Victoria Adams's Blog, page 79

The Romantic Librarian is flashing her Wednesday Briefs #WedBriefs

If you are here for Books Hooks - please scroll down.


Welcome to this week's Wednesday Briefs.  For Halloween, I thought I'd write a separate flash based on the inspiration of the photo below. Sunrise – episode 54 will be back next week.





The Romantic LibrarianThe smell of old books always tickled Addie's nose as she wandered through the Cape North Public Library. Her library. She'd spent hours as a youngster sitting cross-legged in the children's section roaming through books, gazing at pictures and delighted to have discovered the ability to read. As a high school student, she'd spent many late hours prepping for tests and essays. After completing her Library Science degree, she returned to Cape North, became the Assistant Librarian and now the Head Librarian.She heaved her shoulders and released a sad sigh. But now, almost everything is done on the Internet. She glanced at the bank of computers as she turned to pass through the stacks, pausing to glare at two stacks of books she was positive she'd asked her intern, the little witch, to reshelve."Anything else you'd like me to do?" The button-nosed, brunette intern asked as she peeked around the edge of the book stack.Addie glanced at her watch, 8:50 p.m. "No. Go on. I bet you're headed off to a party. I'll just pop these books on their shelves."“Happy Halloween. Don't let any goblins get you on the way home.” The intern waved and disappeared back around the bookshelf.Of course you're going to a party. You have a life. Me. Le sigh. Not so much. Addie cast a quick glance over the titles of the books; two history, one Do-It-Yourself and a romance, Prophecy's Child by Brenda Dyer. Been meaning to read that one. Could use a little romance in my life right now.
  Having spent most of her life in libraries, Addie was aware of the stereotypical strict – SSSH! – librarian image, which she tried to dispel by wearing flowery dresses and sporting a bouncy ponytail; only putting her hair into a tight bun when she'd slept in and hadn't had time to wash her hair.A shadow crossed the head of the aisle between the stacks. Addie paused. Russell, her new and absolutely delicious looking assistant, stepped into the aisle. His chocolate brown eyes lit with delight as he spoke. "I was wondering where you were. Been looking all over for you."Addie's toes tingled and she stifled a giggle. He was looking for me?He reached down and grabbed the second stack of books. "I'll reshelve these and then I'm done for tonight."Her giddiness morphed to sadness. "Off to a Halloween party?"Russell chuckled. "Isn't it funny how we don't outgrow some childhood delights. A party is where I'm headed. I'll lock the door."Addie watched as he disappeared down the main aisle headed towards science fiction.She glanced at the romance book in her hand. Russell had to be only a year younger than her, but somehow he seemed older. He always laughed at her jokes and was a wonderful conversationalist. If only she wasn't his boss. Maybe. Just maybe.She placed the Do-It-Yourself book on the shelf and gripped the romance as she wandered back to the romance section. Memories of romantic and passionate heroes flitted through her mind. She paused on her favourite, Heathcliff. Nice glass of wine. Some romantic music and a little Wuthering Heig — aah!She jumped then scolded herself. The noise was probably Russell shutting the big back door and locking it. Locking her into her library. She was alone. With her books. Her stories. Her imaginary lovers. She stuffed the romance into its place then did a quick check of the doors to ensure they were locked and the tables to see if they were empty.A shiver ran down her spine. The hairs on her arms stood up. Turning slowly, Addie caught just a glimpse of the shadow that slipped past the end of the row of books. Squaring her shoulders, she marched in the direction of the intruder. Someone in her library after hours – so not going to happen.The soft carpeting muffled her steps making sneaking up behind the miscreant easier, but alas, it muffled his steps as well. She wandered along the main passageways peeking left and right down dark rows of books. At the end of a reference row, she saw just a snippet of the shadow.Addie quickened her pace. Rounding the corner of the reference section, she stopped. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp. In the reading lounge, someone had moved the chairs and tables and laid a bright orange and black checked tablecloth on the floor. A bright, grinning Jack-o-lantern rested next to a vase with one white rose. Two filled champagne flutes rested beside a box of chocolates.She stepped closer as she glanced about the area. Out of the corner of her eye she watched him step out of the shadow. It was Russell.“I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty?” He pointed to the impromptu picnic.Her heart skipped a beat as she crossed her hands on her chest. “Is this for me?”Russell stepped closer and breathed across her ear. “It's for us.” He held out his hand and helped her sit on the picnic cloth then he sat next to her.Addie giggled. “This is just like in one of the romances I’ve read.” She picked up the champagne flute and sipped.Russell smiled. “Ever read paranormal romances?” He leaned closer as if to kiss her then two gleaming white fangs descended. He hovered over her neck.“Russell!” She pushed him away. “Rule 26 of the Library Board. No vampires allowed in the library." She flicked her hand. "Be gone!”With a puff of smoke, Russell vanished. Addie picked up her champagne flute, the open bottle and the box of chocolates then headed back to the romance section to grab the book she’d just shelved.With Prophecy's Child tucked under her arm and while juggling all the other items, Addie pulled her wand out of her pocket and swished herself home for a quiet night’s read.
Happy Halloween.
Now onto the other flashers. 
Go to this link Wednesday Brief authors  or go to individual authors


M.A. ChurchChris T. KatCia NordwellRavon SilviusKazy ReedTali SpencerJulie Lynn Hayes

Book Hooks and A Guy and A Girl #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor

Welcome to Victoria's Pages of Romance and Book Hooks. This week's 6 to 8 sentences are from my NA contemporary romance – A Guy and A Girl


Scene Set – Hunter' doubts and insecurities surface when he and a couple of teammates are at a pizza joint.
Excerpt – A movement distracted Hunter. He looked across the room. Chelsea stood in the doorway. Her reddish brown hair hung about her shoulders. Her green eyes captivated him from the opposite side of the restaurant. Her smile was a thousand ray-of-light clichés rolled into one."Invite her over," Zach said, breaking into Hunter's thoughts.Hunter shook his head and said, "No, she's just a classmate."

TaglineLies, deceits and secrets - not a good way to begin a relationship.
BlurbAfter an ugly past forced Hunter Connolly to escape to Europe, the talented hockey player is back in North America and determined to land a position with a professional team. But he can’t hide from his past forever, especially when his beautiful classmate, Chelsea, forces him to reexamine his life. Soon, hockey is not his first priority anymore.Chelsea Henderson is a bright co-ed working towards her dream of being a professional dancer. She forms a unique friendship with one of her father’s newest recruits and would love nothing more than to take it to the next level. However, there’s just one small problem. He doesn’t know she’s his coach’s daughter.Amid the deceptions, danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine. Will fate contrive to rip the young lovers apart? Or will Hunter and Chelsea have their shot at love?

What people are saying about – A Guy and A Girl
5 Stars- I loved this book...I think that it was an awesome story. It was interesting on how everything came about as well as some surprises on who was doing what. I liked how the couple had issues that would be real life issues as well. Very well written, can't wait to read more books by Victoria as well as maybe some more in relation to characters in the book.
5 Stars - What a great romance. Fast paced. Chock full of tension. Little bit of hockey Little bit of dance. Lots of love.
5 Stars - By the end of this book I had tears running down my cheeks.
4 Stars - The story is solid, the love is solid, I'm looking forward to reading more books by Victoria Adams

Buy Links – Exclusively at - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2GRD1U

Character Interview from Lyndi Lamont's Marooned #FallingIntoLove

 Title: MaroonedAuthor: Lyndi LamontGenre: Steamy Historical Short Story
Blurb: Heather Parnell is traveling from England to her home in Jamaica with her new husband, Roger, a man she detests. She performs a banishing spell with unintended consequences. When their ship is attacked by pirates, Roger is killed. Heather, disguised as a boy, joins the pirate crew.
Pirate captain Adam Langworth suspects there is something odd about the new lad. When he discovers she is a woman, she begs him to keep her secret, a violation of the ships' articles. When her identity is discovered, Adam and Heather find themselves marooned on a deserted island with nothing to do for the rest of their lives but make love.
Disclaimer: This is a 12,000 word steamy romantic short story, not a full-length novel. Previously published by Amber Quill Press. Contains a sexy pirate, a naughty witch, cussing and fornicating.
Buy links:Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00ES2GJ9W Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/marooned/id692424588Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/marooned-15Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marooned-lyndi-lamont/1017481980  Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/348731
  Character Interview with Heather Parnell:
1)     Thanks for sitting down with me today. Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born Heather MacGibbon in Jamaica to Scottish parents. My mother was a practicing witch, and Da thought it best to get her away from Scotland. When Da died, I was forced to marry an odious, greedy Englishman, Roger Parnell.
2)     I understand you have some kind of special power. Can you tell us about it?
I have some talent for spell casting, inherited from my mother.
3)     Did you have special education or training to hone your power?
Ma started to teach me about witchcraft when I was little, but she died before I was fully trained. My spells sometimes go awry. Also, I sometime hear voices in my head. I think they are messages from the Great Goddess.
4)     Do you consider your power a gift or a curse? Why?
’Tis a mixed blessing, for certain. My spells work, but sometimes come with unintended consequences. Like when I performed a banishing spell to rid myself of Roger and ended up getting marooned on a deserted isle with a sexy pirate.
5)     How does having this power complicate your life?
Superstitious people are afeared of witches, so I try to keep my abilities to myself as much as possible.
6)     If you could swap your power for another one, what would it be?
There are other powers? I know naught of them. Nay, I am content to be a witch.
7)     What does your lover think of your abilities?
Adam loves me in spite of my powers, but I’m hoping to show that they can be used for good. I’m working on a spell to summon the wind when our ship is becalmed.
Excerpt
“Are you truly a witch?” he asked, moving to stand in front of her.
“Aye. My mother was one, too. ’Tis why she and my da had to leave Scotland.”
“What will happen to the ship and crew?”
She shrugged. “I do not know. Perhaps nothing.”
He raised his brows. “Are your curses so ineffectual?”
She smiled ruefully. “Not as a rule.”
“Should I be afraid?” he joked.
“Yes.” She looked around the small island. It was no bigger than a drawing room, just a small hillock of sand with a few weeds growing and pieces of driftwood scattered here and there. “I very much fear this is all my fault.”
He put his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder. “You could hardly be responsible for the bad blood between me and Gower.”
Her anger dissipated, and fear now took its place. “True, but I am responsible for our current predicament.”“How?”
She drew back to look at him. “The night before the attack, I performed a banishing spell. I wanted Roger and Kitty out of my life, not dead.”
“How does your spell affect us being marooned?”
“My ma always said to be careful what you asked for. A negative spell has to be balanced with a positive spell and I forgot to do that. I should never have tried to banish them.”
“Why did you?”
“I knew they wanted to kill me, so I figured what did I have to lose? My life was already in danger.”
“So nothing has changed.”
She touched his face, the stubble of his beard rough against her fingertips. “Aye, but now I am responsible for your death, too.”
He caught her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the palm. “No, love, you are not. Besides, if I must die, I can think of no better way to go than in the arms of a beautiful woman.”
She blinked back tears. “No man has ever called me beautiful before.”
“Then you knew only fools.”
She brushed back one tear that had escaped. “Forgive my weakness.”
Adam kissed her forehead. “Any other lady would have succumbed to the vapors before this.”
She laughed shakily. “I’ve never had the vapors in my life, and I don’t intend to start now.”

Author bio:
Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.
Find her online at:Website http://lindalyndi.comFacebook http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamontGoodreads http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamontGoogle+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LyndiLamont/Twitter https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont


 

Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Spotlight on Linn B Halton and Falling Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us http://viewBook.at/FallingAngelsAmongUsSeriesCeri thinks she sees angels … everywhere. She struggles to keep separate what feels like two very different sides to her life. As a manager in an advertising company she’s been working with the gorgeous Alex for two years. The have a friendship based upon the image she portrays whilst she’s at work and it helps to keep her sane. One mad, crazy night spent sharing their secrets and a lot of wine result in them ending up in bed together and their relationship changes. When Alex explains that the reason he doesn’t date is because someone broke his heart, how can Ceri admit that she feels a deep connection to him?
Ceri knows she’s different. What she doesn’t fully appreciate, is that her task in life is to correct a series of incidents that affect some of the people’s lives with whom she comes into contact. She’s simply putting right little errors that could ripple outwards and change the course of their destiny. When she finds herself getting pulled into things that happen around her, how can she prove that she really has made a difference? Is it all in her head?
She’s alone for a reason; she’s not meant to fall in love in her earthly life. Alex is supposed to cross paths with her and help Ceri during a phase where she begins to question the signs she’s being given. It’s meant to be a turning point for them both—but in opposite directions. They are destined to travel very different paths … but Ceri doesn’t know that and neither does Alex … BUY LINKS Amazon UK AMAZON US Barnes & Noble Google Play
ABOUT LINN B HALTON
Linn B Halton lives in the small village of Lydbrook, Gloucestershire in the UK, but was born in Bristol. She resides there with her husband and cat with 'catitude'- Mr Tiggs.

Linn began writing in March 2009 and her debut novel was published in February 2011. In a recent interview Linn was asked about genres:

"From a very young age I knew romantic fiction was always going to be my genre. I am, and will always be, madly in love with love! Whether that's love of life, a partner, or the things I'm passionate about.

My stories are about love, life and real relationships - but romance is always the one thing that holds each story together. Often there's a light, psychic touch and I never dreamed I would write drawing upon my personal psychic experiences. But as my interest and understanding has grown in the subject, it is now such a part of my life it finds its way into my fictional tales. However, what is heartening is that most of my experiences have been uplifting and it's wonderful to know loved ones are around me always. I hope it will make readers stop and wonder 'What if?'

The result is that I get a lot of mail from readers who have had similar experiences and some are sharing theirs for the first time with me. I always feel that's something rather special and for which I'm very grateful."

Love, life and beyond... but it's ALWAYS about the romance!

Linn is published by HarperImpulse and Sapphire Star Publishing.
Linn is the editor of Loveahappyending Lifestyle emagazine.
Website:  (linnbhalton.co.uk)
Twitter: @LinnBHalton
Facebook: Author Linn B Halton
Bookshelf: http://viewauthor.at/LinnBHalton
The giveaway for the tour1st -  prize a copy of The Restaurant @ The Mill and ecopies of Falling: Angels Among Us The Complete Series and Touched by The Light. 2nd Prize - 3 winners can choose which book they want from any of Linn’s ebooks.


 

Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Another Snippet from A Guy and A Girl on Weekend Writing Warriors #8Sunday

Welcome to another weekend of Weekend Writing Warriors. My 8 sentence snippet this week is from my latest release NA contemporary romance – A Guy and A Girl. Scene Set – Hunter's doubts and insecurities rise to the surface when some of his hockey teammates are in a local pizza joint.
Sorry – no Halloween snippet – this entire book takes place in the summer.

A movement distracted Hunter. He looked across the room. Chelsea stood in the doorway. Her reddish brown hair hung about her shoulders. Her green eyes captivated him from the opposite side of the restaurant. Her smile was a thousand ray-of-light clichés rolled into one."Invite her over," Zach said, breaking into Hunter's thoughts.Hunter shook his head and said, "No, she's just a classmate."
Tagline
Lies, deceits and secrets - not a good way to begin a relationship.

Blurb
After an ugly past forced Hunter Connolly to escape to Europe, the talented hockey player is back in North America and determined to land a position with a professional team. But he can’t hide from his past forever, especially when his beautiful classmate, Chelsea, forces him to reexamine his life. Soon, hockey is not his first priority anymore.
Chelsea Henderson is a bright co-ed working towards her dream of being a professional dancer. She forms a unique friendship with one of her father’s newest recruits and would love nothing more than to take it to the next level. However, there’s just one small problem. He doesn’t know she’s his coach’s daughter.
Amid the deceptions, danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine. Will fate contrive to rip the young lovers apart? Or will Hunter and Chelsea have their shot at love?



What people are saying about – A Guy and A Girl
5 Stars - I loved this book...I think that it was an awesome story. It was interesting on how everything came about as well as some surprises on who was doing what. I liked how the couple had issues that would be real life issues as well. Very well written, can't wait to read more books by Victoria as well as maybe some more in relation to characters in the book.

5 Stars - What a great romance. Fast paced. Chock full of tension. Little bit of hockey Little bit of dance. Lots of love.

5 Stars - I'm not really sure where to start with this book. The story took so many twists and turns. The suspense in the first part of the book was good, and the twist, I didn't see coming. I expected the story to end when the conflict resolved itself, but I enjoyed that the author chose to continue the development of the relationship between Hunter and Chelsea. I think a lot of stories are written so that the happily ever after comes right after the conflict, but in this story, the reader is drawn through more than one conflict, it shows the growth of each character and a progression of a relationship that is more like real life. Think about it, in our real life relationships, most of us don't go through one crazy experience and then BAM...everything works out. I think that's what made the story so real to me. All the challenges faced by Hunter and Chelsea helped to build and strengthen the relationship. The time frame may have been a little short for the amount of things going on, but that didn't affect my opinion of the story. I was still able to become invested in the story and enjoy it.

Buy Links – Exclusively at - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2GRD1U

Link back to Weekend Writing Warriors - www.wewriwa.com

Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 27 - Linn B Halton - Falling Angels Among Us28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Spotlight on Melissa Foster and Seaside Hearts

SEASIDE HEARTS by Melissa FosterSeaside Summers, Book TwoRelease Date October 21, 2014Jenna Ward is vivacious, spontaneous, and confident—except when she’s around the man who stole her heart years earlier, strikingly handsome, quiet, and reliable Pete Lacroux. After years of trying to get his attention and overwhelmed from dealing with her mother’s new cougar lifestyle, Jenna’s giving up on Peter—and is ready to explore other men.
As the eldest of five siblings, with an alcoholic father to care for, boat craftsman Pete Lacroux always does the right thing and has no time for a real relationship. He’s looking forward to seeing his friend Jenna, a welcome distraction who’s so damn sexy and so painfully shy that she equally entertains and confuses him.When Jenna picks up a hard-bodied construction worker, jealousy ignites Pete’s true feelings, and he’s powerless to ignore the desires for Jenna he never realized he had.  But Pete’s not the quiet guy he appears to be, and his life is anything but conducive to a relationship. Can Jenna handle the real Pete Lacroux—the sexiest, most passionate alpha male she’s ever seen—or will she crack under pressure? And can Pete reclaim the life he once had without tearing apart his family?
About Melissa Foster
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the  World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on  Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine. Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.Authors Links:WebsiteTwitterFacebookPinterestGoodreads BUY LINKS ITUNESKOBOGOOGLE PLAYAMAZON.COMAMAZON UKB & N
Giveaway a copy of  SEASIDE DREAMS
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

A Guy and A Girl on this week's Book Hooks #MFRWhooks #MFRWAuthor

If you are here for Wednesday Briefs - please scroll down



Welcome to Victoria's Pages of Romance and Book Hooks. This week's 6 to 8 sentences are from my NA contemporary romance – A Guy and A Girl


Scene Set – Hunter has an annoying problem.
Excerpt – Hunter couldn't get out of Wednesday's communication class fast enough. The problem wasn't the subject, or even the prof. It was Gayle and she'd decided today was the day she'd  make her move on him, laughing and fluttering her eyelashes to draw his attention.Twice he caught Chelsea snickering. When he glanced at her notepad, she'd drawn a large heart with Gayle + Hunter written inside. He scribbled, Stop that!!! then bumped her elbow.She chuckled and wrote, Someone has a crush on you. Lol.He tapped his pen on his Stop That message and focused on the professor, until the instructor released class, but his departure wasn't abrupt enough.

TaglineLies, deceits and secrets - not a good way to begin a relationship.
BlurbAfter an ugly past forced Hunter Connolly to escape to Europe, the talented hockey player is back in North America and determined to land a position with a professional team. But he can’t hide from his past forever, especially when his beautiful classmate, Chelsea, forces him to reexamine his life. Soon, hockey is not his first priority anymore.Chelsea Henderson is a bright co-ed working towards her dream of being a professional dancer. She forms a unique friendship with one of her father’s newest recruits and would love nothing more than to take it to the next level. However, there’s just one small problem. He doesn’t know she’s his coach’s daughter.Amid the deceptions, danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine. Will fate contrive to rip the young lovers apart? Or will Hunter and Chelsea have their shot at love?

What people are saying about – A Guy and A Girl
5 Stars- I loved this book...I think that it was an awesome story. It was interesting on how everything came about as well as some surprises on who was doing what. I liked how the couple had issues that would be real life issues as well. Very well written, can't wait to read more books by Victoria as well as maybe some more in relation to characters in the book.
5 Stars - What a great romance. Fast paced. Chock full of tension. Little bit of hockey Little bit of dance. Lots of love.
5 Stars - By the end of this book I had tears running down my cheeks.
4 Stars - The story is solid, the love is solid, I'm looking forward to reading more books by Victoria Adams

Buy Links – Exclusively at - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2GRD1U






Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Victoria's flashing her Wednesday Briefs #WedBriefs

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Briefs.

This is a raw (unedited) m/f time travel romance. It's a 500 to 1,000 word excerpt inspired by  have a character plot a murder, You don’t really think I’m going to let you have all the fun, do you?, plus the photo below. Chapters 1 through 5 are available on the free read tab at top of blog.

Sunrise 53
J'dol peered up at the skylight, scanning it for the face Sian saw. If it was Ian, he would catch him and kill him. Then use those silver metal bracelets he had seen a man in a uniform use and secure tie him to the large rock in the middle of the lake. The fish could feast on his miserable flesh.He hopped off the bed. "Stay here.""Really? That never works." Sian grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head. "You don’t really think I’m going to let you have all the fun, do you?”"Fun?""Catching Ian." Sian glanced up. "I'll lay ten to one odds it was him." She followed J'dol out the bedroom door and down the hall. "He probably stole the painting and somehow made that horrid cackle sound."J'dol grabbed his sword then punched in the security code, waited for the beep then charged out the door. Standing on the lawn, he peered at the house and roof. Where was he? Where was the vile villain? Threatening Sian's existence. Threatening to harm her. To have his way with her. Nothing evil should ever be associated with Sian. She was gentle and loving.She touched his shoulder. "You go to the left and circle around and I'll go right and we'll meet in front of the cabin.""No. What if—"Sian kissed his cheek. "I can scream. Really, really loud. And I bet you run pretty fast. If Ian grabs me, he won't get far. I have you to protect me."Pride welled in J'dol soul. He straightened, gripped his sword and nodded. "If he touches you; he dies." He turned to the left and headed for the corner of the cottage. Before he rounded it, he checked where Sian was. She was exactly opposite him. In a few seconds they would be at the cottage's front and he would see her. Or kill Ian.The clouds shifted, allowing the moon's glow to light his way. He crept up to the corner and peered around. No sign of Ian. His gut clenched. Or Sian. Raged flowed. Raising his sword, he stepped around the corner then stumbled to a stop. Sian circled the opposite corner. She was alone. Unharmed. He heaved a sigh of relief as he lowered his sword. Those few seconds with her out of his sight seemed like ages.She raced across the front of the cottage and slowed up next to him. "Nothing. I didn't even scare a bunny.""Nothing on my side." J'dol looked up. "That means he is still on the roof. How do I get up there?""You can probably hop up on the deck then shimmy up to the roof."J'dol wanted to ask what shimmy meant, but he didn't want to waste another moment. With a focused pace, they returned to the deck. He handed her his sword then hopped onto the deck railing, grabbed the edge of the eavestrough and hoisted himself onto the roof. Scrambling up one side and then down the other, he then raced around, checking for a fleeing Ian. No one. Squatting on his heels, he slipped to the edge, flipped over and lowered himself back to the deck railing. When he turned, his heart skipped a beat. Where was Sian?A movement on the dock caught his attention. Two human shapes. One at the end of the dock and the other, obviously Sian, charging towards it. His ears caught the faint sound of her enraged howl.After landing on the dock, he raced off the deck, across the lawn and onto the dock. He skidded to a stop just behind Sian. She held his sword in two hands with the tip waving towards the other person. "Who are you?" Her voice was filled rage. "Why are you here? This is my dock?"J'dol looked towards the other person. He was dressed in strange clothing, a shiny flowing robe. His face was relaxed. He held no weapon. J'dol stepped next to Sian. He held out his hand, offering to take back his sword.Sian shook her head. "No. I got this. I'm only going to ask one more time. What are you doing here?"The figure glanced at J'dol. "I've come to take him home."

Now onto the other flashers. 
Go to this link Wednesday Brief authors  or go to individual authors


Cia NordwellM.A. ChurchChris T. KatLM BrownAvery DawesJon KeysMatthias WilliamsonCarol PedrosoSarah HayesRavon SilviusTali SpencerJC WallaceJulie Lynn Hayes



 
Rest of the month highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

D.S. Schmeckpeper's Epic Fanatsy - Destiny's Wings

Title: Destiny’s Wings
Author: D.S. Schmeckpeper
Published: September 19th, 2014
Word Count: 118,300
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Content Warning: Non-graphic violence
Age Recommendation: 13+
Synopsis:Celeste is tired. She just wants to be left alone.For centuries, the half-blooded elf has hidden herself away from the world and lived in isolation. Things have been peaceful, quiet. But some have a greater calling, a destiny. When the humans unwittingly set about a plan to release the source of all evil back into the world, Celeste is called upon by an old ally to stop them, and to keep all of Altierra safe.Now she must face her past as she and her allies travel across the continent to save a world she has been apart from for eons. Will even her angelic birthright and druidic powers be enough to stop the rise of the last god?She never asked to be a hero.Destiny can be funny that way.
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About the Author:D.S. Schmeckpeper (a.k.a. Dottie and Steve Schmeckpeper) live in Florida, USA. They are a husband and wife team who work together to create the Land of Destiny series. Both have loved the Fantasy genre for many years and have wasted way too much time playing fantasy-based games. Dottie was a vocal performance major in college, before she decided a liberal arts major was not for her. Ironic, huh? They have two wonderful twin boys, who are three at the time of this publication. They are the light or their parents’ lives. Steve does the artwork and comes up with many of the story concepts. Dottie brings the ideas to life. When not working, writing or drawing, the pair love to take their children to Florida’s many amusement parks, and can often be found there.If you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review and/or rating on the site you purchased it from. Authors, especially Indie authors, depend on feedback from our readers to help us improve. Thank you very much.
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Excerpt from Destiny’s Wings by D.S. SchmeckpeperCopyright © 2014 by D.S. Schmeckpeper
Arcus glared down at her. “Too easy.” Then he turned and started back for the bar. Before he could reach it, however, the door flew open and in walked three of the strongest looking men Arcus had ever seen. They shoved roughly past Arcus and marched straight for the table with the two girls and Joseph. Arcus stepped out of the way and waited.

“Hey, you!” The man in front had brown hair and a full beard, and a ship tattoo on his upper arm. He pointed angrily at Joseph. “Yeah, I know it’s you. Joshua or Joseph or something like that. I know what you did – Sam told me! Now you’re gonna die!”

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Arcus had snuck up behind them and was standing with his hands behind his back. “What seems to be the trouble here?”

“This doesn’t concern you, boy,” one of the other two men snarled.

“Oh, but it does,” answered Arcus. “You see, this man may be an idiot, but he’s my friend, and I’m not going to stand idly by while you kill him. If anyone will kill him one of these days, it will be me.”

“Thanks, Arc.”

“No problem, idiot. Now, what did you do this time? Shall I guess that Sam is a girl?”

“Umm…that would probably be a safe bet. Though, honestly, I don’t remember anyone named Sam,” said Joseph.

“Why does that not surprise me?” quipped Arcus.

“What do you mean, you don’t know who Sam is?” shouted the leader. “Sam is my girl, and you... you...”

“Rocked her world?” Joseph grinned mischievously, and winked at the blonde and redhead, who had already backed away to another table, and were observing the proceedings with curiosity.

“Was that really necessary, Joseph?” Arcus questioned, as the leader roared in fury.

The leader lunged for Joseph, who ducked under the man’s arms, laughing. Arcus whipped his hands out from behind his back, and fire blazed up and down his forearms. He reached for the other two goons and slammed their heads together, scorching their hair. They bellowed in pain. The two girls and most of the other patrons all got up and rushed to the opposite side of the room, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The bartender cursed and demanded they break it up. The bystanders shouted taunts and cheers at the group, though to Arcus, the sounds all merged and then vanished altogether as he focused his magic. The man on the left pulled out a dagger, while the one on the right swung at Arcus. He absorbed the hit with his burning hands, which then flickered out. Then, he glared at the one with the knife. “Stop moving,” Arcus hissed in a hypnotic voice, and the spell immediately took effect as the man froze in place, still holding his knife awkwardly. He then turned to the other goon.

Joseph ducked another swing, and then another. He dodged a vicious kick by hopping toward the table. The leader was clearly becoming more and more enraged. Finally, he found purchase and punched Joseph square in the nose, which shattered. Blood sprayed everywhere. Joseph lost his rhythm, and fell hard onto the table. He raised his arms to block the assault, curling in on himself. The man hit him hard in the ribs with his elbow. Joseph held up a shaky hand to cast a small, glowing bolt of energy at his attacker, which struck him in the face, just under his left eye. The man grunted in pain, but didn’t pause in his assault.

Arcus shoved both of his hands flat against his remaining attacker’s chest. Lightning flashed from his palms and the man fell onto a chair without a sound. The chair crumbled to pieces under the onslaught as the smell of ozone filled the bar. Arcus turned to the leader. “Are you sure you don’t want to rethink this plan while you still have a chance? Take a look at your men; you are clearly outmatched.” 



Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Cross Keys, an Elvenrude Novel of conspiracy and #FallingIntoLove

Thank you so much for hosting me and my new urban fantasy release! I'm thrilled for the opportunity to tell you a little about my book and to share a Cajun recipe, one of several I brought back from New Orleans while researching the book.


Cross Keys (An Elvenrude Novel) by Ally Shields
Genre: Urban fantasy/Paranormal romanceRating: PG-13

Book Blurb:
Conspiracy, murder, and magic…and the death of all they hold dear.

When the first wanderer—a common elf who isn’t authorized to use the portal—is spotted on the streets of New Orleans, the king assigns Kameo Ryndel to assist in the elf’s capture. But before she can intervene, humans with guns shoot the wanderer and steal his body. When Seth Lormarc, an Elite elf from a rival guild, appears at the scene, Kam suspects he is involved.

Seth Lormarc is in New Orleans to find out who was behind the portal breach, and his best lead is the intriguing Kam Ryndel. When he stakes out her apartment and finds her sneaking out in the middle of the night, dressed in black and leaping to the top of the nearest building, he knows there’s something unique about the beautiful elf. That kind of feat requires magic. Ancient magic.

As their paths cross during their investigations, they develop an irresistible attraction, although there’s little time for romance. The portal breach is tied to an illegal smuggling operation that has come to the attention of the human CIA. But the stakes are raised when Kam and Seth discover a band of conspirators and a rebellion deep in Elvenrude that promises nothing except destruction of their world.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Keys-Ally-Shields-ebook/dp/B00NSR0OT4/   
Also available at other online booksellers.


Pre-release Book Trailer on Youtube:   http://youtu.be/2GgI4-50QfA
Recipe: 
One of my gourmet favorites—which always made breakfast a happy time—was...
Breakfast Beignets (2 dozen)
3 1/2 C all-purpose flour1/2 pkg dry yeast1/4 C sugar1/8 C butter1/2 C evaporated mile1 C water 1/2 tsp. salt1 egg1/2 lb. powdered sugar
Warm water and place in bowl. Add yeast, stir. In separate container beat egg, add milk, sale and regular sugar, blend, add to water and yeast. Beat in half of the flour. Add shortening, beat again, and blend in remaining flour.Chill, covered for 5 hours. Roll dough on floured surface until 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 1 1/2 - 2 inch squares and drop into deep fryer at 360 degrees until light brown.Drain and roll in powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Happy reading...and sampling of the Cajun cuisine. :)Ally

About the Author:
Ally Shields was born and raised in the Midwest, along the Mississippi River, and considers herself a "river rat." The setting and folklore of the river regions are often incorporated into her urban fantasy books. After  a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time writing in 2009, and Awakening the Fire, the debut novel in her Guardian Witch series, was released by Etopia Press in September 2012. There are now six published books in that series. Cross Keys is the first novel with all new characters.When not writing, reading or spending time with family, she loves to travel in the US and abroad. Way too often she can be found on Twitter.
Contact the Author:
Website:  http://allyshields.comBlog:     http://allyshields.com/blog.htmlTwitter:  http://twitter.com/ShieldsAllyFacebook: http://facebook.com/AllyShieldsAuthorGoodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527209.Ally_ShieldsAmazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Ally-Shields/e/B009AKNDZU







Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance

21 – D.S. Schmeckpeper – Destiny's Wings22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks30 - J.J. DiBenedetto - Dream Vacation31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride