AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A scandalous mistake…or a wicked way to happiness?
Hoping to compromise herself, Lady Amantha Easton sneaks into the bedroom of her would-be suitor only to find a total stranger there—a totally handsome, charming stranger to be sure—but not at all the man she plans to marry. She leaves his room with her reputation intact—barely—only to fall victim to the gentleman’s charms in a public place. Now Amantha must face the fate she’s tried to avoid—marriage to a man who will never love her.
All Rafael Beauregard wanted was a warm bed and a good night’s sleep…but what he got was an unexpected romp with a beautiful vixen and a fiery kiss that left him wanting more. An excellent trade, except now he’s got to marry Lady Amantha, one of the most willful women he’s ever met. So Rafe’s challenge is to persuade her that marriage to him might be the best thing for them both…once he convinces himself.
Read an Excerpt
“Oh, Raif!” She could scarcely breathe now. “That…feels…so good.”
“I thought it might. You’re awful sweet.” His low, sleepy voice sounded odd under the covers. On the verge of asking if he was well, she lost the thought when he lifted his head from her breast and crushed his lips to hers.
All else forgotten, she wouldn’t have cared if the house burned down around them. His lips were hot, insistent. Then he plied the seam with his tongue, softly urged it to part for him. She had no desire to resist and soon he had buried his tongue deep in her mouth. A tentative stroke of her own brought a growl of encouragement, and she abandoned herself to explore his willing mouth. She did things she’d never dreamed she’d do, with Raif or anyone else. And she only wanted more. “Oh, Raif. I never thought it could be like this.”
He chuckled. “How soon you forget, Jenny.”
“Jenny?” Amantha froze, her blood turning to ice in her veins. “Who’s Jenny?” Sudden anger lit a fire in her, and she pushed him away. “How many women were you expecting in your bed tonight, Raif?”
“What?” The sleepiness had flown from his voice. “You’re not Jenny?”
“You expected me to be?” This was a nightmare. They weren’t even married and Raif was being unfaithful to her.
“I didn’t expect anyone in my bed.” He threw off the covers and fumbled at the bedside table.
“What do you mean you didn’t expect me? We had planned this, Raif.” What the devil was the man playing at?
“We?” A match flared as he lit the lamp, the sudden light after the darkness almost blinding her. She put her hand up to shield her eyes.
“What do you mean, we?” He sat up in the bed, rubbing his eyes. “Who are you, sweetheart?”
The voice, now unmuffled, certainly did not have the superior tone of Raiford Tolbert. Slowly Amantha lowered her hand to find a man with dark hair she’d never seen before peering at her.
Dear God, what had she done?
About the Author
Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling author of historical romance, writing in a variety of time periods because she believes that passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all these elements into her own stories.
She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets–including Olive, an almost silent cat, Earl Grey, a very curious bunny, and a Shar-pei mix dog named Frenchie.
Blog: http://www.jennajaxon.com/
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Q & A With …Jenna Jaxon
Tell us about you as a person.
Well, I’m a theater person first and foremost, having an MFA in directing and a Ph.D. in Theater History, Theory, and Criticism. I’ve been doing theater all my life it seems, ever since I put on a puppet show in the third grade based on a short story I wrote. I’m the mother of two fantastic young women with fabulous careers. The elder on is a teacher at a private school for autistic children and the younger is an actress living and working in Chicago. Not proud much, huh? I met my husband (a musician) doing a production for the army (he worked as civilian personnel) and we’ve been doing various productions together ever since. And then in 2009 I reinvented myself and began writing historical romance. I love animals (we have a dog and a bunny currently and usually have cats as well). And I am terrified of heights!
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and Why?
I immediately thought William Shakespeare, but you didn’t say dead or alive, so I suppose you mean alive. That would have to be Stephen King, who is one of my favorite writers. I’d love to pick his brain about characterization—I love his characters—and about how he comes up with his ideas. Not that I’d insert horror into my romances, but his ideas are so fantastic I want to know how he does it.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
As Long As Your Mine, that just released at the end of March 2026, was actually written in 2012. I’d just written my first book and was attending a writers’ conference and needed a short story to submit to their contest. The story was about a lady who wanted to marry a man her father disapproved of so she got the man to compromise her so they could marry. Sounds a bit familiar, right? Then, as I was writing that story, I had a “what if” moment. What if the lady got herself compromised, but it was with the wrong man? And as soon as the short story was finished, I wrote the outline for As Long As You’re Mine, and that became the third book I wrote. It got put away when I started querying the second book, Only Scandal Will Do, and it got picked up by Lyrical Press. Then when I did query it, it got a ton of rejections, so I sort of “stuck it in a drawer” but I never forgot it. Then a couple of years ago I did a major revision of it and my agent sent it out, but again no luck. Then this past year, with my shoulder injury keeping me from writing, I decided editing a book would be easier than writing a whole new book. I had it edited again, completed the edits and finally, after 14 years, it’s published!
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
My marketing strategies are really pretty simple: I’m not big on being on social media every day, but when I have a new release I do put it out on Facebook, Instagram, TicToc, and Twitter. I have monthly promotions on Bookfunnel. I do Pre-order announcements on BookBub. And I usually do a blog tour with Goddess Fish tours. I also do monthly contests with Fresh Fiction, and they do an excellent job of getting your name out there with your book. Like I said, not a complicated plan, but it’s reasonably inexpensive and it does get results.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
1) Ride in a hot air balloon
2) Visit all 50 states
3) Take a sleigh ride in a horse drawn sleigh
4) Christmas in London
5) Ride on the Orient Express
Destination Romance Series
Can two imperfect people finally decide that they’re perfect
for each other?
Picture Imperfect
Destination Romance Book 1
by Kate Berberich
Genre: Contemporary Travel Romance
Bad girl turned heiress, Lacey Devere has a penchant for
falling for precisely the wrong person. Her dad is determined to give her a
fresh start, beginning with a luxurious European tour and a new camera to
capture each perfect moment.
Dan Lewis is a modern-day highwayman traveling the world, relieving wealthy
tourists of their excess cash and jewelry. He learned the hard way not to let
anyone get too close.
Their heads are urging caution, but their hearts are being swept away by the
glamour and romance of the dazzling cities they’re visiting.
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Dan checked his watch. Again. He
ran a finger inside his shirt collar. The damn thing was custom-made. For what
he paid for it, he should bloody well be able to breathe.
Stop fidgeting. Anyone would think
you’d never worn a tux before.
Any number of appreciative glances
assured him it looked outstanding—if he’d been in any state to notice.
“Relax,” Mr. Wilson advised from
behind his ever-present newspaper. “My wife is well aware of the curtain time,
and she won’t miss it for anything.”
“I feel like I ought to apologize
for this,” Dan offered.
“Eh…Martha would have found an
excuse to stuff me into this thing sooner or later.” Mr. Wilson—or at least his
newspaper—shrugged. “It’s fine. Anyway, it’s good for her to have a pretty girl
to fuss over. It takes her mind off…well…it’s good for her. This is better than
one of those charity events. People expect me to talk at those things. And
write checks. The seats at the opera house are extremely comfortable and if I
get bored, I can take a nap.”
Dan let the subject slide. He’d
done more in-depth digging online since they’d be spending the entire evening
with the Wilsons. He knew what a day spent dress shopping and primping with a
young woman would mean to Mrs. Wilson.
A flash of icy silver-blue caught
his eye. Just like in Madrid, his mouth went dry, and he forgot to breathe for
a moment. Also, just like in Madrid, he vowed to never again criticize his
sister’s taste in movies. All that romantic hokum must have some basis in fact.
Lacey and Mrs. Wilson stepped off
the elevator. The older lady wore a softly draped navy-blue gown with a
glittering broach on one shoulder—a high-end fake, he guessed, since no one in
their right mind would travel with a genuine piece of that scale.
But Lacey…unlike her usual
bright-colored outfits, tonight she wore a frosty blue gown that shimmered when
she moved. Her hair was swept up in an elegant knot, with a few loose curls
framing her face. The entire ensemble somehow managed to be both demure and
sexy at the same time.
Well, it was Lacey. Dan considered
her sexy in sweaty workout clothes. He questioned the eyesight of anyone who
did not.
Mr. Wilson folded his ever-present
newspaper and swatted him with it. “Breathe, young man.”
A Perfect Brew
Destination Romance Book 1.5
Dan Lewis is a man on a journey—and not just the summer tour
of Prague. He’s escaping his past and embracing the sweetness of his new love
and new career with equal fervor. But old instincts are strong. When his
younger sister, who he’s taken care of all his life, joins them for her
graduation trip, it stirs bitter memories of their history and all the things
he did to keep them safe.
Lacey Devere is savoring every drop of summer, visiting romantic locales and
reveling in long, steamy nights with Dan. She dumped her past mistakes down the
drain and embarked on their bold new future together. However, she’s learning
love is more than just sugar and cream.
Together Dan and Lacey learn true love means accepting your partner’s
imperfections and blending the bitter with the sweet. And sometimes, the best
family is the one you find for yourself.
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Dan
sauntered into the hotel lobby, hand in hand with Lacey. A few paces in, she
wrapped her free hand around his arm, slowing them enough for Dylan to get a
few steps ahead. She rested her head against his shoulder and smiled at him. He
grinned, watching his sister, frozen on the green and blue mosaic tile floor,
staring around in open-mouthed wonder.
Honestly,
he’d had the exact same reaction the first time he walked into this hotel. Almost
forgot to look for security cameras. He found them easily now: main
entrance, front desk, concierge desk, and elevator bank. A tinkling fountain
marked the center of the two-story lobby. Potted palm trees created intimate
corners, and armchairs and settees upholstered in soft blue velvet nestled
among the greenery.
Dylan
wandered over to the gleaming glass enclosure, stretching to the skylights. She
touched her fingertips to the window and a peacock stirred and blinked its
beady eyes at her. A moment later, it unfurled its glorious tail feathers and
took a few mincing steps closer to the glass. She glanced over her shoulder at
them. “Okay, now I understand why you do this. Wow. Just…”
“Wow?”
Lacey asked, tugging Dan by the hand.
A
uniformed bruiser Dan pegged as security frowned at Dylan’s attire, but then
noticed her teal Dolce Vita wristband and subsided with a gracious smile and
nod.
“Very
wow.” Dylan flung her arms around Dan. “You’re the best big brother ever. Thank
you.”
He kissed her temple. “You’re
welcome.”
“Are
they all like this? All the hotels you stay in?”
“Well,
all the hotels the company uses are five or six stars, but this one’s pretty
spectacular, even by their standards. Why don’t we get you settled, then we can
walk around and explore the neighborhood a bit?”
“And
find the nearest source of non-snack bar coffee?”
He
rolled his eyes affectionately and steered her toward the shining brass
elevators with filigree peacocks rendered on their doors.
A Perfectly Imperfect
Holiday
Destination Romance Book 2
Lacey Devere is looking forward to her first holiday season
with the love of her life. Unfortunately, her sister’s wedding wiped her out.
But is it just stress? Or are she and Dan facing the prospect of another
passenger on their new journey together?
Dan Lewis thought he had it all—a new legitimate career and an amazing woman he
loves. But his beginning is off to a rocky start. A robbery took place on the
last tour, and he has no alibi. Can he live down his past, or will his and
Lacey’s first holiday season together be their last?
As the Christmas tour progresses through London, Amsterdam, Nuremberg, and
Vienna, they’ll deal with everything from bungled reservations to lost
luggage—as well as a couple of life’s biggest questions—with their trademark
blend of humor and love. Most of all, they’ll figure out how to build a life
together.
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They were staying at
the “fairy castle” hotel again. The doorman bowed and a waft of spicey pine
scent from the fresh greenery tickled Dan’s nose as they entered.
Christmas trees of
various sizes adorned in shades of blue, white, and silver replaced the cream
and pink floral displays from their previous stay. A majestic gingerbread
castle held pride of place on a satin-draped display table in the center of the
lobby—thankfully with no rampaging soccer fans to destroy it.
Tasteful
instrumental holiday music played quietly over the sound system. Everything was
neat and polished and in its place. An aura of peaceful late-night quiet
prevailed.
The desk clerk
smiled broadly and gestured to an enticing tower of pale blue and white
macarons which stood on the front desk. “Gruss Gott.”
“Gruss Gott,”
Lacey replied, reaching for a cookie.
Dan adjusted his
sling irritably. “Dan Lewis and Lacey Devere, with the Dolce Vita holiday
tour.”
“Of course, sir. We
understand from your hostess that one of your bags has yet to arrive. We took
the liberty of prechecking you into your suite and having the remainder of your
luggage delivered. Your bathroom is fully stocked with complimentary toiletries,
but if there is anything else we can supply, please call and we will be more
than happy to assist you.” He tapped a few keys on his computer, then slid a
key pack across the counter.
Dan eyed it
suspiciously. “You have our reservation?”
“Certainly, Herr
Lewis. Dolce Vita travelers are among our most elite guests. We are delighted
to welcome you and will of course do whatever we can to assist you with your
stay.”
Dan still didn’t
take the key pack. “And this is for a clean room?”
The bewildered clerk
nodded.
“With no one else in
it?”
Another nod.
“The door locks? And
the world champion sports ball fans aren’t having a wild party on our floor?”
The clerk edged
subtly away from the desk.
“The building’s not
on fire?”
“Perhaps Herr Lewis
would care to speak to the manager on duty?”
A security guard
dressed in a dark blue blazer emerged from the back office. He nodded
pleasantly while exuding a distinct aura of “don’t mess with me.”
Lacey laid her warm
hand on Dan’s good arm and squeezed gently while offering a bright smile to the
desk clerk. “I’m sure it’s fine. We’ve had…issues…with our accommodations this
trip.”
The clerk stared at
her wide-eyed. “Apparently so.”
“And on that note,
the missing piece of luggage is my garment bag. It’s got my gown for the New
Year’s Eve ball, so I’d appreciate a call whenever it’s delivered. The night
manager can wake me up—I don’t care. I just want to know it’s safe.”
“Of course,
Fräulein. Should you wish, our concierge would be happy to provide a list of
fine clothing establishments in the area.”
“I hope that won’t
be necessary but thank you. Are there any parcels for us?”
The clerk checked
his computer. “Not at this time. Should any arrive, they will be delivered to
your suite.”
“Thank you. You’ve
been very helpful.” She elbowed Dan.
“Yeah…thanks.”
****
Dan slumped onto a
couch covered in elaborate ice blue brocade. His movements dislodged several
slippery satin cushions, which tumbled to the floor. A Christmas tree decorated
with shimmering blue glass baubles and white velvet ribbon swags stood in the corner.
Glittering silver icicles tipped the branches. Fairy lights draping the tree
and mantel cast a soft glow over the space.
Lacey returned from
a walk-through of their suite and sat next to him, sending even more cushions
cascading to the carpet. “Hey, guess what? It’s a nice clean room, with no one
else in it, it’s a reasonable temperature, the doors lock, and there’s hot water.
How’s that for a Christmas miracle?”
“It looks like a
blue satin cushion factory exploded in here,” he grumbled.
“If they’d exploded,
the room would be full of feathers, which it isn’t and please don’t give the
universe any ideas. It has enough of its own.” She nestled into his side,
filling his senses with hints of lavender and warmth. “It’s a beautiful room,
we can sit on the furniture, and the tub is big enough for both of us.”
“And I can’t soak in
it.”
You’re being a jerk. You realize that, right?
She rolled her eyes.
“You can rest your arm on a towel on the edge. There’s lots of plush blue and
white towels. The velvety kind.”
He snorted. “I’m
still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
She toyed with the
buttons on his shirt. “You know, right this second, you’re reminding me of a
very particular holiday character, and it’s not a flattering one.”
He exhaled
explosively and sagged against the back of the sofa. “I’m sorry. It’s just…this
whole trip, everything’s gone sideways.”
“And now we’re here
in a lovely room and it’s almost Christmas and can we please just try to enjoy
ourselves? Please?”
Perfect By Design
Destination Romance Book 2.5
Set amidst the magnificent architecture and Mediterranean
sunshine of Barcelona, Dan and Lacey design their perfect future. No matter
where in the world they travel, they know home is in each other’s arms.
Together their love is as strong as a Gothic cathedral’s granite foundation, as
whimsical as Gaudi’s bright-tiled dragon house, and as passionate as the Sant
Jordi festival’s red roses. Now all they need is to escape a lonely nanny and
her charge, and a womanizing architect long enough to settle a very important
question.
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Dan
lolled against the doorframe, watching Lacey. He never needed an excuse, but
stretching up on her toes, running her fingertips along the top of a picture
frame did very interesting things to the hemline of her little flowered
sundress. Do I really get to have it all? The whole world, and her, too?
She’d
scrunched up her face adorably, concentrating on the project at hand, and he
had no willpower where she was concerned, so he strolled over and wrapped his
arms around her tiny waist. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and
pressed his lips to her pulse point.
“Babe?
Whatcha up to?” he mumbled against her skin.
She
relaxed into his arms and huffed a stray lock of hair out of her face. “The
wallpaper design was giving me a headache, so I thought it would be easier to
close my eyes and go by touch.”
He
dropped a kiss onto the top of her blonde head. “Clever.” Her familiar scent of
lavender and citrus, and something uniquely Lacey, enveloped him, heightening
his senses. Have we got time to check out that bed? There’s gotta be a
mattress somewhere under all those red brocade battering rams. Seriously, who
thinks a stiff cylinder covered in scratchy material is a good idea for a
pillow?
She
wriggled around in his embrace and slid her arms around his neck. “This would
be a really easy room to hide a mic or camera in. No one would look closely
enough to try and find it.”
He
kissed her forehead. “Except us.”
She
grinned, then pressed up on her toes and kissed his chin. “Except us.”
He
rubbed his thumbs over the thin material of her sundress. “And did you? Find
anything, I mean?” He hadn’t, but one never knew. Hence the standard security
check at every new destination.
“Not
even a bit of dust. You?”
“Not
a thing. Whatever we might think of the décor, the staff certainly takes good
care of the place.” He tugged her a little closer. “And what else did you
notice?”
“There’s
a camera focused on the elevator bank, and the fire stairs are at the left end
of the corridor.”
“Eight
doors down.”
“Picky.”
“Hey,
there was a night in Amsterdam—”
Lacey
shuddered and burrowed against him. “Please don’t remind me.”
Okay…enough
teasing. “How about some dinner? Barcelona has amazing cuisine.”
She
narrowed her eyes. “Like what?”
He
kept his tone carefully nonchalant. “Oh, all sorts of things—local seafood and
game-”
“That’s
code for things I won’t touch with a ten-foot fork.”
“What
have you got against rabbit—”
“Eww!
Rabbits are for cuddling, not eating!”
“They
are here.” She cringed and made a gagging noise.
“Or
squid?”
“Gross.
Just gross.”
“So,
we’re in one of the culinary wonderlands of the world and you’re gonna go look
for a burger joint?”
“If
I have to.”
“What
could entice you to try a regional delicacy?”
“No
bunny rabbits and no squid. I mean it!”
“How
do you feel about snails?”
“How
do you feel about sleeping on the couch?”
He
eyed the stiff brocade monstrosity. “That couch?” The Chesterfield in question
was upholstered in red, with a pattern worked in shiny gold thread. It made him
itchy just looking at it from across the room. It looked as though a quarter
would bounce right off. A good sofa invited you to sink into its cushioned
embrace. That thing looked like it would snigger haughtily while he slid to the
floor.
She
smirked. “That couch.”
He
shook his head in defeat and amusement. “Fine. You win…this time.”
She
smirked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “I usually do.”
Oh,
is that how it’s gonna be? Game on. “Let’s go find you a burger. But I will find
something local you’ll like.”
“You
can try.
I am an author with a penchant for writing about strong,
sassy ladies and the men they love (and cats!). I have a background in historic
and theatrical costuming. I live in New York with my cat, Miss Toby Toebeanz,
and lots and lots of books.
Destination Romance is a modern day “lady and the
highwayman” that follows the adventures of Lacey Devere and Dan Lewis as they
travel the most glamorous locations in Europe. Picture Imperfect, A
Perfect Brew, A Perfectly Imperfect Holiday, and Perfect by Design are
currently available from your favorite retailer.
Falling for the Cat Guy is a sweet, small-town
Halloween romance (with cats!) currently available in paperback and digital
formats. The series is heavily influenced by real life cat rescuers. Mistletoe
Kisses for Two, Ted and Hollyn’s Christmas romance, will be on sale
November 2nd in paperback and digital formats.
You Otter be in Pictures is a small-town summer
romance with a hint of spice, on sale now, in paperback and digital formats
from your favorite retailer.
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the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Enter the Destination Romance Series Giveaway Here
RJ’S ADVENTURES IN TEMECULA
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Legre Zigre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
If you’ve had a chance to visit Temecula, California, you’d be one of many who have had the privilege of watching hot air balloons take flight during sunrise and descend at sunset, walking the grounds of one of the most beautiful rose gardens in California, and visiting a rare and noble tree that looks to have stood the test of time. You will find some of the most popular and heavily visited sights in Temecula, beautifully illustrated and captured in child-like conversation.
RJ’s Adventures in Temecula is a vibrantly colored board book featuring thirteen of Temecula’s most visited attractions. The illustrations jump off the page, offering children fun images to look at while learning more about Temecula, California’s historic sights.
Beware. Your child may ask to visit some of the attractions presented in this 20-page book, such as Professor Pennypickles’ Workshop or the Sugarplum Zoo and Chocolates. Come visit for a week, but first, do your research and take this adventure around Temecula, California with RJ.
Read an Excerpt
Hello Friend!
My name is RJ.
Welcome to the beautiful and sunny city of Temecula. Today is a great day to show you around!
Are you ready for an exciting tour?
About the Author
Eva Legre-Zigre is a children’s book author passionate about writing stories that reflect the beauty of communities. Inspired by years of experience as a nanny and a volunteer teacher, she crafts engaging stories that encourage creativity and wonderment in children. Her passion for community, culture, and finding beautiful differences in various states throughout the country gives her the desire to share those unique and exciting places with children.
A resident of Temecula, California, known for its wineries, Mrs. Legre-Zigre was inspired by her own child to find and highlight family- and child-friendly attractions in her city. Some of these attractions are featured in her debut book.
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorevalegre
Website: http://www.rjsadventures.com
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Q & A With …Eva Legre Zigre
Tell us about you as a person.
I live in Temecula, California. For tourists, it is a valley full of wineries that makes a day visit entertaining. Those of us who live in Temecula know it to be a tight community with many family-friendly attractions and community events. For years, I have worked as a nanny and a volunteer teacher while following my family as they served this country. I am now a permanent resident of Temecula with a husband and child and I can think of few other places where I would want to raise my children.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
It would be Mother Teresa while she was traveling to a new land. I can imagine the joy on her face of meeting new people and the peace surrounding her must have been awesome.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
I became passionate about writing stories that reflect the beauty of my community after my son was born, who the main character is based on. Inspired by years of experience as a nanny and a volunteer teacher, I love crafting engaging stories that encourage creativity and wonder in children. My passion for my community, culture and finding beautiful differences in various states throughout the country, gave me the desire to share those unique and exciting places with children. What better way to spotlight the jewels in cities around the country than through the eyes of a child seeking adventure?
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
I think social media channels can still help get the word out but only so far as to bring more exposure to your book. Flashing your cover in groups won’t provoke people to buy your book. It is the relationship that counts. Way before you are ready to launch your book, join the groups, get to know the people and let them get to know you by supporting and commenting. They will be more likely to support and share the good news about your book in return.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Visit all of the states in the United States
Teach my son French
Visit the Blue Mountains of Australia
Publish 10 Books in the RJ’s Adventures series
Learn how to play the guitar
Any final thoughts?
I am looking forward to showing everyone RJ’s Adventures in Murrieta.
Crimson Empire: Broadswoards Over England
If you’re a fan of Outlander, and now want a visceral, more
realistic telling of the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, devoid of all the incessant
romanticism, you will enjoy this new series!
Broadswords Over England
Crimson Empire Book 1
by James Mace
Genre: Historical Fiction
In 1745, Charles Edward Stuart, claimant prince to the
unified thrones of England and Scotland, leads one final uprising to seize the
crown for his father, James Edward Stuart. This is the third attempt by James’
followers, known as the Jacobites, to depose the ruling dynasty and restore the
House of Stuart.
Though most Jacobites come from the Scottish Highlands, English, Scots, Welsh,
and Irish alike fight for both sides, with few caring who occupies the throne.
For many Scots, it is a clan war, a chance to settle centuries’ old scores. For
others, it is a civil war, with red-jacketed soldiers compelled to fight their
plaid wearing fathers, brothers, or sons on the opposing side.
“The ’45,” as it is referred, is a dark chapter from a merciless age. The fate
of the burgeoning British Empire, and that of the Highland people, will be
settled in a crucible of cannon, musket, bayonet, and broadsword, all wrought
with ruthless fury. Many combatants and innocents alike shall grievously suffer
in its wake, with only the faintest glints of humanity. This is their story.
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Though they could not yet see the
enemy, the Recoat defenders could certainly hear them. In the faint glow of
torch and starlight, they saw what looked to be a pair of barrels, overflowing
with God knew what, being heaved against the sally port entrance.
“They’re going to try and burn the sodding door,” Lewis
whispered with a disbelieving grin.
“I’ll sort that,” Molloy replied. “You give them a proper
reception once they light the barrels.”
The sergeant then hastened along the western rampart until
he found his lone sentry. He ordered the man to bring up water from the
kitchen, as much as he could carry. He then raced across the courtyard and gave
the same order to the other sentry before returning to the north wall.
Crouching low, he stared through one of the firing ports. He
could see the shapes of men shuffling around the barrels, which as best he
could tell were a couple of feet from the door. They scraped loudly across the
gravel. To his left, Molloy saw the two privates returning with a pair of water
buckets each. They hunkered low behind the parapet, near Corporal Lewis. The
young NCO held his musket ready as he saw the sparks coming from the enemy’s
flint and steel. A small fire soon started. It quickly grew, taking hold of
some dry straw and kindling.
“Now,” the corporal said calmly as he shouldered his weapon.
As eight muskets unleashed a close range salvo, they could
only clearly see the man who’d sparked the flames. The dense smoke clouded the
vision of the Redcoats, who hastily began to reload. From his position,
Sergeant Molloy could see the effects. The Jacobite visible in the burning
light was struck at least three times, through the guts and neck. Doubling
over, he pitched forward, nearly upsetting the other barrel. Molloy saw the
shape of another man clutching at his shoulder before stumbling away.
The sounds of musketry from at least two score of enemy
fighters flashed and echoed in the dark, peppering the ramparts.
“Easy, lads,” Molloy said. “They can’t hit a fucking thing
so long as you use the firing ports, and only when ready to fire.”
At Corporal Lewis’ command, all but one of the Redcoats
loosed another volley. This man complained about not being able to see a thing
and thus stood to peer over the rampart.
“God damn it, Private Thomas!” Sergeant Molloy snapped. “Get
your fucking head down—”
He was interrupted by an even more intense return of musket
fire from their enemies. Most shots smacked harmlessly into the wall or sailed
over the ramparts. One, however, struck the errant private in the head. He
stood rigid for a moment before his convulsing body tumbled into the courtyard
below.
“Tommy!” one of his mates cried out, starting to stand.
“Get back to your post!” Molloy snapped, rushing over to the
young man at a low crouch and cuffing him across the head. “There’s nothing you
can do for him. He’s dead because of his stupid negligence. Now keep your
fucking head down and reload your damn firelock!”
As the barrels started to blaze, the two privates bearing
water buckets upended these over the rampart, all the while keeping low behind
the defences. Within seconds, the fire was completely extinguished and the
Redcoats let out a cheer.
Molloy crept over to Corporal Lewis, who’d just finished
reloading his musket.
“You have this situation under control,” the sergeant said.
He nodded to the water bearers. “I’ll take these two and head for the south
wall.”
In the distance, the Jacobite musketry continued, albeit in
diminished numbers, with no coordination.
“They won’t be getting in this way,” Lewis confirmed before
issuing the command for his men to fire once more.
He knew their chances of hitting their enemy in the dark
were slim. Still, this gave his soldiers, especially the newest ones who’d only
been with the army a few months, a chance to practice their musketry drills
while under fire.
Sergeant Molloy ordered the water bearers to follow him,
along with two more privates, before descending the steps and crossing over to
the south rampart at a brisk walk. This left Corporal Lewis with five men to
hold the rear entrance. Their enemy may have numbered in the hundreds, yet
their one attempt at breaching the rear entrance had proven as pathetic as it
was foolish.
The crack of musket shots came from the three men dispersed
along the south rampart. Upon ascending the steps, Molloy could just make out
an enemy combatant lying face down along the steep path leading into the fort.
“They’re trying to bring up a ladder, Sergeant,” one of the
men explained. This was an older private in his late twenties, who Molloy
trusted to keep his mates from shooting at mere shadows.
“Only one ladder,” the sergeant replied, shaking his head in
amusement.
“What’s more, the path is too steep,” the private said.
“They can’t even carry the damn thing up to the wall! And with the rain soaking
the grassy slopes on the flanks, it’s too damned slippery. They won’t be coming
up that way.”
“Splendid,” Molloy said.
His four accompanying soldiers took up positions at various
firing ports. He then ordered them to reload but wait for his command to fire.
He then checked his watch. It was nearly 3:30 in the morning. While the sun
would not rise for nearlyan hour, the faint glow of predawn now made it easy to
spot their enemy. He counted at least a hundred gathered in a column about a
hundred yards away. It was they who bore the lone ladder. Pops of musket fire
from frustrated Jacobites came from both these men and several clusters along
the western base of the hill.
Molloy ordered a volley fired at the ladder group, as they
were closest. While waiting for the smoke to clear, and his men to reload their
muskets, he hastened over to the eastern wall, where he saw not a single enemy
fighter. Returning to his men, they fired another pair of volleys. Several
Jacobites had fallen, only to be abandoned by their companions, who fled back
down the path to return to their camp.
It was then that the sergeant stood. He ordered his men to
remain hidden, lest they give away their true strength to the enemy.
“Three cheers for His Majesty, King George!” Molloy shouted,
removing his hat.
James Mace is an author, historian, and life-long
storyteller. He began writing as a hobby in the early 2000s, penning physical
fitness articles for a bodybuilding website and a magazine called Hardcore
Muscle.
James wrote the initial draft of his first novel, Soldier of
Rome: The Legionary, as a cathartic means of escapism while serving in Iraq
from 2004 to 2005. He has since released thirty-seven books, including fifteen
Ancient History best-sellers, and five South African History best-sellers. His
works currently span his two favourite eras: Ancient Rome and the British
Empire.
Outside of writing historical novels, James is a Research
Historian and Script Writer for the channel, Redcoat History. He maintains a
blog called The Buffed Historian, sharing random fitness articles and other
tales from across history. His hobbies include weightlifting, road cycling,
foothills hikes, travelling across the globe, live theatre, video games, and
sitting down for a game of Dungeons & Dragons with friends.
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Stay at Castle Dracula
I can scare and thrill you in only…100 words!
Stay at Castle
Dracula…and Other Short-Short Stories
by Jim Nemeth
Genre: Horror Short Stories
Do you
enjoy a good drabble? No, not America’s most popular word game—that’s Scrabble.
No, not those cute, furry little creatures from Star Trek—those are tribbles.
A drabble is a form of intense fiction writing consisting of 100 words. Not 100
chapters, not 100 paragraphs, nor even 100 lines. 100 words. Exactly.
Author Jim Nemeth loves the format and is an
accomplished dabbler in drabbles. “Whenever I explain to friends what a drabble
is,” Nemeth relates, “I get the exact same expression of disbelief: ‘100 words?’
In fact, I took these reactions and wrote a drabble about it, “Impossible
Assignment,” which leads off the collection.”
Stay
at Castle Dracula and Other Short-Short Stories, a chapbook,
collects 26 tales, 23 of which are drabbles. With the three other stories, the
author “splurged” and indulged himself with an additional 100-200 words.
Other
tales of five score words include “Disgruntled,” where a joyous family
Christmas celebration turns horrific when a little boy doesn’t get the toy he
wanted; “Love Potion” relates what happens when a witch’s magic works too
well. And in the title story, another young English traveler debates his
decision in staying in Count Dracula’s centuries’ old castle.
It’s What’s Inside That Counts
“Why does Christy have to come over to
play,” six-year-old Chloe asked in the petulant voice in which she exceled.
“She’s ugly and I hate her!”
“Chloe!” the girl’s father shouted in
reprimand. “Don’t talk like that. Christy may not be the prettiest of girls,
but ‘beauty is only skin deep,’ as they say. It’s what’s inside a person
that counts.”
Later that afternoon in her room, Chloe
lay aside the dripping, red-drenched scissors with which she’d used to slice
open Christy’s midsection. Closely examining its contents, she frowned in
confusion. “I don’t see what’s so special about her insides…”
In 1993, Nemeth won first prize in a national magazine’s short story
writing contest for which legendary authors Ray Bradbury and Robert Bloch were
judges. The award held special meaning for Nemeth, as Bloch remains his
favorite writer and main literary influence. Nemeth is the author of two
additional books: It Came From…The Stories and Novels Behind Classic
Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction Films and Robert Bloch: An
Unconventional Bibliography, as well as being the webmaster of The Robert
Bloch Official Website (robertbloch.net).
A long-time community activist, the author is particularly committed to
the cause of animal rescue. He lives in the historic harbor town of Marblehead,
MA.
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Enter the Stay at Castle Dracula Giveaway Here… If You Dare…
Battle Beyond the Veil
Two worlds.
One forbidden relic.
A battle for survival or ruin.
Battle Beyond the
Veil
by Cassie Sanchez
Genre: Urban Fantasy
The Celestial War
shattered the Heavens; after millennia, the battle still rages.
On the most important day of Zahra’s career at the Gallery of Time Museum,
everything unravels. A mysterious package arrives from her estranged father,
and the Atar’zul, a relic that could secure her promotion goes missing. While
betrayal festers within the museum, a long lost love returns, throwing Zahra’s
world into chaos.
Kyden, a warrior angel and demon slayer, has guarded the spiritual realm for
centuries. When a famous archaeologist and forbidden artifact vanish, Kyden is
forced to protect a human, a job he vowed long ago to never do again.
Together, Zahra and Kyden must face rising demon threats and the cursed magic
of the Atar’zul. As darkness closes in, they join forces to defend both realms
and find that ending the battle beans trusting each other. Sacrifices must be
made—the cost of which might be their very souls.
Welcome to the battle for humanity’s
future—a story of loyalty, temptation, and the fragile line between light and
shadow.
**NEW RELEASE – GET IT NOW!**
Cassie Sanchez is the award-winning author behind
the Darkness trilogy—a whirlwind of fast-paced fantasy romance
where danger dances with desire and magic always has a price. Based in the
enchanting Southwest, she lives with her husband and two crazy labs named
Bullet and Scout. When she’s not writing happily-ever-afters, she can be found
wielding a Pickleball paddle or cuddling with her nogs for an afternoon nap.
At the heart of Cassie’s stories are characters who
stumble, fall, and rise again—wrestling with forgiveness and searching for
redemption. Step into her world, where every story casts a spell and love
conquers all, even the shadows.
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Choose Me
I’ve always run away from labels.
Now there’s one I cannot
run away from.
Father.
Choose Me
The Ballerina Series Book 4
by Ursula Sinclair
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romantic Suspense
I refused to be placed in anyone’s box.
Vin
I’ve always been the best friend, the one nightstand, the groomsmen never the
groom. Then I go and become that ‘F’ word. Yeah, I become a Father before I am
even part of a couple. I’ve never been one to live a normal life. Whatever that
is. It’s never been for me. But then a woman and my child change everything.
They become everything. I will become whatever they need. Because that will be
who I am.
Samantha
My husband and I always wanted a child, but it was not meant to be. Until one
day, one came into our lives, and she became my everything. But the man that
should have protected us didn’t, he betrayed us. Exposed us to men who
threatened the safety of my child and me. Then someone came into our lives
amidst the chaos, but who was he there to save, me or his child?
**NEW RELEASE!**
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Future
Vin
“Vin!”
“What!” Something about the way she said my name had me
blinking and trying to focus my sleep fogged mind. A shudder traveled through
my body. What the hell time is it?
The connections in my brain were still a bit fuzzy, but I recognized the pitch
of that voice. I’d heard it enough times. Something was wrong.
“Christie?” I spoke into my phone.
“I’m at the hospital, Vin. The baby…” Terror laced her tone.
“What? Isn’t it too early?” I questioned. Christie wasn’t
quite eight months pregnant, since that was the last time we’d hooked up. “Is
something wrong?”
“You’ve got to come now!”
Fear rippled in her voice.
I’d never heard her sound like this before. My heart pressed
against my chest. “Okay, okay on my way.”
I glanced at the time on my phone. Since my head hit the
pillow, I’d gotten less than three hours of sleep. Rolling out of bed, I downed
some aspirin I kept on the nightstand. Staggering to the bathroom, I washed my
face with cold water. It helped a little. My eyesight was no longer quite so
blurry. When I glanced at the mirror, I could at least make out my blood shot
eyes from too little sleep. But my mind was clear.
Quickly, I tossed on some clean clothes then caught a taxi
to the hospital, Christie had scheduled her delivery in. I hoped like hell
she would be there. This woman prepared for everything.
Except for an unplanned pregnancy.
I pulled out my phone to shoot a group text to my best
friends, Maze and Dante. To let them know Christie was in the hospital and to
meet me there but stopped myself before pressing send. First, it was three
fucking o’clock in the morning and secondly, I had no idea what the hell was
going on, other than I could hear the panic in Christie’s voice. I’d wait until
I knew more.
At this hour, it only took about fifteen minutes for me to
get to the hospital in midtown. Still, by the time I got there—it was the right
hospital—they’d already taken Christie into surgery. I wasn’t family, just the
father of the child we’d both agreed to put up for a private adoption. Which
meant no one would tell me anything, other than to have a seat and wait for the
doctor. Or the lawyer, for the couple adopting the baby. But I wasn’t sure if
the hospital or Christie had notified the lawyer, or the couple, and I wasn’t
going to remind anyone. At this point, I also didn’t give a rat’s ass. Christie
might have been a one or two night hook up, but I still cared about her and the
baby we created.
“Mr. Tinsdale?” A pretty young woman in plain purple colored
scrubs stood in front of me.
I stood up. “Yes, that’s me. How’s Christie and the baby?”
“Christie signed a form before they took her in, allowing us
to talk to you as the biological father of the baby. The baby is in distress,
the doctor is performing an emergency C-section, as soon as he knows more,
he’ll come out to speak to you.”
“Thank you.” Even if her words did little to relieve my
anxiety. I plopped my ass back down onto the seat. It wasn’t until the nurse
disappeared through the double doors, I questioned what she’d said. Or rather
the way she said it, know more about what? Shouldn’t it only be to tell me if
it was a boy or a girl? Oh, God! Did distress mean the baby might die? Was
Christie going to be, okay?
I ran my fingers through my shorthair as these thoughts
played table tennis in my mind. I’d made a bit of an ass of myself earlier at
the nurses’ station, demanding someone come out to tell me something. All I
could do now was sit and wait for the doctor.
I sat there alone, my hands rested on my knees, head down,
eyes staring at the floor, seeing nothing but my f’ing life rolling away from
me. Tied to someone I didn’t even like—for life. One who would be the mother of
my child. All because some shitty piece of latex malfunctioned. Fuck of a
malfunction. Still, I prayed to a supreme being or beings somewhere out there
that Christie and the baby would be okay. Even if I’d agreed to the adoption,
the thought of my child dying sent fear zinging through me.
I took a deep breath. Single mother, single father, nothing
single about it. Not when an innocent life was involved. A life who apparently
wanted to make an early appearance. Way early. A preemie. My child would be a
preemie. Labels—fucking labels. All my life I’d dealt with them. But I refused
to be placed in anyone’s box.
Don’t miss the
rest of The Ballerina series!
Find them on Amazon
Ursula Sinclair is a USA Today Bestselling Author and the alter ego for LaVerne
Thompson, a USA Today Bestselling, award winning, multi-published author. An
avid reader and a writer of fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, and sci/fi
sensual romances. She loves creating worlds within and without our world. She enjoys good action scenes. Most of her books under
either name, also have a touch of violence and a few more than that. She
writes romantic suspense and new adult romance under her alter ego.
She is a certified chocoholic and is currently working on several projects. Some
might even involve chocolate. But writing helps maintain her sanity.
Sign up for her newsletter for sneak peeks and
advance information on new releases as well as a few freebies to subscribers. http://bit.ly/1hA7C9W
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The Protection Agreement
He was hired to be her shield, but he never expected she’d
be the one to pierce his heart.
The Protection
Agreement
The Agreement Series Book 4
by A Akinosho
Genre: Age Gap Billionaire Bodyguard Romance
Duty or desire—he’s
sworn to keep her alive.
But staying close blurs the line.
When a threat puts her life in danger, there’s only one man capable of
protecting her—a ruthless bodyguard with a fearsome reputation and loyalty
carved into his bones. The problem? His family and hers are sworn enemies. And
he learned to hate her last name long before he ever knew her.
This is duty.
A contract.
Nothing more.
Shared space. Constant protection.
No attachment. No temptation.
Forced proximity turns restraint into tension. Hatred softens. Awareness
sharpens. Desire becomes impossible to ignore.
She’s a damsel in distress who refuses to be fragile. He’s a possessive
protector bound by duty, fighting feelings he has no right to claim. Every
glance is forbidden. Every moment together is a betrayal written in silence.
As enemies close in and pressure mounts, distance becomes impossible.
Because the longer he stands between her and danger, the harder it is to
remember where duty ends—and desire begins.
He was sworn to keep her alive.
He just wasn’t prepared for what it would cost him.
Touch her… and die?
**NEW RELEASE ON APRIL 24TH!!**
Bruce
Lexi returns from her room and takes the seat next to
me. I’ve concluded that we are fighting
a losing battle. It’s just a matter of time before the attraction between us
takes over and its fiery flame burns through us. We are quiet, our eyes are trained
on the movie even as I’m provocatively attune to her presence, her allure is
seeping into every nook and cranny of my being. It doesn’t take long before she leans into
me. I don’t move out of her reach. She’s soft and warm in my arms and my whole
being is responding to her closeness. I need to get her in bed. I move
her head from my shoulder.
“Hmm,” she groans. “Kiss me, Bruce,” she whispers. I pause
for a moment, convinced I didn’t hear her.
“What did you say?” I ask, betting
she doesn’t realize what she asked of me.
“Kiss me, Bruce,” she says, her voice barely audible. “I
want you to kiss me. I took my meds.“ A chuckle
escapes her “Be aware that I may not remember in the morning, so make it good
so I can dream of you.” She grins, though a bit out of it.
I want her to remember, and I shouldn’t grant her request,
but I’ve been dying to kiss her, so who am I to deny her request especially
when she wants to dream of me. I shift positions so she’s on her back and I
kiss her lips gently and she opens her mouth to let me in. I kiss her with the
fervor of a starved man that I am. Her tongue swirls sweetly with mine. She
wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me closer and deeper to her. My tongue
is seeking every inch of her mouth, my body is intensely aroused. A soft moan
escapes her, it sends a charge through my body.
I can probably make love to her now and she wouldn’t stop me,
but I also want her sober and consenting plus I want her to always remember us,
every touch, every kiss and every thrust of me inside her. I slowly pull away.
Breaking the sweet feel of our kiss.
Fuck, I just
kissed Jonah’s girl and I fucking like it.
She smiles. “Goodnight, Bruce.”
She turns to her side and sleeps like she didn’t just break through
every resistance shield of mine. I sigh because looking at her, I want more. I
feel it in the blood thumping in my veins. My ragged breath that I fucking need
to control. My hands running through my hair in exasperation of what I’ve just
done. I know there’s no going back now.
Leaning down, I lift
her in my arms. She giggles like a little girl. I should leave her in her room,
but I’ve a need for her closeness, I can’t explain or control. I move
slowly with her asleep in my arms and place her gently in my bed. She curls to
her side and sleeps off. I sit on the bed for a moment watching her, “she
can’t leave” the voice that slams in my head. Just as Declan’s words a
while ago “when you kiss the one, you never want another” I feel the
weight of what I’ve done. Kissed the one but she belongs to another man and not
just any man. A man that hates my guts, paid me to keep her safe and sternly
warned me not to touch her. I now know why, he made that request because he knows
once I did.
He and I would be at war. Yet I find myself willing to go to
war for her. Damn it
I move closer and kiss her temple, my palm gently touching
her face. A giggle escapes her and I wonder if she’s dreaming of me. I cover her and get off the bed. I go into
the bathroom to shower and relieve the monster awakening between my legs. I get
temporary relief. Wrapping my towel around my waist. I peep to check on her.
She’s knocked out. I put sleeping pants on and get in bed with her, pulling her
into my arms and she doesn’t resist.
**Don’t miss the
rest of the books in the series!**
Find them on Amazon
avid reader and enjoy reading thrillers, suspense and romance novels (partial
to romance genre). When, She’s not reading or keeping up with life. She enjoys
writing and creating twist to stories. She loves writing about diverse
characters, friendship and overcoming challenges through, what is perceived as
a weakness.
C.A. Milson 