Welcome! If you've joined me from Betty Bolte's blog, thank you for taking time out of your day! If you missed her, be sure to visit as her blogs are always awesome! PRETEND twitter pitches on your blog - From Xio Axelrod: Twitter pitch-a-thon - Pitch your WIP or latest release to us in 140 characters or less. No cheating! ;) EOD specialist Matt Stone considers relationships more deadly than IEDs. Can his buddy's sister & her daughter disarm his defenses? I would love your feedback and comments! Now it's Tracy Gee's turn and she never fails to deliver! Love alpha males and the strong women who love them? Ever consider there are people who have exceptional abilities? Visit Wiccan Haus, where paranormal beings and humans come to heal their bodies, minds, and hearts. Shifting Hearts by Dominique Eastwick Shifting Hearts Book 1 in the Wiccan Haus Series By Dominique Eastwick Decadent Publishing Release date July 31st 2015 Heat Level 4 Isbn 978-1-61333-841-4 ASIN: B011T3M5OA The last of his kind… Rekkus is the last of the great Black Tiger weres, and he’s happy to stay that way. Working as head of security for the Wiccan Haus, a magical spa for inner healing, he has enough danger to keep him busy. Unfortunately, the Fates are not content with him being comfortable. Alone and discouraged… Dana has walked away from everything—her fiancé, family, job, and apartment. A stay at the Wiccan Haus may be the only way she can move on. But what she finds isn’t what she expects, nor is it what she thought she’d been seeking. If they can open themselves up they might discover that being together can be better than being alone and learn that passion can burn in those who least expect it. Meet the unusual residents of the Wiccan Haus. The staff can get a little hairy, and not all of the guests eat what’s served in the dining hall. But the Rowan siblings do what they can to make the resort a place of healing and peace, using all of their years of practice. At the Haus, where humans and paranormals reside side by side, everyone in need of the services are welcome. If some happens to fall in love then all the better. Welcome to the Wiccan Haus. Presale Links Amazon/ ARe / Kobo / Amazon UK Excerpt “It’s not safe for you here with me. I left you alone last night, but, if you stay, I’m not sure I can honor a request to stop a second time.” “I felt it, too,” she blurted, unable to keep it to herself any longer. Rekkus moved so fast, she never saw him actually take a step. Strong, wet arms wrapped around her, and her breasts pressed against his chest. His eyes searched hers. He must have seen what he searched for because his lips were on hers with feverous desire before she formed another thought, demanding she open for him. And no part of her considered denying him anything. Butterflies churned in her stomach until she shook. In all the years with Frank, and it had been a great many, she’d never felt this, like fire threatened to engulf her. Dana wound her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his damp hair and deepening the kiss. His moan allowed her to gather the nerve and strength to urge him forward. He forced her past her comfort zone into accepting the sexy seductress screaming to be let out. She knew what he most desired because she wanted it too. Wanted him, all of him, every naked inch, right there, next to the lake, not even a ten-minute walk from the Haus. Anyone might stumble across them, and she didn’t care. It almost added to the allure of having him. What she needed it to be. Wiccan Haus Order of Books Shifting Hearts by Dominique Eastwick A Man Worth Fighting For by Sara Daniel An Apple Away by Kate Richards Siren's Serenade by Dominique Eastwick Psychic Lies by Sara Daniel Shifter's Dance By Vanessa North Unveil my Heart by Nya Rayne Shifter's Song By Vanessa North Finding Her A-Muse-ment by Rebecca Royce Guarding His Heart by Carolyn Spear Lifebound by Leigh Daley The 13th Guest by Rebecca Royce A Bride Worth Fighting For by Sara Daniel Coming Soon Healing his Soul's Mate by Dominique Eastwick Sorcerer’s Legacy by Carolyn Spear About the Author Award winning author Dominique Eastwick currently calls North Carolina home with her husband, two children, one crazy lab, and one lazy cat. Dominique spent much of her early life moving from state to state as a Navy Brat. Because of that traveling is one of her favorite pastimes. When she’s not writing, you can find Dominique with her second love…her camera. Connect with Dominique: Blog Twitter : @DominiEastwick Tumblr Tsu Newsletter Welcome! Each week we tackle a challenge and this week it's from Susan Scott Shelley: A player's walk-up song (aka Entrance Theme), whether he's heading to the pitcher's mound or the batter's box, can tell a lot about him. What song would you choose for yours?
For Ian Branson, a sorcerer and descendant of Myrrdin (who inspired the Merlin legend) also from the Wiccan Haus series, he distances himself from love for the sake of duty. I choose for him Jimmy Buffett's "Love in a Library" as he finds his soulmate there. Libraries hold their own kind of magic as you can fall into other realms and become who you want. Thanks for popping in today. Please leave a comment; I love to read them! I hope you come back soon! Head on over to Victoria Barbour's blog. She's sharing her own hero's theme songs!
It's that time again. If you're coming over from Brenda Margriet's blog, happy to have you! If you missed her, be sure to pop back over. Her offerings are always exciting! Vacation, work and family have kept me from my blog posts but now I'm back, baby! This week's prompt from Fiona Riplee inspires me. The setting: woods, 3 AM. Write a Flash Fiction of 500 words or less that includes the words bubbles, mindful, and deep. In fact this was a kick in the pants to get words on paper instead of contemplating names, plot points, and characterization in my already cluttered mind. This would be the opening chapter for a novella I'm starting to submit to a shared world. What do you think? “Are we there yet?” Even half-asleep, her inquiry dripped with sarcasm, tinged with anger. If she’d asked once, she’d asked five hundred times between alternately chomping on a huge wad of gum and popping bubbles. Nothing in his Army training prepared Tanner Stevens for dealing with kids, much less his teenage goddaughter. Mindful that the girl was grieving, though her smart ass comments didn’t reveal that she missed her parents, he inhaled the pine-fresh air before answering. “No. Probably another couple of hours.” Interminably long hours of open-mouthed gum chewing and waspish one word answers once she woke up. What had he done to deserve this torture? As soon as the thought popped into his head, he shoved it away. Unfair to blame Jim, his late best friend, and his wife Becky. Certainly they could not have known some jackass would take one too many tequila shots and cross the center line on the rural North Carolina road. Ashley turned toward the window and mumbled an expletive. He should address it but she wouldn’t be his problem for much longer. No reason to poke a resting tiger. There was no doubt she was angry at being orphaned: mad at the drunk driver, her parents, at God. Even him for taking her to her father’s sister who lived deep in the Black Hills of South Dakota. And she’d been acting strangely too. Even for his distant recollection of teenage girls. In the hotel room, she’d paced anxiously by the window at night until he’d told her to calm the hell down. Add to that, she’d been whimpering and growling in her sleep, like an animal. She probably watched way too many of those vampire/werewolf movies. Still, it made for an uneasy night. To be honest, it creeped him out a bit. If she were staying with him, weekly visits to a adolescent shrink would be top of the list. But she wasn’t and since he wasn’t getting any rest with her in the next bed reenacting Teenage Werewolf in London, driving through the night seemed the best bet. It was not such a great idea at 3AM. As if on cue, a wolf howled in the distance. Who could live in the middle of nowhere? The narrow ribbon of two lanes snaked between towering Ponderosa pines and while the road was deserted, an awareness prickled the hairs on the back of his neck. It was same sixth sense that saved him countless missions in Baghdad. Someone was watching… Yes, just a tease. Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave me feedback in the comments. Now it's time to visit Leslie Hachtel, whose stories will take you on an emotional roller coaster. She's fantastic!
Flash fiction (hammer, chisel, coping saw?)Welcome! We've been challenged by Fiona Riplee to write a flash fiction piece of 250 words or less about a lost love, utilizing the words: hammer, chisel, and coping saw. If you're joining me from Tracey Gee's blog, I'm sure you loved her offering. Let me set up my scene. This is from my work in progress about former priest Nick Serafini returning home to work in his family's construction business. His brother assigns him as foreman on his first love Beth's renovation of her recently inherited house. Nick pulled the truck past the house, back to the barn and parked. As he stepped out of the truck, a loud knock echoed. He stopped in his tracks. Could it be the vandals again? He ran quickly through what was at risk in the barn. He sighed, realizing the glass blocks had been delivered Friday. The closest weapon he could put his hands on was a tire iron he had shoved under his front seat. Ready to encounter some teenaged pranksters, he crept to the door and peeked around. What he saw jumpstarted his dormant libido. Beth leaned over a piece of wood with a coping saw. Dressed in loose threadbare jeans and a clingy old t-shirt, she looked the same as she had in high school. Struggling to cut a joint with the flimsy flexing blade, she let fly a uncharacteristically colorful euphemism. He approached her, maybe a little too quietly. With a shriek so strident he was stunned the glass blocks didn’t shatter, she turned, swinging the saw. In a split second, he grabbed her wrist and disarmed her. Perversely, this woman with a deadly tool in her hand had his pulse pounding. Her eyes wide in fright squinted in aggravation. Before he could change his mind, he pressed his lips to hers. For a moment, he was sixteen again. He pulled away before she could respond and their current relationship changed forever. “A hammer and chisel works better for that joint.” If you haven't visited with J.J. Devine, head on over for her awesome flash fiction scene. I'll see you over there!
4/20/2015 Romance Writers Weekly Mini Flash Fiction-4/21/15 #flash #lovewritechat #kiss #romanceRead Now The kissWelcome all visitors from Dani Jace's blog. Isn't she fabulous, writing those hot and hunky heroes? The week's challenge: In 10 words or less, describe a kiss. Include the words pink & sweet. Her kiss, a soft pink salvation for his tortured soul. Now onto the marvelous Mikki Cober! Let's see how she handled this challenge!
Two Chrome Extensions You Need!If you cut and paste often online, you need these two Chrome browsers extensions: Tab Scissors and Tab Glue. Easily split the browser window, rearrange the tabs in each browser half. Then glue them back together and get one with the rest of your work.
I'm hosting the truly lovely Gemma Brocato today to celebrate her new release Bed of Roses. Since her story centers around a single woman suddenly becoming a teenage girl's guardian, I thought this "Top Ten" would give us a great insight into her heroine's personality. So, tell us, Gemma, what are Malin's Top Ten adjustments to living with a teen?
Hi, Carolyn. Thanks so much for having me over today. You’ve certainly challenged me with listing only ten adjustments that the main character in Bed Of Roses has to make when a teenager suddenly moves into her home. Set-Up In Bed Of Roses, Malin Eckert’s mother, Harriet, abandoned Mal at the age of 12. And in the twenty years since Harriet left, Mal hasn’t had any contact with her. Now, her mother has died in a drunk driving accident and Mal is stunned to find out that Harriet remarried and started a whole new family. In a karmic twist of fate, Mal is named as guardian of the Harriet’s other daughter, 15 year-old, Gaby. You know there is going to have to be a lot of adjusting going on. Here’s Mal’s Top Ten List:
One of my favorite aspects of this story was watching the relationship between the two sisters flower and develop. A woman raising a child from birth has a long-standing relationship with teenage that serves them during those difficult years. Mal had to learn quickly what it is to raise and guide a teen. She isn’t always certain she is up to the task. But when push comes to shove, she doesn’t want to lose her new sister. I hope your readers will enjoy the story and the relationship between Mal and Gaby as much as I have. Thanks again for having me over today, Carolyn. I really enjoyed it. Any time, Gemma! I love your Five Senses series, the premise of it, and your true-to-life heroines. For excerpts and links, read on! Book Title: Bed of Roses (A Five Senses Novel) Author: Gemma Brocato Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: April 7, 2015 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions Bed of Roses Book #4 - The Five Senses Series This close to Valentine’s Day Malin Eckert’s flower shop is entering their busiest season. As if the added work isn’t enough, her father’s drinking has spiraled out of control and Mal discovers she’s been named guardian of a fifteen-year-old sibling she never knew about. To make matters worse, Mal’s crushing on a customer, a serial dater who drops by the shop with alarming regularity to send flowers to other women. Gunnar Sims never had the best luck with women, a fact that doesn’t stop his growing attraction to his florist. His new business is losing money and he should be concentrating on that, but instead finds Mal an enticing distraction. In spite of her best intentions to keep Gunnar firmly in the friend zone, Mal finds herself falling for the classically handsome gym owner. As her affection for Gunnar and her sister, Gabriella, grows, Mal’s heart hangs in the balance when it appears both could be taken away from her. Content Warning: Hard bodies, spoiled princesses, and a levelheaded woman who know how to smell the roses. After a two minute warm-up she upped the speed and incline on her machine. She increased the sound level of her music to match. The volume hit earsplitting range when she entered the final quarter hour of her ninety-minute workout. Her quads and glutes burned, accompanied by the screaming of her shoulders and arms. Thanks to the pain that drove away any residual anxiety about Gaby moving in, she put this workout in the win column. The teen had run on a treadmill for forty-five minutes then moved to the weights. After a quick scan of the weight floor, she located Gaby on an abdominal crunch machine below. Mal upped the resistance on the elliptical trainer once more. Gripping the handles, she dug deeper. And nearly jumped out of her skin as someone waved their hand in front of her face. Stumbling out of one of the footpads, she pitched forward, rescued at the last minute when Gunnar Sims grasped her upper arm and jerked her upright. Slapping her hand on the stop button, she shut down the machine. She jerked her ear buds out. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He grinned at her, the apology turning his Nordic blue eyes the color of an Arizona sky. “My fault. I was zoned out. Thinking.” She snagged the towel draped over her water bottle and mopped her face. It shouldn’t matter that her friend saw her with her hair plastered to her face and sweat streaming down her neck like a fast moving creek. But it did. There he stood, looking better than Chris Hemsworth, all Thor-like and drool-worthy. His green shirt accented his blond hair and added color to his cheeks. It also stretched so nicely across his chest, her fingers itched to touch. Dammit, men were not supposed to be that handsome when in the presence of sweaty women. Even the light scruff on his face looked delicious. The urge to test how it felt on her cheek replaced the destructive tension that had driven her to the gym in the first place. But replacing one vice with another wasn’t a good idea. Only her liver would be hurt if she drank. Getting involved with Gunnar Sims guaranteed a broken heart. He consulted the electronic display on her machine, his eyebrows lifting. “You’ve been at it for a long time. Were you atoning for some sinful food indulgence?” He handed her the water bottle. Sinful thoughts, more like. She dragged her mind out of the gutter. “No carbs today. Just using my time on the machine to work out some issues.”Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying. After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue a career as a romance author. Gemma focuses mainly on contemporary romance, with an occasional detour into science fiction romance. Her titles are available in digital and print-on-demand at all major retailers. a Rafflecopter giveawayMeet Nick and BethSo Victoria Barbour wants to know about the characters in our work-in-progress. If you're visiting from Beth Carter's blog, come on it and make yourself at home! If you missed her, you've got to meander back and check out her cast of characters. My work-in-progress, tentatively titled just "Ghost Story" until I settle on something better, is the first in my Back in the Boondocks series based on a few small counties I've lived in. I grew up in a very large county with a small, rural population where everyone knew everyone else and most likely were related in some way. It mattered if you were a "come here" or could trace your roots back to the original colonists. If you grew up in the rural South, you're probably nodding your head right now. Don't get me wrong, I love the simplicity, the groundedness of growing up in such a small community but there are certain realities you have to accept, live with or fight against. One such issue is gossip. Everyone knows your business. Or will as soon as Miss Smith lunches with Mrs. Jones. Or Cousin Emma Jean picks up her prescription for her nerves from Mr. Anderson at the pharmacy, bless her heart. Nick Serafini doesn't want to deal with the Women's Club ladies trying to "help" him by setting him up with their daughters. In fact, he doesn't confide in anyone except his mother that he's left the priesthood. The only reason he's returned to Yates County is to help save the family business following his father's recent death. He can't wait to get out of town to figure out the rest of his life and get away from the cursed location of a teenage tragedy that's haunted him every day since. Widow Beth Strickland returns home with her young daughter, finding a new purpose as she's inherited her aunt's historical home. Requiring new electrical, plumbing and, for the heat of Tidewater Virginia's summer, central air conditioning. Undaunted by the ghost stories she's heard all her life, she hires Serafini Construction to renovate the property, unaware that her foreman will be her high school love, Nick. Will the renovation reawaken passions between Nick and Beth while spirits renew their attacks? Can they unravel the mysteries tied to founding families or end up like other poor souls who've underestimated the power of conjured spirits? My goal is to finish this first installment this summer. Meanwhile, I have two Wiccan Haus novellas releasing this summer and a contribution to a box set. Busy year, but I can't wait for you to meet these characters, each who has a little piece of me.
Time to meet PJ Fiala's characters. I'll see you over there! |
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Shifters & Spice (e-book 99 cents!) AuthorRomance writer. Paranormal and contemporary. Mother of two and wife of perfect husband. Love the environment, travel and reading. Subscribe:Archives
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