V.L. Locey's Blog, page 65

Guess What`s In The Box eBook Giveaway!

Howdy folks! As many of you know, my family and I live on a small hobby farm. I am also a poultry addict. I love chickens, ducks, geese and just about any kind of farmyard bird that you can find. So, it should come as no surprise that I am now the proud owner of even more poultry! 

Since I love to have blog-exclusive giveaways and I love poultry, I thought it would be fun to combine those loves and have a "Guess What`s In The Box!" eBook giveaway! Starting today and running through Saturday, June 13th at midnight, you can make guesses as to what kind of birds are in this box--


Are there chickens, ducks, geese or guinea hens inside that box? Tell me your guess down in the comments section. I'll pick two random correct guesses on Sunday, June 14th, as the winners. Those two winners will each get a free Kindle version of my last Toms &Tabbies Tales M/M romantic-comedy, Early to Rise! 



Early to Rise - Amazon

There are few things worse than being left at the altar by the man you thought loved you. Just ask Simon Wilder. He knows all about it. He also knows a thing or two about getting fired. It's been a rotten week for Simon and making major life decisions during such turmoil may not be the wisest thing Simon has ever done. Or is it? 

Packing up his clothes, his collection of Tony Orlando CDs, and his cat, Sambuca, Simon leaves the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia behind and heads out to live on his Uncle Tiberius' farm in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Starting over on the farm where he vacationed once as a child is a going to be just what the doctor ordered, as long as that doctor is the good-looking large animal veterinarian, Gentry Martin. Is a sexy country vet the cure for a love-sick city boy?



So give me your best guess! Are they chickens, guinea hens, ducks or geese in that mystery box??


Make sure you include your contact information in case you win. If you don`t include your email address I cannot contact you and will have to choose another correct guess. So make sure you have that information along with your guess as to what kind of birds I've gone and gotten this time. I'll reveal the winners and what kind of new birds we have on the farmstead on Sunday, June 14th.

Best of luck everyone! 

V.L. 

Throwback Thursday Tune

It was time to break out The Grateful Dead, don't you think? Is anyone out there a Dead Head?

Tuesday Tales - Boredom

Hello! It`s time for Tuesday Tales.


 Today we have another chapter for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Boredom". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!


Two weeks. Fourteen miserable, lonely, long days had dragged past since I had last spoken to Jonah. I was beyond depressed. I was wretched. I hated that we had parted in such a bad way. It was a horrible misunderstanding and it had split us up so easily. Was I being stupid for not calling him to try to explain?  My family was not above telling me so, God bless them. Leave it to family to put your stupid behavior into perspective.
“How long to you plan on sitting here wallowing in self-pity? Why don`t you swallow your pride and call the man?” Aunt Jo chided me as I sat on her couch balancing a plate filled with stuffed cabbage and bratwurst on my thighs. I threw a nasty look her way. She just prattled on undaunted. “Why are you being such a dunderhead about things? I swear if I put the two of you together we couldn`t squeeze out enough sense to fill a shot glass!”
I swallowed loudly, bumping Herr Poopbottom further away with my foot. “Don`t you think that would look rather bad for me to call him? I didn`t do anything wrong. It was him that flew off the handle.”
She waddled past me, tossing the cap from her bottle of Iron City Beer onto an end table that really had no room for one more bottle cap. There was nothing like a Friday afternoon on glorious State Street. The illustrious beginning to my long awaited three-day weekend begins with boredom, bratwurst and a babushka beer-swiller.
“Nope, I think it would look like you`re missing him and want to help him get this lodge up and running and get back together. Seems to me you`ve been pretty shitty about the whole thing,” she said, easing into her favorite blue recliner then resting her IC lager between her rather substantial breasts after she took a long pull.
“I`m sorry, but I am not being shitty!” I sniped just like the dachshund at my feet when he didn`t get his own way.
“Sorry but you are,” Jo-Jo told me then belched. “Better out than in,” she added as she always does. “Dana, it`s clear to everyone that you miss the man. He and you belong together. Why you feel you can`t lower yourself to go up there and show him just how much he means to you is beyond me! He`s not the only one in this relationship who drives. Get in your car, go up to New York, and throw yourself at him like you want to. You always did take after Helen with your uppity thinking.”
“I am not uppity!” I hissed, shaking my fork at the pudgy, beer-loving gnome eying me with far too much certainty. “I`m just not sure if haring up there like some sort of nymphomaniac is the right thing to--”
“Would you listen to yourself?” Jo-Jo said then took another long pull. “Dana, that is my sister talking, not you. She never would go that extra mile for any man. Always felt they had to come crawling to her if they really loved her. Poor Leroy, that man danced once hell of a jig to get her hand.” Josephine clucked in remembrance then leveled those knowing eyes right at me. “Honey-Jukes, love ain`t about one person carrying the load, it`s about both people doing what they can to make it work. Someone has to make the first move.”
“My car isn`t reliable enough to make the trip.” Oh God, was that as lame as it sounded? Yes, yes it was if my great aunt`s eye roll was any indication.
“Then borrow Helen`s Caddy for the weekend. She won`t drive the thing until next Thursday for shopping day. Take the boy to his father`s, go see Jonah, toss in to help with the work he`s doing. Show him you`re behind him. There isn`t one damned thing wrong with a woman being aggressive. If Hans were alive, the stories he would tell you! Hell, one time I chased him from McKeesport clear to West Mifflin on a bike just to grab a kiss before he went to work. Sometimes a woman has to take the bull by the horns, Dana.”
Her burp was robust. I fiddled with my cabbage roll and brat. “Why go that far for just a kiss?” I asked, forking the cold cabbage idly.
“So he didn`t forget me,” she winked over the dark lip of her Iron City.
            Two hours later I was waiting outside Rhett`s school, watching a robin hopping over the muddy lawn. The bell rang and I turned in time to dance aside lest I be run over by the pack of children rushing out into an early spring day. I waved at my son when he exited the building with two other boys his size. He was shocked to see me. I smiled and waited as the masses went to the buses idling in the long curved driveway. The smell of diesel was strong yet brought back wondrous memories of my own school days spent in this very same elementary school.
            “Hey slugger,” I grinned when Rhett jogged over to me after waving goodbye to his buddies.
            “Did someone die?” the child asked, blue eyes riddled with concern.
            “No, of course not,” I quickly said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
            “Oh okay, I saw G-G Helen`s car and thought maybe someone died. They`re like ancient old,” the boy told me. We walked to the Caddy with my hand on his neck. He didn`t complain or push it away so I left it there.
            “Nope, G-G Helen and all the other old gals are fine. I borrowed the Caddy so that I could go up and spend the weekend with Jonah. I want to see if we can work things out,” I said as we neared the boat that disguised itself as a car. Rhett spun to face me.
            “Mom, don`t tease me.”
            My stars, what an earnest young man. I nearly laughed at his serious words but didn`t. “I`m not teasing.”
            “It`s about time. I`m getting tired of hearing you crying when you think I don`t hear you,” he announced then jogged to the car. Well, talk about a revelation!
As it turned out tootling along in a Caddy as long one of those Rose Bowl Parade floats is quite enjoyable. I hadn`t packed much; I was in too much of a nervous state. The ride was made more pleasant by my grandmother`s classic country music CD`s which helped keep my anxiety level down somewhat. I was still concerned about showing up unannounced. What would Jonah think of me just arriving like this? He`d think I was being a slut. Maybe he was over me and had some other woman helping with the lodge. Ugh. Who invited my grandmother?
            I found the lane to White Birch Lodge and crept along the muddy drive with bare trees. Snow lingered alongside the narrow road. Past the edge of the driveway, the dark brown forest floor sat. The trees were thick with buds. I rolled down the window and inhaled the clean air. The early thaw had done wonders up here.
            I eyed the dark red Jeep with suspicion as I parked between it and Jonah`s big truck. I sat in the car staring at the huge redwood lodge with a cocktail of envy, admiration, and unease stirring in my stomach. The big front door opened.  Julia Windtalker emerged instead of Jonah.
            Damn.
            She walked to the end of the porch, placing her shoulder to the post as I climbed out of the Caddy. With a forced smile on my face, I walked to the bottom step.
            “I was wondering when you`d grace us with your presence again,” Julia said, looking down at me.
  
Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
*~*~*
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Tuesday Tales
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Monday Author/Book Spotlight-Beverly Ovalle`s A Saint`s Salvation Blog Tour

Okay, I’m going to list a couple of my Pet Peeves: chewing gum while on the phone, eating with your mouth open, poor oral hygiene. I know there is a word for people like me, LOL. Body odor while not pleasant is no way as bad as horrible mouth smells. Morning breath? Gah!Okay, it is more of a phobia rather than a pet peeve, but come on! I know I’m not alone. Proof positive, my daughters the same way. Wait. Maybe I passed it down. Ooops!I’m trying to look it up but I found this instead. Good heavens! Who knew? 
Osaphobia - Phobia of giving/receiving head for fear of attracting an STD or being rejected or having your teeth touch the genitalia.
Umm, definitely NOT that one, LOL.
I found a whole list of phobias. Peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, being tickled by feathers, string-the abnormal fear of string (what???), politicians (c’mon that’s a reasonable one), and a fear of gravity. Huh? They must be aliens. Why else would you fear gravity? Of course they would make the best astronauts, wouldn’t they? I wonder if any of them have this phobia.Holy cow, I got distracted. It happens a lot when I’m researching. Yes, we’ll call it researching.
Maybe mine is just a pet peeve. What are some of yours? Or phobias? They sound really interesting! Much more interesting than pet peeves!*~*~*


BOOK INFORMATION TITLE –  A Saint’s SalvationAUTHOR – Beverly OvalleGENRE – contemporary military romancePUBLICATION DATE – Feb 10, 2014LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 61PUBLISHER – Secret Cravings PublishingCOVER ARTIST – Dawne Dominique

BOOK SYNOPSIS Corporal Nicholas 'Saint' Santiago needs to go home to reclaim the man he used to be. To be the man he was before Operation Enduring Freedom slowly hardened his heart. He needs to reconnect to the values and the reasons he is doing what he does. Saint also needs to try to forget the courageous woman he knows was meant to be his. 

Petty Officer Angelina Jones' life changed the moment Saint saved her life. She survived the blast but now has to deal with the fact that she will never be whole. Knowing Saint received a 'Dear John' letter, Angelina has no intention of being his rebound romance. She needs to be loved for herself. She needs to forget about the one man she knows was meant to be hers. 

They each try to find someone to help them forget. 

But what does fate have planned for them?

BUY & TBR LINK S AMAZON KINDLE US – http://amzn.to/1KtxDjs AMAZON KINDLE CA – http://www.amazon.ca/Saints-Salvation-Beverly-Ovalle-ebook/dp/B00II8OTU8/ AMAZON KINDLE UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saints-Salvation-Beverly-Ovalle-ebook/dp/B00II8OTU8/ BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-saints-salvation-beverly-ovalle/1118637570?ean=2940148157076 SMASHWORDS – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/416352 KOBO – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-saint-s-salvation GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20623026-a-saint-s-salvation SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING - http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_infoHYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"&HYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"cPath=4HYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"&HYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"products_id=824HYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"&HYPERLINK "http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=824&zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2"zenid=0273b80c166317bb654c8145d5a109c2 BOOKSTRAND - http://www.bookstrand.com/a-saints-salvationALLROMANCE - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-asaint039ssalvation-1425306-149.htmlSHELFARI – http://www.shelfari.com/books/37293882/A-Saints-Salvation

EXCERPT
R rated:Nick quickly took advantage, pressing his hand deeper as he raised her up, her ass on his forearm. Angelina squirmed, rubbing against him. Nick bent and sucked a nipple into his mouth, teasing it through the silk. He slid a finger in and out of her heat, lightly rubbing her clit with his thumb. Angelina moaned and tightened around his finger. Pressing her close against him, Nick increased his thrusts. Nick bit her nipple and was rewarded with a cry as Angelina clamped down, drenching his hand as she came apart in his arms.She placed her head against his shoulder, shivers running through her while her arms and legs tightened around him. Nick pulled his hand free from her warmth and licked his fingers clean, making smacking noises as he did.“Pig.” It was so low Nick barely heard the comment. Nick chuckled as Angelina giggled in his arms.“Did you want another glass of champagne?” Angelina shook her head and squirmed against him. Nick squeezed her to him, enjoying the feel of her, despite the tightness in his groin. “Are you ready for dinner? Or shall we just head straight to dessert?”
PG rated:
“Help me roll this on until we can get him out of here.” Her voice sent a ripple through him. Nick had always ignored the attraction he had felt for her. He’d had his girl back home, and fraternization out here could get him thrown in the brig. Not to mention the brig out here was a hell hole.Nick was leery about approaching Doc now. The Dear John letter had been a shock. He had known Leila for years. Hell, they had been friends since they were little. Her betrayal was unexpected. Nick didn’t even really know Doc. He could trust her with his life, but he wasn’t ready for another go around with his heart, no matter the attraction he felt.Nick looked toward the fence line, rifle at the ready. Shots were firing sporadically around him. That’s when he saw it, the trail from a grenade launcher, unmistakable. Shit!

BOOK TRAILER http://youtu.be/yy8xo3zzFCU

CHARACTER BIOS
Corporal Nicholas ‘Saint’ SantiagoSaint is serving in Afghanistan when his heart is broken over a ‘Dear John’ letter. Everything seems to get worse at that point. Normally a happy go lucky kind of guy he seems to have lost his optimistic view of life. The only thing that stirs his interest is ‘Doc’ a female medic assigned to the FOB. Not wanting anymore entanglements, he ignores her. He knows that he needs to go home to find the place he belongs and bring back the man he was.
Angelina ‘Doc’ JonesShe had the hots for Santiago but everyone knew he’d been dumped. Doc didn’t want to be the rebound. She joined and became a corpsman against her parent’s wishes, knowing just that she had to serve. When the grenade changed her life, she needed reassurance and someone to love her despite her disability.

AUTHOR BIO


Beverly Ovalle dabbled with writing on and off for years when her best friend finally dared her to submit a story to a writing contest. Beverly decided she had nothing to lose and since she’d always wanted to be an author sent it in and agonized for months waiting to hear back. Contract in hand she has never looked back.Beverly has been obsessed with dragons and romance since she was a young girl, collecting dragon books and reading everything she could find on them even down to the care of real life dragons. She’s always been slightly panicked that the world as we know it will end, so has prepped for it, haunting survivalist pages and prepper projects she felt she needed in the event SHTF.An avid fan of all romance, Beverly’s goal is to share her love of the written word and write the hot and erotic romances that she enjoys. She writes what she loves to read and it was only a matter of time before her obsessions crept into her writing for her to share. She hopes you enjoy her tales as much as she loves writing them.A Navy Veteran, Beverly has traveled around the world and the United States enabling her to bring her settings to life, meeting and marrying her husband of twenty five years along the way for her own romance. Reading romances since the fourth grade she’s followed as the genre changed and spread into the vast cornucopia of romance offered today.
Fun Facts:The name was changed less than two weeks before publication!A Saint's Salvation was inspired by my son's tattooHis tattoo says 'St. Nicholas' – the original name of my bookA Saint's Salvation took me eight months to write!The name of A Saint's Salvation was my editor's suggestionThe teasers were made from photos from AfghanistanThe Marine in the teasers is my sonHe only gave me permission to use his photo because he loves meHe only gave me permission if I cut off his head! LOL
AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – http://www.amazon.com/Beverly-Ovalle/e/B00BOGT8MU/ WEBSITE / BLOG – www.beverlyovalle.com/ BLOG – www.beverlyovalle.netBLOG – www.SSLYblog.wordpress.com FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyOvalleAuthor TWITTER – https://twitter.com/ovalleba TWITTER - https://twitter.com/FatedDragons GOOGLE+ – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+BeverlyOvalle0211/posts PINTEREST – https://www.pinterest.com/ovalleba/ TUMBLR – http://ovalleba.tumblr.com/ GOODREADS – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6982787.Beverly_Ovalle TSU – http://www.tsu.co/BeverlyO AUTHORDB - http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/3752-beverly-ovalle NEWSLETTER - http://eepurl.com/-r58z  

GIVEAWAY PRIZES $25 Amazon gift card
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TWEET MESSAGE FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO TWEET
One grenade changes their lives A Saint’s Salvation On Tour #WoundedWarrior #Romance @ovalleba http://amzn.to/1p2Rl8L 
SOCIAL MEDIA TEASERS FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO PIMP
“Down you Devil Dog. I didn’t put up with your shit there and I won’t here either.”
He could hear her laughter as her phone started singing I’m Bringing Sexy Back.
Angelina looked like a disheveled angel. Nick stripped off his shirt, toed off his shoes and dropped his pants.

Sunday Ramblings - I'm In Good Company

Do you have something that you are sure, and I mean absolutely sure, is set in stone? I do too, or did, I should say. It was the rule that every romance I read ends with an HEA, or a happily ever after. For years I maintained that if a book did not end with that fairy tale ending, it was not for me. Carve it in stone because I am so darn sure!
Well, maybe I need to hire that stone carver again because I have changed my mind. The reasons are many but I'll touch on a few here today. Before I get into the why and who, let me say that I will be discussing things from J.R. Ward`s newest Black Dagger Brotherhood novel, The Shadows, in this post. I will also be chatting about the ending of one of my books, Two Man Advantage. If you haven`t read either book, please know that chances are good that things will be spoiled for you if you proceed.


Okay, now that the spoiler warning is in place let us move onward and upward. Let`s begin by discussing my own book, and the way that it ended. Yes, Two Man Advantageends with a HFN, or happy for now, and not that glowing HEA. Vic and Dan are together, although they are struggling with a long-distance relationship as well as not being out. That ending felt right to me when I wrote it. Many readers have expressed how upset they are about it but I stand by my ending. Just as Ms. Ward stands by the way she wrote the ending for The Shadows. Will there be more for Victor and Dan? Yes. Will the next book end happily? I do not know.
If you think Vic and Dan not being google-eyed delirious in the same city is bad, then The Shadows will surely send you into cardiac arrest. It took mammoth stones for Ms. Ward to have the leading lady of her romance novel die. Yes, die, as in off to the Fade never to be with the leading man until he also passes over. Talk about a tearjerker of a book. I loved it. Each gasping sob made me adore the book, and the author, even more. That is real emotion. That is my job, and Ms. Ward`s job and the job of every novelist out there. We are supposed to make you love these characters. We are supposed to hit you in the feels. I was shocked when I closed that book, with a dead leading lady, and found myself so enamored of the work.
A couple years ago, I would have flipped my wig over that kind of an ending. Now, I not only understand her decision, I respect and applaud it. While the flames of her unhappy readership are considerably larger than my wee fire, we seem to be sweating from the heat together. That is okay. Actually, it is pretty damn cool to be roasting alongside my favorite PNR author. Of course, I could never have planned things to work out as they did. Two Man Advantage was close to release status when The Shadows came out. Fate has just tossed us into the unhappy reader pyre at the same time. So what changed for me and my need for an HEA?


I'm not sure. Maybe it`s the fact that I have branched out from reading only romance novels into other genres. Perhaps it`s just that sometimes I need a less than perfect ending. Sometimes I want real life, or as real life as fiction can be. Every now and again, I want a jerk as a leading man, or a woman who is not Becky Sue Sunshine as a heroine. Show me some flaws!
Give me a young king who is a rotten, cruel, and sadistic human being. Let me hate him, call him names, and curse his every breath. Man, someone still hates Joffrey Baratheon even though he`s dead now. And heck, go ahead and kill off almost every character that I like. Do it. DO IT!! I'll be back because you, Mr. Martin, have made me feel real emotion. You have spun a story that is so real and so powerful, even if every person I like dies at a wedding, I will be back for more. Happy conclusions don`t occur in Westeros it seems.
That is perfectly okay with me now. Sometimes life is not happy. Sometimes people are less than perfect. Sometimes terrible things happen to those who do not deserve to be hurt. Maybe an unhappy ending, or a happy for now, is a good thing. Perhaps if I get that happy for now or not happy at all ending, it makes me appreciate the happily ever after that much more.

What about you? Do you need a happily ever after? A happy for now? Or can you enjoy a less than happy ending? 

Throwback Thursday Tune

Sexy rocking bad boys. That`s what pops into my head when I think of Van Halen. Which VH song makes you jump?

Morgan K. Wyatt`s The Inheritance & Giveaway!

Please welcome fellow SCP author, Morgan Wyatt! She's visiting to tell us about her novel, The Inheritance. 





BLURB:Melody’s work as a hospice nurse both gives her life purpose and rips her heart out when her patients die. Her latest client left her his lakeside home. After years of living in foster homes, Melody seizes the opportunity for a real home. 

Her happy residence comes to an abrupt halt when her benefactor’s missing nephew, Levi, shows up. A bomb shattered his leg and life, which left him in need of a safe place to figure out the rest of his life. The will leaves the house to both of them, but only if they cohabit for a year. Otherwise, the house goes to a third party. 

Melody detests Levi for never writing or visiting his dying uncle. Levi considers Melody little more than a gold digger similar to his ex-wife. There’s no way he’ll let her have his inheritance.
ExcerptThe sound of him talking drifted through the screen door. The tone was warm, even affectionate. She assumed he was talking to the dog. Mary liked to say you could judge a man by how he treated a dog, a creature that could do nothing for him in the eyes of the world. The door opening and closing, plus the jingle of the dog’s tags, let her know both were inside.Her arms spread wide across the door, assuring no would enter her room without going through her first. Charmer was the first to discover her. His sniffed at her feet. Had he forgotten her with his sudden love for the usurper? His spotted head lifted as he regarded her with a dubious look before trotting away.Even my dog thinks I’m crazy. Spread eagle against her door didn’t make a case for emotional stability. God, she looked ridiculous. Before she could change position, Levi wandered into view. His eyebrows shot up.“I realize I’ve been out of circulation for a while, but is this an attempt to invite me into your bedroom?”What? He thought she was trying to be enticing. Okay, maybe her position could be misinterpreted. Still, why did he always have to jump to the wrong conclusion? Temper tinged her words. “No, quite the opposite. I’m preventing you from entering my room.”The left side of this mouth tipped up indicating amusement. “Do you have a meth lab in there?”“Certainly not.” The fact he thought such a thing insulted her. “Anyone with the least bit of sense would have it in the garage.” The other side of his lips tipped up confirming the fact she amused him.Using a knuckle, he rubbed the skin between his eyes, half-hiding his expression. “The way I see it, I own half of your room, which means I should have access to it.”Oh, no, she didn’t like where this conversation was going. It was foster family dynamics all over again. The difference was she legally owned half of everything, too. “Well…” She stopped hoping for an inspired zinger. None came.She darted passed him into Roy’s room and jumped onto the bed and rolled around on it. “How do you feel now? I own half this bed, too. Think I’ll take the middle.” She rolled across the bed, kicking and wiggling, waiting for him to protest. Nothing. Not a word.She stopped to look up to see if he’d even followed her into the room. His hands gripped the doorsill while his eyes focused on her. His mouth was the slightest bit open ready to speak, but he said nothing. The cane leaning against the doorway fell, launching Levi into action. It only took him two steps before he fell on the bed beside her.His outstretched arms prevented him from landing on her, but it was close. What now? She was transfixed, similar to how a rabbit must feel when a hawk’s shadow crossed its path. His face moved closer. If she were someone else, someone petite and beautiful, then the slightly glazed expression on his face would make sense. His face moved closer, filling her vision as he leaned toward her.“I want you to know you brought this on yourself.” He whispered the words before his lips touched hers.She couldn’t believe it. He was kissing her, Melody Gibbons, hospice nurse. The thought made her smile and moved into his kiss. Her fingers slipped over his close-cropped hair to cup his head and encourage him to continue. The lingering sunlight shot through the window in a colorful blaze, covering the both of them.



BIO
Morgan K Wyatt, raised on a steady diet of superheroes, believed she could fly at a very young age. After using trees, barn lofts, sliding boards, and even a second story window as launch pads, she found her flying skills were limited to fast and downward. By the age of nine, her dreams to be a superhero needed some modifications, which caused her to turn to writing and horseback riding as alternatives to flying. At the age of twenty, she had another chance at superhero greatness as being one of the few female soldiers trained for combat. The fact that women will be able to serve in combat soon indicates that all the witnesses to the grenade incident have retired. The grenade incident didn’t prevent her two sons or daughter-in-law from enlisting in the service. Having different last names probably helped.Morgan recently retired from teaching special needs students to write fulltime, instead of in the wee hours of the night. With the help of her helpful husband and loyal hound, she creates characters who often grab plot lines and run with them. As for flying, she prefers the airlines now.
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Tuesday Tales - Giggle

Hello! It`s time for Tuesday Tales.


 Today we have another chapter for Wind in White Birch and our word prompt is "Giggle". Don`t forget to visit the other talented Tuesday Tales authors. Thanks for stopping by!


                When we pulled into my apartment complex, my heart dropped into my knees. Jonah`s truck was not in the slot beside my battered old jalopy. Rhett was a bubbling fount of feeling good. He had babbled non-stop since his discharge, his mouth running steadily as we waited for his antibiotic prescription at the hospital pharmacy. It was amazing how quickly the child bounced back. If only I could be so rubbery with the terrible curveballs life threw at me.             “Thanks for the ride." I yawned right in Rhick`s face. He was too exhausted to care. Rhett was already unbuckled and halfway out the door when I snapped at him to be patient. “I`d invite you in for coffee but you need to go home.”            “Yeah, I`m headed there now. I`ll call this evening to see how he`s doing,” Rhick replied then leaned over to kiss my cheek. I stiffened and blinked at him like an owl before I exited stage left, my son`s clammy hand in mine. Rhett waved brightly, his cheeks pink from cold and illness. I tugged him to the stairs. Up we went my eyes and mind on that kiss. Sure, it was just on the cheek but it was steeped in familiarity. Was my ex trying to tell me something? Should I listen to the subtle hints? We had been happy for a very long time and I was so very tired of being alone. Maybe he had seen the error of his ways. People do change and sometimes--            “Jonah!” my son yelped and pulled from my grip. I froze on the steps.             “Hey little man,” Mr. Big Deer smiled, standing then sweeping my boy from his feet. “You look lots better than you did the last time I saw you,” Jonah said, holding Rhett on his hip with ease. I slowly climbed the last four steps, my keys suddenly very heavy in my hand.             “Dana,” Jonah said tentatively as I slid past him to my door.             “I thought you went home when I didn`t see your truck,” I said, not looking at him or my son, just concentrating on getting the key into the lock smoothly.            “I had to move it. Your neighbor below came up and explained how you don`t pay for a guest slot. Must be they sit up all night waiting for parking infractions to occur,” he teased, getting a small giggle from Rhett.             I stopped turning the key in the lock and looked over my shoulder at Jonah.             “How long have you been sitting out here?”             “Not so long.” I didn`t believe him. I got them both inside as quickly as I could. The apartment felt overly warm to me and had a faint stink of sickness about it. I needed to get that dirty bedding into the wash as soon as possible. Jonah dropped my son on the couch.             “So are we going to go to the --”            “Whoa, slow down slick,” I said as I pulled my right arm out of my coat. “The doctor said to rest.”            “But I feel good. Jonah, tell her I feel good. You said I look better!” the boy wheedled. Jonah wisely sidestepped the puppy eyes and quivering lower lip act.            “Your mom`s the boss,” he said. I nodded then made my way down the hall after getting Rhett situated on the coach with some snacks and juice and SpongeBob on the TV.            I was exiting the bathroom with dirty towels, washcloths and my ruined dress when I saw Jonah in the doorway. His arms were folded over his chest, his head was tipped downward slightly, and his eyes were unfathomable onyx lakes.             “I wanted to apologize about the hospital,” he murmured. Childish laughter rolled down the corridor. I felt oddly exposed in just my slip so I bunched up the laundry to hide my breasts. He noticed the subtle shift in attitude because his shoulders stiffened slightly.             “Yeah, you probably should do that,” I said, shuffling from one foot to the other, my toes growing chilled through my pantyhose.             “I know you’re mad,” he said softly, never moving forward or back nervously as I was. The only sign of his unease was the tapping of his fingers on his biceps. “I was out of line.”            “Yes, you were.” Funny how there are times you want to throw yourself at a man while also wanting to kick him right in the balls. “I know there`s bad blood between you and Rhick,”  Jonah snorted and began to study the floor tile yet I carried on," but you need to be the better man, Jonah. Rhick is dealing with a lot at the moment and-”            His head snapped up. “Rhick is dealing with a lot? What about what we`redealing with, Dana?” he asked, waving his arm to indicate him, me, the apartment, Rhett, and the whole world I suppose. “We`re trying to make something here and his bullshit is not helping!”            “You need to keep your voice down,” I spat. He filled the tiny bathroom then closed the door with a soft push. “Despite what happens Rhick is still Rhett`s father.”            “I`m well aware of that fact, trust me,” Jonah snapped. His emotions were broiling out of him now. “I`m fond of the boy too, Dana,” he admitted on a rush of breath. “I`m just getting tired of being treated like I`m some sort of disposable thing when the ex is around.”            “What? What the hellare you talking about?” I asked heatedly. He ran his hand over the back of his neck and sucked a huge breath in through his nose then released it slowly. “Rhick is his father, Jonah, there is no changing that. I don`t make the rules. If it were up to me, I would have had you back there with us. I just can`t have you two going at each other like that, not in front of Rhett.” I moved my head so that I could look up at him. Deep lines of unease were hugging the corners of his mouth. “Rhett loves his father and he`s damned fond of you as well. I am doing my best to raise my son to use peaceful methods to resolve his problems. Seeing the two men he admires most throwing punches is not the way to win my heart, Jonah.”            “I know, I`m sorry. I just lost it. Where does he get off trying to manhandle you?” the man ground out through clenched teeth. I hugged the dirty linen closer to my chest.             “I think you overreacted. Rhick has never raised a hand to me, ever. If you would have just stayed in the visitor`s lounge--”              “Where I belonged? Is that what you were going to say?” he asked in a monotone. I wasn`t sure I wouldn`t rather face his anger. My denial never had time to be spoken. Jonah was out of the bathroom faster than I could gather my wits. The sound of the front door closing with force jolted me from my stupor. I hurried out into the living room to find my son sound asleep on the couch and Jonah gone. It was right there with vomit-stained clothing and bed sheets in my arms that I started to cry silently.

Copyright 2013 ©by V.L. Locey
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Monday Author/Book Spotlight - Holly J. Gill`s Innocence

I'm thrilled to have one of my fellow SCP authors here today! Holly is sharing some info on her new release, Innocence.



Thank you so much for hosting me The series comes as
InnocenceInnocence of LoveBreaking InnocenceReturn To Innocence
Innocence Blurb Book 1
Calvin Edwards has everything he could dream about— perfect lifestyle, running the family real-estate company back in London. He takes a holiday up north to visit his parents only to find a young pregnant woman attempting to take her life. Wishing to help, Calvin becomes a friend to her, only fears he’s out of his depth. Just when he thinks he can do this his past resurfaces, sending his life crashing.
Kacey is pregnant and her life is out of control with nowhere left to go. She descends on her mum for one last chance for help, only to have the door slammed in her face. At her wits end, she is alone, scared, and helpless until Calvin comes along. He becomes a dear friend giving her kindness, something she thought no longer existed in the world. Only she finds what she’d pushed to the back of her mind through selfish pain is back. Her past with all its mistakes has come back to life!
Excerpt Calvin Edwards
Calvin had no idea what the hell he was doing. He walked into the car park pondering whether he should call the police, longing for someone else to take over the extensive mess he’d somehow found himself in. He reached into his jeans pocket for his mobile phone, contemplating to call the police and have her picked up, get her some serious help, but he feared for her and the baby, and what would happen to them.There was something in his mind calling out to him to help her. He saw his car and debated to climb in it and drive away as fast as he could, leaving her to deal with her own mess she had created. Clearly, she had been shameless. Otherwise, why would her parents turn their back on her, especially carrying a baby? But listening to what she had to say and how she got involved with a bad crowd, that could be enough to course any family break-up, or had she twisted the story about her parents to get sympathy? He felt sick, there was no way he could take her back to his parents’ place, no way on this God’s living earth. She would take one look at the hall and see pound signs and lavish in his lifestyle, and there was no way he was going to be brought into her having his wallet. Hell, he had learned that over the years of being used and abused for his assets. Yes, his family was wealthy. Yes, they ran a hall and several businesses. Yes, he had the lifestyle many people would dream about, but he never took it for granted. Okay, Calvin told a few white lies, he wasn’t living with anyone or had flatmates back in London. He owned the place out-right, worth millions, but wasn’t about to admit that. He lied about not owning the car and about going to prison. The nearest he’d been to the building was a school trip having a guided tour, that was it. He never considered himself being a swot, but he was brought up to respect people, their values, views, and lifestyles and clearly Kacey had some really serious issues on these.He walked over to his BMW and leaned against the front wing, folding his arms across his chest, wondering what to do. He took a deep breath. His mind was all over the place searching for answers. If he couldn’t take her back home, and she certainly wasn’t welcome at her parents’ house, what would be the next option? He rubbed his chin and rolled his tongue over his teeth, thinking hard.

Kacey Richards
While she stood, waiting for her mum to finally show her face, things had changed drastically for her from being the prim and proper young girl into a woman who had no respect, lost her elegance, rough with no courteous or any thought for others, until getting shit on herself. Well, who really gave a fuck?The only time people helped you was when they needed something in return, hell I learned the hard way, like always!The door opened and her mother stood before her, glaring at her like she was dirt.“And what do I now owe the honour for this time?” she asked sarcastically lifting her brows. “We have discussed all that we needed to yesterday, now leave us alone,” she growled.“Please, Mum. I need you.” Her mum was about to shut the door when Kacey quickly jammed her foot into the frame. “Please. I am so sorry for all the trouble I have caused, but I have nothing and I mean nothing,” she pleaded.“Well, you should have thought about that before spreading your legs and getting yourself in such condition.”“Please, I never intended for this to happen, and you cannot blame the innocent child I’m carrying.”“I’m not blaming the child. I’m blaming you,” she said cut throat.“Fine. I understand that. But please we need your help.”“You need my money more like. Do you think I am stupid? You’re going to rob us blind and run back to whatever trouble you are in,” she said thinning her eyes.“No. I…we have finished. He wants nothing to do with me and this little one,” she said rubbing her tummy and glancing down, scrunching up her nose. Never had she felt so alone.“I need somewhere for me to be safe.” Kacey lifted her head, gazing deeply into her mother’s harsh eyes, really needing her mum to stop being stubborn. After all, it was Kacey who had the problem with her parents, not the baby. Then thinking about it, she had disgraced the family.“Look, I am sorry for disappearing all those years ago,” she said, keeping her foot lodged in the way as her mum attempted to close the door again.“Move your foot,” her mum said sternly.“Please, Mum.”“You’re only here for money.”“No, I need somewhere safe for myself and the little one.”“Don’t you dare use the baby as the excuse,” she said, pointing her finger at Kacey, frowning.“Please, Mum,” she said again pleading with her. Her mum tried shutting the door again on her foot.“Go away, and if you have any sense you will leave the village and not come back.” Kacey moved her foot from the door. Her mum slammed the door shut. Kacey stood, staring at the large door not believing her mum could be so spiteful again, just like yesterday.  She felt like hitting her head against a brick wall. Her mum was just not prepared to listen; clearly she had shamed the family greatly. Her heart sunk to the pit of her stomach in anguish.



Author Holly J. Gill A wife and a mum to three grown up children, and lives in the UK. Holly J. Gill is a romance writer, her main genre being erotic, romance and has recently been exploring new channels, paranormal and contemporary. Holly has been writing since being a young girl, having characters talking to her, and longing to get their stories written. Finally, her dream came true two years ago, when getting her first contract with Secret Cravings Publishing for her Desires series. In Holly’s spare time she loves spending quality time with her family, seeing friends for lunches and sharing her new potential ideas for books. She enjoys listening to music, watching movies and travelling around England visiting the beautiful countryside.Writing is where Holly’s heart is…  Where to find Holly Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/hollyjgillauthor?ref=hlErotic Holly :http://hollyjgill.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=b9ccabad8f15e367Romance Holly : http://hollyjodygill.blogspot.co.uk/Twitter : https://twitter.com/HollyJGillGoogle + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/107879443337932231480/postsGoodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860426.Holly_J_GillPinterest : http://uk.pinterest.com/gill0839/Tsu : http://www.tsu.co/hollyjgill


Where to find Holly’s books
SCP : http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=products_all&filter_author=174&zenid=2unavehb55185g8ffp99l1oe15
Amazon UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Innocence-Book-Holly-J-Gill-ebook/dp/B00Y5OSHS4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1432456496&sr=8-3&keywords=holly+j+gill
Amazon US : http://www.amazon.com/Innocence-Book-Holly-J-Gill-ebook/dp/B00Y5OSHS4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432456537&sr=8-2&keywords=holly+j+gill
Smashwords : https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/545028
All Romance : https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-innocence-1814352-149.html
Barnes and Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/innocence-holly-j-gill/1121989627?ean=2940151564076

Sunday Ramblings: Sometimes I Lead, Sometimes I Follow

I suspect some of you may think this post is about dancing. It`s not although I do enjoy a good spin or two on the dance floor. Nope, this post is about how, every once in a great while, a character in a book will lead you to new places.
This happened to me recently. Now bear with me as I tell this tale because I'm going to be dancing (there is that word again) around a book that is written but not published yet. I do not want to spoil anything nor do I want to give some unscrupulous person a possible in for plagiarizing my work. Call me paranoid but I have seen it all over the past few years, trust me. So we will be vaguely touching on things in this future book and I hope that doesn`t make anyone reading too angry. An author just can`t be too careful anymore.
I can tell you that this book is the second novel in my upcoming Venom Series. It has a unique and compelling leading man, one who, as I started to write and get to know him better, I found myself wildly attracted to him, and his message. Crushing on my leading men is nothing unusual for me, rest assured. I am crazy over every one of them; yes even Victor Kalinski, that big jerk.
While I sighed and swooned over this fascinating man, he began to lead me into a rather spiritual place. Note that I use the word spiritual as opposed to religious. I do not do organized religion. I do like to think that I am a spiritual being. I am open to many new philosophies and ideals. As I wrote and fleshed him out, he began to lead me, slowly and gently yes, but leading the way he most certainly did. This man is a deeply spiritual man as well. He has traveled many a hard road to arrive at his inner peace. He, this fictional man, is quite a warm soul. He is gentle, kind, strong, a little stubborn, creative and quick to love deeply.
As I did more and more research into different prophets and/or shamans, I found one name popping up repeatedly. This name, and the ideology that this man spoke of, seemed to make incredible sense to me. My leading man certainly liked what was being said.  I dug a bit more. I discovered who Don Miguel Ruiz is and what he tells us. I bought his book. I read it. It has opened my eyes in many ways. 
Did it convert me? No. I am still the same person I was before I read The Four Agreements; I am just a less stressed person. Will Toltec shamanism help you gain a better understanding of the events and people in your life? Maybe. Maybe not. I know it has helped me find some inner peace. And I have this wonderfully complex and loving fictional leading man to thank.



 It really is amazing where your characters can lead you if you simply listen to them.