tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57737977906811754012024-02-07T05:41:41.480-08:00Bonnie Phelps, AuthorBonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-68211721366982457602021-06-28T15:07:00.003-07:002021-06-28T15:07:55.023-07:0099 Cent Sale through June 29, 2021<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">MY RODEO MAN is on sale through June 29. <span style="font-size: 11pt;">If
you’re a fan of contemporary western romance novels filled with cowboys, funny
banter, easy friendships, and undeniable sexual tension – run, don’t walk and
start reading MY RODEO MAN today! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">AMAZON US: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQZWZQ/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amazon CA: <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amazon UK: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amazon AU: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZu-zpZamvM/YNpHlkxyTfI/AAAAAAAAFW8/9-_XKKjIuIIE79fafoeA-K5_pktac2DDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s654/MRM%2BNew%2BCover%2BTablet%2B500W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZu-zpZamvM/YNpHlkxyTfI/AAAAAAAAFW8/9-_XKKjIuIIE79fafoeA-K5_pktac2DDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MRM%2BNew%2BCover%2BTablet%2B500W.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Intrigued but want to know more? Here’s an excerpt:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">ZACH COULDN’T KEEP his eyes off the sway of her hips as
she shuffled along in time to the music as they made their way to the dance
floor. Lord have mercy on his soul, but every one of her jiggly women’s bits
was designed to catch a man’s attention. He didn’t like the looks other men
were giving her, and from the hard-eyed stares they were getting from their
ladies, neither did their partners. Ashley seemed oblivious, at least he hoped
she wasn’t trying to egg the other men on.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">It wouldn’t bother him at all if they cut their evening
short and headed back to her place now. But then again, as she wiggled her hips
into him this wasn’t bad either. Her playfulness was infectious and so much
more appealing than that business persona she wore like a dark cloud so much of
the time she was in public.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">“You want to get out of here?” Desire flowed through his
voice like molten lava, searing and urgent.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">She smiled up at him, calculation in her gaze. “Tell you
what, let’s play a game of pool. You win, we’ll go home right after the game. I
win, and we stay and dance for another hour. Deal?”</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Little lady, I
cut my teeth playing pool. I accept your challenge.”</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">“So you say,” she said as she traced his lips with her
finger. Her breast casually bumped against his arm as she turned away.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was then he realized he was in way over his head…</span></p><p>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Characters that will warm your heart, tickle
your funny bone, and when you close the book – leave you with a sigh and a
smile. Buy your copy of MY RODEO MAN today for 99 cents!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">AMAZON US: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQZWZQ/">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amazon CA: <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amazon UK: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a>
<o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amazon AU: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B016TQZWZQ">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span> </span></span></p>Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-31691635642877308332021-01-17T14:34:00.002-08:002021-01-17T14:34:21.157-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mK8PcVL196o/YAS7TKNQ-bI/AAAAAAAAFN0/TH-XXPKVy9kswsuM_IKRvMHcyXConkZzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/MRM%2BFB%2BReview%2BImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mK8PcVL196o/YAS7TKNQ-bI/AAAAAAAAFN0/TH-XXPKVy9kswsuM_IKRvMHcyXConkZzwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h210/MRM%2BFB%2BReview%2BImage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Author heart does a grateful happy dance when I get a new review. Just ran across this one this morning. "5 Stars – The title didn’t do justice to this great book </span><p></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love this author. There is no fluff in this story. Real sustance. The petite young lady was strong, full of energy, cute as a button and full of surprises. But she had a painful childhood. She was strong but had doubts. She wanted to be loved. But could not figure out what it felt like. ~ Marilyn Burrows"</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get your ebook copy today! 99 cents or available on KindleUnlimited. </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB016TQZWZQ%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3n-JlY4AzX_afpQMf8ZYclzVmGABVd92ymrYZWix-DeAP6QBtDu3CbZ0Q&h=AT0FkMavDIq0unCSSxOn-M3W6Ggyyt9jij-dchhHqOkwErca36AbZcER-diBYAqpcC1ANSfbi5-Ueg0WjuJZlusJKb9TnO7J2sXQWb6hDOgmrbbU-KmTgsu_ajkx9exyY0ckFq2_qctB_sytQz0b&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0lKFidq6jpJ3UVbndkY2zaMychha7ozuWS-SBa--M6C1w829K2cTvEvYrpkl4qsZ4BhVQuU2eFLQYsWAdj-sCPn46EjjpS9Qj2wGf5L_5MbYKjeDZDPk4CuMcA1zRROdj2R8Es9xuyb-DxyYAZKM8HThiH2mndCShsowgBXLx6jztH3Ha9IM29CujoQmY0ONZv6evo" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQZWZQ/</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon CA: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2Fdp%2FB016TQZWZQ%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0--wdvpcOQaldt__MQpF_Gcw27XlmFtcDjJRO0n53C-S8TM1qMdYdHDXw&h=AT0QoE7IlXMBkwkFLhS35_SYiOzn7fpcjCgcHjcnZsXiSp_rNwIq3mhUnY4535DOQc5pycBcMZjLiYXmU8sce7QIqTQqe_efiOG-MsUb8CrwVxJlAj5sKD6XtClsXGLzyOcKHMi26nD6JYSJlhey&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0lKFidq6jpJ3UVbndkY2zaMychha7ozuWS-SBa--M6C1w829K2cTvEvYrpkl4qsZ4BhVQuU2eFLQYsWAdj-sCPn46EjjpS9Qj2wGf5L_5MbYKjeDZDPk4CuMcA1zRROdj2R8Es9xuyb-DxyYAZKM8HThiH2mndCShsowgBXLx6jztH3Ha9IM29CujoQmY0ONZv6evo" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a></span> </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon UK: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB016TQZWZQ%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1KljS0kmbNX4uS6DQ5OnMAYGU9vc2_9mX8GSL2V2Hh_XTrTP3QDNLU2JY&h=AT3hPR0keYcdHSLVwN8vhZHkobOcLzgsz1Dt59EU-aVYSG2UOkG9gwS6KXYVW9G3wqAU7Jn4HK8lHtRigTUYuYrzbr0hfXGL6G_DLJcZPNdMI_JHo2HDbWAFFBGE9YceYKk0eP1kMeZJPAUI5YJR&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0lKFidq6jpJ3UVbndkY2zaMychha7ozuWS-SBa--M6C1w829K2cTvEvYrpkl4qsZ4BhVQuU2eFLQYsWAdj-sCPn46EjjpS9Qj2wGf5L_5MbYKjeDZDPk4CuMcA1zRROdj2R8Es9xuyb-DxyYAZKM8HThiH2mndCShsowgBXLx6jztH3Ha9IM29CujoQmY0ONZv6evo" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a></span> </div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon AU: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com.au%2Fdp%2FB016TQZWZQ%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR22uy7gHKSwziz2is80h8y7NCiiwGWNhjyu0Z2A7Wy-SjodaEJK_BA9kgw&h=AT3oQoB5CMY5FIC2pC4ZcuJK1o6pC8xHEujtpHt7hIrByAysxbjAEcUygBFv5tOl5fdC4iecVqApbiPxL5Z3TFTCoPtHrfB1FoXwctOTFoLLnDFOzLfjkID6G-TGgO8JDv_wlEWqoK1T2iyljDnK&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0lKFidq6jpJ3UVbndkY2zaMychha7ozuWS-SBa--M6C1w829K2cTvEvYrpkl4qsZ4BhVQuU2eFLQYsWAdj-sCPn46EjjpS9Qj2wGf5L_5MbYKjeDZDPk4CuMcA1zRROdj2R8Es9xuyb-DxyYAZKM8HThiH2mndCShsowgBXLx6jztH3Ha9IM29CujoQmY0ONZv6evo" rel="nofollow" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B016TQZWZQ</a></span></div>Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-35870080703666731652019-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:002019-09-08T10:34:05.554-07:00Inspiration Behind "My Rodeo Man"<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eIf-6jGaVg/XXU6738pdVI/AAAAAAAAE2k/MFcgOD1u-bIsIv8KAowaaX0UtAusPB7zACLcBGAs/s1600/team%2Broping%2Brodeo-646683_1920%2BPixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2eIf-6jGaVg/XXU6738pdVI/AAAAAAAAE2k/MFcgOD1u-bIsIv8KAowaaX0UtAusPB7zACLcBGAs/s320/team%2Broping%2Brodeo-646683_1920%2BPixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I'm participating in the '</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon' this month and one of the questions was what inspired me to write this story. Following is my answer:</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Story inspiration sometimes pops
out of the blue and sometimes from an ‘ah ha’ moment. Where ever the idea comes
from, it’s accompanied by an intense period of ‘what if’s’. “My Rodeo Man”
stepped into the light on a rainy Saturday afternoon as I sat in front of the
television and channel-surfed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When the screen filled with sexy
cowboys participating in rodeo events, I knew I’d found my destination. Who
doesn’t love hot cowboys in tight jeans? Intrigued by the moxie and grit of the
bull and bronc riders, I was captivated by the choreography and grace of the
team ropers and a story idea took flight. The men who reach the top ranks of
any professional sport possess a deep well of determination but that is often
over shadowed by their image as players and bad boys. The what if’s begin. Who
would make the perfect foil for my cocky hero from Texas? A woman who has had
her fill of bad boys and players breaking her heart, of course. Enter our
feisty Southern Belle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of us have family and friends.
Things we like and dislike. Hopes and dreams, yet uncertainty over whether or
not we’ll find those things in our futures. With each of my stories I try and
create a realistic relationship between the hero and heroine and do that by
focusing on what made them the people they are. That means dragging their
baggage into the plot along with the people who have played an important role
in shaping them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As on Amazon reviewer states: “This
book has a very rich storyline, well rounded characters, realistic situations
that we can all relate to. The close knit Kincaid family dynamics made it an
all the more enjoyable read, at least for me… Now as far as Zach and Ashley are
concerned; I absolutely loved the funny banter, the easy friendship, the
undeniable sexual tension, and also the playfulness in so many different
scenarios between these two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Creating
characters that capture readers’ hearts is why I write. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Hope you’ll stop by the Fall Into These Great
Reads Bookathon today and read an excerpt from "My Rodeo Man." <a href="https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/single-post/2019/09/04/My-Rodeo-Man-The-Texas-Kincaids-1-by-bonniephelps15-is-a-Fall-Into-These-Great-Reads-Bookathon-Pick-romance-giveaway" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> </span></span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-67938802888281247602019-09-03T12:16:00.000-07:002019-09-03T12:16:06.722-07:005 Stars – Great story, fun characters<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5KDfWqRaQs/XW64XFoUAAI/AAAAAAAAE2I/J2HAqxKE-YAeyA7j707lAzm6-0PkoFz9wCLcBGAs/s1600/Welcome%2BHome_5x8_Cream_210%2Bpages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5KDfWqRaQs/XW64XFoUAAI/AAAAAAAAE2I/J2HAqxKE-YAeyA7j707lAzm6-0PkoFz9wCLcBGAs/s320/Welcome%2BHome_5x8_Cream_210%2Bpages.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Welcome Home was such a fun
book to read! I fell in love with Jess and her group of friends. It was so easy
to see similarity in personality with my own friends. This allowed the story to
seem more real to me. The plot was something that I could envision happening in
real life. I am sad the next book isn't released until early 2020 as I want to
see what happens to Jess' friends! ~ Liz Overby <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R160B8BV8VRTQJ/ref=cm_cr_othr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07T4K8ZF6" target="_blank">Amazon Review</a> </div>
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BUY LINKS</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4K8ZF6" target="_blank">Amazon ebook</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07T4K8ZF6" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a></div>
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<b>EXCERPT</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc11311912"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Chapter One</span></a></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jessica
Winters, Jess to everyone, cursed when a sharp pain shot up her leg. She’d
banged her shin as she stepped over one of the cross-piece boards tacked to the
framing of the new home under construction. What was wrong with her today? She
definitely needed more caffeine and to keep her mind on business. Stupid to let
her dad get under her skin… again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ever
since his construction business folded, life had taken a nose dive. Each year,
he’d withdrawn a little more, until now, seventeen years later, he was bitter
and indifferent. Every chance he got, he let her know she’d never make a go of
it in construction. It hadn’t been easy, and she learned the hard way to be
careful who she trusted, but so far she’d done a good job of proving him
wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Narrowing
her eyes against the throbbing in her shin, she wished she could bend down and
rub the sore spot. But as one of the few female general contractors in the Sacramento
California area, she had to appear tough. Any sign of weakness and Uniquely Yours,
Construction and Design—the all-female company she and four of her friends
owned and operated—and they could easily lose potential clients to their male
competitors. As a petite, blue-eyed blonde, Jess didn’t fit the hard-nosed
image in this male-dominated industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
partners weren’t about to let the success of their company hinge on the
vagaries of public perception so they’d saved every penny they could spare.
Using that seed money, they started buying homes in need of tender loving care,
fixing them up, and then reselling them. Flipping homes had become their
primary revenue stream, but they still took on remodeling or new construction
projects. Versatility was key. No matter what the job, their goal remained the
same—to create the perfect home so the people who lived there felt comfortable
laughing, loving, and dreaming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
wasn’t that hope for her clients exactly what she wanted for herself? To build
a place where she could thrive? Where she felt respected and loved? Her lips
softened. She also longed for a partner who would make her secret romantic
heart beat faster. A man who’d always have her back as they built a home and a
family together. Now in her early thirties, she wondered if that man would ever
appear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sighing,
she glanced down and kept moving, flicking between the pages on the clipboard
she carried. That was, until she came to an abrupt halt against a solid wall of
masculine chest. Cursing again and inhaling deeply, she got a lungful of pure
man. Jess glared at the immovable object blocking her path. An odd zing of
attraction bounced around her like an annoying fly. Mentally she swatted it
away and stood her ground under his assessing gaze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Ya
lost pal? This is private property.” Jess inched her hardhat higher on her
forehead and tapped her pen against her clipboard. Darkly handsome, broody
eyes, scruff on his jaw, dark hair that skimmed his collar—the kind of man who
wasn’t on her agenda today and maybe ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Nope.
Told to come here before seven and meet a guy named Jess.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His
low, husky voice wrapped around her like her favorite sweater. She frowned and
heard her friend Victoria’s voice in her head nagging her to lighten up. ‘<i>Laugh lines age much better than frown lines</i>.’
The thought almost made her smile. “We’ll you’ve found her.” Jess arched one
brow. “What can I do for you?” She hated having to act tough, but if she
didn’t, people tended to walk all over her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Understand
you’re hiring.” The stranger didn’t fidget or act nervous in any way. Simply
stood quietly and waited. He also hadn’t shown surprise that Jess was a she and
not a he.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Do
you have any experience in construction?” She gazed into blue eyes that
reminded her of rain clouds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“No
Ma’am, but I hear you hire unskilled labor…” He looked at the ground and then up,
refocusing his intense gaze on her. “I could use the work. I’m willing to do
whatever needs doing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
examined the stranger. Gave herself time to gauge his suitability. Reserved.
Self-contained. She wasn’t picking up any bad vibes, and she had a soft spot
for those down on their luck. He wasn’t a kid. She placed his age around
mid-thirty. Kind of late to get into construction. “Okay, I’ll give you a
chance. What you do with it is up to you. You’ll be rotated where we need you.
I assume you have reliable transportation?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
angled his head towards a beat-up Chevy truck at the curb. “It’s old, but it
gets me where I need to go.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
retrieved a business card from her pocket. “Go to this address and talk to
Kaitlin Connors, our business manager. She’ll have you fill out our paperwork,
give you a list of tools you’ll need, and assign you to a work site for
tomorrow.” She watched a shadow pass over his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Look,
if you’re short on cash, let Kaitlin know. We do have some loaner tool belts
and tools you can check out until you can purchase your own.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“That
would be much appreciated.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
stuck out her hand. “And you are?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Devin.
Devin Miller.” He accepted her hand and a tingle raced up her arm. That was
unexpected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
pulled her hand back as discreetly as possible. A truck door slammed, and she
turned toward the sound. The interruption provided an excuse to dismiss this
disquieting man and focus on the reason she was here. She smiled as she watched
her blue team foreman hurry toward her. Bill Harriman, built like a
refrigerator with a beer belly, smoothed down what was left of his ginger hair
before he plunked his hardhat on his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Sorry
I’m late. There was a wreck on the interstate.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“No
problem. Just got here myself.” Jess watched his gaze flick to the man at her
side. “Bill, meet Devin. He just hired on as a new floater and is leaving to
fill out the paperwork.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
two men exchanged a hand shake. With a nod to her, Devin strode toward his
truck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After
Devin had driven off, Bill asked, “Another stray?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
scowled at her foreman. “He needed a job, and in this tight labor market, I
take anyone who looks like they have potential.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bill
stepped back and held up his hands in surrender. “No judgement.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
willed herself to relax and then smiled at Bill. “I know. I’m a softie. He
seemed grateful for the chance.” She shrugged. “What can I say? I’ll assign him
to my crew for the first week to see how he does and then hand him over to you
to finish his training.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“If
he shows any promise, you can count on me to bring him along.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
didn’t miss the quick grin he tried to hide. “I know you will.” Returning his
grin, she added, “Most of my hunches have paid off, and by giving folks a
chance, they tend to be pretty loyal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Can’t
fault your instincts. You’ve put together a top notch crew.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
shrugged, secretly basking in Bill’s praise. “He seemed like a good risk.” She
clapped him on the back as they moved forward into the shell of the building.
“Where are we with this project?” Her head swiveled as she scrutinized the
work. Clear of debris. Everything looked solid. Permits clearly visible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You
got my text that the inspector signed off on the framing permit yesterday?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jess
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Kaitlin
said the sheathing and house wrap materials will be delivered…” he glanced at
his watch, “any time now. I’ve got my crew scheduled to arrive in about thirty
minutes. We’ll have this house buttoned up and ready for us to install the
windows and exterior doors in the next few days. Roofers are scheduled for next
week.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Any
issues I need to know about?” Jess finished making notes and closed the
clipboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“One
of the crew said he was approached by BL Construction to come work for them,
but he turned them down.” He glanced toward the beeping sound of a large truck
backing up to the site. “Here’s our supplies… Anyway I just thought you should
know.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Thanks
Bill. Poaching good employees is a fact of life in this business.” Her lips
thinned, and she adjusted her hardhat. Figured it was Brendon’s outfit trying
to poach. Sleazy bastard. “I’m off to touch base with Rollo and his crew, then
meet my crew to start demo on the new Jackson Street flip.” She wanted to pinch
herself. They had three projects running simultaneously and another property
closing in two weeks. A dream come true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Rollo
said you had to replace the heating and air system on his job. Slowed things up
a bit, plus an unexpected expense.” Bill tugged his jeans over his belly and
back up to his waist. “Tough break. Shame you couldn’t repair it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Yeah,
but I haven’t cut corners yet, and I’m not about to start now. Uniquely Yours
means quality. Our reputation is everything.” She tilted her head and glanced
at Bill. “I may pull a carpenter from here next week to keep Rollo’s project on
schedule. Got cabinets and trim work slated for then, and his crew needs to be
ready to start on the new flip in a month.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Whatever
you need.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You
want us to unload this in the garage?” The delivery man shouted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Be
right there,” Bill shouted back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Go
take care of business.” Jess set off toward her truck. “Holler if you need
anything,” she called over her shoulder. When she reached her truck, she paused
to admire the new logo emblazoned on the door of her new Ford F-350. They’d had
the vinyl wrap attached yesterday to all their vehicles. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
traced a finger over the lettering, relishing the thrill. Proof of their
progress. The five friends had come a long way since starting their business
fresh out of college six years ago. They hadn’t looked back since purchasing
their first house to flip three years ago. Once the current projects in the
pipeline closed escrow, they’d be in a position to purchase a piece of land and
build their dream offices—that is, once they found it. They’d been looking for
a while, but nothing suitable had turned up. Settling herself into the driver’s
seat, she set her hardhat on the seat beside her, and focused on the tasks
ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">****</span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-63272157486481120262019-09-01T16:18:00.003-07:002019-09-01T16:18:41.289-07:00Don't Miss the "Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon"<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzYrzeH0IcQ/XWxRTGDcBaI/AAAAAAAAE14/Xe1ZjAKfe10Mxf4cfr3G-nkY9f3_zHvGQCLcBGAs/s1600/2019%2BFall%2BInto%2BBookathon%2BHeader%2BGraphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzYrzeH0IcQ/XWxRTGDcBaI/AAAAAAAAE14/Xe1ZjAKfe10Mxf4cfr3G-nkY9f3_zHvGQCLcBGAs/s320/2019%2BFall%2BInto%2BBookathon%2BHeader%2BGraphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m thrilled to be a part of this
event. My book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Rodeo Man</i></b>,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>will be featured on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">September
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bookmark this event and tell your
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/fall-into-these-great-reads-bookath"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/fall-into-these-great-reads-bookath</span></a></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
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<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-83045982135502346522019-08-17T14:08:00.000-07:002019-08-17T14:08:48.433-07:00Coveted 5 Star Review from Readers' Favorite<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MY ARMY RANGER receives a coveted 5 Star review from
Readers' Favorite. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My Army Ranger is the fourth entry in The Texas Kincaids
series by Bonnie Phelps, a beautifully written and spellbinding contemporary
romance with gorgeous characters. When we meet Crystal Kincaid, she is
frightened, a woman who looks over her shoulder every time she walks down a
deserted street. It is because a man she dated briefly has become obsessed with
her and this makes her live in fear. Ex-Army Ranger Cam Rodriguez has been to
Afghanistan where he lost a leg. Now he returns home, broken. In Texas, he
wants to rebuild his life, but what he did not realize was the new war that
awaited him. The woman he’s adored from childhood is in danger, and while he
can’t fight the way he used to, he is ready to do anything to protect her. But
just how much is Cam ready to sacrifice to protect Crystal? <o:p></o:p></div>
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My Army Ranger is a wonderful story and I loved how the
author begins. The premise comes out neatly as readers encounter Crystal with
her friends: she is scared and on the edge of her nerves. The connection
between Crystal and Cam is also introduced right off the bat. The romance is
developed between two characters that have known each other as childhood
friends and the transition to lovers is impeccably done. Bonnie Phelps has a
unique gift for getting readers to connect with the emotions of the characters.
They are rich and elaborately developed. The prose is beautiful, fluid, and
enticing. This is a riveting novel, one that should sit on the shelf alongside
works of Nicholas Sparks. It is deft, balanced, and hugely entertaining. ~
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KWHWLRM" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KWHWLRM" target="_blank">AMAZON UK</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07KWHWLRM" target="_blank">AMAZON AU</a> </div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-army-ranger/id1445235806" target="_blank">APPLE</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-army-ranger-bonnie-phelps/1129961051" target="_blank">NOOK</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-army-ranger" target="_blank">KOBO</a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnyeQDxkRZk/XVhrFgwYJhI/AAAAAAAAE1g/WeVAsogMZSUPwGNK6bDFjfHQBpwR6dr1ACLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnyeQDxkRZk/XVhrFgwYJhI/AAAAAAAAE1g/WeVAsogMZSUPwGNK6bDFjfHQBpwR6dr1ACLcBGAs/s320/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
is he willing to sacrifice to protect the woman he loves? Everything. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ex-Army
Ranger, Cam Rodriguez, lost a leg in Afghanistan. Broken, he returns home to
his small Texas town to figure out what to do with his life. What he finds is
more frightening than the battlefield he left behind. The life of his childhood
friend – and secret childhood crush – is threatened. He’s not the warrior he
once was but is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if that’s what it takes
to save Crystal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Crystal
Kincaid likes her quiet life and wishes, more than anything, it could stay that
way. But life has other ideas. A man she dated a few times has become obsessed
with her and she now lives in fear. Her natural instinct has been to avoid
danger at all costs. She turns to Cam to keep her safe. Lured to a remote
location by her stalker, she has to fight for her life and test the new-found
confidence Cam gave her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This powerful and emotional FRIENDS to LOVERS
contemporary romance will keep you turning the pages and breathe a happy sigh
at the end.</span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-84118716606221528802019-06-29T09:00:00.001-07:002020-12-01T14:07:06.328-08:00Welcome Home - A Promising Start to a New Series<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wey58MluwrI/XReKmZx-9NI/AAAAAAAAEz8/39Bpyzt9qksxRCfi-Zen-XHEDYEVwGiRgCLcBGAs/s1600/Welcome%2BHome%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Welcome Home Book Cover" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wey58MluwrI/XReKmZx-9NI/AAAAAAAAEz8/39Bpyzt9qksxRCfi-Zen-XHEDYEVwGiRgCLcBGAs/s320/Welcome%2BHome%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" title="Welcome Home Book Cover" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Terrific start
to a promising new series. This author is one of the best kept secrets in
romance writing today with her compelling stories that always deliver a shot
straight to the heart. In this new series, five female friends own a
construction and home restoration company, and this first book in the series
gives us the story of Jess, the general contractor in charge of all the demolition
and remodeling… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">If you're like
me and enjoy finding new authors to read, take a chance on this one. The
characters are well developed and endearing, the storyline is engaging, and
there is plenty of romance and chemistry. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m
looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series as they’re
released. ~ BookAddict<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">FREE on Kindle
Unlimited <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4K8ZF6">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4K8ZF6</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: blue;">Back Cover Copy</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>She’s building a future. He’s chasing
the truth. Can two wounded hearts open a window to trust?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">General contractor Jess Winters had to
work twice as hard to make it to the top of her male-dominated field. So her
sterling reputation can’t handle any mistakes in front of the guys—which means
absolutely no dating co-workers. But the strong, silent type she’s just hired
makes her want to break her own rules.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Devin Miller isn’t proud of where he
came from. As a recovering addict and the son of a swindler, he’s out to right
the wrongs and redeem his family name. But it pains him to keep his identity a
secret from his sexy new boss.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As their red-hot attraction builds, his
dark secrets and her self-doubt threaten to reduce their budding passion to
rubble. And a shocking discovery connecting their pasts could demolish it
beyond repair…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can Jess and Devin renovate their
relationship for a chance at happily ever after?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Welcome Home</i> is the first book in the enchanting Hearts & Home
contemporary romance series. If you like smart women, sizzling chemistry, and
journeys of redemption, then you’ll adore Bonnie Phelps’ heartwarming novel.</p>
<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Buy <i>Welcome Home</i> to
lay the foundation for love today!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">FREE on
KindleUnlimited<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">AMAZON <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4K8ZF6">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T4K8ZF6</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T4K8ZF6">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T4K8ZF6</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07T4K8ZF6">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07T4K8ZF6</a>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07T4K8ZF6">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07T4K8ZF6</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-84709357731048720902019-02-01T11:20:00.002-08:002019-02-01T11:20:15.621-08:00The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1050" height="243" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8GkFVz6bowY/XFSZiG-LebI/AAAAAAAAEr0/zr2eTx5M4acbD3eIT0Wc4zzo1pGu3maVACLcBGAs/s400/Mae-West-Men-are-like-linoleum-floors-Lay-em-right-and-you-51-45-73.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922213?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Mae West</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> was born in Queens, New York, to "Battling Jack" West and Matilda Doelger. She began her career as a child star in vaudeville, and later went on to write her own plays, including "SEX", for which she was arrested. Though her first movie role was a small part in </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023266?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Night After Night</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (1932), her scene has become famous. A coat check girl exclaims, "Goodness! What lovely diamonds!", after seeing Mae's jewelry. Mae replies, "Goodness had nothing to do with it". Her next film, in which she starred, came the following year. </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024548?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">She Done Him Wrong</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (1933) was based on her earlier and very popular play, "Diamond Lil". She went on to write and star in seven more films, including </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032828?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">My Little Chickadee</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (1940) with </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001211?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">W.C. Fields</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. Her last movie was </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078238?ref_=nmbio_mbio" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #136cb2; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Sextette</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (1977), which also came from a play. She died two years later.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="soda odd" style="background-color: #f6f6f5; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; padding: 8px 12px;">
<div style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 9.75px; margin-top: 6.5px; padding: 0px;">
<em style="line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">- IMDb Mini Biography By:
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/search/name?bio_author=Carla%20Donnell&view=simple&sort=alpha" name="ba" style="color: #136cb2; text-decoration-line: none;">
Carla Donnell </a></em></div>
</div>
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<h3>
During her long life she had much to say and shared it with her usual panache.</h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Sex is emotion in motion.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“It isn't what I do, but how I do it. It isn't what I
say, but how I say it, and how I look when I do it and say it.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried
before.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<i>“All discarded lovers should be
given a second chance, but with somebody else.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<i>“Personality is the glitter
that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into
that big black space where the audience is.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<b>And probably the most famous
quote of all:</b></h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
“When I'm good I'm very, very
good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: 376.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DQWQlioaFw/XFSbaJFlbXI/AAAAAAAAEsA/QMM8iSKMFhgvymeNVA24GHaZD1JI5CsKQCLcBGAs/s1600/Mae%2BWest%2BQuote%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="940" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DQWQlioaFw/XFSbaJFlbXI/AAAAAAAAEsA/QMM8iSKMFhgvymeNVA24GHaZD1JI5CsKQCLcBGAs/s320/Mae%2BWest%2BQuote%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-89645302708897623552018-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:002018-12-30T06:00:00.831-08:00First Kiss Scene - An Excerpt From "My Army Ranger" by Bonnie Phelps<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwXWix8SoI/XCUdxLzpdpI/AAAAAAAAErY/YyzgpV6AbtMLVusi_92PMLAo7J4z9wwnQCLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwXWix8SoI/XCUdxLzpdpI/AAAAAAAAErY/YyzgpV6AbtMLVusi_92PMLAo7J4z9wwnQCLcBGAs/s320/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
is he willing to sacrifice to protect the woman he loves? Everything. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ex-Army
Ranger, Cam Rodriguez, lost a leg in Afghanistan. Broken, he returns home to
his small Texas town to figure out what to do with his life. What he finds is
more frightening than the battlefield he left behind. The life of his childhood
friend – and secret childhood crush – is threatened. He’s not the warrior he
once was but is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if that’s what it takes
to save Crystal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Crystal
Kincaid likes her quiet life and wishes, more than anything, it could stay that
way. But life has other ideas. A man she dated a few times has become obsessed
with her and she now lives in fear. Her natural instinct has been to avoid
danger at all costs. She turns to Cam to keep her safe. Lured to a remote
location by her stalker, she has to fight for her life and test the new-found
confidence Cam gave her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
powerful and emotional FRIENDS to LOVERS contemporary romance will keep you
turning the pages and breathe a happy sigh at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>First Kiss Excerpt </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I’m
glad to see you’ve got a garage and park your car in it. Do you keep the door
into the house locked?” he asked. He must have seen her scowl because he added,
“People with garage door openers often figure that’s enough protection.” Arms
crossed and stance wide, he surveyed the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Yes, I
keep the inner door locked. Josh insisted. He also added a deadbolt, as well as
the regular lock.” She captured her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you want
to come in and look around?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His face
softened, and he smiled. “Still worried about little green monsters under your
bed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“No.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
raised one brow and she sighed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Okay.
Maybe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I don’t
see any exterior security cameras or lights. Do you plan to get some?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I’ve
been meaning too. The landlord said I could, as long as I don’t make any
structural or wiring changes.” Cam must think she was a complete incompetent
and maybe he was right. “Josh said he’d help me figure out what I need.” She
shrugged. “It’s been over three weeks since I moved and last heard from
Jonathan. I guess I hoped this would all go away.” She pushed the button to
lower the garage door—with it open, she felt too exposed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You’re
in luck. Security systems are my specialty.” He paused, and she didn’t like the
set of his mouth. “You had to know he would find you. It’s not like you moved
three thousand miles away and cut off all ties to your family and friends.” He
reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You can’t ignore this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I know.”
With her hand in his, she let his warmth and strength seep into her. “It’s all
so overwhelming.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">His big
hands framed her face, his fingers tangled in her hair, and his lips meeting
hers promised tenderness and safety. Everything tingled where he touched—the
most delightful, arousing sensation she’d ever felt, and his taste…
intoxicating. His fingers worked magic on her scalp and a blinding light filled
her vision. Even after her eyelids fluttered shut, it was there. She was drifting
out to sea on a riptide, lost, yet buoyed by a life jacket that let her know
she was secure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This was
exactly where she was meant to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Slipping
her arms around him, her fingers ranged over his back, testing the contours and
ridges of his corded muscles. Power and restraint greeted her touch. She was
tired of him holding back. She wanted to be the kind of woman who inspired his
wildness. By the time the tip of his tongue traced her lips, her knees had
grown weak, and her heart beat to a hypnotic, sensuous rhythm. She’d waited so
long for him to respond to her as a woman—not Josh’s younger cousin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When he
raised his head, he stepped back, all business, but the color in his cheeks
indicated he wasn’t unaffected. “Let’s go inside so I can get a count of
windows and doors. Then I’ll walk your perimeter to identify any bushes we
might want to trim and how many cameras and motion-sensor lights you should
have.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"My Army Ranger" is available through</span></b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KWHWLRM" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-army-ranger-bonnie-phelps/1129961051" target="_blank">BARNES & NOBLE</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-army-ranger/id1445235806" target="_blank">ITUNES</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-army-ranger" target="_blank">KOBO</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/909765" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732961301" target="_blank">PAPERBACK</a></span></div>
<b></b>Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-36442658002700748562018-12-26T12:22:00.000-08:002018-12-26T12:22:10.711-08:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Cam Rodriquez from “My Army Ranger” by Bonnie Phelps<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JC3xED3wl1s/XCPh6fBbC2I/AAAAAAAAErI/eCIN39I8XG8aD5EefsaS3XoabJjC8jCTACLcBGAs/s1600/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JC3xED3wl1s/XCPh6fBbC2I/AAAAAAAAErI/eCIN39I8XG8aD5EefsaS3XoabJjC8jCTACLcBGAs/s320/My%2BArmy%2BRanger%2BKindle%2BCover%2BFinal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ex-Army Ranger,
Cam Rodriguez, lost a leg in Afghanistan. Broken, he returns home to his small
Texas town to figure out what to do with his life. What he finds is more
frightening than the battlefield he left behind. The life of his childhood
friend – and secret childhood crush – is threatened. He’s not the warrior he
once was but is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if that’s what it takes
to save Crystal.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Crystal Kincaid
likes her quiet life and wishes, more than anything, it could stay that way.
But life has other ideas. A man she dated a few times has become obsessed with
her and she now lives in fear. Her natural instinct has been to avoid danger at
all costs. She turns to Cam to keep her safe. Lured to a remote location by her
stalker, she has to fight for her life and test the new-found confidence Cam
gave her. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This powerful
and emotional FRIENDS to LOVERS contemporary romance novella will keep you turning the
pages and breathe a happy sigh at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
I’m talking to Cam Rodriquez from “My Army Ranger: The Texas Kincaids Book 4,”
my just released Contemporary Romance. Let’s get started. I’m sure our readers
are eager to learn more about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How old are you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">28
in years. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He ran a hand over his
short-cropped hair</i>. Life experience puts me in the senior citizen range.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When you look in
the mirror, what do you see?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
the cut of my hair to the way I stand – I’m military all the way. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pausing, a hint of sadness tinged with
resignation stole over his face</i>. Scars. An uncertain future. A guy who
wonders what his place in the world is. A man who wants more and is willing to
work hard to get it – once I figure out what that is. I see a small-town Texas
boy who grew up scrabbling for everything he has. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Did you have a
happy childhood?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does
any kid ever have a totally happy childhood? Kids are supposed to push the
boundaries – and I definitely did that – and be told no. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He chuckled</i>. I definitely heard a lot of that too. I’m sure I’m the
reason my mom has to dye her hair. Blowing out a breath, he continued. It
started out rough – my mom had to be both parents and sole breadwinner. Times
were tough. Kids made fun of me because I was poor. I fought back and carried
around a lot of anger. Luckily I fell in with Josh and Dave. Not only were we
all nerds and loved anything computer but their families, especially Josh’s,
took me in and never let me feel like I wasn’t as good as everyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What are you
most afraid of?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
not being enough. My dad left just after I was born. Did I disappoint him in
some way? I lost a leg in Afghanistan. Could I ever go back to combat or am I doomed
to be a desk jockey? I’m good with computers, but without a college degree,
will an employer take a chance on me? Lots of unanswered questions. And then
there’s this guy stalking Crystal. Am I capable of protecting her? I don’t know
if I could live with myself if something happened to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What would you
like it to say on your tombstone?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No
matter the sacrifice, he did what was right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If we could only
hear your voice (but not see you) what characteristic would identify you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
low growl that makes people think of dark and dangerous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you close to
family?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes,
to my mom. She sacrificed so much to make sure I had what I needed – not everything
I wanted but at least a roof over our heads, food on the table, and clothes on
my back. Even though we didn’t have much, she always made sure I knew she loved
my completely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What would you
most like to forget?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting
wounded. The pain, the knowledge I was letting down the other guys in my unit because
I couldn’t help. The months in Walter Reed recuperating from surgery and then
the endless physical therapy. Relearning to walk and do everyday things – like drive
a car, climb stair. Things I’d taken for granted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you see
morality as black & white or shades of gray?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People
tend to think that soldiers see things as black and white… and I suppose there
are some things we see that way out of necessity – kill or be killed, love of
what our country stands for. Honestly though, there’s a lot of gray in the
world. Your enemy has a family and people who love them. They fight for a lot
of the same reasons we do. Most of us just want to be left to live our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If someone showed
up from your past, who would you most want it to be and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
dad. I want to know why he left. Why couldn’t he love us? Stay with us? Support
us? Why did he never try and contact us after he left? I have no idea if he is
dead or alive. I guess that’s on me – never trying to find out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If there is one
place in the world you could go, where would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m
already there. The Texas Hill Country is where my heart is. When we got leave,
after we’d seen our families, some of us would meet up in different spots in
the world and play tourist. While there are places I enjoyed visiting, nothing
beats home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you a
morning person or a night owl? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m
a soldier, so I’m whatever is needed. I’ve learned to get by on little sleep
and can fall asleep wherever I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What would make
you completely happy?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting
rid of Crystal’s stalker. I want her to be safe. After that, if she’ll have me,
marrying her and raising a family. I figure the rest of life’s choices will work
themselves out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My Army Ranger”
is available through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2UkHjIB" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-army-ranger-bonnie-phelps/1129961051" target="_blank">BARNES& NOBLE</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-army-ranger/id1445235806" target="_blank">ITUNES</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/my-army-ranger" target="_blank">KOBO</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/909765" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2Ur93vb" target="_blank">PAPERBACK</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Connect with
Bonnie Phelps</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.bonniephelpsauthor.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bonniephelpsauthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bonniephelps15" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://eepurl.com/cEOKgz" target="_blank">Newsletter</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bonnie-phelps-a106047e-e723-4fa4-a7e3-9a5e3b230bed" target="_blank">BookBub</a></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-78058577592497584872018-12-14T15:57:00.000-08:002018-12-14T15:57:22.473-08:00Bargain Books In case you're looking for something new to add to you eReader for the holidays, here are some options. A few times a year in my newsletter I promote bargain books ($.99 or FREE) to my newsletter subscribers. I'll be adding several of these to my 'To Be Read' pile as well. ENJOY!<br />
<br />
99 CENTS (expect where listed as FREE) Scroll past the covers to find the buy links.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5pd6DoBpIY/XBRCQOIoy9I/AAAAAAAAEqo/zpYlB90J60oNjIgE6RTTGLoCwXvHXFtFACLcBGAs/s1600/December%2B2018%2B99%2BCent%2BBlog%2BCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="329" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m5pd6DoBpIY/XBRCQOIoy9I/AAAAAAAAEqo/zpYlB90J60oNjIgE6RTTGLoCwXvHXFtFACLcBGAs/s1600/December%2B2018%2B99%2BCent%2BBlog%2BCollage.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY RODEO MAN </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Contemporary Romance - <a href="https://www.bonniephelpsauthor.com/landing-page.html" target="_blank">ALL RETAILERS</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY SEXY VETERINARIAN </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Contemporary Romance - <a href="https://www.bonniephelpsauthor.com/landing-page.html" target="_blank">ALL RETAILERS</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MY TEXAS HEART </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Contemporary Romance - <a href="https://www.bonniephelpsauthor.com/landing-page.html" target="_blank">ALL RETAILERS</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PENNY'S ANTIQUE SHOP OF MEMORIES & TREASURES -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Contemporary Romance - <a href="http://mybook.to/pennysantiques" target="_blank">ALL RETAILERS</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">BUILDING
CELEBRATION HOUSE </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Paranormal Romance - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Building-Celebration-House-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01NBIK7KJ" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
SANTA TO THE RESCUE</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sweet Contemporary Romance - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Santa-Rescue-Entangled-Flirts-ebook/dp/B00G1IM260/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
WOLVES' KNIGHT</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Urban fantasy/paranormal romance - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Knight-Free-Book-ebook/dp/B0199BC6YI/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
THE MARQUESA'S NECKLACE</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mystery/female sleuth - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LF11HB4" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
GHOST OF A CHANCE<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Paranormal Romance - <a href="http://a.co/iWGkWnb" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> / <a href="https://www.books2read.com/u/meAKJz" target="_blank">ALL OTHER RETAILERS</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
THE MAD MONK’S TREASURE<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Romantic adventure - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dp/B00SKJU7BA/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BETWEEN THE PIPES <o:p></o:p></div>
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Contemporary medical romantic comedy - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078SHLX8T" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BEHIND THE BENCH<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-70657394150702298522018-09-26T06:00:00.000-07:002018-09-26T06:00:06.770-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Logan Bodine from “Claree’s Plan” by Sunny Marie Baker<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvG3Dc6SWf0/W6ffcLobjoI/AAAAAAAAEn8/RSZKlNvFptEZjsyvueoA4L658sFd4zW9gCLcBGAs/s1600/Baker_Clarees%2BPlan_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="281" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvG3Dc6SWf0/W6ffcLobjoI/AAAAAAAAEn8/RSZKlNvFptEZjsyvueoA4L658sFd4zW9gCLcBGAs/s320/Baker_Clarees%2BPlan_Cover.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hello
blog-readers. I’m thrilled to be a guest blogger today on Bonnie Phelps Blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’m
author, Sunny Marie Baker and I’ve just released <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book Two in the</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Texas Strong
Series, Claree’s Plan. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Claree May Whitney needs a
husband and she needs one right now!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">My
interviewer thought maybe you’d like to get to know a little more about the
hero in this book, Logan Bodine. So, she’s put a few questions to Logan and
here’s how he answered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Logan, you’re one of the main
characters in Claree’s Plan, Book Two in the Texas Strong Series. How do you
feel about that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Well,
ma’am, I was a bit surprised the author would choose me for that role. I’m not
a rough and tough old west cowboy, just a simple farmer trying to make enough
to keep going from year to year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What type of farming do you do,
Logan?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Corn. I
got a sweet deal workin’ with a man out of Houston. He makes a fine corn mash
whiskey and sells it to all the fancy hotels around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What kind of deal are you talking
about?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Well,
see I don’t have the wagons to tote the harvested corn to Houston, so Luther he
brings his teams to me. When the harvest is ready he shows up and we load the
corn on his wagons and he transports it back to Houston. I take a bit less
money this way, but it works out better for me in the long run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sounds like you have everything
to your advantage?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s
best for me and I don’t have to leave Lottie home alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lottie?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">That’s
my ten year old daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So you’re married?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">No,
ma’am, well, I mean I wasn’t until Claree showed up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">All right, Logan you’re going to
have to explain that comment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Reckon
so. It was a day people write about in them dime novels, ma’am. But it wasn’t
only a damsel in distress, which she was for sure, but I was in a bit of
distress myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Care to elaborate?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Logan
laughs). I’d got into a ruckus over at the Blue Boot Saloon. Me and one of the
boys trashed the place pretty good. Malcolm, he’s the sheriff, arrested me on
account I’d started the whole thing. And damn, told me if I couldn’t pay for
the damage, then I’d be his guest for the next two weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What does this have to do with
Claree? I’m not following you.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Well,
ma’am, my fine was seven dollars. That was a big chunk of coin, and I didn’t
have one penny of it. And I damn-well couldn’t be away from my farm for two
weeks. And all the time the charges, over at the Sweet Dreams boarding house,
was mounting up for the Montgomery sisters lookin’ after my girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Go on, Logan.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’d been
behind bars for two days already and frettin’ ever’ minute about the corn in my
fields gettin’ eat up by bugs. Then out of the blue, in walks this lady,
covered in dust and lookin’ a bit worn. She’d come in on the stage, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Claree?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yes,
ma’am. She was askin’ the sheriff if there was any eligible men in town, she
was needed a husband real quick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She wanted to marry just any man?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Seems
she’d been bartered by her father to marry up with a man Claree deemed
completely unsuitable for marriage. She figured if she wed someone else,
someone of her own choosing it would make null and void the marriage contract
her father signed on her behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">That sounds crazy, Logan. Don’t
you agree?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It was
crazy, all right, but she was wanted a husband and I was spittin’ to get out of
jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Don’t tell me, you married Claree
right then and there?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We agreed
she’d pay my fine to the sheriff and the boarding fee for Lottie, and I’d
become the husband she was seeking. There was a catch though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A catch?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It was
to be a marriage in name only. An exchange of service in reality. She’d tend to
the house chores and give Lottie the woman’s influence she was in desperate
need of, and I’d provide her a place to live and the husband to debunk her
daddy’s poker deal with this feller, Angus MacGregor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A marriage in name only? How’d
that work out, Logan?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Well,
ma’am, at first it worked out fine. We each found our niche with each other and
everything ran pretty smooth, except for Lottie’s tricks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lottie’s tricks?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Lottie
weren’t none too pleased about a new woman in the house. See, she’d been in
charge of that since she was five years old . . . when she was left with no
mother. Lottie didn’t cotton to some other female comin’ in and takin’ over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Is that what Claree did?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Oh, not
even close. She did her best to make Lottie feel needed and important. In truth
Claree depended on Lottie to teach her all there was about livin’ and workin’
on a farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Did she win Lottie over?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Not by a
long short. Lottie played the worst trick ever on a day Claree when down to the
falls to bathe. That was when things began to change for all of us. Yep, that
was a monumental day. That one and the day Angus MacGregor showed up mad as a
hornet and out for revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Login, please tell us what
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nope,
don’t reckon I can share that part of the story with you, ma’am. That’s gotta
be left for your readers to find out for themselves when they turn the pages of
Claree’s Plan. (Logan grins and winks.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Well,
there you have it, blog-readers; Logan has given us some insights to his and
Claree’s story, but left a lot to the imagination. The only way to find out all
the twist and turns is to read <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book Two
in the Texas Strong Series,</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Claree’s
Plan</b>. Oh, and one footnote. Logan has a secret. A secret he must share with
Claree knowing it could forever destroy any bond between them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Claree’s Plan” is available
through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GTGTPDS" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">**<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book One in the Texas Strong Series, Cora’s
Promise.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cora
keeps her promise to a dying friend and delivers Berta’s most cherish
possession to a man she’s never met in Rabbit Glen, Texas. Now what? Cora has
no thought. She has no plan. She has nowhere to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-59697789331508377422018-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:002018-09-19T06:00:00.336-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Opal, a misunderstood fairy, from “The Badass Fairies of the Wabash” by Molly Daniels<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a0exNv5cfc/W5_1tyDnK7I/AAAAAAAAEm8/jsrPD2WrlCcGMknyPKeV4WfHUW6Mw-kcQCLcBGAs/s1600/Daniels_Whispers%2BCove_Cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="972" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3a0exNv5cfc/W5_1tyDnK7I/AAAAAAAAEm8/jsrPD2WrlCcGMknyPKeV4WfHUW6Mw-kcQCLcBGAs/s320/Daniels_Whispers%2BCove_Cover.png" width="194" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Whispers
Anthology, Coming October 2018:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>There’s a whisper in the wind. The whisper of
adventure, a whispered secret, the whisper of a tortured soul. What will
it be saying to you? </i><o:p></o:p><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Visit Molly Daniels’s <a href="https://mollydaniels.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> for publication
details.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Badass
Fairies of the Wabash by Molly Daniels (short story)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Trouble is brewing along the Wabash River. A
young fairy who’s recently released from Solitude, is rebelling against her new
duties in the Three Bridges area. When the High Council intervenes, will
things improve?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>I’d like to introduce Opal, the misunderstood
fairy. Since she doesn’t get to defend herself in the story, I thought
I’d give her the chance to explain her side of the story. Ready, Opal?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I guess so. How did you get holier-than-thou
Diamond to release me from Stonehenge?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>I reminded him you’d been locked inside for nearly two
years. Your punishment was supposed to only be a month. Were the Druids
kind to you?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No; they were horrible. Being locked in the ground
and trapped in stone was awful. Why couldn’t he have sent me back to
L’Arche, where I spent my Solitude? At least there I had access to the
water, and be above ground. My wings are so <i>dusty.</i> I don’t know
how long it will take to get the dirt from behind my ears. Have you ever
taken a dust bath? *shivers*<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Let’s back up and bring the readers up to speed.
You saved a human’s life and were granted your own territory to patrol.
What went wrong?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For one thing, Turquoise (Opal’s supervisor) refused to
grant my request to be near the water. He sent me to patrol this boring
strip of highway with a lot of twists and turns, lined with cornfields,
soybeans, and trees. After three days of seeing nothing but four cars, a
herd of deer, various rodents, and uppity tree nymphs, I went off in search of
more action. How was I supposed to know some stupid human would try to
take a turn too fast and play chicken with an oak tree?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>What is your connection to Chel?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That phony? He doesn’t even have the right to call
himself a fairy! He’s a Faxie, since his grandmother was a Pixie. I
discovered him mixing potions to hide the fact his powers are nearly useless.
At first, I simply helped test his concoctions, and discovered one of them
caused me to not care about anything. When he refused to give me more, I
blackmailed him Threatened to expose him to the High Council. But Tanza and
Tsavorite caught on….and Dominic blabbed when I interfered with his scheme to
get two humans to fall in love. Since when is that a fairy’s job? I
thought the Cupids were in charge of that department.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>It was my understanding it was part of Torque’s ruse
to catch you.</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Sigh) It worked. Now my pretty pink wings
are more of a dusty rose; I’ve developed allergies and the skin between my
fingers itch; my glossy hair is limp. I want to return to L’Arche and
have the island gnomes pamper me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Since you brought it up…..what is your disdain for
humans?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of my first assignments was to protect a young
college boy. He was so earnest about his education, so dedicated to his
ambition….all I wanted to do was to be able to help him. This is stupid.
Quit using your psycho-babble on me.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Just because you made a mistake….Opal, everyone makes
mistakes at one point or another.</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Scoffs) Not the high-and-mighty High
Council. You saw what they did to me. I’m tired of everything going ‘just
right’. Why not liven up the action? I’ve found it’s more fun to create
chaos in the world, instead of peace. Peace is boooorrrring.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Opal….you’re seriously telling me you’d rather be bad
than good? </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve watched enough human TV to know the villians have
all the fun. Sometimes they even have the best wardrobes.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>You don’t look very well-dressed-</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s because Steven Spielburg hasn’t read this story
yet. You wait and see...he’ll cast Lana Parillo (Wicked Queen in Once Upon
A Time) or Angelina Joli to play me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I sincerely doubt
that’s ever gonna happen. We’re a small independent press; I don’t see any
Hollywood producers ever taking notice of this tiny book of stories.</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Maybe I’m in the wrong business….let me talk to Diamond,
and I’ll be your agent! <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>What about the fact you’re a fairy and only two inches
tall?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So I’ll have to have help….I’m sure Chel and I can figure
out a way to get a producer’s attention. Maybe hypnotize a human agent
for a few hours. Or go to Disney and pitch the idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>I think this interview’s gotten out of hand. In the
meantime, <i>Whispers</i> is set to release sometime in the next month through
First City Books. Did you read the other stories in the book?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think your other story, Spirit Pottery, is a little
hokey. Why couldn’t Zach (the ghost) have tossed Trevor down the stairs?
Or Caleb (the old soldier ghost) scared him out of the studio? But nooooo….it’s
all about loooove. (makes gagging noises). At least Brooke’s story is on
the right track.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>You’re hopeless, Opal. Emerald? She’s ready to
return to her post. I’m finished with her for the moment.</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Emerald? </i>Why am I being released to
Emerald? He’s a hard-nosed, stick-up-his-butt, no nonsense <i>jerk</i>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>That was a condition for your release. You’re
under </i>my<i> supervision now. One misstep and it’s back to the druids
for you.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(sulks) It’s not fair. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Just goes to show, crime doesn’t pay.</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Whispers” is available through:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
AMAZON<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Connect with Molly
Daniels<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://mollydaniels.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://mjdaniels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mollyjdaniels" target="_blank">Facebook</a></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-4088631686673147712018-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:002018-09-18T03:00:03.192-07:00Read Lights Out in the Expanding Uiverse #SpaceOpera #NewRelease by @KayelleAllen<h2>
What if today was "lights out?"</h2>
<a href="https://kayelleallen.com/wp-content/uploads/kallen-teu4-3d200.png"><img alt="Read Lights Out in The Expanding Universe #SpaceOpera #NewRelease by @KayelleAllen" class="alignleft wp-image-37216 size-full" height="324" src="https://kayelleallen.com/wp-content/uploads/kallen-teu4-3d200.png" width="200" /></a><br />
If you knew this was your last day to live, what would you do? Would you face the end with a clear conscience? Would you fight for one more day?
Look for that person you wronged and make it right? Run away? Turn and fight? What would you do?
In Lights Out by Kayelle Allen, the hero knows his end is near. Instead of running, Tornahdo makes a choice. He will face death with a clear conscience and the knowledge that his death will serve mankind. He will join...
<strong>GHOST CORPS</strong>
<br />
<hr />
He can save mankind. <em>After</em> he does one important thing. Die.
Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die.
When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on Enderium Six.
He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, the very reason the corps exists.
Do they expect him to win? Fat chance. Tornahdo and his team are already dead and this mission is codenamed "Lights Out." No, there's more to this than he can see.
To discover the truth, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time--somehow--find a way to keep himself alive...
<br />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
Excerpt, Lights Out by Kayelle Allen</h1>
The air reeked of antiseptic and starch stiffened the pillowcase. If only the mind-numbing jabbering would stop.
Tornahdo pried open his eyes. The flattened blood bag above him, stenciled equipment and gray walls screamed military hospital.
He'd died. Again.
Spanish curses slipped out. His <em>abuela</em> would've taken a switch to him. He made the sign of the cross and kissed his fingertips.
After yanking the tube out of his arm, he pressed a thumb over the entry point. Thankfully, this time, he wasn't writhing on the floor in agony. Well, not yet.
A faceless android in a Ghost Corps uniform loomed over a bank of equipment displaying Tornahdo's name and vitals. First impression was right. Military hospital.
The weapons-grade yapping continued.
"Did you hear?" a youthful voice bragged. "He killed six of 'em last night."
"Yeah, but they don't stay dead. They never do."
"If Ultras didn't come back to life, their plasma wouldn't bring our own people back."
The transfusion of enemy blood healed the hole in Tornahdo's arm in seconds. He thumbed off the red smear and rolled over on the gurney.
An open door led to a sink and toilet built to let gravity do its work. Which meant this was a planet. You hadn't lived until you were in space, floating in zero gravity while your body's final twitches sent your corpse spinning.
Notices on the wall confirmed this was San Xavier in the Colonies of Man. Same place he'd bought it the first time.
This was getting old.
<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Lights Out</span></strong>
part of the Science Fiction/Space Opera anthology
The Expanding Universe Vol 4</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
edited by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Craig-Martelle/e/B01AQVF3ZY" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Craig Martelle</a>
Available Sept 17, 2018
<em>Exclusively on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited</em>
<a href="https://kayelleallen.com/lights-out-save-mankind/">https://kayelleallen.com/lights-out-save-mankind/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>BUY LINK: <a href="https://amzn.to/2QxKBGB" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Peek Inside Lights Out</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Go behind the scenes with the world and characters of Lights Out with an exclusive illustrated PDF book. Nothing to sign for or opt in to get. Just click and read:
<a href="http://bit.ly/peek-lights-out" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/peek-lights-out</a></div>
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<a href="https://kayelleallen.com/wp-content/uploads/teu4-bnr-lo450.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Read Lights Out in The Expanding Universe #SpaceOpera #NewRelease by @KayelleAllen" class="aligncenter wp-image-37333 size-full" height="113" src="https://kayelleallen.com/wp-content/uploads/teu4-bnr-lo450.png" width="450" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
About Kayelle Allen</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi and Space Opera with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy veteran who's been married so long she's tenured. She is the author of seven books, three novellas, and multiple short stories.</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Kayelle's Contact Information</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Website <a href="http://kayelleallen.com/">https://kayelleallen.com</a>
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Amazon Author page <a href="http://amazon.com/author/kayelleallen">http://amazon.com/author/kayelleallen</a>
Join one of Kayelle's reader groups and get four free books right away <a href="https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups</a></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-24726531623235019542018-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:002018-09-14T06:00:02.833-07:00First Kiss Friday – An Excerpt from “His Midnight Sun” by Viviana MacKade<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlUI2aENyNs/W5QokceX-mI/AAAAAAAAEmg/y28B9nFeNX4JOOT30_wiVWonPTbwnSvmQCLcBGAs/s1600/MacKade_His%2BNidnight%2BSun_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlUI2aENyNs/W5QokceX-mI/AAAAAAAAEmg/y28B9nFeNX4JOOT30_wiVWonPTbwnSvmQCLcBGAs/s320/MacKade_His%2BNidnight%2BSun_Cover.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today
on First Kiss Friday we welcome author, Viviana MacKade, and an excerpt from her
Romantic Suspense, “His Midnight Sun (Crescent Creek Book 3).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tormented, fierce,
and broken, sculptor Aidan Murphy has judged himself guilty. He yearns for love
but pushes everyone away. He longs for acceptance but has lost the key to open
his heart. Until he meets Summer Williams. Beautiful and smart, Dr. Williams
promises haven for a man who believes he deserves none. All he has to do is let
her in and risk his heart and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summer’s managed to
keep her inner light alive, even through tragedy. She’s created a new life for
herself and her daughter in Crescent Creek with loving, caring and fun friends–well,
except brooding, breathtaking Aidan. She’s used to keeping away from his type,
though. All she has to do is ignore the pull of a man who’s turning up to
be much more than snarls and storms. Will her compassion and medical instincts
let her?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Love can heal a
broken soul and shake up a timid heart. Or it can unleash devastation and
revenge. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Will Aidan and
Summer survive the hurricane?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">First Kiss Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summer
nodded and stretched her arms over and behind her head, half yawning. “One day,
I’ll ask to hear your story, Aidan Murphy. All of it, so maybe I’ll be able to
figure you out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
stood still as a rock for one heartbeat. “One day,” he said then, leaning
forward and close. “I’m afraid I’ll want to tell you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ah,
hell, there he was again, pulling the rug of ease from under her feet. Heat
crawled on her face, she felt it and swore at it through breath that came in
short and fast. In the dim light of a September moon, his eyes shone like
dangerous jade. “Why?” she said in a wavering voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Because
I think you will not judge, nor run.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Should
I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Probably.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Why?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Because
I’m a midnight full of nightmares and menace while you’re a spring morning sun.
They are mutually exclusive, only pain comes when you try to put them
together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Why
did it feel like they were talking about something critical, something with the
power of changing the course of their lives? And why did she want to challenge
his words? “There are places in the world where the sun is up at midnight so,
you see? Not mutually exclusive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I
can destroy your light,” he murmured, so low and pained, so strained and
hurtful she struggled to breathe and barely managed a whisper. “I can lighten
your darkness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What’s
left of me without it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You
give yourself too little credit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Away,
far away, someone boomed. It might have been the people playing cards. Might
have been an alien invasion. To her, nothing beyond those eyes, and deep voice,
and words barely spoken existed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
sat at a garden table surrounded by friends but she felt alone, nothing real
but him, his mouth, his eyes almost challenging, bearing on her. He mesmerized
her, confused her with all she felt: unsure, willing, terrified, tempted,
needy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
inched closer, closer, or maybe it was her. Until his lips brushed hers. Warm.
Delicate. Gentle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
inhaled his scent, closed her eyes to focus on the heartbreaking tenderness of
the moment, on the shattering power of an innocent kiss. When the contact broke
she still didn’t move, clinging to the sultry memory of it, to the cloud of
promises but eventually, she had to surrender to the absence of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summer
opened her eyes to Aidan, struggled to put together words that had to be said,
fought a stab of panic when he stepped back and she saw, really saw, his face.
Dark brows hung low, his soft lips pressed together, his eyes were of hot
stone. If he were anybody else, she’d have sworn he was freaking out. Big. When
he rose and walked inside the house, she had to muscle air in and force her
entire system to come down from cloud nine and ease up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
happened?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
had just happened?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
why he looked at her with sheer panic booming on his face? He’d bared his heart
one moment, then boom. He ran away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summer
shook her head to reset reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
was <i>not</i> how people behave after a kiss. Right? A little more than a peck
on the lips, if she had to be honest, which came as unexpected from someone as
intense as he was. Not a big deal. Yeah, kind of mind blowing and soul
shattering in its effects but still a peck, and he’d ran like she’d demanded
marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
needed to be talked through because come on, it was plain odd and she hated
unsettled, odd things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
got on her feet and made her way inside trying to avoid whoever’s eyes and
gaping mouths. Because they were at a party in a house garden with other
people, not exactly Times Square, so of course they’d all seen, and of course
they were staring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Holy.
Crap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
hurried her steps, opened and closed the glass door behind her, careful not to
awake the children. After a brief wandering through the house–yeah, she had to
chase after the man who’d kissed her, go figure–she found him in the hall,
taking his keys from a little wooden bowl and her usually mild temper bubbled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">She
might be a klutz with men, way out of her element when kissing Mr. Hot. She
missed the logic behind him, kissing her, and was kinda freaked out by it, but
she’d never run away. “I can’t believe you’re running,” she said, crossing her
arms on her chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
pushed his keys in his pocket and stood there, staring at the white wall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What
happened? Not only you, leaving but…” she swallowed. “You kissed me. We kissed,
actually.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He
didn’t move nor answer but his stance was stiff, his entire body so rigid it
tugged at her heart. When you’re a doctor, you recognize fear when you see it
and boy, was he afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summer
stepped toward him, took one of his hands in hers slowly, like she would approach
a wild animal, gauging his reaction, fearing rejection, fearing everything
else. And drew a relived breath when he tightened the hold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Aidan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As
he still denied his full attention, he raised their linked hands, seemed
entranced by it, as if they held every answer in the world. Then he brought
them up until his lips touched her hand, his eyes closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Then
he turned around and walked out, leaving Summer with nothing to contemplate but
a door, nothing to fight but the tears burning in the back of her eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Minutes
passed; astonishment did not. It lingered on her as a mixture of surprise,
pain, curiosity, fear, a mess she had no clue how sort out. Sort him out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“His Midnight Sun” is available
through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GDP26VB" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Connect with Viviana MacKade<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://viviana-mackade.blog/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011982152461" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="https://twitter.com/ViviMackade" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-44503342928102600782018-08-29T06:00:00.000-07:002018-08-29T06:00:08.323-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Margo Simmons from “Secret Desires” by J.L. Regen<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_9azh1MtiOY/W4BRv4L8kvI/AAAAAAAAElw/1i-nCcdeTXcSgnaPURQWzIWJkbuyzvcKACLcBGAs/s1600/Regen_Secret%2BDesires_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_9azh1MtiOY/W4BRv4L8kvI/AAAAAAAAElw/1i-nCcdeTXcSgnaPURQWzIWJkbuyzvcKACLcBGAs/s320/Regen_Secret%2BDesires_Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes
easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left
to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man
of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still
emotionally tied to his deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the
guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring. Margo evolves from
an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the
secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaks to anyone who has suffered
a loss and had to start over.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">J.L. Regen’s</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> book was inspired by a real
life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New
York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense
stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around
the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three
nonfiction books and is crafting a historical suspense set in World War II.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Today we’re talking to Margo
Simmons from “Secret Desires” by J.L. Regen. Let’s get started. I’m sure our
readers are eager to learn more about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your relationship status?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am happily married to a
man who courted me with flowers, wine, dancing, and many romantic interludes. We
just celebrated our 14 wedding anniversary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your best memory to date?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My wedding day is one of
my best memories. I felt like a princess in my gown and waltzed around the
floor with my new husband. It was an exhilarating experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your favorite food?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My favorite food is
coconut sorbet. I could eat it by the gallons. It is a nice intermezzo between
courses as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you close to family?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I only have one family
member left and, yes, we've become close. He's the patriarch of the family. A
great husband and father who is now fighting back as he recovers from a bout
with throat cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your most prized possession?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My most prized possession
is a teddy bear that one of my students gave to me. He greets me each morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If someone from your past showed up, who would you most want
it to be, and why?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I'd want it to be my
mother. She was my best friend and I miss her greatly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Name three of your favorite things.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have many
interests--photography, yoga, and horseback riding are my three top ones. My
passion is travel, which I've done as a writer, teacher, and photojournalist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What kinds of things do you always carry in your pockets
or purse?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I always carry a notepad
in my pocket so that I can jot down ideas for my present and future novels. I
get some of my best ideas on long walks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you a morning person or a night owl?</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm a morning person. I
get up early, do my errands, and when I'm not teaching, turn on my pc early to
compose my thoughts and write. I don't like burning the midnight oils because
past a certain hour, the mind wanders and thoughts get jumbled. However, I have
been known to get out of bed in the middle of the night to write down an idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If you had a free day with no responsibilities and
your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When I have a free day, I
like to take a yoga class, read, write, and talk to a friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“Secret Desires” is available at:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Desires-J-L-Regen-ebook/dp/B01N137HX5/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Connect with J.L.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.joansbookshelf.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-3864612767336498592018-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:002018-08-03T06:00:21.959-07:00First Kiss Friday – An Excerpt from “Waking Dream” by J.J. DiBenedetto<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlSPYPFUhow/W2Nvrl3KA8I/AAAAAAAAEkY/s1WBflry3Xwrw82SYV4m9KMY3KIIg5yXQCLcBGAs/s1600/DiBenedetto_Waking_Dream_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlSPYPFUhow/W2Nvrl3KA8I/AAAAAAAAEkY/s1WBflry3Xwrw82SYV4m9KMY3KIIg5yXQCLcBGAs/s320/DiBenedetto_Waking_Dream_Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Today on First Kiss
Friday, we welcome author, J.J. DiBenedetto, and an excerpt from his Paranormal
Mystery with elements of Romance, “Waking Dream (the Dream Doctor Mysteries,
Book Four).”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After nearly a decade of visiting
other people’s dreams, Sara Alderson thought she had made peace with her
supernatural gift. Until one night, while watching her husband dream, she saw
someone else watching him, too: a mysterious woman in a red dress.<br />
<br />
The woman in red keeps appearing in the dreams of Sara’s husband and his
co-workers. Sara doesn’t know if this mystery woman is trying to steal her
husband, drive him mad or something even worse. All she does know is that now
she has something she never imagined: a nemesis. And the only thing more
dangerous than a nemesis who shares her ability to step into other people’s
dreams, is one who knows far more about that ability and how to control it than
Sara does.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First
kiss excerpt<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Part
one…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need some water before I can properly fall asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get up, open the door and tiptoe out, down
the hall, to the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s
already someone downstairs, and – I don’t know why – I stand perfectly still
and silent on the top step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s Grace, pacing back and forth near the front door,
looking quite impatient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
why I don’t call out to her, but some instinct is telling me not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A moment later, there’s a hand on my shoulder,
and I look up into Maggie’s tired and windblown face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must only have gotten back from
nighttime skiing a few minutes ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“I was looking for David,” she whispers into my ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s been in the bathroom downstairs for a
while now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I think I know why
Grace is pacing, and why in that particular spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put a finger to Maggie’s lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both hear a door open, and then David
comes into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s heading straight
for Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course he is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He stops about six inches away from her, right under the
mistletoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stare at each other for
a minute or two; it’s too far away to judge the expressions on their
faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, in response to some
unspoken signal, they come closer – closer – then their lips meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kiss lasts for just a second, and they
spring apart like a pair of repelling magnets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But then, after another minute or so, they come closer again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, Grace puts her arms around him,
pulls him tightly to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she grabs
his hand and places it – oh, God, I can’t believe she’s doing this! – on the
back of her neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She holds it there,
exactly in the spot that Brian always touches me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spot that makes me swoon when it’s
touched just the right way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now
she’s running her hand through his hair; again, just the way I do with
Brian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do say that children copy
their parents.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
She tilts her head slightly to the side and goes in for
another kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time it’s much more
serious, and it lasts a lot longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They break apart again, more slowly this time, and it’s hard
to be sure with the distance and the dim light, but I think they look more
confused than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turn away
to look up at Maggie, and her face is unreadable too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go back to your room,” I whisper
fiercely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t let them see us!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I follow my own advice and scamper back to my
bedroom, closing the door softly behind me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brian’s looking confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Where’s your water?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I got distracted,” I say, and I listen until I can hear
Grace’s bedroom door open and close before I go back to bed and join
Brian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if I should even tell
him, at least right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously I
can’t keep it from him – she’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i>
daughter, not my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t
want him to overreact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve talked
about the subject a little, and – probably because it’s always seemed like just
a theoretical discussion about something that’s not going to come up for years
and years – we’ve always both been calm and reasonable about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a real boy has his actual hands all over
our daughter’s physical body – even if neither of them had any idea what they
were doing – I’m afraid calm and reasonable may go out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“By what?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t keep it from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Our daughter’s first kiss.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Part
two…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I let myself drift back…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…This isn’t
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom and Dad think that Mr. and
Mrs. Montgomery are home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no
idea that Belinda and her brother Vince are home alone, and they definitely
have no idea that Vince is throwing a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know why I’m even here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t want to be at a party with a bunch of juniors and seniors I don’t even
know.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We’re sitting in
Belinda’s kitchen, just her and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So
how big is this party supposed to be?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Belinda shrugs her
shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You know Vince.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be a hundred people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hundred?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I really don’t want to be here! But I don’t want to leave Belinda
all alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s my best – my only close
friend at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t ditch out on
her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Here comes her brother
now, with one of his friends, a short, stocky guy I think I’ve seen in the
corridors at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re each
carrying two cases of beer – I wonder which one of them has a fake ID, or maybe
they got somebody to buy it for them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They set the beer down on the kitchen table right in front of us, and
open one of the cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Here you go,
ladies,” Vince says, handing Belinda and me each a can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want – I’ve never even had beer
before!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But everyone else is
opening theirs and toasting each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I – I don’t have to, but Belinda’s my friend, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I open mine, salute them and take a sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I barely swallow it down without spitting it
out; how does anybody drink this stuff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Belinda doesn’t like it much more than I do, but she forces her beer
down, and I follow suit while the boys laugh at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Hey, Belle, why don’t
you put out some food?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s told me
she hates being called Belle, but she’s not going to get her older brother to
stop doing it anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go to help
Belinda set out several bowls of chips, and then she goes up to her room to
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all I need – not only
will I not know anybody, but I’m going to look like crap compared to everyone
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought my sweater was cute, but
I’m sure Belinda will be back downstairs in five minutes with an outfit that
puts me to shame.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And I can’t even
borrow anything from her – she’s only a couple of inches taller than me, but
she’s at least three sizes bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh,
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I watch her go up the stairs, I
see something hanging from the ceiling at the foot of the staircase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mistletoe.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I start to wonder who
hung it there when there’s a hand on my shoulder, and I turn to see Vince.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not much taller than Belinda, but he
seems bigger somehow, or maybe that’s just my imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can smell the beer on his breath; we’re
only a few inches apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s looking up
at the mistletoe, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He puts an arm
around my waist and pulls me still closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I let him; he </i>is<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve never had an older guy show the
slightest interest in me before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this
why he didn’t complain about Belinda inviting me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does he have a – a thing for me?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He’s leaning in
towards me, coming closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tilt my
head up to meet him, I close my eyes, and I feel his face just an inch from
mine, then his lips are touching mine, and – I – God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go limp, I don’t respond, but I don’t have
to; his lips and his tongue are doing all the work – then from out of nowhere
there’s a voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Belinda’s voice, loud
and shrill: “Jesus, Sara!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get your
tongue out of my brother’s mouth!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then I feel her hands on my shoulders, pulling me away from Vince.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I don’t look at her; I
run straight into the kitchen, grab my coat from the back of the chair, and I’m
out the back door before anybody can say another word…</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Waking Dreams” is available
through:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.books2read.com/DreamStudent" target="_blank">LINK TO ALL RETAILERS</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Connect with JJ DiBenedetto</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/JJ-DiBenedetto/e/B00BW6L9GK?tag=geolinker-20" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JJDiBenedettoAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/jjdibenedetto" target="_blank">Twitter </a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-16626770946942607862018-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:002018-07-25T06:00:14.735-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Devyn Nash from “A Taste of Tragedy” by Kim McMahill<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SfpXd-LNFs/W1DAYq5TBrI/AAAAAAAAEi8/YT7fPrfFWCAmfXvJgVbiozskQHK2KpLMgCLcBGAs/s1600/McMahill_A%2BTaste%2BOf%2BTragedy_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="443" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8SfpXd-LNFs/W1DAYq5TBrI/AAAAAAAAEi8/YT7fPrfFWCAmfXvJgVbiozskQHK2KpLMgCLcBGAs/s320/McMahill_A%2BTaste%2BOf%2BTragedy_Cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Morgan Hunter
sacrificed everything for her career. She had yet to encounter anything she
wasn’t willing to do to succeed...until now. When she uncovers evidence that the
healthy foods she’s been hired to promote may be dangerous she must reevaluate
her priorities. As questions mount and the body count rises, she finds herself
caught in the crosshairs of an organization that will stop at nothing to hide
its secrets and protect its profits. With no one else to trust, Morgan is
forced to seek help from the man she drove away, but whom she never stopped
loving.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
we’re talking to FBI Agent, Devyn Nash, from “A Taste of Tragedy (Risky
Research Series Book 2)” by Kim McMahill. Let’s get started. I’m sure our
readers are eager to learn more about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your
relationship status?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
the first time in my life I’m in a healthy relationship with a wonderful man.
The main problem, though, is that he lives in another state so we don’t see
each other as much as I’d like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What’s people’s
first impression of you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People
see me as a no nonsense, hard-as-nails FBI agent. Most think I’m cold and
unapproachable and few try to get close to me. That impression was so ingrained
for so many years that I was starting to believe it, and then came Gage…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Name three of
your favorite things</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nothing
can compare with the object of my affections, Wyoming Sheriff Gage Harris, but
I also love raw chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate and peanut butter ice
cream straight out of the carton.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Name three
things that tick you off</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have little tolerance for bullies, hypocrites, and weasels of the humankind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What are you
most afraid of?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m
most afraid of failing. In my line of work, when I fail people die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you close to
family?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was an only child, so I didn’t have much family to start with. I was very close
to my parents. When your dad is in the military and you live all over the world
it’s helpful if your mom is your best friend. Unfortunately, my parents died in
a boating accident, at least that’s what the authorities claimed, shortly after
I graduated from high school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you care
about what others assume about you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
never cared about what others assumed about me until recently. As I mentioned
earlier, I’m pretty infatuated with a handsome and rugged lawman, and I finally
have a girlfriend in my life for the first time since college, so I’m
definitely trying to be a better person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What kinds of
things do you always carry (in pockets or purse)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
don’t carry a purse since I need to keep my hands free in case I have to reach
for my gun or take down a slime-ball. I go through life pretty lean. My badge
is usually clipped to my belt and I have a phone in one pocket and a little
cash stashed in another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What inner doubt
causes you the most difficulty?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Until
my current partner, Nick Melonis, I went through a new partner about every six
months. I was starting to take it personally, and I couldn’t help but doubt myself.
Was I that hard to be around? I still worry that my new man and best friend will
leave me like everyone else in my life, but the longer they stick, the more my
confidence grows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What would make
you completely happy?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First,
I have to bring to justice a deadly group who has been manipulating the diet
product industry for profit at the expense of many lost lives. Once that’s
done, if I could spend the rest of my life with Gage Harris, I would die a
happy woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A Taste of
Tragedy” is available at:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DTE29U2/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-taste-of-tragedy-kim-mcmahill/1123655306?ean=2940155246169" target="_blank">BARNESAND NOBLE</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-taste-of-tragedy-risky-research-series-book-2" target="_blank">KOBO</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/824842" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Connect with Kim
McMahill<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://kimmcmahill.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/kimmcmahill" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-66742465281580876022018-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:002018-07-11T06:00:00.643-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Jacklyn Hollander from “Twisted Mind” by Ann Raina<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ0q2gYx-3Y/Wz0_U_tukLI/AAAAAAAAEic/ayH7OB0DupMruaZw_nz880VOL442cf-owCLcBGAs/s1600/Raina_Character%2BInterview_Twisted%2BMind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ0q2gYx-3Y/Wz0_U_tukLI/AAAAAAAAEic/ayH7OB0DupMruaZw_nz880VOL442cf-owCLcBGAs/s320/Raina_Character%2BInterview_Twisted%2BMind.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A new love affair and a serial
murder case don’t go well together.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After four murders of young men
along the east coast, the FBI realizes they’re dealing with a serial killer.
Agent Nicolas Hayes is assigned to lead the investigation. Besides solving the
crimes, he tries to spend time with his new flame, Jacky, who’s got ideas of
her own about how their love life should develop. Things turn ugly once a fifth
kidnap victim is reported. Time is running out to find him alive.</span></i><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
we’re talking to Jacklyn Hollander from “Twisted Mind” by Ann Raina. Let’s get
started. I’m sure our readers are eager to learn more about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Please,
introduce yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My name’s Jacklyn Hollander, and I’m thirty-four years
old. I’m the daughter of a French costume designer and an American diplomat. I
grew up in different countries around the world, but after my graduation, I
worked in New York and Philly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And what’s your
profession?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today, I’m a physiotherapist and happy with my job. Several
years ago—and not only to finance my training—I worked as a mistress and
quickly got the hang of it. Now that I opened my physiotherapy office in
Washington, DC, I no longer swing the whips. Though it is satisfying to help
people heal and assist them in regaining their mobility I don’t deny that I
miss my old life sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If I have it
right, you’re in a relationship now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oh, yes, I am. Nicolas is a young, very talented FBI
agent—charismatic, clever, handsome. I met him when my car had a breakdown on
the highway eight weeks ago. He helped me, and I…well, it was a split-second
decision. See, all of my lovers so far had been older than me. He’s
twenty-eight, grown-up but still with the gullibility of an adolescent.
Nevertheless, I handed him my calling card, and he actually called me. He’s a
great lover…and a chicken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Would you like
to explain that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I told to him that I’m into bondage games and
would like to tie him up, he was hesitant. Really hesitant. He had never
submitted himself to a woman before, and he couldn’t wind his mind around the
idea of giving up control. The first time I thought he’d rather jump and run
than lean back and enjoy the ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And did he run?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I had him tied to the bedframe, so…no. And he didn’t
rush out after I untied the knots, if that would’ve been your next question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How’s your
relationship evolving?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gradually. I’ve tried to get across that he’s the
right man for me, but that I won’t forego being a mistress in a relationship. I
need this to be really happy. So I’m teaching him step by step that my
satisfaction is his, too. So far, it’s working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What’s the best thing
that ever happened to you – aside from finding the right partner?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m proud I could open my physiotherapy office in DC
and be among those women who managed the jump to self-employment. I had help
from two friends, whom I had met in Philadelphia. They were…clients at one of
the clubs back then. In real life, Rick’s a successful lawyer and Harry owns a
real estate business. Their backup helped me find affordable rooms, and they
sent the first patients. The office is prospering, and that makes me very happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What hobbies do
you have?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m not a sports person though I try to stay in shape.
Nicolas introduced me to jogging, and whenever possible we spend time in the
park. If no one pushes me, I’m a couch person. I like action movies, TV series,
and I can sit with a bowl of popcorn to binge-watch any crime series. Though
I’m half French, I don’t like cooking so much, but I don’t put my hope on Nick.
He can’t cook at all and only makes a mess in the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What inner doubt
causes you the most difficulty?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My relationship with Nicolas is still in the first
stage—getting to know each other. I don’t trust people easily, and though he
tells me he loves me, I still doubt his honesty. It’s not fair for there are no
clues that he’s not the man he says he is, but…it’ll take time to overcome my reticence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Are you a
morning person or a night owl?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Definitely a morning person. I can get up at five and
be a happy camper. I don’t need much sleep. Back in the days, dungeon time
started around midnight, and I never found it difficult to get up in the early
morning. I love to watch Nicolas crawl out of bed, all grumpy and bleary-eyed
if he didn’t get enough sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What’s your
greatest wish?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nicolas has a dangerous job, and each day he leaves
for work, I hope he’ll come back unharmed. And if he does, I’m happy beyond
words. I think it’ll take time to get accustomed to his unusual work hours and
that he could get hurt while chasing some bad guy. I hope that—maybe in a
year—I’ll look back with more ease. In other words—I’m happy with my life and
with Nick at my side. I couldn’t wish for more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Twisted Mind</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">” is available through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1595-2-twisted-mind/" target="_blank">EXTASYBOOKS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Connect with </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Ann Raina</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-5803953364670638122018-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:002018-07-04T06:00:13.427-07:00New Release: "The President's Wife" by Seelie Kay<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TCJwK1WphNQ/Wzaf69zi0CI/AAAAAAAAEhs/zVn076mqxBUb_9jluo3stMKmcBS_mGE_wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Kay_The%2BPresidents%2BWife_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TCJwK1WphNQ/Wzaf69zi0CI/AAAAAAAAEhs/zVn076mqxBUb_9jluo3stMKmcBS_mGE_wCEwYBhgL/s320/Kay_The%2BPresidents%2BWife_Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What happens when one of your
best friends, the First Lady of the newly democratic Republic of Lodatia,
appears to be an imposter? If you’re criminal defense attorney Julianna
Constant, you pursue the truth like a rabid dog, then wage a battle to save
your friend’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When
criminal defense attorney Julianna Constant travels to Washington, D.C. to join
her former college roommate, Marella de la Aerelli, in celebrating her
husband’s election as the first president of the newly democratic Republic of
Lodatia, she is met with an unpleasant surprise. Her friend of almost 30 years
not only looks unwell, she is cold and distant. After Julianna becomes
convinced the woman is really an imposter, she attempts to expose the faux
Marella by using a secret only she, Marella, and the sitting U.S. President
share. In the process, Julianna helps to uncover an international conspiracy to
seize control of the new country, using the president’s wife as a pawn in a
dangerous and potentially deadly game. Will Marella be rescued before a coup
takes place? Or will she become collateral damage in one tiny nation’s fight to
be free?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="Editing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
state dinner at the White House was in full swing. Waiters were busy delivering
food and pouring wine, as guests ate and chatted with others seated at their
tables.<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: Editing;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Julianna picked at her dinner, some sort
of beef dish with quirky vegetables, and continued to study Lodatian President
Georges and Mrs. Marella </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">de la Aerelli, as they chatted quietly
with the U.S. president and his wife. Marella barely looked up from her plate,
and conversation with her hosts appeared to be minimal. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God, that is so not the Marella I know. She hasn’t even acknowledged me
and I sent her an email informing her that I would be here. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Julianna
set her fork down on her plate and nudged her husband, Little River, Wisconsin
Police Chief David Manders. “Something’s wrong.” Julianna whispered. “Marella
looks wrong. Maybe she’s just tired after the campaign, but she looks sick. Too
thin and too pale. And she isn’t smiling. Marella is always smiling, even when
she feels like shit. And she hasn’t even looked at me. Why is she ignoring me?
Something is not right. I can feel it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">David
looked at his wife and tried to hide his smile. “Jules, you find a conspiracy
behind every door these days,” he said quietly. He looked around to ensure that
the other four couples seated at their table were otherwise engaged. “I vote
for tired, no, make that exhausted. My God, five months ago, she was a farm
wife in Lodatia, now she’s been thrust into the international spotlight as the
wife of the President. That would exhaust anyone. I know if you ran for
president, it would have a negative impact on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Julianna
smirked. “If I became President, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sir,</i>
it would have a negative impact on both of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">David
sighed and ran a hand through his short, silver hair. His piercing blue eyes
gazed at his wife, his fondness apparent. “Well, instead of jumping to
conclusions, let’s wait until the reception at the Lodatian Embassy. There are
a lot of rules and protocols for visiting dignitaries. Maybe it just isn’t
appropriate to buddy up to an old friend at a state dinner. Once you get up
close and personal with Marella, you can get a better fix on things. That woman
has been through the wringer, what with that opposition group trying to
assassinate her husband not once, but twice. I imagine the stress of clinging
to Lodatia’s newly formed democratic government is a kind of like hanging on to
a cliff, knowing that if you fall, there will be no net to catch you. Cut her
some slack and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do not</i> tell her she
looks awful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BUY LINKS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Publisher
– <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1795-6-the-presidents-wife/" target="_blank">EXTASY BOOKS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon:
coming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Barnes
& Noble: coming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN0K3l3MU88/Wzaf9HGJ8FI/AAAAAAAAEh8/Y8COF2KmX7wzqG8S8VghbdDFZ0Z81OTswCEwYBhgL/s1600/Kay_seeliekayrevisedphoto%2B060218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN0K3l3MU88/Wzaf9HGJ8FI/AAAAAAAAEh8/Y8COF2KmX7wzqG8S8VghbdDFZ0Z81OTswCEwYBhgL/s320/Kay_seeliekayrevisedphoto%2B060218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">About Seelie Kay<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seelie
Kay writes about lawyers in love, with a dash of kink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Writing
under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from
more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in nine
works of fiction, including the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kinky
Briefs </b>series, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Garage Dweller</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Touchdown to Remember</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The President’s Wife</b>, as well as the
romance anthology, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pieces of Us</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
not spinning her kinky tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and
other professionals. Currently she resides in a bucolic exurb outside
Milwaukee, WI, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, the Green
Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of
red wine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Seelie
is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her
message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not
define you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Author links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://seeliekay.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://seeliekay.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/SeelieKay" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1517848564&sr=1-2-ent" target="_blank">AmazonAuthor Page</a> </span></div>
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Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-45355776292659780032018-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:002018-06-27T06:00:05.568-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Sara Alderson from “Dream Student” by J.J. DiBenedetto<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bywqFSjeFLQ/WzLGkmuHOmI/AAAAAAAAEhc/dY_7hrlgj-YP9UyhMEFgS_13z4zPVSboQCLcBGAs/s1600/DiBendetto_Dream_Student_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bywqFSjeFLQ/WzLGkmuHOmI/AAAAAAAAEhc/dY_7hrlgj-YP9UyhMEFgS_13z4zPVSboQCLcBGAs/s320/DiBendetto_Dream_Student_Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sara Barnes has
her life totally under control. All she has to worry about is college exams,
Christmas shopping, applying to medical school--and what to do about the cute
freshman who has a crush on her. And everything is going according to
plan, until the night she starts dreaming other people's dreams.<br />
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It's bad enough that every night is a theater of her friends' and classmates'
secret fantasies. Worse yet are the other dreams, the dark ones featuring a
strange, terrifying man committing unspeakable crimes.<br />
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As the nightmares increase, Sara's life becomes a blur of waking and sleeping,
of terror and urgency. Because if she was given this dream-sharing gift for a
reason, it must be to stop the killer madman she's come to know all too well.
But how can she stop him when she's just a student, and they're only dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
we’re talking to Sara Alderson from “Dream Student (the Dream Doctor Mysteries,
prequel "Book Zero"),” by J.J. DiBenedetto. Let’s get started. I’m
sure our readers are eager to learn more about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How old are you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You’d
think that would be a simple question, but it depends when you ask me. In my
first book, I’m 21, and I’m still in college. By the end of my series, I’m 46
years old, and about to watch my daughter get married. And there are
flashbacks, too, so you get to see me back when I was 16 and I had my horribly
embarrassing first kiss with my best friend’s older brother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your
relationship status?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Married!
Happily married to my wonderful husband, Brian. At least, after the first book.
I’m single in the first book, though, but I meet him in chapter two, so it
doesn’t take very long!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When you look in
the mirror, what do you see?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s
a funny question. When I went out for New Year’s Eve with my husband (well, he
wasn’t my husband yet, this was right after we met, in college), my mom bought
me this amazing dress, and lent me her diamond earrings, and took me to the
salon and everything, and when I looked in the mirror one last time before I
left, and I thought I was looking at the older, prettier, more sophisticated
sister that I don’t actually have. I still feel that way sometimes, all these
years later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Name three of
your favorite things.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it’s not nice to call him a “thing”
so I’ll pick something else. Let’s see… Long, uninterrupted bubble baths. And
the “uninterrupted” is the key point here. My emerald. Our first Christmas (a
month after we met), my boyfriend (not husband) gave me a small emerald
necklace. He spent all the money he’d saved up to buy a used car, just because
he thought it set off my eyes so nicely. And I’ve almost never taken it off
since then. My first dog, Lumpy. He was a Golden Retriever, and I got him as a
puppy for Christmas when I was ten. He was the best dog ever, and he was smart,
despite what everyone else in my family thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What are you
most afraid of?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Myself.
When I was in college, I discovered I could step into other people’s dreams.
Over the years, I learned that I could do more than just watch what they
dreamed about. I could change their dreams – mess with their minds from the
inside. I didn’t know I could do that, until I met someone else who had the
same ability I do (this is in book four, which is called, “Waking Dream”) and
she ended up causing someone to kill themselves. Ever since then, I’ve been
conscious that I could do the same thing – even without meaning to. Even with
the best intentions of helping someone, I could drive them crazy, or worse. So,
yeah, I’m terrified of my own power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your
favorite food?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anything
spicy, the hotter the better. I didn’t always like spicy food, though. It was
only after I had my daughter that my taste changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your
favorite song?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rick
Springfield, “Jessie’s Girl.” Well, I was a teenager in the 1980’s, what do you
expect? Plus, he was really hot back then!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you have a
hobby and if yes, what is it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does
reading medical journals for fun count as a hobby?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What was your
first impression of Brian?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh,
God, he was SO shy! It was almost painful. I had to make the first move, even
though I knew he had a crush on me, because he’d been dreaming about me. And
thanks to my “gift” I actually was there in his dream to see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What would you
most like to forget?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
learned that forgetting is something you can’t – or at least shouldn’t – do, no
matter how painful a memory is. I learned that the hard way. I was arrested
(for something I didn’t do), and I was only in jail for one night but it was
the worst night of my life, and I was – well, I won’t go into it here, but
let’s just say I was “mistreated” and leave it at that. Anyway, for a couple of
weeks afterwards, I couldn’t remember what had happened. I wouldn’t let myself
remember. But the memory was still there, and it was toxic, and it wasn’t until
I forced myself to tell my best friend everything, that I was right again. So I
wouldn’t forget anything, no matter how awful it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you close to
family?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Absolutely.
My parents actually live with us, in what they used to call a “mother-in-law apartment”
in back of our house. I’ve always been close with my parents, and (mostly) with
my husband’s family, too (except for his mother, who finally, grudgingly, sort
of accepts me by the time the series ends, and I’ve been married to her son for
over twenty years). I didn’t always get along with my little brother; I’m told
that when he was born, I asked if we could send him back and trade him in for a
puppy (I don’t remember that, of course!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you see
morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s
a tough question, because I always think of myself as a more black-and-white
type of person, but I keep finding myself in situations where I honestly don’t
know what the right thing to do is. You’d think it would get easier over time,
but it sure doesn’t seem that way to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you had a
free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself,
what would you do?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
think in all my books, the only time that ever happened was my honeymoon, which
the author didn’t even have the decency to write about except for a sentence or
two about how much I enjoyed it. But it involved laying out on a beach with a drink
in my hand (In a coconut. With an umbrella in it, too), looking out at crystal
clear water and a perfect cloudless sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dream Student”
is available through:</span></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.books2read.com/DreamStudent" target="_blank">BOOKS2READ</a>
(link to all retailers including Amazon, iTunes, Nook, Google Play &
Smashwords)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Connect with J.J.
DiBenedetto<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00BW6L9GK?tag=geolinker-20&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" target="_blank">AmazonAuthor Page</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jjdibenedettoauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/jjdibenedetto" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-40348757374386850562018-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:002018-06-22T06:00:16.687-07:00First Kiss Friday – An Excerpt from “Ulfbehrt’s Legacy” by Holly Bargo<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxklE1GPLOo/Wyw4BdcSW8I/AAAAAAAAEgM/tLDLXKm1_rUcGS3ZjS7u__GePk2qHe9_QCLcBGAs/s1600/Bargo_Ulfbehrst%2BLegacy_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zxklE1GPLOo/Wyw4BdcSW8I/AAAAAAAAEgM/tLDLXKm1_rUcGS3ZjS7u__GePk2qHe9_QCLcBGAs/s320/Bargo_Ulfbehrst%2BLegacy_Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today on First Kiss Friday, we welcome romance
author, Holly Bargo, and an excerpt from her Contemporary Romance, “Ulfbehrt’s
Legacy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fleeing horrific
abuse and an uncaring legal system in the USA, Zoe lands in Norway to study
archeology, specifically pre-Viking civilization. With the nightclub where she
worked and her apartment building condemned, she needs a new job and a place to
live.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her roommate and
classmate Tabetha comes to the rescue with an invitation to move in with her
family. Zoe’s grateful for the offer and the warm welcome Tabetha’s family
extends to her, even though Tabetha’s oldest brother discomfits her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wounded in
battle against eco-terrorists, elite sailor Lars moves back in with his family
while he recuperates. Upon seeing his sister’s roommate, he discovers that his
father’s “pow” theory of love isn’t just a cute story: Zoe stirs his blood like
nothing else.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Zoe’s not
looking for a relationship, but Lars’ gentle persistence shows her that she can
trust him. However, an enemy wants to make Lars suffer by harming what will
hurt him most, and one of Zoe’s abusers wants her back. She saved herself once,
she’ll have to do it again.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First Kiss Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m
going to miss your family,” Zoe said as she and Lars walked back to the SUV.
She shivered at the cold, which prompted Lars to wrap an arm around her and
draw her close to his side as they walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’m
glad,” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She
looked up at him, her expression bewildered. He looked back down at her and
added, “It shows you love them as much as we have come to love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her
answering smile was tight. “I suppose you never guessed you’d get a new sister
when Tabetha’s roommate came to visit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
don’t see you as my sister.” His deep voice spoke the words quietly, but with
no less conviction for their lack of volume.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zoe’s
feet skidded to a halt. “What do you see me as, Lars?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Something
infinitely more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her
features scrunched in distress. “I—I can’t go there, Lars. You know why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lars put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face
him. He tipped her face upward by the gentle pressure of his finger under her
chin. He bent down and, ignoring the sudden spark of fear in her eyes, pressed
a kiss to her forehead. When he straightened, he said, “I know why and I won’t
force you. I don’t force women.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ulfbehrt’s
Legacy” is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and available through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ulfbehrts-Legacy-Holly-Bargo-ebook/dp/B01IDHHJJ6/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Connect
with Holly Bargo</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.henhousepublishing.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HenHousePublishing1/" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/HollyBargoBooks" target="_blank">Twitter </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-4516754861798361412018-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:002018-06-20T06:00:09.820-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Mason Harding from “Arresting Mason” by Amber Daulton<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDFejdxUe0E/WybRU-GslrI/AAAAAAAAEfw/pt9RyYHP6-M7AI99CqiettIR4yo9Ym90QCLcBGAs/s1600/Daulton_Arresting%2BMason_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UDFejdxUe0E/WybRU-GslrI/AAAAAAAAEfw/pt9RyYHP6-M7AI99CqiettIR4yo9Ym90QCLcBGAs/s320/Daulton_Arresting%2BMason_Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Once you’re in a
prison gang, you’re in it for life. That’s what Mason Harding thought until the
boss accepted his resignation. After the State releases him on parole, a sexy
divorcée behind the wheel of a car almost ends his life quicker than a shank.
His chance encounter with Mia Eddison results in a night of passion, but her
brother—his parole officer—catches them together and doesn’t approve. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mia falls hard for the
cocky ex-con, but not because of his chiseled body. She vows to break through
his walls and discover his secrets, but never expects those secrets to threaten
her life. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When members of an
organized crime ring kidnap Mia to force Mason’s return to the gang, he goes up
against an old friend to save the woman he loves. Will his sacrifice be enough
or will everything fall apart in a blaze of gunfire?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today we’re
talking to <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mason Harding</span> from “</span>Arresting
Mason: Arresting Onyx (book 1)<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">,” by Amber
Daulton. Let’s get started. I’m sure our readers are eager to learn more about
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your relationship status?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m happily
engaged. I didn’t mean to ask Mia to marry me, especially since I hadn’t bought
the ring yet, but the question just slipped right out. I couldn’t take it back,
and I really didn’t want to. I needed to confess what I felt in my heart, and
when she said yes, damn. I still can’t get over the overwhelming relief that
surged me. I love her so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When you look in the mirror, what do you see?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A man who has
made a ton of mistakes. Most people think I’m cocky and arrogant, which I am,
but only the people who really know me can see the vulnerable man beneath the
façade. Sometimes, I just can’t escape the regret I see in my eyes and in the
fine lines on my face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is people’s first impression of you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Women want me.
They see the tattoos and my chiseled abs, and they flirt like they’re in heat.
Before I met Mia, I definitely encouraged their behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Men think I’m no
good. I guess they could be right on that, but I try hard each day not to
revert into the prick I used to be. I want to be a good person, but I don’t
always come off as one when I first meet someone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your best memory to date?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nearly getting
hit by a car. No really, I’m serious. That’s when I first met Mia. She’d nearly
rammed my legs with her vehicle, and after I calmed the frantic woman down, I
asked her to dinner. We probably never would’ve met without that little
incident. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What are you most afraid of?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My past coming
back to haunt me. Again. Mia and I have already survived a few throw downs with
some old friends of mine, and I never want her in that type of situation again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now on to something lighter, what is your
favorite drink?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whiskey. I love
that damn drink, but I haven’t tasted a drop of alcohol in over ten yeas. It’s
like a drug to me, it makes me stupid and dangerous, and it’s my choice to stay
sober.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What would you most like to forget?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first time I
spoke to my brother, Alan, while I was behind bars. The anger and tears in his
eyes had ripped through me, and I will never forgive myself for the crap I’d
put him through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you could go back in time, what one thing
would you change in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The reason why I
ended up in prison. I never would’ve robbed that liquor store. Even when I did
it, I knew it was wrong, but that didn’t stop me. I was nothing but a fool, and
I’ve learned a very hard lesson from that mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you close to family?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I suppose so. My
brother and nephew are great, and I love them to death. I haven’t talked with
my dad in years, but I’ve started talking with my mom. Maybe, it time, Mom and
I will work out our differences, but I’m not holding my breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you see morality as black-and-white, or
with shades of gray?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A bunch of gray,
believe me. I’ve done too much crap to be one of those snobby people who
doesn’t realize life isn’t perfect and you can’t wrap everything up in a neat
little box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you care about what others assume about
you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Not really,
except for Mia and Alan. Their opinions mean a great deal to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If someone from your past showed up, who
would you most NOT want it to be, and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are tons of
people I don’t ever want to see again, but I suppose my boss while in prison
would be at the top of that list. I respect the hell out of Oskar Udell, and I
will always think of him as a friend, but that part of my life is over. If I
would see him again, I would feel obligated to do his bidding, especially after
all he’s done for me. I couldn’t say no, and then I would have to deal with
Mia’s fury. Her being mad is a sexy sight, but I don’t like hurting her.
Anyway, Oskar is serving life in the slammer, so it’s highly unlikely he’ll
ever show up on my doorstep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Who in your life has the power to hurt you
the most and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mia is my
everything. If she would ever leave me, I don’t know what I’d do. I need her
like I need the air to breathe. Yeah, that sounds sappy, but I can’t help it.
She completes me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your most prized possession?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mia will probably
slap me when she finds out I told you this, but I gotta say her. Mia Eddison is
my most prized possession, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I would do anything
to keep her safe, and I mean anything. She knows that, and she knows the hell
I’ve been through, so I think she’ll understand why I said this about her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you a morning person or a night owl?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Morning person. I
wake up at the crack of dawn, exercise, shower, and start my day. I don’t see a
point in staying up late—unless I’m rolling with Mia in between the sheets—and
I wake early because I’m grateful to be alive, and I just wanna start my day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Arresting Mason” is available through:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2ppcmEJ" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2uOj90J" target="_blank">BARNES &NOBLE</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://apple.co/2FVAQMP" target="_blank">ITUNES</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://bit.ly/2KgwJxg" target="_blank">KOBO</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2FSVvBa" target="_blank">THE WILD ROSEPRESS </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Connect with Amber Daulton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-76916179479771330212018-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:002018-06-15T06:00:05.339-07:00First Kiss Friday – An Excerpt from “The Thin Person Inside” by Rochelle Weber<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1rpPMEYSB4/WyL9vymq1CI/AAAAAAAAEe0/2i4UuV79QuMWgT9nAOokhTYfei1Rb9atwCLcBGAs/s1600/Weber_The%2BThin%2BPerson%2BInside_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1rpPMEYSB4/WyL9vymq1CI/AAAAAAAAEe0/2i4UuV79QuMWgT9nAOokhTYfei1Rb9atwCLcBGAs/s320/Weber_The%2BThin%2BPerson%2BInside_Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Today on
First Kiss Friday, we welcome romance author, Rochelle Weber, and an excerpt
from her Contemporary Romance, “The Thin Person Inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kristen Jensen, a
Navy veteran, is at the end of her rope. She weighs almost three hundred
pounds, and she’s becoming a cripple. Desperate for help, she asks her VA
therapist if she can go into treatment with the addicts and the alcoholics. In
treatment, Kristen meets Sean Wesley. She melts when she sees his black hair,
blue eyes and perfect body, and assumes the only reason he’s speaking to her is
that she’s the only other person in the room. She has no clue, at first, who he
really is, or what a rock star could ever see in her.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sean thinks it’s
tragic that a pretty girl is trapped inside such a huge body, and when she
shares her story, he’s impressed by her openness and honesty. She’s the bravest
person he’s ever met, sitting with her fruit and salad surrounded by people
eating the day-old pastry donated by the local bakery. He finds himself drawn
to her, but she’s had decades to build her layers of defense.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">First Kiss Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It started as a tentative kiss. She had only ever let him
kiss her in a friendly way, and now he was maimed, missing an arm. Still, she
opened her lips and met his tongue. She tasted of diet cola and he chuckled
inwardly as he deepened the kiss. He felt his groin harden. At least that still
worked… Hey, wait— He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">felt</i> his groin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">harden</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Not yet, Sean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Why not? I thought you said my arm and paralysis didn’t
matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It doesn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Then what is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We don’t have our year of abstinence or sobriety yet, Sean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“We can’t yet. We don’t have our full year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Well, we have something else to celebrate. I have a raging
hard-on.” He was grinning from ear to ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’m sorry, Sean. I don’t mean to be a tease.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She wasn’t getting it. In fact, she looked truly woebegone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 22.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It’s so hard, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hurts</i>!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Really, Sean. We can’t. Not yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Kristen, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HURTS</i>!
Below my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WAIST</i>, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HURTS</i>!” He tried to wiggle his toes, and
they moved. “Look! My toes!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Oh, my Goddess! Sean! Oh, Sean! Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Connect with </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rochelle Weber</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773797790681175401.post-76601358943324361562018-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:002018-06-13T06:00:10.713-07:00Meet the Characters – An Interview with Heath Barrow from “Civil Hearts (A Haunted Voices Novel)” by Claire Gem<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-attCV3lxGNw/WyBGqv93SQI/AAAAAAAAEeU/oLdkEGzEz_MYqSzdf0icZf1dFd2FuEfvQCLcBGAs/s1600/Gem_Civil%2BHearts_Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="218" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-attCV3lxGNw/WyBGqv93SQI/AAAAAAAAEeU/oLdkEGzEz_MYqSzdf0icZf1dFd2FuEfvQCLcBGAs/s320/Gem_Civil%2BHearts_Cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK4"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He’s
a sexy Southern gentleman—with epilepsy. She’s a widow scarred from her late
husband’s brain cancer. Her new home, an abandoned antebellum mansion, is
haunted by a Confederate soldier—and she’s a Yankee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A widow with no family, web
designer Liv Larson yearns for big change. After all, she can work from anywhere,
right? Why not throw a dart at the map? She heads out of the big city for the
rural South and falls in love as soon as she arrives—with the Belle Bride, an
abandoned antebellum mansion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Heath Barrow loves his country
life, managing his antiques store in sleepy Camellia. But he’s lonely, and his
condition—epilepsy—makes life uncertain. It’s already cost him a marriage. A
new medication and the new girl in town have his heart hopeful again.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sparks fly between Heath and Liv.
But his first seizure sends Liv into a tailspin. Its mimics those her husband
suffered before he died . . .<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To make matters worse, Liv
discovers she’s not living alone. Her challenge? Dealing with a Confederate
soldier, one who clearly resents his Yankee roommate—even though he’s been dead
for over a hundred and fifty years.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Claire
Gem met with Heath Barrow in his store, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heath’s
Heirlooms</i>, to get to know him better. Heath lives and works in sleepy
Camellia, Alabama. He is divorced and is quite a looker—sexy brown curls and
chocolate eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Thanks for allowing this time with me today, Heath. This is quite a store you
have here! Looks like you have a little bit of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
Yes, I guess I do. I was bitten by the antiques bug when I was a kid, when my
dad hauled my sister and I around to every auction within two hundred miles. It
was just the natural thing to do when I graduated with my marketing degree to
sell the things I knew the most about. I sell reproduction furniture too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Did your sister stay in the business too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
She did. Cynthia manages my warehouse in Birmingham, and I rent her a little
shop in the front to sell her vintage glassware and jewelry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Vintage jewelry, huh? What kind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
Oh, she’s obsessed with the Victorian era. There’s something called “mourning
jewelry” that she collects and sells, but personally, the stuff gives me the
creeps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Why’s that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
It’s made with the hair from dead people. Seriously! Sometimes it’s woven into
intricate lace-sort of stuff, and other times it’s encased behind glass, like
in a frame. (He closes his eyes and shudders). Morbid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
I’ve never heard of anything like that. I think it would give me the creeps
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
Yeah, well, a lot of people are fascinated by it. Like this new girl in
town—the one who bought the old Belle Bride? She went into Cynthia’s shop
yesterday and bought a brooch with two <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">different</i>
kinds of hair in it. Two different dead people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
The Belle Bride . . . I’ve heard rumors about that place. What’s the deal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
It’s been mostly empty as long as I can remember. People buy it but leave
within the first year. Nobody has ever stayed around long enough to fix it up.
The last family restored the little barn out back but never even moved in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire:</b>
You think it’s haunted?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath </b>(shaking
his head): I’m not one to believe in all that. I think it’s just a really big
project sitting out in the middle of nowhere. People’s imaginations run away
with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>: This
new girl, what’s she like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>
(sliding his eyes off to the side and heaving a big sigh): Darn pretty. But I
doubt she’ll last long out here in the boondocks. She’s a city girl, from New
York.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
What’s she doing here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
Damn if I know. She got it in her head she wants a new start, one completely
different from the life she had. Not sure why. I’m going to try to get to know
her better, though . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Claire
(with a wink): Love interest, maybe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>: I
doubt it. Like I said, she’s a city girl. I don’t do well with those. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Why do you say that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>: I
was married once, to a local girl. But she’d spent her college years in
Atlanta, and the city bug had bitten her. It didn’t take too long before she
realized that Camellia wasn’t her thing. Or me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
I’m sorry to hear that, Heath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath
</b>(running his fingers through his curls): Yeah, well, that wasn’t the only
thing. I have a . . . condition. I’m epileptic. I’m on medication, but I still
get a seizure every now and then. I had one at a most inopportune time for my
ex—right in the middle of her big dinner party. That was the final straw that
snapped our marriage, I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
That’s terrible. I would think, if she truly loved you, she would have been
more understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
She wasn’t, so I guess she didn’t. (He shrugs) I guess I’m sentenced to a life
lived alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire:</b>
Maybe this city girl . . . what’s her name? Maybe she will be different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Heath</b>:
Olivia Larson. Says to call her Liv. I hate to get my hopes up about her, but
it’s really hard not to. She really got to me, right from the minute she first
walked into my shop. (He stands and extends his hand) I’m headed out to an
auction now, Claire. But it was really nice meeting you. And good luck with the
book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Claire</b>:
Same here, Heath. And best of luck getting to know Liv Larson. I can’t wait to
see what happens between you two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Civil Hearts”
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<br />Bonnie Phelps, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03383790898177553565noreply@blogger.com2