Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Secret Cravings Publishing Contemporary Romance Blog Hop


This weekend Secret Cravings Publishing is celebrating Contemporary Romance Novels.  There are many author participating, with lots of giveaways. 





On April 15, 2014, Survival, the last book in the Mystical Wonders Series was released. The series follows the lives of four friends, through their triumphs, sorrows, love and happiness. 



Blurb

Shari's home is the center-point of the story, the only one, which isn't submerged under water.  Madison and Dino are trapped in their crawl space as water has swept through home. Sophia is at work when a tidal wave hits and she is swept away, holding on to the chandelier for dear life.  Cassie and Antonio are stuck in the police precinct, with the only way out is climbing through the metal grate in the ceiling up to the floor above.  Fay gets from Italy to England where she is trying to get a flight home to make sure her daughter Heather and her friends are safe.

With no electricity, landlines or cell phones in service and the streets flooded out, the women have no way to contact each other or know if the other is in despair.  The women turn into survival mode with each knowing their survival is necessary to help their friends.



Excerpt

 

Sophia cleaned up her desk. The past hour she did more work than she had done all week. In her office closet, she finally had time to straighten up the bins filled with her centerpiece supplies. This time, she hand wrote a list of everything in the bins, before proceeding to make a spreadsheet. She always seemed to buy the same supplies multiple times.
From what she had seen, all she needed to buy were small and large organza bags. Her clients all loved the small goody bags she made. She sat down behind her laptop. Just as she started to place her order, she heard a loud crash followed by the sound of glass breaking. A chill rushed through her. She flew out of her seat, opened her door and walked down the hallway. The howling wind came from the room overlooking the ocean. Noticing her feet were wet, she stopped dead in her tracks. Looking behind her, the floor remained dry. Could it be someone overflowed the toilet in the main lobby? Yuck.
Continuing down the hall, she heard another crash along with more shattering of glass. For certain, something wasn’t right. The closer she got to the room, the higher the water rose on her calves. She unbolted the two wooden doors. The moment she turned the handle and opened the door, water hurried at her.
Sophia held onto the door handle tightly as the entire lobby was engulfed. When the surge started to recede, she stepped cautiously into the hall. To her left, the glass French doors leading to the boardwalk were floating toward the entrance door.
When the wind slowed down, she stared out the doorway. The waves were breaking feet away from the boardwalk, pushing the sand up onto the wooden walkway and into the hall. Pieces of wood and garbage floated past with some pieces drifting into the hall. As the wind began to pick up again, so did the tide, which started to break again even closer to the boardwalk.
In the distance, she spotted a person in a bright orange jacket trudging toward her, waving. Sophia returned the gesture as she watched him fight the wind and rain. By now she had become completely wet. Licking her lips, it wasn’t rainwater on her tongue, but ocean water. The taste of salt evident.
“Lady, get out of here,” screamed the man as he approached her. “Go home while you can. The ocean is getting fierce. The streets are filling up with water.”
“I can’t. The doors are gone. Anyone could come in,” Sophia yelled above the howling wind.
“Look at the sky, lady. Those are funnel clouds. Get out of here. I’m heading home to my family.”
Sophia pushed her wet hair behind her ears. “Okay. I will go. Come with me. We will go out the front doors.”
The short stocky man followed her through the catering hall. Sophia heard him yelling something else, but couldn’t understand his words. As she walked through the opening into the lobby, something hit her from behind sending her across the room. Oh my God. What the hell is happening?

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Book available at
 
 
I'll be giving away a copy of my book, your choice.  Just leave me a comment telling me why you read contemporary romances.
 
 

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Love, Lust and Lipstick Stains Spring Fling Blog


Welcome to Love Lust and Lipstick Stains Spring Fling Blog Hop!  Over fifty authors and bloggers have joined together to bring you some amazing post, along with great giveaways.  Don't forget to end the rafflecopter to win a Kindle tablet, gift cards, paperback book and swag.  Be sure to check out the other wonders blogs taking part in the hop.

I love the Spring.  After going through one of the roughest winters in years, it's a release to see the buds on the trees, and the flowers starting to bloom.  Most of my new projects are brainstormed during the spring months.  Spring to me is the resurrection of myself after a trying winter, especially this winter that kept me in the house. 

What I love most about the Spring is Baseball Season.  I am a huge fan, especially the New York Mets.  As a teenager, I spent most of my free time with my best friend, Liz at Shea stadium. There's just something about the smell of freshly mowed grass with the scent of chalk when the wind blows in the right direction. Other scents of hotdogs, pretzels and peanuts send chills through me.  There's no better scent than that.

After writing my Mystical Wonders Series, I made the decision to go back to my true love baseball.  There is just something about men in uniform with a baseball cap that drives me crazy.  So watch out for some hot baseball players coming to life by the end of the year.

Spring also represents no beginnings for me. In a few weeks I will be plotting out my vegetable garden and the colorful flowers which will overtake all the flower beds lining my backyard.  


I will be giving away copies of my book, your choice from the Mystical Wonders Series, The Boardwalk and Roses.  Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing about the spring is.  And don't forget to leave me your email address so I can get in touch with you letting you know you are a winner.


The Mystical Wonders Series is about four friends who are intertwined in each others lives.


Stop by my publishers for additional information on my books.  Secret Cravings Publishing - CLICK HERE.


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Thursday, April 10, 2014

MFRW Spring Fever Blog Hop



I am just loving Spring.  When I think of spring, I think of new beginning.  The trees and tulips coming back to life.
What I love most about Spring is that my creative juices begin to flow.  It was when I packed my heavy sweat suit way, and walked along the boardwalk on one spring day, a few years ago, that I came up with the idea for The Boardwalk.

Spring also brings along the scent of the ocean.  Call me crazy, but when I smell the salt from the ocean, and on a warm breezy day, taste the salt water on my tongue, I am ready to sit down and write.

The Boardwalk Excerpt

After an accident at work, Brooklyn DeMelli walks every day down at the
boardwalk as a way to keep active and have a semi normal social life. She meets up with the regular morning walkers, while enjoying the beauty of the beach and the scent of the ocean. To keep busy she started her own company, making beaded jewelry for parties and flea markets.
Mario Morales is the hippy that plays acoustic guitar every morning at different ends of the boardwalk. The music captivates Brooklyn. Following the muse, she meets Mario who turns out to be a narcotics detective working undercover on a huge investigation. When Mario finds out Brooklyn is inadvertently involved in a drug trafficking ring, it leads to a series of events, which puts Brooklyn’s life in jeopardy, while forming a romantic bond between them.
I love writing books centered around Staten Island.  Through the years we have been referred to as the forgotten borough.  But, I have changed that.  On Staten Island, we have beaches, shopping and beautiful parks, which are all children friendly.  We also have wonderful activities.  Take a few minutes to visit Staten Island's webpage.  Click Here. 
On Staten Island, we are recreating the creative world.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE

Thank you for stopping by my website.  I will be giving away a copy of The Boardwalk.  Just leave me a comment along with your email letting me know what is your favorite thing about spring. 


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Wednesday, April 02, 2014


Welcome to the 2014 Spring Fling Blog Hop.   The spring has always been one of my favorite seasons.  When the flowers bud, it means summer is right round the corner.  There are three things in my eyes that go with Spring...

1.  Roses.  In the spring they start out as buds.  By early summer they bud into gorgeous roses.  Now speaking of Roses...my debut novel.

Here's a peak...

Roses

The sudden death of her husband sends Nikki Petrino into a tailspin. Three years later, she's still grieving. Mexico seems the perfect retreat to finish her novel.   Musician Drake Dente needs to get back on track and an excursion to Mexico to work on lyrics for his comeback CD is just what he needs.   Can two ships passing in the night bound for Mexico become the love they both need and want? Attraction sizzles and misunderstandings threaten. When Nikki goes missing can Drake find her before it's too late?


2. As March turns into April, then May, the weather begins to get warmer.  I love walking every morning down at the boardwalk.  But once the beaches are cleaned, you will find me walking along the oceans end in my bare feet. I love the way the sand feels under my feet, especially the scent of the salt water.  I've been walking the boardwalk and beach for over ten years.  That's how I came up with the idea of The Boardwalk...

Here's a peak...

The Boardwalk

After an accident at work, Brooklyn DeMelli walks every day down at the boardwalk as a way to keep active and have a semi normal social life. She meets up with the regular morning walkers, while enjoying the beauty of the beach and the scent of the ocean. To keep busy she started her own company, making beaded jewelry for parties and flea markets.

Mario Morales is the hippy that plays acoustic guitar every morning at different ends of the boardwalk. The music captivates Brooklyn. Following the muse, she meets Mario who turns out to be a narcotics detective working undercover on a huge investigation. When Mario finds out Brooklyn is inadvertently involved in a drug trafficking ring, it leads to a series of events, which puts Brooklyn’s life in jeopardy, while forming a romantic bond between them.






3.  This is my setup once the weather gets warmer.  Some years, I was sitting down on the beach before summer even arrived, making spring be the time when I do all my brainstorming and get my outline down on paper.  Early spring is when all my ideas bloom.  That's when I got the idea for my Mystical Wonders four book series...




Mystical Wonders - Circle of Friends

Madison Morina, college professor, meets Sal at the college’s pep rally.  They hit it off, but Madison still has her doubts regarding their relationship.

Shari Stafford, a clairvoyant, hairdresser, finds love when she hires a carpenter to do renovations on her house. She has a special gift of reading minds.

Private Investigator Cassie Scott has an on and off relationship with Dennis.  When family secrets are revealed, her life is changed forever.

 Bad boy Angelo Esposito sweeps Fay Odina off her feet.  He has a dead wife and an ex-wife, along with a secret past and an agenda. Angelo finds his perfect mark in Fay, who owns the family Vintage Clothing Shop.
Despite her friends’ warnings that she is in imminent danger, she runs off and marries Angelo. It’s up to the girls to juggle their own relationships and dig deeper into Angelo’s past.  

Mystical Wonders - Second Chances


Madison, Shari and Cassie play a major role in protecting Fay, while digging into Angelo’s past.  Shari still can’t channel into Angelo’s mind, leading the women to believe he has something to hide.

 A reunion with an old love puts Madison’s relationship with Sal to the test, causing her to reevaluate her life.  While family secrets continue to be exposed, Cassie’s life spirals out of control. Both women will be forced to make life changing decisions.

Having gained Fay’s trust, Angelo is ready to move forward with his plan no matter what the consequences.

Cassie seeks Shari’s help on a case.  While they uncover pieces of the puzzle, they get closer to the truth about Angelo’s past. Madison, Shari and Cassie come together, racing against time, to save Fay from a disastrous fate.

Mystical Wonders - The Right Call

 
To deal with her onset of early Alzheimer, Fay Odina takes a trip to Italy to spend time with her family, leaving her daughter Heather in charge of the family business.

Madison and Dino Pinzini are dealing with the complications of Dino’s heart attack, which puts their relationship to the test. Meantime, as Cassie Scott deals with trust and commitment issues, she meets New York City Police Detective Antonio Palencia.

 Cassie’s cousin, Sophia returns to Staten Island.  Sophia is involved in a dead end relationship with a secret past hidden in a box full of letters.

The women begin receiving puzzle pieces of them in the mail, which could result in disaster.  All they have to go on is Shari’s vision that shows long shiny purple fingernails.

When Antonio receives a tip, he and Cassie have to race against time to solve the mystery.


Mystical Wonders - Survival

Shari's home is the center-point of the story, the only one, which isn't submerged under water.  Madison and Dino are trapped in their crawl space as water has swept through home. Sophia is at work when a tidal wave hits and she is swept away, holding on to the chandelier for dear life.  Cassie and Antonio are stuck in the police precinct, with the only way out is climbing through the metal grate in the ceiling up to the floor above.  Fay gets from Italy to England where she is trying to get a flight home to make sure her daughter Heather and her friends are safe.

With no electricity, landlines or cell phones in service and the streets flooded out, the women have no way to contact each other or know if the other is in despair.  The women turn into survival mode with each knowing their survival is necessary to help their friends.


 In the spirit of Spring, I will be giving away copies of my book, your choice.  Leave me a comment on what your favorite part of spring is along with your email address.

My books are available at:  SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING,  and AMAZON

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