Tag Archives: suspense

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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Filed under Entertainment, For Writers

Howard K invites you to ‘Dial M for Merlot’

I’m happy to introduce today’s guest, Howard K.

I ‘met’ Howard a little while back when he hired me to freelance edit his novel. I was a little wary after learning it was the first novel he’d ever written and that it was well over 100,000 words. However, I was pleasantly surprised once I started reading. While it needed some polishing, (as all stories do, even those from seasoned writers), it did not need a ton of reworking. The story was well written and immensely entertaining.

If you love wine and love to laugh (or if you even like ONE of those things), you’ll definitely want to check out Howard’s debut novel.

Now, let’s get to know a little more about him….

Where did you get the idea for Dial M for Merlot?

I had been a wine lover for many years, fully enjoying going to tastings, traveling to wine country destinations and attending wine themed dinner extravaganzas. In late 2007, I was diagnosed with throat cancer and had to endure surgery, radiation and chemo. I am happy to report that I bounced back and have remained cancer free since then, but for many years after, I lost all sense of taste. If you could see my wardrobe and clothing choices, you might be of the opinion that I never had any taste anyway…but that’s another story

Anyway, after a long while I was finally able to once again enjoy great wines and good times out with friends. It was at one of these wine dinners that someone suggested I write a book about the experience of being a ‘wino’, losing all sense of taste and the ability to enjoy wine, and then fully regaining my health and senses. It sounded like a good idea at the time, and I gave it try…but when I sat to write, the title “Dial M for Merlot” popped into my head and the story revealed itself to me as I typed.

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

Tai Pan by James Clavell. I really love history and historical fiction.

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

Well, since I’m in my fifties and this is the first book I’ve written…one would think I’ve had another occupation, but I actually haven’t had a real job in my entire life! I have been a musician since I was in my teens and I’ve spent the last 25 years composing and producing music for commercials. I’ve been very fortunate to have done work for HBO Sports, McDonald’s, The Florida Lottery, Florida Grapefruit, Ritz Carlton Hotels, about a million car dealerships. My favorite project of all time: a down home-style jingle for ‘Black Kow, the Mature Manure.’  You know you’ve arrived when you can get paid for singing about bullsh*t!

What’s your favorite childhood book?

Goodnight Moon.  I loved reading this book over and over again to my two sons when they were very young, and we’ve still got the old, well-worn copy on the shelf in one of their bedrooms.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Dial M for Merlot?

A few good laughs, a smile, and hopefully, a sense of anticipation and enthusiasm for the sequel.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

I would just rather have a good review.

What is your favorite quote?

‘Ich bin ein Berliner’   Of course JFK’s iconic quote was meant to send a message to the Soviets that America would stand with Germany in the face of the communist threat to freedom and liberty, but it has a different and personal meaning for me. I lived in West Berlin for a few years before the wall came down, and from the very first moment I arrived at Tegel airport in 1982, I had the strangest and most unexpected feeling that I had come home…that I belonged in Berlin. So yes, Ich bin auch ein Berliner– – I, too, am a Berliner.

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

A magic lantern with a Genie inside, a bottomless wine cellar and a corkscrew. The Genie would take care of everything else

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

Penelope Cruz. No explanation needed.

What is your favorite…

Movie  For a recent release “The Way Way Back”

Music:  The film score from “The Shawshank Redemption,” by Thomas Newman

Place you’ve visited:   the Priorat wine region in Northern Spain

Place you’d like to visit:   Burgundy, France

TV show from childhood:  Get Smart

TV show from adulthood:  Night Court

Food: Steak au poivre, medium rare, with a side of well done potatoes Lyonnaise, broiled asparagus and a bottle of smashing, full throttle cabernet sauvignon.

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

None of the above..I’ll take a good book anytime!

Keep reading to learn more about Dial M for Merlot (Only $2.99 for ebook…Click on the cover to be taken to the Amazon buy page where and find links to other outlets below)

merlot

Blurb:

In Vino Veritas—in wine there is truth, and the truth is that Justin James is a 30-year-old, socially inept guy who just can’t seem to get a second date. Maybe it’s because of his abiding love for all things sci-fi, including dressing up in costume at every Comic-Con® that comes to town— not exactly the universal definition of “sexy.”

One Friday night, after being stood up for the zillionth time, the lovelorn nerd wanders into a wine tasting at a local shop that opens his eyes, turns on his taste buds and totally changes his life.

Join Justin on an exhilarating, intoxicating and potentially dangerous voyage of discovery and transformation that leads him out of his shell and into the world of fine wine and fine living. From Florida to France and back, Justin discovers there is so much more to life than just Star Trek, Star Wars or Harry Potter—fun, stimulating, and seductive things like fabulous wine, fantastic food, hot sex…and murder. But not necessarily in that order.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

 Justin James felt the pounding in his head even before he fully regained consciousness. When he finally succeeded in prying open his hangover-heavy eyelids, the room slowly came into a blurred, topsy-turvy view of unreality.

The soft light filtering through the yellowed linen curtains suggested a peaceful post-dawn morning, but the foul taste in his mouth and the fire bubbling up in the back of his throat screamed midnight in Hell.

He slowly propped himself up on one shaky elbow and tried to rub the pain out of his brain. That wasn’t working too well. He resumed crash position and massaged his throbbing temples, struggling to remember just how he had gotten back to the house after what must have been a very long night of wine-fueled debauchery.

Yesterday evening had started on a remarkably high note; attending an invitation-only wine tasting and dinner at one of the most renowned châteaus in all of France. The gigantic, but elegant, gala was co-sponsored by the largest, most powerful wine distributor in North America—the Richard Fox Company, along with its French counterpart, Beverage DeBussey.

It was the Célébration de Vin, an event held only once every ten years, and yet, Justin and his traveling companions managed to wrangle admission. They weren’t a particularly well-connected group of important movers and shakers in the wine industry, just a small band of vino tourists on-the-loose in France for a little fine living and some excessive wine drinking, during the week of the Vin Expo trade show in Bordeaux. Their names were nowhere on the guest list. But no matter.

Right place, right time, a little language barrier misunderstanding, and voila—admittance into the wine party of the decade. In some corners of the world that would be called chutzpah, but as some pissed-off Frenchman would later remark, “Those American bastards had some big balls.” Big balls, indeed.

So there they were—rubbing elbows with some of the most well-known figures in the world of wine, all of whom Justin had never even heard of until a few months back. He watched as the guys spread out into the main tasting room, standing side-by-side with some of the rich, famous, and beautiful people he had read about here and there, but never dreamed of actually seeing in person, let alone tasting outrageously expensive wines with and then discussing their marvelous attributes. Mind blowing. Really. Mind blowing.

Yes, it had started out as a wine enthusiast’s night-of-a-lifetime, but something had gone awry. Between the pounding, the bubbling, and a fair amount of spinning, he couldn’t remember much of what had happened after those first few minutes at the Grand Tasting. How had he wound up back in his bed, wearing clothing he didn’t recognize, with a half-empty to-go box of some sort of disgusting French version of KFC planted next to his head on the pillow?

And where were the guys? He should have at least heard them snoring their brains out in the adjacent bedrooms of their rental house, but strangely, he heard … nothing. If he hadn’t been in France on a vino-expedition, he might have vowed never to drink again.

Being a novice wino was hard work.

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About Howard: 

First-time author and full-time wine enthusiast Howard K is an award winning composer and producer of music for television, film and advertising. He lives with his wife and family in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.

Contact:     howardkbooks@gmail.com

Find Dial M for Merlot here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KLRLLDC

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id883031847

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/dial-m-for-merlot?keyword=dial+m+for+merlot&store=nookstore

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Dial-M-for-Merlot/book-LlCyz6jOD0OZu3PuoAwl1g/page1.html

 

 

 

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Filed under Entertainment, For Writers

A Character Blog for Without Mercy

I was tagged by Nora Snowdon in a blog hop and asked to answer questions about my current WIP (Work in Progress). So, here goes…

1) What is the name of your character?  Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

China Beckett, she’s fictional

2) When and where is the story set?

Present day, metro Oklahoma City

3) What should we know about him/her?

She’s a single mother, and her child’s father, a mercenary, was killed in Africa before he knew she was pregnant. She loves her daughter more than life itself

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

A group of mercenaries have taken over her life and are threatening to kill her daughter and the people they love.

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

To protect her daughter.

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

Without Mercy

7) When can we expect the book to be published?

September 26, 2014

Without Mercy Extra Large

I am tagging three of my author friends:

 

M.J. Schiller:

THE HEART TEACHES BEST http://amzn.com/B00IGAGKXM
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.

 

Diane Burton:

Diane Burton writes adventure stories and romance, in this world and beyond.

Website: www.dianeburton.com

The Chameleon http://amzn.com/B00K8GDN00

 

Kae Elle Wheeler:

Website: http://kathylwheeler.com/

Coming soon…The Price of Scorn

Kae Elle Wheeler (aka Kathy L Wheeler), author of both historical and contemporary romance, has a BA in Management Information Systems with a vocal minor. She loves musical theater, NBA, NFL, reading, writing, travel, and, surprise—karaoke. She is a member of several RWA Chapters, including DARA, OKRWA and The Beau Monde.

 

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TWRP New Release Spotlight – PLUS Fun Facts and Favorite Lines…

I’m happy to share a few brand new releases from The Wild Rose Press: A Paranormal New Adult (LOVE the cover!!!) and a romantic suspense…right up my alley. 🙂

Check out these exciting stories and be sure to follow the authors.

 

Christy Effinger with Say Nothing of What You See, a Paranormal New Adult Novel  

What haunt us most are the ghosts of our own creation. 

Fun fact: 

As a Midwesterner,  I have long been fascinated by grain elevators. I once lived down the street from one when I was a broke college student. Say Nothing of What You See began with the mental image of a woman standing at the edge of a huge silo. I wrote the novel at night while my husband was taking MBA classes.  

A few favorite lines: 

I remembered the way she fell. The way she fell without a sound.

Like a pirate’s prisoner walking the plank. Like a bird too young to fly. Like a wounded moth, a dead star, a torn kite.

perf5.000x8.000.indd

ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $3.00

50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)

Available here:

TWRP: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5772

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MW5HTZ0/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Find Christy here: 

Website: http://christyeffinger.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/christyeffinger

Tumblr: http://christyeffinger.tumblr.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christyeffinger

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/christyeffinger

Google+: http://google.com/+christyeffinger

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/christyeffinger

 

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Maggie Toussaint with Rough Waters, a Romantic Suspense Novel 

A treasure hunt turns deadly

Fun Fact: 

I was inspired to write about a florist because once upon a time my mother owned a flower shop. I spent many an afternoon playing in the shop, building forts with blocks of foam, and watching mom work magic with a bouquet of flowers. 

Writing about shipwrecked treasure came about due to my close proximity to Blackbeard Island. Rumors still circulate about Blackbeard’s treasure being buried in coastal Georgia. But my science training taught me that islands shift positions through time due to actions of wind and water. It seemed logical to me that an unmarked shipwreck of the 1800s might be in a different place. And if someone found a hand-drawn treasure map, he would think he really had something. 

Rock’s survived war, his mother’s terminal illness, and a boat explosion. Jeanie’s been abandoned as a wife and mom and reinvented herself as a florist. In Rough Waters, a florist and a former SEAL join forces to reach their goals. He wants his stolen treasure returned, or he will lose everything he’s worked for. She wants to catch the creep who broke into her home and business so she can bring her kids home. Rough Waters…

A few favorite lines: 

She didn’t need to be worried about her kids right now.

He’d worry enough for the both of them.

RoughWaters_w8335_750

ON SALE!!!!! ONLY $2.50
50% off through Wild Rose Press site (you can download it easily to your reading device)

Available here:

TWRP: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_245_137&products_id=5771

Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MW553CQ/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

 

Find Maggie here:

http://www.maggietoussaint.com

http://www.twitter.com/MaggieToussaint

http://www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor

http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com

http://www.pinterest.com/maggietoussaint

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1276258.Maggie_Toussaint

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/maggie-toussaint/30/1a5/572/

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Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part 6 – A Mention or Two in My Books

As I’ve stated previously, nearly each of my published work contains a mention of Elvis, even if only briefly. Below are a few samples from a handful of books…

 

THICKERTHANWATER

Available now, but will be released on August 14th as part of a boxed set with other Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll Stories by other authors

Thicker Than Water – Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll

Jake fell silent and flipped on the radio. “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis was playing. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Did he remember how much she liked Elvis? How he’d teased her unmercifully about it? Nothing showed on his face, but he must remember. Or had he shoved every memory of their time together out of his mind?

 

2. Heart of the Witch 12.1.09

Available at Amazon

Heart of the Witch:

Ravyn crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, purposely keeping her gaze above chest level so she wouldn’t see the way the tool belt slanted across his lean hips. “What do you want to know about me? I make candles and jewelry. I have one sister and a mother. I live alone. No pets. I like long walks in the rain and old music . . . you know, Otis Redding, The Platters, Elvis Presley. Anything else?”

He gave a satisfied smile. “See? Was that so hard? My turn. I work construction, and I have two sisters and two parents. One dog, a golden retriever named Dog. I don’t like long walks anywhere, and I’m not crazy about oldies. Not crazy about Elvis’s music, although the later stuff was pretty good. I like his movies, though.”

 

perf5.000x8.000.indd

Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost (Coming this Fall)

“But one of my foster moms, Della, was different. She was good to me. She loved me. Really loved me. She was an excellent cook, and my favorite thing she made was peach pancakes. We’d sit together in the kitchen in the early morning hours before anyone else was awake, and we’d talk about…everything. She was the first person in my life who made me feel important. Who really seemed to care about me.” She paused. Bittersweet memories assailed her. Della’s comforting hugs. Her special smile. Listening to Elvis Presley music with her and watching her sweet face as she seemed transported to another time. Then, the night her husband came home from the hospital, looking ten years older…

 

Death Notice Cover

 Available at Amazon

Death Notice – Northland Crime Chronicles Book 1

“Suspicious Minds” by Elvis came on the radio and I turned it up, feeling my spirits lift. I had inadvertently become an Elvis fan in college while doing a paper on the impact of celebrities on society. Whether or not one appreciated Elvis’ talent, there was no denying he was a phenomenon, the likes of which had never been seen before and would probably never be seen again. Not only did I find I loved his music, I’d discovered why he had the impact he had. He had this boyish, southern charm, but at the same time, a deeply embedded raw sexuality that was powerful and intoxicating. It was fortunate that he only used that power for entertainment. If he’d been a terrorist or a cult leader, he could have easily taken over the world. I was only six when he died, a few years younger than his daughter. Had I been ten years older, I was certain I’d have been a part of the frenzied, screaming masses, fainting and tossing my panties up on stage.

 

LibertyAwakened

Available at Amazon

Liberty Awakened – Isle of Fangs Book 1

Though the music coming from the party was muted, she recognized an Elvis Presley song, “One Night.” She grinned at Eli. “You like Elvis Presley? Isn’t he a little before your time?”

His lips twitched with amusement and he shrugged. “You might say I’m an old soul.”

 

9. SOUL SEDUCER 6.4.12

Available at Amazon

Soul Seducer (The hero is a Grim Reaper)

He hesitated, clearing his throat before speaking. “I’ve observed a lot of people over the centuries.” He stared past her shoulder. “I remember one time you came out here, your Walkman hanging from your ear. You stood right over there. All by yourself. Dancing.”

A heated flush rose to her face. “You saw that?” She laughed to cover her embarrassment. “I was listening to Elvis Presley music. It made me feel better somehow. I guess that makes me a dork.”

He shook his head. “No. Your goofy dance made you a dork.”

“Hey!” she said with mock indignation. Then she shrugged. “It was kind of goofy.”

“Elvis, though. Not a bad choice. He was a talented guy. Nice guy.”

“You knew him?” A horrifying thought struck her. “Did you…”

“No. No, I didn’t take him. I took someone at one of his concerts. Afterward, I was curious. I followed Elvis around for a few days. I was awed by the effect he had on people. They were so drawn to him.”

“I can see why.” She cocked her head. “I bet you’ve met a lot of famous people. I never really thought about that. You can go anywhere, can’t you?”

 

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_FINAL

 End of Lonely Street (Coming January 7, 2015)

Mapleton, Tennessee, November, 1957

Toby Lawson closed her eyes and shut out all sounds of the diner, except for Elvis Presley’s voice. He was crooning about how she was the only one for him…no matter where he went or what he did… he’d spend his whole life loving her…

Rough hands landed on her waist and shattered the fantasy. She caught a whiff of hair tonic and too much cologne, and she snapped her eyes open. Wes Markham’s hateful face replaced the image of Elvis’ beautiful, crooked smile and smoldering blue eyes.

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Like Family Feud? Like winning Amazon Gift Cards???

Then join our Fiction Fanatics Fued Facebook group and play for a monthly first place prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a second place prize of one free ebook by each of our ten authors:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FictionFanaticsFeud/

FFF Banner 2

This week’s questions: (You must answer ON THE FB PAGE and not in the comments below in order to be eligible to enter. More info on entering can be found by clicking the above link)

Fiction Fanatics Feud Question 1: 

Name something you would hate to find under your bed…

 

Fiction Fanatics Feud Question 2:

Name something people are often chased by in movies  

 

Fiction Fanatics Feud Question 3

Name a reason someone might make fun of your car

 

 

 

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Wednesday’s Want, Wed, Waste – Jane Austen Heroes

Hello and welcome to my version of the game, ‘F*@#’, Marry, Kill. This week we are WWW’ing actors/characters in Jane Austen movies/TV shows.

Myself and some of my friends are sharing our Want, Wed, and Waste choices from this week’s list:

Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy, Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth, Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley

darcy rupert knightly

(Sorry the pics are so small, not sure what happened)

Click on book titles below to learn more and to be taken to a buy link

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Me (Alicia Dean). Author of DEATH NOTICE – A killer is using her obituary column to forecast his kills. 

Want: Mr. Darcy – I must admit, I still haven’t watched ANY Jane Austen movies. Ugh…I swear, I will one of these days. But for now, I have to base it on what I know/see. I watched a clip of Mr. Darcy and the girl out in the rain, and it was very emotional, very sensual. I adore rain, so I would have to want Mr. Darcy.

Wed: Mr. Knightley – Just because he’s the most appealing of the two who are left over, and I would rather Wed him than Want him, because Mr. Darcy is sexier. (Do the heroines in Jane Austen novels actually call these guys by “Mr.” or “Captain” so and so? Even in the throes of passion?)

Waste: Captain Wentworth. He is the least attractive of the three, although if I saw these three guys in action, I might change my mind. Besides, making her call him “Captain”….isn’t that a bit pretentious? Or, is he actually a captain?  

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Linda McLaughlin, author of Lady Elinor’s Escape, Cinderella meets Jane Austen in this sweet Regency romance.  website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com

Want: Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy. He brings an intensity to the role that neither Colin Firth nor Laurence Olivier could, though their Mr. Darcy’s were more elegant and perhaps true to the book. I like the notion of an Atlas-sized Mr. Darcy, since he does willingly shoulders the troubles of the world, or at least the part of it he controls, which is not inconsiderable. But I put him in the want category because marriage to such a paragon would be a bit daunting, esp. having to deal with Lady Catherine de Burgh!

Wed: Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth. I’ve always had a fondness for naval gentlemen, and I love Rupert Penry-Jones. The only fault I see in the casting is that he’s too fair to be believable as a sea captain. (They were perpetually tanned from being outside in the sun and wind.) He is handsome though, and does a good job of portraying the reserved captain who never got over his first love. Persuasion is Austen’s most emotional book, IMO, and the movies always touch my heart.

Waste: Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley. This doesn’t seem right, but Emma is the least romantic of the three movies. It’s really the education of Miss Emma Woodhouse–19th c. chicklit, really–and Mr. Knightley seems more best friend/older brother than prospective suitor. It’s not Jonny Lee Miller’s fault, but rather the limitations of the character as written. I hadn’t seen this version of Emma and it was fun to watch. I’ve always found Mr. Knightley less dashing than Austen’s other heroes, though he’d be good husband material. But if I have to choose between Mr. Knightley and Captain Wentworth, I’ll take my sea captain.

 

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Jill Hughey, author of the Evolution Series set in Charlemagne’s empire, wants you to know that today, April 2, is Charlemagne’s birthday! Get her five-star series bundle only $6.50 for three novels and a short story! http://jillhughey.blogspot.com

 

Alicia is killing me with this round of choices because I LOVE all these movies.

 

Want – Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley – I enjoy Jonny Lee Miller in this movie and also his series, Elementary. I’d probably wed him except he was once married to Angelina Jolie, which worries me more than a little, and he has some affectations that might get on my nerves. I’d definitely like him to court me for awhile, though! The way he sighs when Emma reveals her feelings for him is truly swoon-worthy.

 

Wed – Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth – This character drives me a little crazy when he leaves the recital after Anne throws herself all over him, but that is Jane Austen’s doing. I think Rupert Penry Jones absolutely nails the pivotal interaction that gives Anne renewed hope with the way he delivers the line: “A man does not recover from such a passion with such a woman. He ought not. He does not.” I just melt. And the way he looks at her in both the kiss scene and the end of the movie shows that he will be attentive and faithful to the end! 

 

Waste – Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy – Matthew MacFayden does a wonderful job in this role. My family will tell you I’ve about worn out my DVD of this movie, so it is pretty surprising to discover that he is not my type. I can’t even figure that out because I absolutely adore Richard Armitage who has a similar build, coloring, and voice, but Matthew doesn’t really light my fire. Sorry Mr. Darcy! 

 

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RoseAnn DeFranco, author of Secondhand Romance She wants to know if he’s a Mr. Darcy or a Mr. Knightley. He’s there to fix more than the wiring in her bookstore. A bet and a stack of old love letters leads to a secondhand romance.  Website: www.radefranco.com

 

Choosing between Jane Austen’s heroes is very difficult for me but here goes….

 

Want: Persuasion – Rupert Perry Jones as Captain Wentworth. Sigh. The passion in the Captain as played by Rupert Perry Jones gets me EVERY time…and I do try to watch this one at least twice a year! The glances he steals of Anne throughout the story smolder as he tries to conceal his passion, but his final declaration, and the kiss at the end of this one makes me think these two will enjoy a very happy marriage bed.

 

Wed: Emma Masterpiece – Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley. First, Johnny Lee Miller gives the best performance of Knightley to date! His portrayal of Knightley conveys the thoughtful, honorable traits of Knightley while also exposing his depth of emotion for Emma plain for everyone (except her) to see. His love and understanding of Emma and her family situation makes him perfect husband material.

 

Waste: Pride and Prejudice – Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy. As much as it pains me, and it DOES, someone has to go in the waste column. While perhaps not my favorite portrayal of Mr. Darcy (See Colin Firth, BBC Version THE POND SCENE) Matthew MacFayden portrays a very passionate Darcy, one that it would be hard to say no to. “You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you…” Amazing moment in the movie, sigh. Damn. I want them all. I’d wed them all. I’d let nothing go to waste! But in this instance, sorry Matthew!

 

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Linda Carroll-Bradd, author of Capturing The Marshal’s Heart, a western historical, that will be on sale on Amazon for 99 cents 4/4/14 only.  Website: www.lindacarroll-bradd.com

 

Want—Rupert Penry Jones—his performance was understated and confined, which makes me think there was so much more under the surface to be discovered. 

 

Wed—Matthew MacFadyen—he stepped into big shoes to play this role and within the first couple of scenes, he made me believe in his sincerity and steadfastness. 

 

Waste—Jonny Lee Miller—he was good in this role but I wasn’t convinced that such a high-energy performer was the calm and laid-back Mr. Knightley.
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Juli D. Revezzo, author of Passion’s Sacred Dance, He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him? 

 

Want: Rupert Penry Jones 

 

Wed: Johnny Lee Miller (He seems like a sweetie)

 

Waste: Matthew MacFayden (Sorry. But his portrayal of Darcy was just *too* depressing)

 

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Now we’d like to hear from you….which of these Jane Austen Heroes would you Want, Wed, and Waste?

Thanks for playing!

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Wednesday’s Want, Wed, Waste – Boy Bands

Hello and welcome to my version of the game, ‘F*@#’, Marry, Kill. This week we are WWW’ing former boy band members who went on to have careers of their own.

Myself and some of my friends are sharing our Want, Wed, and Waste choices from this week’s list:

Justin Timberlake from N Sync, Ricky Martin from Menudo, Mark Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block

Justin-Timberlake-Wallpapers-HD-5 Ricky-Martin-ricky-martin-6587342-1024-768 Mark-Wahlberg---Shooter-mark-wahlberg-245175_937_1400

Click on book titles below to learn more and to be taken to a buy link

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Me (Alicia Dean). Author of KILLER LOVE – Boxed Set of Four Romantic Suspense titles ON SALE for 99¢ – Nothing to Fear, Truly Madly, Poetic Injustice, and Tears of the Wounded

Want: Mark Wahlberg- (I want Justin more, but I also want to marry him, so I’ll put Mark in the ‘Want’ slot.) I love his acting, and he’s sexy, especially when he plays a badass. He’s extremely talented, and just look at that body!

Wed: Justin Timberlake – Yes, I know he’s way too young for me (as are Ricky and Mark), but we’re playing make believe here. Justin is amazing!!! He’s the total package. He can sing, dance, act, and he’s SO funny. Also, I love what I know of him as a person. (I’ll just have to overlook his huge flaw of marrying Jessica Biel, ugh!) Anyway, he has a wonderful personality and a kind heart. I love the story about how he goaded Mila Kunis into attending an event with a soldier, then he himself accepted an invitation from a soldier too. How man celebrities would do that??? Sigh… Plus, he’s from Memphis and he does a tribute to Elvis in his concerts. His movies are fantastic…he’s just close to perfect! I also think it’s adorable the way he randomly shows up on Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Fallon’s talk show. And, their bro-mance is adorable too. Uhm, so, can you tell I like Justin????

Waste: Ricky Martin. I think he’s talented, but I only slightly like his music. He’s attractive, but doesn’t have the charisma that appeals to me. I’m afraid he just doesn’t do it for me. I do, however, admire his humanitarian efforts. But, when up against the other two, he definitely draws a ‘waste.’

 

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Author Jessica E. Subject, author of Satin Sheets in Space – Will her fantasies become reality with two sexy aliens?  ON SALE for $0.99 through April 12 – Website http://jessicasubject.com

 

Want: Justin Timberlake – I’m not a huge fan, but I think he would be a lot of fun. 

 

Wed: Mark Wahlberg – He’s cute, and I love his family. Have you ever seen The Wahlbergers?

 

Waste: Ricky Martin – Sure, I listened to Menudo, but I wasn’t a big fan. He’s just at the bottom of the list of the three.

 

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Qwilla Rain, author of Revealed: A Poker Posse Story     Loose Id link: http://www.loose-id.com/revealed-a-poker-posse-story.html  Blog/Website: http://authorqwilliarain.blogspot.com

 

Want–Ricky Martin. The man has some great music and he has some awesome moves. There’s the added bonus of his being bilingual so when he’s whispering the sweet nothings in my ear, he can do it in English and Spanish. I think it’s wonderful that he announced his homosexuality on his terms, makes him that much sexier. 

 

Wed–Mark Wahlberg. I would have put him in the Want category as well, but if I wed him, I get him all the time! He’s multi-talented and I enjoy that bad boy/lost soul vibe he’s got. His skills are amazing and the body!! Having access to that any time I want…oh yeah, wed. Definitely Wed! 

 

Waste–Justin Timberlake. Sorry but the boy does nothing for me. There are a few of his songs that I like, but for the most part he seems like all fluff and no substance. And staged costume failures with other singers so immature…

 

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Now we’d like to hear from you….which of these Former Boy Band Guys would you Want, Wed, and Waste?

Thanks for playing!

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Wednesday’s Want, Wed, Waste: Batmen

Hello and welcome to my version of the game, ‘F*@#’, Marry, Kill. This week we are WWW’ing actors who have played Batman.

Myself and some of my friends are sharing our Want, Wed, and Waste choices from this week’s list:

Adam West, Christian Bale, Michael Keaton

adamwest the_dark_knight_rises_5 keaton

Click on book titles below to learn more and to be taken to a buy link

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Me (Alicia Dean). Author of KILLER LOVE – Boxed Set of Four Romantic Suspense titles ON SALE for 99¢ – Nothing to Fear, Truly Madly, Poetic Injustice, and Tears of the Wounded

Want: Michael Keaton – He’s attractive and, in addition to the Batman role, I’ve seen him in a lot of movies that I loved. He’s not the sexiest guy in the world, but he’s the sexiest guy on the list. 🙂

Wed: Adam West – Okay, mainly because it was between him and Christian Bale, and I am not the least attracted to Christian Bale. Adam West was the original (as far as I know), and I love the classics. I think it’s cute the way they did the bam, pow, stuff. The thought of Adam West as Batman takes me back to a simpler time. However, his role on Family Guy kind of spoils the image.

Waste: Christian Bale – He just doesn’t do it for me. I don’t find him attractive in the least, and his Batman voice in the Dark Knight movies annoyed me. If it weren’t for the villains of the Dark Knight movies (Mainly Heath Ledger and Tom Hardy), I probably wouldn’t have liked the movies at all.

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M.J. Schiller, author of TRAPPED UNDER ICECan love break the hold of this rock star’s past?  NOW FREE! Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com

Want: Christian Bale. I’m not particularly attracted to him, but with that temper of his comes passion and a one night stand might be a lot of fun. Definitely wouldn’t want a relationship that lasted longer than that.

Wed: Michael Keaton. So. much. fun! We’d have a blast together!

Waste: Adam West. Too stiff to be much fun, in or out of the bedroom. Just sayin’.

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Diane Burton, author of ONE RED SHOE (wannabe writer rescues wounded spy while risking her heart). Buy link:    Website:  www.dianeburton.com

Want & Wed: Christian Bale. What a hottie! The ultimate bad boy, brooding, wounded, and oh so sexy.

Waste: Definitely Adam West. So goofy. The whole show was goofy. Camp was in then and Batman was definitely campy.

Undecided: Michael Keaton. I’ve never seen him as a hero. More like a sidekick. He doesn’t do anything for me.

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Nancy Fraser, author of A Saved WomanShe was used merchandise, stale bread. How could she hope for the love of a good man?

Want: Christian Bale. I mean, just look at him! He’s sexy, moody, and does that ‘dark knight’ thing perfectly. I wouldn’t mind seeing what he’s hiding under that utility belt!

Wed: Michael Keaton. He also brought a brooding, tortured soul to the part. However, I’ve also loved him in situation comedy and in family roles. He seems reliable, steadfast, and honorable.

Waste: Adam West. When I picture Adam as Batman, all I can see are the cartoon word balloons. POW! WHAM! Definitely not conducive to intimacy. Plus, the costume was just too baggy to hint at anything worth looking at!

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Nora Snowdon, author of The French ResolutionCan a philanthropist and a corporate raider find true love against all odds?

Want: Adam West –He’d be a campy fling with lots of laughs and easy enough to let go of afterwards.

Wed: Michael Keaton as he can be both humorous and the dark and brooding type (sort of one-stop shopping for all your heroic needs!)  he also seems like someone you’d need many years to just begin to understand–and I like puzzles.

Waste: Christian Bale. I just can’t get past what a hot-tempered jerk he seems to be in real life.  And I’m not a fan of actors who take the craft too seriously. Get over yourself, it ain’t brain surgery…

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Now we’d like to hear from you….which of these Caped Crusaders would you Want, Wed, and Waste?

Thanks for playing!

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Wednesday’s Want, Wed, Waste: Downton Abbey, North and South, Mad Men

Hello and welcome to my version of the game, ‘F*@#’, Marry, Kill. This week we are WWW’ing men in period drama roles. WARNING: Spoilers if you’re not caught up on the shows.

Myself and some of my friends are sharing our Want, Wed, and Waste choices from this week’s list:

Richard Armitage as John Thornton in North and South (BBC) – Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey – Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men

richard_armitage abby Don-Draper-Mad-Men

Click on book titles below to learn more and to be taken to a buy link

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Me (Alicia Dean). Author of DEATH NOTICE (Northland Crime Chronicles, Book 1)  – A killer has something to say, and he’s using her obituary column to get his point across…

(I don’t watch any of these shows, shame on me, so I’m going by looks and what the other ladies have said)

Want: Matthew Crawley – He’s very young-looking (but from my past choices, apparently, I’m into young guys), but he’s also freakin’ hot! Love those blue eyes. He seems like the kind of guy who would make you swoon.

Wed: John Thornton – I’m sold with the English accent and the intensity. I like the way he looks, too…very sexy. I really MUST check out that show.

Waste: Don Draper – I think I would like this show, I love the era of the 50’s, but I’ve never watched it. However, I think Jon Hamm is overrated. I hear women raving about how gorgeous and sexy he is, but I don’t see it. I might if I watched Mad Men, but since I don’t, he drew the short straw.

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Jill Hughey writes historical romance and absolutely adores most period drama. Vain, the third book in her series set in Charlemagne’s Empire, features a hero she refers to as a medieval metrosexual (he likes clothes) and his tailor’s daughter, the closest thing to a haute couture designer he will ever meet. Vain is available at Amazon and most ebook vendors.

WANT: If I could pick Richard Armitage twice, I would, but Alicia has her rules! So, I’ll pick Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley, though I’d like to request that he dress in a Downton Abbey costume, we meet in a period-correct setting, and he looks at me longingly with those beautiful blue eyes.

WED: Richard Armitage. Richard Armitage. Richard Armitage as John Thornton in North and South. I am such a North and South addict that I wrote a free serial sequel that starts here. http://jillhughey.blogspot.com/2014/01/chapter-1-becoming-mrs-thornton.html Anyway, about Richard Armitage. His voice. The study he brings to his roles. His sharp good looks. His intensity. His voice. His eyes. Did I mention his lovely deep voice? If he said, “Will you put toilet paper on the grocery list?” I would probably swoon and say, “Right after you take me back to the bedroom, darling.”

WASTE: Jon Hamm as Don Draper. I realize that the 1950s are a period and that Mad Men is a drama, but it is one century too recent to be of interest to me. Darn it, now I have to go watch the last ten minutes of North and South again!

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Lyndi Lamont, author of “How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride” steamy Victorian romance, ONLY 99¢!!! Website: http://www.lyndilamont.com

Lyndi is offering a free ebook copy of How to Woo…A Reluctant Bride to one lucky commenter!

Want: Don Draper of Mad Men – I’ve been a fan of Mad Men since it started, and against all common sense, I still want Don, if only because Jon Hamm is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen on the small screen. What a hunk! Don is a player and can be a real a jackass at times, but he’s not as chauvinistic as some of the men he works for. (After all, he recognized Peggy’s abilities and promoted her from secretary to copy writer.) He’s terrible husband material, good for the short haul only. But, oh, what a fun ride it would be!

Wed: Matthew Crawley of Downton Abbey – Big sigh. Matthew comes as close to being the perfect man as anyone could wish. He’s handsome, honorable and kind, if at times a bit too proud and stubborn. He would have been good marriage prospect even if he weren’t heir to an earldom. His love made Lady Mary a better person.

Waste: John Thornton of North and South – This was hard, in part because I haven’t had a chance to see the entire mini-series yet, just the first half, and because I think he’s an honorable man in his own way. But I’d have to waste him for the mother-in-law-from-hell factor, if nothing else. Not to mention the snotty sister. Seriously, would you want to marry into that family? And John doesn’t seem like the type to engage in a lighthearted fling. I do think he’d make a good husband, just not my cup of tea. (Besides, I was raised by two union members, so it would be like consorting with the enemy!)

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Andrea R. Cooper – fantasy/ paranormal and historical romance author. Viking Fire – historical romance w/ a touch of magic

Want: Richard Armitage as John Thornton – What can I say, except he makes my giddy. It would be interesting to hear all about anything he had to say with that natural English accent. Sigh.

Wed:  Matthew Crawley on Downton Abbey – Also with an English accent 😉 And his coloring reminds me of my husband a bit. Is it hot in here?

Waste:  Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men – Sad to say, out of all three of these, he doesn’t appeal to me at least not in the Want or Wed.

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Now we’d like to hear from you….which of these Hotties from the Past would you Want, Wed, and Waste? Thanks for playing!

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