Bits 'n Bobs Author Blog
Enjoy an excerpt and added bonus feature from Wareeze Woodson's romantic Regency suspense novel, An Enduring Love. http://buff.ly/1qqyBSe Cover blurb: Born and raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s death-bed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval. Nearly four years later, she escapes and arrives in London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball is very awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young debutante later in the evening. Trouble, suspense and danger, follow her from Latvia. Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love? Is it worth keeping? Excerpt: A liveried butler, stern of countenance and standing stiffly erect opened the door. “Your invitation, Ma’am.” Rebecca trembled, but forced out, “Surely, I don’t need an invitation. Please inform Lord Rhys that his wife is here.” Astonishment flashed across the butler’s face before he bowed his head and nodded for her to follow him. Sonja was seated in the hall while he led Rebecca to a small parlor papered with stripes of ivory and cream. The entire room seemed a little intimidating, with an elaborate sofa covered with gold brocade sitting before a wide window. Chairs were shattered about the room as well, but the beauty of the room did little to sooth her nerves. She glanced at the low table in front of the sofa then let her gaze shift to the fireplace, glowing with warmth. The softly burning coals added soothing comfort to the room and with that, her whole body relaxed. After the butler exited, Rebecca quickly knelt down to straighten Johnnie’s apparel. “We want to look our best mans maz cilveku, my little man. You must learn English better now we are home. They are not expecting us, but no matter. Your father will love you.” The door opened and Rhys stood on the threshold with a scowl of impatience on his face, speaking to the butler over his shoulder. “Some strumpet masquerading as my deceased wife. Be damned. You’re positive she said, my wife. Not a long lost relative wanting to sponge…?” Rebecca jumped to her feet, took Johnnie by the hand and pasted a trembling smile on her lips. “Rhys.” * * * An Added Bonus Feature! Letters discovered in the belongings of the villain. These letters are not revealed in the book but are held in my heart and give insight to the story. A tidbit solely for you. Enjoy. Wareeze Woodson The Year of Our Lord 1813 My Dearest Husband, I write with my heart filled with sorrow. My beloved mother has passed on to join my father in Heaven. I can only be happy for her although sadness weighs me down. I am now acquainted with deep sadness and how you must mourn for your father. Grief makes it hard to write, but you deserve to know why I am delayed in departing this land. At the moment, I am trapped in Latvia due to the up-rising in my country. I do not know how long it may be before I am allowed to travel to England to join you. There is a guard placed outside my gate to prevent my departure at present, but I will travel to Rica at the first opportunity and board a ship to London. Perhaps all will settle quickly. I can only pray it shall be so. I cannot wait to be in your arms again, to kiss your dear face and gaze into your eyes once more. With words, you painted a lovely picture of your home in England and of your relatives. The thought of meeting your family holds much pleasure for me, especially since I am now alone. Take care, My Love. I shall write to let you know as the hour of my departure grows closer. Keep safe and know you have my enduring love. Yours Always, Rebecca Sudduth Another letter confiscated by the villain. The Year of Our Lord 1814 My Dearest Husband, I have not received any word from you since you sailed away from Latvia. I hope you are well. I must write quickly in order to send this to you. There is still a guard at my gate. With your connection in the government, perhaps you can return and help me travel to England. There will be one added person in need of your assistance, our son. If you cannot come at once, please write. I am most anxious to hear from you. Never forget my enduring love. Anxiously waiting. Yours Always, Rebecca Sudduth * * * About Wareeze: I am a native of Texas and still live in this great state. I married my high school sweetheart, years and years ago. We raised four children and have eight grandchildren, and grandchildren are Grand. At the moment, all my children and my grandchildren live within seventy miles of our home, lots of visits. My husband and I still love each other after all these years, the stuff romance is made of, Happy Ever After! website - http://www.wareezewoodson.com/ face book - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wareeze-Woodson/523727757689755 twitter - twitter.com@wareeze face book - https://www.goodreads.com/wareeze
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This week's Thursday's Threads features another glimpse at Rachel Sharpe's new book, Cold Ambition. (Jordan James, PI series) Genre: Mystery/Suspense Heat Level: Sweet Buy Link: http://www.amzn.com/B00L2OLQPG/ Blurb: "It was my life-long dream to become a private eye. Little did I know that with my very first case, that dream would become a life-threatening nightmare..." When Jordan James decided to embark on a career as a private investigator, she never could have imagined that a chance encounter would lead to her staring down the barrel of a gun on the roof’s edge of a high-rise building. As she begins to investigate her first case, the puzzling murder of a prominent businessman that has left Boston’s finest mystified for more than two decades, she finds herself suddenly immersed in a treacherous underworld brimming with betrayal, raw greed, and political subterfuge of international proportions. In the midst of this, she discovers she is falling for her mysterious client despite the hints of his dark past. Can this feisty Southern girl with a penchant for trouble solve this baffling case or is she doomed to become another tragic chapter in an international conspiracy? Excerpt: We sat there in silence and heard Ace stumble towards the door and fumble with the lock. “Yeah?” “Is Jordan James here?” a muffled voice inquired. I strained to hear, but the distance between the rooms and the closed door made it nearly impossible. “Who?” Ace laughed. Suddenly, there was a strange sound. It sounded like a firecracker had gone off. This sound was followed by a loud thud which echoed through the apartment. In an instant, Rick and I were on our feet. Rick turned off the light and grabbed the tape from the VCR. I searched the room vainly for a place to hide. Outside the room, I heard shoes echoing on the floor and the sound of doors being opened. Before I had another moment to think, Rick grabbed me and practically carried me to the far corner of the room by the soundboard. Next to the soundboard was a thin wall covered in soundproof foam. Three of the walls had this soundproof foam but the wall contiguous with the door did not. It appeared Ace was still installing it. He pulled it back to reveal a small closet- sized room. He brought me inside and replaced the wall, closing us in. We huddled together in the corner. Looking around I realized that this was the room in which Ace occasionally recorded. Suddenly, faintly, I heard the door to the media room open. I heard footsteps making their way around the room. After what seemed like an eternity, the intruder spoke. “She’s not here,” the muffled voice stated. “Yes, she came into the building with Michaels’ kid. No, they can’t be far. Don’t worry. We know where their car is parked. If not before, we’ll get them when they go back for it.” Links: www.rachelsharpe.com www.facebook.com/authorrachelsharpe www.twitter.com/RachelCSharpe 6/18/2014 6 Comments Guest author Rachel Sharpe! With me today is author Rachel Sharpe, giving us a bit about her new contemporary romantic suspense, Cold Ambition, that released from Amazon today! http://www.amnz.com/B00L2OLQPG Congratulations, Rachel! Let’s hear about your book! “COLD AMBITION” Blurb “It was my life-long dream to become a private eye. Little did I know that with my very first case, that dream would become a life-threatening nightmare...” When Jordan James decided to embark on a career as a private investigator, she never could have imagined that a chance encounter would lead to her staring down the barrel of a gun on the roof’s edge of a high-rise building. As she begins to investigate her first case, the puzzling murder of a prominent businessman that has left Boston’s finest mystified for more than two decades, she finds herself suddenly immersed in a treacherous underworld brimming with betrayal, raw greed, and political subterfuge of international proportions. In the midst of this, she discovers she is falling for her mysterious client despite the hints of his dark past. Can this feisty Southern girl with a penchant for trouble solve this baffling case or is she doomed to become another tragic chapter in an international conspiracy? "COLD AMBITION" available now from Soul Mate Publishing! Excerpt Perilously perched on the edge of a high-rise that offered a spectacular view of Faneuil Hall is most certainly not how I pictured my untimely demise. Call me old-fashioned, but I was kind of hoping to go out in a more peaceful manner. Unfortunately, things don’t happen exactly how you plan them, especially when your chosen profession has the uncanny ability to thrust you into the icy hands of Death. I stood there, inching toward the edge, wondering how it came to this point. But forgive me; I have a tendency to digress. Let me start at the beginning. * * * Wow! What a cliffhanger! I believe I’ll mosey on over to Amazon and check this out J Thanks for being on the blog today, Rachel! And best wishes for your book! RACHEL SHARPE BIO Rachel Sharpe is the author of Cold Ambition, the first novel in the Jordan James, PI series. Although born and raised in the South, “Yankee” relatives first led Rachel to historic New England, which she has come to consider her second home and is the setting for the series. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, Rachel began dedicating her free time to her childhood passion, writing, and in the fall of 2013, she signed her first book deal with Soul Mate Publishing. An active member of Sisters in Crime, Rachel currently resides with her husband in the Greater New Orleans area. LINKS: Website: www.rachelsharpe.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorrachelsharpe Twitter: www.twitter.com/RachelCSharpe Buy Link: http://www.amzn.com/B00L2OLQPG 6/10/2014 1 Comment Interview with author Karen LoppGood morning! Today’s visiting author is Karen Lopp. Her novel, Splintered Lies, debuted on Amazon May 21! Let’s start with the cover blurb for this contemporary romantic suspense, and then we’ll have a chat! Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/SplinteredLies BLURB: Detective Rissa Marten sacrificed her only chance for a normal life to put a drug lord behind bars. Now, her life in the shadows has to be brought to life to save the man she has secretly loved for years. With a price on her head can she risk letting him know? Detective Jerah Qassem has built his career as an undercover agent in the dangerous world of drug cartels. But when a ghost from his past is resurrected can he overcome his bitterness in time to save her life? CMR: Hi, Karen! It’s great to have you here today. How long have you been writing? Karen: About 6 years CMR: What do you enjoy most about writing? Karen: I love bringing characters to life and giving readers an adventure. CMR: I see you write both Western Historical Romance and Contemporary Romantic Suspense. What draws you to those genres? Karen: My first love is history, particularly the old west since I have lots of roots in its history and live out here. But some of the things I want to write about just don’t fit into a historical novel. With action and suspense second on my list of favorites, it was a natural fit to delve into Romantic Suspense. CMR: What, if any, differences between these two genres do you write into your heroes? Karen: There isn’t much difference because I strive to make the hero worthy and those traits work in any genre or time period. The main difference would be the morals of the day and what is and isn’t accepted. CMR: How about your heroines? Karen: There is more of a difference here because of the laws and perceptions of women in historical times so I must be careful to not make my historical heroines too modern in their thinking and I try to avoid any preachiness about those issues. It was what it was so I work within those parameters. CMR: Tell us a bit about your newest book, Splintered Lies. Karen: It is a story about a woman who has had to live under the threat of assignation from a drug cartel she gave witness against. She must learn that not everyone is out to get her and not everyone will betray her. With some intense action and a man who refuses to give her up it is fast paced and a little steamy. CMR: Sounds intriguing! What was your inspiration for this story? Karen: Living only four hours from the boarder of Mexico we are very aware of the drug smuggling issues and the violence that accompanies it. But my main inspiration hit me with the hero’s name (Jerah). He just fit the profile of what I wanted and the rest came easily. CMR: What kind of research did you have to do for this contemporary romantic suspense? Karen: I had to learn about drugs, the smuggling of drugs, and looked into drug cartels. I did some research into police procedures and some medical situations. I also did research into some towns in Mexico and the weather patterns for the seasons. CMR: How did you decide on the setting? Have you ever been there? Karen: I decided on San Diego for two reasons, the proximity to Mexico and a seaside city. Both were integral to my story. Yes I have been to San Diego a few times. CMR: Which character was the easiest to write? Why? Karen: Jerah. I always seem to find it easier to write the hero. CMR: What surprises did you uncover as these characters and story developed? Karen: I don’t really have surprises, because I get to know my characters quite well before I start a story and generally I know which direction the story will go in. CMR: In Splintered Lies, we have a hero who believes the woman he once loved is dead, and a heroine who must expose her hidden life to save the man she secretly fell in love with years ago. It sounds like they may have a hard time working together. Let’s read an excerpt: Feet aching and jaw cramped from the effort to keep her teeth from chattering, Rissa shuffled down the dark street on the outskirts of Ensenada. Rain pummeled the ground and debris bumped into her ankles as the water rushed along the road. Afraid to look down at what swirled at their feet, she sloshed beside Jerah. “See a bridge yet?” “No. But one of these streets has to have one.” The next street did have one and they hurried across as the normally dry creek bed swelled with roiling, muddy water, various sizes of tree limbs, and a good amount of trash. Shivers shook her. Not even the little warmth of Jerah’s arm around her shoulders helped. It was probably a good thing she could no longer feel how sore and raw her feet were. A few blocks over, they came to the tourist section of town and jogged the last bit to the closest hotel. Rissa shoved drenched tresses from her face and shook water from her shaking hands. A puddle pooled at her feet and made the tile floor slick as she struggled to unwind the tattered remains of material from her feet. Jerah trotted over with a key. “Come on, let’s get warmed up.” Mischief gleamed in his eyes in spite of his blue lips. “Then we find some food.” She hurried down the hall as water dribbled down her legs and shivers rattled her bones. “Already done. I bribed the desk clerk to send up some food.” He pushed the door open and waved her inside. Rissa dashed to the bathroom and turned the hot water on full force. With a sigh, she stepped in the tub and let the warm water flow over her. Jerah followed. “What are you doing?” “Hey, I’m just as frozen as you.” He stripped his soaked shirt off and tossed it over the rod. Next came his slacks and shoes. “This feels good.” Not much imagination needed now. Dark hair clung to his chest as water coursed over him. His maroon briefs hugged his hips. She jerked her gaze up and turned to face the white tiled wall. The old rejection he delivered all those years ago slammed into her and Rissa shivered. “Sorry, didn’t mean to hog the water.” He stepped to the side. The steamy water didn’t come close to warming her soul. “Want me to help you out of that dress?” “No.” Fingers fisted, she glared at her toes. Keep it together girl. She blew out a breath and straightened her shoulders. All she had to do was get back to San Diego, finger the perp, and disappear. Shove her rekindled desire for Jerah aside. Rissa slapped the wall. “It’ll be okay, babe.” Feather light kisses caressed her shoulder as Jerah ran his hands up and down her arms. A groan worked its way up her throat. His touch electrified her. Teased her. Tormented her. She shrugged his hands off. “I agreed to play in public, not private.” “Yeah, I know.” Weariness loaded his tone. “You did a great job. I only meant to comfort you.” Uncurling her fingers, Rissa knew she had to push Jerah away or she’d succumb to his seductive touch. Everyone she had ever dared to love was dead. She only had to express interest in a man and he’d soon be residing in a coffin. Watching Jerah die was not an option. “Just keep your hands to yourself. Carl isn’t here.” “You can have the damn shower to yourself.” With a jerk on the curtain and a waft of cool air, Jerah exited the tub. * * * CMR: Karen, is there anything you’d like to add? Karen: I want to thank you for hosting me today on your wonderful blog. CMR: It was wonderful having you here, today. Thanks so much for the chat! It has been a lot of fun getting to know you. Best of luck with your books! FIND KAREN: http://karenlopp.com https://twitter.com/karen_lopp https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenlopp http://www.pinterest.com/karenlopp This week on Thursdays Threads we have debut author, Anne B. Cole and her book, Souls Entwined. Souls Entwined A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Scheduled to Release April 30, 2014 By Soul Mate Publishing Heat Level: Sweet Romance Souls Entwined is Anne B. Cole’s debut release, combining sweet romantic suspense, time travel, and paranormal elements in a New Adult novel attractive to a wide range of readers. In addition to writing, Anne teaches preschool and is raising three very active teenagers with her husband of twenty-two years. Her love for making fresh baked goodies, running, hiking, historical fiction, and her three pet cats continue to be her inspiration while she pens the sequel to Souls Entwined. Blurb When a cursed family heirloom sends Gretta Dobbs back in time, a hunky construction worker, Sam Daggett, suddenly finds himself love struck and joins her adventure. Their souls entwine within the bodies of young lovers on a Greek island in 1829, where they begin to unravel the mysteries behind Gretta’s ring all while avoiding a bloodthirsty pirate who is determined to seek revenge. Gretta and Sam must find the secrets needed to save her and her relatives from an afterlife in purgatory and return to their own lives---or risk becoming prisoners of the past, continuing the evil cycle of the ring’s curse. Excerpt From Chapter Two Not a sound was heard as Sam’s eyes snapped open. Under the branches of the downed tree, Purple Shorts began to stir. “Sorry, are you okay?” Sam gently lifted his weight off her. “I think so,” she replied faintly. Sam released his hold on her shoulder, amazed her face wasn’t scratched. He wondered how bad he appeared. “Do you think you can stand?” She nodded. Together they rose to their feet, easily stepping out from the tangle of branches. Eyes growing wide, she began to sway. “Sit,” Sam commanded, steadying her. “No, look!” She pointed. Sam gazed over his shoulder. His mouth fell open. Beneath the tree, their bodies lay, motionless. “Are we . . .” Purple Shorts began, but Sam shook his head slowly. Before she could say more, he interrupted, “I don’t know. Do you feel—” “Dead?” He scanned the area for help. Everything around them was still, as if they were watching a movie and someone hit ‘pause.’ No wind, no sound, no movement. He flinched when cold fingers clutched his hand. Squeezing gently, he lifted her hand in front of their faces. “Can you feel this?” Purple Shorts nodded. “I don’t think we’re dead,” Sam whispered, gazing into her blue eyes. To follow Anne’s publishing journey and connect with her, check out her blog site and find her on Twitter and Facebook. http://www.amazon.com/Souls-Entwined-Anne-B-Cole-ebook/dp/B00K0W80JQ/ Blog |
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