Rumer Haven's Blog, page 7

September 16, 2015

Cover Reveal: THE SECOND WIFE, by Kishan Paul!

Release Date: October 14, 2015Genre: Suspense/Thriller Length: 80,000 wordsCover Artist: Syneca Fetherstone
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If you want to live,
you must let go of the past...

Twenty-eight-year-old psychologist, Alisha Dimarchi, is abducted by an obsessed client and imprisoned in his Pakistani compound for over two years. Forced to change her name and live as his second wife, her life is filled with trauma and heartbreak. Thrust into a world of violence and oppression, Alisha must fight not only to keep herself alive but to protect the lives of the people she now considers family. At night, she retreats into her memories of the only man she has ever loved – a man she believes no longer loves her.
Thirty-two-year-old handsome surgeon, David Dimarchi, has spent the last two years mourning the disappearance of his wife. After a painful and isolated existence, he begins the process of healing. It is then that he is visited by a stranger, who informs him that his wife is very much alive and needs his help. In a desperate attempt to save her, David enlists the help of a Delta Force Operative. Together they find themselves in the center of more than just a rescue mission. Will he be able to reach her in time and if he does, will she still want him?
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Add the book on Goodreads:
http://bit.ly/1JgPBTF
Buy the book at Amazon:http://amzn.to/1WJsSd8
* Reviews for The Second Wife:
Kishan Paul’s writing shines in this beautifully written psychological thriller filled with heart-gripping emotion as the heroine unearths an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed. – Cait Jarrod, bestselling author
"The Second Wife is a poignant story of love, domestic violence, and mental strength. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until you've finished the last page. No wait, it doesn't let go at all… I had the pleasure of betareading it, and the wide range of emotions it stirred in me are still right under the surface." – Lea Bronsen, award winning author of The Perfect Shoot
“This is a gripping story, brilliantly woven from start to finish. I’ll never forget Ally. She’s as real to me as anyone else because her story isn’t some forgettable fictional work. No way you are walking away from this one the same way. I actually took a break between this novel and my next one. I wasn’t ready to begin another journey just yet. Amazing work, Kishan Paul.” – Kristen Shanchez, reader*About the Author

From daring escapes by tough women to chivalrous men swooping in to save the day, the creativity switch to Kishan Paul’s brain is always in the “on” position. If daydreaming stories were a college course, Kish would have graduated with honors.

Mother of two beautiful children, she has been married to her best friend for over seventeen years. With the help of supportive family and friends, she balances her family, a thriving counseling practice, and writing without sinking into insanity.

Her novel, Blind Love, is currently available through most major ebook sites and through Samhain Publications.

She can be found at:Website: http://kishanpaulauthor.netFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/KishanPaulAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/@kishan_paulPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kishanpaulTSU: https://www.tsu.co/kishanpaulAmazon: http://amzn.to/1JQBudd Sign up for her newsletter at: http://mad.ly/signups/119110/join
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$15 AMAZON GIFT CARD RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAYhttp://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cb77d8a710/a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Published on September 16, 2015 03:27

August 28, 2015

Indie Author's End of Summer #Giveaway!!

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Published on August 28, 2015 06:00

August 17, 2015

The Cat's Out of the Bag...

I feel like the cat that got the cream these days. On the same day that I celebrated Seven for a Secret's anniversary, I signed on with Crooked Cat Publishing for my next romantic paranormal novel, What the Clocks Know!

This manuscript has been such a labor of love. It was actually the first novel I wrote--before Seven for a Secret --and as it saw me through the tough transition of my international relocation, it became a very personal endeavor. After years of revision, I am elated for it to finally see the light of day in early 2016! And working with Crooked Cat has already been such a pleasure. Truly the cat's meow!

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Published on August 17, 2015 11:43

August 12, 2015

Happy Book Birthday, SEVEN FOR A SECRET!

Hard to believe that a year ago today, my first book baby was born. Hip-hip-hurray and high-fives and huzzahs all around to

SEVEN FOR A SECRET!
Gobs of gratitude to my readers and followers for making this past year the cat's meow.

And many thanks to author/editor Sarah Allan for hosting me at her blog today for a delightful lil' interview:

sarahallanauthor.blogspot.com
Cheers, you fabulous flappers, you!

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Published on August 12, 2015 11:35

July 3, 2015

Friday FACT or FICTION?

TRUE or FALSE:In Seven for a Secret , Kate's dating history was largely inspired by the author's real-life experiences.

Watch the new BOOK TRAILER as you think it over...

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Answer: Sad, but TRUE...

Last time, I made it clear that Dexter was in no way based on a particular ex-boyfriend of mine who worked at the Adler Planetarium. But that isn't to say he (and other male characters) weren't loosely based on other "romantic" encounters in my life. For the most part, Dexter is his own man. I really did not base him on anyone I know outside of the "break" he takes with Kate. The break itself didn't happen, but I'm ashamed to admit I once laid out the "inclusive" terms that Kate does. The guy and I had already been broken up for a while, however, and though I earnestly wanted to get back together with him, I also wanted to have my cake and eat it, too (which, to be fair, is an expression I've never understood as being a bad thing. I mean, what's the point of having cake if you're NOT going eat it??). I'd been enjoying seeing other people so wanted that to continue, too. Which might've worked if the feeling were mutual, but it unfortunately wasn't; he dated no one else while I went out once with another guy, and that was enough for things between us to deteriorate fast. I'll always feel bad about instigating getting back together with such unrealistic and unfair expectations, and I wanted Kate to learn that lesson, too.

In any case, some of Dex's mannerisms in that scene are reminiscent of breakup discussions I've had (none of which, FYI, EVER happened directly after such an intimate moment of passion!), and the ones he doesn't display (but Kate reflects on) are my husband's:

"She wondered how many others besides her were able to notice such microscopic differences in him; who else had learned the little traits he had like scraping his fingers against his thumbs when he was indecisive or how his body jerked in brief spasms whenever he first fell asleep?"

Beyond Dex, though, the other inspirations were pretty straightforward:

"A chatty yet friendly accountant she’d met at Fado’s invited her and another gal she worked with to Smith & Wollensky with his buddy. It had been an evening of good steak, martinis, and hilarious company, and she was excited about giving the gentleman her number. Until the waiter toured them through the kitchen and her date suctioned to her from behind, his hands roving her body under the pretense of keeping her warm inside the meat locker.

Then there was Thursday night when a group of her college friends had subjected her to karaoke therapy at Trader Todd’s, the cheesy tropical-themed bar where the guy who’d played Ogre in Revenge of the Nerds always hung out. But neither spotting Ogre in a Hawaiian shirt nor her inexpert renditions of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and 'I’ve Had the Time of My Life' had been enough to work magic on Kate’s mood. However, another piña colada had gotten her to finally flirt back with the lanky redhead who’d been commanding her attention all night. He’d even chased out in the rain after her when she’d tried to bail while he was in the bathroom. The gesture had all the makings of life imitating rom-com art, yet Kate had only reluctantly given him her number."

Yep and yep. Except I met the first guy at Rock Bottom Brewery, not Fado Irish Pub, I don't remember his profession, and I was never--at any point--excited about giving him my number. But he did make himself cozy inside that meat locker, and though I never sang karaoke at Trader Todd's (just subjected my ears to others), that lanky redhead did chase after me in the rain. And in both cases, I was too nice to not give them my number but mean enough to never answer or return their calls--just like Kate.

And then there's David... Kate mentions meeting a guy at Gamekeepers sports bar, which is where I met the guy who in part inspired Hot Neighbor--except the guy I dated was not hot. He was tall with a handsome face and five years older, which I really liked; his 27 years of age seemed so mature to my 22, and he just seemed like so much more of a man than the guys my age. But he wasn't built like David and didn't have that beautiful head of hair (actually, he's probably bald by now). Like David, though, he was a lawyer and had the same personality, let's just say (I don't want to spoil too much if you haven't read the book). Yet while the kiss at Geja's Cafe did happen, the "Big Scooch" did not...with him.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

Needless to say, my perspectives about love and dating were very much like Kate's when I was in my early twenties. I thought I had all the time in the world--and definitely an idealized (deluded) sense of romance that was originally warped by the Molly Ringwald movies I watched growing up as an '80s child. (In fact, a conversation with a friend about this inspired his Tribecca Film Festival award-winning screenplay, John Hughes Ruined My Life, which is in development now as a future web series! You can follow @JohnHughesRML on Twitter.) As Kate reflects:

"The guys had definitely gotten better over the years as she honed her selection process into a science.

Yet whenever she was just about to get more practical about it all—write up her lists of pros and cons and see how Dex or any other guy weighed in on paper—Kate would get this vision of herself standing in the doorway of a church, a bridesmaid bouquet in her hand. As she’d look down forlornly, in her peripheral vision she’d notice guests’ cars driving away, only to look up and see Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles in his sweater vest, his button-down shirt rolled to his elbows. He’d be leaning against his red sports car, smiling and waving at...her?

Me?

And then she’d meet him halfway as he jogged across the street to her. Fuck, Kate thought as Vera’s gritty voice dulled into background noise. John Hughes, you’ve ruined me for all men."

To make matters worse, I was even a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding when I was fifteen. No red car waited for me outside the church that day. Or any day. Just a used silver Buick when, given enough time and emotional growth, I did find the man who'd say, Yeah, you. :)

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Published on July 03, 2015 02:47

June 22, 2015

#TRRparty: Win a Free Ebook of SEVEN FOR A SECRET!

http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

Wanna make your sssummer sssizzzle? Enter The Romance Reviews's Sizzling Summer Reads party for a chance to win a free ebook of SEVEN FOR A SECRET and other prizes that meet your bookish fancy!

"Jefe, would you say there are a plethora of other authors participating in ‪#‎TRRparty‬, giving readers many chances to stockpile their summer beach reads?"

"Yes, El Guapo. There are a plethora."

My own trivia question is only there for today, June 22nd, so please do give it a go or refer a friend!

http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

http://www.rumerhaven.com/#!my-kind-of-town/c1wko

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Published on June 22, 2015 06:15

June 4, 2015

Guest Post by Kishan Paul, Author of BLIND LOVE

I am so delighted to host this guest post by author Kishan Paul, whose novel Blind Love has just released this week! I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of this story and was not at all blind to the merits that made me love it. Beautifully written and thoughtfully developed. I wish Kishan many congratulations on now being able to share it with the world!

Before we get to the goods, here's a peek at the book, with a cover as lovely as the story:

Released June 2, 2015Contemporary RomancePublished by Samhain Publishing

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She doesn’t need a hero. But a sexy Marine...that’ll work.
At twenty-nine, psychologist Lauren Baxter has a successful counseling practice. Since becoming legally blind at fifteen, her world has been a blurry mess of colors. Her greatest fear is also her ultimate reality. One day that fuzzy realm will forever turn black. Refusing to let blindness define her, she builds a life for herself with her dog, Jack Sparrow, and best friend, Sunny Daye.

Lauren has no tolerance for pity or for Superman swooshing down and rescuing her. She is capable of saving herself just fine. That is until Gabe, the great smelling, former Marine, from Texas moves in next door. Her attraction to him is immediate and, unfortunately for her, mutual.

When Lauren’s ex-husband shows up begging for another chance, she is confused and fragile. She also finds herself in the arms of her secretive neighbor. Little does she realize that her decision for a steamy roll in the hay with Gabe will suck her into his mysterious past, thrust her ex-husband back into her life, put her in the middle of a murder investigation, and place her life in danger.

Gabriel Briggs has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Short term flings are all he can afford for more reasons than one – reasons he never plans to share. Until he moves in next door to the beautiful, green eyed, feisty, Lauren. One night with her and he’s reconsidering promises he made almost a decade ago. When a woman from his past is murdered, his world is turned upside down. Secrets are revealed and innocent lives are threatened. Can Gabe win Lauren’s love and save her life before it’s too late?

Product Warnings: Contains a blind therapist who doesn’t consider herself impaired; a meddling, erotic-novel-writing best friend; a hot ex-Marine with a shady past; and a loyal guide dog that howls “I love you” and is probably the sanest one of the bunch.

* Add the book on Goodreads *
Buy the book at:
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
All Romance
GooglePlay
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And now for the lovely Kishan, who gives us some special insight into herself:

5 Things my readers may not know about me
I’m really goofy and find humor in the craziest things.
I’m accident prone (the stories I can tell).
I really need to work on thinking before I speak.(Sigh)
When I’m watching action movies, I have a tendency to hit the person next to me when things get intense.
I love Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing.
Ooh, I love those movies, too, Kishan! Love may be blind, but thank you so much for sharpening our vision on who you are. :)

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Published on June 04, 2015 04:00

May 29, 2015

Friday FACT or FICTION?

TRUE or FALSE:In Seven for a Secret , Kate's boyfriend Dexter is based on the author's ex-boyfriend who worked at the Adler Planetarium.
Think it over...
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Answer: FALSE!

I got asked this question a lot by friends who know my dating history, so allow me to set the record straight that Dex is in no way inspired by my ex who worked at the Adler Planetarium.

To start, that guy worked in Adler's IT department, not the Education one, like Kate and Dex do. The real reason I employed my characters there is because I volunteered at the Adler on weekends. Wearing my red volunteer polo and my trusty lanyard, I worked closely with the Education department in creating what they called "make-and-takes" with the kids who visited the museum. They were little activities that usually involved coloring, cutting out, and assembling a basic astronomical tool, like a sundial or star-finder, or making bracelets out of plastic UV beads and then holding them up to the sun to watch how they changed color. I also participated in special events, like the museum overnights and Celestial Ball mentioned in Chapter 6. There, I'd get to present little demos on air pressure and hydroponics or whatnot, help with telescopes, pose with aliens for photos...you know, the usual. ;) One year at the Celestial Ball, actually, I sold a raffle ticket to an old man, and it wasn't until he'd walked away that I actually read his name on our sign-up sheet: Jim Lovell. Yes, as in Apollo 13.

Who says astronomy's not cool now! Face!

In any case, I loved my experiences at the Adler. The volunteer coordinator was nothing like Vicki, she actually did her job and did it well, but I was like Kate in favoring the antique sundial by the medieval classroom; I would sit in that window seat to reflect during a quiet time. And somehow I was partial to the Atwood Sphere, too; we're jaded now by the technology of modern sky theatres, but you've gotta appreciate the Sphere's history, and it provided such a perfect link between Kate's and Lon's stories.

And yes, I have more than a passing interest in astronomy, but my time at the planetarium was meaningful in another way that I suspect was fated from the moment I found an Adler pamphlet in the women's restroom at Joe's on Weed St. I was working in finance at the time and generally feeling a void in my career, so just seeing this brochure inspired me to contact the museum about volunteering. And so I did, and in becoming a volunteer, I found such joy in teaching and interacting with the public, that I was in turn inspired to leave the business world and become an educator instead. And so I did, and in becoming a high school English teacher, I cultivated the passion and skills that now feed my work as a writer and editor.

So, between the Adler's influence on me when I was about Kate's age and its rich history as an iconic Chicago landmark, I absolutely had to include it in the story. Let's just say it was written in the stars...

So was Dex based on anyone in real life? Methinks I'll leave that to another Friday. ;)

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Published on May 29, 2015 03:00

May 22, 2015

Friday FACT or FICTION?

TRUE or FALSE:In Chapter 1 of Seven for a Secret , when Kate Pembroke gets locked in her bathroom and must call for help out the window, this actually happened to the author.
I'll give you some time to mull it over...
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The real "Camden" Court.
My studio apartment was on the top floor of this left-hand wing,
above the entrance at the top of those stairs.

Answer: TRUE!

This absolutely happened to me. In fact, a lot of strange things tend to happen to me in bathrooms (aside from the obvious), and this won't be the last time one such bathroom incident will appear in one of my books. :)

I'd elaborate on the details, but honestly, it happened exactly as described in the book. Except I hadn't moved in yet; the place was supposed to be painted that day or the next, and I was just checking it out before work in the morning. Even when completely by myself, I always close the bathroom door, and while my doorknob wasn't as pretty as Kate's vintage one, it did come out in my hand, and, well, read the book for the rest.

Calling out to an unknown neighbor in the courtyard was mortifying, and I wish that gal were even half as nice as Vera is to Kate at the time. She was a younger woman who came upstairs to let me out and then proceeded to say nothing as we walked back downstairs together. No matter my profuse apologies and gratitude for her help, she did not speak. Needless to say, in my two years in that building (Hampden Court, the inspiration for Camden Court), I never saw her again. So maybe she was a ghost...

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Published on May 22, 2015 05:00

May 12, 2015

New Release: TROUBLE ME, by Beck Anderson!

Trouble Meby Beck Anderson(sequel to FIX YOU)

SUMMARY:
In Fix You, movie star Andrew Pettigrew (Andy to his fans, Andrew to his friends) somehow found the level-headed love he was looking for in young widow and “regular girl” Kelly Reynolds. Now, as they work to mesh their growing relationship with his gold-statue ambitions, things go a bit sideways, in true Hollywood fashion.

Though they’re still wonderfully in love, it’s challenge enough for Andrew and Kelly to decipher what it means to be a family—and a growing family at that—between takes on set. But Andrew also brings history with a temperamental co-star, assorted paparazzi, and someone out there who has serious, perhaps obsessive, issues with him into the mix. Suddenly the Reynolds-Pettigrew clan must fight not just to stay together, but to stay safe.

In Trouble Me, the sequel to Fix You and third novel from Rita finalist Beck Anderson, Kelly and Andrew struggle to stay sane within their whirlwind life. It’s a life that’s equal parts amazing and amusing, less glamorous than you might expect, and spiked with very real fears no amount of stardom can overcome.

Will Andrew and Kelly stay strong at the broken places or be torn apart? - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Trouble-Me/Beck-Anderson/9781623422219#sthash.swkJWUt5.dpuf

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Published on May 12, 2015 04:52

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