Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 115

Spotlight: For the Love of a Sphynx by Heather Sharpe

I had the pleasure of reading this book before its publication. It is cute, well written, fun, and tender. I'm pleased to host a spotlight for this today.
When time’s the enemy, there’s no room to pussyfoot around.
Blurb: Betrayed by her fiancé, Mahri Lassler swears never to risk losing her heart again. She’s convinced she may as well collect cats since she’s on the path to spinsterhood. She adopts a tomcat, and just as they’re beginning to learn each other’s idiosyncrasies, the cat bolts out the door, disappearing without a trace. Her quest to find the darn cat leads her to a confused, naked man writhing on the street. The hopeless look in his eyes touches something deep inside Mahri. Can she trust her heart enough to risk it on a man with no past? Will her love be enough to break his curse?

Bio: Heather Sharpe lives on six acres in Central Kansas with her husband, perfect baby boy, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. In case the house isn’t full enough, it also includes four noisy dogs, one cat who inspired For the Love of a Sphynx and another who torments him, and a lizard. At night, all of them think they need room on the bed (except the lizard, thankfully). Up until the birth of her son, Heather taught elementary school. Now she chases around her toddler and writes whenever he naps.
Links: www.heathermsharpe.webstarts.comwww.facebook.com/heathermsharpe
Excerpt: 
            Unimaginable agony ripped through him, searing every nerve, and igniting his blood. Contorting in pain, his muscles contracted independently, twisting his body into impossible positions.            What seemed an eternity later, he lay gasping in the dirt. He pulled his lips back in a  painful grimace as he sucked air into his aching lungs and looked around for Brigid. He would think twice before giving her an opportunity to hurt him that profoundly again. In all the battles he’d fought, he’d never felt such pain.             The clearing was empty. Brigid, the cottage, his horse, the small garden where they’d spent hours talking; all of it, had disappeared without a trace. A shiver of unease raced through his limbs.             The breeze, gentle now, ruffled his hair playfully. Testing his muscles tentatively, he noticed only a slight tenderness remained after the unbearable agony of before. His muscle and joint pain paled in comparison to a sudden thirst.             Climbing unsteadily to his feet, he stumbled to the brook. Whatever she’d done to him had messed with his vision. Everything seemed skewed. While trees and other still objects appeared fuzzy, anything that moved snapped with clarity, instantly claiming his undivided attention. A silver sheen blanketed the world before him. It dampened the saturation of the forest colors, but he noticed more small animals scurrying about than ever before. Closing his eyes to offset the dizzying effects of this visual phenomenon, Morgan stretched toward the musical bubbling of water over stones and lapped several mouthfuls before daring to crack his eyes open. After the tortuous eternity and weird theatrics, he was unsure what he’d expected, but it definitely wasn’t this.            A furry black face with two short, pointed ears and feline eyes stared up at him from the surface of the water. What the hell?

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Adrean Bodree

Book: Blood and Magnolias
Author: Morgan Summerfield
Heroine: Adrean Bodree


I am pleased to introduce you to Adrean Bodree from Blood and Magnolias. In the beginning of the story Adrean finds herself in an untenable relationship that was, unbeknownst to her, a sham from the start. Standing on the edge of a divorce, that her husband has no intention of granting, she is befriended by two very seductive and charming ‘playmates’ filled with ulterior motives.


After six years of suppression, under the guise of necessity orchestrated by her husband, the real Adrean—a tenacious, steadfast, smart, and playful woman--is set free by these two false friends. The plot to use her stays well hidden and seems to be headed toward fruition, until Adrean’s determination puts her on a path of discovery.

While Adrean is a beautiful woman, her true beauty lies in her faith of self. At no time does she compromise the core of who she is, despite pressure to do so. She is intolerant of bias and prejudice, loyal to those she believes are worthy, and passionate about truth. If my ship was sinking and I had to choose lifeboat companions, I would want Adrean with me.

The setting of Blood and Magnolias is Louisiana and the genre assigned is Southern Gothic. However, it is not about Vampires. It is filled with mystery, suspense, and the eeriness of dark nights, shifting winds, and moss heavy in the trees.

Blurb:
Steamy passion, ruthless action, and unthinkable betrayal mix with the landscape of Louisiana, bayous, marshes, Cajuns, Creoles, and Voodoo to create a modern Southern Gothic tale that provokes reaction and quickens the pulse.

Blood and Magnolias is rife with secrets, treacherous behaviors, and obsessive desires. Breach the cover and brave the tumultuous waves of an emotional sea that makes Adrean Bodree an easy target for the wealthy Melville family. Perch upon the crest and take a deep breath as Adrean is plunged into the trough and dragged below the surface by the undertow of a malicious seduction.

Some of the waters are very dark, but there is no turning back once the journey is begun. Are you brave enough to embark on this voyage? Not for the timid.

Buy here

Spotlight: Obsession by Tamaria Soana

Is there anywhere safe when you're the object of someone's obsession? 
Alexandria Stevens is a New York Times best-selling romance novelist. After she makes a guest appearance on a popular TV talk show, she creates a Twitter account. Within a few short weeks she meets a fan, and they become fast friends…or that’s what Alex thinks. When Alex finds herself being stalked, the person she least suspects is her new friend Jillian. What she doesn’t know is that Jillian has been obsessed with her for years. She wants everything Alex has, even her husband.
Content Warning: sexual situations, adult language, violence 
Excerpt:

Alex went into her study to answer some emails and go over the script for her movie again when the doorbell rang. Knowing Hudson was on a conference call, she went to answer it. She looked out the window to find a deliveryman with a long, white box. Her heart melted, Hudson had flowers delivered for her. He was always so romantic and thoughtful. God, she loved him.

Alex opened the door and signed for the flowers. As she took them to the kitchen to place them in a vase, her mind wandered to all the ways she could thank Hudson properly after his conference call was over. Her favorite one involved her being down on her knees. Alex couldn't wait to see and smell the beautiful flowers. Giggling, she untied the ribbon and anxiously lifted the lid.

She screamed and dropped the box. It was filled with a dozen black roses, a purple plastic butterfly attached to one stem. Fear rocked through her body as she remembered the note left on her car. Like a butterfly, a wild butterfly. I will collect you and capture you. Alex fell to the floor and wrapped her arms around herself.

"Alex, oh my God. Are you okay? What happened?" Hudson asked as he placed his arms around her trembling body.

She pointed to the black roses. "I thought you sent me flowers," she stuttered in between her sobs.

Hudson looked at the roses with confusion, then Alex pointed to the butterfly and told him about the note she'd found on her car and how Colleen said it was nothing, probably a sick prank.

"You should've told me, baby. I'm calling your father, this isn't just a prank." Hudson dialed Anthony, Alex's father and a police detective. Hudson held her tight and assured her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her and they would find out what was going on.

Anthony was at his daughter's side within fifteen minutes with two policemen in tow. He asked a few questions and took the flowers for evidence. Alex just clung to Hudson as her father lectured her for not telling anyone about the note that had been left on her car. He was upset that the note had been destroyed, because there could've been forensic evidence on it that would help them figure out who was doing this.

Alex looked into her father's eyes, he looked both angry and conflicted. She knew this had to be hard on him. He had to be both her father and the detective on the case. He assured them he would try and keep a lid on it for as long as possible. Alex let out a moan knowing what would happen if the media found out about it.

Hudson asked Anthony about the possibility of the police providing some sort of security for Alex. She objected, saying she didn't want to be babysat. Her father quickly dismissed her objection, stating it was a good idea and he would arrange regular patrols of the street. He swore to her that he would catch the psycho who was stalking her. He hugged her before he left, which took Alex by surprise because he never showed emotion.

When everyone was finally gone, Hudson got Alex some water and two sleeping pills. Soon she was in bed wrapped in Hudson's arms. Although she was both emotionally and physically exhausted, she felt safe next to him. She sighed and snuggled as close to his warm body as she could as she wiped away a tear and drifted off to sleep.

Alex woke to her cellphone ringing over and over again. Who the hell keeps calling? She moaned as she grabbed her phone from the bedside table. When she looked at the screen and saw who the caller was, she rolled her eyes.

"Mom?"

"Oh my God, Alexandria, are you okay? Why do I have to find out from the media that someone is stalking my daughter?"

Alex just let her mother rant—no good would come out of trying to stop her and explain things until she had it all out of her system.

"And a movie deal? Why am I the last to know everything? Well, I'm waiting."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I was going to call you today. Things have been a bit crazy. What do you mean you heard it from the media?"

"It's all over the entertainment news."

"Christ!" Alex took a deep breath. She needed to focus and find out what was being said. "Mom, I have to go. I promise I'll call you later and fill you in on everything. I need to find out exactly what has been leaked."

Ladies Uncorked Release & Giveaway!

Announcing the first release of the Napa Valley NaughtiesLadies Uncorked
There’s a reason the room on the ladies only wine tour is so cheap… There’s only one bed!But it’s big enough for three…
Blurb: Girls just wanna have fun and what better way to do that than a weekend wine tour? Rozella needs a break from caring for her mother and her friend Nicole is newly single and in need of a respite from her own troubles.Their eagerness turns to mild dismay, however, when they discover they got a great deal on a fancy hotel room only because they’re apparently sharing a bed...a bed big enough for three. Will they make use of it? They may have a willing bedmate in the form of a sexy tour guide. But first, they must uncork their inhibitions.Excerpt:
His gaze perused first Nicole, then Rozella, the glint in his eyes appreciative. Rozella busied herself pouring him a glass of wine. She willed her hands not to shake as she offered him the glass. “You’ve been left out of the festivities. I’m sure you’d like to make up for it now.”
He accepted the glass with a twitch at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, I assume I will.” He watched her as he took his first sip. Rozella saw the moisture of the wine on his lips and fought the urge to lick them. But then again, what was stopping her? Isn’t that what he was here for? Did they really want to waste time with their life stories?
As Nicole led him to the bed and sat down with him, her own wine glass in hand, Rozella decided not. They weren’t interested in life stories tonight. The sexual tension in the air was palpable.
She grabbed her own wine glass and gulped greedily, watching as Nicole set her own aside to place one hand on Blake’s thigh and one on his back, leaning in close. The whitish-gold liquid stung her throat and caused her eyes to tear. She wasn’t used to drinking so quickly, and the wine from Vespera’s was more potent than a store bought vintage.
Nicole and Blake were whispering to each other, smiles lighting their faces. Rozella set her glass down, grabbed the wine bottle, and approached them. She gestured to Blake’s empty glass as she held the bottle out. “More?”
“No.” He grinned, set his glass on the nightstand, and rose to stand before her. His chest was almost touching hers. Her nipples hardened beneath the material of her dress. “Maybe after,” he murmured right before he caught her mouth with his own.
Available on Amazon and Secret Cravings Publishing and Amazon

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Doggirl by Robin Brande

I don't think I've ever read a YA novel in which I could relate to the heroine so well. Having grown up being bullied, similar to what this young girl faces, the parallels surprised me. Like myself, the girl turns to dogs.


"I don't get a lot of things people do. Which is why I prefer living as part of a dog pack rather than a human one. Every time I think I might have figured people out, it turns out to be a disaster."

Riley is fourteen and knows enough to keep to herself. But wanting to put "dog trainer" on her resume, she signs up for a school play that wants some well-trained dogs involved...and she and her dogs steal the show. I confess that at first I found it unbelievable that a girl at fourteen could be so knowledgeable about dogs, their habits, their packs, their communications, and could train all of them so well. But I figure anything's possible.

Through Riley's eyes, we see the world of human: odd, and the world of dogs: easy to understand. It's funny, cute, heartwarming, and I found myself cheering for her, hoping she would stand up for herself, find a friend, give people a chance, because I think that was the lesson here underneath the cute dog stuff: just because you've been hurt once, doesn't mean all people are out to get you.

And another one, spoken by one of the characters:

"You can let people tell you who you are, or you can tell them yourself."

Great read. I even got teary eyed toward the end, when she was watching a video put together by the camera guy.

The dogs and their tricks are absolutely amazing and the book has many a humorous spot. And something else I have to quote, just because I feel the same way about my pooches:

"My dogs are beautiful, but they're not "show quality." I wouldn't want them to be....All of my dogs are healthy and happy and complete joys to be around. That's what matters to me."

I wish there was a sequel. I'd like to see what happens to Riley and her dogs. 5 stars. I bought this on Kindle.

Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash by Bev Pettersen

I'm a huge fan of Ms. Pettersen's books. This is my fourth one now. As usual, the story sucks me in from the get-go, keeps me guessing and wondering what's going to happen, and mixes mystery with real life very well, though this one  had a lot less mystery. I was surprised. It was more of a drama, less of a mystery, though it doesn't make it any less good.

Jenna is a tough cookie who has been through so much. Her parents are dead and she's solely trying to put her sister through college...a sister who is throwing the education away. Meanwhile, Jenna is forced to lie about her education to keep her job as a horse massager.

Horse massage, oxygen tanks, special lights...this book showed me a world I have never heard of before: horse therapy. That was really interesting to me.

Burke is at Jenne's place of work to make it run more efficiently and...well, fire people.

I had a very, very hard time liking Burke. To be honest, I never did grow to like him. He's way too bossy and controlling and I didn't feel he changed enough in the end for me to really like him. He looks down on people, says callous things, makes demands, and while I realized he needed to be that way for his job, I didn't like the way he instilled into his relationship with Jenna.

Jenna has a bad streak of dishonesty. I had trouble with that at times too, but I also saw where she was coming from. I could relate to her a lot more than I could Burke.

I thought she was awful blind regarding her sister though. Wanted to slap her the first half of the book. Jenna is pretty easy to walk on.

The mystery when it comes is around the owners of an elite and possibly impotent racehorse. But as I said earlier, there's very little of this. Most of the story is about who's getting fired, can Jenna keep her job?, will she get caught sneaking her pony in for stable services after hours?, etc.

Four stars. I bought this on Amazon.

Dana Mason's Dangerous Embrace: Special Announcement

Dangerous Embrace is $0.99 on Amazon from Christmas Day until New Year’s Day. Regular price $3.99.Buy on Amazon
Synopsis:Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well. 
Now, back in her hometown, she's found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.
But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.
Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.
Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.
Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.
This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.
Excerpt:Sarah pried open her heavy eyelids and turned, trying to focus on the clock. “Ow, dammit!” She clenched her teeth and looked down at the sling tied to her arm. The smothering realization pressed on her chest. When the nausea hit, she flung the covers off and rushed to the bathroom, fighting to get to the toilet before her stomach heaved.
When the painful dry heaving stopped, she lay back on the cold tile floor, exhausted, and waited for the room to stop spinning. Her ragged breaths roared in her ears and seemed to echo in the quiet room. When her breathing slowed, the silence ebbed around her in waves, but when footsteps approached the bathroom door, she tensed again.
A bead of sweat dripped down her scalp and at the same time someone tapped at the door. Her pulse spiked and she fought like hell to remember who brought her home from the hospital.  She closed her eyes. “Who’s there?” The waver in her voice pissed her off. Gawd—please don’t let me be pathetic in front of whoever this is.
A hesitant and completely unfamiliar man’s voice said, “Are you all right? Do you need something?” Sarah sucked in a hard breath. “Um…” She exhaled slowly. “Who are you?”
“Mark Summors.”
She stiffened and tried to sit up. “Do I know you?” she asked her voice pitching.
“I can explain if you open the door.”
She steadied herself against the bathtub. The sling had slipped up her arm, exposing the trail of bruises. She swallowed another wave of nausea and tried to put the pieces together. Mark Summors? She glanced around for something to use as a weapon just in case, then she wanted to laugh—and cry. Who the hell was she kidding? She rolled her eyes. Good plan, Sarah, take on a strange guy with a toilet brush. 
“Can I come in?”  His voice was muffled as if he was resting his face against the door.
“Go ahead.” She clamped her mouth closed to suppress a shiver, then said, “It’s unlocked.”
The door eased open and a cup of water shot out at her.
“Oh, thank you,” she cried out, relieved to wash the disgusting film out of her mouth. She snatched the cup out of his hand and gulped it, letting her eyes lift above the rim to see his face.
 “Ah.” Sarah choked and inhaled the water. She set the cup down, almost upending it as she dropped it. “Oh my God!” She would never forget those intense blue eyes, just like she would never forget the smell of her attacker’s breath. They were all thrown together in the same horrifying memory.
Dana Mason Bio: Dana Mason started writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace, is the first in a contemporary romance series about a group of friends from Northern California who learn just how short life can be when you don’t hold on to what’s important. Second chances don’t come easy…but sometimes love is worth the risk.When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.  As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.
Dana Mason links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danamasonromanceTwitter: https://twitter.com/danamason06 or @danamason06Website: http://danamasonromance.com/Blog: http://danamasonromance.com/blog/Sapphire Star Publishing Author page: http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/danamason/Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440793.Dana_Mason

This Race Called Life

Sometimes, I see a picture, and words just come to mind. And this is what happened here... It's not a happy piece, but I do believe it describes how everyone feels at some time or another. It's like poetry that doesn't rhyme.


My arms ache with a painful burn, yet I keep plunging on, in this never-ending race. My shoulders are sore from the constant lifting and pushing, from persistently shoving myself off, attempting over and over again to get started and then plunge ahead.
And yet, I seem to have made no leeway. I see others bobbing ahead of me, getting farther and farther ahead with each second.
“Don’t leave me behind,” I want to scream, “Don’t leave me alone. Please wait for me! I’m still trying!”
But they continue, because it’s everyone for themselves. The strong, the fastest, the most powerful will succeed. The weak get left behind.
I try once more. I press on the oars, forward and down, in a circle. Sweat beads my brow. I could scream, I am so tired.
Thump.
I meet only hardness. I move not an inch.
Ahead of me, the others have disappeared.
I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.
“Keep trying. Never give up. Row harder. Row faster. Row farther,” I hear people say in my head.
But how can I row when I’m still on solid ground?
Can I get a helpful shove please? A bit of a push?
Thump.
Sometimes…I just can't cross the finish line.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Willow Bradley

Book: The Weeping Willow Tree
Author: Lacie Nation
Heroine: Willow Bradley

Willow Bradley is a tough southern woman. She suffers from a lifelong battle with depression, but doesn't let that define who she is. Willow puts her feelings into her music and loses herself in the only place she feels any peace at all, the weeping willow tree. On the days when it hurts to think about getting up because of the suffocating sadness she feels, Willow gets out of bed and fights through the day. Some days are better than others, but no matter what, Willow Bradley puts her feet on the ground and never gives up. Her love for Danny and the need to protect what's hers are what drives Willow. There is nothing in the world she wouldn't do to protect the one she holds nearest to her heart.Blurb: Willow Bradley lives her life as simply as she can. Playing the guitar and singing her pain away, she finds peace under her shade tree by the lake in her small town. Her entire life has been a struggle not to let her depression control her life. Overcoming her issues was something she was proud of. Her life was just as she wanted it until the breath taking Danny Mason walked into her safe haven. Can she put her pain aside and love a man who has secrets of his own?

Danny Mason wants nothing more than simplicity. His life is full of greed and the constant need to be perfect. What happens when he hears an angel singing under a lone weeping willow tree on the lakeside? Danny and Willow share a deep, all consuming love. Will it survive the chaos his social status, and high society parents cause?
Buy here

Helen's Holiday Tale Part Four

Welcome back to the final installment of Helen's Holiday Tale.  Part One can be foundPart TwoPart Three
“Mrs. Bakerson, I feel it’s my duty to tell you this may not be the best business decision. Cripple Creek has a skating rink. The pond freezes over and—”
“I know that darned pond freezes over!” Helen slapped her palm down on the lawyer’s desk, regretting it as pain shot through her arm. No matter. She was old. Whoopie. “It’s cold, though! And it can’t be used year round.”“Your husband left you a lot of money, but—““Well, I didn’t ask you for your opinion, did I? Just get me the land and get me the workers and whatever else I need. I know the money is there. I haven’t spent hardly a dime the last ten years!” “All right, Mrs. Bakerson.” The lawyer waved his hands in a placating gesture. “Don’t have another heart attack. I’ll see to it, but it won’t happen overnight.”Helen scoffed. “Just see to it, you young man.”Jaw firm, mind set, Helen left the lawyer's office. It was a new year, a new chance. She was going to make the most of it.***Helen Bakerson sat on a front row spectator’s bench in Cripple Creek’s newest facility, the Bakerson Arena. It officially opened today for public skating, with every other hour given over to lessons from the experts she’d hired. Hockey teams could now practice and play regardless of the weather. Her George had so loved hockey. She wiped a silent tear from her face, secure in the knowledge that the next time her ticker gave out, she’d be with him.George again. Even her will had been redone. Instead of going to the church, any funds available at her demise would be placed in trust to keep up the arena.Her house, where she and George had lived and loved, would be turned into a youth hostel. She’d be taking care of ‘her kids’ from beyond the grave.“Mrs. Bakerson, come skate with us!” Mindy reached for Helen’s hand. “Lucy will hold your other side so you don’t fall.”“Oh, I don’t know, girls.” Helen smiled at the nine-year-olds. “I’m so old…”“My mom says you’re only as old as you feel.”“Well, when you put it that way…” Helen smiled and stood on shaky legs. She used her walker for support, but as soon as the little girls had hold of each of her hands, she left it behind and headed toward the ice. A crowd of people waited for her, reaching out to guide her. A chorus of “be careful, Mrs. Bakerson” rang in her wake. She already had skates on, though she’d had no intention of using them. It was all for show, but what the heck.To her surprise, she actually slid across the ice. She wobbled at first, and many skating bystanders reached for her in fear she was going to fall, but she did it, thanks to Mindy and Lucy clutching her tightly.Helen laughed as she glided, and the little girls tugged her into a slow circle. Briefly, for just a second, she thought she saw a man at the end of the rink, his dark slicked down and part at the side, a red scarf around his neck…She sent him a silent message. I’ll be ready next time, George. Come back for me, you hear?He smiled and nodded his head before sliding backward off the ice, only instead of disappearing altogether into the throng once he reached the stands, he simply became a blur and faded.“Look, Mrs. Bakerson!” Mindy pointed to the ice, her girlish excitement contagious.Helen complied, gasping in surprise. There, in the center of the ice, someone had etched a heart. Inside it was the name Helen.“Wow. Someone has some mad skills, Mrs. Bakerson,” Lucy gushed in amazement.“Indeed, they do, my child. I wonder who it was.”I love you, too, George.
Thank you for joining me for this Holiday Tale. Have a great new year! Here's turning over new leaves. Remember...make the most of it. :)

If you liked Helen's Holiday Tale so much you want it on your kindle to read again, it is available on Smashwords in any format you may need, and better yet, you set the price.