My Books on the P&E Poll--vote early & often

The Mason's Mark is tied for #3 at the thrillers category of the Preditors and Editors poll--if you have a chance to vote for me, that would be SWELL!!! Here's the link: Critters Writers Workshop - P&E Readers Poll

Whirlwind Romance is also on the Romance category list at #13: http://critters.org/predpoll/tally_novelr.html

Please vote! Thanks so much.

Whirlwind Romance Now In Print

What a Christmas present! Now you can buy Whirlwind Romance in a beautiful print paperback. Here's the link: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=934&zenid=gjdptbijg85na2lgqb91e5o3r0
or you can buy from Create Space here:  https://www.createspace.com/5194543 or
   Perfect as a gift for that someone who didn't get everything they wanted for Christmas.

New Release: Mickie Sherwood & Christmas Crush

Please welcome Mickie Sherwood and her oh-so-timely release, Christmas Crush. Mickie, would you take a moment to tell us about yourself?

Happy to. I'm an author and a novice photographer. Using my

backyard as the backdrop for my inspiration, I love taking pictures of

nature. My love of photography incites my creativity for writing. Spending

time with my family and on cruise vacations also stokes my imagination.

With all of my combined interests, fascinating characters and intriguing

circumstances can develop.

I also enjoy a good laugh. Revel in the humorous stories I share about life at my blog—Mickie's Mutterings.

****

We sure will. Now can you tell us about your sweet, inspirational new romance, Christmas Crush?

Here goes.

Although Ashley Wagner feels more like Scrooge than Santa, she keeps her promise and accompanies her sister back home for a Christmas wedding. Her three-day weekend is off to a rocky start, thanks to the unexpected run-in with her womanizing ex-husband, and his very pregnant new wife. She manages to get away with her dignity intact, but later, with old wounds ripped open, the professional crisis manager ends up in the middle of her own life-altering predicament.

Then, sports journalist Craig Johnston, wheels to her rescue.

Will Ashley spend Christmas brooding over bitter memories? Or will Craig, a dynamic paraplegic, present the deserving divorcée with a gift she can't resist?

Excerpt (G):

Driven to perfect his sports news piece, Craig glanced from his laptop to the telephone when it rang. In a way, he was glad for the interruption. The knot in his neck said he’d been hard at work for hours. “Yeah?”

“There are two ladies here to see you.” The female voice on the phone advised.

Since the station operated on a skeleton crew because of the holiday, the call was from the security officer in the building’s lobby. Adjusting the rolled up sleeve of his white shirt, he asked, surprised, “Visitors to the station on Christmas Eve, Donna?”

“They say it’s about this morning.”

Those words commandeered his attention. “This morning?” He slapped down the cuff of both sleeves. “I’m on my way.” Quickly, he buttoned them, pushed back from the desk, then rushed from the office. His door shut with a bang. Craig took the hallway to the elevators, almost running down a co-worker when he turned the corner.

“Hey! Where’s the fire, Craig?”

“Sorry,” was all he had time to say as he continued on his way.

The elevator seemed to take a long time to arrive. Finally, the doors opened, and he dashed to board.

Memories flooded back to him on the ride down. Craig remembered how he recognized the woman was in trouble. Her luminous eyes held a faraway look. Nevertheless, in no way did that obscure their charismatic beauty. He reminisced about the cottony soft skin of the hand he held.

The elevator bell dinged.

Abruptly, he was a bundle of nerves. Big, strong, athletic sportsman, Craig Johnston experienced something he hadn’t in years—immediate infatuation—for a stranger, no less.

Chances of a slow reveal past as the security officer beckoned in his direction. The two pivoted together. Their resemblance was so remarkable. Although one appeared slightly older, he surmised a familial relationship. The younger one failed in her attempt to hide what he assumed was pity and alarm. His wheelchair probably caused her reaction. The woman he rescued never batted an eye of surprise. To his amazement, he watched her stroll over. A majestic smile curved her luscious-looking lips.

“I’m Ashley Wagner.” She extended her hands to him. “I believe you’re the one I should thank for being so kind to me this morning.”

Taking her outstretched hands, Craig looked at her. No longer in a rush, he took time to analyze Ashley. A feeling, akin to this morning’s enchantment, zapped him. “Are you all right?”

At that point, Ashley’s action mystified him. Craig watched her close her eyes. But, she never removed her hands from his fingers.

“Ask me that question again,” she urged.

Baffled, he obliged. “Are you all right?”

"That voice." Her eyes reopened. They seemed to shower him with a joyful gaze. "I would recognize that chivalrous rumble anywhere." Ashley squeezed his hands as if to impart power to her gratitude. "It is you."

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQFBW1Y

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-crush-mickie-sherwood/1120899478?ean=2940149992225

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/christmas-crush-1

Find Mickie here:

Blog: www.mickiesherwood.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/MickieSherwood

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/MickieSherwood

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/Louisiana_Lady

Blurbs in Bloom: www.blurbsinbloom.com

Just in Time for Christmas!

Just in time for Christmas! Old Town Alexandria at Christmastime—snow, lights, romance…and murder.

I’d like to introduce you to Milo Everhart and her merry band of artists. Milo makes beautiful needlepoint and her friend Tekla Spirikova makes large metal cones. Together they fight City Hall (literally) when it wants to give their beloved Torpedo Factory Art Center away. Things get complicated when their greatest adversary turns out to be the man Milo loves, and even more complicated when too many murder victims turn up. Read all about it in:

Artful Dodging: The Torpedo Factory Murders
Secret Cravings Publishing (2012)
Available in eBook and Print; M/F; 2 flames
Romantic Suspense/Murder Mystery

Blurb:

Waiting out the rain, Milo Everhart takes stock of her widowhood and the handsome man standing in the door to the bar.  Little does she know she will meet that man again and again under both passionate and terrifying circumstances.

Tristram Brody waits for his date, too conscious of the beautiful woman sitting by the door. Little does he know that she will hate him for trying to destroy her beloved art center, and even suspect him of murder. Nor that she will be drawn inevitably into his arms.

Little does either of them suspect they will be embroiled in not one, but two murders, in which the fate of the Torpedo Factory, an art center housed in an old munitions factory on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, will be decided.

Buy Links:

Secret Cravings: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=17&products_id=311

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Artful-Dodging-Torpedo-Factory-ebook/dp/B007Z3S552/_

AllRomanceEBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-artfuldodgingthetorpedofactorymurders-786812-152.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/artful-dodging-the-torpedo-factory-murders/

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/artful-dodging-the-torpedo-factory-murders

Book Depository (print only): http://www.bookdepository.com/Artful-Dodging-Spencer/9781618853264

Books-a-Million (print only): http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Artful-Dodging/M-S-Spencer/9781618853264?id=6160893910917

EXCERPT (PG): The First Meeting

The bartender backed out past the man, who made no move to get out of his way. Milo frowned. The fellow appeared oblivious to the fact that his position inconvenienced everyone. At first she’d assumed he was waiting out the rain, but his body language said expectant. Every minute or so he’d poke his head out and look up and down King Street.

For lack of anything more exciting to do, she fell to observing him. The top of his head brushed the door jamb, making him about six feet three inches. His bulk didn’t jibe with his height though. She guessed him to weigh in at maybe 175 pounds stripped. He was undeniably her type—lean, trim, tall, clean-shaven—none of that painted-on five-o’clock shadow male celebrities sported nowadays. And old enough for once. Maybe forty? She could only see his profile at the moment, which revealed thick black hair curling over his ears, slices of silver gray relieving the dark waves at the temple, a straight nose, moderately rosy—from drink? Or the cold?—and a forceful chin. Without warning he pivoted and Milo caught the full impact of a deeply masculine face right in the kisser. Whew. Even with the Armani suit, definitely not gay.

He tapped a highly polished Gucci loafer with impatience and pulled out a pocket watch. By this time Milo had dropped all pretence and openly scrutinized her subject. He thrust the watch back in his pocket with a scowl and spun around toward the bar, almost colliding with Tony. He took Milo’s glass from the startled bartender. “Thanks, just what the doctor ordered.”

Milo began to rise in protest. Tony looked at her and the man followed his gaze in surprise. He held up the whiskey. “Er, I take it this isn’t for me?”

Milo tried to come up with a flip response but his rich baritone rattled her. Tony stepped between them. “Yes, Sir, that drink belongs to the lady. May I get you something?”

The man didn’t answer. He stared at Milo more or less the way she was staring at him. Flustered, she plopped back down on the narrow bench, barely avoiding an embarrassing slide to the floor. He continued to stare. She resisted the impulse to pat her short fawn-colored ringlets which always appeared tousled no matter what she did, and blinked. He blinked back. Finally she blurted out, “Would you care to join me?”

He shook his head as though to clear it and replied, “Thank you. Forgive me—I’ve never seen such lovely eyes…I mean, eyes that color…I mean…sorry, what would you call them? Mahogany? Bronze?” His admiring gaze did wonders for Milo’s discomfiture and her mood took a decided uptick.

“I just call them brown. But thank you.”

 “I’m sorry about purloining your drink. Can I buy you a freshener in restitution?” 

“Okay. Did you want to sit down?”

“I’d better not. I’m waiting for someone.”

“Oh.” His plight, though not unexpected, depressed her. Of course Armani man had a date. He probably always has a date, even during Lent.

Tony brought another glass. The man paid him, then hesitated as though considering. “You know, she is awfully late. Since you’re right in the window seat with a commanding view of the entrance, may I change my mind and sit here until she arrives?”

Ulp. “Not at all.” Good—got that out without stuttering.

“Thanks.” He pulled a low barrel stool next to the bench and clinked her glass. “Cheers.”

 They sipped their whiskies in companionable silence. The rain pummeled both the sidewalk and the pedestrians with barely concealed antagonism. Milo decided her heart had settled down sufficiently to ensure a quaver-free sentence. “I’m Milo Everhart.” And I’m Gorgeous George. You don’t mind if I seduce you, do you? No, wait—he didn’t say that. I did. Hopefully in my head. “Um, I didn’t catch your name?”

“Tristram Brodie. Pleased to meet you.”

Super Sale on Secret Cravings Paperbacks

Just in time for Christmas!

Huge sale on all my paperback books at Secret Cravings Publishing December 14 and 15. Hurry while supplies last!

Be sure to use the code BV5JK96G at checkout to buy:

Losers Keepers

Triptych

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

Mai Tais and Mayhem

Lapses of Memory

or 

The Mason's Mark: Love and Death in the Tower 

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND MAY YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO READ!

A Christmas sort of poem

Those of you who are weird enough to appreciate my poetry check the latest out at the tag poetry. Work in progress of course.

Now Available at Barnes and Noble--Still Free

A Holiday Anthology (Volume Two)

A Collection of Winter Holiday Tales

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-holiday-anthology-volume-2-a-collection-of-winter-holiday-tales-rose-anderson/1120864121?ean=2940046440096

Also available at Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/498109https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/498109

Please join us in reading this fantastically diverse FREE collection of stories to warm

your heart while you wait for the kids, the oven to buzz, on a

15-minute break from work, or when you just need to hide for ten minutes

from everyone! Every story is PG,but a few have a hint of zing.

The calendar on the wall says 2014 but the holidays are a magical time where anything is possible when it comes to romance. Prepare to travel through snow or to a tropical setting with a little dash of fantasy sprinkled in to make your holiday reading enjoyable. This heart-warming collection of all new, very short stories is our way of saying happy holidays to you.

My contribution, Che Gelida Manina is a sweet,  romantic story of how love can come a second time around—if you let it.

Blurb

Che Gelida Manina by M. S. Spencer

Grace is devastated by the loss of her husband—the most romantic person she has ever known—and is determined to avoid any contact with the things they had loved. She refuses to walk her beloved beach, or light candles under the stars, or listen to his favorite opera, La Bohème.

When she meets Edward, she insists that he abide by her wishes. He does without argument, but as the weeks go by, she begins to wonder if she's made a mistake. Will she let the chance of an unexpected happiness slip through her fingers? Will Edward?

      

THE GIFT OF TIME by Rose Anderson

Rose is a multi-published, award-winning author and dilettante who loves great conversation and discovering interesting things to weave into stories. She lives with her family and small menagerie amid oak groves and prairie in the rolling glacial hills of the upper Midwest.
Possessing an active imagination, she writes everything from children’s stories to historical non-fiction.

FRANKIE'S WISH by Jennifer Garcia

Jennifer believes in writing love stories that connect families and touch hearts. Her first novel, My Mr. Manny,was released August 2013 and her first novella, In My Mother’s Footsteps, was released July 2013.

A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Lily Bishop

Lily Bishop lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and has published two books in the City Lights series, No Strings Attached and Under His Protection. She is working on the third book now.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Dee Ann Palmer

In every age the heart loves, and Dee Ann Palmer's romances reflect those eras in fantasy, historic, contemporary and futuristic tales. The award winning Palmer is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and belongs to the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime.

MARJA'S VICTORY by Barb Caffrey

Barb Caffrey is a writer, editor, book reviewer and musician from the Midwest. She is the author of the humorous urban fantasy/romance AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE, and is the co-author of the Adventures of Joey Maverick series (with late husband Michael B. Caffrey).

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS by Beverley Bateman

Beverley Bateman is a Canadian author of several books who loves traveling, good wine and a mystery. She lives with her husband and two Shiba Inu dogs among vineyards and orchards set in lake country and surrounded by mountains – beaches, swimming and skiing.

GINGERBREAD DREAMS by Victoria Adams

Victoria Adams is a romance writer, dividing her writing between contemporary romance and New Adult contemporary romance. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and kitten, Licorice. She likes to study Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance), garden, and bake.

CHE GELIDA MANINA by M. S. Spencer

Although she has lived or traveled in every continent except Antarctica and Australia (bucket list), M. S. Spencer has spent the last thirty years mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. She has two fabulous grown children, and currently divides her time between the Gulf coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine. Ms. Spencer has published nine romantic suspense novels.

ROMANCE VALLEY by Kaye Spencer

Native Coloradan Kaye Spencer writes romances from her basement hovel in a small, rural town in the far southeastern corner of Colorado—no mountains in sight—just prairie dogs, buffalo grass, and glorious prairie sunsets. While drawn to cowboys and the Old West, all genres are within her story-crafting realm. Retired from a long career in public education that included teaching through a community college outreach program, Kaye is enjoying being a full-time writer and spoiler of grandchildren. Kaye is also afflicted with ACD—Accumulative Cat Disorder—with no cure in sight.

THE CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT by Janis Susan May

Janis is a seventh-generation Texan and a third-generation wordsmith who writes mysteries as Janis Patterson, romances and other things as Janis Susan May, children’s books as Janis Susan Patterson and scholarly works and non-fiction as J.S.M. Patterson.
Janis and her husband live in Texas with an assortment of rescued furbabies.

TROPICAL CHRISTMAS by Gemma Juliana

Gemma Juliana is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, teen son and a comical dog. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity.

A KISS AND A PROMISE by Lyndi Lamont

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.

A COWBOY'S HOLIDAY by E. Ayers

E. Ayers is a multi-published and best-selling author of western and contemporary romances. Her books are never too sweet or too hot. She writes down the middle.

A Holiday Anthology is available for FREE at

and will soon be available at Barnes and Noble, Apple, and Kobo.

Last year's anthology is also available at

and

December Issue of Cravings

The December issue of Cravings Magazine is here! Read the first chapter of Whirlwind Romance, plus extras like my recipe for Sumac Jelly in the feature Culinary Cravings AND a five-star review for my Chincoteague romance, Losers Keepers. Enjoy the whole issue here:
http://cravingsmagazine.weebly.com/december-2014-cravings-e-zine.html

Exquisite Quills Presents a Holiday Anthology--FREE!

Happy Holidays Everyone! The wonderful authors at Exquisite Quills have produced an anthology of holiday stories—including mine. Che Gelida Manina is a sweet,  romantic story of how love can come a second time around—if you let it.

Grace is devastated by the loss of her husband—the most romantic person she has ever known—and is determined to avoid any contact with the things they had loved. She refuses to walk her beloved beach, or light candles under the stars, or listen to his favorite opera, La Bohème.

When she meets Edward, she insists that he abide by her wishes. He does without argument, but as the weeks go by, she begins to wonder if she's made a mistake. Will she let the chance of an unexpected happiness slip through her fingers? Will Edward?

Che Gelida Manina is a sweet,  romantic story of how love can come a second time around—if you let it.

Grace is devastated by the loss of her husband—the most romantic person she has ever known—and is determined to avoid any contact with the things they had loved. She refuses to walk her beloved beach, or light candles under the stars, or listen to his favorite opera, La Bohème.

When she meets Edward, she insists that he abide by her wishes. He does without argument, but as the weeks go by, she begins to wonder if she's made a mistake. Will she let the chance of an unexpected happiness slip through her fingers? Will Edward?

This anthology is available NOW and for FREE at Smashwords. It will soon be available at Barnes and Noble. It features stories by your favorite writers—Rose Anderson, Jennifer Garcia, E. Ayers, Lyndi Lamont, Lily Bishop, Dee Ann Palmer, Gemma Juliana, Janis Susan May, Kaye Spencer, Barb Caffrey, Beverley Bateman, Victoria Adams…and ME, M. S. Spencer. Best of all, it's FREE! Just click on the link below to get your copy. We recommend a comfy sofa, a fire, and a hot beverage to go with.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/498109

View the trailer here: