I’m off the internet for a few days, but I wanted to repost a few blogs I thought were fun. Here’s one from 2017 on my…voice. My real one, not my writing one! hee hee!
Author Archives: Peggy Jaeger
Why #IndependentBookstores are so near and dear to my heart….
I’ve talked a lot on this blog about how much I love the Independent bookstore I have in my town, THE TOADSTOOL BOOKSHOP.
The managers are so welcoming and supportive of local authors and arrange booksignings, author meet and greets, and fun events for the entire community, in addition to stocking local indie author books ( something the big name book retailers do not!)
This year, when I heard about Independent Bookstore Romance Day, on August 17, 2019, I called The Toadstool in Keene and asked if they were doing anything to celebrate the event. At the time, they weren’t, mainly because they didn’t know, but once I informed them about the celebratory day, the managers went into hyperdrive to plan something to commemorate the day. I shunted some of my favorite local romance authors their way, and before I could say #iloveromance, an event was up and running.
See? This is why I love the TOADSTOOL so much!
So, come join me and four other fabulous romance writers on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 4pm at the Toadstool Bookshop in Keene!
You can checkout the authors who’ll be featured at the event on their Amazon profile pages, here:
I really hope I see a bunch of romance readers I know – and even more I haven’t met yet! – at the event. The Toadstool will be selling our books during and after the panel discussion, so click on the links above to see the books available. All of my print books are currently on sale at the Toadstool, but for the e-print only ones, you can find them here: 3 Wishes, Hope’s Dream, A Holiday Promise, Falling for You, and Be My Hero
#bookoftheMonth – I’m hoping, but I need your #VOTE to do it!!!
So, I found out yesterday that DIRTY DAMSELS is up for the AUGUST BOOK SELECTION at Love Romance Reads. I would so LOVELOVELOVE to be the book they choose to read and discuss, but I need your vote to do this!!! here’s the link to go and vote for DIRTY DAMSELS until August 7: LRR
Thanks for any help you can give!! !I adore my readers and my writing friends – we’re all in this together, peeps.
DIRTY DAMSELS
What if Cynderella had a one-night stand with a man named PRINCE???
When I first saw Cynderella all covered in soot in that sexy maid uniform, I knew I wanted to be her Prince.
She’s a small and savvy businesswoman who’s built her cleaning company from the ground up. But now that Dirty Damsels is booming, I’ve been hired to arrange a hostile takeover.
But the temptation of having her was too much to ignore… We ended up spending one night together—a night neither of will forget. Now, I want more. I need more. I want to spend every night, skin-on-skin, with my beautiful Ella.
Problem is, when she finds out who I really am, she’ll never forgive me.
The bathroom door opened.
In his tailored suit he’d been impressive and striking. With a white bulky towel wrapped around his waist, and the humidity in the bathroom sluicing off his damp torso, he was downright magnificent. Those wide and solid shoulders tapered down into biceps I could tell regularly attended a gym with him, and then into forearms corded with strong sinew and veins.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered. “I’m almost done. I’m sorry.” I blushed again and I cursed my fair skin. But really, how could I not blush and stutter when faced with this unbelievable specimen of hotness standing five feet away from me, all wet and hard muscled and gorgeous?
He moved like a panther across the rug, soundlessly stalking, as if playing with his prey, until he came to the opposite side of the bed.
He took one corner of the sheet in his hand and yanked it. “Do you have enough on your side?”
Speech was impossible because I knew I’d start blabbering again, so I nodded and tucked the sheet under the mattress.
“Hospital corners.” He nodded and then mimicked my motions. “I love a tight sheet.”
I couldn’t help but stare at the way his biceps swelled when he lifted the mattress as if it weighed nothing, and shot the sheet under it. Nor could I forgo glancing at the thick mat of black hair crisscrossing from one side of his pecs to the other and then down, disappearing below the towel. And I’d have to have been struck blind and stupid – which I’m neither – not to notice and admire the trim, tight waist and abdomen the towel was securely wrapped around.
At least I prayed it was securely wrapped.
I grabbed the comforter, shook it out and he helped me place it over the bed.
“Toss me one of those,” he commanded when I grabbed a pillow and began tugging the case on.
He caught both in midair.
The bed made, I turned to tell him about the platter of food, but stopped before the words could leave my throat. He’d moved without a sound again, coming to stand so close to me I could smell the citrus scent of the soap he’d used wafting off his body.
He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. I swear my body temperature went up ten degrees. I figured by now I resembled one of those cartoons where the character’s head turns beet red and then explodes upward.
“Thanks, Cinderella.” A devilish grin tripped across his tired face. “But I need to crash now, so…”
I truly could have stood there for the rest of the afternoon basking in his hotness, but I got the hint.
I nodded and made one last visual sweep of the room.
“Do you want me to close the blinds?” I asked, turning back just in time to see him drop the towel and slide – gloriously naked – into the freshly made bed.
Holy Mother of God. The man had a butt made for grabbing. Two perfect, round, and tight cheeks dipped from that narrow waist, leading downward to two thick and powerful thighs. Since his back was to me he didn’t notice my jaw hanging open to my knees while he burrowed under the comforter.
“Mmm…sure. Thanks, Cinderella.”
Even half asleep his voice made my heart skip a few beats and my girlie parts go zing.
Thanks for your vote, and if you missed it, here’s the link to do so: LRR
Until next time ~ Peg
Filed under Dirty Damsels, Dot Com Girls Romance, Romance, Romance Books
#August and those #DogDaysOfSummer on the #romancegems
Every month the #RomanceGems have a new reader contest. This month, it’s the Dog Days of Summer. Each book featured has a dog/pet as a significant “character” in the book. My addition is THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, my second MacQuire Women Series book from the Wild Rose Press and featuring an aging family black lab named RobRoy and a darling pair of puppies. You can see them on the bottom right of the cover in a picnic basket! TNPLH is a friends to lovers story that is one of my favorites! I fell in love with Quentin Stapleton before I ever wrote him down on the page, simply because he’s a real horse whisperer.
Symphony pianist Moira Cleary comes home after four years of touring, exhausted, sick, and spiritually broken. Emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of someone she trusted has left her gaunt, anxious, and at a crossroads both professionally and personally. Moira’s best friend, veterinarian Quentin Stapleton, wants nothing more than to help Moira get well. Can his natural healing skills make it possible for her to open her heart again? And can he convince her she’s meant to stay home now with the family that loves her – and with him – forever?
Excerpt:
“Remember when your cousin Tiffany got married in the backyard here?”
Confused, Moira nodded.
Quentin rubbed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “When the Reverend told Cole ‘you can kiss your bride,’ and he swooped her off the ground, spun her around and kissed her silly? Remember what you said?”
“I think I said it was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen.”
He nodded. “The exact quote was, ‘I hope someone kisses me like that some day.’”
Her grin was quick at the memory. “Pat snorted and said I’d better be satisfied with licks from the horses and Rob Roy because no guy was ever gonna kiss me.”
“He wasn’t known for tact back then.” He rubbed a hand down her back as he held her. “Remember what happened later on behind the barn?”
Because she did, she couldn’t stop the heat from spreading up her face like wildfire. When she nodded again, he said, “You wanted to know what it felt like to be kissed like that and since I was your best friend, you thought I should be the one to do it, because you – quote – felt safe with me – unquote.”
“What was I? Eleven?”
“Thirteen. And I was more than willing. Almost broke my heart in two when you said afterward, ‘I don’t see what all the fuss is about.’”
“Q—”
“Hush.” He kissed her forehead. “Ever since that day, all I’ve wanted is a second chance. Now,” he pulled her body closer, wrapped both arms around her small waist, his hands resting just above the dent in her spine. “We’re both a little older, a little more mature. Some of us are much more experienced—”
“And conceited.”
“Experienced,” he said, the laugh in his voice quiet and seductive, “and things can be so much better.”
If you want to get a copy of the book, here are the links:
Amazon //B&N // Google Play // Kobo //
And please, enter the contest from Romance gems, too! Dog Days of Summer and follow our daily blog !
Until next time ~ Peg
A new #DeerbourneInn Release from #Author Eve Dew Crook
Today I’ve got another fabulous Wild Rose Press sistah, Eve Dew Crook, and her newest book, an addition to the Deerbourne Inn Series, A Bean, a pea, and a Mammoth Tusk. Come and read a little about her, and her life, and then read an excerpt from her Deerbourne Inn addition.
Funny account of our wedding day.
I still laugh whenever I recall my wedding day. Okay, it was warm and wonderful, too, but it tickles me to recall it, and tickle is the key word.
After a Christmas holiday visit to our accountant, hubby-to-be and I were advised to marry before the year ended. My guy had changed jobs that year with a sizable salary bonus, something a newly married couple could really use. Our wedding was planned for the end of January, too late to change the reception. The actual ceremony, however, was held on New Year’s Eve, on the porch of my in-law’s home, with Ken’s father, a retired minister, officiating. Present were our two closest friends, Ken’s mother, and the family dog, Lassie. The ceremony was lovely, while the most excited member of the wedding party, Lassie, kept running around and between our legs as we stood before his father. I wore a gauzy cocktail dress and sheer stockings, and the swish of the collie’s tail every time she ran between us tickled. What a time to hold back a giggle!It’s many many years later now, and we’re still married, so adding a bit of unexpected humor to the solemn ceremony worked its magic!
My books and incidents about the titles.
I’ve published four books for The Wild Rose Press, mostly romantic suspense, and had fun with the titles on all of them. My first, TAKING THE TUMBLE, was fun because of the different meanings for Tumble, both as “falling for you” and as “taking the fall.” Before final acceptance, my editor suggested building up the villain a bit more. Once I got into the mindset, it was fun to do, and in the process I wrote a poem in six limericks, called “A Writer’s Plight.” It’s on my website along with other limericks I love to write. http://evedewcrook.
My second book, PERIL, PASSION, PERU, had a wonderful moment for me. I described a scene that included the husband treating himself to an expensive briefcase, without really knowing why. Imagine my amazement as I got near the end of the story to find out the briefcase turned into a key element in the plot! So much of of writing is intuitive.
I did a quick switch for my third book, SEX, LOVE, & THE SPACETIME PINCH, a sexy sci-fi adventure under the pen name of Vee Bentley. The concept of pinching spacetime was used to get my characters to a fascinating new planet. Guilt-free shenanigans there.
My current book, releasing today under my own name once more, is part of a series of books by different authors, all taking place in or about a historic inn in Vermont, the Deerbourne Inn. The title, A BEAN, A PEA, AND A MAMMOTH TUSK, is a teaser for a sweet romance between a rookie sheriff’s deputy and a middle school principal. The bean and pea are part of a Twelfth Night celebration, while the mammoth tusk is unearthed in a nearby forest and causes enough commotion to warrant the hiring of another deputy. The two events tie up in the lovely inn.
Writing for a series had both Pleasures and Pitfalls. I loved combining characters and am using some on my next book. My pitfalls included bringing a character to town via the covered bridge while the airport was in the other direction! Happily my editor caught it in time.
A Bean, a Pea, and a Mammoth Tusk
They would never have met without the mammoth tusk.
Middle school principal Stephen Lathrop loves winning marathons. Rookie deputy Megan Snow delights in her Criminal Justice certificate. But when a 12,000-year-old tusk is found buried in Vermont, everything changes. Reporters and TV crews take over the town.
To celebrate, the Deerbourne Inn plans a Twelfth Night feast and festival. The events include serving slices of the fabulous King cake and crowning the King and Queen of Mischief. Though mischief does follow, romance, too, is in the air.
Rookie Megan is added to the sheriff’s crew. Principal Stephen gets involved at the Inn. Notorious TV chef Pierre Chasse arrives with Celine, his “hostess.” She and Megan form an unusual friendship. Then, mysterious strangers appear. A child goes missing. Teens try to steal the tusk. Clamor and mischief ensue.
Is this the time to plan a wedding?
Excerpt
“I’m here to confess.” Stephen Lathrop’s soft voice floated across her desk in the sheriff’s office.
Startled, Megan looked up. She took a deep breath, smiled. “What are you admitting to?”
“A desire to find out if you’re free next Sunday.”
“But…you know I’ll be back in Middlebury.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll pick you up there.”
“It’s nice of you to offer…” She sighed. “I usually work weekends, Stephen. Now that school is back in session…our schedules don’t mesh.”
“Too bad.” He pretended to pout, but she could tell he hadn’t given up.
After a second’s pause, Stephen tried again. “Well, how about some evening? Dinner and a movie? Kings and queens do have to keep up appearances, you know.” He couldn’t hang on to his earnest pose for long. Megan watched it disintegrate into chuckles.
“Of course, I wouldn’t want to disappoint the town…” Her lashes fluttered. “But seriously, some nights I work. Other times, Ma isn’t feeling well…”
“Tell you what.” He sat down on the corner of her desk, leaned over and wheedled. “Suppose we plan a night out, but if you have to stay home, I’ll come over and bring carry-out.”
She reached for the hand he’d braced on the desk, ran her fingers over his knuckles. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all…well, maybe a little.” He tipped his head to the side, grinned. “We can get to know each other better…”
Buy Links:
A little about Eve…
Eve Dew Crook is the author of romantic suspense novels, sassy and sexy, sweet and scary. The Wild Rose Press has published TAKING THE TUMBLE and PERIL, PASSION, PERU, both available on Amazon in both print and e-book.
Her short stories have been published in romance magazines and her poem, “The Painted Caves,” in the Nassau Review. Eve also writes funny poetry. You’ll find “The Song of the Lovesick Siren” on the author’s page at the end of Peril, Passion, Peru. On her website is a limerick about Goya’s Maja, “in clothing or nude,” a poem-computer parody, “Apple Pied Beauty,” one on Writers and Villains, and more.
Eve was an editor at Newsday and taught writing in college. When she’s not working on her new novel, a sci fi romantic thriller, dreaming up more limericks, or trying to figure out how to work with the (expletive deleted) social media, Eve enjoys desert living.
You can connect with Eve here:
Website // newsletter // goodreads // facebook
THE DEERBOURNE INN SERIES ( to date)
By Reservation Only by Barbara Edwards
Hope’s Dream by Peggy Jaeger
Freedom’s Path By Linda Carroll Bradd
Lyrical Embrace by Amber Daulton
Spirited Quest by Julie Howard
Soul of the Storm By Jean M. Grant
Lion Dancing for Love by Laura Boon
Forever In A Moment by Charlotte O’Shay
Witches’ Cliff by Peggy Chambers
Mystic Maples by Tena Stetler
Love Calls You Home by Donna Simonetta
Love Proof by Luanna Stewart
A Bean, A pea, and a Mammoth Tusk by Eva Dew Crook
Filed under Deerbourne Inn, WIld Rose Press AUthor
#RWA2019 #RWA19 Wrap Up… And an open letter to the RWA Board.
On the train back home on Saturday, I had a few hours to ponder on this year’s RWA experience for me and I came up with quite a few things.
When I was first published 5 years ago and went to my very first RWA in San Antonio, every class I took was craft-related. I wanted to hear from the experts about how to master the art of romance writing. I didn’t even know that the publishing houses gave away free books! I was so intent on taking every craft class I could to make myself a better writer.
The second year I did know they gave away free books and I split the time 50/50 between craft classes, (fangirling) and going to book signings.
Third year I only went to book signings! hee hee
Fourth year I attended nothing but marketing classes ( and a few book signings) because now that I had over 10 books published I figured I knew what I was doing, writingwise, but now needed to know how to effectively market and sell those books.
This year, no book signings other than my own, and nothing but marketing classes. Well, that one on RomCom writing. How much my perspective has changed over these five years!
This year, for the very first time ( which is disgraceful that it took so long) the first and second black women were awarded RITAS. This was an historic RITA ceremony and while I am thrilled for the AOC who won, I am disheartened that it took so bloody long for it to happen. The board’s directive to solve this issue is imperative.
That’s all the good stuff. Now…the not so good.
Dear RWA Board Members.
I recognize that this was a hard year for you all. Cockygate, then the plagerism scandal; the #dontattendtheRitas movement because of the diversity issue. These have been tough hills to climb, I get that.
But…..
- Attending RWA in NYC is wicked expensive. The rooms alone are bankruptable to most writers who don’t make 6 figures ( hell, even 4 figures) a year. There must be some hotel that can accommodate this group for less money.
- And while we are on the subject of expensive hotels, 37 dollars for a breakfast buffet is ridiculous! I can’t believe there wasn’t some cost reduction that could have been given due to the large volume of guests RWA provided for the hotel.
- Now…the elevators. We’ve been in many hotels for RWA and this hotel has, hands down, the absolute worst elevators of any we’ve stayed in. They broke down 3 times, took between 4 and 7 minutes to arrive most days ( yes, I timed them) and simply could not accommodate the amount of writers who needed to get to classes, all at the same time.
- The cost of registration is very high. Very high. And this year ( as last year) I personally don’t feel the cost was worth it for the mediocre quality of the workshops given. DOn’t get me wrong – some of them were fabulous. Truly. But overall I found the choices lacking.
- And having said that, there was a greater emphasis on indie and self publishing than ever before. Many of us are still traditionally published – like I am – and have no desire to switch to Indie. It would have been nice to have a 50/50 split instead of the topheavy indie offerings. Just sayin’
- Now, the RITAS. In the past we’ve had desserts on the table to snack on during the long ( and long winded) ceremony. Little petit fours, snack cookies, delicious desserts to help sugar us up and get us through the event. This is what we had this year:
A box of lemon drops. LEMON DROPS. Really? I paid $499 for a lousy 8 pack of vile tasting hard candies that looked like the came from the land of Halloween candy rejects? Badly done, RWA. Badly done. And while we’re on this subject, $8.00 for a shitty 8 ounce glass of soda and $20.00 for a half glass of champagne was insulting. We’ve already been monetarily gouged for the cost of registration, the hotel, the food and now add insult to injury and charge penurious amounts for a drink at a ceremony?
Yeah, I think I’m skipping San Francisco for sure. I simply can’t afford it.
You can do better than this, RWA. You really can.
Filed under RWA
#RWA2019 #RWA19 Last days…
Friday was a whirlwind, let me tell you.
It started with a great workshop on writing Romantic Comedy – which is near and dear to me, as you all know, and how much we can learn about writing it from watching classic RomCom movies. Excellent stuff, peeps.
Than, it was on to the KENSINGTON book signing. I had copies of my Golden Quill Winner, CAN’T STAND THE HEAT and A SHOT AT LOVE.
The worker elves at Kensington made these gorgeous frames for us to display
and you can see where I placed mine in the picture above of the table. The room, let me tell you, was jampacked with readers when the doors opened at 11. I had to turn my hearing aid DOWN because the level of excitement was shooting through me at warp speed! I gave away all my books – signed! Such a great turnout. And it was nice to connect with fellow Lyrical writers Susan Mann , Kate Pearce, and Mary Ann Marlowe.
The rest of the day was spent at workshops, including a fabulous marketing class taught by the wonderful and uber smart and talented, Kilby Blades.
The evening ending with annual RITA AWARDS where romance authors are recognized for their writing. This night, history was made as the first and second black women EVER were awarded Ritas. It was a long time coming and these uber talented women richly deserved the honors.
I’m going to do one last post tomorrow, a wrap-up of sorts, of this year’s RWA experience for me, so you won’t want to miss that.
Until next time ~Peg
Filed under Romance Books, RWA
Another jam-filled day at #RWA2019 #RWA19 for this little #romancewriter
So, yesterday was another info-fun packed day. It started with a workshop on marketing strategies for a 12 month period that blew me away!!! If I can do one fourth the things the instructors suggested, I should see a real uptick in sales for 2019!
My mouth to God’s ears, peeps!
I was thrilled to be part of the INDIE BOOKSIGNING next. I brought print copies of DIRTY DAMSELS with me and I am delighted to report they all went!!!
The last Golden Hearts Awards luncheon came next and I am thrilled and overthemoon-delighted to say a dear writer-friend BETSY GRAY won for her unpublished manuscript LOVE ON THE BOOKS. I clapped and cheered so hard, my mascara started running and I had to go back to my room to fix my face!
After that emotional time I was off to to the INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE where I hung out with my publisher of the WILD ROSE PRESS, Rhonda Penders. She was giving away tons of swag and books and one of the prizes was my Deerbourne Inn Novella, HOPE’S DREAM, in POD form!!! Since it’s exclusively a digital book, it was fabulous to see it in print.
Another few classes on how to make INSTAGRAM work effectively for you and then dinner at the KENSINGTON BOOK PARTY!
These were our door prizes this year and I have to tell you I lovelovelove them!! I’ll be signing this award winning book ( Can’t Stand the Heat) at the Kensington book signing on 7.26.19 so come and see me to grab your copy!
… I was just about pooped after all of that, so I had a hot date with my comfy pillow~
Until next time ~ Peg
Filed under RWA
A busy day in #NYC and #RWA2019
Today was the official first day of the conference, but nothing started until 2 pm, so i took advantage of the beautiful day and toured around the city a bit.
Visited the place where I spent many a happy day as a NYC college student, The New York Public Library on 42nd street and Bryant Park
Okay, go ahead and laugh, because my eyes really do look crooked int this photo!
I passed by my favorite street address in all the world
and two buildings I’ve visited more times in my life than I remember.
SO when the festivities began at 2, I spent the rest of the day learning, networking, eating, and visiting with the best people in the world: My romance sistahs from from and near!
Today is the INDIE BOOK signing, so if you’re attending, look for me! I’ve got free books!
Until next time ~Peg
Filed under Romance, Romance Books, RWA
#longandShortReviewsWednesdayBloggingChallenge 7.24.19
This is one of my favorite topics so far from the L&SR Weekly blogging challenge: My favorite quotes from books.
In no particular order:
1. BOOK: New York to Dallas, JD Robb, 2011
In a scene close to the last page of the book, Lt. Eve Dallas is being treated for multiple wounds she received from a serial killer. She is high on the pain killers and speaking to the doctor attending her. (Roarke is her husband).
Eve: “Is my faced messed up? I hate when that happens. Not like I’m pretty or anything, but–”
“You’re the most beautiful woman ever born,” Roarke said from the doorway, and Eve sent him a woozy, drugged smile.
2. BOOK: Peter Pan, JM Barre “For to have faith is to have wings.”
3. BOOK: LITTLE WOMEN, Louisa May Alcott “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my own ship.”
4. BOOK: TWILIGHT, Stephanie Meyer Edward tells Bella: “You are my life now.”
5. THE GODFATHER, Mario Puzo. “Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.”
6. THE GODFATHER, Mario Puzo “A fish rots from the head down.”
Let’s see what some of the other authors in this challenge have to say; L&SR
And don’t forget: DIRTY DAMSELS is available now on KU and here:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2XmMfBn
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2JkOZpA
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2XcgTZS
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2xnWg2x
from a book reviewer: “Best romance I’ve read this year, hands down.” I glow every time I read that!
Filed under Long and SHort Reviews
Peggy Jaeger, Author 