Hey – exciting news, peeps. Voting is open now for the SEMI-FINALISTS in the RAVEN AWARDS and DIRTY DAMSELS is up in two categories: Favorite Cover and then in the Contemporary category, so you can vote twice for me ( if you want to!)
Many of my Wild Rose Sisters are also in the running, but luckily none of them are in the contemporary category with me!!! So I don’t feel disloyal, cuz I voted for them in their categories.
I’m so stoked to be featured for the day on the SWEET TEA MAFIA facebook group this week!
The event is to help promote the ONE SCOOP OR TWO BOOKS currently out by the Wild Rose Press Authors and will happening on Friday’s on the group page. Here’s the lineup:
I hope you join me this Friday, July 10, starting at 9 am EST. I’ll be live all day talking about…stuff, hee hee, and giving away a prize or two ( or three!!)
“I can’t pay you in cash,” she said, oblivious to the effect she’d had on him, “but at least let me treat you to anything on the menu. There’s never a wrong time to have ice cream.”
He chuckled.
“How about a free cone every day you’re in town? I’m assuming you’re on vacation?”
His head bobbed once in answer.
“It’s the least I can do for your help, Mr…”
“Deacon. Deacon Withers.” Ingrained manners forced his hand out.
She gazed down at it for a beat, and he wondered at her reluctance. When she finally took his hand, she said, “Tandy Blakemore. Vanilla with a Twist is my shop, and you just helped me fix an ongoing problem and prevent a dispensing disaster. This machine is the only one that does flavor twists.”
“I’m glad I could help. And while a free cone sounds nice—” He cleared his throat, surprising himself with his next words. “—how about you have dinner with me instead?”
Wariness flew back into her eyes. As intriguing as her open smile had been, this hesitant reaction was even more so.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. The store is open until ten. Tourist season, you know?”
“You have to eat sometime.”
She shook her head again. “True, but…sorry. Now, about your ice cream? What flavor did you order?”
He hadn’t met many people who could so summarily dismiss him and still smile while doing so.
“Fudge ripple with chocolate jimmies.” The woman who’d originally waited on him had one all ready to go and handed it to Tandy.
“For services rendered,” Tandy said as she gave it to him. “And with my sincere thanks.”
Enjoy an ice cream on this hot day. Remember, like Tandy says: “There’s never a wrong time for ice cream.”
Since we are officially halfway done with this horrendous year and the Christmas holidays are a scant 173 days away, I figured now would be a good time to jump on the Christmas in July bandwagon and talk up my soon-to-be-released 2020 Christmas Romance.
Nothing like a little self promotion to the start the week with, no? Hee hee
So, the title of the book is MISTLETOE, MOBSTERS & MOZZARELLA and takes place a month before, and leading up to, Christmas. This book was written, for the most part, prior to the Covid 19 pandemic that seems to be changing the world in every conceivable way, but I did not include any mention of it in the book because….I didn’t want to. It’s that simple.
Here’s the working blurb for right now – I may change it a bit as I get closer to publication:
Finding a body in the freezer of the family deli isn’t the way Madonna San Valentino planned to start her day.
Adding insult to injury, the investigating detective is the one guy she’s never been able to forget. After seven minutes of heaven in the back seat of his car when they were teenagers, Tony Roma skipped town without so much as a thanks for the memory.
Just when Madonna thinks the present situation can’t get any worse, Tony is ordered to go undercover at the deli to ferret out the killer. Forced to work together, she vows to keep their relationship cool and professional. But with the sexy, longing looks he tosses her at every turn, Madonna’s resolve is starting to weaken.
With Christmas drawing closer and Tony’s investigation taking an unexpected turn, Madonna is at her wit’s end. Can she really be falling for him again? And will he windup leaving her broken hearted and alone like the last time?
It’s a RomCom and even though there’s a murder and an investigation within the plot line, the majority of the story is about these two, their feelings for one another, and family.
When I have the cover you know I’ll share it! Stay tuned in the coming months for teasers and snippets.
I really have had some weird – but exact – blog titles lately, haven’t I? Hee Hee
I’ve talked about book reviews here many times – the good, the bad, the mean. Today I’m going to add confusing to that short list.
WOKE released the other day to good (mostly – 95%) to excellent reviews. I’ve come to realize that the people whom I know personally are always kind even if they don’t like one book more than another, they always say kind words in their reviews. But I know a book is good if reviewers I don’t know from Adam ( or Eve) say something wonderful.
For an example, this review was put up on Bookbub and Amazon by a reader I don’t know:
Drugged at her 21st birthday party, Aurora nearly died, then spent 10 years in a coma. She moves forward after waking, thanks to her devoted mother and their housekeeper, to the point of training to run the NYC marathon, and meeting and dating someone she met at a fundraiser. AJ, as she’s now known, wants to know what happened, and goes in search of someone who can help her. I’ve read two other books from this author, both very nice romances. But holy crapoly – I had no idea that Ms. Jaeger could write such a captivating and suspenseful romance. This story roped me in at the beginning, and never let up. The romance is wonderful. Cade and AJ are just perfect together, until he omits something that she might think to be important. Her mother is a bit overprotective at times, but considering all that AJ went through, fairly understandable, and Mom is supportive. Maeve, their housekeeper, has worked for the family since she came to the US, and she’s so much more than just “the help” – she gave up her chance at forever to take care of AJ when she was comatose. Nick, the detective who worked her case, is a really great guy, and I love AJ’s matchmaking attempt. Best quote in the book: “Forgiveness is a gift, according to Maeve, that should be doled out often, and without incurring interest.” She gave it 5 stars
Great review, right? I think so and it made me feel I’d done my job as a writer well.
Then there are the confusing ones. The reviews that makes no sense to me, like this one, for example:
The plot had its engaging moments, the characters were interesting and their secrets were gradually relieved throughout the story. It had mystery and twists, single pov, nicely paced. Regarding the solution of how and why was Aurora poisoned, it was neither brilliant nor mind blowing. It was far fetched and spoiled whatever my mood was. Is there a part two??? Where was the epilogue???? Where was the hea???? There was a hea, but for a secondary character!!! I was left dumbfounded, looking for an epilogue that never appeared and I could not believe how abrupt the story ended!!! 😲She gave it 2.5 stars.
I didn’t promote this book as a romance because, to me, it really wasn’t one. It was more a woman coming to grips with the hand of cards she was dealt in life and trying to learn how to grow from it. The book ended when it was appropriate to end. It didn’t need an epilogue and why does this reader think it does??? See? Confusing.
There certainly are days when I wonder why I ever wanted to be a professional, published writer, that’s for sure…
Oh well. Today I start writing Book 2 in my Pride of Brothers series. Different genre, different voices. I’d better just concentrate on that and forget about the confusing world of reviews for the moment.
July is a hot month – and not just with the temps outdoors.
The theme for the romance writers of the Romance Gems for this month is: Steamy Days and Steamy Nights – and again – we ain’t talkin’ about the temps out the front door, hee hee.
Join us, daily, as we explore the month’s theme. And since we all write romance in one genre or another, it’s guaranteed to get you…hot. Maybe even…steamy.
So the day has finally come and I am sososo stoked!!
WOKEreleased at midnight and I am hopeful for all those who pre-ordered it that it arrived, unscathed, and you enjoy reading it.
The book was a tiny bit of a departure for me. It’s still, technically a romance, but I’d really classify it more like a woman’s coming of age story. WOKE tells the story of Aurora Brightwell, a woman who, at her 21st birthday party, was slipped a powerful drug cocktail and lapsed into a coma for 10 years ( That’s the sleeping beauty part, hee hee). She doesn’t wait for love’s first kiss to awaken her, though. When she comes back to the land of the living all she wants to do is get her body back to working order and get on with the life that was almost robbed from her.
But….
First she has to learn how to live again, and then she has to decide what to do about the mystery surrounding her past. Enter a handsome financier, and the detective charged with finding out what happened to her all those years ago. Add in a sub plot involving Aurora’s BFF from long ago, and a reunited lovers story and the book is really so much more than a romance.
If you think this is a morose, sad and Debbie Downer book – let me assure you, it’s not. The book is filled with love, laughter, and a few characters you’ll be seeing again from me.
WOKE is exclusively offered thru Amazon, Kindle, and KU in both print and ecopy, here: WOKE
If you’re looking for some great summer reading, look no further than the Wild Rose Press. Their newest series – ONE SCOOP OR TWO – is already chockfull of fabulous stories that can be read on a hot and lazy afternoon while eating an ice cream cone.
Today, I’ve got WRP sistah, D.V.Stone with me, talking about how she came to write her addition to the series, RAINBOW SPRINKLES. Once you read about this story, I guarantee you’ll want to add it to your summer 2020 tbr list!
Here’s D.V….
How could I not write a book about Ice Cream?
Once upon a time in the state of confusion called New Jersey, my husband and I decided to buy a local ice cream shop and grill. We made our own super-premium flavors, including our signature New Jersey Black Bear. This was a vanilla base with raspberry chips, and truffles sprinkled throughout and swirled with raspberry jam. I enjoyed working the grill and creating upscale fare.
Unfortunately, like my main character, Gloriana Jones, we struggled with many things a small business owner does. This included a once in a century type of storm in August of 2000. Fourteen inches of rain fell in the space of eight hours. Power went out, roads flooded, and we shut down.
Now, to be fair to Gloriana, her bad weather was prolonged. Unlike Gloriana, we lost our business a few years later. We didn’t have a Nathan James business consultant or a cast of characters, both natural and supernatural, to help. Ah, live, and learn.
Regardless, the experience and learning have shaped the rest of our lives. I told my husband after he returned to previous work, “there’s nothing sexier than a man with a steady paycheck.” As of today, my Peter is a retired man.
The moral of the story? Grab for the dream. It may not work out, but if you don’t, you’ll always regret never having tried.
I hope you will enjoy this taste of Rainbow Sprinkles.
After the storm come the rainbows.
Blurb
Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream. A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he’s lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop. With aid from a heavenly source, electricity sparks, but will the two weather the summer storms and find love a second time? Or will their hopes and dreams melt away?
Excerpt
“Do you mind if I wait until the tow truck gets here?” He plucked the wet shirt away from his chest with the long fingers of one tanned hand. “It must be electrical, even the radio stopped working.”
“No, you’re welcome to hang around as long as you need.” Gloriana riffled through a cardboard box under the counter, pulled out an extra-large t-shirt, and tossed it to him. “Here you go. The restroom is through there.”
Mr. Gorgeous beamed a perfect toothy smile. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
When he disappeared into the hallway, and the door clicked shut, Gloriana fanned her face. What the hot fudge was wrong with her? “Coffee. Make coffee.”
Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal. Recently, Rock House Grill was released by Wild Rose Press. I also host Welcome to the Campfire and A Peek Through the Window, both weekly blogs. Here’s a little more about me.
Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met and married the love of her life, Pete—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County. They live with Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter and their cat Baby.
I don’t usually book more than 1 thing at a time anymore. Mostly, because I’m…old(er) and it gets hard for me to keep more than 1 thing in my head going on at a time. But tomorrow is a big day for me in so many ways, that I think I’ll be able to get through it – especially with the help of you all. And yes, that’s a shameless beg for attention. Hee hee
First, my second indie book WOKE releases at midnight on Amazon. If you’ve been following me you’ve read – probably an annoying amount – about it by now, but suffice it to say, I really like this story. It’s not my typical romance but it was fun to write. I hope if you’ve ordered it, you agree and will leave a review on Amazon when you finish it. And yes, that’s shameless beg # 2.
Second, I’m over on I LOVE ROMANCE BOOKS! facebook page all day. It’s my day for a takeover and I’ll be posting stuff hourly – games, questions, fun info and facts, and I hope you join me and play along so I don’t feel like I’m talking to crickets all day long! hee hee. Shameless beg # 3.
Third, at 7pm EST I’ll be the guest host on Lorelei’s Romantic Suspense Book Club on FB. The link and joining stuff for Zoom is listed below. If you can – and I hope you can! – Please join our live chat. It will go for about 90 minutes and Lorelei is a great interviewer and chatter! Last week mega romance writing star Catherine Bybee was on and it was so much fun talking with her and getting her insights on the publishing world. You don’t have to be a writer to attend, in fact, the club is set up for readers, so please, and yes, I’m begging ( LOL, # 4) Join us!
Lorelei’s Romantic Suspense Book Club
Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 at 7pm est
I look forward to seeing everyone again next week when our guest is 𝙋𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙮 𝙅𝙖𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙧 She is a hybrid multi-pubbed author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them
You won’t want to miss this one SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND INVITE your family and friends! Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86563020406…
Meeting ID: 865 6302 0406
Password: 325859
Okay, so now I’m off to take a nap because I’m gonna need all my strength tomorrow to get through the day!
Peggy Jaeger, Author 