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30
Apr
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun. Gift of the Realm Anniversary Giveaway

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.   

Category: What A Character  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,  20 Comments
22
Apr
Long On Charm, Short On The Ability To Stick. What A Character!

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!.”

Category: What A Character  Tags: , , , , , , ,  17 Comments
16
Apr
Magnolias, Mayhem, and an Explosive Parisian Romance.

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

Category: Book Spotlight  Tags: , , , , , , , ,  5 Comments
09
Apr
Raya, The Love Gypsy – What A Character!

Hey Hey, romance junkies. Welcome to What A Character. Please help me welcome this week’s victim, courtesy of the talented Mariah Lynne. Raya, from The Love Gypsy is in the house. I haven’t read this one yet, but I plan to. *rubs hands together*  Here’s the rocking cover. Okay let’s meet Raya. She’s psychic, you know.

Hiya Raya, and welcome. In twitter fashion, tells us about your story.

Raya: As THE LOVE GYPSY, I find true love for the most difficult hearts while befriending time travelers. When my two worlds collide, the romance is magical!

Mac: Now THAT’S a talent, but I imagine working with difficult hearts can be a trial at times. What do you consider your biggest strength? Biggest weakness?

Raya:: My biggest strength is how much I genuinely care about the people who come to me seeking soul mates. I am drawn in by their individual stories and using my psychic powers can read their emotions like a newspaper. I do not take these powers lightly as they have been passed down to me from my grandmother.  My biggest weakness is that sometimes I overstep my bounds worried for no good reason that their love match might not work much like a mother hen guarding the chicken coop.

Mac: Understandable. You are the love gypsy, after all and people can be stubborn when it comes to matters of the heart. So, the romance genre is heavy with heartbreaking conflict but what makes you laugh?

Raya: I laugh at how silly people become around psychics. Take Miss Brianna Breeze, detective extraordinaire for the Fort Myers Florida police department. She interviewed me like a homicide suspect and looked around my reading room like it was a crime scene. Her only crime being that she couldn’t catch a man unless she handcuffed him, but with a few magical twists, I straightened Miss Brianna out whether she liked it or not.

Mac: LOL Poor Brianna. Or maybe I should say, lucky Brianna. What was the toughest aspect of your story for you and Mariah Lynne to work through?

Raya: Combining my many talents. It’s not easy to be a great matchmaker with a good reputation, have psychic abilities and work with time travelers from the past needing help solving problems brought to the present time. Mariah thought that was quite an overload of skills, but I showed her I could make it work. After all, I am The Love Gypsy. She was happy with my results.

Mac: Go Mariah! That’s a lot of complicated twists and turns to work out. Give us a short excerpt from your favorite scene in the story. And tell us why it’s your favorite.

“ I (Brianna Breeze speaking) listened intently, hoping it was thunder until I realized that the wall to the right of where Raya sat displayed an open door. I tried my best to remember if I had seen a door there when I entered but couldn’t. The swirling lights, the whirring, the sudden boom, all affected my memory. I heard another short thud, then turned and looked around. A very handsome man in a black motorcycle jacket seemed to come out of nowhere. I blinked. Was I drugged? ”

Raya: Ah, two very important reasons. First it showcases my strength in drawing time travelers to the present and second and most important, it’s the first look Brianna gets of the man who tries to steal her heart.

Mac: Well yeah. A handsome guy in a black motorcycle jacket works for me. :-) Thanks so much for sharing a bit about yourself. Is there anything you’d like to ask our visitors?

Raya: Could you fall in love with a person from a different time knowing full well the difficulties in making this match work?

Mac: Great question, Raya. Now, where can we find your story? And Mariah?

WEBSITE: MariahLynne.com
BUY LINK:  Download The Love Gypsy
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4917

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mariah-Lynne/295721153858612

 

 

Category: What A Character  Tags: , , , , , , ,  10 Comments
07
Apr
A Battle of Wills – Sneak Peek Sunday

 

Hey Hey, romance junkies. Welcome to Sneak Peek Sunday. Don’t forget to visit the other fabulous participants by clicking on the snazzy banner. You’ll find some great peeks there. My peek this week picks up from where I left off last. You can find that here. Sophie has just taken the job as a temporary assistant country music superstar, Beaumont Walker. Her first task is to get him to the wardrobe fitting he has no interest in attending. The task is a test, to see if she can handle the job. She has no intention of failing.

Enjoy!  

    “Exactly. It’s just a couple of changes of clothes, which will be seen by thousands of people under spotlights that will show any,” she paused and cleared her throat, “imperfections in your appearance.” 

    He shot her a bland, sidelong glance. 

    Okay, that was a stupid argument, and his raised brows said he knew it. The conceited oaf. His music sold records, but his bad boy looks were what had his mostly female audience swarming to fill concert halls. He could wear a paper bag and they wouldn’t find fault with his appearance.     

    Her gaze flicked down his body, and she was tempted to suggest he wear the charming ensemble he was sporting now, just to be a smart ass. His fans would probably rush the stage, she decided, killing him in the process.   

    And that would kill her new job, so instead she asked, “You don’t want to have a wardrobe malfunction, do you?”

    His head whipped around to stare at her. “Who the hell are you, Lady?”

I love making new friends so please feel free to comment away. Thanks for stopping by.

Mac

Category: Sneak Peek Sunday  Tags: , , , , , , ,  6 Comments
03
Apr
Freebie Alert! Back Where You Belong by Vonnie Davis

Hey Hey, romance junkies,

Have I got a treat for you today. The incomparable Vonnie Davis is here to share a taste of her latest Honky Tonk Hearts romance, Back Where You Belong. If you’ve never read any of her work, you are truly missing out. Her voice is fabulously rich, and funny too. The book is available right now for free download, but I’ll let her tell you about it. Take it away, V!

Thanks for having me here today, Mac. I always love visiting. I’m here to spread the word about a free novella download on Amazon this week. Back Where You Belong is my second story in the Honky Tonk Hearts series. And I have to tell you, Mac, how thrilled I am that you’ve contracted a story in this series, too.

Calvin and I went to the movies yesterday. A matinee, a tub of buttered popcorn and diet soda to neutralize the calories in the butter is an indulgence we love. Movies can turn into an expensive proposition, especially if you’ve got kids.

So can shopping for school clothes. My hero in Back Where You Belong is a single dad. He takes his thirteen-year-old daughter, Olivia, and her best friend to the mall for clothes. He asks Lacy, the lady he’s seeing, to go along.

Shopping with teenagers can wear on anyone. Let’s pop into an excerpt and see how the day has been for Tyler.
After carrying their bags to the van, they trooped to the theater. Olivia and Cassidy sat a few rows up while she and Tyler settled in seats near the back. As promised, he’d gotten her a large tub of popcorn with extra butter.

“What a dangerous combination—teenagers and shopping malls.” He exhaled a long sigh as his hand scooped some of the snack off the top of the tub. “Have you ever seen anything like those two inside a store?” He motioned with a second fistful in the general direction of the girls. “I swear I just aged ten years.” He shoved more popcorn into his mouth and chewed.

“When Olivia held up those torn, frayed jeans with that hellacious price tag, I nearly had a coronary. What’s wrong with plain old Wranglers, I ask you?” He grabbed another handful and crammed it in his mouth. His head tilted as he chewed and thought. “She’s only thirteen. I’ve got—what?—eight, nine more years of this to contend with?” His fist delved into the tub again.
“Earrings. My God, she musta bought thirty pair. Hell, she’s only got two ears. And bracelets. Her arm’s only so long.”

Lacy patted his thigh. “Calm down, Dad. She’s only young once.”

More popcorn disappeared. “Yeah, but I’ll be broke for life.”

“Frankly, I found today an enlightening experience.” She fought back giggles.

He stilled, his gaze fixed on her. “How so?”

“Big, strong bull rider is putty in the hands of his petite daughter.” She plucked a few kernels of popcorn and ate them, the salty taste a special treat. “She so has you wrapped around her little finger. I never took you for a softie, Tyler Desmond.”

“She wears on me sometimes. I love her to death, but I worry I’m not raising her right.” He grabbed another handful. “I mean, what do I know about girls? They’re so damn emotional, you know?” His jaw chomped in frustration. “Why did she need three pair of sneakers? Tell me that.”

Lacy glanced into the tub, now nearly empty, and laughed. When had he eaten last?

The lights dimmed and previews of coming attractions started. Explosions on the screen caught Tyler’s attention, and for a few minutes he seemed to calm. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. Seeing this side of him was a revelation. Did he really worry about his abilities as a parent? Olivia was bright, polite and charming in her own way. Bossy to an extent, but Lacy imagined one would need to hold her ground living with a strong personality like Tyler. In many ways, he was larger than life.

A few minutes into the movie, she leaned over and whispered, “Did you get any napkins? My fingers are greasy from the butter.”

He stared into her eyes for a few beats. “I’ll take care of it,” he whispered. Even in the darkened theater, his brown eyes twinkled. He coiled his hand around her wrist and brought her fingers to his lips. Slowly, with his eyes locked on hers, he sucked her index finger into his mouth. A warm tongue swirled around it, and desire shot straight to her core. Oh. My. God. I’m going to have a climax in this theater.

Her eyes drifted shut, and she clamped her thighs together. The things this cowboy could do to her. He took a slow, torturous journey on each of her fingers. If she got any hotter, the theater would have an explosion to rival the ones on the screen.

When he finally got through, he wrapped a hand around her neck and drew her in for a kiss. Lips fused and tongues touched. He tasted of butter and popcorn and pure sex.


While shooting pool at the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk, rancher Tyler Desmond takes an errant dart in the neck. Ready to retaliate, he’s instead captivated by the blonde who threw it. Tyler isn’t interested in opening his heart, so why does he kiss the verbal buzz saw? Just to shut her up?

As a teenager, Lacy LaRoche had a secret crush on Tyler. When the dart brings them face-to-face, all she can do is chatter—until he kisses her. But Lacy didn’t come back to Texas to fall in love. She’s hiding another secret: her roommate surreptitiously videotaped Lacy undressing and posted it on the internet.

When Tyler’s daughter is bullied at school, Lacy must reveal the truth and face the emotional damage of cyberbullying. Over-protective of his daughter—and his heart—Tyler must learn to trust again. Can two scarred hearts find their way back to where they belong?

This book is a free download on Amazon until Saturday. The link is: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Belong-Honky-Hearts-ebook/dp/B00BK9QVKI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364953237&sr=1-1&keywords=back+where+you+belong

My website is www.vonniedavis.com

Category: blogging  Tags: , , , , , , ,  22 Comments
01
Apr
Phlebotomy, Vampires, and a Giggle Stick. What A Character

Welcome to What A Character, a weekly chat with a new and diverse romance character.  This week’s victim comes to us courtesy of the fabulous R.E. Mullins. She’s loaned us Cailey Kane from her new release, It’s A Wonderful Undead Life.  Cool title huh? Yeah, I think so too. So, help me welcome Cailey and R.E. too.

Hiya Cailey. Tell us a little about yourself, will you?

Cailey: Hi, my name is Cailey Kane. Thank you for inviting me to visit with you. I’m always up for a chat. That’s one reason I like working in the phlebotomy lab. I love kidding around with the patients – at least most of them. I am a phlebotomist (which means I draw blood). I live in the pretty town of Amber Heights, Missouri right on the Amber River and I’m fortunate enough to work with my best friend, Morgan Maguire.

Mac: I’m so glad you explained phlebotomy. It sounded like something out of One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest to me. :-)

Cailey: Twitter fashion, huh? Well, lately life has been sucking eggs. I lost my mom in a car accident, got divorced from my cheating husband, and found my stock (and only nest egg) had taken a nose dive. The only thing left was a nice death benefit embedded in the policy. Let’s say it’s enough to bring a girl down.

Mac: Oh yeah. You’ve been put through the ringer, haven’t you? But that kind of stuff builds character. What’s your biggest strength. And of course, then I have to ask what is your biggest weakness?

Cailey: My biggest strength and weakness might be the same thing. I charge through life. It’s hard for me to accept advice. I like to do things my way and I hate – absolutely hate – being told what to do.

Mac: Uh oh! I can imagine that might cause you some trouble at times. What was the hardest aspect of your story for you to work through?

Cailey: The toughest thing that has ever happened to me was being changed into a vampire. It wasn’t something I wanted, you know? It was forced on me. The traitor, Vincent used blood stolen from another vampire and he didn’t even give me enough of Gabe’s blood to properly turn me. I was left in a half life and let me tell you, it was rough.

Mac: Oh, don’t you hate when stuff like that happens? So, the romance genre is often heavy with heartbreaking conflict, but what makes you laugh?

Cailey: It was heartbreaking when I learned my salvation could only come at a great cost for Gabe. I might live but he had to relinquish the future he’d been dreaming of for hundreds of years.
Though he’s pretty set in his ways it turns out he’s a great guy and has a great sense of humor that I never expected.

Mac: Oh, my. Give me a strong man with a sense of humor and I’m toast. Okay, give us a short excerpt from your favorite scene in the story? And tell us why it’s your favorite. .

Cailey: One of my favorite memories is the night Morgan, my BFF, and I were having a girl’s night out. I saw Vincent, the creep who’d started my turning and wanted to see what he was up to.

    “There? We’re going to follow him.”
    “Who? The dude getting into the phallic symbol on wheels?”
    “That’s the one and what a classic example of male compensation it is. Talk about false advertising,” Cailey sneered.
    “You’ve seen what he’s offering?” Morgan asked in surprise leaning forward for a better look.
    “Hell no,” the very idea sickened her. “But I imagine it would be directly disproportionate to his big, jerky ego.”
    “I see…and why are we following this dude with the big ego but only a giggle stick?”
    “Cause I don’t like him and I want to see what he’s up to.”
    “Fair enough. We’ll stick like a tick.”

Mac: LOL Oh, I do love a feisty heroine. Before we get to the visitors, don’t forget to leave us a blurb and buy links, and do you have a question you’d like to ask our guests?

Cailey: The relationship between two BFF’s is something precious. Do you have that certain friend? The one you know would go to the wall for you?

 

Blurb: What happens when you pray for an angel and get a vampire instead?
It’s been a rough couple of years for Cailey Kantor. Now she’s not only facing her first Christmas season alone she’s also received some bad financial news. In desperation, she prays for an angel to come fix her problems. Instead, a sadistic, sociopathic vampire named Vincent who is working for the evil Toltecs confronts her. Trying to start a war between the two rivaling factions of vampires, he bites Cailey then forces her to drink blood stolen from the Nosferatu Gabriel Blautsauger.Now dying she must protect Gabe and his family by allowing him to finish her transformation. Just when she is adjusting to life as a vampire, the Toltecs return and again she becomes the bait to destroy the Blautsauger family. Trying to protect those she loves, Cailey is faces with lies, abduction and betrayal yet somewhere along the lines she manages to fall in love.
Category: What A Character  Tags: , , , , ,  4 Comments
01
Apr
April Fools Excerpt and Giveaway

Happy April Fools Day romance junkies.

I’m sharing a bit of fantasy with Evelyn Cullet on her blog today, and giving away a copy of Gift of the Realm, my debut title released last year. I’d love to see you there. Stop in if you have a moment, won’t you?

Evelyn Cullet’s blog

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27
Mar
How Did Vampires Come Into Existence?
Well, geez. Don’t look at me. I don’t have a clue. But my guest does.
Please help me welcome the talented R. E. Mullens, author of IT’S A WONDERFUL UNDEAD LIFE. She’s here to tell us all…. Muahahahah :-)
Hiya sweetie, take it away!
When I started writing my series about the Blautsaugers of Amber Heights, I needed to decide how vampires came into existence. The Tower of Babel seemed the perfect place to start. Mixing bits and pieces of vampire lore (found on the internet) things I’ve been told, and ancient history – I came up with their story. Only a portion of this is in the first book, It’s A Wonderful Undead Life, but here is the full creation story.
                                                     The Vampire Begins…
          Life started from one gene pool but people were not content for long with their lot. Fear of death had them striving to reach the sky. They wanted to be gods in their own right.
          For their conceit in trying to reach him, to be as powerful, the Lord scattered his peoples throughout the four corners of the earth. He garbled their language so they could no longer communicate and varied their kind and their race so they no longer knew one another.
 Small bands were cast adrift, afraid and alone, until new cultures took hold and began to flourish. When once again men could look beyond basic survival the urge to become godlike again resurfaced. Slowly intrepid explorers searched the far reaches of the world and brought back tales of other civilizations.
 As populations combined and expanded the world was again reunited. Their likenesses and differences were openly revealed. Hidden inside every culture, however, there was an inner darkness  they tried to keep secret. Yet word of these dark entities crept out. Through oral tradition, cave and tomb drawings, and writing on clay tablets told stories of the night hunters. Most men refused to believe and, consequently, ignored the warnings. The night hunters were glad for they wanted to suppress all knowledge of their existence.
          In the first Venetian city-states, the sorcerer, Nosferatu traveled far seeking out Nyx, the goddess of night, and garnered her favor through blood sacrifice. He stroked her vanity and tricked her into giving him the boon of immortality. Foolishly Nosferatu had forgotten the capricious nature of the gods. For when she realized he’d used her, she extracted a heavy price. Enraged at Nosferatu’s actions, she strove to rescind the gift completely but it was beyond her scope so she sought the aid of her sister, Morta, the goddess of death. Who took his humanity and left him thirsting for blood. Soon people came seeking his secret and he brought them into the fold through blood exchange.
They spread their strain through the Roman, Greek and Mesopotamian worlds. They propagated so rapidly they were forced to continually migrate to new and unspoiled hunting grounds. Overcrowding threatened their very survival so one of the original Nosferatu put together a council to command and keep their growing numbers in check. Of course, there were those who resisted change and they fled the European soil aboard ships bound for other lands. These new groups were determined to return to the old ways when they answered to no one. However, they soon discovered they were not alone in the world. Asia, Egypt and the New World all had the found the blood secret.
          In the Mesoamerican region they discovered the Toltec priests had searched for their own path to immortality. In secret, they rejected the sun god to worship the moon. The powerful sun, which controlled the actions of day, was of necessity shared with the common man. Only a select few were allowed to join their dark fellowship through a series of cabalistic rituals, which concluded in a nightly blood exchange as they sought life without death.
          As the population continued to grow, overcrowding became a problem for mortal man. Poor sanitation helped bring about pestilence and plague. The vampire tribes became severely stressed through the decimation of a pure blood supply. It became necessary for vampires to compete amongst themselves for feeding rights and breeding stock until a balance could be achieved or fellow tribes were finally destroyed.
          Finally the night stalkers saw their own doom, created the vampire council, and the Enlighten Times began. To survive most were willing to suppress their violent heritage A new spirit of cooperation and peace settled upon the lands. Blood collection, turnings and breeding became strictly regulated.
 Some power struggles continued to break out as dissenters refused to accept these new laws. Rogue gangs formed, like cults, preaching the ancient lore of self-rule. The most dangerous of these groups took the name of Toltec from the first fearsome tribe. They refused to change with the times and sought to undermine the law.
Until the discontented factions are wiped out the struggles will continue…
It’s a Wonderful Undead Life
BlurbIt’s been a rough couple of years for Cailey Kantor. Now she’s not only facing her first Christmas season alone she’s also received some bad financial news. In desperation, she prays for an angel to come fix her problems. Instead, a sadistic, sociopathic vampire named Vincent who is working for the evil Toltecs confronts her. Trying to start a war between the two rivaling factions of vampires, he bites Cailey then forces her to drink blood stolen from the Nosferatu Gabriel Blautsauger.Now dying she must protect Gabe and his family by allowing him to finish her transformation. Just when she is adjusting to life as a vampire, the Toltecs return and again she becomes the bait to destroy the Blautsauger family. Trying to protect those she loves, Cailey is faces with lies, abduction and betrayal yet somewhere along the lines she manages to fall in love.
Contact info: www.facebook.com/REMullinsauthor Twitter #REMullins Pinterest http://pinterest.com/robinelainem/pins/
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25
Mar
Jaguars, Drug Lords, and Howler Monkeys. Oh, My, What A Character!

Hey hey, romance junkies.

Welcome to this week’s edition of What A Character. Have I got a treat for you. The fabulous Paty Jager has loaned us Augustino Constantine, hero of Secrets of an Aztec Temple, and all I can say is… roar!!!

Seriously, I couldn’t think of a single question to ask him. I hope you all can. What can I say, hot Latino hunks leave me all flustered and giddy. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll just sit back and let this hot hunk do the talking…

*Clearing my throat and shooting for my best sultry voice. Told you I was giddy* :-)

Take it away, Augustino.

I am Augustino Constantine, DEA agent and part-time jaguar tracker for the Central and South American governments.  With these credentials, I am uncertain what is expected of me on this blog. I am not a partying Venezuelan as some may think. I do have hot Latino blood flowing through my body but life has taught me to keep all my emotions and thoughts closed.

That is until I discovered the old, British anthropologist I planned to use as a decoy to get into the Guatemalan jungle to locate drug traffickers turned out to be an intelligent, naïve, and unpredictable young American woman.

My hot Latino blood usually goes for a curvy vivacious woman.  It floored me as much as it floored Isabella when my body, and closely behind my heart, coveted a woman who is as flat-chested as me, tall and lean, with glasses. Her body didn’t win me over so much as her mind and spirit. It is hard not to smile and even laugh at and with a woman who has a near photographic memory yet has lived so alone and isolated from the real world that she can see the humor in her mistakes.

One such time that comes to mind is when we had a small disagreement and she stomped off into the jungle after having told me she knew everything she needed to know from reading books. When the howler monkey let loose his territorial roar at dusk, Isabella thought it was a jaguar and tried to climb a tree. I arrived with my pistol drawn after hearing her screams. She refused to allow me to help her out of the tree. Later she was able to laugh at herself. An admirable quality.

But now she is in danger from the drug lord I wish to see in prison. And her stubbornness is sure to get her killed. Keeping my wits about me is hard when the person I love refuses to stay away from danger. I have thought many times it would be best to kidnap her and ship her back to the United States but she would just find a way to get back and dig deeper.

Carajo! She is one loco but charming woman.

Do you have someone in your life who drives you crazy?  Please tell me, I am a good listener.

Secrets of an Aztec Temple

Revenge is not always sweet…

Isabella Mumphrey can’t leave a puzzle alone. This time she attempts to use her anthropology knowledge to uncover who is stealing priceless artifacts from an Aztec Temple in Mexico City. She believes the discovery will prove her worth to the World Intelligence Agency.  

Tino Costantine is also in Mexico City. He has infiltrated a drug lord’s organization to find enough evidence to not only prove the man’s illegal activities, but to bring him down for numerous deaths. Namely those of Tino’s family.

But when the love of his life, Isabella, strolls into his enemy’s home, Tino is challenged with the choice of saving her or fulfilling his revenge.

Available at:

Windtree Press http://windtreepress.com/product.asp?itemid=17
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-an-aztec-temple-paty-jager/1114316236
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Isabella-Mumphrey-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00BB5J2VQ
Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Secrets-of-an-Aztec-Temple/book-KHf1FzTz60a-Xa7-PBMCRg/page1.html?s=JrJ_mAllFEGuiT9syKbcWQ&r=1

Award winning author Paty Jager is a member of national and local writing organizations. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it. With sixteen novels and several short stories published, she continues to have characters cavorting in her head.  

You can learn more about Paty at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com  her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager , Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager  and twitter;  @patyjag.

Category: What A Character  Tags: , , , , ,  15 Comments
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