Lorraine Nelson's Blog, page 14
October 7, 2013
So You Think You Can Write 2013
It’s that time of year again when Harlequin/Mills & Boon pull out all the stops to concentrate on entries. I didn’t think I was going to enter this year due to health and personal reasons (and yes, lack of time) but an idea hit and I ran with it. A Bid For Love is now up on the site.
Blurb:
He wants a Twinkie. She wants granola.
When the acreage next door comes up for bid, Dustin Granger attends the auction hoping to obtain the property for his growing herd. Along with the creek running through the property, his cattle need more grazing land. What he doesn’t need or want is a city girl outbidding him to establish an organic farm.
Meredith McRae inherits a small fortune from a distant uncle and decides to invest in her future. The estate she’s come to bid on has everything she needs and no neighboring cowboy was going to thwart her…regardless how handsome.
Interested? Want to read more? Here’s the direct link to my chapter. I’d appreciate some comments, shares, and tweets. 
Wish me luck!
http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2013/a- bid-for-love/
Did you know…?
Saturday, October 5th, marked the second anniversary of my being a published author. I am so glad that Evernight Publishing took a chance on me and published Zakia and the Cowboy. I’ve learned so much by working with my editors, there and elsewhere. Stay tuned for the cover reveal of Book 6 in my Thunder Creek Ranch series, A Bride for the Taking, releasing October 9th.
It is my sincere wish that I never stop learning and am able to craft entertaining stories for you for years to come.
Thank you, my friends, for your support. Love you all! And to prove it I’m going to pick one name from the comments on this post to receive a free download of their choice. Just answer these questions:
What is your opinion on writing contests?
Have you read any of my books?
If so, did it provide entertainment and enjoyment?
What did you like/dislike about the story/stories?
I value your input. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Lorraine
September 19, 2013
New Release!!! The Inheritance, Hudson Ranch, #1
I am super excited to announce that The Inheritance, the first book in my Hudson Ranch series, is now available on Amazon. Not only that, but it’s FREE today through September 23rd. Grab your copy and settle in for a short but interesting read.
Notice the expert detail in the cover? My talented sister, Sharon Wilson-Dupuis, is a portrait artist and has drawn for as many years as I’ve been writing…since we were very, very young. We always said that one day we’d do a book together and now we’re doing four. LOL Yes, original artwork coming for all four Hudson Ranch covers.
We’ve dedicated this book to our mother, Frances Wilson. Thank you for always believing in us and encouraging us to do our best. Love you Mom! xoxo
The Inheritance is a short story that serves as an introduction to the series–one which I hope you will enjoy.
Blurb:
Time is running out for Zackary Hudson. He has a fierce desire to reunite with his estranged sons, but they’re proving difficult to find. He hires a private investigator and the search begins in earnest.
Excerpt:
Zack took a good look around as they walked toward the house. It could use a coat of paint this year and the porch needed to be re-stained. He’d shore up the hinges on the sagging screen door and caulk the windows while he was at it. If he started on repairs right away, he might have them done before…before—damn! His breath caught in his throat and he had to make a determined effort to breathe…to appear normal. He wasn’t afraid of dying, but he hated the thought of leaving Bianca to raise their son and run the ranch alone.
“I’m going to try and locate my sons,” he announced as he jogged around the kitchen with Jerry on his back. It was a large country kitchen, recently remodeled to reflect Bianca’s taste and needs. “I should have done it years ago.”
“Good, but after all this time, they might not be so happy to hear from you.”
“Well, Rita may have prevented my ‘interference’ in their lives through a court order during their growing years, but the triplets would be twenty-seven now. Young men able to make their own decisions. I’d like to find them, make amends for not being there for them, if I can.”
Bianca turned and shook the salad spoon at him. “Zackary Hudson, you have nothing to make amends for. You’ve provided money, clothing, and toys all these years, for which they should be grateful.”
He smiled at the vehemence in her words as he buckled Jeremiah into his highchair. “They might not see it that way. Hopefully, Rita hasn’t moved out of the house I bought for them. Surely, she’d give me their current addresses.”
“I would hope so.”
“I’ll check with Bart after lunch and see if he has a phone number for her. That would save me from having to meet with her.”
“That’s a great idea. Why not let him do the digging for information? Lawyers have a way of getting to the truth of things that we know nothing about.”
“True enough. But he also charges a small fortune for his services. I can handle a phone call if he has the number.”
“Okay. It’s your choice. I just hope she’ll be reasonable about your wanting to see them.”
“Doesn’t matter. One way or the other, I’m going to find my sons.” A sudden thought came to him then. Would they want to move to the ranch? Help run things in his absence? He didn’t know what kind of men they’d grown up to be, but he’d find them and feel them out on the subject. They’d earn a share of the ranch upon his demise and that just might prove incentive enough. If so, it would ease his current burden somewhat.
“Why so determined all of a sudden?”
“He glanced over at his wife of five years and noted that her face was pinched in a worried frown. “They have a right to know where they came from. This ranch is their heritage, too. I just want them to know that.”
“Uh huh. And what aren’t you telling me?” she asked as she set the table.
“Later, love. I’ll explain everything after we’ve eaten.”
Maybe by then I’ll be able to come up with the words to tell you.
Ready to read more? Remember, it’s FREE! My gift to you for being such loyal fans. Love you all!
US: http://www.amazon.com/Inheritance-Hudson-Ranch-ebook/dp/B00F8Y0VPM/ref=la_B005XMAYFQ_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379597450&sr=1-18
August 31, 2013
Editing…a necessary evil. :)
Today’s emphasis, as the title suggests, is about editing. I know, I know. You’ve written your book. You’ve edited it yourself. You might even have had a few friends suggest changes or comment on how well it’s done. However, none of this takes the place of professional editing.
You look forward to publishing your book and building a reader base–right? You might even be wondering how you’re going to compete with all the other books and authors out there. Well then, you need to hire an editor. Guaranteed that if I purchase a book riddled with grammar issues and/or typos and such, I will not buy that author’s work again.
Authors, be proud of your work. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one by releasing the best product you can possibly deliver.
That’s where my friend, Tara Chevrestt, can help you. She’s a top notch editor and is a joy to work with. Here’s what she has to say…
With today’s self-publishing industry, everyone can make their dreams come true, and I’d like to help you do that. You have a story and the words with which to tell it. I have the skills to make it go from great to fabulous.
Don’t let typos hold you back from the bestseller list.
I’m currently seeking to expand my client list. I have lowered my rate from $3.25 per thousand words to $3.00 per k.
Experience: I have been editing for two years and have completed over a
hundred manuscripts in that time period. Genres include nonfiction, fiction, romance, young adult, historical, contemporary, erotic, and more. Authors I have edited for: Lorraine Nelson, Victoria Vane, Megan D. Martin, Laura DeLuca, Lacey Wolfe, and others. I can provide a CV upon request as well as references.What I do: My above-mentioned fee includes two read throughs of any MS. I do both content and copy. I watch for misspelled or misused words, head hopping, passive voice, comma usage, hyphen placement, dialogue and action tags, telling vs showing, and more. All of my changes are tracked.
Contact Tara –tchevrestt(at)yahoo(dot)com
Check out her blog for yourself. Mention my name so Tara knows who sent you. Together, you’ll make your work shine.
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.ca/2013/08/editing-services.html#.UiKM9n8UiQF
August 15, 2013
Current news & cover reveal!
Hello, my friends!
It’s been a long time between posts. 
I’m sitting here today and am able to see the keyboard without my glasses, without double vision, and without the blurring that occurs when you have cataracts. Glorious day!
You haven’t heard much from me in the past few months because of my inability to see properly. This has affected almost every aspect of my life and I’m happy to say that the worst is behind me. I can now do my edits without worrying if words like wonderful get by me with an extra l at the end, among other things. I can surf the web without the blinding headaches due to eye strain. In short, although computer time is limited due to the eye surgery, I can get on with my life, and in that regard, I have news.
A Bride for the Taking, Thunder Creek Ranch, Book 6, will be available soon through Evernight Publishing.
Suited to be a Cowboy has been contracted by Secret Cravings Publishing and is scheduled for an October release.
My sister, Sharon Dupuis, and I are working on a 4 book series which takes place on The Hudson Ranch in northern Alberta. She’s drawing the covers and I’m writing the books. We’re hoping to release one per month beginning in September, although I must admit that might change due to me being so far behind in my edits.
Ready for a sneak peek at the first cover? Here it is!
What do you think? Sharon has always been a gifted artist and I’m so pleased to have her working with me on this project.
Blurb:
Zackary Hudson finds out he has a terminal illness. Knowing he may have left it too late, he begins searching for his sons, identical triplets who he’d been denied access to since they were very young.
Married again and with a two-year-old child, he hopes the older sons will live on the ranch and look out for his wife and child after his demise…a condition of their inheritance.
Zack finds his sons but a freak accident prevents him from meeting up with them again. Find out the boys’ reactions to their inheritance as Benjamin, Gabriel, and Nathan struggle to come to terms with their father’s absence from their lives.
***
And lastly, sadly, Cauldron of Tales is no longer available.
I’ll be updating my website soon to reflect these details.
Hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer!
July 21, 2013
PAGE TURNER BOOK TOURS PRESENT 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY
PTBT opened their doors a year ago and has grown from strength to strength working with some amazing authors along the way. This year the official .com site was opened, a dedicated team of graphics designers joined the team and PTBT became the official host for all tours under 5 Prince Publishing.
The story doesn’t stop there…
There are already plans for further improvements and many more tours to be held in the future along with further charity work.
We hope that you will check them out at this link: http://pageturnerbooktours.com
During July PTBT are offering the following discounts:
1 week tour – 1 additional day
2 week tour – $63.75 – 2 additional days
3 week tour – $85 – 3 additional days
4 week tour – $170 – 4 additional days
These discounts are good for a year AS LONG AS the tour is booked and paid for in July 2013.
“Working for Page Turner Book Tours has been amazing. I have met some amazing people, worked with some fantastic books and been privileged to be part of some amazing journeys. I know there will be great things to come for PTBT and I am excited to meet every request, author and to discover the wonderful books that I work with. Thank you to everyone on the past year who has worked with PTBT you are all amazing and I am so have been part of your journey. Here’s to the next fantastic year!” ~ Kate, Owner/Tour Coordinator PTBT
“I have been blessed to have had a long professional relationship with Kate and Page Turner Book Tours. Her organization of the tours and cover launches has always exceeded our expectations. She is thorough and knows what she’s doing. I believed enough in the company that Page Turner Book Tours is the official coordinator for 5 Prince Publishing. Kate sets up tours for our cover/book launches, for each of our authors, as well as book tours. Her prices are very fair and that helps individuals and small businesses. I give Kate and Page Turner Book Tours 5 STARS, for their consistently good service, well managed tours, and comfort level when working with them. If you are looking to promote yourself or your book I highly recommend Page Turner Book Tours.” – Bernadette Soehner, CEO, 5 Prince Publishing, Lost And Found Tour Details
“I enjoyed working with Page Turner Book Tours in 2012 for my second Lash Series Book, Shadow Man. Kate was able to arrange far more stops than I’d initially hoped for, and also garnered my book several five star reviews! The spreadsheet she gave me to work from had all the relevant contact information to write tailored engaging posts for each site, and she fulfilled every part of the agreement to create and deliver signature prizes for the tour. She tried her very best to make my tour the best it could be. The best recommendation is that I will be using her services again this summer to promote another coauthored work!
Service: At least half of service is value for the money spent. Kate gives great packages and I feel I got a very good value for the money I spent with her. She was knowledgeable and answered my questions in a timely fashion. I especially appreciated the reviews as part of the package, of which almost all were favorable.
Communication: the other half of service for this type of promotion is communication, and Kate was very good in that aspect as well. For my tour, I had a total of 5 interviews to complete, along with 12 guest posts. She got me info for topics and interview questions as soon as she had them, which helped me stay ahead and on time with my side of the tour.
Overall tour running: 5 stars” Tara Fox Hall, Author, Lash Tour Details
“I have had the pleasure of working with Page Turner Book Tours for just a few short months. When I first contacted Kate and told her what I was looking for, she helped walk me through everything that they could do, what it would entail on my part as well as what was to be expected from her and Page Turner Book Tours.
Every time I have any questions Kate is sure to replay quickly. I have not encountered many problems while working with Page Turner Book Tours other than a few Bloggers did not follow through on their end. Which, I by no means, hold against Page Turner Book Tours.
Kate does a wonderful job communicating what is needed by all her bloggers, if you are interested then you just let her know and she does the rest. All you have to do as a blogger is set it up to go on your scheduled date.
Overall I think Kate and Page Turner Book Tours do a wonderful job with their Press Releases, Interviews, Book reviews and scheduling who needs to be where and what time. I would give Page Turner Book Tours 5 out of 5 stars!” ~ Marie, 5 Prince Publishing
“Page Turner Book Tours is a great resource for authors and I have personally found Kate and her tour company to be worth their weight in gold! I have worked with Kate on book tours for myself and I have even joined book tours for other authors as a host. Each time I have found Kate to be absolutely wonderful to work with. With many tours running consecutively Kate is adept and masterful as she customizes each tour to the specific author and his/her book.
Kate is a marvelous coordinator and I can’t wait to work with her in the future on a book tour. If you are looking for a company to schedule a tour, than I recommend working with Kate at Page Turner Book Tours. She will customize a tour specifically for you and work with book bloggers making your tour run as easy as possible leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and a great tour experience!
Page Turner Book tours is definitely a five star company!” M.M. Shelley, Murder On Mars Tour Details
June 20, 2013
New Author! Debut Release! And it’s Free!
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Catalina Ferrer and her 
paranormal debut release, Bulled Over. I love this cover!
My Review:
Conchita is not your typical Spanish maiden. I loved the way the author portrayed her in this work…a sexy senorita with the balls and the prowess to excel at a male-dominated sport…bullfighting.
And Antonio? His part is that of a superior and extremely handsome matador that Conchita secretly admires. But in his last fight, he becomes the bull.
Conchita swears to avenge the lives of her father and Antonio by killing the bull responsible…Asesino, but she is unaware of who the bull really is now.
This was an interesting read and an honest look at the sport of bullfighting, which I truly enjoyed.
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Blurb:
What happens when in a weird twist of fate–or karma–the bullfighter becomes the bull?
Conchita Peron, a bullfighter still trying to earn respect in a male-dominated profession, vows to kill Asesino, the bull that took her father’s life. But what she doesn’t know–and may not realize in time–is within the bull’s body resides the soul of the man she once and still desires…that of the very handsome and very dead matador Antonio de le Vega.
Will she set aside her thirst for revenge in time to see the heart under the hide?
Excerpt:
“Senorita, you really should be resting, not drinking. You need a clear head for tomorrow.” Mateo—once mozo de espada to Antonio, now Conchita’s—gave her what had to be the twentieth warning glance in the last hour.
It was becoming harder and harder to ignore him.
“A few shots of tequila never hurt anyone,” Conchita shot back and punctuated her statement by throwing her head back and downing another small glass of the scorching amber liquid.
“Ah. But a few shots of tequila and a pitcher of beer…” Her assistant wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Liquid courage may help you now, but it will not help you tomorrow when you are in that arena facing the most feared bull in Mexico.”
Conchita hated that her friend and mozo could see right through her, and she hated even more that he was right. But she’d be damned if she let him know that.
“Just go. I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. The hotel is not far. I don’t need a chaperone.”
The man hesitated, his hands perched on the edge of the bar, his butt half off the seat. “Are you sure? You promise you are leaving soon? It is already ten p.m. You should get a full night’s rest—”
“God!” Conchita interrupted, slamming her empty shot glass on the bar. “Don’t mother me, Mateo. I’ll be fine. I’ve fought more bulls than I can even remember right now. What’s another one?”
“The streets this late at night—”
“Are fine,” Conchita stated with a warning note in her voice. “If I can fight bulls, I can fight men. They are nearly one and the same. Horny fuckers.”
Mateo blinked in surprise and his lips twitched at one corner, but he rose from his seat. “Till tomorrow morning then. Ten a.m.”
Conchita felt bad for being so harsh with him. In an industry that showed her very little respect, he had been good to her, had stood by her patiently for three years. She’d never regretted hiring him after Antonio’s death and he didn’t deserve her attitude. She needed to get her head on straight and focus her bad attitude where it belonged: on the bull.
“Yep. Ten. I’m leaving soon. I promise,” she said, then added, “Goodnight, Mateo.”
“Buenas noches, Conchita.”
He doffed his baseball cap, nodded one last time, and was gone.
Conchita watched him go, vowed to finish the half mug of beer still in front of her, and then she would leave. She knew better than to overindulge the night before a fight, but she could hold her liquor as well as any man and her nerves were strung tight. No, liquid courage wouldn’t get her far tomorrow, but it would help her sleep tonight.
In the absence of her friend, she became more aware of her surroundings: the tinkle of glasses as the bartenders shuffled, grabbed, and washed them, giggles from women in the corner as they eyed the men playing pool, the sound of balls hitting balls, voices from the men at the other end of the bar.
“I bet you a hundred pesos she loses,” one man said.
“I don’t know. Revenge is a strong motive. He killed her papa and her lover.”
Conchita spewed beer all over the counter in front of her. Her lover? What tabloid had they been reading? Dios!
“Matadoras don’t have lovers. They are all lesbians. They want to be men!” a third man declared drunkenly.
It was a battle not to turn and look at the men having this discussion, but Conchita forced herself to be still. She caught the bartender’s eye as he approached her, a white rag in hand.
The conversation continued, but she feigned disinterest.
“I heard Asesino had to be pulled off a cow, tasered and roped and drugged. His amorousness knows no bounds,” man number two’s voice came again.
His amigos chuckled as though that was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
Conchita gestured for another pitcher of beer, wanting an excuse to stay and listen to the men’s conversation.
“An amorous bull is a fierce bull!”
“His cock was this long!”
More laughter.
Conchita cast a sidelong glance at the men and her eyes widened at how far the speaker held his palms apart. Did he really think it was that long?
“But you see,” man number one said, leaning forward as though he had a secret, “he is full of testosterone and missing his cow bitches. Now that he’s had a taste of cow cooch, he’ll be dying to get back there, bursting with sexual frustration, and this will make him vicious. He will kill her right away!”
The bartender placed the pitcher in front of her and Conchita quickly poured herself a mug, downing it as quickly as she could as the man’s words roiled with the yeast in her belly.
“Jorge, you saw him today, didn’t you? Didn’t you see the bull?”
“Si! Si! I saw him arrive yesterday. He’s in the barn! Massive, fierce, angry! The poor matadora. Let’s hope she’s been practicing.”
Conchita gulped, swallowing more beer as she did so. And she continued to drink and listen, drink and listen, as she clutched the red sachet under her shirt.
“Two hundred pesos says she defeats him.”
Gracias a Dios! At least someone had faith in her.
“No, no,” another man protested. “One hundred pesos says his cock is this big!”
Conchita summoned the bartender for a shot of tequila.
About the Author:
Catalina Ferrer lives in an undisclosed location and prefers to remain mysterious. She loves readers, however, and invites them to like her Facebook page to stay up to date on further releases from her. She promises not to spam you to death.
Hurry and download your copy now.
It’s FREE for the next three days, June 21st – 23rd.
June 8, 2013
A Healing Love
My review:
A Healing Love is another great story by Tara Chevrestt. This one will tear at your heartstrings as you read about the struggles of this one brave woman. Hearing, vision, and speech loss interrupts Kimberly’s life in ways she hadn’t fathomed. With her brother’s help and that of a highly acclaimed therapist, Kimberly is on the road to recovery, but wonders if life will ever be the same again.
A Healing Love
Kimberly Rogers vowed to fight a tragic past the only way she knew how: she joined the Army and became strong. No man would hurt her again. But a war wound sends her to her brother’s in Cripple Creek, WY, with vision and hearing impairments.
Whereas glasses can help her see and hearing aids can help her hear, nothing can force her to talk again. Is she really unable to speak, or is she hiding behind her disability to protect herself, her pride, and her heart? Regulated to the most menial of jobs, her world in shambles, Kimberly is finally convinced to seek medical assistance.
Carlos Medina is Jackson Hole‘s best therapist. If anyone can make Kimberly speak again, it’s him. But Kimberly has to meet him halfway, and Carlos has his own past tragedy that the young, mute woman threatens to force him to conquer.
They both have wounds…and sometimes wounds must be reopened before they can heal. Can they open up to each other? Can Kimberly find her voice again and open her heart? Can love heal them both?
Excerpt:
Carlos had been expecting a badly scarred, burly woman, not the petite, slender girl from the coffee shop in Cripple Creek. Only, she wasn’t really a girl. Her curves attested to that. He had to remind himself she was twenty-three, as there was something extremely young and vulnerable about her. Only the angry red mark on her throat—not covered by a scarf as it had been when he’d seen her before—marred her beauty…and that didn’t bother him.
She stepped forward, her gaze on his. She looked just as surprised at the sight of him as he was at the sight of her. Had she been expecting an old man with gray hair? He fought the urge not to smile at the idea. Most people expected someone with his reputation to be much older than his twenty-eight years…and not a biker they’d met in a coffee shop who rambled about senoritas and antibiotics. After all, obtaining a PhD was time-consuming. But he’d been lucky, and unlike many other students, had not had to work his way through college, and thus, had been able to focus solely on his studies. He knew he was blessed. A supportive family and a scholarship had seen him through.
Carlos jolted himself from his musings and managed to tear his gaze away from his patient—patient, best not to forget that—and looked for her brother, expecting him to be right behind her. There was no one there; she was alone.
“Hi.” He rose from his chair and reached a hand out to her for her to shake. “You must be Kimberly Rogers. Is your brother with you?” Her hand felt soft and delicate in his own. He was careful not to give it the firm squeeze he normally was prone to giving, careful to keep his expression neutral and not reveal his surprise or pleasure.
She nodded and pointed to the door, in the direction of the waiting room.
He mentally flipped a switch in his mind, from Casual Carlos to Doctor Carlos. Carlos decided the fact she had brought her brother, but not allowed him to escort her into the office itself was a positive sign. She wanted to do this on her own, obviously. She wasn’t weakened to the point she needed someone to hold her hand at all moments. His task may not be as difficult as he’d originally thought. Then again, too much pride could also hinder a patient’s healing. But at least she was willing and comfortable enough to face a therapist on her own. The woman had drive. It was visible in the way she held herself in front of him, back straight, shoulders back, chin up. And though he knew from her records she was wearing contacts, her eyes had a determined glint the lenses couldn’t hide. The removal of the scarf was a positive step as well. She was no longer ashamed of her wound.
“Have a seat.” Carlos gestured to the chair across from his desk, and then, instead of taking his own, he walked around to take the seat a short distance from hers, turning it slightly as he sat so he would be facing her. When she appeared comfortable, despite the fact she was gripping the armrests, he smiled warmly at her. “I’m Carlos Medina. Your brother told me some of your past history and current problems, but I would like the full story from you. Now, I realize you cannot speak; that’s why you’re here, so is there a particular way you wish to communicate with me right now? You want to write? Would you rather fill out a form and then talk to me on the computer until we progress?” He waited, clearing his throat nervously, for her to answer, and shocked himself with his own internal thought. Please, say no.
Yea, he was going to crumple and throw that desensitization, talk via computer crap out the window…if she let him. He couldn’t explain why—some therapist he was—but he didn’t want to this woman to talk to him online. He wanted to talk to her in person. The little switch was slipping back down to Casual Carlos pretty fast. There must be a short in my circuit, because I don’t want or need a woman in my life like that—especially not a patient. It’s not worth my career…or my heart.
Carlos visualized the switch in his mind as he watched the young woman and pictured the little button moving back up to Doctor Carlos.
* * * *
Kimberly stared at the handsome doctor in front of her. Talking online would be easier and more convenient, but she didn’t need that kind of treatment. It wasn’t like she was afraid of going out in public. Plus, she’d lucked out as far as doctors went. The doctors at Walter Reed had been older, gray, and paunchy. Heck, her audiologist wasn’t a young thing, either. But this man…whoa.
He’d been in the back of her mind ever since her failed second job. Meeting him had been the first time she’d felt feelings of attraction or interest in the opposite sex in ages.
This time, the atmosphere was quieter, calmer, and she wasn’t flustered or busy and could take the time to really look at him. He was tall, with olive skin and warm milk chocolate eyes. His face was clean-shaven, his hair ink-black and wavy despite its short length. He sported a very nice suit, a drastic difference from the biker attire she’d seen him in before. An expensive-looking watch was his only jeweled adornment. She’d checked.
He cleared his throat, bringing her back to earth. Kimberly realized he’d been waiting for her to respond. Her face heated with embarrassment. He was looking at her expectantly. What had he asked? Oh yeah, the online thing. No…
Flustered, she merely shook her head at him and reached into her back pocket. She had come prepared. She pulled out her trusty pad, welcoming an excuse to stop staring at him. Her notes were slightly damp from the sweat of her body, and she was reluctant to hand them over, but it was her story, the words she’d written for George. She could sit here all day and scribble in front of him or hand him this.
Deciding she’d rather he be staring at her notes than watching her write them, she handed them over. This way, she would watch him.
He took the notes, and his hand lightly brushed against hers in the process. Kimberly was surprised by the current that traveled up her arm, all the way to her shoulder, on that little contact.
I’m so glad I got contacts.
“Is this what happened to you?” His voice was soft, yet at the same time clear and masculine.
She nodded, very aware of his gaze on her until finally, he looked down at the papers he was holding. A small rush of air escaped her, and she allowed herself to relax. She’d been so conscious of what she must look like; hair tucked behind her aids, the red mark on her throat. It was unnerving having such a handsome man staring at her.
Now, she sat back and stared at him as he read, noting the crease that appeared between his brows, the cleanliness of his fingers turning the pages, the rugged line of his jaw.
Suddenly therapy didn’t seem so bad.
Mark TO READ on Goodreads.
Buy on Amazon, AllRomance, and Secret Cravings
Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, dog mom, writer, and editor. You’ll never see her without her Kindle or a book within reach. As a child, she would often take a flashlight under the covers to finish the recent Nancy Drew novel when she was supposed to be sleeping.
Tara is addicted to Law & Order: SVU, has a crush on Cary Grant, laughs at her own jokes, and is constantly modifying recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She writes about strong women facing obstacles—in the military, with their handicaps, or just learning to accept themselves. Her heroines can stand alone and take care of themselves, but they often find love in the process.
You can connect with her on Facebook or follow her blog.
Plotting to Win by Tara Chevrestt
Plotting to Win is a contemporary romance centered around a fictional Reality TV Show. It’s unique, just as the author is. Tara’s writing style shows through beautifully and it’s my pleasure to showcase her newest release.
My review:
I had the opportunity to read this book before publication and found it amazing. The plot is unique and the characters fully developed. Competition is fierce and romance is in the wings. Will it fly out the window as the contest progresses, or is it the beginning of so much more for Felicity and Victor? Can’t say anymore as I hate spoilers. Just know that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Well done, Tara.
Blurb:
In New York City, seven writers compete for a hundred thousand dollars, a publishing contract with Bright House, and the title of the next bestseller. One is Felicity James. One is Victor Guzman.
Drama, plagiarism, and trash talk play out to enthralled audiences across the country as all seven contestants compete against each other in a range of heated challenges, with tensions reaching breaking point. As Felicity and Victor start up a show‐mance, their relationship burns up the ratings.
Will this sizzling fling escalate into a vicious battle for money and fame, or will these two authors manage to write their own happy ending?
Excerpt:
“A head-hop is a sudden point of view switch.”
“What?” Felicity glanced up from the book she was reading — one of Nicole Roberts’s. She’d actually packed it, having no foresight whatsoever that the woman she’d long admired was going to be judging her.
Victor sat on the edge of her bed, turning his body just enough to face her where she was propped against the headboard. “Like, if you are in Mookie’s point of view and you’re telling us how Mookie feels … that Mookie desires Dookie with a fierce passion he’s never felt before and then you suddenly switch over and tell us what Dookie is feeling … you’re switching POV. It can be jarring to a reader. Some publishers allow it. Some don’t. It’s something to watch for in your genre of writing.” He watched her intently as though waiting for her response.
Her book discarded in her lap, Felicity didn’t know what to say. She was unnerved by his sudden kindness and also by the fact he was on her bed, next to her, and he looked good enough to … no, no.
He blinked at her and apparently assumed she didn’t comprehend, because he continued, “Mookie and Dookie are … are eating sandwiches. Mookie is thinking his salami tastes too peppery and doesn’t Dookie look funny with her hair all messed up? And then suddenly Dookie is thinking Mookie looks like he’s tasted something bad. Basically, you have to choose one point of view, Mookie’s or Dookie’s, and stick with it. Say you choose Mookie. If Mookie can’t see it, hear it, taste it, feel it, touch it, he can’t tell us about it.”
Throughout his explanation, his hands moved animatedly, pantomiming different things: eating a sandwich, having messy hair, the act of hearing, but Felicity couldn’t get past one thing.
“Where the hell do you come up with your character names?” She chortled with laughter. Her insides hurt she laughed so hard, and her spirits lifted. Tears ran down her face. He looked bewildered momentarily and soon joined in, his dimples flashing.
“I mean, those names are sooo unromantic. I have no words,” she finally gasped out when she got control of her wits.
“Well, I don’t know. I’m a guy.” He spread his hands out, palms up.
Felicity turned serious, thinking about what he’d said. “So, the five senses? Like, if I’m narrating a scene and you don’t convey something, I can’t know what you’re thinking, unless you say it aloud or something in your body language tells me. I have to hear it or see it myself to tell the reader about it.”
“Exactly.” And suddenly, before she could react, he reached out and tenderly touched her cheek, brushing away an escaped tear.
Felicity held her breath. His touched burned a trail on her face. She fought the urge to close her eyes and just savor it, this second of … of … whatever was between her and this guy. If she could capture the moment and bottle it, she would. She’d dab the feeling all over her body every day.
She cleared her throat as his finger left her face. “Why are you helping me?”
“I don’t know.” His voice was strained, tired. His expression was one of bewilderment. What was going on behind the brown depths of his gaze? “But I’m not in cahoots with Tiffani. I want to just get that out of your pretty head right now.”
He thinks I’m pretty? Aloud, she said, “Then what was that about? Yesterday? What Tiffani said?” She crossed her arms over her chest, the only barrier she had at the moment, but what was she protecting? Her pride? Her heart?
He sighed and stared at the floor next to her bed. “I was a fool and ended up hurting myself more than you. The extent of our corroboration is switching beds. I thought my nearness — yes, arrogant ass, I know — would throw you off your game, ’cause, frankly, I see you as the biggest threat.”
“Um…” He’d managed to insult her and compliment her at the same time. Felicity couldn’t stop the wrinkle marring her brow. “Okay, well, ‘thank you’ and ‘what the fuck’ both come to mind.” She released an uncomfortable laugh and fingered the pages of her novel. They’d all be dog-eared by the time she was done. Hopefully, Ms. Roberts wouldn’t see it.
He offered a sheepish grin.
“So you thought my game could be thrown off as easily as that? I’m not some high school girl. I’m a grown-ass thirty-year-old woman, and I’m not easily sidetracked.” Well … she bit her lips to stop the smile that threatened to emerge.
His t-shirt pulled against taut muscles as he pushed himself off the bed. The urge to reach out and grab him, to pull him down until his long body covered hers almost overwhelmed her. Hot fire built in her lower belly, and she was grateful for her dark skin. If she’d been a pale woman, the heat and desire within her would be evident as it burned through her flesh.
“I realize that now.” His voice was low and husky. He had his hands in his pockets as he turned away from her bed.
“Wait,” she called after him. “How did you end up hurting yourself?”
“You snore,” he said over his shoulder. “I can’t sleep a wink with all that racket.”
“What?” Felicity gaped at his retreating back and before he got too far away, she hefted her pillow and threw it in his direction. It landed on the floor next to him, and he laughed all the way out of the room, great, shoulder-moving gusts of laughter.
Buy on Amazon, AllRomance, Escape, Barnes & Noble, & Kobo
Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, dog mom, writer, and editor. You’ll never see her without her Kindle or a book within reach. As a child, she would often take a flashlight under the covers to finish the recent Nancy Drew novel when she was supposed to be sleeping.
Tara is addicted to Law & Order: SVU, has a crush on Cary Grant, laughs at her own jokes, and is constantly modifying recipes and experimenting in the kitchen. Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She writes about strong women facing obstacles—in the military, with their handicaps, or just learning to accept themselves. Her heroines can stand alone and take care of themselves, but they often find love in the process.
You can connect with her on Facebook or follow her blog.
April 22, 2013
Spotlight on Michelle Clay!
It’s my pleasure to welcome one of our Evernight authors, Michelle Clay. Her newest novel, Light the Shadows, released on April 17th and is sure to be a hit. Don’t believe me? Read on…
Light the Shadows by Michelle Clay
Blurb:
You only get one chance at life then you die. The game’s over, no second chances. But she was never one to follow all the rules.
In a strange twist of fate, a woman flees purgatory only to jump into a newly vacated body. When she wakes in the hospital, she has a brand new life and a whole lot of unanswered questions. Now she’s Micah Munroe, a real estate agent with broken memories of the messed up life she once lived. A mysterious man who claims to be Death says she’s his granddaughter and that she’s something called a grimm.
Sully knows she’s an imposter because he reaped the soul of the real Micah only a week ago. He suspects she might be a misplaced shadow, what he calls spirits and vengeful ghosts. He becomes obsessed with finding out who she really is and just how she inhabited a new body. He’ll stop at nothing to find the truth and send her back to purgatory where she belongs. What he didn’t bargain on was how his body would react to her or how powerful the white light within her is.
When a powerful shadow and her horde of angry spirits kidnaps Sully’s best friend, they must work together to get him back. Fighting their feelings for each other isn’t half as difficult as fighting the army of shadows bent on starting a war with the living.
Excerpt:
His husky drawl sent a vibration of hunger through her and ignited a fire deep within her core. “You are so fucking hot.”
Recapturing her mouth, he pressed against her, proving just how hot, how hard she made him. Micah whimpered, and he drew his mouth away from her lips. Just like his tongue and hands, his incredibly sexy eyes ignited a fire within her.
“Sully.” She bit her lower lip and reveled in knowing she was the reason he was so hard.
His fingers were at her waist, unzipping then dragging the dress pants down her hips. Micah trembled with need as he shucked them from her legs and dropped them onto the floor. He closed the space between them, and her thighs closed around his waist. Her sex drowned with desire, clouding her mind with seductive thoughts and want. With him so intimately close, his hard-on pressed against her through the damp lace of her panties. She shifted her hips, and Sully rewarded her with a groan.
“Tell me something.” He grinned wickedly then slid his fingers up her inner thigh. They inched closer to her pool of desire and made her heartbeat race. “Are you wet?”
Her hands lifted from his shoulders, ran through his silken hair and down to his chest. Her nimble fingers fluttered across his shirt and even reached the second button before his hand closed over hers, stilling it. He prevented her from going any further by pulling her hand to his mouth. One by one, he kissed her fingers.
She frowned and pulled away from him to look up into his eyes. “Sully, I want…”
“I know what you want, doll.” His eyes glittered with feral passion.
A gasp shuddered past her lips when Sully’s index finger slid past the ribbon-thin panties then traveled downward. His finger slid through the tight coils of hair at the juncture of her thighs then lightly grazed her most delicate area. She clutched his shoulders and tightened her thighs around him. “Sully!”
“Want me to stop?” His voice was full of gravel and sexy as hell.
She nipped his bottom lip. “Don’t you dare.”
Bio:
Even as a child, Michelle wasn’t afraid of the things that went bump in the night. In fact, the thought of a world where werewolves roamed and Dracula reigned king may seem like an eldritch dream to most, but was exciting to Michelle. Instead of turning on a light for comfort, she reveled in the dark, imagining the lives of what was out there roaming the night and frightening those who didn’t truly appreciate how interesting the supernatural really were.
Nowadays, her visions continuously take shape as she brings life to the worlds she has imagined since childhood. The wild imaginings that often got Michelle out of, or more often into, trouble as a young girl have informed and enriched her storytelling as an adult, bringing a fresh new voice to the paranormal romance genre.
Contact Links for Michelle:
www.michelle-clay.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Michelle.Clay
Purchase Links:
http://www.evernightpublishing.com/light-the-shadows-by-michelle-clay/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CDXS0YA
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lighttheshadows-1163337-140.html
Michelle will draw a random winner for an e-copy of Light the Shadows on Friday, April 26th. Comment to win.
April 21, 2013
And the winners are…
Thank you all for taking part in my blogging blitz for Cameron’s Quest.
And now, without further ado, the winners of 2 free ebooks of their choice from my Thunder Creek Ranch series are:
Vallory Vance for Commenting on the post at Luscious Literaries, and
Lori Thomas for posting at Kristine Cayne’s blogspot.
Ladies, an email is going out to you shortly.
Thanks again to everyone who has participated in this release. Love you all!
