Victoria Adams's Blog, page 81

Flashing my Wednesday Briefs - Again #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 Oh, that was smooth, Is it just me or..., That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy, plus the photos below. Chapters 1 through 5 are available on the free read tab at top of blog.



Sunrise 51
J'dol stepped out of the cottage and flinched as the rain smashed against his face. The wind whipping through the trees created an eerie scream. He gripped his sword, crossed the deck and searched the grounds around the cottage. Tree branches groaned under the weight of the rain and the force of the wind.  A sharp crack snapped his attention forward. He bolted across the deck and down the steps, skidding to a stop as a flash of sparks rained down.He peered through the rain trying to comprehend what happened and whether it was friend or foe. A branch lay on some ropes that hung high above the ground. He glanced back at the cottage. It was dark. J'dol pursed his lips. Why had Sian turned off the lights? Was she in danger? Was she sending him a signal? No one passed him. No one could have entered the cottage. Still puzzling the problem, he continued to the front of Sian's little house. A flash of lighting gave him a brief view of the area. Across the way was a shape. A man? Anger flooded him. No one would be outside in this storm except someone trying to harm Sian. He charged forwards, brandishing his sword. He stopped short of the dark object and held out his weapon. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"The dark object didn't speak or move."Answer me!"A distance rumble of thunder was the only sound. The rain slowed. J'dol wiped his face and peered through the darkness. He released a hearty chuckle. The object he'd been threatening was a small bush that resembled the outline of a person. He chided himself, "Oh, that was smooth." Then continued his search.The wind eased, the clouds broke apart and faint moonlight illuminated his way. Once he'd assured himself no one was outside, he returned to the house and knocked on the door. In the darkness he could see Sian walk towards him, holding a small lantern. She peered at him. He scratched his nose. Her face broke into a smile and she opened the door. "No one out there?" She offered him a towel."No, but I did threaten a bush that looked suspicious." He wiped his face and arms then roughed the towel over his hair.Sian laughed. Her joy was like air to him. He needed it to exist."I think I know which bush you mean. I often thought it kind of looked like a person."He glanced about the room. "Why did you turn out the lights?""Power failure. A tree branch probably landed on some power lines."J'dol raised an eyebrow. "Yes. I saw it happen. There were bright sparks raining down from the ropes that pass from house to house.""Power lines. It's how we get our electricity which is how we light our homes. But enough of that." She rubbed the outside of his muscled arms. "Are you warm enough? I was so worried. You running around out there in that storm."The heat of her hands warmed him to his soul. "I had to go and check that no one was around. I had to protect you. I wish I could build a large stone fence around the house. Like one in the picture on the wall over there."Sian wrapped her arms around him. "That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy."With her body pressed against his, J'dol felt a stirring deep inside.A strange cackle sounded in the distance. "Is it just me or…" Sian's voice trailed off."Or did that sound like laughter?""Creepy laughter. Like the Wicked Witch of the West."J'dol pulled off his soaked shirt and dropped it over a chair then wrapped the towel around his neck. "You have witches?""Only in Oz.""I think the cackle sounded like her." He pointed over his shoulder."Her? The lady in the painting?" Sian held the lantern in front and walked across the room. She gasped. J'dol focused where she held the lantern. An empty frame hung on the wall. The picture of the Miz-Hapen Queen was gone.



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

M.A. ChurchAvery DawesKazy ReedCarol PedrosoChris T. KatMatthias WilliamsonTali SpencerNephylimJC WallaceCia NordwellJon KeysTC CollinsSarah HayesRavon SilviusJohayanTali SpencerShelly SchulzJulie Lynn Hayes  

Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance

9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren18 - Janice Cairns – Forgiving Nancy 19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks

Book Blitz - Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

Title: Queen of Someday

Series: A Stolen Empire Novel

Author: Sherry D. Ficklin

To Be Published: October 7th, 2014

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

Page Count: 262

Genre: YA Historical Romance

Content Warning: Mild violence, language, fade to black sexual content

Age Recommendation: 17+

Synopsis:ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES…

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

 Quotes from Queen of Someday



“It’s not Peter’s heart you should be concerned with. You must win the heart of the empire.” ~Sergei***“After tonight, Princess, everyone in court will know your name.”***“Don’t worry, Princess. I’m sure you will come to love it here, as I have. There are many beautiful and wonderful things to see at court.”“Like what?” I ask playfully.He looks right into my eye and half smiles, “Well, there’s you for one.”***“When waging a war of the heart, you must only fight if you are absolutely sure you can win.”***Peter’s gaze slides over to me, a wide grin still spread across his face. “Enemies of Russia beware. Someday, Sophie will make a fierce queen.”***“Love is irrational by its very nature. It demands passion, fire, and no less than absolute surrender. It is a longing, a burning that consumes you, leaving you without reason, or defense. When love comes, nothing can stand in its way.”***“You are young, beautiful, and naïve to the wiles you possess, to the way even your subtle gestures and words affect the men around you. Your feminine nature will be one of your greatest weapons, but it must be honed, and you must be taught to wield it.”I look up at him, our faces only inches apart. Why do all these Russian men have to be so devastatingly, frustratingly handsome?“You speak of me as if I possess a sword, and swing it recklessly.” My voice cracks, unable to contain the tidal wave rolling in my belly.“You are the sword,” he whispers, releasing me and stepping back.***“It seems like everything here at court is managed in some way or another,” I say before taking a sip. “I dislike being managed.”***“If any were to remain here, as empress, I wish it to be you. Should Peter’s heart fall to a beautiful face, he need look no further than what is right in front of him.”My heart skips in my chest painfully. I stare at him for a long moment, unsure what to say. He is a dark beauty. His gaze is fervent and almost excruciating to behold. Unlike the others at court, all golden hair and fair skin, he feels wild.Dangerous, a soft voice whispers in the back of my mind.***“You have ruined me,” he whispers against my mouth, his voice thick with desire.I can’t help but laugh.“And I would ruin you again,” I say breathlessly.

Pre-order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

About the Author Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2014 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, Extracted: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.
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Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren18 - Janice Cairns – Forgiving Nancy 19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks

Allison Merritt's - Wystan: The Heckmasters

About the Book:Title: Wystan (The Heckmasters)Length: 228 pagesPubisher: Samhain PublishingPublication date: October 21, 2014Blurb:Her search for safety lands her in a totally new kind of danger.The Heckmasters, Book 1Certain that an ad for a job in a small New Mexico Territory town is the answer to her prayers, Nebraska schoolteacher Rhia Duke packs her sister into a rickety wagon and heads west.Except when they reach the near-deserted town, she learns the truth. There is no job, no future, and no welcome in the bleak blue eyes of the handsome sheriff.The minute Rhia’s runaway team thunders into town, Wystan Heckmaster feels the change in the air. One of three sons of a demon who dared love a human, he keeps watch over a Pit guarded by seven seals, and slays any Hellbound demon that attempts to free the master imprisoned within.With a gut full of regret and a forgotten town filled with reformed demons, Wystan is certain of one thing: he can’t be the man Rhia needs. But when the truth behind Rhia’s flight from Nebraska comes to light, Wystan must open his soul—and pray there’s enough love between them to overcome the darkness rising from the Pit.Warning: Contains a take-no-prisoners sheriff, a woman who can’t outrun her supernatural secrets, and a dusty town where hope is as thin as dust in the wind. Author recommends keeping a glass of cool spring water at your elbow while reading.Excerpt:            Something changed in the air the moment the wagon crossed the town’s border. Tooearly to be a supply train, and there was no way in hell it was visitors. Berner didn’t hosttown fairs, theatre troupes, peddlers, or bible thumpers.            Wystan Heckmaster slapped his battered Stetson on his head, collected the keys to thejail, then stepped out the door. The first thing he saw was a pretty woman with hair the colorof maple sugar—a rich brownish-blonde. The frown on her face spoke volumes, and the airaround her pronounced trouble. She made a straight path for him.            “Mr. Heckmaster. Or should I call you Sheriff? Or Mayor? I need to discuss the ad inthe Lancaster County Republican with you. Someone placed an ad, but your brother tells methere is no school here. I’m sure there has to be a mistake. There’s only one Berner in NewMexico Territory. I’m very capable at reading maps. If I wasn’t, I would be ashamed to callmyself a teacher.”            He doubted she had taken more than two or three breaths during the speech. If shemade talking in rambling paragraphs a habit, no wonder she looked so peaked.            “Teacher?” He glanced along the street, but it was deserted as usual. “Lady, we don’thave a school here. Certainly no need of a teacher.”            Her hands balled into fists that settled on her hips. The dress she wore was patched—the egg yolk yellow faded into something even more disgusting. It had little flowers dottingthe material, but they looked as worn as her scuffed black boots.            “Then what was the purpose of placing an ad in the Lancaster County Republican?”She spoke with the fierceness of a mama bear warning predators away from her cubs.            Wystan reached into his shirt pocket and drew out a toothpick.            “I didn’t place any ad in any Lancaster County anything.” He looked past her, expectingEban to saunter up the street. Eban had to be the brother she’d referred to since Tell was stillon the trail.            “Someone did,” she insisted. She fished a crumpled and much-folded piece of newsprintout of the pocket hidden by the folds of her skirt. “See? Right here it says, ‘School teacherwanted for spring term at Berner Schoolhouse. Wages paid based on experience. Room andboard provided. Apply in person at City Hall, Berner, New Mexico Territory.’ I’m sure myeyes don’t deceive me.”            Wystan stared at the clipping, then back at the woman. A galaxy of freckles spatteredacross her nose and cheekbones, making her look younger than her eyes said she was. Fullfigured and sure as shittin’ a grown woman. The wariness and worry darkening her hazeleyes gave her away as one with a lot of trouble on her plate.            “I can read.”            She pulled the ad away from his face, folded it, and returned it to her pocket. “Wherewould you suggest I look for an explanation, Mr. Heckmaster?”            Fussy little thing. “I assure you that no one in this town did. There’s been a mistake.Sorry to inconvenience you, Miss Schoolteacher. Now turn around and head home.”            A flush colored her cheeks. “I can’t head home! I have no home to return to. My littlesister and my friend are waiting at the doctor’s office for me to straighten this mess out. Thead says that room and board will be provided. I’d expected to move into a room, sir.”            “You left them with Eban?” That explained his absence.            “Beryl is ill, Sheriff. This is the first town we’ve seen in days and it was past time for herto get some attention.” Despair crept into her voice.            Wystan shifted his weight and transferred the toothpick to the other side of his mouth.            “Eban’s not exactly trained in human medicine.”            The woman’s mouth opened into an O. She shook her head and seemed to regain hersenses. “He’s a veterinarian? He seemed certain he could help Beryl.”            Wystan cleared his throat. “Sure, animal doctor. I’m sorry for your misfortune, lady,but as you can see, Berner’s about run into the ground. There’s nothing here for you or yourfriend. Might be best to move along.”            She seemed to deflate. “Move along.” Her lips moved, softly forming the words, but itwas as though she didn’t comprehend them. “We’ll move along, right down the trail into thenext town where there won’t be any teaching jobs either. Sylvie, Beryl, and I will starve todeath on the side of the road with no one in the world to care.”Buy links:Samhain - http://store.samhainpublishing.com/wystan-p-73651.htmlAmazon - http://amzn.com/B00L501TJKB&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wystan-allison-merritt/1119847207?ean=9781619222892Google Books - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wystan-allison-merritt/1119847207?ean=9781619222892 About the Author:A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.Social media links:Blog – http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com... – http://facebook.com/allisonmwritesTwi... – http://twitter.com/allison_merrittG+ - http://gplus.to/allisonmerrittGoodreads – http://goodreads.com/AllisonMWritesPi... - http://www.pinterest.com/allisonmwrites/a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Scavenger Hunt with prizes from 35 authors

Congratulations! If you're playing the Hallowe'en Scavenger Hunt game, you've just found the Hallowe'en graphic on Victoria Adams - Victoria's Pages of Romance! Please copy and paste the site address next to my name on your entry sheet, or else just simply enter the name of my page "Cute Black Cat" on your entry sheet.
Below is a list of participating authors. Feel free to click through from here and carry on your search.And don't forget the IMPORTANT part -- once you've filled in all your answers, please email your document to Sloan McBride at sloanmcbride@gmail.com.
Good luck, and happy hunting!(If you've stumbled on this page by mistake, congratulations again! You've joined a fabulous game, with lots of prizes.Why not visithttp://victoriaadams.blogspot.com/2014/10/up-and-coming-halloween-scavenger-hunt.html, check out the rules, and join in!)*******PARTICIPATING AUTHORSJessa Slade   http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/ Kathryn Jane   http://kathrynjane.com/
Sloan McBride http://www.sloanmcbride.com/
M.L. Guida   http://www.mlguida.com/ Lois Winston   http://www.loiswinston.com/
Skye Taylor   http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_at_the_beach
Cathryn Cade http://www.cathryncade.com/
Helen Fairfax  www.helenafairfax.com
Sharleen Scott   http://www.sharleenscott.com/ Erin Farwell   http://erinfarwell.com/
Kathleen Kaska   http://www.kathleenkaska.com/
Daryl Devore    http://myeroticnotions.blogspot.com/
Chantilly White        http://authorchantillywhite.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Luhrs    http://cluhrs.com/
E. A. Ayers http://ayersbooks.wordpress.com/
Molly MacRae    http://www.mollymacrae.com/ Jessica Aspen    http://jessicaaspen.com/
L.C. Giroux    http://www.lcgiroux.com/
Stacy Juba    http://stacyjuba.com/blog/ B.V. Lawson    http://inreferencetomurder.typepad.com/
Ruby Merritt    http://www.rubymerrittauthor.com/
Kay Manis        http://kaymanis.com/index.html Ashlyn Chase    http://www.ashlynchase.com/index.html
Barbara Phinney    http://barbphinney.blogspot.ca/
Alicia M. Dean    http://aliciadean.com/
Haley Whitehall        http://haleywhitehall.com/ Melinda Curtis    http://www.melindacurtis.net/ Elizabeth Rose    http://elizabethrosenovels.com/ Terry Shames    http://www.terryshames.com/ Shelia Seabrook    http://sheilaseabrook.com/ Lynn Cahoon    http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/ Debra Goldstein    http://www.debrahgoldstein.com/ Brenda Novak    http://www.brendanovak.com/ Caridad Pineiro        http://www.caridad.com/ Renee Field    http://reneefield.blogspot.ca/


 Not the Halloween Scavenger Graphic
Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance

6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren18 - Janice Cairns – Forgiving Nancy 19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks

Victoria's Pages of Romance 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 – Chelsea is discussing a painful moment in her childhood.
"It isn't so much what people say to you. It's what they say behind your back. You can see it in their eyes and that hurts. What really pissed me off was nothing happened. He said we did it just to protect his manhood. He was too scared to try anything other than a simple kiss on the lips."Hunter cleared his throat and scratched his neck. "Being male here and at one point having been twelve, I can sympathize with the guy."

 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


Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)6 - Scavenger Hunt Graphic reveal7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren18 - Janice Cairns – Forgiving Nancy 19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks

Guest Post - Serena Fairfax and IN THE PINK

      The idea for IN THE PINK came to me, like all ideas weird, wonderful and mad, late one night when I was immersed in that delicious semi- asleep, semi -awake mode. Lest I forgot, I reached feverishly for my mobile and jotted down a reminder to myself.   (I often wonder what sort of novel would emerge from sleep writing.)       In a sense the idea was sparked by a gallimaufry (what a scrumptious noun- sounds like an irresistible pudding) of anecdotes from friends who’d worked in NGOs and similar bodies - large and small, worldwide.      The tales of intrigue, cliques, jostling for power, vote rigging, vote buying, misuse of proxy votes and general dirty tricks and shenanigan by those regarded as straitlaced, upstanding, even timid, women of integrity, would make the antics of a certain sporting governing body seem like child’s play. Hell hath no fury like a woman ...who stands for election.      I collated the anecdotes   and the personalities involved - the candidates, their supporters and Queen makers- became very real to me.  However, it was crystal clear that there just wasn’t enough material to keep the reader hooked. In an idle moment one cold Saturday afternoon, I was leafing through various dog-eared books in a second hand bookshop in Charing Cross Road when I chanced upon one that was about the arch betrayers Burgess, Maclean, Philby, Blunt, Ethel Gee, the Krogers, Melita Norwood. Suddenly I had a light bulb moment. I reckoned I’d stumbled across something that would ginger up the plotline and I hurtled away desperate to get it down and although that meant a lot of re-writing, I didn’t begrudge it because the character I’d created was so beguiling that I wished I’d known her.  (Yes, it’s a long sentence but I’m not changing it!)     Once I’d written THE END, I approached a few agents and a flurry of rejections followed.  I’m a dunderhead at writing a bait of a synopsis, so I re-drafted that and sent it out into the ether with the first three chapters again.  Still no takers.       I’m pretty dogged and since my indie- published novel WHERE THE BULUL SINGS was garnering good reviews on Amazon (not from friends and family I hasten to add), I decided to self-publish.      The book cover is a photograph of a wall on a journey I made through the Caucasus and it’s located not far from where Georgia borders Armenia.  The wall is actually white but I tinted it pink.      I chose the title IN THE PINK because it has many meanings. Health and wellbeing for one. Then it bears the connotation of someone who has leftist/Communist sympathies. The wall represents a divide or separation between different doctrines. Well, all this sounds very heavy and solemn but the book couldn’t be further from that, because it isn’t serious literature.  I describe it as “an entertainment,” or, less portentously, a “romp.”   I can see that its quirkiness and tongue-in- cheek -style renders it difficult to shoe horn it into any particular genre but I’ll stick my neck out and say that, of the eight books I’ve written so far, IN THE PINK is my favourite.     IN THE PINK BY SERENA FAIRFAX
In this wry, comic entertainment set in the early 1980s it’s just three years since art historian Anthony Blunt was publicly unmasked in 1979 as the fourth man in a ring of British spies that had worked for the Soviet Union as KGB operatives.
Dame Marjorie Sandringham is a delightful and distinguished former diplomat and later Mistress of St. Ethelreda’s College, Oxford, until her recent retirement. Now she’s Chair of ISAS (the International Sisterhood for Action and Solidarity) but there’s more to her than meets the eye...
Rhoda Ribteen, Chair of the ISAS Grants and Publicity Committees attends a conference in Washington and finds herself sharing a room with Winifred Hokeki, a matronly woman from Maphutsana in southern Africa. With a sudden flash of her native initiative Rhoda offers her the ISAS scholarship for developing countries for her daughter, Kezzia, to come to England and study rural development. Maphutsana is strategically the key to Africa, and is the last remaining British colony in Africa. It ‘s due to become independent and already the Maphutsana cabal headed by Dr Bible Uvengi is intriguing for power while Romeo Alfaemzo, the guerrilla leader is backed by China.
Dame Marjorie supports Rhoda's offer and it's not long before the plump and permanently bumbling Annie Pettifer, secretary to the ISAS Grants Committee has the task of making travel arrangements for Kezzia and meeting her off the international flight. Hovering over Annie’s every move like the sword of Damocles is sharp-tongued Verene Widmer, the Swiss General Secretary of ISAS.
Kezzia proves sublime. At the Agricultural College, the Honourable Eustace Darracott and Joe Lister fight for her favours and she runs away with the succeeding days. With this success in the bag, Rhoda backs Dame Marjorie for the Presidency of ISAS. Dame Marjorie is standing against Mrs Wilmer T. Swatz of the United States, who considerably stirred up the ISAS Congress in Brussels at the Palais des Nations by daily issuing campaign leaflets canvassing for herself.
Dame Marjorie wins the contest and the way is open for a fundraising drive for Maphutsana. Grace Crackenthorpe, now eighty and a member of the ISAS Grants Committee, who has spent most of her life as a science organiser in foreign fields, is despatched there. She gets a Maphutsana branch of ISAS off the ground, totally constitutional, and the money, thanks to Kezzia's impassioned advocacy pours in. Most of all there is Dame Marjorie's brainwave, the huge Sinking Fund out of which a preliminary cash injection is given to the hopeless and homeless to get them to participate in self-help.
Cut to the following Summer when Annie's friend, the journalist Francis Best, is being seen off at the airport by his girl friend, Honor Grenville, to cover Maphutsana for a television feature at the same time as ISAS is bidding farewell to Kezzia, who has Eustace and Joe in tow. Honor and Dame Marjorie recognise one another from the time Dame Marjorie was Ambassador to Ecuador and Honor's husband Colin (from whom she has separated) was Third Secretary. Eustace, whose father is Foreign Affairs spokesman in the Lords has pulled a string or two to ensure that Kezzia will be back as an Observer at the Constitutional Conference to be held at Marlborough House. Joe, not to be outdone, has volunteered for VSO in Maphutsana.
Nobody, least of all Francis, expects the result of the Maphutsanan elections to turn out as it does. Kezzia, who formed a Women's Party, only two weeks before polling day, sweeps to power in a landslide victory and is elected President of the country. She is self-confessedly non-aligned, but the day afterwards does the little favour she has agreed with Dame Marjorie.
You quick witted reader will have cottoned on before half the book and half the manoeuvring is completed... But everybody wins in his or her own way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Serena Fairfax spent her childhood in India, qualified as a Lawyer in England and joined a  London law firm.Romance is hardwired into her DNA so her novels include a strong romantic theme. However, she broke out of the romance bubble with one  (you’ll see which one when you visit the Books page), which is a quirky departure in style and content. She’s also authored several short stories that feature on her blog http://www.serenafairfax.com/serena_fairfax_author_blog/Fast forward to a sabbatical from the day job when she traded in bricks and mortar for a houseboat which, for a hardened land lubber like her, turned out to be a big adventure.Apart from writing and reading (all kinds of books), a few of her favorite things are collecting old masks, singing (in the rain) and exploring off the beaten track.She’s  a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, which is a very supportive organization.  She and her  golden retriever, Inspector Morse, who can't wait to unleash his own Facebook page, divide their time between London and rural Kent. (Charles Dickens said: Kent, sir. Everybody knows Kent. Apples, cherries, hops and women).

AUTHOR’S LINKS
 Website        http://www.serenafairfax.com/  Blog             http://www.serenafairfax.com/serena_fairfax_author_blog/ Email:          info@serenafairfax.com  Twitter         http://klout.com/user/Sefairfax?n=tw&v=connect_twitter Facebook     http://www.facebook.com/serenafairfax
BUY LINKAMAZON UKAmazon.com

Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 5 - Weekend Writing Warriors6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)6 - Scavenger Hunt graphic reveal 7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride 

Up and Coming Halloween Scavenger Hunt: With lots and lots of Prizes!

What do you get when you mix a scavenger hunt with a recipe book, an advice book and lots and lots of authors? You get an awesome Halloween Scavenger Hunt.
105 authors got together and created a recipe/romance advice/writing advice book called Bake, Love, Write: 105Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing and in order to celebrate its release several of authors are offering a scavenger hunt with lots of prizes! 

From October 6th through the 23rd, over 30 authors featured in Bake Love Write (the much shorter title J ) are hosting a Halloween Scavenger Hunt. 

If I have this right – this is how it works – You – the participant – visits the website/blog listed for each author and find the hidden Halloween graphic – nope mine's not up yet - not until Oct 6. It's easy – the more sites you visit, the more chances you have to win. There are over 60 prizes with multiple winners.
List of participating authors - Lois Winston (the brilliant person who had the idea for the book), Brenda Novak, Caridad Pineiro, Jessa Slade, Kathryn Jane, M.L. Guida, Skye Taylor, Cathryn Cade, Victoria Adams, Sharleen Scott, Kathleen Kaska, Erin Farwell, Daryl Devore, Cynthia Luhrs, E. Ayers, Chantilly White, Helena Fairfax, Molly MacRae, L.C. Giroux, Stacy Juba, B.V. Lawson, Ruby Merritt, Kay Manis, Ashlyn Chase, Kitsy Clare, Elizabeth Rose, Liese-Sherwood-Fabre, Sloan McBride, Elaine Joyce, Debra Goldstein, Barbara Phinney, Alicia Dean, Haley Whitehall, Terry Shames, Melinda Curtis, Lynn Cahoon, and Renee Field.  So what do you have to do - On October 6th – visit Sloan McBride ’s blog. The information will be posted that day, including all the necessary links to the authors' websites/blogs and a link to a page to type all the answers.  
The page gives you the authors’ names and links to their websites/blogs where you’ll find the hidden Halloween graphics, which - remember - won't be posted until the 6th.   Once you've filled in where you found the graphics then you email your copy to Sloan. (Poor Sloan- the number of emails she is going to get!!!!!) Here's her email address sloanmcbride@gmail.com  If you answers are right, she'll enter your name into the Rafflecopter thingy (that's it's technical term). You don't have to do that part.

So schedule lots of time on in Oct to hunt down graphics and have lots of chances to win some fantastic prizes.  

not the Scavenger Hunt graphic


Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)6 - Scavenger Hunter Graphic reveal 7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Victoria is flashing her Wednesday Briefs #Wedbriefs

IF YOU ARE HERE FOR BOOK HOOKS - PLEASE SCROLL DOWNWelcome 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 your character make a promise, plus the photos below. Chapters 1 through 5 are available on the free read tab at top of blog.
 

Sunrise 50


Sian's heartbeat jumped as J'dol tensed then jerked upright. She popped her eyelids opened and looked at him. His expression was white with fear and confusion. He rubbed his throat as he cast his gaze around the room.She placed a comforting hand on his arm. "What? What's the matter?""I…do not know. Something is very wrong." He shifted her to sitting on the couch then stood. "I sense…evil.""Evil?" A tremor shuddered through her. "Something…a hand. A cold, wet…dead hand grabbed me. Gripped my throat like it wanted to kill me." His placed his hand on his throat.Sian glanced around her living room. It was one of her favourite rooms in the cottage. The big fireplace, the massive front window and the shelves and more shelves lined with books. Her refuge from reality – her books. Old friends she liked to snuggled down with.She gave herself a small shake. Forget about the books! Standing in front of you is one sexy man that you've fallen in love with. He has a problem. Focus!Another flash of lightning illuminated the room. Hehehehe.Sian snapped her head toward the direction of the eerie cackle. "What the hell was that?"J'dol grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "Stand there."She could sense the alert tenseness in his body."We must search the house to see if someone has entered. Stay close to me."She tapped his arm. "We should set the alarm so no one can enter while we are upstairs." She followed him into the kitchen. "You set it. If you are going to live here—"He glanced at her. Giddiness flitted through her as she was positive a brief smile passed over his mouth."Flip the panel open. Press three, seven, four, nine and one."J'dol opened the control panel, glanced at the pad and then at the floor."Oh crap. I forgot. I'm sorry, J'dol. Do you remember the number sequence?"He nodded."Okay. Good. I'll point at the numbers and you press them." She lifted her index finger and pointed at the little white key with a three on it.When J'dol had completed entering the code, the alarm system beeped three times and was silent."That means it is set. No one can enter or exit the house without setting off the alarm. Which is connected to the police department. Also, if they open or break a window, the alarm will sound. To shut the system off, press the same numbers."J'dol pressed the keys in the correct sequence. The alarm system beeped once."One beep means it has shut off. Three beeps means it's armed."He reset the alarm then led Sian on a search throughout the cottage. He politely insisted she remain in the hallway as he searched a room. When she questioned why, he explained, "If there is someone in the room and I startle him, he could grab you. I cannot fight him if he has you. I cannot protect you. I have made a vow to protect you. You saved my life. I will use mine to keep you from harm.""And I can see watch to see if someone tries sneaking from room to room. Wow. You're pretty smart."Sian wasn't positive she heard him as he entered her bedroom, but she thought she heard him whisper. "And you are beautiful."She stood in the doorway and watched as he searched her closet, under her bed and then stand, glancing about."What?" She kept her voice low."I am thinking and listening. Is he somewhere in this room I haven't thought of?"He? Sian gulped. Ian?J'dol stepped passed her, crossed the hall and entered the room he had slept in. He repeated the search pattern in each room until he was satisfied no one lurked upstairs. He hurried down the stairs then requested she sit on the bottom step. "I get it." She dropped onto the second last step. "Make sure no one goes upstairs."J'dol searched the living room, dining area and kitchen. He returned holding his sword. "I am going outside to check. Come with me and set the alarm. Only open it after you check it is me and I…scratch the end of my nose. If I do not scratch my nose. Do not open the door."Sian nodded. "Let me get my cell phone. If you don't scratch then I call the police.He entered the kitchen, pressed the code and listened for the single beep. A crack of thunder sounded overhead."Oh! This damn storm. When is it going to end?" Sian grabbed her phone and gripped it in her left hand. She stood near the alarm panel. "Okay. I'm ready. You be safe."J'dol placed his hand on the doorknob, turned it, pulled the door open and stepped out into the storm.


Now onto the other flashers.  Go to this link Wednesday Brief authors  or go to individual authors
Cia NordwellShelly SchulzAvery DawesJC WallaceSarah HayesJohayanJim DunawayChris T. KatMatthias WilliamsonNephylimTali SpencerRavon SilviusM.A. ChurchJulie Lynn Hayes



Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
5 - Weekend Writing Warriors6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks

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 – Chelsea and Hunter are getting to know one and other. Chelsea just said the stupidest thing she'd done was kiss Roger Camps on the lips in  7thgrade. Hunter asked why it was so bad.
Excerpt – The concern in Hunter's voice made Chelsea's heart skip a beat. "The guy was a pig. It was a dare. You know, the locked-in-a-closet-with-a-guy thing. I figured no big deal and kissed him. He trashed my reputation. I spent most of high school living down the slut label he slapped on me."Hunter's brow darkened as he said, "Must've been rough."
  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




Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance 
5 - Weekend Writing Warriors6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle - Stormy19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King - 26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lydia Lamont29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride

Prince Charming Need Not Apply by Dara Young

Blurb:Reformed party girl and Chief Cosmetics Officer for rising star Swirl Cosmetics, Sabrina Calihan has sworn off men. But when she meets beauty industry colleague Max March, new head of the Christina Max beauty empire, she finds herself struggling to keep him at arm’s length.Max is determined to have the sexy woman he first met on the red-eye from Los Angeles. Unconcerned about her professed vow of celibacy, he is ruthlessly determined to show her just how good things can be between them.He wines and dines her despite her assurances that Prince Charming need not apply. But, as love begins to blossom on a personal level corporate issues bubble to the surface and threaten a happy ending. Now Sabrina must discover if she can win her prince charming back, or if all is lost.Pre-Order Link for Amazon - Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAExcerpt:Alone but for the music, they sat and sipped their wine. Despite knowing intellectually that Max would turn on the charm tonight, she could never have been prepared for this onslaught. His full court press was powerful. Seductive.“So tell me, Sabrina. Why have you sworn off men?” Max threaded his fingers through hers and relaxed back in his chair.She listened to the instrumental version of Unforgettable and weighed how much to share. “It’s a long story.”“We have all night.”“Longer even.” Her mouth dried up which left her tongue stuck inside it like a strip of beef jerky.“I won’t be distracted. We’ll come back to that comment.”“You are tenacious. Very well, you should hear the truth at some point.” She took a sip of her wine in need of both the moisture and the fortification. “I got tired of settling for Mr. Wrong-But-Very-Convenient. After a string of horribly shallow and often incredibly dumb men I had to bring it all to a halt. I called a hiatus to give myself some practice at being alone.”The first course arrived.“And that was six months ago?”“Yes. I’ve been working on figuring out what I want.”“What conclusions have you come to?” He ate his amuse-bouche.“Abstinence is easy when you aren’t actually tempted.” And that made having dinner with him either the most courageous thing she’d ever done, or the absolute dumbest.“No list of character traits you’re looking for in a future mate?” His throat worked up and down as he took a swallow of wine. She couldn’t have peeled her gaze from the tantalizing sight if her dress had caught fire.“I’m a bit more fluid than that. I leave the strategies and obsessive list making to Elle. I’m more of the I’ll-know-it-when-I-see-it type.”“Hhmm…doesn’t give a man much to go on.”“I don’t need a man who is trying to conform to a detailed list of requirements. I need a man who knows who he is and is willing to learn who I am. I need a man who can live with the realities those truths entail. Prince Charming need not apply.”“Duly noted. So, what time do you turn into a pumpkin, Cinderella?”“Midnight.”
Author Bio:I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, one of two children and grew up in Florida and Alabama. I later graduated from Auburn University Montgomery with a BS in Political Science and a minor in History.My mother once asked me what I would do with a poly sci degree. At that moment I happened to have a romance novel in my hand, the author of which was a poly sci major. I quickly held it up and said, “Well, I can write romance novels!” How prophetic!I specialize in configuration management, and I pursue my love of writing romance in my spare time. I dream of one day commuting to my living room in my bathrobe for work.I met my husband my first week living in New York City. While he does not share my love of books, he does support my writing wholeheartedly! We were married in November 2000, and now share a beautiful home in Southern California.
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Highlights on Victoria's Pages of Romance
1- Flash Fiction and Book Hooks  5 - Weekend Writing Warriors6 – Allison Merritt – Wystan (The Heckmasters Series)7 – Sherry D Ficklin – Queen of Someday8 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction9 – Mageela Troche – The Laird's Right10 - Infinite Ink Authors Birthday Extravaganza12 - Weekend Writing Warriors15 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks16 – Tina Gayle – Stormy17 - Meg Xuemei X – The Siren19 - Weekend Writing Warriors20 – Ally Shields – Cross Keys22 - Book Hooks and Flash Fiction23 – Melanie Robertson-King – A Shadow in the Past26 - Weekend Writing Warriors28 – Lyndi Lamont – Marooned 29 - Flash Fiction and Book Hooks31 – Anita Philmar – Deputy's Bride