Welcome to Guest Blogger Lara Nance

I’d like to welcome fellow author Lara Nance to my blog today. Her new book is titled Memories of Murder, a Paranormal Romance that is on sale for only .99 March 4 – 8th on Amazon Kindle. Welcome, Lara! I’m so happy to host you. Can’t wait to check out your book!

BLURB:

When Maeve McKenna renounces her witch powers and accepts a low-key nurse practitioner position at a Virginia retirement community, the last thing she expects is a suicide her first day on the job.

As the town’s sexy sheriff, Paul Sutton, starts looking into the tragic death of his father’s friend, Maeve can’t help but get involved–with both the case and him. Their informal investigation unveils an old journal that connects the ruins of a nearby asylum and long-forgotten cemetery with the shiny new retirement community’s memory unit–and Maeve’s Alzheimer’s patients.

Maeve senses a sinister presence in the old asylum, calling to the patients, but in order to stop it from killing again, she must first conquer some demons of her own and reclaim the magic she’s denied herself.

EXCERPT:

“No, stop. Don’t jump!” Maeve McKenna yelled at the man poised on the roof three stories above her. Her heart pounded as he took a step that left his toes hanging over the edge. A wave of cold that had nothing to do with fear pressed about her as though a frigid hand gripped her soul. She frowned at the eerie presence and pressed her hands to her head.

“Damn.” She swirled around looking for help. Across the parking lot and among the small villas scattered about the manicured landscape, elderly couples strolled or walked their dogs. But they were too far away to do more than stare in her direction. The urge to use her powers was pointless, she no longer had them.

“Hey,” she called trying to get the man’s attention as he looked back over his shoulder, eyes wide as he flinched away from something she couldn’t see. If only he would talk to her, she might be able to keep him safe until someone got to him. He had on pajamas, so he must be a patient. She held up her hands. “Hey, back up, stop.”

“Oh, no! Mr. Baker, no!” A woman with short black hair ran from the main entrance of the retirement community, waving her arms.

Both Maeve and the woman screamed as the unfortunate Mr. Baker took a step into the air and hurtled to the ground. He landed in a heap of tangled limbs and bloody splatter on the sidewalk in front of them. The cold presence surrounding Maeve seeped away, leaving her rubbing her arms and puzzled at the sensation.

I’m excited to report that Valentine Vendetta, my romantic suspense novella set in the mountains, is now available, just in time for Valentine’s Day! This book started as a short story, and I lengthened it to make it novella length. I love these characters and was happy to revisit them.

Blurb:

Nikki Brooks never thought she’d ever see her childhood nemesis again after high school, when he played a heartless trick on her that got her kicked off the school paper staff and made her a laughing stock. Until now, twelve years later, when she’s forced to trust her life to Marc Trapani, the strong-willed detective assigned to guard her when a murderer threatens her life—and he lays siege to her heart.

Excerpt:

“Mr. Dawson.” Nikki’s plaintive tone dug its claws into Marc’s skin.

He turned to find her stalking toward them across the lobby, and his jaw dropped. Damn. Gone was the lanky tomboy he’d known way back when, and in her place was a gorgeous, full-blooded, all American woman with kinky red hair, a furious expression, and flashing green eyes. A lioness after her prey.

Those eyes locked on his face, and she lifted her chin. “Well, I see my valiant protector has finally decided to grace us with his presence.”

“Hi, Nikki.” Marc offered her his hand. “Good to see you.”

She ignored his gesture and focused on the AUSA. “How long until the Internet connection is restored in our room?”

“Not for some time, I’m afraid,” he said. “The clerk said they’re lucky to have electricity in the bridal suite. The cable in that section is out right now, and he can’t do anything about it — so don’t ask.”

“The bridal suite?” Marc and Nikki chorused together.

Marc narrowed his eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“You can say that again,” Nikki snapped. “We can’t stay in there.”

“Come on, Dawson,” Marc said. “See if they can’t give us another room. Please.”

“I’m sorry, Marshal, but I’ve already tried. A group of workmen is staying at the hotel to get a jump on repairs, and with the entire east wing out of commission…”

Nikki gulped back another denial. Marc looked too handsome for words. The idea of spending the weekend locked away with him in any hotel room, much less the bridal suite of this upscale lodge, sent her pulse racing out of control, and desire blindsided her. She jerked her gaze back to the perplexed Mr. Dawson. “Is there no place else we can go? Another hotel with an Internet connection?”

“No. We chose this lodge for its remoteness. You and Marshal Trapani should be safe here. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to deal with the inconvenience.”

Inconvenience? Being offline for a long period of time was more like a catastrophe. Nikki clenched her hands. She’d rather have been smothered in the avalanche that had destroyed the other half of the building.

“Fine. We’ll endure each other somehow,” Marc said. “Where do we go?”

Dawson nodded briskly. “Follow me.”

This book is available at Desert Breeze Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and many other online outlets. Hope you’ll check it out!

Guest Blogger Maggie Thom, author of Captured Lies

Maggie Thom made the hard decision to leave her successful, twenty year career in management, to write full time. The leap was easy, the freefall was adventurous and very enlightening. When she’s not running her children around or spending time with her best friend, her husband, she’s writing – anywhere, anytime. Give her five free minutes and you’ll find her busy scribbling down ideas. She lives in the real world but loves to get lost in the lives of her characters – who live, love and laugh and are all figments of her imagination. She is thrilled to release her first novel – Captured Lies – filled with suspense, murder, mystery and romance – available October 2012. She is busy writing her second novel to be released, spring of 2013.

And now for her post:

Stories have always fascinated me. I love being taken on a journey, it can be real, mythical, outrageous, I don’t mind as long as it takes me somewhere. I know when I was a child I read a lot. We always had books in our house and we used the library a number of times. I remember once, I was reading a Dr. Seuss book, Cat in the Hat, I think, I liked it so much I cut the words out of the book. Needless to say my mother wasn’t amused.

Reading was a big part of my life and at some point I began to write stories. I never showed them to anyone, they were just for me. When I was about ten, I was going to write the smallest book about a knight who charged in, only to have the princess save him. And when I mean small, I was writing it on yellow paper, which had been a pad that I cut it up to 1 1/2 inch by 1 inch squares. When I was in my twenties I found some of it, I ended up throwing it out. I’m not sure it made much sense.

When I was in university, I started to write poetry. Some I shared which I got really good feedback to, but since I knew the people, I didn’t believe that anyone beyond them would be interested in what I wrote. After I graduated, I was too busy with a career for several years. Then one spring we moved, and I found myself unemployed, so I started to write again. I hand wrote a 90,000 word romance. I then typed it up, although somewhere along the way, it has gotten lost. From there I continued to write for myself. At one point though and with encouragement from my husband, I decided to work at improving my writing. I wanted to write for kids, so I wrote some children’s stories. Then a couple of young adult novels and then back to writing romance. Somewhere during this time I joined a writer’s group and started to expand my writing skills. I took writing courses and started to pay attention to the books I was reading. How the stories were put together. What made them good. And I started to read about plotting, stories, anything that would help me craft better novels.

Captured Lies was my first venture away from romance. I had always enjoyed a good romance and for some reason thought that was how you became a well known writer, if you were female. Not sure why, except Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown did it and I guess they were writer’s I wanted to emulate. I loved reading science fiction but didn’t think I had it in me to create whole other worlds, so I steered clear of that.

At some point, I decided I wanted to write something with more to it than just romance. I wanted it to be a novel with all the elements – to mainly be a suspense but with murder, mystery and some romance. So when the idea came to me for this book, Captured Lies, I really focused on making it a deeper story.

I have always been interested and saddened when I hear someone is kidnapped, especially when it is by their own family. I’ve heard of kids growing up with one identity only to discover they are truly someone else. I can’t imagine what that would be like. So to find out, I created Bailey’s story around that premise. What if she had been kidnapped but not just once, twice? Might as well make it really hard for her to find her roots. How would she hear that she wasn’t who she thought she was? How would she solve that mystery? The plane crash part, came about because a plane flew over us on its way to the airport. It was flying lower than usual and it just got me to thinking, what if it crashed? What if someone survived it? What if a baby survived? What if there was no record of that baby? How would they trace who it is? What if that baby was taken from the crash and given a whole new name? The two ideas along with several others kind of melded together. Captured Lies was the result.

I didn’t do much with the book for a couple of years. It just sat. Which bothered me to no end. The book meant a lot to me but I wasn’t sure if it was just because of all I had gone through at that time or if it was really good. So I asked several people to read it and give me their feedback. With encouragement from several people, I started the journey to publish it.

The journey has been long but very rewarding, which I would never have known had I not conquered my fears and stepped out. What has compelled you to move beyond your fears?

Now… more about Captured Lies…

BLURB:

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it….

Her life was a lie!

Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story… but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time…..

EXCERPT:

“I don’t know what to say. She’s the only single thing that was constant in my life. We moved a lot. She was paranoid about everything. I assumed for a long time that it was just being a parent but other parents weren’t like her. She’d come and get me in the middle of the day, from school and I’d never see it again. Sometimes, it would be in the middle of the night.” She stood up and went over to her bed, flipping back the covers, she pulled out the tattered Miss Piggy.

“I cried for a month when I thought I’d lost her. My mom told me to get used to it. I’d lose lots in my life. Why? Why did I have to give up everything?” Her voice became thick with emotion. She hugged the doll to her chest. “There were only two things I ever asked for in my life – this,” she held up her doll, “and a home.”

“You know I was such a good kid. I did everything she ever asked of me. I was loyal to a fault. I did every scheme. Everything she wanted. And what the hell did I get in return.” She jumped up and started pacing.

“What do you mean by schemes?”

“Oh my god. My mom was a master at getting what she wanted from people. I’d play nice to old men and they’d give me money.”

His hand fisted around the cup. “What does playing nice mean?”

Links:

http://www.maggiethom.com

http://www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom

http://www.twitter.com/authormaggiethom2

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6549592.Maggie_Thom

Book is currently available through:

Amazon – http://tinyurl.com/cp2go24

Kobo – http://tinyurl.com/dxs82ld

New book video for Skeleton Bayou!

Hope you’ll check out my book! It’s up at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles for only 99 cents!

New release!

I’m excited to report that Written in Blood, book five in my Keller County Cops series, is now available from Desert Breeze Publishing! I had a blast writing this one, and I hope you enjoy reading it.

Blurb:

Detective Tripp Broussard longs to show his bad cop, ex-con father that he’s a good cop, but time is running out. His father is dying. So Tripp risks his own life to go after a gruesome serial murderer — anything to prove he’s a better man than his dad. Angel Saint-Martin, a blood spatter expert on loan to the department, needs her father to accept her choice of a non-traditional career, and cracking this case will show him she can handle herself in a man’s world. Driven by a common bond, Tripp and Angel band together to solve the case and put the notorious Vincent Delgado back behind bars… and along the way, they fall in love.

Excerpt:

He bled, so they will bleed. Profusely.

“Someone took their time with this,” Angel Saint-Martin murmured, tracing the neat rusty brown brush strokes without actually touching them. The words emblazoned on the light green wall in blood, not ink. Blood from a homicide victim.

“He knows what he’s doing. No drips, no extraneous marks, no spatter. Just long, deliberate strokes, like at the other scene.”

“So… you’re saying he’s an artist?” Detective Tripp Broussard shot her a dubious look and shoved his pad and pen into the inside pocket of his coat. “Come on, Angel. He murdered that poor woman in cold blood.”

“Doesn’t mean he can’t draw. Maybe he’s a sign painter. I mean, look at that perfect loop in the L — it’s too precise for him not to have done this more than just a couple of times.”

“That makes this murder even more eerie.” Tripp put his hands on the leather holster slung across his narrow hip, and the edges of his dark blue coat flared out. “Especially finding the victim wrapped in a painter’s tarp. I helped Mitch and Jonah on a serial case with that signature a year or two ago — the papers called the guy the Handyman — but he didn’t do all this slicing and dicing or leave any messages. That dirtbag, Vincent Delgado, is in prison now anyway, doing life for strangling those women. So maybe this is a copycat… of sorts.”

“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions this early in the game, Detective.” She glanced at his handsome profile, and a tingle slid through her. Of all the detectives who could have caught this case, it had to be him. The one night stand she’d rather forget. Just ignore him and keep it professional. Don’t let him know he’s getting to you.

He turned to face her. “Is that what I’m doing?”

“I-I don’t know.” What the hell did I even say? Heat filled her cheeks, and she forced herself to recall the last crime scene she’d visited in Hunter’s Bayou, before her infamous night of shame. That scene had been pretty much identical to this one, but with more blood spatter because that victim had fought back. Angel turned away from the wall and dug into her case. “Just keep in mind this might be an inventive son of a gun who’s good with his hands.”

“Uh-huh.” The detective’s warm mocha eyes gleamed with mysterious lights. “You once told me I’m good with my hands.”

“My God, Tripp,” she said with a gasp, startled he’d brought up their unfortunate liaison. She spun to face him with a piece of contact paper in her hand. “That’s not why we’re here.”

“Well, duh.” He sent her a caustic look. “You did say that, though. Remember?”

The book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Desert Breeze Publishing, and many other online outlets. Hope you’ll check it out!

And look for Trained to Kill, book six in this series, out next June!

New release for an old favorite!

I’m excited to announce that HAUNTED MEMORIES is now available from Desert Breeze Publishing. This is the first book I ever sold, and I still love the characters. It’s been re-edited and has a brand spanking new cover that I just love. If you like creepy houses and ghostly apparitions, this is the book for you. Hope you’ll check it out!

In this story, Olivia Bartlett is stunned to find her old friend, Deputy Tucker Hawkins, living in the house she has inherited, but she’s even more shocked to glimpse her cruel stepfather lurking in the shadows. Has Walter come back to haunt her, or is he really alive–and trying to kill her? To survive, she must turn to Tucker, who not only stakes his claim to the old house, but also to her heart.

Go here to read an excerpt and/or buy the book. It should soon be up at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online outlets as well.

An interview with guest blogger Shaunna Gonzales

Welcome to my blog, Shaunna. I enjoy hosting other Desert Breeze authors. Can’t wait to learn more about you and you newest release.

What made you decide to become a writer? After reading most of J.K.Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, I craved more great reads and went to the local library. After spending months wading through awful fiction, one touting its prize winning status, I threw it across the room. (In my weakened condition it only made it to the bed for a soft landing.) “I could write better than this!” I grumbled. My hubby, ever understanding of my turbulent moods answered with a calm, “Then why don’t you?” It wasn’t long before I set out to do just that!

Who inspires you? I’d rather answer “Who and What.” Many things. This novel, Dark Days of Promise, was initially inspired by Christmas and the young women I was working with at the time. It mutated as the season passed to what it is today after my being inspired by a few friends, veterans, some dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.)

What would you like your readers to get out of your writing? It is my hope that readers will become more aware of PTSD. It effects more than the veterans and their families, those who love them. It isn’t unusual for me to be talking with someone and get this “Oh, they are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress” this way or that way. The “Disorder” part, as far as I have learned, comes from intense stress, such as battle and other potentially fatal situations. Some deal with PTSD with faith and prayers on the one hand while others use counseling and sometimes drugs to manage the disorder. But for me, my PTSD is rather low key and manageable.

Where did this idea come from? Would you believe me if I said the Lord? I had this love story so smooth that it bored me, the writer to tears, literally. I knew I had to “speed” it up, give it something to make it fly but didn’t know what. I prayed and pulled my chair up to the computer. My fingers flew with very few mistakes, something that is unusual for me. That scene is in the book with very few changes — only a few grammatical corrections. I’ll give you a hint: Victoria goes flying!

Who was your favorite character to develop? SS Kelly Chase. I fell in love with him and still don’t know him! He’s quite the man of mystery.

Any advice for aspiring authors? Write what you know and love. Write for yourself, not your imagined perfectly matched editor or publisher. Should you one day find them, they will, if they know their stuff and we all hope they do, bruise you and your precious fledgling novel. (Smile – those bruises heal and make you both better.)

What can we expect next from you? My current project is a Time-travel Romance. Trish Larsen, having failed the bar exam yet again just before her thirtieth birthday, takes Grammy at her word and uses the antique talisman for more than a pretty babble, though surviving in 1885 might prove more difficult for a modern woman than Trish imagined.

Where can we purchase your book? On the Desert Breeze Publishing website and at many other online outlets, including Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.

Here is an excerpt:

My senses distilled, the clean lemon scent of Janine’s home intensified. This specter existed as no spirit at all… but a soldier in army fatigues wearing the ranking emblem of an officer on his chest. His frame seemed to fill the whole corridor. Intimidated by his size, if not his rank, I gave him my immediate and full attention.

“Can I help you?” His voice rumbled with authority. He positioned himself, taking the defensive, his booted feet shoulder width apart, his elbows inches from both walls, blocking the space.

I managed to regain a smidgeon of composure. “I should ask you the same.” My voice sounded self-assured. I wondered where it came from while feeling so inferior to him. “Why? This is my home.”

I lost my balance, stumbling back a couple of feet, my surprise giving way to embarrassment. My hand went to my hair to comb it before I remembered it stayed in place as a messy bun. I dropped my hand wishing I knew what to do with it.

“Oh… you’re Kelly.” I stammered, unsure of myself, my jaw going slack. I struggled in desperation to right it.
Now I see the resemblance to his pictures. Janine needs newer ones and dang, he doesn’t quite look the same as the picture I have. He’s… wow. Take a picture Vick.

“You are?” he asked, still very much in charge.

“Huh?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. His charismatic presence stupefied me. I hadn’t blinked, lost in the depths of his eyes.

He folded his arms making his biceps bulge under his fatigues. I dared to raise my chin in defiance. I’d give him no more, at least not until he retreated an inch. He didn’t give it to me. I retreated, feeling foolish in comparison to his alpha-male claim of the hallway.

“Interesting name.” His timbre reflected a pleasant nature. Of course standing toe to toe with him in Janine’s hallway of small-antiquated proportions disintegrated my defense.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kelly.” Smooth girl. You are so dead.

“I’d like to say the same.” His cautious mantle of soldiering remained on guard.

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because I don’t know your real name.” His eyes betrayed his annoyance for a split second before a shield of secure soldier mastery descended.

“Vicki.” I lowered my chin waiting for him, my body poised, expecting his response.

He failed to give me one while his eyes bored holes through me.

“Kelly, meet Vicki, our neighbor.” Janine called from her room, her voice reflecting her personable nature. Did she really need to make introductions this way? Did she peek around the corner to watch this? I couldn’t be sure with the wall of solid muscle between her doorway and myself. I imagined Janine’s face as she overheard our stilted conversation. The humor of the situation flooded over me, bringing a smile to my lips.

Kelly’s answering smile altered his expression, and his body language. Almost duplicating his masculine smirk in the photo I possessed, softening the solid mass of muscle without diminishing his potent dynamics.

“Excuse me. I came to see Janine.” I didn’t dare push past him.

“Mother?” He called over his shoulder, still guarding the hallway. “Do you feel up to having a visitor?”
“I always feel like visiting with Vicki,” Janine answered from her room.

Kelly stepped aside, placing himself against the aging wallpaper as though afraid I might give him some dreaded disease if I happened to brush against him. I did brush against him as I passed. Dang he’s big. I entered Janine’s bedroom to find her reclining on several pillows. She appeared tired, her skin lacking its usual healthy glow.

“Janine, are you feeling all right?” I asked in concern.

“Better now. I called you this morning when I fell. As luck would have it, I fell against the telephone table, knocking it to the floor with me. Kelly came home quite unexpectedly and helped me to bed.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, feeling guilty for going to lunch. “It took longer at the bank than I thought. After, Farley insisted on taking me to lunch. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Would that be Farley Wilson?”

“Yes, you know him right?”

“Early forties, nice dresser and a smooth talker. He missed his calling as an insurance salesman,” Janine answered appearing a shade worse.

“You look tired. I shouldn’t bother you with my issues. Will Kelly be here long?” She seemed more fragile than usual.

“Actually, he’s been busy seeing to my needs and hasn’t said yet.”

“I’ll let you two get to catching up.” I patted her hand and retreated the way I’d come. So much for asking her for her opinion of Farley.

Kelly stood at the kitchen counter, draining a jug of milk. He must have heard me approaching. He lowered the jug, wiping his lips with his sleeve. For a brief instant he wasn’t a soldier, but a young boy caught in the act. A sheepish grin filled his features. Then his expression changed, his eyes capturing me as if holding me in animated suspension.

Yum. Delicious tingling filled me. Wow, what has he done to me? I thought I’d outgrown this silly attraction to a man in uniform. Not. I focused on my feet, willing them to keep moving toward the door. The traitors stopped and turned toward him. My mouth joined the mutiny.

“Nice to meet you, Kelly. Your mother’s mentioned you often.” I sensed a smile curl my lips hearing my way too formal effort at breaking the ice. Can’t you do any better, girl?

“You, too.”

Is it animalistic charisma emanating from him or danger? It didn’t matter which. I’d always proved a sucker for both. Vick, you need to remove the sign on your forehead beckoning these guys. That’s two in one day. He said no more, and I hurried out the door, my knees masquerading as jelly.

Like suspense? New .99 ebook!

Hi everyone. My single title suspense, Skeleton Bayou, is now up at Amazon and Barnes & Nobles for 99 cents. I’m so happy to have this book available again. I had so much fun writing it… and I love the new cover. Hope you’ll check it out!

Blurb:

Savanna Love is emotionally and physically battered but is determined to survive after escaping the hellish imprisonment imposed on her by her psychotic cop-husband. After seven months in hiding, she resurfaces at Mossy Oak, her ramshackle family home on a Louisiana bayou and attempts to restart her life. The empty house provides shelter, but it isn’t the fortress she needs when her cruel ex comes calling.

Mack O’Malley, former cop turned handyman, conflicted over a bad shoot on the job, comes to Savannah’s rescue when the psychopath draws them into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Fearful of Mack at first, she soon discovers that beneath his steely exterior lies a heart hungry for love. Will their alliance save them, or will they fall victim to the Legend of Skeleton Bayou?

You can sample the book and buy it right now at Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. I plan to also put it up at other venues soon, too.

 

 

Castle Season 5 Promo!

Finally! I’ve been waiting all summer for this. Is it September 24th yet? I can’t wait!

Be sure and check out our Castle review blog on Lee Lofland’s Graveyard Shift blog after the show each week. I’ll post a link for that later. Woohoo!

Scavenger Hunt!

For a fun time and to win prizes — including a $100 Amazon gift card — check out Long and Short Reviews’ online Scavenger Hunt!  It starts today… Monday, August 20, and runs until Saturday, August 26. To participate, go here.

Happy Anniversary, LASR!!