Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Linda LaRoque Guest Post



I'm happy to be part of the blog tour for Linda LaRoque! Today, Linda stops by with a giveaway and a gustpost. One commenter today will win a copy of A Marshal of Her Own, and one commenter from Linda's entire blog tour will win a Kindle! 

Linda's topic today is about the Hoosier Cabinet. 
Here is what Linda has to say:


The majority of Victorian houses didn’t have built in cabinets in their kitchens. For homemakers, lack of storage to organize cooking supplies and staples was a major problem. For years free-standing cupboards made food preparation and storage somewhat easier. In 1898, the Hoosier Manufacturing Company of New Castle, Indiana, produced the first Hoosier cabinet. It put everything at the woman’s fingertips and remained popular into the 1920s when builders began to incorporate cabinets into their kitchen designs. Many homes used the cabinet much later into the twentieth-century, some until 1940s and 1950s. Today they are collector’s items. My cousin has one that still has the paper label. It looks almost identical to the one pictured.
As you can see in the picture, the Hoosier has a large base section set on casters. It has one door and several drawers and a slide out countertop for baking, with several thin drawers below to hold utensils. The upper section is shallower and has several smaller compartments with doors. One door has a roll top. Another holds a flour bin with a sifter attached and another bin to hold sugar. Shelves hold racks and other hardware to store spices, tea, coffee, and other staples. Special jars were made to fit suspended in a metal hanging rack. In the picture you can see the labels with measuring conversions, sample recipes, and household hints. Lucky was the woman who had a Hoosier in her kitchen.







References 



Linda, what an interesting post! Thank you for sharing!

Linda is also sharing an excerpt from A Marshal Of Her Own. And of course, a blurb.

Blurb:  Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.
Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

Excerpt:  Dessa stood still and watched as they conversed. Something stank to high heaven about this entire situation. Why were the cops chasing robbers on horseback? It’s not like Fredericksburg was that isolated. She glanced at the captured men. The boy moaned, and she made a step to go over and help him. The Marshal spun, and the expression in his eye froze her in place.
He needs first aid.”
He’s fine. The Doc will tend to him when we get to the jail.”
You could at least call 911 and let them patch him up for you.” She nodded to the man lying so still with his eyes closed. “Your other prisoner doesn’t look so good. He’s going to die on you if you don’t start CPR or get him some help.”
Lady, no one is going to hear a yell from out here. Never heard of any 911 or CPR.” He propped the hand not holding the shotgun on his hip and threw her a disgusted look. “Are you blind? That man is dead, shot through the heart.”
Her head swam for a moment, and she struggled not to give in to the sensation and faint. She drew in deep gulps of air. “Well...well..., what about the coroner and the meat wagon, not to mention the CSI folks? If you don’t get them to record the scene, how are you going to cover your butt? The authorities might say you shot him in cold blood.”
He looked at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about woman. No one will question my authority. I’m the law in this county. Now, be quiet, or I’m going to gag you.”

A Marshal of Her Own will be available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. It is the sequel to A Law of Her Own available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. I’m awaiting a release date for A Love of His Own, the third story in the Prairie, Texas series.

My release contest for A Marshal of Her Own began November 9th. I’ll be giving away this vintage rhinestone typewriter pin. To enter the drawing, go to my website or blog and sign up for my newsletter. Don’t forget to verify your email address. If you already receive it, email me at linda@lindalaroque.com with A Marshal of Her Own contest in the subject line. Contest ends December 15, 2011.

Leave me a comment or ask a question today and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Law of Her Own.

Also, today’s blog post is part of 2 blog tours—this one for A Marshal of Her Own and starting December 4th, one for Born in Ice. Follow along each day and leave a comment to be entered into the grand prize drawing and learn about my Born in Ice contest.
The Blog Tour schedule will be posted on my blog and website. It will last 25 days and the Grand Prize is a Kindle. Leave a comment each day and your name will be entered 25 times. Pretty good odds, huh?
Thank you for having me on your blog today, Nikki!

You're very welcome, Linda! Congratulations on your release, I wish you many sales, and continuing success in your writing career! 

Tomorrow, Dec. 1, I’ll be on Val Pearson’s blog at - http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/ValPearson talking about Women of Controversy.
AND in The Tap Room with Liz Crowe at http://www.brewingpassion.com/
Happy Reading and Writing!
Linda LaRoque
Writing Romance With a Twist in Time






BIO:  Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.


Linda, it's been a pleasure having you on my blog!

I hope that readers will follow Linda on the blog tour and remember, comment for some prizes!

Until next time,

Storm Goddess









Saturday, November 26, 2011

Review: Jason To Jessica


Blurb:  Jason Ryerson wakes from sleep in a different room and a different body. In 
the hour after waking up, he learns that he has been a victim twice over,
first of a car accident that cause massive injuries to his old body.
Secondly, and more devastatingly a victim of the MORFS plague.

Jason, now Jessica, learns what it means to be on the other side of the bed. 
Outwardly a beautiful woman, she is forced to come to terms with how the
world views women. As ties to her past are confronted, dissolved or
strengthened, Jessica turns her attention to her future. A man who knew her
as both Jason and now Jessica becomes more than just a friend. With no
secrets between them, will he help her find her way into the world of being
a woman?


My Thoughts:  

First off, I want to say I love reviewing. For many, many reasons. One major one is I may have never read some of the books that I have read for review. Sometimes something out of the ordinary or different may not make it's way into someone's reading list.  I know I have found SO MANY books that I've enjoyed that I probably would have missed out on otherwise.

Back to the regularly scheduled program. Or review in this case.

Jason to Jessica. This book isn't your average romance. I must start off by saying that. If you have preconceived ideas about this story, just wipe them from your thoughts now.  

Imagine a world where you suddenly change genders from a plague  called MORFS. This is what happens to Jason Ryerson. In his case, Jason is lucky to have gotten hit with MORFS, because it seemed to have saved his life.

I really like the kind of books where people kind of "switch places"  Jason to Jessica is a different variation of that type of story.  Jason is now Jessica, and SHE must try to learn to cope with life as being a woman.  With a major blend of science fiction and a dash of romance, this book is intriguing different.  The first part of the story, while interesting, is slightly slow but really picks up after a few chapters. 

It's a book I enjoyed. If you're a fan of something different, don't mind science fiction with romance, then try out Jason to Jessica. It might surprise you!







Keep up with Starfox Howl:     http://starfoxhowl.Blogspot.com



Until next time,

Storm Goddess



Friday, November 25, 2011

Sloan's Witch Review

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Blurb: While visiting from her parallel world, Kassidy finds her witch powers put to the test to help destroy an evil entity. Piece of cake for a powerful witch. Now if she could only work her magic on the sexy cop who keeps holding her at arm's length while he tries to decide if he wants to admit being in love with a witch...


My Thoughts:  I normally don't read a lot of short stories. My heart longs for the in depth characterization and plot. Sloan's Witch is a quick read and a sequel to Spell Kissed. The first line grabbed me right away and I finished up the story within a short time. It had plenty of action and fun, and it stopped all to quickly! I really enjoyed Sloan's Witch, and would have loved it to be longer, but alas, it is what it is :). 


This is my first glimpse into the writings of author Kari Thomas, and I'm already longing for more.  Sloan and Kassidy's story may but a quick read, but Ms. Thomas packs a lot of emotion and action within the pages. 


Want a copy of Sloan's Witch for your own? Here are some buy links:




Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1105160529?ean=2940013072404&itm=1&usri=sloan%2bs%2bwitch


Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Sloans-Witch-ebook/dp/B005I6BJYW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313855869&sr=8-1






Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/82702  


ARe:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sloan039switch-599464-172.html


Kari's website:  http://www.authorkari.com/\


Until next time,

Storm Goddess





Friday, November 18, 2011

Kill Shot- New book from author Anne Patrick!

Whether you're a longtime reader of Anne's books, or this is a new-to-you author, I do hope you enjoy the excerpt for Anne's new book Kill Shot.  Also be sure to check back in the coming weeks on my blog, because I will have a review up for the book.






BLURB:  Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister's killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

EXCERPT: 

The steel door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound echoing throughout the metal building. "Mr. Urlik?" She waited for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting before stepping all the way inside. A wide stream of light from the door spread out in front of her. "Mr. Urlik. Are you in here?"
Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.
"No time. Get out."
"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"
He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."
His hand went limp.
Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.
She scrambled to her feet, as more shots ricocheted around her, and dove through an opening on the first row of shelves. A piercing pain sliced through her upper arm as she took cover behind some boxes. They wouldn't shield her from the gunfire but they would conceal her presence while she figured out how she was going to get out of there. She paused long enough to grab her cell phone from her backpack, wishing she hadn't when another bullet tore through a box beside her. She ducked lower to the floor.
Kory ignored the throbbing in her arm and slithered along the floor toward the back of the building. As a child, she and her sister, Callie, had often accompanied her grandfather to the warehouse where he worked on boats as a hobby. She remembered a back exit that led to the side parking lot and nearby woods. If she could reach the door, she had a chance of getting out of this alive. She looked down at the tear in her shirt, drenched with blood.
This isn't good!




If you want a copy of the book, you can go to Anne's publisher:  http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-227/Wounded-Heros-Book-One/Detail.bok


Anne's BIO: Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. When she's not killing off people or falling in love with dashing heroes, you can find her surfing the web or spending time with family and friends.  Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.

Want to keep up with Anne?  Here's her website:  http://www.annepatrick.weebly.com
Thanks for stopping by! 

Anne, congratulations on your newest release, and I wish you many sales. I will post a review here as soon as I can.

Until next time, 
Storm Goddess



Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Interview with M. S. Spencer!







First off, tell us about yourself, and your writing background.


Sure. Although I’ve lived and traveled in five continents, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. I hold a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. Today I divide my time among Virginia, Maine and Florida.
I’ve published four contemporary romantic suspense novels, Lost in His Arms and Lost and Found, both bestsellers at (www.redrosepublishing.com/books) and Losers Keepers and Triptych (of which more below) from Secret Cravings (www.secretcravingspublishing.com).
I am blessed with two fabulous grown children but only one cat (down from three, plus a dog, a snake and two hamsters). It’s a quiet household now, but since my study window looks on a park and river there is plenty of wildlife to distract me from my writing.


How long have you been writing?
Since my father gently curled my tiny infant fingers around a crayon. Or so it seems.

When did you know you wanted to write for publication?


I’ve always wanted to be published. It’s that pesky desire for immortality—to create something that will last long after I’m gone, even if it’s only a slim volume gathering dust in someone’s attic.

Are you a plotter or a panster?
Both. I start with a general outline of the story in my head, but once the writing begins it’s anybody’s guess what will happen next. Sometimes I’ll go back and reread an earlier book and have no recollection of coming up with some of the scenes. I don’t mind, because usually those are the best parts of the book. Elves?

What do you do to celebrate a release day?


I open the refrigerator and stare at the bottle of champagne on ice, then close the door because I’m really much too excited to eat or drink anything yet and anyway I need someone to celebrate with and after all I still have that interview to do so maybe I’ll put off celebrating until later…Sigh.

When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies and interests?


Eating, drinking (the previous answer notwithstanding); swimming and kayaking; bird watching and travel.

What's something about you that your fans don't know?


Golly, I’m thinking I’m an open book—all secrets revealed here. Well, they might not know that I’ve recently recovered from a horrendous flood—evacuation, floating furniture—the works. I don’t think anything I’ve done was quite as scary—or as exhilarating. Oh wait, flying across the sands on a fiery chestnut Arabian stallion right under the nose of the Sphinx might qualify. Or enduring a staring contest with the world’s smallest primate in the Peruvian Amazon (guess who won?).

If you could co- author a book with someone, who would you choose, and what kind of book would it be?

I’ve often wondered how the famous musical teams (Lerner & Lowe, Gilbert & Sullivan) worked together. How did they meld the music and lyrics so seamlessly? As for me, I don’t think I could co-author a book. It’s hard enough to allow my characters to tread their own path; how could I yield to another writer’s choice of words or action? Furthermore, if I were collaborating with a writer I admire, I’d be too intimidated to contribute, and if my partner were not up to par, I’d get heartburn trying to be nice.

What is something in your writing career you'd like to achieve that you haven't yet?

Enormous sales.

How do you feel about books adapted to movies?

I have rarely seen a movie that is better than the book—for example, Jurassic Park and the Harry Potter movies do not compare with their textual sires. On the other hand, many modern quick-off-the-press novels often make better movies (with the demise of copy editors and rise of Spell Check, reading a pulp novel can be painful—at least there are no typos in a movie). Perhaps a rule of thumb is to consider them completely independent creations and enjoy the features of each as they are.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

It’s fun to draw bits from my experiences—funny, tragic, strange, thrilling, whatever, and store it as a potential bit part in a future story. I also love rereading a passage I wrote the night before and thinking, “Wow, that’s really good—I wonder who snuck into my study and wrote that after I went to bed?” Oh, and sleeping late.

What's the hardest thing about being a writer?

Page six. By that I mean, once you’ve formulated a general outline in your head and sit down to write, the first five pages always flow swiftly from your fingers. Then about page six the inspiration slows down. After that it takes steady perseverance and plain hard work.

Do you write in one genre only? If so, do you ever think about writing in another genre? Which one?

My four published works are all romantic suspense. I have written some children’s stories that I really love—one, based on the Genesis story of the dove Noah set loose to find land, is wonderful but doesn’t seem to fit any genre or publisher so far. My children adore my series of the Adventures of Edward the Fly (yes, he’s a real fly—you can imagine the kind of research I had to do for HIM).

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jane Austen, Christopher Buckley, J. P. Marquand, Iris Murdoch, Isaac Azimov, Elizabeth Peters. For vastly different reasons.

Three favorite books on your keepers shelf?

Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; Lynn Truss’ Eats Shoots and Leaves; The Best of P. G. Wodehouse. A fourth, if I’m allowed, would be Julia Child’s My Life in France.

What would you like to see make a comeback, genre wise?

Historical drama. The plays of John Bolt (A Man for All Seasons), Jean Anouilh (Becket), and James Goldman (The Lion in Winter) were so richly written and evocative. When I was in college books and movies about English history were all the rage.

What is one of the strangest questions you've had to ask for research purposes?

It would have to be “How does a fly eat?”




This was quite an entertaining and fun interview! I had a blast.


Now, readers, get a load of this cover for M. S. Spencer's newest romantic suspense release, Triptych, available now from Secret Cravings Publishing. 




I absolutely love romantic suspense, so I'll be checking out all of the books in M.S. Spencer's published books. Thanks again for coming by!


Until next time,


Storm Goddess

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Donna Grant Interview and Giveaway!

Update: The winner of the Donna Grant ebook version of Shadow Magic, picked by random.org is.........


Raonaid Luckwell!!!


Raonaid, please contact me at Stormgoddess 925 @ yahoo . com (Without spaces, of course) and I'll pass along your information to get your prize!!


Congratulations, and sorry for the delay in announcing the winner.


I am honored to have Donna Grant on my blog today! I've asked Donna some interview questions, I have a blurb for Shadow Magic, and one lucky commenter gets a chance to win an e-copy of Shadow Magic, so be sure to leave a comment here today.




     Donna, thanks for stopping by today! Congratulations on your newest release!  And now, onto the interview questions!


 SG: What draws you to the paranormal?
 Donna Grant:   I think that it's the notion that there are no boundaries in the paranormal world. Anything can happen, and usually does. There is nothing to box an author in. We're allowed to let our imaginations run wild, and its a fabulous trip. :D

SG: How long have you been writing, and when did you know you wanted to write for publication?
Donna Grant:  I've been writing since 1999. But before that I always had stories going on in my head. It was in 1999 that I decided to try and put one of those stories down on paper. I finished my first book in five months while working full time. I was hooked after that first book and knew I wanted to be a romance author. 

SG: Are you a plotter, or do you write from the seat of your pants?
Donna Grant: Oh, I'm a full pantster. lol. I never know where my characters are going to take me from one moment to the next. They surprise me often, and I love it! If I plot a book out, to me its already written, and I can't write it. :S

 SG: Do you ever use photo images to create your characters traits?
Donna Grant:  No, not really. Now, that's not to say I won't see some hunk (its only always the guys) on TV or the movies and think, "wow. He'd make a great hero!" Sometimes it isn't his look, but its the demeanor of a character that really catches my attention.
SG:  When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies/passions/interests?
Donna Grant:  I write Monday - Friday, all day until its time to get the kiddos. Sometimes, after that I come back and return to the book/work. But when I'm not at my desk, I'm usually reading, watching movies, or spending time with my family. I'd like to say one of my hobbies is flowers, but I spend more time pulling weeds than planting, so maybe I should say I've got a hobby of pulling weeds. lol. ;)

SG:  Favorite authors?
Donna Grant: Oh, I've got several. I adore Lisa Kleypas. Then there's Lara Adrian, Alexandra Ivy, Christina Dodd, and the list could go on and on. 

SG:  Favorite books?
Donna Grant:  Entirely too many to name. :)

SG:  If you could have a supernatural ability, what would it be and why do you chose that particular one?
Donna Grant:  Oh, that's an easy one. I'd be able to teleport. I'd keep me from flying and getting air sick. :S

SG:    What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career that you have not yet done?
Donna Grant:  Hit a major list like the USA Today and New York Times best sellers lists of course.

SG:  If you could co-author with anyone on a collaboration (Not an anthology, but actually write a book together) who would you chose and what kind of book would you want to write?
Donna Grant:  Oddly enough, I get this question a lot. The thing is, I don't think I could do it. I give kuddos to anyone who can co-author a book. I can't imagine the discipline and meeting of the minds it takes. I've seen authors collaborating on an anthology and the discussion can be on target for part of the book, and then suddenly everyone wants to take the characters in different directions. It's a lot of stress. My characters are hard enough to wrangle without adding another author and their idea of my characters into the mix. lol.

SG:   What's something your readers don't know about you that you don't mind sharing?
Donna Grant:  I'm allergic to perfume and scented lotion. Going to conferences and book signings always give me migraines because of all the scents people wear. I can't even walk into Bath and Body because of the smell. And God forbid anyone who tries to spray perfume on or near me in a store.

I've had to leave a movie before because the woman bathed in perfume that not only gave me a migraine but made me incredibly sick to my stomach. My poor family knows not to wear any kind of harsh perfumes or lotions when they're coming around me. 

SG: Favorite holiday? Donna Grant: Christmas. I love decorating. :)
SG:  Favorite color? Donna Grant: Burgundy!
SG: Hot or cold?  Donna GrantHot. I'm so not a fan of the cold.

SG:  What's the strangest question you've had to ask for book research purposes?
Donna Grant:  lol. I can't think of anything.

SG:  What do you do to celebrate a book release on release day?
Donna Grant: Normally, I'm under deadline for another book while trying to promote the one releasing and doing blog tours, that it's a good day just to survive. A nice glass of wine, and hubby either brings home food or cooks. :)

SG: If you could read the mind of a famous person, who would it be, and what would you want to know?
Donna Grant: Oh, good question. Though reading a person's mind is dangerous, I think I'd have to talk to Cleopatra and find out what exactly she was thinking getting involved with Rome. ;)

Donna, it's been great getting to you know through these questions, and I hope everyone has enjoyed the interview as well. 

Below is the gorgeous cover for Shadow Magic!




Blurb: With a past soaked in sin and darkness slowly closing in around him to claim his soul, Drogan only wants to live his life in solitude. Years in the king’s service and his numerous deeds directed by the crown have left Drogan with horrendous nightmares and immeasurable guilt...
Serena is a witch, cursed and forever alone. She accepts her future. Until she meets Drogan. With Drogan a passion deep and unyielding awakens inside her. She is willing to sacrifice herself for his love, but can he put his past to rest and embrace the future?



Be sure to look for Shadow Magic at your favorite ebook retailers!

http://www.donnagrant.com/ Is Donna's website.

Donna, I wish you many sales, and continued success. Everyone, be sure to stay tuned as there will soon be a review up for Shadow Magic here on Storm Goddess Book Reviews and more.  As I mentioned above, one commenter could win, so this is your chance! 

Until next time,

Storm Goddess