Do you overuse this word in your #writing?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever read came from a literary agent question and answer page about how to submit a query. I have no recollection of who the agent was, but her advice stuck with me. She said that before sending in any work, look it over and  check for the word ‘that.’ It is an overused word which most times can be removed and have no affect on the sentence.

Taken from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=that&FORM=HDRSC2#a

She told the writers to read the sentence out loud without the word ‘that’ in it. If the sentence needed the word then it could be replaced with which or something else. But sometimes ‘that’ is the best word.

I went through my WIP and saw that I had gravely overused the word.  A major thatectomy was undertaken. I was surprised such a small change could make a huge difference in the word count.

Is there a word you overuse?  ‘Just’ perhaps? I’m guilty there too.

I’ll Take Care of You

I was listening to the lyrics of I’ll Take Care of You by Drake featuring Rhianna. I could listen to listen to this song all day.  One of the lines caught my attention and screamed BLOG POST!

      

Dealing with a heart I didn’t break

I remember my first serious relationship. He was my heart. I really really really loved this man. I was open and free with him and I thought we were going to get married and live together forever and ever. And then he dumped me and helped me to create my baggage. Baggage that some poor schmuck would have to deal with later when they tried to love me.

 

Drake’s line  summarizes the majority of romance novels that I have ever read. Either the hero or heroine, sometimes both have to break through barriers of the person they love, that they never helped to create. They have to bear the consequences of someone else’s actions in order to love the person their heart has chosen. It doesn’t seem fair. But then again love tends to overcome insurmountable circumstances.

Have you ever had to deal with a heart you didn’t break?

A Kiss to Die For by Gail Barrett: Book Blast and #Giveaway

Gail will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift certificate and either a signed print copy (US ONLY) or an electronic copy of Fatal Exposure (Buried Secrets book one) to one randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her other Super Book Blast on August 27th.

BLURB:

Homeless Army veteran Sullivan Turner is nobody’s hero.  His failure to save his fallen comrades proved that.  So when a gutsy social worker gets caught in a drug gang’s crosshairs, he knows he’s the last man who can safeguard her and the pregnant teenagers she’s trying to protect. 

Former debutant Haley Barnes learned the hard way how to survive.  After witnessing a cold-blooded murder, the terrified teenaged runaway changed her identity and hid to save her life.  But when the killer tracks her down and attacks the girls in the homeless shelter she now runs, Haley knows the time has come to stand and fight.  But to bring down the powerful killer she must confront her high-society family’s darkest secrets -- and convince wounded warrior Sully Turner he’s the hero she believes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

She tightened her grip on his waist.  His pulse slowing, he closed his eyes, feeling oddly at peace despite the danger hounding their heels.  Maybe it was because she’d suffered as much as he had.  Maybe because she understood how deep a loss like that could sear.  But he realized that he liked being around Haley.  He respected her.  Admired her.

He was falling for her.  Hard.

His stomach sank.  He had no right to pursue her.  He was the last person she needed, unsuitable in every way.  She needed someone who could protect her, defend her, not an unstable wreck like him.

But he couldn’t seem to resist her.  Everything about her impressed him -- her loyalty, her determination to safeguard others, her refusal to run from the enemy dogging their steps.

         

And God help him, but he wanted to feel that again, that idealism, that drive to make a difference in the world, that need to battle the bad guys and keep the defenseless safe.

To be the man that he once was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Gail Barrett is the award-winning author of thirteen romantic suspense novels.  A former RITA® and Daphne finalist, Gail has received the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion, the Booksellers Best, The National Readers’ Choice Award, and numerous other awards.  She lives with her husband in Western Maryland.  For more information, visit her website: www.gailbarrett.com.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Suspense-Buried-Secrets-ebook/dp/B00BNRHMWI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375097894&sr=1-1&keywords=a+kiss+to+die+for

BN:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-kiss-to-die-for-gail-barrett/1114668433?ean=9780373278367

Follow the tour by clicking on the link below in order to increase your chances of winning.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/07/virtual-super-book-blast-kiss-to-die.html

Why I like to KISS It!

Unlike my other posts about kissing this one isn’t about the lip smacking variety. KISS is an acronym for Keep It Short and Simple or when you don’t want to be nice, Keep It Simple Stupid.

Just in case you haven’t noticed, my posts aren’t very long. It’s not because I don’t have a lot to say, but because I’d like to keep the reader's attention throughout the post. How many times have you gone to a blog post and had to scroll and scroll down the page before you got to the end? How many times have you read through those long blog posts? Hmmmm.

Social media expert, Kristen Lamb, advises that a blog post should be less than 500 words. This word count gives the reader enough information without making their eyes cross with too much reading. I’m a direct and to the point person so KISSing comes easy for me (for most posts).

Mwah.

Do you like your blog posts on the longer or the shorter side?

Confession of a new author, but old reader

Every old author was a new one at one point in time. Can I imagine Julie Garwood with her plethora of books trying to get a book deal all those years ago? Or Janet Evanovich trying to pitch her Stephanie Plum series? 

These days it is easier to get published because there are so many publishers around who don’t deal with agents. If a new author can’t get or doesn't want a publisher then self publishing is always an option.

Here is my confession. I am more critical when I read a new author’s book than I am with older authors who have proven themselves already. There, I said it. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love reading new authors. I love supporting their work and writing honest reviews for them. New writers are more accessible than the well established ones. I believe I would fall down in shock if Debbie Christiana- wait wrong list- I meant Terry McMillan sent me a personal e-mail. But I’m in contact with new authors (now insert Debbie) all the time, and I love it because it makes being an author a more attainable goal.

Be warned, new authors, that until you become more established, I’ll be reading your work with a fine toothed comb in hand (does that make any sense? Just be aware.) 

I was so happy when I first heard from her. 
Grinning from ear to ear
 (I love this book, it's actually
her second, I loved the first one too)

I may go fan crazy if she
contacted me. Just a little bit of screaming
 would be involved.

Do you prefer to read new authors or old?

By the way, being a new author and all, My blog tour giveaway is still going on. Enter to win one of three $10 Amazon Gift Cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Tracy Sweeney author of Living Backwards (she's has such a cool #giveaway)

Today the amazing Tracy Sweeney is here for a chat. She will be awarding a key chain that looks like the flask on the cover to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US ONLY). 

NP: What made you become a writer?

TS: I think I’m still trying to become a writer!  But I’ve always written—just mainly for my own entertainment.  However, letting the world in on the crazy things that happen in my head is an entirely new experience.

NP: Where did you get the idea for Living Backwards?

TS: I love time travel stories.  But in most cases, the protagonist is trying to change an event that happened in the past.  I wanted to take the point of view of someone who was trying hard not to change the past.  But can you make the same choices you made when you were a kid knowing what you know now as an adult?  I’m such a different person than I was back then.  I know I’d struggle pretending to be my teenage self.  You should have seen my hair.  Such a bad call.

NP: If you could go back in time (any time in history), which year would you go back to and why?

TS: I’m a child of the eighties.  I would love to rock a cool pair of rainbow leg warmers, a high ponytail and a satin jacket to the local roller rink.  Of course, in my mind, I’m not almost forty.  The high ponytail is hard to pull off at my age.  The jacket however…

NP: Other than Living Backwards, what is your favorite book or movie about time travel?

TS: I loved Peggy Sue Got Married.  Maybe I’m biased because I love Kathleen Turner but I think her version of an adult pretending to be a teenager is perfect.  She just needs a flask.

NP: Why a pink flask? (I’m partial to purple myself, but silver is the most common).

TS: Because I think a flask is an accessory and accessories should coordinate and sparkle.  (Purple would have been my second choice.)

NP: Please give an analogy of what writing is like for you.

TS: Writing is like therapy.   A way to quiet the chattering voices in my head.

BLURB:

Twenty-nine-year-old Jillian Cross refuses to believe that a pair of skinny jeans has led to her untimely demise. Life just isn't that cruel. But when an overly-enthusiastic attempt at squeezing herself into them leads her to fall and lose consciousness, she is faced with just that possibility. When she awakens with both a bruised ego and a bump on her head, she's not in her tiny apartment but her childhood bedroom circa 1999-the spring of her senior year in high school. Jillian knows that time travel isn't logical. But then again, neither was her decision to wear skinny jeans. As she attempts to navigate her way through the halls of Reynolds High, walking the same path and making the same choices she made years before, she knows that any change she makes can have a catastrophic effect on her future. But when she strikes up an unexpected friendship with motorcycle-riding, cigarette-smoking Luke Chambers, can she pretend to be the same shy girl she once was? At least she has her pink sparkly flask to take the edge off. One little change won't hurt, right? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Before I rounded the corner to the rear of the gym, I knew something felt off. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Turning the corner, I saw that for the first time all year, I wasn’t alone. A girl was sitting on one of the milk crates. Her long brown hair was hiding her face as she bent over. In her hands, dangling between her legs was what looked like a flask. She looked more like someone who belonged at Jonas’s pub than at a high school. The girl hadn’t heard me coming and I was irritated because I just wanted some peace and quiet. Grabbing a cigarette from my pack, I cleared my throat not knowing how else I could get her attention and tell her to leave. She looked up, startled, and nearly knocked the wind out of me. It was Jillian Cross. Jillian Cross was sitting on my milk crate. Behind the gym. In my place. With a flask. And it was pink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tracy Sweeney graduated with a degree in Management and Finance but prefers writing ridiculous things to crunching ridiculous numbers. She lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her two young boys. Her short stories have appeared in Literary Juice, Solecisms and Slice of Life Magazines. Her debut novel, LIVING BACKWARDS, was published in January 2013.  She is currently working on her second novel which will be equally as ridiculous. 

Follow her just about everywhere:

Website

http://www.tracysweeney.net/

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/LivingBackwards

Twitter

https://twitter.com/pink_flask

Goodreads

www.goodreads.com/pinkflask

Tumblr

Pinkflask.tumblr.com

Buy LIVING BACKWARDS

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Backwards-Tracy-Sweeney/dp/1621371867/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360115782&sr=8-1&keywords=living+backwards

Virtualbookworm

http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=bookstore&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=living_backwards

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-backwards-tracy-sweeney/1114216279?ean=9781621371861

I'm linking you to an awesome review of Living Backwards on Zee Monodee's blog that I thought was brilliant. Remember to leave a comment and stop by the other blogs on her tour to increase your chances of winning. 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-nbtm-tour-living-backwards-by.html

Fantastic re-lease of Torn by Christine Hughes

Talented author Christine Hughes has a new publisher and a wonderful new cover for her re-released book Torn. 

Blurb:

With the sudden, mysterious death of her father, Samantha discovers her life isn’t what it seems. Not only isn’t she the normal teenage girl she thought she was, Sam must now take her father’s place in the fight between two groups of fallen angels—the Faithful and the Exiled—in a race to save humanity. In addition to dealing with the devastating betrayal of her friend and her feelings for someone she is forbidden to love, Sam must also fight the growing darkness within her as she struggles to make a choice between fighting alongside the Faithful or succumbing to the temptation of the Exiled. Both sides require sacrifices Sam isn’t sure she can make.

Excerpt:

I knew it was dangerous, but the voice was so tempting...

Samannnnthaaaa...

Unable to speak, I wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead and looked around. I swung my head toward the window and peered outside, searching for the source of the taunting voice. Where was he? The sky had darkened significantly and just beyond the trees I saw a swirling shadow that seemed to pulse. The vegetation surrounding it had withered, becoming gray and lifeless as though the shadow had sucked up all of the energy. A faint hum filled the air, growing louder as the shadow pulsed faster.

Samannnnnnthaaaa...It’s time. Join us.

“Where are you?” I could barely get the words out. “What do you want from me?” This voice had plagued me for months and I wanted to know for sure it was Sebastian, yet the thought of finally knowing, finally seeing him, scared me more than the uncertainty.

The voice chuckled. Join us and I will show you everything.

“Never,” I whispered. “Never. My father died protecting me. I will never come to you.”

Again, a high-pitched and foul laugh rang in my head, making it spin. Dark clouds rolled ominously overhead, the wind picked up and the dull humming became inescapable white noise. Silly girl. You will come to us. You will make the choice. It is your destiny.

Despite my protest, I stepped toward the window then, leaning over the sink, I reached up to unlock it. My reflection was unrecognizable in the glass. My hair was wild and my eyes were huge and black as shadows emanated from within me. Whatever was out there was reaching for me with ghostly fingers, and as I opened the window, a dark mist snaked toward the house. I closed my eyes in giddy anticipation of the unknown.

Purchase at Amazon

Contact Christine at:

http://christine-hughes.com

http://www.facebook.com/ChristineHughesAuthor

http://www.twitter.com/HughesWriter

Book Review: Once Upon a Second Chance by Zee Monodee

The Blurb

Leila Hassan Al-Nadir spent ten years in a forced, abusive marriage in the United Arab Emirates, before her husband divorced her...and another man stepped into his place to make her his wife. But before she can look at a future with this new man, he abandons her, dropping her off on the island of Mauritius in the care of his stepmother.

Khalid Al-Nadir wants nothing more than to be with Leila, his wife. But he hides a deep, dark secret—his intentions when he made her his weren’t noble. Despite falling in love with her in the end, he knows she will be better off without him.

Leila craves answers; Khalid desires salvation. Fate, in the form of Khalid’s stepmother, intervenes and sets this estranged couple up for a one night stand date with Madame Eve’s agency.

Can Leila and Khalid have a second chance, once they both face the truth that brought them together?

My Review

The book was short, but wonderful. Ms. Monodee writes with a delightful descriptive flair. I could see every scene in my mind's eye as clearly as if I was there. Mauritius sounds like a beautiful island.

The relationship between Leila and Khalid was intense. I did not expect the depth of emotions that Ms. Monodee was able to bring forth in such a short read, but she was able to portray a myriad of them. I learned quite a few things about the Muslim faith that I didn’t know before and this impressed me.  The words of love were so pleasant to my sight that I wanted to hear them out loud.

I really enjoyed Once Upon a Second Chance and look forward to reading more work by Zee Monodee.

I give Once Upon a Second Chance four out of five chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.com.

Celebrate la vida (non- loca)

Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author has started a meme where every Friday we post what we are celebrating for the week. Thanks Vikki.

This week I'm celebrating life. All life. For no good reason other than to celebrate that life is precious and should be enjoyed and lived to the fullest. I can't admit to doing this all of the time, but I do know that right this minute, I'm alive, and that is good, just because it is.

What are you celebrating this week?

Check out what other members of the blog hop are celebrating.

Book Review: Basement Level 5: Never Scared by L. R. Wright

The Blurb:

Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder, deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her father's footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez Security--contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect, and--most of all--the adrenaline rush. 

Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base, five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice--is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet-proof glass?

My Review

Basement Level 5: Never Scared was amazing. I was captivated from the first page and I kept wondering why the heck I hadn’t read it sooner.

I love a strong female heroine, and you can’t get any stronger than kick ass Alexa. This woman took power, control and strength to another level.  The fight scenes increased my heart rate as I read them because they were so awesomely written.

I don’t do spoilers, so I’ll just say that if I wasn’t so afraid of Alexa, I would totally want to steal the hero away from her. He was just so sexy, loving, intelligent, and alpha that I wanted him to be real. The relationship between Alexa, the hero, and the supporting characters was amazing. Each person had their own story, but it blended into one wonderful novel.

Ms. Wright surprised me so much with the twists and turns that I stopped trying to anticipate what was going to happen and let her take me on the wild ride that was her novel.

The one thing I had difficulty with was liking known killers so much. It placed me in the gray area. I kept thinking that I should condemn her somehow, but Alexa and the crew were so likable and justified in so many ways that I couldn't judge their past. Instead I rooted for their future.

If you want a smooth, well written, action packed novel with some sweet steamy romance, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it.

I give Basement Level 5: Never Scared, five out of five chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.com

Book Spotlight: The Other Side by Zee Monodee

The amazing Zee Monodee has a brand new book out with Decadent Publishing and I can't wait to read it.

Title: The Other Side

Series: Book #1 in the Island Girls Trilogy

Author: Zee Monodee

Line: Ubuntu (geared to African Romance)

Publisher: Decadent Publishing, LLC

Release date: July 30, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Comedy/ Interracial Multicultural Romance/ Bollywood

Length: 272 pages

Heat Level: Sensual/ 2 flames

Cover Image: Attached (300x450 size compressed for easy loading on web pages)

Blurb:

Divorce paints a scarlet letter on her back when she returns to the culture-driven society of Mauritius. This same spotlight shines as a beacon of hope for the man who never stopped loving her. Can the second time around be the right one for these former teenage sweethearts?

Indian-origin Lara Reddy left London after her husband dumps her for a more accommodating uterus—at least, that’s what his desertion feels like. Bumping into him and his pregnant new missus doesn’t help matters any, and she thus jumps on a prestigious job offer. The kicker? The job is in Mauritius, the homeland of her parents, and a society she ran away from over a decade earlier.

But once there, Lara has no escape. Not from the gossip, the contempt, the harassing matchmaking...and certainly not from the man she hoped never to meet again. The boy she’d loved and lost—white Mauritian native, Eric Marivaux.

Back when they were teens, Eric left her, and Lara vowed she’d never let herself be hurt again. Today, they are both adults, and facing the same crossroads they’d stood at so many years earlier.

Lara now stands on the other side of Mauritian society. Will this be the impetus she needs to take a chance on Eric and love again?

Buy Links:

Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=817&osCsid=uk690a1muqacdt8v6csmtuo7d2

Amazon (available at the discounted price of $2.99) http://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00E77XHG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375035073&sr=8-1&keywords=the+other+side+zee+monodee

About the author 

Zee Monodee

Stories about love, life, relationships... in a melting-pot of culture

Zee is an author who grew up on a fence – on one side there was modernity and the global world, on the other there was culture and traditions. Putting up with the culture for half of her life, one day she decided she'd stand tall on her wall and dip toes every now and then into both sides of her non-conventional upbringing.

From this resolution spanned a world of adaptation and learning to live on said wall. The realization also came that many other young women of the world were on their own fence.

This particular position became her favorite when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing – her heroines all sit 'on a fence', whether cultural or societal, in today's world or in times past, and face dilemmas about life and love.

Hailing from the multicultural island of Mauritius, Zee is a degree holder in Communications Science. She is a head-over-heels wife, in-over-her-head mum to a tween son, best-buddy-stepmum to a teenage lad, an incompetent domestic goddess, eternal dreamer, and an absolute, shameless bookholic. When she isn’t penning more stories and/or managing the Ubuntu line at Decadent Publishing, you can bet you’ll find her with her nose in her tablet, ‘drinking in’ a good book.

Tidbits about this book 

• The theme of Second Chances is very prominent in Zee’s stories, because she herself, as a divorcee, found a second chance with a wonderful man she has now called her husband for over a decade.

• The Other Side is Zee’s first-ever penned novel, written in the year 2005, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and thus decided to live her dream of writing a book. She drafted this book mostly during sleepless nights between chemotherapy sessions, the outpouring of this tale becoming her therapy to cope with her treatments.

Excerpt

“You’ll never guess who I met the other day,” she said.

Sam stopped crying and dried her tears with a delicate stroke of her finger. Lara couldn’t resist a frown at how the perfect face was not marred by crying. Trust her perfectionist BFF to use only waterproof makeup.

Better get back on the topic. Her throat closed for a second, refusing to allow her vocal chords to utter the sound of his name, because saying it aloud would change everything.

But she was doing this for Sam. So she leaned forward and dropped her voice to a low, conspiratorial tone to share the confidence. “I saw Eric.”

Sam’s eyes grew wide as she bolted upright in her seat. “Get out of here! You met him? And is it the same person I’m thinking of?”

Lara smiled, happy to see the mood back to friendly chatter. She nodded. Sam was the only person who knew of her past with Eric.

“Well, are you just gonna sport such a dumb smile? Come on, out with it. I want all the details.”

Sam’s voice thrummed with excitement. Lara laughed, and recounted the meeting at the clinic.

“Okay, the real question I want you to answer. Was he wearing a wedding ring?” Sam asked as Lara finished her tale.

The elation of sharing the confidence crashed, the shards wrapping around her like tendrils of choking agony. “He had a ring on his right hand.”

“So he’s not married.”

“You’ve forgotten how European, and especially French men wear wedding rings on the right hand.”

“No, but this convention means squat in Mauritius. If it’s not on the left hand, the ring means nothing.”

Damn it all to hell—could there be hope? Could Eric be unattached, after everything that had happened?

And where on earth would such confirmation get her? Eric was out of her league, always had been. The sooner she reinforced that in her mind, the better.

“Come on, Lara. So this means he could be free, and what you saw could’ve been a misunderstanding—”

She shot to her feet. “I know what I saw, Sam. The photo didn’t lie, and the paper said he and his French floozie named Sophie de-whatever-bollocks were expecting their first child.”

“Still, it doesn’t sound like Eric,” Sam said in a soft tone.

Lara whirled around to stare at her friend. “Excuse me? I remember thinking you’re the one who wanted to lead a mob to rip the skin off his spine when you found out.”

Sam rolled her eyes. “Don’t I recall that.”

“Then what the heck are you talking about today, giving him the benefit of the doubt?”

“Because life is short, you idiot. And we’re all older and wiser today.” Sam paused. “Tell me, sincerely, would you refuse if you were given a second chance?”

The slow burn of anger, combined with the bite of disappointment and the sharp rips of crushed dreams, slashed their way through her. “You know what? If that happened, I definitely wouldn’t care.”

“The more fool you, then,” Sam said.

“Oh, bugger off, you sanctimonious cow.”

Sam snorted. “Trust me, we are so not done with this topic.”

And that’s exactly what has me worried. Lara turned her head the other way. She couldn’t bear for Sam, the woman who’d always read through her like an open book, to see how a senseless part of her would grab on to the mere hope of another chance with Eric if one ever came within a hundred miles of her.

The Eyes of Love by Angelina Rose: #Booktour and #Giveaway

Today I have Angela Rose on my blog talking about something that can be very difficult for a writer to do. Feel free to leave a comment for a chance to receive a $50 Amazon or BN.com gift card.

Balancing life and writing;

Being a writer certainly has its perks. One of those perks is being able to work from home or wherever I may be… as long as I have my iPad or Laptop to hand.

I have an 8-year old foster son who has ADHD: so he is imaginative and often wants to know what I am doing and offers many suggestions to my story lines. He keeps me on my toes…

Writing is not my sole career. I am a Registered Nurse working with children. I also work as a Health Counselor in Private Practice. Even when not on what I call one of my writing days, I get character and plot ideas… I have an App on my iPhone so there are times I am caught talking away to my phone. I just laugh… it’s lots of fun.

My writing space is not just one space… it could be in the home office (which isn’t really mine – I take my husband’s home office over when he is at his main office). One of my favorite spaces to write is out near the pool. I live near a reserve so then various wildlife visits to see what I’m up to … here is one of my constant visitors for the past few years. He’s just known as Mr Kookie, he arrived following wild fires and brought some of his family and friends with him. He actually takes ground beef from my hands …

Actually Mr Kookie can be a it of a distraction … he cackles away when his mince doesn’t come quickly enough and gives threatening looks at some of the Eastern Creek Lizards (they look a little like Frill Neck Lizards) that hang around in my back yard.

Most of the time you will find me on my laptop but there are times I use my iPad where I like to dictate different parts of my stories, then I can get my writing done faster. I really need to be away from people when I “talk” my writing or people will think I’m either crazy or well on my way to that state.

I try to write a minimum of 1000 words a day… when I need to write more I just have to put up my “do not disturb sign” and write away…

BLURB:  

After a tragic loss five years ago, Sally Overby becomes an Attorney in Atlanta. She convinces herself that all she'll ever need again is her young son, David, and her life as an attorney. Until one day, Colin Dean barges back into her life and promptly blows her safe world apart, driving her crazy as only a guy she'd had a "school girl crush" on can.

Sally is wary to love deeply. Only, with every loving look Colin gives her plus every sweet kiss, as the attraction between them sparks, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the one she should be with. And although Colin didn’t realize his life was going to change so quickly, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether. The one for Sally’s heart.

Will Colin be able to convince her that's it safe to love him... and that forever isn't really out of reach?

The Eyes of Love is a novella… so you can enjoy it in just one day!

Excerpt

A hush fell over the room for a moment as Stephanie appeared with Jazz trailing behind her. She was wearing a skin tight black dress with stiletto heels which was typical Stephanie fashion. She wanted nothing more than to be the center of attention like she always had been.

Without missing a beat, Stephanie walked straight over to Colin. Sally was shocked.

"Hello, Colin..." she purred as she ignored Sally completely. "You look sexy tonight, as always." She smiled seductively as Colin looked away. "Who's your friend?"

"None of your business, Steph. Leave me alone."

"Oohhh.... Did I touch a nerve, sweetie?" she asked as she reached out to touch his chest.

"Don't touch me, Stephanie. I'm warning you. Why don't you go back to Jazz?"

"Oh. Jazz. Boring..." she sang. "We're not together anymore, just so you know..." she whispered in a husky voice. Colin held onto Sally's hand for dear life. She had to do something.

"Stephanie, don't you remember me?" she asked grinning from ear to ear as she slid into Colin's side. He put his arm around her and stared down in shock at what she was about to say.

"I don't know you," Stephanie said looking her up and down.

"Wow. Age is really doing a number on your brain," Sally said.

"Who are you?" Stephanie snapped. Jazz stood a few feet back obviously trying to hear the conversation.

"I'm your worst nightmare," Sally growled as she came almost nose to nose with Stephanie, her attorney public speaking skills getting ready to display themselves. She pulled the name tag from her purse without breaking eye contact and held it up. "You see, I'm the nerd that you and your cronies bullied through high school."

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Angelina Rose has wanted to write ever since she could hold a pencil. The first daughter of immigrant parents, Angelina had her head buried in books, lost in a world of heroes, heroines and exotic places.

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Angelina's author career.

"I awoke in the ICU... I had been unconscious for several days," Angelina says.

In 2010, Angelina had a long stint in hospital following her involvement in a motor vehicle accident: the longest time off work (as a Registered Nurse), she'd ever had in her life!

It was then she took up pen and paper and started to write again, just as she had done when she was a child. She wrote four short fiction stories for young adults, entered them in several competitions, and managed to win three first prizes!

After happily dipping her toes into writing those short fiction stories for young adults, Angelina has now authored four books in a new "Mill Creek Crossing Romance" series... contemporary romance intended for adults.

The "Starting Over Series" is another contemporary romance series she wrote about a subject she knows well... nurses and their love life. At a recent reunion of her graduating class, she could not help but notice how the same girls would group together and laugh, chat, and even shed some tears over their lives since graduating. Many of the girls had divorced... so Angelina thought "what if a group of the nurses came up with a plan to meet in two years and have a new love story to share?" Then the first story in the series was born.

There is always a story running around in her head. A man with thick dark hair, gray-blue eyes, with an engaging smile and a quick wit... or a girl crying over a broken relationship. She finds herself talking to these characters during her day: when she's doing dishes, or bathing babies at the hospital. These characters crop up on days at the beach or on walks through the neighborhood. This is how the stories start to grow.

Angelina's mother was an author, so Angelina grew up with a love of words and stories. If she wasn't writing a short story about something that took her fancy, her head was buried in books... reading, reading, reading, as her brother constantly told her...

When she's not spending time with her goodlooking man, or quality time with her laptop, she's working at the hospital, hanging out with her family and friends, or walking her two dogs around the neighborhood. Angelina spends as much time as she can traveling, then coming home and including some of those adventures in her stories.

Angelina really loves to hear from her readers and she invites you to connect with her on Facebook as she interacts daily with her readers there!

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Eyes-of-Love-ebook/dp/B00CRM1Q4I

Facebook:  https://facebook.com/angelinaroseromanceauthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RoseRomanceBook

Website:  http://AngelinaRoseRomance.com

Goodreads:   http://www.goodreads.com/angelinaroseromance

Increase your chances of winning the hefty gift certificate by heading over to other blogs on Angelina's tour. The tour dates and sites can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-book-tour-eyes-of-love-by.html   

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