Marketing When No One is Listening

“You have to stay out there.”

“If you don’t promote yourself, no one will find you.”

Do those sound familiar? If not, no one is pushing you out loud. It’s true. If you don’t market, no one can find you. Be it paid ads, marketing departments, blog tours, you name it. They all have advantages. If they have the right reach and can target the market you want, they can be effective. That being said, I feel like for the most part my efforts fall on deaf ears.

It hurts when you see other authors being shared, but somehow you’re forgotten. It’s doesn’t help me motivate myself when I see small businesses being supported and never my books. Because lets face it, most authors are a small business. So what can we do when it feels like no one is listening? Well, push harder. Push through it And when in doubt, be creative.

I am trying new tactics. Yes, still pushing my books, but maybe in a different way. I want to catch more eyes, make people smile and laugh. I want them to see the business they support is human and wants to make them smile.

What are you creative ideas?

These are my latest. Thoughts?

Star Spangled Cowboy Release!

star spangled cowboy

paige warren

Erotic Western Romance

Evernight Publishing

Heat Level: 3 Word Count: 20, 610

ISBN: 978-1-77233-936-9

Combat-wounded vet, Tyson Braxton,
feels like half a man since losing his leg in Afghanistan.  After
returning to the family ranch, he wonders what any woman would see in him now.
His scars and self-doubt run deep, and while feeling desperate, he hires a
prostitute to ease his sexual tension.

Dacey Morgan
has lived a life of horror since the age of seventeen when her pimp lured her
into a life of prostitution and depravity. She wants out, but the last girl who
tried to run ended up dead in a ditch. So, Dacey tries to do what she’s
told—but she has one guilty pleasure, her two nights a week she gets to see
Tyson.

Dacey longs
for the day she’s free to love the man she’s falling for, but she knows that
freedom will come at a cost.

Buy Links:
 Evernight
Publishing    Amazon    Bookstrand    ARe

* * *

Excerpt:

Tyson slowly
kneeled and took her hand in his, his touch gentle. “I know that we only have a
business arrangement, Dacey, and I have no claim on you. That being said,
despite the fact I use your services, I don’t like your job. I don’t like the
thought of other men’s hands on you, or that you have to sleep with random
strangers just to pay your bills. I once offered to help take care of you if
you would just give up that lifestyle. Why won’t you let me?”

“I’m not a
problem for you to solve, Tyson. My life may not be perfect, but it’s mine. My
trailer isn’t much, but at least I own it. And my job may not be as glamorous
as it looked on Pretty Woman, but I’m
careful.”

His hand
tightened on hers. “I don’t like it, but I know I can’t force you to quit. One
day, you’ll decide you’re ready for a respectable life, a home, and a family.
What are you going to do when that happens?”

She already
wanted those things, desperately, but how was she supposed to get away from
Carlos? She wasn’t as popular as the other girls, but she still brought him a
steady income, and he wasn’t going to let her go anytime soon. He owned her,
and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. If she went to the police to
turn him in, they’d just arrest her as well for prostitution. And she couldn’t
let Tyson go after Carlos, not with his disability. He might act all big and
tough, but she knew he was still recovering.

“No one’s
going to want a washed-up whore, so I guess I never have to worry about that.
Besides, I don’t think I can have children. Back when I first started working,
Carlos took a few months to get my birth control lined up, and he didn’t always
make the customers use a condom. I think I’d have gotten pregnant if it were a
possibility.”

She’d gotten
frequently tested during that period of her life, and she still went every
month. Of course, she also made sure her customers used condoms and refused to
service the ones who wouldn’t. It had been the cause of many fights between
Carlos and her, but knowing she wasn’t doubling her chances of an STD was worth
the beatings.

“You can’t
save me, Ty,” she said softly. “I appreciate that you want to, really I do, but
it’s too late for me. I’ve been working this job since I was seventeen. I’ve
seen things and done things that I’m not proud of, but I’ve done whatever was
necessary for me to survive. You think someone’s going to want a woman who’s
been a whore for five years? Someone who never graduated high school? What’s my
marketable skill, that I can make you come in less than a minute?”

He smiled a
little at that. “I’m not sure I would consider that skill. I like it when
things are dragged out for a while. The anticipation and incredible sensation
of feeling you wrapped around my cock are even better than coming.”

“You get my point,
though.”

Tyson
caressed her cheek and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I will do whatever it
takes to protect you, Dacey. Anything. If it hadn’t been for you, I probably
would have blown my head off months ago. Knowing I’d get to see you twice a
week has been the only thing keeping me going, and yeah, I know I pay for your
time, but I also know that you enjoy being with me.”

She leaned
into his touch. Just thinking about him ending his life was enough to make her
cry, and for once she was thankful for her job. If she hadn’t been a
prostitute, they never would have met. He’d gotten Carlos’s number from a
friend and she’d just been lucky to be the girl her pimp sent out that night.
Ty had made her life so much better, even if she didn’t get to spend much time
with him. They’d laughed and talked, and just genuinely enjoyed one another’s
company. He’d been so cute that first night, unsure of himself to the point of
refusing to take off his pants. It had taken her weeks to get him to undress in
front of her, and when he had, she’d taken the time to kiss all of his scars,
including what remained of his left leg.

“You’ve made
me whole again,” he said. “You never cared that I only have one leg now, or
that I’ve had more holes in me than a pin cushion. My scars don’t disgust you,
and I was finally able to see myself through your eyes and come to grips with
the body I have now versus the one I had before the explosion.”

* * *

About Paige Warren:

Paige Warren spends her days weaving
tales about alpha male cowboys and the women who love them. There’s nothing
hotter than a man in tight Wranglers and a pair of well-worn boots. You have to
admit, there’s something sexy about a man who knows how to use a rope!

A cat lover, she has more than one
furbaby running around, keeping her company in the wee hours of the morning as
she tries to find just the right way to say “His skin gleamed, the early
morning rays caressing his sun bronzed flesh, as he studied her from beneath
the brim of his Stetson.” Or, you know, something similar.

When Paige isn’t dolling out tons of
affection on the furbabies, or slurping down a pot of coffee (Yes! A whole
pot!) so she can get in her daily word count, she enjoys reading and watching
movies – romances, usually.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paigewarrenauthor?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorPaigeW

Website: http://paigewarren.webs.com/

 

Fighting the Demons

Is May the month of struggle for anyone else? Or maybe it is the Friday the Thirteenth thing, plus a full moon. I never believed in that kind of thing before, but this week has been a rough week of Mondays. In fact, I missed Tuesday altogether.

I need help. No, really. I need it. I struggle with the demands of life from kids, to cleaning, to working, to wanting to read a book. Where exactly is writing happening? It’s not. It’s fighting with some demons that say ‘this is never going to go anywhere” and “no one actually reads what you write anyway.”

It’s hard when reviews are so daunting to pull out of readers. It’s hard to sit and write when entire stories play out in my head a million times better than I write it.

So, there you have it. That little doubt monster is back.

Pushing it all aside, I am doing as Taylor Swift does. “Shake it off.” I am going to start the synopsis. I feel like I need something to remind me where I was going. I don’t do outlines – too many rules to follow or change. A synopsis though is a great highlight of all the big parts of your book. I hope this will focus my energy and make me stop doubting. Besides, I love writing. Who cares if no one writes it, other than I would love someone to come visit me in my made up worlds.

 

 

Roane Publishing FREE Reads Get a Facelift!

Do you like Free?  Do you like pretty covers?  Well, today I reveal to you the new covers of the Free reads released for Roane Publishing’s 1st birthday last year!

Where can you get them? Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords – BUT if you go here you can get them all in one place.

Now for the reveal!

Any Other Way by Michelle Ziegler
(Contemporary Romance)

Description: Everyone wants to be someone’s first choice.

Rebecca is no exception. She’s been in love with Tyler forever, but he’s one of her best friends. She knows you never cross the friendship line; not if you want to stay that way. Too bad for meddlesome friends. Now, she’s stuck on a camping trip with a bunch of couples, and Tyler. Will Rebecca be able to bury her feelings and stay friends with Tyler, or will she sabotage everything including the Labor Day weekend?

Sisters – Krista Ames
(A Montana Series Short Story)

Description: Having a sister was something Harper Donaldson had only wished for in her dreams. When a letter came telling her she not only had a sister, but her new-found sister was coming to visit Holly, Montana in person within a weeks’ time, Harper panics.

Chloe Summerfield grew up in a loving home with an adopted family, but always wondered who else might be out there. Given the right tools and a little bit of time, she found out she had a sister and has wasted no time arranging to meet her long lost sibling.

Will the meeting be everything both women hope for?

Dragon Eye by Anna Simpson
(Fantasy)

Description: Everyone wants a dragon until they have to feed one.

Rory’s personal guard knows the little dragon is bursting with magic which could revitalize all the farmer’s fields, and still rid an old man of his aches and pains. Too young to defend herself she’s forced to run when the king discovers she could also be his source to eternal youth.

All For Nothing – Laurie Treacy

Description: Her life has been a lie.

After the events in “Ordinary World,” Amy Corbett wants answers. About her past and why her mother didn’t clue her into the truth. Reluctantly accepting the changes forced upon her, Amy’s trying to embrace her new self, but being a witch is hard work. Not able to grasp a simple spell, she learns about a secret society of magic users, shunned for not being able to ‘fit in.’ Maybe she’ll find a place where she truly belongs. 

There’s no place like home? Sometimes there are alternatives.

Pixified – Sheryl Winters
(Fantasy/Paranormal)

Description: Happily mated Tiger shifter, Fhina has the Purr-fect life with her no-longer-cursed Wolf shifter husband and their brand new babies. So, why is it that life suddenly took a turn for the weird for her favorite cousin Tessa? And why did Fhina’s Magician ex-boyfriend and his gaggle of pixies suddenly appear in Tessa’s bakery.

It will take a lot more than a curse book to solve this mystery. It’ll take the combined talents of an dysfunctional Enchantress, a first level Witch, and more than a little luck.

Bourbon, Boots and Southern Persuasion – London Saint James
(Contemporary Erotic Romance)

Description: Brodie Hartley—the true definition of a rugged rascal. A rascal who hadn’t been home in a long time, but when his friend Trey Cleary asked him to be the best man at his upcoming nuptials, Brodie hopped on his Harley and headed for North Carolina.

Darby Cleary had always been more than a little infatuated with her brother’s best friend, only she was too young for him back in the day. However, Darby isn’t a little girl any longer; she’s a woman who wants a taste of Brodie Hartley. Her game plan for the pre-wedding activities? 1. Flirt with the man. 2. Seduce him. 3. If one and two don’t work, get him well lubricated and hope like hell Brodie wants a taste of her, too.

Finding a Friend – or Willing Victims -IWSG

 

It’s that time again. (Actually I am a little late) A post for the Insecure Writers Support Group.

Finding a friend or willing victims. It sounds morbid, and it’s not. I promise.  Well not too morbid.  Anyone else hear about these networks called street teams?  They help promote a specific author and in return you get free books and prizes.  Sometimes. Other street teams are more of a social circle. Some are closed to external jabber. Others are open to helping anyone who is willing to help the administrator.  I think I am somewhere in between.  I don’t want someone joining my group and getting nothing out of it.  The issue is that when you only have a couple of people, the group can’t really be just about me anyway, and not seem very self serving. For the time being I am approaching a “street team” more like a way to meet other authors and book lovers. This is all in hopes of developing a network that will eventually love to promote me.

So now. How do I get members?  Good question. Lots of authors gain users through giveaways.  My issues is, do these pan out? I haven’t see it.  I don’t want people entering who have no intention of being active. I mean commenting, laughing, and maybe sharing promotional information. I want people who want to be involved, even just once in a blue moon.

I am learning so much about networking from bigger name authors, but I don’t have the name or the networks to succeed as quickly. Yes. I said as quickly. I think we all eventually succeed. The glass is always half full.

Tips or pointers if you have a successful network?  Otherwise, are you interested in joining my little group?

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit other bloggers in the Insecure Writers Support Group !  (A blog hop that posts the first Wednesday of every month, founded by Head Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.)  Thanks to his co-hosts this month too!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time.

 

Summer’s Sweet Embrace, Releases- It’s Here!

It’s summer and people usually think of visiting beaches for vacations. You might even live near a beach if you’re lucky enough. Funny though, is even though so many people flock to the ocean, it doesn’t mean they actually want to swim in it. What a more appropriate way to sneak a peek into the lives of our authors of Summer’s Sweet Embrace, a summer romance anthology.

****Don’t forget to stop at the bottom to enter Roane Publishing’s Giveaway and enter my personal Giveaway here on facebook or the web. ****

Tell us, which do you prefer. The ocean or the pool?  Don’t be shy, why do you like it?

Michelle Ziegler:

I love the idea of the ocean – but I can’t get over swimming in a very large potty. I mean, fish and manuals have to go somewhere. Oh, and don’t get me started on the idea of tiny microorganisms clamoring to stick to me. Nope. No. Not ganna happen. Plus, think about it. Crabs have 8 legs, that’s a spider on land. Another thing, sharks or barracudas anyone? And coral? Have you ever hit a coral reef – ouch. That being said, I actually love the ocean, but find the pool more relaxing.

Laurie Treacy:

This answer is easy! My story is titled “Ocean Dust,” which is the title of a song I love by the band Hands Like Houses. I based my fictional town on Montauk since it’s my favorite place to vacation. There is nothing else like the ocean. The smell of salt, the feel of the water misting my skin, walking on sand, the sound of sea gulls and ship horns. Admiring the natural beauty of crashing waves, to see morning creep across the horizon and evening slip into place. Witnessing the power of storms, rain or snow, is unforgettable. I love the ocean. It revitalizes and inspires me.

Christa MacDonald:

Even though pools have no crabs nibbling at your toes or seaweed, there is something unique about the ocean that wins out every time.  The smell of the air,  the sound of the waves crashing, and the pull of the tide all combine to create something awe-inspiring, it’s magical.

Kim Strattford:

Ocean.  Although the recent spate of shark attacks and jellyfish infestations make me leery.  I grew up swimming in a saltwater inlet and while I love pools, they just don’t have the same feeling.  But they also don’t have Jaws waiting to mistake me for a seal.  So it’s sort of a wash.  As long as I can swim, I’m happy.

Jaylee Austin:

The ocean is my favorite early morning or late evening experience. To me the ocean is a great place for reflection and daydreaming. Growing up in Gulf Shores, Alabama you could walk out far into the ocean with its crystal blue water and see the minnows nibble at your skin. As kids we’d laugh and try to catch them. I now live along the California Coast and I love the raging waves and tide pools found in Laguna Beach.

Niki Mitchell:

I prefer the ocean. There’s is nothing better than an ocean breeze, the smell of salt and sea, and the constant ebb and flow of waves to create a romantic mood.

Melissa J. Crispin:

Definitely, hands down, I prefer the pool. While I enjoy the ocean, I am paranoid of what’s lurking in the water that can’t be seen.

Sheryl Winters:

I know I’m supposed to pick one but honestly? I prefer pools to swim in and Oceans to visit.  I’m the type that will worry about what is in the ocean with me, jellyfish or sharks. In the pool, I can control the depth I want to sleep in, I can control how deep I want to go. However, if I’m going to go off into a trance and watch it for hours, I want the ocean. I want to hear the waves, breathe in that beautiful, timeless scent and let the waves lap over my feet.

****

 

Title:  Summer’s Sweet Embrace, a sweet romance anthology

Author:  Various

Publisher:  Roane Publishing

Release Date:  August 19, 2015

Keywords:  Summer, Beach, Ocean, romance, contemporary, Summertime Romance, short stories

Description: Summertime love is always the sweetest. These eight sweet tales of summer romance are the perfect companion for a day at the lake or the beach.

Truly Paradise – Michelle Ziegler

Waiting for the right one can be torture.
Too bad for Hailey, impatience got the best of her. Finding Mr. Right in time for a destination wedding couldn’t happen fast enough. Instead of listening to reason, or rather her friends, she’s stuck in paradise alone, again. Nothing ruins a tropical paradise faster than catching your date with another woman.Justin’s ready for a change. He’s been caught up in his own success for too long and is looking to finally settle down. Timing is everything and his cousins wedding is the perfect start of his new life. His luck is changing with the captivating mystery woman on the beach.  Now all he has to do is find her, before he agrees to his family’s match making plot.

Ocean Dust – Laurie Treacy

Carly Dawson, 18, is facing her last summer before leaving for college, all alone. Still nursing a broken heart over the loss of her boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, she wants the next two months to be different. A shocking unexpected visitor one night just may offer Carly the excitement she seeks. Her only decision is whether or not to choose what this visitor offers her.

The Beach Rose – Christa MacDonald

Annie Thomas can’t believe her good luck when she inherits the family’s beach house in Oceanside Maine.  It’s one of the few places she was truly happy so she sells everything she owns, quits her job, and moves in hoping that her new business, The Beach Rose, will bring in enough money in its first season to let her live up there year round.  But on her first day things aren’t as easy or as simple as she’d hoped.  To cap it off she discovers that her best new client is actually the boy she had a huge teenage crush on.  So much for rekindling a summer romance.

For Craig, Annie was everything he wanted when he was a geeky seventeen year-old.  Now that he’s pushing forty and the owner of half the real estate in town, he wants another shot at convincing her that he’s everything she needs.  He didn’t count on her owning the business he just signed a contract with though.  Craig has to find a way to help Annie’s struggling business without her knowing it since anything else would push her further away and that’s the last thing he wants.

Together they may get a second chance for a summer romance.

When the Sea Swallows the Sun – Kim Strattford

A trip to Clearwater Beach was supposed to be a fun escape from the D.C. rat race for Emma and her boyfriend Sam.  Until Sam dumped her, leaving her with a ticket she was too cheap not to use and a resolution to enjoy her time in the sun and get over him.  A plan that sputters when Sam’s good friend Rick shows up.  Rick, who’s never seemed to approve of her for reasons she’s never understood.  Rick, who seems to think he has license to bug her just because he bought Sam’s ticket.  Rick, who may be a much nicer guy than she ever realized, and who might have a very good reason for not thinking much of her.  Can they make peace in the beautiful Florida sun and surf?  Peace—or maybe more?

Love’s Nectar – Jaylee Austin

What if fate pushed you to make a choice between keeping a promise and revealing a truth? After her grandmother’s death, she opens an unexpected letter containing an unwanted request. Isabel feels obligated to honor her grams final wish. In the process she risks losing the man of her dreams.

Six months before their marriage Isabel reveals a time bomb that will forever change their lives. He loves her but the betrayal of not trusting him weighs heavy on his heart. Trust means everything to Seth.

One ring, journal, box, spirit, and flower will teach everyone the power of commitment and the importance of honesty.  Secrets left buried will always haunt the living, a life lived truthfully leads to happily ever after. Will Isabel and Seth realize this before they are doomed to replay the mistakes of the past?

Love’s High Tide – Niki Mitchell

Tired of the vacationers hitting on her, surf shop owner, Skye Taylor quits dating. In walks the cocky, Harley Nicholson from Idaho. She’s not open for another summer fling. Can he convinces her to give love a chance?

Harley sees Skye shooting through the Huntington Beach Pier on her surfboard. Mesmerized by the woman’s connection with the wave, he sets out to meet the brazen surfer. He bets his cousin that before he leaves in three weeks, she’ll be his.

Skye’s life is kept busy running the Epic Surf Shop and training for annual surfing contest. The handsome, buff Idahoan interests her, but she doesn’t want another disastrous summer fling. Harley charms her into giving him a surfing lesson, woos her with moonlight strolls, and coaxes her with sweet gestures. Skye discovers Harley’s betrayal. She refuses to see him or hear his explanation.

Miserable, Harley must do something monumental to win her back. Will Skye ever forgive Harley?

Linger – Melissa J. Crispin

Tracey Thompson isn’t like most twenty-year-olds. She’s looking forward to settling down and marrying her soul mate, Noah Martin. Even though their love bloomed when they were just little kids, they never doubted it and never looked back.

When a tragic accident separates Tracey from Noah, she struggles to go on without him. As the days wear on, she becomes aware of a chance for them to be together once again. All she needs to do is understand what tore them apart in the first place. But, overcoming this is harder than it seems. Will she be strong enough to find her way back to him?

Above Reproach – Sheryl Winters

Executive Secretary, Margaret Simms should have had it all. An apartment on the beach and a job at Reynolds Ad Agency, working for her best friend and business mogul, Garrett Reynolds.

A one night stand leads to a pregnancy and a re-evaluation of her life goals. In reality, Margaret’s always hated her office job and culinary school is her life dream. But that too is ripped away from her when Garrett, her best friend and father of her child, develops cancer.

Obligation forces her back to the work she hates. When office espionage threatens her life, Margaret finds she must make a choice. Stand up for what she truly believes in or lose all she’s ever wanted.

 

Purchase Links:

Roane Publishing

 Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Smashwords

 ****

 

 

 

A Tinfoil Hat of My Own Sale!

★•**•.★On Sale Now!★•**•.★

 A Tinfoil Hat of My Own

“This is a short, fun, quirky read. It is perfect for a few minutes of escapism into a fantastical world filled with laughs and eye rolls. I highly recommend this short story.”—5 ★ #review on Amazon.

#Fantasy #Paranormal #Bikers #Werewolves #99cents

Bikers are sort of pissy. So are werewolves.

Dealing with the devastating end to her long-term relationship with Cobweb, Eunice decides to pick up the broken pieces of her heart and glue them back together with the healing song of nature and a nourishing brandy to replenish the soul.

As evening falls on her drunken pity party in the park, it’s time to head home and deal with the consequences of the not-so-anonymous tip to the cops and what she may or may not have done to Cobweb’s bike–and clubhouse.

All thoughts of that end when something bigger than a pissed off biker gets ahold of her–nothing says burning calories like booking it through woods with a mermaid-killing werewolf at your heels.

Will Cobweb miss her? Will Eunice survive?

Friendship, bikers, werewolves, and repurposed tinfoil. Some stories just have it all.

#shortreads #kindle #Amazon #Shifters #mustread #1click

On #Amazon: http://amzn.to/1H7zt5Q

#Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1LX8wIB

 

Happy Book Birthday – Resisting His Mate by Lynn Burke

Resisting His Mate

Part of the Bad Alpha Evernight Anthology

is now available!

Resisting His Mate

Bad Alpha Evernight Anthology

PNR / Shifters / Erotic

By Lynn Burke & Various Authors

Release Date: August 21, 2015

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Warrick Keaton eludes a forced pairing with one of his kind. No one is going to choose his mate for him, not when he wants nothing to do with being tied down to a woman. He never expects fate to intervene in the form of a freezing, barely alive female. With his independence in jeopardy, Warrick fights his inner hawk’s desire to stake a claim on her.

Clare Byron longs to escape her domineering ex-husband, a jealous bear shifter determined to keep her prisoner. She seizes the opportunity to run and lands in the arms of another alpha—exactly what she doesn’t want or need.

For Warrick, Clare is everything he’s ever wanted in a mate and all that he’s run from.

For Clare, Warrick is freedom in a way she never dreamed possible—the one man who will own her heart yet give her wings to fly.

Purchase Links:

Evernight Publishing

Amazon

ARe

~~~oOo~~~

Excerpt from Resisting His Mate:

No fucking way, Warrick grumbled to himself as his feathers retracted, and human skin once more covered his body.

A female, the one thing he had no interest in—the thing that he’d traveled across the country to escape. And she floated down the river, sporting a black and blue eye, appearing half-frozen and ready to take a short jaunt with the grim reaper.

Warrick ran his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, cursing his damn luck. Only back at his summer home for two days, finally getting time away from his demanding job with the CIA, and a battered female is tossed in his path?

Even worse, his inner bird had decided to bond with the woman and latched onto her soul like a motherfucker.

With a growl, Warrick sprinted toward the river. Naked and shoeless, he jumped over brush and fallen logs, focused on the female his animal half demanded he rescue.

He reached the shore. The log she’d clung to lay half-submerged far downriver.

Maybe he was too late, and she’d given in to the freezing water. “Couldn’t be that lucky,” he grumbled, taking off south.

Dragging marks showed where she’d pulled herself up and out of the river. Stepping on light feet, and ears straining, Warrick followed her trail to a dip in the land where leaves had piled. The wet tracks disappeared, and he squatted down, scanning the ground for sign of her.

A lock of dark hair caught his eye.

The female had buried herself beneath the leaves, but she didn’t stir.

Passed out or dead?

“Hopefully the latter,” Warrick mumbled, staring at the matted hair. He recalled the fear and anxiety that had shown through her eyes. Eyes the same damn color as his. “Fuck.”

Without another thought, he reached through the leaves and lifted her into his arms. Her head lolled back. A weak pulse beat in her neck. The stench of unwashed body and … bear wafted past his nose. Instant rage kicked his stomach. 

“Goddamn bears.”

Jaw clenched, Warrick clutched her freezing form close and cursed the lush curve of her ass beneath his hand. Fucking prick had a mind of its own and obviously didn’t give a shit about body odor or the fact she’d recently been with his northern enemies.

“I don’t have time for this shit,” he ground out between his teeth while starting toward home. He needed to unload the burden, and quick. His brother was better with women—he’d drop her at Heath’s and hightail it to his own place before the woman opened her eyes and swamped his soul with emotion again.

Summer’s Sweet Embrace Excerpt from Truly Paradise

Here’s an Excerpt from my own Truly Paradise!

Truly Paradise

By Michelle Ziegler

Blurb:

Waiting for the right one can be torture.  Too bad for Hailey, impatience got the best of her. Finding Mr. Right in time for a destination wedding couldn’t happen fast enough. Instead of listening to reason, or rather her friends, she’s stuck in paradise alone, again. Nothing ruins a tropical paradise faster than catching your date with another woman.

 

Justin’s ready for a change. He’s been caught up in his own success for too long and is looking to finally settle down. Timing is everything and his cousins wedding is the perfect start of his new life. His luck is changing with the captivating mystery woman on the beach.  Now all he has to do is find her, before he agrees to his family’s match making plot.

 

Excerpt:

“This is paradise, though, or so the brochure said. I’m fairly certain a woman like you could find someone better in the matter of a few hours.” He glanced back to her.

His gaze sent heat coursing through her in a way she’d never experienced, let alone expected. She couldn’t be certain the sudden wriggling in her stomach was something she’d eaten, or a good thing invoked by Mr. Beach-God. A hot burn seemed to claim her neck and kiss her cheeks. There was no suppressing the grin that spread ear to ear. No one had ever made her feel like she was an object of desire. Tossing her head, she took it in. Feminism aside, it was nice to be wanted.

He smiled back at her, a full smile that reached his eyes. “Then again, it isn’t exactly bad to have morals. I respect the fact you didn’t head straight for a bar to try and pick up on someone new. I know my roommate certainly could use a few morals for the love of my sanity.”

Is he hitting on me?

“This is Mexico. Are you implying there are a lot of desperate men here?” She leaned into him, bumping his shoulder with hers. The bit of contact sent a new sizzling flash racing over her.

The stranger’s brow knit together. “What? No. That’s not at all what I meant. I suppose it’s true though, unless there are a lot of cold showers to be had around here. Men are pretty useless around woman in bathing suits.”

 

About the Author:

 

Michelle’s imagination started spilling out onto paper the second she could scribble.  Her drawing never improved, but her love affair with words continued and evolved as she became infatuated with one story after another.  If life could be written, Michelle would write everyone’s ending as a happily ever after.

Michelle grew up in Chicago and later moved to Colorado. Her husband still makes fun of her Midwest accent. By day, she is an engineer, wife, and mother to two kids and two dogs. Her sanity survives on the pages she writes, even if her toddler is trying to drive her to the edge one temper tantrum at a time.

Website: http://www.michellezieglerauthor.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleZieglerAuthor Twitter: http://twitter.com/MZiegler_Writer

 

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Title:  Summer’s Sweet Embrace, a sweet romance anthology

Author:  Various

Publisher:  Roane Publishing

Release Date:  August 19, 2015

Keywords:  Summer, Beach, Ocean, romance, contemporary, Summertime Romance, short stories

Description: Summertime love is always the sweetest. These eight sweet tales of summer romance are the perfect companion for a day at the lake or the beach.

Truly Paradise – Michelle Ziegler

Waiting for the right one can be torture.
Too bad for Hailey, impatience got the best of her. Finding Mr. Right in time for a destination wedding couldn’t happen fast enough. Instead of listening to reason, or rather her friends, she’s stuck in paradise alone, again. Nothing ruins a tropical paradise faster than catching your date with another woman.Justin’s ready for a change. He’s been caught up in his own success for too long and is looking to finally settle down. Timing is everything and his cousins wedding is the perfect start of his new life. His luck is changing with the captivating mystery woman on the beach.  Now all he has to do is find her, before he agrees to his family’s match making plot.

Ocean Dust – Laurie Treacy

Carly Dawson, 18, is facing her last summer before leaving for college, all alone. Still nursing a broken heart over the loss of her boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, she wants the next two months to be different. A shocking unexpected visitor one night just may offer Carly the excitement she seeks. Her only decision is whether or not to choose what this visitor offers her.

The Beach Rose – Christa MacDonald

Annie Thomas can’t believe her good luck when she inherits the family’s beach house in Oceanside Maine.  It’s one of the few places she was truly happy so she sells everything she owns, quits her job, and moves in hoping that her new business, The Beach Rose, will bring in enough money in its first season to let her live up there year round.  But on her first day things aren’t as easy or as simple as she’d hoped.  To cap it off she discovers that her best new client is actually the boy she had a huge teenage crush on.  So much for rekindling a summer romance.

For Craig, Annie was everything he wanted when he was a geeky seventeen year-old.  Now that he’s pushing forty and the owner of half the real estate in town, he wants another shot at convincing her that he’s everything she needs.  He didn’t count on her owning the business he just signed a contract with though.  Craig has to find a way to help Annie’s struggling business without her knowing it since anything else would push her further away and that’s the last thing he wants.

Together they may get a second chance for a summer romance.

When the Sea Swallows the Sun – Kim Strattford

A trip to Clearwater Beach was supposed to be a fun escape from the D.C. rat race for Emma and her boyfriend Sam.  Until Sam dumped her, leaving her with a ticket she was too cheap not to use and a resolution to enjoy her time in the sun and get over him.  A plan that sputters when Sam’s good friend Rick shows up.  Rick, who’s never seemed to approve of her for reasons she’s never understood.  Rick, who seems to think he has license to bug her just because he bought Sam’s ticket.  Rick, who may be a much nicer guy than she ever realized, and who might have a very good reason for not thinking much of her.  Can they make peace in the beautiful Florida sun and surf?  Peace—or maybe more?

Love’s Nectar – Jaylee Austin

What if fate pushed you to make a choice between keeping a promise and revealing a truth? After her grandmother’s death, she opens an unexpected letter containing an unwanted request. Isabel feels obligated to honor her grams final wish. In the process she risks losing the man of her dreams.

Six months before their marriage Isabel reveals a time bomb that will forever change their lives. He loves her but the betrayal of not trusting him weighs heavy on his heart. Trust means everything to Seth.

One ring, journal, box, spirit, and flower will teach everyone the power of commitment and the importance of honesty.  Secrets left buried will always haunt the living, a life lived truthfully leads to happily ever after. Will Isabel and Seth realize this before they are doomed to replay the mistakes of the past?

Love’s High Tide – Niki Mitchell

Tired of the vacationers hitting on her, surf shop owner, Skye Taylor quits dating. In walks the cocky, Harley Nicholson from Idaho. She’s not open for another summer fling. Can he convinces her to give love a chance?

Harley sees Skye shooting through the Huntington Beach Pier on her surfboard. Mesmerized by the woman’s connection with the wave, he sets out to meet the brazen surfer. He bets his cousin that before he leaves in three weeks, she’ll be his.

Skye’s life is kept busy running the Epic Surf Shop and training for annual surfing contest. The handsome, buff Idahoan interests her, but she doesn’t want another disastrous summer fling. Harley charms her into giving him a surfing lesson, woos her with moonlight strolls, and coaxes her with sweet gestures. Skye discovers Harley’s betrayal. She refuses to see him or hear his explanation.

Miserable, Harley must do something monumental to win her back. Will Skye ever forgive Harley?

Linger – Melissa J. Crispin

Tracey Thompson isn’t like most twenty-year-olds. She’s looking forward to settling down and marrying her soul mate, Noah Martin. Even though their love bloomed when they were just little kids, they never doubted it and never looked back.

When a tragic accident separates Tracey from Noah, she struggles to go on without him. As the days wear on, she becomes aware of a chance for them to be together once again. All she needs to do is understand what tore them apart in the first place. But, overcoming this is harder than it seems. Will she be strong enough to find her way back to him?

Above Reproach – Sheryl Winters

Executive Secretary, Margaret Simms should have had it all. An apartment on the beach and a job at Reynolds Ad Agency, working for her best friend and business mogul, Garrett Reynolds.

A one night stand leads to a pregnancy and a re-evaluation of her life goals. In reality, Margaret’s always hated her office job and culinary school is her life dream. But that too is ripped away from her when Garrett, her best friend and father of her child, develops cancer.

Obligation forces her back to the work she hates. When office espionage threatens her life, Margaret finds she must make a choice. Stand up for what she truly believes in or lose all she’s ever wanted.

 

Purchase Links:

Roane Publishing

 Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Smashwords

 ****

 

 

 

Summer’s Sweet Embrace, Releases- It’s Here!

 ****Don’t forget to stop at the bottom to enter Roane Publishing’s Giveaway and enter my personal Giveaway here on facebook or the web. ****

Title:  Summer’s Sweet Embrace, a sweet romance anthology

Author:  Various

Publisher:  Roane Publishing

Release Date:  August 19, 2015

Keywords:  Summer, Beach, Ocean, romance, contemporary, Summertime Romance, short stories

Description: Summertime love is always the sweetest. These eight sweet tales of summer romance are the perfect companion for a day at the lake or the beach.

Truly Paradise – Michelle Ziegler

Waiting for the right one can be torture.
Too bad for Hailey, impatience got the best of her. Finding Mr. Right in time for a destination wedding couldn’t happen fast enough. Nothing ruins a tropical paradise faster than catching your date with another woman. Instead of listening to reason, or rather her friends, she’s stuck in paradise alone, again.

Justin’s ready for a change. He’s been caught up in his own success for too long and is looking to finally settle down. Timing is everything and his cousins wedding is the perfect start of his new life. His luck is changing with the captivating mystery woman on the beach.  Now all he has to do is find her, before he agrees to his family’s match making plot.

Ocean Dust – Laurie Treacy

Carly Dawson, 18, is facing her last summer before leaving for college, all alone. Still nursing a broken heart over the loss of her boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, she wants the next two months to be different. A shocking unexpected visitor one night just may offer Carly the excitement she seeks. Her only decision is whether or not to choose what this visitor offers her.

The Beach Rose – Christa MacDonald

Annie Thomas can’t believe her good luck when she inherits the family’s beach house in Oceanside Maine.  It’s one of the few places she was truly happy so she sells everything she owns, quits her job, and moves in hoping that her new business, The Beach Rose, will bring in enough money in its first season to let her live up there year round.  But on her first day things aren’t as easy or as simple as she’d hoped.  To cap it off she discovers that her best new client is actually the boy she had a huge teenage crush on.  So much for rekindling a summer romance.

For Craig, Annie was everything he wanted when he was a geeky seventeen year-old.  Now that he’s pushing forty and the owner of half the real estate in town, he wants another shot at convincing her that he’s everything she needs.  He didn’t count on her owning the business he just signed a contract with though.  Craig has to find a way to help Annie’s struggling business without her knowing it since anything else would push her further away and that’s the last thing he wants.

Together they may get a second chance for a summer romance.

When the Sea Swallows the Sun – Kim Strattford

A trip to Clearwater Beach was supposed to be a fun escape from the D.C. rat race for Emma and her boyfriend Sam.  Until Sam dumped her, leaving her with a ticket she was too cheap not to use and a resolution to enjoy her time in the sun and get over him.  A plan that sputters when Sam’s good friend Rick shows up.  Rick, who’s never seemed to approve of her for reasons she’s never understood.  Rick, who seems to think he has license to bug her just because he bought Sam’s ticket.  Rick, who may be a much nicer guy than she ever realized, and who might have a very good reason for not thinking much of her.  Can they make peace in the beautiful Florida sun and surf?  Peace—or maybe more?

Love’s Nectar – Jaylee Austin

What if fate pushed you to make a choice between keeping a promise and revealing a truth? After her grandmother’s death, she opens an unexpected letter containing an unwanted request. Isabel feels obligated to honor her grams final wish. In the process she risks losing the man of her dreams.

Six months before their marriage Isabel reveals a time bomb that will forever change their lives. He loves her but the betrayal of not trusting him weighs heavy on his heart. Trust means everything to Seth.

One ring, journal, box, spirit, and flower will teach everyone the power of commitment and the importance of honesty.  Secrets left buried will always haunt the living, a life lived truthfully leads to happily ever after. Will Isabel and Seth realize this before they are doomed to replay the mistakes of the past?

Love’s High Tide – Niki Mitchell

Tired of the vacationers hitting on her, surf shop owner, Skye Taylor quits dating. In walks the cocky, Harley Nicholson from Idaho. She’s not open for another summer fling. Can he convinces her to give love a chance?

Harley sees Skye shooting through the Huntington Beach Pier on her surfboard. Mesmerized by the woman’s connection with the wave, he sets out to meet the brazen surfer. He bets his cousin that before he leaves in three weeks, she’ll be his.

Skye’s life is kept busy running the Epic Surf Shop and training for annual surfing contest. The handsome, buff Idahoan interests her, but she doesn’t want another disastrous summer fling. Harley charms her into giving him a surfing lesson, woos her with moonlight strolls, and coaxes her with sweet gestures. Skye discovers Harley’s betrayal. She refuses to see him or hear his explanation.

Miserable, Harley must do something monumental to win her back. Will Skye ever forgive Harley?

Linger – Melissa J. Crispin

Tracey Thompson isn’t like most twenty-year-olds. She’s looking forward to settling down and marrying her soul mate, Noah Martin. Even though their love bloomed when they were just little kids, they never doubted it and never looked back.

When a tragic accident separates Tracey from Noah, she struggles to go on without him. As the days wear on, she becomes aware of a chance for them to be together once again. All she needs to do is understand what tore them apart in the first place. But, overcoming this is harder than it seems. Will she be strong enough to find her way back to him?

Above Reproach – Sheryl Winters

Executive Secretary, Margaret Simms should have had it all. An apartment on the beach and a job at Reynolds Ad Agency, working for her best friend and business mogul, Garrett Reynolds.

A one night stand leads to a pregnancy and a re-evaluation of her life goals. In reality, Margaret’s always hated her office job and culinary school is her life dream. But that too is ripped away from her when Garrett, her best friend and father of her child, develops cancer.

Obligation forces her back to the work she hates. When office espionage threatens her life, Margaret finds she must make a choice. Stand up for what she truly believes in or lose all she’s ever wanted.

 

Purchase Links:

Roane Publishing

 Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Smashwords

 ****