Friday, December 23, 2016

Happy Holidays

The house still needs cleaning, and I have to recheck the menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals. I need to plan for more guests who will arrive and share New Year's Eve dinner at our North Carolina home. I love to cook, but making easy meals lets me enjoy the holidays with my guests.

Favorite movies we plan to watch include A White Christmas, Scrooged, A Christmas Carol (the original with dear Alastair), Love Actually, and It's a Wonderful Life. Enjoying these cinematic masterpieces with family sets me up for 2017.

Christmas Day is our annual viewing of the newest Doctor Who on the BBC channel. Listening to English accents, while sitting in our southern home, makes me think of ideas for my next book. (Well, I might add in a little Scottish brogue).

When you've filled up on Christmas dinner, and the cookies are gone, relax with a book. Whatever you plan to do this holiday season, I hope you share it with friends, family, and a good book! Need an idea? Check out all my books on my book page HERE

Friday, December 16, 2016

Moe's Christmas by Donna Steele

Donna Steele has written another new book, and I asked her to stop by and share the intimate details of her newest story, Moe’s Christmas.

Thanks, Nancy! Moe’s Christmas is my fourth Christmas novella and a fun one as it continues to follow the family from my book, Before You. Since I come from a family with a ton of cousins, this felt personal and familiar.

Our Christmas will be different this year – we will get to see our family, son, both daughters and our precious grandson and spend time with them, but we’re doing it from a one-bedroom apartment with minimal decorations – my Santa collection will have to remain in storage this year – but next year in our new home we’re going to blow out all the stops!

Book Blurb
Moe hasn't taken time to think about his lack of female companionship for a while. When his cousin, Noah, finds the love of his life, it awakens something in him.

Kim is recovering, from being shot at a mall on Black Friday, from a disastrous marriage, from being separated from her sons. And it's Christmas.

When these two people meet, the possibility of life making sense again might make this a great Christmas after all.


Excerpt from Moe’s Christmas
   Kim silently chastised herself for the instant retreat. This man had done nothing to frighten her. He was a large man, even bigger than Jerry, but the vibe she got from him was the complete opposite of her ex.
   Jerry had used his size to intimidate and bully since his high school football days. Her first impression of Moe was of a large teddy bear though she did feel a strength underneath that he didn't need to flaunt.
   "Kim Harris, this is my cousin, Moses Edwards," Noah said by way of introduction.
   "Please call me Moe," Moe said quickly, cutting his eyes at Noah.
   "Kim teaches at UNCA with me."
   "You know him and still agreed to come?" Moe asked and she relaxed slightly at the banter. These men were good friends as well as cousins.
   "Is there something you need to tell me?" she countered.
   "Do you have a week?" Moe responded as Noah stepped between them.
   "Ignore the hulk in the hall. Let me show you your room."
   "Dinner is nearly ready," Jocelyn said. "Noah, take her things up to the yellow room. Come on back to the kitchen when you're ready." Jocelyn turned to the rear of the house while Moses, Moe, took her suitcase from Noah and headed up the stairs. She followed at a slight distance as Noah joined his wife. Hopefully Moe hadn’t noticed her retreat. When would she get over this damn skittishness?
   Moe looked nothing like the shooter. That little asshole had been short, small with greasy hair and a "little man" complex, needing the gun to show his worth, if she were allowed to diagnose him. Moe's body reminded her more of Jerry, which was worse.
   Kim concentrated on the house. Noah spoke of it often and his love of the place shown through, but she'd never seen it before. The place was larger than she’d imagined and obviously well cherished. The Christmas tree in the living room was magnificent and greenery on the stairwell and over the mantle gave off an aroma she hadn't appreciated this year. Moe led her back downstairs and they gazed at the tree in silence. Was he watching her?
   Dinner was ready and Kim watched with surprise as the men pitched in to bring it to the table. Moe even poured the tea. Jerry had never done anything in the kitchen, even after the boys were born.
   Dinner was relaxing. Kim had met Jocelyn a couple of times at UNCA functions and of course she had worked with Noah for several years. She watched their subtle interaction over the meal and envied it. Their love for one another shone clear. Had she and Jerry ever had that?
   She caught Moe watching her a couple of times. He'd grin unabashedly when she did, and Kim found herself returning his grin finally.
   "You have questions, don't you?" she finally asked him.
   "No. But I do find myself wanting to offer to cut up your food."
   She laughed and realized it was the first laugh she'd had since she could remember. This large man was a nice guy. She had no business comparing him to her ex just because of his size.

Buy Links –   



More about Donna Steele 

Donna writes science fiction, paranormal and small town romances about women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love. Now that she has retired from going into an office every day, she created an office at home and writes full time. Talk about living the dream!

She was the girl at the party who was yearning for the quiet corner and a book to read (go Rory Gilmore!), and has been writing in her head since she learned to read. Getting those stories down on paper (or in her laptop) has been more fun than she ever imagined it could be. The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn her and she's read them all, there just needed to be a little more romance in them. She finally got up the courage to write them herself and is delighted to be able to share these stories with you. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.  Connect with Donna Steele:    

Website    Facebook     Twitter     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page    Instagram

Monday, December 5, 2016

A New Release! a Kilted Boxed Set

My newest release, just in time for holiday shopping, is Highland Games Through Time. This boxed set includes three of my time travel romances set in the late 16th century, in and around the Highlands of Scotland, and at a fictitious modern-day Highland games in New England. 





As a bonus, I have included
my award-winning novella


Bought as separate ebooks, these 900+ pages would cost $11.97 


My Introductory Price is only 99 cents (US)

*Send the ebook as a gift with an Amazon Gift Certificate

 Buy Links: Amazon     Amazon CAN     Amazon UK     Amazon Aus

...and don't miss out on this 
multi-author boxed set filled
with more time travel romance
at Amazon

Friday, December 2, 2016

Kathy Rothenberger says Read With the Lights On!

Kathleen Rothenberger stopped by to share some interesting details about her first book, READ WITH THE LIGHTS ON. This book is full of true stories she collected and will scare any sane person! 

Excerpt: READ WITH THE LIGHTS ON
From: THE POLICE STATION


    At one point, my husband and I were working together on ghost investigations with a medium from a neighboring town, and he wanted to investigate a haunted police station. The police chief had told this medium that he had been getting complaints from his officers at how creepy it was to work in the building after dark, or overnight. Weird sounds, shadows, flickering lights, and barely audible voices were some of the officers' comments.
    The chief was mostly skeptical, himself, but he didn't want a mutiny of his officers, so he invited us down to check it out. The investigation team included 3 mediums, myself included, my husband, and about 5-6 other paranormal investigators, armed with usual ghosthunting tools-meters, audio recorders, video cameras, etc.
    We split up into two groups, one going to the jail cells in the back of the building, and one staying in the office area and the evidence lockers/room. Immediately, one male spirit was detected by the evidence lockers (like high school hall lockers) because he was guarding "his stuff", he didn't want it to get stolen.
    One of the other investigators got evidence from a mangled bicycle that the owner had died when a car hit him, and he was staying by his bike, waiting for help.
    It started getting exciting when the one team at the cells started getting good evidence-photos of light rods, orbs, a spirit of a jailer and a restaurant worker who used to bring food to the prisoners in the 1940s. (Back then, there was a restaurant next door which had a contract to feed the prisoners).
    At some point, I wandered away from that group (I wasn't really attached to either group, I was floating between the two, so that each group only had one medium.) I had consistently been drawn to a locked door in the back that had no signage on it. I kept getting the feeling of intense heat, like from a house fire, and stark terror. I wanted to ask the chief, but he was by the cells with everyone else, so I waited.
    When the investigation was over, and everyone was discussing their findings, and looking at the evidence, the chief was either verifying them or saying he didn't know. When one of the other mediums asked me, kind of in a challenging way (we don't get along, at all, and she always tries to debunk other mediums) what I had found, if anything, I directed my answer to the chief.
    The chief asked me, "I saw you kept going back to that door in the back of the offices, what's so interesting back there?" So, I started telling him what I had sensed, the intense heat and smoke, and the abject terror. The snarky medium laughed at me, but the male medium walked over to the door and stood there a minute, seeing what he could sense. After I was finished, the chief said "I find it very interesting that out of all of you, Kathy was the only one to sense anything in that room. I am impressed. What she is talking about, is a case from awhile back, and that's our most violent case, to date. We had a series of crimes against homeless people, mostly just robbery or assault, but this one was worse.  A homeless drunk had broken into a vacant building to get warm one winter night and he fell asleep on the floor. A gang of teenagers saw him, and decided to have some fun, so they took some gasoline and matches and set the guy on fire. He didn't survive.  We had to cut a large square of the rug that the homeless man was burned on, as evidence, and it's in that room. You can actually see the imprint of his body in the carpeting. That's why she is getting that information."
Title: READ WITH THE LIGHTS ON, True Ghost Stories
Amazon ebook ASIN: B01KKWKVBK
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Ghost Stories/Anthology
Print ISBN: 978-1537187914

Buy Links: 

Amazon    Amazon UK    Amazon CAN    Amazon Aus     Amazon NL



About the Author
Born in NY, as the oldest of three siblings, Kathleen was always the responsible one. She did her homework, helped with her younger sister and brother, and to escape from the responsibilities, she read. Lots and lots of books. She has been reading since age 3, and has always paid attention to how words go together. Her careers have always involved writing somehow, either as scripts for TV shows, commercials or other productions, as president of a video production company that she and her husband owned in Florida, or as an editor and proofreader, which is her current career. Kathleen is a member of the Florida Writers Association and the International Association of Professional Writers and Editors.

Connect with Kathleen Rothenberger


Website     Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page     LinkedIn



Monday, November 28, 2016

Cyber Monday Cover Reveal!

After releasing a story in the multi-author Boxed Set When Love Conquers Time, as well as a new series with SPARK and SMOKE, I put together four books in a new Boxed Set that will be released on December 5th. I want to thank author Paul A. Crust for creating a fabulous cover.

Highland Games Through Time includes three of my time travel romances set in the late 16th century, in and around the Highlands of Scotland, and at a fictitious modern-day Highland games in New England:
My Honorable Highlander
My Banished Highlander
My Reluctant Highlander

As a bonus, I have included
my award-winning novella
Dragon in the Mist.


Bought as separate ebooks, these 800+ pages would cost $12.96 


My Pre-Order price is
only 99 cents (US)
 Buy Links: Amazon     Amazon CAN     Amazon UK     Amazon Aus


Also consider these ebooks:




Friday, November 25, 2016

Cyber Monday Boxed Set Deal

Shopping on-line is one way to make a reader smile or to share a great gift with others. With that in mind, consider purchasing the ebook When Love Conquers Time, a 4-Author Boxed set.

When Love Conquers Time is an enticing collection of four full-length novels, featuring time travel, by best-selling authors. Sit back and prepare yourself as we journey back through time and space in search of romance, passion, action and adventure. 

From the 14th century to the 20th century. Ria Cantrell, Paul A. Crust, Dawn Marie Hamilton, and Nancy Lee Badger bring you over 1,000 pages of romance and adventure.


only 99 cents at Amazon (US)

Amazon UK    Amazon CAN     AmazonAU  





Friday, November 18, 2016

Nancy Lee Badger presents Ruth A Casie & Once Upon a Haunted Castle


Ruth A. Casie stopped by to share her part in an exciting collaboration of authors, which resulted in the following exciting book. I asked her to tell my readers a bit more about her contribution, The Maxwell Ghost, part of Once Upon a Haunted Castle. Take it away, Ruth!

Castles, ghosts, Scottish heroes, what’s not to love! It never ceases to amaze me how the same story premise given to several authors results in different stories. The five of us had a great time writing these stories for you. So sit back. Welcome to the Highlands and the Islands of Scotland where ghosts inhabit haunted castles and can even help out forbidden lovers when they wish. Once Upon a Haunted Castle is an anthology containing five original novellas from bestselling and award-winning authors Kathrym LeVeque, Eliza Knight, Terri Brisbin, Madeline Martin and myself Ruth A. Casie. Our stories will take you to some of our favorite castles to meet our favorite ghosts.

My story, The Maxwell Ghost is set in Caerlaverock Castle in the Dumfries in the 1200s. I loved this story so much that it has been extended in a full length novel, The Highlander’s English Woman available December 20 and currently on pre-sale. 

Book Back Cover Copy
The Maxwell Ghost – featured in the collection
Once Upon a Haunted Castle
Caerlaverock Castle, on the Scottish border is in an uproar. Traitors, deception, murder and ghosts run riot. The food stores have been tainted and the granaries set ablaze. Rumors fly when servants Evan and his bride-to-be, Angel are found murdered. They believe that in the heat of an argument Evan killed Angel when she threatened to expose him. Distraught over his impulsive actions, he took his own life. Now his ghost haunts the castle. A young cook, Sonia is sure everyone has it wrong and the ghost haunts the castle to seek justice. She will move heaven and earth to get to the truth, but she is helpless.

Laura Reynolds travels from England to her cousin, The Maxwell’s castle to put Evan’s ghost to rest. They have one week to complete the task or Evan’s ghost is doomed to haunt the castle forever. The Maxwell, while he loves his cousin, doesn’t believe in her sorceress ways. With the unsettled times, he cannot send her back to England right away, rather he lets her pursue her investigation.

Jamie Maxwell Collins has finished his service to The Maxwell and eager for his promised farm. While longtime friends with Laura, he has little patience for her hocus pocus, but in order to get his farm The Maxwell requires Jamie protect and help her. Will Sonia’s information tip the scales and help them find justice for Evan and Angel? With Sonia’s insight, will Laura and Jamie see that the depths of their relationship goes way beyond friendship or are they doomed to deny it forever


Excerpt
“Do you have any idea why Darla wants you away from Glen Kirk?” Jamie asked.
Laura’s back stiffened. “I see that she wants me to visit Caerlaverock to help Cousin Herbert in her place. The bigger question is why are you against taking me? Because if you are, James Maxwell Collins, I’m sure Gareth or one of the men will gladly escort me.”
“Wait, Lass. I’ve not said I wouldn’t take you with me. I’m simply inquiring as to why Darla is so anxious to have you away.” His soft tone and softer eyes quieted her. Lisbeth’s words were right. She cringed at the idea of marrying Bryce. He wasn’t where her interests lie.
“Has Bryce said anything?” He moved forward in his chair. “Has he done anything to—” His fist pounded the table making her jump.
“No, not at all.” Her hand instinctively covered his fist to ease his concern. “He makes me uncomfortable. That’s all. You said the ghost appeared after Evan died three weeks ago. You don’t have much time.” She removed her hand, got up and sat by the dying fire. Jamie followed.
“What do you mean? Much time?” he asked as he stirred the embers to life.
Laura sat and watched muscles under his shirt as he stretched and maneuvered the heavy log. The glow of the fire reflected off the gold strands threaded through his dark ginger hair and gave a soft halo effect. A smirk touched her lips. Jamie was no saint and the gossip of his escapades was legendary with the girls and women in the village. She dreamt of him at one time, a young girl’s fascination.
He turned toward her.
“Laura, what do you mean not much time?”
Buy Links
iBook    BN     Kobo 

More About the Author

Ruth A. CASIE is an author of swashbuckling action-adventure time-travel romance about strong empowered women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. Her Druid Knight novels have both finaled in the NJRW Golden Leaf contest. Ruth lives in New Jersey with her husband, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she started writing time travel romance, she was a speech therapist, international bank product and marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing time travel romance. Connect with Ruth:

Website    Blog     Google+    Twitter     Facebook Author Page
Amazon     Pinterest     Ruth’s Newsletter Signup    BN     KOBO    iBook

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Happy Birthday to Me (and you can win the gift)

As I get older, I appreciate birthdays more and more. I am Thankful to be alive! I keep busy with my family, travel, writing my next novel, and so much more.


My day is November 13th and sometimes (like the day I was born) it falls on a FRIDAY. Needless to say, I love to write paranormal novels. Find all my books HERE



When is your birthday? Share the day and month (not the year) and I will choose one winner at the end of the week for a special gift from me to you...a PRINT copy of SPARK, Clan of dragons, Book #1



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, November 11, 2016

A Quote for Veteran's Day



"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state." Thomas Jefferson

I can remember our country's military draft, the lottery, and young men fleeing the United States for Canada, so they did not have to serve in the military.

Things changed. There is no draft and no more lottery. Young men sign-up without coercion, and many serve their country with dignity and grace. They come back to civilian life with experience, and a sense of purpose. They attend college, join the work force, and fall in love. Some have problems, including a rather high suicide rate. November 11th is Veteran's Day in the United States of America. Please...hug a Veteran!



Help me celebrate my birthday this month by reading one of my books. You can find all the links HERE

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Congrats to my Latest Winners!

The following entries each won a print copy of my latest book, SMOKE, Clan of Dragons Book #2

Darcee K of California

Thomas R of Pennsylvania

Margaret S of Australia

Watch the post for your books and watch for the third book in the series, SMOLDER.

SMOKE Buy Links:
Amazon   Amazon Can     Amazon NL   Amazon UK   Amazon AUS


Friday, November 4, 2016

Patty Taylor and Sea Wolf Magick

I invited author Patty Taylor to visit and share intimate details of her life and tell us more about the books she writes. She says...

Raised as a “country girl” in Maryland, I fell in love with animals, books and the mystical world of magick from a small child. My mother being born and raised in Northern Ireland, along with the discovery of my father having American Indian ancestry, my fascination for both cultures quickly led my imagination to run wild. I come from a family of storytellers and grew up listening to tales of the charming wee ones, fairies, the mischievous leprechauns, and magical creatures including dragons, Selkies, witches and more . . .  

Book BLURB:
When a seafaring Highlander Lycan rescues a cursed witch from the clutches of evil, a magical voyage fueled by fire and ice ignites more than just passion across the high seas.

Quinn McCord’s alpha wolf instincts compel him to search for others of his kind and offer safe haven on board his nautical home, The Sea Wolf.  His priorities are tested when sorcery lures him to a savage trap, and fate forces him to choose between his cravings for an irresistible witch, and his vast love of the sea.

Headstrong healer, Beth McMasters, uses her 21st century skills to help others, after returning to her rightful Scottish birthplace in 1797. While determined to remain single and restore her family’s good name, new disturbing images cause grave doubts of her promise, and her future.  Rescued by the handsome Captain Quinn, who resembles the imaginary rugged Highlander sketched by her sister, Beth struggles with the cruel twist of fate when she learns her curse can destroy the only man she’s ever fallen in love with.

Will Quinn and Beth’s bond for each other be powerful enough to keep them together and find a cure for her curse before they run out of time, or will the truth of their legacy tear them apart? With the help of a miniature dragon, a crew of wolf shifters, trolls, and other mythical creatures, they journey across the Mystical Isle of Skye, to enchanting Iceland . . . for another adventure filled with magick and mayhem.


Buy Link for Sea Wolf Magick:   Amazon

Buy Link for Mortal Magick:   Amazon




Patty Taylor, Author of Fantasy Romance – with a “wee bit” of “MAGICK” from the heart. Patty’s thrilled to carry on the family tradition and her love for her Irish and Scottish heritage by writing stories with a wee bit of magical lore woven with Highland Romance.  In her spare time, Patty can be found sitting beside one of her spinning wheels, blending exotic fibers . . . mixed with sheep, alpaca and Samoyed undercoat. Check out her Website 


Patty Taylor in Northern Ireland, near Dunluce Castle


Friday, October 28, 2016

On the Road Again with Michele Drier and SNAP

On the Road Again

It’s closing in on Halloween and time I put on my costume.
That’s right, I dress up like an author.

What does an author look like? A bit frazzled, somewhat frantic, putting on a happy face while begging “please buy my book.”

Maybe it’s because of the long summer when much of California takes a vacation away from the heat, but every year September, October and into November is the travel season. The one where you load up the trunk of your car with books and hit the appearance road.

This year it began in New Orleans with two panels at Bouchercon, the world’s oldest and largest mystery fan and author convention. As the co-chair for Bouchercon 2020, here in Sacramento, I spent six days taking notes, shadowing people, being on panels, talking, talking talking. I was reacquainted with old friends, met some new ones and came home exhausted.


The Great Valley Book Fest
with (left to right)
Catriona McPherson
Cindy Sample
Cherie O'Boyle
Michele Drier
moderator Danna Wilberg

Packed up the car and took off for a presentation in Fresno, 170 miles south. Home again, I reloaded the car and drove to Manteca (50 miles south) for the Great Valley Book Fest, a one-day fair of all thing bookish. Talked to a lot of people, met William Kent Kruger, award-winning author of Ordinary Grace.

Then closer to home, I drove to Face in a Book, an independent book store in El Dorado Hills to take part in a Sisters in Crime mystery panel. I’m the president of the local Sisters chapter, Capitol Crimes, and with four other members, regaled the audience with tales of being a writer. How do you come up with your plots? Do you have a regular writing schedule? Are you like your characters?


Odd, no one asked what we wear to write in. They probably knew that a writer’s uniform is jammies…or in my case either a t-shirt or sweatshirt, depending on the temperature. One author confessed to writing every morning in her recliner and another said she stands at her kitchen counter. Me? I sit in my office and stare, waiting for inspiration to leap out from the walls.

I‘m winding up this sprint on Nov. 5 when I teach a writing class at a local Adult Ed program.

At the bookstore, I fell into conversation with a young woman who’s just finished her first novel, a YA coming-of-age set in the supernatural. I gave her some resources, encouraged her to polish her book and to see it through to be published. Having the passion to write, to finish a novel, or short story or essay is a wonderful thing. And to sell it, to share your stories with others, to amuse, challenge, scare, teach others through the persuasion of your own words is heady stuff.

But being a writer is scary, also. Putting your thoughts, ideas and words out there for perfect strangers. Letting people you don’t know into your world. And then hoping they’ll pay to hear and read that story, those words.
And what’s even more scary? I still have a trunk full of books in my car.
I tell myself that John Grisham and Stephenie Meyer started out this way.

Book Blurb
In book nine of the Kandesdky Vampire Chronicles, Maxie Gwenoch, LA-based media star, VP for International Planning for the multi-national gossip conglomerate, SNAP, has finally agreed to marry Jean-Louis Kandesky, a 500-year-old Hungarian vampire a leader of the family that owns SNAP.

Is marriage a big change? Not as big as the fact that Maxie is now a vampire, as well. When munitions from the Kandesky Enterprises weapons plant in Slovakia turn up at the bombing of a Royal's house in England, Jean-Louis and his "brother," Nik, are hot on the trail of shadowy terrorist groups dealing in international weapons sales. Are the Kandesky arms being sold to terrorists groups? Should Maxie use her new-found vampire strengths to ferret out the scum?

More About the Author
Michele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home.  During her career in journalism—as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers—she won awards for producing investigative series.

She is the president of Capitol Crimes, the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime, and the co-chair of Bouchercon 2020.
Her Amy Hobbes Newspaper Mysteries are Edited for Death, (called “Riveting and much recommended” by the Midwest Book Review), Labeled for Death and Delta for Death.

Her paranormal romance series, The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, was the best paranormal vampire series of 2014 from the Paranormal Romance Guild. The series is SNAP: The World Unfolds, SNAP: New Talent, Plague: A Love Story, Danube: A Tale of Murder, SNAP: Love for Blood, SNAP: Happily Ever After?, SNAP: White Nights,  SNAP: All That Jazz, and SNAP: I, Vampire.