UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Preston!
*~*~*

I should have been writing.

Instead, I said yes when my dd asked whether I’d like to make a trip to Sam’s. Sam’s is an hour away. And an hour back. Inside Sam’s is a world of temptation in big, multi-box glory. We took forever shopping. So, when we wrapped it up, the kids slept in the back of the mini-van while the adults cranked up the Pandora to do some headbanging. And then it was, “Play this!” We went through our hard rock/metal faves—Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie” (I can’t believe how well that song has aged for me!), White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human”, Disturbed’s “Stupefy”—with all of us trying to follow David D’s haunting cantor’s wail (oh my eardrums!).

In the middle of a very satisfying jam, my dd suddenly, joltingly, changed the theme to our least favorite songs, beginning with “Peaches” by The Presidents of the United States of America (which, oddly, we knew all the words to!). But the one that rose to the top of the groans scale was “Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop. Don’t remember it? I bet you’ll wish you didn’t after you have a listen here. And I’ll bet you can’t play it just once. (Ahem, it’s a bit addicting.)

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I find it puts too much pressure on me and I end up abandoning them before too long. Instead, I resolve to take little steps to make my life better each day.

Almost two years ago, I started doing a half hour of exercise at least five times a week and I’m still doing it. I’ve lost some weight but still have some to go. It’s progress and I’m a lot more limber than I used to be.

This year, I want to cut back my sugar consumption. I have a huge sweet tooth. We’ll see how it goes. I know I won’t cut out sweets totally, but my goal is to cut back. It’s doable without feeling like deprivation. That’s the key for me.

I’m also trying to get more organized and even bought a new desk planner and am looking forward to using it.

What kinds of things are you doing to change your life this year?

As a New Year’s gift my publisher is offering Drakon’s Promise for FREE for a very limited time. It will be available at most but not all e-retailers. If you haven’t tried out the first book in the Blood of the Drakon series, now is the time. Don’t delay or you’ll miss it.

Blood of the Drakon, Book 1

Darius Varkas is a drakon. He’s neither human nor dragon.

He’s both.

He’s also the target of an ancient order who want to capture all drakons for their blood. When fresh, a drakon’s blood can cure any illness and prolong a human’s life, and the Knights will stop at nothing to get it.

When librarian Sarah Anderson stumbles across a rare book belonging to the Knights of the Dragon, she’s quickly thrust into a dangerous world of secrets and shifters and things she never would have believed possible. When the Knights realize Sarah has a secret of her own, she becomes just as much a target as Darius. Her scary dragon shifter just might be her best chance at survival.

Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N74PYZR/
Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/index.php/drakon-s-promise.html
B &N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125114236?ean=9781633758001
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drakons-promise/id1176306297
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/drakon-s-promise

About the Author

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit me at:
Website: https://www.njwalters.com
Blog: https://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters

I’m part of a fabulous boxed set called Crossroads with 20 other amazing authors. The theme is being at a crossroads or major decision point in one’s life. Serious stuff. In my story, Look Into My Eyes, we’re talking life and death. But turning points don’t necessarily put the bedroom into a deep freeze. In fact, crises can be quite spicy! What better way to make a big decision than with a hot, complex hero who makes you think the same time he makes you weak in the knees? Gina and Ryan have serious choices to make, but their passion pulls them through fear toward closure.

Laverne Thompson adds, being at a serious crossroads in life isn’t mutually exclusive of having a hot and sexy love/lust life. 😉 Just because someone is at a crossroads doesn’t mean they didn’t have love along the way, Angela Kay Austin points out.  A crossroads only means a critical decision needs to be made. It’s about deciding if you want to continue on the path you’re on or not.

Enjoy!
Afton Locke

CROSSROADS (boxed set)

Release Date: 23 April 2018
*universal buy link: https://books2read.com/u/4EywV0
iBooks: https://apple.co/2P42r26
Nook: https://bit.ly/2Rf12HS
Web: https://interracialexpo.wixsite.com/crossroads
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Crossroads-Anthology-372572096883325/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42960443-crossroads?from_search=true

Every decision may cost you.

Join 21 bestselling and award-winning authors as they bring you action, adventure and drama in these 20 multi-genre stories that will keep you entertained even after you finish the books.

These stories run the gambit of the paranormal, other worlds, contemporary millionaires, military themed, alpha males, romantic suspense and even a touch of intrigue. There’s something for everyone and enough for all.

Get your copy today.

Authors

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Eve Vaughn
USA Today Bestselling Author Ailyah Burke
USA Today Bestselling Author Latriva Welch
Bestselling Author S.K. Lessly
USA Today Bestselling Author LaVerne Thompson
Bestselling Author Phoenix Daniels
Bestselling Author Kassanna
USA Today Bestselling Author Afton Locke
Bestselling Author Angela Kay Austin
Bestselling Author Reana Malori
Bestselling Author V Vee
Bestselling Author Dahlia Rose
Bestselling Author Ancelli
Bestselling Author Sage Young
Bestselling Authors Jayha Leigh & Jeanie Johnson
Bestselling Author Naleighna Kai
Bestselling Author Savannah J. Frierson
Bestselling Author Shara Azod
Bestselling Author Olivia Gaines
Bestselling Author Ursula Sinclair

LOOK INTO MY EYES
by Afton Locke

Single mother Gina Cole will do anything for her daughter. She even accepts a hospice assignment to improve her chances at getting a promotion. But caring for a terminally ill patient stirs up painful memories and guilt about her late husband.

Ryan Atlee, disillusioned by his failed business, has stopped caring whether or not he gets a new kidney. But when an irresistible hospice volunteer battles her deepest fear to open her heart to him, he wants to live.

The threat of death casts a shadow on their newfound love, but anything can happen at the crossroads—if they dare to step across.

Excerpt

Look Into My Eyes ~ Copyright © Afton Locke, 2018

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

“I can at least load the dishwasher.”

She glanced at the living room. “After a big meal, you need to rest.”

“I told you, I want to be useful. It’s the least I can do.”

“Well, don’t wear yourself out. I don’t want to send you to your grave any earlier than necessary.”

The remark hit him like a sucker punch. Because, during the entire meal, he’d actually forgotten he was about to die.

She gripped his shoulder, regret flashing in her eyes. “Ryan, I’m sorry. My mouth runs away from me sometimes.”

“Well, maybe we should keep it occupied.” Before he could stop himself, he gripped her chin between thumb and forefinger and pressed his lips to hers.

After the quick contact, they stared at each other. Her lips remained parted, making his groin stir to life. The shock in her eyes, sharp and bright, grew hazy…with desire. He kissed her again, drinking deeply from her beautiful mouth. As if she were the only medicine on earth that could save his life.

God, she felt soft. Her mouth. Her body. Like a favorite pillow. A home. Her hands coasted over his shoulders, gliding to the back of his neck. Until he ached to feel her gentle fingertips all over his scalp.

Instead, she let go and backed up.

“What are we doing?” she whispered, brushing her fingers across her damp lips. “This is completely inappropriate.”

He shrugged as he tried to catch his breath. “We’re not breaking any rules, are we?”

“Well, a kiss like that is going to break something.”

#itunes #nook #anthology #boxedset #99cents #eroticromance #paranormalromance #contemporaryromance #romanticsuspense

universal buy link: https://books2read.com/u/4EywV0

The second day of 2019 has come and almost gone! I’m chugging along, working with my new journal. I’ve finished tweaking my plans. Now the real work has begun. Yay!

I thought you might like a little stress relief. I know I already need it. Play the puzzle, and then tell me whether you’d like to see more stories with this theme.

Have fun!

P.S. Thanks to everyone who heeded yesterday’s call to action! We’re getting there!

A Request

Most times, I show up here and babble on about what I’m doing, what I’m writing, or some silly thing that’s going on in my life that I want to share. Today’s a little different. I have a request—a call to action.

The last book I’ll have on pre-order for an entire year is Animal, which releases January 22nd. How did I lose the ability to set up pre-orders on Amazon? Life interfered—my grandmother got sick and died and then my father broke his hip. I missed my pre-order dates for two books and Amazon withdrew the privilege. Why does that make me nervous? Well, pre-orders have been hugely important to my success. People see mention of the next story at the end of a book, follow the link, click Buy, and don’t think about it again until the story appears on their device. Or, they see me mention it, think it might be cool to read, and quickly arrange to purchase it before they forget.

Now, I will have to hope readers see my mentions on my website or my ads on Facebook on the day of release. I’m assuming this will result in a huge downturn in my sales. And face it, I write full-time, this is my only job, and the last thing I can weather is a huge pay cut. So, I’m looking for new ways to advertise new releases.

Some of you already follow authors on BookBub. You hear about new releases, hear about free reads or greatly reduced prices on books. I can use them to notify readers, but only if I hit a magic number of followers through BookBub. I need 250 new followers to make that happen.

So, if you have time, and you want to hear about great deals and want to help me out, follow me on BookBub. I’d be forever grateful!

Follow me on BookBub!

Here’s me, wishing everyone a happy 2019!

Thanks Delilah for another opportunity to visit your fun and informative blog. I love being here!

Today I’m talking about HOME.

Home. Homesick. Right at home.

The hackneyed “Home is where the heart is” is hackneyed for a reason. It’s true.

For me, home means loved ones, friends, family. Or that certain loved one, the significant other.

With him, I might be in a tiny apartment or stranded on a deserted island, or camping under the stars, but together… we’d be home.

Still most of us have been thrown, alone, into unfamiliar places and circumstances where we’re forced to adjust and try to settle in. Feel at home. I’ve moved a dozen times. Maybe you’ve been a student or a soldier or transplanted worker far from home. In those situations, how do you get from homesickto at home?

Maybe home becomes a photograph or a painting, or a ring, or a book? It could be the soothing sound of a familiar accent, the snoring of a pet, an old song played on a guitar or piano or blasted from a car radio? Is it a favorite movie? Maybe it’s a TV show where you can recite the episodes line by line. Friends anyone? The Office?

Is home the sound of the dawn train in the distance or the smell of chicken roasting in the oven?

Someone asked me what the overarching theme of my stories is. At first, I had no answer. My stories are born from a spark of an idea that I turned into a story. A romance. But the more I thought about it the more I knew the people in my contemporary romances are searching for home. Home as a place. Home as a calling or career. And because these are romances home as a person.

Where is your heart? What means home to you? What do you bring from place to place to give you comfort and joy?

My talismans have changed over the years but right now to feel at home I need my dad’s wedding ring and a photo with me and my husband, my daughters and their partners on vacation in California.

CONTEST

Tell me in the comments and leave me your email address (or send it directly to my email address, charlotteoshay@gmail.com), and I’ll gift two random commenters with an ARC of one of my two soon to be released books Their No Strings Affair or my novella Forever in a Moment, OR an ebook copy of one of my first two books, The Marriage Ultimatum or A Model Engagement.

By the way, my publisher, The Wild Rose Press is offering 40% off their entire ebook catalog until December 31, 2018. Check out my contemporary romances and other great stories by my fellow authors there. Just till tomorrow. Click below for the SALE ~ Best deal in town.

Thanks for reading!

charlotteoshay@gmail.com

Click here for The Wild Rose Press Sale
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