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Wednesday Words: Rocked By Love by M.J. Schiller

1/27/2021

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Today we welcome one of my favorite authors, M.J. Schiller and her new release, ROCKED BY LOVE. We've got a fantastic rock romance to learn about so let's get comfy!
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Hi, Kara! Thank you for having me here to talk about the book I’m releasing today, ROCKED BY LOVE, Book Two in the LOVE AND CHAOS SERIES. The series title comes from the band’s name, Just Short of Chaos. One of the things I love about this series is that my son Ryan designed the band’s logo for me, a Celtic knot with striking snakes woven through it. It looks just like I imagined it.

I’ve written rock romances before, but this is my first series. I really enjoyed following the four characters throughout and watching them each shine in their own book. They have very distinctive personalities, backgrounds, and even their fashion senses contrast dramatically.

ROCKED BY LOVE is about the bassist, Raphael Santiago, or Rafe. He is a little unusual for a rock star, I guess, as he is highly educated and a bit more sophisticated than the rest of the crew. He is the only child of a high-power, but down-to-earth couple. His mom is a surgeon and his father is an architect. Rafe’s high school years were spent attending a private school in St. Louis, but he never lost touch with his Stanton, Missouri buds. Moving from a small rural town to a big city may have been difficult for some, but his charm and intelligence, along with all the experiences he garnered travelling abroad with his parents, prepared him well for the elite Catholic high school he attended. He is the conservative, even-keeled voice of reason for the band, but inside he is swamped with remorse. When Just Short of Chaos first hit the scene, Rafe was introduced to the world of drugs by one of his rock mentors. Rafe is haunted by the night his friend, Just Short of Chaos’s drummer, Devin Moore, overdosed within feet of him. Zane, the lead singer, blames Rafe for Devin’s death, and Rafe’s guilt makes that accusation ring true, so he never bothers to tell his side of the story.

But ROCKED BY LOVE starts with Rafe jumping into the crowd at one of his concerts to defend a woman from her abusive boyfriend. He also saves the woman’s cousin, Mia Love, who has jumped in to defend her. But when Rafe asks Mia backstage after the concert, he gets a surprising response.

​Now, Rafe, as rock stars are wont to do, sabotages his relationship with Mia. The scene I’m about to share with you is my favorite from this book, and on the top ten most fun scenes I’ve written. After Rafe and Mia go their separate ways, Mia leaving after Rafe is a jerk to her, they run into each other again at a diner where Mia is working. Mia’s cousin Freddie, not really knowing the full story behind the breakup, knows enough to understand that Rafe hurt Mia. Although he is a scrawny, somewhat nerdy, guy, he challenges Rafe to a fight to defend Mia. I chopped the scene up a bit so I can give you the meat of it.


​A skinny guy with unruly curly hair approached from behind her and took her arms. “We won’t be serving him, Judy.”

I was dumbfounded.

“Mr. Santiago, my name is Freddie Love. I’m Mia’s cousin—” He focused on a point over my head. “—and I’d like for you to step outside in the alley so I can kick your ass.”

I struggled to keep from laughing. The kid weighed maybe a hundred thirty pounds, wore glasses, and had droopy shoulders. I would annihilate him. “Fine.”

His gaze dropped to my face for the first time and he gulped. “Okay, then.” He spun and marched off…

This had to be the most upscale alley I’d ever seen. As people filed past Freddie, they slapped him on the shoulder with a “go get ’em” or a “you’ve got this.” No one slapped me on the shoulder or did anything other than glare at me with contempt. I was really building Just Short of Chaos’ fan base… Had I known I would let someone beat the shit out of me today I would have worn shoes with traction instead of dress shoes, but one doesn’t always have a warning about these things.

Seeing I was ready, Freddie raised his fists in the most awkward fighting stance I had ever seen, his arms held in front of him, instead of tucked in, leaving him pretty much unprotected should I go for a face or body shot. And he kept having to push his glasses in place. I think the poor kid had worked up such a nervous sweat the bridge of his nose was like an icy ski slope. I inwardly rolled my eyes. This was what my life had come to. Street brawls with science fair blue-ribbon winners. Well, if I was going to bait the kid into hitting me, I guess I would have to come in pretty close, as he hung back waiting for me to start things. I drew closer, automatically getting set to fight, weight balanced, fists high and close, chin tucked in some. I had to consciously open my arms to give him room to hit me. I took a loose swing, purposely missing by a foot and giving him a shot. He weaved away, dodging even though the punch was not in range. This would be a challenge.

After a few more lopsided swings he didn’t take advantage of, somebody yelled. “Ya gotta punch him if you want to beat him up, Freddie.”

I felt sorry for the guy. It was cute and heartwarming that, although he was terrified, he was willing to do what he needed to do to defend his cousin. The first shot he took he pegged me decently, and I began to think I underestimated the kid until I heard his “oww!” and saw him shaking his fist to ease the pain he caused himself. A few people chuckled, but I glared them into silence. Were they cheering the kid on or hoping to see him pummeled? 
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That’s all I can share today, but I love the rest of the scene, too. If you want to find out who comes out on top of this little fisticuff, pick yourself up a copy today. Book One, ROCKED BY GRACE, is on sale for just 99¢ right now, too. (The books are standalones, but it’s more enjoyable if you’re familiar with the characters.) To celebrate its release day, I’ll give away a copy of ROCKED BY LOVE to two random commenters. Here’s a blurb to give you a little bit more information…
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​When rock star Raphael Santiago comes to the defense of reporter Mia Love’s cousin, things heat up in this sizzling, new romance from bestselling author, M.J. Schiller.


Rock star Raphael Santiago is haunted by the night his friend Devin died. Maybe because there’s something that no one knows about the overdose. But when he jumps in the crowd to defend a woman at one of his concerts, he finds he doesn’t want to keep the secret from her.

Mia was a tight little ball of fire, and I was made of combustible material. She misunderstood my intentions the night we met, but I was given an opportunity to explain the next day. I wish that was our only miscommunication, but when I discovered she’d written an inflammatory article about Just Short of Chaos, I thought she was using me to get a story. The hurt that caused made me say some nasty things. Now I may have lost her forever.

Mia Love doesn’t know if Rafe is truly interested in her, or if she is merely a new plaything for him.

Oh, there was definitely a heat between us from day one. Sometimes volatile, sometimes scorching in a good way. But I’d been burnt before and I was stronger now. No way was I going to let a rock star break my heart.

When fate throws them together again, things really start to heat up.

​But will they figure out how to control their passions or will their love story end in ashes?


BUY ROCKED BY LOVE

Amazon:  https://mybook.to/RockedByLove
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rocked-by-love-m-j-schiller/1138588074?ean=2940162791737
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rocked-by-love-1
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/rocked-by-love/id1539415638


Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing! Thanks for your interest in ROCKED BY LOVE!
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BIO: M.J. SCHILLER

Bestselling author M.J. Schiller is a retired lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance. She is the mother of a twenty-six-year-old and three twenty-four-year-olds. That's right, triplets! She likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.

Here’s where you can find me. I’d love to hear from you!

Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-schiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockingTheWorldOneReaderAtATime/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mjschiller
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller

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Monday Memories: Woe Is Me (Part 2)

1/25/2021

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I was an angel in the church Christmas pageant. (Don't laugh.) I had silver tinsel for a halo, and a white robe.

My mom directed it, which makes this Big Idea Number 4.

Our last song was "Mary Had A Baby". We sang it as we processed out of the church.

"Mary had a baby, yes, Lord. Mary had a baby, yes, my Lord. Mary had a baby, yes, Lord! The people keep a comin' but the train done gone."

This is the last thing I remember before waking up in a orange-yellowish plastic chair in the parish hall. I opened my eyes to see Maria sitting across from me looking very afraid. "Kara?" she croaks at me.

"Kara, honey? How are you?" my dad asks.
​


"What happened?" I struggle to say, trying to figure out why I wasn't running around with all the rest of the kids.

I must've blacked out again because I don't remember getting into Noah's car. He was driving, my dad was in the passenger seat, and my mom and I were in the back.

"Kara, say your ABCs," Mom orders me.

"I know my ABCs. I don't need to say them," I argue.

"Say them anyway," she commands.

I guess I did, I don't remember. She had to keep me awake. Apparently, while having a jolly time running around the parish hall, some kid ran into me, and I fell backwards, smashing my head on the ground. I was knocked out. Maria saw the whole thing.

They took me to the hospital, which was about a 15 minute drive from the church. Noah made it in 5.

I threw up once they got me into the examination room. On that day, I felt like a I threw up a thousand times, and every time I did, they had to move me to a different room.

This isn't true, of course. I only threw up once while they examined me. I was okay, but my mother was given strict orders to wake me up every hour for the next 24 hours. I don't remember that, either.

I'll tell you what I do remember about being knocked out. It's kind of odd.

If you ever pick up a koozie, squeeze it -- just once. It probably won't give you a headache, but it does give me one. For a long time, I didn't know why that happened, but at some point I realized that when you squeeze a koozie, that's what your brain feels like when it collides with your skull. A squishy, weak mass capable of being demolished by one good smash.

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Wednesday Words: Her Timeless Gamble by Nancy Fraser

1/20/2021

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Today, we welcome a fellow Romance Gems author with her historical romance, HER TIMELESS GAMBLE. I'm very excited about this story, because it takes place on a riverboat! I love that setting for a romance! So, let's hear more from Nancy!
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​Her Timeless Gamble came about after an author-friend and I took a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi. The trip was so colorful and informative, we knew we had to write a book about it. The book turned into an idea for an entire series of novellas.
 
Originally published in a much shorter form as A Miracle Through Time...way back in 2008, Her Timeless Gamble has been totally re-written, updated, and expanded.
 
Unfortunately, the series itself never got off the ground because my friend lost her battle with cancer before we could complete the project. That was in 2014 and since then I’ve been working diligently to bring our vision to life.
 
With two additional books completed, and two more in the planning stages, I look forward to bringing the tales of a post Civil War south to life.

Oh, goodness. This must have been a labor of love you and probably brought back memories of your friend. I'm sure she's glad you've brought it back to the shelves. Do you have a favorite part?

My favorite part of the story is anytime my hero and heroine butt heads—which is often. Because my heroine is a twenty-first century woman out of place in the 1860’s south, she has a tendency to say things that she shouldn’t. Which, of course, angers and frustrates the hero.

​Oh, my gosh! I can already hear the sparks!
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Can you share an excerpt?

​Kate moaned softly, and lifted a heavy hand to her aching forehead. “Where am I?” she wondered aloud.
 
“Just rest. You’re safe, everything is fine.”
 
The muffled sound of a man’s voice penetrated the throbbing in her head and she struggled to open her eyes, to identify the source. A dim light shone on the man’s handsome features and Kate realized she’d come face to face with the devil. His intense expression, an expression she felt certain could stop rush hour traffic in Times Square, seemed to mock her. Haunt her.
 
I must be dreaming. That’s it, I’m dreaming. I didn’t really drown, I’m just asleep.
 
Kate closed her eyes and waited, certain that at any moment she’d awaken. Until then, she’d allow this ridiculous dream to run its course. She’d let this man who looked suspiciously like Matthew McAlister sit at her bedside without so much as a single complaint. After all, it was only a dream, a dream most likely resulting from the trauma of her father’s death. A dream in which her subconscious had conjured up a man who’d been dead himself for nearly a hundred years.
 
Cautiously, she reopened her eyes and met the man’s darkened gaze.
 
“Oh my gosh, it is you. And just like my father’s sketches, and the way he described you, right down to the scar above your left brow.”
 
Unconsciously, Kate suspected, he reached up and ran his finger across the scar. “Someone described me?”
 
As soon as he spoke, Kate recognized the voice from her dreams. Either she had totally lost her mind or, like Matthew McAlister, she was dead. “I’ve got to be dreaming. This can’t be real. And, you can’t possibly be Matthew McAlister.”
 
Nervously she scanned her surroundings, taking in the beamed ceiling, the heavy wooden furniture and the brocade coverings. The dim light, she realized, came from an oil lamp on the bedside table.
 
“Lady, I don’t know who you are, or where you came from, but I can assure you, I am definitely Matthew McAlister.”
 
She shook her head in disbelief, regretting the quick motion when a shooting pain radiated from back of her head forward. “Where am I? Never mind, don’t answer that. I’m dead. I must be dead because that’s the only way I could be seeing you.” She scrambled for the edge of the bed, saying, “I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t…”
 
Rather than free herself, her legs tangled in what seemed like yards of bed linens. In her haste to get away, Kate slipped unceremoniously off the edge of the bed and landed flat on her backside, the thick carpet cushioning her embarrassing attempt at escape.
 
“Are you all right?” he asked.
 
Bracing himself on the foot rail at the end of the bed, he reached out and offered his free hand. His gaze settled on her bare legs. A man’s shirt, most likely his Kate realized, rode high on her thighs, exposing far more than she was willing to show.
 
“All right?” she repeated nervously. If being insane is all right, then I’m fine.
 
“Are you hurt?”
 
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m just in a room that looks like something off the set of Maverick, and any minute now a young and rakish Mel Gibson will burst through that door with someone shooting at him, and I’m talking to Matthew McAlister. Other than that, I’m fine.”
 
Matthew McAlister looked positively baffled by her insane rambling. Yet, when he spoke, his voice held firm conviction rather than confusion. “First of all, you are not dead. And second, who is this Mel Gibson fellow who’s going to burst into my stateroom at any moment?”

I love it!!! Already the sparks are flying! Thank you for sharing HER TIMELESS GAMBLE with us!

BUY HER TIMELESS GAMBLE

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RZBYQZV
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1547274584
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/her-timeless-gamble
B&N/Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-timeless-gamble-nancy-fraser/1138562029
Print Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Her-Timeless-Gamble-Nancy-Fraser/dp/B08SFVPT7K/
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/her-timeless-gamble-love-s-a-gamble-book-1-by-nancy-fraser
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56564895-her-timeless-gamble

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HER TIMELESS GAMBLE
Historical Romance

​When Matthew McAlister pulls a nearly-drowned woman from the murky waters of the Mississippi, he has no idea what's in store for him. Or, how easily he'll willingly give up his carefree, love-em-and-leave-em lifestyle for a chance at real happiness.

Kathryn (Kate) Lowell can't believe her bad luck. Or the fact she's somehow been transported from the twenty-first century back to the post Civil War south. Worse yet, into the arms of the one man she grew up hating. The man she blames for her father's recent demise.

Can these two off-kilter and infinitely stubborn individuals fight their mutual attraction? Or, will they give in to the inevitable? And, when the time comes, will Kate choose to stay with Matt in the past, or return to her former life?

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Bio: Nancy Fraser

NANCY FRASER--Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon--is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
 
Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
 
Nancy has published over thirty-five books in full-length, novella, and short format.
 
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
 
Website: www.nancyfraser.ca
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor  @nfraserauthor
Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/profile/nancy-fraser
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Fraser/e/B004AOL61Y/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/fraser425/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gC68iMStwKCr4v_S6fMIA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romauthor_nancyfraser/
Newletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/bxkKvD

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Monday Memories: Woe Is Me

1/18/2021

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I got on the bus one afternoon with a knifing pain in my side. When it came, I doubled over, holding my stomach.

I laid down on the seat, knowing Maria watched me with wide and fearful eyes. I didn't know what was wrong, so I couldn't ease her worry.

The pain came and went, came and went. I huddled in the seat, praying to God to make it go away. It didn't.

Somehow I walked home. I don't remember the trek.

When we arrived, I stumbled into the house and fell onto the couch. I begged my mother to take me to the doctor. The shock on her face was comical, but I was in too much pain to enjoy it.

She put me in the car and drove me to see our doctor. I don't remember the examination. I only remember lying in a ball and working through the slicing pain -- my eyes squeezed shut, my teeth clenched tightly.

​
I fell asleep.

I don't know how long they allowed me to sleep. I woke up on my own, still in the room. When I went outside, I saw the doctor sitting in chair close by.

"You're awake?"

I nodded.

"How do you feel?"

I waited for the pain. "Fine," I finally answered.

He smiled at me. "I think you can go home. I'll fetch your mother for you."

He called it atypical appendicitis. I call it ulcers. I'll explain later.

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Monday Memories: Interference

1/11/2021

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For this post, you'll need to hum a soundtrack for me. As you read, have the theme song to Jaws playing over and over in your head.

I stepped off the bus one lovely fall afternoon and raced inside the house. I had plans to get my red dodge ball and commandeer Scotty and Kirk into a vigorous game of Crazy Dodge Ball.

As I flew through our small entry, my eyes flashed across my mother who was seated on our piano bench, smiling like she won the lottery. I came to a grinding halt.

"Kara, I have some good news for you," she announces excitedly.

I sit on the couch, a little unsure because my mother's good news is usually weird. For example, one day she was very excited to enlist our help in planting her tomatoes. Another time, she was very pleased to see us dusting our room. Do you get the picture?

She continues to smile, oh so pleased with herself, as she says, "I found you a piano teacher! Your first piano lesson is today!"

I can't breathe for a moment. I stare at her feeling betrayed and suckered. I crumple into a fit of tears and surprise her into upset.

"Kara, dear, you don't understand. You'll love playing the piano. I learned as a child, and I have always regretted quitting."

Then why didn't she take lessons? Why didn't she spend her free time at the piano?

It was horrid. I was doomed to carry out the ideas of my mother, the ones she thought were necessary and good. I had many years left of having my life planned for me...

Oh, the agony.

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Release Day: The Editor's Kisses

1/7/2021

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I'm so excited to tell y'all about my latest release, The Editor's Kisses! I really enjoyed writing this book because I got to delve into one of my favorite families in Pike's Run -- the Forresters -- a family of 5 -- Yes, FIVE -- daughters.

Plus, we get a "true love's kiss" moment! And I adore those so much! (Find out my other favorite "true love" moments here.)

I had to do a lot of research for this book. I had to learn how to operate a printing press, which was quite interesting. I also learned that the type -- or letters -- are contained in a case. The capital letters were stored in the upper section and the non-capital letters were stored in the lower section. 

And this is how we began dubbing letters "upper-case" and "lower-case". Isn't that cool??? I loved learning that!

Writing historicals can be a lot of work, but it's like going on a scavenger hunt and at the end you find out some very interesting facts.

The Editor's Kisses is a story of heart and courage. Of risk-taking. Stephen and Constance take risks in love and in life. And they become better people for it....
​

THE EDITOR'S KISSES: A "TRUE LOVE'S KISS" MOMENT

Setting: The Talbut Parlor
The Problem: An annoying parlor game

 
Madeline’s spinning of Constance was a little rough, but Stephen held his tongue. When their hostess let go, Constance fumbled for a moment before Stephen raised himself up and yanked her into his lap.


The shouts of excitement and delight that went around the room nearly deafened him. People playfully called out “cheater”, but Stephen didn’t care, especially when Constance whisked off her mask and looked immensely relieved to see he’d successfully caught her.

They headed to the closet without fuss. Constance almost looked as if she was dying to climb inside. She probably wanted to get the farce over with.

Once they were squeezed into the confining space, with their chests pressed together in a way Stephen had only fantasized about, she said, “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done—”

He covered her mouth with his hand, having dislodged it from his side. Then he leaned near her ear. “They might be able to hear us,” he whispered.

She flinched.

He lowered his arm, and she let out a slow breath. He wished he could see her face. For more reasons than to satisfy his worry she was all right.

He did everything he could to ignore the touch of her body along his front. He tried not to remember how she looked, how her eyes lit up, how her expression sharpened when she was interested in something. Why had he watched her all night?

But he knew. He knew very well. She was captivating. Intriguing. And so damned lovely.

Why was he having feelings for her? Wasn’t his love for Madeline strong enough to withstand attraction for another woman? But if it was, he would be in the closet with his hostess and not the lady he pretended to the world held his fancy.

He had to kiss her. He had to discover if this attachment was real. Besides, if he didn’t kiss her, everyone would wonder why. And for some strange reason, he needed every fellow out there to understand Constance Forrester was his. He closed his eyes and realized his attitude was no better than a caveman’s. But the need to possess and brand raced through him without pause, and he couldn’t fathom how to check it. Except to kiss her and get her out of his system once and for all.

“Constance,” he uttered. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

She flinched again.

“I won’t hurt you, I swear it. But if I don’t kiss you…they’ll all question us and our…attachment.” He was an ass. He was using their agreement to coax her into acquiescence, and while he knew it, and was ashamed of it, he continued. “It will only be for a second. I’ll just brush my lips with yours.”

In the darkness, he felt her slight nod against his chin. His heart pounded at her quiet surrender.

When she pulled back as far as the space would allow and lifted her head to his, heat slashed through him. He’d never needed a kiss as much as he needed hers.

Madeline had kissed him. Once. Behind the schoolhouse when they were sixteen. And that moment hadn’t caused nearly the anticipation this one did.

He lowered his head and swallowed her gasp. It wasn’t a brush, even though he only set his lips on hers. It was a fire. A shot of whiskey that whipped through him and pooled in his gut. He deepened the connection, and she let him, sighing and sinking into him despite already being as close to him as he could get her.

He melted. He needed to move to the ground and cover her, press her down and make her his. He used his tongue, tasting her. She capitulated instantly and opened her mouth under his. He took what she allowed without hesitation as his free hand came up to grip her waist.

The damn closet was too small. His left hand was wedged between her side and the slender door. But though he couldn’t get his arms around her, he didn’t stop the kiss. It went on and on, stealing his breath, tightening his chest and making him doubt everything he’d ever known about his heart.

Rapid footsteps had him surging backward, and he knocked his head on the wall.

The door flew open, and cool air blasted his cheeks. He and Constance fell out of the space, their limbs tangling as they tried to right themselves.

Peals of laughter rung around them as Stephen reached out a hand to balance her. She latched on as if she didn’t want to let go, and his muscles vibrated with hope she had enjoyed the moment as he had.

It had taken less than a few seconds for him to realize kissing her had been the wrong thing to do. But also the most right, most perfect, most sound judgement he’d ever made in his life.

As those who’d crowded around the entrance to the kitchen went roaring with laughter back into the parlor, he gazed at Constance. And his world tilted.

Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes made his heart constrict with an emotion he was too afraid to name at the moment. But he knew what it was. He knew.

How in the devil had it happened? Was he a fool? A fickle man?

He swallowed. “Do you want to leave?”

And before his eyes, he witnessed a transformation that set his blood on fire. Determination changed her expression, and she lifted her chin.

“Certainly not. I’m quite all right, I assure you.” She gave a shake to her skirts. “We’ve a job to do, Stephen Dawson, and I’ll not let you down.”

She exited the kitchen with a swirl of satin, and he followed with less sure steps. She wouldn’t let him down, he knew it. But he feared he might disappoint her, for if she knew the direction of his thoughts, she would never forgive him. Constance Forrester had no time for any man. She had plans. Plans that didn’t include caring for the heart of the newspaper editor.

BUY THE EDITOR'S KISSES

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​One kiss changes the whole game…
 

Constance Forrester is a suffragette determined to change society. When Stephen Dawson, her school chum, starts a newspaper, she asks Stephen to take a risk and employ her as a journalist.

Stephen immediately turns her down. But his interactions with Constance have made the town princess, Madeline Talbut, curious. Stephen has loved Madeline for years, and he concocts a plan: enter into a fake courtship with Constance, and in return, Constance can be a journalist for his newspaper.

It’s a chance Constance can't pass up. So what if she has to attend parties and withstand Stephen's heart-melting kisses? A suffragette must forge through barriers, but when Stephen changes the game, Constance finds herself the object of the editor's desire…
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Wednesday Words: Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife by Monique DeVere

1/6/2021

6 Comments

 
Today we welcome Monique DeVere and her new release, Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife. I'm very excited to host Ms. DeVere and learn more about her contemporary romance!
Hi, Kara! Thank you so much for having me as your guest. I’m thrilled to tell you about my new release.
 
Matt’s Pregnant Runaway Wife is a married second chance contemporary romance set in Sicily and the UK. Sabrina Newton-Giordano is an award-winning pastry chef and Matteo (Matt) Giordano is a successful Sicilian-born restaurateur. Sabrina comes from a large close-knit family who means everything to her, and she’s always wanted a large family of her own. When she met and fell in love with Matt, she thought she had it all...until he refused to introduce her to his family. Sabrina, being the feisty woman she is, decides to take control of the matter and runs off to Sicily to meet the in-laws.
 
All she wants is for their baby to have the kind of love she had growing up with two sets of devoted grandparents and she doesn’t understand why Matt is so reluctant to give that to their child. But Matt has a deep, dark hurt he’s keeping secret from Sabrina and he knows his parents would only cause her heartache. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves and their unborn child.
   
I have many favourite scenes in this book, but the one that tugs on my heart is the scene where Matt turns around from leaving Sabrina and gets back to find her asleep. From this point, he’s so different and he melts me.

This story sounds like it's filled with emotion. And yes, Sabrina sounds quite feisty! I'll enjoy getting to know her!
Can you share an excerpt with us?

She kept him on his toes, he’d give her that. From the moment he met her he’d known she was unique to any other woman. The first hint was when he’d arrived unexpectedly to check on his London restaurant. Everyone, except Sabrina, had nervously tripped over themselves in his presence. She’d simply continued to work as though his arrival was as insignificant as a dust mote drifting past her head. The second hint had knocked him the moment she glanced up and locked eyes with his. Something he’d never experienced before had happened. His body had responded to the instant connection in a way that had been shocking and potent. He’d decided right then to make her his. Even then, she hadn’t made it easy for him. She’d resisted their attraction, had flat-out refused to have drinks, dinner, or—her words--anything else with him. To say that she’d become a challenge he’d fixated on was to understate the level of his attraction for Sabrina.

Then one day, after weeks of him putting his best moves on her and about to admit defeat, a delivery arrived at his office. It was a beautifully presented slice of his favourite dessert along with a note that read: if you want more, come and get it! He was pretty sure the soles of his handmade Italian shoes left scorch marks on his office rug in his haste to get to Sabrina. The rest had been white-hot sizzling sexy, whirlwind, and incredible. And now here he was, fighting to keep his marriage from falling apart only after eleven-and-a-half months of wedded bliss.

Matt washed his hands at the kitchen sink, then rummaged in the under counter fridge.

He chuckled. “Surprise, surprise, nothing but dessert and fruit.”

Yep, one thing he could be sure of was that he’d always find some sort of dessert in their fridge at home, thanks to Sabrina’s never-ending effort to create new and exciting after-dinner treats. And, oh look, she had his favourite dessert sitting in a small yellow and white cake caddy, as though she’d somehow been expecting him. When he grabbed the container his gaze landed on the four red apples in a bowl on the shelf below, so he snagged one of those, too. 

Oh, good gracious! I like Sabrina A LOT! I love it when the heroine gives the hero a hard time! And just dessert and fruit?! Ha! She's awesome.
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GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment with a way to contact you and you could win a free copy of Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife!

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Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife
Second Chance Contemporary Romance

​This might be the biggest risk of her life.
 
When her whirlwind romance with gorgeous Sicilian-born restaurateur Matteo Giordano culminates in marriage, award-winning pastry chef Sabrina Newton-Giordano thinks she has it all...until Matt refuses to introduce her to his family. Sabrina desires their baby to have the same love she knew from her grandparents, but Matt’s outright rejection of his family could result in their baby never knowing his or her paternal grandparents, something Sabrina will not accept. Until that is, she hits on the perfect solution—run away to Sicily to meet the in-laws! 
 
Matt wants only one thing—to keep his wife and unborn child safe. For a man intent on never allowing anything to stand in his way, it should be an easy task. But Matt hasn’t bargained on how stubborn his irresistible, runaway wife can be. Despite his stern objections, she’s determined to form a relationship with his family. He knows, from past experience, they’d never accept her or the baby. Now Matt is torn between the urgent need to protect his wife and fear of causing her undue stress in her pregnancy. 



BUY MATT'S PREGNANT RUNAWAY WIFE

​
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Bio: Monique DeVere

Monique DeVere grew up on a plantation on the beautiful island of Barbados, where her childhood was all about exploring and letting her imagination run free. She moved to the UK as a teen and soon fell in love at first sight with her amazing, strong-silent-type husband. They have four beautiful children and four incredible grandchildren.

Monique writes sweet ‘n’ spicy romance, and when she isn’t working on the next novel or movie script, she can be found spending time with hubby and family, armchair travelling, creating recipes, reading about health and nutrition, or working on her spiritual growth. She enjoys going for walks, gardening, or simply crazy-dancing around the house. Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can email her at monique@moniquedevere.com, or contact her by visiting her website: www.moniquedevere.com or blog: http://moniquedevere.blogspot.co.uk to learn more about her books.
​You can also visit her Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/moniquedevere or follow her on Twitter: @MoniqueDeVere or Instagram: authormdv

​Get The Forever Deal FREE when you sign up to Monique’s New Release Newsletter.


Where to Find Monique

Website | Blog | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook Fanpage | LinkedIn | Wattpad | Pinterest | Instagram |
6 Comments

Monday Memories: Dumb-Dumbs.....

1/4/2021

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"Look. Can't you see how lovely it leaves your hands?"

"Oh, yes. They are so smooth and soft. It's like you haven't been doing dishes at all!"

I shove my hands into the hot, soapy water. "And you won't believe how quickly it removes grease from all your pots and pans."

Maria takes the pan I just finished washing and rinses it off under the faucet. "My goodness! Look at that shine!" she exclaims.

"Wait until you see the last glass. This soap will work until the very last dish is done," I proclaim.

"You don't have to replenish the water and soap at all?"

"Oh, no! Dawn does the work and keeps on working."

We proceed to show our customers exactly what we mean and finish the dishes. Of course, we are at our own kitchen sink, and our only customers are whatever insects are passing by the kitchen window.

We stand on stools as we clean each fork, pot, and plate. Our commercial for the support of Dawn dish soap continues until we are done.

What an accomplishment! All the dishes from supper are clean, we didn't have to refill the sink with new water, and our hands are still soft. Aren't we amazing for choosing the right dish soap?

Hey, wait a minute....

Did we just get suckered into doing a chore? Why, yes. Dumb-dumbs....

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    Kara O'Neal

    An author who has too much to say is dangerous.

    The subjects on this blog:


    Monday Memories -- My Childhood

    Wednesday Words -- Books!

    To be a guest on my blog:

    Contact: kara@karaoneal.com

    Monday Memories: Cast

    Kara -- Me
    Maria -- sister
    Wendy -- sister
    Bill -- brother

    M'Lynn -- mother
    Drummond -- father

    Grace -- mother's redheaded friend
    Liam -- Grace's husband
    Gorgeous (Georgie) -- oldest son and friend
    Phillip -- middle son and friend
    Andrew -- last child and friend

    Jo -- mother's "big idea" friend
    Noah -- Jo's husband who builds things
    Jack -- oldest son and friend
    Roxi -- middle daughter and friend
    Lela -- last child and friend

    Alex -- friend who travels the country and lives in Dallas
    Blossom -- friend who lives in Dallas and sells houses

    Miss Holly -- next door neighbor
    Kirk -- middle son
    Scotty -- youngest son

    Lou -- uncle on my dad's side who likes baseball
    Evaline -- my dad's sister who's crazy funny
    Luke -- oldest son and my cousin
    Han -- younger son and my cousin

    Clark -- my mother's brother who bleeds maroon

    Alexander -- my eldest cousin on my dad's side

    Dawn -- cousin on my dad's side that is the same age as Maria

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