..of When Can You Start by Paul Freiberger
9 Maureen Carol Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’
An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.
Month: May 2013
I am soooo excited!! I just love it when authors come back and visit. And you know what that means…..a new book! So without further ado, and I ask for your help, to give Ms. Rochelle Alers a warm welcome back!
ROCHELLE ALERS
Rochelle Alers has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific and popular African American authors of romance and women’s fiction.
With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.
She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to Europe, and countries in North, South and Central America. Her future travel plans include visits to Hong Kong and New Zealand. Ms. Alers is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint. She is currently taking instruction in the art of hand quilting.
Oliver, a toy Yorkshire terrier has become the newest addition to her family. When she’s not barking at passing school buses, the tiny dog can be found sleeping on her lap while she spends hours in front of the computer.
A full-time writer, Ms. Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Connect with Ms. Alers at these sites:
Q&A with Rochelle Alers
Thank you so very much for inviting me back.
Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
I draw from both. I enjoy traveling, so many of the places I’ve visited will eventually end up in a novel. Current events will occasionally come into play if I need a plot that complements a character’s occupation. The storyline for Hidden Agenda came from a “60 Minutes” segment where a woman hired a mercenary to rescue her son who’d been abducted by her foreign-born husband. I decided to write Pleasure Seekers after reading an article in New York magazine about an upscale escort service. All-news television channels are akin to the reference section of the library for plotlines.
Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the storyline brings you?
I have to start from the beginning. I know the ending, but it is the middle that has to be fleshed out.
Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
I write from Monday to Friday 8-4 with mid-morning and afternoon breaks. But on the other hand, if I’m really in the zone I’ll write until midnight. Weekends are set aside for family time and socializing.
I always write to music. I pop in my MP3, lose myself in the music and the words flow like melodic harmonies.
Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?
Fortunately for me I’ve been writing full time since 2002. It can have drawbacks, only because if I decide to slack-off I feel I can always make up the time. Not!
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Bernice McFadden, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, Walter Mosley, James Patterson, John Grisham, Jane Austen and Alex Haley.
What are you reading now?
Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn
Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?
I’m currently finishing up Magnolia Drive – Book #4 in the Cavanaugh Island series. Readers will return to the small town of Sanctuary Cove to find out more about Francine Tanner. Her ability to foretell the future is a well-kept secret on an island where gossip travels faster than the speed of light. However, her visions don’t warn of the newcomer to the island who knows who she is even though she’s unfamiliar with him. Their lives become entwined with his request that she reopen a door to a celebrated past she has no wish to relive. Francine represents all that is Gullah and she will teach Keaton Grace about the centuries-old culture that continues to thrive on the Sea Islands and also how to love again. Readers will reunite characters from previous titles and meet new ones that will leave them shaking their heads whether in shock or in laughter.
Fun questions:
Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?
Sanctuary Cove: Angela Basset and Roger Guenveur Smith
Angels Landing: Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Jai White
Haven Creek: Sanaa Lathan and Michael Ealy
Would you rather read or watch TV/movie? – Read
Favorite food? – Any steak from Ruth Chris
Favorite beverage? – Green Tea
I appreciate and always enjoy spending time with CMash Reads. Thank you again for the invite.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Home is where the heart is.
Architect Morgan Dane has always lived according to a plan, crossing off her achievements one by one. But when she’s offered her dream job-the restoration of historic Angels Landing Plantation on beautiful Cavanaugh Island-Morgan’s life takes an unexpected turn. Carpenter Nathaniel Shaw once took lost. Needing the healing comforts of home, he returns to Haven Creek to join the family business.
Nothing in the small town has changed-except for Morgan Dane. The wallflower he knew in high school has grown into a beautiful woman . . . and stirs feelings Nate isn’t sure he’s ready for.
Together Nate and Morgan find a happiness neither could have predicted. But when secrets from the past come to light, their budding relationship is threatened.
Will they play it safe, or risk their hearts to build a life together?
BOOK DETAILS:
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Forever (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455501395
ISBN-13: 978-1455501397
PURCHASE LINKS:
THANKS TO TANISHA AT GCP/FOREVER,
I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. and CANADA RESIDENTS
FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW
GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 13th AT 6PM EST
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.
Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
……of Changing Lanes by Kathleen Long
17 Anita Yancey Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’
1 Tina M Kohrman Leave a Blog Post Comment
An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.
Hi everyone! Did you have a fun filled Memorial Day weekend? Now that the summer has officially started, I have the perfect book to add to your summer reading. Jill Shalvis is stopping by today to tell us about her newest book. So please help me in welcoming Ms. Jill Shalvis!!
JILL SHALVIS
New York Times and USA Today bestseller Jill Shalvis is the award winning author of over four dozen romance novels, including her sexy contemporary and award winning Lucky Harbor series (FOREVER AND A DAY was one of Amazon’s Top Romances for 2012). She won a Rita for SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE and is a 3-time National Readers Choice winner as well. Make sure to click on the blog button above for her daily blog where she recounts her Misplaced City Girl adventures.
Connect with Jill at these sites:
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ali Winters is accused of being a thief and is about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who’s as sexy as he is stern. As Luke Hanover helps Ali put her world back together, his own life finally seems to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling—or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?
BOOK DETAILS:
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455521124
ISBN-13: 978-1455521128
PURCHASE LINKS:
Read an excerpt
Ali appeared. She’d showered and changed faster than any woman Luke had ever known. She was in sweats and makeup-free, wet hair piled up on top of her head, with wavy tendrils framing her face. She headed straight to the kitchen and headed back with a carton of ice cream from[1] Lance’s shop.Luke felt a small smile play around his mouth as she ate right out of the container with a wooden spoon. Ali Winters might be down, but she wasn’t out for the count.
She scooped another big bite, and her expression finally relaxed. Until she saw the mess of the house. That wiped the smile right off her face. “Oh no. Oh Luke, I’m so sorry.”“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s seen worse.”“This is true.” Jack rose off the couch. “Way worse. We were what you might call wayward teenagers.”Jack had the same height as Luke, but more bulk to his muscle tone. Of the two of them, Jack also possessed the charm, which had gotten him out of more trouble than Luke had ever managed to get into. Jack flashed all one thousand watts of that charm at Ali now.“Jack Harper. I’ve seen you around, but we’ve never been introduced,” he said, holding out his hand to Ali, smiling his “reassuring” smile. It was number three in his arsenal, behind his “you can’t resist me” and “I want you” smiles. “I’m the best friend, by the way. The better-looking, far more fascinating one, I should add.”“Ali Winters,” she said, looking a little dazzled, which made Luke roll his eyes. “Nice to meet you.” She glanced at the mess again, but Luke stepped in her way.
She scooped another big bite, and her expression finally relaxed. Until she saw the mess of the house. That wiped the smile right off her face. “Oh no. Oh Luke, I’m so sorry.”“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It’s seen worse.”“This is true.” Jack rose off the couch. “Way worse. We were what you might call wayward teenagers.”Jack had the same height as Luke, but more bulk to his muscle tone. Of the two of them, Jack also possessed the charm, which had gotten him out of more trouble than Luke had ever managed to get into. Jack flashed all one thousand watts of that charm at Ali now.“Jack Harper. I’ve seen you around, but we’ve never been introduced,” he said, holding out his hand to Ali, smiling his “reassuring” smile. It was number three in his arsenal, behind his “you can’t resist me” and “I want you” smiles. “I’m the best friend, by the way. The better-looking, far more fascinating one, I should add.”“Ali Winters,” she said, looking a little dazzled, which made Luke roll his eyes. “Nice to meet you.” She glanced at the mess again, but Luke stepped in her way.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jack said.
“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing at Luke. “I can’t say the same.”
“Not surprised,” Jack said. “Luke’s not exactly a big talker.”
“No,” Ali said faintly, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. “He’s not.”
There was nothing in Ali’s tone to suggest that they’d spent some time in Luke’s truck kissing like their lives had depended on it, but Jack knew him better than anyone else on the planet. Proving it, his gaze shifted from Ali to Luke. “Also, he can never find his keys and he snores,” Jack said.
“Thanks, man,” Luke said.
Jack smiled at Ali. “Hope you’re hungry; I brought Chinese. Ben, my cousin and the third musketeer, would’ve brought a loaded pizza. He’s on government assignment right now, and I’m just superstitious enough that I won’t eat a pizza until he’s home. You need anything else?”
Clearly surprised to be asked, Ali blinked. “No, thank you.” Her voice sounded funny and gave Luke a very bad feeling.
Jack didn’t miss it either. Jack didn’t miss much. “All right, I’ll get plates,” he said very gently, waiting until he was behind her and out of her peripheral vision to send Luke a steely look.
One thing the two of them had always shared was a hatred of seeing anyone mistreated or taken advantage of. Jack loved Luke, but the message was clear—don’t hurt her more than she’s already been hurt.
When Jack vanished into the kitchen, Ali moved to the couch, head averted. There might even have been a muffled sniffle.
Oh, Christ. Luke had faced down countless gangbangers, armed felons, and drugged-up perps. He’d faced the worst humanity had to offer, but he’d never gotten the hang of dealing with a woman’s tears. Sucking it up, he sat next to her.
She stiffened.
Ignoring that, he reached for her ice cream, thinking to set it down for her, but she surprised him with an elbow to the gut.
“What the hell?”
She hugged the ice cream to her chest. “I told you not to be nice to me right now!”
“I’m not nice. I’m never nice. And Jesus, remind me to never try to separate you from your ice cream again.”
Jack reappeared, paper plates and napkins in hand as he took in the scene. “Bad time?”
“Yes,” Luke said.
“No,” Ali said, and glared at Luke.
Jack nodded in approval. “Keeping him in line. That’s good. He needs that.”
Luke shot Jack a look, which Jack ignored as he plopped down on the couch right between them. The big oaf actually bounced Ali nearly to the floor and half sat on Luke as he settled in. He took the ice cream from Ali—and didn’t get elbowed, Luke couldn’t help but notice—and then handed out plates. They divided up the food, with Jack taking the last eggroll.
“Hey,” Luke said.
“It’d go straight to your ass,” Jack said, and popped the eggroll into his mouth. “No one wants to see that.”
THANKS TO JESSICA AT GCP/FOREVER,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS
FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW
GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE11th AT 6PM EST
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN
YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.
…….of The Abbey and The Outsider by Chris Culver
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May is being hosted by Abi @ 4 the LOVE of BOOKS
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.
According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound affiliate).
Saturday:
How Not To Murder Your Grumpy by Carol E. Wyer from Author, and blogger, for PBP tour.
The Rockin’ Chair by Steven Manchester, TPB/ARC from The Story Plant for PBP tour.
…of From Mama’s Kitchen by Johnny Tan
3 Maureen Carol Leave a Blog Post Comment
An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thank you to all that entered.
