C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 162
July 14, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight ANGEL IN THE SHADOWS
Shines Today on
ANGEL IN THE SHADOWS
Never Turn Your Back…
Never Reveal Your Name…
Never surrender Your Heart…
BLURB:
Madison Sinclair is a smart-mouthed photographer that enjoys the simple things in life. Recently landing a job at one of Manhattan’s top imaging companies, she works hard to prove herself but often falls short of the mark. Taking pictures of the New York scenery, relaxing at home with a glass of wine, and caring for her stray cat is the highlight of her day. But when her best friend convinces her into covering a charity event thrown by a handsome billionaire, Madison’s life suddenly becomes anything but simple as she finds herself in a constant race for survival. There is nowhere she can turn, no one she can trust.
Seth Reynolds has been in the game a long time. He knows how to get in, get a job done, and get out with no complications and no witnesses. Trained to be cold and heartless, he is committed to follow through with this mission no matter what. Racing against an impossible time table, everything is in place to take out the madman intent on destroying New York City. But when the naïve Madison Sinclair stumbles into his world, all of his carefully laid plans go to hell.
Determined to do what is right at all costs, Seth must choose between the rules he’s lived by his entire life or saving Madison from a fate worse than death. If he follows orders, he will be an unsung hero, saving millions of innocent people. But if he risks his own life for Madison’s, the entire city will be in jeopardy. The choice should be easy. Risk one to save many. That’s the unbreakable code of The Perfect Order. But now, without even trying, Madison has gotten under his skin and inside his heart. With the fate of the city resting in his hands, how he can do the right thing when he no longer knows what that is?
EXCERPT:Just like Seth, the Porsche was dark, mysterious, and masculine. Things were not improving. She shied away from thinking about that monster in the alleyway, the one that had his hands on her, touching her. She couldn’t think of that now because she would come apart completely. So she focused on Seth instead and used the anger that had been building up for the lost several hours. God, she really needed to get away from him. But she needed to understand what she was up against. And that was nearly impossible since Seth was refusing to tell her anything. The sneaky bastard! She would just have to figure out a way to make him talk.
Making her voice as strong and determined as she could, she looked at him and said, “I have a right to know what is going on.”
He didn’t even look in her direction. “Your rights end when and where I say they do. Don’t push me too far Miss Sinclair. You won’t like the result,” he warned.
This guy was really beginning to piss her off. “Damn you! Tell me what the hell is going on!”
A ghost of a smile crossed his soft lips, drawing her attention to them. He remembered how they felt on hers. She shoved that away before the annoying lust could distract her from her plan of action.
“Damn me? Sorry to ruin your little tirade but I’ve been damned for a very long time. Nothing you can say or do can make it worse,” Seth’s voice was low and quiet, reflective.
She must have imagined the small amount of emotion in his voice. But real or not, it cooled some of her anger, making her wonder again just who the hell this guy was. Definitely not the self-effacing personal assistant she had taken him for just yesterday. But as intriguing as that question may be, she had no intentions to stick around and find out the answer. There was the saying about curiosity killing the cat and as curious as she was, learning that particular bit information was not something she was willing to die for. Maybe if she could open the door and jump out. But he was going so fast. He didn’t slow down much as he took the corners but maybe that small change in speed would make the difference between getting injured and being killed. At this point, she didn’t think she had much to lose by trying. Furtively, she reached over and gripped the door handle, waiting for the next turn.
“Don’t think you can try jumping out when I slow down. You really don’t want to make me angrier than I am now.” Seth’s voice was calm and soft, not betraying any emotion but she had enough sense to be afraid. Releasing the door handle, she crossed her arms over her chest, her hands balled into tight fists. Man, she wanted to just sock him!
Beside her, Seth shrugged indifferently. “Then again, maybe you should jump out. Though it would probably be suicide. I’m not sure how you feel about dying but at least I wouldn’t have to save you again.”
“I never asked you to save me. You did that on your own,” Madison replied heatedly.
“My mistake. Next time, I’ll just let them have you.”
“Next time? Who says there’s going to be a next time?”
Another uncaring shrug of his strong shoulders. “Just call it an educated guess.”
Scowling, she asked, “Why even take the time to save me? You’re just going to kill me.”
“I never said I was going to kill you.”
“No, but you didn’t say you weren’t either.”
“Touché” He turned to her with a small, tight lipped smile.
“Why don’t you just tell me what is going on?”
He sighed, exasperated. “If I tell you anything, you’re as good as dead.”
His threat was ominous but she sensed he was telling her the truth this time. Considering the circumstances, that fact wasn’t exactly encouraging. But maybe his honesty would continue for a while longer.
“I’m probably a dead woman anyway so there’s really no harm in satisfying my curiosity is there? Consider it a last request.” Madison tried to sound brave and add some humor to her situation. As long as she could remain lighthearted, she would be able to keep her wits about her so maybe she could get out of this thing alive.
“I applaud you for your attempt at levity. But believe it or not, this situation is not funny in the least and it’s not my intention to see you dead, Miss Sinclair.”
She twisted in the seat, facing him, one eyebrow raised questioningly. “No? Then just what are your intentions Mr. Reynolds?”
“I really can’t tell you. You’re just going to have to trust me.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You know,” he replied lightly, “if you would have trusted me in the first place, your friend would still be alive.”
A little bit about the author Amy Deason:
Amy learned to read at the tender age of three. Once she started, she never stopped. Growing up, she could always be found snuggled in some quiet corner with her nose stuck in one book after another. Her desire to read soon led to her passion for writing. As a child and teenager, Amy wrote poetry and short stories for her family and friends, delighting them with her vast imagination. From child to adult, she has continued to read everything she can get her hands on. Her love for a good book knows no boundaries and crosses every genre imaginable.
Amy currently lives in NW Arkansas with her wonderful husband, Shaun, and three energetic children. But of course their family would not be complete without their two loveable shih tzus, Tucker and Dylan. Recently, they welcomed a new addition to their household, a rambunctious boxer puppy named Buck, and since then, their lives have never been the same.
When Amy’s not working or writing, or possibly sneaking in a few quiet minutes of quiet reading, she can be found with her family riding bicycles around town, playing sports, watching movies, or taking pictures. (Although she takes so many photographs, the kids try to run and hide every time she breaks out the camera).
Amy would love to hear from you. You can reach her several ways:
Website: http://www.amydeason.wordpress.com/
http://www.amydeason.weebly.com/
She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter(@Ames13011), and Ask.fm(AmesGrace13011) or you can email her at DeasonDozier13011@yahoo.com.
July 13, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday 7 Reasons You’re Not Selling Many Ebooks
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
7 Reasons You’re Not Selling Many Ebooks
Posted by Lindsay
Let’s do a troubleshooting post today. I’ve had a few emails from new e-publishers wondering how they can sell more ebooks.
If you follow this blog, you know I’m not a huge seller, but my earnings have
For the rest of the blog go to:
http://www.lindsayburoker.com/book-marketing/reasons-youre-not-selling-many-ebooks/
July 9, 2015
Friday Features Golden City Series J. Kathleen Cheney
Welcomes
J. Kathleen Cheney
Author of
Golden City Series
Today J. Kathleen is sharing about her Golden City Series, and romance in a woman’s world.
Here’s J. Kathleen:
The Thrust of the Series
This newest book is the final one in the Golden City Series, and for the first time we have our newly married couple, Oriana and Duilio, living and working in her homeland, not Portugal. There the sereia (sirens) rule and males are, predominately, decorative. It’s a difficult change for Duilio, who as a gentleman of the early 1900s, is very accustomed to men being in control. He has to learn to hold his tongue, and when to be seen or not seen. But he and Oriana have a secondary task there on the islands, to figure out who wanted her mother dead…and they’ll need help to solve that mystery.
THE SHORES OF SPAIN
Even as the branches of peace are being offered, there are some who still believe those who are not human should be used as chattel. And they are willing to go to great lengths to retain their power.
Newlywed siren Oriana Paredes has been appointed Ambassador to her home islands now that communication between Northern Portugual and the magical races has been restored. But convincing her people that the new Portuguese Prince’s intentions are honorable after years of persecution is difficult. And her husband, Duilio, faces his own obstacles among the sirens where males are a rare and valuable commodity with few rights.
In addition to their diplomatic mission, the two hope to uncover the truth behind Oriana’s mother’s death. Evidence suggests that Spain—a country that has been known to enslave magical beings—may have infiltrated the siren authority. Unable to leave their post, Oriana and Duilio must call on Inspector Joaquim Tavares to root out the truth.
But even his seer’s gift cannot prepare him for what he will discover.
Available now on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451472918/
THE SHORES OF SPAIN EXCERPT
Oriana currently stood with her back against the wall of the ferry’s cabin, the remainder of the ambassadorial entourage taking up the aft of the upper deck. She wore a pensive expression as she watched the island of Quitos grow more and more distant, her full lips pressed together and her arms folded over her chest. Her burgundy-highlighted hair had been pinned into a coronet of braids, but the two combs emerging from that crown were actually slender knives, a concession to the danger in which she’d stood since their arrival here. The tension in her shoulders had eased once they reached open waters, but hadn’t fled completely.
The four guards accompanying them kept anxious watch on the other travelers crowding the ferry’s upper deck, but the curious passengers seemed willing to keep their distance. Judging by their fine garb and glossy hair, Duilio guessed that most of the sereia he saw there traveled between the two largest islands for reasons of business. A few, like Oriana, wore a vest as well as the pareu, and one elderly woman had on a fine jacket with elaborate blue and yellow embroidery down the plackets. Even so, the majority of the passengers, all female save for a handful of children, only wore the pareu—little more than a length of fabric wrapped about their waist.
Fortunately, the embassy guards were well trained not to stare at the display of bared skin. Their Portuguese uniforms seemed extravagant by comparison to the local mode of dress. The brass-buttoned blue jackets with braid across the chest and lighter blue trousers with a red stripe down each side looked starchy and unapproachable—as did their rifles and sabers. But since they represented the governments of the two Portugals here, the standards of the army must be upheld, even when the locals dressed far less formally.
Duilio glanced down at his bare feet ruefully. His situation was different. He’d agreed to adopt native garb to show that the Portuguese took the customs of the sereia seriously. No one ever mistook him for a sereia male, of course. He lacked gill slits on his neck and webbing between his fingers, both traits that gave the sereia advantages in the water. And his feet were unmistakably human. The sereia had coloring on the lower halves of their bodies that mimicked the scales of a fish—a tuna, actually—so anyone looking downward would immediately know he wasn’t native to these islands.
He’d adapted quickly to wearing the pareu, though, a stark change for someone accustomed to the habitual multilayered dress of a Portuguese gentleman. Despite the afternoon sunshine, a chill came off the water today, so he also wore a black linen vest, the open front embroidered in gold along the edges. It covered most of the Paredes tattoo that ran from over his heart to his left shoulder, but enough of that could be seen to guarantee that any sereia would know he was claimed. Bangles clattered about his ankles, he wore bands of rose gold around his upper arms, and his hair hadn’t been properly cut in half a year now. It hung on his neck in curls. If his old valet, Marcellin, were here, the man would have had an apoplectic fit. It pleased Oriana, though, so Duilio put up with the peculiar attire and overlong hair.
Even so, there were times he honestly missed wearing trousers. He didn’t miss his valet frittering on about every wrinkle and speck of dust, but he missed trousers.
Also available in the Golden City series, THE SEAT OF MAGIC
Magical beings have been banned from the Golden City for decades, though many live there in secret. Now humans and nonhumans alike are in danger as evil stalks the streets, growing more powerful with every kill….
It’s been two weeks since Oriana Paredes was banished from the Golden City. Police consultant Duilio Ferreira, who himself has a talent he must keep secret, can’t escape the feeling that, though she’s supposedly returned home to her people, Oriana is in danger.
Adding to Duilio’s concerns is a string of recent murders in the city. Three victims have already been found, each without a mark upon her body. When a selkie under his brother’s protection goes missing, Duilio fears the killer is also targeting nonhuman prey.
To protect Oriana and uncover the truth, Duilio will have to risk revealing his own identity, put his trust in some unlikely allies, and consult a rare and malevolent text known as The Seat of Magic….
The Seat of Magic Available on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/The-Seat-Magic-Novel-Golden/dp/0451417763
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Cheney is a former teacher and has taught mathematics ranging from 7th grade to Calculus, with a brief stint as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. Her short fiction has been published in Jim Baen’s Universe, Writers of the Future, and Fantasy Magazine, among others, and her novella “Iron Shoes” was a 2010 Nebula Award Finalist. Her novel, The Golden City was a Finalist for the 2014 Locus Awards (Best First Novel). The sequel, The Seat of Magic came out in 2014, and the final book in the series, The Shores of Spain is out now from Roc Trade.
Where to find J. Kathleen and her books:
Website: www.jkathleencheney.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheneyJKathleen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkcheney
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/J.-Kathleen-Cheney/e/B005CRD9W2/
THURSDAY THREADS Welcomes Meda White
Originally posted on There's a Bee in my Bodice:
Title: Play With My HeartGenre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: Sweet to Sensual
Blurb:
Southern musician and closet geek Liz Baker enjoys her quiet life. While in Los Angeles helping her brother with a house project, the simple life gets complicated when British television actor Ian Clarke walks into the picture.
Ian enjoys his celebrity status in Hollywood and is determined nothing and no one will get in the way of his plans for success on the big screen. He never counted on meeting a woman like Liz, but she’s the only one who can help him with a personal problem.
Forced into close quarters where priorities and cultures clash, an intense attraction catches them both by surprise. Secrets, old lovers and the paparazzi threaten their new dreams and a chance for love could be lost forever.
Play With My Heart is a finalist in the 2014 BTS Reader’s Choice Red…
View original 421 more words
July 7, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight Circle of Dreams
Looks at
Circle of Dreams
By
Jane S. Morrissey
Blurb:
Leader of an elite psychic team, Cole Courtland is a shape-shifting wolf with a deep connection to the power of the Earth. His investigation of a string of mysterious murders throws him into the dangerous world of the Quytel and leads him straight to Brianna Doherty’s door. Bri is plagued by vicious nightmares of death and pain that leave her wondering about her own history. When her home is under siege, an enigmatic stranger appears out of nowhere to save her. Thrown together in a tangle of desire and danger, they are pulled deeper into the secretive world of the Quytel, an ancient order charged with maintaining the balance of psychic and paranormal power on earth. Staying one step ahead of those who would destroy them, they struggle to unravel the truth of Bri’s past and her family legacy. As her relationship with Cole grows stronger, the reality of who Bri is threatens to tear them apart.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
Struggling against the confines of the damp bed sheets, which had become wrapped around her long legs during her fitful sleep, Brianna Doherty kicked them off in frustration. The clock on her nightstand read two-thirty. She groaned. Another sleepless night.
She tossed on her robe as she made her way to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she assessed her reflection in the mirror. Her mouth creased into a deliberate grimace. Her large green eyes, slightly bloodshot, stared out at her from a flushed face. Hands shaking, she pulled her long mess of blond hair into a ponytail and took a deep breath in an attempt to steady her racing pulse.
Oh, Bri. Get ahold of yourself, she thought. The nightmare hadn’t visited her yet tonight, but she could feel the aching deep in her subconscious. It was only a matter of time. She snapped off the light reluctantly and made her way through the dimly lit room back to her bed.
“Damn!” she bit out through gritted teeth, as she stubbed her toe on the large wooden trunk at the foot of her bed . . . again. She needed to move the damn thing into another room, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. It had been her mother’s chest and contained the few items she had to remember her by. Inside were several photographs of her parents, a hand-knitted blanket, her mother’s favorite scarf, and a few trinkets she’d been able to collect before she was taken from the house.
Flopping on her back, Bri pushed down the thoughts of her long-dead parents and touched lightly on the nightmare. She tried to think of it as a dream. It had less power that way, but it still frightened her to the core. As a reporter, she’d seen and heard countless horrific and terrifying stories, her scientific mind picking them apart and examining details until the puzzle made sense. The work usually didn’t get to her, but this did. It felt personal. Bone-chilling. Terrifying. It made her want to scream until she lost her mind.
The nightmare had started a few weeks ago, and she was sick of it. For just one night she wanted peace, to rest without dreaming, to wake refreshed and unafraid. She knew that this meant allowing the dream to come without fighting it. And tonight she would do that—but on her terms.
A week earlier, Bri had started diligently researching lucid dreaming—the ability to be consciously aware during a dream. She figured it was the only way she could get to the bottom of what the nightmare was trying to tell her. There was no doubt left in her mind that there was a reason this had started.
According to her research, she needed an object to focus on while she was in the dream, and she’d chosen an old coin that had been in her mother’s things. The image of small horse on one side and what looked like a deity on the other were smooth and worn. Grabbing the object from her nightstand, she laid back, her fluffy pillow not nearly as comforting as it usually was. The coin was cool in the palm of her hand, and her fist curled tightly around it. The uneven metal edges bit into flesh. Closing her eyes, she tried to deepen her shallow breathing. Her heartbeat quickened with apprehension.
The nightmare rushed in with frightening clarity, and she was helpless against it. Paralyzed. Flashes of light filled her mind and senses. Pain ripped through every fiber of her being. She could hear her own scream, high-pitched, blood curdling, and only in her mind. She couldn’t breathe through the panic rising in the back of her throat. She tried to swallow through the constriction and nearly choked. Losing her concentration, Bri was swept into the nightmarish world of overwhelming pain and insidious fear.
Links:
Website: http://www.janemorrissey.com/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttA024rO9eY
Blog: http://www.janemorrissey.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janesmorrissey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13403396.Jane_Morrissey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janemorrisseyofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=jane+s+morrissey
Instagram: https://instagram.com/janesmorrissey/
July 6, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday Revision is a Process
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Here from one of our favorite bloggers is some information about the revision process.
Secrets, Shortcuts, Tips, and Practical Advice on Writing Fiction
Monday, June 1, 2015
June 2015 — Characters Who Matter
#6 Revision is a Process
This is Part 6 of a 12-part series on Revision is a Process @ 2015 All Rights Reserved
There are characters in fiction so real, so palpable, that we can reach out and touch them our whole lives.
— Nancy Kress, DYNAMIC CHARACTERS
So, you wrote your story or novel and now in the revision process, it’s time to look at the most common things that might have
For the rest of the blog go to:
http://writerscheatsheets.blogspot.com/2015/06/june-2015-characters-who-matter.html
July 2, 2015
Friday Feature Iris Wynne The Missing Mah Jongg Player
Welcomes
Iris Wynne
Author or
The Missing Mah Jongg Player
We welcome Iris back today and she is sharing with us the history behind the game of Mah Jongg. A game we know nothing about. So, Iris, where did this game come from?
The History of Mah Jongg.
Mah Jongg precursors’ are centuries old. The North American version of Mah Jongg however dates back about 150 years. A servant of the Chinese emperor in 1846, incorporated the rules of trendy card games and replaced the cards with tiles to create the game of Mah Jongg. The name Mah Jongg means sparrow and pictures of birds are engraved on the tiles.
An American businessman, Joseph Babcock, travelled to China on behalf of the Standard Oil Company in 1912 and brought back the game to North America. He changed the numbers on the tiles to numerals which Americans are familiar with.
Abercrombie and Fitch, then a sporting and goods store, was the first place to sell the game of Mah Jongg to the public.
The rest is history.
Book Blurb:
Five frantic Mah Jongg Players are in search of their missing player when she disappears after meeting a man on an online dating site. They hire a private eye who at first is reluctant to take the case. But the case begins to unravel when lies and betrayal become evident and the truth of what happens to the missing Mah Jongg player becomes clear. Will he be able to find the suspect before they choose another victim?
This is his biggest challenge yet.
Excerpt
He noticed the girl had not taken off her sunglasses. She was slim with dark-brown hair, a pale, thin face, and a nose too big for her small, heart-shaped face. Still, he found her quite attractive. She looked well groomed, and had a long orange and red scarf around her neck with those high boots and skinny pants he observed was the fashion for the last year or so. She looked miserable, though. The older woman was also attractive with blond hair, blue eyes, and an amiable smile. A long black coat enfolded her body.
“I’d offer you coffee but I don’t have any.” For some reason, he felt he had to give an excuse. “My receptionist left a while ago and I haven’t found a replacement.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Harriet said, looking over at Sarah. She was moping, gazing down at her boots. A great help she was.
The PI sat down and started tapping his pen. She felt that she was on a job interview except she was the one with the paycheck. She didn’t know where to start.
She couldn’t help but notice he was very good-looking. He wore blue jeans, a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and was tall and lanky. His eyes, bright blue, smiled directly at you. Killer eyes, they were. His wavy light-brown hair was a little greasy yet that did not take away from his good looks. She tried not to notice his biceps, which were bulging out of his shirt. Later, she would have to talk about him with Sarah, saying how gorgeous he was.
“So why are you here?” he asked.
“A good friend of mine is missing.”
The PI glanced over at the younger woman whose lips started to wobble.
“I also used to play Mah Jongg with her, and she and Sarah helped me open up my cupcake store and make it successful.” Sarah was sniffling now. Could this get any worse? Did Jason have to break up with her now of all times? Sarah had also gotten close with Marilou and both of them had been like a mother to her, sort of a family she really never had. Today, though, she could throttle her.
“My friend has gone missing after meeting a guy online.”
The PI continued to stare at her, waiting. Harriet looked pointedly at his hand. “Aren’t you going to write this down?”
“I’m not sure I’m going to take the case.”
She blinked back at him, feeling her cheeks warm.
“I thought Laurie told you about me?”
“I said I would listen but that’s all I promised.”
Harriet felt her cheeks grow hotter.
BIO
Iris Wynne is a book lover, a day dreamer and a hopeless romantic. She is a writer of cozy mysteries with an element of romance. She is a mother of two girls and in her spare time she dog walks, plays golf in the summer, and of course grabs a game of Mah Jongg whenever she can. The Missing Mah Jongg Player is her book debut.
Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.ca/Missing-Mah-Johngg-Player-ebook/dp/B00XK4FSSW/
http://http://www.iriswynne.com/
Thursday Threads A Journey Home Angela Scavone
Welcomes
A Journey Home
By
Angela Scavone
Genre: Contemporary/Military
Heat Level: Sweet
Book Blurb: Stephanie Tyler’s sole job is to fly overseas to war torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.
But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain “D.A.” Douglas Aston. From the moment Captain D.A. enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while they were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with D.A. even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension.
Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and D.A. must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive.
Social Network Links:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/angela.scavone.52
Twitter https://twitter.com/busterwhyte
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6683076-angela-scavone
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/busterwhyte/
Excerpt:
The phone intercom buzzed and Pam came over the speaker. “Sorry to interrupt, Colonel, but you wanted me to let you know when Captain Aston was here.”
I stared at the Colonel wide-eyed.
He merely smiled and said, “Thanks, Pam. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“He’s here now?” I asked, incredulously.
“Didn’t I mention that?” He rose from his chair and walked to the door as I stood and straightened my uniform.
The Colonel stood with his hand on the doorknob, watching me fuss. “You look tremendous, Captain.”
“What? Oh I don’t care what I look like for him,” I immediately protested, waving my hand in the air.
“Of course.” He was still smiling as he opened the door. “Captain Aston, please come in.”
I heard his voice first. “Thank you, Colonel.”
I glanced down at my uniform to make sure everything was in place before he came into the room. When I looked back up, Captain Aston was walking through the door.
To the female eye, he was a very attractive man. He stood at six-four and was well built, but not so much that muscles and tendons were popping out everywhere. He had a strong jaw and black hair just long enough to run your fingers through. Dressed in full uniform, his handsome features were even more prominent.
Not that I noticed.
“Please come in and we can discuss your new role.”
“Yes, Sir.” Captain DA put out his hand for me to shake, flashing his killer smile that started in his bright blue eyes and ended in a set of mouth-framing dimples. “Good to see you again, Captain.”
I returned his smile and handshake, determined to be professional in front of the Colonel even if it killed me.
Colonel Madison resumed his place behind his desk. “Please sit. This is a quick, informal meeting to get reacquainted with each other.”
I remained on my feet which kept both men standing. “Sir, with all due respect,” I began, facing the Colonel, “I cannot work with Captain Aston.” Apparently, my mouth wasn’t on board with being professional.
“Why not?” DA asked, sounding offended.
I ignored his question and kept my attention on the Colonel, who looked as if he were about to laugh. “We used to be married.”
“I know that.” He smiled.
“Our marriage did not end on a positive note,” I continued, “and I don’t think I can work with him on a day to day basis. In fact, I left Virginia to get away from him.”
“You know, I’m standing right here,” DA chimed in.
“Captain Tyler, are you telling me you can’t put your differences aside to work together as a team? Even though I asked you as a personal favor?” The Colonel’s smile had vanished and there was now a warning in his tone.
“No, Sir.” I heard the warning and decided it was time to back off the fight. “I’ll try putting our differences aside to work together, but I can’t promise I won’t kill him in the process.”
The Colonel coughed out a chuckle. “That’s all I can ask for. Now, you—hopefully—have some time off before another call comes in. Why don’t you show Captain DA around?”
The Colonel spoke as I reached for the door handle. “I’m curious, off the record, of course. How did your marriage end? I remember the wedding. You two seemed so compatible and so in love. What happened?”
DA and I looked at each other for the first time since his arrival.
“He cheated on me with a friend of mine,” I replied baldly.
“I did not cheat on you! How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?” he retorted, all vestiges of professionalism gone.
“Oh, here we go again!” I shouted back. “I came home early, I walked into the kitchen and there was Alex on top of you on the kitchen floor.”
“I told you it wasn’t what it looked like. I have said over and over again that I did not sleep with Alex!” His tone increased until he was shouting, too.
“You’re telling me that you two never slept together?” I demanded an answer.
“Well . . .” He looked away from me. “Not while we were married.”
“I knew it!”
“It was after we were separated and you had moved here! What did you want me to do? Never sleep with anyone again?”
“You can sleep with whomever or whatever you want for all I care—”
“Ahem.” The Colonel cut in. I jerked back, startled; in the heat of arguing with my frustrating ex, I had forgotten my boss was there.
“Sorry, Sir. Do you see why I can’t work with him?”
The Colonel regarded us both. “Alex?” he questioned DA.
“Alexandra Keating, Sir. She was Stephanie’s best friend.”
“Best friend, my left toe! She’s a traitorous, backstabbing, two-faced, lying, husband stealing bitch.”
“Wow, that’s quite descriptive, Captain. Why don’t you tell us your true feelings about her?” Both of the Colonel’s eyebrows rose in shock.
“I’m only speaking the truth, Sir.” I addressed the Colonel but glared at DA.
“Well.” He clapped his hands together to signal the end of our bickering. “I know you two can be respectful when escorting a fallen soldier home and I know you will be professional during the dignified transfer ceremonies. However, please try and be professional at other times as well or at least civil to each other.” He waved us toward the door.
DA and I both nodded and exited the office. Before we could leave the reception area, the Colonel poked his head out of his office door.
“And, Captain Tyler-”
“Sir?”
“Try not to kill him, please. He just arrived at our base and it wouldn’t look good in the press.”
Knowing the Colonel had a wicked sense of humor, I still couldn’t find my own jocularity. “No promises, Sir, But I’ll give it my best shot.”
“That’s all I ask.”
June 30, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight Shines On Carmen Fox
Shines On
Carmen Fox
Author of
Guarded
Carmen writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance with Sassitude.
Her book titled, DIVIDE AND CONQUER, is out now with her newest book, GUARDED, to come out July 31, 2015. You can visit with her at http://www.carmen-fox.com/
Guarded (The Silverton Chronicles, Book 1)
by Carmen Fox
Published by Smart Heart Publishing
Print release: June 26
eBook release: July 31, 2015
Genre: Sexy Urban Fantasy
When everyone’s existence depends on the lies they tell, trust doesn’t come easy.
Ivy’s neighbors have a secret. They aren’t human. But Ivy has a secret, too. She knows. As long as everyone keeps quiet, she’s happy working as a P.I. by day and chillaxing with her BFF Florian, a vampire, by night. When a routine pickup drops her in the middle of a murder, her two worlds collide. While Florian knows how to throw a punch, deep down he’s a softie. His idea of scary? Running out of hair product. It’s time Ivy faced facts. Even with a vampire on stand-by, one gal can only kick so many asses.
For help, she must put her faith in others. A human, who might just be the one. A demon, who will, for a price, open the doors to her heritage. And a werewolf, who wants to protect her from herself.
Torn between these men, Ivy must tread carefully, because one wants her heart, one wants her body, and one wants her dead.
Excerpt:
A shadow peeled off a dark corner and rushed across the road. My thoughts of the unfairness of life lifted, and I smiled. Dressed in his usual muted colors, Florian gave a mock salute. Not even the lack of a California tan detracted from the fact that he was, by all accounts, a handsome devil. But it was his inner qualities that made him my best friend.
I got out and slammed the door shut.
Flo shot me his trademark grin that half begged to be mothered, half promised a naughty night. “Happy birthday, Ivy!”
“Not so far. I think my car’s kaput.” I sent an eyeroll toward the steam escaping the hood.
“Oh?” His forehead puckered. “Let’s see. Did it slug and thud into the drive?” His index finger in his ear, he shook his tilted head, as if to force out some lingering noise. “Check. Is it stinky?” He sniffed the noxious plume surrounding the vehicle. “Check. Broken side view mirror? Check. Well, I can confidently say I notice nothing out of the ordinary.”
“You’re a funny guy, mister. If you’re not too busy doing standup tomorrow night, do you think you could chauffeur me?” I pouted. “I have a work thing, and getting the car fixed might take some time.”
“Aww, come here. Of course I will.” He yanked me into a firm mother-bear hug.
I held tight. His fresh, if powerful, cologne was a scent for sore noses, and I added another couple of gratuitous sniffs. “Thanks. I needed that.”
“I’ll let you get some rest, then. You don’t seem in the mood for a birthday bash. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.” Despite his curious looks at my front door, he knew better than to invite himself in. With a wave, he turned and crossed the road to the large building he and his siblings called home.
I never let anyone enter my house without at least half an hour’s notice. The metal guards on my walls would reveal my secret. And more than anything, my friendship with Florian was based on mutual subterfuge.
He didn’t tell me he was a vampire. And I didn’t tell him I already knew.
About The Author
Carmen lives in the south of England with her beloved tea maker and a stuffed sheep called Fergus. An avid reader since childhood, she caught the writing bug when her Nana asked her to write a story. She also has a law degree, studied physics for a few years, dabbled in marketing and human resources, and speaks native-level German and fluent Geek. Her preferred niches of geekdom are tabletop games, comics, sci-fi and fantasy.
She writes about smart women with sassitude, about pretty cool guys too, and will chase that plot twist, no matter how elusive.
Expect to be kept guessing.
Where to find her:
For details on Carmen’s other work, visit her website at http://www.carmen-fox.com/.
Video Trailer: http://youtu.be/9gEgmHhoABg
Review Trailer: http://youtu.be/rpI5DtqvR8E
Book page: www.carmen-fox.com/guarded
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0993199224/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25668497-guarded
June 29, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday History July 4th
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
History July 4th
Bet You Didn’t Know: Independence Day
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
Variously known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to
For the rest of the blog go to:
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th
