Marlow Kelly's Blog, page 13

​Did you make a New Year’s Resolution?

​Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? Personally, I don’t believe in resolutions. Mainly because I’ve never been able to keep them and it feels as if I’m breaking a promise to myself, which makes me feel bad inside.
But I have set goals
I plan to add five minutes of jogging to my walk every day. I will do this in minute intervals. Jog for a minute and then walk for a minute, then jog for a minute…and so on until I’ve done five minutes of jogging then I will continue to walk for the rest of my exercise time.
I also want to add some gut healthy foods to my diet. Please understand I’m not going to diet I just want to cultivate a healthy microbiome. Why? Because microbes help us digest food, harvest calories, provide us with energy, produce crucial vitamins, regulate appetite, and protect our immune system. This is a new approach to healthy eating spearheaded by Professor Tim Spector, author of the new book “The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat”
Professor Spector’s work (Yes, he has a super villain’s name.) was recently featured in a CBC documentary It Takes Guts.
Here are Tim Spector’s top ten foods for gut health:Jerusalem artichokes

Leeks


Garlic


Lentils


Apples


Nuts


Yogurt


Extra Virgin Olive Oil


 Red wine


 Dark ChocolateI’m good with the Red Wine, but I’m not sure about the rest :)
​Lastly, I plan to do more promos this year. This will be especially true in January, February and March. I’m planning giveaways, and sales to celebrate some special days, such as Robbie Burns day on 25th January, where we appreciate the Scots in all their glory. And what self respecting romance writer doesn’t celebrate Valentines Day 14th February with a giveaway. Finally, I have to do something special for St. Patrick’s Day.
So stay tuned for announcements.
​What are your goals? I'd love to hear about them?
 
I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful 2016. 

In Time for You by Chris Karlsen - Book Tour and Giveaway

​PRE-ORDER In Time For You FOR ONLY $0.99  While horseback riding in the English countryside, sisters, Electra and Emily Crippen find themselves trapped in a tear in time. Thrown back to 1357 England and caught by a local noble, they are in a place that is home but as frightening and unfamiliar as an alien world would be. With no idea how the tear in time came about, the one thing they do know is: they must stay together and stay near to where the event took place in hopes of discovering the way back to their modern life. That certain need to stay together is the first certainty taken from them when one sister is forced to remain in England and one is sent miles away to Wales by royal order.
 
There is one other hope for help the sisters don’t know exists. It’s Electra’s lover, Roger Marchand. A time traveler himself, he never told her of his past. When he realizes what has happened to the sisters, he enlists the help of a scientist friend to help him open the suspected passageway through time. Any effort to save Electra and Emily will likely cost him his life. This was the time Roger came from, a time when his country, France, was at war with England. If he is discovered on English soil while searching for the sisters, he will either be killed or taken prisoner of war. Any risk is worth saving the life of the woman he loves.

Excerpt:
​
They walked at a fast pace for fifteen minutes. They came to where a service road built during World War II intersected with the Old Roman Road. Instead mature oaks and alder dotted what should've been the single-lane service road. Gone too was the old sign indicating the direction of the wartime airfield abandoned in 1946. 
 
"I'm afraid, El. Nothing is what or where it should be. Things are the same but different."
 
"I'm afraid too. I don't understand any of this. Like you said, it's all the same in the main, but the details are all wrong. It's as though we're part of an artist's rendition of this place, but he erased Roger and the horses, and the picnic part. Instead he drew in foliage and kept us."
 
Emily tried her cell phone again with no luck. "Maybe we should wait here. I'm certain Roger will come for us. He's probably already headed this way. Don't you think?"
 
Electra didn't want to tell her what she feared. She had no idea what was happening to them or what they needed to do, but in her heart, she feared if he was coming, he'd be there by now. 
 
"No, I don't think he's on the way," Electra said, truthfully. Emily would figure it out soon enough. "I don't see how staying in one place is better than keeping on toward the house."
 
"And if your imaginary artist erased the house?"
 
"Then we'll work out our next move."
 
They continued on to where Esme and Stephen's house stood or should've stood. Their cottage dated back to Tudor times as did the stable and other outbuildings. They'd survived hellacious storms, German bombs, and natural decay for 500 years.  
 
The sisters froze at the sight. None of the buildings were there, only short stone fences sectioning off various sheep pastures that occupied the land.
 

​AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 
I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.
 
My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. 
 
I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream. I write three different series. My paranormal romance series is called, Knights in Time. My romantic thriller series is Dangerous Waters. The newest is The Bloodstone Series. Each series has a different setting and some cross time periods, which I find fun to write.
 
I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and five wild and crazy rescue dogs. 
 
Links:
 
http://chriskarlsen.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://twitter.com/AuthorCKarlsen
https://www.facebook.com/chriskarlsen...
https://plus.google.com/1173692242976...Chris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.ca/2015/12/book-blast-in-time-for-you-by-chris.html a Rafflecopter giveaway

​Happy Holidays and How You Can Read Ebooks Without Buying an eReader

I want to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season, but I also want to let you know that you don’t need an eReader or Kindle to enjoy your favorite ebooks.
The idea for this post came to me recently when I was visiting the doctor’s, nothing serious, just the normal mutant flu (Tis the season to be snotty, Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
I was in the waiting room, reading a book on my phone, when another patient made a comment – something along the lines of – people today can’t put their phones down. He was shocked when I told him I was reading a book.
That’s when it occurred to me that many people don’t know that if you have a computer, smart phone or tablet you can purchase and read eBooks.
I’m not sure about Kobo or Barnes and Noble, but I do know that Amazon has a free app that allows you to download books to your device.
Personally, I love the convenience of always having a book with me. I don’t have to remember to charge another device. And I can enlarge the font to make it easier to read. Some people think that the small screen would be a problem, but to be honest, it’s not. I’m too involved in the book to notice.
So go ahead, treat yourself to a free app and ask for some ebooks for Christmas. You’ll be happy you did.
 
Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

The Hunter's Moon by Beth Trissel

​The Hunter's Moon is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and from other online booksellers. 

The Hunter's Moon is currently 50% off through The Wild Rose Press
​  ​Thanks for having me on your blog to share about my new release. Although The Hunter's Moon (Book 1, Secret Warrior Series) is my first venture into the young adult genre, I'm an award-winning, multi-published author in historical, paranormal, and time travel romance. I was inspired to create this new series partly by my teenage nieces and younger daughter. We've watched a lot of YA movies and TV programs together and had book discussions, during which they urged me to take the plunge.
​
I pondered the concept behind Secret Warrior for years as it gradually took shape in my mind. My love of history, fantasy, and fascination with the mountain people and Native Americans is at the heart of the series. Living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by mountains veiled in mist and mystery lends itself well to creating the characters and setting for YA fantasy romance, The Hunter's Moon, and the stories that will follow. Some of the characters and creatures are based on lore I've learned. Others appeared to me, as characters have a way of doing. A great deal of research and intuition went into writing The Hunter's Moon. Next in the series is Curse of the Moon (release date TBD). I purposefully kept these stories to novella length so they would come out faster, which means eBook format only. The Secret Warrior series is published by The Wild Rose Press. Story Description:
 
Seventeen year old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she's hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.
 
Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.
 
And that's just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets.
 
 
Excerpt:
 
“Should we stay, or go while the smoke lasts?” The cloth muffled her voice.
“You can hardly walk.”
She couldn’t argue that point. Neither could they wait to be found. “The Panteras won’t give up until we’re dead.”
“Maybe they think we are,” he argued under his breath.
“Maybe.”
She suspected Mateo would demand a body, even a charred one. Make that two. She and Jimmy didn’t have much choice, though, other than to crouch in dread while the fire crackled.
“Next birthday, I want an AK-47.” He nudged her. “Look.”
She fixed her blurry gaze on what appeared to be a black wolf emerging from the trees. The creature was larger than she’d thought wolves were, and she’d understood none remained in these mountains. They were all farther north or west. Somewhere else.
Apparently, she was misinformed.
Judging by its size, she guessed this was a male. He stopped before their hideout. Eyes the color of red coals surveyed them before he turned and darted down the trail she’d spotted.
“Holy cow, Batboy. Did you see that?” she whispered.
Jimmy didn’t reply. He prodded her again.
She stared at the big brown and gray wolf that took the black one’s place. Where on earth had he come from?
The beast turned its furry head at her and Jimmy. His eyes shone with a luminous light, like fireflies...
A bit about Beth: Married to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by my human family and furbabies. An avid gardener, my love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into my work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans, and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of my inspiration. I’m especially drawn to colonial America and the drama of the American Revolution. In addition to young adult fantasy romance, I also write historical, time travel, and paranormal romance, plus nonfiction.
For more on me, please visit my blog,
One Writer's Way: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com
Like me on Facebook: Author Beth Trissel
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BethTrissel
Visit my Amazon Author Page where all my books reside:
​ Amazon Author Page
 
 

Home Fires by Jana Richards

HOME FIRES (e-version) is on sale for .99 cents at all major e-retailers between December 4 and 17, 2015. Available at:
​
The Wild Rose Press 
All Romance Ebooks  
Amazon 
 B & N 
Bookstrand 
Google Play 
 Kobo 
 iBooks 
BAM
 

​My novella, HOME FIRES, tells the story of Anne Wakefield, a young British woman who travels to Canada after World War Two to marry her fiancé. Though Anne and her story are fictional, the phenomena of War Brides is not. Some 48,000 women married Canadian servicemen during the war. The majority of war brides were British, but some came from France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany. Between 1942 and 1947, these women, along with their 22,000 children, traveled to Canada to begin their new lives.
Some were married after quick, whirlwind romances. Others had the luxury of getting to know each other before they tied the knot. But for all these couples, marriage was the only answer. The customs of the day demanded that if they wanted to sleep together, they had to be married. And so they did. The times were perilous with no guarantee of a tomorrow. A sense of urgency compelled them to grab all the happiness they could.
In my story, Anne is not married before she comes to Canada because a wedding couldn’t be arranged before her fiancé was shipped home. Though the majority of war brides were married in England, some were not, and married in Canada instead. These women would have had to pay for their own passage on the war bride ships.
The war brides traveled on special ships, usually former luxury liners like the Queen Mary that had been converted to carrying troops during the war. Depending on the weather during the crossing, and the young woman’s constitution, she either had a wonderful adventure or a miserable, seasick trip. Some made new friends with the other war brides and enjoyed the abundance and quality of the food onboard. Almost every account I read talked about how thrilled they were to be able to eat foods that had been scarce in Britain since the beginning of the war. Simple things like white bread, butter, fruit and eggs were mentioned.
Once they arrived in Halifax, the war brides were directed to special trains that took them to their new homes. For brides whose destination was one of the Maritime Provinces, the train ride was short. But for those who were on their way to the Prairies or the west coast, the train ride took several days. In my story, Anne is destined for Saskatchewan on the Canadian prairies, so her train ride would have been at least five days.
Finally, the war bride would reach her final destination. Her husband or her husband’s family would be there to greet her. In most cases, it was a happy reunion. But not always. I read stories of husbands who told their British wives to go home because they didn’t want them anymore. A friend of mine in her eighties told me of a war bride she knew who was rejected by her husband when she arrived. This is Anne’s experience. By the time she arrives, her fiancé has married someone else.
Despite the often fast courtships and hastily arranged weddings between people from different backgrounds and cultures, the majority of these marriages endured. These marriages and the families that were created helped to build post-war Canada, and are a testament to the strength of character of the war brides.
HOME FIRES is on sale for .99 cents until December 17th!
More About Home FiresAnne Wakefield travels halfway around the world for love. But when she arrives in Canada from England at the end of World War Two, she discovers the handsome Canadian pilot she’d fallen in love with has married someone else. Heartbroken, she prepares to return to London, though she has nothing left there to return to. Her former fiancé’s mother makes a suggestion: marriage to her other son.
 
Badly wounded and scarred during the war, Erik Gustafson thinks he’s a poor substitute for his brother. Although he loves Anne almost from the first time he sees her, he cannot believe she would ever be able to love him as he is – especially as he might be after another operation on his bad leg.  Anne sees the beauty of his heart. The cold prairie winter may test her courage, but can she prove to Erik that her love for him is real?

​ Excerpt:
​
She whirled around to glare at him, her eyes blazing. “No! I’m not a child! I don’t have to be mollycoddled and babysat. I spent six years in a war zone, hiding in bomb shelters, never having enough to eat. I worked in a hospital treating blitz victims with wounds so horrendous grown men would gag to look at them. I faced those horrors every day. Sometimes things were so bad I thought I couldn’t go on. But I did. Because I had to. And I’ll face things here, too. So don’t tell me to give up, because I won’t!”
Erik pushed himself out of his chair to face her, awed by her spirit and courage. She lifted her chin as if defying him to contradict her, her hands clenched at her sides. Her dark hair curled in wild abandon as it dried, framing her pale oval face like a halo. Her beauty and ferocity were magnificent.
“I think you’re the strongest woman I know.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, her hands unclenching. He caught the quiver of her chin as she fought to hold back tears.
“I made such a mess of things,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for all the fuss I caused everyone.”
Erik took a step toward her. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have let you go alone in the dark.”
“You didn’t know I would stupidly walk out onto thin ice.” She shook her head. “I wanted to help. I wanted to be useful. I can’t stand feeling so bloody useless.”
“You’re not useless. You’re an amazing woman. Anders is a fool for letting you go.”
She stared at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank you.”
He opened his arms and she stepped into them, wrapping her arms around his waist, clinging to him. He held her tightly, inhaling the sweet, clean scent of her, never wanting to let her go.   
“Don’t cry. Everything’s all right now.”
“I know I’m being stupid. Tears don’t solve anything,” she said against his chest. “But I was so cold, and so scared. I thought I was going to die.”
He tightened his hold and kissed her hair. “Don’t think about it anymore. You’re safe now.”
He heard her sigh, felt her relax against him. “Yes. I’m safe.”
She lifted her head to look into his face, her dark eyes shiny with tears, her lips slightly parted, and Erik stared at her mouth, wanting desperately to kiss her, to capture her sweetness. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers. To his surprise, she didn’t run off or turn away in revulsion. He was so close her breath mingled with his, her breathing shallow and erratic. His heart slammed against his chest, his body thrumming with need. For the first time in over three years, he felt alive.

About Jana
Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side.  She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.
When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com

Jana's Social Links:
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page Newsletter Signup Goodreads Google+

Why We have a Christmas Tree at Christmas

Stonehenge photo attribution: By Mark Grant ​For Christmas 2013 I wrote a post entitled Merry Christmas or a Happy Winter Solstice where I explored the fact that people of the northern hemisphere have celebrated the winter solstice for millennia. Then for Christmas 2014 I wrote about Oliver Cromwell, The Man Who Banned Christmas whose attempt to ban Christmas was doomed to fail.
Why?
Because I believe when the world is at it’s darkest we need to celebrate the light, and what better way to do that than with family, friends, good food and presents. But lets look at the trappings of our traditional Christmas. Where did they come from? Especially that icon of the season, the Christmas tree.
St Boniface Bernhard Rode ​St. Boniface is believed to be responsible for putting the Christmas tree into Christmas. He was an eighth century missionary sent to convert the Germanic tribes to Christianity. He came upon a human sacrifice at the foot of an oak. He chopped down the tree and pointing to an evergreen said,
“This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the center of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your comfort and guide.”
And so the tradition of using a fir tree to celebrate Christ’s birth was born. It wasn’t until German settlers came to the United States that the idea of a Christmas tree began to spread outside of Germany.
Although we know that Pennsylvania German settlements had trees as early as 1747 they were still seen by some as a pagan tradition well into the 19th century.
So what changed? The royal family celebrating Christmas. ​Queen Victoria’s German consort, Prince Albert, brought his Christmas traditions with him to Windsor Castle. In the 1840's illustrations of the royals celebrating around a Christmas tree were published worldwide And let’s face it, if it’s good enough for the royal family it must be good enough for the rest of us. And so the modern tradition of the Christmas tree was born.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday.
​
Please visit my fellow authors listed below. I believe that some stops are offering prizes. Trans Canada Romance Writers
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 TransCRW Christmas Blog Tour Krista Ames - www.kristaames.com 
Annette Bower - http://annettebower.com/blog/
Denyse Bridger - www.fantasypages.ca 
Linda Carroll-Bradd - http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com
Stacy Dawn - www.writerknapsack.blogspot.com
Darlene Fredette - http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.ca/
Lori Power – http://www.loripowerwriter.com/words--more
Gini Rifkin - http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com/
​Krista Ames - www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com

Flawless by Jana Richards

FLAWLESS (e-version) is on sale for .99 cents at all major e-retailers between December 4 and 17, 2015. Available at:

​The Wild Rose Press 
 All Romance Ebooks 
 Amazon 
 B & N 
 Bookstrand 
Google Play 
 Kobo 
 iBooks
​
BUY in Print: Wild Rose



Researching the World War Two Story
I’ve always had a fascination for the stories of World War Two. The war is full of amazing tales of bravery and daring, of sadness and pain, and of love found and lost. I like to combine all of these elements in my stories.
When writing about any era of history, it’s important to get the details right. World War Two history is massive; it’s almost impossible to know everything. But it is possible to focus on one piece of that history and become something of an expert on it.
FLAWLESS is set in occupied France in 1942. Le Coeur Bleu, a famous and valuable blue diamond, has been stolen by the Nazis. They plan to trade the diamond for weapons that could crush the Allies. Jewel thief Hunter Smith is recruited to steal back the diamond with the help of Madeleine, a beautiful French Resistance fighter.
When I began writing Flawless, I didn’t know much about the French Resistance. I turned to my favorite sources for information; the library and the Internet. One book I read, called “Just Raoul: Adventures in the French Resistance”, told the story of the war from the perspective of a French Resistance fighter. I learned what members of the Resistance accomplished and the dangers they faced. From the Internet, I learned about the Special Operations Executive or SOE, a branch of the British government that trained spies and sent operatives into occupied European countries to learn of the enemies’ movements and to disrupt their lines of communications and transportation.
My research suggested elements of the plot. For instance, I discovered that the SOE brought spies in and out of France in small planes called Lysanders that were able to land and take off on short runways, most often in fields or pastures. Resistance members would use torches to light the make-shift runways and guide the Lysander to a safe landing. As soon as the plane was unloaded of its cargo of firearms, radios and other necessary supplies, it quickly took off. It might have had the ability to fly under the radar, but German patrols could still hear it. The Resistance fighters immediately doused the flames of the torches and dispersed. I used this information to write the scene in which Hunter arrives in France, as well as the scene of his departure.
I researched a myriad of other details on the Internet; what does a French chateau look like, how do you pick a lock, were flashlights available in the 1940s? (They were.) A Japanese puzzle box plays a crucial role in the story, and I had to research the intricate art of opening one. I did some fun research on diamonds to come up with the “curse” that Le Coeur Bleu is purported to inflict on its owners.
Research is a fascinating part of writing. It lends authenticity to a story, and helps with plotting. For a historical novel, research is an absolute essential.
​
FLAWLESS is on sale for .99 cents until December 17th! More About Flawless France, 1942.  The world is at war. The Nazis have stolen the infamous blue diamond, Le Coeur Bleu, intending to barter it for weapons that will destroy the Allies. Jewel thief Hunter Smith is given a choice; help the French Resistance steal back the diamond and avenge the death of his best friend, or stay locked up in an English prison. He chooses revenge.
Resistance fighter Madeleine Bertrand’s husband died when he was betrayed by Hunter Smith. How can she now pretend to be married to the arrogant American? How can she betray Jean Philippe’s memory by her passionate response to Hunter’s kisses? Neither is prepared for the maelstrom of attraction that erupts between them. To survive they must uncover the mysteries of the past and conquer the dangers of the present. But first Madeleine must decide if her loyalties lie with her dead husband and the Resistance or with the greatest love of her life.  
 
Excerpt:
 Hunter’s eyes snapped open, his blood pounding in his ears. “What do you know about The Blue Heart?”
“Only that it is one of the most famous and rare diamonds in the world, over 30 carats, and said to be flawless.”
Hunter rose from his cot and paced his small cell, heart racing. “Ah, finally something you don’t know. Le Coeur Bleu has a small flaw, an inclusion visible only with a jeweler’s loupe.”
Campbell inclined his head. “My mistake. I bow to your superior knowledge of the stone.”
He met Campbell’s calm stare. He doubted this man ever made mistakes. “What else do you know about the diamond?”
“I know the diamond is reputed to have magical powers. Some even say it is cursed.”
“You don’t really believe in magical powers, do you?” Hunter scoffed.
Campbell lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “Perhaps, perhaps not. Do you think your friend Jean Philippe Bertrand believed in magic?”
All the air rushed out of Hunter’s lungs and he struggled to breathe. “What do you know about Jean Philippe?”
“That he came into possession of Le Coeur Bleu and was murdered for it by the Nazis.”
Hunter dropped heavily onto his cot, shock and pain turning his knees to water. Snippets of the telegram he’d received from his best friend a few weeks before his arrest flashed in his head. Need to buy Heartstone times two from Jewish refugee. Desperate. Send cash. Hunter had immediately wired JP the money to buy the Heartstone, the name by which Le Coeur Bleu was sometimes known. He never heard from Jean Philippe again. In all the months of his captivity he’d clung to the hope that Jean Philippe was safe. But now that hope was dashed.
 “Dead? You’re sure?”
 “Yes. The SOE is very well connected in France. I can assure you, your friend was killed for Le Coeur Bleu.”
Guilt flowed through Hunter’s veins like a poison. If he hadn’t sent the money, JP wouldn’t have had the diamond and the Nazis would have had no reason to kill him.
Campbell stepped closer to Hunter’s cot, determination glittering in his eyes. “I’m giving you the opportunity to avenge your friend’s death. Will you take it, Mr. Smith?”
“How is stealing The Blue Heart going to avenge Jean Philippe’s death? It’s just a stone, Mr. Campbell. Very pretty, very valuable, but just a rock. Is stealing it going to bring him back?”
“No, it won’t,” Campbell conceded, “but it will hurt the Nazis immensely. I can assure you that taking Le Coeur Bleu from them will reduce their capacity to fight, Mr. Smith. It may even shorten the war and provide the turning point we’re looking for. Is this not what your friend would have wanted?”
As Hunter stared into Campbell’s round face, he remembered the last stinging conversation he’d had with his friend. “If you used your God-given talents for good instead of squandering them on party tricks, perhaps you’d be a lot happier. It’s time to grow up, Hunter. For once in your life, be a man.” 
Perhaps the time had finally come.
“How soon can I get out of here?”
Campbell smiled in satisfaction. “Follow me.” About Jana Richards:
Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side.  She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.
When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com

Jana's social links
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Amazon Author Page Newsletter Signup Goodreads Google+

The Rake's Redemption by Diane Dario

Available from

​Amazon I am a debut Regency era author. Regency romances are one of my all-time favorite eras; grand ballrooms, dinner parties while sitting next to a grand duke or war hero just returned from fighting against Napoleon and French. Hey a girl can dream, can’t she?

When I’m not reading or writing, I am enjoying the joyful moments with my growing family, the ballet and romantic movies.

One of my favorite parts of writing is the research and letting my imagination to run away with me as I go into another place and time while creating romantic stories.  I am a big fan of Pinterest and love creating boards for my romances, visit me there to see what my characters look like and the background for my stories.

My debut release, The Rake’s Redemption, takes a slightly different spin on the left at the alter storyline. I always enjoyed reading second chance on romance books and I soon thought I could do this. The hard part was trying to come up with a plot that wasn’t used before. I hope you like Caroline and Pierce as they found the love they one shared wasn’t lost forever.
The Rake’s Redemption is a story of love interrupted by a young man’s call to duty…

Pierce, a younger son, realizes that the life of a military officer is far beneath what the woman he loves deserves. Despite her reassurances, he makes a decision to leave her behind, which will haunt him even after he returns from the war.
Caroline, socially ruined by a failed elopement, yearns for a husband and children of her own. Finally deciding to accept the attentions of eligible bachelors, her world is turned upside down once again when Pierce returns from fighting Napoleon on the peninsula.

When Pierce returns to his childhood home, he and Caroline soon realize they share a sizzling physical attraction. But will the lingering pain of rejection she carries, and his dark memories of battle stand in the way of love?

Coming in December 2015 – An Earl’s Christmas Magic – matchmaking gone astray! ​Where to find Diane:

Facebook Author Page – Diane Dario
Goodreads – Diane Dario
Amazon Author Page – Diane Dario
Pinterest – Diane Dario

A Woman of Courage Review Tour with Goddess Fish Promotions.

​Starting 4th December Goddess Fish Promotions is hosting a review tour for A Woman of Courage.
 
I will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter at the end of the tour.
 
​Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Here are the tour dates:
 
December 4: Reading Romances

December 4: Unabridged Andra's

December 4: Room With Books

December 11: Harlie's Books

December 11: Mixed Book Bag

December 18: Katherine Givens: Historical Romance Author

December 18: Aspiring Joy Blog

January 1: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

January 1: Book-o-Craze
I hope you can stop by and join me 

Black Friday Sale

I have a couple of announcements to make.
First,
My publisher The Wild Rose Press is having a Black Friday Sale. All digital books are  40% off from 26th November until 30th November.  That includes all three of my titles from the Honour, Love and Courage series.
 
So load up on your winter reading list now and save money.
​Second,
As a thank you to their readers The Wild Rose Press is giving away their Christmas Cookbook from the Holiday Garden Gourmet.
All recipes are contributed by The Wild Rose Press Authors and features cocktails and cookies. This includes my peanut, milk and egg free cookie recipe.
Download your free copy today.