by Angela Smith | Feb 27, 2014 | Guests
Today I feature Jacqueline von Zwehl and her book The Prayer, a Love Story. Be sure to follow the tour and enter for your chance to win.
One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Blurb:…
Do you Believe in Miracles?
Do you Believe in Eternal Love?
Do you Believe in Answered Prayers?
YOU WILL
The Prayer, A Love Story is the inspirational true story of one woman who discovers the secret to living a life filled with miracles, unconditional love and answered prayers.
The journey begins with a divine promise, continues with unforeseen life challenges, and eventually leads to Jerusalem. Inside the Old City, a prayer will unlock the key to a life of miracles. This journey is proof heaven is real and its gifts are available to you now. Whether you have stopped believing in God or not, God believes in you.
The journey holds a promise for everyone. No matter how much darkness exists in your life, it cannot diminish the flicker of even the tiniest light. That light will lead you to your destiny and it will change your life forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Destiny
As soon as I got in the car, I almost changed my mind. I was exhausted. It had been a long week and, quite frankly, I was not in the mood for a party. Still, I had to go. I’d just say hello to Todd and leave early, I decided. I fumbled around in the dim light, looking for the directions. I had gone to Fort Lauderdale only a handful of times, and I still wasn’t sure how to get downtown.
Todd and I had known each other for years. He was the friend from Long Island who had organized the dismal raft-up that made me decide to leave New York. He was one of the most sociable and fun people you’d ever meet. Once you get on his email list, you’re a friend for life. That’s how he is. Todd was one of the last people I said goodbye to when I moved to Boca.
The previous Tuesday night, he had called. In his classic, larger-than-life style, he said he knew a guy who had a house in Fort Lauderdale, and he and a big group of friends from Long Island were flying down to stay there for the upcoming boat show. They were throwing a huge party on Saturday night, and I just had to be there.
I was not in the mood even early in the week. I was working long hours at the time, and I was men- tally drained. I also didn’t look forward to partying with a bunch of single guys from Long Island. If it had been anyone else but Todd, I would have politely declined, but we hadn’t seen each other in over a year and a half.
Reluctantly, I accepted, but I added one little white lie. I told Todd I had a boyfriend. The last thing I want- ed was for any guy at this party to think I was single. I did not want to get hit on by any out-of-state guys on vacation. I’d just make a quick appearance and get home early, I told myself.
I pulled up to the house a little after dark. It was a spectacular, newly constructed mansion on the inter- coastal in the Las Olas Isles of Fort Lauderdale. The home was impressive and stately, surrounded by stunning landscaping tall palm trees and a gated entrance. Although the house was huge, it looked quite warm and inviting, as well.
Suddenly, something odd hit me. There didn’t seem to be a party. In fact, hardly any cars were parked on the street. I double checked the address and checked the number on the gate.Yes, it was the right house.Was I too early?
Flashbacks of the cancelled raft-up went through my mind. The last time I got an invitation from Todd for a supposedly huge event, it turned out to be a small disaster. I swore that if Todd had invited me to this house and there was no party, he was going to owe me big time.
As I started toward the gate, my doubts took over. What was I doing there? I couldn’t hear any music. I considered turning around and getting back in my car, but just then, someone on a Harley parked next to my car. He spotted me right away and made his way towards me. I thought I would look foolish if I turned around and got back in my car.
The tall man from the Harley approached.“Hi, I’m Joe.”
“Hi, Joe, I’m Jackie.”
“Hey, Jackie. So, how do you know Chris?”
“I don’t know Chris. My friend Todd invited me.” “Oh. I have no idea who Todd is.”
I was starting to feel a bit awkward, but there was no turning back by then, so Joe and I walked in togeth- er. From a grand center hall foyer, we stepped down into a sunken living room accented by a vaulted ceiling and twenty-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The first thing I noticed was the angel above the fireplace. It was a stunning, hand-carved, six-foot- tall wooden angel with a four-foot wingspan. I stood there staring at it, mesmerized. He was beautiful. For a moment, I completely forgot where I was or how I got there.
I began to notice my surroundings. This was not the house of a bachelor, as I had assumed. It was defi- nitely a family home. Family photos were everywhere, adults and children covering every wall and counter. In the foyer, an ornate antique Bible and a pile of rosaries graced a coffee table. Crosses and religious pictures adorned every wall. I could see that this home had been decorated by a mother, a woman of faith. It was a gracious and welcoming home.
The moment we walked in, Joe had left my side and slipped through the sliding glass doors leading to the back deck. Obviously, he’d been there before and knew the house well. I’m not sure how long I stood there, taking in my surroundings.
I quickly realized there was, in fact, no party. I was standing in a stranger’s home, completely alone. No crowds, no music, and definitely no party. Once again, I contemplated discreetly leaving. Then I heard a voice that seemed to be addressing me.
“Hey, there. I’m Carlos. How do you know Chris?” I followed the voice and walked through a break-fast room to get within view of whoever was talking to me. The voice had come from the kitchen. A casually dressed guy was seated at the island, enjoying his din- ner, and I guess he had noticed me standing by myself in the living room. I probably looked ridiculous just standing there, staring at the angel.
“Hi, Carlos. I’m Jackie. I don’t know Chris. I was invited by my friend Todd.”
“Who the hell is Todd?” Carlos blurted out.
At that point, I definitely felt like I had just crashed someone’s home. What was I doing there? Nothing about this made any sense. Why had Todd invited me to that house? Why had he told me there would be a party there that night? Why didn’t anyone there know who he was?
I needed to leave, and by then I didn’t care whether anyone saw me walk out the front door with no explanation. However, as I made my way back through the breakfast room and across the living room, I was intercepted.
A dark-haired man in blue swim trunks barreled through the sliding glass doors into the living room. He didn’t have a shirt on, just a towel wrapped around his shoulders. He was soaking wet, obviously just out of the pool. Oh my goodness, but he was cute! He was also half-naked and smiling at me—and that smile was melting me.
Full of excitement and exuberance, he put his hand out to shake mine and announced, “Hi, I’m Chris.”
Author Bio and Links:
Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That’s the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book. Jacqueline von Zwehl, is a faith based relationship expert. She holds a BFA from New York University and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. Jacqueline travels the country as a motivational speaker encouraging singles on the path to finding their soul mates. She has appeared on Nite Line, The Harvest Show, EWTN, TCT TV, Victory TV, CatholicTV, Telecare, Changing Lives, CatholicLife, That’s the Spirit, The Church, The Cardinal and You, NPR, and more. Jacqueline lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband Christopher, their two daughters and dog. The Prayer, A Love Story is her debut book.
Read Jacqueline’s Blog at www.jackievonzwehl.com
Become a Fan: www.facebook.com/JackieVonZwehl
Follow: www.twitter.com/JackieVonZwehl
Author Profile: www.goodreads.com/jackievonzwehl
Amazon Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Love-Story-Jacqueline-Zwehl/dp/1939819008/ref=la_B00DY9W62Y_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383163807&sr=1-1
Amazon Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Love-Story-Unconditional-ebook/dp/B00G8QTDKI/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383164024&sr=1-3&keywords=the+prayer+a+love+story
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by Angela Smith | Feb 6, 2014 | Guests
Today I have Roe Valentine visiting us today. Author of Almost Married. Continue reading below to find out more about her fascinating book, and I welcome her guest post where she talks about overcoming disappointments!
Thanks for visiting us today, Roe!
Blurb:
Realist, Dr. Carla Harris, believes that people create their own fate, through hard work and careful planning. She believes in playing things safe. But, while preparing for her upcoming nuptials she’s forced to confront the most reckless thing she’s ever done, her estranged husband, Jacob.
Idealist Jacob Moreau believes in soul mates, as much as he believes in saving endangered companies. When his long lost wife reenters his life seeking a divorce, he is convinced more than ever they are meant to be together. And he will do—and lose—anything to have her again.
She thought she had her life planned to perfection. He thought they made perfect sense together. Would marrying Jacob be the craziest thing she’s ever done, or divorcing him?
You can add Almost Married to your to-read list on Goodreads
Title: Almost Married
Author: Roe Valentine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 27 January 2013
About the Author:
Roe Valentine was born into the right family. Not only does the name Valentine suit her, but her grandmother, unknowingly, introduced the young Ms. Valentine to her first romance novel. She hasn’t read anything else since. She calls herself a romantic at heart and believes that love conquerors all.
The San Antonio native, who now lives in Houston, attempted to write her first contemporary romance novel when she was nineteen years old. That attempt didn’t take, but her story has a happy ending. She kept pursuing the dream until she landed her first publishing contract. Almost Married is her debut novel.
When not busy writing or reading love stories, Roe can often be found in a yoga class or chatting with friends at her favorite coffee shop. Enjoying margaritas with some girl-talk isn’t unusual for her either. For a night in, she watches reruns of her favorite TV shows and, of course, romantic comedies on her Roku, usually with a glass of wine.
Roe Valentine also LOVES talking to readers. You can contact her in the following ways:
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Goodreads
– Website
– Email – info@roevalentine.com
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Almost Married. Here is what you can win: 2 e-copies of Almost Married by Roe Valentine
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What I learned from a big disappointment, by Roe Valentine
Let’s face it, disappointments are inevitable. As a writer, I’ve learned to take my disappointments in stride, because there are a lot of them. Whether it’s disappointment in myself or disappointment that a publisher I want to write for has rejected me (again for the umpteenth time), there is always a silver lining. That’s right, disappointments—in my opinion—are the bumps in the road that actually force you to grow.
This reminds me of when I wrote my first novel when I was 19. I was a sophomore in college and spent the better of the summer sitting in my dorm typing away into the wee hours of the morning, sometimes missing class. When I was finished, I sent it off to all the lines of Harlequin and Silhoutette—of course without proofreading/revising. Back then you sent everything via snail mail, and for months I checked the mail waiting for a response. For some reason I was so sure I would get a contract. And when I didn’t, I was devastated. I don’t remember how many rejection letters I got, all I knew was I decided to give up on writing. But the thing was, I really wanted to be a romance writer. I thought it was a calling. I was so disappointed that all my hard work ended in failure, I put that dream aside for many years. When I was mature enough, I realized, those rejections were the best thing that could have happened. Once I got over the bruised ego, I was able to see that disappointments are a gift.
I say this because, in terms of my rejected novel, I was finally able to see where I was going wrong. I was finally able to see what I needed to work on to get to where I wanted to be, which is published. It was inevitable that I would be rejected that first time, because the novel was quite awful; it makes me cringe when I at a look at it. But, because I was able to learn from the experience, I am now living my dream.
Great post, Roe Valentine! It reminds me a lot of what I went through. Thanks for being my guest today!
And don’t forget to enter to win!
by Angela Smith | Jan 28, 2014 | Introspective, Relationships, Writing
?
Sex. It’s a part of love or at least it should be, in my opinion. So why is it so hard to write about?
My biggest concern when writing sex scenes is my thoughts on who is going to read it. I know it’s crazy, but once I do get out of my character’s head and back to reality, I think about my aunts, uncles, cousins, sister, and friends who will read what I wrote. To me, it’s my character’s POV but I know in reality, my family will realize I wrote that because they don’t understand how it to be inside a character’s head. Hopefully, they’ll be in the POV and won’t even think about me writing this, LOL. But it’s still a thought, a dread, a fear of writing that particular scene that keeps me doubting on how to (or even if I should) write it.
Sex, even creative sex, is a magical part of a relationship, which is why I like to include it in my stories. Some books have a lot of sex, some books have a little sex, and some are spicier than others. Most of the time, we don’t talk about it with others. But when you’re writing about it, it feels like others are going to think these terrible thoughts about what kind of person you must be. Writers, am I right?
In talking with several writers, I realize there are many different approaches to writing a sex scene, and many different opinions regarding the writing and reading of sex scenes. One writer even said she didn’t think they were as necessary today, and the popularity of sex scenes was fading.
I disagree. Personally, I like them when they aren’t long, arduous, or graphic. I like a little shock, but I prefer to read about the emotive part of the sexual experience. With the build-up of tension between two characters that are falling in love, closing the door on a sex scene doesn’t feel right to me. Of course, there are some novels where a sex scene wouldn’t move the story forward, and that’s perfectly okay.
I have written some sweet stories with absolutely no sex (none yet completed or published at this time but maybe hopefully in the future). However, my romantic suspense stories always have some sex scenes as long as it moves the story (and the relationship) forward. There’s no point in having a sex scene just to have a sex scene.
Also, I believe writers are afraid of writing sex scenes. Partly because of what I just admitted to you about family, and partly because they have no idea where to start. That’s when, as a writer, you have to get out of your head and get into your character’s head. Don’t overthink it. And remember, there’s always a rewrite and plenty more rewrites.
What about you? How do you feel about sex scenes in a romance novel?
by Angela Smith | Dec 6, 2013 | Introspective
Welcome to today’s post, featuring Lara Reznik’s The Girl from Long Guyland. Be sure to comment and follow the tour!
$50 Amazon gift card will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter.
Laila Levin enjoys a successful marriage and a thriving career as an I.T. executive in Austin, Texas, but she can’t quite shake her lifelong sense of not truly belonging anywhere.
When her company announces a major layoff, Laila finds herself caught between an unscrupulous CEO and her promiscuous boss. Then news of her college roommate’s suicide stirs up a dark secret involving three devious friends from her past. One has betrayed a vow, another wants to rekindle their romance, and the third is out for revenge.
Suddenly for Laila, it’s 1969 again. She’s only seventeen, and she’s left her sheltered home in Long Island for college in Connecticut. Amid protests of the Vietnam War, she’s tempted by the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll that rule her generation. Laila gets swept up in a deceptive love triangle with two older locals and initiated into their unethical hippie family. Too late she realizes her search to belong has led to tragedy.
Laila must now juggle the demands of her perplexed husband and her baby boomer past forcing her to make choices that endanger her survival and challenge her conscience.
She learns that the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.
Excerpt…
CHAPTER ONE
Lost in Texas
Austin, Texas, 2012
A couple dozen stars and the eye of a yellow moon pierce light through a sky filled with smoke. I look out the broken window to the ground below. Crumpled in the weeds is a lifeless body with red-flecked eyes, a bushy mustache, and sweet smile.
Vapor seeps into the room. I can barely breathe. Ben wraps his arms around me as I weep. Denise lies in a catatonic state perched on the bed. Why is she only wearing her bra and panties?
Chris stumbles inside the room. His eyes glow like diamonds. He cranes his head out the window. “We gotta do something, man.”
“I’ll call for an ambulance,” I say.
Ben gulps, “That’s not a good idea.”
“We have to,” I insist. “For Godsakes.”
He’s dead, Laila,” Chris says.
Tears sting my eyes.
WITH A JOLT, I awake whimpering. The nightmare has infested my dreams for years. It may be time to see a shrink.
The anxiety subsides when my husband Eduardo arrives with a cappuccino and the morning paper. “Are you okay? It sounded like you were crying.”
I clear my throat. “No, no, I’m fine. Just a dream, I guess.” I’ve never discussed these recurring nightmares with him. Eduardo’s got his own problems. He was recently laid off in a corporate downsize and refuses to talk about it. There’s lots of tension in our home right now. Maybe we should both see a shrink.
Author Bio:
Lara Reznik grew up on Long Island but escaped to New Mexico in 1970 in a Karmann Ghia that she and her boyfriend jump-started cross-country. As an English major at the University of New Mexico, Lara studied under esteemed authors Rudolfo Anaya and the late Tony Hillerman. She also attended a summer program at the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop.
Ambidextrous from birth, Lara preferred her right-brained creative side, but discovered she could make a better living with her left-brain skills, so entered the I.T. field in 1985.
Lara published her first novel, The Girl From Long Guyland in November 2012. The novel ranked #1 during its recent Amazon Kindle promotion and has over 115,000 Kindle downloads. In addition to her novels, Lara has written and optioned three screenplays that have garnered semifinalist and finalist wins in the Austin Heart of Film, Southwest Writers, TV Writer, Chesterfield and Writer’s Digest contests. Currently, Lara is working on a new novel based on her screenplay, The M&M Boys.
LINKS
AMAZON LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Long-Guyland-ebook/dp/B00A45OYD0/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1369930673&sr=8-1&keywords=THE+GIRL+FROM+LONG+GUYLAND
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LARAREZNIK23?ref=hl&bookmark_t=page
WEBSITE
https://www.larareznik.COM
by Angela Smith | Dec 5, 2013 | Introspective
Welcome to Today’s Blurb Blitz Tour!
MaryAnn will be awarding an autographed print copy of the book (international giveaway) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on Banner for more stops, or find it here at GoddessFish.
Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.
Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.
Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.
Excerpt…
The following night, Katherine got a call from Scott.
“Hey, I did some research on the lady who got killed.”
“Oh, good.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. I probably didn’t find out anything you didn’t already know. I’m gonna come over.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”
Five minutes later, Scott arrived. He walked to the kitchen table where Katherine was sitting.
“Hey,” he said, “so here’s what I have so far. The woman’s name was Jeanette Churchill. She’d lived in the house for twenty years. She worked for a company called CTS. The police say it’s being treated as a robbery gone badly. ”
“That’s it?”
“No. I know a few people who work where she did, reliable people. They say there were rumors she was embezzling from the company.”
Katherine sat forward, her elbows resting on the table. “Do you think the police have heard those rumors, too?”
“Well, they wouldn’t have heard them from the people I know, but yeah, it’s likely they have.”
“Sounds like a motive for murder to me.”
“Sure, but she’d worked for that company twenty years, so I’m not sure I’d believe she was stealing. Plus, if she was, it seems like the obvious killer would be the owner, and he’s a real big shot. The people I’ve talked to seem to think he’s the person most likely pulling in favors and putting pressure on the police to find her killer.”
Katherine looked skeptical. “But if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be kind of risky to fund an investigation into a murder you committed?”
Scott sat down across from Katherine. He pulled his coat off before answering. “This isn’t the movies. I don’t know if she was stealing or not, but I think the police are probably right. Someone tried to rob her and something went wrong. I have a friend who’s a cop. Not in Reno, but maybe he can find something out.”
“Amy said they have a suspect. Did you hear anything about that?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything like that.”
“Thanks for all this, Scott.”
“Aw, I didn’t do anything. So, you and Michael—you two hitting it off?” he said, trying to sound casual.
“So far. He does wear me out, though.”
“Please, no details—you’re like a sister to me.”
“That’s not what I meant, you perv. I just mean when we get together, it’s usually for something active.”
“When are you going to buy a bike? It’s great weather right now for biking, not too hot, not too cold. I go out as often as I can, which isn’t often enough.”
“I can’t afford a nice bike right now. Maybe when I get my tax refund back. I get out plenty enough as it is. You know, Michael actually talked me into going kayaking on the Truckee River.”
“Are you nuts?”
“Hey, it’s nearly April.”
“In two months!”
“Close enough, and it’s been warmer than usual this year. We did go to see a show downtown. At least that was indoors.”
“Again? Didn’t you two go see a show not that long ago?”
“Yes, we’ve been twice now, and I don’t know how many more half-naked people wearing feathered headdresses I can take.”
“Feathered headdresses, huh? You haven’t gone kinky on me, have you? Please say yes, please say yes.”
“Yeah, real kinky. We even have safe words. Mine is sugar cookie. Who has time to be kinky anyway? Except for the shows, we hardly spend any time indoors. How’s Verna?”
“Fine. She likes to read those real-life crime books, so if I mysteriously kick the bucket—”
“I’ll thank her,” said Katherine, laughing.
About MaryAnn Kempher
MaryAnn Kempher’s writing is infused with romance and mystery. Her love of romance stories goes back to her teen years spent living in Reno NV where Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. MaryAnn’s travels have taken her to beautiful cities in Italy, Southeast Asia and the sultry desert country of Qatar. She met her husband on one of her romantic misadventures. She has two children and currently lives in Florida where she and her family share their home with two dogs and a cat. Her writing influences include favorite authors Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. She’s also a huge fan of the Hercule Poirot mysteries.
Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha.
For more about MaryAnn Kempher, visit mkempher.com
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mocha-Moonlight-Murder-MaryAnn-Kempher-ebook/dp/B00CD4AYVG
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mocha-moonlight-and-murder-maryann-kempher/1115124644
