Jan Romes's Blog, page 12

QUITE MAGICAL!

I’ve had the honor of joining 14 other authors in a magical endeavor – MAGICAL WEDDINGS:  15 ENCHANTING ROMANCES . It’s a box set with an amazing blend of talent and imagination. With 15 stories there is something for every reader’s palate. This venture was magical for me and I hope it will be for you too. MAGICAL WEDDINGS will be published June 16, 2015 but it's available for pre-order right now. 


Whether real or only in the hearts of the bride and groom, the magic of weddings is undeniable. And irresistible! As these 15 enchanting happily-ever-afters by bestselling and award-winning authors prove.

From sweet to spicy, the romances bundled into this set cross time and unite hearts, cast spells of laughter, battle wedding jitters and fight back tears, while weaving love's hopeful magic throughout 1400 pages.

Her Wedding Wager by Leigh Michaels, National bestselling and Award-winning author of over 100 novels. Celia's doomed to an arranged marriage--unless she can win the most important bet of her life!

The Last Wedding at Drayhome (Breens Mist Witches) by Aileen Harkwood. Never underestimate the power of a witch and warlock in love who have nothing left to lose.

The Dress by Eve Devon. Two couples, 400 years apart. From a masquerade ball in Venice 1615 to a wedding in England 2015, can a dress laced with magic weave its spell through the fabric of time?

Second Chance Bride by Raine English, USA Today bestselling and Award-winning author. She thinks she's marrying the man of her dreams, until a telepathic rescue dog leads her to someone else... Will this bride-to-be say "I do" to the wrong man?

Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson, Bestselling and Award-winning author. Will two warring hearts be strong enough to survive the ultimate battle?

Something Borrowed, Something Blue by Lynda Haviland. She has a wedding to crash--until love gets in the way!

Heart of the Secret (Witches of Lane County) by Jody A. Kessler, Bestselling and Award-winning author. A 500 year-old curse, a witch who will do anything to marry her one true love, and the heart of a secret that will either divide them or bring them together...forever.

The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel by Jane Lark, National bestselling author. How do you fight a calling that comes from your soul?

A Wedding Across the Winds of Time by Bess McBride, National bestselling author. Darius and Molly found each other Across the Winds of Time. Now, it's time for their wedding!

Kiss This by L.L. Muir, National bestselling and Award-winning author. You never expect the florist to catch the bouquet...

Caution is a Virtue by Jennifer Gilby Roberts. How much is too much to risk for love?

Loving Lindy by Jan Romes. In order to become the bank's new Vice President, Gunther Justin has to be "settled." With Lindy McPherson posing as his fiancé everything is set to go off without a hitch--until real feelings get in the way.

With this Kiss by Heather Thurmeier. Does a simple kiss have enough magic to reunite lovers?

Real Magic by Elsa Winckler. She's the bridesmaid, he's a best man. Will the magical evening stay just that or will it turn out to be real after all?

The Wedding Guests (A Tassamara Short Story) by Sarah Wynde. When unexpected guests attend Akira and Zane's wedding, lives will change forever. But for better or for worse?


About the authors:



LEIGH MICHAELS is a bestselling and award-winning author of sweet Regency historical and contemporary romance, with more than 35 million copies of her books in print.A Readers' Crown finalist in paranormal romance,  AILEEN HARKWOOD's latest is the Breens Mist Witches series of fantasy romances."Witty, humorous, sensual, romantic," EVE DEVON's contemporary romance and suspense novels are filled with sexy heroes, sassy heroines and happy ever afters.USA Today bestselling author RAINE ENGLISH writes sweet small-town contemporary romance, steamier paranormal, and Gothic romantic suspense.TAMARA FERGUSON, bestselling writer of contemporary romance and romantic suspense, won the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Award.LYNDA HAVILAND, writer of paranormal suspense, is the author of the Age of Awakening series of fantasy romances.Winner of the Readers' Crown for Best Paranormal, bestselling JODY A. KESSLER writes new adult romance and historical time travel adventures.JANE LARK is a writer of authentic, passionate, and emotional Regency and new adult romance. Her novel, The Illicit Love a Courtesan, was a #1 historical bestseller.Author of time travel paranormal romance, BESS MCBRIDE's work includes the popular A Train Through Time series.Highlander time travel romances are L.L. MUIR's specialty, including her popular The Curse of Clan Ross.JENNIFER GILBY ROBERTS, author of the romantic comedy Parker Series, writes women's fiction, Regency romance, and chick lit.JAN ROMES' witty contemporary romance novels include the hot selling Texas Boys Falling Fast series."An ideal read for a lazy Sunday afternoon," HEATHER THURMEIER's books span contemporary and paranormal romance, adventure, and new adult fiction.South African contemporary romance writer ELSA WINCKLER likes her heroines feisty, independent and headstrong.SARAH WYNDE captures "Sweet-Sexy-NERDY-Seduction" in her highly rated and reviewed A Gift of Ghosts (Tassamara Book 1).
If you'd like to find out more about this collaboration or perhaps order a copy:

Amazon: http://mybook.to/MW
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1SrS6us
iTunes/Apple: http://apple.co/1RcL2Ai
Barnes and Noble: 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic...


   

Proximity by Amber Lea Easton

Today I welcome Amber Lea Easton to my blog with an interview and her newest release...PROXIMITY! (Book #2 in her Wanderlust series). 

Amber Lea Easton


PROXIMITY 
Genre: Contemporary romance adventure
Heat Level: Steamy





Blurb:
Love sometimes hides in plain sight.
Savannah is one of the boys—fun loving, adventurous, a general contractor, and dive master extraordinaire. There isn't much she takes seriously about herself, or at least that's the impression she likes to give off. Women often misjudge her based on her looks so she's gravitated toward a group of men who accept her 'as is'—her Scuba diving club.
Bill has known Savannah's wild side for years and has been comfortable playing the role of best friend. As part of the Dallas Divers, he's shared many adventures with the group from diving the Blue Hole in Belize to exploring the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. When the team heads out to Costa Rica for a series of cave dives, he knows something is off but can't justify his nerves.
Catastrophe happens shortly after their immersion in the cave. With the entrance blocked from an earthquake and separated from the rest of their team, Savannah and Bill are forced to find another way out while battling aftershocks, rising tides, and an undeniable attraction that they've ignored for too long. The question becomes, what's more dangerous...the earthquake or love?




**The Wanderlust Series consists of stand-alone adventure romance novels. Occasionally, characters from previous novels may make a cameo, but each story truly does stand on its own merits.


Purchase Links:Barnes and Noble: http://goo.gl/x4qmGCAmazon: http://myBook.to/ProximityAll Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-proximity-1795070-153.htmlSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/539624



Now a little Q & A with Amber...

Q: Can you tell us a little about the Wanderlust Series as a whole?
A: I originally started writing this series for my own entertainment as an author. Anonymity, the first in the series, came about after I had written a serious nonfiction book and needed to cleanse my mind and have some fun. I loosely based it on a trip my late husband and I took to Belize—adventure tended to follow us wherever we went! After that, people who read Anonymity loved the secondary characters, Bill and Savannah. I decided at that point to create a series of adventure oriented romance novels that take place all over the world to share my both my love of travel and my love of human relationships. I hope to transport readers to these places where they can experience the world without ever leaving their homes. It's my intention to give them a fun read with captivating characters in fascinating places.

Q: What's the best part of traveling, from your perspective? 
A: To me, the best part of traveling is truly immersing myself in the culture of the place I'm visiting. I always start out with a sense of wonder and curiosity—no matter if I'm traveling to the Caribbean or Iowa. I want to leave with a sense of the people who live there and with knowledge of the place I've been. What's the food like? How is it different than where I call home? What makes the people there happy? I always leave on a trip expecting to learn something and am never disappointed.


Q: When thinking of these stories, what comes first? Setting or characters?
A: Characters come first for me. It doesn't matter if I'm writing romance adventure or romantic suspense, it is always the characters that I envision first. They tell me the story from that point forward.


Q: Do you have any writing habits that get you in the creative mood?
A: Yes, I love to write with music and candles. I get into my zone when I'm at my desk, a particular soundtrack going that suits my mood at the moment, and either candles or incense burning. Oh, and my dogs. I always have at least one nearby.


Q: Speaking of adventure, what's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?
A: I swam with sharks—intentionally. I thought they were magnificent creatures and I came away with a deep appreciation of their beauty and grace. There have been many more experiences that some might call adventurous, but I ultimately believe the best is yet to come.



About the author:

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of both nonfiction and fiction. Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes strong female heroines who encounter their fair share of challenges but ultimately persevere. In addition to being an author, Easton is also an editor, speaker, and mother of two exceptional young adults. Find out more about her books by visiting http://www.amberleaeaston.com




You can also follow Amber here:
http://www.amberleaeaston.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Amber-Lea-EastonHttp://www.barnesandnoble/AmberLeaEastonhttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/305522http://www.bookstrand.com/AmberLeaEaston

Proximity Me by Amber Lea Easton

Today I welcome Amber Lea Easton to my blog with an interview and her newest release...PROXIMITY ME (Book #2 in her Wanderlust series). 

Amber Lea Easton


PROXIMITY ME
Genre: Contemporary romance adventure
Heat Level: Steamy





Blurb:
Love sometimes hides in plain sight.
Savannah is one of the boys—fun loving, adventurous, a general contractor, and dive master extraordinaire. There isn't much she takes seriously about herself, or at least that's the impression she likes to give off. Women often misjudge her based on her looks so she's gravitated toward a group of men who accept her 'as is'—her Scuba diving club.
Bill has known Savannah's wild side for years and has been comfortable playing the role of best friend. As part of the Dallas Divers, he's shared many adventures with the group from diving the Blue Hole in Belize to exploring the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. When the team heads out to Costa Rica for a series of cave dives, he knows something is off but can't justify his nerves.
Catastrophe happens shortly after their immersion in the cave. With the entrance blocked from an earthquake and separated from the rest of their team, Savannah and Bill are forced to find another way out while battling aftershocks, rising tides, and an undeniable attraction that they've ignored for too long. The question becomes, what's more dangerous...the earthquake or love?




**The Wanderlust Series consists of stand-alone adventure romance novels. Occasionally, characters from previous novels may make a cameo, but each story truly does stand on its own merits.


Purchase Links:Barnes and Noble: http://goo.gl/x4qmGCAmazon: http://myBook.to/ProximityAll Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-proximity-1795070-153.htmlSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/539624



Now a little Q & A with Amber...

Q: Can you tell us a little about the Wanderlust Series as a whole?
A: I originally started writing this series for my own entertainment as an author. Anonymity, the first in the series, came about after I had written a serious nonfiction book and needed to cleanse my mind and have some fun. I loosely based it on a trip my late husband and I took to Belize—adventure tended to follow us wherever we went! After that, people who read Anonymity loved the secondary characters, Bill and Savannah. I decided at that point to create a series of adventure oriented romance novels that take place all over the world to share my both my love of travel and my love of human relationships. I hope to transport readers to these places where they can experience the world without ever leaving their homes. It's my intention to give them a fun read with captivating characters in fascinating places.

Q: What's the best part of traveling, from your perspective? 
A: To me, the best part of traveling is truly immersing myself in the culture of the place I'm visiting. I always start out with a sense of wonder and curiosity—no matter if I'm traveling to the Caribbean or Iowa. I want to leave with a sense of the people who live there and with knowledge of the place I've been. What's the food like? How is it different than where I call home? What makes the people there happy? I always leave on a trip expecting to learn something and am never disappointed.


Q: When thinking of these stories, what comes first? Setting or characters?
A: Characters come first for me. It doesn't matter if I'm writing romance adventure or romantic suspense, it is always the characters that I envision first. They tell me the story from that point forward.


Q: Do you have any writing habits that get you in the creative mood?
A: Yes, I love to write with music and candles. I get into my zone when I'm at my desk, a particular soundtrack going that suits my mood at the moment, and either candles or incense burning. Oh, and my dogs. I always have at least one nearby.


Q: Speaking of adventure, what's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?
A: I swam with sharks—intentionally. I thought they were magnificent creatures and I came away with a deep appreciation of their beauty and grace. There have been many more experiences that some might call adventurous, but I ultimately believe the best is yet to come.



About the author:

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published author of both nonfiction and fiction. Smart is sexy, according to Easton, which is why she writes strong female heroines who encounter their fair share of challenges but ultimately persevere. In addition to being an author, Easton is also an editor, speaker, and mother of two exceptional young adults. Find out more about her books by visiting http://www.amberleaeaston.com




You can also follow Amber here:
http://www.amberleaeaston.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Amber-Lea-EastonHttp://www.barnesandnoble/AmberLeaEastonhttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/305522http://www.bookstrand.com/AmberLeaEaston

SHE ONLY SPEAKS TO BUTTERFLIES by Sandy Appleyard

I'm happy to have author Sandy Appleyard as my guest! Today she's releasing her newest book, She Only Speaks to Butterflies.



Sandy Appleyard

Canadian born, Sandy made her first appearance in 1975. With a Newfoundland heritage on her father's side and English ancestors on her mother's side, Sandy grew up craving to learn more about her background. 

In 1989 she finally visited St.John's Newfoundland and instantly fell in love. Still yearning to see the UK, Sandy took up a special interest in the British royal family, particularly the late Princess Diana, and as such is proud of the large collection of biographies lining her bookcase.

Sadly, her father passed away in 1992, bringing certain heartache but also lighting a candle in a budding author's heart. After her marriage in 2004 and the birth of her first child in 2006, Sandy found herself getting in touch with her creative side and penned her first memoir, about her father, which was published in 2010.

After the fulfilling experience of her first book, she knew there was no turning back. The author of 7 titles and counting, Sandy is living out her dream of writing, and hopes to one day see the world, but until then she'll write about it. Her newest release is...

SHE ONLY SPEAKS TO BUTTERFLIES Christian/sweet/romantic suspense. 




Blurb:
Seven year old Denise and her mother Sherry live in a small town in Arkansas that is suddenly ravaged by fire. Widowed and raising a special needs child alone, Sherry's priorities exclude romantic relationships, until a new kinship compels Sherry to put her life back into perspective. 

The local fire department hires a man with a painful past, who shares a unique bond with Denise. A common interest between them creates trust and open doors otherwise believed to be closed forever.
Anything is possible, especially when love and faith are present. She Only Speaks to Butterflies is a heartwarming story that helps us see that sometimes modern science isn't as powerful as the human heart.  


From Sandy...
What inspired me to write this story was a Halloween party, a fireman, and a fearful child. I chose the setting because Arkansas is a state that is no stranger to fires, and I have always wanted to write about living in a small town.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
A breeze drifted into her room from the open window. Sherry pulled the blankets up tighter to her chin as she slept. Her hand swept absently through the empty spot beside her. The crease in the mattress still held Chris’s shape but hadn’t been warmed by his body in months. Often, her dreams included him, but lately they turned cold and dismal.
Tonight’s dream was no exception. The lilies that lined her garden were quickly wilting. Grass that was once green lay yellowing and crispy on her lawn. As she floated into her home the dreamy haze surrounded her, clouding her view of Baker’s Farm beyond her house.
As she proceeded through the kitchen, Sherry could feel the hair on her forearms suddenly stand up. The chill felt down her spine was juxtaposed by the inherent heat enveloping her. Looking downward she gasped; smoke was billowing around the room. It followed as she made her way to the upper floor. The smell scorched her lungs as she strived to get to the room at the end of the hallway, where her daughter lay.
To her relief, Denise was sleeping soundly, undisturbed by the flames licking up the sides of her bed. Following her instincts, Sherry reached to scoop her daughter up and run, but something stopped her. Under the cloud of gray smoke at her feet was a man’s hand. It pulled at her ankle, preventing her from reaching out.
Suddenly, Denise’s eyes fluttered open. As she witnessed the flames and smoke engulfing her room, she cried out. But her cries fell on deaf ears; it was as if all the wind had been taken from her. No sound would come. Sherry tried to break free from the hand, grasping her seemingly from the depths of hell, but her attempts were futile.
Sherry watched as her seven-year-old continued mutely screaming for help, when suddenly the screams were replaced by the shrieking beeps of an alarm. Bolting upright, she pounded her fist on the alarm clock and wiped her face. It was beaded with sweat and her sheets were soaked. She swore, pulling her feet down onto the cold wood-planked floor.
Swallowing, Sherry managed to catch her breath. The house was quiet. All that could be heard was the chirping of morning doves as they prattled among the trees, waiting for sunrise. Staring at her shaking hands, Sherry observed the tan line where her wedding ring once rested. Looking at her jewelry box, she walked over and sat at her dressing table, glancing into the antique mirror.
The face that was once adorned with smiles looked back at her, shadowed with grief and anxiety in the form of wrinkles and shadows. Her body, that had once been touched tenderly, would never again feel love or new life. Feet that would never dance with a partner again, lay flat against the hard floor. She took the wedding band from the box and placed it on her finger; giving herself permission to pretend for another day.
Hearing a voice, Sherry rose and padded over to Denise’s room. She heard the voice again and walked faster. Could this be it? Has the day finally come? Sherry asked herself, trying to calm the fluttering in her belly. Her heart sank as she opened the door and saw her daughter, lying fast asleep, with her talking Elmo doll wedged against her body, chattering inadvertently.
Sherry chided herself for believing. Today wouldn’t be the day. And probably tomorrow wouldn’t be, either. But one day she knew it would happen. One day it wouldn’t just be in her dreams.

Chapter 2
The leaves on the trees were green and lush with spring. Morning had greeted them kindly with warm sunlight and a fresh breeze. Sherry winded her window down further and rested her hand on the door of her beat up Eldorado, letting her fingers weave through the air as she made her way up the long country road to the school.
Long, brown ringlets bounced up and down, riding the wind as it flowed through her hair. Sherry looked back and saw Denise’s hair doing the same and she smiled proudly. “I put peanut butter sandwiches in your lunch today, darlin’, with the crusts cut off, just the way you like ‘em.”
Denise continued straightening her bear’s outfit, without a response to her mother.
Turning into the school, Sherry waved to her friend Martha, who was dropping off her son. “Oh, look, there’s Luke.” she pointed.
Denise spotted Luke; Martha’s son, and waved to him politely. Unfastening her seat belt, Denise bent forward, stepping out of her booster seat, onto the floor of the car, where her mother waited to embrace her. “Bye bye sweetie. I’ll see ya later.”
Denise kissed her mother and walked into the school without looking back, carefully ensuring that her bear was tucked by her side.
“How’s she doin’?” Martha asked, giving Luke a playful goodbye tap on the bottom as he joined Denise in line with the rest of the class.
“Good. No more fever. Dr. Baker gave her the good stuff.” Sherry crossed her arms over her chest.
“She’s got a little glint in her eye today, doesn’t she?” Martha noticed, walking up to Sherry’s side.
“Yeah. She almost smiled at me on the way here.”
“It’ll come.” Martha said as if by rote, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “It’s been almost two years now, hasn’t it?”
Sherry nodded, not looking up. “Come summer.”
“She been up to the Baker’s farm lately? Ned’s built a conservatory for the butterflies.”
“Yeah. That’s how I found out about the bear.” Sherry explained matter-of-factly.
“The bear?”
Sherry looked up and pointed at Denise’s little purse and the bear sticking out of it, like a lone traveler secretly placed in her luggage to avoid entrance fees. “Rainy Day Bear. That’s how I found out she wanted the bear for her birthday.”
Martha’s brows furrowed. “And how did you find out about that?”
“Because she told one of the butterflies.”
…
“Great scot!” Ned Baker shouted, darting out of his chair. 
“Who is this little princess strollin’ up the walkway?” He looked over at his wife, Kate, who was sitting on the porch in her wooden rocker, knitting what appeared to be a baby bonnet. “Hand me a lollipop,” he instructed. “One o’ the ones with the candy in the middle…the good ones.” He smiled, gesturing her to hurry.
“Ned, for heaven’s sake,” Kate scolded, reaching behind her to the large pink plastic candy bowl they kept on their porch for passers-by. “Better ask her momma first.”
Denise and Sherry were walking up the gravel pathway to the house, carrying a basket full of torn stale bread. “We came to feed the ducks again.” Sherry explained, scooting Denise up towards Ned, who was walking proudly down the hill towards the young girl. His knees bent further with each step, stooping down to Denise’s level. When he reached the little girl, his toothy grin and proffered lollipop forced an ear-to-ear smile across Denise’s face.
“Absolutely, love, they’ve been waitin’.” Kate rose, setting down the knitting on her rocker. “You can help feed the butterflies, too, if you can spare the time.”
“Absolutely, Kate. I’m sure she’d love to.”
“How ya doin’ today, sweetheart?” Kate’s arm was over Sherry’s shoulders. “You looked downright pale this mornin’.”
“I’m fine. Thanks again for gettin’ hold of Doug so fast yesterday. He’s a lifesaver.”
Doug, Ned and Kate’s son, was the town doctor. Sherry called him yesterday after receiving a call from Denise’s school, reporting that she was burning up with fever.
Kate gestured Sherry into the house. “No trouble, dear. Can I get you a tea?”
“Sure. Have you got chamomile?”
Kate reached for the box of chamomile tea in the cupboard above the sink. “Sarah was by earlier; the beauty parlor must have been slow today.”
“Did she come for your cinnamon rolls? I swear this baby of hers has given her the nose of a hound.”
“Yeah, she took my last one. Ate my apple dumplings, too. I’ll make a fresh batch later.” She waved casually, scrunching her nose.
The kettle began to boil and Kate poured two small mugs full. “Doug says Dr. Graham thinks Denise is goin’ to hit a tippin’ point soon.” Kate said cautiously, handing her the tea.
“He says it won’t take much. She’s come a long way in the last year.” Sherry agreed.
“What do you think it’ll take?”
Sherry scoffed, taking a sip of tea. “If I knew that I could pull her out of treatment.”
“Sorry, love, I didn’t mean to pry.” Kate placed her hands on Sherry’s and changed the subject. “You hear they’re puttin’ in a new hospital?”
“No. It’s about time. Poor Doug’s been tellin’ me for years that the hospital’s too small.”
“That’s right. This town’s grown twice its size in the last ten years.”
“I remember,” Sherry said, “When they built the Food Mart over there on Carlaw Street. Ned just about had a coronary.”
Kate grinned. “I’ve never seen that man run so fast.” She shook her head. “Nothin’ stops him when it comes to this farm. It took him a week to get ‘em to buy their goods from us.”
“Now that Marty and Liz run it, you guys can’t keep up with ‘em.”
“Yep. We’ve got more cattle, pigs and chickens now than I’ve ever had…even since I was a girl.”
“So where’s the hospital goin’?”
Kate turned away from Sherry quickly, fumbling through the drawer, looking for her oven mitts. “Just up the way here.” She mumbled, pointing absently at the overhead window.
Sherry’s brows furrowed. “Up the way where? Closer to me or the other way…towards Sarah’s place?”
“Er…on the other side of the farm.”
“What do you mean? Over towards the main highway? Where the…where the road’s been closed?”
“It hasn’t been made official.” Kate turned to face her, speaking apologetically. “They may put it over by Sarah’s. Ned says they’re still negotiatin’, but I wanted you to know. So you wouldn’t be surprised if it came about.”
Sherry sat silently for a moment. “How long?”
“Ned said the town is goin’ to hold another meetin’ in a month’s time. I didn’t want to tell you but Ned said it’s for the best. He made me promise I’d tell you after Denise’s birthday; he didn’t want ya upset for that.”
“I guess it was goin’ to happen some day.” Sherry sighed regretfully. “They can’t keep that road closed forever just for me.”
Kate walked over to Sherry and took her hands. “Maybe it’s a sign, sweetie.” She rubbed the back of Sherry’s hands with her fingers. “God’s tellin’ ya it’s time to let go.”

From Jan... I had the pleasure of an advance reading copy of She Only Speaks to Butterflies. Here is my review:

She Only Speaks to Butterflies is a tender saga that will pull at your heartstrings. Sherry becomes a widow when her husband Chris is killed in a tragic accident. She’s dealt another blow when their beautiful little daughter, Denise, stops talking after losing her dad. Sherry’s character is strong but you can feel the moments when she’s not sure how things will work out. The author gave Sherry a good support system with her parents and friends but her heart is longing for that special kind of one-on-one relationship. Lee enters the picture. He’s good for both Sherry and Denise. At the risk of giving too much away, I’ll finish my review by saying I liked the concept of the story and enjoyed it from beginning to end.



If you're interested in buying or checking out SHE ONLY SPEAKS TO BUTTERFLIES:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Only-Speaks-Butterflies-Sandy-Appleyard/dp/1507762003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429145594&sr=8-1&keywords=she+only+speaks+to+butterflies
Kindle US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W5QS9A0
Kindle UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00W5QS9A0
Kindle CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00W5QS9A0



If you'd like to find out more about Sandy and her books, check out her Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Sandy-Appleyard...

Website: http://www.sandyappleyard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wordscanexpress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandyappleyard

Close your eyes...

Recently I had the joy of finishing and publishing book #16. At the same time I had an epiphany about stepping back a bit or pushing away from the keyboard now and then. It's easy to get so entrenched in busy work that we forget to take a few minutes to refresh and recharge.



With that in mind, I've been making an effort to occasionally sit in silence and listen with my eyes closed. It's amazing the things you can pick up on when you disconnect from one of your senses and let another take over. 

I listened to the birds outside my window. They were having a conversation, I assume with other birds. They had a language all their own. It was loud but melodic. 

While watching and listening to the news the other day, I lowered my eyelids and tuned out the content of what was being said to concentrate on the rich timbre of the news anchor's voice. It was smooth and masculine. His confidence and intelligence came through loud and clear. I thought he'd make a great narrator for an audio book. 

Along that same line, I did the same exercise while enjoying my current favorite song, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran. My eyelashes fluttered closed and I was transported to my happy place with the slow strums of the guitar, the rhythm of the drums and romantic nuances in the artist's tone. 

We process so much in a days' time with our eyes that it's good to give them a break now and then; if only for a few minutes. In doing so, it'll help you relax. Perhaps you'll hear a unique kind of beauty you might have otherwise missed.       

NOT WITHOUT NANCY - book #4 in my Texas Boys Falling Fast...

NOT WITHOUT NANCY - book #4 in my Texas Boys Falling Fast series is almost here!! ♥

This book is Trigg and Nancy story. It's the final book in the series! 

I had a great time writing this book because the characters and their situations yanked around my emotions. Some of the scenes made me laugh out loud while others made me bawl like a baby. I felt a strong connection with Trigg and Nancy. I hope you will too! ♥


Without further ado, I'd like to share the cover art designed by Deborah with Tugboat Design.






He's laid-back. She's always in fast-forward.


COMING MAY 4, 2015

  

An Interview with Marta Moran Bishop!

Marta Moran Bishop

Good morning, Marta! It's a joy to have you on my blog! I was looking at your bio on your Amazon author's page and was intrigued. You're a prolific writer who's the product of three generations of women writers. That's so cool! 
Jan, I am such a fan of your books and writing that I'm truly honored that you asked me to chat with you today.

Marta, you write children's books, fantasy and paranormal stories, and poetry. Which genre do you find the most challenging? 
What a great question. It would be getting my mind and spirit to see the world through either an animal's eyes as I did in Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal , Dinky's Quest: The Journey Begins , and both my children's poetry books Wee Three: A Mother's Love in Verse and Innocence and Wonder , to be the most challenging.  




To some, writing for children might seem easy. I think it would be difficult. Can you share some insight?
The first children's book was Wee Three: A Mother's Love in Verse . The most difficult part was taking my grandmother's half-finished verses and expanding them.
While doing this, I had to relearn how to see the world through the eyes of a child and keep her voice intact. I didn't want someone reading it to know where her verses ended and mine began, but probably 95% of the book was written by me and I believe there were only five verses I left untouched and didn't add to them.





Marta, can you describe your writing style?
My writing style depends upon what I am writing, however there is one common theme, at some point in the book or story a glimpse of hope, a spray of light at the end of the tunnel, must be there.
When I write it is fast paced, (except of course for the rewrites, ugh) When I write paranormal or fantasy the stories usually write themselves, the characters name themselves and the stories come alive as my fingers type. This is true of all my paranormal and fantasy books.
Dinky's book was different in that it went through eight rewrites as I wrote it first-person-horse and it was based upon a true story. It was my first experience writing first-person anything let alone a horse. Even though the story could tell itself, I had to find a way for him to know about things that he wouldn't have known about as a baby (foal). That was the most difficult thing for me and that part required some deliberation.





Do you have any writing quirks that we would enjoy hearing about? When you need to get in the zone to write, is there any person, place or thing that prompts your creativity?
Another fabulous question and a difficult one to answer. I have so many things that inspire me or put me in the zone. I watch people, animals, make cloud pictures, watch the trees, or sometimes it is an article I read or a dream I had that inspired me. I guess the quirkiest thing I do is open myself to life and nature. The Between Times came to me after reading some articles and one morning I was sitting outside in the pre-dawn light and the book took over my mind. The characters came to light. The Void , The Choosing , and The Night of the Fairies seemed to birth themselves. 




I believe writers are daydreamers who finally got the chance to put the stories in their heads down on paper (or on the computer). When did you decide to make your daydreams a reality? What is the first book you published?
The first book I published was W ee Three: A Mother's Love in Verse , though it went through three incarnations and three publishers. 




You live on a farm in Massachusetts. Does farming and animals play a big part in your stories?
Absolutely, bugs, horses, dragonflies, sunrises and sunsets, snow, wind, rain, droughts, and even clouds find their way into either a poem or story. They all help me to see the world differently.
When I wrote The Choosing , based upon a mythical society of pre-historical native tribe, much of what they might have gone through I found in the artifacts and critters here on this piece of land.

Besides the usual social media sites for promotion, you also are involved in blog/talk/radio. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience?
My first foray into blog talk radio, was as a guest, after that I found I wanted to feature other authors in ways I couldn't as a guest and my show was born. Blog talk Radio has its technical issues, but I find it a rewarding way of giving back to those authors who have given me so much joy when I read their books. 

A little bit about Marta Moran Bishop...
Marta Moran Bishop is the product of three generations of women writers. Their legacy to her was an inquisitive mind and a joy of writing and reading. She reads to children and adults alike taking her books from children's classes to senior centers.

Her first book, Wee Three: A Mothers Love In Verse, a children's poetry book, illustrated by Hazel Mitchell, was a collaborative effort and a labor of love. She took the short, sweet verses her grandmother wrote in the nineteen thirty's for her children and expanded those and added additional verses of her own.

Ms. Bishop, is a prolific and versatile writer, she currently has two children's poetry books, Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal, which is based on the true story of her rescue foal and written from his point of view and is enjoyed by both children and adults alike.

Her novel The Between Times, tells the story of a bleak world, where society consists of the poor and the rich and the poor live in squalor, with only a prophecy for hope of a better future. It has a touch of paranormal in its pages.

She has written three adult poetry books and a variety of fantasy and paranormal stories. A few of them are stories that her mother wrote over forty years ago and she finished while others are new and vibrant stories.

She states "I learned that one needed to have a plot and conversation to move the story forward from a particularly bad play I wrote at the age of six. It was the worst play ever written or performed. It was so awful my mother stopped the production after about three minutes."

She currently lives on a small farm in Massachusetts with her husband, three horses, cats and a conure parrot named Beau. They help her remember to view the world through a child's innocence and keep her young and imaginative.



Thank you so much for being here, Marta! Wishing you big success with your writing career. May the writing spark/gene you received be passed down to the next generation!

Jan, thank you for spending this time with me today and for the well wishes. It has been delightful!





You can follow Marta here:

Website:  www.martamoranbishop.com
Publisher's Website:  katmoranbishop.com
Blog:  www.martambishop.blogspot.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/moranbishop
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/martamora...
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MartaMoranBi...
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/MartaMoranB...
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Marta-Moran-Bis...

Max is back!! Smitten With Death by Sharon Saracino!

I've had the pleasure of reading the first two books in the Max Logan series -- Death Benefits and Life After Death. Now author Sharon Saracino has released book number three -- Smitten With Death! 

Maxine Logan is a snarky character you can easily relate to and she's easy to love! I can't wait to see what she's up to in this new book!




Here's the blurb to whet your appetite:

A year after the death of her ex-husband and boyfriend, Roger-the-Proctologist, Max has accepted the loss and moved on. Well, at least she's tried, but a dating pool consisting mostly of weekend golfers in plaid polyester has left her unenthusiastic about her prospects. When Morgan Kane, the sexy Hellhound Grim Reaper, suddenly reappears seeking her assistance to rescue the bumbling teenage Zombie King from Cerberus' filthy paws, Max realizes that maybe she was holding out for snug denim all along. But a trip to Hell during Vegas Week, with Lucifer masquerading as a tone-deaf Wayne Newton and Kane's psychotic mother as Satan's Showgirl Bride, isn't exactly her idea of the perfect date. In Hell, everything has a price, and though Max discovers she's already paid dearly, if she and Kane are to succeed, another sacrifice is required. Will Max finally get her happily-ever-after or will she lose the man she loves to the Sweet Hereafter? Again.






And an excerpt to heighten the excitement: 

“Reaper, I need a favor,” I choked out and cleared my throat.


“Sure, Logan.” His gaze came back to rest on my face. “What can I do for you?”
“Um, kiss me?” I squeaked as my face heated with the fire of a thousand desert suns.
“Huh?” Judging by the expression on his face, whatever favor Morgan Kane had been anticipating, locking lips with the crazy woman hadn’t even made his list.
“Look,” I whispered in a rush after glancing back to confirm Denise had almost gotten the invading hoard under control. “My sister is determined to hook me up. The minute she sees you, she will devote the remainder of the morning to cute and embarrassing stories designed to impress you with my charm and delightfulness. Trust me, you’ll want to stab knitting needles in your eyes after about ten minutes.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Logan.” He had the temerity to smirk while crossing his arms over his chest. His broad, muscular chest. “I think I might enjoy the cute and embarrassing stories. And I already think you’re charming and delightful.”
My eyes widened in shock, and my mouth fell open yet again. “You do?”
“Logan? You digress.” He snapped my pie hole shut as he had before. But this time he didn’t remove his hand. Instead, he stroked his forefinger lightly along my jaw, sending my pulse into a gallop to rival the Clydesdales pulling a beer wagon away from a crowd of alcoholic zombies.
“I do? Oh yeah. I do. So, anyway I thought if we gave her the impression we already had something going, well maybe it would divert her attention away from my relationship status for the day.”
“I see,” he murmured as he slipped his hand along the side of my neck and curled his fingers around my nape.
Suddenly my knees buckled. I must have twisted my ankle more seriously than I thought. Fortunately, Morgan Kane caught me around the waist before I hit the ground and pulled me hard against him. I absently wondered if it would be considered rude to toss a breath mint in my mouth. Then it occurred to me I didn’t have any. Oh well, moot point. His soft chuckle skittered along my skin like a physical caress. I swallowed hard. I tipped my head back, licked my lips enticingly, and closed my eyes, resigned and ready to make this sacrifice in an effort to thwart my sister and her underhanded plans. Kane chuckled again and then gently swept his lips over mine. Except for Roger and that one tequila-induced episode of poor judgment right after senior prom, I didn’t have a whole lot of experience with men. I know, I know. Up until now, I’ve sucked you into that whole sophisticated woman-about-town façade Iwear so well, but really, it’s true. Morgan Kane, on the other hand, apparently knew his way around this town and most of the continental United States. The ground tilted, the sun spun backwards, and I had difficulty remembering my own name when Morgan Kane finally lifted his lips from mine. Would I never learn my impulsivity always comes back to bite me in the ass?
I coughed loudly, attempted to gather my wits, and looked around to gauge my sister’s reaction. Denise, et al, was nowhere to be seen. The whole crew had apparently hustled past our lip-lock and continued into the house completely unnoticed. At least, by me.Kane’s wicked grin said he was well aware of the effect he’d had on me, and it was precisely the one he’d intended.
Wucking fonderful.


Buy links for Smitten With Death:

The Wild Rose Press
Amazon






A little bit about Sharon:

Sharon Saracino is a paranormal and fantasy author who resides in the anthracite coat country of Pennsylvania with her long suffering husband, funny and talented son, and two insane dogs. She is the author of the Max Logan series and the Earthbound series with The Wild Rose Press. When she is not reading, writing, or enjoying photography and genealogy, she brews limoncello, dreams of living in Italy and works as a Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse.



You can follow Sharon here :
Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

Katie Mettner comes to us with Winter's Rain and a giveaway!

Katie Mettner


Katie Mettner has been hard at it. She's written Winter's Rain - book #3 in The Northern Lights Series. Today, she's going to share some amazing cover art, a blurb and excerpt to whet our appetites for more. Katie writes from the heart. She creates characters and stories that tug all kinds of emotions from you. One particular line in the blurb for Winter's Rain sparked my interest right away. I hope it will spark yours too. 'Hidden somewhere in their past is the key to their future' 




Along with sharing her book information, Katie is also hosting a rafflecopter giveaway -- an ebook copy of Granted Redemption and Autumn Reflections (book #1 & #2 in the series) and also a hand-beaded dreamcatcher by Native American Artisan. So please enjoy some sneak peeks into Winter's Rain and then enter the rafflecopter giveaway. 



Winter's Rain blurb:
Winter Cheyne was a child bride, sold for the price of a gambling debt. After years of abuse she knew breaking free of his hold would be dangerous, maybe even deadly, but it was a chance she had to take. The freedom she found as Winter Rayne was an illusion, instantly shattered by the high beams of an oncoming car. 
Dr. Jedidiah Raintree never knew the truth about what happened to his best friend, Winter Cheyne. Growing up on the reservation together they were inseparable, until fate intervened and tore them apart. He's spent the last twenty years looking for the girl with the long black hair and almond eyes, but ran into dead ends at every turn. Where he didn't expect to find her was huddled in his cabin, pointing a gun at his chest.
With the first snowstorm of the season bearing down on them, Rain convinces Winter he can keep her safe until the storm passes, but quickly learns safety is an apparition. The only choice he has is to risk everything to save the girl he once knew.
Hidden somewhere in her are the secrets she's being hunted for. Hidden somewhere in him is the strength she will need to face them and be free. Hidden somewhere in their past is the key to their future. As the snow falls hard around them, desperation, deceit and death must work in harmony to fulfill their destiny. 

Winter's Rain excerpt:

     My name is Winter Cheyne and eight hours ago I killed a man. He was a ruthless animal who had every intention of killing me first, but I won this time. The first time in a decade. The cold wind blew across my face and I shivered, snapping my mind back to the reality of my situation. I ducked behind a tree and checked the clock on my flashlight. It was 2:00 a.m.     Running on nothing but pure adrenaline for the last two hours, I was searching for a road I could run parallel with, while staying among the trees. Getting lost in the woods in Minnesota was easy, and dying alone in them was even easier. I was confused, wondering if I had done nothing but run in circles for the last few hours. I fumbled for my flashlight, desperate to check the compass. Desperate for it to tell me I was still going in the right direction. I had to get to Duluth and the bus station, buy a ticket then get lost in a big city. Maybe Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles, anywhere but here.     My sore body and exhausted mind yelled at me to take a break. 'Find a place to rest for a few hours', my legs begged, but I refused. I had to keep moving. If his men found me now the last few months would be for nothing. I looked at the flashlight again. Its blackness blended into the night sky and in it I saw the look on his face. I wondered if I was really staying ahead of the danger, or running right into it.     It was pitch black out, not even the moon wanted to come out tonight. I had to stop following the river a few hours ago. That meant I had to risk it and walk on the highway a few hundred feet. Those feet left me exposed by the headlights of the oncoming cars. I was taking a chance they would spot me, but trying to get across the river any other way was a risk I couldn't take. Back in the woods now sometimes I could hear the highway, and sometimes I could hear nothing but my footsteps and ragged breath. Other times I imagined the sounds of a bear, puma or wolf stalking me, watching me, waiting for me.     I closed my eyes, resting my head against the tree. 'What direction leads me to safety, Lord?' The only answer I heard in the wind was 'Deep breath, Winter. I will keep you safe.'     I opened my eyes. I'm not a spiritual person, but what people say is true. When your life is on the line, and you have absolutely nothing left, there is really only one thing to do, pray. I've never gotten an answered prayer before, so I quit praying. I quit praying when I was twelve and the Lord deserted me. Even thought that was what I thought, a part of my heart hoped that He, the Great Spirit, was still protecting me. That He was the reason I wasn't dead, because we all knew I should be.     'There are on deep breaths, Lord, there is only fear and pain.' I thought then I waited, but heard nothing more. My chest rose and fell twice though, not under my own power. I nodded my head against the tree. He had to start somewhere, even if it was with my deep breaths. They relaxed me a little and I took two more, thinking through my options. I really only had one though, find a place to rest. Sitting here was already relaxing me too much. I need a fire for warmth and time to regroup. I need to rest a few hours, even at the risk of my life, or I would end up dead from a cloudy mind and worn out body.      My arm ached and my face throbbed. I touched my cheekbone, now swollen to twice its normal size. I could barely see out of my right eye and I wondered how bad the damage was. I tried not to think about it, but the pain was becoming hard to ignore. I'll get medical help when I get to a big city. My new ID was in my pack and all I had to do was get to a city where I could blend in. Small steps, Winter. Fire, food and water. Listen to the radio and regroup, then start walking again.     I pulled my parka hood up over my head and stuck my hand in my pocket. Even though I was dressed for Minnesota weather, the air was still frigid. A fire was my only hope of getting warm, but that would require an open area in the woods. Someplace open enough for a fire, but hidden enough so no one could see it was a tall order. My casted left hand fumbled for the flashlight and it dropped to the ground. I swore under my breath, kneeling down to feel around for the clunky box. The hand crank flashlight was my lifeline. Breaking it would force me into civilization much sooner than I wanted. I had no idea how many men were part of this organization with Ono. For all I knew they are in every big city across the country.     I knelt on my hands and knees, and tried to pack the hysteria down. 'You don't know that for sure, Winter.' I scolded myself while searching for the flashlight. My hand finally hit the box and I picked it up, cranking the handle and praying for light. It flickered on and I breathed a sigh of relief. Tarzan's Jane, I am not. I'm so far from a wilderness woman. I've never even been camping. Somewhat ironic considering I'm half Chippewa. It's the other half of me that has me in this predicament, and there is no way out. I wonder if this is how my ancestors felt, running through the woods being hunted like animals. 

From Jan...
All I can say after reading this excerpt, is WOW! I can't wait to read Winter's Rain!!

Okay, now that Katie has teased us with some incredible insight to Winter and her struggle to reclaim her life, it's time to leave a comment and get entered to win those incredible gifts from Katie via Rafflecopter. 




a Rafflecopter giveaway






More about Katie:

Katie Mettner writes inspiration romance from a little house in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. She's the author of the four part epic family saga, The Sugar Series, Sugar's Song being runner up for sweet romance in the eFestival of Words awards. Her other romance series, The Northern Lights Series and the Snowberry Holiday Series, are both set in Minnesota and are a mix of new adult and romantic suspense. Katie lives with her soulmate, whom she met online at Thanksgiving, and married in April. Together they share their lives with their three children and two leopard geckos. After suffering an especially bad spill on the bunny hill in 1989 Katie became a below the knee amputee in 2011, giving her the much needed time to pen her first novel, Sugar's Dance. With the release of Sugar's story Katie discovered the unfilled need for disabled heroes and heroines! Her stories are about empowering people with special circumstances to find the one person who will love them because of their abilities, not their inabilities. Katie has a slight addiction to Twitter and blogging, with a lessening aversion to Pinterest now that she quit trying to make the things she pinned.


Follow Katie:
The View From The Other Side
Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

Tsu

Author Spotlight - Sharon Saracino!

Paranormal-romance-fantasy author,Sharon Saracino!

I've had the pleasure of reading Sharon's work and I have to say, she has a knack for storytelling. Her stories are deep, thought-provoking adventures with powerful underlying messages. At the same time, her style is lighthearted. How can her writing be both deep and lighthearted? Easy answer: talent. Sharon makes me laugh-out-loud at times and sniff back a tear as well.
Sharon has been hard at work with her Max Logan series and also the Earthbound series.

Today, I'm highlighting book #3 in the Max Logan series, titled:   Smitten With Death


Blurb:
A year after the death of her ex-husband and boyfriend, Roger-the-proctologist, Max has accepted the loss and moved on. Well, at least she's tried, but a dating pool consisting mostly of weekend golfers in plaid polyester has left her unenthusiastic about her prospects. When Morgan Kane, the sexy Hellhound Grim Reaper, suddenly reappears seeking her assistance to rescue the bumbling teenage Zombie King from Cerberus' filthy paws, Max realizes that maybe she was holding out for snug denim all along. But a trip to Hell during Vegas Week, with Lucifer masquerading as a tone-deaf Wayne Newton and Kane's psychotic mother as Satan's Showgirl Bride, isn't exactly her idea of the perfect date. In Hell, everything has a price, and though Max discovers she's already paid dearly, if she and Karen are to succeed, another sacrifice is required. Will Max finally get her happily-ever-after or will she lose the man she loves to the Sweet Hereafter? Again. 

** Smitten With Death releases February 20th, but it's currently available for preorder. Check it out at:               
 AMAZON


For your viewing pleasure, here are book #1 and #2 in the series. 






Here's a little bit about Sharon:
Sharon Saracino was born and raised in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania and resides there with her long suffering husband, funny and talented son, and two insane dogs. When she isn't reading, writing, or enjoying photography and genealogy, she brews limoncello, dreams of moving to Italy, and works as a Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse.

You can follow Sharon here:

Website:  http://www.SharonSaracino.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon...

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Twitter:  @SharonSaracino