True Love Stories: Someday You'll Laugh

When I heard that Astraea Press was looking for true love stories, I jumped at the chance. Traveling back to the 1970’s was a ball! Or should I say “groovy!” The more I wrote, the more I remembered. It was like being courted all over again. What fun.

Until I really got to thinking about it:

The angst of having to dump one guy for another, dealing with a jealous stand-by, recovering from a crushed heart — whoa, I think I’m glad to be in the present!

Yet, it was fun writing about it.

Here’s the blurb for Someday You’ll Laugh:

Stunned when her boyfriend announces they should be free to see others when he leaves for college, Brenda pastes a smile on her face and walks away. Far away. Only to find herself irresistibly drawn into the arms of another guy. 

Brenda’s previous boyfriend finds out, claims he made a huge mistake, and wants her back. She will receive a marriage proposal, but from which one?

Later, on her wedding day, Brenda awakens knowing something is wrong. Will she make it through the ceremony?

Buy Link:  http://tinyurl.com/c3nrzok

 

EXCERPT

 

Don’t vomit in the middle of your wedding. Good advice all around. Too bad I ignored it.

 My story didn’t start with vomiting, but it did begin with a good gut wrench…

 The low sun flamed from the sky even though the time was edging toward nine-thirty at night. I squinted into the glowing horizon and my heart squeezed. I held back the tears.

 “Just ten months,” Greg whispered to me. “It’s not so long.”

 “Only forever,” I answered. I hadn’t let go of his arm for the past thirty minutes.

 He shifted his weight and settled onto the park bench. “We need to talk.”

 “We are talking.” I joined him, stretched my legs, and dipped the toes of my shoes into the loose gravel at my feet.

 His face had gone serious, and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. He gazed over my shoulder toward the playground equipment as if observing interesting twists of fine sculpture.

 I still held his arm, but now I released my death grip. My fingers remained bent, stuck in a clutched position. “What is it?”

 “I think we should see other people.” His words dropped like bricks, gaining speed as they crashed on my ears.

 My mouth fell open and I jolted to my feet, tripping over a stone which protruded from the loose rock circling the bench. I skittered a bit, and regained my balance. “See other people? What do you mean?”

 “Sit back down.” Greg pulled on my arm and coaxed me onto the bench again. “California’s a long way from here, and I think it’d be a good idea to keep our options open.”

 I sat like a wooden toy, stiff and unmoving. I knew I was staring at him, I knew my face was revealing too much, and I knew I wanted to deck him.

 “I take it you’ve given this a lot of thought.” My voice sounded so pinched, I hardly recognized it.

 “Not a lot. Some, though.” Was it my imagination or did he look like he wanted to crawl under the rock I’d just tripped over?

 Our ten months together during my senior year of 1973 evaporated into a depressing mist. I stood. “Fine. If that’s the way you want it, sounds good to me.” I coughed to try and cover up the bitterness in my tone.

 He rose beside me and his blond hair fell over his eyes. He pushed the strands aside with an absent-minded flick of his hand. “Don’t be that way. It’s a good idea, and it’ll be much easier on us. Long distance relationships are hard.”

 “How would you know?”

 “Everyone says so.”

 “Fine,” I repeated. “Now to make sure I have it straight — we’re both free to see other people, right?”

 He nodded, but I thought I detected a kernel of doubt beginning to grow. His brows crinkled and his blue eyes narrowed.

 I went on. “Okay. I guess we’re both on the same page then. You leave in a couple hours for college in California while I stay here in Washington. And we’re both free to date other people. Are we going to communicate at all, or are we stopping that too?”

 I deserved a medal. My voice poured out words as if reciting the latest cookie recipe, not closing down a relationship that had cruised along for the better part of a year.

 Greg’s eyes stayed focused on mine. “We can write. I think it only takes a couple of days for a letter to get here from California. You’ll write me, won’t you?”

 I raised my chin. I could keep up the ruse for another few minutes. “Of course. We’ll both write. It’s a plan.”

 I leaned over and kissed him. I didn’t give him time to kiss me back.

 “Safe travels,” I said and smiled with warmth I didn’t feel. If he was dumping me, I was going out with class. I made certain the look in my eyes matched my smile, then turned and walked away, swaying my hips as if there were no tomorrow.

 Eat your heart out, Greg Johnson.

 Eat your heart out, but good.

 There was sadness inside me somewhere, but the anger and growing nausea were doing a masterful job of covering it up.

 Keep our options open, indeed.

So be it.

 The creep.

 

 

About the Author

 

 

My passion is writing! What could be more delicious than inventing new characters and seeing where they take you?

I'm a teacher so I spend most of my waking hours with young people. I love chatting with them and hearing their views on love and life. My students are magical, and I am honored to be part of their lives.

I've lived in Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Costa Rica. Presently, I live in Indiana with my husband, Paul. We have two grown children and a precious grandbaby, special delivery from Africa.

When not teaching, I love to hole up in our lake cabin and write — often with a batch of popcorn nearby. (Oh, and did I mention dark chocolate?)

I enjoy getting to know my readers, so feel free to write me at: contact@brendamaxfield.com . Visit me to learn about all my books and some good, clean teen reads:  www.brendamaxfield.com  Happy Reading!

LINKS:

Buy Someday You’ll Laugh http://tinyurl.com/c3nrzok

Website:  http://www.brendamaxfield.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TheEdgemontCollection

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BrendaMaxfield

Blog:  http://www.brendamaxfield.wordpress.com 

Email:  contact@brendamaxfield.com

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Writing Warriors: Fathers and Sons

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors. My excerpt for today is from my new release The Enchanted. So far we've seen that the King wants Prince Alan-my hero-to marry a woman of his choosing, but Prince Alan doesn't want to. The king is angry, but at least he is still talking to Alan.
The Enchanted is available at most online retail outlets and at http://www.astraeapress.com. When you finish here, you can find more lovely sentences from participating authors here.  The king speaks first.


"I have never understood you. You insisted on marrying a commoner — a nobody — and now that death has released you from your vows, you refuse to marry a woman of your own station."

Alan's heart thudded in his chest. How far could he push his father? With Bowdyn, one could never be sure. "I am sorry to disappoint you."

"The kingdom needs heirs. The wedding will proceed as I have planned." 

 

Sweet Saturday Sample: What's Wrong With Her Feet?

Welcome to Sweet Saturday Sample. In last week's sample Prince Alan met his bride for the first time at their wedding reception. He found her beautiful, but he embarrassed her when he stared at her scarred face. We pick up where we left off last week. You can find more samples at http://www.sweetsatsample.wordpress.com

Blurb:
Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.

Excerpt:

Alan did not think she cared about the jewelry one way or

the other. Perhaps he had angered her when he stared at her face. "I

recommend that you try the roasted pork. The cook does a

wonderful job with it. I am told that it was fed with the finest grain

just for this occasion."

 

"Thank you. I will."

 

"And the fruit is fresh too. My father brought it across the

mountains."

 

"Thank you."

 

Alan tried to think of something else to say. Inspiration

struck as he sipped his wine. "Would you care for some wine?"

 

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes, some wine

would be nice."

 

Alan picked up a wine bottle that stood on the table and

poured a glass for her. She immediately sipped it. Then his father

called to him, and when he next looked back, her glass was empty.

Her shoulders had relaxed a bit. Perhaps the wine had dulled the

pain in her feet. Without being asked, he refilled her glass.

The book is available at http://www.astraeapress.com and most other online retail outlets.

Fashionista Friday: Rabbit

In the South where I live, it's already too hot to wear this outfit, but I bet it isn't in some places. So since I like this outfit so much, I decided to choose it for today.

Rabbit by tania-maria featuring a cross body shoulder bag

TEXTILE Elizabeth and James denim skinny jeans
$54 - net-a-porter.com

Converse trainers
$68 - kurtgeiger.com

Nine West cross body shoulder bag
ninewest.com

Hair accessory
$3.09 - glitz4girlz.com

Hipster eyewear
shopzerouv.com

Field Notes Original 80-Page Steno Book
$13 - frenchtrotters.fr

Blog Tour: Legal Ease

Readers, help me welcome Lori Ryan to the blog. Lori, I have to say that your book sounds really good.

Legal Ease: Sutton Capital Series, Book One

by Lori Ryan

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Jack Sutton needs a wife and he needs one now. Jack loved his mother, but she really screwed him over when she set up her will. If Jack doesn’t have a wife by the end of the week, he’ll lose control of the largest chunk of voting stock in his company and will most likely lose his position as CEO as a result.

 

And Jack’s Aunt Mabry is waiting in the wings to make sure that the terms of the will are enforced. If he doesn’t find a wife, she’ll seize control of the stock so she can install her own son at the helm and she couldn’t care less that her son doesn’t want the job or that he probably won’t be any good at it.

 

Enter Kelly Bradley, a twenty eight year old college graduate with a spot at Yale Law School but no way to pay for it. Kelly and Jack’s eavesdropping secretary have discovered Jack’s secret need for a wife and Kelly comes up with a plan to fix both of their problems.

 

Just when Jack needs her, Kelly breezes into his office, introduces herself to his Aunt and cousin, and hands Jack an offer. She will marry him for a year so that he can retain the stock that will keep him in control of Sutton Development if he’ll pay for her to go to law school. Jack has no idea where his beautiful savior came from or who she is but he’s willing to take a chance to save it all.

           

The deal may have kept Jack in control at Sutton Development but his private life quickly spirals out of control. Just when Jack realizes that he wants more than a year with Kelly, his wealth puts her in great danger and he is left scrambling to save her life and their future together.     

 

 

Excerpt:

“We’re here to meet Jack’s fiancé,” a smug-looking Mabry announced to Chad and Jack watched a bemused expression come over his cousin’s face.

 

Chad had to be wondering what the hell was going on. He and Jack were more like brothers than cousins, so if Jack were getting married, Chad should have been the first to know.

 

Oh, shit. I’m never gonna’ hear the end of this from him.

 

So there they sat, waiting for an introduction to a fiancé that Jack had never mentioned to Chad and a fiancé that Chad had never set eyes on.

 

Jack leaned forward in his chair, took a deep breath and prepared to come clean. Just then his secretary’s voice cut in and he could swear he heard her say that his fiancé was here.

 

His head whipped around and he stared open-mouthed at the phone, unable to process what was going on. Jack’s experience in business had taught him to school his expressions and hide his thoughts from those around him and though he was shocked, he did just that. He quickly hid all emotion from his face as he listened to his secretary.

 

“Sir, did you hear me? Mr. Sutton? Your fiancé has just arrived. Shall I show her in?” Jennie spoke again.

 

Andrew. Andrew must have sent him a fiancé. How in the hell had Andrew found him a fiancé? I mean, how does one go about that, Jack thought. Oh God, what if Andrew sent him a prostitute?

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Lori has had a number of careers before embarking on her newest adventure of writing novels. After graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Law, she practiced law for three years, working primarily in the areas of utilities law and intellectual property litigation.

 

More recently, Lori owned and operated a dog training business in Austin, Texas, where she specialized in aggression and became an expert in the field of dog bite analysis. Lori sold her dog training business in 2013 and is now a full time writer and mother of two.

 

Lori still lives in Austin with her husband -- who is endlessly supportive of her changing career paths -- and her two children, one cat, and three dogs.

 

How can your readers follow you?

 

To follow me on Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/loriryanromance

 

To visit my website, visit: http://www.loriryanromance.com/

 

Want to be a part of my online street team? Email me at Loriryanauthor@gmail.com and put the words ‘street team’ in the subject line. I’ll email you back with directions for joining my team.

 

To join my email list to receive updates and news, including sneak peeks and free giveaways or contest news, visit http://www.loriryanromance.com/#!join-my-mailing-list/cdpp.

 

Lori is giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner, so follow the tour and comment often. You can find her schedule at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-super-book-blast-legal-ease.html

 

       

 

The Perfect Duke

THE PERFECT DUKE

By

Dawn Ireland

 

BLURB:  

Known as The Marble Duke amongst the Ton, Garret Weston, the Duke of Kendal sets himself apart from his peers. Nothing will hinder his guilt-driven attempt to become a perfect duke.  Nothing that is, save the alluring and imaginative betrothed he’d thought dead. His intended believes-of all things-that she is a Vicar’s daughter. The “perfect” duke needs a “perfect” duchess, but how was he to discern her suitability? Employing her as a governess to his niece seemed like an ideal solution. But whose “suitability” is being tested? His betrothed refuses to see he is beyond redemption. And most grievous of all, she stirs his blood, making him forget what’s important.

 

Cara believes fairy tales really can come true, until she meets the unrelenting and arrogant Duke of Kendal. He looks like a Prince, but acts like a Beast. Why must he challenge her at every turn? Her greatest peril is her attraction to the vulnerable, seductive man behind the title. A match between them would be impossible. But can she show him, without losing her heart, that “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder? 

EXCERPT:

Garret’s voice stopped Cara before she reached the door. “What of the cut on my chest?”

She turned back, fighting to sound normal. “It didn’t look that bad.”

He picked up the cloth, soaped it, then stalked toward her. Everything about him belied fluid grace as he handed her the fabric, a challenge in his gaze.

 With as much indifference as she could muster, she dabbed at the cut on his chest.

“Harder,” he breathed, his dark velvet voice sending shivers down her spine. “You’ll not hurt me.”

She cleansed the cut, admiring the feel of the hard muscle beneath the cloth. Her fingertips extended beyond the material to caress his moisture-slicked skin. She stepped closer, until his chest was the only thing in her vision.

The rag dropped between them. Of their own volition her fingers spread, pressing her hands flat against the hard contours of his body. She began an exploration, noting the fine dusting of curling golden hair that tickled her palms as she moved them upward.

The smell of the ointment clung to him, but it couldn’t block his alluring scent, a mixture of brandy, wood, and spiciness. She inhaled deeply, savoring the heady combination as she ran one fingertip around his nipple, marveling at the pebbling on the outside edge.

Part of her brain acknowledged she shouldn’t be doing this, but she couldn’t seem to stop.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 

“Once Upon a Time” are four of Dawn’s favorite words. Her love of story became a love of romance when she read Georgette Heyer’s, Devil’s Cub. It inspired her to write stories with strong characters that discover love is never easy, but always worthwhile. Dawn’s written several award-winning novels set in Georgian England – an era filled with rules and intrigue. Her characters often defy “Society” as they pursue love, run away, pursue, run away – well, you get the idea.  

Then again, she might write romance in order to do the research. What other profession encourages you to sit in the audience at Harlequin’s Male Model search, and take notes, or just sigh?

Dawn lives in a Victorian home in Upstate New York with her husband and very independent cats. When she’s not writing, she’s singing, gardening, learning to play the harp or wood carving. If you’d like to learn more about Dawn and her novels, go to her website at www.dawn-ireland.com         

 

 

  LINKS:

 

www.dawn-ireland.com

www.smpauthors.wordpress.com

facebook

 

The Perfect Duke

ASIN: B00BT0NGOC

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BT0NGOC

Beyond a Doubt

No, I didn't forget about Beyond the Book. After you check out this wonderful book, scroll on down.

Beyond A Doubt, The Renaissance Hearts Series, Book Four
The end is finally here…

 

The final chapter has been written for The Renaissance Hearts Series. What began with Sarra and Cedric in There Your Heart Will Be Also concludes with Bryce and Lucy in Beyond A Doubt. Set in the turbulent times of Mary I of England, or Bloody Mary, and Henry II of France, the fight for religious freedom abounds. Intrigue, loss of property, and loss of life rule the day. Follow the epic ending of a family’s struggle.

 

Buy it Now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/c285w6u
Buy it Now on B&N: http://tinyurl.com/d429lom

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Bryce Cameron is finally going home. Years spent away have him longing for the craggy landscapes from his childhood.

Lucy Lombard is on a mission. The mantel she carries was never meant for her possession yet it has been passed to her anyway. Alone and in danger, Lucy stumbles onto her greatest find.

Rescuing Bryce is either a blessing or a curse but regardless time is running out. With Bryce's help can Lucy fulfill her mission or will she be too late?

 

****

See what others have said about the Renaissance Hearts Series.

 

“I really enjoyed this book. I do not typically favor historical romance, but the romance was not too mushy, and the historical was not too heavy! This was an enjoyable, delightful read!!!.” Taken from Rachel’s Amazon review on There Your Heart Will Be Also, Book One.

 

“If you are in for a good mystery with plenty of adventure, suspense & romance, you have come to the right place for this recommended novel because "By God's Grace" will give it all to you.” Taken from Arlena’s Amazon review of By God’s Grace, Book Two.

 

“Okay have to say this is my fav book so far in The Renaissance Heart Series! Felicia Rogers just gets better!” Taken from Danielle William’s Amazon review of Labor of Love, Book Three.

 

Buy Beyond A Doubt on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/c285w6u
Buy Beyond A Doubt on B&N: http://tinyurl.com/d429lom

 

 

Don’t forget the other books in the series. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Astraea Press.

~There Your Heart Will Be Also, Book One

~By God’s Grace, Book Two

~Labor of Love, Book Three

ROMANCE AUTHOR

Felicia Rogers

Felicia Rogers is an author of six novels and three novellas. When she's not writing, Felicia volunteers with the Girl Scouts of America, teaches at a local homeschooling group, hikes, and spends time with her family.

 

To find out more information about Felicia Rogers visit the sites below. She loves hearing from readers.

 

 

Website: http://www.feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaRogersAuthor

Email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412925.Felicia_Rogers