Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today, Cynthia. I’m very excited to be here. This past year I have indie-published both a novel and a short story on Amazon. The novel is called ‘The Lamb,’ and the short story is called ‘A Japanese Man in Yangshuo.’ I’m really pleased to be able to share my experiences with indie-publishing and writing with your readers today

What sparked the idea for your book?

The novel, ‘The Lamb,’ is based on the biblical story of King David and Bathsheba. I’ve always been intrigued by this story and its moral implications, and just as I was starting a writing class called ‘Beginning Your Novel’; I thought that a modern-day retelling of this story would be an interesting concept for a novel-length piece of writing. The original story seemed to me to be set in such a chaotic time—constant war, uncertainty and death—not to mention the story itself—love, romance, betrayal. I wondered if this same scenario could happen today or in the near future. After pondering on this for a long time, I eventually came up with the plot of ‘The Lamb’.

Which comes first? The character’s story or the idea for the novel?

For me—at least with ‘The Lamb’ (and other novels I’ve written but not published)—the idea for the novel came first. While I was pondering on the idea that sparked ‘The Lamb’ the characters Beth, David and Hamar came into shape. It took me at least two drafts to work out the particulars of each of their stories.

That said though, for my short story—‘A Japanese Man in Yangshuo’—I saw a man sitting alone, completely miserable, who’s manner so captivated me on a tourist ferry when I was in China that I dreamed up the story around him. So in that instance the character’s story did come to first.

What was the hardest part to write in this book?

The ending of ‘The Lamb’ was the hardest. I worried about it a lot. I rewrote it more than half a dozen times before I was happy with it.

How do you hope this book affects its readers?

I hope they are able to feel some sympathy (or if not sympathy, at least some emotional response) for each of the three main characters and the struggles they face. And I hope they enjoy the love story that weaves through-out.

How long did it take you to write this book?

It took me two years.

So, how did your life as a writer begin?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’ve kept journals and done bits and pieces of writing here and there my whole life. But in 2011 I decided to become more serious about my writing. I took the class on novel writing and from that ‘The Lamb’ came into existence. At the same time as writing ‘The Lamb’ and taking other writing classes, I worked on ‘A Japanese Man in Yangshuo,’ and only recently finished it. I’ve also written another novel and a novella as well which I haven’t published. The novel was the first novel I ever wrote, so I think it will need a thorough going over before its ready for general consumption. Sadly, I haven’t had time to do this yet, but I do hope to get to it one day. I also have a collection of short stories in the same position. Waiting . . . waiting . . . to be rewritten, if only there were more hours in the day.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline, or are you more of a seat of your pants type of a writer?

I do use an outline, but I find myself writing by the seat of my pants (aka ‘pantsing’) on a regular basis as well. Usually I start with an outline and then as I’m writing my way through it I get sidetracked by the characters, or backstory, or a flashback, or a new idea for a plotline will jump into my head. The next thing I’m off on a tangent and the outline has been abandoned. When ‘pantsing’ I generally role with it, because sometimes valuable pieces of writing can come out of the exercise, often things that wouldn’t have occurred to me at the outlining stage.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Just to keep at it. It’s easy to get discouraged while writing, as it is with any creative pursuit that your serious about. And, I would also advise to rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

What do you have in store next for your readers?

At the moment I’m working on a novella set in Bali. And I’m also throwing around some ideas for a sequel to my novel, ‘The Lamb’. Nothing is firm on that front yet though; I’m just considering ideas for it. So please, stay tuned…

Synopsis of ‘The Lamb’:

Beth Urtz and her husband, Hamar, work for Worldwide Strategic Outcomes, Inc., a private military service provider, in an undisclosed location known as S.P. 4. When their orderly lives are upturned after an encounter between Beth and the CEO of their company, Beth struggles through a crisis of conscience while Hamar may have to pay the ultimate price for her sins. A modern-day retelling of the King David and Bathsheba story, The Lamb explores the themes of power, control, isolation, and the East-West divide. It’s a penetrating story of truth and lies, of psychological surprises and unexpected developments, of unlikely and difficult love.

Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lamb-E-B-Purtill-ebook/dp/B00JJAB8VC#

Author Bio:

E.B. Purtill is a writer and lover of fiction. ‘The Lamb’ is her first novel. She recently published a short story, ‘A Japanese Man in Yangshuo’. She studied law and arts at the University of Western Australia. She is now married and has an adorable baby daughter. Go to www.ebpurtill.com for more.

Social media links:

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/E.-B.-Purtill/e/B00JJZBOX4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Blog: http://www.ebpurtill.com/#!untitled/c1jhv

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ebpurtill

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22053556-the-lamb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eblech

Website: http://www.ebpurtill.com/

I am a land dweller, I admit it. I love the mountains, love the plains (I always imagine myself on horseback with a feather in my hair and an eagle soaring overhead.) But the ocean? Well, that’s a different story. My sister, I’ve concluded, is half fish. She loves the water, loves sailing and swimming and sand stuck in inappropriate places.

That said, what do I do? I write a sci-fi/paranormal romance (BLUE ABYSS) where the heroine is kidnapped, sent through time, and genetically altered to breathe water. In the Bermuda Triangle! She hangs out with sharks and kills really scary alien bad guys in underwater caves. I had to research the creatures, the dive gear, the caves and the ocean itself. It’s HUGE. It’s cool. And it’s intimidating as hell. Nothing like a mountain or the Pacific to remind us how small we are. So, here’s my top ten reasons the ocean scares the you know what out of me.

1 – Sharks. (Weak, I know. But I saw Jaws. Need I say more?)
2 – I can’t breathe water. (I need to go up to Celestina’s space ship and talk to her about that.)
3 – Tsunami (Scary.)
4 – Riptides
5 – Hurricanes
6 – The Bermuda Triangle
7 – It’s DEEP, never get to the bottom deep. Who knows what’s down there?!
8 – Giant monster squid that rocket up from the deep and eat stuff three times my size.
9 – Sea-sickness (Yes, I get it on every boat, big or small – nausea nightmare!)
10 – Pirates. Yes, we still have them!

There you have it, a glimpse into my inner wimp. But Mari, my heroine in BLUE ABYSS loves the water, and everything about it. She’s an amazing deep cave diver and explorer. When I write her, I can pretend to be brave and see all that amazing underwater phenomenon. And I can be totally in love with Raiden, her smoking hot, crash-landed in the ocean, alien hero. He’s got his own set of special skills, but I have to keep that a secret for now. Blue Abyss is coming soon. Until then…until I’m sure Mari killed ALL the monsters…maybe I’ll just keep my feet firmly planted in the ground.

Cheers to all the water lovers out there! Sail some great sailing for me.

Michele Callahan

http://michelecallahan.com

Thank you so much for hosting me, Cynthia. I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your blog today, and offer some advice to other self-published authors.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

Oh, that is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. At the Surrey International Writers Conference last year, I had to do it twice! Ken Sherman (whom I did a practice pitch with) and Michael Slade (whom I conveniently got caught in an elevator with. Seriously.) were the lucky listeners. I was literally sweating bullets, intimidated like you-know-what, though I did receive really good feedback from them. I thought it sucked, but apparently they didn’t! Both men were extremely polite, which went a long way, when I was trying to calm myself down. So here’s how it went down:
“Well, Mr. So-and-So… It’s a young-adult paranormal romance, Beauty and the Beast-like story, based here in Vancouver. My heroin, Liss, is rescued from a deadly car crash, and then pursued by her malion savior, who is wanted for murder.”
“Did you say malion?”
“Yes, Sir, I did.”
“Did you make that up?”
“Yes, Sir, I did.”
(Insert their good feedback, and me wiping sweat from my upper lip here)

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

Beneath the Surface is book one in my malion series. Altogether, there will be six books and one novella. The entire plot of the series is complete in my head, as well as the titles, so now it is just a matter of writing and editing time before the next book will be published. Like Harry Potter, each book builds on the previous story, so I look forward to giving readers much more in book two, three, and so on. For the duration of the series, Liss and Rion remain the heroine and hero; however, the novella and two other books in the series will be from a human, a malion male (though not Rion’s), and a malion female’s perspective. Getting into those minds will be very interesting for me.

How does your family feel about your writing?

It took me a long time to tell my husband that I was writing a book. No one knew except my best friend, Kim. I was incredibly shy about it, and I wasn’t sure, for the longest time, if I would ever tell anyone else about it. However, when I finally got up the courage to tell the rest of my family and friends, they were extremely supportive, and they all bought copies when it came out. It was my husband that convinced me to pursue publication, though I do keep it hidden from our children. They were here before my book, and I never want them to feel like I spend more time at the computer than with them, which is why I write when they are in bed or at school.

What is your writing routine like?

110% scheduled. My biggest struggle with writing the first book was finding the time, and not pushing my family aside, especially because I also work as a Dental Assistant. What I found was that I needed to schedule it, like work. I write five days per week, either late at night, early in the morning, or when everyone is at school or work, for a 90 minute sprint. I set the timer, when it beeps, I’m done. Housework, exercise, meals and kids activities must also be fit into my day, so my life just doesn’t allow for all-day writing marathons, unfortunately (though some days, I wish!).

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you combat it with?

Absolutely. Writer’s block plagues me, sometimes, every second chapter I write. How I combat that is by plotting during the day in my head where I want the chapter to go, so that I make the best of my 90 minute sprint, or just walk away from it for a week or two. Sometimes I’m just burnt out and need some time away from the computer. I think it’s good to take short breaks and refresh yourself, or stop and read a good book, just to get away from your story for a while.

How far do you plan ahead?

With this series—or any future book I have planned in my head—I need to know, roughly, what is going to happen, including the arc of the love story (because it is a romance), as well as where the characters will be/not be. As I get to writing each book, I have something in point form where I believe the plot will go, but not too much detail, as the fine points iron out as I write. I use Michael Hauge’s “Six Plot Structure” to keep me on track; having that template is very helpful. I also use the “Snowflake” plotting software, which, I find, works fantastic for making me think, and keeping me organized and on track.

What did you do to promote your work?

In the beginning, I made a website, a Facebook page, got onto Twitter and the Goodreads Author Program. All of those things, I believe, are the essentials. Having Goodreads giveaways, I found, were really helpful for getting people to see my book, and I received some fantastic reviews from the winners. Afterwards, I hired Book Enthusiast Promotions, and had a Review Blitz. That, my friends, was amazing! I got 20 new followers on Facebook, lots more Twitter followers and more great feedback from bloggers. For a brand-new author who is self-published, it was the best thing I ever did. I will definitely be using Debra’s services in the future, she is fantastic. Lately, I’ve been pulling back on promotional things (other than a guest blog appearance when I can snag one), because I really want to get the next book finished. I want to have it out as soon as next spring, and I’m trying really hard to meet that deadline.

All self-published books are said to be shoddily edited. What do you say to that?

It’s sad to hear there is a stereotype floating around like that. Some of the very best books I’ve read lately are self-published: Eileen Cook’s Do or Di; Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster (which I read before it went mainstream); Nashoda Rose’s With You (which just became a NYT Bestseller) and Torn from You; and the very best, T. Rae. Mitchell’s Fate Fables (wow, what a fantastic novel!). What I do have to say, is that if you are unsure of whether to buy a book because you’re worried you’ll spend money on something that is poorly edited, download the excerpt first. This is also the reason I posted the first four chapters of Beneath the Surface on my website, which is longer than the excerpt you get from an online retailer. Furthermore, have a look at a few websites who have reviewed it. I tend to read the very lengthy reviews, myself, because they are, usually, most honest. For self-publishing authors, all I can say is, editing your book before it’s published is crucial. Editors are on your side, and they want to make your book better (don’t forget, their name will be on it, too). Putting your well-edited and polished book out there is your chance to prove to the world you’re worth reading, following and spending money on.

Do you have critique partners?

YES. The hardest part of having a critique partner(s) is finding the right one. They are very, very helpful, if you can find them. If at all possible, it’s best to have one that writes the same genre.

What are you reading now?

Tell the Wolves I’m Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt.

It’s a young-adult literary fiction, and incredibly well written. I have a hard time putting it down.

Giveaway:
I would like to giveaway a signed paperback copy of Beneath the Surface.

Excerpt:
A short scene from Chapter III. Dr. Abeo “Abby” Mubarak (a human friend and ally of the malions) has come to check on Liss, and tries to help her walk for the first time since her accident, but it’s not as easy as it seems. Liss also doesn’t expect to see Rion’s face for the first time; up until this point, he’s been covered by a creepy, dark hood.
I stood still for a second to balance myself. I knew that I could
walk on my own, even if it wasn’t very far. I took one more deep
breath and raised my left leg slightly, but as soon as I transferred
all of my weight to my right leg, it gave out and I fell backward.
Abby was standing too far in front of me to catch the hand I
reached out for her, and I squealed thinking about my head hitting
the rock hard floor. But I didn’t get that far; two giant arms were
around my waist and legs instantly, lifting me before I could hit.
I sucked in a breath, just as my face turned to the side, and my
mouth dropped open—Rion’s bright green, almond-shaped eyes
were staring directly into mine.

I recoiled. I’d completely forgotten Abby was still in the room.

Biography:
Miranda Rae Carter has lived in British Columbia her whole life, and is a self-proclaimed home-bug. She spends most of her time doing what she loves, and that is being a mom and wife—and trying to master the art of cooking. The rest of her time is divided between looking in mouths and writing.

Website:
www.mirandaraecarter.com

Buy Links for hardcover, paperback and $2.99 e-book:

FriesenPress:
http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000010844646

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G5RHXAC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=14N611X0V69AYZM95XDY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

*Ebook also available on Nook, Google Play, iBook and Kobo*

The old Chris LeDoux song asks a question I’ve had to answer a few times. Or at least once in my current relationship. I adore cowboys. I love the way their butts look in those tight Wranglers, the way they wear down their boot heels and yet insist the boots still got life. When I was helping my then boyfriend move, I asked if I could trash his worn, ugly boots. We almost broke up that night.

So with my love of the horse riding, cow milking, Western hero, it came as no surprise that my first published book would be about a bull rider’s brother. The four friends who showed up on screen for The Bull Rider’s Brother, would take me through three novels and a novella. The world I built is a mixture of real places back in my home state of Idaho and the fictional settings I needed for the story development. Two of the friends fall back in love in Book 1. One, Barb, the fiery career woman meets her match in The Bull Rider’s Manager. A victim of love who’s dumped, finds his soul mate in the novella –Shawnee Holiday. And finally, the bull rider himself finds his way onto the couch of a society girl, through a very surprising connection.

I’m sure Taylor DeMarco would have understood Mr. LeDoux’s song, even appreciating the irony.

When I sat down to write Jesse’s story, I wanted to show more than just the stereotypical bull rider. Or even the spoilt baby of the family. Jesse’s those things, sure, but like a lot of us, he also has hopes and dreams that he holds tight to his chest like a full house in a poker game.

I hope you take a chance at the book and let Jesse and Taylor tell you their story.

Lynn

Jesse Sullivan isn’t afraid of any thing, any man, or any bull. But when he decides to take a chance and carve out a life outside his rodeo career, he’s feeling like he’s walking on shaky ground. In typical Jesse style, he jumps at a chance to purchase Main Street Gallery, a Boise tradition in the art world.

Taylor DeMarco has two goals for the next year. Getting the gallery on sound financial ground to prove to her parents that she can keep her grandfather’s legacy alive is the first one. Moving out of the house and into her own condo by the Boise river, is the second. When she finds her folks are selling the gallery to Jesse, she vows to stop the sale, no hands barred.

When sparks fly between Jesse and Taylor, family gets in the way of reason, and they have to decide what is more important, their desires or keeping Main Street Gallery open and successful.

Book excerpt

Time waits for no man, and as usual, Jesse was late. Peeking in the doorway of the class that was supposed to start any minute, he breathed a sigh of relief. Professor DeMarco wasn’t there. He crossed to the next door that led to her office, knocked quickly, then burst in. “Professor DeMarco, I need to leave early today …” He stopped two steps into the room, glancing at the open door for the name plate. Right office, wrong woman. Instead of the elegant art instructor, a very curvy Venus stood in a black bra and lacy black panties, holding a privacy sheet out from her body like she didn’t quite know what to do with it.

Her eyes widened as she realized he was in the room. “Get out of here!” she shrieked. Then, realizing she still held the sheet at arm’s length, she grabbed it and pressed it against her body.
Jesse could have told her it was a lost cause. What he’d seen couldn’t be unseen and she would be haunting his dreams for a while. Instead, he cast his glance regretfully downward and turned around. “Sorry, I guess I should have waited in the hall.”

He was closing the door behind him when he heard her response.

“Neanderthal.”

When she entered the classroom a few minutes later as that week’s live model, he saw her gaze stop at his easel for a second. Then she did something that never happened when Jesse met a beautiful woman. She ignored him.

He glanced at his watch: ten to four. He’d promised to be at the airport no later than an hour before his plane left at six. Yet he still sat in front of his easel.

Focusing on the study he’d been working on for the entire class period, he sighed, knowing he’d missed something. The model today was exquisite, a woman who could have been not only Miss Idaho, but also Miss Freaking Universe. Her blond hair fell straight, ending in the middle of a tan, well-defined back. The girl’s body showed a healthy addiction to working out.

He knew the curves that were covered by the privacy sheet, and Jesse felt his body reacting to the view. Not the most professional of reactions for an artist, especially if he wanted to be taken seriously in the art industry someday. He shifted on the stool, his attention falling on her hands. Strong hands that gripped the cloth keeping her covered. The fabric draped around her as if she’d just woken from a night of wild sex. She sat like a goddess in front of the drawing class. Long, slender fingers displayed her nails painted in that weird clear and white thing girls did. He focused on his canvas and, using his pencil, gently added a shadow to the back of the hand.

He tuned into his artist’s eye, noticing the play of light off her straight hair, the gentle curve of her shoulder. Her long, regal neck. Glancing back at his sketchpad, he knew the only things he’d managed to capture from the vitality of this woman were the hands. He’d nailed the hands. A smile curved on his lips as he looked back up at the goddess in front of him to discover her staring back at him.

Heat coursed across the room, his desire hot, his feelings similar to what he often felt when he locked eyes with a gorgeous woman from across a crowded bar. But this, this felt different. His smile faded as hers gently grew. Did she know what he’d been thinking? Hell, he wanted her to know. He wanted to feel those lips against his own, uncover the body only hinted at in the crowded art room. He wanted to possess her. He felt like a teenaged boy looking at his first girlie magazine. No, this was more than youthful attraction. Their gazes locked, and he started to rise from his stool, wanting to introduce himself. To get her name, for God’s sake.

A beeping from his watch broke his focus, and he dropped his gaze for a second. When he looked back, she’d turned her head away, the moment lost.
Jesse sighed and opened his case, putting away supplies. Time to go back into the real world. Time to become Jesse Sullivan, Champion Bull Rider and Professional Bull-Shitter. Eight seconds riding a bull and hours of interviews with reporters wondering why he would risk his life day after day. Wondering who Jesse Sullivan really was underneath that cowboy hat.

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Bull-Riders-Keeper-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00JX12LCM
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bull-riders-keeper-lynn-cahoon/1119336586?ean=9781440581205

BIO
Lynn Cahoon’s a multi-published author. An Idaho native, her stories focus around the depth and experience of small town life and love. Lynn’s published in Chicken Soup anthologies, explored controversial stories for the confessional magazines, short stories in Women’s World, and contemporary romantic fiction. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and four fur babies

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor
website – http://lynncahoon.wordpress.com/
Amazon author page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Thanks, Cynthia, for having all of us here today!

The Authors of Main Street have just released their second boxed set. The first one was Christmas on Main Street and it was so successful with our readers that we decided to give our readers another one as our way of thanking them. After a little debate, we decided on Weddings on Main Street. Again, there are eleven books in this set available in ebook form at all the major

What a Cowgirl Wants by Tori Scott. Page-Turning Stories from the Heart of Texas. It’s wedding bells for Blake and Mandy, but the fairy tale wedding Mandy wants is in jeopardy when Blake’s father butts in. Can Mandy pull off the wedding of her dreams on a limited budget? Only if Blake can keep his father under control, which is not an easy thing to do when his father is Barrett Kaufman, tough Houston attorney.

April Fool Bride by Joan Reeves. It’s never too late to live happily ever after. Is it a marriage of convenience or something more? Something that sizzles like steam heat between Maddie and Jake that neither can resist.

Wedding Surprise by Mona Risk. Around the world with love, humor and passion. Finally, Claire’s dream of a wonderful white wedding to the man she’s loved for ten years is about to come true. Two weeks before the big day, Claire and David receive an unexpected announcement that can destroy their relationship. Is their love for each other strong enough to turn the worst wedding surprise into the best?

Small Town Glamour Girl Wedding by Stephanie Queen. USA TODAY Bestelling Author. Fun, Flirty & Forever. Julie and Jack are over-the-moon in love, but with their soon-to-be mothers-in-law battling for influence over wedding plans, they fight to keep the peace. Finally when their mothers reveal a stunning secret from the past, Jack and Julie must re-think the wedding. Will they or won’t they say I do?

The Vow by Pepper Phillips. Southern Sass with a Touch of Heart. Coming home after ten years, Ann Normand is discouraged to find nothing has changed. She’s still not wanted. Except for Clay Couvillion. He’s a man now and he wants her to stay. Can she forget the past and open her heart or will she run again?

The Reluctant Bride by Jill James. A little Sweet. A little Sexy. A lot Happily-Ever-After. Jimmy and Claire were high-school sweethearts. A decade later of living together and there is still no wedding in sight. With the help of Claire’s family and friends, Jimmy has a plan to surprise, ambush, and wed his reluctant bride.

Kiss the Bridesmaid by Susan R. Hughes. Sweet with a Touch of Heat. Serving as a bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding should be a piece of cake for Mari. The icing on that cake turns out to be Jake, a gorgeous wedding photographer with an adorable daughter. Life couldn’t be sweeter until a problem Mari had thought she’d left in the past resurfaces to threaten her future. The wedding of Brooke and Ian from Secret Vow provides the backdrop for this sweet love story.

Second Chance Wedding by Leigh Morgan. Strong women and the men who love them. After high school, loss strikes again and, Sunshine MacAlister leaves Shute Pond and the man who holds her heart, Conall O’Malley. Twelve years later, Sun, now Dr. “Mel” MacAlister, returns home for her best friend’s wedding, and comes face to face with the man she loved and left. Will seeing Conall again re-kindle the passion she once felt, and fill her with love that can last a lifetime?

Once Upon a Wedding by Kelly Rae. Love really is, all there is… Cassie Anderson, bridesmaid extraordinaire, is tired of flying solo to all of her friend’s weddings. Unfortunately, the one man for whom she feels any spark has a nasty habit of having a date on his arm. Stealing another woman’s date is against the rules, but if she can just catch him alone – well that would be fair game!

Stuck with You by Kristy Tate. Romance, mystery and magic. Whit offers to forgive Andie’s debt if she’ll pose as his date to his brother’s wedding. Andie needs the money, and Whit believes it’s the perfect way to escape his mother’s match-making schemes.Whit calls it a win-win situation, but Andie is afraid she may lose her heart.

I Thee Wed by E. Ayers. Where Life and Love Come Together. A product of broken marriages, Julia never sees marriage for herself. She throws everything she’s got into her career with Main Street Bridal Salon, until a crazy redhead with freckles named Aaron sweeps her off her feet. But a family secret is about to change everything.
Buy Links:

Amazon: US
http://amzn.com/B00KV0AZVI

Amazon: UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KV0AZVI

B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weddings-on-main-street-tori-scott/1119711535?ean=9780985515485
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id888130300

Kobo:
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/weddings-on-main-street

Here’s an excerpt from E. Ayers’ I Thee Wed. But you’re going to have to read all the other stories before you read this one!

Cody rubbed Julia’s back and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m very proud of you and the way you’ve turned out.”

“Thanks, Dad. But now Aaron’s coming tomorrow and I have no idea what to do.”

“Okay, I’m the last person who should be giving you advice on your love life. I’ve certainly screwed that up over the years. Although I will admit that DeeDee is the best thing that ever happened to me when it comes to women. In spite of my mistakes, I have seven wonderful children that I love dearly and wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. So, for whatever it’s worth, I’m going to suggest that you go into any relationship slowly and with your eyes wide open. I don’t want you making a mistake.”

She pulled away from her dad’s arms and stared into his blue eyes. “I think I understand. You think Aaron has swept me off my feet?”

“I know he has. Put them back on the ground and proceed with caution.”

Book Blurbs:

Waiting: Crazy In Love Series – Book 1
Once you get the zing you can’t go back.

Jane West has everything a woman could want. A job in a small Montana town’s only adult store, two busy young boys and one dead husband. She’s been waiting–for a little zing. That all changes one summer morning at a garage sale with her kids.

Now someone wants their garage sale find and will let nothing get in their way. Including Jane. This new excitement for Jane spells trouble for a relationship with new neighbor–and hot fireman–Ty Strickland. Can Jane and Ty handle a relationship meddling mother-in-law, crazy kids, and stay alive while trying to solve the garage sale mystery? Will their love be worth the wait?

Wanting – Crazy In Love Series – Book 2
Now on sale for .99!

Veronica Miller is a plumber on a mission—buy out her dad and the family business is finally hers. One big, handsome problem stands in her way. And it’s not a clogged toilet.

Jack Reid is the boy she mooned over in high school. He’s back in town, but he’s no longer a boy. Ten years ago he broke her heart, skipped town and never came back. Now he’s a big shot lawyer in Florida whose uncle feigned a health crisis to trick Jack into coming back into town. Upon arrival Jack finds his uncle is gone, he’s homeless, and forced to be roommates with the one woman he could never resist.

Jack discovers his lust hasn’t cooled for the sexy Veronica, but neither has her heart forgiven him. A sex-toy educational party, romance novel writing gone awry, Goldie’s meddling, an escape artist snake, a strange stalker in a fluffy pink coat, a house fire, plumbing gone awry, bitter cold, and a smart-faced garden gnome all conspire to force Jack and Veronica to work through a decade of baggage, disappointment, wanting and unrequited lust while figuring out the mystery behind the stalker.

Wondering – Crazy In Love Series – Book 3
Emma Hardy hasn’t been able to forget Sam Carter, or his incredible kiss in the elevator. Sadly, he rocked her world (and her libido), then calmly walked away, quit his job, and disappeared for two months. Not exactly the hot kiss follow-up she’d been hoping for. But Sam was busy making plans. And now, thanks to a glued-together gnome name George, a set of handcuffs, mistletoe, and a meddling adult store cupid disguised as aneccentric but innocent grandmother, Emma’s about to get the greatest Christmas gift of all…true love.

Wishing – Crazy In Love Series – Book 4
Violet Miller is a teacher savoring her summer break until she’s been called in as emergency reinforcements—of the dating kind. She volunteers to help an old flame by pretending to be his girlfriend. In Alaska. At a family reunion. Since the guy is a handsome, lumberjack-sized doctor she’s never quite forgotten, faking a relationship won’t be hard work—while wishing for more.

Mike Ostranski is a desperate man on vacation. His mother wants grandchildren and sees a crazy Alaskan woman as a candidate for daughter-in-law. Mike needs Violet by his side to deflect the lady’s advances.

A week in Alaska as boyfriend and girlfriend should be easy for them. They grew up together, even had a brief fling. What could go wrong?

Everything.

Excerpt from Wanting – Crazy In Love Series – Book 2
Now on sale for .99!

Wanting
Copyright 2012 – Jennifer Zane

CHAPTER ONE
When little girls play make-believe with their dolls, most pretend they’re mommies or princesses or teachers. Have little tea parties with them, play dress-up. That’s what my sister, Violet, did with hers. Me? I played plumber with mine. I dressed my little Betsy Wets-Alot up in a pair of gray coveralls stolen from a male test pilot action figure I’d found at the toy store. He’d been tossed, naked, into the back of my closet until my sister found him and used him for the groom in her pretend weddings.
Not only did I dress my self-wetting doll in menswear, I ran a straw down the pants leg to divert the faux pee away from her anatomically-incorrect little body. No potty for her. I was five and knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I, Veronica Miller, wanted to be a plumber. Just like my father.
Now, over twenty years later, I’d fulfilled my childhood dream. I was the plumber I’d longed to be, working with my dad. Soon to be working on my own. One last payment to my old man stood between his official retirement and my small business owner status.
I smiled to myself about this almost-upon-me momentous occasion while lathering my hair in the shower. I squealed when the spray of water I was standing beneath went cold and quickly rinsed out the strawberry scented shampoo.
“Stupid hot water heater,” I grumbled to myself as I yanked back the plastic shower curtain and stepped out into the steam filled room. I longed to get back to my own house as Violet’s plumbing system needed some serious work. Even in the thick humidity, goose bumps popped out all over my body as I quickly toweled off and snuggled into my ratty, yet wonderfully comfortable flannel robe.
While I leaned over and rubbed my wet hair with a bright pink towel, I heard it. The sound of a key in a lock, the front door opening. I froze in place upside-down, staring at my knees between the edges of the robe, towel tangled with my long hair. Since I was a plumber, not a law enforcement officer, I lacked the training to keep panic at bay. That hot, adrenaline-induced fear rose up inside me between one heartbeat and the next. I swear the little wet hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Help. I needed to get help, but my cell was in my purse, which I’d dropped by the front door, one room away. No house phone.
I stood up, flipped my dark hair back over my shoulder, held my breath and listened. Rustling and a little mumbling was all I could make out. Who was in the house? Sure, they must have a key since I hadn’t heard a window break, but the only other person who was supposed to have one was Violet, and she was in Utah.
I tiptoed over to the door, bit my lip and winced as I turned the knob and hoped it didn’t squeak. I slowly opened the door as I held my breath. Peeking into the bedroom, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Barely made bed, dirty clothes tossed haphazardly at the wicker hamper. Something heavy thumped onto the floor from the vicinity of the front door and I looked in that direction as if I had x-ray vision and could see through the wall to the person in the living room.
I squeezed through the small gap I’d made in the bathroom doorway, afraid if I opened it anymore, the old hinges would give me away. Breathing as quietly as possible, which was pretty hard in panic mode, I bent down and grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on to use as a weapon. What I held didn’t register. I knew it was solid wood like a baseball bat and as good as I was going to get for protection.
Violet’s house was small, with only one floor and a scary basement I rarely visited. Living room, kitchen, bedroom and bath. That’s it. Which also meant there wasn’t anywhere to hide.
For breaking and entering, the guy wasn’t Mr. Stealth. It was the middle of the afternoon, he’d come in the front door and he was awfully noisy for someone being where they weren’t supposed to be. Even if he was the worst robber ever, that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.
My palms were sweaty as I peeked around the door jamb into the living room. His back was to me and he appeared to be looking down at something he held in front of him, probably a cell phone. It appeared he was texting, or reading one. Tall, around six feet, maybe a little more, and solid. He wore jeans and dark leather shoes. His black jacket was a lighter weight than one would expect for the dead of winter in Montana in the throes of a bitter cold snap. A gray knit cap covered most of his dark hair.
I didn’t recognize him, but I wasn’t in the mood to wait for him to turn around and see me. I decided to use the element of surprise. I tiptoed over to him and whacked him on the arm with my wooden weapon. Hard.
Thwack!
I’d aimed for his head, but nerves and slick palms messed me up and I hit his shoulder instead. The reverberations tingled in my fingertips.
“What the fuck?” Mr. Intruder said, his voice deep, full of surprise, the cell phone dropped to the floor at his feet. He raised a hand to his upper arm.
As he started to turn to face me, I hit him again, this time on the back of the head.
Crack!
It wasn’t the sound of his skull breaking, but my weapon instead. The wood broke into two, one piece clattering to the floor.
Intruder grunted, fell to his knees with a thunk, then fell face first onto the floral area rug in front of the fireplace, his face turned toward me.
I stood there motionless, stunned, holding half of my broken weapon. Huh, varsity softball had paid off. It appeared I’d hit a home run. I looked down at the prostrate form on the floor. One leg moved a little, which, combined with some groaning, indicated I hadn’t killed him. Even with his eyes closed, I instantly recognized him.
“Oh, shit,” I whispered as I knelt down next to him. The thick wool of the carpet was scratchy against my knees. Why hadn’t I known who it was before I knocked him unconscious? I should have been relieved an axe wielding mad man wasn’t trying to kill me, but I was too surprised instead.
It was Jack Reid. The guy I’d been in love with in high school who I hadn’t seen in over ten years. Ten years where I’d often fantasize about him, about what could have been. I’d often dream about the moment he’d come back into my life, but this definitely wasn’t it. Sure, when he’d gone out with Violet instead of me senior year I’d wanted to kill him, slowly and painfully for doing so, but I’d envisioned strangulation or a pummeling of some kind. Now that I’d possibly killed him, at least knocked him completely unconscious, with—I lifted my broken weapon—the Triple Smacker paddle from my box of sex toys for the toy party I was hosting tonight, I realized the anger and bitterness at his long-ago rejection hadn’t gone away.
How dare he barge into my life again, unannounced, when I wasn’t the least bit ready for him! I wanted make-up, a killer dress, some fuck-me heels on, my hair done, with a hot guy in love with me on my arm when Jack saw me again. To make him see what he’d missed out on. Then I’d crush him beneath my stiletto heel before my lover shifted my attentions elsewhere.
But a robe and tangled, wet hair? A sex toy paddle? Revenge and maybe a little payback would be nice, but a felony conviction for assault? Oh boy.
Dropping the broken paddle onto the floor, I leaned over Jack and gently probed the back of his head. No brains gushing out, no blood seeping from beneath his hat. One huge goose egg of a bump though. I winced, thinking about the headache—maybe concussion—he might have.
Man, he smelled good. Woodsy, clean, male mixed with the fruity scent of my shampoo from my hair tangled about my face. His scent was sexy in an unconscious sort of way.
“Jack, Jack wake up,” I said, gently moving his shoulder. “Jack!” He had to wake up because I couldn’t live with myselfbeing known around town as the woman who killed Jack Reid with a Triple Smacker.
After another groan and a few moans, he rolled onto his back, blinked his eyes a few times and stared at me. At first, unseeing, then with focus.
Boy, even knocked practically unconscious, he sure looked amazing. Ten years had done the man a lot of good. His face was more rugged, jaw more pronounced. It could have been the five o’clock shadow at two in the afternoon that helped with that. He had a fabulous tan. The kind you get from living in Florida. Lips I’d dreamt about kissing when I was sixteen still looked appealing now. His dark hair that peeked out of his cap had a little curl. His blue eyes, even unfocused, were just as I remembered. Longing, once forgotten, flared back to life.
He just stared at me, looking me over as if I was a space alien. I couldn’t tell if he was confused or just addle pated. “Jack, say something.”
He blinked. Smirked, but quickly winced.
“Um.”
Oh God, had I caused him amnesia?
He cleared his throat. “Nice breast.”
I glanced down at myself, one breast was definitely out there for Jack to see, my nipple hard. I yanked at the side of my robe that was glaringly open, my hand at my neck holding the lapels together.
“Is this how you treat all your boyfriends?” His blue eyes had cleared, weren’t quite so foggy as a minute ago. “A kiss hello would probably be better, although maybe that’s not your way.” His gaze dropped to my chest.
My mouth fell open as anger flared. “You’re not my boyfriend. You lost your chance ten years ago,” I said tartly.
Jack leered. The smile he gave me couldn’t be described as anything else. “So you flash everyone who comes through the door, or just me?” He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his head, winced.
I felt my cheeks burn hot at the thought of my epic wardrobe malfunction. It was completely and utterly mortifying, and on top of that, he was being a complete jerk about it. “Only ones I bash on the head first.”

Buy Links:
Waiting- http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Crazy-Love-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B006QQRH3A
Wanting- Now on sale for .99! – http://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Crazy-Love-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B008BW5WZ2
Wondering- http://www.amazon.com/Wondering-Crazy-In-Love-Series-ebook/dp/B00A40ZR40
Wishing- http://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Crazy-Love—Book-ebook/dp/B00HUZ4LHQ

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In my soon to be released Regency romance, INVITATION TO PASSION, book #3 in my Invitation To series, my hero, Richard Craven, through no fault of his own compromises Madeline Knight, his best friends younger sister, a young lady he’s thought of like a sister. What must it be like to suddenly find yourself marrying someone whom is merely a friend?

Think about the wedding night! For Richard, the wedding night was easier because men are easily visually aroused, and Madeline is very beautiful. For Madeline (Maddy), the night is easy because she’s been secretly in lust with Richard for the last two years.

However, is lust and respect enough to build a marriage on? Their situation isn’t helped by the fact Richard thinks he’s in love with another woman…

Here’s the blurb:

Consummate rake, Lord Richard Craven, has his heartbroken when the woman he loves is forced into an arranged marriage to a violent brute. To make matters worse, circumstances force him to marry Lady Madeline Knight—a woman he views more like a sister—only for fate to play the cruelest of tricks. Shortly after his wedding his former lover is widowed, and Richard learns she could be pregnant with his child.

Madeline Knight thought she was doing the right thing when she saved Richard Craven from his lover’s irate husband. Now her silly schoolgirl crush has left her married to a man who’s in love with another woman. Consumed with guilt over trapping Richard, she tries her best to be the perfect wife and win his heart. Failure is not an option. For if she fails she loses everything, she loves him too much not to set him free…

While Richard and Madeline confront the reality of their marriage, Madeline’s life comes under threat. A family enemy is set on revenge. Will Richard learn the truth of his heart, and what is truly precious to him, before the unknown enemy destroys their world?

How does he compromise her? Let’s see:

Richard moved to the door and cracked it open. “Christ, its Wrentham walking this way.”

Sarah’s face turned ashen and Maddy instantly comprehended the peril the two lovers were in.

“I have a plan. Sarah can slip through the secret door to the study, and then make her way down the west corridor back to the ballroom. You will stay here with me so Charles has no proof you were with Sarah. If you’re here with me, Wrentham might believe you couldn’t possibly have been with his wife.”

“Then what are you and I doing here?”

She swallowed hard at Richard’s question. “I’ll pretend your assignation is with me.”

Richard’s face reddened. “I don’t think that’s wise…” Sarah let out a wail at his refusal. “Charles would take great delight in discrediting me if he sees me with you.”

“I can’t see any other choice. If we all escape through the secret door, his suspicions will be raised. He’s looked everywhere for his wife. If anyone has told him she was with you, we had best disprove that notion.” Maddy clapped her hands. “Quickly, we don’t have time for dramatics.”

Richard finally nodded and hurried Sarah to the bookcase. He pulled the secret lever and the wall of books slid back revealing a narrow corridor. He kissed Sarah and pushed her gently inside. “Go. Tidy yourself and make your way back to the ballroom. I’ll send word later.”

The false wall of books slid back into place, leaving the library filled with thwarted silence. Richard ran a hand through his hair.

Maddy whispered, “You can thank me later.”

“I ought to wring your bloody neck for risking your reputation on this stupid stint. I could take Wrentham.”

“Oh, yes. That would be the perfect answer. Kill Wrentham and be hung for murder. Then who would protect Sarah?”

“Bloody hell. What a mess,” the anger in his voice gone, replaced with sadness.

No sooner had Richard walked back to stand at Maddy’s side, than the door crashed open. Lord Wrentham stood in the doorway a towering mass of wrath.

Richard, his clothes in disarray, moved to stand in front of her to shield her from Wrentham’s view.

“Get your hands off my wife.” Charles’s bellow shook the room. The music in the ballroom was all that saved them from having the entire household hear his allegation.

Wrentham wasn’t stupid. She would have to play the part of Richard’s paramour if this rouse was to be believed.

Madeline reached around Richard’s body and slipped her hand inside his shirt, tingling as she found his bare chest. She pulled her gown off her shoulders, exposing more of her bosom than was decent.

However, she had not expected the feminine gasp that accompanied her maneuver. Her sister-in-law was with Lord Wrentham. She peered round Richard’s wide shoulders and tried to catch Rheda’s eye.

“Richard, how could you. Rufus will kill you.” Rheda’s anguished cry saw Maddy drop her hand from Richard’s heated skin.

There was no point hiding. Maddy stepped out from behind Richard, but she couldn’t explain the situation without putting Richard’s life in danger.

“Not content to bed other men’s wives, it appears you’ve lowered yourself further. Have you no honor? Now you’ve taken to bedding your friend’s sister.” Lord Wrentham turned to Rheda. “I apologize for exposing Mr. Craven’s salaciousness. I’d love to stay and watch your husband kill him, but I need to find my wife.”

Maddy put her hand on Richard’s back willing him to hold his tongue. She could feel the muscles beneath knot with fury.

Just when she’d thought the situation couldn’t get worse, she heard a voice that made her senses scream flee.

“Rheda, Lord Wrentham, what are you doing in the library?”

Rufus.

“Is there another party going on in here?” Another woman’s voice joined the conversation. She stood unseen in the corridor. Maddy didn’t recognize the voice but she sounded elderly.

Silence greeted the newcomers.

Maddy took a step back. She watched Rufus understand the scene in front of him and in dismay saw his face turn purple with rage. “Maddy,” he yelled and everything that followed became a blur.

She heard Rheda scream, “Rufus, no,” while Richard put his hands out and stated, “Let me explain…”

Her brother did not wait for any explanation. He let out a string of curses before he launched himself on Richard, tackling him to the ground and nearly knocking Maddy off her feet.

The book will be released on 30 June 2014 for pre-order. Due out mid- July 2014

Follow the release on Goodreads …

Or my website

Hi Cindy, thank you for inviting me to be your guest.

Can love win against the odds?

Do you have a theme in mind when you write?

When I looked at my work I realized that be careful what you wish for was a theme I often used. Haven’t we all wished we could have a high paying job or run our own business or sell everything in the city and live on a farm or connect with our high school crush? If we could, everything in our life would be better—right?
Of course these are fantasies. Most of us never really try to make it happen. We just enjoy the daydream. But my characters, with the best intentions, naively strive to make their wishes come true. They do what they believe is correct, but of course they can only see things from their perspective. Their good deeds and innocent actions bring unforeseen and unintended consequences that cause chaos in their lives and the lives of those around them. Because of this, events are put into play and they must deal with situations that are out of their comfort zones. Fearing for your life or dreading possible financial ruin isn’t the best time to fall in love. But then love doesn’t always wait—does it?

What writing advice were you given when you started your first novel?

I remember an English teacher telling me to write what I know. But I want to write about suspense, murder, espionage and of course romance, not to mention the bad behavior of the super rich. So I obviously rely on my imagination. With mystery / suspense I find the counter point of the hero and heroine being in danger and falling in love at the same time exciting. I want the reader to wonder if the characters will live enough to develop a relationship. I often toss a middle class person (s) into a situation out of their social milieu and their field of expertise and watch and to see if they can find their way out of their predicament as in my romantic suspense novels Money Power and Poison and Shattered Rules.

Do you plot each scene of your book before you write?

I’m a pantser. I tried to plot when I first started writing and had my first bout of writer’s block. Making lists and outlines and plotting every scene is a great idea but it just didn’t work for me. It was lucky I found that out early. I stopped plotting and the writer’s block disappeared. Now before begin I let ideas percolate. I have a general idea where the story is going. Even so, feelings and plot twists come to me as I write. Often I know the end of the book before I have a beginning. I don’t work backwards. But when I begin the first chapter, though I don’t have all the turns, I know the conclusion.

How do you choose your settings?

I prefer to have the story set in a place I know well. So I’ve set books in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and in the gold country of California. One book is about a software developer, so it seemed obvious to set the book in the Silicon Valley with its many big name companies and even more small startups. However, I decided on Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. I’ve spent many summer vacations there. With my family I kayaked and swam and went sightseeing. We enjoyed Point Lobos State Reserve, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seventeen Mile Drive, just to mention a few of our favorites. Watching the waves on the beach during one of the visits, I realized the tranquil beauty and perfect beach weather could be a counterpoint to a dark mystery punctuated by imminent danger.

How much research do you do before you start writing a new book?

I admire historical writers for their due diligence and detailed research. As a contemporary writer the research depends on subject of each book. Sometimes there is a lot of it; other times the story is straight forward and I don’t have much to look up. But I do enjoy the hunt for information, even as a kid I spent a lot of time in the library learning about any subject that caught my interest. Finding out about quarter horses and border collies for Her Country Heart’s Desire was a joy for me. Especially as we have a border collie named Rex, the sweetest, smartest dog around. I’ll be blogging about Border Collies soon. Please stop by Wednesdays on Blog with Reggi https://reggiallder.blogspot.com

Blurbs

Her Country Heart’s Desire
Coming soon to Amazon

Divorced, unemployed and with a little boy to support, Amy Long needs a refuge and a fresh start. After years living in San Francisco and vowing never to return home, she is back in the small town of Sierra Creek to claim the inheritance of her grandmother’s organic apple farm. She discovers her high school crush, cowboy Wyatt Cameron, is executor of the estate and half owner of the farm. How did he trick Granny into changing the will? Even though anger toward Wyatt pulses in her, his magnetism calls to Amy. Damn her female response to his sex appeal. Her grandmother must have felt the pull of his charm too. Was that how he got her to sign over half the farm to him?

Money Power and Poison

Can love survive against the odds? Five star review: “A mystery novel thrill ride. Fast-paced, plot-driven conflicts and characters that you can’t tear yourself away from lift it from an ordinary story to a darn good read.” Mimi Barbour author of the Vegas Series.
Why would business woman Kathryn Carlyle poison a man she only met once? Reporter Holt Rand needs a scoop and won’t stop until he gets answers. But when he meets Kathryn, his life is changed forever. Kathryn is drawn to Holt but how can she depend on a man who’s using her to further his career? And will they both die by the hands of a shadowy figure following them before they get answers?

Available on Amazon
Buy link http://amzn.com/B00FTIWMOK

Excerpt
Money Power and Poison
Chapter One Page 2

With the exception of a black truck parked at the curb, the street was empty. The pickup’s engine revved. The cab light came on and cast an eerie glow on the driver’s face. He smiled at her.
As she thought about waving to let him know the headlights were off, the vehicle drove straight at her. It jumped the curb, sideswiped her, and sent her flying.

With a thud, she landed on the muddy front lawn of a neighboring condominium. The sound of the engine faded as the vehicle disappeared.

She lay motionless on the ground. Cold mud oozed into the fabric of her skirt. A twinge jabbed her and terror banged against her rib cage.

Overriding the sense of shock was her need to get home where she’d be safe. She grabbed the strap of her purse and attempted to stand. Pain shot through her hip and down her leg. She fell back into the mud.

A man dressed in black came out of the darkness and stood over her. Before she could cry out, he bent down and covered her mouth with his huge hand.

“Don’t scream. You’ll wake the whole neighborhood. I’m not going to hurt you.” He helped her stand.

The streetlight lit his face and a lock of coffee brown hair fell over his furrowed brow. Five o’clock shadow covered his jaw and his full lips formed a grim line. Compassion shone in his obsidian eyes. It was incongruous to his hardened expression. He reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t think of a name.

“Your uncle sent me,” he said in a deep voice.

“You were at the police station.” She pushed a strand of hair from her face.

“Yeah. Thought I could talk to you. They wouldn’t allow it. Can you stand by yourself?”

“I think so.” A spasm shot into her leg muscles and her knees buckled. She grabbed him and reluctantly leaned on his lanky body for support.

“I’ll call 911.” He held her to him.

“Don’t phone them.”

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m okay.”

“The police need to know about this. Use my cell.”

“No. I can’t handle the police again tonight. I’m cold. I’m muddy. I just want to go home.”

“Can you walk?”

“Yeah,” she said, hoping she could. The first step sent pain racing through her. She gasped.

With one hand he steadied her. With the other, he yanked a smart phone from his pocket. “What’s your address?”

“330 Sea View Avenue, number three.”

He punched in 911. “There’s been an accident. A woman’s hurt. I need an ambulance sent to 330 Sea View Avenue number three ASAP.”

After he pocketed his phone, he carefully scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”

Never one to ask for help, this time she had to admit she needed it and balanced herself by putting her arm around his neck. His body heat warmed her as her cheek rested against his solid chest. Odd how protected she felt, almost as if this stranger were an old friend.

Shattered Rules Available on Amazon
Buy link http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Rules-Reggi-Allder-ebook/dp/B00GWPX09A

Workaholic FBI agent Brick Larson loves his job. He doesn’t need personal relationships. He’s been burned too many times. The last thing he wants is to get involved with the younger sister of his ex-fiancé. But to defend the United States that’s exactly what he’ll do.
Kelly Shaw covertly loved Brick when she was a teenager and would have trusted him with her life then. But that was years ago. Neither are the same people they used to be. Can she trust him with her secret? Will she live long enough to find out?

Bio
Reggi Allder has lived in small towns and big cities and enjoyed both as each is special in its own way. Because of this, she sets her books in both settings.
At UCLA she studied screen writing and creative writing. Later she worked as part of the support staff in a large city hospital, as a newsletter editor and as an advertising manager. She’s married and has two kids and three dogs. Even though she didn’t know it at the time, the various career moves and life events now help her craft her books.

www.reggiallder.com/
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSbkubSq2I0
Blog with Reggi https://reggiallder.blogspot.com

I’d love to have coffee with everyone and chat. I can’t do that so please leave a comment for a chance to win a cup of coffee on me by winning a gift card from Starbucks. Best, Reggi