Liberty Empowered by Alicia Dean!

Tags

books, French Polynesia, Isle of Fangs, new releases, paranormal, reading, Tropical Island, vampires, Van Helsing, writing

Book 3 in the Isle of Fangs Series – (Paranormal with Romantic Elements)

She’s striving to embrace her nature…he’s fighting to restrain his.

Blurb:

Vampire hunter Liberty Van Helsing is responsible for protecting the humans living on Sang Croc, a tropical island in the French Polynesia. While striving to improve her recently acquired hunting skills, Liberty wrestles with her attraction to vampire, Eli Barkley, estranged son of Rupert, leader of the Evil Ones.

Then the grandparents of a young girl—who Liberty has befriended—is snatched by the Evil Ones, and Rupert offers Liberty a deal: herself for the hostages.

Rupert is certain his son will, in turn, voluntarily trade himself to save Liberty. Liberty has a better idea. Launch a rescue into Rupert’s stronghold. But first she must tap into the elusive Van Helsing strength, and convince Eli he’s not like his father… not anymore.

Excerpt:

“You need to get out of here,” Eli shouted. “I’ve got this.”

She shook her head. “I’m not leaving. Not until they’re gone.”

He grabbed her arms. “I don’t have time to look out for you. Get the hell out. Now!”

She jerked from his hold. “People are dying while we’re standing here arguing. Let me do my job.”

He let out a growl, his jaw so tight she thought it might shatter. Before he could say more, two vampires dove on top of him, driving him into the ground. He elbowed one, sending the vampire through the air. Eli jumped to his feet and threw a knife at the remaining vampire. The vampire gasped and grabbed the blade protruding from his chest, then toppled to the ground. Liberty darted to help Eli. Something hit her from behind. She went down, head spinning.

She turned to find a female vampire, blonde hair wild around her head, fangs bared. The vampire lunged toward her.

Liberty drew back her fist and punched her in the jaw. The vampire’s head jerked back, and she stumbled away with a shriek. In seconds, she found her footing and came at Liberty again. The blonde whipped a knife out of her boot and thrust it forward. Searing, burning pain ripped through Liberty’s arm. She felt the sticky rush of blood, but couldn’t look at it. If she did, she would be done.

Gritting her teeth, Liberty sucked air in through her mouth. When the vampire came at her again, she side-stepped and dropped into a squat, at the same time, grabbing a broken chair leg. One end came to a slanted point. Maybe not sharp enough to pierce the vampire’s skin, but she had to take a shot.

With another shriek, the vampire ran toward her. Liberty thrust the stake out and plunged it into her chest. The vampire drew in a gasp and came to a halt. Her eyes widened, her mouth stretched into a grimace, and she thumped to the sand. Her body shriveled and smoldered into ash.

Liberty surveyed the area. Eli stood over the body of a vampire. A few humans staggered away, their arms wrapped around one another. From a distance, came the wail of an ambulance. Hopefully, the casualties would be few.

Eli’s expression was ferocious as he headed toward her. “You’re hurt,” he bit out.

She tried to laugh, to tell him she was fine, but the sound caught in her throat. Burning, agonizing pain, oddly tinged with numbness, screamed through her arm. She glanced down. Big mistake. A sea of red gushed from a gash in her bicep. Nausea cramped her stomach, rose to her throat. Her head spun, and large black dots swarmed her vision.

“Eli, I…” She slumped, barely aware of him shooting across the distance that separated them. His strong arms scooped her up, then everything went black.

~~~~~~~~

Find Alicia here:

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Love For Sale – Winner!!

Pink Fuzzy Slippers Authors

YAY human-like androids!  Christian and March from Love For Sale won the 2015 Paranormal Romance Guild award in its category (Science Fiction/Fantasy)!  I’m very pleased with this distinction because PRG receives a lot of submissions for review every year and to be nominated is an honor.

The book was also in the Top 10 in the Preditors & Editors Poll!

Here is the blurb:

March Morgan still believes in true love, but her faith in finding her soul mate is slowly vanishing. She’s been married but never in love. So, it is a miracle to find that fantasy exists on the last page of a glossy women’s journal. Mayfair Electronics, Ltd., in black and white, offers Love for Sale. The London firm has engineered sentient androids indistinguishable from humans. She flies to England and meets the man she has been searching for her entire life.

Christian requires no programming to…

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#Egg-cerpt Exchange: THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK by Kimbra Kasch

Tags

Amazon, book excerpts, cats, Egg-cerpt, Kindle, new releases, reading, shape shifters, writing, YA books, YA romance. Authors, young adult fiction

BLURB:

When Savannah meets Kyle, its love at first sight. And why wouldn’t it be? He’s perfect, as far as she can tell. But Kyle appears whenever things go wrong. Maybe he isn’t everything she thought he was. It’s a complete mystery until she discovers the water in Cullaby Creek is being bottled and sold as vitamin “infused” water. Mistic Water promises the impossible. And then, like a magical elixir, it delivers. People who drink it feel younger, smarter, faster…healthier. But it doesn’t take long before side effects hit. Literally. The secret has to be in the water…or is it something more?

EXCERPT:

Kelly and Kyle

These two shared some sort of history. And now I was in the middle of their story.

Sparks flew through the air. But, they didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just didn’t care how uncomfortable they were making the rest of us.

I scanned the room. The terribly odd thing was that while they stood in the center of the cafeteria—arguing—everyone’s eyes were on me.

What is so interesting about me?

After a few seconds, I heard whispered accusations slammed back and forth, like a ping-pong ball. My name, muttered in odd and angry tones. No one seemed to mind staring at me, but only the bravest few were sneaking sideways glances over at Kelly and Kyle, hoping no one noticed.

This wasn’t what I needed on my first day at a new school. I hadn’t come here looking for instant enemies, but I knew I’d accidentally stirred a private pot and things were already starting to boil.

I needed to do something and quick. From the sounds floating around me, if they got into an actual argument, I was going to get the blame.

I spit out the first words I could think to say, “What’s a new kid to do, after school, around here… for fun?”

Kyle sighed and chuckled, “That depends on what you’re hoping to find and what you think is fun.” He stepped back away from Kelly for a moment. “You big city kids always think something needs to be going on. But in real life, in a small town, not much ever happens.”

“We could ask my Mom to drive us into Astoria to do some shopping,” I suggested. It was a little too obvious—even to me—Kelly wanted me out of the picture and was trying everything she could think of to keep me away from Kyle. I almost felt sorry for her—but only for a second.

“Or,” Kyle sat down and nodded for me to join him. I could feel a warm rush of air and his scent worked its way up inside my head. I barely heard him finish, “We could go for a run.”

“What?” Kelly demanded, clenching her hands into tight-balled fists at her side.

“Savannah,” Kyle lowered his voice and said my name slow, putting an emphasis on the last syllable, like it was a soft sigh, ‘ah’. And, for the first time in my life, I loved the sound of my own name. “Is a runner. And she’s fast. Aren’t ‘cha?” He nudged me and moved even closer. I could barely think. His smell overpowered my senses; it was the sweet woodsy scent of him that took me by surprise. I closed my eyes and drank it in.

When I opened them back up, Kelly’s eyes were shooting red flames of rage straight at me.

I gazed at Kyle and felt a warmth in my stomach again. It was working its way up into my chest. “That’s not what you said this morning,” I laughed then spun away.

Purchase links:

About the heroine:

1. Nickname: Vannah
2. Job: Student

3.  Birthplace: Portland, Oregon
6. Currently residing in…Mist, Oregon
7. Favorite type of pet: Cat
8. Favorite place to visit: Portland

9. Significant other: Kyle
10. Most important goal: Get my family out of Mist
11. Worst fear or nightmare: That Kyle won’t make it out of Mist
12. Favorite food: Chili Dogs
13. Wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between? In-between
14. Secret desire or fantasy: To Morph into a cougar
15. What would you do if you won the lottery? Move and buy out Mistic Water

About Kim:

I’m a writer who grew up in a family with 9 kids and only 1 t.v. so I spent my days reading and, later, writing. I love books. . .maybe because I never got to pick t.v. shows we watched. But I’d run home after school to catch the last fifteen minutes of Dark Shadows…

I still love to run…and read. My favorite romance novels are The Hunger Games…okay, I know, it’s a survival book but it’s really all about romance. Then there were the series: Twilight, Fifty Shades, and more but I also love paranormal, Horror and even light books like Dewey the Small Town Library Cat… Mainly, I just love to read. . . and write.

KIM’S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Kasch/e/B00ZOAUKMO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Website: https://www.kimkasch.com

https://www.kimbrakasch.com

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My WIP – Royal Secrets – an Excerpt

Tags

authors works in progress, book excerpts, books, contemporary romance, reading, royalty, writing

I began this novel as a novella for an Australian publisher of erotic romance, but she didn’t like the fact that the hero was a prince, didn’t think that people would be able to relate to him.  I decided to put his part of the story into first POV, and it no longer an  erotic romance but a contemporary romance–only the second of which I’ve ever written because most of my heroes are paranormal (vampire, angels, trans-dimensional).

Royal Secrets – a snippet

Chapter 1

Prince Abelard Alexander Leandres swung his beautiful Ingrid into a waltz to the immortal The Blue Danube. Around the opulent ballroom of whites and golds, they spun on the gleaming oak floor.  Gazing into each other’s eyes, they smiled as if the world were theirs to command…and it was, to their way of thinking. Newspapers and television across the globe speculated that the pale blonde Scandinavian miss would soon be a princess of Desjardins. Their relationship had long been viral on the social media.

****

My dark blue eyes still fixed on her ice-blue ones, I lost focus for a moment. Something inside me, some restlessness or deeper need, ate at me late at night, and sometimes, like now, in the midst of my duties, reared its anonymous face to torment me. Ingrid’s expensive perfume, the gift I’d bought her in Paris on impulse, seemed to wrap around me and suffocate me. I resisted the urge to gasp for breath.

The golden music from the band in Leandres livery switched to another classic. Ingrid’s hand slid to my elbow, and she offered me a flirty wink as I escorted her from the dance floor. She wasn’t a woman to be ignored. Her beauty alone turned heads, even without the fact that her exquisite countenance was on every tabloid with a prince.

“This is our second anniversary, Zander.”  She squeezed my arm. “I bet you’d forgotten.”

I winced, stiffening slightly at the reference.  I had forgotten the occasion.  It was hard to believe that Ingrid and I had been lovers for two years.  The media already had us engaged, but I wasn’t of that inclination yet. She was intelligent, beautiful, and good in bed, but there was just that something missing.  Surely, a man my age shouldn’t believe in romance.  My father constantly reminded me that at twenty-eight, he’d had a wife and an heir. Me. Therefore, I should have a wife and children by now.  He tossed nubile young maidens in my path, but I had Ingrid, and no one else appealed to me the way she did.

At each island of people, we stopped for a brief conversation, constantly moving in the direction of a quiet alcove I’d seen across the room. I was far from reclusive or introverted, but tonight I simply wished I could ditch my duties and seek solitude.  I’d much have preferred to be finalizing the American ambassadorship. This evening breathed a premonition down my neck, and a chill slithered over me. In my custom-tailored formalwear, I suffered a shiver that went unnoticed.

Ingrid tugged me to a halt.  “Are you ill?  You’re very quiet.”

I gave her a quick one-armed hug. “Nothing is amiss, dear Ingrid. Perhaps, I’m merely in a pensive mood.”

My elderly but sarcastic aunt lifted her silvery head and beckoned with a slight nod. Inwardly, I flinched. Aunt Heloise had a penchant for asking embarrassing questions and making innuendos about matrimony.  Like a good swordsman, I fended the questions, but the hints were encouragement for Ingrid, and, in the midst of a crowded ballroom, I’d realized I wasn’t in love with the blonde beauty who counted on becoming queen.

“Good evening, madam.” Ingrid dropped a little curtsey. “You look lovely this evening. I hope your trip to America went well.”

Aunt Heloise glanced from Ingrid to me with a look of mild surprise—that I hadn’t spoken first as was customary?  Annoyed at Ingrid, I offered my kinswoman a brief greeting and a forced smile. I didn’t dislike my aunt, far from it.  I merely knew that she’d silently chide me for Ingrid’s impertinence.

She returned her attention to Ingrid. “Very well, thank you. In fact, it appears Desjardins will soon acquire an ambassador from the United States. That wasn’t the purpose of my visit, mind you. Negotiations with my brother have been proceeding for some time.”

A wide, enchanting smile lit Ingrid’s face and fired her eyes to a sapphire sparkle. “Why that’s absolutely marvelous.”

“What do you think, Alexander?” My aunt pinned me in her notorious, direct, and demanding gaze, not using my family nickname. “Surely, you have an opinion.”

That accusation took me aback. Blast and damn it, I’d be quite as formal as she. “My father and I have discussed this possibility, my dear Duchess.  Point of fact, I worked with him in these negotiations.”

Forget Me Not by Maureen L. Bonatch

Tags

ESP, fantasy, humor, novella clairvoyance, psychic, romance, second chance romance, small town romance

Forget me nots are lovely flowers but just as lovely a Candy Hearts Romance novella by Maureen Bonatch.

Via Rafflecopter, Maureen will be awarding a $20 gift card to one lucky follower!!

A Fantasy romance from The Wild Rose Press –  Release Date: January 6, 2016

 

What if your memories hadn’t been made yet?

Blurb:

The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can’t recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband. Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she’ll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4. To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their “rinky-dink” town in her rearview mirror.

If Cole can’t believe she’s a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Forget-Not-Candy-Hearts-Romance-ebook/dp/B018L3GFAG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1448985548&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=forget+me+not+maureen+l+bonatc

 The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6581

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-maureen-l-bonatch/1123082907?ean=2940157816650

 Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/forget-me-not-93

IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forget-me-not/id1067612795?mt=11

Excerpt:

 The boxes of candy hearts Julie forgot spilled across the floor.

Cole hunkered down and gathered the papers. His mouth formed a hard line as he glanced at Sabrina’s leave paperwork with the end date prominently circled. He replaced it on the table under the keys.

“No really, I can do it. You stay, Cole. I’ll be right back.” Sabrina caught her reflection in the mirror on the wall. The quest for a coat resulted in her hair looking as if she’d stuck her finger into an electrical outlet. Her appearance matched her desperation. She ran her hands over her head, but the static filled strands resisted smoothing.

“I need to check on Dad anyway, and it’s on my way. I’ll take Josie.” Cole extended his elbow, and Josie latched on like a lifeline, her fingers digging into the leather of his jacket. She skittered across a few of the remaining candies, crushing Be Mine and Love Me on the floor. “Thanks again for dinner, Marge.”

“Cole wait.” Despair leaked into Sabrina’s plea.
He glanced toward the papers on the table and sighed. “I waited for years, Rena. It’s you who waited too long.”

As the door closed behind him, so did the future with Cole that she’d imagined. Her shoulders fell. She knelt to collect the candy hearts scattered on the floor. Forget Me Not and Hug Me taunted her with their cheerful words. Lacking a garbage bag, she shoved a handful of the candies into her jacket pocket. Several hearts were trodden into tiny pieces, like hers.

You can find Maureen at:

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maureen-L.-Bonatch/e/B00KHY1KK8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=658

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbonatch

Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Website: http://www.maureenbonatch.com

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/1AV4L

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103486.Maureen_L_Bonatch

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Love is Silent by Icy Snow Blackstone

Tags

19th century, authors, books, deafness, nobleman, readers, reading, Regency romance, romance, sign language

SOMETIMES ONE DOESN’T HAVE TO SPEAK TO FALL IN LOVE

 

“…As soon as the Right Honorable Lady Eleanor Woods notified me of her desire to have one of the teachers from McAdam Academy for the Deaf instruct her younger brother in signing, I thought of you, my dear Anna. You’ve had so much success with youngsters, I felt you’d be the better choice for this position. Granted the twenty-seventh Baron Mayfield is very low in the peerage strata but his position notwithstanding he is nobility, and to successfully instruct a lord will truly be a feather in our collective cap. In expectation of your accepting the position, I have replied to Lady Eleanor’s letter by recommending you. I am enclosing the railway ticket which Her Ladyship sent along with her correspondence…”

Thus begins Anna Leighton’s journey to Mayfield Village, to teach the younger brother of a noblewoman how to sign. Anna is in for a shock when she meets her pupil, however.

Set down on the roadside by the coach driver, Anna has to walk through a wood to reach Mayfield Manor, a foreboding place that would be at home in a gothic novel. More surprises are in store, however, for Anna’s pupil isn’t a child as she was lead to believe, but a young man fast approaching his majority, a twenty-year-old who’s been coddled and pampered because of his disability, and given free rein to do as he wishes for the past fifteen years.

Now, a problem has arisen.  David’s cousin wishes a competency hearing, to prove His Lordship shouldn’t inherit the family fortune because he’s mentally incapable.

Anna’s job is to teach David to communicate so he can prove he’s intelligent and up to the task of being a noble landholder.

She finds David a sharp-witted but undisciplined young man, begging to be educated….except that most of the things he wants to be taught aren’t found in proper school books because they involve Anna on a most intimate level…

EXCERPT:

Anna had been enjoying her walk.

The sun was getting higher overhead, and she decided she’d better start back. She hadn’t found the lake Eleanor spoke of, but by the time she arrived at the manor, luncheon would probably be ready. Afterward, she would have her first session with her pupil.

Before her on the path, sunlight struck something, making it gleam whitely. She paused, stooping to pick it up.

It was brittle and paperlike with minute wrinkles…a corn-husk?…wrapped around what appeared to be shredded bits of brown plant. It was charred and crushed as if it had been burned and then stamped on. Anna raised the thing, sniffing loudly.

Why it’s tobacco!

She was familiar with cigars. Her own father smoked them occasionally, but this was too small and narrow.

Is this what they call a cigarito? She’d heard Papa mention them. Who would be smoking one of these out here?

There was a sound…a horse’s snort…

Anna looked up. Through the trees, she saw a tall chestnut, its reins tied to a branch, bits dangling under its chin. The animal raised its head, looking at her and neighed as if in recognition.

That’s David’s horse. She looked again at the cigarito, remembering Eleanor’s statement at dinner about not allowing tobacco in the house. Oh, I see…putting one over on your sister, are you? She glanced around. Where are you, David?

Her gaze traveled down the slope. Anna frowned as she saw the scattered clothing. Her attention was caught by the lake and the ducks paddling peacefully, barely breaking the water’s smooth surface. Abruptly there was a racket as the birds fluttered into the air, quacking loudly, wings swooping.

A dark head broke the lake’s surface. Slinging his hair out of his face, David rose from the water, wading toward the lake bank.

Anna froze. If David’s in the water and his clothing is there…oh dear…

David continued toward shore.

He doesn’t see me. Still clutching the cigarette stub, she backed away a few feet, then stopped as he turned his head and looked up the slope.

Though he didn’t acknowledge her presence, he definitely saw her.

He’ll stop now. He won’t come out of the water.

David didn’t slow his progress. Splashing, he emerged from the lake and stepped onto the grassy bank.

Anna stared at him, startled eyes once again taking in that broad bare chest, gleaming wetly in the overhead sun. She could see little droplets of water falling from his fingertips where his hands hung at his sides. He took another step and that pulled her eyes toward his thigh, covered with a sheen of lake water, also golden in the sun, and from there to…

Her hand went to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Surely he’ll turn his back…or I should…

She didn’t move.

Neither did David. Instead, he bowed, straightened, and simply stood there…

…presenting his naked body for Anna’s scrutiny, a wide smile spreading across his mouth.

Anna whirled and ran.

*****

Love is Silent is a romance set in a period of manners and artifice, when young men were well-mannered, well-spoken, and expected to engage in a series of affairs before settling into marriage.  David has experienced none of that, though with Anna’s help, he’s quite willing to do the latter.

The only question is…will Anna survive the scandal if it’s discovered what she and her pupil have done?

Love is Silent is available from Class Act Books in both electronic and paperback forms.

BUY LINKS:

Publisher’s website:  http://www.classactbooks.com/index.php/component/virtuemart/romance/love-is-silent-detail?Itemid=0

amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AN08EVS?keywords=love is silent&qid=1452959738&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

~~~~~~~~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Icy Snow Blackstone was born in 1802, in northern Georgia where her father, the Reverend John Blackstone, was prominent in local politics. Two hundred and five years later, her great-great-great-great-granddaughter began using her name as a pseudonym for her romance novels.

The present Icy Snow Blackstone lives far from her Southern roots in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Love is Silent is her 12^th novel.

 

 

For Keeps by Veronica Lynch

Tags

books, Candy Hearts Series, character interviews, Crime Victims Service, new releases, reading, romance, The Wild Rose Press authors, upcoming releases, writing

Veronica will be giving away a beautiful hand-made zippered case in Valentine’s theme fabric to one lucky commenter!! And we love comments!

 

 

 

 

Interview with Meghan Muldoon, Director of Crime Victims Service, from the novella For Keeps, a February 2016 release out of the Candy Hearts series from the Wild Rose Press

Where are you from, Meg? I was born in Limerick, Ireland but emigrated to the US as an infant. My parents were inn keepers in Ireland and settled in a region termed by locals as the Irish Alps in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Many Irish immigrants settled in the area over the years, hence the nickname.

Tell us a bit about For Keeps. It is about my struggle to balance my vocation as a victim advocate with my personal relationship with police detective Keenan Rossi. Working with victims of violence fulfills me professionally and spiritually but Kee adds that special something to my personal life that I never thought I’d find with anyone.

What did you think the first time you saw Keenan? He spilled his coffee down the front of his shirt because he couldn’t keep his eyes off my legs and wasn’t paying attention.

What was your second thought? Prior to coming to the Crime Victims Service,

I spent more than ten years in the Air Force with the Special Investigations Unit. It was a pleasant change to have a man consider me as a woman first and not a threat to his position.

Did you feel it was love at first sight? Oh, no. No no no. Intrigue and interest, definitely, but not love.

What do you like most about Keenan? I like his voice; it’s deep and growly. Then there’s the fact that he makes me laugh. And all his protective instincts rise to the surface when he senses men might like to get . . . pushy with me. My Kee hasn’t quite accepted that I’m not threatened by men who feel it’s their inalienable right to wield their power because they have a penis or wear a weapon.

How would you describe him? A great huge teddy bear who likes to cook and grow his own vegetables. Not hobbies most people associate with police officers.

What made you choose victim advocacy as a career? When I was in college my room-mate was raped by the captain of the lacrosse team. It was a well known Division 1 school with reputation for producing NCAA championship teams. She reported to the campus police who invented all manner of reasons not to believe her story; the university backed up the coppers. She left school as a result of the assault and sadly committed suicide shortly thereafter. I decided then and there to do something with my life to help women.

What is your biggest fear? That I will make things worse by allowing my ego to dictate my actions instead of listening to what my clients want. I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense but I’m ashamed to say it happens too often in this field; clients are put in greater jeopardy because the advocate failed in their responsibility to them.

How do you relax? I’ve developed an interest in interior decorating and want to turn Keenan’s home which is on the shore of Lake Ontario into the sanctuary he deserves.

Who is your favorite author and why? I have several faves. John Sandford who created the Lucas Davenport “Prey” series invents diverse characters who make me laugh out loud. I also like the characters from John R. Maxim’s Bannerman series; Robert B. Parker’s small town chief of police, Jesse Stone; and Robert Ludlum’s Mikhail Havlecek from The Parsifal Mosaic. One thing they all do is hold my interest to the very last page.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?  My mother once told me, “It’s not about you, Meghan darling. It’s all about them. What they want, what they need. So pay attention.”

~~~~~

Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win a beautiful hand-made zippered case in Valentine’s theme fabric!

You can find Veronica at:

www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

www.ApronsWithAttitude2.blogspot.com

2016 Leap Year!

Pink Fuzzy Slippers Authors

The Four Musketeers’ first New Year’s Photo!  Scary huh?

Have you noticed that 2016 is a Leap Year?  I just did and decided to find out exactly what a leap year is.  I found the following information extremely interesting.

If we didn’t have leap years, our seasons wouldn’t be correct and in synch.  The reason is the Earth’s orbit around the sun.  Our calendars use a precise 365 days when, in fact, the Earth takes approximately 365.242199 days to travel around the sun.  In addition, the time it takes Earth to revolve once, which we call a day, is not exactly 24 hours—but closer to 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds.

Every four years, the extra time is added as February 29^th.

Last June, according to NASA, we were given an extra leap second to account for the gradual slowing of the Earth’s rotation due to the…

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Gambler’s Choice – Coming Soon from The Wild Rose Press

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3 day eventing, Amazon, books, books coming soon, dressage, equestrian, eventing, horse show classes, horse shows, horses, jumping, Kindle, new releases, reading, riders, romance, romantic suspense, The Wild Rose Press, writing

 

Becca McQuaid came to England to find the perfect horse but instead met a darkly mysterious challenge in Austen Heath, Baron of Hampton. She’s determined to buy Austen’s stallion Gambler’s Choice. He’s determined not to sell, but the rivals are thrown together by an accident that leaves Austen with a broken leg and the threat he’ll never ride again. Austen Heath has the title, heritage and manor house…but not the fortune. Becca is wealthy. Her charms are irresistible, but he believes she’s shopping for a Ladyship to go with her money. He has another reason to hold the sexy blonde at arms’ length—the unexplained disappearance of an old friend everyone thinks was his lover. When her body is discovered on his property, he becomes a suspect in her murder. Then the killer begins stalking Becca. Who is the slayer haunting Hampton Hall? Is it the Baron of Hampton himself? Excerpt: Can I be ruthless? It would be a new role for her. As soon as Meg’s derriere hit the seat, Becca fired her question. “What are you not telling me about Austen Heath?” “Nothing.” Meg glued her attention to the white stone drive. She slid her arms into the sleeves of his coat. “Then why the big secrecy act?” “How do I say this?” Meg glanced at her, hesitated, and finally shrugged. “Austen, well he…” She fumbled for words. “May be after your money. I like the boy, but he does have some problems.” Becca tilted her head, staring at her friend and frowning. Meg wasn’t telling the whole truth. She remembered Austen’s arm around her, hugging her close to his hard, muscled body. How contented she’d been and disappointed when Patti shattered the moment. What was Meg reluctant to tell her about the enticing Baron? “There’s something else.” Meg pursed her lips. “Meg?” Becca prompted. “Julia disappeared.” Meg spun the Jaguar onto the road home. “While she was living with him. The police suspected Austen but could never prove anything.” Shock drew Becca straight, her backbone rigid. At her incredulous look, Meg said, “No one knew if they were involved. She hadn’t lived at the Hall long when she vanished. She was pregnant.” God, she dreaded the answer. “Was Austen the father?” “No one knows. And he doesn’t talk about it. Austen’s a very private person.” Meg slowed the car for a hairpin curve. “Whether he was the father or not, I don’t believe he was involved in her disappearance, but he changed. He’s too quiet, keeps to himself too much.” In her warm coat, Becca shuddered. “Just disappeared. Was no bod—body ever found?” “No.” Meg shook her head. “Then why are you warning me?” She crossed her arms, arching her brows. “The only way he can rob me is to set his price too high on Gambler’s Choice. Even in that event, I’d pay.” “I wasn’t warning you. You wouldn’t have it any other way. I told you.” “Don’t be afraid for me. Be afraid for Austen. He has something I want really bad.” Meg shook her head, sadly. “Oh, Becca, if you set your heart on that horse, you’re courting disappointment.” The enigmatic Baron Hampton, emerging moment by moment, intrigued Becca. He could be cold as ice or hot as a forest fire. Julia had run away, but Becca wasn’t likely to—not until she had what she needed to return home in success. Tumbling into bed might persuade the captivating nobleman to cooperate in her dreams. A thrill trembled through every cell in her body. Becca decided to seduce Austen Heath. Now all she had to do was gather the courage and step five hundred miles beyond her comfort zone. http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6640

Happy 2016!! This Day Seemed to have Sped at Me

Pink Fuzzy Slippers Authors

It is said that the young anticipate the passage of time while those of a tender older age watch it scrolling past in their rear view mirror far too quickly.  It doesn’t seem a year since I celebrated the birth of 2015!  However, I am a year older, having celebrated a much dreaded birthday on December 27th. I am convinced by circumstance that I have seen another year pass.

Birthday was nice.  Spent it in Galveston with friends who took me to a champagne brunch at the Hotel Galvez on the Seawall.

Last night, NYE, the Fearsome Foursome celebrated at the Omni with a dinner dance, a champagne toast at  midnight and a balloon drop.  The band was very good and a good time was had by all.  The others have posted pictures to Facebook, but I never seem to get pictures with my camera anywhere!  The food was good…

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