January 29, 2015 · 9:56 am

A Debut Release from Marin McGinnis: Stirring Up the Viscount

Please help me welcome Marin McGinnis and her first ever novel, a Historical Romance: Stirring Up the Viscount. What an exciting time…congratulations, Marin!

Now, let’s get to know a little bit about the author and her book: (Be sure to check out her beautiful, elegant cover)

Where did you get the idea for Stirring up the Viscount?

Viscount was inspired by a few things: Downton Abbey, a BBC series called The Victorian Kitchen, and from somewhere in the dark recesses of my brain, the Julia Roberts movie Sleeping With the Enemy.

Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?

Theodora’s name comes from an old (1936) movie I loved, called Theodora Goes Wild, with Irene Dunne. The two Theodoras are nothing alike, but somehow it fit.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Butt in chair.  Seriously, the hardest part of writing a book is getting the butt in my chair and writing every day.

What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

I wrote this book very fast, in about 3 months, but I spent another 22 months editing it and adding scenes that I had glossed over when I wrote the first draft. I also spent a lot of time staring at the screen and writing nothing. The most difficult thing about it, for me, was in going back and fixing those early scenes. I learned, though, that the fast draft is not my style—I really need to write chronologically, from start to finish, with nothing major left out.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

In my non-writing life I’m a lawyer. I’ve been doing it for almost twenty years so there are things I like and things I don’t like, but other than writing it’s all I know how to do. Looking forward to retirement when I can write full time!

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

Peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. Don’t judge!

What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?

There are a couple of movies, and one book, that are beloved by people all over the world that I just cannot stand.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

Other than my day job? 🙂 My habit of procrastination. And Netflix. But I’m never giving up Netflix!

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

Honestly, since this is my first book I’ll be ecstatic if anyone reads it at all. 🙂

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

I’ve never written paranormal, but I think I’d like to one day. I’m not sure I’m creative enough, though!

What is your favorite…

Place you’ve visited – England

Place you’d like to visit – Ireland

Food – Lay’s Lightly Salted potato chips. Seriously addicted.

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

I was never much for TV, but now that I can watch it on my iPad I binge watch like crazy.

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Blurb: 

Seeking to escape an abusive husband, Theodora Ravensdale answers an ad in The Times for a job as cook in a country home. A fortuitous house fire enables her to fake her own death and flee to northern England and live under an assumed name. But Theodora’s refuge is not all she would wish, when she stirs emotions in the heir to the estate, Jonathan Tenwick, and in herself. 

Meanwhile, as the connection between Theodora and Jonathan grows, her husband learns she did not perish in the fire, and searches for her. Fearing he is close to finding her, Theodora must flee again to protect the family and the viscount for whom she cares deeply. In the final confrontation with her husband, Theodora learns she is stronger than she ever knew, and love is worth fighting for.​ 

Buy links:       The Wild Rose Press            Amazon

Excerpt: 

“Did you love him very much?” he asked quietly, afraid to know the answer. 

Her voice almost a groan, she whispered, “Please, Jonathan. Enough.” 

It was the “Enough” that was his undoing. In that single word, he heard years of torment, from a woman who clearly had not loved her husband, at least not for some time. Whoever or whatever he had been, Jonathan was certain he was the source of her fear. 

But if he were truly dead, why did she still fear him? 

 

MarinMcGinnis

About Marin: 

Clevelanders are tough, a bit cynical, and just a little crazy, and Marin McGinnis is no exception. She writes smart and sexy tales of Victorian-era romance.

When she’s not chasing after big dogs or watching tween-aged children skate around Ohio hockey rinks, you can find her hanging out at marinmcginnis.com, on her group blog at throughheartshapedglasses.com, on Twitter @MarinMcGinnis, or Facebook at facebook.com/MarinMcG.

 

 

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January 28, 2015 · 7:27 am

Love to Shop? Love to Read? One Stop – Fill Your Kindle – Over 40 Books & Shorts for 99 cents each!

Scroll through our list of books and short stories for only 99¢ each! Below each cover is a clickable link for that book. A variety of genres from sweet to suspense to paranormal to erotica to historical…enjoy!

(PLEASE CHECK BEFORE ORDERING!!! – We are not responsible if prices are no longer 99 cents)

Disclaimer: I have not necessarily read nor do I endorse any of the books on this list. It is advisable to read the Amazon excerpt before purchasing.

 

Now…for some shopping fun!

(Tip: When you are on the link, right click to open a new window so you will not be taken away from the page)

 

Rebellious: Martini Club 4 – The 1920s, Vintage Historical Romance Novella by Amanda McCabe

Can an aristocratic lady melt the cold heart of a Russian gangster? 

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Click here to pre-order on Amazon

(Sale ends February 26  – On release day, February 26, the price will be $2.99)

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Ruined: Martini Club 4 – The 1920s, Vintage Historical Romance Novella by Alicia Dean 

She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans…

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Click here to pre-order on Amazon

(Sale ends February 26  – On release day, February 26, the price will be $2.99)

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Reckless: Martini Club 4 – The 1920s, Vintage Historical Romance Novella by Kathy L Wheeler

 Lady Margaret turned Lady Bootlegger… 

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Click here to pre-order on Amazon

(Sale ends February 26  – On release day, February 26, the price will be $2.99)

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Runaway: Martini Club 4 – The 1920s, Vintage Historical Romance Novella by Krysta Scott

Can she prove her innocence before more than her dreams are destroyed?

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Click here to pre-order on Amazon

(Sale ends February 26  – On release day, February 26, the price will be $2.99)

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Destiny: A Bermuda Love Story, Historical Romance Short Story by Marilyn Baron

When the relationship of star-crossed lovers Elizabeth Sutton and Edward Morgan founders off the coast of Bermuda with the shipwreck of the Sea Venture in the seventeenth century, will the lovers be reunited? (Prequel to Under the Moon Gate)

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Red the Were Hunter – Award Winning Bestselling Novel by Rebekah R. Ganiere 

(In the search for vengeance, sometimes you have to sacrifice what you desire most)

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Capturing The Marshal’s Heart–sensual historical romance by Linda Carroll-Bradd 

What happens when a Texas lawman is forced to choose between his duty and his lady?

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(sale prices ends February 2 – regular price $1.99)

Click here to buy from Amazon

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Gingerbread Wishes (Book 1 in Sugar & Spice Bakery series)–sweet romance Christmas short story by Linda Carroll-Bradd

Is a new man enough to make baker Tora stay in her Texas hometown?

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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When Lonely Hearts Meet (Book 2 in Sugar & Spice Bakery series)–sweet romance Valentine’s Day short story by Linda Carroll-Bradd 

Can online dating entice a divorced woman and a rancher to reveal the secrets of their lonely hearts?

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Cupid’s Beau – Valentine’s Day Sweet Paranormal Romance by Alicia Dean 

What happens when a cupid falls in love with her target?

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The Ring That Binds–historical romance novella by Linda Carroll-Bradd 

Can a woman sworn to put down roots and a man looking for more riches find happiness?

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Hot For The Uniform–erotic romance novella by Layla Chase 

When their attraction flames from sparks to 3-alarm lust, can fire captain Conor convince Rikki they have more than a sexy combustion? 

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Twin Delights–erotic romance short story by Layla Chase 

A long-distance phone relationship becomes personal between designer Michelene and contractor Whit but when a twin brother appears, she asks herself: Am I ready for a walk on the wild side?

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Click here to purchase on Amazon

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Whirlwind–erotic romance short story by Layla Chase 

Unveiling tattoos with a stranger has never been so dangerous…or sexy.

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Click here to purchase on Amazon

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Divine Fall, YA Paranormal Romance by KATHRYN KNIGHT

Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel

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Find the Magic – How to Plot a Story in 10 Easy Steps, Non-Fiction writing ‘how to’ short manual by Alicia Dean

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

(SALE ENDS February 5, 2015 – Regular price $2.99)

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INSIGHT: a short story by Carol Burnside 

What’s a Crainesian to do when her half human life-mate is too clueless to follow when beckoned?  Seduce him with his own desires, of course!

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

Sale from NOW – February 6th

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Hurricane Crimes, Romantic-Suspense Short Story by Chrys Fey 

During a category 5 hurricane, a woman finds herself trapped with a woman who might be a murderer.

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

Sale from NOW – February 6th

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Up And Coming–erotic romance short story by Layla Chase 

A chance meeting in a hotel bar…a few sexy dances…a passionate night–but in the light of day, will the differences between Carina and Rico pull them apart?

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Captured & Seduced–paranormal romance novel by Shelley Munro 

A shapeshifter and a wizard slugging it out, an alien world and a hell-horse… 

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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The Rebel’s Redemption– A Romantic Suspense novel by Jacquie Biggar 

When an old enemy follows and causes mayhem in Tidal Falls, can Jared overcome the odds to protect the woman he’s always loved and the child he never knew, or will it be too late?

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Click here to pre-order from Amazon– Sale ends Feb 2/15

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Caught in Cross Seas –  a romantic suspense novel by Sharleen Scott

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

 

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Key to Love – Contemporary Romantic Suspense – by Judy Ann Davis 

An animal-cracker-eating orphan, his rich uncle, and a female architect team up to solve a murder.

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Purchase from Amazon

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By the Blue Moon, Book 1, Blue Moon Magic Series — a contemporary werewolf erotica by Debi Wilder 

Live your life only By the Blue Moon

Chastity Lynne Langford is turning 34 and she can’t understand her sudden fascination with sex. Justin Matthews has been promised the eldest daughter of the Elite clan…a clan of superior werewolves who are more human than werewolf. The rite of passage would soon take place where Justin would claim his life mate, or die trying to protect her…By the Blue Moon.

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Purchase from Smile Amazon

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Human Touch — a sci fi erotica by Debi Wilder & Honey Jans 

“Teach me what it’s like to be human.” 

In 2499 it’s reported that sex is forbidden and all natural child conception shall end, until …. 

In 2525 three human couples discover sex and give birth to three rogue babies that are captured in a raid. Then… 

In 2550 three humans raised by SPAR officials, Reola, Stuart, and Simon rediscover what their parents before they knew… 

Human Touch.

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Purchase on Smile Amazon

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Enchantment in Morocco, a contemporary novella by Madeleine McDonald 

Stranded in Morocco, Emily has to accept a job offer from Rafi Hassan.

“The slow pace of Moroccan life, along with its vibrancy and colours, echoes through this charming story.” (HEA review, 3 teacups) 

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Take Three, Please (A Menage Sexy and Short Romance #1), Women’s Fiction Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

Three gorgeous men stroll into Morgan’s bakery and her life will never be the same

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Three for Cici (A Menage Sexy and Short Romance #2), Women’s Fiction Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

Welcome to Morgan’s Bakery, where tasty treats are sold one at a time and hot guys come in groups of three! 

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Jackie’s Triple Play (A Menage Sexy and Short Romance #3), Women’s Fiction Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

Jackie finds ménage magic of her own at Morgan’s Bakery

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Golem’s Revenge, Episode One: Betrayed, Women’s Fiction Fantasy Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

When ordinary love goes awry, it’s sad. When magical love goes wrong, it’s dangerous.

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Golem’s Revenge, Episode Two: Reprise, Women’s Fiction Fantasy Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

She’ll throw her fate to the melody of her dead lover’s song

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Golem’s Revenge, Episode Three: Captive, Women’s Fiction Fantasy Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

He’ll bind her body, but not her spirit. 

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Golem’s Revenge, Episode Four: Exposed, Women’s Fiction Fantasy Short Story by Anwen Stiles 

Saving him might save herself, if an enemy doesn’t destroy them first.

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Delivering Love Today, a Fun & Flirty Valentine’s Day short story, by Patricia Preston

A handsome stranger disrupts more than Kelly’s delivery schedule on Valentine’s Day.

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Maggie Undercover (Welcome to Council Falls) by Elysa Hendricks  A Small Town Romance Novel
(High school is more fun the second time around.)

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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A Chance to Love Again: Oklahoma Lovers #3 (Oklahoma Lovers Series), a Western Historical Romance novella by Callie Hutton

Can widow Rachel Stevens and ranch foreman Rusty McIntyre find love when life isn’t as easy at it once was?

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

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Saving Sarah: Novella and prequel to the Pikes Run Series by Kara O’Neal 

After Sarah ends their courtship, will Michael be able to discover her blackmailer’s secret and save her before it’s too late?

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Click here to buy from Amazon

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Lori’s Redemption by Pamela S Thibodeaux (short story spin-off to Tempered Fire) 

Can a notorious bad girl find redemption & win the cowboy preacher’s heart?

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Click here to buy from Amazon

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Love is a Rose by Pamela S Thibodeaux (devotional) 

God uses any and every means available to speak to His children.

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Click here to buy from Amazon

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The Conqueror, a medieval romance by Mary Gillgannon 

The daughter of a Saxon eorle defies the Norman knight who seizes control of her home.

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Click here to purchase from Amazon

(on sale for 99 cents through February 14)

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The Scotland Yard Exchange Series Boxed Set: 3 Novels of Romance & Intrigue by Stephanie Queen 

Escape to the intriguing and charming world in Queen’s Beacon Hill where politics, crime and fun mix in three full novels.

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Click here to purchase on Amazon

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Sealed With a Kiss, Contemporary Romance, Short Story, by DARCY FLYNN 

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Caledonian Privateer, historical romance, novel, Gail MacMillan 

Notorious privateer joins forces with an infamous lady jewel thief fleeing justice after stealing Marie Antoinette’s necklace.

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Purchase from Amazon:   

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Ghost of Winters Past, romantic suspense, novel, Gail MacMillan 

Ghosts, murder, and a mysterious man who appears out of a blizzard haunt Michael Dunn when she takes over the management of a snowmobile lodge in the Canadian wilderness.

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Purchase from Amazon:   

 

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January 27, 2015 · 9:44 am

LAST DAY at 99¢!!! Lady of the Knight by MJ Schiller

Woohooo!!! Release day is here for my friend, MJ Schiller’s, latest, LADY OF THE KNIGHT, the second in the ROMANTIC KNIGHTS TRILOGY. (Click on the covers to be taken to the Amazon buy page)

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If you love romance and the adventures inherent in space travel, this is the series for you. Book One, LEAP INTO THE KNIGHT, is also on sale for 99 cents! (I have started reading Book One and love it so far!)

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Keep reading for more on MJ’s latest release…

 

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Would she betray the man she loves in order to save his life? 

Blurb ~

Sir Darius Lee is a Knight of the High Order.

But when Darius discovers a stranger in his room in the middle of the night, and the intruder turns out to be a beautiful woman, he begins to question how he is meant to live his life.

Princess Megan of Bethyea is being held captive.

But when two knights help her to escape and bring her back to her home planet, she finds the home she knew no longer exists.

When The Council of Twelve questions Darius about his relationship with Maggie, she tries to flee from The Academy of the High Order to prevent him from losing his knighthood.

Will Darius and Orion find Maggie before she leaves Albion? And if they do, how can they face the decision of The Council? And what about the feelings Orion has developed for the princess?

Excerpt ~

He entered a hallway lined with doors on either side. About halfway up a patch of light on the polished wood stretched from one of the doorways and then became slimmer and slimmer, disappearing as the door slid shut. He picked up his pace, but footsteps approached from a side hallway. Ducking into a doorway, he flattened himself against the cold metal, his heart racing. The footsteps echoed loudly on the flooring, but soon became more distant. Daring to stick his head out, he got a glimpse of the back of someone turning onto another corridor. He estimated the spot where he thought the light shone on the floor, then strode to the door, took a deep breath, and punched the keypad.

He was horrorstruck when the door opened. Maggie knelt at the foot of a brass bed facing it with her arms spread wide, electro-cuffed to the bedposts. The ape called Mic brought a whip crashing down on her back. Orion jumped at the sharp crack, wincing. He rushed forward and grabbed the slaver’s arm as he pulled it back for another blow. He ripped the whip from the meaty fist and threw it across the room where it knocked over a lamp. Mic whirled in a rage but was laid low by a single punch to his jaw. He staggered backward into the bed and slid slowly, almost comically, to the floor.

“Maggie.”

He hurried to her side, kneeling and laying his hands on her bare arms. “I’m so sorry.” He peered over her shoulder to see her exposed lower back and the welt already rising there.

“I’m okay.” She leaned to peer around the side of the bed at Mic’s prone figure. “Wow. I guess it is true. The bigger they are, the harder they do fall.” The corners of her lips turned up, but her eyes watered.

He smiled back, relieved she was safe. For the moment anyhow. He ran his hands along her arms to the electro-cuffs and deactivated them. They fell from her wrists, and she grabbed the bars of the bed to help her to her feet. She sucked in her breath through her teeth, then halted, appearing to gather herself for a few seconds. “I’ve got an idea about how I can get into the slave quarters.”

 

Links for MJ ~

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365?ref=hl

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller

Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/mjschiller

Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/110797684036386240402/posts

 

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Bio ~

MJ is a lunch lady in the heart of Central Illinois. My gosh! Can you get more folksy than that? She met her husband at the University of Missouri-Columbia and now she has a twenty-year-old (how did that happen?) and eighteen year old triplets! She loves to read, karaoke (where she can pretend she is a rock star) and spends WAY too much time on Facebook. She grew up in St. Louis and still has family there.

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January 26, 2015 · 5:06 am

Grave Vengeance – A Hot New Reaper Novel by Lori Sjoberg

I’m excited to share the latest release from Lori Sjoberg. It’s a Reaper book…and I LOVE Reapers!

Thank you for joining me, Lori.

Where did you get the idea for Grave Vengeance?

It came from my love of spy movies. Bond, Borne – you name it, I’ll watch it. And as I learned when I wrote Grave Vengeance, they’re even more fun to write! Dmitri’s character has been around since Grave Intentions, book one of the series, and even then I knew I wanted his book to highlight his former life as a KGB spy. So when the time came to write his story, I decided to send him on a mission with his worst enemy, the woman responsible for his downfall.

(Funny, the hero/reaper in my book, Soul Seducer is Dimitri :))

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time? 

I hate to say it, but social media. One minute I’m catching up on my messages, and the next thing I know it’s two hours later and I’m watching cat videos.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

It’s so hard to narrow it down to one! But since you insist, I’ll go with Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve read it at this point. It’s such a wonderful mix of romance, action, intrigue, humor, and history. When my husband and I traveled to Scotland a few years back, we made sure to visit a few of the sites mentioned in the book, such as Inverness and Culloden Moor. As for my favorite childhood book, that’s easy: the Black Stallion by Walter Farley.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Grave Vengeance? 

I want them to think, “Wow, that was a lot of fun!” and, “Where can I get my own Dmitri?”

What is your favorite quote?

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?

A Swiss Army survival knife, an economy pack of lighters, and a large pot for cooking/boiling water.

(Okay, so I see you have a practical nature :))

What is your favorite…

Movie – Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Music – Hard rock/Metal

Place you’ve visited – Scotland

Place you’d like to visit – Australia

TV show from childhood – The Muppets!

TV show from adulthood – The X-Files

Food – Chocolate

Sports team – Minnesota Vikings

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? – What, no book option? Gak! In that case, I’ll go with television.

(Of course not, all my guests would choose books…I can’t make it EASY on you :))

Thank you for such fun info and best of luck with Grave Vengeance! (It looks like a sizzling hot read!)

Now Lori has a question for readers…

Who is your favorite fictional spy? 

GraveVengeance

The past doesn’t like to play dead… 

Handsome and haunted, he’s a reaper who prefers to work alone. But Fate has other plans for him and the sassy secret agent who shot him in another life—if their pasts don’t catch up with them first. 

Dmitri Stavitsky has never played well with others—a Soviet KGB spy in life turned reaper after death, his work of bringing souls to the other side is best done alone. But orders from the top soon place him alongside fellow reaper Gwen Peterson, the American counterintelligence agent who took his life so many years ago. Now, as a ghost from Gwen’s past resurfaces with the power to steal reapers’ souls, the two have no choice but to set aside their differences and apprehend the rogue together. But their cross-country mission soon ignites feelings Dmitri thought he was no longer capable of—for the woman who helped destroy him. 

With an ancient force and a small army against them, he’ll have to let go of old grudges or risk his future with Gwen…as Fate hangs dangerously in the balance. 

Available at Amazon   BN   iTunes   Kobo   Google Books

Excerpt:

Some men were nice to look at. Others, you couldn’t look away from. And then there was Dmitri Stavitsky.

He was taller than her, around six foot four, and had the powerful build of a gymnast. The shirt he wore did nothing to conceal his thick, corded arms or the broad expanse of his chest. His thighs strained against the confines of his jeans. He carried himself with an air of confidence that most men found intimidating and most women found irresistible. And even though Gwen despised him as much as he despised her, she had to admit he wore it well.

Gwen could feel his eyes moving over her while she drove, and she resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. “What?”

The passing streetlights played over the planes of his face. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two, and his jaw was shadowed with stubble. It made him look almost as dangerous as he was.

Almost.

Back in the day, he’d been one of the KGB’s top agents. For nearly a decade, he worked within the borders of the United States, stealing some of the country’s most valuable secrets. What he couldn’t steal he usually destroyed with calculated and ruthless efficiency. He killed defectors before they could spill their secrets as well as killing anyone else deemed an enemy of the Soviet Union. The full extent of his treachery was never determined; he’d taken those secrets to the grave.

“You cut your hair.” During the Cold War, he spoke with a flawless American accent to mask his true identity. The habit died when the Iron Curtain fell, and now his rich, deep voice contained a blend of both Russian and American, with the former growing more pronounced whenever he got pissed off.

Like now.

“So nice of you to notice.”

One corner of his mouth twitched. “It makes you look like a boy.”

Bastard. Her grip tightened around the steering wheel. “Like I give a damn what you think.”

He laughed under his breath. “I think you do.” The smirk on his face vanished when she ground the gears. Careful! It took me two days to rebuild the transmission.

“Sorry.” Not really. She totally meant to do that. “Third’s a little sticky.” She held back a smile as she hooked a right onto Alafaya Boulevard.

Dmitri raked his hands through his short, dark hair. He was a few weeks past the time for a cut, and the ends curled around the nape of his neck. “Why are you here, Gwen?” Her name sounded like poison on his tongue.

Good question. Her current base of operations was on the opposite side of the country, along the American side of the border with Mexico. Samuel had been vague on the details when he contacted her late last night with orders to fly to Orlando for a special assignment. She hated the idea of working with Dmitri, but knew better than to refuse an order. After all, the Big Kahuna wasn’t known for his gentle demeanor. The quicker they got the job finished, the quicker they could return to their normal routines and forget the other existed.

“Samuel sent me,” she replied with a shrug, knowing he’d understand the way the boss operated.

He nodded, his expression grim. “And why did you steal my car?”

“Because I could.” And because she knew it would piss him off. It was the way things had always worked between them. They’d lost their humanity and become reapers together, and had been at each other’s throats ever since. Two Cold War relics, passing through the modern age. “You really need to install a better anti-theft system. Anybody with a screwdriver can hot-wire this thing in less than five minutes.” She’d done it in three.

She could have sworn he growled.

An uneasy silence fell between them. She darted a quick glance in his direction and saw the unwashed hostility darkening the blues of his eyes. The muscles along his jaw clenched and unclenched, his full lips pressed into a thin white line.

The light ahead switched from green to yellow. After checking for cops, she punched the gas to make it through the intersection before the yellow turned to red. “You know, I’m not happy about this either. The sooner we do whatever Samuel wants, the sooner we can go our separate ways.”

With a huff of annoyance, Dmitri rolled down the passenger side window and propped his arm on the sill. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

For once, they were in perfect agreement.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

About the Author:

Growing up the youngest of three girls, Lori never had control of the remote. (Not that she’s bitter about that. Really. Okay, maybe a little, but it’s not like she’s scarred for life or anything.) That meant a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy. Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits – you name it, she watched it. It fed her imagination, and that came in handy when the hormones kicked in and she needed a creative excuse for being out past curfew.

After completing her first novel, she joined the Romance Writers of America and Central Florida Romance Writers. Now she exercises the analytical half of her brain at her day job, and the creative half writing sensual paranormal romance. Grim reapers are her specialty, but she loves to write about all creatures of the night.

Web: www.lorisjoberg.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriSjoberg

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6574214.Lori_Sjoberg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lori_Sjoberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author:

 

Growing up the youngest of three girls, Lori never had control of the remote. (Not that she’s bitter about that. Really. Okay, maybe a little, but it’s not like she’s scarred for life or anything.) That meant a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy. Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits – you name it, she watched it. It fed her imagination, and that came in handy when the hormones kicked in and she needed a creative excuse for being out past curfew.

 

After completing her first novel, she joined the Romance Writers of America and Central Florida Romance Writers. Now she exercises the analytical half of her brain at her day job, and the creative half writing sensual paranormal romance. Grim reapers are her specialty, but she loves to write about all creatures of the night.

 

Web: www.lorisjoberg.com

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriSjoberg

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6574214.Lori_Sjoberg

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lori_Sjoberg

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January 25, 2015 · 2:25 pm

Happy Robbie Burns Day! – An Interview and New Wild Rose Press Release from Gail MacMillan

Please welcome my guest, Gail McMillan…

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January 25, Robbie Burns Day!  I was thrilled when Alicia invited me to answer interview questions about my latest book “Highland Harry” on that day.  This Scottish-Canadian historical romance fits in well with the celebrations of Scotland’s arguably most beloved poet. 

What perfect timing! I had never heard of Robbie Burns, but I’m so happy to share his special day with you. 🙂

Tell us about Highland Harry, where did you get the idea?

The idea for a book was inspired by tales of my grandfather, several times removed, George Fowlie, who immigrated to Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada in the late 1700’s. Although I’ve never been able to determine that he was, I assumed, for the sake of the book, that he’d been driven out of Scotland by the infamous Highland Clearances. In the backwoods George and his wife Jane established a farm and two mills, one grist, the other lumber.   George died at age fifty, leaving Jane with all this to manage as well to raise nine children, the oldest fourteen, the youngest a mere two months old. 

His wife proved a remarkable woman.  She never remarried.  She raised the children and managed the family interests on her own until she passed in her late 80’s. The Fowlie mills flourished until after World War II, a lasting tribute to this remarkable woman.  Her eldest son, James, became a clergyman and, later, the first Professor of Natural History at prestigious Queen’s University. 

“Highland Harry” is what I call a “what if” book.  I wondered what would have happened if both George and Jane had died, if the care of their children had been left to a pair of unusual step parents, one a former Highland highwayman fleeing the noose, the other a tavern girl. Throw in a vicious enemy out to gain control of their prosperous holdings, and the plot was set to boil.  Could these unusual and unexpected parents fight off all challenges and forge an enduring family, even a dynasty, out of all this adversity?   You’ll have to read “Highland Harry” to find out. 

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

Not very original but I always try to walk in my characters’ shoes (boots, barefeet).  I try to see the world as they would see and experience it.  Sadly, sometimes I’ve inhabited their bodies too long and my real-life supper has burned to a black sludge.  

What is one word you would use to describe yourself? What is one word you think others might use to describe you?

Shy.  Others probably see me as distant or reserved. 

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Highland Harry?

I would like readers to come away with a sense of the power and strength to be found in loving, caring family relationships, that by uniting for the common good, a family can conquer or, at the very least, manage any adversity. 

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

I can’t single out one particular book.  What I’d most like to do is expand on some scenes, give the characters more of a chance to reveal themselves and, in some cases, to draw a more detailed account of setting.  

What is your favorite quote?

“God forgive me if I whine, I have two feet, The world is mine.”  My father’s to me when I expressed discontentment. 

What is your most prized material possession and why?

My mother’s copy of L. M. Mongomery’s  “The Blue Castle.”  She passed when I was sixteen.  She left this book to me, a favorite of both of us.  To me, it symbolizes our shared love of the printed word and keeps her memory always close to me.

 

Thank you for being with me today, Gail. I love that quote from your father. Very touching about “The Blue Castle,” I’m sure that is a prized possession.

Now, for Gail’s latest release…

Cover Highland Harry

Blurb: 

After losing his family in the Scottish Clearances, Harry Wallace becomes infamous for his clever revenge on the ruling English upper class, but his success can last only so long. With the shadow of a noose hanging over him, he barely escapes with his life and sails for British North America and a town he’s heard of but never seen.

In New Brunswick, Maggie Fowler needs a champion, someone willing to fight for the home and holdings she and her seven stepchildren are trying to defend against a murderous, power-hungry enemy who has already killed the children’s father. Will footloose, devil-may-care Highland Harry meet her needs? 

 

Excerpt:  

He sat savoring another wee dram. God knew he needed it. He’d just been proposed to by the stepmother of seven children with mills, a farm, and an apparently dangerous enemy threatening her and her family. The widow of a fellow Highlander, a woman—together with her children—he was duty bound to help and protect. 

In the flickering firelight he walked to the door of her bedroom and peered in through the space she’d left open to allow heat from the hearth to enter. In the wide bed, her shining chestnut hair adorning the pillow, Maggie slept, long eyelashes spread out over creamy cheeks. In her arms she cradled the golden-haired cherub named Eppie. On a rug on the floor beside them, Pig woke, looked up at him with strangely knowing eyes, grunted, then lowered her head and went back to sleep. What was a man to do with such a rare and unexpected family? 

He wandered back to the hearth, put a hand on the shelf above it, and stood staring down into the flames. Wind shrieked around the corners and snow buffeted the windows, but inside the log house, protected from the storm, he let a warm, secure feeling settle over him, a warm and secure feeling he hadn’t experienced at night since he’d been a lad in his father’s croft cottage during a blizzard much like this one. The ambience was seductive but perhaps false. After all, the family had a dangerous enemy. 

He banked the fire for the night, then glanced back toward the bedroom where Maggie slept. Beautiful, unassuming Maggie. What would the future hold for her and the children if he decided not to stay?

 

Click here to purchase:  http://amzn.com/B00QQO3OFW

 

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January 23, 2015 · 9:12 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part 30 – Elvis’ ‘68 Comeback Special…OMG

After Elvis came home from the army, he once more began making movies and stopped touring. I can’t imagine how that must have felt to fans, waiting so anxiously for his return, then being unable to see him live in concert. Although, seeing him on the big screen was definitely a treat as well. 🙂

When the concept of a special featuring Elvis first came about, Colonel Parker originally had the idea of Elvis singing Christmas carols. But director Steve Binder wanted something more. After noticing how relaxed and natural Elvis was in rehearsals, and how he and the other musicians played off one another, joked around and impulsively performed old blues and rock and roll songs, he decided to run with that theme and he and his crew did everything they could to recreate that situation and help Elvis relax. Elvis was reluctant to perform live, he was sure people would laugh at him, but Binder brought in Scotty Moore and Bill Black, the musicians Elvis started with, to put him at ease. (Unfortunately, the other member of the group, DJ Fontana, had passed away in 1965.) Although Elvis was terrified, not long after taking the stage, he managed to set it aside, or at least to appear to. According to Binder: “If you look closely at the opening seconds of the show, there’s a close-up of Elvis singing. You can see his hand on the mike – and it’s visibly shaking. Then he sang 8 or 9 strains, and he was back.”

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What developed was a phenomenal, ground breaking show, a mixture of big number performances with extravagant settings, such as the sequence with gospel songs and the musical ‘skit’ featuring Guitar Man and Big Boss Man. The ending number was a spectacular performance of Elvis, looking incredibly handsome in a white suit, singing ‘If I Can Dream’ a song written especially for the show, based on Elvis’ feelings about some of the issues going on in the world, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. Watch here:

 

The most memorable and impactful segment of the show had to be the ‘in the round’ jam session. Elvis in black leather, sitting around, joking and belting out some of his finer songs with his buddies surrounding him. Although I know Elvis was nervous, it certainly doesn’t show. He looks relaxed, sexy, confident as he smiles, jokes, and projects the famous Elvis swagger and charisma. Here is a little taste:

 

 

The show aired December 3, 1968, but I’ll be honest. I don’t recall seeing it at that time. I don’t know if my parents just didn’t allow us to watch it, or didn’t think about it (I was seven years old). My first memory of seeing the special was the following year in August, 1969 when my family traveled from Oklahoma to California, making stops in various states, including to visit my half-brother in Colorado. (They piled 5 kids in a station wagon Mom earned from selling Tupperware, and we embarked on the well over a thousand miles journey…what were they thinking???)  I’m guessing the special was re-broadcast, or my memory is totally skewed, but I have this recollection of being at my half-brother’s house, and the 68 Special playing on his television. I was enthralled, captivated, couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I’d already loved Elvis for as long as I could remember (and at 8 years old, that wasn’t all that long :)), but it was my first time to actually see him perform, other than in his movies, to see his amazing stage presence and the way he interacted with an audience and held them under his spell. Fortunately for all of us lucky enough to have seen Elvis in concert (for me, 3 times), this was the beginning of Elvis’ return to live performances.

The 68 Special was a smashing success. It was viewed by 42% of the audience and was the number one show that year, receiving critical acclaim and rave reviews. Elvis was indeed back.

What about you? Have you seen the special? What did you think?

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January 22, 2015 · 6:40 am

A Brand New Valentines Day Story from The Wild Rose Press: Time Out, Valentine by Melinda Dozier

I’m always pleased to host Wild Rose Press authors, especially considering I am one myself. I love their covers, and they publish some fabulous stories. Today, I have Melinda Dozier answering some questions and sharing her latest release…

 

Where did you get the idea for Time Out, Valentine?

Two years ago I visited Portland, Oregon on a business trip. The city inspired me along with one particular couple I stalked ̶ um, I mean, saw ̶ at the International Rose Garden.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Novellas are always difficult to build the characters enough for readers to understand them. I think I did a good job, though. 🙂

Are there any tricks or habits you use when creating a story?

My agent has taught me to keep a character chart and it’s such a useful tool. If I forget an eye color, I can just check the chart instead of searching through the manuscript.

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

All of Jill Shalvis’s books. I am a die-hard fan of Shalvis.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

Yes, I’m a middle school teacher. I was kind of thrown into the position at first, but after 19 years, I’ve realized it was a calling. However, after this year, I’ll retire from teaching to focus on writing.

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

I have a celebrity crush on Ryan Gosling, so I should say him, but I think I’d like to have deep conversations with Neil Gaiman.

What is your favorite…

Movie Crazy, Stupid Love

Place you’ve visited Disneyworld

Place you’d like to visit New York City

TV show from childhood Little House on the Prairie

TV show from adulthood The Office

Food  Tex Mex

Sports team New Orleans Saints

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

Now, Melinda has a question for readers…

What has been your most favorite romantic date of all time?

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BLURB:

Lexi’s life is one big dump. Or so she thinks. To keep her mind off her latest breakup, she stays busy with work. It’s no big deal, since writing for Time Out Portland Magazine is a blast…except for the one small snag – Grant Reeds. Grant, a shy but sexy computer geek, is new to Time Out, working as the Networking Director for the online magazine. Even though Lexi thinks he doesn’t notice her, he sure as hell does. The owners have a plan for their upcoming Valentine’s Special, pairing up the two to explore romantic date ideas around the city. Soon, Lexi and Grant learn that the old adage, “Opposites Attract,” can ring true.

EXCERPT:

Grant sipped his beer and surveyed the room around them—anywhere but at the siren next to him, with her fancy drink, an umbrella hanging off the side. Overhead lights strobed the room, gleaming in all directions. The DJ announced a new song and a new crowd rushed to the dance floor, leaving them more alone in the back of the room. Thank God. 

It was stifling hot. He tugged his collar from his neck and rolled the sleeves of his white button-up. His glasses slid down his nose, forcing him to take them off and put them in his shirt pocket. 

Luckily in that part of the room, the music wasn’t so loud that they had to scream to converse. He only raised his voice a fraction to ask her the question he’d been wondering since they set foot in the place. “So, you think this is romantic enough for a Valentine’s date?” 

She batted her long lashes in his direction and smirked. “There’s low lights.” 

“Yeah and loud music, people all around.” To help prove his point, someone bumped him in the back, pushing him closer to Lexi. His hand circled her waist and rested on her hip. 

She sipped the drink, moving the umbrella with her other hand, then licked her lips. “It’sthe place to be. All trendy couples find their way here.” She cocked her head. “What would make it more romantic? Kissing?” 

A slow smile formed and he faced her. Not a bad idea. “Actually, yeah.” He placed his bottle on the table behind them, cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck. 

She laughed nervously, putting her weight on another sexy as hell foot. “What? You’re gonna kiss me? For real?” 

“We need romance.” He grabbed her cup and put it next to his bottle. His gaze dropped to her mouth. 

“You kissing me won’t—” 

He placed his thumb on her lips. “Shhh. Stop talking so we can be romantic.”

LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00RASDUTS

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Time-Out-Valentine/book-yYA2K7SnFUSuL1kAU8LAhQ/page1.html?s=mfws6h0hQ0aRNbe-wLUbRQ&r=4

B&N: To come

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6037

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23784438-time-out-valentine

 

TRAILER LINK: http://youtu.be/DK4hVHiVAmo

 

 

MelindaDozierAuthor

AUTHOR BIO:

Melinda is a multi-published contemporary romance author with books from Crimson Romance, Swoon Romance and The Wild Rose Press represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband/college sweetheart who brings “mucho amor” to her life. Melinda enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her three boys once they are grown. Melinda’s guilty pleasures include reality t.v., traveling, blogging and playing Zynga games.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: www.melindadozier.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/melindadozier

Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/melinda.doz

The Wild Rose Press: http://goo.gl/F3IG1W

Sign up for Melinda’s newsletter HERE.

 

 

 

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January 18, 2015 · 9:37 am

A Bloody Good Cruise – Diana Rubino

I’m pleased to introduce Diana Rubino and her latest release, A Bloody Good Cruise. It’s about vampires on a cruise…are you kidding me??? LOVE the premise, the title, and the cover! Plus, she’s sharing a fun interview.

 

*** Diana is giving away a free PDF copy of the book to the first person who can answers this question: Who are the 3 historical figures you most would have wanted to meet?  (Please be sure to provide your email address in your comment)

 

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BLURB:

A BLOODY GOOD CRUISE is a fun-filled blend of the vampire world and luxury cruises.Romance writer Mona Rossi’s book sales are slipping. She needs new ideas and fast! Her vampire love, Fausto Silvius is a doctor aboard the Romanza, a luxury cruise ship. Holding a “Motion on the Ocean” writer’s cruise sounds like a great idea. What better way to combine a career boost with romance? But they soon discover hunters on board who give chase to Fausto and his fellow vampires. While he longs to bring Mona into his world, how can he convince her to join him with fringe lunatics on the hunt? In the prime of her life she’s not sticking her neck out for a shot at eternity.

 

Excerpt:

Mona forced a dose of cheer through her jangly nerves. Vampire hunters wouldn’t have the balls to attack Fausto and his friends on this ship. Security was tight. “Well, you’re here, so does that mean you’ve been going out, and aren’t confined to your house any more?”

Fausto shrugged. “Almost. I couldn’t wallow in self-pity forever. And I knew seeing you would make it worthwhile.”

She smiled and gave him a genuine Italian cheek pinch. “I’ll cheer you up, faccia bella, you can count on that. You must feel safe.” She gestured at the tacky duds. “I mean, relatively speaking.”    

“Don’t let this scare you, but –” He glanced around over the rims of his shades. Uh-oh. Whenever he said “don’t let this scare you,” it scared her. “I got an ominous message at the doctor=s office earlier.”

“What?” She swallowed a lump. “What kind of ominous message?”

He looked away, shaking his head. “Nothing to get alarmed about. The hunters just want me to know they’re here. After the initial jolt wore off, I said, ‘okay, I’m being stalked again.’ But I’m used to it. It doesn’t make me constantly look over my shoulder like in the old days. My family’s murder gave me a reality check. If they want me, they’ll get me. I can’t let it interfere with my work, or what little leisure time I have here. And you shouldn’t either.” He gazed at her adoringly and cupped her cheek. His hand was surprisingly warm. “But you’re still scared. All the blood’s drained out of your face, and not in a good way.”

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Author Bio:

As a romance author, I’ve cultivated a loyal following. I am active in my RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter and attend author/reader events at local bookstores. Local and regional columnists have given me a good deal of publicity with interviews and articles. I advertise in Romantic Times and the RWR to keep my name before readers, and have held several contests on my website, which RWA and RT have promoted. In my other life, I own an engineering business, CostPro, Inc., and am Director of Marketing.

Kindle link: www.amzn.com/B00ILXYAI6

Amazon Paperback Link: http://amzn.to/1loSASo

The Wild Rose Press Link: bit.ly/1k8Vlrs
 

 

Where did you get the idea for A Bloody Good Cruise?  Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?  

I wanted to combine Italian vampires, comedy and cruising in one package, so I hopped on my imaginary ship The Romanza to get my characters in all kinds of trouble. I envisioned the hero, Fausto, as actor Vincent Irizarry (Dr. Hayward on All My Children). That made my job so much easier. He is THE perfect vampire. Italian vampires and hunters (the Vampire Ball Busters) leave the field wide open for comic relief, and I had plenty of chances in this story. Since I’m hooked on cruising and I’m Italian, I didn’t need to do that much research. The name Fausto came from an Italian woman I met in the 1980s, Fausta. I knew I had to use some version of that name in one of my books.

My husband and I are hooked on cruising, and my very first cruise was on the Eastern Mediterranean, beginning in Rome and ending in Istanbul. The ports of call included Rhodes, Cyprus, Santorini, and Egypt. Because I love Italy and cruising, I wanted to combine those passions with a humorous story about vampires and how they face prejudice in the human world.

I met an Italian woman named Fausta in 1983 and always loved that name–I always planned to use that name in one of my books someday. I finally got the chance with the hero Fausto, close enough!

The actor I envision for the hero Fausto is Vincent Irizarry, who played Dr. David Hayward on All My Children. He is every bit the perfect vampire.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

I own an engineering business with my husband Chris. I’m Director of Marketing, which I enjoy. I like to meet people and ‘work a room’.

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

I don’t know if most people don’t like this, but when I visit a historical site, I must touch everything I possibly can, for that link to the past. I got yelled at in Warsaw for touching one of the keys on Chopin’s piano, but I wasn’t leaving there until I touched it!

What do you dislike that most people wouldn’t understand?

Ever since I’m a little kid, I never liked to eat meat. Nobody understood it in those days, and since vegetarianism is much more common now, more people understand it, but I still get weird looks sometimes.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

If only I could get by on two hours’ sleep!

What is one word you would use to describe yourself? What is one word you think others might use to describe you?

I describe myself as curious. Others would probably say earthy.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

My favorite book of all time is THE AUTIOBIOGRAPHY OF HENRY VIII by Margaret George. It transports you to Henry’s time as if you’ve time traveled. My favorite childhood books are from a series about a girl, Trixie Belden, who solved mysteries, very much like Nancy Drew.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read A Bloody Good Cruise?

That prejudice can be overcome, and that there’s nothing like being on a cruise ship.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

The hero, Fausto is definitely Vincent Irizarry! She’s not really an actress, but the Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo, would be a great Mona.

What is your favorite quote?

“I am still learning.” –Michelangelo

Thank you for the interview, Diana. Now, she has a question for readers… 

What is it about a book that makes you buy and read it rather than putting it back?

 

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January 16, 2015 · 8:57 am

Lisa Medley with Haunt my Heart: Ghosts, Civil War, and an Awesome Interview!

In lieu of my weekly Elvis post, I am welcoming Lisa Medley, a new author friend, to share her latest release. Check back next Friday when my weekly Elvis posts will resume. In the meantime, here’s Lisa…. 

 

Where did you get the idea for Haunt my Heart? 

This story idea germinated from the first real-life ghost hunt I participated in a couple of years ago. My husband was reluctant about the idea of me going ghost hunting. He worried, “What if something follows you home?” Of course, that only made me start asking, “What if it did?!” I went on the ghost hunt and came home with a story.

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

R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Those guys! Erm…vampires! I love them so much. Ward really gets into the deep end with her characters and I enjoy the multiple POVs in her work. It’s rubbed off because I use multiple POVs as well, just not as many. Her world is BIG. 

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and how do you like it?

I work full-time as a Donor Recruiter for a local blood center. Yep, I’m a vampire, but I’m a talker, not a sticker. I’ve been there fifteen years. I guess I like it just fine. I have a lot of freedom and windshield time covering my five counties, which I use daydreaming about my characters and plotting my next story. My car dash is filled with sticky notes for my next book.

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

Zombies. I’m a little obsessed.

What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?

My day job, ha! Of course that’s the only reason I can really afford to write at all.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Haunt my Heart?

I want readers to be entertained and come away thinking, “Wow! That was a great book! When’s the next one?”

What is your favorite quote?

From the movie Ghost Rider: “Lady, before you got here, we were riding the gravy train on biscuit wheels.”

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

Gah! My heart says Jensen Ackles (for obvious reasons). My brain says Stephen King. That man will never run out of stories and I’d love to pick his brain. In a non-creepy sort of way, of course.

Tell us your favorite…

Movie – Anything Marvel

Music –The Black Keys, Coldplay, Kings of Leon

Place you’ve visited—NYC and Seattle

Place you’d like to visit—Italy

TV show from childhood—MASH

TV show from adulthood—Supernatural

Food –Chocolate

Sports team Nebraska Huskers

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? – Television. I watch waaaaay too much television 😀

 Thank you, Lisa, for the fun interview answers. I am SO with you. I also watch way too much television, but I love it!

Lisa would like to ask readers…

Have you ever had a ghostly or paranormal encounter?

Check out her brand new release:

Haunt My Heart by Lisa Medley

Paranormal Romance: Ghost, Witchcraft, Hex and Sex.

Words 68K (272 pages)

eISBN-13:  978-0-9908856-0-3

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Bx3fzQ

Print: http://amzn.to/1Bwurio

 HauntMyHeartFinal(533x800)

Blurb:

A Civil War soldier dies to save his men. Can he find true love to live again?

Sarah Knight has a job she’s good at, a quirky BFF, and a boyfriend who’s bad for her. When Sarah unearths a Civil War artifact on a ghost hunt at Chatham Manor, she brings home more than a souvenir

Lieutenant James “Tanner” Dawson fought for the Union, working as a supernatural liaison for his Major General in a secret Masonic offset called the Brothers of Peril. When he’s hexed by a witch, he learns the only way to save his men is to die himself. But death is not the end. Awakening 150 years later, he knows if he wants to be corporeal again, he has to find true love to break the hex—a task no easier in 21st century than it was in the 19th.

Excerpt from Chapter One:

“Hurry up, Sarah. We’re going to miss the ghost!”

Sarah Knight rolled her eyes in the cold December darkness, but trotted after Ellie’s bouncing flashlight beam. Sarah’s heels crunched through the frozen topsoil as she crossed the lawn, and she worried about the damage being done to her only pair of sensible work shoes. Ellie had failed to mention this would be on an outdoor excursion.

Ellie had been dragging her out on girls’ nights against her better judgment since they graduated from college. Last month, they’d gone to a mixed martial arts fight, complete with blood, screaming and more than one missing tooth. And that had been the spectators.

Ellie had a strange idea of fun. It was only in the car on the way over that Sarah had learned tonight’s adventure would be a ghost hunt.

Sarah and Ellie caught up to the tour group as the leader, a tall dark-haired man in his mid-forties, wrapped up his ghost-hunting protocol explanation. She’d missed the rules. Ellie wouldn’t care about missing that part. She hated following the rules, but Sarah was a little miffed. If she was going ghost hunting, she wanted to know exactly what the boundaries were.

“Great,” Sarah whispered. “We missed the rules.”

“At least we didn’t miss the ghost,” Ellie pointed out. “And they haven’t doled out the equipment yet.” Ellie’s mouth split into a mischievous smile, and she angled up closer to the group leader.

“Again, my name is Allen if you have any questions during the tour. Since we have such a large group tonight, we’ll split into two teams. Carla will take this half.” Allen sliced an imaginary line through the group of twenty or so ghost-hunters. “And the rest of you will go with me.”

Relieved she and Ellie were on the same side of the line, Sarah snuggled up closer to her friend and surveyed the rest of their team. A middle-aged couple, a grandmotherly woman, and a group of ten sorority girls—exactly the type of girls she’d avoided in college—made up Team Allen. The girls sported matching Greek-lettered sweatshirts, scarves and mittens and tittered incessantly. Sarah was fairly sure their chance of seeing a ghost with this group was nil. Fine with her. Ellie was the one who went for the paranormal stuff.

“We’ll walk the path where the Lady in White has typically been spotted. Carla’s team will cover the grounds around the house,” Allen said. He nodded to Carla, and she gave him a little salute, then led her team around to the side of the building. Allen’s group stayed put in the doorway.

“First, I’ll need a couple of volunteers,” Allen announced.

Ellie’s hand shot up before Sarah could register what was happening. “We’ll do it.”

Classic Ellie, leaping before she looked. She didn’t even know what she was volunteering for. It could be anything. If Allen wanted virgins to sacrifice, however, he was out of luck.

Allen pulled two little handheld meter devices out of his messenger bag. His brows lowered a bit as he studied Ellie, cast his eyes around the group, then settled back to her. Ellie’s enthusiasm won out and Allen handed one device to her and the other to Sarah.

“This is the Anomaly Detector,” Allen said with all the reverence of presenting the sword Excalibur. “It measures EMP and temperature. If these lights change, it’s your job to let us know. I’ll be taking photos and interacting with the ghost, trying to draw her out. I can’t keep my eyes on all of the devices at once. Can you manage this?”

“Absolutely,” Ellie squealed.

Sarah resisted rolling her eyes again. She accepted the detector and did her best to reduce her scowl.

“It’s okay to be skeptical,” Allen said. “It makes it all the more exciting when we convert you to a believer.” His smile warmed and Sarah realized he was actually handsome. Old, but handsome. What an otherwise normal and attractive man—who was way old enough to know better—was doing leading a bunch of ghost hunters, she had no idea. People were strange. She supposed she’d have to include herself in that judgment, considering she now held a ghost detector.

 

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Lisa Medley writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance about monsters in love, because monsters need love too. Look for Reap & Repent (Bk 1) and Reap & Redeem (Bk 2) of The Reaping Series, available now. A lover of beasties of all sorts, she has a farm full of them in her SW MO home including:  one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees and a guinea pig. Not so in love with the guinea pig. She can do ten pushups IN A ROW and may or may not have a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times. Just. In. Case. 

 

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January 15, 2015 · 7:25 am

A Brand New Release from The Wild Rose Press – Stormee Waters by Linda J. Coker….

Stormee Waters by Lynda J. Coker, Contemporary Sweet Romance from The Wild Rose Press

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Blurb:

Dirk Savage never fails to acquire what he wants until he encounters Stormee Waters and a backwash of trouble…

Stormee Waters knows about hard times. Needing to care for her aging grandmother and teenage brother, she moves to Houston, Texas and takes a writing job for a popular magazine. Her first assignment is to interview a successful business man for a series of articles entitled, Make My Man Texas-Sized. Her target, Dirk Savage, appears to have the right criteria. He’s adventurous with the air of a conqueror. Admired by his peers and coveted by beauty queens and debutantes, he’s just the type of man that Stormee needs to make her first article sizzle and sell. But can she handle the heat when she catches his attention?

Dirk Savage is used to acquiring what he wants, except in the illusive quest for the one woman who can fill his heart. The shock of discovering her in the naive young woman assigned to interview him sets his jaded emotions on high alert. Can he convince her that his pursuit is genuine?

Excerpt 

He studied her in silence before making a blunt reply. “I’ll pick you up at 7:30 this evening.” 

Had he extended an invitation or a command?  “Well—ah.” She shrugged to hide her confusion. 

“Surely, you eat dinner?” he quizzed through lips curved with humor. 

“I suppose it’s okay.” She fiddled with the edge of her collar and contemplated the hint of challenge underlying his playful smile.

“Dress casually but bring a wrap. We’ll be dining by the river.” He dismissed her with a short command to leave her phone number and address with the receptionist. 

Why do I feel as though I’ve been ordered to show up for duty call? Did alpha males assume that women in general deferred to their decisions, or was she just a simple-minded exception?

 

LyndaCokerAuthorPhoto

 Author Bio:

Lynda is an author of contemporary romance that lingers in a reader’s mind long after they’ve closed the book. She lives in Northeast Texas with her husband of fifty years. They enjoy traveling, trying new foods, spending time with family and friends, and doing community service work together. When she feels the need to take a break from writing, she enjoys creating fabric art.  She offers an open invitation to view both her writing and fabric art on her blog.

Blog:  http://betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lyndacoker

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lyndacoker

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/lyndacoker/

 Buy Links:

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6034

Amazon:  http://amzn.com/B00R9YQZTK

Stormee Waters Launch Giveaway Link:  http://betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/p/stormee-waters-launch-giveaway.html

 

 

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