Giftcard winner is.....

Did the Custom Random Number Generator and it chose as the $20 Amazon GC winner to be..... Kelly Campbell.

Congrats!

Please email me at pattifischer@yahoo.com with your info. 

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Pamela Sherwood

BLURB

Late in England’s Victorian age, the world is changing–new freedoms, new ideas, and perhaps a chance for an old love to be new again…

A love too strong to let go …

Aspiring singer Sophie Tresilian had the world at her feet–fame, fortune, and true love–until the man of her dreams broke her heart. Now she’s the toast of Europe, desired by countless men but unwilling to commit to any of them. Then Robin Pendarvis walks back into her life …

Four years ago, Rob had hoped to make Sophie his bride, but secrets from his past forced him to let her go. Seeing her again revives all the old pain–and all the old passion. It might be against every rule, but somehow, some way, he will bring them together again…

EXCERPT

(As this is being posted during Thanksgiving week, I thought it only appropriate that this excerpt should feature the newly acquainted hero and heroine partaking of a holiday feast!)

As Lady Tresilian had promised, supper was lavish, as befitted the season: roast joints of beef and mutton, ham, goose, lobster, and salmon. Savory and sweet pies of all description—Robin had heard the joke that the devil himself avoided Cornwall for fear of being baked in a pie—along with hothouse fruits, puddings, jellies, and pitchers filled to the brim with rich Cornish cream. Cider, champagne, and wine were also available in abundance; Sir Harry prided himself on his cellar, Sophie informed him.

Once they were seated, Robin served them both from the various laden platters. Sophie ate lightly, but with the eager appetite of seventeen, whetted no doubt by her performances in the music room and on the dance floor. He liked that she did not peck or nibble at her food, as too many fashionable young ladies did.

“Would you like anything more?” he asked, as she polished off the last delectable bite, then eyed her empty plate a touch wistfully.

She shook her head. “I mustn’t gorge myself, not when there’s more dancing to follow. But I will take a little more champagne, if you please.”

He reached for the bottle and poured out half a glass of the pale sparkling wine for her.

Sophie sipped it delicately. “Wonderful,” she said on a sigh. “They don’t usually let me drink anything stronger than tea, or occasionally cider, unless it’s a very special occasion.”

Robin glanced involuntarily toward the end of the table, where Sir Harry was sitting; fortunately, his host was not looking in their direction. “Oh, dear. Will your brother be displeased by my plying you with strong drink?”

She gave a gurgle of laughter, as irresistibly bubbly as the champagne. “Only if we’re foolish enough to tell him! But you needn’t worry, Mr. Pendarvis. I’m enjoying this evening far too much to spoil it by getting tiddly.”

Her frank admission made him smile as well. Nothing of the coquette about Sophie, he thought, nothing calculating or artful. Her face, her manners, and her conversation were open, candid, and unaffected, and all the more endearing for that.

Did she have any idea of her own appeal? She’d a host of admirers, but he’d seen no evidence that she’d been flirting with any of them. Or with him for that matter.

Which was all to the good, Robin reminded himself. In London, at some of the parties he’d attended, he’d had to discourage a few young ladies inclined to set their caps at him, once they heard of his expectations as Great-Uncle Simon’s heir. Nothing so stark as the truth, but enough to let them know he was not a likely candidate for matrimony at this time.

Not until tonight had he found himself wishing he were. But he had no business hoping for--if not the impossible, then the deeply improbable, and no right to cry for the moon. Life was in the moment, and at this moment, seated beside this lovely, enchanting girl-woman, he felt he had all he could want. Let that be enough, for now.

“It has been a very pleasant evening,” he said aloud.

“Hasn’t it?” Sophie smiled at him over the rim of her glass, her eyes glowing like jade. “I am so glad you’ve enjoyed yourself, Mr. Pendarvis. And even gladder that you accepted my brother’s invitation.”

“As am I, Miss Tresilian.” Robin picked up his own wineglass to touch it lightly to hers. “To the New Year.”

“To the New Year,” she echoed, and they drank the toast together.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I will be giving away a signed copy of A Song at Twilight to a commenter who answers the following question: What is your favorite holiday dish?

You can find Pamela Sherwood at her website at  http://pamelasherwood.com/

Spotlight Review

HEATING UP THE HOLIDAYS – Lisa Renee Jones, Mary Ann Rivers, Serena Bell 
Loveswept eBook - www.readloveswept.com

eISBN: 978-0-804-17840-2 
November 2013 
Contemporary Romance Anthology 

The holidays are coming: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. Here are three hot tales to help celebrate the season. 

Play With Me – Lisa Renee Jones 
Las Vegas, Nevada 

After a devastating incident involving her lover and made worse by her father (her only family), Kali Miller leaves her job writing fluff pieces for Texas Star and moves to Las Vegas. But when she arrives, the reporter job she was to start there has fallen through. She's broke and desperate, but determined to toughen up and make a new life for herself. She lands a temp job as secretary for the CEO of the Vantage Hotel and Casino group. When she meets Damion Ward, she has mixed feelings. The totally handsome man gives her immediate tingles, but the last thing she needs is another powerful, arrogant man in her life. A crisis is brewing within the corporation Damion recently took over and he needs a capable secretary. He's impressed with Kali's skills—and with her looks and personality—and although she stands up to him and sparks fly between them, he likes that. However, this is a workplace and lines must not be crossed . . . 

With lively and sensuous interaction between two well crafted characters, Play With Me packs a lot of story into just under 100 pages. 

Snowfall – Mary Ann Rivers 
Lakefield, OH 

Jenny Wright's single mother raised her, and they are best friends. But a time comes when Jenny needs to go out into the world to put her doctorate in microbiology to good use. She wins a research position at the Lakeview State University in Ohio. About the same time she realizes she's losing her peripheral vision and is diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. She will most likely one day lose all her vision. 

Snowfall is a most unusual, yet strangely riveting tale in spite of the serious theme. The whole is narrated by Jenny, dialogue and all. Other characters are few. Besides her mother, the most important are C Ford, whose house she moves into after he moved out. They only meet on line, but he's most important during the time when she becomes almost a hermit except for her lab on campus. Then there is her occupational therapist who tries to prepare her to function when the unthinkable happens. We watch as Jenny comes to terms with life's changes. We are privy to her joys and fears and very much so to her sex life. 

After Midnight – Serena Bell 
Boston, Massachusetts and Cleveland Ohio 

Miles Shepard is in Boston to get away from the uncomfortable—and unfair—suspicion he's under for embezzling a fortune from the non-profit organization he founded to feed hungry children. On top of it all, his fiancée dumped him. He came to Boston to visit his best—and seemingly only—friend Owen. It's New Year's Eve and Owen dragged him to a posh party, but he's not enjoying it…until his eye is caught by stunning and vibrant woman! To synopsize: the two meet and make an immediate connection. They kiss at midnight, and are unfortunately separated before learning each other's name. Miles returns to Cleveland believing he will never see her again, but what has he to offer a woman anyway? Miles is reckoning without Nora Hart's determination to see the man again no matter how long it takes . . . 

With a super pair of characters, sensuous love scenes, and gripping dialogue, After Midnight will have readers racing to get to the next page. 

I had no idea Loveswept has a whole line of digital books, did you? Check outhttp://www.readloveswept.com to see the variety they have to offer. 

Jane Bowers

Gearing up for the HOLIDAYS!!!

This week it is Thanksgiving in the United States, which is the official launch of the Christmas shopping season. I don't know about you, but I dread what the shopping does to my pocketbook. But, shopping is fun, especially if it's books. Who doesn't love to read???

To help celebrate the start of holiday shopping, I'm giving away a $20 Amazon gift card to one lucky poster. All you need to do is tell us about what you want (realistically) for Christmas!

Q & A with Raven McAllan!!!

What 3 things do you need in order to write? Laptop, power and inspiration

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Anywhere I haven't been… yet!

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? No idea. It's just been inside me and now it's out.

What's the first sentence of Miss Simpkin’s School: Flora? Molly Simpkins wandered from room to elegant room.

Tell us what Miss Simpkin’s School: Flora all about? A Regency School for seduction. Molly Simpkins' is an ex-courtesan who, with her benefactors, opens a 'school' to help the young ladies of the ton seduce their men, so that they won't stray.

Dish, who’s your favorite character? All of them

What would you say is Flora's most prized possession? Her integrity.

What book would Flora have on her nightstand? Well as it's set in Regency times, it would probably be Lord Byron's

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you? Miss Simpkins's School: Lydia is out on December 5th

What one book that turned you on to reading? Naught Pussy Pickpaws I was two evidently and knew it by heart!

What book(s) are you reading right now? Sad to say I'm not, I have edits! The last book I read was Nelson Mandela, A Long Walk to Freedom

Describe yourself in 140 characters or less. Growing old disgracefully, glass half full, third age generation and proud of it.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing? Reading, travel, drinking wine.

My Reading Room                                       
http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com

Buy link: MISS SIMPKINS SCHOOL: FLORA 

Guest Blogger: Jeannie Moon

I had this wonderful post written about my new book, Unexpectedly Yours, which just came out this week, and then People Magazine had to name The Sexiest Man Alive for 2014 and the Internet exploded.  Well, my Internet—the one populated with romance authors who hunt hot men on Google like their lives depended on it—that one exploded.

I couldn’t let that go.  I trashed the other post and wrote this on.

Most women in the world, would simply glance at the smirking form of Adam Levine, Maroon 5’s front man, and either agree or disagree with the assessment.  But in the romance world, the arm-chair quarterbacking and the commentary began Tattoos—too many, not enough or just enough?  Is he big enough, strong enough?  Do you think he’s confident or does that grin on his face make you think he’s just cocky?

I don’t know.  Mr. Levine doesn’t float my boat. I don’t doubt that he’s talented; I love his music.  He seems like a decent human being, but he’s not the kind of man I’d look at and say, “Wow, he’s hot.”  

But it raises an interesting question...what makes our romance heroes attractive to us?  Why do we fall in love with them? More than likely it’s the same thing that attracts us to people in real life: chemistry.

We know what we like.  Some women want the tatted up rock star.  Me--I want the big, athletic alpha.  Even my computer geek hero in The Temporary Wife fell into this category.  I can’t help myself.

Josh in Unexpectedly Yours doesn’t disappoint lovers of the tall, broad alpha male.  He’s blond and blue-eyed and is most certainly Caroline’s personal Kryptonite.  While Josh has more than enough baggage to work out, he’s kind, funny, (rich) and when needed has a nice touch of humility thrown in. 

And that’s the important stuff, isn’t it?  Our heroes, real or imagined, have to have something besides striking good looks.  Even though we authors tend to write gorgeous, if your hero is a jerk, readers will turn on your book. 

Our gorgeous musician, biker, banker or athlete had better have a heart of gold, or he’ll have no chance with our heroine. He’ll have no chance with us. After all, who needs just a pretty face?  And while Adam Levine may have striking good looks, I’m fairly sure it was something else, something intangible that got him on the cover of the magazine. 

That’s the thing with those sexy hero types—they tend to surprise us. 

Tell me about your ideal romance hero.  Where does he fit in between the alphas and betas?

I have a super sweet alpha in Unexpectedly Yours.  Check out the blurb and the excerpt to find out more: 

http://jeanniemoon.com/books/unexpectedly/

It was a win-win arrangement…until Caroline lost her heart…

Caroline Rossi needs to reinvent her life. Being a geotechnical engineer hasn’t exactly proved to be a guy magnet. She’s never really had the opportunity to let her hair down and have fun. But when a chance encounter with her big sister’s brother-in-law—millionaire Josh Campbell—leads to a night of unexpected passion, Caroline starts engineering an arrangement that will give them both what they want. She can help Josh with an important real estate project and he can school her in the art of amour. At first Josh balks—but there’s something irresistible about Caroline, something very different from the bombshells he usually dates. Can the friends with benefits agreement really work? Or are Caroline and Josh playing a dangerous game that may end in heartbreak?

Jean­nie Moon has always been a roman­tic. When she’s not spin­ning tales of her own, Jean­nie works as a school librar­ian, thank­ful she has a job that allows her to immerse her­self in books and call it work. Mar­ried to her high school sweet­heart, Jean­nie has three kids, three lov­able dogs and a mis­chie­vous cat and resides on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.  Unexpectedly Yours is the second book in her Forever Love Series. Visit Jeannie’s web­site at www.jeanniemoon.com

Post a comment to Jeannie's question to be entered in a contest to win a download of 

Unexpectedly Yours. US only