Thursday, March 21, 2019

A Spirited Visit to Deerbourne Inn

As I've noted in the past I love to read books that are part of a series. Get me hooked on one, and I'm reading to go through every one of the other books I can find. That has been the case when I started reading the Deerbourne Inn Series from The Wild Rose Press. Every story has hooked me to keep on reading. Today's guest in My Writing Corner is another author from that series, and that is part of what I've loved about reading the books. Because each one is written by a different author each has  a unique touch in a familiar setting that makes the reading even more fun.

Today's guest is author, Julie Howard, a former journalist and editor who has  covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. Let's let her tell us about her experience as an author in the series.
Last summer, I was given an amazing opportunity to be part of a group of authors writing for the Deerbourne Inn series, published by The Wild Rose Press. I have two mysteries currently out with this publisher and knew this series would be a winner – and it is!

First, an explanation on how this series works. Authors are given some guidelines. All stories take place in the same fictional town of Willow Springs, Vermont. Their characters are a mix of set townspeople and new people who visit the Deerbourne Inn. From there, the world is pretty much wide open. Stories range from romance to paranormal to historical, and also travel in time. Well over a dozen books are in the works, and my Spirited Quest story will be number five. You don’t need to read them in order; each book stands alone as a complete story. I call my story “sweet, short and spooky.” There’s a sweet price of $2.99, all books are novellas, and mine includes a blithe spirit who flits along the historical floorboards of the inn.

This is my first novella and first paranormal mystery too. I found it such a joy to write this story and love my ghost and the connection she forges with one of my main characters. I’ve now started a paranormal series and hope to pitch it to my publisher later this year. Fingers crossed!
  
Let's hear more about Spirited Quest:

She’s chasing a ghost, but who is chasing her?
  
Paige Norman believes in a tangible, explainable world. When her ghost-hunting niece comes for a visit, she tries not to scoff. But someone, or something, is stirring up trouble at the Deerbourne Inn and her niece, Jillian, is at the center of the mystery.

Paige is certain the handsome Aussie photographer is behind the unexplained disturbances, and she warns her niece to stay clear. Meanwhile, Jillian gets to know the otherworldly Lady of the Deerbourne, who foretells an encounter with "two men." Then the pranks turn dangerous. Has her niece attracted a stalker or has she conjured an evil presence? Can the culprit be the man who has captured her heart? 

Let's get an excerpt!

He nodded a friendly greeting to her, his gaze grazing past to include others on the porch. “G’day, ma’am. G’day all.”
An Australian. Her heart skipped a beat. Oh, to be twenty-five, even thirty-five, again. His gaze settled on her niece, and as always happened to men where this girl was concerned, his jaw slackened, then tightened.
Next to her, Jillian grew still, lifting wide blue eyes to the newcomer. The moment passed. He was through the front door and into the lobby, and the door closed behind him.
“You’re in for some nice company this week,” Paige commented with a smile.
A frown flickered across her niece’s face. “I’ve seen him before.”
“You’ve met?”
“Not exactly. He appeared to me in a dream.” Jillian’s blue eyes were troubled as she gazed at the Inn’s front door. She lifted one hand and rubbed the back of her head, then gave a shiver. “There was blood and I was afraid.” 
If you want to read other the other books in the Deerbourne Inn series, here they are:

By Reservation Only – Book 1 by Barbara Edwards
Hope’s Dream by Peggy Jaeger
Freedom’s Path by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Lyrical Embrace by Amber Daulton (release date: Feb. 11)

More will come out through the rest of the year.

And here is how to get Spirited Quest:

Buy Links:
The Wild Rose Press: https://bit.ly/2FM4nLA

And here is how to reach Julie or get more information about her books:

Thank you, Julie, for giving us another visit to Deerbourne Inn!

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Racing into Spring with a New Romance


Looking for new romances to read and enjoy is one of my great pleasures -- other than writing my own stories. Finding a new author to read is even better, because that means hours of enjoyable reading and great new characters to get to know and love.
Today's guest in My Writing Corner is one of those new authors I've just started to read.  Leslie Scott says she spends most days attempting to wrangle the voices in her head and often wishes she could clone herself so that their stories get told faster. She says she loves words, romance, and characters that feel like family.  She says she spends almost all of her free time with her own family; including a boisterous eleven-year-old she is homeschooling and an assorted cast of rescue pets. She tells us she is living her dream with her soul mate and best friend in the northern part of Alabama.  

Her latest book, Hot Lap, was just released this month.
Starting a new life isn't easy when the skeletons locked in her closet are the notorious town drunk for a father and a haunted past. But, Hadley Morgan isn't one to shy away from second chances or giving them either.

When a young, single father wrapped up in an octane fueled package takes particular interest in her, she begins to dream. But well-known drag racer Aiden Casey is also her boss, making her hesitate to grab at her chance at happiness.

Will her secrets shatter their chance at love or will his past come back to destroy both of them?
Want to know more?  I do! Let's get an excerpt to get to know these characters better:  
         “Wow.” The word tumbled from my lips before my body had time to register how damn good he looked.
          Aiden wore his dark hair tied at the base of his neck. His sharp cheekbones were model perfect. The dimple in his cheek when wide, sculpted lips curved in a smile, sent me into a spiral of va-va-voom.
I stood there, dumbstruck.
“I thought since I’d asked you to wear a dress, I should return the favor.” He wore a crisp white shirt, unbuttoned at the collar with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms, and clean, faded jeans with a pair of black Vans. So handsome, he took my breath away.
“I never pegged you for a skater.” I stepped out of the door, my strappy sandals clicking with each footfall.
His laugh came as easy as the fingers that wrapped around my hand. “A guy can’t give away all his secrets.”
“Really? You can skateboard?” I’d never seen him do anything other than drive.
“Yeah. Vic, too.” Pleasant surprise was becoming an old friend where Aiden was concerned. He fell with ease into the rhythm of conversation. With Aiden, things that should have been awkward—weren’t.
“We didn’t always drive. Except for maybe Jordan. Old Man always let him drive around in that old truck.”
They all referred to Jordan’s grandfather as “Old Man,” even Aiden’s sisters. Jordan had restored the old Chevy truck and made it like new again.
“You loved him.” The affection for Jordan’s grandfather written plainly on Aiden’s face.
“Jordan or his grandfather?” He lifted a shoulder. “Both, I guess. Jordan is my brother, from different parents. The Old Man was just…awesome.”
“I think it’s nice.” If I searched the recesses of my mind, I could almost grasp the familial bond. Then poof, another light in my life snuffed out far too soon. Each time I was with Aiden, I trudged up things long since buried.
Yet, being with him made me happier than I could ever remember.
“Now, close your eyes.” The rumbling timbre of his voice lulled me into doing just that.
If you would like to read on, here are the buy links:


And if you would like to know more about Leslie and her books, here is her contact information:
Youtube Playlists: http://bit.ly/2O6IDea
Thank you, Leslie, for racing into our book corner with your latest release!  Any comments or questions for Leslie?



Thursday, March 7, 2019

Spring into A Young Adult Mystery

The beginning of the Spring season always makes me think of getting outside and sitting in the sun with a new book to read. Finding a new series is always fun, and getting hooked by a new story is even better.

One of the very first young adult books I remember enjoying as a middle school student many years ago was about a teenager who was sent to a dance academy, so when I read the description of my guest author, Christine Grabowski's book, Dickensen Academy, I was hooked:

Dickensen Academy isn’t a typical boarding school. The faculty is hiding an unbelievable secret within their fine arts program. When Autumn Mattison receives an invitation to attend the high school, she yearns to escape her overbearing father yet remains reluctant to leave her mother and brother. Her doubts fade away when a vivid dream convinces her she belongs there.

Away from home, Autumn discovers a unique school environment that awakens her creative potential, and her new friends become like a second family. However, as she uncovers more about the dark side of the school and struggles with its curriculum, she questions whether Dickensen Academy is truly where she belongs.

When tragedy strikes, Autumn must learn to believe in her own power and stand up to her greatest fear or risk having her memories destroyed to protect the school’s secrets. Caught between secrets and dreams, can she find her true self?

Christine graduated with a degree in technical writing and like so many authors, she says she chose to write fiction because she loves reading and always wanted to write fiction. She chose to write young adult books because she loves to write what she reads and many of her favorite books have been young adult novels.

This month Christine is celebrating the six-month release of Dickensen Academy, and she has piled up some wonderful reviews and a number of accolades for her book:
  
~ Over 100 positive reviews
~ January release of the audio book
~#1 New Release on Amazon in Children's Coming of Age Fantasy (in Sept)
~2018 International Digital Awards Winner
~2019 Chanticleer Paranormal Book Awards Semi-Finalist for Supernatural Fiction (Finalists will be selected in April)
~Selected for 2018 SCBWI Recommended Reading List  

To celebrate, Christine has created a Rafflecopter to win a $15 gift card to Amazon. (See the link below to enter.)


 For more on Christine, here is her contact information and the buy links for her book:

Website:
https://christinegrabowski.com

Book Trailer:
https://youtu.be/sgjRes7zPLQ

Buy/Book Links:

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble (Paperback):

Apple:

Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christine_Grabowski_Dickensen_Academy?id=3LpsDwAAQBAJ

Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dickensen-academy


Book Reviewer Links:

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41065431-dickensen-academy

Bookbub:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/dickensen-academy-by-christine-grabowski


Social Media/Contact Links:

Facebook: 
http://facebook.com/christinegrabowskiauthor

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/christinegrabo/ 

Twitter: 
https://www.twitter.com/christinegrabo 

Goodreads Profile: 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18276822.Christine_Grabowski

Bookbub Profile:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-grabowski

Amazon Profile:
https://www.amazon.com/Christine-Grabowski/e/B07G7D9LJ2/ref=dbs_p_pbk_rwt_abau


Thank you, Christine for introducing us to your book!

Any comments or questions for Christine?

Enjoying the Writing Ride

As a longtime reader of romance and mystery/suspense books, I  have always enjoyed reading books in a series--stories with familiar characte...