Author: evelynaster

I love romance, sex and coffee and write about them in my stories. Please check out my newest flame The Beautician and the Billionaire on my blog!

Friday Flirtations: Next Crowd Chooses Romance (CCR)

Pull up some chocolate and sit a spell. The CCR that I did for the Love, Lust and Lipstick blog hop went so well that I’m going to do another one in May. Three lovely readers cast a vote all three times that I asked for a decision, so I decided to involve them in the next story.

I asked Shannon to send me a name and attributes for the heroine, and I received Samantha: a tall woman who “drinks like a fish and plays pool like a shark.”

Jeri sent me the hero who I think will be the perfect compliment to Samantha: Levi, a scruffy rebel, who rides a 1947 Triumph motorcycle and waxes philosophical after a few beers.

I asked Janet to choose the genre. I knew she was trouble when she wanted me to introduce a brand new character in the middle of April Showers 🙂 So I wasn’t surprised when she gave me a tricky genre: Slipstream. I have never read a slipstream romance, and if you don’t know what slipstream is, the best I can say is it moves in and out of what’s real and what is fantastical. I think the 1947 Triumph motorcycle will be the perfect vehicle to move our heroes in and out of reality.

I’ll let you know next Friday when the story will start. If you’re new to the site, I made a page for April Showers so that you can read it in its entirety.

by Categories: April Showers, Choose your own romance, Friday FlirtationsTags: , , Leave a comment

April Showers Final Part

Dear Readers,

Thank you so very much for all of your comments and subscriptions to my email feed. This is the last day of the Love, Lust and Lipstick Stains blog hop. Be sure to get in all of your entries for the drawing–one of the prizes is a Kindle!

I’m finishing up the blog hop with the final installment in April Showers. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I have had writing it. The vote went to Mark! Please enjoy.

 

April Showers Final Part

by Evelyn Aster

Mark gripped her arms and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you he’d called. I didn’t think he’d just show up looking for you.”

She squirmed out of his grasp—rain beating down on her face as she looked up at him. “But why? Your job is not to decide who I get to talk to. I make those decisions.”

“Because when I first started working for you, you were on the verge of divorce, and he convinced you to stay with him. Something inside me told me he was going to try to get you back again. And I couldn’t stand to watch it. You’re a smart, beautiful woman and I love you.”

Tessa stepped back. Her mouth hung open and the raindrops fell in. Sure, he’d been flirting with her earlier, but she hadn’t equated it with love. “I, I can’t talk about this right now. Please don’t follow me.” She turned around with his coat still on and ran until a taxi stopped for her.

She sat dripping inside of the cab. One ex-husband and one assistant—she couldn’t help but notice her heart grew cold at the thought of Rick and warmed at the thought of Mark. But it was a rainy Friday night—not the type of evening suited for decisions of the heart. She needed to sleep on it.

#

Tessa sat in flannel pajamas with her feet up on a chair, a cup of coffee on the kitchen table and an e-reader in her hand. The storm from the night before still pattered down on her roof and brought a chill back into her house like Rick had brought turmoil back into her heart. She tried to read the words before her, but her mind gave them no meaning. She always liked the idea of her and Rick together, but the reality never matched it.

A knock at the door startled her. She set aside the e-reader and walked until she could look through the peephole. Crap. It was Rick.

She opened the door and saw he was drenched with a dozen red roses in his hand. The porch roof rattled under the raindrops. She sighed. She didn’t like roses because of the thorns, but Rick thought they were the only romantic flower out there. “What do you want?”

He held the bouquet out and said, “I’m really sorry about the way I treated you. And I’m sorry about last night. If Mark–”

“Leave Mark out of this.”

Rick’s eyes narrowed like he suspected something was going on between them. “I didn’t think I should just show up here and I couldn’t think of any way else to see you.”

“It’s over, Rick.”

Rick dropped the flowers to his side. “Are you with Mark now? I always knew he wanted you.”

Despite trying to keep a straight face, her eyes widened. She’d never thought they were anything but professional. Except Mark had been very caring during everything that had happened—over and beyond even the best assistant. God, she was an idiot. “No, I’m not with Mark. You and I are not good for each other. We should’ve never tried to have children–”

“No, we were great together, and I want children with you.”

“But I can’t have them. And they aren’t a bandage for all the hurt between us. You went too far in the divorce. I can’t be with you again.” She shut the door and leaned against it.

“I love you, Tessa.” He called.

She kept the door shut and stood at it until she heard him walk away. Tears brimmed at the thought of never seeing him again, but she blinked them back.

#

After a shower and lunch, she sat at the kitchen table still trying to read, but the doorbell rang. Damn it. It had better not be Rick again. She stomped to the door and flung it open. A delivery man stood there with a bouquet of spring flowers—purple and pink with raindrops rolling off the petals in momentary beauty. She caught her breath; they had to be from Mark.

The storm finally stopped as she signed for the flowers. She took them and noticed a letter sized envelope in the middle. She set the flowers in a vase on her table and opened up the letter.

Dear Tessa,

Last night is not the way I wanted to share my feelings for you. I imagined something much grander, but the words just flew out of my mouth in panic. If you’re with Rick right now, I wish you well and know that he’s the luckiest bastard in the world.

If you’ve made up your mind to stay divorced, please consider going out to dinner with me tonight. There’s so much I want to say, and I’m not much good at Jane Austen length letters.

Either way, I think our time working together has come to an end. I’ve accepted a job in the marketing department. Of course, I’ll help you transition to someone new, but I think we both know it can’t go back to the way it was, and I don’t want it to. I want us to be so much more.

Please call me,

Mark

Oh, god. He’d finally taken a better job and was moving on. The marketing department was on a different floor; she wouldn’t see him anymore except at Christmas parties. What would she do without their chats over morning coffee, their laughter over lunch and their banter at the end of the day when—her thought ended on the realization that they always talked as if they didn’t want to leave each other to go home at the end of the day. Damn.

She was in love with him.

She dashed out to her living room where she’d left her purse and phone. As soon as the phone was in her hand, she pressed her finger over his number. It only rang once before he said, “Tessa?”

“Mark.” She had no idea what to say.

The pause seemed to go on forever. “Did you get my flowers?”

Tessa hit her palm on her forehead. “Yes, they’re lovely. Thank you so much. I want—is it possible–” Tessa took a deep breath. “I don’t want to wait until dinner to see you.”

The doorbell rang. “Answer your door,” said Mark.

She ran to the front door and slammed it open.

Mark put his phone in his pocket and said, “I stalked the deliveryman here. I didn’t want to wait until dinner either. I take it Rick isn’t here?”

Tessa put her phone in her back jeans’ pocket and shook her head. “We’re through. We’re divorced. I’m done with him.”

Mark held out a hand and caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you to make that decision. I just can’t stand not being with you any longer. Everyday I come to work I want to take you in my arms and tell you how much you mean to me.”

Tessa pressed his hand to her cheek and said, “I know I’m a little slow sometimes, but when you said you were leaving me for marketing, I realized how important everything you do is to me. I can’t give up talking and laughing with you. I should’ve realized it a long time ago.”

Clouds broke apart and the sun’s rays shone through. The world smelled as if it had just stepped out of a shower scented with wildflowers. He pulled her to him and said, “The past is done. Let’s move on together and not look back.”

She wrapped her arms around him—her heart beating happiness mixed with anticipation throughout her body. Their lips pressed together, washing euphoria over her. They kissed until the last of the rain dripped off of the porch roof and then went inside to a blissful afternoon in her bedroom.

###

If you enjoyed my off the cuff writing, please buy my new and first release Through the Paintings with a fuller plot and professional editing. You can buy it at Jupiter Gardens, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARE, Coffee Time Romance and Smashwords.

ST_ThroughthePaintings_432

 

 

by Categories: April Showers, blog hop. love lust and lipstick stains, Choose your own romance, Publication 6 Comments

April Showers Part Three

For those of you who have just tuned in, I’m running a sort of “choose your own romance” story this week for the Love, Lust and Lipstick Stains Blog Hop. You can read Part One here and Part Two here. Also, remember to enter the Giveaway here.

You guys made it hard on me tonight by having a tie. I decided the important part seemed to be to know what her ex-husband wanted. I hope you enjoy how I wrote the compromise. Please vote at the end, and please pass the link on to anyone you think might have fun with the story!

April Showers Part 3

by Evelyn Aster

Tessa let go of Mark and placed her hands together on top of the table before looking up at Rick. His eyes had the puppy dog look that always made her cave, but not today. “Quit being rude to Mark. If you want to talk to me, just call me. I’m busy right now.”

“Mark’s been screening my calls and you got a new number.”

Tessa tried to stay stoic when he said Mark had been screening his calls. She hadn’t told him to do that. “There’s always Facebook,” she said.

Rick glanced around the table; everyone had fallen silent. “All right then.”

To Tessa’s surprise, he walked away. It wasn’t like him to give up without getting his way. Maybe something was really wrong, but there was no reason he should come to her about it. They had pretty much severed everything about their relationship, and without kids, they never had to see each other again—ever.

People at the table tried to make small talk, but she felt their eyes on her. Her knuckles were white. The waitress came by, and Tessa managed to order a round of beer.

Mark shifted so his arm was stretched out on the top of the booth behind her, but not touching her. “Are you okay?” he whispered.

She took a deep breath and relaxed her hands. “How many times did he call?” she asked in a low voice.

“Once a day since Monday. I’m sorry. I know I was out of line.”

She caught a joke somebody made and laughed at it but was really trying to figure out how she felt about Mark not telling her Rick had called. She needed to have a talk with Mark. Whatever his intentions were, he still should’ve told her Rick had called—in the very least so she wouldn’t be sitting here feeling like someone had slammed a filing cabinet into her.

The waitress arrived with the beers and put a glass of red wine in front of Tessa. “From the gentleman over there,” she said.

Tessa didn’t need to follow where the waitress pointed to know that Rick had sent it, or to taste it to know that it was Merlot. Damn it. She said, “Excuse me,” to Mark but he didn’t get up.

“Don’t go,” he said. “What could he possibly have to say to you that would be to your benefit?”

“I don’t know. Maybe if you hadn’t been screening my calls he wouldn’t be here at all.”

Mark set he’s jaw as if he wouldn’t let her go. “Come to dinner with me tonight.”

“What? I’m sure you realize I’m not happy with you right now. So get up.”

“You deserve so much better than him. Don’t cave into whatever it is he wants.” Mark stood and Tessa scooted by him without replying.

Rick sat alone at a table on the other side of the bar. She rolled her shoulders back and marched over. “What happened to the woman?” she asked.

“Who?”

“The woman I saw you with when I first entered.”

He shrugged. “I have no idea. I didn’t come with her. She had just sat down when you arrived.”

Tessa rolled her eyes—women always flocked to him. “What do you want?”

“Could you please sit down?”

“No. We’re divo–”

“I think I made a huge mistake divorcing you.”

The world fell away—no bar noise or sights. Just his sincere blue eyes remained. She’d cried herself to sleep many nights wishing he would say those words, but now that he had, the flood of forgiveness she’d planned didn’t pour out—it didn’t even trickle. The sincerity in his eyes masked an underlying confidence that she would take him back, and it grated on her.

“That’s it? No apology? Just that you’ve made a mistake? How about, ‘I’m sorry for blaming the miscarriage on you,’ or ‘I’m sorry for demanding ten thousand dollars from you in the divorce proceedings.’ How did your lawyer put it? Something like ‘wasted fertility money because she ultimately rejected the baby.’”

Rick jumped up and tried to take her hands, but she snatched them away. “Tessa, please. I was getting to that. I’m really, really sorry about all of it. I was a world class dick. But it was like you didn’t think the miscarriage affected me at all—it was just you.”

Her body shook in rage. She wanted to punch him. Instead, she said, “You refused to say anything about it. Whenever I brought it up, you changed the topic.”

“Because I couldn’t deal with it. It was so unexpected after everything we’d done to get you pregnant. I was an asshole, and I realize that now. Please give me a second chance. I won’t screw it up.”

The moment surrounded her like a bubble and made her feel suspended out of time. He wanted her back, finally. She’d just been daydreaming about snuggling with him while it rained outside. And now she could have it.

She shook her head and the bubble popped. She could never have the imagined life. To much sadness and pain pushed them apart. “No,” she said. “You’re about six months too late on the apology. And I didn’t deserve the treatment I got in the divorce. We’re through.”

She turned on her heel and walked straight out of the bar and into the rain. She realized for the first time that she still had Mark’s coat on her shoulders. She put her arms through the sleeves and started walking—to where, she had no idea.

Before she reached the light, a hand fell on her shoulder and turned her around.

Who do you want it to be: Mark to console her, or Rick to beg for forgiveness some more?

by Categories: April Showers, blog hop. love lust and lipstick stains, Choose your own romance 5 Comments

April Showers Part 2

springflinghop

Welcome Blog Hoppers! This week is sponsored by the lovely ladies at Love Lust and Lipstick Stains. You can click on the picture above to see the list of other blogs on the hop or click on the frog icon to the side. There’s also a giveaway going on at http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/06395848/ . One of the ways you can enter is by following my blog!

For the hop, I’m trying something new that I hope you enjoy. It’s a sort of choose your own romance. Thanks to all the readers who voted on the first part! Tessa is letting go and finds someone unexpected at the bar. Please read part two of April Showers and let me know what she should do next. If you missed part one, it’s here: April Showers Part 1.  I’ll post the next part of the story tomorrow according to the vote. Keep coming back the rest of the week to see the story unfold as chosen by the readers.

April Showers Part 2

by Evelyn Aster

Tessa dropped his hand and pushed a stray strand of blond hair behind her ear. It was one thing to step out for drinks after several months, and another to start flirting with her assistant. “Thanks for your help,” she said. “I think I’m okay now.”

“Sure,” he said and headed towards the double doors. He didn’t appear to feel slighted or embarrassed so maybe he’d just been being helpful and not flirting at all. Tessa brushed out imaginary wrinkles in her skirt and caught up to him.

She found herself admiring the way his suit fit his shoulders and masked the muscles beneath. He worked out during his lunches, and she’d seen his perfect abs in passing once. Geez. The memory made her blush. She’d still been married when that had happened. She shouldn’t recall it so clearly.

He pushed the door open for her just when thunder boomed as if the lightning had been straight above. The rest of the group jumped and looked up as they stood at the corner waiting for the light to change. No one was paying attention to Tessa and Mark as they walked slowly towards the group. Half-way there, the rain showered down on them with no warning sprinkles.

Mark shrugged off his coat and draped it around Tessa without even asking. She tried to protest. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly. You’re getting soaked now.” And damn he looked good with the shirt already clinging to his body. She averted her eyes.

“I figure I can’t win in this situation.” His hand slid from her shoulder down to the small of her back before he let her go.

“Oh, and how’s that?” Their knuckles bumped and she had to resist the growing temptation to hold his hand. They were both professionals just heading out for a friendly drink with the rest of the crew after a long month.

“I don’t give you my coat, we get to the bar and you complain to everyone how your assistant is trying to make you sick by allowing you to get soaked. Or, I give you my coat and you complain that I’m trying to be chivalrous and not allowing you to be the beautiful, independent woman you are.”

Tessa gave him a sideways glance when he said beautiful. “Sounds like you need a new boss. I think your deftness at moving through such tricky situations is under appreciated.”

They caught up to the rest of the group right as the light changed. Tessa tried to comb through her wet hair but knew it did no good.

“I could never leave her,” he said.

“Why’s that?”

“She could never figure out my intricate filing system and the company might sue me for malicious intent.”

Tessa pushed him away as they crossed. “You always think you’re so superior. I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Admit it. You’d be lost without me.”

There was snark in his voice, but a pang of guilt hit her all the same. When they reached the corner, she took his elbow and made him stop with the rain still drenching them. “I don’t think I’ve ever really thanked you for keeping me on track this year. You’re the only one who really knew everything that happened, and it meant more than you know to be able to confide in you.”

He reached out and touched her cheek with his fingertips. “You can always count on me.”

Okay, she was not imagining his sincerity or the slight yearning in his voice as he spoke—both things she’d desired from her ex-husband for so long. She turned towards the bar and said, “We’d better get inside before they’ve decided we’ve washed away. She walked to the door, opened it and enjoyed the blast of bar noise as she entered.

Screens showed sports, a juke box blared music from the nineties and everyone tried to talk over it. Mark stepped behind her and said, “Oh shit.” He took her by the shoulders and twisted her to the right. “There’s everyone in those booths. Looks like Beth is saving you a seat.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” His voice sounded tight.

“Old girlfriend?”

“Something like that.”

Curiosity mixed with jealousy made her turn to try and figure out which woman would be Mark’s ex. She’d never seen pictures of girlfriends on his desk now that she thought of it. Mark kept pushing her towards the table as if he didn’t want her to figure out who it might be. She twisted her head until it wouldn’t go any further and stopped—her feet planted to the ground as if she were part of the building.

Rick sat at a high table, laughing at something the woman he was with had just said.

What the fuck was he doing here?

It wasn’t like they’d drawn out territorial lines on a map, but his office was several blocks down. He didn’t even like Harrigans, or so he’d claimed whenever Tessa had asked him to meet her there after work.

“Just keep walking, Tessa,” pleaded Mark next to her. “He didn’t see you walk in.”

Tessa stood immobile. She wanted to go yell at him to get the hell out, but then she’d look like a real bitch. His head turned and their eyes met. They were light blue, like her own, but he wore the lines of age better. The smile in them changed to sadness. Tessa’s stomach twisted up.

Mark whispered, “Come sit with us. You’ve worked hard for so long. Don’t let him ruin this afternoon too.”

Unable to think clearly, she allowed Mark to lead her to the table. She sat next to Beth, and everyone scooted over to make room for Mark to sit next to her. He took her hand again under the table, and she squeezed it hard. She made herself smile and said, “So what are we drinking today? Beers for everyone?”

Jeff said, “If you’re buying, lets make it a round of their best scotch.”

“I’ll compromise and buy everyone a cosmo, but you have to drink it with your pinky up.” Everyone laughed, and Tessa was unsure how she was even talking with Rick on the other side of the room. Except he wasn’t. He was standing at their table. Mark squeezed her hand.

“Hey Tessa.” His voice was deep with a resonance that always made her ache when they were in bed together.

Everyone stopped talking.

“Hey,” said Tessa without looking up.

“We’re here celebrating closing an account, so why don’t you leave and let her enjoy herself for a change,” said Mark.

“You can call off your guard dog Tessa. I just came here to talk to you. I’ve been waiting for an hour hoping you’d come here. Could you sit at a table with me?”

Tessa stared straight at the table. He could’ve just called if he had something to say. He didn’t need to make a scene in front of her team. But his voice at the end had sounded almost desperate. What could possibly be the reason? She so didn’t want to deal with this right now.

What should Tessa do: go talk to her ex-husband or stay with her coworkers?

 

by Categories: April Showers, blog hop. love lust and lipstick stains 5 Comments

Love Lust and Lipstick Blog Hop!

springflinghop

Welcome Blog Hoppers! This week is sponsored by the lovely ladies at Love Lust and Lipstick Stains. You can click on the picture above to see the list of other blogs on the hop or click on the frog icon to the side. There’s also a giveaway going on at http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/06395848/ . One of the ways you can enter is by following my blog!

For the hop, I’m trying something new that I hope you enjoy. It’s a sort of choose your own romance. Read the beginning of the story below and comment on what decision you’d like Tessa to make. I’ll post the next part of the story tomorrow according to the vote. Keep coming back the rest of the week to see the story unfold as chosen by the readers.

April Showers

by Evelyn Aster

Tessa ran her thumb around the indention in her finger where her wedding ring used to be. It should be gone by now along with the hole in her soul that refused to close. She gazed outside her office window and watched the clouds gathering over the skyscrapers for a whopper of an April shower. Lightning lit them up, and a few minutes later she heard a rumble. The storm was still pretty far from her just like any sign of healing.

Her head hit the desk. She should be taking maternity leave now with her first child. She should be gathering it in a bundle of blankets and snuggling next to Rick for Friday night pizza and a movie.

Her intercom buzzed. Tessa sat up and pushed the button.

“Go home,” said her assistant Mark. “Better yet, go get a drink.”

Tessa turned and looked through the window in the wall that divided them. He was five years younger than her with features more likely to be found in a jeans ad than at an office. People always joked that she’d hired him for his looks, but he was the sharpest person she knew. She was frankly flabbergasted he was so content to work as her assistant. She made a face and said, “Do you think anyone would notice?”

“You’re the boss around here. Who cares?”

Tessa rolled her eyes and let go of the button. She preferred to lead by example. Besides, she was pretty much a middle manager. Still, maybe she would. Not the getting a drink part, but the going home early. No one would begrudge her—she’d been working her ass off throughout the whole divorce process.

What the hell? It was Friday. She shut down her computer and wished she’d brought in a rain coat. Since the divorce, she’d fallen out of watching the weather and news—there was too much sadness in her own life to keep up with all the shit going on in the world.

She stepped out of the office and said to Mark, “I’m going home then. You can leave too. We’re not doing–” her voice trailed off as she looked out at several empty cubicles. “Did everyone already leave?”

“Well, we just wrapped up that big account.”

Oh shit. She usually took everyone out for a drink when that happened, but this time she’d just moved on to working on the next account. Stunned at how out of touch she was, she said, “Why didn’t you remind me this should be a happy hour Friday?”

His brown eyes saddened and he said with a seriousness he hardly ever showed “I figured you weren’t in the celebrating mood. I was trying to hint at it just now, but I think I was too subtle.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve gotta get with it again.”

He stood up, appeared to want to reach out to her, but stopped himself. “It’s been a rough year for you. I’ve been hoping for signs of your old self, but I know everything has changed.”

Tessa tilted her head and said, “Did they go to Harrigans?”

Mark said, “Yeah, I’m meeting them there when we leave. We might be able to catch them at the elevators. You know how slow they are and everyone just left.”

“Let’s go,” she said. He grabbed his suit coat off the back of his chair and she asked, “I don’t suppose you brought an umbrella?”

“No, but you can have my coat if you need it.”

She shook her head, but smiled at the offer. They jogged through the office. She heard chatter in the direction they were heading and said, “Play along with me.” She turned the corner and glared. The team she led stopped talking. Tessa narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Going somewhere?”

The team gaped. Mark stepped around the corner and said, “I tried to talk them out of it, but they just blew me off.”

A man named Jeff who was older but still under her said, “That’s BS. He suggested it.”

Her most recent hire, a woman fresh out of college, blushed and said, “I’m sorry, Tessa. With the Morgan account done we thought–”

“That you could slack off?” Tessa raised her eyebrows.

No one answered. She was a bit surprised how terrified they looked, except for Jeff, and stared at them one by one, enjoying the momentary discomfort she was causing them. But she thought the new girl Lisa might pee in her pants so she relented. Tessa broke into a smile. “It’s fine. I’m sorry I’ve been so out of it recently. The first round is on me of course.”

The group laughed in relief and it was nice to feel like a part of them again—she’d been far too distant. When the elevator finally opened, they squeezed in next to another group leaving early. Tessa ended up standing face to face with Mark, his umber eyes smiling at her. She whispered, “Did you see how scared everyone was? I didn’t know I could have that kind of effect.”

“You cause all sorts of effects,” he whispered back. His stare changed to match the intensity of his words.

Her stomach fluttered and she had to avert her eyes. What did he mean? Heat rose inside her in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. No, this was wrong, and he probably didn’t mean it the way it sounded. She lifted her eyes to his again, but he’d looked away. A bell dinged and the elevator door opened. She was so flustered as they walked out that she wasn’t careful, and her heel caught between the elevator and the first floor. She tripped, and he caught her by the waist.

“Easy, there,” he said. “You haven’t even had your first drink yet.” His words had returned to their joking inflections, but he held her close to him.

Tessa stood up straight and tried to shrug him off. “Thanks. I guess it’s been so long since I’ve had one that even the thought intoxicates me.”

He let go of her waist, but to her surprise, he took her hand. “It’s time you started having fun again.”

They were way behind the others now. Confusion made her slightly dizzy. She couldn’t decide if she should let go of his hand and keep their relationship strictly professional, or hold onto him and see where it went. He’d been a rock through the devastating events of the year, but she’d never considered being involved with him. Of course, she’d married way too young and hadn’t really considered anyone romantically except her ex-husband.

What should Tessa do? Hold onto Mark’s hand or let go? Leave your vote in the comments below. The decision with the most votes will be written about tomorrow. Come back to see what Tessa has to choose between next!

by Categories: UncategorizedTags: , , , 9 Comments

Release Day!

Through the Paintings is out today! Please purchase it from your favorite vendor. If you purchase it at Jupiter Gardens Press and use the coupon code treasure, you get ten percent off all of your purchase! I’ll post other links below. And thanks to Megen who already read it and commented in a post below. You made my day!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance
Smash Words
Coffee Time Romance

 

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Romancing the Reader: Spellbound Treasure: Unbreak Me Guest Blog by Lex Valentine

I’d like to welcome the lovely Lex to my blog. She’s no stranger here, having done the artwork for both my header and the cover for Through the Paintings. Today she’s here to treat you to a glimpse of the world in her Spellbound Treasure novella Unbreak Me. Before I turn the blog over to her, I wanted to let you know you can get a ten percent discount this week at Jupiter Gardens Press on your whole purchase if you buy at least one Spellbound Treasure book and use the code word treasure. Also, I’m giving away Unbreak Me to the first five people who register for email updates from my blog after this goes live. Please come back Wednesday for the release of my first novella!

I give you Lex Valentine:

UnbreakMe_audio

Unbreak Me isn’t a new book, but the characters still enthrall me. When my editor, Mary Wilson, and I discussed this world back in 2010, I decided my contribution would be a trilogy. Somehow, life got in the way and I’ve never gone back to this world and finished the story of betrayal I began with Unbreak Me. Now that the audiobook is set to begin production soon, I’m hoping it spurs me to write the other two books.

When I was asked to talk about this book I jumped at the chance in part because the audiobook version will be out this year and in part because I love this world. The characters in Unbreak Me are special. The setting is special and the plot is very different from what I usually write. And the book was a 2011 Passionate Plume finalist as well as the second place novella in the 2011 Lories Best Published contest. I knew this novella was special but I wanted everyone else to think so too. And then Happily Ever Reviews gave it 5 teacups saying, “This is not a quick, light read. This is a living thing that sinks its claws into the reader and doesn’t let go.”

Well. It just doesn’t get any better for an author than that.

Unbreak Me isn’t a pretty story. The world itself is filled with a mixture of modern Earth type tech, magic, and sci-fi. The realms of this world include Crossroads of the Realms, the place where Spellbound Treasure has its home. ST is run by an angel, Etienne, and her assistant Robin, a handsome demon. Etienne and Robin sell items imbued with magic. They are the only ones who can handle such items.

The main realm in my story is Estep Realm whose capital is Falconaire City, the seat of government for my world as well as the home base of the Pythian Elite, a fighting force of warriors who have magic and tech. It is also home of the Prime Minister and The Citadel, the Ministry Office Complex.

Within Falconaire City are several districts including The Avenal, an upscale appearing area that is actually dangerous. It’s a place where anyone with money can buy anything they want on the black market. It’s a place where spies seek secrets and where men take their mistresses. There’s also the oldest city in Estep, Hawksmoor, a once proud city that is now a slum filled with criminals.

The places in this novella aren’t pretty. They are gritty, dark and filled with unsavory people. And the beautiful places like Falconaire City are only surface beautiful. Falconaire City’s beauty hides evil people in high places, making it just as ugly and dark as Hawksmoor.

My main characters are a trio of best friends. My heroine, Tait Boland, is the daughter of the General in charge of the Pythian Elite. Her long time lover, Major Marcus ‘Ren’ Renniger and their best friend Captain Branson Gaines, were on a mission which Tait did not go on. Their transport was hijacked and Marcus and Branson were presumed dead. Many things happen to Tait, Marcus and Branson prior to the start of the book, but those things all have bearing on the story.

The story opens with Tait bidding for a heart carved out of heartstone. Someone else bids for it too and wins. Tait comes out of hiding and goes to Crossroads to try to get the winner to sell her the heart. That’s when she discovers her lover is still alive. This sets off a chain of events as Marcus, Tait and Branson seek those who betrayed them six years before.

I don’t want to go into too much detail about the story because it might spoil it for you! But Unbreak Me is an emotional roller coaster as Tait and Marcus reunite and try to make sense of what happened to them and why. It has a satisfactory ending, besides the HEA, on one level as we see Tait gain revenge on those who hurt her. However, the bigger picture, the depths of the betrayal against Tait, Marcus, Branson and Tait’s father the General, are only touched on.

The second book is meant to be a continuation of their search for answers and in it the characters are joined by Branson’s twin brother who, on paper, doesn’t exist. That story is meant to be MM. The final book in the trilogy winds up the mystery of who really betrayed them and why and gives Branson his HEA. One day, I will sit down and write the other two books.

This is an incredibly emotional story and, like I said, it’s not pretty. The cover art (all of the ST covers are done by me, mine as well as the other authors) is appropriately dark, but still shows the depth of the love between my hero and heroine. I hope that when the audiobook comes out that readers who loved the book will check it out. I think the narrator’s voice is wonderful and I think she will bring my characters to life.

For any reader who likes their romances with a bit of magic, this multi-author series is a must read. All of the authors have used Crossroads in slightly different ways, but each story contains an object containing magic obtained from Spellbound Treasure. It’s an awesome world and a great series that I’m grateful to be a part of.

Lex Valentine

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Romancing the Reader: Sharing a World by Karenna Colcroft

Welcome to Karenna Colcroft who is kind enough to share with us her experience in writing in the Spellbound Treasures’ world. Today, I’ll give away five copies of her story Reflected Love to the first five people who comment on her post. Also, please come back Friday for more Flirtations 😉

Sharing a World

A few years ago, one of my publishers suggested doing a “shared world” series. Her concept was for a store which sold magical objects, existing across dimensions, that somehow caused people to find their true love.

I liked the idea, and at that point I was trying to build my backlist, so I said I’d give it a try.

Shared worlds are definitely not for everyone. My brain tends to go off on its own tangents, and I like creating an entire universe myself. Writing in a shared world, I had to use the components the publisher had stated were required for all books in the series, and I had to make sure I didn’t contradict anything she had set up or other authors had written. The series isn’t entirely connected; each book can be read as a standalone. The only threads tying all the books together were the store and its owner, and their reason for existing.

But I still found it difficult to work my ideas into a world that someone else had established. I managed it; my novella Reflected Love came out in June 2011. But that is the only story I’ve done for Jupiter Gardens Press’s Spellbound Treasures line, and I don’t plan to do anymore. For some authors, having a shared world to play in and other authors to share the ideas with works great, and I love reading stories that are done that way. I’m happy to be part of Spellbound Treasures, and someday I might do a revisit to Ralie and Listrial, the heroine and hero of Reflected Love. But otherwise, I guess I’m a little too much of a control freak to play in other people’s worlds…

Reflected Love is available from Jupiter Gardens Press, http://jupitergardenspress.com/shop/reflected-love/, and third-party retailers.

Karenna Colcroft began writing erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend, as part of her journey. In her books, Karenna shows that no matter what someone has been through, they can overcome and go on to find love and healthy relationships. Her characters may be afraid and may need to heal, but no matter what, they learn that they and their relationships are worth the effort. Love isn’t a magical cure for trauma or mental illness, but having that special person or people in one’s life can be motivation and support for healing. Even in the dark times, light and hope exist. Find out more about Karenna and her books on her website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com.
Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt from Reflected Love:

Ralie has moved into a new apartment, and the antique mirror she finds on an online auction site is the perfect addition to her bedroom.

Fae soldier Listrial has no need for the mirror he finds in a peddler’s tent while on patrol. But the mirror calls to him, and the small amount of coin he carries is just enough to purchase it.

Through the mirror, Ralie and Listrial discover each other. Is the mirror powerful enough to bring a human and a Fae together? And can their love surmount their differences?

EXCERPT:

With a gasp and a pounding heart, Ralie whirled around. No one stood behind her. Again she reminded herself that no one would be able to enter the apartment without her knowledge.

Yet when she looked at the mirror again, the man’s image remained.

He looked a bit older than Ralie, late twenties, perhaps, and wore his hair pulled back. His eyes were a shade of green she had never seen before, and lashes as long as her own rimmed them. His clothing, pants and a tunic in shades of brown and green, resembled something from medieval times, and a scabbard hung at his side. Random junk surrounded him, as if he stood in a warehouse or store.

“Hello?” Ralie said tentatively.

The man didn’t appear to hear her. He turned his head and spoke, apparently to someone beside him. She didn’t hear his words.

When he faced the mirror again, his eyes widened, and he put his hand against the glass. The image faded, and Ralie’s own reflection returned.

“It’s official,” she muttered. “Ralie, you’re losing your mind. Too much time alone.”

“You aren’t alone,” the cool voice from before informed her.

Right. Because I have a magic mirror that talks to me. “I’m not listening.”

Hands over her ears, she stomped out of the room to the accompaniment of laughter.

Her stomach growled, reminding her that she’d barely had time to eat. Maybe the voice and the man’s image had been hallucinations brought on by hunger. Food would make everything seem more normal.

She knew better, but she still needed to eat.

From the freezer, she took one of the many TV dinners she’d stocked. Never having lived alone before, she hadn’t quite figured out yet how to cook for only herself. The dinners had been an easy solution while she adjusted to her new home and job. Eventually she would have to start making real meals. For now, at least she had food.

She ate in front of the evening newscast, then channel surfed through game shows and sitcom reruns. The mirror’s presence called to her from the bedroom. She refused to respond. She didn’t know what she’d gotten herself into by buying the thing, and until she found out she didn’t know if she wanted to be in the same room with it.

The thought of seeing the man’s image again appealed to her. He’d certainly been handsome. Ralie felt like she knew him from somewhere. Like he was someone important to her.

Which was completely ridiculous, because she’d never seen him before. He was a random image in an antique mirror, nothing more. A random image that shouldn’t have been there, since mirrors only reflected what lay in front of them.

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