D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 38
July 18, 2017
Night in Jerusalem, an exciting new #historicalromance from @GaelleLKennedy
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Title: NIGHT IN JERUSALEM
Author: Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy
Publisher: PKZ Inc.
Pages: 246
Genre: Historical Romance
Synopsis
A bewitching love story that is also an extraordinary portrait of Jerusalem, its faith, spirituality, identity, and kaleidoscope of clashing beliefs, Night in Jerusalem is a novel of mystery, beauty, historical insight, and sexual passion.
David Bennett is invited to Jerusalem in 1967 by his cousin who, to the alarm of his aristocratic British family, has embraced Judaism. He introduces David to his mentor, Reb Eli, a revered sage in the orthodox community. Despite his resistance to religious teaching, David becomes enthralled by the rabbi’s wisdom and compassionate presence. When David discloses a sexual problem, Reb Eli unwittingly sets off a chain of events that transforms his life and the life of the mysterious prostitute, Tamar, who, in a reprise of an ancient biblical story, leads both men to an astonishing realization. As passions rise, the Six Day War erupts, reshaping the lives of everyone caught up in it.
Grab a copy today!
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Excerpt
David lay awake thinking about Anat. He was intimidated by her sexuality, but also fascinated by her free spirit and daunting intelligence. He had never met anyone like her. He wondered if Jonathan and the others knew she preferred women lovers, and why she had confided in him. He became anxious, thinking perhaps she sensed he had sexual issues and was someone she could easily manipulate.
Earlier, out on the roof, he had asked her why she preferred women. She had answered simply, “For the same reasons you do,” then adding, “I find women more interesting intellectually, as well as sexually.”
Her directness was equal parts frightening and exciting. He wanted to know her better. Perhaps, with her, he could get over his sexual problem. The truth was, he desired her as much as he found her intimidating.
About the Author
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Gaelle Lehrer Kennedy worked as an actress and writer in film and television in the United States and Israel. Night in Jerusalem is her debut novel, which she has adapted to film. She lives in Ojai California with her husband and daughter.
She writes, “I lived in Israel in the 1960s, a naive twenty-year-old, hoping to find myself and my place in the world. The possibility of war was remote to me. I imagined the tensions in the region would somehow be resolved peacefully. Then, the Six Day War erupted and I experienced it firsthand in Jerusalem.
I have drawn Night in Jerusalem from my experiences during that time. The historical events portrayed in the novel are accurate. The characters are based on people I knew in the city. Like me, they were struggling to make sense of their lives, responding to inherited challenges they could not escape that shaped their destiny in ways they and the entire Middle East could not have imagined.
I have always been intrigued by the miraculous. How and where the soul’s journey leads and how it reveals its destiny. How two people who are destined, even under the threat of war and extinction, can find one another.
Israel’s Six Day War is not a fiction; neither was the miracle of its victory. What better time to discover love through intrigue, passion, and the miraculous.
Writing this story was in part reliving my history in Israel, in part a mystical adventure. I am grateful that so many who have read Night In Jerusalem have experienced this as well.”
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Read an #excerpt of Closer Than Yesterday, #mystery #romanticsuspense from @swfrontzauthor
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Closer Than Yesterday
Land’s End Series
Book Three
S.W. Frontz
Genre: mystery, romantic suspense
Date of Publication: April 21, 2017
ISBN: 978-1544728582
ASIN: B071RHTWSL
Number of pages: 206
Word Count: 62,212
Cover Artist: S.W. Frontz
Book Description:
Samantha Patrick’s cousin Sarah has lived with an abusive husband for thirty years. After a brutal attack, she finally finds the courage to leave. Sarah goes to Land’s End looking for safety and comfort with her family on this small, idyllic island but the horror is not over yet. Someone is stalking Sarah. Is it the abusive husband or someone else? Will Land’s End be the place where Sarah finds new life, or it will be where it ends?
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Excerpt
Prologue
Johnson City, TN April 25, 2016
Leslie Jennings carefully folded the last of her husband’s shirts and zipped up the suitcase. She picked it up, struggling as she did. Leslie was only 5’2, and very slim. The suitcase was almost as big as she. Leslie managed to get it to the floor, where she raised the handle and rolled it to the top of the stairs. Now she had to get it downstairs without making too much noise. Carter would accuse her of trying to destroy his Louis Vuitton luggage. After ten minutes of pulling the luggage down one stair at a time, Leslie finally rolled it to the front door. She ran quickly back upstairs and grabbed his garment bag. She had already packed this and she hurried back downstairs.
She was waiting by the luggage when Carter came downstairs, his briefcase hanging from his shoulder. He was dressed in a sharp gray suit, white dress shirt, and patterned gray tie. Leslie studied him while he glanced through his phone. Carter was of average height, with graying brown hair and eyes. He had sharp features and rarely smiled. His only pleasure was making a sale. He owned a real estate company and it was very successful. They had been married for thirty years and they had no children.
Carter didn’t like kids, so they didn’t have any. He glanced up from his phone and gave Leslie the once-over. She was wearing her scrubs, ready to go to work at the hospital after she dropped Carter off at the airport. She worked the seven p.m. to seven a.m. shift when he was gone on business trips. He thought if she worked at night, she wouldn’t be out doing anything else. She didn’t know why it mattered if she was seeing anyone or not.
He was not the affectionate type and most of the time he acted like he hated Leslie. It wasn’t an issue anyway, Leslie didn’t go anywhere outside of work and her grandmother’s house. The only people she talked to were her co-workers and her grandmother Jody. Carter didn’t allow her to socialize with anyone other than someone he approved, and he didn’t approve of anyone. “Looks like you’re ready to go. Is this all my stuff?”
Carter waved his hand over the luggage. Leslie nodded. “Yes, that’s it. I packed everything you had on the list.” Carter picked up his garment bag and gestured for Leslie to get his suitcase. She picked it up and carried it to the car waiting right outside the door in their driveway that curved around the front of the house. She couldn’t roll it; Carter would get upset. She managed to get it in the trunk of his Mercedes. He got in the driver’s side and Leslie in the passenger side. Silently they drove out of the subdivision.
Carter finally spoke when they had gotten to the highway. “Tell me your schedule,” he commanded. “After I drop you off, I’m going home to get my car. I’ll put yours in the garage. Then, I’m going to Jody’s to fix her supper, then I’m off to work. I work the night shift. I get off at seven a.m. I’ll go back to Jody’s and fix her breakfast, then home for a few hours of sleep. Then I’ll get up and complete the to-do list that you made.”
Carter nodded in satisfaction. “Very good. I approve.” Leslie stared out the window. How she would love to hit him right in his arrogant face.
Well, that was all going to change tonight. When she finally made it to work tonight, she was going to leave her cell there. Carter had a tracking app on it. She had already spoken to her supervisor and he had promised that he would help Leslie in any way that he could.
Leslie was going to get on a Greyhound bus tonight and start her journey away from Carter. She had been saving money for months, a little at a time and squirreling it away at Jody’s. She would go get the money and see Jody one more time. After that, she was going to leave her car at the bus terminal and take the bus to Memphis, rest, get on another bus to New Orleans, and slowly make her way around the southeast coast to a little island town in North Carolina called Land’s End.
Leslie had heard Jody talk about the little town for years. Leslie’s first cousin, Samantha, lived there with her husband, Andy, who was also the sheriff of the town. Samantha had never contacted Jody, but through the internet, Leslie had been able to track them down for Jody. Even though she knew where they were, Jody wouldn’t contact her. She was waiting for Samantha to come to her. She knew what Samantha had been through, and Jody didn’t want to bring back sad memories to Samantha until she was ready. Leslie thought it was a good a place as any to start over. Maybe she and Samantha could become friends. Carter didn’t know about Samantha. Jody had quite a bit of money and owned a large historical home.
Carter thought that Leslie was going to inherit all of it. He didn’t mind if Leslie took care of Jody, in fact, he insisted that she go there before and after work. If he knew that there was someone else to split the inheritance with, he would be very angry with Leslie, even though it wasn’t her fault. Leslie was tired of being the recipient of his anger. When they first married, she wasn’t aware of his violent temper or that he was a control freak. She thought that the reason he watched her every move and told her what to wear, who to be friends with, etc., was because he cared about her.
Her parents had died when Leslie was ten. Her grandmother had taken her in and raised her. Leslie loved Jody, but she had missed her parents, especially her father terribly. That was one of the things that had attracted her to Carter. He was several years older than she was. He owned his own business, home and he was very settled and mature for a man in his early thirties.
The first time she did something he didn’t approve of they had been married for a year. He had backhanded her and bruised her cheek so badly that she had to wear pancake makeup for over a week. It took her while to figure out what set him off, but over the years she had managed to get into his routine and kept herself from getting hurt.
They were getting close to the airport and Carter started droning out instructions to her. She could recite what he was telling her in her sleep; but she answered him in the way he liked for her to respond. No sense in getting him upset. It was so close for time for her to leave; she could deal with him for a few more minutes. He pulled up in front of the doors in the unloading zone. Leslie got out and waited for him to open the trunk. She handed him his garment bag, then pulled his suitcase out. He took the handle from her. “I’ve got it from here. Get my car home and put away. I will see you in a week.”
Without any further words, he went inside the terminal and Leslie got in to drive his car home. He had always told her that he would kill her if she left. When she had celebrated her 55th birthday in January, Leslie had known that this year was the year she had to leave. Living like this was killing her, and she deserved a chance for happiness sometime in her life.
About the Author:
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S.W. Frontz is the author of the Land’s End Series, which includes: When the Morning Comes, Don’t Look Back, and Closer Than Yesterday. S.W. is a native of Charlotte, NC but was raised in East Tennessee, where she still resides with her husband, Rusty, of 21 years, and their furbaby, Mandy.
S.W. has been an avid reader since a child. Her favorite genres are mystery, suspense, and Southern humor. Favorite authors include John Sanford, Erica Spindler, Karen Robards, Lee Childs, James Lee Burke, and Fannie Flagg.
S.W plans on continuing the Land’s End Series, at least for a few more books. Book four is in the first draft stage.
S.W. is a nominee for the 2017 Top Female Author and a member of the Southeastern Writer’s Association.
https://www.facebook.com/swfrontzauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/TheLandsEndSeries/
https://twitter.com/swfrontzauthor
https://www.instagram.com/s.frontzauthor/
https://www.swfrontzauthor.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/sfrontz/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/103970886480515076244
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220622.S_W_Frontz
https://www.amazon.com/S-W-Frontz/e/B01EXT55NA/
Tour giveaway
5 signed paperback copies of Closer Than Yesterday – 1 $10 amazon gift card will be hidden in one of those five copies (US only) and maybe another surprise or two.
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July 17, 2017
Spotlight on Two Hundred Very Short Stories #shortstory from @helenkeeling #excerpt
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Title: Two Hundred Very Short Stories
Author: Helen Keeling-Marston
Genre: Collection of very short stories, covering a wide variety of genres
Published: 1st June 2017
Synopsis
Two Hundred Very Short Stories is a collection of stories each so short that the reader can start…and finish…a whole one in one night – some even in a minute! Recognising that many people don’t have enough time for regular reading and thus can easily lose the thread of a novel, Helen Keeling-Marston set about writing a collection of short stories. Two Hundred Very Short Stories – Helen’s first book – features an eclectic mix of short stories and flash fiction which cover a wide range of genres. Be warned, however, that you need to have your wits about you when reading this book, as Two Hundred Very Short Stories isn’t always a passive experience. As an example, one of the stories needs to be read with the aid of a mirror!
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Excerpt
Cynicism kills magic and so, whilst the children all knew that I existed, their parents didn’t. And so the parents would pretend to be me. But they never did it very well.
Nine-year-old Flora carefully placed the molar underneath her pillow and then quickly fell asleep. A couple of hours later, her father crept into her room, lifted her pillow and exchanged the tooth for a pound coin. As he left her room and closed her door, I flew in, took the pound coin and swapped it for a piece of enchanted plastic that would glow for a good few hours.
When Flora woke up the next morning, she peeled back her pillow and gasped when she saw the glowing disc. She took it to her money box and posted it through the slit.
“Did the tooth fairy leave you anything?” asked Flora’s mum, as they all sat down to breakfast that morning.
“She did,” said Flora, her eyes glowing like the disc. “She left me a coin that sparkled with fairy dust.”
As Flora’s parents exchanged bemused, cynical glances, I counted how much money I’d made that evening.
I never said that magic had to be used for good.
About the Author
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Helen Keeling-Marston was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1980. After studying for a maths degree at the University of Bath, she moved to Hampshire and began a career as an analyst. In addition to Helen’s number crunching, she has set up, and runs, a UK sports charity, she writes articles for women’s sports magazines and she dabbles in classical composing and creative writing.
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July 16, 2017
Read an excerpt of The Soldier’s Seduction, #romanticsuspense from @JaneGodman @pumpupyourbook
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Title: THE SOLDIER’S SEDUCTION
Author: Jane Godman
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 288
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Synopsis
From the front lines to unexpected romance—and danger—in small-town Wyoming
After a war zone bomb nearly destroyed Bryce Delaney, he’s worked hard to hide his scars. Back in his Wyoming hometown, he can pretend the nightmares don’t exist. But when a secretive, beautiful new woman in town disappears, Bryce’s protective instincts put him on the front lines again.
Wanted for murder and on the run under an alias, former A-list actress Steffi Grantham can’t return to her life until she clears her name. It’s her boss, Bryce, to the rescue, but desire ties them together, and she’s forced to make a choice that could cost them both. Trusting the wrong man once before almost stole her freedom. Now it might take her life.
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Excerpt
Bryce’s laugh vibrated through her body. “Has anyone ever told you that you are the most stubborn person in the whole world?”
“Apart from you?”
“Apart from me.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Your family? I’d like to meet them.”
You never will. The thought jerked her back into reality. “I’ll be fine now, Bryce. You can go. Thanks for your help.”
“Yeah, like that’s going to happen.” The sarcasm in his voice was withering. “I’m just going to walk out of here and leave you when you can’t even crawl to your own bed.”
“You don’t have any choice. I don’t want you here.” With a determined effort, Steffi pushed herself away from him and tried to sit up straight. It was a mistake. Behind the tinted lenses, the edges of her vision went black. Everything swam out of focus. She heard Bryce call her name in alarm, and the last thing she felt was his strong arms catching her as she fell back onto the pillows.
About the Author
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Jane Godman writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne and SMP Romance, thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and steamy historical and gothic romance.
Jane also writes erotic romance as Amanda Stewart.
Her latest book is the romantic suspense, The Soldier’s Seduction.
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July 14, 2017
Why my enthusiasm to help you turned into grumpiness (and this ranting blog post) #AuthorMarketing #Rant
[image error]I’m a sincere believer in ‘pass it forward’. I can’t even count the number of book bloggers who have had my back with doing promotions and writing reviews for my books. Some of them have been with me from the beginning when I had no clue what I was doing and stuck with me through my dangerously steep learning curve.
I like to pass this forward by helping other indie writers out there. I mostly help self-published authors because I know how difficult it is to get the word out there. Like me, many of them are climbing that steep learning curve in figuring out how to market their books. I try to lend a hand up, but sometimes I want to let go and watch them fall – preferably while screaming. That’s right, folks. It’s rant time.
Here are some examples of why I would gladly let go of a writer’s hand and gleefully watch them curse me out as they tumble to the ground:
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No sharing. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million gazillion times, if I spend the time to blog about your writing, you should at least stop by the blog and say hi! At a minimum. A like and a share would be preferred. I’m doing you a favor here, but I can’t do it all!
Can’t accept no for an answer. This is another of my pet peeves I’ve complained about way too much. There is a reason I’ve told you I can’t review your book. You should be happy I even responded. I offer almost every writer whose book I chose not to review an author spotlight. Can you not be happy with that instead of whining about me reviewing your book?
False bragging rights. Please, please don’t tell me you are a bestselling author when I can look on Amazon my dang self and see your book is ranked at 1,000,000th. Just because your book hit the top 20 on Amazon for one freaking day two years ago doesn’t make you a bestselling author. And I’m not very impressed if you’re #10 in a category that has twenty books. Do you think I’m stupid?
Cheap giveaway. I’m very much aware of how expensive it is to market your books. Pfff… I am down with that. BUT that doesn’t mean your giveaway should be cheap. And by cheap I’m talking giving away an ecopy of your own book. Seriously? What’s that costing you? Nothing? A dollar? Come on, that’s just pathetic. And we all know you’d give away a gazillion of those ebooks if you could get some decent reviews.
Inability to follow directions. I am not a professional blogger. I’m not earning any money with this. I do this in addition to the 10,000 other things I do a day. So, have a little respect and follow my guidelines when sending me materials for a book spotlight. I don’t need to be spending my valuable time formatting blog posts because you couldn’t be bothered to follow directions.
Failure to follow back. This peeves me. You are a brand spanking new author and yet you can’t bother to follow me on Twitter where I’m promoting your work? Grrrr….
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July 13, 2017
5 Things You Didn’t Know About #AwesomeAmazonAuthor @MsFelicia #Giveaway
Feel like you know me better now? YAAY!
And the Mel Gibson-thing? True story… only it was more of damn-near-knocked-him-down!
I was rushing back to work after lunch, hands full with handbag, coffee mug, and book. I bumped the counter-gate which led into the inner-office with my hips and sort of… spun through the gate.
Guess who was on the other side? OOPS!
I apologized and headed for the lounge but was caught off-guard by every woman in the office running towards me.
Office excitement – YES!
When I asked what was going on, it was my dear, dear friend and coworker, Rosalind, who responded, “Fool! You and those hips of yours just almost knocked down Mel Gibson!” (Rosalind had such a way with words.)
I glanced back over my shoulder and it was indeed Mel Gibson… still standing near the counter-gate. I’m not one to be easily embarrassed, but when he threw me a tiny three-fingered wave, it was all over. I ran to the lounge and stayed there until he left the office.
Of course, it was wise, old, office sage, Rosalind, who sought me out.
“What do you have to say for yourself, troublemaker?”
“He’s short.” (I couldn’t help myself!)
There! that’s the whole story that’s fit to print!
~~~~~~~~~~
My #AwesomeAmazonAuthor friends and I had so much fun with our June giveaway, we’re doing it again only this time it’s 5 Authors – 5 Follows – 5 Days on our Goodreads pages! Today is the LAST day to enter and tomorrow one lucky winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Will it be you?
You can’t win if you don’t ——->ENTER!
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Read an excerpt of Boardwalk Summer #contemporaryromance from Kimberly Fisk @pumpupyourbook
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Title: BOARDWALK SUMMER
Author: Kimberly Fisk
Publisher: Berkley/Penguin
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis
In the town of Tranquility Bay, summer is the season of second chances… Single mother Hope Thompson has built a happy life for herself and her twins in beautiful Tranquility Bay, Washington. She doesn’t dwell on her painful past—especially not on the man who broke her heart all those years ago. But when Hope’s beloved son needs help, she takes a desperate chance and reaches out to her children’s father. Nick Fortune lives life in the spotlight as a champion race car driver. He’s shocked to hear from Hope and even more surprised to learn that he’s a father. He immediately heads to the Pacific Northwest to confront the past—and the woman he once loved. There, on the quiet lakeshore, Nick and Hope must work together to save their son—even if it means facing their complicated past—for a second chance as a family.
PRAISE FOR BOARDWALK SUMMER
“It was late. I only meant to take a peek but ended up reading BOARDWALK SUMMER in one delicious gulp, and I’m still thinking about the characters. A terrific read. Page turning and deeply emotional. You’ll fall in love with these characters who have so much at stake. Highly recommended.” Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Grab a copy!
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Excerpt
The phone felt heavy in Hope Thompson’s hand. She traced the buttons, unconsciously pausing at the numbers that would soon connect her to a voice she hadn’t heard in nearly sixteen years.
She thought about shutting herself away in a closet. Maybe then, if she was hidden with only darkness surrounding her, this call wouldn’t be so hard to make. But Hope knew darkness did not shut out memories—if anything, it enhanced them, becoming a large ebony canvas that allowed them to play over and over in her mind until sleep was impossible.
She reached for her cup of tea on the end table next to the sofa and took a sip. It was cold. She was halfway off the couch to reheat it before she stopped. Stalling. That was what she was doing. She sat back down, grabbed the phone, and dialed quickly before she lost her nerve.
“Hello?”
Hope’s grip tightened. Sixteen years. It had been sixteen years since she’d heard her mother’s voice, but it felt as if it were yesterday. “Hello, Mo—Claire.”
There was a long pause and then, “Charlotte, is that you?”
A pain settled in Hope’s chest. Why had she believed her mother would recognize her? “No. It’s me. Hope.”
A faint crinkling drifted across the phone line, and Hope knew it was her mother shifting positions on the sofa’s plastic protector. “Hope?”
“I know, Claire. It’s been a long time.”
After so many years, there should have been a thousand things they had to say to each other. A million tiny details that had filled their lives and the lives of the two grandchildren her mother had never wanted to meet. Instead, Hope didn’t know where to begin—what to say. Should she start with: Your grandchildren’s names are Joshua and Susan, and they are bright and beautiful and make me so proud every day. Or: They will be sixteen in a few months, and they can’t wait to get their drivers’ licenses. Joshua loves football, music, and cars. He has his first steady girlfriend, and I don’t know if that makes me happy or scared. And Susan. She’s everything I wish I could be. She’s confident and smart and funny. She was elected class president, and captain of her soccer team for the second year in a row.
But Hope knew what she should tell her mom was the complete truth: My whole life is about to fall apart for the second time and this time I need you. We need you. Please don’t send us away again.
She was thirty-two years old and still she hesitated, not wanting to face the rejection she knew she’d hear in her mother’s voice. So instead, she heard herself asking, “How have you been?”
“Been good. Been real good except for my garden. With this terrible heat spell we’ve been going through, I should have mulched, that’s what I should’ve done. Sue Ellen down at the Piggly Wiggly told me she was going to mulch but I thought for sure I wouldn’t need to. I got an air conditioner last week. You got one?”
An air conditioner. After all these years, her mother wanted to know if she owned an air conditioner. “No, I don’t.”
“Well, don’t suppose you’d have much use for one up there in the Pacific Northwest. Not with all that rain. Never could understand why anyone would choose to live in a place that rained nine months out of the year.”
“I didn’t choose.”
Claire ignored Hope’s comment, as she had with anything she found unpleasant. “Well now.”
Why had she even bothered to hope that her mother had changed? That small crack in her heart—the old hurt that would never completely heal—wedged open a fraction more. “Aren’t you going to ask about your grandchildren?”
There was a long pause. “My show just got over, Hope. I need to go. If I don’t leave right after the third hymn, I’ll be late to the committee meeting. I made my special pineapple rum cake, though I didn’t add the rum because Pastor Gilbert may stop by. I don’t believe he’d take kindly to us ladies consuming outside of the sacramental wine.”
“Their names are Joshua and Susan.”
“I have to go, Hope.”
“Wait.” Hope closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Please, Mama, I need your help.”
A soft whoosh of air filled the earpiece. “My help?” Another pause. “Well, Hope Marie, you’re a big girl now. I don’t see how I can be of any help. I thought you were doing just fine up there in Washington.”
“We’re not fine.” Hope could feel her entire life crumbling away like a dry sand castle. “My son has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. The doctors told us our best hope for a match is with a family member.”
Silence filled the phone lines. “Leukemia? I always knew something like this would happen. Didn’t I tell you?”
You keep that baby, Hope Marie, and something bad will happen. You just wait and see. Should have named you Hopeless because that’s what you are—hopeless.
Hope wasn’t seventeen anymore; this time she wasn’t going to let her mother refuse to help.
“What about your other one?” her mother asked. “His sister? Being twins and all, wouldn’t she do?”
Hope swallowed, praying the bitter taste in the back of her throat would go away. “Susan and I aren’t a match.” Did her mother really think Hope wouldn’t have explored every other option before contacting her?
“Well, I just don’t see how I can be of any help. I’m not much for doctors. I couldn’t even go and see Pastor Gilbert’s wife before she passed away, God rest her soul. All those smells and sick people. Really, Hope, you know how they affect me. Besides, don’t they have radiation or something for this? When Hester Pritchett’s second cousin down in Alabama got the cancer, they did something that fixed her right up. I do believe Hester said she lost all her hair but really, Hope, she didn’t go asking her relatives for help. No, I don’t see how I can be of any help.”
Hope gripped the phone so tight she was surprised it didn’t shatter. She kept her voice deadly calm, knowing it was the only way to deal with Claire Montgomery. “Joshua has had chemotherapy, Mother. It didn’t work.”
“Maybe you aren’t taking that boy to the right doctors.”
“My son’s name is Joshua and I have taken him to the very best doctors.”
“There’s no need for that tone with me. All I was saying, maybe you should take him to one of those specialists.”
“We’ve seen the specialists. And they agree that what my son needs is a bone marrow transplant.”
Her mother could ignore Hope all she wanted. She could continue to pretend to her church friends that her only child hadn’t gotten pregnant at seventeen but instead had graduated early and received a full scholarship to some college far, far away. She could go on living that lie, but if she thought for one moment Hope would let her refuse to help her grandson, she was mistaken.
“I still don’t know why you’re calling me when you should be calling that man.”
“What man, Mom?”
An impatient grunt came across the line. “Their father, that’s who. Call him.”
Their father.
For just a moment Hope’s heart ached. “I need all of Joshua’s relatives to be tested. The initial test to see if you are a match is simple. All you have to do is go to your doctor and explain what you need done. I can call him, or I can have Joshua’s doctor call and explain if that would be easier.”
“This is not a problem that concerns Dr. Brown.”
Hope sighed tiredly. “I thought you might feel that way. Joshua’s doctor gave me the name and number of a colleague in St. Paul. Call him, please, and set up an appointment as soon as you can. I will arrange for a taxi to take you.” Hope gave her mother the doctor’s name and telephone number.
“How much will this cost?”
“Don’t worry about the money. If your insurance doesn’t cover it or even if you don’t want to submit the claim, I’ll pay for it. It won’t cost you a cent to see if you can save your grandson.”
Hope had no idea where she’d come up with the money, but she’d find it somehow.
“You know I live on a fixed income. My question isn’t a bit out of line.”
“I know, Mama. I know.”
A heartbeat of silence filled the air. And then another. Enough time to say I’ve missed you or I love you.
When it became apparent her mother wasn’t going to say anything else, Hope said, “Call the doctor—”
The other end of the phone disconnected before Hope could finish.
About the Author
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A past recipient of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award, Kimberly Fisk is the bestselling author of Lake Magic. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three children, and too many four-legged critters to count.
Her latest book is the contemporary romance, Boardwalk Summer.
July 12, 2017
Launch Party Mega Blitz! Lots to Read and Lots to Win #Giveaway
Blitz #1
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The Old Man at the End of the World by A.K. Silversmith
Genre: Short Story/ Comedy-Horror/ Zombies/ Parody
Release Date: February 16, 2017
Blurb:
THE GOOD LIFE meets DOUGLAS ADAMS meets SHAUN OF THE DEAD! – Dave F, Amazon
Gerald Stockwell-Poulter couldn’t help but feel it was extraordinary just how quickly his life had changed. One moment he was earthing up leeks in the West Sussex sunshine and the next he was rooted to the spot as Rodney Timmins from the end allotment ambled towards him, arms outstretched, blood pouring from a hole in his neck and a look in his eye which suggested that he was less after help and more after a helping of Gerald.
Now, as Gerald’s life takes a quick turn for the worse, he must do things he has never done before. After 87 largely well-behaved years as a model citizen, less than four hours into the ‘zompocalypse’ and he has already killed a neighbour, rescued a moody millennial drug dealer and forged an unlikely allegiance with a giant ginger Scotsman. And it isn’t even tea time.
Join Gerald as he and his newfound allies navigate the post-apocalyptic English countryside in their hilarious bid to stay off the menu.
Grab a copy → Amazon
Add to Goodreads → Here
About the Author
AK Silversmith is the author of The Old Man at the End of the World; a series of zombie apocalypse Bites centering on the world of 87-year-old Gerald Stockwell-Poulter.
Bite 2 is coming soon…
She was born in Tasmania in 1983 and now lives in western Ireland where the weather is similar but the zombies are still absent.
I have also put an author interview on my site if anyone is interested in more info.
Stalk the author → website
Blitz #2
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Roadside by Angie Dokos
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Romance
Release Date: May 6, 2017
Blurb:
Roadside blurb: Zayne finds Serena’s lifeless body off the side of the road one morning. She has been beaten and left for dead. As she recovers, they become the best of friends. It doesn’t take long for Zayne’s feelings to grow stronger. Will the fear of ruining their friendship keep them from taking a chance on love?
Grab a copy → Amazon
Add to Goodreads → here
About the Author
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Angie Dokos was born a reader and grew to be a writer. Okay, so the reading took a few years, but in the meantime, she was having someone else read to her. She enjoys hiking and loves to travel. She currently lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her husband and children.
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Blog ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author Page
Giveaway
signed paperback for US residents and a kindle version for international
Blitz #3
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Seven Hours: Challenge Accepted by Angelina Kerner
Release Date: July 31, 2016
Genre: Chick-lit/women’s fiction
Blurb:
One pill every 7 hours. That could be all it takes to give Chanel the chance to finally see the world around her.
Chanel is an independent 19-year-old, despite what her overprotective mother and senator father may think. Being the daughter of a Senator comes with its own problems, one simple afternoon out with friends becomes overwhelming when they’re swarmed by reporters.
Keeping the secret of the experimental treatment close to her chest, she is able to fool everyone but her hawkeyed bodyguard, Leon, that has now been assigned to protect her.
Chanel doesn’t want a bodyguard, but will she get more than she bargained for?
Grab a copy!
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo
About the Author
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Angelina Kerner, a Pisces, was born during the Chinese astrological year of the Snake, which she absolutely adores. Angelina loves snakes, and was once allowed to feed one a rat. That was an experience of a lifetime.
She moved around during her young years from Novosibirsk to Kaluga in Russia. Finally settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, her teenage years were spent dancing in troupes and performing on stage. The dances ranged from waltz to tango, from Jewish to Russian, and finally belly dance. She was accepted into six out of seven universities, and decided to stay close to her family. Angelina pursued a psychology degree until she saw graduates working for Starbucks and then decided to pursue another career path in the department of Social Sciences. The difficult coursework, her job, and finding her life partner inspired her to turn to writing which, at the time, wasn’t so much a hobby as a way to escape daily routine.
She worked on countless stories, never really finishing them, but came to understand that flash fiction wasn’t for her. After finding an online community where she met her best friend, her writing flourished, making publication a possible next step. She is now the author of Deity’s Soulmate, a fantasy novel for 18 and over, and of Seven Hours: Challenge Accepted, a chick-lit novella where the main character is disabled. She aspires to publish her other fantasy and crime fiction works soon. Her next project involves a competition for a beautiful phoenix. That novel will, hopefully, make its debut in 2018.
Angelina currently divides her time between her family, work, writing, and a lot of cats. She is also a new mother!
Visit her website at http://www.kernerangelina.com and her blog at http://www.kernerangelina.live
Stalk the author!
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads
Giveaway!
3 kindle copies
Blitz #4
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Quincey Wolfe’s Glass Vault by Candace Robinson (Glass Vault #1)
Genre: YA/ Horror/ Fantasy/ Retelling
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Blurb:
Some see it… Some don’t…
People in the town of Deer Park, Texas are vanishing. There is a strange museum, known as Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, that appears overnight. Perrie Madeline’s best friend and ex-boyfriend are among the missing. Perrie, along with her friend August, go on a pursuit to search for them in the mysterious museum. Could the elusive Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault have anything to do with their disappearances?
A book that intertwines horror elements and retellings, with humor and darkness
Grab a copy!
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads → Here
About the Author
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Her name is Candace Robinson, obviously. She’s just your average hemiplegic migraine sufferer. Her days are spent writing, book reviewing and traveling through books. She lives just outside of Houston, Texas with her husband and daughter, where it feels like the hottest place on Earth with the crazy weather. No, seriously, one day it’s 30 degrees and the next it’s 70 degrees! She is also the author of Hearts Are Like Balloons.
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Giveaway
$10 Amazon Card & Digital Copy
Blitz #5
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Aggravated Momentum by Didi Oviatt
Genre: Thriller/ Suspense/ Murder Mystery/ Mature 18+
Release Date: September 12, 2016
Blurb:
Not everything is as it seems in what appears to be an average family. When danger lurks so close to home, skeletons emerge, and the darkest of secrets surface, causing twisted desires to become reality. Aggravated Momentum offers the perspective of some very diverse and unique characters, including fun, witty personalities to fall in love with, along with an intellectual killer to die for. You may be surprised as to whom exactly you can relate. Is it the cold, calculated murderer, who’s name is yet to be revealed? Markie or Kam, the independent sisters, guilty of nothing more than getting tangled with the wrong people at the most inopportune times? Or, the cowardly snake curled in a hidden corner? Who are you, exactly? And, more importantly, who are they? The deeper you dig into the psyche of another, the more breath taking are the secrets you will find.
Grab a copy!
Amazon
Add to Goodreads → Here
About the Author
Didi Oviatt is a small town gal who married a small town guy. Within a few years of experiencing a new families bliss, she discovered that she had a thirst to write. Now, after digging down deep and getting in touch with her literary self, she’s writing mystery/thrillers like Search For Maylee(coming soon), Aggravated Momentum, The Stix, and New Age Lamians. Along with a six piece short story collection called the Time Wasters.
And don’t fret: there are two more Lamian novels in the works.
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Website ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Giveaway
1 Signed Print, 2 digital copies
Blitz #6
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Deadman’s Tome: Monsters Exist by Theresa Braun & Mr. Deadman
Genre: Horror Anthology/ Short Stories
Release Date: July 1, 2017
Blurb:
From the time we are young, we fear the monster under the bed or in the closet, making it impossible to sleep without a nightlight. Then, we hear stories of Bigfoot, and maybe even the Mothman around campfires. When we are adults, we wonder if there might actually be supernatural creatures lurking in the shadows. Are these tall tales and urban legends only metaphors for what horrific things humanity is capable of—or do monsters exist?
Go to some terrifying places with this cast of authors. You will be dragged into mystifying realities where demonic fairies hide, where devil monkeys lure carnival-goers to their demise, where Goatmen seek to destroy their prey, and where the goddess of death puts out a hit on victims of her choice. These shocking tales will have you biting your nails and locating that childhood nightlight. Because, in the end, we all know monsters do exist.
Grab a copy!
Amazon
Add to Goodreads → here
Author Information: Theresa Braun & Mr. Deadman
Wallace Boothill ~ Theresa Braun ~ S.J. Budd ~ Gary Buller ~ S.E. Casey ~ Mr. Deadman ~ Calvin Demmer ~ Philip Kleaver ~ Sylvia Mann ~ W.C. Marchese ~ John Palisano ~ Christopher Powers ~ Leo X. Robertson ~ M.R. Tapia
Giveaway
4 Digital Copies of “Deadman’s Tome: Monsters Exist”
Blitz-Wide Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
July 11, 2017
Read an excerpt of Engaged in trouble, a #cozymystery from @JenBJones #giveaway
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Title: Engaged in Trouble
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Genre: Cozy Mystery, 1st in Series
Published: March 30, 2017
~ Synopsis ~
When a washed-up pop star inherits a wedding planning business, it’s all bouquets and bliss until a bride turns up dead.
Paisley Sutton shot to stardom as a teenage rock sensation, but ten years later that star has fizzled out, just like her bank account. When she unexpectedly inherits her aunt’s wedding planning business, Paisley leaves the glamour of Los Angeles for a charming small town in Arkansas. Thinking she’ll arrive in Sugar Creek and liquidate the moldly property, Paisley’s shocked to find Enchanted Events has experienced a major makeover and is now the place for brides. She’s got two months to keep Enchanted Events afloat if she wants to sell and rekindle her music career with the profits.
Paisley’s tossed into a world of vows and venues, but her most difficult challenge comes in the form of one demanding bride. When this Bridezilla’s found facedown in her cake, all fingers point to Paisley as the prime murder suspect. And she does not look good in prison orange.
This former pop princess will need the help of her gun-toting, ex-CIA grandmother and her handsome neighbor, Beau Hudson, to unravel the mystery and clear her good name. As she and her unruly posse dig into Bridezilla’s life, she discovers the woman had a long list of enemies. The closer Paisley gets to the truth, the more her own life is in danger.
Love is in the air this wedding season, but before Paisley can help the ladies of Sugar Creek say, “I do,” she’s got to unveil a killer. Or find herself the next target.
Engaged in Trouble is the first book in the long-awaited Enchanted Events cozy mystery series by award-winning author Jenny B. Jones. If you like laugh-out-loud adventures, small-town romance, unforgettable, sassy characters, and a mystery to keep you guessing, then you’ll love this new page-turning series.
Grab a copy
~ About Readers are Saying ~
Funny and fast-fast paced, this is a great cozy. ~The Book’s the Thing
Engaged in Trouble was a super fun and quirky cozy mystery! The story/plot fast paced full of twists and turns and surprises that kept this reader captivated from the very beginning. ~My Reading Journeys
This book is a combo of chick lit and cozy mystery. Humor is spread throughout the book with mystery and a touch of romance. It’s a quick read with “laugh-out-loud” fun. ~Socrates’ Book Reviews…
~ Excerpt ~
In Engaged in Trouble, Paisley Sutton, gets a bit of good luck—inheriting her great-aunt’s musty, dusty wedding planning business. But in true Paisley form, bad luck soon follows—stumbling upon a dead customer. I thought I’d share chapter from from the novel so we could peek in on Paisley just as everything’s about to fall apart…
“The witching hour begins at noon today.” Henry handed me a coffee as soon as I entered his office the next morning.
I inhaled the comforting scent and took my first sip. “Do I even want to know what you’re talking about?”
“Sasha Chandler. She has a twelve o’clock appointment for her cake tasting. The Measuring Cup Bakery brings samples daily, so our brides can taste test here. ”
“Two days in a row of this WBE (worst bride ever). Are you sure you’re not trying to run me off?”
“The town is abuzz of your throwdown with Evan Holbrook yesterday.”
“Discussion. We merely had a discussion.” A very loud one. In which I did all the talking.
“Well, the newspaper’s already called for a statement, so back off on the public meltdowns during company hours, okay? I did not deliver this place from a ‘granny’s scary basement’ reputation to see it transcend into a ‘Jerry Springer’s loudest episode’ reputation. Am I clear? This is a business, not a reality show.”
“Yes, sir. And I found out today is Alice’s birthday, so do something nice for her.”
Henry scrunched his nose. “Like what?”
“I’ll email you some ideas, Mr. Crabby.”
“I’m not jumping out of a cake.”
“And for that she’s probably grateful.” I plucked a glass bottle of champagne from my bag and set it on his desk. “Here’s my idea. We offer a coffee service until noon, then champagne ’til closing. What do you think?” My red fingernail tapped the label. “It’s even locally sourced.”
Henry nodded slowly. “The idea has potential. We can do a trial period. But let’s get back to Sasha Chandler.”
“Maybe some Sugar Creek label champagne will help her disposition.” Or a lobotomy. Whatever. “Good luck to the poor soul who deals with her today.”
He sat down at his computer and tapped at his keyboard. “That would be you.”
I sputtered on a swallow of coffee. “I don’t think so.”
“I do,” he said. “She’s our only cake tasting today, and I want you to see how it works. Cupcakes representing the cake choices are delivered by ten each day. You’ll need to review your notes in the binder on this, of course.”
“I don’t want to brag, but I know cake.” Mostly the eating of it. “Let someone else take this.”
Henry raised one dark eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because she’s my ex-fiancé’s fiancée. Something you no doubt knew.”
“Maybe.” He brushed a piece of lint from his charcoal pants. “Even if I wanted to help you, I can’t. I have a twelve o’clock with the mayor’s daughter, Layla’s out sick, and everyone else has appointments. It’s all you.”
I rested my forehead on the desk. “I should fire you.”
“Uh-huh.” He chuckled. “I dare you to try it. By the way, I’ll have you a desk here by the end of the day. We’ll share the office.”
“Can we put a couch in here for twice-daily naps? Maybe a lava lamp or two?”
At my suggestion of a jumbo TV and popcorn machine, he walked out.
The next two hours passed with my shadowing Henry. He gave me a crash course in our payment plans, the latest trends in wedding themes, and updated me on local venues. I watched him diffuse a powder keg of a momma not getting her way, deal with two suppliers who were late on shipments, then give one of our employees a talking to for being repeatedly late. Though his tone could be a little harsh, the man had business skill coming out his every pore. Meanwhile, I was saturated with information and completely overwhelmed. This was a lot harder than learning a melody and shaking my tush behind Jaz on stage. Not that tush-shaking didn’t have its challenges.
“Okay, you’re up,” Henry said as twelve o’clock neared. “The Dragon Bride’s in the parlor room.”
“Henry—”
“You tend to Sasha today, and I’ll make sure it’s the last time. You’re taking one for the team, and your staff knows it.”
“Fine. But I’d feel better going in with a garlic necklace or holy water.”
The parlor was a cozy room with antique dining chairs around a few white tables. Pale sage walls hosted framed vintage bridal prints and white chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Violin music softly played, and the air smelled of sugar and dreams.
Sasha Chandler sat in one of those chairs.
I approached her like a woman given the task of routing a bear from its cave. “Good afternoon.”
She looked up, and I expected hate to flare from her pretty brown eyes and venom to spew from her lips.
But she simply said, “Hello.”
I set a flute of bubbly champagne on her table. “So. . . I’m sorry for the scene with Evan yesterday. I can’t stand your fiancé, but I want you to know that it won’t affect the service you’ll receive at Enchanted Events.” I recited the words Henry had written out for me to memorize. “You’ll still get the same top notch care from the staff here, and—” I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t continue with the drivel. “Look, I’m just gonna go grab the cupcakes, okay?”
She mutely nodded before picking up her champagne. Her hand shook slightly as she lifted it to her lips and drank. The entire thing.
I paused at the door. “Um, Miss Chandler, is everything okay?”
She swiped at her eyes and sniffed. “Just go get the cake.”
I returned a short while later with a plate of cupcakes and gave her the schpiel I’d been coached to say. “The Measuring Cup Bakery has prepared a selection of five cake samples for you today. We have the white cake with a layer of strawberry—”
“First of all, stay away from Evan.” Sasha’s voice snapped with fierce warning. “Never speak to him again. And second, bring me some more of this.” She tapped her empty glass. “I think I can handle handle tasting cake without your hovering.”
“Oh.” What a peach this one was. She and Evan deserved each other.
I stomped back into the staff kitchen, whipped open the refrigerator, and grabbed the bottle of champagne. That woman! That arrogant, shrew of a woman. Who was she to talk to me like that? The way she treated people was deplorable. How had she survived high school without being stuffed in a locker?
Taking the long way back to the parlor, I made a detour through the shop and greeted a few brides. I had a lovely conversation with a teary-eyed grandmother who had the honor of being her granddaughter’s matron of honor, before assisting another customer as they picked out napkins for an engagement party.
Fifteen glorious minutes later, the champagne and I returned to the parlor.
Where I found the bride facedown in her icing.
“Sasha?”
Rushing to her, I lifted her head and did not like what I saw.
“Sasha, wake up.” I swiped the dueling colors of icing from her face. “Someone help us! Call 9-1-1! Henry!” She wasn’t breathing. I whispered a prayer for help. For divine intervention. For the girl to open her eyes, draw a deep breath, and say something cutting and cruel.
“Paisley, what in the—” Henry rushed into the room, his whole body jerking to a stop as he took in the chaotic scene. “What’s happened?”
I slid my hand up Sasha’s neck and groped for a pulse.
And found none.
I met Henry frightened gaze.
“I think we just lost a bride.”
~ About the Author ~
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Award-winning, best-selling author Jenny B. Jones writes romance, cozies, and YA with sass and Southern charm. Since she has very little free time, Jenny believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as eating ice cream, watching puppy videos, and reading celebrity gossip. She lives in the beautiful state of Arkansas and has worked in public education for half of forever. She loves bluegrass, a good laugh, and strong tea. She adores hearing from readers.
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Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads
~ Giveaway ~
Win one of three ecopies of Engaged in Trouble
