Becky Lower's Blog, page 37
December 14, 2014
Stuff The Stocking Time--Week Three
I'm recuperating from hip replacement surgery, so I've decided to turn my blog over to my chapter mates in December. We're a prolific group of authors, featuring three Golden Heart finalists in the past two years alone. And we've been published in a variety of ways–from traditional houses to self-publishing to small presses. One thing our books have in common is that they're the results of active imaginations that run the gamut–historical, erotica, contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense. I'm sure every visitor to the blog this month will find something to load onto a Kindle for a gift, or add it to your own.
Contemporary--Pulling Home, by Mary Campisi
It’s all about that second chance…
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to get that second chance—in life and in love. That Second Chance Series are stories of strong women who battle heartache and loss with courage and determination to find new paths and true love. These books are standalones and are NOT related. Therefore, the characters from one story will not appear in another. What ties them together? A common theme—belief in the beauty of that second chance.
Pulling Home is Book One in That Second Chance Series.
She'll risk anything to save her child…even the truth
It’s taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She’s created the perfect life—a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap. When her husband dies suddenly, Audra returns to her hometown for the funeral and faces a community that has not forgotten her meager beginnings and a man who has never forgiven her for marrying his brother.Jack Wheyton is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon who is about to become engaged when Audra walks back into his life with her daughter. He forgave his brother long ago for taking something that had been his, something he hadn’t even realized he wanted until it was gone. But forgiving Audra is another story…and forgetting her? Near impossible.When a shattering illness strikes Audra’s daughter, she turns to Jack to save her child and risks exposing a secret that will change their lives forever.
That Second Chance SeriesBook One: Pulling Home - She'll risk anything to save her child...even the truthBook Two: The Way They Were - Tragedy tore them apart, destiny will bring them back togetherBook Three: Simple Riches - What is real weath?Book Four: Paradise Found - How does one see truly? With the heart or with the eyes?Book Five: Not Your Everyday HousewifeBook Six: The Butterfly Garden
BONUS MATERIAL: Included in this book is 2 Chapters from The Way They Were: That Second Chance, Book 2
Buy Links: Amazon http://amzn.to/HyndUY
i-Books http://bit.ly/1sH78l4 Nook http://bit.ly/1lH3wLdKobo http://bit.ly/1w8eey2Audible http://amzn.to/1npNBOs
Historical Romance--It Takes A Spy, by Sheridan Jeane
In 1851, Cecilia Paring has serious reservations about marrying her fiancé, Devin Montlake. Gone is the boy who could capture her heart with a word or a glance and in his place is a man who has made it clear that to be a proper barrister's wife, the exciting and impulsive Cecilia must change as well.
Although Devin Montlake loves his orderly life as a barrister, he's determined to follow his roadmap to achieve his goal of becoming a judge. His biggest obstacle seems to be convincing his headstrong fiancée to fulfill her social obligations with a modicum of propriety. But when the jewelry collection belonging to Cecilia's family is stolen the night before it is to be auctioned off and Devin is framed for the crime, he discovers that following his much-loved rules won't solve this particular problem. He'll need the inventiveness of his irrepressible fiancée to catch the thief.
http://www.amazon.com/Takes-Spy-Secrets-Seduction-Book-ebook/dp/B00MSUXB0Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413745112&sr=1-3&keywords=sheridan+Jeane
Erotica--All Of You, by Jacqueline Anne
Alayna Taylor is a dedicated wife, loving mother, and opened her dream business. A tragic accident overturns her perfect life. Pushing through, she finds strength to move on as a mother and business owner. Then she looks for what she wants as a woman and pursues the man of her erotic dreams, her children’s doctor. Adam Bryant is a caring, gentle man, the perfect pediatrician. He has dedicated his life to caring for others and always followed the “everything happens for a reason” motto. A text from his patients’ mother has him ringing her doorbell. Alayna is clear that she is a package deal and protects her heart and kids. Adam discovers a hungry sexual side that only she brings out of him with her strength and seductive ways. He is determined to show Alayna how much he cares about all of her with his thoughtful, mind blowing surprises. Both Alayna and Adam find themselves wanting a whole lot more.
http://amzn.com/B00NEWXO0Ohttps://itunes.apple.com/us/book/all-of-you-sweet-lovers/id918604509?mt=11http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-of-you-sweet-lovers-jacqueline-anne/1120327664?ean=9781632581730https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jacqueline_Anne_All_of_You_Sweet_Lovers?id=Sqx_BAAAQBAJ
Contemporary Romance--The Bodyguard's Baby (Billionaire Bodyguard Series), by Kristi Avalon
Will one precious bundle change everything?
Used to guarding tycoons and government officials, former Navy SEAL Slone Rowan assumes playing live-in bodyguard to a second grade teacher will be easy. But Lindsey Graham becomes a temptation he never expected. Every day with her weakens his resolve to stay detached so she doesn’t discover the guilt he carries with him from his dark past.
Still on edge after a traumatic kidnapping, Lindsey’s lifelong dream comes into sharp focus – to have a baby of her own. However, doctors warn a childhood illness impacts her chances of conceiving. While exploring fertility treatments, she realizes her most alluring option is only a bedroom away…
Can Slone’s desire for Lindsey and the promise of the family he’s denied himself breach his defenses and heal his battle-scarred heart?
http://www.amazon.com/Bodyguards-Baby-Billionaire-Bodyguard-ebook/dp/B00KHFEFQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412203214&sr=8-1&keywords=the+bodyguard%27s+baby
Contemporary Romance--The Road To Comfort, by Becky Lower
Juliette St.James has only done two impetuous things in her life, and the first resulted in her becoming a single parent at age 18. Now, she’s embarking on a cross-country trip to celebrate becoming an empty-nester. Not sure of what she will do now that she’s flying solo, she comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare—a cowboy.
Cyclone Kelley is a former rodeo cowboy who has broken one too many body parts to continue on the rodeo circuit. But the one body part that can’t be fixed by putting it into a cast is his heart, which was broken when his wife died. He wasn’t home to save her, and feels he’s unworthy for any kind of lasting relationship with a woman, so his life has been a meaningless string of one-nighters.
One broken car and an equally broken cowboy later, they are forced to decide if love is worth gambling on what could be. Or if tornadoes, and Cyclones, are better left alone.
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1ofOSuI
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--Shifter Wars, by AE Jones
Why did the demon cross the road? Apparently to escape from Kyle McKinley. Which is more than fine with her.
The last thing she wants is to be dragged into another supernatural crisis, but the Fates have something more interesting in store for her. Since the tricky wenches love to mess with people, Kyle isn’t really surprised. And once she learns Trina, the young shifter girl whose memory she erased, is being stalked again, Kyle will do whatever it takes to protect her.
Normally a secretive group, the shifters reluctantly agree to allow Kyle and her vampire and demon teammates to investigate. Are the poachers who kidnapped Trina back for revenge? But when other shifters are also targeted, Kyle becomes convinced there is more to the attacks than vengeance. And when the violence escalates and Griffin, the enigmatic leader of the shifters, ends up in the crosshairs, the team braces for a bloodbath.
Scrambling to identify the mysterious group bent on destroying the shifters, and why, Kyle is also haunted by dreams and painful flashes from the prophesied Key of Knowledge which has taken up residence in her brain. In typical Kyle fashion, she decides to ignore it, but the more she ignores it, the more it digs its claws into her consciousness. If she can’t learn to embrace the Key and ask for help from those closest to her, she could lose her sanity before she’s able to prevent a shifter civil war.
Contemporary--Pulling Home, by Mary CampisiIt’s all about that second chance…
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to get that second chance—in life and in love. That Second Chance Series are stories of strong women who battle heartache and loss with courage and determination to find new paths and true love. These books are standalones and are NOT related. Therefore, the characters from one story will not appear in another. What ties them together? A common theme—belief in the beauty of that second chance.
Pulling Home is Book One in That Second Chance Series.
She'll risk anything to save her child…even the truth
It’s taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She’s created the perfect life—a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap. When her husband dies suddenly, Audra returns to her hometown for the funeral and faces a community that has not forgotten her meager beginnings and a man who has never forgiven her for marrying his brother.Jack Wheyton is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon who is about to become engaged when Audra walks back into his life with her daughter. He forgave his brother long ago for taking something that had been his, something he hadn’t even realized he wanted until it was gone. But forgiving Audra is another story…and forgetting her? Near impossible.When a shattering illness strikes Audra’s daughter, she turns to Jack to save her child and risks exposing a secret that will change their lives forever.
That Second Chance SeriesBook One: Pulling Home - She'll risk anything to save her child...even the truthBook Two: The Way They Were - Tragedy tore them apart, destiny will bring them back togetherBook Three: Simple Riches - What is real weath?Book Four: Paradise Found - How does one see truly? With the heart or with the eyes?Book Five: Not Your Everyday HousewifeBook Six: The Butterfly Garden
BONUS MATERIAL: Included in this book is 2 Chapters from The Way They Were: That Second Chance, Book 2
Buy Links: Amazon http://amzn.to/HyndUY
i-Books http://bit.ly/1sH78l4 Nook http://bit.ly/1lH3wLdKobo http://bit.ly/1w8eey2Audible http://amzn.to/1npNBOs
Historical Romance--It Takes A Spy, by Sheridan Jeane
In 1851, Cecilia Paring has serious reservations about marrying her fiancé, Devin Montlake. Gone is the boy who could capture her heart with a word or a glance and in his place is a man who has made it clear that to be a proper barrister's wife, the exciting and impulsive Cecilia must change as well. Although Devin Montlake loves his orderly life as a barrister, he's determined to follow his roadmap to achieve his goal of becoming a judge. His biggest obstacle seems to be convincing his headstrong fiancée to fulfill her social obligations with a modicum of propriety. But when the jewelry collection belonging to Cecilia's family is stolen the night before it is to be auctioned off and Devin is framed for the crime, he discovers that following his much-loved rules won't solve this particular problem. He'll need the inventiveness of his irrepressible fiancée to catch the thief.
http://www.amazon.com/Takes-Spy-Secrets-Seduction-Book-ebook/dp/B00MSUXB0Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413745112&sr=1-3&keywords=sheridan+Jeane
Erotica--All Of You, by Jacqueline Anne
Alayna Taylor is a dedicated wife, loving mother, and opened her dream business. A tragic accident overturns her perfect life. Pushing through, she finds strength to move on as a mother and business owner. Then she looks for what she wants as a woman and pursues the man of her erotic dreams, her children’s doctor. Adam Bryant is a caring, gentle man, the perfect pediatrician. He has dedicated his life to caring for others and always followed the “everything happens for a reason” motto. A text from his patients’ mother has him ringing her doorbell. Alayna is clear that she is a package deal and protects her heart and kids. Adam discovers a hungry sexual side that only she brings out of him with her strength and seductive ways. He is determined to show Alayna how much he cares about all of her with his thoughtful, mind blowing surprises. Both Alayna and Adam find themselves wanting a whole lot more.
http://amzn.com/B00NEWXO0Ohttps://itunes.apple.com/us/book/all-of-you-sweet-lovers/id918604509?mt=11http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-of-you-sweet-lovers-jacqueline-anne/1120327664?ean=9781632581730https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jacqueline_Anne_All_of_You_Sweet_Lovers?id=Sqx_BAAAQBAJ
Contemporary Romance--The Bodyguard's Baby (Billionaire Bodyguard Series), by Kristi Avalon
Will one precious bundle change everything?
Used to guarding tycoons and government officials, former Navy SEAL Slone Rowan assumes playing live-in bodyguard to a second grade teacher will be easy. But Lindsey Graham becomes a temptation he never expected. Every day with her weakens his resolve to stay detached so she doesn’t discover the guilt he carries with him from his dark past.
Still on edge after a traumatic kidnapping, Lindsey’s lifelong dream comes into sharp focus – to have a baby of her own. However, doctors warn a childhood illness impacts her chances of conceiving. While exploring fertility treatments, she realizes her most alluring option is only a bedroom away…
Can Slone’s desire for Lindsey and the promise of the family he’s denied himself breach his defenses and heal his battle-scarred heart?
http://www.amazon.com/Bodyguards-Baby-Billionaire-Bodyguard-ebook/dp/B00KHFEFQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412203214&sr=8-1&keywords=the+bodyguard%27s+baby
Contemporary Romance--The Road To Comfort, by Becky Lower
Juliette St.James has only done two impetuous things in her life, and the first resulted in her becoming a single parent at age 18. Now, she’s embarking on a cross-country trip to celebrate becoming an empty-nester. Not sure of what she will do now that she’s flying solo, she comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare—a cowboy.
Cyclone Kelley is a former rodeo cowboy who has broken one too many body parts to continue on the rodeo circuit. But the one body part that can’t be fixed by putting it into a cast is his heart, which was broken when his wife died. He wasn’t home to save her, and feels he’s unworthy for any kind of lasting relationship with a woman, so his life has been a meaningless string of one-nighters.
One broken car and an equally broken cowboy later, they are forced to decide if love is worth gambling on what could be. Or if tornadoes, and Cyclones, are better left alone.
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1ofOSuI
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--Shifter Wars, by AE Jones
Why did the demon cross the road? Apparently to escape from Kyle McKinley. Which is more than fine with her. The last thing she wants is to be dragged into another supernatural crisis, but the Fates have something more interesting in store for her. Since the tricky wenches love to mess with people, Kyle isn’t really surprised. And once she learns Trina, the young shifter girl whose memory she erased, is being stalked again, Kyle will do whatever it takes to protect her.
Normally a secretive group, the shifters reluctantly agree to allow Kyle and her vampire and demon teammates to investigate. Are the poachers who kidnapped Trina back for revenge? But when other shifters are also targeted, Kyle becomes convinced there is more to the attacks than vengeance. And when the violence escalates and Griffin, the enigmatic leader of the shifters, ends up in the crosshairs, the team braces for a bloodbath.
Scrambling to identify the mysterious group bent on destroying the shifters, and why, Kyle is also haunted by dreams and painful flashes from the prophesied Key of Knowledge which has taken up residence in her brain. In typical Kyle fashion, she decides to ignore it, but the more she ignores it, the more it digs its claws into her consciousness. If she can’t learn to embrace the Key and ask for help from those closest to her, she could lose her sanity before she’s able to prevent a shifter civil war.
December 7, 2014
Stuff The Stocking Time--Week Two
I'm recuperating from hip replacement surgery, so I've decided to turn my blog over to my chapter mates in December. We're a prolific group of authors, featuring three Golden Heart finalists in the past two years alone. And we've been published in a variety of ways–from traditional houses to self-publishing to small presses. One thing our books have in common is that they're the results of active imaginations that run the gamut–historical, erotica, contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense. I'm sure every visitor to the blog this month will find something to load onto a Kindle for a gift, or add it to your own.
Romantic Suspense--Thief Of The Heart, by Rena Koontz
From the moment he saw Jennifer Roberts, his instinct was to protect her. But she wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, the last thing Jennifer wanted to do that Saturday afternoon was call the police. She didn’t trust them. She’d fallen hard for a cop – the exact person every child is told to run to for safety – and he betrayed her and broke her heart. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.But she has no choice when she discovers her apartment has been broken into and five simple words turn her world upside down: “You called for the police?” When blond-haired, blue-eyed Max Domer walks in her doorway he is ready to protect and serve. It is his motto. It will be her downfall.Max is ready to leave Center City behind, cut all ties and make a fresh start as a detective on the West Coast. There is nothing unusual about the burglary call he catches, except that the woman is stunning and, for some reason, antagonistic toward police. But she’s caught in someone’s crosshairs – her car is stolen, her father dies and murder comes to her doorstep – and, like it or not, she needs his help.But while Max is on the trail of a master crime ring, the real thief sets about stealing his heart. And Jennifer, who innocently let’s her guard down, learns she can’t judge a man by his uniform. They are polar opposites destined to stand together and fight for their future. http://www.amazon.com/Thief-Heart-Rena-Koontz-ebook/dp/B00MF3EQ6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413556053&sr=8-1&keywords=rena+koontz
Historical Romance--Gambling On A Scoundrel, by Sheridan Jeane
Lonely railroad heiress Tempy Bliss, a budding journalist, is elated that Charles Dickens wants her to write an article about gambling for his newspaper. But when casino owner Lucien Hamlin bans Tempy from his gambling palace once he learns of her profession, she begins to suspect a much bigger story is at hand. Lucien’s secretive behavior goads Tempy into uncovering the real story.
Lucien is a hard-driving businessman whose life is about to be upended by his unexpected inheritance of an earldom. It’s a fact he’d rather not have announced, and certainly not in newsprint, until after the sale of his casino.
With Tempy's career goals progressing, as well as her dreams of becoming a part of her fiancé's family, she refuses to accept defeat even when Ernest sends her a letter from Paris informing her he's fallen in love with a Frenchwoman. Tempy resolves to win him back while simultaneously conducting her research at the sumptuous Hamlin House casino.
When Ernest returns to London with his new fiancée, Tempy witnesses their open affection for one another and is heartbroken. This inspires her to transform herself into the kind of woman Ernest seems to want, and she makes a deal with Lucien Hamlin to help her. Tempy isn't at all interested in a loner like Lucien, and Lucien wants to avoid the complications swirling around Tempy Bliss, the notorious "poor little rich girl."
In Tempy's quest to transform herself she learns to walk, talk, drink…and even to kiss like a courtesan. Her journey takes her from London to Bath and across Somerset County to the town of Porlock. She learns a great deal about the seedier side of casinos and gambling. She also continues to conduct research for her article, meets a reformed gambler, and works with both Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Scoundrel-Sheridan-Jeane-ebook/dp/B00JDSAJC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413744641&sr=1-1&keywords=sheridan+Jeane
Contemporary Romance--A Family Affair, by Mary Campisi
When Christine Blacksworth’s larger-than-life father is killed on an icy road in Magdalena, New York, a hundred miles from the “getaway” cabin he visited every month, she discovers a secret that threatens everything she’s always held to be true. Her father has another family that includes a mistress and a daughter. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half-sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she’ll let him. The longer she’s around them, the more she questions which family is the real one.
Truth in Lies SeriesBook One: A Family AffairBook Two: A Family Affair: SpringBook Three: A Family Affair: SummerBook Four: A Family Affair: FallBook Five: A Family Affair: ChristmasBook Six: A Family Affair: Winter (TBA)Book Seven: A Family Affair: ... (TBA)
Amazon http://amzn.to/HPfJ00i-Books http://bit.ly/1pbw6WCNook http://bit.ly/UocoLUKobo http://bit.ly/UocVxfAudible http://amzn.to/1fhQy0W
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--The Fledgling, by AE Jones
A Mind Sweeper novella that peeks into Jean Luc Delacroix’s past. He has lived for centuries as a vampire, but the 1980’s may be his biggest challenge yet. How does a nearly four-hundred-year-old vampire survive a decade of shoulder pads, big hair, and music videos? Simple. Concentrate on his job.
Jean Luc and his demon partner, Misha, work for the Bureau of Supernatural Relations. Their task: keep humans from finding out about the supernatural. Not a simple thing to do when dead bodies keep turning up with their throats ripped out. So the team’s first priority is to stop a supernatural serial killer from striking again. The only problem is the beautiful bounty hunter who keeps interfering with the investigation.
Talia Walker is a bounty hunter who also happens to be a newly turned vampire. She deliberately avoids other supernaturals and knows nothing of what being a vampire truly means. Her job: find a murderer and bring him to justice. The problem is she has never dealt with a supernatural bounty before…or an overbearing, ridiculously sexy vampire.
When Jean Luc and Talia butt heads over the investigation, only Misha can see that their animosity has more to do with attraction than anger. And unless Jean Luc and Talia can set aside their troubled pasts and learn to trust each other, they may never have an opportunity to explore their true feelings. Especially when they come face to face with the killer.
Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Fledgling-Novella-Mind-Sweeper-Book-ebook/dp/B00O36K5HU/ref=la_B00MSVD18C_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414028137&sr=1-2B&Nhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fledgling-ae-jones/1120532913?ean=2940150407022 iBooks (itunes)https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-fledgling-a-novella/id924625279?ls=1&mt=11 Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-fledgling-7
Christmas Anthology--All I Want For Christmas Is A Soul Mate, by Soul Mate Authors
A delightful collection of Christmas short stories features a multitude of romantic genres all with one
common theme: during the holiday season, nothing’s better than spending it with the one you love.
Twenty talented Soul Mate authors have put together an anthology that’s sure to please any reader who enjoys their romance with a splash of Christmas cheer.Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1mKB6AD
Romantic Suspense--Thief Of The Heart, by Rena Koontz
From the moment he saw Jennifer Roberts, his instinct was to protect her. But she wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, the last thing Jennifer wanted to do that Saturday afternoon was call the police. She didn’t trust them. She’d fallen hard for a cop – the exact person every child is told to run to for safety – and he betrayed her and broke her heart. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.But she has no choice when she discovers her apartment has been broken into and five simple words turn her world upside down: “You called for the police?” When blond-haired, blue-eyed Max Domer walks in her doorway he is ready to protect and serve. It is his motto. It will be her downfall.Max is ready to leave Center City behind, cut all ties and make a fresh start as a detective on the West Coast. There is nothing unusual about the burglary call he catches, except that the woman is stunning and, for some reason, antagonistic toward police. But she’s caught in someone’s crosshairs – her car is stolen, her father dies and murder comes to her doorstep – and, like it or not, she needs his help.But while Max is on the trail of a master crime ring, the real thief sets about stealing his heart. And Jennifer, who innocently let’s her guard down, learns she can’t judge a man by his uniform. They are polar opposites destined to stand together and fight for their future. http://www.amazon.com/Thief-Heart-Rena-Koontz-ebook/dp/B00MF3EQ6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413556053&sr=8-1&keywords=rena+koontz 
Historical Romance--Gambling On A Scoundrel, by Sheridan JeaneLonely railroad heiress Tempy Bliss, a budding journalist, is elated that Charles Dickens wants her to write an article about gambling for his newspaper. But when casino owner Lucien Hamlin bans Tempy from his gambling palace once he learns of her profession, she begins to suspect a much bigger story is at hand. Lucien’s secretive behavior goads Tempy into uncovering the real story.
Lucien is a hard-driving businessman whose life is about to be upended by his unexpected inheritance of an earldom. It’s a fact he’d rather not have announced, and certainly not in newsprint, until after the sale of his casino.
With Tempy's career goals progressing, as well as her dreams of becoming a part of her fiancé's family, she refuses to accept defeat even when Ernest sends her a letter from Paris informing her he's fallen in love with a Frenchwoman. Tempy resolves to win him back while simultaneously conducting her research at the sumptuous Hamlin House casino.
When Ernest returns to London with his new fiancée, Tempy witnesses their open affection for one another and is heartbroken. This inspires her to transform herself into the kind of woman Ernest seems to want, and she makes a deal with Lucien Hamlin to help her. Tempy isn't at all interested in a loner like Lucien, and Lucien wants to avoid the complications swirling around Tempy Bliss, the notorious "poor little rich girl."
In Tempy's quest to transform herself she learns to walk, talk, drink…and even to kiss like a courtesan. Her journey takes her from London to Bath and across Somerset County to the town of Porlock. She learns a great deal about the seedier side of casinos and gambling. She also continues to conduct research for her article, meets a reformed gambler, and works with both Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Scoundrel-Sheridan-Jeane-ebook/dp/B00JDSAJC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413744641&sr=1-1&keywords=sheridan+Jeane
Contemporary Romance--A Family Affair, by Mary Campisi
When Christine Blacksworth’s larger-than-life father is killed on an icy road in Magdalena, New York, a hundred miles from the “getaway” cabin he visited every month, she discovers a secret that threatens everything she’s always held to be true. Her father has another family that includes a mistress and a daughter. Determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s secret life, Christine heads to Magdalena, prepared to hate the people who have caused her to question everything she thought she knew about her father. But what she finds is a woman who understands her, a half-sister who cherishes her, and a man who could love her if she’ll let him. The longer she’s around them, the more she questions which family is the real one.Truth in Lies SeriesBook One: A Family AffairBook Two: A Family Affair: SpringBook Three: A Family Affair: SummerBook Four: A Family Affair: FallBook Five: A Family Affair: ChristmasBook Six: A Family Affair: Winter (TBA)Book Seven: A Family Affair: ... (TBA)
Amazon http://amzn.to/HPfJ00i-Books http://bit.ly/1pbw6WCNook http://bit.ly/UocoLUKobo http://bit.ly/UocVxfAudible http://amzn.to/1fhQy0W
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--The Fledgling, by AE Jones
A Mind Sweeper novella that peeks into Jean Luc Delacroix’s past. He has lived for centuries as a vampire, but the 1980’s may be his biggest challenge yet. How does a nearly four-hundred-year-old vampire survive a decade of shoulder pads, big hair, and music videos? Simple. Concentrate on his job.
Jean Luc and his demon partner, Misha, work for the Bureau of Supernatural Relations. Their task: keep humans from finding out about the supernatural. Not a simple thing to do when dead bodies keep turning up with their throats ripped out. So the team’s first priority is to stop a supernatural serial killer from striking again. The only problem is the beautiful bounty hunter who keeps interfering with the investigation.
Talia Walker is a bounty hunter who also happens to be a newly turned vampire. She deliberately avoids other supernaturals and knows nothing of what being a vampire truly means. Her job: find a murderer and bring him to justice. The problem is she has never dealt with a supernatural bounty before…or an overbearing, ridiculously sexy vampire.
When Jean Luc and Talia butt heads over the investigation, only Misha can see that their animosity has more to do with attraction than anger. And unless Jean Luc and Talia can set aside their troubled pasts and learn to trust each other, they may never have an opportunity to explore their true feelings. Especially when they come face to face with the killer.
Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Fledgling-Novella-Mind-Sweeper-Book-ebook/dp/B00O36K5HU/ref=la_B00MSVD18C_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414028137&sr=1-2B&Nhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fledgling-ae-jones/1120532913?ean=2940150407022 iBooks (itunes)https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-fledgling-a-novella/id924625279?ls=1&mt=11 Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-fledgling-7
Christmas Anthology--All I Want For Christmas Is A Soul Mate, by Soul Mate Authors
A delightful collection of Christmas short stories features a multitude of romantic genres all with one
common theme: during the holiday season, nothing’s better than spending it with the one you love.Twenty talented Soul Mate authors have put together an anthology that’s sure to please any reader who enjoys their romance with a splash of Christmas cheer.Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1mKB6AD
November 30, 2014
Stuff The Stocking Time--Week One
I'm recuperating from hip replacement surgery, so I've decided to turn my blog over to my chapter mates in December. We're a prolific group of authors, featuring three Golden Heart finalists in the past two years alone. And we've been published in a variety of ways–from traditional houses to self-publishing to small presses. One thing our books have in common is that they're the results of active imaginations that run the gamut–historical, erotica, contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense. I'm sure every visitor to the blog this month will find something to load onto a Kindle for a gift, or add it to your own.
Historical Bundle--Time After Time, by Crimson Authors
From Regency England to the American Civil War, from the Wild West to Viking battles for territory, Time After Timedelivers the gallantry, the color, the passion of yesterday that captures every historical romance lover’s heart. Fall in love with these ten titles from some of Crimson’s brightest stars:
Elf Ahearn – A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing
Emma Barron – The Glass Orchid
Elizabeth Meyette – Love’s Destiny
Andrea R. Cooper – Viking Fire
Ivory Lei – How to Wed an Earl
Rachel Donnelly – Lady Broke
Emma Barry – Brave in Heart
Marie Patrick — A Treasure Worth Keeping
Becky Lower – The Reluctant Debutante
Elizabeth Boyce – Once a Duchess Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1mXgHZt
Romantic Suspense--Wine And Spirits, by Nancy Kay
Carena McBride married a dedicated policeman, but when he's killed on the job, she's shattered. After five turbulent years alone, Cara returns to her hometown. The Wine Cellar, an upscale restaurant's new addition, needs a manager and she is a perfect fit.
A failed marriage has convinced State Police Corporal Zac Ramsey he's not good husband material. Now his career comes first...until he encounters captivating, resilient Carena. Despite Zac's marriage phobia and Cara's vow to never again fall for another policeman, they become entangled in a steamy affair.
As Zac investigates a series of murders, Cara pursues a pet project documenting local Urban Legends. But when he discovers the only link between four brutally murdered women was their interest in those legends, Zac advises Cara to halt her project.
She complies...almost.
Unaware the killer is watching, Cara innocently triggers his demented fury, and Zac scrambles to keep her alive.
Website and buy sites: http://www.nancykayauthor.com
https://www.allromanceebooks.com http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wine-and-spirits-nancy-kay/1120532832?ean=2940150406971 http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/wine-and-spirits-epub/Regency Historical--The Whisky Laird's Bed, By Donna MacMeans
Lady of Temperance Laird of Temptation....
Claire Starke has no illusions about her future. As her father repeatedly reminded her, her looks would never win a husband, and her poverty makes her an even less suitable wife. Luckily, her comrades at the Rake Patrol have given her joy and comfort--enough to quell the dull ache for a family of her own. So, when fellow member Faith runs off to the Highlands, investigating a whisky distiller advertising for an English wife, Claire sees no choice but to save her friend from this intemperate and lustful man. But she didn’t expect the Highland laird to be so intriguing, or to begin questioning her own restraint...
Still reeling from the distillery accident which left him scarred and shaken, Cameron MacPherson has no plans to marry, even if his mother is determined to tie him to one of the British milquetoasts parading through his castle. But when Claire bursts upon the scene, hurling accusations about alcohol and ruin, he finds the reformer fascinating. The fact that she stands up to him when others shrink away is more than charming--this one has spirit and, to be honest, he wouldn’t mind drinking a deep draught of her
Here’s the buy link for Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ng4wsro For Nook: http://tinyurl.com/nhx298v...
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--Mind Sweeper, by AE Jones
2013 RWA Golden Heart® Winner, Mind Sweeper
An angel, a demon and a vampire walk into a bar. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it's just another day in the life of Kyle McKinley.
Kyle was born with the ability to erase memories, and the inability to keep her opinions to herself. She and her teammates – a vampire who looks like a sexy pirate with fangs, and a Shamat demon with a penchant for Italian pastries – provide supernatural damage control when humans see too much. Today’s problem? A sword-wielding angel and a demon had a supernatural smackdown during happy hour in a Cleveland bar, leaving behind a headless vampire and a dozen human witnesses.
This latest supernatural slip-up is attracting all kinds of attention. So much attention that the police step in, and Kyle has to deal with Joe Dalton, a know-it-all human with the sexiest turquoise eyes she has ever seen. Kyle has no room in her life for yet another human who will treat her like a freak. However, Dalton definitely makes her naughty parts sit up and take notice, and it’s more than mutual. But before they can act on their attraction, they must join forces to solve a dangerous puzzle. And when they uncover the truth, the apocalyptic ripple effect forces Kyle to make a choice. Learn to trust again, or risk losing everyone she cares about, including Dalton.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Sweeper-Book-ebook/dp/B00MSTNHDI/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409321466&sr=1-1&keywords=ae+jones Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/mind-sweeper-4 Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mind-sweeper/id914620470?mt=11&uo=4 Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-sweeper-ae-jones/1120341800?ean=2940150516243
Contemporary Romance--The Betrayed Trilogy Boxed Set, by Mary Campisi
Save 40% when you buy The Betrayed Trilogy Boxed Setover purchasing the individual books! The set includes 2 novels and 1 novella.Book One: Pieces of You Book Two: Secrets of You Book Three: What's Left of Her-a novella
*** Pieces of You *** Will he risk his life and his heart for a chance at one true love?
Quinn Burnes's mother disappeared when he was only fifteen leaving him with a despondent father, a little sister who suffers panic attacks, and eight notebooks containing the truth about his mother. He guards this secret for eighteen years, until on an otherwise normal day, his mother re-enters his life, pleading for his help. She's in danger and the only thing that can save her is reclaiming the identity she shunned years ago.
Quinn is a master of emotional detachment, from his successful career as a personal injury attorney to his strings of meaningless relationships with beautiful women who possess uneasy temperaments; a sure formula to keep his heart safe and insure he's the first to walk away. Until he meets the mysterious 'Danielle' a woman with too many secrets who's on the run from the abusive, estranged husband she shot and may have killed. Danielle isn't like any woman he's ever met, but can he risk his heart for someone who's doing exactly what his mother did eighteen years ago? Someone who may ultimately leave him, just like his mother?
*** Secrets of You *** He's not who he says he is...but neither is she...
Wealthy, privileged, the product of too much money and too little responsibility, Ash Lancaster routinely pretends he's someone else so he'll be valued for more than his bank accounts.
Talented, beautiful, tormented by a past choice she deeply regrets, jewelry designer Arianna Sorensen guards her heart and her privacy from the outside world.
When Arianna and Ash meet, the passion is real, though the rest may not be. She thinks he's a motorcycle-riding photojournalist with nothing but a camera and two saddlebags to his name. He thinks she's a blue-blooded, orphaned sophisticate with a fat trust fund.
However, lies have a way of catching up and causing their own damage. Fate forces Ash to perform the first selfless act of his life to protect Arianna from being blackmailed about her past. The price? He must walk away and forget about her. Two years later, the threat is gone and Ash returns, determined to win back the woman he's never forgotten and even more determined to get her to admit what she's been hiding. He reveals his true identity and pledges a future built on trust and honesty. But Ash expects the truth from her, too. Can Arianna open up to him when the last thirteen years have been built on a lie? And if she doesn't, will she risk losing him again--this time for good?
*** What's Left of Her *** How could a mother walk away from her family?
This is the question many readers asked after finishing Pieces of You, Book One of The Betrayed Trilogy. They wanted to know the real story behind the disappearance of Evie Burnes. What's Left of Her offers an intimate glimpse into Evie Burnes's life before her disappearance--and after.
Note: While Pieces of You and Secrets of You are romances, What's Left of Her is not.
Amazon http://amzn.to/1fa5TPFi-Books http://bit.ly/1yB8Vq0Nook http://bit.ly/SYqZfBKobo http://bit.ly/UWzeuB
Historical Bundle--Time After Time, by Crimson Authors
From Regency England to the American Civil War, from the Wild West to Viking battles for territory, Time After Timedelivers the gallantry, the color, the passion of yesterday that captures every historical romance lover’s heart. Fall in love with these ten titles from some of Crimson’s brightest stars:
Elf Ahearn – A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing
Emma Barron – The Glass Orchid
Elizabeth Meyette – Love’s Destiny
Andrea R. Cooper – Viking Fire
Ivory Lei – How to Wed an Earl
Rachel Donnelly – Lady Broke
Emma Barry – Brave in Heart
Marie Patrick — A Treasure Worth Keeping
Becky Lower – The Reluctant Debutante
Elizabeth Boyce – Once a Duchess Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1mXgHZt Romantic Suspense--Wine And Spirits, by Nancy Kay
Carena McBride married a dedicated policeman, but when he's killed on the job, she's shattered. After five turbulent years alone, Cara returns to her hometown. The Wine Cellar, an upscale restaurant's new addition, needs a manager and she is a perfect fit.
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A failed marriage has convinced State Police Corporal Zac Ramsey he's not good husband material. Now his career comes first...until he encounters captivating, resilient Carena. Despite Zac's marriage phobia and Cara's vow to never again fall for another policeman, they become entangled in a steamy affair.As Zac investigates a series of murders, Cara pursues a pet project documenting local Urban Legends. But when he discovers the only link between four brutally murdered women was their interest in those legends, Zac advises Cara to halt her project.
She complies...almost.
Unaware the killer is watching, Cara innocently triggers his demented fury, and Zac scrambles to keep her alive.
Website and buy sites: http://www.nancykayauthor.com
https://www.allromanceebooks.com http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wine-and-spirits-nancy-kay/1120532832?ean=2940150406971 http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/wine-and-spirits-epub/Regency Historical--The Whisky Laird's Bed, By Donna MacMeans
Lady of Temperance Laird of Temptation....
Claire Starke has no illusions about her future. As her father repeatedly reminded her, her looks would never win a husband, and her poverty makes her an even less suitable wife. Luckily, her comrades at the Rake Patrol have given her joy and comfort--enough to quell the dull ache for a family of her own. So, when fellow member Faith runs off to the Highlands, investigating a whisky distiller advertising for an English wife, Claire sees no choice but to save her friend from this intemperate and lustful man. But she didn’t expect the Highland laird to be so intriguing, or to begin questioning her own restraint...
Still reeling from the distillery accident which left him scarred and shaken, Cameron MacPherson has no plans to marry, even if his mother is determined to tie him to one of the British milquetoasts parading through his castle. But when Claire bursts upon the scene, hurling accusations about alcohol and ruin, he finds the reformer fascinating. The fact that she stands up to him when others shrink away is more than charming--this one has spirit and, to be honest, he wouldn’t mind drinking a deep draught of her
Here’s the buy link for Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ng4wsro For Nook: http://tinyurl.com/nhx298v...
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy--Mind Sweeper, by AE Jones
2013 RWA Golden Heart® Winner, Mind Sweeper
An angel, a demon and a vampire walk into a bar. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it's just another day in the life of Kyle McKinley.
Kyle was born with the ability to erase memories, and the inability to keep her opinions to herself. She and her teammates – a vampire who looks like a sexy pirate with fangs, and a Shamat demon with a penchant for Italian pastries – provide supernatural damage control when humans see too much. Today’s problem? A sword-wielding angel and a demon had a supernatural smackdown during happy hour in a Cleveland bar, leaving behind a headless vampire and a dozen human witnesses.
This latest supernatural slip-up is attracting all kinds of attention. So much attention that the police step in, and Kyle has to deal with Joe Dalton, a know-it-all human with the sexiest turquoise eyes she has ever seen. Kyle has no room in her life for yet another human who will treat her like a freak. However, Dalton definitely makes her naughty parts sit up and take notice, and it’s more than mutual. But before they can act on their attraction, they must join forces to solve a dangerous puzzle. And when they uncover the truth, the apocalyptic ripple effect forces Kyle to make a choice. Learn to trust again, or risk losing everyone she cares about, including Dalton.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Sweeper-Book-ebook/dp/B00MSTNHDI/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409321466&sr=1-1&keywords=ae+jones Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/mind-sweeper-4 Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mind-sweeper/id914620470?mt=11&uo=4 Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-sweeper-ae-jones/1120341800?ean=2940150516243
Contemporary Romance--The Betrayed Trilogy Boxed Set, by Mary Campisi
Save 40% when you buy The Betrayed Trilogy Boxed Setover purchasing the individual books! The set includes 2 novels and 1 novella.Book One: Pieces of You Book Two: Secrets of You Book Three: What's Left of Her-a novella *** Pieces of You *** Will he risk his life and his heart for a chance at one true love?
Quinn Burnes's mother disappeared when he was only fifteen leaving him with a despondent father, a little sister who suffers panic attacks, and eight notebooks containing the truth about his mother. He guards this secret for eighteen years, until on an otherwise normal day, his mother re-enters his life, pleading for his help. She's in danger and the only thing that can save her is reclaiming the identity she shunned years ago.
Quinn is a master of emotional detachment, from his successful career as a personal injury attorney to his strings of meaningless relationships with beautiful women who possess uneasy temperaments; a sure formula to keep his heart safe and insure he's the first to walk away. Until he meets the mysterious 'Danielle' a woman with too many secrets who's on the run from the abusive, estranged husband she shot and may have killed. Danielle isn't like any woman he's ever met, but can he risk his heart for someone who's doing exactly what his mother did eighteen years ago? Someone who may ultimately leave him, just like his mother?
*** Secrets of You *** He's not who he says he is...but neither is she...
Wealthy, privileged, the product of too much money and too little responsibility, Ash Lancaster routinely pretends he's someone else so he'll be valued for more than his bank accounts.
Talented, beautiful, tormented by a past choice she deeply regrets, jewelry designer Arianna Sorensen guards her heart and her privacy from the outside world.
When Arianna and Ash meet, the passion is real, though the rest may not be. She thinks he's a motorcycle-riding photojournalist with nothing but a camera and two saddlebags to his name. He thinks she's a blue-blooded, orphaned sophisticate with a fat trust fund.
However, lies have a way of catching up and causing their own damage. Fate forces Ash to perform the first selfless act of his life to protect Arianna from being blackmailed about her past. The price? He must walk away and forget about her. Two years later, the threat is gone and Ash returns, determined to win back the woman he's never forgotten and even more determined to get her to admit what she's been hiding. He reveals his true identity and pledges a future built on trust and honesty. But Ash expects the truth from her, too. Can Arianna open up to him when the last thirteen years have been built on a lie? And if she doesn't, will she risk losing him again--this time for good?
*** What's Left of Her *** How could a mother walk away from her family?
This is the question many readers asked after finishing Pieces of You, Book One of The Betrayed Trilogy. They wanted to know the real story behind the disappearance of Evie Burnes. What's Left of Her offers an intimate glimpse into Evie Burnes's life before her disappearance--and after.
Note: While Pieces of You and Secrets of You are romances, What's Left of Her is not.
Amazon http://amzn.to/1fa5TPFi-Books http://bit.ly/1yB8Vq0Nook http://bit.ly/SYqZfBKobo http://bit.ly/UWzeuB
November 23, 2014
History of the Doughnut Hole
I know, it's an odd topic, but I just had to find out. You see, while I was researching my Pony Express story, I came across a little side story. Supposedly, the Pony Express riders were romantic heroes to the young ladies in the border towns. I'll buy that. The ladies used to stand in the streets with pastries and treats when the riders came through town. Whoever got rid of the most treats was considered the most popular girl. Unfortunately, a lot of pastry hit the ground, since the riders couldn't grab and hold onto it while at a full gallop. So, some enterprising young lady came up with the idea of putting a hole in the middle of a pastry to allow for an easier grab, making the first doughnut.Could it possibly have been the case? I had to find out.
I hate to be the one to squash a romantic legend, but, in this case, the story is evidently false.
Doughnut remains have been found in archeological digs, so they've been around in one form or the other for centuries. The modern doughnut, though, is credited to the Dutch, who made oliekoek, a sweetened cake fried in fat. Its notoriety came about in 1847, when Elizabeth Gregory made some of her doughnuts for her son, Captain Hanson Gregory to take on one of his sea voyages. Captain Hanson ran into some rough weather on board ship and was having trouble steering the ship while holding his doughnut. He impaled the doughnut onto on of the spokes of the steering wheel, thereby creating a perfect hole in the center of pastry.
Even this story has the earmarks of an urban legend, doesn't it?
Regardless of which story you believe, the results are the same. Doughnuts have holes in them for the simple reason of making them easy to grasp onto. For some of us, there's a tendency to grasp too many. And if impressing the Pony Express riders was the true reason for the doughnut's existence, we have even more to thank them for than merely delivering the mail.
November 16, 2014
Surgical Writing
As I prepare for surgery next week, and created my list of things to get done prior to admitting myself to the hospital, it occurred to me there are many similarities between what I'm doing to myself and what I do to my manuscript to get it ready for publication. A bit far-fetched? Possibly, but hear me out. I'm not known as the Analogy Queen for nothin'.
Surgery-–Prepare a list of things that need done before the event.
New Book–Prepare a list of things that need done before launch date.
Surgery–Be certain to arrive at the hospital all clean and shiny.
New Book–Be certain the book is polished and ready to go.
Surgery–Inform friends and family of the event.
New Book–Inform friends and family of the event.
Surgery–Line up friends and family to take care of daily chores in your absence.
New Book–Line up friends and family to read the ARC and write reviews.
Surgery–Get the word out about the outcome of the surgery and your expected release date.
New Book–Get the word out about the book and your expected release date.
See? Life, as with books, is about planning. Advance planning, and getting assistance when needed, is necessary for the best outcome, be it the launch of a new book, or the replacement of a worn-out hip.
My friends and family are poised and ready to pinch-hit for me until I can sit at my computer again. Bring it on.
Surgery-–Prepare a list of things that need done before the event.New Book–Prepare a list of things that need done before launch date.
Surgery–Be certain to arrive at the hospital all clean and shiny.
New Book–Be certain the book is polished and ready to go.
Surgery–Inform friends and family of the event.
New Book–Inform friends and family of the event.
Surgery–Line up friends and family to take care of daily chores in your absence.
New Book–Line up friends and family to read the ARC and write reviews.
Surgery–Get the word out about the outcome of the surgery and your expected release date.
New Book–Get the word out about the book and your expected release date.
See? Life, as with books, is about planning. Advance planning, and getting assistance when needed, is necessary for the best outcome, be it the launch of a new book, or the replacement of a worn-out hip.
My friends and family are poised and ready to pinch-hit for me until I can sit at my computer again. Bring it on.
November 9, 2014
The Pony Express
I just turned in Book 7 in the Cotillion Ball Series. This one takes place in 1860, and is not situated in civilized New York City, but rather, St. Joseph, MO and beyond. It has nothing to do with the cultured confines of a ballroom or a Cotillion Ball, except for the time frame.One of my favorite parts of writing American historicals is uncovering bits of history about which I know very little and doing research on them, and how they affected everyday citizens. The Pony Express is no exception. This time, I learned a lot about a little known slice of Americana.
I'll be writing about The Pony Express in detail over the coming months, as part of the buildup to the release of Expressly Yours, Samantha. There is so much to talk about, but today, I wanted to share with you the one thing that really jumped out at me, and how something like The Pony Express would never be possible today.
This route of nearly 2,000 miles was cobbled together by William Russell in only 67 days. Every ten to fifteen miles, a relay station was established, where riders could change horses. At about every eighty miles, a home station was set up, where a change of rider would occur along with a fresh mount. Wherever possible, existing structures were used, but in many cases, a relay station had to be thrown up using whatever materials were available. The route followed the Pioneer Trail, which in the summer was clogged with wagon trains heading west, and spanned the states or territories of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. And it wasn't just the route that needed to come together. There were horses to be purchased–500 to start with in each of the seven different divisions, and riders–80 to 100 for each division.Can you imagine something of this magnitude, and spanning so many states, being put together today in a matter of months? It would never happen. There would be legislation developed, people to be bought off, lively debates would take place on the floors of the various state houses, and ultimately, nothing would be accomplished.
As quickly as it came into being, The Pony Express died out only eighteen months after it became an American icon. As soon as the telegraph line extended from coast to coast, the ponies and their riders were no longer an efficient resource for disseminating information, and the doors to The Pony Express were closed. It existed only 18 months, but its colorful legend is part of our American history. Some of the men who rode for the Express went on to fame and fortune in the Wild West shows, but most of them faded into oblivion. Samantha, and Valerian, are two of those who were part of The Pony Express for a time. I hope you'll enjoy their story, which will be released in March, 2015.
Here's a bit about the story: Samantha Hughes needs to get away from her wicked uncle, and, following her aunt’s death, she has one day to escape. A sign in the post office offers an avenue out. She can cut her hair, pose as a man, and become Sam Hughes, a Pony Express rider.
Valerian Fitzpatrick has defied his parents and stayed in St. Louis for the past year. He doesn't want the weight of responsibility his brothers have in the family business. All he wants to do is ride horses, and, fortunately, the Pony Express is starting up and looking for wiry young fellows. When Sam Hughes helps Valerian control a runaway horse, Joseph, Valerian’s brother-in-law, tells him their meeting was destiny. Over the weeks and months that follow, Sam and Val work side by side on the exciting Pony Express. Val assumes Sam is on the run from the law, and helps shield his buddy from the Pinkerton agents. He thinks this must be the destiny Joseph talked about. Although Samantha harbors feelings for Val, he has no idea she’s a woman. Until she suffers a stray gunshot wound and he has to undress her to staunch the wound. Friendship turns into attraction and maybe even love. When her uncle tracks her down, she is forced to run yet again. She realizes the danger she’s put Valerian into, having him try to shield her from her uncle, and leaves him behind with a note to not track her down. Will he be able to find her again, or is he relieved to not have any responsibility again?
November 2, 2014
Be A Star
Those who know me realize they can't bother me on Monday and Tuesday nights, since that's The Voice time. The similarities between music and writing keep surprising me. The publishing business is as subjective as the music industry. What appeals to one ear will sound like chickens killing each other to another.My latest manuscript got rejected recently by a publisher. In this instance, the manuscript was rejected because the editor didn't care for the way my characters talked. I realized this was the same thing as a country performer singing in front of a rap artist. It's easy to turn your back on something because it's not your flavor. It's more complicated to dig beneath the surface and find the true talent that is there.
Last season on The Voice, Usher made a statement that 'luck favors the prepared.' I took Usher's words to heart, and have put a publishing plan into place. I've been honing my craft for years now, so I think I'm prepared. In both musical and writing terms, I've trained my voice. I know how a book (or a song) goes together, what to emphasize and when. I'm ready for some luck. I'm prepared.
This season, Pharell, my new favorite Voice judge, made a comment that 'stars don't just sit still–they sparkle.' I have been working really hard on my sparkle this year. I've connected with acquaintances at meetings and turned them into friends. I'm volunteering my services at a local level and I'm giving a portion of my earnings to various charities. I've started up a joint blog site with several of my new friends called History Imagined, where we discuss–you guessed it–history and historical events. I am a guest on several different blog sites. And most recently, I wrote a column for USA Today's Happy Ever After column, and contributed to an article for RWR magazine. Sparkle, sparkle.
I'm doing everything I can to be the star Pharell talks about.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
October 26, 2014
Our Private Worlds
I'll admit it–I caught the genealogy bug years ago. I methodically traced my family tree back to the Revolutionary War and to Europe. One of the things I kept noticing was the way the last names of various family members kept intersecting. I realized travel was hard, and there wasn't a large gene pool to draw from, so I kept track as cousins married first and second cousins. As more and more branches on the tree interconnected, it became a family joke that the inbreeding explained the occasional lunatic in the family–those who lived in their own private worlds.Today, as I write this, I've just finished the seventh book in my American historical series. It takes place in 1860 and the story line is woven around the Pony Express. I've spent the last few months studying the movement of horses, and learning more about this portion of American history than I ever thought possible. I told a friend the other day that, after a morning of working on this novel, I was surprised to see cars driving by my door instead of horses. My private world has consisted of dirt roads, wide open prairie land and wild mustangs. Am I this generation's occasional lunatic? Or am I merely an author?
The book, Expressly Yours, Samantha, is about ready to be shipped out to my publisher. Normally, I take a break from my historicals, and intersperse a contemporary, just to lighten things up. But, for some reason, the 1860s keep calling me. I'm thinking of taking a leaf from the old family tree and write about my great-great-grandmother, who had to maintain a homestead in the hills of southern Ohio and keep four children alive while her husband fought in the Civil War. Obviously, the woman could have used a strong man during these years. Who better to camp out in her woods than a half-breed Ojibwa Indian? So, I'm headed back into the 1860s, where I'll roam the hills and woods of southern Ohio with Susannah and Raoul. I'm headed back into my own private world again.
Here's the cover blurb for Expressly Yours, Valerian, set to release in March, 2015.
Samantha Hughes need to get away from her wicked uncle, and, following her aunt’s death, she has one day to escape. A sign in the post office offers an avenue out. She can cut her hair, pose as a man, and become Sam Hughes, a Pony Express rider.
Valerian Fitzpatrick has defied his parents and stayed in St. Louis for the past year. He doesn't want the weight of responsibility his brothers have in the family business. All he wants to do is ride horses, and, fortunately, the Pony Express is starting up and looking for wiry young fellows.
When Sam Hughes helps Valerian control a runaway horse, Joseph, Valerian’s brother-in-law, tells him their meeting was destiny. Over the weeks and months that follow, Sam and Val work side by side on the exciting Pony Express. Val assumes Sam is on the run from the law, and helps shield his buddy from the Pinkerton agents. He thinks this must be the destiny Joseph talked about. Although Samantha harbors feelings for Val, he has no idea she’s a woman. Until she suffers a stray gunshot wound and he has to undress her to staunch the wound.
Friendship turns into attraction and maybe even love. When her uncle tracks her down, she is forced to run yet again. She realizes the danger she’s put Valerian into, having him try to shield her from her uncle, and leaves him behind with a note to not track her down. Will he be able to find her again, or is he relieved to not have any responsibility again?
October 19, 2014
Research--Regardless of your genre, you need it!
Today, I'm pleased to have Heather Thurmeier stopping by. She recently released a new book, The Wedding Hoax, which involved copious amounts of research and television. I asked Heather to talk about how she handles one of my favorite subjects–research. I think, even if you're writing a dystopian society story or a contemporary novel, you need to do a certain amount of research to authenticate your stories. Research is not just for an historical writer. But, I'll get down off my soapbox now and let Heather tell you how she approaches it. The floor is yours, Heather!
I’m sure every author has their own set of resources when it comes to researching for a story. For me, I have my usual ways and then every book has a few new ones too.
For all of my books, the research starts with the names. It’s not very often that I know my character’s final names when I come up with a book idea. Sometimes to pick their names, I will poll my readers to find out what names they love at that moment. Other times, I’ll go to baby naming websites and scour their pages to come up with a short list of names. My favorite site is Nymbler.com. I like that you can save names and then it generates ones that go with it. I find it helps with sibling relationships as well as finding names for the hero and heroine that will sound good together on the page.
Next is usually the setting for the book. If I’m writing about a place I’ve never been to before, then I usually start with real estate listings and tourism sites to give me an idea of what it’s like there. I don’t list places with too many specifics since I think it’s fun to make up restaurant names and things like that. But when it comes to some thing, like subway stops in Manhattan, I definitely look up what train line and exact stop I need. All of that information is easily available online, which makes my job so much faster and easier!
And it seems I’ve been drawing a lot of inspiration and research from TV. For The Wedding Hoax, that was definitely true. I can’t tell you how many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress (and Bridesmaid Dress) I watched. Oh so many! But it was great since Daisy is a wedding gown designer and Cole is a bridal magazine CEO. It’s been 14 years since my own wedding and watching new brides on TV talking about their weddings while they look for their dress was great research! And it was fun to watch too!
Happy Reading!
Heather's giving away this beautiful Daisy bracelet during her blog tour. Go here to enter: The Wedding Hoax and #Rafflecopter #Giveaway. http://bit.ly/ZEeY2t#romance @AmazonKindle @amazon
The Wedding Hoax
Blurb:
A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s Lovestruck imprint…
To save their companies, they’ll plan the fake wedding of the century...Meet the bride...
Daisy Willows is a wedding dress designer who longs for her own happily-ever-after. In the meantime, she’s struggling to keep her business going even as she covers her mom’s increasing medical expenses. So when a bridal show expo owner offers to help her out, she can hardly say no. And all it takes is Daisy pretending she’s back with her playboy ex. And that they’re engaged...Meet the groom...
Cole Benton works for his father’s bridal magazine, which is on the verge of downsizing. All he really wants is a crack at an outdoor lifestyle magazine, and if he has to fake-marry Daisy to make it happen, he’s definitely in. Now Daisy and Cole are playing up their fake engagement, shopping for rings, and even kissing upon request. All of which is makes it a whole lot harder to remember that their big white wedding is a big white lie...
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://ow.ly/BnurJ
Nook: http://ow.ly/BnuST
Kobo: http://ow.ly/BnuCI
iTunes: http://ow.ly/BnvsN
Excerpt:
Cole adjusted himself in the boutique chair as Daisy came out in yet another stunning dress. He didn’t think it was possible to be attracted to a woman in a wedding gown, but apparently it was.
And it was maddening. Damn it. He didn’t want to be any more attracted to Daisy than he already was. At this point, he wanted her to walk down the aisle in a white garbage bag so he didn’t have to see the shape of her curves, teasing him about what he couldn’t have but also couldn’t stop thinking about.
Nor could he stop imagining those undergarments she’d mentioned to the women at the bridal show. Was Daisy wearing something sexy under all that white lace and satin, too? A push-up bra? A thong?
He sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees, ignoring the ache in his groin at the thought of Daisy in a thong. He didn’t even have to use his imagination. An image of her lying on her stomach across his bed came to mind. Her skin had been smooth under his fingertips as he traced the lace of her thong to where it disappeared between two luscious hills of milky-white flesh. She’d shivered beneath his touch when he’d caressed the tiny crease where her bottom met the backs of her thighs. And when he’d playfully smacked her ass, the apples of her cheeks weren’t the only spot on her body to blush as she’d rolled away from him, giggling and smiling seductively.
If he’d realized that would be one of his last moments with Daisy, he would have savored it more, prolonged his own enjoyment to push hers further. What he wouldn’t give to see that spark in her eyes when she was on the cusp of going over the edge again. Or the pink tinge in her cheeks as his tongue tasted her.
“Cole!” Daisy’s voice was sharp, piercing his thoughts and shattering the nice memory he was currently enjoying more than the present moment.
“That one is nice,” Cole said on instinct, forcing himself to focus on the dress she wore instead of what she might be wearing underneath it. This dress was similar to the others— sleeveless, white, satin and beads, and expertly hand-stitched. He’d never really given Daisy a lot of credit for her work before, but he should have. She was a master of her craft.
She put her hands on her hips. “That’s what you said about every dress so far. Are you even paying attention?”
No.
“I’m trying to, but you know how I feel about shopping.” He laid his head back and rubbed his eyes hard, hoping to erase the memory of Daisy’s thong from his brain long enough to get through this torture without a raging hard-on.
“How could I forget? You’re worse than taking a child shopping. At least with a kid you can give them a snack or a toy to keep them busy.”
“I could go for a snack.” He shrugged.
Author bio:
Heather Thurmeier is a lover of strawberry margaritas and a hater of spiders. She was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now lives in New York state with her husband and kids where she’s become some kind of odd Canuck-Yankee hybrid. When she's not busy taking care of the kids, Heather’s writing her next romance, which will probably be filled with sassy heroines, sexy heroes who make your heart pound, laugh out loud moments, and always a happily ever after. You can find out more about Heather and her books by checking out her website at: http://heatherthurmeier.com.
Social media links:
Email: heatherthurmeier@gmail.comWebsite: http://heatherthurmeier.comBlog: http://heatherthurmeier.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/hthurmeierFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherThurm... https://www.goodreads.com/HeatherThur... https://madmimi.com/signups/91094/iframe
I’m sure every author has their own set of resources when it comes to researching for a story. For me, I have my usual ways and then every book has a few new ones too.
For all of my books, the research starts with the names. It’s not very often that I know my character’s final names when I come up with a book idea. Sometimes to pick their names, I will poll my readers to find out what names they love at that moment. Other times, I’ll go to baby naming websites and scour their pages to come up with a short list of names. My favorite site is Nymbler.com. I like that you can save names and then it generates ones that go with it. I find it helps with sibling relationships as well as finding names for the hero and heroine that will sound good together on the page.
Next is usually the setting for the book. If I’m writing about a place I’ve never been to before, then I usually start with real estate listings and tourism sites to give me an idea of what it’s like there. I don’t list places with too many specifics since I think it’s fun to make up restaurant names and things like that. But when it comes to some thing, like subway stops in Manhattan, I definitely look up what train line and exact stop I need. All of that information is easily available online, which makes my job so much faster and easier!
And it seems I’ve been drawing a lot of inspiration and research from TV. For The Wedding Hoax, that was definitely true. I can’t tell you how many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress (and Bridesmaid Dress) I watched. Oh so many! But it was great since Daisy is a wedding gown designer and Cole is a bridal magazine CEO. It’s been 14 years since my own wedding and watching new brides on TV talking about their weddings while they look for their dress was great research! And it was fun to watch too!
Happy Reading!
Heather's giving away this beautiful Daisy bracelet during her blog tour. Go here to enter: The Wedding Hoax and #Rafflecopter #Giveaway. http://bit.ly/ZEeY2t#romance @AmazonKindle @amazonThe Wedding Hoax
Blurb:
A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s Lovestruck imprint…
To save their companies, they’ll plan the fake wedding of the century...Meet the bride...
Daisy Willows is a wedding dress designer who longs for her own happily-ever-after. In the meantime, she’s struggling to keep her business going even as she covers her mom’s increasing medical expenses. So when a bridal show expo owner offers to help her out, she can hardly say no. And all it takes is Daisy pretending she’s back with her playboy ex. And that they’re engaged...Meet the groom...
Cole Benton works for his father’s bridal magazine, which is on the verge of downsizing. All he really wants is a crack at an outdoor lifestyle magazine, and if he has to fake-marry Daisy to make it happen, he’s definitely in. Now Daisy and Cole are playing up their fake engagement, shopping for rings, and even kissing upon request. All of which is makes it a whole lot harder to remember that their big white wedding is a big white lie...
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://ow.ly/BnurJ
Nook: http://ow.ly/BnuST
Kobo: http://ow.ly/BnuCI
iTunes: http://ow.ly/BnvsN
Excerpt:
Cole adjusted himself in the boutique chair as Daisy came out in yet another stunning dress. He didn’t think it was possible to be attracted to a woman in a wedding gown, but apparently it was.
And it was maddening. Damn it. He didn’t want to be any more attracted to Daisy than he already was. At this point, he wanted her to walk down the aisle in a white garbage bag so he didn’t have to see the shape of her curves, teasing him about what he couldn’t have but also couldn’t stop thinking about.
Nor could he stop imagining those undergarments she’d mentioned to the women at the bridal show. Was Daisy wearing something sexy under all that white lace and satin, too? A push-up bra? A thong?
He sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees, ignoring the ache in his groin at the thought of Daisy in a thong. He didn’t even have to use his imagination. An image of her lying on her stomach across his bed came to mind. Her skin had been smooth under his fingertips as he traced the lace of her thong to where it disappeared between two luscious hills of milky-white flesh. She’d shivered beneath his touch when he’d caressed the tiny crease where her bottom met the backs of her thighs. And when he’d playfully smacked her ass, the apples of her cheeks weren’t the only spot on her body to blush as she’d rolled away from him, giggling and smiling seductively.
If he’d realized that would be one of his last moments with Daisy, he would have savored it more, prolonged his own enjoyment to push hers further. What he wouldn’t give to see that spark in her eyes when she was on the cusp of going over the edge again. Or the pink tinge in her cheeks as his tongue tasted her.
“Cole!” Daisy’s voice was sharp, piercing his thoughts and shattering the nice memory he was currently enjoying more than the present moment.
“That one is nice,” Cole said on instinct, forcing himself to focus on the dress she wore instead of what she might be wearing underneath it. This dress was similar to the others— sleeveless, white, satin and beads, and expertly hand-stitched. He’d never really given Daisy a lot of credit for her work before, but he should have. She was a master of her craft.
She put her hands on her hips. “That’s what you said about every dress so far. Are you even paying attention?”
No.
“I’m trying to, but you know how I feel about shopping.” He laid his head back and rubbed his eyes hard, hoping to erase the memory of Daisy’s thong from his brain long enough to get through this torture without a raging hard-on.
“How could I forget? You’re worse than taking a child shopping. At least with a kid you can give them a snack or a toy to keep them busy.”
“I could go for a snack.” He shrugged.
Author bio:
Heather Thurmeier is a lover of strawberry margaritas and a hater of spiders. She was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now lives in New York state with her husband and kids where she’s become some kind of odd Canuck-Yankee hybrid. When she's not busy taking care of the kids, Heather’s writing her next romance, which will probably be filled with sassy heroines, sexy heroes who make your heart pound, laugh out loud moments, and always a happily ever after. You can find out more about Heather and her books by checking out her website at: http://heatherthurmeier.com.
Social media links:
Email: heatherthurmeier@gmail.comWebsite: http://heatherthurmeier.comBlog: http://heatherthurmeier.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/hthurmeierFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherThurm... https://www.goodreads.com/HeatherThur... https://madmimi.com/signups/91094/iframe
October 12, 2014
The Tour Rolls On
The virtual book tour continues on for one more week. A complete list of stops for the remainder of the tour is on the right. I can't imagine how book tours were in the days before the internet, and have the utmost respect for the ladies who led the charge. Nora Roberts, in one of her "Get to Know" sessions at the RWA conference talked about appearances on QVC and how she had to cancel an appearance on the Today Show because one of her children had an accident and needed to be taken to the hospital. It's always been tough juggling home and career, and today is no different.
Like many authors, I write in multiple genres. On any given morning, I can be immersed in 1860 America and then switch in the afternoon to present day, to a beautiful lake in upstate New York. And then there are blogs to do for both genres, blog tour Q&As, stats to check, writer's groups to attend, and all the rest. It makes me slightly schizophrenic, but then I take a step back and think of the ladies who had to peddle their books by car, plane, or even by bus. They'd check into a tiny hotel room, missing their families, smile at the fans who braved all kinds of weather to come to the bookstore to chat with them for a few minutes and buy their books.
Twenty years ago, when e-books burst onto the scene, the industry was forced to change. No longer were under-performing books pulled from the shelves after a few months, never to see the light of day again. Now, a book's virtual shelf life is infinite. As can be an author's life. The first book in The Cotillion Ball Series, The Reluctant Debutante, has been out for two years now, and is still selling daily. I love being an author in the 21st century.
And, if anyone wants me to come to their bookstore for a signing, I'd love to accept.
