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BLURB:
Once and Forever - An anthology
By Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Emelle Gamble, Lavinia Kent and introducing Evie Owens
From five compelling authors, five original novellas which will make you laugh and cry, and believe in a love that once found will last forever. Meet a duke, a psychic, a bodyguard and a professor…and one "guardian fairy" in absorbing stories ranging from regency and contemporary romance to paranormal and women's fiction.
Playing for Keeps by Mary Blayney
Actress Kendall Marshall is determined to get an autograph for her sick sister from famous TV personality Mike O’Hara, the Oprah Winfrey of sports. In the process she meets his brother, security consultant Steve Marshall, lands a job on O’Hara’s show and gets in the way of a man set on causing big trouble. As the stalkers attacks escalate, Steve and Kendall are thrown together and find it impossible to ignore the chemistry between them.
The Princess & the Pinot by Elaine Fox
When a beautiful woman shows up at the Vineyard Inn, wine manager Kim is certain she’s been sent by fate for the inn’s owner, Cooper. Self-effacing to a fault, Kim knows she can’t hold a candle to Principessa Bella, who also seems to know even more about wine than Kim herself, but her heart has belonged to Cooper since they shared one kiss as teenagers.
While Prin sweeps easily into the job of sommelier at the renowned inn, Kim is afraid Prin will sweep just as surely into Cooper’s arms if she doesn’t do something about it. Can she tell Cooper how she feels without losing even his friendship?
Kim is willing to try except for one problem: she’s almost certainly losing her mind. Or is that belching, swearing, smoking, farting fairy – who claims to be trying to help her – real?
Duets by Emelle Gamble
Duets offers alternating looks into the lives of two women who would seem to have little or nothing in common.
Screen star Molly Harper is on the verge of marrying a man who has swept her off her feet, thought perhaps hasn’t swept all her feelings for her first love away. Anne Sullivan, happily married for twenty-five years, is fighting to hold onto the man she loves, and hold off a confrontation that could shatter her family’s image of what they are.
Duets confronts a past secret that ties these two women’s lives together, just as chance events turn Molly and Anne’s worlds upside down.
Never and Forever by Lavinia Kent
Never and Forever is the beginning of the love story of two people who shouldn’t belong together. Molly, Miss Wilkes, runs an employment agency helping women of quality find positions perfected suited to their characters. Although her father held the title of Earl for just over a week before his death, Molly has never wanted to be a lady. She knows her place in this world – and it is not at the center of society.
The Duke of Radford also knows his place in this world – and it’s above everybody else’s. He cannot imagine a world without all the privilege and power that comes from being Radford. He’s had foreign princesses and heiresses dangled before him for years. Why would he ever have interest in a simple woman who doesn’t even understand that she should want to be a duchess?
Can these two overcome the obstacles of their own beliefs and realize that love can make all things possible?
Never and forever are both a very long time. Where will their love fit?
The Psychic Detective by Evie Owens
Psychic Martin Sterling doesn't trust cops--and the feeling is mutual. Detective Erin Healy needs more than a ghost story to save her job and reputation. Her partner is dead, a million dollars in drugs and money is missing, and all the evidence points to her.
Can a sexy psychic and a by the book cop, trapped between the living and the dead, unearth the truth? Or will a cold-blooded killer get away with it all...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
“All we want is an autograph for Cassie. Who would turn down the wish of a girl waiting for a heart transplant? It can’t hurt to ask.”
Jessica rolled her eyes and Kendall knew her sister was almost convinced.
“Kendall, he’s a mega talk show host and will have a boatload of security.” Jessica nodded toward the edge of the set. “For example, who’s that guy over there watching us?”
Kendall looked over and stopped short. He was leaning against one of the old trees that lined the street, wearing a black lightweight jacket and apparently enjoying the scenery. No way was he part of a security team.
He smiled at her. It was a combo of friendly and come-on and Kendall only nodded back. But her whole body registered his whole body in a way that made her wish he was something other than a guy who had nothing better to do than pretend he was a part of a tree.
Apparently her glance was all he needed. Kendall swore very quietly when he straightened and came toward them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONE MORE KISS:
“Mary Blayney’s newest Regency romance is a genuine pleasure to read”(NY Journal of Books)
“One More Kiss is a delightful combination of social comedy, slight mystery, and sweet romance. It’s a thoroughly charming novel, well worth a read.” . . .(NY Journal of Books)
MIRROR MIRROR anthology, “If Wishes Were Horses”
Debut at #3 New York Times Mass Market List October 2013
“Blayney's wish-granting coin entwines a pair of lonely adventure seekers in romance beyond their lives as a servant and a sergeant in her charming 1816 fantasy, If Wishes Were Horses. . . .” (Publishers Weekley, October 2013)
Interview with Mary Blayney
Tell us about yourself:
What was your first book? Is that my first book that sold? Cause there were a few that didn’t before I finally sold TRUE COLORS to then Silhouette Desire a long, long time ago. Set in a small town in Wisconsin it’s the story of a very famous TV actor who meets the one woman whose never heard of him.
The attraction is there from the first confrontation but what surprises them both is the values that they share.
Describe your first break. Moving from Juneau Alaska, where I had three great part time jobs. A place I wanted to stay forever. Then my husband got transferred and I really did love him more than Juneau. So I decided to try my hand at writing, something I had always wanted to do. It was a consolation prize for leaving Alaska. In time I saw that move as my first big break!
What is your favorite genre to read?
I want to read stories that make me feel better about the universe in whatever genre. When it comes to writing I love the regency world I have created but also have found renewed pleasure in a return to the sweet contemporary romances that were my first success.
What makes a protagonist interesting?
Great question which means I’m not really sure. Here are two thoughts off the top of my head (though I would prefer to discuss this with a group before answering) I would say honor at the core of their being especially when it is well hidden. I love characters who find life an adventure in the best possible way and share it with others.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Living in that alternate universe where the world is mind to command (barring a few really annoying characters like Marguerite in HIS LAST LOVER and William Bendasbrook in several of the Pennistan books)
What is the worst thing?
Rejection
Pantser or plotter?
Panster
What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next?
Give us a little taste.
Ooooh there are so many stories I have to tell! But what is happening next for sure is the release of FATHER CHRISTMAS which is the back story of Kendall Marshall the heroine in my ONCE AND FOREVER novella “Playing for Keeps” That will be followed this winter by her sister, Jessica’s story. Here is the opening few lines from that “The rest of my life began with a kiss. My sister Kendall does not agree. ‘Jessica, the rest of both our lives began when we met Steve and Mike O’Hara.’ And for her that’s true. But not for me. It took a lot longer for me to see Mike O’Hara for the wonder he is.”
Just for fun
Cat or dog person?
Dog
Favorite food?
Hot fudge sundae at Serenditpity
Favorite book?
CORDELIA’S HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold
Favorite movie?
Impossible to chose just one. My most recent favorite was The Avengers
Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there)
Barryar (see Lois Mc Master Bujold science fiction series the Vorkosigan Saga)
Blurb for Once and Forever:
Once and Forever An anthology
By Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Emelle Gamble, Lavinia Kent and introducing Evie Owens
From five compelling authors, five original novellas which will make you laugh and cry, and believe in a love that once found will last forever. Meet a duke, a psychic, a bodyguard and a professor…and one "guardian fairy" in absorbing stories ranging from regency and contemporary romance to paranormal and women's fiction.
Blurb for Playing for Keeps by Mary Blayney
Actress Kendall Marshall is determined to get an autograph for her sick sister from famous TV personality Mike O’Hara, the Oprah Winfrey of sports. In the process she meets his brother, security consultant Steve O’Hara, lands a job on O’Hara’s show and gets in the way of a man set on causing big trouble. As the stalkers attacks escalate, Steve and Kendall are thrown together and find it impossible to ignore the chemistry between them.
Excerpt from Playing for Keeps by Mary Blayney
“All we want is an autograph for Cassie. Who would turn down the wish of a girl waiting for a heart transplant? It can’t hurt to ask.”
Jessica rolled her eyes and Kendall knew her sister was almost convinced.
“Kendall, he’s a mega talk show host and will have a boatload of security.” Jessica nodded toward the edge of the set. “For example, who’s that guy over there watching us?”
Kendall looked over and stopped short. He was leaning against one of the old trees that lined the street, wearing a black lightweight jacket and apparently enjoying the scenery. No way was he part of a security team.
He smiled at her. It was a combo of friendly and come-on and Kendall only nodded back. But her whole body registered his whole body in a way that made her wish he was something other than a guy who had nothing better to do than pretend he was a part of a tree.
Apparently her glance was all he needed. Kendall swore very quietly when he straightened and came toward them.
Bio for Mary Blayney
NY Times Best Selling author Mary Blayney’s first two romances were contemporaries published by Silhouette Books. Since 2000 she has been writing regency set historical novels and novellas for Kensington, Bantam and Berkley. Returning to the contemporary market with her novella in ONCE AND FOREVER, Mary hopes to continue to tell stories set in both the regency and the 21st century.
Married to a retired Coast Guard officer, Mary has lived all over the US from Alaska to Puerto Rico, but is now settled near Annapolis, Maryland within sight of the Chesapeake Bay. Her life close to the Coast Guard and its mission to search and rescue, has convinced her that life is best lived with joy, love and a generous heart. Those convictions are what she most wantS to share with her readers. Family will always play a strong part in her books since she believes that family relationships are as fundamental as the love between a man and a woman.
Links for Mary Blayney
http://maryblayney.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryBlayney
Available on Kindle