Tattered Pages Welcomes Lia and Alastair from Catch My Breath!

I'm thrilled to welcome Lia and Alastair to Tattered Pages today, the hero and heroine from Lynn Montagano's Catch My Breath! They agreed to sit down for an interview, and we're the lucky ones who get to eavesdrop while Lia uses her talents as a news producer to find out more about Alastair! Whoot!

But first, a peek inside this fabulous romance AVAILABLE NOW from Lynn Montagano and HarperImpulse UK!

Lia Meyers' plan for a relaxing Scottish vacation is short-lived when one uncharacteristic moment of clumsiness lands her in the arms of her very own Knight in Shining Armani…

The perfect opportunity for a much needed holiday romance? Wrong! Lia’s still reeling from the mother of all bad breakups, and she really doesn't have the patience for Alastair Holden – despite his effortless charm and cute British accent.

Arrogant and totally inscrutable, he's exactly the sort of guy she wants to avoid but can't:  the man behind the mystery proves just too tempting to resist.

Drawn to him, Lia is forced to battle with her own insecurities, and the closer they become, the more she recognizes her own weaknesses as she peels away his layers with every night they spend together. Discovering the past Alastair is so desperate to conceal, Lia must decide if they can heal one another together or if their deepest fears will tear them apart.

AMAZON / GOOGLEPLAY

AJ: Thanks so much for stopping by today you two, I'm thrilled to have you here. Please make yourselves at home.
Lia Meyers: Thanks for having us on your blog, AJ. I have loads of questions to ask this one over here.
Alastair Holden: Of course you do.
AJ:  *snicker*
Lia: Hey, I’m a news producer. It’s sorta my thing.
Alastair: Yes, yes. We all know what a curious kitten you are.
Lia: That English charm of yours will only get you so far.
AJ:  *speaking behind her hand to Lia* I get the distinct impression her likes your curiosity.
Alastair: *laughs* Fair enough. What do you want to know?
Lia: Are you giving me carte blanche to ask you anything, Holden?
Alastair: *lifting an eyebrow* No, love. We talked about this.
Lia: Okay, okay. Relax. First question. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
Alastair: I never have free days.
Lia: Yes you do. Come on.
Alastair: Well, aside from spending it with you, I’d probably play a little rugby then venture off somewhere with my camera and take photos.
Lia: What would you photograph?
Alastair: *grinning* You.
AJ:  *sighs and bats her eyelashes at Alastair*
Lia: And if I wasn’t there?
Alastair: Your not being there would defeat the purpose of the mission to enjoy myself.
Lia: *muttering* Damn charm thing.
Alastair: I heard that. *smiles* Let me ask you a question.
Lia: Oh God.
Alastair:  *leaning forward* Will you have dinner with me tonight?
Lia: Holden! This isn’t speed dating. Come on. AJ was nice enough to ask us here. I’m sure she doesn’t want to have to sit through your never-ending attempts to seduce me.
AJ:  Uh...yeah, I do.
Alastair: So that’s a yes?
Lia: You’re impossible.
Alastair: You’ll thank me later during dessert.
AJ:  *waves a hand in front of her face as if to cool off*
Lia: *appearing flustered* Next question. What are you the most proud of about your life?
Alastair: *silence*
Lia: *quietly* There has to be something.
Alastair: *stoically* Nothing comes to mind.
Lia: Well…what about your grandfather’s company? I mean, you’ve done a great job since taking over after he retired. That’s an accomplishment.
Alastair: It’s just a job, Lia.
Lia: But you’re carrying on the family business. I mean, don’t you think your parents would—
Alastair: *deadly calm* Next question.
Lia: Sorry. I didn’t…sorry. Um…
Alastair: *expression softening* It’s okay, love. Yes, I think they’d be proud, if that’s what you were going to ask. At least, I hope they would be.
Lia: *smiles* Two more questions, chief. You’re almost done.
Alastair: *shifting in the chair* Fire away.
Lia: When I came to visit you in England you took me on the London Eye and to Stonehenge. Those were obviously touristy and stuff. Do you have any favorite spots in England that you’d go to while growing up?
Alastair: Favorite spots…*stroking his chin* My aunt and uncle would take me to Brighton in the summertime. It was mostly my aunt’s idea. We’d go to the boardwalk and she’d play in the arcade with me. After I learned to drive and went to university, I would spend most of my free time at the cottage outside of Glasgow. *shrugs* I liked seeing London and Stonehenge and all that through your eyes. It sort of, I don’t know, gave it new life for me.
Lia: What do you think of Orlando, now that you’ve been here a couple times?
Alastair: Aside from the constant heat? *smirks* It’s alright. You’re here so that’s all that matters.
Lia: Last question.
Alastair: I thought that last question was the last one.
Lia: This one is. And it’s silly, so try to dig out the British humor if you can find it.
Alastair: Cheeky.
Lia: *laughs* Okay, here we go. If blondes have more fun, what do redheads have?
Alastair: Are you mocking me because I’m a ginger?
Lia: Never. Answer the question.
Alastair: *sly grin* Well, this redhead has you so I’d say I’m having all the fun, yes?
Lia: Poetic as always, Holden.
Alastair: I think this concludes our little interview, kitten. If our lovely hostess doesn’t mind, I’d like to start our dinner date now. *reaches for Lia’s hand* Though I’m tempted to skip right to dessert.
AJ:  Thanks so much for visiting with me today! It was fabulous getting to know you better!

A fresh, new voice in contemporary romance, Lynn is a former TV news writer who decided to take the plunge and write a novel. She's thrilled that her debut, Catch My Breath, will be published by Harper Impulse in April 2014.

 

Lynn grew up in a small town in Rhode Island before venturing out into the world. An avid traveler, she's been as far away as Australia and as close as Canada. Her favorite place to visit is London.

 

For now, the small town New Englander hangs her hat in Northern California. If you can see her through the fog, wave hello.

 

FIND LYNN ON THE WEB AT:  FACEBOOK / TWITTER

 

Crazy, Undercover, Love by Nikki Moore is HERE!

New Release - Crazy, Undercover, Love

The day has finally arrived!! Nikki Moore's debut novel with HarperImpulse - Crazy, Undercover, Love - released as an ebook yesterday 24^th April 2014.

If you like pacy, sexy romance and fancy a long weekend in Barcelona with a smoking hot guy this one's for you!  Want to know more...?

When uber-feisty career girl Charley Caswell-Wright takes on the assignment as PA to the gorgeous Alex Demetrio, CEO of Demetrio International, she's there under entirely false pretences; to get her life back on track. Having lost the job she worked so hard to earn, she’s determined not to give it up so easily, especially when she didn’t deserve to lose it in the first place.

Mr Dreamy CEO is her only chance of clawing back her career – and her reputation. So she has to keep things strictly professional… boy, is she in trouble!

To buy Crazy, Undercover, Love as an ebook: Amazon / Google Play / iTunes / Kobo / Sainsbury's

Or to buy it as a paperback on pre-order, released on 26^th June from Amazon

What people are saying about Nikki's other stories...

The Love Letter and A Day in the Life... HarperImpulse short story collection Be My Valentine, with Teresa F Morgan and Brigid Coady, attracting 4 and 5 star reviews.

'I loved all 5 stories and will look out for more books by each author.'
CometBabesBooks, Amazon

'Whilst I enjoyed all of the stories, I particularly liked Nikki Moore's … her voice as an author really resonated with me and I can't wait to read more of her work.'

Kate Beeden, Goodreads

Nikki's short story A Night to Remember in the Mills & Boon/Romantic Novelists Association anthology Truly, Madly, Deeply which has also attracted 4 and 5 star reviews.

'My favourite story was A Night To Remember. I think what drew me to this … was its resonance with real life. I'm not going to spoil the story but I could feel the emotions spilling out of the page - it was beautiful.'

Beckie, www.beckiesbookmix.blogspot.co.uk

'A Night to Remember - Beautiful, devastatingly so.'

Cheryl M-M, Goodreads & http://mmcheryl.wordpress.com/

Nikki Moore lives in beautiful Dorset and writes short stories and sexy, pacy romances. A finalist in several writing competitions including Novelicious Undiscovered 2012, she graduated from the Romantic Novelists Association New Writers' Scheme after four years and and has contributed to their magazine Romance Matters. She has far too much fun attending the annual RNA conference and has previously chaired a panel and taken part in a workshop at the Festival of Romance.

She blogs about some of her favourite things – Writing, Work and Wine – at www.nikkimooreauthor.wordpress.com and believes in supporting other writers as part of a friendly, talented and diverse community.

You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMooreAuthor or on Twitter @NikkiMoore_Auth and she invites you to pop in for chats about love, life, reading or writing!

The Golden Key Chronicles Collection Release!!!

Please join me in celebrating this special occasion, the release of my time travel fantasy romance collection... I present...

THE GOLDEN KEY CHRONICLES

For the first time ever...

Rowena's Key, Candra's Freedom, Caedmon's Curse and Braedric's Bane

are NOW AVAILABLE as one continuous read!

 

INCLUDING FREE BONUS MATERIAL!!!

The Story of Helios and Selene:  The Mythology Behind The Golden Key Chronicles

 

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom, but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

 

When antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, purchases an armoire containing a hidden key and a “magic” mirror, she believes the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is some sort of elaborate joke. Yet she cannot deny their connection seems bound by more than just the key and, as her love for Prince Caedmon grows, she agrees to join him in his realm. Prophecy intervenes in a way neither of them could have expected. Lost and alone in the Austiere Kingdom, Rowena struggles to find her place, and though she fights the heated advances of the dangerous Prince Caedmon, the attraction between them brings challenges much deeper than her troubled heart can recall.

 

After two torturous years held captive in the dungeons of Seviere’s Keep, Prince Caedmon returns home with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands its grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Yet their enemies to the north are merely one of many obstacles determined to see them fail and, to escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future—the one place Caedmon’s worst fears are confirmed. Though Rowena’s memories have returned, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.

 

Join Caedmon and Rowena as they embark on an epic journey bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind an age-old prophecy in The Golden Key Chronicles.

 

AMAZON / AMAZONUK / BARNES&NOBLE 

 

What reviewers are saying about The Golden Key Chronicles...

 

The imagery is so vivid it felt like I was sitting in front of a screen streaming real-time video. I love how the author cleverly crafted some straight up satirical irony within the plot. What Rowena says and what is meant, and what Prince Caedmon does and what is expected is a work of brilliance. 5 Stars from Writer's Kaboodle

 

I LOVED IT! Oh My Goodness I was hooked from beginning to end and didn't want to put it down until I finished it and was teary eyed at the end. It's SO good. 5 Stars from Cloey Book Reviews

 

It is clear that, far from being your simple fairy tale, the Golden Key Chronicles will be as much of an emotional roller-coaster as a tale of enthralling enchantment. AJ Nuest’s stories have the ability to sweep readers into a magical kingdom, even without the aid of an enchanted mirror. 5 Stars from Love Reading Romance

Proving once again that less can be more, AJ Nuest’s Candra’s Freedom is an intensely romantic, intensely emotional trip into the fantasy of love and romance. Rowena and Caedmon will burrow into your heart... 5 Stars from Tome Tender Book Blog

Caedmon's Curse left me out of breath in many ways. The fight scenes are vividly and flawlessly written and the same goes for every other moment in the book. Book #3 is my favorite out of AJ's Golden Key Chronicles so far! With only one book left, she has me on pins and needles waiting for the last installment. 5 Stars from Broken Bird Media

LOVED the ending: I really thought I knew what was coming, but Miss Nuest nailed it with her well-placed sequence of events and clues. It was the perfect place to leave off - or leave us hanging I should say - for Book 4. :D 5 Stars from Friday Night Romance

An epic, fantasy, adventure and romance, with a dash of comedy, rolled into one fabulous book. The characters are wonderful. Rowena is a strong, feisty, fearless female and I love her slightly feminist thinking. Caedmon is the perfect complement to her and they just fit. The romance, the love, and the ecstasy that makes up Rowena and Caedmon’s relationship is toe-curling steamy, and beautifully written. 5 Stars from Follow the Yellow Book Road

 

Just when I think AJ Nuest can’t raise her bar any higher, she up and writes Braedric’s Bane, the final book in Rowena and Caedmon’s tale. Love, lust, romance, life-threatening danger and a good dose of light-hearted humor from the amazing characters that color her world of larger than life fantasy.  5 Stars from Tome Tender Book Blog

 

ON SALE IN E-BOOK STARTING APRIL 24TH, WITH PRINT TO BE RELEASED IN MAY!

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

Introducing Wilde Riders by Savannah Young!

If you like country western singers paired with contemporary romance, you've come to the right place! I'm thrilled to give you all a taste of Savannah's series WILDE RIDERS! Read on for the blurbs and excerpts!

FOUR WILDE BROTHERS...ONE WILDE COUNTRY BAND

WILDE RIDERS is the first novel in a spicy new contemporary romance series about four sexy brothers, their small-town bar and their local country band. WILDE RIDERS can be read as a STAND ALONE NOVEL or as part of the SERIES.

 

Cooper Wilde spent his entire adolescence counting the days until he could escape rural northwest New Jersey. Now at 26, he can't believe he's coming back. But his late father's bar, Haymakers, is in financial trouble and his older brother, Jake, has asked for Cooper's help.

Riley Smith, 25, is fresh out of her Ivy League MBA program and wants to make an impression on her employer, H & C Bank. Her first solo assignment is a fraud investigation on a business loan they made to Haymakers.

Even though Old Town is less than 90 minutes from New York City, Riley feels like she's stepped into another world in this remote, one-bar town. Riley can't wait to do her business and get back to the city as quickly as her sports car will take her...until she meets Cooper Wilde. He's not like the other guys in this rural town and Riley feels inexplicably attracted to him.

If you like your trucks loud, your beer cold and your men hot...you'll love WILDE RIDERS.

 

~ * ~

 

The drive into New Jersey is exhausting. My only saving grace is that most of the traffic is going into the city instead of out of the city like I am. You’ve got to love those bridge and tunnel guys. I wouldn’t date one but I have a little bit of respect for them. The commute into Manhattan turns a nine hour work day into an eleven hour one, if you’re lucky.

            I can feel my stomach start to knot as I get further away from the city and further away from civilization. Pretty soon I’ll be in the sticks surrounded by woods and farmland. I can almost smell the manure that will no doubt take days to completely rid from my nasal passages. I pray that I don’t run into any animals, especially cows, which are huge, smelly and completely freak me out. The only live animals I ever care to see have to fit comfortably in a handbag, like a Chihuahua or Teacup Poodle, for example.

I have an appointment with a man named Jake Wilde. He asked me to come early, before the place opened at noon, so he could give me his full attention. I try to imagine what someone named Jake Wilde would look like and all I can come up with is an old gunslinger like Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven.

As I pull into Old Town the place looks exactly like I thought it would. The buildings in the town square are old and I image the place hasn’t changed much in the last hundred years or so.

Haymakers is just past the town square, down the hill from the deli, next to the gas station. Those were the exact directions I was given, in those words. I take that to mean the town only has one gas station and one deli.

When I pull into the parking lot, there’s only one other vehicle sitting there. It’s an old beat-up Dodge Ram. Nothing like fitting the country bumpkin stereotype like a glove. Then I have a brief moment of panic and wonder if it’s safe to park my BMW in the dirt lot. Then I remind myself where I am. Who is going to mess with it in the middle of the day? A stray deer from the woods out back? The only thing I probably have to worry about is it getting dusty.

I take in a deep breath. I have to be thankful there’s no manure smell yet. The quicker you do this, I remind myself, the quicker you can get back to the lovely asphalt jungle you call home.

I’m hit with a gust of wind as soon as I get out of my car. How is it possible that Old Town is even windier than lower Manhattan? I didn’t think I’d ever find a place windier than Wall Street. Even the Windy City didn’t seem this windy when I had business in Chicago.

When I enter the bar, I try to smooth down my thick hair, which I know is probably a complete mess from the gust. I’m surprised by the homey feel of the place. How could someone like me possibly feel at home in a country bar? Even if I was wearing jeans and cowboy boots, if I even owned jeans and cowboy boots, I wouldn’t fit in at a place like this. 

I hear someone clear his throat and I turn to see a guy about my age, mid-twenties, standing next to me. I can’t help my surprise when I see he’s wearing khakis and a polo shirt, like he just stepped off a golf course. He looks as out of place in this country bar as I feel.

“Are you Jake Wilde?” I ask.

The guy gives me the faintest hint of a smile but it’s almost as if it pains him to give that much. His deep brown eyes look even more distressed and I can’t help but wonder what’s behind those sad eyes.

He rakes his fingers through his thick dark hair. “A little windy out, isn’t it?”

My hand automatically goes to my hair and I try to casually flatten it down again. I imagine I must look like I just stepped out of a wind tunnel.

“Your hair looks fine,” the guy tries to assure me. But he’s got that hint of a smile on his face again and it makes me wonder if he’s lying just to make me feel better.

“I’m Cooper Wilde,” the guy says as he offers a hand.

 I don’t know why I suddenly feel nervous about shaking it. It’s a business meeting. That’s what people do. But the way this guy is looking at me gives me the feeling that he might be interested in more than just business.

But I’m not, I remind myself. Not only because I’ve all but sworn off men, I’m here to do a job. I’ve been working for H & C Bank for two years and this is my first solo assignment as a lead investigator. If I continue to do well, I’ll be well on my way to becoming a Vice President before I turn thirty. I don’t need a man to throw me off my career trajectory. And definitely not some guy in a country bar in rural New Jersey.

~ * ~

THE WILDE ONE

 

Tucker Wilde joined the United States Army right out of high school and was injured in Iraq. But more than just his leg was shattered in the Middle East. The war also crushed his spirit and damaged his soul. When a strange couple arrives at his family’s bar, Haymakers, Tucker can see signs of mental and emotional abuse and is immediately drawn to the lovely but fragile girl seated at his bar.

Gracie Parker has been a victim of abuse her entire life. When her boyfriend, Dex, beats her in the parking lot of Haymakers and abandons her, it’s almost too much for the nineteen-year-old to bear. That is until Tucker appears like a warrior knight from the darkness to save her.

Tucker and Gracie are two broken people who are immediately drawn together. But their relationship and even their very lives are threatened by Dex who will stop at nothing to get Gracie back.

If you like your trucks loud, your beer cold and your men hot...you'll love THE WILDE ONE.

 

~ * ~
 

"You look different," Savage says, then downs the last of his pint of ale.
“Different how?” I prod even though I have an idea what he’s going to say. I look more normal. Like I fit into society rather than looking like an outcast.

Savage shrugs. He’s never been a person of many words. We’re like two peas in a pod that way. Even though he rarely says very much, with just one sideways glance Savage can have the biggest and meanest guys on the planet shaking in their cowboy boots.

People say that about me too.

“Do you want another?” I ask, even though I can guess his response. Savage always orders two pints and drinks them at the far corner of the bar. There are worse ways of coping with the past than drinking a few beers every night before he goes home to an empty apartment. I should know. I’m a master of poor coping skills.

“Hit me,” Savage says.

I pour him another pint and take away the empty.

“You look good.”

I’m surprised by the compliment. I’d never use the word good to describe anything about me. But I do look better than I have since I got back from Iraq.

“Drink your beer,” I tell him because I’m not in the mood to explain what’s been going on in my life.

Savage was in Iraq about the same time I was and he’s the closest thing I’ve got to a friend. I’m not one for relationships. Life is too short and relationships are too painful. When you get close to someone, you usually just end up getting hurt.

But like me, Savage isn’t the type of guy who gets too close to people. The most obvious reason is the way he looks: he’s big and scary. Also just like me.

Savage and I lift weights together, and in a fight it would be a close match. Not that either of us would ever start a fight but we would definitely end one if we had to.

  It’s a weeknight and the bar is almost deserted except for a few of the regulars. That’s why I’m surprised when I see a couple I don’t recognize walk in and look around. The guy’s wearing all leather and carrying two helmets, so he’s obviously a biker. He looks about my height, six feet two inches and he’s big. The girl looks tiny standing next to him. She’s the definition of the word waif. She looks like a strong wind could pick her up and blow her away. Not a good thing in Old Town where it’s windy most of the time.

The most interesting thing about her, though, is her coloring. I’ve never seen someone so fair in my life. I’m the only blond in my family but I’m not even close to this girl. Her long hair is so light it’s practically white. And her skin is the color of milk. She looks like a princess who just stepped out of a fairytale, as corny as that sounds.

I can’t help but notice that she doesn’t look like she wants to be here. Or maybe she doesn’t want to be with the guy. It’s hard to tell. But she doesn’t look happy. If anything, she looks scared. 

As the couple steps closer to the bar, I can see the girl is shaking. I’m not sure whether she’s shaking because she’s scared, or because it’s January and it’s freezing outside and she’s wearing a tiny spring jacket that barely fits. It almost looks like a jacket for a kid it’s so small on her. Not that she’s much bigger than a kid herself.

What kind of a jerk wears a thick leather jacket while he lets his girl freeze? I’m really not liking this guy at all. And when I see him grab her by the elbow, so roughly she almost comes off the floor, I can feel every hair on my body stand at attention.
It is possible to hate a guy I don't even know?

 

~ * ~

 

Here's where you can find Savannah on the web:

 

BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS 

 

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT SAVANNAH'S WILDE ONES!

 

XO AJ XO

ANONYMOUS COVER REVEAL PLUS GIVEAWAY!

What happens when an online date is not what it seems?

After Ali's heart is broken, she decides to try Anonymous, a new dating website where you can retain complete anonymity while you search for your soul mate. When she discovers Joe, she thinks she may have at least found a new friend and decides to put her past behind her and move on.

Several death threats and an attempt on her life force her back into contact with her soon-to-be ex, Mark, who is the lead detective on the case. The tension builds between them while Ali struggles to get over Mark, and Mark races to find the maniac who's trying to kill her.

When Ali meets up with her online flame, she finds he's anything but the friend she imagined…

GET A COPY OF ANONYMOUS HERE:  BUY LINK

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.

FIND DANI-LYN ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

 

***GIVEAWAY***

Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'M LIVE! I'M LIVE!

Today marks the day I made it onto PNR Radio! Whoot!

AND I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY!

·         PNR Radio Website Link: Click the media player to play the podcast right from the website.

·         iTunes podcast channel: Go here to play the interview via iTunes.

·         Contest Page: Go here to enter the GIVEAWAY and you could win an e-copy of The Golden Key Chronicles Collection.

 

**Contest runs April 14th - 20th, with the winners announce Monday, April 21st! **

 

In partnership with ILoveVampireNovels.com, author Arial Burnz is the host of the podcast PNRRadio.com, where she features entertainment that goes bump in the night. If you love paranormal books, TV shows and movies, you’ll love PNR Radio! Guests include bestselling authors (e.g., Nalini Singh, Kami Garcia, Julie Kagawa) and celebrities (from TV shows like Supernatural and Dracula), and every show has a giveaway.

 

About The Golden Key Chronicles:

 

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom,

but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart...

 

When antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, purchases an armoire containing a hidden key and a “magic” mirror, she believes the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is some sort of elaborate joke. Yet she cannot deny their connection seems bound by more than just the key and, as her love for Prince Caedmon grows, she agrees to join him in his realm. Prophecy intervenes in a way neither of them could have expected. Lost and alone in the Austiere Kingdom, Rowena struggles to find her place, and though she fights the heated advances of the dangerous Prince Caedmon, the attraction between them brings challenges much deeper than her troubled heart can recall.

After two torturous years held captive in the dungeons of Seviere’s Keep, Prince Caedmon returns home with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands its grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Yet their enemies to the north are merely one of many obstacles determined to see them fail and, to escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future—the one place Caedmon’s worst fears are confirmed. Though Rowena’s memories have returned, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.

Join Caedmon and Rowena as they embark on an epic journey bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind an age-old prophecy in The Golden Key Chronicles.

~ * ~

 

**This collection release includes all four novellas in the series along with a FREE bonus read, The Story of Helios and Selene:  The Mythology Behind The Golden Key Chronicles!**

Don't delay! Head over to PNR Radio and you could win your very own copy!

 

I See Naked People

I'm thrilled to have Lisa Olech visiting Tattered Pages today, with a guest post about a real-life experience she used in her latest contemporary romance, Picture Me Naked! Whoo Hoo! If you haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet, you SHOULD! I did and rated her lovely story five fabulous sparkly gold stars! Take it away, Lisa!

Let me start by saying, I’m an artist. I’ve been drawing and painting from a young age, and it’s always been who I am no matter what I happen to be doing in my life. However, due to lack of means and opportunity, I never had the privilege of attending art college. One of the few ‘should haves’ I have in my life. Everything I’ve learned over the years I’ve gleaned out of a few private lessons, studying on my own and simply by doing.

Not too long ago, I heard about The Saturday Life Group that hosted life drawing close by. Twenty or so artists, nude model, three hours of serious art study, $10 a week. I was so in! As I said, I’d never attended art school, but I knew that life study was essential to an artist’s education. Basic. This was Art 101.

So there’d be a naked person in the room. I’m an ARTIST. I’m an adult. I’m no prude. Just don’t be asking me to strip down, and I’ll be just fine. I gathered my small sketchpad, my drawing pencils and my favorite charcoals, and off I went.

Entering the classroom, I was hit once again with that unique, undeniable smell of ‘art school’. I love that smell. Oil paint, clay, wet canvas. Other artist began to arrive and set up their easels. I quickly became aware of the fact that I was way out of my league. They were setting up huge newsprint pads, had palettes of beautiful chalks and paints. Gorgeous French travel easels joined the room’s large industrial metal easels and all were dragged into place surrounding the model’s dais. There I sat with my little sketch pad feeling most inadequate, kneading my gum eraser like I knew what I was doing. The other artists were wonderful, however. Very welcoming and friendly. I began to relax. Things would be fine.

Enter the model. Off came the clothes. By his haircut and the tattoo on his upper arm, I deduced he was an ex-Marine. Okay… I’m an artist…I’m an adult… He stuck a pose. After about two minutes of ‘Oh My God, there’s a naked man in the room,’ I relaxed into the shear joy of drawing him. He had a great back. Strong arms. Soon bared shoulders and legs became simple form and shadow. This was a wonderful experience that was stretching my artistic muscles (pardon the pun). I was totally at ease. My role as artist gave me a professional distance. I had the same emotional connection to this man as I would a lovely landscape, a beautiful bowl of fruit or a stunning vase of flowers. I’m an artist.

Then the buzzer sounded and it was time for the model to take a break. I was still in the zone concentrating on my drawing. I was working on trying to highlight the crown of his thigh where the light from the back windows flooded through. I was oblivious to anything happening around me until the model came to stand next to me.

Okay…here’s were I explain that most models, during their break stroll around the room to check out what each artist is doing. And most models put on a robe during their breaks to cover up and keep them warm. And MOST models, while totally free with their bodies and comfortable with their nakedness, are not card-carrying nudists. Not this guy. He was a nudist, although I never saw his card! He never robed during class. He wandered through the easels naked and proud as the day he was born.

Did I mention that I was sitting down? I’ll give you a minute to get a mental picture… Me sitting…naked man standing to my right…talking to me…asking me my name. It would have been rude not to look in his direction, right?  Damn! All I could think of was imagining a wide line painted in caution-tape yellow across his midsection with my brain screaming “Don’t look below that line!!”

I’m an artist…I’m an adult…I’m an artist…I’m an adult…

Lisa A. Olech is an estrogen island in a sea of testosterone. That makes her queen. She has carried her love of art and her unique brand of humor into her debut series centered around an art school and its host of talented, quirky artists. The first book in the Stoddard School of Art series titled PICTURE ME NAKED is available now through AMAZON, BARNES&NOBLE and THE WILD ROSE PRESS.

Find Lisa on the web at: www.lisaolech.com
Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.