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Monday, March 18, 2024

Layover Lover - Pre-Order Now!

Did the title grab you? I hope so! Layover Lover is my upcoming new release and is available for pre-order now! It will drop into your inbox on April 1.

Pre-order sale of only .99 before going to the regular price of 1.99 on April 1.


Amazon  |  Amazon CA  |  Kobo & Kobo+  |  Apple  |  B&N

Attraction knows no bounds.

Caroline was an expert at fending off flirtations from passengers. Her tactics had never failed her until today when she saw the first-class passenger in 3E, a modern-day Viking. Caroline is determined to remain professional and resist her growing attraction to this enigmatic man who appears a few years younger than her.

Martin felt Caroline’s presence the minute he stepped on the plane, she was like a lioness prowling with a sultry stride that made him want to pull her into his lap. But he was on the flight as due diligence before his takeover bid for the airline, and she was an employee.

When turbulence throws her into his lap, a forbidden and fiery connection ignites between them. An emergency landing at Heathrow forces them to part ways. Later, settled at a posh London hotel for the layover, a chance encounter brings them back together into an unforgettable affair.

If you like hot, open door romance then Layover Lover is for you.


Shana's Website



Sunday, March 17, 2024

 

Avoid Those Name Brands!

 

            While the radio played the latest song by (name of famous pop star), she saw his (name of a luxury car) pull up in front of the house. Slipping into her (designer name) shoes that looked stunning with her (designer name) dress, she dabbed some (perfume name brand) behind her ears and popped open two cans of (name brand).

 

            How do you feel about finding brand names in books? It irritates me no end. Each time I find a brand name in a story, I wonder if the author lacks the imagination or just the confidence to describe a great pair of shoes or a wonderful dress.

 

            And, often enough, I’m lost. I’m not a major consumer of luxury products (I don’t even have a television) and name brands, the names of pop stars, usually mean nothing to me. Frankly, when I’m reading a book, I don’t care about what the heroes and heroines are buying. I’d rather know what they’re feeling, or thinking, or smelling, or seeing, or plotting. Besides, unless we’re working in advertising, a writer’s job is not to push consumer products. Our job is to tell a good tale in the best way possible, to create interesting characters, to use words wisely and phrases beautifully, to carry a reader away into another world altogether.

 

            Here’s another reason for not using name brands or designer labels: when we’re reading, we have to picture the scene and the people we’re reading about. We have to use imagination. And when imagining, we’re exercising intelligence too. And employing imagination and intelligence to describe something, well…that can be a pretty exciting moment.

 

            Want another reason? Okay. Two of my romances have been published with, The Wild Rose Press, and they’re dead against using name brands. I asked them why. Was it because of artistic reasons? No.

 

            “Because it’s infringement on trademarks. You technically can’t use name brands without getting explicit permission from the trademark holder. Kleenex®, for instance, requires that the trademark symbol accompany it any time that word is used. We’re not going to do that in a manuscript. Also, companies hold exclusive rights to things we assume are just out there, like Cinderella, Zorro, and so on. They can file a suit against the author for any use of those trademarked and copyrighted names. And it is the author that is held liable, not the publisher, as the publisher does not own the copyright, the author does. So, best to be safe than sorry.”

 


 

Friday, March 15, 2024

Overhauling the Alpha Bitch

 

Take your typical setting involving teenagers—say, a High School—wait an establishing scene or two or three, and there she is. See that attractive blonde cheerleader looking down her nose (often literally) and sneering at the frumpy girl in glasses? That’s her.

Alpha Bitch, tvtropes.org

Also known as the “Queen Bee”, the Alpha Bitch is a fairly well-known trope in many books and romantic movies, particularly teen movies and office romantic comedies — the heroine needs a rival, after all.

And don’t get me wrong, the drama and scandal can be a good laugh from time to time, but I worry about how this portrayal can undermine women, and the friendships and relationships between them, especially in the eyes of impressionable audiences who haven’t yet got the life experience to tell the difference between caricature and reality.

When a real-life Alpha Bitch stresses us out, it’s far too easy to lump them into the “they’re being a bitch” category as a way to emotionally distance and defend ourselves. We have every right to do this, of course, but it does little to improve the space we must share with the person in question.

Perhaps, as well, it’s a microaggression of sorts, dehumanising and dismissing someone who may feel they have no other option but to preemptively attack or lash out.

I once shared an office with a lady who brought her own special brand of Queen Bee to work everyday. While I can’t say I based my antagonist Eleanor solely on her, she was definitely the reason I wanted to re-visit the Alpha Bitch stereotype. After spending a year confused by the surprise sting of her barbs, I learned all about how the higher-ups in our company treated her as well as what things were like for her outside of work.

The Alpha Bitch of our department wasn’t a bitch at all, but a holy-hell hard diamond. Everything she was up against cut those sheer, sharp edges into her, ones easily mistaken for barbs. Once I knew where she was coming from, the seemingly callous things she said no longer hurt because I finally understood they weren’t about me.

As a writer, I often feel some responsibility to show the sides of situations not acknowledged enough on a daily basis. Like the pain behind the anger, the beauty behind the misery, the vulnerability behind the bitch. To show another side without playing devil’s advocate, and without taking away from the experience of being on the receiving end. An aggressor’s pain should never invalidate ours, but perhaps understanding it can offer a way out — at the very least by letting us know we’re not completely powerless against it.

The Alpha Bitch has had her turn. It’s now time for that old trope to grow up. Everyone’s fighting their own private battle. And I feel the most interesting stories make an effort to at least hint at how.

Photo by Josh Rocklage on Unsplash

It Starts with a Kiss by JL Peridot

Book cover: It Starts with a Kiss by JL Peridot

“Afternoon, ladies!” Eleanor wedged herself between Tahnee and the desk. After a few swipes of her tablet, she leaned over the partition. “Celeste, where are we with those custom loading modules for the Belvedere?”

“On track for forty-eight hours,” Celeste nodded. “I can show you the benchmarks if you need to—”

“There’s been a small scope change. Don’t ’spose you can fit it in before the deadline?”

“Uh...”

“It’s just a tiny config change.” Eleanor flicked the new spec at Celeste’s terminal. “And it's only in two places. That should be easy enough for someone like you.”

She knew what Eleanor was trying to do, and it wasn’t working. In fact, it made things worse. If she really knew the scope of the change, she wouldn’t be using that tone of voice or looking at her with that sugary smile.

Celeste shook her head. “This isn’t a simple change, Elle. I’d have to completely redo a couple of modules—”

“OK, sure! Redo them then. We have room in the budget.”

“But it’ll blow out the timeframes. I can’t get this done in two days.”

“Oh, no, you’ll just have to find a way. That’s when they need it by.”

“But—”

“No buts, Celly. I’ve already told them we’ll have it ready for when they dock, OK? So, thanks in advance, and keep up the good work!”

That was it. Elle’s walls were up, plastered in pleasantry and aggressive cheer. The perky administrator turned to leave, but after a few paces stopped and looked back at Celeste over her shoulder. “Oh, I almost forgot. Dave and the others have called a meeting. Make sure you’re in the conference room by 1600. Toodle-doo!”

With that, Eleanor skipped between the desks and left through the break room door.


Celeste is a talented engineer who doesn’t realize her job’s going nowhere fast. She’s a little naïve. She’ll cut code and solder cables forever as long as Owen’s around. Owen, on the other hand, knows exactly how badly things suck—he just doesn’t care. Sure, his skills aren’t what they used to be, but they’re still better than what Halcyon Aries deserves.

Then it happens. The company’s toxic management team finally cross the line. As both techies race to upgrade the station and to free the team from their oppressive contracts, they come to learn that life—and love—can only ever be what you make it.


💋 Available at a bunch of ebook retailers 💋



JL Peridot writes love letters to the future on devices from the past. Visit jlperidot.com for the full catalogue of her work.

This article was originally published at JL Peridot's blog.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Lucky in Love - The Four-leafed Clover and a Sexy Hockey Romance

We’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, and I started  wondering how the four-leaf clover became a symbol of luck.

 

According to folklore, the leaves of a four-leaf clover represent hope, faith, love, and good luck. The fourth leaf of a clover is an uncommon mutation and therefore rare, so it’s thought that if you find one, you’re lucky! I was surprised to learn that the traditional Irish symbol of a shamrock is actually three-leafed and not the lucky four-leafed one. The iconic symbol probably began around 1707 when Scotland became part of the United Kingdom. Scotland associated with the thistle, England with the rose, and Ireland with the shamrock. It continues to be an emblem of Ireland today and certainly any St. Patrick’s Day party wouldn’t be complete without a few green decorations and a shamrock or two! Just make sure yours only have three leaves. 

 

If you’d like to escape with a fun, sexy medical hockey romance, the In the Game Hockey Romance series is perfect! There are 4 stand-alone stories to enjoy! Here’s a peek at the first one, Between the Pipes. 




 

Sarah Jain is a family doctor in a hockey-crazy town. She hates hockey. She hasn’t gone anywhere near a rink in years, until her friend, the team doctor, calls in a favour. Mike Wallace is the starting goalie for the Clarington Quakes, the local professional hockey team. He’s not about to let an injury slow him down or a rookie doctor call the shots.

 

Sarah and Mike don’t respect each other’s jobs. When they have to work together, sparks fly and ice melts. Can they play a game they both can win? 

 

Love on the ice doesn’t always go smoothly.

 

Enjoy an excerpt from Between the Pipes

“He’ll be in the intensive care unit overnight, but they’ll probably move him to another room tomorrow,” Sarah said. Coherent and professional. So far, so good. She could hardly be blamed for being distracted, though, considering what she was up against.

Ben popped his head into the dressing room. “Mike, how’s the chest?”

Mike’s gaze darted to Sarah and then back to Ben. “Fine,” he responded curtly.

Ben nodded as if that was the answer he’d expected to hear and left with a salute.

Sarah thought his chest was more than fine, but that probably wasn’t what Ben had meant. She looked over at Mike. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I caught a puck in the ribs in the third, but it’s fine.”

“Against your chest pads?”

“No. I must’ve twisted, and it found a hole.”

“Is it painful?” she asked, wondering if he could have injured a rib. From the little she’d watched of the game, it didn’t appear that the players held back when they shot at the goalie. It wouldn’t take much to fracture a rib.

He gave a short laugh with a shake of his head. “I’m a goalie. It would be unusual not to have pain after a game.”

“Maybe I should take a quick look.”

“No. It’s fine,” he replied with a hint of anger and a whole lot of impatience.

Sarah cocked her head to one side and looked at him. Why wouldn’t he want her to check it, to make sure it wasn’t something more serious than a bruise? She grabbed a towel off the bench and threw it at him.

“Hey,” Mike said, startled, and he instinctively reached for the towel. He twisted as he reached out his arm and grimaced, missed the towel, and grabbed his right side. His face was a study in pain, and he scowled at her.

If looks could kill…yikes. She set her bag down and pulled out her stethoscope. “Let me listen to your chest.”

He pressed his lips together, and his eyes darkened, but he stood and turned around.

“Can you take a deep breath?”

“Of course.”

Sure. He splinted his chest, barely moving air in and out, but it sounded normal. She ran her fingers gently over the side of his chest, feeling the ribs. He winced when she palpated a small bump on the right side. It was already starting to bruise. She looked him in the eyes when he turned back to face her. “You know, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve fractured a rib.”

Mike’s expression was stony. “I cannot have a fractured rib. I’ve worked my butt off to become the starting goalie, and I intend to stay that way. I’m not giving that up. I know my own body. This is not a fracture.”

Sarah watched his face. There was more anxiety than anger behind those words. She removed the stethoscope from around her neck and folded it to put it away. “You may be right, but you need an x-ray to be sure.”

“No.”

Sarah’s heart pounded. “I can’t let you play if your rib is fractured. It’s too dangerous,” she said quietly. She willed her hands to stay steady. She was right, she knew it. Danni always worried about players who insisted on playing through an injury. Sarah hadn’t understood how it felt to be in the position of deciding their fate until now. It didn’t feel very comfortable. “You can’t play until I’ve seen the x-ray result.”

“You can’t do that.”

They both knew she could. She stayed silent. He drew himself up and reined in the anger.

“I’ll transmit the requisition to the hospital,” she said.

“Fine.” He didn’t look at her. That hadn’t sounded fine.

“As soon as I hear the result, I’ll let you know.” She picked up her bag and headed out.

That went well, she thought ruefully. Man, she hated hockey.

Buy link (99c / Free with Kindle Unlimited): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078SHLX8T/

Award-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.

 

Website https://www.lindaoconnor.net

X https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnorAuthor

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/795688.Linda_O_Connor

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA

Newsletter https://lindaoconnor.net/contact/

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

New discounted release in #romantasy #historicalfiction

 

New historical fantasy romance .99 Kindle release. Magic demands its price. Also in KU and Print. Revenge, Soul Mates, Magic, Dark Past, Strain on Marriage

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW19RCPH

Blurb:

Magic demands its price.

In the sequel to Of Water and Dragons, Nemu and Ambiorix must fight to survive in the wild lands of the Caitt in northern Caledonia where they have sought refuge after Ambiorix’s desertion from the Roman army. Another more sinister danger also stalks them, a result of Nemu’s dark magic. Their idyllic world is about to be shattered, and their relationship tested.

Excerpt:

The Caitt priestess waited for Nemu in the deepest shadows. She gestured for her to sit beside her on a flat rock.

“You are one of the Ancient Ones.” Her voice sounded hollow, ringing through the pines and into the night.

“As are you.” Nemu searched her eyes for the truth, but the priestess could mask her thoughts well. “Why have you sent for me?”

The skinned wildcat head draped over hers like a hood, the fangs flashing sharp and deadly like twin crescent moons. The priestess’s eyes resembled a cat’s, unblinking and yellow in the darkness.

“I did not send for you. You came to me for an answer.”

A nighthawk screeched nearby.

“You know about my dreams.” Nemu swallowed hard.

“Do not follow the raven. Follow the wolf. The wolf will show you the way.” The night devoured her cryptic words.

“And I will know what the dreams mean?”

“You will know who you really are.” The gleam in her eyes softened, reflecting pity.

Nemu looked away for a moment. She turned back to the priestess and found herself sitting alone, the space beside her cold and empty.

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


www.kelleyheckart.com

https://books.kelleyheckart.com/kelleyheckart/linktree


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

His hunger for one woman will make him a traitor to his world... - Unending Desire - Outlawed Realm Book One - Erotic Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance - Tina Donahue News Magazine - Giveaways - Eye Candy #Romance #Giveaways #EyeCandy

  



There are lots of goodies inside my March News Magazine.

Check it out for:

Unending Desire
Book One - Outlawed Realm
Erotic Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance
His hunger for one woman will make him...
...a traitor to his world.

Giveaways nearly every day

Free Chapters and Reads

Eye Candy

CLICK HERE TO READ





Thanks so much for reading today's post. Hope you enjoyed it!

Follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue


Monday, March 11, 2024

A little “Baer” action

 I always loved fairy tales when I was little—like most children, I’d guess. Strangely, I wasn’t much for Cinderella. More a Sleeping Beauty girl, myself. But I also liked Goldilocks. Something about ending up with things being “just right” struck me as a good thing. So, when I wrote Bear and the Three Goldilocks, I tried to make sure everything ended up at that magical right point. And I wanted to have a little fun, too. I think I succeeded. I hope so!


Baer and the Three Goldilocks

Blurb:
Another erotic fairy tale with Princess Katherine and Prince Cole.

 Susan Baer, founder of Baer Hugs, health centers for women, longs to find her special someone. Sadly, there are no prospects in sight. Suddenly, three men come into her life. All successful, all gorgeous, all blond. And posing their own unique problems. One is too rough and hard in his treatment, one is too soft and wants her to take charge. The last is…well, let's just say he's unavailable. *sigh* Can any of them turn out to be “just right?”

Buy link:
Amazon Kindle Unlimited

 

Excerpt:
It was five minutes before nine o’clock in the morning at Baer Hugs, a health club for women. No need to check the big Seth Thomas clock on the wall for confirmation, Susan could set her watch by them. At the same time each weekday morning, every trainer, aerobics instructor and nutritionist, who wasn’t involved in a class, found a way to observe the parking lot and front entrance. That’s when Duncan Morrison arrived for work.

Not that she blamed them for wanting to stare. He was gorgeous. Over six feet of rippling muscle, the smooth grace of a ballet dancer and shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of the world. Make that two worlds. They were broad. She knew because she saw them flex and settle each day when he took off his suit jacket. It did such things to her insides that she almost missed the dimples deep enough to swim in or the way the slightest amusement could make his lips turn up in a smile and light the deep, rich blue of his eyes.

Yes, his shoulders were a distraction. Almost distraction enough to keep her mind off the way his blond hair tipped his ears and had started to curl against his nape.

The difference was Susan Baer didn’t have to stand around and watch Duncan make his way in from the parking lot in order to quench the lust in her heart. He was her assistant. She could gaze at him all day. Nonetheless, this morning she stood where the hall gave way to the lobby of the building and watched, right along with everyone else.

Sighing, she gave in for a moment to the natural tug on her emotions, the strong need to share her life with someone, to end the loneliness she’d always felt. She wanted to love and be loved, and now, at this point in life, she was ready and able.

In the business world, all she’d wanted to prove, she’d proven. A good portion of what she’d wanted to accomplish, she’d successfully completed. But when it came to personal goals, she hadn’t even begun.

So, considering where she’d started and where she was now, it was grossly unfair that she wanted to do more than gaze at Duncan. It was harder and harder to ignore the tingle that radiated through her each time they touched. Almost impossible to keep the longing out of her voice when they talked about anything non-business related. And she wondered how he missed the fact that she wandered into his office to ask questions she already knew the answers to. Undeniably, the attraction was driving her crazy. Yet she had to remember that he was an employee.

And, of course, there was the annoying fact of his being gay.


 Reviews:

"…one hilarious moment after another ... Ms. Knight deserves a pat on the back for this lovely adult bedtime story. Her idea was fresh, and her writing is witty." - 5 Angels, Recommended Read, Fallen Angel Reviews

"Dee S. Knight has written a sensuous, humorous story that will get the reader both laughing and panting ... This is not only a scintillating tale, but it will give the reader warm feelings and a satisfying time." - 4 Hearts, Love Romances

"…beyond wonderful! … was truly one of the most enjoyable stories I've read! … perfect for a quiet night at home!" - 5 Quills, NovelSpot Romance Review

 


A little about me:

A few years ago, Dee S. Knight began writing, making getting up in the morning fun. During the day, her characters killed people, fell in love, became drunk with power, or sober with responsibility. And they had sex, lots of sex.

 After a while, Dee split her personality into thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad Authors website. And all three offer some of the best romance you can find! Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts, where your comment can support a selected charity. Sign up for my newsletter and have access to free reads.

 Author links:

Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K