Tag: romance

The White House Wedding: New from Seelie Kay!

The WHite House Wedding by Seelie Kay

Release Date: February 14, 2020
Publisher: Extasy Books
Contemporary Romance, four flames

An Interview with Seelie Kay:

Q. Why do you write romance?

Because I am fascinated by the games people play to find and secure a lasting relationship, which is not always love. There’s the chase, the courtship, the falling, the surrender. That’s what I try to capture in my stories.

Q. Do you prefer a certain type of romantic hero?

I adore smart, dashing gentlemen who aren’t afraid to live on the edge. They can be a bad boy, a billionaire, a prince, or a secret agent. That hint of danger just hooks me! However, I also love strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even love.

Q. Why did you write The White House Wedding?

It was a bit of a romp, really. I wanted to play off all the craziness that is politics and Washington, D.C. The creatures in the great swamp have become so predictable, a story about the political implications and hijinks of a White House wedding just flowed from my pen. Plus, I always found it interesting that a country that intentionally broke away from the monarchy, goes crazy over royal weddings. Admittedly, I am one of them. I won’t get up at 4 a.m. to watch, like so many of my friends, but I will tape a royal wedding and watch it later. And yes, I did seek teacups from Diana’s nuptials. Unfortunately, none were to be found. At least stateside. I imagine once she dumped Prince Charles, their value went up dramatically! Unfortunately, White House weddings are rare and although we go crazy over royal weddings, I doubt things would proceed so smoothly here. Every aspect of the wedding would be dissected and criticized by the media and political opponents, making the wedding itself a pretty negative experience, which is probably so few occur here.

Q. The characters in this book also appeared in The President’s Daughter?

Yes. The President’s Daughter is where the bride’s—Sarah Lee Pearson—story first began. She had been kidnapped at age five and raised by her nanny into her teen years. It was only after the people who raised her were killed in a paper mill explosion that she began to search for other relatives. A chance meeting with a presidential candidate, Jamisen Powell, leads her search in a new direction and she discovers that he is, in fact, her birth father. This is the continuation of that new relationship.

Q. I imagine in this day and age, being the president’s daughter would not be an altogether positive experience.

(Laughs.) As I observe the impact of the Trump presidency on his children, I am exceptionally happy I was never put in that position. It must be a horrible experience. We live in such negative times, a time when people seem to place high value on their ability to shred reputations and destroy people. All of the current chaos puts us one step away from anarchy. In fact, if you think about it, it would be a perfect time for the Monarchy to attempt to reclaim the colonies. We are so busy fighting each other, I question whether we would band together to fight an outside threat. That’s just sad.

Q. How does your former profession as a lawyer impact your writing?

In two ways. First, my knowledge of the legal system permits me to predict the outcome of certain events. Those events have played a key role in some of my stories. Second, my friends say I am obsessed with justice and I guess that’s true. After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Injustice infuriates me, but it also leads me to great stories!

Blurb:
When politics interferes with love, can love survive?

Getting married isn’t easy when your father’s the President of the United States! After reluctantly agreeing to a White House wedding, Sarah Lee Pearson, the president’s daughter, finds herself swept into a political maelstrom of unimagined proportions.

The White House staff and the first lady see the wedding as a political event, a way to sweep the president into his next term. Congress is complaining about the collateral costs. The media is delightfully rehashing every aspect of Sarah’s life, even those events that have nothing to do with the impending marriage. And the American public? Visions of an American royal wedding have swept them into a frenzy and vendors take advantage, making a quick buck off of everything from limited edition t-shirts to commemorative teacups.

Sarah and her fiancé, Sam, fight hard to ignore the craziness, but after learning a bounty has been put on their heads by an anti-government militia group, they have to decide whether a White House wedding is indeed worth it. And given all the hurtful controversy, perhaps a better solution is to not get married at all.

Excerpt:

“How does my father feel about this?” Sarah asked.

“Your father wants you to do what makes you happy.”

Jamisen Powell entered his Chief of Staff’s office and nodded coldly at Jeremiah. He added, “He would never ask you to do otherwise.”

Sarah smiled and rose to kiss her father on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. I knew you wouldn’t ask me to be a political stool pigeon.”

Jamie Powell chuckled. “No. That job apparently falls to staff.” He smiled at Sarah. “Look, hopefully, you only get married once. Make a memory that will mean the most to you and Sam. Nothing else matters.” He shook his head, “Maybe Jeremiah will get lucky and your sister, Melissa, will hook some poor sucker before the next election. She and her mother would be overjoyed planning a White House wedding.”

Jeremiah scowled. “I am only thinking about your re-election, Mr. President. Your first term has been a bit rocky. You need a solidifying factor, something that will grab the hearts and minds of the American public and provide a clear path into the next term. Your story, a daughter lost and found after twenty-five years, especially a daughter who just happens to be a stellar human being and a successful international law attorney, won their hearts in the first election.

“Walking that same daughter down the aisle, something you had never dreamed was possible? The ratings alone will rival a royal wedding. No offense, but Melissa’s marriage—if it ever happens—could never have the same impact. People don’t view her in the same light as Sarah. Melissa is a flighty socialite. Her deep-seated sense of entitlement offends. The ratings for her wedding would be nonexistent. But Sarah? She’s the golden child. The American public loves her.”

The president’s sapphire blue eyes, which mirrored Sarah’s, flashed with annoyance. “Be that as it may, I am not about to force either of my daughters into something they don’t want. Sarah has declined your request, and as far as I am concerned, that’s the end of it. You will have to find another solidifying factor, Jer. Surely I have done something that’s re-election worthy!”

Buy links:

Publisher: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2796-2-the-white-house-wedding/
Amazon: TBD
Barnes and Noble: TBD
Kobo: TBD

About Seelie Kay:

Seelie Kay is a nom de plume for an award-winning writer, editor, and author with more than 30 years of experience in law, journalism, marketing, and public relations. When Seelie writes about love and lust in the legal world, something kinky is bound to happen! In possession of a wicked pen and an overly inquisitive mind, Ms. Kay is the author of multiple works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, the Feisty Lawyers series, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, and The President’s Daughter.

When not spinning her kinky tales, Ms. Kay ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. She resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Ms. Kay is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

Author links:

www.seeliekay.com
www.seeliekay.blogspot.com
Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

Prior Books:

http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs/
http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-too/
http://www.extasybooks.com/kinky-briefs-thrice/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1734-5-kinky-briefs-quatro/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2023-9-kinky-briefs-cinque/
http://www.extasybooks.com/the-garage-dweller/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1504-4-a-touchdown-to-remember/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1795-6-the-presidents-wife/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2263-9-snatching-diana/
http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2032-1-the-presidents-daughter
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2291-2-infamy/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2349-0-seizing-hope/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2538-8-cult/
https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2658-3-hope/

Want to know more about some of these Seelie Kay books? Read back posts:

The President’s Wife
Snatching Diana
Cult

Set sail to magic! Windmaster by Helen Henderson

Windmaster by Helen Henderson

WINDMASTER Blurb:

Revenge set Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon, on the path to her destiny, but prophecy controlled the journey. Despite his insolent attitude, she is attracted to the dark-haired dockworker she hires to help unload the vessel’s cargo. But the supposed dockhand is Lord Dal, the last member of the Council of Wizards, and her passenger. Bringing him back from near-death releases Ellspeth’s latent powers and threatens her captaincy. For to have magic she must give up the sea. Dal and magic have another risk associated with them, a cult determined to rid the world of magic and all who wield it.

Trapped within the Oracle’s Temple, Ellspeth must choose between her own survival, saving the future of magic… or love

Excerpt:

Dal’s low tones at last broke the silence. “Captain Ellspeth, I owe you a debt for summoning me back from the void. It is a debt that cannot be repaid.”

Ellspeth chose her words carefully. “You owe no debt, Lord Dal. The Sea Falcon would have been lost without your aid.” Despite the fact that legend said debts to wizards had been known to have steep consequences, her loyalty to clan and ship pushed her into a decision. Taking a breath, Ellspeth gave the formal response of her own indebtedness. “It is I who owe you.”

The wizard’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Then, my fair captain, let’s call it even.” His expression grew serious. “Why did you not pursue the Way?”

Her pulse raced, and she looked away from Dal’s unflinching stare. “Only mages study the Way. I have no power. I’m not a mage,” she answered with more force than she intended. Under the wizard’s scrutiny, she continued in a voice barely above a whisper. “I come from a family of traders and ship captains. From the first time my grandma took me to sea I knew I belonged there.”

“You could be a wizard,” Dal persisted. “The power is within you. Deny you feel it.”

Ellspeth looked over the busy deck, anywhere but at Dal. She knew every crewman. She could tell the depth of water beneath the ship’s hull just by the sound, and the amount of sail needed for any given wind. The Sea Falcon was her ship.

“It was your magic combined with mine that saved the Falcon,” Dal persisted. “And, it was you alone who brought me back.” Ellspeth focused on the pennant flying from the center mast. Only the slap of waves against the bow broke the silence between them.

She stood, breaking the magic that held them private. “I’m Ellspeth of the House of Cszabo, daughter of Mirim, granddaughter of Rima. I am captain of the Sea Falcon. I am not a mage!”

Whatever else she would have said died with the look of disappointment on Dal’s face.

“You can’t deny,” Dal started. His voice faltered at Ellspeth’s icy glare. “I’m sorry. Captain. I did not mean to intrude on this lovely evening.” He pulled his hand back from its gesture of entreaty.

Ellspeth offered only a short word of parting and retreated to the sanctuary of the quarterdeck rail. She watched the mage light slowly disappear and the wizard’s features dissolve into shadow.

The next morning, Dal did not resume the discussion, and in fact, avoided all contact with her. Even though he didn’t pursue the matter, his words haunted Ellspeth. At times only the feel of the sun-warmed gold of her bracelets, the goal she had worked so hard for, enabled her to regain her equilibrium. No matter how hard she forced down the urge to feel the touch of magic or Dal’s hands on hers, it kept returning. The impulse to reach for him surged forward every time she saw him at his usual spot at the foredeck rail. His feet slightly apart as he leaned upon the slick wood, his gaze focused out to sea.

Magic and the sea don’t mix, Rima had always said. Ellspeth sighed, her grandmother had been right. Magic almost sank the Sea Falcon.

An inner voice countered for the side of magic. Dal had saved the Falcon at the risk of his own life.

No, his presence is a threat to the ship. I can’t wait to have him ashore.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Let’s meet Helen!

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
HH: There was no single inspiration for Windmaster. I am not a sailor and don’t even like being in water over my head so writing about a ship captain is not something I would normally do. I was taking a writing course and there were several specific criteria to be met. I was reading a lot of fantasy at the time so that was the genre chosen. I like strong heroines who can fight as well as any man. Add in a little magic and a touch of romance (courtesy of the talented Carol McPhee) and the world of windmaster was born.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
HH: Although I have toured more than a few reproduction tall ships, research on sailing vessels was needed to bring the world of windmaster to life. And where would the ships go? To make things interesting for my readers, and in connection with the tagline of being a tour guide, not every scene has the same setting. The epic quest that is Windmaster takes Ellspeth and Lord Dal from a mountain top into the depths of a cavern, and from a temple on a plateau to a Polynesian island.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
HH: The morning after a gang of footpads attacked Ellspeth, she stands before the door of the office of the leader of the House of Cszabo. Besides there to report on the event, Ellspeth has to ask her superior for a boon, for the leader to override another member of the house council. She uses the guild mottos above the door to get in the proper state of mind for the meeting. One of the inscriptions above the lintel was inspired by the quote “Loyalty before all else except honor.” (Lt. Vincent Hardy) from the movie Striking Distance

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
HH: Writing in one form or another has been my livelihood for more years than I like to admit. As a computer programmer, I wrote software code. Then as a system analyst I created the technical documentation and the user “how-to” manuals. After riding the tip of the needle that burst the dot.com bubble, I combined the technical and the general to write marketing literature for high-tech and insurance companies until those firms also disappeared.

Then I fell through a back door into a different kind of writing—journalism. Among the more unusual topics I’ve covered over the years are air shows and battlefield archaeology. (Yes, I do know a little something about the subject and have participated in digs using both traditional screen and trowel methods and the new-fangled metal detectors).

Walking a circle, brings one back to the beginning. As a child, I loved to write and tell stories of action and adventure. Despite being told repeatedly that if you write non-fiction you can’t write fiction, because I crossed from technical writing to marketing I refused to believe the rule. I worked on my craft, increased my portfolio. Finally, I took the plunge and started to submit fiction. One by one, pieces left my portfolio to find new homes in e-zines and print anthologies, and eventually to a contract with a small press. Romance learned to take its place alongside action. Eventually those early works grew into a series and the number of titles grew.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
HH: There are two distinct reactions to my being an author. As a rule my family and those friends who are not writers, think it is very cool. It is because of them that when I write, I always have the thought, “Would my mother approve of the writing.” So no super-hot (read explicit) love scenes, and the good guys–and gals–will always win. Those in the profession usually are very low key. They realize the tremendous effort that goes into creating a novel, let alone getting it published. And they know that no matter how hard you work, just getting a book in print doesn’t mean you’ll immediately become rich or famous.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer
HH: I always knew that marketing was a major part of being a published author. More than one writer has lost the glow of receiving a contract when they realize that promoting their book is not all fun and travel to book signings. I continue to be surprised at not just the amount of time that it promotion requires, but the amount of luck needed to be in the right spot at the right time, and how quickly things change as social media sites shift. New ones arriving and old ones changing their algorithms so what works today may become near worthless tomorrow.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
HH: Plotter and pantser, stream of consciousness or structured forms, I am all of them. I start out with more structure, then the characters take over and less planning is needed. I have to confess in school I hated parsing sentences and the outlining process. Most of the time, I ended up writing the story first, then, in a reverse of the assignment outlined the completed piece, rather than the other way around. An advantage of using the reverse process is that since the deadlines for the outline preceded the story, the assignments were always handed in on time. Today, things have changed somewhat. While I remain more pantser for short works, I create novel notebooks for longer works. Complete chapters have been rough drafted in a single setting during the storyboarding when the muse visited. Organization keeps pages from being lost and characters eyes from changing color. It should be noted my storyboards look more like first drafts, complete with dialog and scene descriptions than the terse, formal outlines of yesteryear some associate with being a plotter.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
HH: Over the years I’ve dabbled in photography and quite a few other crafts. Beadwork, crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitch embroidery not only help keep fingers nimble and flexible for typing, they provide a creative outlet as well. Another activity (one unfortunately that is no longer available in my area) is to volunteer at historical museums. I’ve donned period costumes to give tours, coordinated events, and managed the museum and its collections. And of course, wrote material for the organization such as interpretive programs and documentaries.

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?
HH: I could answer with one of my books. From the first to the last, each are special in their own way. But that would be cheating. The topic is top three favorite books of all time. I pick a series. The Tower and Hive series by Anne McCaffrey, the Dragon Riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, the Adept series by Katherine Kurtz and Louis Lamour’s series that recount the tales of the Sackett family. Again, cheating. They are series and more than three. The favorite book of all time could be something from a new-to-me author. Who knows it might be Lines of Fire Challenged by Janet Lane Walters or Akira’s Choice by Vijaya Schartz.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
HH: Long sleeves keep out the chill at the start of the exercise program, and then can be pushed up to three-quarter length after the warm up. As to the color? Black. I am a volunteer and assist with one of the part pants. Since the instructors wear black, it is easier for me to shift into that mode and to be treated as an instructor if I dress like them.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
HH: This answer will be very short. $%#@$$. I just got to sleep.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
HH: For the past few years I’ve been participating in a 52-week challenge where you write a blog post based on a specific prompt. This question made me think of two hop topics that were almost identical. In the hop I answered “What Would You Pay Not To Do” and “”If I Never Had To Do This One Task Again.” I won’t go into the answer to those, and instead say “Washing dishes.” No matter how often I wash them, the pile of dirty dishes never seems to end. The counter can be clean, all pots, pans and dishes washed, dried, and put away, then a single meal later, the kitchen that looked so clean a few hours later, looked like nothing had ever been done.

NA: What are you working on now?
HH: Windmaster Golem, a novel set in the world of windmaster that I started during NanoWriMo (also known as the crazy month for authors when we try to write 50,000 words in a span of a month) has snagged a late fall 2020 publication spot. But a twist on a dragon shifter story is fighting for equal time. You’ll have to visit my blog later this year to see which storyline wins.

NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
HH: OK, here goes. Describe your writing space.
The room designated as my formal ‘office’ is an organized chaos where only a hardy soul dares to trespass. Volumes on military weapons stand next to books on antiques and traditional crafts. Piles kept close at hand contain standard reference books and more. The Chicago Manual of Style and The Synonym Finder mingle with The Pirate Primer and Gaelic-English dictionaries

However, as with many writers, my office is where I am at that moment in time. Windmaster, was written in a variety of places including the hospital rooms and doctors’ offices where I spent hours as caregiver for a family member. For me, the best place to write is the mountains. The porch swing overlooking the woods or the waterfront dock in the sun summons the muse. My characters have learned to hide during the dark days of winter as the roadblocks to love and happiness grow with the snow drifts.

Author Bio:

Helen HendersonAlthough the author of several local histories, and numerous articles on the topics of American and military history, antiques and collectibles, Henderson’s first love is fiction. Her work in the museum and history fields enables a special insight into creating fantasy worlds. The descendent of a coal-miner’s daughter and an aviation flight engineer, her writing reflects the contrasts of her heritage as well as that of her Gemini sign. Her stories cross genres from historical westerns to science fiction and fantasy. In the world of fantasy romance, she is the author of the Dragshi Chronicles and The Windmaster Novels. In her books, she invites you to join her on travels through the stars, or among fantasy worlds of the imagination.

Contact Links:

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Taking a Risk by Lyncee Shillard

Taking a Risk by Lyncee Shillard

Blurb:
If Leigh Ronaldson is one thing, it’s predictable. What’s wrong with having a routine? Apparently, it makes her boring or so her ex-boyfriend claimed as he dumped her. And her best friend agrees.

She decides to prove them wrong and books an extreme adventure in Ecuador. The hiking, kayaking, and camping she signed up for. She didn’t plan on the hot guide who by just looking at her made her squirm with desire and definitely not the drug cartel who wants them dead.

Nick Greco golden rule is never to touch a client. NEVER. But rules can’t be broken. Regardless of how hard he is.

Once the local drug cartel starts hunting them, he knows it will take all his skill to get out of the Amazon jungle alive. And if your life is hanging in the balance even golden rules can be broken…

Buy links:
Amazon KU
Universal link

Excerpt:
Where are they?” Ben asked. “What if they heard us and are on their way back?”

“Back to where?” Paul snarled. “We’re in the middle of the fucking Amazon. It’s not like it’s a three-block stroll to the nearest police station.” He turned and pointed down the trail. “We sunk their kayaks.”

“Shit,” Nick silently cursed. They should have been more serious in handling the guys. The fact they had made it through customs without the drugs being detected should have made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. But he’d been too focused on Leigh.

Of course, Hector had arranged the entire thing as a way to entrap them into letting him use their business.

“They have gone nowhere. Their packs are still in the tent.” Hector kicked the food storage container over. “Nick, I know you can hear me.” The man grounded his heel into a package of noodles.

What had happened to Ty? How had the men escaped?

Lyncee ShillardLet’s meet Lyncee:

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
LS: The animals of the Amazon and the Amazon river kayaking.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book? LS: That you need to love yourself and then other people will love you

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
LS: That I bought 20 small packages of M&M’s. I opened them up to divide them into groups by color because my character starts every month with 20 bags of M&M’s that she does this with and then assigns each day of the week a color. She was peeved because green only had 10 so every Thursday she could only eat 3 M&M’s.

NA: Do you have a day job?
LS: Not any longer, I have guardianship of an amazing 8-year-old that suffers from serve trauma, so I spend my time hanging out with him.

NA: What was your job before you started writing full time?
LS: I worked in an inner-city school. The lives of some of these kiddos broke my heart and still haunt me.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
LS: My daytime job. I needed an escape from reality so I created my own worlds. Where I could kill people that frustrated me and gave people a happy ever after ending.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
LS: Total seat of my pants. I have a general idea of what I want to happen but I have no idea how many people will die only that people will die…And there will be steamy sex.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
LS: I write in a lot of different places – the lobby of my 8 year old therapy, at the kitchen table while he’s doing school, etc so sometimes I have trouble getting into the ‘zone’ so I start every writing time with the You Tube – Disney’s Top 10 Villains Songs. it’s about 25 minutes and it sets the mood for creating killers, romance, and happy ever after endings 😊

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
LS: Of course, reading but I think that goes for all writers and I consider that part of my ‘writing time.’ I love to cook – in January I started Keto full time and I post the recipes and what I think on my blog. But my true passion which is also related to writing is journaling.

I have a side business – Writing with Crayons – that I do prompts that help people start down a path of self-discovery. I also do workshops in journaling. The key thing everyone needs to remember about journaling is that it’s not just a negative dumping ground then it loses it’s effectiveness.

NA: A pet peeve.
LS: That doughnuts aren’t calorie free

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
LS: I can’t remember the last time I set an alarm. My 8-year-old is up by 4:30 every morning regardless of what time I put him to bed, and no one needs to be up before that… and my first thought is “why doesn’t this child sleep…”

NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
LS: Matthew Mcconaughey – Not just because I have a crush on him, but I really love listening to his motivational speeches and I enjoy most of movies.

NA: What are you working on now?
LS: A series of novella called Adrenaline Rush. It will be 3 novellas featuring men whose lifestyle falls into the adrenaline rush category and they must used those risk taking abilities to save someone they love.

NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
LS: If I could pack us up and moved anywhere, where would that be? An alpaca farm in New Zealand.

New! A Mermaid's Wish by Lyncee ShillardNew from Lyncee Shillard

About Lyncee:
I live in the cold Northern Michigan (the place of four seasons – they lie! It’sLyncee Shillard just different levels of winter) with my husband. Our children have begun their own adventures, and just as I got into the swing of empty nest, then my grandson came to live with us. Now I’m doing 8 again… they argue everything just case you forgot. And I now remember why I eat doughnuts and drink vodka. 😊

When I’m not hanging out with the 8-year-old, I’m writing, reading, crocheting, and making self-care products. I’m a planner babe and vodka wizard. I also enjoy taking pictures, I’m not claiming to have a talent it’s just something I like to do.

Come and hang out with me…we will talk doughnuts, vodka, and planners…Blog
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Out Now—FEISTY (Do-Over Series Book 3) by Julia Kent

Feisty by Julia Kent

Feisty

AN ALL-NEW STANDALONE FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JULIA KENT

I’m not too proud to admit that finding Mr. Right involves swiping right. Right? Welcome to dating in avocado toastland.

Here I am, on my first blind date, ever, courtesy of a smartphone app and my two annoying best friends.

So what is Chris “Fletch” Fletcher doing, walking across the room, looking at his phone like he’s pattern matching a picture to find a real person he’s never met before?

Oh.

Oh, no.

The guy I drop-kicked in seventh grade cannot be my blind date. The guy who earned me this infernal nickname.

That’s right.

Feisty.
———

Feisty by Julia Kent

More from New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent as Fiona “Feisty” Gaskill gets her chance at love—drop-kick included.

Other Standalone Books in the Series:

Little Miss Perfect
Fluffy
Perky 

Buy links:

Amazon (all countries) 
Google Play 
Kobo 
BN/Nook 
Apple Books 
BookBub 
Goodreads

Audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon:

Audible 
Amazon Audio 
iTunes: Coming Soon

Feisty by Julia Kent

Excerpt

“Why are you suddenly meddling in my life like you know me? Because you don’t,” I inform him, moving closer, one hand rising up, my index finger pointing as I assume a power stance that seems otherworldly. Some self inside me is coming to the forefront.

And she has something to say.

Two of the people at his table turn and look at us, then start whispering. Fletch’s eyes cut over.

“Can we talk in private?” he asks.

“Why? Afraid of being called out in public?”

“No, but you’re about to get a bunch of cellphones pulled out. You really want more recordings of you floating around on the internet?”

I spin on my heel and move to the hallway in what I think is the direction of the bathrooms. Paleo2Clean is new to me, but before this incarnation, it was a soup restaurant, and before that, a froyo place.

Yep. Guessed right. High chairs and bathrooms.

“Look, Fletch,” I say, grabbing his arm hard. “Until our reunion last year, I hadn’t seen you in forever. And when Mal and Will chose us both to be in their wedding, I wasn’t happy, but I plastered on a fake smile because that’s what you do when your friends are getting married and you used to hate one of the groomsmen.”

“Hate?” A smile tickles his lips, his amusement infuriating me more than any other response he could possibly have. “You,” he says, looking at my hand on his skin, taking a step closer into my space, “hate me?”

“No. I said I used to hate you. Before I worked on evolving and being a better human being.”

“How, exactly, have you done that?”

“By increasing my vibration.”

“You are a better person because you use vibrators?”

“Who said anything about sex toys?”

“You did. Just now.”

“No, I didn’t! I said vibrations!”

“What’s the difference?”

“Enlightenment!”

“Pretty sure enlightenment comes from enough orgasms, too, Fiona.”

An espresso machine hisses in the distance, cutting through the sound of our matched breath. He’s inches from me, heat pulsing off his rock-hard body, the close-fitting black cloth of his shirt rippling only because of curved muscle. My hand on his arm feels like heat itself, our bodies some sort of element that conducts energy on a wavelength science hasn’t discovered yet.

And I’m wet, wanting, and so, so confused.

“Why are you turning this conversation into a sex talk?” I finally choke out, pulling back as he leans in.

“You started it,” he replies, the smile fading, replaced by something intensely seductive. He bites his lower lip for a moment, looking at me. Then, in a whisper that makes me lean in to hear, he adds, “Maybe you wouldn’t hate me so much if I helped you with those vibrations.”

Feisty by Julia Kent

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 19 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French and German, with more titles releasing in 2020 and beyond.

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://jkentauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/
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Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

Writer Marketing ServicesRelease blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.

New! The Turkish Affair by J. Arlene Culiner

The Turkish Affair by Jill Culiner

The setting for The Turkish Affair is an archaeological site in central Turkey. My heroine, Anne, is a former American journalist who, after a scandalous affair with the wrong man, lost her job and her reputation. For the last ten years, she’s been in hiding, living in backwoods Turkey, working as a translator. She’s not interested in romance, an affair, or a partner: falling in love is just too painful. Besides, in any relationship, you have to reveal who you are — and that’s something she’ll never do.

My hero, Renaud Townsend is an archaeologist. He’s passionate about his work, about ancient history, about discovery, and about keeping his independence. The last thing he’s ever wanted is a permanent relationship. He knows that, after the first excitement and immediate desire, any love story becomes humdrum. Humdrum is what he’s determined to avoid.

But how do you fight an instant attraction? What happens when caring slips into the picture and trust becomes important? Throw in some artifact theft, a difficult climate, corrupt police, a murder, an empty beige plain surrounded by dark mountains, and the story begins.

The blurb:

Love and Danger at the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu

Priceless artifacts are disappearing from the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu in Turkey, and the site director has vanished. Called in to solve the mystery, archaeologist Renaud Townsend is hindered by both his inability to speak the language and the knowledge that the local police are corrupt. His attraction to translator Anne Pierson is immediate, although he is troubled by her refusal to talk about the past and her fear of public scandal. But when murder enters the picture, both Anne and Renaud realize that the risk of falling in love is not the only danger.

The Turkish Affair by Jill Culiner

Excerpt:

A delicious breeze tickled the air, and the little boat rocked gently. A fine line appeared between his brows, and his blue eyes were, once again, serious. “I need your help.”

She stared. “My help? With what? Translating?”

“No. With something else. I have to find out who is behind the thefts at Karakuyu.”

The feeling of dread returned, but she forced herself to sound casual. “How could I possibly help you with that?”

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I suppose I just don’t want to feel that I’m alone in this.”

What could she say to that? Tell him she was the last person he should team up with? That long ago, she’d escaped arrest by the skin of her teeth? If she did so, this splendid moment would be over. The silver-foil glimmer of romance would be tarnished forever. He’d row back to shore, drive back to Gülkale, get rid of her as quickly as possible.

“Anne?” He reached out to caress her bare arm. “Come back from wherever you are.”

“You know nothing about me,” she said jaggedly.

“Nothing,” he agreed.

She swallowed. “I could be involved in the thefts for all you know. Why ask for my help? Why choose me?”

He smiled faintly. “A good question. I suppose, quite simply, I need—or want—to trust you.”

She felt utterly miserable. Why was life always like this? Wanting someone and not being able to have them? Wanting trust, but seeing it snatched away before it came close?

“Okay, then.” His voice was surprisingly tender. “If I promise not to probe into secrets, do I have the right to ask one question?”

She nodded with resignation.

“Can I trust you?”

The answer to that was simple enough. “Yes. Of course you can.”

His returning smile was radiant. “Good.”

She stared helplessly at the strong, angular features highlighted by the merciless sun. “That’s crazy. You’re willing to take my word for it? I could be lying.”

He leaned forward, cupped her chin in his hand, and met her gaze evenly. “No way. Not with a face as expressive as yours.”

Buy link: Amazon

The Turkish Affair by Jill Culiner

Let’s meet J. Arlene Culiner:

NA: How did you come up with the idea for The Turkish Affair?
JAC: Many events in this book are true. Like my heroine, I worked as a translator and guide in backwoods Turkey. The story of the police demanding that archaeologists verify whether smuggled coins are fakes, is absolutely true: I accompanied the three archaeologists. Leyla, the very brave and rebellious young woman who rescues Anne from a dangerous situation on a back road, really does exist. She rescued me. And one day, while passing through an archaeological site in Turkey, I briefly caught sight of a lean and elegant man. As he headed toward a jumble of smashed pillars, the bright sun caught the golden blaze of his hair. He was the inspiration for Renaud Townsend, the hero of The Turkish Affair.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
JAC: Of course I want my readers to enjoy the lovely, sometimes difficult, romance between Anne and Renaud, but I’m also taking them on an exotic journey to a little known part of the world — to backwoods Turkey — where, on an archaeological site, they’ll experience the thrill of discovery as well as danger. In other words, I’m offering armchair travel with no airport hassle, no check-in lines, no bumpy plane ride. Only the pleasure of a good tale, and the chance to solve a mystery along with my hero and heroine.

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
JAC: I am a contemporary artist doing social-critical work, and a photographer (you can get an idea of what I do at: http://www.jill-culiner.com) I also, occasionally, get acting work. However, I have always written. I once wrote and broadcast stories on Radio France, and I have piles of unpublished (and pretty awful) manuscripts that I wrote over the years.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
JAC: Who knows? I suppose they are somewhat admiring, but only one friend actually reads my books because she’s English. All my other friends are French and can’t read what I write. Bernard, my partner, knows no English.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
JAC: I don’t know. I never write outlines, and I think about each paragraph in a first draft for quite a while before actually writing it down. That’s a slow way to work, I know, but building up an atmosphere, and writing beautiful sentences is important to me.

NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
JAC: Winning the Tannenbaum Prize for Canadian Jewish History for my non-fiction work, Finding Home, and being short-listed for the 2005 ForeWord Magazine prize.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
JAC: I’m an amateur musician, and like many impassioned amateurs, I belong to two orchestras, two wind bands, and a chamber music group. I play the oboe, flute, piccolo, tuba, and all the instruments in the baroque oboe family.

NA: A pet peeve
JAC: Noise. People talking on their telephones in restaurants, on buses and trains.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
JAC: I didn’t choose it. I wear all my sweetie’s castoffs. He hates frayed collars and cuffs. I love the baggy old things.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
JAC: No alarm, but I try to force myself to get out of bed at around six and write for two hours.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
JAC: All housework. We both avoid it like the plague, and the dust bunnies are quite vicious in our house.

NA: What are you working on now?
JAC: I’m working on a series of novellas that start in 1889 and go up to today. They all take place in a town in the Nevada desert, Blake’s Folly, which is the setting for two of my contemporary romances, All About Charming Alice, and, Desert Rose. But I’ll tell you about those another time…

NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
JAC: Good heavens, I can’t even think of one. But just in case anyone wants to know, I have four animals adopted from the local pound: two happy indoor cats (my garden is a bird, reptile, and butterfly refuge, so they aren’t allowed out) and two big silly dogs.

Author Bio:

Jill CulinerWriter, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.

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New Release! The Cat’s Out of the Bag: Cynthia Terelst

The Cat's Out of the Bag by Cynthia Tereist

One van. Two hearts. Thousands of kilometres.

Jesse’s a self-made billionaire who yearns to get away from his empty life and the money-hungry parasites who inhabit it. The plan? Go to Australia, tell no one about his money and find himself. Instead of finding just himself, he finds Evie, who is everything anyone should aspire to be. Now, what he aspires to be, is hers. But to be hers, he needs to tell her everything.

Evie has left her past behind. She has rebuilt herself, and her life, into one of happiness. After she meets Jesse, while volunteering at a cat shelter, memories of her past filter back in. She is stronger now and wants to trust him. But after all she has been through, is trust even possible?

The quest to find a cat a forever home leads them to travel across the country together. Can the close quarters drive them to open up to each other? Or will it drive them apart?

Excerpt:

Jesse
I woke up with Evie still wrapped in my arms. Her smell, her touch, the sound of her soft breathing, the peacefulness on her face. It invaded my senses.

I’d never felt so in touch with someone in my whole life. Every day we opened ourselves up a little more, sharing another part of our souls. I couldn’t live my life without her now.

Evie stirred in my arms and settled again. I kissed the top of her head and tightened my arm around her. Opening her eyes, she looked up at me and smiled before closing her eyes again. Not wanting to disturb her peace, I relaxed into the pillows and closed my eyes.

Her hand found my face and trailed down my neck to my chest. She moved her body up so her lips could meet my jawline. Her breasts pushed up against my body. They were perfectly rounded. I wanted to caress them and feel their softness in my palm. I became hard. It took all my self-control to keep my hands still. Her lips found mine, and she kissed me tenderly. As her lips drew away from mine, I opened my eyes to see her smiling at me.

I wanted her. I should have dragged her lips back to mine. I should have held her close, taken charge, kissed her, loved her. Instead, I watched her as she moved away.

The Cat's Out of the Bag by Cynthia TereistBuy link: https://www.amazon.com/Cats-out-Bag-billionaire-international-ebook/dp/B07ZC2Y2PG

Let’s meet Cynthia:

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
CT: I saw that billionaire romances were very popular and decided to write one. But I didn’t want it to be like the others I read. It is not primarily about money; I added a couple of twists in there. I like to include social issues in my stories and this one touched on domestic violence.

I decided the characters would go on a road trip because road trips are fun and it also throws the characters in close proximity to each other which adds some conflict.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
CT: There wasn’t much research required as my daughter and I travelled around Australia for three years and visited many of the places in the book. For places I wasn’t familiar with I did some Googling, looked at photos and went from there.

I decided to write contemporary romance because I knew a lot of research would be required for a historical romance and I was worried about getting facts, mannerisms, speech, etc. wrong.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
CT: I think this statement from the book sums it up:
I know it’s hard to trust again when you’ve been hurt so badly. But you need to try. Otherwise, you will miss out on many of life’s joys.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
CT: I am a foster carer for a cat rescue, which helped me relate to the cats in care and their personalities.

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
CT: I am a project officer by day and a writer by night. I much prefer to write. As a new writer I need to build up my back list and earn a sustainable income, before I can make writing my full-time job.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
CT: I have always loved writing. I wrote my first novel at the age of sixteen. I’d put writing aside for over 20 years. When a friend I work with told me she was working on a novel, it inspired me to start writing again. I found my manuscript and rewrote it. It is not a published work, yet.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
CT: I think they are proud and excited.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer
CT: I have been surprised with how helpful other authors are. They are always willing to share their experience and offer their advice. I find them inspiring.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
CT: I know where my books start, where they finish and some of what I want to happen in between. After that I just write. With my second novel I have tried using the index card method to plot, but found that I stray away from what I planned. I do refer back to the cards though when I get stuck.

NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
CT: I told my author friend in July that I would write and publish a book by the end of the year and that is exactly what I have done. I am proud of my effort.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
CT: I write my first draft by hand. I feel that my ideas flow easier that way.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
CT: My sex scenes were pretty terrible to start with. I think they have improved. One beta reader said my dialogue was like it was in a vacuum, I have worked hard to fix this. Sometimes I would tell and not show. I appreciated when my beta readers would point this out.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
CT: Relax and do nothing 😊

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?
CT: Oh, that is a hard question. When I was younger, I loved The Outsiders. I recently read the Darkest Minds series, which I enjoyed. I can’t decide on a third.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
CT: I’m wearing a dress because it is comfortable.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
CT: No. Arggh. And then I hit snooze.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
CT: Cleaning. I actually pay someone to clean now.

NA: What are you working on now?
CT: My second novel, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. It is a second chance romance.

NA: What is any question we didn’t ask that you would like to answer?
CT: I can’t think of any. Maybe my favourite food? I would say everything, which would then explain why I am wearing a dress, weight gain due to eating. Lol.

Cynthia:
Cynthia TereistCynthia Terelst is a project officer by day and a writer by night. She is a contemporary romance writer who likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love. Cynthia does not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.
She lives in Queensland, Australia, where the sun shines at least 283 days a year.

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Brenda Whiteside and The Power of Love and Murder

The Power of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside

Blurb:
This Christmas, Penny Spark’s desire to reconnect with family causes her to expose her true identity—a secret she’s hidden for thirteen years from the political powers who murdered her family.

Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets Penny, he believes this holiday season could be the start of life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world.

With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.

Buy Links:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-power-of-love-and-murder/id1175786605?mt=11
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Love-Murder-Book-ebook/dp/B01M3YVO4H/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-power-of-love-and-murder-brenda-whiteside/1125058047?ean=2940156875115
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-power-of-love-and-murder-1
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Brenda_Whiteside_The_Power_of_Love_and_Murder?id=__-yDQAAQBAJ
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-power-of-love-and-murder
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Power-of-Love-and-Murder-eBook/763278682

Excerpt:

Jake nodded, but all he could concentrate on were Penny’s last words before the officer appeared. When they were alone again, he threw up his hands. “What do you mean, go back to Phoenix? Why the hell would I do that? My sister’s been murdered, and I want to find out why.”

She turned her back on him, went to the open door of the bathroom, and lifted her clothes from the hook. Beneath the thin, hospital gown her spine was straight, her movements tight, as if coiled and ready to spring.

“Penny, I know how much she meant to you.” How much she meant to both of them. He wanted to hold her, share their loss. “I’m not leaving you.”

Untying the gown, she let it drop around her feet, and sidestepped out of the heap. She pulled the dark gray sweater over her head then stepped into black velvet jeans. She wouldn’t make eye contact, wouldn’t speak as she sat on the green plastic chair.

This was killing him. He needed to hold her, help her with her pain—his pain. Haltingly, he made his way to her, touched her head, and waited while she zipped her boots. “Penny.” She resisted, but he tipped her chin, forcing her to look up. “Come on, baby. You don’t have to worry about me leaving you.”

“You will.”

“No—”

“When I tell you the truth, you will.”

Let’s meet Brenda!

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?

BW: This is the fourth book in the series. One of my critique partners loved a minor character in book one who was nicknamed The Black Fairy because of her penchant for Goth dress and her small stature. She insisted she needed her own book. I liked the idea and The Power of Love and Murder was off and running.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?

BW: This research was fun. I knew nothing about the FBI, but I needed to. One of the villains is an FBI agent turned bad. I also needed to research downtown Phoenix, which I should know about having been born there and lived there for many years, but I didn’t. I also had to research mob murders and corporate structure. The story takes place during the Christmas holidays, which I love and required no research.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.

BW: The hero spends a really awful night in a cheap hotel. This is based on fact. My brother had the experience. When he told us the story many years ago, I laughed so hard. I knew I would some day use that scene in a book.

NA: Do you have a day job?

BW: I am retired from the day job. What was your job before you started writing full time? For many years, I worked in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. I assisted Child Care Providers with nutrition and training.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer?

BW: It isn’t all about writing. So much of the time is spent on promoting my books and myself. If I don’t, then no one knows I exist. Ah, if we could just write and write and write!

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?

BW: I started as a pantser. But as my book plots became increasingly more complicated, I found it necessary to do quite a bit of planning ahead of writing. I don’t outline exactly. I might not know everything that is going to happen, but I have a good rough notes page and detailed character sketches.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write?

BW: Action, dialogue, sex?

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

BW: I spend time with family. My mom is going to turn 89 in December. We live three hours apart so I make a point of spending three days every three weeks with her. I have one granddaughter who is six. FDW and I try to get her for a few days a couple of times a month. I also love to take long walks and go to the movies.

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?

BW: The first several books in the Outlander series, Shogun, A Circle of Friends. By the way, this was a difficult question. Another day might find me answering differently.

NA: A pet peeve.

BW: People who don’t listen, like they ask me a question and interrupt me or gaze off into the distance as if I’m the most boring person in the world.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?

BW: I live in Arizona and by noon, I have to take off the sweatshirt and put on a sleeveless tee shirt. So, here I sit in shorts and a tee.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?

BW: I don’t mind cleaning up and washing dishes after a meal, but for some reason I’m totally annoyed by putting dishes back in the cupboard.

NA: What are you working on now?

BW: I’m so excited about a series set in the fiction town of Joshua, Arizona. If you are familiar with Arizona, you’ll recognize the ghost town of Jerome. It is a tourist town, hanging on the side of a mountain where gold and copper were mined back in the day. The hippies moved in to the nearly dead town in the 60s and now it is a destination. My characters are quirky, the suspense is thrilling, and the setting inspires me.

I’m also starting the process to have The Power of Love and Murder made into an audiobook.

NA: Do you have free audio codes for your audiobooks?

BW: Yes! Comment here that you are interested or send me an email.

Say hello to Brenda!

Brenda WhitesideBrenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure romance. Mostly. She signed her first book contract in 2009. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart. After three years on a small farm in Paulden, Arizona, they retired to their RV in Tonto Basin to think about their next move. Three years later, they’re still there. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.

Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com

Or on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendawhitesideauthor/

New! Rescue Road by Gayle M. Irwin

Rescue Road by Gayle Irwin

Rescue Road a clean, contemporary romance set in southwestern Montana, an area where I lived for more than 10 years.

Blurb:

Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes.

Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend George left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses.

When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly – and not the romantic kind. Yet their attraction for one another can’t be denied and deepens after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident. Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land.

Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts – and the property – separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

Buy links:
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Print book coming very soon!

Let’s meet Gayle!

NA: Gayle, welcome! We’re so happy you are here with us. How did you come up with the idea for your book?
GMI: Five years ago I took a creative writing class at the community college in my town. Several women were writing romance novels, and I decided to pursue the endeavor. After many setbacks and changes, and a lot of encouragement from others in my writing groups, I picked it up again last November for NaNoWriMo and completed the draft. The idea comes from my desire to entertain but also inspire pet adoption and educate readers about pet rescue. I love the state of Montana and lived there for more than a decade; therefore, since I know the setting well, I created a fictional town but also used the names of real communities in order to bring familiarity about the state (i.e., Yellowstone National Park, the Madison River) and help readers fall in love with the setting as well as the story.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
GMI: Two things: Middle age people can fall in love even after they’ve experienced a significant romantic setback, and rescued dogs can also rescue humans.

NA: What’s a fun fact about writing your book.
GMI: I based one of the dog characters on a dog my husband and I adopted a few years ago. My Jeremiah, a Shih Tzu, is the motivation for “Jax” in the story. Jeremiah is a puppy mill survivor, whom I adopted from Hearts United for Animals in 2017; “Jax” is also a Shih Tzu and puppy mill survivor whom my heroine, Rhiann, helped rescue and who welcomes the other dogs she rescues.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
GMI: I began writing stories as a child, and in college I studied journalism and creative writing. I worked on the student newspaper and student annual magazine. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I began working for small-town newspapers in Montana, including as editor for the West Yellowstone News near America’s first national park. When I moved to Wyoming 20 years ago, I served as a reporter for another small-town newspaper and began freelancing for magazines. My short stories are featured in seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and I regularly write for WREN (Wyoming Rural Electric News) magazine. I’ve also had stories published in The Prairie Times, a monthly Colorado publication, and in Creation Illustrated, a nature magazine for children. I’ve authored dog books for children and devotional books for dog lovers, as I believe we can learn wonderful life and faith lessons from dogs.

NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
GMI: I’m an only child and the first person in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, and my parents were quite proud; they continue to be my biggest cheerleaders. In fact, my father steered me in the direction of my first job with a Montana newspaper as he was impressed with (what was then) a family start-up and the positive stories the couple sought to tell; I became their first full-time reporter. That was more than 30 years ago. My parents are still living and still cheering me on. My husband of more than 19 years was with me at my first Barnes and Noble book signing with my first children’s book in 2008, as was our dog, Sage, a blind springer spaniel who was the main character of that story (Sage’s Big Adventure: Living with Blindness). I have a wonderful support system in friends, work colleagues (I work part-time for a non-profit), and other writers. These people encourage me, critique my work, and help me persevere, and I’m grateful for each one of them … and also for the pets that inspire me to tell stories!

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer.
GMI: How much excitement I feel doing the work! As a reporter, especially in the early days, sometimes the work was stressful due to so many stories and deadlines. However, I’ve matured over the years, and since I don’t have daily deadlines, I find composing stories, whether for a magazine, a Chicken Soup call-out, or for a book, delightful – and that time often passes quickly while I’m writing! The days I’m off work and devote a morning to writing, I blink my eyes and Noon has arrived. I wish time would slow down a bit!

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
GMI: I’m a pantser. I know the premise of the story, but I let the words flow and take whatever direction “the characters tell me to go.” I often know how I want the story to end, and I explore pathways to get there. I may cut scenes during the editing process, and I did so with Rescue Road. However, I save those deleted scenes because they could be re-worked and used in another book. For example, I plan a Book 2 (in the works) and Book 3 for this Pet Rescue Romance series, and I may be able to massage some of the deleted scenes from Book 1 and weave into either Book 2 or Book 3. Watching the story unfold as I type on the keyboard is a significant part of the fun of writing for me!

NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
GMI: When parents, teachers, or children come up to me after a program or book purchase and say how much the story touched them (or a child they love). After taking my blind dog with me on a classroom visit many years ago, I received a note from the teacher who said she had a visually impaired student and he said to his aide afterward, “I didn’t know a dog could be like me. If Sage can be brave, I can be too.” One of the students told me in a note, “I think Sage needs to star in her own movie!” Writing about challenges in life and how dogs can teach us to have courage, to persevere, to forgive, to love, brings me great joy, and helping people understand the importance of rescue and adoption is part of my mission as a writer.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
GMI: I don’t know if this is very “quirky,” but I drink coffee or tea and play instrumental music on Pandora while writing. And, of course, Jeremiah hangs out with me in my home office … as does one of my cats usually. It’s a peaceful setting.

NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
GMI: I enjoy traveling and taking nature photos. My goal is to visit all the western national parks before I can no longer travel. My husband and I own some mountain property and cabin, and we enjoy spending time there with our dogs. I also enjoy helping animal shelters and rescues. I’ve transported dogs into rescue and into the arms of new families for various regional organizations during the past 10 years, and I look forward to continuing that volunteer work.

NA: Name a pet peeve.
GMI: Tardiness. Likely comes from my time as a newspaper reporter/editor.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
GMI: How delighted I am to have my pets snuggling with me in bed.

NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
GMI: Betty White – her humor and love for animals totally touch my heart!

NA: What are you working on now?
GMI: Book 2 of my Pet Rescue Romance series and a devotion book about nature.

NA: Tell us about a passion you have.
GMI: My enjoyment of nature and animals stem from my childhood. I was raised in Iowa, and my parents taught me to appreciate and respect the outdoors, both the environment and the wildlife. I was raised with animals – dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, etc. – and my household chores included caring for the animals. I loved doing that! And, I continue that love of caring for animals and nature. I hope to instill the same appreciation and respect for creation to readers through my writing, whether it’s a children’s book, a devotional, a short story, or a novel.

Excerpt:
Rhiann stood on the porch of the mid-century ranch house. Cup of coffee in hand, she watched the blazing orange sunrise. Streamers of light cascaded on the mountains west of the property, casting a rosy glow on the rocks and patches of snow upon the higher elevation. October’s morning danced with the browning grasses of the nearby pastures as touches of frost shimmered upon tan sprigs surrounding the house. Overhead, a flock of Canada geese in traditional V formation honked as they winged their way south.
Rhiann observed them and whispered, “We have something in common. We’re starting over.”

****

As he drove closer to the ranch house, Levi noticed a small, red dual-cab pickup parked near the building. His eyes squinted. He remembered seeing a similar vehicle at the Twin Bridges Campground yesterday. He parked next to the truck.

“Who in the world could that be?” he murmured as he exited his pickup.
He looked at the license plate. He didn’t remember George knowing anyone from Washington state. He saw a heart-shaped sticker on the side. Levi scowled. He meandered to the driver’s side and saw the “Rescue Road” emblem.

“Can’t be,” he muttered.

He looked up when he heard the front door of the house slam. He stared.

“What are you doing here?” he and Rhiann asked simultaneously.

***

Rhiann couldn’t believe her eyes. Left hand on her hip and straw broom in her right, she glared at the man she had met yesterday.

“Well?” she questioned, looking Levi in the eye. “Answer my question. What are you doing on my ranch?”

“Your what? YOUR ranch? This is my land,” he snapped.

“Uh, unless your last name is Kelly or McCallister, I don’t think so.”

Levi stalked toward the front porch. Rhiann took a step back. She looked into his smoldering gray eyes as he said, “George Nelson left this place to me. Just who are you to come claim it as yours?”

Before she could respond, he rushed on, “Are you related to George? I didn’t think he had any kids or grandkids. Are you a niece or something?”

Rhiann shook her head. “I didn’t know Mr. Nelson. I’m the granddaughter of Mary Martha McAllister. She was born here, in that log cabin over there.”
She pointed to the two-room dwelling to her right.

“That’s my house,” Levi said.

She detected the curt tone, and she responded in kind.

“I don’t know why you keep saying you own this property. That cabin, this place, has been mine for nearly four months and was in my family for two generations. I’m just now getting here after settling the back taxes.”

Levi’s face blanched. “Back taxes? What are you talking about?”

At that moment, his cell phone rang. She watched him pull the device from a back pocket of his jeans. He turned away from her.

“Mr. Williamson. Yes, this is Levi Butler. You have news for me?” He paused in his conversation. “I see.”

Rhiann continued observing him. He gradually turned toward her. His eyes darkened, and his teeth clenched. Rhiann took a step back, holding the broom in both hands. I’ll swing this thing at his head if he takes one more step.

“Yes, yes, I’ve met her. In fact, I’m looking at her right now.”

His icy statement sent chills up Rhiann’s spine.

***

Levi gripped the cell phone tighter. His mind tried to process the words spoken by George’s attorney. A few moments later, he said, “I see. Not the news I expected to hear but thanks for letting me know.”

He clicked off and stared at Rhiann. He noticed she held the broom as if to fend off an attacker. He wanted to punch something but knew he couldn’t. He took a deep breath and clenched a fist. He exhaled a ragged breath. A moment of silence ticked by. Levi inhaled again, trying to steady himself. As he released the air and unclenched his fist, he spoke in a terse, but controlled tone.

“Someone who knows nothing about this place, it’s history, or the man who lived here … I guess it’s yours after all.”

Levi stalked to his pickup and jumped into the driver’s seat. He backed the Chevy toward the Y junction and stomped the accelerator. He heard a large spray of gravel as the truck tires dug in, and he drove from the house.

 

About Gayle:
Gayle M. IrwinGayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults. She subtly weaves important life lessons within the lines and pages of her stories, including courage, kindness, perseverance, friendship, appreciation of nature, and the importance of pet rescue and adoption. Her first novel, a clean, contemporary pet rescue romance titled Rescue Road, releases November 2019. A pet rescue and adoption advocate, she volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. Gayle resides in Wyoming with her husband and their adopted animals. Learn more about the author, her writing endeavors, and her pets, and receive free stories and resources by visiting her website: www.gaylemirwin.com.

Author Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Rescue Road by Gayle Irwin

Out Now—Stateless (Stateless Series, Book 1) by Meli Raine

#romanticsuspense #romance #suspense #newrelease

Stateless by Meli RaineRelease date: October 15, 2019
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book Blurb:

When you’re born without a trace, no one knows you’re a weapon.

I lie for her.
I hunt for her.
I kill for her.
And above all, I betray my mission for her.
She doesn’t know why. She doesn’t care why.
I do.
Treason comes in many forms.
Love is one of them.
Our training taught me to be a sociopath. A machine. A pawn. Nothing more than a tool for a larger goal, without attachments or feelings.
Our teachers forgot one important detail:
Pawns shouldn’t have hearts.
Yet we do.
It turns out our emotions are our greatest weapon.
And I know exactly where mine are aimed.

The Stateless Series also includes:
Traceless (releasing 11.19.19)
Fateless (release date TBA)

Stateless by Meli Raine

Links:

Amazon (everywhere): https://geni.us/statelessAMZ
Barnes&Noble: https://geni.us/statelessBN
Kobo: https://geni.us/statelessKobo
Apple Books: https://geni.us/statelessApple
Google Play: https://geni.us/statelessgoogle

Audiobook narrated by Joe Arden and Andi Arndt!
Audible (preorder now!): https://geni.us/statelessAudible
Amazon audio (preorder now!): https://geni.us/statelessAMZaud

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2mSDQ8B
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2ozxs6w

Website: http://bit.ly/2mSPzUE

Stateless by Meli Raine

Excerpt:

“Thank you,” I choke out.
“For what?” His eyes cut away. The air between us has changed. I can’t explain it. Suddenly, I’m uncomfortable.
And yet I just want to be with him.
“For killing for me.”
As the words come forth from my mouth, I cringe inside. I did not mean to say for me. “For me” implies that he killed the bunny out of some attachment to me.
We are not allowed to have emotions for one another. It puts us at risk.
“I did it for me,” he says, louder than he should need to.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To challenge Romeo.”
“Why would you do that?” My voice goes up to a sharp squeak at the end, incredulous.
He laughs. “Because we are taught to destabilize power structures.” He looks around. “What do you think the compound is?”

Stateless by Meli Raine

Author Bio:

Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them. Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://meliraine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meliraine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meliraineauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meli-raine
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13536295.Meli_Raine
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/beV0gf

Reviews and Endorsements for Meli Raine Books:

“The first book in the False trilogy is a psychological thriller worthy of Hitchcock, keeping you guessing until the very end.” — Apple Books Editors

“…intrigue and dark humor on display in this thriller…”

While the immediate—and more compelling—tension in Raine’s (A Shameless Little Bet, 2018, etc.) heart-pumping series opener comes from Lily’s constant proximity to her would-be killer, the action takes place against a backdrop of secret government scandals. The “screwed-up D.C.-insider scandal,” as it is clumsily summarized early on, is pleasingly twisty…

Fortunately, Lily’s voice is captivating, wry, and tough enough to sell this thriller. The novel ends with a cliffhanger that startles, if only because readers will have become so attached to Lily. — Kirkus Reviews

“Fresh, riveting, and thrumming with emotion and romantic suspense, False Memory is absolutely unputdownable. You need this book!” – New York Times bestselling author Meghan March

“I accidentally lost a day to this trilogy! It is unputdownable. Apparently I’m on a dark-and-twisty binge, and this book is addictive.” – USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen (review for Harmless series)

Writer Marketing Services

Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.

The Viscount’s Pet: Kryssie Fortune’s newest book!

The Viscount's Pet by Kryssie Fortune

Blurb:
When her brother tries to force her into a marriage with a detestable baron, Julianna Halstead flees the family estate she has helped manage since the death of her parents. But as she makes her escape late at night, Juliana’s carelessness nearly results in her being trampled by a galloping horse, and the steed’s handsome rider takes it upon himself to correct her right then and there.

Though having her bottom bared and soundly spanked on the side of the road leaves Juliana blushing crimson, the punishment arouses her intensely and her body’s helpless response cannot be hidden. To make matters worse, the gentleman over whose lap she was so firmly chastised turns out to be none other than Viscount Stonehurst, someone she has known since childhood.

When Stonehurst learns of Juliana’s predicament, he decides to make her his bride. She will be no ordinary wife, however. She will be something much more shameful. But even as she is leashed, collared, and put on display in a cage wearing only a tail, then brought out to be used in ways no proper lady should enjoy, will Juliana come to love her new life as the viscount’s pet?

Publisher’s Note: The Viscount’s Pet is a stand-alone novel which shares the Regency-era setting of Wickedly Used and His Innocent Bride. It includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

Buy links:
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU

OR READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Excerpt:

The horse and rider appeared from nowhere.

Julianna sidestepped and dropped her bag. Her ankle twisted beneath her, and she tumbled to the ground. When the horseman tugged hard at the reins, the coal-black stallion reared, its forelegs pawed the air. She screamed and closed her eyes. Curled into a ball, she waited for its ebony hooves to pulverize her.

The rider swore, the horse whickering as it planted its feet in the dirt by her face. Tiny dust clouds rose from the road. She coughed and crablike, she scuttled to the fallen oak at the edge of the copse. The bracken smelled earthy, and the thick foliage cushioned her bruised ribs.
Her heart beat overtime when the horseman dismounted and stalked toward her. Wearing a black greatcoat and muffler, he towered over her. Grabbing her wrist, he hauled her upright.

Even in the evening twilight, his hair shone the same blue-black as a raven’s wing. His features were familiar, but she had no idea why. One glance at his steeply angled eyebrows and she wondered if he was the devil come to claim her.

Her brother would have grabbed her shoulders and shaken her until her head ached. That or hurled vile insults at her. Instead, the dark horseman’s eyes twinkled with good humor. She couldn’t decide if they were midnight blue or ebony black. Their mysterious depths and sloping eyebrows gave him a demonic air.

His high cheekbones were so sharp Michelangelo could have chiseled them from marble. There was a cleft in his square chin that she wanted to stroke. His broad, kissable lips made her want to lick and taste, but they were set in a stern, disapproving frown. If he smiled, his dark charisma would mesmerize any nocturnal creatures. Bats, foxes, and badgers would flock to his side.

His utter masculinity sent shudders along her spine. Devilish and terrifying, he emanated menace and danger. She should be shaking in fear, but he sparked wicked longings in her soul.

Untouched and innocent, she hated how her nipples pearled and damp heat creamed between her legs. She needed his lips pressed against hers and his hands on her body. For a woman who’d sworn never to marry, that scared her more than his fury. If not for his tight grip on her shoulders, she’d have run off into the night.

Her pulse still raced, but she buried her fear beneath a haughty manner. “Unhand me, sir. I’m late as it is.”

Rather than let go of her arm, he tugged her closer. He smelled of citrus fruits and freshly gathered mint. When her gaze meshed with his, lightning bolts sizzled between them. Head bent, he moved toward her. She puckered her lips in anticipation.

Blinking, he straightened abruptly. “I could have killed you, you little fool.”

Disappointment crushed her soul. Her ribs ached from Kit’s assault and her ankle throbbed from her fall. Sniffing back tears, she thought of her mother’s pampered cat and tried to out-stare him. “My apologies, sir. I should have been paying attention, not daydreaming along in the twilight. Since neither of us is hurt, we can go on our own ways.”

“Not until you’ve learned your lesson,” he snapped.
Pulling free from his hold, she rubbed her wrist. Nervous, she retreated toward her portmanteau, ready to grab it and run. Shooting forward, he hoisted her over his shoulder. The undignified position made her ribs throb. His hand splayed over her rear end, caressing and stroking it as he pinned her in place.

Five steps and he’d carried her back to the tree trunk. Once settled on it, he thrust her over his knee. “Naughty little girls who risk their lives deserve a spanking. And I’m just the man to give it to you.”

Some interesting facts about Kryssie Fortune!

Social Media links:
Website http://kryssiefortune.wixsite.com/kryssie
Blog http://kryssiefortune.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter https://twitter.com/KryssieFortune
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KryssieFortune
Pinterest http://bit.ly/1OGFnjc
Goodreads http://bit.ly/2kxqabJ
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hA0ZVO

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Definitely energize. I get bad tempered if I don’t do something to inch my writing forward every day.

Ballpoint or fountain pen?
Ball point. I write in a notebook, type up, then read it through before moving on to the next chapter.

What time of the day is best for you as a writer?
Anywhere, anytime. If I have a free moment I put pen to paper. A lot of my early writing was done on the bus on the way and from work.

Who are three of your favorite authors?
Kresley Cole, Georgette Heyer, and currently J.S. Scott. The last one changes but I’ve loved the other two for years. ,

Which book – of all the books you’ve written – do you like the best?
Always the one I’m working on. I’m proud of Taken as Theirs because it was my first book to hit the top ten on it’s category. I love regency romance, and I love my latest very hot Regency romance. Georgette Heyer would be turning in her grave.

How do you research your locations?
Internet and visits. A lot of my books are set in Yorkshire, England. That’s my home county. For my Westhorpe Ridge series, I hounded friends in North Carolina to check details. For my current WIP I visited Lindisfarne in Northumberland to scout the island. (Any excuse for a weekend break with my husband.)