zithromax online
 

…But they didn’t succeed. I’m a survivor and yeah, I’ve got fake boobs. So do my sis and cousin over there. We were all lucky, catching breast cancer in time to kick it’s butt, but not without a lot of fear, pain and loss. I can’t say enough about doing those self exams. So, do yourself a favor and CHECK THE GIRLS! Early detection is the key, after all. Go on! You’ll be glad you did.

 

This monthly reminder is brought to you by “Where Would You Like Your Nipple?” A breast cancer survivor’s guide available at Amazon.com

How do you handle those curves in the road? I’m sharing how I face them today at Tempting Romance. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Two new covers in one week can sure make a romance author grin. I showed you “Sophie’s” cover earlier (scroll down a post to check it out) and today I received the new cover for THE BILLIONAIRE’S CON, one of my titles acquired by The Wild Rose Press with their purchase of Still Moments Publishing.

Whoot! Whoot!

Can’t wait to re-release Meggy and Trevor on the romance world. Stay tuned for a release date, but for now, enjoy…

Chef Meggy Calhoun realizes her long-held dream with the opening of Boston’s hottest new culinary experience. Crazy-busy with her new restaurant, she can’t deny a fascination for her hunky new tenant. But will her secret connection to one of New England’s most powerful families poison her recipe for success, and leave her heart flambéed?

Trevor Bryce Christos would do anything to protect the woman who raised him. Even seduce a beautiful con artist disguised as a chef and bent on cashing in on his family’s wealth. Taking up residence in Meggy’s carriage house while disguised as a writer doing research on small town New England is the perfect ploy to catch her at her game. But when the truth of her parentage is revealed, and his ruse exposed, he’ll need the townsfolk’s help with spin control if love is to remain on the menu.

 

Woo hoo! Cover love! I don’t have a release date yet for A SONG FOR SOPHIE, but when the cover comes in you know you’re getting close! I’m humbled to have “Sophie” join the wonderful list of titles in the Honky Tonk Hearts series from The Wild Rose Press. By the way, if you haven’t read this series, you’re missing out on some great honky tonk romance.


A SONG FOR SOPHIE

Jobless, practically homeless, and tired of being manless, Sophie Taylor jumps at the chance to be Beaumont Walker’s personal assistant. Six weeks on the road with country music’s bad boy—and, more importantly, his all-male crew—is the perfect opportunity to change her life.

Beau Walker doesn’t need any more distractions. Sophie, with her butt-ugly suits and balls-to-the-wall attitude, shouldn’t be one, but she proves to be distracting and more—even, surprisingly, a friend. So when he discovers her plan to snag a man from his worldly wise crew, he’s determined to protect her from herself.

When Sophie realizes Beau is behind her failure to attract even one member of his crew, the last place she expects to find herself is in his bed. But will one night of passion convince her she’s woman enough for him? Or will it destroy their friendship and his budding belief in true love?

Hey Hey! The hostesses of Author Roast & Toast are at it again. This week’s victim… er, roastee is Lynn Spangler, author of Whiskey Whispers of the Past. We’re sipping virtual lattes, having a few laughs and giving away a copy. Feel free to stop on by and join the fun.

Author Roast & Toast

Happy Mother’s Day everyone.

How blessed am I? I’ve spent the day with my youngest son, Kevin. That’s my cutie pie and me on the night of his high school graduation. I was in the middle of nasty ass chemo treatments at the time, which was more of a trial for my baby  boy than I understood until much later.

For those of you who have read my breast cancer survivor’s guide, Where Would You Like Your Nipple?, you recognize my Kev from the chapter 4 where he gifted me with the love in his heart through his sweet tribute the night before I underwent a double mastectomy.

As a five year survivor, I’m reminded that breast cancer doesn’t just devastate  those of us who fight the battle, it flattens those who love us more than we’ll ever know.

So, do those self exams!!! Your baby boy, or girl, will be glad you did. 

This monthly reminder is brought to you by Where Would You Like Your Nipple? Available at Amazon.com

Hey Hey romance junkies. Welcome to a special, happy anniversary version of What A Character chat. I can’t believe it’s already been a year since my debut title, Gift of the Realm, was released. I guess the saying is true. Time does fly when you’re having fun. As you can imagine, this book and its characters are close to my heart. To celebrate their one year anniversary, I’m taking advantage of being my own blog boss by opening the hot seat to Keely O’Brien, my very first published heroine. Keely is celebrating by giving away a copy of her story to one lucky commenter. So, without further ado…

Welcome Keely! Before we start, tell the junkies about Gift of the Realm in 140 characters or less.

Keely: Can reluctant Halfling lovers break an ancient curse by embracing their fairie heritages, or will old resentments doom them for eternity?

Mac: What do you consider your biggest strength?

Keely: Believe it or not, I consider my stubborn determination to live a normal life my biggest strength. How else could I have survived the dreams so long? Okay, so being a Halfling isn’t exactly normal, not in modern times, anyway. Still, I’ve discovered my mystical heritage has some definite perks.

Mac: LOL You really are pleased with those amazing fairie gifts I gave you, aren’t you?

Keely: Well, yeah. Who wouldn’t be? But I was actually referring to a certain gorgeous Irishman.

Mac: *Sigh* That Colin, he’s a definite perk. Okay, biggest weakness?

Keely: Colin is and always has been my biggest weakness. I fell in love with him when I was eighteen, you see. He quickly crushed my heart when he treated me like the little girl I was. I tried to put my feelings for him behind me, but when a guy sneaks into your dreams every night, it’s hard to put him out of your mind. These days, he no longer sees me as a little girl, but unfortunately, his weakness, his stubbornness, doesn’t make life easy for a woman—even if she is a Halfling with those amazing fairie gifts Mac mentioned.

Mac: Oh, my money’s on you, babe. Colin is toast. Even if he doesn’t know it yet. So, the romance genre is often heavy with heartbreaking conflict but what makes you laugh?

Keely: My wolfhound, Donovan, makes me laugh. He’s a sweetheart really, but has a nose for trouble.

Mac: He sure does. Gotta love a mischievous hound. I know the answer to this but will you tell the visitors which aspect of your story was the toughest for us to work through?

Keely: I’m tempted to say choosing my gifts—I really wanted to fly—but I can’t complain about being able to zapp myself from one spot to another just by speaking a word. I’m sure Mac would say balancing the heartbreak of debilitating dreams, ancient curses and unfulfilled fates with enough levity so the story remained fun. I think we pulled it off. I know I had fun, anyway.

Mac: Me too, in fact I had a blast. How about sharing a short excerpt from your favorite scene in the story? And tell us why it’s your favorite.

Keely: I have lots of favorites, but this one takes place immediately after Colin and I…ah, consummated our mystical connection.

“The bed’s a bit small.”

She snickered, unable to argue his point. His large frame took up most of the mattress. If it weren’t for the muscled arm bracing her to him, she’d tumble off the side, and it wasn’t necessary she open her eyes to know his large feet dangled several inches over the edge.

Not that she could open her eyes, she thought. In fact, she may never be capable of moving again.

“It was Gran’s,” she said on a yawn. A second low groan reached her ears.

“Did you have to mention that?”

She smiled. “Do you think she’d mind you using it?”

“Using it, no. Sharing it with her granddaughter? Aye, she might.”

Keely: Ahem! Do I really need to explain why it’s one of my favorite scenes?

Mac: No. No, you don’t. Happy anniversary, Keely. Be sure to send my wishes to Colin and Donovan as well. Before you go, do you have a question for the junkies?

Keely: Thanks, Mac. A question, huh? Let’s see… I mentioned my fairie gifts, my favorite of which is Zapping. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to travel through space with just a thought? And Colin has promised to teach me to fly. I can’t wait! So, romance junkies, if you could have any magical gift, what would it be?

Gift of the Realm is available for purchase at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.   

…I get really miffed.

Okay, so I read the book in ARC format. And yeah, the author sent me a copy at no cost, but the story was so well written, I immediately bought a digital copy as soon as it became available and shared my opinion on the very popular site that was all too happy to take my money for the purchase. Then, without so much as an excuse me, the powers that be there promptly deleted my review.

Sorry for the rant. I know I’m not the only person this has happened to, but this is the first time it’s happened to me, and I don’t like it one bit. Yeah, I’m an author, but does that mean I shouldn’t have an opinion on the millions of books the bookseller peddles?  HELLO marketing division! Do you have any clue how many books fellow authors buy from your site? Because let me tell you, authors are reading junkies. We read AND we PURCHASE because we love books!

How dare you discard our honest opinions of a product simply because we also write, while at the same time flooding our inboxes with emails suggesting we review titles we’ve purchased, from YOU – in an attempt to boost your sales!

And another thing. Do you delete the reviews of music because the reviewer can sing? Or of an item of clothing because the reviewer owns a sewing machine? Well? Do you?

I get that you are trying to protect your brand after a rash of review cheaters, but your one size fits all solution to the problem sucks. Just because I write books doesn’t mean I cheat. I. Don’t. Cheat. I review books I’ve enjoyed. Period. Painting me with the same corporal punishment brush as cheaters is not only lazy, it’s insulting to my integrity as a writer, reader and client.

Grrrr!!!!

Okay, rant over. I have no idea what the solution to this problem is, I just know I detest having my ethics questioned because of the actions of others. So, what about you? Have you ever had one of your reviews deleted and did it piss you off?

Hey Hey romance junkies.

Welcome to this week’s What A Character chat. Have I got a character for you. Meet Pierce Jordan, the hero of UNRAVELED by Allie Hawkins. You know the type – long on charm, short on the ability to stick. Uh huh. Still, we’re romance junkies. We believe in possibilities. So help me welcome Pierce and we’ll see if he can convince us he has what it takes to win the heroine once and for all.

Hiya Pierce. Have I got your number, or am I describing you wrong? Can you convince me?

Pierce: Four years ago, I realized Quinn Alexander was a marrying-kind of woman.  Since I was, admittedly, commitment phobic, I broke her heart.  She kicked me out of her bed.  But she maintained our business relationship, keeping it cool, distant and totally professional—despite all my attempts to regain her trust.

Mac: Go Quinn! LOL Oh, yeah. I love it when a guy is thwarted in his attempts to suck up. :-) In Twitter fashion, tell us about your story in 140 characters or less.

Pierce: What if you, unwittingly, pulled a loose thread and unraveled the life of the woman you love?

Mac: Well now. That is a dilemma, isn’t it? What do you consider your biggest strength?

Pierce: Has to be my logic—though I realize betraying Quinn was the most illogical thing I’ve ever done.  I also realize logic plays no part in winning her back.  But I hold onto hope.

Mac: Great answer. Biggest weakness?

Pierce: I dislike Quinn’s brother—or, more truthfully, I’m jealous she gives him the benefit of every doubt but doesn’t cut me a break.  Unfortunately, I make no pretense about my contempt.

Mac: You’re such a guy, Pierce. :-) The romance genre is often heavy with heartbreaking conflict but what makes you laugh?

Pierce: Shortly after Quinn told me good-bye, an old orange and white tomcat adopted me.  He runs me and my housekeeper in circles with his conviction that he rules the roost.  I howl at his antics, but his selfishness is like a mirror, making me wonder why Quinn ever put up with my ego.

Mac: LOL You just convinced me. What woman can resist a man who understands cats? What was the toughest aspect of your story for you and your author, Allie, to work through?

Pierce: I wanted to show how logical and independent I am.  My author wanted to show some softer aspects of my character—especially showing how much I’ve come to put someone else’s needs first (specifically, the needs of my cat).

Mac: Allie, you rock! :-) Okay, give us a short excerpt from your favorite scene in the story, and tell us why it’s your favorite.

Pierce: In the scene below, Quinn—a monogamous woman—forces me to admit I’ve shied away from committing to any one woman.  Now that I’ve figured out I love her—and no one else, I’m willing to do whatever she wants.  And she wants me on my knees

I like this scene because it shows Quinn has a wicked sense of humor.  Laughing at myself is hard to swallow, but I think I learn … from the lesson she lays on me.

“On your knees.”  Quinn pointed at a spot on the floor near her sharp-toed shoes.
“I’m into kinky.”  His debonair tone channeled Cary Grant.
“Good.  Then say, I lied about Quinn’s demand for a signed-in-blood affidavit.’”
“In my own defense—“
“Say it.”
“Okay.”  He spit the word out faster than bullets from an Uzi.  “Satisfied?”
She sighed, long and deeply.  “Best orgasm I’ve ever had.”

Mac: Hot damn. I’ll be right back. I gotta pop over to Amazon. There’s a book I need to add to my Kindle. :-) While I’m gone, please ask one question of our visitors.

Pierce: If the guy you loved broke your heart (betrayed you with another woman), would you ever grant him forgiveness?

Mac: Hmmm. That’s a tough one. First, I’d probably get inventive with a machete, then maybe I’d consider it. But that’s just me.

You’re a doll for playing along with us today, Pierce. And Allie, thanks so much for sharing your hero with us. He’s a keeper. Where can we find you, Allie, and Unraveled?

http://alliehawkins.com/
http://barbaraplum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AllieJHawkins

Buy Links
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=912&zenid=ce8c8e44558e710365b64cf05bd0a060 (Paper and eBook)
http://www.amazon.com/Unraveled-Allie-Hawkins/dp/1612175538 (Kindle and Paperback)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unraveled-allie-hawkins/1113959569 (Nook)

I’ll be signing books at the RT Convention in Kansas City (May 1-5) on Expo Day, May 2.  Please stop by to say, “Hi!.”

Hey Hey romance junkies. One of my favorite people is here. Whoot Whoot! Her name is Vonnie Davis, V to those of us who love not just her, but the fantastic romantic adventures she tells. She’s got a smoking deal for you today. Oh, hell, I’ll let her tell you all about it! Take it away, V…

Happy Spring, everyone. The leaves are popping out on trees here in southern Virginia. My magnolias are blooming as are my cherry trees. I love seeing the earth come alive after a long winter, don’t you?

Mac, I’m always happy to visit your blog and bring along my own touch of mania. I’m a trouble-maker. Truly. I love pitting my heroine and hero together in such a way they drive each other nuts. I love the push and pull of it. The yin and yang of newly acknowledged sexual awareness. The fear of the attraction. The denial. And the way it simply drives them up the wall.

Take two control freaks, for example. What happens when two hard-headed, opinionated and micro-managing people come together? Imagine the sparks, the clashes, the passion. That’s what happens in book two of The Red Hand Conspiracy series: RAIN IS A LOVE SONG.

Jean-Luc is a member of the French counterterrorism unit, an ex-Marine Commando (the French version of our SEALS) and a man who sees women as something to be enjoyed. This attractive American, though, pulls at him. What’s worse her aggressive nature gives him a twitch in his eye.

Gwen is an American widow who has to be in charge of everything about her life since her husband’s death in Iraq spirals her organized existence out of her control.

Her life revolves around her daughter just as ours did when our children were small. But imagine her heartbeat of horror when little Rhiannon is abducted right in front of her eyes—another freakishly out-of-control moment. Thankfully Jean-Luc was nearby to rescue Rhiannon. And while she’s grateful for his help, hours later she’s still grappling to regain control. Her safety net has been ripped to shreds.

While Rhiannon is in the care of Gwen’s father, she and Jean-Luc are on their way for take-out food when he gets a call to report to a murder scene in the sex-district of Paris. And before I share the scene with you, I want to tell you RAIN IS A LOVE SONG is currently a FREE download at Amazon. Free, ladies!!!

“I’m trusting you for now, because I have no choice. Has the crime scene been managed?”
“What?” His head swiveled in her direction. That’s right she worked for the police back in the States. Crime scene investigator or photographer or something. “Yes.”
Gwen started rummaging in her cavernous bag again. “Did the first respondents do the initial assessment?” She pulled out a camera and a roll of film. With quick, efficient movements, she opened the camera’s back to remove an exposed roll and insert a new one.
“I didn’t think anyone used film anymore.”
“I do. It’s been my experience as a crime scene photographer that sometimes an older camera and film take better images than the newer digital ones. I love my trusty old thirty-five millimeter. Dad gave it to me when I graduated from college. I majored in chemistry, but minored in photography.” Her hands expertly made several adjustments. “Just need to set the shutter speed dial to the flash synchronization speed and I’m all set.” She extracted a newer camera from her bag, too, and hung the strap around her neck. “That doesn’t mean I avoid new technology. Although, some courts won’t allow digital pictures into evidence because they can be so easily altered. What’s the rule here in France?”
“Tell me you’re not planning to take pictures of my crime scene. I won’t allow it.” He wanted her to stay in the car while he did his job. She was still rummaging in her bag, grumbling. “I’m not hearing what I want to hear, Gwen.” A motorcycle zipped in front of him, and he slammed on the brakes.
“Ah, here it is.” The woman had a habit of muttering under her breath. She was just loud enough for him to hear, yet low enough he knew she wasn’t talking directly to him. She pulled out a small black device with a wire and microphone attached and began unbuttoning the top few buttons on her blouse.
He couldn’t believe it; what all did she have stuffed into that bag? “You brought a tape recorder along on your trip?” She was biting off a piece of tape, for God’s sake, and taping the recorder above her breast. After which she clipped the microphone onto the neckline of her top.
“Rhiannon wants a recording of her new cousin crying.”
“Of course.” The whole batch of Americans were half-loopy.
“I find this works better. The recorder is voice activated so it’ll only record when I speak. It’s my way of verbally recording what I see as I photograph it. Comes in very handy in trials. It also keeps my hands free to photograph.”
He shook his head at the incredulity of all she had crammed in that shoulder bag. What else had she brought? A crime scene investigation kit? Fingerprinting kit?
She tugged a child’s notepad and pen from her bottomless shoulder bag. “Wish I had my tripod.”
“You’re not authorized to photograph my crime scene.”
“Do you have a ruler? I’ll need one to place next to any evidence I find.”
Was the woman deaf or just hell-bent on having her own way? “You are not photographing my crime scene.” He checked his side mirror before making a turn. She had his temper sparked and primed. One more remark and she’d suffer his wrath.
“Do you have any of those disposable shoe coverings so I don’t leave any non-site traces at the scene while I photograph?” (insert shoe-covers photo)
He yanked his car onto an empty stretch of sidewalk and jammed the gearshift into Park. “Did you not hear me? You’re not authorized to photograph my crime scene.”
“I won’t get in the way of your unit’s photographer.”
She was the most damnable woman. Thick-headed. Dogged. “Don’t you understand?”
Her turquoise eyes flashed. “Don’t you understand? If the same group who killed this informant also snatched Rhiannon, you can bet this mother will do whatever she can to gather evidence to find them. No one touches my child. From now on, I will be in pursuit of their deranged behinds. Believe me, the police, Interpol, counterterrorism units are nothing compared to one pissed-off Momma. Now, do you or do you not have a ruler?”
That damn tick plagued his eye again. Every time he was around this woman with her annoying ways, she affected his right eye—and his libido. “I don’t want you to get out of my car. Is that clear?”
“Yes, it’s clear.” She fiddled with a lens on her camera.
“Good.” For some reason he didn’t believe her. She was going to be trouble.
Gwen tossed her hair over her shoulder. “It’s clear you’re afraid a mere woman would see something you or your staff might miss.” She hiked her chin in that pugnacious way she had. “I thought you were smart enough to see a fresh set of eyes might help. Maybe if I were a man…”
His hand fisted in her hair, and he dragged her to him. Their faces were a mere inch apart. “I wish to hell you were a man. I’d slug you.”
She rolled her eyes and started muttering under her breath again. Something about how she wished he’d try and how great he’d look with his foot broken off and shoved up his ass.

FREE DOWNLOAD UNTIL SATURDAY. HERE’S THE LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Love-Song-Conspiracy-ebook/dp/B00BK9QV3K/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365967371&sr=1-7&keywords=vonnie+davis