Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 125

The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

A unique holiday tale...of heartache, unrequited love, despair and hope both, and a woman who does what she feels is right and follows what she feels is her path.

WWII. Elspeth is in France when all hell breaks loose. In the excitement of the moment, she agrees to marry Alain, her best friend's brother, even though she really only feels for him the way she does her fondest cousin.  But she doesn't know or understand this at the time...some things come with maturity and war makes one grow up fast.


He's gone. Something calls her back to her native England, a desire, a feeling. On the way there, she meets a soldier and finds love as well as a calling...nursing.

There's much ado about her being a nurse as she's also a lady. Her cousin/guardian doesn't approve. But as morbid as this will sound, the ravages of the battlefield, the wounds she tends, the trials she faces in the war zone were the best parts of the book. I liked how she stood by the wounded and defied orders to do otherwise. She is fearless.

What I did not like: Everywhere she goes, she conveniently runs into someone she knows. In the middle of war, the hospital, etc. The world is not that small a place. I also didn't buy into the instant love. She and Peter spend one day in each other's company, and that day is constantly interrupted by him tending his troops, by mortar, by danger... For him to declare his undying love for her the next time he sees her? No. I also grew weary of hearing how pampered her previousl life was, how large the rooms, how much of a "step down" she had taken.

Lots of suspense leading up to an ending one can't really predict. Both sad and happy.

Four stars. I was given this by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Lorelei Elsbeth Brockton

Book: Paradise Hops
Author: Liz Crowe
Heroine: Lorelei Elsbeth Brockton


Lorelei Elsbeth Brockton has been through hell and back.
By the time she is being prepped to take the reigns of her family’s famous craft brewery, she has lost her mother to cancer and been the victim of a brutal attack.
Her father, who was a single, heavy-handed parent through her teenage years has determined that the best way for her to finally get past the horror is to learn every aspect of the Brockton Brewing Company.  So by the start of PARADISE HOPS, she has spent eight to nine months in three different departments of the brewing company, including the popular brewpub, ordering/scheduling and accounting.  Her next rotation is on the actual brewery floor, with the newly hired Eli Buchanan, hot shot, creative diva brewer.  Who is also 6 foot 5 inch walking sex on a stick.
In the meantime however, she has met Garrett Hunter, the new general manager her father has hired.  And is slowly but surely falling for him.  Garrett is handsome, stable, organized, steady and very much in love with her.  He hears the story of her attack and gets even more determined to fix her, to make her happy. 

Paradise Hops is ultimately the story of personal growth—for Lori, but also for the men in her life.  It is NOT a ménage. I have written those, don’t get me wrong—they are a fun fantasy. But with this book I wanted to explore the real life conundrum faced by a woman who honestly believed she would never, ever feel loved again.  Only to find herself torn between two amazing men—one who is perfect, and the other who is most definitely not.
She emerges from the shell of her former self thanks to the nurturing love of one man, and the white hot attraction to another.
To quote a key character, Mrs. Anderson, who is the longest running employee of the Brockton Brewing Company, when she is talking to Garrett trying to convince him to be patient with Lori:
"After that terrible incident, she literally became a different person. She wouldn't leave her dad's house, stayed in her old room for months. Made her dad get rid of the piano she loved. We all tiptoed around here for almost a year. Mr. B would blow up at the slightest provocation, but we all let him do it. We understood." She shook her head, and wiped her eyes. Garrett frowned but didn't know what to say so he kept his mouth shut.
"Finally, one day she appeared, a shrunken, scared version of herself. Her father declared her 'well' and 'ready to work' and that's when the rotations began. She started in distribution, worked the warehouse for about nine months. Then went to the pub, doing everything from food prep, to bartending. I was so worried about her. She lost more weight, hardly talked to anyone. We all said we'd give anything to witness a good knock down drag out between her and her father, like the old days."
Garrett looked out the window, realizing where this was headed. He closed his eyes and fought the need to get up and pace.
"Then, Mr. B. tells us he's hired a manager. A general business manager. Someone who will take over most likely, and here you are." Mrs. Anderson stared at him, making him squirm. "The old Lori is back, Garrett, and we have you to thank. But that means you have to understand her, stop trying to be so controlling because that Lori won't be controlled. Thinking you can, will only lead to your unhappiness."
She stood. "I've watched you and her. I see what's happening, and I can't think of a better thing than for you two to be together. You balance each other, but only if you are willing to let go a little. Otherwise, it will never work."
He frowned. "So, who's giving her the little pep talk about how swell I am?" He couldn't help himself. The woman smiled and patted his shoulder. "Oh, hon, Lori has twenty or so moms and big sisters, and even a few big brothers, in this building. I'm pretty sure somebody has, or is right now."
"I hate this."
"But you love her."
He nodded, not speaking.
She smiled at him. "Well then, that's really all you need. Trust me. That and patience. She'll see the light."
She turned to go as her desk phone started ringing. Then threw out something that Garrett would remember for a long time. "You know, as much as I hate to admit it, it's as if between you and that horrible man Eli, you brought our Lori back."
PARADISE HOPS does not boast traditional heroes or heroines. There are no firefighters, cops, CEO’s, cowboys, vampires, demons or black-ops specialists.  There are, however, people. And if the early reviews are to be believed, they are people whose story is compelling, difficult, and in the end, a joy to behold.

Paradise Hops Blurb: A brutal attack left Lori Brockton convinced she was damaged goods. By the time she emerges from hiding two years later, ready to run her family's famous brewery, she's determined to be independent--never rely on anyone ever again. Nearly a year of working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, teaches her all she needs to know about the business. Then, she comes face-to-face with masculine perfection in a suit and her world is rocked in more ways than one. Garrett Hunter is the new Brockton business manager who takes one look at the beautiful, sad young woman and his entire existence coalesces around winning her heart. But standing between Garrett and what he believes is his true love, is a six-feet six-inch blond-haired bad boy brewer.Eli Buchannan is a craft beer rock star, recently hired by Brockton to drag the company into the 21st century. He brings innovation and attitude plus a prima donna ladies man reputation.  But he's sworn off anything resembling commitment, personal or professional, after getting burned at his last job on both fronts. Garrett Hunter is “The Perfect Man” -- handsome, successful, stable, eager to settle down. Eli Buchannan... is not.  Compelling, smoking hot, creative and elusive, he represents everything Lori Brockton should avoid.  But just as she makes a difficult choice, a drastic life-changing shift occurs, and nothing is ever the same again.
Buy links:Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Hops-ebook/dp/B009QBLIOQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350347538&sr=8-1&keywords=paradise+hops
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paradise-hops-liz-crowe/1112519041?ean=2940015602456
All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-paradisehops-929051-141.html



Liz bio:Microbrewery owner, best-selling author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great Midwest, in a major college town.  Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse, plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry), has prepped her for life as erotic romance author. 
When she isn't sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications. 
Her groundbreaking romance subgenre, “Romance for Real Life,” has gained thousands of fans and followers who are interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”)
Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high-powered real estate offices.  Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.
www.lizcrowe.comwww.brewingpasssion.comwww.a2beerwench.comwww.facebook.com/lizcroweauthorwww.twitter.com/beerwencha2www.facebook.com/romanceforreallife

Please Welcome Telma Cortez and Biz Jet JumpSeat

Biz Jet JumpSeat by Telma CortezAerosexual series
Blurb:A blistering turnaround for Jana

After a risqué stunt gets her fired from her flight attendant job, Jana finds an even better position, as crew for Dominatrix Productions.



Excerpt: The next morning, Jana checked out early, ready for her first flight with Dominatrix Productions. Cynthia had sent her a text message letting her know that she could wear anything she wanted, but the more skin she showed the better. Jana was taken aback by the message, but relieved she no longer had to parade around in khakis and polo shirts. She chose a thin, flowing tank top. The sparkles along the dark red fabric perfectly matched the hem of her black skirt that stopped short a few inches above her knee and revealed the murals painted into the sides of Jana's legs. Starting at her feet, the depiction of a beautiful vine wove around her ankle and up her leg, blossoming into bursts of flowers on her thighs before disappearing beneath her clothing. Jana felt sexy and capable when she looked herself up and down in the mirror. She went down to the lobby for the complimentary breakfast as she waited for her ride.
Not too long after she finished breakfast, her cell phone rang and she could see a limo pulling in front of the hotel. It was Cynthia, letting her know they were outside. As she stepped through the hotel doors onto the street, Cynthia emerged from the limo. She wore a tight blue dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Cynthia smiled at Jana as she approached, nodding in approval at her appearance. During the short drive, Cynthia ran through what Jana could expect on the job. It was typical work as Cynthia explained.She would mostly be responsible for beverages and food. Cynthia smiled. "The plane is stocked with small amounts of almost anything imaginable, so satiating the needs of executives shouldn't be too far out of your capability." There was a hint too, of something in Cynthia's voice that Jana couldn't quite put a finger on. It was something that Cynthia hoped Jana would understand without needing it spelled out for her. But, Jana wasn't scared. She was eager to experience something different, and confidant that she could handle whatever they threw at her.
They arrived at the airport and went through security. Cynthia already had an employee badge made up for Jana, and they got through pretty quickly. They turned from the main terminal and exited the building down a flight of stairs. The jet was parked on the tarmac, not too far away. Cynthia ushered Jana on board and she felt an odd sense of pride when she looked up towards the terminal windows of the airport, wondering how many pairs of eyes were on her at that moment.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the aircraft cabin. There was a table situated in front of a curved couch, six full-length lounge chairs with fold over desks, and an amazing amount of open space in place of rows and rows of cramped seating. The décor was a modern mutation of seventies hues and angles. In the back of the plane in one of the plush lounge chairs sat Jana's new boss. Over dinner he had introduced himself as Thomas, but said he preferred to be called by his middle name, Anton, instead. He waved to the women and motioned for them to come over. Jana wore a look of amazement as she walked down the aisle. He reached into a cabinet built into the wall of the plane and pulled out a box with the company's insignia on it. Anton handed it to Jana with a smile and welcomed her on-board.
On the ride to the airport she learned the company was the front for an adult entertainment empire. Anton had started the company out of college and built it to expand over websites, social media clubs, movie production and distribution; along with a slew of other small niche ventures. Cynthia had joined with him early and earned a generous salary to be his personal assistant. As the company was continuing to rapidly grow, Cynthia was finding she might be better off working during the flights instead of playing the role of his personal flight attendant. Cynthia had said to Jana during the ride that she was being trained to take Cynthia's place with Anton in the skies. "And believe me," she said, "you'll be flying way up there in the skies… if you catch my wind." Jana had only smiled in return, but was beginning to get the hint.
She opened the box in her hands and all of her suspicions were confirmed. Against a tiny, beautiful, black satin pillow sat a sterling pair of diamond nipple clamps.
Jana looked down at them. She was shocked, but enticed. Instead of being nervous, Jana took the opportunity to make an impression and establish herself as part of her new crew. She looked Anton in the eye, feeling Cynthia drink in every moment. She took one of the nipple clamps from the box and attached it to her pinkie, admiring the glimmer of the diamonds in the light of the plane. "Is this the entire uniform, or can I add a few bracelets to the mix?"
Amazon Buy Link

The Trailer:Link> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phzP1oIHz64
Embed code:
About the Author:Write what you know, they say. Telma Cortez is an author and a flight attendant.  She’s unzipping the sex lives of those working in the theater in the sky. ‘The Aerosexual Series’ is currently short erotic novels based on the sexual experiences of the aviation world from pilots to flight attendants, passengers to buziness jet owners. It might be hard to imagine, but the airline business is small. Word gets around from crew room to aircraft galley, overnight bar and hotel crew rooms where only airline crew are allowed to socialize. This is where she gets all of her juicy gossip and full on descriptions of crew antics for her storiesIf you’ve read and liked 50 shades of Grey then you’re bound to like  Telma and ‘The Aerosexual series’. The mile high club is for pilot cadets, Telma’s stories are stratospheric…
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The Way by Kristen Wolf

I think this is the most powerful piece of literature I've ever read. And the most daring. It will not be everyone. The thoughts it evokes will offend many. It is not for the extremely devout. That said, please respect the following thoughts are part of a review and what this book made me think as I read it.

Think on this for a moment: from the moment you are born, you are told this is the way and there is no other way. You never see proof of this. You are simply told over and over again. You are given books written by men that say this is the way. You accept it as you are never allowed to really think for yourself. But what if it wasn't the way?

This book...just wow. Where to start?

Imagine if Jesus had been a woman named Anna. She lives in a society ruled by the Old Testament. Women are inferior and treated as such. They are dirty, imbeciles, told they are products of men and made to wait on men  hand and foot. But the world hadn't always been that way. People forgot, greedy men made them forget through threats, intimidation, and outnumbering, that man came from woman. Does not a woman give birth to all?

It takes finding a special group of "pagan" like women in The Narrows (the desert) for Anna to realize the way is not necessarily the way she was taught. With these women, she becomes someone special. She determines to spread the way around the world. And she has been blessed with male like features... so what better way to reach the wolves than to dress as wolf despite the fact she is a sheep?


After the ruin, desecration of her precious community of healers, this is what she does, but her presence, her following, frightens the priests and the men who wish to maintain their power. Don't teach people that women are equal! Don't say priests are wrong... don't teach people to think for themselves... The priests feel their power and money running out.

Many names were familiar in this story of a woman Jesus and her downfall, but their tales are NOT what you read in the bible. Peter is almost a twin with a strange yearning. Judas...did he really betray Jesus? Mary of Magdalene...what was her relationship to Jesus? Was it really the Jesus everyone loved that died on the cross? A story of epic proportions unfolds from Anna's childhood to Jesus as a shepherd to Anna the Sister, to Jesus the healer, and finally to a woman betrayed.

Beautifully written, shocking in its path, and thought evoking...this book will resonate with me forever. It's a perfect example of how something beautiful can be destroyed and misconstrued, how the numbers of men, greed and hate, can too easily control the world.

I give this five stars and say, "holy smokes, this author has balls."

I bought this book.

"It never ceased to amaze him how easily ordinary people could be led into treachery. All that was required, it seemed, was teaching them from a young age what to see and think and feel--to believe, for example, that a flower was not a wonder of its own accord, but the act of a singular god."

FREEBIE DAY & NEW Release for HALLOWEEN

It's a day of announcements. First of all, I have a new short story available just in time for Halloween. Taking it Too Far is now available on Amazon.

I'd like to say what a pleasure it was working with Whispers Publishing.

Blurb:
It's Halloween, and Vivian is looking forward to a sexy romp with her husband of eight years. The kids are tucked in bed, the bedroom door is locked, the candy's put away, and Vivian is ready and willing…but Kenny's Halloween costume is a bit creepy, and he may be taking it too far..

Will the night end in horror, or will a new day show that it was all a dream…a bad dream?

AND now for the news you've been waiting for... IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! No, I'm not telling you my age! LOL. But in honor of my favorite time of year--not because I'm a day older but usually someone sends me an Amazon gift card. Yippee!--I've made three of my titles FREE on KINDLE just for today!

Dog Tails is FREE!

What readers are saying:

"I think that anyone who wants a light funny read will love this book." --Jerelyn

"The stories are fun and left me smiling. A good book to have on your e-reader to pull out when you have a little time and want some quick reading." --BevPet

Hear Through My Ears is FREE!

What readers are saying:

"All you need is your heart and an open mind to enjoy this book." --Bookwench

"It's informative, entertaining and in my opinion it teaches a lesson in humility." --sassyone

When We Meet Again is FREE!

What readers are saying:

"Let me just say that it is beautifully written, and it shows us that there is always hope, even in the darkest moments." --Lance Mitchell

"As a military wife it touched on subjects I had to live with for years and I admire Chevrestt for taking them on." --Flashlight Reader

In conclusion, thank you, readers, and enjoy some free downloads if you haven't already. Here's to another wonderful year. :)

Interview with Linda Andrews

Please welcome Linda Andrews, the author of Brianna. She's here to talk about her newest book release. 

Blurb:
Love, lies, and an ancient Egyptian curse. Brianna Grey holds the key to mankind’s destruction and someone is willing to kill for it. Having spent most of her life dying of consumption, one man’s kiss has resurrected her desire to live. For US Treasury Agent, Duncan Stuart, love means death. He works alone, lives alone and plans to die alone until he meets Brianna again. Under the harsh Egyptian sun, Duncan will break all his rules to save her but will it be enough to overcome the secrets that could get them both killed?


Book Babe: Fiona, Gillian, Brianna...three sisters, three books, three heroines.
Which one is more like you and why?

Linda: I think there are pieces of me in each of them. But I guess I'm most like
Briana in that when I was young I had a physical handicap that kept me
from doing a lot of things I wanted. While Brianna had to wait to recover
from Consumption, I only had to wait until I was old enough for surgery.
After that, nothing would hold me back or tell me I couldn't do something
again. I don't think it is a bad motto to live by, but it definitely gave
my mom a few gray hairs.


Book Babe: Gillian goes after Jack the Ripper. Brianna a quest to Egypt. Fiona
goes to London searching for missing family members. Which adventure would
you rather go on?

Linda: I would love to go on a gourmet adventure around the world. Trying new
dishes and ways to cook it and grow it. Not would many consider it
dangerous:-)

Book Babe: Brianna talks to her cat, who is much more than a cat...do you talk to
your pets?

Linda: Yes,  currently have four cats and one dog. Bear, my dog, never lets
anything slip but the cats are another matter. And they definitely talk
back. Fat Charlie is very loud and will wake everyone up if I don't pet
him. Shadow yells at me if I forget her treats. The cats will all tell you
they are gods or prisoners.

Book Babe: What was the hardest scene to write?

Linda: I always have the hardest time writing the love scenes. Frankly, I'm
pretty sure I blush throughout them. That and check over my shoulder to
see if my kids are trying to read over mine.

Book Babe: How was the editing process for you? Was it a learning experience?
Some actually like edits, the more comments, the more progress authors
feel they make. Some pull their hair out. Which are you?

Linda: I like editing. It's mostly small things here and there. Thankfully, I've
never had an edit where I've had to rewrites scenes or plot points. But
those edits are the final polish that make a munscript something special.

Book Babe: What movie stars would you cast for a movie of this book?

Linda: I would pick Bridgit Fonda for Brianna and, for Duncan, I'd pick Joe Flannery

Book Babe: Did you have a picture nearby for inspiration as you wrote this? Did
you listen to a special soundtrack?

Linda: I actually have their pictures printed out but I keep them pasted in a
notebook. As for music, I have an MP3 player that I listen to when I
write. I add songs for every book I write, but I don't delete them.

Book Babe: What's in your writing future?

Linda: Although, I'm finishing up an apocalyptic series, I am under contract to
write 3 more holiday stories for Zumaya Publications. The Christmas and
Halloween books are already out and the Valentine's Day book will be out
next year.

Book Babe: Kingslee, Aidan, Duncan are the heroes of this series. Which one did
you find yourself falling in love with?

Linda: I always fall in love with the hero that I'm currently writing. But I have
to admit Duncan is my favorite. It's his rather understated sense of
humor, protective natures and accent. Alas, he doesn't wear a kilt
otherwise he'd be perfect.

Random Reading

This week I found some cooler than all get out titles. From a woman hockey player to a woman horse trainer, you name it, I found it.


For those just joining us...

Some people do Library Loot. Some people do Mailbox Monday. Me, I don't use the library. I have nothing against it; just hate having to read a book in a certain amount of time, and as for Mailbox Monday, I can't say most of my titles come in my mail. I buy them usually or get them via paperback swap.

And I find them the most random ways, these titles. But they all usually have one thing in common: STRONG, SEXY heroines!




Offside by Juliana Stone. Found it on ARe. I actually went over there to check my sales. (Don't laugh! You would too!) and saw this on the Featured list. Nevertheless, I immediately sought more data about it and forgot all about sales numbers or lack thereof. Woman hockey player. Let me say it again: WOMAN HOCKEY PLAYER. That's all I needed to know.







Imagine being in a concentration camp, you and a group of 9 people banded together in your misery. It's said one of you must die and amongst yourselves, you must choose the person. How do you choose? How do you rate a life? Block 11 by Piero Degli Antoni came upon my feed during an Amazon browsing session. Any woman that survives that must be strong. Brook releases on my birthday so it's on my wishlist.





All the King's  Horses by Lauren Gallagher. Coming in December. Found whilst browsing the Samhain site. It's about a woman horse trainer. That seems pretty cool to me. She works as a ranch hand while trying to escape some bad juju. I may buy this after I see a few reviews. The book page promises lots of sex, and I don't really need that. I prefer more story.. Yes, I know, this makes no sense coming from someone who occasionally writes erotica, but as a reader, I already know part A goes into part B. LOL Nevertheless, it's on my to read. :)




Time off For Good Behavior by Lani Diane Rich was brought to my attention by a friend who knows I'm into anything Rosie the Riveter. Spotted on the freebie list, it was brought to my attention. At first it doesn't look like my cup of tea. It's nothing to do with history or even Rosie despite the cool outfit, but the reviews promise humor and smart, kick ass heroine. So what the heck. :) It's on my Kindle. 



A Heart That  Dares by Jill Limber. Found on publisher's site. When I browse for places to sub my own work, I like to stop by their historical fiction pages and I almost always find a potential gem. Though I don't find the man on the cover even remotely attractive...Ugh, thank goodness it's a kindle book. I most likely would never pick it up if it meant seeing that face every time I reached for it. LOL It sounds like a strong feisty heroine. Civil War. Woman spy... for the NORTH for a change. Sick to death of Confederate spies. She poses as a man, she's an artist...and there's a love story, of course. On my wishlist.






Hard Core by Jennifer Lowery. A romance with a woman surgeon. Spotted on a blog I follow. He happens to be an assassin. I don't think I need to say more. It just plain sounds interesting. On my wishlist. :)







The Lady Who Broke the Rules by Marguerite Kaye. Spotted on Netgalley. It appeals to me because well, look at that title. I love women that break the rules! It's also an interracial romance. She falls for a former slave. This book takes place back those awful days. Imagine the adversity they must overcome to love who they want to love. On my wishlist.





The House Girl by Tara Conklin. I cannot resist another author named Tara! What a great name! This is about a slave who runs away from a tobacco farm. She is also a talented painter. It flows with a modern day story about a woman lawyer trying to get a settlement for millions of descendants of African slaves. Both heroines sound incredibly strong. I spotted this on Edelweiss, hoping I score a review copy so I can feature it here.






The Specimen by Martha Lea. Spotted and obtained on Netgalley. 1866, a woman is accused of killing a prominent butterfly collector. Promises an independent young woman and the tropics of Brazil. I believe this releases next February.







Fatal Mistake by CB Lovejoy. A Kindle Freebie, one of those books that sadly, until now, doesn't appear to have gotten much attention. A woman editor gets a strange military job that leads to more than she bargained fore. It had me had the woman holding gun cover, editor, and military. I immediately put it on my Kindle.





Playing Doctor by Julie Rowe. I've read three books by this author now and each one received a four from me so when I spotted this on the freebie list as well, (I'm also a Bandit Creek fan) I downloaded it. I think I prefer her contemporaries to her historicals and this promises some  humor so I'm pretty excited about it. :)

Strong is Sexy Woman of the Past: The Legend of Pancho Barnes

She was a famous aviatrix with a foul mouth, a fondness for cigars, a taste for booze, and a passion for flying. Pancho was even a test pilot at Edwards AFB and a Hollywood stunt flier. You name it, this girl did it.

She was born Florence, however, and thought her mother trained her to be a lady, it didn't take, as they say in the documentary I watched.

Cool, random things I learned from watching this:
-Her grandfather made hot air balloons and took photographs  from them during the Civil War...right over the battle scene.
-She called the most important man in Air Force at 3am one day to demand a fellow visiting her bar get a raise.
-She had an arranged marriage of sorts to a minister. All the women loved her and she felt he tolerated her.
-In 1927, after the death of her mother, she ran away and worked on a banana boat. She looked like a man. "I took a bandanna, tied it in a knot, and stuffed it in my jeans. I had the best looking balls on the boat."
-Instead of going to hubby's Sunday sermons upon her return, she was taking flying lessons. He'd preach. She'd fly. She would even dive bomb at his church. ROFL
-The dept of commerce believed women should not fly whilst on the rag as they were irrational then. Um...
-She paid 13k for Travel Air's mystery ship. In 1929, that was a LOT of dough.
-She organized a women's flying medical corps.
-When Howard Hughes refused to pay more than 25 bucks to his stunt fliers, Pancho organized a union.


The documentary continues to tell us about her Happy Bottom Riding Club, her fourth marriage, her adventures with the test pilots of Edwards AFB, the battle with the government over her land, the accusations, the fire that ruined everything, and so on. She even had breast cancer.

It was the end of an exciting time with her death in 1975.

Favorite quote from the doc:
"I am not a pretty girl. I can apologize for that the rest of my life or I can forget about it and live the kind of life I want to."

This is available on netflix.

Bentley Gal by Amy Ruttan

I absolutely loved this book in the beginning. You have a young woman in the...twenties, I think, dressing up as a man and racing a Bentley around a track. She plans to make the Le Mans team. Her brother in law and sister protect her identity and help her.


Her rival is a handsome American. (She's British) They begin an illicit affair... See, she's engaged and has been leading around a man for two years. The man, her fiance is funding the American's part in the race. I begin to dislike her here though she does do the right thing in the end. I mean, really, leading a man on for two  years just because he was friend's with your dead brother?

And hello? I know women in the 1920s knew how babies were made. No worries on that end?

I went back forth from liking this book and heroine to not liking. I loved her when she jumped on an Indian motorcycle and raced to the station. I loved her wisecracks. I loved her hiding under the car with grease all over her face.

I wish there was more racing. There were only two races, one in the beginning, one in the end.

I was set to give this a four, but the ending just left a bad taste in my mouth. I loathe the ending. It's an ending that says: Once women get married, their dreams are no longer important. Only the man is.

Three stars. I bought this on Amazon Kindle.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Darling

Book: Decadent Seconds
Author: W. Lynn Chantale
Heroine: Darling 


Hi Tara. *waves and proffers platter of brownies* Thank you so much for having me here today. I'd like to introduce you to my strong, sexy heroine Darling. She's a business woman and a single mom. I think what makes her strong and sexy is that she had the courage to pursue her dreams despite Darryl, her child's father, being against the idea.

Darling didn't let motherhood deter her from her dream of owning a catering company either. She made adjustments to her career, maintained a civil relationship with Darryl and though she still has feelings for the man, she's strong enough to want the fairy tale and not settle for anything less.
Again thanks for having me here today. I hope you enjoy reading Decadent Seconds as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time, Indulge Your Inner Romantic.
I’m an APP. Download me to your Android or Apple IOS device.Website: http://wlynnchantale.comBlog: http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/wlynnchantaleFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/W.LynnChantaleAuthor
Blurb:As a caterer, Darling gets to witness some of life’s happiest moments, but yearns for a marriage proposal of her own. After years of waiting on her beloved to pop the question, she gives up on ever having a happy ending of her own and severs the relationship. When she learns she’s pregnant, she has no choice but to face her child’s father on a daily basis as well as the love and attraction she has for him.
Darryl Manning always believed Darling would be his forever. After all he didn’t need a piece of paper to show her how much he loved her, but when she leaves him to pursue her dream of owning a catering company and raising his son, he may have to rethink his views on marriage. That is if he wants a second chance at family.
Buy: on Whispers, Amazon, ARe, or B&N.
There's also a nice trailer for this one: