by Joanne Wadsworth | Nov 15, 2013 | Author Blog
MR. RIGHT NOW
The wrong guy might be just right for her.
When her celebrity boyfriend of three years dumps her and claims he’s now gay, unlucky-in-love author Casey Cash decides to get out of New York. A cruise seems like the perfect escape: everyone onboard will be locked away from television, newspapers and internet gossip pages, allowing her some much needed relaxation. There’s only one problem: her oh-so-helpful agent has hired a male escort for her…and a big NYC paper has sent a pesky reporter on-board, vowing to get the dirt.
Mason Drury doesn’t want to write an expose on Casey, but he’s in a bind. After a source flipped on him, he’s persona non grata at his newspaper. Celebrity trash or not, this story will put him back on top. Too bad he finds himself breaking the first rule of reporting by getting attached to his subject and letting bias influence his story.
Casey’s much more interested in sexy Mason than the annoying escort who’s bunking in her room. Mason might even have romantic potential if she can shake her well-meaning-but nosey-fans. Oh, and that reporter. She’s got to avoid him at all costs…
CONTENT WARNING: A smattering of sass, sex and a heaping happily ever after.
A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance
A huge welcome to Kristina Knight. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Kristina. I’m going to start with a fun rapid fire question round.
– Nicknames? – So many! Kritti is my fave because my nieces gave it to me when they couldn’t pronounce the S-T part of my name so well.
– Where do you live? – I live on the NorthCoast of Ohio with RadioMan, bebe and Angel-the-dog.
– Have you ever traveled abroad? – Yes! Primarily to the Caribbean – love it there!
– Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate? – Iced tea or hot chocolate…depending on my mood. And the weather.
– Favorite dessert? – Anything chocolate. Or my mom’s secret-recipe Red Velvet Cake. YUM!
– Dog or cat? – dog, I like to be loved.
– Beach or skiing? – beach! Especially if a cabana boy is included.
– What’s your favorite time of the day to write? – I can write any time of the day…but I like the words best that come in the afternoon…or late at night when the rest of the house is asleep.
– Do you write on holiday? – Definitely! I try to space holidays so I’m not on a deadline, but I usually have a project going so I’ll take an hour or two to work on a scene or character sketch. Or just write down ideas.
– Last book you read? – I just finished two gothic novellas – Mugs & Monasteries and Sefton Manor by Cait O’Sullivan…fun, chilling reads!
– Plotter or pantser? – Pantlotter, thank you very much. I usually have an outline of where I want to go with a story. But the story elements get moved around or changed altogether before I’m through.
– What three things would you take to a desert island? – RadioMan, bebe … and a barbecue grill
Now, let’s get to some grittier questions, Kristina.
– Tell us what started you on your journey to being a writer? – I’ve always been a writer, in one form or another. My mom and grandmother are the credits, I think, because they read to me all the time and when I told them stories, they listened. I would rewrite the endings to stories as a kid, joined the school newspaper as a teenager and actually went into journalism for a while before I started writing fiction full time.
– If you decided not to be a writer, what would your other dream job be? And why? – Hmmm…a travel reporter, I think. Because I would still be writing but I’d also get paid to travel. Who doesn’t like to travel?
– Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world? – I like where I am. For now. Someday, I’d like to live in a tropical paradise, but we have the best of all worlds here – hot beaches in the summer, blizzards in the winter. It’s a fabulous place to raise a family.
– I’d love to hear a random fact about yourself, one that would surprise us all. If you don’t mind, can you spill? – I believe in ghosts. Full on. Not evil ghosts, although I suppose if I believe in friendly Caspers I have to believe in ghouls, too. But I’ve had a couple of very real experiences with loved ones who have passed on. So, I believe the ones we love can reach out to us from the other side.
– Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers? – Don’t stop and don’t sell yourself short. We all have real life issues and roadblocks in our path. The key is to find a way around the roadblocks and deal with real life issues and keep pressing on.
– What are you working on now? – I just wrapped up a new trilogy that my agent and I are shopping around (hopefully I’ll have news soon on that). And this week I’m starting a brand new project, if I could just get my characters to agree on a starting point…
Here’s an excerpt from Mr. Right Now to whet your appetite:
Casey needed things to slow down. And she desperately wanted whatever was happening to speed up. She didn’t know who Mason was. Didn’t know if he was the reporter or just some random guy. Her head said he was the reporter. Why else would he have hit on her so hard from the time she came on board? It had to be part of his plan.
But then, why would a reporter waste time talking to a random woman about her life? Setting her up with another harmless guy who would bolster her self-confidence and help her bounce back from rejection. That was something a nice guy would do. Casey wanted badly for Mason to be a nice guy. Just for a little bit.
Then she’d go back to the craziness of Tyler and figuring out who the reporter was. How to avoid him and save what was left of her reputation.
Surely her future could spare her a few more minutes with Mason Drury.
“What’s your plan?” he asked, his eyes intent on hers.
What was her plan? She knew she had one. It was a good one, too. What was it again?
He pressed his lips to hers, and she didn’t care about plans or who was following whom.
One little kiss.
What could it hurt?
How can readers find you and your book, Kristina?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Right-Now-ebook/dp/B00G3HEFF0/ref=la_B0081LO6DM_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383596872&sr=1-4
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mr-right-now-kristina-knight/1117213467?ean=2940148705611
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mr.-right-now/id687704564?mt=11
BIO:
Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and daughter. Happily ever after.
Kristina’s Links:
Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor
TW: @AuthorKristina
GR: http://www.goodreads.com/authorkristina
PI: http://www.pinterest.com/authorkristina
by Joanne Wadsworth | Oct 18, 2013 | Author Blog
A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
A witch in training, a hunter on the prowl, and a world in jeopardy.
Learning the rules of being a witch takes years, but Parris McCall needs to master them in only weeks. Ty Wallace is going mad with his desire for Parris, but she’s a distraction in his quest to find Coven X before they take The Council and everyone he knows down.
The couple searches for Ty’s mentor, but he’s disappeared. Their only clue comes from a banished witch. When they return, not only are their own lives threatened, but a new life hangs in the balance.
Available at Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Return-of-the-Fae-ebook/dp/B00DJVH8V6
A huge welcome to Lynn Cahoon and her wonderful characters from A Member of the Council. I love the tagline. A witch in training, a hunter on the prowl, and a world in jeopardy. I can’t wait to read this book. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Lynn, and brought Parris and Ty along with you for a character interview.
–o–
How did you manage to meet your writer?
Ty – She says she wanted to try something new. I meet a lot of women that way.
Parris – Brag much?
Ty – Okay, I used to meet a lot of women that way.
Did you ever consider your story would be told?
Parris – No. I didn’t even want to know my story. My life was perfect before Lynn started writing these books and brought Ty to the Alibi.
Ty – I wouldn’t say perfect. You just didn’t know people wanted you dead. I think Lynn probably saved your life. And of course, you got to meet me…
Parris – Whatever. Next question.
Were there any particularly difficult scenes you’d rather your writer have never written?
Parris – I don’t get why each book has to detail our love life. I mean, aren’t some things better left behind closed doors?
Ty – It’s a romance, dear. She has to be true to the genre. Besides, we’re rarely behind closed doors.
What was your favorite thing to do in your book?
Parris and Ty in unison – Darts.
Would you care for a sequel?
Parris – Definitely. We have a baby on the way and…
Ty – Wait, what?
Parris – Calm down big guy, I’m talking about our friend, not us. Anyway, I’m wondering what’s going to come of the gang once The Council gets what they want.
What’s your current occupation?
Ty – I’m a trial lawyer in the human world. Of course, The Council has other duties for me.
Parris – And of course, I manage my bar, The Alibi.
What’s your favorite food?
Parris – Oh My God. I can’t choose. I love everything. Except beans. I don’t like beans.
Ty – Not even in chili? I love a good chili.
Parris – Then you’re going to have to cook it yourself. Sorry, no beans.
What’s one thing no one knows about you and might be shocked if they found out?
Ty – You’re talking about humans right? I’m not sure there’s anything in my life that could shock a fellow witch or warlock.
Parris – I’m thinking you’re wrong there, but we’ll let it slide. I guess I’ve been keeping the other world I live in a secret from everyone. But I’d love to tell them I have a personal fairy. And I’ve met a troll. He’s very sweet, by the way.
Where would you like to be in five years’ time?
Parris – Done studying these stupid academy books. I know I’m starting late, but seriously, I’m ready to move on.
Ty – You haven’t even scratched the surface yet. I’m still learning about my power and those around me. Face it dear, you’re on the ride of your life.
I have a couple of questions just for you, Lynn.
As the writer, is there anything you’d like to say in response to your characters’ interview?
I love how well they’re getting along right now. It’s not always the case. Like most men, Ty can be broody and secretive. Then when he does spill what he’s worried about, it can tick Parris off. Which sets up another problem. My novella has turned into an entire world that I love visiting.
Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
I’m knee deep in writing (which means my deadline is approaching fast) the third book in The Tourist Trap Mystery series. Book 1- Guidebook to Murder, will be released in April 2014. Book 2-July. And this third book, November. Set in a coastal California tourist town, Jill Gardner runs Coffee, Books, and More, when she’s not trying to figure out who’s killing the town’s residents.
How can readers find you and your book, Lynn?
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor
Amazon author page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL is available for purchase wherever ebooks are sold:
Available at Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Return-of-the-Fae-ebook/dp/B00DJVH8V6
BIO:
Lynn Cahoon is a contemporary romance author with a love of hot, sexy men, real and imagined. Her alpha heroes range from rogue witch hunters, modern cowboys, or hot doctors, sexy in scrubs. And her heroines all have one thing in common, their strong need for independence. Or at least that’s what they think they want.
She blogs at her website www.lynncahoon.wordpress.com
by Joanne Wadsworth | Sep 13, 2013 | Author Blog
TWELFTH SUN
The hunky young PhD knows all about seduction, but what does he know about love?
Reagan Cassidy is settled in her life. She has a thriving interior design firm, an upscale condo, two cats, and a goldfish. As a favor to her uncle, she agrees to team up with his marine archeologist friend to validate and retrieve a nineteenth-century journal, reputedly that of a passenger aboard the doomed schooner Twelfth Sun. Finding a hunky twenty-five-year-old coming out of the shower in her hotel room wasn’t part of the deal, but it’s hard to complain…
Dr. Elijah Cross is cocky and he knows it. He enjoys trading barbs with the lovely Reagan. Barbs, and some innuendo. He can tell she’d rather get back home to her business than stick around for the extended treasure hunt they’ve been talked into, but he’s fine with the situation. At least, until the “clues” start getting personal.
Reagan finds Dr. Gorgeous is as skilled in matters of the heart as he is behind the lectern. Throw in a series of clues which mean more to Elijah than he’ll explain, several odd-ball competitors out to win the journal, a saboteur, and a lavish seaside mansion, and Reagan has enough trouble keeping her head straight, let alone her heart.
WARNING: Younger man, older woman, nautical riddles and romance.
A huge welcome to Mae Clair and her wonderful characters from Twelfth Sun. I love this blurb. A treasure hunt, along with all things mysterious and nautical. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Mae, and brought Elijah and Reagan along with you for a character interview.
How did you manage to meet your writer?
Elijah: Through a book. Mae always has her nose buried in one. This time she was reading about marine archaeology and started imagining the kind of guy who’d go poking around old shipwrecks. Naturally, I came to mind. I’d been rattling around in her head for a while, but the book opened the door for me to take center stage.
What’s your current occupation?
Reagan: I have an interior design firm called Winning Concepts. My Uncle Gavin stepped in as a financial backer when I was just getting started. He’s done so much for me through the years, especially since losing my father when I was fourteen. It’s one of the reasons I couldn’t say no when Uncle Gavin asked me to hook-up with Elijah to track down a nineteenth century ship’s journal. At the time, I thought I was meeting a stodgy old professor not a hot young guy with a PhD.
What has you ducking for cover?
Elijah: *shifting uncomfortably* I hate social situations. I have no problem giving an academic lecture to a packed hall, but I cringe when I have to make small talk at dinner parties. Especially stuffy affairs like the ones Pellar was always foisting on us. He’s the staff manager for Eric Sothern — the rich recluse who invited us to his mansion for a treasure hunt. The social thing is a throwback to when I was a kid taking college classes. Everyone else was so much older, out of my league socially. I felt like a fish out of water.
Reagan: It turns him into a smart-ass and makes him run at the mouth. Usually at Pellar. *giggles*
What’s your favorite scene, one your writer portrayed just right?
Reagan: How about one that mortified me? The very first time I saw Elijah, I walked into his hotel room thinking it was mine.
Elijah: She caught me coming out of the bathroom completely nude.
Reagan: I’ve never been so embarrassed. After I got over the initial shock and fright, I wanted to sink through the floor.
Elijah: *laughing* Needless to say, I made a lasting first impression. She got an eyeful.
Reagan: He’s completely uninhibited. Most of the time. I told him once that for someone who has no qualms about sex, he has a lot of walls when it comes to intimacy.
Elijah: We won’t go there. *clears throat* Next question.
Are you happy with how everything turned out?
Reagan: Oh, most definitely! I’m glad Mae worked things out for us, even if she did make us jump through multiple hurdles to get there.
Elijah: The ending was a shock for me. Mae had several surprises tucked up her sleeve, but I can’t complain. That’s part of being front and center in a romantic mystery, I guess. The way everything came together rocked my world, but the icing on the cake was, Reagan. *takes her hand and grins* Now, if I could just get her to drink grape soda!
I have a question just for you, Mae.
Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
I just finished a romantic adventure novella called SOLSTICE ISLAND that will be included in an anthology of romance stories with three other authors. It should be available this year.
I also have a sweet romantic mystery involving a fifteen-year-old missing person’s case called ECLIPSE LAKE that should publish in April-May of 2014.
Here’s an excerpt to whet your appetite:
Reagan glanced at her watch. She’d dragged herself from bed hours before any civilized person should be up, for the sole purpose of meeting Elijah Cross. The marine archeologist was already ten minutes late–not a brilliant way to begin a working relationship. She’d learned through firsthand experience many of her uncle’s friends were as unreliable as they were eccentric. Foolishly, she had hoped Dr. Cross wouldn’t fall into the same category.
Resigned to passing the time, she added hot water to her tea. From the corner of her eye she spied movement at the door of the cafe. A man stepped inside, shaking rain from his jacket. The door banged shut behind him, ensnaring her full attention. He wore a battered black fedora and worn jeans with scuffed dock shoes. There was something oddly familiar about him. He turned slightly and she caught his profile, realizing he was the man from room ten. Self-conscious, she looked away, hoping to sink through the floor. He spoke briefly with the hostess and then headed in her direction.
She tensed. What were the odds of encountering him now when she was scheduled to meet Dr. Cross, a highly-respected and, no doubt critical, academic? How would it look to her uncle’s friend if he walked in on a conversation revolving around naked men and the color of her undergarments?
Chagrined, she bowed her head over her teacup. Her hair spilled forward, concealing her face behind curtains of red-gold. With any luck he’d go away. With any luck, he’d leave her alone.
“Hi.”
Reagan raised her head fully convinced mischievous imps had tracked her to Shipwright Landing and were even now performing rituals of bad luck. “Hi.” She pressed her lips together. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m expecting someone.”
“Yeah, I know.” He grinned. “You’re Reagan Cassidy.”
She blinked. She’d given the hostess her name only because she was expecting Dr. Cross and neither had any idea what the other looked like. She certainly hadn’t expected the woman to share her name with any longhaired Lothario who asked for it. “The hostess told you.”
He nodded. Removing his hat by the crown, he dropped it on the table. “Some storm.” He shrugged out of his jacket and hooked it over the back of the nearest chair. “Good thing it’ll be over soon.”
Reagan watched flabbergasted as he sat across from her and picked up a menu. “Excuse me.” Her voice rose sharply, edged like a knife. “I didn’t invite you to sit. I told you I’m expecting someone.”
“Yeah, I know.” He flashed that same irritating grin. “I’m Elijah Cross.”
How can readers find you and your book, Mae?
I’m thrilled to connect with readers and other authors at:
Website
Blog
Twitter (@MaeClair1)
Facebook Author Page
Goodreads
TWELFTH SUN is available for purchase from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
iBooks
BIO:
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. She snagged the tail of a comet, hitched a ride, and discovered her writer’s Muse on the journey.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at www.MaeClair.com
by Joanne Wadsworth | Sep 6, 2013 | Author Blog
OH STUPID HEART
Book Two of: A Long Road To Love
Humorous Contemporary Disaster Romance by Liza O’Connor
Carrie Hanson is in love with a different species: Trent, a pampered, uber-rich socialite who’s also her boss. Everyone keeps telling her it’s a train wreck looking to happen, but her heart wants what it wants. So despite the billion and one reasons not to, Carrie commits to this inter-species relationship. But while she’s off being trained for her new job responsibilities, a beautiful ex fiancée is working hard to get Trent back and Carrie fired.
I have a special treat for everyone today. Author Liza O’Connor is here and she has a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY on offer. The first book in this series is available for FREE on Amazon for a limited time, so check out the details below. Also, feel free to enter Liza’s rafflecopter draw for a chance to win a $25 Amazon voucher as well.
I hope you’ll all join me in welcoming Liza and her fabulous characters from her upcoming release Oh Stupid Heart. I’m so glad you’ve dropped by, Liza.
Hi Joanne. Today, Carrie Hanson and Trent Lancaster have come to promote their second book in the Long Road To Love Series.
How did you manage to meet your writer?
Carrie: She arrived during our Worst Week Ever.
.
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Trent: I think she caused it.
.
.
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Carrie: *Places hand on Trent’s arm* Crazy stuff happens in life all the time. Just because we had the worst run of luck imaginable, doesn’t mean she created it.
Did you ever consider your story would be told?
Carrie: Given we made national news during our worst week ever? Yes, I suspect our story will be told over and over. *She frowns at Trent* Which reminds me. I think the blonde you hired for HR might work for Gossep.
Trent: *rolls his eyes* I don’t know what you have against Angel. She’s quite lovely.
Carrie: Her name is An-ge-la, not Angel.
Trent: You have no need to be jealous. I only love you.
Carrie: *grins and cuddles against him*
Do you need to have a stern word with your writer for any reason, and why?
Carrie: I’m sorry, but yes I do. Liza, you know how much I dislike Trent’s former fiancée, why did you put her in book two. You have no idea how it hurt me to see Trent kissing her in his penthouse.
She’s one of his species, an uber rich billionaire from Long Island. How is a 4’6”, middle-class girl from New Jersey going to compete with her?
Trent: *wraps his arm around her and pulls her tight to him* I didn’t kiss her, she kissed me and it meant nothing. You are the heart and soul of my business and the only woman I’ve ever loved.
What was your favorite thing to do in your book? And don’t forget keep it G-rated.
Carrie: That’s okay because somebody *stares at Trent* decided we should take matters slow.
Trent: Most of my relationships never last more than a month, so I want to slow down and do it right this time.
Carrie: Which means our favorite thing we do is improve Trent’s business.
Trent: My favorite thing is being with Carrie while she improves my business.
If you could rewrite any scene in your book, what would it be?
Carrie: That one I get to call. I would erase Coco from existence. Without Coco, the jerk Grant wouldn’t have been hired either.
Trent: Grant is Carrie’s replacement in her roll of Executive Assistant. I told Coco to only hire a guy so she would be jealous, but it doesn’t seem to have worked.
Carrie: I am NOT jealous of Grant. He’s a horrible person, one of the biggest jerks I’ve ever met.
Trent: I don’t have a problem with him.
Carrie: Then why doesn’t he have a key to your office?
Trent: Are you nuts? They only person to whom I’ve ever given a key to my office is you.
Are you happy with how everything turned out?
Carrie: Very much, but I don’t understand why it’s always so hard to reach our HEA moments. I guess that’s what happens when you fall in love with a different species.
Trent: *growls* I’m not a different species. I’m just belong to a different economic and social level, which I’ve never fit into. Until you came along, I didn’t fit anywhere. You are the first person who has ever truly loved me and not my possessions.
Would you care for another sequel?
Carrie: I think we have to. Liza has already bought a cover. It’s called Coming to Reason. *she bites her bottom lip* I’m a bit concerned over the title.
If you could do anything over again, what would it be?
Carrie: I would be taller.
Trent: I would find Carrie sooner.
What’s your greatest fear?
Trent: That Carrie will leave me.
Carrie: I’m not going to leave you. You’ve made remarkable improvement. Why would I leave you now? You are becoming a great boss and boyfriend.
The next two questions are for you, Liza. As the writer, is there anything you’d like to say in response to your characters’ interview?
Liza: I wrote this humorous disaster romance series so young women can read about a relationship more screwed up than theirs. However, I’m hoping they will grasp the life lessons hidden within these stories and apply them to their own lives.
Big Life Lesson: Just because a guy says he loves you, doesn’t make him Mr. Right.
Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
A delightful romance called Ghost Lover will come out December 2, 2013. It’s about two brothers who fall in love with the same girl, requiring the ancestral ghost to sort matters out, only the ghost falls in love with her as well.
Then the final book of this series, Coming to Reason, will come out early next year. I decided to put a gap between book 2: Oh Stupid Heart and book 3: Coming to Reason, so readers can enjoy the happy ending of Oh Stupid Heart a bit longer before it all falls apart, yet again.
GIVEAWAY ONE:
On September 5th, 6th and 7th, if you’d like to pick up your FREE copy of Worst Week Ever, book one in Liza’s series, click the Amazon link right here.
Here’s an excerpt of Oh Stupid Heart to whet your appetite.
As the train filled with lesser quality people all talking on their cell phones, the noise and cacophony of smells began to irritate Trent. If not for the pleasure of holding Carrie, he would have demanded the conductor stop the train and let them off so he could have his driver rescue them. The train barely picked up speed before it slowed down, stopped, and allowed more people on. They just kept coming and coming. His glare discouraged a few people from sitting on the other side of Carrie, but eventually an old, heavyset black woman collapsed in the seat with a sigh.
“Don’t normally get to sit,” she muttered, and released a heavy sigh of exhaustion. Her faded, crumpled, threadbare clothes looked as tired as she did.
The conductor stopped and demanded five dollars. She pulled out a coin purse and tried to pay him in quarters.
“No coins.”
The woman put a calloused hand to her forehead and shook her head. “It’s all I got.”
“Not my problem,” the conductor said.
“Take her fee out of the change you owe me,” Trent snapped. Why did the guy have to be such a jerk?
The guy clicked more paper then thrust a ticket into her coin-filled hand. Finally, he handed Trent three twenties.
“And a five,” Trent growled.
The conductor muttered softly and thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a five. He glared at Trent. “You’re only getting this, because of her.” He nodded at Carrie. “Otherwise, you’d pay a second service fee.” He handed Trent the bills and stormed off.
The old woman flashed Trent a weary smile, displaying brown and yellow teeth, which made him slightly nauseous.
His grandmother had always said “Never engage with the common people. Perform all charity at a distance.”
“Thank you for the ticket. They’re so expensive, especially since I got sick last month and needed medicine. I didn’t have any money left to buy a monthly ticket.”
“How much is a monthly ticket?” he asked.
“$125.00. But I don’t have it, so I’m paying ten dollars a day. And I only make sixty a night, forty once they take out taxes.”
“What do you do?”
“I clean an office building. Job starts at 8 p.m. and I have to be done by 5 a.m. with no excuses. If I don’t show, or I don’t finish, I get fired.”
He retrieved his wallet, culled two hundred, and added it to the change the conductor had returned. He passed it to the woman. “Here’s enough to buy the monthly ticket and a bit extra to put aside to buy medicine the next time you get sick.”
The woman studied the hundred dollar bills. “Are these real?”
“I assume so. I got them from the bank.”
The woman’s brow furrowed and handed them back to him, keeping the twenties and five. “I can’t afford to get arrested. I’ll lose my job.”
Never had a person refused his money before. It hurt his feelings and frustrated him. Damn it, I wanted to be charitable. Why can’t the damn woman just do her part?
A Long Road to Love
Book Two — Oh Stupid Heart — Coming Mid-September
Book One — Worst Week Ever — Available on Amazon
BIO: 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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIZA O’CONNOR: Liza’s Blog and Website / Facebook / Twitter / Worst Week Ever Trailer
OTHER BOOKS BY LIZA O’CONNOR: Saving Casey / Worst Week Ever
COMING SOON: Oh Stupid Heart / Coming To Reason / Ghost Lover
TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER DRAW FOR THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD, click on the link:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you wish to continue following Liza’s blog tour, click this link here.
by Joanne Wadsworth | Aug 16, 2013 | Author Blog
THE RIGHT TEMPTATION
Can a childhood crush mature into the real thing?
Kayla Martinez has recently landed an RN position at a prestigious hospital in her hometown. The new job is everything she’s hoped for, especially when one hot specimen shows up in the ER. She hasn’t seen her childhood crush in years, and considering how much hotter he’s gotten over time, she almost ends up needing resuscitation.
The last thing Nico LaCosta needs is a broken arm. Now his pal’s kid sister wants to soothe his pain, but he’d rather keep his distance so her big brother doesn’t break his other arm. Kayla’s no child anymore, though. She’s one hot-blooded woman, determined to remind him of a mind-blowing kiss back when they were teenagers. Leave it to Kayla to drop by his house unannounced and play Nurse Seductive. A guy has to follow the buddy code, or face the consequences. Still, sometimes giving in to temptation is worth it…
CONTENT WARNING: Racy Language, Hot Sex, Lusty Latin Lovers
–ooOoo–
Hey, everyone. I’d love you to welcome Diane Escalera to my blog today. Diane’s HOT Latin Heat Trilogy is well, super-hot. Just check out that cover. Hold on. I’ve gotta go grab a cold glass of water. She does warn that there are lusty Latin lovers in her book. Right, I’m back and all prepared.
The Right Temptation, story two in her trilogy, released in July with Lyrical Press, and Diane was kind enough to answer a few hard-hitting questions, so here she is, right in the hot seat.
Thanks for dropping by, Diane. I have some quick fire questions for you.
First, thank you so much for hosting me. I’m so excited to be here!
– Nicknames? I go by DeeDee or Dee. When I was kid they called me Snoopy.
– Where do you live? South Florida is home to me.
– Have you ever traveled abroad? Sadly, no.
– Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate? Coffee first thing in the morning is a necessity!
– Favorite dessert? Chocolate anything!
– Dog or cat? Dog. I have the sweetest little dachshund.
– Beach or skiing? Beach. I’m a tropical girl.
– What’s your favorite time of the day to write? After lunch because it’s quiet then.
– Do you write on holiday? Only if I have to.
– Last book you read? It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis. Love her!
– Plotter or pantser? A little of both.
I love your favorite dessert, Diane. I’m a “chocolate anything” kind of girl myself. Yep, whenever I get the chance to eat out (which is only a few times a year) I jump straight ahead to the desserts and make sure there’s something with chocolate on the menu. The more chocolate the better. 🙂
I have some short questions for you too.
– If you don’t mind, tell us what started you on your journey to being a writer?
Unlike most authors, I didn’t know I was destined to write. In fact, I worked in banking for many years, but deep down knew that it wasn’t my dream job.
At the young age of thirty-five, my sister died of an illness. I realized the same thing could happen to me. There are no guarantees. I couldn’t waste another moment doing something I didn’t love.
Writing was one of my greatest joys when I was growing up. While still working at the bank, I decided to enroll in an intensive course where I learned everything I could about the craft. It didn’t take long before I left the bank to pursue a writing career.
I’m so sorry about your sister. That’s incredibly young for you to have lost her. Although I love that you enrolled in an intensive course and found something you loved to do.
– Writing is clearly your dream job, but I’m curious, is there another as well?
I would probably work with animals, especially dogs. I just adore them because they love unconditionally, live to make you happy and expect little in return.
– Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
Italy. I’m half Italian and it would be awesome to experience the culture and history up close and personal. Did you know Pizza was invented in Naples?
I didn’t, but if I’d taken a stab, Naples would have been my first guess. I’d love to travel to Italy too, only it’s half a world away from where I live in New Zealand. I’ll just keep dreaming that I’ll get there one day. They do have chocolate right? Pizza, and then chocolate. I could do that. 🙂
– Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
I’d love to share my favorite quote, which I think perfectly sums things up:
“There are two weapons in the writer’s arsenal. The first is stamina and the second is uncompromising belief in yourself.”
– What are you working on now?
I’m in the process of completing Story Three of my Latin Heat Trilogy. Playing with Destiny will wrap up the series. Matchmaker, matchmaker, bring me a babe. That’s all Christian expected from an online dating service. He gets a lot more when, unwittingly, he’s hooked up with a luscious neighbor named Destiny. Christian doesn’t believe in fate. But one look at Destiny and he’s seeing a whole new future.
I love the sound of this trilogy, very exotic. I’m now craving chocolate more than ever though after our chat, and I thought that glass of water would be enough. 🙂 If you don’t mind, would you share an excerpt. I can’t wait to sample a taste of your writing.
EXCERPT:
Kayla ambled to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and perused it. Not bad. He had a few things she could work with. “What do you normally eat?”
“Grilled chicken, brown rice and broccoli,” he said without missing a beat.
Kayla laughed at his bland regimen. “I had a feeling.”
“Well, I try to take care of my body.”
“So I see.” Her gaze skittered over his physique. Whatever he did worked magically delicious.
“Although lately, I’ve been pigging out like a fat kid,” he said, with a disgusted look. “That’s what happens when you’re bored to death.”
She had a cure for his restlessness. The thought made her thighs go up in flames. Kayla shoved her head inside the cool refrigerator and peered into several plastic containers. “Some of this looks good.” She could’ve taken the easy way out, but she preferred to make something fresh, show off a little bit.
“It is. But I had so much of it already.” He puffed out his cheeks.
How adorable. She found everything he did entertaining. Kayla shut the fridge and, without asking, opened the cupboards. She found one with canned goods and food staples. “Hmm,” she mumbled, scanning the contents. She’d have to improvise. “You like omelets?”
Nico’s face lit up. “I love me some eggs.”
“Cool. I’ll whip up some veggie omelets.”
“You don’t have to cook for me, you know.”
She had a weakness for nursing people back to health. She had a weakness for one man named Nico. The combination of the two pulled on her heartstrings. “I want to,” she said, setting aside her personal agenda.
“Don’t you have something better to do than hang out with an invalid? I’m not a barrel of laughs right now.”
Good time to gauge his interest. She locked eyes on him. “Why? You want me to leave?”
“It’s not that,” he said. Nico strode to the kitchen. He took one of her long curls and tugged on it. “I just don’t want you to waste your free time.”
She wanted to close her eyes, bottle his woodsy scent. Kayla palmed his solid chest. The touch sent a shocking bolt through her already-charged system. She kept her hand there, reveling in the feel of his potent masculinity. “Who says I’m wasting my time?”
Nico closed the space between them. Too bad his bulky cast kept their bodies from totally connecting. Several inches taller, he stared down at her with pure intensity. The heat level shot up so fast she thought they’d set off the smoke alarm in the kitchen. Kayla tilted her head back and shook her wild curls off her face. He helped by sliding a few fingers into her hair. Her heart practically jumped out of her chest. Kiss me. She’d waited years for this.
His body trapped her against the counter. Kayla shifted her position so she could feel the full force of his strength without the barrier of his injured arm. Oh God. He had an erection. Her hip acted alone and pressed up against it. She swore she heard him moan. Wait. That was her.
“Kayla,” he muttered, in a voice huskier than before.
Kiss me. She tried to send a telepathic message.
I loved this excerpt. Where can we find your book?
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes
BIO: Diane Escalera
Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Diane Escalera makes her home in sunny South Florida. The sultry paradise is a steady source of inspiration for her hot love stories. Diane is married, has two children and a super cute dachshund she can’t get enough of. She writes contemporary romance and is published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.
DianeEscalera.com / Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial / Twitter.com/DianeEscalera
MR. RIGHT NOW
Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and daughter. Happily ever after.
