Memorial Day 2015: Gone But Not Forgotten With Susan Ann Wall @susanannwall

I used to make fun of people who love, I mean, ridiculously love their dogs. Now I’m one of them!

Meet Naymer (on the left) and Buddy (on the right). We adopted these cuties last winter and life has been better ever since. If you have a dog, you know exactly what I mean … they hog the bed, steal the covers, nudge your hand when you’re trying to type, beg with those pathetic eyes for just one more snack, take you for walks, and own your heart! RIGHT? J

Because I am so in love with my dogs, and because I’m a veteran and a patriot, I’m participating in the Memorial Day 2015: Gone but not forgotten event. From May 22 – 29, I’ll be donating 100% of my royalties from my novel The Sound of Deception to Rebuilding Warriors, an organization that trains and places service dogs with veteran’s at no cost to the veteran.

This isn’t the only special event I am participating in right now. My debut novel from 2011, Relay For Love, is one of the novels in Summer Lovin’ box set. This collection includes 14 novels and novellas all with a summer theme, many from USA Today and National Bestselling authors. The best part, it’s only $.99. Get it while it’s hot because it’s available only for a limited time!

Pick up Summer Lovin’ today and check out my Facebook page for some great giveaways! 

Summer Lovin’ buy links:

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iTunes

Kobo: 

Google

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In Relay For Love, widow Hannah Locke has a life plan, which does NOT include falling in love again. She lost her husband five years ago and still aches from that loss. That ache seems to dull as it is replaced with a new longing for a man she hardly knows but can’t seem to get out of her head. Aaron Hawkins was only supposed to write a story about Hannah’s Relay For Life fundraising event, but their immediate attraction has him looking for more than just a headline and has Hannah forgetting all about her perfect life plan.

Writing this story was an emotional journey for me. It’s an emotional journey for readers, too, who claim they are laughing on one page and crying on the next. Even my editor, who NEVER cries, shed a few tears (and cussed me out) while editing this story.

Let’s wipe out cancer together!! A percentage of my royalties from this book and A Flame Burns Inside is donated to the American Cancer Society to help raise awareness about prevention and treatment and help find a cure!

Big dreamer and certifiable overachiever Susan Ann Wall embraces life at full speed and volume. She’s a beer and tea snob, can be bribed with dark chocolate, and the #1 thing on her bucket list is to be the center of a Bon Jovi flash mob.

Susan is a multi-genre author of racy, rule-breaking romance, women’s fiction, and erotic fiction (her erotic titles are published as Ann Victor).  Her bragging rights include nine books in three different series,  three perfect children, adopting an amazing rescue dog, and a happily ever after that started while serving in the U.S. Army and has spanned nearly two decades (which is crazy since she’s not a day over 29).

In her next life, Susan plans to be a 5 foot 10, size 8 rock star married to a chiropractor and will not be terrified of large bridges, spiders, or quiet people (shiver).

Book Review: More Than Pancakes @cdepetrillo

Okay, I know it has been a long time since I did a book review. While I love to read, sometimes there just isn't enough time to do reviews.

Earlier this month I read this book, More Than Pancakes. This is actually the first in a series by writer Christine DePetrillo.

I have to give this book 5 stars. The story was enjoyable from start to finish. Both Rick and Lily are realistic characters that are carrying around their own baggage. The additional secondary characters had just the right touch and I look forward to reading their stories.

It was a joy to read a book set in a small New England town. As a New Englander myself, I love seeing my part of the country in books.

While we all know that Rick and Lily will end up together, this is a romance novel, the author through in a few surprises that made the journey fun for all.

On Sale For Valentine's Day

Self-made Christopher Hall has always admired his best friend’s sister, Sara Sherbrooke, from afar but he’s never dared take it any further. At least not until a one night stand following Jake’s wedding makes him believe his attraction might not be one sided.  Soon both must decide if their growing romance is worth the possible consequences.

http://amzn.to/164Ejmp   Amazon

http://amzn.to/14CCFs4 AMAZON UK

http://bit.ly/12d0vqn B&N

http://bit.ly/XH5XD5 iTunes

http://bit.ly/1fW7E8d  KOBO

Release Day Hometown Love #newrelease

Book 2 in the Love On The North Shore Series if Out

Everyone in North Salem thinks they know Jessie Quinn.  She is the town’s quintessential girl next door. The woman you can always turn to when you need a helping hand. Nobody knows that she’s spent years overcoming the emotional scars left by her last boyfriend.

As a single dad and task force officer with the FBI, Mack Ellsbury moves back to North Salem to be closer to his family, not to find love. Then Jessie Quinn returns to his life. Soon Mack no longer sees Jessie as the quiet girl he once tutored in high school but rather the woman he is falling in love with.

Mack’s love helps Jessie erase the scars she’s carried around for so long, but when his ex-wife decides she wants reconciliation, their relationship is put in jeopardy.

Amazon

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KOBO

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Excerpt

“Need a break already, O’Brien?” Mack emerged from the house, a backwards baseball cap covering his dark hair. “I guess that’s what happens when you get old.”

For a moment, Jessie spiraled back fourteen years and her tongue went from being a useful organ to a giant bowtie just like it had every time Mack had tutored her in geometry during study hall. A senior, and one of the most popular guys in school, Mack was the number one crush of most of the girls in her freshman class—including her. Not that he ever noticed any of them. Why would he when every cheerleader in North Salem and Danvers were constantly throwing themselves at him?

“Hi, Mack. Congratulations on the new house,” Jessie said once the knot in her tongue loosened.

Mack’s forehead creased and his eyes searched her face. “Jessie?”

Jessie let Mack’s surprise go over her head. After all, he hadn’t seen her in a while.

Sure, he visited his family frequently with his daughter, but he didn’t make a habit of stopping in at the hardware store. In fact, before today, the last time they’d seen each other had been six months ago when he’d come in for the security videos. Back then, she’d still had long hair and glasses. Not to mention, she’d been wearing her favorite oversized cranberry sweater and a long skirt, a fact she shouldn’t remember but did because, well, this was Mack so he wouldn’t have noticed the weight she lost.

“It’s nice to see you. Your parents must be happy you’re moving back.”

“Yeah. Grace, too. She already has plans to spend every weekend at my parents’ house. They haven’t agreed yet, but she’s well on her way to convincing them.”

“She does adore your mom,” Jessica answered, thinking of all the times she’d seen Mrs. Ellsbury with her granddaughter.

“You’ve met Grace?” Mack asked with surprise.

“This is North Salem remember? Your mom brings Grace to my grandmother’s every Sunday for quilting club if she has her. And your dad comes in the store with her.”

Another look of surprise passed over Mack’s features. “I didn’t know that, but it makes sense.”

“She even started her own quilt. Your niece did, too. Your mom brings her over on Sundays sometimes, too.”

Jessie waved at another of Mack’s friends as he came down the front steps. “Hi, Tony.”

“Hey, Jessie.” Tony Bates smiled as he walked toward them. “Unless you  ladies want to finish alone, get your asses in gear. I’ve got things to do this afternoon.”

“I gotta go anyway.” Jessica took a step backward. “Will I see any of you at the block party tonight?” Once a month, starting in late spring, their community threw a block party on the Town Common, shutting the whole area down to traffic.

“Not me. Too much work at the house, but have fun,” Sean answered. “I’ll see you later.” With that, he went back to the moving truck.

“I might pop in. If I do, I expect you to save me a dance,” Tony said.

Jessie rolled her eyes. She never took anything Tony said seriously, especially not lately. Ever since she’d lost the weight and ditched the glasses, he’d been saying things like that, but she knew better than to get into any kind of relationship with Tony. While he was a good guy, he didn’t understand the concept of monogamy. He went from one woman to the next much like the way people changed their underwear.

“Bates, get your ass over here and help me with this,” Sean called from the truck.

Unable to contain her smile, Jessie glanced at the ground. Whenever Tony flirted with her, Sean went into his protective guardian role. Thanks to her close relationship with his sister, Charlie, Sean treated her a like a baby sister.

“I might take Grace if she’s not too tired. I think she’d like it.” Mack waved at a car that passed by the house.

“She loves it,” Jessie answered, looking back up.

“My parents?”

“And your sister.”

“I should’ve known.” Mack readjusted his baseball cap, a habit he’d had for as long as she could remember. And she could probably remember every time he’d done it. Yeah, she’d had a big-time unrequited crush. Apparently, that hadn’t faded too much because he was still the hottest guy she’d ever seen.

What I Have Read This Year

As the year draws to a close I decided to look back at some of the books I have read this year. Sadly I discovered that the total number of books I finished this year is on the low side. At one time I would finish two or three full novels a month. Now, I am lucky if I complete one. That is probably why I have become so picky about what I read now.

Here are just a few of the books I completed this year and would recommend to others.

As you can see my reading tastes are all over the place.  What about you? What books would you recommend to others?

What Are You Reading?

Back in March I attended a romance conference down in Tennessee and was fortunate enough to meet Brenda Novak. I had heard her speak before, but I had never actually spoken to her and she was very nice.  I had never read any of her books either even though she is a New York Times Best Selling author so I purchased  her books, When Lightning Strikes book 1 in her Whiskey Creek Series.  Thanks to my busy life I only got around to starting the book last week.  Right now I am more than half way through the book and I am loving it.  While I know it will have a happily ever after, it is a romance novel after all, I am curious to see how it gets to that point.  Once I am done with this book, I will be looking to pick up the other books in the series.

Now that I have shared what I am reading, let me know what you are engrossed in.