An Interview with Alicia Dean

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?

I would love to live somewhere cold and snowy. Maybe Wisconsin, so I would also be near the Green Bay Packers.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?

I have a day job as a legal assistant in a family law firm. Talk about some interesting fodder for future books. People are crazy when dealing with divorce and custody. J

Tell us about your current series/WIP

I’m really, really excited about a series I’m doing in conjunction with my friends and critique partners, Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, and Krysta Scott. It’s called the Martini Club 4 series, and the four novellas have just come out for pre-order. Each of our stories are linked, but are stand-alone. They are Vintage Romances set in 1920s New York City, and it was such a fun project.

What is your favorite part of writing?

The joy of having my work out in the world for people to read, and the thought of possibly providing someone else with the same kind of fabulous experiences I’ve had over the years. There’s nothing quite like becoming so immersed in a story, you can’t wait to get back to it.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

When I’m stuck and I feel like the story isn’t interesting or going well.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

My sisters, nieces, and cousins are my biggest fans. My children are extremely supportive, although they don’t really read my stuff. My mother, bless her heart, is in a nursing home and has extreme memory problems, but she reads my work, then later asks us to bring her some of my books, because she sure would like to read them. J She’s currently reading my vampire novels, and that’s true love, because she can’t stand anything remotely connected to monsters or the paranormal. LOL. I am very, very blessed to have such a devoted, loving family.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

If they are interesting, in a negative OR positive way, very likely. J I often make mental notes of actions or quirks in the people I meet and store them away for later use.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Yes, even as a child, I wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first romance at age eleven.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

Keep writing, keep improving your craft, and don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. Develop a thick skin, because you’ll need it. Between rejections and bad reviews, your ego will be sorely battered. But, you have to remember not everyone loves the same things, and even the most successful and talented people have critics. No matter what, keep going. The only way to fail is to stop trying.

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00QQO3BK0

Blurb:

Can she let go of the past, before it destroys her future?

All Toby Lawson wanted was to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and the painful memories of finding her and the guy Toby loved kissing. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away, helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, and even though she knows her mother initiated the kiss, and that he didn’t kiss her back, she can‘t seem to get past what happened. He soon realizes that the true problem lies in Toby’s belief that she’s not good enough for him and in her fear that she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Excerpt:

“What’s going on, Toby?” He slowly walked toward her, arms crossed, his handsome face drawn into a scowl.

“Your father is a stubborn bully, and I’m protesting.

I would think it’s pretty obvious.”

“Yes, I know what you’re doing, what I want to know is why?”

“Why? Because, he’s got no good reason to forbid us from playing rock and roll. Not only do the kids deserve to have fun at the dance, Miss Murdock—” Her throat clogged and she swallowed back tears. “–deserves a memorial. Your father doesn’t even care. Apparently, neither do you.”

Noah blew a breath out and rested his hands on his belt. “I do care, but this isn’t the way to go about it.”

“No? Then maybe you can tell me what is.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know exactly, but you’re causing a disturbance, and I have to stop you.”

“Stop me?” She halted and crossed her arms, the sign dangling from one hand. “Are you going to arrest me, Noah Rivers?”

He looked away, then at the ground and back up at her. “I don’t think it will come to that. Just be a good girl and head on home.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You’ll have to arrest me.” She met his gaze in challenge.

His golden brown eyes flickered with uncertainty, then with resolve that should have warned her. He took the sign from her hand and looped his arm around her waist, lifting her off the ground. She was pressed against his warm, strong body, and lost her breath. Tingly sensations moved through her lower belly.

“Noah! You put me down this instant. What do you think you’re doing?”

He ignored her and carried her to his car. He opened the back door with the hand that held the sign and plopped her down on the back seat.

“You can’t do this to me.” She scrambled to get out, but he blocked her way. “I didn’t break a law.”

“We’ll come get your car tomorrow when you’ve had a chance to come to your senses. I’m not taking you to jail, I’m taking you home.”

“Then I’ll call Daisy to pick me up, and we’ll come back here and protest again.”

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, shaking his head. “Damn, stubborn…”

“That’s right. I’m not giving up, so you can either arrest me, or leave me be. You’re just like your father, thinking you can bully—”

With a growl of frustration, he took hold of her shoulders and hauled her from the car. His lips landed on hers, cutting off her gasp. He cupped a hand behind her head and pulled her to him. She went willingly, swept away in a fog of yearning.

Bio and Contact Info:

Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

GIVEAWAY: – Entries accepted from January 8, 2015 through noon on January 22, 2015

Three prizes –

Elvis Gift Basket including DVD, CD, plus more

$25 Amazon Gift Card

$10 Amazon Gift Card

First place winner has first choice, second place winner has second choice, third place winner receives remaining prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Gina Danna

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Please help me welcome Gina Danna to my blog today. Gina will be giving away an ecopy of her book Great & Unfortunate Desires to the best commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

How did you get started writing?

I’ve always read historical novels and research books. After a while, I wanted more than what was available and thought I can write that! Started seriously back about 6 years ago when I heard about RWA and thought, wow! there are people, local people, who do this! Need to check it out and got inspired by those I met.

What genres do you write in & why?

I write several – Regency (a favorite I love to read), Victorian England, American Civil War (my most favorite period & one time I know a lot about by my education, career in museums/historical parks and as a reenactor) and Ancient Rome (my father’s family is Sicilian and I’ve loved Rome & my heritage in Sicily for as long as I can remember!)

My current series – Split at the moment. 1. I’m writing the sequel to my Civil War novel The Wicked North and 2. writing the next book in my gladiatorial series (due out late next summer!)

What inspired my latest book?

My latest releases (cuz they came out within 3 weeks of the other): Great & Unfortunate Desires was inspired partially by the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. and Love & Reckoning was inspired by the Starz’s series Spartacus.

How has my experience w/ self-publishing been?

Interesting. I like it but it is loads of work, the biggest is promoting. I’m more of a shy person to start with so throwing myself out there is hard.

Do I have critiques partners?

Oh yes! So need them to help me refocus.

Do I prefer to read in the same genres I write in or do I avoid reading that genre & why?

I love historical novels, Regency in particular, though there are some authors I love to read & they write late 19th century and into early 20th century. But I avoid reading Civil War mostly – why? not sure on that one. Really.

Has my muse always known what genre I’d write and publish in?

Yes, my muse knew because she always aimed me for those periods. Very confusing though, mentally, to write one era and then switch to another…

Great & Unfortunate Desires EXCERPT

What made him say that, of all things? Fiancée? Engaged to the ice queen? Tristan noticed how pale Evelyn turned, and part of him tightened. When that fop moved away so quickly, it was obvious the man wasn’t really interested in Evelyn. But Tristan’s interest surely could have been expressed less dramatically.

“Tris.” Harry stood behind him. “What are you doing?” It was a low whisper.

Tristan forced a smile, concentrating to make it more of a devil-may-care grin. “It wasn’t to be announced just yet,” he replied, his gaze on Evelyn. She still looked a bit shocked. “Come, my sweet.” He held his hand up for her to take.

Her eyes still wide, but her mouth now shut, Evelyn gently laid her hand on his, like a butterfly landing on a flower, fragile as spun glass. She blinked and managed to return a timid smile as he led her away.

Several feet from the croquet game, she stopped, withdrawing her hand, as if he had stung her.

“Do you care to explain yourself, captain? Wait, no, my lord?”

He wanted to laugh at her attempt to guess his rank but heard the anger in her tone. Ah, so his ice queen wasn’t entirely frozen. Her anger melted that lovely aloof façade. Pity.

“I’ve come to a conclusion, my dear…”

“I am not your ‘dear’,” she snapped.

He snorted at her reaction. “But for all intents and purposes, you are. Now hear me out.” Tristan directed her to the oak tree near the edge of the grounds. They were in full view of everyone, so he figured she’d be calmer there than in the house. Evelyn reminded him of a skittish colt, on the verge of darting off if threatened.

“I need a wife. You are searching for a husband. That braggart there was too close for comfort. Therefore, I rescued you.” He chuckled. “And he won’t be bothering you again.”

Her gaze narrowed. Ah, the fire in her eyes lit to blazing. “Whose comfort?”

That question made his skin prickle, like being stabbed with a million pins. Surely she knew that fop’s “familiarity” with her was the stuff of scandal…right? Or was it really that it made Tristan uncomfortable? As if the man had tried to take what was his? And if so, when had that feeling formed?

“You had no right,” she continued, still fuming.

Oh, how he wanted to burn in her fire. “We suit each other perfectly.”

“I will not marry you,” she hissed.

His attraction to her, now his fire and ice queen, grew. As her breathing deepened in anger, he noticed her breasts swelling in the confines of the corset, barely contained. Her illusion tulle fiche was more decorative than concealing, and his cock hardened with each rise of her bosom. Blood racing through him, he struggled to maintain his composure. Despite the warning inside his head to give her sufficient space, he leaned toward her, his hand taking hers again. Evelyn hardened and tried to withdraw it, but he wouldn’t let her go.

To everyone else, they looked like a couple, enraptured with each other. Exactly what he wanted them to think.

Buylinks –

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1ERFHZb

Nook – http://bit.ly/1xpB0lQ

iBook – http://bit.ly/1sAsmg9

Kobo – http://bit.ly/1wf9Kn0

Bio –

A USAToday Bestselling author, Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and exhibits, she has found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction novels.

Now, under the supervision of her three dogs and two cats, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other life long dream —her Arabian horse—With him, her muse can play.

Website: www.ginadanna.com

FB: www.facebook.com/GinaDannaAuthor

Twitter: @GinaDanna1

Reunion Stories by Donnell Ann Bell

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Reunion stories. I love ‘em; I write ‘em.

Thank you to Cynthia Woolf for the opportunity to drop by and visit again. You’re so generous and I love this blog. It also gives me a chance to tell new and different readers about my work – work that you might otherwise not know about, so Cindy, once again, thank you!

In writing, reading and judging romantic suspense novels over the years, I’ve noticed that many, many of them revolve around reunion stories. I thought it was just me, but, no, apparently readers love them, too. Which made me ask – why?

I’ve been married for 32 years. I consider my marriage a success story. My husband came around after I’d kissed a few proverbial toads. So what’s the deal? Why don’t I want to read and write about a successful marriage story? Because—ahem–I crave the happily ever after, and in between kissing those toads (okay some were pretty cute), there was some heartache. I might have caused it, or the guy I was with was a contributor. But the fact remained either I, or he, wouldn’t change. That’s called conflict. (In real life, most sensible people walk away from conflict… but in romance . . . .)

Readers love conflict. I could write about my real life love story, rave on and on about my kids. But no doubt that would have the reader closing the book—or worse never picking it up in the first place!

Because I write what I love, and readers are no different than me, I wager. When I read I want angst, the possibility that two people destined to be together might never get there. I want to turn the pages wondering, rooting and eventually cheering them on when a pre-destined couple gets together. Like working a puzzle, I want to worry about them along the way, and think, how is this author going to resolve this story?

That’s a major reason I wrote BURIED AGENDAS. I wanted to create a story where the conflict was so great between two people that the chances of them ending up together seemed impossible. I also write suspense, and I wanted to set their love story in an environment that would entertain the reader, keep them on the edge of their seats, and make them turn pages. (Much better than reading about a 32-year old marriage, right?). At least I hope so.

So without further ado, here’s the blurb.

A devastating secret drove her from the man she loved. Will a secret equally as deadly lead her back to him?

Diana Reid is an investigative reporter skilled at uncovering other people’s secrets. It’s her own she works to keep buried. Eight years earlier, she promised to leave her fiancé and hometown of Diamond, Texas forever. That pledge vanishes when she receives a letter stating people are going to die, implicating her hometown’s largest employer, and making a veiled threat against her mother. With no other choice, Diana will return to Diamond, albeit in disguise, to discover the anonymous author.

Brad Jordan moved on with his life after Diana walked out on him. Just as he rebuilt his life, as the newly elected mayor of Diamond, and newly engaged to be married, he plans to rebuild his struggling hometown. Those plans are threatened when an El Paso physician notifies Brad that she believes his family’s company, Jordan Industries, is conducting illegal practices and sacrificing the public’s health.

When the doctor suggests bringing in Diana to uncover the wrongdoing, Brad opposes the idea. Still, when Diana appears despite his wishes, he’s forced to accept that a woman he vowed to forget may be his only option to get to the truth. Together Diana Reid and Brad Jordan face a dangerous adversary—one whose only intent is keeping a deadly agenda buried.

So what about you? Do you like reunion stories or should I start working on my marriage memoirs J For those who comment, let’s have a drawing (U.S. residents for paper copy. Digital all others.) To reunions… and of course, happily ever afters.

Donnell Ann Bell grew up in New Mexico and today lives in Colorado. A homebody at heart, she concentrates on suspense that might happen in her neck of the woods – writing SUSPENSE TOO CLOSE TO HOME. She is the author of The Past Came Hunting, Deadly Recall and Betrayed, all of which have been e-book best sellers. Buried Agendas is her newest release. Along with veteran police officer Wally Lind, Donnell co-owns Crimescenewriters, a Yahoo group putting law enforcement experts together with writers. Donnell loves to hear from readers. Like her on Facebook or contact her via her website www.donnellannbell.com

Far Horizons by Kate Hewitt

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Cindy Woolf

Thanks to Cynthia for having me here! I’ve been writing romance for years, but Far Horizons is the first historical novel I’ve ever written, and while it’s quite different from my romances, it’s certainly a story that is close to my heart.

The main characters, Harriet Campbell and Allan MacDougall, are actually my great-great-great (I think that’s all the greats!) aunt and uncle. My mother has told me their story since I was a little girl, how in 1819 Allan proposed to Harriet right before he emigrated with his family to Canada, and how his father found out and forced him to set Harriet free. Allan gave her the letters she’d written him over the years as a sign of her freedom, but said she could keep her own as proof of his own faithfulness.

As a young girl I found this terribly romantic. Actually, I still do! And when I was in my twenties, I discovered that one of my relatives had typewritten copies of many of the letters Allan and Harriet wrote each other. Reading them was fascinating, transporting me to a different time and place. But this sentiment, written by Allan, is what truly inspired my story:

How can I express the consternation of my heart, or account for the long and cruel silence on your part? This is the fifteenth letter I have written you since, but I am afraid they never got your length, or you would not be so long in writing me.

Why, I wondered, had Harriet not written Allan? And how distraught Allan seemed to feel, at not hearing from her. I decided to make up my own reason to account for her silence, and that is the story of Far Horizons.

I’ve now finished what has become the Emigrants Trilogy, following Allan and Harriet’s story as well as the stories of their families through the years. Far Horizons, Another Country, and A Distant Shore span twenty years of the characters’ lives, and I’ve really enjoyed researching the different time periods in which the stories take place. I’m now planning to continue the story on into the 1860s and beyond. Is there a particular historical period you enjoy reading about? I’m giving away a Kindle copy of my Christmas romance, A Yorkshire Christmas, to one randomly drawn name from the comments below.

Happy reading and Happy New Year!

Kate

You can learn more about me and my books here:

Website: www.kate-hewitt.com

Blog: acumbrianlife.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: katehewitt1

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor

And you can buy The Emigrants Trilogy here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Emigrants-Trilogy-Kate-Hewitt-ebook/dp/B00PYZOXAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420270682&sr=8-1&keywords=kate+hewitt

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emigrants-trilogy-kate-hewitt/1120748236?ean=2940046404630

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-emigrants-trilogy

Brand Spanking New Covers

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

I had my covers redesigned for the Destiny in Deadwood series and I’d love your comments. On the left is the new cover on the right is the old one. I changed them so they better reflected the stories.

First is Redeemed by a Rebel

Jake Anderson killed a man defending his fiancée from a brutal attack, but lost her and his freedom in the process. Now he’s on the run, tormented by the need for vengeance.

Becky Finnegan will do anything to escape her drunken father’s fists, including slave away at their mine. Her only hope is to strike gold and make a new life for herself somewhere far, far away from Deadwood. But then Jake arrives and does the unthinkable…forces her to feel, to hope…and to love.

Jake would give his life to protect Becky, but all he can offer her is a broken heart, a criminal’s life, and a past haunted by failure. How can he save her when he’s already lost himself? Will he destroy everything, or can the beautiful rebel redeem Jake’s lost soul?

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00I1GZAU0

Second is Healed by a Heart

All Liam Anderson wanted after the War Between the States, was a little peace. After seventeen years in the army, he’s tired of fighting and killing. Having lost his beloved wife to influenza, he’s tired of hurting. And seeing his baby brother framed for murder, he’s tired of injustice. He left everything behind to help his brothers escape, packed up his children and possessions, and took them all to a gold claim in Deadwood.

Miss Eleanor Smith is a thirty-two year-old spinster. She gave up her dream of a home and family a long time ago. Instead, she has spent her life traveling the world, ministering to the weak, the injured, the poor, and the forgotten, following her preacher father from one hell hole to another. From what she’s seen of men and the world, she’s better off taking care of herself. And she gets along just fine, until she literally falls into Liam’s arms, gets in the middle of a fight that isn’t hers, and becomes a pawn for an enemy’s revenge.

Deadwood was supposed to be a fresh start for Liam Anderson and his younger brothers, but trouble followed him and his children. And when Eleanor disappears, only Liam can rescue her. The headstrong, independent woman awoke his dead passion, but refused to surrender to his touch. Can he convince her that merely surviving isn’t enough? Despite his sins, he’s the only man who can save her, and she’s the only woman strong enough to heal his broken heart.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00KK94YPI

Third is Seduced by a Sinner

Zach Anderson is a desperate man. He needs to find a killer before the man destroys Zach’s entire family. He also must convince one Lily Sutter, the woman he loves, that she loves him and wants to marry him.

Neither task is an easy one.

Lily Sutter is a sinner. Just ask anyone in Deadwood. She had a baby out of wedlock and she doesn’t deny it. She was seduced and left by one man; she refuses to be taken in by another. The fact that Zach makes her blood boil and her heart race, just by being near, has nothing to do with anything.

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00O4QLPS2

Winter Wonderlands can KILL by Nancy Lee Badger

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

With my history as an EMT and volunteer firefighter is a small New Hampshire community, SHIVER is a story that was easy to write. Living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire nears rivers, granite cliffs, hunting trails, and waterfalls, my setting just popped into my head. We have even had a few murders in the area, since the woods are a great dumping ground, so writing a thriller was a natural choice. Setting it in a town with a college similar to where I went to school was also a blast.

I was a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher before I ‘retired’ in order to write full time. My medical knowledge, especially about winter emergencies, has also come in handy while writing SHIVER, and I would like to share some information. Winter is upon us, and if you live where the temperature drops below freezing, these tips could help.

Let’s talk about Hypothermia, a condition in which the body’s core temperature drops below that required for normal metabolism and body functions. Symptoms include shivering and mental confusion, which I mention in my story. In severe hypothermia, there may be paradoxical undressing, where a person removes their clothing. A victim’s heart could stop, as well.

So what can you to help a victim, as my character, Jacob, helps Destiny? If possible, give the person warm drinks. In an ambulance or in a hospital setting, heat packs and warm IV fluids are used. Warm DRY clothing is important, and the victim should stay active, even if they want to lie down and sleep. If a victim goes into cardiac arrest, CPR is advised until the patient is warm. There is a saying among rescue workers that a winter weather victim is not considered dead until they are WARM AND DEAD. Morbid, but true. Is it any wonder hubby and I moved to the South?

SHIVER Book Blurb

In a quirky college town surrounded by the mountains of New Hampshire new art history professor, Jacob Oliver, hikes a trail on a crisp September morning. He contemplates his life. Divorced and forced out of his job with the Boston Police due to a horrific accident, he spots a naked woman beneath a majestic waterfall. Escaping, he falls and reinjures his knee.

Destiny Blake hears a noise. Someone is on her mountain. She finds a handsome man sitting in the mud. Love blooms and lust consumes them after she helps him to the safety of her cabin. Soon, assumptions pull them apart, leaving her vulnerable to the unwanted attentions of other men.

When Jacob decides he cannot live without her, he must save her from a madman who chases her up her mountain through the cold, snowy darkness of a November night. Ghostly voices push Jacob onward, and urge Destiny to fight back. Pain, hypothermia, and death threaten before the sun rises. Can Destiny and Jacob make it off Destiny’s mountain…alive?

An Excerpt from SHIVER

If I can’t see my stalker coming, then the jerk can’t see me.

Holding her breath, Destiny cocked her head and listened to the dark, filled with the crackling of snapping twigs amid something shuffling through dead leaves.

A light blanket of crunchy snow coated the trail, which added to the bitter cold of a moonless sky. At least a partial moon would have given her a chance to see the man chasing her. Her only advantage over her hunter was that she knew this mountain better. Every twist and turn, every rock and gorge was imprinted in her brain. This was her home, not his.

Gathering her wits, she was sure she had not yet passed her favorite waterfall. Opportunity Falls lay off a side trail, near the top, but offered no caves or overhangs in its cliffs, in which to hide.

If it wasn’t winter, she’d be able to hide inside the pool or even behind the foaming falling waters, but its water would have slowed to a trickle, and the pool was either dangerously cold or frozen over. The last thing she needed was to get any wetter.

Falling snow saturated her jeans even though she continued to brush it off. Her palms were damp from wiping snow from her bare head and face. She was freezing up fast.

Where Can Readers Buy SHIVER?

Print ISBN-13: 978-1502558725

EBook ISBN: 9781310538964

eBooks:

PRINT Books:

More About Nancy Lee Badger

After growing up in Huntington, New York, this Award-winning author attended college, married, and raised two sons in a small town in the shadow of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She was an EMT and volunteer firefighter for a small NH town. After nearly a decade as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for the State of NH 9-1-1 service, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. She still heads to the white Mountains each fall to volunteer at the NH Highland Games & Scottish Festival. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, the Celtic Heart Romance Writers, and the Triangle Area Freelancers.

Connect with Nancy Lee Badger:

Blog Website Twitter
Facebook Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY!

One winner will Receive a

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This magnetic card folds open to

List medical conditions; medications;

emergency contacts; etc.

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN JANUARY 1^st

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Holiday Traditions and RECLAIMED LOVE by Ramona Flightner

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

Thank you, Cynthia, for sharing your blog with me today!

While I conducted research for the books in the Banished Saga, I learned that the Christmas traditions celebrated in America today were firmly established by 1900. The Industrial Revolution and Civil War wrought enormous changes and provoked a desire for a family holiday harkening back to a simpler time.

The traditions of sending holiday cards, gifting wrapped presents, and decorating the house with holly and evergreen were common in 1900 America. Children eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa Claus and Christmas trees had become commonplace. The trees were trimmed with increasingly elaborate decorations, including lit candles.

As I celebrate my holiday traditions of trimming the tree, mailing Christmas cards, feeling joy at the cards I receive, and singing Christmas songs, I’ve come to realize how many of these traditions began in the Victorian Era. It’s part of the reason I love research: understanding when the traditions began and why. I hope you are enjoying your favorite holiday traditions!

Ramona Flightner

RECLAIMED LOVE

Committed…

To living a life she desires with the man she loves, Clarissa Sullivan continues to teach poor, immigrant children and to agitate for the vote for women as she awaits Gabriel’s return to Boston. Will her stepmother leave her in peace or is her life about to change again in unforeseen ways?

Convinced….

Clarissa is the woman he now wants to marry, Cameron Wright renews his pursuit of her. Charming, wealthy and well-bred, he is perceived as the ideal gentleman for a blacksmith’s daughter. With Gabriel far from Boston and his return uncertain, why should Clarissa continue to reject Cameron?

Devastated…

After his banishment from Boston, Gabriel McLeod forges a new life in a remarkable city. Will the memories of the love he shared with Clarissa sustain him?

Will Clarissa overcome deceit and treachery and reclaim her love?

An Excerpt from Reclaimed Love, Book Two in the Banished Saga

Gabriel lay on his cot rereading Clarissa’s recent letter.

December 17, 1900

My darling Gabriel,

Merry Christmas, dearest! I wish you were here to celebrate the holiday with me. We could go for long walks, warm up with hot chocolate and finish the perfect day of my imaginings with a kiss (or two!) under the mistletoe. Know that you are never far from my thoughts.

We have begun to decorate the house. There is beautiful holly this year, and I have placed it in lovely vases throughout the family parlor. I have also strung boughs of evergreen around the fireplace. The stockings have been hung, and we now await the arrival of St. Nicholas. The decorations are rather simple, but I enjoy them.

My baby sister, Melinda, will be one month old on Christmas day and gives us something more to celebrate. It is a marvel to watch her grow and change every day.

Thank you for your letters. I would be lost without them. Never fear that the sweet talkings of those present would ever cause me to forget you. I simply act as I know is expected of me, smile when I should, think my own thoughts and dream of you.

Enclosed you will find something that I labored to make for you. Hopefully you will find it useful during the next few months. My darling Gabriel, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this be the last holiday that we spend apart.

Your Clarissa

If you enjoyed excerpt, below are the links for RECLAIMED LOVE, Book Two in the Banished Saga

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ALEsaX

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1zBs92W

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/VHjqMu

i-Book: http://bit.ly/1FKBW6r

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1vHKA4m

About Ramona Flightner:

Ramona Flightner is an avid reader, writer, and traveler. By day, she practices the healing arts as a nurse practitioner. Every other moment, she’s researching and writing her next novel. LOVE’S FIRST FLAMES, BANISHED LOVE and RECLAIMED LOVE are the first novels in her Banished Saga.

Ramona is from Missoula, Montana. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Her favorite pastimes are fly fishing the cool, clear streams of a Montana river, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with family and friends.

Connect with Ramona:

Her webpage: www.ramonaflightner.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorramonaflightner

On pinterest: www.pinterest.com/Ramonaauthor

Or on twitter: @ramonaflightner.

She loves to hear from fans!

Oh, to be an Elf on this Shelf by Kimberly Dean

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

There’s a new holiday tradition that’s popped up in recent years, the Elf on the Shelf. For those of you unfamiliar with the phenomenon, these elves are sent out on scouting missions to help Santa decide who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. So I thought about what the elves might report back to Santa about the characters in my new book, Courting Trouble.

As the title implies, there’s a lot of naughtiness going on, but it’s not that simple.

Sienna is a nice girl who’s put in the position of taking on a naughty job. Jason is a naughty boy, who can be very nice when he likes someone. Sienna always follows the rules, but Jason tempts her to break them. And while Jason might be bossy and rough around the edges, he protects the people who are important to him. That definitely falls on the nice list.

In the end, neither of them is naughty or nice all of the time. That would be boring. What the elves would probably report is that they’re a couple who is nice to each other and naughty together. That’s something that Santa should reward. Don’t you think?

Courting Trouble

When times get tough, how bad does a good girl have to get?

Sienna Blakely is bright, articulate, underemployed and forced to rely on the one asset she vowed never to use – her looks.

With bills piling up, Sienna signs a contract with Luxxor Escort Services. A contract that strictly forbids any sexual contact with clients… And then she’s assigned to companion Jason Sloan. Just meeting the man causes a full-body jolt. Arrogant, powerful, and sexy, he’s trouble. And he can see through the facade she’s erected, right down to the intelligent and sensual woman underneath. He challenges her wits, and he challenges the rules.

Courting Trouble buy links:

Kindle │Nook │iBook │Google Play│Kobo

Now you seem like someone who would fall on the nice list, so I have a stocking stuffer for you. Go get your free copy of my short story, Courting Jealousy here:

Kindle │Nook│Google Play│Kobo

Courting Jealousy

When Noelle hires an escort to accompany her to a charity event, it’s merely to show her ex that’s she’s moved on. Yet she gets more than she bargained for when Dane is assigned to accompany her. Tall, dark, and handsome, he knows how to arouse jealousy. He also knows how to arouse her!

Kimberly Dean is an award-winning author of romance and erotica. She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make for a perfect day.

Social Media links:

Goodreads│Twitter│Website

Why is it that ghosts are linked with Christmas? by Jessica Aspen

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

Why is it that ghosts are linked with Christmas? Is it because confronting our past is part of the spirit of the holidays? Or is it just because we love a little spooky thrown in with the mistletoe? Personally, I’ve always loved watching Scrooge confront his own ghosts and when I looked at writing a Christmas story, ghosts are what emerged. It didn’t hurt that I write paranormal romance and have always loved ghosts, creepy music, and hauntings.

That’s why I chose to write HAUNTED HOLIDAYS, a holiday themed series about ghosts and sexy romance, combining several of my favs. And I decided to start with Christmas, one of my favorite holidays. It’s got so many things I love. Christmas trees, the warmth of fires on a chilly day, snow. I love them all and had fun making sure all of the elements of Christmas are wrapped up in Jen and Nate’s romance. With a spooky twist.

Jen MacNamara’s story is totally different from poor Mr. Scrooge’s story, but one element is the same. The past does come back to haunt her, but you’ll have to decide if it’s her past or someone else’s she’s simply re-living. Other than that, their stories are completely different. Jen’s real life becomes complicated by the entry of one Nate Pierce, her temporary landlord and a man way too good-looking for Jen to ignore. As the ghost ups the ante, things between Nate and Jen get heated.

Nate has his own past, and his own troubles and doesn’t believe in the supernatural, even though his renters think his house is haunted. Keeping the house rented is just the beginning of his problems when the ghost decides that Jen is someone she knew from before and goes after her with a vengeance.

Do you like a little spooky thrown into your romances? What about your holidays? Do you love A CHRISTMAS STORY by Charles Dickens? Do you love the themes of redemption, or do you just love being scared?

Let me know the answer to one of these questions and I’ll send you a free e-copy of GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST.

HAPPY HAUNTED HOLIDAYS!

Jessica Aspen

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Jen MacNamara flees the Christmas wedding of her best friend and cheating fiancé and runs to the country to spend the holiday alone. It’s the perfect plan, until her unexpectedly sexy neighbor and landlord, Nate Pierce, insists on bringing the holiday to her—complete with a Christmas tree, hot chocolate, and an unexpected kiss.

And that’s not Jen’s only problem.

The cozy country farmhouse is already occupied by something evil. Now Jen’s nights are spent wrapped in sensual dreams of a past life, and her days growing closer to Nate as they solve the mystery of the malevolent ghost that haunts not only the house, but also wants Jen dead.

Dare to discover Jessica Aspen’s sexy, new adult, contemporary, Gothic romance, today.

Available at: Amazon

Add Ghosts of Christmas Past to your Goodreads shelf.

Excerpt:

Jen turned, gazing over the bare winter fields to the tangle of trees. No explanations, no obligations, no complications. For two whole weeks she could just hide here, and write.

The first genuine smile she could remember since April spread her face wide.

Then the pickup arrived.

Black, large, and full of male attitude it parked right next to her vacation house, dwarfing her small car and taking up the entire drive.

“Oh, there’s Nate now.” Mrs. Castlebury waved at the man pushing an eager black Labrador back into the cab while trying to exit the vehicle.

He got the door shut, faced them, and grinned. Dressed in New England casual of laced-up work boots, jeans, and plaid shirt under a denim jacket, Nate Pierce, striding across the snow, hand out in welcome, was a commercial for settling down. Tall. Good-looking in a rugged, works-for-a-living kind of way. And he had a dog. A big, sloppy, super-cute dog, wagging its tail and drooling on the driver’s side window.

For one impulsive moment Jen wished this was her life. She loved big dogs, the country, and secretly, men in plaid shirts, but she hadn’t had the opportunity for any of it since her dad’s death. Their daddy-daughter fishing trips, where he’d gotten to get out of his suit and she’d gotten to be free of her school uniform, had stopped cold the year she’d turned twelve.

This was the first time since then she’d ventured outside of somewhere hot and warm with a very clean, very controlled hotel. Her mom’s idea of a vacation. Of course, neither her mom nor her ex, Jason, tolerated dogs of any size. And as for living outside of the Boston city limits?

Neither of them would consider the horror.

She squashed the sudden surge of loneliness and desire for something she’d probably never have, and pasted on a smile.

Mr. Good-Looking Country Boy tramped through the snow to the porch, pushed his overlong forelock of sandy brown hair off his face, and held out a hand. “Hi, I’m Nate Pierce, your landlord.”

“My what?” She shot a quick look at Mrs. Castlebury.

“Your landlord, dear. I’m just the listing agent. Nate owns the house and he’ll see to any upkeep you need.”

“In fact, I’ll be back in an hour or so after you’ve gotten settled and bring the Christmas tree.”

“The Christmas tree?” She’d forgotten. She’d purchased the Christmas in New England package because it had been cheaper than renting by the day. “That’s not necessary,” she said, her voice chillier than she’d intended.

“I’ve already cut the tree down.” Nate’s friendly grin wavered as did his hand hovering in the air between them. “It would be a shame to waste.”

She didn’t want to be friendly with the neighbors. She wanted to hide out and recuperate. Make up her mind as to what in the world she was going to do next. But good manners won out.

Jen repressed a sigh, reached out, and slid her bare hand into his. As it disappeared into his tan callused grip, her hand seemed slim and small. He squeezed gently and a tingling warmth spread across her skin.

Hot caramel sensation slid from the connection between them, up her palm, along her arm, and through her entire body. Her hand tightened automatically, and a responding spark lit in his eyes.

Jen swallowed. Shoot! She wasn’t ready for this. She was here to lick her wounds, not some guy’s abs. And given the strength in his hand and his wide shoulders, she’d bet he had some killer abs.

She gazed up into Nate’s warm chocolate brown eyes and his face blurred. For a moment she saw another face superimposed over his. Same brown eyes, same tanned, rugged New England skin, but more boyish, broad-boned and black haired.

Every hair on her scalp tried to climb out of its slicked back, ponytailed restriction.

Then her new neighbor’s sharper, more intense features came into focus. Jen panicked and jerked her hand away. Wiping her buzzing palm on her long red wool coat she backed up, nearly running into Mrs. Castlebury.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Pardon me.” She circled around, putting the older woman between herself and Nate Pierce.

What the hell just happened?

Jen tucked her hands into the safety of her coat pockets, surreptitiously rubbing her tingling right palm along the silk inside her pocket. Trying to get rid of the strange feeling spreading along her skin and telling her pounding heart that everything was fine. That something bizarre hadn’t just happened to her. And that life was safe and normal.

http://amzn.com/B00MIEB294

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22885908-ghosts-of-christmas-past

Author Bio:

Jessica Aspen has always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and sexy men who walk on the dark side of the knife. Luckily, she’s able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing paranormal romance. She loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of ocean vacations. Instead, she spends most of her time, writing, walking the dog, and hiking in the Colorado Rockies. You can find out more information and read about Jessica’s paranormal romances at http://JessicaAspen.com

To sign up for Jessica Aspen’s new release email please go to: http://eepurl.com/zs4Sj

Author web links: (web, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc)

Website: http://jessicaaspen.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759763.Jessica_Aspen

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaAspenAuthor

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Join the Jessica Aspen mailing list! Get the scoop on new releases, sales, plus the chance to win ARCs and participate in special giveaways. When I send you an email, there’s always something in it for you! http://eepurl.com/zs4Sj

Q&A with Sara Ramsey and excerpt from Duke of Thorns

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Cindy Woolf

Tell us about your latest release!

My latest book, Duke of Thorns, came out in November. It’s the start of a new Regency historical series (The Heiress Games), which features three female cousins who are competing for Maidenstone Abbey, a grand inheritance that only one of them can win. The first book is about Callista (Callie) Briarley, the American cousin with a secret background as a privateer. She meets her match with Gavin, the Duke of Thorington, who wants to secure her fortune for his brother – never expecting to fall in love with her himself.

What was your favorite part about writing Duke of Thorns?

I had two favorite parts. The first was learning more about privateering during the War of 1812, because I’m a huge history dork. The story is set entirely in Britain (with a prologue on the high seas), but reading about the naval history of the War of 1812 was really interesting to me.

And the second part was watching the chemistry develop between Callie and Thorington. I had more fun writing their dialogue than anything I’ve ever written before – they definitely surprised me with how witty (and sometimes warm) they could be with each other.

The Duke of Thorington was the villain in the last book of your previous series (The Earl Who Played With Fire, Muses of Mayfair #4). How did you turn him into a hero?

Sometime, somewhere, I read that every villain is the hero of his own story. Thorington was definitely a villain in Earl, and he did some despicable things. But his motives were perhaps more pure than the characters in that book imagined. It was really fun (albeit difficult and nervewracking) to figure out his character and how to redeem him without losing all the dark edges that made him such an interesting secondary character. You’ll have to tell me whether I succeeded!

And now, an excerpt from Duke of Thorns:

When she heard the scratching, she thought it was a rat.

“Of course there would be rats,” she muttered to herself. Lucretia had probably instructed the servants to release a plague ship’s worth of rats into the Tudor wing — it seemed like something her cousin would do.

But Callie had seen enough rats in the dockyards to be unconcerned. And anyway, it hadn’t awoken her. Despite her exhaustion, her cot wasn’t comfortable enough to lull her racing mind into sleep. Still, she turned toward the wall and tried to think of something else.

There wasn’t anything better to think of than the rat. What else should she think about? Whether her ships had been captured yet? Why Lucretia seemed to hate her? Why Thorington was so intriguing?

Definitely not Thorington. Never mind that she’d sensed him watching her throughout dinner.

Never mind that some perverse part of her wished she’d been seated next to him.

It was good that she hadn’t been. She might have tried to catch his gaze, to see if she could surprise a laugh out of him. She might have hung on his words, waiting to see whether he said something titillating. He was the most aggravating man at the party — but he was also the most interesting.

She was being a ninnyhammer. Thorington was the devil. And Ferguson had made it clear that she couldn’t win Maidenstone with him at her side.

She punched her pillow and vowed to sleep.

The scratching stopped — to be followed, a moment later, by the door handle turning. Only a servant would enter like that. “Did you bring me a warming pan, Mrs. Jennings?” she asked, still facing the wall.

Compared to the sweltering heat of Baltimore, Devonshire was frigid. But it wasn’t Mrs. Jennings who answered. “If it’s warmth you need, I might be of service.”

Thorington. His voice, dark and commanding, was already something she recognized instinctively, different as it was from all the hesitant second sons and half-grown whelps she’d met that night.

He stepped inside and shut the door before she could gather her thoughts. “Why are you here?” she asked, sitting up and pulling the covers around her.

“Still not willing to call me ‘your grace’?” he responded.

That winnowed out the pleasant feelings and brought her anger to the fore. “I’d sooner toss you into the harbor and declare independence again than do so,” she said.

He smiled. “Willful wench. Your strength might be commendable were it not set against me.”

She wasn’t frightened — in fact, if she were being honest, she was vastly intrigued — but she knew better than to encourage him. “My strength will remain set against you. Now take your leave before we’re ruined.”

Thorington placed his candle on the table and pulled the rickety chair forward. “I do not plan to ruin you at the moment. I came with a business proposition.”

Callie knew enough of the world to guess what he meant. A business proposition from a man of his status could only mean one thing. “I won’t be your mistress, no matter how much you offer.”

His frown was visible even in the shifting darkness. “I wouldn’t dishonor you like that.”

“What else would you offer?” she asked. “I can’t think of any other business between us. And Ferguson made it clear you’re not to be trusted. So you must be here to ruin me.”

Thorington sighed. “I am disappointed to find you have the morality of the middle classes. But you’re not screaming yet, so there’s that. I may be able to make an aristocrat of you after all.”

She gaped at him. Why had she wanted to sit by him at dinner? The man was mad. No, he was worse than mad. He was entirely amoral. And she was even more so — she was too wrapped up in delicious anticipation of his next move to be offended.

“Of course, I cannot make an aristocrat of you if you’re incapable of speech,” he said, examining his cuticles.

She couldn’t let him know how much he intrigued her. “I find I dislike you too much to speak to you.”

————

If you enjoyed the excerpt, DUKE OF THORNS is available in ebook on all major retailers; the paperback is coming shortly. You can buy it by clicking the links below. Happy reading!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PE72PK2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00PE72PK2

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/duke-of-thorns/id939301178

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/duke-of-thorns

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/duke-of-thorns-sara-ramsey/1120701473?ean=2940150755321

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=8qk9BQAAQBAJ

————

About the author:

Sara Ramsey writes fun, feisty Regency historical romances. She has great taste in Champagne, bad taste in movies, and a penchant for tiaras. She also believes in taking naps, wearing sunglasses at night, and using Oxford commas. Sara currently lives in San Francisco, California, where she can be found drinking overly-artistic lattes and working on her next Regency historical romance. You can find out more about her books at www.sararamsey.com.

Cynthia Woolf creates stories in the Old West she loves. Whether it be a mail-order bride or bounty hunter, she has a story for you.