Forever 16 release party tonight at 5pm Eastern time! Come celebrate!

Some curses were meant to be broken. Come to the online party and see what I'm talking about!

Where? Follow this link:

 https://www.facebook.com/events/954330964681759/

The Love Chef is back - As a contestant on Food Network Star! He inspired my 1st contest!

Chef Jernard Wells, the Love Chef!

I first saw Jernard Wells aka The Love Chef on Cutthroat Kitchen. I Tweeted to him and asked if he wanted to inspire and judge my first short story writing contest. He did inspire a romance writing contest and I am republishing the winning entry. Much to my delight, Jernard will be competing to be the next Food Network Star and appearing on TV with Giada DeLaurentis and Bobby Flay! Yay Jernard! 
 Here is more information on Jernard in Season 12 of Food Network Star: http://bit.ly/1rNdS3e


And - the Love Chef's choice of romantic short stories: Sweetest Madness by Stephanie Parke

She knew it was wrong the moment she smelled it burning. She skidded down the hall, her heart socks sliding on the hardwood floor. She slid into the kitchen just as the fire alarm went off. The howling shrieks of the alarm echoed in her already splitting head as she grabbed her moose oven mitt and pulled the oven door open.

Black smoke bellowed out combining with the scent of burned meat making her gag. Casey slammed the door shut and did the only thing that felt right, she screamed.  Once her mini breakdown was over Casey slowly approached the oven and turned it off. She grabbed the remains of her steak and slammed it down on the counter.  It hit with a solid thunk making her eyes water. Casey put her hand to her mouth to keep another scream at bay as the phone rang. She pushed her tangled blonde hair out of her eyes and answered it.

“Hello” she said sourly almost hoping it was a telemarketer so she could unload all her venom. She had spent all day waiting for the other shoe to fall. Nothing was going right: Ruined Valentine’s Day dinner, check, sick kids, check. Today had been perfect.

“Hey hon, bad news.”  Jon said softly through the phone. Her husband’s voice usually made her heart beat, even after seventeen years of marriage, but today she wanted to throttle him.

“What’s wrong?” she said trying for monotone, hoping she wasn’t being a bitch.

“I’m going to be late again. The plane was delayed and I won’t be in till midnight.”  He waited and she knew he was waiting for her to go nuclear. Jon had gotten a play by play update as each disaster had come crashing down today. She knew he knew she was furious, probably why he was calling instead of texting her, he knew she hated that.

“Great” Casey  muttered as she counted to ten and tried for calm. She knew it wasn’t his fault he was going to miss Valentine’s day with her. His job as a company vice president kept him away often and she knew how air travel was but right now all she wanted to do was rip someone’s head off. 

“I’m so sorry hon” he said softly “I promise I’ll make it up to you this weekend.”

Casey went to reply when the sound of vomiting reached her from the living room. She sighed and rubbed her hand down her face.  “No problem” she said in a sweeter voice than she felt before ending the call and hanging up. She raced down the hall again and slid again on the floor as she entered the living room and saw the mess and the big miserable eyes of her five year old son.  She wondered if she could get away with leaving it here and simply cleaning him up then the smell hit her and she decided that was not an option.

*********************************************************************************

Casey tucked Robbie into bed and wiped her dirty hand across her brow. She slunk down the stairs smelling the cleaner before she was halfway down. It had taken her three hours to clean up the house and get Robbie settled. It was now 10:30 and she could officially say this was the worst Valentines Day ever.  She flopped down on the couch and pulled the grey and white snowflake blanket around her. She wanted to cover her head and go to sleep but she was simply too tired. Casey sighed and snuggled down into the brown couch. The blanket was warm and fuzzy and it was summer, but she loved it, it was one of the only things that made her feel better when things sucked. Jon had bought it for her at Bath and Body works last Christmas but she used it every time she felt like crap. She sniffed and wrapped it tighter around her, daring anyone to try and take her blanket or make her move. She pulled the edge up and heard the crinkle of paper. She groaned, “Please God,” she whispered to herself as she peeked one eye at the offending paper, Please don’t let me have missed a puke covered paper, please don’t let it be on my blanket.”

Her eyes searched her beloved blanket and found the paper. It’s bright pink color popped at once against the grey and white of the blanket and Casey snatched it up, intrigued.

Get up and follow me it read in close tight script. Casey shook her head, sure the stress of the day had finally pushed her over the edge. Then she saw them a trail of pink paper hearts on the floor. Casey scrubbed her eyes and followed them, even though she did want to stomp them.  They led up the back stairs to her bathroom. The pink hearts stopped at the edge of a steaming tub of bubbles. Casey felt her eyes tear up as she plucked the last heart from the edge.

“Come on in the water’s fine” it said in the same tight script. Casey shook her head, a feeling sweeping over her was all about but decided to go with it. She slid out of her clothes and sunk down into the water. Her elbow hit a glass of wine and she pulled the pink heart post it off the glass and smiled.

“Drink me” it said with a smiley face on top of the e. She pulled the drink to her nose and inhaled the scent of Belle Meade plantations raspberry desert wine, her favorite.  She smiled wondering who had organized all this but at this moment she didn’t care, she still had puke in her hair and right now this was heaven.

Casey shook her head as a knock sounded at the door. She squeaked and ducked down until her chin hit the bubbles. Her sister peeked around the door and smiled at her. She slid a robe into sight and shook it. Casey smiled at her younger sister and took the robe when it was tossed to her. She was so curious, “had her sister arranged this?” Rob?”  She quickly tied the robe and went into the bedroom where her favorite red dress was laid out on the bed. It was long and flowing with a sexy split  up the side and she loved it. She slipped it on with the Silver Star sandals beside it and followed the paper hearts back out the door and down the stairs.

Her sister was waiting  at the bottom and handed her a note without speaking. Casey felt her heart thump when she recognized Rob’s handwriting this time. “Come outside and meet me where I told you I loved you the first time.”  Her sister smiled at her and gave her a little shove out the door.

 “Go have fun, I’ve got Robbie.” Her sister said with a laugh as she nudged her forward. She smiled back at her and walked quickly outside. The air was warm despite it being February and Casey smiled as she hurried around to the big oak tree in the back yard.

She felt young again, the tiredness and the stress of the day slipping away as she skirted the blue juniper bushes and hurried toward the tree. She rounded the house and met the eyes of the only man she’d ever loved, her husband Rob. He stood beside the old tire swing in a full suit, his grey eyes twinkling as he held out his hand to her. He stood tall and handsome in his best grey suit and red silk tie and she thought he’d never looked better. She smiled and hurried toward him not sure what to say. Rob was a loving husband but sometimes life got in the way of romance. It had been a long time since he’d done something like this.

“Are you ready to come down the rabbit hole Alice?” Rob asked with a soft smile as he pulled her to him.

“I’m not sure what to say.” She said with a smile as he enfolded her in his arms “I didn’t think you were coming home, and today had been so crazy, I’ve felt like I was going mad.”

“We’re all mad here.” He said with a smile as he kissed her gently and led her over to the candlelit table he had set under the tree. Her favorite dinner Steak and baked potato sat waiting and Casey grinned unable to help but be impressed. She sat softly loving the fact that he had taken the time to remember her favorite meal and to memorize some of her favorite lines from her favorite book Alice in Wonderland.

Rob sat beside her and looked into her eyes and she felt her heart thump the way it had when they had first met eighteen years ago. Sometimes she wished he didn’t work so much but she knew that he did it for their family, for her. Every time he looked into her eyes she remembered why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place.

“It’s the best kind of madness.” She said with a smile as she pulled him close again. Their lips met and time fell away as they lost themselves in each other and Casey knew that whatever happened this would always be the sweetest madness of all.

Would you want to be Forever 16? Read about it for 99 cents. #Vampire #YoungAdult

 

I really wanted to make sure my headline didn't look like one of those annoying internet skin cream ads with the picture of the old woman who magically looks young. Don't worry, this ebook won't annoy you; it will electrify you!
So, click here. You'll be glad you did: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EQUY6J0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_H-Chxb0TDYCE7

Get in on the action! Executed in Paradise - Scary and exciting!

Sexy sleuths Madison and Fab race to uncover the truth behind a horrific crime… before a loved one pays the ultimate price.

Beautiful Tarpon Cove has everything you’d expect from a paradise retreat: Blue waters, white sand and … murder?

That’s right: When the vice president of a shady corporation is found dead in her oceanfront condo, Madison and Fab will find that there is far more to paradise than just sun, surf and sand.

With deadly secrets and dark dealings brewing beneath the surface of Tarpon Cove, Madison and Fab are caught in a race against time to uncover the truth behind the grisly murder, which may only be the tip of the iceberg….

The eighth book in Deborah Brown’s Paradise series, Executed in Paradise will take you on a high-speed thrill ride through non-stop action, steamy romance, and dark intrigue, and leave you begging for more.

NOW AVAILABLE:
Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1Wd21q0
Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1VC7k3i
Kindle CA: http://amzn.to/1Ql0fvV
Paperback: http://amzn.to/1U5F8Vd

Check out the author's website here: http://www.deborahbrownbooks.com/p/home_29.html

A rising author to watch - Jessica Samuels!

Jessica Samuels is a prolific author who writes with passion and intensity. Jessica is a full-time student, works retail on the weekends, but still manages to find time to write. I am sharing a link to her blog, her books and her poetry. She even does reviews on Meals Ready to Eat.
I like to follow Jessica's writing career because she reminds me of myself in 1978. I thought I'd never get out of retail.
So, click here and read on! https://jessicasamuelsauthor.wordpress.com/books/

A Tale of Two Tabbies - A treat for cat lovers and mystery lovers alike!

In spite of my allergies, I love cats! I also like mysteries, so this is a two for one.

Whales and Tails is a cozy mystery series set on Madrona Island, a fictional island within the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State. As a fourth generation islander Caitlin Hart is struggling to make her way as the economy and culture of the island evolves toward a tourism based industry. Cait lives in a cabin on her aunt’s oceanfront estate where she helps her aunt run Harthaven Cat Sanctuary. When she isn’t working with the cats, she helps best friend Tara, operate the coffee bar/bookstore/cat lounge they own, named Coffee Cat Books.

In the 7th book in the series, Cait finds a cat locked in the confessional at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, which leads to the discovery of a body locked in the trunk of a car. Cody is dealing with a life changing decision of his own, and Finn has multiple crimes to deal with, so Cait enlists Tara’s help to track down a killer.

And it's only 99 cents! Click here for details: http://ebookbargainstoday.com/a-tale-of-two-tabbies-0-99/

The Weather Makers: A call to action for residents of Planet Earth! #Environment

The environment is my cause and I show this by recycling whenever I get the chance. I'm sure this helps some, but my husband and I are only two people. They say that super storms and aggressive weather are only going to get worse. Tim Flannery's book has a timeless and timely message. 

Synopsis: An international best seller embraced and endorsed by policy makers, scientists, writers and energy industry executives from around the world, Tim Flannery’s The Weather Makers contributed in bringing the topic of global warming to national prominence. For the first time, a scientist provided an accessible and comprehensive account of the history, current status, and future impact of climate change, writing what has been acclaimed by reviewers everywhere as the definitive book on global warming.

With one out of every five living things on this planet committed to extinction by the levels of greenhouse gases that will accumulate in the next few decades, we are reaching a global climatic tipping point.The Weather Makers is both an urgent warning and a call to arms, outlining the history of climate change, how it will unfold over the next century, and what we can do to prevent a cataclysmic future. Originally somewhat of a global warming skeptic, Tim Flannery spent several years researching the topic and offers a connect-the-dots approach for a reading public who has received patchy or misleading information on the subject. Pulling on his expertise as a scientist to discuss climate change from a historical perspective, Flannery also explains how climate change is interconnected across the planet.

Check it out here: http://australianwritersrock.com/product/the-weather-makers-how-man-is-changing-the-climate/

And remember - Australian writers rock!!