Sweet Saturday Sample and a Sale

Hello, and welcome to my blog.  My excerpt today comes from Her Kind of Man which is available at Amazon and at http://www.lachesispublishing.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HerKindofMan  If you'd like a copy of the book go to the lachesis address and you can get 25% off with this code:
Her-Kind-of-Man-25-percent-discount

I'd really appreciate it if you'd go to the book page on Amazon and like and tag it.  The address is at the bottom of this post. Thanks in advance.

Okay, here's a blurb, then an excerpt.

Blurb:

Is it possible she’s finally found Her Kind of Man?

 

Ross Williams has been in love with Kara Cochrane since they were kids so when Kara's fiancé Brandon Miles cheats on her and calls off their wedding—Ross steps in to rescue the damsel in distress.

A heartbroken Kara just wants to get on with her life and hunky Ross provides her with a definite distraction—that is until she starts falling for him. Big time.

But a devastating family secret threatens to destroy everything that Kara holds dear—including her relationship with Ross.

 

Excerpt: In this excerpt, my hero and heroine are on their first date after Kara's sister stole her fiance.  Yeah, it was her sister who took her fiance.

 

Ross lifted her chin from his shoulder and kissed her.

She kissed him back. Brandon might not want her, but Ross did, and by golly if he wanted a kiss she’d give him one. It did feel strange to kiss someone besides Brandon. Ross didn’t hold her the same way.  Somehow, she felt he was totally in charge of this kiss, and that wasn’t always the case with Brandon. She clenched Ross’s shoulders.  His kiss was charged with a smoldering sexual energy that had been sadly lacking of late in Brandon’s kisses. Her fingers played across his back. Brandon had never felt so masculine and hard!  

Kara forgot about her meeting with Brandon’s parents, and she forgot about coming to the lake with Brandon. She’d have to be made of stone not to pay any attention to this kiss.

When Ross raised his head, Kara’s eyes fluttered open.

“That was nice,” she whispered, or maybe she only thought she said it. She didn’t know.

He bent his head again, but the lights from a passing car illuminated the SUV’s interior. Kara pulled away from him.

“Don’t, Ross. We shouldn’t be parked on the side of the road kissing each other.”

“Then where should we park?”

Kara blinked and tried to pull herself together.  “What?”

“To kiss. Where should we park so I can kiss you?’

Kara smiled in spite of herself. “We don’t need to be kissing at all. I don’t make a habit of kissing men on the first date.”

“You don’t know that,” Ross retorted. “It’s been a long time since you had a first date.”

The book is available at the following places.  Don't forget the 25% discount.

http://www.lachesispublishing.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HerKindofMan

http://www.amazon.com/Her-Kind-of-Man-ebook/dp/B007TCJ36E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334375227&sr=8-1

http://www.bookstrand.com/her-kind-of-man-0

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-herkindofman-771739-149.html

Fashionista Friday: We Don't Wear This Now

Isn't this a cute little outfit?  My heroine from Her Kind of Man, Kara Cochrane, won't wear it anymore even though it's really cute.

Dress: http://shop.mango.com/ficha.faces?state=she_006_IN  39.99 British pounds

Sandals: http://www.dsw.com  $20

Purse: http://www.tillys.com $20.00

Earrings: http://www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/product/fashion-to-buy-online/Jewellery-&-Hair/Coral-Glass-Bead-With-Matt-Gold-Effect-Disc-On-Fish-Hook-Earring/54082&resultsPerPage=100&attrList=Dept,brand  20 British pounds

So why doesn't Kara ever wear this outfit?  It reminds her of an evening she'd rather forget.  This excerpt from Her Kind of Man will tell you what happened.

What a great movie!” Kara gushed as she and Katie left the theater. She tossed her empty popcorn box and leftover soda into the trash can by the door. “Mama and Daddy will want to see it too.”

Katie blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes. “I know. It was too sad for words.”

As they left the theater and crossed the parking lot, Katie turned her head at the sound of a car door slamming.“ Why, there’s Kelly and Brandon.”

Kara looked in the direction of Katie’s pointing finger. “Great! They can….” Her voice trailed off as Kelly moved into Brandon’s passionate embrace!

“What…?” Kara’s words choked her as Brandon buried his hands in Kelly’s hair and kissed her as if he held the world’s greatest treasure in his arms.

Katie grabbed her arm. “Come on. We’re getting to the bottom of this.”

Kara dragged her feet as Katie towed her across the parking lot. “Katie, maybe….”

“What’s wrong with you?” Katie glared over her shoulder. “Hurry up!”

Kelly and Brandon were still wrapped around each other when Katie and Kara reached them.

“Kelly! ” Katie exclaimed. What do you think you’re doing?”

Kelly jerked away from Brandon so fast she stumbled and had to grab his arm to keep her balance. Even in the dim light in the parking lot Kara saw her sister’s face had gone scarlet as had Brandon’s.

Kara didn’t say anything. She couldn’t.

Kelly flinched as Brandon took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry, Kara. We never meant for you to find out this way.”

“What were you going to do?” Katie demanded with a wave of her hand. “Leave her at the altar?”

“No,” Kelly replied. Her eyes glittered like two burning blue coals. “We planned to tell her tomorrow night. We wanted her to have the weekend off to…to…to get used to things.”

Brandon looked Kara directly in the face for the first time. “I’m sorry, Kara. You have to know I never meant to hurt you, but I can’t marry you if I’m in love with your sister.”

Yikes!  I wouldn't wear the outfit either.  Her Kind of Man is now available at http://www.lachesispublishing.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HerKindofMan or at http://www.amazon.com/Her-Kind-of-Man-ebook/dp/B007TCJ36E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334274167&sr=1-1  It'll be available at B&N very soon.

Six Sentence Sunday

Welcome!  Today's excerpt comes from my brand spanking new book Her Kind of Man.  The book is so new it hasn't even been uploaded to Amazon and other outlets yet.  But if you'd like to read it, you can buy it at http://www.lachesispublishing.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HerKindofMan

First a quick blurb, then the excerpt.

Is it possible she’s finally found Her Kind of Man?

Ross Williams has been in love with Kara Cochrane since they were kids so when Kara's fiancé Brandon Miles cheats on her and calls off their wedding—Ross steps in to rescue the damsel in distress.

A heartbroken Kara just wants to get on with her life and hunky Ross provides her with a definite distraction—that is until she starts falling for him. Big time.

But a devastating family secret threatens to destroy everything that Kara holds dear—including her relationship with Ross.

Excerpt:  In this excerpt Kara my heroine has gone to the movies with her sister Katie.  As they leave the theater, they see their other sister Kelly kissing Kara's fiance.

Kelly's eyes glittered like two burning blue coals. “We planned to tell her tomorrow night. We wanted her to have the weekend off to…to…to get used to things.”

Brandon looked Kara directly in the face for the first time. “I’m sorry, Kara. You have to know I never meant to hurt you, but I can’t marry you if I’m in love with your sister.”

Six Sentence Sunday

Welcome to my blog.  Today's sentences come from The Welcome Inn which is available at http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/The%20Welcome%20Inn.htm

Blurb:
can’t stand Buck Abercrombie! He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss. Why wouldn’t the bank loan her the money to buy The Welcome Inn? As manager she has proved her worth.

Worse yet, Buck’s criminal brother Travis works for him, and her friend Melanie likes him!

In this excerpt, Buck and Julianna have gone skinny dipping.

Julianna knew a challenge when she heard it. With a toss of her head, she waded out of the water, her body shining in the moonlight. She seated herself in the swing and began to pump her legs. She swung higher and higher.  With a cry of triumph she swung over the water and let go of the swing.  She hit the lake with a splash, and when she surfaced, she came up in Buck's arms.

Fashionista Friday: Spring Florals

Let's take a look at some slacks today since the other things in the spring florals series were dresses.  I like this outfit a lot.  As always, though, remember that color varies widely from monitor to monitor.

Trousers: http://www.johnlewis.com/319810/Product.aspx?source=63325  180 British pounds

 Blouse:  http://us.missselfridge.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=34080&storeId=13069&productId=4710770&langId=-1  $61.60

Shoes:  http://www.johnlewis.com/304691/Product.aspx?source=63325   120 British pounds

Purse 1 with flowers.  There are two purses because I couldn't decide which one I liked.  http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/mar-y-sol-tote-guadeloupe-flower?ID=584300  $96

Purse 2:  http://shop.mango.com/ficha.faces;jsessionid=359B1DA3496FB85DF16EC69EC4E37303?state=she_006_IN  70 British pounds

Necklace:  http://republic.co.uk/women/jewellery/miso-long-rope-necklace-93864/  15 British pounds

Earrings:  On sale for !19.60

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/jenniferlopez/jewelry/earrings/PRD~1023836/Jennifer+Lopez+Gold+Tone+Wavy+Disc+Kite+Earrings.jsp

Without meaning to in the least, I seem to have created a mostly British outfit.  I think you multipy by around  two to get the value in American money, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. 

Sweet Saturday Sample

Thanks for stopping by!  Today's sample comes from A New Dream which is available at the following websites.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&sprefix=a+new+dr%2Caps%2C211

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/a-new-dream-by-elaine-cantrell?keyword=a+new+dream+by+elaine+cantrell&store=allproducts

http://www.astraeapress.com

Violet tried to scramble to her feet, but Matt held her close.  “Be still,” he ordered. “If you’d stop acting all offended you’d like the way it feels to sit on my lap.”

“Aren’t you afraid of scaring me now?” Violet accused in as sarcastic a tone as she could muster. “You’re bullying me, Matt, and I don’t like it.”

“You like everything about me,” Matt muttered as he pulled her head down and kissed her again.

Yes, she did. Violet momentarily resisted, but her defenses crumbled, and she returned Matt’s kiss with enthusiasm.

“I love you, Violet,” he whispered, tearing his lips from hers as if reluctant to end the kiss. “I want to marry you on the twenty third. Forget about Stacey. She’s the past.”

Sweet Saturday Sample

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample.  thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you enjoy today's excerpt from A New Dream.  In this excerpt, my hero Matt and his brother have a conversation after Matt's first date with my heroine Violet.

Matt didn’t quite get his bedroom door closed before Chris showed up. He poked his head around the corner and demanded, “Did you kiss her?”

Matt scowled at him as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it in a basket at the foot of his bed. “Chris, that’s none of your business,” he protested, feeling warmth spread up his face.

“You did kiss her,” Chris declared, satisfaction oozing from his voice. He moved into the room and threw himself down on the bottom of Matt’s bed. “If you hadn’t kissed her, you’d oh so virtuously tell me so.”

“Chris…”

“Is she the first since Stacey?”

“Chris…”

“She must be the first. Way to go, bro. It’s about time you woke up and realized your life isn’t over.”

“Chris…”

Chris picked up Matt’s Super Bowl ring that lay on the night stand beside the bed and slipped it on his finger. “That includes women too, Matt. Violet looked at you like you walk on water. Do you think you could be serious about her?”

Matt grabbed the ring and tossed it into a small wooden box on his dresser. “Chris…”

“I hope you won’t think I’m out of line, Matt, but I don’t think Violet’s the same kind of woman as Stacey.”

“Chris…”

“I mean, Stacey didn’t have a problem sleeping with you, but I think Violet would. Pam’s family knows Violet’s family, and she said Violet’s father is real strict. He raised the girls to have high

moral standards.”

“Chris…”

“You should think about getting married. You’re old enough, and you have a good job. If you got married you could move out of here. Just think about that.”

“Chris…”

“But the best part of it would be that you’d have a woman to cuddle with at night. Don’t you miss female companionship?”

Matt sighed and sank down on the bed beside Chris. “Yes, but…”

“But nothing. You think about it, Matt. Violet’s beautiful, and you need a wife. You could do worse.”

“Chris…”

“I’ve got to go to bed, Matt. I enjoyed our talk.”

Chris slammed the door behind him, leaving Matt with a smile on his face and a heart overflowing with laughter. “I enjoyed it too, Chris.”

For more samples go to http://www.sweetsaturdaysample.wordpress.com

I Want It!

Beautiful! So beautiful!  Here's where to buy it.

Dress: http://www.oasis-stores.com/Lace-Tile-Print-Dress/Dresses/oasis/fcp-product/3470082100  $115

Shoes: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/me+too+pique+pump?prodId=237836  59.95

Coat: http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=33058&productId=4244914&storeId=12557&langId=-1  50 English pounds

Purse: http://www.portero.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/218551/s/chanel-quilted-navy-leather-2-55-double-flap-shoulder-bag/  $1400.  Well, it is Chanel.

Earrings: http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/East+Enamel+flower+earring/164185855,default,pd.html  5 British pounds

Why I Love Wednesdays

My topic today is favorite author blogs.  Have you ever looked at http://www.savvyauthors.com?  I like this blog because it has a lot to offer.  They feature author interviews, articles on the craft and industry of writing, contests, workshops, legal issues, marketing and promo, contests, author interviews, and the writing life.  The articles on the front page look especially interesting today if you'd like to check them out.

For a list of more Why I Love participants go to http://www.reflectionsofabookaholic.com.

Sweet Saturday Sample

Today's excerpt comes from Return Engagement.  In this excerpt my hero and heroine have gone to a beach front carnival.  Return Engagement is available at Whiskey Creek Press. 

She paused when they passed a shooting arcade. "Richard, you’re FBI, so I guess you’re supposed to be a good shot. Win me a stuffed animal."

Richard groaned. "Those guns are probably all sighted wrong so you can’t win. Couldn’t I just buy you one instead?"

"No, that won’t do at all. Never mind. It’s okay if you don’t think you can do it," she replied with no hint of a smile whatsoever. Would he try to win a prize for her or not?

"Okay, I know a challenge when I hear it." Richard stepped up to the counter and inspected the row of guns provided by the arcade. "I’ll win you an animal if I have to stay here all night."

The attendant, a wizened gnome of a man with a sour expression on his face, wandered over to them as though he was conferring a great honor on them. "Win a prize for the  

lady, mister? Dollar a shot."

"Yeah, I’ll give it a try."

He selected the gun he wanted and shot, but he missed. "Just as I expected. The sights are off, and it pulls to the left." He adjusted for the bad sights, aimed, and squeezed the trigger. This time he hit the target dead center.

"Hooray," cheered Elizabeth. "I want that big white cat over there. How many does he have to hit to get it?"

"Ten in a row," the man sourly replied.

A few minutes later Richard and Elizabeth walked away, carrying the big cat with them.

Elizabeth tucked her arm through his and squeezed. "This is so exciting! Nobody ever won anything for me before. You are such a good shot. I bet you’re one of the FBI’s best marksmen." Is he blushing? thought Elizabeth. I bet it’s been a long time since a woman made him blush.

Sweet Saturday Sample

Remember the thrill of dressing up for that special date?  Watch my heroine Violet decide what to wear on her special date.  A New Dream is available at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

 “How should I wear my hair?” Violet chewed at her lip.  “I’m wearing the blue dress I wore to Henry and Julie’s wedding.

Marjorie sighed and rolled her eyes. “Violet, I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have encouraged you to go out with Matt. His friend’s wedding is all you’ve talked about for days now.” She sighed again. “Wear your hair just like you always wear it. Mattnlikes it that way.”

“He does? How do you know?”

“Because of the way he looks at you.” Marjorie passed a tub of cake frosting to Violet. “Now, Violet, you still have several cakes to ice. You’d better get at it.”

“I don’t like my shoes. I think I need to get something nicer. Where could I find something sort of unusual?”

“Patterson’s at the mall. Now about those cakes…”

“Do you think I should get a makeover before the wedding?” Violet surveyed her reflection in the glass display case.

“No. Cakes…”

“I’ll stop by Nada’s Dress Shoppe after work. Everything there costs the earth, so I can’t afford to buy anything, but I’ll get some ideas on how to accessorize my dress.”

Marjorie iced the cakes.

Ho, Ho, Ho: Holliday Spice: Choose Your Flavor Naught or Nice

Welcome, readers.  My name is Violet Emerson.  Elaine told my and my husband's story in her book A New Dream.  We've taken over her blog for the month of December to give her a rest.  It's thrilling to host this tour!  Please check back with us often.  We have a lot of fun things planned for you.  Okay, let's go!  Here are the rules and then the good stuff.
1) HAVE FUN!!!

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Enjoy this excerpt from my Christmas story The Table in the Window.

Blurb:

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

In this excerpt, Marley my heroine goes to a tree decorating party which is also attented by my hero, Rob.

Marley felt hot blood rush to her face. To distract him she held out her arm and indicated her sweater. “I bought this blue sweater just for you.” The sweater fit her like a glove and looked chic. The fact that it was blue had clinched the deal, even though she knew she should save her money for Christmas presents.

Rob took her hand and pulled her forward. “You look beautiful.” Before she knew what he intended, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Warmth flooded Marley. She leaned into him, and he obliged her with another kiss. He finally pulled away and muttered, “Nice. Very nice.”

Oh, it certainly was. Kissing Michael had always been heavenly, but it hadn’t been like this. This kiss made her knees go weak and her heart pound in her chest.  What could be wrong with her tonight? How could she forget Michael so easily? Confused, she stammered, o“We…we’d…better go help with the tree.”

Oh no. Rob’s eyes were doing that twinkling thing again.

“Don’t worry, Marley. Sylvia won’t let anyone bother us.”

Marley bolted out of the kitchen.  She figured he was right about Sylvia.

The Table in the Window is available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677  or at http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323782681&sr=8-1

For your chance to win a free copy of The Table in the Window, follow this blog and leave a comment saying you did so.  If you already follow say that too.  Don't forget to leave your email so I can send you your story if you win.  To check out other participants return to http://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.comhttp://www.enchantedmusepress.blogspot.com.

Welcome Anne Patrick

Hello, readers.  My name is Violet McCallum.  My dashing husband and I have taken over Elaine's blog during the month of December.  If you see her, tell her that everything is going well.  She's biting her fingernails off worrying about it, but we think she needs a vacation.  While she's gone, we lined up a special guest for today.  Matt, would you like to introduce her?

Of course.  Our guest today is Anne Patrick.  Anne is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. Her heroines are usually strong willed, witty, and often very opinionated…combinations that usually land them in situations where death seems imminent. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures.

Thank you, my darling!  What a brilliant introduction.Anne, do you think being a published author has changed you? If so, how?

Anne: Yes, I'm more focused now...more serious about my craft. I want to write the best story I can. I don't want to disappoint my readers.

Violet:  I'm sure you'd never do that!  Was there any pivotal event that triggered your becoming a writer?

Anne:  No. I was pretty much born with the desire to write. I can't remember a time when I wasn't making up stories in my head. I've had many teachers and a couple of writing instructors who were very encouraging, and my mother of course. She was my biggest supporter.

Violet: Cool.  That's what Elaine always says.  About making up stories in her head, I mean.  How many manuscripts did you write before you were published? 

Anne: Six or seven I think.

Violet:  Wow!  How long does it take you to complete a manuscript? Do you work on more than one thing at a time? 

Violet: After the research is done it usually takes me 8-12 weeks. I sometimes work on up to three stories at once.

Matt: Would you share your links with us?   I'd like to find you on the web.

Anne: My website (where I have montly giveaways): http://www.annepatrick.weebly.com & blog: http://www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com

Matt: I like contests.  We’d love to read an excerpt. Don’t forget a buy link.

Blurb & Excerpt

Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister's killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

*****

The steel door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound echoing throughout the metal building. "Mr. Urlik?" She waited for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting before stepping all the way inside. A wide stream of light from the door spread out in front of her. "Mr. Urlik. Are you in here?"

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.

"No time. Get out."

"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.

She scrambled to her feet, as more shots ricocheted around her, and dove through an opening on the first row of shelves. A piercing pain sliced through her upper arm as she took cover behind some boxes. They wouldn't shield her from the gunfire but they would conceal her presence while she figured out how she was going to get out of there. She paused long enough to grab her cell phone from her backpack, wishing she hadn't when another bullet tore through a box beside her. She ducked lower to the floor.

Kory ignored the throbbing in her arm and slithered along the floor toward the back of the building. As a child, she and her sister, Callie, had often accompanied her grandfather to the warehouse where he worked on boats as a hobby. She remembered a back exit that led to the side parking lot and nearby woods. If she could reach the door, she had a chance of getting out of this alive. She looked down at the tear in her shirt, drenched with blood.

This isn't good!

Buy links -

Available at Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-227/Wounded-Heros-Book-One/Detail.bok Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Heroes-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0067DE258/ref=sr_1_52?ie=UTF8&qid=1321336626&sr=8-52

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wounded-heroes-book-one-anne-patrick/1107396600?ean=2940013446410&itm=14&usri=anne%252bpatrick

and most online bookstores.

 

Violet: Anne, thank you so much for coming.  Your book sounds really good.  Maybe Matt can give me a copy for Christmas. 

 

Matt: It's our first Christmas together so you can read the book first, but then it's my turn.  Anne, come back and see us anytime.

Six Sentence Sunday: The Table in the Window

Today's excerpt is from The Table in the Window which is available at http://www.amazon.com/Table-Window-ebook/dp/B006GYAQ26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322968258&sr=8-1 or at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=7885677

If you'd like to read the opening scene in the book check out yesterday's post.  In this excerpt, my hero is escorting my heroine home from a party.

The spicy scent of his body enveloped her when his arms closed around her.

Marley forgot about Michael. She forgot that she didn’t know Rob very well. She grabbed his shoulders and pressed herself against him as his warm, persuasive lips teased hers. How did he

learn to kiss like this? Her knees would buckle if he let go of her.

Six Sentence Sunday

Hello and thanks for stopping by.  Today's excerpt comes from The Best Selling Toy Of The Season which is available at Melange Books.

Nikki watched as Tommy shrugged his coat off. She must have lost her mind. Why had she accepted help from this man? Only a fool depended on a man to take care of her. Her own father had never done anything for her and look at the kids’ father. No, she knew about men and the trouble they brought to women, but in the space of less than an hour she had allowed Tommy Price—golly but he was handsome—to replace the broken toys and help her with her tree.

SAVE A TURKEY: GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP TOUR (NOV 14-21)

Blog Hop Rules

1)     HAVE FUN!!!                                                                                                                                                                               

2) INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3) THIS TOUR STARTS: Monday, November 14, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, November 21, at Midnight (Arizona Time)
Winners will be drawn and posted November 22nd! ***

4) MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS & BOOK PAGES! EXPERIENCE A NEW DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5) PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR & BOOK PAGE IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

6) DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN? WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!***Authors & Book Pages have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Now for the good stuff...
                                                                             

Imagine that its Thanksgiving morning.  You’re in a good mood because for starters you aren’t working.  You’ve also gotten a head start on your Thanksgiving dinner by cooking a lot of stuff on Wednesday.  The good china even got washed because you ought to use it at least once a year.  The turkey’s in the oven, and it smells delicious. 

Dinner’s at one so the turkey comes out of the oven at eleven.  That should give you plenty of time to get it sliced.  (We don’t carve turkeys at the table.  We slice them beforehand.  Well, to tell the truth my husband slices them beforehand.) 

You give him the special platter that you use on Thanksgiving and Christmas and run upstairs to change your clothes.  It’s such a perfect day that you even like the way your hair turned out.

You run back downstairs and put the finishing touches on the table.  You add the spare leaf because you have close to twenty people coming for dinner.  Then, your husband joins you in the dining room.  “I finished the turkey,” he says, so you go into the kitchen to check on it. 

Gasp!  What horror!  The cat Elizabeth is sitting in the turkey eating her fill!  Oh, no!  Oh, no!  Now what? 

Readers, this really did happen to me.  When I announce my winners, I’ll tell you what I did.   To enter my contest, follow my blog and leave a comment telling me that you followed.  If you’re already a follower, tell me that too.  Now there’s only one thing left to do.  Tell me what you would have done if your cat was sitting in your turkey. 

Here are the prizes:

Prize 1 an ecopy of my new Christmas release The Table in the Window.  (available on Black Friday at http://www.astraeapress.com  The photo of the cover is only the proof, not the finished product.

Prize 2 a set of black and silver earrings by my favorite designer Lucy O.

Prize 3 a PDF copy of my novel A New Dream (available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662249&mode=product&product=2676585 )

Would you like to read an excerpt from The Table in the Window?  This is from Chapter One where my heroine's fiance breaks up with her right before Christmas

Robert offered them a menu, but Michael waved it away.  “I’m not having lunch.”

Marley’s eyebrows shot up.  As the waiter left the table, she said, “I thought you wanted to have lunch.”

“No, I said I wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay, talk.”  Marley reached for his hand, but he drew it away and put it in his lap.

“Uh, Marley, I have something to tell you.”  He cleared his throat, and this time he stared at some point right behind her left shoulder.

Marley’s heart thumped.  “What is it, Michael?  What’s wrong?”  Was he ill?  Had he lost his job? 

He stared at a burned spot on the rustic table as if it had come to life and was about to bite him.  “I..I’ve met someone.”

Marley cocked her head.  “Who did you meet?”

His voice was so low she had a hard time hearing him.  “Her name is Heather.”

Everything clicked.  He wouldn’t hold hands with her.  He wouldn’t look at her.  Cold more intense than anything outside settled into her veins and almost took her breath away, but she clung to the hope that she was wrong.  “I..I don’t understand.”

His eyes briefly met hers before they slid away.  “Yes, you do.  I’m sorry, Marley, but I can’t marry you after all.”
To return to the blog hop list click here.

Why I Love Wednesday

Today's topic is bookish websites.  I've found so many of them that I love.  Most are informative, entertaining, and are frequently updated.  One of the ones that I liked the most when I became a writer was http://www.passionatepen.com  This site has a list of romance publishers and links to good writing related websites.  The website belongs to Jenna Peterson whose name is probably familiar to most of you. 

Another excellent resource is http://www.savvyauthors.com  You'll have to look at it to believe all the information and workshops they offer.  At this website you can write articles for submission and get your name before the public too.  If you have contests you'd like to be listed this is the place for it. 

Okay, tell me; what bookish website is your favorite?

Six Sentence Sunday

These are the first six sentences from my first novel A New Leaf.  A New Leaf was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love contest.  If you'd like to read the prologue scroll to yesterday's post.  A New Leaf is available at http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm

Kyle Alexander took a deep, deep, breath and exhaled loudly.  For the first time in five long years he was free.  Even the air was better outside Tanglewood Prison.

Beside him in the Lexus, his lawyer, Tommy Price, smiled in sympathy.  “Much better out here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

Today's excerpt comes from the first book I ever wrote.  It also just happens to be the 2003 winner of The Timeless Love contest.  You can buy A New Leaf at http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm

Prologue

“I can’t say that I’m sorry you lost this one, Tommy,” Maria Mendoza called from the prosecution’s side of the courtroom.

Tommy Price, the defense attorney, shook his head with a grimace.  “I know what you mean, Maria.  I did my best, but I really didn’t expect to win.  What can I say?  He was obviously guilty.”

“How’d you get mixed up with him?  You usually represent a better class of criminal.”

Tommy laughed outright.  “Most of my clients are innocent, thank you very much.  I defended Kyle Alexander because my wife asked me to.  They went to school together, and she felt sorry for him.”

“Oh.”  Maria understood perfectly.  Most people who knew the Prices thought that Tommy would commit any act short of murder for Nikki, and some said he wouldn’t draw the line at murder either. 

“You probably got him a lighter sentence,” Maria consoled.

“Yeah, probably.  I just hope he turns over a new leaf while he’s in prison.”

Privately, Maria doubted it.  Kyle Alexander had been in trouble since he was a kid, and she didn’t think that anything was going to change with him.  As an adult his crimes had been progressively serious, culminating in this conviction for armed robbery.  No, people like Kyle never changed.  She had no doubt that she’d be prosecuting him again as soon as his sentence was served and he was free.

Fashionista Friday: Accessories

Those who know me best agree that I love jewelry.  So, what’s hot for the fall and winter?  The number one fashion jewelry piece for the fall is a cuff.  Preferably made of gold, silver or copper, either plain or with large, colorful stones.  I like this one.  Buy it for $14.99 at http://www.tanojewelry.com/gold-cuff-bracelet.html

I also like this sterling silver bracelet from Indonesia.  Buy it at  http://www.overstock.com/Worldstock-Fair-Trade/Sterling-Silver-Filigree-Wild-Rose-Cuff-Bracelet-Indonesia/5572074/product.html for $125.99.

My next pick is this Swarovski crystal-embellished 22 karat gold plated cuff.  Buy it at  http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/168612 for $325.

If nothing so far interests you, how about this one?  It’s only $5.99 at http://www.shopjewelryfactory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_11_100&products_id=10361