Visit The Roses of Prose

Since the 30th of the month is my usual posting day at The Roses of Prose blog, I'm redirecting you there. Come on over and say hi.  http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/2015/11/thanksgiving-end-of-year-and-short.html

Starting tomorrow (December 1st), the Roses present our annual collection of holiday stories. My story is first. I hope you'll enjoy "The Christmas Jailbirds."

Thanks for visiting.

Saturday Sampler: THE TWELFTH DAY by Alicia Dean

USA TODAY Bestselling, National Bestselling & Award-Winning Authors!
Christmas isn't all Peace on Earth this Holiday Season in 8 Outstanding Suspense Stories of Murderers, Stalkers, Terrorists, Thieves, and Kidnappers. Criminal Christmas puts the Danger in the season of Mistletoe and Christmas Cookies. Snuggle up by the fire with our books and enjoy Christmas like never before. Over 850 pages of Danger, Mystery, Romance and Suspense! ONLY 99¢

Alicia Dean’s Novella, The Twelfth Day:

Blurb:

As a teen, party girl Sabrina Spencer was the lone survivor of a serial killer’s attack on her family. Her testimony put the killer behind bars, and she spent the following decade carving out a new life and trying to forget.

But someone hasn’t forgotten. Two weeks before Christmas, she begins receiving daily packages containing bizarre gifts and threatening messages with demented references to the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Handyman Josh Cravens is remodeling the lake house she rents each year to escape the painful reminders Christmas brings. While his dimples and blue eyes are hard to resist, he’s the exact kind of player she’s been avoiding since she outgrew her wild days. But the isolated cabin and threatening messages boost her paranoia to fever pitch.

As Christmas draws closer, she’s torn between finding comfort in Josh’s arms, and fear that he might be behind the twisted countdown to the twelfth day.

Excerpt:

Sabrina ended the call with Halley and was about to shut down the laptop when the song started. Holding her breath, she warily eyed the screen. A note appeared.

On the sixth day of Christmas…

You cheated death a decade ago, but time is running out.

She let out a scream and jumped from the chair.

Footsteps pounded. She glanced back to see Josh and Dustin standing behind her.

Josh frowned at the screen. “What’s that all about?”

She slammed the laptop shut. “Nothing.”

“You’re trembling. It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

She wrapped her arms around her body. “I-I really don’t know what it is. I’ve been getting these crazy messages.”

Josh’s frown deepened. “That’s not the first one?”

She shook her head.

“Have you called the police?”

“And tell them what? That somebody, I have no idea who, is sending me creepy messages?”

“After what happened to you, don’t you think this might be a little more than that?”

Her cheeks were numb, and she had trouble forming words. “The killer is behind bars.”

Dustin’s eyes rounded. “The killer? Is there a killer?”

Sabrina forced a reassuring smile. “No, there’s no killer. Everything is fine.”

His confused expression turned petulant. “Don’t lie to me. Are you in trouble, Sabrina?”

“I’m not lying. There’s something a little…freaky going on, but I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

Josh pulled out a chair and sat at the table. “Maybe you should tell us everything.”

Sabrina sat as well and explained what had been going on since the day she arrived at the cabin.

By the time she finished, Josh’s scowl had become ferocious. “I don’t like this. Not at all.”

“I’m a high school teacher. I’m sure it’s just one of the kids playing a prank.”

“It’s not a very damn funny prank.”

She grinned without humor. “I never said it was funny.”

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About Alicia:

Alicia Dean is a suspense and paranormal author in Edmond, Oklahoma. She wrote her first romance at age 11 (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. 

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Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

Spotlight on 2 Historical Romances by Elizabeth Meyette + #Giveaway

About the Books

Love's Destiny
by Elizabeth Meyette
Amazon - Holiday Deal now Just $1.99!
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Length: 282 Pages

When Emily Wentworth's father dies at sea, her father's friend - and Emily's appointed guardian - Jonathon Brentwood arrives at her home in London to take her with him to the colonies. Emily, just 17, has decided that she is fully capable of taking care of herself and sets out to prove that to her new guardian.​

Emily's one chance to remain in London is to marry, but when the opportunity arises, she knows she would rather follow Jonathon across an ocean to a land in upheaval than to stay safely in London.

But Jonathon's involvement in patriot activity against England disturbs and threatens Emily, a loyal subject of the king. The colonial rebellion is the backdrop for misunderstanding, fear, mistrust, and danger. Will love's destiny ensure that Emily and Jonathon stay together, even in the face of death?

Love's Destiny - Excerpt

“Please sit down, Captain Brentwood,” Emily said coolly as she sat on the end of the settee. To her confusion, Jonathon sat beside her rather than in the chair she had indicated. A crooked smile played around his lips as though he attempted to hide a joke. He thought of the “Little Em” of George’s stories and chuckled to himself. Nothing had prepared him for this beautiful girl who was trying so hard to be a woman.

“We have much to discuss, Miss Wentworth,” he said as Etta returned with a tray carrying the decanter and two crystal glasses.

“Indeed we have, Captain,” she replied.

Etta set the tray on the table in front of Emily. The housekeeper poured brandy into the glasses, and Emily was grateful for she had no idea what an appropriate amount would have been. She thought Etta rather stingy based on what was in each glass, but she took them and handed one glass to Jonathon. “Thank you, Etta; that will be all.” She turned to Jonathon dismissing the housekeeper.

“Hmmmph!” Etta grumbled as she left the room.
​
Jonathon silently saluted Emily and then took a drink from his glass. Emily sipped hers and tried to choke down the spasms of coughing that threatened to overcome her. She had sampled wine before at social gatherings, but had never tasted brandy. Heat spread down her throat and she blinked the tears out of her eyes causing her to miss the fleeting smile that crossed Jonathon’s face. It was a few minutes before she caught her breath enough to speak.

Love's Spirit

by Elizabeth Meyette
Amazon - Holiday Deal now Just $1.99!
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Length: 318 Pages

Emily Brentwood's ultimatum to return to England led to her husband's capture by British troops, but she learns he has escaped and is still alive. She is overjoyed to be unexpectedly reunited with her husband, but Emily is appalled by Jonathon's injuries at the hands of the British, and she blames herself for his imprisonment and torture.

Separated again when he is forced into hiding, Emily clings to his promise to be with her for the birth of their baby. Boldly, she confronts the British officer who attempted to rape her, and she defies the woman who wants her dead.
​
Still suffering from his wounds, Jonathon risks his life to reunite with Emily, but their time together is cut short by threats from the British and the scandalous demands of his former lover. Jonathon's physical pain pales in comparison to the torment he feels when he betrays Emily. Standing in the way of their happiness is a British officer with a personal vendetta, and a woman whose vicious intentions threaten Emily's life. Torn between anguish over his betrayal of Emily and his need to ensure her safety, Jonathon risks recapture and certain death when he returns to Brentwood Manor knowing that British soldiers scour the countryside for him.
Both Jonathon and Emily must overcome their guilt and trust that love's spirit will triumph over the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart. Swirling around them is a war in which a new country is born from a demand for liberty and a new love is sparked in the midst of rebellion.

Love's Spirit - Excerpt

Emily Brentwood slowly rose to consciousness steeling herself against the assault of anguish and sorrow that accosted her at every dawn. For the last four months the memory of her beloved husband Jonathon being shot and dragged into a British skiff had been the image that lifted her from her sleep and carried her to waking. The surreal sensation she had felt as that scene had unfolded before her, leaving her to believe that he was dead, seeped through her as if it were all happening again.

But something was different this morning. What was it? She battled waking to delay the pain, but there was a whisper of awareness that eased her reluctance. The sun was not rising; it was slanting in the western sky, and the pungent smell of cedar surrounded her. Slowly coming awake, she started at the sensation of strong arms holding her and warm breath tickling the back of her neck. Jonathon was beside her. She gasped as her eyes flew open.

“Jonathon,” she breathed.

“Love,” he answered sleepily.
​
She rolled toward him and buried her face in his chest. His scent was intoxicating and the thick mat of hair tickled her nose; she burrowed into him and he kissed the top of her head. Her arms encircled him and pulled him closer, but his gasp reminded her that his injuries were still fresh. She released him.

About Elizabeth Meyette

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Author, blogger and believer in dreams-come-true, Elizabeth Meyette fell in love with books as a child when her sister read her Goldilocks and the Three Bears. “She had me at ‘Once upon a time…'” Elizabeth confesses. Writing her first book on a dare, she kept Love’s Destiny on her closet shelf for more years than she would like to admit while she taught English and Journalism. Finally she retired early in order to pursue her passion: writing. A friend says she’s not retired, she’s “refired.”

Readers wanted more of the story of Jonathan Brentwood and Emily Wentworth, so Elizabeth got to work on Love’s Spirit. While she loved writing the two historical romances, her muse, Boris, started whispering in her ear characters and plot for The Cavanaugh House. That book was conceived on a trip to upstate New York to visit her family. The Cavanaugh House was a number one paranormal bestseller on Amazon for weeks until Stephen King bumped it to number two.

Elizabeth has also written several children’s books that she hopes to publish in the near future. Her poetry has appeared in various anthologies.
​
A native of upstate New York, Elizabeth now lives in Michigan with her husband Richard. They have an agreement that she cannot cook on writing days after he endured burnt broccoli and dry chicken. Fortunately, Rich is an excellent cook.

The Giveaway

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Thanksgiving

This post was originally printed in the November 2015 issue of Novel Notes, a group newsletter by Alicia Dean, Leah St. James, Kathy L. Wheeler, and me.

Why is it we go from Halloween to Christmas? As if another major holiday doesn’t exist in between? Are there even store decorations for Thanksgiving? In grade school, remember drawing turkeys using your hand as a template? Did you perform skits about the Pilgrims? Dress in costume? I wonder if kids today even know who Squanto was? Are they taught about the first Thanksgiving and how the settlers at Plymouth Colony would have died if not for the generosity of the Indians?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for many reasons. It’s when family gets together to do nothing more than share a meal. No presents to buy and wrap. No expectations. Just visit, catch up with each other’s lives—especially for those not connected by Facebook.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings. At times, this is tough to do. When life overwhelms us, it’s hard to give thanks. Not to get preachy, but if we look beyond ourselves, we can always find someone who has more problems than we do. And we can be thankful for that.

One of my fondest memories of Thanksgiving is watching the Hudson’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (now America’s Thanksgiving Parade) on television. Like many department stores, Hudson’s is no longer. Marshall Field’s bought them out and then Macy’s. But the parade continues. No matter where I live I always tune into the parade as it travels down Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

Along with parade watching, I remember the smells of Thanksgiving morning as Mom would prepare the stuffing for the turkey. Onions, celery, carrots (mirepoix, as my chef son would say) being sautéed in butter along with sage and a little thyme. Love that smell. The turkey roasting during not just the parade but during the Lions’ game, too. For me, the menu for Thanksgiving dinner is the easiest of all holiday meals. It’s always the same: turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes in maple syrup (oh, the carbs!), vegetables (usually peas and corn), a relish tray, Jello salad, cranberries (not my favorite), pumpkin and pecan pies for dessert. Pushing away from the table more stuffed than the bird was and going into turkey coma.

My very favorite Thanksgiving memory is the day I married my best friend. Yep, we got married on Thanksgiving Day, just like my mother and grandmother before me. They married on that day because of convenience. I did because the timing was right and I thought it was kind of cool to carry on the tradition. Although I had no expectations, my daughter was married on Thanksgiving Day, too. Hubs refuses to recognize the date we married (which is today, btw). According to him, we got married on Thanksgiving Day and that’s the day he celebrates. Since this year will be our 43^rd anniversary, he can celebrate whenever he wants.

However you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, whoever you are with, take a moment to be thankful and enjoy the day.

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