Secret Desires and Second Chance Love by J. L. Regen #romance

MUSE MONDAY

Please join me in welcoming J. L. Regen to Discover... for Muse Monday. She has a contemporary romance novel, Secret Desires, all about taking a second chance on love.

I have always wanted to write a romance. I was inspired by someone I dated many years ago who, like my hero, was so traumatized by his deceased wife, he couldn't make a commitment.

Unlike Edward and Margo who continue their relationship, my someone and I were destined to part. 

What I wanted to convey in Secret Desires is a happier outcome when anyone takes a second chance on love. 

This is ever more challenging in a pandemic but worth the effort.

BLURB:

Nothing in Margo Simmons’s life comes easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied tohis deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring.  Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. My story speaks to anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over.

Excerpt:  MARGO SIMMONS GRIPPED THE EDGES of the leather chair, waiting for details from the family lawyer about her Uncle Harry’s death. She hoped it would be shorter and less painful than the reading of her father’s will.

An older gentleman extended his hand. “I’m sorry your mother couldn’t be here.”

Margo looked up from her reflections to acknowledge him. “Thanks, Mr. Steinberg.”

“You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”

Margo blinked back tears at memories of good times shared with Uncle Harry. “Not so young. I’m twenty-three.”

The portly man squeezed himself into a swivel chair and peered at her over wire-rimmed bifocals. “I’m ancient compared to that number.”

Margo gripped her knees to steady her nerves. “My mother wanted to come with me, but they’re downsizing at her dress shop. She was afraid to leave early. My stepfather is furious because Uncle Harry didn’t leave him any money.”

Mr. Steinberg saddened at the sorrowful expression on the young woman’s face. “It pains me to hear Jerry hasn’t changed his ways. However, since you’re the only one present to hear your uncle’s will, I’ll get to the point. Harry has left you his Riverside Drive condominium apartment and the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

Margo jumped up from the chair and hugged the man. “This is a miracle. I can’t wait to tell my Mom. She’s wanted me to get out on my own. Now I can. Though I wish it hadn’t come with the loss of my uncle. I adored him.”  

Buy links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKH8F7F

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-desires-j-l-regen/1125516296?ean=9780998409900

https://www.facebook.com/JoanRamirezAuthor

Bio: J.L. Regen’s book was inspired by a real-life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. She lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three nonfiction books and is crafting a historical suspense set in World War II. 

 

The Real Wickedness by Randy Overbeck #racism #RomanticSuspense #sale

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Please welcome my guest, Dr. Randy Overbeck with a very special Wicked Wednesday post. He entertains while making you think by drawing from society's wickedness. And be sure to read to the end for info on an incredible sale. Read on and enjoy!

“CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY does a great job of showcasing how even the most prominent members of a community cannot be excluded from suspicion when the evidence points toward their involvement, especially in the wake of cases such Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.”—ReadersView.com

There is more than one kind of wickedness in the world. Our earth has birthed murderers and psychopaths, embezzlers and robbers, child abusers and sex traffickers. These evils persist in almost every culture and society around the globe and stretch across the centuries.

But there exists wickedness and evil that, though not as obvious, is just as threatening. That wickedness is where my words reside.

I realize readers come to my novels, BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE or CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY, in search of a little mystery or a great beach read or even a bit of romance—and they say they are hardly ever disappointed—but I also try use my fiction to raise important social issues and expose very real wickedness.

The first novel in my series may illustrate. In BLOOD
ON THE CHESAPEAKE, the narrative thread of the cold-case murder is intertwined around the issue of racial injustice. So, when I selected my antagonist for this story, I wanted to be sure he was a reflection of the real world of racial bias, of wicked racial bigotry.

Dr. William “Bud” Williams, the villain of my tale—or at least one of them—is, by most social norms, a good guy, a really good guy. He comes from a well-heeled family, is a respected town physician and serves children as president of the local school board. He heralds from a long line which goes back to the town founders and Bud is a man you’d want to know and have on your side to get anything done in Wilshire. 

But, like thousands of other privileged white males, Williams’ belief system is skewed to assure him he is more gifted and more privileged than …well, others, especially those with a different skin color. While he displays the appropriate social graces, his sense of superiority still seeps out and, though he tries to keep it under
wraps, his racial bias rears its inevitable ugly head from time to time. 

Sadly, Williams’ wickedness is hardly atypical. Many in the fictional town of Wilshire—and in our real world—share his prejudiced “sensibilities.” But, as the reader learns, Williams’ wickedness runs deeper, as he hides an ugly secret from his past. When Bud was only a teenager, he and a few of his friends decided another classmate needed to be taught a lesson. The guy was fooling around with a white girl and he was, well, black. Back then, things got out of hand and somehow, the young black kid ended up at the end of a rope. But it was “an
accident and a long time ago.” 

Now, the adult, Dr. William “Bud” Williams has long ago dismissed any guilt for the act. That is until Darrell, our hero—who also happens to be a high school teacher and coach and a sensitive—exposes the secret and secures justice for the murdered young man.

My hope is that the crafting of this credible antagonist will help expose this strain of wickedness, a particularly insidious type of wickedness which all too often goes unacknowledged and unchallenged in our world.

Not all wickedness is obvious. But all wickedness, especially racism, poisons the human condition. The poison of racism may not destroy our nature outright, but it is toxic enough to rot the soul from the inside out. 

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." ~Albert Einstein

BLURB—BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE

Wilshire, Maryland seems like the perfect shore town on the Chesapeake Bay—quiet, scenic, charming—and promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world—with the OCD scars to prove it—he does NOT want to get involved. But when the desperate ghost hounds him, Darrell concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.

Incredible sale on the entire Haunted Shores Mysteries series! 

BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE-$.99, CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY--$1.99, SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER (pre-publication price)—$2.99.

BOOK LINKS:

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

BOOKBUB

BIO

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon and B & N No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake and Crimson at Cape May have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year--ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media 

https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck 

https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

 

It's A Party #GiftCard #Win

Scavenger hunts are so much fun. And now you can play from the comfort of your home. Hey, you don't even have to change out of your jammies. It's a reading scavenger hunt.

And who can't use a $100 Gift Card?

There are two ways to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb after clicking on the link below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

JOIN THE HUNT HERE!

Mystery on Spirit Mountain #newrelease #WickedWednesday

WICKED WEDNESDAY

I am WICKEDLY HAPPY to announce the second book in The Mackenzie Chronicles is available for pre-order. You are going to love the villains in Mystery on Spirit Mountain. Not only do you get to love to hate a villainess scheming in present day Joshua, but you'll meet another from the 1920s. 

The past never sleeps.
The truth never dies.

In book one, Magpie MacKenzie took center stage. In Mystery on Spirit Mountain, her brother, Harlan MacKenzie's story is sure to keep you turning the pages.

Only Harlan MacKenzie can sense the troubled history of the Big Purple House. When he’s hired to restore the historical mansion, he doesn’t foresee the secrets—secrets that entangle his family in deceit and murder. 

Phaedra is selling the house that has been in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with Harlan escalates, she puts her values on the line and chances losing him.

 

After a stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are thrown on a dangerous path, not only risking love but possibly their lives.

Come visit the MacKenzies in Joshua, Arizona...mining boomtown turned ghost town turned hippie haven turned tourist destination...hanging on the side of Spirit Mountain. Every MacKenzie has a story to tell that is earthly, yet mysterious. 

Pre-order now and the book will be delivered into your reader on September 15. Just click HERE!

Print books are available right now to order. Would you like a signed copy, personalized for you? Send me a note, and I'll do just that.

My Unusual Deities By Amara Dey #paranormal #MuseMonday

Join me in welcoming Amara Dey to Muse Monday on Discover... She's a brand new author with a great imagination and fun stories to tell!

From a young age, I have been captivated by the ancient gods and love reading about them and their magical adventures.  When I began writing novels, I found myself inspired by the deities that enchanted me since childhood. 

In my debut book, NO MERE MORTAL, I based my characters on an uncommon pantheon of deities called the Orishas. They are the Gods of Latin America. Very like the Greek/Roman/Norse versions in their magical abilities, but more exotic. I also feature them as brothers-in-arms to my fictional pantheon, the Decagons.  

As a nod to my ethnic background and to my Cuban friend, Jovi, who first told me the stories of the Orishas. (www.amaradey.uk/series-and-extracts#Extract1). 

Blurb:

NO MERE MORTAL – Decagon Book 1

Venus Myles, orphaned at birth, is a London-based dance teacher and unaware of her divine lineage – that is until a strange encounter thrusts her into a world of Gods and magic. 

She learns from Bolt, a disgraced deity from the planet Decagon, that she is his realm’s savior, and a passionate connection sizzles between them.  But when Bolt unexpectedly disappears, a determined Venus travels to Decagon to find him and learn more about her destiny. 

Assuming, of course, she can escape the powerful and deadly witch Ansa, who wants her dead, find Bolt, and tap into her dormant magical abilities.  

And do it in time to stop an apocalypse that will destroy her, Bolt, his world, and his kind. 

Excerpt:

Power tasted good and Venus realized, without doubt, she wanted magical abilities too. She’d revisit the issue with Bolt who, at the moment, chanted a spell which body-bagged the putrid corpse. Venus rushed to Bolt.

He pulled her close, then leaned back. “Any injuries? Show me where and I’ll kiss them better.”

Venus pointed to her knee poking through her torn Lycra pants. Bolt kissed his finger, touched the cuts, and they vanished.

“I thought you meant kiss it better in the metaphorical sense,” she said.

“I’d never speak figuratively about kissing you.” Bolt hugged her tight once more.

“I couldn’t believe Zaru dented your armor,” Venus said, after a few moments of enjoying Bolt’s hugs.

“Me neither until the blood pounded in my ears, and my lungs burned from lack of oxygen. The room spun and faded. Sounds grew dull. Blackness rushed up then shazam, I recovered. The Mirror worked its sorcery?”

Venus gazed at him and nodded. “Laser beam. Zaru scared me Bolt, I thought he’d take off your head.”

“Not with you around to stop him,” Bolt said. “You kept hold of the Mirror when my thunderbolt struck. A feat on its own. I believe a molecule of magic is inside you, young lady.”

“I’m ready to embrace it if it’s there.”

Bolt’s lips brushed her hair. “It pleases me this unpleasant fight hasn’t turned you off it.”

“The opposite, your Power, and Mum’s, combat evil, and I want to play a part.” 

Buy links:

https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-1977-6-no-mere-mortal/

https://amazon.com/author/amaradey

https://amazon.co.uk/author/amaradey

https://www.extasybooks.com/amara-dey

https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Mere-Mortal-Decagon-Book-ebook/dp/B07MLMQYYJ/

https://www.amazon.com/No-Mere-Mortal-Decagon-Book-ebook/dp/B07MLMQYYJ\

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-mere-mortal-amara-dey/1130327026?ean=2940156307777

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/no-mere-mortal 

Bio:

Amara Dey, for magic, danger, and everlasting love 

Born in Guyana, South America, Amara Dey lives in London, England, where she writes paranormal romance for Extasy Books. (https://www.extasybooks.com/amara-dey)   

Her stories reflect her mixed ethnic background, her fascination with magic and adventure, and her love of dance. Like her characters, Amara dances Salsa. 

She holds an Honours Degree in Business Studies and has worked in finance, law, and law enforcement over the years. (https://www.amaradey.uk/bio) 

Social Media links:

https://www.facebook.com/amaradeyauthor

https:///twitter.com/AnnDrayton5

https://www.amaradey.blogspot.com

https://www.amaradey.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bd6KyNmdgU

Leaving the Nest is Fearless by Marilyn Barr #FearlessFriday #shifters

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Please welcome back Marilyn Barr to Fearless Friday on Discover... I think we all have to be fearless in raising children, in guiding young people, and letting go. You'll enjoy Marilyn's post about that kind of fearlessness.

               Do you remember the first time you traveled without your guardians? For me, it was the eighth-grade trip to Washington D.C. There were over 1800 eighth grade kids in my school so we were divided into teams of one hundred with an army of chaperones. Next, I traveled with the marching band to Disney World to march in the parade for their new movie “The Lion King”. Both trips were a test of my responsibility, organization, money management skills, and street smarts. This was before the days of cell phones, so staying with the group and utilizing the buddy system to go to the bathroom was a survival skill.

               My son is a homeschooler, and unless another parent organizes such a trip, he will not get the experience of traveling without my husband and me. Since he was deemed “too sick for school” in 2013, the helicopter mom in me is relieved, but those trips serve a purpose in fostering independence. How can I expect him to move into a college dorm when he’s never been out of my sight? When mulling over parental decisions, I turn to my fictional town of Strawberry, KY. In the book series, my son is four years older but otherwise is true to real life. The character Henrik is homeschooled in a rural setting with another family with six boys, ranging in age from twenty to twelve. 

              I could use these characters to test out different scenarios for my son’s independent experiences, starting with a guy who leaves home for the first time at twenty. I had to create a need to send them somewhere, so all my worst- and best-case scenarios could play out in safety. Here’s how Susie the dolphin-shifter explains my plan in Smoother Than Spumoni:

“While exposing our secret to the world would make us instant science projects, having an incestuous community is, well, gross. Some generations back, we joined a league of shifter packs for more social opportunities like summer internships for shifters my age. Luckily for me, none of the other packs have the same DNA lineage.”

               The first victim…I mean intern is Frank Paulino Junior. When the werewolf pack’s father passed away, many of the responsibilities fell onto Frank’s shoulders. All the boys help to run the family’s pizzeria which is the social hub for the tiny town, but Frank took over the books. Throughout the Strawberry Shifters series, we have seen Frank tackle the bookkeeping, be a role model for his brothers, provide a shoulder for his mother to cry on, and kick Sluagh butt. However, we have never seen him have fun. So where should I send him? I reveal my plan in Strawberry Shifters Book 2: Round of Applause:

               “It is what’s best for him and most importantly, it is what he wants. He’s only nineteen but has held the responsibilities of a man twice his age. He has earned a break, so I’m requesting he go to the Florida pack unless their leader is a jerk. I would like to think of Frankie smiling down on his son while Junior frolics on a beach.”

               With his internship set at Bart’s Oyster Bar on the coast of Seagrass Island in Tampa Bay, FL, I could let my imagination run wild. Like any mom, I would hope my son found friends, fun, and new skills while away. I would want him to spend his time learning to surf, swim in the ocean, and applying sunscreen. However, this might have been too much to ask of Frank. He claps back my ideas in Smoother Than Spumoni:

      “Every day someone tells me to lighten up, but I’m not wired that way. I work. I take care of my brothers. It was a conspiracy between my mother and pack leader to send me here to learn to play. They thought the ocean would bring out a carefree side I don’t possess.”

               Sorry Frank but don’t forget the author of your book in that conspiracy. Poor Frank is not only unprepared for unstructured fun but meets up with my worst nightmares as a parent too. While on a date, he discovers a conspiracy to pollute Tampa Bay and cover it up with a natural phenomenon called “Red Tide”.  Danger lurks around every corner. With his inability to swim, how can this sheltered werewolf keep his head above water? With the help of his perfect match, Susie Larkin, heiress to the humble Larkin’s Dairy Dip.

               “‘See, absolutely beautiful,’ he says, grasping my chin between his thumb and index finger. The adoration on his face warms me to my toes while his other hand captures my jaw. He tilts his head and my world tilts on its axis. I close my eyes when his eyelashes flutter down.”

With instant chemistry between the two workaholic curmudgeons, his internship isn’t all bad. A dolphin shifter can not only keep him afloat but also entertained with serious discussions on dairy price points in the restaurant industry. Travel with Frank and relive your first trip outside of your parent’s reach. Wearing water wings would make his mother happier, but they would impede Frank’s ability to be Smoother Than Spumoni, coming to The Wild Rose Press on 8/23/2021. 

On Pre-order sale for $1.99 on Amazon and iTunes.

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097CLMBTM/

iTunes - https://books.apple.com/us/book/smoother-than-spumoni/id1573010468

 

 

              

              

Crossing Over to the Cold Side of Town by Lyndi Alexander #shapeshifter #Sci-Fi

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Lyndi Alexander to Discover... for Muse Monday. She proves cold can be hot! 

I have any number of writer friends who are deep into creating cozy shapeshifter stories with cats, dogs, wolves—all sorts of furry friends. I mean who wouldn’t want to curl up with a life-sized rug to keep you warm at night? 

My tastes, however, trend to sci-fi over fantasy, and so when I decided to write a shifter romance, of course I chose reptiles. 😊 Now, I get that herpetology isn’t for everyone. But Griff isn’t merely some iguana. His kind are human-sized, intelligent, and many of them have bad intentions for the local human population. In human form, Griff is sexy and protective, and willing to rip out the throat of anyone who threatens detective Kylie Sanderson. He senses her strong duty, her determination, and commits to saving her and her people. 

So it’s Kylie who must keep her body temperature warm to sustain that of Griff, and he has no trouble raising those degrees. 

If you’re feeling adventurous this weekend, why don’t you curl up with a hero who’s a bit cold-blooded in A Small Degree of Hope by Lyndi Alexander? 

Blurb 

Even the smallest degree of hope can spark love.

Against her wealthy father's demands, and the usual blockades of a male dominated profession, Kylie

Sanderson proves worthy of her position as lead investigator of planet Andan's Scientific and Investigative Research Taskforce. Someone is killing Andan's women in an attempt to mutate them into reptiles. Kylie makes it her mission to discover who's behind the murders and prevent more grotesque deaths.

Shapeshifting lizard Griff comes to Andan to stop his brethren from mutating other planet's women into mindless breeding stock. Overcoming Kylie's suspicious and defensive nature proves difficult, but he must in order to help the SIRT team thwart his planet's scientists.

When Kylie is abducted and becomes the first human to survive the transformation, it's up to Griff to rescue her so SIRT can restore her human form. On the run and desperate to unravel the mysteries of Kylie's past to solve the crimes of their present, can she and Griff forge a future for themselves?

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Small-Degree-Hope-Lyndi-Alexander-ebook/dp/B00IPQWY9G/ref=sr_1_18?crid=KLP3KRZ88KLM&dchild=1&keywords=lyndi+alexander&qid=1627672535&sprefix=Lyndi+Alex%2Cdigital-text%2C179&sr=8-18 

Excerpt: 

At twenty-six, Kylie knew she shouldn’t be subject to her parents’ wishes any longer, but there was something about William Sanderson that just didn’t bear defiance. He ran his business like a dictatorship, and his family, too. Living under his thumb in their luxurious home, with its special privileges, servants and perks  had been a learning experience for the future government agent. She’d learned survival skills that served her at SIRT. Very few people had the power to intimidate her.  Only the Colonel’s icy blue stare still shook her foundation. But she did her best not to let him see it. And most of the time she just tried to stay away from him.

          I’m much too busy with this case to go now. He’ll understand that. Stick-to-it-iveness. Laying my work ethic on the line.

          But it wouldn’t hold him off for long.

          The ride to work triggered memories of those minutes sitting with Griff in front of Hawthorn’s the night before. A faint smell of baked, dry earth lingered, slightly acrid, but as the air conditioning started to process the air, it faded quickly. What an odd smell. It reminded her of something just outside the easy reach of her memory.

          Next time I see him, I’m taking him down. 

Book trailer: https://youtu.be/fi6OBXl4V6U

Author Bio

Lyndi Alexander always dreamed of faraway worlds and interesting alien contacts. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.

Author Links

Website  and Blog      https://lyndialexander.wordpress.com/

Facebook                    https://www.facebook.com/lyndialexander13/

Goodreads                   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4185290.Lyndi_Alexander

Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/Lyndi-Alexander/e/B005GDYPU2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Bookbub:                    https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lyndi-alexander

Smashwords | Lyndi Alexander    https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lyndialexander