#EggcerptExchange: The Jewels of Warwick by @DianaLRubino #Tudors historical romance #IARTG #BYNR

I am pleased to kick off this year's #EggcerptExchange with a spotlight on The Jewels of Warwick by Diana Rubino! Her road to its publication is an inspiring one for writers at all career stages.

Please tweet this:

#Amethyst is Feb's #birthstone. Buy The Jewels of Warwick by @DianaLRubino for $0.99 in honor of heroine Amethyst!

http://amzn.to/1zWxUKE

In Diana's own words:

Hi all published and aspiring authors. I’m Diana Rubino, author of 18 historical and paranormal novels. My publishers are The Wild Rose Press and Solstice Publishing.

My story will inspire you to push on, if nothing else will. It’s unique, because I'm probably the longest aspiring author to be published—18 years. I wrote my first novel in 1982, after a dose of reality in the brokerage business. In those days, executive-level women were virtually nonexistent in the finance industry. My first novel was largely autobiographical, as most first novels are. Although my third and fourth novels came close to getting published with Harlequin, they didn't quite make it.

Because I’m a huge history buff, I decided to write a historical, which became The Jewels of Warwick, set around Henry VIII and a fictional mistress. Jewels took 2 years to research and write, with no Internet. This was 1990. It came very close to publication with several romance houses, but missed the mark for containing too little romance. When I finished Jewels, I scoured the history books for another legendary figure to write about. While I browsed the Cambridge Library stacks, a book snagged my eye. Lying, not standing, on the wrong shelf was Crown of Roses by Valerie Anand. It drew me like a magnet. Richard III is a central character in the story, and the author thanks ‘the Richard III Society’ for helping her. Who’s this Richard III Society? I wondered. 

Already hooked on Richard, his tragic death at 32 and his reputation as a usurper and a murderer of his little nephews, I joined this Richard III Society through snail mail, no internet.

As everyone else who has a story about how they ‘met’ Richard, he fascinated me. I’d found the subject of my next novel! And it tied in perfectly as a prequel to The Jewels of Warwick. Titled Thy Name is Love, it made the same rounds of publishers, remaining homeless after several rewrites and seven years. 

But the miracle of the Internet came to all of us. My first online experience was CompuServe’s Romance Forum in 1993. This led to meeting many authors who shared leads and their own writing journeys. In 1999, Lisa Hamilton, an author I'd met on the CompuServe Romance Forum, sent me a list of E-publishers, since E-publishing was new and quickly catching on. One of those publishers was Domhan Books, a British publisher who also did print.

When I heard back from them, I figured it was just another rejection, but it was an offer to publish my historicals, since Siobhan McNally, the owner of Domhan Books, was a huge Richard sympathizer. They also published print books, so I lived the moment I’d dreamed about—seeing my first book in print. This was 18 years after that first novel went out into the world.

What surprised me most about the publishing business is that it's very hard to be recognized. You really have to work on promotion as well as writing. I've read many differing opinions on this, but I do believe you should promote as much as time allows, without taking away writing time. Giveaways seem to be a great way to market your books. I started out giving away bookmarks, pens, and the other usual trinkets, but one author said ‘your book is your best giveaway.’ 

I never felt I had enough information to convey at a workshop, but I can tell aspiring authors to make sure the opening is a grabber, make sure the reader will care about the characters, make sure the novel is structured well, so that it doesn't have a sagging middle or any pacing problems, make sure the stakes are high enough so they're in life or death situations that it seems they can't possibly get out of, make sure the secondary characters aren't mere cardboard, and humor always helps. One huge technical rule: show, don’t tell. 

But the #1 rule I learned is that you must convey emotion. Make the reader FEEL what these characters are feeling.

I don’t have any one favorite author, but there are authors whose books I’ll buy if their name is on them. That includes Doug Preston & Lincoln Child (they write great thrillers together), Barbara Erskine (very eerie paranormals set in Essex, England), and Bertrice Small. She never disappoints. For conveying emotion, Lorraine Heath has a unique talent for this. 

I’ve never had a deadline from a publisher, but I’d once sent an agent the first 3 chapters of my vampire romance. He said he’d like to see the entire ms., so I wrote 5,000 words a day till it was finished. He later rejected it. Oh, well. But at least I know I’m capable of turning out 5,000 words a day. My usual output is 2,500 words a day.

In my ‘other’ life, I own an engineering business with my husband, based in Cambridge. 

I’d like to tell any aspiring authors who are frustrated that it’s taken them 3, 4, 5 or more years to get that first contract, remember, I wrote for 18 years before getting ‘the call’ so never give up! Keep believing, and keep the faith! And of course, keep writing, because you’ll only get better. And NEVER give up on your dream!

EXCERPT:

"But, my lord, I realize how I missed you!” Amethyst rushed up to King Henry till they stood within kissing distance. “I've made up my mind. I want to marry you! I accept your marriage proposal...I do not want to keep you waiting a moment longer. I do not care if you are not yet divorced. I accept and I shall wait as long as I need to."

He looked away and the orange citrines in his cap caught the fire's glow. "I have put the preliminary steps of my break with Rome into effect."

"Which means what?" He never got right to the point, one of his annoying traits.

"I shall be free to marry in a few months' time," he said.

"Oh, sire!” She went to grab his arms, but held back. “That's grand, sire. We shall be married by spring!"

He shook his head. His eyes darted everywhere. "We cannot be married at all, Amethyst."

Her heart crashed. She fought a rising sickness. "Why not?" she managed to choke out.

"I must marry Anne.” He spoke so low she could barely hear him. “She believes she is with child."

THE JEWELS OF WARWICK was just re-published with Solstice Publishing and is available in print, and for Kindle.

Please visit Diana's website at www.dianarubino.com, www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com, www.Facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor

and follow Diana on Twitter @DianaLRubino.

Thank you, Diana, for sharing with us.

I hope you keep writing and never give up too!

All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Add Kim to Google+
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on my blog, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Liberty. Please enter often, and good luck!

Spotlight on Hook by KR Thompson @TheKeeperSaga YA #fairytale #pirates #giveaway #BYNR

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – HOOK AUTHOR – K.R. Thompson
GENRE – Fantasy/Fairy Tale/Adventure
PUBLICATION DATE – January 1, 2015
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 300 Pages/78,000 words

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Archie Jameson dreamed of adventure.

Today, it found him.

Caught in a chilly October storm, he ducked into a tavern, hoping to escape the rain. What he found, was a room teeming with pirates. Shanghaied by the most elderly of the lot, Archie awakens to discover that he is serving on a ship captained by the fiercest pirate ever to sail the seven seas--the man known as Blackbeard.

Through a series of thrilling twists, Archie finds himself captain of another of Blackbeard's ships, the Jolig Roger. In an attempt to flee danger, his ship becomes lost beneath uncharted stars and arrives at a mysterious island.

Determined to save both his crew and the woman he loves, Archie will make decisions that will forever seal his fate.

For in Neverland, not all is as it seems.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK – GOODREADS

EXCERPT

The breeze picked up and was bursting insistent, frigid puffs that threatened to dislodge his hat. Archie clamped one hand on top, squishing it down around his lean face as he resolutely lengthened his stride and marched on, determined to make it home before the storm set in.

He'd almost made it to the corner, to the place where he normally made the left on N. Westburl, and then a right onto 43rd, followed by a various assortment of other long deviations that would get him safely home, when a large crack of thunder shook the air. He decided that just this once he might consider taking the most direct route, albeit dangerous, foreboding, and possibly life-threatening. He stopped right on the bend of the street, uncertain for a split moment, until the next jolting crack of thunder made up his mind for him. He headed straight along Market St that followed the length of the Thames River, hoping that the seedy individuals who lurked around the pier were as mindful of the storm as he and would not cause him trouble on this particular evening, for even though he was quick-witted and could talk himself out of most troubles, sailors tended to be a harder breed of people. They were a sharp and cunning lot, and Archie did not know if he could outsmart anyone else that day and didn't wish to press his luck.

He made it past the pier, hesitating just long enough to glance at the small boats tied to the dock. There were obviously people about, and so far he had been lucky enough not to encounter any of them.

But one final ground-shaking crack and the tinkling sound of bells changed it all. The clouds overhead clashed and he ran for the shelter of a nearby tavern, barely escaping the torrent of rain.

Archie had never been in The Captain's Keg before. He stopped just inside the door and let his eyes adjust to the dark, smoke-filled room. He realized that not only had he run into the very people he wished to avoid, but that he also had a new problem.

These men weren't just sailors.

He was ready to run back out and take his chances of drowning in the street, when he heard the same tinkling of bells from earlier. This time, it sounded like mocking laughter.

Well. He might very well be losing his mind, but a coward he was not.

He straightened to his full height—all six feet and four inches of it—and removed his crumpled hat with a flourish, tucking it under his arm. He walked proudly down the three steps that led into the heart of the tavern—to a bar, teeming with pirates.

A couple of heads turned at his arrival and those who met his solemn, blue gaze were quick to drop their eyes back to their drinks. His spirits momentarily lifted, Archibald nodded to himself more than to anyone else in particular, a slight smile playing on his lips. He was holding his own.

Still erring on the side of caution, he scanned the length of the bar, finding three open seats. Two were between rather burly, shifty-looking blokes with tattoos. The third seat, nearly on the end of the bar, sat betwixt an elderly gentleman with longish white sideburns, a round belly, and spectacles to match that sat precariously upon a rather bulbous nose. The gent on the other side was scrawny, his clothes in tatters, thin face in a scowl as he stared at a leaflet of paper before him. Even though he sat still, there was a nervous energy that pulsed off the small man. He gave Archibald the impression of a jittery, starving squirrel.

Archibald decided his best chances lay between the old man and the squirrel and so he took his seat, nodding in a genial fashion to the old man, whose watery blue eyes barely gave him a passing glance. The squirrel didn't acknowledge his presence.

"What'll it be, mate?" the barkeep asked.

Archibald bit his lip to keep from laughing. Every drink in the tavern was the same yellowish liquid. Why the bald man standing behind the bar bothered to even ask such a mundane question was beyond him. Perhaps he was daydreaming again. He did do that a lot and at times it seemed real. "'Tis all ale, is it not?"

"Aye, but will it be single or double ye'll be havin'?"

Archibald lifted a single finger and waited for his drink.

"Ye'd have much better luck with rum, I should think," the old man said quietly as he stared down into his own glass, "The ale's watered down. Not fit for a fish to drink, it isn't."

One dreg out of the glass, and Archibald was quite certain the gentleman was more than right. It tasted like something poured from an old boot. Not that he regularly drank from old boots, mind you. Thank heavens he hadn't ordered twice the amount of the vile stuff. Deciding it better not to even bother asking for the rum, which most definitely hidden beneath the counter and out of sight, he tossed a couple of coins down on the scarred wooden bar, and sat looking down into the remnants of his glass, listening to the patter of rain on the tin roof.

A strange thought came suddenly. For a bar filled with pirates, it was most unusual. It was rather quiet, an odd comment here or there, but otherwise there was nothing but silence. Surely they weren't all sitting around listening to the rain. Archie couldn't figure it out. But he knew one thing, these people certainly weren't living up to his expectations of the loud, fearless persons he always thought pirates to be.

The squirrel on his left shifted around on his stool, staring even harder at the parchment. Sweat popped out on a face that was now a color that reminded Archie of the paper in the print shop, a colorless, pasty white. Good for paper, not for squirrels.

"Well?" a low, deep voice rolled out from a dark corner and broke the silence so suddenly that it startled Archie. "Give us the news then, Harper."

Ah, well now. Things may get lively yet, Archie thought, casting a quick look to the corner from where the voice rumbled. It was too dark to see the man who sat against the wall, but Archibald got a good look at the pair of worn, dark leather boots propped up on the table, and the curling wisps of cigar smoke that floated up to the rafters.

"It says a r-roy, royy…" the squirrel named Harper stuttered, the paper shaking in his hands.

"Ach! The man canna read it anymore than the rest o' us." A complaint hurtled from one of the tattooed blokes at the opposite end of the bar.

As if he were getting more anxious, Harper tried again, his voice in a near squeak, "A royy-alll…"

Archie spied the lettering, and against his better conscience, whispered just loud enough that Harper would hear, "A royal pardon is offered to those pirates who surrender on or before the fifth of September, this year of 1718." He waited as Harper relayed the message, then continued, "Being limited to crimes committed before the fifth of January. All other crimes committed after such date, will be considered for a death of hanging."

Archie sensed the old man on the other side of him shuffle about, as if he were searching for something on the insides of his pockets, but Archie's attention was fixed on the squirrel he saved. Harper turned and gave him a toothless, yet thankful, smile and set to guzzling the contents of his glass as quickly as possible in an effort to calm his shaking nerves.

"Well, that counts us out, lads," a dark chuckle came from the corner, "'No pardon for the likes o' us, I fear. We all be hanged."

"Aye, but they must catch us first. I won't be finding me neck in a noose," a shout rang out, followed by the murmur of agreement from all the others as they lifted their glasses in salute.

Feeling rather in-tune with the pirates, Archibald picked up his glass as well and toasted the luck of the now boisterous lot, draining the last contents of his glass. Some small part of his brain noted that while the ale was certainly vile before, it also became bitter the longer it sat. The bitterness left nearly as soon as he noticed it, having been replaced with a rather calming sensation.

Pirates truly weren't a bad lot, he thought sleepily, just people like everyone else. They were only misunderstood. He turned to convince the elderly gentleman on his right of exactly that, when the darkness came and took over. The last thing he heard was the old man chuckle, singing softly,

"Yo-ho, me mateys, yo-ho…"

***

"Careful now, lads, mind the poor lout's head, aye? He'll be having a dreadful headache come morning without any extra bumps ye'd be givin' him along the way."

The voice was familiar—rather achingly so—though Archie couldn't quite seem to get his faculties in order to remember who the owner of the voice was. The few times he could open his eyes, nothing at all made sense. It all came and went in blurs with distorted figures he couldn't quite make out. The darkness came and went, so in the end, he figured it better to keep his eyes shut for the time being and try to concentrate on other things, foggy and confusing as they might seem. He thought he was being drug along the rough boards of the pier, and while that familiar voice seemed to care about the condition of his head, his legs and backside seemed to be another matter entirely of which the man cared not a whit as they bumped him along each splintering plank. Luckily, the drug slipped in his drink deadened the pain, and he only registered the faint, odd pricks and scrapes where the wood had its way with his flesh.

"He's got hair like black candles, he does," a crackling voice snickered by his head.

"Aye, Smee, are we taking this poor soul aboard for his long locks? Did the Cap'n order you fetch him a wifey, then?" another voice chimed in, followed by raucous laughter, and a low retort from the man named Smee that Archibald couldn't make out.

"A good bit heavier than he looks," the first voice by his head huffed, "Slow ye down a bit, Murph. I'm losin' my grip. Oh drat, there he goes!"

And those were the last words Archibald ever heard on the shores of bonnie England as his head hit the pier and the darkness crept over him once again.

  AUTHOR BIO

K.R. Thompson lives in southwest Virginia with her husband, son, three cats, and an undeterminable amount of chickens.

An avid reader and firm believer in magic, she spends her nights either reading an adventure or writing one.

She still watches for evidence of Bigfoot in the mud of Wolf Creek.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – GOOGLE+ - GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Giftcard

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Tour Was Organized & Hosted By

For more chances to win this month, you are invited to... 
— Add Kim as a Favorite Author on Amazon.com 
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Add Kim to Google+
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Amazon, Twitter, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Liberty. Please enter often, and good luck!

#KASIWC by @KimHeadlee Blog Tour and #Giveaway! #beezeebooks #MFRWAuthor #ASMSG

Please join me and 20+ other bloggers celebrating the release of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court (#KASIWC) from now until January 23rd!

Posts are book spotlights unless otherwise noted. I will update the permalinks as they go live, so please visit often, and don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!

Tour Schedule

Monday, January 12:

• Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog
• Love Bites and Silk
• SBM Book Obsession
• Steamy book momma
• The blog of author Storm Chase

Tuesday, January 13:

• MC Simon Writes Review 5* "I had a pleasant surprise finding that the main character had to travel forward in time." (Goodreads)

Wednesday, January 14:

• Kim's Book Blog
• Lost in a Book
• Words Turn Me On

Thursday, January 15:

• Undercover Book Reviews Review: "Great read! I really enjoyed it!"

 Friday, January 16:

• Mousiey books Review: A must read for all; "25 stars out of 5!"
• sweet treat reading reviews

Monday, January 19:

• Pinky's Favorite Reads
• The blog of Traci Hayden
• Trina's Tantalising Tidbits

Tuesday, January 20:

• Tammy's Tea Time 5* Review: "Amazing"
• A Good Book Can Change Your View For Life
• The blog of Author Sandra Love
• Crop and Save Mom

Wednesday, January 21:

• Nessa's Book Reviews

Thursday, January 22:

• BookSkater
• deal sharing aunt

Friday, January 23:

• Amanda's Blog!
• I Feel the Need, the Need to Read 3 Books Review: "An enjoyable and different read."
• Cover to Cover Book Blog
• My Life, Loves and Passion 4/5* Review: "Too awesome for words!"
• Sexyways of Reading 
• Ann Marie DeGrego 4/5* Review: "Queen Morgan is quite the character!"

Enter this great giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always, for more chances to win this month, you are invited to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on my blog, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Liberty. Please enter often, and good luck!

Bringing in the Sheaves with The Dawnflier (Nov. 2014)

The Queen Visits Her Brother (c) 2014 by Jennifer Doneske

Writers often talk about creating the book of their heart. Please permit me to introduce you to King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court: the book of my soul.

Today marks a milestone in the seven-year journey to create the sequel to Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court—the e-book edition's release. The watermarked illustration on the left is but the first of many wonderful works of art created by Jennifer Doneske and Tom Doneske. The e-book edition contains fifteen original pieces; the hardcover edition, to be released in another year, will contain more than 100. The audiobook edition is also forthcoming, and I will keep you updated on its progress.

I call King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court (KASIWC) the book of my soul because it forced me to examine and overcome my deepest insecurities as a writer. We are fragile creatures at best, and in my case, the single doubt that I could successfully emulate the father of American literature caused me to halt all my writing projects for three years. I played a lot of electronic mahjong during those three years. I'll not belabor how I overcome this particularly pernicious bout of writer's block, but you may read about it in KASIWC, the section titled "About the Ghost's Writer," if you feel so inclined.

All month I invite you to celebrate with me by visiting the blog tour stops arranged by My Family's Heart, where you'll find spotlights, guest posts, character interviews, reviews, and more.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a KASIWC e-book; the Rafflecopter box is below the tour schedule.

Speaking of giveaways, please join me in congratulating the winners (already notified) of last month's contests: Shaina, Michael (Dawnflight e-book); Kimberley, Laura, Angie, Becca, Lourie, Tori, Amy, Diana, Kimberly, Miranda (Snow in July e-book); Jody, Mary, Brandi, Kai, April, Victoria, Niki, Shadow, Raeline, Laura (Snow in July note card); Jaime, Angie, Erica, Rochelle, Sarah (Snow in July autographed paperback). There are more chances to win this month!

Tour Schedule

• Nov 1: Here is some of what I read: Spotlight
• Nov 1: Deal Sharing Aunt: Spotlight
• Nov 2: Undercover Book Reviews: Spotlight
• Nov 2: Tina Gayle's Unique Flavors of Life: Spotlight (Tina is a friend, not affiliated with the tour, but I'm grateful for her support! :) She's the mastermind behind the #FallingintoLove excerpt exchange and others throughout the year.
• Nov 3: Inspire to Read: Spotlight, Guest Post: My fascination with the future; "this truly sounds like a great book to read"
• Nov 3: Siren's Secret Blog: Spotlight, Character Bio of Queen Morgan of Gore
• Nov 3: Love My Kindle: Interview of Queen Morgan (not part of the tour either, but I am thankful for their support too! :)
• Nov 4: Laura's Online Interests: Spotlight, Character Bio, Review: 4* "This book has the potential to be an excellent movie and the beginning of a mini series."
• Nov 4: Wanda Loves Books: Spotlight, Review: 4* "I loved Morgan and the baseball story line. ... [wished] there was more."
• Nov 5: Palace of Twelve Pillars: Spotlight, Review: "A fun romp through time."
• Nov 6: 3 Partners in Shopping: Spotlight
• Nov 7: Romance Beckons: Spotlight (part of the #FallingintoLove excerpt exchange)
• Nov 8: Kimi's Medieval Author Interview Blog: Spotlight, Character Bio, Review: 4* "Take the chance and read the book. You will like it."
• Nov 10: This Redhead LOVES Books: Excerpt, Spotlight
• Nov 11: NA/YA Books and More: Excerpt, Spotlight
• Nov 12: Padme's Library: Excerpt, Spotlight, Top 10 Time Travel Years
• Nov 12: What Shall We Blog About Today?: Excerpt, Spotlight, Character Bio
• Nov 13: Vonnie's Reading Corner: Spotlight, Review: 4* "The things Morgan went through... had had me wanting to read more.... I simply loved Morgan."
• Nov 14: Hayley's Reviews: Spotlight (review scheduled for March 2015)
• Nov 14: Diana Rubino Author: Spotlight (not part of the tour, but another great author-friend with whom I'm pleased to reciprocate!)
• Nov 16: Mythical Books: Spotlight, Guest Post: Old Legends—New Adventures
• Nov 16: Sizzling Book Blog: Excerpt, Spotlight
• Nov 16: BeanieBrain Reader: Spotlight, Top 10 Time Travel Years, Review: "This Morgan was a better ‘person’ than most others I’ve read about."
• Nov 17: Romance Junkies: Spotlight
• Nov 18: Imaginative Dreams: Spotlight, Character Bio, Review: 5* "Many props to the author for a wonderful book."
• Nov 20: Girl with Pen: Excerpt, Spotlight
• Nov 20: Reading Room Blog: Spotlight, Character Interview of Queen Morgan
• Nov 21: Blue Chrysalis Book Promotions: Spotlight, Character Bio
• Nov 21: Miss Ivy's Book Nook: Character Bio, Excerpt, Spotlight
• Nov 23: Romance Junkies: Spotlight
• Nov 24: Deal Sharing Aunt: Spotlight
• Nov 24: The Velvet Lair: Spotlight (a blog run by another writer-friend, Suz deMello, and affiliated with the #FallingintoLove exchange; thanks, Suz!)
• Nov 26: Cat's Reviews: Spotlight, Character Bio
• Nov 27: My Family's Heart: Spotlight
• Nov 28: My Family's Heart: Spotlight
• Nov 29: MCSimonWrites: Spotlight, Character Bio, Top 10 Magical Powers, Guest Post: About my work-in-progress Audra's Quest, Character Interview, Review: 5* "You will find yourself immersed in this book and… you will not want to put it down."
• Nov 30: Arthurian Romances: The World Pertaining to King Arthur: Spotlight, Review: 5* "KASIWC is irresistible, passionate, and intriguing. Definitely check out this amazing new Arthurian Romance!"
  Reblogged on Love of Words and To Be Honest: "To be honest... I love this book!"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always, for more chances to win, you are invited to...
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Subscribe to my YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of KASIWC. Please enter often, and good luck!

#RockingSummerRomance Tempered Hearts by @psthib

On April 18th, the Maze featured Love is a Rose by Pamela Thibodeaux. Today's spotlight shines on Tempered Hearts, book 1 in Pamela's Tempered series.


Blurb: Rancher Craig Harris and veterinarian Tamera Collins clash from the moment they meet.  Innocence is pitted against arrogance as tempers rise and passions ignite to form a love as pure as the finest gold, fresh from the crucible and as strong as steel.  Thrown together amid tragedy and unsated passion, Tamera and Craig share a strong attraction that neither accepts as the first stages of love.  Torn between desire and dislike, they must make peace with their pasts and God in order to open up to the love blossoming between them.  It is a love that nothing can destroy when they come to understand that only when hearts are tempered, minds are opened and wills are softened can man discern the will of God for his life.

Excerpt: Tamera awoke in a mild state of panic and confusion. Glancing around, she realized where she was and who was beside her. A blush warmed her cheeks as she struggled to sit up. She released the filly and fumbled with the front of her gown.

“I couldn’t sleep.” she explained, glancing into the steel gray eyes. His gaze, soft and warm like liquid metal, made her blush harder as he brushed strands of hay out of her hair with a gentleness that seemed out of character.

Craig knew he was treading on dangerous ground, that people were expecting them, but couldn’t seem to get past the moment at hand. “I guess a kiss is out of the question,” he queried, his voice tender, gaze unwavering.

Emotions, raw and unfamiliar, shivered through her. Tamera attempted to scoot away from him, emitted a shaky little laugh and tried to quench the feelings escalating to frightening proportions. “A kiss? Why would you want a kiss? I didn’t think you even liked me.”

Craig wound his hand in her thick hair, stopping her movements. “Like has nothing to do with desire,” he moaned and crushed her to him as his mouth covered hers in a thorough kiss. “Absolutely nothing,” he assured as she clung to his shirt and trembled in his arms.

Purchase Links:

Kindle http://amzn.to/13V6uyI

Nook http://bit.ly/19C6Q5q

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/16sLHL9

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!”™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Follow Pamela:

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux

Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib

Snow in July Cover Reveal/A Summer for Love Blog Hop

Welcome to A Summer for Love Blog Hop
June 4 - 8, 2014, sponsored by
The Romance Troupe!

Grand Prizes:
(SIX) $50 Amazon Gift or B&N Cards

 Comment on this post with your name and email to be entered for a chance to win one of the 6 Grand Prizes! Comments without a name and email will not be counted. 
Winners for the 6 (six) grand prizes will by drawn and announced on The Romance Troupe blog by June 10, 2014.

Many hop hosts are offering individual prizes too. 
Scroll down to see how you can win a prize from the Maze! 
Then make sure you visit & comment upon all the hop stops to increase your chances to win!

www.theromancetroupe.com/p/a-summer-for-love-blog-hop.html

Here at the Maze we’re celebrating Summer and Romance in a very special way: a cover reveal! Snow in July by Kim Headlee is a forthcoming paranormal historical romance set during the early reign of Norman King William the Conqueror, who attempted to ease tensions with his new Saxon subjects by marrying his bachelor knights to local noblewomen. Featuring medieval-inspired interior art by my daughter, Snow in July tells the poignant story of one such pairing:

Sir Robert Alain de Bellencombre has been granted what every man wants: a rich English estate in exchange for his valiant service at the Battle of Hastings. To claim this reward, the Norman knight must wed the estate’s Saxon heiress. Most men would leap at such an opportunity, but for Alain, who broke his vow to his dying mother by failing to protect his youngest brother in battle, it means facing more easily broken vows. But when rumors of rampant thievery, dangerous beasts, and sorcery plaguing a neighboring estate reach his ears, nothing will make him shirk duty to king and country when people’s lives stand at risk. He assumes the guise of a squire to scout the land, its problems, and its lady.

Lady Kendra of Edgarburh has been granted what no woman wants: a forced marriage to an enemy who may be kith or kin to the man who murdered her beloved brother. Compounding her anguish is her failure to awaken the miraculous healing gift bequeathed by their late mother in time to save his life. Although with his dying breath, he made her promise to seek happiness above all, Kendra vows that she shall find neither comfort nor love in the arms of a Norman…unless it snows in July.

Alain is smitten by Lady Kendra from the first moment of their meeting; Kendra feels the forbidden allure of the handsome and courtly Norman “squire.” But a growing evil overshadows everyone, invoking dark forces and ensnaring Kendra in a plot to overthrow the king Alain is oath-bound to serve. Kendra and Alain face a battle unlike any other as their honor, their love, their lives, and even their very souls lie in the balance.

Coming soon in ebook and print editions! 

For your chance to win an ebook copy, do any of the following—each action is good for one entry:
— Follow me on Twitter
— Add me to Google+
— Comment on this post

For your chance to win an autographed print copy:
— Sign up for the Snow in July Blog Tour (July 1 - August 4), and don’t forget to leave a comment here to let me know that you’ve done this!
 
I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop stops this week. Thanks for your interest in my work, and good luck!

Coming Soon: A Summer for Love Blog Hop!

Join me and more than 50 other authors June 4-8 for A Summer for Love Blog Hop, sponsored by The Romance Troupe.  

(Five) $50 Amazon Gift Cards will be awarded to randomly drawn people who participate by commenting on posts during the hop (4-8 June)! Each hop host will be offering individual prizes as well.

The theme for each post in the hop is Summer and Romance... and I can’t think of any better way to celebrate than to do a cover reveal for my forthcoming paranormal historical romance, Snow in July! To that end, I will be offering Maze participants the chance to win their own ebook copy... so break out the fan & sunscreen and stay tuned to this space for your chance to win!

#EggcerptExchange: Sink or Swim by @stacyjuba

You'll need your deerstalker cap and water wings for today's Eggcerpt Exchange offering, Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba!

Blurb: How do you change the channel when reality TV turns to murder? Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on a hit reality show. Not only does she lose and have to walk the plank, but upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she is being stalked. As her former competitors get killed off, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She wants to trust Zach, but fears he may not be as nice as he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must walk the plank again – this time for her life. Sink or Swim was a Nook Top 20 Bestseller and was a Nook Mystery Bestseller, and was also a #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller in the Women Sleuths and Romantic Suspense categories.
 
Eggcerpt:
Cassidy sat poised in her chair as former contestants filed onto the soundstage at WBC in New York. Together, the studio audience and television viewers had watched the recorded footage of her walking the plank. Gabriel would now interview the competitors from the inaugural season one final time. More importantly, he would announce her prize. If it erased most of her debts, then it would at least make this whole embarrassing experience worthwhile.

Cassidy’s heart kicked in her chest and sweat moistened her brow. As one of her old teammates entered, her heart rate skyrocketed for a different reason. Josh Sanchioni slid into a bucket seat, carrying himself stiffer than normal in his sharp gray suit. Studio lights caught his sunbleached strawberry blonde waves, brightening the reddish gold tints.

Cassidy slipped her gaze to his leather shoes. If Josh hadn’t been engaged, they could have been an item. Instead, they’d been good friends until that one evening when the cameras were off and they almost kissed. They’d both realized their mistake and backed away. Things were strained until Josh walked the plank a week later. Tonight, not only did Cassidy have to face Josh, she would probably meet his fiancée.

Her cheeks heating, Cassidy focused on the competitor beside Josh as a distraction. Adam Horton sat erect, hands folded in the lap of his olive green khakis. He wasn’t military, but he dressed like an Army wannabe. His reptilian eyes drilled into Cassidy, his angular face revealing the shape of bones underneath. A blond goatee darkened his pointy chin. Cassidy shuddered involuntarily. Adam never said much, but he made her uncomfortable just the same. She’d sense someone watching her on the ship and Adam would be lurking in the hatches. Luckily, he only lasted on the show two weeks.

“Before we catch up with our former contestants, I’d like to congratulate Cassidy on a job well done,” Gabriel said in the middle of the circle.

Applause thundered from the audience and a wave of excitement crested over her. Cassidy offered a smile for the cameras as Gabriel finished, “I’m proud to present you with your prize – a luxury vacation for two to the Bahamas on a real cruise ship with $3,000 spending money!”

Dumbfounded, Cassidy watched as a video depicted a majestic ocean liner on the large TV screen. “Set sail with us to the Bahamas, where you can swim with dolphins in turquoise waters, relax on sugar white beaches and explore the island’s history as a haven for pirates,” said the female announcer in a voice-over. “On your voyage, you can enjoy our ten lounges, two outdoor pools, luxury spa, casino, cinema, dynamite shows, and glass walls and elevators that get you up close to the ocean views.”

Another boat? More ocean views? Were they friggin’ serious? A frozen smile hovered on Cassidy’s lips. Too bad she’d already seen the counselor that afternoon and he’d attested that all her screws were still in place. This travesty might be enough to unhinge her.

Buy it:
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Smashwords
iBookstore
Kobo
Audible

Author Stacy Juba's Links:
Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

And comment on this post for a chance to win an e-copy of Dawnflight by Kim Headlee... enter often throughout the Eggcerpt Exchange!

#EggcerptExchange: #LongTimeWOW by @JoanBSimon

Today on the Maze:  
Long Time Walk on Water by Joan Simon

Emily Thompson, Rose to her friends, emigrates to the motherland, England, in search of a better life for her two young children, whom she is forced to leave behind. It will be hard work for the young mother in this rich man’s country; not only must Rose scrape the money together for a new life, but she must also come to terms with this unknown phenomenon, di Hinglish dem.

James Dunbar. Jack is what he answers to. Picking his way through the mucky incidents of life, he consoles himself that things will get better.

They happen to meet at a bus-stop, Emily and Jack.

An account of the black immigrant experience jostling to find its place among the white working class. A tale of how the humble live whilst waiting for their dreams to come true. A virtuoso performance in which the protagonists slip in and out of names like garments to the same measure that Time shifts like the plates of the earth, Long Time Walk on Water is, above all, an unforgettable love story: the story of a mother’s love and the price her family must pay for generations to come.

Eggcerpt:

Once you get off that bus that puts you down before the council estate, it’s the daunting anonymity of fifteen-storey, twenty-storey monsters jutting out between the multitude of low-rise blocks connected to each other by a dizzy web of bridges, stairs and alleyways. After a battle of more than two years, the residents had finally managed to persuade the local council to paint the doors to each ‘house’ a different colour, since not only relatives but the residents themselves were forever losing their way. Consequently, Lyndon House doors had all been painted a dark green, Havelock House a light blue, Clarence House an optimistic yellow. A placard at the top of the main road leading into the estate read: Welcome to spaghetti alley, otherwise known as the hall of mirrors. Please leave your faces in the foyer. Thank you. Management.

“Someone reckons he’s a real clever dick,” mutters Jack as he winds his way through the estate; past the first two low-rise blocks, past the newsagent’s, the fish-n-chip shop, the launderette, the post office, the betting office and the off licence. A short queue had formed in the chippy, and through the fluttering multicoloured strips of a plastic curtain hanging in the entrance to the betting office, men’s voices joke, shout, hope, swear. Post office being next to the betting office and the off licence, a fair amount of welfare probably never made it to a man’s front door, thought Jack, such is life. He turns another corner: Where do the fucking architects live, eh, some urban artist wanted to know. And underneath: In a house like you do you ungrateful bastard. Workers of the World Unite had been crossed out and replaced by: All you need is Love, the universal imperative embellished by crudely sprayed peace-flowers.

A couple of houses in the block are boarded up. Amazing, how quickly a place can run down. It hadn't been that bad when they had moved in, Jack remembers. If everyone were to plant a few flowers on their balcony in the summer and make sure their kids went to school, he didn’t want his kids turning teenagers in this environment but what could he do? His feet smack the concrete floor. The sound carries far, far enough for gangs lurking behind pillars yards ahead to know you were on your way but he lives there and isn’t afraid. Boys trying to be men. He’d smack their bloody heads together if they ever tried to mug him or anyone in his family. In a parallel house an old lady is sitting by her window, her curtains pushed aside. She looks out over her mug of tea. Further along, rock music blasts from a bedroom window. Elsewhere, a mother, fraught, fed up; “Daniel! Come ’ere before I give you one! Come ’ere right now... you fink I’m joking?” Silence for a while, then, “Daniel!” Jack can hear the impatience brewing in her voice. “Right that’s it, you’ve had ya warning.” Whack! A toddler screams out that wet, gargling scream. Father storms into the room, starts effing and blinding, but Daniel’s mum gives as good as she gets. Maybe it will come to blows. The old woman shakes her head as she withdraws from the window. From the profanity. Jack takes a shortcut past the playground; two car-tyre swings mope from the branches like carcinogenic fruit, a metal slide, a see-saw and a sandpit, or at least it had been, before the sand had been pinched. Another left turn, and Jack is home. Lift’s not working again. He begins to climb the stairs to the seventh floor.

Buy links:

WHSmith | Waterstones | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Germany  

Follow Joan on:

joan-barbara-simon.com

facebook 

twitter 

Comment on this post for a chance to win an ebook copy of Dawnflight by Kim Headlee—enter often throughout the Eggcerpt Exchange!

#EggcerptExchange: Jixit by @JudeL

Today I am pleased to help Author Jude Liebermann promote her latest release, hot off the press! (In more ways than one, apparently. ;-)

About Jixit:

Colin Jix is a loner. He’s had to be, so he lives in a remote mountain town where he limits his contact with other people.  He’s settled into his solitary life and resigned himself to be alone. That is until Dot Tate shows up with a broken down car and needs his help.  Neither can fight their immediate attraction, but then he discovers a tragic secret and must step outside his comfort zone to make things right.

Eggcerpt:

A persistent knocking woke him early the next morning.  Disoriented and still tired from lack of sleep, he rolled off the couch and stumbled to the door.  Without thought he pulled it open with a yawn and then froze, suddenly remembering he never opened his door to strangers as well as making sure he was completely dressed first.  As the cool air from the hallway hit his naked chest, he realized he still wore the towel from his shower the night before.  Her scent on that unwelcome air hit him harder, and he covered his crotch with one hand and slammed the door shut with the other.

Dot was left standing in the hall, staring at the door, but that’s not what she saw.  The vision of Colin in only a towel would be forever imprinted on her retinas.  Her mouth fell open at those muscles, and the hair lightly sprinkled on his chest and abdomen, disappearing beneath the low riding towel.  His tattered uniform and all that grease had hidden much more than she could have hoped for, and she licked her lips.

“Oh my!” The breath rushed from her lungs, before she sucked it back in and knocked on the door again.

“Yeah, hold your damn horses!” His muffled shout replied from a distance.

Her instincts told her to get the hell out of there. She’d already embarrassed him, and she didn’t want to make it worse, but she knew she couldn’t leave without at least apologizing for taking him so unaware. She thought mechanics always got up early. Glancing at her watch, she winced, having read the time wrong.  It probably was too early to show up at a man’s home, especially one she barely knew.

Dot took a few steps away from the door and waited.  His agitation came through the wood in muffled curses, and she clenched her fingers together behind her back.  When the door finally opened again, black covered Colin from head to toe.  The only bit of skin visible was the part of his face the knitted cap and matching scarf didn’t cover.  She frowned, wanting to see his hair without all that grease, and she missed that opportunity earlier when she couldn’t tear her eyes from his muscular chest and arms.

His whole body blocked the doorway as he glared at her.  “How did you know where I live?”

She gave him what she hoped was her most charming smile.  “So I guess you’re not going to invite me in?”

His objection to that suggestion shone clearly in his disgruntled features.  “I was actually on my way out.”  He closed and locked the door behind him and then marched past her to the stairs.  “I thought you understood that your car won’t be ready for at least a week.”

Dot stared at his ass, wishing his jeans were a bit tighter.  “Of course you made that clear.  I was having breakfast at the diner and mentioned how my phone switches off for no reason. The waitress mentioned you.  I actually think she has a crush on you.”

Colin stopped half way down the stairs and looked over his shoulder at her.  “You mean Rose?”

She nodded, unable to keep the humor from showing in her grin.

“Rose has a crush on every eligible man in the whole town.  I’ll have to talk to her about giving out my address to strangers though.”

Dot raced down the stairs and stopped in front of him.  “I’m not a stranger.”

He stared down at her, his expression unreadable, and she tried not to fidget under his intense scrutiny.  He held out his gloved hand to her, and she stared at it, unsure what to do.  Did he want to hold her hand?  A warm rush flowed through her body at the thought, even though she wouldn’t be holding his bare hand.

“Your phone?”

“Oh, of course.” She couldn’t stop the nervous giggle that escaped as she scrambled through her purse in search of her cell phone.  Once found, she placed it in his gloved palm.

Colin stared at it for a moment, and she saw uncertainty cross his face.  Finally, he pulled off one glove and cradled the phone in his fingers.  She could only stare in awe as his expression changed, as if he no longer saw the phone but something bigger, and his eyes scanned the empty air above his palm.

He blinked a few times and then refocused on her.  “I’ll walk you back to the diner.  I should have your phone fixed by then.”

Without another word, he passed her on the stairs, and she had no other choice but to follow him.

Available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble and will be soon at Kobo Books and iTunes, but you can view it and read the first chapter now on Smashwords.com. April 11th is the official release date when it will be on Amazon.com.

Follow Jude Liebermann on:
www.judesplace.com/blog | @judel

And comment on this post for a chance to win an e-copy of Dawnflight by Kim Headlee... enter often throughout the Eggcerpt Exchange!