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Take an exotic trip into love and mystery!
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND J. Arlene Culiner!!
My book, The Turkish Affair, is a romantic suspense/mystery. There is certainly menace in the story, but it’s largely psychological. Yes, there has been a murder, but takes place offstage: there are no violent descriptions, there are no car chases or screaming sirens. The setting for this story is exotic — the archaeological site of Karakuyu in central Turkey, once home to the long-vanished Hittites.
The heroine of The Turkish Affair, is Anne, a strong-willed woman who’s running from a scandal in her past, but her attraction to my hero, Renaud Townsend, threatens her peace of mind and her way of life. Renaud is intelligent and tender, but has no wish to settle anywhere: his passion is archaeology “discovering the world from the ground down.” However, when important artifacts are stolen, both Anne and Renaud are drawn, although unwillingly, into the mystery.
The Turkish Affair was inspired by my own adventures. Like Anne, I went to live in central Turkey where I learnt Turkish and worked as a translator. Many of the incidents I describe in the book really did happen: I was with a group of archeologists when they were called in to identify fake coins; and the brave young woman, Leyla, who rescues Anne from a tricky and dangerous situation really does exist. She came to my aid on a lonely road in exactly the same circumstances. Like Anne, I was also brought in for questioning by a menacing group of policemen — a frightening experience in a country with a terrible human rights record, and where people were being arrested for criticizing the government, religion, for being a communist, a Kurd, or a journalist, filmmaker, writer, or even a teacher protesting against the lack of books.
And although I never did meet Renaud, the hero of The Turkish Affair, he is modeled after a man I briefly saw. I was traveling on a bus when it pulled off the main road, drove down a rutted lane, and pulled into an archaeological site. While we waited for a passenger to board, I caught sight of a man ambling in the direction of a tumble of pillars and ruins. He was lean, supple, and the bright sun caught the golden blaze of his hair. Who was he? An archaeologist? I never found out. With a puff of noxious smoke, the bus turned and roared back toward the main road. That blond man’s image remained with me over all these years; he was slated to become Renaud Townsend, Anne’s lover.
Excerpt
A delicious breeze tickled the air, and the little boat rocked gently. A fine line appeared between Renaud’s brows, and his blue eyes were, once again, serious. “I need your help.”
Anne stared. “My help? With what? Translating?”
“No. With something else. I have to find out who is behind the thefts at Karakuyu.”
The feeling of dread returned, but she forced herself to sound casual. “How could I possibly help you with that?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I just don’t want to feel that I’m alone in this.”
What could she say to that? Tell him she was the last person he should team up with? That long ago, she’d escaped arrest by the skin of her teeth? If she did so, this splendid moment would be over. The silver-foil glimmer of romance would be tarnished forever. He’d row back to shore, drive back to Gülkale, get rid of her as quickly as possible.
“Anne?” He reached out to caress her bare arm. “Come back from wherever you are.”
“You know nothing about me,” she said jaggedly.
“Nothing,” he agreed.
She swallowed. “I could be involved in the thefts for all you know. Why ask for my help? Why choose me?”
He smiled faintly. “A good question. I suppose, quite simply, I need—or want—to trust you.”
She felt utterly miserable. Why was life always like this? Wanting someone and not being able to have them? Wanting trust, but seeing it snatched away before it came close?
Blurb
Love and Danger at the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu
Priceless artifacts are disappearing from the ancient Hittite site of Karakuyu in Turkey, and the site director has vanished. Called in to solve the mystery, archaeologist Renaud Townsend is hindered by both his inability to speak the language and the knowledge that the local police are corrupt. His attraction to translator Anne Pierson is immediate, although he is troubled by her refusal to talk about the past and her fear of public scandal.
But when murder enters the picture, both Anne and Renaud realize that the risk of falling in love is not the only danger.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zkQ20uC4eg
Purchase Links: https://books2read.com/TheTurkishAffair
Author Bio
Writer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, in a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and weeds. Observing people in cafes, in their homes, on trains, or in the streets, she eavesdrops on all private conversations, and delights in hearing any nasty, funny, ridiculous, sad, romantic, or boastful story. And when she can’t uncover really salacious gossip, she makes it up.
Author links: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner
Grand Teton National Park setting for Gayle Irwin’s new Christmas Romance
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND GAYLE IRWIN!!!
The Teton Mountain Range and Grand Teton National Park beckon visitors to western Wyoming every year during every season. The majestic snow-capped, craggy peaks invite photographers of every skill and call to mountain climbers to tackle treacherous terrain. Area wildlife, including moose, elk, bison, red-tailed hawks, trumpeter swans, numerous small songbirds, among other species, flit and roam grassy meadows and forests of pine and aspen. This magnificent area is the setting for my upcoming holiday sweet romance book.
In the Shadow of Mount Moran began as an epiphany in 2020. Just as the United States began to shut down because of COVID-19 that spring, my husband and I were traveling to the Jackson, Wyoming and Grand Teton areas for an early anniversary trip. I had been thinking about crafting a Christmas story in my Pet Rescue Romance – Yellowstone Country series, and as we traveled the highway over Togowtee Pass (elevation more than 9,000 feet) and begin our descent toward Grand Teton National Park, two great peaks of the Teton Range, Grand Teton and Mount Moran, came into view. The highway flanked on both sides by pine trees, a canvas-like creation came into view with these two awe-inspiring mountain peaks in the center. Instantly the words “In the Shadow of Mount Moran” popped into my brain. I told my husband, “I have the title for the Christmas book!”
The setting for this book holds a special place in my heart. Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming is part of the Greater Yellowstone Area, a large, majestic region that is part of the American national park system. Wildlife and natural beauty abound. I lived in southwestern Montana, near Yellowstone National Park, for many years. The series in which this book is included is called Yellowstone Country – all the books are set in either southwestern Montana or western Wyoming. The scenery, the wildlife, the geysers, the mountains and the forests – they play a role in each story.
In the pages of In the Shadow of Mount Moran, readers travel to the splendor of the Jackson Hole Valley and Grand Teton National Park in this sweet, later-in-life pet rescue romance book. There are now six books in the series, four with the same female primary character – this new Christmas book brings her, Rhiann, back into the picture, but the main story is about two new characters, Rachel and Nick.
Here’s an excerpt:
He put the truck in ‘drive,’ and heard Rachel say, “I’m really sorry I cost you so much time today.”
Nick shrugged and offered her a quick smile.
“No need to apologize,” he stated.
He returned his eyes to the road, the striking orange and red sunset glancing off the rearview mirror.
“We did a good thing today, a really good thing.”
“Yes, but it impacted your business.”
“I told you – my brother covered all the pick-ups and drop-offs today, and we didn’t have any special tours scheduled. Tomorrow, however, is a different story. So, you picked a great day to find London!”
He grinned at her, and after a moment of eyes locking on one another, Nick returned his gaze to the roadway.
“So, tell me more about your experience with rescue dogs. How did you come about being a dog rescue lady?” Nick asked.
Rachel chuckled, and he found he enjoyed her light laughter.
“I’ve enjoyed being around animals since I can remember,” she said. “I grew up on a small farm in the Midwest, and when I was a teenager, my parents moved the family to Montana. We lived on acreage, so we had horses, goats, rabbits, cats, and dogs. I went to college to become a vet tech and began helping at the local animal shelter. I also started transporting for various rescues in the Pacific Northwest, and about ten years ago, I became transport coordinator for the I-90 corridor, from Spokane, Washington to Bismarck, North Dakota.”
Nick looked at her in surprise.
“That’s a lot of territory!”
Rachel nodded.
“Not a lot of populated areas so it was just easier for me to make connections and set up the transports for the entire route. But as I mentioned to Janet while we were at the shelter, I’ve just gotten back into the work in the last year.”
“How long did you take a leave of absence?”
“Almost five years.”
He heard her take a deep breath. She didn’t exhale for a few moments, and he glanced at her.
“Rachel, you okay?”
A few seconds ticked by before she answered.
“Yeah. I gave up so much to try to make him happy, including helping the rescue groups I so admired.”
“Who? Who did you try to make happy?”
“Oh,” she said slowly. “Not important. I’m just glad to be back in the game, as they say. It does take a village to do rescue and adoption work.”
As they traveled in silence for a few moments, Nick stole a few glances Rachel’s way. She stared out the passenger’s side window, and the atmosphere in the pickup turned chilly.
“So what’s your most memorable rescue?”
His question seemed to startle her. She looked at him, almost in a daze, and asked, “Sorry – what?”
“Your most memorable rescue. What is it?”
Rachel gave him a soft smile.
“There are several, but I suppose it would be a group of larger dogs, labs and spaniels, saved from a puppy mill near Missoula. A woman I know who lives about thirty miles from Bozeman, Rhiann, she took them into her rescue, and she and her husband, before they were married, adopted two of them. They were a bonded pair, and Rhiann couldn’t stand to think they might be separated or unadoptable as a pair, so she took them in, and after she and Levi married, they had them together for another four years. The dogs passed within a year of each other, they were so bonded.”
“That’s an incredible story.”
“Yeah, yeah it is. Rhiann is one of my favorite people to work with. Despite how hard rescue work can be, that woman and her team, including Levi, pours their hearts into each animal they take in. I’m happy to be working with her again.”
He heard the passion and care in her voice.
“You really are into the rescue work, aren’t you?”
Rachel glanced at him and gave another brief smile.
“Yeah. It brings me joy to be part of that village of volunteers.”
Join Nick and Rachel on their adventure in the shadow of Mount Moran!
Buy Links for In the Shadow of Mount Moran:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPZGZHKM
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/41ExgkL
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-the-shadow-of-mount-moran/id6474099761
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/in-the-shadow-of-mount-moran
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1492572
Book Description for In the Shadow of Mount Moran:
Tagline: Letting go of fear beneath Wyoming’s Teton Mountain Range
Will the grandeur of the Teton Mountain Range and the discovery of a lost dog help two people wary of love open their hearts once more?
Two months after her divorce finalizes, Rachel Baker escapes to the GBarN Ranch and Resort in western Wyoming. A winter vacation of outdoor activities and quality time with her younger sister amid the majestic Teton Mountains is Rachel’s holiday gift to herself. While on a cross-country ski trek, she spies what she thinks is a wolf. She is fascinated and mystified by her discovery. Additional discoveries await her during this holiday vacation.
Nature photographer and outdoor activities coordinator, Nick Fenton, is skeptical of Rachel’s sighting of a wolf. When he and Rachel see the animal a few minutes later, he realizes they’ve found London, a husky lost during a dog-sled training race earlier in the season. Together, they help reunite the dog with his owner. Like Rachel, Nick carries his scars from a previous marriage and is hesitant to let his guard down.
Can Rachel and Nick set aside their hurts as they discover more than a lost dog in the shadow of the glorious Mount Moran?
Gayle’s Bio:
Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning Wyoming author and freelance writer who has been recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc. and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributing writer in eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of the Pet Rescue Romance – Yellowstone Country series, a sweet, later-in-life contemporary romance collection of five, soon to be six, books. She also writes stand-alone romance stories, including Love Takes Flight, set in a beautiful valley of western Montana. A portion of book sales are donated to animal rescue organizations. Learn more about at her website: gaylemirwin.com.
Gayle’s Social Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gayle.irwin.12 (personal) and https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin (author page)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wycabinlady/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wyoauthor1
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin
Website: https://gaylemirwin.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/gayleirwin
Witchy stories for the Halloween season by Mary E. Jung!
Plese welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend, Mary E. Jung!
Thanks for being with us today. First, would you tell us a bit about yourself? What area of the country do you live in, do you have a family, pets, etc.
I live in Dover, Pennsylvania. I have two young sons and an amazing husband. I don’t have any pets, but we’ve adopted my mother’s rottweiler by proxy. We’re at her house so much our sons believe the dog is there’s.
Are you a coffee fiend, or do you have another “addiction” you must have on your desk at all times?
I usually drink water. I’m so boring. I thrive off of natural energy. When I need a little kick to get my brain juiced, I usually go for black tea. In a fancy tea cup. That’s the only way to drink tea.
Is your education relevant to your writing, or have you branched off in something entirely different to create? How would you best describe your books?
I’m a romantic fantasy and epic fantasy writer. I love it spicy or like Tolkien. It depends on my mood. My degree is in Arts Management and Opera. Writing came later in my life and I feel it was a great career change. It’s opened a channel for my business skills, and allowed my creative mind to explore new possibilities.
Tell us about your most recent publication/whichever book you’d like to talk about today?
Blossom and Bone is my bestseller. It’s from my Libra Witch Series. I’ve published the two subsequent books this year. Spindle and Shears is the second in series and Divine and Devour is the third in series. The series is romantic fantasy about witches. It get progressively spicier and builds on the world I’ve created. The books are standalone within a series and do not have to be read in order. The best way to describe the series is Tim Burton vibes, but written by a lady. 
. It’s a little creepy, romantic, and a whole lot of magic. If you like Halloween Hocus Pocus vibes all year round, then this is the series for you.
What inspired you to write this story? What interesting thing did you learn or research to write it that you didn’t know before?
Honestly, I was in trouble with another series. It crashed and burned. No matter how many times I rewrote it, tweaked it, or asked for advice it just didn’t make the cut. I needed a back-up book and so I went digging around for some quick fiction stories I wrote for fun. One of the pieces caught my interest and I decided to go with it. I turned it into a full length novel and it’s become a fan favorite. Sometimes things have to go wrong before they can go right. I had to research plant genetics, bones, and human and animal anatomy. I learned so much about the earth through the books I read to prepare for Blossom and Bone.
What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?
I really like the gothic romance vibes of this book. There’s a house of bones and ancestry magic that really brings a special touch to the writing. It’s got an element of science to it that’s always been a fun aspect as well. The fmc invents a plant that produces true love with the sower. There’s a whole different way of writing when you have to mix reality with fantasy. I really enjoyed researching plant genetics and plan on writing a novella featuring the creation of these plants.
What do you most like about writing? Least like? When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
I love how my mind can weave through infinite stories and possibilities. World building and magic systems are my specialty. I enjoy the details of fantasy and how imagination can bring readers to a special place. I don’t super love the proofreading part of writing. I’m not strong in adverbial modifiers, prepositions, and comma placements. They tend to trip me up and grammar plug-ins make it all the more confusing. Fictional writing and academic writing are different. I often get the two mixed up in my head. All those college papers sometimes want to shove the creative process out the window. Thank goodness for my editor! I became a writer after my first son was born as a way to give myself purpose. There’s only so many diapers you can change before you go nuts. I decided to publish my novel as a way to ‘make something happen’. Sometimes you just have to see a project through to its full extent for no other reason than to answer the question ‘what if’. I never expected hundreds of people to love it, but I’m glad they do!
Do you belong to any writing groups? Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?
I’m a peripheral member of the Gettysburg Brigade Writing Group. I linger online, and interact with the other authors. I am also a member of the Pennwriter’s Organization. I love being able to interact with local authors. I’m a member of Wide for the Win for self-publishing. The Write Women Network. I’m a huge advocator for female writers.
Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? How does it inspire you?
I like silence. I spend a lot of time with small children and the noise can get to me. Writing is my time to recharge and bask in the quiet. I’m inspired by being alone with my thoughts and finding new things about myself and my world.
Do you belong to a critique group? What do you find most valuable about the experience?
I don’t have critique groups. I had trouble finding ones that meshed with me, so I have select beta readers. They are trusted readers who send their feedback and I weave their opinions into my work. I’m lost without them! Betas are very valuable to writers and their process. I recommend beginning writers to find at least one good critique partner. It’s best to get one-on-one attention with the first manuscript. After authors find their footing, then betas are great. Helpful critique is always welcome no matter what stage of writing an author is at.
To encourage those still on the path, tell us a little about your path to publication. How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one? What do you think was the key to selling that first book?
Hooboy. I had quite the journey. I started off with one book. It was an epic fantasy with a romantic subplot. I was picked up by a vanity publisher and it all went to crap from there. My publishing story is long and it wasn’t the best, but I learned a lot. My take away is that authors should either go big or go home. What I mean is, either take on self-publishing or go trade. It can take years to get into a trade company, but the process is better for those who like to focus on writing. My first book that I published was a novella. It is called Queen of Light and Ashes. It started making money right away, but not a lot. Don’t have images of grandeur here. It isn’t my bestseller and it is hit or miss with fans. Either people love it or hate it. There’s no medium ground. I’ve been published for 2 years and I have 6 books in the world. I focus well on projects and make my deadlines, so I’m able to publish two books a year. It might stretch to three when my kids go to school full time. I had three books in the world before I started to make enough money to cover publishing costs. Three seems to be the magic number. It’s been my experience that it takes a bit for people to realize you are out there. Growing organically is key to a stable business. I think promotions like Freebooksy, Fussy Librarian, and Ereader News helped make the money I needed for the first book. Paid newsletter promos are great for first time writers. Unless you are trade. Then they take the risk and populate your ARCs all over the world. Build a team of marketing experts, because you’ll need it. Selling and writing are very different things. Once the book is published then you have to get business savvy or you will stare at a blank paycheck every month.
What are you writing now? What’s next for you—will you be making personal appearances anywhere our readers can find you?
I’m on a writing break. But when I return, I’ll begin the next installment of my epic fantasy novella series. My plan is to finish that out in 2024. I’m expanding my libra witch universe and I’m planning a secret project I’ll announce in December. I’ll ultimately have 3 series branching off the main series.
I’ll be at the Write Women’s Bookfest October 14th 2023 in Maryland.
Dirty Minds in Maryland May 2024
Rage in NJ 2024
LLS in Savanah, Georgia July 2024
Getting Witchy With It in 2025
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for having me on your blog and for interviewing me. I enjoyed greeting all your readers and sharing my journey.
Anyone can join my free newsletter and become a Museling member. I give away free bonus scenes, coloring pages, maps, and art prints. It’s where I share most of my news and members always get to know about books first. I have a website for signed books and merchandise. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks again for joining me today! I look forward to reading Lyndi’s books and becoming another fantasy fan.
CONTACT MARY HERE!!
https://books2read.com/u/4jgv7v
Blossom and Bone
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A different kind of adventure
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND *lizzie starr!!!
Hi! I’m *lizzie. I write as *lizzie starr (and LizAnne Axtel). And today is my birthday. Now before we get all excited about that–I haven’t been excited about my birthday for years–it’s not going to be the kind of day I’d hope for. Nope, not at all. Although it will be an adventure.
Because I’m scheduled to have two wisdom teeth removed.
Scheduling and other issues created a hassle and I’d waited long enough so I took the first available date. I’m not a fan of dentists or having the whole top of my mouth deadened, but there ya go. It could be worse. My dentist said all 4 needed to go, but the oral surgeon said only the top two. So yay, I guess. My biggest concern is whether I’ll bruise or not. That’s one of my other issues and the last time I had a tooth pulled, I looked like I’d been punched.
I make my characters face all kinds of situations they don’t like—all to provide a good story of course. But no one has had to go to the dentist. I think my characters all have great teeth. And I’m going to keep it that way.
Unless they eat too many cupcakes from Cookie’s Coffee & Cakes in my book, Fortunate Cookie.
Here’s a short scene:
~~
Vernon lifted his cup. “There’s truth in that, my boy. Ah, here’s Cookie.”
Coffee order hovering on his lips, Tony rose and moved toward the counter. A young woman had bent behind the clear display case, placing cupcakes in precise rows on a colorful tray. “Uh, excuse me?”
“Yikes.” She jerked and stuck her thumb into the thick, creamy white icing on a dark cupcake. “Well, shi— shoot.”
“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I, uh…” Words failed him when she straightened and looked at him with wide, chocolate-brown eyes. Dark hair, tucked up in a messy bun, highlighted her fair complexion. The contrast was a study in perfection. She lifted her hand as if to brush back a stray hair but stared instead at her frosting covered finger.
He had the insane desire to pull that finger into his mouth and lick off every bit of sweetness.
Seeming to pull herself together, she pasted on a perfect customer service smile and reached for a towel. “Hi, welcome to Cookie’s Coffee & Cakes. What can I get for you?”
He couldn’t look away. Her soft gaze held him in thrall. He wanted nothing, nothing but… “Coffee.”
Her pasted-on smile softened to a true grin. “Plain or fancy?”
Regaining some semblance of composure, Tony gave his order in a well-practiced manner.
She turned without comment and started his drink. He hadn’t specified a size, so was filled with relief when she grabbed the largest cup. Rooted in place, he watched her economical movements. When she placed the coffee on the counter, he pointed to the ruined cupcake. “Since I caused that, I’ll take the cupcake, too.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. One of the tribulations of baking. It’s not the first time I’ve worn frosting. It won’t be the last.”
The suddenness of the vision filling his brain made him draw a sharp breath. This woman, wearing frosting. And nothing else. He gave his head a quick shake but couldn’t dislodge the thought from his brain—or his uncomfortably interested body. He cleared his throat. “Still, in this case, I’d love that cupcake for breakfast.”
~~
Fortunate Cookie
This woman. Wearing Frosting. And nothing else…
Cookie Lamont owns a successful cupcake shop in Spencer’s trendy tourist center. Life would be perfect if not for the escalating unwanted attention from a self-important town trustee. She has everything she needs—and a man is the last thing on her mind.
Until he walks into her shop.
Treehouse builder and TV personality Anthony Burnham returns to Spencer and finds focus building cabins for a new camp. His passion for treehouses is rekindled as a sweet, sexy new love blooms.
But the past haunts his steps and threatens his growing relationship with the alluring baker.
Get Fortunate Cookie here: https://books2read.com/fortunate-cookie
Check out the multi-author Aspen Gold Series at https://www.aspengoldseries.com/
About *lizzie starr
*lizzie always made up games and stories to keep her company. So, a cunning witch lived in Grampa’s weather research station and was only held at bay by waving a certain weed. An ancient road grader morphed into a boat carrying wild adventurers to islands filled with fierce lions and dangerous cannibals, which really looked a lot like sheep.
Now filled with fantasy, love, and romance with a sparkling twist, the stories of her imagination swirl their way into the mundane world.
*lizzie retired from her more routine life of being *the Lunch Lady* at a private school. According to the kids, she was ‘the best cooker!’ Yes, she misses the students and teachers, but is delighted now to start her days by telling stories rather than opening cases of chicken nuggets and counting milk cartons.
Her tag line of Author and lunch lady~~what a combination! no longer holds true (which makes her sad because she really liked that one).
Now you’ll know *lizzie by her tales of…
~~Romance with a sparkling twist~~
Want to keep up to date with all of *lizzie’s worlds? Sign up for her newsletter here! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o9q4q4
Follow *lizzie on social media
Website: www.lizziestarr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlizziestarr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlizziestarr/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/139855.Lizzie_Starr
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-starr
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/*lizzie-starr/e/B003F33Y0W
Who’s an author by any other name?
Hi! I’m LizAnne Axtel. One of the biggest adventures in an author’s life can be the creation of a pen name. Sometimes pen names are used to keep an author’s private life completely separate from their writing life. I’m not one of those authors so I like to keep my writerly names easy to remember, easy to sign in the front of a book, and easy to answer to in conversations.
When the other writerly me (*lizzie starr) decided to break into the steamy short story, insta-love market, she decided a new name was needed. Sometimes creating a new identity is easy. It was for *lizzie anyway.
LizAnne took a lot more thought.
After some unsuccessful experimentation with combinations of names, I settled on the nickname my aunts and uncles use. To make it a little different and hopefully visually unique, I put the two names together but still capitalized Anne. For the last name I chose a name drawn from family history. And LizAnne Axtel was born.
My first steamy short was part of a multi-author collaboration: Heart of a Wounded Hero. I’d had my story, Makin’ History in my mind for a long time and this series was the perfect place for it. Since then, I’ve added three more stories to my Turquoise Creek Ranch series, and there’s more to come. I’m working on one titled Makin’ Whoopie right now and hope to have it available early this fall.
Until then, here’s a little bit about the first of the series Makin’ History.
Find the fortune of your heart’s desire at Turquoise Creek Ranch
Makin’ History blurb:
A chance meeting with a sexy biker turns into a night of passion hotter than the summer sun. Will they make their own history… together?
Micah Taylor fought hard for his country and came home with the scars to prove it. He loved faithfully, but his wife defected to a more interesting man, leaving even deeper wounds. Unresolved guilt colors his thoughts and not even capturing the world with his camera calms his restlessness.
After dumping a man who expected her to pay his bills, Dilyn Cordova set out alone on what was supposed to be an inspirational, history-filled adventure. As the end of her vacation nears, she’s become disenchanted with her lonely travels.
A chance meeting with a sexy biker turns into a night of passion hotter than the summer sun. Even though there’s danger in falling for a man with a carefree spirit, she agrees to spend the next weekend with Micah. She’ll keep her heart safe from repeating her past mistakes.
Micah always fights hard for what he wants, and he wants her. Now and forever. Will pride, insecurities, and suspicions keep them from creating their own history–together?
A short excerpt:
Dilyn
With a slight limp, a lanky man crosses the room to sit at the counter. He lays a leather jacket on the stool next to him then leans forward to talk to the woman behind the counter. A broad, masculine back covered in worn cotton, his muscles bunch and relax with his movements. My lunch forgotten, I stare at the delightful eye candy, barely resisting the urge to fan myself. Has it just gotten hotter in here?
The waitress sets a large glass of iced tea before him. After taking a long swallow, he glances from side to side. With slow, casual ease, he turns on the stool, leans his elbows back on the counter and scans the room. I hold my breath, but his gaze passes over me. Disappointment settles low in my belly.
Just as slowly his gaze returns. Our eyes meet. He smiles.
Erotic recognition tingles over my skin. I want, no, I need to reach for him. To touch him. As he tilts his head to study me, I dig my fingers into the edge of the crackly seat cushion
Greedily I return his steady gaze, committing the angles of his face to memory. Dark brown hair just a tad longer than I normally like sweeps back from his face. A single silver stud glints in one earlobe. Parched, I fumble for my glass and take a drink, but the water does little to cool my reaction.
The buzz of conversation fades until there is only the two of us. Time slows. Stands still. I have no clue how long we stare at each other until he arches one eyebrow.
I swallow hard and holding his gaze, take another drink.
Heat flares in his light eyes. A tiny adjustment in his smile gives him a sexy, knowing smirk. He lifts his glass in a salute.
My face burns. My nipples tighten and I drop my gaze. Hunching my shoulders to lessen the teasing caress of my sundress, I squeeze my thighs together. Just one glance from him and I’m squirming. Wet.
I can’t help myself. I peek at him from under my lashes. He stands and leans over the counter to pay his bill. Slim hips. Firm ass covered in worn denim. I can’t stop staring. Wanting.
He grabs his leather jacket and swings it over one shoulder. Only bikers and crazy Goth teenagers wear leather in the heat of a Nebraska summer. I sigh. He’s definitely not a teenager. So, a biker. I’ve never been attracted to a biker.
Before he pushes open the door, he glances back—at me. He smiles. Growing need clenches deep and low in my body. Tendrils of lust curl through me. He tilts his head and I think, hope, pray he’s considering coming over to talk to me.
He blinks and the spell binding us is broken. Still, it takes a long time for him to reach for the door handle. Trapped in a sensual limbo, I struggle with common sense to keep from going after him.
He disappears through the door, and I take a shallow breath, imagining the scents of leather, of summer heat, and man. I close my eyes to savor the thrill.
Instead, my ex crowds into my thoughts. Aw hell, the perfect damper for my hormones’ wishful thinking. He would have made nasty comments about the café, the farmers. And the biker. Craig hadn’t cared about much of anything except himself or his so-called art projects. But until last spring, his warm body had been there for me.
Compared to the thrum still dancing along my skin from just a stranger’s smile, Craig hadn’t been all that great in the sex department either.
Once his wandering eye had settled on someone else, I moved my stuff to a tiny apartment. He’d called once. To demand I pay rent for the part of the month before I’d moved out. I refused. So, he blocked my calls and deleted himself from my social media. I didn’t even get to enjoy the tiny triumph of erasing him from my life.
Hopefully he and his new girlfriend enjoy the exclusive Caribbean vacation I’d planned and paid for before I caught him cheating. The cost of the tickets and hotel are worth getting rid of him. I straighten my back and stab a piece of chicken. I don’t need a man in my life. I’m perfectly capable of surviving on my own.
So, here I am. Alone. Taking a solitary trip along remote rural highways. Eating meals by myself and spending the nights wishing someone was lying beside me. At least I’ve got toys in my suitcase for relief. And tonight, a perfect, leather-clad fantasy.
My unruly thoughts drift to my mother. She’d always had a man, even when that man wasn’t a good choice for her. Or for me. I may have her penchant for attracting losers, but I’ll be damned if I follow in her footsteps. I will not be needy.
I turn my attention to my lunch. The lettuce in my salad is crisp, the diced chicken cooked perfectly. But it tastes like cardboard. I give up the pretense of eating to stare out the window. With the big truck gone, I can watch the man my body desires without anyone noticing.
He lays his jacket across the seat of a strange looking bike. Nothing like the Harleys or street bikes I recognize. This bike is turquoise and ivory, with shiny chrome and distressed brown leather. Like the rider, it’s sexy. Sexy? A motorcycle? What an odd thought. Maybe I’m projecting my appraisal of the man to his ride.
Animated, he speaks to a small cluster of children whose parents stand nearby trying to look like they aren’t interested when he gestures toward the bike. I haven’t even heard his voice, but I easily imagine the passion in his words.
Passion. I shift uncomfortably. After seeing him, I’m forced to admit I’m lonely. Big time. For a relationship. Hell, right now I’m ready for a one-night stand in a small-town motel.
The families wander away and my biker shrugs into his jacket. My biker. It feels right to think of him as mine. I pick up my water and press the cool glass to my cheek.
In a smooth, lithe movement he mounts his bike.
I nearly drop the glass. Water splashes everywhere. Shoving my journal out of the way, I pat at the wet spot on the table then use another napkin to dry my arm. An erotic picture forms in my mind as my biker settles into the vehicle’s saddle. Him, the same confidence, the same natural grace, as he rises over me. Settles in me.
He leans to one side adjusting something I can’t see, then sits for a moment with his helmet perched on the tank. He glances toward the café, and I feel an almost physical caress. No, I’m just imagining what I want to feel.
Muffled by the glass, the cycle roars to life. Disappointment, sharp and ragged slams into me. Fantasies have no place in my life. Besides, I’ll never see my biker again.
The thought hurts more than I expect.
~*~
Makin’ History is available to purchase or read on Kindle Unlimited https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3YZ6PYN
The Heart of the Wounded Hero series was created to pay tribute to and raise awareness of our wounded heroes. Each of the over eighty authors involved have contributed time, money, and stories to the cause. These love stories are inspiring and uplifting, showing the sacrifice of our veterans but also giving them the happily ever after they deserve.
By increasing awareness through our books, we believe we can in a small part help the wounded heroes that have sacrificed so much.
Authors of The Heart of a Wounded Hero series are proud supporters of Semper Fi & America’s Fund. To learn more about the Heart of a Wounded Hero series, check out the website at https://heartofawoundedhero.com/
Find LizAnne here:
Sign up for her newsletter for the free prequel to the Turquoise Creek Ranch series Makin’ A Scene. https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/p3u2m5
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What’s life without adventure (and no snow)? Meet Terry Segan!
PLEASE WELCOME Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend, TERRY SEGAN!!
Whenever anybody says the word ‘adventure,’ I’m ready to pack my bag. My two daughters credit me for many things I’ve passed on to them. One positive trait they both agree on is a wandering spirit. It’s no secret I love to travel and incorporate some of these travels into my books. Both girls have landed jobs that take them to several parts of the country, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
My most recent journey with my husband encompassed a long weekend via motorcycle. We traveled through the Nevada desert and up into the central coast of California, ending up just inland in Solvang. This area is ripe with wine tasting and winding roads. After a night there, we rode down the Pacific Coast Highway to Hermosa Beach, with a stop at Neptune’s Net—a must when traveling via motorcycle toward Malibu. The challenging part of our trip was the day we rode home to Las Vegas. We contended with pummeling wind upwards of forty miles per hour. Had we been on a lightweight bike or both petite people, we would’ve been blown all over the highway. Being on a thousand-pound bike, as well as having a bit of weight to my own ballast, I say ‘thank you’ to my ancestors for passing on that ample heritage.
Like Keira and Grayson, the main characters in my current release, adventure is an important element to life. While their travels take them to other points in time, the saying I’ve seen on many a bumper sticker still applies: It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Getting there is more than half the fun.
Blurb:
Keira longed to do something amazing with her life. When offered a chance to join a time travel program, she didn’t hesitate. With her soulmate by her side, nothing could be more perfect.
Grayson never believed happiness would find him until he met Keira. Lightning struck twice when both got accepted into The Jelly Bean Jump Project, a time travel experiment. Only a handful of applicants made the cut each year.
One of the requirements—no family ties. Keira and Grayson were alone in the world except for each other. An adventure of a lifetime awaited, until a glitch in the system threatened to tear them apart. Would they walk away from their fantasy or surrender their hearts in exchange?
Sneak Peek from The Jelly Bean Jump Project:
After picking up my tray, I searched for my boyfriend. He hadn’t arrived yet, so I took a seat next to my roommate, Sandra. I set my book on the chair to my right.
“Sometimes I feel like we’re in prison wearing these dang uniforms,” Sandra said.
“I must admit, I do miss my skirts and capris, and it’s only been a week! At least we don’t have to wear those nerdy boots like the security staff.” I sprinkled sugar over my cereal and mixed it in.
“Someone’s got a sweet tooth.” The chair beside me scraped back.
“Desmond, I’m saving that for Grayson.”
He tossed my book onto the table before placing his own tray down and sitting. “You two aren’t joined at the hip, you know. He can sit across from you.” His shoulder rubbed against mine. “Besides, why should he get all the attention from the best-looking doll here.”
I scooted closer to Sandra. “Do you mind? I’m eating.” While Desmond’s looks rivaled the most dashing actors in Hollywood, his arrogance raked through me like fingernails on a chalkboard. His relentless flirting repulsed me, especially because Grayson and I were obviously a couple.
“Good morning, ladies. Ready for another day of Time Travel 101?” Grayson plunked down across from me.
“I could do that stuff in my sleep. Why do we have to get stuck with an instructor who is such a snooze?” Desmond shoveled eggs into his mouth. “Sorry to take your seat, Gray. Keira insisted.” He nudged me with his elbow.
Before I could protest, Grayson jumped in. “Don’t worry about it, Des. From here I get to stare into those amazing blue eyes.” He kept his sight locked on my face.
A warm blush filled my cheeks. I looked down, batted my eyelashes, and giggled like a schoolgirl. “Why thank you, sir.”
“I don’t know whether to feel ill or jealous at the way you two fawn over each other,” Sandra said. Her comment had been directed at Grayson and me, but her gaze focused on Desmond.
Socials:
Website: https://terrysegan.com/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerrySegan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrysegan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeganTerry
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Terry-Segan/e/B087YQGXMD
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122817930-the-jelly-bean-jump-project
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Project-Beans-Spring-Things-ebook/dp/B0BVRW4H3Q
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jelly-bean-jump-project-terry-segan/1143069048
Bio:
Terry Segan, originally from Commack, NY, now resides in the desert where she’ll never require an ice scraper or snow shovel again. The beach is her happy place, but any opportunity to travel soothes her gypsy soul. The stories conjured by her imagination while riding backseat on her husband’s motorcycle can be found throughout the pages of her paranormal mysteries. Growing up immersed in sarcastic humor and science fiction movies, Terry’s goals are to cause her readers to laugh out loud, cry with joy, or cower under the covers wondering if the noise under the bed was real or imagined.
All About Charming Alice: A Blake’s Folly Romance
Please welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend J. Arlene Culiner!!
Romance is a dance, archaic and complicated, that has to be re-learned each time it appears. The first steps are awkward, tentative, then just when we gain a bit of confidence, we trip over our own feet, stumble, and sometimes come crashing to the floor. Oh, the misery — especially since this dance requires considerable elegance, high polish, and a promise of tenderness.
Romance isn’t polite. It’s an obsession that makes us rude to friends (think of canceled coffee dates), self-centered (we can’t talk about anything else), and narcissistic (we’re always looking for a mirror).
So it is in All About Charming Alice. Alice Treemont, an original but prickly character, lives in a semi-ghost town in the Nevada desert. She rescues dogs, studies and protects snakes. Jace Constant, a writer from Chicago, isn’t crazy about dogs or the Nevada desert. As for snakes… he’s terrified of them.
Neither Alice nor Jace are young; both have had relationships that fell apart, or grew dusty, or lacked long-term zing. Neither expects love when it comes galumphing over the horizon. But here it is, with all its doubts, hesitations, and misgivings…
And while Alice and Jace are taking those first tentative steps, the nosy, cranky folks in Blake’s Folly are watching from the sidelines: ageless, shapeless Ma and Pa Handy: beer-swilling Mick Fletcher; the lovely flirtatious Rose Badger; and Killer, the scruffy stray.
Blurb:
Trust in Love and Solutions will appear
Alice Treemont has no intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town, she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the most unloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests?
Jace Constant is in Nevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him.
So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too many compromises.
Excerpt from All About Charming Alice
Suddenly he rose to his feet and, in that languid way of his, crossed to the doorway where she stood. She was a tallish woman, but he towered over her. Casually, stretching out one arm, he rested his hand on the doorframe, a hair’s breadth above her head. He was close, so close. His body was supple, strong and—yes, she had to admit it—warm, fragrant. The heat of him reached her over the few inches separating them, and she ached to curve into it. Aura? This man was a flesh-and-blood heat wave.
The strange, tingling excitation was flowing through her again like thick port wine. She lowered her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze, although she knew he was, once again, examining her minutely.
“I want to take the room.”
“Look, you don’t need my room,” she said, desperation too evident in her tone. “There’s a perfectly reasonable motel the other side of the Winterback Mine, out in the direction of Logan. Actually, it’s far better equipped to take in tourists than anything you’ll find here in Blake’s Folly.”
“I know. Rider Motel. Air conditioning, cable TV, and right across from the Dew Drop Inn.” His smile was wry. “That’s exactly where I’ve been staying for the last three nights. And over and over during those three nights, I remembered Blake’s Folly and the Room to Rent sign on your wall. And the more I thought about it, the more appealing it got. There’s nothing worse than an impersonal motel room when you have to stay in an area for a while.” He let his eyes wander over the faded wooden framing, over the settee on the veranda. “Right here, it feels more like home.”
That wasn’t it, she knew. That wasn’t even part of the truth. He was back because something hot and wonderful shimmered between them. Did she fascinate him as much as he did her? Possibly. Although she hadn’t done anything to encourage him, not once. It would have been hard to find someone less friendly than she’d been.
Yet, there was something about him that touched her, something that had nothing to do with raw desire. Was it the warmth in his eyes? A quirk to his lips that promised humor and understanding? Or was it plain magic, the magic that happens when the right female meets the right male.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2VyHtsY7A
Buy Links: https://books2read.com/Charming-Alice
Author links: https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner
About the Author
Writer, photographer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and all weeds. She particularly enjoys incorporating into mysteries, non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with very odd characters.
Reviews
Gosh, I enjoyed reading this book immensely. The humor during Jace’s courtship of Alice and her self doubts often had me laughing out loud.
Diana Lanos, Smile Somebody Loves You
The perfect story for all the hopeless and hopeful romantics out there.
Lisa McCombs, Readers’ Favorite
The writing and dialogue is magical and masterful. The romance filled my heart with an emotional, heartfelt, dazzling experience. Enjoy!
Sheila Clapkin, author
A great cast in a wild place…what could go wrong?
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND ARLENE CULINER!!!!!
Thanks, Lyndi! I love writing about people who are different. Some are forced to adapt to new circumstances in order to survive, others are originals, folks who have never really fit into mainstream society. But no one is humdrum, and all have dreams.
So what do an embittered mail-order bride, an adventurer, a brothel madam, a silver baron/artist, a war refugee, a pacifist, a playboy veterinarian, and a woman who protects spiders all have in common? They get another chance to find love. And what better setting for romance than a semi-ghost town in Nevada?
A Room in Blake’s Folly begins in 1889 with the romance between Sookie Lacey, former prostitute now saloon dance girl, and Westley Cranston, adventurer. But love rarely follows a straight path. Times change, life goes on, new relationships form. By 2022, Blake’s Folly, once notorious for its saloons, brothels, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town of abandoned shacks and weedy dirt roads. But the old stories are still very present, and they have the power to influence the 53 remaining inhabitants.
A Room in Blake’s Folly
If only the walls could speak…
In one hundred and fifty years, Blake’s Folly, a silver boomtown notorious for its brothels, scarlet ladies, silver barons, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town. Although the old Mizpah Saloon is still in business, its upper floor is sheathed in dust. But in a room at a long corridor’s end, an adventurer, a beautiful dance girl, and a rejected wife were once caught in a love triangle, and their secret has touched three generations.
Bio
Writer, storyteller, photographer, and social critical artist, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.
Excerpt
“You a widow?”
“No.” She could hear the tightness in her voice and feel the tension in her shoulders.
His eyes glinted. “A runaway wife.”
“Not that either.” Did she have to say more? She didn’t. But since people were bound to be asking that same question over and over, she might as well get used to it, even though the answer was only partially true. Even though it could never express what her life had been like up until now. “I left of my own accord, but with my husband’s full agreement. He’ll be looking into getting a divorce.”
“And your children?”
Ah, there it was. The big question, the one thing everyone would be curious about. “No children. I’ve never had any.”
He said nothing. Had he heard the note of anger in her voice? She’d done her best to sound neutral, but neutrality wasn’t an easy note to hit. How vividly she remembered the first time she’d caught sight of her future husband, Sam Graham, waiting with a little knot of men by a shanty train station in the middle of nowhere. He and the others had been eager to grab a sight of their brides-to-be, women lured west by the promise of marriage, land, and a home. How had the other women fared? Had they been as discouraged as she at the sight of the vast lonely wasteland, the emptiness, the bleached-out colors, and the coarse men who would be their lifetime partners? Men honed by the elements, a hard life. And rough alcohol.
Westley Cranston stood, walked in her direction—no, walk wasn’t the word she could use. He sauntered, a slow, elegant saunter. A man sure of himself, of his power to seduce. Yes, that was why she’d felt so wary yesterday. He stopped when he was standing beside her. Smiled. No, there was nothing seductive in his smile. She’d been wrong. What had she been imagining? That she was still the young attractive woman she’d been years ago? What a fool she was.
He touched the top of the piano with a gesture that was almost a caress. “Don’t worry. You’ll do well. The boys you’ll be playing with are good musicians, nice guys, too. They play at all the dances in town, and they’ll teach you the sort of pieces folks out here are used to hearing.”
“Thank you.”
His eyebrows rose. “For what?”
“For being so kind.”
“Kind?” He guffawed. “It’s not kindness. I’m fighting for survival. High time we got a good piano player in this place. Bob, before he let that stray bullet hit him, knew how to slap at the keys, all right, but he didn’t know the first thing about keeping time. I’ll bet pretty well all the customers were happy to see him taken out of the running.” Grinning, he moved away in that casual easy way of his, headed toward the front door. Then stopped, looked back, his eyes twinkling. “But they couldn’t do that, not legally, anyway. One of the rules here in town forbids shooting pistols in a barroom.”
She grinned back at him. “Sounds like a pretty good rule to me. And what are the other rules, if you don’t mind me asking. If there are any others, that is…”
“Sure there are. Need plenty of rules in boomtowns, especially after payday. The other ones are, you can’t insult a woman, you can’t ride a pony or horse on the wooden sidewalks, and you can’t ride them inside this establishment or any other business in town.” He was chuckling again when he turned the lock, stepped out into the street, and disappeared.
Hattie remained seated at the piano. Her anguish had totally vanished. Amazing, how he had put her at ease. He hadn’t judged her, hadn’t looked at her with disgust when she’d told him some of her story, hadn’t condemned her for feeling unsure about her piano playing. She wondered why she’d felt so mistrustful. He had behaved like a perfect gentleman—and a friend.
Then another thought struck her. What had he been doing here in the Mizpah so early in the morning? Had he slept here? Obviously he had. Hadn’t he just let himself out? And that meant he had probably spent the night with one of the ladies upstairs. That he was a client.
Disappointment washed over her. She couldn’t condemn him—men had needs, desires. Why was she so saddened by the thought?
Review of A Room in Blake’s Folly
Rich detail and scintillating dialogue transport the reader through the decades between 1889 and 2022 of this surprising saga. With flowing descriptive phrases (“… the walls had a yellowish hue that only time could bring,”) Culiner effectively intertwines the characters and descendants of Blake’s Folly. And although overhunting and pollution mean environmental change, the charm of this old world community remains intact. Cheers for this book!
Lisa McCombs for Readers’ Favorite
Purchase Links
https://books2read.com/BlakesFollyRomance
Trailer
Author Website: http://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog: http://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Storytelling Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner Amazon Author Page : https://www.amazon.com/author/jarleneculiner-quirky-romances
Finding just what you need in unexpected places: Amber Cross
PLEASE WELCOME LYNDI’S ADVENTUROUS FRIEND AMBER CROSS!!
Nothing is as magical or transformative as love, especially when you’re not looking for it!
Like Roger and Lisa, I wasn’t expecting this romance. Roger was a minor character in Precedent for Passion-Glen’s older brother who ran the family’s dairy farm, and Lisa was a minor character in Tender Possession-the human resources director at the hospital where Emmeline worked. Then something happened while I was writing Open Door to Love. When Jonnie moved to Somerset, it was only natural that one of the first people she met was Lisa, who fills in for the town clerk when she needs a Saturday off. Lisa is friendly, and quirky, so the two of them hit it off and soon become best friends. Yet as I wrote that book, their friendship became more and more important and Lisa’s character took on greater depth until she was practically screaming, “Write my story!” So I did.
The next hurdle was, who is good enough for her?
Lisa is a happy, generous person who pretty much lights up the world around her. Yet she is physically limited due to spina bifida and almost forty years old, so she has resigned herself to being single.
She needed someone to appreciate her zest for life, someone who would look at her and see a woman, not a pair of crutches or a wheelchair.
Roger is a widower with two grown sons who enjoys sitting down at the end of the day with a good book and a glass of red wine. He enjoys weekly card parties and hockey games, and he isn’t looking for anything more.
Yes!
Sometimes when you’re not looking, you find exactly what you need.
Here’s an excerpt from their first meeting:
Roger Plankey was man enough to admit he looked over his shoulder before ducking inside the Somerset town offices on Saturday morning. He wasn’t normally paranoid but after three weeks of being pursued by a reality show contestant bent on claiming him for herself, he wasn’t taking any chances.
“If you’re running from the law, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Turning, he saw a woman leaning out of the town clerk’s service window, pointing to the police department across the hall. She wore a black felt witch’s hat and orange pumpkins dangled from her ears, as brilliant as the smile on her face.
Well, well, well.
“It’s not the cops I need,” he admitted, approaching the window and thrusting his hand out in greeting. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Roger Plankey.”
“Lisa Kirkpatrick.”
Her skin was soft against his work-roughened palm, her beautifully manicured nails a sharp contrast to his blunt-tipped square fingers. Halloween decorations sparkled on the black painted ovals, but nothing shone from her left ring finger. He checked.
“Are you new here, Lisa?”
“I’m the deputy clerk. I work when Maisie needs a day off.”
“Ahh, that would explain why we haven’t met before.” Reluctantly taking his hand back, he retrieved paperwork from the inside pocket of his canvas barn jacket. “I’ve got a bunch of vehicles to register.” He passed the documents through the window, letting his gaze wander over her pretty face while she scanned them. Brown hair curled against the brim of her witch’s hat and caressed the nape of her neck. Thick eyelashes feathered high apple cheeks and when they lifted, her hazel eyes reminded him of spring rain on the meadow.
When the reality show contestant finds him and he avoids her interest by saying he has a date with Lisa, she is surprised but plays along. Not for a minute does she expect him to be serious. But Roger appreciates a woman with character, and he’s intrigued by more than just a pretty face.
Ardell whistled. “Close call.”
“You’re telling me.” He shuddered dramatically and she laughed. “I think you were trying to ask me something before we got interrupted?”
“Oh, yeah.” A phone rang inside the selectmen’s office and she started down the hall to answer it, saying over her shoulder, “Card party starts tonight. You in?”
“Well, that depends on my date. Whadya say, Lisa?”
“You don’t have to pretend now.” She slid a pen and forms from the printer across the shelf for him to sign. “I’m pretty sure she left the parking lot.”
“Who’s pretending?” After adding his John Hancock in all the right places, he pulled his wallet from his back pocket and extracted a number of bills to cover the cost. “I’m asking you out on a date. Dinner and some kitty whist. Can I pick you up at six o’clock?”
She didn’t answer him. Instead, she handed over his change and renewal paperwork before pushing away from the ledge on her side of the window. Holding her hands out at her sides as if she was a game show hostess displaying a prize. Only she was showing him the wheelchair she sat in, hidden from his view until now. He could tell this wasn’t the first time she introduced herself this way, and he wondered just how many douchebags had turned her down because of it.
He wasn’t a douchebag and she wasn’t getting out of a date that easily. “Don’t think I’m taking my invitation back just because you’re a little heavier to pick up than the average gal.”
These two are a fun couple. Their challenges are very real, their interactions honest, their love exceptional. I hope you’ll join them on their journey and read A Full-Bodied Love.
STORY: Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she’s not stupid. If this guy needs a date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It’s not as if handsome men are lining up to ask her out. Sure, they know there’s a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there’s a WOMAN in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight-shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick?
Roger Plankey thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk’s office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?
Author Bio:
Amber Cross was raised on a family farm in New England, one of a dozen siblings, each one inspiring her writing in some way. She still lives in that same small town with her husband and the youngest of their five children. She loves spending time in the woods, in the water, and watching people because every one of them has a unique and fascinating story to tell.
Social Media/Links:
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberCross
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_amber_cross/
Website: https://www.amber-cross.com
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-full-bodied-love-amber-cross/1141022858
Where do story ideas come from?
To answer this question, please welcome Lyndi’s Adventurous Friend Terry Segan!!
Terry: That’s the most common question I’m asked when I tell people about my books. My favorite thing to do (besides writing, of course) is travel. It can be a day trip, a weekend away or longer, but I love to explore new places as well as re-visit old ones.
Much of my stories are inspired by locations I’ve visited, though I can’t always tell you where my characters come from. Some scurry out of the dark corners of my mind. Others present themselves in the form of people I know or strangers who have inspired me to adopt their quirks.
Where does the adventure part come in? The travel itself! Many of the trips I go on involve riding backseat on my husband’s motorcycle. While he navigates twisty roads, highways, and traffic, my mind is busy spinning up chapters or working out scenes for my current project. We can ride for hours without saying a word to each other. Our rides have taken us through the deserts of Nevada, along the beaches of the California coast, and through the forests and shorelines of the Pacific Northwest.
My current book, Precious Treasure, releasing March 9, takes place on Long Island, where I grew up. The towns are fictitious, but the landscape is spot on with real places I knew as a child or discovered as an adult. In other projects, I’ve incorporated experiences from trips with friends. No matter where I travel or whom I’m with, there is always a wealth of settings and characters that get melded into my next book.
Where to next?
Blurb:
Janie Holcomb prays for closure once the courts declare her missing husband dead. Instead, she’s sent spiraling down a dangerous path.
When her lawyer delivers a package held in trust, she finds a cryptic warning along with a Civil War journal promising buried treasure. While seeking a connection between her spouse and the decades-old diary, Janie attracts the spirit of a Confederate soldier pleading for help.
Enlisting her brother’s assistance to chase down clues, they discover that not everyone they know should be trusted. Janie overlooks potential threats when the promise of new love stirs her emotions. Will her digging uncover the answers she craves or doom her to a similar fate?
Sneak Peek from Precious Treasure:
Janie dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom. Turning on the tap to fill the sink, she bent over and splashed cold water on her face. The refreshing drops rolled down her forehead, cheeks and chin, pulling her out of her funk. Sightless, Janie reached for the hand towel hanging nearby and dried her face as she stood upright. Opening her eyes, she leaned in to examine the damage of the late night on her complexion. Her reflection looked back, as well as that of a young man standing behind her. Janie’s heart leapt to her throat as she whipped around and found no one there. Looking back in the mirror, she saw only herself.
This is too much, she thought. First nightmares and now hallucinations. Janie shook her head. With the assault of information thrown at her in the last twenty-four hours, her imagination cartwheeled out of control.
Knowing the visions were a result of the wine, newspaper articles and journal, didn’t calm the raised hackles on the back of her neck. The foreboding in Brian’s letter snaked its way up her spine threatening to encircle her throat and squeeze tight. His writing had a tone of uncertainty and fear—uncharacteristic of the man she had married.
Author: Terry Segan
Precious Treasure: A paranormal mystery with a touch of romance
Bio:
Terry Segan resides in Nevada. The beach is her happy place, but any opportunity to travel soothes her gypsy soul. The stories conjured by her imagination while riding backseat on her husband’s motorcycle can be found throughout the pages of her paranormal mysteries.
Lyndi Alexander's worlds of fancy 