Did I catch your attention with the header above? Well author Pynk is catching attention and much more with her release today of POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL. It’s my pleasure to participate in her Guilty Pleasures Tour announcing the release.
This erotica fiction is a story of extortion and coercion through the intense story of Madam Money Watts while exploring the call-girl industry as it spills over into the world of politics in New York City. Money's exclusive, top escort service operates under the name, Lip Service, and Midori Moody, Leilani Sutton and male escort Kemba Price are her high-end contractors who make a hefty living out of sex for money.
Among her clients are two New York senators who are the very officials voters have elected to make decisions for others to abide by, yet these politicians play by a different set of rules, secretly paying top dollar for the forbidden girlfriend experience. But when a client takes it too far, and an escort gets greedy, the world of Money Watts is brought to a head.
Pynk, who also writes as Marissa Monteilh, is a former model, television news reporter, and commercial actress. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she now resides just outside Atlanta, Georgia.
With today being the release date, Pynk is busy today hosting a LIVE Twitter Party for POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL. The party includes a Q&A and book giveaway. Readers can follow Pynk @authorpynk and @grandcentralpub to participate in this exciting event.
Since Pynk couldn’t join us today, her protagonist Madam Money Watts was kind enough to fill in for her. Money joins us to talk about “The Girlfriend Experience” and also share an excerpt from PEB.
High-five to Pynk for taking you on a journey into the world of sex for money in POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL., a novel about politicians and celebrities who frequent the services of New York escorts. My name is Madam Money Watts, and right off the bat I want to make this perfectly clear; as far as sex for money, while my company, Lip Service, has indeed accepted money from some very high-profile, powerful, wealthy clients in exchange for Lip Service contractors to "escort" said clients by spending private time with said clients, I have never accepted money for sex. Let's get that straight first. These are consenting adults, and what happens between two grown people, should stay between two grown people.
So, on to the purpose of this blog post . . . Pynk has informed me that the working title of POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL. was The Girlfriend Experience. She was intrigued with the term girlfriend experience, also known as GFE in some circles (clears throat), and she asked if I would share my knowledge of it, and I happily agreed (not that the definition fits any particular goings-on at Lip Service, mind you).
Anyway, here we go - the term "girlfriend experience" is not a new term. It's been around for years, though it was used quite often when the sex scandal broke about the former governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, who allegedly paid for high-priced prostitutes, one of those women being Ashley Dupre.
A girlfriend experience is a pay-for-play connection between individuals that gives the illusion of intimacy between the two. From the outside, those who'd observe the couple would easily assume that they were an item, committed, and in love. GFE is a term used to describe the sexual lifestyle preference of a client who pays for a high-end call girl, wanting the escort to play the role and act like she's his woman, sometimes in bed, which I know nothing about, and sometimes out of bed, sometimes both - imagine that. It can involve meals together, holding hands, hugging, talking - more personal interaction and public displays of affection. In bed, I'm told it could mean snuggling, conversation, deep French kissing, sometimes spending the night, foreplay, romantic music. If the escort is a male, the term is "boyfriend experience," or BFE.
From what I hear, there's also a term called "porn star experience," or PSE, as in the type of sex you'd see in XXX-rated movies. It's supposedly less about feelings and more about the performance.
Based on the GFE theory, Pynk has given me permission to share a scene from chapter two of her novel, POLITICS. ESCORTS. BLACKMAIL., very loosely based on Lip Service, that involves an escort named Midori Moody. Bless Midori's heart, she's yearned for a "normal" life with a man who could save her from her profession. To her, to have the husband, kids, and white picket fence, with two dogs, Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin, is only fantasy. But in the meantime, there's this amazing, yet married, Long Island doctor who shows her a real good time in Florida; enough of a good time to distract her from her belief that any man who'd ever be attracted to her would never see her as virtuous enough to marry.
And so, enjoy the below excerpt as Midori fulfills the Long Island doctor's GFE fantasy. And be nice to Midori Moody because in the book, and in real life, she's my little sister. As a disclaimer, please note that I cannot be responsible for the fictional words of Pynk. She's always making up something. She has such a way with words, in fact, she convinced me that this story had to be told, not to glamorize the business, but to paint a picture of what can happen if said clients have sex with said escorts, and allow you to be a fly on the said escort wall.
Get ready to be eroticized Pynk-style, because . . . there's hot, there's red-hot, and then there's Pynk! (Pynk told me to say that).
Ciao! Madam Money Watts
Midori’s trip the previous weekend with the Long Island doctor to the Florida Keys was spectacular. She wasn’t even mad at her sister for assigning the booking to her. Turns out the client wanted the GFE, or girlfriend experience, as opposed to what most of the men who paid for her services wanted—the PSE, or porn star experience. The PSE was usually freakier and definitely more expensive because it involved sex that was more hardcore.
The Long Island doctor, a.k.a. Mr. 81, who was in his fifties, paid top dollar for someone to simply be the girl next door, doing what some girlfriends do. Be his willing, feminine, sexy trophy. No drama allowed.
For a moment, while with him, Midori had actually forgotten she was a working girl and fell victim to the allure of the imaginary romance he was trying to portray for his own reasons. No one on the Florida Keys island knew who he was, unlike in the city, where he was often recognized. The two of them were incognito, holding hands, pretending to be a couple though having just met. While she fulfilled his fantasy, she felt cherished and got lost along the white sugar sand beaches with spiraling coconut palm trees, under powder-blue skies in mid-eighty-degree weather. He fulfilled her heart’s fantasy without even knowing it.
The first evening was like a true date. They met at the restaurant called Shor. After dinner, he walked her to her own two-bedroom suite, and he went to his. They exchanged nothing more than a good-night peck on the lips.
The next day after breakfast, he took her shopping at the local boutiques and bought her formal evening wear, a sapphire bustier with a matching thong, skimpy lingerie, and a tangerine bikini. They went parasailing and scuba diving on the private beach. That evening they enjoyed a cozy dinner cruise at sunset and danced the night away like newlyweds.
Later, in his hotel suite, after sipping expensive champagne and feeding each other chocolate-dipped strawberries, she allowed him to live out his desires: French kissing, expert cunnilingus, her riding him until she had an orgasm, or three, and then him mounting her until he got his, all to the sounds of smooth, baby-making jazz. Then, after about an hour’s worth of pillow talk, she went to her hotel room, floating on cloud nine.
He was the head of thoracic surgery at the University Hospital of Brooklyn, and if Taye Diggs had an older brother, he would be it. He had dark skin, white teeth, a bald head, and he was sexy but he acted like he didn’t know it. He was a leading, esteemed surgeon who mended hearts for a living. But it became obvious to Midori that he was trying to survive after having his heart broken.
After the throes of deep sex, while holding “Brooklyn,” her escort name, in his arms, he shared with her: “My wife is cheating on me. I don’t want to give her half, since we didn’t sign a pre-nup. After twenty-two years, we’re in a sexless marriage. It all comes down to the fact that it’s cheaper to keep her. So instead of having a chick on the side who wants more, I hire an escort every now and then. But I’m never with the same girl twice.”
Midori gave a smile but frowned inside. In her mind she snapped her fingers, Damn.
The final day they rented scooters to get in some last-minute sightseeing, had lunch, then simply checked out of the hotel and headed off to the airport in separate town cars like it was all a dream. They never even spent one night together. (Copyright © 2012 by Pynk)
Thanks Money for filling in for Pynk today and giving us a look at the “girlfriend experience.” One can only hope Midori Moody finds the happiness she’s looking for.
For more information on Pynk and her writing, you can visit her website or find her on Facebook.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Don’t forget to stop by Pynk’s Twitter Party today as well.
Readers of contemporary romance got a treat last week with the release of author Lynnette Austin's
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU, her first Maverick Junction novel.
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU, an eBook original from Forever Yours, was released Dec. 4th. It’s a reader’s delight, especially if they have a special spot in their hearts for cowboys, small towns, secrets, and heroes and heroines who are just so wrong for each other.
This charming story brings together Cash Hardeman and Annelise Montjoy. He's pure Texas and loves jeans, cowboy hats and longneck beers. She's a Boston heiress and socialite who wears designer fashions and diamonds, and drinks champagne from crystal flutes. He has a secret. So does she.
Cash is going to lose the family ranch if he doesn't marry before his thirtieth birthday. Annelise has run away from home and is pretending to be someone else as she searches for the illegitimate arm of her in order to save her grandfather's life. Total opposites, they don't belong together. So why can't they stay away from each other?
By the way, Cash and Annelise aren't the only ones with secrets. The author has one, too. Many readers have already enjoyed her novels and know her as Lynnette Hallberg, whose books include Enchanted Evening; Moonlight, Motorcycles and Bad Boys and Just a Little White Lie.
An inveterate reader and writer, Lynnette loves nothing better than to lose herself in her characters' lives. She also enjoys travel and has been all over the world, always on the lookout for new characters or a new story.
Lynnette grew up in Pennsylvania's Alleghany Mountains, moved to New York, then to the Wyoming Rockies. Presently she, her husband, and her Siamese cat divide their time between Naples, Florida's beaches and Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. She is currently at work on her second book set in Maverick Junction.
For more on Lynnette and her writing, visit her at http://www.authorlynnetteaustin.com.
Now for your reading pleasure, here’s an excerpt from SOMEBODY LIKE YOU, Maverick Junction, Book 1 (1-4555-2837-4, 978-1-4555-2837-0). Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Seated toward the back of Sally's Place, Annelise heard the door open and close. The bell overhead jingled as outside heat rushed in. Without even looking, she knew who'd blown in with it. Well, he was no concern of hers. In all fairness, she doubted there was anywhere else to eat lunch in this one-pony town.
Annelise went back to studying the menu. Chili, country-fried steak, burritos, enchiladas, an just about anything that could be deep-fried.
A pair of dusty boots stopped at her table. She lifted her head and looked straight into the greenest eyes she's ever seen. For an instant, all sense left her; speech deserted her.
"Seems there's no tables left," Cowboy said. "Mind if I sit with you?" Without waiting for an answer, he pulled out a chair.
She blinked, sanity returning. Her gaze swept the wealth of unoccupied tables. "No empty tables?"
"Well -" He held out his hands, palms up.
Up close, Cowboy was wicked handsome. IF she wasn't dead set on 
settling in today so she could head over to Lone Tree tomorrow -"Actually, I'm afraid I do mind."
He cocked his head, tipped back his cowboy hat. "Not very neighborly."
"Good thing I'm not your neighbor, then."
"Ouch." He grimaced. "I don't bite, and I've had all my shots."
Sadly, she shook her head. "I suppose someone told you that line was cute.
"Nope." He looked at the chair, then back at her.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I have a lot on my mind and I really don't want company."
"Okay, let's head at it from a different direction. I do. Need company, that is. I've been out on the ranch with nothing but surly bulls and even meaner cowhands for way too long. Sure would be a pleasure to sit across from you for a few minutes. I won't hold you up. Honest. When you're ready to go, you go."
Her mouth dropped open. "Are all Texans this persistent?"
He narrowed his eyes in consideration. "We might be. Guess that's why we lost so many good men at the Alamo. Texans hate to throw in the towel. Never can tell when things might start going your way."
Despite herself, Annelise laughed. She hadn't expected such a rough-and-tumble-looking cowboy to be so optimistic.
The owner chose that moment to wander over. "Hey, Cash, ain't seen you in a while."
"Been busy breaking in a couple new horses and doing some branding. So, how's my favorite gal, Sally?"
"My feet hurt, and my cook's throwin' a tantrum. Other than that, all's good." Sally pushed at frizzy blond hair and snapped her gum "How 'bout you?"
"Can't complain. Tell you what I'd love right now, though. A tall glass of your sweet tea. Lots of ice." He dropped into the chair beside her.
Annelise gaped at him. Cowboy was one smooth operator.
"Comin' right up. How 'bout you, sweetheart? You want some tea?"
"Yes. That would be wonderful. Unsweetened, please. And I'd prefer to drink it without company." She shot Cash a get-lost look. He simply smiled back.
Sally's gaze shifted between the two o f them. When Cash made no move to change tables, she asked, "Need a minute to look at the menu?"
"No. I'd like your house salad with vinaigrette dressing on the side."
"That's gonna be your lunch?" Cash scowled. "That's all you're getting?"
"Annelise sat up straighter. "I hate to be rude, but I have a lot to do today. I came in for lunch. Not company."
"Understood."
Still, he didn't move.
What was with him? So much for Texans being gentlemen. Anger, an emotion she rarely allowed herself, lapped at her. Mentally counting to ten, she turned her attention to Sally. "Just the salad, please."
"That's not enough," Cash said.
"Who are you? The lunch patrol?"
"You'd dang well be eating better if I was. I'd order a nice steak, some hand-cut fries, and a big old piece of Ms. Sally's apple pie à la mode for you."
"For lunch?"
"Darn tootin'."
"I'll stick with my salad, thanks."
When their waitress headed off, Cash said, "You're sure more hospitable with her than you are with me."
She shrugged. "Like I said, you can move to another table if you'd like."
"His gaze traveled past her, and he stood suddenly. "Excuse me."
More than a little disappointed, she turned in her chair and watched him cross the room, his stride easy. Despite what she'd said, a traitorous part of her actually hoped he'd stay.
He walked over to where an older woman struggled to slide her chair from the table. Giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, he reached out to her. "Can I help?"
With a sigh, the woman laid a shaky hand in his. "This getting old isn't for sissies." Standing, she said, "You're a good boy, Cash Hardeman. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten about the snake you and Brawley Odell put in my desk."
He picked up her purse and carried it with him as he walked her slowly toward the door. "You've got a memory like an elephant, Mrs. Sandburg."
"And don't you forget it." At the door, she called out, "Sally, I left the check on the table. That pie of yours was as good as ever."
"See you next week," Sally answered.
"You bet." She patted Cash's cheek. "I manage from here. Tell your mother hello for me when she and your dad get home."
"Will do." He waited till she started down the walk and then returned to Annelise's table.
Something about the easy candidness of this Texas cowboy tugged at her. His kindness touched her heart. But she needed to stay focused on the reason she'd come. (© 2012 by Lynnette Austin)
Thanks everyone for dropping by today. What is it about books featuring cowboys and small towns that draw us to them?
We gather once more for Sunday Salon where we can discuss the books we’ve read, find out about new releases we’re eagerly awaiting and plan which tantalizing publication to get lost in next.
Sunday Salon seems the perfect place to discuss a fun book for youngsters of all ages I recently discovered. With that discovery, I’m delighted to be able to participate in author Tracy Sands’ Pump Up Your Book virtual book tour for her charming release, THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABET BOOK.
Tracy’s enchanting book caught my attention and then I learned she was a Georgia author so I couldn’t resist joining in her tour. Tracy is from Peachtree City, where she lives with her husband, Albert, and their three sons, Chase, Gabe, and Adam. She has taught art and "church school" to all ages for many years. Now Tracy spends her time caring for her active family and working on The Christian Alphabet™.
For more on Tracy and her writing, visit her at www.thechristianalphabet.com
It’s time to refill your cup of favorite brew, get comfortable, relax and let’s talk books.
Books that hold a youngster’s attention while educating them at the same time are a bonus.
Tracy Sands, author of THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABET BOOK, has created such a book. She has incorporated teaching children the alphabet with teaching about Jesus, prayer and the Bible.
The beautifully illustrated hardcover book will capture youngsters’ attention with the vivid colors and fascinating artwork. The book is recommended for ages 4 and up, but I see adults enjoying the lessons as well. It’s a book the entire family can cherish together.
Love, the dove from above, guides readers through the letters of the alphabet with unique Biblical lessons. Each letter has ancient and modern images and symbols to express Christianity blended into them. The letters provide not only educational significance, but also spiritual. For further education, an explanation of each of the images and symbols is included in the back of the book.
Two pages are devoted to each letter. The right-hand page displays the letter and the sacred scripture associated with it. In addition, there is a fun ‘seek and you shall find’ activity to encourage readers to find the different symbols and images inside each letter.
The left-hand page contains the basic lesson. Love, the dove from above, also provides another fun activity. A prayer ends each lesson.
Sands has done an excellent job of combining learning with fun to hold the reader’s attention. THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABET BOOK is a charming read and would make a great addition to a youngster’s library or a Sunday School classroom.
The Christian Alphabet Book by Tracy Sands, Love the Dove Publishing, @2012, ISBN: 978-0985792800, Hardcover, 80 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour. It was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks everyone for joining me today. Have you discovered any books for youngsters lately? What is the favorite book from your childhood?
Christmas will be here before we know it and what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than with holiday-themed music.
Robin Harper’s SIMPLY CHRISTMAS will make a delightful addition to your holiday music collection. She teams up with pianist Marvin Goldstein to perform numerous holiday favorites such as ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day.’
She also performs other tunes to boost your holiday spirit including ‘(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag,’ ‘Grown-Up Christmas List,’ ‘Santa Baby,’ and much more.
The magic of Christmas and its simple joy comes through the solo vocals of Harper and the beautiful performance by Goldstein. The duo has created a moving tribute to the season that will stay will you long after the holidays are over.
SIMPLY CHIRSTMAS will make a great stocking stuffer and quickly become a favorite CD during the holidays.
I’m including a video trailer here so you can a have listen to the lovely sounds of Harper and Goldstein. --- enjoy!
Simply Christmas by Robin Harper, Featuring Pianist Marvin Goldstein, Robin Harper and Solarium Studios, @2012, ASIN: B006LZ0PHQ, 1 Disc, Listening Time: Approximately 35 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure - This Christmas CD was sent to me by the artist in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Everyone, I do so appreciate you stopping by today. Do you have favorite holiday songs that you enjoy year after year?
It’s my pleasure to be a participant in the promotional tour for author David LeRoy’s debut novel, THE SIREN OF PARIS, which explores the French Resistance and other events during World War II.
Here is a synopsis of David’s novel:
Born in Paris and raised in the United States, 21-year-old Marc Tolbert enjoys the advantages of being born to a wealthy, well-connected family. Reaching a turning point in his life, he decides to abandon his plans of going to medical school and study art in Paris. In 1939, he boards a ship and heads to France, blissfully unaware that Europe -- along with the rest of the world -- is on the brink of an especially devastating war.
When he arrives at l'École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, more ominous signs surface. There are windows covered with tape, sandbags shielding the fronts of important buildings, whispers of Parisian children leaving the city, and gas masks being distributed. Distracted by a blossoming love affair, Marc isn't too worried about his future, and he certainly doesn't expect a Nazi invasion of France.
Marc has a long journey ahead of him. He witnesses, first-hand, the fall of Paris and the departure of the French government. Employed by an ambassador, he visits heads of state, including the horribly obese gray-haired Mussolini and the charismatic Hitler. He witnesses the effects of the tightening vise of occupation, first-hand, as he tries to escape the country. He also participates in the French resistance, spends time in prison camps, and sees the liberation of the concentration camps. During his struggles, he is reunited with the woman he loves, Marie, who speaks passionately of working with the resistance. Is she working for freedom, or is she not to be trusted?
David has graciously answered some questions for me about his book and his writing.
Mason - If you had to write this book over, would you do anything differently - content in the book, your writing schedule, the way you researched it, etc.?
David - I have recently received very frank feedback, from an industry insider, that the story needed to be changed for more mass-market appeal. I do not have long descriptive scenes of Paris streets, I lack weather details, and they wanted Marc to rescue Marie from her involvement with the Gestapo, rather than becoming her victim. The book stands in strong contrast to other novels of Paris during this time.
There are three things I would do differently. In the basement scene on June 3rd when Paris is bombed, I would show the reader that Marc and the embassy staff are afraid of getting hit by bombs and drowning in wine, because Ambassador Bullitt had a collection of 18,000 bottles of wine in that building. The second thing I would change, and I am seriously considering doing this in a 2nd edition, is to reveal the identity of the mysterious German agent Marie takes under her guidance and teaches the fine art of entrapment of Resistance members, along with emotional and mental torture. This mysterious German agent is Klaus Barbie. I intentionally hid this in the book, however some people have figured it out. If you read that scene closely, it is clear that Marie is teaching this agent her techniques; he is later transferred to Paris. The idea that Marc could save Marie from the Gestapo is very romantic, but not at all realistic. Klaus Barbie is not well known today, and his trial was over 25 years ago but he was an amazing monster. In this book, he is Marie’s student, not the other way around.
Third, I am going to change the cover. It will be a crest of three Fleur de lis of crushed egg shell, one for ghosts of the past, one for prayers, and one for regrets, bound by a single gold ring representing Marc’s engagement to Marie. This is woven into the first chapter of the book. I think the current cover gives readers the idea that this is a war romance, or a thriller, instead of a serious historical novel. At the time the cover seemed to capture the story, but now I wonder what I was thinking when I chose it.
I would not change the flashbacks in the second part of the story, because every step in Marc’s spiritual journey is carefully considered. Some have suggested cutting some of these characters as if they were just fillers.
Mason - Did you find any fascinating tidbits of information during your research that you couldn’t use in your book?
David - Tons and some will be explored in the book that follows this one. One of the most unusual facts was that Winston Churchill was crossing the channel in a pink airplane, in German controlled airspace, as Paris fell. Because I use third person limited perspective in the book, I do not dive into much exposition going beyond Marc’s point of view. However, when I was close to completing the story, I discovered that in May of 1944 the German Police had posted a job announcement for undercover agents to work, in Paris, against the resistance. Over 6,000 applied for the job. For Marc that makes little difference, because he is already in the hands of the most experienced one of all. But for most in the resistance movement, which included many teenagers, this meant death, usually in the parlor room of 180 Rue de la Pompe. Some historians have questioned the size and scope of the resistance movement, but I think they fail to account for the high number who didn’t survive long enough to be counted after the war.
Mason - Why write this book? What made this story so compelling to you that you had to tell it?
David - I faced a decision, early on, about what kind of story I would write. One would be more along the lines of the typical 
World War II novel, full of intrigue, spying, and of course the victorious hero in the end. But all the people I read about were not exactly intact. They were haunted by the past and had experienced terrible things, especially betrayal on a very personal level, which scarred them for life. When I discovered that even to this day, survivors, and families of the victims of the RMS Lancastria have not been recognized, or even had the ship declared a war grave, I decided I had to explore betrayal and overcoming survivor’s guilt because it is still real to this day.
The people who read the book and are the most moved by it have been relatives and children of French Resistance members, because they finally understand why their loved ones never talked about the war and never bragged about their victories. Marc is not a typical hero in the sense of our modern novels, but more of a wounded healer. Through the point of view of his mystical consciousness, the reader experiences a glimpse of hope that, one day, there is release from this war that took an estimated 69 million lives and promise of eternal peace. The inspiration for this unique structure comes from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which is the story of the soul Ani traveling through the underworld until he reaches the most sacred space, eternal peace. This transforms the historical characters in this novel into a pantheon of both demons and gods.
Mason - Is there any advice you’ve been given that you pass on to writers just beginning?
David - Study various kinds of story and plot structure. I know that screenplay books are about writing screenplays, but the tools they teach about crafting a story are valuable.
Mason - With the book’s release, as you look back what was the biggest surprise that occurred in writing the story?
David - THE SIREN OF PARIS is nowhere near a bestseller. It is not the number of people who read it, but who reads it that shocks me the most. I have had emails from people with relatives who were in the Paris resistance. Recently, there has been attention, in England, to details in the book about the RMS Lancastria. I do not cover the ultimate fate of Marie in this book, and that is not a mistake. However, some are now asking if this person is alive, and how do I know these details because she would be 92 years old, and a wanted war criminal.
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
David - I have several projects going, but I plan to release a novella titled THE FLOWER OF CHAMULA in 2013. It is more of a character driven novel; it explores overcoming terminal illness and how it can prevent someone from living fully in the present. My fascination with the mystical and spiritual side of life will be evident in this work. It is set in San Cristobel de la Casa Mexico, in the Chiapas Mountains very close to one of the few places where the Catholic Church has been kicked out completely and replaced with a local form of Shamanism. Photography is not allowed, the floor of the church is covered in pine needles, the air is thick with the smoke of copal, and the veil is thin between the worlds.
David, thank you for joining us today and sharing these details about your book. I had to laugh when I read about Winston Churchill in the pink airplane. There has to be a story there. 
Now let me share a bit of background about David. A native of California, David received a BA in Philosophy and Religion at Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego. After returning from a European arts study program, he became interested in the history behind the French Resistance during World War Two. Writing fiction has become his latest way to explore philosophical, moral and emotional issues of life. THE SIREN OF PARIS is his first novel.
For more information on David and his writing, visit him at http://www.thesirenofparis.com/.
Here is what one reviewer has to say about THE SIREN OF PARIS – “This self-published novel really exhibits the amount of time and effort that its author took with his research. Mr. LeRoy takes his readers through the streets of Paris and shows the way the Parisian people were ignorant of the true toll of the war before it rolled down their own streets. He also uses many events of the time period, some that are well-known and some that are less known. I think even readers who are fond of World War II novels will learn about the underground resistance in Paris and the wartime tragedy of the RMS Lancastria.”
Here’s a book trailer for THE SIREN OF PARIS.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories based in fact and set during World War II? Is Paris one of the cities you love to read about no matter the era?
Trilogies are sometimes tricky with the enthusiasm, characters and
storyline falling flat with the final installment.
That’s not the case with author Nora Roberts’ trilogy, Inn Boonsboro. The final installment in the series, THE PERFECT HOPE, is as powerful as the first two books with an added bonus as it ties everything nicely together.
MacLeod Andrews does a superb job with the narration. His vocalizations of the characters gives each their own unique style and voice. His cadence is mesmerizing drawing the listener in, making them feel a part of the story.
This installment focuses on Hope Beaumont, the inn keeper of the Inn Boonsboro and Ryder Montgomery, the eldest of the three Montgomery brothers who built the inn under the supervision of their mother, Justine.
Hope was burnt by her last relationship when she realized Jonathan Wickham was only using her. To make matters worse, so was his family as she managed The Wickman, their hotel in Georgetown. Coming to Boonsboro at the urging of her two friends, Hope is determined to be a good inn keeper and has little time for romance.
To add to her drama, Hope recently learned she is related to Lizzy, the resident ghost who inhabits the inn. Circumstances has lead Hope to begin a search to know more about the man Lizzy lost in the war. She may be a big city girl, but Hope is quickly learning to enjoy the small town lifestyle.
Ryder has his hands full working on the numerous construction projects his mother continues to develop. He is sexy with a strong stubborn streak. With one brother and sister-in-law busy with three boys and a couple more on the way, and the other brother about to marry his childhood sweetheart, Ryder isn’t looking for romance either.
The chemistry between Hope and Ryder is electrifying. Their quick-tempered bantering is fun. They seem like opposites, but share very much in common. The secondary characters are colorful, zany and well-developed. They add realism to the mix. The inn and the town are beautiful described casting them as major characters in the story as well.
THE PERFECT HOPE is a stand alone book. However, to completely enjoy the journey of the Montgomery brothers and their ladies, the trilogy should be read/listened to in order. Reading/listening in order also enhances the adventure of Lizzy and her quest for Billy.
Roberts has brought the trilogy to a delightful close tying up lose ends and giving all involved their time in the limelight. The best thing to me is that even though the trilogy ends, it is not so final that another chapter (book) couldn’t be written later to update the lives of those in Boonsboro.
Author Nora Roberts’ website is www.noraroberts.com
The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts, Inn Boonsboro Trilogy Book Three, Read by MacLeod Andrews, Brilliance Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1455807093, Unabridged, 9 Discs, Listening Time: 10 Hours
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. When you read the last installment in a series, do you want it to be final, final? Or do you prefer closure with an opening where the author could come back and write more?
I’m delighted to welcome Juliet Blackwell, author of the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series, here today to talk about writing and the third installment in her national bestselling paranormal mystery series, MURDER ON THE HOUSE, which hit bookshelves yesterday.
Juliet’s series is about a woman who owns a construction company and also specializes in ridding homes of unwanted ghosts. Here’s a brief synopsis:
Mel Turner’s secret is out: having successfully “dealt with” ghosts in two haunted San Francisco homes, the Haunted House Quarterly publishes an article labeling her a ghost buster. Turner Construction’s office is flooded with requests for her services.
Ignoring her new-found fame, Mel is called in to consult on the renovation of a beautiful old gothic home. The prospective buyers insist that the home is haunted; they plan to market it as “San Francisco’s Most Haunted Bed and Breakfast.” But they need Mel to convince the house’s unfriendly ghosts to go along with their plan. Soon the house has another ghost – that of the recently murdered, and very confused, owner. And Mel must find out who wanted the house badly enough to kill.
Juliet has graciously answered some questions for me.
Mason - What inspired you to have your protagonist own a construction company?
Juliet - As the owner of a decorative painting company in the San Francisco Bay Area, I worked on construction sites for many years. I was the faux finisher/mural painter/historical restoration person on numerous remodels/renovations, and even started doing project management…so it’s a setting I know well! There were so few women on the job that those of us with XX chromosomes always stood out – but I got to know the men working on projects, and by and large they were really good guys, and many of them were real characters. So when I started cooking up a new series, and I realized how few books really addressed the nuts and bolts (pardon the pun) of the construction/renovation business, I thought it would be a great way to get my protagonist into some amazing San Francisco historic homes!
Mason - With construction and ghost busting (so to speak) the theme of your book, how did you go about doing research for it?
Juliet - Ah yes, the ghosts! That’s the other reason I chose to locate my protagonist in the area of construction – it’s said that renovation often awakens sleeping spirits, and what better way to force your protagonist to confront ghosts behind the walls? I do a LOT of research on both construction and ghost sightings. I read
constantly –everything from old folktales and the spiritualist movement of the late 1800s, to lurking in chat rooms regarding the home renovation industry as well as those for paranormal investigations. I have also interviewed “ghost hunters” and people who believe they live in haunted houses, as well as owners of spiritual paraphernalia shops. I’ve also participated in a handful of paranormal investigations…scary!
Mason - If you had to write this book over, would you do anything differently - content in the book, your writing schedule, the way you researched it, etc.?
Juliet - Oh, wow, that’s a hard one! I guess the writing schedule is the most obvious thing I would like to change: it seems I should have a lot of control over my time since I now write full-time, but this last year has been a bit crazy when it comes to my personal/family life, so I haven’t had as much uninterrupted time as I would have liked! But then, I would probably say that with almost any book I write 
I also would have liked to include more of the local flavor of the Castro neighborhood, where the story from MURDER ON THE HOUSE is based. I spent a lot of time in the area while I was working up the story, and the scenes in the book reflect my experiences there, but that area gets so wild sometimes it would have been fun to include more of that! But in the end, it didn’t really fit the story, and felt forced. As an author, knowing what to cut from the story is often more important that deciding what to include.
Mason - Did anything unusual, scary and/or funny happen during the course of your writing this book or was there any surprises that occurred involving the characters as the story came together?
Juliet - I always find it surprising when my characters start developing in ways that I hadn’t anticipated. After all, *I* am the writer, right? It seems as though I should be able to maintain control over what my inventions do…and yet, one of the truly fun things about writing is when your characters take over and decide their own fate. In fact, when I give writing workshops I tell my students that if you get stuck on a scene that just won’t get written, check to see whether you are forcing your characters to do something that is out of character. They fight back!
In MURDER ON THE HOUSE, some of the secondary characters stepped up and did a few things on their own, such as staking out Mel’s ex-husband’s house. I have no idea where that storyline came from--it cracked me up!
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
Juliet - Next up in this series is HOME FOR THE HAUNTING, which I’m working on right now. In it, Mel Turner is learning that “no good deed goes unpunished” when she agrees to head up a volunteer renovation project. The story includes a Poet Laureate, a conniving homeowner, some shady volunteers and the ghosts of a long-ago double-murder-suicide. It’s great fun!
And in July the fifth in my Witchcraft Mystery Series, TARNISHED AND TORN, will be released. In this series, Lily Ivory is a witch with a vintage clothing store in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. In TARNISHED, Lily finds herself on the trail of an ancient – and powerful--vintage fire opal medallion…but she’s not the only one looking for it, of course. In the meantime, there are some interesting developments in Lily’s love life, and a few characters from her past come back to haunt her.
Juliet, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing this background with us. It’s intriguing that you’ve participated in paranormal investigations. I would say that definitely gives you good research.
Here’s a bit of background on Juliet and her books. She is the NYT bestselling author of the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series (If Walls Could Talk, Dead Bolt, Murder on the House) and the Witchcraft mystery series (Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, Hexes and Hemlines, In a Witch’s Wardrobe). As Hailey Lind, Juliet penned the Art Lover’s Mystery series, including Agatha-nominated Feint of Art.
A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked and studied in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France. She now lives in a happily haunted house in Oakland, California, where she is a muralist and portrait painter. She was a two-term president of Northern California Sisters in Crime.
For more on Juliet and her writing, visit her at www.julietblackwell.net and you can find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JulietBlackwellAuthor and on Twitter @JulietBlackwell
Mel Turner is doing a good business of restoring/renovating historic homes in the San Francisco Bay area. It’s her new reputation as an up-and-coming ghost hunter that’s not sitting so well with her.
However, it’s that branch of work that gets Mel a chance at a new job. A couple are looking to purchase an allegedly haunted house and market it as a haunted bed-and-breakfast. They just need Mel to convince the unfriendly ghosts to go along with their plans. Mel also has to spend a night in the house to win the contract.
Mel finds more than old ghosts in the house when she sees visions of the home owner. It seems someone is willing to kill for change. Mel has to find the killer before another ghost moves into the house.
Author Juliet Blackwell has created a fun, feisty and realistic protagonist in Mel. She can be strong and determined, but still has flaws and quirks. The secondary cast of characters are zany and add an interesting layer of fun to the story.
MURDER ON THE HOUSE flows at a steady pace with the right amount of twists and intrigue to hold your attention until the final paragraph. Blackwell’s eye for detail of the historical sections of San Francisco places the reader in the middle of the action. Mix in a bit of humor for a finished project that will have you eager for more. This is the third installment in the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series, but can be read as a stand alone.
Murder On The House by Juliet Blackwell, A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery, Obsidian, @2012, ISBN: 978-0451238849, Paperback, 311 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Have you ever stayed in a haunted house? Would you like to stay in one for a night just to see what you could see or hear?
Author Frankie Rose is promoting her YA paranormal, ETERNAL HOPE, in a unique way with grace and flourish. She’s hosting a Scavenger Hunt through Dec. 7 for Book Two of her The Hope Series
with lots of interesting prizes to be given away.
Here’s a brief synopsis of ETERNAL HOPE:
He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me
When your friends go missing and you don’t know if they’re dead or alive; when you tie your soul to the one you love; when you kill to protect and your family suffers, there’s only one thing you can do:
Move to Montana.
Farley Hope is special. She was prophesied to kill the forebears of her bloodline- a race of cold-blooded Reavers, men who steal the souls of the living to gain power. The Quorum had counted on Farley ending her own life in the process, but when Kayden came to her aid and helped save both her and Daniel, he undid their plans. Now the Quorum are displeased, not only with Kayden, but with Farley and Daniel too. Though her father is now dead, Farley’s troubles with the Reavers are far from over. An ancient Immortal, trapped for a thousand years, wants Farley for himself, and he will stop at nothing to claim her.
With secrets that lead to anger and pain, that turn friendship to dust, the group must overcome the problems within their own circle before they have a hope of fighting off the powers that threaten their lives.
I’ve never hosted a scavenger hunt before so this has been a fun learning experience for me. For those who have never participated in a scavenger hunt before, please allow me to go over the basics with you.
Frankie has written a special excerpt that has had some of the words removed. Each blogger that is participating in the scavenger hunt has been given a different key word, one of the removed words from the excerpt. They then include the key word (highlighted in green) somewhere in the scavenger hunt blog post. Readers go from blog host to blog host each day in search of the green words. There are three hosts per day participating. To help with the search, each blog host also includes the link to the blog with the next clue (key word).
Once the readers have collected all key words, then it is up to them to try and place those words in the correct spot in the excerpt. The first person to successfully complete the excerpt wins the grand prize, the second person to complete it wins the second prize, and so forth.
The starting blog, Juniper Grove Book Solutions, has a complete listing of all blog hosts participating in the hunt. So if you’re just getting started, you’ll have no problems catching up quickly. There is also a detailed list of the prizes up for grabs.
Now here’s the excerpt you must complete to be eligible to win. It was written specifically for the scavenger hunt and cannot be found anywhere except on the participating blogs.
Farley felt her face redden, which was _________ inappropriate. Daniel and Kayden were _______ she was watching, and for once their sparring lacked the flashy showmanship they usually employed to _______ her. For the two of them, nothing _______ beyond the dimly lit parameters of the hangar. Beyond the lunge, beyond the parry, beyond the block.
This was how it would really go down, if they ever meant to do serious harm to one _______. Movements fluid and graceful, there was _________ primal about their circling. Quick _______ of calculating eyes, green and blue, preempting the other’s next move. Kayden’s hair was darkened with sweat, but both their chests rose and fell with __________ regularity. In and out. Slow and steady. The stern, focused expressions on their faces said ____ were in total control.
Farley let the darkness wash over her and kept her presence hidden. The confrontation was too ___________ to interrupt. Bare chests, muscled and tanned; silver flashes of metal as their blades sang through the air. Even Cliff would have been impressed. Farley bit her ______ lip as Kayden darted _______ in a sure leap, thrusting out with deadly precision towards Daniel’s throat.
The ______ would have been a killing blow. Would have been, if it had even ______. Daniel sprang back and duck-rolled over the dusty floor, crouching into a defensive pose. With his knife ________, his eyes lifted to fix on Kayden, but they _____ quite made it.
________, his eyes lifted to fix on Kayden, but they _____ quite made it.
Farley’s heart leapt to her throat. Those eyes, piercing and sharp, fixed on her _______. She swallowed and braced against the wall behind her, trying to camouflage with the _______. Kayden shifted forward, ready to take _________ of Daniel’s distracted position, but the dark-haired boy simply lifted his hand. A wordless gesture: ____. Kayden stopped.
Robotically, Daniel rose, his _____ suddenly vanished, and dropped the knife into the dirt. Kayden’s apparent confusion only lasted a second; the moment he ________ it - that she was there - was _______. One second he was ________ Daniel’s creased brow, the next he had spun around impossibly quickly and was staring, too. Blue and Green. Farley felt her throat closing up. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Daniel brushed a hand back through his slightly curling hair, his face trained into a nothing __________. There was ______ he could do to hide the war in his eyes, ______. “So you’re back.”
Silence flooded the hangar. Farley took a moment to _______, pretending not to ______ Kayden’s fist clenching repeatedly ______ the handle of his knife.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice _______. “I guess I am.”
The other blog hosts participating in today’s hunt are:
Brittany @ The Cover by Brittany
Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead
Now here’s a bit of background on Frankie in her own words:
“As a child, I was always accused of being bookish because I wore glasses- big, horrible, ugly ones with too-thick lenses. Those kids, the super smart ones who always know which tender insecurities to poke at in order to provoke life-long complexes, used to accuse me of reading too many books and that my eyes were going to rot out of my head (their words, not mine!).
The truth of the matter was a little more embarrassing: I used to sit too close to the T.V. That was the reason why I had to wear glasses, but kids don’t really care about small, insignificant details like the truth, and so I was labeled a nerd. The label kinda stuck, and after some sage advice from my awesome nana (nana, you rock!) I decided that if I was going to be abused for my supposed literary obsession, I might as well develop one.
I guess that’s how I got into books and reading at an early age. Since then, I’ve been ripping through books like they’re going out of fashion, which, thankfully, they’re not. Good thing, too, because I’m a writer now, and books are my business!
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me on my journey- look for your names in the acknowledgements! And a big thank you to you, the reader. I hope you’ve fallen in love with Farley and Daniel just like I have, and that you’ll join them in the next book, ETERNAL HOPE!”
For more on Frankie and her writing, visit her website and her Amazon Author Page; find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads; and see her on YouTube.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. If you decide to give the scavenger hunt a try, here’s wishing you great success.
