S.C. Mitchell's Blog, page 26

Cover reveal – My Sexy Valentine

Today I’m excited to share with you the cover of a book I contributed to:

 

My Sexy Valentine will be released February 4th, and features 6 hot romances including my contribution, Valentine’s Day Canceled, a story set in my Heavenly War universe.

I’m looking forward to the release.

Romance Weekly ��� What do I do all day?

Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn���t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all���.. About our writing of course! Every week we���ll answer questions and after you���ve enjoyed the blog on this site we���ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!

 

Welcome. If you���re joining me from Jo Richardson���s blog, or if you are starting your blog hop here, welcome.

 

Hey, and have you seen, Jo���s incredible Cursed be the Wicked is now available in paperback:

 

This week Xio Axelrod of Romance Writers��� Weekly, wanted to know: What do you do when you���re not writing?

 

The answer could be presented in two forms:

 

1. I find inspiration for my writing in my hobbies.

Or

2. I waste a lot of time.

 

Hobbies? I got ���em in droves. And never enough time.

 

Number one on my hobbies list is computer gaming. I���ve been an avid gamer for years. My current addiction is a game called Minecraft. It���s an amazing ���sandbox��� game and I could lie and say how much building castles and other world aspects helps me build my literary worlds, but the truth is, it���s just great fun. I currently spend a lot of time on a shared server with about two dozen people (kids) building and playing together in our shared world. Here���s a picture of the ���home��� I built in my Minecraft world.

Now, most of my other hobbies got packed up when we moved into our new home (the real world one) this summer, and I haven���t unpacked them yet, but with the holidays behind me and winter at my heals, I will probably start to rediscover them.

 

I���m a model maker, and love creating miniature structures and dioramas. Most of my stuff is still in storage but I was able to unearth a medieval shop and an Egyptian pyramid I built from my pile of boxes:

One of my upcoming projects will be a lifelong dream of mine, to run my own railroad. My new home now offers me adequate room to make that dream a reality.

I spent (misspent) much of my youth playing in bands. Guitar, bass, keyboard, and just about any other instrument I could get my hands on. I still have a few in storage. Another of my hobbies I hope to pursue once again is music.

����

Speaking of musicians, what did Xio answer to her own question this week? Click to find out at: http://xioaxelrod.com/

Also check out her incredible romance, The Calum:

Romance Weekly – What do I do all day?

Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!

 

Welcome. If you’re joining me from Jo Richardson’s blog, or if you are starting your blog hop here, welcome.

 

Hey, and have you seen, Jo’s incredible Cursed be the Wicked is now available in paperback:

 

This week Xio Axelrod of Romance Writers’ Weekly, wanted to know: What do you do when you’re not writing?

 

The answer could be presented in two forms:

 

1. I find inspiration for my writing in my hobbies.

Or

2. I waste a lot of time.

 

Hobbies? I got ‘em in droves. And never enough time.

 

Number one on my hobbies list is computer gaming. I’ve been an avid gamer for years. My current addiction is a game called Minecraft. It’s an amazing ‘sandbox’ game and I could lie and say how much building castles and other world aspects helps me build my literary worlds, but the truth is, it’s just great fun. I currently spend a lot of time on a shared server with about two dozen people (kids) building and playing together in our shared world. Here’s a picture of the ‘home’ I built in my Minecraft world.

Now, most of my other hobbies got packed up when we moved into our new home (the real world one) this summer, and I haven’t unpacked them yet, but with the holidays behind me and winter at my heals, I will probably start to rediscover them.

 

I’m a model maker, and love creating miniature structures and dioramas. Most of my stuff is still in storage but I was able to unearth a medieval shop and an Egyptian pyramid I built from my pile of boxes:

One of my upcoming projects will be a lifelong dream of mine, to run my own railroad. My new home now offers me adequate room to make that dream a reality.

I spent (misspent) much of my youth playing in bands. Guitar, bass, keyboard, and just about any other instrument I could get my hands on. I still have a few in storage. Another of my hobbies I hope to pursue once again is music.

  

Speaking of musicians, what did Xio answer to her own question this week? Click to find out at: http://xioaxelrod.com/

Also check out her incredible romance, The Calum:

A Kiss for Miss Kingsley

Today I’m happy to announce a new release from my friend and fellow Romance Writers Weekly author Collette Cameron. A Kiss for Miss Kingsly is available now:

A Kiss for Miss Kingsley

A Regency Short Story of Love Redeemed

By Best-Selling Author Collette Cameron

Author of the Castle Brides and Highland Heather Romancing a Scots Series

Blurb:

Olivia Kingsley didn’t expect to fall in love and receive a secret marriage proposal two weeks into her first Season. However, one dance with Allen Wimpleton, heir to a viscountcy, and her fate is sealed. Or so she thinks until her eccentric and ailing father, unaware of Allen’s proposal, announces he’s moving the family to the Caribbean for a year. … In two days.

Allen begs Olivia to elope to Scotland, knowing her father will refuse his offer of marriage after such a brief acquaintance with Olivia. Having recently lost her mother, and fearing for her father’s health, she refuses, pleading with Allen to wait for her until she returns to England. Angry at her hesitancy, and unaware of her father’s ill health, Allen demands she choose—him or her father.

 

Heartbroken at his callousness, but thankful he’s revealed his true nature before she married him, Olivia turns her back on their love. The year becomes three, enough time for her broken heart to heal, and after her father dies, Olivia returns to England. Coming face to face with Allen, she realizes she never purged him from her heart and once again the flames of love ignite, but is it too late? Does Olivia have any hope of winning Allen’s heart once more, or has he found another?

 

EXCERPT:

“This is a monumental mistake.” Fingering the ruby pendant hanging at her neck, Olivia Kingsley peeked out the window as the conveyance rounded the corner onto Berkeley Square. Carriage upon carriage, like great shiny beetles, lined up beside an ostentatious manor.

 

Guests in their evening finery swarmed before the grand entrance and on the stairs as they waited their turn to enter Viscount and Viscountess Wimpleton’s home.

 

Trepidation dried her mouth and tightened her chest. Yes, attending the ball was a featherbrained solicitation for disaster. No good could come of it.

 

God’s toenails, what was I thinking, agreeing to Auntie Muriel’s addlepated scheme?

 

Olivia flattened against the sky-blue squab in the corner of her aunt’s coach and vehemently shook her head. “I cannot do it.”

 

A curl came loose, plopping onto Olivia’s forehead.

 

Bother.

 

She shoved the annoying tendril beneath a pin, having no doubt the tresses would work their way free before evening’s end. Patting the circlet of rubies adorning her hair, she assured herself the band remained secure.

 

Her pulse beat an erratic staccato, and she searched for a plausible excuse for refusing to attend the ball after all.

 

“I … We,” she wiggled her gloved fingers at her brother, Bradford, lounging on the opposite seat, appearing as contented as their fat cat, Socrates, after lapping a saucer of cream, “were not invited.”

 

Terribly gauche, that. Showing up at a haut ton function, no invitation in hand.

 

“Nonsense, darling. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to accompany me.” Aunt Muriel, the Duchess of Daventry, patted Olivia’s knee with her plump hand. “Lady Wimpleton is one of my dearest friends. Why, we had our come-out together, and I’m positive had she known that you and Bradford had recently returned to England, she would have extended an invitation herself.”

 

Not if she knew the volatile way her son and I parted company, she wouldn’t have.

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Miss-Kingsley-Regency-Short-ebook/dp/B00QSNVG1K/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-kiss-for-miss-kingsley-collette-cameron/1120949346?ean=2940149996025

Itunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-kiss-for-miss-kingsley/id950137983?ls=1&mt=11

Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-kiss-for-miss-kingsley

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=MY3ZBQAAQBAJ

 

Collette’s Bio:

Award winning, Amazon best-selling author historical author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Teaching. Author of the Castle Brides Series and Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series, Collette writes Regency and Scottish romances and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five dachshunds. Mother to three and a self-proclaimed Cadbury Chocolate chocoholic, Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, trivia, and all things shabby chic. You’ll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels.

Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers.

She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

Collette would love to connect with you!

Website: http://collettecameron.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/collettecameronauthor

Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/collettecameron

Blue Rose Romance Blog: http://blueroseromance.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/collette_author

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Collette-Cameron/e/B00CWLYXL2/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7047979.Collette_Cameron

Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/regencyrose

She’s on Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn, Embracing Romance Blog, Romance Writers Weekly Blog, and Romancing the Era’s Blog too!

 

The Calum by Xio Axelrod

Today I’m celebrating the launch of Xio Axelrod’s new novella, The Calum:

I picked this up Monday and couldn’t put it down. It’s a very fun read!

Blurb:

Twenty-six is too old to believe in fairytales, but tell that to Lovie’s roommate. Convinced she’ll find a real life version of her ultimate book boyfriend, Calum MacKenzie, Jo drags Lovie to the Scottish Highlands. Lovie’s no cynic *ahem* but she knows The Calum is a myth. A construct. A freaking unicorn! And there are warmer places to spend Christmas vacation.

If Duff had his way, he’d never step foot in Inverness again. Only his best friend’s wedding, and his ailing grandmother, could bring him home. Duff’s plan is keep his head down and stay out of trouble. Hard to do when the groom targets a pretty blond tourist for one last conquest.

When Duff and Lovie meet, stones, sparks and insults fly. He’s instantly attracted to the sexy, sharp-tongued American. She’s just glad to have someone to hang out with, especially the bad boy with a mysterious past. Lovie is determined to learn his secrets, but as they grow closer, Duff is forced to choose between his best friend and his heart.

Link to Follow Tour: http://xioaxelrod.com/?p=1209

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/xioaxelrod

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23718245-the-calum

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Calum-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00R0H1ARS/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-calum-xio-axelrod/1120876186?ean=9781483544670

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-calum/id949645118?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-calum

Author Info:

Philadelphia native and global citizen, Xio Axelrod writes love stories, sexy romance and what she likes to call “strange, twisted tales.” Bitten by the literary bug in 2003, she has self-published two volumes of poetry. Her short stories have also appeared in e-magazines such as Oysters and Chocolate. After a five year hiatus from writing, Xio returned with the fiery web serial, Starstruck: a story about finding the right person at the wrong time that became a viral hit. The Calum is book one in a series.

Xio is a vocalist and songwriter by day and lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Mr. X, and their on-again/off-again cat, BB.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.xioaxelrod.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xio.axelrod.3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/XioAxelrod

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7105890.Xio_Axelrod

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+XioAxelrod

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/xioaxelrod/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/xioaxelrod/

Ello: https://ello.co/xioaxelrod

tsū: https://www.tsu.co/XioAxelrod

Excerpt from Chapter One:

 

Lovie Grant wished like hell that she had paid the five dollars for the airline headphones. But that balloon had popped, and now she was stuck listening – again – to Joana’s latest “brilliant” plan. She hunched her shoulders and buried her face in the in-flight magazine. Anything to avoid one more word about their freaking trip.

 

“Are you even listening to me?” Her shrill tone bounced off the airplane window and directly into the oh-my-God-let-me-off-this-sky-bus-before-I-kill-her section of Lovie’s brain.

 

“What is it now, Jo?”

 

“You’re not paying attention. And you keep sighing like you’ve been left home on prom night.”

 

“I’m just tired, and I can’t sleep on planes.” And I should be relaxing on a beach instead of chasing after you.

 

Flip. Flip. Flip.

 

Page after page taunted her with one photo of crystal blue waters and palm trees after another. There would be no palm trees where they were headed.

 

Which asshole decided to put that magazine in her seat-back pocket?

 

“You’re upset.”

 

How very astute. “It’s a scientific fact that a lack of sleep causes a decrease in the neurotransmitters that regulate mood.” Flip. “Otherwise, I’m fine, Jo. Let it go.”

 

“I call bull. You’ve already convinced yourself that this is going to suck.” Jo’s bottom lip poked out in her signature pout. With her blonde locks twisted into two braids, and her bright pink Juicy sweatpants, the picture of a bratty twelve-year-old was nearly complete.

 

Lovie’s best friend, roommate and constant damsel-in-distress had a plan. A good plan, she’d said. A sound plan, if you dared to believe her. Lovie didn’t, but the plan was this:

 

● Go to Scotland

 

● Find “The Calum”

 

● Marry him

 

Jo had been saving up for this particular trip for three years – ever since Lovie picked up a dog-eared copy of A Laird to Love at a used book store. It was a great read, sure, but why the hell did that one have to fall out of the stack?

 

Like millions of other women around the globe, Jo had fallen in love with its hero, Calum MacKenzie.

 

Unlike most of those other women, Jo believed that someone like him was just across the ocean, waiting for her.

 

“The Calum,” Jo explained to anyone that stopped long enough to listen, was the perfect man. A lover and a fighter, he was a chivalrous, six-foot-four redhead with a six-pack and a penchant for languages. You could find variations of him in the pages of Jo’s vast collection of romance novels.

 

Campbell. Covington. Cage. Colton.

 

She had shelves filled with ideal men, but somehow The Calum stood out to her from the rest. Enough to convince Jo that she needed to go to Scotland and find him.

 

Each year since college, they’d flipped a coin to see who would pick their Christmas vacation destination. This year, Lovie lost. So there they were, thirty-five thousand feet above the Atlantic, on their way from Philadelphia to Brigadoon…er…Inverness.

 

Lovie couldn’t believe she’d agreed to spend her measly handful of vacation days tailing Jo through the Scottish Highlands. It was going to be cold and damp.

 

And damp.

 

And fucking cold.

 

There was a beach somewhere with her name on it, and that name was getting washed out to sea. Or sat upon by German tourists. Her lungs deflated in a heavy sigh as her dream of endless mojitos drifted away on the clouds below.

 

“You didn’t have to come with me, you know.”

 

Yeah right. Lovie laughed. “You get lost in Chinatown. I can’t even imagine you on your own in another country. Of course, I had to come with you.”

 

“Your confidence is inspiring,” Jo deadpanned. “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.” She drew her tiny feet up into the seat and hugged her knees to her chest. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

 

“Okay, how about a bodyguard?”

 

Jo snorted. “You’re not much of one.”

 

Lovie turned, her brow arched. “I’ve got four inches and twenty-five pounds on you. Put on your seatbelt.”

 

“Yes mom,” Jo said. “I’ve got it all worked out.” She fumbled with her seatbelt. “When I meet The Calum, and I will meet him, I’ll just play it cool and casual. Like I’m not into him at all. Show just enough of the girls to make him pant after me.” Jo smacked the ends together like she was trying to force a size ten foot into a size six shoe. “What’s wrong with this thing?”

 

“Oh, for the love of…” Lovie reached over and untwisted the contraption, closing it with a snap.

 

“I had it.”

 

“Sure.”

 

“Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll be like a piece of candy that he can’t wait to unwrap.” Throwing her blonde locks over her shoulder, she batted her eyelashes in demonstration.

 

“So your plan is to lustrate him until he falls in love with you?”

 

“Good word, lustrate.” Jo grinned. “I’ll have him eating out of my hand. You’ll see.”

Thursday Threads

Today on Thursday Threads we feature Wareeze Woodson‘s wonderful historical romance, An Enduring Love:

Blurb:

Born and raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s death-bed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval.

 

Nearly four years later, she escapes and arrives in London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball is very awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young debutante later in the evening.

 

Trouble, tangled in suspense and danger, follow her from Latvia. Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love? Is it worth keeping?

 

Bio:

  Wareeze Woodson is a native of Texas and still lives in this great state. She married her high school sweetheart, years and years ago and raised four children and has eight grandchildren, and grandchildren are Grand. At the moment, all her children and my grandchildren live within seventy miles of her home, lots of visits. She and her husband still love each other after all these years the stuff romance is made of, Happy Ever After!

 

An Added Bonus Feature!

Letters discovered in the belongings of the villain. These letters are not revealed in the book but are held in my heart and give insight to the story. A tidbit solely for you. Enjoy.

Wareeze Woodson

The Year of Our Lord 1813

My Dearest Husband,

I write with my heart filled with sorrow. My beloved mother has passed on to join my father in Heaven. I can only be happy for her although sadness weighs me down. I am now acquainted with deep sadness and how you must mourn for your father. Grief makes it hard to write, but you deserve to know why I am delayed in departing this land.

At the moment, I am trapped in Latvia due to the up-rising in my country. I do not know how long it may be before I am allowed to travel to England to join you. There is a guard placed outside my gate to prevent my departure at present, but I will travel to Rica at the first opportunity and board a ship to London. Perhaps all will settle quickly. I can only pray it shall be so.

I cannot wait to be in your arms again, to kiss your dear face and gaze into your eyes once more. With words, you painted a lovely picture of your home in England and of your relatives. The thought of meeting your family holds much pleasure for me, especially since I am now alone.

Take care, My Love. I shall write to let you know as the hour of my departure grows closer. Keep safe and know you have my enduring love.

Yours Always,

Rebecca Sudduth

Another letter confiscated by the villain.

The Year of Our Lord 1814

My Dearest Husband,

I have not received any word from you since you sailed away from Latvia. I hope you are well. I must write quickly in order to send this to you. There is still a guard at my gate.

With your connection in the government, perhaps you can return and help me travel to England. There will be one added person in need of your assistance, our son. If you cannot come at once, please write. I am most anxious to hear from you.

Never forget my enduring love. Anxiously waiting.

Yours Always,

Rebecca Sudduth

Romance Weekly ��� Favorite Holiday Song

Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn���t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all���.. About our writing of course! Every week we���ll answer questions and after you���ve enjoyed the blog on this site we���ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!

If you���re joining me from Victoria Barbour���s blog, or if you are starting your blog hop here, welcome.

This week Xio Axelrod of Romance Writers��� Weekly, wanted to know our favorite holiday songs.

 

I���ve got a lot of favorites, but this one always warms my heart. Enjoy:

So, what did Veronica Forand pick for her favorite? Click to find out: http://veronicaforand.com

Romance Weekly – Favorite Holiday Song

Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!

If you’re joining me from Victoria Barbour’s blog, or if you are starting your blog hop here, welcome.

This week Xio Axelrod of Romance Writers’ Weekly, wanted to know our favorite holiday songs.

 

I’ve got a lot of favorites, but this one always warms my heart. Enjoy:

So, what did Veronica Forand pick for her favorite? Click to find out: http://veronicaforand.com

Meet the Blarmlings

On the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy, planet ESL-37659 (Blarm) spins its way around twin suns.

The heavily forested planet is home to an indigenous species named (in the galactic common language) Blarmlings.

Blarmlings, for the most part, resemble the Teddy Bears of old Earth, though they have opposable thumbs, dense silver fur, and glowing purple eyes. These adorable little people (Oh, don’t you dare call them animals) also possess the ability to read minds.

When Oolo and Lart, two of the Blarmlings, are taken captive by a galactic research conglomerate, it sets in motion events that will change the galaxy forever, and bring together two star-crossed lovers.

Want the full story. It’s right here:

I have a Web Page

Along with the release of The Blarmling Dilemma, this week I’m rolling out my new web site.

 

Check it out at: http://scmitchellauthor.com/