Fashionista Friday: Let's Cover Up

When I think about Victoria’s Secret I don’t usually think of beach cover-ups, but they carry a nice, inexpensive line that you might want to check out if you need a beach dress or cover-up.  Here’s a couple that I like a lot.  This one has kimono style sleeves, a deep v neck, and ruched sides that are adjustable to alter the length of the cover-up. Buy it here for $43.

I also like one.   Who said lace isn’t sexy?  Buy it here for $50

I’m also impressed with another website found at http://www.sarong.com  They have a wide selection of sarongs which they promise can be tied in 15 different ways.  If you buy something they’ll send you instructions on how to tie it.  Their short one is $20, the long is $25.  This is their sheer black offering.  Buy the black one here.

They have almost any color or pattern you’d need, and I especially like this Malibu sarong.  Get it here.



If you want a beach dress, I think this is a cute example. Note the sweet little ruffle at the bottom. This dress is meant to be worn over your bathing suit. It comes from Best Beach Dresses and costs $29.99.

I also like these hand painted pareos from A Traveler's Blessing. They’re $34.99 here.

What did I buy for myself? Something very similar to the black lace number although you couldn’t see through it quite so much.

Six Sentence Sunday: The Welcome Inn

In this excerpt from The Welcome Inn, Buck has taken Julianna home after a man tried to kidnap her at the grocery store.  The Welcome Inn is available at Wings Press.

For more Six Sentence Sunday click here.


It felt blazing hot in the room, and Julianna’s breathing sounded as if she had just run a marathon. She could honestly say that she had never felt this way before. She had never wanted a man in her life. She knew exactly how men operated, and she wanted no part of them, but tonight she couldn’t control her heart. "I need you, Buck," she muttered.

Buck was in such a hurry to get his shirt off that he popped two buttons.

Catching the Digital Wave

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I couldn't go to the Romantic Times convention, but I know somebody who did. Here's a guest post from Z.A. Maxfield. Z.A.,thanks so much for coming.

Last week I attended the Romantic Times Conference at the lovely Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California. This is right in my own backyard, and it was so nice to be able to simply load up the car and have my husband drive me there without worrying about luggage weight restrictions and connecting flights, or sending boxes ahead and then sending them home again.

I had a really, really good time, and I can honestly say that after two or three of these I might actually figure out what I’m doing! One thing came through loud and clear, though, and that’s “Romance Is Alive and Well.” Romance writing is hot and it sells. There were writers there that have been writing forever, and there were those that are just starting out. There were huge fans and bloggers, cover models and PR people. Romance rocked the house.

Romance is big business and if I took away any one thing it’s that epublishing, which felt like the bastard stepchild of the industry even as recently as last year, is gaining traction among even the hardest hearts. It seemed everyone was talking about it, and not -- like last year -- just weighing the pros and cons. More mainstream writers were asking how they could use self-publishing to enhance their careers. It’s no longer the province of new writers, because it seems even established authors are looking into self-publishing for those backlist books to which they have the rights, and more and more authors are asking how they can publish on their own.

Digital was the word of the day, and each panel I attended, whether it was about digital publishing or not, seemed to devolve into a discussion of the ramifications of the effect of digital technology as a whole and the subsequent consequences to writers and readers specifically.

Which only makes sense when you realize the unprecedented sales of new reading devices -- delivered as holiday gifts last year, and the number of people using Kindle apps on phones, tablets, and computers.

The times, they are a-changing, and the future is here. My only complaint is that when I read romance novels on my kindle it doesn’t display those hot, hot cover men in color, because some things never go out of style…

What Is She Thinking?

In this excerpt, Stacey reacts to Matt's injuries. If you're just checking in, you can go to the first Cupcake post and read the excerpts in order. They'll make more sense that way. A New Dream is available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=2676585

Remember, if you leave a cupcake recipe you'll be entered in a second drawing for a cupcake trinket box pictured with this post.

Stacey shuddered and splashed some more water on her
face. The nausea had passed now. She staggered back into her
bedroom and threw herself across her bed. Matt’s legs looked
horrible! She’d give anything not to have been at the hospital when
the bandages came off. It had been bad enough when a sheet
covered Matt, but to actually see his mutilated legs turned her
stomach and made her feel faint.

She knew one thing, though. Until this afternoon she hadn’t
really understood that Matt’s football career had ended. Oh, she
realized he had lost a leg, but somehow it hadn’t been real to her
until she saw it for herself.

Rolling over, she curled into a tight, little ball. She had had
such fun going places with Matt. People always recognized him
and wanted his autograph. He had plenty of money too, and he
wasn’t stingy with it. The fame and money had thrilled her, but it
was all over and done with now. No more autographs or big
money.

Her stomach lurched again. She had more than just fame
and money to worry about. Matt had wanted to kiss her this
afternoon. In fact, when the doctor came in to take off Matt’s
bandages he had caught her sitting on the edge of the bed kissing
Matt. The doctor had kidded him about it, but she hadn’t minded
being interrupted at all. She…didn’t like to touch him too much
now.

Her thoughts drifted to the afternoon of their accident. Their
parents wouldn’t approve, but she and Matt had gone to Greenville
and checked into a luxury hotel that morning. They had spent his
last day of freedom in bed together. She drew a deep, shaky breath.
The day had been everything she’d dreamed it could be. Her body
tightened with the faint echo of passion. Matt was a good lover.

Oh, why did they have to have such a terrible accident? What
would happen to Matt now? Her engagement ring winked and
twinkled as it caught the light. She stared at it for a moment and
began to cry.

Welcome to My Cupcake Release Party!

Welcome to my cupcake release party for A New Dream! Why a cupcake theme? Because my heroine Violet Emerson works in a bakery, and because cupcakes are tiny little works of art. During the day I’ll be posting excerpts and some of my favorite cupcake recipes. If you comment on any of the posts you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a cupcake prize consisting of a cupcake stand, cupcake decorating kit, cupcake recipe and decorating book, and some cute little cupcake cups. If you share a cupcake recipe of you own you’ll be entered in a drawing for a second prize, a trinket box shaped like a cupcake with a bunny on top.
My first post is a blurb and the first part of the prologue from A New Dream. Hope you enjoy it! The buy link is http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=2676585

Blurb:
After an auto accident destroys his pro-football career, Matt McCallum struggles to find a new dream for his life, but nothing engages him the way football did. After a stint in rehab, he takes a job managing a grocery store where he meets Violet Emerson.

Violet works in the bakery department, but her dreams carry her far beyond the doors of Chef’s Pantry. As soon as she can save the money, she plans to open a catering business. And she thinks the new manager’s broad shoulders and blue eyes are simply divine.

Thrown together at work, Matt and Violet find a common dream for their lives, but a loose end from Matt’s past returns to jeopardize their future. Will love be enough to save their new dream before it turns into a nightmare?

Prologue

The red convertible cut a path through the moonlight, its
headlights dancing along the arched limbs of the trees above the
road.

“Oh, Matt, it’s such a beautiful night,” Stacey declared with
a sigh. “I’m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow.”

Matt reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’ll
miss you too, but if I don’t report on time, I’m in trouble with the
coach.”

“That’s what I get for falling in love with a pro football
player,” Stacey teased, her blonde hair turned to frosted silver by
the light of the full moon above them.

Matt squeezed her hand that wore his engagement ring. “It’s
too late to back out now,” he teased. “You’re mine.”

“Mmm, do I like the sound of that!”

The car rounded a curve, and without warning a deer
bounded across the road.

“Look out!” Stacey screamed.

Matt braked sharply to avoid the animal. The tires slid on a
patch of loose gravel in the road, and he lost control of the
convertible. It fishtailed and started to spin in the road.
Matt hauled the steering wheel to correct the slide, but it was
useless. The car turned around once more and skidded backwards
for a short distance before it charged off the road. It jumped a steep
ditch and went airborne. All Matt could see was a blur of trees and
darkness as the car careened into the woods. It made a lazy turn in
the air and came to rest bottom side up.

The last thing he remembered was the sound of Stacey’s
screams.
****

Welcome Cassandre Dayne

My guest today is Cassandre Dayne. Cassandre, welcome to my blog. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am a publisher author writing under Cassandre Dayne in the erotic romance genre. I have two short stories (14,888 and 20,678 words) out from Rebel Ink Press and have six more novellas/novels under contract for 2011 releases. I also write under Bethany – a vampire series called In the Shadow of Darkness – with four long books complete. I also write under Dakotah Black – a campy murder/mystery series set in community associations called Pinked. I live in Central Virginia with my husband and two gorgeous pups – Goldie Hawn and Macgyver and we own two companies – general contracting and association management. When not writing, I enjoy reading and cooking.

You write in many different genres. Is one easier than the other to manage?

No, I don’t honestly think one is easier to manage although because my vampire series is based around an American Indian vampire hero and brings in elements of the devil and the knights of the roundtable, I have had to do significant research. The erotic seems to flow easily. With the ones involving community associations – oh I have truly real stories that are funny and utterly ridiculous so it gives me plenty of fodder to write about!

What do you think makes a book a page turner? A story line that has not been done before, a conflict that is something we all have experienced and can relate to and characters that give you pause – what’s hiding behind those baby blues?

How many WIP do you have going?

Oh my – I have about 15 novels, 8 novellas and at least 10 stories that have been completed and need editing. I seem to have so many stories that bubble to the surface that I must write them. I keep a notebook at all times and it’s filled with ideas. I will type the ideas into a long synopsis and try to work on a new story/novel as well as editing at least two at the same time. The schedule keeps me energized.

What other authors if any have influenced your writing?

I love so many genres and read everything from Carl Haissen to Dean Koontz and all things sensual and erotic as well to learn my craft. An enchanting story teller gives me the tingles, sending my imagination soaring and then I have to read everything he or she writes.

6.Would you share your links with us?

www.bethanyhalle.com and www.cassandredayne.com. You can also find me at www.manicreaders.com/cassandredayne Dakotah Black’s site in the beginning stages. Anyone can also email me at either behalle@comcast.net or cassandre@cassandredayne.com

7.We’d love to read an excerpt. Don’t forget to give us a buy link.

You can check my links for excerpts. Here are a couple of them. You can also buy them at www.coffeetimeromance www.bookstrand.com and Barnes & Noble.

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cassandre+Dayne
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=cassandre+dayne&sprefix=cassandre+dayne

Thank you so much for the interview! I really enjoyed it.

So did I. Come back and see us soon.