Giveaway and Guest Author at Rebecca's Write Inspirations

Author Rebecca Reddell hosted me on her blog Rebecca's Write Inspirations. I had a blast chatting with her and now we're giving away a FREE copy of my e-book Justice Burning. Hop on over to Rebecca's to read all the fun and don't forget to enter to win! :)

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Netgalley: No Way Up by Mary Connealy

Song Stuck on the Brain: The Ants Go Marching... I was singing it with my great-nephew and niece this morning and I'm still singing about those militant ants. :)

No Way Up 

by 

Mary Connealy

MY TAKE: 

I signed on early with Netgalley.com to get the opportunity to read and review Mary's latest adventure/laugh riot cowboy romance. Love her books. Unfortunately, there were technical issues and although I was able to download the e-book, pages were missing. A LOT of pages. This was a prerelease file so I decided if I wanted to read the story and not guess at what 5 missing pages had said, I should buy the eBook. So I did. BEST choice ever. Supported the author's sales AND I got a perfect file. YES!!

So, how did I like the Cimarron Ranch, you ask? It was awesome. Mary weaves her settings flawlessly. It's great to see the appearance of Heath Kincaid and follow his story arc not only to romance, but love and understanding in several different relationships. The story has depth and heart that isn't always obvious in the moment because your too busy slapping your knee with laughter, but that heart and strength is what proves them all wrong when they're sure there is No Way Up.

Loved it and the prequel The Boden Birthright. Great new adventure for long time Connealy fans or for those just discovering her. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Fight for the Cimarron Ranch Has Just Begun!
When Cimarron ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, only the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Before leaving by train to receive treatment to save his leg--and possibly his life--Chance demands that Heath read the patriarch's will and see its conditions enforced immediately. If Chance's three bickering adult children, Justin, Sadie, and Cole, don't live and work at the home for an entire year, ownership of the ranch will pass to a despised distant relative. 

Before long, however, Heath discovers that the avalanche may have been intentionally set--and that more danger lurks ominously. Finding his own future--and a desired future with Sadie--locked up in saving the Cimarron Ranch, Heath and the Boden siblings must work together against outside forces that threaten them all.

Don't forget to read the prequel novella The Boden Birthright. (Easily read after, but better read first.)

After the death of his wife, prosperous businessman Chance Boden heads west along the Santa Fe Trail with his son to escape the powerful, controlling hands of his in-laws. He has plans to establish his own ranch, but instead he finds work with Frank Chastain, owner of a vast amount of land.

Chance doesn't want to work for anyone, but Frank's beautiful daughter gives him reason to delay buying his own holdings. With winter coming, no home in which to live, and Veronica's offer to care for young Cole while Chance learns the ways of successful ranching in the desert, Chance has little choice but to accept the Chastains' offer to stay on.

When Frank is attacked, his dying wish is that Chance marry his daughter, but after dealing with his in-laws, Chance isn't going to let anyone come between him and his son. Then Frank's precarious hold on the land he received as part of an old Spanish Land Grant forces Frank to make a desperate choice to save Veronica's inheritance--and also gives the men who attacked Frank reason to come after him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

She is the author of The Cimarron Legacy series, Trouble in Texas series, Swept Away, Fired Up and Stuck Together, The Kincaid Brides Series, Out of Control, In Too Deep and Over the Edge.
The Sophie’s Daughters Series, Doctor in Petticoats, a Rita Award finalist,Wrangler in Petticoats and Sharpshooter in Petticoats. These three books are now contained in the single volume Sophie’s Daughters Trilogy. The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now available in the single volume Montana Marriages Trilogy. The Wild West Wedding series Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist, and In Too Deep. The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing, a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances. She is one of the four authors contributing to Alaska Brides Collection with her Carol Award Winning historical romance
Golden Days along with Tracie Peterson, Cathy Marie Hake and Kathleen Y’Barbo.

She had published two ebook Christmas novella collections. A Home for Christmas with Robin Lee Hatcher and Candlelight Christmas with Linda Goodnight. And with a pseudonym she has published the romantic thriller Ten Plagues and she has republished three out of print books Bury the Lead, Fright at the Museum
and Trial and Terror, three lighthearted cozy mysteries formerly published as the Nosy in Nebraska series under the titles Of Mice…and Murder, Pride and Pestilence and The Miceman Cometh.

Find Mary online at:

Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Blog 
My Website

I initially received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. 

Song Stuck on the Brain: You Are My Sunshine - the song I sing to all my babies. :)

God Made You Just Right 

Board book

by 

Jill Roman Lord, Author 

& 

Amy Wummer, Illustrator

MY TAKE:

Small but a Fighter!

When my niece told me her baby boy would be born with physical complications I felt my heart catch. Then I told her what I knew was true in my heart. Jesus was holding her baby in the palm of His hand. However he was born, God had a plan for this little boys life. Numerous conditions were presented and ruled out. The final diagnosis, Tetralogy of Fallot. This beautiful little premie boy had a hole in his heart that would not close on it's own, he would need open heart surgery. Possibly more than one. In addition, he also has dextrocardia - his heart grew in on the wrong side of his chest. (I tell him that means his heart will always be in the 'right' place.) He also has scoliosis. He is the most beautiful and precious baby I've held in years (beside his cousin of course!)

Because of his heart conditions his breathing is labored and he struggles to keep fluid off his lungs. Eating is a challenge and a feeding tube has to load him with calories to help him grow big and strong so he can handle surgery. It hasn't been enough. So in just a few days they will perform his first surgery - a band on his pulmonary artery to ease his labored breathing so eating is not such a challenge. 

Cousins only one month apart in age. No matter how
big or small - God made you JUST right!

When I was offered the chance to review God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord, I immediately thought of my tiny heart baby. What a perfect book to reinforce the message I wanted him to grow up with. Despite your differences physically - God made you just right and you are loved. I signed up immediately. When the book arrived, I held 2 month old Max in my arms and read him the simple story, showing him the pictures as I went. He was enthralled. He SMILED! And my heart soared! A sweet, simple message with colorful images. It was perfect. 

They don't use the term "half-sibling".
God made them just right as brother
and sister this way. 

After reading it the youngest I began to think how this very simple message is important to all of us. Max's cousin Ryan is a month older but double in size. He's a large strong baby. At 3 months his head measured 17.5 inches - only 2 inches smaller than his four year old big sister! Large heads and tall frames run in his family. He will most likely always be much bigger than his friends for many years. He'll get teased for his big head (despite him being adorable) and he needs the reminder that God made him large for a purpose too. 

Our family is one built of love more than blood. There are adopted siblings, half siblings, foster siblings and family that's family because we chose to make them that way. That is becoming more common every day and I'm glad to see God's message being shared in such a sweet way. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A bright and cheerful reminder that God made each of us special and unique

Here is a message that every parent will want to share with his or her child: You're brilliantly created and there s no one else like you! With easy-to-understand descriptions and simple, rhyming text, Jill Roman Lord shares the message that God created each of us in just the right way in a manner that even the youngest child will understand. Bright and engaging illustrations from Amy Wummer pair perfectly with the text and enhance the appeal of the book. Ages 2-5.

Jill Roman Lord

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Roman Lord is an author, a freelance writer, and nurse anesthetist. She enjoys running with her golden Retriever, Poppie, in Charlotte, NC, golfing with her hubby and son, sipping coffee, shopping with her girls when they’re around, traveling, and hanging on the back porch with family and friends

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:

Amy Wummer

Amy Wummer is an award-winning children’s book illustrator of over fifty titles. She received the Highlights for Children Cover of the Year award in 1998 and 2007, the 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Highlights for Children Illustrator of the Month award in October 2003 and November 2007, and was a 2002 Gold Medallion Book Award finalist.

I received a free copy of this book from Wothry Kids/Ideals in exchange for my honest review.

NEW Release:The Power of Love, a Heroes in Justice story

The sun shines longer on this day—the Summer Solstice. People gather for picnics, fun in the sun, and all kinds of celebrations. What can be more fun than checking out the fabulous stories in Let’s Have Fun Volume 1!

Featuring The Power of Love, a Heroes in Justice story. Keegan McLeod has is finally ready to propose to long time girlfriend Emily Jansen, but they'll have to survive the day first! Join these heroes in a crazy ride through mayhem to discover the power of love. 

 Ten Solstice Publishing authors present to you stories of events that happened on the Summer Solstice. From a couple facing a choice of a re-do of surfing to a proposal of marriage and many others, you will discover new authors who have a multitude of books available for your pleasure.

Let’s Have Fun Volume 1 features AJ Kohler, April Erwin, S@yr, Josie Montano, K.C. Sprayberry, Kristal McKerrington, M.A. Cortez, M.H. Newhouse, and W.H. Matlack with stories all about what happens one summer solstice day.

http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01HC2TOD2

Check out our authors and their stories with Let’s Have Volume 1 on June 21, 2016!

If you're new to the Heroes in Justice series, be sure to check out Justice Burning and A Volunteer Christmas. 

The Thin Gold Line - Guest Author Rachael Tamayo

I'm excited to welcome a brand new guest blogger today. One with an awesome job. A job I'm certainly not cut out for, but I have a ton of respect for those that do. But, why don't I let her tell you about it. 

My other job

Someone is breaking into my house.

I think she's dead.

I can't tell if he's breathing.

I need police, hurry, but I don't know where I am.

I've heard all of this, and then some, in my ten years as a 911 operator and police dispatcher. I've talked to distraught mothers and fathers, grown men that sob into the phone, scared children. I've also talked to numerous liars, criminals, mentally ill, and a few murderers.  I am that disembodied voice that you call for help, then forget about by the time the police, or maybe a fireman or ambulance come to your rescue. We are not remembered - destined to be called upon and then fade into the background.

They call us the thin gold line. It's a rare breed that can do this job and stick with it. It's said that less than two percent of the population can handle it. The turnover rate is astronomical. Honestly, I think you have to be just a touch crazy to want to do it, and even more so to be good at it. I can't tell you how many police officers I know that have stepped into my dispatch center and told me, "I don't know how you do this."

Those of us that do this, we do it because it's who we are. We love it. We're OK with being forgotten, yelled at, cussed out by strangers on a daily basis because they're just having a bad day. We all know that it's not about us, so we take the abuse and keep smiling. Why? Because we helped. 

There's no glory for us dispatchers. We don't need it. Just give us a Thank you from time to time and that's all we need. Glad to help. OK with being forgotten, as long as we were able to help you in your time of need.

I've been asked once or twice, how does doing this job help you in your writing? I've always been a writer, since I was a child. I suppose being submerged in such a wide range of human emotion on a daily basis gives me an insight that most people don't have. Like any other dispatcher, I have an ability to insert myself into the mind without losing my own in the process. This is the reason I can capture these feelings so well.

So what's my book about? It's book one in a series about good friends falling in love.  In book one, Adrienne Lawrence trips over her own big mouth when she lies to her mother about having a boyfriend when her mom's nasty comments about not having a date for a family wedding get to her.  Thank heavens for her close friend Clint. He steps in, agreeing to play the part of the devoted boyfriend at a week long venue wedding, saving her from embarrassment. After days of pretend kisses and smoldering looks, the lines between what's  pretend and what's real start to blur, and Adrienne has to fight her confusing feelings. The last thing she wants is to lose her friend, or become one of the women he leaves behind.

Author and Dispatcher Rachael Tamayo

My name is Rachael Tamayo and I work for an agency in the Houston, Texas area.  I'm also a wife and mother, and a writer. My first book is in pre-publication with solstice publishing. 

Please follow me on Facebook here https://m.facebook.com/Rachael-Tamayo-1600504033593522/

and 

Twitter here: https://twitter.com/rtamayo2004

For updated information regarding the release of my first book, Chase Me (title pending approval) book 1 in the Friend Zone series.  Check me out on the Web at http://www.rachaeltamayowrites.com

Thanks, Rachael for doing such an amazing job and being for guest blogging today. Be sure you check out her page and watch for her new release. I know I can't wait to read it. :)

Guess Who's Getting Married?

Good News! There's a marriage proposal in the air...

Keegan McLeod is finally ready to pop the question to longtime girlfriend Emily Jansen, but they have to survive the day first! 


I signed the contract with Solstice this morning for this latest Heroes in Justice series novella. I'm so excited to bring you this next chapter in the McLeod family's story. The release date is still to be determined, but it should be soon. I'll be sure to keep you all updated.

PLUS - Book 2 is in the works! Thank you all for supporting me and loving this community of heroes as much as I do. Be sure you let your friends know about them too. :)

In the meantime, if you haven't met the other Heroes in Justice, check out book one, Justice Burning and the holiday short story, A Volunteer Christmas. Links and book trailers are in the sidebar, or read a sample by clicking a tab at the top of the screen.

The Lie by KC Sprayberry - YA Done Right!

Song Stuck on the Brain: With or Without You by U2

Friend and fellow Solstice author, K.C. Sprayberry is back with another new release! How excited are we? Very! Her latest foray into the Young Adult market brings a dark and suspenseful tale that you won't want to put down. Check it out and be sure to share it with your reading buddies.


Spotlight on The Lie

Welcome to the release tour of The Lie. The Lie is a young adult psychological thriller for older teens, similar to such edgy books as Sasha Dunn’s Oblivion, Michael Northrop’s Trapped, Norah Olson’s Twisted Fate, and E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars. This is a dark novel, a story that asks one question—How well do you know your friends?

The Lie releases March 4, 2016

http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01BX85XSG

Blurb:

For high school siblings, Amy and Bryce, the night began with a football game. Bryce was stuck at home with a cold, brought on by an uncaring coach. Amy was in the stands, playing with the band whose funding had been taken away and given to the football team.

Her best friend, Jane, brought the band together to play a prank on the team in protest.

The prank went wrong. Horribly, tragically wrong.

And the lie that started it all would not stop.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.

She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Some of her short stories have appeared in anthologies, others in magazines.

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/p8liti0tEr0

Excerpt:

♫ Amy ♫

           

The sun is peeping over the mountains all around us. The members of the Landry High School Band fill in the last of the holes where we placed our planned revenge to go off tonight. None of us has had any sleep since we woke up yesterday, yet we’re charged up and ready for the rest of today and well into tonight.

“Where are your friends?” I ask.

Jane Preston, my bestie, the true mastermind of this prank, smirks at me.

◊ Bryce ◊

I hear Amy coming home. She doesn’t know that I’ve been awake all night, waiting on her. Not that she sneaks out much—she never does stuff like this, unless it’s a Jane plan. I pretty much figured that from what I caught of the muffled phone conversations going on until eight last night. That’s when I heard the window going up, a box being hidden behind the bush, and Amy sneaking away.

She’s lucky that Mom and Dad didn’t catch her. Thanks to me. If I hadn’t gone into the kitchen, faking that cough, Amy would have been in major trouble.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Sprayberry/331150236901202

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcsowriter

Blog: http://outofcontrolcharacters.blogspot.com/

Website: www.kcsprayberry.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011219.K_C_Sprayberry

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DI1YOU

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KcSprayberry/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kcsprayberry/boards/

Manic Readers:

http://www.manicreaders.com/KCSprayberry/

AUTHORSdB:

http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/5230-k-c-sprayberry

Romance Week: Valentine's Day WINNERS!

Thank you all so much for spending the week with me and my cast of characters. I had a blast and I hope you all did too. Have a Love Full Day. 

The Winners are:

Congratulations Aaron R., you are the Grand Prize winner of the Super Romance Bundle!

Congratulations Bethany D., you won the Romance Bundle!

 Congratulations Amy R., you won the Romantic Suspense Bundle!

Thanks again to Authors Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream,  A.B. Funkhauser of HEUER LOST AND FOUND, and Mary Ann Cortez of The Write Place for participating in Romance Week with me. Be sure to check out their pages for more great writing. 

Also, now available, First Love, a Summer Solstice Valentine's Day Anthology.

PLUS, ONE LAST FREE GIFT FROM SOLSTICE PUBLISHING: 
Solstice Publishing is proud to present Sweets for My Sweet, a FREE cookbook full of wonderful recipes from Solstice authors. Download this cookbook and other free books at Solstice Publishing. 

Romance Week Day 6: Cast party!

Song Stuck on the Brain: Everything I Do I Do It For You - Bryan Adams

Welcome to the last day of Romance Week hosted by the cast of Justice Burning and Dysfunction Junction! Every day this week different characters have shared their tips and ideas on how to have the sweetest and/or most romantic Valentine’s Day. It's been so much fun sharing this sweet holiday with all of you.

Today the cast is back for one last minute tip to ensure that tomorrow is the best Valentine's Day it can be.

Aidan McLeod

Keegan McLeod

 Aidan: What a great week. Valentine's Day was a difficult holiday for me after losing my wife, but rediscovering it through the eyes of my kids has changed the way I feel. Romance is wonderful, but love should be celebrated  with everyone - family, friends and co-workers.

Keegan: I agree, and as I learned last year, the gifts are fun - but it's the time spent with the one you care about that makes the time special. Of course, on that note guys (yes, I'm talking to you guys at the station) this is NOT an excuse to avoid any kind of gift at all. Loving someone means knowing them as a person. Give them a gift that suits them personally. 

Rissa Fuller

Rissa: Good advice, Keegan. Girls, if the guys can be satisfied with gifts given from the heart, so can we. Of course chocolates and cards and jewelry are awesome. Sometimes those gifts are possible and sometimes they're not. We can all spend this holiday looking deeper at our relationships and acknowledging to the one we love that, "Yes, I see you. I know what you like. I care about you enough to put time and effort into you. You are my Valentine."

Alexa: That is beautifully put, Rissa.

Ember McLeod

Ember: Yes; and after your help Alexa, I think Dad, Ash, Kindall and Cole are in for a great Valentine's Day supper.

Ash: Yes, thanks for that, Alexa. I don't think we could have handled her special Valentine's Day Chocolate Bar Chili.

Alexa Fehr

Ember: Hey! Remember, it's the gifts given with love that are best for the heart.

Ash: That may be, little Sis', but its how your gift affects my stomach that I was more concerned with.

Alexa: LOL. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, Ash. Ember's culinary skills are growing. 
Kianna: If anyone can make an amazing Valentine's Dinner, it's Alexa. She can Cook! Her food makes me sing. Maybe even deserves a song written about it...

Alexa: Oh, please! Whatever. Your love songs are better focused elsewhere. By the way, you and Ash came up with an awesome Romance Day playlist. I loved the Power Ballads.

Kianna: We had fun finding all the songs.

Ash McLeod

Ash: We were up until after 1 a.m. and I had to force her to stop. I think she's still sneaking songs on the list.

Kianna Ravencamp

Kianna: I am, but I know you are too. Just own it.

Ash: Okay, I admit, I can't leave it alone either.

Alexa: I'm having the same problem with the Romantic Meals pinterest board. I keep finding new meal ideas to add!

Hope: You are such a Pin-head!

Morgan: I do not think that word means what you think it means...

Hope Campbell

Hope: LOL! I meant she's addicted to Pinterest. But I can see you're a Princess Bride fan.

Morgan: I am. Couldn't pass up that opportunity, you just left it wide open.

Kianna: She does that a lot, Morgan. It's one of the things we love about her.

Morgan Daryl

Hope: Good, if you love me so much, how about sending me a friendship bouquet to remind me.

Rissa: I'd send you zinnias any day, Hope.

Keegan: Would you like a zinnia bouquet, Aidan?

Aidan: Sure, baby brother. Go ahead and buy me flowers, just be sure Emily's bouquet is better.

Keegan: Not a problem. This year I ignored the guys taunts and got in touch with my inner romantic. Thanks to everyone here, Emily is going to be blown away. 

Kianna: Aww, that's sweet. I hope everyone here has an amazing day. LOVE to you all.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Don't forget to enter the Valentine's Day Super Romance Giveaway for a last chance to win 1 of 3 prize bundles! Winners will be announced Sunday, February, 14, 2015.

To enter, simply fill out the entry form below and complete at least one option to be entered. Complete additional options for extra entries. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Connect with Hope and her girlfriends on their Pinterest pages! Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Kianna Ravencamp on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Alexa Fehr on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Hope Campbell on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Dysfunction Junction: Carissa Fuller on Pinterest.
Follow April's board Independence, MO - Hometown Lowdown on Pinterest.

Looking for more romance and excitement? 

Be sure to visit Susanne Matthews at Living the Dream to read more about her Romantic Suspense The Harvester Series. A sensual romantic suspense series that will take you "From the streets of Boston to the wilds of Alaska..." 

Love beyond this world? For something out of the ordinary, try A.B. Funkhauser's Award Winning post mortem mortuary romance complete with happy ending! HEUER LOST AND FOUND 

Visit Author Mary Ann Cortez at her blog The Write Place and enter to WIN an autographed copy of First Love anthology and a bookmark with heart charm. 

That magic moment for a teen. The realization that the person you’ve liked is a little more than a friend. Chance meetings. Old friendships. Even a social media post. These can all lead to that first love. Solstice Publishing is proud to present First Love, a Summer Solstive Valentine's Day Anthology.