Category Archives: New Release

January 14, 2016 · 10:22 am

New Release Spotlight – Sandra Dailey “Close Enemy” from The Wild Rose Press – PLUS a Giveaway!

Check out this new release from Sandra Dailey. I LOVE the cover. Sounds like an awesome read!

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Blurb – Caleb McCrae is a powerful man with a broken soul. In six years, Leah was the only person to help him forget the painful memories, but only for one night. Now she seems to have disappeared. A mysterious letter arrives, and she’s in trouble…in more ways than one.

Leah Fletcher’s life is complicated. To care for her drug and alcohol addicted mother she works at a sleazy men’s club…until she finds out she’s pregnant and is framed for a crime that lands her in jail. When a stranger visits, she learns her troubles have just begun.

Bogdan Petrov has waited eleven years to get back the money Leah’s father stole from him. Despite her denials, he knows she’s hiding it. He’s arranged to infiltrate every part of her life until he gets what he wants, but soon realizes that an unknown person is doing the same to him.

Excerpt – Caleb sat in a plastic chair in front of a glass window with a telephone mounted on each side at his right. The chair across from him was empty. After five more minutes an inmate was led to the door. When she came into view through a large window, his heart skipped a beat. It was her, Leah.

Her dark ringlets had grown to barely brush her shoulders and looked dull. Her face was pale and sad, but he was sure she was the girl who’d written.

She raised her handcuffs to be checked. The orange scrub top was so big on her the shoulder seams fell several inches down her thin upper arms. There was a chain attached to the cuffs that would be hooked to a belt around her waist. Her feet were probably shackled too. Didn’t they know she was harmless? Caleb rubbed his temples to ward off a gnawing ache. The man on the phone had said seven months. Almost the entire time he’d looked for her, she’d been right here…serving a jail sentence. How had this happened to such a gentle soul? She couldn’t be the woman he’d thought her to be.

When the door opened, she shuffled to the chair across from him. The chains from her wrists and between her feet probably weighed as much as she did. There wasn’t a belt at her waist, though. It hung around her hips…under her basketball-sized belly. Caleb’s stomach twisted and he felt a little lightheaded. She was, without a doubt, pregnant.

 

Question – Have you ever seen someone after a long period of time and found that they’d drastically changed?

Prize – Tell us about it in a comment for a chance to win a copy of the first book, Common Enemy, for you Kindle or Nook. Be sure to include your email address. I’ll choose my favorite answer on Saturday, January 16, 2016. Return to this post or my Facebook page that afternoon to see who won.

 

Bio – Sandra Dailey lives with her husband and mother in a small town in North Florida, far from the maddening crowds. Her children and grandchildren all live close and keep her ridiculously busy and active. Her passions are reading, writing, and crafts. Her addictions are coffee, chocolate, and football. Her aversions are cooking, housework and negative people. She loves to hear from fellow readers and writers, so get in touch.

Website/Blog: http://www.sandradailey.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandradailey.author

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

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/sandradailey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551048.Sandra_Dailey

 

 

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January 7, 2016 · 7:46 am

A Candy Hearts Romance – Forget Me Not by Maureen Bonatch – Plus, a $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

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A fun new series from The Wild Rose Press is out and I have one of the debut stories on my blog today. The Candy Hearts Romances are short, fun, flirty stories in various genres. Each are titled with a different Candy Hearts saying. Cute idea, right? Check out FORGET ME NOT by Maureen Bonatch…

 

Forget Me Not

A Candy Hearts Romance

 by

Maureen L. Bonatch

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Blurb:

The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can’t recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband. Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she’ll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4. To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their “rinky-dink” town in her rearview mirror.

If Cole can’t believe she’s a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?

Excerpt:

Sabrina’s laugh faded at his unspoken words. Despite being born and raised in Rosewood, she wasn’t considered a local anymore since she’d moved and shunned the small town way of life they loved. She’d have to earn their respect, or forever be considered an outsider.

“How do you know what my New Year’s resolution is?” Sabrina tensed, wondering if Cole experienced the same unusual visions.

Cole shrugged. “It’s the same one you made every year. You were never successful with it then, either. You insisted you were no—”

“Quitter.” Sabrina finished the sentence.

“Yeah.” Cole cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, I have to get back to the store. My lunch break is over.” His gaze lingered on Sabrina. “Perhaps you’ll tell me your story…another time.”

He rose, bracing his arms on the table. The muscles in his biceps bulged. The group at the table behind them fell silent, straining to detect every word exchanged. “Somewhere a little more private.”

The happiness warming her at his closeness made her want to drown in the depths of his emerald eyes and seek the answers to the mystery of her muddled memories. The emotions welling inside her made no sense—love never did—especially since she loved a man she didn’t even know. God, she was crazy. Did she stand a chance of making her memories of Cole a reality? She licked her unbearably dry lips. “Yeah, perhaps.”

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Forget-Not-Candy-Hearts-Romance-ebook/dp/B018L3GFAG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1448985548&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=forget+me+not+maureen+l+bonatc

The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6581

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-maureen-l-bonatch/1123082907?ean=2940157816650

 Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/forget-me-not-93

IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forget-me-not/id1067612795?mt=11

***Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $20 Amazon Gift Card (contest runs from January 6th until January 27th)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author:

Maureen writes stories in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania that boast laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world. She writes Paranormal Romance and Fantasy.

 

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maureen-L.-Bonatch/e/B00KHY1KK8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=658

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbonatch

Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Website: http://www.maureenbonatch.com

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/1AV4L

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103486.Maureen_L_Bonatch

 

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December 21, 2015 · 5:00 am

“Ten Moments that Changed My Life” by Diane Burton – PLUS, her new release: “The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé”

I am pleased to host my  author friend, the awesome, talented Diane Burton, on today’s blog.  Diane is sharing the 10 moments that changed her life, as well as  her latest release. Please help me welcome Diane, and be sure to check out her fabulous book, “The Case of the Fabulous Fiance,” an excellent blend of humor and mystery.

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Thanks for having me here today, Alicia. Preparing for this post, I took many trips down Memory Lane. Side trips, too. Things I hadn’t thought of in years came forward. So many events to choose from. Here’s my top ten.

  1. Accepting my friend’s offer to fix me up with a guy. That blind date led to . . .
  2. . . . marrying the man I loved who became my best friend and the father of . . .
  3. . . . our children. Our daughter, who was an easy baby, came first, followed 13 months later by her brother, who wasn’t (undiagnosed asthma and other health problems).
  4. Hubs’ job changes and moves. At first adventurous, then upsetting, always stressful. But the moves gave us all new opportunities and new friends. A lot of lemonade out of those lemons.
  5. Our daughter’s, very traditional, brought a loving son into our family. Our son’s, on a beach, gave us a wonderful daughter. Those unions gave us . . .
  6. The best de-stressor in the world is rocking a snuggling newborn. No worries about household chores or writing deadlines when visiting. Having fun with them is more important. Teaching them our skills, learning from them.
  7. The release of my first book in 2001. Seeing my name on the cover of a book was such a high. Only to come crashing down with the Twin Towers two weeks later.
  8. Self-publishing. Wow, I actually got money for my books. Every month.
  9. Lingering deaths. Our parents. A blessing when they died. Each time more difficult, until you realize you’re the oldest in the family. Sad that our grandchildren will never know them except through stories and pictures.
  10. Freedom to do what we want, go where and when we want. Realizing that penny pinching paid off.

In my latest release, The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé, the heroine’s top two moments are 1) when The Pops turned over the detective agency to her and 2) the return of her old flame, Nick Palzetti.

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Blurb:

Alex O’Hara wants to take her detective agency in a new direction—background checks for potential spouses. She hopes this new case will do the trick when a high-powered executive asks for info on her new boyfriend. Is the man she met on a cruise her Mr. Right or is he too good to be true? On the same day, Alex gets another case—finding a deadbeat dad. And both women want to double her rates so she’ll give them highest priority. She can’t believe her luck. Her finances are on the upswing. If only Nick Palzetti were around to share her good news. He disappeared on Christmas Eve, and she hasn’t heard from him in almost three months. Then no internet and glitchy phones bring everything to a screeching halt.

Excerpt:

I read somewhere that men think about sex ninety-four percent of the time, maybe more. Women were more evolved and thought about other things. Around Nick Palzetti, my evolution took a nose dive. I remembered how good things had been between us. Not my doing, of course. When it came to lovemaking, he was the pro. I still had amateur status. And if I didn’t watch my step, I’d make a fool of myself again.

“Why are you back, Nick? Did you really think I would fall into your arms?” As if I hadn’t done just that.

He perched on the corner of my desk, again, then swung his foot in a lazy manner. “I’d hoped so.”

“Why? I’m not some bimbo you can jump into bed with and then say ‘I’ll be right back’. Right back does not mean no word for over two frelling months.”

I’d just done a “Farscape” marathon, for the third time, so frelling was my word of choice when I really wanted to say the other F-word.

His foot stopped swinging. Every muscle in his body tightened. The effect was fascinating and a little scary. His lips, which had been soft and caressing moments ago, thinned. His face became all sharp edges.

“What do you mean no word?” he asked in a voice that was too soft. Like I said, a little scary.

 

The Case of the Fabulous Fiancé is available at:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B0195K8F6G

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-case-of-the-fabulous-fiance-an-alex-o-hara-novel

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/case-fabulous-fiance-alex/id1066537800?mt=11

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-case-of-the-fabulous-fiance-diane-burton/1123120297?ean=2940157702533

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/599181

DianeBurton

Author Info:

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and The Case of the Bygone Brother, a PI mystery. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and three grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com

Connect with Diane Burton online

Blog:  http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/dmburton72

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthor

Goodreads: Diane Burton Author

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/

Sign up for Diane’s new release alert: http://eepurl.com/bdHtYf

 

 

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December 17, 2015 · 10:35 am

A Fun Party for Two – Monique DeVere’s New Release and Giveaway!

I am thrilled to share the latest release from my gorgeous and talented friend, Monique DeVere. Monique excels at romantic comedy, especially the romance part. Her heroes will make you swoon! And, she’s giving away a FREE copy of Party for Two to one lucky commenter!

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ONLY  $1.99 – BUY HERE

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Her sexy weekend fling.

Ex-lawyer turned pregnancy model Danielle Hampton has one simple rule; never date an attorney, even if he’s so deliciously hot she’s nicknamed him His Hotness Esquire. When her father asks her to strap on her silicone bump and pretend to be Casey Lowe’s pregnant fiancée in order to pull her family’s law firm out of trouble, her first answer is a resounding no! But she owes Casey for wrecking his pool.

Civil Rights Attorney Casey Lowe lives by a code of practice: never date his boss’s daughter, but he’ll do just about anything to make partner at the top law firm—even if it means violating his personal code. He hasn’t bargained on the fierce desire that burns hotter than the Mojave Desert and combusts every time he gets his boss’s daughter alone. She may drive him to distraction and melt in his arms, but will this party girl hang around long enough for him to convince her that all the best parties… are for two?

Excerpt

Copyright © Monique DeVere 2015

Crystal Swan Publications

All Rights Reserved

Then there was that neatly trimmed and maintained stubble that gave him a manly, distinguished look. Yep, she couldn’t dismiss the truth, Casey Lowe was captivating on a whole new level, and those electric blue eyes could lure a woman to his bedroom and make her lose her panties before she even knew what was happening. Until it was too late, because Lowe had heartbreaker written all over his tantalizing body.

“Yes, I sleep.” She cast a glance at the chaos her friends had made of his pool. “I just didn’t want to leave this in such a mess.” Once she repaired all the damage, she’d do everything in her power to never cross paths with Lowe again. He was way too tempting and too off-limits for her not to keep her distance.

“Go home, Dani, you’re keeping me awake, and I have court in the morning.”

Just like that, he dismissed her, turned, strolled back into his bedroom, and slid the patio door shut behind him. Less than a minute later all of the lights went out, leaving Dani gawping after him in the dark.

Well, how do you like that? Dissed and dismissed.

 

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Author Bio

Monique DeVere is a full-time author of Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Romantic Comedy and Contemporary Romance. She also writes Christian Supernatural Suspense movie scripts. She was born on the beautiful island of Barbados, where she grew up on a large plantation with enough wide-open space to let the imagination run free. She moved to the UK as a teen and shortly after met and fell instantly, and irrevocably, in love with her very own strong-silent-type hero. When Monique isn’t writing or spending quality time with her family, she likes to armchair travel to distant and exciting parts of the world and considers herself to have the best job on earth.

You can visit her at moniquedevere.com where she invites you to join her exclusive Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Readers Club packed full of goodies for her members. Monique loves to hear from her readers, do contact her at monique@moniquedevere.com.

 

Book Purchase Link: http://buff.ly/1OHUHRf

 

Where to Find Monique:

Website | Blog | Mailing List | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook Fanpage | LinkedIn | Wattpad | Pinterest |

 

 

 

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December 9, 2015 · 7:40 am

HUNTED (FBI Heat Book 1) by Marissa Garner AND a Giveaway

 

I am thrilled to share the latest release from my friend, Marissa Garner. Marissa and I ‘met’ years ago when I was coordinator for the Finally a Bride contest for unpublished authors. Marissa and I hit it off and remained in touch. She’s a fabulous author, and she has worked hard for many years to realize her dream of becoming a published author. I was editor for her debut novel, The Marriage Trap, through The Wild Rose Press. And now, she has a new book out wiht Grand Central Publishing, and it sounds amazing. Huge congratulations to Marissa!

GIVEAWAY:  Visit Facebook or website to enter $25 Amazon e-Gift Card giveaway 

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BLURB:

Hot agents on explosive cases in the FBI Heat series: For San Diego’s elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city’s most dangerous criminals—but falling in love is the greatest risk of all.   

Catching bad guys in San Diego’s underworld isn’t just FBI Special Agent Ben Alfren’s job, it’s his life. He doesn’t have time for a serious relationship, doesn’t want one either. So when he meets his sexy new neighbor, Amber Jollett, he has nothing more in mind than unwinding with a glass of wine, a romantic walk on the beach…and maybe a hot fling.

But Amber is more than he bargained for. Hunted by an obsessed ex-boyfriend, the fiercely independent nurse chooses fight over flight for the chance at a future with her hot, blue-eyed neighbor. When she gets caught up in Ben’s plans to rescue five kidnapped women, their lives get entangled and their attraction flares into passion. But they’ll learn that in this dangerous game of cat and mouse, real love can save—or doom—them . . .

 

EXCERPT:

The man in the gray hoodie was watching her. Amber Jollett couldn’t see his face, but he was the right height and build. Even from the opposite street corner, the intensity of his stare bored into her. She shivered despite the sunny morning.

Her focus never wavered as she slid behind two people. The man’s head turned with her movement.

The traffic light changed, and the crowd surged forward. Amber’s hand dug into her purse until it gripped reassuring metal. Weaving between bodies, she moved to the outside edge to put as much distance as possible between her and the man before the other pedestrians passed on the street. With each step, her heart beat faster.

Halfway across, the man reached up, pulled back the hood…and smiled. Straight black hair. Almond-shaped eyes. Asian features.

Not him.

Amber’s knees went weak with relief.

Not him. Not this time.

A car horn blared. She jumped and spun around to find a taxi idling a few feet away, its driver gesturing impatiently for her to get out of the way. Waving an apology, she scurried across the street. She found a spot out of the pedestrian flow next to the corner of a building. She needed a moment to quiet her nerves.

She braced her hands on the knees of her pastel pink nurse’s scrubs, inhaled deep breaths, and released them slowly. Fear began to fade as calm returned.

Damn you, Jeremy Nelson. I want my life back.

Amber grimaced and closed her eyes. It was starting all over again. Two years had passed since she’d broken up with her obsessed boyfriend, but he continued to stalk her. Restraining orders and calls to law enforcement had proved useless. Now she alone was responsible for her safety. She’d lived in Coronado, across the bay from San Diego, for only two months. But two or three months was the amount of time it normally took for Jeremy to find her. From now on, she would have to be on constant alert. The worst part was imagining him wearing every hoodie, hiding in every shadow, or following in every vehicle. Usually, she didn’t wait for an actual sighting—that would be too late. No, she couldn’t hesitate. Once her instincts told her he was closing in, she had to move on. She cringed. How much longer will I be hunted?

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BUY LINKS: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PjQLGK

B&N: http://bit.ly/1OnacNA

iTunes: http://apple.co/1SpIDSJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/21m7Zao

 

BIO:

Marissa Garner is a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a little girl, she cut pictures of people out of her mother’s magazines and turned them into characters in her simple stories. Now she writes edgy romantic thrillers, steamy contemporary romance, and sexy paranormal romantic suspense. Her stories will titillate your mind as well as your libido. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, but enjoys traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and many locations in between. 

WHERE TO FIND MARISSA: 

Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/1NTfT19

Website:  www.marissagarner.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/M_Garner_Author

Pinterest:  https://pinterest.com/garner1819/

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November 11, 2015 · 7:54 am

What the River Knows by Katherine Pritchett – Suspense Debut Novel from The Wild Rose Press

Please help me welcome Katherine Pritchett and her debut novel, What the River Knows. I’m especially pleased to host Katherine, since I was fortunate to be her editor for this tense, compelling read. 

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Click to be taken to the buy pages:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The Wild Rose Press

Blurb:

When a hometown girl is brutally murdered, Detective Scott Aylward vows to bring a killer to justice. His focus on the case further damages his failing marriage and reinforces the knowledge that he always fails those who matter most–his parents, his boss, his wife, but most of all the victims who expect him to bring them justice.

His search for the killer takes him back to his roots and crosses his path with the missing piece of the puzzle. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, he finds himself unarmed and face to face with the killer. This time, failing might cost him his life.

Excerpt:

He slowed his pace within twenty feet of a gray and twisted tree trunk that must have once supported a massive cottonwood, but now instead provided a windbreak that allowed sand to settle in its lee and let shrubs gain a foothold. He looked down the sloping bank of the dike toward the river, noting the lazy flow as it rippled barely a foot deep in half a dozen shallow braided channels within the banks. A gray heron took off from a sand bar, long legs dangling behind him.

He stopped and squatted to view the path from a different angle. Just this side of the tree trunk, he saw indistinct grooves in the sand of the path that could have been made by a body being dragged. Big bluestem waved behind the tree trunk, and a sand plum thicket guarded the north side of the approach. Buffalo grass carpeted the ground from the path to the tree, obscuring any sign from this angle. He stood up again.

Now it looked like there were faint marks in the grass, here and there, that could be drag marks. He continued on the other side of the path, careful not to disturb the sign. At last he was even with the northern edge of the sand plum thicket. Again, he went down to see what he could observe from this angle. He spotted some broken branches and a few tufts of buff fur, where the dog had bounded in to make his discovery and dragged the man in his wake. He followed the path of fur and branches with his eyes, and finally saw something large and too pale a pink to belong in that environment. Reminding himself to stay detached and professional, he stepped up on the tree trunk to get a better view.

And now, let’s get to know Katherine…

Where did you get the idea for What the River Knows?

This book was inspired by a murder nearly 40 years ago that is still unsolved. My suggestion about what might have happened and the character of the victim is purely my imagination, however.

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

It just seemed to me that the river witnessed the crime. It knew; now if it would only tell.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?

Other than knowing when to stop editing and revising and consider it done, I find I hit a spot about 2/3 through when it’s time to up the ante and start the wrap up. Sometimes I find myself floundering here trying to find that exact point.

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

I quit writing on this one for a long time, because it was taking me someplace dark. I worked on a romance and life seemed to be imitating art, as I fell in love. Then my love died of leukemia after we only had five months together, and I couldn’t write on the romance any more. Then, the dark place I was already in found an outlet in this book, and brought me back to the light.

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

I use music to create a mood. Romantic ballads for a love scene, exciting music for chase scenes. Then I try to write as if an actor would have to convey all emotions without the narration. This makes it easier to show, don’t tell.

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

I work for a natural resource agency and have for 30 years. I love most of the work (get a bit frustrated with the red tape from time to time). The job has taken me from coast to coast and got me behind the scenes for experiences not available to the general public. The people I work with in my agency and others are passionate about what they do for the benefit of the public and the natural resources we protect.

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

If I could just quit procrastinating, I would have so much more time for writing and everything else I need to do. However, sometimes the time I spend just sitting on my porch watching birds gives me insights I wouldn’t have if I were more efficient. I’ll quit procrastinating—someday.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read What the River Knows?

I hope the readers of any of my books come away with a greater understanding of how multi-dimensional human beings are. Good guys, bad guys, victims, bystanders, perpetrators: all have wants and needs and reasons for the things they do. When those reasons collide, we have conflict. Someday, maybe we’ll learn to avoid those collisions. We’ll learn to foster each other’s humanity.

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

Science fiction.

What is your favorite quote?

I don’t know who said it or if I made it up. You can’t choose the hand you’re dealt, but you can choose how you play it.

Thank you so much for joining me, Katherine. I enjoyed the interview and wish you the best!

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November 9, 2015 · 3:00 am

A Criminal Christmas – Tidbits, Favorite Lines & More… 8 Stories, 8 Authors, 99 Cents!

I am thrilled to share my latest release, a Christmas anthology with 7 other authors. Settle back and take a peek into the stories and get to know my fellow authors. And, guess what? The ENTIRE anthology is only 99 cents!

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Click HERE for the Amazon/Kindle Buy Page

Click HERE for the Barnes and Noble/Nook Buy Page

Alexa Grace – Deadly Holiday

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Tantalizing Tidbit:

In Deadly Holiday, all of the characters from the previous three Deadly Series books play a role. The characters return to search for a lost boy, fight breast cancer, deal with the personal financial impact of a bad economy, and seek a Christmas miracle.

Favorite lines:

“He then tiptoed to the big rocking chair where he sat and gazed with wonder at the tiny baby kicking her legs beneath the pink blankets in the bassinet next to him. With his index finger outstretched, Shawn ever so slowly stroked the velvety soft skin of her arm, and then smiled with delight when her tiny hand clutched his finger and she cooed. She was named Mylee. Her middle name was Faith, because Mom said that faith was the only thing that got her through the days he was missing. She told him that faith would get them through all the days ahead.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I’m from Indiana and one year we were snowed in for the holiday and it was great. My brother, sister, and I went sledding and then had hot cocoa in front of the best electric fireplace. One of my best holiday memories.

Contact info:

You can visit my website at – http://authoralexagrace.com

Subscribe to my newsletter at – http://eepurl.com/sJ-Df

Friend me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaGrace

Tweet me – @AlexaGrace2

Join my street team at https://www.facebook.com/AlexaGraceStreetTeam

Ann Charles ~ The Old Man’s Back in Town

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A sizzling, suspenseful SHORT STORY wrapped in a puzzling mystery that will leave you hungry for more.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The story is set in the town of Goldwash, Nevada, which is a fictional town I created based on the real ghost town of Goldfield, Nevada.

Favorite lines:

“That woman was nuttier than a squirrel turd. Her leaving was my good fortune.”

“Well, well, well. Look what Santa brought you, Monty, a hunka-hunka burnin’ heartache. You must have been naughty this year.”

“Montana, think about what you’re up against. He’s twice your size, built up with years of prison bulk and revenge, and probably pissed as hell at the woman who helped put him behind bars.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

My favorite memory is making Buckeye candies (little peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate). I make them now with my kids, who eat one for every ten we dip, I swear. Ha!

Contact info:

(website) www.anncharles.com (Facebook) Ann Charles Author; (Twitter) AnnWCharles; (Pinterest) AnnWCharles

Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano ~ Holiday Justice

 christmasholidayjustice

When the wrong Santa comes down your chimney…

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Misty’s:

The story contains viewpoints from 4 of our characters. It was fun to revisit Grey, Sydney, Caroline and Mitch all over again!

Adrienne’s:

I can hit a bullseye from 220 yards with a .308 sniper rifle.

Favorite lines: 

Misty’s:

A clang behind them made Mitch whirl, ready to jump on whoever was coming up the fire escape. A second later, Sydney’s head popped up over the roof edge.“What the hell are you two doing?”

And that’s when an idea—a terrible, awful idea—formed in Mitch’s head.

Adrienne’s: 

His eyes narrowed, and even through the cold, she spotted the simmering heat that always charged her body, made her tingle with anticipation because their love of cupcakes didn’t necessarily include eating them. The things they did with cupcakes should, in fact, be illegal.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Misty’s:

Watching Christmas movies. I love all of them from White Christmas to The Grinch!

Adrienne’s:

Spending Christmas Eve with my extended family. We do a variation of the Feast of the Seven Fishes and I look forward to it every year.

Contact info:

Misty:

website: http://www.readmistyevans.com

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

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

Adrienne:

To sign up for Adrienne’s newsletter or for more information on Adrienne’s books please visit: http://adriennegiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiordanoAuthor, Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGiordano.  For information on Adrienne’s street team, Dangerous Darlings, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousdarlings.

Kim Hornsby ~ Christmas Interrupted (Dream Jumper Christmas)

Christmas Interruped FINAL

How well do you know your neighbors?

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Christmas Interrupted is a Stand Alone Novella but continues from the last Dream Jumper book (if you’ve read the series.) I did not give away much of anything so readers can go back to the first book, read the series and still enjoy all the twists and surprises in all three books. And I included a recipe for Christmas cookies!

Favorite lines:

“I heard the woman jumped off the widow’s walk to her death and soon after the husband and kids moved away.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Christmas Caroling! I love to get a group of kids together to go door to door singing.

Contact info:

www.twitter.com/kimhornsby www.facebook.com/kimhornsbyauthor

www.kimhornsbyauthor.net

Jacki Delecki ~ Marriage Under Fire

JackiDelecki_MarriageUnderFire1400

A Christmas Wedding with the Grayce Walters Mystery Gang!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The house where Maddy and Hunter are on a stake out is a friend’s house.

Favorite lines:

“No way would Maddy Jeffers admit, even under the threat of torture, that her killer shoes were killing her.”

He was a professional soldier, a top-notch intelligence officer, and the idea of a wife—not any wife, but Maddy—terrified him. This assignment made Belarus and Yemen seem like child’s play.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Singing Christmas Carols, baking Christmas cookies with my mom.

Contact info:

www.jackidelecki.com

FB: Jacki Delecki Twitter-@jackidelecki

Lori Leger ~ Christmas 911

Lori Christmas 911 cover

Last minute Christmas shopping can be downright deadly!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

I, personally, have never had to call 911, or known anyone who’s been a 911 dispatcher, but I found plenty of information on different sites. The story takes place in Beaumont, TX, so I was able to pull up info from their area. My son-in-law is a cop, so he helped me out with the info for the weapons and ammo, and even whether or not a gunshot would shatter or fracture the door glass. I also had inside info from a dear friend who works at the courthouse in Beaumont to know at what point the bad guys could help a prisoner escape. She told me they had one prisoner appear at the courthouse and he nearly escaped by putting a ham sandwich between his skin and the ‘shock belt’ they place around their waist (like a taser) so that it didn’t shock him when he went to escape. He jumped down some stairs and hurt his leg, so they caught him.

Favorite lines:

(Scene set-up) 8 1/2 month pregnant Cori, is telling Luke, the 911 dispatcher, how her husband had left her for another woman because Cori couldn’t have children. Her husband wrapped his car around a tree while his girlfriend was giving him oral sex. “Yeah. Here’s a tad more irony for you. There he was, wanting to procreate, but his last DNA ends up . . . well, one can only assume where it ended up, I guess.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition: 

I rent two cabins on a lake about an hour from our home and our family spends the weekend there, usually two weeks or so before Christmas. This will be the first time in seven years we don’t do that…and I’m kind of bummed about it. 😦

Contact info:

Twitter: @LoriLegerAuthor FB: llegerauthor , lorilegerauthor, cajunflairpublishing Blogspot Blog: lorilegerauthor.blogspot.com WordPress Blog: cajunflair.wordpress.com Website: www.LoriLegerAuthor.com

Alicia Dean ~ The Twelfth Day

TheTwelfthDayFINAL2015Final_resized (2)

Tantalizing Tidbit(s):

-I wrote this entire story in a weekend and revised it in a few days, along with working my day job and other projects.

-My ex-husband and son helped me with a research question.

-My model for the hero was James Marsden and for the heroine Kate Beckinsale.

-My heroine loves science and dislikes football, which is the exact opposite of me.

Favorite lines:

A ping sent icy chills over her skin. The familiar, terrifying music played and the words, On the eighth day of Christmas appeared. Along with an image of a figure—a young man, blank eyes staring at the ceiling—lying in a dim room.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I have lots of great memories from my childhood, but my favorite memory/tradition is with my own three children. Even though they are grown and don’t live with me, every year on Christmas Eve, the three of them spend the night with me and we wake up the next morning and open gifts and the stockings ‘Santa’ filled during the night. Even the three years I lived away in Kansas City, we managed to keep the tradition. I know that will end when they have families of their own, but in the meantime, I’ll just enjoy and appreciate it.

Amara Draska ~ The Way Evil Does

The Way Evil Does

A story about right, wrong, and what you can’t stop yourself from doing.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

My POV character, Rebecca, is a departure from the norm. She has inner demons to contend with and makes different choices than many of us would. Before this was published I considered modifying her character to conform to the expectations most readers have for a female lead, but it bothered me to see her changing into someone else. In the end, I stuck to my original vision of Rebecca with her kind heart, quirks, awkwardness and bad behavior.

Favorite lines:

And even though he was gagged, the part of his mouth that was still visible showed a smile. He was grinning the way evil does when it knows it has you.

It felt so damned good to be with him, but at the same time it also felt sick and wrong, and much like the contrary mixture of sweet and sour in Chinese food, it was delicious as hell. God help me.

He had gotten under my skin, turning frigid on me after my remark about his desperate, delusional horseshit. In retrospect, that had been the wrong approach to take with him.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

We always make snowball cookies (proper name: Russian Teacakes). It just wouldn’t be Christmas without them.

Contact info:

Website: Amaradraska.com

Twitter: @amaradraska

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Amara-Draska-548417351945912/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

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September 17, 2015 · 6:37 am

Halloween Kisses ~ New Release by Susan R. Hughes

I love Halloween and I always look forward to Halloween stories each year.

Please help me welcome my guest, Susan R. Hughes and her new release, Halloween Kisses…Love the cover!

susan

Blurb:

One kiss can change everything. Dulcie has had a secret crush on her co-worker Rowan for ages, but she’s too shy to let him know, and preoccupied with raising her rebellious teenage sister. When she bumps into him in the darkness of a haunted barn, she can’t resist stealing just one kiss.

That kiss enchants Rowan. If only he could figure out the identity of the woman whose kiss haunts him. While running from a troubled past, he may find that the woman he least suspects could lead him out of the dark forever.

And now, let’s get to know Susan…

Where did you get the idea for Halloween Kisses?

When I decided to write a Halloween book, I knew I wanted a scene at a masquerade ball. This led me to the idea of a very shy woman who wears a metaphorical mask every day, hiding herself and her feelings in order to shield herself from rejection. Halloween is the day she finally finds the strength to shed her mask and show the world, and the man she loves, who she really is.

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

I’m a professional editor. I find it very rewarding to take a good piece of text and polish it up so it shines.

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

My kids – but of course I wouldn’t want to get rid of them! Well, maybe just for a few days…

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Halloween Kisses?

I would like readers to feel that they’ve gotten to know Dulcie and Rowan, and cheer when they find their way to each other. One reader told me that a particular scene made her cry. What more could I ask for?

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

No review. Bad reviews are crushing. No review gives me something to aim for.

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

Historical fiction in the Tudor era. But the research involved has held me back so far.

What is your favorite quote?

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon

susan bio

Susan R. Hughes writes contemporary and historical romance novels set in Canada. She lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and three children.

Website: http://susanrhughes.weebly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-R-Hughes/150348171749025

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Susan_R_Hughes

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014UA6XPQ

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September 14, 2015 · 2:19 pm

Spotlight on… The Other Side (Melinda’s Story) by Starr Gardinier

A new release from Starr Gardinier. Sounds like a spooky, compelling read…

TheOtherSide_w9601_750
Blurb: 
Melinda’s family is dead, killed for information that is hidden deep within her mind. Her father tries to warn her from the ‘Other Side’ that she is in danger from the killers who want what only she can give them. Committed to Skyview Haven, she must determine if the ‘Other Side’ truly exists or if it is a trick of her heart and mind. With time running out Melinda must determine who she can trust. Is it the ghosts of her family, a boy who may not be who he appears to be, or the doctor who is determined to cure her? Can she figure out the truth before it is too late?
Excerpt:
 
“Remember, I just ran from Beth and I’m standing in the backyard looking at my house. The house is lit up and I see Kyle in the window. I knew I had to go in and face whatever was coming. For some reason, I knew there was no turning back. I couldn’t go back to Beth, but I was afraid to go forward. What if they are both gone? Would that mean I killed them? Was it really up to me to decide who lives and who dies?
“I was angry. I wasn’t God! This wasn’t my choice. Deep in my soul I knew that once I walked into my house, life as I knew it before my father’s car accident, before I heard my father’s voice, before Beth drowned in the same river as my father, would not be the same. I couldn’t turn back time. Choices are made every day and for some reason, I was being forced to make this one.
“I turned around and looked back at our path and whispered, “I love you, Beth. I will see you again.”
“Having made my decision, I strode up to the house, my legs getting heavier with each step, and opened the kitchen door. I tried to change my frown into a smile, but it didn’t work very well. My eyes still blazed with fury when my mom and Kyle looked up. I could tell Mom had been crying. She rushed to my side, knelt down, and hugged me.
“Melinda! You’re soaked to the bone! And muddy. What in the world?”
“She took my jacket off of me and Kyle handed her a towel. She proceeded to dry my hair, but I took her hand and stopped her. At least her nurturing was changing my attitude, even if I did know what was coming. It felt good to have Mom tending to my needs. I wished I knew then what I know now. I would have let her fuss over me more. Instead I would shrug her hugs off and air-kiss her when I had to.
“Mom?”
“It’s okay. You’re home now. It’s all okay.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“My mom and Kyle exchanged looks. It confirmed my suspicions, but I needed to hear it.
“Where is he?” I asked again.
“Mel…”
“Kyle walked to me, an anguished look on his face.
“Where is he?” I screamed.
“Melinda, there’s been an accident. Your father was coming home. He…”
“Tears rolled down my mother’s cheeks.
“He’s dead, isn’t he?” I quietly asked.
“I wanted them to say it. I needed to hear them say it out loud. My heart was heavy. I just killed my father. It was my fault.
“Mel, he’s in the hospital. Mom and I couldn’t find you. We didn’t want to go there without you knowing.”
“In the hospital?” I asked, shocked.
“Maybe I was wrong. I had to be wrong! My dad wasn’t dead because I spent time with Beth. It was going to be all right. I was overcome with joy.
“I smiled and said, “Let’s go. I want to see Dad.”
“I began putting my coat back on, but my mom stopped me.
“You’re in your pajamas. Go clean up and change.”
“I began to leave the room, stopped and turned around and told them, “Dad’s going to be just fine now.”
“I believed that with my whole heart. After all, I left Beth. It really sucked that I had to choose, but there was nothing else I could have done.
“When we got to the hospital, Mom made Kyle and me wait in the hall while she talked to the doctor. They left the door slightly open and we could hear quite a bit. The doctor was telling Mom that Dad had hypothermia. I didn’t understand a lot of it at the time. They said something about Dad being confused, he was in cold water, and ended up laying on the side of the river, half in and half out.
“We heard a loud bang and nurses were running in and out of a nearby room. One of them darted into the doctor’s office. Within seconds, the doctor flew out of his office and into the other room. My mother was on his heels.
“Mom?” Kyle asked.
“She grabbed us both, one with each hand and pulled us close.
“It’s your father.”
“He’s going to be fine, Mom,” I tried to reassure her. I looked up at her and said, “You’ll see.”
“A few minutes later, the doctor walked out of the room slowly, head down. He looked up at my mother then met my eyes. 
“No! No!”
Check out the Book Trailer:  Book Trailer  https://youtu.be/G8YNyCg6kCE
Purchase here:
About Starr:
CAM00862
Bio:  A paralegal by day, I’m an author by night. I am the  artistic creator of the Other Side series featuring Melinda James. Flanking Melinda’s side Trent Miller, who will have his own ‘chapter of life’ in book two of the series. 
I am the former executive editor for Suspense Magazine and have  been interviewed in the newspaper and on the radio with relation to my fiction work. I have also been a co-host on Suspense Radio.
 
I am a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW) and of Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles Chapter and nationally. I have won three Best Speaker awards as well as Best Evaluator at the Voice Ambassadors chapter of Toastmasters. I have always been active in events. As co-chair and main coordinator for the West Coast Author Premiere, I arranged weekend-long events to help authors from all over network, learn and share their work with the public. I have been instrumental in compiling authors and planning a local author event at Barnes and Noble in Ventura, California along with the store’s event manager.
 
Please read more about me at www.QueenWriter.com or visit her blog at www.qw-blog.blogspot.com.
qw-blog.blogspot.com

 

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September 7, 2015 · 12:16 pm

New Wild Rose Press Release – Bone of my Bones by Debra Doggett

Please welcome today’s guest…

Debra Doggett with her new Wild Rose Press release…

BoneofMyBonescover

Blurb:

Rose DeSalvo has had better days. Not many but a few. Especially since she left her cheating husband Eddie behind. But Eddie has turned up again to wreck havoc in her life. This time, though, he’s buried among her prize roses. Rose knows she’s got to find out who killed Eddie and get him back to the scene of the crime before she can be accused of his murder. That’s the reason she suddenly finds herself with a dangerously hot necromancer, a zombie ex-husband and a wild assortment of people who seem to know far more about her than she does about them. If she could only get them to tell her what she needs to know before she runs out of time, she just might uncover not only Eddie’s murderer but her own destiny.

Excerpt:

             There was something about the etched design in the faded cowhide, sort of a scripted “E” all fancied up, that looked all too familiar.

            “Hey, those are Eddie’s boots. Whoa!” With the aid of the side of the house, Leon got to his feet and peered at me with bloodshot eyes.

            “What?” I kicked at the dirt with my slipper, trying to push enough of it aside to get a better view. 

            “You bumped him off.”

            “What are you babbling about?” I shined the light around the edge of the hole Leon had dug. They really did look like Eddie’s boots. Please, please, please, don’t let the rest of him be in them.

            “You bumped Eddie off, didn’t you?”

            Leon staggered against me, giving me a good whiff  of his breath. I wondered if you could get drunk from secondhand alcohol. Right now I could really use a stiff  drink. I gripped his arm to keep him still. His wavering combined with his breath nauseated me. He peered into my eyes then looked back down at the ground.

            “I mean, you always said you wanted to but I never really thought you would.” His voice held the kind of  awe he usually reserved for major sports events and winners of monster truck rallies. It was the most respect he’d ever given my work.

            I shook my head and hissed at him. “I did not bump Eddie off. You don’t know this is Eddie. It could be a total stranger.”

            “You bumped off a total stranger?” The awe factor faltered a bit, replaced by a note of fear.

Find the book here…

http://www.amazon.com/Bone-My-Bones-Debra-Doggett-ebook/dp/B011IR789Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439221982&sr=8-1&keywords=debra+doggett

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6343

And now, let’s get to know a little about Debra:

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

I start with scenes that come to me. As they come I collect them and when I feel I have enough to do a rough outline I will make one. Then I work on creating more scenes. It’s the scenes that let me know the characters and how they behave.

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

It’s called Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and it’s by Jenny Lawson. It’s sort of a memoir and it’s hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s not so much that I wish I had written that particular book as I would love to reach the point where I can be that honest in my writing.

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

I teach pre-school and most days it’s a lot of fun. Some days I’m crying with the kids, lol.

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

The Wizard of Oz. I bet I’ve watched that movie fifty times because my mom loved it. I can’t stand it to this day.

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

The need for another job to pay the bills. I would love to simply wander and write all day.

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

Straight historical fiction. I’d love to have the time to research a story like that and write it.

What is your favorite…

Movie: any with Russell Crowe in it

Music: Celtic music

Place you’ve visited: Avsbury, England

Place you’d like to visit: China

TV show from childhood: Gilligan’s Island

TV show from adulthood: Outlander

Food: omelets

Sports team: I wouldn’t even know any to pick

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

Thank you for joining me today, Debra! Gilligan’s Island was one of my favorite childhood shows too. 🙂

And now, Deb would like to ask readers a question…

What is it that makes a story stay in your head (and your heart)?

Debra Doggett bio

DebraDoggett

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.  Being a writer is more than something I do.  It is the way I see the world, the way I process it.  I believe in the power of stories.  They make us smile, make us think and give us untold moments of enjoyment. My stories come from the landscape around me and the worlds I build in my head.  I am proud to be a storyteller, and I hope my work leaves you both satisfied and entertained.

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