Constance started writing contemporary romance and contemporary romance suspense fifteen years ago.

She was born and raised in Michigan. After 38 years working for the State of Michigan, she retired. She and her husband moved to Montana and lived in the mountainside of a small town, where this story, Elkhorn In The Moonlight, was based upon. After living there for three years, They moved to Alabama, with her three feline furballs who owns her and her husband.

Her hobbies include basket weaving, reading romance books, and jewelry making as well as writing.

Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?

Nicole: Nicole Lancaster

Beverley: Where did you grow up? 

Nicole: Mason, Montana

Beverley:   During what time period does your story take place? 

Nicole: Current time period

Beverley:   What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?

Nicole: I grew up in Mason, Montana. I helped a Native American, Marcus Blackhawk, find some very important sacred arrows.

Beverley:   What’s your goal in this story?

Nicole: I took Marcus to the cave in Elkhorn Mountains to find his sacred arrows. I also fell in love with him.

Beverley:   What conflicts are you facing?

Nicole: I thought he was married. When I found out he wasn’t, I didn’t know how to express myself and show interest in him, we were trekking across some dangerous mountains, and we saw quite a bit of wildlife.

Beverley:   Do you have a plan for resolving them?

Nicole: I did not. I just allowed myself to be me.

Beverley:   Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you? 

Nicole: I love to read romance books, and I love photography. I’m an avid hiker, and I hike all summer long in the mountains behind my home with my dog, Sierra.

Blurb for Elkhorn in the Moonlight:

The search for stolen Sacred Arrows leads to much more.

Marcus Blackhawk is on a mission to locate the Sacred Arrows that were stolen from the Cheyenne Nation. When he learns that someone has seen the arrows, he leaves immediately to track the person down and get more information.

Nicole Lancaster ekes out a living in a small town by helping her brother run a motel and working part-time in a restaurant. Her mundane life suddenly becomes more exciting when Marcus arrives in town asking about some arrows that she came upon years ago while hiking in the Elkhorn Mountains. The gorgeous man makes her heart beat fast, but she knows he’d never be interested in a Plain Jane like herself.

When Marcus offers Nicole a large sum of cash to lead him to the cave where she saw the arrows, she takes him up on the offer. After a three-day hiking trip through the mountains they locate the cave, but then the unthinkable happens, and they find themselves trapped inside. As they wait, hopeful they’ll be rescued, they give into the passion that’s been simmering between them.

Will help arrive in time to save them? And if so, can their night of passion ever be anything more? Marcus has no interest in an actual relationship, and Nicole wants the whole nine yards.

Excerpt Elkhorn in the Moonlight:

“You pass it every time you go into Mason. The other two are on the other side of the overpass. Sandpiper Mine you can see from the highway, but you have to go on Gulch Mine to get to the Elkhorn Mountains. The mountain ranges there are the highest, and there are a lot of vertical drops, so you’d have to travel where you can walk it. It’s not something where you can climb it and be there. You have to go in a roundabout way.” “Do you have a very clear vision of where this cave is, and how to get to it?” he asked. “Yes. I remember it clear as day now.” “How soon can you get yourself ready for the hike?” “What? I’m not going there. You are. I can’t just take off and leave, I have work to do. Plus, it’s way too cold to go there right now. The mountains in that area still have snow on them.” “You think I would know where to go by the information that you provided?” “I gave you very good information,” she said. “Do you have the coordinates for GPS?” “No. I don’t.” “So, you think that I, who have never traveled these mountains before, would have no problem finding that cave?” Marcus’s eyes narrowed as he regarded her. “I don’t have any idea how you intend to get there. Personally, I think you should wait until summer to do it. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable.” Marcus sat thinking about the situation for a second, and then he said, “Name your price.” “Huh?” “I said, name your price,” he repeated. “I need you to lead me to that cave, and I have to do it this week.” “You’re not listening to me. I can’t take you there. I have work to do here. I can’t leave to go on a weeklong camping trip.” “You can for a price,” he said grimly. “You can’t buy me off to get what you want,” Nicole said defensively. “Everyone is willing to do certain things for a certain price. Will thirty thousand get you interested and willing to go?” “I…I…thirty thousand? No, I won’t be bought,” she stammered.

“Look, Nicole. Let’s quit with the games. I’m going to go there to get those Sacred Arrows, and you are the one who is going to take me there and bring me back. I’m offering you thirty thousand for a week…week and a half of work. I think your brother and his wife can handle the motel for that length of time.” “I’m sorry.” She stopped for a few seconds. “I won’t be bullied. My answer is no.” She stood up to leave. “Just think about this. Like I said, thirty thousand for a week and a half of work. Think what you could do with that money. Think of all the possibilities and opportunities you’d have. As for the weather, I know you have lived through worse weather right here in Mason. You know what to expect. I would not let you go up there without your GPS, your cellphone and satellite phone, your two-way radio, and letting your brother know exactly where you’re at should there ever be an emergency. I’ll give you until tomorrow at noon to tell me your decision, and if I were you, I’d think about this very seriously. I intend to have my way in this,” he said sternly. Grabbing his maps and the pictures she gave him, he walked back to the causeway and to his room.

Buy Links for Elkhorn in the Moonlight

You can find Constance at:

Email: bretesc@gmail.com

Website: https://constancebretes.com

Blog: https://www.constancebretes.com/connies-blog

NL Link: https://www.constancebretes.com/news–things.html

Amazon Author URL: https://www.amazon.com/Constance-Bretes/e/B00IKSKRES/

Bookbub Author URL: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/constance-bretes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conniebretes/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7737457.Constance_Bretes

Instagram: constancebretesauthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cbretes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConstanceBretes

Giveaway

Constance is giving away an ebook copy of Elkhorn InThe Moonlight and an ebook from her backlist during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here https://goo.gl/WosRX4

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After leaving her career teaching gemology, Caryn DeVincenti, who writes as Dana Ross, moved to the sunshine state to become a full-time writer. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at Wilkes University and is the regional director of the Florida Writers Association, Palm Beach County.

When not writing, Caryn nurtures her social media addiction, dances (poorly) to loud ’80s music, and plays chase with her insane Cairn terrier.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Dana: Hi, Beverley. Thank you for hosting me today. My favorite genre to write in would be a tie: Women’s Fiction or contemporary romance. I’m a sucker for a good love story, especially one that isn’t predictable, too syrupy sweet, and features flawed characters. Most of the books or and movies I read/watched growing up featured edgy protagonists or characters we both love and love to hate. In my first book, I wanted to create a memorable villainess, one with flaws, but someone people could actually root for.

Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?

Dana: My paternal grandmother was a librarian for seventy-five years. She instilled my passion for reading and always gave me excellent recommendations. I inherited a few collectables when she passed away, and they are my most treasured possessions. But my daughter and my father have been my biggest supporters. They were the ones who urged me to keep writing and never give up.

Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?

Dana: Music and my treadmill. Every day I drag myself to my ancient treadmill and key up my playlists on YouTube or Spotify. Songs without lyrics are best because they set the mood yet allow my brain to process the story in my mind. After my workout, I run to my writer’s chair before I shower so the ideas are fresh in my mind.

Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?

Dana: I love “Daria” from the late 90s/early 2000s. She had snark and spunk and wit. I loved her dry sense of humor and the way she used it to survive life in suburbia.

Beverley: Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?

Dana: I am obsessed with the actor Hugh Laurie. He was the protagonist of House, M.D., one of my favorite shows—among others, and he’s also an incredibly talented musician/singer. It would be great fun to meet him in person and watch him perform.

Beverley: I f you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?

Dana: Free time is such a luxury, especially being a mother. If I were to have a free day, I’d go for a long walk outdoors with my fur baby (my insane terrier,) write a few pages in my current manuscript, have dinner at my favorite sushi haunt, and wrap up the evening dancing or having drinks with my friends.

Beverley: What are you working on now?

Dana: I’ve been working on a New Adult novel, one I started during NaNoWriMo two years ago, a story based on a real-life heroine who deals with extreme physical challenges.

Blurb for Full Girlfriend Experience

When DC Madam Faith Crawley receives a call from former client, Senator William Drummond, it’s the answer to her prayers. The money the dirty politician offers her to smear his rival Finn Billings will save Faith’s business, her lifestyle, and her girls.

Raised in the shadow of a political magnate, Finn Billings has the credentials to get the job done, but he lacks confidence and wonders if politics is truly the life he desires.

Using the façade of her front business, a PR firm, Faith turns Finn into a political powerhouse while obtaining the evidence Drummond needs to destroy Finn’s political chances. But Faith didn’t plan on falling in love with her mark.

Now she has the toughest decision ever—give the sleazy senator incriminating photos of Finn to save her business or give up everything for the sake of love.

Excerpt for Full Girlfriend Experience

In the biz, your word was golden, and there were rules that had to be upheld. White lies were acceptable, but there were certain lines one never crossed. Keep data in code, shield clients’ privacy, and, most importantly, protect the girls. At all costs. I’d always honored these precepts to the best of my abilities. It helped me stay afloat while other madams sank like flat tires in the Anacostia River.

Yet there I was after one free lunch, considering a partnership with a man who didn’t deserve to lick my stilettoes. Why? Was it the champagne? Drummond’s smooth tongue? The fact that creditors were calling on a regular basis? Whatever the reason, I couldn’t dismiss him until I exhausted every option.

Unfortunately, I only had one.

Even worse, she hated my guts.

Buy Links for Full Girlfriend Experience

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Goi9nZ

The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6520-full-girlfriend-experience.html

You can find Dana at:

Website: https://danarossauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danarossauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaRossauthor/

blog: www.mysocalledwritinglife.wordpress.com

    Dana is giving away 2 Full Girlfriend Experience ebooks during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here https://goo.gl/4Zd12n

      a Rafflecopter giveaway

Does weather affect your writing?

Weather can be part of a setting or used as emphasis to describe the mood of a scene, but does it affect your actual writing? If it’s bitterly cold and you’re stuck inside; or it’s pouring rain, or it’s a beautiful warm, sunny day, or many other weather possibilities. Does your writing schedule change?

It affects me. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m looking for an excuse to escape the computer because I’ve written myself into a corner. If it’s really cold I know it’s the perfect time to write, but I swear my brain goes into hibernation mode (you eat to put on fat so you can sleep through the cold). I have to work really hard to motivate myself to write. It’s the old – just put words on a page and set a definite time to sit and star in front of the computer.

Sunny days are just as bad because I want to be outside and take the dog for walks or work in the garden or curl up on the deck with a good book. (It’s research.)  

The in between times are my best writing times April to June and September to November. What about you? Does the weather change your writing schedule? Do you write better at certain times of the year?

The post this month is love sex, & relationships are part of many books. What seems acceptable, what do you think current readers want, and what (for you) is going too far?

 

Now this is an interesting topic.

I’m not sure what current readers want. I think they each have their own preferences. They find an author who writes what that reader enjoys. If it’s sex they’re going to look for erotica. If it’s love they’ll find those sweet books. If they’re more interested in a strong plot with maybe a first-person detective, they’ll pick up one of those books.  

What’s going too far? I honestly don’t know. Today it’s all about pushing boundaries.

The reader will decide if it’s gone too far for their comfort zone and not read that author.

I do think the books need to be labelled (erotica, YA, RS, etc.) or described on the back cover blurb so the reader has some idea of the sex, relationship inside.

Love and relationships, those are my thing. I think they add an extra depth and layering to the character building, to the plot and eventually the HEA. I find the straight murder/suspense while a great story, leaves me feeling I’ve missed out on something, (the relationships) and the HEA.

All my books, The Hawkins’ Ranch series and The Fourth Victim have love, relationships and HEA. (and a modicum of sex) 😊

Interesting topic and I’m curious to see what the other authors have to say. And I’d love to hear what people have to say from a reader’s point of view.    

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

A.J. Maguire  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1vP

Rhobin L Courtright http://www . rhobinleecourtright. com

Meet Christina Lynn Lambert:

A few years ago, I read my first romance novel and I was hooked, so much so that I decided to give the idea of writing a story a chance.  My style is more gritty than sweet and I look forward to writing many more stories with strong heroines and imperfect but determined characters. Love, courage, hope, and second chances are a few of my favorite themes. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. I live in beautiful Virginia with my husband, two daughters, and a sweet, hairy monster of a dog. 

Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?

Grant: Grant Mitchell

Beverley: Where did you grow up?

Grant: In a not so great area of New Jersey, USA

Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?

Grant: The present

Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?

Grant: Growing up, I never knew my dad so it was just me and my mom, though she wasn’t really around much. When she was around, she was usually drunk or worse. I tried to fix things up around the house because our landlord was skeevy and cheap. Money was tight so I paid whatever bills I could whenever I had (sometimes stole) enough cash.

I didn’t think much about the future when I was a kid. I was just trying to survive, day to day. My talent at math helped me earn a scholarship. After college, I put my math skills to good use and went into financial management. Numbers make more sense to me than people sometimes. 

I really don’t know why my author chose to write about me. I’m not very sociable and my sense of humor is kind of warped. I laugh at things I shouldn’t and love a good, dirty joke. I’m far from perfect but I’m a pretty decent guy, I guess.

Beverley:

What’s your goal in this story?

Grant: In the beginning of Bear’s Edge, I’m just trying to live my life without getting too attached to the people around me. I lost everyone I loved in a terrible fire and it took a long time for me to deal with the fact that a search and rescue worker turned me into a bear shifter rather than letting me die along with my friends.

My boss, Shayla, complicates my plans to stay alone forever. When I fell for her, I didn’t expect that she might have fallen for me too.

Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?

Grant: The problem with wanting Shayla? She’s my boss so that means we can’t date. Problem solved, right? That’s what I kept trying to tell myself but I couldn’t forget about her. I couldn’t stay away so I need to find a way for us to be together. But would she even want me if she knew I was a bear shifter? What about if she knew how screwed up my family history was? Or if she knew about some of the not-so-vanilla things I want from her in the bedroom?

I don’t know if Shayla could ever possibly want to be with me for the long haul but a conspiracy theory reporter is intent on proving Shayla is something other than human and I can’t let that happen. When that reporter puts Shayla’s business and her life in jeopardy, I have to find a way to keep her safe.

Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?

Grant: Losing someone I love is my biggest fear and someone’s after Shayla. I’ll do whatever I can to keep her safe. I may have to make some decisions in the heat of the moment that will affect our lives forever. I just have to hope I make the right decisions. I hope she can forgive me if the decision wasn’t what she wanted after all.

Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

Grant: I’m not really into personal sharing or talking about my feelings and singing Adelle songs and all that mess. When I’m mad or freaked out or unsettled, I fix things around my house or build things. I built a gazebo for my back yard one weekend because I didn’t want to think about why I couldn’t stop thinking about Shayla. I still couldn’t stop thinking about her but lifting and hammering a bunch of heavy wooden beams eased my mind a bit.

I prefer being outside. The quiet and peace of being outdoors appeases the bear shifter side of me, plus, I don’t care for big crowds. Honestly, anywhere Shayla and I are together is my favorite place, even if we’re just walking around the hardware store or waiting in line at the pharmacy dealing with a snarky hipster clerk.

Anyway, thanks for talking with me.

Blurb for Bear’s Edge:

A boss can’t date her employee—simple as that. No matter how much Shayla wants to unravel a few of Grant’s mysteries and take her friendship with the shy, sarcastic man to the next level, she’s determined to keep her fantasies of him to herself. 

After bear shifter Grant lost his girlfriend and three best friends in a fire, he did his best to shut himself off from everyone around him. Falling for Shayla wasn’t part of his plan, but after a kiss that leaves them both speechless and hungry for more, Grant can’t keep his desire for his boss under wraps any longer. 

When things between the two of them get hotter than he could have imagined, Grant wonders if some of his darker desires will be too much for Shayla or will she embrace the needs he’s kept hidden for so long?

An obnoxious reporter and Shayla’s bitter ex have teamed up to chase down conspiracy theories that could destroy Shayla’s business and worse, put her life in danger. To find their happily ever after, Shayla and Grant will have to trust in each other and find a way to crush all the obstacles standing in their way.

Bear’s Edge purchase/book links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/bears-edge-stranger-creatures-book-ebook/dp/b07kb78g9k

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bears-edge-christina-lynn-lambert/1127154505

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christina_Lynn_Lambert_Bear_s_Edge?id=GcZ2DwAAQBAJ

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bears-edge/id1441668063

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bear-s-edge-1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/905705

You can find more about Christina at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinalynnlambert

WordPress: https://christinalynnlambertwordpress.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chris4lamb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15900423.Christina_Lynn_Lambert  

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Christina-Lynn-Lambert/e/B01MCYK0K7

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

 Valentine’s Day, the most romantic holiday of the year. What are you doing for Valentine’s this year?

I’m cooking my husband’s favorite dinner with his favorite wine.

Did you know Valentine’s Day originated as a Western Christian Feast Day honoring one or two saints named Valentinus. It is recognized as a significant cultural, religious and ‘commercial’ celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world. It’s not a public holiday anywhere.

The day first became associated with romantic love when the tradition of courtly love flourished during the time of Chaucer. In 18th -century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering candy and sending greeting cards known as valentines. Since the 19th -century, handwritten valentines have given away to mass-produced greeting cards (which get more expensive each year).

In the United States, the first mass-produced Valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book and stationery store, but Howland took her inspiration from an English Valentine she had received from a business associate of her father. Intrigued with the idea of making similar Valentines, Howland began her business by importing paper lace and floral decorations from England. Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual “Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary”.

In 1868, the British chocolate company Cadbury created Fancy Boxes — a decorated box of chocolates — in the shape of a heart for Valentine’s Day. Boxes of filled chocolates quickly became associated with the holiday. In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts, such as giving jewelry.

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities are included the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines. The average valentine’s spending has increased every year in the U.S, from $108 a person in 2010 to $131 in 2013.

The rise of Internet popularity at the turn of the millennium is creating new traditions. Millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine’s Day greeting messages such as e-cards, love coupons, or printable greeting cards. An estimated 15 million e-valentines were sent in 2010. Valentine’s Day is considered by some to be a Hallmark holiday due to its commercialization. (And thanks to Wikipedia for most of this information.)

 

My guest didn’t show up. I’ve been talking about the Food Guide and the top three diets or lifestyle eating, so I thought I’d continue in that theme this month. Today I’m going to talk about SuperFoods. You know, those ones they tell you they think are good for your health ad you should be eating. They are mostly plant-based but may also include some fish and diary. They are thought to be nutritionally dense good for one’s health.

Remember Kale? In 2018 it was the number one superfood. This year it didn’t even make the top ten. 😊 This year’s number one superfood is sauerkraut (or kimchi), any fermented food. Fermentation is in and you can buy fermentation kits and ferment your own veges. I did read that if you do, don’t use vinegar, just water.

So, what’s on the top ten list of superfoods for 2019? Here you go.

1. Fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi and miso

2. Avocado

3. Seeds

4. Ancient grains

5. Exotic fruit, like acai and golden berries   (Hmmm…)

6. Blueberries

7. Beets

8. Nuts

9. Coconut products

10. Non-dairy milks

Want to take the test to see what superfoods you need? Here’s a link. https://yoursuper.com/pages/what-superfoods-does-your-body-needs?gclid=CjwKCAiA7vTiBRAqEiwA4NTO61iWFgXO2ToqT7Aoa1be12DosGcIQvZ-BV2z1hyA6EhVQ_n0W9lNYhoCamsQAvD_BwE

I’d love to hear your thoughts on superfoods.

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

In January 2019 Kelli released the second half of her flash fiction series, Cupid’s Schemes . These two volumes of lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

She also authored her first online writing course, Fiction Writing for Beginners, through Teachable. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.

Kelli’s historical romance, Redemption from a Dark Past , was published in 2018. This full-length Gothic novel is set in the kingdom of Hungary in 1723 and blends a sensual romance with mystery and suspense.

If you like horror fiction, don’t miss her latest novella, Nightmare in the North .

Hi everyone,

Today I’m sharing a look at my latest contemporary romance releases, Cupid’s Schemes – Volumes 1 & 2 . As many readers know, I write romances in all genres (historical, fantasy, gay, paranormal, and contemporary) at all heat levels, but these novellas are something new for me. Instead of full-length romances, each book is a collection of flash-fiction stories.

Both volumes contain a dozen or more sweet romances where the characters meet under unusual circumstances and develop an intense connection. And that’s where I leave them—at the start of their relationship. Why?

I wanted to show how two people meet, feel a spark of romance, and then leave the rest of the story up to the reader’s imagination. What happens next is up to you. I end each story with the characters in good places and the potential to have a happy-ever-after ending with their new love interest. These feel-good stories are perfect for a boost of romance whenever or wherever you need it.

The settings vary from New Year’s Eve parties to snowstorms, summer picnics, and even a haunted corn maze. I grouped the stories by season, so as you read through each book, you’ll be following the calendar year. And believe it or not, some of these settings and “first meets” were inspired by true stories people have told me over the years.

Here are the summaries and links to each book, plus an excerpt from the first story in Volume 2.

Cupid’s Schemes – Volume 1 A Collection of Sweet Romances

In these 16 flash fiction vignettes, Cupid’s arrow hits the mark and ignites a spark between two strangers—whether or not they’re looking for romance. Their unusual meetings lead to new beginnings and new chances at love.

Sweet stories of couples falling under Cupid’s spell include:

* a Medieval knight courting a pretty lady

* two neighbors discover that romance can happen when you least expect it

* a dehydrated mermaid rescued by a handsome stranger

These lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B07JM9K1BB

All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/boZxkZ

And don’t miss Cupid’s Schemes – Volume 2 Another Collection of Sweet Romances

In these 12 mini-romances…

* a photographer falls for a sexy cowboy in a supposedly abandoned ghost town

* new neighbors discover that romance can happen when you least expect it

* a long-lost love returns in an unexpected setting

Order Cupid’s Schemes: Volume 2 here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MFR25KF

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/mYrBBd

An Excerpt from…  New Year, New Love

“This New Year’s Eve party is going to be fun. I’m glad you could come at the last minute,” Sharon said to Diana as they stepped into the hotel lobby.

“Thanks for inviting me. I didn’t want to let your extra ticket go to waste,” Diana replied. She hated to admit that she’d had no other plans for tonight other than to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. She turned as Sharon’s boyfriend, Matt, and another man strolled up to them.

“You remember my cousin Eric, don’t you?” Sharon asked.

Diana gazed up at the six-foot-three blond hunk. Eric looked absolutely adorable in his dark gray suit, crisp white shirt, and blue and gray striped tie.

“Yes, of course.” How could she ever forget Eric? Even though she had only spent an afternoon with him, meeting a dreamboat like Eric stayed with a girl for a long time.

“Hi Eric. Happy New Year,” she said, then glanced at Sharon, confused. Why was Eric here? Was he alone? Where was his girlfriend, Melissa?

Eric stepped to her side. “Hi Diana. It’s nice to see you again. Can I take your coat?”

“Sure. Thanks.” She let Eric help her out of her gray wool coat. She caught his eyes roving down the front of her midnight-blue dress. She almost hadn’t worn the low-cut dress tonight, but then reconsidered. Why not? It was New Year’s Eve and she should dress up and look nice, even if she was single. One of her New Year’s resolutions was to jumpstart her boring life, starting tonight.

They handed their coats to the coat check attendant and strolled into a grand ballroom decorated in silver and gold. Eric kept pace with her as they followed Sharon and Matt to a table.

“This is some change, huh?” Eric said as he pulled out a chair for her. “The last time I saw you it was ninety degrees outside and we were both in a pool.”

Diana felt a blush creep into her cheeks. “I know. Sharon’s Labor Day party seems like yesterday.” She sighed as she recalled seeing Eric’s lean, tan body in nothing but blue swim trunks. She and Eric had gotten along fabulously at the party and they had a lot in common. They had been having harmless fun playing volleyball when Melissa showed up and everything went to hell.

But Melissa wasn’t here tonight. Did that mean Eric was single?

She looked at Eric and felt her pulse surge. Now she was elated that she had accepted Sharon’s invitation. This was one New Year’s Eve she’d never forget.

***

I hope you enjoy these collections of sweet romances. I welcome comments and questions from readers and other authors. Contact me via my site, blog, or social media pages.

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Here’s a full list of where you can find Kelli on the web.

Website: http://www.KelliWilkins.com

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I hate the word diet because it always sounds like you’re starving yourself to lose weight.

These days, hopefully, more people are looking to eat ‘healthy’. Last week I posted the New Canada Health Guidelines, which I think are similar to the American ones. They focused more on healthy eating, fruits, veges, nuts, and drinking water.

Today I’d like to mention the top three diets recommended by nutritionists, doctors, and health personal. They are – one, the Mediterranean Diet, Two, the DASH Diet and number Three, the Flexitarian Diet.

The Mediterranean Diet has been around for years.  and incorporates the Mediterranean lifestyle.

This way of eating is low on red meat, sugar and saturated fats and high in produce, nuts and other healthful foods. The Mediterranean Diet may offer a host of health benefits such as weight loss, heart and brain health, cancer prevention, and diabetes prevention and control. There isn’t actually a Mediterranean diet. The Harvard School of Public Health, Oldways, a non-profit food think tank in Boston, developed a consumer-friendly Mediterranean diet pyramid that gives guidelines on how to fill your plate – and maybe wineglass – the Mediterranean way.

The pyramid emphasizes eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices; fish and seafood at least a couple of times a week; and poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt in moderation, while saving sweets and red meat for special occasions. Top it off with a splash of red wine (if you want), remember to stay physically active and you’re set.

The DASH Diet has also been around for quite awhile. It stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to do exactly that. It emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy, which are high in blood pressure-deflating nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein and fiber. It discourages foods high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy foods and tropical oils, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets and caps sodium at 2,300 milligrams a day. Start by making whatever small changes seem most manageable to you.

Add one vegetable or fruit serving to every meal, introduce two or more meat-free meals each week, use herbs and spices to make food tastier without the salt and snack on almonds or pecans instead of a bag of chips.

The Flexitarian is a marriage of two words: flexible and vegetarian. The term was coined more than a decade ago, by registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner. You don’t have to eliminate meat completely to reap the health benefits associated with vegetarianism – you can be a vegetarian most of the time, but still have a burger or steak when the urge hits. By eating more plants and less meat, it’s suggested that adherents to the diet will not only lose weight but can improve their overall health, lowering their rate of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and live longer as a result. It’s a bout adding five food groups to your diet – not taking any away. These are: the “new meat” (non-meat proteins like beans, peas or eggs); fruits and veggies; whole grains; dairy; and sugar and spice.

And if you’re looking for  healthy snack try roasted chickpeas.

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas          2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt  2  to 4 teaspoons spices or finely-chopped fresh herbs.

Put rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F.

Open chickpeas and put in a strainer and rinse under running water.

Pat the chickpeas very dry with a clean dishtowel or paper towels.

Toss the chickpeas with olive oil and salt and s pread the chickpeas in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with more oil and sprinkle with the salt.

Stir to make sure the chickpeas are evenly coated

Roast the chickpeas for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring the chickpeas or shaking the pan every 10 minutes. The chickpeas should be golden, dry and crispy on the outside. Toss them with the spices and coat evenly . Serve while warm and crispy.

Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, with a dash of kink.

Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in 12 works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, the Feisty Lawyers series, The Garage Dweller , A Touchdown to Remember , The President’s Wife , and The President’s Daughter , as well as the romance anthology, Pieces of Us .

When not spinning her kinky tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.

Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Seelie: I love writing romance primarily because I believe love plays such a vital role in our society. There are all sorts of love and all sorts of romance and that is delightful to observe, then weave into a story. However, I also love mysteries and thrillers, which is why I recently moved into writing romantic suspense. I think my fascination with Emma Peel in the old TV series, “The Avengers” is pushing me in that direction.

Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?

Seelie: My parents were teachers and from the moment I could hold a crayon, I was writing, whether it a letter of the alphabet, words, or eventually, a letter of complaint about a parental wrong (they saved them). My parents found opportunities to teach and learn in almost anything, and when they discovered a particular talent or interest, they encouraged it. That wasn’t easy with five kids, but they succeeded. I liked to write and read, and they made sure I had the opportunity to study the work of great writers and then encouraged me to put my own pen to paper. Growing up, being encouraged to do what you love, was a pretty amazing experience.

Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?

Seelie: (laughs) It doesn’t take much. I have a tough time shutting my mind off. It’s doesn’t take much to spark an idea for a story or character. I am inspired by a conversation, a news story, a memory, a photograph, a song, the laughter of a child, observing others…the list goes on.

Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?

Seelie: Winnie the Pooh. A.A. Milne created characters who traveled through life as sweet, somewhat confused but gentle beings, yet they were incredibly wise.

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

I probably quote Winnie the Pooh more than anyone else!

Beverley: Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?

Seelie: Hands down, Benjamin Franklin. I adore smart, creative men. I can imagine long, deep conversations about any and everything. I suspect I would be dazzled by his wit, overwhelmed by his brilliance, and charmed by his courtly manner. And then he’d destroy all that with an entirely inappropriate suggestion. (laughs)

Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?

Seelie: Hit the road! Go explore a new place, a restaurant, museum, or shop I haven’t visited yet. The older I get, the more I realize that I don’t have time to slow down. I have too much that needs doing.

Beverley: What are you working on now?

Seelie: I am finishing up the next book in my Feisty Lawyers series, “Cult.”

Blurb for Seizing Hope:

When four former law school classmates get kicked off the marriage train, they band together, put on their big girl panties, and fight back!

Former Northwestern Law School classmates Dina Willoughby, Miranda Mena, Leah Fraser, and Melody Harris are living the dream. Each had fantasized about the perfect husband while in law school and happily—for a time—that dream became a reality. Until Dina’s husband kicks her out two weeks before her prenuptial agreement kicks in, Miranda’s husband is arrested for securities fraud and flees the country with all of their money, Leah discovers that her royal husband misrepresented his feelings for her in order to get his hands on her money, and newly-pregnant Melody finally admits her artist husband is a sadistic, manipulative, jerk. Facing the loss of their husbands, and stripped of any financial support, the four women band together to fight back. Drawing on their unique legal skills and with the help of a few friends, including a hunky private investigator, a sexy law school professor, a determined cyber-security billionaire and the Queen of England, these four women not only take what’s theirs, they build the path to a new future, one filled with hope.

Excerpt for Seizing Hope:

“As he droned on about his golf game or the newest addition to his car collection or some gossipy tidbit among his fellow shallows, Dina was forced to drive her nails into her thighs just to stay awake. There she sat, the perfect debutante, a smile pasted onto her face, nodding in all the right places, nary a word embedding itself in her brain.

Oh, she wanted out. She needed to get out. Before George Donovan Willoughby the Third bored her to death. She squelched a sigh. Only two more weeks and she could be free. Sure, it wouldn’t be the many millions she had dreamed of, but it would still be seven figures, adequate compensation for five years of boredom.

Wearily, she tuned into his latest prattle. “And as I told my attorneys, there is no reason why we can’t end this amicably. After all, you must agree that this marriage was a mistake, and since our prenup settles a sufficient sum upon you should I pull the plug, you will continue to live comfortably, so what do you say? Let’s end this quickly and get on with our lives.”

Dina blinked, then she became outraged. Did George Donovan Willoughby the Third, the most boring man on the planet, just dump her? “Wait a minute. You want a divorce? From me?” She glared at George. “Surely you jest, darling.”

George gazed at her, his smile condescending. “As I said, darling, I am finding life with you rather boring. I need more stimulating companionship, and I have found it in Mimi Morrison.” His eyes brightened. “That woman is sweet, sassy, and sexy, and quite the firecracker in bed.” He sighed. “I married you because you were hot between the sheets, but once you had that ring on your finger, it rapidly became clear that we weren’t well-suited in other ways. It’s time to admit that marrying you was a mistake. Mother was right. Never marry beneath you.

“So, I think a quick and dirty divorce is for the best, don’t you? After all, we are adults and quite capable of civility. Perhaps Mexico on the ‘morrow?”

Dina stood, picked up her glass and dumped the well-aged bourbon onto George’s head. “This isn’t over until I say it’s over, dear George. Your timing sucks. In two more weeks, my property settlement increases by millions. I can’t believe you want to pull the plug and deprive me of the monies I am due. Being married to you was hard work, and I earned every penny of that settlement.”

Buy links for Seizing Hope:

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2349-0-seizing-hope/

Amazon: Coming soon

Barnes & Noble:  Coming soon

Smashwords: Coming soon

Kobo:  Coming soon

Seelie can be reached at:  

www.seeliekay.com

www.seeliekay.blogspot.com

Twitter: @SeelieKay https://twitter.com/SeelieKay

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/seelie.kay.77

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Seelie-Kay/e/B074RDRWNZ/

Prior Books:

Check out http://www.extasybooks.com/