Cover Reveal...and more

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        A couple things to tell you (and yes, I’m excited about all of it)! I finished rewriting the last two chapters (even tweaked the epilogue) of The Marshal and Mrs. Morgan. I think it’s better. I hope it’s better. I finished on Saturday and sent it off to my critique partner (the wonderful and talented Lexi Post). Now I wait to find out if I hit the mark with my changes or if I need to rip out again. 

        While I was doing that, I was also reading through the print version of Wife By Surprise, the also wonderful and talented D.H. Thompson sent me. You know, it seems that no matter how many times you read something or edit something, you can still find a mistake or two. I wish I knew how that happens. I am now reading through the ebook version so it’s ready for release in April (I have not decided on a day yet, but will soon). 

        This is the cover (thank you, D.H.)! I’m so pleased! I think it came out beautifully!

        With all that going on, I haven’t had any time to work on The Madam and Mr. MacLean BUT I did figure out the basic plotline and characters for the next book in the Matchmaker Mischief series (and perhaps the fifth book, too). It seems that when working like this, one idea begets another idea…and another…and another. It’s all good…I just wish there were more hours in the day (or that I was already retired…only two years, nine months to go)!

        And that’s about all from here…I really need to finish my read-through of Wife By Surprise.

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

 The world appears small when you try to run away from problems.  Troubled minds don't see it that way.

The Allbright family cannot see it that way.  Husband, Ernt, has been affected by violence which his mind brought home after Vietnam.  His wife Cora will follow him and support him no matter what the situation.  Daughter, Leni, loves her parents, but knows the stress cannot continue.

In the early 1970's, Ernt repeatedly loses jobs.  His last resort at an attempt to provide for the family is to relocate to Homer, Alaska.  He states his volatile moods will disappear if they are off the grid, grow and catch their food, and live on love.

Leni wants the best for him and her mom is her soulmate, so she wants to help make this idea work.  Initially Ernt's temper is assuaged, and he makes a go at living in the wilds.  He makes enemies fast, though.

One enemy is Matthew Walker's father.  The problem with this is, as young teenagers, Matthew and Leni have grown to like and care for each other.  

As winter inevitably overtakes the land, Ernt's dark mood descends and there's little to curb his violent actions toward his family and the surrounding village people.  Leni is forced to hide any contact with Matthew.  It's emotionally draining on Leni, but she knows it has to be no matter what her heart wants.

Arguments and physical fights erupt, people are hurt, and people are killed and damaged for life.  Cora and Leni have one last chance to live or die in the catastrophic winter off the grid.

Their choices change a lot of lives, leaving a new opportunity to start fresh.  Leni's love for Matthew and his for her is pushed aside until an opportunity to rekindle is offered.  The problem is whether their love will bring them together again or the pain endured will hold them back.

The Great Alone creates an unimaginable life, hardship, strength, and weakness that love finds a way to rebuild when the hearts are true.

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

Rock-A-Bye Cowboy by Lexi Post has released!

 

Rock-A-Bye Cowboy 

by Lexi Post 

has released!

He’s done with everything changing on him. But what if she was the change he needed?

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Jackson Dunn has come home from his deployment with a baby he didn’t know he had, only to find the family cattle ranch is becoming a dude ranch, his oldest brother has married their enemy’s daughter, and his robust father is now in a wheelchair. That’s far more change than he’s willing to handle. He’s not even sure how his brothers think he can work when he has a tiny, pooping machine to take care of and his mind keeps jumping back to the war zone. To make matters worse, the first “guests” arrive and the last thing he has time for is a woman who keeps wandering away from the activities she’s supposed to be at.

Danielle “Dani” Hubbard has burned up her Mr. Right checklist and plans to enjoy two weeks at home watching movies, eating ice cream, and sleeping. Unfortunately, her friend whisks her away on a two-week vacation she won to a dude ranch, and Dani finds herself sleeping in bunkbeds, getting up before dawn, and chowing down with dozens of others. Intrigued that one of the Dunn brothers, who own the ranch, appears about as happy to be there as she is, she makes her vacation more interesting by investigating the sullen cowboy. The more she discovers about him, the more she’s convinced he’s the perfect Mr. Wrong.

As much as Jackson doesn’t want to admit it, Dani is actually helpful, from her advice on taking care of his daughter to putting in fence posts. That their physical attraction is off the charts, just makes their time together more enjoyable. She’s also much easier to talk to than his family, and only she has witnessed his flashbacks. Unfortunately, she’s a guest and has to go back to her life three hours away. Now, he has to decide if he’s opened up to her because she’ll be leaving and he won’t have to face her, or if it’s something else…something more.

Just her luck, she discovers too late that Mr. Wrong could well be Mr. Right. 

For a chance to win Shotgun the raccoon, enter the rafflecopter.

Lexi Bio:

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her without a hat.

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Rewrites, rewrites, rewrites!

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        As you may know from my last post, I finished The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan and sent it off to my beta readers….and well, now I’m fixing it based on their comments. That is to say, I’ve ripped out the last two chapters (oh my, it was a lot of words, too!) and I’m rewriting them. 

        Quite frankly, I was not happy with those chapters anyway (and I knew it when I sent it off...perhaps, I was just anxious to finish on my own personal timeline and didn't give it my best). It went in the wrong direction. Completely. And my beta readers, who are the absolute best, called me out on it. 

        Tresia, my heroine, is no shrinking violet. She’s a kind woman, but—what is that saying? Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. Yeah, that’s Tresia so I’m rewriting…and it’s going well (I think)!

        Also, my friend, D.H. Thompson, who runs Bella Media Management is working on my cover for Wife by Surprise. I love it. She does such good work but I’d like to know how she can read my mind! I gave her the bare essentials of what I’d like to see and boom, she gets it! There is some tweaking (very little, mind you because she’s that good) that needs to be done so I’m not quite ready for a cover reveal but it’s coming.

        What else? I’ve had to put The Madam and Mr. MacLean on the back burner for a bit while I do the rewrites for The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan, but that’s to be expected. Still, the story is in my head (I love when that happens) and I’m looking forward to getting back to it. 

        And that’s all from beautiful Arizona! Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Happy For You by Luci Beach

 When it comes to love and romance, it doesn't matter what part of the world (London here) or what age the occurrence happens.  

Ciara and Max met when they were seven.  They didn't live near one another or share a school.  They were in a psychological study that met every seven years.  They started with friendship, then a crush, and moved on to a short relationship which ended in flames.  

Ciara has many emotional issues about wanting everyone to like her, sometimes at her own expense.  A few months before the twenty-eight year study, she planned on attracting her boss.  She wanted to write off any feelings for Max, and this might do the trick. 

Max has been wandering Europe while playing with a band, which is partly fun and partly lonely.  He contacts Ciara several months prior to the study, needing a place to stay.  I know what you're thinking. This is where the ingredients to the love potion begins to bubble.

Not quite.  

A lot of misconceptions and life predicaments need to be voiced and sorted out.  Do they take the time, and can they understand the difficulties each face?  I hope so because they could love each other and create a beautiful life if they open their ears and their hearts. 

Happy reading,

Dawn

ROCK-A-BYE COWBOY by Lexi Post now available for Preorder!

Rock-A-Bye Cowboy 

by Lexi Post 

is now available for preorder.

Releasing March 18th

Jackson Dunn has come home from his deployment with a baby he didn’t know he had, only to find the family cattle ranch is becoming a dude ranch, his oldest brother has married their enemy’s daughter, and his robust father is now in a wheelchair. That’s far more change than he’s willing to handle. He’s not even sure how his brothers think he can work when he has a tiny, pooping machine to take care of and his mind keeps jumping back to the war zone. To make matters worse, the first “guests” arrive and the last thing he has time for is a woman who keeps wandering away from the activities she’s supposed to be at.

Danielle “Dani” Hubbard has burned up her Mr. Right checklist and plans to enjoy two weeks at home watching movies, eating ice cream, and sleeping. Unfortunately, her friend whisks her away on a two-week vacation she won to a dude ranch, and Dani finds herself sleeping in bunkbeds, getting up before dawn, and chowing down with dozens of others. Intrigued that one of the Dunn brothers, who own the ranch, appears about as happy to be there as she is, she makes her vacation more interesting by investigating the sullen cowboy. The more she discovers about him, the more she’s convinced he’s the perfect Mr. Wrong.

As much as Jackson doesn’t want to admit it, Dani is actually helpful, from her advice on taking care of his daughter to putting in fence posts. That their physical attraction is off the charts, just makes their time together more enjoyable. She’s also much easier to talk to than his family, and only she has witnessed his flashbacks. Unfortunately, she’s a guest and has to go back to her life three hours away. Now, he has to decide if he’s opened up to her because she’ll be leaving and he won’t have to face her, or if it’s something else…something more.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon DE 

There's time to catch up at the Rocky Road Ranch!

The Dunns and Haydens have been fighting for the last twenty years. So when Amanda Hayden shows up on the Rocky Road Ranch as his father’s new therapist, Tanner Dunn has something to say about it…and none of it’s good.

Amazon | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon DE

Brody Dunn just has to convince a city girl to sell her land to his family and he’s off to a new career. How hard can that be?

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon DE

The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan (and so much more)

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

        So, what’s been on my agenda for the past couple days? Just the usual business (I’m not one to sit still for very long). No wonder, when I go to bed, I sleep like a rock (for which I’m thankful. The DH suffers from insomnia. I used to but like with everything else in my life, I put myself on a sleep schedule and that helps tremendously).   

        I finished my read through of The Marshal & Mrs. Morgan, which is due to my publisher at the end of April. It’s now with my beta readers. I did it a little different this time. Normally, I print out the manuscript, set myself up at my dining room table with all my ‘help’ books and read the entire thing out loud. Well, my printer is down and even though I’ve tried to fix it, I just can’t get it to work. Might be time for a new one though I hesitate…I’ll try one more time to fix it and see if I have the magic this time. 

         I’m also working on getting Wife By Surprise ready to release. That’s the third book in The Wives of Bravado County series. There could be a fourth story…if I can find the time to write it. 

        Oh, and I finished my taxes…that’s a major accomplishment! 

        I will admit that I took some time for myself yesterday. I recently got rid of cable and got Netflix, which I’m loving even though I don’t have much time to sit and watch television. I did yesterday though. Took a break from the writing (and everything else) to watch Zero Day, which was excellent. Great writing, I thought. Great acting, too. Robert DeNiro was wonderful. The supporting cast was, too! 

        And that’s about all for me…The Madam and Mr. MacLean is not going to write itself so I should get back to it. So far, I’m enjoying it. 

        Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie