Book Tour and Giveaway - Ron Doades

Today, I'm taking part in a virtual book tour for one of the most unique and interesting books I've ever heard of. What I thought was a straight self-help book actually isn't. Its more clever than that - and by far more entertaining! I've got an excerpt after the end of this interview so you can judge for yourself. Enjoy!

And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to be in to win this fabulous prize:

One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card

To increase your chances of winning, follow the rest of the tour. Dates and sites are listed here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/10/virtual-book-tour-realizing-you-by-ron.html

Tell us about your latest release.

 I am working on two ideas, neither of which I am able to reveal. All I can reveal is the I intend to continue the new genre for self-help fiction books, all with the subtitle theme, “a novel approach to changing your life.” I can say that I trying to figure out how to establish a still different genre for this type of book, something along the lines of “self-discovery adventure.” All I have to do is to get Amazon to think outside of its conventional box on this one. I am at least trying. Wish me luck.

Good luck! :) What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?

 Nothing yet. I’m still in the early stages of development of my next book project. This much I can promise: It will not take three years to write/produce, as it did Realizing You. I need to reduce that time to one year.

What song would you choose for Karaoke?

 In staying with the Theme of Realizing You, I would try “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash. It may be a little too slow for Karaoke, but I’m willing to risk it for something I can really have my heart lead my body in dancing to. I feel like I’m dancing toward the stars when I hear, “It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day.

Which Star Trek or Star Wars character are you most like?

 I’m going to take a pass on this question. I could never get my head into sci-fi.

Who would you most like to be stranded on a desert island with?  Least?  Why?

 For a long period of time, I would choose Sandra Bullock. She seems like a very interesting, adventuresome and self-sufficient woman. And, I don’t want to forget, sexy and alluring. The person I would least like to be stuck with would be Jay Leno. I don’t like his style or humor. And, I have doubts about his depth of character. By the way, I never got over the retirement of Johnny Carson, so I may be “little” closed minded in my opinion of Jay Leno.

BLURB:  

Meet Robby Aihn, the newest star in the self-help universe and author of the runaway bestseller, Realizing You, now struggling with his first taste of fame. Though his five principles for good living are changing other people’s lives, his own life is starting to fall apart. When Robby stages a lavish self-help conference in Dallas, he attracts others with their own secrets: his estranged wife and unhappy teenage daughter; the businessman pursuing his own agenda; the all-star pitcher facing the end of his career; and the shy co-author Robby never acknowledged, who is searching for meaning in her own life. Join Robby and the others on their journey toward understanding and fulfillment, in this truly novel approach to changing YOUR life.

Excerpt

Sophie was the last one awake. She lay tensely in the queen-size bed next to her mother’s until she heard Marie’s soft, even breathing. Certain that her mother was deeply asleep, she slipped out of bed, tiptoed to her suitcase, and took out the little pink and red bag. Inside nestled a print scarf and a multi-colored beaded bracelet. Both items still bore their price tags. She’d snipped the tag off only the tortoiseshell hair comb so she could wear it today. She took it from the nightstand, looked at all three items, shook out and stroked the glossy material of the scarf, then quietly tucked all of them back in the bag, which she pushed deep into her suitcase. She wouldn’t take them out again until she left Dallas. She’d never wear that stupid hair comb again. She told herself it wasn’t as pretty as she’d thought when she first saw it in the store. The stern little voice inside her head told her that wasn’t the reason.

Sophie refused to allow herself to know what the real reason was.

She hadn’t left Colorado with those items in her suitcase. Her mother didn’t know she had them. She couldn’t explain where she’d gotten them.

But taking them had made her feel better. Everybody did it, at least once or twice. No big deal. She took a deep relaxing breath, thinking about how the act of lifting them from the counter made her feel, and realized she was finally getting drowsy. She crawled into bed, turned over, and was deeply asleep in three minutes.

RON DOADES is president of Ronald Doades & Company, a consulting firm that, since 1977, has helped the people of large and mid-size energy companies improve their individual and corporate performance results by learning from the best-practice experiences of others. A popular speaker on the topic of managing change for optimal results, he holds an MBA from Columbia University and an MS in Psychology from The New School in New York City. Visit him at www.realizingyoubook.com

SUSAN SLOATE is the author of twenty published books, including STEALING FIRE, a #2 Amazon bestseller and Quarter-Finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, and FORWARD TO CAMELOT (authored with Kevin Finn), which in its first edition was a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in 3 literary competitions and was optioned for film by a Hollywood production company. She lives in Mount Pleasant, SC. Visit her online at http://susansloate.com. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Into Romance Hop

Hi everyone and welcome to my Kiwi stop of The Romance Reviews blog hop. So glad you stopped by! Not only am I going to be giving away a PDF or Kindle copy of my romantic fantasy novella, AFFINITY to one lucky person, but when you get to the bottom of the post, you'll see I have goodies for EVERYONE :) Yay! Don't you love giveaways and free stuff? Just leave a comment to be in the draw and if you want to double or even treble your chances - follow me on Twitter or Like me on Facebook. Easy peasy!

Romance writers are HUGE readers. One of the perks of being a writer is being able to rub shoulders with some fabulous talent, and to read their work before they're discovered by the masses. Catherine Bybee and Laura Kaye would be the most notable authors I've read before they hit their stride and started featuring regularly on the best-sellers lists. From their very first books, they were dynamite! So - with that in mind, I want to introduce you to two more amazing authors I consider to be the next up-and-comers and their books I fell in love with.

 First up - Kathryn Knight and her paranormal novel, GULL HARBOR.

I fell in love with this book because of the seemingly effortless way the author handled the story, the language and the pacing. From the very start, the hair stood out on the back of my neck and there were a couple of times I didn't want to be the last one up at night! Serious spookiness aside, the attraction between Claire and Max was sizzling and had me turning the pages long into the night (hence the scaredy-pants drama). I was rooting for them to work through their past hurts and find their happy-ever-after because quite simply, they wouldn't find it with anyone else. They were destined for each other. This book is getting some wonderful reviews, as is Kathryn's other book, SILVER LAKE, and when you read her work, you'll understand why. A true talent, get her books now and you too can say, 'you knew her when...' :)

The next author I absolutely ADORE anything by is Vonnie Davis.

Vonnie's books are laced with laugh-out-loud humour and swoon-worthy moments of serious sexiness. A woman of many talents, Vonnie writes stories in ALL genres, so you're sure to find something that tickles your fancy. And here is where your perseverance is rewarded. Vonnie's latest release, A MAN FOR ANNALEE, is FREE on kindle over the dates 17-21 September. Woohoo!! 

Click image for Amazon

Oh - and as an aside, my latest book, BEYOND THE SHADOWS is also being offered free for Kindle (click on the image on the sidebar) on the same dates as Annalee. So go get them and enjoy! :)

Don't forget that this blog hop is ongoing until September 21, 11.59pm EST, so you've got plenty of time to go and visit the other blogs taking part and (cross fingers!) win a book or three :) Maybe you'll even find your new favourite author during this Hop. Click on the Fall Into Romance button below which will take you on a random trip to another participating blog that you've yet to visit. Just make sure you're logged in to The Romance Reviews for the button to work. Registration is free if you haven't done this yet and can be found on the top right hand corner of their home page.

Before you head off to the next blog, don't forget to leave a comment with your contact email in case you win, and extra entry points will be awarded for Twitter or FB follow/likes. Good luck and thanks for visiting with me. It was fun!

Darkness Series - Lilly Gayle and Giveaway

I'm so excited to have Lilly Gayle guest blog on my site today! Lilly's Out of the Darkness was one of the very first TWRP books I'd read. Quality writing, sexy and intelligent reading, I was hooked from the very first page. This lady knows how to write a FANTASTIC story. I remember pestering her to hurry up and write the next book in this series. I wanted Gerard's book so badly (you will too once you've devoured OotD) so I was shameless, even though I didn't know her so well then. Then, one day I got an email from TWRP (I'm signed up as a first-reader for them) to read and evaluate a manuscript that had just come in. I do believe I screamed a little and did a little jig in my excitement when I saw the title and author :) Okay - enough of me and my girl-fan squealing. Lets hear from Lilly and how she came to write the Darkness series.

When I first decided to write about vampires back in 2005, I knew I wanted to stick closely to some of the original legends. No glittering vampires for me! I also wanted my hero to have a conscience. In my opinion, a heroic vampire wouldn't want to be a vampire. So, I had him searching for a cure, and Out of the Darkness was born.

The book wasn't published until 2010, but it gave me my start as a published writer.

The legend I followed in Out of the Darkness was a Hebrew legend about Adam's first wife, Lilith.

Hebrew legends say God created man and woman together and in the same fashion. The first female was Lilith. She saw herself as Adam’s equal, but Adam wanted a helpmate. Lilith refused

to be subservient and left Eden. That’s when God created Eve from Adam’s rib. Lilith later became a succubus, seducing mortal men while they slept.

According to vampire lore, after Cain killed his brother, Able, God cursed him to walk the earth in darkness for eternity. The myth also claimed God cursed him with an eternal craving for blood because he craved the blood of his brother. After Cain left Eden, Lilith went to Cain, gave him her blood, and awakened him to his immortal nature.

In the sequel to Out of the Darkness, Embrace the Darkness, Vincent's friend Gerard wants more than just the cure Vincent sought in the first book. He wants answers.

In the second book, I further explore  vampire myths and legends. And my favorite—and  the one I think best fits my series—dates back to Mesopotamia around 4000 B.C.

The ancient Sumerians ruled Mesopotamia. They built a dynasty; the first cities,  city and state religions, and civilization. But war, death and disease was rampant.

Young men died in the prime of their life, suddenly and unexpectedly on the battlefield or from diseases caused by war and destruction. Legend claimed that by dying under such extreme circumstance, the spirits became conscious in the grave, their desire to live so strong they rose up from the grave.

In Embrace the Darkness, I explore this legend further and hope that it brings the myth of vampires into a more believable, fictional world.

I had a lot of fun writing these two books and hope to write at least two more in the series. I hope that you will check out either or both of my books and let me know what you think.

Leave a comment for me today, for a chance to win a digital copy of Out of the Darkness, the first book in my Darkness Series.

Lilly Gayle~http://lillygayle.com

Author of paranormal and historical romance:

Helpless Hearts- a western historical romance: Can a former gunslinger find redemption through love? Available now on Amazon and B&N.

Embrace the Darkness-a paranormal romance: To find their way into the light, they must first EMBRACE THE DARKNESS. Digital copy available now on Amazon. Available through other retailers in digital and print formats 6/21/2013.

Back list available on Amazon.

Love is in the Air - Blog Hop!

Welcome to another pit-stop on the Love is in the Air Blog Hop. I’m so thrilled to be sharing such a special time on the calendar with you! J Don't forget to visit the other participating blogs (links at the bottom of this post) to increase your chances of winning lots of yummy goodies!

I will be giving one lucky commenter a PDF copy of my fantasy romance, Affinity – an international giveaway (winner announced February 15^th). Don’t forget to leave me some comment love and your email so I can send you your prize!

In the wrong hands, her gift could be a curse - in her mind, it already is.

You’re here, because like me, you love romance. There is simply no better way to indulge than to pick up a good book and lose yourself in those heady feelings only love can bring.

A good cover can take you through all those same emotions - tell a story - and I happen to think my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, are one of the best, so I thought I'd show some of them off. 

(I've also read each of these stories below and can attest to them being knock-out love stories!)

The first glance...

First Touch

First Kiss

First intimate moment



Marriage



Love in later life

Sigh…love and romance is the best don't you agree?

What is your favourite moment of the dance between two people as they embark on a relationship? Is it the build-up of the attraction; the first kiss; or the declaration?

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the person you love the most and good luck with all the goodies on offer during this Blog Hop.

Sara Walter Ellwood - Blog Tour

Hi Folks! Its so nice to see you here again :) I've got another wonderful writer lined up for you to meet. Please welcome Sara Walter Ellwood. How cool is that name? Sara is offering a wonderful prize pack during her book tour for her new book, Gambling on a Secret, that includes custom made jewelry, e-books, swag pack and more. Click on the image at the bottom of the post to find out more!

Thank you so much for having me here today!

It's my absolute pleasure, Sara! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

To be different and to relate something that isn’t in my bio, I’m going to relate five facts no one might not know about me:

1 .   I can’t watch my hands while typing. When I do, I get lost and lose speed.

2.     My newest hobby is making jewelry. It’s something my daughter and I have really gotten into. Our plan is to make enough to do some craft shows this summer. So now I’m collecting beads and stealing writing time to design necklaces. But hey, I do some story planning then. So, all’s good, right?

3.      My favorite dessert is cheesecake, but I prefer pie over plain old cake. Maybe that’s why I love Boston cream pie too—it’s a cake and a pie...LOL

4.      When I was a kid, I wanted to be a country singer, but my third grade music teacher trampled that dream to dust when she refused to let me in the chorus because, as she put it, I couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket.

5.      I’ve never sent a text message. Lame, I know.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In eleventh grade when I wrote my first novel. A massive hand-written romance set during the Civil War.

Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

I can’t even remember what inspired the book I wrote in eleventh grade. It was probably a product of my love affair at the time with John Jakes’ North and South Series and Gone with the Wind. But what inspired my first published book, A Hunter’s Angel (published under my pen name Cera duBois), was a line out of the Twilight series.

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

Since my call story for my first book is pretty uninspiring—I screamed, I danced around the room, and my husband and kids thought they had to call in professional help. I know; what’s different about that? Most writers feel the same way when they get that magical email (who actually gets a phone call these days anyway?).

But my call story for Gambling On A Secret is totally unique. It was total, unadulterated shock. I stared at the computer and just couldn’t believe my luck, which inspired an entire blog article itself. First—I was actually talked into posting on a blog during a pitch session with Piper Denna (executive editor of Lyrical Press) by my dear friend and awesome critique partner D’Ann Lindun. I posted mainly to appease D’Ann and really didn’t expect anything to come from it. Second—I took all but 1 minute to post the pitch (basically, I copy/pasted a pitch line I’d created in a class). Third—Piper is the first and only editor to ever read Gambling On A Secret.

Oh, then I started screaming, dancing around the house and laughing until I cried. My poor husband dug out the number for psychological intervention again. He really thought I was bound for a straight jacket this time.

Love it! :) What drew you to write your chosen genre?

I really have no idea. I think the genre chose me. My first Western—Heartstrings, which will be released in April—has a country music mega star as a hero. It just seemed natural that he’d be from Texas. As I built the story around him, I found myself writing a Western. I had to research EVERYTHING. I’d read a few contemporary Westerns before then and I love old Western movies, but up until then, I never considered writing in the genre. Just as when a pet chooses you and becomes your best friend, I love everything about contemporary Westerns. However, I’m not really surprised that I completely embraced the genre. I grew up on a farm, and I realized in my old age (well, I don’t consider myself all that old, but my kids have a way of making me feel old), how much I loved living on a farm. I miss it. Writing about ranching (though totally different from the way we farm in Pennsylvania) has become my way of living out my dream of having a farm again.

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Writing the first draft. I sometimes find it almost painful, in fact. Not root canal painful, but close. Just shows I must be a bit sadistic to continue doing this to myself.

I'm with you all the way on that one! Which one of your books is your ‘baby’ and why?

Them all!  But if you’re asking which one I’d consider the book of my heart, it’s Gambling On A Secret. I simply love the characters, the world that I’ve created and the story. Charli and Dylan are so broken in the beginning, but as they rebuild her ranch, they rebuild themselves.

What are you working on right now?

Book 3 of The Colton Gamblers—Gambling On A Dream. Which has me rethinking which is more painful - that root canal or drafting. Dawn and Wyatt are really fighting me right now. I’m also working on a project with the working title A Family for Jesse. I’m hoping to submit this story to another publisher and/or agents. It’s also has a country music hero, a JR Ewing-like villain and is a romantic suspense.

Latest news?

Lots!  The Wild Rose Press released A Hunter’s Blade (published under my pen name Cera duBois) everywhere on January 2. It previously was only available on Amazon. On April 1, Lyrical Press will release my second contemporary Western, Heartstrings. Gambling On A Heart (book 2 of The Colton Gamblers) is set for tentative release in September.

Where can we find you and your books?

Buy Links:

Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=574

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Secret-Colter-Gamblers-ebook/dp/B00AVLL4XA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357261386&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gambling-on-a-secret-sara-walter-ellwood/1114062294?ean=2940016153667

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/gambling-on-a-secret

Author links:

Website: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com

Blog: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarawalterellwood.ceradubois/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwood

Blurb:

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches—the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

COVER QUOTE: “Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

Ms. Brown also named Gambling On A Secret as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today.

Excerpt:

“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word exterminator. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

Bio:

Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

Giveaway:

**PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY**

~One poster from every stop will win a Gambling On A Secret ebook

~One commenter from each stop will win a piece of custom jewelry.

(The winners of these two prizes will be announced the day after the tour stop.)

I also have 2 Grand Prizes!

~First Grand Prize is a SWAG PACK, including a signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby. Also included is a copy of D’Ann Lindun’s Shot Through the Heart, a pen, a notebook, a horse themed mini calendar, a patriotic themed day planner, and more all tucked away in a reusable tote bag at the end of my blog tour.

~Second Grand Prize is a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you follow the tour and comment as often as possible, you increase your chances of winning!

(The winners of the Swag Pack and Gift Card will be announced on March 1, 2013.)

(Swag Pack is only eligible for US residents to win. The jewelry and gift card are eligible to US and Canada residents only. The ebook is eligible to anyone, unless prohibited by law.)

WAAAHHH!! I'm ineligible. Times like these, New Zealand really does seem so far away! Great prizes, Sara! Good luck to everyone entering - they are some wonderful prizes! Good luck with your new releases, Sara - and I'm wishing you happy future first drafting! :)

Super Book Blast - Maggie Jaimeson

Welcome to another awesome Book Blast Tour. I love hearing about these great new books, don't you?! Get a gander at Maggie Jaimeson's second book in her Sweetwater Canyon series. Sounds like a great read doesn't it?! And just look at that cover...beautiful...

Maggie is also giving away goodies on this tour. Check it out:

One autographed cover flat will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop. In addition, Maggie will award a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host. Good luck!
You must leave an email address to be entered into any of the drawings.

To add to your chances of winning, visit some of the other stops which you will find here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-book-blast-healing-notes-by.html

BLURB

Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.  

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.  

A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.  

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Claire crawled onto a stool on the other side of the island and smiled.  Neither of them talked for several minutes as they listened to the water in the pot heat.

“When I grow up, I’m going to play with Sweetwater Canyon all the time.”

“Are you sure you want to hang out with all us old folks?”

“You’re not all old. Well maybe a little old. But Kat isn’t old.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s true. She’s only seventeen.” And going on twenty-five it seemed sometimes.

“Oh, seventeen? That is old.” Claire put a finger to her lips and furrowed her brow. “How old do I have to be to play in the band all the time?”

“Probably at least eighteen.”

“But, you just said Kat—”

“Kat is different, because her mother plays in the band and can watch her all the time.”

“Well, you can watch me all the time. You can be my mother.”

Rachel gulped.

“Well, can’t you?”

“Can’t she what?” Noel walked in the room and lifted Claire off the chair in a big hug, swinging her around the room. “Can’t she what? She can do anything she wants.”

“See,” Claire leaned forward and looked at Rachel over Noel’s shoulder. “See, even Daddy thinks you can be my mother.”

“Whoa.” Noel set Claire back on the stool. “I’m not sure what I walked in on here.” He sent an accusing glance to Rachel. “You already have a mother, Claire.”

“I know. Not my real mother. My second mother. You know, like my friend, Megan. Her mommy and daddy got divorced and her daddy married a new mommy. So, Megan has two mommies now.  See?  Rachel can be my second mommy. Okay?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cool signed cover flat ONE lucky commenter from Novel Natterings will win!
GOOD LUCK!

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com

Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson

 

Don't forget to leave a comment for Maggie to be in the draw to win those great prizes!