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Archive for December, 2016



From Delilah Devlin — Ready to take on 2017? First, a quick glance back at 2016…
Saturday, December 31st, 2016
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Dear Readers and Friends,

Happy New Year!

Can you believe it’ll be 2017 tomorrow? Seems I blinked and 2016 passed with a pffft!

I don’t know about you, but for me, today is all about wrapping up old goal sheets and preparing new ones. Last night, I prepped my 2017 Bullet Journal! Don’t know what one is? Well, if you’re curious, let me know and I’ll post pics. But it’s a goals/accomplishments/tracking record for everything I hope to accomplish in 2017.

Tonight, I’ll attend two celebrations. One with the old folks after dinner, because they can’t stay up until midnight, and then a later one, across the street with my daughter’s family, where I will be the one yawning at midnight. I love being “sandwich girl.” I hope you’re planning something fun, even if it’s just to sit with a loved one on the sofa to watch the apple drop. I really do think it’s important to celebrate life’s little mile markers.

And just because I love to celebrate my accomplishments (who else will?!), I’ve posted last month’s releases, in case you missed them, and I’m giving you the great big list of all my 2016 stories. Prepare to be amazed. LOL!

Now, go stock up on champagne and noise-makers!! See you in 2017!

A Quick Recap of December!

SOWithHisSEALTeam3 600

With His SEAL Team, Part 3

You’d think my life would be busy enough, living with and satisfying three Navy SEALs, but there’s room in my heart–and my bed–for one more. My steplover won’t mind a bit if I seduce one more of his best friends, not when it’s Harley…

Harley thinks he’s been left behind. That the wounds that shattered his body and ended his career will also end my attraction for him. I’m scared too that I can’t offer enough to lift him out of his darkness. However, I’m every bit as stubborn as these big studly men. Harley doesn’t stand a chance…

My already complicated life is about to get a whole lot hotter…

Get your copy at Amazon!

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rlca0082a MakingAMadam 600

Making a Madam

Newly widowed Merry Winslow treks west to claim an unexpected inheritance. Upon arriving, she discovers she inherited a brothel! Rather than being dismayed, Merry’s intrigued, thinking it the perfect way to shed the shackles of propriety that have subdued her wild and impulsive nature. Only problem is, she needs to learn to manage her new business.

Nathan Boone is amused by Merry’s determination and knows the perfect way to begin her instruction. When he opens the peephole for Merry to peer inside as one of the brothel’s “soiled doves” pleasures a customer, he reveals the passion hidden beneath Merry’s “widow’s weeds”.

Get your copy at Amazon!

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HeartofaSEAL 600

Heart of a SEAL
Uncharted SEALs, Book 8

Aislinn Blalock is the lone survivor of the extraction team sent to rescue hostages in Cambodia from the vicious criminal gang holding them for ransom. After her helicopter crashes, she has to stay one step ahead of them to stay alive long enough for a rescue team to get to her.

Ash’s husband Sam watches the mission go sideways on a computer monitor, sidelined by management because one of the team happens to be his wife—but now, there’s no way in hell he’s sitting this one out. He’s getting to Ash before the armed gang can cause her any harm. He’ll risk everything to save the woman who holds his heart.

Get your copy at Amazon!

~~~~~~~

38 for 2016!

1. 01/15/16 – FRANNIE AND THE PRIVATE DICK, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
2. 01/29/16 – STROKES, VOL. 3 (Indie)
3. 02/12/16 – THE WEEKEND, short story (Indie)
4. 02/05/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS FRIENDS, short story (Indie)
5. 03/14/16 – DESIRE’S PRISONER, reissue, Desire series (Indie)
6. 03/29/16 – PLAYING THE FIELD, short story (Indie)
7. 03/31/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS TEAM, short story (Indie)
8. 04/06/16 – CAIN’S LAW, Cowboy Justice Box set (Indie)
9. 04/12/16 – DESIRE’S SLAVE, reissue, Desire series (Indie)
10. 04/28/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS Doctor, short story (Indie)
11. 05/06/16 – CAIN’S LAW, break from box set (Indie)
12. 05/17/16 – ROGUES, anthology (Indie)
13. 05/27/16 – PLANET DESIRE, reissue, Desire series (Indie)
14. 05/31/15 – RAPID ENTRY, Firehouse 69 series (Samhain)
15. 06/19/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS Pack, short story (Indie)
16. 06/30/16 – THE PLEASURE BOT, reissue, Desire series (Indie)
17. 07/05/15 – BABY, IT’S YOU, SEALs of Summer box set (Indie)
18. 07/19/16 – SEX OBJECTS (Cleis Press)
19. 07/21/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS SEAL TEAM, short story (Indie)
20. 07/26/16 – RAPTOR’S DESIRE, reissue, Desire series (Indie)
21. 08/03/16 – TAMED BY A KNIGHT, reissue (Indie)
22. 08/05/16 – BABY, IT’S YOU, Uncharted SEALs series (Indie)
23. 08/16/16 – WARRIOR’S CONQUEST, reissue, Knightspell series (Indie)
24. 08/19/16 – THE BUTLER, short story (Indie)
25. 08/23/16 – SWEET SUCCUBUS, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
26. 09/13/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS ROCK BAND, short story (Indie)
27. 09/20/16 – BEFORE WE KISS, Uncharted SEALs series (Indie)
28. 10/04/16 – CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE CARNAL KIND, reissue (Indie)
29. 10/07/16 – ZOMBIE LOVE, short story (Indie)
30. 10/18/16 – TRULY, MADLY…WERELY, reissue, Night Fall series (Indie)
31. 10/22/16 – FLASHPOINT, Cowboys on the Edge series (Indie)
32. 11/08/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS SEAL TEAM-2, short story (Indie)
33. 11/18/16 – ULTRA STROKES (Indie)
34. 11/22/16 – BETWEEN A SEAL AND A HARD PLACE, Uncharted SEALs series (Indie)
35. 11/29/16 – BAD, BAD GIRLFRIEND, reissue (Indie)
36. 12/12/16 – STEPBROTHER’S STEPPING OUT: WITH HIS SEAL TEAM-3, short story (Indie)
37. 12/20/16 – MAKING A MADAM, reissue (Indie)
38. 12/23/16 – HEART OF A SEAL, Uncharted SEALs series(Indie)
Jade A. Waters: The Assignment
Friday, December 30th, 2016

Hi everyone! I’m so excited to be visiting the fabulous Delilah today. Thank you for having me over, Delilah!

Since we are moments away from the end of the year, I couldn’t help but think about endings. It’s that time when so many people are taking stock of what they’ve accomplished to begin mapping out their goals and plans for the next few years (or at least the next one). Hell, it was at this time a few years back that I’d finally scribbled down some writing goals myself, and one of them was to write my first erotica novel. I happened to have a little time off to work on The Assignment, which helped the process along—but there were some real “ends” pushing me forward, too. The first was that there was something magical about writing the book at the end of the year to usher in a new one; the second was that the urge to dive in had been sparked by the end of a relationship. At the time, I had a lot of hurt, a ton of unfocused energy, and a bounty of passion all tangled up in my limbs…so, naturally, it formed the perfect motivation to do exactly what I’d planned: write that first erotica novel.

And I did.

Fortunately, I had so much steam, I poured that baby out in a matter of seven weeks. I had in my head that it could be the start of a series…but ultimately, I didn’t know where The Assignment would lead or even end, for that matter. I just knew I was writing this sexy erotic romance thing and at some point, I had to wrap it up. (For that installment, anyway.)

As I worked, I kept wondering—how do you know when it’s done? How do you know as a writer, but also, is there a special signal when you’re reading, too, to let you know the end is near?

On the writer side, I know that when I drafted The Assignment all those years ago, I accidentally wrote the ending before I was officially done writing the book. That is, I wrote about the last page or two, and then yanked my fingers off the keyboard freaked out because I recognized that the scene I’d written had to be the end. Those special words were supposed to be the final words, but somehow my linear writing self had jumped ship and left me there to figure out how to backtrack and fill in some story to get to where the end needed to be.

I’m still not sure how I knew it was the end, but I felt it. I had the same feeling for the two subsequent books, and, while I’d outlined, one sentence describing the goal doesn’t at all explain how the feeling comes out from who knows where to alert you that the end is actually happening.

I definitely have the same sense when I’m reading—and it has nothing to do with the fact that I can thumb over the pages and see that there are only a few more to go. It’s a vibe, I guess. Loose ends are getting tied up and tightened. Characters are starting to elevate and reflect having gone on some awesome journeys. If it’s a romance, things have probably gotten bad for a second but there’s a sparkle of hope on the horizon. The pacing might even shift, gaining speed toward that final moment when all is right and good (or not, if the book doesn’t have a happily ever after—which is certainly a post in itself). Nonetheless, something is ringing a bell in my head, alerting me that the end is Right.There. Perhaps that’s why we have such strong reactions to the ends of books when we read. We are expecting one thing, or at least have a sense of where it could go—and if a story or series doesn’t satisfy that forward moving, the end-is-so-close feeling, than we might not love the book as much as we originally did or thought we would.

Looking at the entire Lessons in Control series, I had a sense of when the arc would be done. Still, the end of the series completely surprised me. I had a plan—oh dang, did I have a plan—but my little lovelies Maya and Dean went their own way, as characters are apt to do once they’re fleshed out with lots of solid traits and rich back story. And, after I wrote it, I got that “The End” feeling, but I remember rubbing my eyes and raising an eyebrow, because it’d come out of left field and did something I hadn’t expected. I attempted to rewrite it as planned (yes, I really did this—twice), but those two kept doing what they wanted to do, no matter how many times I tried to force them another way.

That, to me, signaled the true end. One that I couldn’t even control—Maya and Dean’s fate was in their hands, not mine. As an author, I don’t think you can really ask for more. My characters took on the ride and closed it off exactly where it needed to be finalized.

It was a good ending feeling!

So, now that I’ve finished drafting the Lessons in Control series with only a couple rounds of edits on book three to go, and it’s this close to the end of the year, I’m ready for some new writing goals, with new stories to tackle and craft before they, too, call the end (with or without me steering). I will also need to get my hands on some fantastic new reads, because I like seeing where every author goes with his or her endings.

What about you? Do you find yourself ready for the end of the books you read once they arrive, or often feeling not enough closure and wishing there was more—even if just for the sake of more?

An Excerpt of The Assignment, by Jade A. Waters:

I lost track of time once we left the table. There was an abrupt wave at the hostess, a quiet walk across the wooden slats of the pier and an awkward wait for the elevator. Dean didn’t take his eyes off mine as three other people boarded with us. His chest kept lifting, widening like a promise of what would happen the moment he had me alone. When the elevator doors parted on our floor, he looped his arm in mine and tugged me close.

The earlier tease had me ready and curious. The alcohol in my body didn’t hurt either, and as Dean led me down the hall, I pinched his side playfully.

“You’re so serious. Are you always like this?”

He backed me against our suite door, twisting his mouth while he fumbled in his pocket for the key. “Honestly?” he said.

“Yes.”

“I’m incredibly turned on and trying not to fuck you right here in this hallway.”

“Oh.”

He had the key out in the next second and swiped it over the sensor. The lock process lagged, but Dean moved ahead anyway, blocking me between him and the door. His cock was firm on my belly, his hips urging me.

“I want you,” he said.

The door fell open as he lowered his lips to mine, and he had to catch me when I tumbled backward. Then it was a race—Dean slamming the door and yanking me against him, his hands cupping my ass, his mouth taking mine in a more masterful kiss than he’d bestowed me with before dinner.

I sucked in a breath, lost in the movements, the force of his lips. His body overpowered me, a mass of muscle that smothered and caressed. I rocked up my hips and he groaned, one hand sliding between my cheeks and the other gripping my waist, my back and my shoulder. When he twined his fingers in my hair, he jerked back my head.

“Wait,” he said. I froze, my lips parted.

What the fuck? “I—”

“Shh.” Dean tightened his hold on my hair, and my heart pounded loudly. He pulled my head farther back, exposing more of my neck. “Fuck, you’re irresistible. I just want to slow down and take you all in.”

I’d never had a man look at me as entranced as Dean did now, and it made my knees wobble.

The Assignment by Jade A. Waters

What would you do if someone offered to fulfill your wildest fantasies?

Seductive.

Charming.

Dominant.

Dean Sova is everything Maya Clery craves. From the first touch, their connection is intense. After leaving her troubled past behind, Maya thought she was happy—she is happy—but meeting Dean forces her to acknowledge dark needs she longs to explore yet has never had the courage to face.

Her perfect match, Dean encourages Maya to set loose the submissive urges inside her in a series of assignments intended to open her mind and test the limits of pleasure…but Maya isn’t sure she can fully let go of her inhibitions.

What would you do if someone offered to fulfill your wildest fantasies?

The answer seems obvious. You take the offer and hope the price isn’t too high.

Book one of Lessons in Control

This book is approximately 81,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.

Pick up your copy of The Assignment at:

 Amazon US     Amazon UK      Barnes & Noble      Google Play      iBooks      Kobo

About the Author

Jade A. Waters is an erotica author and poetess in sunny California. A lover of candy, coffee, dancing, and endless karaoke, she is happiest when surrounded by words—be they on the page or shared in good conversation. Her short fiction and poetry is featured in over a dozen anthologies from Cleis Press and Stupid Fish Productions, and currently, Jade is hard at work finalizing the last book in the Lessons in Control series from Carina Press. Visit her at http://jadeawaters.com, or follow her at http://twitter.com/jadeawaters.

Elizabeth Andrews: Looking Forward (Giveaway)
Thursday, December 29th, 2016

First of all, huge thanks to Delilah for having me again.  I always have a great time here.

I’ve been working for a while now on my goals for the next year (if you’re a writer and haven’t participated in Delilah’s Write 50 Books workshop, you should put it on your list now for next December!), and now am hoping that by the time you all read this, I will have finished fine-tuning them.

Before I could look ahead to what I want to accomplish in the next year, I had to go back to my plans for 2016 and see what I accomplished from last year’s goals list.  2016’s list was doable.  I had built-in time for adjustments to the timeline, because something always crops up to mess with your plans, doesn’t it?  Turns out even that wasn’t enough to make up for the things that cropped up in my world this past year.  Nothing that other people don’t also have to deal with.  Nothing that will change anyone else’s world but my own.  But enough to really throw a wrench into my own aims for the year.  So for the next year’s goals list, I built in a lot more time to handle the things I’ve been handling for more than half of this year, because they’re not going away any time soon.

Kinda makes me want to take it easier on my characters in the book I’m working on now.  But I can’t do that.  Their problems are different from my own, and sometimes life-threatening, so they don’t always get to look as far forward as I do.  Sometimes they only get to look as far as how they’re going to get past the current obstacle or danger they’re facing.  They might want to look farther into their futures, but life (or the villains!) keep throwing monkey wrenches into their plans.  They usually reach a point where they can’t imagine making it past their current problem, let alone imagine a happy ending.

So.  How many of you set goals or make resolutions for yourself for the new year?  Anything you want to share?  Or maybe just your method of setting achievable goals (or at least goals that don’t make you feel like a complete failure if you don’t quite make it)?  Maybe the rest of us can pick up some pointers.  And everyone who answers that by midnight on Dec. 31, 2016 will have their name entered into a drawing for an e-book of Hunting Medusa.

Hunting Medusa

One murderous mission. One killer case of PMS. Who said “the curse” was a myth?

Ever since the original Medusa ticked off Athena, her cursed daughters have been paying for that mistake. To this day, successive Medusas play cat and mouse with the Harvesters.

When Kallan Tassos tracks down the current Medusa, he expects to find a monster. Instead he finds a wary, beautiful woman, shielded by a complicated web of spells that foils his plans for a quick kill and retrieval of her protective amulet.

Andrea Rosakis expects the handsome Harvester to go for the kill. Instead, his attempt to take the amulet imprinted on her skin without harming her takes her completely by surprise. And ends with the two of them in a magical bind—together.

Though their attraction is combustible, her impending PMS (Pre Magical-Curse Syndrome) puts a real damper on any chance of a relationship. But Kallan isn’t the only Harvester tracking Andi, and they must cooperate to stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer before they can have any future, together or apart.

Get your copy here!

About the Author

Elizabeth Andrews has been a book lover since she was old enough to read. She read her copies of Little Women and the Little House series so many times, the books fell apart. As an adult, her book habit continues. She has a room overflowing with her literary collection right now, and still more spreading into other rooms.  Almost as long as she’s been reading great stories, she’s been attempting to write her own.  Thanks to a fifth grade teacher who started the class on creative writing, Elizabeth went from writing creative sentences to short stories and eventually full-length novels. Her father saved her poor, callused fingers from permanent damage when he brought home a used typewriter for her.

Elizabeth found her mother’s stash of romance novels as a teenager, and-though she loves horror-romance became her very favorite genre, making writing romances a natural progression. There are more than just a few manuscripts, however, tucked away in a filing cabinet that will never see the light of day.

Along with her enormous book stash, Elizabeth lives with her husband of more than  twenty years and two young adult sons, though no one else in the house reads nearly as much as she does. When she’s not at work or buried in books or writing, there is a garden outside full of herbs, flowers and vegetables that requires occasional attention.

www.ElizabethAndrewsWrites.com

 

Lynn Crain: The After Christmas Blues
Wednesday, December 28th, 2016

As an author, the holidays should be a plethora of ideas and writing and geez…sometimes the blues…horror of all horrors for a romance writers. So, over the years, I’ve decided to work out those scenarios to make sure I have it all under control. Here are some things writers can get down about after the holidays and some ready solutions.

1) Problem ~ Having two books out at the holidays. Discussion and Solution ~ I’ve always thanked my lucky stars to have two books out at the same time. Not that I don’t write fast, I do but the chances of two new releases overlapping is a rarity for me. Except for this year. At first, I didn’t know what to do but decided to do the best I could. One book released on the 1st of December and the second on the 23rd of the month. That gave me plenty of time to do promo for all. Part of the solution is to schedule your slots well before your actual release date. On both of them, I had my link two weeks early and scheduled accordingly. And with HootSuite, you can schedule tweets and Facebook posts ahead as well.

Once you have done all you can as far as outside promo, just talk to friends, family and anyone who will listen without being pushy or overbearing. People want to know what value your book will bring to their lives even if it’s only for the entertainment value. If you do it in a casual way without being annoying, people are more likely to remember your name and possibly even your book. If they remember your name, chances are they will look you up.

2) Problem ~ Not getting one thing you wanted. Discussion and Solution ~ Over the past few years, I’ve been pretty specific about what I need or want for the holidays. I’ve tried to make sure nothing is out of someone’s price range and that it is something I will use or need. As I’ve gotten older, I know I don’t need or want as much to make me happy. Besides, it’s just more to worry about, clean up or just never use and that isn’t good. Once, I did ask people to donate because I felt I had too much but that didn’t work out for me too well. This year though, when presents were opened not one request had been honored. At first, it hit me hard that no one had paid attention to me or taken what I said seriously because I was meticulous this year. Then I smacked myself up the side of the head and brought myself to my senses. At least I have a family to enjoy and love, who cares if they don’t get me exactly what I want…it is truly the thought that counts. And this situation can happen at birthdays or any holiday where you give or get something.

This year I also heard a story that I immediately thought of after all the presents had been opened. I read on Facebook about someone who didn’t have money to give all the people in her life gifts, so she did what she could and knitted them all hats. This included an office giveaway. When she gave out her gifts, one person literally threw it down and said they didn’t like it and would never wear it. This woman’s feelings were very hurt so she suggested that the other person donate the hat if she didn’t like it. That person laid more hurt on by saying she didn’t have time for such nonsense.

Because of my ugly thoughts and that story, I realized I hadn’t been counting my blessing daily like I should. I am blessed with good writing, good author friends and a great supportive family. I really couldn’t ask for more. What’s a few gifts I don’t really want? Not much in the scheme of things.

When this happens to you, for whatever reasons, just think about the good things in your life. Don’t dwell on the negative as it isn’t at all productive for you or a healthy writing career. Crap happens and how you deal with it in life and on paper can make or break you as a person and a writer. The choice is yours.

3) Problem ~ Not having enough time to do it all. Discussion and Solution ~ First, time is a misnomer in my opinion. Everyone has exactly the same amount of time but it always seems as if some of us don’t have enough, some have just the right amount and others plan so effectively that they always have plenty. I have personally been on every bit of that spectrum and this year I was definitely on the not enough end. I know I am better when I plan things out but recently I’ve had a tendency to over-plan my time and therefore, I still don’t seem to have enough to finish all the projects I want to finish.

And to be honest, the solution is very easy. All one needs to do is to take a yearly planner and write down your daily goals, weekly goals, your monthly goals and your yearly goals. But the real key to making this all work is to make each and every goal realistic for you. Sure, you can have a page of what you’d really want to do for the year but if you can’t make the daily word count to make that happen, why torture yourself and make yourself feel bad for something you can’t accomplish? If you can only write 1000 words a day, make all your goals revolve around that number. Always make your goals for what you know you can do instead of what you want to do.

Yes, your goals can change and you can adjust your calendar accordingly. Sometimes, you discover you can add more words to your daily count. Sometimes you realize you can do a novella a month or submit two ideas to your agent or publisher. Just remember, whatever you decide, you need to fit it into your range of ability.

No, that doesn’t mean you can’t do your wish list for the year. You can but you should choose the stories you’re passionate about to complete first. Once those are done, dive back into that list and see what more you can do…always realizing that you’ve at least achieved your original goals first…and now your pushing yourself for a little more.

These are the few things I’ve had to deal with not once, not twice but many times in my forty – yes, count them – 40 plus years of writing. It’s something I’ve had to deal with a few times but this year was the only year I’ve all of them happen at once. 2016 was a hard year for many people but I’ve learned so much from things like having to deal with all these problems in the same year while doing an international move plus a move from one state to another.

Perspective is an important thing and tool for a writer. We have to see life from the perspective of our characters. Sometimes it’s important to put things into perspective for our own lives lest we get lost in things that don’t really matter.

Here’s hoping all your holiday wishes came true…

Santa’s Miraculous Christmas

After receiving a heartfelt letter from a little girl, Santa realizes he is no longer relevant in the world of humans. Apparently, they have too many problems for a good dose of Christmas joy to cure. Santa believes the world no longer needs him or Christmas and decides to go on vacation in the Caribbean instead.

Enter the Locklin clan, intent on keeping with tradition and showing Santa the error of his ways. Join all of Santa’s Elves as they come to the rescue of our most sacred holiday.

Excerpt:

He gave a big sigh, then snuggled her neck. “I think he’s tired, Angie. He’s tried hard not to take on any of the world’s burdens but now those problems are affecting the kids of the world. You heard about the one letter from a kid in a war zone. How awful their life must be?”

“I can see being tired. I can see not wanting to take on any other responsibilities but I’m afraid that’s the world we live in. Everyone is going to have to tackle these distressing subjects.”

“The only thing I want to tackle is my wife.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Can we talk about this later?”

“Ardan…Santa has always been there for us…for all of us. We need to try and help him out of his funk or whatever you want to call it.”

His hand caressed her breast under the soft cloth of her sweater. “We’ll talk right after I have sex with you.”

Her warm breath fanned along his cheek from her low laugh. “Are you telling me you have it bad buster?”

“More than bad.” He moved her hand to his crotch. “Feel how hard I am for you?”

“You better be,” she murmured, slipping her hand under his scrubs. They had come directly from the clinic when Janice had called them.

PURCHASE Links:
eXtasy Books ~ http://www.extasybooks.com/santas-miraculous-christmas/
Amazon US ~ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAMG27E

Holiday Magic

The World Romance Writers wish you joy and love this holiday season with a collection of heartwarming romances filled with Holiday Magic. This anthology features stories, from far and wide, included contemporary and historical romance, futuristic time travel romance, and romance touched with magic by Award-Winning and Multi-Published Authors: Rose Anderson, Lynn Crain, Gemma Juliana, Cara Marsi and Jenny Twist.

Come enjoy the many flavors and flavours of our English language.

The Angel of the West Side
By Madeline Archer*

During the Great Depression, newspaper reporter, Jack Kennelly, went to the streets of Chicago hoping to find proof that good still existed in the world. What he discovered was the West Side had its own angel, and her name was Ruthie.

Her Magical Vienna Christmas
By Lynn Crain

Cryptographer Elizabeth “Lizzie” Camden is more in turn with numbers, cyphers and puzzles than she is with the real world. When her job takes her back in time to 1874 Vienna, she’s more than surprised to find Michael Sondervan there as well. She hadn’t seen him since college when he broke her heart.

Michael has always regretted the way things turned out between him and Lizzie. When he needs someone to figure out the cryptic warning, he knows he needs the best. And Lizzie is the best. Giving her a magical Vienna Christmas in the bargain, he hopes will bring them together and prove his love for the only woman for him.

To Kiss a Prince
By Gemma Juliana

Princess Isabelle de Lily knows no life beyond the seclusion of Chateau de Lily. The family castle was frozen in time, frosted over with ice and snow before her birth. The witch who placed the 99 year curse on her family only left one loophole. The curse will fizzle and ‘melt’ if one from the royal enemy clan miraculously finds his way to her castle and professes his true love for her on Christmas Day. Citizens of Chateau de Lily hold little hop of that happening since everyone who tries to cross the ice floes dies. Only the resident, ever-loyal, royal wizard Zoltar, who has been in service to Isabelle’s family since long before the curse was cast, believes miracles of this magnitude are possible. Twenty-five years have passed but as Zoltar continues experimenting in his dungeon laboratory, he believes this will be their final Christmas spent in icy isolation.

A Very Vegas Christmas
By Cara Marsi

Can things get any worse for Las Vegas event planner Amanda Moreau? Her boyfriend dumped her for a stripper; she’s arranging a Christmas wedding for a Bridezilla; and her mother is playing matchmaker from 2000 miles away. When she meets hunky and ever-so-sweet Erik, who’s in town for a conference, she begins to hope her luck is changing. But Erik has a secret that threatens to split them apart.

Marion
By Jenny Twist

Jim Durrant, university don at Oxford is trapped in the memory of his lost, beloved wife. When his family comes to stay with him for Christmas, he and his grandson write their letters to Santa Claus and Jim asks for the impossible – the return of his dead love.

PURCHASE Links:
Amazon Universal Link ~ http://mybook.to/Hol
Amazon US ~ https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Magic-Rose-Anderson-ebook/dp/B01MXQQQJM
Barnes and Noble ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holiday-magic-rose-anderson/1125245793
Books2Read Universal Link ~ https://www.books2read.com/u/b5OW5G
iTunes ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/holiday-magic/id1185242112
Kobo ~ https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/holiday-magic-2
Smashwords ~ Pulled from here for various reasons.

About Lynn Crain

Award winning author Lynn Crain has done it all in her life. From nursing to geology, her life experiences have added to her detail rich stories. She loves writing full time as she weaves contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic, for various publishers. Her home is in the desert southwest and she’s just returned from her latest adventure of living in Vienna, Austria while her husband worked his dream job. You can find her on the web at www.lynncrain.blogspot.com. She loves hearing from her readers at lynncrain@cox.net.

http://www.lynncrain.com
http://www.lynncrain.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/oddlynn3
http://www.facebook.com/LynnCrainAuthor
https://www.amazon.com/author/lynncrain

Best Gifts/Worst Gifts
Tuesday, December 27th, 2016

It’s post-Christmas. You’ve had time to unwrap, take out the trash, and put away your goodies. Of course, you loved everything, right? HaHa! Maybe not. But we can share here. No one will know. I want to hear what your best and worst gifts were. I’ll tell you mine!

I had so many great gifts from family. My dd got me a Lorac eyeshadow palette (it’s high-end, great pigment—love, love it!). I got jammies and socks from my mom and dad (so cute, and soooo needed), lots of cool Post-its, action figurines, but my absolute fave things? Two gifts from my sis, Elle James.

1) The first is a journal/inspirational book, entitled Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You. It’s filled with “dares” and great quotes. For example, I opened it to a random page and found this one:

Fear makes the wolf bigger than it is… German proverb

2) The other is a big fat “Ideas” note pad.

Why are these gifts my faves? My sis knows me so well. I collect books with inspirational quotes. When I’m feeling down or not good enough, I peruse my shelf, pluck out a book, and flip through the pages until I find some quote that speaks to me and lifts me up. I love this book because it poses daily “dares” like listing today how I was a “Lion”. Makes you think and appreciate yourself.

And the Ideas pad? First, it’s very nice quality and over two inches thick. It has boxes to check off! (Yeah, I get happy checking off things!) And it says “Ideas”—of which I have tons. I plan to set this pad next to my night stand, because I always have my best ideas when I drift off to sleep—and always, always fumble for paper to capture them!

The worst gift? I really didn’t get a worst gift. But if I had to choose, it would be the little Aquaman figurine (standing in front of my new Han Solo!), because I can’t wait for Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, and he’s not blonde, not wearing green tights, but hey, this one’s funny, right?

Sorry the pictures are blurry and dark. Not sure what’s up with my camera. The ghosts inside it must be restless…but that’s another story for another day… 🙂

Rose’s Online Plotting Bootcamp, January 9 — February 3, 2017
Monday, December 26th, 2016

Rose’s Online Plotting Bootcamp

Moms CammoRose

Permission granted to forward

This message is for any authors or aspiring authors who might be interested in some intensive help developing their next stories.

Don’t let that word “intensive” scare you away; I’ve led newbies, as well as multi-published authors, through our plotting process numerous times. Everyone comes away with new knowledge and insight, or at the very least, some terrific brainstorming support!

While lessons and exercises will be posted throughout the month of January, this is truly a self-paced class. We all have busy lives, and the workshop is designed to accommodate any schedule. Enjoy the pitch below!

Back by popular demand!

ROSE’S ONLINE PLOTTING BOOTCAMP

Dates: January 9 – February 3, 2017
Last date to register: January 9, 2017
Cost: $50.00—cheap, considering everything you get!
Your DI (Drill Instructor): Delilah Devlin
Offered through:
www.rosescoloredglasses.com

What you can expect:
LOGLINE (Lunges)
PREMISE (Pushups)
CHARACTER (Strengthening exercises)
CONFLICT! CONFLICT! CONFLICT!
Breaking through the STORY STRUCTURE stronghold
Battling the PLOT LINES

We do more in one month than some people do all year! Get tough! Get motivated! Get plotting!

Join your Drill Instructor, Delilah Devlin, to learn a methodical approach to harness your creativity in order to produce an in-depth plot for your next novel.

Sound scary? It is!!!! Especially when you’re staring at an empty page without a compass and a map to guide you through the novelistic jungle. Your DI will lead you through four weeks of tactics, exercises, and training that will help strengthen your abilities. Delilah will accomplish this with weekly lessons, bi-weekly chats, and daily online communication. Join her for bivouac in January!

Join this elite force now!

For those who don’t know, my sister and I co-founded the website for writers called Rose’s Colored Glasses in 2004. From that site, we run a critique group and provide workshops—some free and some for pay. In January, I will be leading a month-long plotting bootcamp. It’s a great time to join—something you can do for yourself to kick off the New Year with a bang! Join me if you can! ~DD

How’s our workshop different from every other one out there? I’ll provide feedback and brainstorming every step of the way!

Interested? Follow this link to sign up:
http://www.rosescoloredglasses.com/Online%20plotting%20boot%20camp.htm

And feel free to pass this along to anyone else you think might be interested with my thanks!


Delilah Devlin
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author & Freelance Editor
Get in bed with Delilah. Everyone else has!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Sunday, December 25th, 2016

Here’s wishing you joy for the holiday…

…from my family to yours! ~DD