Official Blog for Author/Screenwriter Kim Iverson Headlee: info about her published novels, works in progress such as The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, and other output of the maze of twisty passages (all different) otherwise known as her brain.
It's a new year, and I have a new resolution to get my blog back up and running ~ and helping fellow authors.
To that end, today I welcome back to the Maze my author-friend from across the international dateline, Iris Blobel, and her novel Innocent Tears sporting a brand-new cover!
In Iris's words:
I'm excited to tell you all about the re-release of INNOCENT TEARS,
The book has enjoyed a rewrite and an awesome new cover.
I hope you'll give Flynn and Emma's story a chance.
THANK YOU
Innocent Tears
by Iris Blobel
Genre: Contemporary romance
Synopsis:
Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn McCormack, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it pulls the feet right out from underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight. He didn’t know about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody.
With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’ ideas, and Emma is voicing her opinion, too, leaving Nadine right in the middle of it all, still grieving the loss of her mother. There’s no doubt she’s afraid about where and with whom she will settle.
Will a letter Flynn receives help him decide what to do?
Today I'm happy to support my author friend Tina Gayle and her novel Marketing Exec's Widow, now on sale for $0.99!
Marketing Exec's Widow
by Tina Gayle Genre: Contemporary romance
Synopsis:
Letting go and rebuilding a life comes at a price.
Having
come to terms with losing her husband, Jennifer is ready to move on,
but she faces opposition from her friends, in-laws, and brother-in-la.
He see himself as her future husband. None of them know of Jen’s marital
problems and she is afraid of their reaction when they learn she has a
date for Friday night?
Hagan Chaney is not anything
like Craig. He tempts Jen into the future but is she willing to give
love another chance after the heartache she faced the 1st time around?
Excerpt:
“Thank
you.” Jen tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. His tall, lean form
topped hers even with three-inch heels on, a welcome rarity from the men
she usually met. In addition, he had strawberry-blond hair, a known
weakness of hers. The reddish-gold locks danced along the collar of his
black shirt, teasing her with the idea of running her hands through the
thick mass. Her fingers twitched. She dropped her gaze. Tight jeans
covered a round, squeezable butt. Hot awareness suddenly sizzled,
stunning Jen with its power. She knotted her hands into fists and fought
the unwelcome attraction.
No way, I’m his real estate agent, not his date for the evening. And it’s only been four months since...
“Elkhorn’s
main street isn’t large, but the Little League baseball field and the
restaurants should attract people to the area.” Hagan’s dark brown…no,
hazel, his eyes were hazel she realized abruptly when his gaze met hers.
He cocked a brow. A sexy smile teased the corner of his lips. Oh, darn,
the man had nailed her ogling his backside.
Heat
burned her cheeks. The air between them sizzled. Goose bumps popped out
on her arms. Her internal timer ticked off each day she’d gone without
sex—well over a year.
His smile grew wider and visions of his mouth melting onto hers slammed home the impossibility of the situation.
Give it up, girl. It’s not happening.
She
swallowed and searched the room for a distraction, some way to gain
control of her raging hormones and maintain the professional image she’d
strived so hard to develop the last five years. “I agree. It is in a
great location.”
An author with over 30 books, Tina Gayle writes in a number of different
genres: Romantic contemporary (as Tina Gayle) and Erotic Romance.
Her books range from contemporary, paranormal to mystery and suspense. As an indie author, she has worked hard to have a social presence and
reach her readers. You can visit her website and read the 1st chapter
of any of her books. Or you can download a free ebook and join her
newsletter group.
Today I welcome to the Maze my author-friend from across the international dateline, Iris Blobel, and her latest novel, Fresh Beginnings!
Title: Fresh Beginnings
Series: Beginnings #3
By: Iris Blobel
Publication Date: October 12, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
#freshbeginningsrelease
Jared Fraser, a landscape business owner in Hobart, Australia, sets out for a holiday to the USA to travel along the Route 66 in a motorhome. Looking forward to his first holiday overseas, he’s excited as he prepares himself for the journey. But little could’ve prepared him for crossing paths with a beautiful hitchhiker.
Will he be able to put his past aside and grab onto happiness?
Ivy Bennett thought leaving her boyfriend would be the hard part. It doesn’t take long to figure out how wrong she was. As she struggles with making a new start in her life, the last person she expects to lead her to happiness is a laid-back Australian on vacation.
But she will have to say goodbye again? And not only to Jared.
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.
Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.Sign up for Iris' Mailing List and receive a FREE copy of New Beginnings!
Today I'm proud to present a yummy holiday recipe for peach cobbler by longtime Maze contributor Tina Gayle, who is also sponsoring a sale on her romance Marketing Exec's Widow!
Quick Peach Cobbler
1 large can of peaches
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 box of vanilla wafers
1/4 cup of butter
Preheat the oven to 350. Pour peaches, sugar, and cinnamon in a casserole dish large enough to hold everything; I use the 2-quart size. After stirring these items together, then add most of the box of vanilla wafers; set enough aside to put on top. Once you have the wafers arranged on top, slice the butter in to small pieces and set one pat on top of each wafer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Serve with ice cream or whipping cream.
Marketing Exec's Widow
by Tina Gayle Genre: Contemporary romance
Synopsis:
Letting go and rebuilding a life comes at a price.
Having come to terms with losing her husband, Jennifer is ready to move on, but she faces opposition from her friends, in-laws, and brother-in-la. He see himself as her future husband. None of them know of Jen’s marital problems and she is afraid of their reaction when they learn she has a date for Friday night?
Hagan Chaney is not anything like Craig. He tempts Jen into the future but is she willing to give love another chance after the heartache she faced the 1st time around?
Excerpt:
“Thank you.” Jen tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. His tall, lean form topped hers even with three-inch heels on, a welcome rarity from the men she usually met. In addition, he had strawberry-blond hair, a known weakness of hers. The reddish-gold locks danced along the collar of his black shirt, teasing her with the idea of running her hands through the thick mass. Her fingers twitched. She dropped her gaze. Tight jeans covered a round, squeezable butt. Hot awareness suddenly sizzled, stunning Jen with its power. She knotted her hands into fists and fought the unwelcome attraction.
No way, I’m his real estate agent, not his date for the evening. And it’s only been four months since...
“Elkhorn’s main street isn’t large, but the Little League baseball field and the restaurants should attract people to the area.” Hagan’s dark brown…no, hazel, his eyes were hazel she realized abruptly when his gaze met hers. He cocked a brow. A sexy smile teased the corner of his lips. Oh, darn, the man had nailed her ogling his backside.
Heat burned her cheeks. The air between them sizzled. Goose bumps popped out on her arms. Her internal timer ticked off each day she’d gone without sex—well over a year.
His smile grew wider and visions of his mouth melting onto hers slammed home the impossibility of the situation.
Give it up, girl. It’s not happening.
She swallowed and searched the room for a distraction, some way to gain control of her raging hormones and maintain the professional image she’d strived so hard to develop the last five years. “I agree. It is in a great location.”
An
author with over 30 books, Tina Gayle writes in a number of different
genres: Romantic contemporary (as Tina Gayle) and Erotic Romance.
Her books range from contemporary, paranormal to mystery and suspense
As
an indie author, she has worked hard to have a social presence and
reach her readers. You can visit her website and read the 1st chapter
of any of her books. Or you can download a free ebook and join her
newsletter group.
Twitter has unjustly blacklisted this blog as a "spam or malicious" website. As you can see by its content, it is neither spam nor malicious. If you enjoy this site, please consider performing the following steps:
Fill out the rest of the pertinent details and click "Submit."
(Optional but greatly appreciated) Tweet this blog post but in the link replace ".com" with ".ca", ".co.uk",".ie", or any other Blogspot mirror site so that Twitter won't block your tweet from being posted.
MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities. Subscribe today so you don't miss out!
***
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!
With Hurricane Matthew still fresh in my memory because my daughter elected to weather the storm in Myrtle Beach, SC to care for her disabled roommate, Coastal Erosion by new-to-The-Maze author Rachelle Paige is a timely spotlight for the final installment of the #RomanticTravel excerpt exchange.
Book 2 in Rachelle Paige's Golden Shores series, Coastal Erosion, takes place on Georgia's Golden Isles—and I hope those residents didn't suffer too much coastal erosion and other damage from the hurricane either. I haven't visited Jekyll Island in half a century (to compete in a swim meet as a child), and Rachelle offers a much fresher perspective!
In Rachelle's words:
I love Georgia’s Golden Isles, the setting for this book series. Jekyll Island is an especially romantic place with beautiful stretches of sandy beach begging for a lover’s stroll, bike paths galore perfect for bicycles built for two, and lodging at the Jekyll Island Club built by the millionaires of the Victorian Era.
Coastal Erosion
by Rachelle Paige Genre: Contemporary romance
Synopsis:
Civil engineer Kim Meyers has built a solid career on establishing order in the midst of construction chaos. Living off the coast of Georgia as a Midwest transplant, she’s made a life for herself amidst the waves, tourists, and palm trees of the Golden Isles. Keeping her focus on her work and her community, she hasn’t had time to stop and consider how much she’s already lost. Until her former flame, Landon Beau IV, swoops in and snatches up her next project.
Excerpt:
Clack clack clack, the head council member’s gavel slapped against the folding table bringing order back to the room. The hum of murmured conversations shared between the locals dimmed. Planning commissions meetings had grown into increasingly crowded affairs as development of St. Simons Island exploded.
Suddenly, a familiar set of aqua eyes caught her attention.
What on earth was he doing here?
A spark electrified her, shooting down her back and through her limbs. No one could instantly make her crackle with awareness like Landon Beau could. For some reason the sizzle had lasted for more than ten years.
Kim didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or scream or cry.
But today she couldn’t let him distract her from her mission. She understood what she had to do. She needed to help the Society of Coastal Living, aka SCL, to save the stretch of land on the north end of the island near her grandmother’s house. She wouldn’t rest until the island had no more room for development.
Control. Order. Efficiency.
She had to stay focused.
The council member cleared his throat to address the crowded room. “We will be moving forward with LB Holdings, granting a preliminary rezoning permit for a subdivision. They have proposed a development that meets all the necessary specifications and requirements, and this committee feels will be a benefit to the island.”
Her chest seized as the words reached her. She had failed. An even worse, she’d let down her Grandma Rose.
Her vision blurred. She didn’t see the council members conclude the meeting or her fellow volunteers from the SCL get up and leave. The scrape of metal folding chairs being dragged against the floor echoed in her ears drowning out all other sounds.
LB Holdings would be tearing apart the land just down the street from Grandma Rose. Her quality of life would be destroyed. The rumble of trucks and crash of machinery would become a constant soundtrack for the next year on Grandma Rose’s wraparound porch, blocking out the sounds of the marsh. And the reward at the end would be a congested nightmare to get to and from her grandmother’s home. How could she have let her best friend down?
Why hadn’t she pushed harder? Why hadn’t she gone door to door to get support? Why hadn’t she done more?
Questions and regrets circled in her mind, keeping her gaze hazy and unfocused until a warm palm on her shoulder suddenly made her flinch. She jerked her hands up to a defensive position, palms out in front of her face, and then froze.
Standing before her, he was impossibly handsome with his chiseled features and sandy blonde hair styled without a strand out of place. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her gaze drifted to his lips, transfixed by the easy smile that made his mouth off-center.
About the Author:
Rachelle stumbled into the world of romance novels in college; as a way to help speed up reading through Art History textbooks. After years in the professional world writing dry grant proposals and auction descriptions, she started writing the contemporary romance stories she wanted to read. Setting her books in some of her favorite destinations was her inspired way to require plenty of research trips every year with her family.
Twitter has unjustly blacklisted this blog as a "spam or malicious" website. As you can see by its content, it is neither spam nor malicious. If you enjoy this site, please consider performing the following steps:
Fill out the rest of the pertinent details and click "Submit."
(Optional but greatly appreciated) Tweet this blog post but in the link replace ".com" with ".ca", ".co.uk",".ie", or any other Blogspot mirror site so that Twitter won't block your tweet from being posted.
Thank you so very much and have a blessed day.
***
I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of The Challenge!
To enter, click HERE.
MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities. Subscribe today so you don't miss out!
***
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!
Today I welcome author J.M. Maurer, whose latest novel, Seeking Hope, is part 3 of the Emerging from Darkness trilogy.
In J.M.'s words:
La Ville Lumière painting by JM Maurer
Happy #RomanticTravel!
It has been far too long since my last visit to Paris, but I can still say that I love France!
My romantic travel picture is a photo of a painting I did. I am not a painter, but with the encouragement of a couple glasses of wine, I tried my best. La Ville Lumière will always be one of my favorite romantic spots.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m J.M. Maurer, author of the Emerging From Darkness trilogy. Jessica Winters is determined to dig her way out from under the dark clouds of depression and once again find the light of life, love, and happiness. With help from Dr. Matthew Moi, a psychiatrist/sex therapist who has been secretly in love with her for years, she finds herself living again. But with someone out to get Jessica, Matthew pledges to stop at nothing to protect the love of his life. In time, he seizes an opportunity for a safe haven at his family home in France. With their wedding on the horizon, will he get Jess to safety in time? Will things end tragically? Or will their journey to The City of Light be more than romantic?
Seeking Hope
Genre: Contemporary romance, 18+
Synopsis:
I’d been given promises in the past, all of which were broken.
Inevitably, they broke me.
I wouldn’t let those broken promises stop me from believing in new ones, though.
I couldn’t.
Matthew Moi was different.
His dimpled smile and witty sexual banter has held me spellbound since day one.
Falling in love with him came easy.
Marrying him—a dream come true.
Now, he wants something I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for.
As I struggle, he faithfully remains at my side.
Through it all, his protective nature shields me from an evil I didn’t see coming.
Together, we have it all—love, passion, trust.
Apart, the possibilities are endless, even death.
Follow Jessica and Matthew’s captivating and steamy love story from the beginning—start the trilogy for FREE today!
Excerpt:
Late September
For the first time in a long time, I had an itch to do something ridiculous—two things, in fact. One was the reason I was sitting in the back of a musty old van. The other might just be the solution to my Holly problem.
At least I hoped so, because while my mind should have been racing with thoughts of my upcoming wedding, it wasn’t. Instead, I was thinking of my best friend. Problem was, no matter how I launched my plan to help Holly move beyond her commitment issue with Burdick, it wasn’t going to go over well. And the more I thought about her, the more I dreaded the growing possibility of a headache. I’d just gotten over a nasty headache and was now attempting to shake off the likelihood of another when the van rolled to a stop and the driver’s voice muttered in the distance.
“We’re here.”
Okay, Jess. You’ve got your plan and it’s a good one.
I was about to remind myself to stick to said plan when the driver hopped out and moved to my side of the van, his open door ushering in a blast of autumn air that chilled my skin. I shivered and scooted to the edge of my seat, waiting for what was to come next. The shrill of metal sliding over metal pierced my ears as the door slid open, and rough skin wrapped a secure hold on my wrist. This was it.
“End of the line.” His gruff tone registered somewhere between the brief time it took him to pull me out and when his tall, burly features came into full view. He snickered as I pulled the hem of my pullover down and worked to smooth it out. Judging by the way his eyes scanned up my body, I presumed his outburst had everything to do with my appearance. After all, this was the first time I’d pieced together an outfit for such an outdoorsy occasion. Eventually, he calmed and took my hand, turning it palm up. “You don’t want to forget this.”
Instinctively, my fingers clasped a tight grip around the cold steel as I stood, staring down at the black metal, hoping I’d do it right. I’d never held a gun before. They all made me nervous. Fact was, with a gun in the wrong hands, things could quickly turn ugly.
I knew all about ugly.
Drawing my attention his way, the driver stretched a tattooed arm, pointed a finger, and then offered his last words of advice. “Never give up.”
I swallowed back a lump of fear, absorbing a deeper meaning of the phrase, and took off running. For what seemed like forever, I ran up and down hills, climbed over a few sizeable rocks, jumped a tiny brook, and pushed forward until I needed to recharge and bring my thoughts back into focus.
At best guess, I’d been in the woods for several hours, alternating between steady jogs in the direction I was supposed to go and quick respites to catch my breath. I wasn’t sure exactly where I was, but as far as I could see, there was nothing but dense forest—and me. Panting, I leaned against a tree and listened to the rustle of withered leaves moving with the breeze.
One thing was comforting: I hadn’t run into anyone. Yet.
About the Author:
J.M. Maurer started working as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where she cared for critically ill children, transported them from outlying hospitals, and even picked up overtime hours treating patients of all ages while inside a hyperbaric chamber. Holding a Bachelor's degree in nursing, she loves to write about strong characters and their struggles in life.
When not writing, you can find her spending time with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, or attempting most any sport. She resides in Chicago with her husband and son.
Twitter has unjustly blacklisted this blog as a "spam or malicious" website. As you can see by its content, it is neither spam nor malicious. If you enjoy this site, please consider performing the following steps:
Fill out the rest of the pertinent details and click "Submit."
(Optional but greatly appreciated) Tweet this blog post but in the link replace ".com" with ".ca", ".co.uk",".ie", or any other Blogspot mirror site so that Twitter won't block your tweet from being posted.
Thank you so very much and have a blessed day.
***
I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of The Challenge!
To enter, click HERE.
MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities. Subscribe today so you don't miss out!
***
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<
… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!
Photo credit: Drachenfels castle in Koenigswinter, Germany,
Depositphotos.com Image #74467597 c2016 by :jurajkovac,
Meme c2016 by Linda McLaughlin.
Today on The Maze I welcome new contributor Iris Blobel and her novel New Beginnings!
Iris writes:
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to travel to the Australian Outback. One night, we sat by the campfire and with clear skies we were able to locate the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, as well as planets that were only visible due to the clarity of the atmosphere.
Since then I consider “stargazing” as very romantic.
New Beginnings
Genre: Contemporary Romance
The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.
Synopsis:
Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.
Mark O’Connor, attorney in Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not his casual lover Linda.
But then there’s Zach, Sophie’s sexy neighbour from across the road… and a very good friend of Clara’s.
Will unravelling the mystery unravel Sophie and Mark’s promise of a future?
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London, as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.
Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.
Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.
I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Kings!
To enter, click HERE.
MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities. Subscribe today so you don't miss out!
***
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<
… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!
Photo credit: Drachenfels castle in Koenigswinter, Germany,
Depositphotos.com Image #74467597 c2016 by :jurajkovac,
Meme c2016 by Linda McLaughlin.
Today on The Maze I kick off author Tina Gayle's fall #RomanticTravel excerpt exchange by featuring her novel CEO's Widow!
In Tina's words:
One of my favorite romantic trips is to Vegas. We had plenty of time to shop, people watch and visit the sites. Also what topped the trip off was taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Having never been up in a helicopter before this along was a treat. The trip to the canyon and back was awesome too.
CEO’s Widow - Book 4 of the Executives' Wives' Club series
Genre: Contemporary Romance with strong women fiction elements
Four women... One fatal car wreck... Everyone's lives changed...
CEO’s Widow
Synopsis:
After surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a lump in her breast. Her world turned upside down. She re-evaluates her priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.
Knox Turner lost is first wife to cancer. He’s determined not to let Marianne face this challenge alone.
Can this couple face the trails ahead and build a future together?
Excerpt:
Incapable of resisting, Marianne set a hand on his chest and absorbed the pleasure of being in this man’s arms again. Too bad the bliss couldn’t last longer. He needed to get back to work. She had errands to run. “Knox, you’re making it harder and harder to resist you.”
“Then don’t. We’ve both had more than enough time to know what we want. Jack and Betty both died almost two years ago. We needed to move on.” He caressed a hand along her back, easing her body even closer to the hard line of his.
Marianne smiled. She’d known him for years as her husband’s boss and respected for all he’d accomplished in the business world. Her hang-up over their age difference grew less and less important as more time passed. “Shouldn’t we at least date a few other people first? Test the water. Make sure we’re not making a mistake by latching onto the first person we’re attracted to.”
“Good, so you admit you find me attractive?” He lowered his head and nuzzled the side of her neck, playfully nipping at her ear.
She sighed. His tantalizing touch and the deep rumble of his voice tempted her into sliding her hand along the back of his neck. Her fingers slid through his silky hair, and she marveled at sensual thrill of being so close to him. For months now, she’d convinced herself her life was full enough with just her kids and grandkids.
You'll receive a free short story – “My Future StepBrother.” This story leads you right into the story of the CEO’s Widow.
Author Bio:
Tina Gayle loves writing and is currently working on finishing her Family Tree series, a contemporary paranormal suspense series.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time with my family and traveling around the country. She hasn't hit every state, but she hopes to someday. You might also catch her on the golf course with her husband of 30 years.
Also, you can read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website or download an exclusive story "My Future Step Brother" and join her special friend's list. All on her website www.tinagayle.net.
I'm running a giveaway for an e-copy of Kings!
To enter, click HERE.
MailChimp subscribers to The Dawnflier receive exclusive giveaway opportunities. Subscribe today so you don't miss out!
***
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow<
… and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Please enter often, and good luck!
Welcome to the final 2016 Eggcerpt Exchange on The Maze! Today I am pleased to feature fellow Twitter/Triberr author-friend Jacquie Biggar and her Wounded Hearts novella The Sheriff Meets His Match.
Synopsis When a jaded sheriff is drawn to an exasperating woman in trouble, anything can happen.
Laurel Thomas has always experienced life from the outside looking in. She likes the warm welcome she's received in Tidal Falls and wants to make a home in this friendly little town, far away from her egocentric family. But then her uncle arrives and she learns the past has a way of catching up to her.
Jack Garrett is satisfied with his uncomplicated life. He has a good job as the sheriff of his hometown, a nice home, and a beautiful teenage daughter. So why is he struggling against his attraction for the disorganized new hire at the department, Laurel Thomas? She threatens everything he's worked so hard to avoid—like falling in love.
Can two people with enough emotional baggage to sink a ship find a way to give each other a chance, or is this match doomed to drown?
Excerpt
“This isn’t a good idea,” she whispered as his head lowered.
“Probably not,” he agreed just before he consumed her, there was no other word for it. She’d been kissed before, but never like this. There was nothing but Jack. From the faint spicy scent of his cologne paired with the impossible width of his shoulders, to the exquisite firmness of his mouth upon hers.
Laurel grabbed his forearms and held on for dear life, caught up in a maelstrom of desire. He tasted like the finest chocolate, wickedly delicious and bad for her health. This couldn’t end well for either of them, but she couldn’t bring herself to step back.
About the Author
Jacquie lives in paradise along the west coast of Canada with her family. She loves reading, writing, and flower gardening. She spoils her German Shepherd, Annie, Calico cat, Harley, and swears she can't function without coffee.
Learn about upcoming news, contests, recipes, and more from her newsletter.
And don’t forget to check out her blog. She has many giveaways that run every month sponsored by herself, The Authors’ Billboard, and Sisters of Suspense, so you don’t want to miss out!
Author Interview
The Maze (TM): What inspired your latest book? Jacquie Biggar (JB):I’ve wanted to write a holiday romance for some time now and with the Christmas season fast approaching within my series, Wounded Hearts, it seemed like a perfect fit.
TM: What is your typical day like? JB:First things, first; Coffee.
Then I usually open my blog, check for comments that need answering, do the SM trail, and end with my emails. That takes up most of my day, then it’s family time. Around nine or ten at night the house gets quiet and I can work on my newest project, a paranormal romance. I do that until midnight or so, go to bed, read a couple of chapters, and start the whole process over the next day. I know, exciting hey?
TM: Sounds a lot like my typical cycle. How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you? JB:Probably not as much as I should be, it’s hard to promote without making people tune you out. You need to be inventive. Meme’s are great and easy to set up; I use Canva.com for mine. Paying for ads can help, just don’t let it eat up all of your budget; a couple that I’ve found good are Choosy Bookworm and The Ereader Cafe.
Other than that I think it’s key to make friends with likeminded writers. There’s nothing better than having a large group of supporters guarding your back.
TM: Indeed; as with the Eggcerpt Exchange! How has your experience with self-publishing been? JB:I’m happy I decided to go the self-publishing route. It’s enabled me to be my own boss. That being said, there’s no one else to blame if I don’t succeed. There’s a lot of work involved in becoming an indie author. And that’s after writing the best novel the world’s ever seen. You need to be willing to take on all aspects of the business, because that is what being self-pubbed is; a business. From cover design, to formatting and uploading, to book-keeping and promoting. Writing is a full-time job.
TM: Do you have critique partners? JB:Yes, I do. Critique partners are crucial to the writing process. They are your beta readers, editors, critics, and biggest supporters all rolled up into one neat package. I belong to a fantastic group called Lethal Ladies, which is a part of RWA’s Kiss of Death chapter, specializing in the romantic suspense genre. I also belong to a group of four wonderful ladies from my local group, Vancouver Island Romance Writers, who I cherish for their kindness and generosity.
TM: What genres are you drawn to as a reader? JB:I generally look to romantic suspense novels for my reading pleasure. I like the tension and the fight to overcome evil that is the mark of a good suspense book. The hero/heroine have to fight tremendous odds to get their happy ever after. It makes the reader gain empathy and keeps those pages turning.
Thank you for having me as a guest today, and remember—it’s all about the romance. ~Jacquie Biggar
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow … and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
Today I welcome another new-to-The-Maze author for the 2016 Eggcerpt Exchange, Michelle Abbott. Give her a hand, folks, she's British!
(Bonus points if you correctly identify the movie reference. :D)
Michelle writes New Adult romance and has four books to her credit.
Jem Synopsis Two injured, stubborn souls meet unexpectedly. Will they save each other from their demons or have they been too damaged for too long to see past the pain?
Growing up, all Jem knew was hatred and the pain from his father's fists. Taunted by the kids at school, he was alone, until a girl with carrot coloured hair sat next to him.
She smiled. She listened. She cared.
She was his angel, and he knew he’d love her forever. But Jem’s father hurts him in a way he never expected by taking him away from her.
Now eighteen, scarred inside and out, Jem trusts no one and has worked hard to ensure he'll never be helpless again. But then he runs into his angel. The only problem is she doesn’t recognize him. Jem needs her to remember him, to show him that their time together meant to her what it did to him. For once in his life he wants to have mattered to someone, to her.
Devon is attracted to the muscular, tattooed, pierced hottie standing by the pub quiz machine. That is, until he punches a guy clean across the bar for daring to touch him. She’s had her fill of violent men and intends to avoid this one at all costs.
Excerpt
She’s walking beside me and I can’t keep my eyes off her. Back when we were kids she was taller than me. Now I tower over her by about eight inches. I can’t believe I’m getting to spend time with her, even if it is to apologize to her friend. In fact, I think I should thank him. She hugs herself and rubs her arms.
“Are you cold?”
“Yes. I left in a hurry and didn’t bring my jacket.”
I tug off my sweatshirt and put it over her head. She pushes her arms through the armholes. I run my fingers through her long hair to loosen it from the neck of my sweatshirt. Her hair is soft against my fingers. I’ve always loved her hair. The color is darker; it used to be carrot colored, now it’s a deep copper red. I feel her body tense. Too much touching. I reluctantly step back out of her space. She looks cute in my sweatshirt. The hem reaches her knees and the sleeves cover her hands. She’s looking straight ahead and she’s not speaking. There’s so much I want to say to her. I want to know what’s been happening in her life all these years. Has she had a good life? What kind of things does she like doing these days? Did she ever think of me? I frown as her words come back to me. She said Quinn is her neighbor. Which means she not here on vacation. She lives here.
“Are you okay?”
At the sound of her voice I realize I’ve stopped walking. “How long have you been living here?” I ask. Her hair hangs over her eyes and my fingers itch to sweep it away from her face so I can look at her green eyes.
“A month. I used to live in London.”
I know. “So, if Quinn isn’t your boyfriend, who is?” Tell me so I can hate him.
She turns and continues walking. “No one. It’s just me and my son.”
I fight to keep the stupid grin off my face. I tap my fingers against my leg. I’m full of nervous energy. “It must be hard raising him on your own.”
“It’s not so bad, he’s a good kid.”
I nudge her. “He’s got a good mum.” She smiles at me for the first time and it makes me feel like I’m four years old again. I want to skip. I slide my phone out of my jean’s pocket. “Let me give you my number so you can call me if you ever need any help, or a babysitter.” She hesitates and bites her lip, a frown forms between her eyes. Oh come on. I want a way to keep in touch with you.
“I already have a babysitter. Quinn.”
I smile at her. “You should never put all your eggs in one basket.”
She unlocks her phone. “Okay, give me your number.”
I watch her slim fingers as she keys my number into her phone. I stop her before she can put her phone away. “Call me, I want to make sure you’ve got my number right.” And that way I’ll have your number.
Job?
I work at an amusement arcade, fixing the machines when they go wrong, handing out change and that kind of thing. It pays my bills, it’s local and the hours suit me.
Currently residing in...?
Hemsby in Norfolk. I’ve got a trailer right by the sea. There’s nothing like walking along the beach every morning. It keeps me calm.
Level of schooling, or self-taught?
I had to quit school when I was small because my father moved us all at the last minute after someone reported him to social services for child cruelty. He never enrolled me in another school. I taught myself all I need to know.
Favorite food?
Don’t have one. I eat to live, I don’t live to eat.
Most important goal?
To get Devon to remember me and love me again. To take care of her and show her that I never forgot her and never stopped loving her.
About the Author
Michelle Abbott lives in the UK and hates describing herself in 3rd person.
She loves to write new adult romance about heroes who begin as the underdog and are protective of their girl.
She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits. :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral. :-)
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow … and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
For today's Eggcerpt Exchange entry on The Maze, I am pleased to introduce author Linda K. Sienkiewicz, who writes women’s fiction/contemporary romance. Her debut novel is titled In the Context of Love.
Synopsis:
Angelica Schirrick wonders how her life could have gone so far off-track. She remembers her forbidden high school romance with Joe Vadas, the son of Hungarian immigrants. Scandal tore them apart, Joe disappeared, and she’s spent years trying to recover from the split. Shortly after, a devastating family secret shattered her sense of self, leading to a multitude of bad choices that include marrying a man with a missing finger and secrets of his own. She leaves her husband and, with two children in tow, begins a journey of self-discovery that leads her back home to Ohio. She must find a way to put the past to rest before she can be open to life and a second chance at love.
And what if Joe returns? Will he help her or tear her family further apart?
Praise for In the Context of Love:
Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of #1 NY Times Bestseller DEEP END OF THE OCEAN: “With humor and tenderness, but without blinking, Linda K. Sienkiewicz turns her eye on the predator-prey savannah of the young and still somehow hopeful.”
Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of Michigan Notable Book MOTHERS TELL YOUR DAUGHTERS: “Sienkiewicz’s powerful and richly detailed debut novel is at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey. It should be required reading for all wayward daughters, and their mothers, too.”
Eggcerpt from In the Context of Love:
The word prey rose from my stomach and lodged in my throat. My mother’s face flashed in front of me as I turned to look at him. Everything inside urged me to keep walking. He could easily outrun me and pull me down from behind, like a yellow-eyed cat on a gazelle. I read in a magazine that meeting your attacker’s eyes is the key to survival, so I pulled my jacket around myself and stayed focused, ready to push all my energy into hitting back or knocking him off balance, even though I could hardly stand straight. Headlights illuminated the street, throwing shadows; three teenage boys inside a car looked menacingly at me as it passed, exhaust spewing a noxious smell.
“I say something wrong?” Gavin asked. Teeth clenched; I held steady, giving him nothing. He tipped his head to the side. “Hey, I’m not the bad guy. The bad guy’s the one hiding between the buildings, circling you in a low-rider. You shouldn’t be alone on the streets this late.”
I straightened up, trying to look taller as he closed the space between us. My nipples pulled tight. “You can’t hurt me.”
“Hurt you? Why would I do that?” He put his hand under my chin and asked me my name. I wondered if he could tell I was shaking when I told him. He said, “Pleased to meet you, Angelica. I’m Gavin Schirrick, protector of lost women and stray cats. Or is it lost cats and stray woman? You make me forget. You make me forget everything.”
I saw the flash of his teeth as his lips caught mine before I could turn my head. Maybe I didn’t want to turn away. He was 80 proof—smooth, clean, and potent with a peppery bite. His hand went to the back of my neck as he teased his tongue inside my mouth.
The Maze (TM): What is your birthdate? Angelica Schirrick (AS): I came screaming into this world on June 30, 1958, weighing a mere 6 pounds and 5 ounces.
TM: Where were you born? AS: I was delivered by midwife Rose Rumble at my great aunt’s farm in Wisconsin. My mother, since she wasn’t married, was supposed to give me up for adoption. I’m glad she didn’t.
TM: What’s your favorite type of pet? AS: I grew up with a gorgeous fluffy collie named Cookie, so I’m awfully fond of dogs, but at this point in my life, I’d rather have something low maintenance. I’m thinking goldfish, canary, or a rock. Yes, a pet rock would be swell.
TM: Who is your significant other? AS: The “Gypsy King” or Hungarian heartthrob Joe (Jozsef) Vadas will always be my first and only love.
TM: What is your secret desire? AS: I would love to surprise Joe with a trip to France to visit Jim Morrison’s gravesite in Pere Lachaise. He’s such a Doors fan. I’m not (please don’t tell) but a whole week in Paris with Joe would be heavenly.
About the Author:
Author Linda K. Sienkiewicz attributes her creative drive to her artistic mother, who taught her to sew, and her father, who let her monkey around with the gadgets in his workshop. Her poetry, short stories and art have been published in more than fifty literary journals. She has a poetry chapbook award from Bottom Dog Press and an MFA from The University of Southern Maine.
All this month, you are invited to…
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze,
especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow … and each action this month is good for one chance to win a copy of any of Kim's e-books.
