Author Archives: Alicia Dean

Alicia Dean's avatar

About Alicia Dean

Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)

Hauntings in the Garden – Halloween Romances PLUS a Wild Rose Press Gift Card Giveaway

A new Halloween Series from The Wild Rose Press – Hauntings in the Garden – Fun Facts, Brief Excerpts from Nine Short Stories and a cool giveaway!

 

Lara Parker, The House, Paranormal 

All is not as it seems… 

Fun Fact:

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday even though I do not enjoy horror movies, strange huh? I love fall and dressing up in costumes and jack o’ lanterns…pretty much everything having to do with Halloween. So the idea for this book came pretty naturally and excited me. 

A Brief Snippet: 

A faint sound reached me. It sounded like wind blowing through treetops. I listened closely and heard an almost imperceptible word. Leave. My heart rate increased, and I started to hyperventilate. I felt tingles in my limbs as my hands shook uncontrollably.

 

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Buy Here:

http://www.amazon.com/House-Hauntings-Garden-Lara-Parker-ebook/dp/B00O0EQ6TG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1414270528&sr=8-6&keywords=hauntings+in+the+garden 

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Stacy Dawn with Love her Like the Devil, a contemporary western romance

Kick up your heels in the local honky tonk for Halloween…but beware the devil in red cowboy boots…

Fun Fact:

The idea for the story actually came to me from an old country/western song by Charlie Pride–“Kiss an Angel Good Morning”….the lyrics being “Kiss an angel good morning and love her like the devil when you get back home.”    My father had taught himself to play the guitar over the last couple years,  and during a camping trip this past summer, he played a lot of older country songs that I remembered from my childhood, which is why the song must have just popped in my head one day.  Once I had the phrase in my head, it all just unfolded like *snap*

Brief Snippet: 

He adjusted his Stetson and sidled up to the bar, tossing a leg over the stool next to the buxom beauty. A heady breeze of cheap perfume plumed around him as she turned and graced him with a perfectly wicked smile. 

Looks like my lucky nigh— 

“I wouldn’t if I were you.” 

Luke glanced over his shoulder to find a pair of deep brown eyes laughing at him beneath a smooth raised brow. 

“You’re the sixth guy she’s hit on since I’ve been sitting here.” 

He frowned and turned back to the blonde he’d had his sights on…except her sights were now on a Captain Jack Sparrow wannabe. 

“Thanks a lot,” he grumbled, swiveling to face the bar. 

“You’re very welcome.”

 

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Buy Here: 

The Wild Rose Press: 

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_141&products_id=5841

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Like-Devil-Hauntings-Garden-ebook/dp/B00NP305KE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1414270528&sr=8-7&keywords=hauntings+in+the+garden

Find Stacy Dawn here:   www.stacydawn.com   www.stacydawn.blogspot.com

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Eliza March with Witch’s Tattoo, a paranormal romance 

Pride or power, lust or love, life or death.

A young witch must find her soul mate and unite with him in order to defeat the dark forces gathering around her.

Fun Fact: 

While I was attending a workshop with WRP Publisher, Rhonda Penders, she mentioned needing a few Halloween short stories, I came up with Witch’s Tattoo and pitched the concept off the top of my head, growing more enthusiastic as I spoke. Thankfully, she liked the idea, too.

A Brief Snippet: 

The skirt she wore barely covered her sexy ass—like a black leather napkin filled with wicked delights. Damn, the witch looked hot enough to melt ice-forged steel. He tortured himself with the image of her wearing just the pendant and the boots—thigh high, black leather cut in lacy patterns, exposing her creamy skin…

The tips of her long black hair brushed her narrow waist the way it had the night he watched her in the scrying mirror. His fingers twitched with the desire to trace her plunging neckline. A neckline that bared her deep cleavage and the pendant.
Skincare concept: back of beautiful nude woman with soft skin
Buy Here: 

The Wild Rose Press  http://tinyurl.com/m26vzcv

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Tattoo-Hauntings-Garden-Eliza-ebook/dp/B00NQMV4JK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witchs-tattoo-eliza-march/1120533213?ean=2940150407206
Find Eliza here:

WEBBlogAmazonNookTWRPFacebook • TwitterGoodreads

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Release date: Oct 27 

Cecilia Farrell with Crimson Summer, a Paranormal romance 

Keeping secrets is as dangerous as finding them out. 

Fun Fact: 

In “Crimson Summer”, heroine Ranalt Fitzgerald notes that her name is unusual. While doing research on my own family name of Farrell, I found “Ranalt, daughter of Awley O’Farrell, King of Conmacne, who married Hugh O’Connor, the last king of Connacht.” The 12th century Ranalt and Hugh came to unhappy ends. He was betrayed and murdered; she drowned—accidentally or not—in her bathtub. When I was hunting for an Irish name for my protagonist that was a little different, I remembered “Ranalt”.  Ranalt’s sister Lacey is named after the main character of “Beatrice Lacey” from  one of my favourite novels – Wideacre – by Philippa Gregory. “Colin” is a nod to a favourite actor: Colin Farrell. The only other name of significance is ”Joe”, Ranalt and Lacey’s father. He’s named for one of my brothers because the real Joe thinks paranormal stories and shows are “idiotic”. But he likes those movies about Chucky the homicidal doll so go figure! 

A Brief Snippet: 

“Ranalt, did you not close the front door when you came in?” my mother asked.

“Of course I did.”

She paled and the blood drained out of my face too.

“Junie,” I breathed and ran to the verandah, praying she hadn’t gone far.

She stood on the top step, her back to me. The moonbeams bleached her cornsilk hair and aquamarine nightshirt, giving her a ghostly look.

“Junie, it’s me,” I called softly, not wanting to scare her. Then I saw what held her attention and my heart nearly stopped. It was a big black wolf, sitting on its haunches. In the moonlight the animal looked like a sculpture of antiqued silver.

Juniper glanced over her shoulder at me. “Hi Ranalt. I saw him from the window. That’s the doggie who came to my house last night. Isn’t he beautiful? Do you think he’s hungry?”

 

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Buy Here: 

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Summer-Hauntings-Cecilia-Farrell-ebook/dp/B00O0FVN9S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413970012&sr=1-1 

The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5862

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Release date October 27th

Dayana Knight with Witch Familiar, Paranormal romance 

Breanna McShae finds more in her newly acquired familiar then extra storage for her recently attained powers. She has discovered an unexpected addition to her very soul–something she will do anything to keep close to her heart.

Fun Fact: 

This book came to be in a dare to myself–to write on demand. I never thought I could do that. I always stayed away from Nano writing and any sort of write-on-demand projects.  This time I figured I am gonna toss the negative to the wind. With three little words in my mind (witch, wolf and raven) this story was born.

A Brief Snippet

“Sooo…” Brea looked everywhere but at Nadyia. She played with a small besom display on the counter. “Who was the guy? I haven’t seen him around before, though you seem to know him well enough, so I figure he must live around here somewhere.” She gave Nadyia a shy half smile. 

Nadyia returned the smile. “That, my dear, is Hunter Colhen. He lives off Dante’s Ridge, north of your place. He’s got a cabin out there—one of those modern rustic places.” She completed packaging Brea’s purchases and totaled the transaction.  “That’s $56.96 today, dearie.” She accepted the cash and grinned a devilish little smile. “If I weren’t so ancient… But, of course, I tease. I think of him as a grandson and somehow think he reciprocates the sentiment. He is a solitary sort, keeps mostly to himself.” 

Brea bent closer and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “Well, the dude is totally hot. So you, my friend, have very good taste in adopted grandchildren.”
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Buy Here:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Familiar-Hauntings-Garden-Dayana-Knight-ebook/dp/B00O14EMWI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1414272442&sr=8-6&keywords=witch+familiar

Find Dayana Here: 

dayanaknight@blogspot.com

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Linda Carroll-Bradd, with Unlocked Treasure, contemporary romance 

Will a prophecy keep a lonely woman from accepting the promise of adventure?

Fun Fact:

The heroine has started the genealogy of the maternal side of her heritage because family stories hinted toward witches and special abilities. Genealogy turns out to be a shared interest with the hero whose study of his ancestors has proved a link to a pirate who grew up on nearby Block Island, which was a pirate stronghold in the late 1690s and early 1700s. In the Newport-Providence area, caches of pirate booty have been discovered throughout the years.

Brief Snippet:

“Aleen—hey, that’s pretty, like the direction alee.”

Her own smile dimmed. Like I’ve never heard that before. “Thanks.” This guy was not charming his way around the rules. “Sorry, but you’ll need to come back when the gardens are open for visitors. That’s Wednesdays through—”

“Yeah, I read the sign.” He gave a dismissive wave then turned to gaze back at the main house. “But I just needed five minutes to check out some dimensions and the lot layout.”

“So, you woke up this morning and just decided to start out your week by trespassing?”

 

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Buy Here: 

The Wild Rose Press

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_143&products_id=5855

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Unlocked-Treasure-Hauntings-Garden-Carroll-Bradd-ebook/dp/B00O0EQ754/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413922816&sr=1-1&keywords=unlocked+treasure 

Barnes & Noble  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unlocked-treasure-linda-carroll-bradd/1120577500?ean=2940150749191

Find Linda Here: 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carroll-Bradd-author/440814942635289

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/lcarrollbradd

Blog: http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com

Website: www.lindacarroll-bradd.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1806413.Linda_Carroll_Bradd

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Anne Knol, with ShriekWeek, a cozy mystery

It’s hard to fit in when you’re suspected of murder. It’s even harder to lay past ghosts to rest.

Fun Fact: 

The Isle of Wight is said to be one of the most haunted counties in England. Ghost stories and ghost walks lie around every corner. So it is a tailor-made Halloween setting for the fictional Creektown and its characters. The heroine of the novella, Maggie Ballater, takes her surname from a town situated near Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. 

The original plot idea came from the report of a car accident in the local paper which stuck in my head far longer than it should have and would not go away. I applied the magic “what if” formula, and the story gradually emerged. 

The characters added themselves and their relationships developed in unexpected ways. They all have stories to tell in the future novellas which will make up the Creektown Chronicles. 

I’ve wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. It’s taken fifty years to get there so I’m not giving up now. Follow your dream. I recommend it.

A Brief Snippet 

She felt rather than saw someone watching her.

Breath caught in her throat, but there was nothing to be frightened of. Bram leant propped on the door jamb, his right ankle crossed slackly over the left.

“Sorry I’m late finishing.” She hated how teenage she sounded. “Are you waiting to set up class in here?”

“Just came to see you.” He wandered in, picked up worksheets and laid them down again, stopped at the dominoes and started matching the words to the pictures.

She had to apologize. She had rehearsed what she was going to say often enough. She cleared her throat, suddenly thick with nerves. “I wanted to say sorry about last night. I didn’t mean—”

He waved a hand dismissively. “No worries. Forgotten.” But his eyes when she looked were shuttered and told a different story.

 

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Buy Here:

TWRP

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5848 

Amazon. com

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/188-8389611-4373629?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Shriekweek

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ShriekWeek-Hauntings-Garden-Anne-Knol-ebook/dp/B00NU7GW9S/ref=sr_1_1/276-2681324-8371863?ie=UTF8&qid=1413925069&sr=8-1&keywords=ShriekWeek 

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shriekweek-anne-knol/1120533323?ean=2940150407213

Find Anne Here: 

Twitter @AnneKnol1 

FB https://www.facebook.com/anne.duguid1 

blog

http:www.slowandsteadywriters.blogspot.com 

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Veronica Lynch with Caper Magic, a paranormal romance

This attraction: Complete madness or—sheer magic?

Fun Fact:

Interesting tidbit about the heroine Annunciata [Nunie] Doyle: Known as the Black Mamba because of the 4 [four] men she married, then buried shortly after the “I-do’s”, was raised in one of the Magdalene laundries [made infamous by the movie, starring Dame Judi Dench, based on a true story, “Philomena”].  

After her parents were murdered in an IRA bombing of a Belfast pub which served Catholic patrons, Nunie was sent to a convent school in Tuam Ireland. This same place recently made the news after the remains of more than 100 young women and infants and small children were discovered in a common grave. The causes of death varied, some of which likely occurred during childbirth as the pain and torture of labor and delivery was considered the girls’ penance for lifting their skirts outside the banns of marriage. Never occurred to some of those demons in black that some of the girls might have been raped or abused by family members. Must be incest does not occur inside the Emerald Isle. Must be no one ever read Angela’s Ashes. 

Nunie, as well as the real life Philomena, have forgiven the sisters for their abusive treatment and neglect. As a [lapsed] Catholic woman of a certain age, I find their generosity completely amazing.  

But, as we say in the game, what goes around comes around. Those penguins will get theirs eventually. 

 

A Brief Snippet:

         Five years had evoked more than a few changes in Annunciata Doyle. Much thinner, he noted, but as far as he was concerned she’d always been a bit on the hippy side. Back then her weight was something she’d thrown around with ease—or when the mood suited. When it came to cops, it suited her often. The hair was another matter. Who knew when she freed the ruthlessly tight bun she’d always sported, her hair would fall past her waist in a curtain of black velvet curls?

          In the costume of a Witchy Poo—and wasn’t that appropriate considering what she’d done to several of his fellow officers—her current manner of dress was looser, certainly more feminine than the severe straight-jacket type suits she wore back when reporters hung on her every word and judges clamored for her to speak as an expert during the sentencing portion of criminal trials. Counselors and advocates proclaimed her the  patron saint of victims and survivors. 

          Which, in his opinion, was complete bullshit. 

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Buy Here:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Caper-Magic-Hauntings-Garden-Veronica-ebook/dp/B00O0FVUDC/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1414274930&sr=8-8&keywords=hauntings+in+the+garden

Find Veronica Here:

VLynchAuthor@yahoo.com

blog: www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

 

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Alicia Dean with Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost, a paranormal romance 

He just thought nothing was more frightening than marriage 

Fun Fact: 

I’ve written a few paranormal stories, but this was my first ghost story. My original idea was that the hero’s mother would come back to haunt the heroine and try to drive them apart. That idea didn’t seem to come together very well, so it occurred to me that maybe the heroine’s husband should come back from the dead, with the intention of stopping her from hooking up with another guy, but inadvertently pushing her and the hero together. Thus, Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost was born. 

A Brief Snippet: 

“Emily!” Pennywise the psycho clown—aka Bob Ferrell—rushed up to her. “Have you seen Megan? She’s not here and now, Destiny is saying she’ll be Michael’s victim instead of mine. I need a victim, asap.”

Emily rolled her eyes. No doubt the curvy, young blonde would love to trade out horror monsters—Michael aka Caster had it all over Pennywise aka Bob. “Destiny will be your victim, just like we rehearsed, if she wants to be a part of this at all.” Destiny was a switchboard operator at the hospital who was bucking for a promotion, so she’d likely do whatever the administrative assistant asked of her. “I’ll call Megan, and if she doesn’t show—”

“Then maybe you can be my victim?”

Emily turned at the sound of Caster’s voice. He wore the Michael Myers jumpsuit, but was holding the creepy mask beneath his arm, making it look even creepier.

 

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Buy Here: 

Kindle: 

http://www.amazon.com/Casters-Unfriendly-Ghost-Hauntings-Garden-ebook/dp/B00NQMV4NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412516933&sr=8-1&keywords=caster%27s+unfriendly+ghost

Nook: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/casters-unfriendly-ghost-alicia-dean/1120455662?ean=2940150463943

Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5840

Find out how to Enter to Win a $25.00 Wild Rose Press Gift Certificate by clicking this link:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Visit these other participating blogs:

Eliza March

Linda Carroll-Bradd

Dayana Knight

Anne Knol

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Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part XVIII  –  Song & Movie Tidbits

I thought I would share a few facts that I find interesting. If you’re an Elvis fan, you might already know them. If not, then I hope you find them interesting as well.

A Star is Born  – A highly successful movie released in 1976 starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Barbara and Elvis were friends and held one another in high regard. Barbara asked Elvis to co-star with her in the movie, and he was thrilled. He planned to do it, but Colonel Parker nixed it and wouldn’t let him. I think this would have been a huge turning point in Elvis’ acting career, and in his life in general. 

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Thunder Road – An excellent movie from 1958 starring Robert Mitchum. Elvis was a fan of Mitchum’s and wanted to meet him. When they met, Mitchum asked him if he’d be interested in co-starring in Thunder Road. Elvis was thrilled and desperately wanted the role, but the Colonel refused.

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Don’t Cry Daddy – Written by Mac Davis, who also wrote quite a few other songs for Elvis, one of the most popular being In the Ghetto. Mac said that Elvis made some tweaks to most of his songs, and in this one, Mac ended it with ‘another little baby child is born in the ghetto’ and Elvis added ‘and his mama cries’ – which Mac thought was genius. Back to Don’t Cry Daddy, in Mac’s own words, here is the story of how the song came to be:
At the time I was going through a divorce. I had my son, Scotty for the weekend and was about to take him home. I had some time to kill, and I flipped on the five o’clock news. Scotty was about five or six years old. It just happened to be the broadcast where they were showing some film of the massacre in Vietnam. It was a very famous horrific incident where some of our guys shot to death some women and children villagers. They were showing some scenes of the bodies, and apparently I started crying and didn’t even realize it. The next thing I know Scotty was patting my back and trying to comfort a grown man going, “Don’t cry daddy.” That’s where the inspiration came from for “Don’t Cry Daddy.” My songwriter’s brain made it totally different. By the time I got Scotty home to his mother’s…on the way back to my house I had the chorus written. Basically that’s where the song came from. It was a combination of him telling me not to cry because of watching this massacre in Vietnam on TV and my own situation having gone through a divorce. I didn’t know at the time that it was a special song. It was just another day in the life of a songwriter. We write songs about our lives and about things that happen to us…I do remember thinking that I should have written another verse for it. But that was me. That’ll be on my tombstone, “I was still working on that last verse.”

 

Help Me – An Elvis song written by Larry Gatlin. Elvis recorded a few of Larry’s songs, my favorite of them by far is Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall. I heard a brief interview with Larry Gatlin on Elvis radio recently. He said that he was struggling financially, and he and his wife were at home, wondering how they were going to keep their house. He received a call from a mutual friend of his and Elvis who told him Elvis was recording his song. Larry hung up the phone and said to his wife, “Honey, we can keep the house.”

Here is Elvis’ rendition of Bitter They Are. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a live version. 

 

Heartbreak Hotel, recorded in January, 1956 – Elvis’ first million selling record was co-written by Mae Boren Axton, mother of singer/songwriter Hoyt Axton. She was an English teacher and a songwriter. A steel guitarist, Tommy Durden, read an article about a man who killed himself and left a suicide note that read “I walk a lonely street.” He showed the article to Mae and the two collaborated on the song. Mae took a position as a part time public relations secretary for Colonel Parker, and when she met Elvis in 1955, she said that he had everything it took to be a star except a hit song. She told him, “You need a million-seller, and I’m going to write it for you.” And, that she did.

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Filed under Entertainment, For Writers

Halloween Short Story Caper Magic by Veronica Lynch AND an Awesome Giveaway!

Thanks for asking me to visit today, Alicia. I’m offering a $25.00 gift certificate to Kat’s Kustom Karry Alls and/or Aprons With Attitude to one person who leaves a comment AND an email address to contact them. 🙂

Thank you for being here, and for giving away such a fabulous prize!

 

Do you have another occupation, other than writer?

I am a retired nurse, currently a raging empty nester as a result of my youngest grandchild going off to all day kindergarten last month. It has not given me any more time to write but I now have a lot more time to sew and I like that a lot.

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

I am also a retired victim advocate, a profession which causes many people to develop a wicked gleam in their eye [the tell me all the gory details sort of reaction] or turn away in horror. I loved that job; it made me a better person, a better woman.

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

Too many to count but “Shanna” and “Ashes in the Wind” by Kathleen Woodiwiss, “Carolina Moon” and “Carnal Innocence” by Nora Roberts make me laugh out loud.

What’s your favorite childhood book?

Mila 18 by Leon Uris. I started reading things well beyond my grade level at a young age—something that caused great consternation among my parents and uncles after I started asking questions about anti-Semitism and genocide.

What is your favorite quote?

Any Ouiza Boudreau dialogue line in Steel Magnolias. Rather, any Ouiza Boudreau line out of the mouth of Shirley MacLaine. I loved that movie. Adored it.

Your favorite…

Movies: Steel Magnolias and The Stoning of Soraya M.

Musicanything by the Bee Gees, George Gershwin and the Four Seasons.

Place you’ve visited: Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State.

Place you’d like to visit: I’d love to take a Viking River Cruise through eastern Europe

TV show from childhood77 Sunset Strip

TV show from adulthoodRight now it’s Longmire and Justified

Food: anything except raw fish.

Sports team: Now that Moe Rivera and Derek Jeter have retired I have no favorite team.

 

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Caper Madness… 

This attraction: Complete madness or—sheer magic?

P.I. Nick Forrester comes to Cape Brendan ostensibly to assist with Caper Madness, a month long celebration of everything Halloween. In reality he is tracking a woman on the run. Within days he is confronted by Annunciata Doyle, a vivid reminder of a pain-filled past.

After retreating to Cape Brendan in defeat and humiliation, Nunie Doyle’s only hope was to make the best of forced retirement. There, in this quaint tourist town on the shores of Lake Ontario, she earned the love and respect of new friends and neighbors—and put her talent for helping women to good use.

With the mutual goal of making Caper Madness the best ever, Nick and Nunie fight tooth and nail on the personal level, each discovering a new side to the other, sides that make them consider making drastic changes for the rest of their lives. 

 

Excerpt:          

          Hank let out a holler just before a huge toothy grin spanned the borders of his gaunt cheeks. “Top o’ the marnin’ to ye, Missus!” he cackled to someone exiting the front door of the stone cottage next door.  

          Taking the concrete steps to the sidewalk in two lithe moves, a woman in a slinky dress the color of ripe tomatoes glanced their way and responded in a distinct Irish brogue. “And the ass end of the day to ye, Mistur Pierpont.”

          Intrigued by rich tone of her voice, Nick craned his neck and found one of the witches from yesterday’s parade—minus the droopy velvet hat—passing within steps of Hank’s porch. A bulging garment bag hung over one arm; she looked headed in the direction of the pier at the end of Vincentian Lane. Damned if right then a wind didn’t jump up off the lake and mold the filmy length of scarlet against each curve of her body. Long black hair—and there seemed to be a good ten pounds of it—flowed over her shoulders, caressing her body like a lover as she marched toward Dingle Pier. As his heart bumped into a trip hammer beat, Nick reminded himself to breathe. 

          “Ferget yer broom, Missus?” Hank called out to her retreating back.

          “In the repair shop,” she replied over one shoulder, winging that glorious onyx hair away from lips painted to match her dress. “Gettin’ fitted with a couple of those fancy turbo boosters, it is.”

          Hank chuckled, then went back to his coffee. “Turbo boosters. That Nunie Doyle; sure is a pistol.”

          An invisible fist reached down to grab Nick’s gut in a vise. As recognition flared, long buried rage took a slow crawling path up his spine.

          Five years had evoked more than a few changes in Annunciata Doyle. Much thinner, he noted, but as far as he was concerned she’d always been a bit on the hippy side. Back then her weight was something she’d thrown around with ease—or when the mood suited. When it came to cops, it suited her often. The hair was another matter. Who knew when she freed the ruthlessly tight bun she’d always sported, her hair would fall past her waist in a curtain of black velvet curls?

          In the costume of a Witchy Poo—and wasn’t that appropriate considering what she’d done to several of his fellow officers—her current manner of dress was looser, certainly more feminine than the severe straight-jacket type suits she wore back when reporters hung on her every word and judges clamored for her to speak as an expert during the sentencing portion of criminal trials. Counselors and advocates proclaimed her the  patron saint of victims and survivors. 

          Which, in his opinion, was complete bullshit. 

          “You hear me, boy?”

          “What? Sorry, Uncle Hank. I got—distracted.”

          “Easy to do with that one. Be careful though.”

          She took the first step leading into the gazebo. As she moved the thigh high split on the dress opened to expose a slender silk covered leg. “Why is that?”

          “Folks around here call her the Black Mamba. Dangerous for any man who shows much of an interest.”

          No big secret there, Nick mused sourly.

          The Crone his brother officers had called the Director of Crime Victim Services back then. A woman who proved herself fully capable of destroying a man’s career with one carefully placed phone call to the police brass—or worse—the local media. Or, as she accomplished with one blow, dropping a name during during a notorious child sex abuse trial.

          The ensuing scandal ended badly for all concerned, including the loss of several careers and, in the case of Nick’s best friend, suicide.

To purchase Caper Magic or any other book by Veronica Lynch or Kat Henry Doran, go to: www.thewildrosepress.com, click on author search

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BIO: 

            Writing under the names Kat Henry Doran and Veronica Lynch, author Kathy Cottrell uses her experience as a nurse, victim advocate and insurance investigator for background in her award winning novels and novellas. Her stories are set in her favorite places to visit: the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains as well as the Saint Lawrence River in the historic Thousand Islands region of Upstate and Northern New York State.

            When not writing, or chasing grandchildren, Kathy spends her time designing and making tote bags and aprons to custom order.

To contact Veronica Lynch, go to: VlynchAuthor@Yahoo.com or WildWomenAuthors@Yahoo.com

            Visit her at: www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com and www.ApronsWithAttitude2.blogspot.com

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Snow the Vampire Slayer (Farielle Series Book Two) by Rebekah R. Ganiere

Check out Rebekah R. Ganiere’s new release…an exciting story with a unique concept…

Snow

  

BLURB: 

Lady Snow Gwyn is tired of playing “mother” to her seven Vampire Slaying brothers. For the past two years, she’s yearned to be out there fighting at their side as they hunt for bloodsuckers in the black of night. Snow is as good a fighter as any man, but she wasn’t called to be a Slayer. A mere formality in her book. 

Prince Sageren, Son of Lothar has spent the last fifty years in exile, awaiting the day when he can finally avenge his family and take back his throne. Barely existing, he’s forced to face his inner demons and the monster he once was, compelling him to vow to never drink from humans again. A simple enough task–until he crosses paths with a human who makes his fangs ache to drain her.

When Snow runs into Prince Sage on a late night trip to the woods, she’s torn between the urge to kill him and the desire to succumb to the feeling he stirs within her. And when Snow’s life is threatened by the same evil that murdered his family, Prince Sage must enlist the aid of Snow’s brothers to not only help him save her life, but to also regain his rightful place as King of the Vampires. 

If Sage can keep the Slayers from killing him first. 

 

EXCERPT: 

Run away. Run now. He wanted to scream. But he couldn’t. Drink her dry. Make her your own and you’ll never be alone again. He pounded on his skull. His gaze met hers and he suddenly lost all reserve.

One moment he was inches away, the next he grabbed her braid and forced her body against his, crushing her lips with his own. His tongue plunged deep into her mouth. She stiffened at his touch initially, but then relaxed against him. He needed this.

Her supple body pressed against his, her curves sparking every inch of his skin to wake up and pay attention. Out of sheer will, he forced his fangs at bay. He wanted her all to himself at that moment. Just her. The feel of her lips on his lips. Her tongue danced and licked his with a palpable need. Her apparent lack of experience made Sage savor her all the more.

He was dangerously close to losing control. She pushed against him roughly and he let go. Her eyes widened before hardening. Quick as light, she swung to slap him, but he caught her wrist.

“You don’t want to do that, love. You’ll split your palm open again.”

“You had no right to kiss me.”

Need pounded through him, making his body quake. He let go of her wrist. “I didn’t see you protesting too much.”

“I…I…” Her mouth opened and closed several times, but no words formed.

His gaze trained on her throat. The pulsing vein and the thundering of her heartbeat called to him. He licked his lips.

He stepped forward, gripped her arms and locked his eyes with hers. Her pupils contracted and then flooded open.

“You will go straight to the cabin. You will get your things and you will run. Run ‘til you get safe in your bed. And when you wake up in the morning, you will remember nothing.”

Her eyes glazed over and he eased his grasp on her. She picked up her sword and ran. A minute later, the light in the cabin flickered out and the door slammed. Sage didn’t dare let himself even breathe until he knew she’d gone, for fear that he would chase her down and ravish her.

When he no longer heard her footsteps, he fell to his knees and clutched the bloodied gauze she’d left behind. So long he had been in exile, underground. So long he’d denied himself the companionship of a woman. And here, in the middle of a glade, he’d found her. His heart’s desire was a human. What the hell was he going to do now?

Purchase Snow the Vampire Slayer here:  Amazon, BN, Kobo & ARE

 

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BIO: 

Rebekah is an award winning author. Her novel Dead Awakenings, debuted in January 2014. Red the Were Hunter, the first in her Farielle Series, released in May. The second book Snow the Vampire Slayer will be releasing in September 22, 2014. And her trilogy The Society will be released Nov. 17th 2014 by Kensington’s Lyrical Press.

Rebekah is the VP of Communications of the RWA FFP Chapter as well as a member of her local Los Angeles and Orange County chapters. In her spare time when she isn’t writing you can find her moderating on SavvyAuthors.com or hanging out with her husband, four children and her English Bulldog, rabbit, two bearded dragons, and two tortoises. The escaped snake has yet to be found.

Find Rebekah here:

Newsletter ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Book Trailers

 

 

 

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Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part XVII  –  Elvis and Wink

Game show host Wink  Martindale started out in radio, and he was around when the Elvis phenomenon was just beginning. I’ve heard several interviews with Wink and his wife, Sandy, on Elvis radio. They both adored Elvis and have the utmost respect for him.

elvis and wink

Wink was part of a historical day in 1954. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Wink about that time:

“My dream was to work at WHBQ radio and do the morning show called ‘Clockwatchers’ — all the teenagers listened to that.”

His dream came true in 1954, when he auditioned and got the morning gig when he was just 19 years old. It was also the year he met Elvis Presley, with whom he was friends until the King’s death in 1977.

“I happened to be at the radio station one night showing a group of former football buddies from high school around the radio station,” Martindale recalls. “It was at night when there was a show called ‘Red Hot & Blue’ with a guy named Dewey Phillips. He played black music for white kids. All of a sudden I hear a commotion going on. The phones were lit up and I went into Dewey’s control room.”

It so happened that was the night that Sun Records founder Sam Phillips walked into Phillips’ control room with an acetate recording of Presley’s “That’s All Right Mama.”

“Dewey put it on the turntable and the switchboard lit up. He kept playing it over and over. Sam gave me Gladys and Vernon Presley’s telephone number and said get them on the phone and ask them where Elvis is. I was the one who made the call and got Gladys on the phone.”

Martindale told Presley’s mother that Dewey Phillips wanted to interview him that night at the station. His parents got into their truck and found their son at a movie theater by himself catching a western double bill.

“He got into the truck and went down and sat in front of the microphone,” says Martindale. That was the beginning of Presley mania. I think of that as the night when the course of popular music changed forever.”

Just a few years later, Jul 4, 1956,Wink would interview Elvis. Elvis was performing a benefit concert for at Russwood Park in Memphis for The Cynthia Mil Fund and the Variety Club’s Home for Convalescent Children. I love that Elvis was not only charitable, but that most of his charitable acts were to help children.

Colonel Parker did not want Elvis to appear on television without getting paid, but Elvis did so anyway. This is one of the first ever televised interviews of Elvis. 

 

 

The beginning of Elvis’ unprecedented career is rich with history and momentous events. Yet, even as it was happening, and even up to the day he passed away, he really wasn’t aware of the impact he had on the world. He was often afraid that his popularity would fade, that people would forget him. I imagine he would be blown away to see how his legend has lived on, how his life and career are still celebrated. 

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A New Release from The Wild Rose Press – Dearest Darling

I am featuring one new release today, and it sounds like a great read…be sure to check it out and follow the author on her social media sites. Don’t you just LOVE the cover?

 

Andrea Downing with Dearest Darling, western historical romance, novella 

When nothing is as it appears, it may be best to believe your heart 

Fun fact:

Dearest Darling was inspired by a visit to the Cunningham Cabin in Grand Teton National Park; the cabin was built around 1888.  It stands in quite a beautiful but somewhat isolated spot, high plains leading up to the base of the mountains.  The cabin itself is a dogtrot cabin; that is, it has a breezeway between two rooms.  I wondered about that design, and decided against incorporating that into my hero’s cabin because breezeways are more common in the south where the need for cooling in the summer was great in those pre-air conditioning days.  I thought the breezeway up in Wyoming must surely have filled with snow and caused the occupants many problems.  The real-life Cunninghams did, eventually, build themselves a proper house, but it is the cabin itself which stands to this day.

A favorite line:

At some point, he’d been hurt, at some stage he could hate.

 

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Find the book here:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Dearest-Darling-Letters-Andrea-Downing-ebook/dp/B00NGWT816

The Wild Rose Press:  http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5842

 

Find Andrea here:

Website:  http://andreadowning.com

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

Twitter:  @andidowning  https://twitter.com/AndiDowning

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446229.Andrea_Downing

Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=124888740&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Downing/e/B008MQ0NXS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

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Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part XVI – The Ultimate Celebrity

As everyone knows by now, in my opinion, Elvis had it all.

He was insanely gorgeous and sexy. His voice was phenomenal, magical. He could dance, he could act. He was generous and down to earth. And, people who met him said he had this special charisma that was impossible to put into words, impossible to resist.

EP close up beautiful EP 68 sexy EP Wink

And, Elvis did things that no other entertainers will ever do. Can you imagine performers of today; Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Bruno Mars, and others like them, taking two years away from their careers to serve in the armed forces? (I guess these are good examples of the currently popular male singers. Either way, you get my point. :))

Elvis uniformEP in service

Elvis was so special, that my sister, Ruth, and I had to make a ‘deal’ when we played barbies. Instead of having actual Ken dolls (we didn’t have a lot of money, so we had to make do with just the Barbies themselves), we would have imaginary guys for our Barbie boyfriends. However, since we would both want Elvis, and neither would give in, and it would be unfair for either of us to have him for our BB’s (Barbie Boyfriends), we struck a bargain. Neither of us could pick Elvis. He was just too untouchable, off limits. 🙂 Instead, we had to settle for guys like David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, Bobby Sherman, and so forth. Somehow, we made do.

Elvis cowboy Elvis in jeans

Elvis generosity is legendary. He purchased FDR’s Yacht in 1964, intending to donate it to March of Dimes, but they refused the gift, saying the upkeep was too much. He ended up donating it to St. Jude’s Children’s Research hospital. I’ve heard stories, although I’m not sure how many of them are true, about his giving nature. One story is about a man who saw Elvis and a friend in Memphis one day. Elvis was searching his pockets for a dime to make a phone call. The man gave him a dime, and Elvis asked for his address so he could send him a thank you note. A few weeks later, the man received a letter from Elvis with the news that he’d paid off his mortgage. Of course, the stories about his giving away cars is almost as well-known as Elvis himself. One of my favorites is the story about the black lady who worked as a housekeeper at a hospital in Memphis. She was walking down Union Avenue and saw a stretch limo in front of a dealership with its doors open. She stuck her head in to look inside and commented on what a beautiful car it was. Elvis was in the car, and he instructed the man with him to order her one just like it. I also heard that, In 1975, he bought an electric wheelchair for a poor woman in East Memphis, and that he picked her up and personally sat her in it. The woman’s teenage daughter told Elvis she liked his car. He gave it to her and even gave her boyfriend a job. Even if some of these stories are exaggerated or fabricated, enough has been documented about his philanthropic nature for me to be certain he had a kind and giving heart.

EP March of Dimes Elvis with gold record

Who is your ultimate celebrity? Why? Is it mainly because of their talent and appeal, or does it go deeper than that?

 

 

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30 Seconds with Chrys Fey

I am very, very pleased to introduce today’s guest.  Chrys is a Wild Rose Press author, and her book is a Romantic Suspense. Two perks in one! 🙂

Read on to learn more about Chrys and her latest release…..

Where did you get the idea for your story?

I got the idea for 30 Seconds, my romantic-suspense novella, from a dream. In my dream, I was spinning wildly on a swivel chair to pounding rock music. My eyes were closed when hands halted my fast rotation and lips touched mine. Strong arms pulled me out of the chair and into a steaming kiss. When I opened my eyes, I saw a hot cop in full uniform. My dream ended when he said, “I shouldn’t have done that.” In the morning, I immediately started to ponder stories about a woman who falls in love with a cop even though she knows she shouldn’t. I even used that dream as a scene in 30 Seconds.

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

I actually named 30 Seconds after my favorite band, Thirty Seconds to Mars. And also because every thirty seconds is dangerous for my characters.

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

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, not because of how mega successful it was, but because I had been writing a book similar to this that many people actually compared to Harry Potter, although there were big differences. Instead of taking this book from her,—what would the world be like without J.K. Rowling?—I would have wanted to be in the position to have published my book at the same time as her without being called a copy-cat.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read 30 Seconds?

I want them to come away thoroughly entertained. And to also have hope that nothing, not even being in a coma, can stop you from finding your soul mate.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

That’s a great question! Writers know that not everyone will like our books, but bad reviews still cut us at the knees. On the other spectrum, having no reviews is stressful and disappointing. So I guess I would rather have a bad review, because even bad reviews can peak a reader’s interest. Some readers actually buy books because they want to see if a bad review was right or not.

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

Jared Leto, the front man for Thirty Seconds to Mars. He could sing to me, and he’s easy on the eyes.

What is your favorite…

Movie: Girl, Interrupted

Music: Rock

Place you’ve visited: St. Augustine

Place you’d like to visit: Ireland

TV show from childhood: Sabrina the Teenage Witch

TV show from adulthood: Charmed

Food: Pasta

Sports team: Green Bay Packers

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

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Blurb:

When Officer Blake Herro agreed to go undercover in the Mob, he thought he understood the risks. But he’s made mistakes and now an innocent woman has become their target. He’s determined to protect her at all costs.

The Mob’s death threat turns Dr. Dani Hart’s life upside down, but there is one danger she doesn’t anticipate. As she’s dodging bullets, she’s falling in love with Blake. With danger all around them, will she and Blake survive and have a happy ending, or will the Mob make good on their threat? 

Excerpt:

She panted with fear. What if they see the chest? What if we get caught? What if my breath stinks and I’m breathing right into Officer Hottie’s face? She shut her mouth and let oxygen flow through her nose.

Her eyesight slowly adjusted to the darkness and she could see Officer Herro’s silhouette. His head was turned and he was listening to the thuds of heavy boots getting louder; the intruders were coming their way.

Then the thunder of footsteps sounded right next to them. “There’s no one here, Red,” someone announced.

“Look for documents,” a man ordered, who Dani could only assume was Red. “I want the name of the person I’m going to kill.”

A moment later, there was a reply. “All the mail is addressed to a Dr. Hart.”

Hearing her name said aloud by one of the men who had ransacked her place made her want to gasp. Her mouth fell open and her breath was reversing into her lungs, but before she could make a sound, Officer Herro lowered his lips to hers, silencing her. Stunned, she could only lie beneath him with her eyes wide and her body tense. She couldn’t believe he was kissing her. She wanted to push him back, but knew if she did he might hit the inside of the chest, giving away their hiding place. That was when she realized he was kissing her so she wouldn’t gasp.

She let her body relax. After her initial shock faded, she was able to feel his lips. They were comforting and caused a reaction deep inside her. She couldn’t stop her lips from reacting to his. It was an innocent connection, a soft touch of lips. Until his hand slid from her shoulder to her neck and the kiss deepened into something else.

Book Links:

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5801

NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/30-seconds-chrys-fey/1120324958?ean=2940150711938

KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/30-seconds-1

Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00N26EU9G

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N26EU9G

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22591698-30-seconds

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Bio:

Chrys Fey is a lover of rock music just like Dani Hart in 30 Seconds. Whenever she’s writing at her desk, headphones are always emitting the sounds of her musical muses -especially that of her favorite band, 30 Seconds to Mars, the inspiration behind the title.

30 Seconds is her second eBook with The Wild Rose Press. Her debut, Hurricane Crimes, is also available on Amazon.

Discover her writing tips on her blog, and connect with her on Facebook. She loves to get to know her readers!

Author Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysfey

Blog: www.writewithfey.blogspot.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey

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Leap into the Knight with M.J. Schiller

A brand new release from the wonderful M.J. Schiller:

 

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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?

 

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Excerpt ~

CHAPTER ONE 

                Darius Lee sat up in bed and listened to the darkness. What interrupted his sleep and caused him to become so fully awake? Several seconds elapsed while he held his breath and waited, but he heard no noise. Still, he was aware someone else was in the suite he shared with his young novice, Orion Quinn. He closed his eyes and tuned into his Spirit Within in order to get a feel for his current level of danger. He sensed at once the outside presence he felt in the room was not threatening. Despite that, he knew something must be amiss for a stranger to enter their rooms unannounced in the middle of the night. 

                He had been uneasy since he and Orion landed here on Faador on their latest mission. It all started when The Academy of The High Order, where Darius gained his knighthood, received a transmission from an older man dressed in uniform. The man stated Faador’s leader, Justin Filithy, held captive a woman, a princess, from another planet. Little was known about Filithy other than he had some questionable dealings with slave traders. Details of the princess’s abduction were sketchy too, as the communication was cut short. The Order sent Orion and him to quietly investigate any wrong doing under the guise of a routine security check. Yet, ever since they arrived, the leader was occupied elsewhere. In fact, the whole place was crawling with guards and he surmised they were under a high alert of some kind, but no one provided any information. A trio of soldiers stuck them in this suite and promised a meeting with Filithy the next day. He was annoyed by the delay, but since they arrived on the planet late in the afternoon it seemed reasonable to wait until morning.

                He slid out from underneath his lightweight bedcover without making a sound and grabbed his clothes, which were lying on a chair beside the bed. He slipped his head through the opening in the loose-fitting shirt, but left it untied at the neck, glancing at his laser-sword leaning against the nightstand. He decided to leave it. No need to scare anyone off if they meant no harm. He would simply have to use caution. 

                Darius reached the door and thankfully it slid open across its tracks without the usual high-pitched hydraulic hiss. He made out a figure standing in the open doorway to the room where his novice slept. The interloper was dressed in the same slightly puffy white uniform of the guards who they’d seen in abundance ever since they arrived. He was amused at first by the fleeting thought that they resembled marshmallows. Now as he watched the shadowy form, he was curious. What reason would anyone have to steal into their rooms like this? The guard wore a white helmet as the others had, with a tinted visor which could conceal the entire face. This visor, however, was open. Darius could see it flipped on top of the helmet, no doubt so the guard could see in the dim lighting. He wondered why the sight of this stranger gazing at Orion, who was lying completely unaware and vulnerable, didn’t alarm him more. But again, something told him the intruder was frightened, even desperate, but not a threat. 

                His training taught him how to enter the room without a sound, but the stranger seemed to detect his presence, darting to the left toward the door leading to the outer hallway. Darius took several steps before launching his six-foot-four-inch frame, timing his tackle perfectly. He wrapped his arms around the fleeing legs, bringing both parties down heavily. On contact the stranger’s helmet flew off and skittered across the dura-tile by the entryway. The guard twisted around to try to fight him off, while Darius sought to pin his shoulders to the ground. To his immense surprise he found himself staring into the face of a beautiful, terrified young woman. Long, wavy blonde hair fanned out on the floor as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. Their gazes locked and he drew his breath in a rush. Hers were the eyes of the hunted, wide and intensely blue-green. The oddest sensation came over him, as if, in that one look, an invisible hand reached into him and somehow tied him to this unknown woman. At the same time it was like the connection had been there all his life, an answer to a question he never knew to ask.

                “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered to calm her. Surprisingly she stilled, searching his face as if to determine something there about him. “If I let you up, do you promise to stay here and answer a few questions for me?” 

                She hesitated.

                “I will not harm you.” He dipped his head to better catch those eyes. “Trust me.”

                Something in the way he said it seemed to convince her, and she nodded slowly. He released her arms and moved to the side. He sensed she was still tensed to flee if necessary, but for the moment, she decided to place her trust in him.

***

                Her heart was racing madly. What was she doing? She should run. She should run as fast as she could, or at least search about the room for a way out.

She sensed him there behind her, though she heard no sound. Her immediate instinct was to flee, as well it should be. After all, she was on the run from a half dozen guards. It was only by ducking into this room a few moments ago that she avoided capture. In spite of all that, she now sat on a couch with the man. It was totally incomprehensible to her, trusting him. She learned the costly lesson of trusting in the goodness of men long ago. But when she scrutinized his face as he peered at her on the floor, she had been filled with an unfathomable sense of calm. It was the most bizarre feeling. All logic, all of her past experiences said to get out as swiftly as possible. But here she was, sitting next to this man as if it was teatime and not the middle of the night in a room where he discovered her hiding. She guessed him to be five or six years older than she. His face was strong, but kind, almost noble, and his deep, dark eyes were compassionate, with a hint of wisdom. It was the kind of face one could trust.

                “Now,” he began slowly, ”why don’t you tell me exactly what you’re doing here?”

                She was saved from figuring out an answer for his question by a young man who came barreling out of the door behind him. He brandished a laser-sword, yelling as he entered, “Master! I’m here!” The suddenness of the action startled them both.

                The man turned slightly to say, “Orion, deactivate your weapon,” and that was all she needed. Her fear returned and catapulted her off the couch and toward the door. She hit the keypad with a force that sent a shock wave rippling up her arm, and was on the other side as soon as it opened wide enough to allow her small frame through. Once on the opposite side, she started pounding on the keypad there, and was able to effectively disable the door for a moment, enough time to search the hallway for a path of escape.

Buy at Amazon  Only 2.99

Find MJ here:

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 nineteen-year-old (how did that happen?) and seventeen 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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A Fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt with AWESOME Prizes!!!

From October 6th through the 23rd, over 30 authors are hosting a Halloween Scavenger Hunt.  Participants visit each site to find a Halloween graphic.  The more sites you visit, the more chances to win. There are over 60 prizes, multiple winners each day. On October 6th, visit Sloan McBride’s blog Sloan McBride where you get all the information, including links to the authors’ pages, and a link to a sheet to type all the answers. It should be wicked fun!  

(Check the pages on my site to find the Halloween graphic and enter through Sloan’s site. SEE, so much fun!)

And while I have your attention, I’d like to share my latest release – a Halloween short story from The Wild Rose Press: Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost:

 

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BLURB:

A year after her husband’s death, Emily Tillman is ready to start dating again, and hopefully, find what she’s always wanted—marriage and children. But the man who broke her heart five years ago is back. And he’s anything but the marrying kind. 

Confirmed bachelor Reese Caster is perfectly content with his life—and he’s finally over Emily, the one woman who almost made him commit. Now, his world is rocked when her dead husband shows up, demanding that Reese pursue Emily to keep her out of the clutches of her latest suitor—a jerk who is only after her money. 

Being around Emily again has made Reese reconsider his bachelor life style. But now that the threat of the other man is gone, the pesky ghost wants Reese to break things off. Can he and Emily find the love they were denied, or will the ghost of her dead husband destroy their chances? 

EXCERPT: 

“Emily is the kind of woman you have to take things slowly with.”

“Sure, if this was real. But you have to step it up, turn on the charm. You need to show you care, that you know her, buy her things that she loves. Her favorite flowers are white roses, she loves dark chocolate, and her favorite wine is Merlot. You need to move in on her, hard.”

Caster gave a humorless laugh and shook his head. “Do you hear yourself? You were her husband, for God’s sake. Have some respect.”

Joey’s face flushed. “I do respect her. That’s why I don’t want this asshole putting one over on her. She deserves to find someone who will truly love her and give her the things I couldn’t.”

A note of pain in his voice almost made Caster feel sorry for him. But not as sorry as he felt for the family who lost a loved one less than half an hour ago. “Listen, I’ve performed back to back surgeries today, and had my night capped off by an emergency surgery that ended with a young girl’s death. So, you’ll understand why I’m not in the mood for this right now.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about that. My concern is with Emily. And I need you to follow through with your end of the deal.”

“Deal, my ass. You blackmailed me into going along with this bullshit. Well, I’m out. I’ll finish the haunted forest thing, but no more of this romancing Emily crap. I can’t use her like that, I can’t break her heart again.”

“Break her heart? You sound pretty sure she’ll fall for you. My, my. Someone’s full of himself.”

Caster stood and stalked to the door. “Look, I don’t know if she will or not, I just know I can’t do this any longer. You can destroy everything I own, keep me up every night for the rest of my life, but I’m done.”

He put his hand on the door, but Joey’s voice stopped him. “I’ll tell her.”

Caster paused and turned to face him. “You’ll what?”

“Not only will I continue to screw with you, even on the job, but I’ll appear to Emily, tell her about our little scheme. What do you think she’ll think of you then?”

“You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t hurt her like that.”

Joey shook his head and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were suspiciously damp. “I don’t want to. But I’ll do anything to keep her from making the biggest mistake of her life.”

Caster let out a resigned sigh and shook his head. “Nah, getting mixed up with the two of us was the biggest mistake of her life.”

Kindle: 

http://www.amazon.com/Casters-Unfriendly-Ghost-Hauntings-Garden-ebook/dp/B00NQMV4NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412516933&sr=8-1&keywords=caster%27s+unfriendly+ghost

Nook: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/casters-unfriendly-ghost-alicia-dean/1120455662?ean=2940150463943

Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5840

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