Monday, May 12, 2014

Q&A with Roz Murphy, author of BOB AT THE LAKE

Welcome to the Party Pavilion to visit with R. Murphy, the author of BOB AT THE LAKE. The author is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card. You can see the other tour stops here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/01/virtual-book-tour-bob-at-lake-by-r.html.

Tell us a little about how you got started as an author and how you came up with the idea for this book?

I spent decades working as a professional writer in the business world, holding several jobs in corporate communications and executive ghost writing. (Hmmm...now that I think about it, maybe I’ve been hanging out with ‘ghosts’ a lot longer than I realized…) Although I’d play a little bit with fiction in my off hours (anyone interested in looking at a ballroom screenplay called Cha Cha Bimbo?), I started writing my first book, Bob at the Lake, only a couple of years ago. I’d always wanted to create a book about someone surviving on their own because you just don’t see books on that theme anywhere, and so many people do live by themselves and have great lives. Other pieces of the plot drifted into place over several months as I was thinking about actually putting words to paper and trying to craft a book.

Where do you get your ideas for characters? In particular, did you steal some characteristics from yourself or people you know for the main characters?

I do share some personality traits with Roz, I’m afraid--the iffy ones, like crabbiness and frugality. Sigh. But she’s a lot nuttier than I am. (Not really...deep sigh…) Bob was inspired by some humorous essays from the early years of the twentieth century, and I actually met a David-ish wine pourer once. Yum. Other than little bits of character traits here and there, though, the people in my books truly are fictional.

Which author/authors or particular books have inspired you?

I have always loved Robert Benchley’s essays. They have brought me chuckles and guffaws for years, even though some of the topics have become dated. As a teenager I accidentally picked up Harpo Marx’s autobiography Harpo Speaks! and have been fascinated by the Algonquin Round Table ever since; some of its members have been my bosom companions for years. Alexander Woollcott’s letters are a hoot. There was another singleton who had the richest, most exuberant life you can imagine. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the novels of Edna Ferber, just one of many Pulitzer winners who sat at that Table. Speaking of the Algonquin Round Table, look for a tense encounter between Roz and ghostly Table members in my second book, Bob at The Plaza.

What were some of your favorite reads of the past year?

Right now I’m in the middle of Connie Willis’ amazing doublet about World War 2--Black Out and All Clear. I’m in awe of the extensive research that underpins this great storytelling. I’m also reading A Guide to Elegance. The book is dated in many respects (not a lot of hats, gloves, and girdles around these days!), but it does contain a handful of timeless nuggets on style. I find myself wondering whether our consumer-driven culture (where an infinite number of ‘wants’ always requires an infinite number of purchases) can co-exist with the concept of elegance (where a need can be filled with one perfect purchase). It sort of ties back to my drive toward frugality, believe it or not.

For the aspiring writers out there, can you tell us something about how you develop your plot?

One of my biggest worries with this book was making my characters believable and understandable. Plot came second, because I wanted my character’s actions to make sense based on who they were.

Tell us about your future? Next book? The manuscript for Bob at The Plaza is just about completed. I should be submitting it to the publisher in the next month or so. Wish me luck!

Take a crabby woman of a certain age, move her to the wintry shores of a New York lake, and then throw in a martini-loving ghost from 1920s Manhattan. Last, stir in the good-looking grape grower who lives up the hill. Now there’s a recipe for a potent screwball cocktail!


Enjoy an excerpt:

Bob, [my new ghost], looked around at my quiet, carton-filled house. “But don’t you think you’ll ever get lonely way out here? You might miss having a man around.”

“Well,” I responded, “I’m human, so of course I’d like to have a guy around on a regular basis. But by the time you get to be my age most of the good guys are taken. My grandmother used to say, ‘It takes a very good man to be better than none.’ She was right. If I can’t find a good guy, I’m not going to waste my time and energy on a fixer-upper. You know what they say about teaching a pig to sing.”

“Huh?” he replied, bewildered.

“You know, ‘You can’t teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig.’ I feel the same way about spending my time with an inappropriate man. I’m sure they’re all fine, they just don’t have what’s right for me. I’m tired of pretending that underneath all the nuttiness, I’m not smart and competent. I just don’t feel like putting on the ‘Love me, oh, please, love me’ song and dance routine anymore.”

“Good one about the pig. I should jot that down.”

“Feel free.”

***

Thus began months of the strangest dinner conversations I could ever imagine. Topics ranged from the sex life of newts to the menace of buttered toast. We spent several days talking about Bob’s bone dust theory (he believed the kind of person you were was determined by the amount of bone dust in your body). I started buying my semi-dry riesling by the case and developed a taste for very dry martinis. Half of our dinners wound up with me yelling, throwing my hands in the air, and storming out of the kitchen. The other half ended with us laughing so hard tears streamed out of my eyes. What a blast.


About the Author:
Roz Murphy is the pseudonym of a shy, retiring writer who doesn’t want her neighbors to know how nutty she really is. Brooklyn-born and Jersey-bred, Roz now lives on the misty shore of one of New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes. Prior to that, her business writing career took her to many locations, including Manhattan, where she worked for a number of years. As a freelance and corporate writer, Roz won several national and international writing and communications awards. Now Roz is pursuing her first love—fiction. She’s writing the ‘Bob’ books, the humorous chronicle of a crabby ‘woman of a certain age’ who moves to the wintry shores of a New York lake—and gets a ghost. And not just any ghost, mind you. Bob’s a plump, middle-aged ghost from 1920s Manhattan who swans around in a silk smoking jacket and drinks far too many martinis. Stir the good-looking grape grower who lives up the hill into this mix and you get a pretty potent screwball cocktail!

When she’s not reading, writing, hill-walking, staring mindlessly out the window at the lake or piling rocks onto her ever-diminishing lakefront, you can usually find Roz hanging out with her family, travelling, or exploring the amazing wines and wineries of the Finger Lakes.

‘Bob at the Lake’ is exclusively available as a Kindle download from Amazon. Please join Roz Murphy Author on Facebook for updates on the many adventures of Roz, David—and Bob.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 9, 2014

Unseasonal War by David Englund - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway

David Englund, author of Unseasonal War, is giving one randomly chosen commenter at every stop a digital copy of the book. Leave a comment or ask the author a question to be entered. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Clark Jackson’s travels, for the first time, put him in touch with an intriguing species remarkably human-like. He becomes instantly fascinated with the Fronents and envious of their advanced technology. Striving to befriend them and learn more, his uncontrolled enthusiasm forsakes the use of appropriate caution and suspicion. Could their cold reception be a byproduct of their war with a vile species in this corner of the universe, or something else?

The magnificent splendor of an unexplored galaxy, new species to encounter and the adrenalin rush of space battle feed Clark’s awestruck hunger for exploration and adventure. Unfortunately, the more he learns the more he questions; including the wisdom of his entangled involvement in their war.

Meanwhile, back home in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark attempts to maintain an inconspicuous lifestyle to avoid attracting the attention of a certain relentless federal agency. His girlfriend’s own secret, however, could unravel it all.

**Even though the book is the second book in the series, it IS standalone.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Clark studied the face before him. The old creature carried a soft, wise and caring tone during the discussion. This alien was easy to admire, however, it was difficult to get beyond the ruthless features. The enormous bulk, massive display of teeth, scaly skin and intense eyes gave Clark shivers. It would ease the conversation to talk with eyes closed but probably create the opposite affect desired for diplomacy.

Clark forced himself back to the discussion. “Is this why you live in the caves?”

The pair of alligator eyes saddened. “We did not always live in the caves. Many vrems ago we lived out on the plains. We farmed many fields and grew many crops. We had villages to congregate in but most of our people lived in the vast openness of the farms. There were many more of our people back then too. Then came the aliens. They destroyed our farms and stole a great many of our people. We have since discovered that they use our people to work as slaves on their world.”

“Did you already know these aliens when they attacked?”

“At that time we had never had any contact with anyone from the stars. We know them well now, however.”

“Have you met other aliens since then?”

“Let us stay on the topic of our three races, shall we? Do your people fight any wars with other races? How do these conflicts begin for you?”

“Our world has not gotten to the point yet in which we can travel to other worlds, so we have not met any alien races that I am aware of.”

“And yet you are here.”

About the Author:
David Englund is a storyteller (science fiction author) and teaches economics at North Dakota State University. His first two titles, Upsetting the Tides and UNSEASONAL WAR are available on Amazon. Camouflaged Encounters is due out in late 2014 and the fourth and fifth books are in progress.

Blog ~ Facebook

Buy the book at Amazon.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Read Chapter One FREE - Rescued by the Buccaneer

Rescued by the Buccaneer
My new Book, Rescued by the Buccaneer is an Amazon best-seller! The first book in historical erotic romance The Pirates of the Jolie Rouge Trilogy has started the series off with a bang.

Blurb

When Frederica Beauchamp boards a ship for the Americas, she dreams of a life filled with adventure, but she gets more than she bargained for when her passenger ship is attacked by pirates.  The heartless men kidnap her and force her to serve their captain—a fate that might be worse than death, since though he does not have his way with her, the captain delights in baring her, shaming her, and thrashing her bare bottom as punishment for every imagined disobedience.
After the pirates bring aboard an injured man found floating in the sea, Frederica tends to his wounds and learns that he is Gaston Galette, a survivor of a shipwrecked vessel. Gaston seeks her help to overthrow the vile captain, but when their plan goes awry he is forced to use all of his wiles to save them. As the naïve girl and the seasoned sailor navigate one perilous situation after another, he informs Frederica that the only way they can survive is if he is in command, and that if she thinks things can be otherwise, she will be taken over his knee for a bare bottom spanking.
As he watches the proud, willful Frederica bow to his authority, however, Gaston worries that her growing hold on his heart will be his downfall. He knows he cannot take a woman with him when he returns to his ship and crew, but when Frederica accepts his lustful dominance completely, submitting to him with grace and beauty no other woman could match, Gaston realizes that he may never be able to let her go.

You can pick up your copy of Rescued by the Buccaneer today!

Amazon            Amazon UK           Barnes & Noble        ARe            Kobo

What are people saying about Rescued by the Buccaneer?

 

“I have become an avid fan of  [Normandie Alleman’s] reading everything by her. She is definitely one of my top 5 favorite authors. When she told me she was writing a historical pirate trilogy I was intrigued. I usually despise anything historical but I wanted to see if Normandie remained herself when writing this. By adding a strong personality and a sprinkle of humor, she does just that!...I loved Rescued By The Buccaneer because it has a strong buildup that will lead you into wanting to read the rest of the trilogy. Book One is mostly the buildup to let you know about the characters and their various personalities. I look forward to reading Book Two, Bound By The Buccaneer later this year!” ~Felicity Mad Gypsy in Wonderland *****5 Stars!

“The author did a great job of keeping the reader interested from the very beginning. Well written and just a hot sexy read. This is a great beginning to a new series. Can't wait to see what Normandie Alleman has in store for us next.” ~Dsaraceni *****5 Stars!

“The lead female character, Frederica, is such a strong woman and I loved her from the start. Tough when she needs to be, which unfortunately was quite often, but then open and appreciative of life and it's adventures as well. Gaston is her hero, in more ways than one, and even though he has had his heart closed off for many years he just can not resist Freddie. This is a great beginning to a trilogy and I am looking forward to the next one!” ~SH *****5 Stars!

Chapter One

1665

Resting her elbows on the railing of the ship, the girl peered into the water, hoping she wouldn’t see anything scary. The salt air tickled her nose as an involuntary shudder rippled through her, and she tried not to think about the slippery monsters lurking in the murky depths below the creaking ship. Her fear of watery creatures diminished during the daytime, but at night it stayed with her and left her feeling like a child who feared a phantom under her bed. The ocean was a deep, wet mass of unknowns, and the enormity of it frightened her, but Frederica Beauchamp had never been one to let fear hold her back.
Months before, she had left England on the Adelaide, a merchant ship bound for the colonies, leaving everything familiar to her behind, except for a trunk of her belongings and her best friend Cassandra. During the voyage, Cassandra had experienced seasickness most of the trip and had stayed below deck as much as possible. But Frederica thrived on the cool, brisk air rushing across her face as she peered out across the great, wide ocean, contemplating a future filled with exciting adventures.
Frederica found life on the Adelaide quite agreeable, and she’d become acquainted with many of the crew members because she asked numerous questions. All the ropes and the sails and riggings fascinated her, and though she was dying to climb up to the crow’s nest, she’d yet to find the courage to do so.
On this particular day, her daydreaming was cut short when, in the distance, a white square appeared, dipping in and out of view. On wobbly legs, she ran to find an officer. It was rare to see other vessels in the open sea, and when it occurred, the crew became nervous because they feared the other ship would be carrying pirates. And since they were sailing for the southern colonies, their route took them awfully close to the Caribbean, which was known to have pirate-infested waters.
The first mate was busy having a conversation with a midshipman, and Frederica did her best to wait patiently for it to end. But the longer the first mate ignored her, the closer the approaching ship came. Finally, she tugged at his sleeve.
He turned, making his annoyance clear with a roll of his eyes. “Yes, Miss Beauchamp. What is it now?”
Click here to read the rest of Chapter One. 

Pick up your copy of Rescued by the Buccaneer today! 

Amazon            Amazon UK           Barnes & Noble        ARe            Kobo

A Huge Thanks...And Goodnight!

Marta here again.  I'd just like to say a huge thank you to Goddess Fish for this party today and thanks to all of you as well who've let me share my love of mysteries with you a bit.  Thanks also for participating in my questions and riddles which I posted in order to win a copy of my new mystery, NO HARD FEELINGS.

Here are the answers to the questions in the order they were asked:

1. YYUR, YYUB, ICUR, YY4ME - Congrats to E.L.F. who got it right!  It goes as follows:  Too wise you are, too wise you be, I see you are, too wise for me.

E.L.F. - Please go on to the contact page on my website at http://martatandori.com, send me your email and the format you prefer for your book.

Harps Romance - Nice try - and for that (and because you like Nancy Drew) I'd like to offer you a copy of NO HARD FEELINGS as well.  Just go to my website and on the contact page, send me your email and the format you'd like the book in.

2.  Mildred Wirt - Congrats to Crystal on getting the right answer.  Crystal, I see you've already contacted me and I'll be sending you a copy of my book NO HARD FEELINGS tomorrow.

3.  The answer here was Seth.

I think that about covers it.  Once again, thanks for letting me participate in this terrific event and for sharing a part of your day with me!

Happy Reading Always,
Marta


A huge Thank You from Alexandra Forry

I want to give a very special thanks to everyone at Goddess Fish Promotions for the honor of this pleasure of letting me blog on their Goddess Fish Party Pavilion Blog and for organizing two Virtual Book Tour for my book’s Timeless Endings and Wildflower.

I also want to thank all the readers that read and enjoyed all of the post that I've put up today and hope that they will follow me on my book tour because it will be very fun. Lots of Interviews and guest post that I did, that are fun and interesting facts about my book’s and as well as myself.

I’m looking forward to meeting new people and add more fan’s to my loyal fan base. I want to point out that between my two books, I wrote some great characters that you’ll never forget, From a Las Vegas Mob boss finding his soul mate to an outgoing rich teenage girl that make you laughed.

 You can always be a fan on my Facebook Fan Page, 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexandra-Forry/218124628245982?ref=hl

I hope that you join me on my two Virtual Book Tour and get a chance to win a $15.00 Amazon gift card at the end of my Timeless Endings tour and a $15.00 Barnes and Noble gift card at the end of my Wildflower tour!!! :) 



An Excerpt from Wildflower

“Here you go,” Blanche said putting the tray on the table. “I see you all have coffee—would you like me to refill them for you?”
“Yes, and I’ll bet that you are the owner of this restaurant,” commented the woman.
“I am,” Blanche replied.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jennet and with me are Dan, Jake, Bill, and I bet you know Max. We are the owners of some of the business here in Heller Plaza.”
“It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Blanche,” she said handing them their plates of sandwiches.
“Welcome to the neighborhood! Hope your business does great,” Dan told her.
“Thank You,” Blanche smiled at him.
“If Jennet gets on your nerves, don’t worry, that’s just her,” said Bill, who was sitting next to Max.
“I beg your pardon,” Jennet said giving him a look.
“Here we go, again! You’ll get used to Jennet and Bill,” Jake said trying to make a joke.
Blanche looked at Jennet and found her to be a kind of woman who has her nose in everything. For the first time, her eyes met Max’s.
“Hello, Blanche,” Max said.
“How are you, Max?” she asked him.
“Great, how about you?”
“I’m good.” Blanche told him hiding their romantic relationship from these people.
“Would you like to sit down and join us?” Max asked.
“I would love to,” Blanche said moving over to sit in an empty chair next to Max.
“Once a week a few of us get together and discuss the goings on at our businesses,” Max told her.
“Yes, it’s a great way to talk and share our business problems,” Dan added.
“I’ve never heard of that before! What a great idea—a kind of business breakfast club,” Blanche said, remembering the movie.
“That’s a great way to describe us,” Jennet agreed. All of the men chuckled.
 “So what businesses are you people in?” Blanche asked, trying to fit into the group.
“I own the art gallery across the way.” Dan quickly replied.
“I own the jewelry store next to Dan,” Jake added.
“As you know, I’m the owner of Classy and Sassy Day Spa. And all of the gossip that goes on in my shop will make your head spin.” Jennet told Blanche.
“I bet.” Blanche replied thinking wondering if she could survive working in a beauty shop.
“I’ll make sure to stop by all of your shops,” Blanche said looking at Max.
“Yes, I’ll make sure that you get a free hair cut when you do come in,” Jennet said happily.
Blanche sat around listening to Jennet, Dan, Jake, Bill and Max talk shop. She wondered why she was feeling uncomfortable around Max for the first time in their relationship.



DON'T LET GO and a Giveaway!!


Wow, is the day over already?  Oh…this is Sharla again one more time!
I’ve had a blast hanging with all of you today and giving away stuff!  And I want to invite you all to come hang with me on Facebook if you are a Facebook-er!  I am on there every day, talking to my readers and sharing things about my books and sometimes (a lot of times) just sharing funny things I’ve seen on the internet.  I love humor and snark, and it draws me like a magnet.  If you will go “Like” my author fan page at www.facebook.com/sharlalovelace,  (and click on Receive Notifications) then we can stay connected and you will get the scoop on all my events and new releases and my coffee addiction, too. 


Yeah, I’ve got it bad. :)

So, one last time, my latest novel is DON’T LET GO, and here’s a humorous moment to share with you…
Morning?  Really?  I opened my mouth to say something back, but nothing came out, so I licked my lips and fidgeted with my robe like a crazy woman.
“Too early?” he asked, as if that were a normal thing to say to me as well.
A laugh-scoff-snort thing fell out of my mouth, which I chalked up to rounding out the perfect start to the day.  I coughed and cleared my throat. 
“No, I’m—just getting ready for work.”  I stepped back so he could come in, and held onto the door for dear life as I glared at Harley for just sitting there on the couch like a diva.  Some guard dog.  She should have had his leg chewed off by now.  “Come in. There’s still coffee if you want some.”  Oh, what the living hell was I babbling about?
Noah stepped in hesitantly, as if maybe he hadn’t thought things out that far.  Maybe he expected me to slam the door or not be home or God only knows what.  He gave me a sideways glance as he passed me, and I caught a subtle whiff of soap and shaving cream.  I stared at the door as I closed it, as if it had betrayed me too, and then I turned on my heel and put myself in motion.
I walked straight past him to the open kitchen, trying not to really look at him.  I knew he’d follow.  He knew the way around my mother’s house.  My house.
Harley’s curiosity finally got the better of her and she followed on his heels, making him turn around to check out the beast stalking him.
“Hey there, killer,” he said, holding out a hand for her to smell him, and then scratching her ears.  “Are you nice?”
“That’s Harley,” I said.  “I’m afraid growing up with two women has made her a big wuss.”  I took a deep breath.  “Coffee?” I asked again, opening a cabinet. 
When he didn’t answer, I turned around, and felt my heart slam against my chest.  He was standing on the other side of the big island from me, where I’d seen him so many times before.  Except he was a man now.  With something in his eyes that resembled lost.
“What?” I asked, though not much of the word came out.
Noah shook his head, and his expression cleared a little.  “Just weird being back here, I guess.  In this kitchen.”  He gestured with a small hand flick.  “Seeing you here.”
“I know the feeling,” I said softly, turning back to grab a mug whether he wanted one or not. 
“Linny told me you were living here again,” he said.  “Sorry to hear about your mom.”
My hands shook as I poured the hot black liquid and turned to set his mug on the counter. 
“Thanks,” I managed to push out.  “Sugar and creamer are right there,” I said with a gesture. 
“Black’s fine,” he said.
I nodded and headed into the living room for my cup.  Shit, Jules, breathe.  I planned to come back, but he followed me.  Shit.  The kitchen felt more stable.  We could stand up in there.  Have the island between us.  The living room was cozy and please-sit-and-stay-a-while.  Granted, I did have to go to work—in an hour and a half.  Shit.
I licked my lips again, and sat back down where I was earlier.  Feet curled beneath me.  Two pillows on my lap for security.  I felt every centimeter of my nakedness under the robe, and wished for more clothing, but it was big enough for him not to know that.  I just thanked God for giving me the wisdom to get ready early and not be sitting here with wet hair or raccoon eyes.  And then I mentally kicked myself for caring.  He didn’t.  I wondered if his woman knew he was paying me a visit.  Or if she even knew who I was.

 

 
Thank you all for visiting with me today, and I’m giving away a $5 e-gift card for Amazon, to a random commenter who just says anything. :)  Ask me a question, just say bye.  Say bye in another language…lol.  You choose!  Loved it guys!!!  Have a great night!

 
 
 

Sharla Lovelace is the bestselling, award-winning author of small-town love stories. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her retired husband, a golf cart, a crazy mutt, and an aviary full of cockatiels. She is the author of The Reason Is You, Before and Ever Since, Just One Day, and the forthcoming Stay with Me, coming in summer 2014.  For more about Sharla’s books, visit www.sharlalovelace.com.  Sharla can also be easily found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharlalovelace, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sharlalovelace.

 

Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman a Regency romance filled with suspense by Wareeze Woodson

Another behind the scenes peek at another of Wareeze Woodson's book. This time the title is Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman.

This book raises strong passions either for it or against it. The posting below gives greater insight to the characters and the book that are not included in the text.

First a letter, then an interview.
Dearest Lady Bromsworth,
Because of my deepest concern for the Laningham family, I write to ask you for the truth of the dreadful incident involving Lady Laurel Laningham. The late Lord Laningham served in the Peninsular you understand.  How sad he succumbed to his wounds leaving a young wife and son behind.  His grieving twin sister nearly went into a decline, or so I heard. All due to that little Corsican upstart, Bonaparte, thinking to fight all of England and our brave soldiers dying by his order.   

 I don’t hold with gossip as you know, but I seek the truth to still the old tabbies’ tongues about the matter. Listening to rumors is a vulgar habit, and I try to always gather the facts of a situation instead. The facts, as I understand them, are incredible, scarcely believable, thus my inquiry.

My butler informed me that dear Lady Laurel Laningham survived when a carriage over turned with her and her little son inside.  She was on her way to Sussex to visit her aunt, or so it was supposed. Tis a great shame what with her being so recently bereaved and so lovely. She is not your average silly, pea-goose, either to undertake such a trip without cause. I asked myself if such could be true, and what with the condition of the roads along with the less than trust-worthy coachmen handling the ribbons, I concluded the account could be accurate.
   
Alarmed, I sat down at once with pen and paper to hand. He told a tale of a stranger riding off with the young Lord Laningham leaving the widow stranded in an over-turned coach. The tale becomes even more incredible at that point.  You can imagine my horror and concern.

The abductor is rumored to be Lord Gladrey himself, the boy’s own guardian. That cannot be possible. I know Lord Gladrey. He is such a fine gentleman, gracious and always mindful of his family, such a dear, kind gentleman.  If he did take charge of his ward, I’m certain he had a perfectly sound reason for serving Lady Laningham such a turn. It is quite natural for his cousin to appoint Lord Gladrey as guardian to his son. He and the twins are rumored to have been very close.

Please enlighten me of the facts of the situation so I’ll be able to ward off any unwelcome comments from the Ton. I dare say, you are aware of how vicious some of their tongues can become. I am more than willing to promote the proper happenings for dear Lady Laningham’s sake. I anxiously await word from you, a dear friend and neighbor of the family.

Truly Yours,
Lady Pickering




Character Interviews
The reporter swallowed and began the interview for his newspaper, the Tribute
Reporter:   Lord Adron Gladrey, I work for the Tribute. My editor is interested in the happenings involving an over-turned coach. We understand you rode by and took charge of your ward, Lord Laningham. Why at such at time did you ride away with him before you?
 Lord Adron Gladrey:   I felt it necessary to protect my ward. Due to a misunderstanding, I thought he was being taken to France. The war torn country is hardly a safe environment for my ward. I understood, his mother was careless and wouldn’t understand the danger to my ward.
Reporter:   Were you responsible for the accident?
Lord Adron Gladrey:  No indeed! A deep washout in the lane was responsible.
Reporter:  Why didn’t you speak to her about your concerns for the child?
Lord Adron Gladrey:  She left Landings as I arrived back in England. There was no time. I felt the need to rescue my ward before something dreadful happened to him, as it nearly did. The entire incident was merely a misunderstanding. I would appreciate it if you people would let the subject alone.

Romantic Love

Thank you for joining the party at Goddess Fish Party Pavilion! Remember to leave a comment. I’ve made it easy to enter the GIVEAWAY, just answer the question or share any thought on your mind.

Here’s a little love

Dusk was slipping into night and Lacey turned back toward the living room to contemplate these thoughts, but ran right into Jake.

“Jake!” she shouted, surprised.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you heard me behind you.” He didn’t move away, though.

She looked up into his face, now familiar and comforting, and saw something ragged and raw in his eyes. She drew in a sharp breath, but didn’t step away. Something stirred in her, low and enticing. She tilted her face up to him and breathed, “It’s okay. I was just going to…” Maybe her concussion had left her brain damaged, because she couldn’t think of anything coherent to say. Shallow breaths seized up in her lungs. Wild and frantic passions spurred her pulse as she continued to stare into his glittering dark eyes.

Like steel to a magnate, his lips drew close to hers, touching her gently, briefly. She didn’t resist. It felt right to meet his lips with hers, like they were made for each other.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her in hard, but gently nuzzled her neck with his face. He didn’t say a word, but she could hear his breath in her ear. Then his lips were on hers hard, his tongue darting inside her mouth, heating her body with his desire.

He started to pull at her camisole, lifting it toward her shoulders, and she yanked at his T-shirt, tearing it over his head, impatiently, to expose his muscled chest. The scent of his heated skin was heady, pulling her further into something that she hadn’t felt in years. Not since before Nicholas…died.

Inexplicably tears brimmed her eyes. She placed a palm to Jake’s muscled chest. Everything slammed to a stop as he realized tears were trickling down her cheeks.

“Lacey, what’s wrong?” He brushed the tears away with a gentle touch and peered down into her eyes.

She collapsed to the floor, and he lowered her, still holding her in his arms. “I’m so sorry.” She rested her head against his shoulder, letting the feelings flow.

“No apologies needed,” he said, caressing her hair. “If anyone should apologize it’s me. I didn’t mean to take advantage of you or lose control.”

“No, it’s not like that.” Misery filtered through her. She needed to make him understand, but how could she when she didn’t? “I haven’t been with a man since my husband died. I’ve never stopped loving him,” she sobbed.

“He was a lucky man, to have you to love and love him back.”

“It’s not that I don’t want you. I do. But I’m not sure how to love someone else. I’m so sorry. You’ve been so kind.”

He pulled back, giving her a pointed look. “I don’t know if you know it but I’m falling in love with you, Lacey. When or if we make love, I don’t want you to feel it’s because you owe me something. Far from it. I’m grateful for the time you’ve been here. It’s been like nothing I’ve ever experienced.” He pulled back more and started to stand.

But she grabbed his arms. “Don’t. Don’t go.”

He slanted his head, confusion in his face. “What?”

“Cuddling would be nice,” she managed to murmur.

Romantic gestures are fun, sometimes funny, but typically memorable. What is one of your most favorite romantic gestures--fictional or real? PG 13, please.

My First NY Release! HER PERFECT MATE (X-OPS Book One)!

My first NY book releases this Tuesday and I'm so excited I can barely sit still!  It's a military/paranormal/romantic-suspense/thriller called HER PERFECT MATE and it's the first book in my X-OPS Series!



The series revolves around the Department of Covert Operations, a secret organization within the Department of Homeland Security. They get impossible missions done by pairing the very best soldiers, law enforcement officers, and spies together with shifters—humans that possess special animal attributes in their DNA.

The heroine is a feline shifter named Ivy Halliwell. At the start of the book, the DCO is pairing her up with yet another military guy. To say she isn't thrilled is putting it mildly. But she has a good reason for that. Her previous partners hated her because she was different, and she thinks this new partner will feel the same. But Captain Landon Donovan is Special Forces, so he's used to taking impossible situations in stride. He's also hot, hunky, and smells delicious.


HER PERFECT MATE is a paranormal shifter story that blends romance, action, suspense, and military elements into one exciting package that will keep you up all night reading—I promise!


Blurb:

He's a High-Octane Special Ops Pro

When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is chosen for an assignment with the Department of Covert Operations, he's stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn't hurt a fly, never mind take down a terrorist.

She's No Kitten

Ivy Halliwell isn't your average covert op. She's a feline shifter, and more dangerous than she looks. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She's worked with a string of hotheaded military guys who've underestimated her special skills in the past. But when she's partnered with special agent Donovan, a man sexy enough to make any girl purr, things begin to heat up. He doesn't think she's a freak-and he's smokin' hot. Soon they're facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines...and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore.


Excerpt:

Landon expected Todd and Kendra to take him to another conference room, so he was surprised when they led him into what looked like a workout room. Mats covered the floor and a heavy bag hung from a hook in one corner. Weights and workout equipment filled a good portion of the room. A woman was seated cross-legged in the center of it, her eyes closed, her hands loosely resting on her knees. At their entrance, she gracefully uncurled herself from the floor and got to her feet.

She was wearing a pair of black workout pants like his ex-girlfriend used to wear when she went to yoga class, and a form-fitting tank top. He couldn’t help but notice her curvy, athletic body, expressive dark eyes, and full lips. With little makeup and her long, dark hair pulled up in a ponytail, she looked like the girl next door. Only more exotic than any girl he’d ever lived next door to, that was for sure.

He didn’t care how tired and irritated he was, this was a woman he definitely wouldn’t mind stopping to appreciate. Hopefully, one of his new training officers would introduce them before she left to give them the room.

“Landon, meet Ivy Halliwell, your new partner,” Kendra said. “Ivy, Landon Donovan, Captain, Special Forces.”

They were going to have to pick his jaw up off the floor because Landon was damn sure that’s where it was after hearing that announcement. No way this walking wet dream was his partner. She looked like she couldn’t hurt a fly, much less do any kind of covert ops. They had to be messing with him.


Reviews:

"An absolutely perfect story-one I honestly couldn't put down. One of the best books I've read in years. I hope this is the beginning of a very long series, because I definitely want more of Paige Tyler's shifters." - Kate Douglas, author of the bestselling Wolf Tales and Spirit Wild series

"A wild, hot, and sexy ride from beginning to end! I loved it!" - Terry Spear, USA Today bestselling author of A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing

"Once I began, the outside world ceased to exist. It's exciting and fast paced." - Paranormal Kiss

"I love a good paranormal romance and this series has started off with a bang!" - Hopeless in Literature Reviews

"HER PERFECT MATE is a pretty fantastic opening act in the X-Ops series and I'm looking forward to many more amazing stories to come from this very talented author." - The Romance Review Top Pick

"The action roars rapidly and I highly recommend Her Perfect Mate... Worthy of a five star rating. Reviewer Top Pick" - Night Owl Reviews Top Pick

"If you’re looking for an action packed, sexy read with alphas and a new take on shifters, I highly recommend this series debut!" - Romancing The Dark Side


"A must read for anyone that likes a good shifter romance. I will now be eagerly awaiting each new book in the series by Paige Tyler." - I'll Have Another Book



Available Online and at Bookstores Everywhere May 6, but Available for Pre-Order Now!

Buy Links:







I'm celebrating with a Facebook Party Monday night from 7 - 11 PM EST with Q&A's, more excerpts, guest authors and giveaways.  Hope to see you there!



My Links:

Facebook Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/paige.tyler.9

An Excerpt from Timeless Endings

TIMELESS ENDINGS –
Victor and Adriane drove up the coast in silence. Victor could see that Adriane was still shaken by her memories from last night. He thought about telling her the story of how her mother really died, but it seemed like it wasn’t the right time to tell her.
“Why am I remembering things from my childhood that I previously blocked out?” Adriane wondered.
“Memories can be funny. I think it is amazing how we can recall things that we haven’t thought about in years.”
“You’re so lucky that you had a normal childhood, Vic.”
“What do you mean? My parents had their own bedrooms. They had problems as well as your parents.”
“At last your father didn’t abuse you mother when you were home. I now remember my mother beaten badly and all my father told me was that she was stoned.”
“My mom was a fighter. As for my dad, he was taught not to abuse his family. Look, I know what you are feeling…”
“No, you don’t. If I’d just known, I would have saved my mother.”
“You were very young, Adriane. Don’t beat yourself up.”
“I’m trying not to.  Oh, Vic,” she said with a sigh.
“Do you want to stop and walk on the beach after we see Al?”
“I would love that. Maybe this is a bad idea going back to the past; I know you are thinking the same thing.”
“I know it hurts but we wouldn’t be together if we hadn’t done this.”
“Yeah, Vic I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Do you remember when you asked me, when was I going to admit to having my mother’s spirit in me?”
“Yes?”
“Well, you’re right. I do have my mother’s spirit.”
“And that same spirit is also the Torino’s men’s weakness,” Victor said laughing as Adriane joined in with him.”
“Did she love me?” Adriane asked.
“I bet, in her own way.”
“I like to think that, after all she did want child custody, but my father had power to stop that... When she was seeing your father she was so happy.”
“Dad once told me that she was his soul mate.” Victor said without thinking.
“I agree. It’s funny how a few days can change your whole life.”




Round #3 in the Party Pavilion...With Marta Tandori, Author of NO HARD FEELINGS

                                                                             
I'm back!  While all of you were mulling over who was your favorite fictional detective, I went outside and tackled a bed of weeds threatening to overpower the baby shoots of my new hostas.  Boy, am I starting to feel the burn!  And something tells me that the pain is only gonna get a whole lot worse by the time evening rolls around...

So back to business.  What did you think of Nancy Drew for my first choice for favorite fictional detective?  Meh - not so much?  Well, how about this one:



Fictional Detectives: Murder, J.B. Fletcher Wrote

Many of her adversaries have accused her of “meddling” and being “nosey to a fault”, while her admirers have praised her as “intuitive”.  However, few can argue that the character of Jessica Beatrice MacGill Fletcher a.k.a. J.B. Fletcher is one of the world’s most famous fictional amateur sleuths.  She’s been touted by AOL as among “TV’s Smartest Detectives” and ranked a lofty number 6 on Sleuth Channel’s poll of “America’s Top Sleuths”.  What makes her character even more unique is that Jessica Fletcher wasn’t your “every man” P.I. like the personable Jim Rockford of The Rockford Files fame, or your sexy P.I. with the killer mustache driving an equally sexy sports car as he lived the dream in a tropical paradise like Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I.  Not even close.  Jessica Fletcher was a middle-aged, down-to-earth widow and a retired English teacher who’d found fame and fortune later in life as a successful mystery writer - hardly the type of character to rate more than a second glance, let alone the type to carry a show for twelve seasons. 

And carry it Jessica did – with her own brand of charm and down-to-earth hominess – thanks entirely to the exceptional talents of the indomitable Angela Lansbury, the actress who played her role for twelve seasons on Murder, She Wrote.  The series aired from 1984 to 1996, with a whopping 264 episodes under its belt.  It was one of the most successful and longest-running television shows in history, with close to 23 million viewers in its prime, and was a staple of its Sunday night lineup for a decade.  Murder, She Wrote was also successful around the world.  Since the show ended in 1996, four made-for-TV movies were released between 1997 and 2003 and it also spawned a short-lived spin-off series called The Law & Harry McGraw – and let’s not forget a computer game in 2009 with a second game released in 2012.  Even more interesting is the fact that the Murder, She Wrote TV show spawned a spin-off book series, written by Donald Bain, rather than the more conventional format of the book, or series of books, spawning the television show.

The premise for the show was simple.  The show revolved around Jessica Fletcher and her day-to-day life as a retired English teacher who, after being widowed in her early fifties, becomes the very successful mystery writer, J.B. Fletcher.  Despite her fame and fortune, Jessica remains a resident of Cabot Cove, a cozy little coastal town in Maine.  She’s practical and level-headed and doesn’t let success go to her head.  At the start of season eight, more of the stories were set in New York City with Jessica moving into an apartment there in order to teach criminology part-time.  As the series went on, Jessica became more worldly and elegant yet maintained her down-to-earth, likable qualities.

Murder, She Wrote went off the air in 1996, four years before the premiere of CSI and its sophisticated team of tech-savvy crime scene investigators who relied on a slew of sophisticated equipment to find their murderer.  Jessica’s character relied on nothing more than her intuition, hunches, powers of observation and good old-fashioned common sense to solve murders.  She invariably proved more perceptive than the official investigators, who were constantly and prematurely arresting the most likely suspect.  Jessica, on the other hand, carefully pieced together the clues and asked astute questions, always managing to trap the real murderer.  Jessica's relationship with law enforcement officials varied, with both sheriffs in her home town resigning themselves to having her meddle in their cases.  For the most part, however, detectives and police officers did not want Jessica anywhere near their crime scenes until she was able to convince them that her theories were accurate.

During the run of the series, many of the novels that Jessica’s alter-ego, J.B. Fletcher, had written were mentioned.  In one episode, her first novel, The Corpse Danced at Midnight, was made into a film and later in the series, another of her books was made into a play while yet another, A Killing at Hastings Rock, also underwent development to become a virtual reality video game.  In an ironic twist of real life imitating its reel counterpart, ghostwriter Donald Bain has written a series of original novels and he shares his credits with the fictitious Jessica Fletcher.  When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989, it apparently conveyed several inaccuracies such as Jessica driving a car.  Anyone who watched the series knew Jessica had never learned to drive and after an outcry from loyal followers of all things Jessica Fletcher, the book was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.

With over 40 books published in the series to date, as well as a slew of fan clubs and definitive guides to the television show populating the Internet, it looks like the fictional character of Jessica Fletcher a.k.a. the successful mystery writer, J.B. Fletcher, will only continue to grow with time.

**So here's my question, all:  Who was Jessica's good friend, the doctor?  This answer is NOT found above and requires some sleuthing on your part.

The rules are the same as before in order to win an e-copy of my book NO HARD FEELINGS:

1.  In the comments, indicate the correct answer.

2.  Then in the comments section, or on the contact page of my website at http://martatandori.com/contact/, leave your name, email and indicate the preferred format for your ebook:  PDF/mobi/epub.

It's that simple.  All answers will be revealed in my last blog tonight.  Come on you Murder, She Wrote lovers, let's rock this party!!