. 

The summer heats up as Kylie uncovers mysteries, secrets, and terrors in the dark. She’ll need all her strength and wits to survive—and to save the man she’s come to love. 

99 cents/99 pence SALE Oct. 1-7: Whispers in the Dark:

“All in all, a great read, with a strong plot line, and likeable characters! I highly recommend this author!”

Whispers in the Dark, romantic suspense set in the Four Corners region of the Southwest, will appeal to fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, Nora Roberts, and Terry Odell. This title stands alone and is not part of a series.

“The southwest setting and attention to authentic details will make the reader feel like he/she knows the place once the book is finished. This story has a few twists and turns that catch you off-guard and provide a satisfying finish.”

 Get Whispers in the Dark on Amazon!

Kris Bock’s Amazon US page
Kris Bock’s Amazon UK page

Excerpt:   I had to move. The thought battered at the back of my mind, a panicky whisper that I tried to ignore. I had to run. Hide. He was after me. I had to get away.

    I clenched my teeth hard, as if I could bite back the pain and fear. Memories crowded in, like panicked ghosts wailing at the edges of my mind. Guns, strange men. Dangerous, threatening men. Danesh trying to protect me, the gun going off. My own helpless, panicked flight. Helpless. Worthless. Unable to fight, unable even to scream.

    I tried to focus on this one moment, the physical sensations of my aching body as I lay on the hard, damp ground. The cold against my bare calves, the lump of rock pressing into my shoulder. That focus helped keep me grounded in the present. Never mind that this present wasn’t a place I wanted to be. I had to deal with reality. But I didn’t have to also deal with nightmares. Not now.

    The little whimpers in my throat faded to short gasping breaths. I held on to this moment, this single slice of reality. Now to move forward. I didn’t have to like it, but I had to do it. One step at a time. 

Get Whispers in the Dark for 99c/99p for the Kindle, Oct. 1-7!

“This book has a little bit of everything. It has mystery, suspense, action, drama, romance, and some comic moments. The setting is unique and interesting.”

“Characters you can care about, an absorbing plot, a little romance with mystery too. I read it in record time, just couldn't put the book down and really got into the story.”
Kris Bock’s Amazon US pageKris Bock’s Amazon UK page
Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. She has lived in ten states and one foreign country but is now firmly planted in the Southwest, where many of her books are set. Readers have called her novels “Like Nancy Drew for grown-ups” and “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Kris's Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they fall in love with each other and shelter cats. Get a free 10,000-word story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café when you sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter. You’ll also get a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

#AmWriting and Running: 6 #Writing Lessons Learned from Jogging #NWHFD #fitnessday

In March of 2011 I started jogging. Despite the occasional illness, injury, and ‘I don’t wanna,’ I’m still getting out regularly. On one long and rather tedious solo run, I started making connections between jogging and writing and life. I'm sharing them in honor of National Women's Health & Fitness Week (the last week in September). See more links on how to “Stay Well, Stay Safe” from WIC.Get Some Running BuddiesIt helps to have inspiration. I started jogging with a Couch to 5K group that met twice a week. Having the regular schedule kept us on track. The program helped us pace ourselves, starting with short runs and frequent walks, and working up to a 45 minute run. We also had an experienced leader to offer advice.
Several of us continued running together after the program ended. I wouldn’t get out there as often if people weren’t waiting for me. I’d be tempted to stop early, if I didn’t have the encouragement of the group. Hey, peer pressure is powerful! You might as well make it work for you. Plus, it’s more fun to run with other people. (Granted, the pandemic makes this more challenging. Some people are apparently doing virtual social jogs where they chat on a group phone call or Zoom.)
For writers, it’s important to find the right peer group for your needs. For many, this is a critique group. They may be large or small, meet in person or online, have open or closed membership, get together weekly or monthly or as needed. Finding a group that suits your needs is invaluable.
Other writers share goals and deadlines, checking in with a friend daily or weekly to report progress. There’s that peer pressure again! Even a non-writing friend can help hold you accountable. (But choose carefully. You don't need someone pressuring you to finish your novel in six months or run a seven-minute mile.)
Finally, social groups can provide camaraderie and networking. I live in a small town with a science and engineering college; I know far more computer geeks than writers. But by making monthly trips to Albuquerque to attend a writing meeting, I’ve made many friends who understand what I do. I’ve also made connections by teaching workshops and guest speaking for groups like Sisters in Crime. 

For those who can’t attend in person (or all of us during the pandemic), online discussion boards, listserves, and online classes offer information and a sense of connection. The New Mexico SCBWI group of children's book writers and illustrators has a weekly online "coffee chat" which has been fantastic for keeping in touch. Another writing friend started inviting people to occasional evening chats – "the folks I would grab at a conference to go out for drinks."
Jog - and Write - for Distance, Not Speed It really is about the journey, not how fast you get there. Pace yourself, and enjoy the journey, or you might burn out along the way. If you can see the end, or at least imagine the cheering crowds and free food, it might give you the extra boost you need to keep going. But take time to enjoy the sights, and the experience will be a lot more fun.
As a writer, don’t focus so much on the response to your query letters. Sure, celebrate successes, and try to learn from disappointments, but put most of your energy into enjoying the journey. (That works for the rest of life, too.)
But Keep Moving Your Feet (or Fingers) A slow pace may get you there, but if you have a long way to go, you might as well do it running. A marathon will take a lot longer at a stroll than at a jog, even a slow jog. Run when you can, walk when you need a rest, but keep moving. That’s the only way to reach the end.
Take the time you need to learn and practice your writing craft. Do as many drafts as you need to polish your novel. Don’t rush, but do keep working. Write a page a day, and you’ll have a complete draft in a year. It may not be perfect, but it will be more than what you started with.
Practice Makes Perfect, or At Least Lessens the PainIf you’re training, you need to get out regularly. Running once a month will just leave you sore and frustrated each time, and you won’t see any progress in your fitness.
It’s the same with writing. Establishing habits and sticking to them will keep your mind fit. Writing several times a week will hone your skills and make it easier to get started next time.
Beware of ShortcutsIf I map out a 5K run, but take every shortcut, that could cut the distance down to 3 ½K. Easier, sure, but that won’t prepare me for running a 10K. It’s the same with life. Whether you’re trying to switch careers, meet the right partner, or finish a novel, some shortcuts may help, but others may do more harm than good.
I work with a lot of writing students. The beginners want to know if they’ll get published after taking one course. Nobody wants to spend 10 years learning how to write, but you need to do the work in order to earn the reward at the end. If you beg your friend to send your rough draft to her editor, you’ll blow your chance to make the best use of that connection. If you self publish your work before it’s ready, you’ll waste time that could be better spent working on your craft.
Sometimes the long, hard path is the only one that gets you where you want to go.
Whether Running or Writing, Push Yourself SometimesWith enough practice, you should get better. When I started jogging, it was a struggle to go for 10 minutes without a break. Six months later, I could make it through 45 minutes without stopping.
And then I plateaued. Jogging had become comfortable, if not easy. Why cause more pain by trying to go farther or faster?
Because that’s the only way to get better. And most likely, it’s the only way to stay interested. Fortunately, one of my jogging partners was great about coming up with new workouts. We added in some sprints one day, did hills another day. We chose different routes on different terrains. Variety keeps it interesting, which makes it easier to work hard.
With my writing, I find that I get bored if I become too comfortable with something. After publishing a dozen children’s books as Chris Eboch, I wanted a change. I started writing romantic suspense for adults, using the name Kris Bock. This brought new challenges – writing books two or three times as long as what I was used to, exploring romantic subplots, delving deeper into character. I didn’t always get things right the first time, but I became a better writer – and I renewed my interest in writing.
Are you a writer who runs? Join the Writers Who Run Facebook Group to meet up with like-minded folks and learn about events.
Kris Bockwrites novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her
Kris also writes romantic suspense set in the Southwestern U.S. If you love Mary Stewart or Barbara Michaels, try Kris Bock’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue in the Southwest. Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) 
Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. 

#FallReads free for review, free w/newsletter signup, or in #KindleUnlimited - Get #romance #paranormal #fantasy #scifi #mystery and #horror!

Fantastic Fall Reviews

Whether you like contemporary romance, horror, or sci-fi, you’ll find a tempting freebie book here. This collection includes everything from sweet romance to horror to science fiction. (Reviews are not required but you will be able to claim more free books if you read, review, and share your review links on the site.)

Breaking News Worldwide 

This is a huge collection of free short stories and novels including romance in various sub-genres (historical, contemporary, sweet, dark), fantasy, sci-fi, a mystery or two, and lots of horror. It's also interesting to see what covers tell you about a book! Can you tell the genre from the cover and title? Which ones encourage you to click to learn more? Sign up for author newsletters to get these novels and stories for free.

Fall in Love with a New Romance 

If you KU, check out these Kindle Unlimited Romance Reads – Find Rock Stars, Cowboys, Dukes, Faeries and regular guys, in romance titles ranging from sweet to spicy.

Kris Bockwrites novels of romance, mystery, and suspense. Her
Kris also writes romantic suspense set in the Southwestern U.S. If you love Mary Stewart or Barbara Michaels, try Kris Bock’s stories of treasure hunting, archaeology, and intrigue in the Southwest. Learn more at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris Bock’s Amazon US page or Amazon UK page. (For other countries click here.) 

Get #Romance #FallReads for free! #MFRWorg

Calling all readers! Have you read all your beach reads over the summer and looking for new books to dive into this month? We’re celebrating books from all genres at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s third annual Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon. 47 books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:
(2) $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Cardsa $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Carda $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Carda $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, Coffee and Crushes at the Cat Café: a Furrever Friends Sweet Romance,   was featured on September 5. Check out all the posts, bookmark this event, and tell your friends. 
More free books! Click the title words, not the images to see the selections of stories free with newsletter signup or for review.
September Reads Book Fest This huge collection of free short stories and novels includes romance in various subgenres (historical, contemporary, sweet, dark), fantasy, sci-fi, a mystery or two, and lots of horror. Sign up for author newsletters and get these stories for free. 
Not Your Cookie-Cutter RomanceDiscover new authors and characters in these free books and samples! Sign up for author newsletters and get contemporary romance, historical and paranormal prequels and stories for free.
Sweet Romance Blitz Find new authors with free prequels, novellas, and short stories. These sweet contemporary romance offerings are yours with newsletter signups (unsubscribe any time).
Teen Fiction Blast  Fun young adult books you can get for free! Visit beaches, county fair, or other worlds. These books are free via Story Origin, in the hopes that you'll provide an honest review. Reviews are not required but you will be able to claim more free books if you read, review, and share your review links on the site.

Get #Romance #SummerReads on sale, #KindleUnlimited titles, and even free books!

Get books on sale, free books, and Kindle Unlimited books! Click on the text title, not the image, to go to the group pages. Jump into Fall 99¢ Book Sale 
Get these books fast! This promotion ends September 7th! The books should all be 99 cents during this period. You can get my second cat cafe sweet romance, Kittens and Kisses at the Cat Café: a Furrever Friends Sweet Romance, along with a couple of #mystery novels, "A Twisted Fairy Tale Box Set," and more.


For Kittens and Kisses at the Cat Café, you can go directly to Amazon U.S. or Amazon in other countries (but it's only on sale in the U.S. and UK).



Read and Review Romance 
Fun romance books you can get for free! Small towns, beaches, wine country, big cities, and even other worlds! Find romance in all genres, from sweet to steamy. Get great romance novels for free! (You will be able to claim more free books if you read, review, and share your review links on the site.)


Fall in Love with a New Book - Romance Giveaway 
Discover new authors and characters in these #free books and samples! Sign up for author newsletters and get historical and #contemporaryromance prequels and stories for free.


Beach Reads Bonanza! 
From Greek myths and cat short stories to sweet romance and a choose your own adventure, find short Summer Reads perfect for the beach (or your living room).