BESTSELLING AND AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF WESTERN ROMANCE!
Caroline Clemmons writes historical and contemporary genre fiction. Historical romances, contemporary romantic suspense, mysteries, and paranormals are among her current works. Learn more about her at www.carolineclemmons.com
Don't overlook the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post!
Garden
of Hope
Garden
of Love Book 1
by
Daphne Bloom
Genre:
Clean Regency Romance
Can
two lost causes find love in the arms of one another?
Lily,
the peculiar youngest daughter of an earl, would rather spend her
life as a spinster, tending to her garden–alone. But when her
father falls critically ill, she suddenly faces the possibility of
becoming a penniless relation living on the charity of her sisters
unless she can find a husband–now. But facing her fifth Season and
feeling unable to meet the requirements of a proper wife, Lily
despairs of finding a kind and patient man she can trust enough to
marry.
Henry,
the war-wounded second son of an earl, needs to have a son to secure
his family's future. But worried about his condition worsening and
leaving him crippled, he fears turning any future wife into a mere
companion and nursemaid.
Both
are unable to resist the pressure from their families to attend the
Season and at least tryto
find a spouse. Can these two lost causes see past their own
limitations and let love in?
Garden
of Hope is a sweet, clean Regency romance and book 1 in the Garden of
Love series! It is a STANDALONE romance novel. No cheating, no
cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Daphne
Bloom is an author of romances and cozy mysteries. She lives in a
quaint Southern town with her family that lets her imagination run
free. When she's not watching the latest historical drama on TV,
she's usually curled up with her dog and a good book.
Don't miss the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post!
House of Devon, Book 3
Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Release Date: September 23, 2020
Only $.99
September 23-27
Below stairs is where the romance begins..
As the most distinguished watchmaker in England, Christian Bainbridge
believes in accurate timepieces, not love. He secretly offered his heart
years ago, and he’s never gotten it back. When Raine Mowbray stumbles
into his life again, Christian realizes the woman he’s worshiped from
afar is still the woman he desires above all others.
Raine Mowbray needs solitude and employment, not love. A housemaid forced
to flee a loathsome earl’s grasp, the last thing she’s seeking
is a man’s amorous attention. When she finds herself unexpectantly
paired with a gorgeous watchmaker in need of an assistant, she’s
unnerved by his wit, kindness—and clandestine devotion to her.
If you like spirited heroines who fight falling in love and charmingly
arrogant heroes who think they know best, then this is the book for you!
Snuggle up with Tempting the Scoundrel, a steamy second chance,
love-at-first-sight Regency Romance!
This is a Downton Abbey-ish novella at 98 pages and 25K words!!
Award-winning author Tracy Sumner's storytelling career began when she
picked up a historical romance on a college beach trip, and she fondly
blames LaVyrle Spencer for her obsession with the genre. She's a recipient
of the National Reader's Choice, and her novels have been translated into
Dutch, German, Portuguese and Spanish. She lived in New York, Paris and
Taipei before finding her way back to the Lowcountry of South
Carolina.
When not writing sizzling love stories about feisty heroines and their
temperamental-but-entirely-lovable heroes, Tracy enjoys reading,
snowboarding, college football (Go Tigers!), yoga, and travel. She loves to
hear from romance readers!
Don't overlook the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post!
Gone
Daddy Blues
Grace
Street Mysteries Book 7
by
Jane Tesh
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Discouraged
by a recent deadbeat dad case, PI David Randall wonders if he should
close the detective agency he operates from his psychic friend
Camden's boarding house at 302 Grace Street in Parkland, North
Carolina. But Doreen Padgett, a scrappy teen, convinces him to find
her useless father, Arliss. Arliss and Doreen's mother have
divorced, and Doreen wants the man to pay what he owes her family.
It's another deadbeat dad, but Randall agrees to take the case.
When
policeman Jordan Finley comes to Grace Street with a blouse he wants
Camden to touch, a blouse that belongs to the victim of a suspected
serial killer, a man with a bizarre fondness for blond hair. Camden
has a serious reaction to the blouse, but can't see anything that
will lead to the killer except a hatred for a woman named Margaret.
Despite
Cam using an accident as an excuse not to be psychic, Randall finds a
connection to Margaret, Arliss, and the serial killer. All of them
plan to attend an upcoming high school reunion, the same reunion
Cam’s wife Ellin is looking forward to. Randall has to find the
killer, especially since he realizes that except for himself,
everyone who lives at 302 Grace Street is blond.
Gone
Daddy Blues is the seventh in the Grace Street Mysteries, the
continuing adventures of the family and friends who live at 302 Grace
Street.
When I got home, Camden was out on the front porch feeding his werewolf. This latest stray was a large, extremely hairy, mentally challenged man, always growling and scratching around for a handout. Camden said his name was Tom, but I’d never heard Tom say anything remotely intelligible. I guess Camden remembered men like this from his own hobo days. No doubt there was a secret sign somewhere on a fence that said, “If you’re riding the rails through Parkland, 302 Grace is the place to stop for a sandwich.”
As I got out of the car, Tom grabbed his food and a can of Coke, ready to run.
“It’s okay,” Camden said. “It’s Randall. You remember him.”
Tom’s eyes beamed small and dark from his forest of hair. He said something that sounded like “Urrrhh,” and scurried across the yard to hide behind a tree.
“Nice to see you again, Tom,” I said.
“He’s been helping me rake the leaves,” Camden said. Tom wouldn’t take food unless he did a chore to pay for it.
“Haven’t seen him lately. Been visiting his relatives in Sasquatch Town?”
“He’s been at the shelter in Tranquil Grove, but he didn’t like it. I’ve been trying to explain that he can’t catch a ride with the trains the way he used to. Come have a seat. He’ll be okay.”
Camden sat down in the porch swing, and I sat down in one of the rocking chairs.
Tom peered around the tree like Bigfoot deciding which camper to eat.
There were several cans of soda and a pile of sandwiches on the wicker table between the rocking chairs.
“Can I have one of these, or are they all for Tom?”
“Help yourself.”
“Does he know how to share?”
I got a dark look for a reply. With Tom watching my every move, I chose a sandwich and a Coke, expecting him to hurl himself at the porch to defend his food supply. When he stayed put, I raised my sandwich in salute.
“Come up and join us, Tom.”
To my surprise, he came around the tree and slowly walked up to the porch steps, where he sat down, his eyes still wary, and finished his lunch.
“Is anyone else here?” I asked Camden.
“Kary went down town to the South Avenue Clinic, and Lottie’s rewriting something she calls the windmill scene.” He stopped eating and gave me a power stare. “What’s happened?”
“You were right about something bad happening. There’s been another murder, one of Doreen’s neighbors.”
“The same killer?”
“I think so. It could very well be Arliss Padgett. Don’t be surprised if Jordan comes by with another piece of something for you to hold.”
As I said this, Jordan’s patrol car pulled up. Tom took off, a hairy blur disappearing around the house.
Jordan got out. “What the hell was that?”
“Camden’s werewolf,” I said.
“Save it, Randall.” He took a worn brown shoe from a paper bag. “Cam, if you don’t mind. We’ve got another murder victim.”
I could tell Camden did mind, but he got up and set his Coke aside. He touched the shoe and immediately zoned out. He turned three shades whiter and started breathing hard quick breaths. When I reached over to take the shoe, he shook his head.
“Wait. A few more minutes. I can’t—” He dropped the shoe, groped for the porch swing, and sat down. “Good lord.”
Jordan and I both asked if he was okay. He nodded. He took a drink and caught his breath.
“My God. Her head.”
“Is it the same man you saw before?” Jordan asked.
He took a few more moments before he could reply. “Yes, but there was something different about him this time. Much more violent. Almost as if he were trying to prove something. I still can’t see his face.” He rubbed his eyes. “Sorry. The images were so sudden.”
Jordan took the shoe. “Maybe later?”
I could tell Camden didn’t want to have anything more to do with Pauline Raterman’s shoe. “Maybe.”
“We’ll call you,” I said to Jordan.
He caught my eye and correctly interpreted the message: Enough for now. He thanked Camden for his assistance, got in his car, and drove off. A few minutes later, Tom came around the corner of the house and stood looking at the sandwiches. Camden didn’t seem to notice him, so I handed Tom the plate. He frowned a hairy frown as if I’d committed a social faux pas and carefully picked one sandwich from the pile.
“Pardon me,” I said. “I’m not up on hobo etiquette.”
He frowned another frown at Camden and then glared up the road after Jordan. Probably remembering an unpleasant run-in with the law.
“You okay?” I asked Camden.
He took another drink of Coke. “Add one more unforgettable image to my repertoire.”
“I saw her, too. What did you mean about this one being different?”
“It was the same guy, but not for the same purpose. He didn’t need her hair, he just took it.”
“Compulsively, you mean?”
“I don’t know. He’s using all the hair he’s collected for something. I can’t tell what. But he killed this poor woman just for the hell of it.”
“Because he could, maybe?”
Camden looked off into space. I knew he was seeing Pauline’s badly skinned head because I was, too. “Something else.” He sighed in exasperation. “If I’m not going to get a clear picture, then why get a picture, at all?”
"The
mystery plot is convincing and motives abound, but the vivid
characters are the main draw, in particular the wryly observant
Randall, who narrates the story with verve. Fans of cozies with a
paranormal twist will be rewarded." —Publishers
Weekly
Flamboyant
actor Leo Pierson's Art Nouveau treasures have been stolen, including
a one-of-a-kind Lalique glass dragonfly he claims is cursed. David
Randall, 302 Grace Street's private eye, agrees to recover the
valuables before he realizes murder has raised its ugly head in the
Parkland art community. Samuel Gallant of the museum board is
missing, until Randall and his landlord/consultant Camden find
Gallant's body stuffed in a museum closet. When another board member
suffers a fatal accident and the art critic for the Parkland
Herald is
attacked, Randall suspects the stolen dragonfly is indeed cursed. He
investigates Richard Mason, curator of the Little Gallery, whose
artwork consists of ugly mechanical sculptures, and Nancy Piper,
finance manager at the Parkland Art Museum.
Meanwhile,
Camden struggles against psychic visions he's had since birth, taking
pills to limit sudden intense visions. His wife, Ellin, fends off
Matt Grabber, a television celebrity healer threatening to take over
her Psychic Service Network and using his two large pythons to
emphasize his bid. The pythons take a liking to Camden, upping his
stress level, while he takes more pills hoping his visions—and the
snakes—disappear. Kit, a new tenant at Grace Street, is a young
rock star who is also psychic. As Camden becomes more addicted, Kit
becomes an early warning system, alerting Randall to the next attack.
Randall
works to solve the murders, find the jeweled collection, help Cam,
deter Grabber and his pythons, romance the young lovely Kary, and
avoid stray curses. A spirit on the Other Side surprisingly requests
his help, a spirit with ties to the stolen pieces of Art Nouveau.
"...readers
seeking a cozy, feel-good mystery will enjoy this outing to Grace
Street. The delightful characters navigate their worldly and
otherworldly challenges with affection and humor, and Tesh maintains
a whimsical tone that doesn't detract from the serious subject
matter."
—Publishers
Weekly
Camden's
friend Rufus Jackson receives a letter from his ex-wife, Bobbi, and
he's surprised to learn he's the father of a baby. When Bobbi is
found murdered in her home and her baby stolen, Rufus becomes suspect
number one. PI David Randall immediately takes the case.
But
Randall is almost sidetracked from the case by a series of what
appears to be never-ending favors. When he takes his friend Cam to
the Carlyle House to sing for a concert, Cam encounters Delores
Carlyle, a troubled spirit trapped inside a huge mirror, who wants to
see her daughter, Beverly, one last time. Beverly Carlyle will come
to the house on one condition: that Randall find a home for her surly
teenage son, Kit, and a band for her obnoxious daughter, Frieda. Kit
is welcome at 302 Grace, but to secure a spot for Frieda, Randall has
to get a local girl group a gig at a local nightclub. The owner
agrees, if Cam will pose as a teenager and spy on a rival club. Cam
agrees if Randall will take him to Green Valley to answer some
questions about his past. And another ghost is haunting the hot dog
restaurant, refusing to talk to Cam.
In
addition to the tangle of deals, Randall has to contend with Rufus
being hell-bent on revenge, the return of Cam's telekinesis, and
growing concern that if the baby—a girl named Mary Rose, as it
turns out—is found, Rufus, might not want to keep her.
David
Randall, a private detective short of work, invites his psychic
friend Camden into a case. Miss Viola Mitchell, an aging local
actress, has recently been reported missing. The Parkland PD's Jordan
Finley objects to the pair inspecting Viola's home, claiming the
police don't need their help. Moments later, despite the array of
birds and cats perfuming the residence, Cam advises Finley, "Check
the basement."
Meanwhile,
a new Grace Street client, owner of popular BeautiQueen Cosmetics, is
searching for her arrogant, absconding partner. Randall tracks him to
Clearwater, Florida, and soon finds himself chasing shoplifters
stealing pharmaceuticals and helping a jazz musician woo his woman
while failing to woo his own love, Kary. Will Randall and Cam piece
all this together?
Who
is audacious enough to steal an antique box once owned by Harry
Houdini? This collector’s treasure, skillfully hidden in the local
Magic Club— a nightclub where magicians perform—is not merely an
old theatrical prop. It is the prize in a contest that promises to
jump start a magician’s career. At least that’s what Taft and
Lucas Finch hoped before their prized possession was stolen. Private
investigator David Randall is already busy searching for socialite
Sandy Olaf’s missing diamond bracelet when he begins the search for
Houdini’s box. But instead of finding the valuable box, Randall
finds Taft murdered, his body locked in a backstage trunk. The
magical world is brimming with jealous suspects, less successful
magical competitors, romantic rivals, business conflicts, and
festering hurts from long ago. Randall’s friend Camden is concerned
with losing his voice, his girlfriend Kary insists on being a
magician’s assistant, and Cam’s girlfriend Ellin has to deal with
the overbearing Sheila Kirk, wife of a potential sponsor, who insists
on hosting the Psychic Service Network’s programs.
Warned
away from interfering in a police homicide investigation, Randall
focuses on finding the box, searching for a missing diamond bracelet,
and handling the crises embroiling his unique housemates in their
rambling home on Grace Street. It will take a stroke of magic to
connect the interlocking circles of these crimes.
"A
solid mystery with a plethora of suspects and quirky
regulars."—Kirkus
Reviews
It's
Christmas in Parkland, North Carolina, and PI David Randall is
looking forward to his mother's visit, even though he knows she'll
want to talk about his daughter, Lindsey, who died in a car accident.
Further dampening the season's cheer, his psychic friend Camden has
harrowing flashbacks to a murder: Randall and Camden found Camden's
friend Jared Hunter brutally stabbed. Among the suspects is Boyd
Taylor, Randall's client. Jared had served time for breaking into the
Parkland Museum of History. Bert Galvin, son of the editor of the
Parkland Herald, was also involved.
And
what of the inept superhero, the Parkland Avenger? The Superhero
Society of Parkland insists the Avenger isn't one of them. Are these
things all somehow related?
2018
– ALA Book Club October Pick, Things that Go Bump:
Paranormal Mysteries
David
Randall's perfect family life came derailed when his little daughter
Lindsey died in a car crash. Thrown out by his second wife and
wanting to leave a dead-end detective agency to start his own, he
reluctantly accepts his psychic friend Camden's invitation to stay in
Camden's boarding house in Parkland, North Carolina.
Meanwhile,
working the case of the murder of Albert Bennett, Randall's only clue
is a notebook filled with odd musical notation. When another client,
Melanie Gentry, hires him to prove her great-grandmother was murdered
by her lover, composer John Burrows Ashford, over authorship of
"Patchwork Melodies," Randall sets out to find a connection
to Bennett's murder, as well as to the murder of a Smithsonian
director, who was preparing a new PBS documentary on early American
music.
Randall's
investigations lead him to another notebook, where he finds not only
"Two Hearts Singing," Ashford's most famous song, but a
valuable early copy of Stephen Foster's "Oh! Susanna,"
hidden in the cover. But things become more complicated when
Ashford's spirit parks itself in Cam...and refuses to leave until
Randall proves Ashford's innocence.
Jane
Tesh lives and works in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Andy Griffith's
home town, a real life Mayberry. She is a retired media specialist
and the author of ten mystery novels, three fantasy novels, and over
thirty plays for children. When not writing, Jane plays the piano for
productions at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
Woo Hoo! I’m celebrating the release ofCHARLOTTE’S
CHALLENGE. I love this story. Charlotte Dunn is a spunky woman. Bret Craig
starts as a bit selfish but soon learns his lesson. Beta readers have been
enthusiastic about this book.
CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE is available in ebook, print, and is
enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Widowed
Charlotte Dunn struggles to save her ranch from a vicious neighbor.
I not only love
Charlotte and Bret but also a secondary character, Moses “Moose” Tatum. I
visualize him as a bit like Sam Elliott. One of the beta readers disagreed and suggested he was
more like Festus on Gunsmoke. Let me know what you think.
Here’s the blurb for CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE:
A widow determined to save the
family ranch…
A man who inherited cursed
pirate gold…
They must combine efforts to
defeat an evil man.
Bret Craig is a
descendant of one of the crew of The
Golden Fleece. Over a century ago the merchant ship had prevailed
against pirates carrying a treasure of cursed Inca gold. The legacy promised
retribution against anyone who misused the treasure. Bret has heard the story
all his life but believes the tale is a myth and that he’s in no danger if he
spends the money selfishly. Ignoring his sister’s warning, he sets out for a
grand adventure heading west.
Widowed former mail-order
bride Charlotte Dunn is in danger of losing the family ranch. She lost her
husband to a rustler’s bullet when half the cattle were stolen and both ranch
hands were killed. When she and her stepsons rescue a man who fell from his
horse, they learn the man has amnesia. From his saddlebags, they determine his
name is Bret Craig. Charlotte nurses Bret, manages the ranch, and cares for her
three stepchildren she loves. Soon after Bret regains his memory they discover
the remainder of the ranch’s cattle herd has been rustled.
Bret re-evaluates his
priorities in order to embrace the love blossoming between Charlotte and him.
Can they save the ranch and recover the stolen cattle?
Bret must have dropped off to sleep.
When he roused himself he sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes. He
was about to stand when Davie rushed into the room.
The boy looked about to cry. “Mr. Craig,
can you come to the porch? Mr. Winfield is here upsetting Mama.”
Bret reached for his rifle. “You’d
better walk beside me. I’m not too steady yet. Help me tuck in my shirt so I
look decent.”
They made their way to the front door.
Bret pulled off his bandage and tossed
it at a table before stepping onto the porch. “Is something wrong, Charlotte?”
He carried his rifle.
She looked almost as surprised as the
man facing her. Another man sat on his horse nearby.
The man facing Charlotte scowled. “Who
are you?”
“A friend of the family and you must be
Winfield.”
Charlotte glared at the man. “Mr.
Winfield was just leaving.”
Winfield pointed at Bret. “I still don’t
know who you are, mister.”
“I don’t see that it’s any of your
business, mister. I believe Charlotte
said you were leaving.” He cocked his rifle and leveled it at Winfield. “You on
the horse, don’t draw or you’re a dead man. In fact, I believe you’re both
trespassing and I can shoot you without worry.”
“You’ll regret this. I’ll talk to you
another time, Mrs. Dunn.”
“Not everyone is for sale, Mr.
Winfield.”
The man mounted his horse and after a
glare at Bret, he galloped away with his friend following.
Davie cheered. “You did it, Mr. Craig,
you scared him off.”
“Mrs. Dunn, I beg your pardon for
addressing you by your given name. It seemed best under the circumstances. Now,
I believe I’d better sit down somewhere.”
She rushed to his side. “Let me help
you. Put your arm over my shoulder so I can help support you. Davie, tend to
the rifle and remember it’s been cocked.” She guided Bret inside the house.
His legs threatened to give way.
“Perhaps we could stop and rest a moment.”
“If you can make it into the kitchen you
can sit at the table. Our lunch is almost ready.”
He was never so glad to see a chair. At
least he didn’t believe he was. “Why was he here this time and what upset you
so?”
“It’s almost laughable.” When she looked
up, anger sparked in her eyes. “If you can believe the nerve, he came to
propose to me.”
“I thought you said you were a recent
widow.”
“I am. He said he knew I didn’t want to
lose the ranch and if we married I could share all the land. He even agreed to
let me bring the children.” She appeared angrier. “Of course Davie and Susie
would have to go to boarding school. He graciously said Jimmy wouldn’t have to
go away until he was a year older.”
Bret looked where Davie had stood his
rifle. “I wish I’d shot him.”
I hope you’ll read
and enjoy CHARLOTTE’S CHALLENGE.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The publisher will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter and a signed copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Forty-eight-year-old Corbett Thomas, a one hit wonder of the 90s, now works as the lead sommelier at Napa Valley’s hippest restaurant. Set to become one of the few Master Sommeliers in the world, Corbett self-destructs during his final exam, ruining his last chance at capturing the stardom and adoration he got a taste for in his youth.
When billionaire game designer, Brogan Prescott, asks Corbett to consult on a major vineyard acquisition, Corbett sees it as a shot at redemption, until he learns of Brogan’s ridiculous vision of a virtual-reality, Woke Ant Colony Winery. Disgusted, Corbett decides to buy the vineyard himself and preserve its magic and history. Cashless, clueless, and with his reputation in tatters, Corbett enlists the help of his bass-player-turned-lawyer Seamus O’Flaherty, who may have finally lost his stomach for Corbett’s bad ideas; his uber-rational daughter Remy, who wants Corbett to uncork some family secrets he’d rather leave in the cellar; and Sydney Cameron, whose sudden appearance in Corbett’s life may repair his heart or shatter it forever.
With their help-and sometimes despite it-Corbett discovers what Brogan has known all along: a four-billion-dollar gold deposit lies beneath the vineyard. If Brogan acquires the property, the ensuing gold rush will destroy Napa Valley.
But if Corbett can get out of his own way long enough to purchase the vineyard first, he’ll be faced with the hardest decision of his life: take the fame and fortune he desperately craves, or save the soul of the valley he loves so much.
Read an Excerpt
Let’s get one thing clear - I won that bet fair and square, even though I cheated.
I blame the whole thing on Rick Dornin, who was being particularly douchey that night. I used to be able to choose whichever party I wanted to serve without question. That is, until Dornin arrived at Appellation with his anal-retentive online calendar and industrial-grade Napoleon complex.
Yes, that Appellation. The most coveted dining experience in all of Napa Valley, and one of only nine restaurants in America awarded three Michelin stars. It took a DNA sample and a copy of your credit report to get a table, and then you’d better be ready to cash in your 401(k) when the bill came.
The evening started out normally enough. I arrived at the restaurant an hour before my shift to check reservations, talk to Chef Dan about the evening’s specials, and think of pairings for the prix fixe. Dornin was in his office—a modified broom closet next to the staff bathroom that looked like a hoarder’s den with one, tiny deer trail leading to his desk. In fact, he was always in his office, even when service was slammed, which drove me batshit crazy. I don’t care if you’re General Manager or General Patton—when it’s time to schlep a plate or buff a glass, you step up and do it.
Anyway, I poked my head through the doorway and said, “Hey, Rick,” trying to keep things light and cheery. “What do you know about this Harrison party at eight?”
“Whales,” he replied, not bothering to look up from his purchase orders. “Big whales, like Moby Dick whales.”
“Sweet!” Visions of stockbrokers trying to one-up each other with bottles of Screaming Eagle at five thousand bucks a pop danced in my head. Tips so big they come in a brown paper bag.
“Yes.” Dornin finally looked up at me and grinned like he learned how to do it from an infomercial. “They’ll be in the Veraison Room. With Andrew.”
“What?” I lunged into the tiny office, nearly tripping over a carton of water glasses. “You can’t give it to Andrew!”
“I can give it to whoever I want.” He went back to his purchase orders, feigning a nonchalance that made me want to smack him. “If I want to move Felipe off of bussing and let him pop some corks, I could do that, too.”
Time for a different tack—one that wouldn’t involve me going full-on Hannibal Lecter. “I’m just saying that a party like that comes to a restaurant like this to experience the highest level of service in the world. I’m the guy they’re coming for, not Andrew. I sit for my Master Somm next week, and—”
“You know what you are, Corbett? You’re an overpaid bartender.” Dornin had thin lips and an Adam’s apple the size of Detroit, and it bugged me. “You trained for twenty years to learn how to pull a cork from a bottle and tell people that red wine goes with steak. Whoop-tee-freaking-do. You’ll work the floor tonight, and you can have the Jansen party on the terrace at seven-thirty.”
My left eyebrow started twitching, which happens when I get stressed out. Apparently, no one can see it, but to me, it feels like a two-year-old is digging tiny fingers into my face and stretching it like saltwater taffy. I considered trying the No One Has Experience At Up-Selling Like I Do approach, but this was the third time in as many weeks I’d had such a run-in with Dornin.
I was done.
It was time to talk to Chef Dan.
Most people remember Chef Daniel Foyer from his five seasons on Elite Chef, The Food Channel’s number one show from 1998 to 2002. With a chin so chiseled it could slice a burnt chuck steak and blue eyes that screamed, “Come taste this gazpacho in my bedroom,” he was the prototype celebrity chef. But Father Time had been most inhospitable to Chef Dan, and for the past couple of years the poor soul tried to counteract a rapid aging process by dunking his scalp and Sam Elliott-sized mustache in a fifty-gallon drum of jet-black hair dye. The net effect was so incongruous with the rest of his wrinkled face that I could barely look at him without drowning in the shore break of cognitive dissonance.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the guy. He was a loyal and trusted friend, and straight-up the most amazing culinary artist of my generation. But if I’d had any money, I would have bought stock in Just For Men and eventually retire on my Chef Dan profits alone.
About the Author
John Taylor has been writing about wine since 2012, but his meanderings on life began way before that. Born and raised in San Diego, California, John moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to pursue dreams of screenwriting and filmmaking. He attended the University of Southern California, where he majored in Shattered Dreams and False Hopes, with a minor in Getting Gut Punched By Reality. After being handed a degree in Journalism in 1987 as a consolation prize, John dove into a career in music. Because getting gut-punched just isn’t painful enough.
By 1996, John and his band, The Uninvited, had produced four independent albums and became one of the most popular acts in the western United States. This lead to a deal on Atlantic Records, which released the band’s self-titled debut album in 1997. The band had two Top 100 hits, and toured nationally with Dave Matthews, Blues Traveller, Third Eye Blind and many other acts. Their music appeared in the TV shows Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five, and in the motion pictures The Commandments and North Beach. The band can also be heard in several HBO Documentaries, video games and on that annoying “One Hit Wonders of The 90’s” station your co-worker always plays on Spotify.
In 2001, John’s vast experience in shattered dreams was once again called into play as the band hung up their touring shoes for good. After a brief but horrifying career in real estate, John got wise and made a career out of his favorite hobby – wine – and has held various sales and marketing positions in Napa Valley since 2011. John’s writing career started in earnest at this point, with blogs, essays and short stories appearing in various publications. John is the author of three novels, including the aptly-titled Pairs With: Life, which will be released by Hurn Publications in September 2020.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jackie Barbosa will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When Mrs. Laura Farnsworth discovers the blood-stained body of a man wearing the distinctive red coat of the British army, her first instinct is to let dead dogs lie. It has, after all, been just two days since the Battle of Plattsburgh, and the disposition of enemy corpses is hardly her purview. But then the man proves himself to be very much alive by grabbing her ankle and mumbling incoherently.
After almost twenty-five years in His Majesty’s service, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Langston never expected to wake up in heaven, much less being tended by an angel. But when he regains consciousness in the presence of a beautiful, dark-haired woman and with no memory of how he came to be there, what else can he think? Except it’s rather odd for an angel to have an American accent.
As the long-widowed Laura nurses the wounded Geoffrey back to health, the attraction between them heats from a simmer to a boil. Bound by his oath to the British crown, Geoffrey should be working to find his way back to his regiment and from there, to England. Instead, he’s sleeping with the enemy…and thereby committing the crime of desertion if not treason. But then, who’s going to find out?
If only Geoffrey didn’t have a family back home who refuse to take “missing in action” for an answer.
Read an Excerpt
As she added seasoning to the broth, she contemplated the question she had not dared ask herself before he awakened. What should they do with Lieutenant Colonel Langston now?
The obvious answer would be to take him to Fort Moreau as soon as he could reasonably be expected to tolerate the journey. There he would be held by the army as a prisoner until such time as the war ended, at which point he would likely be returned to the British in exchange for American prisoners. He would be treated well during his stay, insofar as any person denied his freedom could be said to be treated well, and eventually return home to his family in England. Clearly, it was the only reasonable—and possibly the only lawful—course of action.
Why, then, did even the idea fill her with misery and remorse? It wasn’t as if she knew anything about him save his name, military rank, and nationality.
And that he had beautiful eyes in a shockingly handsome face.
Dear God, am I really that shallow? That shameless?
Then again, perhaps after almost ten years alone, she had earned the right to be the slightest bit shallow, the tiniest bit shameless.
About the Author
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a writer when I grew up, but there were plenty of times when I wasn’t sure I ever would be. As it turns out, it just took me about twenty years longer to grow up than I expected!
On the road to publication, I took a few detours, including a stint in academia (I hold an MA in Classics from the University of Chicago and was a recipient of a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities) and many years as a technical writer/instructional designer for a data processing company. I still hold my day job, but my true vocation has always been writing fiction and romance in particular.
I’m a firm believer that love is the most powerful force in the world, which that makes romance the most powerful genre in the world. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
Don't miss the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post!
I'll
See You Again
Reigning
Hearts Book 4
by
K.G. Fletcher
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
She
plans happily-ever-afters. He sings about them.
But
will their starstruck connection last?
As a
small town wedding planner, Nicky Sinclair craves true love and
decadent cakes. But her world is rocked when a famous Scottish
musician shows her the kind of affection she's only dreamt about.
Except just as their hearts are humming in tune, she receives
terrifying news and finds herself caught in the headlines.
On the
brink of superstardom, Reid Macpherson pours all his energy into his
band. But after showing up at a small town bar to test out his latest
song, the last thing he expected was to fall for a gorgeous local who
has no idea who he is. So when he realizes he has feelings for her,
he invites her to New York City for the kick-off of his first world
tour.
After
Nicky learns devastating news that's hit the airwaves, emotions run
high and she fears Mac will leave her and return to Scotland forever.
And Mac worries with Nicky left behind, his voice will forever be
silenced, the love they shared nothing but a lingering lyric in one
of his hit songs.
Will
the harmonious couple see each other again, or have they uttered
their final goodbye?
I’ll
See You Again is the fourth book in
a series of standalone contemporary romance novels. If you like
steamy opposites-attract stories, and heart-wrenching feels, then
you’ll adore KG Fletcher’s rock star romance.
Buy
I’ll See You Again
for a ballad of loyalty and longing today!
KG is
a hopeless romantic continuing her work on her original cabaret act
called, “The Novel Romantic – an unexpected evening of sweet &
spicy love” to help promote her romance novels. As a full-time
indie-artist, a particularly thrilling moment was when her Amazon
best-selling romance novel, Georgia Pine became a 2019 Maggie Award
of Excellence Finalist. KG loves to interact with readers on social
media, and is a conference speaker sharing how music can enhance a
writer’s experience.
