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I recently did a podcast with Kim Smith. We had a great conversation about writing, poetry and few other things. You can give a listen here:
Marianna Gabrielle's new book, The Black Goddess, is an interesting mix of regency and multicultural romance. I'm pleased to welcome her to Coffee with Friends today as she blogs about why regency romance doesn't always have to be about upper class white characters.
Be sure to leave a comment and enter the rafflecopter for a chance to win an e-copy of the book We Need Diverse Romance
La Déesse Noire: The Black Goddess was such a great book to write, because I love the characters and the twisty plot, and I really love Regency England, but it was scary, too. The main character is an [East] Indian courtesan living in London. Her mentor is Indian, her best friend is a gay man, and all of them are treated much as one might expect in that time and place—badly—subject to racism and contempt and oppression from all sides, most especially from the dominant culture.
But here’s the scary part: I am white. The topic of diversity in romance is a raging discussion these days, and rightly (finally!) so. White people are not the only ones who ever have (or deserve) happy endings; we aren’t the only ones who fall in love; we aren’t the only ones deserving of shelf space. But if you look at the mainstream selections in the genre (most other genres, too), you would think you were looking at a polar bear eating vanilla ice cream with his straight, albino girlfriend in a snow storm. Further, when you look at historical romance titles in general, there are acres of dukes and virginal debutantes, and relatively few poor people, LGBT characters, sex workers, people with disabilities… In short, we read about rich, pretty, straight, law-abiding white people and occasionally, their white servants. I’ve written characters from marginalized groups in all of my books—slaves and free blacks, immigrants, people with mental illness or no education, poor people and criminals. I make a point of writing at least one LGBT character into every book, though sometimes I am the only one who knows. (While these groups may not consider themselves marginalized now, I write historical fiction. You can bet your bottom dollar they were marginalized in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.) Every time I write a character from the non-dominant culture, I have to research the situations people with these characteristics might have found themselves in, the laws lined up against them, the way they spoke and dressed, the mores of the subcultures they occupied. And every time, I shake in my shoes hoping I didn’t get anything wrong. Hoping I won’t offend. Hoping it won’t appear I am appropriating someone else’s history for the sake of my own storytelling. And yet, I do it anyway. Not because diversity is a hot topic or because I am trying to prove a point (though I have been accused of both), but because our world is diverse. It always has been. Without me, these particular characters would have no voice. I might not get everything right. I might unintentionally offend. I might tell a story someone with similar experiences could tell better. But even though I have not shared my characters’ experiences, history, or encounters with oppression, those experiences can be shared through me. It doesn’t have to be mine, but next time you are shopping for books, make a point to buy one that centers on a person of color or a character with a disability or one in love with a same-sex partner. Give a hand to an author who is trying to change the paradigm, and in so doing, change it a little bit yourself. #WeNeedDiverseRomance #WeNeedDiverseBooks Support the #WeNeedDiverseRomance movement by buying a t-shirt, only available for a limited time. http://buy.teespring.com/weneeddiverseromance-tee?
About the book
Sired by a British peer, born of a paramour to Indian royalty, Kali Matai has been destined from birth to enthrall England’s most powerful noblemen—though she hadn’t counted on becoming their pawn. Finding herself under the control of ruthless men, who will not be moved by her legendary allure, she has no choice but to use her beauty toward their malicious and clandestine ends.
When those she holds most dear are placed in peril by backroom political dealings, she enlists some of the most formidable lords in England to thwart her enemies. But even with the help of the prominent gentlemen she has captivated, securing Kali’s freedom, her family, and the man she loves, will require her protectors stop at nothing to fulfill her desires. Amazon: http://amzn.to/19cKUjY Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Fc31m3 Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1K1vMGq iTunes: http://apple.co/1E4ajHF Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Bx1OCV All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/1DeYx8O Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1wmBxTE Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22885020 
Mariana Gabrielle is a pseudonym of Mari Christie, a professional writer, editor, and designer with almost twenty-five years’ experience. Published in dozens of nonfiction and poetry periodicals since 1989, she began writing mainstream historical fiction in 2009 and Regency romance in 2013. In all genres, she creates deeply scarred characters in uncommon circumstances who overcome self-imposed barriers to reach their full potential. She is a member of the Bluestocking Belles, the Writing Wenches, and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Her first Regency romance, Royal Regard, was released in November 2014.
Find Mariana Here Facebook Launch Party, June 10, noon - 8 pm EDT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1423746821261258/ Website and Blog: www.MarianaGabrielle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariChristieAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/mchristieauthor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marichristie/ Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/author/marianagabrielle Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com Enter for a chance to Win I'm excited to welcome online writer-friend JS Watts to Coffee with Friends today. JS has a new release coming out and the book, which combines a strong female lead character with some magic and maybe a bit of mayhem, sounds wonderful. JS is here with a blog on how her main character, Holly, is something like the author who created her. Say Hello to Holly |
I'm so pleased to have Jennifer Anderson in the house today. Her new adult novel, Finding You released last week with Turquoise Morning Press. She's here to tell you all about the new book, and also to 'fess up about her shopaholic tendencies.
In with empty hands. Out with armloads.
I’m not sure what it is about a nice day, but while most are out riding bikes, gardening or something, outside, I’d rather be in a store shopping. Maybe it’s the lure of bare legs and shorts. Or spring colors splashed across my chest (as in a nice shirt!). But it calls to me. Nagging me all day until I buy something.
For instance, last Sunday, it was a decent day and I was able to go outside and watch my son play soccer but while I cheered him on, I mentally prepared a shopping list or things I didn’t need. And even after we were home and I was so tired from the long day and the end of the weekend fall on the couch slump, I still found a reason to hit the store. My son needed underwear. Honestly, I had to buy him under garments. I mean, he only owned like 5 pairs that fit and we were heading out of town and the kid cannot go commando! He could but what kind of a mother would do that.
But even after I prepared a mental list of items I needed, I still only managed to purchase one item that I actually needed (under roos) and a basket full of stuff I didn’t need (fingernail polish in a rainbow of colors).
Am I the only one? What do you do when it’s nice out? I should have been inside writing the follow-up novel to Finding You, but the call of my plastic credit card was enough to send this girl outside I’m not sure what it is about a nice day, but while most are out riding bikes, gardening or something, outside, I’d rather be in a store shopping. Maybe it’s the lure of bare legs and shorts. Or spring colors splashed across my chest (as in a nice shirt!). But it calls to me. Nagging me all day until I buy something.
For instance, last Sunday, it was a decent day and I was able to go outside and watch my son play soccer but while I cheered him on, I mentally prepared a shopping list or things I didn’t need. And even after we were home and I was so tired from the long day and the end of the weekend fall on the couch slump, I still found a reason to hit the store. My son needed underwear. Honestly, I had to buy him under garments. I mean, he only owned like 5 pairs that fit and we were heading out of town and the kid cannot go commando! He could but what kind of a mother would do that.
But even after I prepared a mental list of items I needed, I still only managed to purchase one item that I actually needed (under roos) and a basket full of stuff I didn’t need (fingernail polish in a rainbow of colors).
Am I the only one? What do you do when it’s nice out? I should have been inside writing the follow-up novel to Finding You, but the call of my plastic credit card was enough to send this girl outside
I’m not sure what it is about a nice day, but while most are out riding bikes, gardening or something, outside, I’d rather be in a store shopping. Maybe it’s the lure of bare legs and shorts. Or spring colors splashed across my chest (as in a nice shirt!). But it calls to me. Nagging me all day until I buy something.
For instance, last Sunday, it was a decent day and I was able to go outside and watch my son play soccer but while I cheered him on, I mentally prepared a shopping list or things I didn’t need. And even after we were home and I was so tired from the long day and the end of the weekend fall on the couch slump, I still found a reason to hit the store. My son needed underwear. Honestly, I had to buy him under garments. I mean, he only owned like 5 pairs that fit and we were heading out of town and the kid cannot go commando! He could but what kind of a mother would do that.
But even after I prepared a mental list of items I needed, I still only managed to purchase one item that I actually needed (under roos) and a basket full of stuff I didn’t need (fingernail polish in a rainbow of colors).
Am I the only one? What do you do when it’s nice out? I should have been inside writing the follow-up novel to Finding You, but the call of my plastic credit card was enough to send this girl outside I’m not sure what it is about a nice day, but while most are out riding bikes, gardening or something, outside, I’d rather be in a store shopping. Maybe it’s the lure of bare legs and shorts. Or spring colors splashed across my chest (as in a nice shirt!). But it calls to me. Nagging me all day until I buy something.
For instance, last Sunday, it was a decent day and I was able to go outside and watch my son play soccer but while I cheered him on, I mentally prepared a shopping list or things I didn’t need. And even after we were home and I was so tired from the long day and the end of the weekend fall on the couch slump, I still found a reason to hit the store. My son needed underwear. Honestly, I had to buy him under garments. I mean, he only owned like 5 pairs that fit and we were heading out of town and the kid cannot go commando! He could but what kind of a mother would do that.
But even after I prepared a mental list of items I needed, I still only managed to purchase one item that I actually needed (under roos) and a basket full of stuff I didn’t need (fingernail polish in a rainbow of colors).
Am I the only one? What do you do when it’s nice out? I should have been inside writing the follow-up novel to Finding You, but the call of my plastic credit card was enough to send this girl outside
A long-lost grandfather dies, leaving Jessica Crispin a sizable inheritance. The only catch? She has to find her mom, whom she hasn’t seen since she was two, and she only has thirty days to do it.
Enlisting her best friend Violet, Jessica sets out on a road trip determined to solve a mystery fed by deceit and misinformation from people she thought she could trust.
On the way, she meets Jackson, whose kindness and sexy pale blue eyes make her wish he would come along for the ride.
Clues from her mother lead her far from home and to a secret Jessica never imagined. And as the deadline looms, Jessica must make peace with the ghosts of her past and risk dreaming of a future pursuing her secret passion with Jackson by her side.
Available at these e-book retailers:
iBooks http://apple.co/19tTGcu
Amazon http://amzn.to/1DdeEdJ
Barnes&Noble http://bit.ly/1FXET8t
ARe http://bit.ly/1Eij1UF
Smashwords http://bit.ly/1F4QG1D
Kobo http://bit.ly/1F4QKP0
iBooks http://apple.co/19tTGcu
Amazon http://amzn.to/1DdeEdJ
Barnes&Noble http://bit.ly/1FXET8t
ARe http://bit.ly/1Eij1UF
Smashwords http://bit.ly/1F4QG1D
Kobo http://bit.ly/1F4QKP0
An Excerpt from Finding You
“Excuse me. But can I help you guys.”
Our heads popped up, looking at the person who spoke. If we’d broken down on a dusty highway in the desert, I might have thought he was a mirage and not the gorgeous guy who stopped to offer help.
College changes a girl’s perspective when it comes to guys. Athletes, they hate being called jocks, don’t have much time to date with practices, games and mandatory study hall and quiet hours. Musicians were okay but unless I liked smelling like an ashtray and waiting in a long line of groupies to say hello, I tended to avoid them.
Smart guys were the ticket. Not rocket scientists but more like the quiet, intellectual type that attended classes, wore clean clothes, held open doors, and enjoyed reading a good book. And this guy who stopped to help two stranded girls didn’t give off a creeper vibe but a knight in shining armor vibe. Full dark brown hair that didn’t require much maintenance rested above a firm jaw and a brilliant smile. I held back a groan because the scenario was too good to be true.
As quick as we popped up, we popped back down.
“Oh my god. Do you see what I see?” I whispered from behind the trunk lid.
“I don’t know. Was it a hot guy with a smile that could melt off my panties?” Violet wanted to be a writer like her mom, except she was aiming for more romance and chick lit.
Maybe even borderline erotic.
We each moved around to opposite sides of the car, Violet to the driver’s side and me closer to the man candy who’d stopped to help us out.
“Um…hi,” I offered inching closer and closer to where he remained examining my flat tire. He bent down, pushing his dark sunglasses on top his head full of dark, run-your-fingers-through hair. The lean muscles cording his bicep bulged as he griped the tire. Was it hot out here or just him?
“Do you have a jack and spare?”
I blinked in his direction, processing his words among all the eye feast. If I waited longer, I’d look like a lunatic.
“Um.
He rose from a squatting position. His pale blue gaze met my dumbfounded look. And too soon, he pulled his glasses back into place, shutting me off from seeing his eyes.
“That’s what it’s called.” Violet yelled over the top of the car. “That sounds way better than tire thingy.”
Our heads popped up, looking at the person who spoke. If we’d broken down on a dusty highway in the desert, I might have thought he was a mirage and not the gorgeous guy who stopped to offer help.
College changes a girl’s perspective when it comes to guys. Athletes, they hate being called jocks, don’t have much time to date with practices, games and mandatory study hall and quiet hours. Musicians were okay but unless I liked smelling like an ashtray and waiting in a long line of groupies to say hello, I tended to avoid them.
Smart guys were the ticket. Not rocket scientists but more like the quiet, intellectual type that attended classes, wore clean clothes, held open doors, and enjoyed reading a good book. And this guy who stopped to help two stranded girls didn’t give off a creeper vibe but a knight in shining armor vibe. Full dark brown hair that didn’t require much maintenance rested above a firm jaw and a brilliant smile. I held back a groan because the scenario was too good to be true.
As quick as we popped up, we popped back down.
“Oh my god. Do you see what I see?” I whispered from behind the trunk lid.
“I don’t know. Was it a hot guy with a smile that could melt off my panties?” Violet wanted to be a writer like her mom, except she was aiming for more romance and chick lit.
Maybe even borderline erotic.
We each moved around to opposite sides of the car, Violet to the driver’s side and me closer to the man candy who’d stopped to help us out.
“Um…hi,” I offered inching closer and closer to where he remained examining my flat tire. He bent down, pushing his dark sunglasses on top his head full of dark, run-your-fingers-through hair. The lean muscles cording his bicep bulged as he griped the tire. Was it hot out here or just him?
“Do you have a jack and spare?”
I blinked in his direction, processing his words among all the eye feast. If I waited longer, I’d look like a lunatic.
“Um.
He rose from a squatting position. His pale blue gaze met my dumbfounded look. And too soon, he pulled his glasses back into place, shutting me off from seeing his eyes.
“That’s what it’s called.” Violet yelled over the top of the car. “That sounds way better than tire thingy.”
Join me at the Vineyard today, where I'm blogging about naming characters.
The Writer's Vineyard
The Writer's Vineyard
I'm pleased to have the Martini Club here at coffee with friends today. When four romance writers from Oklahoma get together, you never know what might happen...
Martini Club 4 – The 1920s
Amanda McCabe, Alicia Dean, Kathy L Wheeler and Krysta Scott have a unique friendship. Yes, they are all romance writers, and at different stages in their writing careers. But every Friday night, schedules permitting, they meet at the Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma where they chitchat, plan retreats to get away and for just a general get away. Over a period of time the idea to create a series of stories where the Martini Lounge would serve as a backdrop—well, as writers, that was inevitable. So here we are with our first go at it. Welcome to 1920s New York City where four young women run away from England excited to make their own way in a new world.
All four stories are now available for the pre-order price of **$0.99** until February 26, 2015, the official release
All four stories are now available for the pre-order price of **$0.99** until February 26, 2015, the official release
Rebellous
Can an aristocratic lady melt the cold heart of a Russian gangster?
Lady Jessica Hatton fled her high-society London debutante life for one of investigative journalism in New York—only to be relegated to the fashion pages. Searching for a juicy story leads her to Club 501, the city's most glamorous speakeasy—and its handsome, mysterious owner, Frank Markov. But his past of war and revolution puts their hearts—and their lives—in danger...
Excerpt:
“Do you smell that, Meggie?” Jessica Hatton cried as she leaned into the cold, salt spray wind, her t-strap shoes perched on the lowest rung of the ship's railing. She'd lost her hat, and the short strands of her hair blew into her eyes, but she didn't care. England was far behind them. They had escaped.
“It smells like freedom!” she shouted, and threw up her arms. It felt like she could fly all the way to America.
“I only smell old fish,” Meggie said. “Now come down from there, Jess. If you tumble into the drink, it will all be over before it even starts.”
Jessica laughed and shook her head, but she did climb down. She spun around to see Meggie stretched out on one of the deck chairs, the glossy mink collar of her coat drawn close around her.
The sky was grey and dismal-looking, the water not as glassy-smooth as when they slid past Ireland yesterday and headed out to open sea. Several of the passengers had retreated to their cabins, but Jessica couldn't stand staying inside. Not when there was so much to be seen.
“It smells like fish and freedom,” Jessica insisted. “But we can go in now. Maybe Charlotte and Eliza will want to play some cards or mah-jong.”
“Finally,” Meggie grumbled as she swung her feet down to the damp deck. But her smile was broad. Jessica knew Meggie was loving it all just as much as she was.
Amanda McCabe wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOK Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICWBC8
Contact info: http://ammandamccabe.com
Lady Jessica Hatton fled her high-society London debutante life for one of investigative journalism in New York—only to be relegated to the fashion pages. Searching for a juicy story leads her to Club 501, the city's most glamorous speakeasy—and its handsome, mysterious owner, Frank Markov. But his past of war and revolution puts their hearts—and their lives—in danger...
Excerpt:
“Do you smell that, Meggie?” Jessica Hatton cried as she leaned into the cold, salt spray wind, her t-strap shoes perched on the lowest rung of the ship's railing. She'd lost her hat, and the short strands of her hair blew into her eyes, but she didn't care. England was far behind them. They had escaped.
“It smells like freedom!” she shouted, and threw up her arms. It felt like she could fly all the way to America.
“I only smell old fish,” Meggie said. “Now come down from there, Jess. If you tumble into the drink, it will all be over before it even starts.”
Jessica laughed and shook her head, but she did climb down. She spun around to see Meggie stretched out on one of the deck chairs, the glossy mink collar of her coat drawn close around her.
The sky was grey and dismal-looking, the water not as glassy-smooth as when they slid past Ireland yesterday and headed out to open sea. Several of the passengers had retreated to their cabins, but Jessica couldn't stand staying inside. Not when there was so much to be seen.
“It smells like fish and freedom,” Jessica insisted. “But we can go in now. Maybe Charlotte and Eliza will want to play some cards or mah-jong.”
“Finally,” Meggie grumbled as she swung her feet down to the damp deck. But her smile was broad. Jessica knew Meggie was loving it all just as much as she was.
Amanda McCabe wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)
She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOK Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a very bossy miniature Poodle, along with far too many books.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICWBC8
Contact info: http://ammandamccabe.com
Ruined
She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans...
After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.
Former boxer, Vince “The Fist” Taggart dreams of marrying, having a family, and living a quiet, peaceful life. But when a girl he's known since childhood disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza is the key to finding his missing friend.
Excerpt:
Eliza lifted her gaze, then looked away when she met his eyes. They were just too…striking, too blue. “I’m afraid you’ll have to speak to Oscar. He handles all my transactions.” She could never have a normal outing with a man. A lump of regret rose in her throat. She turned and started up the stairs.
Vince caught up to her in a few steps and grabbed her arm, taking the bag from her at the same time. “That was a lousy thing to say.”
She opened her mouth to accuse him of going around Oscar so he didn’t have to pay. But that was ridiculous. He hadn’t taken what he’d paid for the first time. She lifted a hand and rubbed her forehead. His attention confused her. What was his angle? He didn’t want sex. Did he think she was hiding something about Cynthia and if he spent time with her he could draw it out? “What do you want from me?”
“A picnic.”
Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICLM2I
http://aliciadean.com
http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487
https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_
http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/
After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.
Former boxer, Vince “The Fist” Taggart dreams of marrying, having a family, and living a quiet, peaceful life. But when a girl he's known since childhood disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza is the key to finding his missing friend.
Excerpt:
Eliza lifted her gaze, then looked away when she met his eyes. They were just too…striking, too blue. “I’m afraid you’ll have to speak to Oscar. He handles all my transactions.” She could never have a normal outing with a man. A lump of regret rose in her throat. She turned and started up the stairs.
Vince caught up to her in a few steps and grabbed her arm, taking the bag from her at the same time. “That was a lousy thing to say.”
She opened her mouth to accuse him of going around Oscar so he didn’t have to pay. But that was ridiculous. He hadn’t taken what he’d paid for the first time. She lifted a hand and rubbed her forehead. His attention confused her. What was his angle? He didn’t want sex. Did he think she was hiding something about Cynthia and if he spent time with her he could draw it out? “What do you want from me?”
“A picnic.”
Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.
Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICLM2I
http://aliciadean.com
http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487
https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_
http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/
Reckless
Lady Margaret turned Lady Bootlegger…
Singer Margaret (Meggie) Montley needs money…fast. Her friend is in a dire situation with nowhere to turn. While Meggie is on the brink of stardom, it’s not soon enough to save her friend.
Harry Dempsey is out to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of a ruthless gangster. But trouble spirals out of control when Meggie Montley shows up the night he meets his nemesis to settle the score. Saving the impetuous woman from a crime lord might be easier than saving her from her own reckless behavior.
Excerpt:
Meggie launched herself from her hiding place and threw her arms about Harry’s neck. Locked in his muscular embrace, she rested her chin on his shoulder. His arms tightened around her. “Oh, Harry. I came as fast as I could. Just as we’d planned.” The words, she’d intended to carry, came out breathless.
“Fast, huh?” The whisper was against her ear where no one else could hear, raised goose prickles over her entire body. “Guess I’ll have to do something about that.” He lifted his head. “What are you doing with my girl, Joe?”
Joey’s hands flew into the air, indicating his surrender. “Sorry, Dempsey. Had no idea she was anyone’s quiff—”
Meggie’s cheeks burned, and she stiffened at the insult. Harry’s one arm gripped her closer. The other shot up, jerking her body like a rag doll. She couldn’t see Harry’s face with her own now buried in his neck, but she felt the corded muscles contract.
Kathy L Wheeler (also known as Kae Elle Wheeler) writes both Contemporary and Historical Romance. She was born in Presque Isle, Maine. How she ended up in Texas, then Oklahoma is as much a mystery to her as anyone. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BA in Management Information Systems and a minor in Vocal Music.
She is published through The Wild Rose Press. She loves to travel. Ports of call include a three week stint in Europe covering Madrid, Barcelona, Avignon, Paris, Koln, Amsterdam and London. Other exciting places she’s visited are Grand Cayman, Puerta Vallerta, Mexico, Vancouver, Canada, and roaming from one romance writing conference to another nationwide. You may have met her in Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, New York or Atlanta. She is a member of the Oklahoma RWA Chapter, Dara, and The Beau Monde. Kathy lives with her musically talented husband in Edmond, Oklahoma. They have one grown daughter and one bossy cat, Carly!
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICW0G0
Contact info: kathy@klwheeler.com
http://kathylwheeler.com
http://kathylwheeler.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler
http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler
http://pinterest.com/kathylwheeler
Singer Margaret (Meggie) Montley needs money…fast. Her friend is in a dire situation with nowhere to turn. While Meggie is on the brink of stardom, it’s not soon enough to save her friend.
Harry Dempsey is out to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of a ruthless gangster. But trouble spirals out of control when Meggie Montley shows up the night he meets his nemesis to settle the score. Saving the impetuous woman from a crime lord might be easier than saving her from her own reckless behavior.
Excerpt:
Meggie launched herself from her hiding place and threw her arms about Harry’s neck. Locked in his muscular embrace, she rested her chin on his shoulder. His arms tightened around her. “Oh, Harry. I came as fast as I could. Just as we’d planned.” The words, she’d intended to carry, came out breathless.
“Fast, huh?” The whisper was against her ear where no one else could hear, raised goose prickles over her entire body. “Guess I’ll have to do something about that.” He lifted his head. “What are you doing with my girl, Joe?”
Joey’s hands flew into the air, indicating his surrender. “Sorry, Dempsey. Had no idea she was anyone’s quiff—”
Meggie’s cheeks burned, and she stiffened at the insult. Harry’s one arm gripped her closer. The other shot up, jerking her body like a rag doll. She couldn’t see Harry’s face with her own now buried in his neck, but she felt the corded muscles contract.
Kathy L Wheeler (also known as Kae Elle Wheeler) writes both Contemporary and Historical Romance. She was born in Presque Isle, Maine. How she ended up in Texas, then Oklahoma is as much a mystery to her as anyone. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BA in Management Information Systems and a minor in Vocal Music.
She is published through The Wild Rose Press. She loves to travel. Ports of call include a three week stint in Europe covering Madrid, Barcelona, Avignon, Paris, Koln, Amsterdam and London. Other exciting places she’s visited are Grand Cayman, Puerta Vallerta, Mexico, Vancouver, Canada, and roaming from one romance writing conference to another nationwide. You may have met her in Seattle, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego, New York or Atlanta. She is a member of the Oklahoma RWA Chapter, Dara, and The Beau Monde. Kathy lives with her musically talented husband in Edmond, Oklahoma. They have one grown daughter and one bossy cat, Carly!
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RICW0G0
Contact info: kathy@klwheeler.com
http://kathylwheeler.com
http://kathylwheeler.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/kathylwheeler
http://twitter.com/kathylwheeler
http://pinterest.com/kathylwheeler
Runaway
Can she prove her innocence before more than her dreams are destroyed?
After escaping an arranged marriage, Lady Charlotte Leighton lands on a new shore, determined to realize her dream of opening her own bakery. But her plans are shattered when her former fiancé follows her to New York. Now, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom.
Haunted by a string of failures, Detective Felix Noble is determined to solve his latest case. But his efforts to find a murderer are jeopardized by a forbidden attraction to his number one suspect. While he’s certain Charlotte Leighton is keeping secrets, instinct tells him she’s not the murderess he first believed.
Excerpt:
Long thin fingers curled around a glass and lifted it from the tray. Charli followed the direction of the drink. Derrick Chaunce, or as the local duffs referred to him, “Slick”, grinned, exposing yellowed teeth.
“You … You…” Her throat closed. The rest of her diatribe wouldn’t budge.
He winked. His thin hair slicked back in the latest fashion exaggerated the gaunt cheekbones and sunken eyes, tinging him with an unhealthy, dilapidated look. He gulped the whiskey. A bit of the amber liquid escaped through the gap in his teeth and down his chin. Her stomach lurched.
“Thank you, sweet cakes. Put it on my tab.” He skulked off.
Charli whirled around. How did the bounder get past Tiny? Ira fumed about customers who ran up a high tab without reconciling at the end of the night. Now she would have to explain yet another charge added to Slick’s mounting debt. She sighed and rolled her eyes to the heavens. The customer was always right. Even when they were wrong.
Krysta Scott is a family law attorney in her false life. After years of writing and winning contests, she is now taking the plunge into publishing. A fan of sci-fi and dark stories surrounding people in crisis, she also enjoys way too much TV including Vampire Diaries, Breaking Bad, and Sherlock. Runaway is her breakout story.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RIFHGPC
Contact info: http://krystascottauthor.com
After escaping an arranged marriage, Lady Charlotte Leighton lands on a new shore, determined to realize her dream of opening her own bakery. But her plans are shattered when her former fiancé follows her to New York. Now, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom.
Haunted by a string of failures, Detective Felix Noble is determined to solve his latest case. But his efforts to find a murderer are jeopardized by a forbidden attraction to his number one suspect. While he’s certain Charlotte Leighton is keeping secrets, instinct tells him she’s not the murderess he first believed.
Excerpt:
Long thin fingers curled around a glass and lifted it from the tray. Charli followed the direction of the drink. Derrick Chaunce, or as the local duffs referred to him, “Slick”, grinned, exposing yellowed teeth.
“You … You…” Her throat closed. The rest of her diatribe wouldn’t budge.
He winked. His thin hair slicked back in the latest fashion exaggerated the gaunt cheekbones and sunken eyes, tinging him with an unhealthy, dilapidated look. He gulped the whiskey. A bit of the amber liquid escaped through the gap in his teeth and down his chin. Her stomach lurched.
“Thank you, sweet cakes. Put it on my tab.” He skulked off.
Charli whirled around. How did the bounder get past Tiny? Ira fumed about customers who ran up a high tab without reconciling at the end of the night. Now she would have to explain yet another charge added to Slick’s mounting debt. She sighed and rolled her eyes to the heavens. The customer was always right. Even when they were wrong.
Krysta Scott is a family law attorney in her false life. After years of writing and winning contests, she is now taking the plunge into publishing. A fan of sci-fi and dark stories surrounding people in crisis, she also enjoys way too much TV including Vampire Diaries, Breaking Bad, and Sherlock. Runaway is her breakout story.
Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00RIFHGPC
Contact info: http://krystascottauthor.com
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