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2014 Blog Year in Review and Calisa Rhose’s 2nd annual COMMENT TO WIN! contest #MFRWAuthor #contest #justcomment

Osiyo~ Cherokee for “Hello”

Another year has passed. Really?! Where did it go, I ask you? I’m sitting here wondering where in the world it went. That old adage Time Flies is so true for me this year! 😆

Some of you may remember I posted a contest last year, that you can review here:

https://calisarhose.com/2014/01/01/2013-in-review-and-a-fun-new-contest2013-in-review-or-how-i-roll/

Basically the contest rules stated that I will award gifts for the most commented on post in 2014 and the five top commenters on posts for the year, all winners determined according to the following WordPress annual report. Unexpectedly, it was my own Writing Plan For 2014-15 post the first week of January (here: https://calisarhose.com/2014/01/07/my-writing-plan-for-2014-2015-by-calisa-rhose/ ) that got the most comments this year…and I can give myself anything, any time–so it won’t count in the contest. LOL Because of this, I will gift the most commented on guest post author instead. 😀

Read on to see who WP monkeys and I have chosen for the winners’ circle in 2014!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,900 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

The most comments on a blog award goes to my guest and her post on January 23. This post follows several of my own with higher numbers, but which also don’t count. You can view her great post here: https://calisarhose.com/2014/01/23/calisa-rhose-presents-jm-stewart-with-her-knight-in-shining-leather

†With 19 total comments, JM Stewart’s talent for being an exemplary guest and an awesome comment responder is what made her my 2014 guest post winner.

The five super supporters for over all comments, chosen by WP monkeys this year are:

†1. Mae Clair – Rockin’ it with 23 comments

†2. Gemma Brocato – 15

†3. Alicia Dean – 13

†4. Jessi Gage – 12

†5. Cd Brennan – 10

Congratulations to all six of my winners!!! Here’s your rose wreath!

If you ladies will email me from here https://calisarhose.com/say-hey with your snail mail addresses I’ll get your prizes out to you by the end of February.

I have to admit the low numbers on all posts and lack of guest or personal posts is my fault this year. Many of you know I was forced to take three months off from anything writing related, which affected my blog, as well, unfortunately. I had also said I would post reminders throughout the year, which I failed to remember myself to do. 😦 My apologies for slipping.

This all just goes to prove a point though. We all know we can’t control how many views or comments any given post will get, or we’d top the charts each and every time we blogged. Right? Or can we?

We have to blog (whether personally or by inviting guests) to keep our names out there constantly. We have to visit other blogs as guests or commenters to keep our names/faces in those bloggers’ and commenters views so they will in turn visit our blog, and therefore, hopefully, comment. We HAVE to respond to commenters on our own/guests posts and interact with all who take even a nano second to say ‘hi’ to us, or our guests. If we don’t have time for visitors and other bloggers, how can we expect that same turn around for ourselves?

I guess, in a way, this year was a good, if unplanned, experiment. I involuntarily dropped my own activity on my and others’ blogs when I suffered a short burnout this summer, and look how the numbers dropped from last year. Take special notice of the “Attractions in 2013” and “Who Were They” sections comment numbers (the winners) compared to this year (the winners above).

https://calisarhose.com/2013/annual-report

So I want to thank these six for sticking by me the most during the low times and the high ones. Two of my winners were also on last year’s list! Congrats to Mae and Alicia aka Ally Robertson for your awesome support! I love and appreciate you all!!!!!! 😀

And now- we begin again for 2015! Who will be my winners next year? All you have to do is comment your fingers off all through the year so WordPress’s helper monkeys will notice you! Start with a comment today, this week, this year on this post! On past posts too, on any or ALL posts!!!!!!!!

JUST COMMENT TO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Good luck to everyone who chooses to play the 2015 Comment Contest! 🙂**

Click image to visit the Timberlake Rose Rock Museum where I get my rocks. While there you can learn more about the rocks and the husband-wife sculptors who create these beauties. Beware- the store link doesn’t work, but I will go by and let the owners know as soon as I can.

I expect to keep up better myself this year and to actually post reminders at least quarterly throughout 2015. Later, maybe midyear, I’ll post a picture of the goodies I’ll offer this year’s winners’. They will include, among other items, my author-brand Oklahoma Rose Rock like this one (r) from my personal collection. They stand no more than two inches tall and are positively gorgeous!

**How did I do with my writing goals in 2014? What will I do different this next year? Look for my new “2015 Writing Goals” post coming soon!

Dodadagohvi~ Cherokee for “Until we meet again”

†Frame of Roses image around winners’ pics courtesy of Teeratas at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in awards, Blogs, Contests, inspirations, Life As We Know It, Pen of the Dreamer

9 Comments

Tags: 2014, 2015, Alicia Dean, Calisa Rhose, Cd Brennan, Comment to Win Contest, Frame of Roses image around winners' pics courtesy of Teeratas at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Roses frame- Teeratas, Gemma Brocato, giveaway, Jessi Gage, JM Stewart, Mae Clair, Pen of the Dreamer, winners

Calisa Rhose and Tuesday Roundup presents ~ by Gemma Brocato

Nov 11

Posted by Calisa Rhose

Osiyo~

Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.

I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented friend and sister Lyrical-Kensington author today. Gemma Brocato is sharing her book Exposed To Passion with us!

Please show Gemma some real Ranch love!

Before I get too nosy, tell us a bit about you.

Oh gosh, there’s not much to tell. I’ve always been an avid reader and used to think some day I’d like to write a book. I even purchased a word-processing typewriter when my children were little, thinking I might start then. But the kids took priority, so I waited until they were in high school to even try. Since then, I’ve started and not finished three novels, but more importantly, I’ve finished and published four. I live in Kansas City, root for the Royals and Sporting KC and have finally quit my part-time job in favor of writing full-time. Oh, I also hate yard work.

Yard work is the pits! lol Okay, I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones.

My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?

My writing space varies by season. Usually in the summer months I like to write at my kitchen counter. The area is sunny and bright and I love the light in the space. In the winter, I favor my upstairs office. The leaves are off the trees, so it’s sunny that time of year (I like sunshine). Plus, there is a fireplace that turns on with the flip of a switch. The only exception to the seasons thing is when I near the end of the book. I seem to write every ending sitting in a corner on my couch.

For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?

The character names come pretty naturally. They seemed to be whispered in my ear and then I’m stuck with them. The title never comes so easily. The entire time I worked on Exposed To Passion, it was named Light and Shadow.

What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?

I’d encourage them to take as many craft classes as they can and internalize the information. It will come in handy throughout their writing careers. I’d also tell them it’s a marathon, not a sprint. This applies to writing, finding a publisher and then finding success as a published author.

That’s great advice, Gemma. The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?

Perseverance and the ability to think quickly. Being able to focus on your writing during times of flux is important too. Keep writing, because things will change again in five minutes.

That must be my problem…slow thinking. LOL Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?

Louisa May Alcott. Little Women is the first full-length novel I remember reading. I fell in love with Laurie (he was my first book boyfriend). I’d like to thank her.

It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆

Favorite animal? Dog

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall

Favorite food? Chicken and Dumplings

I love chicken and dumplings! Well done! 🙂

Okay, Flash four. Ready?

What are you working on now?

I’m finishing up book 4 in the Five Senses Series and I’ve just begun a new project for NaNoWriMo. This one is based in a chocolate shop.

Ooh wonderful! What are you sharing today?

Exposed to Passion.

They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together?

Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair.

When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s determined to ruin him. Not only does she doctor photos to make it look like Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter, Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white necessity of clearing Sam’s name.

***

Excerpt:

“Holy cow! Consider me seduced.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. Desire rasped through it, whispery and thick at the same time. Allowing her finger to slip from the steamy confines of his mouth, he pressed a kiss to her palm, then released his hold. She curled her hand into a fist around the kiss he’d left, hoping to hold onto the heat and lingering sensation.

“Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. It was too fast, wasn’t it? I mean, we only just met…but I thought, I mean, you seemed to want…and you didn’t say no. Christ, I’m so sorry.” Sam’s tone rattled with a misplaced apology. “I have no excuse. I’m a horndog.”

He eased her away from his chest and helped her to sit up, then pushed himself upright and scooted a respectful distance from her.

The apology in his tone and the loss of his body heat hit her like a cold slap. His words stung. He regretted kissing her. The tingly pulses zipping from her fingertip to her heart did nothing to tamp down the hurt. She hadn’t wanted him to stop. Normally the queen of snarky retorts, words failed her now.

***

Where can we find you and your books?

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Exposed-Passion-Senses-Gemma-Brocato-ebook/dp/B00MMMGY18

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exposed-to-passion-gemma-brocato/1120138660?ean=9781616506162

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/exposed-to-passion/id908402553?mt=11&uo=4

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hearts-in-harmony-1

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/exposed-to-passion

Kensington: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30951?category=313085

Social Media Links:

www.Gemmabrocato.com

https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato

https://twitter.com/GemmaBrocato

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7229886.Gemma_Brocato

http://www.wattpad.com/user/GemmaBrocato

https://plus.google.com/+GemmaBrocato/posts

Also By Gemma Brocato:

Cooking Up Love

Hearts In Harmony

A Winter Wedding

Where will you be next?

Tomorrow I’ll be visiting with Juliette Cross. Her novel, Soulfire, from Lyrical Press released the same day as Exposed To Passion. You can find me here: http://www.juliettecross.com/blog

Conversation starter – Now, I’ve told you about the book that inspired my interest in romance novels. Will you share your with me?

Rafflecopter Giveaway for one US Winner Only.

One Digital Copy of Exposed To Passion, One Leather Brighton London Flat Pouch, Assorted Picture Frames, $25 Amazon Gift Card, $15 Starbucks Gift Card. For one US Winner only. Prize package valued at $185.00

Runs 10/20/2014 – 11/20/2104

Click this link for A Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for playing along Gemma! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Tour, guest blogging, Interview, Pen of the Dreamer, Tuesday Round Up

6 Comments

Tags: Calisa Rhose, contemporary romance, Exposed to Passion, Gemma Brocato, giveaway, Pen of the Dreamer, Writing

Calisa Rhose presents ~ UnCover Monday ~ October #MFRWAuthor #CoverReveals

Oct 6

Posted by Calisa Rhose

UnCover Mondays on The Ranch!!!

Hey-Ho cover oglers! To satisfy your stare reflex urges–here’s October’s awesome cover art and the super authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze upon this month. It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you like (or don’t like) about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi. Don’t forget to tell your friends to stop by so they can appreciate some greatness too!

UnCover Mondays on The Ranch!!! This feature is only to highlight the authors (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this months’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, or if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers. I think they deserve fair mention since they helped create the book! As always, click the covers for author websites to find out more. I wish everyone a fabulous new year in 2014!

I’ve added a heat level rating for covers, one through five scale, for your benefit. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers revealed here, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can leave it either in a comment or by my contact page https://calisarhose.com/say-hey/ with what you’d like to know. 🙂

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Title: Ascension- The Demon Hunters, #1

Author: A.S. Fenichel

Weblink: www.asfenichel.net

Genre: Historical/Paranormal

Heat Level:

Publisher: Lyrical Press/Kensington Books

Cover artist: April Martinez

Release date: October 6, 2014

When demons threaten London, Lady Belinda answers the call.

Lord Gabriel Thurston returns home from war to find his fiancée is not the sweet young girl he left behind. She’s grown into a mysterious woman who guards her dark secrets well. When he sees her sneaking away from a ball, he’s convinced it’s for a lover’s rendezvous. Following her to London’s slums, Gabriel watches in horror as his fiancée ruthlessly slays a man.

Lady Belinda Carlisle’s only concern was her dress for the next ball—until demons nearly killed her and changed everything. A lady by day, and a demon hunter by night, she knows where her duty lies. Ending her betrothal is the best way to protect Gabriel from death by a demon’s hand.

Gabriel soon realizes, like him, Belinda has been fighting for her country. He joins in the fight, determined to show her that their love can endure, stronger than ever.

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Title: Cherished Moments

Author: Mickie Sherwood

Weblink: www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 1 – Sweet

Publisher: Topaz Publishing

Cover artist: Dawne Dominque

Release date: April 18, 2014

Senator Jordan Dupré is reluctant to revisit her past. That thought crumbles at the sight of Deacon Burke. His commanding presence and charming smile transports her back to her youth. Back then, she kissed, loved, lied, and left him—taking a life-changing secret with her.

Scorned by Jordan’s dishonesty, Deke swears he never wants to see her lying face again. However, his heart knows better, and he never stops thinking of her. When Jordan’s husband is killed, Deke is summoned to the Senator’s aid, by an unlikely source—Unfortunately, he brings a secret of his own.

Will secrets from their past reignite their cherished moments?

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Title: Cowboy Up

Author: Boxed Set-Allison Merritt,

Vickie Taylor, Leslie Garcia,

Melissa Keir, Autumn Piper,

Sara Walter Ellwood, D’Ann Lindun

Weblink: www.facebook.com/cowboyupboxedset

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Heat Level: 2-3- sensual-steamy

Publisher: The authors

Cover artist: Hot Damn Designs

Release date: September 8, 2014

Seven men as tough as the west… Seven women who know how to COWBOY UP.

Always, Cowboy by Allison Merritt—The past is better left behind, unless it offers a brighter future.

Cowboys Don’t Cry by Vicki Taylor—A broken cowboy with nothing left to lose…except his heart.

A Cowboy’s Heart by Leslie Garcia—Teenage lovers torn apart by betrayal. Have seventeen years changed everything—or nothing?

The Heartsong Cowboy by Melissa Keir—Can two people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl?

Cowboy Trouble by Autumn Piper—She’s decided to make some bad choices this weekend.

Chasing a Cowboy by Sara Walter Ellwood—He’s running from heartbreak. She’s chasing after love… Their hearts will never be the same.

Cowboy Bred, Cowboy Born by D’Ann Lindun—Freedom or family? Only love can make the choice.

*A boxed set of seven romantic novellas by seven award-winning authors experienced with writing about the men of the West.

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Title: Exposed To Passion, The Five Senses Series, Book #3

Author: Gemma Brocato

Weblink: www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato?ref=hl

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Level: 3-Steamy

Publisher: Kensington/Lyrical Press

Cover artist: Renee Rocco

Release date: October 20, 2014

They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together?

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Title: Highlander’s Charm

Author: Joanne Wadsworth

Weblink: www.joannewadsworth.com/

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: 3- steamy

Cover Artist: Joanne Wadsworth

Release Date: September 22, 2014

Traveling through time…for a Highlander.

Lila MacIan makes a wish upon a sixteenth century charm gifted to her by her missing grandmother, a wish that sends her traveling back into the past and to a warrior her charm has bound her to. With a vicious feud raging between the clans, she withholds her true identity from him, except he’s seen her grandmother and now she must do whatever it takes to find her.

Highland warrior Calum MacLean is bound to a woman who holds an identical charm to his. Visions assail him, of the two of them intimately together, and as Lila escapes him for the enemy’s land, his soul demands he protect and aid her.

Once Lila is reunited with her grandmother, she discovers she was born in the past to the MacIan laird, Calum’s arch enemy. Can she find a way to save the man her soul cries out for…set her past to rights and remain in her true time?

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Title: Must Love Breeches, Must Love Series, #1

Author: Angela Quarles

Weblink: www.angelaquarles.com/

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Heat Level: 3-steamy

Publisher: Angela Quarles

Cover artist: Kim Killion

Release date: September 3, 2014

She’s finally met the man of her dreams. There’s only one problem: he lives in a different century.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU TRAVEL FOR LOVE?

A mysterious artifact zaps Isabelle Rochon to pre-Victorian England, but before she understands the card case’s significance a thief steals it. Now she must find the artifact, navigate the pitfalls of a stiffly polite London, keep her time-traveling origins a secret, and resist her growing attraction to Lord Montagu, the Vicious Viscount so hot, he curls her toes.

To Lord Montagu nothing makes more sense than keeping his distance from the strange but lovely Colonial. However, when his scheme for revenge reaches a stalemate, he convinces Isabelle to masquerade as his fiancée. What he did not bargain on is being drawn to her intellectually as well as physically.

Lord Montagu’s now constant presence overthrows her equilibrium and her common sense. Isabelle thought all she wanted was to return home, but as passion flares between them, she must decide when her true home—as well as her heart—lies.

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Title: My Name Is A’yen, A’yen’s Legacy, #1

Author: Rachel Leigh Smith

Weblink: www.rachelleighsmith.com

Genre: Scifi romance

Heat Level: 2-sensual

Publisher: Rachel L. Smith

Cover artist: Laura Gordon

Release date: September 12, 2014

They’ve taken everything from him. Except his name.

The Loks Mé have been slaves for so long, freedom is a distant myth A’yen Mesu no longer believes. A year in holding, because of his master’s murder, has sucked the life from him. Archaeologist Farran Hart buys him to protect her on an expedition to the Rim, the last unexplored quadrant.

Farran believes the Loks Mé once lived on the Rim and is determined to prove it. And win A’yen’s trust. But she’s a breeder’s daughter and can’t be trusted.

Hidden rooms, information caches and messages from a long-dead king change A’yen’s mind about her importance. When she’s threatened he offers himself in exchange, and lands on the Association’s radar. The truth must be told. Even if it costs him his heart.

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Title: The Marquesa’s Necklace, Oak Grove Mysteries I

Author: P.J. MacLayne

Weblink: www.pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Heat Level: 2 flames

Publisher: P.J. MacLayne.

Cover artist: K.M. Guth

Release date: July 1, 2014

Harmony Duprie enjoyed her well-ordered life in the quiet little town of Oak Grove—until her arrest for drug trafficking. Cleared of all charges, she wants nothing more than to return to the uneventful lifestyle of a historical researcher she once savored.

But when her beloved old car “George” is stolen and explodes into a ball of flames, it sets off a series of events that throws her plans into turmoil. Toss in a police detective that may or may not be interested in her, an attractive but mysterious stranger on her trail, and an ex-boyfriend doing time, and Harmony’s life freefalls into a downward spiral of chaos.

Now she has to use her research skills to figure out who is behind the sinister incidents plaguing her, and why. And she better take it seriously, like her life depends upon finding the right answers.

Because it might.

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Title: Undiscovered Angel, Earthbound, #1

Author: Sharon Saracino

Weblink: www.sharonsaracino.com

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Level: 3-4- steamy/hot

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover artist: Tamra Westbury

Release date: August 22, 2014

Empath Katrina Shepard spends most of her time alone, preferring solitude to the constant press of the pain and emotion of others. When she meets publishing tycoon Kassian McAllister at a party she finds herself intrigued. He is the first man she can’t read. Maybe she isn’t the only one with strange psychic powers. An Earthbound Angel, Kassian has spent the better part of a century hunting Jack the Ripper. His personal quest for vengeance has locked his heart and emotions behind a tightly guarded door. But Kat reawakens the emotions he thought long dead. As they grow closer they both learn truths about themselves and see a chance for love. But Jack the Ripper still roams the Earth and Kat has become the ideal target. Will Kassian finally have his revenge or will he lose yet another woman he loves?

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Title: Willow Smoke, Riders Up, #3

Author: Adriana Kraft

Weblink: www.adrianakraft.com

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heat Level: 3-steamy flames

Publisher: B&B Publishing

Cover artist: Rebecca Poole

Release date: September 1, 2014

When the chips are down, there’s nobody there.

Willowy blond Daisy Matthews has survived the Chicago streets with this mantra but is unprepared for the much older Nick Underwood’s urgent pursuit. The wealthy businessman receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt and is thrust into Daisy’s world. She teaches him about horse racing; he teaches her about love. When Daisy’s seamy brother-in-law threatens Nick’s safety, she doggedly tries to stop him by herself, but flees to the familiar streets when he attacks. Can Nick find her in time – and if he does, will she still want him?

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I want to thank all the authors who submit and make this a special place to share their work!

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To see YOUR cover here visit my UnCover Monday page for detailed instructions.

† Special Note: Some covers might suggest more heat than the actual content of that book. Because of this I am adding heat levels to this feature so there isn’t any mixup. The covers on this feature are NOT those of any erotic/a books. Those in question will have this symbol (†) next to the heat rating.

Posted in Book Covers, Branding, Cover artists, inspirations, Marketing, Pen of the Dreamer, Promotion, Publishers, UnCover Mondays

16 Comments

Tags: A.S. Fenichel, Adriana Kraft, Allison Merritt, Angela Quarles, Ascension, Autumn Piper, boxed set, Calisa Rhose, Cherished Moments, Cowboy Up, D'Ann Lindun, Exposed to Passion, Gemma Brocato, Highlander's Charm, Joanne wadsworth, Leslie Garcia, Melissa Keir, Mickie Sherwood, Must Love Breeches, My Name Is A’yen, P.J. MacLayne, Pen of the Dreamer, Rachel Leigh Smith, Sara Walter Ellwood, Sharon Saracino, The Marquesa's Necklace, UnCover Mondays, Undiscovered Angel, Vickie Taylor, Willow Smoke, Writing

Calisa Rhose presents ~ Hearts in Harmony by Gemma Brocato #coverreveal #preorder

Osiyo~
I can’t express how thrilled I am to have my Lyrical sister and friend, Gemma Brocato on the ranch today to share her super new book cover with us! It’s for book two, so you know what that means. Yep, more to follow! If I’m lucky Gemma will agree to let me showcase all as they publish. 🙂 So, here ya go,

(more…)

Posted on 03/27/2014 | Aside

Calisa Rhose is Cooking Up Love with Gemma Brocato

Jan 14

Posted by Calisa Rhose

Osiyo~

Welcome my first guest of the new year! Gemma Brocato is a sister Lyrical-turned-Kensington author here to share her debut book. I can’t wait to read it. 🙂

Take it away, Gemma!

Hi Calisa!

Thanks for having me over today and introducing me to your readers.

Here’s a little fact about myself… I love to travel. I live to discover new and exciting places. Frequently, my discovery of new places occurs because I want to explorie old places. Like the castles and keeps I dragged my husband to in England. I was on a quest to spend weekends visiting all the Tudor castles while we lived there. Mr. Gemma finally had to put his foot down and insist he wasn’t going to another heap of smelly stones. One year, I dragged my husband and children to Vermont, in search of Larry, Darrell and Darrell. We never found them, but I developed a love of the Northeast and the Eastern Seaboard while I was there.

The setting for Cooking Up Love came from a trip I took to Boston with my high school choir. That city was fascinating to my impressionable young self. The historical sites and beautiful architecture, the exceptional restaurants, the old churches, even the feel of community I sensed there.

When I started to write my story, I wanted a place that reflected Boston’s history, but still embodied the small town camaraderie I’d known growing up in the Midwest. So I created Granite Pointe, a tourist hamlet my heroine, Jemima George, decides to move to after inheriting a café located there. Building the world of the town, and its citizens included drawing a mental map of the harbor, the main street, and throwing in a high school. I further developed the town while writing Hearts In Harmony, book 2 in the series, to include a farmer’s market and a Christmas Tree Farm. Book 3, which I’m working on now, has a lovely new park and a seaside museum.

I think the best part of Granite Pointe is its residents. The people Jem George meets while settling into her new surrounding made the town a home she comes to love. I tell my children home is wherever your family is and I made the citizens of Granite Pointe Jem’s family. My imagination continues to build a solid, warm community that welcomes guests and new residents. I think I could easily move to Granite Pointe.

Book Title: Cooking Up Love

Author: Gemma Brocato

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press

ISBN-10: 1616504277

ISBN-13: 978-16165-4272

Blurb

Mix a chef and her contractor, stir in a mystery, and cook up a romance.

Jemima George leads a charmed life as a personal chef and assistant to reality television’s latest darling. But that changes in a New York minute when her Aunt Caro dies under odd circumstances, bequeathing her a small restaurant. Jem plans to sell the café and continue her life in NYC, until a dramatic phone call from her cheating boyfriend convinces her to experiment with the ingredients for happiness and accept her Aunt’s legacy. Throwing herself into remodeling the restaurant with the help of the town’s delicious contractor, Jem revamps the menu and renews her faith in herself.

Jack Kerrigan considered Caro a surrogate mother and hates the idea that the café could be sold. He doesn’t need the remodeling project, but if it means Caro’s beautiful, fascinating niece will stay to run the restaurant, he’s all in. He wouldn’t mind being savory to Jem’s sweet.

Jack’s brassy ex-wife is cooking up a scheme of her own, where Jack tosses Jem like a salad and comes back to her. Fold in a creepy attorney hiding secrets of environmental mayhem, add Jem’s claustrophobia, half-pint niece and nephew twins, one mysterious lockbox, and bring to a boil–a recipe for romance.

Excerpt

His sexy baritone voice breezed up her spine and her breath stuttered as his warm hand wrapped around hers.

Oh, no. She was in trouble. Standing this close to him, he even smelled like a hot guy, fresh, outdoorsy, a hint of distinctive male. He had great hands. Narrow wrists, long, elegant fingers, calloused enough, making her imagine how they’d rasp as they trailed along her flesh. She had always been a sucker for a long-fingered man.

Time to put the brakes on those ideas. His gaze roved over her body, not hiding the fact that he was checking her out. Heat bloomed in her cheeks and she mentally shook her head to clear the fireworks going off in her imagination when she caught sight of deep dimples bracketing either side of his full, smiling lips and even white teeth. Oh good

Lord, why’d he have to have dimples?

When his gaze made the journey back to hers, she looked pointedly at her hand, still clasped in his. His look was almost apologetic as he released his grip.

***

Author Bio

About Gemma Brocato

Gemma’s favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a ’round tuit,’ and a fortune from a fortune cookie that said she was a lover of words; some day she’d write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss even the rejections, addressed to ‘Dear Author’, were gratifying.

After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.

Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.

Gemma loves to connect with readers. This is where you can find her:

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato

Twitter, @gemmabrocato or on the web at www.Gemmabrocato.com

Buy Links

Due to the recent acquisition of Lyrical Press by Kensington books, my debut novel, Cooking Up Love is temporarily off the market. But not to worry – it will be back soon. In the meantime, I have some print copies of the book I’d love to give away (A US winner only, please). Leave a comment below to enter a drawing for a signed copy.

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Love-Gemma-Brocato-ebook/dp/B00G36CD0K/

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cooking-up-love-3

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cooking-up-love-gemma-brocato/1117213296

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cooking-up-love/id688219548?mt=11

Before she goes, Gemma has a question.

If you could call any place in the world home, where would it be?

It’s been wonderful having you and your awesome book on the Ranch, Gemma. Thank you for visiting!

Dodadagohvi~

Posted in Blog Tour, Kensington, Lyrical Press Inc, Pen of the Dreamer, Publishers, Tuesday Round Up, Welcome

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Tags: Calisa Rhose, Cooking up Love, Debut author, Debut book, Free books, Gemma Brocato, giveaway, Kensington, Lyrical Press, Pen of the Dreamer, travel