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.
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.
BIO:
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
On March 21st 2006, Twitter was born, and it’s first tweet by founder Jack Dorsey read, “Just setting up my twttr.” It was launched to the public in August of that year, and quickly grew. Interesting isn’t it? Because Twitter doesn’t feel seven years old. And why? It didn’t truly take off until around 2009.
In my explorations of finding out more about Twitter, I searched the web. It was there I located the oldest article, one from the New York Times dated April 30th 2007. It explained Twitter as being a mini-blog, where a user can broadcast short text messages from their phones and computers to those of friends and strangers. It was expected Twitter would be a curiosity, which is why the creators gave it a flippant name to match.
What they didn’t know back then was how it would morph. Today it’s huge. Figures released at the end of 2012 state there are 500 million users. Twitter’s catching up to Facebook, which truly proves we like to stay in touch. This all makes me wonder though what the tech-gurus will come up with next? What more social media platforms could we possibly need?
As I consider this, I’m reminded of the rises and falls in time. This week my Nanna (who’s 88) sent me a letter. Yep, the old-fashioned way, by post. She doesn’t have a computer, and she likes to put pen to paper, so that’s the way it goes. She’s probably the only person I actually still write to. I even grab a pen too, a biggy for me since I can whip out close to 80 words a minute and I’d rather type it. She also pops in photographs and newspaper clippings which might interest me. I send her family photos, too. I can’t have her missing out. But it’s these letters and the content which exactly mirror Twitter and Facebook. The written word and images. This is how we keep in touch, no matter how technology advances. The basics are still there.
So, back to the question. What’s the next revolution? Today, everything is at our fingertips. Wireless technology has boomed and cell phones are becoming a do-it-all tool. What are your thoughts? What are those gurus going to offer us next? Take a look at this then and now picture of Times Square in New York.
This happened in my grandmother’s lifetime, so what else is going to happen in mine? Do you think about the “then and now” as I do? Drop me a comment. I love hearing from you. Also, congratulations to Julie Wallace, the winner of an ebook copy of PROTECTOR, for my blog’s “Lucky In Love Blog Hop” prize. Enjoy the read, Julie.
I simply love a cover reveal. Jessi Gage is the author of Wishing For a Highlander. She and I met, discovered our debut novels released on the same day, and simply haven’t stopped chatting since. She’s such a wonderful, supportive writer, and I’m thrilled to bring you Jessi’s cover reveal for her upcoming release, Road Rage.
Say no more. Here it is, and talk about HOT. 🙂
Take it away, Jessi.
Thank you so much for having me, Joanne! I’m so excited to share the cover of my June 2013 Lyrical Press release, Road Rage.
Road Rage comes from a very personal place for me. It’s about a woman with massive insecurities involving freeway driving and the man with anger management issues who literally crashes into her life and heart and changes both forever.
I’ve been fortunate never to be in a serious car accident, but it’s one of my biggest fears. Writing Road Rage was like a catharsis for me, helping me work through some of my own issues as an insecure driver and realize that flaws don’t make a person, but how a person reacts to their flaws, whether avoiding them or bravely determining to overcome them, can shape their character.
Here’s the blurb and an excerpt:
Blurb:
He has anger issues and she has amnesia, but together they have amazing chemistry.
Lashing out in anger, construction worker Derek causes an accident on the freeway. His truck escapes unscathed, but he can’t say the same for his conscience. Plagued by nightmares of the wreck, his only comfort comes in the form of nightly visits by a mysterious woman who interrupts his dreams with sensual caresses and words of solace.
Cami has no idea who she is, until she wakes in a hospital bed and learns she’s been comatose due to a car wreck. Her visits with Derek must have been a dream, so why can’t she shake the feeling he was a real man who truly needed her help?
When Derek learns his mystery woman is none other than the driver of the car he cut off and she is fighting for her life, he must decide: Is he man enough to face her and ask forgiveness, or will he run away and avoid the consequences of his anger, yet again?
CONTENT WARNING: Sex with a perfect, imaginary dream girl who really isn’t imaginary
A Lyrical Press Paranormal Romance
Excerpt:
He put his hand back behind his head. His grin grew wider. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” His eyes twinkled. “It’s just a dream.”
Her heart skipped a beat or twelve as he threw her words back at her. “Is it?” she said, her voice barely there.
“You bet.” He propped up on his elbows. The comforter slid down to expose the mounds of his pectorals. His nipples puckered like copper rivets. A sudden urge to test their hardness with her tongue had her leaning forward. She caught herself, but the unintentional movement didn’t go unnoticed. Triumph radiated from his every pore. “And not just any dream.”
The mischief in his voice disarmed her. How could a man be intimidating and playful at the same time?
“Oh?” She quirked a brow, finding her way with him.
“You see, this is my dream. I chose it. Over another. One that wasn’t so sweet.” He flipped back the covers and patted beside him. “So what I say goes. And I say come up here where I can get a better look at you.”
“Are you always this bossy?”
He shrugged one impressive shoulder. “That’s why they pay me the mediocre bucks at the job site.”
“You work construction?” Yes, yes. Talking. Normal people didn’t jump between the sheets with total strangers. They had conversations. They got to know each other.
The man nodded once, then raised an expectant eyebrow and patted the bed again.
She bristled. “Aren’t you going to ask what I do? It’s only polite.”
“I know what you do.”
She blinked, stunned. “You know me?” Hope propelled her forward. “What do I do? Who am I?” She stopped short of grabbing his shoulders and shaking him, but barely. Finally! She’d learn her name!
The man wasted no time wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her down to lie beside him. She was so relieved, she let him. He wasn’t a stranger after all.
“You’re my dream girl. Your job is to make me happy. And you deserve a raise, ’cause–” He lifted the blankets and pressed her hand down the line of his body.
The satiny smooth head of his penis heated her palm as it poked above the waistband of his boxer briefs.
“Ohmygosh!” She snatched her hand back and rocketed off the bed. Back pressed against the closet door, palm glued to her chest, she said, “You–I–what the heck?” Another brilliant bit of dialogue. Her brain had overloaded, plain and simple. She swallowed and composed herself. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to freak out. I just hoped we knew each oth–”
The man interrupted her with a curse directed at the ceiling. He fell back on his pillow and threw an arm over his face. “Can’t even hang onto an imaginary woman. Too goddamned aggressive for my own dream girl.” He couldn’t see her now that she’d gotten off the bed. Her heart dropped.
He cursed again, a long, drawn-out whisper. Then he lifted the covers and looked down at himself. “What am I going to do about you?” He glanced at the clock, which read 4:58. His whole face softened as he pressed a hand flat to the wall over his head. Haley slept on the other side. “Nothing. That’s what.” He rolled over with a pained grunt and went back to sleep.
Her throat closed with longing. Longing to crawl back in bed and put his arousal to good use. Longing to tell him he hadn’t been too aggressive for her, that if she’d been scared of anything it had been the strength of desire his forwardness had kindled in her. Longing to show him she wasn’t imaginary.
—
For more information about Road Rage and Jessi’s other works, stop by one of her online haunts.
For updates on Road Rage’s June 2013 release, please subscribe to her blog!
Oh my goodness. I’m hooked after reading that excerpt. It’s going on my TBR list. Thanks so much, Jessi. And if you want to leave Jessi a comment, drop one in. I know she’d love it.
Are you wondering where the cool picture is? I always have one, but stay tuned, because it’s at the bottom, and you’ll find out why once you get there. 🙂 I know, you want to race ahead. Just hold on while I jump into this week’s topic. Yes. It’s all about ebooks and paperback.
This week I was thrilled to be interviewed by the editor of my regional newspaper. She asked, “As a writer, what was my preference? Ebooks or paperback?” When I answered ebooks, she asked, “Where did I see the future with them?”
I live in New Zealand, and we’re a little behind the rest of the world with ereaders. Seriously, we are. I’d say we’re even lagging by about three years. So many here don’t understand how great ebooks are. Being able to buy and instantly download, and at a fraction of the cost of a paperback means time and money saved. When I’m asked by someone on the street where they can buy my book, and I say it’s an ebook, half the time they frown and say, “I’ve heard of ebooks, but I want a real book that I can feel and touch.” Now they’re not saying this in a mean way, but they just don’t understand.
Sure, I enjoy holding a paperback and turning those crisp pages, and I still buy paperbacks from time to time. Particularly from my favourite authors where I know I’ll want to mark up pages which inspire me. But buying a paperback book is becoming rare for me.
So what to tell the editor, where did I see the future of them? Particularly when I knew half the people reading the article would be of the same mind as those I meet on the street. Thankfully, it came to me in a flash of inspiration. Phew.
“You only have to look around you to see the advances in technology and it becomes clear where ebooks sit in the future. In preschool our under-fives use digital devices. They play fun software games which teach them math, English and so much more, but right along with those games they’re reading ebooks. Our school-aged children read ebooks on their ipads, smart phones, laptops, tablets and of course ereaders. We’re teaching our young ones to read in a new way. They’ll bring what they know and enjoy with them into the future.”
It was then I realised the depth behind my answer. What is going to happen to paperback in the future as the demand for ebooks grow? Oh boy, will paperback even be able to maintain a foothold on the market?
I’m reminded of when I was a child and of how technology has changed. My mother had an old washing machine with a manual wringer. We wouldn’t even consider holding onto one of those now. What for when with the press of a button today’s washing machines do it all. We could all name hundreds of new inventions which have surpassed the old. So, what will happen to paperback in ten, twenty, thirty years’ time? What are your thoughts? Do you think they’ll still be here? The atlas? Those beautiful photography books? Books of all genres? It’s a little scary to think of paperback becoming rare.
Drop me a comment and tell me what you think? And what’s your preference? Ebook or paperback?
And in light of all this talk of technology, take a look at this funny picture.
LOL. Fabulous, and I bet the child totally got it. Don’t forget the Lucky In Love Blog Hop still runs until the end of the day, and I’ll contact that winner once their name is drawn using Random.org. You all have a great week. Catch ya later.
Are you LUCKY IN LOVE? We romance writers love to bring our characters into a new world of love and romance. There’s nothing quite like having our heroine meet her hero in a chance encounter, then tossing in all sorts of issues to see if she’ll turn the moment into something more.
I’d love to hear if you’re lucky in love? Did you meet your hero by chance? Or are you still looking out for that one moment when he’ll arrive? Perhaps you’re a romance writer and you dream of turning your heroine’s lucky moment into the best one ever? Hey, and maybe you’re even one of those heroes who grabbed that chance and ran with it? because guys, I haven’t forgotten about you.
Flex those muscles, and if you leave a comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS you can go into the draw for a chance to win an ebook copy of PROTECTOR. The winner will be drawn using Random.org on 19th March 2013, and I’ll contact you by email to organise your prize.
But that’s notall… Your comment also drops you into the grand prize draw of the hop (prizes are featured below–and they are amazzzing), so make sure you don’t miss out. It just takes one comment on this post WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to get you into BOTH DRAWS. 🙂
PROTECTOR
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a Halfling–thanks to her warrior father she’s never met–does her own skill of forethought develop.
Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a Halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate–an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.
With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?
And for those keen on checking out Protector’s trailer, here it is.
Book Trailer:
NOW WHAT ARE THOSE PRIZES?
We have TWO grand prizes. Almost 300 authors are sharing Lucky In Love themed blogs, and you as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter almost 300 times!
1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card (International)
and 2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more! (US Only)
Keep hopping–You can find the complete list of participating authors right HERE.
Also, and only if you wish to, please consider “liking” my Facebook author page. For your convenience the link is just over on the right-hand sidebar. 🙂
If you’d like to add Protectorto your TBR list, here’s the link for Goodreads. Or it’s on the sidebar as well.
Thank you so much for dropping by, and I wish you and yours a wonderful week.
Have you written a book and now find yourself slogging through that lengthy submission process?
Are you trying to find an agent? What about cold-submitting to publishers? Perhaps you’re self-publishing?
It’s a battlefield, isn’t it? And no matter which avenue we take, it’s also a very long journey. So why do we keep at it? Ultimately it’s our passion to write, and we just can’t give it up.
Who understands us? Hopefully our closest family members, but more than them, other writers who know what we’re going through. It’s like the old saying, you don’t know what’s it like to be a mom or dad, until you’re one yourself. You can attempt a guess, watch other parents in action, but until you’re there, feeding those little mouths and cleaning up after them, you don’t really know the extent of the commitment.
That’s why only writers can truly understand other writers. We live the commitment.
This week I’m deep in my writing. I’m just a few days off completing the first draft of my current WIP, and I can’t wait to get it finished and see how the story ends. Yep, no matter how much I plot, the pantser in me still shines through. She’s going to have some fun, and I can’t wait to let her at it.
Today I’ve also received another round of content edits from my editor. I love learning, and my editor’s a fabulous teacher. I have a hardcover notebook and as I work through the edits, I record to reinforce the lesson.
So, once you’ve written a book. What do you do? Perhaps you’re waiting to hear back from a submission, and if you are, you’ll write another book. If you’ve decided to self-publish, you’ll still be doing the same and beginning your next project. If you have a contract like me, again you’ll be working on your next project.
Yep, what do we do once we’ve written a book?
You got it. WE WRITE!
I’m such a gem of information, aren’t I? 🙂 Hey, if you enjoyed today’s post and want to tell me what you do once you’ve written a book, let me know. Perhaps your answer is different to mine. I must say, I also go cook, clean and tidy up after four very energetic kids and a hungry hubby. My kiddies are a bunch of rascals, and aged 8, 10, 13 and 14. I also have a puppy aged 2, and I’ve mentioned him because he’s just as much hard work, but I completely adore him, because he never argues back. 🙂
Also you’ll find Protector’s book links below. All that hard work needs to be read. Catch ya later.
BIO:
