How Important Is Editing To You?

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read

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I love to read, but when I begin a new book, the last thing I want is to be jerked out of the story by continuous grammar, spelling or punctuation mistakes. It’s the first sign that perhaps the book may suffer from other issues, like weak plot or character development.

In the past few years, the need for writers to edit our own work has become more crucial than ever before. Online review sites are taking off, and readers love to share what they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy. Many reviews I’ve read get down to the tiniest detail, and if there’s poor editing, then  that becomes a major turnoff. We can certainly edit ourselves until we believe we’ve nailed our book, but there’s nothing quite like a second set of eyes.

Many writers join writers’ groups, have critique partners or request a beta reader to give them solid feedback. There’re also some wonderful freelance editors available. Proofreaders and line editors are another great option.

Which brings me to the reason for this post. Last week, a writer friend said to me she’d like to self-publish her first book. She’s tried getting an agent, but rejection letter after rejection letter keeps coming in. She’s in a writers’ group, but they’re all unpublished authors learning and growing together. She asked me what I thought she should do? Wow, as writers, our journey to publication can be quite different. Self-publishing might be the road she takes, although one thing remains the same for all of us. Our books should be soundly edited before publication, no matter which avenue we choose to take. Her future reputation as a writer is at stake if she doesn’t put her very best forward. I certainly understand her frustration of trying to get that first “yes.” It certainly feels like we’re climbing a mountain, dragging our way uphill, and through hail and snow to get there. But it’s so important not to forget that every published author out there, was unpublished at some point. That makes it feel real. Anything is possible.

So, how important is editing to you? Do you have a critique partner, beta readers or someone else? Who helps you ready your manuscript for submission or publication? For me, my second set of eyes before submission is my sister. She isn’t a writer, but an avid reader. She’s great at providing feedback, although if not for her, I’d certainly team up with a CP. Drop me a comment and let me know what works for you.

Lastly, yay, I finally wrapped up book three in my YA fantasy series and began the submission process on it. Now, I’m crossing my fingers and toes and hoping I did everything I could to make it a fabulous read. I can certainly say it’s well-edited. :)

Take care, and I’ll catch ya next week.

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Free Ebooks — Do They Capture New Readers?

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Cute. :)

Authors and publishers have offered free ebooks as a way to capture new readers for a few years. But does it really work? This marketing strategy is one of many used in our industry, and it’s rather intriguing. As a reader, I’ve certainly downloaded my fair share of free ebooks over this past 14 months while I’ve had an ereader. To begin with, I thought wow, this is cool. I get to try out new authors and see if I like their work. My intention was, if I did, I’d go on to buy more of their books.

The only problem with this, is that more and more free ebooks keep coming out. There’s an endless stream. Another problem is, some of those freebies were just plain awful. If I got a couple of chapters into the story and it didn’t capture me, I simply deleted it and began another. I hadn’t invested any money, so no harm was done. Only this got a little monotonous. Of the fifteen free ebooks I’d downloaded, only two were any good. Those are terrible odds, and in a way puts me off from downloading another from an author I haven’t heard of.

As a bonus though, because I’d received them for free, I wrote reviews for those two authors and posted them on Amazon. I felt obligated to ensure they received some sort of compensation for what they’d freely given. Although, I can’t help thinking is what happened to me the same for other readers? To answer my question, I checked out what authors and readers are saying about free ebooks. This information has come from a number of sources, from other authors and readers I’ve chatted to, as well as from reading responses within various group threads on Goodreads.

Here’s the overall feeling on free ebooks.

  • The power of free ebooks seems to be dwindling because of the flood of them this past year.
  • Readers are more apt to give a new author a try when they can read their book for free. They’ll happily buy other books if there are any.
  • A couple of authors mentioned that some of their free ebooks made it into the hands of readers who don’t enjoy the genre they write. They then left bad reviews stating so, but then that’s the risk an author takes.
  • Many readers said they’re more committed to reading an ebook they purchase, over one they receive for free. Freebies get put to the bottom of the pile.
  • Readers also found where a free ebook in a series became available, if they liked it, it hooked them into buying other books within the series.
  • Authors did report that they sold more books for a short time after their promotion, but then their sales dropped away again and back to normal levels. Because of this, they felt giving away free ebooks is something that should be done once they had a backlist. This marketing strategy would then see those readers who enjoyed their books, perhaps buying others they had available. (Of course, we all know there are some authors who’ve seen incredible success from ”free ebooks,” and in some cases, it’s launched their careers.)
  • Also, a number of readers said after reading some terrible free ebooks, they’re learnt to check the reviews and the current average rating of any future freebies before downloading them. (This is exactly what I did this month. I’ve downloaded only one free ebook in May, and it’s from an author I know can deliver a good read. I too checked out the current star rating, and once satisfied, downloaded their free ebook.)
  • One author who experienced a huge boost in sales said she’s glad she gave away free ebooks. It was incredibly effective for her. She was there not long after the KDP select program began and that’s when she saw her success. She did state though, that Amazon have now tightened their algorithms surrounding their lists, and that means a free ebook falls far quicker after its free days. It’s not as effective as it was when she first began.
  • Lastly, the underlying point which really came through, was readers truly enjoy when they discover a new author from a free ebook. They go searching for other books they’ve written to buy more, but again that author needs to have a backlist to reap the benefits.

Interesting, isn’t it? Publishers and authors will certainly continue to use free ebooks as one of their marketing strategies, but I believe they’re starting to get more savvy on exactly what works and doesn’t work. As an author or reader, what do you think of free ebooks? If you’re an author, have you given ebooks away for free? Did you find success? Was it all you hoped for? Will you try it again? You know me, I love hearing from you. Drop me a comment and let me know how you feel about free ebooks? I’m all for authors supporting authors, and sharing all that important information.

Take care, and I’ll catch ya next week.

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A Special Mother’s Day Post

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If you’re a mom, a huge happy Mother’s Day to you.

I’ve compiled a few pictures which really say it all. Mothers, sit down and relax. Have a wee laugh, maybe even a heartfelt sigh. Mostly, enjoy.

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MOMS ROCK!

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

Moms, I hope you have a super day and get totally spoilt.

For my regular Monday post, I’m blogging about “Free Ebooks” and “Do They Really Capture New Readers.” I’ve been chatting to a number of authors, and I’ve got some interesting information for you. Catch ya tomorrow everyone. :)

Sooo Excited — Check Out My New Cover for Warrior

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What a magical moment I had last Wednesday. WARRIOR’s cover arrived from my publisher, which meant I spent the entire day printing off copies and pinning them around the house. Yep, my hubby and kiddies couldn’t walk anywhere without seeing the image. So, huge thanks to Renee Rocco of Lyrical Press NY for her skilful hand at cover-art.

Warrior is book two in my YA fantasy romance series. Each book features a new heroine and hero, and Warrior is the story of Hope and Silas. Although the characters from the first book, Protector, feature prominently throughout the second, so you’ll not miss catching up with Faith and Davio along the way. Also, as both the heroines from the two books are from the famed Wincrest line, the images of the two girls are strikingly similar. So, here it is, WARRIOR’s cover. I hope you enjoy.

Warrior

WARRIOR ~~ Magio-Earth Book Two ~~ Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance.

COMING    ~~ November 4th 2013 with Lyrical Press NY.

~~~

WARRIOR’s blurb

To love and protect…across worlds.

On planet Magio, Princess Hope Wincrest, of Dralion is on a quest to discover the lost heritage of a mother she’s never known. While in the Australian Outback, her home away from home, her warrior father warns her she is about to meet an enemy protector whom she must work with to uncover her heritage.

Silas Carver, of Peacio on planet Magio, follows his soul’s call only to discover his soul-bound mate is an enemy of his people. Dralion and Peacio are at war. He demands Hope release him from their bond, and she will, after he helps her learn about her mother.

Eighteen-year-old Hope’s adult strength abilities are emerging and one of them could be deadly to her. She must lay her life in Silas’s hands during a journey deep into foreign lands. Theirs is a battle of the heart and of the land. Can the mated pair find their place with each other in a world at war?

If you’d like to add WARRIOR to your TBR list, the link is here–> Goodreads.

Thanks so much for joining me in celebrating the release of my cover. I’m currently working hard on Book Three in the series, and having a blast writing Silvie’s story. She’s one fiery redhead who knows how to have fun. I should have this one ready to send out for submission at the end of May. So close. I can’t wait. If you want to drop me a comment, you know I love hearing from you.

I wish you all a safe and wonderful week. Catch ya later.

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How Do You Write YA?

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ya blog

I found some young ones. So cute. :)

Without a doubt, YA (young adult) is a very hot genre to write. It’s been around for a while, although there was a turning point in 2008 when it truly exploded. A number of writers tried their hand at it. Some found YA was for them, and others discovered writing this genre is tougher than it looks. Although, YA isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Readers of YA are committed. They’re always after more, and for writers of this genre, we’re here to deliver.

Now, what makes YA so popular?

Those teen years we go through, are an incredible time. They’re exciting, fun, awful, painful, scary, amazing, and everything in between. It’s when we discover the world and where we fit in. In our teen years, our emotions are pure, and all that we go through is intense and totally confusing.

That’s why YA captures such a wide-ranging readership base. It crosses the generations, and is read by young adults and adults alike. There is no age barrier to YA. Even my 88-year-old grandmother has recently read my YA fantasy romance. It was her first foray into this genre, and she was fascinated by how enthralled she became. (Phew.) The story reminded her of the time she lived by the seat-of-her-pants. (Yep, seat-of-her-pants. She was such a rebel in her younger years.) She wants more YA–and just like that, she’s hooked.

So, let’s cover what YA writers should be aware of. There are certainly some points to note.

  • YA books focus on the essence of what teens go through, and I’m not talking about learning to drive a car, going to prom, or that very first date.
  • YA readers are smart. They want deep storylines, and fast-paced action, so don’t even attempt to write simple. Teens will spot simple a mile away, and just get annoyed.

In fact, it’s often said writers must pay attention to the three core questions which should be at the heart of every YA novel.

  • Who am I?
  • Where do I belong?
  • How do I get there?

A ton of new questions can arise from these three core ones, but fundamentally they make great building blocks when writing YA.

Your characters are about to take the journey in discovering the answers they seek. There’ll be struggles and mistakes, bends and twists in the road, triumphs and tears, but that’s how teens uncover all life has to offer. The journey they undertake must be deep. They must challenge themselves to sort out any inner fears and frustrations, and while doing so, remain completely relatable.

All in all, YA books are about teens coming to terms with who they are, and experiencing all life’s ups and downs along the way.

Okay, so if you’re after some YA novel guidelines, here are some helpful pointers.

  • So far, there are no forbidden subjects, but whatever you delve into must be done with sensitivity and care, taking into account the age of the teen reader. Often we can allude to something, and then fade out the scene. The YA reader is smart, and they’ll be aware of what’s happened.
  • Overall, teens will identify more strongly with the character’s feelings, and this is why intense situations don’t always need to be written in.
  • Characters are teens, and aged within those years.
  • YA novels generally run between 40,000-75,000, but you will find books either side of that. If there is a particular publisher you’re after then make sure you check out their website’s submission guidelines to see if they have a preferred word count.
  • There are also no vocabulary restrictions for YA, but make certain any coarse language is age or topic appropriate.
  • YA is predominantly written in 1st or 3rd Person (I said, or she said.) Although there are some in 2nd Person (you say.)
  • And lastly, any subgenre is enjoyed, like fantasy, romance, paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi, historical, mystery, adventure, humor. There are no limitations on this.

I hope this post has been helpful for those writers wanting to delve into YA, or for those who just want to know a little more about this intriguing genre. Even in writing this post, I was surprised by how much I had to share. YA is certainly not easy to write, although it’s incredibly enjoyable.

If you have any questions, just leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. And if you’d like to read a YA novel, one getting some fab 4&5 Star reviews, then PROTECTOR’s buy links are just below. Enjoy, and take care this week.

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Want to Know An Easy Way To Sell More Books?

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funny2Teachers. You gotta love them. :)

Want to know an easy way to sell more books? Ahh, the question every author wants the answer to.

I happened to be over on Goodreads, and reading their latest reader survey when I read the answer. I was shocked. My first thought was, of course. Now, why didn’t I think of that?

So, here’s the answer, and I’m going to give it to you by asking you a question, one the Goodreads’ team posed to their readers.

What do you want to do when you get to the end of a book?

Well, this question was put to 15 million readers. A phenomenal number for sure, and the results, simply amazing. 83% wanted to see what else the author had written.

Now, at the end of a book, I usually feel all happy and content, and that’s the moment I want to know what else the author has written. I’m definitely one of those in the 83 percent.

So, how do we as authors make this happen? How do we easily get this information of “what else we’ve written” into the reader’s hands? The answer is, right after your reader has turned that final page, make sure the very next one is a page which includes a list of your other books. In the case of ebooks, you could even include a link.

At times, I’ve seen this done, but until it’s pointed out, the obvious can become forgotten. So, let’s make sure as authors, that information is now viewable at the end of our books, in exactly the place it’s needed. Thank you Goodreads, for some wonderful information.

Although, I decided to take this question one step further . What else could likewise aid an author in selling more books?

What else do you want to do when you get to the end of a book?

For me, I want to read something about the author, and I don’t quite mean their bio which I usually see. Those I find interesting, but if it’s the standard blurb, I don’t feel the connection. No, what I want, is for the author to share specific information about the book I’ve just read, and their next project. I want to be informed, entertained and to connect with the author on a more personal level. I want to remember their name, so it’s in the forefront of my mind for when I go to buy my next book. I’m not asking to be swamped with information, but simply to have a short page which gives me a taste or a teaser for more.

Are you like this? Do you want to get the warm fuzzies and connect with the author after investing hours in reading their book? Do you think having a page where readers can find an author’s work is a good idea? Do you like the idea of having an informative “About the Author” page over reading the usual author bio?

Drop me a comment and let me know. And to end this post in an interesting way, I found this fabulous reading test. See if you become enlightened after reading this. And if you totally got every word, shout it out.

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Have an absolutely amazing week. Catch ya later.

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Inspirational Thoughts From Me To You

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By nature I’m an encourager, so this week I’m laying out some inspirational thoughts, from one writer to another. Sit back and enjoy.

1.  Write the book your heart demands you write.

2.  Create something special, which you long to share with your readers.

3.  If there’s a fire within you to write. Allow that passion to burn bright.

4.  Write with your own voice, and make it stand out from the crowd.

5.  Don’t wonder what if? Make it happen.

6.  Never lose your courage. Writers stick with it.

7.  Don’t worry about the setbacks. Just focus on the writing.

8.  Put one foot in front of the other, or one letter after another.

9.  Relentlessly pursue.

10. Kick those obstacles to the curb. Focus on your passion.

11. Choose your destination. Educate yourself. And write.

12. Struggles often end with the most rewarding triumphs.

13. Success is a choice. Now get out there, and control your own future.

     And…

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Do you have any inspirational thoughts to add to mine? If you do, drop me a comment and let me know. Perhaps there was one such thought which truly struck home. Shout it out, because I love hearing from you guys. Have an absolutely inspirational week. I’ll catch you all later.

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Editing Our Writing — 3 Simple Tips

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Yep, that’s what a writer wants. A cool story. :)

Today, more than ever, many people believe that good writing flows easily from pen to paper. Yet that’s not the case, and writers out there know it. We understand it takes weeks or months to perfect every line we write within a book, that a writer’s work is in the rewriting, not the writing.

I wish at least one of my English teachers had taught me this. Instead they teach how to write, and not how to edit. Why is that? Editing is where the real work of writing begins. So, here we go. Let me share three simple editing tips.

 

1.  WHEN EDITING, SHOWCASE YOUR DIALOGUE.

Bring your dialogue forth and let it shine. When we write, we’re usually very focused on getting what’s in our head down on paper. So when you edit:

  • Ensure your dialogue stands out.
  • Give it lots of white space.
  • Remember your sentence length.
  • No marathon sentences that have your reader gasping to get a breath in.
  • Don’t bury your dialogue where it can’t be seen.

Here’s a snippet with a nice chunk of dialogue as an example. This scene is in 1st Person, from the heroine’s POV. The hero has just kidnapped her.

The air smelt musty and damp. “Where are we, Jack?”

“An out of the way place. Wait here. I’ll light a lamp.” Something rustled as he walked away then a rattle as if he fumbled with something. “Got it.”

A flickering flame came to life within an oil lamp he now held. A gentle glow cast over the room. An old hut with one greasy glass windowpane held a dozen wooden crates stacked against the walls. I curled my toes inside my shoes and rubbed my bared arms from the chill in the air. “Nice digs.”

“This is the best location for what I have in mind. Three cabins surround this hut. They’ve got the basics for a short stay, but this one is for storage.”

“What are you saying? What short stay?”

He snorted. “Your talk of other men made me think ’kidnap.’ We need to speak more about us before I take you home.” He stalked to the door and yanked it open. “Give me a couple of minutes to go check out a cabin.”

I hope you enjoyed that little example. Never forget, lots of dialogue drives a scene.

 

2.  WHEN EDITING, DELETE, AND RARELY ADD.

Yes, you read this right. Writers are usually too wordy and after finishing your first draft of your book, each subsequent draft will reduce in word count. Concise writing is more powerful and will pick up the pace of your book. Which means it’s not unusual for most writers to finish their rewriting with ten to twenty percent less than they originally began with. So many words, that we never even needed.

 

3.  SLEEP ON IT.

When you’re editing, ideally you want to forget what you wrote so that you’re not expecting to see what you do. *Chuckle* Seriously, when you’re editing, keep moving through the pages, and then sleep on what you’ve done. If there’s a particularly difficult piece bugging you, highlight it, leave it, and come back to it after you’ve slept. When we approach our writing, it must be done with a clear mind. This is why there are several drafts in a book. Each time we return to the beginning, it’s with fresh eyes.

Sound editing is so important. Happy editing everyone, and have a fabulous week. Catch ya later.

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Amazon Buys Goodreads

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The merger. What do you think? (This funny pic comes courtesy of the fact that I still have Easter eggs on my mind.)

Did you hear? On March 28th Amazon bought Goodreads, one of the leading social network sites for readers and book recommendations. Twitter was abuzz with the news, with many authors and readers in shock.

I’m an avid user of Goodreads. I love using this site for keeping my TBR, read, and currently reading lists all in one place. When I see a great book I’d like to read, I add it to my Goodreads TBR list and that way I never forget to grab a copy when I’m ready. I post ratings for every book I read, and reviews for maybe one-third of those. As an author my books are listed there, too. I’ve joined reading groups in my favourite genres so I can stay up with the play on what everyone’s reading. In fact, I’d say I visit Goodreads four or five times a week. This is a place I love to hangout, chatting to other readers and authors.

Goodreads has quickly become a hub for avid readers like me. In fact there are 16 million members and 23 million book reviews. If you’re a reader, you’re going to end up there. If you’re an author, you should already be there (but that’s a whole other blog.)

So, what does this merger mean for us authors?

Well, times are changing faster than I can keep up with. :) But, I’ve scoured the web to see what other authors are thinking about this merger. Some are for it saying, “Amazon buying Goodreads makes so much sense.” Some are unsure saying, “Here’s hoping the marriage will be a good thing. Let’s see.” Some are against it, saying, “The world’s largest bookseller will now control the world’s largest book recommendation engine. It’s freaky. No company should have this much power.” And let’s not forget the readers. Some are saying, “I guess we can now expect a lot more adverts. Goodreads should not be a commercial space, but a personal one.”

The more I read all the comments, the more I understood there is a lot divided opinion. I’m personally not sure what to think, except that time will tell. Once Amazon begins to effect changes, we’ll all get a more concise idea of where they’re headed.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let me know.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and stayed safe. The Easter Bunny certainly sprinkled my backyard with some real treats. And those hot-cross buns. Delish. They need to sell those all year round. Have a fabulous week. Catch ya later.

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Author Interview with Calisa Rhose + GIVEAWAY!

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RISK FACTORS

Love, like life, is not without risk.

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Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, and is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

CONTENT WARNING: Happy-ever-after mixed with four-legged friends.

I hope you’ll all join me in welcoming author, Calisa Rhose, to my blog. Her latest book Risk Factors released March 4th with Lyrical Press. And wow, isn’t that a fabulous cover. Love it.

Calisa also has a giveaway, and those details are at the end of the post. She has some cool prizes up for grabs, so check them out.

Hey Calisa, so I’m going to start with a fun rapid fire question round.

- Nicknames? Lisa.

- Where do you live? Oklahoma, USA.

- Have you ever traveled abroad? Only in books. :(

- Tea or coffee? Coffeeeeee!

- Favorite dessert? Fruit with cottage cheese.

- Dog or cat? Dog (but I love my cat).

- Beach or skiing? Definitely beach.

- Chocolate, or vanilla, or rocky road ice-cream? Black Walnut.

- Lemons or lemonade? Lemons.

- What’s your favorite time of the day to write? Late morning.

- Do you write on holiday? Absolutely!

- Last book you read? Currently reading “The Drake House” by Kelly Moran.

- Plotter or pantser? Pantser all the way.

- What three things would you take to a desert island? My laptop, stereo, a comfy blanket.

I would so take my laptop too, and then hope for some form of power to run it. :)

- So, tell us what started you on your journey to being a writer? My love of music, actually. I began writing surreal stories around rock bands when I was fifteen. Also, my earliest writing was poetry.

- If you decided not to be a writer, what would your other dream job be? Why? Anything with horses. I love horses and want to open a sanctuary for the beautiful creatures.

- Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? Somewhere in Ireland or somewhere warm.

- If you don’t mind, state a random fact about yourself that would surprise others? I can’t sleep in a bed that isn’t made right before I get in it. Last night I woke up and had to make the bed so I could sleep. I guess it’s OCD, but bed wrinkles bug me to distraction…literally. :)

- Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? Don’t listen to everything you hear. Rules are meant to be broken and trends to be ignored.

- What are you working on now? Haha! Which one? I have a fireman story I want to finish, a series, and other paranormal WIPs are in perpetual progress. Right this moment though, I’m working on something totally new for me. A ghost story with a twist.

EXCERPT:

“I guess I’ll get home.”

Viv barely nodded an acknowledgement.

Annoyance turned to anger. Without looking back, he went to his car, and pulled the door open with more force than was necessary.

It wasn’t as though he’d given Viv a reason to want to include him in her personal life. He didn’t want anything personal from her. Hell, he’d gone out of his way to prevent any closeness between them. Except when she was in his arms, and at those times they both seemed to forget who they really were. In fact, he didn’t know who the real Vivian was. Clumsy but cute veterinarian, stiff upper-class woman, or the sexy woman out to steal his heart?

“Connor?”

He looked over his shoulder. Viv was alone, no parents in sight that he could see. “They went to my place.”

“Then, you should go.”

One shoulder flinched in a light shrug. She smiled up at him, and damned if it wasn’t the most beautiful thing he’d ever witnessed. She indicated the cemetery. “I told them this is about your family pet and that I’ll be along in a while.”

Her presence soothed away any lingering anger. Then the guilt hit. She’d already done such a selfless thing for him, and he repaid her with disregard. “What happened? Where did you go back there?”

Viv shook her head, her soft hair brushing over her coat collar, and he wanted to slide his hand under its silkiness, pull her to him, and kiss her. Then she was talking and he focused on her lips.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t have anything to say and…I was surprised by their unexpected arrival was all.”

She was lying, or at least unwilling to share that part of herself with him. Not that he blamed her. It wasn’t like he’d gone out of his comfort zone to share his family with her…and they lived ten minutes from him.

“You were saying something when they got here.” Her soft voice gently drew him back to the present.

Looking at her made him forget too many things, too easily. What had he been about to say? It was easier to recall their kisses of two nights ago; the softness of her lips on his. He searched through his mind and dragged the earlier conversation back out. Right, he’d been about to ask her to dinner. Well, she had company waiting for her, so that wouldn’t be polite now. But, in light of that, he had another idea. “Why don’t you let me take those chairs off your hands?”

Viv narrowed her eyes, then frowned. “That’s not what you were going to say.” She was smart as a judge, if not as steady as one, at times.

He grinned. “No. But it doesn’t matter. Go visit your folks. I’ll be here when they leave.”

“Will you?”

“I do live here, remember?”

She stared out into the growing dusk and nodded, then met his gaze. “It’s not like…sh–”

Her stammering told Connor more than any words could. She didn’t trust his intentions. Why should she? He hadn’t given her any reason to. He leaned against his car and pulled her between his legs, into his arms. The uncertainty in her face was new. He felt it, too. Somehow last night had changed things between them. He slid a hand under the pale veil as he’d craved, resting on her shoulders to massage her neck. Gently, slowly he dragged her close. He wanted to give her the opportunity to refuse, but he would kiss her.

BUY THE BOOK: Lyrical Press/ Amazon / Barnes&Noble

GIVEAWAY: Calisa will be picking at the end of her tour one winner to gift either a signature rose rock for a USA winner or a $10 GC of choice (Kindle or Nook) for one overseas or in Canada. Either winner will also get a PDF copy of Risk Factors. All you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post, and you’ll be in the draw. Calisa will announce the winner on April 10th, and get in contact with that person.

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Small-town country girl Calisa Rhose has been writing since she was a teen in Oklahoma.

It wasn’t until 2005, while living in California, that she realized if “they” can do it there’s no reason why she couldn’t write and get published, too. That realization began her journey into the world of publishing. With a fun attraction to those rugged heroes in cowboy hats, she began writing contemporary cowboys first. Then Calisa discovered how romantic firemen and first responders are, and how truly dedicated they are to saving lives, helping people. She was ‘bought and paid for’ as she dug into research on Risk Factors. She’d love to hear from her readers at calisa.rhose@gmail.com and you can visit Calisa’s website at http://calisarhose.wordpress.com Find out about her books on the Bookshelf page. Twitter @Calisa_Rhose, Goodreads and Facebook

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