THE HEALING SUMMER #NewRelease from Liz Flaherty

I'm excited to welcome my friend Liz Flaherty to my blog today. Liz has a new book releasing today from The Wild Rose Press. I can hardly wait to read THE HEALING SUMMER. It sounds like the wonderful kind of emotional read we've come to expect from Liz Flaherty. Take it away, Liz!

When I’m asked which is my favorite of my own books, I generally say it’s the one I’ve just finished, and that’s true. My emotions are still roiling around in those pages and I’m still feeling odd about saying goodbye to those protagonists.

It’s also true that there are favorite scenes from every book, most beloved characters from each one, and places that years later I still remember—not just their names but how they felt. Like the Cole-Porter-titled businesses in the Lake Miniagua Series, the River Walk in The Debutante’s Second Chance and Jar of Dreams, and Peacock, Tennessee. Peacock was the setting of One More Summer, the story that took me ten years to sell.

It’s also the one that to this day has the strongest hold on my heart. I’m not going to say why—even if I knew for sure or could put it into words; books you love or don’t are your choice, not the author’s. But after One More Summer came out in 2012, I wrote a sequel to it. Not because I wanted to, really, but because the story was waking me up at night with unreasonable demands. (That sounds goofy, doesn’t it? But it’s very close to the truth.) And then it took five years to sell.

And on October 30, The Healing Summer is being released. Thanks to Jana for having Carol, Steven, and me here today. I hope you love their story as much as I do.

About the book: Will the chill of fall cool off a summer romance?

When Steven Elliott accidentally rides his bike into Carol Whitney's car at the cemetery, the summer takes on new and exciting possibilities. Long friendship wends its way into something deeper when their hearts get involved. Feelings neither of them had expected to experience again enrich their days and nights. But what happens when the long summer ends? When Carol wants a family and commitment and a future, Steven isn't so sure. He's had his heart broken before—can he risk it again?

Excerpt:
“Were you hunting me?” She should have waited to get her breath back—she sounded like a vamp from one of 1940s movies that were on really late at night when you couldn’t sleep. “When we met on the road, I mean.”

“Huh?” He sounded nonplused, and she felt like cheering. She wasn’t the only one who’d been kissed stupid—he wasn’t doing so well, either. “Oh, yeah.”

“Yeah?” She turned away, starting to put away the abandoned groceries. If she couldn’t see him, she would neither hyperventilate nor jump his bones. Maybe.

“Want to?”

Want to what? That? Did she want to? Hell, yes, she wanted to. But they were just barely aware of each other, and he was going back to his big city life and big city friends in a matter of weeks. Although he’d probably spend some weekends at Miss Abigail’s and possibly even open an office in Peacock the way he’d mentioned, he wasn’t good relationship material.

Even more, in Carol’s mind and she thought probably in his, he was still Promise’s. The thought sobered her and stilled her hands. Oh, Promise.

“What did you…why did you want me?” she asked, trying to insert some sense into the conversation, some mental cold water on her still-shrieking girl parts.

“Dinner.” He pulled his hair back into a band he took from his pocket—he never seemed to run out of ponytail holders. “Would you like to go to dinner? And shop for cars? I know you’re not going to the beach this summer, but I’ll buy you a girly drink with an umbrella in it and you can pretend.” He ran a finger lightly down the strap of her dress. “You can wear one of these dresses, although probably not this one, since I seem to have decorated it with sawdust and sweat. Oh, wait.” He held up both hands to stave off an answer. “Grace told me it was rude to suggest someone wear something in particular, so I take that back. Wear whatever you like.”

“When and why did Grace tell you that?” She refilled their tea glasses and handed him his. She took a long drink, hoping the cold brew would serve to cool down her insides.

Well, that wasn’t working—she was pretty sure she felt them sizzle.

“Thursday. She was going to afternoon tea over at the Old Farts Home, something they’ve apparently decided to have every Thursday. You stay for it, too, don’t you, after you get their hair and nails all prettied up? Anyway, she had on her overalls, complete with grass-stained knees, and I said, very politely, ‘Holy shit, Grace, are you wearing those?’ She didn’t respond well.”

“I’m amazed.” She shook her head.

“I was, too,” he said righteously. “I was only trying to help.”

Even if she could have resisted the hormonal storm that had overtaken her kitchen, Carol had no defense against his laughing dark eyes. “Okay, thanks. I’d like to go to dinner. And you’re sure it’s all right if I wear whatever I please?”

His gusting sigh should have made the kitchen curtains stir. “Yes. Fine. Can I use your phone to call Dillon and ask him to bring my truck up the hill?”

“Sure, or we can walk down if you’d rather.” Carol was surprised at how much she was enjoying the walking these days, especially when it was downhill.

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“No.” She grinned at him. “But you have to take a shower. I do have some standards on dates.” She gasped as soon as the words left her mouth. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t a date. We’re friends who kissed…accidentally. This is dinner, not a date. Right?”

He smiled, a slow and lazy expression that turned her stomach over. And over again. “Wrong.” He came over and kissed her once more. Thoroughly. “It’s a date.”


Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Summer-Liz-Flaherty-ebook/dp/B07X8DGPM6

Barnes and Noble: https://perftest.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-healing-summer-liz-flaherty/1133411458?ean=2940160900407

Author Bio:

Retired from the post office and married to Duane for…a really long time, USA Today bestselling author and fellow Word Wrangler Liz Flaherty has had a heart-shaped adult life, populated with kids and grands and wonderful friends. She admits she can be boring, but hopes her curiosity about everyone and everything around her keeps her from it. She likes traveling and quilting and reading. And she loves writing.

You can find Liz at all the usual haunts.
lizkflaherty@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlizflaherty/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizFlaherty1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizkflaherty/
Website: http://lizflaherty.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47998031-the-healing-summer

#SundaySnippet - SEEING THINGS for Halloween!

Here's one last snippet from my romantic suspense, SEEING THINGS. I hope you enjoy it. Have a happy Halloween!

Blurb:

When psychic Leah McKenna “sees” the abduction of a small boy, she knows she must help find him, no matter the danger to herself. David Logan, the boy’s uncle, doesn’t believe in psychic phenomenon. He believes Leah knows who kidnapped his nephew, and plans to stick close to her to discover the truth. As they search for Jeremy they uncover truths about themselves and the way they feel about each other. Can Leah convince him her visions, and her love for him, are real before time runs out for all of them?

Excerpt:

Leah stooped to retrieve a couple of plastic toys left abandoned on the floor. She stared at the bright red brontosaurus and the purple stegosaurus as if waiting to hear them speak. David straightened the unmade bed to give himself something to do, his hand brushing against a lump under the blanket. He pulled Jeremy's well-worn Teddy bear from its hiding place. 

"This is one of his favorites," he said. "Jeremy calls him Mr. Cuddles. He's had him since he was a baby. He never goes to sleep without him. He'll be missing him..." 

David's hands clenched into fists. Rage poured through him. What kind of monster takes a child away from his mother, from everything that's familiar to him? When he got his hands on the bastard who did this, he'd make him pay. 

His gaze collided with Leah's. He sensed she read the chaotic thoughts that tumbled through his brain. Her warm brown eyes were full of compassion and understanding, and for a moment he almost forgot his belief that she had something to do with Jeremy's disappearance. David stepped toward her, wanting to bury his face in her honey-colored hair and hold her until the fear and worry abated.

What the hell was he doing? He stopped abruptly, appalled by the direction of his thoughts. How could he even consider such a thing when he was sure she was involved in Jeremy's disappearance?

Buy Links:

Uncial Press | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA |
B and N | Google Play | Kobo US | Kobo CA | Untreed Reads | Chapters/Indigo | iBooks |

#NewRelease from Kryssie Fortune: The Viscount's Pet

I'm joined today by Kryssie Fortune. Kryssie writes hot, hot romance, and her newest release is no exception. THE VISCOUNT'S PET is set in Regency England. Welcome Kryssie!

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

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

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

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

Buy links:
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU

OR READ FOR FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Excerpt:
A single tear slipped through her defenses. She blinked and wiped it away. If he said another word, she’d shatter. Anger that he’d spanked and insulted her welled up inside her. She couldn’t decide which hurt more—her bruised ribs or her sore bottom.

Misery blocked her throat and dried her mouth. She’d probably deserved that spanking since her failure ten years ago cost Susanna her life. She’d blamed herself when she heard the French had killed Stonehurst. That her childhood scheme hadn’t sent him to his death was the only bright spot in her miserable evening.

As they rode, her brief spark of anger faded into despair. She never made a sound, but tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Damn it,” Stonehurst muttered under his breath, “don’t cry.”

Despite the balmy summer night, she couldn’t stop shivering. He tightened his arms, pulling her toward him. When he buried his face in her hair, she thought he inhaled in her favorite floral perfume. She hoped it pleased him. His citrus and herbal cologne certainly delighted her.

When he reached the rose garden, the musky scent of the flowers lingered, heady and intoxicating. Despite his wooden leg, he slid easily from the saddle and helped her dismount. His hands rested a few seconds too long on her waist. She relaxed and leaned toward him, but his severe expression condemned her. While her past actions deserved his scorn, it still crushed her.

As if he couldn’t stop himself, he tugged her against him. His mouth slammed against hers, claiming, dominating, and possessing. A soft moan flowed from her. When she nestled into his embrace, her heart told her she’d come home.
He tangled his hands in the loose strands of her hair and anchored her lips to his. As his tongue traced the seam between them, she opened for him. He tasted of fresh lemons and spearmint. His kiss was all-consuming and addictive, a sinful delight that flooded her soul with joy.

The longer he held her, the more she relaxed. Everything about him made her feel sheltered and safe. Deep down she knew it was an illusion. He’d already sided with her brother, and her ribs would suffer for it.

Confused by the feelings he roused in her breast, her grip on reality faded, and she responded with unexpected eagerness. Wrong or not, she’d savor this moment of pleasure. Something hot and sensual sizzled between them. Unable to resist, she slid her arms around his neck, and ran her foot up and down his right calf.

When he crushed her against his chest, the added intimacy made her heart pound and her knees weak. Only, given their past, they could never have a future.

Kryssie Fortune's Social Media links:

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

Quick Fire Quiz 

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

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

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

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

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

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

#SundaySnippet - SEEING THINGS for Halloween!

Here's another snippet from my romantic suspense, SEEING THINGS. I hope you enjoy it!

Blurb:

When psychic Leah McKenna “sees” the abduction of a small boy, she knows she must help find him, no matter the danger to herself. David Logan, the boy’s uncle, doesn’t believe in psychic phenomenon. He believes Leah knows who kidnapped his nephew, and plans to stick close to her to discover the truth. As they search for Jeremy they uncover truths about themselves and the way they feel about each other. Can Leah convince him her visions, and her love for him, are real before time runs out for all of them?

Excerpt:

"How do you know that Ms. McKenna isn't in on the kidnapping?"

Detective Hampton straightened in his chair, annoyance flitting across his face before he carefully composed himself once more. "As I mentioned, Ms. McKenna has worked with the police before. I can assure you her background has been thoroughly checked."

Logan turned again to Leah, a challenge burning in his blue eyes. "I don't believe in psychic phenomena."

His skepticism didn't come as a surprise to Leah. Few people took her seriously.
"Perhaps if I told you what I saw," she ventured.

"Go ahead."

She didn't miss the cynicism in his voice. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, her mind conjuring the image of the small boy. "He has dark curly hair which is hanging in his eyes and sticking out from under his hat. He really needs a haircut," she said, smiling. "He has blue eyes, big blue eyes. They're very beautiful. I think he's about six years old." She paused for a second and opened her eyes.

Logan still looked skeptical, but there was something else in his face, something Leah thought looked a bit like surprise. She closed her eyes again.

"He's wearing a blue knitted hat... it has a Toronto Maple Leafs logo on it. He has on black snow boots, jeans and a winter parka. The parka is black with red sleeves."

She opened her eyes once more and met David Logan's blue stare.

"Very impressive, Ms. McKenna, but you haven't told me anything you couldn't have gotten from the police or my nephew's school."

"We didn't give Leah your nephew's description. She came up with that on her own," Detective Hampton assured David.

"I haven't spoken to anyone at your nephew's school. To be honest, I don't even know which school he goes to," Leah said.

"What's my nephew's name?" David challenged.

"I don't know," Leah replied, looking unflinchingly into his eyes. "My abilities seem to be more with clairvoyance then with telepathy." David's blank expression told her he didn't know the difference and probably didn't care, but she decided to explain anyway.

"If I were telepathic, you could pick a card from a deck, look at it, and I could tell you which card you picked from reading your thoughts. As a clairvoyant, I have better success if you pick a card and place it face down without looking at it. I concentrate on the card itself to determine which one it is."

He appeared unconvinced, but Leah couldn't worry about that right now. Something nagged at her, something she'd missed previously. She closed her eyes once more.

"He's not wearing mitts. That's strange for February. There's something on his hand, his right hand. I think... on his index finger. It's a blemish of some sort. A cut, I think, and covered with a band-aid. Did he cut himself with a paring knife?" She opened her eyes.

The color had drained from Logan's face. He straightened in his chair, and after a long moment, nodded at Leah. "Yes, he has a small cut on his right index finger. And his name is Jeremy."

Buy Links:

Uncial Press | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA |
B and N | Google Play | Kobo US | Kobo CA | Untreed Reads | Chapters/Indigo | iBooks |

Reflections of You - Crave Club#2 by Marie Tuhart

Marie Tuhart returns to talk about, REFLECTIONS OF YOU, the second book in her Crave Club series. We also get to know her better when she answers five quick questions. Welcome Marie!

Reflections of You Crave Club #2

Blurb: 

Engaged couple Paige Thomas and Tanner Adams enjoy a little kink both inside and outside of Club Crave. But lately, Paige has been pulling away from Tanner, and he's determined to discover why before it's too late. Game night at the club fits his plans perfectly to push Paige to her limits to save their relationship.

Excerpt: 

A bell sounded, and Tanner turned his attention to the stage. Master Jason made his announcement, and Chris was the first to draw his task for game night.
Then came his turn. Tanner took a deep breath and strode up to the stage. He dipped his hand into the box, pulled out a piece of paper, and opened it. Take your D/s relationship to a new level, respect hard limits, but push those you can. Enjoy yourselves and indulge in your fantasies. Please see a DM for instructions on where you will play.

Tanner turned away from the stage and glanced over at Paige. She was staring at him, her blue eyes wide. Olivia stood slightly behind Paige and stared at him hard, then she pulled the fabric of her dress away from her body and pointed to Paige.

He dipped his head in acknowledgement. He wasn’t exactly sure what Olivia was trying to tell him, but he had a feeling it had to do with the clothing he’d picked for Paige. He took Paige by the hand, led her over to the Dungeon Master, and handed him the task.

The DM read it, stared at them for a moment, then pointed over Tanner’s shoulder. “Room five,” he said.

Paige’s sigh of relief was loud, but Tanner didn’t say anything. Instead, he led her up the stairs. Room five wasn’t one they’d played in before. At the door, he turned the knob, pushed it open, and gestured for Paige to enter.

Reflections of You is available at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-You-Club-Crave-Book-ebook/dp/B07XH4WTYX

Barnes & Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-of-you-marie-tuhart/1133366124

iTunes/book: https://books.apple.com/us/book/reflections-of-you/id1482587828

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/reflections-of-you-2

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/ReflectionsOfYou

Find Marie on the Web:

Website: www.marietuhart.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MarieTuhartAuthor/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4190063.Marie_Tuhart
Twitter https://www.twitter.com/marietuhart
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/marietuhart
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-tuhart
Amazon Author page: http://amazon.com/author/marietuhart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marietuhart/
Sign up for Marie’s newsletter at: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/p3y7p6

Quick 5

- Favorite color? Black and blue. I couldn’t pick just one. I wear both a lot. I don’t know why, those are just colors I gravitate towards.

- Coffee or tea? Both. I love coffee in the morning, but on a cold day I’ll have tea all day.

- What's your secret guilty pleasure? Going to the casino. I love playing slot machines, they take my mind off of everything. I also play games on my tablet, they help me relax.

- Country life or city life? Country life, now. I grew up in San Francisco. Right before I retired 7 years ago I researched moving to the Pacific Northwest. I found a new development going in and was able to customize my house. I’m pretty much in the country, but still close to major shopping. 

- Party life or quiet dinner for two? Quiet dinner for two, that’s the best way to learn about the person in your life, or catch up with family. 

SINNER'S OPERA and a horse named Bonito

Linda Nightingale joins me today to talk about her love for a horse named Bonito and about her newest book from The Wild Rose Press, SINNER'S OPERA. Take it away, Linda!

Sinners’ Opera is my latest book from The Wild Rose Press and is now available. In SO, the hero, Morgan D’Arcy, owns an Andalusian stallion kept at his ancestral estate in Devon, Royal Oak. As you might have guessed, Morgan is an English lord. Also, he is a concert pianist…and a vampire.

I’d like to tell  you about my experience with the magnificent Andalusian horse. I know Morgan would approve since he dearly loves his stallion and mentions him often in Sinners’ Opera. So...

In 1980, the year my oldest son was born, I discovered the Andalusian horse. Like a poster on my wall says, ‘this horse will change your life’.  We were breeding the Arabian at the time had garnered some success in the show ring.  But when I saw the magnificent Andalusian horses, I fell in love and immediately started liquidating my Arab breeding stock to purchase an Andy stallion.

If I were playing the piano with my first lesson, I’d try to sit down and play Liszt. As usual, I bought a young horse who knew more than I did. I looked all over the country for a THE horse I wanted.  I planned for him to be high-schooled (the Andalusian is gifted for the baroque moves—passage, piaffe, lateral work and pirouette, and the airs-above the ground).  I received a call from a breeder in Virginia saying that I needed to come see a  young stallion named Bonito.  I didn’t want him because he was young and unfinished, but he did have a lot of the moves on him at 4 (a mistake I later learned).

But I went to beautiful Middleburg, Virginia to look at Bonito.  In the indoor arena, I fell in love with a white fairytale stallion named Afamado, but he wasn’t for sale.  Then they showed me Bonito. He put his head over the Dutch door, taking my heart with one glance.  He was a rose-gray with a black mane and tail, both thick and long.  His neck was a majestic crest like a carousel horse.  I bought Bonito and never looked back.

Bonito and Holly

Bonito had been imported from Costa Rica.  My hubby and I later went to the National shows in CR and were treated like queens and kings. I also began to broker horses for Bonito’s breeder in this country.

We bred Bonito to mares of various breeds, and consistently he produced offspring of his quality. The Andalusian is gentle enough to breed the stallions in the morning and put him in the show ring that afternoon, without requiring a professional trainer to behave with other horses.  He was mischievous and a bit of a handful but always kind.  We entered the show ring with a vengeance. At the time, the Andalusian was a rare breed in this country and we wowed the crowd everywhere we went.  I did exhibitions in the long lines, parades in the long lines (you have a line each side of the horse and walk very close behind him).  His beauty and agility won him many admirers as well as his sweet temperament.  I could put a child on him and he was a plow horse,  but let me put a foot in the stirrup and he was all fire and show.  He knew he had a fan club.

I showed him at two National Championships in Halter and many championships in various classes.  I then began to show dressage and perform musical freestyles, but our best luck was in performing exhibitions at horse shows.  We had a routine to Phantom of the Opera, and I wish I had that on tape, but sadly I can’t find the old VHS to transfer it to disk.

When I was going through my divorce, I’d go to the barn and cry on his neck.  He’d fold that lovely neck around me and hug me while I cried.  I daresay he was my soul mate.

Bonito changed my life.

If you’d like to know more about the Andalusian or the high school movements, leave a comment with a way to contact you, and I’ll be glad to send you an article I wrote for a breed magazine and info on the upper level movements.

Everyone who met Bonito loved him.  Even today, twenty years later people remember him.


Sinners’ Opera Blurb:

Morgan D'Arcy is an English lord, a classical pianist, and a vampire. He has everything except what he desires most—Isabeau. As the Angel Gabriel he's steered her life and career choice, preparing her to become Lady D'Arcy.

Many forces oppose Morgan's daring plan—not the least of which is Vampyre law. Isabeau Gervase is a brilliant geneticist. Though she no longer believes in angels, she sees a ticket to a Nobel Prize in Gabriel's secrets—secrets that have led her to a startling conclusion. Gabriel isn't human, and she fully intends to identify the species she named the Angel Genome. Morgan is ready to come back into Isabeau's life, but this time as a man, not an angel. Will he outsmart his enemies, protect his beloved and escape death himself? For the first time in eternity, the clock is ticking.

Excerpt:

“Are you a bum?”  She cocked her head, one eyebrow arched.

“Do I look like a bum?”  I’d dreamed of changing the world.  How the Mighty fall.

“Well, yeah.”  She stressed the last word.

A bitter laugh burned my throat.  “Hold on to your dreams.  Dreams do come true.”  My hand shook, and I almost dropped the wallet engraved with my initials and the St. Averil crest—worthless reminders of a life left behind.

“Come closer.  I won’t harm you.  I promise.”  I folded the sodden currency and shoved it into her hand.

She gasped.  “Is this real money?”  Her eyes narrowed.  “Oh, my, it is.  A lot of money.”  An accusing gaze captured mine.  “Did you rob a bank?”

“The money is mine.  Now it’s yours.”  Thinking of a special little girl I’d taught to dream, I smiled wistfully.  “I must warn you.  Princes are in short supply.”

“You are an angel,” she whispered reverently.  “Grandma said angels didn’t always look like angels when they appeared to you.”

A sharp pain lanced my heart, sadness welling deep inside.  “I’m not an angel, child.  Run along home before you catch a chill.”

Book Video:

Imbed:

BUY LINKS:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sinners-opera/id1478753329
https://www.amazon.ca/Sinners-Opera-Obsession-Linda-Nightingale-ebook/dp/B07X3RSRXQ
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sinners-Opera-Obsession-Linda-Nightingale-ebook/dp/B07X3RSRXQ
https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Opera-Obsession-Linda-Nightingale-ebook/dp/B07X3RSRXQ
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinners-opera-linda-nightingale/1115919206?ean=2940160871097
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Sinners+Opera

About Linda:

After 14 years in Texas, Linda just returned home to her roots. She has seven published novels, four of which are available from Audible.com in audio. For many years, she bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses on their farm in Five Forks. So, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She retired from a career as a legal assistant at MD Anderson Cancer Center to write full time. She has 2 wonderful sons—one in Texas; one in England—and 4 equally marvelous grandchildren. She loves horses, sports cars, music, and piano, and enjoys dressing up and hosting formal dinner parties.

Social Media Links:

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LNightingale
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor
Web Site:  http://www.lindanightingale.com
Blog:  https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4839311.Linda_Nightingale
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nightingale/e/B005OSOJ0U
BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-nightingale

#SundaySnippet - SEEING THINGS for Halloween!

Hi everyone! In honour of Halloween, I'm featuring snippets from my romantic suspense SEEING THINGS for the next three Sundays. I hope you enjoy them!

Blurb:

When psychic Leah McKenna “sees” the abduction of a small boy, she knows she must help find him, no matter the danger to herself. David Logan, the boy’s uncle, doesn’t believe in psychic phenomenon. He believes Leah knows who kidnapped his nephew, and plans to stick close to her to discover the truth. As they search for Jeremy they uncover truths about themselves and the way they feel about each other. Can Leah convince him her visions, and her love for him, are real before time runs out for all of them?

Excerpt:

Leah's young audience cheered and clapped. She laughed with them, their exuberance infectious. Contentment flowed through her as she watched their happy faces. How lucky she was to have a job that let her work with kids on a daily basis.

"Okay everyone, we're going to read one more book before snack time. This is one of my absolute favorite--"

The ground suddenly shifted beneath her as daylight turned to darkness...

Leah trembled on the edge of consciousness, trapped in the shimmer of light that marked the onset of one of her visions. She wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. The visions had been absent for two years, since the tragedy that had shaken the foundations of her world. She'd started to believe that she had finally been left in peace. Now that peace shattered into a thousand tiny shards.

The ringing in her ears reached a crescendo. Waves of panic and nausea rolled through her stomach. All traces of her normal, everyday life disappeared. In the next instant she was transported onto a quiet residential street. Leah shivered in the cold, rubbing her hands across her arms to warm herself.

The bare branches of stately elms canopied the snow-covered street, which was lined with older two- and three-story homes. The street looked familiar, almost like her own neighborhood in Winnipeg, the city on the Canadian prairies where she lived. A small boy wearing a winter parka and a bright blue knitted hat walked towards a deserted school.

Oh God, please not another child.

A car stopped at the curb. A man got out and stepped toward the boy, his hand outstretched. The boy shook his head at first and attempted to go around him, but after a few steps, he turned around. He listened with rapt attention. Finally he reached for the man's hand and together they walked to the car.

Leah tried to scream at the boy to run, but no sound would come from her closed throat. Her heart hammered in her chest as she helplessly watched the car pull away with the boy staring out the back window.


Buy Links:

Uncial Press | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA |
B and N | Google Play | Kobo US | Kobo CA | Untreed Reads | Chapters/Indigo | iBooks |

New Release from Vicky Burkholder

I'm pleased to welcome Vicky Burkholder to Journeys with Jana. Vicky is here to talk about her new release from The Wild Rose Press, REVENGE AMONG THE STARS, a sci-fi romance. Thanks for telling us about your new book, Vicky!

Blurb: 

Aleksia Matthews is left for dead, after space pirates attack her ship and kill her brother. She swears to avenge his death but knows she can't do the job alone. After taking out an ad for a bounty hunter, she weeds out the bad from the good, and one man stands out. He could be the perfect partner—and that scares Ali more than the pirates do.

Special agent Jason Cole is tracking the pirates who killed his family, but he's always one step behind. There have never been any survivors—until now. He needs Ali to identify the attackers, but she proves to be stubborn. She plans to go with him on the hunt, and he's determined to keep her safe.

While Cole and Ali seek revenge, someone at headquarters would like to see them fail. Together they battle explosions, their emotions, and danger from one of their own.

Links: https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Among-Stars-Vicky-Burkholder-ebook/dp/B07X1N3VV3/

Excerpt:

She risked a glance at Jason and the other man. They were both out cold. “That’s it, then. We go by water.”

“Ali, it’s too dangerous,” Sami protested as a laser flare lit up the area in front of the rocks. “The sled’s been damaged.”

“I don’t have much of a choice, Sami. They haven’t seen me yet, but they will soon, and I don’t
think this baby can take too many of those crystal hits, can it?”

A very reluctant “no” issued from the speaker.

“Keep a fix on me, Sami. I’m going to be busy, and I’m going to need your help. Activate night vision.”

“Ali, you can’t be serious. The odds of you surviving in such turbulence are beyond my capabilities to compute.”

“Sami, either help me or shut up.” She lifted the sled out of the rocks and took a perpendicular line to the river. A minute after she left the safety of the rocks, a flare lit them up, and she blinked against the sudden glare—momentarily blinded. The sled bounced as she scraped against a low rise, staying on course by instinct alone. As she reached the river, another flare burst, lighting her for the pirates to see.

“I’ve been spotted, Sami.” Ali killed the night vision and turned on her running lights as a beam
whizzed by her port side. She gulped at the sight of the raging torrent but headed into the dubious safety of the water. Hopefully, the roiling water would dissipate some of the power of the beams.

“Baby, I sure hope you’re watertight.” Ali crossed her fingers as she dropped the sled into the water.

Author Bio:

Vicky has been married forever to the one person who accepts that she lives in a fantasy world most of the time. She's even been seen at the beach building worlds for her stories. In addition to creating fun characters, fantasy worlds, and suspenseful situations, she also enjoys and is very good at things like writing policy and procedures manuals and setting up continuity and organizational spreadsheets, both of which she has actually earned money doing. She has a master's degree in library science so likes things organized. Okay, so her family thinks having the spice rack alphabetized it a bit much, but she has no trouble finding what she needs when she needs it. And just because her extensive library is cataloged and organized, that doesn't mean she's obsessive. Honest. When not writing, Vicky can be found in the kitchen whipping up gluten-free, lactose-free, other allergy-free meals. Or watching the world go by from her front porch swing.

Author Links:

Website:  http://burkholv.wordpress.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Burkholder

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1264928.Vicky_Burkholder

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicky-Burkholder-535739543163598/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickyburkholder

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-burkholder

Chocolate & Book Boyfriends Halloween Romance Giveaway!

Chocolate & Book Boyfriends

Halloween Romance Giveaway

October 8-28

11 Ebook & Chocolate Prize Packs Up for Grabs!

https://bookwrapt.com/chocolate-book-boyfriends/

Who wants romance and chocolate for Halloween? Silly question. Who wouldn’t? We’ve got the prizes that will make your Halloween rock. Bestsellling books from Top 40 Amazon romance authors. Chocolate from Godiva, Lindt, Fames, Dove, Barnett’s, Ferrero Rocher & more!

No matter your favorite romance subgenre…whether you like it sweet, sexy, or steamy, we have the prize pack for you. Enter now for your chance to win!

New Release from Seelie Kay!

I'm pleased to have Seelie Kay visiting me today. Seelie's latest release, HOPE from Extasy Books, is part of her series of books about the Agency, a group of attorneys who go undercover to right wrongs. Enjoy a short interview with Seelie and a blurb and excerpt from HOPE. 

An Interview with Seelie Kay:

Q.  Why do you write romance?

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

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

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

Q.  Why did you write “Hope?”

Hope Ali has been a minor character in past books and has made no secret of her desire to join the Agency. She had to grow up first. Now she has and it’s time for her story. She enabled me to tackle two issues: The number of people who are “disappeared” for opposing governments and leaders, and post traumatic stress disorder. In this book, Hope helps rescue a writer in the UAE who has been put under house arrest for authoring a book exposing the ties of the ruling families to gunrunning and terrorism. Unfortunately, Hope gets attacked and is broken, mentally and physically. This very vital, strong woman must find her way back from that traumatic event and the path is not easy. It is a story of courage and survival.

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

My friends say I am obsessed with justice and I guess that’s true. After 30 years, the law and the legal world are so firmly embedded in my brain that I can’t flush them out. That has become the lens through which I view the world and that naturally guides my characters and plots. Injustice infuriates me, but it also leads me to great stories!

Blurb:
At only age twenty-two, she’s the best Probie the Agency has ever had—until her past catches up with her, leaving her devastated and broken. Without hope.

No one knows what they’re made of until they’re broken. At the tender age of twenty-two, Hope Ali has finally joined the organization of her dreams, the Agency, an elite group of attorneys who go undercover to right wrongs the law can’t. The requirements are stringent, the training exhausting.

After seeking asylum in the United States when she was sixteen, Hope and her father, Sheikh Harun Ali, settled in a quiet Wisconsin town, hiding from those who had placed a price on their heads. Still, she excelled, finishing her university and law school education by the time she was twenty-one.

Now, after breezing through the Agency training program, Hope appears to be indestructible—until she is assigned a simple task during the rescue of an author among the disappeared in the UAE. The task? To distract the woman’s captors until she can be spirited out of the country.

Unfortunately, a member of MISix has other plans. In an attempt to disrupt the Agency’s mission, she tips off one of Hope’s enemies, alerting them to her location. Hope manages to lead the author’s captors on a merry dance, freeing others to rescue her, until she is unexpectedly confronted with a violent angry mob intent on harm.

She is left bloody and broken. No one knows whether Hope’s body or her mind will heal. Suddenly Hope is no longer just her name. It is also the one thing she must embrace to find her new normal.


Excerpt:
Hope stared at the pit full of ice, then gazed at Dianna. “You want me to do what?”

Dianna smiled. “This is your new obstacle course. It’s called The Ballbuster. Obviously, the other one wasn’t challenging enough for you, so I thought we’d try something else.” She smirked. “What’s the matter, not up to it, Probie?”

Hope scowled. “I thought you were my friend.”

“When you’re on Agency grounds, I’m your trainer and mentor first. You know that, Hope. My job is to make sure that when in the field, you can overcome every obstacle. Failure isn’t an option. Failure could mean death.”

Hope snapped, “Don’t you think I know that? God, everyone seems duty-bound to remind me of that every damn day. I’m not a child. I know my limits. I know my weaknesses. You don’t have to bludgeon me over the head with a cudgel.”

Dianna’s expression hardened. “Here’s the thing, Hope. The second you begin to believe that you can overcome every obstacle put in front of you is the day you should quit. Confidence is one thing. Feeling that you’re omniscient is another. Out in the field, fear is what drives you, and it could very well be what saves you. I don’t need you taking stupid chances because you think you’re Wonder Woman, able to thwart every threat. I need you to calmly assess each situation and rationally weigh the risks. You need to know when to walk away. Just as you need to know when a risk is worth taking. You have no real superpowers, woman. And you need to remember that. That’s why you’re on probation until we’re confident you can survive, Probie.

“This job isn’t about physical skill. It’s about being able to clearly, quickly, and competently analyze the risks. What I see right now is a young woman without fear, willing to take on any roadblock. I need you to recognize your limits and work around them. There is no shame in admitting defeat. And there most definitely is no shame in asking for help. That’s why each obstacle has a kill bell. Hit that and the exercise stops.”

“And then what,” Hope muttered. “I get kicked out?”

“No, then we step in and help. This Agency leaves no man or woman behind, Hope. They proved that to me when I was sent to Bolivia. The minute I sent out the Bat Signal, they began putting together a team to extract me. They saved my life.”

Buy links:

Publisher:  https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2658-3-hope/
Coming soon to all other major booksellers!

About Seelie Kay:

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

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

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

Author links:

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

Prior Books:

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

New Release from Marie Tuhart!

Fellow Wild Rose Press author Marie Tuhart joins me today to talk about how her new release, erotic romance MORE OF YOU came to be. Thanks for being here, Marie!

Thank you for hosting me today, Jana.

When The Wild Rose Press asked for short stories in fall of 2018, I thought about it and went “why not.” The first short story I wrote didn’t make the cut, and it didn’t bother me. I understood why and it wasn’t really a story I could tell in under 7,000 words.

But I had already written four other short stories and sent them in advising my editor the four short stories had to go as a set. That’s because the stories were entwined with each other.

I have four couples who are in various stages of their relationship when they all meet up for game night at Club Crave.

Each story follows the couple on their romantic and sexual journey into their relationship and life choices.

And this leads me into what I write. I write Erotic Romance. Some people have the misconception that my writing is nothing but a bunch of sex scenes. It’s not. My books at their core are romance. Yes, my characters have sex and it’s on the page. It’s a part of them and life.

My stories revolve around the hero and heroine, their romantic and sexual journey. Yes, the sexual journey plays an important part with the characters as they explore their wants and desires, but it is also a love story. They have fears and conflicts that they have to solve to get to the HFN/HEA (Happy For Now or Happy Ever After).  There are romantic scenes as well as some hot sex scenes. It is a character driven story with goals, motivations and conflicts.

One of the things I say about my books is “It’s all about her.” Because my books have a strong female lead and sometimes she goes after what she wants, and sometimes the hero has to show her the way.

More of You 

Blurb:

Game night at Club Crave is heating up...

Up until now, Anna Carson's relationship with Chris Peterson has been strictly D/s play. He's had a vanilla girlfriend. Anna has respected that boundary, but the sexy Dom is no longer attached. Now, Anna is ready to be more than his submissive. Game night at Club Crave is the perfect place to make her move, if only she can face her fears and be bold enough to ask her Dom for more...


Excerpt:

A bell sounded, and Master Jason took to the small stage. The room went quiet.

“Good evening, friends, welcome to game night. You are the first fifteen couples who RSVPed to the event invitation.” Master Jason’s voice was loud and cheerful. “Tonight’s game comes with a twist.” He lifted a shoe-size box and shook it. “Inside this box are pieces of paper with your tasks for the game. All the items you will need to play tonight will be provided. The normal club safewords apply. Have an issue with the task? See me once everyone has chosen.”

“This sounds interesting,” Tanner said.

“Intriguing twist. That’s why we were told not to bring our play bags,” Chris said.

“You are not to share your task with others once you’ve drawn. You will read it, then get your submissive and follow the directions.” Master Jason looked out over the crowd. “Dom Chris, you are first.”

More of You is available at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X6JGZFM

Barnes & Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1133270985

iTunes/book: https://books.apple.com/us/book/more-of-you/id1478581182?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/more-of-you

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/MoreOfYou


Bio:

Marie Tuhart lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her muse, Penny, a four pound toy poodle. Marie loves to read and write, when she’s not writing, she spends time with family, traveling and enjoying life.

Marie is a multi-published author with The Wild Rose Press, Trifecta Publishing and does some self-publishing. To be alerted on new releases follow Marie on Amazon or  Book Bub. Also you can join Marie’s newsletter where she gives her group advance information on her books, runs contests and does giveaways just for newsletter readers. Marie can also be found on Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook.

Fun Facts: Marie has a key chain collection from all the places she's visited, both US and around the world.  Only two have been given to her.

Find Marie on the Web:

Website: www.marietuhart.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MarieTuhartAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4190063.Marie_Tuhart
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/marietuhart
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/marietuhart
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-tuhart
Amazon Author page: http://amazon.com/author/marietuhart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marietuhart/

Sign up for Marie’s newsletter at: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/p3y7p6