Bookish Indulgences: Love is in the Air

Showing posts with label Love is in the Air. Show all posts

27 February, 2020

Debdatta Dasgupta February 27, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: Love Contract by Pax Sinclair

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Love@Work Series
Book Two

Kellis Ivarsson was warned not to get her honey where she gets her money. But isn’t forbidden honey the sweetest… especially when the sweet temptations are two hunky high-tech execs at a powerful multi-national company?

Kellis could end up with an easy ride up the corporate ladder with the man of her sexy fantasies or a ruined reputation and a shattered heart. If she wants to keep her job, she must play the high-stakes corporate love game. Which man will she choose? Who would you choose?

Standalone M/F contemporary triangle work romance. Steamy, sexy, unpredictable and fun.

Interview with Pax Sinclair

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

I’ve always been fascinated by stories. As a child I loved story telling time at our local library and later would always have a stack of books I’d be reading. It wasn’t until I left school that a friend asked me to write for a local lifestyles magazine, that’s when I began to write seriously. Fiction writing started about three years ago.

What inspires you to write?

People and their complex lives. I think multilayered messy people make interesting reading.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

I was asked to contribute a short story to a writing event. The theme was ‘On the Job.’ I received positive feed back on the story and decided to do a series of romances centered around the work place. I created the series Love@work. Trinal is the short story I submitted to the event. It’s book one of the series and an erotic piece. The following books in the series are steamy romances

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

Yes, I wrote a dark romance called Nights without Grace that I released as a serial on a writing site. I have since taken it down. I still have fans that ask me to finish that story. I think at the time the project was too ambitious for my budding writing skills, but I plan to take a look at it again after the Love@work series is completed.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

In Love Contract my favorite scenes are with Kellis and Kurt in Las Vegas. They are funny, sexy and cute.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

Not in Love Contract, but in Someone Like You, book one of the Sweet and Sultry series, Emma doesn’t like meeting celebrities. Yes, that’s one of my many quirks. Her explanation in the book is the same as mine.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know if this a writing quirk, but right now I seem to be stuck on writing triangle romances. I love them. You get two hunky men for the price of one.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

JA Hass. I love her male characters and she can really bring the erotic and sexy. I listen to her books and they always inspire me. Indie writers like LL Ash, for contemporary romance. I love fantasy and Sci-fi and read MB Saul and Pearl Tate
Historical romance Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple, (she also did a series of cop romances). All are really wonderful indie writers that blow me away.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

Read good books. They will teach you the rhythm of writing.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Write, publish repeat. Your voice and confidence get stronger with every book.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?

That’s a good question. When I was working on character descriptions for Love Contract, I used Armie Hammer for Matt Westmore and Jason Lewis for Kurt Heinrich. I found some Getty Images of Jason in his early 30’s where he has short blond hair. I also think model Jason Morgan has the right look for Kurt too. I never found a picture of Kellis.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

I work for a big corporation in Silicon Valley where all of my romance stories are set. I write under a pen name. My author photo is always body parts, for now. I interview authors for my YouTube channel. Sorry, I think that was more than three.

What do you have in store next for your readers?

I’m working on book three, Work Spouse, of the Love@work series. Kellis’ sister Chloe has been spun off into her own story. It’s a love triangle with a billionaire, rising star politician and a hunky fireman. The tentative launch date of April 2020. There are two more books planned for this series.: Working Girl and Like a Boss.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

Contact me. I’ll always talk about my work; welcome input and suggestions. I also want to know what you love about romance.

About the Author:

Author's Amazon Page

Pax Sinclair is a contemporary romance writer and the author of two series, Sweet and Sultry and Love@work. Her stories are set in the high-power tech world of Silicon Valley. She writes about real life in the valley from billionaire tech moguls to city workers. Her books are funny, quirky, always steamy and sometimes erotic. Pax lives and works in Silicon Valley. She’s a California native.

Pax on the Web:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube

Debdatta Dasgupta February 27, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: Art & Grace by @CathEChapman

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Bristol, England, in the early Nineteenth Century. The slave trade has been abolished but slavery itself has not yet been outlawed.

Bess, a young woman of mixed heritage, has an ambiguous position in the home of the once-eminent Liston family. Raised and educated alongside the family’s children, Richard and Artemisia, she has been increasingly confined to the role of a domestic servant since the death of Joshua Liston, the household’s head.

When Richard Liston instigates an introduction between Captain Adam Bryce, a Royal Naval officer of repute, and his sister, Artemisia, Adam shows greater interest in Bess. Pressed by Artemisia to stalk Adam, Bess’s problems begin. And when the ailing matriarch, Elizabeth Liston, presents Bess with an impossible choice, the weaving of a web of deceit commences that will ultimately push Bess and Artemisia’s friendship to the brink.

As the scene shifts to rural Somerset, things are far from serene: Sebastian Weston, occupant of the grand Milton Abbey, means to hold both Bess and Artemisia in his thrall. Rivalries ensue, the bond between Artemisia and Bess being strained by their allegiances to the men in their lives.

Charting the turbulent waters of family commitments and amorous liaisons, it’s hard to fathom who to trust and whom to love.

Read an Excerpt from Art & Grace

The steps didn’t need cleaning that morning but Richard insisted they be cleaned, stipulating that Hannah should do it; no doubt knowing I would intervene. It was a task that would ordinarily have fallen to Esther but Richard had assigned the housemaid to dressing his sister – a role that, formerly, was mine and I regarded it as a pleasure rather than a duty. So, despite my knowledge that it flew in the face of the express wish of Mrs Liston –and my awareness that Richard, too, knew his mother’s mind– I scrubbed the steps.

The morning was a fine one in late April. Not a cloud could be seen in the skies above the City of Bristol as I emerged through the front door of the large, terraced house, carrying my pail. We –and by that I mean the women of the household– knew all too well the need to maintain appearances now that we resided at an address that did not in itself confer the highest level of respectability (though Mrs Liston detested this necessity). Setting down the pail and placing on the step beside it the old cushion that Hannah urged me to use to spare my knees, I knelt down and took up my brush. There was satisfaction to be found in domestic work and I had no desire to hear the lecture that Richard was delivering to his younger sister in the parlour.

I’d been working about the house a lot lately, in large part to distract myself from fretting about a future that appeared far less certain than it had little more than a year ago. Mrs Liston protested if she saw me. In response, I would placate her, careful not to allude too openly to Hannah’s increasing unfitness for physical labour, lest Richard should overhear and cite my words as grounds for dismissal.

My mind awash with concerns, I progressed from the top, backwards, down the seven steps that led from the street to the front door. When I was but two steps from the pavement, my contemplation was interrupted by a heavy boot that crushed the ends of the fingers I had spread at my side. I shrieked.

‘Forgive me,’ I heard a man say and, in a moment, he stooped to enter my field of vision. Although, turning my head, I couldn’t see his features at once because the morning sun shone directly into my eyes. ‘Are you hurt?’ he pursued as I got to my feet. Knowing instantly who he was, I was surprised by the sincerity in his voice.

‘I will live,’ I replied, examining my left hand. Having been able to see his face, I had witnessed the most handsome man I had ever beheld: brown hair but diamond-blue eyes and the clearest of complexions. He was tall; little taller than myself but he would tower over Artemisia.

‘If you will permit me, Miss,’ he said, taking hold of my hand and scrutinising the tips of my fingers.

I was aware of the dark hue of the back of my hand and of his hands, sun-bleached by comparison. They felt assuredly warm against my own chilled flesh. ‘Really, it’s nothing,’ I insisted, fearing his attentiveness was occasioned by my difference rather than my injury.

‘I can only apologise again,’ he said, looking up from my hand and into my eyes, with just a hint of the smile with which I would become so well-acquainted.

‘There’s no need, Sir,’ I replied, shaking my head in what was, perhaps, an attempt to appear bashful.

By then it had already happened.

About the Author:

Catherine E. Chapman is a UK-based author of women's fiction and contemporary and historical romantic fiction.

Some of Catherine's longer works have been described as accessible character fiction; humour is often an important ingredient.

Catherine's historical romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century. Her seven short historical romances are available individually and in digital and print anthologies.

Catherine's latest book is 'Art & Grace,' a romantic novel set in Regency England. It is available on Kindle, enrolled in Kindle Unlimited and also available in print from Amazon and other retailers.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 February, 2020

Debdatta Dasgupta February 26, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: Heart of the Matter by @RuthACasie

About the Book:

Digging into the past can be murder.

Addison Moore, a well-known psychiatrist is having difficulty coming to terms with the death of her grandmother Cookie. The woman was everything to her after her parents died in the plane crash over Lockerbie, Scotland. Little did Addy know that an old picture, tucked away in the family bible of Cookie with a handsome stranger would lead her to a discovery for which she is little prepared.
Ethan Taylor is an art historian. He’s lived with his Great Uncle Ben for a long time and would do anything for him. He never anticipated that Ben’s dying wish would introduce him to Ben’s biggest sacrifice.
Neither Addy nor Ethan are prepared for the lengths at which their families went through to keep Cookie and Ben apart. As they try to put the pieces together they uncover a decade’s old unsolved murder implicating Cookie and Ben. Will Addy and Ethan’s blossoming love be able to stand the strain of finding the truth? Will they be able to overcome their own matters of the heart?

Read an Excerpt from Heart of the Matter

“Ina’s not here, but he is.” Ryan motioned out the window to a gentleman standing by the family cemetery. “Which is why I’m still here. He didn’t say much, just asked to speak to Cookie. I told him he missed the funeral and let him go to the cemetery.”

“Who is he?” Addy asked, looking out the window and scrutinizing the man.

“I wish I knew. One of Cookie’s more handsome and younger patients, perhaps? I’ll stay until he leaves.”

“No. You go on. I’ll thank him for his condolences.”

Ryan left. Addy headed for the cemetery. From her vantage point coming down the patio steps and across the lawn, the man appeared respectful and intriguing. By the time she reached the cemetery, her pace slowed and her bluster cooled. Maybe she should have asked Ryan to stay. Too late now. Besides, he piqued her curiosity. She waited at the gate to give him time alone with his thoughts, and to study him.

He appeared out of place, the way he held his six-foot frame with his hands clasped in front, his head bowed. His dark brown hair ruffled by the breeze coming off the cove reminded her of rich soil, almost black in the shadows. The angles of his face were pleasant to look at and familiar, but she couldn’t place him. He raised his head. A soft gasp escaped her as their eyes met. His were a beautiful, compelling gray, gentle and understanding.

“I’m Addison Moore. Can I help you?” She came through the gate toward him.

“I’m too late.” The man examined her face as if searching for an answer, then lowered his head.

“Did you know my grandmother?” Addy had an urge to put her arms around him, console him. She had similar urges dealing with her grandmother’s patients and steeled herself to remain neutral.

“I have a letter to give to Cookie. I hoped to meet her.”

“A letter?” Her fascination with the handsome stranger evaporated into cold facts. Who was he and what did he want?

“No. I mean yes, sort of.” The man shook his head. “Let me start over. My great-uncle gave me a picture before he passed away with a message to Cookie on the back. Since I had a meeting in Newport and Havenport is so close, I thought I would hand deliver a photo.”

He ran his hand through his hair and looked at her.

“My uncle planned to send the letter, but never did. I thought…” He laughed nervously and handed her the envelope. “It sounded like a good plan at the time. This is the only clue I had, his note on the envelope, Cookie, Havenport, RI.”

She took the envelope and with one glance recognized the doctor scrawl. With butterflies in her stomach and her head buzzing with questions, Cookie’s voice echoed in her head. Destiny.

About the Author:

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/ marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

Ruthie on the Web:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debdatta Dasgupta February 26, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: Perfect by @llucasauthor

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

One ordinary day.
Eighty-five missed calls.
Fifteen voicemails.
Seventy-five texts.
And at that moment Chloe knew that her world was about to come crashing down.

There’s nothing more freeing than pressing the reset button on your life.
When romance writer Chloe Jennings moves to Nashville she uses the opportunity to leave behind her introverted, co-dependent ways and push herself out of her comfort zone. After spending most of her adult life relying on boyfriends for love and attention, she gave herself a single rule in her path to self-discovery.
No men for three hundred and sixty-five days.

Dylan Holt is a six-foot, tattooed, brown-eyed distraction Chloe didn’t need.
Everywhere Chloe went, Dylan was there. The further she pushed him away, the closer it pulled them together.
And in her path to find herself, she found something more.

But when tragedy strikes, will Chloe lose her chance at a happily ever after before it even began?

Read an Excerpt from Perfect

“Are there bears around here?” she asks in all seriousness.

“Probably.”

She looks at me, not knowing if she should believe me or not. I’ve never seen a bear here, but the cabin is pretty secluded in a forest. There are few more cabins, but they’re on the other side of the lake and I’m guessing they’re usually empty.

“What do I do if one comes up to me?”

“I don’t think they’ll just come and say hi to you. They’re not dogs. They’ll just lunge at you and eat you,” I say nonchalantly.

“That’s not funny! I’ve seen videos of them opening doors and fridges. They’re very smart.”

“Do you want me to stay out here with you? I can sit on the other side of the porch on my laptop while you write here. This way if bears come they’ll get me first.”

“What if they come from this side?” She looks over, trying to see behind her.

“Then you die first.”

“Should have bought bear spray,” she mumbles while she adjusts the blankets and pillows I brought out for her on the porch swing.

“Chloe?”

“Hmmm?” She doesn’t look up from her laptop.

“If a bear comes on your side I’ll run and save you in time.” I falsely reassure her. As much as I would love to save Chloe, there’s probably no way I’d be fast enough. Can’t believe we’re still going on about the bears. It’s not something that even remotely crossed my mind today. Or any other time I’ve been here.

“Thank you.” She looks up at me and smiles.

I take my laptop and my notebook and get comfortable on the porch swing on the other side of the door. I intentionally lie diagonally across the swing so I have a nice view of her over my laptop because I really love watching her face when she writes. I don’t know if writing face is a thing, but she has the cutest one. I can see her feeling the emotions she’s putting down. My favorite is when she sweetly smiles at the screen when she writes something she’s proud of. She got stuck into her writing right away, and I spent the hour pretending to do things on my laptop while I watched her.

As the sky slowly gets brighter and the sun starts rising Chloe looks away from her laptop more and more. When the lake becomes visible enough she puts on her boots and one of the blankets around herself.

“I’m going to get a closer look.”

“Just be careful. Two of my little cousins died when the alligator came up really fast.” I try really hard to keep a straight face even when she’s frowning at me with her mouth half open.

“You’re lying.” She squints at me.

“It was even worse when my aunt Betty tried to save them and these bears ran right towar—”

“Dylan, that’s not funny.” She tightens the blanket around her shoulders and walks to the lake. I’m glad I stayed on the porch because the view from here is so perfect I had to grab my phone to take a photo. The sky is now reflecting off the lake, with the only thing standing out being Chloe’s silhouette. She watched the sunrise and I watched her.

About the Author:

Leila Lucas is a bookworm from Melbourne, Australia. She’s a wife and a mom to a feline fur baby, Panda. When she’s not reading or writing she can be found binge watching true crime shows, doing crosswords or cooking. And when she does leave the house she’s usually at the gym, shopping or looking for cats to pat.

Find Leila on the Web:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

25 February, 2020

Debdatta Dasgupta February 25, 2020 0

#CharacterInterview :: Welcome to New York by @lua__ferraz

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Harry has a secret.
He led a well-planned life and knew exactly what he wanted. Until...
Something chased him away from his hometown in England. He arrives in New York wishing to erase his past, eager for a fresh start. A new life. Everybody here was someone else before.

Alana has a secret.
She left her small town in the Midwest chasing a dream. She arrives in New York determined to see her name flashing in bright lights on Broadway billboards. Everybody here wanted something more.
She was on the right path, but then...

When Harry and Alana meet, they recognize each other’s scars. They bond over the things they don’t say. They find comfort in long silences. But as they learn how to deal with life’s plot twists, they find out the Big Apple has its own plans for them.
For how long can they hide? How long can they keep everyone else at a distance? How long until their past catches up with their present?
Their lives are about to get irreversibly intertwined.

Meet Alana and Harry from Welcome to New York

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Alana: Oh my God, what is a free day? I haven’t had one in so long! I’d probably just sleep the whole day. Another thing I haven’t done in a while.
Harry: Go out with the family, take them to the park. Remember when Juliet was little and we used to do that all the time?
Alana: Yeah, I loved those days. Can I change my answer?

If you could spend the day with someone you admire (living or dead or imaginary), who would you pick?

Alana: I feel like Stephen Sondheim is the mandatory answer for anyone in my line of business—which doesn’t make it fake or untrue. I’d love to have a chat with Idina Menzel, as well, for obvious reasons. Also, Lin-Manuel Miranda! I’d love to work with him someday.
Harry: My mother.
Alana: *holds his hand and squeezes it*

What is your idea of perfect happiness? And, what is your current state of mind?

Alana: The nights when I get home from work and they’re already asleep, I have a chance to assess how lucky I am. I think happiness is in those quiet moments of reflection.
Harry: I can’t top that answer. I’ll just add that I’m happy when we’re all awake and get to spend quality time together.
Alana: *blushes and laughs*

What do you consider to be the most overrated virtue and why?

Alana: Hmmm, difficult question. I wouldn’t say any virtue is overrated in the current state of the world. It’s so hard to find the most basic ones, like respect and empathy.
Harry: Can I answer what I think is the most underrated one? Forgiveness.

Tell us 3 things about yourself that the readers do not know about.

Alana: I have a secret bookstagram account, I taught myself to speak French, and I’ve been to Disneyland three times when I was a child.
Harry: I’m left-handed, I’m an amateur photographer, and I don’t like milk in my tea.
Alana: What? Fake Brit detected!
Harry: What can I say? New York really changed me.

About the Author:

Luana Ferraz is a Brazilian writer and translator. She currently lives in São Paulo, but her mind wanders everywhere. She's graduated in translation and interpretation and has been working in this area for years. She loves translation, as for her it is nothing more than reinterpreting stories, but her greatest passion is telling stories of her own. Luana has been writing and creating stories for as long as she can remember. Her first creative work was a series of comics on a thief that wore a beanie and always ended up in jail. She was seven years old. As a teenager, she started writing poems and even music - the quality of which was very questionable. She discovered fanfiction and ventured in that a little bit, until she found out how to create her own characters. She is usually found wearing headphones and typing - in her notebook, phone or just writing down an idea on the Disney-themed notepad she keeps in her purse. She is probably writing right now.

Luana on the Web:
Twitter * Instagram

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debdatta Dasgupta February 25, 2020 0

#AuthorInterview :: Beautiful Collision by @MsToriAlvarez

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

They are both running from their family legacies…

Raised on the wrong side of town with a mother who fell for every man with money, Toni refuses to fall for a pretty face. Her mom did a great job of showing her men were only good for heartbreak. She will depend on no man to be her knight in shining armor. They are only a means to an end to escape the life she is destined to live if she does not claw her way out.

Due to inherit his dad’s cattle empire, Garrett trusts no woman. They fall all over him to get closer to his last name and money. He is searching for his equal—one he can care for but who is able and willing to do it on her own.

Neither of them is honest about their pasts or families. One is looking for true love and the other is avoiding it at all costs. Will this cowboy be able to soften her hardened heart?

An Interview with Toni Alvarez

When did I realize I wanted to be a writer?

To be honest I’m not sure. The idea had come and gone for several years. In my 20’s I wanted to write children’s books, but did not know an illustrator. I had many thoughts and stories, but didn’t know how to make them come to fruition. Then one day while I was waiting for my daughter at practice I decided to start writing. And now here we are.

How did you come up with your current story?

I’m a school counselor so I meet a variety of people and students. I met this mom many, many years ago. She was so self involved and absent for her kids. I then created a story for a child who makes it despite who her mother is. It’s kind of weird how I got inspiration for the leading lady from a minor secondary character.

Tell us about your writing process.

I don’t have one. For my first two books I let the story and characters lead me. My current work in progress I have made a loose outline and am following it, but I’m still in the beginning so I don’t know where it will lead me. I usually have big scenes I know will happen throughout so the rest of the story flows between those events.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

Yes. Sophia in Naïve in Love has my personality. I am a true introvert and most of my best friends have had bigger than life personalities. When I was younger I would be envious of their ease in social situations. It took many years learning to be comfortable & confident with myself.

Do you read? Who are your favorite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

I am an avid reader. I tend to read mostly romance, but love a good thriller too. I have many favorite authors. Colleen Hoover influenced me to start wriing. I read an interview with her where she talked about how she began writing at her boys practices. I decided to use that time in the same way. I love Rebecca Donovan. Her Breathing Series sucked me in. I aspire to write those heartfelt, suspenseful, tear jerker scenes. I think everyone has their own style. Their own voice. You can aspire to be able to evoke emotion, but I think the style will always be all your own.

What is the best piece of advice you would give someone that wants to get int writing?

I would say it would be to write. Sit down and get the words out. It may not be good at first, but that’s when you can go in and begin polishing. So many get stuck with planning or researching so the words never get written. Also, hire an editor. I learned this one the hard way.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Travel the Greek Isle. I love to travel and explore new cities and countries. Many of the things on my bucket list revolve around travelling.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

a. 1. I am a wine lover. My husband and I love to try new and different wines. I have travelled to the Napa Valley to explore different vineyards. I also live about an hour away from the Texas Wine Trail (Highway 290). We are wine members at a vineyard there so we head up there a few times a year.
b. 2. Keanu Reeves has said my name in his movies. First and last name in two separate movies. In A Walk in the Clouds he screams ‘Victoria’. Then in Point Break he speaks in his walkie talkie before they raid the drug house, ‘Alvarez, Alvarez’. It’s silly, but I always get excited thinking about it. And yes, he is my celebrity crush and has been for many, many years.
c. 3. I am a Cheer Mom. My daughter (my only child) is an All Star Cheerleader, so that means I am chauffeur to all practices and competitions. January began Nationals season, all the biggest competitions, so I have been running around like crazy. And February holds two more out of town competitions.

About the Author:

Tori is the author of Naïve in Love, her debut novel, and Beautiful Collision her newest release. She is a Texas girl, born and raised, but living in many different cities/towns within the great state.

Tori is a high school counselor by day and writer/reader by night. After many, many years of daydreams/mini made up movies floating through her head, she began to write them down. A full novel was written with two scenes she envisioned. Tori is also an avid reader. Romance reads are the preferred genre, but thriller/suspense come in a close second.

Her life is full with a wonderful husband, teen daughter, a yorkie named Becca and cat named Samantha. Traveling and wine tasting are two of her favorite things.

Toni Alvarez on the Web:
Website * Instagram * Facebook * Twitter

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

24 February, 2020

Debdatta Dasgupta February 24, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: The Icon @carlagolian

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

One day Victoria comes across a book “La Très Sainte Pyramide”. Her world turns upside down as disbelief and intrigue grasp her; the author is none other than the legendary ascended master, The Count of Saint Germain, and it is a new publication. How could it be possible for the three centuries old alchemist to have published a book? Mysteriously she becomes compelled and obsessed with this book of the master’s alchemical great work and has to get to the bottom of it. She journeys through Paris to hopefully find the alchemist. In Paris, a love story begins.

Read an Excerpt from The Icon

VICTORIA BELL was on her bed reading, when she felt a strange sensation, a faint pulse tingling on her wrists simultaneously. She thought nothing of it, and continued reading. She was on her second read through “La Très Sainte Pyramide”. The sensations in her palms and wrists intensified, and she felt the soles of her feet begin to pulse. Alarmed, she placed the book on the night stand, and examined her hands. The vibrations were intensifying from both extremities, and slowly, they spread to all her body. Shocked, she coiled down onto the bed; scared, and overwhelmed. A deep throb was pulsating through her body. It was a sweet ache, and an unbearably intense pain. Something she had never felt before. She was trying to stay calm, and in control of the situation, but she was powerless against the force. Her eyes were tearing, and she was groaning from the intense vibrations. It was pain and ecstasy at the same time. An invisible force had consumed her. She sobbed, and wailed, until the pain became so intense that she could not bear it anymore, and she passed out, into an ecstatic limbo, out of reality, but not in a dream. She could not be sure how long she was out for, when she came to. She opened her eyes, and looked around the room for a sign. She was still in a state of shock. The aroma of flowers lingered in the air. She took a deep breath—Gardenias and Violets. As a landscape designer, she knew flowers like the back of her hand. She took another breath of the sweet aroma, and closed her eyes. Stigma? Is this stigmata? Victoria was not particularly religious, but her belief in God was unquestionable, and prayer, a habit. Not out of obligation, it was the special bond she had with God, where she shared not only her deepest secrets, pains, and pleads of mercy, but usually of love and compassion, for the existence of her miraculous God.

About the Author:

Writing poetry was a love while I was growing up, and writing short stories got me through my teenage years. I rekindled my love for writing when I wrote the script to a short comedy “Don’t Gag Me” which I produced and star in under my stage name Carolena Sabah. The film is about a dental hygienist who turns dominatrix in a nervous patient’s fantasy. It’s a fun and clean 9-minute comedy. When I won the Experimental Witch Film Competition, based on the book “The Witch of Portobello”, I got to meet Paulo Coelho. Our meetings inspired my first publication “Dreams of Love: A Book of Poems and Short Stories”. The Icon is my latest occult romance fiction.

Carla on the Web:
Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debdatta Dasgupta February 24, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: The Broken Bridge by Sonali Bhattacharya - @sb72

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Dorothy, the retired mathematics teacher of a girl's school, passes away one fine morning. Her favourite students from the village in Junput--Aparna (Apu) and Preetam (Preet) come forward to organize an event in her memory. Years back, Apu and Preet had parted ways in the backdrop of a hostile situation. Many relationships were broken overnight. One of them was theirs. They chose different paths in life. Success and failure came their way in various shapes and forms. They had nothing in common, except the abandoned memories. The day Dorothy's solicitor, Mr Ray, read her will, the status quo of their broken relationship was challenged. Midlife is more vulnerable than teenage. Preet and Apu tried solving a new problem in their lives. Did Dorothy, their lifetime coach, teach them enough?

Read an Excerpt from The Broken Bridge

“Your wife is afraid.” The unknown fisherman laughed looking at her. “Take her to a safe place.” Saying so, he started walking. It had started raining. She held his hand and pulled him back to the car. She ensured it was all locked and was about to start the car when he said, “Stop”.

“Don’t you want to hear me sing?”

They looked at each other as lightning struck in the air. It was frightening. Nature was wild and the unrest in the minds were even greater. The brilliant flashes tempted them to burn out the unattended corner of their minds. There was no smoke, no ashes but the flames leaped in excitement that was unseen.

The hungry minds met their destiny walking in the rain together. They sat motionless in the closed car for an hour watching the dance of nature. And the storm passed by…

She broke the silence.

“Would you like to have some sandwich?”

“No. Have been in that state for long.” He said in a sarcastic tone. Happiness left him, but his wits stayed back!

The storm had settled and he slowly rolled down the windows of the car. Drops of water sprayed in and the car was full of wet, fresh air. It had the smell of unsaid love and indebted friendship. He started singing. Apu closed her eyes and kept hearing the lost voice. He sang an eternal love song that binds man and nature. That was his obituary to their coach. His rendition instilled hope. The harmony had just settled in the car. She was waiting for an opportune moment.

“Did you ask your wife why she mistrusts you?”

“Why do you want to spoil the mood?”

“You need to know, else you will never find back the melody in your life,” she stated boldly.

“She is looking for you!” he shared the secret.

“Me?” she was taken aback.

“Yes!”

“Why me?”

“The year I meet you in the hotel, some stories were created and scoops published. It had duly reached her. She had asked me who was it. I didn’t share.”

“But why?”

“Not sure, Apu.”

She looked at him with a strange look. “This is being unfair to her.” Beautiful Apu was visibly upset.
Her eyes had anger and anguish.

“Was it fair to me when my parents uprooted me to the city?”

“I am no one to judge.”

“Then why are you judging today?”

“It is disgraceful that I caused someone’s agony and for no valid reason!”

“Did you ever miss me, Apu?” The tough conversation collapsed.

“Why are you silent?”

“Anjali aunty was unhappy with me before she left the village. It would be very unfortunate if your
wife too suffered on account of me. I am devastated to know your wife is divorcing you for me!”
“That was not the answer. Did you ever miss me?” Preetam re-emphasized.

“Let’s leave for the city.” She ignored his request once more.

“No,” he protested.

“Forget what my wife thinks. You play your flute.”

He had to hold on to her hands to stop her. Her throat was dry and her mind was on fire. “I can’t play music with a troubled mind.”

“And I need you to play it for me to be out of this trouble in my mind.”

Nature around had calmed down. The rain was over. The wet sand looked at the partially clouded sky that was clearing up. She unzipped her bag and brought out a sleek flute box. He kept watching her. She breathed in and out to warm up. He felt the warmth in the closed door of the car.

It was a soft start. Harmony transformed into hypnotic bliss. She kept playing with no break. He closed his eyes as he drowned in the serenity. Her playing the flute was a therapy to unwind from
struggles of life. Her breath engulfed him in love and deep spirit within. It was nine when she finally ended. His eyes were closed and tears kept rolling. She took a long breath and looked at him with pain in her eyes. The thin line of kajal was still glowing in dark. Their feelings met in the confluence of music. They stood for some more time on the beach feeling the cold breeze. They listened to many unsaid words and celebrated in silence on the wet sand of Junput. And then finally she broke the silence.

“Take me to your wife. I will settle your differences,” she said in a choking voice.

“No Apu. I need some privacy in life that I hate to share.” Saying so he put his hand on hers and closed his eyes in gratitude to have kept her promises.

“Life tricked me!” He said with a sarcasm in his voice.

“Don’t judge your life on the basis of lost moments. Let’s trace our way back to the city,” she remarked in a calm voice.

She shifted the gear into drive and the car started rolling. She played a few soulful songs on her way
back. He lay in silence watching the dark sky which started glittering with stars after a while. He thought he would have many things to say—all that he failed to share years back. It was strange that melody of her flute had reminded him about the intelligent girl from the ashram and Sandy’s profound joy singing a duet with his father in the green valleys of the hill. She drove nonstop. Songs of renowned singers filled in the air to mend the broken bridges in the conditioned car.

About the Author:

Sonali Bhattacharya graduated from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 1994. She lives in the city of joy and presently works in an IT multinational company. Twenty-five years of work-life gave her exposure to many individuals and their lives. Influence of good teachers, and subsequently mentors, plays a key role in everyone’s life. Good coaches, who play the role of a teacher—and often a mentor—are rare. She firmly believes that as the complexities of worldly life are growing, we need more coaches who positively influence life—more so in midlife when complexities are of high order and there is dearth of a guiding star. Apart from writing, she is keen on coaching young and old to deal with the social changes that are rapidly engulfing our world. Assisting the older generation with nuances of digital world and exploring psychological needs of people around have been her special areas of interest in the last few years. She feels both are key skills to bridge the distance of human minds, in the world that we live in.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

23 February, 2020

Debdatta Dasgupta February 23, 2020 0

#Interview with @preethivenu, #Author of My Warmest Sorrow

Something Old, Something New
- A DRA Production

Check out the Book on Amazon

Seven bestselling authors. Seven incredible second chance romances. One epic anthology.

What would you do for another chance with the one you love?

Something Old, Something New - a unique novella anthology - tries to answer this question with fantastic, different, desi dramas.

Whether it is shapeshifters or shifting interracial relationships, single moms in small towns or rich alpha heroes, friends-to-lovers or passionate ex-husbands; this anthology has something for everyone.

Something Old, Something New explores the many different facets of love, forgiveness, fated mates and more in seven, distinctly Indian tales!

My Warmest Sorrow by Preethi Venugopala

What would you do when you come face to face with your past?

When Ajay, now an IAS officer, is added into his college WhatsApp group, he is welcomed warmly by all his classmates. Except by Diana.

Diana is still living with the repercussions of what had happened in the past. She is thrown into despair by Ajay's presence in the group.

Diana and Ajay were inseparable while in college. Their relationship had transitioned from being best friends to love overnight. But then fate had intervened in the form of Diana's tyrant father who had separated them ruthlessly.

Five years of silence has created a wall of sorrow between them. Their interactions in the class WhatsApp group are nothing like what they once used to be. Every moment is churning out more anguish and unpleasantness.

How much have they changed?

Is love still hiding underneath their public facades?

What are the lies they are hiding?

Interview with Preethi Venugopala

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

Actually, I didn’t realize it until I got my first short story published. I liked the feeling of being a storyteller. I liked the way words made me feel. I loved how a story that was just a vague idea became a solid entity.

What inspires you to write?

Inspiration doesn’t always come from the same source. Sometimes it comes to me through a song. Yet another time, a real-life incident can trigger it. The idea for my debut novel, in fact, came to me via a dream.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

My novella in ‘Something Old, something new’ was inspired by a viral social media post which really pissed me off. In that a girl was being openly booed for speaking her mind and refusing to marry the guy her parents had chosen for her.

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

Yes. A few actually. I might soon dust them up and give them a new lease of life.

Tell us about your writing process.

I am a disciplined writer when I am in my element. Many of my recent books were written within a short period of time. I use a separate keyboard for my laptop and I love to hear the click-clack of the keys as my fingers tap the keys. It gives me a strange sort of satisfaction watching the words come to life on screen.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

My favorite scene from my novella ‘My warmest sorrow’ is when Diana realizes that Ajay, her ex-lover, is the new member added into their class WhatsApp group. She drops her phone and is overwhelmed by the emotions which she had bottled up for years. Then as memories begin to flow, she gathers the lost courage and decides to face reality. I loved writing about her trauma and her quiet courage.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

In every story I write, bits and pieces of me exist. I am a lot like Diana. I jump into decisions quickly and then suffer in silence because of it. I am also like Ajay who finds it hard to let go of the past even though it had given him nothing but pain.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I don’t write ‘The End’ till I finish editing my final draft. That is a quirk, isn’t it? 😊

Do you read? Who are your favorite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

I read a lot. Julia Quinn and Judith McNaught are my favorite authors. I like how they make their characters relatable even though they write historical romance. I try to think how they would have handled such a situation if the scene I am writing was their creation and attempt writing it. Most of the time, it works like magic.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

“You write from your heart, that is what makes your stories unique.” Anita Nair ma’am told me that.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Take up writing as a career only if you love the written word. Don’t turn to writing for any other reason.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?

Haha. Just a few hours before writing this, I had shared the pics of the star couple who had inspired my character sketch. Dulquer Salman and his wife Amal. Definitely Dulquer Salman will have to play Ajay if a movie is made out of the story and Shraddha Kapoor looks a lot like my Diana.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?

Water, a few bags of muesli and my kindle.

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?

I like reading books or going for a long walk in nature when I am free. I also love walking under the moonlit sky on our apartment terrace.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to visit Sedona. I have heard that the place has a unique vibe.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

1) I love talking to myself in front of the mirror. I use this to boost myself up when I am feeling down.

2) I never ever follow recipes. I am a pro at winging stuff.

3) I love Mishti Doi and often get up in the middle of the night to raid the fridge.

What do you have in store next for your readers?

I am working on a spin -off from the Sravanapura royals and another independent novel. Don’t know which I would complete next.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

I started writing ‘My Warmest Sorrow’ while I was going through a personally traumatic time when I had begun to question everything in my life. Whatever Diana does in the story with the help of her counsellor was exactly what I did to come out of the trauma. Namely meditation and freewriting. The story is hence a reflection of my transformation as well.

About the Author:

Author's Amazon Page

Preethi Venugopala stepped into the world of words during a sabbatical from her hectic civil engineering job after the birth of her son. She began as a blogger and wrote fiction to pass time. Her debut novel ‘Without You’ came out in 2015 and was received well. She was then mentored by eminent author Anita Nair at her writing platform ‘Anitas Attic’ in 2016. Since then, she has published 7 novels on Amazon and more than 15 short stories in various anthologies and platforms.

Giveaway:
First Prize - A Kindle
Second Prize - 6 Months Kindle Unlimited Subscription

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debdatta Dasgupta February 23, 2020 0

#Spotlight :: Cooking Up Romance by Lynne Marshall

About the Book:

Check out the Book on Amazon

Food isn’t the only way to this single dad’s heart…

Lacy was a redhead with a pink food truck who prepared mouthwatering meals. Hunky construction manager Zack Gardner agreed to let her feed his hungry crew in exchange for cooking lessons for his young daughter. But it looked like the lovely businesswoman was transforming the single dad’s life in more ways than one—since a family secret was going to change both of their lives in ways they never expected.

Read an Excerpt from Cooking Up Romance

That last afternoon they’d spent together, Emma had confessed she’d wished Lacy could be her mother. That had been part of what caused Lacy to run. Brushing Emma’s hair had also rattled Lacy, the fact that she was growing closer and closer to the child. Zack, of course, was the main reason for her pulling back, because getting in too deep with him was scary enough. Her mantra was, she lost what she loved. Life had proved it. But then when Emma made her wish out loud, the picture of a happy family became complete. Was that dream possible?

The battle continued from losing her mom so early, then Greg, and most recently, her father. It made her want all the more to find a blood family again. If one even existed. To belong to something. If they did exist, it might help balance the void she’d carried around all her life, and help her heal. Then, for once and for all she could pursue that happily-ever-after dream Zack hinted at. Yes, having it all was possible.

With her knees knocking over the thought, Lacy knew she wasn’t ready.

The question remained, would she ever be?

Falling in love with Zack had started in motion the derailing of her guarded heart, and two nights ago he’d so much as admitted he loved her, too. His confession had felt like a train wreck at the time. More than she could bear. Now, with distance between them, frozen in place over trying to find a long-lost relative, along with two days of loneliness, soul-searching and some clearing of her mind, his words were hard to believe. Had he really said I love you while they were dancing, or had she imagined it? And since he’d said those words, the biggest question was, why had she let him go?
Not ready, remember, stupid? Besides, he’d sung them not said them.

The tired excuse bugged her. Why was she so needy? A coward? Dad would be so disappointed.
More pacing ensued, with the addition of nail and cuticle biting. When she drew blood, she assumed she deserved it.

Lacy forced herself to sit again and pick up the crocheting, hoping her bloody fingernails wouldn’t stain the yarn. She’d never been more tired in her life. Tired of letting negative emotions run roughshod over her. Tired of being afraid of what life was supposed to be about. But didn’t she have some control over allowing that little girl to lose another person, a person Emma saw as a mommy figure? And what about Zack, who’d been walked out on?

Are you that cruel?

The idea of hurting a completely innocent party finally rubbed the stupid from her eyes. She dropped the crochet hook and yarn.

I love Zack, with all my heart, and there’s no point in denying it.

About the Author:

Check out the Author's Amazon Page

USA Today Bestselling Author, Lynne Marshall has been traditionally published with Harlequin as a category romance author for more than thirteen years with over twenty-seven books, and more recently with TULE Publishing, she has also gone hybrid with self-publishing. She is a Southern California native, has been married to a New Englander for a long time, and has two adult children of whom she is super proud. She is also an adoring grandmother of two beautiful little girls, with a grandboy on the way, a woman of faith, a dog lover, a cat admirer, a meandering walker, a curious traveler, and an optimistic participant in this wild journey called life.

Lynne on the Web:
Website * Facebook

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway