In the questions in love and death, where does the truth lie?

Entangled Love by Cait Jarrod
Caitjarrod.com


Available on Ebook, Print, and Audio
Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/mainc ... rs_id=1172
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00KLLIJQA
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/entangled-love
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/entangl ... 0149385232
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/entang ... 9113?mt=11


Blurb:
Emma James is on a mission to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband. When her childhood friend offers an innocent getaway to Santa Monica, she accepts thinking fun in the sun will be a great way to start fresh.
Retired professional skateboarder, Ryan Cross is a gorgeous, lovable, ladies’ man. With two skateboard parks and a fat bank account, he’s on top of his game. What could make him happier?
The love of his childhood friend.
Chaos and life-threatening obstacles have Ryan investigating Emma’s husband's death. When he discovers handwritten notes made by her late husband, he learns some friends can't be trusted. They will stop at nothing to get what they want, including putting Emma’s life in danger.

Reviews:
“WOW, you have to read this book! Cait Jarrod holds her readers by the throat, shakes, and confuses them, and just when you THINK figure out who did it, she throws you a curveball!!”
~Amazon reviewer

“ENTANGLED LOVE is a cunning story that leads you on a thrill of a chase to see who’s deceived who, and who will end up capturing Emma’s heart. Fast paced, lots of steam, full of quirky you won’t soon forget, nor is it one you’ll be able to put down.”
~DC Stone, award winning romantic suspense author

“Cait Jarrod’s latest novel has the mandatory sexy hero, strong heroine and great action. Add witty dialogue and loveable side characters with unexpected plot twists and you have another winner. ENTANGLED LOVE is a must-read for every HEA fan in Romantic Suspense. ”
~Aubrey Wynne, author

“Cait Jarrod has created a complicated world of secrets and intrigue that will keep the reader glued to the page. As each secret reveals, the story gets more complex instead of less until everything intertwines and wraps together at the end for a satisfying conclusion. This makes for a fun beach read, keeping you guessing and invested in the characters.”
~Katie O’Sullivan, author

“This book was so well written with many surprising twists that you won’t want to put it down because you will want to find out what happens next and what new characters will show up. Entangled Love impressed me in having everything! It has action, romance, humor and drama.

The characters are extremely well developed so you can’t help but like them. I especially liked Ryan. What a guy! Not only was he attractive and successful in his business, but was kind and compassionate. Perfect! The secondary characters added a lot to the suspense but Ryan’s butler, Niles, was hysterical! I liked that not all the characters were good guys. Warren was very bad, but this, again, helped the story be so interesting.”
~Amazon reviewer

 
Interview with Ryan Cross:
Today, I’m speaking with retired skateboarder, Ryan Cross to see if he’d be willing to be the hero of my upcoming book, Entangled Love.
We agreed to meet at a quaint bar not far from his home. Rudy’s, a log building with surrounding acreage, the structure looks like it belongs in the country instead of the metropolis of Los Angeles. Several tables are full. I decide to sit at the bar.
A barrel-chested man walks over to me and places a cocktail napkin on the counter. “Hello, there.” A smile stretches across his face. The man looks more like a football player than a bartender. Despite his overwhelming size, he makes me feel welcome and lessens the nervousness I always feel before asking someone if they want to open up their life for the world to read.
“What may I get you?”
I’m thinking beer, but would wine be more appropriate? Maybe I shouldn’t drink at all? Heck, who am I kidding? I’d love a beer. “Blue Moon, thank you.”
“Put her beer on my tab. I’d like a Corona,” a baritone voice booms from behind me.
A golden-haired man with intriguing green eyes stretches out his hand. “Ryan Cross.”
The bartender, standing a few inches taller than Ryan, eyes him, nods, and walks away without responding.
I accept Ryan’s hand. “Cait Jarrod. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You, too.”
The bartender returns with the order and places the drinks in front of us before moving to help another customer, still not speaking. Odd.
“So, you want to do a story about me?”
“Yes. I’ve read about you on the internet, see that you have skateboarding parks and you do charity work.”
“Is that all you’ve read?”
I wonder if he’s referring to the multiple pictures of him with different women. “Just about, yes.”
He hesitates, so I add, “I thought you’d be the perfect hero for an upcoming book – a charming, generous athlete who gives back to his community. Perfect.”
The bartender scuffs and pushes through the swinging doors.
“Didn’t you say the story was for a romance?”
I hadn’t decided on a specific category, maybe contemporary or romantic suspense. My fingers will decide as the story develops. No matter what, the plot will be an engaging love story. “Yes, romance.”
He laughs. “You haven’t seen the photos on the internet. No woman is pictured with me twice.” He pauses, wipes his face, and swallows some beer. “Almost no one.”
I saw the images of him and a beautiful, blue-eyed blonde. She’s gorgeous enough to be an actress while having the down-home presence of being your best friend. Someone you’d instantly like.
The expression on his face stops me from inquiring more. “There’s always hope,” I say tongue and cheek. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
He raised a hand. “No. No worries.
I cringe. The conversation isn’t going in the direction I want it to. “Yes, but I didn’t mean to imply.”
He sighed. “The thing is you’re right.”
“Then I have your permission?”
“You do. I just hope you get the story you’re after.”
I let out a breath. For a minute, I thought he’d say no. I have my next story. “Thank you.”

Releasing soon: Triple Jeopardy

Contact Info:
Webpage: caitjarrod.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cait-Jar ... 529?ref=hl
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/cait.jarrod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CaitJarrod
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/69 ... ait_Jarrod
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CaitJarrod/posts/p/pub
Email: cait.jarrod@aol.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caitjarrod/

Raffle for an Entangled Love ebook August 25th-September 2nd:
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Cait Jarrod, Romance on the edge
Caitjarrod.com

Catch Me If You Can in Lobster Cove

Lobster Cove is a fictional small town on the coast of Maine. It is quaint and quirky with a colorful history, a friendly population of charming residents, and a vibrant tourist business. It is home to research scientists and small shop owners, grumpy cops and sassy chefs. Back in the day, it was a bustling fishing town and home to many immigrants, from both the state cabins and the lowest decks.

The bodies of three missing women are found in Lobster Cove. Sheriff Lynn Lawton has no leads, and not enough staff to handle the investigation.  When help arrives in the form of FBI Special Agent Jake Mackenzie, more than Lynn's job is at stake.

Jake never understood what happened between himself and Lynn fifteen years ago.  To him, it was more than a summer romance.  He loved her deeply, but she let him go to pursue his dream career in law enforcement. Now he's returned to sell his family's vacation home and cut his ties to Lobster Cove for good.

Will Lynn be able to keep him from learning the secret she's hidden from an entire town, or will Jake unwittingly leave her and their love behind a second time?


Available Now! 
Rating: Sweet
Page Count: 134
Word Count: 31900
978-1-62830-507-4   Digital

Excerpt:

Her eyes stopped on a tall, dark-haired man striding through the crowd with a confidence she remembered all too well. Her heart stopped. When he got to the rope, he lifted it, then looked at her as he came her way. Her deputy tried to stop him. When the man held up an ID, Luther stepped back.

She took a ragged breath. Her fists clenched at her side as he headed straight at her.

He couldn’t be here. Not now. Not ever. He was part of her past. He’d made sure of that.

It took him a minute to get to her. She spent every second willing her heart to still, her anger to subside. His ID was still in his hand. He was working out of the New York office, but she didn’t want him to know she knew that. Or that she looked him up at odd hours of the night when she couldn’t sleep.

“How did you manage to get this case?” she asked when he came within hearing distance.

“Lucky, I guess.”

If her heart had hammered before it was nothing compared to what it was doing now. It thundered in her chest until she could barely take a breath.

Of all the people in the world, the one she never wanted to see again stood in front of her, a polite smile frozen on his lips, questions in his deep blue eyes. He was bigger than when she knew him. Except for the few lines around his eyes, fifteen-plus years looked good on him.

She took a long silent breath. Jake Mackenzie had broken her heart years ago. How would she get through this without him uncovering more than a killer?


She broke out in a cold sweat that had nothing to do with the corpse at her feet.

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Jai Elle Mitchell: Author Spotlight - Kai Elle Wheeler

Jai Elle Mitchell: Author Spotlight - Kai Elle Wheeler: I'm going in a new direction, well for this week. On my facebook page Buy the Series , I've published several reviews. So this week,...

Character Interview with Beth Kennedy by Chrys Fey

Chrys: For this interview I will silence the pounding rains and still the gale force wind to talk to Beth Kennedy, the heroine of Hurricane Crimes.

Hurricane Sabrina is a category 5 beast, so, first, I want to see how you’re fairing, Beth.

Beth: I guess you could say I’m fairing. Considering. It is nasty outside! I don’t think my house is going to last much longer. Pine trees are falling down, and mailboxes and stop signs are being ripped out of the ground. I wish I could see outside but all of my windows are tightly boarded. For all I know, my house is the last one standing on the block!

Chrys: What did you do to prepare for the hurricane?

Beth: I boarded up all the windows, a precaution I wish I had been more liberal about, but I can’t change that now. I also stocked up on water, snacks and first-aid kit supplies, which came in handy because both of us have needed patching up.

Chrys: Um . . . both?

Beth: Oh yeah! I’m not alone anymore. I risked life and limb, literally, to save a man who may yet kill me.

Chrys: Why in the world would he kill you?

Beth: Because he probably is a murderer! And we’re trapped together. Nothing good ever comes out of being stuck with a stranger in conditions like this.

Chrys: Can you tell us about him? Whoever he is?

Beth: His name is Donovan Goldwyn. I don’t know much about him right now, but I suppose I can give you a description. He has chocolate-brown hair and violet eyes. The combination is powerful. Then when you add his great body into the mix, you have a triple threat. He’s mysterious, hot and athletic, which makes him lethal. A killer can easily disguise his dark side with good looks.

Chrys: Where is Donovan?

Beth: In the kitchen getting ice for my shoulder, so keep your voice down! He doesn’t know I’m talking to you.

Chrys: *whispers* Despite your claim that he’s dangerous, and a danger to you, it sounds like you find him attractive.

Beth: If I didn’t find him attractive, I’d question my sanity. Actually . . . since I think he’s a killer and I find him attractive maybe I should be questioning my sanity.

Chrys: Well, I guess it’s time for a change of subject. If tonight were a normal Friday night, what would you be doing?

Beth: I’d be having a cocktail with a few of my friends from my self-defense classes. They are an amazing bunch. Then I’d come home, take a bubble bath, and relax in bed while penning a poem or two about my day.

Chrys: Sounds great. And if you were on a date with a certain someone with violet eyes, what would it be like?

Beth: *squints suspiciously* I don’t like what you’re hinting at, but I’ll play along. My ideal date would be a fun beach day. Sun, salty waves and scantily-clad bodies—What more could you want when you live in Florida?

Chrys: Because I hear Donovan returning I’ll ask one last question. Do you have any regrets?

Beth: Right now, I have a ton of them! I regret not finding some way to leave Florida. I regret rescuing Donovan even though I would’ve regretted it if I didn’t. And I regret the kiss.

Chrys: Kiss. What kiss?!

Beth: Oh, no! You said the regret question would be the last one.

Chrys: And that is my current regret. Thank you for your time, Beth, and I wish you the best of luck with Hurricane Sabrina . . . and Donovan.

Beth: Thanks, I’ll need it!

Chrys Fey's eBook, Hurricane Crimes, was published by The Wild Rose Press. They will also be publishing her novella, 30 Seconds, on September 10th. Her flash fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Freedom Fiction Journal, and Inner Sins magazine. Her blog, Write with Fey, is dedicated to helping and inspiring writers.

Blog: http://www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com.chrysfey

A Novel Adventure by: Robena Grant

Do you like to walk the terrain of your book? To me there is nothing quite like exploring the location and setting for a novel. I like to capture the sounds, smells, and the local dialect. Come on along with me and explore the setting for my romantic suspense: Gone Tropical.

It’s the northernmost part of Queensland, Australia, or what the Aussie’s call it: Far North. If you fly into Cairns international airport you’ll then drive north to the fascinating Daintree rainforest, Cape Tribulation, and on to historic Cooktown. Go even further north you’ll get to Cape York Peninsula. This is called The Tip. It’s a stone’s throw from Papua New Guinea.

As you travel up the coast from Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and its gorgeous islands will be to the east, inland there’s the Atherton Tableland, and further west the outback. My Aussie siblings, and my mom, stayed with me at an isolated lodge in the rainforest. It’s fabulous country where cell phones don’t often work, some roads require a 4WD, it’s hot and steamy and you’ll almost always need a hat. Insects, snakes, flies, jelly fish, stingrays, crocodiles, mosquitos, and an odd cyclone or two might stir your imagination. I know they all stirred mine. What an adventure. A perfect place to put a young American woman tracking a thieving ex-husband, and a P.I. sent to protect her.

If you’re looking for a romantic setting to warm your heart, and your toes, curl up with this romantic suspense/adventure and fall a little bit in love with Jake Turner. : ) Available as an eBook in all formats, and in print (not Jake, just the book.) http://amzn.com/B00HJE3UAC

But first, lunch:

Robena Grant
www.robenagrant.com

Welcome to Lobster Cove

Lobster Cove is a fictional small town on the coast of Maine. It is quaint and quirky with a colorful history, a friendly population of charming residents, and a vibrant tourist business. It is home to research scientists and small shop owners, grumpy cops and sassy chefs. Back in the day, it was a bustling fishing town and home to many immigrants, from both the state cabins and the lowest decks.


Our First release, Juelle's Legacy is available today.

  After an accident puts Juelle McClintock’s husband, Sebastian, in a coma, she’s left to care for her small daughter on her own—and to deal with the guilt over her plan to divorce him. When Juelle is faced with the decision of whether to remove his life support, her grief-stricken mother-in-law calls her a murderer. Matters become more complicated when Hunter McClintock arrives in town, claiming to be Sebastian’s half-brother.

Hunter McClintock is summoned from Hawaii for the reading of his father’s will—a father he never knew. Despite his qualms of dredging up bitter emotions, he goes to Lobster Cove, Maine, and walks head-first into a hornet’s nest, and a beautiful, sexy, grieving widow who is married to his half-brother.

An unexpected stipulation is revealed at the reading of the Will, and Hunter and Juelle are faced with decisions that will alter their destinies. Will Juelle’s legacy complicate her life further, or lead to the contentment and love she deserves?



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My Novel with a Twenty year Gestation period by: Gail MacMillan

I've always been fascinated by the history of my region of Northern New Brunswick. After writing two history books about the area and numerous magazine articles, I decided I had to capture the area's colorful past in fiction. I set out to tell the story of what happened to the Miramichi Valley when, in the 1840's , steamships were rapidly replacing the graceful windjammers, the construction of which was a major industry for residents. I'd barely begun my epic when I returned to 9 to 5 work to help support the family. Then I embarked on getting my university degree. And along the way, I still managed to write several hundred magazine articles and stories as well as three less ambitious romance novels.

Finally I graduated from university the same year that my eldest daughter received her degree in education. Not satisfied, I went on to do post graduate work at the University of Western Ontario in expository and narrative writing. Through it all I kept working on the labor of love that was my historical epic.

Eventually it was finished and I sent it off to an agent. She didn't reply for some time but months later sent a note saying she'd taken the novel to England because she thought a publisher there might be a fit. When it wasn't, she abandoned the manuscript. A second agent was enthusiastic at the start but eventually vanished, manuscript and all. Discouraged, I put the manuscript in a drawer.

Some years later I began working with editors at The Wild Rose Press. I mentioned my abandoned manuscript to one of them and she asked to see it. Now it had been written largely in pre-computer days so that meant I had to re-type all 150,000 words into e-mailable form. I'm nothing if not determined so I set to the task. Months and several severe edits later, my story finally appeared under the title of "Shadows of Love."

It had been twenty years start to finish and I'm not sure I'd have the stamina to do it all again. But I am happy to see finally out in the light of day.

Gail MacMillan
http://www.gailmacmillan.ca
twitter: tollerbeagle44
facebook Gail MacMillan

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Beth Kennedy’s Diary Entry by Chrys Fey

Dear whoever may find this,

I am writing in case I don’t survive. Whether I die by Hurricane Sabrina’s windy hands or by Donovan Goldwyn’s strong hands is the question, but I am not taking any chances. You see, I saved Donovan’s life, putting myself at risk, and I didn’t exactly walk away from that unscathed, but I still have my life. For now.

I was fooled by Donovan’s violet eyes, but a murderer’s eyes can be any color. There is no proof that he’s a killer, there is no proof that he’s not. And every fiber of my self-defense-instructor-being is telling me to run. RUN! But I can’t. Hurricane Sabrina is waiting for me outside, banging at the doors and windows like an intruder trying to get into my house. So I am trapped with a man who can kill me at any given moment.

And yet . . . those eyes. I look into them and I can feel them prying apart my carefully crafted walls. Donovan is handsome. He is alluring. He is intense. And we are stuck together.

Anyway, if you find this and I am dead then look at the two suspects: Hurricane Sabrina and Donovan Goldwyn.

-Beth

Hurricane Crimes Blurb:

After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather.

Donovan Goldwyn only wanted to hide from the police, but the hurricane shoved his car into a tree. Now he's trapped with a beautiful woman while the evidence that can prove his innocence to a brutal crime is out there for anyone to find.

As Hurricane Sabrina wreaks havoc, Beth has no other choice but to trust Donovan to stay alive. But will she survive, or will she become another hurricane crime?

Chrys Fey
http://www.facebook.com/chrysfey
http://www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
to purchase Hurricane Crimes 

Why I Write by Kevin V Symmons

People who know I came from a successful business career often ask me this question.  The easiest way to begin is to answer in the reverse. I do not write to gain fame and riches though I would love to have a New York Times number one best-seller and the royalties and adulation it would bring. I do not write so that I can hobnob with the cool kids or the inside sanctum of the literati. I do not write so I can talk on national TV with Matt Lauer or Oprah... Don't misunderstand me all those things would be great fun and I have no lack of ego so they would admittedly be gratifying. I have had the good fortune to be successful in my pre-writing life so putting words to paper does not feed the kids or pay the mortgage. I don't write to earn a living.

So then—you're asking by now why do you spend thousands of hours brooding over a novel crafting it till you're satisfied it's a piece worthy of sending to your readers?

The answer is patently simple... I love telling stories and (hopefully) the enjoyment they bring. I always have. I am a baby-boomer and grew up on folklore of WWII so I wrote my first short story about PT boats when I was twelve. I was enough of a nerd and a mediocre athlete so I toiled over the school paper while others wore the highly coveted school letter on their jackets.

I had the great good fortune to have emotive, enthusiastic English teachers in high school and at the undergraduate collegiate level who pushed and prodded me to the limit, bless them. Life, the military, and my growing family precluded any idea of seriously pursuing writing as anything other than a pastime or part of my job, but I always joked that someday I would write a great American novel knowing it had been done more than once. 

I had the good fortune to leave my business early and low and behold though it took many false starts, rejections, and the bolstering loyalty of supportive family, friends, and fellow authors, after several years my long dormant dream became a reality when I got what's referred to in publishing as "the call!"

And though I write slowly, I've averaged about a novel a year over the last five. Three have been published, two have been Amazon best-sellers and my debut novel was a finalist in a prestigious awards competition.

So why do I continue? Well... though I haven't had that date on the Today show yet I have achieved some recognition, made so many wonderful writing friends I've lost track, helped to run a respected writing organization, and even taught creative writing at the junior college level.

And though I am not Mary Higgins Clark or John Grisham I have had my share of rewarding "fan" encounters. I could go on, but I hope you get my point. I began this journey because I loved telling my stories and somewhere along the line it seemed that those who read my work liked them, too.

Part of it is ego. Everyone who crafts a story and asks another to read it feels he/she has something worthy of telling. But much of it is simply the enjoyment of discovering that some readers out there have enjoyed our work enough that it gave them pleasure and perhaps a respite from this fast-paced, chaotic, often frustrating world.

Matt and Oprah... eat your hearts out. NY Times book editors I have not thrown in the towel but for now, I'm happy doing what I do. Perhaps we'll have a date sometime in the future...

Enjoy this spectacular summer!

Kevin V. Symmons

Author of Solo

Inspiration for Hurricane Crimes by Chrys Fey

In 2004, Hurricane Frances, with her brothers Charley and Ivan, attacked Florida one right after the other. These storms, especially Frances inspired my story, HURRICANE CRIMES. In this post, I recall my experiences with a Category 4 hurricane.

***

As Hurricane Frances inched her way to the Florida coast, a vast net of gray clouds overtook the sky. Standing on my driveway, with my hair and skirt blowing in the wind and my head tipped back, I could see the circular motion of the clouds. The wind picked up and I watched a neighbor’s forgotten trashcan go rolling down the road.

For the rest of the day, I watched Dinotopia and played dominos while I waited for the hurricane to hit. The TV would go in and out, and I remember cheering when it fought back to life. That night, the winds became so intense that the transformer in my backyard started sparking. Glowing embers rained down into the darkness below. I eyed the transformer like a ticking time bomb. Not long later, it popped with a blast of yellowish-blue light and a sheet of darkness draped over my house.

While I was sleeping, rain dropped in heavy ribbons onto the roof. Wind slammed into the boards covering the windows next to my bed, prying me out of my sleep several times, and I was always relieved to see the walls were still standing around me.

When I woke in the morning, Hurricane Frances was gone. In the light of day, which was obscured by layers of clouds, I found my neighbor’s fence flat on the ground, the roof over my porch torn, and my garage door crumpled.
I spent a week with my family without power. The temperature was high, but Hurricane Frances left behind a nice breeze. To battle the heat, I dragged my mattress to the middle of the living room and slept with all the doors and windows open to create cross-ventilation.

Days after the storm passed, my sisters and I ventured into the city where we heard FEMA was handing out supplies. Driving down deserted roads was surreal. We didn’t pass a single car on our way into the city. All the lights were down and uniformed soldiers stood at busy intersections to navigate the few cars toward the relief stations. We received MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) for my whole family to last a few days.

After several days, the wait for our power to be restored became unbearable. Finally, Florida Power and Light workers came to our aid almost a week after the power went out. The sun had retreated down the sky by the time the lights winked on again.

And that was the end of Hurricane Frances’ reign. She caused 49 deaths, 12 billion dollars worth of damage, and wide-spread flooding throughout Florida and North Carolina. But she also inspired a writer.

Chrys Fey
http://www.facebook.com/chrysfey
http://www.writewithfey.blogspot.com

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The Beauty of Scotland

When Neely Powell (Leigh Neely and Jan Powell) began writing True Nature, I (Leigh) was fortunate enough to visit her son's family in Scotland. Due to the birth of her granddaughter and the subsequent birth of her grandson, she spent a total of four months in and around the area of Giffnock, just a little ways from Edinburgh.

It really is a culture shock to live away from America. Grocery stores are different, the number of incredibly old buildings just boggles the mind, and the value of learning the history of where you are seemed enhanced.

I loved Giffnock. I became accustomed to walking everywhere, something I'd never done in America. There were times, however, when I did have to ask my sweet daughter-in-law to let me sit a while between going to the post office, the grocery store, and the local park. Unfortunately, I did not continue my walking once I returned home.

Giffnock looks much like a village of old, with its beautiful stone buildings and narrow streets. I didn't drive while over there. I was sure I'd forget which side of the road I should be on and cause an accident. My son and his wife have adapted well and since leaving Scotland, have lived in Dublin and are now in London. It makes for wonderful vacations and give us opportunities to get to know places in the UK, not just visit them.

At any rate, Giffnock plays a significant role in the story of True Nature. The family of shape shifters the story focuses on are from this area and have a long and colorful Scottish history that includes a battle between clans.

Here's an excerpt:

My thoughts went back to the little kitchen in the cottage where Hunter and I stayed. We were there for two months, in the countryside between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was close enough to town to have fun and had enough land attached to give Hunter a place to roam free and work out the kinks of shapeshifting.

We were looked after that summer by two of the MacRae family’s devoted employees. Tall, spare Robert McPhee had once been the right hand man of Hunter’s grandfather and great-grandfather. Though his face was seamed with age, he didn’t miss a beat. He knew where Hunter and I were at all times, and had even shown up a time or two unexpectedly, both in the city and out in the countryside.

It was eerie, I remembered. It was as if he had a special ability where Hunter was concerned. Robert’s wife, Molly, was as short and round he was tall and thin. Though as ancient as he was, she kept the cottage sparkling and the scent of delicious savories and sweets coming from the kitchen. That trip was one of my best summer vacations.

The beautiful countryside of Scotland seemed the perfect setting for the home of shape shifters and dysfunctional psychics! Read True Nature for their story!

Please visit us on all our sites:
www.neelypowell.com
www.neelypower.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/NeelyPowellAuthor
www.twitter.com/neelypowell3

What’s in a name?

Didn’t some sage on the 16^th Century say, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”… perhaps, but would it be as enticing, as interesting?

How would we view romantic fiction’s most popular and notorious heroine were her name Maude instead of Scarlett O’Hara. And what if her long-suffering suitor was named Joe instead of Rhett Butler would he have garnered the same swashbuckling bravado in our imaginations. And this works not only for the bold, the driven, and the beautiful. Let’s try and imagine a dark-hearted, morose old man named Fred instead of Ebenezer Scrooge… not quite the same. And what about Alexandria Eyre? Somehow we find it hard to imagine Charlotte Bronte’s stubborn, small, plain heroine with such an illustrious name.

No, without a doubt, character names have a vital place in both historical and contemporary literature. How often do I here the ladies swoon when the name “Ranger” is mentioned in association with heroine Stephanie Plum. Somehow if Ms. Ivanovich had named him Bob the macho element would definitely be lacking.

Convinced yet. Great!

We authors resort to a wide variety of devices, formulas, and even tricks to try to give their characters names their reading audience will remember. I’ve never subscribed to one of the many services that offer names for sale. I have friends who do. Others search the news media. Some resort to the obituaries searching for names. My best writing friend seeks names that are not only distinctive but give an exotic flavor to her characters. I admit I’m more a grass roots type. I give my characters names that I (and my beta readers) find appropriate not through formula or science but by the touch and feel method.  

My debut novel featured a heroine named Courtney (Definition: of the court) who was the embodiment of a one-thousand year old Wiccan Goddess. Her heroine was named Robert… a strong masculine name. I intentionally abbreviated his proper name by having his intimates call him Robbie, an indication of his naïveté and relative immaturity, at least when compared with his beautiful but ancient heroine. The other strongest character was Simon, an all powerful male witch who embodied both the mystery and strength contained in his name.

My latest novel features Eric, a strong monosyllabic name (definition: one strong who rules) suited for my strong, Special Forces veteran hero and Ashley-Jean (definition: one who sees, which we discover she is), a brilliant, technology savant; a frightened young woman seeking refuge from the evil that pursues her. As a young, southern woman the name seemed to fit perfectly and my test readers agreed.

 

Which brings up another point: the name must not only lend a visual to the character’s image in the readers mind but must symbolize their place in the story.

In a few hundred words it’s difficult to give a thorough explanation of how and why we authors chose certain methods and different strategies to breathe life into our characters not only with their thoughts and deeds but by what we call them.

I welcome input from readers and fellow authors alike why and how you choose to name your characters. Until next time…

Kevin Symmons is a successful author, college faculty member, and president of one of the Northeast's most respected writing organizations. His paranormal novel, "Rite of Passage", was a 2013 RomCon Reader's Crown Award finalist and has been an Amazon Best Seller. "Out of the Storm", a contemporary romantic thriller set on Cape Cod, is has gathered numerous 5 star reviews and will keep you turning pages late into the night. His novel "Solo", is a sweeping women's fiction work that exposes the tragedy of domestic violence in America, will be released from his award-winning publisher, the Wild Rose Press, in 2014. Kevin has collaborated with award-winning Boston screenwriter and playwright Barry Brodsky in adapting one of his story ideas for the screen. He is a sought after public speaker who has appeared across New England. Visit Kevin and like his FB Author Page, @KevinSymmons on Twitter, at Goodreads, Amazon, and at his website, www.ksymmons.com

To View and Purchase Kevin's Books Click Here

My Corner Office - Eve Dew Crook

I admire people who can write with music playing. I’d find it distracting, for I’d be humming the tune before I knew it. I’m a concentrator. (If there is such a word....) My little office was once a dinette off the kitchen. It’s small, but I have a glass door on one side and a window in front of my computer, so I don’t feel closed in. What the picture doesn’t show, behind me, is a large closet that houses my washer and dryer—and that clackety clack music is often my background.

My favorite time to write is all morning, but if I’m caught up in a scene that’s working, I’ll keep going through half the afternoon. After that my brain usually turns off. It’s the pattern I followed for Taking the Tumble, published last year by TWRP, and my new novel, with the working title of Peril Passion, Peru. (I do love alliteration, but I’ll happily settle for any better title someone dreams up!) 

Eve Dew Crook, author of Taking the Tumble published by TWRP, shows her office bulletin board with computer on left, 

printer on right. Photo is her son, sculpture photos are her husband's work. The button in the upper left corner reads, "I 

have abandoned my search for truth and am now looking for a good fantasy."

First Book Signing for Susan Sheehey's AUDREY'S PROMISE June 14th!

It’s official!

Susan Sheehey's first book signing will be at Barnes & Noble in Southlake, TX on Saturday, June 14th, from 2 – 5pm.

It’s real, it’s surreal, it’s incredible! It’s happy-dance time!

She'll have books ready to sign, swag to give away, and smiles for everyone. Come dance with her!

AUDREY'S PROMISE is her debut contemporary romance novel set in Texas. She'll also be there promoting her upcoming romantic suspense novel with the Wild Rose Press, PRINCE OF SOLANA.

If you're in the area and can make it, she'd LOVE to see you!

Susan Sheehey
http://susansheehey.com/2014/05/20/first-book-signing-june-14th/

http://www.SusanSheehey.com

Happy Birthday to The Wild Rose Press

It's a beautiful day in the Garden.

Today we turn 8.  Wow, even typing that seems impressive.  During the years, we've seen so many small presses come and go. We've grown and adapted. And to still be standing is an accomplishment. The fact that we are flourishing and are considered one of the most established secure publishing houses in our arena is a proud fact.

There are authors who have been with us since the day we first opened to submissions. We've been lucky and it's a testament to the Garden that there are editors with us now who were with us when RJ and I had only the seeds of a new "kinder and gentler" publishing house. We had a team even when the company was simply a thought or a “what if” idea. Now here we are in 2014 celebrating 8 years!  

Best Publisher of the year Award for 6 of those years, numerous Eppies and other awards. We have a reputation for excellence in publishing, solid communication and customer service and we are still a kinder and gentler publishing experience.  Nowhere else will you get the type of hands-on attention and commitment than here in the Garden and that’s something we are incredibly proud of.

So much has changed in 8 years. And we know that the publishing world continues to change. But some things will never change. Our unwavering commitment to you, our readers and our authors. We wouldn't be celebrating 8 incredible years if you hadn’t believed in us. We should all be proud today of what we have accomplished.

I hope you will find some time today to celebrate with us in our chat room. http://chat.thewildrosepress.com/

You can find the chat link on our website http://thewildrosepress.com/ 

We will be celebrating all day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern.  Door prizes will be given out every hour. Meet a new editor or staff member every hour!

And follow us on Twitter! https://twitter.com/WildRosePress Watch for tweets on prizes, digital downloads and Wild Rose Press Gift Certificates.

It's our party, yours, mine, readers, authors, editors and those who are just discovering the wonderful place we call the Garden. The Wild Rose Press   

Thank you for blooming and growing every day with us.

Rhonda, RJ,  and the entire staff at The WildRosePress

Romantic Comedy from the Garden! Book Spotlight

Blogs of a Cheater Eater
Erika Kathryn

To Purchase

When a woman gets cheated on, who can she call? The Cheater Eater.

For years, Kat Clyne built a business slurping up man-stew for brunch with a side of mimosa, and devotedly labeling herself "the Cheater Eater" while working for the local paper. Being hired to carry out her own brand of justice is just the tip of the fork, and in order to reach a bigger audience of women in need, she starts blogging about her theories, rules, and advice.

That is until she meets Cave Maverick, the man assigned to be her partner at the paper and a cheater himself. Determined to help women everywhere with their broken hearts, Kat struggles with the idea Cave may be one of those mythical creatures known as a good guy, but will accepting a cheater make her lose more than her heart?

Romantic Comedy
Rating: Sensual
Page Count: 242
Word Count: 65605
978-1-62830-039-0 Paperback
978-1-62830-040-6 Digital

Excerpt:

There is no such thing as a perfect relationship. Even if he has your name tattooed to his butt cheek and declared you are his BFF, there is still the possibility he will cheat. You may be the Mother Mary and Martha Stewart rolled into the body of Heidi Klum, but there is still the possibility he’ll bring on the cheat wave. It has nothing to do with the fact you’re beautiful, smart, rich, popular, or whatever. Those things make no difference on cheating.

Do not make excuses. Such as, "he works so much. There isn't time to cheat." Never forget, if your man wants to cheat, he's going to make the time to do it. You'd be surprised how many hours of the day he’s unsupervised. Another excuse I hear in the bull-crap bubble is, "he's not what he used to be. I doubt other women would even go after him." There are retirement communities—I won't name names—that have higher STD percentages than colleges. Men are never too old, too ugly, nor too broke to cheat.

Do not just blame the other woman. I've heard it all on this subject and women seem to think, "She must have trapped him, because otherwise he’d never have done this to me." First of all, we all know the saying, "it takes two to tango." So let me just say without getting too graphic, it also takes two to salsa, fox-trot, waltz, rumba, and have sex, too. So trust me, she didn't put some magic gypsy potion in his beer, she didn't put him under a witch’s spell, and she sure as shoot didn't hold him at gunpoint. He chose to get involved, he chose to do it behind your back, and, of course, he chose to cheat.

In conclusion, I just want to reiterate: Trust your instinct. You were given it for a reason.


Out on a Limb
Dana Stevenson

To Purchase

When Ellie Addison, an event planner with a timid heart and tenacious spirit, finds herself getting the kiss of her life from an incredibly sexy stranger, she can’t help thinking something’s finally gone right in her life. That is, until she finds out the stranger is actually her new boss, Josh Degon, and it wasn’t Ellie he’d planned on kissing.

Now, if Ellie wants to keep her job, she’ll have to keep her hot boss at a safe distance. She stands to lose it all if she doesn’t get her life together. She’s already misplaced her widowed dad. Oh yeah, and her keys too. And that timid heart she’s fought to keep safe? If sexy Josh keeps going out of his way to seduce her, chances are damned good she’s going to lose that too.

Rating: Spicy
Romantic comedy
Page Count: 292
Word count 78282
Print ISBN: 1-60154-907-5

Excerpt:

Degon took a few steps closer. Then closer.

Until finally he was directly below the branches of the tree. His gaze focused on something in the grass by his feet.

Stooping, he picked up one of my sandals. He straightened. And then, ever so slowly, he lifted his head, higher and higher…Until he spotted me.

Mortification.

Degon stared for a long, silent minute. Then one eyebrow quirked upward. “I heard you’d be here.”

Honestly! As if that were the news of the day. As if finding me on a branch practically naked was nothing out of the ordinary.

Crossing my legs awkwardly, I covered my middle with the leaves on a nearby branch, winced and then croaked, “Mr. Degon, maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m kind of in my underwear.”

“I’ve noticed,” he said.

“I…I don’t normally go to parties in just my panties,” I babbled, just in case he thought otherwise.

“I didn’t think so. Why today?”

“Because.” I pointed a finger at the canine monster. “Cujo stole my skirt!”

For the first time since I’d met him, Degon let out a laugh. Like an idiot, I was struck dumb by the sound. His laughter was heart-stoppingly real and unreserved, contagious even. I might have joined in if I could have gotten past the humbling fact that he was laughing at me. Instead, I waited patiently for him to finish up, which took a while.

“Addison,” he murmured finally, “you really are…” He stopped, apparently searching for the right word, then found it. “Something,” he said. And when his gaze, still warm from his laughter, rested on my face, I felt heat flood my middle.


Teed Up For Love
Barbara Weitz

To Purchase

A WORKING GIRL JUST HAS TO BLOW HER LID... Using her quick wit and take-charge attitude,

Miranda Stiltgaard lands a marketing job for Stuart Golf Enterprises in Chicago determined to prove a well-educated girl raised in a small Alaskan town can succeed in a big city.

WHEN ACCUSED OF A CRIME SHE DIDN'T DO... Embezzlement of company funds sends aloof London bachelor, Keegan Stuart, roaring into Chicago to ferret out a thief and protect the family business.

THEN RISKS HEARTBREAK TO BOOT... Miranda hates that this unreadable Brit sees her as a backwoods frontierswoman dragging bear home for dinner. Or that she's capable of a crime. But if it's a fight he wants, she'll show him how it's done. Never does Keegan expect a woman of fortitude to rock his resolve and steal his heart...a heart he doesn't intend to lose.

Romantic Comedy
Rating: Spicy
Page Count: 264
Word Count 72600
ISBN: 1-60154-904-0

Excerpt:

I pointed the umbrella at the stranger. “Listen here, whoever you are.”

“Bill’s brother.”

I scorched him with my best Nordic glare. “This is my weekend to dog sit. You have to leave.” I swept the umbrella in a banishing motion.

“Don’t think so.” The dark-haired devil closed the laptop and set it aside.

Uh-oh. Blood thundered in my ears.

Slowly, for effect, I’m sure, he removed his bare feet from the coffee table and ran his palms over his thighs to unfold his tall frame and stand before me all lean muscle and confidence. Testosterone poured off him.

Nothing rational was going through my mind except the sudden realization that I’d seen men like this my whole life in Alaska. Men I’d always been able to put in their place. Only this man did something to my insides.

He took a step forward.

Whack! The umbrella hit him hard in the left bicep. He grabbed at it with reflexes so fast we were caught in a momentary tug-of-war, until he wrestled it away and tossed it aside. “Now look here, miss. This is a company-owned apartment, and I own the damned company that owns the—”

“What’s all the commotion?” groused a rough male voice. I locked eyes with Nigel Stuart, our company president. What was he doing here?

Realization cloaked me like a death pall. I had struck Keegan Stuart. Nigel’s brother.

I spun around and headed for the door. Miranda, you are so fired.

The Diva of Peddler's Creek
Ava Bleu

To Purchase

Romance novelist Taylor Beir will stop at nothing to get her mother off her back, including relocating to teach a little boy she’s never met how to read. But Christopher Doubleday doesn’t want to learn. His handsome older brother, Boyd, has an invisible stick up his backside. And she suspects sweet Mary and Jesse are trying to transform her into the mythical “good girl” she’s never been, either by power of suggestion or by bribing her with endless goodies from Mary’s kitchen.

Taylor may be down—and stuffed—but she’s not out. Someday the townspeople of Peddler’s Creek, West Virginia will realize their hostility is misplaced and recognize her for the gentle, misunderstood soul she really is. And they will admit that Taylor Beir truly is the best thing to ever happen to their tiny, dirt road, middle-of-nowhere, backwater town of Peddler’s Creek, West Virginia…if they know what’s good for them.

Pages 318
Spicy
Print ISBN: 1-60154-837-0

Excerpt:

He pretended not to notice Taylor’s quick blink of surprise and then her sudden clutch onto the horse as she realized she was high in the air with no one to steady her.

“What the hell…?” she said, grabbing the saddle.

“Take the reins,” Boyd said from beside her, thrusting the leather into her hands without meeting her eyes. He couldn’t, or she would surely see the desire he was trying so hard to hide. The last damn thing he needed was Taylor getting wind that he found her attractive—any more than she already knew.

She took the reins quickly, annoyance making her movements jerky.

“Take it easy!” he barked, allowing his frustration to masquerade as anger and his desire to transfer into bluster. “I hope you realize you lost the wager.”

“What? No way.”

“I put you on the horse.”

“You didn’t have the patience to allow me to do it myself.”

“You couldn’t do it yourself.”

“I could have, you didn’t want me to.”

“You didn’t,” he said with finality, turning away. He could feel the heat of her anger from where he stood, but only had a split second to enjoy it when…

“You are such a son of a…” She paired the last word with an angry kick. More of a jerk, really. But it didn’t matter whether it was a kick or a jerk, because a millisecond later the horse beneath her kicked up its front feet, taking Taylor high into the air.

Boyd watched in horror as Flame reared slightly, causing Taylor’s eyes to go wide with surprise, and a screech to erupt from her throat before his prize steed took off and she disappeared like a blur before him.
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May releases from The Wild Rose Press

Look for these exciting stories coming soon from the Wild Rose Press!
Click here for the Coming Soon Page on the Wild Rose Press

The Art of Love and Murder
Love and Murder
Brenda Whiteside
Release Date: 2014-05-02

Never Had a Dream Come True
The Royal Family
Jennifer Wenn
Release Date 5-2-2014

The Rasner Effect
Mark Rosendorf
Release Date 5-2-2014

Dragon Lover
Draconia Tales
Karilyn Bentley
Release Date 5-7-2014

Cowboy on the Run
Devon McKay
Release Date 5-7-2014

Under Starry Skies
Judy Ann Davis
Release Date: 2014-05-07

Poolside Pleasure
Renee Ashley Williams
Release Date 5-9-2014


Her Unexpected Husband
Abby Gordon
Release Date: 2014-05-09

How to Marry A Rogue
Anna Small
Release Date: 2014-05-09

Homecoming Homicides
A Psychic Crystal Mystery - Book Two
Marilyn Baron
Release Date 5-9-2014

Isela's Love
Celio Series, Book Two
Sasha Cain
Release Date 5-9-2014

Second Nature
Krista Ames
Release Date: 2014-05-14

Silent Deceit
Kallie Lane
Black Force Renegades series
Release Date 5-14-201

Amethyst Refrain
Kalliope Bell
Release Date: 2014-05-14

Paradise for a Sinner
The Sinners sports romances  #4
Lynn Shurr
Release Date 5-16-2014

Your Dimension Or Mine?
Dating Service Series
Cynthia Kimball
Release Date 5-16-2014

The Cowgirl & the Stallion
Natasha Deen
Release Date: 2014-05-16

Solo
Kevin V. Symmons
Release Date 5-21-2014

A Saved Woman
Lawmen and Outlaws
Nancy Fraser
Release Date 5-21-2014

Despite the Fangs
Dylan Newton
Release Date: 2014-05-21

Embraced by Fire
Louise Delamore
Release Date 5-23-2014

Resorts, Regrets, and Returning to Love
J L Wilson
Release Date: 5-23-2014

Bayou Bound
Book 2 ~ Fleur de Lis Series
Linda Joyce
Release Date 5-28-2014

A Cowboy's Fate
Gini Rifkin
Release Date: 2014-05-28

As Good as Gold
Heidi Wessman Kneale
Release Date: 2014-05-28

Dead Man's Rules
Rebecca Grace
Release Date 5-30-2014

Pandora's Jar
Veil Walker
Sharron Riddle
Release Date 5-30-2014

Read To Me
Here Come the Brides
Nona Raines
2014-05-30

Revisiting Young Adult Short Stories - Book Spotlights

Periwinkle Way
Nancy Lindley-Gauthier 

To Purchase

When teenager Robyn looks up from snorkeling, she thinks she can see dolphins leaping in the distance. It is a beautiful place, a little beach just off beautiful Captiva Island, Florida. There are shells and wildlife. A swim across this natural, untamed beach is her one goal, the one plan she held on to through her whole, week-long vacation. It will be a wonderful, never-to-be forgotten experience, she is sure. And, Robyn's younger sister Rue is, like always, spoiling everything.

In a perfect piece of bad timing, a motorboat chugs up the beach, with a more than averagely cute guy preparing for a swim. Will his arrival makes things better or worse? Jump right in - the water is fine!

Excerpt:

A ripple swept the still waters of the little bay off Captiva Island, and Robyn dipped her face into the water to peer below. The clear bay water allowed her a perfect view of her toes in the sand, but otherwise, the beach seemed empty. She straightened and glared at the boat.

“Why does everything have to start with an argument?” she asked.

Rue pretended not to hear her.

“Can't you give snorkeling a try?” Robyn pressed. She wouldn’t be permitted to snorkel around the little bay alone. She sighed. Sometimes she wished she could kick her younger sister.

She looked at her mother, hardly daring to hope. Her mother flipped rapidly through her magazine, her eyes glued to the shiny pages, letting each one slap loudly on the next. Neither her mother nor her aunt felt comfortable in the ocean. Her mother had not even wanted Robyn to start classes for her diver's certification card. Aunt Jean might have been wheedled into taking a dip, but she had dozed off in the sun.


Saddle Up, Sweetheart

Sydney Shay 

To Purchase

What happened after their first kiss on New Years Eve?

The ‘L’s were restored, but romance keeps Lucky Lake from returning to normal. Natalie and Russ grow closer everyday, but while she looks out for their future, he only thinks of the ranch, which might close by the end of summer.

Russ's decision may be made for him. His father has given Natalie two weeks notice, placing her last day right after her birthday! Does Russ love her more than Lucky Lake? Will the loss of her job end their relationship forever?

 Excerpt:

“Russ, we need to talk about Natalie.” Tucker Kent, boss and patriarch at the Lucky Lake Ranch started the conversation. His voice carried through the open door and down the hall.

Natalie Coombs unfortunately arrived just in time. She had been searching the house for Russ and didn’t intend to snoop on a meeting between him and his father. It was wrong to spy, but hearing her name was a beacon. Life at Lucky Lake had been good to her, and falling in love with Russ Kent was an unexpected bonus.

Her mind said walk away, but her lungs withheld breath, her footsteps softened, and her tense muscles encouraged her to continue. Majority ruled. She stopped outside the office, out of sight.

“She’s done amazing work, Dad. The customers love her, she gets along with the staff…”

Russ’s enthusiastic voice caused her toes to curl in her tennis shoes. She pictured him, just taller than his father, with an intense smile. He was probably rolling up his sleeves preparing to sit down and—

Trick to Treat
Kimberlee R. Mendoza

To Purchase

Sarah Bradley has wanted to hang with the popular kids since her freshman year, and now she has the chance. All she has to do is survive a Halloween scavenger hunt with the "in" crowd. When the girls lock her in a haunted mansion, she feels the trick is on her. Then she meets Matt and begins to believe that maybe she got a treat after all. But what if "love" is part of the game?

Excerpt:

Sarah Bradley stepped from her mother’s silver Mercedes and stared at the group of girls leaning against the brick wall. The popular group she’d been trying to befriend since the ninth grade had finally given her a chance. Why they’d had a problem with her, she didn’t understand. She didn’t think she was bad looking. Her family was rich, she wore all the right clothes and yet, breaking into the “club” had been almost impossible until now. She had her shot if she could get through tonight. Whatever that meant. Her palms were moist and her heart thundered in her chest. A familiar emotion whenever they were around.

Sarah’s mother beeped the horn, then drove out of the school parking lot and out of sight.

The “queen-bee” of the popular-girls, Alexis—a tall, blonde worshiped by all—strutted up to Sarah with a pasted smile. She wore a playboy bunny costume flanked by Jane, a Korean dressed in a cat suit.

Spinning the Baiji

Nancy Lindley-Gauthier 

To Purchase

Lin Li has no memory of a time before she loved SunLee. He is an old-fashioned sort of man, practicing tai chi and communing with the river creatures as in times of old. She knows he is promised to another, still, she secretly shares his dawns. She wishes to stop time and stay forever on the leaf-spattered trail where their lives entwine.

The day approaches when the mighty Yangtze River’s current will still, and the finest things in her life must end. Her love for SunLee, like the unimaginable beauty of the Yangtze lotus, will fall away to no more than myth. Sorrow brings her the last of the baiji. The magic of the white river dolphin offers her a lyrical world of love, but perhaps, not her one love...

Excerpt:

A hand grasped her own. She looked up to meet the sharp gaze of SunLee. He drew her toward him. Her long hair floated out free all around her, a dark halo hiding her body beneath the surface.

Very slowly, he chanted, “White crane sings to the baiji. Tell me, baiji of dreams, stay you here in this world, in this form?” His wide eyes and hushed tone betrayed his fear.

As if a cold wave had touched her face, Lin shook her head and snatched her hand away. “I, Liu Lin have lived in the same village as my fathers, and as your fathers, all of my life. Do you not even recognize a neighbor? Do you think I am a spirit from some far shore?”

The tall man squatted there on the edge of the sandbar. He studied her carefully. Finally, he nodded. “Lin,” he said clearly. “My morning companion.”

She started.

“Neighbor, yes,” he agreed in tones both soft and deep, “and more. I know you. You stood high on the cliff, reaching out, the dawn I saw the young baiji, yet the foreigners saw only a porpoise. That young baiji I left here in these shallows. They damaged his fin, and he cannot hunt. I have been bringing him fish.”

Oh, ah. She could hardly blame him for imagining her something mystical, with her long hair floating out wide around her, and the rest of her floating, her creamy flesh no doubt standing out in the dark water and…

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Spotlighting Women's Fiction at the Wild Rose Press

Amanda in the Summer
Brenda Whiteside 

To Purchase

Three generations of women...and the secret that strengthens their love.

A line of women, all named Amanda, stretches back for generations. Each with her hopes, her joys, her pain--each pouring out her heart in correspondence with a dear family friend who shares their lives, understands their loves, and joins in their sorrows.


But within the correspondence lies a secret. And as the youngest of the Amandas retraces the journey through the years--beginning in post-war America and following through to modern day--the letters reveal, layer by layer, the Amandas who came before her. Soon, the truths and lies hidden in the letters lead her down a path of self-discovery that forges a bond between her past and future.

Excerpt:

August 24, 1968

Dear Tilly,

A few days of bliss with no one to talk to but the seagulls. I have you to thank for this. I’m so glad you popped back after Amanda, Robert, and Mother left. The strain I put on all of us while you were here would’ve dragged on for who knows how long if you hadn’t returned. Once again, Tilly, you read the tea leaves and righted things.

My moods have been so ragged of late. Jealousy of all things. Jealous that you could talk to my daughter, get along so lovely with her, which I’ve had difficulty doing these last few months. Jealous of your longer running friendship with Robert than with me. I’m not sure if I was jealous of him or you. You’re both mine. And angry that the two of you are uncomfortable around each other after so many years and not making sense of that. When Robert left, I tried to give him the blue swimsuit you had left behind and asked him to drop in on you to return it. He said no, I could do it when I got back. This was so unlike him and did more to unsettle me...


The Apprentice

Jana Barkley 

To Purchase

There are no accidents...

A pain-filled encounter with an escaped hawk prompts suburban divorcee Samantha Leyton to learn more about the untamed bird of prey that attacked her.  Surprised and intrigued, Sam soon finds herself obsessed with an ancient passion even more consuming than the deadly disease in her body.

Falconry sponsor Hank Gerard sensed something different about the smart, city-dwelling blonde from the moment they met.  A master at understanding wild raptors, the hard-edged loner soon realizes his newest apprentice hides a secret behind the sheer grit, drive, and independence that privately captivate him--a secret Sam is determined to keep hidden. If her fellow falconers discover she's ill, she could lose her only remaining connection to life--her red-tailed hawk, Chance.

Against the backdrop of the sport of falconry, will two souls destined to meet learn to trust again before it's too late?

Excerpt:

The pain searing through Samantha Leyton’s left hand felt like nothing she had ever experienced, and she had experienced a lot in the past two months. She made an innocent move, the simple gesture of lifting her hand to block the sun as she stood before the Birds of Prey exhibit at the Highland Scottish Games. The large raptor now crushing and puncturing her hand with its talons must have thought otherwise. All she saw was a flash of feathers and bewildered people moving out of the way, unsure if this was supposed to be happening—and there it was, perched on her upheld hand. Sam could have told them this was not part of the show.

 Tears flooded her eyes as the bird’s crushing grip brought new waves of pain every time she moved, forcing her to hold still in spite of the organic urge to scream and shake the thing off. She fought to focus within, the way she’d learned to do at the hospital under the numerous pokings and proddings that had become routine, but a strange fascination compelled her to stare at the feathered monster holding her in its vice-like grip.

It was waiting for something, and in that terrible space of seconds, Sam realized it might reach for her face. Blood-red eyes, devoid of fear, bored into hers with an expression of complete ownership; she was its possession. A trickle of blood dripped from her hand, luring the hawk’s interest back to its catch, its instinct no doubt to feed stronger than any fear it might have of her.

Whiskey Sour Noir
Mickey J. Corrigan 

To Purchase

Tami Lee Conkers knows her own mind, and she knows she has gotten herself into trouble by falling for the handsome, well-educated Cat Avery.  She knows better, as the man is a registered sex offender who has served his time and now tends bar, but she believes his claim of innocence.

Having lost everything–career, family, home and reputation–Cat thinks he has figured out who set him up for the crime he didn't commit. He is determined to seek revenge.  All around him, life is going from bad to worse until Tami Lee comes a callin'.  Without Tami's help, Cat's life is over.

As the world spins out of control around them, can Tami justify leaving her life behind for one man?

Excerpt:

The first time I met Cat Avery, he'd just started bartending at the Kettle of Fish. The sudden halt of the Gulf Stream flow was all over the news and everybody sat glued to the yakker box, watching the talking heads discuss the oncoming doom. When I walked in I was tired and cranky. Not in the mood for world disaster. Not in the mood for love, either. I'd dropped by the Kettle for relaxation, not excitement. I'd had enough of that at work.

I almost turned right around and headed for the take-out coolers at the liquor mart down the way. But once I'd set my squinting eyes on Cat Avery, I stood my ground. In West Dusky, you're lucky if you see anyone with all their own teeth, never mind good-looking guys in their thirties. Well-built men with hair on their heads are a rare breed in my neighborhood. I'd become accustomed to sleeping down. Avery was on another ranking entirely. He was up so many rungs he was out of my league and I knew it soon as I laid eyes on the man.


That was my first row of thoughts, at least. I should have turned tail, saved my tattooed backside. But it was already too late. I was hooked line and sinker and he was smiling at me. He'd seen me come in. I held my breath for a moment and tried not to look at the vision of hunkiness standing behind the bar with a dirty towel over one broad shoulder. But there wasn't really any choice. I couldn't take my eyes off him. What was a guy like that doing in a place like this?


Where There Is Will
Monica Epstein 

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When she moves to London following her divorce, Michelle Loeser has no interest in looking for love. She needs to focus on surviving without her ex's six-figure income, coping with a severe fear of heights, and rebuilding her confidence. And if she keeps her promise to her best friend, she'll pursue her passion for writing too.

Will Sheridan found his passion early in life. At age eleven, he was cast in the starring role in a film series. Now, at the age of 25, he's a celebrity at a crossroads in his career. He has no time for women who don't understand his priorities.

When Will offers to help Michelle acclimate to the unfamiliar city in exchange for cooking lessons, she figures what's the harm? But jealous fans and coworkers, eager paparazzi, and a distrustful mother see it differently.

Excerpt:

"Why aren't you doing the play?"

"What play?"

My temper climbed. "Have you been offered more than one?"

"Well, no. Did you pick through my rubbish?"

"The script was on your counter."

"Covered in crap!"

"I admit I might not have behaved ethically. But this is a phenomenal opportunity. You can't pass up this show. It's on Broadway. And this particular role is a far cry from Nathaniel Wise. It will highlight your versatility and help you make the transition from teen to adult roles. Your career will skyrocket."

"I don't want to live in New York right now," he said after a moment's hesitation. "I'm happy in London. I can find another project."

"As big as this one? I thought one of your goals is to perform on Broadway."

"It is, but not now."

"Why not?"

He hesitated again. "I don't want to be apart for so long."

"You and me?"

"No, me and my toothbrush! Of course, you and me. I love you, Michelle. I don't want to leave you behind for seven months, and I know you can't come with me because of your job."

"When we got together, your focus was on your career. That's one of the reasons I agreed to be with you. Now you're letting our relationship get in the way of that. I won't be responsible for you missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime."

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