Monthly Round up for November

We have a lot of great reviews to brag about this month.

Kelly Jamieson's Rule of Three  was reviewed by  Romantic Times Magazine where it received 4 ½  STARS GOLD TOP PICK! 

"... seductive and bewitching from the very start — opening with a very steamy shower scene that just hints of the sizzling erotica to come. As the story is told from the points of view of all three main characters, readers will experience the passion and love that each member of the threesome feels for one another. In addition to the very well-written, hot and explicit sex scene that will leave readers blushing (at the very least), this novel tackles a contemporary subject matter that will have readers thinking about the topic for a long time afterwards. Softly romantic and wickedly provocative, erotica fans should not even consider passing on this one."

Kelly would also like everyone to know that..."THE IKEA STORE OPENS HERE ON WEDNESDAY!!"

Woo-hoo! Happy shopping, Kelly. Enjoy those Swedish meatballs!

Erin Nicholas has a nice review for Just A Kiss: 


4.75 stars and a "Purest Delight" from Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

"I often wonder how some authors manage to get it right time and time again, but Erin Nicholas has done it once again. Just A Kiss contains characters both old and new blending together seamlessly to create an outstanding cast, superior dialog that is both witty and at times heartbreaking, and a message that no matter what your faith; living it day in and day out will make the world a better place." --- Slick Reads

http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews.com/2012/10/arc-review-just-a-kiss-the-bradfords-5-by-erin-nicholas.html

Erin also has some Mysterious and Very Exciting news that she can't divulge just yet.  It's probably not as exciting as a Swedish furniture superstore, but we can hope.  ;)


And Meg Benjamin's latest release, Fearless Love, received five hearts at The Romance Studio and was nominated for Five-Heart Sweetheart Of the Week.  You can read about that here:

http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/fearlesslovebenjamin.htm 

In other news, we also have a couple of upcoming releases to announce:  Skylar Kade's short story "Edge" will be part of the January 2013 Cleis Press anthology "Only You", edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel.

And PG Forte has a new release to announce as well.  Finders Keepers will be available from Loose Id on December 11. Still, no cover, but here's the blurb: 

Sometimes finding what you want is the easy part.

Caleb is a bionic soldier with little-to-no memory of his past. He's seeking the truth about himself and those missing memories.

Aldo's an undercover cop who just might have the answers to Caleb's questions. But if Caleb's the man Aldo thinks he is, how can he let him get away a second time?

Then there's Sally; she's an ER physician who used to be married to Aldo's late partner, Davis. Sally's not dealing with widowhood very well. In fact, it's getting harder, every day, just to find a reason to keep getting out of bed. If the truth about the men's shared past comes to light, she could lose them both. Along with her last, best reason to go on living.

This holiday season, chance will bring them together and give them an opportunity to help one another find what they each want most. But every gift comes with a price. And keeping what they've found once they've found it? Yeah, that's gonna be the hard part. 

PG also has a new cover to reveal. Unfortunately, it's NOT for her December release, it's for one of TWO Children of Night books being released in 2013. But it's pretty anyway.

Children of the Night, Book 3

 Vampire-born twins Julie and Marc Fischer face complicated new challenges. Marc must decide whether to stay with the only family he’s ever known, or embrace his destiny and a completely new family. Julie is forced to realize that who she wants and who’s best for her are two different men.

For Conrad and Damian, the holiday season is stirring up bittersweet memories, and neither can keep from revisiting past passion and pain. It’s no wonder the Fischer-Quintano vampires long for the good old days—when food was food and family was all that mattered. 

Guest Blogger Annabeth Albert - Got Naughty Mail?

Thanks so much to the Naughty Novelists! This is one of my favorite weeks of the whole year—Thanksgiving is done, but the memory of pie lingers, and the holiday rush hasn’t quite descended. And it’s one of the best weeks for online shopping and deal hunting.

Before I had toddlers, I used to love bargain hunting and stalking clearance racks. And then I discovered exactly what sticky fingers can do to a perfectly good rack of sweaters. These days I get my retail kicks online. We use the heck out of our Amazon prime membership, and I’m an easy mark for “free shipping” codes elsewhere.

I like the steady stream of diapers, coffee, computer parts, office supplies, and playmobile people that arrive on our doorstep. I avoid dragging kids to big box stores and I save money. And this time of year, I love finding gifts while wearing my pajamas and having them arrive in boxes that are easy to wrap. WIN! And if you’re doing #NaNoWriMo or on deadline for a book, online shopping means more time to write. My favorite bargain sites this time of year:

· Think Geek. Check out their stocking stuffers section for cheap gifts for your favorite nerd boy (or girl!) And watch for their t-shirt and mug sales as easy, crowd pleasing gifts.

· Vista Print. Have cute kids or family pictures? You can accomplish all the grandma, aunt, uncle, and extended family gifts in minutes. I’m a big fan of the magnets as stocking stuffers and the desk calendars as universally pleasing relative gifts. Need gifts for your writer friends? Turn your RWA chapter logo or blog header into unique gifts. Their emails can get annoying, but it’s worth being on their mailing list for the amazing freebies and offers.

· Scholastic Book Club. If you have school-aged kids, your school most likely participates in this program. The website is far easier to navigate than the zillions of flyers and is a great way to give books on the cheap AND help your school. At our school, book orders are put in brown paper bags for pick-up and stapled shut. I use the $1 books as good friend/cousin presents.

· Zulily If you want to give kids’ gifts that look like they came from an expensive boutique without boutique prices or parking and hassles, this upscale kids’ bargain site is fabulous. I use this to stockpile emergency birthday presents for kids with hard-to-please parents or show-stopping shower gifts.

· Overstock. I get my mom’s gift here each year because they’ve got the best prices on things like bedding and house wares, and the reviews are usually accurate and helpful and the shipping is often free or super cheap even on huge items.

For the most part, though, my purchases are fairly tame. Boring even. However, the heroine of my recent release RETURN TO SENDER buys something online she doesn’t want anyone to know about. When her naughty mail gets discovered, the games begin:

Jack Donovan and Bree Hendricks have been in hot competition since their school days, whether it’s tussling over the best apartment or bickering over local leash laws. Bree never turns down a challenge, so when her new toy in its brown paper packaging is delivered to Jack’s doorstep by mistake, he seizes this perfect opportunity to make her act on the long-simmering attraction between them.

Bree is determined to set a good example for her teenage daughter, and that means no flirting, no flings and definitely no one-night stands. But a bout of saucy cybersex demonstrating her new dildo? There’s no danger in that. Unless Bree allows her heart to become involved…

You can read an excerpt here.

Do you like to shop online or do you prefer brick and mortar stores? Any favorite online retailers? What’s the craziest thing you’ve bought online?

Annabeth Albert has been hooked on romance ever since Laura gave Almanzo permission to kiss her goodnight. It wasn’t too long after that Annabeth started sneaking romances where a whole lot more than kissing happens. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres. A long-time member of Romance Writers of America, she is also active in the Rainbow Romance Writers chapter.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

She often tweets about her latest online bargain finds, newest keeper shelf books, and other random tidbits and loves chatting. @AnnabethAlbert

You can also find her at http://www.annabethalbert.com and http://www.facebook.com/annabethalbert.com

Buy RETURN TO SENDER from your favorite e-retailer—out now with Amazon, Nook, and other sellers. Buy links here: http://annabethalbert.com/books/return-to-sender/

Guest Blogger Rhonda Carver - Bad-Ass Heroes

First, I’d like to say thank you to the Naughty Nine for allowing me to stop by. The reason why I’m here is because I love to write. Of course, I’m an author, right? However, do you know what I love to write? Nothing makes my heart skip a beat more than bad-ass men that take a little polishing to shine their kindness. In Dreaming Ivy, there’s not just one bad-ass, but there’s double the trouble. Max and Marcus, both need refining. Max is the hero of present. He is a ghost hunter who carries enough emotional baggage that only the “dead” want anything to do with him…until Ivy comes along. Then there’s Marcus. A hero of the past, about one-hundred years to be exact…who also has a soft spot for Ivy, uhh, Elizabeth . Sound confusing? Here’s the quick sum of it. Max is a descendant of Marcus. He is drawn to the Thornton’s Mansion, known for being haunted. Ivy is a feisty journalist who is curious why a well-known ghost hunter like Max is in her small town. Together, they stay in the house. While there, Ivy begins to have dreams of Marcus, a man who lived in the house years before. The dreams begin to transform and Ivy is traveled back to a time when Marcus was falling in love with Elizabeth, or rather Ivy from a past life. Ivy must find her way either in the past or the future. She must choose…and it’s never easy. If you like a book that is a mixture of spook, bad-ass men and naughty sex, Dreaming Ivy is your pick.

Book Blurb:

Can a past love become their future?

The Thorntons' mansion is full of timeless secrets waiting to be unraveled. When small-town journalist Ivy and ghost hunter Max are stuck in the forgotten, dilapidated house, they find more than just a haunting. Ivy finds herself dreaming of the former owners, Marcus Thornton and his lovely wife, Elizabeth. Their profound love was once the talk of the town, and the cause their mysterious, untimely deaths never found. When Ivy's dreams begin to become reality, the mystery starts to unravel and sheds truth on more than just the past.

WARNING: Graphic language, naughty ghosts, a non-committal male, and a love that endures beyond time and death.

Excerpt: 

Ivy stepped into the corridor. She stopped and listened. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow sweep across the wall. She turned as it disappeared. “Hello?” No answer. She stomped down the hall and burst into the room. “Hello--” 

The room was empty.

Ivy swallowed the taste of fright. A shiver raced across her skin. She had seen someone, or had she? She rubbed her eyes. Maybe the shadows were playing tricks on her.

A loud crack in the floor behind her sent Ivy twisting. The sun from the window blinded her. She acted on impulse. She drew her fist back and punched--landing on something solid. The force behind her connection with skin and bone sent her off balance, flailing backward. A hand on her wrist pulled her hard against a steely frame.

She met a dark stare, just as she felt wobbling. The impact of her body had sent him a step back. He lost his balance. Together they fell. The air whooshed from his chest as Ivy landed on top of the stranger.

She closed her eyes and remained still. She wanted nothing more than for the floor to swallow her. Several long seconds floated by. Neither of them said a word. She finally opened her eyes.

Embarrassed and confused, Ivy laid her palms against his shoulders, pushing herself up. She looked directly into his not-so-pleased expression and gulped. Enchanting green eyes, prominent cheekbones, midnight hair...and a pissed-off set to his jaw. She’d made a mistake--a huge one. “Max Shepard.” It wasn’t a question.

He narrowed his eyes. “Ivy Kennedy, journalist and amateur boxer?”

The deep, rich tone of his voice did funny things to the pit of her stomach. His voice wasn’t the only toned part of him. Pressed together gave her an up close and personal testimonial of his physical assets. Broad chest, tight abs to long legs, she could feel tight muscles and a curious bulge. She scooted her hip around the swelling in his jeans. Heat and realization spread through her body.

One corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s my cell.” Could he see straight through her?

“Cell?”

He reached into his pocket and held up his phone. Ivy was certain her skin changed into the perfect color of mortification. She wondered just how bad this could get. Pasting a smile on her face, she said, “Nice to meet you.” The temperature rose between them into the triple digits. Their bodies seemed to melt together. He didn’t look like the pictures she’d seen on the internet. He looked more distinguished in person. “You’re older than I thought,” she blurted.

“Older?”

“Older, in a good way.” She licked her bottom lip and nervously pushed her hair behind her ear. “My mother said I have a bad habit of saying the most awkward things and rambling--” She swallowed. “--like I am now.” She moved slightly.

His zipper started to swell again. Was that another cell phone in his pocket, or… Before her mind could complete the thought, he wrapped his large hands around her waist and lifted her off him. He set her on her feet as he came to stand in front of her. “That’s better,” he said as he backed up. “Damn.” He kicked rug that must have been the reason behind their fall.

He stood there, silent. This was a complete disaster. She’d managed to give him a black eye to match the dark scowl on his face. She needed to start searching for a new job. Marshall would have her head for this.

Rhonda Lee Carver is a hopeless romantic. Whether you like sweet romance or erotica, she has written a story for you. Rhonda read her first novel at thirteen and that was the open window into her destiny. She began writing ghost stories as a teen, and as years passed, her stories bloomed into steamy, passionate tales. She likes creating intelligent, saucy heroines who can challenge a bad-ass hero. She believes in love, and everyone has a soulmate.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rhondalee.carver

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rhonda-Lee-Carver-Author

Website: www.rhondaleecarver.com

Blogger: http://rhondaleecarver-author.blogspot.com

Buy link: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_31&products_id=521

Five Lessons from #NaNoWriMo

As many of you know, November 1st marked the start of National Novel Writing Month. We're now in the home stretch--four days from the deadline to write 50,000 words. And though I got a late start, I'm now hovering at a comfortable 43,000 in this manuscript.While this is not my first attempt at completing NaNo, this has been the easiest. Here's what I've learned:

1. You have to accept that, for thirty days, you're going to have to let go of some combination of responsibilities: clean house, homemade dinners, sleep, date night, or taking your kids to their after school activities. IT'S OK to start December with a messy house--really. I promise.

2. Drafting out the story helps me write faster: I know this isn't the case for pantsers, but SO many NaNo-ers struggled with where to take their story next, and that costs precious time. I spent a good week in October figuring out what I was going to write, so when November 1st hit, all I had to do was get it on paper.

3. Ignore your mistakes: yWriter is great for this because there's no spelling or grammar check. You're in a very minimalist screen, so it's just you and the words. When I have sections I think I want to delete, I either strike through the font or have a separate section of my manuscript that's just for these reject bits. I usually end up using parts of them, and if you delete, they don't contribute toward your word count.

4. Find writing buddies: Whether online via #1k1hr or #wordwars or #amwriting, or through the NaNo local chapters, commiserating and brainstorming and word-sprinting with other NaNo-ers is mentally invigorating.

5. Set reasonable expectations for yourself: I know that writing 1,667 words on a work night just doesn't happen; I also know that on weekends, I can crank out 5k if I clear my schedule. Instead of forcing out 1,667 words that I'll need to later rewrite, I aim for 1k evenings, let myself get behind during the week, and bust my ass on the weekends to make up lost time. Stressful? Yeah, kind of. But when I finish, I'll definitely have less editing to do. TL;DR: work with your writing quirks.

 

Find me on NaNoWriMo here: http://nanowrimo.org/en/participants/skylar_kade

Foodie Friday: Holiday Treats

From Nine Naughty Novelist Sydney Somers

These yummy squares were an annual favorite growing up. 

PINEAPPLE SQUARES

What you need:

2 1/2 cups graham crumbs 

1/2 cup melted butter

1 box vanilla pudding and pie filling

2 cups milk

1 large can crushed pineapple, drained

2 cups whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp sugar

What to do:

Mix graham graham crumbs (set aside 1/4 cup for topping) and butter together and press into a 9x13 pan. Bake for 10-12 mins at 350º. Let cool.

Cook pudding on stove as per package instructions until thick. Spread over crust. Let cool.

Whip cream, adding sugar and vanilla until thick. Fold in drained crushed pineapple. Spread over pudding layer and sprinkle with remaining graham crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. 

Enjoy!

Primal Pleasure

Pendragon Gargoyles, Book 3

He will have his revenge–one wicked seduction at a time.

Emma is used to getting dragged into her twin sister’s magical messes, but this time her predicament is more than a minor annoyance. She’s chained to a cat shifter that her sister encased in a curse of stone. Worse, the unfortunate gargoyle’s waking up. And her sister’s not there to take the heat.

After a century suspended in stone, Cian would do anything to get his hands on the sorceress who put him there. Strangely, his dreams of revenge turn into an animal hunger to put his hands all over her—in every delightfully wicked way imaginable.

Never as talented as her sister, Emma doesn’t trust her own magic. But for now she must let Cian believe she’s the culprit in order to strike a bargain: to permanently lift the curse in exchange for his tracking skills to find her missing sister. The longer she is near him, though, the closer she comes to surrendering much more than her body to the brutal warrior.

As their attraction catches fire, Emma dreads what could happen when he learns the truth. If he will sacrifice her to break the spell…or fight for a love that goes beyond animal instinct.

Read an excerpt

Visit Sydney's Website or friend her on Facebook

From Guest Author Alanna Coca

I like to call this "Fudge So Easy, Even Alanna Can Make It"

Line one 9x13 pan with foil or butter.

In a large pot, stir the following together over medium heat:

1.5 sticks butter (margarine works, but butter is best)

10 oz evaporated milk (I know, it comes in a 12oz can. Sorry)

3 c sugar

Stir consistently to avoid scorching. Allow to boil for five minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat.

Fold in the following ingredients:

1 12 oz package milk chocolate chips (you can use semisweet if you prefer)

1 7 oz jar marshmallow creme

1 t vanilla

Pour into pan and refrigerate until firm. Allow pot to cool before licking out remaining fudge. Trust me on this.

Yummy variations:

Top with crushed peppermint candies, walnuts, Andes Mints, or colorful sprinkles as the fudge is cooling

Substitute peanut butter or white chocolate chips.

Substitute almond extract or peppermint for vanilla

Leave part of the marshmallow creme until the very end, swirl it through the fudge as it cools

This turns out 99% of the time, but when it doesn't set, it makes a very good ice cream topping.

About Alanna

Always a voracious reader, Alanna began writing poetry in grade school, and short stories in high school. After her first release, a nineteenth-century western love story, she moved to romantic suspense and contemporary romance, but keeps the cowboys close to her heart. For a spicier selection of romance novels by Alanna, visit her alter ego, Olivia Brynn

Websites http://www.alannacoca.com http://www.oliviabrynn.com

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/alannacoca http://www.twitter.com/oliviabrynn

Facebook http://facebook.com/alannacocaauthor http://facebook.com/oliviabrynnauthor 

Thursday 13: Thanksgiving Dinner

While we desperately wish we could spend Thanksgiving together, so far that hasn't been possible. We're hosting a virtual Thanksgiving potluck here instead! What are you bringing to the party?

DRINKS
Vanilla White Crantini (Kelly)
White Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate Liqueur (Erin)
Pumpkin Martini (PG)

DINNER
Turkey (Kelly)
Paula Deen green bean casserole (Meg)

Yellow Curry Pumpkin Stew (PG)
Kachemak Bay seafood chowder (Juniper)
Dressing (Meg)

Brûléed Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Kate)

Cranberry-Pomegranate-Orange Relish (PG)
Pickled Collard Greens (Juniper)


DESSERT
Chocolate Chunk Pecan Bars (Kate)
Cream Cheese Pumpkin Roll (Erin)

Heartthrobs and Crushes

 My Diva, recently turned 11, is still the fierce tomboy who eschews dresses and make-up and hair brushing and showering. Boys are stupid and Justin Bieber posters are fit only for archery targets.

Look! It's a baby douchebag! What would you do to your daughter if she ever dated a guy wearing these pants?

I noted on Facebook the other day that as we were walking into Target, Diva noted she was wearing the same clothes she'd had on the day before. She'd spent the night on the couch (it was a weekend) surrounded by dogs, and her hair "couldn't [have been] more uncombed if I'd tried!" She was really proud of her unwashed, unbrushed, puppy-sleeping status.

When I recounted all this on Facebook, one of my friends commented with a single word: "Scout." And I was like - oh, yeah. I love Scout (aka Miss Jean Louise Finch, of To Kill a Mockingbird). But Scout, in the book and in the movie, is 6 years old. Diva just turned 11.

And since about 1962 - when both To Kill a Mockingbird  and Love Me Do were released -- eleven is the age about which a girl becomes susceptible to Heart Throb Syndrome.

(Ok - honestly? There's no reason to drag Scout Finch into this. But we watched the movie tonight, and Diva's reading it right now, and there is much in Scout's character that I see in Diva's as well.)


So on Facebook a few weeks ago, one of my friends--whose daughter is in Diva's class at school--mentioned that her girl was wanting to take tea at 3:00 pm every day because that's what the English do, and One Direction are English.

OMG! OMG OMG OMG!!!

Yes, Diva's schoolmate's mom is getting tired of One Direction. And I don't blame her. I was SO glad Diva wasn 't into a particular band.

Until one day her armoire sprouted a poster of the kid from Austin and Alley. (I swear Disney is getting these teenagers from some Syd and Marty Kroft warehouse - they're all as pale and skinny as the corporately manufactured heart throbs I loved in the 70s.)

Oh - wait. Did someone mention heart throbs of the 70s?

Okay. My first real record - meaning a record only I would like, meant only for ME to play, was Donny Osmond Superstar.

I never joined the Mormon church. But I still like purple.

 It was given to me by an uncle when I was quite young (about Diva's age). I knew right away that I was Donny's Destiny. I insisted on buying only purple socks, and I told my mother I would be joining the Mormon church as soon as I was old enough.






Then, for about five minutes, I fell in love with Tony DeFranco.

 After that it was The Bay City Rollers.

Yes, people in the 70s were skinny and yes, it was because of drugs.

And then Shaun Cassidy. 

 
Also, at some point, Leif Garret.

He doesn't look like this anymore. Like, not at all.

[Note: I also remember David Soul and Bobby Sherman from Here Come the Brides, but I was really young when that was on TV and I'm not sure I can classify it as a heart throb.]

Of all the guys mentioned so far, only Shaun Cassidy still has a real career going.

He writes and produces. THAT'S where the lasting careers are made.

The Austin poster has come down, replaced by something animal-oriented.

It's going to happen again, though, and it's going to be worse next time.

Guest Blogger Robyn Bachar - Self-Rescuing Princess

Thanks for having me today! Hi, I’m Robyn, and I’ve been addicted to video games since the moment I first picked up a Nintendo controller, ran into a mushroom and died. I vividly remember the frustration of finishing each level only to be told that the princess was in another castle. Over and over. There’s only so much a person can take before saying forget the princess, she’s on her own.

Thankfully video games have come a long way since then, and now not only do you get to be the princess now, you get to slay dragons too. I love it. So when the “Self-Rescuing Princess” T-shirt at Think Geek popped up while shopping one day, I had a moment. First, because I want it (pay attention, BFF Diana, clearly I need this for Chrismukkah), and second, because that’s so Patience. I’m pretty sure she’s wearing that shirt beneath her jacket on the cover for Fire in the Blood.

I love writing heroines who kick butt as much as I love playing them in video games. In my new novella Fire in the Blood, Patience Roberts is a woman who can defeat any enemy. Room full of demons? Not a problem. Magician hunters? Don’t make her laugh. Vampire assassins? Piece of cake. Lovesick faerie?

Okay, that one isn’t so simple. Cue the blurb!

Patience Roberts is the last summoner standing between magiciankind and certain demon invasion. After banishing two or three demons a day for too long, gods know she’d like nothing better than a little down time with her number one distraction—Faust.

But with vampires, hunters and assassins lined up to take her out, who has the time? Still, she has to admit her resistance to the amorous faerie is wearing thin. Not that she’ll ever let on—after all, faeries are notorious for their short romantic attention spans.

Faust, a Shadowspawn faerie, watched as his outcast clan dwindled to nothing. Determined to hold on to the woman he loves, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect Patience. And one day build a life with her.

When an old demon enemy punches through the barrier between the worlds, Patience must draw on every ounce of her reputation as a cast-iron bitch to temporarily banish him. To get rid of him for good, she’ll have to sacrifice one too many pieces of her soul to leave room for love…

Warning: Contains a hero and heroine so hot they’re literally on fire, naughty faerie sex, post-coital cuteness, angsty magician drama, and yet more gratuitous violence against vampires, demons, and innocent furniture.

Fire in the Blood is out today! Instead of obsessively staring at my Amazon ranking, I will be celebrating by playing Dragon Age 2 and flirting with Fenris. For my fellow gamers out there, what is your favorite game? And for those of you who haven’t experienced the joy of throwing a video game controller across the room, who is your favorite kick-butt heroine?



Robyn Bachar was born and raised in Berwyn, Illinois, and loves all things related to Chicago, from the Cubs to the pizza. It seemed only natural to combine it with her love of fantasy, and tell stories of witches and vampires in the Chicagoland area. As a gamer, Robyn has spent many hours rolling dice, playing rock-paper-scissors and slaying creatures in MMPORGs. You can learn more about her at www.robynbachar.com. Robyn can also be found on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RobynBachar.

End Of the Season

As I’ve mentioned at least a few times before, I used to live in South Texas. In fact, I lived there for over twenty years. One of the particular things I don’t miss about South Texas is the lack of any real seasons. We used to say that we had Slightly Hot, Slightly More Hot, and OMG Turn Up the Air Conditioning.

Now I live in Colorado where, needless to say, we have four very rigidly defined seasons. Gardening is bracketed by the last frost in April or May and the first frost in September or October. This means farmers markets are also pretty rigidly seasonal. You get greens and peas early on, tomatoes and sweet corn in July, and root veggies from September until the end.

The Boulder Farmers Market is one of the biggest in the state and even has a national rep. I love it, although I always end up buying stuff that I then have to figure out how to use, like lion’s head mushrooms (good luck with that). Unlike some of the smaller farmers markets, Boulder runs until the middle of November, which means the farmers have to deal with frost and early snows—one year we had our first blizzard before Halloween, which meant the market featured a whole lot of bargain basement produce the following Saturday. The hubs and I went to one of the final Saturdays a couple of weeks ago and a good thing we did—last Saturday featured a full day of sleet.

The hubs had a new camera, and he spent much of his time photographing veggies. This may seem like an odd thing to do, but veggies can be beautiful, particularly at the end of the season when the multicolor root veggies are prevalent. Moreover, the folks at the farmers market know to pile their produce in wonderful profusion, so that you can hardly resist taking a few carrots home with you. Anyway, here are some shots from the veggie cam.

Frankly, I hate beets. But at the same time I freely admit that they look great, particularly the multicolor minis like these.

I kinda think this is radiccio but I'm not entirely sure. It just looked very pretty sitting there in its basket.

It's late in the year for peppers, but the farmers still have quite a few. One of the stands had them tumbled out on a table, cornucopia style.

Ah, carrots. I actually bought some of these, although I have yet to do anything with them.

Pie pumpkins, but they also work for decoration. And very handsome specimens they are, too.

The farmers markets are done now until next April, and I'm very sad about it. This means I'll be stuck with Krogers and Safeway and Whole Foods with their imported produce and high prices. But once April rolls around we'll be back. With camera, I'm guessing.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

First Lines...and more!

Thanks to authors Kinsey Holley, Shelli Stevens and Stacy Gail 

for  loaning us their first lines yesterday!

Here’s more about these three awesome books!  Check them out!

Line #1:  “His daddy was an alpha! A real wolf! Not a drunkass loser like you!”

A Werewolves in Love, Book 2
Thirteen years ago, Ally Kendall died defending her young cousin from his werewolf stepfather.

She hasn’t been the same since.

Ally returned from the hereafter with strange new powers, burdened with the secret of why and how she survived. She managed to scrape her life together and raise her cousin, but now he needs a pack to guide him into adulthood.
That means pulling up stakes yet again and heading for Colorado to find the only werewolf qualified for the job. A werewolf, she discovers, who tempts her to give up control in a thousand sinful ways.

Cade MacDougall, Alpha of an unrecognized pack, has a tragic history, a sizable ranch, and a daughter who thinks she’s a cat. Time to find a mate? Don’t make him laugh. Until Ally shows up with a smokin’ hot, preternaturally strong body that smells like mine, and introduces him to a nephew who holds the key to unraveling mysteries about Cade’s family—and himself.

But Ally’s holding something back. As Cade’s enemies gather, the cowboy and his secretive new mate must come clean about their mysterious pasts…or else all hope of protecting their newly formed family—and their future—will be lost.

Warning: A sexy, smartass alpha hero, a heroine who could kick his ass if she wanted, heart-pounding action, and some serious werewolf cowboy lovin’.

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Line #2: The Hunk-A-Hunk-A Burning Love Chapel smelled like stale beer and BO.

When lingerie heiress Brandy Summer gets cold feet and runs out on her Vegas wedding, she has nowhere to turn—so she hijacks a hunky biker waiting for a red light and begs him for help. What she doesn’t know is that her instincts are right: the groom has a hidden agenda. He needs her money to pay off his gambling debts and she’s his ticket to the good life.

Marco Vargas isn’t sure what he’s getting himself into when he rescues Brandy, but figures he’ll do the chivalrous thing. He offers her a job in his bar and the chance to sort out her feelings. But it seems that keeping Brandy hidden is easier than keeping his hands off her—and what will happen when Brandy discovers that Marco has secrets of his own?

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Line #3:  “I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day…”

 Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Faberge egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn’t return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick’s intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she’s never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else…

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there’s a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn’t part of Roderick’s plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

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By the way, Crime Wave in a Corset is part of a fabulous steampunk Christmas anthology (including This Winter Heart, by our own PG Forte!) 

  

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband’s love. A man learns that love isn’t always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

 

Anthology includes:

Far From Broken by JK Coi

This Winter Heart by PG Forte

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz

Buy it here!