Hi Cozies! I've tallied your votes here at The Cozy Page, on Twitter and Facebook and taken an opinion poll from my personal advisors (the hub, the sis, etc) and the general consensus seems to be...
B) The Ivory Halter
Thank you so much for your imput! I'll be wearing the ivory dress and my Giannis tomorrow night in front of the television, waiting to catch a glimpse of this guy....
TEAM DARCY/FIRTH!
Here are my winner predictions for tomorrow's award ceremony....
Best Picture - The King's Speech
Best Actor - Colin Firth for The King's Speech
Best Actress - Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale for The Fighter
Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo for The Fighter
So this year I'm hosting my first Academy Awards Party - really just an intimate watch party here at home with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling cider but I will be taking this opportunity to dress up. I went into my closet this morning to see what I have to wear. I came up with a couple of options, but just like Halloween last year I want the readers to vote on their favorite. I will take the majority favorite and wear it Sunday for the event. The good news is that my new Gianni shoes go with both of these options! Here are the nominees....
A) Pink Sheath - I love this dress first and foremost for the color and secondly for the beading which angles up and gives it a little something extra. It's very springy yet elegant enough for my imaginary red carpet. Yes, we will be practicing our red carpet cat walks as well as our winning moment faces....
B) Ivory Halter - I bought this dress for my rehearsal dinner but never got to wear it. It really needs a night out soon, I think. It's very light (don't worry, it's 70-something degrees on the Coast and we'll have a nice fire going for ambience, I'm sure) and flirty....
And here, just for reference, are the Gianni Bini's I got for Christmas which I haven't had a chance to wear either! Whichever dress you choose, Cozies, I'll be pairing them with these puppies....
Feel free to comment with your answer to this post or, if you prefer, tweet your preference t0 @ALeighWilliams! You can also reply with an answer on Facebook. Saturday evening I will tally up your votes and announce the winner. And, of course, on Monday I'll post party pics with my Oscars recap!
Hi Cozies! The hub and I are back from a short family sojourn in Florida. The weather was fantastic - 80 degrees! - and the two-day respite much-needed. As much as I loved soaking up the sun (and wine), I have to say that whenever I'm away for more than a day at a time, my favorite part of the trip is coming home to three furry labs. It's hard to sleep without at least one of them warming the foot of the bed :)
Sunday when the hub and I returned home and settled in, I finally found the time to watch all seven episodes of the BBC mini-series, Downton Abbey. I may primarily write contemporary novels, but that doesn't stop me from having a love affair with period dramas. It's wonderful to hear that Downton will be returning for a second season this year. The first thing that strikes me about the series is the time period. It's not everyday we see 1912-1914 tackled by writers of either the screen or historical fiction. Downton shows us, however, there is no apparant reason for this lapse. The series begins with the news that the Titanic has sunk, leaving the estate of Downton in need of a new heir. It ends with the news that Britain is going to war with Germany and we feel that even more upheaval is eminent for the aristocratic family as well as, if not perhaps more so, its colorful staff. In between these events, the writers find plenty of conflict to keep viewers watching and guessing. There is a myriad of characters, starting of course at the top with Lord and Lady Grantham, the Dowager Countess (played by the fabulous Maggie Smith), the Granthams' daughters - Mary, Edith, and Sybil - and the new heir apparant, cousin Matthew and his progressive mother, Mrs. Crawley.
The most interesting aspect of the series, however, is its peek into the lives of those belowstairs. I found the journey of the butler, Mr. Carson, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hughes, the valet, Mr. Bates, the maids, Mrs. O'Brien, Anna and Gwen, the footmen, Thomas and William, and the cook and her assistant, Daisy, even more piquant than those of the titled residents of Downton. Of course, with this many characters to keep track of, there's no end to story conflict. It is apparant early on that the comfortable lives of Lord Grantham and his ilk are fading with the times. Similarly, the need for a staff like that at Downton begins to seem a bit superfluous to more modern characters such as Matthew. One maid, Gwen, is studying to be a typist/secretary on the sly in the knowledge that her position as a maid might soon be eclipsed by convenient gadgets like electricity and telephones (which are hilariously introduced to Downton toward the end of the series). Another sure sign of change is the fight for women's suffrage which embroils Grantham's youngest daughter, Sybil.
Downton is a period drama so there is no shortage of fantastic costumes on hand to discuss! I was impressed with Maggie Smith's wardrobe as well as Lady Grantham, Mary and Sybil's. And, surprisingly, there's hardly anything more dashing than a chaffeur's uniform at Downton Abbey, modeled by my Irish friend Branson here.... ;)
Some of the storylines, like Branson's, had me in the throes of story-envy. If I were writing Downton Abbey, you could be sure I would have found a way for Branson and Sybil to be together, despite their opposing stations. In fact, Downton Abbey makes heroes not just of the aristocratic men so often featured in period dramas (most of the earl's daughter's suitors turn out to be more naughty than nice...and I don't mean that in a good way, unfortunately), but of everyday, blue collar men like Branson, Mr. Bates, and even the footman, William. Maybe that's what I find so refreshing about the series as a whole. And, of course, I can't wait for season two simply to hear more quips from Maggie Smith...
“What’s a ‘weekend’?”
“No Englishman would *dream* of dying in someone else's house - especially somebody they didn't even know.”
“We can’t have him assassinated. I suppose.”
“Sometimes I feel as if I’m living in an H.G. Wells novel.”
“Your quarrel is with my daughter, Rosamund, and not with me. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.”
I have to give a shout-out to my guest authors (and heroines!) of the 20 Questions Event here at The Cozy Page for fourteen fabulous days of interviews and excerpts! Thank you also to readers and participants! There are a couple of unclaimed prizes so if you did enter any contests, please be sure to check to see if you won.
Today I'm over at Vintage Vonnie talking historical romance!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! February is my favorite month of the year and Valentine's Day is probably my favorite holiday, doubly special because it marks the occasion (six years ago) when the hub asked me to marry him. And I've always loved the spirit of the day as well as the story of St. Valentine. Yesterday it warmed up here on the Coast and reminded me that spring (however reluctantly) is on the horizon!
A couple of things on that note. I will be participating in Crystal Rain-Love's Fool for Romance Contest, leading up to April Fool's Day. I've decided to donate a Starbucks gift card. For me, coffee and romance go well together. In March I'll be blogging at Sky Purrington's Celts & More Event, which will include a special deleted scene from Bet It On My Heart that I've never revealed before.
A few non-writing related events coming up on the radar. Valentine's is over so I now get to look forward to the Oscars. Who else gets into the Oscars buzz? I love setting aside the evening for watching. This year I'll be hosting my first Oscars party, complete with dressing up, hors d'oeuvres, champagne/sparkling cider and, just for fun, some good ol' fashioned winning moment reactions! I'll be rooting for The King's Speech and Colin Firth to win Best Picture as well as Best Actor... Team Darcy!
At the end of March, I'll be running out to buy Tangled on DVD just in time for another special occasion the following month. As everyone knows, there is to be a royal wedding in April. Since I wasn't around for Diana's, I'm eager to view Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials. My sister and I have arranged for some princely-related fun. The night before will call for a Disney Princess marathon - always a treat and a throwback to some early inspiration! The morning of will consist of our tea-and-tiara party as we hopefully catch some live footage. Who else will be glued to their televisions on April 29th?
Late spring also marks an even more special occasion, in my view. The hub and I will be celebrating our five-year wedding anniversary, hopefully at our family's lake house in north Alabama! I'm challenging myself to complete my fourth paranormal romance as well as my Regency romance WIP before then to make the getaway all the more relaxing. When we're not sunning and boating, I'll be happy to have J.R. Ward's latest Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Lover Unleashed, in my lap!
Cozies, what are you most looking forward to this spring season? (Note: The contest for yesterday's 20 Questions interview with Taryn Kincaid's heroine is still up for grabs. Don't miss out on the last Valentine's Day prize here at Cozy! The winner will be chosen late Thursday evening so check back in!)
It's time to announce to the winner of Elaine Cantrell's February 11th giveaway for her romantic suspense novel, Return Engagement! The winner chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org is... Commenter #2 - Karen Michelle Nutt Congrats, Karen! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receive your prize! Thank you again to Elaine for sitting down with Tink for an awesome interview! The party may be over, Cozies, but there's still time to win our Valentine's Day prize - a copy of Taryn Kincaid's Healing Hearts, which launches from Carina Press at the end of the month. Click here to enter before Thursday; February 17th!
Happy Valentine's Day! To wrap up our 20 Questions Valentine's Event here at The Cozy Page, today we're playing host to Carina Press author Taryn Kincaid and the heroine of her February 28th release, Healing Hearts...
As a girl, Emma Whiteside asked Adam Caldwell, Viscount Riverton, to wait for her to be of marriageable age. Now, twelve years later, Emma hates Adam as much as she once loved him, holding the former army major responsible for the death of her brother on the battlefield.
Adam already blames himself for the loss of the men under his command. But the fiery young woman Emma's become sparks his arousal, as well as emotions Adam thought long dead. The passion between them makes him want to reclaim the man he was before the war.
Though she tries to hold on to her hatred, Emma's longing for Adam is undeniable, especially after the two share a smoldering kiss. Still, Adam is certain no woman would want a man so damaged. Can Emma prove him wrong?
Our Cozy correspondent, Tink, sat down with Emma over the weekend for our last 20 Questions interview. Here's 20 Questions with Emma Whiteside! Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much? Emma: Oh, la! Once upon a time, I loved to watch the elegant ladies in their gowns and imagine myself in the arms of a handsome man. One handsome man, in particular. But sometimes we must cast aside our childish dreams, to capture those worth saving and holding. The love of my life would spin and whirl me around ballrooms throughout London if I let him, but I know he pays the price for such frivolous exercise when his wounded leg nags him. I never want to give him pain. Never. So I don't let him. These days I prefer to sit by his side in the garden, under the moon, just the two of us, my head upon his broad shoulder. Utterly content. Dreaming our dreams.
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show? Emma: I am not quite certain what a bike show is, but when Adam & I travel to London we love to indulge in a night at the theatre. I love the words, the costumes, the sights and sounds, the champagne, even the scents. But most of all, I love sitting beside Riverton and allowing him to steal kisses and take outrageous liberties in the dark!
Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it's a bad idea? Emma: My name may be Emma, but I am not THAT Emma. I hope I am not so silly as Jane Austen's miss. Although...
Tink: Describe the ideal hero -- rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy or supernatural anti-hero. Emma: In a word: Adam. In a phrase, Adam Caldwell, Viscount Riverton. His character: Loyal, heroic, stoic, possessive and protective. I love that in a man. Throw in steamy kisses that can turn a girl's -- my -- knees to water and a sure, knowing touch...and I am lost. Utterly, blissfully lost.
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you loved them or show it? Emma: Most definitely show. Eyes, lips, the stroke of a hand, the hitch of a breath. Actions speak volumes, loudest of all...even when they are whispers.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future. Emma: I dare say I am most suited to the Regency period in which I live, 1812. But it might be a great lark to learn to Twitter and Facebook, instead of having to make the rounds of all those tedious teas and calling upon dragons who gossip behind their fans. What fun!
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower? Emma: Is it wicked that I love to watch Adam at his hip bath, soaping his back for him as if I were his valet or batman, trailing my hands along his slick, muscled flesh? Ah, I blush just thinking of it now. This will be our little secret.
Tink: Flats or high heels? Emma: I wear slippers and walking boots.
Tink: Flowers or chocolates? Emma: I love to start the day with a cup of chocolate. And end it in a moonlit garden in my love’s strong arms.
Tink: G-rated or unrated? Emma: I am not exactly sure what you mean here. But my hero is a sure, capable, very generous lover. Who can reduce me to a jelly with the stroke of a fingertip or the sultry spark of desire in his eyes.
Tink: Alpha or beta? Emma: Unlike my twin brother, Michael, I never had the benefit of a formal, classical education, although I read…oh. You are talking about Adam again? Alpha. But he shows me – and only me – his vulnerable side. (Just between us, I think he secretly enjoys when I twist him around my little finger. )
Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out? Emma: I did propose to the man when I was an unruly little miss, all of eight years old, and he was but a youth of seventeen. But twelve years later, the shoe was on the other foot. Somewhat. I did mention that he is an alpha? And that I can nevertheless twist him around my pinky?
Tink: Favorite love song? Emma: I’m not sure that I have a favorite love song. But I am taken by the poetry of that scandalous Lord Byron. “She walks in beauty like the night…” Oh. Yes.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in? Emma: My dear. I do not wish to be rude. But that is a henwitted question. I did mention being reduced to a jelly by my hero, did I not?
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no? Emma: I do not carry much these days due to my delicate condition. Possessive, protective alpha, you know.
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment? Emma: Taryn Kincaid described those in Healing Hearts. (And I would blush to repeat some of that here. But…Adam is the sweetest man. And a collector of handkerchiefs.)
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts? Emma: I should probably not share this improper bit of on dit…but I much prefer nothing to come between us.
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date? Emma: 1812 was a very good date for me. Quite horrid in the beginning. But, oh, lah, did it end well!
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy, action flick? Emma: I am always partial to a wonderful love story.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow? Emma: My dear. I love him anyway I can have him. At any hour of the day or night. But…have you seen Adam’s picture on the cover of Healing Hearts? I positively swoon every time I see it!
Emma, thanks for answering all of Tink's intrusive questions! Readers, you can read more of Emma and Adam's story on February 28th at Carina Press! Now for a sneak peek into Healing Hearts....
The wind blew off the sea, moaning and wild, buffeting the man pacing the cliffs.
Hidden by a wall of rock, Emma Whiteside shielded her eyes against the bite of salt spray and continued to watch him, as she did every dawn.
Today, she thought. Today she would approach him at last. Confront him. Give him the royal tongue-lashing he deserved. She had nothing left to lose, after all. And she might not have the opportunity tomorrow. Or ever again.
A small voice nagged Emma from within, the advice reasonable considering her current dire circumstances. Better to seek the man's aid than chide him. But she snapped her mind closed against the unwanted counsel. The viscount was the last man on earth she'd ever ask for help.
Grief chilled her, numbed her heart, deadened the tender feelings she'd once had for him. Only her need for vengeance broke through her frozen emotions now. She longed to set Riverton in his place, however little effect her words might have on a man so impervious to remorse.
But once again Emma could neither confront him nor beseech him. The evidence of his stiff-necked pride—and her own—continued to hold her back with as much force as if an unseen hand pressed down upon her shoulder. She glared in the man's direction, as if it were his hand oppressing her.
Fierce gusts punished him, impeding his tortured progress. Pain twisted his handsome features but he confronted the gale without flinching. A tiny chip splintered off from the ice sheath encasing Emma's heart.
Damn him.
How do you bear it, Riverton? Are you made of stone?
She knew he was not. She saw the agony against which he fought, the stalwart way he pushed himself onward, despite the uneven gait that hampered his progress.
A cold blast of wind whistled past, ripping the hood of Emma's cloak aside, whipping her hair against her neck. The frigid current stung her eyes, wringing reluctant tears. She blinked the moisture away and rubbed the damp trail from her cheeks.
No tears, she instructed herself. Not for him. Never for him.
Riverton wore no coat or cravat. His linen flapped about him, white shirttails torn from his trousers—an unlikely flag of surrender when he refused to give quarter.
Did you stand so against the French?
Emma could think of no oath dark enough to curse a man so remarkably stoic. She envisioned him in her mind's eye, saber raised, hastening up and down the lines, shouting at his men to hold: Major Adam Caldwell, Viscount Riverton, at his most courageous.
She shuddered, conjuring the brutal attack that haunted her grimmest moments, the scene clouded by smoke and thunder, blurred by the limits of her grief and imagination. The battle where her twin had fallen, belly pierced by an enemy bayonet.
Michael admired you so, Riverton. I will never stop blaming you. 'Tis time you knew it.
Anger burned within her breast, bright as her love for the viscount once had.
And yet...her gaze swept him again, lingering on the trousers that molded his muscular thighs, the loose shirt that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders. 'Twas but the vicious wind that stole her breath, she told herself.
***GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Good news, readers! Taryn has generously offered a giveaway for today! By commenting to this post before midnight EST, Thursday; February 17th, you will have a chance to win a copy of Healing Hearts! (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries. You must be 18 years or older to enter. One winner will be chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org and announced the morning after contest closing. Please check back in to see if you have won.)
Congrats, marybelle! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.comwith your physical address as well as your paperback or ebook preference for your copy of The Showboat Affair. Readers, even though the 20 Questions Event is coming to a close, there are still prizes to be won. February 14th is the last day to enter Elaine Cantrell's giveaway for romantic suspense Return Engagement. And today our last 2o Questions guest, Taryn Kincaid, is giving away a copy of her upcoming Carina Press release, Healing Hearts! Don't miss out!
We're in the exciting final stretch of The Cozy Page's 20 Questions Valentine's Event! Today we welcome Judy Jarvie and the heroine of her latest romance, Flirting with the Fireman - Flick Truro! Flirting with the Fireman is now available from The Wild Rose Press....
Cyber sparks...combustible consequences
Felicity Truro's diary is fast filling up with problems. First there's the ugliest bridesmaid's dress in the world, then there's her sick aunt's serious secret. But it's Rod McAllister, the handsome firefighter best man with attitude, who's melting her willpower and frazzling her nerves the most.
Can Flick survive being a bridesmaid for the eleventh time whilst falling for the groom's aide for real? And how will she cope when Rod needs a stand-in and she's promoted to top of the candidate list?
Judy sat down with Cozy correspondent, Tink, earlier in the week to talk about her heroine, Flick Trurro. Here's 20 Questions with Judy Jarvie! Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much? Judy: Flick dancing? Not so much. She’d be too protective of her killer heels for major strutting – though she might kick them under the table by the end of the night! A girl can only withstand so much temptation.
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show? Judy: Theatre – something feelgood and upbeat. Especially with a pre or post-theatre meal (preferably Italian). Especially if there’s cheesecake for dessert!)
Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea? Judy: Flick and relationships is a tricky issue. This is part of the whole problem in Flirting With The Fireman. Men are like books – the bestsellers make Flick suspicious. She definitely keeps her ‘relationship’ ideas to herself but wears her disapproval of Rod McAllister openly. Sadly for Flick – she might have figured this charming, hunky fireman out wrong.
Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero? Judy: Bad boy with a good heart – and ideally a uniform! Just don’t tell anyone! Especially not Rod.
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it? Judy: Show it the shy way. Opening up isn’t Flick’s bag. Even to her best friend Linda. And there’s reasons for that – she’s hidden her deepest hurts from herself for a long, hard time.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future? Judy: The past. Flick has deep issues that are unresolved. And someone from the past left her sooner than she was ready for. This book aims to unravel Flick’s tight emotions slowly but surely.
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower? Judy: Sudsy shower. She’s usually on the hop between library organization meetings and bridesmaid dress fittings! Life’s a bit manic right now and a quick shower’s just the ticket.
Tink: Flats or high heels? Judy: High. Designer. Some demand a wait list! Though Birkenstocks can have their place when chilling out.
Tink: Flowers or chocolate? Judy: CHOC. Most definitely. But don’t talk about calories. Just make sure pralines are heavily represented.
Tink: G-rated or unrated? Judy: The library might censor anything too hot – but Flick would read it beneath her desk!
Tink: Alpha or beta? Judy: How about a compromise? Alpha allure with a beta heart.
Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out? Judy: Sigh. Isn’t this the problem?! Waiting, waiting – always waiting and denying interest. Flick has reached the point of no return with Rod McAllister – he’s about to woo her properly.
Tink: Favorite love song? Judy: Patience – Take That. Hero and Heroine have to show a lot if this before they find their happy ending.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in? Judy: In. With a good book. Avoiding the canoodling couples and taking solace in dessert!
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no? Judy: How could Flick sternly warn library users to be quiet if they caught her doing karaoke on a Friday night? Flick would secretly love to let it all go with a mic!
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment. Judy: All I’ll say is it involves a very special cheesecake. You’ll have to read Flirting With The Fireman to find out.
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts? Judy: Oooh. My creator is a Scottish writer so she’s urging me towards a kilt. I’d have to say uniform is the essential ingredient here.
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date? Judy: One without arguing. One without mishaps. One that doesn’t involve all things going wrong would be good. Rod and Flick have ‘date problems’ on a large scale! Some of them involve hospital treatment.
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick? Judy: How about meal and a foot massage? Those high heels take it out of a gal! And Rod’s a thrilling view in his own right.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow? Judy: Now that depends when. Returned from work shadow and lines under the eyes is a killer look when your man’s been saving people from burning buildings. But clean shaven, arriving at the library with a smile and a spritz of spicy cologne – how’s a girl to choose? Both – double helpings please!
Thank you, Judy, for answering Tink's intrusive questions!
Readers, learn more about Judy, Flick, and her other books at her webiste! Judy Jarvie worked in Press and PR in London until she moved back to Scotland and realised she'd been spurning her one burning love of writing. So she gave in to the call to do it and has kept going ever since. Now the writing keeps her sane and happy and dreaming up new heroes on a regular basis. She lives in a village in Scotland with her husband and two very special daughters who keep her out of trouble. Her next release, Nanny Behaving Badly, launches tomorrow, Valentine's Day!
And now for an excerpt from Flirting with the Fireman....
Rod McAllister scanned ‘Fusion Cooking Made Fabulous’ then clocked the county librarian heading his way. As Flick Truro’s killer heels pounded marble he smiled in greeting. He knew she couldn’t stand him; she wore it like a stiffly starched shirt.
“Good evening, Rod.”
“Hi Felicity, how are ya?”
“Fine. You?” The heel clicks continued as she passed on and a light cherry blossom scent teased him.
“I’m trying to be good with these books of yours.” He nodded to the way he nursed the volume in his hands like a swaddling infant.
“In what way good?”
“Careful attention. In case you fine me for improper book handling.”
Why had he said that? Was his mouth programmed to misfire around Flick?
Stopping, she threw him an over shoulder stare. It was pure Titian painting. But if she realized what he was thinking she’d kill him, no question.
“S’okay I’m not that strict. I won’t handcuff you if you crease a page. I don’t have a cell downstairs for offenders.”
The urge to laugh bubbled inside him. “Shame. Could be fun.”
Her lips stayed in a firm line. “I’d make you read Crime and Punishment instead.”
Readers, be sure to check back in tomorrow for more winner announcements from earlier this week and the last day of our 20 Questions Valentine's Event!
Sorry for the delay in posting today, Cozies - busy Saturday! I enjoyed an awesome pre-Valentine's brunch with members of my family at a local restaurant and the weather was finally nice enough to sit on the deck. Hope the weather's warming up wherever you are - and if not, sending you warm thoughts from the coast!
Now for another winner announcement - this one for romance author Laura Breck's Tuesday, February 8th giveaway for a copy of her debut novel, Secret Vegas Lives. The winner chosen the True Random Number Generator at Random.org is....
Readers, even though our 20 Questions Event here at The Cozy Page is coming to a close, there are still plenty of chances to win between npw and Valentine's Day! You have until late tomorrow evening to enter Gwyneth Greer's February 10th contest for a paperback or ebook (winner's choice) edition of yet-to-be released romance TheShowboat Affair as well as an engraved mirror! There's also still time to win a copy of Elaine Cantrell's romantic suspense novel, Return Engagement, from her February 11th Valentine's contest! Don't miss out on these and more chances to win prizes and read more great excerpts over the next couple of days!
We're coming to the exciting, final stretch of the 20 Questions Valentine's Event! Today we welcome the heroine of Shona Husk's Kissing Phoenix, coming soon from Ellora's Cave....
When Lilith fell into lust with musician Aidan she never expected it to last. And she was right. Her doctor has given her months to live, and telling Aidan is the hardest thing she's ever done.
Aidan has been keeping his own secret. He is Vampire...but he can't turn Lilith and save her. The solution he proposes is illegal and dangerous and breaks every rule set up to protect non-humans from humans. He doesn't care. He will do anything to save the woman he loves.
Discovering the kiss of a Vampire and reveling in the erotic thrill, Lilith realizes her feelings are deeper than lust. But is giving up her humanity worth it?
Lilith was kind enough to sit down with our Cozy correspondent, Tink, earlier this week! Here's 20 Questions with Lilith St. Jack! Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much? Lilith: Maybe not the first because then everyone would be looking at me, but certainly not the last.
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show? Lilith: Can I cheat and say rock concert?
Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea? Lilith: Bad idea. I fell in love with a Vampire and didn’t even realize what he was.
Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero? Lilith: I think I have to say supernatural anti-hero since Aidan didn’t have a title back in the day.
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it? Lilith: Show it.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future? Lilith: The future, definitely the future.
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower? Lilith: Bath. I love being in water.
Tink: Flats or high heels? Lilith: Flats. I’m a vet and I spend a lot of time on my feet.
Tink: Flowers or chocolate? Lilith: Chocolate...was this a trick question?
Tink: G-rated or unrated? Lilith: Unrated.
Tink: Alpha or beta? Lilith: Alpha.
Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out? Lilith: I’d make the first move. Life is too short to sit around waiting.
Tink: Favorite love song? Lilith: Anything Aidan writes.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in? Lilith: Stay in. We spend too much time either apart or surrounded by other people.
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no? Lilith: No. I have no musical talent, that’s Aidan’s department.
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment. Lilith: The first time Aidan asked me out; I think he was expecting me to say no but I was already eyeing him up. We went to dinner and had so much fun he stayed for breakfast.
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts? Lilith: Briefs
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date? Lilith: Something quiet with just the two us.
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick? Lilith: Um, if I wanted to see anything romantic I’d be going by myself. So, action flick.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow? Lilith: Are we going out or staying in? I don’t mind either way.
Thank you, Lilith, for answering Tink's instrusive questions! Readers, if you'd like to learn more about Lilith and her book, Kissing Phoenix, visit author Shona Husk's website!
Blessed with a lively imagination, Shona Husk spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and she hasn't looked back. Always fascinated by dark fairy tales and the paranormal, it's not uncommon to get to know spirits, vampires, were-creatures and demigods through her books. In her free time Shona likes to keep fit and get creative in the kitchen...Toblerone brownies anyone? When she relaxes with a glass of wine at the end of the week she likes to lose herself in a good book.
Thanks to Shona, here is a sneak peak into Kissing Phoenix....
“You don’t get to raise my hopes before telling me what you’re hiding.” And she was sure he was hiding something. The past couple of days he’d been somewhere else even when he was with her. That had been fine. She hadn’t been in the mood to talk anyway. She’d had her own secret to keep. It had taken her days to think of a way to tell him and even now it wasn’t going how she’d expected.
Aidan closed his eyes as if the words he was trying to find were written on his eyelids. He sighed and forced them out. “I’m Vampire.”
Lilith forced a laugh and stepped back. “You’re not a Vampire.” She crossed her arms. “I’ve seen you walk in daylight.”
“Daylight generally isn’t a problem.” His lips revealed elongated teeth as he spoke.
Long, delicately pointed outer incisors. Not shaped like an animal’s canines, for tearing into flesh.
No, these teeth were something else entirely, but no less dangerous. Trapped between wanting to run and frozen with fascination, her blood pounded in her ears. The room became tiny and airless. Aidan had fangs just like a Vampire should.
He closed the distance between them. Smooth, constant motion, lord of his domain. He moved like a predator. She’d never noticed his grace before. Now all she could do was watch as he took her hand, turned it over and ran a finger over the pale blue vein. Then he kissed the inside of her wrist like he was savoring the taste of her skin. Heat flowed from his touch and the pressure of his teeth and rose deep within her, awakening a part of her that had been dormant. Desire raced unrestrained through her blood and sparked every nerve. One touch and she was his. She waited for his fangs to pierce her flesh. Caught in a moment that shouldn’t be, her breath became trapped high in her throat.
Aidan’s gaze locked on hers as his tongue glided over the vein. Then he released her without biting. She gasped as if she’d glimpsed heaven and had it stolen. Her body trembled and ached.
Her blood was too hot to be contained within her flesh.
What had he done to her?
Her shaking hand found its way to her neck. Her pulse bounced hard beneath her fingertips.
Every touch, every lick of her neck had been for one reason. He wanted to bite her. Except she’d put money down he’d never actually bitten her.
Because Vampires don’t exist. Get a grip.
She was hallucinating. She’d entered a daydream while waiting for Aidan to come home, but the cooling curry in the air smelt real. The kiss had been very real, searing her skin. Aidan’s teeth looked very, very real. Her eyes narrowed. She was going to kill him if the teeth were fake. She’d be dead before it got to trial.
“Prove it, Dracula. Are the teeth real?”
She watched his incisors return to a more usual human shape and then lengthen again into needle sharp points. She shivered, her skin was like ice, but her heart raced at the sight. Fear and lust entwined to smother all remaining doubt. He wasn’t playing.
Aidan flicked his tongue over a tooth. “Real.”
Her mind skittered over the alien terrain. If he could walk in daylight, were all Vampire stories false? “Don’t Vampires drink blood?”
He nodded and the light caught his hair, turning brown to red. “When we can get it,” he said too casually.
She stepped back, feeling like a rabbit in a lion’s cage. Could he hear her pulse? The tremor in each breath? Her calves hit the sofa. If she ran, she’d never reach the door.
Tune in tomorrow for more from the final stretch of the 20 Questions Valentine's Event!
The countdown to Valentine's Day continues today with romance author Elaine Cantrell and the heroine of her romantic suspense novel,Return Engagement...
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Lane. Elaine told my story in her novel Return Engagement. I’m an actress with an Oscar to her credit, but I didn’t come from a wealthy family like my sweet Valentine. His daddy is a rich senator who wants my Richard to become the President. I’d like to thank Amber for giving me the chance to talk to everyone. These are fun questions, so here goes. Elizabeth's story is available now from Whiskey Creek Press! More on Return Engagement....
Elizabeth Lane has it all, but an actress isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time Elizabeth’s fighting back, a decision that leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams. Our own Cozy correspondent, Tink, sat down with Elizabeth earlier in the week for 20 Questions with Elizabeth Lane. Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much? Elizabeth: That depends on who’s asking me to dance. If it’s Richard I’m the first one out there. You haven’t lived until you feel his arms around you! My goodness the man has muscles I didn’t know even existed.
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show? Elizabeth: I’m an actress so forget the bike show.
Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea? Elizabeth: I have been known to play Dear Abby, but in general I’d rather not interfere. That could come back to bite you!
Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero? Elizabeth: This one is so easy! He’s tall and blonde with blue eyes that look like sapphires when he’s turned on. He’s an Alpha male for sure, but he’s a one woman man who’d die for his woman if he had to. He’s sensitive, passionate, and romantic, and possibly just a teeny bit dangerous. (Okay, you got me. I’m describing Richard.)
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it? Elizabeth: With Richard I can’t help saying it. The words just burst out of me before I even think about it, but I believe it’s better to show people.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future? Elizabeth: Oh, the future for sure! I can’t wait to meet the babies Richard and I plan to have, and one day we’ll have a houseful of wonderful grandchildren. And maybe I’ll become the first lady. And win a few more Oscars.
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower? Elizabeth: Are you kidding? Bubble bath. Richard and I love to take bubble baths together. Don’t mention that I told you either. He doesn’t want his buddies to know that a big, tough FBI agent takes bubble baths with his honey.
Tink: Flats or high heels? Elizabeth: High heels. They hurt like the devil, but they sure do wonderful things for a girl’s legs.
Tink: Flowers or chocolate? Elizabeth: Sorry. Can’t choose. I have to have both.
Tink: G-rated or unrated? Elizabeth: Yikes. Maybe something in between.
Tink: Alpha or beta? Elizabeth: Alpha like my Richard.
Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out? Elizabeth: Make the first move. Hey, it’s the twenty first century.
Tink: Favorite love song? Elizabeth: Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You." Richard sent me that song as a gift not long ago. It’s old, but if you listen to the words, your heart will just melt.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in? Elizabeth: Go out. This year Richard is flying me to Paris for Valentine’s Day. We’re going to eat at a little restaurant that’s been in business since the French Revolution, and then we’ll walk along the banks of the Seine arm in arm.
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no? Elizabeth: You haven’t heard me sing, have you? No karaoke.
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment. Elizabeth: That’s hard because the man is incredibly romantic, but I think if I had to pick I’d pick the time he sent me little gifts every hour on the hour from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. His favorite was a big Hershey’s kiss, but I liked the recording of Bryan Adams best.
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts? Elizabeth: Oh, briefs. To me they’re sexier.
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date? Elizabeth: Hmm. Valentine’s Day in Paris is pretty close.
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick? Elizabeth: Sappy love story. I love to empathize with the heroine. The best ones are the ones that make you cry.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow? Elizabeth: Clean shaven. My man’s profile is too crisp and gorgeous to be hidden by whiskers.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for answering Tink's instrusive questions! Readers, if you would like to know more about Elizabeth's story or author Elaine Cantrell, visit at their website! Elaine was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and EPIC authors. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published in 2004 by Oak Tree Books. At present she teaches high school social studies. She spends her spare time collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, reading, and playing with her grandchildren.
And now for an excerpt from Return Engagement....
A tall, blond man standing near the back of the crowd caught her eye. She faltered and stumbled, catching hold of Cathy’s arm to stay upright in the sand. No, it couldn’t be! Richard! They hadn’t seen each other in ten years, but yes, it was Richard. She’d know him anywhere. His blue eyes still mesmerized her as he watched her progress across the beach. Irrelevantly, she remembered that when he was aroused his eyes always darkened.
Her heart took off in a wild gallop. He had matured since she last saw him. His shoulders had broadened, and the well defined muscles in his chest rippled under his tee shirt. His stomach appeared flat and hard, and his legs looked shapely and well formed. The expression on his face spoke of a fiery, passionate nature. Her face flushed as it occurred to her that if she faced him across a bed today as she had done ten years ago, the outcome might be very different. He didn’t look like a man she’d want to turn down.
Uh oh. She had started to shake. Would she be able to do her scene or not? She hoped so, but seeing Richard had brought the past vividly to life. A dull ache, long familiar, reminded her how much it hurt to break up with him. He really was too young for me, but somehow it didn’t matter at all. We were compatible in every way. No wonder I fell head over heels in love with him. Her lips tightened. She had never told him what happened right before their final date, but she remembered it as well as if it had happened only yesterday.
“Hello, Miss Lane. May I come in?”
“Of course, Senator Lovinggood. It’s nice to see you. Please, come in and have a seat.”
“That’s all right. I won’t be staying long. I stopped by to tell you that I don’t want you to see my son anymore.”
“Senator…”
“Please, hear me out, Miss Lane.”
“Go on.”
The senator’s cold eyes bored into hers. “Richard is only seventeen, but you are twenty-two. Presumably, you are more experienced than he is. Truthfully, I blame his infatuation for you on his inexperience. Don’t take advantage of an impressionable boy, Miss Lane. Richard isn’t a toy to be used for your pleasure and then discarded. He’s being groomed for important work in the future, but if he keeps seeing you he has very little chance of winning any political office. If you care about him let him go.”
Even now she swallowed against the anger that still burned her. I was so angry I thought I might have a stroke, she thought. How dare he come to my home and try to intimidate me! Her eyes took on a faraway expression. I decided on the spot I’d never agree to the senator’s demands. I thought that seeing me wouldn’t ruin Richard’s future career. The senator only wanted to frighten me away.
She and Cathy had reached the set now. Elizabeth pasted a brilliant smile on her face, but inside where it counted she was bleeding. I changed my mind when Richard and I ended up in my bedroom kissing, touching, and undressing. I knew then that Senator Lovinggood was right. If Richard and I continued our relationship, the press would crucify both of us. While it would probably help my career, it would only hurt him. Scandal titillates the public and enhances a star’s reputation, but it’s the kiss of death for a politician.
“Psst, Elizabeth! Aren’t you listening to me?” Cathy sounded cross.
“Sorry,” Elizabeth apologized. “What did you say?”
Cathy shrugged. “It wasn’t important. What were you thinking so hard about?”
“I…ah…I was..thinking about someone I used to know.”
“Who?” Kathy asked.
Elizabeth sighed. “An old boyfriend if you really want to know. I let him go, but it almost killed me. I…don’t know if I…ever really got over it.”
“Oh, I guess everyone remembers the one who got away,” Cathy lightly answered. “You’ve got Alex now, and you guys are happy, right?”
“Yes, very happy.” And they were, but come hell or high water she intended to talk to Richard the minute this scene ended. She’d like to know what he’d done with his life. Hmm. Wonder if Senator Lovinggood still tried to control him? He didn’t look like a man who’d take kindly to his father interfering in his business.
She squared her shoulders, a look of determination on her face. After ten years she deserved a sense of closure, and she intended to get it. Then maybe she could finally close the door on the past and Richard Lovinggood.
***GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Good news, readers! Elaine has generously offered a giveaway for today! By commenting to this post before midnight EST, Monday; February 14th, you will have a chance to win a copy of Return Engagement! (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries. You must be 18 years or older to enter. One winner will be chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org and announced the morning after contest closing. Please check back in to see if you have won.)
Our Valentine's Day countdown continues today with a fellow romance author from The Wild Rose Press, Gwyneth Greer, and the heroine of her upcoming book, The Showboat Affair, Jean Kingston!
The Showboat Affair will launch from TWRP in April! Here's a sneak peek into Jean Kingston's story....
Despite over thirty years in a faithless marriage to wealthy investment broker Rand Kingston, Jean is shocked when he asks for a divorce. Encouraged by her former housekeeper-turned-best-friend, she determines to rediscover herself as an independent woman and move on with her life.
Nick Cameron, prominent attorney and long-time widower, would like to figure in her plans. The opposition of their adult children surprises them. Then, a series of chilling near misses makes them wonder who really is determined to keep them apart—and why.
Our very own Cozy correspondent, Tink, sat down with Jean earlier this week for 20 Questions with Jean Kingston! Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?
Jean: I was a shy violet in high school and college. Then I met Rand Kingston. Since he was always the first one on the dance floor, I ended up there with him. I thought I liked it. Little did I know.
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show?
Jean: The theatre let me live in my dream world when the real one got too complicated. But after I met Nick Cameron, just being with him is enough--at the theatre OR the bike show. Whatever he wants to do is fine, just so he includes me, and he always does. Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea?
Jean: I wish someone had warned me about Rand Kingston before I married him and gave up my career before it even got started. I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway, though. I was too much in love with love--and Rand’s good looks, social position, and money.
Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero?
Jean: Until I married Rand and saw him for who and what he really was, I thought he was my hero. Tall, handsome, at ease in every social situation, quick with brilliant repartee, and, of course, romantic. It took me a while to figure out that just wanting to get me into bed wasn’t anything close to romance.
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?
Jean: Nick tells me he loves me, but more than that, he shows it. He makes sure I know that my likes and desires are as important to him as his own. He thinks of my comfort and convenience. He does little things that Rand never did, like bringing me flowers for no reason. He insisted on better lighting in back of my condo for times when I came in after dark. He bought me a cell phone and programmed it for me. Supporting my new though late-blooming career, he helped me pick out a laptop and taught me how to use it. I know Nick loves me. I know Rand never did.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?
Jean: I don’t want to go back to the past, not even for a second. I find comfort in the present and looking ahead to my future with Nick. That’s all that counts. All that will ever be important to me.
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower?
Jean: Either one--especially when Nick joins me! I think I’m blushing. Nick thinks it’s cute.
Tink: Flats or high heels?
Jean: Nick is so tall that I actually need high heels, but I’m more comfortable in flats. He teases me a lot, pretending that he’s lost me ‘down below’.
Tink: Flowers or chocolate?
Jean: Nick brings me both--and he didn’t waste time finding out which were my favorites.
Tink: G-rated or unrated?
Jean: I was always a G-rated sort of girl, so how I got mixed up with an R-rated man like Rand Kingston, I don’t know.
Tink: Alpha or beta?
Jean: That’s pretty much out of my vocabulary. I’ve heard heroes in books referred to as alpha-males. I just know that I have a good solid man in Nick Cameron, and he’s all I’ll ever need. Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?
Jean: I’d never make the first move, but when Nick did--asking me out--I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
Tink: Favorite love song?
Jean: Nick and I love “Only Make Believe” from the musical Showboat. It doesn’t reflect our relationship, which is very real, but it reminds us that the second time around for both of us was slow coming and almost seemed like an unreachable dream.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in?
Jean: Nick and I would do both--go out for dinner and come home early.
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no? Jean: This isn’t part of our generation. We’re not old, but we’re definitely not like the Karaoke crowd either!
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment.
Jean: Nick took me to dinner on the showboat in Branson, Missouri. We had dinner in the private dining room, and then we walked out on deck in the moonlight. He gave me a charm bracelet with four beautiful charms symbolic of my life, and then he asked me to marry him--but only when I was ready. We went back to the hotel and said goodnight at the door of my room. Then, as he walked away, I called him back. I’m glad I did.
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts?
Jean: Nick was truly embarrassed the first time I washed his underwear! I told him I knew he wore it--but until now I didn’t know if he wore boxers or briefs. Then I laughed. He didn’t.
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?
Jean: Anything, anywhere, anytime--as long as I’m with the love of my life---Nick.
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick?
Jean: Nick and I like musicals, which usually have a wonderful, happily-ever-after romance included.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow? Jean: Nick doesn’t have a beard or a mustache, and I like him without. But waking up next to him in the morning and feeling his unshaven face against mine is definitely sexy!
Thank you, Jean, for answering Tink's intrusive questions! Readers, if you'd like to know more about Jean and The Showboat Affair, visit the website of author Gwyneth Greer...also known in the romance community as Judy Nickles, a retired teacher who has spun stories since she could hold a #2 pencil. In elementary school, when storms threatened, the teacher would send her up to the front to tell a tale, taking the other children’s minds off the weather.
After retiring four years ago, she got serious about getting published. The result was three novels with The Wild Rose Press: Where Is Papa’s Shining Star?,Finding Papa’s Shining Star, and The Showboat Affair (as Gwyneth Greer). In addition to writing, Judy enjoys traveling, doing genealogical research, and spending time with her granddaughters, Hanna and Aubrey.
And now for an excerpt from The Showboat Affair....
Jean, still wearing her gown and robe, mixed the batter for waffles while Nick washed up in the guest bath and used one of her disposable razors and leg cream to shave. “I used my finger as a toothbrush,” he said, cozying up behind her to kiss her neck.
She shivered. “Not before breakfast.”
“And not after dinner either, apparently.” He laughed.
“You’re skating a thin line.” But she laughed, too.
He put up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I need coffee.”
“It’s ready, and the waffle iron is hot, so you’ll have breakfast in a minute.”
The peal of the doorbell startled both of them. “This could look bad,” Nick said.
“Not if it’s Selina. Maybe it’s her. She went to look at some of those ice cream parlor tables I was telling you about last week.” Jean eyed him critically. “Button your shirt.”
“It’s pretty rumpled.”
“Button it anyway.” She brushed past him on her way to the door. “Maybe you should disappear.”
“Are you serious?”
Jean sighed. “No.” At the front door, she peered through the viewer and let out her breath in dismay. Juliana stood there, her jaw set, looking primed for battle. Jean unlocked the door and opened it. “What brings you here so early, Juliana?”
“I had some errands over this way. Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
Jean stepped back. “Yes, of course. Come in. I have a guest.”
Juliana’s eyebrows met her hairline. “A guest? I am interfering with your sleeping arrangements then.”
Jean made a quick decision not to defend herself. “Come in the kitchen. I’m making waffles.”
Nick rose hastily as the women walked in.
“You must be Nick Cameron,” Juliana snapped.
“Guilty.”
“My mother’s lover.”
“Juliana!” Jean felt the blood drain from her face. “How dare you!”
Nick’s eyes flashed, but his voice was courtroom courteous. “I spent the night on the sofa.”
“Of course, you did.”
His mouth twitched. “But if I’d spent it in your mother’s bed, it would have been her business, not yours.”
***GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Good news, readers! Gwyneth has generously offered a giveaway for today! By commenting to this post before midnight EST, Sunday; February 13th, you will have a chance to win a paperback or ebook edition (winner's choice) of The Showboat Affair plus an special engraved flip-top mirror! (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries. You must be 18 years or older to enter. One winner will be chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org and announced the morning after contest closing. Please check back in to see if you have won.)
Today we continue our 20 Questions countdown to Valentine's Day with women's fiction author, Lisa Lipkind Leibow, whose debut novel, Double Out and Back, is now available from Red Rose Publishing....
Not every woman who rides the fertility treatment roller coaster winds up like Octomom! Who will find friends, family, and fertility?
Three women-s lives are intricately intertwined, as Amelia Schwartz and Summer Curtis struggle with the complex dynamics of intrafamily embryo adoption, and Chandy Markum strives to make her patients- dreams a reality.
After more than a decade, of mourning her parents- deaths, anal-retentive Amelia Schwartz decides to take control of her life, pursuing single motherhood via embryo adoption. While her fertility doctor, Chandy, is preoccupied with the destruction of the cosmopolitan Cape Town of her youth and her first love in apartheid-torn South Africa, believing all is lost, her niece, a young, married, overachieving attorney Summer Curtis, juggles zealous career ambitions, demanding bosses, and friction with her husband over family and fertility issues. They must confront the painful reality that, no matter what technology humans devise to manipulate reproduction, prolong life, and construct family units, they have not yet mastered control over their beginnings and endings. Thrown all into this is one story that can make or break. Are you up to it?
Lisa Lipkind Leibow is an author of smart women’s fiction. Her novel Double Out and Back (Red Rose Publishing) takes the reader on the roller-coaster ride of infertility treatments as seen through the eyes of three women. Originally working as a lawyer, Lisa decided to trade the billable hour lifestyle for fiction writing. Winner of Pitchapalooza D.C. and an Honorable Mention in John Gardiner Award for Best Character Description, Lisa’s work has also appeared in Pisgah Review, Sanskrit Literary Arts Magazine, and Diverse Voices Quarterly. She lives and writes in Northern Virginia with her husband, three sons, two clumber spaniels, and two red-eared sliders. You can learn more about Lisa and her writing at http://www.llleibow.com/.
Our Cozy correspondent, Tink, sat down with Lisa earlier this week for an interview. Here's 20 Questions with Lisa Lipkind Leibow! Take it away, Tink....
Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?
Lisa: Not the first – but not the last, either!
Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show?
Lisa: Definitely the theater. I have season tickets to the Kennedy Center and to Shakespeare Theater. I love story telling on the stage as much as story telling on the page.
Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea?
Lisa: I never give unsolicited advice. However, if a friend asks for help I’m there!
Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero?
Lisa: This question reminds me of two things: 1. An essay I once wrote about Mammy Yokem from Li’l Abner being my hero. I touted her as the first real women’s libber for taking charge of her life. 2. The father/daughter dance at my wedding. I can still hear the song lyrics “Did you ever know you were my hero…” from Wind Beneath My Wings. My Dad is my hero, for sure!
Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?
Lisa: I think the two go hand in hand. However, I never miss a chance to say, “I love you” to those I care about.
Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?
Lisa: I have to choose? I love historical fiction but I’m a dreamer. … Hmmm… Perhaps the ability to time travel in either direction is my ideal.
Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower?
Lisa: Bubble Bath.
Tink: Flats or high heels?
Lisa: High heels – I’m actually the perfect weight for someone two inches taller than me. Heels help!
Tink: Flowers or chocolate?
Lisa: Chocolate… It’s why I need to wear heels.
Tink: G-rated or unrated? Lisa: Somewhere in between. I’m an everything in moderation kind of woman.
Tink: Alpha or beta?
Lisa: In real life? Beta. In my fictive dream? Alpha.
Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?
Lisa: Make the first move.
Tink: Favorite love song?
Lisa: I must be in a sarcastic mood, because as soon as I read that question the song, "I'm Not Going to Write You a Love Song" by Sara Bareilles popped into my head. But then I got serious and started singing "Your Body's a Wonderland" by John Maher – I love that song.
Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in? Lisa: Go out.
Tink: Karaoke: yes or no?
Lisa: Karaoke wannabe. Unfortunately, the last time I tried karaoke was at the Silken Sands Writers Conference. I requested a song and when I got up there a completely different song started playing – "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was CRAZY! I felt a Ashley Simpson on SNL! – so embarrassing).
Tink: Describe your most romantic moment.
Lisa: After I graduated from college, I was backpacking through Europe with my cousin. When she had an anxiety attack, I put her on a plane home and was left all alone. My boyfriend surprised me by joining my in Paris, where I shifted my planned “youth hostel” trip to a “Bed & Breakfast” trip. – We had such a wonderful time, I married that guy!
Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts?
Lisa: Boxer-briefs on my guy – but I don’t wear any of those types myself!
Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?
Lisa: A dream date with my husband is a gourmet dinner at a country inn, then an overnight with breakfast in the morning.
Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick?
Lisa: Romantic Comedy. I love to laugh.
Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow?
Lisa: Clean Shaven.
Thank you, Lisa, for answering all of Tink's instrusive questions! And now, readers, for you, an excerpt from Double Out and Back....
"I'm ready!" Summer sprinted from the bathroom, where she had just rinsed her mouth with her favorite cinnamon-flavored mouthwash and inserted her diaphragm. It was probably overkill, since she also wore a birth control patch, but she refused to take any chances.
Summer sped through the condo, running through rooms all lined up in a row, from the tiny antiquated bathroom through the eat-in kitchen with her grandmother's old Formica table and vinyl chairs, then past Jeremy's hideous bachelor sofa that dominated the living room. Some people called the condo a railroad flat while others called it shotgun-style. She liked the former description better; it sounded less violent. Although, she supposed, she would have a greater chance of dodging a bullet racing through her home than she would of escaping a train barreling through it.
Summer dashed past the entrance of the small study alcove off the living room and into the bedroom where Jeremy waited. She pounced on the finest mattress and linens – her and Jeremy's sole splurge.
Eagerly, she wrapped her arms and legs around Jeremy. She expected him to return her playfulness, but tonight he pulled away from their tight embrace and held her at arm's length, his hands on her shoulders. His hair, so black it looked blue, always captivated Summer. His eyes, equally alluring in their darkness, were solemn.
"We have to talk," he said.
"Now? What is it?" she asked.
Summer untangled herself from him and pulled up the patchwork quilt. Jeremy swallowed hard, but still he said nothing.
Summer said, "Tell me. It can't be that bad." She combed his dark bangs with her fingers.
He cleared his throat.
"Jeremy, tell me. You're making me nervous," she said.
"Okay," he said, "here goes." He cleared his throat again, and then said, "Summer, I've never told you that," his speech accelerated, "I'm adopted."
"What?" she asked.
"I'm adopted," he repeated. "That's why I want us to have a baby so badly."
She released a chuckle, feeling a great sense of relief. "That's your big secret? Oh, Jeremy, you had me scared out of my mind." She moved closer to him. "I was thinking, some horrible disease, or you used to be a woman," she said and then laughed, adding, "I guess I wonder, though, why you didn't tell me before."
Jeremy's face looked pale and tense. His normally sonorous voice became tinny. "I remember when I was five years old. Two neighbors from down the street, both mothers of big families. Between them they had nine children. They gossiped on the playground at my school while I was bouncing up and down on a seesaw with my friend. Maybe they didn't know I was there, but I heard them clear as anything. They were talking about a local couple planning to adopt a baby and one said, 'I would rather be childless than to adopt someone else's problem.' Problem! Can you believe it? I was only five, but I knew I was adopted. From that day on, I vowed never to tell anyone. It's none of their business."
Summer pressed her hand against Jeremy's shoulder, guiding him to rest on the bed again. He didn't budge. She kissed him and asked, "Adopted?"
"Yes," he confirmed.
"So you're telling me now? As foreplay?" she asked, laughing aloud.
Then he relaxed into a smile and said, "I know it may not seem like such a big deal, but it is to me. I really want to have a baby so I can know someone who is part of me. I want my children to feel certain they're wanted. Plus, I've never had the experience of knowing someone biologically related to me. You need to be sure, too." He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I have no idea what's in my genes. Hell, someday our kids could look like…like the jolly green giant – nothing like either one of us. You would wonder, right?" Jeremy retreated.
"That doesn't matter to me." Summer scooted closer to him. She contemplated how seriously Jeremy took this. How could he worry about this when having a child was years away? Summer felt positive she would be concerned about giving birth to a healthy baby when the time came, and not how much the baby looked like her or Jeremy.
Jeremy's confession brought them closer together. He shared with her what he believed to be his deepest, most intimate secret. Jeremy smiled, revealing clean, white teeth. The top two front teeth overlapped just enough to make him look real, not like an airbrushed GQ type. Summer's freckled nose rested against Jeremy's nose. When she looked into his eyes from that vantage point, she spied his heavy, neat eyebrows. His chin felt smooth against her chin.
Jeremy smiled. "The thought of you having my baby just thrills me. We could have a son or daughter with your gorgeous eyes, silky hair, and my golf swing; or with your long legs, my black hair and flair for logic. It's phenomenal no matter how I imagine it. Plus, whoever our baby is, that little boy or girl will be the first person biologically related to me I'll ever meet. It'll be great." He looked unsure for a moment. "Don't you think?"
Tune in tomorrow, Cozies, for more 20 Questions fun, excerpts, and giveaways!
