Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 32
July 8, 2016
Adirondack for Ladies series by L.R. Smolarek
The Road to Becoming an Author…
I really wanted to be a cowboy. So how did I end up writing romance novels? Truth be told, I’m not exactly sure. There are as many paths to writing as there are personalities of writers.
When I was four years old I loved watching old Westerns on television while bouncing across the room on my childhood rocking horse. I refused to wear “girlie” clothes and wouldn’t leave the house without my trusty holster and Stetson hat. The creaking of the springs on that old plastic rocking horse combined with the excitement of a round-up fueled my desire to be a cowboy. As time went by I realized a few things: One, I lived on the wrong side of the country. Two, I didn’t own a horse and the fact I wasn’t a boy negated the “boy” portion of the title, “cowboy”. Undaunted by reality, I continued my obsession with horses and dreamed of being an equestrian, and again reality smacked me up the side of the head. The rocking horse had worn out and my family could not afford the upkeep of a real horse. So I turned my energy to the great outdoors and the study of nature. By sixteen I thought for sure my calling was to be a forest ranger. I had visions of myself up in a lofty fire tower in some Western mountain range, binoculars in hand scanning the horizon as a guardian angel of the forest in league with Smoky the Bear. Guess what? That didn’t work out either. But my passion for nature and the outdoors never wavered, simply transformed into a writing career for environmental education and public awareness. I started writing nature education articles for a local parenting magazine and fooled around with creating children’s books.
Enter the Adirondack Mountains. Welcome to a world of balsam scented forests, granite mountain peaks and miles of streams and rivers where the morning mist rises off mountain lakes like a phantom ghost to the haunting call of the loon.
The idea of writing an actual book came to me in a bookstore while on vacation in the High Peaks area of the Adirondacks. The shelves of the store were filled with a wealth of books on history, field guides, maps, children’s books, and hiking trails but very few if any fiction books geared toward women. I was looking for the quintessential vacation read. I wanted a book set in the locale, something light, funny and romantic.
Hmm…. The Adirondacks are a place, a time, a nostalgic step back into history or quiet walk along a forested trail. The mountains have been the playground for the rich and famous for over a century. The perfect setting for a book that appeals to women hungry for adventure, a place where a character who has an affinity for nature can find romance ripe with the possibility of chaos and comedy thrown in for good measure..
And that’s when the characters started dancing in my head. First came Ellen, an awkward teenager, whose gangly arms and legs function only to trip, embarrass and humiliate her. Add to Ellen’s emotional make-up a stepmother who apprenticed under the Wicked Witch of the West and you have a character who is sorely lacking in self-confidence and in denial of her self-worth but with oh, so many possibilities…
In the world of romance writing you can’t have a heroine without a hot hunky hero, so Vic clambered on top of my brain saying, “Take me, take me. I’m tall, dark and gorgeous. We can’t have Ellen running around in the woods all by herself. She needs a strong pair of arms along with my broad shoulders to keep her company. The fact that my raven hair falls in waves to brush the collar of my shirt and I have dark eyes that smolder with flecks of golden amber won’t hurt either. Vic…
And that’s how the first book, Adirondack Audacity was conceived. It took me many years to finish writing the book, but Ellen and Vic wouldn’t leave me alone. They would settle in my head late at night insisting it was a good time to write. So word by word, page by page, I wrote. And the more I wrote, the more I liked writing, even if it was just for the sake of creating a story. And then the book was done, Ellen and Vic came to life and into the hearts of my readers.
Adirondack Audacity is the story of Ellen’s misguided adventures beginning as a nature counselor at the posh Camp High Point in the Adirondack Mountains. Tagged with the nickname Klutz-Ellen, her life had been sorely lacking in romance. The last thing she expected was the beguiling spell of Vicente Rienz, aloof, arrogant and dangerously handsome in denim and leather. She despised him on sight until the sparks between them ignited into a passion not to be denied. Thwarted by circumstances beyond their control and a curse born out of Adirondack legend, Vic and Ellen’s love leads to disaster. So how does a nature-loving girl like Ellen end up wearing four-inch stilettos and designer dresses on the coast of California, more than three thousand miles away from home? Join the fun as Adirondack Audacity spans the decades, crisscrossing the country on a hilarious journey, coming back full circle to the mountains in search of love.
Adirondack Audacity was written to be a single standalone title but after winning the Virginia Romance Writers HOLT award for best contemporary novel of 2015 and readers asking for more, the “Adirondack for Ladies” series was born. Romantic adventure comedies set in the Adirondack Mountains catering to those who want a little outdoors and humor mixed in with their romance.
Book Two, Audacity on the Water, is the summer release for 2016. The adventures begun in Adirondack Audacity continue…
As the sun dawns over the Adirondack Mountains, Ellen McCauley Rienz snuggles deeper into her husband’s embrace, secure in the knowledge that her first love, her lost love is safe in her bed…and here to stay. Happily ever after, at last…
Until an incessant pounding on the front door jerks her back to reality, and promises made and commitments unfulfilled.
In a moment of enthusiasm, Ellen had entered the Adirondack Canoe Classic neglecting to tell her husband they would be paddling a 90 mile canoe race through the lakes and rivers of the Adirondack Mountains…while on their honeymoon. What was she thinking?
Paddling 90 miles in three days coached by a bombastic East German, stalked by a local thug whistling Moon River and a Harley-Davidson riding housekeeper named Adele are just a few of the trials Ellen faces on this hilarious journey…with a startling conclusion that only Klutz-Ellen can pull off. Murder, mystery and mayhem on the “90”?!
The Adirondack for Ladies Series…titillating novels filled with humor, drama and a whole lot of sizzle…The perfect pairing with a glass of chardonnay and an Adirondack chair…curl up and indulge. The beach read has finally come to the mountains!
Grab your copies now!
Adirondack AudacityL.R. Smolarek
What happens when Lucille Ball runs smack dab into Marilyn Monroe; meet Ellen McCauley. Ellen wants to escape her demons, namely a step-mother named Helen, and her reputation as the school klutz. A fall down the stairs, in front of the entire varsity football team…while wearing pink polka-a-dot underwear, earns her the nickname “Dots.” And that’s just the beginning. So when a job as nature counselor at Camp High Point in the Adirondack Mountains comes up, it spells escape for Ellen.
Her hopes for an idyllic Adirondack summer do not include Vicente Rienz, the camp lifeguard, known to his friends as Vic. Born to an American mother, but a Spanish grandee by birthright of his Mexican father, he is all male, in denim and leather, aloof, arrogant, and very competent at……..everything. Ellen hates him on sight, until the sparks between them ignite into a passion not to be denied. A summer under the stars leads to unforeseen consequences and separation.
What began as a teenage romance is rekindled when Ellen and Vic reunite as adults. Seeking answers to the past, they return to the Adirondacks in a quest that turns dangerous for a dramatic conclusion.
Adirondack Audacity serves up the titillating flavors of life: romance, drama, hilarious hijinks, a little bit sexy and always fun.
Finally the “beach” read comes to the mountains. So grab a glass of wine, curl up in an Adirondack chair …and indulge! Did someone say…… Thirty Shades of Balsam?
Available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble (print only)!
Audacity on the WaterL.R. Smolarek
Ellen McCauley Rienz yawns, stretching in the early morning light that spills through the open French doors of her Adirondack Camp. She snuggles deeper into her husband’s embrace, secure in the knowledge that Vic, her first love, her lost love is safe in her bed…and here to stay. Happily ever after, at last… Until an incessant pounding on the front door jerks her back to reality, and promises made and commitments unfulfilled. In a rash moment of enthusiasm, Ellen entered the Adirondack Canoe Classic neglecting to tell her husband they would be paddling a 90 mile canoe race through the lakes and rivers of the Adirondack Mountains…while on their honeymoon. Paddling 90 miles in three days coached by a bombastic East German, stalked by a local thug whistling Moon River and a Harley-Davidson riding housekeeper named Adele are just a few of the complications Ellen faces on this hilarious journey with a startling conclusion. Murder, mystery and mayhem on the “90”? The Adirondack for Ladies series…titillating novels filled with humor, drama and a bit of sizzle for those who love outdoor adventure.
Available at Amazon!
Connect with L.R. on her website and Facebook!
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July 5, 2016
In The Dirt, what a tease
Jo can’t deny how much she wants Eric. After a sample of what he can do, that desire is ramped up even further. So high that Jo barely knows what she’s saying. Eric does though, as he teases her in anticipation of more time together.
Excerpt from In The Dirt
“So,” Eric drawled, “you don’t pick up guys here?”
Jo huffed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t make it sound like you’re so damn special.”
Eric’s eyes narrowed. “So you do pick up guys here,” he stated, no longer questioning.
Jo sighed. “No. Fine. No. I’ve never flirted with a customer before you. And I’ve certainly never,” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “done what we did in the bathroom here either.”
Eric’s grin slid back into place, making him look both menacing and hotter than hell at the same time. “I wasn’t finished with you in there, you know. I wanted to listen to you, Coach Marcinko. Those sexy little noises you were making drove me mad.” Jo’s whole body flushed. She wanted him to fulfill all the promises his rich voice made. “That right there is making me want you again, Jo. Your skin is turning pink and I want so desperately to see how far that pink color goes. Does it cover your breasts? Does it trail down your stomach? Or lower? Are you going to let me see, Jo?”
“Yes,” she moaned, unable to stop the word from falling out of her mouth. She wanted to drag it back in, but she couldn’t. He already knew she wanted him. Even if she didn’t want to want him.
“Good. I’m going to hold you to that. For tonight though, I’m going to leave you to your work. Maybe we can pick up where we left off this weekend.”
Jo nodded, not really listening to him. He handed her his card to pay the tab for himself and Emma. She swiped his card and handed him a receipt. He folded it over before handing it back to her, then winked as he got up and left.
Jo watched him until he disappeared out the door then grabbed the receipt to file it. He left her a tip. A big tip.
What the hell did that mean?
And what did he say about the weekend? Something was trying to break through Jo’s mind but she couldn’t grab it. She went back to work, putting Eric out of her mind. The night was slow and she found herself distracted more than once, especially when she went to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and stared herself down in the mirror, watching her skin flush with the memory of the things he did to her, and said to her. Then she realized exactly what he meant.
Their first away game was that weekend.
Buy It Now!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords
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July 3, 2016
Q&A Sunday: Taking A Break
I’ll be honest with you… I’m tired!
It’s been a long week and an even longer weekend, if you can believe that! I’m not answering a question today because, to tell the truth, I’m worn out!
We threw a birthday party for my kids yesterday. They both have summer birthdays and hosting more than one party is tough since summers are always so busy, so we just throw one big party! It’s wild, but so much fun.
We had 15 kids and a slew of adults and so much fun! One of our local parks has shelters that you can rent out so we picked one with a big playground next to it and let the kids wear themselves out. Hubby grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, I baked six dozen cupcakes, and family and friends helped us make it a success.
And now I’m worn out. So I’m taking a break today! I’ll answer more questions next week. If you’ve got one for me, post it in the comments below or send me an email. I’m running low on questions so send them in! Please!
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July 1, 2016
Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki
Tasting TemptationAria Glazki
After last summer’s failed attempt at romance, Gina is absolutely done with men. And especially with millionaires. She has a good job as a fashion editor and amazing friends, and she’s decided she needs nothing else. All she really misses is the sex. But that rush just isn’t worth the risk of being ensnared in another relationship. When the hot bartender at her best friend’s Sonoma wedding suggests some harmless stress relief, she takes him up on the offer. When it’s sufficiently satisfactory, she indulges in a repeat–for the road. When she learns he’s actually the wealthy owner of the vineyard, the mix of fury and fear is damped only by the knowledge that she never has to see him again.
Hunter Cavaliere is determined to honor his grandfather’s legacy, and so far, he’s right on track. The vineyard is thriving, he has plans for expansion, and his wines speak for themselves. The only thing missing is the right woman to share it all. But through his grandparents’ marriage, Hunter learned what true love is, and he’s unwilling to settle for anything else. A woman who judges him because of his money definitely isn’t high up on his list. Still, when circumstance unbelievably keeps bumping him into the intriguing brunette from Portland, he can’t shake the feeling that she is someone he should pursue.
Gina’s poised to run the other way, but one more taste of Hunter may just prove too tempting to resist.
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Grab your copy of Tasting Temptation now from
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CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01FPNK182
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tasting-temptation/id1114609688
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Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/636629
Autographed print copies: ariaglazki.selz.com
Watering the Seeds of a Story
Where a story starts and where it began can mean very different things. Tasting Temptation starts in an alteration shop, but it began in a bar.
At the end of Mending Heartstrings, it was clear that the next book in this world would need to be Gina’s. (Don’t worry, Tasting Temptation is complete entirely on its own—you do not need to have read Mending Heartstrings first.) Still, months spanned between knowing this story was next and having an idea of where to start, and I can tell you the precise moment that changed.
About three years ago (June of 2013), in Paris, I went out with a couple of friends, one of whom suggested we visit the bar where his boyfriend worked, a place called freedj. His boyfriend, who managed this bar, came out to say hello and was promptly convinced to create his special drink for us—a delicious chocolaty concoction.
Amid the low lighting and the pounding music, one patron caught my eye. Though there wasn’t a clear dance floor in the front room, there this guy was, emphatically dancing away on his own to the music. It was this bizarre combination of sad and empowering, yet leaning a bit toward creepy as he bodily tried to convince others to join him, mostly by grinding on unsuspecting strangers. And as far as I could see, I was the only woman in the room at the time.
For whatever reason, something about this place—the name, the vibe, the lone dancer—clicked in my head. It seemed like a great setting for a scene between Gina and one of her friends Roger, both of whom start this book single but with very different opinions about being on their own. Honest to goodness, I pulled out a receipt and pen from my purse and started taking notes right there, even though I could barely see what I was writing.
Picturing these characters in a similar bar, trying to find a good guy for Roger, very quickly sparked the idea for the first scene in the book, where Roger bemoans having to go to a friend’s wedding alone. Many of these details from freedj were adapted to what is now Chapter Six, and that’s how Tasting Temptation was born! I even still have the receipt with the very first scribbles that many months later grew into this book. And now, three years later, it’s out in the world—with due reference to freedj, the place where it all began.
Meet AriaAria Glazki’s first kiss technically came from a bear cub. Though no fairytale transformation followed, she still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is. So now Aria writes heartfelt romances about relatable people overcoming real-world obstacles to build love that lasts.
Connect with Aria online!
Website: www.AriaGlazki.com
Newsletter: bit.ly/AriaGNewsletter
http://Facebook.com/Aria.Glazki
http://twitter.com/AriaGlazki
http://instagram.com/AriaGlazki
http://Goodreads.com/AriaGlazki
***Note: Giveaway is hosted by Aria and conducted through the use of Rafflecopter. If you have problems with entering, please contact Aria!
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June 28, 2016
In The Dirt, falling in love
In The Dirt is available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords!
Icing The Kicker, the seventh and final book in the Paradise Park series, is now available for preorder. And in case you missed it, check out the Icing The Kicker cover, and read all about Isabella and Greg!
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June 26, 2016
Q&A Sunday: Making Changes
This week Vicki asked,
Is there a book you’ve written that you would change anything within the pages?
I really don’t like this question! I’ll be honest, I have trouble admitting my failures and I feel like I’m telling you my failures when I answer this. At the same time, I like this question because it’s really helping me to be clear.
So the short answer is yes.
The long answer is every single book.
In my earlier books I wrote the best book I could. In my later books I’ve written the best book I could. In between though, my style and skills have changed dramatically. When I’ve gone back and reviewed parts of my older books I want to rewrite the whole thing to match the way I’m writing now. Even my newer books I find things that I want to change.
I still love the stories inside, but I’ve changed.
I’m balancing who I am, who I was, and who I’m becoming in my writing. It’s not an easy task. In my old career as an engineer, I worked on a project, I finished the project, and I moved on. There wasn’t any opinion in there. It was fact and things either worked or they didn’t. With writing, it’s all subjective, and that’s tough for me.
But I’m getting there.
Slowly I am working through updating all my older books. The first one I updated was Playing By The Rules. I loved the storyline, but I wanted to make some improvements so I changed a few things in May of this year. If you download it now, you’ll get the new version. I still have a lot of work to do on the others, but I know at the core they’re good stories.
Thanks so much, Vicki, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!
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June 24, 2016
Heartland by Sara Walter Ellwood
HeartlandSinging to the Heart, book 3
by Sara Walter Ellwood
Available now in print and ebook
Sex, drugs, and country music. That was the lifestyle for Emily Kendall, a Texas girl who hit it big on the country music charts—until she found herself pregnant and battling addiction. Now out of rehab and seeking a new life for herself and her unborn child, Emily returns to her hometown of McAllister. The last thing she’s looking for is trouble, no matter how good it looks in uniform…
A widower, single father, and former Army Ranger struggling with PTSD, Sheriff EJ Cowley has his own demons to battle while keeping folks safe. The last thing he needs is a troubled celebrity speeding through town in her bright red Maserati. But when someone from Emily’s past threatens her safety and the peace of McAllister, EJ has no choice but to protect her. And soon both will learn there’s more to the other than meets the eye. And that wounded hearts can love again…
Excerpt from Heartland
Emily refolded the two pairs and headed out to the display of jeans. As she put the pants back into their slots, she glanced around to see if anyone was close enough to see her. Her heart pounded in time with the fast beat of the song playing over the sound system as she reached the cubbyholes marked maternity. With another discreet look around, she picked out three pairs in her size and headed back to the tiny dressing room.
The jeans fit perfectly, but how the hell was she going to buy them? She refolded the pants, tucked them under her arm, and went to the shoe section. While she looked for a pair of boots, she devised a plan. If she was lucky, maybe no one would notice she’d bought maternity jeans.
“I personally like Justin boots, but I work in mine.”
She sucked in a breath at the low timbre of EJ’s voice behind her. Was he everywhere in this town? Turning with a box of boots, she smiled. “It would seem that we have something in common then. I’ve always like them, too.”
He raised a brow and a side of his mouth quirked up when he noticed the boots she’d chosen. A basic pair used mostly for riding and work. “You taking up cowboying now?”
She set the clothes she’d chosen on the bench beside her and sat to try on the boots. As she slipped off her flip-flops, she dug a pair of socks out of her purse. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I need a pair of boots to ride in.” She looked up at him with a smug smile. “Now that you know why I’m here.” She looked over his uniform. Tan polyester blend shouldn’t fit a man that sinfully well. “You’re obviously working. I want to know why you’re following me.”
He rubbed a hand over his chin and averted his gaze. “I…eh… Saw you come into the store and wanted to ask if you’d join me for coffee.”
Was he asking her out on a date? Trying hard and failing to stop her heart from speeding up at the possibility, she pulled on her socks. “I don’t drink coffee.”
“Well, then I guess you’ll have to join me for lunch.”
As she tugged on one of the boots, she looked up at him. His pewter eyes held a challenge in them. She pulled on the other one and stood. Damn, they were too tight. Ignoring the pinching of the boots, she put her hands on her hips. “Tell you what. You can drink coffee and I’ll drink tea, how does that sound? I had breakfast not too long ago.”
He glanced at her feet, then knelt down in front of her.
“What are you doing?” She took a step back, but he caught her foot.
“You look like you’re trying to stuff your feet into a shoe three sizes too small.” He squeezed around her booted foot, then glanced up at her. “Boots are supposed to fit like a glove not a vise.”
Holy hell, he looked hot down there. She couldn’t get enough air in her lungs.
EJ stood and pulled the next size off the self. “Try these.”
He was close enough that every breath she took filled her senses with his clean outdoorsy scent. How could a man smell this good?
“Are you a boot salesman as well as the sheriff?” Did that husky voice belong to her?
“I know something about boots.” He grinned, showing off straight white teeth and full kissable lips.
Stepping back, she bumped into her pile of clothes on the bench, knocking them to the floor in front of him. Before she could bend to pick them up, he knelt and gathered up a pair of the jeans. When he shifted his surprised gaze to hers, she trembled as icy fear replaced the heat of attraction in her gut.
She knelt next to him and took a deep breath. In a low tone, she said, “Yes, I’m pregnant, but I’m not ready to let it be common knowledge.”
He refolded the jeans and set them on the bench. “Then your secret is safe with me. How were you planning to buy these? The clerk would see what they are.”
She set a folded pair on top of the one he’d placed on the bench and shifted to sit beside them. “I know. I was hoping I could distract her enough that she wouldn’t notice what she was ringing through.”
He leaned against the shelf of boots behind him. “Not a half-bad plan.”
Needing to do something besides stare at him, she lifted one of the boots out of the box he’d given her and pulled it on. A much better fit. She slipped into the other boot.
“You could let me buy them.”
If you’d like to see more excerpts check them out here: https://sarawalterellwood.wordpress.com/singing-to-the-heart/heartland-book-3/heartland-excerpts/
Buy Heartland now from Kensington, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Google Play, or Kobo!
The other books in Singing to the Heart…
Heartstrings, Book 1 and Heartsong, Book 2 are also available in ebook and print.
Heartstrings: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heartstrings-Heartsong-Book-Walter-Ellwood-ebook/dp/B00IGFX7BA/
Heartsong: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heartsong-Book-Sara-Walter-Ellwood-ebook/dp/B00VZZM6A6/
For other vendor links and book information check out my website page: https://sarawalterellwood.wordpress.com/singing-to-the-heart/
Meet SaraAlthough Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia. Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published and international Amazon bestselling author of the anthology set Cowboy Up. She also dabbles in the paranormal genre with her The Hunter’s Dagger Series, which was previously published under the pen name Cera duBois.
Connect with Sara on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads!
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June 21, 2016
In The Dirt, release day
I am so excited In The Dirt is finally available! This was such a fun book to write. I stretched myself since lacrosse was not one of the sports I knew really well, but like the others, the sport is a backdrop for the romance. Still, I enjoyed diving into lacrosse and messing with Jo and Eric.
I had some fun in this book with senses. Eric likes to tease and Jo likes to push so the balance between them was fun and exciting. But so was bringing in the senses. I wanted to share a little of that with you today. Enjoy!
Excerpt from In The Dirt
Eric couldn’t believe he was kissing her again. That she’d let him. She hadn’t pushed him away yet, but he could feel her body yielding to him. He was in, further in than he’d been in weeks.
The beeping on the stove threatened to break him out of the trance she put him in. Eric wanted to ignore it. He didn’t care if the cookies burned, if the oven caught fire, if the whole damn house burned to the ground, as long as Jo kept kissing him.
She pushed against his chest strongly enough that he had to step back. “The cookies,” she said, breathless. Her eyes were shining with desire. For him. But she was worried about the cookies.
Eric stalked into the kitchen, yanked them out of the oven and tossed the tray on the stovetop, then hit the button to turn the oven off. He tossed the oven mitt over his head as he headed back to Jo, hoping he found her just as he’d left her.
No such luck.
“This is soooo good,” she moaned, making his dick twitch. “Oh, my God, I have to have that recipe.”
Hmm, a bargaining chip?
“I’m not sure that’s an option. You’ll just have to come over here whenever you want peanut butter cookies.”
Jo studied him, her blue eyes locked on his. He wanted inside her head, but he didn’t think she’d let him in. If he wanted to hold on to her he needed to tread lightly.
“Maybe we could work something out.”
“Like what?” Eric asked, moving closer.
Jo shrugged. “Some kind of a trade.”
Eric’s lips quirked up. “I’ll show you mine and you’ll show me yours?” he suggested.
Jo grinned at him, a full smile that brought light into her eyes. “If only I had something you wanted me to show you.”
Eric growled as he closed the distance between them. “Oh, you have plenty of things I was you to show me. Things to see. Things to touch. Things to taste. Things to smell. Things to hear. I’d be happy to trade any of the above.”
If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, get it now! Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, or Smashwords!
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June 19, 2016
Q&A Sunday: Travel
This week I have such a fun question. I hope you’re enjoying Q&A Sunday as much as I am!
Vicki asked,
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel and why that place?
Let me start by saying I love to travel, but I also love home. I’m an introvert and very much a home body so whenever I travel I have to feel like I’m home, too. Meaning a very comfortable hotel to stay in (comfortable does not mean pricey to me because I don’t live very expensive – I mean comfort in terms of how I feel there), good choices for places to eat, preferably a mini-fridge and microwave (because leftovers = midnight snack sometimes), and close to where I want to be or what I plan to do.
I’m also a planner so when I travel I have to know what I’m going to do. I don’t usually have an itinerary, but I like to know where I’ll be staying is a reasonable distance to where I’d like to go visit.
But where is all that???
My number one place to go is San Francisco. Don’t ask me why because I couldn’t tell you, but if someone gave me a blank check to travel, San Fran would be the top of my list.
Why?
I’ve been there before, so it’s not a new place to me, but I didn’t want to leave. I’ve always been very drawn to San Francisco and the appeal did not dwindle when we visited. We stayed for a few days as part of our honeymoon, but I wished we’d stayed longer. (Yes, I took that picture, and you can tell how long ago it was since the time stamp was on it!)
I want to see more of the city.
I want to tour more vineyards.
I want to tour more of the touristy places in town (Ghirardelli, more of Fisherman’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Park to name a few).
I want to walk / bike Golden Gate Bridge.
I want to see Sausalito.
I want to do it all.
If I ever got the chance, I’d really love to see a 49ers game in San Francisco. I’ve seen them play twice (once in Buffalo and once in Atlanta) and will see them again this fall in Buffalo, but we weren’t in San Francisco in the fall so I didn’t see them at home. I’d love to see a game there.
San Francisco is a city I absolutely love, but would never want to live. I’m not a city girl, but more than that I wouldn’t want to be so far from family. But I’d go visit any time! Call me if you have an extra ticket!
I’d love to visit all 50 states at some point in my life. One of my dreams is to take my kids to all 50 states. I’ve visited 24 so far, my kids are far less. My husband and I have talked about taking road trips over summer break (when the kids are a little older) and touring a different part of the country. Maybe take off a month and drive around different areas so we get a good view of that part of the country. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to do it!
Thanks so much, Vicki, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!
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June 17, 2016
Whispers of Danger and Love by Janis Lane
Whispers of Danger and LoveJanis Lane
When Cheryl realizes her new next-door neighbor is someone she loved as a young girl, she immediately puts the brakes on her emotions. Never again would she allow the gorgeous hunk of a man to break her heart.
Ruggedly handsome Detective David Larkin isn’t used to pretty ladies giving him a firm no. He persists, even as Cheryl fights her own temptations. The two struggle to appreciate each other as adults, even as they admit to deep feelings from their childhood.
Buy it now from Amazon!
Gardening Spoken Here
Within my newest novel, Whispers of Danger and Love, I’ve allowed one of my characters to borrow my knowledge of plants. Cheryl Esterbrook, as a landscape designer, spouts (or should I say sprouts?) information regarding gardening, plants, and flowers enthusiastically. She’s also a strong, single woman stubbornly choosing the role in life that makes her happy, in spite of resistance from her family and friends, even though she is vulnerable to a hunky detective who has moved next door. The detective is a childhood sweetheart. With all the history between them, they must work to acknowledge their adult selves and each other. The peace of the garden is disrupted by the friction between the two main characters as they struggle to adapt.
I had so much fun writing this story, discussing plants, and mentally pushing large machines around that I am tempted to do it all again. My day job is working with plants, and I have delighted in loaning Cheryl all my knowledge and expertise for her chosen profession. Hopefully readers will derive as much enjoyment from this cozy mystery liberally sprinkled with ‘garden jargon’ as I did.
Meet Janis (and her alter ego, Emma)Janis Lane and spouse live on several acres at the edge of a small town in Western NY.
She enjoys working at her son’s plant nursery on days when she is not writing. As pen name, Emma Lane, she writes Regency Romance. As Janis Lane, she is the author of the Detective Kevin Fowler Cozy Mysteries, Murder in the Neighborhood, Murder in the Junkyard, Whispers of Danger and Love (Fowler makes a cameo appearance) and soon to be released, Murder on Blake Hill.
Connect with Janis on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!
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