Linda Joyce's Blog, page 4
August 5, 2015
Alicia Dean’s Character Inspirations – PLUS, A Giveaway!
Meet Alicia Dean, fabulous multi-published author. I’m particularly drawn to her romantic suspense. She’s a talented writer and loves to connect with readers–check out her game and giveaway!
Alicia: When I begin a story, I have a certain type of character in mind. But it’s difficult for me to really cement that character’s image in my head, to visualize. So…I find someone, usually a celebrity, to model the character after. Now, it doesn’t mean my character looks identical to the model/inspiration. Sometimes it might be the way they carry themselves, their mannerisms, or even a role they’ve played. For example, in my first novel, Nothing to Fear, I wanted my heroine to grow, to gain some courage and learn to fight back. I used Sydney, Jennifer’s Garner’s character in the TV show, Alias. Jade, my heroine was blonde and didn’t look like Jennifer, but I used Sydney’s vulnerability tempered with toughness and that helped create Jade.
Each Monday, on Facebook, I hold a contest where I share a character description from one of my stories, then I share a photo of my inspiration for the character, along with two random photos. Many times, most commenters guess correctly, but sometimes I stump them. Which either means I didn’t do justice to the description, or they don’t see what I see. Either way, it’s lots of fun. Here is a link to my recent post, if you want to play along: HERE
What about you? When you read or write, do you get an image of a character in your head? Do you think of celebrities who might play those roles in a movie?
Let’s play the game here…check out this excerpt from RUINED: Martini Club 4 – The 1920s. Can you conjure an image in your mind of the man Eliza is looking at? Is there a celebrity or someone you know who pops into your head? (I will draw one name from the commenters, and that person will win the entire set of Martini Club 4 – The 1920s stories for Kindle. The other three stories were written by three of my author friends, but they intertwine with mine. Winner will be drawn in a few days.)
Eliza scanned the crowd. Jess was supposed to come in, but so far, Eliza hadn’t seen her. She was feeling slightly abandoned. At least Oscar wasn’t present. Now that he was her employer, she could barely relax when he was at Club 501. She always felt she was on the clock.
Her gaze bounced over a man, then zeroed back. The bloke was looking directly at her. She caught her breath. He was leaning on the bar a few stools down, talking to Charli. He had this…magnetism, some kind of forceful presence that made it impossible to look away.
He was broad, muscular and dressed like a dock worker with brown suspenders over a yellow shirt and a newsboy cap over his dark blond hair, but what caught her attention right off was his smile. His white teeth flashed, and a dimple creased the right side of his face.
Charli moved away, and the man looked up and caught Eliza staring at him. His grin widened. His eyes were so blue—so electrifying, that Eliza could feel their allure even in the dimly lit, smoky bar.
He winked and gave her a finger salute off the brim of his cap.
A tingle ran from her toes, all the way through her body, making her head swim. My, but he was a fresh one. With superhuman effort, she dragged her attention away, but it didn’t keep her heart from racing faster than a thoroughbred at Churchill Downs.
She swallowed and took a deep breath, fingering the pendant at her neck, trying to slow her heart rate. What on earth was wrong with her? She met plenty of handsome men—men more pleasing to the eye than he with his workmen clothing and slightly crooked nose. But never had any man sent her blood rushing through her veins like this.
She gulped from her glass. Get ahold of yourself. She was not the kind of girl to pick up strange men in bars—even if they did have a devil of a smile and eyes like an angel.
Available on Amazon: only 99¢
I live in Edmond, Oklahoma. I have three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. I write mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but have also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
Other than reading and writing, my passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (I usually work in a mention of one or all three into my stories) and watching my favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (Yes, I know some have ended, but I will forever be a fan). Some of my favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Find me here:
Website: http://aliciadean.com/
Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean
Linda: Don’t forget to leave a comment. YOU could be the lucky winner!
Happy Reading!
The post Alicia Dean’s Character Inspirations – PLUS, A Giveaway! appeared first on Linda Joyce.
August 4, 2015
Newsletter Link–Lemon Bars! YUM!
Greetings!
What’s more refreshing than Lemon Bars for dessert?
What could be more healthy than gluten free and dairy free?
Please meet a foodie friend: Kay Gammone. She’s the guest chef in the August edition of LETTERS from Linda.
Here’s Kay:
Just a few words about myself. I was born in 1958 ,to an Irish/American father and a Japanese mother. My love of cooking came about because my mother was a head cook in Madison, Wisconsin at a Mafia operated restaurant. That was in the late 50’s. I loved watching her cook. She never measured anything.
VID_20150714_192745 (1) ~~ Watch Kay Here
Lemon Bar Recipe ( gluten and dairy free)
Shortbread Crust
3/4 cup almond meal
3/4 cup gluten free baking flour + 1/4 tsp.xanthan gum
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup butter flavored crisco(melted and cooled)
Lemon Filling
4 large eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup gluten free baking flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp.salt
1) Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 8×8 pan with baking parchment paper.
2) In large bowl, whisk flours, confectioners sugar, and salt. Stir in melted crisco until just combined. Spread shortbread dough on bottom of pan and bake at 325°F for about 20-25 minutes until slightly golden on edge.
While crust is baking, in a mixing bowl, use electric mixer to beat eggs in high till frothy, lighter in color and slightly thickened. Lower speed to medium and beat in lemon juice, and sugar. Sprinkle in gluten free flour , baking powder, and salt. Mix to combine.
Pour mixture over shortbread crust. Bake at 325°F until set and slightly golden; about 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour before cutting.Makes 16 servings.
Thank you, Kay!
Linda here: To celebrate August and Reading, please check out my newsletter. You could win a KINDLE. http://eepurl.com/buRlo9
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July 30, 2015
LOOK! Cover Reveal for Her Heart’s Desire
Her Heart’s Desire, Book one of the Sunflower Series
Now available for Pre-Order. Release day is August 18th.
Her Heart’s Desire
By Linda Joyce
I was told, shortly after moving to the Kansas City area, the Midwest is the Heartland of the United States, and if someone is looking to find love, to truly get in touch with their heart, it was the place to be. And I agree.
Though I’m a southern girl, one who needs magnolia trees and Spanish moss, grits with eggs, and to hear “Yes, Ma’am” with a drawl, (not to mention men who hold doors open because they were raised to be southern gentlemen), there’s an allure to the Midwest that is undeniable. While I can’t handle the winters of seven below zero (before wind chill), the rest of year offers festivals, hot air balloon shows, trout fishing, and the list goes on.
All of Kansas isn’t flat like the Kansas of Dorothy and Toto. The Emerald City, I believe, is Kansas City, Missouri, rising high on a hill up from the Missouri River banks.
For me, the winged monkeys were the burdens I carried, and while living in Kansas, those monkeys flew away. Undoubtedly, my time in Kansas City restored my heart and filled it with friendships I treasure.
I hope you will enjoy meeting Amelia and Lucas. They truly represent the tenacity, generosity, and dedication to family and friends that I experienced during my twelve years away from the south.
Blurb:
Artist Amelia Britton battles her older brother for the right to remain on the family farm—their inheritance after their parents’ tragic deaths—she faces a looming mortgage, weather threatens to destroy her crops, and the man she secretly loves only sees her as Craig’s little sister.
After serving his country in Afghanistan, Lucas Dwyer expected to return home to his family’s farm, but the bank foreclosed. Undeterred, he begins combining-for-hire to support his younger sister in college. His best friend convinces him to discourage local guys from dating Amelia. Craig wants her back in the city, farming is too hard for a woman alone. Only one problem—Lucas has fallen in love with Amelia.
With family, the bank, and the weather conspiring against them, can Amelia and Lucas ever hope to grow the love blooming between them?
Tagline: An artist and a farmer fight family, the bank, and Mother Nature…to grow love.
Bio: Linda Joyce is an award-winning author of women’s fiction and romance. She writes about assertive females and the men who can’t resist them. Linda’s a big fan of jazz and blues. She attributes her love of those musical genres to her southern roots, which run deep in Louisiana. If you walk-through several New Orleans cemeteries you’ll find many of her family buried there. She penned her first manuscript while living in Japan, the country where her mother was born and raised. Now she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and four-legged boys. She’s also a foodie and loves to go RVing.
Pre-Order Links for Her Heart’s Desire:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/559925
Amazon http://amzn.com/B011LLKFXS
Places to connect with Linda:
Website: http://www.linda-joyce.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaJoyceAuthor
Twitter: @LJWriter https://twitter.com/LJWriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6950241.Linda_Joyce
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Linda-Joyce/e/B00BODDROS/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/LindaJoyceWorld/boards/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lindajoycewrites
Linda also has a newsletter, LETTERS with Linda. It posts the first Tuesday of every month with book news, inspiration, a contest giveaway, and a recipe. If you’d like a copy, please send Linda an email: linda@linda-joyce.com OR watch her facebook author page that day and grab a copy there.
Happy Reading!
The post LOOK! Cover Reveal for Her Heart’s Desire appeared first on Linda Joyce.
July 14, 2015
Geography: Where is Fat Chance, TX?
So are book series–hot, that is. For example, author Celia Bonaduce’s The Welcome To Fat Chance, Texas trilogy. Have you read her The Venice Beach Romance series? If not, it needs to go on your summer reading list now. You won’t be disappointed. Celia brings humor like no one else I know.
Please meet Celia Bonanduce!
Where Is Fat Chance, Texas?
By Celia Bonaduce
They say you should ‘write what you know’. Have ‘they’ ever met a science fiction writer who has never been to outer space, a murder-mystery writer who presumably has never committed murder, or an historical fiction writer who has no access to a way-back machine? No? I thought that too, so I jumped in with both feet to in write something I knew nothing about – Texas.
Ignore THEM at your peril.
My first trilogy of books – THE VENICE BEACH ROMANCE SERIES – is set in Southern California. I live in Southern California, so I know the territory very well. I wanted to stretch myself on my next series – 
THE WELCOME TO FAT CHANCE, TEXAS TRILOGY – so I started to poke around the map to see where I wanted my characters to land. When I decided to set my book in Texas, I congratulated myself on having narrowed the playing field by 49 states. But determining your locale to be in the Lone Star State is not the same as setting your book in Vermont or Oregon or Hawaii. Most states will bring to mind certain collective attributes. But when you start talking Texas, the discussion has just begun. It turns out that Weird-Austin is very different from Cosmopolitan-Dallas or Historic-Galveston or Military-Kileen, each of which has its own personality. My book is set in a ghost-town, so I thought that would help. But no. There are ranching ghost-towns, gold-mining ranch town and missed-by-the-railroad ghost towns. It became a bit overwhelming. My research did uncover one Texas constant: I never met a Texan who wasn’t happy to offer an opinion.
After popping my characters down in various parts of Texas, they seemed most at home in the Texas Hill Country. Although “Fat Chance” is a fictitious name, if you head west out of Austin on E. Highway 290, past Dripping Springs and start looking around for a dirt trail heading down to a creek, you’ll find the spot where I conjured up Fat Chance.
If you get to Reeves Lake off of W. Highway 290, you’ve gone too far.
We’re all very happy here.
Purchase Celia’s Books Here
More about Celia
Website: www.celiabonaduce.com
Email: Celia@celiabonaduce.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celia.bonaduce?fref=ts
Twitter@celiabonaduce
Instagream: : @yocelia
Media:
Happy Reading!
Linda Joyce
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June 18, 2015
It’s ALL about the Food and the Books!
I am always so pleased to celebrate a book release with a debut author.
Social media is a wonderful tool to connect us with like-minded people. I met Susan through Facebook, then recently, we had the pleasure of meeting in person.
I’m happy to introduce Susan Sands, a Louisiana girl living in the metro Atlanta area…hmm, just like me. Her book, Again, Alabama is available now. Amazon Barnes and Noble
Besides books, she’s also all about food.
Susan is a winner of the Today Show website’s Home Chef Challenge! She’s sharing all about her book and her recipe. Please enjoy!
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Linda! I’m thrilled to be here.
In my debut novel, AGAIN, ALABAMA, my heroine is a chef, who’s been shamed publically, and must return home to run the family event planning business while her mother recovers from surgery. My own love of food and cooking inspired my choice of professions for my character.
No matter what kind of stress or angst I have ongoing in my own life, I can cook and create in the kitchen. It’s an escape for me. Sometimes it’s work, but mostly it’s a way to feed my senses as much as my family’s bellies.
I know that many folks don’t feel quite the same way about kitchen duty, but I grew up in a family of fantastic Cajun cooks. One grandfather was a chef and my other grandfather spent his time cultivating a large organic garden, complete with compost heap, well before it was cool. My mom and both grandmothers were extremely talented in the kitchen. My dad fished in nearby Toledo Bend Lake, so we always had fresh fish, fruits and vegetables.
We lived in a rural area in Negreet, in Northwest, Louisiana. So, my characters and stories reflect my small-town upbringing.
Today I’m happy to share my jambalaya recipe that was voted the The Today Show website’s Home Chef Challenge winner several years ago. It’s authentic because I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and that’s where my people hail from. If I don’t qualify that, I’ll be attacked viciously. Cajuns are very picky about who is allowed to claim their dishes. (Of course, then you get into the whole Creole dish argument).
Susan’s Jambalaya
Ingredients
1/3 c. canola oil or butter
1 lb. smoked pork sausage
1 lb. boneless and skinless chicken (can be white/dark mixed – whatever you like)
1 lb. shrimp, deveined and peeled
Tony Chachere’s seasoning to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste
1 bunch green onions
1 yellow onion
1 green bell pepper
1 stalk celery
Garlic, any way you like (powder, fresh, granulated, crushed, mangled, strangled, whatever)
1 Tbsp. chicken bouillion (powder or cubes)
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
4 cups cooked rice
Preparation
Baking Directions:
Cook rice and leave aside. Sauté onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic and bouillon in oil and butter. Seasoned chicken with Tony’s, chop into chunks and cook about 15 – 20 min. Add sausage and shrimp. Cook another 15 min. Add Ro-tel and tomato sauce. Cook on a low heat for around 20 min. Turn off heat and stir in rice about 2 cups at a time until completely combined. A few drops of Texas Pete or La. Hot Sauce, etc., is always good. I like the chicken to be really tender, so cook it until you like how it tastes. I’m estimating cooking times. This should work, but use your good sense. Add more or less of anything, you can’t mess up jambalaya. Happy cooking!
I love to connect with readers!
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/susannsandsauthor
Twitter: @SusanNoelSands
Blog: Sweet Home Alpharetta at susansands.com
Here’s a bit about Susan and her debut novel:
Again, Alabama
Cammie Laroux is back in Alabama—again.
Dragged back to her small town to help her mother recover from surgery while rescuing the family event planning business should be a cinch. Even for a disgraced television chef, right? Wrong.
Among the many secrets Cammie’s family’s been hiding is the fact that their historic home is falling down. Oh, and the man hired to restore the house, Grey Harrison, is the same high school and college love of her life who thrashed her heart and dreams ten years ago. Yeah, that guy.
Grey, a widower with a young daughter, has never stopped loving Cammie, and when they are face to face once again, the chemistry is off the charts. Cammie may be in full-blown denial, but letting go is no longer in Grey’s vocabulary, even when winning Cammie’s forgiveness and renovating their love may seem like an impossible build even for a master architect and carpenter.
As Cammie finds herself forgetting all the reasons she can’t trust Grey or love again, he finds himself remembering all the reasons he wants her to stay with him in Alabama… forever.
Susan Sands:
Susan Sands grew up in a real life Southern Footloose town in Northwest Louisiana, complete with her senior class hosting the first ever prom in the history of their tiny public school with half the town chaperoning. Is it any wonder she writes Southern small town stories full of porch swings, fun and romance?
Susan lives in Alpharetta, Georgia surrounded by her husband, three young adult kiddos and lots of material for her next book.
Happy Reading!
Linda Joyce
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June 17, 2015
BAYOU BECKONS, it’s calling you
Hey there! Summer is here!
We may have a few days until the official start; however, the temperatures and humidity in the south have us fanning as fast as a hummingbird’s wings in flight.
Have you gotten your copy of Bayou Beckons yet? You won’t want to miss book three of the Fleur de Lis series. The story opens in the wilds of Wyoming, the perfect place for a party girl to tame her wild ways. What she doesn’t expect is to find the man of her dreams–only to learn he was betrayed in the past–and she’s convinced he won’t want her when he discovers her dark secret–the one that sent her on her journey away from home. Their love is like a hurricane and together they race to escape Hurricane Katrina.
I’ve had a delightful month! I’ve been hosted by some great readers and authors. Each post linked below shows something different about me. (Yes, there’s a confession or two.)
Please join me in this round-robin of visits.
Jan Romes, author –she delves into my secrets: Jan’s Blog
Erin York, author — she’s checking my mental state. I’ve posted a quiz for you to take.
Erin York: Author, Editor, and Book Reviewer
LovExtra featured my post about Romance Vocabulary. Take the quiz and see how you do!
AND don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter —LETTERS from LINDA. Have you seen the #GIVEAWAY? It’s a Waterford crystal Fleur de Lis. Read it now.
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June 3, 2015
The Bayou is Beckoning you!
I’m thrilled to share the news of my newest release, BAYOU BECKONS, book three of the Fleur de Lis series. Here’s a peek inside:
Party-girl and bayou babe Camilla Lind treats life like a game. After sleeping with her sister’s fiancé, she’s struggling to change, but karmic payback is a bitch. When the actions of her past c rash into the present, they stand to ruin her future…and destroy any chance of love with the only man she’s ever wanted.
Rancher Jared Richardson guards his heart carefully after suffering the pain of infidelity. He never expected to fall for a woman like Camilla Lind, nor did he think he’d follow her across the country to beg for a second chance at love.
As Hurricane Katrina bears down on them, can they weather the storm and put aside past hurts to embrace their future together?
If you haven’t read book one and two, no worries, each book can stand alone, though the cast of characters shows up in each book, the protagonists are different.
Bayou Born, book one of the FLeur de Lis series is a 2014 RONE Award Finalist.
Bayou Bound, book two of the series is a 2015 RONE Award Finalist — winners announced in September. And it won 1st Place in Romance from SWA.
Also, if you’re interested in book news, I have monthly newsletter and it features a monthly giveaway. You can sign up HERE
You can find BAYOU BECKONS here:
A note from my publisher:
The Wild Rose Press, Inc is pleased to see the FLEUR DE LIS Series continue. “Linda Joyce paints an emotional story with BAYOU BECKONS,” Rhonda Penders, Editor-in-Chief said. “She writes contemporary romances with engaging characters. BAYOU BECKONS, set against the drama of Hurricane Katrina will entertain readers.” Penders said. “Linda writes characters to fall in love with.”
Happy Reading!
Linda Joyce
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May 26, 2015
They survived the Oregon Trail, but…
Christi Corbett brings history to life! Tainted Dreams is the standalone sequel
to Along the Way Home. Genre: Historical Western Romance/Frontier and Pioneer Romance
Tagline: They survived the Oregon Trail, but claiming a legacy would be their biggest challenge yet…
Tainted Dreams ~
Sometimes, the end justifies the means…
Kate Davis arrived into Oregon City transformed from a pampered daughter of fortune into a determined woman with a plan– fulfill her father’s dream of starting a horse ranch in Oregon Territory.
She quickly discovers a harsh truth–even thousands of miles from home, on an unsettled land America doesn’t yet own or govern, gender still takes precedence over ability. Refusing to be ruled once again by the stifling laws and societal norms she’d escaped by leaving Virginia, Kate begins creatively claiming what is rightfully hers.
Until a visit to the land office changes everything.
Jake Fitzpatrick guided Kate across the Oregon Trail, and fell in love with her along the way. Now he wants to marry her and build a life together, but a ruthless man from Jake’s past threatens to reveal a dark secret, and destroy everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.
Want to know more? Here’s a peek inside Tainted Dreams
Excerpt #1: (Jake, Kate, and two people they rescued on the Oregon Trail, William and Margaret, have entered Oregon City. They are looking for the hotel.)
At the end of the block a man burst from the saloon and stumbled into the street, stopping mere inches from Jake’s horse, Plug. Instead of backing away, the man lurched forward and reached for Jake’s saddle horn.
“Hey there!” Jake said. Raising his left leg, he ignored the resulting twinge of pain and shoved the stranger aside with his boot heel. “Watch it!”
The man drew back and stared at him, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He raised an unsteady finger, slurred an unintelligible response, and then fell face-first into a patch of mud.
“Drunken fool,” Jake muttered, then faced the others. “Let’s keep moving.”
High-pitched squealing foiled his plan.
On the upper deck of the saloon a horde of harlots stood clustered together, giggling and shrieking as they pointed toward him. Clenching his jaw, he focused on the street ahead, all the while hoping Kate didn’t notice one woman in particular who’d separated herself from the others and was now hanging over the railing, calling him by name.
Jake pressed his boot heels into Plug’s side, urging him to a steady trot. Thankfully the others followed and they quickly left the saloon behind.
Minutes later, Kate motioned to the end of the street. “William, we’re running out of road and I still don’t see a hotel.”
William pulled a rumpled paper from his pocket. He studied it briefly and then eyed the surrounding buildings. “My uncle sent me a rough sketch of where it’s located, but there are so many new buildings, it’s useless. Jake, do you know where it’s at?”
Jake shook his head. “There wasn’t a hotel the last time I was here.”
“Perhaps one of those men sitting in front of the apothecary would know?” Margaret suggested.
“We’ll find it ourselves,” Jake replied. He led the group around the corner and onto the next street.
Buildings, so new their fresh pine scent still hung in the air, lined one side of the street while the other side held only two—an enormous livery and a two-story building with the word Hotel prominently displayed on a white sign with black lettering. A matching sign beside a light-rimmed window read Rooms Available by the Day or Week.
They dismounted, secured their horses to the empty hitching posts in front of the hotel, and headed for the door. William reached for the glass knob, then turned to the others with a worried frown.
“I haven’t seen my uncle in over seven years, so I don’t know what to expect. Though from what I’ve observed so far, living out west doesn’t seem to improve manners.” He stepped inside and ushered Margaret and Kate through the doorway. Jake followed them, then stopped cold.
Behind the hotel’s front desk sat Theodore Martin—the one man Jake never wanted to see again as long as he lived.
END OF EXCERPT
Excerpt #2 (Kate meets a man from Jake’s past.)
Kate entered the hotel lobby and stood behind William and Margaret. While she waited for Jake to join her, she gazed around the spacious room.
Rag rugs dotted the gleaming pine board floor and a marble-topped oak desk sat in the back left corner. Navy plaid curtains on both windows—one overlooking the front steps and the other facing the alley—were pulled closed, yet the room was well lit by three oil lamps and warmed by flames flickering in the stone fireplace at the back wall.
Behind her, Jake shut the door and then stepped so close she felt the brim of her hat brush against his chest.
Jake—the man who’d hired on as her family’s guide across the Oregon Trail.
Jake—the man who’d supported her through the darkest time of her life.
Jake—the man she loved.
“William! You’re finally here!” The man Kate assumed to be William’s uncle rose to his feet and hurried around the desk and across the room. Though by the creases around his eyes he looked to be in his early forties, he had hair the color of coal, broad shoulders, and a trim waist. His clothing, while outdated by nearly a decade, was impeccable, and a brown silk cravat perfectly arranged at his neck and embellished with a gold pin completed the outfit.
This man was a welcome change from the other men she’d seen so far in the town.
“I’ve been waiting for you to walk through that door for weeks.” He grabbed William into a fierce hug, then pulled back to look at him again. “I was worried you’d run into trouble.”
“We did,” William replied.
“We?” William’s uncle finally took note of the others lingering at his door. His eyes scanned the ragged group, narrowed briefly when they reached Jake, and then returned to his nephew.
William removed his hat and beckoned Margaret a few steps forward to join him. “Uncle Theodore, I’m proud to introduce you to my wife, Margaret. We married the day before departing from Independence.”
Theodore took Margaret’s hand and bowed with a grace and confidence Kate hadn’t seen since the ballrooms of Virginia. “Please pardon my initial shock. My nephew is a lucky man to have a bride as lovely as you.”
“Thank you,” Margaret murmured, absently running her free hand along the curve of her waist.
“You’re welcome.” Theodore released her hand. “ʺI consider it a privilege to have you as a member of our family.” He straightened and eyed the lobby doorway, where Kate still waited with Jake at her back. His smile faded. “William, you mentioned trouble earlier, a fact that doesn’t surprise me now that I see who you kept company with on the trail.”
Kate’s mouth dropped open. What had she or Jake done to offend this man?
“The return to civilization can be a tough adjustment.” Theodore motioned to William’s bare head, then to his hat clutched against his leg. “I’m pleased to see you haven’t forgotten the formalities of polite society.”
Kate’s cheeks flamed. Propriety had been ingrained in her since birth, but she’d only been wearing a man’s hat since July—her father’s hat, willed to her on his deathbed. While she had no intention of replacing it with a bonnet any time soon, she did intend to do her best to act according to society’s conventions. She quickly pulled off the hat and ran her free hand from her forehead to her collar several times in a futile attempt to tame her wild curls.
Sighting Theodore’s slack-jawed astonishment, Kate bit her tongue to stifle a laugh. He likely regretted his pointed words; she didn’t need to further add to his embarrassment.
“Seems your companion has better manners than you.” Theodore nodded toward Jake, who, to Kate’s surprise, still hadn’t removed his hat.
“Seems so,” Jake replied, slowly pushing up the brim with one finger.
Kate kept quiet, but wondered what would possess Jake to purposely be so rude to someone he’d just met. Especially a prominent business owner, one that could potentially serve as an ally if she ran into trouble with her future plans.
“William,” Theodore said, smoothly turning to address his nephew again, “who is this beautiful creature hiding beneath those ill-fitting clothes?”
William glanced at Jake and gave a nearly imperceptible shrug of apology, then focused again on his uncle. “I’m pleased to introduce Katherine Davis—”
“And the infamous trail guide, Jake Fitzpatrick,” Theodore finished.
“You know each other?” William asked, his tone mirroring Kate’s own surprise.
Jake gave a curt nod. “We’ve met.”
“And then some.” Theodore’s laugh seemed more smug than jovial. “We came across the trail together a few years ago.”
Margaret clapped her hands together in delight. “Isn’t that something? Two friends meet again after all this time.”
“Friend isn’t a word I’d use to describe him,” Jake said, removing his hat and stepping beside Kate in one fluid move.
End of Excerpt
Christi Corbett, winner of the 2013 RONE Award for Best American Historical novel, lives in a small town in Oregon with her husband and their twin children.
The home’s location holds a special place in her writing life; it stands just six hundred feet from the original Applegate Trail
and the view from her back door is a hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and beyond.
Places where you can connect with Christi
Blog: https://christicorbett.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christi-Corbett-Author/430817400345104
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristiCorbett
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christicorbett/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Christi-Corbett/e/B00DC8H5CI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7132469.Christi_Corbett?from_search=true
Email: christicorbett@gmail.com
Places where you can learn more about her book:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tainted-dreams-christi-corbet/1121906167?ean=2940151530439
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/tainted-dreams
ibookstore: http://ibookstore.com/products.php?i=B00W0R2FAY
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542314
Happy Reading!
The post They survived the Oregon Trail, but… appeared first on Linda Joyce.
May 22, 2015
Its easy! Just a click away…
Hey there! I’m am so proud of this story. BAYOU BOUND won 1st Place in Romance from the Southeastern Writers Association.
Long and Short Reviews gave it a 4.5 Star review AND InD’tale Magazine gave it a 4.5-Star review with a Crowned Heart (which signifies the reviewer loved it!)
Now BAYOU BOUND is a 2015 RONE Award Nominee! Will you help me celebrate the story of Biloxi Dutrey and Nick Trahan by voting for BAYOU BOUND to take it to the finals?
Voting ENDS on Sunday, May 24th. Please, vote for BAYOU BOUND. It’s in Week Six– the Contemporary Category.
Here’s the link for voting. http://indtale.com/2015-rone-awards
Yes, you do have to create a login, however, the magazine NEVER sends SPAM. I appreciate you taking the time to give a nod to BAYOU BOUND. Fingers crossed it makes it to the finals. Seven finalist will be chosen, then those seven go for judging with industry professionals.
Thank you for your support.
I greatly appreciate it.
Smiles,
Linda Joyce
The post Its easy! Just a click away… appeared first on Linda Joyce.
May 21, 2015
SWAG is in the bag!
I’m proud to present the owner, Yong Takahashi, she’s also an excellent writer.
S W A G
A NOVEL IDEA
Otherwise known as Souvenirs, Wearables, and Gifts. Promotional items. Marketing tools. There may be different names to call them but in the end, everyone loves a unique keepsake from a great event.
Back when I was knee-deep in the real estate field, I attended my fair share of conventions. The highlight for me was receiving the variety of promotional items given away by the vendors. Not only did I love all the SWAG, the items did serve a purpose. Meeting so many people in a small period of time, it was often difficult to remember names. Having a tangible item with the company’s name and contact information was invaluable.
Writers conference attendees face similar issues. After meeting so many great authors and peers, it’s hard for them to remember all the great books they intended to purchase. Wouldn’t it be great to send them home with a reminder of your new book or website?
Some popular items are bookmarks, pens, highlighters, key lights, hats, screen cleaners, and zipper pulls.
What is the best SWAG you received from a conference or book signing?
Here’s a special opportunity for you to win SWAG! Sign up HERE
One lucky winner will receive $20 off their first order OR a $10 Amazon gift card (winner’s choice). Contest ends 6/30/2015.
And here’s more information about the inspiring owner of A NOVEL IDEA
Yong Takahashi is a writer. Some of her works appear in Cactus Heart, Crab Fat Magazine, Emerge Literary Journal, Flash Fiction Magazine, Hamilton Stone Review, Meat For Tea, River & South Review, Rusty Nail Magazine, Spilt Infinitive, and Twisted Vines.
She founded A Novel Idea, Inc. to assist authors with their promotional needs. Her greatest joy is helping others find the best way to send their message out into the world.
For more information, please visit www.anovelideapromos.com and www.facebook.com/anovelideapromos.
To contact Yong, please email her at info@anovelideapromos.com.
To read some of Yong’s writing, visit www.yctwriter.com.
The post SWAG is in the bag! appeared first on Linda Joyce.
