Colleen Connally's Blog

FOR THOSE LONG WINTER NIGHTS- #READAMYSTERY

  FRAGMENTED FREE LIMITED TIME

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FOR THOSE LONG WINTER NIGHTS- A MUST READ!

She would do anything to protect her family...

Cameron Quinn watched her father fall into a worldof despair after being falsely accused of causing her mother's death. Now, her brother is a suspect in a crime she knows he's not capable of committing. She'll risk everything to save her brother from the same fate as her father, even destroying evidence that implicates him in a series of murders.

He would do anything to win a case...

ADA Darren Kennedy is known as 'the bulldog.' He doesn't lose. When a killer emerges on the streets of Boston, he's dead-set onputting that killer behind bars...along with anyone that stands in his way.

A killer would do anything to get his heart's desire... 

Cameron soon discovers that the police aren't the only ones who suspect her of covering for her brother. The murderer is still out there and he isn't happy his plans have been disrupted. Now, the twisted psychopath has turned his attention towards Cameron and will stop at nothing until he has her in his control.

Ssh! It's time for a deal. Secret Lives Series, Book 1, Seductive Secrets is Free...

 I put Seductive Secrets back into KDP...so for a limited time Seductive Secrets is FREE. 
I'm seeing if KDP its worth putting some of my books into KDP. It has been a while. If you are in KDP, get my books now. I don't know if I will keep them in KDP.

SEDUCTIVE SECRETS FREE FOR LIMITED TIME
Someone wants Alyce Hythe dead...  

Shunned from London society for being the daughterof England's most notorious spy, Alyce Hythe desires only to clear her father'sname. For years, she has been hidden away from prying eyes, given a newidentity and told to forget who she was. But strange things have been happeningcausing old rumors to once more be whispered. 

Long has Lord Julian Casvelyn lived with guiltbrought on when his brother was murdered by England's most infamous traitor.But one eventful night has changed everything Lord Julian believed about hisbrother's death. Never did he suspect the woman he has just saved from certainharm is the daughter of that man. 

Now Julian is caught in midst of a conspiracy anddesire for that woman. Thrown together by fate, the two search for answers longdenied them and along the way discover a love that can free them both. 

#HOLIDAYESCAPE #READAROMANCE

SECRET LIVES SERIES IS IN KDP

READ FOR FREE IF YOU HAVE KDP
Including An Amazon #1 Bestselling Historical Romancean Orangeberry 2013 Hall of Fame Best Romance!

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PAPERBOOK              HARDCOVER
eBOOK $0.99 LIMITED TIME
HARDCOVER NOW AVAILABLE

Coach Gerald Caveness demanded and received so much from his players. He had the ability to not only make believers out of his players, but he did something that most coaches couldn't or wouldn't do. He made believers in the community during an era when high school sports played a bigger role. Coach Caveness was an overachiever.
 
Coach Kermit Davis, former coach of Tupelo High School and Mississippi State University

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

Can one small school accomplish the impossible? Does the heart of a champion beat in their chests?

Mississippi, 1964. Poverty-stricken Dean Barnes lives and breathes basketball. Idolizing his court-dominating big brother, his hoops-obsessed community goes wild when the high school team wins the state championship. But when tragedy strikes, the devastated teenager tumbles into a self-destructive spiral.

Drowning his sorrows by shunning his friends and getting drunk at parties, Dean is surprised when the high school basketball coach takes him under his wing. And emboldened by his new mentor's unswerving faith in the team's potential, the freshly motivated player redirects his grief at winning the ultimate title against all odds.

Can a lonely teen get past his tragic loss and achieve the dream of a lifetime?

The Measure of a Man is an uplifting coming-of-age novel. If you like rooting for the underdog, stories based on true-life, and the triumph of the human spirit, then you'll love Jerri Hines's inspirational sports drama.

Buy The Measure of a Man to unleash the power of belief today!

The Story Behind the Inspiration for The Measure of a Man

In a time when Prentiss County, Mississippi, was known as Basketball Country, the New Site Royals became one of the most dominating teams in the state. New Site was also one of the smallest schools in the state. The farming community had only a hundred and twenty students in attendance, one gas station, and a zip code. What the Royals did have was a belief that all things were possible, instilled in them by their coach, Coach Gerald Caveness. On March 8, 1969, in Jackson, Mississippi, the New Site Royals, State B champions, took the court against Jackson Wingfield Falcons, State AA champions for the Grand Slam Championship. The Royals faced insurmountable odds facing the largest school in the state. A coach and his boys took an impossible shot at the ultimate title.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER HAPPY HOLIDAYS GIVEAWAY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD! GOOD LUCK!

My Issue With #Amazon. #FeedbackWelcome #LGBT #MathHelp

Amazon is absolutely amazing. It has allowed me to sell my books to the world. The Indie World gave me a great opportunity to have my books read. For that, I'm grateful. So, I don't want to sound whiny. I'm just frustrated because no one is listening to me.

Amazon never listens to me over certain issues, mainly reviews. They politely ignore me. I get the ever irritating response—

 We appreciate your understanding and patience in this case.

So what is my problem? I have a couple of issues with reviews.

Last week, I put Framed on discount. The last time I looked, the rating was over 4, and now it's at 3.9. Having only 14 reviews, the rating was pretty easy to calculate on my own if I'm not doing my math wrong. This is what I wrote Amazon:

I'm talking about Framed B01JJ4J508 under my penname Colleen Connally. I hadn't look at the book in ages but decided to put it up at $0.99 this Christmas. The rating caught my eye. The last time I saw it, it was over 4. Now it's at 3.9 despite it having only one negative review. It doesn't have many reviews. So, it was easy to see that there is an error.

 

4- 4 stars

9- 5 stars

1- 1 star

 

Even if you only took the US rating, it should be 4.3 with 6- 5 stars, 4- 4 stars, and 1-1 star. It looks like you took all the reviews (14) and only divided it into the US reviews.

First of all, am I doing my math wrong? I'm a writer, not a mathematician. Maybe I'm doing the math wrong. I use a calculator. They have their computer program. So, I have to be wrong...but am I?

They got back to me and told me to look at the guidelines. Not that I'm a math idiot if I was doing it wrong. It would be pretty simple to tell me if I miscalculated. But I feel its telling that they gave me the standard line, look at the guidelines. In translation, your issue isn't worth dealing with.

The second issue is with negative #LGBT reviews. My books don't have an over abundance of gay characters in them, but as in life, some do. Amazon leaves the negative reviews up, saying they are within guidelines...but are they? 

Are they leaving them up as a warning? Is it a policy to have to state you have gay characters in a book? Is it necessary? It just doesn't feel right, but hey, it is their policy. It's just something that bothers me because it isn't about the book, but the way the reviewer feels about gays.

Here are a couple of examples.

Julia

 

1.0 out of 5 stars Blindsided by homosexuality!

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

I read 3/4 of an otherwise interesting book when the author decided to interject homosexuality. If I wanted to read about homosexuals, I'd look for a book in that genre. So disgusted by authors who trick people into reading this trash and I won't read this author again. Just be honest and people will trust you, I certainly don't now. Bye.

 

lucy carl

2.0 out of 5 stars Seemed interesting at first...

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

The plot seemed very interesting and I was all set to dig in. But then the homosexual character was introduced and I shut this down. I don't read books of that nature - I really wish it had been disclosed in the description so that I wouldn't have wasted my time.

I'm not under the illusion that I will to change Amazon's mind by writing this blog.  I'm just saying they aren't listening to what I'm saying.

To Amazon, their computer program doesn't make mistakes...

But does it????

December's Flash Sales

 Most Decembers I put together three books and offer a deal on them. This year, I decided to do something different. I'm going to do Flash Sales on books I normally don't discount. Today, its FRAMED.

I can't remember ever putting this book at a discount. Its the second book in Boston's Crimes of Passion. Get it while you can at this price. It won't be $0.99 for long!

AMAZON        IBOOKS        KOBO       NOOK

Blood makes you related; Murder makes you family!

Riley Ashcroft discovers that being born into one of the most prominent and powerful families in Massachusetts doesn’t mean a life of ease. Far from it. Since her father, Jack Ashcroft, took his own life thirteen years ago, she has lived in the shadow of scandal. When her grandmother’s personal secretary is brutally murdered, Riley begins to suspect everything she has been told as a child was a lie. Feeling betrayed, she vows to expose her family's darkest secrets.

Josh Kincaid, an investigative reporter, is on the heels of a major story. Thirteen years ago, Harrison Taylor's fate lay in the hands of his lawyer, Jack Ashcroft. In the midst of rumors and scandal, Ashcroft committed suicide and Taylor's fate was decided. Taylor is a convicted killer, but his grandmother has never stopped believing in his innocence. Now, the woman of meager means has offered a reward for any information that will free her grandson. Kincaid's interest is peaked, but it isn't until an anonymous tip suggests that the convicted killer was framed that he takes on the case.

Determined that the sins of the past be revealed, Kincaid and Riley search together for answers to the questions that were silenced by Jack Ashcroft's death. But there is a killer out there that has already proven he will do whatever necessary to keep those secrets buried.

In this tale of deceit and twisted revenge, the two soon realize that no one can be trusted, not even each other…

Read Seductive Secret...#HistoricalRomance at Its Best

 SECRET LIVES SERIES
SEDUCTIVE SECRETS, Book One, IS FREE...For Limited Time

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From Amazon Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars  Great readWell developed characters and interesting story about finding love.Recommend this book to all romance readers.Look forward to more books from this.GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood 5.0 out of 5 stars  Very enjoyableI really enjoyed this book. It has suspense, mystery, love, heartache and a great finish, all of which makes for a 'do not put down until finished ' book. Well written.
RISQUE REVIEWS -Top Choice Award- 
This story kept me on the edge of my seat as Alyce goes through the days trying to learn the truth. The suspense kept my heart racing as Alyce meets someone that knows something about her father. It turns out to be an attempt on her life. I literally held my breath until I knew she was alright. 
Later in the story, Haynes takes Alyce through a journey of sensual feelings for Lord Julian. Alyce discovers that she is falling in love. And through the description Haynes uses throughout her story, I experience the same feelings Alyce felt. Haynes was able to make me place myself in this story to feel as if all the action that took place happened to me. I especially like when I read a book and can feel that way. 
There is one scene toward the end of the book that made me not able to put the story down--when Alyce is led to old ruins at Colonel Tolworthy's estate by someone trying to cause her harm. I stayed up late reading the last section of the book because I simply could not quit reading until I knew the outcome.
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Autumn is my favorite time of the year. This year, the trees in New England look absolutely brilliant with vibrant colors. The temperture are dropping bringing with it football and soon basketball. My dad was a high school basketball coach along with being a history teacher. I inherited his love of history which is shown in my historical books. The history I have in my historicals are factual correct which can be seen in Winds of Betrayal and Southern Legacy.
My sweeping romance Southern Legacy will take you back in time. The first book, Belle of Charleston, in the serial is free. 

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My fantasy series, The Three Realms, is my only books in Kindleunlimited. Check out the series!

THE THREE REALMS SERIES

Don't miss out on my upcoming release, The Measure of a Man. Granted it is a totally different genre than my usual, but I'm excited. This book is personal because it was inspired by my father. The book was inspired by a true story. Inspirational. Coming of Age. Sportsfiction.

THE MEASURE OF A MAN COMING NOVEMBER 24TH! 
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The Magical Three Realms Series Is Now In KDP

THE THREE REALMS SERIES
 For the first time is a long time, I have put a series back into KDP. The Three Realms is an action and adventure fantasy. For the next three days, Past of Shadows is FREE. (July 15-17).
 
PAST OF SHADOWS ~ FREE JULY 15-17
The legend, they say, is whispered within the winds along the magnificent Preda Mountains. Words and deeds never to be forgotten of the Arachnidan Terror.

Children sing to the glory of the Sordarins. Young lads praise their heroes of the past with dreams of following in their footsteps. Old men bask in the deeds of another time, a time when the Sordarins crushed the impending threat and once more Scarladin was safe.

The mighty Sordarins, rulers of the sky! The people look high up in the clouds and see their warriors soaring under the sun and know they are safe and secure in their world never to have to worry about the threat of the Arachnidans and the dreaded Asmeodai! The ones whose quest seek only to destroy all the Sordarins have ever known.

Over the years, the Sordarins have slept well, secure in their knowledge the Great One watches over them, knowing that the legends hold a mighty warrior will emerge if threatened again, a warrior born with a destiny to defend their world.

Now, though, subtle changes have emerged. Little by little, fears begin to resurface that their world, their very existence is once again threatened. They look to the skies anxiously awaiting their warrior; questioning perchance if the Great One has forgotten them.

I know this how? I am the one born to defend their world. I, Kela Calledwdele, was born a Euchoun...I am their warrior.
Kela Calledwdele was born with a destiny, a Euchoun with only one purpose in life...to protect. Torn between two worlds, Kela soon discovers she is the hope of both. Now she must find the courage to face the destiny, fate has dictated to her.

Kela has always known what path in life she would follow. She was born a Euchoun. Half Witheleghean, a passive, peaceful race where magic runs freely and the other half, Sordarin, a valiant warrior race of hawkmen who rule the sky, she knows well her parents gave the ultimate sacrifice to give her a chance to live. Yet, in so doing, they have left Kela unprepared to face the danger that awaits her—an evil like no other—Asmeodai!

Enjoy the 4th with #SummerReads

This 4th of July I have two FREE ebooks under my other penname, Jerri Hines. I have also put The Three Realms series into KDP. That means that any of the books in The Three Realms are FREE if you have Kindleunlimited. 

THE THREE REALMS SERIES ~ FREE WITH KDP
FREE FOR LIMITED TIME
BOOK ONE OF SOUTHERN LEGACY ~ FREE
I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th! Enjoy!

Have You Read Seductive Secrets? You Should Have By Now!

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#APRIL DEAL $0.99
Deception, treachery, and romance that pull in the reader from the beginning until the end! #HistoricalRomance
Someone wants Alyce Hythe dead...Shunned from London society for being the daughter of England's most notorious spy, Alyce Hythe desires only to clear her father's name. For years, she has been hidden away from all prying eyes, given a new identity and told to forget who she was. But strange things have been happening causing old rumors to once more be whispered.Long has Lord Julian Casvelyn lived with guilt brought on when his brother was murdered by England's most infamous traitor. But one eventful night has changed everything Lord Julian believed about his brother's death. Never did he suspect the woman he has just saved from certain harm is the daughter of that man. Now Julian is caught in midst of a conspiracy and desire for that woman. Thrown together by fate, the two search for answers long denied them and along the way discover a love that can free them both.
Completely Revised and Edited ~ 2019!