#MidWest #RomanticTravel with @KetaDiablo & #Excerpt from Comes An Outlaw

Autumn is a great time to plan a fall get-a-way. You won't find lovelier places to visit than the Midwest. Before trees shed their leaves in preparation for winter, they often put on a brilliant display of color...deep burgundy, buttercup yellow and sunburst orange.

Many small towns hold fall festivals and Halloween galas meant to attract not only local residents but adventure-seeking tourists.

Here's hoping you take time to schedule a short vacation this fall and enjoy the same beauty depicted in this image from the state of Wisconsin.

* * *

Keta's latest release is Comes An Outlaw, a western romance where cowboys and ghosts take center stage. But don't worry...there's plenty of romance for the love-bugs too.

About Comes An Outlaw

When a tragic accident claims her husband's life, Jesse Santos must find a way to keep the ranch, the only home her 12-year-old son has ever known.  The ranch hands have abandoned her, a gang of cutthroat ranchers want her land and an ancient Yaqui Indian insists a spirit has taken up residence in the house.

After a fifteen-year absence, her husband's brother, Coy, returns to his childhood home. He doesn't plan on staying, and he certainly doesn't intend to settle down with a widow and her son…no matter how pretty she is.

He's an outlaw, after all, and made a decision to put an end to his gun-slinging days long ago. Will his conscience let him walk away from family, or will his heart overrule his head?

Praise for COMES AN OUTLAW

"I loved all the components of this story. The Indian lore was probably my favorite though."

"The storyline is brilliant. This novella has many twists and turns. A page turner."

"Diablo has created a set of compelling characters. Jesse captures the essence of the time, when women had very few options, and even fewer good ones."

Setup and Excerpt:

In this scene, Jesse wonders if loneliness has driven her to desperation. Is she really holding a conversation with a ghost...or has her late husband returned to help her fight for her land?

Chapter One

Arizona 1885

Dawn caressed the homespun curtains in the cramped bedroom, rousing Jesse from a restless night's sleep.  A delicate breeze rustled through the two-inch gap between window and sill, doing little to motivate the damp, heavy air in the room.

She tossed back the blue and white quilt, slid from bed and crossed the room to the pitcher and bowl on the bureau.

Gonna be another scorcher today, Jezebel. Might want to tie your hair back.

For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and willed the voice in the room to leave.  He wasn't there, not in a real sense. Like every other day since his death, he invaded her thoughts, spoke in her head. She opened her eyes and fought the overwhelming urge to turn around, prove once and for all ghosts didn't exist. 

"Are you set on driving me crazy, Cain? Don't I have enough to deal with without you tormenting me? Besides, I don't like it when you call me Jezebel, and you darn well know it."

That's why no one calls you Jezebel except me.

She spun around and glared at the rocking chair under the window. "Ah, another one of your tricks to make me think I'm losing my mind—call me something no one else does."

Yes, I'm in the rocker, the one my mother always sat in beside the hearth. You remember after she died, we brought it into our bedroom?

"Stop…you must stop." Her hands went to her temples. "If you were real I would see you sitting there."

If only I could show myself. You have no idea how hard it is to project my voice. Takes so much energy. I'm working on it though, have high hopes I'll get better at this spirit realm thing.

"I don't want you to get better at it; I want you to stop speaking to me entirely."

We talked about this, agreed that if something happened to one of us, we'd do our best to come back, watch over the other one.

She paced a small area at the end of the bed. "I only agreed because I thought it would never happen, could never happen. I wanted to please you, knew how much you loved your line of work, believed in it."

Nonetheless, Jezebel, it happened. I'm here and I mean to look out for you. I didn't want to leave you so soon but we must deal with what is now.

Stopping her harried pace, she looked to the chair again. "You don't think I'm doing my best to deal with what is now? And stop calling me that!"

You'll always be my precious Jezebel.

She heard a contented sigh filter through the still air.

My Jezebel with the tangle of long, copper hair, eyes the color of Robin's eggs and the lovely bowed mouth. I recall the first time I saw you. Slop bucket hanging off your tiny arm, you walked from the back room of Two Bits, skirted the bar and dropped to your knees to scrub the floor. Do you remember?

She hung her head. "How could I forget the day you saved me from a life of…well, destitution, offered me safety, security?" Looking up again, she fanned an arm over the room. "Offered me a home."

And I want to make sure you keep that home, our home, Grange's home.

"That's why you're here?"

For the most part. I always said this is a unforgiving land. People aren't careful it'll swallow them whole and—

"Kill them."

Yes, and I aim to do everything I can to make sure it doesn't take you and Grange.

"I don't think I can do this, dark forces are at work, conspiring against your son and me. Lord knows I've tried, Cain, but how can a woman and a boy fight against the harsh elements, the day-to-day struggles without a man? Hard enough when you were here, but now, most days I think the land is going to win. Every morning I walk out onto that porch and think I'm walking into the fires of Hell. There's more…someone's been cutting the fence lines, scattering the cattle. Takes us days to get them back again."

Not someone, Jezebel. Search your heart; you know who's behind it.

She walked back to the bureau, opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of leather trousers. After pulling the nightshirt over her head, she grabbed Cain's flannel shirt from a hook, slipped her arms into the sleeves and pulled the trousers over her hips. "I know who the varmints are, all right. Domingo and Benito. Am I right?"

The Torres brothers.

"Yeah, and the low-bellied snakes they ride with, Mutton-Chop Walsh and Digger Newly." She blew an exasperated breath and looked over her shoulder to the window. "How do you expect me to stand up to that, Cain? I can't do it, I tell you. Let them have the land because it ain't worth dying for, or God forbid, losing Grange over."

You can't give up the land, love. Been in my family for generations. Ma and Pa will be turning over in their—

"I don't care. I'm not sacrificing my son, our son, for a piece of scorched earth in the middle of nowhere."

You're talking foolish now. You love the land as much as I do, I mean did. You're tired, worn out; I get that, but….

"But what?"

I never thought I'd hear you say you want to give up the land, give up on life.

"It's different now that you're gone. You might as well face it, I'm leaving, Cain. And you should leave too, find that white light you always talked about and forget about this place."

Help is coming, Jezebel.

"Yeah, and so are monsoon winds, dried up creek beds and taxes. Or did you forget taxes are due…again?"

I'm asking you to hang on for a little while, that's all.

"You expect me to believe a knight on a big white horse will be riding in soon to save us?"

He rides a Piebald.

"What?"

I said he rides a Piebald with black and white spots, sixteen hands tall.

"Who…who rides a spotted horse and how do you know he's coming here?"

I'm fading, Jezebel. Used up everything I got this morning.

"No you don't! You can't waltz in here, drop your innuendoes and disappear like a snuffed out candle."

Trust me. Hang on…please hang on.

"Cain, wait…don't go! You can't leave like this!"

Hang on, Jezebel…hang on….

* * *

You can find out more about Keta's books by visiting her Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Keta-Diablo/e/B002BODURI/

Or by visiting her blog, Keta's Keep, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ketadiablo

Download COMES AN OUTLAW for .99 cents

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXCK5CH

Wow, the place in your picture reminds me of a park I visited near Milwaukee. Love it there in August.

Thanks for sharing,

Anita

#RomanticTravel with @JeanneStJames & Brothers in Blue #Excerpt

One of my favorite places to go in Fall is Moosehead Lake in Maine. I’ve stayed several times in the quaint town of Greenville, ME, at the south end of the lake. It has no commercialization at all. Everyone is friendly. Every morning and evening, it is a habit to go “hunt” for moose. Hunting, as in a camera, not a gun. The majestic beasts are impressive in person. You can find them grazing in and around bogs. There’s plenty to do there every season. It’s a hidden gem!

New release by Jeanne St. James: BROTHERS IN BLUE: MAX

Book 1 of the Brothers in Blue trilogy

Genre: Contemporary Erotic romance involving an Alpha man in uniform!

Length: Novel

Blurb:

Big city party-girl Amanda Barber has been spoiled most of her life. But life for Amanda suddenly becomes a major challenge: adapting to small town life, dealing with her handicapped brother and constantly butting heads with a frustrating local cop.

As a police officer and former Marine, “responsibility” is Max Bryson’s middle name. Never having been in a serious relationship, he has no plans for being in one in the near future. He likes being his own man. And even if he were interested in a serious relationship, he certainly wouldn’t choose it to be with someone so immature and irresponsible as Amanda. But no matter how hard he tries, he can’t get sexy Amanda out of his head or his heart. Watching her mature in front of his eyes, his protectiveness towards her only strengthens.

Bossy and possessive aren’t the only words Amanda uses to describe this frustrating cop. She can’t deny just looking at the man makes her tremble. But she’s done with having anyone control her and this man isn’t going to be any different. Or is he?

Excerpt:

She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled her nose into his neck. She could feel his strong pulse against her cheek.

It felt so good to be in his arms. She circled his tattoo with her finger. Semper Fi. Mary Ann had made sure to tell Amanda that it meant “always faithful.”

“Did you always want to be a cop?”

He had one hand on her hip and the other on her thigh, rubbing it slowly back and forth. “Yes.”

She waited a moment, and when he said nothing further, she prodded. “Why?”

His deep voice resonated through his chest. “I was always in awe of my grandfather and my father. That’s why I followed in their footsteps. That’s why all three of us did. The Marines first, to serve our country, and then the police department, to serve our community.”

“To protect and serve, huh?”

The pride exuded from his words. “It’s the Bryson family motto.”

She moved her nose up to nuzzle him behind the ear. “Well, you can protect and serve me anytime.”

“I’d planned to since the minute you bitched me out in that parking lot when you first came to town.”

She raised her head, pushing herself up with a palm against his chest. “You were only trying to get into my pants.”

“True…” he said slowly.

Amanda grabbed a nearby decorative pillow and whacked him.

“Hey! You didn’t let me finish. True, but when you saw me in my uniform, you just wanted a big ol’ piece of this bad boy.” He opened his arms wide as if offering himself to her.

Amanda whacked him again. “Yeah, right.”

“You can’t say you didn’t want this.” He reached out, and his long fingers cupped her face as he leaned in to kiss her. It was only a slight brush, leaving her wanting more.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Would you have kissed me if I had torn up the ticket?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“For twenty-five bucks? Get real. I wanted to take out that retractable metal stick you carry and beat you over the head.”

Max laughed. “You mean my ASP baton?”

“Whatever.”

“Only because you were sexually frustrated.”

“You wish.”

He poked her side gently. “Admit it.”

“No.”

“C’mon.”

“Okay. You’re right. I was sexually frustrated because I couldn’t jump your bones right there in the middle of town, in the free parking lot on the pavement amid a bag of spilled dog toys, while Greg looked on. Satisfied?”

His smile widened. “Yep.”

“Good. Now kiss me again.” She grabbed the back of his head and pulled it down until their lips were a breath apart. “And do it like you mean it this time.”

The light peck was easily forgotten as he claimed her mouth with his, crushing her to him. This was what she had been waiting for. She groaned into his mouth, tangling her tongue with his. She felt a twinge and wiggled her hips in his lap, feeling his body harden.

Buy link:  http://www.loose-id.com/brothers-in-blue-max.html

Author Bio:

Jeanne St. James is an erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only 13 started writing when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.

She has a few new releases coming up in 2016 and 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter.

Website: http://www.jeannestjames.com

Blog: http://jeannestjames.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jeannestjames

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeannestjames

Newsletter: https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=JJ4625816541890

 Thanks for sharing,

Anita

Linda McLaughlin Doing the Fall #RomanticTravel Exchange, #Excerpt

Fall #RomanticTravel: Quebec

Quebec is one of the most romantic cities in North America, seeming more European than NorthAmerican. It’s also one of the settings I used in my French & Indian War-set historical romance, Rogue’s Hostage. When I was writing the book, my husband and I took a vacation to Quebec Province so I could do some research. We started in Montreal, where I managed to figure out how to navigate the Metro using my college French.

After a few days exploring Montreal, we took the train to Quebec, and I fell in love with the charming old city, though I had to keep reminding myself that the setting in my book was the previous city, the one that was destroyed by the British shelling. I was particularly interested in visiting Notre Dame des Victoires, the small church in Lower Town which was destroyed in the shelling, but later rebuilt in the same style. In the book, Mara seeks comfort inside this lovely little church.

Since I wanted to stay in the old part of the city, I booked us a room at Chateau Frontenac, the venerable Canadian Railway hotel. Picturesque setting, but we were pretty sure they gave us the smallest room in the place! Instead of a view looking out toward the river, our window looked down onto an alley. Ah, well, we didn't spend much time in the room anyway. We were far more interested in wandering the winding streets, taking pictures of the old houses and the fort and battlefield.

On the last day we took a boat ride on the St. Lawrence for spectacular views of the city and countryside. What a beautiful area! I'd love to go back some day.

(Note: I took this trip back in the pre-digital photography days so any photos are from my Art Explosion CD collection or DepositPhotos.com.)

Rogue’s Hostage

By Linda McLaughlin

Historical Romance

Blurb:

His hostage... 

In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.

Her destiny...

French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left.  But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BJO26OY

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-rogue039shostage-1163372-158.html

http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/1216627.Linda_McLaughlin

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1005663623

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rogues-hostage/id645211361?mt=11&uo=4  

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rogue-s-hostage

Excerpt:

Quebec, Canada, April 1759

The journey was almost over.

Eyes narrowed against the glare off the water, Jacques stared at the approaching skyline of Quebec as the bateau rushed downriver. Perched on the north side of the Saint Lawrence River, the city’s walls and fortifications guarded the way into the interior of New France. Though the British had tried twice, the city had never fallen. But Jacques knew that sooner or later they would try again.

He glanced at Mara, who sat beside him, huddled in her shawl, shivering slightly. When he put an arm around her and pulled her closer, she burrowed against him. Guilt and regret stirred inside him. She was the reason he had requested a transfer back to Quebec. Since leaving Fort Duquesne, she had been a different woman—quiet, submissive, and obedient.

To his surprise, he missed her sharp tongue and pointed opinions. All through the long Canadian winter, he had watched and waited for her to revert to her normal self, but it was as if she were a different woman. On occasion, Jacques had been tempted to bait her, but his guilt kept him from doing so. Her state of mind was his fault, after all.

In the last four months, she had followed him over a route seen by few white men, much less a woman. Together they had traveled by bateau, canoe, sled, and snowshoe. Mara had witnessed the mighty power of Niagara Falls, traversed Lake Ontario, and braved the Lachine Rapids—all without complaining. But also without any sense of wonder or enthusiasm for the places she’d seen, just a wistful remark about how much Emile would have liked to see the falls.

It had been an arduous journey, and now she deserved some comfort.

A raw wind off the river threw pellets of rain in his face, and he pulled up the woolen muffler Mara had knitted for him. That was all she had done at Niagara, her needles clicking incessantly until he had thought he would go mad. But something about the rhythmic nature of the task seemed to comfort her, so he’d said nothing.

Another blast of wind reminded him of how long and severe Canadian winters could be. In this northern country, rivers and lakes froze over completely. There was a wild beauty in it that he used to find exhilarating. Until an equally impervious chill took up residence around his heart.

The bateau docked at the part of the city called Lower Town, below the cliffs of Cap Diamant. Above them towered the ramparts guarding the government and church buildings that comprised Upper Town. Jacques helped Mara onto the dock and led her down a street lined with warehouses and taverns. He stopped in front of a sign picturing a leering devil with a forked tail.

“Le Diable? What are we doing here?” she asked, a surprised look on her face.

“This is home, madame. Welcome to my humble establishment.”

Buy links in HTML:

Available at Amazon,
All Romance eBooks,
Barnes & Noble,
iBooks,
and Kobo.

Author bio:

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history, so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team of Lyn O'Farrell.

You can find her online at http://lindalyndi.com

Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor

Twitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

#RomanticTravel with Iris Blobel and #Excerpt New Beginnings

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to travel to the Australian Outback. One night, we sat by the campfire and with clear skies we were able to locate the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, as well as planets that were only visible due to the clarity of the atmosphere.

Since then I consider “stargazing” as very romantic.

~~  New Beginnings ~~

♥♦♥  BLURB ♥♦♥

The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.

Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.

Mark O’Connor, attorney in Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not his casual lover Linda.

But then there’s Zach, Sophie’s sexy neighbour from across the road… and a very good friend of Clara’s.

Will unravelling the mystery unravel Sophie and Mark’s promise of a future?

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2a1BSJ7

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/29FTb4B

AMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2a9yKgW

♥♦♥ 5 STAR REVIES ♥♦♥

Sophie is barely a woman herself yet she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. After her father abandons her at a young age and her mother passes away, she's left to raise her 8 year old sister Mia on her own.
When Sophie and Mia inherit a house in Hobart, they pack up all their belongings, which sadly fit in a few suitcases and move. After meeting with the gorgeous and sweet lawyer, Mark, Sophie and Mia set out to make this their new home.
But after everything Sophie's endured, she can't help but to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. What if it's a mistake? What if it isn't her house? What if, this last shot at building a life is taken away from them in an instant.
Iris does an incredible job of creating characters you can't help but to be on their side as you hold your breath wishing for a happy ending.

***

Wow...what a tangled web we weave! Sophie has got it coming in all directions with the mystery of the testator.
These are the type of stories that I love...since it has a bit of everything in it. Not only do we get a bit of a love triangle but add some mystery and thriller to it. Now, that makes a perfect book by Ms. Blobel!
But let me remind you that this is nothing new since I find myself always wrapped up in this author's writing since she writes with emotion and feelings. Whether it be anger, happiness, sadness - you name it...Ms. Blobel gives us the whole package in her stories!

♥♦♥ EXCERPT ♥♦♥

Sophie Levesque stared at the attorney in front of her, waiting for some answers. She and her little sister, Mia, had been quietly sitting in Mr. O’Connor’s office for more than half an hour, learning about the details of their inheritance.

Once he was finished, silence hung in the air before she asked with raised eyebrows. “Who?”

“Clara Catherine Bellinger.”

Mia leaned closer to her elder sister and gave a soft tug on Sophie’s shirt. “Who is she?”

Sophie shrugged. “I wouldn’t have a clue.” Then turned her attention back on Mr. O’Connor and asked the same thing. “Who is she?”

The handsome attorney on the other side of the massive desk leaned forward and rested his elbows on it before he started to repeat his earlier speech. Although hearing his words, Sophie still found it all very hard to comprehend. Here she was in this old office, furnished with heavy antique oak furniture, the curtains in a pretty shade of aubergine, and the carpet beneath her shoes thick and warm in a matching shade, hearing about an inheritance from someone she’d never even heard of.

Startled by the subtle sound of the clock chiming across the road, Sophie’s gaze turned to the window, where she saw the post office building across the road. It looked impressive and old. It’d been only a few hours since they’d arrived in Hobart, the most southern capital in Australia, but she already liked it. A lot more than Sydney, the place she’d lived all her life.

Hauled back from her thoughts, she heard Mr. O’Connor say, “I believe she was a distant relative of yours. I’m afraid I don’t have any further details.”

Sophie arched an eyebrow in disbelief, doubting the accuracy of it all. Not only did she try not to question his competence as a lawyer, but she also hoped it wasn’t a dreadful misunderstanding.

With a slight shrug of her shoulder, she asked, “Why not?”

He met her gaze steadily. “Pardon me?”

Sitting up straight, she repeated, “Why not? Why aren’t there any further details?”

He rubbed his chin with his fingers, his unease now obvious, and although she almost felt sorry for him, she tried not to care. She needed to know more. And not just the what, but why and who as well.

♥♦♥ MEET THE AUTHOR ♥♦♥

IRIS BLOBEL

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London, as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

Social Media Links:

Click here to subscribe to Iris’ Newsletter

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel

Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/iris_blobel/

Thank you for sharing,

Anita
www.anitaphilmar.com

Circles of Fate by Pamela S. Thibodeaux #RomanticTravel, #ChristianNovel

Most folks find traveling exciting and romantic, but sometimes great fall romantic travel can be found right at home.

Home for me is in Southwest Louisiana, just 43 miles from the Texas state line.

I don’t know about you but few things are as romantic as sunrise or sunset on the lake, or a seafood feast.

If you don’t find anything in SW LA that’s romantic in your opinion, you can always travel East…Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans where you’ll find horse drawn carriage rides, riverboat tours, night life and fine, Cajun/French cuisine.

But, no matter what you decide, or where you go, romance is in the heart.

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Links:

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com  

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux

Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pamelasthibodea/

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1jUVcdU

Title: Circles of Fate

Blurb: Set at the tail end of the Vietnam War era, Circles of Fate takes the reader from Fort Benning, Georgia to Thibodaux, Louisiana. A romantic saga, this gripping novel covers nearly twenty years in the lives of Shaunna Chatman and Todd Jameson. Constantly thrown together and torn apart by fate, the two are repeatedly forced to choose between love and duty, right and wrong, standing on faith or succumbing to the world’s viewpoint on life, love, marriage and fidelity. With intriguing twists and turns, fate brings together a cast of characters whose lives will forever be entwined. Through it all is the hand of God as He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Excerpt:

“What?” Todd Jameson’s hand trembled so hard the phone he held threatened to slip through his numb fingers. He wiped a sweaty palm down his thigh and grabbed the receiver then switched ears. The anguish in Mike Ferel’s voice made the pleasantries they shared the first few minutes of the call seem like a distant conversation.

“I’m sorry, Todd, to be the one to tell you this, especially after what you’ve been through this last year.”

He’d spent nine months at war, nine months facing and dealing with death, but not even those things prepared him for the death of his hopes and dreams in nine short minutes. “When?”

A heavy exhale preceded Mike’s answer. “Margaret died six months ago. Shaunna married three months after.”

She said she loved me. He hadn’t meant to utter the thought aloud, but somehow the words slipped past the knot in his throat.

“She cried a long time after you left, didn’t understand why you never wrote or called.”

Though his voice held no accusation, Todd heard the chastisement in Mike’s tone. “I...”

He blinked hard and cleared his throat. “What was I supposed to do, blurt out my feelings over the phone or in a letter and ask her to wait? I thought she was too young to go through that, especially with the war and all. Not knowing if, when, I’d get sent over there was hard enough on me; she didn’t need that on her heart. What if I didn’t come back? I couldn’t fathom putting her through such an ordeal. Not with all the responsibilities she shouldered from her mother’s illness.”

“I’m sorry.”

Todd raked a hand over his face. “Is she happy? Is he a good man?”

“Seems to be.”

Purchase Links:

Kindle: http://amzn.to/13b6qCG

Print: http://amzn.to/1zfEzNH

Create Space: http://bit.ly/1qRN3cb

Nook: http://bit.ly/1QiGg7G

B&N Print: http://bit.ly/1WpcegU

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/136qK7n

Thanks for sharing,

Anita

The New York Saga & #RomanticTravel in Venice by @DianaLRubino

THE NEW YORK SAGA by Diana Rubino

Poverty, Prejudice and Murder Won’t Stand in the Way of True Love

The New York Saga spans three generations of the McGlory family, starting in 1894 amidst the poverty and crime on New York’s Lower East Side, through the wild, boozy years of Prohibition, and ending in 1963 as the country mourned President Kennedy’s assassination.

In Book One, FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET, it's 1894 on New York’s Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. While Tom works undercover to help Ted Roosevelt purge police corruption, Vita's father arranges a marriage between her and a man she despises. When Tom’s cousin is murdered, Vita’s father and brother languish in jail, charged with the crime. Can Vita and Tom’s love survive poverty, hatred, and corruption?

In Book Two, BOOTLEG BROADWAY, it’s 1932. Prohibition rages, the Depression ravages, and Billy McGlory comes of age whether he wants to or not. Musical and adventurous, Billy dreams of having his own ritzy supper club and big band. On the eve of his marriage to the pregnant Prudence, the shifty “businessman” Rosario Ingovito offers him all that and more: fame, fortune, his own Broadway musical.

Can anything go wrong for Billy? Only when he gets in way over his head does he stop to wonder how his business partner really makes his millions, but by then it’s far too late…

THE END OF CAMELOT begins on the day Camelot truly ended—November 22, 1963. The assassination of a president devastates America. But a phone call brings even more tragic news to Vikki Ward—her TV reporter husband was found dead in his Dallas hotel room that morning.

Finding his notes, Vikki realizes her husband was embroiled in the plot to kill JFK—but his mission was to prevent it. When the Dallas police rule his death accidental, Vikki sets out to find out who was behind the murders of JFK and her husband.

Vikki falls in love with Aldobrandi Po, the bodyguard her godfather hired to protect her. But he's engaged to be married, and she’s still mourning her husband. Can they find happiness in the wake of all this tragedy?

An Excerpt from FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET

As Vita gathered her soap and towel, Madame Branchard tapped on her door. “You have a gentleman caller, Vita. A policeman.”

“Tom?” His name lingered on her lips as she repeated it. She dropped her things and crossed the room.

“No, hon. Another policeman. Theodore something.”

No. There can't be anything wrong. “Thanks,” she whispered, descending the steps, gripping the banister to support her wobbly legs. Stay calm! she warned herself. But of course it was no use; staying calm just wasn't her nature.

“Theodore something” stood before the closed parlor door. He’s a policeman? Tall and hefty, a bold pink shirt peeking out of a buttoned waistcoat and fitted jacket, he looked way out of place against the dainty patterned wallpaper.

He removed his hat. “Miss Caputo.” He strained to keep his voice soft as he held out a piece of paper. “I’m police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.”

“Yes?” Her voice shook.

“I have a summons for you.” He held it out to her. But she stood rooted to that spot.

He stepped closer and she took it from him, unfolding it with icy fingers. Why would she be served with a summons? Was someone arresting her now for something she didn't do?

A shot of anger tore through her at this system, at everything she wanted to change. She flipped it open and saw the word SUMMONS in fancy script at the top. Her eyes widened with each sentence as she read. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

I hereby order Miss Vita Caputo to enter into holy matrimony with Mr. Thomas McGlory immediately following service of this summons.

An Excerpt from BOOTLEG BROADWAY (my favorite passage, which made my aunt cringe)

Pru had kept closemouthed all day about what she was giving him for his birthday. He badgered and hounded her, but she wouldn’t give in.

As Ma began divvying up the rum cake, the doorbell rang, and Da came back with a long box. “This thing’s heavy. What’s in here, Pru? Billy’s tombstone?”

Billy cut the ribbon with the cake knife and slid the lid off. Wads of tissue paper filled the box. As he removed the last layer of covering and revealed what was inside, they all gasped—a sculpture of a naked man, in all his masculine glory—and fully aroused. He had one hand on his hip and one foot upon a pedestal on which was inscribed in bold letters, “BILLY.”

“Oh, crap.” His face turned red hot.

An Excerpt from THE END OF CAMELOT

Billy came down the stairs for a nightcap and glanced into the living room. He noticed the glow in the fireplace, Vikki’s eyeglasses and the anisette bottle on the table. The couch faced the other way, but nobody was sitting on it. “Where’d they go?” Then he realized they hadn’t gone anywhere—and they were on the couch, but not sitting. Before he got out of their way, he placed a long-playing record on the phonograph. Jackie Gleason’s “For Lovers Only.”

Purchase THE NEW YORK SAGA

Amazon Kindle

http://amzn.to/2aOxGMp

The Wild Rose Press

http://bit.ly/2bf8bae

About Diana

I'm a self-confessed history nut, my favorite eras being Medieval and Renaissance England, and all American history. I've written several novels set in England and the U.S., two time travel romances, a vampire romance, and an urban fantasy, FAKIN’ IT which received a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I'm a longtime member of Romance Writers of America and the Richard III Society. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre.

My #RomanticIdea – a romantic place to visit

I believe the most romantic spot on earth is Venice, Italy. When you get off the train, walk through the station, and open the doors, it’s like stepping into a fairy tale. The streets are all canals, and ornate ancient bridges span the canals, including the famous Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners gazed upon the city for the last time on their way to be locked up. On our last trip to Venice, I planned the trip to coincide with the full moon. When darkness fell, my husband and I had dinner and walked around. No moon yet. We stopped at a café and had gelato and cappuccino. No moon yet. We crossed a bridge and strolled some more. Still no moon. Finally, at 11:30, it rose, glowing and sending shimmering moonbeams over the canals. So I hadn’t figured what time that full moon was supposed to appear!

Thanks for sharing,
Anita