Thursday, February 27, 2014

This Week's Free Books

This week's free books are here. Download them as quick as you can.

#FREE She’s hoping he won't give up easily. He never backs away from a challenge. The Convent Rosehttp://amzn.com/B00HJEB5YK @kindlefreebook 
#FREE Hunted by a notorious vamp, they’ll need instinct and trust to stay alive. Eden's Charmshttp://amzn.com/B00HJEH9HC @kindlefreebook 

#FREE Was it a murder-suicide, or was it something far more sinister? Framed by Nikki Andrewshttp://amzn.com/B00HJEHFV2 @KindleFreeOne 

#FREE The police need a scapegoat and their sights are dead set on Sam. The Black Palmetto@PaulCarr9 http://amzn.com/B00HJEHKRQ @Kindleebooks 

#FREE Can a friendship sustain the aftermath of a passionate evening? Poolside Pleasure by Renee Ashley http://amzn.com/B00I0YZBLG @Kindleebooks @kindlefreebook

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Author Interview- Lyndi Alexander

Rounding out the incredible repertoire of author Alana Lorens, we have a book I am certainly looking forward to reading. Writing as Lyndi Alexander she brings us her paranormal mystery LOVE ME, KISS ME, KILL ME.

Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.
Antique
Breakable
Curious

What are your three favorite things?

My three favorite things are close work with a fun collaborator, a day when the weather is just right and I feel good, and hanging out with little kids who laugh a lot.

If you could spend the day with any celebrity, who would it be?

I think I’d like to hang with Robin Williams—he’s just so spontaneous and fun. You never know what’s going to come out of his mouth, but it always seems to be hilarious.  But I think I’d honestly be exhausted by the end of the day!

How much is your character like you?

I spent several years as a reporter and editor at the South Dade News Leader, a small daily newspaper in Homestead, Florida. It was honestly one of the best jobs I ever had. I got to try all kinds of wild things—flew an F-16 navy jet flight simulator (crashed and burned in less than three minutes. NOT pretty), traveled with the Coast Guard on drug searches, interviewed everyone from senators to drug dealers to morticians. So I know a lot about how Sara Woods does her job. As someone who also suffers from chronic pain, I could sympathize with her willingness to try anything to just feel good.

 When not writing, what can you be found doing?

I adopted my ex-husband’s three kids as very small children, and they’ve all grown up to have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Two of them still live with me, and we spend time working on their therapies, social skills and other objectives. At one point we were spending 60 hours a week in various therapies…fortunately we’re down to about 10 a week now. But it does tend to be a priority.






Blurb:

Running away isn’t necessarily the answer.

In her mad rush to escape a failed marriage, Sara Woods takes the first job available and lands in the middle of a mystery. Her first assignment as a news reporter for the Ralston Courier is the investigation of a string of deaths, all young women, all her age.

She becomes a patient at the Goldstone Clinic, a local mecca of healing, to deal with chronic pain from her past. But all is not as it seems at the Goldstone, its doctors and nurses are all the picture of perfect beauty and health. Patients at the clinic first seem to get better, then they deteriorate. Sara enlists the help of Dr. Rick Paulsen, who teaches her how to access her internal power, skills she never knew she had, revealing secrets from her past. Police officer Brendon Zale also takes an interest in Sara, but he acts like a stalker, watching her every move, and he won't leave her alone.

As she digs deeper into the story, and more young women die without explanation, she tries to choose allies wisely, but not till the last confrontation does she discover the identity of her true enemy.

By then, it’s too late.

Excerpt:

Rick sat in the heavy tall-backed brown leather chair behind the desk. He studied me, and I studied him. Finally I asked, “How long have you worked here in the emergency room?”
            “Nearly five years,” he answered, an underlying amusement making me wonder how deeply he was reading my attraction to him. “Yes, I find emergency medicine extremely satisfying. Yes, I enjoy the adrenaline rush of trauma cases, but it’s hard not to take patient deaths personally. No, I wouldn’t prefer another specialty. Yes, there’s an increase in strange things during full moons.”
            I stopped writing about halfway through his speech, realizing he had anticipated my next questions. “You must have done one of these interviews before.”
            “Three, maybe. Or five. Since TV has inspired people to find out all about emergency room hotties and our raunchy sex lives in the drug and linen closets? Yes, definitely the flavor of the week.”
            In spite of my determination to be professionally distant, I laughed at his self-deprecating humor. Good for him. “I hadn’t even gotten to that yet!”
            “I can wait if you like.” He picked up a pen and fidgeted with it. “I’m sure your angle is different than the last fellow who was here. He was more interested in blood and guts.”
            There it was. My opening handed to me on a plate. “Actually, I have a blood and guts kind of question for you.” I leaned forward even more and looked him in the eye, calling it brown, green, hazel or any color but blue. “About Lily Kimball.”
            He pulled back, his smile fading. “What about her?”
            I could see questions in his eyes. Was I here to accuse him? To crucify him in some way? I spoke up quickly to get past his fears. “I was at the scene this morning. I’ve been trying all day to find out something about her, anything, any reason why she would have been out there in the cold.”
            His fingers tightened on the pen he was holding until they were red. “Tell me what you saw.”
            “She was so thin,” I said. “Pale, except for damage from the frostbite. She wasn’t wearing any winter clothing, just a jersey and jeans. She didn’t look like she’d been hurt, stabbed, bruised in any way. Just…limp.”
            Rick hadn’t moved while I spoke. His gaze had become more intent, like a microscope focusing in on a specimen for examination. “Which way was she walking?”
            I closed my eyes a moment, orienting myself to the road. “She was on the west side of Route 24. If I had to guess I’d say she was heading for the Declan Highway.”
            He paused, silent, contemplating.
            “Was she your patient?”
            My pen hovered over the pad as his stricken silence continued. I wished I could read him as easily as he seemed to read me. I’d shared more, perhaps, than I should, but all that information would be public record on file at the police department. Whether they chose to do more with it than shelve it away depended on outside information. Like whether Rick Paulsen had contributed in any way to Lily’s solitary winter death march.

Links:   For more information, see http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com/love-me-kiss-me-kill-me/

You can buy this book at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Smashwords, and more. And while you're at it, don't forget to grab her other books as well.


                 













Thank you Alana Lorens/ Lyndi Alexander for being with us. We wish you much success.



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

This Week's Free Books

We've got five great free books this week. Make sure you get yours.

#Free #kindle Will a demon in a diaper bring them together-or tear them apart? Asking for Trouble@JannineGallant http://amzn.com/B00HJE3DTU 

#Free He was hired to protect her, but can she save him from his past? Gone Tropical@RobenaGrant http://amzn.com/B00HJE3UAC @Kindleebooks

#Free #kindle Can she give up the life of privilege she dreams of…for true love? No Other Love by Jean Adams http://amzn.com/B00HJE4GLY

#Free #kindle He's wracked by survivor's guilt...she's a crusader saving the world. Naked Hope by Rebecca E. Grant http://amzn.com/B00HJEZKDW

#Free #kindle Bomb-filled skies, passion and a secret assignment. Risking It All by Lucy Oliverhttp://amzn.com/B00HJEAZPK @kindlefreebook

Monday, February 17, 2014

Author Interview- Maria K.Alexander

Happy Tuesday Readers, today we have with us the fabulous
Maria K. Alexander .




Maria, can you tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Hi, Angela. Thanks for interviewing me for your blog. The three words that describe me are: Ambitious, Believer, Creative

What are your three favorite things?

Chocolate, the beach, books

What for you is the best part of writing?

The sense of satisfaction in getting the story out of my head and onto the screen. To be able to invoke an emotional connection between the reader and my characters. One of the best compliments I can get is for a reader to ask for a secondary character’s story.

What is the worst?

Plotting a new story. It’s somewhat easier in a series because I’m building on relationships already established. But the initial plotting of the goal, motivation, and conflict is often a struggle.

Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story?

The main characters in Untangle My Heart evolved from the first story I wrote, which hasn’t been published. My heroine, Kate, is from an Italian family, as am I. It was very natural and fun to create a loud-talking, hand-gesturing Italian family. I knew from the first story I wanted Kate to be a little edgy because of painful events that happened in her past. I needed a hero strong enough to see beyond her sass to the pain that was keeping her closed off from moving on with her life. I have a thing for British heros and pairing up an ex-playboy who came from a rich upper-crust family seemed a good fit for Kate. He has his own baggage and the combination of his reserved nature, questionable past, and her fiery attitude makes for an explosive couple.

I love the way that sounds. Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

I have two more books planned in this series. The next book focuses on Kate’s sister, Vicky, and closes the chapter on events that transpired in Untangle My Heart. The working title is Forever In My Heart, and I’m currently working on edits to submit to my publisher. Fingers crossed they love it as much as my critique partner and Beta reader do. The third book centers on Kate’s oldest brother, Nick. I LOVE Nick and so want to write his story. I’m working out the plot but feel an enormous pressure to get it right because so many people have commented they want his story. At some point, I’d love to go back and re-write the first story (Kate’s best friend and Edward’s twin brother) into a Novella. Their story is my first and the characters are near and dear to my heart.

Thank you for being with us today Maria, Untangle My Heart and Forever In My Heart sound absolutely beautiful. Your cover is simple gorgeous. I wish you the best of literary luck.




Blurb
When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell around her heart.
Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust British family, and to himself. Working alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first time, he wants more than a one-night stand.
When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have.


Excerpt 

“Privacy is a hard thing to find around here, so you may want to lock the door. Especially when you’re wearing only a towel and my sister is on the prowl.”
“I’ll have to remember that,” Edward said, taking a step toward her. “I knew she was smitten, but didn’t think she would be waiting in the room after my shower. I was struggling with a tactful way of getting her out.”
“I’m sure you’re not accustomed to asking a woman to leave your room.”
He gave her an unapologetic grin. “No, usually not.”
“I guess it’s partly my fault. I told her I don’t have any claims to you. Apparently she took that to mean it was open season to pursue you.”
“Yet you stopped by. Why?”
“I wanted to thank you again for your help today. You dropped everything to come and help my family and that means a lot to me.”
He took another step toward her until he stood directly in front of her. “You mean a lot to me. I’d do anything I could to help you.”
She nodded in acknowledgement, not sure she could trust her voice to speak with him all but touching her.
“And you’re wrong about not having a claim on me.” 
His hands found their way to her waist. Her heart thumped and she knew she should pull back, wanted to pull back. But his blue-gray eyes held her in a hypnotic state and she couldn’t move.

Author Bio

A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love. 
Maria blogs about her writing journey with The Violet Femmes at http://thevioletfemmes.com. When not writing, she loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.

You can keep in touch with Maria at:

You can buy Untangle My Heart:
In Print from The Wild Rose Press
Available March 19th in all digital formats

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Author Interview - Alana Lorens

Another Monday, another wonderful book/ interview with Alana Lorens. This time, she's brought to us her romantic suspense VOODOO DREAMS. I think it's so cool that she's been able to write a different for every genre.

Alana was gracious enough to go through the entire interview process again- so read on to see what else I threw at her.  As a side note: I was able to read this book before the interview and I can honestly say it was a great read, just the right amount of creepy. So don't miss out.

But first, a recap for the first two books, here are the buy links : 


Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Attorney
Big-hearted
Crumbly

What are your three favorite things?

Delicious food, good company, and the flow that happens when a story is really coming together

Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story?

I spent a lovely Mardi Gras holiday with my old reporter friend Hank, who lived in New Orleans, some years ago, and it was a beautiful and exotic place. As I moved around the city, I could just see some of these things happening—and I included Hank and his wife in the story as owners of the bed and breakfast where Brianna and Evan stay.

How much is your character like you?

Brianna Ward isn’t as much like me as some of the other heroines in this series. She’s single, working hard practicing corporate law, which never appealed to me. Her ethic is also attached to the mighty dollar—she sees success only in terms of how much money she can make. (Because her father died when the Pittsburgh steel plants all went under, and her family had some very hard financial times, this is the lesson she’s learned—you have to make sure you’re financially secure, or else.)  But her sense of adventure and curiosity is definitely all me—even when it gets her into some pretty big trouble!

Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

VOODOO DREAMS is the third book in the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series . These are stand-alone stories that all feature a woman practicing law in Pittsburgh as the heroine. 

CONVICTION OF THE HEART is about Suzanne Taylor, a family law attorney who takes particular interest in domestic violence cases, and what happens when she takes a case that might kill her and her two daughters. Good this—or is it?—that Pittsburgh police lieutenant Nick Sansone has taken a very singular liking to Suzanne, just when she needs him.  

SECOND CHANCES is the story of Inessa Regan, who gets laid off from her firm after ten years, and doesn’t even know where to begin. She takes a client, a young Iraq War veteran with cancer, and he takes her under his wing, sharing his office with her and giving her the self-confidence she needs to fly on her own. Each teaches the other something special—and they become much more than associates.

Blurb: 

When her big trial goes bad, corporate attorney Brianna Ward can’t wait to get out of Pittsburgh. The Big Easy seems like the perfect place to rest, relax, and forget about the legal business. Too bad an obnoxious—but handsome—lawyer from a rival firm is checking into the same bed and breakfast.
 Attorney Evan Farrell has Mardi Gras vacation plans too. When he encounters fiery and attractive Brianna, however, he puts the Bourbon Street party on hold. He’d much rather devote himself to her—especially when a mysterious riddle appears in her bag, seeming to threaten danger.
Strangely compelled to follow the riddle’s clues, Brianna is pulled deeper into the twisted schemes of a voodoo priest bent on revenge. To escape his poisonous web, she must work with Evan to solve the curse. But is the growing love they feel for each other real? Or just a voodoo dream?

Excerpt:

The Garden District and areas west of Canal Street had been settled by Americans, while Creoles, European by birth and descent, had tried to keep to themselves in the French Quarter. First the Spanish, then the French, with a healthy dose of Italians and others, had settled in the old city, the atmosphere changing as political machinations on a national scale, beyond the immigrants’ control, ruled the ownership of Louisiana. But New Orleans had always been a place of luxury, and the exotic aura still prevailed, as it did in the man sitting next to her.
His speech cultured and softly accented, he continued to point out details of interest on their journey into the city. But she noticed his attention repeatedly drawn to the folded newspaper in his lap that bore pictures of debutantes and information about the parades.
“It’s a big hush-hush thing, isn’t it?” she asked, pointing to the article about the Mardi Gras events. “I mean, no one knows the identity of the King of Rex, not till the last minute?”
His mouth set into firm, disapproving lines, and emotion burned in his eyes. “By tradition, the name of the King is supposed to be secret.”
She’d been an interrogator long enough to suspect something behind that look. She had to ask. “You know who it is?”
Pinned down, he smiled for a brief moment, then it faded. “Copper knows many things.” He stared out the window, jaw set in a hard line. His lips moved, and as the moments passed, he finally whispered, “Copper knows those who cross him will suffer...”
Belatedly realizing she was hanging on his words, he snapped back to the present, and his sunny expression returned. “I discovered the identity of the King by chance. It wouldn’t be fair to ruin the surprise for others.”
Brianna knew none of the players, so it didn’t matter to her. Copper’s grudges were certainly none of her business. His words, now—those were a bit troubling.
Copper abruptly rose from his seat as they traveled around Lee Circle, with its tall statue of General Robert E. Lee, hero of the Confederacy. They crossed into the business district, which looked more like the Avenue of the Americas, like any other big city with its office warrens, filled to the brims with tiny cubicles for the clerical workers there. “My stop,” he said with an apologetic nod. “Enjoy your day in the Vieux Carré, my lady.”
“Thank you for your tour. And the beads, last night,” she said, feeling she should be gracious, at least.
Copper bowed slightly, and took Brianna’s hand, kissing it lightly with his lips, then giving it a squeeze. “You are most welcome. I will be interested to learn what you think of the city.”
He joined those exiting the streetcar at Julia Street, leaving her a little surprised at the old-school farewell—when was the last time someone had kissed her hand? If ever?
An odd bird, this Copper. Odd, too, that he’d appeared at her streetcar stop. She hadn’t told him where she was staying. Just a coincidence, right?
She watched him walk away, almost wishing he would have come with her, to share his insights on the city, rather than leaving her to depend on the cold, hard facts of her guidebook.
Though he had certainly implied they would meet again. Would he play some part in her weekend visit...an adventure, to use his word? Ridiculous. Letting her imagination run loose served no purpose, no purpose at all. Time to buckle down and get back to her plan.

Buy Links: ALANALORENS.COM         AMAZON


Be sure to come back next Monday as our series interview comes to an end.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Author Interview- Cathy Tully


Happy Valentine's Day everyone- and to celebrate, we've got the perfect romance novel for you. Here to talk about her book, Training Travis is author Cathy Tully.  But before we get to the good stuff, I've got some questions for her.


Hello Cathy, tell me three words that describe yourself staring with a, b, and c.

Three words that describe me beginning with a, b and c would be: active, bookworm, and caring.

What are your three favorite things?

My thee favorite things are: a cup of hot coffee, dogs of all breeds and studying karate.

What for you are the best and worst part of writing.

The best part of writing for me is when my next project is underway.  I know my characters, what they want and where they're going.
The worst part and most tedious, but necessary, is finding out who they are, what they want and what they'll do to get it.

Is this particular book part of a series?

No. There aren't any other books in the "Training Travis" family. It's a stand alone contemporary romance.
However, I am working on a cowboy series that I'm very excited about.

I also have a sweet romance about a little dog that brings two people together titled, All You Need Is Love, released by Astraea Press in 2012, and a novella, Marrying Mr. Right, a women's fiction novella released by The Wild Rose Press in 2012.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I'm not writing I can be found stripping, painting or staining old furniture, working on a counted cross stitch project or, of course, reading : )

Can you tell us what you're perfect day would be like?

My perfect day is a day at the beach when the temps are mild, the breeze relentless, and I'm surrounded by friends and family.

 Thank you for being with us today Cathy, how about a sneak peek at your new book?



Blurb:
Two professionals with a past they thought forgotten—can they keep their relationship strictly business when the passion reignites?

After the death of his ex-wife, Travis McGill becomes sole parent to his fifteen-year-old daughter. Determined to do what’s best for her—even if it means reopening old wounds—Travis moves back to his Pennsylvania hometown.

Rebecca Evans never forgave Travis for the way he dumped her.  Not only did he break her heart sixteen years ago, but he and his daughter are a reminder of the family she lost.  But when Travis asks her to redecorate his Victorian house, she can’t turn her back on him or his angry, grieving daughter.

Getting Rebecca back in his life might not be the easiest task, but Travis is determined to try. Can he earn the trust of the two most important women in his life? Or—will he need on-the-job training?


Excerpt:
Travis sat opposite Becca so he could watch her cook. When she turned to place the bottle on the counter, he noticed she was wore a pair of pointy high heels. Damn. She looked good in anything she wore. He couldn’t help think she looked great in everything that was underneath too.
In an effort to get his mind off her curves and avoid the embarrassment of being caught staring, he said, “So where did you learn to cook?” 
Rebecca opened the broiler and turned the pork chops. “Television.”  She placed the fork on the spoon rest and covered the cooked carrots with foil. “What’s so funny?”
His laugh was husky and low. “That’s where I learned. I’m surprised Liz hasn’t bragged about my culinary skills by now.”
Rebecca smiled. “She has mentioned you make one mean marinara sauce.”
He shook his head. “Leave it to a kid to only remember spaghetti sauce.” She held out a wooden spoon filled with salad greens she had just tossed for him to taste. 
When Travis’ tongue flicked over his lips, her knees went a little weak. 
“What is this dressing? It’s delicious.” He took the spoon from her hand and ate the remainder.
When he licked his fingers, she groaned inwardly.
“Homemade vinaigrette,” she answered weakly.
Travis handed her the wooden spoon and the tips of their fingers touched. Hers tingled. Now more than ever, she knew whatever barrier she had thought she put between them no longer existed. 
God help her.

For more  Books by Cathy just follow the link.
To pick up Training Travis head on over to Amazon.


Books by Cathy Tully

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, Available now: Astraea Press, Amazon.com
MARRYING MR. RIGHT, Available now: Amazon.com, The Wild Rose Press.com
TRAINING TRAVIS, Coming soon: The Wild Rose Press.com

Like on Facebook Cathy Tully  l  Like on Amazon All You Need Is Love l







Wednesday, February 12, 2014

New Books Thursday

I'm a little late posting this, so grab your Kindles and hurry on over to get these wonderful free reads.

 His wolf longs to claim her. His faith commands she stand trial. Raven Moon by Eva Gordon http://amzn.com/B00HJG6DE0
  
 In a sizzling southern summer, double d's can also stand for danger & delight. Return of the Dixie Deb http://amzn.com/B00HJDLM94  

 Two unsolved murders, secret obsessions, & killers ready to strike again.Lie Catchers @rolynnanderson http://amzn.com/B00HJDS1LG 
When night falls, love calls. Werewolves In London & Wolf Mates. After the Moon Rises-An Anthology  http://amzn.com/B00HJG6AHK 
  
 Unexpected…Masked…Steamy…Erotic Encounters. Erotic Encounters – An Erotic Anthology by Samantha Gentry http://amzn.com/B00HSNU6F6 
  
#Free #Kindle The Fourth of July is over, but for these summer lovers the fireworks have just begun. @BabetteJames http://amzn.com/B00HJDS3E6

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Cover Reveal- BATTLE CRY- Melissa Snark

Drum Roll Please..... 
Author Melissa Snark is proud to present this absolutely beautiful cover 
for her newest book, BATTLE CRY. 
A Victoria Storm novel, #3 Loki's Wolves series. Genre:  Paranormal/urban fantasy
Coming in June 2014  * * *  Add to your Goodreads Shelf





"We meet Valkyrie Victoria Storm in the middle of a blood bath, and we did continue on from there. I must say Melissa Snark has all the makings of an awesome story teller." Gloria Lakritz,Sr. Reviewer and Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild

"A definite must read for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy." Lisa Lester, Fight For Your Write Blog

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better...


Blurb:

War with human hunters has devastated the werewolf pack of Sierra Pines. Only Valkyrie Victoria Storm and a handful of female wolves still live. With her mate dead, there is no one to protect her or her unborn child. An unwelcome attraction to a hunter complicates her life even further.  She reluctantly agrees to attend peace talks with Jake Barrett, the notorious Hunter King, a man who believes she murdered his son. 

Hunter Sawyer Barrett has been trying to kill Victoria Storm for so long, he doesn't know whether he loves her or hates her.  Desperate to end the war he started, he's willing to take chances with everything but his heart, but he harbors a deadly secret he's determined to keep.  

When peace talks fail, Victoria does the only reasonable thing an angry Valkyrie can do: she kidnaps her worst enemy and makes her escape in a fire engine red convertible muscle car. All along an ancient evil plots the destruction of wolves and hunters alike.

Add BATTLE CRY to your Goodreads Shelf

THE CHILD THIEF (LOKI'S WOLVES #1) is free on Amazon and Goodreads.

Author Bio:



Melissa Snark is a paranormal and romance author with a particular interest in werewolf and Norse mythology. Her Loki's Wolves series combines elements of both in a contemporary fantasy setting. She lives in Northern California with her husband, three children and glaring of cats.





Connect with Melissa
Email:  melissasnark at gmail dot com
Twitter: @MelissaSnark

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Author Interview- Alana Lorens

Starting our week off right, we have back with us author Alana Lorens. Last week she shared her suspense, ENCOUNTER. Today she has her heart tugging fiction, SECOND CHANCES.


Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Adventurous
Barefoot
Creative

What are your three favorite things?

I love travel, good food and candlelight.

If you could spend the day with any celebrity, who would it be?

I confess, I’ve had a huge crush on Nathan Fillion ever since Firefly. So it would be amazing to be able to spend a day with him, even on the set of Castle. As long as I didn’t drool too much. J I’d hate to embarrass myself.

Squeee, I love Nathan as Richard Castle, all that charisma- "I really am ruggedly handsome!". He plays the role so well.

Favorite item of clothing in your closet?

Currently it’s a burgundy print fuzzy tunic—3/4 length sleeves, which are good for my fibromyalgia, not too heavy so it doesn’t hurt to wear it, and its velvety feel makes me feel extravagant. And it matches my new ruffle scarf PERFECTLY.

When not writing, what can you be found doing?

In addition to writing, I am practicing law, too, so I struggle to find writing time some days. It does make me feel good to help people, especially if they’re in a bad situation and something I can do helps them get to a place where they’re happy and safe.


Blurb:

When Inessa Regan gets a pink slip, laid off from her law firm at the age of 42, without prospects she’s sure her life is over. She hides from the world, until her neighbor brings her a client, a young Iraq war veteran dying of cancer.

Kurt Lowdon only wants to make sure his affairs are in order should the worst happen, but meeting Inessa gives him encouragement on the road to recovery. His quest to help her realize her self-worth leads them into dangers they never expected, as horrors from the war and long-hidden family secrets come back to haunt them.

Excerpt:

Inessa had visited the Pittsburgh IKEA store half a dozen times before, addicted to the simple, classic furniture designs and colorful décor items, but none of those experiences had ever been like this.
Perhaps the difference was because Kurt was a man, maybe it was the purpose of the visit, but she had fun. Negotiating the departments along the store’s one-way dictated path became an adventure different from any she’d had with a girlfriend.
The things that attracted Kurt’s attention! Forget the Swedish meatballs. He raved about a cushy pillow in shades of spring green and chocolate. He bought new towels in bright red and orange. Every gadget fascinated him, and he dug a sample out of the bins to test each one.
When they passed one bedroom set-up, the downy beige and green comforter was softly rumpled, as if the owner had just climbed out seconds before. “That looks comfortable.” he exclaimed, and he scrambled right in.
“Kurt!” She’d looked around, mortified. Several young couples passing by in madras Dockers and khakis stopped to stare; some smiled.
“What? This is a display bed. You’re supposed to try it out. Come on.” He held up the covers for her to join him. The mischievous expression on his face broke her up, embarrassed as she was.
                “I don’t think so. You rest. I’ll be looking at office supplies.”
“Spoilsport. No one will care if you romp in the bedroom department at IKEA. Look, now everyone else is, too.” He gestured to several displays around them as other customers climbed onto neighboring beds, laughing and teasing each other. When she still held back, he affected a pout and pushed himself out, smoothing the bedspread again. “All right. Business first. Let’s go.”
Over the next couple of hours and the seeming miles of displays, he thoughtfully helped her select what she needed—a desk, comfortable chairs for her consulting clients, bookshelves for her legal research materials—but also remained playful. He had to experiment with every one of the wheeled desk chairs, spinning them around until he found the one with the least traction. “Try this one. It’s better than Kennywood.”
She laughed and checked the growing list of items on the small screen of her Blackberry, and the total she’d be spending. The thought of invading her cushion money sent little electric quivers through her midsection, but now that she was committed to this, it had to be done. “I think that does it.”
“Pick-up downstairs.”
They went down to the first floor and traversed the long rows of cardboard boxes, loading the ones they’d chosen onto a flatbed cart. He grabbed a new desktop set in green and blue. “You need this.”
“I need it? For what?”
“Just for fun.”
“Fun? It’s for work. Work’s not about fun.”
“Every moment should be about fun, counselor. Every moment.”

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