Sara Daniel's Blog, page 27

Balancing Life and Writing #writerslife #familylife

This is topic that every writer struggles with, at times more than others. Writing has been my career for over 13 years, and I’ve found this question evolves as my life has evolved.
Writing as an escape: When my children were toddlers, as much as I loved my kids, I was losing myself and completely bogged down in the small, emotionally exhausting day-to-day details of caring for small children. I returned to writing, and it became my escape and my “me-time.” Because I was happier and more fulfilled, I became a better parent and spouse.
Writing to prove myself: Once my youngest child was in school, writing was no longer an escape. It was my job, and I desperately wanted to be published and turn the career I’d chosen into a success. I guarded my writing time fiercely because I had a very limited amount. When the kids came home, my work time was over.
Writing is part of who I am, but it’s not everything: My kids are still at home and in school, but they’re older, so when they come home I can continue to write. I treat writing like the full-time job that it is. However, it comes with flexible hours that can constantly change due to my family obligations, and I give myself time off to recharge my muse and take care of me, usually with long walks and bike rides. My first responsibility is to take care of my family and keep my home running smoothly. And on good days, that leaves plenty of time for me to follow my muse. On bad days… well, there’s always tomorrow.
The next evolution: What will happen to my work-life balance once the kids are out of the house, and I don’t have to worry about anyone starving to death because I wrote five pages instead of going to the store? I’m as curious as you to find out, but until then, I’m enjoying the family time.

Difference between #Suspense and #RomanticSuspense with Vonnie Hughes

Guest Post by Vonnie Hughes

Romantic suspense is my favorite genre to both write and read. Nowadays there’s an overlap between ‘suspense’ and ‘romantic suspense’ as most suspense novels contain a certain amount of romance. Once, well-known male writers seemed to have decided at the last second, “Oh, don’t forget my female readers.” And they hastily shoved in a little liaison. Or perhaps their publisher gave them a nudge. But often those interludes seemed forced. However over the past few years they’ve become much more adept at the romantic aspect e.g. Harlen Coben and James Patterson.

And hey, haven’t female authors got gutsy and down and dirty lately when writing suspense? Huh? I just love Karen Rose, Tami Hoag and Anne Stuart. Their background knowledge shines for me because it’s not overly technical as if it’s saying: “Hey, I did my homework!” But the romance is peripheral to a darned good story each time.

I was born in New Zealand and spent most of my life there, although our family now lives in Australia. The two main differences between Australia and New Zealand are the weather (warmer over most of Australia if you discount Tasmania which is very blue/green like New Zealand because it’s wet and often cold), and the fact that NZ has 4 million people and B-I-G Australia has 21 million residents. Yup. Australia is vast. It is the sixth largest country in the world and has a whole continent to itself. It’s not the sort of place where you get in your car and zip over to Auntie Flo’s. If you hear an Australian say, "It’s just down the road," you know they lie. Sure, it’s just down the road, but the road is a 2,000 kilometer dust-encrusted two-lane bitumen highway straddling two states, millions of curious kangaroos, hundreds of racing emus trying to beat your car, some wild camels, a million gumtrees, several townships and a couple of rivers if you’re lucky. Nor is it the place to get lost in the bush, since much of the bushland looks the same. You can go around in circles forever.

When they say, "It’s just down the road" in New Zealand, they mean it’s down a one-lane bitumen highway that goes for ten kilometers then switches to a gravel road that finishes at Jessop’s farm with 1,000 sheep dotting the peaceful hillsides. And at the back of that farm is bushland, tight, green and impenetrable. In the winter it drips with damp and in the summer the cacophony of cicadas screams in your ears.

But I digress. They say ‘write what you know’ and because I know more about the NZ Police than I do the Australian system, I based LETHAL REFUGE on the NZ system. But I took liberties with the truth. Of course I did. It’s fiction, for heaven’s sake. But think of the British Police and you’ve got a handle on the NZ Police Service which was originally based on the British system.

In LETHAL REFUGE, Célie Francis, a prickly young woman, self-reliant to the point of being irritating, witnesses the aftermath of a murder and is stalked by the murderer. When she is placed in the witness protection program, she can no longer be self-sufficient. She is at the mercy of a bunch of people who want to help her, for God’s sake. And then there’s Brand Turner, the police psychologist with a vulnerable intellect as high as the sky who has an annoying habit of demanding trust from the relocatees. When the murderer seems to track their every move, Célie finally realizes she can’t do stuff on her own any more.

I’ve had two romantic suspense books published over the past couple of years and there’s another in the works. I’ve much enjoyed writing them, even though I’m known more for my Regencies. Anyway, here’s something about LETHAL REFUGE, set in New Zealand:

Who can you trust if you can’t trust your own mother? Through the clammy fog, Celie Francis hears the chilling message. “I know who you are, Celie. I know where you live.” And in the terrifying aftermath she reconnects with her dysfunctional family in ways she had never imagined.

BLURB:
Abused and abandoned as a child, Célie Francis knows better than to trust anyone. But after she witnesses a murder, she's placed in the Unit "New Zealand's witness protection program" where she's expected to trust strangers with her life.

It's psychologist Brand Turner's job to ease witnesses into their new identities, not to protect them, but Célie stirs feelings in him that are far from professional. When it appears someone is leaking critical information that could endanger Célie, Brand will do anything to protect her. But first he has to convince her to trust him.

Adrift in a frightening world, Célie would like to believe the handsome psychologist is everything he seems, but as witnesses are murdered and danger swirls around them, Célie must decide "can she trust Brand with her life?　

Please click onto my Amazon page or The Wild Rose Press where you will find LETHAL REFUGE in both paperback and e-book.

I have attached two pictures to show just how impenetrable the New Zealand bushland can be.



This house is Brand’s next door neighbor’s place. Steve and his wife don’t miss much and Brand’s low profile gets shot to hell by Célie’s behavior.



Now this picture shows the type of area that Célie stumbled around in, right on nightfall. Creepy, huh?

If you have any more questions or would just like to say "Hi", email me vonniehughes@yahoo.com.au.

In the meantime, have a great day!

~Vonnie

Sweet Dreams Cookie #recipe from @Leigh_Goff #YAlit

Leigh Goff is a talented Young Adult author who blends fantasy and romance into her remarkable stories. Her latest book Disenchanted released through Mirror World Publishing in print and eBook on June 1. The kitchen is all yours, Leigh!

These cookies are just what a white witch like sixteen-year-old Sophie Greensmith from my debut YA fantasy, Disenchanted, would bake after a long day of concocting potions with exotic flowers from her aunt’s enchanted garden.

Disenchanted takes place in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the home of the first American witch trials (not Salem!). As descendants of the original witches, Sophie and her aunt practice white magic and work in a little shop called Scents and Scentsabilities. Their organic bath and body products like Tulips to Kiss Stick to lushify lips and Forever First Love Lip Balm to lock in that true love are crafted to benefit the ordinaries in town. However, not all of the ordinaries approve and when danger catches up to Sophie, she’s left with an impossible choice—turning to black magic, a forever choice, to save the life of her forbidden first love. Will her true love still want her when her heart is touched by darkness?

This yummy recipe from the Foothill House B&B in California includes ginger to soothe the stomach, cinnamon to reduce puffiness, and walnuts to help you deal with stress.

Foothill House Sweet Dreams Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter
1½ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. salt
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Cream butter and mix in brown sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt and blend into butter mixture.

Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts (Sometimes I leave these out or substitute pecans.).

Refrigerate until dough is firm.

Lightly grease baking sheets.

Break off small pieces of dough and roll into 1" rounds. Dredge in powdered sugar.

Arrange on prepared baking sheets at least 2" apart.

Bake 10 minutes.

Cool 5 minutes on the sheets before transferring to racks to cool completely.

Store in airtight container.

Yields 6 dozen cookies

Here is a brief intro to my novel that appeals to people of all ages. I hope you like it, too.

Disenchanted
A forbidden love. A dark curse. An impossible choice...

Descended from a powerful Wethersfield witch, sixteen-year-old Sophie is struggling to hide her awkwardly emerging magic, but that’s the least of her worries. When a dangerous thief tries to steal her mysterious heirloom necklace, she is rescued by the one person she’s forbidden to fall for, a descendant of the man who condemned her ancestor to hang. He carries a dark secret that could destroy them both unless Sophie learns how to tap into the mysterious power of her diamond bloodcharm. She will have to uncover dark secrets from both of their families' wicked pasts and risk everything, including her soul to save them from a witch's true love curse, but it will take much more than that.


Leigh Goff loves writing young adult fiction with elements of magic and romance because it's also what she liked to read. Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she enjoys the area's great history and culture.

Leigh is a graduate of the University of Maryland, University College and a member of the Maryland Writers' Association and Romance Writers of America. She is also an approved artist with the Maryland State Arts Council. Her debut novel, Disenchanted, was inspired by the Wethersfield witches of Connecticut and was released by Musa Publishing in December 2014. Leigh is currently working on her next novel, The Witch's Ring which is set in Annapolis.

Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and Goodreads .

Sword and sorcery fantasy novel from @suzannegrogers #perseverance #writerslife

Guest Post by S.G. Rogers
“What does not destroy me, makes me stronger.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche


My sword and sorcery fantasy novel, Tournament of Chance: Dragon Rebel has just been published. I couldn’t be more pleased, especially considering its inauspicious beginnings. You see, I originally wrote Tournament of Chance as a short story (around 8,000 words). I submitted the short to several fantasy magazines, and although the feedback was positive, I couldn’t find a magazine willing to publish it. Battered and bruised, I ordinarily would have chucked the manuscript into a folder marked REJECTS, licked my wounds, and moved on to something else.

But I just couldn’t let it go.

I liked the concept of a young woman striving to break through the glass ceiling between commoners and royalty by honing her skills as an archer. In the back of my mind, I knew there was more to the story than the 8,000 words I’d written. So in between revising, editing, and promoting my other titles, I allowed the full-length version of Tournament of Chance to unfold. Unlike other, more disciplined authors, I usually let my stories discover themselves. As the novel moved along, I was actually quite surprised at all the twists, turns, and events in store for me. For example, who knew time travel and shape shifters would find their way into the mix? It took about six months to finish Tournament of Chance: Dragon Rebel, and it incorporates many of my favorite things – peacocks, lava tubes, caves, volcanoes, dragons, wizards, romance, and magic. It also deals with some very human foibles, such as deceit, treachery, false hope, envy, abuse of power, and pride.

So if it weren’t for the rejections I experienced, Tournament of Chance: Dragon Rebel would never have been published as a full-length novel. Perhaps it’s the fighting Irish in me, but when I get knocked down, I get up again…and then I write some more. I’m not sure I agree with the Nietzsche quote, above, one hundred percent of the time, but it’s better than the alternative.

Has rejection ever motivated you to succeed?

~ S.G. Rogers

Here is a brief intro to S.G,'s latest release.

If Heather manages to win the Tournament of Chance, she’ll be the first commoner to earn a place at court. Instead of a glorious victory, however, she’s arrested and marked for execution. After a daring escape, she joins the Dragon Rebels, who seek to overthrow the despotic monarchy and restore the former kingdom of Ormaria. Amongst the rebels are three shape-shifting wizards who claim to be rulers from the past. On a perilous quest to free the wizards’ magic, Heather battles wild dragons, vicious predators, angry trolls, and unexpected traitors. When a horrendous accident sends her back in time to fulfill a mysterious prophecy, she must rely on her warrior skills, wits, and endurance to survive.

To read an excerpt from Tournament of Chance: Dragon Rebel, please click
To read excerpts from other books by S.G. Rogers please click here .



S.G. Rogers lives with her husband and son in romantic Savannah, Georgia, on an island populated by deer, exotic birds, and the occasional gator. She's owned by two Sphynx cats, Houdini and Nikita. Movies, books, and writing are her passions.

Learn more about S.G. Rogers on her blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter . Also, be sure to check out the website for the Sweet Romance written by S.G. Rogers.

#NewRelease for @nfraserauthor #BeyondFairytales @DecadentPub

Do You Want Me
by Nancy Fraser

Fun Book Fact:




Like The Devil’s Sooty Brother, the Grimm fairy tale on which the book is based,  Do You Want Me  was written entirely in the hero’s point of view … even the absolutely decadent love scenes!




Blurb:

Decorated war hero Reece Michaels agrees to go undercover in order to bring down the Irish Mob. In return, the civilian life he’s coveted for the past six years will be returned to him.

Hired by mob boss Sean O’Malley to protect his youngest son, Reece soon discovers the young man needs more protection from his own family than its enemies.
What Reece doesn’t count on is his instant attraction to the police chief’s beautiful and willing daughter. Abby Mackenzie is the younger sister of a woman with whom Reece once had a torrid affair. He’s determined to not give in to Abby’s come-hither ways. After all, one Mackenzie woman was more than enough.
Author Bio:
Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published twenty-two books in both full-length and novella format. Nancy is currently working on a Valentine’s story for 2016, her next Rock and Roll novella, the third McCade Legacy book and a second fairy tale for Decadent Publishing.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five beautiful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Media Links:


Website: www.nancyfraser.ca Blog: http://nancyfraser.ca/wordpress/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor  @nfraserauthor Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser


Excerpt:


Reece sat at the end of the long, mahogany bar nursing two fingers of Scotch.
“The boss is finishing up with some family business,” the bartender told him.
“Thanks, Eddie. I’m in no hurry.” He tossed back another mouthful of the hot, amber liquid and turned on the wooden stool to survey the room. Besides Eddie, the middle-aged bartender, three other ‘associates’ of O’Malley’s camped out in different corners of the half-empty bar. Obviously, O’Malley’s wealth was not dependent on his drinking clientele.
The door to the back office opened and a young woman stepped over the threshold. She looked vaguely familiar. As discreetly as he could manage, given the lack of a crowd, he studied her face. She smiled at him and then walked slowly in his direction. The gentle sway of her slim hips drew his attention like a magnet.
“Reece Michaels?” Her voice, a husky mix of warm honey and expensive whiskey, literally melted over his name. “Is it really you?”
“Uh….”
She laughed softly and tossed her head, her auburn curls swishing from side to side, dusting her silk-clad shoulders. When she met his gaze, her amber eyes widened. “Abby. Abby Mackenzie. You know my sister Lily and, as an unwelcome result, my dad.”
The breath he’d held came out on a whoosh. “My, my, haven’t you grown up? And quite nicely, I might add.”
“And you look like crap.”
Laughter bubbled up in his chest, but he tamped it down. “Thanks, I think.”
She made a show of waving her hand in a circle in front of his face. “What’s with the scraggly beard and God-awful slicked-back hair? If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, you used to be good-looking, in a clean-cut sort of way.”
“And you used to have freckles and braces. We all change.”
He braced himself for another verbal attack on his appearance. Yet, she stopped short when the door to O’Malley’s office opened and both Jason and his younger brother, Billy, stepped back into the bar.
Billy was exactly as Reece remembered him. Shorter and slighter of build than his older brother, he looked as if a good gust of wind would knock him down. His hair, blond rather than the O’Malley red, framed an unsmiling, pensive face.
With a rough nudge, Jason shoved Billy until he stood beside the bar where Reece and Abby were waiting.
“This is Reece Michaels. He’s the new guy Pops was telling you about,” Jason said, nodding in Reece’s direction. “Reece, you remember my baby brother, Billy, don’t you? Pops wants you to be his new bodyguard.”
Billy O’Malley’s look of anger at being called a ‘baby’ was probably no more comical than the look of surprise on his own face. Bodyguard to a spoiled rich kid was not what he’d had in mind when he’d asked O’Malley for a job.
Buy Links:


Decadent PublishingAmazoniTunes

An Alien to Love #boxset Book Blast Tour @jsubject @DecadentPub #giveaway

An Alien to Love A collection of 1Night Stand stories By Jessica E. SubjectFive HOT 1Night Stand stories by Jessica E. Subject about sexy heroes from other planets.What do a librarian, a nurse, a director’s assistant, a housekeeper, and an orphan have in common? They all end up spending an evening with a gorgeous stranger. But, will one night lead to more, or will the women end up running away when they learn their sexy suitor comes from another planet? Find out in these five sensual 1Night Stand stories by sci-fi romance author, Jessica E. Subject.Contains: Celestial Seduction, Satin Sheets in Space, Another Night, Another Planet, His Alien Virgin, and Her Alien Hero Available from Amazon US | UK | Canada | Australia | GermanyAll Romance | iBooks | KoboAdd to GoodreadsPublisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLCDate Published: July 1, 2015ISBN: 978-1-61333-845-2Genre(s): Science Fiction Romance, Futuristic Romance, Alien RomanceHeat Rating: 3 to 4 flames - frequent love scenes  that are explicit and described using graphic and direct languageWord Count: 55,000 wordsPage Count: approx.141 pages
Excerpts:Excerpt 1 (PG-13)From Satin Sheets in Space:That’s it, I’m leaving. She didn’t need to stick around and be reminded of another night she’d been stood up by a blind date and passed over by every other available male.
After slipping her shoes on and grabbing her clutch, she headed for the door.
“Leaving so soon?”
She shivered at the sound of the deep, sexy voice. Spinning around, she gazed up at an enormous, captivating man. Very rarely did she meet a guy so much taller than herself. His black velvet justacorps fit tight across his broad shoulders, but not too snug. And the silk shirt lining his wide chest matched the color of her dress. Almost as if they were made for each other. I can only hope.
Flowing down his back, his long, thick, dark mane appeared to have feathers throughout. In the dim lighting, his hair, and even his skin had a faint blue glow. She couldn’t help but be enthralled by his presence; was sure she stood in front of him with her mouth hanging open.
“I…I’m going home.”
“When the night is still so young?” He brushed his hand down her bare arm. “What could be more fun at home? Perhaps you might even enjoy some company?”
How she’d love to spend the night in this man’s company. But this had to be some kind of joke. She looked around for cameras, anxious faces. No one as hot as this man could want to spend a night with her. “It’s been a long day. I was stood up by my date, and my friends no longer need me to stick around.”
Great! She’d just told the guy she was alone. Might as well have put a target on my back.
He rested his hand on her hip, sending intense sexual energy zinging straight to her core. “You mean you wouldn’t want to enjoy an evening in my company? Because I’m your date.”
Excerpt 2 (PG-13)From Celestial Seduction:
She stood in front of him then and held out her hands. His black eyes met hers as he wrapped her hands in his. “You’re okay with what I told you?”
“No, but I’m trying to stay open-minded.” She tried to keep her hands from shaking even as she showed him she could handle the information. “I don’t feel like you want to hurt me though.”
He lightly squeezed her hands, a smile forming on his lips. “I would never bring you harm.”
Lifting one hand up, she gently placed it on the side of his face. “Will you show me what you really look like? I can see your real eyes, but I want to see the rest.”
“You won’t run away?” She winced seeing all of the confidence he’d had at the beginning of the night gone, but it made her trust him even more. “Whatever you do, please don’t scream.”
“I promised to stay the entire night, didn’t I? And don’t worry, I don’t scream unless someone sneaks up on me, or if I see a spider. You don’t look like a spider, do you?” The very thought sent a chill through her body.
He smiled, some of his confidence back while his human image flickered for a few seconds before completely disappearing. Unsure what to expect, she tried not to judge until she’d set eyes on his entire figure. Long, spindly fingers intertwined with hers. He tried to let go, but she held them tight. His body appeared taller and leaner than before. She saw the same black eyes, a less prominent nose and barely visible ears. His hair became jet black and appeared longer and curlier than before. Underneath luminescent scales, his skin shone a light blue.
“So, what do you think?” His mouth quirked, revealing his uncertainty.
Except for their color, his lips were the only thing that didn’t change. She leaned towards him, wondering if they would still feel the same. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach him, but wrapping her arms around his neck helped. The feel of his skin surprised her. Perhaps he didn’t have scales, but the pattern lay beneath his skin.
He’s beautiful.
Excerpt 3 (Adult)From Another Night, Another Planet:
“Okay, what do you do? How’d you end up on Elatia?”
“A little of this and that. Transporting small packages between planets, mostly.” Cargo no one else wanted to carry. He grasped her hips, sliding her toward him, her robe slipping up her thighs. She grasped his shoulders and stared at him, eyes wide. But no objection came from her lips, so he continued. “As for why I’m here, well, I came to meet you. Right now, I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Her cheeks flushed, and he could think of nothing but having his way with her. He leaned forward, tasting her sweet lips. She didn’t pull away, but wrapped her arms around him. Lining his tongue along the edge of her mouth, he deepened the kiss. He absorbed her essence into every cell. He couldn’t get enough. Reaching between their bodies, he undid the tie around his waist. Then hers. 
Delirious, he pulled the robes from between them until skin pressed against skin. Exactly as they were meant to be. Nibbling his way down her neck, he took pleasure in her soft whimpers. She leaned back, opening herself to him. For a moment, he could do nothing but stare at her luscious body, unable to believe she was there with him again.
He ran his tongue across her stomach, from her navel, all the way up to one of her rosy peaks, the taste of tropical fruits and her femininity overwhelming his senses. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, drawing his teeth over her tender skin. She cried out, but held him there rather than pushing him away. As he switched to savor her other breast, she began to rock over him. His semi-hard-on turned into a rock, seeking out a warm pussy. The head of his penis slid easily along her wet lips, but he refused to take the plunge. Way too soon.
Rising to his feet, he laid Ava across the lounger. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
He rushed over to the gourmet spread of food before his lust took over and he ruined the evening. Collecting a selection of pastries filled with creams and small chunks of juicy fruit, he took a deep breath, trying to stifle his aching cock. Anxious to satisfy another hunger, he carried the plate over to Ava.
He kneeled in front of her. A smile radiated across her face. “Thank you. I didn’t expect the eletin to affect me so much. It’s like the alcohol on Earth. I want you, don’t get me wrong, but….” Setting a chunk of fruit between his teeth, he captured her lips again. Their tongues darted around the juicy flesh until he swallowed it down. He licked a trail of sweet nectar down her neck. Gods, he’d missed her.
Pinching one of the flaky pastries, he wiped its cream onto her pert, rosy nipples. Hunger and lust pulsed through him, but under it all, something more. More than want. He needed her. Always had. He refused to walk away from her again. Tonight was about more than pleasure, a one-night stand. Somehow, he had to convince her to never return to Earth, to stay with him. An impossible task. But he had to try.
Reviews:Celestial Seduction:“If you’ve never thought of the stars as steamy, this [story] with have you rethinking the entire sci-fi genre.”
~ The Indie EliteSatin Sheets in Space:“…shakes your world up in unimaginable ways and Jessica Subject is showing that she can both rock her readers’ worlds and give them the happily ever after everyone is secretly longing for.”
~ Tracy Riva ReviewsAnother Night, Another Planet:“…a fantastic representation of the [1Night Stand] series. Hot sex along with some interesting twists kept my interest from the first page.”
~ a TOP PICK at Night Owl ReviewsHis Alien Virgin:“It’s no secret that I am a huge Jessica E. Subject fan. She is a master of creating complex characters, solid plots, and incredible emotions in a short a amount of time… This fast paced sexy little story is another great addition to the 1 Night Stand Series.”
~ Wicked Readings by Tawania Her Alien Hero:“This story is hot, funny, & out of this world. It’s a quick dose of romance in a way that makes you believe your wildest dreams are possible.”
~ Pure Jonel
Bio:Jessica E. Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotic. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous. 
When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk with her giant, hairy dog her family adopted from the local animal shelter.
Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | FacebookPinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph
To celebrate the release of AN ALIEN TO LOVE, and four years published, Jessica E. Subject is hosting a contest for a $25 e-gift certificate from Amazon.com or All Romance eBooks. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget placed below, or follow the link. Please Note: Contest is international. No substitutions can be made. Must be 18 or over to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Dangerous Affair in Venice #boxset from @CateMasters @DecadentPub #darkfantasy

A Dangerous Affair in Venice(Cursed, Charmed, and Claimed: The Vitruvian Man triilogy box set)
Available July 3, 2015for just 99 cents!
Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com

BlurbHe's lost everything... except herFrom beasty man, bitter and lonely, Bruno diCesare's transformed by Melina’s love. Fire destroyed his  quarters, and everything he loved. But his love for Melina is stronger. So strong, it threatens to blind him to danger.
She's given up everything for him...Melina Weaver also transforms—from shy, bumbling scientist... to student of magic... to powerful fire mage.  She has no money, no job, nowhere to go--and she doesn't want to. Bruno is her life now, but his world threatens to destroy them.Their only hope? To join with the rogue magicks and overthrow the Council's dictatorship.
If they survive the battle, will they be able to create a new world for themselves?

What reviewers are saying... Cursed was a shockingly beautiful love story – Indy Book Fairy
This book was awesome – The Jeep Diva
Cate Masters did a fantastic job of writing in this novella.  I was very impressed with how she was able to create such vivid and beautiful scenes – Bitten by Romance
"...a spellbinding tale of love, mystery, suspense and intrigue like no other.These books had me from the first chapter and I couldn't put them down. Paranormal romance has met its match with these books and the history that is wound within the story sets the tone for what the underside of Venice is for those of magical persuasion." – Sarah Says Read Romance
I really recommend this series. A bit of ole lore and set up in today's society really makes this story ( series) wonderful!! – Julie’s Books Reviews

About the AuthorCate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Contact DetailsWebsite: http://catemasters.blogspot.com Email: cate.masters@gmail.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=tsTwitter:  @CateMasters

.@CarolABrowne shares her favorite book - Precious Bane by Mary Webb #amreading

My Favourite Book
by Carol Browne

I keep few books in my house. I prefer to pass them on to my friends. However, there is one special book I will never part with and that is my 1945 hardback edition of Precious Bane by Mary Webb.

The book features an introduction by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, written at 10 Downing Street in 1928, in which he says of the author, “Her sensibility is so acute and her power over words so sure and swift that one who reads some passage in Whitehall has almost the physical sense of being in Shropshire cornfields.”

First published in 1924, Precious Bane tells the story of flawed heroine, Prudence Sarn, whose ‘hare-shotten lip’ means that as far as her neighbours are concerned she is cursed with ‘the devil’s mark’. It is only weaver Kester Woodseaves who can see beyond this disfigurement to the true beauty of Prue’s soul.

Prue’s goodness and gentle nature are in sharp contrast to her brother Gideon’s ruthless striving for worldly success, and descriptions of the landscape that sustains them are woven into the dramas of their lives to create a rich tapestry. Thanks to the author’s skill with words, it is safe to say that Nature is not merely a background to the story but also seems to be a character in it too. The narrative is, says Prue, “the story of us all at Sarn, of Mother and Gideon and me, and Jancis (that was so beautiful) and Wizard Beguildy, and the two or three other folk that lived in those parts…”

How to describe the style of the book? It depicts a rural England around the time of Waterloo (1815), a place of meres, country lore, dragonflies, looms and spinning-wheels. There is a fair scattering of dialect words (fascinating rather than baffling!) and curious customs such as ‘sin-eating’ and ‘telling the bees’. It is reminiscent of Larkrise to Candleford, had it been penned by a committee of authors that included Thomas Hardy, Dickens and Emily Bronte. It is a book to relax with and savour. The pace was slower in 1924 and they liked their paragraphs LONG! But the story is well paced, the heroine immensely likeable, and there’s plenty of dramatic conflict and jeopardy to keep you hooked throughout.

I have read this book many times and, having just opened it and looked at the first line of Chapter One – “It was at a love-spinning that I saw Kester first”, – I know I am going to read it again very soon! (If you want to try this book, please don’t spoil it for yourself and look at the last page. The ending is perfect!)

Mary Webb née Meredith was born in the village of Leighton on 25th March, 1881. She and her husband worked as market gardeners for a time and had their own stall on Shrewsbury market. She wrote five novels and a volume of essays on nature. Mary died on 8th October, 1927 and was buried in Shrewsbury.

Authors die but they are never forgotten. They live on in the work they leave behind. As Mary Webb said herself in her Foreward to Precious Bane:

“We are to-morrow’s past. Even now we slip away like those pictures painted on the moving dials of antique clocks – a ship, a cottage, sun and moon, a nosegay. The dial turns, the ship rides up and sinks again, the yellow painted sun has set, and we, that were the new thing, gather magic as we go. The whirr of the spinning-wheels has ceased in our parlours, and we hear no more the treadle of the loom, the swift, silken noise of the flung shuttle, the intermittent thud of the batten. But imagination hears them, and theirs is the melody of romance.”

~Carol


Carole Browne writes speculative fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She is also a ghost blog writer, proofreader, copy editor, and copywriter. Along with a passion for gardening, Carol is an avid animal lover. Stay connected with Carol on Facebook .

Ye Olde Caves of Nottingham - Guest Post by @SharonLedwith #timetravel #blogtour @Saphs_Books

Ye Olde Caves of Nottingham Guest Post by Sharon Ledwith
In my middle-grade/young adult time travel book, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, my feisty group of adolescent characters’ first mission lands then in England in 1214 where they must find a young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens. Legend has it that one of Robin Hood’s haunts (besides the famous Sherwood Forest) was the village of Nottingham. When I undertook the meticulous research needed to craft my novel, I came across an interesting fact about Nottingham I had never known: beneath the houses, shops, and offices of Nottingham are hundreds of caves. My eyes bugged and imagination went into overdrive, while I gathered fact after fact about the Nottingham caves. In truth, it was similar to panning for gold nuggets.
The end result of the information I gleaned is woven into my story, but I’d like to share some other interesting facts about these not-so-famous caves:
·         The earliest written record of Nottingham’s caves comes from a Welsh monk called Asser who when writing about Nottingham in 868 referred to the town as Tig Guocobauc, meaning house or place of caves in British.  ·         Nottingham has more man-made caves than anywhere else in Britain. ·         The exposed cliff of the sandstone outcrop made this an obvious place for the early citizens of Nottingham to make their home. The occupants of these cave houses were generally poor and the caves were known as pauper holes.   ·         Each cave is unique and created for a specific purpose; some even have elaborate carvings, pillars and staircases.  ·         The softness of Nottingham’s sandstone makes it easy to excavate with hand tools, and the structural stability means that excavated caves are safe to use, even with buildings above them.·         Throughout the medieval period Nottingham continued to grow and prosper becoming a centre for trades such as wool manufacture, tanning, malting, alabaster carving and pottery production.  A number of these activities were undertaken in Nottingham’s caves. ·         Sandstone caves maintain a constant temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius/ 57.2 Fahrenheit and therefore made excellent cellars for the storage of ale.·         At the start of the Second World War new caves were excavated and old ones reused to act as Air Raid shelters.Believe it or not, few people in Nottingham are aware of this labyrinth, and fewer still have visited them. Unfortunately, in these modern times, a significant number of caves have been filled in with cement or bricked up, with others disappearing through natural collapse. There’s a special project underway called the Nottingham Caves Survey which hopes to survey and document all the caves under Nottingham, and bring awareness to this unique historical resource. I invite you to take a virtual tour if you dare: http://nottinghamcavessurvey.org.uk/
Blurb:
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.
Buy links:
Mirror World Publishing:
Paperback: http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/fantasy/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis-1
Ebook: http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, and GOODREADS. Check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.
Follow the tour to read Guest Posts, Reviews, Excerpts, and Spotlights:http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-tour-schedule-last-timekeepers-and.html

Enter the Giveaway:
· A signed paperback copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
· A custom crafted Babel Necklace
· A signed trading card
· A signed postcard
· Two ‘The Last Timekeepers’ wrist bands
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Infiltrating her Pack #BlackHillsWolves #Shifter New Release from @DominiEastwick @DecadentPub

Infiltrating her Pack Black Hill WolvesBy Dominique EastwickAmazon