Victoria James's Blog, page 5

Favourite Line-Contest Winner!

Thanks everyone who entered the contest and took the time to tweet their favourite lines from The Best Man’s Baby! I’m so excited to announce that Melissa Limoges has won the Amazon Gift Card!

Thanks again everyone-it was so cool to see what your favourite lines were…oh and the winning, most tweeted, line?

“‘Welcome home, daddy.’ She stabbed the positive pregnancy indicator stick through his hamburger…” 

I’m glad you all loved that much as I did! We all know Jake deserved it

Thanks, everyone!!

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Contest Announcement! The Best Man’s Baby…

I’m so excited and grateful that The Best Man’s Baby has received such an awesome response and is flying off the virtual shelves!

You’ve all been such a great support so I’d like to celebrate by having a contest for a $20 Amazon Gift Card. The contest is super easy-all you have to do is tweet your favourite line(s) from The Best Man’s Baby and be sure to use the hashtag #BestMansBaby in your tweet.

Tweets and Retweets get an extra entry! I can’t wait to see what your favourite lines are from Jake and Claire’s book!

I’ll announce the winner this Friday, August 16th.

Thank you and good luck!!

 

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Best. Readers. Ever!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn’t planning on doing a post today because this is shaping up to be a crazy week, but I had to. I’m totally blown away by all of you who bought The Best Man’s Baby on release day and read it on the first day! And not only that, but took the time to post a review, and even email me. I was so floored receiving all these emails from you-and so touched. I did get a little weepy-and as much as I like to make my characters cry-I’m not the crying type! But I did. Because to know that you cared as much about the folks in Red River as much as I do, is humbling and thrilling at once.

Thank you. Thank you for supporting me, emailing me, and inspiring me. Thank you for reaching out with your emails-your emails always make me smile. I feel very blessed to have you all in my corner!

 

 

Tags:readers,The Best Man's Baby

Release Day-The Best Man’s Baby is Here!

It’s finally here-today I get to share Jake and Claire’s story with you! As you know, this is Book Two in the Red River Series. Jake is, of course, the middle Manning brother, and as you’ll soon discover, has a whole other side to him that no one knows about.

Florist Claire Holbrook has always played by the rules her entire life, but breaks them to spend one night with sexy lone wolf Jake Manning, a man she’s adored since she was a teenager. Six weeks later, things get complicated when she discovers they created a bond that will last a lifetime

Jake has never played by the rules. Getting Minister Holbrook’s daughter pregnant wasn’t part of any life plan, but he won’t run from his responsibilities. He’ll step up and be the best man he can, even if he doesn’t have a clue where to begin. The more time he spends with Claire, though, the more he wants her, and the harder it is to get close, because that would mean sharing the one thing he hasn’t with anyone–the truth and his heart.

 

 

 

The Best Man’s Baby Blog Tour Stops:

August 12: Delighted Reader  & The Hot Pink Typewriter

August 15: Ex-Libris

August 19: My Devotional Thoughts

August 19: Long and Short Reviews

August 22: Book Lovers Inc.

August 26: Perusing Princesses

September 2: Storm Goddess Book Reviews and More

September 9: Room With Books

September 9: Ramblings From This Chick

September 16: Ever After Romance Book Blog

September 16: TBQ’s Book Palace

September 23: Musings From An Addicted Reader

September 30: Bunny’s Review

September 30: Book Freak

Also, this week, Indulgence Books is hosting a Scavenger Hunt and I’ll be participating along with some lovely, talented Indulgence authors. You won’t want to miss this contest-the price is awesome-be sure to check it out here: Indulgence Scavenger Hunt

Tags:Blog Tour,Claire,Indulgence Scavenger Hunt,Jake,The Best Man's Baby

Doctor Manning has left the building!

Well, its officially gone. The third manuscript in the Red River Series has been handed in to my lovely editor today. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that Evan Manning was the most difficult of the Manning brothers to write. And you know how this was the secret baby book…which also posed major challenges for me. I also had to make sure there were some moments with the other Manning clan…and another happy ending for another deserving couple as well. I can’t say anymore…but well, this picture sums it up nicely

I’ll be back next week with more regular posts, teasers, and all that fun stuff!

Tags:Evan Manning,Grace,Red River,The Doctor's Saving Grace

The Secret Baby Trope nearly did me in…

OMG, so here it is, The Doctor’s Saving Grace is due this week. The book is done. But I can’t hit send yet. I’ll let scenes and dialogue mull around in my head until Thursday, when I have to send it in.

Of course, this extra little time also means time to doubt myself. I may have mentioned once or twice how difficult this book was to write…Evan Manning has successfully made me ball my eyes out. The things that have happened to Evan and Grace…geez, I didn’t know how I was going to get them to a happy place. I really didn’t. And then I remembered an email from my lovely editor, something about how she’d like to see something light and funny…oh god. It’s a little late for light and funny with these two. There is of course, humour, there always has to be. But this book’s trope-the secret baby was just a tear-jerker of a topic for me. Especially when the baby’s father is dear, Evan Manning. But, I guess Evan wasn’t always a dear…

I know people are divided on this kind of trope and I now know why. I hope I was able to deal with most of the issues that people have with the whole secret baby thing. Grace had her reasons, she was justified…until she discovered the truth…

There’s plenty of the old Red River gang in this book-Quinn, Holly, Jake, Claire, Mrs. Jacobs, all of them, and their kids. If I know anything about the Manning brothers, it’s that a little baby, or a child will melt their hearts and make them into the men they need to be. Something about a father’s love for their child that makes them the ultimate hero…

So this week, I’m handing in the third book in the Red River Series-fingers crossed my lovely editor likes it (I may even ask her when she is planning on reading it so that I know when to start incessantly stalking my inbox). DS’s last t-ball game of the season is this Wednesday night. Family will be attending the big gala game and trophies will be handed out. I believe we’ve promised ice cream after

Hmm…this was supposed to be a motivational Monday post, wasn’t it? How about this? Never give up? Cheesy, okay, but it’s been a rough few weeks!

 

Tags:Claire,Evan,Grace,Holly,Jake,Quinn,Red River,secret baby,The Doctor's Saving Grace

Writer’s Wednesday-Pass the Coffee…

As the release date for The Best Man’s Baby approaches, and the due date for The Doctor’s Saving Grace looms ahead, I’m dividing my writing time between setting up promo and editing my manuscript.

One of the biggest things I’d grossly underestimated before being published was publicity and promo time. I’d always heard that first and foremost the best promo is writing a good book. And of course this makes sense. But, it can’t end there. Social media is something I really struggle with-and it is the first thing to go if I’m really crunched for time. But when a new book is coming out, shutting off the social media isn’t really an option. Entangled is really great at helping out with promo and setting up blog tours for us, so it’s our responsibility to take each and every opportunity given. I’m also looking forward to re-connecting with some of the wonderful book bloggers I’ve ‘met’ on my last two blog tours.

In the next week or two I’ll post my blog tour schedule, as well as details on the giveaway. And since I’m crunched for time, well, I guess I’ll get back to editing that manuscript..and have another cup of coffee

Tags:Blog Tour,social media,The Best Man's Baby,The Doctor's Saving Grace

Teaser Tuesday-We’ll always have Paris…

As soon as I hand in the third Red River Book to my editor, I’m jumping to a different project. My working title for this manuscript is, Weekend at the Castle and most of the book takes place in France. This is due in November-so I’ll have to get right on it once Evan and Grace’s story is gone. It’s a departure from small town characters and life…it has glamour, intrigue, and characters that are true to me.

Okay, so let me set up this scene for you. Our heroine, Madelyn Winters is a journalist and she’s at movie release gala in Paris. She’s standing outside on a balcony with her employer-and she’s resigning from her position as an entertainment reporter. He tells her that if she can land one big, last story, he’ll let her out of her contract. Madelyn has some pressing family issues and feels she needs to devote as much time as she can to her ailing mother back in Toronto. She had entered the entertainment industry to seek out-and perhaps hurt-the famous movie producing Weston family. She holds the Weston’s responsible for much of the hardship she and her mother have suffered. This snippet begins with Hayden Weston-the eldest son and renowned movie producer-interrupting her conversation with her boss (Darren). Hayden has already harshly judged Madelyn based on a scathing editorial piece she had written about him a month earlier. Hayden will be very hard to resist…and really, what girl can resist a man with a castle in France?

Little do either of them know that this encounter will be the beginning of a journey filled with passion, love, heartache, but ultimately a happily-ever-after…

     “Good evening, Ms. Winters,” a deep, rich voice called out, sending a jolt of awareness through her body.  She recognized that voice immediately.  After having studied every interview Hayden Weston had done on television for the last ten years, she’d be able to recognize his voice anywhere.  He sounded the same, except now, in person, his voice sent a swirl of excitement through her.  His voice was huskier in person than on television.  Madelyn slowly turned from Darren’s ruddy face to look up, way up, at the subject of her most acclaimed article.  Hayden Weston had more of a presence in person than he’d ever had in pictures or on television. 

     Madelyn swallowed hard-passed the anger, passed the bitterness, and into his chocolate-coloured eyes.  Tall, dark and handsome was a meek description for someone who radiated such strength and virility.  His dark brown hair had a slight wave to it and it was a bit longer than was conventional.  His skin was tanned and he was clean shaven, with high cheekbones and a strong, square jaw.  His lips weren’t thin nor full, but wide and with his trademark smirk.  It was an altogether good look.  It was a shame that it was wasted on him.

     She opened her mouth, about to reply when Darren interjected. 

     “Maddy, you didn’t tell me you know Mr. Weston-”

     “I don’t,” Madelyn snapped, her eyes darting from Darren to Hayden Weston. 

     Hayden raised his eyebrows, “Really? Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten the  ‘egotistical, womanizing, playboy’ you so eloquently wrote about a month ago.”  A slow smile spread across his face. 

     Madelyn thought it reeked of smugness.  She stood straighter, clasping her hands together.  “I believe the exact words were ‘egotistical, narcissistic, womanizing playboy,’ she corrected, tilting her head to the side and not breaking his gaze.

     Darren gave her a not-so-subtle nudge.  “Remember Maddy, big.”

     “My ex-wife said that too?” Hayden asked, looking inordinately pleased with himself and not the least bit offended by her remark.

     Madelyn scoffed, stepping away from Darren.  “Disgusting,” she said to Hayden.  She tossed her hair over her shoulder, with what she hoped was a look of disparagement. 

     “You know what I mean, Maddy,” Darren said with a more forceful nudge.  Obviously she knew what he was getting at.  She glared at him.  He winked and then he was off, like a rat scurrying after a block of cheese.  Madelyn silently cursed his retreating figure.

     She turned back to Hayden, who much to her concern was still staring at her.  “Well, it’s been delightful chatting with you, Mr. Weston, but I’m afraid the balcony might collapse under the weight of you, your ego, and your large man parts,” she said with a tilt of her chin in his direction, as he laughed out loud.  Goose bumps danced up and down her arms at the sound of his deep, rich laughter. 

     “No way, not yet.  I’ve spent the entire night searching for you.”

I hope you enjoyed that teaser! Thanks for reading!

Tags:Castle,France,Hayden Weston,Madelyn Winters,Teaser Tuesday,Weekend at the Castle

Motivational Monday-I’d rather be an Optimist…

Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.       -Brian Tracy

I firmly believe in the power of optimism, of positive thinking. I don’t think it’s silly, or childish to hope and dream for the best. Part of nurturing positive thinking is by surrounding yourself with positive people-we all know this. But then of course there are those people that enter our lives that attempt to suck every good thought from us, like a slimy leech. And let’s face it, there are some people we can’t just strike from our lives-as much as we’d like to. You know those people…where you’re recounting a funny story and everyone is laughing, and then they interrupt with ‘oh but don’t you remember? Then you did XYZ and everyone laughed at you, and then you almost died, and then you were broke, and then no one loved you?’ You know, those people. Or if you announce you’re going to try, say, a new business venture and within seconds they are telling you all the reasons you will fail, your children will be homeless, hate you, and then where will you be? This kind of thinking is toxic and it paralyzes us. We will never move forward or follow a dream because we’ll be too busy worrying about the end of the world. For me, I can only take this type of person in small doses, followed by a hefty dose of alcohol

Maybe this is why I love reading and writing about people who have overcome obstacles. I love that they can find the strength within to pursue happiness and victory…

What about you? How do you deal with the negative people in your life? Or are you one of them?! What types of people do you like reading/writing about?

This week we have a few birthdays in the house…so it means a bunch of family over. Hopefully if the weather is good, we can barbecue and eat dinner outside. Eating outside with little ones is great-the inevitable food spillage doesn’t need to be cleaned up by moi, because the local raccoons will make their way to our deck at some point during the wee hours of the night for a late-night buffet. My mother of course, was horrified when I told her about this cleaning tactic of mine. Me? I shrugged. It must be a generational thing, because my friends thought it was a brilliant idea

Tags:Birthday,Motivational Monday

A Little Tease-The Best Man’s Baby

I know, I’m days late posting this! I promised Tuesday, and here we are already at Thursday. Better late than never, and I think I’ll just blame this on my kids who don’t understand the concept of relaxation when on vacation-and keep waking up before 6:00am! Tomorrow we’re returning from the cottage…and I guess maybe I’ll get more sleep, you know when the vacation’s over…

So here we go…

In honour of the The Best Man’s Baby going up for pre-order, here’s a little sneak-peek at Jake and Claire…

For those of you who read A Risk Worth Taking (the first book in The Red River Series) I think you’ll be pleased to know that this book begins with Holly and Quinn’s wedding reception (eep! Ella is there too ).

It finally dawns on Claire that while her best friend is about to embark on a life journey with the love of her life, Claire hasn’t had more than a short conversation with the love of her life. This excerpt begins with the almost empty reception room, and Claire standing alone at the bar…or so she thinks

    She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to obliterate the image of Jake from her mind. He was rough and hard, sexy in a way that made most women shiver inwardly with anticipation. He was the guy who worked hard but played harder, and he was never without a woman by his side. Jake was the kind of man so good looking that temperatures rose a few degrees the moment he walked into the room. The kind of man who always knew if he wanted a woman he could have her. The kind of man…oh shut up, Claire. She took a long drink, savoring the slow heat as it traveled down her throat.

“I never had you pegged as a whiskey drinker,” a deep voice said close to her ear. Her body and mind recognized that voice at the exact same time. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

He’d come back. Jake was the only man who could fill the void that was threatening to consume her tonight. She could feel the heat emanating off his body. He was standing directly behind her, close enough that if she leaned back an inch or so, she would be against Jake Manning’s hard chest. She slowly turned around, heart hammering, senses buzzing, and looked up into his blue eyes. Try to be cool, Claire. Sultry. “And what kind of drink do you think I would have ordered?”

A leisurely smile graced his handsome face, revealing straight white teeth. “A Shirley Temple.”

Her mouth dropped open. The man thought she was a child. “Thanks,” she muttered, determined tonight she would change his opinion of her. “I bet you your Harley you don’t know a thing about me.” She finished off the remains of her whiskey and licked the moisture from her lips. Jake’s gaze went from her mouth to her eyes, and then he took a drink. He placed his empty glass on the counter, his arm brushing against her bare shoulder.

“Can I buy you another one?”

“It’s an open bar, but I guess old habits die hard. Woman at bar. Buy drink. Score,” she said, tapping her finger against his hard chest.

“I’ll have you know it takes a lot more skill than that,” he murmured, his voice low and delicious, each syllable resonating inside her body.

“I’ve seen the women you hang out with. I’m sure it doesn’t.”

“I wasn’t aware you were keeping tabs on me.”

 

Ach! I loved writing these two!! Jake and Claire had me laughing and crying so many times. I hope you enjoyed the excerpt and I can’t wait to share the book with you! Thanks so much for reading

Available for Pre-order: Amazon  B&N

 

Tags:Ella,Excerpt,Holly,Quinn,Teaser Tuesday,The Best Man's Baby,Wedding