Monthly Archives: March 2013

Liberty Awakened – Isle of Fangs Book 1

Click on the cover to download from Amazon

I am pleased to introduce one of my fellow OKRWA chapter mates, Calisa Rhose.

Calisa…thank you so much for joining me today.

Let’s get right to the questions…

What book have you read that you wish you would have written?

Anything by Nora Roberts! But I really think her Key Trilogy is exceptionally done.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

A bad review. I can’t learn from no review. 🙂

If you could change something about one of your books that’s already released, what would it be?

I would write Home longer.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

None really. I like paranormal and contemporary and have, or am already writing in both.

What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with?

Loretta Lynn. I just love her. Oh- but she probably wouldn’t want to be stranded. Lol So second choice, Tom Hanks. He’s cute and he’d be fun. Besides, he has the experience to survive in that situation! Lol WILSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your most prized material possession? Why?

My horse, Sonny and my Chihuahua, Cocoa. That’s two and not really material. Hm, my laptop and it’s pretty obvious. LOL

Your favorite…

Movie Hope Floats

Music Country

Place you’d like to visit Ireland

TV show from childhood Bay City Rollers

TV show from adulthood NCIS

Food Tacos

Sports team College FB- OU Sooners, Pro- Dallas Cowboys

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? All

 

Love, like life, is not without risk.

Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps.

Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv—and himself—enough to play the possibilities?

 

EXCERPT:

It was close to five o’clock and Viv wanted to go home. Winter hadn’t reached the Midwest yet, but from September through October the temperatures often dipped and dove sporadically, before diving for the long winter ahead. There’d been a slight chill in the air that morning and she hoped for a few more weeks of warmth before harsh weather moved in.

She looked forward to a hot soak in the bathtub, but Skittles was due for pick-up first. Connor had assured her he’d pick her up, or have his father get her before five. She glanced at her watch again. Four-fifty-six. She didn’t mind staying late if she needed to; it would be a shame to leave the nervous animal alone another night.

She opened the small closet to put the dust mop away.

“Hello.”

With a start, she spun and her hand caught the broom handle on her way around. Gasping, she grabbed uselessly, horrified as the cleaning tool flew sideways from the closet. In slow motion she saw it shoot out against Connor’s shoulder and fall with a sharp snap onto the tile floor.

“Oh! I’m so—so sorry! Are you hurt?” Instant heat rushed up her neck and she bent to reclaim the errant broom to shove into the closet. She slammed the door and leaned against it on a sharp breath.

“I’m fine. You worried your killer broom might attack again? You might consider putting a lock on the door,” he said with a crooked smile.

Puzzled, Viv looked around and realized with total humiliation how it appeared she’d trapped the broom inside the closet—when in actuality, she wanted to climb through the door beside the instrument and hide.

“Of course not. That would be silly. I didn’t expect you right now.”

“It’s two minutes of five. I told you I’d be here for Skittles. Is it too late?”

Right. The skunk. “No. I’m sure she’s more than ready to go home. Do you have the pet carrier to put her in?” She probably didn’t need to ask when Connor stood empty-handed before her.

He lowered his head and she knew he’d forgotten it, fought back a smile at his forgetfulness. “Sorry. I drove straight from work and didn’t think about it.”

“No worry. I have one you can borrow.” Which meant he’d have to see her again. She’d definitely need to see him again.

“Thank you. I’ll bring it back tomorrow.”

“Oh, there’s no rush. I keep a few on hand for emergencies.” She led him back to the cage where the skunk still huddled, and got a carrier while he opened the cage to retrieve his daughter’s pet. As he lifted the black fur ball out, Viv set a pink case next to him.

He hissed under his breath and almost let the animal loose. Viv opened the cage and held it upright for him to lower the skunk down inside and shut the door. Once he stood with the pet taxi, she detected a smear of red on one finger.

“She bit you?” Skunk bite, rabies, germs…

“It’s fine. When she’s scared she tends to nip a warning like a cat.” Connor’s lack of care concerned Viv, however.

“I should clean it with antiseptic before you go.”

“I’ll tend it when I get home.”

“But, it may have germs…get infected.”

“It’s not the first time, and her rabies vaccination is current. Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”

Viv stopped by a cabinet on the way to the front reception area to grab ointment and a Band-Aid.

*Risk Factors- a Lyrical Press contemporary romance

***

BIO:

Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers.

She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen. She plans to have some paranormal stories on the way to publication soon, as well (under a pen name tba).

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

Twitter @CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads and Amazon.

Order Risk Factor Here: LPI-  amazon-  B&N

Although I love movies, I don’t often make an effort to go see them at the theatre. (A recent exception was Magic Mike…well worth the effort). When I saw the previews for Dead Man Down, I knew I had to see it opening weekend. I met my daughter, Lacey, at a theatre downtown. The movie was amazing. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Just as it ended, my other daughter, Lana, texted me and said she was about to see the movie at a different theatre. I had just enough time to get there, so I did. And I saw the movie again. And was just as enthralled the second time.

Colin Farrell is….well, he’s gorgeous, of course, but he’s also a phenomenal actor. There are a lot of beautiful actors out there, but Colin has that special something. He can play any role and nail it. He pulled off playing evil, unattractive Bobby Pellitt in Horrible Bosses and ‘almost’ hid his extreme sexiness. And he was hilarious. His thick Irish brogue is adorable, yet he is able to disguise it, take on any role with any accent, and make you believe it.

Dead Man Down is about a man and a woman seeking revenge–both for different reasons and with different targets–who cross paths. This film is not your average, run of the mill revenge-action movie. I can’t say much without giving away spoilers, so I’ll just say, go see it, you won’t regret it. I hear it is not doing well at the box office, and that Colin Farrell’s movies are often bombs. I can’t imagine why. A fantastic movie that makes you laugh, cry, and keeps your muscles bunched with tension for two hours…what more could you want? And did I mention, uhm, it stars Colin Farrell??????? 

 

 

Baby Stetson

Love and Music in Texas, Book One  

In small Texas towns, strangers come and go…

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she’s never lacked for love…only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night…Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good…stable, until new guests blew into town. 

Some strangers come with secrets and lies.

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn’t matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony’s Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery’s ignited within, he’s intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn’t want Avery to know.

Each time they’re near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.

 Add this book to your goodreads list!

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341981-baby-stetson

 Other books by Nikki Lynn Barrett

 The Secret Santa Wishing Well

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16159845-the-secret-santa-wishing-well

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She’s an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki’s site at: http://www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com

http://www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com

 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett

 https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor

 @Stormgoddess925 on Twitter