Aubrey Wynne's Blog, page 9
October 28, 2024
Let’s Not and Sleigh We Did by J.P. Sterling with excerpt and giveaway
Let’s Not and Sleigh We Did
J.P. Sterling
(Christmas Shenanigans)
Publication date: October 25th 2024
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance
Oh, oh, the mistletoe, hung where I did NOT see.
My brother’s friend waits for me and gets down on one knee—What is happening?
Somebody stop it, please!
Oh, those dreamy blue eyes batting at me, and all the words he dares to say.
This is bad.
Like really, really bad.
We’re now planning a wedding day.
But it’s all for a good reason, not love.
Oh, cough, cough, let’s not bust out the L-word.
It’s purely business.
It is a solid plan until it isn’t.
So maybe I love him, but we agreed not to do that . . . whoops!
Let’s Not and Sleigh We Did is a fake marriage of convenience, brother’s best friend, just-kisses-but-all-the-swoons romcom. Oh, yeah, there’s a fluffy cow too!
—
EXCERPT:
A ring.
Not just any ring, a rose gold band.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, a little harshly, the ring pulsating in my peripheral vision.
“We talked about this, remember?” Luke’s voice drops, rasping.
“We talked about marriage.” I tilt my head to one side, as if I’m physically dividing this argument in half., “But not this, and not in front of them.”
“You’re being modest.” He laughs, tossing a look back at his parents. “I thought it would be nice to share this moment with them.”
“You did?” my voice squeaks, as I’m totally blindsided and wishing I had at least a heads- up. The arrangement had sounded so much more business casual than what’s going on right now. A proposal on one knee is not business casual. This is my heart in my throat, and I’m about to throw up. “Where did you get a ring?” I hiss.
“I bought it today.”
“Today?” I grapple for my throat, praying something gives before I pass out.
“Yeah, today when I was thinking about you.”
Doing a hard pause on the word, you, he’s still holding the ring awkwardly in his hand. I frantically search his face for signs of a prank, but he doesn’t have an ounce of humor curved into a smile.
He’s one-hundred-percent serious.
Quakes rumble against my rib cage. This is an act. I’m clearly about to blow our cover as I’m acting so confused, but this whole thing is blowing my mind. “This is happening so fast.”
“It’s okay. Better than okay.” He takes my hand in his, holding it in front of him. “Ten years ago, you kissed me on a dare. You didn’t know it at the time, but I was already falling in love with you. You were my first kiss, but I knew in that moment, I wanted you to be my last.”
I blink. Everything about his proposal sounds genuine.
My gaze floats to his mom; her hands clasp together in front of her, but her gaze is piercing in my direction. Luke’s dad has a that’s-my-boy grin laced on his lips.
And Luke!
Luke’s winning an Oscar for his acting. His gaze dials right into mine, like it’s boring a trail through my eyes right to my heart. I can’t even tell it’s a fake proposal, and I one-thousand- percent know it’s fake.
It is fake . . . right?
Author Bio:
J.P. Sterling grew up watching old reruns of Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore and fell in love with wholesome entertainment and slapstick comedy. She loves leaning into the over-the-top humor and full circle moments, especially if it means the underdog gets to shine.
Aside from writing, she’s also a wife and homeschooling mom, a holistic dietitian, a former college professor and lover of all things dark chocolate.
*No swears. Just kisses. No Blasphemies.*
Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Amazon
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
—
October 25, 2024
Hopping Along to Halloween
It’s the SPOOKY season: pumpkins, ghouls, adorable costumes and frightening masks. Join us for a fun-filled author hop, learn some trivia, find new recipes and books, and get ready for Halloween!My favorite Halloween candy is CANDY CORN.Halloween, of course, is just around the corner. I will always be a big kid when it comes to the holidays. It’s the primary teacher in me; I can’t help myself. I dress up, laugh along with kids at my silliness, eat too much candy corn mixed with salted peanuts (tastes like a Payday), and carve glorious jack-o-lanterns.+
= 
GIVEAWAY Some of our favorite Halloween traditions come from the Celtic holiday Samhain. Trick or treating and costumes originated to welcome AND ward off spirits. By wearing a costume (often a scary monster), the living could hide from evil spirits who could come back to earth on Samhain. Food and drink were left out to appease spirits. This eventually turned into impersonating spirits and asking for food on their behalf (usually cakes were given). Turnips (and eventually pumpkins) were carved and lit, coming from the legend of Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and avoided Hell but also wasn’t allowed in Heaven. So he roamed the Netherworld with only a carved out turnip lantern for light. People began carving gruesome faces into the lanterns to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell us which turnip you like the best!
The past looks over your shoulder…
The Earl of Karmaughton cares about two things in life: power and his wife, Ellie. He’s not oblivious to the suffering caused by his investment decisions. But the innocent are expendable, and as Percy’s father always said, “It’s business.”
Lady Karmaughton will never convince her husband to listen to his conscience. Instead, she quietly works behind Percy’s back to atone for the damage. When their lives abruptly end in a horrific carriage accident, Ellie finally has the opportunity to save her husband’s soul.
While Karma bides its time…
The callous nobleman learns that for every action there is a consequence. To avoid his punishment in Hell, he must spend his time in Purgatory—a strange place that resembles an abandoned circus. His task: helping other souls repent or find their way to eternal damnation.
With Ellie’s help, Lord Karma’s Karnival becomes an eerie last stop for those who need to discover their humanity…or suffer in perpetuity.
Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Don’t forget to stop at every author, have some fun, and find their candy. Good luck!PARTICIPATING AUTHORS1
Heather McCollum
https://www.heathermccollum.com/
2
Melanie Rose Clarke
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1159564541120841/
3
Deb Marlowe
https://www.debmarlowe.com/night-market-magic.html
4
Jane Charles
https://www.janecharlesauthor.com/holiday-books
5
Tara Kingston
https://www.facebook.com/TaraKingstonAuthor/
6
Nadine Millard
https://www.instagram.com/nadinemillardauthor
7
Ruth A. Casie
https://ruthacasie.blogspot.com/
8
Anna St. Claire
https://www.annastclaire.com
9
Aubrey Wynne
https://www.aubreywynne.com
10
Alanna Lucas
https://alannalucas.com/
11
E. Elizabeth Watson
https://eelizabethwatson.com/holiday-hops/
12
Allison B. Hanson
https://allisonbhanson.wordpress.com/
13m
Katherine Bone
https://www.katherinebone.com
14
Brenna Ash
https://www.brennaash.com/parlor
15
Hildie McQueen
https://www.hildiemcqueen.com
16
Samantha Grace
https://www.samanthagraceauthor.com/
17
Tina Gabrielle
https://www.facebook.com/TinaGabrielle/
18
Michelle McLean
https://michellemcleanbooks.com/
19
Kathryn Le Veque
https://www.kathrynleveque.com
20
Christina Diane
https://www.christinadianebooks.com
21
Cerise DeLand
https://www.cerisedeland.com
22
Courtney McCaskill
https://www.courtneymccaskill.com
23
Emily Royal
https://www.facebook.com/eroyalauthor
24
Edie Cay
https://ediecay.com
25
Elizabeth Rose
https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethRoseNovels
26
Darcy Burke
https://www.darcyburke.com
27
Bronwen Evans
https://www.bronwenevans.com/halloween-hop-26-31-oct/
28
Terri Brisbin
https://terribrisbin.com/news/
29
Jade Lee
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jade-lee
30
Sophia Nye
https://www.sophianyewrites.com
THE ROOTS RUN DEEP by C.M. Forest with Guest Post and giveaway
Love and horror
C.M. Forest
I write scary stories. My end goal, when I sit in front of my keyboard, is to create a world full of dark, terrifying things. Spooky scenarios that will have readers afraid to go to sleep. As such, I fill my tales with creatures, creaking houses, dark corners, eerie sounds, deranged killers, and…love. Yes, like all genres, horror benefits from the addition of romance.
Let me explain. Most of us have been in a relationship. I ask you, what is more frightening than navigating the complicated waters of love? Even if it’s a good, healthy relationship, there will always be moments of tension. Days of hardship. And that’s saying nothing of the anxiety that comes with the early days of dating. The nervous, gut-clenching sensation of talking to somebody that you find attractive for the first time. These are the very specific elements of romance that I look to mine. If used right, a solid romance subplot can add greatly to the horror.
In the story What the Storm Brought In (found in my new collection The Roots Run Deep), a man and woman spend a romantic day at the beach. Using the setting, the love and attraction they have for each other, I can add that much more weight to the horror when it arrives. It raises the stakes.
Another example would be in my novel Infested. The main character’s relationship with her husband fuels most of the events of the book. Her need to pursue a romance that may be dead, causes her to do things that, without the love-interest, she would not do.
I would never try my hand at a full romance (I know my limitations!), but it has become an integral part of my writing. And, when trying to scare people, you need to exploit every weapon in your arsenal.
THE ROOTS RUN DEEP
C.M. Forest
GENRE: Horror Short Story Collection
BLURB:
Dug from the twisted mind of C.M. Forest, the acclaimed author of Infested, comes a collection of 15 horror stories that will drag you into the abyss of fear and despair.
A fast-food playland with a nightmarish secret, a greenhouse with a bug problem, a busload of kids lost in the woods, a trip through the solar system to investigate a strange comet, and many more.
Brace yourself for an unrelenting journey through a world where evil knows no bounds, and darkness consumes all.
Excerpt:
The truck door swung open with a painful groan. Gordon kept his gaze locked on the barn as he climbed out. A cool breeze wafted across the field to grab and tussle his long, unkempt hair. Ahead, the barn door swayed as if in anticipation.
In the bed of the truck were two gas cans. The fuel sloshed as he pulled the red, plastic containers free. The weight of the cans felt comforting as he approached the structure.
He caught the barn door with his foot and kicked it open enough to enter. He thought he might feel a twinge of nostalgia, or maybe even horror, at returning to the old building, but the truth was, it looked just like every other barn he had ever been in. Spinning the caps off one of the cans, he began dumping the gasoline.
A low, creaking sound pulled him away from his work. He stared around the darkened structure, trying damn hard to convince himself it was just the wind, but failing. Despite his darkest imaginings, he could not wrap his head around what could be living within the old, warped walls of the barn. What malevolent force was animating the ancient boards and struts?
When nothing materialized from the gloom, he returned to his business.
With both cans empty, Gordon stood in the door and fished around in his pocket for his lighter. As soon as it was free, he began thumbing the flint wheel. A few angry sparks jumped from the end, but the flame was stubbornly absent. Once again, he heard the creaking. This time, it seemed to come from everywhere all at once. With his lighter forgotten, Gordon stared ahead as something started moving, opening, along the floor. A spike of cold fear chilled him to the bone. He turned to run.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
C.M. Forest, also known as Christian Laforet, is the author of the novel Infested, the novella We All Fall Before the Harvest, the short story collection The Space Between Houses, as well as the co-author of the short-story collection No Light Tomorrow. His short fiction has been featured in several anthologies across multiple genres. A self-proclaimed horror movie expert, he spent an embarrassing amount of his youth watching scary movies. When not writing, he lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife, kids, three cats and a pandemic dog named Sully who has an ongoing love affair with a blanket.
Website: http://www.ChristianLaforet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristianlaforet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianlaforet/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/c_laforet
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@christian_writes_horror
October 24, 2024
How to Solve a Murder with a Grump by Laura Pauling with excerpt and giveaway
How to Solve a Murder with a Grump
Laura Pauling
Publication date: October 8th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance
Barrie:
I am determined to make my best friend’s wedding weekend perfect. That includes editing the best man’s speech and making sure he doesn’t drink too much.
Except, he’s the worst kind of grump with a capital G.
Not only that but when this perfect wedding unravels, I find myself the object of his wrath.
He blames me.
So I run.
And I’m wearing the wedding dress. (Don’t ask.)
As I hide out in a small town, following my dreams, I stumble upon a decades-old murder mystery.
Turns out texting the grump might be my only lifeline. And I’m definitely not flirt-texting. Nope. Not me.
Because falling for a grump can only lead to a broken heart.
Right?
Miles:
For the record, I am not a grump.
It’s not me. It’s them.
It’s women.
I’m looking forward to the wedding this weekend. My best friend is getting married.
And the maid of honor texts me.
Not just once.
Oh, no, because that would be much too sensible. Nope. Try a dozen. It felt like a hundred.
I can tell by a glance at the texts that she’s one of those micro-managing, in your business, thinks-she-knows-everything type of woman.
Forget it.
I don’t want her number. I don’t want coffee. I don’t want a date.
I don’t want a single conversation.
Okay, fine. I’m a grump.
But can you blame me?
How to Solve a Murder with a Grump is a full-length hilarious romantic mystery with a swoony, heart-thumping, happily-ever-after kind of ending complete with glitter bombs, snapping turtles (imaginary or not), a decades-old murder, and grand romantic gestures.
—
EXCERPT:
I take one look at him. Oh yeah, he’s a grump.
Definitely.
But I don’t have time for grumps right now.
You see, I’m running late and the elevator is taking forever to get to the bottom floor. My best friend is getting married in two days, and I’m the maid of honor. I’m trying to compose a text to the best man so we can talk about the speeches. I should’ve reached out to him ages ago, but this weekend came fast. It snuck up on me.
Then, a man near me clears his throat, like he’s trying to send me a message. I take one look at him.
No doubt in my mind he’s a Mr. Grumpy Pants, because I can pick them out a mile away. They’re easy to spot once you know the signs.
Of course, sometimes you’ll get lucky. You’ll make a quick exit. Or he’ll spill his coffee. Someone else will grab his attention.
But there will be times you have to interact with this particular species of men.
Just so you know, there are many ways to deal with a grump. I could write a book on it.
First, don’t be fooled by those flashing white teeth and sexy smirks. Don’t be fooled by a blue shirt, almost the color of tropical ocean water that offsets the gray of his eyes. Don’t be fooled by the rippling muscles underneath the blue shirt.
Nope.
Sexy grumps are the most dangerous, because they’ll steal your heart then stomp all over it.
Author Bio:
I write about spies, murder, and mystery. I love a lot of things about writing and reading stories that have mystery and romance. I love the puzzle of a whodunnit and witty banter between characters who love to hate each other. Especially, when they don’t know they are falling in love.
There are about a gazillion books in the wilds of Amazon and maybe half of them are mysteries. If you want to make sure you know when I have a new release in a current series or the start of a new series then visit www.laurapauling.com and sign up for my newsletter.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
—
October 22, 2024
The Wallflower and the Duke by Rebecca Paula
The Wallflower and the Duke
by Rebecca Paula
Revenge of the Wallflowers Book 34
He’s haunted by the past. She’s ready to reclaim her future. Together, they’ll rediscover a love neither could forget…
Marjorie Merryweather has always been the quiet wallflower, content to hide in the shadows of society. But after a scheming viscount steals her novel and threatens her livelihood, Marjorie takes refuge with the one man she thought she’d never see again—the Duke of Abinger.
Once her closest friend, Alfred Lockhart has withdrawn from the world after a tragic accident left him battling his own demons. But Marjorie’s return stirs a longing he’s harbored for years—feelings he’s kept hidden, even from himself.
In the quiet solitude of his estate, old feelings reignite. Alfie has never stopped loving Marjorie, and as their connection deepens, she begins to realize that her feelings for him run deeper than friendship. But as passion flares, so do the ghosts of the past. Marjorie must decide if her heart can risk falling for the man she’s always trusted, and Alfie must confront whether he can truly be the man she deserves.
Shop Now: Amazon: https://amzn.to/4f2zYGl
All Vendors: https://books2read.com/u/b56P96
Shop the series: https://books.bookfunnel.com/revenge_of_the_wallflowers/7x4ng9tv7t
October 8, 2024
The Wallflower’s War by Sawyer North Release Day
The Wallflower’s War
by Sawyer North
Revenge of the Wallflowers
Tragedy and humiliation made Mercy Price a forgotten wallflower. Fate will grant her vengeance – and true love.
A full-length sweet romance about cold revenge, thawing hearts, and the redeeming power of love.
After losing her mother and most of her hearing to fever, Mercy Price slips into obscurity inside her own family. When a band of noble second sons called the Four Horsemen publicly humiliate Mercy, her dreadful stepmother’s ensuing campaign of terror forges Mercy into a survivor bent on revenge. Mercy’s opportunity for retribution arrives with one astonishing catch. The author of the revenge plan is the terribly handsome August Wycliff – one of her former tormentors now living under an alias. A man who supposedly died on the battlefields of Spain.
Certain Wycliff doesn’t remember her, Mercy dives into his madcap plan to present her as a foreign noblewoman at the Horsemen’s grand house party, have her win the ardor of each, and then take their precious tokens of brotherhood before rejecting them. Little does Wycliff know, Mercy plans to humble him as well. To do so, she must slip behind his defenses and uncover evidence of wrongdoing with which she might destroy him. Why he desires vengeance against his former friends remains a mystery to Mercy, as does another inconvenient fact – Wycliff has recognized Mercy from the start. Astonished by Mercy’s transformation, he tries to dismiss his mounting fascination with her by considering Mercy no more than a tool of vengeance against the Horsemen for their cold betrayal on the day of his supposed death.
Wrapped in swirling secrets and immersed in fractious banter, Mercy and Wycliff work together to carry out the complex ruse. However, a powerful and growing mutual attraction leads each to regret what they might sacrifice for the sake of vengeance – including a future that includes friendship, love, and… perhaps even each other.
Shop Now: https://books2read.com/u/4ALkxd
Shop the series: https://books.bookfunnel.com/revenge_of_the_wallflowers/7x4ng9tv7t
October 4, 2024
FALLING From THE NEST by Bobbie Candas with giveaway
FALLING FROM THE NEST
Bobbie Candas
GENRE: Historical Fiction
BLURB:
Spring 1946–Following four years of war on the heels of the decade-long Great Depression, Americans are finally feeling a sense of hope that begins sweeping the nation…
Jo-Jo Anderson feels that optimism too. Slipping the reins of her Iowa farming town, Jo leaves to make her mark on the entertainment scene in Manhattan. Audiences are clamoring for new musicals on Broadway, nightclubs are flourishing, and NYC is the beating heart of the radio networks. After arriving, Jo-Jo quickly realizes that thousands of would-be stars are following her same ambitions, making opportunities scarce, but her luck begins to turn when she hears about Talent Jackpot.
Her twin, Sarah, finds success with her studies as a scholarship student at the University of Iowa. But Sarah is adrift socially, finding it difficult to forge friendships. Her perfectly planned life is upended when her hometown boyfriend announces he’s suddenly joined the navy. Sarah’s top grades draw the attention of a crusty biology professor and after accepting his offer of a lab position, her rigid lifestyle gets a lot more complicated.
This novel tells a story of unexpected change. The twins make their way through multiple challenges with humor, ambition, and heartbreak but remain tied together by the bonds of sisterhood, winding their way through the seedier backdoors of the entertainment business, and into college dorm life and love nest apartments.
With the historical backdrop of the post WW2 era, Falling From The Nest, reads as a stand-alone story but also serves as a sequel to author Bobbie Candas’ previous novel, The Lost and Found of Green Tree.
Excerpt:
While staring through raindrops racing down the smudged windows of the Stage Deli, I was startled by impatient, snapping fingers begging for my attention. I’d been looking at the long line of well-dressed patrons curling around the block of Carnegie Hall. They were patiently waiting, with umbrellas open, to buy tickets to some amazing performance I’d never see.
”Hey you…doll-face.” I looked over in Snappy Finger’s direction. “Two grilled sky-highs on rye and two black coffees. We’re in a hurry.”
Ok, you grumpy, fat bastards. I pulled out a pad and pencil from my apron pocket and looked down at two burly men wearing pinstriped, double breasted suits with tacky wide ties. I flashed a smile, held back my real thoughts, and asked, “Mustard, mayonnaise, or both?” And added sweetly, “And how about a dill pickle on the side?”
“Yeah, all the above, doll. Just get it ordered, quick. Oh, and bring us a couple black-n-whites too.”
“You got it handsome.”
I turned, walking quickly down the tight row of wooden tables at the busy deli and called out my order to the cook behind the grill. “Hey, Chuckles! Two sky-highs, m-and- m, with a dill…and no rush, take your time with those.”
The short-order cook, a balding, older man with a low tolerance for fools and a sucker for a friendly smile, called out, “No problem, Jo-Jo.”
I poured the two cups of coffee and slid two large round cookies with chocolate and vanilla icing onto small plates. Six months ago, I would have been intimidated by those two men and their fancy suits. But now I knew they were only low-level number runners who wore the same cheap suit everyday, except maybe on Sunday when, hopefully, they got them cleaned. I’d seen and learned a lot in the last six months.
Back at Snappy Finger’s table, I purposely leaned over, balancing my tray. “Gentlemen, your coffee and black-n-whites.” I set their cups and cookies down and said, “I told the cook to put a rush on those sandwiches. Seems to be a little backed up at the grill though.” I then turned around and bussed the table beside them, stretching over to wipe it down, giving them a full view of my back side. I lived off tips. I’d learned what I had to do.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’m a Texas girl: grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin where I earned my degree in journalism, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, two kids and a few cats. My husband, Mehmet, and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m a sucker for a robust discussion.
For years I was involved in retail management, but in 2014 I refocused on my writing, taking deep dives into the lives of my characters. When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I enjoy entertaining, sharing food and drink with friends and family. I enjoy shopping, usually on the hunt for apparel, with a special weakness for shoes, and will frequently jump at the opportunity of an unexpected trip to a far-away place.
And I always make time for reading. I keep a stack of novels ready and waiting on my night stand, with a few tapping their toe in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m always ready for a good recommendation.
Facebook: Author Bobbie Candas: https://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasauthor
Good Reads author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292457.Bobbie.Candas
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bobbie-Candas/author/B00MNS6KV0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas
FALLING OUT OF THE NEST by Bobbie Candas with giveaway
FALLING FROM THE NEST
Bobbie Candas
GENRE: Historical Fiction
BLURB:
Spring 1946–Following four years of war on the heels of the decade-long Great Depression, Americans are finally feeling a sense of hope that begins sweeping the nation…
Jo-Jo Anderson feels that optimism too. Slipping the reins of her Iowa farming town, Jo leaves to make her mark on the entertainment scene in Manhattan. Audiences are clamoring for new musicals on Broadway, nightclubs are flourishing, and NYC is the beating heart of the radio networks. After arriving, Jo-Jo quickly realizes that thousands of would-be stars are following her same ambitions, making opportunities scarce, but her luck begins to turn when she hears about Talent Jackpot.
Her twin, Sarah, finds success with her studies as a scholarship student at the University of Iowa. But Sarah is adrift socially, finding it difficult to forge friendships. Her perfectly planned life is upended when her hometown boyfriend announces he’s suddenly joined the navy. Sarah’s top grades draw the attention of a crusty biology professor and after accepting his offer of a lab position, her rigid lifestyle gets a lot more complicated.
This novel tells a story of unexpected change. The twins make their way through multiple challenges with humor, ambition, and heartbreak but remain tied together by the bonds of sisterhood, winding their way through the seedier backdoors of the entertainment business, and into college dorm life and love nest apartments.
With the historical backdrop of the post WW2 era, Falling From The Nest, reads as a stand-alone story but also serves as a sequel to author Bobbie Candas’ previous novel, The Lost and Found of Green Tree.
Excerpt:
While staring through raindrops racing down the smudged windows of the Stage Deli, I was startled by impatient, snapping fingers begging for my attention. I’d been looking at the long line of well-dressed patrons curling around the block of Carnegie Hall. They were patiently waiting, with umbrellas open, to buy tickets to some amazing performance I’d never see.
”Hey you…doll-face.” I looked over in Snappy Finger’s direction. “Two grilled sky-highs on rye and two black coffees. We’re in a hurry.”
Ok, you grumpy, fat bastards. I pulled out a pad and pencil from my apron pocket and looked down at two burly men wearing pinstriped, double breasted suits with tacky wide ties. I flashed a smile, held back my real thoughts, and asked, “Mustard, mayonnaise, or both?” And added sweetly, “And how about a dill pickle on the side?”
“Yeah, all the above, doll. Just get it ordered, quick. Oh, and bring us a couple black-n-whites too.”
“You got it handsome.”
I turned, walking quickly down the tight row of wooden tables at the busy deli and called out my order to the cook behind the grill. “Hey, Chuckles! Two sky-highs, m-and- m, with a dill…and no rush, take your time with those.”
The short-order cook, a balding, older man with a low tolerance for fools and a sucker for a friendly smile, called out, “No problem, Jo-Jo.”
I poured the two cups of coffee and slid two large round cookies with chocolate and vanilla icing onto small plates. Six months ago, I would have been intimidated by those two men and their fancy suits. But now I knew they were only low-level number runners who wore the same cheap suit everyday, except maybe on Sunday when, hopefully, they got them cleaned. I’d seen and learned a lot in the last six months.
Back at Snappy Finger’s table, I purposely leaned over, balancing my tray. “Gentlemen, your coffee and black-n-whites.” I set their cups and cookies down and said, “I told the cook to put a rush on those sandwiches. Seems to be a little backed up at the grill though.” I then turned around and bussed the table beside them, stretching over to wipe it down, giving them a full view of my back side. I lived off tips. I’d learned what I had to do.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’m a Texas girl: grew up in San Antonio, went to school at UT in Austin where I earned my degree in journalism, and settled in Dallas where I raised a husband, two kids and a few cats. My husband, Mehmet, and the cats will probably disagree on who raised who, but I’m a sucker for a robust discussion.
For years I was involved in retail management, but in 2014 I refocused on my writing, taking deep dives into the lives of my characters. When you can pry my fingers off the keyboard, I enjoy entertaining, sharing food and drink with friends and family. I enjoy shopping, usually on the hunt for apparel, with a special weakness for shoes, and will frequently jump at the opportunity of an unexpected trip to a far-away place.
And I always make time for reading. I keep a stack of novels ready and waiting on my night stand, with a few tapping their toe in my Kindle. I bounce around genres, and I’m always ready for a good recommendation.
Facebook: Author Bobbie Candas: https://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasauthor
Good Reads author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292457.Bobbie.Candas
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bobbie-Candas/author/B00MNS6KV0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas
October 1, 2024
Release Day – The Wallflower’s Retribution by Tabetha Waite
The Wallflower’s Retributionby Tabetha Waite
Revenge of the Wallflowers
When it comes to revenge, it is a dish best served… steaming hot.
Carmia McDougal is a woman scorned. She met Thame Forrester by chance. He was visiting his uncle’s hunting box in Scotland, and their paths crossed. It was love at first sight for both of them. At least, that’s what she thought. When they were due to meet at the altar, he never arrived. Instead, she was told that he’d returned to London, and that their brief romantic affair was nothing but a lark. As a long-standing wallflower, Carmia decides that she’s not going to take such a slight, so she gathers up her courage and travels to confront the scoundrel, all while making her retribution sweeter than honey…
The moment Thame Forrester met Carmia, he immediately found the enchanting, Scottish lass to be irresistible, but he realized he was being selfish by dragging her into a world that demanded so much. English society was much more proper than she was used to enduring. At least, that was what he told himself. It was easier than admitting that he might have acted rashly, although later he realized that it had broken his heart to leave the titian-haired beauty. Nevertheless, he decides that she would get over him soon enough—until she arrives in London and uses her charm to win over everyone she meets. Thame realizes he’s made a terrible mistake by letting her get away, but she keeps insisting that their time has passed. However, he is just as determined as his fiery counterpart and when it comes to love, he isn’t giving up the battle easily.
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September 24, 2024
To Charm the Marquess by Aileen Fish
To Charm the Marquess by Aileen Fish
Revenge of the Wallflowers book 30
Minnie Dixon has loved the Marquess of Whitehall for…well, forever. So when her friend asks her to write love letters to him as a joke, it’s easy to do, but no laughing matter. She puts her heart into those anonymous letters, only to discover her friend has claimed to be the author. Now Whitehall is falling for the wrong woman. Revenge is the only answer Minnie can see, so she outs herself as the true author of the love notes.
Michael Saunders, Marquess of Whitehall, is first hurt that someone would pretend to love him, then angry at being the butt of their joke. He’s still in need of a wife, however, and when the pain subsides he’s curious if the woman who wrote those impassioned letters could really love him as she said. He honestly doubts anyone is capable of such emotion, but decides getting to know her will free him of the notion such a love could be real. Then he can continue his search for an amicable marriage.
Given a second chance she never dreamed possible, can Minnie prove she’s everything the marquess could ever want in a wife and have her happy ending?
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