Cait O'Sullivan's Blog, page 3
December 23, 2013
Sefton Manor hitting the bestsellers list
on Amazon Gothic Romance charts!! So it's number 66 but I'm rather excited. How very cool for Martha and Will, I hope they're enjoying their success.
And I hope Mugs & Monasteries doesn't have that sibling rivalry thing going on :).
Thanks everyone for the support!
And I hope Mugs & Monasteries doesn't have that sibling rivalry thing going on :).
Thanks everyone for the support!
December 15, 2013
MJ Schiller is here today, yay!
I'm made up today as I have my wonderful friend, MJ Schiller on my blog today talking about her fantastic release 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' and also (nom nom) giving us a fabulous recipe. This is from the chick who baked FIFTEEN types of cookie this year in the build up for Christmas. So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy!!
First of all, thank you, Cait, for sharing your blog with me today! Ever since Cait and I met through Crimson Romance I knew we were both cut from the same somewhat wacky but equally stunning cloth. I consider her my Soul Sister Across The Sea!
Hey that sounds like a great title for a book...how 'bout it MJ, shall we co-write...what a giggle that would be :). Are you looking forward to the upcoming holidays? (PS love the cloth comment thank you!)
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and remembering one of my favorite Christmases ever. This is the year my Dad got my sister and I matching red hooded robes with white trim. (My parents were divorced and I have the feeling some well-meaning sales clerk helped him out with his purchases! “They’ll look so cute!”) They sound gorgeous, I want to get them for my girls!!
I also got a wood burning kit and a studding tool (It was the 70s! “It’ll keep the little boogers busy for hours!”) But by far the best gift was my Nancy Drews! The neighbor girl had ALL of them! The whole set! I think there were 120 at the time (Why and how I remember this is beyond me. There are like a bajillion of them now!) When I unwrapped my gift and saw FOUR of those beautiful yellow spines, I was over the moon with happiness!
Remember the way that felt? A good book to read over break, or on those long, cold winter weekends when you couldn’t go outside and play? (Come on, now! Channel your inner-geek!) Absolutely, I'm with you here, MJ. I loved a new book, the smell, the smart spine that gradually got shabby as I read the book.
For me there was nothing more exciting than a new book. I’m hoping you’ll say the same for you because I have a new release to share with you…but not before I give you a Christmas gift! I know, I didn’t have to do it, but I wanted to! We all love eating our way through the holidays so I, the rock romance writer, am going to share with you a recipe for
MJ’s ROCKING ROLLS ~
6 T. butter, softened
½ c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 c. milk chocolate English toffee bits
2 tubes (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent roles (I use the seamless variety.)
1 c. powdered sugar
4 ½ tsp. milk
¼ tsp. vanilla
1) In a small bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until light and fluffy. Stir in toffee bits.
2) Separate each tube into four rectangles (seal perforations if not using seamless variety.) Spread evenly with butter mixture. Roll up each rectangle jelly-roll style, starting with long side.
3) Cut each into 6 1-inch slices. Place cut side down on two ungreased 8-inch square baking dishes. Bake at 375 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.
4) In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over warm rolls.
Yum! I'm looking forward to making these.
So, there you have it! They would be great for Christmas morning or any day during break. Now, to tell you a little bit about that one book you want to have in your virtual Christmas stocking…
Heath “Hawk” McGowan is a young, single, cop and father. Jasmine Barrett is the rock star who has just discovered her best friend murdered in her own bed. Jasmine, or “Jazz”, as her fans call her, is not at all what Heath expects when he first meets her. Anticipating having to work with a prima donna, he is surprised to find her sweet and completely unassuming, in addition to being as sexy as her onstage persona. After outlining a number of reasons why he shouldn’t become involved with her—the top reason being he is the lead investigator in the murder of her best friend—Heath finds that he can’t stop himself from falling in love.
Things heat up between the two, especially after Jazz discovers another body in the condominium’s garage, and her terror drives her closer to Heath. Will Heath be able to solve the murders before Jasmine becomes the next victim? Or will he save Jazz, while, at the same time, losing his heart to her?
Excerpt ~
Okay, I’ve saved for you all the never-been-seen-before excerpt where Heath is cooking Jasmine dinner. (Ya know? To go along with our cooking theme.) Heath burns his spaghetti sauce and has to send his brother Luke out to get some. Only Luke returns with some from Jazz’s favorite restaurant!
These were the thoughts haunting him when he was supposed to be stirring his sauce. That and images of Jazz from the concert the night before, which had been pushing their way into his mind all day. At least the smoke had thinned out to a sort of ethereal haze. He went to check the table for the fourth time. There was a table cloth Luke had insisted on ironing. It did look a lot less…lumpy. Wine, his and Juliette’s wedding china—which he was hoping wasn’t a bad omen of some sort—wine glasses, candles.
Things seemed in order. When he returned to the kitchen and glanced out the window, he could see Luke strolling up the sidewalk with a bag. At the same time, he saw Jasmine pull up outside. “Oh, shit! Shit! Shit!” He rushed to the back door, getting to it at the same time as Luke did. He reached out and pulled the surprised Luke in by his jacket.
“What the—”
“Get in here, you moron! She’s coming!”
“Hey, this moron just went downtown to get you a red sauce—”
“Oh, no! You didn’t go to Sebastian’s did you?” He grabbed the bag out of his hand and recognized the familiar logo. “You went to Sebastian’s.” The despair was thick in his voice.
“What’s the big deal? Sebastian’s has one of the best—” The doorbell rang and he seized Luke by the lapels again.“I’m going to go out there and distract her.” He pushed Luke hurriedly toward the back door. “You’re going to sneak out the back and keep your head low when you pass the windows.”
“Keep my head low? What the hell for? OUCH!”
He gave Luke a sharp rap on the head and then hissed at him.
“Head. Low!”
“You’re a nut,” Luke mumbled as the door was slammed in his face.
He scrambled to answer the door. “Hey, come on in. How’s it going? Do you want some wine?” he said without taking a breath. He held out a glass he had already poured.
“Hi. Is Luke here?”
“Luke? Luke?” he stated like a parrot, his eyes darting around in alarm.
“Your brother…Luke?” Jasmine repeated, nodding slowly.
“Oh, Luke. No, Luke’s not here. Remember, he’s going to Kole’s.”
“Yes, I know that was the plan—” Her sentence was lost in a sudden kiss. He had seen Luke walking by outside, brazenly holding his head high and waving as he passed the windows.
In order to distract her, Heath threw her into an unexpected lip lock. The awkward kiss was over before it had even begun. He tried to inconspicuously scan the windows again. When he turned back, Jazz was staring over his shoulder with a puzzled expression on her face. He spun his head to look out the window but didn’t see anything.
Jazz lifted a hand to the side of his face and turned his head away from the windows so he was looking at her. “Heath—” She kissed him tenderly. “—whatever is bothering you, don’t let it worry you anymore.” She kissed him again. “All I need is right here—” She feathered a kiss on his lips, then looked him directly in the eyes. “—with you.” She planted a kiss on him so wonderful it did make him forget about his annoying brother.
“Okay, then,” he said, “let’s get this dinner over with so we can have sex.” He turned and marched through the swinging door.
As the door swung back and forth he heard her mumble, “That was some of the strangest
foreplay I’ve ever had.”
LOL I love it!! Can't wait to read this baby!
Bio ~
MJ is a lunch lady in the heart of Central Illinois. My gosh, can you get more folksy than that? She met her husband at the University of Missouri-Columbia and now she has an eighteen-year-old (how did that happen?) and sixteen year old triplets! She loves to read, karaoke (where she can pretend she is a rock star) and spends WAY too much time on Facebook. She grew up in St. Louis and still has family there.
You can find M.J.at: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com,
MJ on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
You can buy BETWEEN ROCK AND A HARD PLACE at: BN and Amazon.
Thanks for having me, Cait! I enjoyed myself immensely! Anytime, Soul Sister, I love having you at Cait's Place :).
First of all, thank you, Cait, for sharing your blog with me today! Ever since Cait and I met through Crimson Romance I knew we were both cut from the same somewhat wacky but equally stunning cloth. I consider her my Soul Sister Across The Sea!
Hey that sounds like a great title for a book...how 'bout it MJ, shall we co-write...what a giggle that would be :). Are you looking forward to the upcoming holidays? (PS love the cloth comment thank you!)
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and remembering one of my favorite Christmases ever. This is the year my Dad got my sister and I matching red hooded robes with white trim. (My parents were divorced and I have the feeling some well-meaning sales clerk helped him out with his purchases! “They’ll look so cute!”) They sound gorgeous, I want to get them for my girls!!I also got a wood burning kit and a studding tool (It was the 70s! “It’ll keep the little boogers busy for hours!”) But by far the best gift was my Nancy Drews! The neighbor girl had ALL of them! The whole set! I think there were 120 at the time (Why and how I remember this is beyond me. There are like a bajillion of them now!) When I unwrapped my gift and saw FOUR of those beautiful yellow spines, I was over the moon with happiness!
Remember the way that felt? A good book to read over break, or on those long, cold winter weekends when you couldn’t go outside and play? (Come on, now! Channel your inner-geek!) Absolutely, I'm with you here, MJ. I loved a new book, the smell, the smart spine that gradually got shabby as I read the book.
For me there was nothing more exciting than a new book. I’m hoping you’ll say the same for you because I have a new release to share with you…but not before I give you a Christmas gift! I know, I didn’t have to do it, but I wanted to! We all love eating our way through the holidays so I, the rock romance writer, am going to share with you a recipe for
MJ’s ROCKING ROLLS ~ 6 T. butter, softened
½ c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 c. milk chocolate English toffee bits
2 tubes (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent roles (I use the seamless variety.)
1 c. powdered sugar
4 ½ tsp. milk
¼ tsp. vanilla
1) In a small bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until light and fluffy. Stir in toffee bits.
2) Separate each tube into four rectangles (seal perforations if not using seamless variety.) Spread evenly with butter mixture. Roll up each rectangle jelly-roll style, starting with long side.
3) Cut each into 6 1-inch slices. Place cut side down on two ungreased 8-inch square baking dishes. Bake at 375 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.
4) In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over warm rolls.
Yum! I'm looking forward to making these.
So, there you have it! They would be great for Christmas morning or any day during break. Now, to tell you a little bit about that one book you want to have in your virtual Christmas stocking…
Heath “Hawk” McGowan is a young, single, cop and father. Jasmine Barrett is the rock star who has just discovered her best friend murdered in her own bed. Jasmine, or “Jazz”, as her fans call her, is not at all what Heath expects when he first meets her. Anticipating having to work with a prima donna, he is surprised to find her sweet and completely unassuming, in addition to being as sexy as her onstage persona. After outlining a number of reasons why he shouldn’t become involved with her—the top reason being he is the lead investigator in the murder of her best friend—Heath finds that he can’t stop himself from falling in love.
Things heat up between the two, especially after Jazz discovers another body in the condominium’s garage, and her terror drives her closer to Heath. Will Heath be able to solve the murders before Jasmine becomes the next victim? Or will he save Jazz, while, at the same time, losing his heart to her?
Excerpt ~
Okay, I’ve saved for you all the never-been-seen-before excerpt where Heath is cooking Jasmine dinner. (Ya know? To go along with our cooking theme.) Heath burns his spaghetti sauce and has to send his brother Luke out to get some. Only Luke returns with some from Jazz’s favorite restaurant!
These were the thoughts haunting him when he was supposed to be stirring his sauce. That and images of Jazz from the concert the night before, which had been pushing their way into his mind all day. At least the smoke had thinned out to a sort of ethereal haze. He went to check the table for the fourth time. There was a table cloth Luke had insisted on ironing. It did look a lot less…lumpy. Wine, his and Juliette’s wedding china—which he was hoping wasn’t a bad omen of some sort—wine glasses, candles.
Things seemed in order. When he returned to the kitchen and glanced out the window, he could see Luke strolling up the sidewalk with a bag. At the same time, he saw Jasmine pull up outside. “Oh, shit! Shit! Shit!” He rushed to the back door, getting to it at the same time as Luke did. He reached out and pulled the surprised Luke in by his jacket.
“What the—”
“Get in here, you moron! She’s coming!”
“Hey, this moron just went downtown to get you a red sauce—”
“Oh, no! You didn’t go to Sebastian’s did you?” He grabbed the bag out of his hand and recognized the familiar logo. “You went to Sebastian’s.” The despair was thick in his voice.
“What’s the big deal? Sebastian’s has one of the best—” The doorbell rang and he seized Luke by the lapels again.“I’m going to go out there and distract her.” He pushed Luke hurriedly toward the back door. “You’re going to sneak out the back and keep your head low when you pass the windows.”
“Keep my head low? What the hell for? OUCH!”
He gave Luke a sharp rap on the head and then hissed at him.
“Head. Low!”
“You’re a nut,” Luke mumbled as the door was slammed in his face.
He scrambled to answer the door. “Hey, come on in. How’s it going? Do you want some wine?” he said without taking a breath. He held out a glass he had already poured.
“Hi. Is Luke here?”
“Luke? Luke?” he stated like a parrot, his eyes darting around in alarm.
“Your brother…Luke?” Jasmine repeated, nodding slowly.
“Oh, Luke. No, Luke’s not here. Remember, he’s going to Kole’s.”
“Yes, I know that was the plan—” Her sentence was lost in a sudden kiss. He had seen Luke walking by outside, brazenly holding his head high and waving as he passed the windows.
In order to distract her, Heath threw her into an unexpected lip lock. The awkward kiss was over before it had even begun. He tried to inconspicuously scan the windows again. When he turned back, Jazz was staring over his shoulder with a puzzled expression on her face. He spun his head to look out the window but didn’t see anything.
Jazz lifted a hand to the side of his face and turned his head away from the windows so he was looking at her. “Heath—” She kissed him tenderly. “—whatever is bothering you, don’t let it worry you anymore.” She kissed him again. “All I need is right here—” She feathered a kiss on his lips, then looked him directly in the eyes. “—with you.” She planted a kiss on him so wonderful it did make him forget about his annoying brother.
“Okay, then,” he said, “let’s get this dinner over with so we can have sex.” He turned and marched through the swinging door.
As the door swung back and forth he heard her mumble, “That was some of the strangest
foreplay I’ve ever had.”
LOL I love it!! Can't wait to read this baby!
Bio ~
MJ is a lunch lady in the heart of Central Illinois. My gosh, can you get more folksy than that? She met her husband at the University of Missouri-Columbia and now she has an eighteen-year-old (how did that happen?) and sixteen year old triplets! She loves to read, karaoke (where she can pretend she is a rock star) and spends WAY too much time on Facebook. She grew up in St. Louis and still has family there.
You can find M.J.at: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com,
MJ on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
You can buy BETWEEN ROCK AND A HARD PLACE at: BN and Amazon.
Thanks for having me, Cait! I enjoyed myself immensely! Anytime, Soul Sister, I love having you at Cait's Place :).
December 13, 2013
A Murder Ballad...
By Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue (an unlikely coupling IMO) "Where the Wild Roses Grow" was the song that Tuesday's story was written about. Here 'tis for all of you to em...enjoy.. today, on this dark, rainy day in London.
It was so very hard not to say 'they call me Eliza Day' in the story.
Congrats to two folk today! I know Lisbeth Foye tried hard to post up and so, Lisbeth, which novella would you like? And the second giveaway goes to Nicole Flockton...congrats Nicole, and same question to you :).
Have a great Friday, y'all.
It was so very hard not to say 'they call me Eliza Day' in the story.
Congrats to two folk today! I know Lisbeth Foye tried hard to post up and so, Lisbeth, which novella would you like? And the second giveaway goes to Nicole Flockton...congrats Nicole, and same question to you :).
Have a great Friday, y'all.
December 11, 2013
Ever wondered why...
Gothic? Pop by Pat McDermott's wonderfully named Across the Plain of Shining Books blog to see why I love this genre so very much.
See you there :).
23rd December 2013 ETA
Cait O'Sullivan: A Pair of Gothic Treats
Cait O’Sullivan takes us to England and Ireland for a double dose of romance with a Gothic/Horror twist in this exciting pair of novellas. Welcome to The Plain, Cait. Tell us how these fabulous stories came to be.
* * * * *
Big thanks, Pat, for having me here today. I really appreciate the chance to be on your wonderful blog.
I fell in love with Gothic literature when I was at Uni as a mature student, studying English with Creative Writing. The delicious creepiness of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw had me reading long after lights out but unable to sleep until dawn crept in the window. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was a much studied text, not least because of the circumstances for which she wrote it; to win a bet against Lord Byron and her husband, Percy. They were staying in the Alps and decided to find out who could write the scariest story. You go girl!!
Gothic literature mashed up the then current genres in the late nineteenth century and threw in fantastical elements such as monstrous ghosts, strange-looking folk and whispers of devil related activities. All very fascinating at a time when belief in God was on the wane and immigration on the wax. Adventurers were travelling further and sending back recounts of unbelievable countries and peoples with barbaric customs.
So when I saw a call for submissions for a haunted house romance, I immediately thought of Turn of the Screw and I got myself to writing. And, boy, I had such fun. Fainting heroines, pacts with the devils, hearts under the willow tree, sexy musicians…what’s not to love? Sefton Manor was the result.
Soon enough, I settled into a story about a ruined monastery that only appears every so often, an orchid hunter and an alpaca farmer. So Mugs & Monasteries was born.
* * * * *
See you there :).
23rd December 2013 ETA
Cait O'Sullivan: A Pair of Gothic Treats
Cait O’Sullivan takes us to England and Ireland for a double dose of romance with a Gothic/Horror twist in this exciting pair of novellas. Welcome to The Plain, Cait. Tell us how these fabulous stories came to be.* * * * *
Big thanks, Pat, for having me here today. I really appreciate the chance to be on your wonderful blog.
I fell in love with Gothic literature when I was at Uni as a mature student, studying English with Creative Writing. The delicious creepiness of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw had me reading long after lights out but unable to sleep until dawn crept in the window. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was a much studied text, not least because of the circumstances for which she wrote it; to win a bet against Lord Byron and her husband, Percy. They were staying in the Alps and decided to find out who could write the scariest story. You go girl!!
Gothic literature mashed up the then current genres in the late nineteenth century and threw in fantastical elements such as monstrous ghosts, strange-looking folk and whispers of devil related activities. All very fascinating at a time when belief in God was on the wane and immigration on the wax. Adventurers were travelling further and sending back recounts of unbelievable countries and peoples with barbaric customs.
So when I saw a call for submissions for a haunted house romance, I immediately thought of Turn of the Screw and I got myself to writing. And, boy, I had such fun. Fainting heroines, pacts with the devils, hearts under the willow tree, sexy musicians…what’s not to love? Sefton Manor was the result.
Sefton Manor, a country house that has somehow withstood the ravages of time, holds the key to Martha Kendall’s dysfunctional family. Asked by her grandmother to uncover the truth about her missing Aunt, Martha comes to Buckhurst Village. Despite unsettling occurrences upsetting her sensibilities, she starts asking questions.I couldn’t stop there though. Sefton Manor is set in England, where I currently reside. But the Burren, at home in Ireland, just kept on knocking at the door of my mind. This national park on the west coast of Ireland is home to a great landscape, the closest to a moonscape I could ever imagine. Karst limestone stretches for miles, witness to the many struggles of the Irish to coax a living from the soil. Obviously unsuccessful, their suffering soaking into the land and I feel it’s this which gives one of the haunting aspect to the bleak but beautiful Burren. The Poulnabrone Tomb dates back to Neolithic times and has twenty five adults and children buried underneath. So really, it would’ve been rude not to write a story based there.
Questions that lead her to Will Fellowes, a man whose family tended the grounds of Sefton Manor for centuries. Amidst whispers of pacts with the Devil, they pair up to wrestle the secret from the house.
Or will the house consume them all?
Soon enough, I settled into a story about a ruined monastery that only appears every so often, an orchid hunter and an alpaca farmer. So Mugs & Monasteries was born.When orchid hunter, Evie Bourke stumbles across a near deserted monastery deep in the Burren, she has no idea she’s the first person alive to have seen it. All she knows is that life went a bit strange and was getting more bizarre by the minute.I hope you like it as much as I loved writing it. I tried to imbue the novella with the same soft grey-green light that’s indicative of the land. The Burren holds a large part of my heart, in fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s my spiritual home.
Meeting alpaca farmer Aiden Dunne over a pint of Guinness, she is struck by his resemblance, yet to whom, she can’t quite remember. Aiden is searching for Munster Abbey for his family was connected to it for generations, culminating in the disappearance of his relative, the then Prior.
What happened all those years ago? Who or what is ‘the Wanderer’ and, more to the point, what does he want?
* * * * *
Ever wonderered why...
Gothic? Pop by Pat McDermott's wonderfully named Across the Plain of Shining Books blog to see why I love this genre so very much.
See you there :).
See you there :).
December 10, 2013
Come along and guess the song!
Yay I've gotten back to writing my guess the songs--I do love 'em, I must admit. So today's little offering is a wee bit on the dark side, in honour of my Gothic romance novellas. There's a copy of either of my novellas up for grabs if you get it right and I'll post the name of the winner, along with a YouTube clip of the song on Friday.
Have a read, and see if you know the song behind the story.
She had the most beautiful, blood-red lips. They were all I could focus on even as she looked into my eyes and smiled. The red was the colour of the roses that grew wild by the river. She was the one.
He was dashing and swept me off his feet with his sensitivity and broodiness. I decided he was going to be my first love. So when he knocked on my door, I opened and abandoned myself to him. He was sure and certain and everything a first lover should be. He looked after me.
I found a beautiful flower to bring to her, but even that paled beside her beauty. Did she know where the wild flowers grew, I asked her, picturing her amongst them.
The second day he came to me with another flower. He liked to hear me talk about my past, my losses and sorrows. I nodded as I lay on the bed because he wanted to take me to where these beautiful flowers of his grew. He is so sensitive, my lover. Of course I would go.
On the third day, I dressed carefully, looking forward to a day spent out by the river with my love. My true love. He took my hand and led me to where the wild flowers grew and there we kissed, lingeringly and I felt a sense of loss. The wind lightly lifted my hair off the nape of my neck and a shiver tiptoed down my spine. The last thing I heard was his low spoken words, of what he said, I do not know. My lover.
On the last day, I took her to the river and lay her back against the flowers. Such beauty could not live. The rock in my hand felt satisfyingly heavy.
But before she left, I placed a flower between her teeth.
I can't remember her name, my wild flower.
I told you it was dark. Bless, poor girl. So, any ideas? If you know you know (cryptic hey) just leave the initials of the band so others can still guess. Thanks. Have fun!
Have a read, and see if you know the song behind the story.
She had the most beautiful, blood-red lips. They were all I could focus on even as she looked into my eyes and smiled. The red was the colour of the roses that grew wild by the river. She was the one.
He was dashing and swept me off his feet with his sensitivity and broodiness. I decided he was going to be my first love. So when he knocked on my door, I opened and abandoned myself to him. He was sure and certain and everything a first lover should be. He looked after me.
I found a beautiful flower to bring to her, but even that paled beside her beauty. Did she know where the wild flowers grew, I asked her, picturing her amongst them.
The second day he came to me with another flower. He liked to hear me talk about my past, my losses and sorrows. I nodded as I lay on the bed because he wanted to take me to where these beautiful flowers of his grew. He is so sensitive, my lover. Of course I would go.
On the third day, I dressed carefully, looking forward to a day spent out by the river with my love. My true love. He took my hand and led me to where the wild flowers grew and there we kissed, lingeringly and I felt a sense of loss. The wind lightly lifted my hair off the nape of my neck and a shiver tiptoed down my spine. The last thing I heard was his low spoken words, of what he said, I do not know. My lover.
On the last day, I took her to the river and lay her back against the flowers. Such beauty could not live. The rock in my hand felt satisfyingly heavy.
But before she left, I placed a flower between her teeth.
I can't remember her name, my wild flower.
I told you it was dark. Bless, poor girl. So, any ideas? If you know you know (cryptic hey) just leave the initials of the band so others can still guess. Thanks. Have fun!
December 5, 2013
New Release ~ The Saint's Devilish Deal ~ Cover Reveal
I'm thrilled to be revealing the dreamy cover for the talented Kristina Knight's new release today, yay! Congratulations, Kristina!
The Saint's Devilish DealA billionaire surfer… A down-on-her-luck hotelier… One hot summer fling…
Esmerelda Quinn has been looking for a place to belong since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was young. The closest thing to home has always been Aunt Constance's villa in Puerto Vallarta, so after a string of dead-end hotellier jobs, she's coming home to run the villa.Santiago Cruz has called the villa home for as long as he can remember. In between surfing events, Constance has always had a room for him. Color him surprised when Constance decides to retire - and leaves a joint interest in the villa to both Santiago and Esme.
Esme isn't thrilled to share ownership of the villa with the the youngest Cruz brother - especially when she learns Santiago's brother has been after the villa for years. But Santiago has grown up while she's been away at school and soon she finds herself falling for the rich boy down the hall.
Excerpt: “You forget yourself, Esmerelda. You’re talking about making this simple for the staff, that doesn’t mean I need to come to you for every new guest registration or idea I have. Besides, we need this campaign.” Santiago waved his hand. “We need more guests of a certain means to make the villa stand out. Families are great, but they won’t make Casa Constance a go-to destination. These people will. So, we use our new guests as features in a new campaign for the high-end travel magazines. A few shots in the tabloids wouldn’t hurt, either.” “You weren’t even going to discuss this with me?” “I’m telling you now. While we’re on the subject—” he tossed a few magazines from his desktop onto her lap “—what do you see in these pictures?” Esme sent him a killing glance and then flipped through the pages. “Boring. Bland. Not home.” “Exactly. This isn’t a home, or it shouldn’t be a home first. If you want Casa Constance to succeed you need to treat it like a business. So, make-over, what do you like?” She tossed the magazines back onto the desktop. “Our guests love the color and textures of Old Mexico. They say so all the time.” “Your guests haven’t been in residence, at least not actively, in more than a year. We aren’t appealing to anyone right now and we need to. So, makeover starts this afternoon and your new training begins in the morning.” “I know what I need to know about running a vacation resort.” “You need to experience a vacation to sell it. We need day-trips, we need amenities. I’ll bet you’ve never gone para-sailing or sky diving, much less enjoyed a couple’s massage.” Her cheeks pinked at the last suggestion and Santiago smiled. “Celebrities visiting Casa, playing on our private beach, being featured in an advertising campaign—with a few pictures leaked to the tabloids to get the word out even sooner. Casa needs this.” Esme took a few breaths and then settled back into her chair. “I can’t afford to pay the salary of a New York advertising crew. Seriously, Santiago, you have to cancel.” “My three months, remember? It won’t cost you a thing. The photographer owes me a favor. The only cost will be the campaign copy, which will be negligible. I do know what I’m doing, Esmerelda.” “Okay, mail.” Esme shook her head as if clearing thoughts of the upcoming ad campaign from her head. “Marquez usually separates bills from letters—” “As the mail will be delivered to the front desk, I’m happy to see to it. And let’s cut to the chase.” He leaned back in the chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “I don’t want to be tied down to a vacation villa for the rest of my life. But if you really want this, there is something you have to do for me. First.” Esme swallowed, crossed and re-crossed her legs before clasping her hands in her lap. “What do you want? A payoff? You’ve seen the books, you know there isn’t much money. But if it’s money you want, I’ll agree to your price. I just need time to come up with the capital.” She really didn’t know him at all. He shouldn’t be surprised, but he was. Surprised and a bit disappointed. “I need your money like I need another surfing championship,” he said, sitting up straight. “No, what I want from you is a bit more. . . ephemeral. I want your time. For three hours each day, you belong to me. No villa work. No guest handholding.” He walked around the desk to rest his hip against one corner. “No conferences with staff. No following the maids on their routine cleanings and no visits to the kitchen to give Gloriana instructions. For three hours each day, your time is my time.” “You can’t be serious. That. . . that’s just. . .” She trailed off when his index finger traced the line of her jaw. He lowered his voice. “No work. No phones. No villa. You do what I say, what I want.”
Fantastic excerpt! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. For buy links head on over to Kristina Knight.
Author Bio/Links:Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn't a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and daughter. Happily ever after.
Kristina's Links: Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknigh...
TW: @AuthorKristina
GR: http://www.goodreads.com/authorkristina
PI: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina
The Saint's Devilish DealA billionaire surfer… A down-on-her-luck hotelier… One hot summer fling…
Esmerelda Quinn has been looking for a place to belong since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was young. The closest thing to home has always been Aunt Constance's villa in Puerto Vallarta, so after a string of dead-end hotellier jobs, she's coming home to run the villa.Santiago Cruz has called the villa home for as long as he can remember. In between surfing events, Constance has always had a room for him. Color him surprised when Constance decides to retire - and leaves a joint interest in the villa to both Santiago and Esme.
Esme isn't thrilled to share ownership of the villa with the the youngest Cruz brother - especially when she learns Santiago's brother has been after the villa for years. But Santiago has grown up while she's been away at school and soon she finds herself falling for the rich boy down the hall.
Excerpt: “You forget yourself, Esmerelda. You’re talking about making this simple for the staff, that doesn’t mean I need to come to you for every new guest registration or idea I have. Besides, we need this campaign.” Santiago waved his hand. “We need more guests of a certain means to make the villa stand out. Families are great, but they won’t make Casa Constance a go-to destination. These people will. So, we use our new guests as features in a new campaign for the high-end travel magazines. A few shots in the tabloids wouldn’t hurt, either.” “You weren’t even going to discuss this with me?” “I’m telling you now. While we’re on the subject—” he tossed a few magazines from his desktop onto her lap “—what do you see in these pictures?” Esme sent him a killing glance and then flipped through the pages. “Boring. Bland. Not home.” “Exactly. This isn’t a home, or it shouldn’t be a home first. If you want Casa Constance to succeed you need to treat it like a business. So, make-over, what do you like?” She tossed the magazines back onto the desktop. “Our guests love the color and textures of Old Mexico. They say so all the time.” “Your guests haven’t been in residence, at least not actively, in more than a year. We aren’t appealing to anyone right now and we need to. So, makeover starts this afternoon and your new training begins in the morning.” “I know what I need to know about running a vacation resort.” “You need to experience a vacation to sell it. We need day-trips, we need amenities. I’ll bet you’ve never gone para-sailing or sky diving, much less enjoyed a couple’s massage.” Her cheeks pinked at the last suggestion and Santiago smiled. “Celebrities visiting Casa, playing on our private beach, being featured in an advertising campaign—with a few pictures leaked to the tabloids to get the word out even sooner. Casa needs this.” Esme took a few breaths and then settled back into her chair. “I can’t afford to pay the salary of a New York advertising crew. Seriously, Santiago, you have to cancel.” “My three months, remember? It won’t cost you a thing. The photographer owes me a favor. The only cost will be the campaign copy, which will be negligible. I do know what I’m doing, Esmerelda.” “Okay, mail.” Esme shook her head as if clearing thoughts of the upcoming ad campaign from her head. “Marquez usually separates bills from letters—” “As the mail will be delivered to the front desk, I’m happy to see to it. And let’s cut to the chase.” He leaned back in the chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “I don’t want to be tied down to a vacation villa for the rest of my life. But if you really want this, there is something you have to do for me. First.” Esme swallowed, crossed and re-crossed her legs before clasping her hands in her lap. “What do you want? A payoff? You’ve seen the books, you know there isn’t much money. But if it’s money you want, I’ll agree to your price. I just need time to come up with the capital.” She really didn’t know him at all. He shouldn’t be surprised, but he was. Surprised and a bit disappointed. “I need your money like I need another surfing championship,” he said, sitting up straight. “No, what I want from you is a bit more. . . ephemeral. I want your time. For three hours each day, you belong to me. No villa work. No guest handholding.” He walked around the desk to rest his hip against one corner. “No conferences with staff. No following the maids on their routine cleanings and no visits to the kitchen to give Gloriana instructions. For three hours each day, your time is my time.” “You can’t be serious. That. . . that’s just. . .” She trailed off when his index finger traced the line of her jaw. He lowered his voice. “No work. No phones. No villa. You do what I say, what I want.”
Fantastic excerpt! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. For buy links head on over to Kristina Knight.
Author Bio/Links:Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn't a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and daughter. Happily ever after.
Kristina's Links: Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknigh...
TW: @AuthorKristina
GR: http://www.goodreads.com/authorkristina
PI: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina
October 28, 2013
Release~Mugs & Monasteries and Sefton Manor~Release
(Coffin Hop Blog just below this breaking news :) )
Release Day has finally arrived and my two babies are out there in the wide world, wondering what happens next. Now I know you're wondering which one to buy, so to help you decide, I've put together a little comparison chart :).
Sefton Manor versus Mugs & Monasteries Heroine Martha Kendall, a vet Evie Bourke, orchid hunter Hero Will Fellowes, a cellist Aiden Dunne, alpaca farmer Setting Small village and haunted house in Norfolk, UK Monastery and small village in the Burren, Ireland Plot Mad grandmothers, fertile grounds, pacts with the devil, lost children, Munster Abbey went up in flames mid-nineteenth century but nothing remains. Until Evie chances onto it, meets Aiden and together the pair go back, little realising what was waiting for them. Heat level Hawt! Sefton Manor was classified as Romantic Erotic Gothic when it was first accepted. 5/5 4/5 not quite so hot and I don’t think erotic would apply here…feel free to correct me J Similarities Both short reads packing a punch in under 18k words.
Classic good versus evil plot
Differences Mugs is more lighthearted than Sefton but Sefton has more layers to it, with a few more characters for balance. Mugs has Mrs Appletree though J
Reviews This is a most enjoyable book by brilliant new Irish author and released just in time for Hallowe'en. Not exactly a ghost story but 'otherworldly'. It is set in The Burren in the west of Ireland and the author makes great use of this very unique landscape to weave a most fascinating tale. If you ever visited The Burren you would feel its captivating atmosphere in this story and believe that Munster Abbey could be just under your feet. Once started I couldn't put this book down - fortunately it is not too long! The sizzling last chapter created a 'heavenly' bridge between the past and the present - I would love to read more about these two delightful characters.I would highly recommend this book I enjoyed this book immensely. It takes a very novel approach to the haunted house story.It zinged along at a cracking pace, both the developing horror and the relationship between Martha and Will. If you like a good 'yarn' this is the book for you - scary enough to give you a knot in your tummy, but not to give you nightmares! Would highly recommend it.
So there you go, have I helped at all? I have a feeling not. Well if you can't make up your mind, get 'em both at only £1.91 or $2.99 each. Check out their blurbs by clicking on the tab 'My Books'.
Buy Links Amazon(UK): Sefton Manor Mugs & Monasteries
Musa Publishing (US): Sefton Manor
Mugs & Monasteries
Mugs & Monasteries should be read first, in my opinion, saving Sefton for last! Although I love them both and each time I read one, I decide it’s the best. Until I read the other.
Thanking yee all for your support and happy reading.
Release Day has finally arrived and my two babies are out there in the wide world, wondering what happens next. Now I know you're wondering which one to buy, so to help you decide, I've put together a little comparison chart :).
Sefton Manor versus Mugs & Monasteries Heroine Martha Kendall, a vet Evie Bourke, orchid hunter Hero Will Fellowes, a cellist Aiden Dunne, alpaca farmer Setting Small village and haunted house in Norfolk, UK Monastery and small village in the Burren, Ireland Plot Mad grandmothers, fertile grounds, pacts with the devil, lost children, Munster Abbey went up in flames mid-nineteenth century but nothing remains. Until Evie chances onto it, meets Aiden and together the pair go back, little realising what was waiting for them. Heat level Hawt! Sefton Manor was classified as Romantic Erotic Gothic when it was first accepted. 5/5 4/5 not quite so hot and I don’t think erotic would apply here…feel free to correct me J Similarities Both short reads packing a punch in under 18k words.
Classic good versus evil plot
Differences Mugs is more lighthearted than Sefton but Sefton has more layers to it, with a few more characters for balance. Mugs has Mrs Appletree though J
Reviews This is a most enjoyable book by brilliant new Irish author and released just in time for Hallowe'en. Not exactly a ghost story but 'otherworldly'. It is set in The Burren in the west of Ireland and the author makes great use of this very unique landscape to weave a most fascinating tale. If you ever visited The Burren you would feel its captivating atmosphere in this story and believe that Munster Abbey could be just under your feet. Once started I couldn't put this book down - fortunately it is not too long! The sizzling last chapter created a 'heavenly' bridge between the past and the present - I would love to read more about these two delightful characters.I would highly recommend this book I enjoyed this book immensely. It takes a very novel approach to the haunted house story.It zinged along at a cracking pace, both the developing horror and the relationship between Martha and Will. If you like a good 'yarn' this is the book for you - scary enough to give you a knot in your tummy, but not to give you nightmares! Would highly recommend it.
So there you go, have I helped at all? I have a feeling not. Well if you can't make up your mind, get 'em both at only £1.91 or $2.99 each. Check out their blurbs by clicking on the tab 'My Books'.
Buy Links Amazon(UK): Sefton Manor Mugs & Monasteries
Musa Publishing (US): Sefton Manor
Mugs & Monasteries
Mugs & Monasteries should be read first, in my opinion, saving Sefton for last! Although I love them both and each time I read one, I decide it’s the best. Until I read the other.
Thanking yee all for your support and happy reading.
October 23, 2013
Samhain
I am part of the Coffin Hop, a week long Hallowe'en hop, in their words they 'throw a colossal online party with prizes, giveaways and all the crazy you could want leading up to All Hallow’s Eve'. Good stuff hey. Not only that, they have recently released an anthology, Coffin Hop:Death by Drive-In (what a great name), all profits go to Litiworld, to help encourage children's literacy. All very good!! I'm going to be doing a give-away of both my Gothic romance novellas, Sefton Manor and Mugs & Monasteries on the good date itself to one commenter!! So I've just put together a little bit about the day itself. Don't forget to hop back to Coffin Hop and read some spooky, atmospheric All Hallow's Eve stories :) I'm going to give away a copy of Sefton Manor just for commenting on the post!! And it's not even released yet...twelve more hours to go...
Sunset on the 31st October to sunset on the 1st November is the time celebrated by the Celtic Druids in ancient Ireland as Samhain and it marked the end of one year and on to the next, the Celtic New Year. Cattle are brought down from summer pastures, the Celts being a pastoral people. Also known as the Feast of the Dead, this eve is when the veil between the worlds become thin, allowing spirits access to the world we know. Walking between the worlds is easier and many folk set places at the dinner table for their departed to return. Be watchful if you live near any of the sidhe (fairy mounds) for this is the time they open.
Leave a free chair by the fire and place a candle in your window if you have spirits you want to guide home. Over the years, this candle was put inside a lantern, which latter became a pumpkin, complete with carved demon's face to ward off unfriendly spirits. Dressing up on Samhain became popular as nervous folk would not want their spirits to recognise them. Again, these unsettled folk would hope to appease their spirits with gifts of fruit, nuts and ale.
In Ireland my mother, like her mother before her, baked Barm Brack, placing into the dough four items: a silver ring, a short stick, a pea and a silver coin. Depending on what you got, you could be married within the year (ring), become poor (pea), rich (silver coin) or have an unhappy marriage (pea). If you were really unlucky, you could have all four.
Samhain is an excellent time for divination. To talk to the spirits, use a scrying bowl or Ogham sticks. If you have neither, make your own scrying bowl by using a dark bowl filled three-quarters full with water--not from the tap. Light candles or incense for atmosphere and dip the end of your wand (or stick) into the liquid until it becomes wet, then run it around the edges of the bowl, causing it to resonate. Harmonics ensue, sounding like a 'yes' or 'no'. Up to you how you interpret the sounds and ripples.
On a lighter note, you could peel an apple and throw the peel over your shoulder to see the first letter of your love, soon to come. Drop egg whites in water to see the number of children you would have. (all very domestic from my point of view, I have to say. Now if it were for the number of lovers you'd have... :) )
In the 7th century, Christianity made its mark on Ireland. The 1st of November was declared a day to remember all the saints that had died and the day before became known as All Hallow's Eve. Nowadays the entire month of November is known as All Souls Month, where the dead are remembered. The nights draw in, the air is moist, strange noises abound. Stay in and meet the spirits or go out and walk among them?
I for one am looking forward to it.
Sunset on the 31st October to sunset on the 1st November is the time celebrated by the Celtic Druids in ancient Ireland as Samhain and it marked the end of one year and on to the next, the Celtic New Year. Cattle are brought down from summer pastures, the Celts being a pastoral people. Also known as the Feast of the Dead, this eve is when the veil between the worlds become thin, allowing spirits access to the world we know. Walking between the worlds is easier and many folk set places at the dinner table for their departed to return. Be watchful if you live near any of the sidhe (fairy mounds) for this is the time they open. 
Leave a free chair by the fire and place a candle in your window if you have spirits you want to guide home. Over the years, this candle was put inside a lantern, which latter became a pumpkin, complete with carved demon's face to ward off unfriendly spirits. Dressing up on Samhain became popular as nervous folk would not want their spirits to recognise them. Again, these unsettled folk would hope to appease their spirits with gifts of fruit, nuts and ale. +009.JPG)
In Ireland my mother, like her mother before her, baked Barm Brack, placing into the dough four items: a silver ring, a short stick, a pea and a silver coin. Depending on what you got, you could be married within the year (ring), become poor (pea), rich (silver coin) or have an unhappy marriage (pea). If you were really unlucky, you could have all four. 
Samhain is an excellent time for divination. To talk to the spirits, use a scrying bowl or Ogham sticks. If you have neither, make your own scrying bowl by using a dark bowl filled three-quarters full with water--not from the tap. Light candles or incense for atmosphere and dip the end of your wand (or stick) into the liquid until it becomes wet, then run it around the edges of the bowl, causing it to resonate. Harmonics ensue, sounding like a 'yes' or 'no'. Up to you how you interpret the sounds and ripples. On a lighter note, you could peel an apple and throw the peel over your shoulder to see the first letter of your love, soon to come. Drop egg whites in water to see the number of children you would have. (all very domestic from my point of view, I have to say. Now if it were for the number of lovers you'd have... :) )
In the 7th century, Christianity made its mark on Ireland. The 1st of November was declared a day to remember all the saints that had died and the day before became known as All Hallow's Eve. Nowadays the entire month of November is known as All Souls Month, where the dead are remembered. The nights draw in, the air is moist, strange noises abound. Stay in and meet the spirits or go out and walk among them?
I for one am looking forward to it.
October 18, 2013
Cover Reveal ~ Mugs & Monasteries ~ Cover Reveal
I know this is a couple of weeks late but certain things needed tweaking before I could show this wee novel off to the world. So here she be...ta dah :)
When orchid hunter, Evie Bourke stumbles across a near deserted monastery deep in the Burren, she has no idea she’s the first person alive to have seen it. All she knows is that life went a bit strange and was getting more bizarre by the minute.
Meeting alpaca farmer Aiden Dunne over a pint of Guinness, she is struck by his resemblance, yet to whom, she can’t quite remember. Aiden is searching for Munster Abbey for his family was connected to it for generations, culminating in the disappearance of his relative, the then Prior.
What happened all those years ago? Who or what is ‘the Wanderer’ and, more to the point, what does he want?
~~~~
I have only ONE week to wait until this and Sefton Manor release on the 25th October hooray. In fact, if you can't wait, why not pop over to Musa Publishing, read an excerpt now and pre-order?
Buy links: Mugs & Monasteries and not forgetting Sefton Manor (who in fact is the older of the two, and should have gone first in the natural order of the world :).)
I'd love to know what you think though, so out of the two releases, Sefton Manor (cover reveal just below) and Mugs & Monasteries, which do you like best? Let me know and one lucky person will win a copy of their favourite. Yay!!
When orchid hunter, Evie Bourke stumbles across a near deserted monastery deep in the Burren, she has no idea she’s the first person alive to have seen it. All she knows is that life went a bit strange and was getting more bizarre by the minute.Meeting alpaca farmer Aiden Dunne over a pint of Guinness, she is struck by his resemblance, yet to whom, she can’t quite remember. Aiden is searching for Munster Abbey for his family was connected to it for generations, culminating in the disappearance of his relative, the then Prior.
What happened all those years ago? Who or what is ‘the Wanderer’ and, more to the point, what does he want?
~~~~
I have only ONE week to wait until this and Sefton Manor release on the 25th October hooray. In fact, if you can't wait, why not pop over to Musa Publishing, read an excerpt now and pre-order?
Buy links: Mugs & Monasteries and not forgetting Sefton Manor (who in fact is the older of the two, and should have gone first in the natural order of the world :).)
I'd love to know what you think though, so out of the two releases, Sefton Manor (cover reveal just below) and Mugs & Monasteries, which do you like best? Let me know and one lucky person will win a copy of their favourite. Yay!!
