Osiyo~
Welcome one and all!
I welcome guest authors with their beautiful covers to the new and improved UnCover Monthly!
Go HERE to get the application, read carefully, then hurry and submit your covers! Remember, the early bird gets the earliest slots. 😀
For now, enjoy more awesome cover art by the incredible authors, publishers and artists who make them possible for you to gaze upon each month.
It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you think 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, or get in on the fun, too!
This feature is only to highlight the authors and artists (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, if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers.
There’s a heat level rating for covers, one through four scale, for your benefit. You should never see a *5* rating on the Ranch since I don’t feature anything erotic in nature. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers being 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/.
Title: Counterfeits
Author: Kris Bock
Website: www.krisbock.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Pig River Press
Cover Artist: Alan Erickson
Release date: November 17, 2013
Painter Jenny Kinley has spent the last decade struggling in the New York art world. Her grandmother’s sudden death brings her home to New Mexico, but inheriting the children’s art camp her grandmother ran is more of a burden than a gift. How can she give up her lifelong dreams of showing her work in galleries and museums?
Rob Caruso, the camp cook and all-around handyman, would be happy to run the camp with Jenny. Dare he even dream of that, when his past holds dark secrets that he can never share? When Jenny’s father reappears after a decade-long absence, only Rob knows where he’s been and what danger he’s brought with him.
Jenny and Rob face midnight break-ins and make desperate escapes, but the biggest danger may come from the secrets that don’t want to stay buried. In the end, they must decide whether their dreams will bring them together or force them apart.
Title: Journey to Honor,
Knights of Honor, ok 4
Author: Alexa Aston
Weblink: www.alexaaston.wordpress.com/
Genre: Medieval Historical Romance
Length: Novel (232 pages)
Heat Level: 4
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Cover artist: Dar Albert
Release date: June 27, 2017
When twin boys are born, a servant with a grudge switches their birth order . . .
1366 A.D. – Kenric Fairfax is raised as the second son of the Earl of Shadowfaire. The day of his Knighting Ceremony, a tragedy takes place—and Kenric flees the north of England, putting his past behind him as he swears he will never marry. He becomes a trusted knight in service to Lord Michael Devereux, who asks Kenric to lead an escort party from London in order to bring his wife’s sister home to Sandbourne.
Avelyn Le Cler has spent a year as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa and finds the treachery at the royal court not to her liking. She looks forward to a summer visit with her sister Elysande, who will soon give birth to her first child. While journeying from London, Avelyn discovers a secret about Sir Kenric Fairfax that could change his life—if he believes her.
But Avelyn is plagued with doubts since she has no proof to present Kenric. As the couple fall in love, Avelyn knows she must reveal to Kenric the truth she has learned about his birth—even if it costs her everything.
Join Kenric and Avelyn as the truth rips them apart—but their enduring love brings them together again.
Title: So About the Money,
Holly Price series, Book 1
Author: Cathy Perkins
Weblink: www.cperkinswrites.com
Genre: Romantic mystery
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3
Publisher: Red Mountain Publishing
Cover artist: Gwen Campbell Cook
Release date: November 2016
When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body, her life takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. With an infinitely sexy cop—Holly’s pissed-off, jilted ex-fiancé—threatening to arrest her for the murder, the intrepid accountant must protect her future, her business…and her heart…by using her investigative skills to follow the money, before the killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass…and the next dead body is Holly’s.
Title: Song of the Nightpiper
Author: Hannah Meredith
Weblink: www.hannahmeredith.com
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel – 370 pgs
Heat Level: 4
Publisher: Singing Spring Press
Cover artist: Hannah Meredith
Release date: August 22, 2017
Magic is disappearing from Fallucia and Rennic. Each country blames the other and hoards what power remains. Magical Talent is prized above all else.
In Fallucia, magic is concentrated in the families of the Lords of High Places, but Lady Anlin hasn’t the least glimmer of ability. What she does have is a will of steel, forged in despair and tempered by years of slavery in Rennic. She also has a plan to rescue the son taken from her while she was enslaved. She needs but one thing—a champion.
Sir Faulk is a landless knight whose life has stripped him of all illusions. But he still harbors two impossible dreams—to have a fief of his own and to find someone to love who will love him in return. His fighting skills have now placed the first of these dreams within reach.
Chance, however, intervenes, and the personal choices Anlin and Faulk make could suddenly reshape nations and overturn centuries-old beliefs.
Author’s note – This book is intended for an adult audience.
Title: Stormy Hawkins,
Bk 1, Prairie Hearts Series
Author: Ana Morgan
Weblink: www.anamorgan.net
Genre: western historical
Length: Novel, 68,000 words
Heat Level: 4
Publisher: SoulMate Publishing
Cover artist: Anna Spies
Release date: September 27, 2017
Blade Masters has finally spotted his ideal Dakota Territory ranch, where he can live alone, forget his cheating ex-fiancée, and bury the shards of his shattered heart. All he needs to do is sweet-talk the ailing owner, and his spitfire daughter, into retiring.
If she weren’t desperate, Stormy would never hire a cowhand. She’s learned the hard way that she’s happier working her family’s ranch alone. But, the greedy banker who holds their mortgage just demanded payment in full—or her hand in marriage.
Will this handsome drifter protect her? Or does he have designs of his own?
Title: The Cowboy’s Make Believe Bride,
Bk 2- Wyoming Matchmaker Series
Author: Kristi Rose
Weblink: www.kristirose.net/
Genre: Western romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3
Publisher: Kristi Rose/Vintage Housewife Books
Cover artist: The Killion Group
Release date: October 24, 2017
Searching for a new future…
Fortune “Fort” Besingame left ranch life years ago, joining the Navy to escape the shame of his father’s gambling addiction and the enormity of his losing the ranch on a bet. Now Fort has returned to Wyoming, to his mother’s ranch in hopes to start a new life. A former Military Police, he wants to run for Sheriff… but convincing the townsfolk Fort intends to put down roots in the small community is going to take more than words. He needs a bride.
Running from the past…
Cori Walters realizes she will never become the photographer she dreams of being in the town where her father’s – former mayor turned cattle rustler – legacy taints everything she attempts to accomplish. When her friend offers her a temporary job posing as a fiancé, Cori decides going to Wyoming might be just the new start she needs. Until she realizes her pretend groom-to-be is someone she knows from high school… And hates her.
Somehow Fort and Cori have to put aside their family differences long enough to get Fort elected.
If they don’t kill each other – or fall in love.
Title: The Duchess Lydia
Book 2
Author: Liza O’Connor
Weblink: www.lizaoconnor.com/
Genre: Historical Romance
(Pride & Prejudice Spin off)
Length: Novel,
Heat Level: 3/4
Publisher: New Authors Online
Cover artist: Liza O’Connor
Release date: November 7, 2017
Thanks to the Duke of Rochester’s generosity and the death of Wickham, Lydia Bennet is now a wealthy, independent woman. When Lydia takes residence in the finest house in the West End, her brother-in-law, Darcy, is concerned that she is ‘over her head’.
Despite his concerns, Darcy retrieves his sister, Georgiana, from Pemberley and places her in Lydia’s home. The two young ladies, both recently widowed, form a strong sisterly bond and soon set out to find love again.
Unfortunately, the man Lydia wishes to marry, David, the Duke of Rochester, is already contracted to marry another woman. When Lydia discovers the fiancée plans to murder David and his sons, she rallies her servants and friends, determined to stop the woman at all costs. Will Lydia’s love of David and his boys triumph, or will the “Lady of Death” continue her path of destruction?
Title: The Lawman’s Christmas Proposal,
The Hitching Post Hotel, #3
Author: Barbara White Daille
Weblink: www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Genre: Contemporary romance.
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 2
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Cover Artist: N/A
Release date: December, 2015
A HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS?
Mitch Weston’s back in Cowboy Creek, and self-proclaimed matchmaker Jed Garland has his single granddaughter Andi on his mind. Mitch is a lawman, good with the little ones and easy on the eyes. He and Andi were high school sweethearts, for heaven’s sake! Why can’t they see they’re perfect for each other?
Because Andi already lost one husband to a dangerous job, and now she’s all about playing it safe, for her sake and her children’s. Being a cop is everything to Mitch. After discovering Jed’s plan, Mitch and Andi come up with their own: they’ll pretend to get engaged and then break up due to irreconcilable differences. Jed’s got his work cut out for him—because this match needs a Christmas miracle!
Hey-Ho cover oglers! To satisfy your stare reflex urges–here’s May’s lovely cover art and the awesome authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze 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 authors–not to sell books (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this weeks’ 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!
Title: A Game of Chance
Author: Lauren Linwood
Website: www.laurenlinwood.com
Genre: Western historical romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Cover Artist: Ramona Lockwood
Release Date: January 8, 2014
Gambler Jed Stone journeys to California to track down Simon Morgan, the man responsible for his best friend’s death. Arrested for robbery and murder upon arrival, Jed is shocked to see his face on a wanted poster. He escapes before his hanging, unaware that the man guilty of those crimes is the twin brother he never knew existed. In a case of mistaken identity, Jed acquires the most famous whorehouse in San Francisco in a rigged card game his twin is meant to win.
Lily Frontiere takes over running Lucky Lil’s from her dying mother, the house madam who shielded her by sending her away to boarding school. Lily’s intelligence and astonishing resemblance to her mother help in her charade, but she’s entered a world she knows little about. She clashes with the handsome stranger who turns up with the deed to Lucky Lil’s in hand, yet she is attracted to the charming risk taker.
But Simon Morgan seeks both Lily’s hand and ownership of Lucky Lil’s—and he will go to any means to possess both. Will Jed foil his nemesis while bringing his outlaw brother to justice and win Lily’s love?
Title: Agent E2: Aidan, Book 2 – The D.I.R.E. Agency Series
Author: Joni Hahn
Website: http://www.jonihahn.com
Genre: Sci Fi Romance
Publisher: Joni Hahn
Cover Artist: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: December 16, 2013
Agent E2: Aidan Monroe
Credentials:
Enhancements:
Former Navy SEAL, Aidan Monroe, embraces risk. Show him a hint of danger – or a beautiful woman – and he’s all over it. The only commitments in his life: his new D.I.R.E. enhancements and finding his father’s killers.
Cassandra Naylor, daughter of D.I.R.E.’s greatest foe, has one goal in mind: save her father and twin brother. However, she didn’t bank on D.I.R.E.’s superpowers, or Aidan Monroe’s irresistible appeal.
Cassandra can’t ignore the scorching electricity between her and Aidan. When their passion is unleashed after a night of dangerous, life-changing events, Cassandra knows there’s no going back. Yet, giving in to her feelings guarantees her father’s vengeful wrath.
While they fight their attraction for one another, traitors from the past, and death-defying circumstances force shocking revelations to the surface.
Can their love overcome history and betrayal? Or, will the past rob them of any future they have together?
Title: A Very Scandalous Holiday
Submitting Author: Nancy Fraser
WebLink: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Genre: Historical Romance Anthology
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Cover Artist: Gwen Hayes and Heidi Stryker
Release date: October 14, 2013
Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser – Chicago 1924
Widower, Seth Harrison, has no intention of falling in love again but will he be able to resist the sweetness of his son’s nanny, Erin O’Mara—his sister’s best friend?
An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett – England 1833
The Duke of Sharrington left Rebecca with more than a broken heart six years ago—he left her with a son. He’s rekindled their passion with his return, but it will take a Christmas miracle to earn her heart.
Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin – England, late Regency
After three years at sea, Captain Hale Prescott has the means to marry the love of his life and his best friend’s sister. Sidony Harbeck, however, might never to speak to him again. Despite their whispered adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter…at least, none he ever sent.
Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh – 1944 Ardennes, WWII
Lt. Ruth Mencher has always secretly admired Capt. Joseph Klein, but it takes the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to uncover the spark of mutual attraction. Each night awakens a new facet of their relationship, but as the Battle of the Bulge begins, the approaching Nazi forces threaten to tear them apart.
Title: A World Apart
Author: Cd Brennan
Website: www.cdbrennan.com
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Lyrical Press Inc.
Cover Artist: Renee Rocco
Release date: March 3, 2014
She left home to find herself…and found love along the way.
Lizzy travels to Scotland to track down her roots, hoping where she comes from will help her figure out where she needs to go. An Aussie girl through and through, tough as nuts and a bit wild, she believes there’s nothing so wonderful as a world seen through wine-tinted glasses…
…until she meets Hottie Hamish, Bridge of Allan’s most eligible bachelor.
Hamish is Lizzy’s polar opposite in every way. He’s serious, driven, and motivated, focused on becoming the youngest associate professor at the Glasgow School of Art. But he’s hiding a social phobia behind his gruff exterior that makes it almost impossible to connect with people…
…until he meets Lost Lizzy, all sunshine and lightness, an Australian beauty with the proverbial heart of gold.
Where they come from may be worlds apart, but atop a Scottish Munro, they begin to realize where they’re going is best traveled side by side
CONTENT WARNING: Graphic descriptions of haggis ingredients.
Title: Highlander’s Captive (novella)
Author: Joanne Wadsworth
Website: www.joannewadsworth.com
Genre: Historical Highlander Romance
Cover Artist: Joanne Wadsworth
Release Date: January 9, 2014
His mission is to capture. Hers is to turn the tide.
Twenty-two-year-old Julia MacLeod discovers a secret tunnel leading from Dunvegan Castle, the stronghold of her MacLeod clan. Her chief would never allow her to leave without a guard during this time of war, but up for an adventure, she scurries along the dank passageway and through a maze of twists and turns.
Highland warrior Ivor MacDonald is on a solitary mission to secure a bargaining chip against his chief’s rival clan. While scouting the cliffs near Dunvegan Castle for a way in, a lone woman topples from the cliffs and into the frigid waters of the ocean. Honor demands he rescue her, even though it might bring his mission into jeopardy. Then he discovers she’s the chief’s cousin, and his bargaining chip has just fallen right into his hands.
Ivor steals his captive away, and on a journey across the ocean, his mission soon takes a turn. Julia’s trust in him sees his honor battling to override his need for revenge. Has his captive now turned the tide, and became the captor instead?
Title: Imprisoned in Stone
Author: Helen Henderson
Website: www.helenhenderson-author.webs.com
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Publisher: High Eyrie Publications
Cover Artist: Fantasia Frog Designs
Release Date: August 2013
For the crime of healing without payment, the Brethren imprisoned Dylan’s soul in stone. After centuries, he senses the touch of another’s mind and hope for escape soars. However, his potential savor is unaware of her latent magic.
Cuhlwch, the current head of the Brethren plans to control any and all who have magic. Although displeased with his son, Colwynn, who like the long-imprisoned Dylan, uses his powers to heal those unable to pay the Brethren’s toll, Cuhlwch orders Colwynn to father a child by a woman of the Brethren’s choosing. The Brethren will have their demand met, even if it means using magic to enforce their will. Only Colwynn wants to choose his own mate–an unknown woman calls him from afar.
Caught in the middle of this tempest is a young woman trapped by fate. She has the power to free him, but her only knowledge of him comes from an eerie message on the wall and nightmarish dreams.
A spell kept secret for generations.
A brotherhood thirsting for power.
Demands that cannot be obeyed.
A woman who stands to lose everything.
Four paths–one destiny.
With the power to bind souls and
control all magic in the balance.
Title: Midwinter Masquerade
Author: Romy Gemmell
Blog: www.ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Cover Artist: Amanda Stephanie
Release Date: October 24, 2013
In Edinburgh, December 1816, young widow Lady Lenora Fitzallan accepts an invitation to the Scottish country estate of Edward Montgomery, the man she once thought to marry seventeen years previously. Accompanied by her godmother, Lady Pettigrew, Lenora forms a friendship with Edward’s young niece and ward, Annabelle, who has a propensity for getting into scrapes and falling in love with the wrong man.
In the days leading up to the Masquerade Ball on the Winter Solstice, unexpected guests arrive and family secrets are revealed. Once the past is revealed and the real villain unmasked, Lenora must decide where and with whom her future now lies.
Title: Scarlet Revenge
Author: Ann McGinnis
Website: www.annmcginnis.com/resume.html
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Cover artist: Tony Bryson
Release date: January 20, 2014
A rookie female FBI analyst struggles to contain a serial killer. Her only hope is to join forces with a devilish bombing suspect if she’s to have any chance of outwitting the killer and saving her team—including her sexy boss.
Title: Upon A Midnight Clear
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Kissmet Publishing
Cover artist’s name: Steven Novak
Release date: November 1, 2013
Dylan Fisher is an EMT and part-time Santa Claus at a mall in Denver, Colorado. He has logged plenty of time with children sitting on his lap asking for anything from the latest electronic gadget to a week’s worth of homework passes, but he never heard anyone ask for what little Delaney Kelly asked for on one snowy night in December. A dad! When Dylan’s eyes search the crowd for Delaney’s mother and land on Keira Kelly, the paramedic almost finds himself in need of a little CPR. She is stunning!
Keira Kelly is still grieving over the loss of her husband, but a reckless driver has her thinking about nothing but survival as she’s headed home from the mall. When Keira wakes in the hospital to find a hunky EMT at her bedside, she begins having a few thoughts that would put her on Santa’s Naughty List for sure! But when she finds out the EMT is only hanging around because the police believe someone is out to get her, she’s not sure what to think about his kindness. Is he helping her because he wants to, or because he feels he needs to? And what about the man who rammed her car, could he have had something to do with her husband’s death?
Title: Worst Week Ever
Author: Liza O’Connor
Website: www.lizaoconnor.com
Genre: Humorous Contemporary Disaster Romance
Publisher: New Authors Online
Cover artist: Definition
Release date: July 4, 2013
What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with an egotistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?
Book 1 of the 3 book series A Long Road to Love, Worst Week Ever.
Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant (or as his drivers refers to Carrie: ‘Trent’s brain, left hand, and right hand’. He’s had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry this brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he’s threatened to fire her, he’s not sure she even likes him. However, the future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction that happens to coincide with Carrie Hanson’s Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form.
(Hilarious to the reader, Carrie is not having much fun this week.)
I want to thank all the authors who submit and make this a special place to share their work!
Hey-Ho cover oglers! Spring is so close I can almost taste it! To celebrate, here’s April’s lovely cover art and the awesome authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze 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 authors–not to sell books (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this weeks’ 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 2014!
Title: Agent I1: Tristan– Book 1, The D.I.R.E. Agency Series
Author: Joni Hahn
Website: www.jonihahn.com
Genre: Sci Fi Romance
Publisher: Joni Hahn
Cover Artist: Najla Qamber Designs
Release Date: December 16, 2013
Agent I1: Tristan Jacobs
Credentials:
Enhancements:
Raised in the art of warfare, Former Navy SEAL, Tristan Jacobs, has always been a force to reckon with. Now that D.I.R.E. has successfully implemented his scientific enhancements, he’s a walking weapon. Unstoppable, as long as he stays focused. No relationships.
When ex-BUD/S teammate, Aidan Monroe, interrupts his long-awaited sabbatical to call in a favor, Tristan reluctantly fills the simple request: take out his sister’s fiancé.
One problem: Rachel Monroe – smokin’ hot, kind-hearted, and in desperate need of a protector. After the best sex of his life, Tristan’s afraid unstoppable is just a memory. Knowing Aidan’s temper, Tristan could be, too.
Rachel Monroe had a plan to help her mother. Her brother ruined everything when his gorgeous, super-agent friend teleported her to some forsaken island – and his bed. She’s drawn to him despite the fact he’s a professional agent, much like the people suspected of killing her father.
Now, his enemies have come to her small town, looking for vengeance. Have they found more than they bargained for? Or, does the past have its own retribution in mind?
Title: Amanda in the Summer
Author: Brenda Whiteside
Website: www.brendawhiteside.com
Genre: Women’s Historical
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover Artist: Rae Monet
Release date: December 18, 2013
Three generations of women…and the secret that strengthens their love.
A line of women, all named Amanda, stretches back for generations. Each with her hopes, her joys, her pain—each pouring out her heart in correspondence with a dear family friend who shares their lives, understands their loves, and joins in their sorrows.
But within the correspondence lies a secret. And as the youngest of the Amandas retraces the journey through the years—beginning in post-war America and following through to modern day—the letters reveal, layer by layer, the Amandas who came before her. Soon, the truths and lies hidden in the letters lead her down a path of self-discovery that forges a bond between her past and future.
Title: An Inescapable Attraction
Author: Sydney Jane Baily
Website: www.SydneyJaneBaily.com
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Cat Whisker Press
Cover artist: Dar Albert
Release date: December 10, 2013
In a year of roaming the West, angel-faced, sharp-tongued Eliza encounters a world of card sharks and low-life gamesters, all the while trying to forget the searing brand of one man’s fiery kisses. In a dangerous game of high-stakes poker, she tangles with the wrong gambler and finds herself in a heap of trouble. With heartache haunting her relentlessly and a killer on her trail, she has no choice but to run.
Thaddeus Sanborn has always had a weakness for the girl he calls Ellie. Even though she cut him to the quick by getting engaged to his childhood friend, she’s the only one who’s ever kept his interest smoldering at a scorching level. When she steams unexpectedly into his carefree life, derailing his plans for getting rich, he’s stunned by the trouble that accompanies her. But he’ll do just about anything—even kill—to protect Ellie.
Dangerous men, Indian trackers, and wanton women populate the landscape—while steam trains, swift horses, and a lively riverboat keep Eliza and Thaddeus on the move. Though they do their best to escape the peril that’s always merely a hoofbeat behind, they can never run away from their own Inescapable Attraction.
Title: April Love
Author: Nancy Fraser
WebLink: www.facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Genre: Vintage Romance (1950s-60s)
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Artist: Tina Lynn Stout
Release date: February 11, 2104
Eleanor Martin is every company’s dream employee. She arrives early, stays late and never misses a day. If it weren’t for Eleanor’s skill as a private secretary, her architect boss would never make a deadline. Not only does she keep him on track, she runs interference between him and his over-bearing mother, his deadbeat brother, and the half dozen or so women who want to bed him and/or wed him.
When Jess Norton acquires a new client who asks him to build a palatial hideaway on Grand Cayman Island, Jess is certain he’ll never be able to complete the multi-million dollar job without the help of his efficient secretary. Despite her reservations, he convinces Eleanor to accompany him on the assignment of a lifetime.
The sun and the sand cast the perfect spell for romance. But will the tides turn in the opposite direction?
Title: Between Rock and a Hard Place
Author: MJ Schiller
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Kissmet Publishing
Cover artist’s name: Steven Novak
Release date: December 1, 2013
Heath “Hawk” McGowan is a young, single, cop and father. Jasmine Barrett is the rock star who has just discovered her best friend murdered in her own bed. Jasmine, or “Jazz”, as her fans call her, is not at all what Heath expects when he first meets her. Anticipating having to work with a prima donna, he is surprised to find her sweet and completely unassuming, in addition to being as sexy as her onstage persona. After outlining a number of reasons why he shouldn’t become involved with her—the top reason being he is the lead investigator in the murder of her best friend—Heath finds that he can’t stop himself from falling in love.
Things heat up between the two, especially after Jazz discovers another body in the condominium’s garage, and her terror drives her closer to Heath. Will Heath be able to solve the murders before Jasmine becomes the next victim? Or will he save Jazz, while, at the same time, losing his heart to her?
Title: Deep In My Heart
Author: Patricia W. Fischer
Weblink: www.facebook.com/PatriciaWFWriter
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Patricia W. Fischer
Cover Artist: Tara West
Release date: October 4, 2013
Dr. Jocelyn Promise had no long-term plans to stay in Tuscany, Texas, but she saved the daughter of Caleb Davis, her high school crush, and became a hero. Will she allow herself to fall for him again?
Widower and Air Force Veteran, Caleb Davis, never wanted to fall in love again… until he saw Jocelyn. Now someone from his past has arrived to even a score.
Can he protect his family, Jocelyn, and his heart?
Things are about to get interesting in Tuscany, Texas
Title: Ghost Lover
Author: Liza O’Connor
Website: www.lizaoconnor.com/p/ghost-lover.html
Genre: Humorous Contemporary Romance w/paranormal elements
Publisher: New Authors Online
Cover Artist: Liza O’Connor
(Re)Release date: January 22, 2014
Two sexy English brothers.
One irresistible ghost.
Who would you choose as your lover?
Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him–beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
Title: Hunter
Author: Joanne Wadsworth
Website: www.joannewadsworth.com
Genre: YA/NA Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Joanne Wadsworth
Cover Artist: Renee Rocco
Release Date: December 30, 2013
To love and protect…across worlds.
Nineteen-year-old Lieska Alura, a Dralion warrior from the planet Magio, calls an Australian Outback station her home away from home. Hounded by her skilled hunter senses, she is on a mission to track down one man, her soul-bound mate.
Peacian protector and hunter, Cole Cyrano, is driven by his soul’s demand to find his mated one, a woman he knows is his enemy. Dralion and Peacio are at war, and he ignores his soul’s call. Except Lieska shows up during a fierce training session inside his protectors’ arena, and his soul demands he protect her.
Completely, yet impossibly matched, they decide to renounce their bond, only not all goes as planned when Lieska receives word bushfires rage across her Outback station. She leaves, and now nothing can keep Cole from the hunt. He joins Lieska in driving the station’s cattle toward the mighty river, and the chase is on…against both nature and each other. Can the mated pair find their place together in a world at war?
Title: Outlaw Muse
Author: Lauren Linwood
Website: www.laurenlinwood.com
Genre: Western historical romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Cover Artist: Ramona Lockwood
Release date: October 9, 2013
Separated from her twin during the Orphan Train selection, schoolmarm Serena Sullivan searched for her brother Bill over fifteen years. Just as she gets a lead on his whereabouts, she is railroaded by a crooked sheriff and set to hang for the murder of the sheriff’s best friend.
English playwright Daman Rutledge has come to the American West on business for his brother when he witnesses a woman about to be executed. On impulse he rescues the beautiful stranger and goes on the run with her across the Kansas prairie. Along the way Daman finds the muse he’s been missing and loses his heart to the raven-haired beauty with haunting amber eyes.
As they try to escape the long arm of the law, Daman seeks to prove Serena’s innocence before it’s too late. They find love—and the truth—on a journey that changes their lives.
Title: Summertime Dream
Author: Babette James
Website: www.babettejames.com
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: Kim Mendoza
Release date: April 4, 2014
The Fourth of July is over, but for these summer lovers the fireworks have just begun.
An unexpected inheritance brings business consultant Christopher Gordon from Los Angeles to quaint Falk’s Bend. He’s carved a week from his demanding schedule to list his great-grandparents’ house for sale and explore his roots. However, disturbing family secrets and the sweet temptation of writer Margie Olsson derail his plans, challenging him to seize the elusive dream missing from his hectic life— love.
A recent brush with death shook Margie’s life, but not her dreams and she’s ready to move forward. Only, standing up to her loving, over-protective family isn’t easy. Helping Christopher explore the derelict mansion and unravel his grandmother’s mysterious past should be a harmless fun taste of independence. But when her experimental summer fling ignites into unexpected love, how can her small town dreams work with his big city life?
I want to thank all the authors who submit and make this a special place to share their work!
How did the writer’s journey begin for you?
I’ve been writing stories all my life, but about ten years ago I was a successful strategist/analyst who decided to become a business consultant. I did really well except for one problem: work consumed my life, and all I wanted to do was write stories. It turned out I’d rather be a poor author, than a well-off problem solver. So I ended my consulting business and began to write full time. Those were great years. I’d hike with my dog in the morning, then write until early afternoon, then hike with Jess again, then return to writing. I would normally finish a rough draft within a month. Then I would put up chapters on Rom-critters and Critters.org and improve them further.
I never tried to publish anything until about 3 years ago when a new critter read the blurb to one of my books and declared it unpublishable. Now I was determined to publish it. The 3rd publisher I sent it to offered me a contract. Thus Saving Casey became my first book published. And just this week a reader left me a comment: “totally blown away by Saving Casey. Five stars.”
And it’s those unexpected comments from readers that keep me going, because publishing is the hardest job I’ve ever had. No contest. Being a Published Author is non-stop work. Absolutely nothing like Castle.
Tell us three things about you-the writer-readers wouldn’t typically know.
1. I dream about characters in odd situations during my sleep. If I can still remember them in the morning, then I drop everything and get the gist of the story down. If I can’t remember it, then I don’t worry about it. It clearly wasn’t that interesting.
2. I keep the temp in my house down to 50 in the winter. (Starving author). Turns out my fingers don’t type well when cold. They leave out a great deal of words and letters.
3. Because of all those missing or mangled words, I use a software program to read my work-in-progress back to me so I can catch all those missing words. My brain is all too apt to fill in the missing words, no doubt thinking it is being helpful.
It all began when…
Trent turned nice and Carrie fell in love with him in book 1: Worst Week Ever. While I thought the book hilarious, I admitted the romance a complete disaster. But then in book two, Carrie tried her hardest to make Trent a better man. I and a great many readers fell in love with him. But deep inside, I knew he was too selfish to ever be good enough for Carrie. It’s no doubt why I’d been throwing guys her way all through book one and two. So in book 3: Coming to Reason, the relationship explodes for good. Finally, she notices a guy who has been there since book one. A guy perfect for her, except for one thing which they need to work out.
Where did you get the premise for this book?
I dreamed it. But as I’ve been sharing facts about myself during the blog tours for book 1-3, I realized there’s quite a bit of my life experiences in the story.
What stands out about this story that made writing it different for you?
Coming to Reason is told in Carrie’s perspective. Thus, we’ve no clue as to why he did all the horrible things that happen in this book. He tries to explain to her what’s happened when they are in the car, but he botches the job. It’s not until we read Trent’s perspective in book four: Climbing out of Hell that we understand why he did all these outrageous acts. In fact, I’ve put the rough draft of Chapter 1 of book four at the end of Coming to Reason, so you can get a better idea what he’d been going through for the last three months.
Were there any difficult challenges or special subject matter you came across while writing this book?
When I cry, my tears burn my eyes, which makes them water more, which makes them burn more. This is why I prefer HUMOR. Sadly I cry a lot in this book, which was a painful challenge.
What about this book would make us want to read it more than others of similar taste?
I keep asking my fellow authors who I write like, and they keep insisting I’m unique. I haven’t read any author I thought was close to me. So the best I can advise is to read a bit of me and see if you like it. Reviewers who like me say I’m an easy read, fast paced, and have unique and lovely voice. The minority reviewers who don’t like me said …I don’t remember what they said, but it hurt my feelings.
What do you want readers to take away from this book?
Oh, I know the answer to this!
Breakups are hard and painful, but sometimes they are the only way for people to reach their full potential.
It’s true for Trent and Carrie, and it was true for me in real life.
Tell us about the next book in your corral.
Well, that would be a book that arrived, then disappeared and has returned again.
(Due to publishing houses merging & my decision to take my book back instead of going with them I need to resurrect a ghost.)
IS BACK
Contemporary Romance with a touch of paranormal
Blurb
Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?
Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him–beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
BUY LINK
Ghost Lover will be
Excerpt
“So my brother steals all your money and to compensate you, he suggests you come to England, marry him, and he’ll give you his trust fund.” Only his brother could contrive such an absurd plan.
“Yes.” By her brief answer, he gathered she thought it a perfectly reasonable solution.
His brother might be an idiot, but this gold digger would soon discover Gar a force to reckon with. “Did he steal a half million from your bank account?”
Brendon laughed. “Do you have any idea how long that would take? Cash machines only allow you two visits a day at two hundred dollars a pop.”
“How much did he take?” Gar restated his question.
“Four hundred,” Senna replied.
Gar stared up at the ceiling praying for patience, then glared at Ditz. “So why didn’t you pay her back the four hundred?”
Ditz stubbornly refused to answer, and instead glanced at the girl.
She sighed and faced Gar. “Precisely what I asked. He said he didn’t have the four hundred, but if I married him, he would come into a half million. Since the landlord planned to evict me, I really had no choice but to accept the offer.”
***
Where can readers find you and your books?
Amazon is an excellent place to find me and my books.
Is there anything else you want to share or add?
Two important things.
First, there is a rafflecopter for Coming to Reason you are eligible to join. It ends tomorrow, so throw your hat in now. Tour prize is a $50 Gift Card.
And secondly, If you love a bargain, you should know Ghost Lover will be 50% off Mar 21-23.
Can’t wait? Not a problem. It’s at its most fair and reasonable price of $3.99 at Amazon now.
Thanks for having me by. I had fun.
Thank you for once again gracing the Ranch with your lovely humor and books, Liza!
Osiyo~
It’s time again for WordPress helper monkeys to regale us with the site stats for Pen of the Dreamer for 2013!
These fun monkeys prepared a year-end annual report for my website/blog. I love this feature! And I’m going to send a few gifts out to some special people who helped make this year a success. Read to the end and see if your name is listed. 🙂
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,200 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
For best overall post with responses:
Ally Robertson aka. Alicia Dean– for an excellent editor’s post and great comments in return! 74 comments with a grand total of 181 views and the highest comment count in 2013, which kicked off last January with a bang!
For most comments posted:
Mae Clair– 39
Liza O’Connor– 36
Kelly Moran– 34
Vonnie Davis– 29
Mackenzie Crowne– 25
I need all six of these lovelies to email me at calisa.rhose@gmail.com with your snail mail addresses!
I have a special *Thank You* gift for those who promoted the heck out of this blog or hosted awesome posts this past year that helped me get some fabulous results. 🙂
But I want more! 😆
In 2014 I’m going to run a year-long contest. Whoever generates the most commenter response for their guest post, and the top commenters for the whole year will win- beginning NOW. That means if you are a guest blogger or have your cover posted on UnCover Monday you need to rally people to visit and COMMENT! Viewers only will not count because views alone don’t raise the post to popularity, but comments can. You will be expected to promote the post in every venue and comment often on your post. Each post can be promoted for longer than your own day since this is a blog that has permalinks to share, but responses ON your day is what counts, that’s the date WP records. 😀 Plus, the more you comment, the more numbers you rack up toward winning that category too! 😀
You want to beat this years’ winning numbers so that means more visits per contestant. 🙂 I’m putting a minimum of 50 comments per entrant for the year, and it would be awesome sauce if bloggers can beat 74 comments for guest posters on that day. Maybe 100? More? Leave a comment here to get you started. It can be a new year’s resolution to WIN MY CONTEST!!!!!!!!!
Periodically throughout the year I’ll post a contest reminder because I know we all get busy and don’t always take time, or even have time, to visit and comment on a lot of blogs. We forget to keep up when life intervenes. When it’s over, I’ll pick the top two blogging guests and top four commenters. Winners will receive a goody bags or gift cards-not to mention awesome recognition if you are promoting yourself and/or a book. If you are a winner it will be announced on New Years Day 2015 with a link to you in recognition. Later this year I’ll post the prizes to motivate everyone. 🙂
I wish you all have a blessed New Year!
Dodadagohvi~
NOTE: This is a world wide contest. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase is necessary. Participants MUST be 18 years or older and winners may be asked to verify age. Prizes will only be mailed inside the US, and within 30 days of contest end. Winners outside the US will receive a GC* within 30 days of contest end. *Gift card amounts TBA, but will not be valued at less than one prize package.
Welcome Liza! I can’t wait to hear about your ghosts so let’s get right to it! 😀
I live with a ghost. An Irish fellow once offered to get rid of my ghost for me. I refused without hesitation, because a) this is her house, her brother built it for her, and b) I rather like having a ghost hanging around. She is a very nice lady, named Mrs. Martin.
Not that she told me her name. It’s just my house has only had three owners, and the only person who has died in this house is Mrs. Martin. While she’s never spoken to me, nor materialized before me, she has made her presence known in many ways.
Floorboards constantly creaked as if someone was walking on them. Doors would open, I presumed from a draft. Cabinet doors opened as well. All of these oddities I attributed to the house being 50-years-old.
But then, the throw rugs I placed in various places to protect the carpet began to move. I’ve never seen them move, but I put them in a certain spot and the next time I enter the room they are placed somewhere else. Now the creaky boards sounding like footprints took on another possibility. So I asked my neighbor if anyone had ever died in my house and discovered the original owner of my house had indeed died in her bedroom.
I thought perhaps all the walking about and opening doors was because she searched for the adorable five daughters who lived in the house before me. I told her the little girls had gone to live by the shore and she was stuck with me now. And just like that, the constant door openings and floor board creaking ceased. The rugs still move, even to this day. But otherwise, she’s pretty quiet now.
However, when my dad came to visit and I put him in her room, she got riled up. The first morning he comes in to the kitchen and asks me if I have a ghost. I admitted I did and asked him how he knew. He said he’d heard what sounded like boots slam down on the floor and then stomp over to him. Then he heard a heavy sigh and the sound of boots leaving the room.
While I’ve never seen her, one Halloween I went to the door, where a mother stood with her little monsters. She complimented me on my Halloween scene. I had no idea what she spoke of. She insisted an old woman sat at my piano playing.
I was highly insulted Mrs. Martin would show herself to strangers, but not me. She got scolded. And when the next batch of monsters arrived, I told her she could answer the door. She refused.
How does this equate to my fictional ghost, Lassier?
Well, Lassier not only materializes, but does so in a convincing manner. He can even excite his molecules sufficiently to generate the sensation of warm skin. So most of the million women he has made love to never had a clue he was a ghost.
Also, he’s much older. He was alive in the 15th century. Nor is he the only ghost in the castle. Any Durran buried in the family cemetery will return as a ghost. However, since Gar refuses to invite anyone to the castle, most of the ghosts float about as white orbs. Materializing takes a great deal of effort, and if no one is even going to notice, why bother? Only Lassier materializes daily and can do so in spectacular form.
His ghost ocelot is a bit different. You cannot see the cat, but you can feel him. And when he walks across something soft like a bed, you can see the indentations. He also has a deep resonating purr that can put you at ease.
Having a real ghost opened my eyes to all sorts of potentials, and one night I dreamed of a sexy ghost lover. The next morning I googled the matter and discovered this matter has been talked and written about since early man. So I decided to write a book with a sexy, lascivious ghost, who is treated as a real person instead of something evil or paranormal.
Ghost Lover
By Liza O’Connor
Contemporary Romance with a touch of paranormal
Blurb
Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?
Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him–beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.
CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.
Excerpt
Senna woke to her breast beeping. Trying to make sense of the oddity, she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows and discovered the noise came from Brendon’s wristwatch. Somehow, his hand had found its way beneath her bra during the night, and now chirped like a baby chick.
She contemplated tearing his hand off at the wrist, but he looked so angelic with his curly dark hair framing his handsome face. With a heavy sigh, she unlatched her bra and eased his hand out, then gently shook him until his face scrunched into a pained grimace.
He groaned and frowned at his noisy watch. “This is a god-awful hour to be woken up,” he said in his sexy British accent. “Never bothers me when I’m coming home at this hour.”
Senna rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself.”
Pushing himself up, he shook his head. “Remember the second night I came around? You kept yelling at me, ‘Did I realize it was four in the morning?’ At the time, I couldn’t understand your fuss.” He groaned and scratched his scalp. “Well, I certainly understand it now. It’s bloody hell to be woken at this ungodly hour.”
***
BUY LINKS
AUTHOR INFO
About Liza O’Connor
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog, Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
***
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O’CONNOR:
Liza’s Blog and Website Facebook Twitter
Click Here for More Information
About Ghost Lover
FREEBIE!!!!
To One Lucky Commenter, I’ll give away one copy of Worst Week Ever
What do you get when you put a hardworking, can-do middle-class young woman together with an egoistical, outrageous, billionaire boss, then throw in the worst week of disasters imaginable?
A humorous disaster romance of epic proportions.
Just leave an email address in your comment and tell me you want the book.
Sep 24
This gallery contains 8 photos.
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 […]
Jul 23
This gallery contains 7 photos.
Welcome to a special edition on the Ranch! I’m excited and honored to host Liza O’Connor and her heroine from her debut book Worst Week Ever. If that title doesn’t drag you in, maybe these two characters will. Carrie Hanson is Executive Assistant to billionaire bad boy Trent Lancaster, who has been said to be […]
Living in the Oklahoma countryside with my husband is all the inspiration I need.
Pen of The Dreamer 