Monday, May 28, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - The Warden's Lantern

The Warden's Lantern


Today's Teaser Tuesday post is from The Warden's Lantern, a 75-page novelette (or novella?) by Joselyn Vaughn. It was a quick, fun read.


She didn't understand the fear. Her co-workers had faced flying cars and falling trees as they chased tornadoes. A floating light was hardly Freddy Kreuger. [at 2% on my Kindle]


Synopsis from Amazon: Dark, creaking trees. Cracking thunder. A ghostly orb.

Barbara Milanowski couldn't have picked a worse night for her amateur paranormal investigation, but she couldn’t let her longtime crush Elmer Derecho’s skeptism go unchallenged. When Elmer runs her off the road with his motorcycle and scolds her for being out in the inclement weather, her happily ever after drops with the barometric pressure and the loss of her keys and glasses. While spending time alone with Elmer was one of her fantasies, the dream date didn’t entail diving into the mud and untangling herself from a raspberry bush. 

While trying to protect Barbara from the storm, his eyes are opened to all the things in his life that are missing. Elmer had gotten comfortable with his maps and pic-tures and chasing tornadoes after the fact. But Barbara reminds him of his forgotten zest for adventures, and ignites his interest in the Warden’s Lantern and for Barbara

While sheltering in a dilapidated guard house, Barbara and Elmer are drawn out of the protection by the Warden's Lantern, the ghostly light Barbara had been trying to document. Elmer dismisses it as a trick of the electrical storm, but together they attempt to find the true source of the light. Will their shared talents solve the mystery and start a lasting relationship?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)
  • Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample - May 26

Thanks for stopping by for today’s Sweet Saturday Sample. This week I’m posting another scene from my WIP, Elly and the Geriatrics. Granny and Elly are at the Sunset Acres rummage sale, with Elly manning their table.


       “Don’t buy anything,” Elly warned. She had already cautioned her grandmother against purchasing from the other sellers and reminded her that the purpose of all their work was to clear out unnecessary stuff, not bring home more. Granny just smiled and waved as she headed off in the direction of yet another overloaded table. Elly hoped she didn’t spy any teapots. Her collection had already taken over an entire bookcase, with the porcelain and china containers lined up three deep on the shelves.
       “Hi.” A deep voice shook Elly out of her musings. “You must be Mrs. Macauley’s granddaughter.”
       Elly looked up—and up some more—to see a tall, brown-haired man approaching the table. His shoulders filled out a faded chambray shirt in a way that promised firm muscles underneath. He had his hand extended, and his even white teeth flashed a friendly smile.
       Elly stared, remembering the sweet-as-molasses voice and the buff body.
       Derek.
       “Uh, hi. Yes, I am.” She extended her hand and shook his. The rough texture of his fingers told of hard work, yet when she looked down, she saw clean fingernails. A Band-Aid encircled his thumb.
       “I’m Derek White. I take care of the grounds around here.” He motioned to the landscaped garden outside the center’s front windows. “And your name is …?”
       “Oh, sorry. I’m Elly. I’m helping my grandma today.”
       The man looked as good as she’d remembered. Tall, dark, and handsome with a delicious Southern drawl—a modern day Rhett Butler.
        “Well, I’m pleased to finally meet you. Your grandmother has told me a lot about you.” He paused and resettled a Dallas Cowboys cap on his head.
         Uh-oh.
         Elly could just imagine what Granny had said to the man.

So our hero and heroine have officially met. Next week we’ll continue with the story. 

  
More Sweet Saturday Samples from other authors await you here: The Sweet List

Monday, May 21, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - Each Angel Burns



In today's Tuesday Teaser, two of the male characters in Each Angel Burns by Kathleen Valentine are discussing virgo intacta (virginity) among nuns and why a woman would choose that life. The speaker is a priest.


"... You know, in the Middle Ages most women's lives were pretty bleak. But in convents women were educated and could write, paint, play and compose music .... There were intelligent women who considered that a better choice than being a literal slave and bearing endless children."
(at 5% on my Kindle)


Blurb from Goodreads:
Each Angel Burns is the story of three people at crossroads in their lives--a tale of enduring friendship, of faith, of great evil and greater love--and of how they culminate in a miracle.
(For a more detailed synopsis, see the description on Amazon.)

For more Teaser Tuesday posts, click here: Teaser Tuesday



Friday, May 18, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample - May 19


Elly and her grandmother have started decluttering Granny’s mobile home, getting organized for their participation in the Sunset Acres rummage sale.
         Of course, there wouldn’t be room for all the things they’d sorted, but Elly had plans for some of her grandmother’s more valuable treasures.
       Elly took a sip of tea and cleared her throat. “Uh, Granny. I was looking on eBay and found a Royal Doulton mug just like yours.” She gestured across the room to a bright red container on the kitchen window sill. “The seller was asking five hundred dollars for it. Can you believe that?”
       "Five hundred bucks?” Granny laughed. “I guess there’s always some fool willing to throw away his money.” She tilted her head and frowned. “I kinda like having ol’ Confucius standing guard over my kitchen. Besides, it’s a good place to keep my collection of silver swizzle sticks.”
         Elly bit back a sigh and tried another tactic.
         “You know, I was thinking.” She worked to keep impatience from her voice. “You’ve mentioned that the house could use a new air conditioner and that the roof is in pretty bad shape. Selling some of your things would be one way to raise money for that work.”
         In truth, the trailer had been neglected since Elly's grandfather’s death and needed extensive repairs. With the limited income from Granny’s Social Security and her own joblessness, selling some of Granny’s possessions was the only way Elly could think of to fund those projects.
         “I'm not sure about letting my things go to complete strangers, but I promise I’ll give the eBay thing some thought. Today’s rummage sale is a good start toward turning my treasures into moolah,” Granny answered.
         Elly smiled, happy that her grandmother seemed to at least be considering her suggestions.
         Granny pushed up from the table, grabbed the back of a nearby chair, and limped to her walker. “Get your rear in gear, honey. The sooner we get to the sale, the sooner we can start hauling in the cash.”


More Sweet Saturday Samples await you here: The Sweet List

Monday, May 14, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - How to Be Texan

While going through my bookshelves, trying to find books to recycle - to make room for new ones! - I came across How To Be Texan by Michael Hicks. Both of us authors of I.O.U. SEX are native Texans, so I guess I don't need this book, do I? But I've moved to the Pacific Northwest, so maybe it will remind me of my roots. I'm keepin' it.


I hope y'all enjoy this excerpt. It's from about the middle of the book (the pages aren't numbered):

Actually, the Chicken Ranch was a whorehouse of sorts, named in honor of the many thousands of chickens bartered for services. Tragically, the Chicken Ranch was brought to its knees and finally closed by a publicity-hungry newsman from Houston who was eager to get a five-minute news story. The legend lives on, though, in the successful stage musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

This book was written in 1981. In 1982 a movie (based on the Broadway musical) was released, starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds (he was such a hunk back then). Here's a cute trailer:


For more two-sentence excerpts from readers, visit Miz B here: Teaser Tuesday

Friday, May 11, 2012

Sweet Saturday Samples - May 12



Another Saturday and another sample from my WIP romance, tentatively titled Elly and the Geriatrics. I've skipped a little, but here's what's going on: Elly has just returned from an errand for her grandmother, and the two women have started getting organized for the Sunset Acres rummage sale. But their work is interrupted by the chime of the doorbell. Since Elly is staying in the retirement village illegally, she dashes into the bedroom to hide from the visitor, who turns out to be the man in charge of the landscaping at Sunset Acres. We’re picking up the story where Granny’s visitor has just left.

When Granny opened the bedroom door, she grinned and winked. “My visitor was that good-looking Derek Wright. Such a nice young man, and what a cutie.”
            Elly just shook her head and picked up a stack of paperback books. If she let Granny get started, the next thing she knew, they’d be discussing wedding dresses.
            Her grandmother leaned closer. “As soon as I can, I’m going to introduce you to him.”
            Elly sighed. “Please, Granny. The last thing I want or need right now is a man, good looking or otherwise.” From what she remembered, Granny was right—Derek was a hunk. But the last hunk she’d fallen for had turned out to be a real shithead.
            She picked up a couple of paperbacks. “What about selling these?” The battered covers of the romance novels featured heaving hooters and bulging biceps. The yellowed pages crackled with age.
            “You’re trying to change the subject, Electra, but I know you’ve got to be bored—“
            “Elly. Please. Not Electra.”
            “—hanging around with me all the time.” Granny gave her granddaughter a warm smile. “I probably don’t tell you often enough, but I appreciate all you do for me. You always were a good girl.”
          “That’s me, all right. The family Girl Scout.”
Good old Elly. Level-headed and reliable.  
Elly smiled at her grandmother’s serious face. “I’m happy to help you, Granny. You know that. Now about these paperbacks….”
Granny sighed. “Oh, I guess we should sell them, honey. The print’s so tiny, I doubt if I could read them anymore. But your grandpa and I did find them inspirational at one time, if you know what I mean.”
            Ignoring her grandmother’s embarrassing innuendo, Elly turned the top book over and read the title—Lust at the Laundromat. With a chuckle she put that one aside to read herself, just to see how the plot played out. She wondered if they could get rid of the collection at the rummage sale. They could try, but she felt sure most would end up in the recycling bin or donated somewhere. For once, her grandmother dropped the issue of Elly’s lackluster love life. 


More outstanding Sweet Saturday Samples await you. Click HERE and follow the links.


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Deadly Pleasures - Sex and the City Meets James Patterson*


Today we’re welcoming author Mary Firmin to our blog. We’ve both read and enjoyed her mystery,  Deadly Pleasures, and now we have a few questions. Mary has kindly agreed to satisfy our curiosity (plus give away a copy of her book!)  

S&S: What made you decide to write a murder mystery?
 Mary: I love to read murder mysteries about serial killers, and I really enjoyed creating a puzzle. Most people who read the book do not figure out until nearly the end who is actually the Bondage Murderer. Of course, there are a few who do. I originally heard a true story about four men who hired a woman to be available for them sexually, and I was going to weave the murder mystery around them.  But then I thought how much more interesting and forbidden it would be if four women did the same thing.

S&S: Tell us a little bit about your characters, especially Megan Riley and Matt Donovan. Which character was the most fun to write?
 Mary: Megan was the most fun to write. I think Megan is a lot like me, but I’m sure there is a little bit of me in all my characters. Matt Donovan is a character that came to me whole. When he first arrived on the Ecstasea to question the girls, I saw him in my mind’s eye and then just described him. He is a good man and it shows through in the story. He still gets shocked at grisly murder scenes; he has a great deal of love for his daughter. He is an all around good guy and was the easiest to write about.

S&S: You did a great job with the settings – the yacht club, Catalina Island, etc. Why did you feature those particular places in Deadly Pleasures
 Mary: I lived in Santa Monica for many years and sold real estate in all the areas of the book. Malibu, Venice Beach, Marina del Rey.  In fact I walked Venice Beach every day. My husband and I owned a power boat and were long-time members of a Southern California yacht club.  We spent a lot of time cruising up and down the coastline and spent many days and weeks on Catalina Island.  We both loved the ocean.

"... never let me tie him up."

S&S: The BDSM clubs included in your book must have been an “unusual” thing to research. How did you come up with your ideas for that part of your story?
 Mary: I am not a member of the BDSM community nor do I subscribe to the lifestyle.  But I did decide to create a serial killer with a serious sexual problem. At the time a friend of ours, who is a psychologist, told me how to research the BDSM lifestyle and recommended Psychopathia Sexualis as a book describing the clinical approach. My husband and I visited loads of porno shops and viewed the apparatuses so I could describe them in my book.  We had lots of fun doing the research, but he would never let me tie him up.  And I wouldn’t let him either, so we were a bust when it came to the bondage scene.  My husband passed away before the book was on the market, and that makes me very sad because he never saw the book in print.

S&S: What part of the book was the most difficult to write?
 Mary: The most difficult part to write was the first crime scene with Sherrie Weston. I have a daughter and it was hard to think about the terrible things that the killer did to Sherrie and the other women.  I know from reading tons of non-fiction and true crime, that there are a lot of bad people out there and that’s why we worry so much about our children.

"... some of them have Deadly Secrets."

S&S: Are you currently working on another novel? If so, could you give us a few hints about it?
 Mary: Yes, I am planning a Deadly Trilogy. The second book is Deadly Secrets. It is about a murder, or two or three, in a golfing community in the desert. Megan is there to sell a house for Kathleen, who ended up marrying the boytoy.  As usual she jumps right into the middle of it, and when Matt comes to visit she is knee deep in the drama.  The relationship between Matt and Megan is having some difficulties so their romance continues to be a part of the story.  Most people in the desert migrate from other areas and many go there to retire, but some of them have Deadly Secrets. 


Here’s the synopsis of Deadly Pleasures:
    Megan Riley has bigger things to worry about than the fact that her neighbor has just been found dead.
    Her engagement has just ended, and she is once again on a quest to find Mr. Right—or at least Mr. Right Now. Tired of emotional ties and ready for a new adventure, Megan and her three best friends make a fateful decision. They hire hunky stripper Michael Harrington as their timeshare boytoy—unaware he is the prime suspect in a series of gruesome murders. Suddenly, they find themselves involved in a complicated murder investigation led by a handsome detective who is focused only on finding the twisted serial killer before he strikes again. But who will be the next to die? Megan, the hardworking real estate agent; newly divorced Kathleen; Alex, married to a wealthy businessman; or Rachel, the spurned wife of a hot Hollywood screenwriter?
   Following her own investigation, Megan takes a wild ride through L.A.'s bondage parlors, hidden sex clubs, and the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous; soon she discovers that her quest for adventure has abruptly transformed into a dangerous game of life and death.

* "Sex and the City Meets James Patterson" - Blueink Review

GIVEAWAY !!!

Mary is graciously giving away an eBook copy of Deadly Pleasures. All you have to do is leave a comment below. Be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

For a limited time, Deadly Pleasures is only 99¢ in eBook format. Here’s the link: Deadly Pleasures
It’s also available in paperback.

Visit Mary’s website for more information about the author: 

Monday, May 7, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - Deadly Pleasures

Tuesday again, and I'm curious to see what everyone's been reading. I finished Deadly Pleasures by Mary Firmin this past week. It's a murder mystery involving four rich yacht club women, a hunky detective, a timeshare boytoy, and L.A.'s BDSM and sex clubs. It's been described as "Sex and the City meets James Patterson." Visit us again tomorrow to read our interview with the author and enter to win her book.

My teaser is from the book's prologue:

His piggy face oozed perspiration; his eyes glittered, and his fingers, thick as sausages, plucked the cigarette from his pale, wet lips. "That's okay, baby, I just got time for a quickie."

Here's the synopsis from Mary's website: 


      Megan Riley has bigger things to worry about than the fact that her neighbor has just been found dead.      
      Her engagement has just ended, and she is once again on a quest to find Mr. Right—or at least Mr. Right Now. Tired of emotional ties and ready for a new adventure, Megan and her three best friends make a fateful decision. They hire hunky stripper Michael Harrington as their timeshare boytoy—unaware he is the prime suspect in a series of gruesome murders. Suddenly, they find themselves involved in a complicated murder investigation led by a handsome detective who is focused only on finding the twisted serial killer before he strikes again. But who will be the next to die? Megan, the hardworking real estate agent; newly divorced Kathleen; Alex, married to a wealthy businessman; or Rachel, the spurned wife of a hot Hollywood screenwriter?       
      Following her own investigation, Megan takes a wild ride through L.A.'s bondage parlors, hidden sex clubs, and the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous; soon she discovers that her quest for adventure has abruptly transformed into a dangerous game of life and death.



Visit MizB of Should be Reading and connect to more two-sentences excerpts here:



Friday, May 4, 2012

Sweet Saturday Samples - May 5


Hello, Sweet Saturday Samplers! Before we get started on another excerpt from my WIP, Elly and the Geriatrics, I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to J. Gunnar Grey for hosting this group. Your work is sincerely appreciated, Gunnar.

In my scene today, Elly has just picked up a few items at the local Shop 'N Hop for her grandmother.

            Elly stowed her purchases in the golf cart's bin, started the engine, and headed back to the trailer park. She smiled, remembering Granny’s reprimand that Sunset Acres was a manufactured-home village, not a trailer park, which was something else entirely. As if only the upper crust of Shannon Ridge society resided in the hundred-space village, rather than a bunch of middle-class retirees. Still, they did keep the place up. The rental included the use of a recreation center and swimming pool, as well as free wi-fi access. They even had a gardener. What was his name? Doug? Dave? No, Derek, of all things. Was that the guy who’d been standing underneath the tree? Granny said he was a hot tamale and suggested that Elly get to know him. She’d actually wiggled her eyebrows when she said it.
            As if Elly could get to know anybody in the neighborhood. If the homeowners’ association—the Geriatric Government—caught her still living with her grandma, they’d kick her out on her ass. And then what would happen? Although Granny was doing much better, she still couldn’t get around very well. Until the doctor gave her a clean bill of health, Elly was determined to do whatever she could to help her grandmother get back on her feet—literally. So if that meant sneaking around like a criminal, hiding from the Geriatrics, and putting her own life on hold, so be it.
            Elly pulled the cart into its parking spot beneath the carport cover, her mind on the day ahead. Her tasks included a start on something she’d planned from her first day with Granny—a complete reorganization of the house. She looked forward to the challenge. Last week, Elly had measured the dimensions of the trailer and each of its rooms, excited to be using what she’d learned from her interior design degree to create a more efficient layout for the small space. She just hoped Granny would agree to her changes. 




After you've stopped drooling over the fudge brownie, topped with caramel and ice cream, check out links to other Sweet Saturday Samples here: The Sweet List

Thursday, May 3, 2012

And the winner is ...

We're delighted to announce that Lysette (BN100) is the winner of a free eBook copy of I.O.U. SEX.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Our giveaway was offered on Shannan Albright's blog "Romance You Can Sink Your Fangs Into" along with an interview with the two of us. Here's the link in case anyone missed it:  
Shannan's Interview 

Congratulations, Lysette. We hope you enjoy I.O.U. SEX.