DECEMBER REALMS OF FANTASY MAGAZINE-

Is on the news stands. A gorgeous magazine for sf/fantasy readers. IWOFA has its double page ad and looky there, a Vintage Rose cover from the EPPIE award-winning author, Phoebe Matthews! Second row, fourth from the left is Deja Vu Lover. For first chapter and order info, http://phoebematthews.com.

New review for vampire romance!

I just got a great review for my short Civil War vampire romance, Sweet Redemption! LASR gave it 4 books!

Reviewer, Fern, said, "I love books that snag your attention from the start and maintain it throughout, and Sweet Redemption didn't disappoint. The writing is wonderful, the pace is nice and brisk, and the romance between Jon and Maddie is set at a believable simmer."

Full review at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/sweet-redemption-by-susan-macatee.html

Christmas ideas -

11/23-11/29 ON MONDAY EVERYBODY’S A GOOD BUDDY. TUESDAY TALK GOES ANALYTICAL. For the rest of this week’s fortune cookie, check the Predictions page at Phoebe’s place.

Barnes&Noble and Sony and probably lots of other retailers are offering new ebook readers in time for the Christmas season. If you have a romantic on your list, you could upload Deja Vu Lover by Phoebe Matthews, a national EPPIE winning author last year. (Phoebe has another book as a finalist in next year's competition! Check out her website for details.)

Christmas anthology is an early bird special!

My latest release, The Christmas Ball, part of the anthology, An American Rose Christmas, is already available in print as an early bird special at The Wild Rose Press!

Includes novellas by Beth Trissel, Carol A. Spradling, Donna Dalton, Lauri Robinson, Tori Anne and myself.

Reclaimed by his wealthy uncle, former Shawnee captive Corwin Whitfield finds life with his adopted people at an end and reluctantly enters the social world of 1764. His one aim is to run back to the colonial frontier at his first opportunity–until he meets Uncle Randolph’s ward, Dimity Scott.

Tory captain Dr. Nicolas Clayton discovers stolen military secrets on a severely injured female spy. When her wounds heal, Holly Masters must decide if she can kill the man who saved her life.

While pretending to be a male soldier, farm girl Sara Brewster falls for a handsome Union army surgeon. When her secret is revealed, will a lavish Christmas Eve ball work in her favor–or will her heart be broken?

Southern belle Marybeth Dawson discovers Santa Claus can’t cross the Mason Dixon line–but handsome Union soldier, Trevor Sulton can.When a strong willed upper class New York girl falls for a dashing, compassionate stable boy, it will take a Christmas miracle to bring them together. Thankfully, true love is on their side.

All reformed prostitute Eva Baird wants for Christmas is to have her daughter back in her arms. But gun-toting outlaws, spiteful in-laws, and a sweet-talking stranger with arresting gray eyes threaten to turn her dream into a lump of coal.

Excerpt from my story, The Christmas Ball

She rose, rubbing her hands over her arms. “You won’t tell on me, will you? My parents depend on the money I send home.”

He sighed. “Not if you don’t want me to, but I don’t think this is a wise idea. You could serve just as well as a civilian nurse.”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t make near enough money, and I like being a soldier.”

He rose and settled his hand on her shoulder. “I won’t betray your trust, Sara…er, Miss Brewster. I promise.”

Her sharp intake of breath sent his gaze to her face. Her full lips parted and a blush colored her cheeks. He ran his hand down her arm and took her hand. It was work-roughened, the nails broken, but small, making her seem vulnerable and frail. She’d had a hard life by her reckoning. He wanted to do something for her, to help lighten her workload.

To his surprise, she lifted his hand to her face and kissed the back of it. The softness of her lips on his knuckles sent a shiver through him.”Miss Brewster,” he said. “This isn’t a good idea.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Doc Ellison, I’ve longed to do this ever since I first set eyes on you.”

For more info, visit my website.

Christmas came early

The Christmas anthology, An American Rose Christmas, is available NOW at Amazon.com. Filled with stories set during the Revolutionary and Civil War, Redcoats and Sleigh Bells is one of several stories that will fill your holiday with just the right amount of spice.

Blurb from Redcoats and Sleigh Bells

It took more than a bullet wound to stop Holly Masters from completing her intelligence mission. Generals, patrols, and experienced scouts had been her sport, until she met Dr. Nicholas Clayton. Severely injured and now his patient, in order to complete her assignment, she must decide if she can kill the man who saved her life.

Nicholas has healed wounded men for both the Patriots and the Crown, but he never expected to find a wounded woman, dressed in a British military uniform, on the edge of his property. Tucked into her coat sleeve, she holds many secrets that will change the course of the war. As an officer, he has a duty to prevent her from leaving his custody. As a doctor, he has the means to prevent her from revealing what she knows. Trained for every action, nothing has prepared him for what he knows he must do.


Excerpt

The sleigh bells jingled as he bridled the horse. “There isn't time to remove the strap. Grab that cloth over there and wrap them. We can at least muffle the noise. With the information destroyed, there's no proof that you know anything. Promise me, you will keep your mouth closed.”

She didn't know if she should be insulted or proud. “Nicholas, why do you want me to leave now?”

He continued without a proper answer. “Even if you get to the General in time, which you won't, it will be too late.”

“Nicholas, answer me.”

He stopped and looked across the horse's back. “Surely you realize that a soldier will never give accurate information in front of a civilian, even when ordered to do so by his superior. The information the sergeant gave in the barn was incorrect.”

“Are you certain?”

“Quite.” He bent over to tighten the girth. “When he returned, the paper he gave me had the correct information.”

Holly's stomach dropped to her knees and her hands shook. “Nicholas, what did you write in response?”

He refused to acknowledge her and strapped an extra blanket to the back of her saddle.

“Nicholas!”

He didn't need words. His expression spoke for him. Holly held a fist to her stomach and backed away. Her throat closed preventing her from swallowing. She had to sit soon or fall over.

He rushed to her side but she held up her hand, staying him. “Why?” The word, barely audible, was all she could manage.

TWRP 2010 EPIC Award Finalists

Eight books published by the Wild Rose Press have been announced as finalists for 2010 EPIC Awards! EPIC (the Electronically Published Internet Connection) is THE professional organization for electronic publishing. The winners will be announced at EPICon in New Orleans in March.


The TWRP finalists are as follows:

• Lady of the Stars by Linda Banche (English Tea Rose, Science Fiction Romance category)
• Shadows of a Southern Moon by Meg Hennessey (American Rose, Historical Romance category)
• Do You Trust Me? by Desiree Holt (Wilder Rose, Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Erotic Romance)
• Fire Eyes by Cheryl Pierson (Cactus Rose, Western Romance and Erotic Romance category)
• The Ghost Downstairs by Molly Ringle (Faery Rose, Paranormal Romance category)
• Cast a Pale Shadow by Barbara Scott (Crimson Rose, Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Romance category)
• Movin' Up With J.J. by Kim Sheard (Sweetheart Rose, Contemporary Romance category)
• Do You Hear What I Hear? Book 1, Hoofprints and Heartstrings by Teri Wilson (Faery Rose, Paranormal Romance category)

The Winner!

The winner of the pdf download of Sweet Redemption on Dariel Raye's blog is... Patsy!

Contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com so I can send your prize.

A True Story from One Veteran

Hi, happy Veteran's Day... and thank you to all vets and all active duty military personnel and their families. I have posted a true story from my time in the Army. If you're interested, it's at my blog:

http://www.dlynnkennedy.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Doralynn Kennedy

Sleeping With Skeletons

http://www.doralynn.net/

Release Day for Sweet Redemption

My latest release, Sweet Redemption is available today at The Wild Rose Press.

And Dariel Raye is interviewing my hero, Jonathan Hackett, on her blog today. If you leave a comment on the interview post, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a pdf copy of the anthology.

On a cold December night, Union infantry captain, Jonathan Hackett is pinned down on the Fredericksburg battlefield trying to escape Confederate fire. But a creature of the night, more dangerous than any enemy soldier, stalks him. Jon must fight for his life as well as his soul. Maddie Emery has lost everything dear to her. Her husband and parents had passed on and her brothers are off fighting in the Confederate Army. She's alone, trying single-handedly to hold onto her family's farm, when a Yankee soldier collapses across her stoop. Maddie and Jon form and bond of love and desire, but as Jon exhibits signs of becoming the creature he fears most, is their love enough to fight off the evil of a centuries old vampire bent on destroying them?

Excerpt:

Those knocks were not made by a wolf, but he suspected the wolf had something to do with Reverend Arnwolf. "Is the wolf his minion, or can he transform himself?" he said, under his breath.

"What?" Mrs. Emery moved close. Her scent invaded his thoughts. "Please, tell me what’s going on?"

Jon sighed. "When I said I was attacked by a wild dog, I lied." He moved back to the settee and sat, his hands dangling between his knees.

She sat beside him, but held herself ramrod straight. "What or who attacked you?"

"I was pinned down on the battlefield. Spent the night in the freezing cold. All of my men had died. A man appeared. Claimed to be a minister from Austria." Jon grimaced as he recalled Arnwolf's blood-red eyes and the sharp pierce of his fangs as they entered Jon’s throat. "He offered to help me, but...instead he led me to an abandoned barn and attacked me."

Mrs. Emery gasped. "You're not saying this man--"

"He bit me on the throat." Jon pushed his hand through his hair. "I don't know exactly what he is, but he's not human."

"That's who you believe was at the door?"Jon nodded. "I don't know how, but I now have a connection to him." He fingered the bumps on his throat. "I know things about him I shouldn't possibly know."

New review for Civil War anthology

We just received a new review for the Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles. TwoLips Reviews gave it a 4.5 lip review.

Here's what reviewer, Sal, said about my story: "Ms. Macatee's tale was a bittersweet morsel of a dream and a hope that Kyle and Josie will find one another in time. Angel of My Dreams stole my heart and Ms. Macatee made this story all the more real by using her knowledge of history and creating characters with deep emotions that break your heart."

Read the full review and those for the other stories at TwoLips Reviews. http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4490&Itemid=36

The Bookshelf Muse: Emotion Thesuarus Entry: Amusement

The Bookshelf Muse: Emotion Thesuarus Entry: Amusement

Sandra Kay's Musings: Subplot: Another Rescue

Sandra Kay's Musings: Subplot: Another Rescue

Sample a chapter -

My Vintage Rose novel Deja Vu Lover is included in the IWOFA double-page full color ad in the December issue Realms of Fantasy, a beautiful magazine sold in BarnesandNoble as well as most college bookstores. The ad also shows the Sampler, an on-line booklet containing the first chapters of the books in the ad (including mine.) It’s a fun free read found at iwofa.net.

Deja Vu Lover, by Phoebe Matthews, received a 5 rating from the ClassicRomance Revival reviewer.

For this week’s fortune cookie, check the Predictions page at Phoebe’s place.