Let’s face it, not every woman you meet instantly becomes your best friend. There has to be something about her that piques your interest or just clicks. You have to admire certain traits in your friends, like compassion, loyalty, humor etc.

When I was mulling over ideas for my second book in the ‘Invitation to’ Regency romance series, INVITATION TO SCANDAL, I fell instantly in love with my heroine, Rheda Kerrich. Probably because she’s someone I’d be proud to call my best friend.

I connected with Rheda the minute she popped into my head. I love that she’s a risk taker. She doesn’t sit back and let life dictate terms. She’s prepared to try and shape and mould her lot to suit her needs. If something is not right, she tries to fix it, not always successfully, but she doesn’t sit about and mope. And it’s not only her world she tries to make the best off. She has her local village to look after, especially the widows and orphans.

To better understand her character, let me briefly tell you about the book Rheda is in.

In Invitation to Scandal, Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore is desperately trying to capture a deadly French spy—for two reasons. One, because that’s his job, he works for the Secret Service, and two, because he hopes that in doing so he can learn the truth about his late father’s supposed treason and clear the Strathmore name. However, to find the spy he needs to capture Dark Shadow, a notorious Kent smuggler. The spy is using Dark Shadow’s network to send his communiqués.

On his first day in Deal, Kent, who does he spot with an unstamped barrel of brandy? You guessed it Miss Rheda Kerrick, dressed as a local farming wench. She’d be a perfect informant. A local beauty who can help him discover a smuggler, while also keeping his bed warm at night. However, his normal charm doesn’t appear to work, and she refuses to reveal her name or who gave her the cask. [CLUE FIVE: THAT’S]

Miss Rheda Kerrick, the eldest child of Baron de Winter, was left penniless and parentless at the age of seventeen when her dissolute father dies. She also has a younger brother, Daniel, who will inherit Tumsbury Cliff Manor and the estate. Facing bankruptcy she resorts to whatever means necessary to save Tumsbury Cliff for him. In addition, she quickly realizes that unless she wants to end up like her mother, married to a man who sees her only as a means to beget an heir, she’d better work out a way to become financially independent.  At twenty-five she’s almost there. Prince Hammed has gifted her two Arabian mares, and her dream of owning her own cavalry horse breeding business is in her reach. She simply lacks one vital ingredient- a stallion. Unable to afford stud fees, she cheekily decides to ‘borrow’ Rufus’s magnificent stallion.

But Rufus is not as dumb as most men, and Rheda is caught red-handed. Her punishment is to aid Rufus in his mission. Rufus uses the opportunity to try and seduce the information from her and to her horror she longs to submit.

The more they work together the harder it is to resist the handsome rake. Rheda empathizes with his desire to clear his father’s name and restore his mother and sister to their rightful place in Society. Soon it’s more than her pride at stake. She’s beginning to fall in love with him. But once he learns the truth about Dark Shadow, how can they have any future together?

Rheda is a woman of strength and determination. It took strength to single handedly run an estate and hold onto her brother’s inheritance. It took strength to ignore the expectations of Society and to risk doing a little wrong in order to accomplish a lot of good. It took courage to defy convention and want to create her own safety net and financial independence. As women we could all learn from Rheda about this—ensure we have something concrete behind us. And finally, it takes strength to sacrifice everything for the ones you love—there is nothing in life more honorable.

Why is Rheda my best friend? She throws herself into life and it’s contagious. She is smart, brave and loyal. But like all my favorite romance heroines, she is strong. And if you get the chance to read INVITATION TO SCANDAL , I hope, that as I did, you will find yourself a new best friend, too.

I’d love to hear what characteristic you most identify with in your favourite heroines! Is it strength? Cunning? Bravery? Something else? What, to you, is the most important trait a heroine should have?

One random commenter will be chosen to win a copy of my newest book, INVITAION TO SCANDAL, (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the INVITATION TO ROMANCE Blog Tour Grand Prize of a $200 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N PLUS 30+ ‘signed by the authors’ romance novels by visiting www.bronwenevans.com

There will be a one WORD hidden in each blog post ie. [WHO] in brackets (the word ‘WHO’ is the first clue). There are 30 words altogether. These words will spell a paragraph related toBron’s  1 May release INVITATION TO SCANDAL.

For the last few weeks I’ve been condescending some of my files on my computer. It’s amazing how much you accumulate. Of course I ended up in my WIP folder and was drawn in to reading some ideas I had written pieces of thoughts down for. Now my mind is filled with even more stories I plan to write. LOL.

I extended my organization of files to other places including working on my house. One is my book case and you guessed it I ended up reading more than fixing. LOL. But it was fun. I still have much to do in both my home and computer. I expect I will find lots as I dive into my files and books.

McKenna Jeffries
http://www.mckennajeffries.com/
…. sensual, edgy, unexpected

Blog: http://www.mckennajeffries.com/blog
Updates Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList
Free Reads Site: http:/ /www.satinnotes.com/

Conquering Jazz - What’s a woman to do when she unwittingly makes a tantalizing proposition to her best friend?

Be brazen, bold and set some ground rules. Her offer. One night of carnal bliss. No emotion allowed.

His counter offer. A continued affair to fulfill all their sexual cravings.

His hidden agenda. Conquer to make sure their affair never ends.

Buy here at Liquid Silver Book.

COVERS–HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY? 

The cover of a novel is the single most important ingredient in the success or failure of a book.  This isn’t something authors want to hear and it’s not always true.  If the book is special enough and it gets lots of word-of-mouth, even a bad cover can’t stop the book from being a success. 

If the author’s name is well known–and I am speaking of New York Times bestsellers with very large print runs–a bad cover can’t stop the book from being a success.

However most of us fall in the category where a cover can make the difference between success and failure. 

Over the years, I’ve had good covers and bad.  One of the prettiest covers I ever had was on a book called MIDNIGHT RIDER.  The problem was the cover was completely white.  The lovely embossed bird on the front didn’t show up until the reader picked up the book.  Not many did!   

The title may have been another part of the problem.  It was chosen by the publisher and no amount of talking could convince them to change it.  The combination of bad cover and bad title was lethal.   The book was my biggest failure and I think it was one of my better books.

Starting May 1st, my Sinclair Sisters Trilogy is going to be re-issued.  The first in the series is MIDNIGHT SUN, a fish-out of water Romantic Suspense set in Alaska.  The covers on these three books were extremely plain, just colors and the title.  And I have to admit the title, MIDNIGHT SUN, isn’t that exciting.   I’ve never been particularly good at titles, which makes the cover even more important. 

Since changing a book title is very confusing to readers, the publisher is simply changing the cover, putting a guy on the front, which has become sort of a brand for my Romantic Suspense books.   I’m not crazy about the new cover for MIDNIGHT SUN.  For one thing, I just met the cover model, Lynn Gunn and he his absolutely gorgeous–and a terrific guy.  I don’t think the cover does him justice.  Still, it’s interesting, and I’m hoping readers will pick it up and give the book a try.

If you enjoy Romantic Suspense and haven’t read MIDNIGHT SUN, I hope you’ll give it a try.  The other books in the series are DESERT HEAT and DEEP BLUE and they get new covers, as well.  Hope you enjoy them all and that you also watch for my new releases. 

You can reach me on my website www.katmartin.com. 

Very best wishes, Kat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Purchase Links

barnes & noble

Amazon

Indiebound

Love is such a powerful thing. It moves people in so many ways. As a writer of romance I love exploring the various ways that love unfolds. All the paths it takes are fun to explore.

This weekend I watched movies based on love. Each was so different and to see the ways love came and was shown made me think. The great thing was the movies followed families. The love, tribulations and all the things in between. From the beginning of time people have been falling in love. Love can make you crazy, giddy and bring you such hope and joy.

Love has many types - the love between friends and family. The love between lovers. Each has the core of opening yourself to another person and becoming a unit. With friends it is building a close knit relationship that stands through good and bad. The same with family. With family we share and love.

The love between lovers is what I explore in my books. From the start of the initial attraction, the first steps to getting to know each other, the dating and then finally the all encompassing feelings and knowing you belong together. There are of course the ups and downs and the times when you fall in and out of love. But when you find that right someone it is magical, exhilarating and soul moving. Yeah I am a romantic at heart. All the steps to the power of love fascinates me.

Taige Crenshaw
http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/
…increasing the sizzle factor

Blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog
Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe
Newsletter: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml
Free Reads Site: http://www.satinnotes.com/

Wilde Rapture - When a woman ducks into an alcove at a wedding she meets the man who is intriguing and will tempt her.

Buy here at Total-E-Bound.

 

Welcome! Please share a little about yourself, your genre, and any other pen names you use. 

It’s so wonderful to be here with you today! I write romantic suspense as P.J. O’Dwyer and have loved reading romance ever since my mother gave me my first historical as a teenager. Back then, the voice that said “you should write” was ignored, unfortunately. Instead, I opted to travel the world as a travel counselor. But the yearning to put words to paper resurfaced years later.My choice of genre was a given after I met and married my husband. It seems his dreams and aspirations had always been focused on law enforcement. Twenty-five years later, married to a state trooper, it was hard to avoid hearing about the day to day police work he was involved in (very exciting stuff), not to mention the camaraderie and hilarious stories, especially the interactions cops have with each other. So it was inevitable I would combine both of our passions: romance and murder. (Not that murder is his passion, only solving them.) It also helps to have a go-to guy (my husband) to assist me on the law enforcement side 

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release. 

This is a very exciting time for me. My debut novel Relentless will be released April 15. This is the first book in the Fallon Sisters Trilogy where we meet Bren Ryan who is widowed, jaded, and searching for her husband’s killer by herself. That is until she meets up with sexy cowboy Rafe Langston who seems quite interested in her theory of murder—maybe a little, too, interested. EXCERPT Excerpt from RELENTLESS: He cocked his head and studied her. His dark brown brows knit together over a pair of emerald eyes. “You’re the horse freak.” 

“Pardon?” “Horses. The room with the painted horses.” He motioned toward the ceiling. “Guess that’s why I have a horse farm.” “Right.” He took a step closer. “I like the room.” Bren pulled her hands apart and stepped back, eyeing the entrance to the hallway. “Good. You ever have a daughter, she’d love it.” “Family’s not something I’m looking for.” Bren bit down on her lower lip. He towered above her. The shape of his Stetson, since removed, still molded against his head and made the black locks curl up at the ends around his ears. His face chiseled and rough with a light black beard gave him a dangerous appearance. He took off his black suede jacket and laid it on the counter. Bren’s every nerve ending tingled, and that voice inside screamed for her to hotfoot it out of there. But there was something about him, a familiarity she couldn’t quite place. “I should go.” Bren motioned toward the entryway of the kitchen. “Enjoy the house, Mr. Langston.” 

He leaned in over the counter. “Mr. Langston’s my father. My name is Rafe.” “Fine, Rafe.” He came around the counter. Leaning against the edge, he crossed his arms. “Can I call you Bren?” Bren nodded. “Sure. We’re neighbors now. We share a common driveway. You might want to think about purchasing a tractor with a bucket. It’s still winter, and February in Washington County is heavy snowfall season.” “Don’t see much snow in Texas.” “No?” “Nope. Too warm.” Definitely too warm. Bren inched back toward the cabinet behind her. 

“I’m sorry about your husband.” “Thanks.” Not at all what she expected him to say. Nor did she expect the way it made her feel. He seemed to genuinely care that it was upsetting to her. “I heard Bernie’s crack. I’m not unpredictable. Bernie forgot to mention my husband was murdered.” “What’s the sheriff doing about it?” “Kevin? Not a damn thing. He believes Tom’s death was an accident, just like everyone else in this narrow-minded town.” “How do you know it wasn’t?” The one-year anniversary of Tom’s death had come and gone. She’d given up sharing her theory with anyone. She knew the truth. But for the first time in a long while someone actually wanted to talk to her about it. “This is probably upsetting for you. It was insensitive for me to ask. I’m sorry.” “Are you kidding? I could talk about it until lack of breath. That’s the problem. No one takes me seriously. Tom knew his way around a barn. He didn’t wrap himself up in the pulley system and say a Hail Mary and jump out the hayloft.” 

“Hayloft?” “It’s complicated.” Bren reached in her pocket and grabbed her hair tie and pulled her hair up into a loose bun. She pointed in the direction of the front door. “I could show you. It’s the red barn as you come in. Right before you get to my house.” He remained quiet, the expression for a split second in his eyes hard, almost angry, and then it disappeared. Jeez, Bren. You sound so needy. Rafe Langston would have no interest in helping her sort out Tom’s death. This guy probably thought she was a total fruitcake. Self-consciously she brought her hand down, nervously scratched the back of her head, and let her hand waft down to her side. “You’re not interested. It was silly, anyway. I just thought . . . you seemed . . .” He pushed off from the counter. “How about I take you home? I didn’t see your truck when I pulled up. It’s getting dark.” He was just like everyone else. She fisted her hands. And here she’d thought he might be different.“I’m perfectly capable . . .” He stepped forward. His green eyes smiled at her while he reached back to grab his jacket. “Are there lights in this barn?” 

As an author, what surprises you about this story? Well . . . I’d have to say, as in every story, it’s the characters themselves. It’s interesting, but as a writer you find the characters take on a life of their own, most times they dictate what’s going to happen next, and sometimes they even surprise me.   

Whose head do you like being in the most when you’re writing, the heroine or the hero?  I enjoy the heroine. I get to live out my hopes and my dreams with her. But I find the hero is the most fun.Let’s face it, when do you get to be in your man’s head? Well . . . you hope he’s always thinking of you. But to know those intimate thoughts they don’t normally share is a rush. 

What is the process like for you when choosing a title? 

Personally, I like one word titles. To find that one word that describes my heroine and the book is a challenge. But when I find it, it’s an amazing feeling of accomplishment. With Bren’s story, I had gone through quite a few titles.I know with every author we have our vices and methods to shed writer’s block. For me, it’s a good run. After three miles of just myself and the open road, my brain seems to unfurl and everything is so much clearer.It was just such an occasion when Relentless popped into my frazzled brain. It was like . . . Eureka! It was golden; and I loved it.  The other two titles came naturally, and I fell in love with them with just as much enthusiasm. What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story? 

On a serious note, Relentless centers round a very controversial topic—horse slaughter. As a writer, there is a lot of research involved in any story, and this one was no exception. But I owed it to every horse rescuer and animal advocate to get it right. The hardest part for me was watching the barbaric slaughter of healthy, majestic horses on YouTube and interviewing horse rescuers. They made me cry with their loss, and laugh at their wit and the lengths they will go, especially, to outsmart their nemesis “the kill buyer.” What are you working on right now?  The second book in the series Defiant, which is Kate’s story, will be released in September. Gorgeous as she is idealistic, she wants more than just horse pastures. Only she gets more than she bargains for with the man who charmed her, because now he controls her.But she’s a Fallon and resourceful. She’ll find a way to escape multi-millionaire husband Jack Reynolds, even if he is the U.S. Attorney for Maryland.Currently, I’m working on the third and final book of the series Forsaken. Dani is the sister neither Bren nor Kate know about, yet. That is until the beautiful Irish barmaid Dani Flynn finds her homeland just a spec on the horizon behind her and open seas dead ahead.She’s poised to change everything Bren and Kate believe to be true. And they’re not the only ones. There was no way I couldn’t write a book about Bren’s best friend Kevin Bendix. More like the brother Bren never had, eventually, they would become family—even if it was by law.I loved writing Kevin. Maybe it’s because I have one just like him at home. It was fun to ruffle this guy’s serious exterior. Here’s a sneak peek into the life and times of Mr. Law-and-Order.Sheriff Kevin Bendix’s life is orderly and free of complications. That’s the way he likes it. But that’s all about to change with one gorgeous, blue-eyed brunette who can’t prove she’s in the U.S. legally. It’s his job to have her deported. Only his attraction to Dani Flynn is clouding his judgment. She isn’t your average law breaker. All of about five foot two with a face of an angel and a body of a sinner, she will be his undoing. It’s not only his heart she’ll steal. Loving this woman could cost them both their lives.Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about RELENTLESS?

I’m so glad you asked. As a writer, I believe we are entrusted to entertain as well as educate. Relentless gave me the opportunity to do both. Relentless became a reality for me due to the gracious nature of horse rescuers who took a call from a stranger, listened and agreed with enthusiasm to read Bren’s story, and offer their insight and knowledge.As a way to thank them for their kindness and because their fight has become mine, I am donating 5% to horse rescue for every book sold in the trilogy and any other future works.The only catch—you must purchase the books on my website at www.pjodwyer.com. There is a list of rescues to choose from including most states, a fair amount of provinces in Canada, and a few in the UK to include my homeland of Ireland, as well as, Australia and New Zealand.  Book Title & Blurb:              RELENTLESS

Headstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring. She’s grown up needling local “kill buyer” Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband’s sudden death an accident, Bren’s been investigating things herself. She’s certain Tom was murdered, and she’s hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she’s the bait.Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn’t generous with details, but Bren couldn’t care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband’s murder.

Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.

Website:         www.pjodwyer.com

Facebook:      www.facebook.com/AuthorPJODwyer

Twitter:          www.twitter.com/#!/pj_odwyer 

Linked In:      www.linkedin.com/pub/p-j-o-dwter.3a/633/825

 

Yesterday afternoon, my five-year-old granddaughter asked to paint my toes and nails. We’d had an exciting afternoon playing Princess Memory, chatting about her preschool, her friends, and exchanged lots of hugs. The pedis and manicures were to be our finale before dinner.            

She’s so organized. Before I had time to think about what I’d agreed to, she had magazines spread out on her bathroom floor and twelve bottles of nail polish lined up according to color. And oh, the colors—from lemon yellow to lime green to rose pink. I think she’d done this before. Because I’d lost at Princess Memory, I got to have my toes and nails done first. I glanced down at my perfect toes, for which my pedicure was a week old, and persuaded her to paint a flower on each big toe. Huge yellow petals with green centers gave my big toes a flair all their own. My nails were another issue. She used “magic” liquid to remove my color, and soon my nails became an artist’s palette. Flowers, and zebras and leopards and butterflies and polka-dots glistened like gems. Beautiful. Breathtaking. She decided to paint her own nails and toes, and we were a matched pair. Her daddy took pictures, so we’d never forget.            

The adventure was fun, and I wondered if the heroine from my romantic suspense novel, The Chase, would have sat on the bathroom floor with us. I think she’d have been right there. We’d have scooted over and giggled about her choice of colors. Even let her get in the picture.            

I love writing about a heroine who knows how to have fun. She can laugh when the bad guy thinks he won—or when she turns over a bottle of candy-apple red nail polish. She has courage and a sense of humor, displays a bit of stubbornness, and has a knack for getting into trouble. My FBI agent hero can’t resist her. When he’s not trying to keep her out of trouble, he’s trying to convince himself that she doesn’t have a place in his heart. It doesn’t work.            

They banter and argue, share ice cream and a motorcycle ride. Now, how much fun is that?           

My point is to have a little fun. Pretend you’re a kid again and forget about the messiness of life. With a little “magic” liquid, even the worst of stains are gone. What have you done to put a little fun in your life?           

Since my new book, The Chase, was based on a real news story that haunted me, I want to know what news story has had a profound impact on you, good or bad news? 9/11? Hurricane Katrina? JFK’s assassination? Head over to my Facebook page to tell me the story that has stuck with you or “like” the others posted there. Or leave a comment here for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Chase.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/The-Chase-Novel-Crime-Houston/dp/0310333172/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333722397&sr=8-3  

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chase-diann-mills/1104288029?ean=9780310333173&itm=1&usri=diann+mills  

BAM  - http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Chase/DiAnn-Mills/9780310333173?id=5321883306738  

IndieBound – http://www.indiebound.org/search/apachesolr_search/diann%20mills    

ChristianBook.com - http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=diann+mills&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=   Lifeway – http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/diann+mills?Ntk=Author  

Mardel - http://www.mardel.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=464922  

Parable - http://www.parable.com/q?c=diann+mills&x=0&y=0

We’ve a new author that we are promoting, H.P. Mallory – WITCHFUL THINKING (http://www.randomhouse.com/author/148187/h.%20p.-mallory?sort=best_13wk_3month) – hilarious!  On sale 2/28:

  Featuring, main character, Jolie Wilkins – below are three different Youtube videos – you’ll see right away these stories are fun with a paranormal bent – cut & paste the embedded code below to your website & let your readers enjoy these zany videos!

#1

http://www.youtube.com/embed/aQtkpXRYuP8″

#2

http://www.youtube.com/embed/iEFbWNE0b4M”

#3

http://www.youtube.com/embed/8rv4r4W6TKI”

   

Witchful Thinking on sale 2/28:

Copy-

From H. P. Mallory—the exciting author of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble—comes her new paranormal romance featuring the sassy, self-deprecating witch Jolie Wilkins.
 
Jolie thinks she’s seen it all, but life continues to spring surprises. The latest shocker? She’s just been crowned Queen of the Underworld. Jolie may possess a rare gift for reanimating the dead, but she doesn’t know the first thing about governing disparate factions of supernatural creatures. She can barely maintain order in her own chaotic personal life, which is heading into a romantic tailspin.

First there’s sexy warlock Rand, the love of her life, from whom Jolie is hiding a devastating secret. Then there’s Sinjin, a darkly seductive vampire and Jolie’s sworn protector—though others suspect he harbors ulterior motives. As the two polar opposite yet magnetic men vie for Jolie’s affection, she must keep her wits about her to balance affairs of state and affairs of her heart. Overwhelmed, under pressure, and longing for love, Jolie decides it’s time to take charge—and show everyone that this queen won’t take jack.

Something Witchy This Way Comes on sale 7/31

The Witch Is Back on sale 9/25

 Thanks for inviting me to stop by today. I’m really pleased to be here.

Writing a series is often easier than writing a single title. You become comfortable with the characters and their personalities, know what they will and won’t do, what gets under their skin, how they will handle the surprises that we, as writers, throw their way. Heck, they are like family members you have come to know, like, dread….you get the idea.

 It took me some time to find my voice when I began writing the Esposito series about ten years ago, but once I found it, there was no stopping Lavinia “Vinnie” Esposito from making her presence known.

It wasn’t until I read Janet’s first Stephanie Plum novel, One for the Money, that I realized our characters were very similar. I’m amazed at the way my main character, Vinnie Esposito, runs fairly neck-in-neck with that of Stephanie Plum. While she isn’t an out of work woman who takes on a job she has difficulty doing like Stephanie has,  Vinnie can’t seem to get from one place to another without some mysterious misfortune throwing her off course, which usually leaves her treading dangerous ground. 

 Not long ago, I was asked how hard it is to write humor. What’s a story without a chuckle or two and maybe a real belly laugh thrown in for good measure? I enjoy a lighthearted novel that transports me away from the daily stresses of life, if it’s only for a little while. I just can’t resist adding slap-stick moments to my stories.

To write humor isn’t all that hard if you really take a hard look at life. Something funny happens at least once a day which can be incorporated it into a story. For instance…my daughter and I went to the Providence Art Club for a gallery show about a year ago. There were so many different people there, dressed up, dressed down, and barely dressed, that I stood in a corner and jotted notes about them while pretending to admire the artwork. When I stepped into the second viewing room, I found this short man with thin greasy hair slicked over his head that draped over the tops of his ears. His suit was old, his shirt crisp and white. He stuffed his mouth with crackers loaded with as much food as he could pile onto each one. I asked my daughter about him. She told me he goes to all the gallery openings and eats, but never stays long and he’s very well off.  As we left, another man entered the building. My daughter smiled, acknowledged him, and whispered to me “He only comes to drink the wine. When it’s gone, so is he.”  I found this fascinating and decided I’d add it to a story.

No matter where I go, I watch people, imagine them in a variety of scenes and develop my characters and story line from there. I don’t know how Janet Evanovich comes up with her characters, but maybe we’re more alike than I thought we were.

Pick up a copy of the Esposito series at BN, Kobo, Kindle and Fictionwise. The First book FOR LOVE OF LIVVY is Free.Thanks for asking me to visit.

J.M. Griffin

 www.Lachesispublishing.com

http://tinyurl.com/6tdvzya

www.JMGriffin.net

BN http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/esposito-series?keyword=esposito+series&store=allproducts

Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=esposito+series

Kindle http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_browse-b_mrr_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Aesposito+series%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A618073011&bbn=283155&keywords=esposito+series&ie=UTF8&qid=1332625234&rnid=618072011

Fictionwise http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/a49127/J-M-Griffin/?

I’m looking at my messy apartment wondering when my fairy godmother is going to fly in here and wand away the mess. *sigh* Wishful thinking, I know, but worth a try. You never know what could happen these days—even time travel could happen to you!

The heroine in my new release, Romancing a Stranger, is a modern woman with a sailor’s mouth and a less-than-firm grip on life. She finds a strange globe on her doorstep and brings it inside. That one thing (most of us would think nothing of—we all take strange shit home) changes her life forever. Come on, who would think an amethyst gazing ball would make them travel back in time?

And she’s thrust back to a time where people of wealth and privilege crammed everything they owned into every available space for all to see. Imagine cleaning that mess! Needless to say, Milli has some tough days ahead of her managing a house in Victorian Boston and trying to find a way back to the future, all while married to a man she doesn’t know. What do you think of that hot mess? I must say, it would be an interesting ride…

<!–[endif]–>

ROMANCING A STRANGER - available now at Noble Romance Publishing!

 She’s tough enough to survive anything . . . or so she thinks.

 Either Milli Bishop is drunk out of her mind, or she seriously just woke up one-hundred years in the past. One minute she’s gazing at an amethyst ball; the next she’s fainting in the arms of a stranger . . . who claims to be her husband. Can she find her way back to the future, or will the taste of a real gentleman be too irresistible to escape?

 He’s bored and lonely . . . until she comes along.

 Warden Blackwood is confused by the sudden change in his estranged wife and believes she’s cut a path out of her head. Once frigid and indifferent, she’s suddenly arousing him with her scandalous seduction and shocking language. Should he continue his pursuit of a mistress—or tame his wayward wife? Only time will tell . . . .

Excerpt:

 July 2010

Hold time dear to your heart, the fortune cookie had said.

“Whatever,” Milli slurred.

She stumbled down the brick path leading to her row house on Boston’s Beacon Hill. After another date gone horribly wrong, she’d drunk herself into a bit of a stupor. She shook her head in self-pity, lost her balance, and ended up sprawled over the low cedar bushes bordering the walkway.
Ugh. “Why?” She shouted at the stars. “What is it with me and losers?”

She had found out tonight, on her thirtieth birthday of all nights, that the guy she’d been seeing still lived with his mother. He was in his forties.

At least the Chinese buffet was delicious.

Shame crept up her face, and she bit back a sob. The cedar branches poked her back. Her feet ached from her new heels. She’d worn her best dress tonight, and now all she had was a friendly embrace from the cedar bush.

All her life she wanted love and companionship, which was probably why she caught the attention of less-than-adequate men. Maybe she tried too hard. Maybe she wore her hair the wrong way. Maybe her lipstick was too red.

What did she do to deserve this? Was she destined to be alone?

Enough of this, she thought, wiping her tears away. She struggled to sit up in the bushes and tore the sleeve of her dress in the process.

“Oh, you fucking—” She let out a frustrated growl and yanked her arm away from the bush. Heat crawled up her neck and face from the sudden movement, making her dizzy.

“Is that you, Miss Bishop?”

Her elderly neighbor was leaning out his window, though it was hard to see him clearly.

“Yes, Mr. Bigsby. It’s just me—your single, drunk, pathetic neighbor.”

He chuckled. “Oh, shush, girl. You’re young, beautiful, live in the best neighborhood in town, and have plenty of time to find a good man. Did you get your package?”

“What”—she stifled a burp—”package?”

“There was a delivery man here while you were out. Strange thing it was.” He paused, as if struggling for the right words. “The van he pulled up with wasn’t one I’ve seen before for mail, especially at this time of night. Anyway, I offered to take the box and give it to you when you got in, but he said no. Left it on your doorstep he did.” Another long pause. “Oh, don’t forget the power is going out at midnight, and Happy Birthday!” He disappeared back in his house, sliding the window shut behind him.

Milli swore under her breath, thinking old Mr. Bigsby was a nosy, old fart. How did he know it was her birthday unless he was flipping through her mail again?

Maybe she should take him on a date. Desperation could make a woman go out with an annoying old man, and she was desperate, all right. Hopeless and pathetic.

Sure enough, a small, brown box sat on her step.

She lifted and examined the package under the porch light. The label on top read “Mrs. Millicent Blackwood,” with no return address, but the receiver address was hers. How odd. They got the “Millicent” part right, but the last name didn’t ring a bell. And the lettering looked like ancient calligraphy. She stared at the name on the label again, feeling a sense of uneasiness worm into her stomach.

Milli cast a glance to the street and surrounding doorsteps. She saw nothing to give her pause. Shrugging off the strange feeling the package gave her, she shoved it under her armpit and fumbled to get the key in the slot.

The door opened, and pitch-black met her eyes.

Of course, she’d forgotten to leave the hall light on. Throwing her keys in the general direction of the hall table, she kicked off her heels and switched on the lights.

Like so many days and nights before, she was met with silence in her home. No laughter of children or the comforting welcome of a man. She didn’t even have a pet to greet her at the door. Her life was a pathetic mixture of hard work and drunkenness.

She made her way to the kitchen and set the parcel down on the counter. Was this supposed to be a birthday gift? She had few friends, and they already took her out for drinks last weekend. Besides, somebody had fucked up either her name or the address.

“Well, Mrs. Millicent Blackwood, let’s see what we have.”

Milli grabbed a knife from the cutlery drawer, slid the tip through the brown tape holding the top flaps together, and opened the box. Sitting inside, surrounded by scraps of some soft-textured, gold cloth, was a perfectly spherical amethyst atop an ornately carved, wooden pedestal.

What’s the meaning of this?

No note accompanied the globe. No indication at all of where or whom it came from. She reached inside and carefully pulled the amethyst out from the box. The workmanship and detail of the base was out of this world and appeared very old. A chill made her arm hairs prickle. Why would somebody send her this?

Carvings of intertwined foliage covered the wooden base, encasing the smooth amethyst. Like ornamentation from ancient times, the design was rich in detail and clearly handcrafted. The wood was very dark, almost black with a hint of red; she guessed it must be mahogany. She’d seen globes before, but never of this beautiful quality. She lifted it high, cupping it perfectly in her hands, and nearly dropped it when she read the engraved phrase beneath the globe: Hold time dear to your heart. What were the odds of seeing those words twice in one night?

Impossible. I must be drunk.

Fascinated, she swept her hands over the globe, captivated by how smooth it was. She didn’t realize it was possible to cut and polish amethyst so perfectly. And she knew it was real amethyst by the swirled hues of purple, pink, and white within the globe.

The lights flickered and died.

“Shit.” She’d forgotten about the power outage.

Setting the globe down on the counter, she went to search for a flashlight. While she was digging through her closet, a rustling sound from somewhere in the house made her pause. After a recent string of break-ins in the neighborhood, she feared a burglar had gotten in and was waiting to pounce on her.

She found the flashlight, gripped it like a weapon, and inched her way quietly down the hall. A rich, floral perfume wafted in the air. As she neared the kitchen, keeping her back tight to the wall, a light glinted through the crack under the door.

Garnering every ounce of courage she possessed, Milli swung open the kitchen door with a harsh cry, waving the flashlight like a sword.

Her hand paused high in the air, and her jaw dropped.

The amethyst globe was glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie, and then a flash of purple streaked through the kitchen.

She bit back a scream.

Something magnetic . . . something indescribable lured her closer to the glowing globe. She tiptoed to the counter. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and she felt like she was floating. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe; she felt possessed by something out of this world, and she picked up the globe.

The hues within the amethyst sparkled and danced in her wide, unbelieving eyes.

The globe pulsed and flashed like a strobe light. The objects in the kitchen swirled around her in hazy, elongated shapes. Strange voices echoed in the air.

And the world around her suddenly vanished.

________________

Purchase Romancing a Stranger here: https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/404/Romancing-a-Stranger

 Coming soon to online retailers! 

Thank you for having me RJ!

Bon

BL Bonita

Smart. Sexy. Adventurous Romance.

http://www.bl-bonita.com/ 

Join my Press Release/Announcement list! 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blbonita_pressrelease/