Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Author Kay Phoenix

A couple years ago, I took a jaunt to Barcelona, Spain.  The reason for the trip was to visit someone I know who is going to college there.  I'm so proud of her!  But, of course, we managed to fit in a lot of touristy things as well.

The first day, we trekked to what is probably one of the most photographed buildings in the world - The Sagrada Familia. This cathedral is amazing, as cathedrals go.  I've been lucky enough to have visited some other famous cathedrals in Europe, but this one is now my favorite - officially!  The non-traditional design of old vs. new, was fantastic and once you step inside the door, it's as if you've just gone to Heaven.  Well, that's how it felt for me.  The burst of colors from the stained glass windows took my breath away. The gorgeous, white pillars (no two the same), the intricate ceiling design, and the open, spacious feel was so majestic.

Sagrada Familia



Another highlight of the trip was a drive up to Monseratt and a nearby winery, Oller Dl Mas.  Being an amateur geologist, I particularly enjoyed the drive. The views from the top of the mountain were breathtaking, and the view of the mountain from the winery's fields was surreal. 

Monestary in Monserrat

View from the top of Monseratt


View of Monseratt from the Oller dl Mas winery

But, my favorite part of the trip was a day-long tour we took to the Salvador Dali Museum and to see his home on the beach.  Salvador Dali has long been my favorite artist, and this was something I never thought I'd be able to see.  So, it was a pilgrimage of sorts, a long time in the making.  I'd be lying if I didn't say my eyes were filled with tears a few times that day, especially during the few minutes that I got to spend alone in the room with his crypt (how that happened in such a crowded place I'll never know - I'll chalk it up to magic).  The aura in his home was palpable to me, I sensed a welcoming, fun spirit (like a child) and wished I could have had a personal tour of his home from him while he was alive.  Seeing his studio as he left it, complete with used paint brushes and the half-finished angel he was working on was incredible personal and touching. I did feel as if he'd left some of himself there, or as if he's never really left. I will always remember that day fondly.

The Mae West room




The last piece Salvador was working on.

***
Title: Steele and Stone
Series: The Daring Hearts series, Book 1
Author:  Kay Phoenix

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication:  November 2, 2016

ASIN:  B01LYUQ75N

Number of pages: 133

Word Count:  42,000

Blurb:

Elle Thompson was raised in Denver. She paints. She hikes. She knows how to avoid cougar attacks.



The only cougars Michael Williams usually worries about are the ones that wear leopard print leggings on 5th Avenue.



But, when his acquisition firm sets its sights on Elle's family business, his tidy life goes awry. As things unravel, so do all his preconceived notions of love and what makes a perfect partner.



Buy link:



Excerpt:

     “So, how are you feeling today?” a familiar voice asked behind him. He didn’t have to turn to know who it was, but he turned anyway, temporarily forgetting about his sunburn until he saw the shocked expression on her face.
     “Whoa! No sunblock either? I had some, you could have asked,” she giggled. “That’ll peel for sure.”
     Blue! Brilliant, shimmering blue eyes. He hadn’t seen her eyes during their hike, as they’d been hidden behind sunglasses the whole time, and he’d always been a sucker for blue eyes. Her blonde hair hung long, loose and wavy as she leaned casually against the door frame.
     “I see you’ve already made yourself quite at home,” she said. “Randall told me he let you use the conference room.”
     “What are you doing here?” he asked in a tone that sounded a bit too firm.
     “Oh, no ‘How are you?’ or ‘Nice to see you?’” She tilted her head to the side, causing a loose curl to graze her breast.
     He turned back to the coffee. “I didn’t mean to sound rude. You just surprised me.”

Author bio:

Ms. Phoenix is a rare bird herself...a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. She belongs to Las Vegas Romance Writers and has served on the board for several years. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America with PAN status.

Prior to writing, Kay was a Graphic Artist for fifteen years in the casino industry and holds degrees in both Graphic Arts and Psychology. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, traveling and photography. She is also involved in several Las Vegas non-profits, and is the current Chairman of a popular, long-running, local art show.

Kay has been blessed to be able to travel many places, which inspired her to host a weekly author spotlight called “Midweek Escapes” on her blog. It features guest author’s favorite vacation destinations, their travel tips, and, of course, information about their book releases and occasional giveaways.



Author website and social media links:

Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:



Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Author Glory Wade


I make an annual trip to Canada, land of poutine (see pic), peameal back bacon, and Habitant pea soup. Childhood memories spring to mind as I drive highways through miles of open land flanked by towering trees, farm houses with dilapidated gray barns, and roadside stands selling fresh eggs and produce.

The farther north I drive from Toronto, up Hwy 11 to the Muskoka area of Ontario, Canada, a mantle of serenity descends over me. Highway dividers change from wood and metal to nature’s bounty—colonies of bulrushes with oatmeal-colored heads, outcroppings of rock sprouting pine trees, and green hillocks. I especially love meandering remote country roads with leaves skittering across, ushered by unseen hands. The hills remind me of Dad speeding down then up the next one, laughing when Mom and I “lost” our stomachs.

I love the Bed & Breakfast experience—the hospitality of the owners, the character of the home, breakfasts in a relaxing setting (I don’t cook), and the local flora and fauna. B&Bs are as varied as the spots on a fawn’s back, each with a charm all their own.

En route to my fav, The Bear and Butterfly in Gravenhurst, I saw four young deer, and a wild turkey that reappeared several times during my stay. The usual flocks of honking Canadian geese flew over in their V-shaped formation.

My imagination flirted with a horror story when, in a B&B by Wye Marsh, I opened the window at night and heard the eerie cacophony of wildlife—bullfrogs, crickets, birds... Another unique experience was staying in the home of an artist who “paints” pictures using wool from her sheep.

If the infamous black flies and mosquitoes have not yet emerged in droves—they love my foreign desert-dweller blood—I like to walk forest paths veined with occasional tree roots and pebbled with orphan stones. On either side, thick, gnarled pines, some with toadstools growing from their scabs of bark, scent the air. Interspersed trees include maple trees, firs, and more. As a kid, my friend and I printed notes on the white parchment curling off the trunks of birch trees.

One morning, I happened upon a spider’s web with dew drops glistening like diamonds. I said to myself, “I have to include that in a novel.” And I did. The tattered drapes in my protagonist’s childhood bedroom and the abandoned trailer on Hualapai Mountain were other novel inspirations taken from the sight of a deserted, solitary mobile home.

Every year, I visit the lime green piano, an obscure tourist attraction, outside the Huntsville Train Station. Buttons decorate the sides, front, and top, and the keys bear pictures of musicians. To my disappointment, the weather-battered instrument which still worked as of last year was gone, as was the tableau from a past era staged inside the brick building. The life-sized figures, benches and chairs, and the equipment I used to strain to see through the dirt-splattered windows are nothing but a fond memory now. I heard a private party bought this historic building. It is my loss that I didn’t arrange earlier to see the inside.

Downtown consists of one street, lined with small tourist-oriented shops on one side of the bridge, and features the vintage Capitol Theater that has been showing movies for over sixty years.

Over the two days I spend in historic Huntsville, I always dine a few times at Westside Fish and Chips, my favorite restaurant. An impressive teapot collection lines the walls and fills the shelves in this small, popular eatery located above a laundromat. As I pig out on French fries smothered in brown gravy and cheese, the Canadian bacon—and butter tarts that are THE absolute best— paintings of whimsical characters watch from overhead. The staff is friendly and the food excellent, including their signature fish and chips. This is a must-stop if you are ever in Huntsville.

Muskoka is a mecca for Canadians and Americans who love cottage country with all the activities, sights, and sounds that go hand in hand with cabins, B&Bs, lakes and forests. It is no wonder that it was first on National Geographic’s “10 Best Summer Trips of 2011.” You are sure to have a great time and enjoy Canadian hospitality if you visit the Muskoka area of Ontario, Canada.

For more photos, please visit my website To receive a beta of a Trip Packing Checklist, click on Follow at the bottom of the Home Page or email me.






***
Title: Diamonds of Fury

Series and Book #: Dead Husbands Never Looked So Good – Book One
Author/pen name: Glory Wade

Genre:  Psychological Fiction/Crime Fiction

Date of Publication:  July 5, 2019

ASIN:   BO7THD6TNP
Number of pages: 264
Word Count:  61,830

Cover Artist:  100 Covers

Blurb 

Lila Phyllips, a back-seat beer baby, has glittering aspirations to rise from her trailer trash beginning to a fairy tale life of true love and wealth—and lots of diamonds.

Kicked out by her embittered mother and abandoned by her boyfriend, 14-year old Lila goes to live with her aunt. She blossoms from a frightened teen into a woman, savvy in business, but conniving when necessary.

After not-so-sparkling experiences with the opposite sex, she opens her heart to Dale Anderson and reveals her secrets—except one. He vows to love her forever, no matter what. When her perfect life is shattered by betrayal and death, she is torn between her fractured love for Dale and her desperate need for retribution. Lila must decide—

Will Dale be her diamond in the rough?

Note: This novel covers Lila's life with her first husband.

Buy links:  Amazon



Excerpt:

Mona pulled into a BP truck stop. Big rigs, flatbeds, automobile transports, and a smattering of passenger cars half-filled the lot. The air brakes of eighteen-wheelers squealed and sighed as the truckers pulled in to refill their bodies and the tanks of their steel behemoths.
Lila put her hand on Mona's. In a soft voice, she said, "I'm really going to Moab, Utah. To my aunt."
Her new friend grabbed for the door handle. "All righty. I'll try to get you a lift to Moab."
With a light touch on Mona’s hand, she thanked her and jumped to the ground. As she stretched, she stared at the murky sky. No tentative fingers of sunlight poked through the drabness.
Doomed hamburger on the hoof bellowed from behind the slats of a nearby trailer. She almost gagged at their earthy smell melding with the oily reek of gasoline and oil.
A child's high voice wafted on the desert breeze, "Mommy, it stinks."
Lila watched the mother touch her little girl's tawny braids and help her into the car as the man getting into the driver's side favored the child with an indulgent smile. Rose never loved me like that. Looking away, she squelched an urge to cry.
A gentle hand on her arm pulled her attention away from the family. Mona, stocky as a Mack truck, steered her into the building. She paid the store clerk, then pointed down a hallway. "The showers are that way.”
Lila entered a small all-white room with a sink, bench, and white towels. The hairdryer was attached to the wall. Locking the door, she undressed in a hurry, grabbed the provided travel sundries, and stepped into the stall. The warm spray of the shower washed the grubbiness down the drain. I'll be with Aunt Violet soon. She won't turn me away. Will she?
After drying off with the thin towel, coarse against her skin, she assumed her disguise and stepped outside the room. Aunt Violet said she would be there for me. A quiver rippled in the pit of her stomach.
Waiting at the end of the hallway, Mona frowned and touched her hair. Oh, yeah. Lila about-faced into the private shower, pulled her locks into a ponytail, and hid them under the cap.
As she re-emerged, Mona nodded approval. "A friend of mine is trucking a load through Moab. I told him your Uncle George is meeting you at the bus station, that your folks can't afford a bus ticket, so I offered to find you a lift with a friend. Don't talk much. I said you're on the shy side." She placed money into Lila's palm. "Here's forty dollars."
With trembling lips, Lila touched Mona's arm and murmured, "Thank you. My...my name is Lila."
"No need to thank me. Be careful, sweetie."
The two walked over to a red semi with a bear of a man standing beside it, cigar dangling from one corner of his mouth. Laughing blue eyes sparkled beneath caterpillar eyebrows.
"Big Al, this is my nephew, Michael."
"Pleased to meet ya," boomed the giant with a hearty handshake.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," she replied in a low voice, with the bill of her cap covering the upper portion of her face.
He ran his fingers through his thick dark beard. "Well, let's put the rubber to the road."
Mona bent down to hug Lila and whispered, "Don't forget to keep your cap pulled forward. Remember, you're a boy." Straightening up, she said, "Say hi to your Uncle George for me. Tell him I'm still younger."
As Lila settled into the passenger seat, she waved to Mona.
Big Al fired up the engine and pulled out of the lot. "Ever bin in a big rig, son?"
"No, sir."
He patted the dashboard. "Been driving this baby for twelve years. Named her Bertha after my girlfriend when I was in the Navy." With a nod toward a naked woman on his bicep, he added, "Got her tattooed right here."
Lila suppressed a shudder.
"So, how old are you, son?"
"Thirteen."

Author bio:

Glory Wade, a lover of lists, writing, and books, used to read by flashlight under the covers after going to bed—as a child, that is. (No need to do that now. Adulthood does have its perks!) Supersonic forward to now. She enjoys writing noir women’s fiction, and romance. Diamonds of Fury will be followed up by Diamonds of Scorn and Diamonds of Remorse.

This author's published credentials include short fiction; poetry; pet-oriented, event planning and jewelry articles, plus a chapter in the Professional Meeting Management textbook. She also facilitates the Aliante Writers Group, is a member of Henderson Writers Group, and is a Sisters in Crime guppy.
Glory and her husband share their home with two dachshunds, a red longhaired and a red piebald smooth. She enjoys helping other writing enthusiasts, reading a variety of genres, caring for her indoor plants, and harvesting potatoes from grow bags.



Author website and social media links:

A complimentary Trip Packing Checklist will be emailed to people who subscribe to the website.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glory-Wade/e/B07TK2JNP1?
ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Email: glory@glorywade.com




Monday, July 15, 2019

Author Roxanne Rhoads

Spotlight HTML 1


The Ultimate Halloween Party Planner
By Roxanne Rhoads

Publisher: Bewitching Books

ISBN-10: 1095658379
ISBN-13: 978-1095658376

Genre: Halloween, Parties, Event Planner

Book Description:

Do you want to plan a Halloween party but you have no idea where to start?

Are you in the midst of planning a party but can't stay organized?

The Ultimate Halloween Party Planner is exactly what you need.

Filled with Halloween party tips and ideas, a party planning timeline and checklist, a budget sheet, a guest list chart, to do lists, monthly calendars, weekly to do lists, lined notebook pages, blank sketch pages, recipe pages, craft pages, costume planning pages, and more- this planner has everything you need to plan a Halloween party your guests will never forget.







About the Author:

Roxanne Rhoads is an author, book publicist, mixed media crafter, and lover of all things spooky.

Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours, a virtual book tour and social media marketing company, she operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books, and she runs the blog, A Bewitching Guide to All Things Halloween, which is dedicated to everything Halloween related. Roxanne’s sells handcrafted jewelry, art and home decor through Bewitching Creations.

When not reading or writing, Roxanne loves to craft, plan Halloween adventures, and search for unique vintage finds.

A Bewitching Guide to All Things Halloween https://allthingshalloweenguide.blogspot.com/ 

Author Website http://www.roxannerhoads.com  


Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.com  








Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Author Sky Purington




Viking’s Conquest
Viking Ancestors
Rise of the Dragon
Book Five
Sky Purington     

Genre:  Time Travel Shifter Romance

Date of Publication: July 1, 2019

ASIN:  B07Q4V66ML

Number of pages:  237
Word Count:  72,000

Cover Artist:  Tara West

Tagline: An alpha Viking dragon shifter and his fated mate face their demons in a scorching medieval romance about second chances.

Book Description:

Tormented by her past, Tess hits the open road, and never looks back until she’s forced through time to medieval Scandinavia. Caught in an unraveling prophecy, the only way she can defeat the enemy is to take a mate. But first, she must work through heart-wrenching memories. What she doesn't expect is navigating her rocky history alongside a man as broken as her. A Viking who offers not just solace but sparks untouchable desire.

Though determined to end his rival without becoming mated, Viking Rokar Sigdir begins thinking differently when Tess joins him on his quest and awakens feelings he thought long dormant. Yet with passion and a chance to start anew come dark flashbacks of losing his kin and the unimaginable pain it caused. A misery he fears repeating.

Will Rokar and Tess be able to let their pasts go and work together to end their nemesis so they can share a future? Or are some things just too hard to overcome? Find out as they journey through time and turbulent memories on a fast-paced, otherworldly adventure that becomes not just a conquest of their enemy but of their grief-stricken souls.

Amazon US      Amazon Universal     

FREE in Kindle Unlimited


Excerpt

“How did you and Helga meet, anyway?” Tess began walking again. “Or did you grow up together?”
He seemed relieved to speak of lighter things as he joined her. “I met Helga when visiting an allied tribe.” The corner of his mouth inched up. “She was dancing the first time I saw her.”
How ironic. “Do you like dancing then?”
“I did after I met her.” His crooked grin grew a little. “I was very clumsy, but she didn’t seem to mind.”
“Clumsy?” She chuckled. “But you’re a dragon! We’re the epitome of grace.”
“In dragon form,” he agreed. “But I was not so graceful in human form.”
She arched her brows and eyed him. “So you dance well now?”
“I dance…less poorly.”
She chuckled again, detecting a bit of humor lurking beneath all his baggage. “So you saw Helga dancing. Then what?”
“I waited until she was done dancing then approached her.” His gaze went to the trees swaying in the wind. “She continually tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, but the wind kept blowing it across her face as she smiled at me for the first time.” He absently rubbed his fingers together as though he remembered what her hair felt like. “Eventually, I tucked it back for her.”
“Funny the things we remember,” Tess murmured, rubbing her fingers together as well. “I recall the feel of Axle’s leather jacket, the scent of cigar smoke clinging to it. That was my first thought when we finally started chatting. He smoked cigars, and I smoked cigarettes back then…bad combo…mostly cuz I hate the smell of cigars.” She shook her head and spoke without thinking. “I should’ve known then we were a match made in Hell.”
“I don’t smoke anything,” he divulged, wonderfully frank. “But I enjoy drinking.”
“Me too,” she echoed then relented. “Though I might’ve leaned on it a little too heavily lately.” She shrugged a shoulder, not about to apologize. “Or not. Who knows.”
“We all cope with things how we will.” He sounded unapologetic. “I have barely spoken to my kin over the past two years and as you know, shut them out entirely telepathically…until recently.”
“Right,” she said. “Because of me?”
“So it seems,” he conceded. “Yours was the first voice I’ve heard in my head in a long time. Once that happened, it seemed natural to allow my kin back in.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I busted into your mind without permission.” She met his eyes, guilty though she had no choice. “I had no control over it.”
“You mean your dragon took over?”
“I assume so,” she replied. “Considering we’re supposedly fated mates, right?”
He nodded and looked at her with hesitation, clearly wondering if he should say what he was thinking. 
“What is it, Rokar?” she asked. When he started to shake his head, she urged him on. “You’re the one who said we needed to start somewhere so don’t hold back.”
He hesitated another moment before he relented. “I did not mind.”
“Didn’t mind what?” she prompted when he didn’t go on.
Struggling, he finally said, “You…”
She almost grinned. Was he being bashful? “Me?”
“Yes, you,” he stated bluntly.
She couldn’t help another chuckle as she tried to draw him out. “Me, what, Rokar?”
“You.” He sighed and looked at her like she should know what he was talking about. “I was glad you entered my mind without permission.”
He went to say more but snapped his mouth shut, evidently finished sharing. At least in this regard.
“I’m glad too,” she revealed and meant it. “I like the feel of you within my mind.”
The minute she said it she regretted it mostly because it sounded like she was undermining Helga and she hadn’t meant to do that.
“You do?”
His question caught her off guard. “Of course.”
Had Helga rattled his confidence that badly? While typically she’d find that unattractive in a man, preferring a tough-as-nails sort, but she knew deep down Rokar was plenty tough. He was just wounded and vulnerable in a way she understood. So she stopped and told him something a woman should have told him long before her. She gave it to him straight.
In fact, her dragon gave it to him even straighter.
“You sound amazing in a woman’s mind, Rokar,” she said. “Your inner voice is wanna-spread-my-thighs-for-you sexy, and your essence is wrap-around-the soul warm fuzzies, all ‘the feels,’ protective. Not to mention—”
That’s all she got out before he proved he did, in fact, possess a good deal of confidence.
He yanked her close and kissed her hard.


About the Author:

Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Purington married her hero, has an amazing son who inspires her daily and two ultra-lovable shepherd husky mixes. Passionate for variety, Sky's vivid imagination spans several romance genres including historical, time travel, paranormal, and fantasy. Expect steamy stories teeming with protective alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines.

Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington. Interested in keeping up with Sky’s latest news and releases? Either visit Sky’s website, www.SkyPurington.com, subscribe to her quarterly newsletter or sign up for personalized text message alerts. Simply text 'skypurington' (no quotes, one word, all lowercase) to 74121 or visit Sky’s Sign-up Page. Texts will ONLY be sent when there is a new book release. Readers can easily opt out at any time.

Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.

Website:   www.skypurington.com


Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sky-purington



Facebook:   https://bit.ly/2NlcFLB




a Rafflecopter giveaway