Jan Romes's Blog, page 9

The Little Blog that Could!

I confess that I'm not a consistent blogger. Occasionally I host a special guest or I write a snarky post. Perhaps in 2017 I'll be more active. With that said, I checked how many views I've had over the past few years... (drum roll)

100,210
To some folks, that might seem a piddly amount. To little ole me, it feels huge! ♥ That means over a 100,000 people took the time to peek at the content. (I'd do a cartwheel, but it wouldn't be pretty. Plus I'd break something - probably my clavicle. Why did I pick that particular body part? LOL People seldom say they broke their clavicle doing cartwheels. I like to be different.)



To celebrate this milestone (the blog views, not the clavicle thing) I'm going to give away three eBook copies of WILD GOOSE CHASE. Why that book, you ask? Because it's totally awesome! (Would I lie to you? Nope.) 




All you have to do to be entered into this amazing giveaway, is leave a comment below and a way to contact you if you win (email address). Your comment can be as short as 'hello' or as detailed as you want to make it. Your name will be put in a hat and the winners will be drawn on Friday morning 11/18/16 at 9:00 AM.
Until then, thank you for popping into my blog to help me celebrate this accomplishment.


Like this sunflower, I'm going to reach to the sky for inspiration to keep you coming back to the little blog that could! 
Love,
Jan

Effrosyni Moschoudi is here with The Amulet!

I'm pleased to have my friend, Effrosyni Moschoudi here from Athens, Greece with her newest release -- The Amulet -- a supernatural romantic comedy.





Welcome, Effrosyni! You must be excited about your newly published novel, The Amulet. Can you tell us what it's about?




Effrosyni:  First of all, thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I am excited to be here! The Amulet is a romantic comedy with angels that is set on the enchanting Greek island of Sifnos. The story has romance, intrigue, humor, and a touch of drama - so a bit of everything really. I also made sure to tantalize my readers again by describing Greek dishes, like I often do in my books. One of my beta readers reported she had to put the book down at some point and go get something to eat!

Jan:  Can you share the blurb and a small excerpt?

Effrosyni:  I'd be happy to!

Blurb:


When Katie loses her Athens office job, a gypsy woman hands her an amulet for good luck. Next, she gets hired as a hotel receptionist on the Greek island of Sifnos and everything seems perfect, except for the overbearing hotel owner, Mrs. Matina. One of the guests, heart-stoppingly handsome Aggelos, keeps saving the day whenever Katie needs help. As she falls in love, she grows all the more intrigued by him and his quirky friends, including a little girl who keeps turning up on her own. Add a psychic, half-mad elderly woman into the mix and you're in for a few laughs. Things are not what they seem in this small, family hotel and get even more complicated when the gypsy woman shows up again. Will Katie ever work out that Aggelos is a guardian angel that came with the amulet? And if she does, will she be able to keep him? It may take a miracle. But on an island as magical as Sifnos, anything is possible!
Excerpt:
When Katie arrived back at Hotel Asimi the sun was slowly gliding towards the horizon against a pastel-coloured sky. She was strolling past the hotel's thatched umbrellas, making her way towards the entrance when her jaw dropped. Sitting on the bottom step was Aggelos. He was holding an orange juice carton, drinking through a straw thirstily.      Katie put her hands on her hips and gawked when she stopped to stand before him. 'Aggelos! How did you do that?'     Aggelos beamed at her and pulled a long tendril of silky hair back from his brow. 'How did I do what?'     'How did you get here before me? It was a good five kilometres out of Asimi where I left you. Did you hitch a ride?'     Aggelos pointed at his feet. 'Yes. On those babies.' He chuckled and winked. 'I'm a fast walker.'     'But...' She scratched her head. 'You can't be faster than the scooter I was on, surely.'     Aggelos stood and scrunched up the carton, then hopped up the few steps to the bin. He tossed it inside and shrugged when he returned to her at the bottom of the steps. 'Nah, you've been gone ages. I bet you wandered around the village and lost track of time.'     'I did buy an ice cream...and lingered at the village square for a while,' she mumbled.     Aggelos tilted his head. 'See? Not Superman, after all.'     'I never said you're Superman. But, I have noticed you tend to save the day.'     Aggelos put up a finger. 'Now, that's a compliment and a half! Thank you, Katie.'     Katie heard the sound of her name on his lips again and it made her knees weak. Earlier, when he was drinking his refreshment she couldn't take her eyes off his pouted lips around the straw. She'd tried to imagine there and then how it would feel to kiss them. Now, as he gazed at her, his wide smile exposing perfect pearly whites, she shifted her weight from foot to foot, wondering if she had it in her to ask him out. She decided it was too soon. After all, she'd never done this sort of thing before. As she contemplated all that, Aggelos was telling her about the beauty of the places he'd explored that day. She kept nodding and making the odd comment and, all the while, marveled at his perfectly sculpted features. 

Book trailer:
https://youtu.be/dhRxmNUwGjA



Jan:  Sounds delightful, Effrosyni! I understand you have a giveaway open at the moment for Team Effrosyni members. What is the team about? And can you tell us more about the giveaway? My readers are book lovers and they may want to enter. (By the way, Effrosynia, sweet cover art for The Amulet.)

Effrosyni:  Thanks, Jan. Team Effrosyni is my way of playing Santa with my fans! Anyone is welcome to join and it's all free. Every time I release a book, I'll be giving all the members a FREE advance reader's copy to read without any obligation.Members are also able to enter the occasional giveaways that are open exclusively to them. For the one I created to mark the launch of The Amulet, there are tote bags up for grabs as well as a bunch of six kindles set in Greece by authors I admire. 



Your readers are welcome to join Team Effrosyni. Once they do, they will be immediately taken to a screen that will disclose the giveaway link so they can enter. It's that simple, and there's still time to join! All details about Team Effrosyni are here:

http://effrosyniwrites.com/join-team-effrosyni/

I sent a FREE ARC copy of The Amulet to all team members before the launch. Any new members can grab the book off Amazon for only 99 cents. The book will remain at this bargain price while the giveaway is still running. 

Jan:  That's great! What plans do you have for the future? Any new books in the pipeline? 

Effrosyni:  I've decided to take time to work on my back list for a while before writing another novel. The Necklace of Goddess Athena  has popular themes (mythology and family drama) for Greek readers and I want to try marketing it in my country too. I've started translating it into Greek and hope to finish it in 2017. I also plan to change the covers of my romance trilogy, The Lady of the Pier. Other than that, I intend to write a couple of short non-fiction books, but it's still too early to say more about that. On the subject of novels, I have ideas for a couple more standalone stories with angel characters from The Amulet brewing in my head. 

Jan: It's been a pleasure, Effrosyni. You're welcome to visit my blog anytime.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Effrosyni Moschoudi was born and raised in Athens, Greece. As a child, she loved to sit alone in her garden scribbling rhymes about flowers, butterflies, and ants. Today, she writes novels with Greek lovers in mind. She lives in a quaint seaside town near Athens with her husband Andy and a naughty cat called Felix.
Effrosyni is a proud member of the writer's groups eNovel Authors at Work, ASMSG, and the Fantasy & SciFi Network. Visit her website for free excerpts, book trailers, and to join her team of loyal readers that enjoy exclusive benefits:


http://www.effrosyniwrites.com

On her secondary blog, she shares her favorite Greek meals with the world. Visit at your own peril. It will make you very hungry!
https://effrosinimoss.wordpress.com/category/greek-recipes-2/

Other Links:
http://www.amazon.com/author/effrosyni
https://www.facebook.com/authoreffrosyni
http://www.twitter.com/frostimoss
http://www.pinterest.com/efrosinimoschou/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7362780.Effrosyni_Moschoudi




 

I'll be your write-in candidate for POTUS!

I had an epiphany this morning! (Possibly fueled by too much coffee and miniature chocolate donuts)

Given the anarchy of this presidential election I've decided to toss my sneaker (since I don't wear hats) into the race as a write-in candidate. "Isn't it too late?" Nope. Forty-three states allow write-ins. With that said, I'm running as a Happy-Ever-After candidate. I'm highly qualified! (see below)

* I can balance a checkbook to the penny (could be an OCD thing).

* I can be bossy (ask my kids).

* Would the mainstream media find skeletons in my closet? (Duh. They'd also find frumpy, outdated clothes and possibly a dust bunny or two. I'd hand them a Swiffer. *Don't give me that look. I know how to delegate.)

* I'm not high maintenance. I'd be waiting on The White House staff instead of them waiting on me. "Can I freshen your coffee? Would you like more noodles?" I'm a mom, grandmother, mother-in-law; it comes with the territory. (Did I mention I love noodles?) 

* I'd help small businesses succeed by hosting book signings (yes, I had to slide that in there), Tupperware parties, Origami Owl, Norwex, Paparazzi jewelry, Thirty-One, etc, instead of State Dinners. (Or I could host one of those parties in conjunction with a State Dinner. Foreign diplomats would snap that stuff up. It's a win-win!)

* I'd help big businesses succeed too. I'd give tax incentives only if they allowed their employees to hold book signings, Tupperware, Origami Owl, etc. parties during their breaks. Big/Small helping each other. Fail proof plan.

* In my first hundred days, I'd boost pay for military members, first-responders, and teachers. There are a lot more folks who need a raise too. (Send me an email. I'll see what I can do)

* Great at multi-tasking. I can talk to leaders of other countries while I straighten things in the Oval Office, work on my next novel, and figure out what I'd like the White House chef to fix for dinner (noodles). 

* I stink at big city driving so Air Force One and Limo-One would come in handy. I'd tip the pilot/driver big. Wait. Presidents don't normally carry cash. (I'd break tradition and have money on hand - in the presidential purse I bought during one of those small business parties at a State Dinner. Are you starting to see a pattern?)

* Great at resolving conflict. (I'm not afraid to give anyone a time-out. Ask my kids/grandkids. *sheepish grin*)

* Not afraid to show my human side. Yep, I'm a crier. (Don't mistake my tears for weakness. I can be a bobcat when necessary. Again, ask my kids)

* With me, happy-ever-after is guaranteed.



♥ I'm Jan Romes and I approve this message ♥

Feeling nostalgic and squishy!

I'm feeling nostalgic and squishy inside today, reflecting on 5 years of being a published author. It truly is a dream come true.

Sometimes to fully appreciate how far you've come you have to go back to where you started. My first published book was One Small Fib. I loved writing that book. The characters Allie Blue and Kiptyn Thomas were two characters who wouldn't let me alone until I wrote their story. ♥♥





  

Here's a sweet review for One Small Fib dating back to 2012:

'How can you not love a character named Allie Blue? This book is so funny, cute, and overall a great read. It is truly a "romance" with all that comes with it. You are rooting for Allie the entire way to deal with her struggles and dreams. And Kip's development is lovely to read. There's a surprise revelation of sorts at the end that some readers will especially love. This book had it all, smart, funny, sexy, and excitement. I would definitely read more from Jan.'


* This review warmed my heart and prompted me to keep writing*


Blurb:

Allie Blue's dream of buying the old Smithington mansion and turning it into a bed and breakfast is stomped by a mystery real estate developer with a fancy pen and loaded checkbook. With no bed and breakfast, Allie resorts to one small fib which lands her a flight attendant's job and the task of pampering Upward Airlines' most demanding frequent flyer -- Kiptyn Thomas, III. Something raw and potent snaps between the, but Allie fights the attraction for the guy who thinks he's at the top of the food chain. Kiptyn Thomas is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. Allie Blue both annoys and intrigues him. Will some well-intentioned fibs, a deep dark secret, and similar personalities draw them together or keep them apart?

Just so you know...

Rated spicy  
Page count:  167
Word count: 48,000

If you'd like to check out Kip and Allie's story you can find it here:


AMAZON


* Side note: this book will soon be available in Kindle Unlimited 

www.authorjanromes.com

Uvi Poznansky - Dancing with Air!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author, Uvi Poznansky! 





Welcome, Uvi! 

Without further ado, let the interview begin...





What inspired you to write Dancing with Air?
For a long time I had this idea of creating a series around the events in the life of a unique family, over the course of several generations. In 1980 Natasha suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s. Set the clock back ten years, and her husband, Lenny, is only beginning to suspect that something is wrong. And when he reflects on their early days, back in WWII, we find Natasha as a young woman at her peak. She is beautiful, brilliant, and most of all ready to meet the challenges that arise during the war years.
The characters had to have not only a compelling voice, but they had to see things in an entirely different light, which would create contrasts and conflicts, as each one of them comes from a different background and has different passions, needs, and aspirations. Dancing with Air is volume IV in this series, but like the previous volumes, it is also a standalone novel, which you can read independently of the others. 
Please share an excerpt from the book.
The earth quaked. Casting a look over my shoulder I saw a ripple going through it. Then a big depression was being formed out there, with cracks yawning wide. Before long it became a cavernous crater, maybe a hundred feet deep, threatening to swallow us alive. Its mouth spit up dirt and rocks, only to devour them with an incredible crackling sound as they came tumbling down. There was something eerie about this landscape. It was ravenous. Riding at utmost speed, we kept just out of its lip.
Our escape route took us along the high ground, for a good reason: the explosion broke a reservoir, which sent a volcano-like sea of mud down the valley, engulfing everything that stood in its way. 
All of a sudden, the Harley started to spurt mud. Natasha had no choice but to bring it to a halt and then, then something else caught her attention. Pointing at the edge of the newly-formed swamp, she said, “Look!”Down there, plodding through the shallow end of the sludge was a kid, perhaps three years old, perhaps a bit older. Mud was oozing down his face, his hair. 
My legs were banged up but somehow I blocked the pain. Hobbling down I reached him and lifted his frail little body out of the muck. At first, he resisted. Flailing wildly and kicking his feet in the air, he twisted away from my hands. So I set the boy down and was surprised to feel his little hand wrapping around my finger.
“Don’t go,” he said.And I said, “I won’t. Promise.”
Where do you get all that energy and passion?
Lol... The simple answer is, I don’t know. I truly enjoy applying everything in me for every task I do, be it writing, creating art, designing my own covers, creating teams around projects such as A Touch of Passion or my newest boxed set, Love in Times of War. I find that when I give it my all, others who take part in my projects are inspired to do the same--and that holds true for my audiobook narrators, for authors who take part in my Facebook events, and for authors in my boxed set. Energy is contagious. 
Every day, I am doing the best I can to keep up with the changing landscape of book publishing, learning new tools, reading about different ways to reach out to readers. Why? because of my characters. Having sprung from my mind onto the page, they might die there, pressed between the front and back covers–unless I make it possible for them to spring from the page into your mind.
When your internal batteries run low, where do you like to go to recharge?The beauty of having my hand (and my heart) in so many activities is that when I tire of one, I pick up another. So for example, say I’ve been writing all day, and can’t think straight or be attentive to what my characters say anymore, I switch gear and design graphics for my team of authors, tailored to each one of them and to the approaching holiday.
I also enjoy swimming, and go to the outdoor pool at least once a week, doing my laps one hour at a time. In sunny days, I love seeing my shadow floating across the bottom of the pool, and wing-shaped ripples forming around my arms.  


If you'd like to follow Uvi you can find her here:
BlogAmazon Author PageFacebook Author PageGoodreads Author PagePinterestTwitter - @UviPoznansky

Still Life with Memories:
Vol I  My Own Voice Ebook Print AudioVol II  The White Piano Ebook Print AudioVol III  The Music of Us Ebook Print AudioVol IV Dancing with Air Ebook PrintVol I+II  Apart from Love Ebook Print Audio

The David Chronicles:
Vol I   Rise to Power  Ebook Print Audio  Vol II  A Peek at Bathsheba  Ebook Print AudioVol III The Edge of Revolt Ebook Print


You're such a talented lady, Uvi! It was a joy having you on my blog. Come back anytime. 

Readers:  I've read Dancing with Air. It was an amazing book! 

Sipping Sangria!

When I first wrote NO SWEAT PANTS ALLOWED- WINE CLUB I knew I wanted to also write a sequel. In the course of writing, sometimes a writer's muse takes a detour. Mine did. I wrote another book (I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes) instead of the sequel. For that, I could kick myself in the butt because it delayed things and some readers have forgotten the characters. One good thing came of the delay, instead of just a sequel I decided to make it a 3-book series -- appropriately named: Wine and Sweat Pants Series.

It's been an incredible journey creating Elaina Samuels and her band of unruly cohorts -- Tawny Westerfield, Stephanie Mathews, and Grace Cordray. These women had me in stitches a lot of the time, but I admit to a few tears as well. The humor is plentiful. The situations I put them in are realistic, although some may not share the same opinion. If those folks only knew my fun-loving, quirky relatives that these characters are fashioned after. (Truth. I swear.)

Through Elaina, Tawny, Stephanie, and Grace, I wanted to convey the message that life will always be unpredictable but when you surround yourself with positive energy you can survive just about anything that comes your way. These women found themselves single at a time when they should've already weathered most of the storms in their lives. But the big guy in the sky had alternate plans for them. In their forties, with no clear plans for starting over, fate stepped in and put them together at a cash-for-gold event. Their destinies began at that moment. They formed the No Sweat Pants Allowed - Wine Club in book one. In this book - book two - Sipping Sangria - they teasingly and affectionately call themselves The 4 Hussy Homestead as they move forward in their attempt to get life right-side-up. You can expect some surprises, mischief, chaos, tender moments, and laughter.    

I hope you'll discover (or rediscover if you read book one) and connect with Elaina, Tawny, Steph, and Grace. 

Side note: I've started book three -- Merlot in Maine.






Sipping Sangria on Amazon

Meet author Pamela Cummins!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing and interviewing author Pamela Cummins! I met Pamela on Twitter. She's a fun, positive personality. You can count on her to tweet something that will make you smile. I look forward to her tweets that begin with 'Happiness Is...'


Meet Pamela


On with the interview so you can get to know Pamela.

Q: Pamela, you write in a very different genre than me. Can you tell our readers about your genre and how you came to write it?

A:  I write in the self-help nonfiction genre to help people with their personal growth, spirituality, and love relationships. The way I came about writing in this genre is through my own self-growth and spiritual journey that began in 1989. My life went from misery to acceptance, love, and happiness; intuitively I knew that I had to share what I learned with the world. I opened my practice in 1993 and have been a teacher/student ever since. My articles, blogs, columns, and books are a reflection of what has and hasn't worked with mine and my clients' lives. I do best to explain complicated techniques in an uncomplicated way with easy to do steps. My hope is that my written words encourage my readers to make positive changes in their lives.

Q: Your new book is titled, Learn the Secret Language of Dreams. Many of us have been baffled by our dreams. Can you share a little bit about your book regarding our dreams without giving too much away?

A:  Yes, Jan, dreams can be baffling at times, and yet they are so fascinating! Learn the Secret Language of Dreams teaches about our different dream categories, which has a variety of styles within each category. The book has close to fifty dreams and interpretations to help the reader understand these dream categories further. The dreams and their interpretations are from mine and my client's dreams and my column In the Dreamtime in Bellesprit Magazine. My intention for writing this book was for my readers to learn and comprehend what their dreams are communicating to them. And their dreams are communicating: answers to their problems, issues they have been in denial about, glimpse of the future, and much more information to help them grow. 



Q:  This is your 4th published book. Could you say a few words about the first 3 books?

A:  In a nutshell; all three books educate the reader to look within and grow so they can attract a long lasting, committed love relationship or improve their current one.

Q:  You host a radio program. Can you enlighten us regarding it?

A:  I just love hosting The Love Channel Show because it's fun doing internet radio! Since love is everything, there is a wide range of topics from relationships, spirituality, healing modalities, bringing more abundance into our lives, owning your own business, self-growth topics, and much more. I do some shows by myself with a topic and do one question readings for listeners who call in. I also have guests whose lives and specialties I find interesting, which is one of the bonuses of being the host.

Q: You're a very focused, positive woman that I met on Twitter. How do you maintain such an upbeat frame of mind?

A: Oh, I have my very human moments! LOL! The number one thing that helps me stay upbeat is my relationship with God. I trust God even if I don't like what is going on in my life. I wasn't always like that and had to learn how to be positive and trust God's will for me. That took years and brought life experience wisdom. I ask God every day, "Please keep my thoughts positive and filled with hope so you and I can create an awesome life filled with love..." What helps me to stay positive is prayer, meditation, and trusting my intuition. I do my best to stay away from negativity, whether that is the news, books, movies, and people. Another thing that helps is when something upsets me: I allow my feelings to come up, release my emotions, and at times I focus on what's wrong with the person or situation for a little while (hey, I am human). Then I look within myself to see my part: did I cause it, is it a reflection of me, is there an issue I need to resolve, what steps I need to take, and what I learned from it. A wise woman once told me, "Out of horror can come beauty," and I look for the beauty. 

Q: When you're not writing, what do you do for fun?

A: The physical activities I enjoy are yoga and long walks in nature because it keeps me grounded in a meditative way and makes my body, mind and spirit feel great. These days my fun is the simple things in life: being with friends and family, good conversations, and quiet nights at home with my man. I do love going out to eat at different types of ethnic restaurants and Eastern NC shrimp and oyster burgers - yummy. Travel is fun once I get there; I'm looking forward to the day I can say, "Beam me up and beam me down, Scotty." My favorite thing in life has always been reading; a day reading in bed is a day of joy!

Q: You have awesome pets. Share a few words about the joy they bring.

A:  You got a couple of hours? Just kidding. I have two spoiled rotten cats. Merlin is very outgoing, can have The Bruiser moments, so loving and almost human at times. He is well known in social media because he doesn't mind his picture taken; shy Rhiannon on the other hand, hates it and runs away. They bring me joy by being their cat selves, loving me, and letting me love them.

It's been great getting to know you better, Pamela!

If you'd like to follow Pamela you can find her here:

www.pamelacummins.com

https://www.learndreaminterpretation.com

https://twitter.com/revpamela

http://pamelasdreamblog.blogspot.com

https://pamelapsychicinsights.wordpre...

An Angel's Song by Sharon Saracino!

I'm excited to help my dear, good friend, Sharon Saracino with her cover reveal for book #4 in her Earthbound Series...

AN ANGEL'S SONG!



Can an Earthbound Angel overcome Djinn, shattered trust, and his own demons to regain the woman he loved--and lost?
Genre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: The Wild Rose PressRelease Date: TBA Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor DCA Graphics Blurb:
After ten years of separation, Tessa and Alec are called to the deathbed of Tessa’s father and tasked with solving a mystery that points to WWII, the Nazi régime, and the shadowy world of the Djinn. Although their passion still burns, forgiveness requires more than desire.
 Alec, the Riddle King to the Defensori, is used to shutting out the world and working on his puzzles alone. But this time, he can’t shut Tessa out. This time, he needs his estranged wife's help. Tessa and her gift hold the key, and failure could cost her sanity…or her life.
 Insecurity, immaturity, and misunderstanding drove them apart. Can they rebuild their shattered trust and work together to rescue a captive Djinni, stay one step ahead of the servants of the Fallen, and save their marriage along with Tessa's life?
Excerpt:

     “Tessa…” he stepped toward her and held out a hand.      “Don’t you touch me,” she warned, taking a quick step back, eyeing him warily.      Okay, so maybe he’d been an oblivious jackass. Hardly the first time, but maybe it showed progress if he’d noticed without someone else pointing it out?      “Look, I could have warned you, but frankly it just never occurred to me. You’ve had a long night, and you’re tired and hurting. I get it. I’m not happy about this, but believe it or not, I really am trying to help. I’m not the bad guy here.”      “Meaning I am?” She spat, stepping right up toe to toe, crossing her arms over her chest, and craning her neck to look directly into his face. “I fly thousands of miles, watch my father die, and then, before I can even process what that means, I am grabbed by you, of all people, and spirited off against my will without so much as a by-your-leave. And you have the audacity to stand there and tell me you’re not happy about this?”      Alec decided he definitely preferred angry Tessa. Her eyes deepened to the swirling blue of an angry sea and her chest heaved, straining the buttons of the wrinkled white blouse and thrusting her high breasts against the thin fabric. With her bright eyes snapping, red-gold curls tumbling over her shoulders, and her cheeks hot and flushed, pissed or not, she was freakin’ magnificent.

All roads lead to happily ever after!
About the Author:
Award winning author, Sharon Saracino, was born and raised in beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania. Always the girl with her nose in a book, she frequently announced she was going to write one. One milestone birthday (we won't discuss which one!) she decided someday would be here and gone if she didn't get her butt in gear. She plans to win the lottery just as soon as she remembers to purchase a ticket, fantasizes about moving to Italy, brews limoncello, and believes there's always magic to be found if you only take the time to look for it. 
Where to find Sharon Saracino:


Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Love After All by Julie Tetel Andresen

It's my pleasure to welcome Julie Tetel Andresen to my blog! She's currently on an around-the-world adventure with her son but she stopped by (virtually) to share with us her latest release,  Love After All!




 
From Julie...
As writers we have stories we have to tell. I had to tell the story of Laurel and Gino, two 50-something Manhattanites, who find love again later in life. It’s a second chances story – one I hope for myself. One many of us hope for!  

Gino’s a widower, and Laurel’s divorced. Although they’re way out of dating-game practice – becausethey’re out of practice – they decide to trade favors: Gino agrees to go to Laurel’s 35th college reunion, in exchange for Laurel going to cancer benefit events with him and running interference on the socialites chasing him.

 

I love creating characters and then seeing what they have to say to one another, finding that moment when they click. In Love After All I needed to craft believable getting-to-know-you occasions between two people with a lot of life experience. I wanted to let their attraction develop and mature. Their story is so different from those in my Forest Breeze trilogy where the attraction between the sets of characters is instantaneous! 

If you’re a fan of Nancy Meyers films – like Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated – give Love After All a try.

For the next four months Love After All is available on Kindle for $0.99.

Love After All on Amazon

 Here’s the opening scene:


Chapter One

LAUREL


I hear my phone ping in my purse. I’m dying to read the message, since I can guess who it’s from. I resist the temptation to look, because I make a point of never being on my phone when our doorman is doing his duty.

 As the door opens for me I say, “Hello, Randall.”

 “Hello, Dean Jennings,” he replies with the hint of a wink.

Randall is adorable. He’s also a tease. He’s been at the Brevoort East about fifteen years now. Over this time he’s taken pleasure in acknowledging me by my ever more impressive titles: Associate Professor, Full Professor, Dean of the Humanities. There was even a year I had to endure him addressing me as President Jennings, given my post at the helm of the American Studies Association.

Because the end of my term is now in sight I can say, “The deanship is only for a few more months. Then it’s back to plain old Professor Jennings.”

With a slight bow he says gravely, “You’ll never be plain.”

I shake my head and counter, “When June thirtieth comes, my carriage turns into a pumpkin. Then some other lucky Cinderella will be dancing at the dean’s ball.”

 “The job is that great?” he wonders. His expression is sly.

“I’ve loved every minute,” I lie, “but I can’t hog all the fun.”

He gives me a cheeky thumbs up.

I smile and move along. I’m eager to get to my phone, so I plop myself down at the nearest bench in the lobby and dive into my purse. I read the text. Emotions whirl through me, too swift and complex to sort and so reflexive I’m not aware of my groan.

It must have been a loud groan – too loud, evidently. The next thing I know a man is standing in front of me, looking down at me with concern.

 “Do you need help?” he asks.

The first thing I register is his voice. It’s deep and kind. He’s about my age, mid-fifties, give or take. I recognize him by his distinctive silver and black hair, which I’ve glimpsed from afar in the building and in the neighborhood in recent years. My impression of him has always been that he’s nicely tailored. Up close I can see he’s very nicely tailored. Otherwise he’s nothing extraordinary. Average height. Average looking.

Do I need help? Yes, in fact, I do. I didn’t rise through the ranks of university administration without making quick executive decisions. I make one now, although what I need is far from professional, and I really, really know I should not do what I’m about to do.

I stand up and hold out my hand. “Hi, I’m Laurel.”

He takes my hand. His grip is firm. “Gino.”

 “I teach English around the corner at NYU.”

 He puts his hand to his chest and says, “Restaurateur.”
His occupation surprises me. “Oh! Any restaurants I’d know?”

 "Of the ones in the Village the closest is Otto’s.”

“On Eighth, of course. I love Otto’s. I go there all the time – mostly lunch, you know, since it’s so crowded in the evenings.” I’m about to expand on this subject but put a stop to possible chatter. I come to my point. “The help I need is to find a date for my college reunion the third weekend in April. I’d pay the plane fare, separate room, and registration.”

I see from the look of dawning horror on his face I’ve made the horrible mistake I knew, deep down, it was. To correct the worst of it I plunge on, “I don’t mean you, no, no, no! I thought maybe you’d know of someone. In your line of work you must know lots of people – chefs, bartenders, waiters….”

Worse and worse and still he says nothing – or maybe I don’t give him a chance, because a split second later I reach down to grab my purse, sling the strap on my shoulder, and hold up my hands in a backing-off gesture.

“Don’t give it another thought! I don’t know what came over me.”
"I'm mortified. I see myself as he must see me: the sad, lonely, slightly crazy woman I swore I'd never be. I turn to go, adding, "But thanks for showing concern." As if thanking him will mend matters.
Before I’ve fully turned, he says, “Maybe I can help you.”

By now my gut is a jangly mess. I hope my face is not completely red. I pull myself together and turn back toward him. “You can?”

His smile is slight. “I think I understand what you’re asking.”

You do?

“I propose we discuss it on Friday evening, if you’re free.”

The poetry reading I’m supposed to attend fades in my mind. I’m stunned into saying, “I’m free.”

“Then meet me at Otto’s between 7:00 and 7:30. I’ll be around there somewhere, so just come to the hostess stand and tell Janie your name and that I’m expecting you. She’ll seat you and let me know you’re there.”

“Okay,” I say. I blink several times. “Thank you.”

At that moment his phone rings. While undoing the top buttons of his overcoat, he nods at me then reaches into his suit coat.

I smile and nod in return. As I walk away I hear him quietly speaking. I move through the lobby, around the adjacent sitting area, and get to the bank of elevators as fast as I can. I punch the Up button several times. I glance nervously down the corridor toward the sitting area, hoping I can get on an elevator before he’s off the phone. I think he was coming into the building rather than going out.

Elevator doors open. I step in and press Fourteen. Doors close. Phew. Now I can collect myself. 
*  Thank you for being my guest today, Julie! Your books sounds like an amazing read!
**  Be sure to check out Julie's blog for her around-the-world adventure updates! You can find it here: Julie's blog! 

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Magnificent Agony by Katie Mettner

Over the Memorial Day weekend I read Magnificent Agony by Katie Metter. I've enjoyed Katie's other books but this one is my favorite so far. She touched on a lot of different subjects and spun an incredible story of true and unconditional love. I'd like for you to read the blurb before I share my review.


 
Blurb:


Eve Darling has learned one very important lesson in her twenty-six years; life never goes according to plan. The night of her high school graduation her heart was bursting with hopes and dreams for the future, but the universe had other ideas. Instead of New York and culinary school, she stayed in Magnificent, Wisconsin. Barely an adult herself, Eve was irrevocably tasked with becoming a mother to her big brother, Davis, a man with the heart and mind of a five-year-old boy. Now, seven years later, she's become a successful entrepreneur, chef, and businesswoman. All of those responsibilities came at a price and her personal life was payment. No one was more acutely aware of that than she was. And then, with one phone call, everything changed. 'After life organizer' Abraham Von Sallage was not like any funeral director Eve had ever known. He was young, charming, witty, and had a unique perspective on life, because his business was death. They both carried burdens society couldn't, or wouldn't acknowledge, and because of those burdens, they found an instantaneous connection. That night, as Abraham stood in the doorway of her cooking school, she saw hope in his eyes. And then her world crumbled. An inexplicably cruel twist of fate called into question everything she knew about life, and death. With her soul adrift in guilt, she clung to the only person she could trust to save her from the agony her life had become. Shrouded in grief, it would take the love of one man, and the resolve of an entire community, to show her just how magnificent life could be.





* ~ *  My Review  * ~*
Katie Mettner writes amazing stories. In my humble opinion though, Magnificent Agony is her best so far. Eve Darling had high hopes for her future but everything changed in the blink of an eye. At eighteen she became the care-giver and decision-maker for her mentally challenged older brother, Davis. Seven years later she's still handling the responsibility of Davis but has established herself in the business world as the owner of a kitchen gadget store who also gives cooking lessons in the evening. Enter Abraham Von Sallage; a handsome guy who needs to learn how to cook ASAP. Abraham happens to be the local funeral director. There's an instant spark but Eve has a lot to deal with. She bumps into him later at the grocery store. The attraction she'd put on the back burner can no longer be put aside. Their romance takes off. She's happy. Life is great. And then, in the blink of an eye again, Eve's world takes another cruel turn. This particular event sets the stage for the rest of the story. (I can't say what it is. You'll have to read the story to find out.) I cried like a baby but had to keep reading. With this tender saga, Katie Mettner effectively shows how certain people come into your life at the right time. Magnificent Agony ran me through a gamut of emotions. I felt Eve's joy and experienced her sorrow. Her heart and head were a mess, but Abraham was there for her when she needed him the most. In the midst of tragedy, they found love. One of the most remarkable things about Eve was her strength to forgive. This is an incredible tale that touched my heart and made me wonder how I would react if I was faced with the same challenges and circumstances.
* ~ *




Check out the book trailer:
Book trailer for Magnificent Agony







If you'd like to check out  Magnificent Agony you can find it here:
Amazon

While you're checking out Magnificent Agony be sure to check out Katie's other books on her Amazon Author Page.
Katie Mettner's Amazon Author Page