Pumpkinnapper is Here!

The time has come! The Wild Rose Press has released my Regency Halloween comedy novella, Pumpkinnapper.

Buy link here. Note, depending on your location, the link may not yet be active.

Join the fun as Henry the man and Henry the goose spar over heroine Emily's affections while they try to capture the foul pumpkin thieves.

The day's events (September 30):

3-5 PM Eastern time: I'll be at the Classic Romance Revival loop
9-10 PM Eastern time: I'll be at The Wild Rose Press loop. I'll drop in all day, but I'll be there for sure at this time.

You must join the loops in order to post.

And enter my CONTEST--Find Me a Hero! Prize is a PDF copy of Pumpkinnapper. Contest runs through October 31. Details on my Contest page.

BLURB:

Pumpkin thieves, a youthful love rekindled and a jealous goose. Oh my.

Last night someone tried to steal the widowed Mrs. Emily Metcalfe's pumpkins. She's certain the culprit is her old childhood nemesis and the secret love of her youth, Henry, nicknamed Hank, whom she hasn't seen in ten years.

Henry, Baron Grey, who's never forgotten the girl he loved but couldn’t pursue so long ago, decides to catch Emily's would-be thief. Even after she reveals his childhood nickname--the one he would rather forget. And even after her jealous pet goose bites him in an embarrassing place.

Oh, the things a man does for love.

EXCERPT:

"Emily, even with Henry, formidable as he is--" Hank glared at the goose. The goose glared back "--you need protection. I will send over some footmen to guard the place."

"No. Turnip Cottage belongs to Charlotte's husband. What will the townspeople think, with Lord Grey's servants about my house?"

Her refusal increased his fury. The sight of her hand on that damned goose's head didn't improve his mood, either. He balled his fists as his patience thinned and something else thickened. "I'll find you a guard dog. You must have some protection out here all alone."

"But I have Henry." She patted the goose's head and the bird snuggled into her hand. Again.

Heat flooded Hank, part desire for Emily's touch, and part desire to murder that damned goose, who was where he wanted to be. His insides groaned. "Very well, then, you leave me no choice. I will help you catch the culprits."

"But--"

He changed his voice to the voice that either melted a woman or earned him a slap in the face. "Who knows, mayhap we would enjoy ourselves as I lie in wait with you." I would love to lie with you.

Her eyes widened. Had she understood the innuendo?

"I cannot stay alone with you, and you know it," she said, her voice severe.

"You are a widow in your own home and no one will see. I will make sure of it."

"No." She marched back into her cottage and slammed the door. Henry smirked and waddled away.

Hank grinned. He would be back, whether she liked it or not.

Thank you all,

Linda

Linda Banche

Regency romance--most with humor, some with fantasy, and occasionally a paranormal

Lady of the Stars--4 stars from Romantic Times, Regency time travel available from The Wild Rose Press

Pumpkinnapper--Regency Halloween comedy, available from The Wild Rose Press

Website Blog Myspace Facebook Twitter

And the winner is...

Debra St. John is the winner of the pdf download of Confederate Rose over at Slip Into Something Victorian!

Congratulations, Debra! Contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com to claim your prize.

Release Day for Confederate Rose

Today is the official release day for my latest Civil War romance, Confederate Rose!

And if you join me today at Slip Into Something Victorian and leave a comment, you'll be entered to win an e-book copy.

Here's an excerpt:

I'm hating to have to say it, since I'd accused you of being a thief, but I stole something from you." She looked away.

"What could you...?" He racked his mind trying to figure out what she could have taken.

"I went through yer pack."

"In Patrick's tent?"

"No, weeks ago back at the cabin. I went through it to try to learn more about you when you were in the stable. I found a letter and took it but didn't have time to read it until now."

Alex swallowed.

"It was a Federal dispatch. Yer a Yankee."

His chest tightened. No wonder he'd been unable to find the dispatch. She'd had it all along. "What do you intend to do?" He hoped she wouldn't discover his real motive. He could never harm her.

"You lied to me the whole time," she said, disbelief marring her delicate features.

He exhaled the breath he'd held. "I had no choice."

"If I'd known you to be a Yankee, I'd have shot you the first chance I got." Her eyes glittered in the light of the fire. "You touched me...pretended to care fer me. And all the while, you lied to me."

The raw hurt on her face broke his heart. He'd deceived her. He couldn't deny it. "What do you intend to do?" he asked again.

She shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Alex, but 'tis me duty to turn you in."

Confederate Rose, available now at The Wild Rose Press.

Sandra Kay's Musings: CRABBY OLD MAN (A Poem)

Sandra Kay's Musings: CRABBY OLD MAN (A Poem)

Something FUN - a party at The Book Spa

Come one, come all, to The Book Spa as we celebrate our one year anniversary! We have contests with book giveaways as well as TWRP gift certificates ready to be claimed. The party starts on Friday, September 25 with our all-star lineup of radio personalities as our beloved Spa tunes in to a radio show theme for our Friday moderator blitz. Times shown below are Eastern Daylight Savings Times.

Liana in the morning (9 to noon)
Lunch with Celia (noon to 3)
Afternoon Drive with Cindy (3 to 6)
Evening Jam with Maggie (6 to 9)
with Jane Richardson and Steph Burkhart sitting in

WSPA - Tune in for our Spa Spectacular. We've got radio talk show hosts-- Liana Laverentz, Celia Yeary, Cindy Green,and Maggie Toussaint standing by, waiting to hear from you as we celebrate our oneyear anniversary. We've got hot contests, great music, talk radio, andso much more. We'll have your favorite sillies, wellness tips, chocolate recommendations, music to write by, and books to unwind with.

Our contest runs all weekend long. Be sure and comment for a chance to win. Books, gift certificates and more are up for grabs. Winners will be announced during our Book Club Monday session.

We encourage everyone to join in the excerpt posting on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. Sunday's excerpt theme is Celebration!

Come on, what are you waiting for? Join us for a weekend long party at The BookSpa!

Here's the link: http://yahoo.groups.com/group/TheBookSpa/

Hope to see you there!Maggie Toussaintwww.maggietoussaint.com

Winners announced today

Announcing the winners of my contest for the lauch of my newest romance novel, Confederate Rose.

1st prize - autographed print copy of Confederate Rose

Chris Mead

2nd & 3rd prizes: e-book downloads of Confederate Rose

Edwin R. Harrington & Margaret C. White

Congratulations to all the winners!!

Sandra Kay's Musings: Isn't the English Language Wonderful?

Sandra Kay's Musings: Isn't the English Language Wonderful?

Fortune cookie time -

9/21 - 9/ 27 BORING MONDAY, DETAILS, DETAILS. LIVELIER TUESDAY. For the rest of the week, check out the Fortuneteller’s page.

If you are planning to attend the Emerald City Writers' Conference in October, I'll be there signing copies of Deja Vu Lover. Stop by and say hi! I will have free postcards and bookmarks that I'd love to sign for you.

Phoebe Matthews
Deja Vu Lover
Vintage Rose

Curse of the Sagging Middle

The writer’s curse is a sagging middle
by Barbara Edwards

Not your stomach. It’s the middle of your manuscript dragging into oblivion. Classic advice says ‘kill someone’. A dead body injects life. I’ve killed a few characters. Then found a reason why. Who is the ‘real killer’? Can’t have a fake killer, can we? Red herrings abound. Threads weave another layer to the plot.
Or it is a murder the death of the story?
At one RWA conference an editor stated she hated to find a dead body at midpoint in a comedy. I rewrote that one and found the story went no-where. Its still waiting under my bed for inspiration to strike.
An extra dead body is a clue that your story isn’t alive. Every action must have a cause. Tossing a corpse off the roof might not do anything but make the editor toss your book.
Back to my middle. I’m a by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. I learn my characters as I go. I plot day by day. I’m constantly surprise by what happens. A murder? Sometimes an earthquake, a riot, a hurricane or a love scene fits better.
Be creative. It’s your job.

I hope you find my book Ancient Awakening keeps the story moving.

Ancient Awakening by Barbara Edwards

Finding Rhodes End Book One

Blurb: Police Officer Melanie Petersen is the only one who believes a suspicious death is murder. By disobeying direct orders from the Rhodes End Chief, she risks her career to follow clues that twist in circles to her backyard and lead the killer to her. Her neighbor Stephan Zoriak is a prime suspect. While working for a major pharmaceutical company, he is exposed to a dangerous organism that changed him. He suspects he is the killer and agrees to help Mel find the truth when the deaths continue. In the course of their investigation Mel and Steve find more death and continued distrust that make them wonder if love can defy death.

For more information, visit me at
http://www.barbaraedwards.net/
http://barbaraedwards.net/blog/blog.asp for Barb'Ed Comments

Another five star review for 'Children Of The mist'

I was thrilled to receive another five star review - this time from Classic Romance Revival. Thank you so much, Lindsay Townsend, I'm so happy you enjoyed it.

This is part of what she said:

"Packed with excitement, adventure and cliff-hangers, Children of the Mist also has moments of profound tenderness and beauty, with stunning description of snow, ice-cats, glaciers and mountains. Telepathy features strongly through the novel and I was touched by the way Vidarh and Tamarith fell in love with, and also rescued each other, via telepathy."

You can read the whole review here:

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?cat=http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?cat=281

As writers, we're always thrilled and relieved to received a lovely review like this. I say relieved, because however good the reviews that have gone before, there is always the niggling doubt, the 'what if she didn't like it' moment before you click on the link and read what the reviewer thought. It takes a lot of time and work to read a book and review it, so thank you to all the reviewers who take the time and trouble to read and review our books - I for one, appreciate your kind words and encouragement more than I can say!

Sandra Kay's Musings: Why Did God Make Lightning Bugs?

Sandra Kay's Musings: Why Did God Make Lightning Bugs?

This week's fortune cookie -

9/14 - 9/20 PACE SLOWS AND FAVORS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ON-GOING EVENTS. TUESDAY LOOK FOR SIMPLE ANSWERS. For the rest of the week, check out the Fortuneteller’s page.

Deja Vu Lover
Vintage Rose
by Phoebe Matthews

4.25 review for Civil War anthology!

We just got a 4.25 review from Night Owl Romance for our Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

Reviewer Vee said:

"With battles between Native Americans and Colonials, Northerners and Southerners, and Good and Bad there is a wealth of conflict to draw on. While the geographic breadth is vast, from sea to shining sea practically, and the backdrop varied, the conflicts are drawn from wartime.

"Knowing you or your lover may not live to see the next day tends to throw decorum out the window. These are all entertaining, informative stories that I enjoyed reading."

Read the full review at Night Owl Romance.

Thank You, all who voted

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that CHILDREN OF THE MIST was voted the cover of the month for August at The Author's Meeting Place.

I'd like to thank EVERYONE who took the time and trouble to vote for my cover. I really, really appreciate it. It was apparently a close run thing so your votes made all the difference.

I'd also like to thankTWRP's talented Tamra Westberry who took my suggestions and designed the cover, creating a scene which is absolutely as I imagined it. See more of her beautiful covers HERE

What a wonderful start to the month! I've been unable toget to my pc much for the last week or so, so I haven't been as active on the 'net' as I'd like to be, but I had to post my thanks and let you know the good news.


Children Of The Mist
A Sequel to 'Starquest'
Available HERE

New week, new fortune -

9/7 - 9/13 MONDAY AND TUESDAY ARE PRACTICAL DAYS, WEDNESDAY BRINGS INSPIRATION WITH GOOD IDEAS CROPPING UP THE REST OF THE WEEK. ROMANTIC WEEKEND IF YOU AREN’T SWITCHING AFFECTIONS. SOMEONE NEW? COULD BE IFFY.

For a free read short story, visit Phoebe's Short Story page.

Deja Vu Lover
Vintage Rose
Phoebe Matthews