Blurb:Nora Carpenter is a trainee assistant physician, a part-time diner chef…and a witch. Hiding from the memory of a traumatic rape – fueled by prejudice over her eccentric reputation – she keeps herself to herself. Hard work, study, and a cold shoulder to any guy that crosses her path, seem like her best defense. 

* * * * 
But when Nora starts having vivid dreams about a compelling, mysterious stranger with dark curls, sexy eyes and a charming Irish lilt, her defenses seem to be breaking. He says he is her soul mate – that he has conquered many centuries to contact her. Can this be real? Or is she going mad? Nora tries to fight the gentle seduction that threatens to thaw her icy façade. But when she’s forced to come face to face with real evil she must call on all her magickal resources, including her lover from another life, to save her. 

* * * * 
In an adventure outside of time, Nora learns that you cannot run from your destiny. 

* * * * 


Get your free copy on Smashwords.

EXCERPT


Her fingers drifted to her neck to calculate her pulse. It kicked up some, not out of fear, though.

The man looked over his shoulder, and their eyes caught. Her fingers still on her throat caught the jump in her heartbeat.

“Are you coming, darling?” His voice, warm with promise, carried a hint of laughter.

Nora found herself smiling. How strange. She almost never smiled at men, because it could be considered an invitation. Odd that she’d ended up in a relationship with Ogden. Then again, “relationship” might be a misleading term. She ran errands for him while using their association as a shield to keep other men away. Their physical relationship was almost non-existent. Ogden was not a hand-holder or casual kisser. He never pushed her for sex, which made him the ideal pretend boyfriend. The peculiar affiliation kept her safe from the wild emotional swings other women experienced when involved with men. She also believed it erected a barrier around her that other men dared not try to pass. Her interaction with various men had proved that wasn’t always the case.

The man regarded her with patient and amused eyes. “Are you holding your head on? Was it about to tumble off your swan-like neck?”

He thought he was a funny one. “I was taking my pulse. It’s when you—”

“I know what taking a pulse is. That’s one of the reasons I need you here—to help with the sickness.” He held her arm and helped her over a fallen log.

Illness she understood. “How can I help?” She considered his hand on her elbow. She had never been one to take assistance, even as a child. As the oldest, she felt the need to do everything on her own. She was a trailblazer of sorts. No one told her she had to, unless you counted her inner voice. No reason she couldn’t have scampered across the log on her own, but she appreciated the gesture.

“What’s your name? You keep calling me by my mine, but never mentioned yours.”

“My sainted grandmother would have my head if she saw my poor manners.” Holding on to her hand, he led her to two fallen logs bordering the fire. “Your chaise, my lady.”

He sat on the other log and used a long-handled spoon to stir the pot suspended over the fire. “I am Clayton McFane. I supposed I expected you to recognize me since we have loved each other for several lifetimes. The first few were a little rocky, but once we got the sense of one another as soul mates, we came together quite well.” A grin brightened his face as his eyes flickered up, demonstrating he was recalling times gone by.

Make that, times he thought had gone by. Nora wasn’t all that sure she believed they’d known each other for lifetimes. Still, she’d witnessed both her sister and grandfather transported through time, as easily as if only going to the next city for shopping. Her nana swore she and Grandpa Buell were soul mates. There was also something reassuring about Clayton.

Placing her hands on the log, she leaned back and stretched her legs toward the fire. Her cartoon pajama pants looked wildly out of place in the woodland setting. You’d think she would have picked out something more appropriate to wear in her dream.

Clayton ladled the fragrant stew into a bowl.

“Clayton,” she started, earning a smile for using his name. “How come you know me and where I was?”

“Oh, that.” He straightened and walked toward her, carrying the bowl. “Granny McFane claims I have a touch of the fey about me. That’s why I often know things that are going to happen.”

Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

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Life has never been worth living for Charisse before her father died. After three attempts to kill herself were unsuccessful, she makes a deal for release from hell on earth, with one of the people who made her life what it was.

It wasn't until Chyna finds out that her husband, Parker Mills, was having an affair with her twin sister, Cheyenne, that she realizes she's losing the best thing she's ever had. Feeling the ultimate betrayal by her own sibling, Chyna knows she has to do whatever it takes to keep her husband and give him what he longs for - a baby. Knowing that she's unable to have children and Cheyenne is afflicted with the same condition, she decides to go to the only person that can help her save her marriage - her younger sister, Charisse.

In the end, one sister will die, another will lose everything and one will get everything that she wants.




EXCERPT
“Spending fifty thousand dollars to produce off spring is crazy. Do you know what I could have done with that money? By this time, I’d have hundred college funds set up for you to donate to some third world child you could have adopted.”

Frustrated, Parker sunk down in the chair in front of Jaelen’s desk. “Yeah, but it’s not the same and you know it, Jae. Look at you. Five kids. Five damn kids.”

“Two are from my wife’s first dead husband.”

“But you’re still a family. You have off spring. You have someone to carry on your bloodline and you’re sharing these moments with the woman you first fell in love with and married. I want that. I want to be you… well not all ornery and mean, but you know what I mean. I’ve been married ten years to Chyna and you weren’t even married to Kim before you were bopping out twins.”

“Well, she raped me to get mine.”

“Let’s not even go into that. I think you just harbor that over her just so you can take advantage of her.”

Jaelen smirked wickedly. “It does make the mundane marriage very exciting when you can tie up your wife and make her beg for you. You should try it sometime.”

“Chyna says it might mess up her hair and hands.”

“If you can spend fifty on a baby, you can spend a couple of hundred– “

“Let’s not go into this.” Parker really didn’t want to expand upon his wife’s shallow behavior.

Jaelen took the hint, understanding in advance this was a sore subject for Parker. “So, this crazy sister-in-law, what’s her story?”

“Nothing I haven’t already told you. Chyna says her sister is so pathetic she can’t even kill herself.”

“How many times has she tried?”

“This last time makes three.”

Jaelen stopped what he was doing and frowned. “I’m not religious and all that, but she ever thought that it just wasn’t her time, and that she had a purpose in life.”

“You ever thought you’re just saying that shit because you’re an ass and you’re trying to find some hilarity out of a bad situation?” He stood up.

“So I take it you haven’t told Chyna about the boat?”

Parker didn’t answer because he knew Jaelen already knew the answer. He was saving it for the moment when Chyna announced that they were going to have a baby. Knowing that they were going to dedicate eighteen more years together deserved an award and “the boat” was the key.

Yet that moment hadn’t come and he was starting to think it never would. The majority of Parker’s friends were married and those that were had children, vibrant healthy off spring. Their blood running through small versions of themselves.


 

Author Interview

1.      Tell us about yourself. I am first and foremost a person deeply and devoted to words – a writer and a reader, always wanting more. Words are my drugs. Words are my life. Words are my Everything. Being a mother, a woman and a human being becomes secondary in my life.

2.      How did you get started writing? When I was six years old. I used to lie to my mother a lot and after she would give me punishment I would have to write my lies down. My pain became my pleasure. My lies looked so good on paper and I could make them longer and longer. The only bad thing is that I can’t lie verbally anymore so I have very little friends.

3.      What genre(s) do you write in and why? I started writing first historical romance because that is the genre I started reading in. I was a little paranormal fan, but I didn’t want to make up new worlds. Although I love history, I found that I couldn’t find my voice because it was a lot of research and I didn’t want to keep facts so straight and accurate. By the age of seventeen I realized I wanted to be a contemporary suspense romance novelist and the first book I ever finished was Stone’s Revenge, my psychological thriller, which actually became my 2nd independent work I published.

4.      How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

I have over thirty published works since 2000 and to ask me which is my favorite is to ask me which is my favorite child. My books are so hard to choose from and I actually try to re-read them every once in a while not just to pass the time or look for new characters to bring into other stories, but just because they are that enjoyable. I write because I can’t find what I want to read and I still have that challenge as a reader. I love really all my books. Now my favorite character, and most challenging one, would be Lethal Heart. I’ve woven him throughout a lot of my books. He’s dangerous, sexy and crazy. Just the way I love my men.

5.      Tell us about your current series/WIP.

My current book series is His Substitute Wife. (Two books as eBooks but one whole paperback book.) Bringing Charisse to life with her problems and past was difficult and hard. I could feel her inner emotional pain. Dealing with her family, especially her sisters, the frustration grew to a tipping where she had nothing to live for. Parker Mills was a man who knew he wasn’t perfect, but he craved a family. Doomed to be in a loveless marriage he tries to make the most of his situation by allowing his wife to convince him to let Charisse have his baby. Getting Charisse pregnant with Parker’s baby was easy part. Filled with drama, suspense and romance, The His Substitute Wife… My Sister Series has given me a great joy to bring to my readers.

6.      What inspired your latest book?

Studying other phobias, I found Charisse condition and wondered if I could actually write a romance with a woman who hates to be touched? It was a challenge and I’m proud of the story.

7.      What is your next project and when will it be released?

Betrayed is my current Work In Progress. Cons, Revenge, Deceit and Love can’t mix, but I’m going to try.

8.      Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Life, living and observing the world around me. My mind is an open syringe looking for the unique, strange and ominous.

9.      What is your favorite part of writing?

The initial process itself. When an idea hits and you must go to write it down. Once I start I can’t stop. It’s addictive. I sleep with my kindle with a keyboard right by me or under my pillow in case I wake up in the middle of the night and get the urge. 

10.  What is your least favorite part of writing?

The marketing of my work, but I’m glad I earned a degree at it so it comes a little bit easy to me.

13.  How much time do you spend promoting your books? I try to spend at least four hours a day marketing, two hours blogging and one hour working on websites I manage in order to make my books sells work for me. I look at promoting like a real business. If I opened a store, I’d dedicate at least twelve to sixteen hours a day to my business. I do that for my writing career tirelessly promoting and tirelessly writing more for the upcoming year.

What works best for you? Blogging on my website always has worked best for me or being on other bloggers. I’m an avid tweeter and FB’er, but I use those as breadcrumbs to get more people to the website.

14.  How has your experience with self-publishing been?

Awesome. Since I’m a control freak I love it.

15.  What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Research and learn what you have to do before you do it.

17.  Where can readers find you?

I can be found on my website at http://sylviahubbard.com, FB: http://facebook.com/SylviaHubbard& Twittter: http://twitter.com/sylviahubbard1


More About the Author

Sylvia Hubbard knew she’d wanted to be a writer of romance long before she knew there were black writers in the world. Weaving stories magically as a summer past time to writing stories to get through the humdrum of school, she was able to create something from nothing.

Today, she has independently published over 28 books, is the founder of Motown Writers Network and The AA Electronic Literary Network, CEO of HubBooks Literary Services, runs over five blogs on a variety of subjects, host The Michigan Literary Network Radio Show and is a happily divorced mother of three children in Detroit, Michigan.

“I’m no superwoman,” she states with a smile that seems infinite on her lips. “I’m just being an asset in the world instead of a liability.”

Considered an addicted blogger by HoneyTechblog.com, nominated and recognized for her literary work in the Metro Detroit area, referred to as “A Literary Diva” by Detroit City Council and donned “Cliffhanger Queen” by her readers, she finds solace in speaking and educating on a variety of topics.



Author’s Website: www.sylviahubbard.com

Author’s Blog: www.sylviahubbard.com/blog

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sylviahubbard

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sylviahubbard1

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/sylviahubbard

 

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Are you ready for spring? Depending on where you live, spring may already be at your house.
GETTING READY FOR SPRING
Here in central Indiana, we had our last snow on Friday. Still, we are prepping for the season changes.

Signs of Spring

1.       Car washes get busier.

2.       Grass gets greener.

3.       Clearance sales on winter clothes

4.       Swimsuits appear in stores.

5.       Closets get a seasonal exchange.

6.       The tender buds of spring flowers

7.       The birds return and try to build a nest in the dryer vent.

8.       The ants creep out of the frozen ground to enter the house.

9.       The heating & air man shows up to tune up the air conditioning.

10.   The snow shovels go into the shed, instead of the garage.

Nora Carpenter is a trainee assistant physician, a part-time diner chef…and a witch. Hiding from the memory of a traumatic rape – fueled by prejudice over her eccentric reputation – she keeps herself to herself. Hard work, study, and a cold shoulder to any guy that crosses her path, seem like her best defense. 

But when Nora starts having vivid dreams about a compelling, mysterious stranger with dark curls, sexy eyes and a charming Irish lilt, her defenses seem to be breaking. He says he is her soulmate – that he has conquered many centuries to contact her. Can this be real? Or is she going mad? Nora tries to fight the gentle seduction that threatens to thaw her icy façade. But when she’s forced to come face to face with real evil she must call on all her magickal resources, including her lover from another life, to save her. 

In an adventure outside of time, Nora learns that you cannot run from your destiny. 

His eyes sparkled with humor as he held out his hand to her. “Climb up, darling. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Familiarity colored his voice as if he greeted an old friend. Nora knew she’d have remembered a dark-eyed hottie with curly hair and a wicked smile. Better yet, the bright green and yellow wagon he stood on was definitely memorable, especially with its fanciful drawings on the side and the two draft horses in the traces. Was she remembering part of a movie or a story Nana told her? That was it. Nana was part Romany Gypsy.

Still, it didn’t make sense if she was in the story and the unknown man spoke English. Part of her wanted to take his hand and step up into the wagon to take off with him. At times, he looked into her eyes, not only as if he knew her, but also liked what he saw, which made his invitation tempting, very tempting.

The man dropped his hand. “Oh, I see you’re still not ready, my Nora.”

“How do you know my name?”

The man jumped down from the wagon, startling her, invading her space. His face filled her vision. She had to admire his strong jawline, and the crinkles around his eyes when he smiled caused her heart to beat faster. Her lips turned up naturally in response.

“Nora, Nora, how could you have forgotten me? I have loved you through several lifetimes and searched for you in each of mine. My life was desolate until I found you in a dream.”

She was dreaming. That made sense.

“Nora, Nora.”

Why did he keep repeating her name? He said her name as if he knew it well, without a blink or a hesitation, not like those fraternity guys trying to hit on her who could never quite remember her name, calling her everything from Nadine to Noreen. One even called her Norad, which she promptly informed him stood for North American Aerospace Defense Command. As she recalled, her would-be Romeo stumbled away, muttering, "bitch” loud enough for her to hear.

Men never worked too hard to romance her. Her purpose in attending college was to get an education, enabling her to obtain a decent job. A good portion of the girls who came to school felt the need to cut loose by skipping class, drinking too much, and having sex with guys they didn’t know or couldn’t remember. Often those same girls flunked out in less than two years. As a scholarship student, she needed to keep her grades up.

Why didn’t she know his name?

Author Info & Links
Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

www.facebook.com/AuthorRaynaNoire

www.twitter.com/raynanoire

www.raynanoire.weebly.com

http://www.amazon.com/Rayna-Noire/e/B00J8XP14A/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Blurb
Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.

Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can't tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn't the type to tolerate secrets.

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl's ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.

Summoned is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.

 

Find out more at http://www.summonedtheseries.com

Cover Design: Kris Wagner https://www.facebook.com/digitalgunman

Model: Adam Jakubowski https://www.facebook.com/LadyJakubowsky

Photographer:  Marcin Rychły https://www.facebook.com/karrdepl

 

Author Bio

Rainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the mean time, she blogs at http://www.rainyofthedark.com RainyoftheDark.com and writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona. When not plotting world domination, she enjoys getting lost around the globe, studying music so she can sing along with symphonic metal bands, and becoming distracted by Twitter http://www.twitter.com/rainyofthedark @rainyofthedark. She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.

Blurb:
It should have been a normal drive home from work for Maggie Connors. However, a freak rain storm had other plans for her when the bridge she crossed, in her car, collapsed plunging her into the river below.

Para Rescue man, Jake Madison wasn't looking for a life changing event, but he got just that when he saved Maggie's life.  He couldn't get the red hair beauty out of his mind but was determined to give her back the courage she lost in the traumatic event.











EXCERPT


Love Over Troubled Waters (Emergency Calls Series)
by LaNora Mangano

Chapter 2

Jake Madison hopped aboard the helicopter with his crew, Cal and Scott Hartford and pilot Ben Davidson, who worked at getting them off the ground. Jake’s blood pumped fast throughout his body. He loved the rush and excitement that this job gave him. For him, it was not just a job but a calling to his very soul. He envisioned and prepared his mind for what the rescue would entail by praying that it would be a search and rescue call and not a search and recovery call.

What would they discover once they got to the first extraction point? Would they even find the woman in the torrential downpour that was still strong enough to push their helicopter sideways? His stomach flipped, like it always did when the bird hit a pocket of air and seemed to drop one thousand feet before Ben recovered control. Jake blew out a breath, trying to calm his roiling stomach. How he kept his food down when that happened amazed him.
     As the helicopter dipped and weaved, Jake focused on releasing his pent-up tension.

“It’s going to be tough to keep this baby still once we get to the extraction point, so you’ll need to do the best that you can to get those people out of danger as fast as you can,” Ben shouted over the roar of the rain and the helicopter blades.   Scott squinted. “Whoa, look at that!” He pointed at the trees where bicycles raced down the river like some amusement park ride as the water crashed into and over the embankment while picking up more debris in its path. “Last week, that was nothing more than a creek.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“Wait, I think I see her over there!” Jake noticed the water pattern swirling around what appeared to be a bright yellow raincoat caught in a tree. When a woman’s pale face turned and looked up at them, Jake checked his harness one last time and put his helmet and mic on his head. “That’s her! Ben, can you get me closer to the right crest over there? I’ll lower down just over her and then try to get this vest and harness around her.”



Cal began working the mechanical winch that lowered Jake out of the helicopter. Jake held the vest and harness in his arms, while the extra harness was latched to the spare line he was also pulling along with him. As he got lower, he could see the woman.

She looked up at him and then quickly down at the rapid waters as if she was searching for something. Or someone. Jake’s breath caught in his throat. Even though he only saw her clinging to the tree limb, what if there’d been someone else with her when the bridge collapsed?

Jake pushed a button on the device leading to his mic.

"Any confirmation of another person in the water, Ben?”

“Negative, Jake.”  The pilot responded. 

“Copy that. Better make sure the medics are ready.”

Even from this distance, Jake could see blood flowing from an ugly gash on her forehead.

Jake was just about to toss the vest and harness to her, when he was unexpectedly swooped up and away causing him to swing violently in the air. Jake looked up and saw that the helicopter was fighting a strong gust of wind.

“Sorry ‘bout that, Jake. Let’s try it again.” Ben’s calm and steady voice came through the mic and piped into his helmet.

Jake turned his attention back to the woman in the water and prepared to toss her the vest as soon as he was closer. “Almost there,” he shouted down to her. “I’m going to throw you this life vest. It just goes around your body! It will keep you from going under! Do you understand me?”

She looked up at him with terrified eyes and nodded . . .
Jake took a big swing and threw the vest her way. The pull of the updraft caused his aim to go wild. All he caught was water. “Come on.” He reeled in the vest, swung it again. This time it landed a couple feet from her grasp. The woman clung to the low-hanging branch for dear life as she eyed the vest.

Jake could see the hesitation on her face. but all she needed to do was just grab on to the vest.

“Can you get me closer, Ben?” Jake spoke into his mic

“Negative. Too many trees,” came the immediate response.

Jake watched as the water thrashed against her  preventing her from wrapping her lower body more firmly around the tree.

“You’ll have to let go of the tree to get the vest!” Jake yelled down. “Once you hook the vest around you, I can pull you out. I can then help you into this harness! But you have to reach for it! Can you do that?”

The woman clutched the tree branch. She let go of one arm and reached outward. Floating debris knocked into her and she gripped the tree again. He could tell she was scared and he wasn’t sure of how long that tree would stand up against the powerful surging undertow. It had already eaten away most of the bank and left the tree roots exposed. More erosion, and the entire tree would fall into the river and most likely directly on top of the woman if he couldn’t get her to act faster.

Jake, we just got an ID on the woman from SWPD dispatch. Someone caught her license plate number before the car submerged. Her name is Maggie Connors.” Ben’s voice sounded in the mic again. Jake didn’t waste any time. “Maggie! Reach for the vest!”

She angled her head up at him and their eyes connected. He willed her to trust him to get her out of the water. He didn’t say anything else, just pleaded with his eyes.  She reached out with both hands and grabbed the vest.
   
“Yes,” he yelled as she struggled to get her arms through the arm straps and secure the other around her waist knowing that the vest would keep her afloat. Now that she was loosely latched to the harness in Jake’s possession, he was able to keep her from floating down river. All he needed to do was drag her out from under the tree so that he could get to her and put on the second harness for the scoop part of the plan.

“Hang on, Maggie, just hang on and—”

The loud snap had him whipping his head to the right in time to see the branch that Maggie had been clinging to snap and fall into the river. Right on top of the line holding Maggie above water.

“Maggie!” He swiped the hair and water from his eyes and strained to see through the branches in hope of finding her still above water. Nothing but swirling river.

Then he saw her! And his heart sank. The massive branch was making her into a human bobber. As she dipped below the surface, she’d kick her way back to the surface. She was fighting to stay afloat but with her vest connected to the line that was attached to an unsteady helicopter, she was in danger of drowning. No time to come up with a new plan. Jake did the only thing he could think of. He reached up, released his harness, and fell.

Bio:
I was born and raised on the South side of Chicago, Illinois during my early years then moved to the suburbs and lived there until my husband and our children relocated to central Indiana.  I've been exposed to many personality types and several interesting situations.  All of which provided opportunities to create heroes, heroines, villains and fictional towns to place my creations. 

I started reading romance novels in high school when a friend introduced me to a Harlequin book. I thought  it was so refreshing that I bought another one, then another one and read them every spare moment I had. This was also around the time I developed a passion to write my own stories and I've been writing ever since.

I write romantic suspense.  Half of my novels are part of a 3-5 book series.  I've written a couple of contemporaries and I wrote my first paranormal that was contracted in 2013 and will be published in Summer 2014.

I have way too much fun creating people and building situations for them that has lead me to accomplishing my true goal.  Publishing.
    
If you have aspirations of publishing a book, I encourage you to take steps towards making that happen.  A great start is to look up your local Romance Writers of America (RWA) chapter and attend a couple of meetings to see if it's for you.  This organization has helped me to learn not only the business of writing but the craft as well. 

For more information about my upcoming books, please visit:
www.findinglanora.weebly.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lanora-Mangano/527909407268248

Please pick up a copy of Love Over Troubled Waters at Amazon.com Beginning March 22 2014

Blurb
Loving Nate is Leah's story of falling in love with Mr. Perfect. Leah falls fast and hard, losing all sense of reasoning. Love can do that to a gal, especially when the guy is as smooth as Nathan Moore. Loving Nate is about Leah's journey of falling in love, when she should have been standing in love.


Excerpt
I’ve decided to provide two very different endings to this novella. Have you ever made a decision and wondered whether or not it was the right choice? Or perhaps you made the right choice because you knew that the alternative would’ve been disastrous? This is my gift to readers. Regardless of Leah’s final choice, I wanted readers to be able to reflect on the possibilities.

The Storyline of Loving Nate

Loving Nate is a story about a young woman who falls in love when she should’ve been standing in love. I open up this tale with an acknowledgement/dedication to someone named “Superman”. A bit of advice that I received from this man was to never fall in love – stand in love. Over the years, I’ve considered this lesson of sorts, even thinking back to when I was in a similar situation like Leah.

Leah meets the perfect man, when she literally runs into Nate. She is swept away and is beyond help. Sadly, Nate knows that Leah is weak for him. He takes advantage of his effect on her, as she allows him to drift in and out of her life. Nate is the type of man that knows how to carry himself with a confidence level of perfection. He is totally irresistible! Leah is easily led.

My personal experience was not as shameful as Leah; however, I’ve known a version of Nate. Like Leah, I marveled at how impressive his charms were and lusted for his excellence. Where my experiences part ways with Leah is that I eventually pulled away when I realized that this man might have a hidden life. I paid attention to the red flags, putting an end to a situation that was sure to rip out my soul.

I always wondered what would’ve happened if I had remained in Leah’s situation. Therefore, Leah’s journey is a hypothetical journey. I also considered something that many women might contemplate – what ifs. After taking Leah on a roller coaster romance, I offer an alternative ending for reflection sakes – walk away or fight for love. After you’ve given your all to a relationship, do you ever consider the pros and cons of leaving, especially if total heartbreak seems inevitable? That is at the heart of Loving Nate.

LOVING NATE REVIEW


Janice G. Ross has poured her soul into Loving Nate and it shows. Normally, I’m not a fan of first person narration, but it works for this novella. I’m not sure third person could have worked as well.

Leah is a woman on an upward career swing. Her well-deserved promotion makes her both confident and cocky, which is one reason she doesn’t question the smooth talking, handsome charmer, Nate. The other reason is she wants to believe he’s everything he pretends to be and a few extra things she’s added in. In the fact, Leah is no different from any other woman who has fallen for a too good to be true man.

Author Ross does something most of us wish we could do, have alternate endings to the same tale. Author Pearl S. Buck once stated that somewhere in the middle of a great mistake things could be remedied or changed. You decide what Leah’s ending is.

Strangely, I have mixed feelings about this tale because there is so much heartbreak in it, but it is well worth reading. Two thumbs up!

Listen to the entire playlist at:  
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7izl3hl62IDHD1Wf1A9iQZzBJjW9L-HM

Janice was born in Guyana, South America and migrated to the USA in 1980. Although her citizenship certificate now reads the United States of America, she considers herself a citizen of the world. Sure she has not physically been around the world and back, but she’s travelled in her mind and dreams.

Janice is an author. She enjoys writing about social issues and personal experiences. Janice’s debut release was entitled Damaged Girls. She uses the three books in that series to detail the effects of different forms of abuse, discussing issues that are known to be taboo. Her next release, Jumping Ship, is a dedication to her country of birth and an introductory novella to the Island Hopping Series – due out in 2014. It’s poised to be a colorful and emotional experience of life, love and family. As of present, she is also a contributor to a short story collection – Just Between Us, Inspiring Stories by Women. And lastly, Loving Nate is a novella about the realities of losing one’s self to love.

Janice enjoys reading. And is drawn to stories with distinct characters that she can love or hate, characters she can form alliances with or characters that she can swear off and despise. She is also weak for a good cultural tale, preferably in the form of historical fiction. Janice loves to be taken off guard by clever language and settings.

Janice is also a devout supporter and promoter of other authors through social media. She hosts a weekly show, Cultural Cocktails, on the largest social radio network, Blog Talk Radio.

Buy Links

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Website: www.culturalcocktails.com

Talk show: www.blogtalkradio.com/culturalcocktails

Blog http://jgrwriter.wordpress.com &

http://myculturalcocktails.wordpress.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/JGRWriter

FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/Cultural.Cocktails

&

https://www.facebook.com/jgrwriter?ref=hl

Google+https://plus.google.com/104579627944902429382/posts/p/pub?partnerid=gplp0

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pub/janice-ross/58/691/894/

LOVING NATE TOUR SCHEDULE:

http://fabulosityreadsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/tours-stop-schedule-loving-nate-by.html

 Tell us about yourself:

I write mysteries, romance and contemporary fiction for adults, teens and children. All of my characters, no matter what the genre or audience for the book, are at a crossroads in their lives - a fork in the road. The theme of my website is Characters at a Crossroads. I've been writing stories since childhood and also worked as a newspaper reporter for several years. I love to read books as much as I love to write them!

What was your first book?

My first published adult novel was the mystery/romantic suspense book Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, about Kris Langley, an obit writer who stumbles across a 25-year old unsolved murder. She becomes obsessed with solving it and during her investigation, she falls for the victim's nephew. I enjoyed writing this book as it draws upon my newspaper background as well as my interest in Greek mythology. Diana Ferguson, the murder victim, was an artist inspired by mythology and there are clues to the mystery in her paintings.   

Describe your first break.

My first break came when I was 17 years old. I had written a young adult novel called Face-Off, about battling teenage brothers who are forced to co-captain the same high school hockey team. I entered it in a contest for teenage writers and it won the contest, so it was published by a major publisher. I recently re-issued it over 20 years later, and it is available in print, e-book and audiobook formats. Hearing the book I wrote as a teenager narrated as an audiobook over two decades later was a really neat experience.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?

My favorite genres, both to read and write, are cozy mystery, romantic suspense, sweet romance and romantic comedy. I find those genres perfect for entertaining, escape reading.

What makes a protagonist interesting?

I think it's important to have a flawed protagonist. In real life, people aren't perfect, so characters shouldn't be perfect either. They should make mistakes and grow in some way by the end of the book or through the course of a series. I like to place my characters at a fork in the road where they can either continue in the same familiar direction, going nowhere, or find the courage to venture into a new direction. For example, Cassidy in my mystery novel Sink or Swim is a personal trainer who competes on a reality show. Once the reality show ends and she loses, she needs to decide whether she will finally pursue her dream of going into business for herself, and also take a chance on romance, or keep working around the clock for a boss who goes against her values. I think what makes characters interesting is that decisions aren't easy for them. It's nerve-wracking to make big changes in real life, and it's nerve-wracking in my books also.       

What is the best thing about being a writer?

It's hard to pick just one as I love the whole experience. The best things are being able to work from home, write the stories that excite me, and hang out online with other authors who are pursuing the same dream.

What is the worst thing?

The worst thing is seeing a bad review. I understand that one book cannot please everyone and I respect when someone takes the time to tell what they liked about the book and what they didn't in a fair way. It is frustrating when someone writes a review in an insulting way where they attack the author.  Just because a reader doesn’t like a book doesn’t mean that no one else will or that an author should be ridiculed.   

Pantser or plotter?

I am definitely a plotter. I write a thorough outline and refer to it as I write each chapter. It isn't written in stone, though. Sometimes I will change things or expand upon a scene, and if that affects the story line in an upcoming chapter, I'll just make notes in the margin. 

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.

I have been finishing up a romantic comedy/sweet romance novel about a theme park Cinderella, called Fooling Around With Cinderella. It's almost done and I can't wait to share it with readers. I plan to write some short stories and novellas featuring minor characters from the book. I also have a mystery novel in progress, called Sign of the Messenger, about a psychic healer who is tracking a serial killer. I always thought the latter novel would be the start of a series, but lately I have felt like writing something lighter, hence the theme park romances.

Just for fun

Cat or dog person?

Cat! I love my cat.

Favorite food?

Chocolate chip cookies with walnuts.

Favorite book?

The Harry Potter series.

Favorite movie?

Return of the Jedi.

Favorite vacation destination  (you just have to want to go there)

Disney World. My husband and I have been to the Disney parks in Florida, California and Paris.

Blurb:
Should we dig for the truth when Pandora's Box is a coffin of buried secrets? For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson's killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer and newsroom editorial assistant Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, not only does she fall in love with Diana's sexy nephew, but she must also fight to stay off the obituary page herself. A unique blend of literary mystery, cozy mystery, and romantic suspense. Get in on the secret - join thousands of readers in discovering who killed Diana Ferguson.

Excerpt:

Cheryl came up behind Kris.  Her voice sounded sad and tired.  "Please don't tell my mother too much, even if you're making progress.  I don't want to raise her hopes."

Kris glanced back at Irene, who hunched on the couch, turning the locket over in her hand.  "I'll be careful with what I say.  My aunt would've been eager, too."

"How was your cousin killed?"   

"She was strangled, kidnapped by a neighbor while walking alone.  We were  twelve."

Cheryl heaved a sigh.  "I'm sorry.  I remember reading about that.  It happened locally, didn't it?"

"Yes."

"I know you're a terrific writer.  I couldn't have been happier with the business story.  I'm just concerned about my mother."

"I understand," Kris said.  "I won't let you down."

She trudged out to her car and brushed off her windshield.  She waited behind the steering wheel as the defroster warmed the interior. Not knowing Diana's whereabouts must have tormented Irene.  Kris's family had agonized over Nicole's disappearance.  As one day blended into the next, Nicole had seemed further and further away. 

Finding her was worse.

Kris had learned a new phrase that May, a litany that surged back into her mind, drumming to the beat of the windshield wipers.  If only.

If only it hadn't rained the afternoon Nicole had disappeared.

If only she hadn't climbed into the car with Randolph Coltraine.

If only Aunt Susan had been home when Nicole called for a ride.

Kris swallowed the metallic taste in her mouth.  If only I didn't trick her.

She chose the long route home, driving fast. She hadn't driven in New York and had forgotten the thrill of a climbing speedometer.  Her first week back, she'd landed a speeding ticket. 

  Kris skidded onto the Fremont State College campus, her tires kicking up tufts of snow.  She passed dorms, tennis courts and the library before parking in front of the deserted baseball field.  White trees cast shapeless shadows across the broad expanse of snow.

A chunk of ice slid off the roof, hitting the front window.  Kris jumped, her hand to her heart.   

"No one's out there," she murmured, gazing into the woods.  "Not now."

But once.

Beyond those trees, Diana had lain dead. 

Police had crowded the scene, their search over.

Middle-aged reporter Dex Wagner had scribbled in his notebook. 

Twenty-five years ago today.

 

 Stacy Juba loves to write stories about Characters at a Crossroads: individuals who are finding themselves and getting on the right life path after overcoming obstacles. Her goals are to entertain readers of all ages as well as inspire them. She has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S. flag. She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Browse her website www.stacyjuba.com for more information on her mystery, romance, and contemporary fiction books for adults, teens, and children, guest author features and resources on how to build your own “character,” and for her book/product reviews and advocacy relating to Type 1 Diabetes.

Social media: Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301

Twitter https://twitter.com/stacyjuba

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2988212.Stacy_Juba

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/stacyjuba/

Buy sites:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today-ebook/dp/B003U4WVKA/ref

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twenty-five-years-ago-today-stacy-juba/1017979048?ean=2940011980930

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Twenty-Five-Years-Ago-Today/book-fc55-OLdikey2hFgy_jaDA/page1.html?s=ujwec_jtbU2U134hnmDkXA&r=7

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_3?asin=B00B8VUQM2&qid=1359725371&sr=1-3

iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twenty-five-years-ago-today/id643229089?mt=11