Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 34
May 26, 2015
THE LIKELIHOOD OF LUCY by Jenny Holiday (Contest) @GoddessFish #Regency #Romance
London, 1815
Trevor Bailey is on the cusp of opening the greatest hotel in London. His days as a gutter snipe are behind him, as he enjoys a life of wealth, society, and clandestine assignments as a spy in the service of His Majesty. Until one tumultuous night churns up the past he’d long left behind…
Turned out by her employer for her radical beliefs, Lucy Greenleaf reaches out to the man who was once her most beloved friend. She never expected that the once-mischievous Trevor would be so handsome and gentleman-like and neither can deny the instant attraction.
But Lucy’s reformer ways pose a threat to the hotel’s future and his duties as a spy. Now Trevor must choose between his new life and the woman he’s always loved…
BUY Links:
Excerpt:
Who was this man? He was the Trevor of her youth, yet he was not. The boy would not have touched her like that. Would not even have noticed her face long enough to bother with a dab of pudding gone awry. The boy had reserved that sort of intense scrutiny for lock picking and cake filching.
The man, by contrast, was causing her stomach to feel like little wings were fluttering inside it.
It was almost as if she wasn’t in the room, which was ridiculous because of course she was. It was her lip he caressed. But he stared so intently at her mouth that the encounter seemed somehow to be unfolding between him and it without her presence mattering at all.
She lifted herself onto tiptoes, and the tiny birds inside her took off, a great flapping flock of them. They were propelling her toward him, and she wasn’t in charge anymore. She pressed her lips against the spot of chocolate near the corner of his mouth. If she’d thought the chocolate tasted sinful before, she’d been naive. The tang of his skin magnified it, made it magnetic.
“Lucy,” he rasped, his lips moving against her skin as he spoke her name. She waited for more, for him to cry halt. He did not. So she remained where she was, her lips pressed against the corner of his mouth but not moving, the roar of blood in her ears a rushing waterfall.
Beneath her mouth, his jaw clenched, became hard like iron, and his breath, already short, took on a ragged quality. Warmth pooled low in her belly like that chocolate, liquefied and hot. Every second they stood there, unmoving, something coiled more tightly inside her. It was almost painful, but it was impossible to imagine stepping away.
He moved only an inch. Less than an inch. His lips grazed hers, and though they barely touched hers, the warmth in her belly became fire. How was that possible? They weren’t even kissing, not really, and yet she felt as if she were at the gates of Bedlam.
A thought crept in. She tried to push it away, but it persisted. This is why Mary had fallen victim to her bouts of suicidal behavior. This—this unnamable compulsion—would grow and grow until it took over, displacing everything else, everything that made her herself. Unlike Mary, she
wasn’t capable of producing great works of philosophy with the potential to change the world, but she did have a life. A hard-won life she’d made for herself through sheer force of will. Trevor was helping her—she’d had no choice but to permit it given his logical argument that their arrangement would benefit them both. But she needed to remember why she had agreed to stay only for six months. Because men were dangerous—even him. Even Trevor. Perhaps especially him.
So she stepped away.
The author will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon gift card.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jenny Holiday started writing in fourth grade, when her awesome hippie teacher, between sessions of Pete Seeger singing and anti-nuclear power plant letter writing, gave the kids notebooks and told them to write stories. Most of Jenny’s featured poltergeist, alien invasions, or serial killers who managed to murder everyone except her and her mom. She showed early promise as a romance writer, though, because nearly every story had a happy ending: fictional Jenny woke up to find that the story had been a dream, and that her best friend, father, and sister had not, in fact, been axe-murdered. From then on, she was always writing, often in her diary, where she liked to decorate her declarations of existential angst with nail polish teardrops. Eventually she channelled her penchant for scribbling into a more useful format. After picking up a PhD in urban geography, she became a professional writer, and has spent many years promoting research at a major university, which allows her to become an armchair astronomer/historian/particle physicist, depending on the day. Eventually, she decided to try her hand again at happy endings–minus the bloodbaths. You can follow her twitter accounts @jennyholi and @TropeHeroine or visit her on the web at jennyholiday.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyholidaybooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jennyholiday
#Free novella: Werewolves with Chocolate By Shauna Aura Knight #Paranormal #Romance
Jake and Kyle have big plans for Ellie. The three of them will be celebrating their first Valentine’s Day together, and the two werewolves have prepared a feast of chocolates, fruits, and desserts to seduce her. After several busy weeks Ellie’s looking forward to a relaxing weekend with her mates; their pent up lust boils within her blood. However, when an injured werewolf shows up on their doorstep, the three have to deal with pack politics on the most romantic weekend of the year. Sex and chocolate had been in the plans, but now the mix includes a pissed off werewolf pack and the threat of war with enemy wolves. Will the dangers of the shifter underworld force them apart?
This book is available FREE for anyone who subscribes to my email newsletter, or it’s $0.99 on Amazon. Here’s a smoking hot excerpt and a link to join my list.
http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-werewolves-with-chocolate/
Teaser Excerpt:
Kyle and Jake lifted their heads at Ellie’s footstep. Their eyes went wide. “What…what is that?”
“You once told me,” Ellie said with a particularly saucy smile, “That if I ever dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood, neither of you would be responsible for your actions. So I did a little shopping,” she caressed her hand down the red cloak, “and I had my friend Jenny in the costuming department make this up for me as a Valentine’s Day present for the two of you.” She pouted. “But the two of you pounced on me early and it wasn’t ready.”
She let the red cloak part a little, revealing the red garters, thigh highs, and a sexy red satin slip. Jake’s jaw dropped, and Kyle let out a low rumble.
“You….”
“That….”
“It’s so….”
“Red.”
Hearing the twin growls, Ellie’s eyes went wide at how fast their faces went feral. They stalked her from either side, and she felt the instinct to run, but all she could do was step back against the wall.
“Bedroom.”
“Now.”
She felt herself get hauled up over Kyle’s shoulder and then she was tossed on the bed.
Shauna Aura Knight
An artist, author, and presenter, Shauna is the author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels including Werewolves in the Kitchen, Werewolves with Chocolate, A Winter Knight’s Vigil, A Fading Amaranth, and The Truth Upon Her Lips. Shauna’s mythic artwork and designs are used for magazine covers, book covers, and illustrations. Her work is inspired by the mythic stories of heroes, of swords and magic, and of the darkness we each must overcome. That the challenges we face shape us, and help each character—each person–to become heroes.
She also travels nationally offering workshops on the transformative arts of ritual, community leadership, and personal growth and has written several books available on those topics. Shauna is passionate about creating experiences, spaces, stories, and artwork to awaken mythic imagination. She lives near Chicago.
Web Site: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com
Fiction Blog: https://shaunaknightauthorartist.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaKnightAuthorArtist
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/shaunaaknight
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/ShaunaAuraKnight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shauna_A_Knight
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shaunaaura/
May 25, 2015
SUMMER FIRE (Contest) #Anthology #Contemporary #Romance @Goddessfish
SUMMER FIRE
by Gennita Low, Stacey Mosteller, R.J. Lewis, L. Wilder, Victoria Danann, Kym Grosso, Cat Miller, Mimi Barbour, Clarissa Wild, Teresa Gabelman, Linda Barlow, Helen Scott Taylor, Victoria James, Mona Risk, Patrice Wilton, Joan Reeves, Danielle Jamie, Terri Marie, Lorhainne Eckhart , Brandy L. Rivers, Nicole Blanchard
21 ALL NEW Contemporary Romance stories by NY Times, USA Today, and National Bestselling authors.
Love when it’s hot? So do we. Especially when we’re writing about gritty alphas, angsty bad boys, sizzling attraction, and unrequited passion. Turn the fan to oscillate and join us for this steamy, groundbreaking bundle of summer tales that are hot hot hot.
NOTE: The book is on sale for $0.99!
One randomly drawn commenter will receive a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card.
Excerpt:
From “Killer” by Clarissa Wild
Vanessa
Never in my life did I think I would be the prime suspect in my husband’s murder. But looking back at the choices I made, it’s not so strange that people think I’m a killer.
I’m not as innocent as I portray myself. Looks can be deceiving.
However, I won’t go down for this. Not when I don’t deserve it.
I should’ve known it would end up this way. That man … Phoenix Sullivan … The moment I saw that deadly gaze in his eyes, the dark way he looked at me, I knew I was in trouble.
Big trouble.
And something tells me there’s more where that came from.
This game of catch won’t be ending any time soon.
Phoenix
Look at her, in her fancy white dress, with her fake blonde curls, and that sweet, deliciously fake smile. Don’t you just want to fuck that pretentious smile off her face? I do. And I will.
She has no idea what’s coming for her. Or her husband.
You see, I’m not a nice person. When I have my eyes set on something, I do it. In this case, it’s killing the man she’s married to. She probably won’t like it, but that’s not my problem. She’s not my target … and she’d better not turn herself into one.
I’m here with a purpose, and nothing stands between me and my goal. Not even a pretty girl with an ass worth fucking. Nobody stands in my way, and if they do, they die.
Too bad for her I’m like a fucking canon, and when I shoot, shrapnel flies everywhere. If she gets caught in the fire, that’s on her.
When I want something, I’m going to get it, no matter the price. Whether it’s killing someone, or fucking her.
She wants justice, I’ll give her justice … my justice.
I bet she isn’t willing to pay the price.
Too bad for her I always win.
Rematch: A Chinese Zodiac Romance @RachaelSlate #Eroticromance
Title: Rematch: A Chinese Zodiac Romance
Release Date: May 12th, 2015
Thirteen Zodiac animals entered the Great Race.
Only twelve became Chosen…
After failing the test to join the Lotus League, Wen Pierce will do anything to prove herself worthy. Even if it means being demoted to a maid in the house of one of the Eight Immortals—Li Tieguai. But this seductive yet surly immortal wants only one thing—her surrender to his rigid control. On his remote, magical island she’ll fade into the background of his tortured existence. Unless she can convince him she can steal anything…including the one thing he believes he’s lost forever.
A spirit outcast and denied…
Tricked by the Monkey King, Li Tieguai lives in shame and surrounds himself with other outcasts, like the spirit animal Cat. But when the vibrant and sultry Wen is assigned to his household and offers to thieve for him, she just might steal more than he planned.
On the edge of redemption, lies temptation…
Li isn’t the only one who can’t resist Wen. The spirit Cat offers Li the solution he’s longed for, but to atone for his past, he’ll have to risk a future…without Wen.
Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1InNzER
Amazon UK:
http://amzn.to/1bZvCk7
iTunes: http://apple.co/1KACdg5
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1EV5pQ3
Rachael Slate resides on the West Coast of Canada with her husband and two children—or as she likes to call them, her own little blended world. One of the best parts about sharing in her husband’s Chinese-Malaysian culture is definitely the food—and the awesome celebrations!
Rachael writes stories that blend the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. And always, scorching hot romance.
To find out more about Rachael Slate, visit her website at http://www.rachaelslate.com or sign up for her newsletter to learn about upcoming releases at http://rachaelslate.com/Register/Maillist.
Rachael would love to hear from you. You can email her at rachaelslate@outlook.com or find her on social media here:
Website: http://www.rachaelslate.com
Newsletter: http://rachaelslate.com/Register/Maillist
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachaelSlateAuthor
Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RachaelsRushHour/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachaelSlate
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Slate/e/B00S49W9MQ/
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/RachaelSlate
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rachaelslate/
Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/RachaelSlate
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RachaelSlate
Email: rachaelslate@outlook.com
May 22, 2015
New Release: The Fire Dancer (Cirque Macabre Book 1) by Kristen Strassel #Romance
The Fire Dancer
Cirque Macabre Book 1
May 21, 2015
Buy link:
At Le Cirque Macabre, Holly Octane bursts into flames five nights a week. The stage is where Holly feels most alive. When she’s there no one can touch her, and everyone adores her.
Brought to Las Vegas as vampire bait, Holly’s connection to the immortals is a mystery. She’s one of a kind– traveling through time and igniting when her emotions get too hot to handle. The only people who understand her are an aunt with a hidden agenda and her fortune teller girlfriend, Rainey, who doesn’t see a future with Holly in it.
Cash Logan needs Holly, but she’s not the reason he came to Vegas. The enigmatic magician seeks Blade Bennett, a vampire that has a power that he shouldn’t have–fire. A power that could determine the future of all of vampire kind. Holly’s the only one who can help Blade control his fire, but their feelings for each other are too fiery to ignore.
Immortals rule the Vegas night, and not one of them trusts Cash or Blade. If Holly lets them draw her in to this world designed to destroy her, she’ll lose everything—the only family she’s ever known, and everyone who adores her.
Las Vegas is her stage, and Holly is determined to set the city on fire.
Excerpt:
Blade broke through the force field, the final barrier that was keeping us apart. As soon as his lips brushed mine, it was like I was breathing his oxygen. I drew him in. He didn’t hesitate, his tongue darted between my parted lips, shyly at first, but as I balled fistfuls of his hair, he grew more confident, pressing me against his chest. It was different, kissing a man. His strength, the feel of his beard moving against my cheek, and the taste. So unexpectedly sweet. God, I could drink it like nectar. His fangs scraped against my bottom lips, and I cried out, but he didn’t break the skin.
The flames slowly licked my skin, his skin, it was all one as we melted together. The heat intensified as we got sucked into the core of the inferno, falling through the reds and oranges into the blues as everything around us exploded. All I could see was Blade.
We hit the ground hard. Gravity was the only thing that could tear us apart. Blade was shrouded in blue, his features flickered before me. I gasped as I realized we were fully engulfed in flames.
“Shit.” Blade’s voice warped in the heat. “That was a hot kiss, but—“
I grabbed his hand. “We need to get in the water!” Pulling him toward the pond, we broke the still plane, the heat hissing as it surrounded us in a cloud of smoke. The bench we’d sat on had been reduced to kindling, crackling in the dying flames, but other than that, we hadn’t disturbed the peace of the park. “Oh my God.” I laughed.
Blade’s eyes fell down to my body, my skin wet and bare after the fire. He took one step closer to me. “You’re beautiful.” His words were wisps, like the smoke still wafting from his bare skin.
He was covered in soot and nothing else. I could barely breathe looking at him. My fingers were drawn to his chest, leaving a clean trail as I traced the outline of his muscles. “I guess we should’ve known that would happen.” I dared to meet his eyes. They glowed blue, like the center of the flame that threated to engulf us again if we took one step closer.
“How?” He blinked rapidly, probably trying to stave off the burn that was rising again inside of him.
“There’s a fine line between love and hate.”
Kristen Bio:
Kristen Strassel writes books about rock stars and vampires. After all, they tell you to write what you know. She is a passionate music fan who also loves football games and diner food. Kristen works as a makeup artist on film and TV shows when she’s not writing, and loves being behind the scenes. A former resident of Las Vegas, Kristen now lives in the Boston area.
www.kristenstrassel.com
www.facebook.com/kristenstrasselauthor
www.twitter.com/kristenstrassel
Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/TFM3L
May 21, 2015
DARK SUMMONER by D.D. Miers (Contest) @Goddessfish #Paranormal #Romance
“Looking at him made me desirous for things I never thought I would want.”
Abby Davenport has spent the last ten years forgetting her past until a fateful night reveals her false reality. Thrust into a new world of dark sorcery and ancient magic, she’s shocked to discover her destiny lies as the keeper of a powerful relic. Now everyone wants to control, own, or destroy her. No longer able to discern truth from lie, she’s torn between a charming guardian and a mysterious summoner. Abby finds herself strangely drawn to each man—one sworn to protect and one who calls to her soul. Can she survive the strange and dangerous labyrinth of the first realm, where every move, emotion, and reaction must be a calculated one?
BUY Links:
Amazon US – http://amzn.to/1dQPHto
Amazon CA – http://amzn.to/1dQPMgJ
Amazon AU – http://bit.ly/1dQPBlD
Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1dQPNkI
Excerpt:
A thunderous boom clattered overhead. The powder-blue blanket of sky had been replaced with ominous black clouds barreling over town. Unnerved by the sudden change, I picked up my pace, but I barely had a moment to move when an enormous downpour plunged from the clouds and drenched me in seconds. The odor of rot blew in my direction, and I panicked. I took off into a sprint, running for the first open door I could find, which happened to be the next shop over. The bell jingled violently as I swung the door open at full force before slamming it shut behind me. I was surprised I didn’t break the glass.
I searched for the figure that had followed me. Fear crept up my spine as the minutes ticked on. A thunderous roar broke from the sky and within seconds lightning flashed. The lights in the small shop flickered before completely going out.
“Can I help…?” The words came from the saleswoman at the register, but I didn’t respond or even bother turning around. Her voice trailed off from behind me. No doubt she was alarmed by my behavior, but it couldn’t be helped.
Whether it was paranoia or reality, I didn’t care anymore. I kept my hand tight on the brass doorknob as I pressed forward against the wooden frame. The door creaked under the pressure, but I held my stance. I needed to keep whatever was outside, out. My heavy breathing fogged the glass, making it difficult to see through. I squinted and pulled the arm of my jacket up, trying to rub away the moisture, but all it did was create foggy smears. When the lightning flashed again, two black soulless eyes stared directly into mine from outside. The gray skin of his lips sagged over his smile. I screamed in terror and jumped away from the door. I stumbled backward, lost my footing, and tripped over the plastic bags that I’d scattered along the wood floor behind me.
I didn’t even have a chance to brace myself as I hit the edge of a table with a hard smack. The back of my head made direct contact with the wood and then everything went black.
D.D. Miers is awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With her debut novel Dark Summoner, D.D. Miers begins the Relic Keeper Series, a fast-paced romantic saga filled with danger, destiny, and magic, set in her favorite genre, Paranormal and Fantasy Romance.
Born with a wildly overactive imagination, she’s told stories of enchanted worlds, treacherous villains, and epic love for as long as she can remember. She keeps a watchful eye for the paranormal hiding around every corner and constantly checks the window or rearview mirror for a vampire or fairy.
Although she has a fondness for all things fantasy, she’s an epic romance fan at heart and in everything she asks, “What would Jane Austen do?” The journey to becoming a published author has been a long but exciting one. A fervent desire for taking readers from the ordinary to the extraordinary keeps her motivated, and she believes that everything is better with a good helping of romance thrown in.
D.D. is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal Sub-Genre of RWA (FF&P). She continues to attend conferences and writers’ workshops in order to help inspire, share, and promote her love for romance.
During her downtime, she loves to spend time with her family, share her obsession of all things romance with other fans, and catch up on her never-ending TBR list. She resides in beautiful Southern California with her wonderful husband, an adorable toddler, two kitties, and the many different characters living in her head.
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+DDMiersAuthor
Website: www.ddmiers.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12069376.D_D_Miers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DD-Miers/1559006397689922?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDDMiers
Dark Summoner on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24330047-dark-summoner
May 20, 2015
New Release: Desert Fate (The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch) by Anna Lowe #Paranormal #Romance
Author: Anna LoweGenre: Paranormal Romance
Title: Desert Fate
Series: The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch, Book 3 (this is a standalone book)
Length: 50,000 words
Release date: May 7
contact email: author@annalowebooks.com
Kyle Williams is just a lone wolf trying to settle in to a new skin. But when the brown-eyed girl from his past turns up, bloodied by a rival male, the instinct to protect overrides everything else—including duty to his pack.
Stefanie Alt is a woman on the run, and fate is hot on her heels. The only one who can help her is the neighborhood bad boy she once knew. But even after one hot night under the desert moon, Stefanie isn’t sure she can trust him—or herself.
There’s more than meets the eye on Twin Moon Ranch, home to a pack of shapeshifting wolves willing to battle for life and love.
Anna Lowe loves putting the “hero” back into heroine and letting location ignite a passionate romance. She likes a heroine who is independent, intelligent, and imperfect – a woman who’s doing just fine on her own. But give the heroine a good man (not to mention a chance to overcome her own inhibitions) and she’ll never turn down the chance for adventure, nor shy away from danger.
Anna started reading romance in spite of herself and has enjoyed reading and writing in the genre ever since. On any given weekend, you might find her hiking in the mountains or hunched over her laptop, working on her latest story. Either way, the day will end with a chunk of dark chocolate and a good read.
PS – Who Anna Lowe is not: She is not the Anna Lowe of the Paris boutique nor is she the Anna Lowe of an autobiographical book concerning childhood experiences. She’s just plain old Anna, romance author! Visit her website at www.annalowebooks.com.
May 19, 2015
Interview with Emory Crawford – Femme Fatale! The Devil’s Music by Pearl R. Meaker @GoddessFish
E.C. No! No, that’s not right. I’m not a femme fatale, I’m a wife, for goodness
sake. Over thirty years with the same great hubby. Not that some wives
haven’t killed . . . but no, try again.
Interview with Emory Crawford – Wanton Wife!
E.C. No. Still not right. I’m a romantic not a nympho. Try again.
Interview with Emory Crawford – She Loves Her Man!
E.C. Yes! That’s got it! Thanks.
Okay, we can get started now.
P.R.M. Hi friends from Pearl R. Meaker. Today on “Character Interviews” I
welcome Emory Crawford from Twombly, IL, USA. She is the main
character in the newly released book “The Devil’s Music,” the first book
in the Emory Crawford Mysteries Series.
Hi Emory.
E.C. Hi Pearl.
P.R.M. Well, I don’t normally include attempts at a title in my finished interview,
but I think my readers might get a chuckle out of it. Why were you so
picky?
E.C. I am glad you asked that. Although readers of “Devil’s Music” will get
some romantic moments between my husband, Jebbin, and me, they won’t
get a ringside seat to our bed. We’re a “fade to black” couple. They will
see us hugging, kissing, cuddling, having loving couple type conversations,
but they don’t get to watch us . . . Ah . . . nope, they just don’t. What he
and I wanted to have shine through is that we are very much in love. We
have great sex but we don’t care to show that part of our marriage to the
world at large. We have great chemistry.
P.R.M. Ok. Now you’re laughing mischievously.
E.C. Yes. An inside joke? A pun? I’m not sure which. Jebbin is Dr. Jebbin
Crawford, PhD. He’s a professor of chemistry and forensic science at
Twombly College. Get it? Chem prof – great chemistry?
P.R.M. I got it. Let’s go on. How did you and Jebbin meet?
E.C. We were both students at College of Charleston in Charleston, South
Carolina. I was a twenty year old freshman and Jebbin was a twenty-four
year old senior. We met at a twice-a-month bluegrass jam on the campus.
My college classes weren’t going as I’d hoped. I realized I really wanted
to be a wife, mother and homemaker. So we got married the summer
between his graduation and the start of his masters degree studies.
P.R.M. Wasn’t that a little fast?
E.C. Like I said . . .
P.R.M. I know, I know. You’ve got good chemistry.
E.C. Exactly! Not that we didn’t have rough times at first in part because we
did know each other such a short time. But, we really did, and still do,
love each other – and love cares enough to do its best to work things out.
Then we had our son, Lanthanum – we call him Lanthan – and
Molybdenum – who we call Molly. We both loved children and so, for us,
having the kids helped pull us together.
Just that. We loved each other, we both loved our kids, plus both
of us being Methodists and loving bluegrass music gave us enough
common ground when things got touchy.
P.R.M. Great! I’m glad it all worked out well for you both.
How’d you get involved as an amateur sleuth?
E.C. There was this murder on Twombly’s campus. Jebbin teaches forensic
science and is fully accredited to work as a forensic scientist. The college
lab is the official lab for law enforcement in all of Golden County. The
suspect pool was at Twombly attending a conference so there was pressure
to solve the murder before they all left at the end of the conference.
I’d met several attendees while volunteering at the Twombly College
Welcome Table when they registered. I figured – I’m not a scary person,
and I’ve been told I’m easy to talk to, I’ve always loved mysteries and
solving puzzles – so why not help my husband out?
P.R.M. Interesting reasoning, Emory.
And readers, we’ve reached the end of our time. You’ll just have to read
“The Devil’s Music” to find out how the story ends.
Till next time – keep reading!
Emory Crawford doesn’t do martial arts nor is she an athletic, leggy woman who is built like a model. She’s a wife, grandmother, and empty nest lover of crafts, reading, birding and bluegrass music.
When an acclaimed scholar, best-selling author and fellow bluegrass musician is found murdered on the Twombly College campus where her husband teaches chemistry and forensics, Emory takes up her knitting caddy, to help her channel the spirit of Miss Marple, and heads off to help solve the crime.
Excerpt:
Stars shone in a sky hazed with moonlight from a half- moon. The fountain played its merry music. The smell of late spring flowers wafted on the cooling air. Soft lights in the fountain made the area cozy while keeping it from being scary-dark. But our playful mood faded as we saw the silhouette of someone sleeping on one of the backless benches near the fountain.
“Drat! I was looking forward to some romance.” At forty-seven I still sound like a
sulky child when I’m disappointed.
“So was I.” Jebbin didn’t sound it though. He was too busy squinting at the figure on the bench. He nodded his head toward the figure. “Something’s odd there, Emory.”
I looked closer. The figure’s arms both dangled down, hands resting on the ground. The legs were straight, hanging off either side of the bench in an uncomfortable looking position. We edged closer until we could see, lit by the light of the fountain, the body of a man splayed lengthwise on the bench. Several pouches and odd amulets rested on his chest. On the ground, the hand nearest us was holding a fiddle with no strings.
Jebbin grabbed my shoulders, turning me toward the fountain and away from the bench.
“He’s been strangled.” Jebbin’s body was tight, his voice tense. “It’s Archie and he’s
been strangled.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Pearl R. Meaker is an upper-middle-aged, short, pudgy homemaker, mother, and grandmother who in 2002 became a writer. Initially writing fanfiction she soon tried original fiction at the encouragement of her regular readers. She has been a life-long lover of mystery stories and automatically went to that genre for her first book, The Devil’s Music. She and her husband of nearly 40 years live in central Illinois. They both love bluegrass music, playing fiddle and banjo and singing. Pearl also does many crafts – when she’s not reading or writing – knitting, crochet, origami, needlepoint, and cross-stitch among them. She also enjoys birding and photography and is a former fencer.
Visit Pearl here:
https://www.facebook.com/PearlRMeaker
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/PearlRMeaker
https://www.pinterest.com/PearlRMeaker/
WELCOME TO TEMPTATION by Charlotte Hughes @Goddessfish #Romance
With a hurricane closing in on Temptation, Louisiana, Michelle Thurston fails to convince her stubborn grandmother to leave her home on the bayou. Sheriff Gator Landry arrives by boat, hell-bent on forcing the elderly recluse to evacuate. He is stunned to find Michelle, who was just 16 years old when he courted her one steamy summer.
Now, at 32, Michelle comes face-to-face with the man whose kisses tempted her to lose control, only this time there is no place to run. Although Gator is not about to leave the two women defenseless, Michelle can’t help but wonder if he is more dangerous to her than anything the storm can do.
BUY Links:
Excerpt:
Gator forced his thoughts back to the present. Michelle was looking at him, waiting for an answer. She wanted to be friends. How could a man be friends with the girl he’d first loved? Well, he would try anything once. “Sure, I’ll be your friend,” he said, breaking for a stop sign. “Why not?” It was crazy to expect more from a woman who was carrying a torch for another man.
Michelle smiled. “Good, let’s shake on it.” She offered her hand.
Taking her hand in his was his first mistake. Gator realized the minute his fist closed over hers. He almost jumped, and felt as if two raw wires had just made contact. The effect was immediate, sending powerful currents up his arms, and he was certain the hair along his forearm was standing on end. He released her, but he could still feel the small imprint of her hand in his palm. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and drove on, but he could not take his mind off how it had felt to hold that dainty hand, or how that hand would feel on his body in a loving caress. It was clear to him he could not touch her without wanting her.
Michelle would have had to be blind not to notice the change in Gator. She, too, was shaken. How could an innocent handshake have such a powerful effect on her? This had nothing to do with mere friendship, she decided. Those hands could yield strength and power or stroke a woman with a touch as light as dandelion fluff. The knowledge only heightened her awareness of him, and she wondered if there was a woman alive who was not susceptible to the very maleness of him.
Charlotte Hughes will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Charlotte Hughes published her first category romance in 1987, a Bantam Books’ Loveswept, titled Too Many Husbands, which immediately shot to #1 on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. She went on to write almost thirty books before the line closed in 1998.
Although Charlotte is widely known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, she went on to pen three Maggie-Award winning thrillers for Avon Books in the late nineties, before resuming her first love, funny stories about people falling in love. She thrilled readers with her hilarious books, A New Attitude and Hot Shot, the latter of which won the Waldenbooks Greatest Sales Growth Achievement in 2003.
Her books received so many accolades that she was invited to co-author the very popular Full House series with mega-star author Janet Evanovich.
With that series behind her, Charlotte began her own, starring psychologist Kate Holly; What Looks Like Crazy, Nutcase, and High Anxiety, creating a list of somewhat kooky but always loveable and funny ensemble characters.
To keep current with Charlotte and her projects, please sign up for her newsletter – http://readcharlottehughes.com/newsletter.htm.
You can also visit her website at http://readcharlottehughes.com and follow her on Twitter @charlottehughes. Her Facebook page is at https://facebook.com/authorcharlottehughes
May 18, 2015
The Perfect Hero by Mel Curtis @MelCurtisAuthor #Romance #Anthology
I write a lot of books every year. One of the biggest challenges is figuring out what the hero looks like to me – coloring, facial expression uniqueness, body type, etc. My heroes usually have “dark hair” for two reasons. I was first published by Harlequin and back in the “old days” they were notorious (among authors) for not depicting blond heroes well (or, let’s face it, guys with facial hair).
I thought it’d be fun to take you along with my thought process as I created the hero of Cora Rules, which is book 3 in my Hollywood Rules series and featured in the Book Boyfriends Café Summer Lovin’ anthology. The first thing I think about is a name for my hero. For this story, I landed on Trent Parker. Just his name sounds sturdy and dependable, but he’d also have something that sets him apart from the crowd. So I’m ready to think about a “dark haired” guy and how my heroine might first think of him. It’s kind of like taking my hero for a test drive and it goes something like this:
Could he be like Robert Downey Jr.? If so, I might write something like: He stood next to the display of tennis shoes – tall, wiry, dark eyes twinkling as he watched shoppers pass, as if he was one of Cora’s friends from kindergarten, daydreaming of mischief or recess or…the puppies at the shelter booth across the way. Then those dark eyes found Cora in the crowd, and she felt that twinkle all the way down to her toes.
Johnny Depp image–Hosted on wikipedia
Or could he be like Johnny Depp in one of his early, soulful roles? If so, I might write something like: He stood next to the display of tennis shoes, standing out more than the neon sneakers next to him with his shoulder length black hair, teal paisley button down, gold-tipped cowboy boots, and collection of Bohemian bracelets on each wrist. It wasn’t until after Cora’s brain registered his appearance that her gaze caught on his soulful one. I’ve loved deeply, that gaze said. I’ve been hurt, those dark eyes said. And something in Cora’s chest constricted and was lost.
Or could he be like Ben Barnes? If so, I might write something like: He stood next to the display of tennis shoes – tall, wiry, tan, a poster boy for exercise. Cora wouldn’t just buy sneakers from this guy, she’d follow him on the jogging trail, have kale shakes for breakfast, and give up chocolate. Okay, maybe not chocolate. And then his dark gaze connected with hers and something inside her shifted. So long, chocolate.
Can you see how taking characters for a test drive helps establish who a hero and heroine could be? Does one of my heroes resonate with you more than another? If so, place your vote by commenting below. If none of them resonates, suggest a different role model for my hero and take him for a test drive starting with the phrase: He stood next to the display of tennis shoes…
Buy links: (note – goes live at B&N on 5/8)
Amazon: http://indi.uno/1JlFwr0
iTunes: http://indi.uno/1DgZbre
Kobo: http://indi.uno/1NS3rPq
Google: http://indi.uno/1GlC7tG
B&N Link: http://indi.uno/1JtFltd
Special Offers
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Link: http://www.melindacurtis.net/join-melinda-s-mailing-list
Bio/Info
Melinda Curtis is an award winning, USA Today bestselling author. She writes the fun and sexy Hollywood Rules series, book 3 of which is featured in Book Boyfriends Café Summer Lovin’. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules (Book 2): “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood’s Golden Age except a lot hotter.” Melinda also writes sweet romantic comedy (Bridesmaid series) and light-hearted sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming (Harmony Valley series). Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”.
Website: www.MelindaCurtis.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor
Twitter: @MelCurtisAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/melcurtisauthor/
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