S.C. Mitchell's Blog, page 29

Thursday Threads

Today we feature Cathy MacRae‘s amazing historical, THE HIGHLANDER’S RELUCTANT BRIDE:

 

 

THE HIGHLANDER’S RELUCTANT BRIDE by Cathy MacRae

Genre: Scottish historical romance

Heat level: Sensual

Book cover blurb:

Determined to keep the Macrory clan’s holdings out of the clutches of marauding pirates, King Robert II sends his man, Lord Ranald Scott, to hold Scaurness Castle. There, Laird Macrory lays dying, awaiting word from his son who is missing on the battlefields of France. If the son is not found before the old laird dies, Ranald will take over as laird—and marry Laird Macrory’s headstrong daughter.

Lady Caitriona sees no reason she cannot rule the clan in her brother’s stead, and is bitterly disappointed with the king’s decision to send a man to oversee the castle and people. Not only is Ranald Scott only distantly related to the Macrory clan, but he was her childhood nemesis. She has little trust or like for him.

Her disappointment turns to panic when the king’s plan is completely revealed and she realizes she must wed Ranald. Pirates, treachery, and a 4-year-old girl stand between her and Ranald’s chance at happiness. What will it take for them to learn to trust each other and find the love they both deserve?

* * *

Excerpt:

 

So, the king forced Eaden to wed,” she murmured. Her gaze caught Ranald’s. “What will he do to me?”

 

Ranald noted Riona’s sudden pallor, her gray eyes widening until they were naught but huge silver orbs glowing against her skin. Now was as good a time as any to tell her what King Robert intended for her, but he could not force the words.

 

“Ye are a laird’s daughter,” he reminded her. “And an heiress. Yer mother’s dower lands north of here are of great value to the king.”

 

“And I am of little worth, aye?” Riona flared.

 

“Nae. Ye are of great worth.”

 

“But a pawn to the king.”

 

Ranald sighed. This was not going as he planned. “We are all pawns in one way or another, Ree. The king willnae let ye stay on yer own. Ye are a ward of the crown, now.”

 

“So, he’ll marry me off to some rebellious laird he wants to drag over to his side, using me and my lands to hold him?”

 

“Nae. No’ so bad as all that.”

 

“Mayhap to a wealthy laird who’s all but doddering in his cups, hoping I’ll no’ breed an heir before he dies, giving title of the land to the king and my next husband?”

 

Ranald lifted an eyebrow. The lass was getting worked up over nothing. “Marriage, yes. Doddering auld man, no.”

 

Riona snapped her head to one side, a glower on her face. “Then, who?”

 

Ranald swallowed and offered a crooked smile.

 

“Me.”

 

* * *

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amzn.com/B00J1PNPPC/

Website: http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com

Blog: http://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs/

Facebook: Cathy MacRae or Cathy MacRae Author

email: cathymacrae@cathymacraeauthor.com

I love to hear from readers!

It never gets old.

Yesterday I received my first shipment of my new book, Dark Awakening:

 

The fun of seeing your story in print never gets old.

Forgetful Fridays

I did it again. Completely forgot yesterday was Thursday.  Anyway, the week on Thursday Threads we feature Maggie Mundy and her new paranormal romance, Unknown Protector:

 

Blurb:

Two things have helped Nicole cope since the murder of her husband a year ago. One is running her detective agency, and the other is her guardian angel, Mira. When Mira is killed by a demon, Nicole accepts the help of a Ridge.He is a long haired, cigar smoking diamond in the rough with wings. Things go from bad to worse when a replacement guardian cannot be found. She has to trust Ridge, which is tricky when she realizes there are no demons or angels, just parasitic aliens that humans have built the myths of these celestial beings around. Ridge isn’t an angel or a devil, but an alien half breed known as a Midworlder.

Nicole finds herself fighting off a Demonic Midworlder who wants to impregnate her so his alien boss can come to Earth. Plus she has an ex priest who wants to attach a demon to her so he can save his friend. She is tough, but has to admit she could do with some help from Ridge, who is as alluring as he is annoying. Amongst all the fighting they manage to fall in love, but nearly lose each other, and their unborn child. What they don’t know is that if they stay together things may change not only for them, but for the future of the world. New rules will have to be drawn up as aliens, humans and Midworlders learn to live with the situation. This book is the first in a trilogy about other Midworlder couples.

 

Exerpt:

“Please don’t drop me, please don’t drop me,” Nicole repeated as she closed her eyes. She didn’t like flying in planes, let alone being dragged through the night sky by an oversexed scruffy angel who was too hot for his own good. Or was it her own good.

 

“I won’t let you fall. Look around before we go over. I reckon you’ve guessed the events of tonight aren’t the way we normally do things. Humans aren’t meant to be aware of our flying through the night sky which means I can’t let you remember any of this.”

 

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. His face was close to hers as he gripped her tight around her waist. It was too dark to read what he might be thinking from his expression. His lips were so close and her own were parting at the thought he might kiss her. She trembled, but not from fear anymore and hoped he couldn’t read her mind. They were being hunted and she wanted a kiss, no she longed for it. He had to be putting the thoughts in her head.

 

She needed to get her mind off him so she gazed down at San Francisco. Her adopted city stretched out below with steep streets reaching down to the harbor, while the lights on the Golden Gate Bridge shone in the distance, reflecting on the water below. She smiled as a tear flowed down her cheek. She had never seen it this way before. For a moment she forgot others were after them or after her in particular. She peeked over Ridge’s shoulder and glanced back over his wings as they glided through the sky. Three dark, winged shapes were following and could be seen against the light of the full moon. Maybe the full moon could explain why strange things were happening, because this was like staring at a scene from a horror movie, except it was real.

 

The shapes of their pursuer’s bodies blurred. She turned back to the city but the lights of San Francisco were disappearing. In the moonlight she focused on the face next to her. Ridge smiled and touched her cheek with his.

 

“It’s okay. I’m gonna get you a new guardian and all of this will go away. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

 

She didn’t want a new guardian, she wanted Mira back. It went dark and reminded her of when she went adventure-caving in Australia. The absolute darkness of underground where not even a trickle of light breaks through, no matter how hard you look. She couldn’t see Ridge anymore, but the closeness of him and the darkness amplified the sound of his wings. For a moment they were all that existed in the universe. His lips touched hers and her mouth opened to him only to have him pull away. Did he mean to do that?

 

“I suggest you close your eyes and give your mind over to me,” he whispered.

 

Nicole shook her head and tried to get herself back to reality, whatever that was. “I’m not going anywhere with my eyes shut after tonight, and from what I’m picking up at times your mind seems a bit murky to let you in again.”

 

“Suit yourself darling, but don’t blame me if you pass out.”

 

Pain sliced through her temple. She squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively hugged Ridge tighter. His thoughts were in her head again telling her to relax, but this time it wasn’t working. She tried to hold down the rising alarm of what would happen next. Somehow she had an inkling it wasn’t going to be good.

 

Buy on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/lfy3ymr

 

You can find Maggie Mundy at:

http://www.maggiemundy.com

http://maggiemundy.blogspot.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMundyAuthor

https://twitter.com/MundyMaggie

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428101.Maggie_Mundy?from_search=true

http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/

http://www.pinterest.com/maggiemundy/

Romance Weekly – #LOVECHATWRITE

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 A.S. Fenichel’s wonderful blog (http://asfenichel.net/blog/ ), or just starting your journey here, welcome. By the way, her newest novel, Ascension, releases next week!! Pre-order your copy today!

 

 

Our three questions this week come from Vicki Mixon (http://vickimixon.com/ )

1.) Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you were going to become a writer? If so, what was it?

 

I remember clearly after finishing The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, looking for and not being able to find any similar fantasy books available. (This was in the 1970’s, well before the Internet and Amazon). I was just starting to play Dungeons and Dragons and was looking for more fuel for my passionate fires. Not finding anything, I decided to write my own stories. Shortly thereafter Terry Brooks launched his Shanara series, followed by a whole host of new, D&D inspired fantasy fiction. But, I’d already started writing, and the stories kept coming.

 

2.) When you write a story do you see it unfold as one big picture, or do you add layering in subsequent drafts?

 

My stories usually start with a scene and a couple of characters. Most of the time it’s the opening scene, but not always. Mayn times I don’t even know where it’s going when I start out. I just launch into the story, following my characters around. I have added and deleted scenes in subsequent drafts, but rarely anything that significantly changed the original first-draft storyline. So, yes, the story unfolds as one big picture while writing my first draft.

 

3.) How many drafts do you usually write before you send your work to your editor?

 

I have a unique relationship with my editor, as she is also one of my critique partners, so she’s reading my stuff before I “send” it to her. With Hearts in Orbit: The Blarmling Dilemma, she told me she wanted the book before I’d even finished the first draft. I did finish the story and do three editing runs through it before I sent it to her.

To be honest, though, I do tend to go back and edit during the initial draft, and always do an additional edit run on whatever chapter I’m sending to her for critique. So it’s hard to tell how many times I’ve actually gone through a story, and some parts are run through more than others.

 

Well, there you have it. Let me know what you think in the comments below, then click through to see how Kim Handysides (http://kimhandysides.com/) answered today’s questions.

Thursday Threads

This week we feature A Pretty Penny by Neva Brown:

Wealthy, arrogant Clayton Brandt knows well the costs of a woman. Not until Penelope (Penny) Jones comes into his life does he know the value of a woman.

 

Anger at Clayton, her new boss, causes Penny to snap out of the lethargy she’s experienced after seeing her husband killed. She puts to use all her innate abilities, learned skills, and intuitiveness to cope with the overbearing Clayton and the women in his life. Penny, in time, knows she loves him, but will not become one of his women—not on his terms.

 

On her terms, they marry only to be parted by federal agents before they leave their wedding reception. The ensuing intrigue, danger, and antics of Clayton’s ex-wife play a part in Penny being in eminent peril. Even after their love survives all this, it is once again threatened by a letter from a vindictive woman who is dead. The letter devastates Clayton and crushes his hopes for happiness.

 

How Clayton and Penny find their happy-ever-after is a breath-holding adventure at times and a breathtaking love story at other times.

 

Now available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Penny-Neva-Brown-ebook/dp/B00NMY1BJK/

* * *

Neva can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NevaBrown-Author/651546354920650

http://nevabrown-author.weebly.com

https://twitter.com/NevaJLB?refsrc=email

https://plus.google.com/pub/neva-brown/3a/215/939

Neva loves to hear from her readers. She can be reached at joneva@suddenlink.net.

Romance Weekly – #LOVECHATWRITE

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 Jo Richardson’s wonderful blog, or just starting your journey here, welcome.

 

Our three questions this week come from JJ Devine.

 

1. You’re moving right along with a storyline and suddenly it takes an unexpected twist. Do you go with the flow and follow where the twist leads you or do you conform your story to your way?

Well in my case, every twist is unexpected. I let my characters lead me around by my nose. But they always have a better story to tell than the one in my head, so I just follow along. Occasionally though, they do need a bit of a nudge back toward the ending we’ve both agreed is where the story is going.

 

2. What time of year is your best time for writing? Winter, Summer, Fall, Spring?

Winter, without a doubt. I live in Wisconsin, and hate the cold. Winter gives me the best excuse to stay in, keep warm, and write.

 

3. When looking for a publisher do you chose a traditional press, indie route, or one that does both, ebook and print?

 

My publisher, Soul Mate Publishing, does both print and eBook versions of novels, but only eBook versions of their novellas, and the print version tends to lag the release of the eBook by 6-8 months. There’s nothing like holding your baby in your hands physically, and it’s still hard to sign an eBook at book signings, so I try to have print versions available of everything I write. I self publish my shorter works and create my own print versions. Even my new Short Story, reGenesis: Dark Awakening has a print version available, though I plan to use it primarily as a giveaway at book signing events for promotion.

I’ve only had one story published that’s not available in print, a short story in the anthology Like A Coming Wave. The publisher said there was a possibility of a print edition, but it never happened. Regrets? I have a few.

Well, there you have it. Let me know what you think in the comments below, then click through to see how Fiona Riplee answered today’s questions.

It’s Live!

reGenesis: Dark Awakening is now available.

 

You can get the Kindle eBook version here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NRBFJXC for just 99¢.

The print version is also available from CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5008279 and will soon be available from Amazon.

Both versions include a sneak peek at the first chapter of Son of Thunder.

Something New.

The feedback received after Tuesday’s flash fiction piece got me thinking. I had this similar story I’d written a couple of years ago. Should i do something with it?

 

So I pulled it out and dug in, updating and editing. I’m happy with the result and plan to release it soon as a stand alone short story.

 

Here’s the cover and blurb:

 

After Heather Corbin died, her life took a real turn.

Reviving in a younger version of her body, Heather finds herself in a strange laboratory in the company of robots and a younger, sexier version of her husband Jim.

On top of that, she discovers she’s one hundred years in the future, and one of only a few living people on Earth. Does humanity even stand a chance?

reGenesis: Dark Awakening is a romantic short story set in a dark future world, featuring hot sex and romantic reawakenings. 18+

 

 

Will I do anything else with the reGenesis series?

Only time will tell. There’s certainly more to tell.

Thursday Threads

This week on Thursday Threads we feature C. D. Hersh and their wonderful series, The Turning Stone Chronicles:

 

TITLE: The Turning Stone Chronicles

GENRE: Paranormal Romance

HEAT LEVEL: Sensual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLURB:

Three ancient Celtic families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world?

Find out in The Series The Turning Stone Chronicles

EXCERPTS:

 

Excerpt from book one of the chronicles titled “The Promised One” currently available in eBook and paperback on Amazon at: http://t.co/yW59QqvkLh

Eli,

I know it’s been years since you’ve heard from me, not since my brother’s murder, but Alexi’s time has come. I tried to shield her from the destiny, teaching her only the basics of the ring and waiting until she was an adult to start any training. I didn’t want to push her, but now she is developing skills I’ve not taught her. I need someone from the Council to come and assess her, and I can’t think of anyone I trust more than the man I fought beside in so many battles. After making such a mess of Sylvia, I don’t trust my judgment. I need an advocate on the Council and your advice. If you agree with my assessment, I want to present Alexi to the Council this coming Samhain. Please come as soon as possible…

 

The letter’s date and postmark indicated Baron had written the letter about two weeks prior to his death. Prickles crept over her arms. My time? Present me to the Council? Sylvia’s comment about the Promised One came back to her. Had Baron sent for Eli because of the great destiny he always insisted she had? Alexi closed the door and rested her forehead against the solid surface. Life was already too complicated. She didn’t need this.

 

 

Excerpt from book two of The Turning Stone Chronicles titled “Blood Brothers” coming this fall from Soul Mate Publishing.

The telephone jangling pulled Delaney Ramsey out of a deep sleep. Moving the digital clock on the nightstand closer to her, she squinted at the bright green numbers. Three a.m. She fumbled for the receiver.

 

“If you’re calling at this ungodly hour, someone better be dead,” she mumbled into the phone.

 

“Delaney, ’tis Eli McCraigen.”

 

Sitting up, she pulled the duvet cover with her. Why was the Keeper of the Stone calling her? “What’s wrong, Eli?”

 

“Dinna worry yerself. ’Tis good news.”

 

Slumping against the headboard, she yawned, the adrenalin draining away with his words. “If it’s such good news, why couldn’t you wait until tomorrow?”

 

“I need ye tae call a special meeting o’ the council before they get away from the city.”

 

“All fifteen?”

 

“Nay, only the senior council. I’ve a new Promised One tae present.”

 

“Why wasn’t he presented last night at Samhain?”

 

“He hadnae committed tae the cause, and he dinna have a ring until minutes before midnight.”

 

“This is highly irregular, Eli. I don’t know if I can get the council to agree.”

 

“Ye have tae. He’s a verra special man.”

 

“A Promised One who hasn’t even had his ring more than a few hours. That’s unheard of. How can you expect someone like that to pass even one proof test?”

 

“He’s already shown me two–and they’re not the paltry tests most Promised Ones have failed. He has the elusive, legendary powers, and he did them using the power of other shifters’ rings.”

 

She snapped awake. “Other shifters’ rings? Whose?”

 

“Mine, Alexi Jordan’s and Sylvia Jordan’s.”

 

Delaney switched the light on, knocking her reading glasses to the floor with the motion. Great. She’d just bought them. Leaning over the edge of the bed, she retrieved the glasses and put them on. “Sylvia Jordan Riley?”

 

“’Tis that what the she-witch is calling herself now?”

 

“Seems so. Her name has come across my desk in her official capacity with Homeland Security.”

 

“That’s the other thing I need from ye. Sylvia’s butting intae Rhys’ and Alexi’s jobs and personal lives. I’m pretty certain she knows what he is, too. I need reinforcements.”

 

In all the years she’d known Eli, he’d never asked for assistance. And he comes to me now. At the worst possible time. “I’m honored you’d think of me, but I can’t do more than call the council for you. Ask one of them to get your reinforcements.”

 

“Fine, the council can arrange that, but I need ye on a more personal mission.”

 

“I’m in the middle of something very important and time consuming. I can’t help.”

 

“Dinna ye know who’s asking ye, lassie?”

 

She knew all right. The most powerful man in the entire Turning Stone Society. She was crazy to even consider refusing him. Her position on the council rested on his say so. However, finding her daughter meant more to her than anything else. “Normally I’d be willing to die for you, Eli, but–”

 

“Let’s pray dying won’t be what we’ll be needing. But I could be putting ye in a verra dangerous position.”

 

That did it. No way could she help if it might cost her life. Not now. Not until she found Lila. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

 

“I need ye, Delaney. Come tae University Hospital and see me. I’m in ER.”

 

“ER? Are you all right?”

 

“We had a little run-in with a panther.”

 

 

LINKS for C.D. Hersh

Amazon buy link for The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles): http://t.co/yW59QqvkLh

Social Media Info:

Website: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/

Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/C.-D.-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCDHersh

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh

Romance Weekly – #LOVECHATWRITE

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 Mishka Jenkins’ wonderful blog, or just starting your journey here, welcome.

 

This Week we have a writer’s flash fiction challenge courtesy of Jo Richardson.

 

 

The flash fiction challenge: Write 300 words based on this image:

This story grew in my mind after seeing the image, and I couldn’t not write it, though I find the questions it poses, a bit disturbing.

 

Jill & Nick

June 11, 2057

“Hi, I’m Nick. Remember? I came to see you yesterday?”

Why did he torture himself? He knew what her response would be.

“I’m not programmed to remember.”

It was a blessing she couldn’t remember all the men she’d been with. Still, he’d hoped she’d remember seeing him again. That he’d maybe tripped some circuit…

You fool. This isn’t Jill. Jill is dead.

Pleasureclone11367 was simply a soulless, vat-grown mass of flesh, blood and bone, that looked and sounded exactly like his late wife. Jill had confessed shortly after their marriage that she’d sold the tissue and cloning rights to her body to pay off her college debt.

This wasn’t even a person, just a pleasureclone. It wasn’t Jill.

“Would you like me to take my clothes off, John?”

Her voice, but she couldn’t even remember his name. All men were John to a pleasureclone.

“No. No, please, I just want to…”

What?

It had taken Nick over a year to track down Pleasureclone11367. Yesterday he’d walked out frustrated after only minutes. But he knew this was something he needed to face. Somewhere, in that thing, was the last living part of Jill. Just cells, but still.

He moved closer. Longing, needing.

God, she even smells like Jill.

Would she…could he?

He took her in his arms, feeling again those familiar curves against his body. His mouth so close, his bottom lip dragged across hers.

“I’m sorry, John. I’m not programmed to kiss.”

He kissed her anyway. He kissed her hard, wishing, praying. But she didn’t kiss him back.

Fool. Jill is dead.

He let her go, turning away.

***

The shock of his kiss took Pleasurclone11367’s biological circuitry by surprise. Synapses fired in her cloned brain, causing severed neurons to reconnect…and she remembered.

“Nick?”

———————————–

Well, there you have it. Let me know what you think in the comments below, then click through to see what Brenda Margriet wrote.