Ariella Moon's Blog, page 19

Book Signing News!

Meet me at B-Fest!Book lovers please join me at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Barnes and Noble in the Westfield Mall, Palm Desert. I will be signing The Beltane Escape and Spell Check, and giving away magical swag while supplies last!

Contest for Aspiring AuthorsOnce again I will be a First-Round Judge for the Heart-to-Heart contest. This competition is great for receiving constructive feedback. And, if you are one of the top three finalists in your category, your manuscript will be read by an agent and two editors! For details on how to enter, click here.
I hope you have a magical day!~Ariella

Amazon/ Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway!

You know I have a soft spot for dragons (Spell Fire), so how could I pass up the chance to featureDescended From Dragons by Tricia Owens? Be sure to enter the Giveaway raffle to win a $75.00 Amazon/Barnes & Noble Gift Card!


Descended From Dragonsby Tricia Owens



GENRE: Urban Fantasy/PNR (sweet, sensual)

BLURB:
It is in this strange underbelly of the occult that Anne Moody runs a cursed pawn shop for the desperate, the curious, and the magickally inclined. Though the job is boring, it keeps her under the radar. None of her customers have any inkling that she is a dragon sorceress with a power that's been feared throughout history. However dragons are no help when a stone statue ends up in her shop that is more than it appears. The statue is a gargoyle named Vale, who is shrouded in mystery and secrets. When she learns that Vale is possessed, and that the person responsible for cursing him plans to take over Las Vegas with a horde of demons from Hell, Anne realizes it is up to her to defy the Oddsmakers and save the city, and possibly the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
After silently parting the bead curtain I paused just at the threshold, listening. The shop was spooky enough without the lights on thanks to all the strange silhouettes, but knowing that half the objects were also cursed gave me another reason to shiver as I panned my gaze over the place.
Tick tick tick
I sent Lucky toward the sound. My dragon flew a loose circle around the left side of the room. That narrowed it down a bit, not that I felt comfortable putting my back to everything that was on the other side of the room. I displayed a few katanas and items that could be used as weapons there, but thankfully none of them were cursed with movement. At least, I hoped not. I guess I'd find out for certain when a spear pierced my back.
A fluttering sound, like the flapping of thick canvas, made me instinctively drop into a crouch. Lucky reared up, ready to attack. But nothing flew overhead. Breathing shallowly, I crawled toward the counter. I'd feel safer behind it and with the wall at my back.
As I rounded the counter, I realized I knew what had had made the noise. The only new thing in my inventory was the gargoyle statue. When I raised my eyes above the countertop, the gargoyle was gone from where it had sat. The cameos were quick to offer their opinions.
"You met the love of your life today…"
"…he'll try to kill you, Anne Moody."
"The cursed shall pay, Anne Moody!"
Yep, the damn gargoyle statue had come to life and was flying around Moonlight. Definitely a way to make me remember you, Christian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Tricia Owens wants you to know that Las Vegas is actually a pretty cool place and you won't be eaten by a troll there. Probably. A former casino games dealer and cruise ship editor, Tricia has traveled extensively, visiting over 70 countries. She writes full time in several genres including urban fantasy and romance. Her favorite setting is her home town, the city of sin.
Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tricia-Owens-Author-348774068467200/Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Tricia-Owens/e/B009HBB3FY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Tricia Owens will be awarding a $75 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you cannot embed the code, please use this HTML link:

Enter to win a $75 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer is for Reading!

Spell Check, Book One: The Teen Wytche Saga, and
The Beltane Escape, Book One: The Two Realms Trilogy
Both by Ariella MoonThe thermometer will climb into the triple digits all this week in the Coachella Valley. So of course, I dream of sitting poolside or at the beach, and reading. Instead, I am locked in my writing cave, finishing the first draft of The Viking Mist, Book Two: The Two Realms Trilogy.

Book Signings!Saturday, June 4, will find me signing and selling books at the 2016 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California, where the anticipated high temperature will be a perfect 76 degrees Fahrenheit. I will be at the SF Area Romance Writers of America booth from 1:30-3:30. Please stop by! We will be on "Writer's Row."

For my SoCal fans and friends, you can catch me at the Westfield Mall on June 11 signing books at Barnes & Noble Palm Desert at 10:00 AM for B-Fest, Teen Book Festival.

Stop by and discover two intriguing paranormal Young Adult series. Let the summer reading begin!

Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks, #5

My Family Fun, Teen Fun, Friends Fun list continues…
May’s Flower Full Moon will light tonight’s sky. The Old Farmer’s Almanac will stream the moonrise through the Slooh’s Canary Islands Observatory at 5:00 PM PDT, 6:00 PM MDT, 7:00 PM CDT, and 8:00 PM EDT. Watch Here
The flower moon made me think of flowers, and flowers made me think of butterflies. So…


Fun Thing #5: Go On A Butterfly Photo Safari

Cactus, bougainvillea, verbena, and many other plants are blooming in the desert right now. Every day I see bright yellow Sulphur Butterflies flitting about my front patio. But a photo safari takes you beyond your front door. Are you ready for an adventure?
3 Things You Will Need For Your Photo Safari
1  .    A digital camera/smartphone.I snapped (can I say “snapped” when I used my iPhone camera?) the butterfly photos on this page at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California. Their Butterflies! Winged Wonders! exhibit closed May 1, but will return in the fall.
2  .    Lots of patience.Expect to take a lot of photos. Butterflies are not great at Sit. Stay. Some brilliant colors are only revealed when the butterfly’s wings are open. Others, when their wings are closed. Some butterflies are so artfully camouflaged you will have to look hard to find them.
3  .    A Butterfly Field GuideGreat adventures often start with a great book, right? Check your library, online bookstore, or (bless them!) neighborhood bookstore for a Field Guide. For North America, check out Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America.


Butterfly totems represent transformation. So gently go forth and bring Butterfly into your life.
52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks – The List So Far:
   1.     Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.   2.     Experience a Bamboo Forest.   3.     Enjoy Warthog Piglets.   4.     Search For Stone People And Animals    5.     Go On a Butterfly Photo Safari           

Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks, #4

My Family Fun, Teen Fun, Friends Fun list continues..52 Fun Things To Do in 52 Weeks
Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park 
Fun Thing #4 Search For Stone People And Animals
When I came upon a stone cow while hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, it reminded me of my friends and family who were born under the sign of Taurus (April 21-May 22). My Taurus tribe members are my rocks. Their slow and steady style calms and reassures me. But like the Bull that symbolizes their sign, I sense Taureans have coiled power.


The stone cow set me on a search for more stone people and animals. At first, my hiking buddy, Judy, thought I was crazy. But then she started spotting faces in the rocks, too. Our hike transformed into a scavenger hunt to see who could find the next stone person first. Imagine what fun children would have searching for stone people and animals!
Although we searched for spirits within the stones, we also encountered several stacked stones, both as trail markers and as art. These reminded me (I am an art historian and shaman) of the Inuit Inunnguaq , stones stacked to resemble humans.
Once you start searching for spirits in rocks, or you create stone sculptures, you’ll discover why these free and imaginative activities are fourth on my list of 52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks!
Coming soon on http://www.shamanariellamoon.com:
Hard lessons learned regarding magic and stones, and the difference between the stone people of the USA and those of the UK.

Top of the Palm Springs Tram, Nature Hike
Some of my most magical adventures began with a book. #LibrariesRock

52 Fun Thing To Do In 52 Weeks – The List So Far:
   1.     Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.   2.     Experience a Bamboo Forest.   3.     Enjoy Warthog Piglets.   4.  Search For Stone People And Animals 
Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon

Interview With Author Karen King

Welcome back Karen King, author of 120 children's books, and fellow chocoholic!
Congratulations, Karen, on your new novel, I Do?…or Do I? Love your cover! I have a few questions...
1. Do you like to plot out in advance, or do you prefer to see where the story takes you?I work out a basic outline so I know where the story is going and the main conflicts and events. Then I write character profiles so that I know my characters well, what their background is, what makes them tick and their driving emotional force. Then I start writing and see where my characters take me.
2. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?I think there's probably bits of me in, Cassie, I like to wear a maxi dress with a denim jacket, like she does in the first chapter, and I always paint my toe nails red. I'm also a bit of a chocoholic!
3. Which character was the most difficult to write, and why?
Jared. He hurt Cassie badly, and is obsessed with his career which makes him a bit selfish and could make it difficult for the readers to warm to him. I wanted the readers to like him and to understand why he'd let Cassie down and to see how much he loves her.
Author Bio A member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists, Karen King writes sassy, contemporary romance just right for reading on the beach. 'I DO - or Do I?' is her first chick lit for Accent Press. She has been contracted for two more.Karen has had two other romance novels, several short stories for women’s magazine and 120 children's books published.When she isn’t writing, Karen likes travelling, watching the ‘soaps’ and reading. Give her a good book and a box of chocolates and she thinks she’s in Heaven.
Author links Website: http://www.karenking.net/Twitter: @karen_kingKaren King Romance Author Facebook PageKaren King Children’s Books Facebook PagePinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/karenkingauthor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkingauthor/?hl=en
Blurb Local journalist Cassie is getting married to hot-shot lawyer, reliable Timothy, and his mother Sylvia, who Cassie has nicknamed ‘Monster-in-Law’, wants to plan the entire wedding. When Sylvia books the exclusive ID Images to take photographs of the extravagant do, Cassie has no idea what she’s walking into. 

The elusive JM, ID Images’ newest photographer, just so happens to be Jared, Cassie’s first love and ex-fiancé, who broke off their engagement to travel and take photos of far-reaching wonders. He’s back to pay for his next wild adventure. 

Cassie decides it’s best to pretend not to know him, but when she’s asked to write an article for her newspaper, she’s tasked with a column surrounding all things wedding related. When Cassie jokingly writes a column meant for herself depicting her situation, a co-worker submits it in place of the real article and it’s soon making headlines, with readers asking the age old question - Who Will She Choose?
Buy Links
Amazon preorder link Amazon - http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01CGKLOKQWaterstones - https://www.waterstones.com/book/i-do-or-do-i/karen-king/9781910939345Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781910939352 Excerpt from I Do?…Or Do I?One  ‘June! That’s only two months away!’ Sam squealed down the phone. ‘You can’t plan a wedding in two months.’Which is exactly what Cassie had told Timothy when his mother, Sylvia, had suggested it. She could hardly believe she’d let them both talk her in to it.‘The thing is, Sylvia heard there was a cancellation at Hollington Castle and she booked it for us. It’s a really sought after venue and we’d be mad to turn it down,’ she told Sam.‘Are those Sylvia’s words or yours?’‘Sylvia’s,’ Cassie admitted. ‘She’s right, though. We got a good price, too, because of the cancellation. Timothy and I went to look around yesterday and it’s an amazing place. It dates back from the eighteenth century, you know.’‘You only got engaged on Valentine’s Day,’ Sam pointed out. ‘I thought you weren’t planning on getting married until next year?’‘We weren’t, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. It’s normally booked up at least eighteen months ahead. Especially in the summer.’ She was repeating Timothy’s words to her yesterday when she’d expressed some doubt about arranging the wedding so quickly. ‘You do want to marry me, don’t you, darling?’ he’d said, and when she’d assured him she did he’d pooh-poohed her protest that two months wasn’t long enough to plan a wedding, saying his mother would help, and she’d found herself agreeing. Now it was all arranged, the venue was booked, they were getting married on 26th June – and she was starting to panic. How the hell was she supposed to organise everything in that time? There was her dress, the bridesmaids’ dresses, invitations, flowers, food, reception, favours, wedding cake … she was hyperventilating just thinking about it.‘Look I know it’s short notice but you will be my maid of honour, won’t you?’‘Yes, yes, yes!’ She could just see Sam, jumping up and down with excitement. ‘Oh, I was hoping you’d ask me.’‘Of course I’d ask you, you’re my best friend. Who else would I want?’ Cassie told her. ‘Can you meet me for lunch and I’ll fill you in on all the details? Twelve thirty at Benjo’s? We’ve got an appointment with the photographer this morning so I can tell you all about that, too.’‘What, already? I’m guessing that’s Sylvia’s doing, too?’‘Yes, the people who cancelled the wedding had booked I.D. Images so of course they have a cancellation too, and Sylvia knows Daniel, the “D” in I.D., so he’s agreed to hold the slot for us. If we want it.’Sam whistled. ‘As if you’d turn that down!’ She paused. ‘I thought you were going to the Discover France show today.’‘I was, but Sylvia booked the appointment and Timothy can’t make it. He’s got to work.’‘Whereas you just mess around… ’Cassie sighed. Sylvia never took Cassie’s job as a features writer for the local newspaper seriously. Timothy was a partner in a law firm, whereas Cassie filled in time until she became Timothy’s wife as far as Sylvia was concerned. Sylvia had given up her secretarial job when she married Timothy’s father and devoted her whole life to looking after him, then Amanda and Timothy when they came along. She made it obvious that she expected Cassie to do the same when she married Timothy, even though Cassie had clearly stated that she had no intention of giving up work. ‘Luckily, Owen’s cool about it. He said I can swap my day off.’

52 Fun Thing To To In 52 Weeks: #3

Fun Thing #3: Enjoy Warthog Piglets!
I bet you didn’t anticipate that one! With Mother’s Day almost upon us, my thoughts turned to mothers and babies. What could be more fun than baby animals?
My friend Judy, an ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) volunteer, was in town, so we decided to check out the wildlife at The Living Desert and Gardens in Palm Desert. We discovered adorable Warthog piglets (cue the Lion King soundtrack) and shy baby giraffes. The Africa area of the park reminded me of my own mother (sending a hug up to northern California), who lived in Kenya and worked in a bush hospital for three years. The Living Desert also has a North America section, where we spotted (thanks to our tram driver, Carmen) a young Bighorn sheep.
What I Loved:Animal welfare is a priority for me. Can the animals retreat from the prying eyes of the public? Is their habitat comfortable, clean, large enough, and natural? Are they well fed? Can they escape the heat? If they are herd or pack animals, are they alone? I am happy to report that the only stressed animals I saw were the wolves. Signs at their enclosure explained there was a fly problem, and that the park was working on solving it. The wolves did have a pack, water misters to cool them, and a habitat designed with roaming and privacy in mind.


Tips if You Go:Plan to arrive close to opening. The animals are most visible in the morning. By the time the desert heat sets in, many animals disappear into their caves, dens, or under shady trees where they are difficult to see.
Spring for an all day tram pass ($6.00). You’ll get a comfortable overview of the park, and the tram operators will help you spot the animals. After years of visiting the Living Desert, I finally saw some Bighorn sheep, but as I mentioned above, only because Carmen, our tram driver, told me exactly where to look. Animals are experts at camouflage!

52 Fun Thing To Do In 52 Weeks – The List So Far:
   1.     Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.   2.     Experience a Bamboo Forest.   3.     Enjoy Warthog Piglets.
Now back to revising The Viking Mist, Book Two, The Two Realms Trilogy. If you haven’t read Book, One, The Beltane Escape, you can read an excerpt here. 
I hope your day is magical!~AriellaCopyright © 2016 Ariella Moon

Eerie, A Mature YA Paranormal Romance from C. M. McCoy

Today's spotlight is on Eerie. Don't you love the cover?Be sure to scroll down and enter the Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card Giveaway!


Eerieby C.M. McCoy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
As seen in People Magazine…
Hailey's dreams have always been, well...vivid. As in monsters from her nightmares follow her into her waking life vivid. When her big sister goes missing, eighteen-year-old Hailey finds the only thing keeping her safe from a murderous 3,000-year-old beast is an equally terrifying creature who has fallen "madly" in love with her. Competing to win her affection, the Dream Creature, Asher, lures her to the one place that offers safety--a ParaScience university in Alaska he calls home. There, she studies the science of the supernatural and must learn to live with a roommate from Hell, survive her ParaScience classes, and hope the only creature who can save her from an evil immortal doesn't decide to kill her himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Excerpt:
Nowhere to Hide“Judge of your natural character by what you do in your dreams.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson 
Hailey plunked her head on the desk and groaned. Why, why…why couldn’t she just tell Asher that she wanted out, that she was afraid—afraid of the others, afraid of dying, and even afraid of…of him. After all, he was planning to kill her. Only temporarily, but still.
She couldn’t believe she was even considering it, but she had no choice. If Asher didn’t kill her, one of the others would.
Permanently.
And Asher protected her. He cared about her. He loved her, right? Asher—an emotionless creature. Hailey wasn’t sure if he was even capable of love.
Oh, this made absolutely no sense. Kill her to save her? Was that love?Freshman year at her dream college was turning into nightmare, and as she rolled her forehead on the desk, the library’s impossibly large ceiling clock echoed a thump with her heart. She simply had to pull on her big girl pants and tell Asher she was done.
That’s all.
She squeezed her eyes shut as a swarm of butterflies took flight in her stomach.
Lately, she felt an awful lot like Jekyll and Hyde: logical, rational ParaScience student by day—emotional monstrosity at night. Come to think of it, this was more like The Phantom of the Opera, and she was the naïve student who didn’t realize the secret and strange angel she’d come to know was actually a homicidal maniac…
“I’m not a maniac.”
Hailey jumped up. She didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Asher slid behind her, putting his lips next to her ear. “But I suppose I am homicidal,” he whispered, his breath on her skin sending goose bumps down her arms and legs.
She leaned into him and sighed.
So much for steadfast resolve.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer.
 “How did you know I was here?” she whispered.
“You were dreaming, Hailey,” he murmured. “I’ll always find you when you’re dreaming.”
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
C.M. McCoy is an Irish dancer and former Air Force officer living in the Great White North. Though B.S.'d in Chemical Engineering and German, she’s far happier writing stories involving Alaska and a body bag (with an awkward kiss in the mix.) While working emergency dispatch for Alaska State Troopers, she learned to speak in 10-codes, which she still does...but only to annoy her family.
Social Media Links
★ Watch the awesome book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPx4FELVxH4
Website: http://www.cmmccoy.com/
Blog: http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eeriesaga
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eerie_o
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27274308-eerie

Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0176M19RMAmazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eerie-C-M-McCoy-ebook/dp/B0176M6MA6Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Eerie-C-M-McCoy-ebook/dp/B0176M19RMBarnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/9781623422332Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/eerie/id1052918810BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=9781623422332Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/eerie-17Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/C_M_McCoy_Eerie?id=yfDPCgAAQBAJ
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GIVEAWAY 
C.M. McCoy will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chance of winning. Other tour stops can be found here.


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1646/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f1646" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_s7bnm67s">a Rafflecopter giveaway
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52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks

I can’t remember how I got conned into this.                               Evie O’Reilly in Spell Check
Did you know dying your hair purple changes your brain waves? I wouldn’t have believed it either, but how else can I explain this sudden urge to crawl out of my writing cave? Could it be Milestone Birthday Madness? Or the fact that I woke up this morning as Evie from The Teen Wytche Saga, when it is Beltane Eve and I am supposed to be revising the sequel to The Beltane Escape?
Has the world gone mad?
Here is my Milestone Birthday Challenge: Find52 Fun Things To Do In 52 Weeks.
From April 2016 to April 2017 I will zip line out of my comfort zone/writing cave/hermit existence and enjoy, explore, and create fun moments and events. You can follow my progress here, and check out the more magical fun things on my Shaman Blog.
What? April is, like, over? Well, let’s catch up!
Fun Thing #1: Visit the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter.
A Harry Potter World just opened in California, but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, Universal Studios, in Orlando is twice the size. More importantly, Orlando has Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts™. We went on the ride twice. Does that count as two fun things?

What I Loved: My daughter grew up on the Harry Potter books, and I loved that this trip celebrated our shared love of J.K. Rowling’s brilliant world building.

 It was also heartening to see so many children and teens at the park embodying characters from the books. Many dressed in Hogwarts school uniforms and had a stuffed dragon or owl on their shoulders. And the wands…

 When was the last time you saw children with sticks in their hands, and no one pretended they were weapons? The wands from Ollivander’s Wand Shop came with a map of places where, if a person waved their wand just right, magic happened. Items in a shop window moved, or rain fell from an umbrella. Brilliant!
Don't Miss: The Cookie Cookie Sundae at Schwab's Pharmacy.



Tips For If You Go:Express passes can’t be used on the major Harry Potter rides. But lines are long all over Universal Studios, so the passes are still worth the cost, especially if you are traveling with younger children who may not have the patience or stamina for long lines.

 If possible, get a pass that allows you early admission to the park. Once in, sprint for Diagon Alley™ and the Gringotts ride.

 Several rides require you to store your purses, backpacks, water bottles, etc. in free lockers. Access to the lockers and to gain admission to the park, requires a fingerprint. Thousands of fingers touch these machines every day. Germ city! Wash your hands frequently to avoid getting sick.


Fun Thing #2
This one is magical, mystical, and free. Read about it on my Shaman Blog.
Available in Print and Digital

http://amzn.to/1OQMyp3
Back to revising The Viking Mist, Book Two, The Two Realms Trilogy. Happy Beltane!
Copyright ©2016, Ariella Moon

Rachel Jones: Taking A Chance On Love

A new Contemporary Romance from Rachel Jones. TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE




It’s a touchdown for the coach when the music teacher takes a chance on loveBLURB:
From childhood, Virginia Manning has planned for a career as a concert clarinetist. Blindsided by family circumstances, her plans are interrupted, taking her down a path she would never have chosen. As a music teacher, Virginia’s relationship with the football coach goes from problematic to romantic. After Blake’s brush with death, a scared Virginia runs away looking for the contentment music has always brought to her life. Because Blake Oliver has experienced disappointment and pain, he opts for a fresh start in a small New England town. Accepting the position of football coach, he isn’t looking for love when it finds him. When Virginia leaves to pursue a performance career, Blake realizes it’s not where you live but having someone to love that matters. His only problem is making her understand that as well.
EXCERPT:Blake was awake when Virginia entered the ICU cubicle. She pushed a chair against the hospital bed so she could hold his hand. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he said. Virginia looked at the tiny lines etched on his face. She wished she had magical powers and could erase them and all the pain he had endured the last few days since the accident. “The nurse said I could sit with you. Where’s your father?” “Stephen took him home to sleep for a while. He’ll be back later.” Blake shifted toward her and released a groan.
“I hate to see you hurting,” she said.
“My nurse was just here asking if I wanted pain medicine and he’s coming back. I would have waited to take the pain killer if I had known a beautiful woman would be stopping by to visit.” “Good,” she said. “I’m glad you’re not one of those macho men who think it’s not masculine to take pain medicine when you need it.” “Normally I wouldn’t. But since I’ve had surgery on my leg and I’m dealing with cracked ribs, a punctured lung, and a ruptured diaphragm, I’m willing to compromise my macho image and take the pain killers.” Virginia frowned at the reminder of what he had been through. The nurse returned with a syringe in his hand. He scanned Blake’s armband and the barcode on the syringe then made a few clicks at the bedside computer. As he pushed the medication into Blake’s IV line, he said, “Mr. Oliver, this will help with the pain, but it will make you drowsy. Sleep’s not a bad thing since your body needs rest to heal.” Virginia smiled, knowing he would be escaping from his pain if only for a while. “I’m going to sit here and hold your hand until they throw me out.” Blake’s eyes flickered open and shut a few times then remained closed. She whispered a prayer for strength, to help her be strong for him. The beeps of the heart monitor became rapid and other alarms sounded. Blake’s nurse rushed into the cubicle. He hit the red button on the wall and shouted, “I need help in here. He’s in V-fib.”Virginia jumped up from her chair as the space filled with hospital personnel. She was pushed back and then outside. Leaning against the full-length window to support her trembling legs, she was aware of the dampness of her skin. Terror gripped her heart as she watched the surreal scene through the glass partition. The nurse performed chest compressions and in the dream state dominating her consciousness, she wondered if Blake’s chest would hurt later from the contact. Unable to move, her mind became mesmerized by the organized events unfolding in front of her. A man with neatly combed hair in a white coat said, “Give Amiodarone, three hundred milligrams.” Someone echoed, “Pushing Amiodarone, three hundred milligrams.” Another set of hands gave the man paddles attached to the defibrillator on the crash cart. “Set to two hundred joules. Clear,” he said as placed the paddles on Blake’s chest and discharged the shock, causing his body to jump. Virginia watched as everyone paused and then someone uttered the words, ‘sinus rhythm,’ which brought a collective sigh of relief. Most everyone dispersed leaving only a few people at the bedside. Blake’s nurse came to her and said, “He’s stable, but he’ll be sleeping for awhile. We’ll be watching him closely.” Virginia brushed at the tears on her cheek. The nurse took a box of tissue from the counter and pushed it toward her. “I know this was a harsh thing to witness. You should go, try to rest and you can come back later.” “Will he be all right? Could this happen again?” “Mr. Oliver’s body has been through a lot. But he’s young and healthy. I’m sorry, but I need to get back inside.” “Please, take care of him.” These were the same words she uttered as she passed the nurses’ station after each visit. But this time, the words were a special plea after witnessing how precarious his medical situation was. If she stayed, her heart would once again be vulnerable as in the past. Virginia turned and walked away, trying to process what had happened as she moved toward the waiting room to call Blake’s father. The pain in her heart was genuine. An intense pain that went beyond her heart and stirred her soul. Was this what it felt like to lose someone who had become so entwined in your life? She wasn’t sure she would want to go on living if Blake didn’t survive his injuries.BUY LINKS:http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Chance-Love-Rachel-Jones-ebook/dp/B0167GDZF2/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taking-a-chance-on-love-rachel-jones/1122754380?ean=2940150782532

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/taking-a-chance-on-love/id1046742755?mt=11

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/taking-a-chance-on-love-2

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/583191


Meet Rachel Jones
While she continued to work her full- time hospital job, it was thoughts of what she would do after retirement from her career in healthcare that spurred Rachel to begin writing her first manuscript in March of 2012. Needing guidance and support with her new endeavor, she joined local and national writing groups.
Release day for Rachel’s debut novel, To Dance One More Day, occurred in June 2014. Her second book, Taking A Chance On Love, released in October 2015. She is working on her third manuscript and is planning her first series. Rachel’s books reflect her love of the performing arts. Working as a registered nurse for twenty-five years has influenced the threads of medical drama woven into her storylines.  
A music enthusiast for decades, Rachel resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with her husband of thirty-eight years and their spoiled Labrador retriever. She is a member of Georgia Writers Association, Georgia Romance Writers and is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America.

Connect with Rachel
http://racheljonesauthor.com/https://www.facebook.com/RachelJonesAuthor/?ref=hlhttps://twitter.com/rjonesauthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8336834.Rachel_Joneshttp://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Jones/e/B00L2HSGZQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0https://www.pinterest.com/rjoneswriter/