Friday, February 10, 2017

Blinded by Lyz Kelley - Blog Tour

BLINDED (Elkridge Series, Book 1)

by Lyz Kelley

Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense

The first book in the ELKRIDGE SERIES debuts a quirky cast of characters. Follow along in the series to gather evidence to solve Sheriff Sam murder. Book #1 starts off with a double-bang! Sheriff Sam is murdered. Joey returns to Elkridge. Does that mean Mara will get a second chance at love?
A FLORIST WHO REFUSES HELP...Mara dreams died the night a drunk driver killed her parents and sister, and left her permanently wounded. After months of therapy, she's finally adjusting to her new reality while working to save her mother's floral business. When the first boy she ever had a crush on walks back into her life, she wonders if she's getting a second chance to find happiness.
A DETECTIVE WHO WANTS TO PROTECT...Somebody killed Joey's brother. After a ten-year absence, the big city detective returns home to Colorado for the funeral knowing he will be pressured to find Sheriff Sam's killer. Joey's instincts say whoever murdered his brother is part of something more sinister than the Elkridge deputies can handle. When Mara is stalked, Joey wonders if the mystery man is the killer.
BUT, WILL THEY LEARN TO COMPROMISE? Joey's boss is pressuring him to return to Seattle. Mara refuses to leave Elkridge. Neither wants to be apart, but will they take the risk and make the necessary sacrifices to be with each other?
ON SALE FOR 99¢

 

Meet the Author

Would you like to know when Lyz Kelley’s award-winning new releases are available?  Sign up for Kelley’s Heroes: www.LyzKelleysHeroes.com. You’ll get an exclusive copy of A Soldier’s Wife, release news, learn about giveaways, and receive exclusive previews of her new books.
Lyz loves to tell stories about strong women who have faced extraordinary challenges, then pair them with men who have an enormous capacity to love, even if they may not know it. Exploring these wounded and strong characters—discovering what drives them, frightens them, heals them, makes them laugh—takes Lyz on an incredible, and sometimes unexpected journey. Lyz's books have received high accolades in numerous writing contests. Lyz loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.LyzKelley.com.
Brand: Honorable Men, Brave Women, and a Healing Love
Mission: To write about emotional subjects and help the world heal through the written word.

 

Author Interview

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? How old were you when you decided to pursue writing professionally?
When I was 8, I began writing a story, first in my head, and later in my diary. The world I dreamed about was big and complex; filled with interesting creatures. When I turned 40, I tried to translate the story I’d lived with all those years to the page…and couldn’t. So I sought help. Romance Writers of America was the only group that said, “Come on in. We’ll help.” So, I started writing and learning and exploring the craft of writing. One day, when I’ve learned enough to write such a complicated story, I will write about the world that exists in my head.

Why do you write about Honorable Men, Brave Women, and a Healing Love?
I used to think I wrote about strong men and women. After all, some of the men in my stories are modeled after my husband, a former military guy, and the strongest man I know. But then I realized I write about characters that are healed by love. The characters I write about aren’t just mentally or physically strong, but brave and honorable and willing to do the right things, even if loving someone comes at a personal sacrifice.

What is your writing process?
Over the years my writing process has changed.  When I first started, I plotted and plotted, making massive spreadsheets of every little detail. I knew everything I could about my characters and story before I began, but my books turned out stiff and emotionless. My process has evolved into a story structure outline, which works much better. Now, I write my first draft and focus on story structure and let my characters do what is natural. After I get the bones of the book down, I start several edit passes to deepen the emotions and add flavor to the book. Normally, before the book goes to an editor, I’ve done at least 4, maybe 5 passes of the book. After that, I work with content editor, line editor, and a proofreader to make sure I’m putting out the best book possible.

Have you won any awards for your writing?
Yes, actually. During my journey to write the best book possible, I’ve won several awards for three of my books. There is one book that has won an award that I don’t intend to publish. There are four other books also sitting in the archives of my computer. These, I call my practice books, and will remain in a folder to be looked at when I need to reflect on how far I’ve come on this writing journey.

How do you develop your characters?
Character development is the driving force in my writing process. I start with what the character fears the most, and then move onto the false belief that character has created to cope with that fear. Then I start building a growth arc to help that character resolve their fear through a healing love. After that, secondary characters are used to entice main characters to reflect, either by mirroring bad behavior or “calling out,” essentially creating a catalyst for change.

If you couldn’t read or write for a day, how would you spend your time?
I love spending time chatting with friends on Facebook or Twitter, or researching new words for my Word Wednesday posts. I also enjoy designing little notes for my quotes and sharing them on Pinterest. If my husband isn’t traveling for his job, I like spending time with him, playing with my four-legged fur babies, or exercising. Several times a year, I like to get away to explore, usually to international destinations. I enjoy experiencing new cultures, visiting museums, or studying the city architecture or landscapes. My favorite trips so far have been to Machu Picchu and Prague.

How do you come up with character names?
Don’t laugh…I usually just Google professional model names, or use an iPhone app called, Name Dice. Name selection is always hard because each character in a book needs to start with a different letter.  In fact, in the book, Orphaned, I had a Rachelle and a Michelle in the book and beta readers kept getting confused so I had to change Michelle’s name to Caitlyn.

If I wanted to be a Beta Reader or one of your Advanced Readers, how do I sign up?
That’s an easy question. You sign up on the website http://www.LyzKelleysHeroes.com.  All the information is available. I’ve created a VIP Club for those special members who provide feedback or leave reviews. In return, this special group is the first to see my covers, hear release news, and receive freebies. If readers have additional questions, they can always contact me. I am the human on the other end of that email, and will respond.

If you wrote a book about your life, what would it be called?
I love one-word titles for my books, so I would believe the book title would be, Determined. My husband always says I’m the most determined person he’s ever met.

What do you find the hardest about writing?
I think it’s the mental anguish that goes into the writing process. Each word, each sentence is a struggle to get right. Every day I push, push, push to get better, and then I get edits back or read a review and the person on the other end of the keyboard has just ripped my heart out and crushed it without even knowing how much their words hurt. Even so, I do appreciate the feedback. Feedback helps me get better. Over the years, I’ve gotten a much tougher skin, but there are days that are hard. For me, no actor, singer, artist, photographer, or anyone who is brave enough to share their creation with the world, will get a negative thought from me. I know what it takes to put myself out there. It’s hard, but there’s something in all creative types that compel artists to keep reaching for their nirvana.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given about writing, or life?
The best advice I’ve received was from my great-grandmother. She said: “Set your goals high. If you don’t, you will never know what you might have been capable of achieving.”  And boy, did I set my goals high. When I first started writing my stories down, I figured it would take me two, maybe three years to write my book. Ten years later, I have my first viable project. Most writers will tell you that publishing is a marathon, not a sprint—a very accurate description.

If you could go back and change one thing about your writing journey, what would it have been?
Nothing. Each mistake I’ve learned from. I wouldn’t change a thing.

What advice do you wish someone would have given you before you started writing your first book?
Find your tribe. Find the people who will help you achieve your dream. Writing is a community effort. You need people who give you constructive feedback and help you to understand if the story in your head has translated well onto the page. You also need people who can make you laugh or pull you back from the edge of the cliff when something happens. There are so many things that can chip away at your confidence and create insecurities. Friends help provide the perspective you need to keep writing.

How would you describe your writing style?
When I was young, I used to love to write poems. I loved the struggle to find the right word that rhymed, and the beat of each line. Maybe, that’s why it takes me so long to write my novels. I still love using the English language to it’s fullest, and finding that perfect word to communicate exactly what the character is feeling. It’s what makes writing exciting, exhausting, and euphorically fun.

Author Links

Perpetual Giveaway Link: http://geni.us/LyzKelleyGiveaways
Newsletter Sign Up: www.LyzKelley.com
Kelley’s Heroes (VIP Club) Sign Up: www.LyzKelleysHeroes.com

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Award-Winning Author Lyz Kelley
presented by WLKBookPromotions.com

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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Bodhi's Synful Mate by Elle Boon - Blog Tour

Bodhi’s Synful Mate

Iron Wolves Book 6

by Elle Boon

KARSYN STYLES… aka Syn is tired of waiting on the man she knows is her mate to claim her. She’s going to take matters into her own hands, even if that means teaching the stubborn wolf she’s more than just the alpha’s baby sister.
BODHI… has fought the feelings he has for the little wolf who’s supposed to be like a sister to him. Only the feelings she’s stirred in his body and heart are far from brotherly. He’s done everything in his power to keep her at a distance, even going against everything he and his wolf want, but nothing can tame either man or beast except the one female meant to be theirs.
Just when he is ready to claim his mate, Bodhi’s world is rocked as his past comes back with a vengeance. He wasn’t born a wolf, but turned when his family was slaughtered. He’d thought he was all alone in the human world, grateful for his wolven family, until one fateful encounter.
Syn sees the man she loves pulling away. Her heart can’t take another rejection, or seeing him turn to another female for the comfort only she should be giving him. She’ll do anything to show him they’re meant to be together.
Neither realize the danger lurking in the shadows as Bodhi’s past is more sinister than either realize. Can the Iron Wolves survive what’s coming next, or will what destroyed Bodhi’s past come back to do the same to their future?

BUY LINKS

Excerpt

The constant need to be filled by Bodhi seemed to have eased after their last violent lovemaking session against the wall. Staring at herself in the mirror of her bathroom, Syn touched one of the marks on her hips, shivering at the remembered feel of his possession. Holy fucking shit, Lyric didn’t mention it would be so intense when she mated. The thought of her best friend had her looking for her cell. She glanced at the clock, and quickly walked back into bedroom staring at her recently re-made bed. Each step was a reminder of Bodhi’s possession as she felt a slight twinge between her thighs. With her shifter abilities, if she was to shift to her wolf, and then back to human, all her injuries would be healed, but she was loathe to do so. Gah, she was so screwed.
She swiped across the screen and hit the button for Lyric. The ringtone her friend chose for herself, had her smiling as she waited.
“Hello, beotch. How’s the mating going?” Lyric asked.
Syn shook her head. “Oh, we’ve been fucking like bunnies, and then we fucked some more. Would you like all the down and dirty details?”
The sound of Lyric groaning, and Rowan yelling at her to take the phone off of speaker made Syn blush and look around for Bodhi. “Dang it you hussy, why didn’t you tell me you weren’t alone?”
Lyric’s laughing voice almost had Syn jumping into her truck, and racing over there to knock her best friend in the head.
“Oh Goddess, you should have seen Rowan’s face. Now that, is what we call free entertainment.” Lyric laughed some more, then stopped as she must’ve realized Syn wasn’t laughing with her. “Oh, hun, I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean to upset you. Hell, I tell you everything, even when Rowan’s right in the room. He sort of knows everything anyways. He’s like Super-SEAL, or would that be WolfieSEAL? Shit, what is he anyway now?”
“Lyric, shut up. You’re gonna give me a headache. Rowan is…Rowan. Who is your mate? He’s an ex-SEAL but he’s also a shifter, so I guess he’s all that and a bag of chips. But, that doesn’t mean I want him privy to my sex life.”
Lyric sniffed, and Syn had the impression her best friend was actually wiping away real tears. “Are you crying? You can’t cry. You’re the one who fucked up.” Syn gentled her voice. Lyric never cried. “Do I need to come over there? Did Super-Wolfeal do something?”
“Wolfeal?” Lyric giggled.
“Yeah, I sort of came up with that. You know how Jenna and Kellen call the Cordell twins Wolpires, well Wolfeals. What do you think?”
“I’m totally gonna tell him his new nickname. Now, stop evading me, and spill. What did you and Bodhi talk about? I don’t need the dirty dirty, since I‘m a happily mated female, I kinda know what you do. Stick part A into slot A, B, or C.”
Syn pulled the phone away from her ear. “So you’re saying you allow Rowan to stick his dick into your vajayjay, your mouth and your…” she was cut off as Lyric screeched.
“Alright, that’s enough girl talk while I’m in residence, damn wolf hearing,” Rowan growled into the phone.
“Give me the phone back you big bully.”
“I’ll talk to you later, Lyric. Don’t let the big bad Wolfeal get the better of you. Offer up part C,” Syn said then hung up as Lyric squealed louder.
“You, Karsyn Styles, are a bad girl.” Bodhi leaned against the doorjamb.
He looked too damn good for her peace of mind, but she kept that to herself. Although the smirk on his face let her know he’d read her mind. His eyes, those green emerald fire ones, looked at her with such tenderness, making her sigh. “Well, you bring out the bad in me.”
Straightening, he strolled into the room. “I hate to leave you so soon, but I need to go talk with my sister, and Kellen. There’s a lot of unfinished business with her husband, and his family. We know Roberto wasn’t in residence, which means he’s still a threat.”
Fear skittered through her. “He knows where we are located.”
“Let him come here,” he growled, pacing away from her to stare out the window. “I saw some of the things he did to her.”
She didn’t need to ask who the her was. When they’d connected, and their mate link clicked into place, she’d seen his memories that he hadn’t blocked. She couldn’t imagine the hell Layla had endured, only hoped that Jenna could help ease some of it. “What’re you going to do?”
Bodhi sighed. “I’m going to hunt his ass down, and kill him. His entire family will die, if not by my hands, then by our pack. Kellen has given me his blessing as well as his assurance he wants to dismember them all slowly. He said Jenna was too lenient when she collapsed the home with the fuckers inside. I tend to agree with him.” He smiled grimly.
Syn remained silent. The need for vengeance was one she understood, but her gut told her it wasn’t going to be quite the easy task her mate thought. No, she didn’t doubt for a minute her mate was a badass, however, the man they were facing wasn’t an honorable man. She’d seen inside Layla’s memories, things she wondered if Bodhi had truly paid attention to, or if he’d been too disturbed to notice the little things.
“Go ahead, say what’s on your mind. I can see you have an opinion, and while I may not agree, I do value your wisdom.”
“It’s not my past to tell, but I suggest when you speak to your sister, you listen, and try not to freak the fuck out. She’s suffered enough without her brother going apeshit on her. Not that I think you’ll hurt her, but Layla is going to need you to stay calm while she tells you her tale.” Syn held up a finger. “If she opens up enough to tell you that is. If not, then when you look into her mind, really look.”
“What aren’t you telling me? What did you see that I missed?” Bodhi came to stand in front of her, his hands holding her by the shoulders.
“I’m telling you to keep your shit cool, and don’t be an ass.” If it was possible, he seemed to grow without shifting. Hell, his entire body appeared to vibrate.
“I hate fucking riddles, and I most certainly don’t like it when my mate won’t just give me the deets I need so I’m not walking into a minefield.” Blunt, that was what Bodhi was.
Syn shook her head. “As your mate, and Layla’s sister-in-law to be, I am giving you both my respect. What I saw through your mind, wasn’t a true vision of mine. It could be a distorted version, so back the fuck up off me.” Mate or not, her wolf came to the surface, ready to protect them.
“The Dominguez family are, and were, vicious from what I saw. Hell, I was too young to really know anything, other than my friend Berto wasn’t able to play on certain days because he was in trouble. What did I miss?” He closed his eyes for a couple minutes, then they opened wide. “From what I saw through my sister’s mind, they not only killed, but they enjoyed it. The killing and torturing. Her husband made her watch. He got off on it. Shit, that’s what you were trying to tell me. I missed it when I connected with Layla.” He stared down at her, his heartbeat throbbed visibly though the vein in his neck.
“Yeah, I’m sure there’s more.” She licked her lips.

Author Bio

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Elle Boon lives in Middle-Merica as she likes to say…with her husband, two kids, and a black lab who is more like a small pony. She’d never planned to be a writer, but when life threw her a curve, she swerved with it, since she’s athletically challenged. She’s known for saying “Bless Your Heart” and dropping lots of F-bombs, but she loves where this new journey has taken her.
She writes what she loves to read, and that is romance, whether it’s erotic, Navy SEALs, or paranormal, as long as there is a happily ever after. Her biggest hope is that after readers have read one of her stories, they fall in love with her characters as much as she did. She loves creating new worlds, and has more stories just waiting to be written. Elle believes in happily ever afters, and can guarantee you will always get one with her stories.
Connect with Elle online, she loves to hear from you:
Author Web & Social Media links:
www.elleboon.com
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https://www.facebook.com/Elle-Boon-Author-1429718517289545/
https://twitter.com/ElleBoon1
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/188924878146358/
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/wewroteyourbookboyfriends/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120085.Elle_Boon
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Saturday, January 28, 2017

My Sexy Rainy Afternoon by Marie Tuhart #mysexysaturday

It's that time again for My Sexy Saturday.

Sorry I've been missing the last few weeks, somehow the reminder fell off my calendar and by the time I did remember it was too late.

This week's theme:  My Sexy Rainy Afternoon

I really don't have anything that fits the category just right, so I thought I'd share these 7 paragraphs from Melt My Heart (on sale if you click on the title).

          “What do you want me to do?” She hoped she could do what he asked, because she wanted so much to be Gabriel’s submissive. To feel the ultimate connection between sub and Dom, to go to the place she’s only read about. Subspace.

          “I want you to be yourself.” This time when he scooted forward, he took her hands in his. “Let go of all the expectations you think I have. We’re going to go back to some basics.”

          “But...” Basics were so boring. She wanted excitement, adventure...lust.

          He shook his head but his expression was encouraging. “Basics, Lexi. On Monday, you’ll meet me at the cafe at one like we’ve been doing. But this time, I want you to bring with you the document I’ll email you tonight.” He squeezed her hands. “It’s much like the first one we both filled out, but this time I want you to think about what you want from our time together.”

          “We did this two months ago.” She didn’t want to go backward but move forward in their relationship.

          “And we’re going to do it again.” There was a note of exasperation in his voice. “It is important.”

    She stifled a yawn as she nodded. She’d do it only because she wanted to keep exploring her submission with him. She wanted to make this work. I need to make this work.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's My Sexy Saturday.  Don't forget to check  out all the other my sexy bloggers this week.


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Friday, January 27, 2017

Book Blast: Inn Danger by Sherri Stewart

INN DANGER
by Sherri Stewart
A Historical Romance/suspense
Everything is going wrong at the Buttercup Inn. Following the fire, the accident, and the theft, Winnie's confidence as an innkeeper is at an all-time low. If it weren't for Matthew Lister's steadying presence and help, she'd sell the inn and move away from St. Augustine. What's more, the chemistry between Matt and herself is more than she can handle, especially since he answered her all-important question the wrong way. He didn't have a camel.
Winnie Flaherty doesn’t know whom to trust. Someone is trying to ruin her business and possibly even kill her. Her love life isn’t faring any better because, after all, how many potential suitors in St. Augustine own a camel?

Chapter One

The horse ignored her.
“Come on, Malarkey,” Winnie pleaded, “Help me. I can’t pull this cart out of the ditch by myself.” She blew an errant strand of hair from her damp forehead, scratched the horse’s withers, and surveyed the cart. Its tilted wheel stuck fast in the muddy grooves that skirted the road, and the wheel had separated from the cart.
“What am I going to do?” Why was this happening?
She peered up at the clouds. God, help.
She tugged at her damp, scratchy collar. The sun’s intensity was unusual for February in St. Augustine. The balmy Atlantic breezes failed to reach this backroad between Joe Buck’s General Store and the Buttercup Inn.
Winnie fingered Malarkey’s mane. “You are not helping. The icebox items will go bad if we don’t get a move on. Miss Simpson will throw a fit if I don’t serve clotted cream with her strawberries. She already thinks I’m a failure as an innkeeper.”
When her horse continued to ignore her, she tried bribery. Rifling through the bags, she extracted a carrot and held it close to Malarkey’s nose. “Doesn’t this smell good?”
He didn’t budge, so she tried appealing to his higher equine nature. “Malarkey, a good tea service means happy guests, which means more guests, and money for a real stable.”
She inched backwards, cajoling, prodding, and pleading. He didn’t budge.
She was tugging on his reins when her heel landed in a rut. Flailing arms had no effect on overcoming gravity. Like a dead weight, she fell, the stony surface of the road digging into her lace bloomers.
Moaning, she pushed herself to a seated position and assessed the situation. The heel of her shoe remained stuck in the rut—as stubborn and immovable as Malarkey. The carrot had flown in some unknown direction. Her summer frock was stained and covered with dust, and her shoe had no heel. Something dripped off her cheek—she dabbed at it. Russet-colored mud. She wiped it with her sleeve.
What else could go wrong? She sniffed the air. Was that a skunk she smelled?
Her ears perked up at the clip-clopping of approaching hooves. At last, someone to help save her parcels of food. She started to rise when the hem of her dress caught in her one good shoe and ripped.
“Great, now I’m not decent,” she whined to the horse.
Grasping a handful of torn cloth from the rear, she rose to her feet and balanced on her one good shoe.
She hoped whoever was coming wasn't that harridan, Miss Landis, who owned the inn across the street from her Buttercup Inn. Maybe that was why she smelled skunk. She smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt and tried to appear dignified.
A man rounded the corner, slowed, and stopped six feet from her.
“May I be of service?”
She held back the impulse to roll her eyes. Nothing irked her more than people who stated the obvious. Despite the sun’s glare, she caught the amused lines that skirted his eyes, and her anger flared inside.
That was all she needed—a smug Northerner. Winnie knew almost every one of the nearly two thousand residents of St. Augustine. He was not from around here—of that she was sure. His stifled grin wasn’t lost on her.
He slid off his horse, tipped his bowler, and proffered a hand. Thick raven hair framed his tanned face.
Something about him was familiar. Strong chin. Aquiline nose. Laughing, kind eyes. It couldn’t be the boy from grammar school. This man was tall, rugged, and sure of himself.
“Matthew?” She wiped her hand on her skirt and took his hand. “What happened to that lad who followed me home from school every day?”
“If it isn’t Winnifred Flaherty. As I recall, someone needed to be there to pick you up when you fell off your horse or the playground swing or whatever.” He studied the cart. “And that need still exists, I see.”
The skin on the back of her neck prickled. “It’s Winnie now, and yes, I was a tad accident-prone when I was younger. It wasn’t easy playing games at recess in a dress. But I’m all grown up now, so I can handle things myself.” An untimely dollop of mud dripped from her hair onto her dress with a plop. She dabbed at it with the back of her hand, hoping he hadn’t noticed.
He ambled to the cart and squatted to examine its wheel. “The shaft is broken, but I can fix it.” He rose and laid his hand on the horse’s mane. “Malarkey? Hey boy, I remember you.” With a soft voice and a gentle touch, he guided the horse forward.
Malarkey snorted playfully. Within a moment, Matthew hauled the cart onto the road.
She gaped at him. “How did you do that? You must have a way with animals.”
“It’s a gift. It comes in handy when you’re a veterinarian.” He gave her the barest glance as he patted the horse’s flank and spoke quiet words in his ear. He picked up the carrot she had dropped earlier and fed it to him. Malarkey strutted and huffed, enjoying the attention.
She crossed her arms and eyed the bags of food growing warm in the hot sun. “I don’t know how I’m going to get those parcels home.”
“Let me see what I can do.” When Matthew bent down to examine the underside of the cart again, Winnie stared at his back, irritated at his success with the horse. She didn’t appreciate his smirk. This wasn’t the best of days for her, and he should be more compassionate, as he had been in grammar school—when all she had to do was crook her finger and he’d come running.
His broad shoulders rippled under his shirt. He certainly had grown into his body. The combination of gentleness and strength awakened dormant feelings inside her, which overpowered her mouth.
“You’ve filled out.” As soon as the words spilled out, she covered her lips with her fist. Her gaze dropped to the ground. Hopefully, he hadn't heard.
When she glanced up, he was shaking his head. “So, you still say whatever comes to mind.”
Her cheeks warmed. No, she wouldn’t bite back. Instead she changed the subject. “Last time I saw you was in tenth grade when you announced you were moving out west. I heard you joined the army.”
“That is correct.” He opened his mouth to say more but then pressed his lips together in a narrow line.
When he didn’t offer more information, she asked, “what brings you back here?”
“My grandfather. He died in early 1879. His house has sat empty for two years. I’m staying there while I settle his estate, but I’m also searching for a place to open a veterinarian clinic. My cousin is here as well. You remember Mel Maislin?” He dropped to the ground and shimmied under the cart.
“How could I forget boisterous Mel? All the times he got in trouble for his pranks on the teacher or some unassuming classmate.” Mel and Matthew had been an inseparable pair, but Matthew was the kinder, smarter, and quieter one, who stood back and allowed his cousin to enjoy the limelight.
School memories came billowing back in waves as she stared at Matt, lying on the dusty road under the cart. The time when he left his group of friends to help her up and dust her off when she fell out of a tree after trying to retrieve a ball. And that dark day in eighth grade when he’d insisted on walking her home from school after she received news that her father had died.
Even then, she had a crush on him, not that she would have admitted it to anyone but God. Although he was a few years older, his desk was behind hers because Lister came after Flaherty in the alphabet. Whenever she glanced back, he met her eyes with a wink. It made her blush when he caught her staring at him.
She said, “Sorry about your grandfather. I know how hard it is to lose someone.” She cleared her throat. “Isn’t Mel at Yale?”
“He just finished his first year of law school. Still loves to have a good time.” He rose to his feet, removed a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped his hands. “So what have you been up to?”
“I run the Buttercup Inn. Mother passed a year ago, and now it is up to me to keep it going.”
“I’m sorry about your mother. She was a wonderful woman.”
This grown-up Matthew Lister intrigued her. He didn’t hesitate a moment to get his clothes dirty. Her interest triggered that all-important question—the one never too far from her mind. “By any chance, do you have a camel?”
“What?” He stared at her for a moment, then pointed back. “Just the horse.” After retrieving his hat, he mounted his steed.
She limped over to him and patted his horse. “Thank you for helping me … again and again. Why don’t you and Mel come by the inn for tea. It’s the least I can do.”
He put on his hat. “What would your husband say?”
“I’m not married.” She forced the next words out. “But I am already taken.”
A groove formed between his brows. “Are you engaged? Do I know him?”
“No and no.” She couldn’t tell him the truth because he’d laugh at her. She was determined to be faithful to her promise. He continued to stare at her with head cocked, so she said, “It’s a long story. You don’t want to know.”
“Humor me.”
She hesitated, but she owed him something for helping her since she couldn’t afford to pay him. “Remember Fran and Lizbeth from school? The year after you moved away, the girls in our class—all six of them became obsessed with finding out who they would marry. I didn’t care, but everyone else did. Fran and Lizbeth even paid for a session with Miss Miranda, the fortune-teller who lived above the general store.”
Matt took a brush from his saddlebag and rubbed his horse’s black mane. “Why didn’t you care?”
“Father had died. Mother and I were in survival mode. We had more important things to think about.” Like money for food, she thought. “The girls talked me into going with them to Miss Miranda’s, but I chickened out at the last minute and waited outside. It didn’t seem right to trust a fortune-teller for such an important decision and to have to pay for it.”
“Wise choice, but you haven’t answered my question.”
“I’ve said enough.” She didn’t add another word because he wouldn’t understand. She didn’t tell him that she preferred to get her answers from the Bible. She didn’t tell him she’d prayed for God to reveal her future husband’s identity. When God didn’t answer her, she let her Bible fall open and pointed with her eyes closed. “And behold, he stood by the camels at the well,” the verse in Genesis said. Because that piece of information seemed so obscure, she prayed again and followed the same procedure. This time she pointed at the name Melchizedek.
Even though Florida had no camels, she held onto her promise from God. Her husband Melchizedek would have a camel. When anyone showed her the slightest interest but clearly didn’t qualify, she responded with, “I’m already taken.”
He broke into her thoughts. “You’re still a daydreamer. I put the wheel back on and fashioned a temporary shaft. You’ll make it to the inn, but I will follow behind in case it doesn’t hold. I would be happy to come by tomorrow and put a new shaft on it.”
“That is very generous of you.” Her shoulders loosened. “Of course, I want to pay you for your work.”
“Not necessary. My pleasure.” His eyes were kind, but his jaw tightened. “I want to warn you. The break on the shaft was a clean one.”
“What does that mean?”
“The wood was cut with a saw.  It may have been done intentionally.”

Author Bio

Once she passed the bar, Sherri’s immediate plan five years ago was to practice immigration law in Atlanta, but God had other plans for her. She teaches twelfth grade English in Orlando during the day and writes romantic suspense novels in her spare time at night. Her first two novels, Come Out of Hiding and A Well-founded Fear of Death won awards at writers’ conferences in Florida. Inn Danger, which won a Tapestry award, is her third novella. Sherri lives with her husband Bobby, son Joshua, and dog Lilith near Orlando. She enjoys golf, walking, reading novels, trivia, the Bible, and her friends and family.

Author Web & Social Media links:
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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Catching Zia by Becca Jameson

Welcome to the Spring Training series. Spring Training follows the lives of several major league baseball players as they deal with the fame and reality of life and love. This first book in the series, Catching Zia, features the second baseman and his desire to meet a woman who isn’t after him for his money or his celebrity status.
With two strikes against him, this baseball player is desperate to make contact.
Zia’s main passion in life is art. And she’d gladly spend days on end sketching the hunky man who stops to admire her work while jogging through the park one sunny afternoon.
Brett has been ogling Zia for days. The sketch in her lap provides the perfect opening. When it’s immediately obvious she has no idea he’s a major league baseball player, he relishes the opportunity to take a gorgeous woman out on a normal date.
But what Brett doesn’t know is that Zia grew up with a compulsive liar, and his omission is more than she can tolerate. Second chances are rare in this life, and somehow Brett manages to squander that one also. He’s got an uphill battle if he wants to fight for this strong-willed woman.

Favorite Quotes

“I want to sit in the stands with you and hold your hand and share my passion.”

“I’d really like to move on to the part where I make you scream my name.”

“Artists don’t really like people to refer to our art as coloring, big guy.”
“Professional baseball players don’t really like to have their practices referred to as tossing the ball around with their friends,”

Buy Links

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/2iDGarG

Meet The Author

Becca Jameson is the best-selling author of the Wolf Masters series and The Fight Club series. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two kids. With over 50 books written, she has dabbled in a variety of genres, ranging from paranormal to BDSM. When she isn’t writing, she can be found jogging with her dog, scrapbooking, or cooking. She doesn’t sleep much, and she loves to talk to fans, so feel free to contact her through e-mail, Facebook, or her website.
…where Alphas dominate…

Author Web & Social Media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becca.jameson.18
twitter: @beccajameson or: https://twitter.com/beccajameson

GIVEAWAY

Win an Ecopy of Catching Zia !!


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Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Audio Book Tour: Not a Game by Cardeno C.

Not a Game: A Contemporary Gay Romance Novel

A new job, a new city, and hopefully a new life. When chubby gamer Oliver Barnaby receives a job offer from the best boutique game developer in the country, he leaves his family and his less than spectacular existence in Oklahoma without a second's hesitation. Determined to change more than his career and his geography, Oliver implements a plan to finally land a boyfriend. Step one is improving his skills in the bedroom.
Attractive, successful, charismatic Jaime Snow has a life other people envy. His already booming business is growing. He isn't lacking friends. And he has no trouble finding a date. But there's an emptiness in Jaime's heart and a hole in his life that only the right man can fill.
When Oliver and Jaime end up at the same bar at the same time, they each see something they want in the other. Going to bed together that first night is easy. Building the lifetime relationship they both desperately crave will require trust, time, and a little understanding.
©2016 Cardeno C. (P)2016 Cardeno C.
LISTEN TO A SAMPLE HERE 
ALSO AVAILABLE ON AUDIBLE UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cardeno C - Logo
Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever- after sunset.
Cardeno's Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, "You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day."

 

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win an audio copy of Not a Game by Cardeno C !!
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