Lynn Cahoon's Blog, page 32
May 11, 2013
Hannah and The Pony Express – Free Read Now Available.
So, once upon a time, I had this idea for a young adult story. One that had time travel, and history, and myth all mixed up in one. Which really was a middle grade story and finally turned into Hannah And The Pony Express.
Hannah’s lost her father who she adored, and now is stuck going on a summer vacation road trip with her mom, stepdad, and the little baby brother who for some reason, likes her. Her life just keeps getting suckier and suckier.
When they stop at a road side rest stop, she’s confronted by a man in black and while escaping, she trips into something unexpected, 1860.
CBAY Press has chosen Hannah And The Pony Express as -
The Yummy But Brainy Writing Contest — Middle Grade Finalists -
Starting May 15-30th you’ll be able to vote on your favorite story of the three. Partials are up at the CBAY website for your reading pleasure.
I hope you take the opportunity to try out Hannah and the Pony Express and if you love her story as much as I do, take the time to vote.
Here’s the website. http://cbaybooks.com/info/?p=247
May 8, 2013
Meet the Neighbors – Olivia Logan – Urgent: One Nanny Required
Meet the Neighbors has Crimson Romance sister Olivia Logan visiting today. I’m excited to learn more about her release, Urgent: One Nanny Required.
Tell me your call story.
I received ‘The Call’ (email) in the evening and I remember staring at the email in shock. The first thing I did was call my husband who was also really stunned then letting my CPs know as they had been with me on this crazy ride to getting published as well!
I was at work and opened my personal e-mail. I’ll always remember that feeling. 
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Never give up. You may not get it the first time but you will get there and remember to always ask for feedback if possible.
Never give up, never surrender. I totally agree. What’s your writing must have snack? Or drink?
I don’t eat much when writing but I always make time for tea- an absolute must!
Favorite writing advice guru?
Without a doubt Liz Fielding’s ‘Little Book Of Writing Romance’.
I’ll have to check that out. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
In addition to writing I also work full time so when I’m not writing I’m generally at work but if neither of those things then you can find me out and about jogging and locating ideas for my next ms.
Yeah, I have the day job, but jogging, you go girl. Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
‘Urgent: One Nanny Required’ is a contemporary romance and is the story of Rania George who owns a sweet shop who one dark night spots a little boy outside alone. Not having had the best childhood growing up she empathizes with him and lets him in prepared to call his parents and give them a piece of her mind only to find his single dad on the doorstep annoyed at her!
Nicholas Trenton knows what is son is like with nannies however he seems to be different with this woman. He has a shoot coming up in LA for 3 weeks and yes she seems angry at him but from the looks of her shop she could use all the financial help she can get. Why not ask her to come along and be his nanny since she clearly doesn’t think the other nannies he hired in the past up to scratch?
Question is what has Rania got to lose by saying yes?
Olivia Logan : ‘Urgent: One Nanny Required’ Blurb
Hotshot Hollywood Director Nick Trenton, needed a nanny and fast. It certainly hadn’t helped that his son had run off all the others he had employed and with a big shoot coming up in LA for three weeks he was running out of options. Then along comes Rania George- sweet shop owner and one of the few people his son didn’t want to give the slip. Yes, she seemed to dislike him from the get-go, but he could work around that. He loved his son and would do anything to get the lovely Miss George to say yes to his plan.
Rania was used to children hanging outside her sweet shop but seeing one alone on a dark night was a first. What sort of parent would let their child wander the streets at night!
That was until she met his Hollywood director father. No wonder his son was wandering the streets alone, his father was probably too self-absorbed to notice. She’d learnt from an early age that anything Hollywood related was bad news. Okay so he was attractive but she had vowed from to stay away from anything, and she meant anything Hollywood. Not that it helped when his cute as a button son captured her heart so easily nor when she was being offered to babysit said son for a huge amount of money. Only catch was she had to fly to Hollywood and spend three weeks in the company of his devastatingly attractive father.
The question was after all her experiences with Hollywood, was she willing to risk it all…
Follow on twitter: @Olivia_Logan_ and Goodreads as ‘Olivia Logan’
Email: olivialoganrom@gmail.com
Buy at -
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/urgent-one-nanny-required/id634134225?mt=11
May 5, 2013
Beacon of Love by Allie Boniface releases 5/6 – Sunday Edition of Meet the Neighbors
Today, Meet the Neighbors has a special Sunday edition. So pull up a chair, get your coffee, and a cinnamon roll and read more about a fellow Lyrical author’s new release. I love a girl who chases the past.
ALLIE BONIFACE – http://www.allieboniface.com
BEACON OF LOVE – BLURB
Welcome to Lindsey Point, Connecticut: suspicious of outsiders, loyal to tradition, and absolutely devoted to its local legends.
Enter Sophie Smithwaite, feisty travel show host, in town to film an episode about Lindsey Point’s haunted lighthouse. But digging into the story of a tragic murder-suicide and love gone wrong reveals startling connections to Sophie’s own past. When a gorgeous local handyman fills in behind the camera, Sophie’s life gets complicated by more than just her family history.
Part-time paramedic, handyman, seasonal Santa-Lucas Oakes does it all–except get attached. He’s still reeling from the death of his best friend ten years ago and the more recent infidelity of his ex-fiancee. Yet despite Sophie’s big-city nosiness and her insistence on chasing long-dead ghosts, he’s drawn to her.
But mixing with an outsider means questioning people and traditions Lucas has always defended. When a series of attacks seem to be connected to Sophie’s investigation, both Sophie and Lucas must decide if they are willing to risk everything to uncover the town’s secrets…and their own.
BEACON OF LOVE – 2 EXCERPTS
“Wise ass.” Sophie backed into the street before he could grab her. “I’ll see you later!” she called. “I think Lon said something about meeting tomorrow morning and–hey!” She squawked off the last word as Lucas lifted her off the ground and onto his shoulder.
As if she was a bag of flour.
Or a damsel in distress.
Or his damn cavewoman.
About a hundred thoughts raced through her mind, and it took all she had to keep them from coming out in biting words.
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he asked as he carried her back to his truck, parked in front of the bar. He wasn’t panting, not out of breath in the least, as if she weighed close to nothing. “If anything happened to you, Lon would kill me.” With one hand he opened the passenger side door. Only then did he lower her to a seat inside the truck. His hands slid down her arms and settled her hips into place.
Oh yum. All her scathing thoughts of thirty seconds earlier vanished. She shifted on the leather. There was room for him on this side of the cab, she was almost positive. If not, she’d make room. In about two seconds.
#####
“Want something to drink? Water?”
Sophie shook her head.
“Not thirsty?”
“Lucas.”
He set the glasses down on the counter. “What?”
“Come over here and kiss me.”
His smile crooked. “Or what?”
She took two steps toward the kitchen, and he took one toward the living room, and they met in the middle. “Or I’m going to go crazy.”
He placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forehead.
Sophie closed her eyes, waiting for the slow, inevitable slip of his mouth down her neck. To her curve of her collarbone. Maybe lower.
“There you go,” he said. His hands went away.
Her eyes flew open. “That’s it?”
“You said you wanted a kiss.”
Her fists landed on her hips. “Ha ha. Funny guy. So funny, in fact, I think I’m gonna recommend that comedy special you were talking about to Lon. He’s looking for a new show, you know. Maybe you’re the next big thing.”
Lucas swung her off the ground. Her arms went around his neck and her mouth ended up a fraction of an inch below his. “Maybe I am.” He kissed her again, this time not on the forehead. And not sweetly. “What do you think?”
But she couldn’t answer, couldn’t think of anything at all except his tongue teasing hers, her legs wrapping themselves around his waist and holding on like she’d never held onto a man in her life. Fire sizzled up her spine, and the air in the room went hot. Her hands–God, her hands couldn’t get enough of him. They wanted to be everywhere, in his hair and on his face and unbuttoning that damn shirt and taking off her own dress that was so in the way right now.
ALLIE BONIFACE – BIO
Allie Boniface is a small-town girl at heart who’s traveled around the world and still finds that the magic and the mystery of small towns make them the best places to fall in love and find adventure. From the New England coast to Rocky Mountain hotels to tiny European bars, she’s found more character and plot inspirations than she could ever count. Currently, she’s lucky enough to live in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley with her own “Hometown Hero,” a guy who can fix, build, drive, and grill anything and is the epitome of the strong and silent type.
When she isn’t writing love stories, Allie is a full-time high school English teacher who gets a kick out of helping her teenagers negotiate the ups and downs of writing along with the ups and downs of life (because, really, she’s still trying to do the same thing!). And while she’ll continue to travel far and wide, Allie knows there’s really nothing like coming back to the place where the people who have known you forever welcome you home with open arms.
ALLIE BONIFACE – ONLINE LINKS
http://www.allieboniface.com
http://www.allieboniface.blogspot.com
Twitter: AllieBoniface1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Boniface/213522468685926?ref=hl
Purchase Link: http://lyricalpress.com/beacon-of-love-by-allie-boniface/
May 1, 2013
Meet the Neighbors – D’Ann Lindun A Cowboy To Keep
Meet the Neighbors welcome D’Ann Lindun. I met D’Ann last year when we both released cowboy books to Crimson. Now, she’s releasing a new story that tugs on the heart strings. Writing modern westerns about real people with real problems, D’Ann rocks the genre. Check out her latest, A Cowboy To Keep.
What would you do if your child wanted to become a world champion an activity that might get him or her killed? Would you support their dream, or would you want to protect them? What if the thing they wanted more than air was in their blood? Maybe if you or your spouse had done the same thing? Could you say no?
In A Cowboy To Keep, Laney fears for her son’s life when he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and ride rodeo bulls:
Laney watched Cody leave, her head pounding. The man had a lot of nerve, coming here to give her parenting advice. Before she could react, Justin bounded down the stairs.
“I heard what Mr. Utah said, Mom. He said I had natural talent. Do you know what that means? It means I could be as good as Dad. Maybe better if I went pro.”
“Justin, I want you to listen carefully.” She struggled to find the right words. “Sit down while I make supper.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Sit down anyway. I want to talk to you about today.”
His face dark as a Wyoming storm, he crossed his arms and glared at her, ignoring her demand. “Why did you take down my posters? And throw away my magazines?”
She drew a breath. “Don’t make me ask again. Sit down, please. We’re going to talk.”
He jerked out a chair, dragged it across the floor, and flopped into it. “I’m all ears.”
Nervous and unsure how to begin, she sat across from him and ran her fingertips across the scarred tabletop. “Justin, you know how your dad died. That bull tromped him to death—”
“That was a ranch bull,” he interrupted. “Rodeos have clowns and bullfighters to get you if something happens.”
“You could’ve been tromped by a ranch bull last night,” she pointed out.
“I wasn’t,” he shot back. “You were there, and you stopped him from coming after me.”
“The point,” she continued, “is that I couldn’t stand to have something like that happen to you. Yes, there are bullfighters, but look what happened to Lane Frost. He was one of the best rodeo cowboys in the world, and that bull gored him before the clowns could get to him.”
“That was a freak accident,” he argued.
“Yes, and what happened to you last night and to Daddy was a freak accident, too. Things happen, Justin, which you don’t expect. It’s my job as your mom to look out for you. I couldn’t prevent what happened to your dad, but I can do everything in my power to keep you safe. That means no bulls.”
His stormy face grew darker. “You can’t stop me from living my own life.”
“Until you’re eighteen, I can,” she said, feeling like a shrew. “You will not go to Mr. Utah’s place and ride his bulls, and that’s final.”
He jumped to his feet. “Dad would’ve let me!” he shouted. “He wanted me to be like him. You want me to be like you, afraid of my own shadow. Well, I’m not like you.”
“That’s enough,” she told him. Her heart hurt, but she had to protect him. “I’ve made my decision.”
Blurb: After Laney Ellis’ husband is killed by a bull, she is left to run their small cattle ranch and raise their son, Justin, on her own. Despite some of Laney’s worst fears, the dream Justin holds dearest is to be exactly like his dad, a champion bull rider. He finds his chance when world champion bull rider Cody Utah moves in next door.
Although attraction between Cody and Laney flares, neither act upon it. Laney refuses to get her family involved with another bull rider, and Cody has heard rumors Laney trapped Wyatt, her late husband, into a high school marriage by getting pregnant.The last thing Cody wants is children.
At a rodeo, Justin is thrown and knocked unconscious. As Justin lays in the hospital, Cody begs Laney to forgive him. He realizes he loves her enough to discourage Justin from the sport. Will Laney let Cody into their lives? Will Justin ride again?
***
Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there’s just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, nine ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!
http://dlindunauthor.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/DLindunAuthor
http://www.amazon.com/DAnn-Lindun/e/B008DKL9TU
April 28, 2013
Temporary Roommates – Sneak Peek Sunday
6 Paragraphs – Time to play with Annie and Troy – Temporary roommates in a Central West End apartment. (Side note, one of my team members at work signed a lease on a CWE apartment on Friday. I wonder if he read my book? LOL)
Temporary Roommates
Temporary Roommates -
Annie Baxter never believed luck or love came from a slip of paper stuck in a fortune cookie baked in Cleveland. Her friend Pam, on the other hand, not only was a true believer, but had a notebook with the slips glued on their own page. The date, time, and place of the fortune listed and notes about how they had all come true, in their own fashion. When the slip from last month’s cookie told of an impending love, Pam had gone out and bought a rat terrier. And, Annie had to admit, Pam did love that dog.
The table felt sticky from the last customer. The small Chinese restaurant wasn’t known for stellar service or atmosphere. But the place had the best Orange Chicken in town. And since it was just down from the hospital and her new apartment, it was an easy choice for dinner. Removing a small packet from her purse, Annie opened it and pulled out a sanitizing wipe. She wiped down the table with the wet paper cloth, barely noticing the sharp antiseptic smell. After finishing her ten-hour shift, she smelled like that wipe.
When she finished wiping the table down, she put the used cloth and envelope to the side, next to the wall. Looking up, she caught Pam staring at her.
“What?”
“I’m sure they cleaned the table.” Pam shot a pointed look at the used wipe.
“It felt sticky.” Annie folded her hands in front of her, hoping the explanation would be enough. Pam had been born and raised in the wealthy suburbs of St. Louis, an area nothing like the small southern Missouri town where Annie had grown up. Despite the commonalities between the two women, Annie felt like a country bumpkin sometimes compared to her friend.
Keep hopping by returning to the SPS list - http://sneak-peek-sunday.blogspot.com/2013/04/sneak-peek-sunday-april-28.html 
April 24, 2013
Meet the Neighbors Welcomes Carol Kilgore
Readers may remember seeing Carol’s cover release on the blog a few months ago. Now that Solomon’s Compass is out there in the book universe, it’s time to have Carol tell us a bit about her and her newest release.
Hi, Lynn!
Thanks for having me on your blog.
What’s your writing must have snack? Or drink?
The answer depends on the time of day. In the mornings, the answer is always coffee. Dark roast and strong with no additives. In the afternoons, it’s either water or iced tea with lime and no sugar. Are you seeing my need for caffeine? For snacks, anything that falls into any, both, or all of these categories: crunchy, savory, salty.
Strong, dark coffee. I think we would get along fine. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wish I could say I’ve always known, but that’s not the case. However, I’ve always gobbled up novels and done well on writing assignments. Almost every job I held required writing ability – I’ve written proposals, ads, marketing copy, and more. One day I was talking to a friend and said something about “the stories you have in your head.” She looked at me as if I had two heads, and neither contained a brain. That was the first time I knew not everyone carried stories and characters around with them, and I decided to try writing my stories down. Sometimes I’m a little dense, LOL. Or maybe I was too busy doing other things before then to think about writing my stories.
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
You couldn’t have asked me a more perfect question! I’m eclectic. It shows up in all I do. My music taste ranges from country to classical, rock to Latin, and more. The same with everything – art, food, décor – you name it. So it’s no surprise to me that I color outside the lines.
I say I write Crime Fiction with a Kiss. It’s a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance. The crimes aren’t always murder, and my protagonist isn’t always a detective of any sort. Sometimes the reader knows the antagonist, sometimes not. And the romance may be more a love story than a true romance. Or not.
My latest novel is Solomon’s Compass. It’s a story of love, loyalty, and the value of keeping a promise set along the South Texas Gulf Coast. The main characters are no-nonsense US Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell and former SEAL and sexy scoundrel Jake Solomon. You can read the blurb below.
A missing belt—her uncle’s prized possession. The lure of buried treasure. And a sexy former SEAL who makes U.S. Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell crazy. What more could any woman want. Right?
Taylor is in Rock Harbor, Texas, on a quest to unearth her uncle’s treasure—a journey far outside the realm of her real life. There’s one glitch. Taylor’s certain the buried treasure was all in Uncle Randy’s dementia-riddled mind. Now he’s dead.
Former SEAL Jake Solomon is in Rock Harbor under false pretenses to protect Taylor from the fate that befell her uncle and the other members of a tight circle of Coast Guardsmen called the Compass Points who served together on Point boats in Vietnam.
Jake is definitely not supposed to become involved with Taylor. That was his first mistake. Taylor is attracted to Jake as well, but she refuses to wait for him to locate the killer when she knows her plan will force her uncle’s murderer into action.
But the killer’s actions are just what Jake is afraid of.
What is one job you’ve had that just might show up in your books?
One of them is in this book. Once upon a time, I was a Realtor, as is one of the characters in Solomon’s Compass. I’ve also worked for a bank, a boat builder, and a few others. I’ll have to see what turns up next.
If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
It doesn’t matter, as both novels I’ve written so far are standalones.
In Name Only is more suspense, and Solomon’s Compass is more mystery. Both have a romance, and both are set at the Texas coast. In Name Only is set on Upper Padre Island near Corpus Christi. Solomon’s Compass is set in the fictional town of Rock Harbor. Rock Harbor is based on a real town, but I changed so much about the real town during the writing that I ended up changing the name, too.
I’m currently working on a third coastal book that is set in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. This book is also a standalone.
What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?
I hope readers take away three things after reading my work:
1. That people and things are not always what they appear to be on the surface.
2. That love is and always will be important. Not just romantic love, but love in all its forms.
3. That they want to read more of my work J
List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.
Lisa Scottoline and James Patterson
And books by my blogging buddies and writer friends!
Thanks for stopping in Carol!
Carol Kilgore has always had stories and characters in her head. She wrote short fiction for a few years and enjoyed a small success as a freelancer before giving it all up for her true love – novels.
As a Coast Guard wife, Carol has lived in locations across the U.S. She and her husband now live in a San Antonio suburb and share their home and patio with two active herding dogs whose mission is to keep them free from danger, real or imagined.
You can find Carol and her books here:
blog . website . facebook . twitter . goodreads . amazon
April 18, 2013
Temporary Roommates – Blog Tour
Temporary Roommates
Temporary Roommates Releases Saturday April 20th – Blog tour stops announced.
When a determined nurse and a hot intern find the perfect apartment, the same perfect apartment, they must find a way to share it for ninety days, without killing each other.
Annie Baxter has her dream job. Now, all she needs is a cheap apartment close to the hospital. Troy Saunders knows his life as an intern is all about the long hours. He doesn’t have time to play doctor to some Nurse Barbie. So when his sister finds a great apartment walking distance to work and next to the best running paths in the city, he’s sold. Two leasing agents, two prospective renters, one apartment. Can they co-exist without fireworks?
I’m so excited to announce my St. Louis Central West End novella, Temporary Roommates releases April 20th by Passion in Print. Described as RACY, I really pushed myself to explore some uncharted territory for me. I hope you love Annie’s and Troy’s story as much as I do.
So to celebrate, I’m running a blog tour.
Yesterday – April 17 –Annie and Troy get to talk on Meet the Characters
http://jenniferloweryauthor.com/blog-2/
April 19th – I’m over at Lois Winston’s blog talking about the five things to do that will help a friend deal with a cancer diagnosis. Temporary Roommates started as an idea I played with while waiting for chemotherapy, and lab work, and doctor visits.
http://anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/
April 20th – RELEASE DAY and I’ll be over at Lisabet’s blog talking about More Sex Please.
http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/?zx=e75ff7ec4cbbd101
April 21st – Visiting fellow Crimson Romance and Lyrical author Becky Lower
http://beckylowerauthor.blogspot.com/
April 22 –Fresh Fiction has invited me back. Giveaway alert!
April 23 – Make Mine Mystery, my normal fourth Tuesday stop is going romantic for a day.
http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/
April 24- Sarah Hoss, a Soulmate Publishing author, has me at her place.
http://www.heart-of-romance.blogspot.com/
April 25-28 We’re back here for one of the last Carrie Ann Ryan hops – Tortured Heroes – ANOTHER giveaway alert (And the fun last through the 28th)
April 26 – Passion in Print has my author interview up on their blog site. And I’ll be over at the Soul Mate Authors blog.
April 27th – Nashville paranormal author, fellow Lyrical author, and all around good kid, DB Siedel has me over at her blog.
Next month? Marriage not Included release with Soul Mate Publishing on May 22nd. More blog stops to be announced.
April 17, 2013
Meet the Neighbors – Jennifer Lowery – Murphy’s Law Release
Meet the Neighbors is happy to have Jennifer Lowery here talking about her new Lyrical Press release, Murphy’s Law. Jennifer is also a Crimson Romance author, so we run into each other a lot in the cyber neighborhoods where we hang drinking cyber beers and eating no calorie cyber potato chips. A least that’s what I’m eating. Please welcome Jennifer to the blog.
Best question – What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Perseverance is the secret handshake~Cherry Adair. She wrote that to me in an email when I was an aspiring writer and I’ve never forgotten it!
I adore Cherry Adair. I took a career building class from her my first Nationals and I still use that handout. What’s your writing schedule? Are you a full time writer?
Yes, I write full-time. Pretty much 7 days a week between social media, blogs, writing.
What’s your writing must have snack? Or drink?
Hershey’s kisses and green tea.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else! It’s always been my dream.
Nice answer. I’ve wanted to be everything, except a doctor. Can’t stand the sight of blood. So anyway, back to the interview. How long does it take you to write a book?
I’m a slow writer so it takes me months to get the first draft done. Then another for revisions.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
My house has to be clean before I can write, lol. I know. Weird. It’s my OCD side J
You’re welcome to write at my house anytime. I’ll even let you clean first. LOL. What does your family think of your writing?
I have the best family in the world! They are very supportive and understanding of my writing! I love them so much for being there for me while I follow my dream!
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have 3 published now-Hard Core, The Treasure, and Murphy’s Law. Murphy’s Law is my favorite J
What do you think makes a good story?
Strong GMC’s (Goal, Motivation, Conflict). You must have strong characters who are fleshed out.
Would you consider self-publishing?
I did self-publish a short story, Taking Chances, but I’m not sure I would self-publish a novel. I’m on the fence.
How many hours a day to you spend writing?
As many as I can.
Are your stories driven by plot or character?
Character! I’m a horrible plotter. Thank goodness I have a great critique group and partner.
List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.
Cherry Adair and Cindy Gerard.
MURPHY’S LAW -
Nowhere to go. No place to hide.
Home is the last place Jon Murphy can go. After being held captive in Tazbekistan, he returns to the States only to find he can’t face his mom and sisters with what he did while he was a prisoner, so he retreats to the mountains.
Widow Sara Sheldon has made a lifetime of mistakes and is now running scared from her husband’s powerful family, who are determined to take her daughter away from her. When her little girl goes missing in the Rockies, Sara enlists the only help she can find: a gruff recluse with tracking skills to admire and a body to covet.
A storm strands Sara and her daughter at Murphy’s cabin, leaving her no choice but to hope her in-laws don’t catch up while she plans where to run next. Murphy resents the invasion of his privacy, but can’t seem to keep his mind–or his hands–off Sara. How can she stand to look at him, with all his scars? He’s not nearly as honorable as she might think…only enough to make sure she’s safe, and then he’ll go back to being alone, the way he should be.
CONTENT WARNING: Sexual content
Author Bio:
Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer. Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side.
Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her readers. She loves everything there is about romance. Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines. She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.
Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Find Jennifer:
Author Website Facebook Twitter Romance Recipes
Buy Murphy’s Law:
April 13, 2013
Temporary Roommates Releases Next Week – Managing the chaos.
Releasing April 20th!
I’m working with a brand new publisher on this release, my editor has left the company to do other things, and I’m five posts short from finishing writing my blog tour for Temporary Roommates.
Add in the fact I’m in the middle of contract negotiations on another project and writing the second book to that series.
Forgot to mention I have a round of edits due on my middle grade time travel at the end of the month.
And next weekend, the amazing Michael Hauge is visiting St. Louis teaching his Story Mastery Workshop and I’m playing lunch lady because I opened my mouth one too many times during the MoRWA board meeting.
chaos.
So, time to go back to the basics. I’m writing today and tomorrow until I hit my word count goal. Then focusing on the edits to get them off my desk this weekend (goal). I’ve got a list of must do housekeeping things -like get food into the house and maybe give my dog a bath. And, because it’s going to be 70 degrees tomorrow, I’m scheduling in a walk for both days.
The website updates will go on a next week list along with any blog posts I can put off writing.
Lists and prioritizing. My only evil plan so far.
What tips or techniques do you use to manage the chaos?
April 10, 2013
Meet The Neighbors – Trapped Under Ice author MJ Schiller
I’m so excited to have a fellow Illinois writer here on A Fairy Tale Life for Meet the Neighbors. I met MJ when we both published with Crimson Romance, but it feels like we’ve known each other much longer. So I’ll stop rambling and let her talk…
MJ Schiller
Welcome MJ…
What does your family think of your writing?
I am very lucky that my family is supportive of my writing. I’ve heard other writers say that theirs is not, and I can’t imagine doing this without those people in your corner, at the very least. That being said, my kids give me just the right amount of ambivalence to my writing to keep me humble.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written twelve books, which I will be publishing over the next three years. My favorite is usually the book I’m working on at the time, but really, if I had to pick one it would be TRAPPED UNDER ICE. It is about a rock star, and a lunch lady/romance writer like myself. You could say it was my fantasy put to paper.
What do you think makes a good story? What is the single most important part of writing for you?
I like to see damaged characters finding themselves in love and healing. It’s that whole underdog thing, I guess. There is just something special about someone turning their life around because of the love of another. The most important thing about my writing is that it is about nothing important, and everything vital. What I mean by that is, you won’t walk away from any of my books academically enriched. You will walk away, hopefully, being entertained. Life is hard, we all need a break every once in a while. I like to think that I provide that break for some people.
If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
Get started earlier! Study the craft unceasingly!
Is your muse demanding?
She can be! By that I mean, when I’m on a roll or have a thought or idea, all I want to do is write it down. But my muse demands nothing else of me.
How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and writing muses?
Not very well. I’m kind of an all or nothing kind of girl. I find it hard to be disciplined enough to walk away from the computer to do, say, laundry, or dishes, or, even, cook dinner. My family will vouch for this! I need to find more balance.
What is the craziest thing you did as a kid, and would it ever end up in a book?
I wasn’t really a very crazy kid, but once I ran away from home. I took a Ding-dong, was gone about a half hour, and only ended up a couple of blocks away from my house. I ate my Ding-dong for fortification on someone’s front lawn in the shadow of a bush, and returned home. No one even realized I had been missing. ) : I could definitely see that ending up in a book sometime. Only the parents would notice!
What are some jobs you’ve done that would end up in a book?
I’ve been a waitress, that’s in BLACKOUT. I’ve taught, that’s in THE HEART TEACHES BEST. I was the office manager in a jewelry store, that’s in TO HELL IN A LUXURY HANDBAG. I’ve been in personnel, that’s sort of in ROCK ME, GENTLY. And I am currently a lunch lady/romance writer- TRAPPED UNDER ICE.
List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.
Easy. My two writing buds, RT Wolfe, who writes a great romantic suspense (See her BLACK CREEK BURNING series. It is wonderful!) and Eryn LaPlant, who has a flair for historical romance. Eryn is a thorough researcher and always picks interesting eras to explore. (Read her BENEATH THE WALL, a Vietnam War age romance.)
Trapped Under Ice
TRAPPED UNDER ICE:
Rock star Chad Evans’s tortured past hides just beneath the surface. Even fans screaming out his name in ecstasy can’t drown out the screams of his childhood. He can usually keep it under control, but not always. Tonight the alcohol doesn’t seem to soothe.
Part of the crowd, Beth Donovan smiles, really enjoying herself for a change. But her smile isn’t usually this bright. It is the kind of smile that masks sorrow. Three years just isn’t long enough to get over losing Paul.
When a vicious attack behind stage brings this unlikely pair together, something changes inside of them both. But can a jet-setting superstar and a Midwestern lunch lady ever manage a real relationship? And even if they can, will the person sending Chad death threats take it all away? Or is it their fate to remain forever trapped under ice?
Excerpt:
Chad rang the doorbell, nerves making him tug at his shirt sleeves to straighten his shirt. Everything had to go just right tonight. Beth opened the door and light fell on the porch. “Damn!”
She laughed. “My, you do have a way with words.”
“Let me see this!” He whistled, stepping in and circling around her so he could get the full effect. Beth had on a longer emerald dress, with four straps crisscrossing her upper back before plunging downward and long slits gliding up her legs. Again, her hair was swept up, making her neck seem so much more inviting. He returned to face her, admiring her from the front. He laughed. “I’m sorry, it’s just…damn!” He shook his head.
“Oh stop,” she mumbled, her face flushing as she hit him with her handbag.
“I love the way you blush.” Chad touched her hot face and gave her a kiss.
When he pulled away, she blurted out, bubbling over, “I’m so excited. So where are we going?”
“Ah-ah-ah. Not yet. You need to wear this.” He pulled a silky, black scarf from his suit pocket.
“Ooooh. What kind of kinky thing am I in for?”
“You little vixen!” Chad gave her a sharp swap on the derrière. He positioned himself behind his date again and brought the scarf over Beth’s head to tie it behind her as a blindfold.
“What are you up to?” she asked coquettishly.
Chad leaned into that tantalizing neck, annunciating each word in her ear with a seductive whisper, “Try not to anticipate.” Then, unable to resist, he kissed her there.
She squirmed with delight. “Oooh. That’s so much better when I can’t see you.”
“Uhhh…is that supposed to be a compliment? ‘Cause, it doesn’t sound like one.”
“Oh, silly. You know what I mean.” She tried to reach for him. “I can’t find you to kiss you,” she whined in frustration.
“That’s part of the fun,” he teased, his voice now coming from in front of her. “Okay,” he continued, leading the way, “you need to take a step down onto the porch. Where’s your key?”
“In my bag.”
He took her handbag and locked the door. As he moved her toward the steps, another arm supported her on the right. “Wow, Beth! You look fantastic.”
“Thank you, Pete. So he roped you into this, too?”
“No rope needed. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Chad shot his usually tight lipped bodyguard a warning look, which Beth, of course, could not see. After the two men got her safely in the limousine and closed the door, Pete commented, “If you don’t propose to her, I will.”
“Just you try it, old man,” he returned with a grin.
Author Bio:
I was born in the heart of Tornado Alley, and I’ve been a bit mixed up ever since. Not really, but I’ve always wanted to use that line. The medical community has established no solid connection between the place of my birth and my off-beat personality.
I grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in English education. I left the workforce, however, when my kids were born. Unbelievably I now have an eighteen year old and sixteen-year-old triplets! Yes, I write to escape teenagerdom. Although I love them dearly. I also escape via rock concerts and karaoke. My first book, TAKEN BY STORM, was published by Crimson Romance last fall, and my next book, the second in the ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION, titled ABANDON ALL HOPE will be coming soon!
You can find me at www.mjschiller.blogspot.com , or MJ on FB, or Twitter.
You can find TRAPPED UNDER ICE at Amazon, BN.com, the I-book Store, and other e-book retailers.
