One Tour With Tiara Trouble by Lane Buckman

It’s a delight to be a part of author Lane Buckman’s Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for her wacky cozy mystery, TIARA TROUBLE, the first installment in her Destinee Faith Miller Mystery series.

As part of the tour I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this fun mystery, tell you a bit about the author and list the other blogs participating in the tour (where you can also find some fabulous giveaways).

First, here’s a brief synopsis of TIARA TROUBLE…

       What happens when Dynasty meets Honey BooBoo, they have a baby, and that baby is raised by Charlie’s Angels? You get TIARA TROUBLE.
       One foreign policy question five years ago sent Destinee Faith Miller’s dreams of being Miss American Universe up in flames and landed her back in her hometown of Phenix City, Alabama, with her tail between her legs. But like the mythological bird that her hometown is misspelled after, she rose from the ashes to create Destinee’s Dolls, a thriving pageant consulting business knee-deep in pink, prints and glitz.
       A death at the local level of a national event lands her the job of pageant emcee, and Destinee dares to dream of bigger things—maybe even a reality TV show! But when judges start dropping like flies, she has her hands full keeping herself alive long enough to see those dreams come true. Contending with catfights, car bombs, and the camouflage-colored funeral of a redneck’s dream, Destinee gets a little help from her friends, family, and a pit bull named Clarabelle.

TIARA TROUBLE by Lane Buckman

Whether you’re a fan of beauty pageants or not, TIARA TROUBLE will have you laughing and seeing the contestants in a whole new light.

This cozy murder mystery has everything to keep you on the edge of your seat anticipating who the killer is as the contestants try to outdo each other.

Destinee Faith Miller has always dreamed of being Miss American Universe, but that hope went up in flames over a foreign policy question. Now she stays busy with her own pageant consulting business, Destinee’s Dolls, in her hometown of Phenix City, AL.

When her friend and mentor dies, Destinee gets his job of pageant emcee and she begins to have big dreams again. Then judges start dying and Destinee is determined to find the killer before her dreams go up in flames again. 

Author Lane Buckman has created well-balanced, realistic characters you can’t help but like. The zany secondary characters add color to the story. Buckman blends humor and suspense into a tantalizing tale. Her vivid descriptions of the behind-the-scenes activities of pageants adds depth (and humor) to the story. She has captured life in a small Southern town showcasing the humorous and serious elements.

The protagonist is seen as a person who has lived for crowns and titles all her life. But, at the same time, Buckman gives her depth by displaying her dedication and determination to make a success of her career. Buckman shows there’s much more to beauty contestants than fluffy hair, make-up, and strutting around in swimsuits and high heels.

TIARA TROUBLE is a laugh-out-loud adventure as a beauty pageant consultant puts her talents to work uncovering a killer, while making sure her little future princesses and queens reach for their crowns.

Filled with Southern charm and humor, suspense, murder, and lovable characters, TIARA TROUBLE is a must read for the cozy mystery lover.

Tiara Trouble by Lane Buckman, A Destinee Faith Miller Mystery, Cozy Cat Press, @2013, ISBN: 978-1939816160, Paperback, 230 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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lane Buckman is a former beauty queen from Phenix City, Alabama. (Yes, correct spelling). Growing up, she wanted to be Miss America, a criminal lawyer, a super model, the President, a Bond girl, a brain surgeon, a journalist, a back-up singer for Duran Duran, and a college professor of Medieval Literature. In order to fulfill those dreams, she became a writer. 

She lives in Texas with her family, and enjoys every miserably hot second of it.

For more on Lane and her writing, visit her website or contact with her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Cozy Cat Press.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS…

October 28 - rantin' ravin' and reading – Review, Interview
October 29 - Mochas, Mysteries and More – Guest Post
October 30 - Chloe Gets A Chloe – Interview
November 1 - A Chick Who Reads – Review
November 2 - Books-n-Kisses – Review, Giveaway
November 4 - fuonlyknew – Review
November 5 - My Devotional Thoughts – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
November 7 - Brooke Blogs – Review
November 8 - Sapphyria's Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post
November 9 - Melina's Book Blog – Review, Interview, Giveaway
November 10 - Turning the Pages – Review

Thanks so much for stopping by today. What’s your take on beauty pageants? Have you ever participated in one or do you watch them on TV?

Abe Lincoln: Public Enemy No. 1 On Tour

As we celebrate Election Day throughout the nation today, I’m delighted to be participating in a Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour for ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 by Bill Walker and Brian Anthony.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the authors’ alternate look at history…

When John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln with a bullet cursed by the notorious Chicken Man, a local voodoo practitioner, he unwittingly sets in motion a chain of events extending far into the future. Instead of killing Lincoln, the bullet puts the president into a coma for sixty-eight years, his body remaining limber and ageless. When he awakens in 1933, Abe Lincoln is a man out of time, a revered icon...and a political pariah. FDR and J. Edgar Hoover not only do not want him around, they want him to retire. But their plan to be rid of him backfires and Lincoln is on the run, a fugitive from justice.

Determined to reach Chicago and retrieve the small fortune left in trust for him by his long-dead son, Lincoln discovers that Hoover has confiscated all his money, leaving him destitute. With Bureau of Investigation agent Melvin Purvis in hot pursuit, Lincoln finds his way to a hobo camp where he befriends a young runaway, who agrees to accompany the former president back to Washington. There Lincoln hopes that Hannah Wheelhouse, the Chicken Man’s granddaughter, can help him find the peace he longs for.

Then fate deals Lincoln another strange hand when he and the boy end up as hostages to infamous bank robber John Dillinger. Instead of leaving them by the side of the road after the robbery, Dillinger takes a liking to Lincoln and invites him to join the gang, promising him he’ll get all his money back.

Will Lincoln survive long enough to recapture his fortune and get away, or will he be hunted down in a manner unbefitting a martyred President?

In this inventive and entertaining novel, history gets a work-out, the action is flat-out, and almost everyone gets rubbed-out!

ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 (352 pages) was published by Lowtide Books and is available in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-9897457-0-3), paperback (978-0-9897457-1-0), and eBook (978-0-9897457-2-7). It can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and on the book’s website.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

BILL WALKER is an award-winning writer whose works

include novels, short stories and screenplays. His first novel, Titanic 2012, was enthusiastically received by readers, and Bill’s two short story collections, Five Minute Frights and Five Minute Chillers, are perennial Halloween favorites. A highly-respected graphic designer, Walker has worked on books by such luminaries as Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. His most recent novel, A Note from an Old Acquaintance, was published in 2009.

You can catch up with Bill on his website and on Facebook.

BRIAN ANTHONY is a writer and award-winning filmmaker.

His first feature film, Victor’s Big Score, was praised by Variety as “A tremendous calling card for writer-producer-director Brian Anthony.” As a writer-producer Anthony has contributed to shows for American Movie Classics, Arts and Entertainment, and Fox Syndication, including Beneath the Planet of the Apes and Lost in Space Forever. A veteran film historian, Anthony has been interviewed on network television regarding film history, and co-authored the acclaimed biography of the film comedian Charley Chase, Smile While the Raindrops Fall, in 1998. Brian is an expert art and book restorationist, and you can see his work at Anthony Restorations. 

You can catch up with Brian on his website and on Facebook.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

To find out even more about this intriguing story and these delightful authors, visit the other blogs participating in this tour.
 

10/05 ~ Showcase, Review & Giveaway @ Deal Sharing Aunt

10/06 ~ Review & Giveaway @ rantin ravin and reading

10/11 ~ Showcase @ CMash Reads

10/16 ~ Review @ Vics Media Room

10/17 ~ Review @ Community Bookstop

10/18 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Gabina49s Blog

10/25 ~ Review & Giveaway @ The Stuff of Success

10/28 ~ Review, Interview & Giveaway @ Bless Their Hearts Mom

10/29 ~ Guest Post, Review & Giveaway @ The book Faery reviews

10/30 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Tales of a Book Addict

11/04 ~ Review & Giveaway @ My Cozie Corner

11/06 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Popcorn Reads

11/07 ~ Review @ My Devotional Thoughts

11/08 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Now is Gone

11/11 ~ Review & Giveaway @ WTF Are You Reading?

To capture your attention even more, here’s an excerpt from ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 for your reading pleasure. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you ever imaged Abe Lincoln being on the run?

CHAPTER ONE 

March 3, 1934

Lake County Jail

Crown Point, Indiana

       Counselor Louis Piquett felt a trickle of cold sweat roll down between his shoulder blades and silently cursed God, the courts, and the governor of the state of Indiana. He couldn't afford to be nervous today, yet his head pounded and his stomach churned from the breakfast he'd eaten at a roadside diner on the way to the jail. He fought back a wave of nausea and cranked open the Ford's passenger side window, letting the raw March air wash over his face. He closed his eyes and breathed it in.
       "You okay, Louis?"
       Piquett turned toward his law partner, Arthur O'Leary, and nodded. "Right as rain. Just wish you'd turn down the blasted heat."
       O'Leary's lips curled in a lopsided grin, which gave his narrow hawk-like face an air of mirthful menace. "Sorry...you know I'm always cold."
       Piquett took off his fedora and wiped his forehead with a wrinkled linen handkerchief. "Yeah, I know. You should go see the doctor about it."
       O'Leary grinned, and Piquett gazed out across South Main Street at the late-Victorian pile that was the Lake County Jail and Courthouse, his eyes scanning the mounted machineguns and the dozens of National Guardsmen manning them behind a four-foot high wall of fifty-pound sandbags.
       "You'd think they were expecting the Kaiser's army," O'Leary said, chuckling.
       "They just don't know what to make of our client, Arthur. Lord knows, I sometimes wonder about him myself."
       "He doesn't belong here, that's for sure," O'Leary said, shaking his head.
       "Unfortunately, his enemies think otherwise. You and I both know he didn't kill that federal officer."
       "That's not what I meant."
       Piquett stared back at his partner, his dark eyes like flints. "I know what you meant." The handkerchief came out again. "You take care of the guards, like I asked you?"
       O'Leary nodded. "There won't be a search."
       Piquett patted the left side of his suit jacket. "They find this on me and we've got a lot more trouble than we ever bargained for."
       O'Leary shot his partner a look of annoyance. "Nobody's got a gun to your head, Louis."
       Despite the rumble in his guts, Piquett smiled. "That's why I like you, Arthur. You always look at the bright side." He glanced at his watch. "Time to go. Wish me luck."
       O'Leary nodded, and Piquett eased himself out of the Ford and closed the door. He hesitated a moment then leaned in through the open window. "If I'm not out in twenty minutes, you get on out of here. You remember where I put the emergency funds?
       "I remember."
       "Good. Keep lookin' at that bright side, Arthur."
       Piquett slapped the roof of the Ford and strode toward the jail. Passing through the narrow opening in the sandbags, he gave the soldiers a cordial nod, climbed the steps and disappeared into the building.
       Following an official clearance, and after passing through a succession of remotely-controlled gates, he stood before the final door separating him from his client. The lone guard, seated at a scarred oak desk, motioned toward the open logbook lying in front of him. Piquett picked up a pen off the blotter and signed his name with a flourish.
       "Morning, officer," he said, handing back the pen.
       The guard, a scrawny young man with greasy black hair and a dull look in his eyes, took back the pen with a smirk spreading across his face.
       "Yeah, well, it ain't so good for that client a yours, counselor."
       Piquett's trial-winning smile widened. "Well, we're all innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven guilty, officer. That's the very foundation on which our great and glorious nation resides. Besides, you never know how a day's going to end, until it's over."
       The guard frowned, his puzzled expression making him look even less intelligent. "You mind standing back and raising your arms, counselor?" he said. "Gotta search ya."
       Piquett's stomach rolled over, but he managed to keep the grin plastered to his face, even as he felt the sweat break out anew.
       Just then an older guard stuck his head in the doorway.
       "He's clean, Jeff."
       The younger guard's frown deepened. "But Sheriff Holley said we was to search every visitor 'fore I pass 'em through this point."
       The older man leaned into the room, his face flushing. "And I'm tellin' you he's clean."
       Piquett watched the tense exchange between the two guards and said a silent prayer.
       The younger guard appeared to think about this for a moment, the gears in his mind grinding slowly. Then he sighed and shook his head. "You say he's clean, Irv, then fine, he's clean."
       The older guard nodded, giving Piquett a knowing look the younger guard missed then left the room. The younger guard stood and threw the lever that operated the automatic doors. There was a loud "clunk," followed by the whir of machinery. The door slid open and clanged to a stop.
       Another guard appeared on the other side of the open doorway and motioned for Piquett to follow.
       They passed through a corridor lined with empty holding cells. At the end of the hall Piquett spotted a wooden chair facing one of the cells. The guard motioned for him to sit. For a fleeting moment, Piquett toyed with the notion of turning around and leaving, going back to the car and driving away--maybe take that vacation he'd always promised himself. But then, whatever was left of his tattered code of ethics took over and he eased himself into the chair.
       "Thank you, officer," he said to the guard. "I'll let you know when we're done.
       The guard nodded, retraced his steps down the corridor and disappeared around the corner. Piquett kept his eye on the corridor for another moment then turned toward the cell.
       His client sat in a matching hardback chair dressed in a white shirt, charcoal-gray vest and matching pants. He was impossibly tall--even sitting down--and impossibly...there. The face he'd grown up admiring, the face that graced the penny and the five-dollar bill now sat watching him with a look of bemusement, gray eyes twinkling in the harsh glow of the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling.
       "Good morning, counselor," Lincoln said in his high, soft-spoken voice.
       "Good morning, Mr. President."
       "Please, Mr. Piquett, I do not think it fitting to refer to me by that hallowed moniker, especially when viewed in the harsh light of my present circumstances."
       Piquett felt his face redden. "I'm sorry, sir, you'll have to forgive me. I much admired your administration, your achievements."
       Lincoln smiled revealing gaps between his teeth. "And while my achievements may make me immortal, I am an inconvenient reality whose presence is a reminder of things some would prefer to forget. As far as those demigods who now reside in Washington are concerned, I am a man out of time and out of step with the problems of the day."
       "I disagree, Mr. Lincoln."
       Lincoln slapped his knee and chuckled. "You know what's truly ironic, counselor? The tenor of Washington has not changed all that much. I suspect the streets are cleaner and summers are more tolerable nowadays, but those puffed-up politicians have raised backstabbing to a high art. Practice makes perfect. Did you bring it, Mr. Piquett?"
       The abrupt shift in the conversation flustered the lawyer for a moment. "Y-yes, sir."
       He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small package wrapped in butcher paper and tied with twine. He handed it through the bars and Lincoln took it with his large, calloused hand. The package disappeared into his pocket.
       "Thank you, counselor, you've been most helpful. And I appreciate all that you've done. I was especially inspired by your performance in the courtroom during my arraignment last month."
       Piquett puffed with pride. "It was an honor, sir. I just wish I could've done more."
       Lincoln stood and thrust his hand through the bars. "You've done more than any man could ask. If I have need of you again, I will surely call on you."
       The lawyer grasped his client's hand, feeling the strength in the older man's grip.
       "Where will you go?" Piquett asked.
       Lincoln's expression turned melancholy. "Back into the history books where I belong, counselor...if they'll let me...."
       Ten minutes later, as O'Leary guided the Ford through the crush of late morning traffic, Piquett thought about the small wrapped package he'd given Lincoln and wondered--in spite of his sordid lack of ethics--if he'd done the right thing, after all.

* * *

       Jail Handyman Sam Cahoon went cold all over when he felt the barrel of a pistol jabbing into the small of his back. But it was that high voice in his ears that sent his heart racing.
       "I've got to be going, Sam," Lincoln said, "and I need your help. Please don't make me use this. I know only too well what it can do."
       Lincoln guided him over to the locked steel door leading to the adjoining room and motioned for Sam to call out to the guards. A large black man rose from a nearby table where he'd been playing solitaire and joined them. When Sam continued to hesitate, Lincoln kicked the door with his foot, sending a booming sound reverberating around the Day Room, which now fell silent.
       "That you, Sam?" came the voice from the other side of the door.
       Sam looked to Lincoln, his eyes wide with fright. Lincoln pressed the barrel harder into the handyman's back and nodded.
       "Yeah, it's me," Sam said. "I'm done in here."
       "All right," the voice replied.
       A moment later came the rattle of keys and the door swung inward. Lincoln kicked the door hard, sending the startled guard behind it sprawling, then he shoved Sam Cahoon aside and grabbed the guard, who was scrambling to his feet.
       "Y-you out of your mind?" the guard sputtered.
         "So they tell me, son. Now you go on and get us into the guardroom, and no tricks."
       The guard's hands trembled, causing him to fumble with the keys. Lincoln jabbed the barrel harder into the guard's back, eliciting a moan of fear from the man.
       "Hurry, now."
       "I g-got it," the guard said, slapping the key into the lock and twisting it. They burst into the guardroom, where a civilian fingerprint technician and one other guard sat drinking coffee and chewing on jelly donuts, their eyes as round as saucers. Lincoln spotted two Thompsons with fully loaded drum magazines sitting on the windowsill and nodded to the black man.
       "Mr. Youngblood, we shall require those fine instruments of destruction."
       The black man chuckled and grabbed them, handing one to Lincoln, who then held up the pistol he'd used for all to see. A sly grin spread across his face. It was a crudely carved wooden gun blackened with shoe polish, the words "Colt .38" etched into its side.
       Both the guard and the fingerprint technician shook their heads in disgust.
       Lincoln's grin widened. "Well, now, it does seem one can fool some of the people all of the time." He put the wooden gun back into his pocket and waved the barrel of the submachine gun towards the exit door.
       "Mr. Youngblood, take this officer to one of the cells."
       "Yes, sir."
       Youngblood manhandled the guard out of the room and returned moments later.
       Lincoln looked at the fingerprint technician, who sat frozen, the jelly donut still hanging from his mouth.
       "What's your name, son?" Lincoln asked.
       The young technician yanked the donut from his mouth.
       "Uh, Ernest Blunk, sir. You gonna shoot me?"
       "I have no desire to kill anyone, Mr. Blunk, but I am getting out of here. It's your choice." Lincoln's gaze was implacable and Blunk nodded soberly and stood up.
       "All right, gentlemen," Lincoln said, "shall we take our leave?"
       After a short trip down two corridors and one flight of stairs, they emerged into the alley. Lincoln eyed the narrow passageway in both directions, noting the way was clear. He smiled and turned to Blunk, who stood with his arms wrapped around himself, shivering in the cold.
       "Where's the garage, son? The one with the private cars."
       "Down the alley, around the c-corner, behind the courts."
       "Let's go."
       The garage was in a shed-like building with a sliding wooden door that reminded Lincoln of an old barn. The door shrieked on its rusty rails as Youngblood slid it open. Inside it was toasty warm and reeked of gasoline and spilled oil. A lone mechanic lay under a late-model Chevy, banging away at a water pump and cursing under his breath. Another man sat behind a desk in the small glassed-in office. Just then a woman walked into the garage.
       "Mr. Saager, is my car--" She stopped in mid-sentence when she spotted Lincoln and Youngblood wielding the two Thompsons and fainted dead away, her limp body slapping against the grimy concrete.
       Youngblood handed his Thompson to Lincoln, picked up the woman and deposited her inside the office on a battered sofa. The black man motioned for the man at the desk to move and the man scrambled out the door with his hands in the air.
       "What's the fastest car in here?" Lincoln asked, handing Youngblood back his Thompson.
       The man from the office looked around and nodded toward the mechanic under the Chevy.
     "Hudak'd know best."
       "Ask him to join us."
       The man eased over to the Chevy and gave the mechanic's leg a nudge with his foot.
       "What you want, Saager?"
       "We got a man here asking about fast cars."
       "What do I look like, a salesman? I'm up to my butt in work here, in case you hadn't noticed, and I got to get this damn Chevy out of here by two."
       Saager looked to Lincoln and shrugged. Youngblood raised the barrel of his Thompson and Saager paled a few shades whiter. He kicked the mechanic harder and said. "You get on out here, Hudak, if you know what's good for you."
       The mechanic slid out from under the car, the curses on his lips dying away when he spotted the two men and their machineguns.
       "Damn!"
       "What's the fastest car in here?" Lincoln asked.
        Hudak jabbed his finger toward a sleek brand-new car parked in a corner, its jet-black paint gleaming under the hooded lights. "That there Ford. Got a real honey of a V-8."
       "That'll be fine, Mr. Hudak."
       "But that's Sheriff Holley's new car."
       Lincoln laughed. "Even better. Mr. Blunk, you will drive. Mr. Hudak, you and your partner will disable all the other vehicles in the garage."
       Hudak looked incredulous.
       "Now, Mr. Hudak."
       The mechanic walked toward the Chevy, shaking his head. When he reached the car, he opened the hood and started gingerly pulling wires.
       Youngblood rolled his eyes, grabbed a hammer and pushed the mechanic aside. "Not like that--like this." He swung the hammer down onto the spark plugs one by one, shattering them then pounded holes in the carburetor. He handed the hammer to Hudak. "Now, go to it, my man. Just like the boss says."
       In moments every other car was disabled and Blunk pulled the Sheriff's car up to the door, the engine revving with a throaty roar. Lincoln and Youngblood climbed in and Lincoln hung his Thompson out the window at Saager and Hudak. Neither man moved.
       "All right, Mr. Blunk. Let us proceed."
       The car pulled into the alley and then out onto East Street. Lincoln swiveled his head back and forth, looking to see if anyone followed. "Nice and slow," he said. "It wouldn't do to draw attention to ourselves."
       They passed the courthouse and Lincoln smiled when he spotted all the soldiers. They swung around a parked bus and pulled up to a stoplight. A bank sat on one of the corners and Lincoln stared at it. "Mighty tempting to procure us some traveling money, but I think we've worn out our welcome here, Mr. Youngblood."
       “Yes, sir, Mr. Lincoln," the black man said, grinning from ear to ear. The light turned green and the car sped out of town. When they reached State Road 8, Lincoln relaxed and began singing an old hymn. His singing voice was surprisingly tuneful and brought a smile even to Blunk's dour face.
       "Where we going, anyway?" Blunk asked when Lincoln had finished singing.
       "Wherever the winds of fate shall take us."
       Youngblood laughed as the car sped off down the road.
       The Great Emancipator was free.

Author Jodi Thomas Talks About Promise Me Texas

It’s always a pleasure to welcome award-winning author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress. Jodi’s latest installment in her Whispering Mountain series is PROMISE ME TEXAS, which is set to be released tomorrow, Nov. 5.

You can pre-order PROMISE ME TEXAS on Jodi’s website at www.jodithomas.com. 

This charming book is already getting rave reviews. Publishers Weekly has given it a starred review: 

       “Bestseller Thomas strikes gold again with her seventh Whispering Mountain historical (after Wild Texas Rose), set in 1879 Texas. When 24-year-old Beth McMurray sneaks onto a train to surprise her fiancé, former Senator Lamont LaCroix, she's shocked to overhear him bragging about his plans for her and her money. Then robbers board the train and it goes off the rails. Just before the crash, one of the robbers grabs Beth and jumps off the train, taking the fall to protect her. He's hurt, but she stays with him, claiming that he's her husband. The sheriff and the doctor believe that Beth is now Mrs. Andrew McLaughlin, but LaCroix does not. Meanwhile, widower Andrew reveals his hidden depths: when he's not robbing trains, he longs to be an author. By the time Beth drives a wagon out of town, she has collected a pretend husband, two little boys, an ill teen cowboy, and a pregnant young woman, and the adventure has just begun. Complex plotting, superb character development, and touching romantic scenes make this a winner.”

Jodi joins us today to talk about how PROMISE ME TEXAS began. Welcome, Jodi.

When I began PROMISE ME TEXAS, I wanted to start with the notion that sometimes your whole life turns on one moment in time. The day you say yes to something or someone. The night you were in the wrong place at the right time. The single heartbeat when you let love rule over reason.

I wanted to show that now and then, that one choice you made with little time to think it over, may have led you down a road you never dreamed you’d travel.

In my story Beth McMurray is the spoiled youngest daughter of Teagan McMurray who owns the powerful Whispering Mountain Ranch in Texas. Since she was a baby everyone always comments on how beautiful she is. How Perfect. So, of course, she wants to marry the perfect man and waits for him. 

Only one man, a senator from Washington D.C., seems good enough for her wish list. They met when she was sixteen and wrote for years. Now, well into her twenties, she decides to board a train and surprise him as he travels to meet her. Though dressed in trousers, she's packed away her wedding dress to slip into when they finally are together. Only before she has a chance to pull off her disguise, she learns he's not the man she's dreamed of for years. He is self-centered, a braggart, and dishonest.

As the train rushes toward Dallas, she cries as she hides in the last boxcar that carries her horse. Beth knows she has to disappear before he sees her, but how? At a midnight water stop, she watches bandits board the train like ghosts in the rain. Before she can warn anyone, the train wrecks. A strong arm of a man grabs her as the cars tumble. The stranger jumps free of the cars, but is hurt as he protects her. In the darkness, amid all the chaos, Beth must decide to claim the senator, or the robber as her fiancé. The choice will change her destiny as well as his.

I had a great deal of fun writing about a writer trying to live in reality and a beautiful, spoiled woman trying to make up her life as she went along. 

Everyone, even the outlaw leader, tries to give them advice, but somehow they find a crazy kind of love. In my experience it’s sometimes that crazy kind of love that is just right.

Enjoy the journey through Texas as you come along with me meeting people that are very real to me, if only in my mind.

Jodi, thanks for joining us and sharing this look at PROMISE ME TEXAS. You are so right, sometimes a moment can change a person’s life forever.

Jodi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 38 novels and 11 short story collections. A five-time RITA winner, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Her newest book, PROMISE ME TEXAS, the seventh book in her Whispering Mountain series, releases tomorrow, November 5.

For more on Jodi and her writing, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s what some others are saying about PROMISE ME TEXAS…

       “One of my favorites.” — Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times Bestselling author 

       “PROMISE ME TEXAS is one of the best western historical tales of this year!”— Vickie@ReaderToReader.com

Thanks so much for visiting today. Do you enjoy historical tales featuring a mixture of romance and suspense?

Sunday Salon: Rescue Ben and Paw Prints at Owl Cottage

It seems fall is here and the holidays will be upon us before we know it. Today we celebrate the first Sunday Salon of November and discuss what new books we’ve found.

I seem to be having a pet theme going on this weekend, so in keeping with that I have two animal-related books to share with you.

Find a comfort chair, make sure your cup of coffee (tea or hot chocolate) is filled to the brim, and let’s talk books and animals. I have a delightful book for dog lovers and a charming book for cat lovers.

RESCUE BEN by R. B. Smith

When it comes to man’s best friend, true stories of amazing acts have been told about these four-legged beauties.

Author R. B. Smith taps into some of these wondrous acts in her fiction release, RESCUE BEN. This is an amazing tale of one canine’s journey to be reunited with his human family. If you are hesitant to read about an animal’s travels for fear of a sad ending, I will say the book ends with Ben alive and quite happy.

Life was good for Ben who had lived with his human family since he was a puppy. They were all moving to a new home when the unthinkable happened. Ben got separated from his family because of a cat. He had to chase it, there was no choice. But when he returned, his family was gone.

Determined to find his family, Ben sets out on a journey that will prove just how brave, strong, loving and caring he is. Along the way he encounters a number of humans whose lives he changes. This is an extraordinary tale of how a dog’s journey impacted not only his life, but many human lives he met along the way.

The story moves at a steady pace pulling you deeper into Ben’s search. Smith has developed realistic characters and given Ben a voice dog lovers will appreciate. The settings are vivid giving you a good sense of being there as the story unfolds.

While there may be some tear-shedding moments, the book is light-hearted and inspiring. The connection animal lovers share with their four-legged friends is beautifully brought to life in this story.

Whether you are an animal lover or not, RESCUE BEN will be an enjoyable read. It’s filled with suspense, mystery, compassion and caring. Don’t be surprised if you feel the need to hug her dog(s) a little more after reading this tantalizing adventure.

For more on Ben, check out www.RescueBen.com, as well as www.Facebook.com/RescueBenBook, and on Twitter at @RescueBenBook.

Rescue Ben by R.B. Smith, Abbott Press, @2013, ISBN: 978-1458208606, Paperback, 478 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author’s publicist in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

PAW PRINTS AT OWL COTTAGE: A MEMOIR by Denis O’Connor

If you have ever shared your life with a cat, then PAW PRINTS AT OWL COTTAGE is a must read.

This is the delightful memoir of Denis O’Connor and his devotion to four wondrous Maine Coon cats who shared his life. Each cat, in its own special way, help the author recover from the loss of his beloved cat, Toby Jug.

O’Connor and his wife, Catherine, return to Owl Cottage where he had once lived with Toby Jug. While restoring the cottage, O’Connor was filled with memories of his faithful cat. At the suggestion of his wife, O’Connor decides to get another cat to help fill the void. Soon Pablo comes to live with them followed by Carlos, Luis and Max.

O’Connor tells how each kitten created their own space in his life, as well as his heart. He tells of their adventures and the impact they made in his life.

From a cat lover’s perspective, there will be tears of sorrow and joy found throughout this book. O’Connor beautifully describes how the felines became a part of his family and much more than just pets. His soulful expressions of loss, as well as the jubilation of day-to-day living will ring true for animal lovers, especially those caring for cats. 

While you may need a box of tissue handy when reading this, you’ll also find yourself laughing at the cats’ antics. Set against the wilds of the Northumbrian coast, PAW PRINTS AT OWL COTTAGE is a story of warmth and love. It’s an amusing and tender look at how cats and humans connect.

Author Denis O’Connor can be found on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1351281.Denis_O_Connor

Paw Prints at Owl Cottage: A Memoir by Denis O’Connor, Thomas Dunne Books, @2013, ISBN: 978-0312577070, Hardcover, 240 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author’s publicist in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Are you an animal lover? Either (or both) of these delightful tales would make great gifts this holiday season.

The Cat in the Window by Callie Smith Grant

There’s just something about a big fur ball called a cat that is simply irresistible to most everyone.

Maybe it’s because they can be quite and reserve one minute and rambunctious and a wholly terror the next. Whatever the reason, cat lovers have many tales of their feline’s adventures to share.

Author Callie Smith Grant has brought many of those wonderful true stories together in a delightful collection called THE CAT IN THE WINDOW AND OTHER STORIES OF THE CATS WE LOVE. The collection is comprised of 28 tales of various cat adventures, as well as how the cats and their human caretakers came together.

The stories are as varied as the cats themselves. There are cats who braved the elements to find a home, others who provide comfort and love for families, while others even perform gallant acts protecting their owners.

These enchanting stories will warm your spirit, tug on your heart strings, bring a tear to your eye and definitely cause you to smile. The stories tell of unconditional love and understanding, compassion and caring. While reading this captivating book, you may find a cat or two that reminds you of your own or ones belonging to family and friends. The book also includes a short introduction to each of the cat story contributors. 

Whether you are a cat lover or not, THE CAT IN THE WINDOW is a charming book about the mystery and adventure cats enjoy each day and some of the people they take along for the ride. 

The Cat in the Window and Other Stories of the Cats We Love by Callie Smith Grant, Revell, @2013, ISBN: 978-0800721800, Paperback, 192 Pages 

Available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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.

It’s a pleasure to participate in another Revell Blog Tour by reviewing THE CAT IN THE WINDOW by Callie Smith Grant.  

Callie Smith Grant is the editor of A Prince among Dogs and A Dickens of a Cat. She is also the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults as well as many animal-themed stories and poems which can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmers Journal.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you keep a journal of your pet’s activities or how you and your pet came to be family?

Rumor Has It On Tour And A Giveaway

It’s always a delight to have bestselling author Jill Shalvis visit with us here at Thoughts in Progress. Jill joins us today to talk about her soon-to-be released new sexy contemporary romance, RUMOR HAS IT. This is book four in her Animal Magnetism series set in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho.


As part of her tour, Jill has graciously answered some questions about her writing and is offering a copy of her book, RUMOR HAS IT (slated for release Tuesday), to a lucky visitor. More on that at the end of the post. I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on her latest release.

Can you tell our readers a little bit about the Animal Magnetism (Sunshine, Idaho) series, and where your inspiration came from?

Jill:
I’ve always wanted to write a series where I could incorporate cute animals. Cute animals and sexy heroes together, who can resist that. So I came up with a series about a set of wildly alpha brothers running an animal center in Sunshine, Idaho at the base of the Bitteroot Mountains.

What is your favorite thing about writing this series? The sexy men, the heroines, or the animals?

Jill:
All of the above, but okay, let me admit the truth – the combination of hot guys and adorable animals is pretty much irresistible for me.

What do you think makes romance readers and the romance community so strong? 

Jill:
I think what makes the romance community so strong is that romance readers are awesome. They’re loyal and dedicated and always so willing to help support our community by talking about the books and making it okay to read whatever you want, may that be straight contemporary, romantic suspense, erotica, whatever. I love that. As far as having a strong presence, that is an accidental cause of working alone most of the days out of the year. Reaching out to romance readers and writers via social media is just a really great way to not always be alone.

Are contemporaries your favorite genre to read as well as to write? If so, can you give our readers some of your favorite recommendations?
 
Jill:
Yes, though I love to read everything, across all genres. Heck, I’m happy reading the back of a cereal box. But as for my recommendations in the contemporary genre, you can’t go wrong with Robyn Carr, Kristan Higgins, Carly Phillips, Susan Mallery, Lori Foster, Rachel Gibson…

Do you think reading romance makes us expect more from our own romantic partners? What effect do you think romance has on those that read it?

Jill:
We’re writing fiction. Not nonfiction. But made up stories, fantasies really. I’m not writing “How To Have A Hot Romance.” Or “How To Train Your Significant Other Into Being A Perfect Mate.” I’m writing a fictional tale. I think our readers are sharp, and are well aware and capable of knowing the difference between a pat Happily Ever After and real life. If I can provide someone with a fantasy, a little escape from her reality, then I am considering it a job well done.
 
You write so many wonderful contemporaries, how do you keep each novel fresh and exciting?

Jill:
Keeping it fresh is a constant battle, and I struggle with that daily. I just love writing, and this genre, and work hard to do the job so I can keep doing it and pleasing readers. Also, I find that stalking neighbors and friends, and being extremely nosy about their personal lives and conflicts is very helpful.

What’s your advice for a first-time pet owner?

Jill:
1. Read up on your pet, on the specific breed.
2. Be patient.
3. Be patient.
4. Be patient. J
5. Oh, and if there’s training issues? Chances are it’s you, so revisit #1.

The interactions shared between you and Alpha Man always entertain; what is a recent “He Said, She Said” between you and Alpha Man that we may not have heard yet?

Jill:
Me:
What are you eating?
Him (mouth full):
Nothing
Me:
It smells like Oreos.
Him:
…
Me:
Are you … eating Oreos? I thought we were out of cookies!!
Him:
There’s only four left.
Me:
I need two.
Him:
I’ll give you one.
Me:
No! You can’t eat just one cookie!!! There’s a rule!!!
Him:
Show me the book where this rule lives.
Me:
I’LL WRITE YOU THE $%#!#$!@ book, give me a second cookie and no one gets hurt!
Him:
Is it possible that you need something to go with that cookie?
Me:
Milk?
Him:
I was thinking Midol…

Your friendship with Kristan Higgins and your friendly battle for “Man Wars” has become infamous. Why do you two connect so well?

Jill:
I think our chemistry translates well because it’s genuine. You can’t fake a real friendship We connect on lots of levels, such as competing for readers (kiddin!), and because we’re both raising aliens—er, teenagers.

What’s next for Jill Shalvis?

Jill:
If you read RUMOR HAS IT, you may notice a new vet is working at Belle Haven. Dr. Wyatt Stone. He and his two sisters, Darcy and Zoe,  are each going to get their own story next year.

Jill, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing this behind the scenes look at RUMOR HAS IT and your writing. I love your advice to first time pet owners. That’s also so true no matter how many times you get a pet.

Now a little background on Jill. 

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Jill Shalvis is the award winning author of over four dozen romance novels, including her sexy contemporary and award winning Lucky Harbor series (FOREVER AND A DAY was one of Amazon’s Top Romances for 2012). She won a Rita for SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE and is a 3-time National Readers Choice winner as well. 

Jill is known for stories that are sexy, fun and full of heart. The 4-time Rita nominee and 3-time National Readers Choice winner makes her home near Lake Tahoe.

For more on Jill and her writing, visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com where you’ll also find a complete book list and daily blog.

RUMOR HAS IT by Jill Shalvis

Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid needs to recover from a war injury so he goes home to Sunshine, Idaho. While he doesn’t have happy memories of growing up there or leave on the best terms, he plans to make the best of it. 

Always calling Sunshine home, Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science. Dreaming of a happily-ever-after, Kate wants to break away from the routine she knows as Sunshine.

Griffin knows Kate as his little sister’s friend. But, now he’s discovering she is so much more. Both are trying to find their way in life and aren’t sure if they are right for each other. As the sparks fly between them, fate may have plans of its own.

Author Jill Shalvis, capturing a small town atmosphere, transports readers to Sunshine. She’s created realistic, likable characters that will stay with you. The characters are well developed and well balance with strengths and weaknesses, humor and seriousness. 

The story moves at a steady pace keeping the reader’s attention from beginning to end. RUMOR HAS IT is the fourth installment in the Animal Magnetism series but is a standalone read.

This is a fun, light-hearted tale that will make you smile and touch your heart.

Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis, An Animal Magnetism Novel, Berkley, @2013, ISBN: 978-0425255827, Paperback, 304 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.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of RUMOR HAS IT. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.

To enter this giveaway, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Rumor Has It.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of RUMOR HAS IT is 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories that include pets as characters or important elements of the tale?