by Joanne Wadsworth | Oct 4, 2014 | Author Blog
ECLIPSE LAKE
Small towns hold the darkest secrets.
Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son.
But memories in small towns are bitter and long.
Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.
–ooOoo–
A huge welcome to Mae Clair and her wonderful new book Eclipse Lake.
Thank you, Joanne, for allowing me to take over your blog today! I’m delighted to be here and share my newest release, ECLIPSE LAKE.
I’ve always enjoyed writing books that play heavily on character relationships. That’s particularly true when it comes to family dynamics. In all the books I’ve written you’ll find a strong emphasis on a particular family tie, severed by conflict, eventually restored. I like putting my characters through the wringer, tearing them apart, then paving the way for reconciliation.
Two items that blend well with that storyline are romance and mystery. In my latest, release, ECLIPSE LAKE, I introduce my readers to two brothers, Jonah and Dane, who have been estranged for fifteen years, living on separate coasts. That’s suited both of them fine until the younger brother, Dane, attempts to fulfill a vow made to his late wife. For the sake of his adopted son, he decides it’s time to make peace with Jonah.
But returning to his hometown—a sleepy community tucked on the banks of a resort lake—places him dead center in an unsolved missing person’s case.
Ellie Sullivan, a photojournalist on assignment in Eclipse Lake, finds herself falling for Dane despite the secrets he harbors. Why does he avoid talking about his past and what he does for a living? How is he involved in the disappearance of a local girl who went missing fifteen years before? Why does his brother treat him so coldly, and the town sheriff react with hostility at the mere sight of him?
At its heart, ECLIPSE LAKE is a mystery and a romance, but it’s also a book about healing and forgiveness. About family ties, overcoming obstacles, and believing in the better good. I’m delighted to share it today.
Purchase ECLIPSE LAKE from Amazon
Add ECLIPSE LAKE to your Goodreads List
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures.
Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.net
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Website and Blog
Twitter (@MaeClair1)
Google+
Facebook Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
Thanks for dropping by, Mae. I always love having you here.
by Joanne Wadsworth | Jul 16, 2014 | Author Blog
SOLSTICE ISLAND
Can an ancient leviathan work magic between a practical man and an idealistic woman?
Rylie Carswell is an amateur cryptozoologist in search of a mythical creature, the Sea Goliath. In order to reach Solstice Island, a location the ancient leviathan is rumored to haunt, she’s forced to hire charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur.
Initially, Daniel wants nothing to do with the trip or the fool woman waving double payment in his face. Convinced she’s yet another loony treasure hunter looking for gold on the remote island, he reluctantly agrees. An embittered neighbor wants to have his charter license yanked, so the extra cash will help him stay afloat.
It doesn’t take long for Daniel to realize Rylie is after the same beast his parents were tracking when they mysteriously vanished ten years earlier. He’s avoided all links to cryptozoology ever since, but the smart and sexy cryptid hunter has him second-guessing his oath and wondering what he’s signed on for.
Warning: A family legacy, glowing plankton and rough waters.
A huge welcome to Mae Clair and her wonderful new book Solstice Island. I love this blurb. If there’s a mystery to be unravelled, a hunt ,and an mythical creature, I’m there. Here’s Mae.
Thank you for letting me take over your blog today, Joanne. I’ve brought along my romantic adventure novella, SOLSTICE ISLAND and a Top Ten List I hope your readers find intriguing. It’s summer in my part of the globe, so I thought your readers might enjoy a short summery read with a coastal setting. With that in mind, I give you:
The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Read Solstice Island by Mae Clair:
10 You’ll meet a hot charter boat captain trying to live down his family legacy.
9 You’ll encounter a spunky heroine cryptozoologist, determined hot captain should embrace said family legacy and all the baggage that goes with it.
8 You’ll be able to impress all your friends with your stunning new knowledge of cryptozoology.
7 You may find yourself struck by the uncontrollable urge to look up blurry images of strange creatures online or go on a cryptid hunt (think Loch Ness, Big Foot, and the Jersey Devil).
6 You’ll learn why you should never ignore a craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
5 The next time your boat is attacked by a rampaging sea monster, you’ll know precisely what to do.
4 You’ll be swept up in a tale of romance, adventure, and folklore.
3 You’ll uncover buried treasure, thwart a villain, and discover a new use for a boat oar.
2 As a 72 page novella, SOLSTICE ISLAND makes a quick summertime read.
And the number one reason you should read SOLSTICE ISLAND:
1 You can buy it on Amazon for just $.99!
How can readers find you and your book, Mae?
Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures.
Her blog, From the Pen of Mae Clair, features a weekly post each Monday where she examines a different myth or urban legend. In 2013, she journeyed to West Virginia to learn more about the legendary Mothman, a creature who will factor into an upcoming novel.
As a writer, she pens tales of romantic mystery flavored with a twist of myth or folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, Mae lives in Pennsylvania. Her passions include cats, history and exploring old graveyards. Look for Mae on her website at MaeClair.net
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Website and Blog
Twitter (@MaeClair1)
Google+
Facebook Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
Purchase SOLSTICE ISLAND from:
Amazon
Add SOLSTICE ISLAND to your Goodreads TBR
Thanks for dropping by, Mae. I always love having you here.
by Joanne Wadsworth | Feb 17, 2014 | Author Blog
Hey everyone, here’s Liza O’Connor with the third book in her A Long Road to Love series. She’s also running two giveaways, so don’t forget to check out how to enter at the end of the post. I’ve been fortunate to read both the first two books in this humorous disaster romance series, and had a giggle while I read them. So, without further ado, I’ll hand everything over to Liza.
.
Coming to Reason. How does that happen?
Like Carrie, in my life, ‘coming to reason’ came fast and hard.
When the man I thought was my soul mate of ten years told me he’d met someone else and wanted to see where it might go, I was floored. Totally didn’t see it coming.
Surely, there should have been some signs…
We never fought, so I pushed my memory for smaller hints. We still did things together, played tennis, skied. There had to be some hint I hadn’t caught onto.
A man can’t fall out of love
and I completely fail to notice, can he?
I thought back to the night I finished reading Bridges of Madison Country. I looked over to him and likened us to the couple in love. I remember he seemed disturbed by the comparison. No doubt because he saw Heather as his true love, and me the one keeping them from being happy. At the time I assumed he hadn’t liked the book and didn’t wish to be compared to it.
That was the only clue I had.
In my perspective, this Heather person came out of nowhere.
I asked him to tell me about her. He seemed happy to share. She worked at his office, she had a girl from a previous marriage, and a boyfriend so this wasn’t easy for either of them. She was my age and he really liked her and wanted to see where it might go. He spoke with great calmness and compassion, but not an ounce of guilt or remorse. He had to know his words were ripping me apart, but he didn’t give a shit. It was all about him. (I say this now. At the time I only saw his compassion, not what was missing.)
He asked me to stay until he got the matter sorted out.
And because I loved him more than I loved myself, I agreed.
We had plans to attend a theatre production that night and I tried my hardest to be cheerful, but the more his words replayed in my mind, the deeper they cut. I began to silently cry, then not so silently. We had to leave so other people could enjoy the play.
His mother called me soon after. She was so sorry we were breaking up. Then she told me less than a month ago, he’d told her he ‘was thinking about’ marrying me. That floored me. Now nothing made sense.
I moved into the guest bedroom. Living in his house with him kept me hoping we could turn matters around. I desperately wanted to fix whatever was wrong. I got him to go to counseling with me, but after the first meeting, where we got along so well, the counselor split us up.
And thus began the counselor’s efforts to make me come to reason, but I remained hopelessly in love, so desperate to fix my soulmate’s temporary insanity. Instead of helping me fix my problem, the guy focused on the unhealthy aspects of our relationship. Even before I came to reason, I knew he strongly felt I needed to break away.
But at home, matters almost seemed normal again except I slept in the guest room and my heart was severely injured. My soul mate went to visit friends in California. He said Heather wasn’t going, but he may have lied. Still, every night he would call and tell me the stupid ass things he’d done because I wasn’t there to fix matters. We’d laugh and hope grew within me that we could get beyond this. He mentioned the same, saying we’d be stronger in the end.
While a part of me hoped for the best, another part of me knew whatever had broken wasn’t fixable nor could I ever trust him again. I would always be searching for signs I missed this time.
Somewhere in this painful month, I parked my pride at the curb and called Heather, begging her not to take him from me. She said she had no idea what I was talking about. Nothing was going on between her and my guy.
Now I wondered if my soul mate had truly gone insane and had made this whole romance up.
I discovered the truth on the day we planned to go to a Giant’s game. I remember telling him that morning how much I was looking forward to the having fun together. He agreed and for a moment things seemed good. Due to my counselor’s advice, after work I never went straight home. I would go to the Y and swim laps for two hours.
But this night, I didn’t want to make us late for the game, so I cut my workout short and hurried home. He’d promised to be home by six. When it turned six-thirty, something broke inside me. I got in my car and drove to his place of work. The door was locked, so I lurked about outside, pacing in fury. Finally, he and Heather came out, arm in arm, laughing and happy. (Had I owned a gun, none of us would be alive now. When I saw them together, I lost all reason.)
Being gunless, I went a little crazy on him while Heather scurried back into the office.
All my pent up rage came pouring out of me. And when I finally made it back home, my EX-soulmate opened my car door and declared it over. He was done with Heather. No more.
Too Late. I was done with him.
‘Reason’ had finally arrived. I realized if he had truly loved me, he couldn’t hurt me like this. He was either a sadist or the most self-centered guy in the world, but this had never been a healthy love. I had loved him more than I loved myself, which is NEVER a good thing. And from my new perspective he didn’t love me at all. I was just easy to get along with and willing to do things he liked to do. A convenience, nothing more.
And that was it. I made him leave his house and live with his mother for a month while I hunted for a house of my own. Then I left and never looked back.
In my book Coming to Reason, Carrie ignores reality so long you’ll want to slap her silly, then wham, all hell breaks loose and in a single day she’s over him. I’ve no doubt someone who’s never loved a Trent will say Carrie comes to reason too fast, but I will argue from personal experience that anyone stubborn and determined enough to love a Trent can turn on a dime the moment she realizes that he never loved her and that she deserves much more than he’ll ever give. This enlightenment doesn’t happen over time, it happens in an instant when she finally sees him for the man he is, rather than the illusion she loved.
Later after the pain goes away you realize he’s not evil incarnate. He’s just broken and has no idea what love is. But the actual moment of Coming to Reason can be incredibly fast and life changing.
For me, it began the best years of my life. And for that, I thank you, Heather. Sorry, he broke your heart too, but that was inevitable.
Here’s a bit about the book
Coming to Reason:
COMING TO REASON
Book Three: A Long Road to Love
Humorous Contemporary Disaster Romance
Amazon
Blurb
Carrie has committed to an inter-species marriage with Trent, her billionaire boss. Only, she requested a long engagement to improve his stats. Presently, he is eighty percent dreamboat and twenty percent nightmare.
When he fires her so they can be a ‘normal couple’, everything heads south. Providing her a stark contrast, her new boss is everything a woman could want in a man.
But for Carrie, her heart is taken and thus, her path to reason remains long and arduous.
Liza O’Conner writes books that speak to my soul. Carrie is a character you will not soon forget.
–Rebecca Royce, author of The Warrior series.
I only have one thing to say about Liza O’Connor’s A Long Road to Love series: Read them. They’re funny. You won’t regret it!
—Maria Hammarblad, author of Kidnapped.
Excerpt
He shook his head. “I’m still growing up from the petulant child I’ve been all my life.” He exhaled and met her gaze. “To continue my progress, I need your assistance.”
She marveled at his newly acquired ability to admit weaknesses. “Anything,” she promised.
Leaning in, he kissed her forehead. “My therapist believes your desire to be the world’s best EA and my girlfriend is hampering my attempts to grow up. You take care of all my problems. He says I need to handle matters for myself.”
Fear spread from her chest out to her fingertips, making her numb, slowing her brain. “Are you saying you want to break up with me?”
“Never!” He covered her face with kisses.
She pushed him away. “Then what?”
“It’s time to do what we talked about months ago. You need to quit Lancaster Chairs and get another job.”
Was he insane? He couldn’t survive two hours without her. “We should do this slowly, so you can wean off.”
He smiled. “Michael disagrees.”
She’d always liked his therapist, until now. “Maybe I should talk to him.”
“No! You’ll only prove to him I’ve made no progress at all.” He gripped her hands. “I need to stand on my own two feet. You have to let me grow up and take responsibility for myself.”
“All right.” Her stomach roiled with doubt. He’d be calling her back in a week to help save his company again.
Still, growing up meant he’d make mistakes along the way. She had to let him take the reins, even if doing so had disaster written all over it. “I’ll start looking on my lunch hour.”
“No. We need a clean cut. As of now, you no longer work at Lancaster Chairs.”
“Trent! We have to have a transition. We’ll need to find a new EA. I’ll need to train the person in.”
He pressed his fingers to her lips. “I completed the interviews and I’m going in to train my EA. I’ve got it all under control.”
His assurance stunned her. He must have planned this for weeks, perhaps months, but never said a word, which hurt her feelings. Still, she sucked it up and tried to focus on the positive. Trent wanted to grow up and take responsibility. “I should still come in and show the person…guy or girl?”
The question made him choke. “Are you kidding? After Grant? No way in hell I’d hire another male.”
A Long Road to Love
Book One
Worst Week Ever
“Love this book and couldn’t stop laughing from beginning to end.” 5 stars – Alves – Amazon
61 reviews: 4.3 stars
Book Two
Oh Stupid Heart
“Be warned though, this book is completely different from The Worst Week Ever. Yes, there is still humor, dry wit, situations that you would think…NOT AGAIN but this one humanizes Trent more.” 5 stars – Brian’s Mom – Amazon
8 reviews: 4.8 stars
Book Three
Coming to Reason
Other Books by Liza O’Connor
Ghost Lover
will return March 1
Liza O’Connor
Author Bio:
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O’CONNOR & UPCOMING BOOKS:
Prizes:
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Worst Week Ever or
Oh Stupid Heart ebook.
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by Joanne Wadsworth | Jan 3, 2014 | Author Blog
COOKING UP LOVE
Jemima George leads a charmed life as a personal chef and assistant to reality television’s latest darling. But that changes in a New York minute when her Aunt Caro dies under odd circumstances, bequeathing her a small restaurant. Jem plans to sell the café and continue her life in NYC, until a dramatic phone call from her cheating boyfriend convinces her to experiment with the ingredients for happiness and accept her Aunt’s legacy. Throwing herself into remodeling the restaurant with the help of the town’s delicious contractor, Jem revamps the menu and renews her faith in herself.
Jack Kerrigan considered Caro a surrogate mother and hates the idea that the café could be sold. He doesn’t need the remodeling project, but if it means Caro’s beautiful, fascinating niece will stay to run the restaurant, he’s all in. He wouldn’t mind being savory to Jem’s sweet.
Jack’s brassy ex-wife is cooking up a scheme of her own, where Jack tosses Jem like a salad and comes back to her. Fold in a creepy attorney hiding secrets of environmental mayhem, add Jem’s claustrophobia, half-pint niece and nephew twins, one mysterious lockbox, and bring to a boil–a recipe for romance.
A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance
A huge welcome to Gemma Brocato and her wonderful characters from Cooking Up Love. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Gemma, and brought two of your favorite people along with you for a character interview.
Joanne, Thanks so much for inviting me and Jack and Jem over today. We’re all eager to tell you a little bit about ourselves.
Let’s put Jack and Jem in the hot seat then. Jem if I can start with you. Did you ever consider your story would be told?
Jem: *smiling sheepishly* I worked for a reality TV star, and have appeared on camera often. This wasn’t the story I expected Gemma to tell, *sends and adoring glance toward Jack* but I’m so happy with the way it turned out.
What’s your favorite scene, one your writer portrayed just right?
Jack: *Jack grabs Jem’s hand* Can I answer this one, sugar? I found Jem in the café after she’d gotten a devastating phone call. We walked to the waterfront and watched the sunrise together. Gemma thought she was giving that sunrise to Jem. But, I knew the sun brought an exciting new promise for me, too. The promise of a happily ever after. *Jem sighs and blows a kiss at Jack*
Were there any particularly difficult scenes you’d rather your writer have never written?
Jem: I hated every scene where Gemma made me suffer from my fear of small spaces. *Shuddering*
What was your favorite thing to do in your book?
*They smile at each other*
Jem: We love to hang out at Red’s Tavern and play darts. I’m proud to say I usually win.
Are you happy with how everything turned out?
Jem: Oh yes!
Would you care for a sequel?
Jack: I think we’ve been in the spotlight long enough. It’s my sister’s turn to play the lead. Gemma was generous to her and her kids with her next story. That’s all I’ll say.
What was your favorite line?
Jack: It was right after Jem and I got locked in the pantry. She doesn’t like small spaces, you know. Gemma put some awesome words in my mouth. A foretelling of sorts. “We also have moments of glory and brilliance. Distracting you with a kiss was mine. As a matter of fact, kissing you could become one of my weaknesses.”
What’s your favorite time of the day?
Jem and Jack respond at the same time: Dawn
What’s your greatest fear?
Jem: *with a shiver* Small spaces.
Jack: *matter-of-factly* Losing Jem.
What’s your greatest weakness?
Jack: *smiles* Jem’s kisses. They make my heart flip every time.
What’s your strongest quality?
Jem: Can I answer for Jack? He is a kind man. He hates it when I say that, but it’s true. He’d rather I said he was a sexy strong stud with a wicked awesome sense of humor. And he is all of that. But a sweet, sensitive heart beats in his chest.
What makes you proud?
Jem: *A broad smile spreads over Jem’s face* Well, I hate to brag, but I had a role in reuniting a family torn apart by mistakes and pride. I helped a father be proud of his son again, when it seemed they’d never talk again.
Jack: *nod’s then adds his own moment of pride* I helped Jem heal after her aunt died, and her EX-boyfriend betrayed her. Oh, I also helped her find inventive ways to manage her claustrophobia. *He leers at Jem*
I have a couple of questions just for you, Gemma.
As the writer, is there anything you’d like to say in response to your characters’ interview?
Just that I’m pleased that they are happy with the end of the story. Although, it really isn’t an end, rather, it’s a delicious beginning for the rest of their lives.
Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
As Jack mentioned, his sister Pippa’s story, Hearts In Harmony, is due out in May 2014. That story tugged at my heart from the very moment I was introduced to her. Currently I’m working on finishing Sam Kerrigan’s story. He was one of my favorite characters in Cooking Up Love, so I’m delighted to be working on that. Since the story is based on the five senses, there are two more yet to come.
Here’s an excerpt to whet your appetite:
Jack smiled sadly and shifted on the hard rock. “That’s when I really got to know Caroline. She gave me a job and helped me figure out up from down. I’m ashamed to say I sort of lost myself in the bottle. Knowing how much I’d disappoint Caroline if I didn’t show up to work the breakfast shift kept me from drinking until dawn. My dad’s a patient man, but after putting me to bed drunk a few times, he got fed up. So the next time it happened, he poured me a strong cup of coffee, shoved me in the car and brought me here. He marched me down the pier and pointed toward the sunrise.”
Jack lost himself in thoughts of a long ago morning, as Jem stared at the horizon, waiting for him to go on.
“Dad doesn’t talk much. It’s just his way. He shocked me that morning by stringing a whole lot of words together. Said his heart was breaking for me. What I was going through was breaking my mother’s heart, too. He told me it was time to move on with my life, not stay buried in what I couldn’t change. Dad told me each sunrise offers a new promise. As bad as yesterday was, there’s new opportunity, new hope every day. He told me I was the only roadblock to happiness. I shouldn’t let Tessa destroy my essence. Yep, my dad talked about my essence.” Jack chuckled; the memory of the moment still amazed him. “Said I deserved more than the next guy to wallow in the misery. But I’d be better off accepting the new chance each dawning sun provided.”
He turned to face Jem and put his finger under her chin, turning her face his direction. Cupping his hand over her cheek, he rubbed his thumb along the smooth skin he found there. He prayed she’d lift her head enough to let him press a kiss to her lips, but she remained still, her eyes searching his. “That sun, right there, is your new opportunity. If you stay unhappy for a few days, or even years, it’s okay. Tomorrow, and every day after, the sun will come back with the same offer. And one day, you’ll be ready to accept it.”
He dropped his hand to her shoulder and scooted closer to her, easing his arm around her. Jem didn’t shift away from him, but didn’t lean into his solid warmth, either. Her sigh was audible as she turned her face back toward the brilliant orange globe on the horizon. Side by side, they watched the new sun rising over the water, brightening the day first with a rosy glow, then a fiery glare that made them squint. Bathed in an otherworldly glow, Clooney played in the surf as the rising sun painted vivid colors on the sea and sky.
“Thank you,” Jem said softly as Clooney finally wore himself out and trotted back to Jack’s side.
Jack rubbed his hands across the dog’s wet coat, slicking water off his back. “You’re welcome.”
How can readers find you and your book, Gemma?
Connect with Gemma on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato
Twitter: @gemmabrocato
Website: www.Gemmabrocato.com
Buy Links:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Love-Gemma-Brocato-ebook/dp/B00G36CD0K/ Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cooking-up-love-3
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cooking-up-love-gemma-brocato/1117213296
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cooking-up-love/id688219548?mt=11
BIO:
Gemma’s favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a ’round tuit,’ and a fortune from a fortune cookie that said she was a lover of words; some day she’d write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss even the rejections, addressed to ‘Dear Author’, were gratifying.
After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.
Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.
www.Gemmabrocato.com
by Joanne Wadsworth | Dec 27, 2013 | Author Blog
GHOST LOVER
By Liza O’Connor
Contemporary Romance with a touch of paranormal
Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?
Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him–beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
A huge welcome to Liza O’Connor and her wonderful characters from Ghost Lover. I love this cover. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Liza, and brought your characters along with you for an interview. And thanks so much for offering a giveaway. Check it out at the end, everyone. Liza’s going to take it away here, while I head over to her blog. My characters from Witness Pursuit are going to answer the hard questions at her place.
Today, Joanne and I are swapping locations. I’m interviewing my unruly herd at her site in beautiful and warm New Zealand, and she’s interviewing her characters on my site in a cold castle set in England.
Liza: I’m glad to see everyone is here, because I want you all to contribute to this interview.
Gar: I’m not discussing the ghosts.
Liza: Not a problem. Today’s topic is about when one door closes, another one opens. I believe all you have experienced this.
Brendon: I thought the saying was: When a door is locked, break a window.
Senna: No, it’s: Don’t cry ‘why me?’ when a door closes, because the door was actually a portal to hell.
Liza: *grips head* Why did I think this would be easy? Okay, who would like to begin?
Brendon: I’ll go. About a year ago, I lost the only person who had ever loved me. The cook attempted to console me, but then declared I’d gotten her pregnant. Attempting to fix matters, I convinced the trustee of my fund to give me a million pounds, which I purposely lost on a single roll of the roulette table. I thought if the cook believed I’d lost all my money, she’d remember someone else who might be the father of her child.
Gar: The cook held firm and demanded I give her a million to go away. In a fit of anger over both the blackmailing cook and the roulette fiasco I sent Brendon to the states, instead of realizing what he needed was a brother who loved him. I will forever regret that.
Brendon: I forgive you, since in the states I discovered a fabulous woman who liked me.
Cat: What? Who?
Brendon: *grips Cat’s hand* I found Senna, broke a window and crawled into her one-room flat —
Senna: Several nights in a row. I couldn’t afford to replace anymore windows, so I gave him a key. Then after I fed and sheltered him for six months, he steals $400 from my bank account so my rent check bounces and the landlord evicts me.
Liza: Yeah, Brendon, I had to drop the first two chapters of my book because of you. My readers seriously hated you for stealing her money.
Brendon: I had to save her. No matter how hard Senna tried, she couldn’t get ahead. I was certain if she came to England where she’d never have to worry about money again, she’d be so much better off.
Liza: Then why didn’t you just ask her?
Brendon: Because she would’ve never accepted my offer of marriage until I made her really desperate. As in rock bottom. Otherwise, she would’ve kept living on the edge, miserable and one step from starvation every day, with no friends to help her in times of trouble.
Senna: He’s right. No one likes a convicted felon. I was destined for a hard and miserable life before Brendon stole my money, then offered me a way out of the disaster he’d created.
Liza: So this is an excellent example of when one door closes, another opens. Senna was a day from being homeless and look at her fabulous life now. Now Gar, I know you hate participating in my interviews but–
Gar: I’m not discussing ghosts.
Liza: Could you give us an example how something you perceived as a terrible event turned out to bring you great happiness?
Gar: Brendon calls and says I have to pay for him and his fiancée to return to England or he’ll sell the family teacups he’d stolen when he left. The idea of having my life disrupted with Brendon’s antics again gave me an ulcer, but I had to save the teacups, so I bought the tickets.
*grips Senna’s hand*
And once I stopped being a jerk, I discovered Senna to be the finest woman of my acquaintance. My life became so much brighter with her in it.
Liza: And you, Cat. I believe you had a major ‘one door shuts, another one opens’ moment?
Cat: I did. I had just met a really nice English dude who had bought three of my paintings, only two hadn’t been for sale and I wanted them back. When he told me he’d already shipped them to England, I kind of got violent.
Gar: Kind of? She knocked me to floor and was seconds away from stomping me to death. I got up and assured her I’d send all three pieces back to her and stormed off. I intended to return to England alone the next day.
Cat: Only the monster who claimed to be my father sent a bunch a goons to my apartment and took everything I possessed…even the toilet paper. I had three new paintings I’d done…that still upsets me. But his message was clear. Come home and be an obedient daughter or die on the streets.
Gar: Fortunately, she knew where I was staying and came there. When I washed her face clean of her Goth makeup, she looked incredibly like Senna, leaving me no choice but to bring her home.
Cat: *hugs Brendon.* And there I met my soul mate.
Lassier the ghost: *materializes* And finally I had the proper cast to set matters straight. But still, you would not believe how difficult they made it. Keeping this family line going is nearly impossible. How I long for the old days when women had no say in the matter of marriage and children.
Cat: If I kick Lassier in the balls while he’s materialized, will it hurt him?
Lassier: I’m out of here. *disappears*
Cat: *grins* I take that as a yes.
Brendon: I don’t think you should test your theory. Ghosts have long memories and excel at pranks.
Liza: Once again I have lost control of the interview. I know inviting only one or two would be easier, but then the rest would have been at the castle where Joanne Wadsworth is interviewing her characters on my site. Anyone want to lay odds her characters are better behaved?
*Everyone stares at their shoes, plucks lint, or stares out windows*
Liza stands: I’m calling this interview done. It’s a gorgeous day in New Zealand. I’m going rafting down a 21 foot waterfall. Who’s with me?
And now a short excerpt for those who didn’t fit in the raft:
Senna woke to her breast beeping. Trying to make sense of the oddity, she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows and discovered the noise came from Brendon’s wristwatch. Somehow, his hand had found its way beneath her bra during the night, and now chirped like a baby chick.
She contemplated tearing his hand off at the wrist, but he looked so angelic with his curly dark hair framing his handsome face. With a heavy sigh, she unlatched her bra and eased his hand out, then gently shook him until his face scrunched into a pained grimace.
He groaned and frowned at his noisy watch. “This is a god-awful hour to be woken up,” he said in his sexy British accent. “Never bothers me when I’m coming home at this hour.”
Senna rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself.”
Pushing himself up, he shook his head. “Remember the second night I came around? You kept yelling at me, ‘Did I realize it was four in the morning?’ At the time, I couldn’t understand your fuss.” He groaned and scratched his scalp. “Well, I certainly understand it now. It’s bloody hell to be woken at this ungodly hour.”
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About Liza O’Connor:
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog, Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
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–ooOoo–
FREEBIE!!!!
To One Lucky Commenter, I’ll give away one copy of Worst Week Ever
What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with an egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?
A humorous disaster romance of epic proportions.
Just leave an email address in your comment and tell me you want Worst Week Ever.
–ooOoo–
Hey everyone, I’m back. My characters from Witness Pursuit are answering the hard questions over at Liza’s blog. If anyone wants to drop by, here’s the link-> http://www.lizaoconnor.com/2013/12/joanne-wadsworth-brings-her-witness.html
Don’t forget to leave a comment for Liza’s giveaway right here, along with your email address. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
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