B.L. Blair's Blog, page 70

A Lady of Good Family by Jeanne Mackin - $25 Amazon or B/N GC Giveaway

  Raised among wealth and privilege during America's fabled Gilded Age, a niece of famous novelist Edith Wharton and a friend to literary great Henry James, Beatrix Farrand is expected to marry, and to marry well. But as a young woman traveling through Europe, she already knows that gardens are her true passion. How she becomes a woman for whom work and love, the earthly and the mysterious, are held in delicate balance is the story of her unique determination to create beauty while remaining true to herself. A Lady of Good Family is available at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, and other bookstores.http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Good-Family-Novel-ebook/dp/B00OQRL57Uhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-lady-of-good-family-jeanne-mackin/1120624847   Excerpt: I will never marry, Beatrix thought. Never She had passed through the first heady years of womanhood, the first balls, first waltzes, first dancing card and house party invitations, quickly discouraging any serious suitor. “My mother,” she had simply explained when any young man tried to call on her a little too frequently. Now that most of those young men had already wed, she felt she could easily avoid the issue permanently. She jumped up, eager to be away from the table. “I need to walk,” she said to the others. Still, they might never have met, the Italian and the American. Beatrix could have walked in the opposite direction, away from the temple. She could have strolled through the rose garden or gone into the casina. But she chose the temple, that eerie replica of pagan passion. The gardens were full of Americans; the young man who had just been soundly berated by his family lawyer disliked the sounds of their voices, so full of German consonants, not at all soft like his own Italian. The sounds of conquerors, he thought, laden with wealth and greed and taking much of his homeland back with them when they returned to New York and Boston and Chicago. That’s what the visit to his lawyer had been about: selling artworks.   Empires rise and fall.  He lived in a land of fallen empire. Ahead of him, on the path, was an example of the fall of empire, a group of boys, begging, grimy hands snaking into folds and pockets of passing men and women. They had surrounded a young woman and were practicing their street skills on her.  He saw her face, the terror behind the forced calmness of a tight smile.  He changed direction and headed toward her. Still, they might never have met. He could have waved from a distance, yelled a threat, driven the boys off with words.  But he kept walking toward her.   Jeanne Mackin ‘s latest novel, A Lady of Good Family, explores the secret life of gilded age  Beatrix Jones Farrand, niece of Edith Wharton and the first woman professional landscape design in America. Her previous novel,  The Beautiful American, based on the life of model turned war correspondent and photographer, Lee Miller won the CNY 2015 prize for fiction. She has published in American Letters and Commentary and SNReview and other publications and is the author of the Cornell Book of Herbs and Edible Flowers.  She was the recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society and her journalism has won awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.  She lives with her husband, Steve Poleskie,  in Ithaca. www.jeannemackin.comhttps://twitter.com/jeannemackin1https://www.facebook.com/JeanneMackinAuthorhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36613.Jeanne_MacKin Win a $25 Gift Card:a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sarai’s Fortune by Abigail Owen $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Zac Montclair’s first priority is to protect his people. With the escalating war between factions of shifters over land and resources, he has agreed to an alliance between his polar bears and the Shadowcat Nation of cougar shifters. But the treaty comes with a condition…he must accept one of their Seers into his Timik and put her under his personal protection.

Sarai Bouchard doesn’t need her supernatural gift to know that Kyle Carstairs’s obsession with controlling her ability will eventually result in her misery and demise. Her power is essential to her people’s survival, so when Kyle goes rogue, she’s sent to Zac Montclair to keep her safe. However, her visions reveal that while staying will lead to their becoming lovers, it also leads to his death. Leaving Zac will result in her own.

If Sarai can’t find a way to change the future, she will be forced to choose…save her lover or save herself.

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Award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
 
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Guest Post by Abigail Owen 
Picking the Right Name
Picking my character’s name is both one of my favorite things to do when writing a book as well as one of the things I struggle with the most. It’s as hard as it was to name my children. I do have a process. My problem is that, until I’m completely satisfied, I’ll do that process again and again until I have several good names that could work. And then I can’t choose!
I’ll use my current WIP as an example as I share my process. I’m currently writing the fourth and final book of the Shadowcat Nation series (the third book is in my editor’s hands now) and I’m STILL stuck on the name for my heroine.
Step 1: Character’s Physical Description
I am a big believer that name should match the person. From a looks perspective, I’ll admit that this is influenced by personal biases. For example, Sarah’s are blond to me because one of the prettiest girls in my high school was named Sarah.
My Current WIP:  My character is tall and slender with dark hair. She has a delicate face with high cheek bones and eyes that appear brown from far away but can look grey or even golden up close and depending on what she’s wearing.
Step 2: Character’s Personality
Even more than the physical description, I believe personality also matches a name. Who here hasn’t had a name they either loved or hated because of someone they knew? Who doesn’t think of Eugene as sort of nerdy, Jenny as All-American, Muffy as a spoilt rich girl, and Chaz as a tool?
My Current WIP: This heroine will start out seeming meek, easily used/disregarded, and out of place. But our heroine will have a secret that she can’t tell anyone (two secrets really) and she’s much stronger than she at first appears. She is, in truth, a sassy bad-ass.
Step 3: Cultural Elements
I LOVE being able to use beautiful names from other cultures when I get the chance. This includes common names today, mythological names, historical names, and so forth. In the Shadowcat Nation series so far I’ve had Andromeda (Greek), Sarai (Biblical), and Tieryn (Irish). I try to pick cultures relevant to my character, but sometimes I pick names because I just like them.
My Current WIP: My heroine lives in Arizona and has (we think) a Mexican background. However (very minor spoiler here) there’s some Russian influence in her life. So I’m looking at names from both cultures.
Step 4: Character’s Development
You have to think about how your character may change through the course of the book. This part makes me think of my dog. I had a German Shepherd that I got as a puppy. I was tempted to name him some cute puppy name, but I knew he’d eventually become a 100lb beast. The name I picked needed to grow with him.
My Current WIP: As I mentioned, this character moves from meek to bad ass in a relatively quick progression.
Step 5: Other Considerations
I take into consideration other factors. Sometimes these are specific to the series, sometimes to the character, sometimes to my writing in general. Some examples include:
·         Meaning of the name
·         Similarity to other names in the series/book
·         Similarity to names of ANY characters I’ve written previously
·         Is the name being used as part of the title?
·         How do the names of my hero and heroine sound together?
·         Could I write/read this name over and over and over?
My Current WIP: This name is part of the title. It will be ???????’s Faith. I can’t reveal the hero’s name at this point because it will give away something important in book 3.
I am holding a vote for the name of this upcoming character. If you’d like to help me pick the name for my heroine, please go vote for your favorite at: Giveaway
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Monday Excerpt - June 15, 2012

Forgive Me (Holton Series #4)

The sound of the powerful motor cut through the silence of the night, and a single headlight illuminated the empty streets.  Mitch Carson pulled the motorcycle to a stop at the corner of Main and Ridgeway.  He smiled slightly as he looked at the deserted streets and dark houses.  Ten minutes after eleven on a Wednesday night and Holton, Texas was locked down tight, and all its residents safely tucked away.  He laughed silently as the restlessness that had plagued him all his life slowly melted away.  He was home.  And this time, he was home for good.
If he continued straight on Main, the road would take him to the edge of town to his sister’s guesthouse where he would be staying.  Instead he turned left onto Ridgeway, drove two blocks, and then turned right onto Oak.  He stopped the bike across the street from a two-story, white Tudor.  All the lights were out, but he could just make out the window in the top right corner.  She was there, behind that window.  The woman he never forgot.  The woman he never stopped loving.  The woman he had come home for.  Emily Fairview.
 
Available on:Amazon http://amzn.to/1EZWUNZiBooks http://apple.co/1xZKbOdB&N http://bit.ly/1MC2iA7Kobo http://bit.ly/1FiZtgwSmashwords http://bit.ly/1bH2HR8CreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/5421301   
 

US Flag Day

$10 Barnes and Noble eGift Card - June 2015 Giveaway

Enter to win!  Entering the giveaway will also register you to receive my quarterly newsletter. You may unsubscribe at anytime.  
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Free Friday on iBooks

Convince Me (Holton Series #1)  Anna West watched her father abuse her mother in the name of love. She isn't going to fall into the same trap, but she has never met a man she could love. And then, she meets Steven.  Steven Carson watched his father shower his mother with love. He wants the same kind of relationship, but no woman has made him feel that way. And then, he meets Anna West.
Free on iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/convince-me-holton-series-1/id685746830?mt=11

The Sweetheart Deal by Allison Morse $25 Amazon or BN Gift Card Giveaway

 
The Sweetheart Deal by Allison Morse

Some people in her small rural community think Ellen Hamilton, the business savvy daughter of the town’s largest employer, is too big for her britches. After all it’s the 1950s and women have no place in running corporations. But when the company is threatened with takeover by John Adair, the man who broke her heart and "betrayed" her family business years ago, she’s determined to stop at nothing to win. Yet, when the cool Ellen turns molten in John’s arms, will she discover the truth about the past in time to seal The Sweetheart Deal?
       Excerpt:Ellen slammed the book on her desk and stood. “I knew you were up to something!” 
He stalked toward her. “Then why don’t you run and tell Daddy? Let him take care of the big bad wolf.” 
Ellen crossed her arms. “I would, except for my brother.” 
“Really?” John moved around the desk and hovered over her. “Is that the only reason?” 
Meeting the challenge, she stepped forward, lifting her chin, which reached no higher than his chest. “Absolutely.” He shifted his gaze.  
Good! He retreated first. 
He picked up her copy of A Room with a View left open on her desk and whispered in her ear. “Why?” 
Not so good. 
His hand skimmed down her shoulder blade. She jumped at his touch, but that landed her even closer to him. 
Why. Her question for him. Why? 
No. Even though she spent those first few months after he left crying herself to sleep with that question. She wouldn’t ask it. 
John hovered inches from hers. “That’s what the boy says in the novel, right? The great universal why.” His breath slid down along her neck like warm olive oil. “And, of course, the personal why, right Ellie, the very personal, why?” He pulled her to him and kissed her. 
Initially, his mouth was surprisingly tentative. Almost awkward, like the first peck he’d given her after years of them being just friends. And, like then, the kiss had not stayed restrained, but grew hot and delicious in its intensity. 
Her mind knew to stop this. But her body roared to life and pressed closer for more. 
With a rip, reason prevailed, and she broke away, praying her effort to appear composed was working. 
“Well, that was novel,” she said, smoothing down her dress. She gave a short cough of a laugh. “Bad joke, I know. So then, let’s move to business. What do you and Tim,  and that Cindy person need from me? Is it my money, my votes, or me out of the way?” 
John squelched a laugh like he actually felt embarrassed. “No dice, huh?” He shrugged. “You can’t blame a guy for trying, can you?” 
She looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, I can.” 
“Hey, what about you? Batting your eyes. You didn’t really think I wouldn’t see through that. Come on, I know you, Ellie.” 
“And you? Quoting E.M. Forster, now that was brilliant.” Ellen’s intent was to be angry, but she couldn’t stop a smile playing upon her lips. “I mean, that you even knew the details from the book. Very impressive.” 
“Hey, I was in this library as much as you if remember, with more need of escape.”  
“And I wonder what would you’ve done if I was reading Jane Austen? No kissing in her books.” 
“Even easier.” He leaned in close. “All the lack of kissing makes for great tension.” 
Her body flooded with heat, but she caught herself and gazed intently at the fan on the window sill. 
“That’s that, huh?” he asked. “I guess I should go.” 
Yes, go. Stay. She didn’t know what to say.

Buy Links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sweetheart-Deal-Allison-Morse-ebook/dp/B00XCWMXUI/The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6251
   Allison Morse grew up in a family of actors in Los Angeles; before the age of five, she started acting classes, which she adored. She continued in the family business until her early twenties when her curious spirit led her to consider other interests. 
After receiving a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley, she went on to earn a M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a J.D. from U.C. Hastings College of the Law. 
Although she loved learning from each of her varied careers she always knew that storytelling was as essential to her as breathing. So as she pursued her professional life, she kept to a strict writing schedule, and joined the Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. 
She lives with her wonderful husband in a house in the hills that’s filled with books. 
Allison can be contacted at http://www.allisonmorseauthor.com.

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Shadowed Passage by Shyla Wolff

Tariffs paid on an ill-fated decision can last a lifetime.A young boy—tossed an impossible situation by his psychopathic uncle, father or sister, he must kill one for the other to survive.Two decades later, Dylan has developed his psychic talents, trained by the military, learned the skills necessary to locate the family he’d abandoned as a child and kill the devil himself, Roth. On the day he’s discharged, his ex-boss offers assistance in locating his sisters, demanding help with one more mission in exchange.Tori, a young woman weeks away from graduating with her Psych doctorate, is torn from her stable life and thrust into a world of espionage, warriors, and unexplainable phenomenon. The man she loves, Major Clannahan, attaches her to the unit charged with locating a terrorist cell. Dylan, leading the unit, draws her like no other. Yet the darkness buried in his soul will test her skills and patience beyond anything she’s ever known.Kiera and Kyley, identical twins challenged by the extremes of evil yet remain pure of heart, both bound to their man with a love withstanding the tests of time and tragedy.  One a warrior, the other with a warrior’s heart, each wield formidable psychic talents, sought after by a psychopath and terrorist bent on destroying the country.A group of psychic warriors, dedicated to fighting evil in the shadows, locating and helping others develop their paranormal talents without splintering society’s tenacious perception of reality.These are the extraordinary people living among us, protecting and preserving our way of life. Courage and honor, duty and strength of will can sustain us for only so long. Eventually, we must find our own path forward, learning to open our hearts to love even as we risk the ultimate pain.Pre-Order - http://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Passage-Anath-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00XFRFAXM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431260019&sr=8-1&keywords=shadowed+passageExcerpt “The choice is yours, boy, but understand—not deciding is making a decision. Do it before I make the decision for you. Only difference is, I won’t kill one, I’ll kill them both. Father or sister. You have all the power.” Roth kept his tone calm and gentle. The evil coiled tightly within warmed his soul. He fancied the boy killing his father, silently rooting for the infant to survive. He could have lots of fun with her over the coming years. The boy’s father would die either way. He’d bound and beaten him just for fun. “Daddy? What do I do?” Tears streamed down Dylan’s face, sobs racked his entire nine-year-old battered frame. His gaze slid from his father to his baby sister, now held by Roth. When he looked back at his dad’s bruised and bloodied face, he cried harder. His dad’s eyes were swollen almost shut. The gun shook uncontrollably in the boy’s small hand. “Daddy?” Boredom shadowed his mind as the excitement of the climax dimmed with the child’s indecisiveness. His gaze wandered out the window above the kitchen sink. In the back yard, a massive, wooden play structure stood, complete with swings, tunnels, overhead ladder, and a slide. How extravagant for just two children, one still an infant. His sister always belabored the little things. Shame she’s not present to witness this. He would’ve found this even more amusing. The blond haired infant cradled roughly in his left arm actually cooed at him. Disgusting. If he kept this thing, he'd have to hire a nanny. Still, the thought of it growing up with half the powers his sister enjoyed years ago made the brat worth the trouble...If she survived today. He sighed. * * * * “Dylan, son, it's okay. You’re going to be all right. Look at me. Remember how we played catch this morning? When you think of me, you’ll remember how we played ball today. Okay, son?” What else could he say in this horrific situation? His own psychotic brother-in-law was forcing Dylan to commit the most heinous act imaginable, choose between patricide and sororicide. Roth had always been the canary in the crazy mind but even Devon hadn’t seen this coming. “Awww, isn’t this touching?” Roth muttered, no doubt weary of his twisted game. “What a little wimp. I’m growing tired of your indecision, boy. I think I’ll just slice this little bitch’s throat. After all, she’d probably just grow up to be a carbon copy of her mother, stubborn and willful. Wouldn’t want more of that in the world, would we?” “Noooo, please. Please don’t hurt her! She’s just a baby.” Facing where he knew his son to be by the sound of his sobbing stifled his thoughts. “Son, I know this is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but you must. Please. It’s all right. I love you more than anything.” Dylan retched, fumbling and almost dropping the Glock 9mm pistol. It probably felt like the heaviest thing he’d ever held, certainly his first time holding a gun. His small frame trembled, tears streamed from his eyes, hair matted to his face. Red, swollen tissue marred the right side of his face, the result of Roth’s cold temper. The kitchen table supported his slight weight as he leaned one forearm on its edge. “Roth, please don’t do this. He’s just a boy. Be the sniveling coward you’ve always been. Do it yourself.” Articulation was slurred through split and bloody lips. His tongue slipped between the gap of two missing teeth. Though partially open, his right eye refused to focus properly. Warm, wet liquid traced a path down his face. Gravity would always trump decency. Blood splattered his clothes. Patches of gray clouded the edges of his vision. Unconsciousness lumbered near. The drumming in his head kept pace with his rapid-fire pulse. No child should ever see his father this way, unable to protect his family. Even if his son survived Roth, which he began to doubt, he'd be scarred for life. “Oh, Devon, Devon, Devon. You just don’t get it, do you? I’m not a coward,” Roth admonished. “I have no qualms about ending any of your lives. Watch, let me demonstrate.” His patronizing voice oozed in the air like oil spreading over water to corrupt with its filth. Roth pulled the six-inch blade from its sheath at his waist and held it to the baby’s throat, who lay cuddled in the crook of his left arm. “No, don’t. You bastard!” Devon strained at the rope binding his hands behind his back. “Dylan, listen. Take the family crest ring off my finger. Go ahead, son, take it. It’s yours. It’s our coat of arms.” Twisting sideways forced the bonds to cut his wrists as he removed the ring from fingers slick with blood. When his son took it, he realized these would be his last words to his boy. “Put it in your pocket, you can get a chain for it until you’re grown. That ring is a symbol of your strength, son, a symbol of your commitment to do whatever’s necessary to protect your family. Remember this, Dylan.” Dear God, he'll have nightmares the rest of his life...if he survives. Of the many lessons life seems intent on throwing her way; the most important one Shyla’s learned is to take the time to enjoy family and friends. The flux and flow of changes aren’t something to fight, but adapt to with the best of your ability. One day’s heartbreak is often followed by another day’s triumph. The only barricades remaining are the ones we refuse to navigate. She hopes you’ve enjoyed this story. Shyla’s website, ShylaWolff.com, will be updated as Dylan’s journey continues.Website: http://www.shylawolff.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shyla.wolffTwitter: https://twitter.com/wolff_shylaBlog: http://shylawolff.blogspot.com/a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Excerpt - June 8, 2015

Working on the second book in the Leah Norwood Mystery series, Dead in a Park.  Here's a short excerpt:

I found the body on February 24.  It was a horrible way to start what should have been a very pleasant day.  At first, I wasn’t sure he was actually dead, but one step closer showed he was laying perfectly still, head at an odd angle, and face-down in the small creek.  He was dressed in what looked to be a custom made suit, the white collar of his shirt just showing along the neckline of his jacket.  I looked at him from head to toe and then stopped.  What happened to his shoes?

Remembering D-Day