I have only one new release to share today, but it looks like a great one! I love a misunderstood hero and a tough heroine. Sounds like this novel has both.
I’m very pleased to introduce…
Barbara Bettis with THE HEART OF THE PHOENIX, a medieval romance
Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart.
Fun Fact:
Although I’d always written in some form or another, after a career writing for newspapers and the occasional magazine, I never thought I could write ‘long enough’ for a several-thousand-word book. But when a former student encouraged me to try, then invited me to join her critique group, it wasn’t long before I’d begun my first (never-to-be-published) historical, a medieval. It finally came in at over 115,000 words. My two published books are, fortunately, not that long.
Favorite lines:
“You are not remaining at the monastery, and you are not traveling to England.” He stepped forward, and she tilted back her head to meet him eye to eye. “Must I tie you to that horse?”
She leaned in. “Just you try, Sir Stephen-the-Bully.”
~~~~~~~~~~
There would never be another woman for him. Ever. Especially one whose smiles could light up a man’s heart. If only he possessed one.
This is going to be brief, but I didn’t want to skip a week. It’s been a very, very busy week. And a sad one. I lost my precious Uncle Peck this morning. He was 95, and he was ready to go, but those he left behind will feel his loss deeply.
(See, I love him so much, I even posted a pic of him wearing a Sooners cap :))
Also, we learned that my son, Presley, who is twenty-one, has fibromyalgia. That is heartbreaking as well, because he’s such a great kid, such a big-hearted and funny and wonderful young man. I hate the thought of his going through so much pain for the rest of his life. But, we are also extremely grateful, because the doctor was testing him for something more serious, such as possibly ALS. So, while I’m not thrilled about the diagnosis, I’m considering it a blessing.
As always in my life, when times are difficult, Elvis makes me feel better. Therefore, I’ll just share something brief about him. First of all, a funny memory (funny to me). When we were little, I used to tell my sister, Ruth, that when Elvis sang ‘Stuck on You’ he was singing to me because of the line: “I’m gonna run my fingers through your long black hair.” (I had long dark hair). She would get SO mad. 🙂
Now, a beautiful pic:
And, in closing, an amazing performance of Elvis singing How Great Thou Art. This is for you, Uncle Peck.
This is going to be brief, but I didn’t want to skip a week. It’s been a very, very busy week. And a sad one. I lost my precious Uncle Peck this morning. He was 95, and he was ready to go, but those he left behind will feel his loss deeply.
(See, I love him so much, I even posted a pic of him wearing a Sooners cap :))
Also, we learned that my son, Presley, who is twenty-one, has fibromyalgia. That is heartbreaking as well, because he’s such a great kid, such a big-hearted and funny and wonderful young man. I hate the thought of his going through so much pain for the rest of his life. But, we are also extremely grateful, because the doctor was testing him for something more serious, such as possibly ALS. So, while I’m not thrilled about the diagnosis, I’m considering it a blessing.
As always in my life, when times are difficult, Elvis makes me feel better. Therefore, I’ll just share something brief about him. First of all, a funny memory (funny to me). When we were little, I used to tell my sister, Ruth, that when Elvis sang ‘Stuck on You’ he was singing to me because of the line: “I’m gonna run my fingers through your long black hair.” (I had long dark hair). She would get SO mad. 🙂
Now, a beautiful pic:
And, in closing, an amazing performance of Elvis singing How Great Thou Art. This is for you, Uncle Peck.
I’m happy to share a few brand new releases from The Wild Rose Press: A Paranormal New Adult (LOVE the cover!!!) and a romantic suspense…right up my alley. 🙂
Check out these exciting stories and be sure to follow the authors.
Christy Effinger with Say Nothing of What You See, a Paranormal New Adult Novel
What haunt us most are the ghosts of our own creation.
Fun fact:
As a Midwesterner, I have long been fascinated by grain elevators. I once lived down the street from one when I was a broke college student. Say Nothing of What You See began with the mental image of a woman standing at the edge of a huge silo. I wrote the novel at night while my husband was taking MBA classes.
A few favorite lines:
I remembered the way she fell. The way she fell without a sound.
Like a pirate’s prisoner walking the plank. Like a bird too young to fly. Like a wounded moth, a dead star, a torn kite.
ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $3.00
50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)
Maggie Toussaint with Rough Waters, a Romantic Suspense Novel
A treasure hunt turns deadly
Fun Fact:
I was inspired to write about a florist because once upon a time my mother owned a flower shop. I spent many an afternoon playing in the shop, building forts with blocks of foam, and watching mom work magic with a bouquet of flowers.
Writing about shipwrecked treasure came about due to my close proximity to Blackbeard Island. Rumors still circulate about Blackbeard’s treasure being buried in coastal Georgia. But my science training taught me that islands shift positions through time due to actions of wind and water. It seemed logical to me that an unmarked shipwreck of the 1800s might be in a different place. And if someone found a hand-drawn treasure map, he would think he really had something.
Rock’s survived war, his mother’s terminal illness, and a boat explosion. Jeanie’s been abandoned as a wife and mom and reinvented herself as a florist. In Rough Waters, a florist and a former SEAL join forces to reach their goals. He wants his stolen treasure returned, or he will lose everything he’s worked for. She wants to catch the creep who broke into her home and business so she can bring her kids home. Rough Waters…
A few favorite lines:
She didn’t need to be worried about her kids right now.
He’d worry enough for the both of them.
ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $2.50 50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)
Elvis made four films before going into the army. His earlier works were more serious, more dramatic than the ones that would follow after he returned. Ironically, in the media, and in the movies, he was portrayed as this rebellious troublemaking hothead, but in reality, his costars raved about how polite and kind he was.
The first four movies were:
Love Me Tender 1956
About: Elvis plays Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers in the civil war era. His older brothers come home after the end of the war and the oldest, Vance (who the family had been told died), finds Clint married to the girl he loves.
Side note: When word leaked that Elvis died at the end, fans were so distraught that the studio decided to add an image of him singing “Love Me Tender” on screen as the movie was ending with the scene of his loved ones walking away from his grave.
My favorite song from the movie: Let Me
One of my favorite scenes: When he’s on the porch singing We’re Gonna Move. He was so cute, with his adorable smile and the way he interacted with his family.
Loving You: 1957
About: Elvis plays Deke Rivers, an orphan who is discovered by an ambitious woman in the music business. She launches Deke to stardom. Deke thought he’d found true friends after a lifetime of searching, but he is crushed to learn she only cares about success.
Side notes: Elvis’ parents, Gladys and Vernon, were visiting the set and the director put them in the movie as audience members in the final scene. A year later, Elvis would be in the army, and five months after that, Gladys would pass away. Dolores Hart, who played Susan, also co-starred in King Creole. She would eventually become a nun. Elvis’ band, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, DJ Fontana, and the Jordanaires appeared in the movie.
My favorite song from the movie: Mean Woman Blues
One of my favorite scenes: Deke is in a café and this a-hole is giving him a hard time, insists he sing. Deke does, then he asks the guy what he does for a living. The guy tells him he works for his old man installing seat covers. Deke says, well, I normally get paid to sing. How about you do for me what you do for a living and go out there and put a set of seat covers on my car. The guy says sure, I bet your color is yella. Deke proceeds to beat the crap out of him and knocks him into the juke box. The guy is unconscious, leaning back against the juke box and Deke hooks a foot under his leg and tugs, and the guy slides to the ground. I loved Elvis’ fight scenes, and I thought that one was so cool.
Jailhouse Rock: 1957
About: Elvis plays Vince Everett. Early in the movie, he kills a man in a fistfight and is sent to prison, where he meets a washed up country singer who plants the seed of Vince singing professionally. When Vince gets out of prison, he meets a young woman in the music business who helps launch his career, and Vince becomes famous. The fame goes to his head and he ends up hurting the people he loves. (But, it has a happy ending :))
Side note: Elvis’ co-star, Judy Tyler, and her husband were killed in an automobile accident on the drive home from Hollywood to New York after filming.
My favorite song from the movie: Don’t leave Me Now
My favorite scene: One of my favorite scenes in any Elvis movie. Watch the clip.
King Creole 1958
About: Elvis plays Danny Rivers, a young guy from a poor background whose mother passed away when he was young, and his father fell to pieces and lost one job after another, launching the family into poverty. Danny sees his father as a weakling, and he wants to make something of himself. He gets involved with Maxi Fields, a crime boss, and falls for Maxi’s girl.
Side note: This was the only movie Elvis was really proud of. He did an amazing job, and it was a phenomenal film. He admired actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando, and had hopes of becoming a serious actor, but the roles he was given afterward were pretty much all fluff (However, they were ‘fluff’ that I loved, and he still did a great job in them).
My favorite song from the movie: Don’t Ask Me Why or Young Dreams or As Long as I Have You.
One of my favorite scenes: Danny is in the club sweeping up and these guys are being mean to Roni, who, as it turns out, is Maxi Fields’ girl. They insist Danny sing and he does, then they ask him what he does for an encore. He ignores them and is leaving when the one guy slaps Roni. Elvis turns around and grabs her and is taking her out when the guys start to rush him. He grabs two beer bottles off a table and breaks off the bottoms and brandishes them at the guys. One of the men says, “You’re a pretty fancy performer, ain’t ya kid?” and Vince says, “Now you know what I do for an encore.”
Elvis made 31 feature films and I have seen each one of them umpteen times. I’m watching them again, as a refresher, and I think I’m enjoying them now more than I did back then. I only own 26 of the 31 on DVD, but will soon have them all. 🙂
I am especially proud this week to introduce two new releases from The Wild Rose Press. They happen to be books I edited, and I’m SO pleased with both of them. Plus, I love the authors to pieces!
Keep reading for more about Carol and Linda, and their wonderful books!
Carol Henry with Rio Connection, a Romantic Suspense Novel
Espionage and danger lurk…even in paradise during Carnival
Fun fact:
An international traveler/travel writer, I found Rio de Janeiro to be full of intrigue, excitement, and romance–a great place to set one of my romantic suspense ‘Connection’ novels. Using major attractions such as Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain as backdrops to highlight the suspense, it also provided that special spark of romance those sites, as well as the mention of Rio de Janeiro, conveys.
A few lines:
“Is he with you here in Rio?”
“No. He’s back in New York. We’re not married.” Damn! Now he was aware of what a pathetic loser she really was—going on a honeymoon without the groom.
On sale at The Wild Rose Press for 50% off!!!Click here
Linda Trout with Last Hope Alaska, Romantic Suspense Novel
Is Alaska big enough to shield Emily from her predator, or will Sam be her salvation?
Fun fact:
Climbing into a cab in Juneau, Alaska sparked the idea for this book. The driver turned to me and asked where I was from with that accent. (Gee, I didn’t know my ‘southern’ was hanging out.) As my husband hiked the 30 mile long Chilkot Trail from Skagway into British Columbia, this story took hold and wouldn’t let go. It was a few years later before I could pull it together, but knew I had to write a story based in Alaska’s capitol.
A few lines:
“Welcome to Alaska.” The gentleness in his voice soothed her battered soul, as if he understood what she was going through.
Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for $100,000 for his mother. Sadly, she died a year later. Elvis continued to live there for the rest of his life. I think it’s admirable that he remained in his home town, rather than moving somewhere more upscale or buying lavish homes all over the country.
Graceland was opened to the public in 1982 and is the third most visited home in the United States. More than 600,000 people from all over the world come to see Elvis’ home each year. I have been to Graceland five times, and I plan to go again. Everyone, especially Elvis fans, should experience Graceland at least once. I cannot fully convey the feeling of being in Elvis’ home. I swear, you can sense his spirit. There is something humbling and awe-inspiring about entering the place where the ‘real’ Elvis dwelled, where he found refuge from the insanity of the outside world.
My trips to Graceland:
1978 – The summer after Elvis died, I had the opportunity to go to Nashville and Memphis with a friend and her family. At the time, the house was not open, so we only toured the grounds.
1992 – My youngest sister, Christi, my two daughters, and I were flying to San Antonio to visit another sister, Sheri. I was pregnant with my third child, my son, (who would be named Presley, although I didn’t know it at the time, because I hadn’t convinced my then husband to agree to it. :)) We had a layover in Memphis and due to various mechanical difficulties with various airplanes, our wait ended up being 12 hours. We decided to take a cab to Graceland. We had our carry-on luggage with us, and it was quite interesting going through the narrow stairway with huge bags on our shoulders. I was afraid we were going to break something priceless. 🙂
2001 – My sister, Ruth, and her husband, Tom, took me to Graceland for my fortieth birthday. WOW, what an amazing trip that was. Not only did we spend a lot of time on Beale Street, experiencing Graceland with the person with whom I shared such a close Elvis bond was incredible and unforgettable. My brother-in-law, who had never been a big Elvis fan, was overwhelmed by Graceland and the whole ‘Elvis’ experience. Funny story, while we were there, one of the fans was arrested for jumping into the pool at Graceland. I heard she had to pay a $200 fine. I’m sure it was worth it to her to be able to tell people she took a dip in Elvis’ pool.
2006 – I drove to Atlanta for a writer’s conference with two of my friends, Jody and Christy. We spent the night in Memphis and went to Beale Street, and they wanted to see Graceland, at least briefly. So, we stopped by and hung out for a little while in front of the gate.
2013 – I took my adult kids, Lana, Lacey, and Presley, and my niece, Madison, on a trip to Memphis and Atlanta. (We traveled to Atlanta for Vampire Diaries stuff and Cincinnati Reds/Braves games, but spent the night in Memphis on the way). We stayed in the Heartbreak Hotel and toured Graceland. I’ll have to say, the rooms in the hotel are sub-par, but the lobby is pretty spectacular. The kids were impressed with Graceland and we all had a wonderful time. Presley was especially moved. On the tour, a lady in a wheelchair was watching an Elvis video in one of the exhibits, with tears streaming down her face. In the meditation garden where Elvis is buried, the woman’s son was taking a pic of her, and she was still crying. He said, “Stop crying so I can take your picture, Mama.” 🙂 It was so precious. We saw her after the tour in front of the house. Presley patted her shoulder and knelt next to her chair and said, “My name is Presley.” He pointed at me. “Thanks to her. She’s my Mom.” (or something along those lines) Her eyes lit up and she said, “Aww, can I shake your hand?” He gave her his hand and she squeezed it and kissed the back of it. We were all in tears. Such a poignant moment.
Madison, Lana, Lacey, Me, Presley
Lana, Madison, Lacey, Presley
Such beautiful memories. I can’t wait until the next trip to Graceland. I would love to go sometime during Elvis week, or especially at Christmas. I bet it is breathtaking during the holidays. Have you ever been?
Billionaire Trent Sherbrooke works hard and plays harder. He’s never once cared what the media or society says about him, until now. Intent on making his way into the United States Senate, Trent hires campaign advisor Marty Phillips. A ruthless force in politics he’ll stop at nothing to get his candidate elected.
After a chance encounter throws local small business owner Addison Raimono in Trent’s path, Marty believes he’s found Trent’s ticket into Washington.
Ignoring his conscience that insists he leave Addison alone, Trent sets out to win her over. Soon what he assumed would be a relationship to salvage his reputation turns into so much more. But can a relationship started on a lie ever survive?
I started writing at the age of 10 on my grandmother’s manual typewriter and never stopped. When I am not driving my 3 daughters (ages 7, 5, and 5) around to their various activities or chasing around our two dogs, I am working on a story or reading a romance novel. I just finished Redeeming The Billionaire book 5 in the Sherbrookes of Newport series, and I have started book 2 in my new series Love On The North Shore. You can visit my website http://www.christinatetreault.com or follow me on Facebook to learn more about my characters and to track my progress on my current writing projects.
Marty folded up the sleeves of his shirt. “It’s all a matter of importance. The who doesn’t matter. The wonderful opportunity it presents does. Now, I need to know everything. How did you meet her? How long have you known her? Have you slept with her yet?”
Trent pinched the bridge of his nose. Christ, couldn’t he have a cup of coffee with a woman without someone assuming he’d slept with her? “I met her just before we met last week. I bumped into her on the sidewalk and spilled coffee on her. When this picture was taken I had stopped in the bakery and when I saw her again I said hello. We talked for a few minutes before she left.”
As Marty chewed he jotted notes down on a legal pad. “That’s it? You didn’t ask her out to dinner? Get her phone number?”
Did the man think he asked out every attractive female he met? “More or less.”
Marty looked up at him. “More or less, I need to know everything. And when I say everything, I mean it.”
“I told her I wanted this office redecorated and asked if she might be interested. Shirley called and set up an appointment with her.” After giving Shirley the instructions, he hadn’t thought anymore about it.
“Excellent. When?”
“I’ll have to check my calendar.”
Marty tapped his pen against his pad several times before he spoke. “We might have to change our time table a little, but I’d like to keep to it if possible. A wedding at the end of next summer is ideal. That would give you a solid year of marriage before the actual election.”
Caution flags jumped up as he listened to Marty. The advisor’s original plan had been acceptable. A marriage to a wealthy socialite who viewed their relationship as a way to achieve her own goals was one thing. What Marty proposed now was entirely something else.
“Perhaps we should stick with what we originally discussed. Why don’t I go through these and pick a candidate.” Trent reached for the binders Marty had put together. “Then they’ll be no need to adjust our timeline.”
“You hired me because you want to win.” Marty pointed his pen at the picture of Addison. “She’s your ticket to the Senate.”
Trent’s eyes focused on the picture. What had she just said to him when the picture was taken? It must have been funny because he had a huge smile on his face. Come to think of it, he’d smiled through much of their conversation. She’d had an easygoing nature with a great sense of humor. There had been no awkward moments or long gaps of silence. Under different circumstances he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better.
“The women in here may help repair your reputation.” Marty pointed to the binders he’d put together of potential wife candidates. “This one though will win the hearts of voters.” He nodded toward the newspaper on the table. “I don’t understand the problem. She’s beautiful and well-educated.”
Marty had him there. Addison was attractive and, from all he could tell, intelligent. Even with that knowledge, a corner of his conscience prickled at the idea.
Across the table Marty popped a pickle in his mouth and chewed as he waited. “If it helps look at it this way. Her involvement with you will put her business on the fast track. The whole thing will still more or less be a business agreement.”
Trent nodded. Marty had a point. If he and Addison became romantically involved it would do more for her business than an ad during the Super Bowl.
“If you’re going to make it in politics you need to learn to do what’s right for your career, everything else comes second. Trust me, I’ve been around long enough to know that few politicians make it with their conscience intact.” Marty pushed the paper closer to him. “So what’s it going to be?”
Addison’s face beamed up at him. “We’ll try it your way, but if it’s not working we will fall back to our original plan.” Sure, they’d had an enjoyable conversation over coffee but he was not prepared to wager the rest of his life on that. He picked up his untouched sandwich. “I’m assuming you made sure she’s not involved with anyone.”
The look Marty gave him said it all. “Unless she’s got a secret lover tucked in her closet, she’s single and has been for over a year.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know how things go. But in the meantime, keep working on who leaked this picture.”
Hi Alicia and all you fabulous readers out there *waves* Thank you so much for having me today! My romantic suspense, Maximum Risk, released this month so I’m very excited to be here! Thank you so much for sharing it with me!!
In honor of my release I am giving away an e-book copy of any one of my books (go to my WEBSITE to choose) to one lucky commenter so please leave me a comment with your EMAIL so I can contact you if you win!!
I love cooking almost as much as I love writing. Almost. Writing is definitely my passion, but cooking can be fun sometimes too. I often include cooking scenes in my writing and it is usually the hero that is doing the cooking. Hmm…wonder why that is, lol. Probably because I don’t have the time anymore! And, probably why I started a cooking blog called Romance Recipes…Authors cooking up more than romance. So I can introduce readers to a blog where they can meet new authors, try a new recipe and pick up a new book all in one place! If you’d like to check it out here the link:Romance Recipes.
In Maximum Risk, my heroine, Avery, is cut off from her life due to the bad guys wanting her dead. To get her mind off the danger she bakes a batch of her mom’s No Bake Cookies-the only thing she can bake since she isn’t a cook. Quinn gave them his approval and he comes from a family where his mom cooks Sunday dinner and leaves Tupperware in his fridge when he’s away-so you know they’re good 🙂 So, here’s the recipe for Avery’s No Bake Cookies from Maximum Risk. Enjoy!
Avery’s No Bake Cookies
½ c cocoa
2 c sugar
½ c milk
1 stick butter
½ c peanut butter
½ tsp. vanilla
3 c quick-cooking oats
Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in a saucepan and boil for 1 minute
Take off heat
Add peanut butter, vanilla and oats.
Lay out on wax paper and let cool before enjoying!
***BONUS***
For everyone who signs up for my NEWSLETTER you will receive an e-book copy of my short story, Taking Chances ($.99 value) for FREE!
Thank you for having me today, Alicia!! I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to all my readers out there! Without you I wouldn’t be here. My wish is to one day meet each and every one of you so I can personally thank you for your generosity and support! All my best, Jennifer
I’m happy to share some brand new releases from The Wild Rose Press. Check out these exciting stories and be sure to follow the authors.
Ashantay Peters with Death Rub, a Mystery Novel
Class reunions can be murder, even after finding the perfect dress
Interesting Tidbit:
I was having a chair massage when the idea for this book niggled into my brain. My massage therapist didn’t seem as enthused as I was about the plot, however. Hmm…I wonder if she thought I was making a personal comment about her skills. Not so! My fictional massage therapist, Maggie, is a true heroine – facing her past and working past her fears to reach a better future. But then, I think anyone who confronts their dark side is heroic.
Favorite Line(s):
“He tasted like cinnamon with a piquant aftertaste of dark chocolate.”
Diana Green with Dragon Wife, Paranormal Romance Novel
Beware the dragon when he finds his mate.
Interesting Tidbit:
The idea for this story came to me from a dream. In it, I experienced being a woman with magical abilities, living in a medieval world. I encountered a dragon-shifter chieftain and became quite smitten with him, only to learn he was betrothed to my cousin. The emotions in my dream were so compelling, as was the vividness of the setting and characters. When I woke,I knew I had the seed for a great novel. The rest, as they say, is history.
Favorite Lines:
“If you’re fretting about those stories, where dragons carry off beautiful virgins, I can put your mind at rest. I haven’t done that in ages.”
Orwenna’s head snapped up.
“Since I’m not a beauty or a virgin, I won’t worry,” she said tartly. “I’ll just pray you can fly well enough not to drop me.”
On sale for a limited time: e-book $2.50 through The Wild Rose Press:Click Here
Gail MacMillan with Heather for a Highlander, historical romance novel
Interesting Tidbit:
In reading a book about provincial history, I came upon a section listing home remedies in 1820 New Brunswick. Some were bazaar such as the asthma cure that required eating field mice fried in butter. Others , such as heating poppy seeds in milk as a cure for insomnia, had merit. About this time, people of the First Nation were also introducing their own medicines such as the fox glove plant for heart ailments to the newcomers. What about a doctor of that era as a hero? The idea burst into my mind as I read. But not just any doctor… a remarkable doctor, one who could separate the ridiculous remedies from those with benefits, a doctor open the wisdom of the First Nation’s healers and shamans, a doctor bold enough to question long standing medical practices such as bleeding? Thus was born Dr. William MacTavish and his rogue of a brother, sea captain James. And as Dr. MacTavish’s practice in the backwoods of New Brunswick grew, he would require an assistant but when he sent his brother on a quest for such an individual he had no idea his unpredictable brother would return with Heather for the former Highlander Dr. MacTavish.
On sale for a limited time: e-book $2.50 through The Wild Rose Press:Click Here
Author Alicia Dean 