Adele Downs's Blog, page 38
November 20, 2015
What’s Perspective? Autumn Pics and Giveaway at Long and Short Reviews
How does ‘point of view’ in fiction differ from ‘perspective’ in photography? How is it the same? In both fiction and photography we try not to let author intrusion, or the person behind the camera, disrupt the story.
Long and Short Reviews has posted a few of my fall photos on the first anniversary of NATURALLY YOURS, one of my favorite releases, and a quiet novella that finaled in the prestigious Award of Excellence contest hosted by the Colorado Romance Writers. Stop by Long and Short Reviews, leave a comment, and be automatically entered to win a copy of my sweet romance novella SANTA TO THE RESCUE to kick off your holiday season.
Long and Short Reviews: http://wp.me/p2ZcT9-dry
Buy NATURALLY YOURS on Amazon!
Filed under: Photography, Prizes, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Seasons of the Year, Thanksgiving, The Harvest Moon Tagged: long and short reviews guest blog post, Naturally Yours by Adele Downs
November 18, 2015
THE SWEETEST GIFT, Eight Holiday Stories, New Release!
My publisher at Boroughs Publishing Group gave their authors and readers a surprise Christmas present with an unannounced release!
THE SWEETEST GIFT holiday anthology contains popular stories from eight best-selling and award-winning authors from Boroughs Publishing. Discover a new-to-you author or read a story by one of your favorites.
Includes HER CHRISTMAS COWBOY by Adele Downs. Also sold separately on Amazon.
Buy your copy of THE SWEETEST GIFT on Amazon!
Filed under: Anthology, Christmas Book, Christmas Novella, Contemporary Romance, Kindle Book, Romantic Fiction, Seasons of the Year Tagged: holiday anthology assortment of sweet romances
November 13, 2015
Love Under the Harvest Moon, NATURALLY YOURS
Not quite ready for Christmas reading, but want to relax with a story set in autumn? The hero and heroine of my award-winning novella NATURALLY YOURS fall in love under the Harvest Moon. This book has received 100% positive reviews and numerous 5 stars from book bloggers. Give NATURALLY YOURS a try this weekend.
“I read this wonderful book in one sitting and I enjoyed every word.”5★ ~Jodie’s W.I.N.E List
NATURALLY YOURS by Adele Downs
Who will save a man who saves the world?
Paramedic Mickey Kendall hasn’t slept a full night 
since his return from Iraq. He rescues victims by day and protects the innocent after dark. Mickey doesn’t do it for glory; he wants absolution, not admiration. He lives by the rule: No personal contact after a rescue. That code meets the ultimate test when Mickey saves a child’s life on a roadside and declines the parents’ invitation to dinner at their upscale restaurant.
Master chef Amanda Greer lives by the principle that delicious food and good company build bridges. When she learns Mickey has refused her business partners’ hospitality, she persuades him to change his mind. The handsome paramedic visits her restaurant and Amanda joins him at his table. Their unexpected chemistry turns kinetic and leads to a passionate kiss.
In Amanda’s arms, Mickey finds relief from the stressors that haunt him, but resists falling in love. When Amanda challenges him to face his demons and accept the love she offers, Mickey arrives at a crossroad. The war-weary paramedic must first save himself to claim the woman who reignites his passion for living and revives his wounded heart.
Excerpt:
“They called you a hero in the press.” Her dark lashes lowered and lifted and she smiled at him with admiration shining in her eyes. “They were right, of course. What you did for Jack can never be repaid.”
Mickey winced at the hero reference. “I hate to disappoint you, but I only did what I’m trained to do.”
Amanda made sounds of disagreement low in her throat. “Elena told me at least a hundred and fifty cars passed her on the highway. Every one of them ignored her cries for help. Of all those people, don’t you think one might have been medically trained? Or at least cared enough to respond? No. You stopped. Only you.”
Oh. He hadn’t thought of that.
She pointed a finger at his chest. “There’s a difference between you and other people. There’s no other way to explain what happened on that roadway. Elena is convinced you’re special, and I never doubt her perceptions. That’s another reason why I wanted to meet you.”
Mickey stared into Amanda’s eyes and her pupils dilated. Her lips parted, ever so slightly, as if to welcome a kiss. Her tongue touched the inside of her bottom lip and disappeared. Mickey knew then, she felt it too. Synergy. Chemistry. An attraction so powerful it turned kinetic on contact.
Some called it love at first sight.
Amanda. Even her name was beautiful.
She took a sip of her drink and he watched her mouth and throat work the liquid. When she set down the tumbler, she wiped a droplet from the corner of her mouth with a trimmed, unpolished fingertip. Mickey wished he could have swiped the bead away with his tongue.
Amanda leaned closer and pressed a hand to his wrist. “Trained or not, you were the only stranger on that highway who had a heart.”
Mickey laid his hand over hers and she let him keep it there. Until now, he wasn’t sure he still had a heart. His had been chipped away, piece by piece, like a block of ice since the war. He’d considered it long gone, with his soul. In mere minutes, what was left had thawed in the center, leaving him raw and exposed.
Amanda continued to speak; clearly unaware she’d stripped away another layer. “I love Jack like he’s my own son. He’s a terrific kid. I’ve helped take care of him since the day the Martins and I started this restaurant. When you saved him, you saved us all.” Amanda leaned in and pressed a quick, sweet kiss against Mickey’s jaw.
Their gazes locked when she sat back in her chair. The gravity of her words and her straightforward kiss humbled him into speechlessness. He’d been thanked many times before, but this woman had gotten to him like no one else. He squeezed her hand and then downed the rest of his drink. Amanda took another sip of hers and set the glass on the table before retreating into silence. She turned the tumbler slowly in her hands.
Mickey looked back at her and tapped two fingers against the menu’s leather cover. “Nothing here is what I expected.”
Amanda returned a quiet smile, either assuming he meant food choices, or pretending he had. She tucked her arms beneath her breasts and leaned forward against the edge of the table, lifting perfect white swells above the neckline of her blouse. “Organic means untouched by artificiality. Grown and consumed in its natural state. We eat only healthy foods unspoiled by chemicals, preservatives, hormones, steroids, antibiotics, and genetically modified seeds or cells. Pure.”
Pure. Mickey gazed at the stunning woman by his side. The texture of her skin looked smooth as cream and welcoming to the touch. He longed to run his hands along her thighs, imagining sleek roads leading to heaven at their apex. “I like the sound of that.” The way she looked back at him while he studied her face made him wonder if she’d read his mind.
The one that had gone dirty.
***
Buy The Book on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Yours-Adele-Downs-ebook/dp/B00O8YLZZ8/
All Romance eBooks:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-naturallyyours-1644351-149.html
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/482463
***
For more information about books by Adele Downs visit http://adeledowns.com
Filed under: Award Winning, Contemporary Romance, Firefighters, First Responders, Military, Organic Foods and Cooking, Romance, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Romantic Fiction, Short Story, The Harvest Moon, Veteran Tagged: a master chef uses her cooking to heal a war weary veteran, A story set in the fall around Thanksgiving, Award of Excellence Finalist, novella about an Iraq war veteran, two damaged people learn how to love
November 11, 2015
Honoring Our Veterans, Photos, Vintage Aircraft
This Veteran’s Day, I’m thinking of those who have served our country and sending my heartfelt thanks for their sacrifice. Almost all of the men in my family have served in either the Navy or the Marines and I appreciate each one of them for keeping our nation safe.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, I thought I’d share some of my photos of vintage military aircraft from the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum if you visit southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s located about a mile from QVC headquarters and worth the trip.
Thank you for your service.
****
Photos copyright Adele Downs
Visit Adele’s website and check out her books at http://adeledowns.com
Filed under: Helicopters, Military, Military Aircraft, Museums, Places in Pennsylvania, Places to Visit in the USA, Veteran, Veteran's Day Tagged: American Helicopter Museum, original photos by Adele Downs, photos of vintage helicopters
November 6, 2015
Autumn Apple Orchard, Original Photos
The simple, beautiful, delicious fall apple.
Do these pictures make your mouth water?
Have a great weekend!
Best–Adele
****
Photos copyright Adele Downs
Please visit my website at http://adeledowns.com
Filed under: Food and Fun, Original Photography, Photography, Places in Pennsylvania, Seasons of the Year, Thanksgiving Tagged: candy apples, fall apples from the orchard, pictures of apple varieties
November 3, 2015
Firefighter Unwraps The Holidays-SANTA TO THE RESCUE
Dozens of book bloggers will feature SANTA TO THE RESCUE today on their blogs during a book blitz hosted by My Family’s Heart Reviews and Promotions. This sweet novella has received outstanding reviews and is the perfect topper to your holiday reading list. I hope you’ll pick up a copy for your Kindle, iPhone, Nook, or tablet. Only .99!
“Really puts you in the Christmas spirit! Loved it! 5 stars! ” ~ Curling Up With A Good Book
“Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!” 5 Stars! ~ Cat’s Reviews
*****
Firefighter Jamey Tucker knows three things in life to be true: An honorable man doesn’t go back on his word, never hurts a woman, and lasting love isn’t a myth. But with his recent move to a new job at the Appleton Fire station, the long hours don’t offer hope of finding the love he’s looking for.
When Jamey meets beautiful pediatric nurse Heather Longhurst after hearing her sing Santa Baby in a supermarket aisle, he offers her a promise he discovers he can’t keep. Heather has been betrayed by men in the past, making it hard for Jamey to gain her trust. Determined to find a way to win her heart, Jamey uses firefighter engine-uity and Heather’s favorite song to prove he’s got Christmas spirit she can believe in all year.
Also available at All Romance eBooks and Kobo.
Filed under: .99 Kindle Book, .99 Novella, .99 short story, Amazon Top 100 Best-Seller, Book Lovers Event, Christmas Book, Christmas Novella, Contemporary Romance, Firefighters, First Responders, Kindle Book, Romance Fiction, Romance Novella, Romantic Fiction, Seasons of the Year, Short Story Tagged: a Hallmark style Christmas story, a sweet romance with a kiss at the end, not a steamy romance, pediatric nurse and a firefighter fall in love, suitable for all ages over 16, sweet firefighter novella
October 30, 2015
Halloween Tree, Original Photo
One of the weirdest trees I’ve ever seen and the perfect subject for a Halloween photo.
Happy Halloween, all!
***
Photo copyright Adele Downs
Visit my website at http://adeledowns.com
Filed under: Halloween, Halloween Photographs, Historical Sites in Pennsylvania, Original Photography, Photography, Places in Pennsylvania, Seasons of the Year Tagged: original photo of Halloween tree by Adele Downs
October 28, 2015
Do You Believe in Ghosts?
Do you believe in the supernatural? I’m open to the possibility, though I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ghost—despite my years moonlighting as a ghost tour guide in an historic Pennsylvania town. I also owned a Victorian house in Philadelphia years ago, painstakingly restored with help from friends who swore the house had a paranormal vibe. I never experienced anything suspicious, though the original dirt floor basement gave me the creeps.
Though I’ve had more than my share of opportunities to experience the paranormal, it seems that ghosts have only made their appearance in my vivid imagination. LIP SERVICE, my contemporary romance novel with paranormal elements, set inside a Victorian home similar to the one I owned, was inspired by my years as a ghost tour guide—the most fun side job I’ve ever had.
Here’s a little about LIP SERVICE
Some ghosts won’t take “yes” for an answer.
Jack Harris has loved Legs Anderson since they were kids. Now that he has her in his bed, he has no intention of letting her go. Aunt Ada has other ideas, even from the grave.
GETTING BETWEEN JACK…
Orphaned at a young age, Legs Anderson owes her Aunt Ada everything. The stoic old lady raised her, and Ada’s warnings about men—and the Harris boys in particular—have stuck, even after her death. Of course, that could be because Ada stuck around, too.
…AND HIS LEGS
Patience is not one of Jack Harris’s virtues, and he’s waited too long to start a life with the woman he’s loved since childhood instead of them just knocking boots. Now Ada is interfering from beyond the grave, haunting the old Victorian house she bequeathed to her niece and reinforcing Legs’s fears of commitment. But Jack won’t give up. No matter what trouble may follow, the house will be renovated, Ada will learn to let go, Legs will put her money where her mouth is…and then Jack’ll put his lips everywhere else.
Excerpt:
The roar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Rachel’s block and the rev of a throttle in her driveway announced Jack’s arrival. Legs tried to appear nonchalant when he walked through the poolside gate, but the sight of his sun-streaked hair and tanned, muscular good looks nearly knocked her out her seat. She eased her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose to get a better look.
When he stepped into the pool area dressed in black jeans, black biker boots, and a white muscle shirt that framed his pumped-up shoulders and biceps, she caught her breath. Everyone in the group said “hey” and Rachel offered him a cold drink, but his focus had remained on her. He slid his sunglasses on top of his head and nodded in her direction.
Legs remembered his gaze meeting hers before his attention strayed to her gold and black bikini then savored every inch of her skin. An appreciative smirk curled his lips and desire flashed in his beautiful blue eyes. He took a long pull of the soft drink someone handed him and then set the can down on the patio table. He looked her way and said, “Want to go for a ride?”
The invitation came out like a dare. All eyes shifted to her, watching to see what she’d do. They all knew she wasn’t allowed to date Jack Harris. Taking a ride on his motorcycle might not have been the same thing, but there would be hell to pay if her aunt found out.
She stretched her arms over her head and offered a lazy smile. “I guess so.” Though she’d been as nervous and excited as a rabbit, she never let on. She stood and pulled on her shorts and shirt, slid her sandals over her feet, and made her way across the patio to him.
Her aunt’s spies might see her on the road, but she pushed that worry aside. Mere weeks remained before she’d move away to college and the subject would be moot. She’d be gone most of the next four years, and by the time she got back, Jack would probably be married with a couple of kids. Half the women in town had their eyes on him and his brothers.
The idea of Jack marrying someone else made her furious, and more determined than ever to enjoy this rare day alone with him.
His gaze tracked every step of her approach, as if memorizing the lines and planes of her face, learning the shape of her breasts, and tattooing the curves of her waist into his brain. When she reached his side, he smiled at her so intently she almost faltered. Her heartbeat raced when he took her hand. She barely heard her friends say good-bye as they exited the patio door.
His Harley was built in classic style—all black steel and leather with silver chrome, glinting majestically in the sunlight like a god. She ran her fingers over the warm plush seats.
“Ever been on a bike before?” he asked, watching her with eyes so blue she almost missed his question while she stared back.
She pulled an elastic band from her shorts pocket and tied her hair into a ponytail. “Uh. No.” Her hair swung with the shake of her head. He probably knew the answer, but she appreciated the benefit of his question. He hadn’t made her feel like a total geek.
He gave her a tutorial with simple instructions, including the demand that she hold on to him tight and not let go. No problem there. She resisted a fit of giggles, determined to act her age and accept responsibility for her own safety, as tenuous as that might be on the rear end of a motorcycle wearing shorts and sandals.
Yikes. Hormones really did rule the heart.
He slid his sunglasses into place and got on the bike, steadying it with his feet while she scooted in behind him. After shifting her weight to find her center of balance, she wrapped her arms tight around his chest. The solid feel of his body thrilled her beyond anything she’d imagined. He smelled fantastic too, like musk cologne, leather, and sweat tossed with August air and sunshine.
“Ready?” he asked.
Leaning closer for support, she pressed her torso against his back and stifled a gasp at the sensations the friction created. If he never started the engine, and they simply sat together like this, it would have been enough.
Buy the book on Amazon! Available in both ebook format and print.
Smashwords iTunes Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks
Filed under: Contemporary Romance, Halloween, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romance Fiction, Romantic Fiction Tagged: a meddling ghost interferes with true love, ghost story, Paranormal Contemporary Romance
October 26, 2015
Fall Gourds and Pumpkins, Original Photos
My camera and I visited a rural Pennsylvania orchard over the weekend; the best place in the world to enjoy autumn and its colors. Though taking photographs is strictly a hobby, since I spend most of my time writing, I appreciate your enthusiasm for my pictures, especially from the professionals among us.
I had no idea nature provided so many varieties of pumpkins and gourds. Here are some of the most interesting I’ve found, starting with the traditional and ending with the exotic.
Photos copyright Adele Downs
Visit my website at http://adeledowns.com
Filed under: Family and Home, Flowers and Gardens, Halloween, Halloween Photographs, Original Photography, Places in Pennsylvania, Seasons of the Year Tagged: colorful gourds from Pennsylvania, exotic Halloween pumpkins, Photos by Adele Downs, unusual and ugly pumpkins
October 19, 2015
Guest Post-Paula Millhouse, Original Map Art
Please welcome my talented guest Paula Millhouse, whose original maps of the Kingdom of Chalvaren, the world she created for her fantasy novel Chalvaren Rising, intrigued me so much that I invited her to my blog to share her artistry with you. Paula is here to describe her fascinating process. Please be kind and like or leave a comment for Paula, and then check out her new release.
~ Best, Adele
****
Cartography and Maps in Fantasy Worlds by Paula Millhouse:
Maps are important parts of Fantasy worlds. As a key to world-building a writer must see where her characters live, how the climate affects them, where water sources are located, and the best routes for trade, protection, and natural resources.
As a nod to Mr. Tolkien who inspired me with his maps of Middle Earth as a child, I decided, “HEY – my Fantasy Romance novel, Chalvaren Rising, needs a map too. I’m an artist – I can provide that.”
Kingdom of Chalvaren (c)Paula Millhouse/Boroughs Publishing Group 2015
Map #1
Developing a Watercolor Painting
Here’s the first really rough draft of my map. Kinda ugly, right? Just like a first draft of a novel. You kinda know it’s got potential, but… you’re not willing to share that ugly puppy with anyone.
Draft 2: This is my developmental edit
I took my really rough composition above, thought on it, and reconstructed it. I edited out the parts that didn’t work, added new elements like any great Cartographer would to ground the map’s Reader, and I revised the entire painting. I went to my photo-imaging program Gimp, and added text to the base image.
Draft 3: How the Process of Creativity is Unified
Finally, I added my copy edit – which visually included development of the pencil dragon drawings, and what I thought might be the final text images. I love this edition. This is how art is made, whether with brushes and watercolors, or with the text of your prose. It’s a process. No matter what, I created this world of Chalvaren, and I feel her and now I see her not only in my imagination, but also on the page. This original watercolor painting now hangs in my house in honor of the love I have for Chalvaren’s territories, her castles, her dragons, and her citizens.
But, and here’s the caveat of this post, remember Editors Always Matter.
My amazing editor over at Boroughs Publishing Group, Christopher Keeslar, took my piece of art and transformed it even further into what I consider to be the finished product, just like he did with my novel.
I adore the “Mappiness” of the image below, don’t you?
We were able to include the map in the book, a special nod to JRR Tolkien who introduced me to my first fictional dragon and fantasy world.
Kingdom of Chalvaren (c)Paula Millhouse/Boroughs Publishing Group 2015
With the love of Kort, Chalvaren’s warrior-prince heir, Mia Ansgar will seize her birthright and become the great dragon-riding wizardess prophesied to free that elven kingdom from her embittered sorceress kin.
TO ASCEND TRIUMPHANT
Twenty-five years ago, Theo Ansgar abandoned the Kingdom of Chalvaren for a hiding place on another world. Some called him traitor. Some, thief. Now his fully grown daughter Mia must return to the land of her birth…and their war.
It was the elf prince Kort Elias who brought her back. Theirs was an instant connection, an inescapable union of body, soul and sorcery, reminding Mia of what she truly is, and what she must become. There is also Magnus, destined to be more potent than any wyrm Chalvaren has ever seen, a three-day-old dragonlet Mia must nurture and then ride. And then there is the Dragonstone, an artifact of power nonpareil. Joined, they can tip the scales of battle against the wraith-possessed forces of darkness, of Mia’s own embittered kin.
Redemption will be offered, the protected will become the protector, and an ancient prophecy will come to fruition, but only righteous love can conquer all.
BUY LINKS:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0157RBDHO
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chalvaren-rising-paula-millhouse/1122654652?ean=2940152348019
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/576283
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chalvarenrising-1887385-153.html
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chalvaren-rising
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26326979-chalvaren-rising
https://www.createspace.com/5625321
Author’s Bio
Paula Millhouse is the writer of books where fantasy, romance, and suspense collide, including Chalvaren Rising, it’s prequel, Dragonstone, and Three Wishes. Dragonstone also appears in the anthology, A Gift of Fantasy.These stories are published by Boroughs Publishing Group.
“I wanted to find out what would happen if I designed a world where fantasy lovers get their adventure quest, but also gave their girlfriends a healthy dose of grown-up romance along the way. How can we blend High Fantasy and Romance into a story that leaves the Reader breathless, where magic and suspense collide in a spellbinding imaginary world?”
She is also the author of a romantic suspense series, where fast-paced thrillers collide with high-heat romance. The Wishes Chronicles includes Careful…, and All Your Wishes…
When not following her muse on quests for happily ever afters, Paula works in the field of medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner by day, and micro-gardens in her potager with her husband and their pack and pride of furry babies. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, where Spanish moss whispers tales in breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, as a child Paula soaked in the sunshine and heritage of cobblestones, pirate lore, and stories steeped in savory mysteries of the south.
She’s a PRO member of Romance Writers of America, and the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal Writers specialty chapter.
She lives in the mountains now, but she honors her southern heritage as a storyteller by sharing her adventures in fiction with readers.
Find the Author here:
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006991RF8
Website https://www.paulamillhouse.com
Blog https://www.paulamillhouse.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/pmillhouse
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/paulamillhousefans
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PaulaMillhouse.Author
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5398221.Paula_Millhouse
GooglePlus https://plus.google.com/+PaulaMillhouse/posts
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/pmillhouse/boards/
TSU http://www.tsu.co/pmillhouse
You Tube https://youtu.be/q2FCU-gJPog
Filed under: Craft of Writing, Fantasy Romance, For Writers, New Release, Romance Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Uncategorized Tagged: Chalvaren Rising original maps, dragons, J.R.R. Tolkein inspired fantasy world maps, original cartography, Paula Millhouse, warrior princess, wizards
