Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Author Spotlight: Cat Johnson, Military Erotic Suspense Author and New Release


Good morning. Today I have the great opportunity to showcase multipublished author Cat Johson and her new release. I met Cat at Authors After Dark in New Orleans and managed not to do too much of a fangirl freak-out on her. She's been one of my favorite authors since I read Trey: Red, Hot, & Blue #1 aloud to my husband. I was thrilled to find out the series continued. Cat writes hot, funny, and heartfelt. Now I'm here to give her a warm send off. The Commander is the last story in this series and she's saved the best for last. Cat has generously offered an excerpt for you to enjoy and it's good.

But first, the Blurb for The Commander (Red, Hot, & Blue):

To his men on his SpecOps team, Hank Miller is simply the commander. The military is his life, and that’s all he needs—until he travels to Pigeon Hollow for a wedding and meets the woman his men reverently call “Mama”.
Lois Gordon is nothing like Hank envisioned. Instead of the plump, older woman happily baking pies in her farmhouse kitchen, Lois is a smart, sexy powerhouse who runs Gordon Equine…and tempts him to break all his own rules.
The heat between them quickly flares into a weekend fling hotter than Lois’s oven. But with Hank’s dangerous career and two failed marriages between them, forever could be too much to ask for.
Warning: Contains one smoking-hot mama and a man tough enough to not need pot holders to handle her.
Excerpt:

Matt stared toward the group near the house. “Can you believe she’s old enough to be Jimmy and Jack’s mother?”
“I know.” Trey shook his head. “She must have been a teenager when she had Jimmy.”
The rest of the group turned to look at the woman who was now in Jack’s arms.
“Wait a minute. That’s Mama?” Hank nearly choked. The tempting brunette in the flip-flops, blue jeans and well-filled T-shirt? The one he’d been staring at and drooling over for the past few minutes?
“Yup.” Matt nodded.
“No way.” Bull squinted into the distance. “I pictured her looking like Betty Crocker or Mrs. Butterworth. You know, short, plump, wearing an apron covered in flour and holding a pie in her hands.”
That was how Hank had visualized her too. He certainly hadn’t thought he’d be imagining rolling around sweaty with her like he’d been since he first laid eyes on the tempting woman.
“Are you sure that’s Mama?” Hank couldn’t wrap his mind around this revelation.
“Of course, we’re sure.” Trey laughed. “Matt and I were here during our leave last year.”
“Visiting Jack and Jimmy,” Matt added.
“Yes, I know.” Hank had more productive things to worry about than what shady things these two jokers had done. Things such as why was the one woman he’d been interested in since his divorce the mother of two of the men under his command? That made the situation as sticky as one of her famous pies.
Hank watched as Jimmy hustled an ill-looking Lia into the house. Jared and the blonde followed them inside with the suitcases from the trunk of the convertible, and Jack escorted Mama back toward the SUV...and Hank.
His heart rate sped the closer she got, and he smothered a curse at how his body reacted to her like he was a damn teenager. This was the last thing he needed, a schoolboy crush on an off-limits woman.
He searched for a reason to not be attracted to Mama, besides the fact that she was Mama. He knew Jack and Jimmy’s father had left when they were young. He didn’t seem to be in the picture at all. Maybe Mama had a boyfriend. A woman who looked that good wouldn’t stay alone long. Yeah, that would be good. If she were dating, the guy would be invited to the wedding, and then Hank wouldn’t be tempted to even think about her. He blew out a soft breath as Mama took another step toward him.
Perhaps if he kept thinking of her as Mama, he’d remember how off-limits she was. That was his plan and he was sticking to it. Though his resolve wavered as she stood in front of him.
“Commander, this is my mama, Lois Gordon,” Jack introduced them. “Mama, Commander Hank Miller.”
Up close she looked even more like her sons. Like them, she had hazel eyes and golden-brown hair, except hers fell to her shoulders in soft, sun-kissed waves.
Hank extended his hand. “Mrs. Gordon, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Your boys have told me so much about you.”
Everything except how young and attractive she was. That bit of information would have been nice to have in advance.

If you'd like a copy of The Commander, you can find it at:
Amazon
B&N
iTunes

For Cat Johnson:



Cat Johnson is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author writing contemporary romance.  A self-proclaimed promo ‘ho, she is known for her creative marketing and research practices. Consequently, Cat has sponsored bull riding rodeo cowboys, owns an entire collection of cowboy boots and camouflage shoes for book signings and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. As a hybrid author, she writes both full length and shorter works and is currently contracted for series with publishers Kensington and Samhain, as well as self-published.

You can find her here:
http://www.CatJohnson.net
On Facebook
On Twitter
On Goodreads
On Amazon
Thank you for stopping by and happy reading! :)

Monday, December 30, 2013

Book Spotlight: Moonlight Mistletoe by Laurel Cremant


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a Book Spotlight. Today Laurel Cremant stops by with a new release. This is a interracial paranormal romance, and has adult content. If that's not your cup of tea, please duck out now. :)

MIDNIGHT MISTLETOE
(The Golden Pack Alphas, Book I)

AUTHOR: Laurel Cremant
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
LENGTH: Short Story
PUBLISHER: Winged Moon Publishing
BLURB:
WARNING: This short novelette/short story of 8,000 words is the first book in this serial and contains snarky dialogue, extremely inappropriate uses of mistletoe, alpha HEROINES and the weres smart enough to chase them.

All were-hybrid, Georgia Walker wants for Christmas is to spend some time away from her pack and in particular, away from one increasingly dangerous enforcer turned Beta. She has every intention of spending her days basking in the warm Caribbean sun and indulging in an island fling, or two. Anything to forget the way a certain were made her pulse race and skin tingle.

Marcus Legrand has only one goal this holiday season, bring Georgia home and finally claim her for his own. Convincing the strong willed ice princess will take all of his skill and patience, but Marcus is no stranger to hunting prey. He has every intention of putting both his rank and heart on the line.

EXCERPT:
Taking a deep breath, she reached her arms overhead, arched her back and inhaled the balmy salted air.
She could almost hear her muscles sigh, but despite the relaxation attempting to spread through her limbs, her body tingled with a tension she knew settled too deep.
Her heat cycle was starting, and there was nothing she could do to relieve the discomfort.
Well almost nothing.
Dropping her hands back down to her sides, she swept her gaze across the small beach. It wasn’t crowded but had a fair number of sunbathers and Zen cravers. And most importantly it had men looking for the same thing she was—a little fun, forgetfulness and zero strings.
Although heat pooled to her center, her stomach rolled in apprehension.
In the past she’d had no problems with finding a willing male to sleep with when she was in heat. She enjoyed sex, and although each year her parents hoped she would chose a permanent mate, no man in or outside of her pack inspired much feeling or devotion. At least not enough for her to be shackled to for life.
But last year, because of The-Wolf-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, no one appealed to her.
Instead of rolling around for several hours with a well-endowed chosen playmate, she’d remained locked in her home for days with her vibrator and a healthy supply of batteries.
She had no intentions of repeating the experience. This week, she planned on proving to both her body and wolf, that Marcus wasn’t the only man capable of making her hot.
Her gaze combed the area, looking for a good candidate.
One particular man caught her eye.
He’d been swimming for the last hour, his caramel arms cutting through the water in languid strokes. But now he rose out of the surf resembling a naughty sea nymph, his strong legs leading up to deep blue board shorts. Dry, she guessed the swimming trunks were perfectly modest—but wet they molded to his thick muscled thighs and cupped his cock in a way that left very little to the imagination. And since Georgia’s imagination was better than the average wolf’s she bit back a groan and clenched her thighs tight.
Yum.
Pushing her sunglasses up to her hair, she licked her lips as her gaze traced the diamond bright droplets of water running down his hard chest. They sluiced down his body, aided by the tight ridges of muscles along his abdomen, tunneling down to what looked like one hell of a stocking stuffer.
Merry Christmas to me.
Yes, an island getaway was proving to be the perfect holiday treat.
Her gaze meandered back up his chest and after making a brief note of thick smooth lips and tempting dimples, she made eye contact with her merman come to life.
His eyes gleamed with interest and her lips turned up in her best come-hither smile. He took a step forward and then froze, his gaze focusing on something just over her left shoulder. Shaking his head he turned and continued walking down the beach.
What the hell!
She frowned at his retreating back. Admittedly she was no super model but, she’d never had a problem with luring men her way.
A long shadow fell over her and it was her turn to freeze. Despite blocking out the sun, a heated scorch rippled down her body as the approaching shadow crept down her body. Her nipples pebbled to thick points, her pussy clenched and a slow growl worked its way up her throat.
Only one thing made her body react this way and she’d deliberately left it back in Golden Valley.
“Hello Gigi. Miss me?”
BUY LINKS:


ABOUT LAUREL CREMANT
Laurel is a romance author, who like most writers loves to read. Her first love (pun intended) has always been romance. From the sappy YA romance novel to the more risqué erotica novels, Laurel is a sucker for a good love story.

Laurel writes paranormal and contemporary romance and is a self-proclaimed, out of the closet nerd. She admits that she can't seem to avoid adding a bit of "nerdology" or "geek-dom" to all of her books. Living in Miami, she also admits that she can't seem to avoid giving her heroines gorgeous shoes, "In Miami, we worship everything strappy, open toed and just plain hot!"

AUTHOR WEBSITE & LINKS

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. :)

Friday, December 27, 2013

#ThursThreads - Week 101 - Winners


Week 101 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write. And it was wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to George Varhalmi for judging this week. :)

Entries:
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
  • Cie Cheesemeister | @UndeadNether
  • Silver James | @SilverJames_
  • Rebecca Brennan | @bexbrennan
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Charlee S | @Charley_001

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Charlee S | @Charley_001
George says: Waiting up for the magic to happen, can’t say I didn’t do that. Ha, who am I kidding, I did that too. Captured the passion of trying to stay up only to fall asleep yet have the wonder to try again next year.

Rebecca Brennan | @bexbrennan
George says: Fun story, haunting and creepy all rolled into great scene. Feel for his final decision and her sacrifice. He will be haunted for some time with her screams.

Week 101 Winner




George says: Great story, felt his pain and regret for being injured. Regret because he couldn’t do the task without her assistance as he knew the doc was going to be scarred because she was the witness to the kill. 

“You can do this.” Duke felt her shift as her hair tickled his nose. She smelled of dust, sweat, and a sweet musk that tightened parts of his body he needed to ignore. Cory Prince was off limits. She was simply a tool—one he must utilize to fulfill his mission.

“They’ll be moving?”

“Yeah.” A delicate shudder followed his reply, and he felt it in his core. He didn’t want to do this. Didn’t want to use her. But he didn’t have a choice. At least, that’s what he told himself. He’d been blinded in the explosion. And a blind sniper couldn’t take out the target. He wouldn’t get another chance. Cory would have to sight-in the scope. And pull the trigger. Duke refused to consider what this would do to the doctor’s psyche.

Cory stiffened. “There’s movement.”

“Ignore that. Focus on the vehicle. They’ll put him in the back. Find your mark, wait for the target to enter the cross-hairs.” He touched her shoulder and pretended her flinch didn’t bother him.

“What if I miss the shot?”

“Only time for one, princess. Just like we practiced.”

She swallowed a whimper but he recognized her distress. She tensed, inhaled, exhaled. Her finger twitched on the trigger. With the practice of a hundred kills, he slid his finger through the guard and pulled. The rifle bucked. “Confirm!”

“Target down.” Her voice broke, and shattered his heart.

“We gotta go.” No time for tears. Later. She could cry later.

Congratulations Five Time Winner Silver, Charley, and Rebecca! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)


Thursday, December 26, 2013

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 101


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. If you celebrated, how was your Christmas? I had a great time. And even better, it's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 101 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 101:


Dead thing specialist, mining geologist, and master of useless knowledge, George Varhalmi.


And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Only time for one.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Snippet Sunday - The Navy's Ghost - Mo'Betta


Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my latest release, The Navy's Ghost, a military romantic suspense, though I call it my Menage a'SEALs. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. Just to be clear, this is a M/F/M erotic romance. You can read last weeks snippet HERE.

Ensign Christiana "Ghost" Brickman is high on morphine and complaining about the women who throw themselves at Navy SEALs, particularly at her two teammates, Todd "Magic" Hunter and Lt. Jim "Retro" Waters. Chris is the first one to speak.

“They only want dick, you know.” Her gaze slid slowly back to Jim’s face. “You deserve better, Retro. Mo’betta. ’Cause Bravo Squad does everything mo’betta. They should call it Betta Squad.” She trailed off in a dreamy, sing-songy voice.
“At least she’s got that right.” Retro shook his head, a half smile quirking his mouth.
“Bravo Squad definitely does it mo’betta.” Ghost fixed him with a hard stare. “Just like you, Retro. And you need someone who knows you. You, and Magic, too. Perfect, sexy, tall, and hard. Like bananas.”
“What?” Magic traded looks with Retro.
“Oh, shit. You better knock her out before she says something really crazy.”
“Bananas. You know…” Chris raised one hand, curling her fingers into a C-shape before swaying it back and forth as if stroking something. “Long, hard, smooth, and warm.” She grimaced. “Bananas. So much better than cucumbers. Mo’betta in Betta Squad.”
“Knock her out, Magic.” Retro growled as the other squad members snickered in the background.
Magic curbed his own grin as he shoved another syringe of morphine into her IV.

Oh, so she's had some thoughts about this before. Guess Magic isn't alone in his attraction. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Anastasia Vitsky, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Zee Monodee, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from The Navy's Ghost, here's the blurb:

A SEAL is strongest with her Team…

Ensign Christiana "Ghost" Brickman is the only female SEAL to survive BUD/S training, a real Navy Jane. But when an ambush ends her career as an active SEAL, she’s free to pursue other interests. Like her two best friends Lt. Jim "Retro" Waters and Chief Warrant Officer Todd "Magic" Hunter. She's wanted them for over a year, but never dared to approach them while in the squad.

Retro has fought his dark desires since high school, certain the need to share a woman unnatural. Magic had never considered sharing before Ghost mentions it, but it solves his dilemma of choosing between his best friend and his woman. But Retro balks at Ghost’s offer to share and retreats from both when she marries Magic.

Everyone feels Retro’s loss, but he ignores the ache of their broken connection in favor of living ‘normal.’ When Ghost and the other wives of Beta Squad are kidnapped, Retro must reevaluate how much both Ghost and Magic mean to him. And he must decide how far he's willing to go to save the woman he loves, before she becomes the Navy's ghost.

It's available now at Smashwords, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Barnes&Noble. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

Saturday, December 21, 2013

#ThursThreads - Week 100 - Winners


Week 100 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write. And it was wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Anastasia Vitsky for judging this week. :)

Entries:
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
  • Charley Descoteaux | @CharleyDescote
  • Silver James | @SilverJames_
  • Charles Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane
  • Jeremy Milburn
  • Rebecca R Kovar | @RRKovar
Wow, what an honor and pleasure to read the entries this week! I am new to Siobhan's Threads, but I will make a point to visit when I can. I read all of the entries once, without taking notes. I thought about each entry--Sheilagh's poetry with its lyricism, Siobhan's clean lines, Aightball's sensory details, Cara's energy, Cate's startling last line, Charley's emotion, and Silver's crystalline details. When I came back, I found new entries. Cynthia's mother love, and Jeremy's agony of parents split by their daughter's murder. I read each one several times, as a group and one by one. Thank you to everyone for your amazing writing, and thank you to Siobhan for asking me to judge this week. I hope to see you as a participant in the near future.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Silver James | @SilverJames_
Anastasia says: Silver's beginning and ending encapsulated the story with its lovely touches. The "frigid, ice-capped waves" and the radiating dark aura captured my attention from the beginning, and the twist at the end made me laugh. Silver made me care, as Sinjen cares, about Sade who faces her loneliness.

Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
Anastasia says: Sheilagh's promise of a mother's love that can vanquish all, including distance. I loved her simple, understated love of a mother longing to follow her child.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
Anastasia says: Taut and fraught with emotion, Cara's characters' chemistry is electrifying. I don't know what loss they have experienced, but Cara made me hope they figure it out.

Week 100 Winner



Anastasia says: Cynthia's Red Sox baseball cap along with her impeccable observations of motherhood told a complete story in 249 words. The line about Daniel being "still young enough to allow me the privilege of cuddling him" was spot on. The combination of everyday motherhood with unthinkable sacrifice made me reflect on this story after reading it.

I shook my head as if trying to change what I was hearing through the headset, his words resounding in my ears. Only time for one.

Of course. The gods required a sacrifice, I should've known.

"Roger, that."

I stared as the tiny cave collapsed around us, burying our new found artifacts beneath rock and black dust.

I pulled my son closer onto my lap. He was small for a five year old and still young enough to allow me the privilege of cuddling him. I tried not to look at the hands that were already reaching through the small opening for the one who would be going up. Even now I could feel the need for fresh oxygen burning inside my lungs.

Cold tears streamed down the length of my cheeks and landed on the rim of his dusty and well-worn Red Sox ball cap. I could feel his gentle breathing against my chest as I said a silent prayer that he would be okay.

"I love you, Daniel. Always remember that."

"Mommy?"

"I can’t go with you, Daniel. It's my job to stay here."

His voice cracked. "Your job?" My heart broke.

"My job as your Mom."

My throat constricted so tightly that I couldn't say anything more even if I wanted to as I lifted him up to the safety of the surface.

His tiny hand slipped from mine as he disappeared into the light above. I whispered goodbye, then darkness took back its own.

Congratulations Two Time Winner Cynthia, Silver, Sheilagh, and Cara! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)


Thursday, December 19, 2013

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 100


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Are you ready for the holidays yet? I'm not, but that's what makes it entertaining. And even better, it's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 100 (*GASP*) of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 100:


Spanking queen, F/F romance author, and naughtiest elf of them all, Anastasia Vitsky.



And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“I can’t go with you.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Snipppet Sunday - The Navy's Ghost - Ambushed by Love


Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. Today I'm introducing my latest release, The Navy's Ghost, a military romantic suspense, though I call it my Menage a'SEALs. No paranormal critters in this one, though there's plenty of kick-ass adventure and hot sex. Just to be clear, this is a M/F/M erotic romance.

Ensign Christiana "Ghost" Brickman is taking the helo express home after almost bleeding out in an ambush. Her squad is around her and two of her teammates, Todd "Magic" Hunter and Lt. Jim "Retro" Waters are keeping an eye on her. And Magic has been having some unauthorized feelings for Chris.

As she lay dying on the grimy floor of the Nicaraguan warehouse, Magic’s feelings for Ensign Christiana Brickman had crystallized into blinding clarity. I love her. He’d ignored the thought in favor of saving her life, but now, with the squad around him and the action settled, it came roaring back into his mind, clear as day. Jubilation mixed with terror settled into his gut. No fraternization within the ranks. Too bad his heart couldn’t remember the rules.
“How’s she doing, Magic?” Retro shouted through the mic to Magic over the rotors.
“Stable for now. High as a kite, but stable.”
“Good to hear. Pilot says back on base in fifty mikes.”
“Roger that.”
“Why do they always use boys’ names for everything?”
Retro and Magic turned to the woman lying between them and met the clouded hazel gaze beneath the lowered brows. “Say again, Brickman?”
“Boys’ names. Why do they always use them for everything?”
“What are you talking about?” Retro raised an eyebrow.
“You know, Mike for minute, Roger for understood.” Brickman rolled her head to pin Retro with her focus. “Jimmy for futzing with locks. Hey, your name is Jim.” She licked her lips and swallowed. “I like your name, Jim Retro. And I like you, too. You’re handsome.”
“Yep. Definitely high as a kite.” Retro snorted and shot a smile at Magic. Todd tried to smile back, but his gut sank. What if she preferred Jim over him? Get your head back in the game. She’s never shown interest in any of us.

Uh-oh. It sounds like Magic has lost his heart to the one woman he's not supposed to want. There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Anastasia Vitsky, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Zee Monodee, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from The Navy's Ghost, here's the blurb:

A SEAL is strongest with her Team…

Ensign Christiana "Ghost" Brickman is the only female SEAL to survive BUD/S training, a real Navy Jane. But when an ambush ends her career as an active SEAL, she’s free to pursue other interests. Like her two best friends Lt. Jim "Retro" Waters and Chief Warrant Officer Todd "Magic" Hunter. She's wanted them for over a year, but never dared to approach them while in the squad.

Retro has fought his dark desires since high school, certain the need to share a woman unnatural. Magic had never considered sharing before Ghost mentions it, but it solves his dilemma of choosing between his best friend and his woman. But Retro balks at Ghost’s offer to share and retreats from both when she marries Magic.

Everyone feels Retro’s loss, but he ignores the ache of their broken connection in favor of living ‘normal.’ When Ghost and the other wives of Beta Squad are kidnapped, Retro must reevaluate how much both Ghost and Magic mean to him. And he must decide how far he's willing to go to save the woman he loves, before she becomes the Navy's ghost.

It's available now at Smashwords, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Barnes&Noble. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading. :)

Friday, December 13, 2013

A Little Christmas ICE Magic in the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for the Home for the Holidays Blog Hop hosted by MFRW bloghops.

It's that time of year again when the weather turns frightful and the company is (hopefully) delightful. Lights appear on houses and tree, and joy is everywhere. Usually.

At my house, however, it's a mad dash to get things done for the holiday. Schools want you to do all sorts of extras to help them help your kids celebrate in addition to all the White Elephant parties, Christmas Parties, and family get-togethers. I get to the point where I don't care what day we celebrate on as long as it's mellow. Hard to find that kind of peace with kids or family visiting. But with eggnog scones and sparkling apple cider, it's usually a happy time for the Muir family.

Not so much for Lily Sinclair, the heroine of Christmas ICE Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. For her, life is dark, bleak, and full of sorrow since the death of her twin brother two years earlier. She doesn't feel like anywhere is home and she's just looking for one last moment of peace before she hits oblivion. Fortunately for her, her brother has a little trick up his sleeve.

EXCERPT of Christmas ICE Magic

“Oh, God, Linus, I’ve missed you so much.” She pressed her nose against his chest and tried to stop the sobs shaking her body. She only succeeded in crying harder.
“Hey, now, Lil, don’t cry. I’ve been here the whole time.” Linus squeezed her gently. “You still felt the connection, right?”
Lily pushed back a little and looked up at him. “No. What connection? You died. You were gone and my heart was empty. I was all alone. How could you do that to your younger sister?”
Linus chuckled. “I’m only older by ten minutes.”
“Still.” She thumped him in the arm with her fist. “You’re not supposed to leave your little sister by herself.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sorry about that.” He gave her a sad smile. “I didn’t know it was part of the plan or I would’ve given you a heads-up.”
Lily’s lower lip trembled. “I didn’t get to say goodbye, you big knucklehead. I was in Australia.” She shook her head and tears splashed her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have gone.”
“Bullshit.” Linus pushed her down on a nearby crystal. “You’d wanted to see what Christmas was like in the tropics and you got the opportunity.” He dropped beside her. “No one could’ve known what would happen. You can’t live your life defensively. That’s not living.”
Lily huffed a laugh, swiping at her tears. “Says the dead guy.”
He grinned. “I should know, shouldn’t I?”
“Heh. Yeah.” She rubbed her nose on her sleeve.
“Here’s the thing. I’ve been with you every step of the way, keeping an eye on you, and you’re starting to freak me out a little, Lil.” He took her hand and met her gaze, his usually dancing eyes serious. “You’re pushing too hard and it’s going to end up killing you.”
Lily pursed her lips and looked away. How could she tell her dead brother she didn’t want to live anymore? “There’s nothing really left for me…here.”
“Bullshit again.” Linus shook his head and gave her a dry look. “You have Fleur, Penny, and Elle back at the Lodge. You have Mom and Pop, who worry about all the risks you take now. All those people love you and don’t want to lose you. Hell, you have four hundred and twenty Facebook friends, right? I bet they’d notice if you were gone.”
Lily didn’t laugh. “They don’t understand. No one does. The magic is gone. You’re gone.”
“Jeez, there are days you’re dumber than a bag of hammers.”
“What?” She blinked up at him as he stood over her with his arms crossed on his chest.
“Lily, I still have a connection to you. You feel it every time you get the thrill of hang gliding or standing at the edge of Niagara Falls. That’s the magic you and I share, even now.”
“But it fades and leaves me more empty than before.”
Linus crouched before her and took her hands. “That’s because you’re trying to hold on to the past too tightly. The past is empty, there’s nothing there. You have to make new memories and experience the magic of the present. What did the old tortoise say?” Linus scrunched up his nose, narrowed his eyes, and made his voice sound old. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Take the gift and unwrap the magic, Lily. It’s there for you, you just have to reach for it.”
The tears scalded her cheeks in burning trails. “But it’s not the same without you, Linus. My heart is empty now that you’re gone.”
“Then you’re going to have to fill it with something better, right? Take the gift, Lily. It’s Christmas, after all.” He gave her one more squeeze and stood up again. “All joking aside, it’s not time for you to give up. You have so much more you need to do and so many others who need your adventurous spirit, got me? So, instead of getting busy dying, you need to get busy living.” Linus glanced past her shoulder, a cheeky grin quirked his lips. “There’s more magic in the world than you know and you have to take a chance. You have to hang in there long enough to discover it.” He met her gaze again. “Promise me you’ll take the chance, Lil.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do it alone.”
“Yes, you can.” He glanced past her again and nodded as if in greeting. “But it looks like you won’t have to. Now promise me.”
“But—”
“Promise.” Linus crossed his arms over his chest.
“I promise.”
“Good. I’m going to hold you to that, you know.” A warm smile filled his features. “I love you, Lil. Remember you promised. I think I know someone who can help you keep it.”
“What? Who?” Lily looked over her shoulder, but she didn’t see anything beyond a bright, flickering light. When she turned back, Linus had retreated and jogged away from her through the crystals. “Linus, wait!”
She jumped up to follow him, but he only increased his pace, a loving smile on his face.
“Get busy living, Lil. And go play in the snow. It’s Christmas!”

So let's get busy living and play in the snow. There are four holiday stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge anthology and each one should bring a smile to your face. You can find a copy of it on:
Amazon
Smashwords

In the meantime, I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter who answers this question: Where is home for you during the holidays? For me, it's anywhere with my immediate family, my husband and kids. Please leave a valid email address or Twitter handle so I can contact you if you win. The givaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time on Dec 13 2013 until 11:59 pm Pacific time on Dec. 15 2013, and is open internationally. You must be 18 years or older to win and please void where prohibited.

Thanks for stopping by, good luck on the hop, and happy reading! :)

Thursday, December 12, 2013

#ThursThreads - Week 99 - Winners


Week 99 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write. And it was wonderful to have some new folks stop by. Welcome! Great thanks to Rebecca Brennan for judging this week. :)

Entries:
  • Yusuf Toropov | @BYToropov
  • Jessica P West | @West1Jess
  • James Bulls | @54_NoG
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • Cari Oleskewicz | @carilynn72
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
  • Kate Lipnitskaya | @gorgeous_jaan
  • Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane
  • Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
  • Rebecca R Kovar | @RRKovar

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Cynthia Hudson Keane | @AuthorCAKeane
Rebecca says: A wicked, treacherous, angry woman... what could be better? I really love how this one unfolded and I could really taste the bitterness in the words. I had a feel of rich indifference and isolation, and had imaged a whole lifetime of marriage for this bitter couple by the end of this short piece. This one was a close second for me.

Rebecca R Kovar | @RRKovar
Rebecca says: I really liked this tale. The main character and her personality really jumped off the page for me. I could feel her lack of education, her backwoods-y nature, and imagine the sort of upbringing she had--where she is from...so many great tells to give us a vivid image of her. The last few sentences confused me a little, but I still wanted to know more.

Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
Rebecca says: Hello? Pirates... my obsession and weakness... Ok, it got some points for that, but it's not why it made my list. I enjoyed how the author made comparisons between the dying ship and himself. The touch subtle touch of defiance in them both was a nice addition as well.

Week 99 Winner



Rebecca says: I absolutely loved this flash piece. I didn't see the ending coming and I was smiling and nodding when I got there. Clever, clever. This really appealed to the fairy tale/folk story lover in me, as well. Descriptive, precise -- nothing wasted and nothing missing. As someone who started her journey to author-hood writing flash and micro fiction, I give a hearty kudos to you on this tale.

Birds of Paradise

They want me to go to this castle, only I’ve never been there and I don’t trust castles, particularly castles with all that squawking.

Perhaps it’s just a flock of northern geese, looking for a warm place to settle and discussing the options while this pathetic human listens and considers the moat and the drawbridge and the cobwebs and the cold, white-gray stone.

What if it’s not geese? What if that dreadful noise is coming from inside the castle?

I take another desperate look around. No one.

But I won’t go alone.

It only takes a snap of the fingers and my guardian angel is at my side, sizing up the castle and shaking his head.

“Don’t do it.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“What’s all that noise?”

“Sounds like geese.”

He takes off his baseball hat and scratches his head. “You can ignore them.”

My guardian angel played major league baseball until he was shot and killed in a bizarre hunting accident with a friend. He’s 18 years younger than me and usually he’s much smarter. He knows things, but I find myself ready to argue with him about the castle. I have to do what I’m told.

“I can’t go with you.”

I nod, stepping to the door.

It takes only a few minutes for me to start squawking. I look around for him, but all I see are birds who used to be people and they spread their expansive wings in welcome.

Congratulations Winner Cari, Cynthia, Rebecca, and Mark! Don't forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)


#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 99


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Are you ready for the holidays yet? I'm not, but that's what makes it entertaining. Well, it's Thursday today, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 99 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up.
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 99:


Single parent, erotic romance author, and lover of pirates, rum, and penguins, Rebecca Brennan.


And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“But I won’t go alone.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!