My WILD ROSE PRESS sistah, TENA STETLER, has just added to the growing – and delicious – One Scoop or Two series with the publication of her novella CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MAGIC.
Tena and her book’s hero, Paul, are stopping by today for a little chat…
Tena – take it away…..
Thanks for having us Peggy. Paul had a few minutes before he had to get to work. So here we are. Ask away.
Hero in Chocolate Raspberry Magic: Paul Thorpe
Tell us about the real you—
I was in the Special Forces for several years until the most recent assignment in the middle east went south. Most of us didn’t survive. Until recently, I wasn’t sure survivor was what you’d call me. My world consisted of flash backs, nightmares and PTSD. The VA’s prescription drugs were of little help. Self-medicating with alcohol wasn’t the answer either. Then one of my buddies hooked up with a place called Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehab. He claimed a the former Navy SEAL co-owned the place worked with veterans to help us cope with what happened to us and found jobs we fit in. That’s how I came to be security and computer support for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s a job I excel at and working with the traumatized animals is somehow soothing to me. They don’t judge, they listen, eventually they trust and get better and so do you.
How would people physically describe you?
Tall, muscled, shaggy straight black hair with startling blue eyes. My mom was Native American, my dad was of Irish descent. In a low voice, he said. Trinity likes my dimples. He shrugs.
What is the most inspirational thing you’ve ever done in your life?
I served my county for the right reasons, after that… I got kinda lost. Joined the ranks of Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and helped with the rescue and fund raising for Puffin Cove Rescue. Participating in things like that changes a person in ways you’ll never understand unless you’ve been there.
If you could map out the next five years of your life, what would that look like?
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want the stable home, family and relationship in which we understand and support each other. I also plan to remain with the Salem Wildlife Sanctuary.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Not even going there. Next question.
What do you do for fun? Hiking with the pup I adopted. Spend time with Trinity. Oh she’s the assistant manager at Salem Sanctuary. We learned a lot about each other during the Puffin Cove rescue and fund raiser.
Life advice for the masses?
Believe in yourself and always be willing to help another human being. Never know when you’ll be the one needing help. Pay it forward.
Everyone is made up of both good and bad elements. What are your best qualities and what are your worst qualities?
Best – would be willing to help-out where needed. I’m very mechanically inclined. So there is very little that I can’ fix, design or build. Which comes in handy in my line of work.
Worst. – Way too many to mention. But coping with PTSD and my temper are the two main ones that come to mind. I’m working on both.
Lastly, tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed? Lots of dust bunnies.
Tena,Tell us a little about writing this story.
Chocolate Raspberry Magic was a blast to write. Who doesn’t love a hunky hero, a strong heroine, adorable animals, and a feel good tale? It’s kinda a continuation of HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC, but still a stand-alone. I knew Trinity and Paul would need their own story and tying it into where they met was just fun.
Do my characters act as I expect? Heaven’s no. Probably because I am a write by the seat of my pants author. LOL
Tell us about Chocolate Raspberry Magic:
Prim and proper Trinity Shiloh is the assistant manager for Salem’s Wildlife Sanctuary. She hasn’t had much luck in the boyfriend department, but the new employee Paul is different. Deep and brooding she sees something special hidden below the surface. Besides she has secrets of her own.
Paul Thorp is a wounded Special Forces veteran now working in security and computer support. He’s fought hard to keep his demons in check and for the first time feels he is ready for a real relationship.
When a fire breaks out at Puffin Cove Rescue, they are called in to help with the recovery and ice cream social fundraiser. Sometimes things are not what they seem, and neither are people. When magic is unleashed, will what they learn bring them closer together or push them apart?
A sneak peek between the pages of Chocolate Raspberry Magic:
As Trinity walked through the aftermath of the fire, she lifted the yellow and black caution tape and carefully stepped inside the building. Her gut clenched and that feeling of foreboding washed over her again. The farther she ventured into the burnt building the stronger the gut-wrenching feeling became. Something needs my help. This was a new sensation. She took a small flashlight out of her backpack, directed the beam over the scorched debris, and moved the rubble with her toe. Nothing.
One more sweep of the light and she’d return to the others. Probably not supposed to be here anyway. A weak squawk emanated from the far corner of the building. Picking up a scorched stick, she poked at the debris. A puff of smoke rose as she made her way to where the sound came from. Shining the light into the corner, she saw movement. She knelt down and carefully shifted the charred rubble. Laying on its side, head slightly raised, and using a wing in an attempt to right itself was a small parrot. Its little eyes locked on her for a moment before its head lowered to the ground.
Frantically, she glanced around, but there was no one in sight. How far had she ventured without telling anyone? The structure overhead groaned in warning. No time. “Okay little one, it’s you and me. I don’t have much experience at this, but I’ll do my best.” Shrugging out of her backpack, she unzipped it completely. “I’m going to scoop you up in my backpack and get help.” She didn’t raise her voice to call for help for fear of scaring the poor thing.
Clearing as much debris away from the bird as possible, she scooped up the parrot in her bag. Slowly she stood, so as not to jostle the little creature. Holding the bag gently against her chest, she picked her way across the downed wooden braces, charred remnants of cabinetry, and broken glass.
“Trinity, Trinity, where are you?” Paul’s worried voice pierced the air.
“Over here,” she called with relief directing the flashlight beam toward his voice. The wind shifted the burnt skeleton of the building emitting a squeeing sound of swaying twisted, wet wood. This section of the structure was in danger of collapsing.
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
I am so over the moon. THIS IS MY VERY FIRST RONE NOMINATION!!! to make it to the finals, though, people have to vote for the book. Here’s the letter with the instructions of voting from the Rone Committee:
It is extremely important that you let all your readers and fans know! ( THAT’S WHY I’M PUTTING IT IN A BLOG POST! LOL) We would hate to think a superior quality book lost only because people were unaware of the time limit. Also, make sure that they understand they MUST be registered on our website at www.indtale.com in order to vote. ( IT COSTS NOTHING TO REGISTER!)
*****Once you are registered, you will be required to click the verification link sent to you via email. If you do not verify you registration with this link, you will be unable to vote. This is very important to help ensure that the voting is fair and maintains the high-quality standards required for this top-tier award.
Once the voting is final and the winning books announced, the finalists in each genre will then be read and judged by a group of professionals in the industry to determine the very best book in the indie and small published world! The winners will then be announced and awarded the prestigious RONE Award at the formal ceremony at the InD’Scribe Conference, October 7th, 2021. An announcement with all the information will be coming soon! Be sure to check out our website and Facebook Page! http://www.indscribe.com.
Brody has his hands full with a murderer next door trying to take over his ranch. Laura broke his heart ten years earlier. Now she’s back, and right in the crosshairs of his sworn enemy.
Laura never stopped loving Brody. And when she learns of his unscrupulous rival’s plan to take his home, she can’t stay away. Even though he rebuffs her help, she is determined to make amends for the past.
Can Brody save the ranch, keep its secrets, extract vengeance and protect Laura? All without losing his heart to her all over again?
Excerpt:
A week passed during which Brody never left the ranch, using a multitude of excuses to himself to stick close. Never far from mind was the ridiculous task he’d been set. What did he know about wooing a woman? Unsuccessfully, he tried to stop his mind from going down that dark pathway to the last time he saw Laura.
Or the first.
He’d known right from the get-go that she was above his station, but his ego got the better of him. Made sure she was intrigued by his eighteen-year-old swagger and confidence.
He heaved a sigh. Maybe this little exercise, to woo the schoolmarm, would shake off those cobwebbed memories once and for all.
Brody took his time getting ready. Shaved, slicked down his hair, put on his best shirt and polished his boots. Without a word to anyone he saddled up Phoenix and made his way to Bullet.
The schoolhouse stood off to one side, next to a field where the kids could run around and play, shiny as a new pin. He tilted back his head and studied the exterior of the building. It looked nicer than the one in Yuma. Cleaner too. Red brick must have cost Hawkes a fortune, but the man surely did like to flaunt his wealth.
Slowly Brody dismounted and tied Phoenix to the hitching post out front. Feeling like he was facing his executioner, he made his way up two steps to the front door, only to find it locked tight.
His heart lightened, feeling a reprieve. His steps were lighter, too, as he made his way back to his horse. He’d barely touched the reins, when he heard a female voice behind him.
“Brody. Brody is that you?”
Slowly he turned. Laura stood before him like a vision from the past, one he wasn’t sure was real or imagined. All the pain and confusion from ten years ago rushed through him, filling his head with so much chatter he couldn’t hear a thing.
Don’t miss the great First-in-a-series sale!
About Kathleen Lawless:
Kathleen blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys. Historical or contemporary, cowboys continue to resonate with her today.
One of her heroes, Steele, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was dating on-line and met a man called Steel– Well, he’s not a cowboy but his is an alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.
Not that she can ever stick to just one genre. So many stories to tell–never enough time. With close to 30 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, erotic romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults.
Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP reader newsletter for your free copy of BEFORE THE BRIDES. http://eepurl.com/bV0sb1
Today’s tease is in honor of brothers. I don’t have any but if I did I’d want them to be like the 4 Keane men in Brothers, Inc.
So, for your reading and teasing pleasure, here’s a little something from A PRIDE OF BROTHERS: AIDEN ( release date sometime in 2021). Aiden has just arrived home from a two month assignment out of town and his older brother Dylan is picking him up at the airport.
Enjoy!
At the bottom of the escalator he spotted his older brother, Dylan, waiting and holding a sign reading, Welcome Home, Brain.
Dylan tossed him the cocky, shit-eating smirk he reserved for his baby brother. The one that, when he’d been a scrawny, shy, sickly kid, filled Aiden with insecurity. Not any longer. Now that he matched his brothers for height and strength, Aiden’s insecurity was a thing of the past.
“Hey, baby bro,” Dylan said, tugging his brother close and banging him on the back a few times.
“You’re an asshole,” Aiden said, “with that sign.”
“Yeah, but ya love me anyway.”
Aiden shook his head, while his brother tossed an arm over his shoulder and tugged him along.
“Car’s right outside. And I brought a little lady along with me.”
His mood lifted considerably. “You been taking good care of her for me? I better not find out she gained ten pounds and got lazy from laying around all day.”
“Cool your jets. She’s as fit as always. But I think she’s forgotten all about you. Absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder and she now knows, firsthand, I’m the better brother in every way. She’s grown quite used to being with me.”
“Don’t bet on it. She’s as loyal as they come.”
He’d parked the Jeep outside the loading zone barrier, it’s flashers on, the motor running.
“As least you kept the air conditioning on,” Aiden said when he spotted the vehicle.
The moment he opened the passenger back door he was set upon by one hundred and twenty pounds of pure muscle and love.
Laughing, Aiden allowed himself to be licked and pawed, while he rubbed and loved on the dog that meant more to him than most people he knew.
“I missed you, too, girl. Did Uncle Dylan take good care of you?”
The dog answered by jumping and placing her paws on his shoulders, her tail swishing like a windshield wiper, and gracing his face with another slobbery lick.
“Dog’s more spoiled than you were as a kid,” Dylan said as he slid into the driver’s seat. “Come on. I don’t want to get ticketed.”
Once the brothers and the excited chocolate Labrador were settled in, Dylan pulled out into traffic.
“She give you any trouble?” Aiden asked as he continued to rub the dog’s neck where she peeked in between the front seats.
“Not an ounce. I don’t think she even barked once while you were gone.” He glanced at his younger brother, a sly grin gracing his face. “I never knew a dog was such a babe magnet. Whenever I took her for a run in the park, chicks flocked around her, and by extension, me. I got more numbers shoot my way than I could deal with.”
Aiden frowned at him. “I don’t like the idea of you using my dog to score with women.”
“I didn’t use Bronte for anything unseemly, but I couldn’t help how many women thought she was quote, the most beautiful dog they’d ever seen, unquote, and just had to pet her and ask me all about her.”
“I’m gonna bet you sang your own praises more than my dog’s.”
“I’m not taking any part of that bet.” Dylan’s smug grin pulled a headshake and a wry smile from him.
Today’s backlisted book isn’t that old, but since it isn’t new, either, I figured it would be a goodie to add.
If you like ice cream, summer vacations, and sweet romances, VANILLA WITH A TWIST ( One Scoop or Two series) is for you. Set in the fictional New Hampshire seaside town of Beacher’s Cove, this novella was a pleasure to write – especially since I had to do a lot of research on ice cream flavors…hee hee
Tandy Blakemore spends her days running her New England ice cream parlor, single-parenting her teenage son, and trying to keep her head above financial water. No easy feat when the shop’s machinery is aging and her son is thinking about college. Tandy hasn’t had a day off in a decade and wonders if she’ll ever be able to live a worry-free life. Engineer Deacon Withers is on an enforced vacation in the tiny seaside town of Beacher’s Cove. Overworked, stressed, and lonely, he walks into Tandy’s shop for a midday ice cream cone and gets embroiled in helping her fix a broken piece of equipment. Can the budding friendship that follows lead to something everlasting?
Excerpt:
For a few moments, she regarded him with a look his mother would have called insightful. The corners of her eyes narrowed, she dipped her chin a hair, and she pulled her mouth into another appealing pout he was tempted to kiss.
“I bet,” she said after a long, drawn-out sigh, “you were the kind of kid who took apart clocks and fans and vacuum cleaners to see how they worked.”
“It was more washing machines and lawn mowers and anything with a motor, but yeah. I was.”
She shook her head, her own lips forming a lopsided grin. “Your poor mother.”
“She survived.”
Tandy rolled her eyes and shot her hands to her hips. “So it’s working again?” She thrust her chin at the ice cream machine.
“For now.”
“Okay, well, I can live with for now. And you think you know the real reason it’s been acting up?”
“I definitely do. But like I said, the water to the machine needs to be shut off to fix it.”
“Okay. Well, we close at nine.”
“I’ll come back a little before then. Get things ready. Is that okay with you?”
“I guess it’ll have to be.” She bit down on the inside of her cheek as her brows pulled together. “And you’re sure you want to do this?”
“If I weren’t, I wouldn’t offer, Tandy.”
Why her reluctance to have him help was such a turn-on was something he considered while he waited for his ice cream.
And if you wouldn’t mind, it would help me and the other authors out a lot if you’d share this promotion with your friends and family. Just forward this email to anyone you think would love to find their next favorite book!
Thanks so much for your help and support. Happy reading!
It’s hard to trust when you’re the daughter of a fallen financial scion who bilked people out of billions. Nell’s done everything in her power to keep away from men who see her as their ticket to fortune and fame. All she wants to do is run her ultra-successful business, HELPFUL HUNKS, in peace.
But it wouldn’t hurt to find a guy who doesn’t know a thing about her father’s felonious past; one she can give her heart to and trust it won’t come back to her battered, bruised, and broken.
Is Charlie Churchill that guy? On the surface he seems perfect, all polished manners and quiet mirth. Nell’s convinced he knows nothing about her, other than she likes superhero movies and views junk food as a food group.
Can she trust him to be what he appears to be? Or is he just pretending?
Today’s mug is a silly one I got in a gift basket. It was at a fundraiser for Foster Parents of Keene. At the time of the auction I was in the height of raging hormones from menopause and I was hot flashing 20-30 times per day. This mug was perfect for that time!
So, I showed your mine…show me yours. No theme today, just a cute mug.
Spring has arrived and N. N. Light’s got spring fever.
It could be all the flowers in bloom or it could be the birds singing in the trees. Hurry and hop like a bunny over to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven and enter to win some amazing prizes including a few new releases, autographed print books by bestselling and award-winning authors, audiobook codes plus e-books galore and a couple of Amazon gift card. In fact, I’m one of the authors participating and you could win BAKED WITH LOVE . The list is long and personally, I’d love to win myself but alas, I can’t. So, I’ll just live vicariously through the lucky winners. If there’s a particular book or prize you’d like to win, be sure to say which prize you want when you enter via Rafflecopter. Enter below and good luck!
Peggy Jaeger, Author 