Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 186
March 8, 2012
"Out of this World" on Backward Momentum
It's Thursday, and my day to blog on Backward Momentum. Today, I reveal a lesser-known television show I watched as a pre-teen that helped to foster my love for alien romances.
http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.com/2012/03/would-you-like-to-swing-on-star.html
March 6, 2012
March 5, 2012
Book Feature: The Memory of Roses by Blair McDowell
The Greek island of Corfu unearths the enduring love stories of two generations of the McQuaid family. First, renowned archaeologist Ian McQuaid meets the love of his life while recuperating from an illness contracted during a dig in Crete. Even though he is married, his wife had not been a passionate partner for many years, and the appearance of the stunning Maria Calbrese was a miracle sent to him at the lowest point in his life.
Then a generation later, Ian's daughter Brit travels to Corfu after his death. He left Brit a note disclosing that he owned a villa on Corfu, and that when he was there he had fallen in love with a woman named Maria while still married to Brit's mother. He asked Brit to deliver a package to Maria, who he thought lived somewhere in Venice. Determined to fulfill her father's requests and return quickly to the US, Brit's plan is soon derailed. She meets archaeologist Dr. Andreas Leandros who looks like the Greek gods of ancient times, and her own damaged heart begins to come alive.
What does the mysterious package contain, and how will Brit find Maria as requested by her father? Will finding her change Brit's life? Will she manage to preserve her bond with Andreas, or will she return to the US to live out her life without him?
Excerpt:
It was on June eleventh that he met her. He had gone to Adriatika for his evening meal. It was a week night and he had lingered over his late afternoon swim. By the time he arrived, the few other diners were well into their meals.
"What have you for me tonight, my friend?" he asked.
"Ah! You are in luck. We have Rabbit Steffado and I've kept a portion back for you."
Ian settled into his chair at his regular table and opened his book. He'd long had the habit of reading in restaurants until his food arrived. It kept him from feeling lonely.
He heard a commotion at the door and glanced up from his book to see a stunning young woman in conversation with Yiannis.
"Of course you are not too late, Signorina," Yiannis was saying as he showed her to a table. "We always look forward to your return in June. Did you have a pleasant journey from Venice?"
"Pleasant enough, Yiannis. I hope you have some of your Rabbit Steffado for me tonight. I've been looking forward to it for months."
"Alas, I am afraid the last portion was just ordered by someone else," he said, nodding in the general direction of Ian's table. "But I have a very nice fish if you're interested."
"Hmm. I'll think about it. Meanwhile, if you could bring me a pitcher of your good house wine…"
"Of course."
Ian went back to reading his book. Suddenly he sensed that he wasn't alone. He looked up to see the woman who'd just entered the restaurant standing at his table, a brimming pitcher of wine in her hand. She was tall and full breasted, her long ebony hair swung loosely to her shoulders and her eyes were dark and lively. Her face could have come from a Botticelli painting, beautifully oval, classically Italian. She wore a low necked blouse that seemed to fall off one shoulder and a full skirt that emphasized her small waist.
He realized with a shock that she was speaking to him in English and that he hadn't heard a word she had said.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said I assume you speak English since you're reading a book in that language. If you'd rather, we could speak in Italian. My Greek is a bit primitive."
Confused, Ian managed to stutter, "English will be fine."
"Good. I have a proposition for you." She smiled.
Ian thought whatever it is the answer is yes. He merely nodded.
"You," she resumed accusingly, "you have ordered the last portion of Rabbit Steffado. I've been looking forward to Rabbit Steffado for months. I propose that we should enjoy that rabbit together. There is always enough for two in Yiannis' portions. Meanwhile we can order some of Catarina's eggplant and a salad to start and," here she held up the pitcher, "I already have the wine." She waited expectantly.
Ian threw back his head and laughed for the first time in months. "Please," he said, getting up quickly and pulling out a chair for her, "Be my guest. I'm Ian McQuaid."
Over the eggplant she told him she was from Venice and that her name was Maria. "I always spend six weeks here at this time of the year. And this is my favorite restaurant on Corfu. I always came here on my first night back."
They worked their way through the appetizers laughing and chatting about their experiences on Corfu as if they were old friends.
The rabbit arrived at the table, steaming and aromatic in its rich sauce. Maria ladled it on to their plates. "So what brings you to Corfu?"
Ian somehow didn't want to admit his recent illness to this young woman who was the picture of health and vitality. "I was working on Crete and I decided to take some time off. A friend suggested Corfu."
"What do you do on Crete?"
"I'm an archaeologist. My special area is Bronze-Age societies, the Minoans in particular. Knossos, on Crete, is one of the best preserved Minoan sites in the world. I've been working there off and on for some years."
"You're an American aren't you? Your accent isn't British."
"Yes. I'm a professor at Stanford University in California. But I spend half of every year in Greece."
They continued to chat and laugh their way through the rest of meal.
Ian could hardly take his eyes off of her. She was so utterly alive. Her mobile face telegraphed her every thought and mood. When she laughed at his stories her whole face lit up. When she was serious,her eyes held the reflective calm of a mountain lake. He found her utterly entrancing. By the time they'd finished dessert he was wondering how he could prolong the evening, how he could arrange to see her again.
Then he reminded himself that he was still married, that he'd no right to become involved with this young vibrant creature sitting at his table. And that surely she would have no interest in him, a middle-aged man graying at the temples and many years her senior. Regretfully, when Catarina began closing the shutters, he moved to pay the bill. "Please allow me," he said. "You've given me so much pleasure tonight."
She nodded and rose to leave.
Outside the restaurant, she paused confused, and looked around. "Where's your car?"
"Actually, I don't have one. I haven't found much need for one here. I walk everyplace. The house I'm renting is just up the hill a mile or so."
"Please let me drive you home," she said. "I insist. It is small payment for that lovely dinner."
Ten minutes longer with her, Ian thought. Ten minutes more of her lovely voice and beautiful face. "Of course," he responded.
She drove efficiently and competently. He watched the shadows and light fall on her face as she navigated the curves of the narrow, winding country road.
"Turn here," he instructed as they reached the open gates to the property. She came to a stop at the circle in front of the villa. The fountain was splashing, its dolphins alive in the moonlight.
"What a beautiful spot." She said. They sat in silence for a moment, neither quite willing to end the evening.
"You could come in for a brandy," he suggested.
They got as far as the front door. Later they could neither of them remember who moved first. They were in each other's arms, tearing at their clothing, stumbling up the steps toward the bedroom. Frustrated with their slow progress Ian swept her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, covering her with his body. They made love wordlessly, frantically, as if their very lives depended on their being together in this way at this moment.
When the storm had passed, Ian tried to speak. "I had no right to do this," he said. "I'm married."
"Of course you are," she replied. "No man as attractive as you could be single. Not at your age. I came to you willingly, I asked for no commitment. We have here and now. We have tonight. Let's not ask for more."
He buried his face in her fragrant hair.
Buy Links: Amazon / Nook / All Romance / Ebookstrand
Author Bio:
Blair McDowell wrote her first short story when she was eleven and hasn't stopped writing since. After many years producing non-fiction professional books in her field, Blair decided to exercise her rich imagination and write novels of mystery and romance set in places she knows and loves, peopled with characters drawn from her experiences in those locales.
One of her favorite places in the world is Greece, the setting for 'The Memory of Roses', Blair McDowell's latest novel. While in Greece Blair was inspired by the ancient culture, friendly people and the picturesque settings, and the plot for the 'Memory of Roses' was born.
Blair has a home on a remote island in the Caribbean where the local lore of the 'Jumbie' ('the dead who walk') formed the basis for her novel of that name.
The setting for Blair McDowell's book, 'Sonata', is the spectacular city of Vancouver with its vibrant multicultural population and its rich musical life. In 'Sonata', Blair McDowell's love of music comes into play, and is intricately woven into this story of mystery and romance.
Blair is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America (Greater Vancouver Chapter), and the Romance Writers of America (Women's Fiction).
March 3, 2012
Six from Celestial Seduction & Read for a Cure
Thank you to each and every one of you for reading
and commenting on my excerpts each week. 
Today I bring you six from Celestial Seduction (blurb, buy link),
which is the Read for a Cure book for the month of March at Decadent Publishing.
Enjoy!
"Sorry I'm late. I would have called you, but I couldn't get any reception." With eyes wide, he stared at her, a slight grin on his lips as she stood naked in front of him.
She threw towels from the edge of the tub at him. "Turn around!" Trying to cover herself with her hands, warmth spread from her cheeks to her ears and down her neck.
Visit http://www.sixsunday.com/ to find out who's participating in Six Sentence Sunday this week or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.
March 2, 2012
I'm on Four Strong Women today…
You can find my guest post titled "You're Going to Stick That Where?" over at Four Strong Women. Enjoy!
March 1, 2012
Read For A Cure with Celestial Seduction and @DecadentPub
Starting today, and for the entire month of March, Celestial Seduction is the Read For A Cure selection at Decadent Publishing. Therefore, ALL publisher proceeds from the sale of this book during March will be donated to the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life program.
Read an excerpt at Backward Momentum.
February 29, 2012
I'm interviewed and sharing excerpts…
Happy Leap Day!!
Today I'm over visiting Natalie G. Owens blog for an interview & excerpt from Never Gonna Let You Go.
I'm also at the Love Romances Cafe Yahoo Group, sharing excerpts from all of my Decadent Publishing books.
February 27, 2012
Featured this month at The Rainbow Studio
This month, I'm the featured author at The Romance Studio's, The Rainbow Studio. Unknown Futures is featured, and there's an interview as well. Here's the link:
February 25, 2012
Another six from An Unexpected Return #sixsunday
Thank you to each and every one of you for reading
and commenting on my excerpts each week.
Today I bring you another six from An Unexpected Return,
a sci-fi romance contracted to Decadent Publishing.
This six might explain the previous six. Enjoy!
Ben though, had always been fond of Madelia. Yet she had never shown any interest in him before tonight. And when she'd been betrothed to Aris, she became a constant thorn in his side. He refused to betray his best friend.
He'd plotted this night ever since his wedding date had been set. For no matter how hard he tried, he could never care for Madelia.
Visit http://www.sixsunday.com/ to find out who's participating in Six Sentence Sunday this week or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.
February 23, 2012
Interview with @KaylieNewell – Sizzlin PR blog tour
Welcome Kaylie! It is a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us how you got started in this industry?
I started writing short stories in elementary school. I remember attempting to write my first novel with a lined notebook and purple sharpie. That lasted only a few pages before I had to abandon it for my homework. About three years ago I decided to try it again, and ended up with A Death That Lingers, my very first book which was released digitally in November of 2011 and will be available in paperback this July.
Do you have any recent or upcoming releases?
My second book, Falling In Danger, was just released on Monday! It's about a young journalist who stumbles onto an underground dog fighting organization inLos Angeles. Although the ring is eventually busted, she can't forget what she's seen. She's driven to do a story on the dogs that were left behind, and the sexy detective who ended up saving them. In the process, she discovers layers of her heart she never knew existed.
I'm proud to say that my amazing publisher, Beachwalk Press, has agreed to donate 40% of the proceeds from Falling In Danger to The Pixie Project animal rescue in Portland, Oregon. It's my hope that this gift will end up touching the lives of some very special animals in need of a forever home.
To learn more about The Pixie Project and the wonderful work they do, please visit their website at http://www.pixieproject.org
Who is your favorite character from any of your books? (Can you include an excerpt involving this character?)
I love Jessica Brady. She's the heroine from Falling In Danger. I think I love her so much because she's such a great mixture of neurotic, fearful, spunky and brave. She eventually learns to overcome her issues to be the woman she really wants to be. Go Jessica! 
Here's an excerpt:
Peeling off her clothes, she stepped into the warm torrents of water and tilted her head back until her hair was soaked. She closed her eyes and leaned against the tiled wall, forgetting for a moment where she was, and letting the shower lull her into a kind of stupor. Slowly, the tension in her exhausted muscles began to ease. The water ran from her shoulders, over her breasts, and down her belly in hot little streams, whose miniature currents twisted and turned from the texture of her skin.
She must have fallen asleep, at least for a minute, because when the door opened, she didn't hear it consciously.
"Hey."
She jumped and nearly hit her head on the showerhead. Fitz stood outside the frosted door, holding a towel and averting his gaze.
"Oh my God," she panted, trying to cover her chest and other unmentionables.
"I knocked. You didn't answer," he said matter-of-factly. "Here's your towel." Setting it down on the counter, he didn't make any move to leave. Instead, he stood there, head down, large shoulders hunched, his hand resting on the white terry cloth fabric.
She stayed absolutely still, the water pouring over her body and pooling at her feet before disappearing down the drain. Her heart quickened as she took him in. But not for all the logical reasons it should have. She should have been panicking. After all, she was completely naked. Completely exposed. And he was a deviant. A low life. He kept company with thugs. But it was as if something in her brain had clicked off. All she could wrap her thoughts around at that very moment was how he had looked standing over Albert. And how he'd felt when she'd curled in to him afterward.
"Do you think you can hold on for just a few more hours?" he said, his voice so low she could barely hear it. "I'm going to get you out of here. But you have to trust me."
She stared at the side of his face, unable to make out his exact expression, but sure it was serious. Hard.
Trust him. Two little words, but how complicated they were. How intricate.
She didn't know how, or why, or even when she'd started to change over the last twenty-four hours, but of one thing she was certain—she already did trust him. Completely. God help her.
She opened her mouth to answer, the water streaming down her face, her saturated hair just barely touching her shoulders.
He turned to her, his movements deliberate and measured. Her pulse thumped in her neck, her body heating in areas it shouldn't have. The tops of her breasts swelled over her arm which attempted to cover them, and she was aware of every single inch of exposed skin that he'd be able to see, even through the cloudy glass of the shower door. Still, she didn't move, the words that she wanted to say thick and catching in her throat.
Condensation dripped down the glass, creating jagged lines of clarity where there weren't any before. She could tell his eyes were moving over her. He didn't bother hiding it. They took her in, from her ankles, up the curve of her legs, over her hips, and toward her dripping chest. The knowledge sent a thrill through her. She was painfully self-conscious by nature; never in her life had she stood naked in front of a man. And certainly not one like this, a brooding, dangerous stranger. Yet she could feel the incredibly erotic, feminine power she had over him, simply by standing in one spot and staring right back. It was enough to make her body tremble in places she didn't even know she had.
Just when she couldn't stand the tension one second longer, just when she thought she might actually open the shower door and pull him in with her, he turned away.
"I'll take that as a yes," he said, and walked out the door.
And a great name, too. What is your favorite book that you've read?
Oh, gosh. I don't know if I can name just one. There are so many- Some of my favorites are The Help, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Pillars Of The Earth, Bag Of Bones, Superstition, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon…Whoa. I could go on all day!
Who is your favorite character from any of the books you've read?
I love Mike Noonan, the narrator from Bag Of Bones. He's got the tormented writer thing down pat. Very sexy.
Do you belong to a critique group or have critique partners? If so, what have you learned from them? How has it affected your writing?
I have two of the most wonderful critique partners ever! More than just critique partners, they've become friends. They've been there to comfort me on the bad days, and are there to celebrate on the great ones. They've helped me improve my writing and they've also helped me find my voice as a romance novelist. I think connecting with these ladies was one of the most important things I did for my career early on. And it's the biggest piece of advice I can offer a new writer. Find a core group of writer friends early on. You'll be very glad you did.
Oh, I can completely relate. I love my CPs just as much. Where can my readers find you?
I love to hear from readers! You can find me on my blog at http://www.kaylienewell.com, Facebook, at http://www.facebook.com/kaylienewell or Twiter, @KaylieNewell
Where can my readers find your books?
A Death That Lingers and Falling In Danger can both be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Beachwalk Press.
Thanks, Kaylie! Here's the blurb for Falling In Danger:
A journalist stumbles onto the story of a lifetime. And finds herself falling in danger…
When young, naïve reporter Jessica Brady is kidnapped and held for ransom by the head of an illegal dog fighting organization, undercover police officer Ian Cole realizes he's got his hands full. He's on the verge of busting the ring when he's assigned to babysit her, which isn't an easy feat. She's neurotic, feisty, and also happens to be scared to death of dogs. Now he has to figure out a way to get them both out alive.
Jessica has no idea the thug she's becoming attracted to is actually a cop, but it's clear he's not like the rest of the men in the organization. Particularly Albert Mancini, the disturbed only son of the ring boss, who has an appetite for alcohol and women. Especially Jessica.
When Ian's cover is blown, he's forced to bust the ring early. Weeks later, Jessica can't stop thinking about the experience that has changed her forever. She wonders about the tall, sexy detective who saved her life. And the mobster's prize-winning pit bull, Bruta.
An idea for a story is born. What if these dogs were given a second chance at life?
As Jessica digs deeper into their troubled world, she ends up falling for the police officer who rescued them. And discovers layers of her heart she never knew existed.
But when Albert escapes from jail, her happiness turns to terror. He hasn't forgotten about the detective who put him behind bars. Or the beautiful young woman whose every move has become his obsession.
