Tomorrow several authors and award-winning series creator, Debra Holland, are hosting a Facebook party to share about their stories written in the Montana Sky world. From 10AM to 3:30PM PDT, stop by here to chat with authors, learn more details about new and upcoming stories, and enter giveaways for a chance to win books and other goodies.
Link to sign up for Facebook Party
A group of writer friends are hosting a blog tour with giveaways and fun details. My scheduled day is Friday, December 8th, but new posts will pop up each day. Follow along and see what each author has to offer.
December 4
Holland Rae – https://hollandrae.com/
Susanne Matthews – https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/
Sorchia DuBois – www.sorchiadubois.com
December 5
Tena Stetler – http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Maureen Bonatch – http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/
Peggy Jaeger – https://peggyjaeger.com/
Barbara Burke – https://barbaraburkeauthor.wordpress.com/
December 6
Kelly Kalmanson – http://kkweil.blogspot.com
M.S. Spencer – http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com
Hywela Lyn – www.hywelalyn.blogspot.com
Reggi Allder – https://reggiallder.blogspot.com/
December 7
Denyse Bridger – http://www.fantasypages.ca
Clair de Lune – https://clairdelunebooks.co.uk/
Karen Blake-Hall – https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/
Casi McLean – http://casimclean.com/a-christmas-to-remember/
December 8
Darlene Fredette – http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
Daryl Devore – http://daryldevore.blogspot.ca
Gini Rifkin – http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com
I wrote this book for people who have lived through what Aidan calls their “worst things” that’s ever happened to them and come out the other side whole or want to come out whole. I wanted to write about hope and courage and, most of all, love in the face of grief, sadness, and loss. And I wanted to do it with some humor and dignity for the characters.
BLURB
Former social worker Roxie Fisher believes she’s cursed to never find happiness. An invitation to Cupid’s Café isn’t going to change that. All the same, what else does she have to lose?
Widowed accountant-turned-firefighter Aidan Craig never turns down a dare. An invite to Cupid’s Café is an offer he can’t refuse. He never expected the social worker who helped him through his darkest days. Now she’s the one struggling and he’s compelled to help.
They experience an immediate attraction, but Aidan swore never off relationships and Roxie can’t imagine daredevil Aidan being interested in her. Will they both lose out on a chance at true love?
BUY LINKS
EXCERPT
When they climbed into the truck, he started it and she turned to him, a frown puckering her brow. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Of course not. You’ve been perfect. Why?”
“Because you’ve been really quiet since we started taking the camp apart. Is something bothering you?”
I might’ve screwed up and fallen for you. But, he couldn’t say that. He still didn’t know what to do and he didn’t want to lead her on. Wasn’t that what he’d been doing, though?
The first time they made love, it just happened. But, after that? He’d been actively pursuing her since then, trying to seduce her, to prove to her he wanted her.
Even though it would make him a lousy human being, he wished he could say it was because she’d presented him with a challenge. But that wasn’t it at all, no matter what he’d tried to tell himself.
He glanced over at her. “Nothing wrong here.”
Reaching over, he switched on the radio and they listened in silence for the better part of forty-five minutes.
They’d be at her house soon. She sat on her hands, looking down at her feet. She looked uncomfortable, and that was his fault. He hadn’t said a damn thing to her the whole way home.
When they arrived at her parents’ house, Aidan climbed out of the truck and fished her backpacks from the back of the truck.
“It’s fine. I can carry those,” she said.
“I’m taking them in for you, Rox. No arguments.”
“But… then I’ll have to introduce you to my parents.” She glanced back at the house, then back at him, shuffling her feet.
“So, let’s go. What’s your mom’s name?” He started up the concrete walk leading to the front porch, expecting her to follow.
“Meredith.” She hadn’t moved.
“What are you waiting for?”
“An act of God. Earthquake, volcano. A lightning bolt or something showy.”
He went back to her, put a hand on the small of her back and gave a nudge. “Come on. What about your dad?”
“Oh, you can’t meet my dad. Like, literally. He doesn’t talk to me, so if I take you in there, plant you in front of the TV and say, ‘Daddy, this is Aidan, the man I’ve been sleeping with,’ he’ll nod and say, “Uh-huh.’ There’s no point.” She stopped halfway up the walk.
“Why doesn’t your dad talk to you?”
“It’s complicated. He doesn’t know how to handle me being depressed. So, he… doesn’t handle it at all.”
It wasn’t that something seemed off here, it was all a little screwy. Like he wasn’t seeing the whole picture, just bits and pieces. He took her by the arm and tugged a little. “I’m carrying your backpack inside. Let’s go.”
“I carried it out of the house without your help when we left.”
“You weren’t my girlfriend then.”
She stopped, and even him pulling on her arm didn’t budge her. “So, I’m your girlfriend now?”
He inhaled, ready to deny it, to say he’d misspoke, but the words didn’t come. His lungs deflated like a balloon. Yeah, that’s pretty much where things stood. And maybe that wasn’t so awful. Maybe it could even be a good thing. “I… Let’s just get you inside. I want to meet your mom.”
Just then, an older woman stepped out on the porch. She looked like Roxie, with the curls and the green, almond shaped eyes. “Come on in, you two. You’ve been creeping up the sidewalk for ages.”
Roxie’s legs started working again, and Aidan followed her up on the porch. Her mom wrapped an arm around Roxie’s waist and pulled her close.
“Aidan, this is my mom, Meredith. Mom, this is my friend, Aidan Craig.” He couldn’t help but notice she didn’t call him her boyfriend. He should’ve talked to her before declaring them in a relationship, he knew that.
Meredith held out a hand to him and he shook it. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Fisher.”
“Oh Lord, don’t call me that. Meredith is just fine.”
“Meredith.” He gave a nod and a smile, while he berated himself internally. Why had he called Roxie his girlfriend? Because that’s what they’d been acting like, maybe. They’d made love again just hours ago. In a world where he hadn’t lost his wife, where he hadn’t sworn to never become involved with anyone again, he’d be happy to call her that. Now, it made him happy, but it also scared him.
GIVEAWAY
Author Landra Graf is joining me to give away two intertwined heart necklaces and two $10 Amazon Gift Cards.
Enter Rafflecopter contest here
Lori Sizemore writes sexy and snarky romantic comedy. She adores all things story and geeks out about craft books, writing classes, and how-to blog posts daily.
When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her family, playing video games, or crocheting. Sometimes all three at once, as she’s a master multi-tasker.
WEB CONTACTS
April 24 through April 26, 2017
Sponsored by the Highway Cafe including members from the Trans Canada Romance Writers, this tour introduces you to 17 total authors with posts about spring and giveaways. Links to all participating authors is here.
My anticipation of spring may be different than that experienced by others. My current residence is a cabin set on Forest Service land in the southern California mountains. Because of the strict guidelines about keeping the area in its natural state, I don’t get to enjoy tulips or other spring flowers or see the blossoming of cherry or almond trees. So I’ve learned to appreciate the difference in the wildlife during my five years here. I notice the return of the stellar jays and woodpeckers to the trees (as long as they stay there and don’t peck on my cabin walls) and incorporate their caws and rat-a-tat sounds, as well as the swishing of the leaves, into my background sounds.
While sitting on my front deck, I saw the chipmunks and squirrels have started their inspection of the camp, too. Watching their antics always brings a smile.
The other day I was thrilled to spot a bobcat running across the road less than a quarter mile from our camp. I even slowed to a stop and just stared at where it hunkered behind a log. On the next trip away from home, I saw a juvenile coyote trotting alongside the road.
The new life always brings a sense of looking forward and wondering what’s yet to come. Spend at least a few minutes outside everyday and find something in your area that brings enjoyment.
~*~*~
Hunt for the Easter eggs on my site and leave a comment where you found them for an extra chance at winning a copy of my contemporary story, Anything But Flowers. (print to US only, ebook for other locations). Completing the tasks in the rafflecopter below earn more entries.
And don’t forget to visit the other authors’ blogs by clicking here
The post may not be the top one but it’s there all three days.
Hi there, I’m Elf Sparkle
My job at the North Pole is decorating the wrapped packages with ribbons and bows or silk flowers or glitter. <giggle> I love glitter, and I love this job because I like making things look pretty.
Playing holiday music while I work keeps me energized. I switch between vocals like Celtic Ladies Christmas or carols by country artists and instrumentals like Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas in the Aire.
My favorite holiday snack and drink. I can’t decide between pfefferrnusse cookies (spice cookies coated in powdered sugar) or thumbprint cookies (cookies rolled in chopped nuts with a dab of jam in the center). But I know my favorite drink is hot chocolate stirred with a mini candy cane.
I’m the Secret Santa for Elf Annie, who works in the kitchen concocting decadent hot cocoa for Santa’s sleigh ride and helping Mrs. Claus bake cookies. I’m giving Elf Annie a mini-grater for the final flourish of fresh cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the whipped cream Santa loves on his cocoa.
This winter/holiday recipe I got from my mother (although she was Midwest born and bred).
New England Cranberry Custard Pie
Ingredients:
4 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
2/3 cup undiluted evaporated milk
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon nutmeg
9” unbaked pastry shell
1 8-oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
¼ cup chopped nuts
Combine eggs, salt, 3/4c sugar, evaporated milk, water, vanilla and nutmeg. Beat well. Pour into pastry shell. Bake in hot oven (425°) 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350° and bake 20-30 minutes more, or until knife inserted hallways between edge and center of pie comes out clean.
In small saucepan, stir cornstarch into cranberry sauce then add 2 T sugar. Heat until boiling, then boil one minute, stirring constantly. Stir in nuts and orange rind. Cool cranberry mixture before spooning over the custard. Cool 3-4 hours before serving. Makes 6-8 servings.
My holiday gift to participants on this blog tour is that each task completed in the attached rafflecopter earns a chance in a random drawing for a print copy of One Winter Knight, a medieval winter holiday anthology of 8 stories, or an electronic copy of Silent Signals, a historical western novella.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TAG LINE: Will the valley’s feud between cattlemen and shepherds keep Konrad and Anora apart? BLURB: After losing half his herd in the Great Blizzard of 1886, rancher Konrad Werner needs to safeguard his cattle. Tomboy Anora Huxley trains the Australian Shepherds and Kelpies that run the family’s sheep herd. Although cattlemen and shepherds are at odds, the pair discovers common interests. A threat is overheard, and Konrad rides out to Anora’s ranch to protect her. The tense situation reveals their true feelings. Will Anora be swayed by family loyalty, or will she listen to her heart that responds to Konrad’s silent signals? Buy link for all electronic formats: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/681040 Here are the sites for the other participating authors. Visit them for more holiday fun, recipes and giveaways. http://transcanadaromancewriters.blogspot.ca/2016/12/highway-cafe-christmas-blog-tour.html http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/ http://www.tenastetler.com/my-blog/ https://barbaraburkeauthor.wordpress.com/ www.writerknapsack.com http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/ http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/ http://www.sorchiadubois.com/
http://casimclean.com/casis-christmas-…cal-mystery-tour/ https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/ http://mariahlynneauthor.blogspot.com/
http://kkweil.blogspot.com http://www.clairdelunebooks.co.uk/
Why I’m grateful for books:
Growing up a shy child, books were the friends I wished to have. Reading about brave or adventurous story characters helped me absorb just a little of those elements. Pippi Longstocking was an elementary school favorite because she was so bold, outrageous and had super-strength. Not go to school? Sail away on the ocean with a horse and monkey as pets? Those actions were daring to imagine but very far outside my suburban experience. This is about the time I discovered the Little House books and what young city girl didn’t want to get into such innocent mischief like she did. I’ve re-read the series a couple of times, attributing the beginning of my love of historical fiction to that series.
When I hit that age when all girls seemed to yearn to own a horse, I discovered My Friend Flicka, The Black Stallion, National Velvet and Black Beauty. Those books were read and re-read, and plastic horses were integrated into my Barbie doll collection. Then I discovered the Nancy Drew series and imagined myself as a young crime-solving detective. And oh, Nancy drove such a sporty little car. During high school and college, pleasure reading took a backseat except for the occasional “must read” like The Exorcist or Roots.
While raising my kids, I always made sure to include a wide diversity of type of books in our family read-aloud titles. From their homework assignments, I was introduced to new authors and exciting characters in stories that became much-beloved. I remember one summer of several novels having death as a theme and those titles are imprinted as definite tear-jerkers. Like the movies you’re glad you saw but won’t seek out again for a repeat viewing.
Now, as a writer, I build on all I’ve learned from those stories and always have the fervent wish that a story I’ve created has the power to evoke emotion in the reader.
Please enter the rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance at the audio version (3 copies) of historical Christmas novella, The Ring That Binds, or an ebook of On With The Show, a Thanksgiving-themed contemporary novella. [if the icon doesn’t appear, use this link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/585af0479/? ]
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also participating in the blog hop are the following authors: