Secrets about My Favorite Genre by Pamela Spradlin Mahajan – Guest Blog and Giveaway

December 2, 2024 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pamela Spradlin Mahajan will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Secrets about My Favorite Genre

One thing I have learned as I make my way along this writing journey is that, no matter the genre, giving the reader a question they want answered is an important part of keeping someone invested in the story.

Initially it may seem plausible that only mysteries or thrillers need a compelling question—but that’s not really true. I first noted this truth while watching some particular series with my husband (I don’t remember which one and it doesn’t particularly matter for the sake of this argument). I asked a question out loud, something along the lines of, “But if she is in a relationship with that guy, why is she acting as if she is single?”

It wasn’t a particularly interesting or vital concern, but the character’s behavior created a sense of incongruence within me that I wanted to correct. One plus two equals three so why is this coming out to four? Setting up even a small question your readers want answered, whether the genre you write in is romance, historical, or mystery, is a great way to hook them.

I took this idea for A VERY RETRO CHRISTMAS and ran with it. While there is a heartwarming romance at the center of my story, there is also a bit of mystery and scandal. I set this up early by demonstrating conflict between two characters. Why don’t they get along? Why does she treat her daughter-in-law so poorly? This question is answered later in the book.

So one of the secrets of any genre is to confuse your readers a bit, knock them off balance, and give them a question—even the smallest one—that they want answered. Then drag it out a bit and deliver the payoff of an answer at the climax of your book. It’s a surefire way to keep them turning the page.

What if the future you always dreamed of, was actually in the past?

Social worker Cat has no intention of falling in love or getting married—much to her mother’s chagrin. While mourning her paternal grandmother’s passing, Cat opens an heirloom left by the matriarch—a coveted Christmas ornament—and finds herself transported to December 1936.

Handyman Eli spends his days doing odd jobs around town and his nights hammering away on his house—whatever it takes to keep his mind off the awful year he’s had. When a mysterious young woman drops into his life seemingly overnight and wants to rent his guest house, he is at first annoyed and then more than a little intrigued.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Cat stared into the young face of what was certainly her Grandma Lana. How was this possible? Minutes ago, Cat had been unpacking the contents of what remained of her grandmother’s Christmas decorations—the grandmother who passed away a few months ago.

And now here she was sitting in what was supposedly her hometown with a young version of Lana—a version who looked to be in her late teens.

Had Cat finally lost her mind? Was that the explanation for all this? Had her grandmother’s death been too much for her to bear? Or had she contracted some sort of virus that a sturdy dose of pills could fix?

“Won’t your mother and daddy be expecting you home soon?” Maribel asked Lana.

“They’ll understand, once I explain what’s happened.”

Lana laid a hand on Cat’s shoulder and a feeling of warmth permeated Cat’s entire body. Cat studied her grandmother. She had clear, warm-toned skin without a wrinkle in sight. Her eyes were a clear blue, her cheeks were round, and her yellow-blonde hair was styled into a soft wave.

Lana’s dress was delightfully retro—a floral print number with a collar, buttons at the chest, and a matching fabric belt at her waist.

“What were you doing here with Eli earlier, Mar?” Lana said.

Maribel, who had vivid red lipstick and some kind of undergarment that made her chest look like two grenades ready to strike, pursed her lips. “Just trying to ease the man back into the dating pool.”

About the Author: Pamela Spradlin Mahajan is the author of women’s fiction and romance. Her debut novel, “Skye, Revised,” was released in early 2024. Pamela has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing from Missouri State University and a Masters from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Her recent short stories have appeared in the online literary journal “They Call Us” and she has been honored in the WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. A native of Springfield, Mo., Pamela lives with her family in Kansas City, where in addition to writing women’s fiction and romance, she also works as a copywriter, journalist, and reseller.

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Heroes, Holidays, and Hope by Laura M. Baird – Interview and Giveaway

December 2, 2024 By 1 Comment

We are chatting with Laura M. Baird who is visiting with us today to promote the upcoming release of HEROES, HOLIDAYS, AND HOPE, Volume 2, written by a group of Veterans and Veterans’ family members who are also bestselling and award-winning romance authors. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift certificate.

Sacrifice. Valor. Patriotism.

They fought courageously on the battlefield. Now they’re fighting for love.

We are a group of Veterans and Veterans’ family members who are also bestselling and award-winning romance authors. We are back with Heroes, Holidays, and Hope: Volume 2, our second limited edition, military holiday romance collection that also supports Soldiers’ Angels. Their mission is to provide aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families.

Do you believe in Halloween magic? The stories are contemporary military romances taking place around and during Halloween. From closely held secrets, to ghosts, sexy adult costume parties, and things that go bump in the night – this a bewitching “must have” collection. With various tropes and steam levels, there is something for every reader to enjoy.

Come out from the shadows and pick up your copy today (gift some copies too!) – together we can make a huge difference.

Participating authors include: Laura M. Baird, Caterina Campbell, Lynn Spangler, D.C. Stone, Sadira Stone, Dania Voss

Laura is the second oldest of four who grew up in Florida, since her family moved there from Virgina when she was three.

“My sister and I fought like cats and dogs for a period of time in our early teens, but we’ve become the best of friends, texting every day,” she said. “She still lives on the East Coast while I’m on the West Coast.”

Laura has been published since 2017 and is honored to have become an award winning and best-selling author of nearly forty contemporary romances. She is also a US Army veteran.

In many of her books, she includes either a military or veteran element, but she began writing military romances in 2020. 1001 Dark Knights put out a call for lesser-known authors to contribute a story of 5K words that would be published in an anthology that would be offered to readers for free, for three months.

“They wanted to help authors gain exposure, which was marvelous!” she said. “And of course I jumped on the opportunity; and my story, Love and Honor, was among the stories chosen.”

It didn’t take long before other stories came to her, and she published the first volume of her MILITARY ROMANCE COLLECTION. It is offered free at digital retailers.

“I want to entice readers to jump into my series and be eager for more,” she explained. “And with nearly every anthology in which I contribute a story, it’s one more that will eventually become part of another volume in my series.”

Her story contribution to HEROES, HOLIDAYS, AND HOPE – Volume 2, “Promise It’s Forever, is an enemies-to-lovers, age gap with fun, snarky banter.

“I had envisioned it to be a spicy one, but as the story unfolded, I didn’t feel it appropriate to slip in a sex scene just for the sake of having a sex scene,” she told me. “Very unlike me NOT to have a spicy romance scene.”

As a child, she thought she wanted to do a lot of things: teacher, nurse, photographer, helicopter pilot, scuba diver.

“I remember watching the National Geographic channel with my parents, thinking how cool it’d be to travel the world and take pictures of different places, people, animals. Then I wanted to fly helicopters for a search and rescue team,” she said. “My biggest reason for joining the Army was to fly, but the recruiter wasn’t about to tell me I’d never make the reach requirements. He said, ‘I can get you on the flightline.’ And he did.”

She became an electronic repair person for equipment in fixed winged aircraft.

“Boy, was I naive,” she admitted. “But I wouldn’t have changed a thing, because it led to terrific experiences and lifelong friends; and most importantly, meeting my hubby and having a wonderful family.”

She and her husband met while they were both serving in the Army at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, and have been married for thirty-four years. After they got out of the army, they settled in Idoho (where he was from) and began their family.

She told me that she was an extreme introvert in school, with a handful of close friends.

“I would’ve loved to have been more outgoing and encouraged to try a sport or a club… something. I know my shyness and reluctance to stray from my small sphere carried on into adulthood. It becomes ingrained in a person,” she explained. “But my husband has helped me throughout our marriage to step beyond perceived boundaries. He encouraged me to return to school for dental hygiene in my late 20s.”

Laura started writing in her mid-20s, but with family and going back to college, she set it aside. It wasn’t until she was in her mid-40s that she started thinking about writing more seriously.

“Between learning the craft, the market, and the publishing industry, it was overwhelming,” she admitted. “All I could do was try, and if something didn’t work, I’d try another way. Every step has been a learning process, and I continue to learn as each year passes.”

She writing schedule is very varied. While she was still working as a dental hygienist, she would make time whenever she could, mostly on the weekends. Once she reduced her hours, she would discipline herself to dedicate hours to writing, depending on how her WIP as flowing – some days she’d be more motivated in the morning, other days it would be in the evening.

Now that she’s no longer working outside the home, she typically starts her day with a stretching routine and some sort of workout. She tackles any needed chores (laundry, food prep) followed by a shower then writing.

“If my flow is good, I can literally spend hours on my laptop,” she said. “I have to force myself to get up every hour to stretch and move around, walk my stairs a few times, otherwise I’ll pay for it later with a stiff neck or aching back. Then there are some days I don’t write at all, whether I’ve hit a wall or my time is occupied with errands, appointments, or helping my mom (shopping for her or taking her to appointments).”

“What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?” I wondered.

“The elements I look for in a good book are character development and effortless flow. When I can read a story that completely consumes me, makes me feel invested for the characters, and makes me realize three hours just went by in the blink of an eye, that’s great writing. When I write, I picture my story unfolding in real life, as if I’m part of the story. I put myself in each character’s POV to see what’s happening, feel their emotions, and how they’re going to react to any given situation. I want good flow. I can be a bit anal when it comes to details, so I have to ask myself, what’s really relevant to this scene/story? What’s going to keep the reader either engaged or skimming through.”

Recently, she was asked to join a shared world project involving shifters in a major city, and the common elements in each story was a particular bar and a Shiftergoverning agency.

“Now it’s up to me to decide what shifter will be my main character. Will it be both MMC & FMC? What kind of shifter? What are their abilities? What predicament do they find themselves in and how do they resolve it? I’ve barley begun to write out some notes, but I’m getting very excited to see what I can come up with and if it’ll be worthy of the shared world.”

She’s also currently working on two novellas, both with wedding themes, that will be included in upcoming anthologies.

“For two years, I’ve really loved writing for anthologies in order to challenge myself as well as gain new exposure, find new readers,” she explained. “I’ve got loose notes for the stories, so it’ll take more fleshing out, but one involves a wedding crasher. He finds it exciting and interesting to slip into wedding venues and observe the bride, groom, and attendees. He encounters one of the bride’s maids who is a bit older and a lot jaded about love. An age-gap, reverse grumpy/sunshine. And of course, eventually he’s going to change her mind about finding love again.”

I asked her to describe her writing space.

“I move around throughout the house when I write, depending on what hubby’s doing and if I need complete solitude. Several years ago, we remodeled my office, and I love it. Light hardwood floors, pewter paint, and scenic pictures of the US on the walls. It’s where I used to spend much of my time on my PC. But lately I’ve preferred my laptop. If hubby’s watching TV or YouTube videos and I need the quiet, I’ll close myself in our front room, kick back on the loveseat, and write. There are times when I can concentrate regardless of what hubby’s watching or listening to, and I just like to spend time in his presence. When that’s the case, I settle into my glider rocker and write while he’s relaxing in his Lazy-boy.”

Finally, I asked, “What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?”

“First and foremost, I’d say, write what you love, because it comes from your heart and soul, and you’d strive to do your best. There are many components to writing: the craft itself, the technicalities; the beginning, middle, and end. Then there is the lyrical side; setting a scene, evoking emotions, engaging the reader. There’s also knowing what niche your work would fit into, in the publishing industry. Are you a writer who wants to appeal to the masses or a very select readership? There’s a wealth of advice out there, so it can feel overwhelming, but finding what works for you is most important. If you can only spare an hour a day to write, then make the most of that time. If you can view tutorials online or listen to podcasts or read about others’ journeys to give you an idea of what it means to be a writer, then do it. Also, read other works in the genre in which you want to write, getting an idea of what’s out there so you can bring your fresh perspective to the arena. There is no one perfect way to write and start your journey. The important part is to start.”

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Teacups and Temptations by Kate Ellington – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 26, 2024 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Molly Merriwether readily accepts an invitation to Waverly Hall, eager for adventure and amusement with her best friend. She never expected to be left unchaperoned with three intriguing young gentlemen for weeks.

Roger Bailey, recuperating in more ways than one, avoids Molly until her kindness and humor tempt him to deepen their acquaintance.

Molly lands in one unlikely escapade after the next with Roger and soon considers him a friend—perhaps more—but the barriers he puts up make it impossible to truly know him. Has she only imagined those tender looks in his eyes?

For a chance at love, Molly will need to bare her innermost self and trust someone more deeply than she’s ever dreamed possible.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Not having chaperones has made it all the more interesting.” Molly glanced outside, where the men stood in a circle talking.

“Auntie’s going to be so upset when she finds out,” Caroline said.

“Perhaps she never will.”

Caroline clicked her tongue. “Of course she will. She’ll tell our parents.”

“Then we’d better enjoy ourselves while we still can.”

About to sip her juice, Caroline set the glass down. “I know that look, Molly. What are you planning?”

“Oh, I just thought we might have a poke around while the gentlemen are otherwise occupied.”

Outside, the men had set out across the field toward the kennels.

“We’ve done enough poking around,” Caroline said. “We’ll probably get lost again.”

“No. We’ve done enough poking around that we won’t get lost. And there’s that arched door we saw in the east wing other day.”

“It’s most likely a broom closet.”

Molly rose, leaving her napkin on the table. “It’s in the corner of an empty room on the third floor.

And with such an elaborate door? There were vines engraved on it.”

“The room wasn’t empty—it looked like an old sewing room. I’m sure it’s nothing of interest.”

“We won’t know until we look.”

“You’re doing this no matter what I say, aren’t you?” Caroline asked.

“You don’t have to come.” Molly gave her an angelic smile as she backed toward the door.

About the Author: Kate grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.

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Away with Shadows by M.M. Skye – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 20, 2024 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Sharon Gable, a seasoned interior designer in Columbia, South Carolina, swears off love after ending a relationship filled with deceit. She focuses on expanding her business with her best friend and avoiding romance until she’s unexpectedly set up with architect Bradley DuPont at an engagement party. Despite her resistance, Sharon finds herself drawn to Bradley’s undeniable charm and rugged allure.

Bradley, back in town to care for his ailing grandfather and manage the family business, is burdened by his West Coast job and familial obligations. Yet, Sharon captivates him like no other, offering a respite from his tumultuous family dynamics.

As their connection deepens, they must confront external forces bent on sabotaging their happiness. Will Bradley persuade Sharon that their attraction is worth exploring, or will malicious schemes tear them apart?

For fans of contemporary romance dipped in southern charm, “Away with Shadows” delivers a captivating tale of love and loss, resilience of spirit in the face of adversity, and familial complexities against the backdrop of Columbia, South Carolina, and Paris, France.

Enjoy an Excerpt

At thirty-one years old, Sharon worked particularly hard alongside her partner to maintain the prestige and respect of their company. In the last five years, she and her partner had grown their interior design business to well over five and a half million dollars in revenue, and it was still growing. They experienced both the highs and lows of being successful women, especially as women of color, but they never let that dictate their success. People from the United States and Europe contracted with the pair.

Watching her parents work hard to provide for her taught her from an early age to not let societal stigmas stop her from accomplishing what she wanted to do in life. In addition, being an only child made her self-sufficient.

When she was eight years old, her parents died in a car crash, turning her life completely upside down. The police report showed the accident occurred when her father swerved to avoid hitting a deer while they were coming back from visiting his best friend and his family in Savannah.

A firm knock at the door interrupted her from her daydream. Sharon hadn’t noticed her friend standing in the doorway of her office.

“Hello, are you still in the land of the living?” asked Kera. She leaned on the door post with her coffee mug in one hand and her purse in the other.

Sharon turned and replied, “Oh Kera, you scared me. I apologize. I was just watching this elderly couple out on the street. You should have seen them. They looked cute together.”

Kera swiftly walked over to the window. “Are you sure it was the elderly couple you were watching or were you daydreaming about you know who?”

Kera Prescott was her best friend and co-owner of Prescott Gable Interior Design, LLC, which they’d run for the past ten years. It seemed only natural for the two women to go into business together after graduating with honors from the New York School of Interior Design.

Kera was a beautiful, slender-faced woman, with oval-shaped eyes. She wore her hair in a pixie cut style that complemented her high cheekbones and the dimple between her right cheek and upper lip. Unlike Sharon, Kera was an athlete at heart. She was the captain of her high school and college volleyball team. She was three inches taller than Sharon and curvy in the hips.

The two were nominated best looking and voted most likely to be successful. As young girls, they did everything together and were inseparable.

“What?” said Sharon. “No. Girl, you know me better than that.”

“Okay. Then besides the older couple, what had you so deep in thought that you didn’t answer my question,” Kera asked.

“Question? What question are you talking about?” She was completely clueless.

Kera folded her arms and stared at Sharon with one eyebrow raised as she walked over to fill her cup from the Keurig machine.

“Look, if you think you’re going to get out of this one, think again, missy. It has been three months since we’ve had any fun together, and this time, you’re coming. No excuses.”

“What is it this time?” Sharon sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes as she walked back to her seat.

Kera looked at her with empathy. “I just want you to have some fun for a change.”

Sharon drew in a deep breath to say that she would give in to whatever event or trip her friend had planned for them, when she spotted the bright light reflecting off her friend’s hand.

Kera held out her hand to show Sharon her engagement ring. Sharon could hardly contain her emotions. She placed her hands on her cheeks and yelled with joy. Both women jumped up and down together, screaming with excitement. It was difficult for either one of them to speak.

“Would you be my bridesmaid?” asked Kera.

“Yes, you know I will! First, I want to know when this happened, and why I’m just now seeing this!” She looked at the ring with extreme happiness for Kera as they sat on the sofa in her office.

Kera’s smile was radiant. Sharon could tell she was overjoyed and waited patiently as her friend tried to gather her thoughts so she could tell her what took place.

About the Author
M.M. Skye is an entrepreneur and contemporary romance writer. A native of South Carolina. M.M. Skye has a diverse background in education and business. With her passion for storytelling and a love for cultural diversity, M. M. Skye’s books offer a unique blend of romance and cultural immersion.

You can find her with a book or a pen and paper somewhere ready to create unique characters and stories the reader can relate to. Her passion for writing began in middle school when she read her first novel. It wasn’t until high school when her tenth-grade honors English teacher encouraged her to major in English, that she began weaving tales.

Her time at Voorhees University gave her the extra knowledge she needed to hone her craft.

Away with Shadows is her debut novel.

You may follow Author M.M. Skye at the following social media sites.

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Katie Walsh by Colleen L Donnelly – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 19, 2024 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Katie Walsh expects to write a love story someday. The hero resembles her father, and the heroine the deceased mother she never knew but imagines from the longing on her father’s face.

Katie doesn’t expect her father to be murdered, or his will to leave their farm to Guy Knowles, the man she hoped to marry, and order her to another state. Betrayed by the men she trusted, what should have become a love like no other withers and dies.

Until Ted Howard, who doesn’t fit the hole Guy left in her heart. Instead, he fits himself into what she needs—someone who will stay, protect her, and break his own heart for her if needed.

Enjoy an Excerpt

When our neighbor, Guy Knowles, began to drop by and take me for long but mostly silent walks across Papa’s pasture, I wondered if my parents had done the same thing and if my excitement mirrored what my mother’s might have been. Did she, like me, translate every quiet step into tender words? Did she see lifelong devotion on Papa’s face then, like I watched for it now on Guy’s?

I expected my love story—the one I would write and the one I would live—to be like theirs. What I didn’t expect was that both stories would begin the day a stranger came to my door and told me my father had just been killed. Killed, not died.

Nor did I expect this tale of “A Love Like No Other” to reach full bloom in a tiny jail cell far away.

About the Author:

Colleen L Donnelly was born and raised in the US Midwest but ventured to other parts of the country as an adult to experience life from other perspectives. Besides writing, she spends time outdoors, antique hunting, reading, or watching a good movie. Even though she retired from a career in laboratory science, she is never bored and always busy at something.

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Mature Couples and Romance by Tory Richards – Guest Post and free book

November 18, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Mature Couples and Romance
…and a free ebook!

Do you ever think of mature couples and romance? Or wish there were more romance books out there that depicted older people? I’m talking about people over forty—people who didn’t find love when they were younger, or maybe they’re divorced now and find themselves single and starting over. Maybe they had a long-term illness they had to battle most of their lives or were waiting for a prisoner-of-war to return home who didn’t. When I divorced my first husband after 20 years of marriage, I didn’t want another partner. I couldn’t even imagine starting over with someone else. And I really didn’t want someone else in my life.

But it happened—and I wasn’t even looking for it. I eventually found myself going to dances on the weekends. I wasn’t looking for a husband, just someone to spend time with and have fun. That’s where I met husband #2 at a church dance. He was 30 years older than me but looked much younger, and I couldn’t keep up with him! He loved life and it kept him young. We traveled, went dancing on the weekends, and had 17 years together.

With the thought in mind that there are women out there who are my age and would like to read a romance they could relate to, I decided to write a steamy novella centered around a mature couple. Mia is in her forties and King is in his fifties. Both are divorced and living in a small town up north. Maine to be exact, is where I’m from.

King released today.

The story is different from what I’ve been writing the last few years. So, it may flop for my readers who expect filthy-talking bikers and motorcycle club drama. Hopefully in time I’ll find a new audience who likes the kind of story like King. Not a second chance romance but another chance at love story. By the way Maine Silver Foxes will be a series of novellas and Cody, book #2 will be out later next year.

In the meantime, I will continue with my Biker Next Door Series and Tank, book #3 will be out early-to-mid 2025.

Now…everyone is a winner! I’ve included a code below for a free copy of my romance Kiss Me on Smashwords. Kiss Me is a full-length contemporary, small-town romance and the very first book I had published in my writing career. It’s recently been revised, updated, and received a new cover.

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=kiss+me+by+tory+richards
Promotional price: $0.00
Coupon Code: YY24L
Expires: December 5, 2024

I hope you enjoy Kiss Me and thank you in advance for leaving a review.

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10 Things You Don’t Know About Us by Elysia and Mark Stevens – Guest Blog and Giveaway

October 30, 2024 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

10 Things You Don’t Know About Us
1. How We Met: We met in the military, and it’s a funny story! As a little girl, I once told my mom I would be Elysia Ashley Stevens one day, inspired by a crush in kindergarten who shared the same last name as Mark (no relation). Fast forward 17 years later, and I met Mark Andrew Stevens, my husband, a charming sailor who swept me off my feet and we lived happily ever after as the Stevens’s.

2. Mark the Romantic: On our fifth anniversary, Mark surprised me with a beautiful poem and a diamond ring. He buried the bottle in the sand at a local lake close to our house. While out for a walk, I spotted the bottle and started to kick it, thinking it was a treasure map. To my surprise, it was a real treasure!

3. Our Amazing Kids: We have two wonderful teenagers who truly are a joy. We really hit the jackpot with these two—hardly any headaches at all!

4. Hall Passes: My hall pass was Ryan Reynolds, but now that he’s married to Blake Lively, it’s Henry Cavill. Mark always jokes that his is the girl at Starbucks, but deep down, it’s actually Kate Beckinsale. I guess we both have a thing for people from the UK!

5. Beverage Preferences: Mark enjoys red wine and straight whisky—yuck! I don’t drink at all.

6. Our Pets: We have a fat cat named Charlie, and an adorable fluffy dog named Clementine.

7. Cruising Adventures: We love cruising! Our next journey will be on the Carnival Liberty out of New Orleans on August 10, 2025. Feel free to come say “hi!”

8. A Celebrity Lookalike: Some people say I resemble Sandra Bullock!

9. Favourite Movie: I love Dirty Dancing and Mark loves Stand by Me.

10. Funny story: One time when we first started dating, we found ourselves in an indoor amusement park that had a closed ride on hydraulic legs that spun around and was supposed to simulate a roller coaster. Being the romantic that he is, Mark decided to take his seatbelt off before the ride started so that he could sneak a kiss and naturally the ride started just as he leaned in.

While Mark thrashed around like a shoe in a dryer, we had a friend that was waiting in line to go next on the ride but when he heard all the racket, he decided that it wasn’t necessarily the ride that he was looking to get on. When the door finally opened and we got out, Mark looked like a stray cat that just got beat around like dice in a Yahtzee cup! I think that this story set the foundation for all the adventures ahead of us.

Whenever things seem to fall apart around Daisy, romance novels are her way of escaping. When immersed in a novel, she can imagine herself in the story as the lead female character. Still, the difference between her and the typical female character in her novels is that she is not your average damsel in distress.

Daisy was raised by a military father who ensured his daughter knew survival skills and how to protect herself. Following in her beloved father’s footsteps, Daisy joined the army and met Justin. Eventually, Daisy’s dreams would come true. While on a decompression stop after a deployment overseas, she finds herself at the Lachlan Castle in Scotland. There, she is thrown back in time to the era she loves to read about, but things are nothing like she imagined.

When Daisy befriends a bonnie Scottish lass, she finds herself in a haven under the roof of the girl’s brother, a laird named Alick. It becomes clear that the laird is constantly challenged by the many nuances of Daisy’s status as a modern-day female soldier as she attempts to navigate the dangerous life in medieval Scotland. While trying her best to fit in, Daisy stumbles upon a psychotic baron named Thomas, who loves to torture women and is fascinated with her.

Both Laird Alick and Baron Thomas want to tame the lioness in Daisy but for different reasons. But Daisy is ill-prepared for medieval love or warfare and must train her heart and head to face what’s coming next.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Two floors below mine, I felt safe that I would come out of this situation unscathed, so I decided to sneak out a little squeaker to relieve some of the pressure. If I learned anything from this situation, it was this: you can spend your whole day out and about and not see one goodlooking guy, but if you blow one little fart in an elevator, one will suddenly appear like Houdini.

As the ding chimed and the elevator doors opened one floor below mine, I sheepishly stood in my stench, staring into the face of a tall, muscular, blond-haired, brown-eyed hunk of a man. I could tell he didn’t appreciate the treat that I left for him. So, there was only one thing to do in this situation, and that was to stay cool and collected, as though nothing had happened, even though it was pretty evident that I had just dumped my guts. The look he gave me as he
stopped in his tracks and raised one eyebrow before turning and pressing the button for the thirtieth floor made me blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

“Do you smell popcorn?” I said. Instantly, I regretted my words, as heat rose to my cheeks.

He gave me a sideways smirk and faced the doors as they closed, replying, “I am not sure where you buy your popcorn, but if it smells like that, I wouldn’t recommend buying it again.”

About the Author Hi, I am Elysia Stevens, and I am a big fan of rom-coms, which should not be a surprise after reading this story. Most would describe me as eccentric in my personality, which really stands out in my choice of attire. I love to wear fun socks, and every Friday I celebrate “Fabio Friday” by wearing a Fabio T-shirt for all to enjoy (luv ya, Fabio!). Thankfully, my husband, Mark Stevens, has a lot of patience because I can’t sit still for more than five minutes at a time and always have my head in the clouds. He has been my partner in life for over eighteen years, and there is nothing we can’t and don’t tackle together. My husband’s taste generally ranges from Stephen King to classic literature, but being the great guy he is, he not only read my rom-com novel but also co-authored it with me! Unfortunately, he still doesn’t understand the appeal of a good naughty scene in a book, but I won’t hold that against him.

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The Goblin King’s Mischief by D. Lieber – Spotlight and Giveaway

October 28, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. D. Lieber will be awarding a $10 Bookshop gift card (so you can support your local bookstore!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A promise unkept. A love she can’t forget. This wily human will do anything to reclaim the heart of the Goblin King.

Lady Melody Piobaire never lost faith her first love would come for her when she was forced from his side. That is, until she finds out he doesn’t even know who she really is…doesn’t even know she’s human. To make things worse, she’s the promised mistress of the sidhe king. Rather than bear Tir’s heir, she devises a plan to win back her true love in the most goblin of ways.

Orphaned elf Aodh never forgot what it was like growing up on the mean streets of Goblintown. And now, as Goblin King, he’s dedicated to being the just and attentive ruler the neglected goblins deserve. So when a spoiled human who knows nothing of what it means to be a goblin tricks him into marriage, he’ll do anything to be rid of her.

Melody is certain she can win Aodh’s heart again, so she isn’t prepared for his hot and cold hostility. Aodh is unsettled by the forward human in his home and the way she seems to know just how to get to him.

What can Melody do if her only love no longer wants her, or worse, no longer exists?

Enjoy an Excerpt

I looked up at Aodh, taking in the face I used to know so very well. His features had sharpened in the last ten years. His thick hair—which had been quite messy when it was shorter—now fell in long locks that could no longer hide the pointed tips of his ears. The groove between his straight nose and wide lips had deepened, and he still had a tiny break in the hair of his left eyebrow, a scar too small to see if not for the space where the hair no longer grew.

I took in the sight of him, memorizing the small changes that had taken place since the last time I’d seen him. He’d grown both taller and wider—his shoulders now the broad and strong shoulders of a man. Though, despite the added years, his eyes had changed the most. They were much darker than I remembered, not in color but in substance. He’d helped me as I knew he would, but he no longer had that carefree glint in his eyes. The lack of that little light of mischief hurt more than anything else.

“Miss?” he called. “Where do you live? What’s your name?”

I let my mouth widen in a smirk of bravado. “Me? My name is Lady Melody Píobaire, daughter of the Earl of Piskishire.” I swallowed my heart. He’s not going to like this. Raising my left hand, I displayed the ring I’d just sneaked from his finger onto mine. “I’m the goblin queen, and you can come for me at Maplecrest, my family home, whenever is convenient for you, husband.”

About the AuthorD. Lieber has a wanderlust that would make a butterfly envious. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She has been many places—from Canada to England, France to Italy, Germany to Russia—believing that a better world comes from putting a face on “other.” She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds.

Lieber lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox).

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10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me by Petie McCarty – Guest Blog and Giveaway

October 17, 2024 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me

1. I have a bachelor’s degree in Zoology because I wanted to be a zookeeper—which I never did—but my education did help me a great deal in my job as an aquatic biologist and permitting specialist at Walt Disney World.

2. I have six brothers and sisters, and I’m not the oldest. 😊 Three are biological and three are adopted, each at two days old, came home from the hospital to us.

3. I can play the piano. I just don’t. We sold our piano 20 years ago, but it’s an ability like riding a bike—once you learn, you can still play. With some practice. 😊

4. My favorite exercise in the world is riding my electric bike, usually 9-10 miles per day, but at least 5 miles.

5. I can play the harmonica, all of 2 songs, but since one is Happy Birthday, I do it frequently when I call siblings, nieces, nephews, or friends for their birthday. It’s better than my singing.

6. My grandpa, uncle, father, brother, and brother-in-law were all Lutheran ministers, which makes me a preacher’s kid. And yes, I know what they say about preachers’ kids. . . we learned all our bad habits from the deacon’s kids.

7. I met my husband at Disney. His office was across the street from the lab where I worked at the time and had the only Coke machine for two miles. I was a Coke-a-holic at the time and drank 2+ quarts of pop a day (yes you read that right, two). So I had plenty of reasons to run into him, and the rest as they say is history.

8. I write my stories in longhand and shorthand, mostly shorthand, then type them and edit as I go.

9. My one famous-person meet: I rode an elevator with Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks. Just us. We did visit and he was the nicest guy ever. When he shook my hand, his fingers went halfway up my forearm his hand was so big.

10. I’ve ridden Small World over 475 times. Yes, you read that right too. I started out at Disney as a Tour Guide in the Magic Kingdom and Small World was on our tour.

The Cinderella Romances…Fall in love with the fairy tale all over again.

Modern-day Cinderella stories that provide unlimited opportunities to retell the classic fairy tale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.

Cinderella Busted

Once upon a time, in Jupiter Island, Florida . . .

Billionaire developer, Rhett Buchanan, is forced to inspect a shipment of priceless trees and meets the girl of his dreams instead. A bit jaded where women are concerned—since most are gold diggers—Rhett falls head over heels for the Jupiter Island socialite who only wants him, not his money. Except she isn’t the glamorous socialite she appears to be.

She’s the gardener . . .

Betting on Cinderella

Once upon a time in Biloxi, Mississippi . . .

Garrett Tucker inherits his grandfather’s casino empire and steps into the reclusive billionaire’s shoes as the new “Prince of Vegas.” Discovering embezzlement in his newly purchased casino in Biloxi, Garrett goes in undercover. His prime suspect? The new finance supervisor . . . a feisty brunette who stole his heart at first sight.

Andi Ryan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother. Taking a job as finance supervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino, she discovers someone is skimming from the till. Andi starts her own investigation, worried she will be blamed for the theft when the handsome new owner discovers her godmother likes to gamble.

Industrial espionage is afoot at the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are soon forced to work as a team to prove her innocence and save the casino before it’s too late.

This swoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other stories in the Cinderella Romances series. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairy tale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.

Par for Cinderella

Once upon a time in Cedar Key, Florida . . .

Golf resort developer Aidan Cross is at loose ends. Something feels missing from his life, but that something isn’t women. He has too many women chasing him now. To confuse things even more, his yacht breaks down off-shore of his next project site in Florida, and Aidan falls for his only competition in the small town—a woman who wants nothing to do with him or his rakish charm.

Casey Stuart is stuck living in Cypress Key, unwilling to abandon her uncle or the golf course they manage together. She doesn’t quite trust the stranger Aidan who shows up in town looking for work, and she vows to steer clear of him and the danger their intense chemistry provokes. Aidan’s stay is temporary, and falling for him promises only heartbreak.

But Casey needs Aidan’s help when she discovers Cypress Key’s mayor is making underhanded business deals, and she ends up on the wrong side of the powerful crook. Aidan steps in to rescue her, but secrets from his past threaten to bogey their new-found affair.

This swoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other Cinderella stories in the series. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairy tale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.

Enjoy an Excerpt from Book One: Cinderella Busted

“Do you buy a lot of plants here?” Buchanan suddenly asked.

Her head snapped up from examining a bent gray frond. She swallowed. “Buy?”

“You must be one of the nursery’s best customers as well as you know the stock and know your way around here.” He gave her that slow, sexy smile again. “Are you buying landscaping for business or pleasure?”

Oh good grief! He thinks I’m a customer.

But why wouldn’t he? Today, she was dressed like one. Surely, he could tell from their conversation she worked here at the nursery.

Or not.

He waited for a response. So that was why he had asked her to help him! She grinned. She couldn’t help it. She felt like Cinderella masquerading as a princess at the ball. Maybe she could just avoid answering his question altogether.

She guided him to the end of the aisle, made the turn to the fifth row of trees, and aimed their steps toward a cluster of Monterrey pines.

Buchanan put a hand out to stop her. “I hope you’ll let me take you to dinner to thank you for helping me, Lily.”

About the Author: Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World—”The Most Magical Place on Earth”—where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to her “day” job to write her stories full-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-romantic-suspense series, the Mystery Angel Romances.

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in No Angels for Christmas.

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Playing High by Beth Pellino-Dudzic – Spotlight and Giveaway

October 10, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award paperback copies of both books in the series: Playing Hard and Playing High (US only) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Gina Will Do Anything to Protect Her Husband and Her Band

Perfection is one of the hottest bands on the rock n’ roll scene and they are being wooed into the seductive pitfalls that come with fame. How will they continue to rise when temptation is all around them?

Lead singer, Gina, is seen as The Sexy Siren of Rock for her onstage heat and glamour, but her true love is offstage—as wife to guitarist Trevor, and mother to their miracle baby, Roxanne.

Keeping a family together while touring with the band is hard enough, but Gina is faced with an even more sinister challenge. Trevor’s old friend, Brian Mayfield is hell bent on separating the couple—using drugs, alcohol, and women as his weapons. But why is he so driven to destroy them? How far will tough-as-nails Gina go to protect the ones she loves?

Enjoy an Excerpt

IT WAS BACK TO REAL WORK on the album. Gina sat with the guys for a couple of days trying to sort out the music and lyrics and was making headway. Perfection thought they had a solid four songs, but that wouldn’t be enough. However, it was time to go to New York. The McNaughtons wanted the entire band of Perfection to attend their wedding. Even Brian Mayfield was invited. He would lay very low for this event. However, Brian Mayfield would prove to be problematic down the road. Skip Glazer and his wife June were part of the band family. Skip was always working on the band’s business, even when it was an off day.

Tommy and Anne Whelan were invited to the wedding. Tommy worked for Brown Fence Records; he was the producer for Perfection. And had asked specifically to work with the band. Tommy was a well sought after producer in the music world. He wanted to take Perfection to the highest level. He had a close attachment with them. Gina and Trevor hired a private jet so their guests didn’t have to pay airfare. Everyone wanted to attend this wedding since no one was there for the first one in Vegas.

Gina was keeping a huge secret. It might slow down the rehearsals, maybe the recording, certainly now wasn’t the time to share it, though. She wondered when and how she would tell Trevor.

About the Author: Beth Pellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx and grew up in Westchester County, New York. She earned a BA in Business Administration and worked at IBM. She has three adult daughters and a new Granddaughter. She currently lives in Alabama with her husband and their miniature dachshund, Truffle. Although The Perfection Saga is fictional, many of the stories hark back to Beth’s time in the Rock ‘n’ Roll world. Beth’s favorite pastime is football, everything football. She also is an excellent cook and baker.

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