Constance Phillips's Blog, page 9

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Sign up for my newsletter in December and be entered to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

My newsletter is chuck full of news and information about my books and upcoming appearances. There are often bonus reads, excerpts and giveaways.

Subscribers are always the first ones to see covers and hear of release dates.

And — pinky swear — I will never spam you!

 

It’s easy to subscribe, just fill out the form found at my website.

 

Signed Sunnydale Days Books Make Great Christmas Presents

Looking for an affordable gift for the romance reader in your life? For the holiday season, I will be signing print copies of the Sunnydale Days books and mailing them out. Order by Dec. 15 in order to receive them before Christmas.

Special holiday pricing for these books:

1 Book – $10 2 Books – $18 3 Books – $27 All 4 Books – $36

Go to this form to order!

 

Out Today: All That’s Unforgiven, Sunnydale Days Book #4

The fourth book in the Sunnydale Days series — All That’s Unforgiven — is out today!

 

​Sunnydale Days

Hearts, horses, and healing…

All That’s Unforgiven

Can Sam Crawford make up for a decade-old mistake before it ruins his chances at future happiness?

*****

Some mistakes can’t be forgiven; they must be rectified.

Wanting nothing more than a second chance with his first wife, Sam Crawford convinces Betty he’s rooted in Sunnydale Farms and committed to a new life with her.

Betty fears the only thing Sam can be faithful to is the next excitement-filled adventure. Fear becomes reality when someone from Sam’s past shows up in Caseville, Michigan, offering him the high-paying horse-breeding job he left a decade ago.

Will his attempts to amend his past cost him his future happiness?

Buy Now: Kindle | Amazon Print | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks | All Romance Ebooks |  Inktera | Scribd | ebook.de 

Tuesday Teaser: The Best Laid Wedding Plans, by Lynnette Austin

The Best Laid Wedding Plans
by Lynnette Austin
Genre: Contemporary Romance



http://www.amazon.com/Best-Wedding-Plans-Magnolia-Brides-ebook/dp/B0108GOLDW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442848671&sr=1-1&keywords=the+best+laid+wedding+plans


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-laid-wedding-plans-lynnette-austin/1121498603?ean=9781492617976

With love in their hearts and

crafting the perfect wedding on their minds, the possibilities are endless for

the ladies of Lynette Austin’s new Magnolia Brides series.

SOME DREAMS ARE WORTH WHATEVER IT TAKES

Jenni Beth Beaumont left her broken heart behind when she took her dream job

in Savannah. But after her brother’s death, Jenni Beth returns home to help

mend her parents’ hearts as well as restore their beautiful but crumbling

antebellum mansion. New dreams take shape as Jenni Beth sets to work replacing

floors and fixing pipes to convert the family homestead into the perfect

wedding destination. However, some folks in their small Southern town are

determined to see her fail.

Cole Bryson was once the love of Jenni Beth’s life, but the charming

architectural salvager has plans of his own for the Beaumont family home. As

the two butt heads,

old turmoil is brought to the surface and Cole and Jenni Beth will have to work

through some painful memories and tough realities before they can set their

pasts aside and have a second chance at their own happily ever after.

The luxury of staying home when the

weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare feet, and the fact that

daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are a few of the reasons

middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave up the classroom to write full-time.

Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New

York, then to the Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide

their time between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge

Mountains. A finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, PASIC’s Book of Your Heart

Contest, and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Contest, she’s published five

books as Lynnette Hallberg. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her

heart takes her—to those quirky small towns where everybody knows

everybody…and all their business, for better or worse.

Author Media Links
www.authorlynnetteaustin.com
https://twitter.com/LynnettAustin
https://www.facebook.com/Lynnette-Austin

http://hotwipssassychicks.blogspot.com

Bonus: Fun Facts

A purple rose signifies love at first sight. I’ll bet that’s what Prince Charming gave to Cinderella.
Architectural salvagers recycle the past. I dare you to visit a shop and leave without buying anything. I found the best yellow chicken doorknocker for my office at Pinch of the Past in Savannah, Georgia.
Poke salad really is a dish eaten by some Southerners, but I wouldn’t suggest it. Poke can’t be eaten raw and, even after three boilings, still contains toxins.
Don’t give your sweetheart a peach-colored rose. It’s used to show gratitude or appreciation rather than love.
Jenni Beth’s favorite color is red, the color of energy, passion, and action. That describes her in a nutshell.
I love to stand on the beach while the waves crash ashore. If it’s windy and rainy? All the better.
I love a bargain, and so do both Jenni Beth and Cole.
One of my students came to school one morning and told me he’d seen a Siamese toad on his way to class. Think about it! How do you explain that to a child?
I rode a camel in Morocco.
I drove a 65 ’Vette just like Jenni Beth’s my second year of college, and I loved it every bit as much as she loves hers!
The Beaumont’s have an old yellow lab named Zeke. That was my husband’s nickname growing up because there were three Daves on the block.
I picked up my rental car in downtown Dublin, Ireland at noon. After getting out of the passenger side, I moved to the wrong side of the car where the steering wheel actually was and turned the wrong way at the first red light. It went downhill from there.
Frozen chocolate custard makes me smile.
Forest Gump’s “ Life is like a box of chocolates” quote was filmed in Savannah. The bench he sat on is in the Savannah History Museum.
The very first Girl Scouts meeting was held in Savannah.
The absolutely perfect cherub chandelier Cole gave Jenni Beth for her office was salvaged from a house about to be leveled by a wrecking ball.
Salvaged pieces of the past in new or old homes give them a sense of history.
A student brought me a bouquet of rather wilted flowers one day. It turned out he’d taken a shortcut through the cemetery that morning. The thought was there, right?
I am the proud owner of a guitar pick given to me by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush during their Incredible Machine tour.
On a field trip with fifty students in Wyoming, our bus driver drove into a gulley. We were too far out for any communications. While the other teacher stayed with the bus, I walked three miles over the sagebrush covered prairie to a power plant to call for help. I didn’t mind the walk, but oh, the bulls that gave me the eye as I passed. In the middle of the Wyoming prairie? No trees to climb if one decided to give me chase.
I once competed, rather badly, in a powder puff car race. I love cars. What can I say?
The first time I played craps in Las Vegas, I left my money on the pass line and let it run for four straight times because I wasn’t sure it was mine. Finally the man beside me, who’d lost each time, told me I could take the money. It was mine. That was just before he left, disgusted.
I swear mamas give their babies sweet tea in their bottles here in the South.
Cole lives in a barn that converted into the best house ever!
Kudzu really is the plant that ate the South.

 

Cover Reveal: All That’s Unforgiven

I’m so pleased to present the cover for my December 1, 2015 release–The fourth book in the Sunnydale Days series!

All That’s Unforgiven

Sunnydale Days

Hearts, horses, and healing…

Can Sam Crawford make up for a decade-old mistake before it ruins his chances at future happiness?

*****

Some mistakes can’t be forgiven; they must be rectified.

Wanting nothing more than a second chance with his first wife, Sam Crawford convinces Betty he’s rooted in Sunnydale Farms and committed to a new life with her.

Betty fears the only thing Sam can be faithful to is the next excitement-filled adventure. Fear becomes reality when someone from Sam’s past shows up in Caseville, Michigan, offering him the high-paying horse-breeding job he left a decade ago.

Will his attempts to amend his past cost him his future happiness?

(The book will be come up for preorder across all retailers over the next few days. As the links become available I will add them here. )

Preorder:

Amazon |

Tuesday Teaser: Throwback by Zeia Jameson

Throwback
By: Zeia Jameson
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance 
 


Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/oho8n6b
Amazon Canada: http://tinyurl.com/nvhbayk
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/puwpbk2
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/orrjsrp
kobo: http://tinyurl.com/nroet9j

iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/p3t6eaq
 
 
Jeremy’s goals were to work hard, be successful and make his mother proud.

Livy’s goals were to separate herself from her past and keep people at a distance.

When Jeremy meets Livy, his priorities shift slightly – getting Livy to trust him becomes number one on his list.

Jeremy and Livy take a chance on each other and give a relationship a try. But when they come to a crossroads and want different things out of life, they struggle to figure out what to do next.

A mysterious gift from an anonymous source is the fate of their future. It’ll help them remember why they started a relationship in the first place.

But will remembering the past be enough for Jeremy and Livy to overcome the turmoil of what their lives have become?

 

Note: This is a New Adult Romance and contains mature language and situations. This book is not recommending for readers under the age of 18.

 
 


I’m a small town girl from GA. I enjoy getting into the zone and typing until my hands go numb. I like curling up under a blanket with coffee and reading when life allows me the time – especially when it’s rainy outside. I love my family with all of my heart. I am fond of humor and laughter because I think it keeps us sane and grounded. I pride myself in being open minded: say what you want to say, be who you want to be. Just don’t be mean, rude or a bully – because then you’ll see my Hulk side.

Author Media Links
Facebook: facebook.com/zeiajameson
Website: www.zeiajameson.com

Twitter: @ZeiaJameson
 
 Bonus: 25 Fun Facts about Zeia

I live in GA
I enjoy reading whenever I get the chance. I read all types of genres
Throwback is my first published novel.
My favorite food is sushi.
My favorite places to visit are Savannah, GA; Boston, MA and San Antonio, TX
I am a sports fanatic, most particularly college football
I love to travel
I have never been overseas but would like to travel to Europe, Japan and Australia one day
I am addicted to Netflix
In Throwback, the main female character, Livy, thinks she’s a realist and has a grip on her life; however, in actuality, she is completely mistaken about what the world is really like.
In Throwback, the main male character, Jeremy, was raised by 3 women who taught him to be a gentleman and a hopeless romantic.
Livy speaks her mind. She is tough and also stubborn.
Jeremy is a sweetheart but also likes getting what he wants
I spent 5 years of my twenties being a bartender and loved every second of it.
15.My current favorite actor is Benedict Cumberbatch.
My current favorite actress is Kerry Washington
I like most all genres of music


I don’t care much for sweets. I prefer salty.
I have strange obsessions with Japanese horror movies, British accents and spicy food
St Patrick’s day is my favorite holiday. I love green, shamrocks and Guinness
I have 1 tattoo but want more.
I want to be an American Ninja Warrior – but I like being lazy and eating junk food too much.
In Throwback, I purposefully didn’t name a specific city for the setting. I wanted readers to associate the city with whatever was familiar to them
Sloths freak me out – they move too slow; spiders freak me out – they move too fast
When I was little, I wanted to be Wonder Woman; I think I nailed it.
I am a huge Star Wars fan
I enjoy watching the Food Network Channel but only because I like food. I suck at cooking.
My guilty pleasure is the reality show Big Brother

Tuesday Teaser (With Excerpt) Heart Tempter by Sophia Knightly

Heart Tempter
by Sophia Knightly
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 


Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1gKHcRB
Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1WgWAoM
iBooks: http://apple.co/1GxcqoN
Nook: http://bit.ly/1NKDDYv
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Gwr8fO

Google: http://bit.ly/1G11AV1
 
Enemies to lovers…

 

Leo is a hardworking, serious, no-nonsense boss.

Teddy is an entitled, fun-loving, carefree heiress.

 

Together, sparks will fly when they face off in a luxurious resort.



The exotic handsome Spanish tycoon Leo Guerra has no intention of coddling the boss’ spoiled daughter in spite of his weakness for leggy blondes with big, golden brown eyes. But what he doesn’t know is that despite her best intentions, where Teddy Behr goes, trouble follows…Behind the fast pace of opening week, lurks a danger and peril. Will mayhem, murder, and a Heart Tempter like Teddy jeopardize everything Leo has worked for? Or will love win out in the end?THE HEARTTHROB SERIES:

Book 1: Heart Raider (Nick and Veronique)

Book 2: Heart Melter (Ian and Natasha)

Book 3: Heart Tamer (Alec and Kate)

Book 4: Heart Hunter (Cameron and Evie)

Book 5: Heart Tempter (Leo and Teddy)

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly, cooks up hot romance and delicious humor in her feel-good stories. Whether it’s romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, sexy and heartwarming contemporary romances feature hot alpha heroes and strong, smart women.Traditionally published by St. Martin’s Press, Kensington, and Samhain Publishing, her popular Tropical Heat Series books and Heartthrob Series books have consistently been on multiple Amazon best selling lists and sold over 100,000 copies.

When not writing or reading, she loves walking the beach, exploring museums, going to the theatre, enjoying good food, and watching movies. One of her favorite pastimes remains simply watching people, especially those in love!

“Like” her Facebook author page at: http://on.fb.me/vGfJ5t

Visit her website at: http://www.sophiaknightly.net

Sign up for her “new release” newsletter at:http://sophiaknightly.net/newsletter-sign-up.html

Write to her at: sophiaknightly@gmail.com

 

Follow her on Twitter @SophiaKnightly



Excerpt from Heart Tempter

Chapter One


Theodora Behr sat in the dingy taxi and breathed through her mouth to block out the smell of stale cigarettes, chemical exhaust and greasy fried chicken. The cab driver’s fingers glistened with the remnants of his lunch as he gestured to the multi-colored, pastel Art Deco buildings on Collins Avenue. Fighting a queasy stomach, Teddy rolled down the window and gulped fresh air, only to feel the Miami humidity slap her face like a steaming wet rag. She let out an involuntary groan that sounded like a bleating lamb.


The driver whipped his head around. “You okay back there?”


“Yes. I’m home, so that’s good.” If only the circumstances of her homecoming had been different, she’d feel a lot better.


“If Miami is home, then why are you going to a hotel?” the cabbie asked.


“The Riviera Hotel is my home.” She fidgeted with a long strand of blond hair. “Well, sort of.”


He shot her an odd look and turned his attention back to the long circular driveway leading to the Riviera.



Home. Teddy had said Miami was home because she was born there, but she had no real anchor, not even this beachfront luxury hotel in South Beach she would someday inherit. After boarding school and college, she spent most of her life traveling as the Behr Foundation’s goodwill ambassador, a job she was proud of. The Riviera Hotel was the closest thing she had to home, not the lovely Paris flat Daddy had bought her nine years ago when she turned twenty-one.


The air conditioning was barely working and it was warm and stifling inside, but that wasn’t the sole reason for her malaise. She couldn’t shake the restless emptiness that had plagued her for months. She yearned for something more than the constant traveling. Though she enjoyed her philanthropic work for the Behr Foundation and the many countries she visited on its behalf, she longed for something deeper, more personal.


With a sigh, she closed the window and shifted her hips to dislodge the cracked vinyl sticking to the backs of her damp thighs. She dug into her Chloe bag and extracted an antibacterial wipe, a pink and gold enameled mirror compact and a wand of Spark, her favorite Chanel lip gloss color. After cleaning her hands, she reapplied her lip gloss and checked her face for signs of wear and tear.


Tired golden brown eyes stared back at her and her usual peachy complexion looked wan in spite of drinking lots of mineral water during the 12-hour flight from Ibiza. Traveling lodged between a huge athlete and a pushy woman had consequences, and not even a few glasses of chardonnay, a sleep mask or her ear plugs had afforded her any sleep.


She tried not to think about why she’d been summoned home so abruptly, but it was all she could think about of late. Daddy had been furious with her over the party she’d thrown that had gone awry, resulting in a huge loss of money and a stain on the Behr family name. He sent her a pre-paid economy class ticket and was unavailable to talk to her every time she’d called to explain. Granted it was pre-opening week at the Riviera, but still, Daddy had always been accessible to her, no matter how busy he was.


Worse still, he hadn’t been at the Miami International Airport to meet her, as was his custom when she came home. In fact, no one had been there waiting for her, not even Sam, the family driver. Clearly, the cold homecoming was Daddy’s punishment for the recent debacle—which hadn’t been her fault. His retributions were usually short-lived and he didn’t stay mad at her for long. She could only hope this would be the case once he understood her part in the disaster. She had a lot of explaining to do before she could begin to celebrate her 30th birthday.


A brief text from her stepmother Lola, aka The Amoeba, was all she’d gotten upon her arrival at MIA that said “Take a cab.” That was it. No “Happy Birthday, Teddy. So nice to have you back.” So different from the text she’d gotten from Martha Conti, her father’s long-time personal assistant. “Teddy, dear, I’ll be waiting for you at the front of the Riviera. So sorry I won’t be able to meet you at the airport, but things are crazy here.”


It suddenly occurred to her that Martha might have said things were crazy because she was planning a birthday celebration for her. The thought of a surprise party made Teddy smile for the first time since she’d entered the grimy cab. And if her stars were aligned, her friends in the staff would be there to welcome her back.


An overwhelming twinge of nostalgia overtook her when the cab stopped in front of the hotel—her hotel someday. Nothing would ever be the same as when she was a little girl playing in the Riviera, pretending she was Eloise at The Plaza Hotel.


Teddy’s heart lifted when she saw Martha standing beside the two massive bronze hotel doors. Petite and impeccably dressed in a black and white St. John knit suit and matching spectator pumps, the middle-aged woman with the glossy brunette bob smiled broadly.


“Teddy, I’ve missed you. Happy birthday, dear.” Martha’s pretty hazel green eyes twinkled as she extended her arms toward Teddy. “Come give me a hug.”


“Martha!” Teddy ran forward and lifted Martha off her feet, squeezing her compact body in a tight hug. “I’ve missed you sooo much.”


Teddy set Martha down amid her protesting chuckles and gave the cab driver a hefty tip after he rolled in the last of her four Louis Vuitton suitcases. Closing her wallet, she made a mental note to see about getting more cash in her account because her money was running out.


Martha smoothed the strands of Teddy’s long hair from her face and peered into her eyes. “Why haven’t you kept in better touch, young lady? You know how I worry about you. Must I depend on Twitter and Instagram to learn your whereabouts?” She wagged a finger at her. “Or should I say shenanigans?”


Teddy gave an innocent shrug. “Shenanigans? Me?” It was hard meeting Martha’s direct gaze, especially after the recent events. Surely she knew what was going on. “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit preoccupied lately…and…and out of touch,” Teddy said quickly before Martha started asking questions. She flashed a repentant smile. “Forgive me?”


“Of course,” Martha replied in her usual indulgent way, warming Teddy’s heart more than she could imagine.


Teddy had adored Martha from the moment the kind woman had started faithfully working for Daddy sixteen years ago. Martha’s warm, affectionate personality was the perfect buffer to Daddy’s brash, high-powered one. Much of her devotion to Randolph Behr stemmed from unrequited love, something that made Teddy infinitely sad. She would have loved Martha for a stepmother instead of The Amoeba.


In many ways, Martha was like a surrogate mother to Teddy. She’d taken a keen interest in her welfare after Teddy’s mother died when Teddy was only 14. Martha had never married and her only family was a pair of schnauzers named Ricky and Lucy.


A freckle-faced bellhop with a mop of chestnut curls and thick-rimmed black hipster glasses approached them. Teddy smiled at him and gestured to her suitcases. “Please take these to the Presidential Suite and…”


Before she finished, Martha led her away. “Dan will take care of your bags, Teddy. We must hurry. Leo is waiting to meet you.”



“Oh him,” Teddy said without an ounce of enthusiasm. “He can wait a bit. I’m dying to see Daddy and all the renovations I’ve been hearing about.”



After a massive renovation, the Riviera was close to re-opening. For the past six months, Daddy had bent Teddy’s ear with accolades about how Leonardo Guerra, the 36-year-old Spanish tycoon, had renovated world-class resorts in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Anyone would think Guerra was the son Daddy never had.



When he first arrived, Martha had confided that Teddy’s conniving stepmother liked the wonder boy a bit too much, making Teddy suspicious. Everything The Amoeba did merited suspicion. From the moment she weaseled into Daddy’s life, The Amoeba had managed to manipulate him. She was the only person who’d been able to pull Daddy out of his deep depression and binge drinking after Mom’s death. Employed at the time as a special events coordinator at the Riviera, Lola was brilliant on the job, but it was the Brazilian bombshell’s seduction that succeeded in winning Daddy over at his weakest point.

To Teddy’s dismay and nobody’s surprise, the seductive event planner organized the most lavish event in the Riviera Hotel’s history – her own wedding to Randolph Behr, the hotel’s owner. After they were married, Lola convinced Daddy that Teddy needed to be sent to boarding school “for her own good.” No one had understood Teddy’s despair at having to leave her dear father’s side after losing her mother. No one except Martha, who had been powerless to stop it.



Feeling rejected and hurt by the banishment, Teddy went wild to combat the loneliness. With no limits and an open wallet from Daddy, she traveled the globe and experienced adventures most adults never did. She relished them all, including romances that led to a few engagements, but she kept getting cold feet and breaking them off. Her plans for today’s birthday celebration came to a screeching halt when she was summoned home, otherwise she’d be in a hot air balloon now soaring over Tanzania in the Serengeti.



“I’ll give you a tour later, Teddy,” Martha said, interrupting her thoughts. “Leo won’t tolerate being kept waiting.”



“Won’t tolerate?” Teddy rolled her eyes. “Oh brother. He’s not the boss of us.”



Martha remained silent, making Teddy wonder why. She was usually more talkative when Teddy returned home after a long absence.



Saving her questions for later, she linked her arm with Martha’s as they entered the majestic foyer.
Everything sparkled, from the massive mint green granite columns to the Venetian crystal chandeliers. Eighteenth century Italian furniture glistened on plush Persian carpeting. Fresh flower arrangements in towering crystal vases perfumed the air alongside potted palms in Oriental urns on the mosaic pink marble floor. The hotel’s interior had always been elegant, but it was even more so now.



Teddy’s cell phone beeped with several text messages at once, making her smile. “Aw, more birthday wishes. Isn’t that sweet?”



Martha nodded, but stopped and touched Teddy’s forearm. “Better shut off the volume, dear. Leo is short on time and patience. He won’t like you checking texts while he conducts the meeting.”



“I don’t want to meet Guerra yet. I’d rather see Daddy.”



“Humor me, dear. This is important.”



Teddy could never deny the sweet woman anything. “Okay, done,” she said, shutting off the phone’s volume. “So what’s the deal with Guerra?”



“He is the best there is at what he does.” Martha sighed deeply. “Please try to keep an open mind about the changes.”



“What changes?” Teddy asked, noting the wariness in Martha’s voice. “Is everything okay here? You don’t seem your usual self.”



“I’ll explain later,” Martha murmured. Leading Teddy down a long corridor, her chin-length, brunette bob partially hid her face.



When they stopped in front of her father’s office, Teddy couldn’t help smiling. So that was it. Everyone was waiting in Daddy’s office to scream “surprise” when she walked in. Who did they think they were fooling? She was the queen of arranging surprises for her friends, especially birthday ones. Could Daddy have forgiven her without any explanations? This was too good to be true.


Martha hovered outside the door. “This is Leo’s office now.”


Teddy hid a grin. As if that would ever happen. They were certainly going to great lengths to surprise her. Who knew Martha was such an actress, acting all worried and such?


“That doesn’t sound like Daddy. He would never give up his office. Yep, there sure have been a lot of changes around here,” she said, going along with the joke.


Martha straightened her spine and knocked on the door. Marveling at Martha’s acting chops, Teddy flung the door open and drew back with her hand dramatically clasped over her heart and her eyes wide open in surprise. She waited for gleeful shouts of “Happy Birthday!”…but none came.


After awkward seconds ticked by, she wiped the pathetic disappointment from her face and scanned the large room until she spotted a tall man standing beside the bookcase. His back was to her with his head bent over a book in his hands. Turning toward her, he slammed the book shut and Teddy nearly leapt out of her stilettos at the loud crack. He might as well have fired a shot, it was that jarring.


“Where is Daddy…and everyone?” she demanded, sucking in a calming breath. She wasn’t usually jumpy, but the penetrating look in the man’s diamond black eyes set her nerves on edge.


Martha cleared her throat. “Uh… Teddy, this is Leonardo Guerra.”


“Theodora.” He strolled forward and grasped Teddy’s hand in a firm handshake. The gesture was friendly enough, but his dark countenance unnerved her.


“Call me Teddy. Everyone does,” she said when she found her voice.

“So, we finally meet. I’ve heard a lot about you.” His voice was deep and tinged with a Spanish accent, but his tone dripped with irony. Black-as-night eyes intently bored into hers.


“Only good things I hope,” she said, struggling to be civil even if she disliked him on sight. Raw power emanated from him, leaving no question that he was in command. Thick black hair framed a strong-boned face and the faint laugh lines at the outer corners of his arresting eyes were the only clue he had a sense of humor.


When Guerra didn’t return her smile, Teddy raised her chin and boldly assessed him. Success and virility radiated from his tall, broad-shouldered physique. Though she was five foot seven, she felt slight in comparison. Impeccable grooming and a well-tailored suit erased his low-born origins, but Teddy’s research had revealed him as the once impoverished son of a gypsy who had left home at an early age to make his fortune dynamically using his intellect and ambitious drive.


The slight hollows beneath Leo’s sharp cheekbones and ridges bracketing his firm mouth spoke of ruthlessness. As if she hadn’t figured that out with just one look at the grim set of his mouth. His handsome, yet austere, olive-toned face and the piercing glint in his eyes warned her don’t cross me. He was indeed formidable, but she couldn’t figure out why he looked irritated when she hadn’t done anything to annoy him—except keep him waiting.


Breaking the tense silence, Martha said, “I’ll leave you two to sort things out. Call me when you’re finished, Teddy.” Her flushed face left no doubt of her unease.


“Where are you going?” Teddy said, not happy her ally was abandoning her.


“I’ll be somewhere in the hotel. Give me a call or have me paged when you’re finished,” Martha said on her way out the door.”


When she left, Teddy sank into a buff leather armchair in front of the antique mahogany desk. The forceful energy emanating from Leo was intense, but she wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. To relax, she swung one leg over the other and rocked it back and forth. That usually helped, but not today.


As the rocking escalated, the hem of her lettuce green silk wrap dress inched up several inches above her bare, tanned knees and she caught the flicker of male interest in his dark eyes. Designed by the owner of Michi Michi, Teddy’s childhood friend and favorite Parisian designer, it was more party dress than traveling attire. The moment she left customs at the Miami International Airport, Teddy had changed into the dress and stilettos before hailing the taxi. This was Miami and once she cleared the air with Daddy, she was ready to party hard on her birthday.


Leo leaned his athletic frame against the desk ledge, all sinew and corded muscles beneath the charcoal Armani suit that fit his tall form like a dream. “I’m sure you have many questions, Theodora.”


Why was he still calling her Theodora? And why had God wasted such stunning eyes on a man, dark as lava with iridescent green flecks? Her dark blond lashes needed at least two coats of mascara to look as thick and lush as his. She looked away from his eyes and collected herself.


“I do have many questions, but first tell me about you.” A little charm might help thaw him out. “You have a lovely accent,” she drawled. “Martha mentioned you’re from Spain. Catalan or Basque?”


“Basque, but we’re not here to talk about me. I’m short on time and you’re late,” he said bluntly.


She waved a hand at his curtness. “Don’t even get me started about my experience at the airport. Some overzealous fool ordered a strip search because he found rare beauty serum ampules from China that my friend Sandrine hid in my suitcase as a birthday surprise,” she said, hoping he’d warm up to her once he heard about her dreadful ordeal. Guerra’s dark brows knotted over incredulous eyes as she continued, “a security guard prodded and poked me until she decided I was harmless enough to enter the good ole U.S. of A.”


Leo’s iPhone rang, interrupting her story. He answered it and engaged in a brief conversation while Teddy took inventory of the office. Nothing had changed since Daddy had occupied it, except there were no longer photos of her at different stages of growing up and no glamorous pictures of Lola. Either Leo hadn’t been in charge very long or he didn’t believe in personal touches where he worked.


He abruptly ended the call and turned his attention to Teddy.


She smiled. “As I was saying—”


“Never mind all that,” he interrupted. “You must be wondering why I summoned you back to the Riviera.”


“You didn’t summon me. Daddy asked me to come home. He even sent me a pre-paid ticket. Totally unnecessary. I can pay for my own airfare and I wish I had. By the time I got to the airport it was too late to upgrade the economy class ticket to a business one. I had a huge athlete on one side who drank and ate like a horse and a nosy woman on my other side who kept trying to read my romance novel.” She threw in the romance novel to keep things light, but he didn’t crack a smile.


One dark brow lifted. “What do you use to buy your airfare? Your allowance?” He sounded exasperated, pronouncing allowance as if it were a dirty word.


“I don’t have an allowance,” she said frostily. “I draw a paycheck from my non-profit charity work.”

“Is that what you call going to parties in designer gowns and schmoozing with the rich and famous?” he challenged.


“That’s not all I do.” Teddy massaged her temples against the onslaught of a tension headache. “It’s how I raise funds for worthy charities.”


“Not anymore.” Guerra set down the book he’d been holding and crossed hard-muscled arms over his chest. “You’re going to do real work now, Theodora. I’ve taken charge of the Riviera, which like you, is facing financial ruin.”

Friday Featured Author: Gracen Miller

Today’s Featured Author is Gracen Miller.  I’m so excited to share this author with you!

Before we get to the interview, let me share her bio!

Gracen Miller

Gracen is a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/lacrosse/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband of over twenty years. She has an unusual relationship with her muse, Dom, but credits all her creative success to his brilliant mind. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football, and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She’s convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and when blending coffee and writing together it generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her creative worlds are spawned from coffee highs and Dom’s aggressive demands. Gracen writes is multiple genres—paranormal romance, paranormal erotic romance, and contemporary romance. To learn more about Gracen or to leave her a comment, visit her website at www.gracen-miller.com.

You can also get news and information about Gracen’s books at her Facebook and Twitter.

The Interview

Tell us about your latest release?

Elfin Blood is a paranormal erotic romance that features an elf and a vampire. Yes, there’s biting and a mix on vampire lore. And it gives a whole new concept on why diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but you gotta read it to find out why. Elfin Blood isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s a quick story at around 45K words and the best part, it’s only 99 cents.

 

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Pantser. Although I prefer to call it the “hot seat” because I never know what’s going to happen from one scene to the next. I’ve tried the whole plotter thing and ended up staring at a blank computer screen getting nowhere. As I write the story reveals itself naturally, kind of in an organic way, so I gave up trying to change my writing flow. The hot seat is the best fit for me.

 

What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you?

Hands down marketing. I suck at marketing. There’s not one thing easy about it and it’s time consuming, taking time away from what I’d rather be doing…writing the next story. If I can’t get the book into the hands of interested readers, then the book is a flop before it ever hits the bookshelf.

 

How about the most fun?

Writing the book. I love to write. It is my drug of choice, giving me natural highs and stabilizing my mood. Living through the adventures of the characters is exciting. When I’m not writing, I’m ill and moody. My family doesn’t ask if I’m PMSing, they ask why I’m not writing.

 

What inspired you to write your first book? 

My sixth grade English teacher got me writing with a homework assignment, but I can’t say one thing inspired me to write my first book. I wrote all through high school and I knew then I wanted to be a published author. In fact, Elfin Blood was originally written in high school (with some major deviations in the storyline by the time it was released over 20 years later).

 

Do you have any writing rituals? (Time of day to write, must have beverages? Etc?)

I typically write during the day while my boys are at school and work since that’s my quiet time. But I’ll write any chance I can get and I’ve been known to email myself scenes while sitting at the ballpark so I don’t forget them. I love nectar of the gods—coffee—when I write, but it’s not necessary to writing. A ritual…when I sit down in front of my laptop to write, I close my eyes, breath in and out slowly, while I let the world and all its worries fall away. A lot like mediation. Once I’ve reached that peaceful state, I get to work crafting sassy, sexy and alpha heroes and I might throw in a few badass heroines too.

 

Who is your go-to author, the one you know you can always count on to deliver a great story?

That’s a toughie because I don’t have just one author that is a go-to author for me. Some Indies I love and who never disappoint are Ann Mayburn, Milly Taiden, Aline Hunter, and Danica Avet. Some new to me Indies are Elle Vaughn, K.J. Coakley, Cassidy O’Connor, and Christine Alvarez. Some traditionally published authors that I love and who never disappoint are Nalini Singh, Kresley Cole, and JoAnne Wylde.

 

What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m writing a dystopian romance. It’s a bit scary because I’m out of my comfort zone with the story, and I’ve never read any dystopian novels, so I don’t know if I’m doing it right. But the storyline was something I’d been mulling over and daydreaming about for a few years, so I took the leap.



What do your plans for future projects include?

After I finish my dystopian romance, I’ll finish book 3 of the Hot Wired series, Bama Girl Blues, which is my most popular line of stories. They’re rock star romances, and I think they’re so popular because almost all of us can relate to falling in love with a rock star. In my teens my walls were covered with posters of rock stars and I daydreamed about falling in love with them. They’re something so sexy and rebellious about rock stars that even to this day I’m attracted to them. The Hot Wired series has been fun to write, putting all of my teenage fantasies to life in the written word.

 

Tuesday Teaser: A Montana Born Christmas

A Montana Born Christmas
Box Set
Jane Porter, Megan Crane, CJ Carmichael,
Katherine Garbera, Melissa McClone, Roxanne Snopek,
Dani Collins, Alissa Callen
Genre: Contemporary Western Holiday Romance
 


Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Google Play
Kobo
 
Christmas at Copper Mountain by Jane Porter 

Life has been tough at Copper Mountain Ranch and widower Brock Sheenan’s kids have never had a proper Christmas. His new housekeeper, Harley Diekerhoff, is determined to change that–but she doesn’t count on falling in love with her taciturn boss. Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy by Megan Crane 

Christina Grey Cooper has finally given up on her marriage and returned home to Marietta to lick her wounds. But Dare can’t let the love of his life go, even if what’s standing in the way of a true holiday miracle is himself… Can the magic of a White Christmas in Montana help him save what he’s nearly lost forever? A Cowgirl’s Christmas by CJ Carmichael 

Betrayed by her father, Callan Carrigan has to decide what matters most to her. Fighting Court McAllister to get back the family ranch, or giving Court what he really wants—her heart. A Cowboy for Christmas by Katherine Garbera 

Back in Marietta, disgraced, the last person Annie Pruhomme wants to see is hunky Carson Scott. Does he hold a grudge, and why does he still look so hot? 

Mistletoe Wedding by Melissa McClone 

An instant family isn’t on ranch foreman Tyler Murphy’s Christmas list, but event planner Meg Redstone’s kisses are. Getting her under the mistletoe, however, is going to take a miracle…or help from Santa. 

A Sweet Montana Christmas by Roxanne Snopek 

A marriage in jeopardy, a decrepit honey farm and an unexpected birth on a dark, snowy night. All they need to rediscover their love is a Christmas miracle. 

Blame the Mistletoe by Dani Collins 

Commiseration over being alone for the holidays turns to a holiday fling, making Liz Flowers think Blake Canon is giving her the Best Christmas Ever. But when family secrets are revealed and their children arrive home early, will they be able to keep the season bright? 

Her Mistletoe Cowboy by Alissa Callen 

Ivy Bishop plans to spend Christmas holed up on an isolated Montana ranch far from the city and her ex-fiancé. But the more time she spends with the workaholic cowboy next door the more she realizes her heart isn’t actually broken – yet. 

 

 

Jane Porter: Jane Porter, the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of 50 romance and women’s fiction titles, is a five time RITA nominee, which Jane won in 2014 for her novella, Take Me, Cowboy.  Jane, her surfer husband and 3 sons call San Clemente, CA home.
http://janeporter.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorjaneporter
https://twitter.com/authorjanep
 
Megan Crane: USA Today bestselling, critically-acclaimed, and RITA-nominated author Megan Crane has written more than 50 books from women’s fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels to Harlequin Presents as Caitlin Crews. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with a husband who draws comics and animation and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.
http://megancrane.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MeganCraneAndCaitlinCrews
https://twitter.com/megancrane
 
CJ Carmichael: RITA nominated and bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has published over 50 books of romance, family drama and a touch of mystery. An avid hiker, C. J. lives near the Rocky Mountains in Calgary with her partner Mike.
http://cjcarmichael.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorcjcarmichael
https://twitter.com/cj_carmichael
 
Katherine Garbera: USA Today bestselling author Katherine Garbera is a two-time Maggie winner who has written more than 75 books since making her first sale to Harlequin (Silhouette) Desire.  Katherine is known for her sexy heroes, feisty heroines and sensual stories.
http://www.katherinegarbera.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KatherineGarberaAuthor
https://twitter.com/katheringarbera
 
Melissa McClone has published over thirty-five contemporary romances and been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, and lots of dogs, cats and fish.
http://www.melissamcclone.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MelissaMcCloneBooks
https://twitter.com/melissamcclone
 
Roxanne Snopek: USA Today bestselling Author Roxanne Snopek writes sweet, steamy, satisfying romance with cowboys, billionaires, babies and various four-legged creatures. She lives in British Columbia with her hero of nearly 30 years and three dogs who follow her from room to room wondering who she’s talking to.
http://www.roxannesnopek.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneSnopekAuthor
https://twitter.com/RoxanneSnopek
 
Dani Collins: Winner of RT Book Review’s 2013 Best First In Series, Dani Collins writes for Harlequin Mills & Boon, Tule’s Montana Born, and herself. She lives in rural BC, Canada with her high school sweetheart husband and her two mostly grown children.
http://danicollins.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DaniCollinsAuthor
https://twitter.com/DaniCollinsBook
 

 

Alissa Callen: Alissa Callen lives on a small slice of rural Australia. She writes rural and small town fiction for Random House Australia and Tule Publishing.
http://www.alissacallen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alissa-Callen-Author/355366704552838/
 

 

Friday Featured Author: Casey Hagen

I’m so excited to have Casey Hagen here today as our featured author.  I had the pleasure of meeting her about a year ago in a Savvy Author bootcamp. I quickly learned how delightfully fun and bubbly she was, and I can’t wait for all of you to get to know this incredible author a little better too.

Before we get to the interview, here is her Bio!

Casey Hagen

Casey Hagen is a debut contemporary romance author  releasing her first book, Falling in Fiji, in October. She writes her stories from the dense, green wilderness of the Delaware National Forest, Middle of Nowhere, Pennsylvania. She’s a born and raised Vermont native with Ben & Jerry’s in her heart and real Vermont maple syrup pumping through her veins.

Over the years, Casey has dabbled in a wide variety of professions. She worked in the States Attorney’s office, created beautiful works of art as a florist, slaved to the public in retail, taught preschool (and potty trained eleven two-year-olds at the same time), and finally, she owned and operated her own residential cleaning business for over a decade. She is also the new Vice President of the Penn Jersey Women Writers Guild.

Casey is the proud mother of three girls, two of which are successful college students…yay! She resides with her youngest daughter, husband, and two cats. Her days are spent in her new office that she proudly admits they would need dynamite to blast her out of! When she’s not working she can be found chasing after her youngest with a camera (much to her youngest daughter’s embarrassment) or on the golf course with her real life hero!

The Interview

Tell us about your latest release?

Falling in Fiji is the story of Corinne Anderson, a talented jewelry designer, who has just dumped her fiancé after walking in on him and his coworkers in a compromising position with a group of hired masseuses. She calls of her wedding and two hours after she should have been married she finds herself in a bar with her best friend. Her best friend, always a bit of a troublemaker, prods her to ask a hot geek, working away at a secluded corner table, to dance. When she hesitates, her friend calls her on her on her fear of taking a risk. To prove her friend wrong, she slaps down two tickets to Fiji on the table in front of the hot geek and dares him to go.

Everett, a sought after financial genius, gets the shock of a lifetime when a tiny ball of energy challenges him to join her on her Fijian vacation. Desperate for a break from the stress of his job and intrigued by Corrine, he takes her up on her offer.

What was supposed to be a fancy-free trip, quickly turns into more when Everett convinces Corrine to leave their adventures to chance by relying on a high-tech Adventure App to run the show. Corinne and Everett find more than paradise, but eventually have to return to reality and the pressures of the real world, where reality bites, adventure is hard to come by, and—there is no App for love.

 

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I would say I’m a hybrid. I start out with four or five scenes in my head, not necessarily in any particular order. I plug them in and start building my story around those scenes. Supporting characters pop into my head and begin fueling conflict for my hero and heroine, building an overall picture that I work at until the puzzle is finished. I’m also not always a linear writer. Scrivener is a Godsend for authors like me.

 

What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you?

Formatting was the hardest. I ended up buying a template so all of my books will look the same. Finding the right cover photo was another. I’m particular about my book covers, especially book covers with people on them. So far, I’ve designed my own book covers. Other than that, it was figuring out the timing. How long it would take to format, to get my proof copy, to carefully review everything, and get it back, etc. On top of that, I landed a contract with a narrator so I took on extra work with producing Falling in Fiji for audio.

I started that process about six week in advance and found out I didn’t need that much time. Now that I’ve figured out the process, have a routine, and know what to expect, I’m hoping for a smoother release in January for my next book. Notice I said hoping…because the next book coming out is twice the size of Falling in Fiji and might just blow all of my plans out of the water.

 

How about the most fun?

I’ve loved getting to know new people and paying it forward. I was new to this just a couple months ago and I had what seemed like a billion stupid questions to ask. And I asked them repeatedly. I even had to start of messages to people like this, “Talk to me like I’m five…” Most people were great about it. A couple, who had offered their help, were not so great about it. I’ve decided to not be one of those people. If I offer to help, I mean it. And I don’t mean I’ll just give you some hints and tell you to figure it out. I will tell you every last detail of what I know.

Now, I have others that are early in their Indie publishing journey and I’ve offered to be there to guide them. I know how hard it is. I know it’s almost impossible to keep all the new information straight. I want them to know that there is no stupid questions and it’s okay to ask the same question several times until you completely understand. It’s how we learn and we’re all I this together.

 

What inspired you to write your first book? 

A name generator online, believe it or not. I had just completed NaNoWriMo on my other book that will be released in January. Literally, just an hour before. It was later at night, a bad time for me in terms of writing, but I saw the name generator tab and my mind started churning with how many other generators there could be out there. Then I thought about vacations and the idea of the adventure generator was born. I sat there, in my living room, surrounded by people, which I hate when I’m writing. It was night time, I was wrung out, but I saw that first chapter so clearly I had to run with it. I had it written in a half an hour. Then I read it and thought I really had something. Like most writers, five seconds later I second guessed myself. I sent it off to one of my most trusted critique partners and she replied, “After reading this, I feel like I write like a second grader.” That’s when I knew, for sure, I had something. To this day, chapter one is the least altered of my works and I’ve been trying to live up to it ever since.

 

Do you have any writing rituals? (Time of day to write, must have beverages? Etc?)

I get up at 5:30 every morning to get ready for my day job. I write for about a half hour with my protein shake next to me, often with reruns of Parking Wars playing in the background. I can’t handle absolute silence, I have three daughters, quiet is unnatural. I’m home by noon and then I’m in that chair for the afternoon. My ideal time to write is in the morning, but right now, I don’t have the availability to write that way. Someday, if I’m very lucky, I’ll shut down my business and write full time.

 

Who is your go-to author, the one you know you can always count on to deliver a great story?

I have two and if you haven’t read them yet, get on it! Kristan Higgins. When I need the awkwardly funny, she is my go to, hands down. I was lucky enough to have dinner with her about a year ago and she’s a wonderful lady!

And Beth Ciotta. I’ve been reading her books for years. I’ve always wanted to meet her and now that I’m in this world, I’ve done that. Literally, just last night. We’re now both in the same chapter of RWA. She’s fabulous…I can’t say enough about her. She’s so warm and caring, I’ll never forget meeting her.

 

What projects are you working on at the present?

Right now, I’m starting to prepare Sunset at Lake Crane for publishing in January. It was actually my first written book. It’s the first in a series and it’s twice the length of Falling in Fiji. It’s a more serious, more complicated story, one that I love! My hero and heroine have a hell of a back story. He was her teacher senior year of high school and they had a summer long affair after she graduated. The book actually takes place eight years later though, when he finds her again. It’s up for preorder on Amazon right now! Also, I’m writing the second to Falling in Fiji and the second to Sunset, at the same time. Falling in Angels Falls should be coming out in February and Nightfall at Hunter’s Ridge, April or May.

 

What do your plans for future projects include?

My Falling in Paradise and Livingston Valley series are both going to be at least three books, potentially more. For the next couple years, I see myself churning out those stories. I would love to get a novella or two out there. That’s what Falling in Fiji was supposed to be, but I broke those word counts and had to upgrade it to a novel. I have a few others books plotted out and ready to write. One of which I plotted over the phone with my best friend. I don’t want to put it off, so I might see if it can work as book four or five to the Livingston Valley series.

 

Falling in Fiji

Corinne Anderson designs the most stunning engagement rings on the west coast. A jewelry designer for the jet set and engaged to marry the man of her dreams, Corinne thinks she has it all—until her engagement explodes in spectacular fashion. Devastated, Corinne dares a sexy stranger to help turn her honeymoon from broken to breathtaking.

A frazzled financier . . .

Everett Harden, a sought-after financial whiz kid, is overworked and stressed to the max. Minutes away from closing a lucrative deal, he’s approached by a tiny spitfire who slaps down two airline tickets and a challenge: join her on a beach getaway where the sand is hot and the adventures hotter. Intrigued and desperate for an escape, Everett accepts.

Adventures unknown . . .

Fiji began as a fancy-free trip, but with the high-tech Adventure App running the show, Corinne and Everett find more than paradise. But can their romance survive the pressures of the real world, where reality bites, adventure is hard to come by, and—there is no App for love?