Category Archives: Romancing the 8

Romancing The 8–Voting Round for Readers’ Choice Award

October 8, 2015 admin 1 Comment

On this month’s post for the Romancing the 8 blog hop with other TransCanada Romance Authors, I’m announcing my entry in a contest.

My Halloween-set novella, Unlocked Treasure, passed the nomination round for the Readers’ Choice Award sponsored by The Romance Reviews. From now until October 31st, voting continues and I’d love to have a good showing. Click here to be taken to the listing which appears in the Contemporary Romance category. A simple sign-in must be done.

BLURB

Aleen MacRae blames the lure of the sea for breaking apart first her family then her engagement. When her interest is caught by a man she sees both in person and in a dream, she resists—afraid to believe in her aunt’s prediction that her future is tied to the sea.

Braden Williams is on the hunt for treasure buried centuries earlier by Rhode Island pirates. His search brings him to the property where Aleen lives. Collaboration on genealogy research draws them closer, and Braden steers her toward his true passion–sailing.

Attending a party with Braden’s family lets her glimpse what she’s been missing. An unexpected discovery before her date with Braden forces a decision. Will Aleen play things safe or accept what this free-spirited man offers?

QUESTION

My research revealed an unique event that takes place at Brown University in Providence, RI at midnight on Halloween night. Attendees enter a darkened Sayles Hall with flashlights and get comfortable. A spotlight highlights the balcony and an organ recital begins. Does your city have a one-of-a-kind event to celebrate the holiday?

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Other participating authors

Gini Rifkin

Blog Hop, Romancing the 8

Romancing The Eight Blog Hop

September 8, 2015 admin 3 Comments

Story Inspiration for Stepping Out Of Line

The dozen years I lived in San Antonio, Texas sparked a love of the cowboy myth and an appreciation for rodeo as a sport/lifestyle. Sure, many of the competitors at the local and regional rodeos work weekdays herding cattle, fixing fences, managing stud services, and worrying over the latest beef prices. But come Friday and Saturday nights, they transform into the heroes of the rodeo arena. They become the football quarterbacks (another Texas passion) who drive hard for the goal—be it roping a calf in the fastest time, or staying upright for the longest period on the back of a bucking bronc or bull.

Dev Laredo has lost track of how many bones he’s broken as a saddle bronc rider. Like Kevin Coster in Bull Durham (one of my favorites movies), Dev’s too old for this shit, he’s too old for the buckle bunnies. But he’s determined to finish out this season to earn money for his younger brother’s college tuition—he’ll fight through his latest injury to do it

Roxie Starr is an ex-Vegas showgirl who dismisses rodeo performers as being the same as Vegas guys—all flash and show, and no commitment. Since returning to Wayback, she’s refused to date anyone associated with the rodeo. She wants a real cowboy—solid, down to earth, one who will be there when the going gets tough.

Can two bruised souls overlook their differences and give love a fighting chance? Stepping Out Of Line, a contemporary western romance, is published by The Wild Rose Press.

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GIVEAWAY

Anyone signing up for the soon-to-be-compiled inaugural issue of my quarterly newsletter is eligible for a drawing of an ebook of this title.

Click here to sign up.

Please visit the other authors participating in the Romancing The Eight Blog Hop follow:

Darlene Fredette – http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.ca/

Denyse Bridger – www.fantasypages.ca

Gini Rifkin – http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop, Romancing the 8

Romancing The 8–Dreams of Gold

June 8, 2015 admin 1 Comment

Here are eight paragraphs from the opening scene of my western historical novella set in 1870s Wyoming, Dreams Of Gold:

‘“Hey, driver.” He shot a glance at the top seat. What the hell? A slender, yellow feather bobbed above the driver’s seat. He set a boot on the wheel hub and levered himself up for a better look. On the near side of the seat slumped the stage’s regular driver, Pete McGinnis, blood staining the right side of his shirt. Quinn stretched to lay a hand on the young man’s chest. Relief shot through him when he felt a shallow rise with each labored breath. Alive, but struggling.

Twisting to his left, he scanned the nearby storefronts and spotted a young boy scratching a stick in the dirt. “Hey, Billy. Run and fetch the doctor.” From a vest pocket, he pulled out a coin and flipped it at the boy’s feet. “Hurry now.”

As soon as the boy started off, Quinn turned back to the coach. “Ma’am?” The female now leaned against the back of the seat—head still down, stiff arms extended. “Miss?” He reached a hand over her fists and pulled on the reins. Under his touch, her arms trembled, but her fists remained clenched. Was the woman deaf? He hopped down and jogged around the back of the coach, glancing through the window at empty bench seats.

With a hand braced on the side of the coach, he set the brake. “Miss, release the reins.” He gently pried open the young woman’s gloved fists so he could tie off the reins. Under the hat brim, her eyes were squeezed shut, and he feared she might be injured, too.

“Are you hurt, ma’am?” He glanced over her slim figure clothed in a dark green jacket and skirt. Lean legs outlined by the dusty skirt and a rounded bosom moving in quick rhythm woke heat in his gut. At the inexplicable reaction, he clenched his jaw. Assessing possible injuries was part of his duty, but ogling a defenseless lady was not.

Had she fainted? He slid a finger under her chin and lifted. Her skin was as smooth as silk. Light brown lashes lay against creamy cheeks dusted with freckles. “Ma’am?”

She moaned, and her eyelids fluttered and then opened. “Are we safe? Did I drive us to a town?”

Hers were the greenest eyes he’d ever seen. Jade…that was the color. The intensity of her gaze hit him like a roundhouse punch straight to his chest. “You’re in Bull City, ma’am. I’m Sheriff Riley. Can you tell me what happened?”

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Romancing the 8

Romancing The 8 blog hop–Lone Star Angel

May 8, 2015 admin 3 Comments

Here are eight paragraphs that form the initial meeting of the hero, Luc Tarrant, and heroine, Carnelian Wendell, of my western historical set in 1868 west Texas titled Lone Star Angel.

“Take a wrong turn, lady?”

The broad-shouldered man’s voice was deep and full of suspicion.

“Easy, Star.” With effort, she pulled the prancing horse back to an uneasy stand and turned her attention to the stranger. His hat shaded his eyes, but couldn’t hide a strong jaw covered with beard stubble and a tight mouth pulled down at the edges.

A loose tendril of hair tickled her forehead. With a gloved hand, she tucked it under the knitted scarf wrapped over her ears and neck to fight off the chilly air. “I’m looking for the Bar-T Ranch. Would you know if I’m on the right lane? Can’t really call this uneven, pot-holed path a road.” She paused, expecting the silent stranger to answer.

Leather creaked at his shift in position, and he rested a forearm across the pommel and stared.

“The stable master in Wayside Gap told me to turn south at the double fencepost. Not that I’m too good with directions, but those were the only double posts I saw.”

“Thought I recognized Einhardt’s mare.”

What? The man commented on ownership of a horse, not about the boundaries for a cattle ranch? She waited for his confirmation she was headed in the right direction. “So, I did take the correct turn?”

5 stars from Brenda at Readers’ Favorite

“Lone Star Angel” is a short but very satisfying historical fiction read. The author packs plenty of detail providing an in-depth story with more than a few twists that kept me quite interested!

Click here to read the entire review onsite.

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Mischief comes to Wayside Gap, Texas

A repentant ex-outlaw, Carnelian Wendell, visits her sister Amethyst, the cook on a Texas cattle ranch. The deaths of the bandit gang straighten out Carni’s reckless ways and she’s looking for a new life. Solitary rancher, Luc Tarrant, hesitates about adding this spoiled lady to his struggling ranch but soon discovers he can’t resist her irrepressible spirit. A trip to town exposes Carni to the sheriff’s curious eye and she is jailed for suspicion of train robbery. Luc develops a plan to spring her, but when the sheriff calls his bluff, Luc’s plan backfires, leaving the couple with a decision that will change both their futures.

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New registrants for my quarterly newsletter will earn a chance at winning an ebook of this title. Sign-up for newsletter here. If you’re already on my mailing list, then add this title to your Goodreads Want To Read list and let me know with a comment here.

Winner will be announced and contacted on May 11th.

Links to other authors on the Romancing The 8 are below.

Darlene Fredette – http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.ca/

Gini Rifkin – http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com/

Lori Power – https://www.marinerwrites.com/blog

Blog Hop, Romancing the 8

Romancing The 8–Ten Fantasy Wishes

April 8, 2015 admin 2 Comments

This monthly blog hop encourages members of TransCanada RWA to share 8 words, 8 lines or 8 paragraphs from a work in progress or a published work. This month, I’m sharing 8 paragraphs from the first chapter of a short novella that was one of my first published works. Even though I wanted to, I did not edit or revise any of this selection from the published version.

The rain had subsided, and a cool breeze lingered. Stopping
only a moment to appreciate the crisp, fresh air, Ali walked
carefully downstairs to Apt. 1. All the windows were dark. Not a
good sign. Taped to the door was a sodden note. “I’m out. Catch me
tomorrow after 9AM. For emergencies, call 555-1700. Manager.”
Probably out on a date having a good time. She grabbed the
note and stomped upstairs. On the other hand, she couldn’t meet a
decent guy. Tonight’s date had been a perfect example. Movies used
to involve a plot and dialogue. Her date’s choice had been filled
with blood, murder and mayhem. A disaster she didn’t intend to
repeat.

Back in her apartment, she punched the number on the note,
foot tapping while she listened to the rings.

“Hayden.”

Oops, the male voice sounded muffled and sleepy. Maybe she
was interrupting something personal. “Is this the Alamo Grove
Apartment manager?”

“That’s me. Is this an emergency?”

“I’ve got a big drip in my bedroom.”

“Sorry to hear your date isn’t working out, lady. How—”

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