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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Addicted to Serial Fiction by Kimmie Easley

If it's not broke - don't fix it.

Ever heard that old adage? Yeah, me too, about a million times. However, just because it's redundant, doesn't mean it doesn't hold merit. 


It's also a good way to describe serial fiction, to be more specific, good serial fiction. 

As a reader, I know that intense feeling of falling in love with characters, being pulled into their lives, feeling their pain, heartache, healing, and desire. Forgetting where you are and what you're doing because your 100% completely invested in your current read. People want to dig deeper. What happen to that endearing side character? Will the nice guy who finished last find love? The list goes on, and is different for everyone.

Now days we have the convenience of the push of a button (better known as one click) and we instantly have the next in a series, depending on an author's publishing schedule. 



As an author, this excites me. I fall in love with my characters the same way a reader does (or at least I hope the reader does). I mourn when a book is finished and I no longer spend my day in a certain made up world with my fictional friends. 

I never thought I would take part in serial fiction, not that I had anything against it, I suppose I never thought about it in general. However, I started noticing the trend, and then one day, it simply took off. Everyone was writing serial fiction (hence the above mentioned good reference), and now I know why. 

IT'S ADDICTIVE for both the reader, and the author. 


So, in regards to the uprising trend of serial fiction, if it ain't broke - don't fix it. 

That's why book #4 in my Tasting Series is set to release in less than two weeks. This series has been so much fun, and they're spinning out pretty quickly. I can't get enough, and better yet, neither can the readers (insert infinite yays here)! They are quick, hot 'stand alones' with small cameos. 


 Tasting Texas (Tasting, #1)Tasting New York (Tasting, #2)Tasting Nashville (Tasting, #3)Tasting Los Angeles (Tasting #4)

FIND THE ONGOING SERIES HERE: 





The characters continue to mess with my head, and the stories continue to stir. More in the Tasting Series to come! 



Sunday, September 28, 2014

What is it with me and ghosts?

I can't seem to stay away from ghosts. They keep popping up in my stories, difficult to justify to my historical editor who considers them paranormal. Fortunately, I also have a paranormal editor who's all about visitations from the departed. But you see, ghosts are not that unusual in Virginia. We have more ghost stories than any other state in the union. I could share half a dozen paranormal accounts without venturing beyond my neighborhood and family. Those of you who don't believe in this sort of thing, move to the Shenandoah Valley and get back with me. Yes, it's gorgeous here. Maybe that's why some ghosts don't want to leave. Just last week, my son and I saw unexplained greenish-yellow lights up on the hill behind our farm, in the dark, moving around the Old Order Mennonite Church/schoolhouse, then--nothing. Some kind of flashlight, we wondered? Where did it go? If someone needed the light to find their way in, why not back out? It's rural countryside and pitch dark.

Did I go investigate? No. I only like to write about ghosts. And I suspect the lower end of the farm behind us is haunted. There's just a creepy old barn and a burned out, nothing left of it, home, and falling into ruins outbuildings. I once found a scrap of newspaper while poking around that site and all it said was 'The devil.'

(Image of old barn at dusk by Elise)

I'm not comfortable with the idea of something skulking about, springing at me, shouting, 'Boo!' If I get the notion anything might, I'll be loudly singing hymns and reciting the Anglican Exorcism prayer sent to mom and me by a lovely English lady named Dorothy Evans. We requested it after she shared an account of their parish manse being haunted by a violent poltergeist and the new priest calling the faithful together to recite the prayer and banish it. She told of paintings flung down from the upstairs hallway and furniture shoved against doors. But the detail I remember best is the saucepan lid she says flew across the kitchen and landed at her feet--thrown by an unseen hand. Fortunately, the faithful were successful in dispelling the offender. Years ago, my son and I held hands and recited this same prayer in the old farm house he and his soon to be wife were renovating, to out the poltergeist banging about, opening doors, and alarming the cat, people, etc. It worked, btw.

There are several camps of ghosts. The most common are those who have unfinished business. In my stories, once they complete their mission, they move on. They may need help to accomplish their task from the hero or heroine. Some ghosts are seemingly lost--didn't get the memo the war is over, (the Civil War)--or some such confusion, and need encouragement to move on. Some phenomenal occurrences are an echo from the past--a chink in time opening to reveal a brief glimpse of the people and era in which they lived. They're not ghosts. Poltergeists, unseen except for their volatile effects, are more common than visible ghosts. The real bad asses are the ones I worry about encountering--ever. Steer clear of them, unless you bring a group of faithful with you to pray them out.

In my recent release, historical romance novel, Traitor's Legacy, set during the American Revolution, I made it through the novel with mystery, intrigue, and adventure, no ghosts. However, in writing the sequel, Traitor's Curse, I'm already onto my second ghost, and the story has a delicious Gothic flavor. This one will likely wind up with my paranormal editor. I tried to keep the series straight historical, and the period details are, but there's no keeping the ghosts out. So the series will be, in the words of a local country woman describing her two-year-old, 'right mixy.' Say that with a Southern accent for the full affect.

I'm back working with the Wild Rose Press. I like my editors, and what the company can do with the books that I can't, including more with audio and now they're getting stories translated into other languages. Fortunately, they tell me to write the story that wants to be told and they'll find the spot for it within the company in one of their lines. This isn't to say I won't do any more indie, but I'm leaning toward sticking with The Wild Rose.

For those of you chomping at the bit for the Anglican Exorcism prayer, here it is: Do not try this alone if the presence you sense is evil, only with a strong group of Christians, the more, the better. And join hands. Even if you think I’m nuts.

“In the name of God the FatherGod the Son and God the Holy Ghost, may this distressed soul be relieved of his obsession with this world and sent to where he belongs.”

I added, ‘go to the light,’ although a truly evil presence won’t, but a troubled, restless one may. Seems only right to offer that as an option.

Stories I've written with ghosts thus far include Somewhere My Love and Somewhere the Bells Ring (Christmas). These two are the most overtly ghostly. However, Enemy of the King is historical, but the H&H are haunted by his late wife (Traitor's Legacy is the sequel to Enemy of the King). Through the Fire is historical, but the heroine sees her late uncle. Kira, Daughter of the Moon, sequel to Through the Fire, has a poltergeist, but overall, it's historical. Red Bird's Song is strongly historical, but the heroine glimpses her departed brother. The Bearwalker's Daughter is carefully researched historical, but has a strong paranormal element, including the departed returning. And a Shawnee warrior who can 'bear walk'. But that's another phenomena entirely.


A final sharing from June of this year. As my dear Aunt Moggie lay dying in the old family homeplace in the valley where she'd lived her whole life, including her married life, the hospice nurse roused from where she'd nodded off in a chair, to see a man seated on the bedside. He was holding Moggie's hand and she was speaking quietly with him. The nurse assumed he was my aunt's younger son, Henry. When the man she took to be Henry stood up, nodded at her politely, and left the room, she followed to see for certain who he was. She discovered Henry asleep in a chair. It wasn't him. My aunt spoke matter-of-factly about her late husband, RW, being with her. And Henry looks a lot like his father did as a younger man. When I heard the man sitting with my aunt had nodded politely to the nurse before leaving the room, I knew it had to be my uncle. That was exactly like him. I believe he returned to be with his beloved wife as she was passing from this world to the next. The veil may be thinner than we think.

Chapel Hill, pictured above, is the old family homeplace in the Shenandoah Valley and the setting for my ghostly Christmas romance, Somewhere the Bells Ring.

For more on me, my work, and eccentricities, pop into my blog, One Writer's Way, at: http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/



Friday, September 26, 2014

Do Senior Citizens Belong in Romance?

Vonnie Davis
Although my husband teases me about doing negative math with my age--he claims I subtract a year instead of adding one--I have no problem admitting I'm sixty-six. With each passing year, I find I'm more and more invisible to the younger set, an inconvenience, a slower moving person they hurry to get around. Yet senior citizens still have value. We add a deeper dimension to families and communities. That's why I love adding at least one to my romances. In fact, I often spend as much time developing his or her character as I do my heroine or hero.

I often make them my comic relief. Not because I want to be seen as funny, but because we all love that person who makes us chuckle, no matter his or her age.

In my Christmas novella, SANTA WORE LEATHERS, the senior citizen neighbor Mrs. Minelli is quick to stick her nose into everyone's business, including the budding romance of Wolf and Becca. Now Becca has a German shepherd, Einstein, who sometimes charges out of the house, usually with a pair of her thongs in his mouth. During this freedom run, he got in some thorny bushes.
“Stay where you are. He’ll be fine. He’s got some thorns in his hide.” Wolf removed the tweezers stored in a slot of the knife and began extracting the offending needles. “We can’t have an awesome fella like you in pain now, can we?” He worked as quickly as he could. “One more, big guy, and then you’ll be fine.” The dog licked him several times. “Yeah, I like you too. Let’s keep what I’m about to do just between us, shall we?” Wolf ran his fingers over the affected groin area, keeping his attentions on the dog’s reactions. “Looks like we got them all.”
“What in blue blazes are you doing to that dog? Are you performing some kind of ‘beasty-wildy’ on him?” Mrs. Minelli, his neighbor, punctured the air with her cane, her white eyebrows arched in question.
This novella that's sold well in the UK and Germany is the kick-off to my "Wild Heat" series about a fire and marine rescue unit in Clearwater, Florida. These will be full-length novels. Book one, HOW TO SEDUCE A FIREMAN will soon be out in eBook format. In December, Harper Impulse is shooting for a paperback version, as well. 
My senior citizen in the first book is Milt Garland. He's a lonely, nosey man who lives on the first floor of Quinn's apartment building. For those of you old enough to remember The Andy Griffith Show, think of an older Barney Fife. Quinn, my hero, has befriended Milt who can't show his gratitude enough. Someone is spying on Quinn and Milt has nominated himself as Chief Security Man. He was attached and brought to the fire station where a meeting was being held to figure out who had abducted Cassie, the heroine.



Poor Milt’s jaw was swollen and starting to bruise. Quinn squatted in front of him. “Did that bastard hit you?”
The old man nodded. “I opened my door in the hope I could take the picture, nonchalant like so he wouldn’t know what I was up to, but Killer charged out and attacked him. Smart dog, Killer. He knows when a person’s no damn good.” Milt nodded once. “I got the picture just fine, but when I cussed out the man for kicking my dog, he cold-cocked me.” The old man turned to Noah. “For those of you who ain’t in the security business, that means he hit me before I knew what was about to happen.”
To Noah’s credit, he kept a straight face.
 
 
My favorite senior citizen is my alter-ego in book one of my contemporary romance with paranormal elements. Effie, or Gram, is bawdy, out-spoken and extremely protective of her grown granddaughter. The first page of the book, A HIGHLANDER'S OBSESSION, published by Random House describes her perfectly.
  


Paisley Munro tried  not to gawk at the two broad-shouldered men in kilts as she hefted her suitcase off the luggage carousel in the Inverness Airport, located northeast of the city referred to as the capitol of the Scottish Highlands. Her grandmother, on the other hand, was all eyes.
“Before we leave this country, I’m finding out what they wear under those kilts, even if I have to hike one up and take a gander myself.” Her grandmother patted her curls. She’d dyed her hair dark red for the trip. Unfortunately, the inability of her white hair to absorb the dye’s full effect resulted in a halo of pink curls. The combination of her tresses and her pink pantsuit made her look like the Pink Panther with wrinkles, just as skinny and wiry but without the tail.
“Behave yourself, Gram.” Paisley tugged her grandmother’s luggage off the slowly moving belt that squeaked with every couple inches gained. No use telling the free spirit to act her age. At seventy-four, why should she start now? “Our ride ought to be here somewhere.”
Paisley glanced around for Fiona Matheson, who should be holding a sign for Matheson Lodge. Fiona had promised in her reservation confirmation e-mail she’d meet them. 
Gram elbowed her. “Good grief, they’re coming toward us. Look at those broad shoulders and hairy legs. I’m not drooling, am I?” She pulled her shoulders back and thrust out her chest. She lowered her chin to talk to her breasts. “Look perky, girls. Sexy hunks at two o’clock.”
 *** I apologize for the goofy coloring of this post. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it looked. If you care to find out more about my books, visit my blog... www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com or my website www.vonniedavis.com.
 

 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

HISTORY, IT'S JUST OLD STUFF

By Brenda Daniels

Don't immediately jump on me for that title. It's a quote from my seventeen year old niece. The comment came up during a discussion of her college classes.

Sad to say, that seems to be the attitude of many people. Those of us of a "certain" age remember the warning about learning from our past mistakes so we don't repeat them.

I did my best to explain the necessity of knowing how past wars started and having the ability to hold an intelligent political conversation.



If she can recite the words to a Taylor Swift song, she can explain the Monroe Doctrine. Wait, I'm not sure I could do that. Hmm, better come up with a better example. Thinking it over, I realized that to her, the 9/11 tragedy is history since she was a toddler at the time. Dang, I'm old.



I'm currently working on a historical novella set in the late 1800's. Thankfully, my critique partner, Caroline Clemmons writes historical romance and  has offered to check it for accuracy. I realized I needed help when I needed to know what a female mule is called and what type of plates would people be eating off of.



The historical romances I used to read in the 80's (1980's) are very different from those published today. Inaccuracy irritates me. Yeah, I've noticed the trend to be politically correct or completely avoid the nastier parts of our history. But, that's another rant that I won't go into today. My heroine is alone in a log cabin about to have a baby!





Monday, September 22, 2014

DO CHARACTERS HAVE TO BE LIKABLE?

By Barbara Barrett, Guest Author

Apparently readers don’t like their heroines to undermine their best friends. My heroine in Saved by the Salsa, Lacey Rogers, took quite a beating from judges’ comments and ratings in the contests in which the early rendition was entered. What really brought the point home to me was when I pitched to one of my dream agents. After I’d taken a minute to lay out the main theme, she immediately put the kibosh on my idea by telling me there was only one other author of whom she was aware who’d successfully used a similar theme, and that was probably because that author had already made it to the New York Times list. (No, she still hasn’t indicated an interest representing me.)

In that version, Lacey was convinced her best friend had made a horrible mistake by immediately taking up with the office Lothario, Jack Dalton, within days of being dumped by Lacey’s brother. So Lacey decided to “seduce” Jack away from her friend, rationalizing that Jack was too much of a player for her friend. She wanted her friend and brother back together.

At the time, I was influenced by the film, “Her Best Friend’s Wedding.” Not at all the same plot, other than that heroine set out to break up her friend’s marriage, because she didn’t feel his fiancée was “right” for him. I thought both the Julia Roberts character and my own heroine were quite noble for trying to save their friends from themselves.  

Nonetheless, I went back to the drawing board. How many of you have done that? I reexamined the basics. What was the essence of the book? For Lacey, it’s twofold: not only does she want to be a top-notch architect, she also wants the family she lost after her father deserted them when she was a child and her mother died when she was a teen. Thanks to her father walking out on them and being jilted by her fiancé, Lacey doesn’t trust any man other than her brother to stick around. So the family she so desires must come from her brother, hence the reason for reuniting him with her best friend.

In the revised version of the story, I kept the break up as well as Lacey’s desire to get the two lovers back together. But rather than work against her girlfriend, I had Lacey and her friend join forces to make the brother jealous with Jack. Jack knowingly agrees to serve as the fake boyfriend, so he won’t be hurt by their plan. Yes, there’s still some scheming going on, but I felt it was the kind of plot device readers would accept, especially since it serves to keep Lacey and Jack apart during the early chapters.

I continue to struggle with the “likeability factor” in my stories. It’s a constant push-pull to create interesting, compelling characters that readers can also relate to and like. But from my own experience as a reader, I lose interest in a book if I don’t like the characters. So I know it’s important. It’s just darned hard to accomplish sometimes and still tell the story you want to tell.


Here's the blurb for SAVED BY THE SALSA: 


Junior architect Lacey Rogers welcomes the opportunity to work with Jack Dalton, the firm’s golden boy, that is, until her hormones can’t resist his charm and spectacular looks. How can she keep her mind on their design project when her most potent designs are on him?

Jack Dalton has always worked alone. Now he’s got a partner. Is he losing his touch? Is that why he hasn’t been named principal yet? To make matters worse, he can’t take his eyes off the petite piece of fluff. If he can’t find some way to cool his jets, he won’t be able to keep his hands off her either.
But on the dance floor, their mutual resistance melts as their bodies meet in the vibes of the Salsa. Can the dance keep them collaborating after the music ends?   


Here's an excerpt when they're on the dance floor:

Jack took them through routines she had never encountered despite numerous visits to Salsa clubs. But she met him step for step, exhilarated by the challenge. Jack’s eyes burned. Her skin glistened from the exertion and the heat of the moment.

They floated and swirled, awash in the music, but her eyes couldn’t leave Jack’s. If possible, the glint from earlier had sharpened into the undeniable look of desire every woman instinctively recognized. In response, strange sensations pulsed through her body— sensations which blended physical arousal with emotional need while her heart pounded in rhythm to the Latin beat.

She noted vaguely how the crowd parted to make room for them. When the dance ended, the two of them stood there, chests heaving, suspended in a moment only they shared.

A wave of applause broke the spell, as other couples came up to congratulate them.

“You were fantastic!” a fiftyish-looking woman cried.

The man with her chimed in. “The couple on our CD does similar steps, but I’ve never seen them done in person. You guys are great.”

“How long have you been dancing together?” another woman asked. “You were so well synchronized.”

Fanning her face, Lacey didn’t know what to say. “Uh, well, uh, no…it was spontaneous.”

Apparently Jack’s lungs had survived better than hers as he was able to address the crowd. “My partner’s still a little winded, folks. We’re giving a class, if you’re interested. Monday night at seven. Mackenzie and Associates.” Announcement delivered, Jack grasped her hand and led her back to their table.

“A class?” she gasped between breaths. “Are you crazy?”

“I enjoyed dancing with you too.” He pulled out her chair for her. When she was seated and he was in his own chair, he leaned across the table conspiratorially. “Did you happen to notice anything our group of admirers had in common?”

She chugged down her entire water glass before replying. “They were able to breathe normally?”

“Try again. Never mind, catch your breath. I’ll tell you—they were all boomers!” 

Saved by the Salsa Buy Links


 
Barbara Barrett, Author

Barbara Barrett spent her professional career as a human resources analyst for Iowa state government, and that training has stayed with her in her writing of contemporary romance fiction. Now retired, Barbara spends her winters basking in the Florida sunshine and returns to her home state of Iowa in the summer to “stay cool.” She has published three romance novels with The Wild Rose Press, And He Cooks Too, Driven to Matrimony and Saved by the Salsa, the first in the Sullivan’s Creek Series, was released in August 2014. Her fourth book, The Sleepover Clause, the first of the Matchmaking Motor Coach Series, will be released in upcoming months.
Contact Information for Barbara Barrett



Saturday, September 20, 2014

Yikes, I'm Late!

Hey all,

Sorry, I'm running a little late today, but I've had my head in the writer's cave for so long I forget to come up occasionally for air.

The things that are new and exciting for me have to do with writing. I've launched my latest book in the Accidental Pleasures series, WRONG BRIDE. WRONG BRIDE was such a fun book to write. I've always thought about wedding planners and when I started my research, I had no idea. Didn't take me long to realize my heroine, Misty had one tough job.

At the moment I'm writing my fifth in the Falcon series, OUT OF THE DEPTHS. The book will be out in October. I especially love writing these books because they keep me on the edge of my seat and wring every ounce of suspense out of me. But I promise Jake and Tessa will give you a thrilling read.

Back to the cave for me. I hope you will enjoy these books, if so drop me a few lines.

Happy Endings

Geri Foster
   

Thursday, September 18, 2014

SHARING MY CURRENT WIP, A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE IN THE TEXAS CODE SERIES


A few weeks back I participated in a blog tour and introduced my heroine for my soon to be released historical romance, Katie and the Irish Texan, A Brides of Texas Code Series Novella, Book 1. That turned out to be a fun thing to do, so I thought I'd do the same for the contemporary I'm writing. I'm hoping to have this book completed by the end of this year.

A cover photo for novel, Code of Conscience


This contemporary romantic suspense is Code of Conscience, Book Two in the Texas Code Series and tells of the developing romance between Miranda Camarrone and Gabriel Hardison (from Book One, Code of Honor). Together, Andi and Gabe work to combat the corruption of a drug cartel while fighting their attraction to each other and a most desirable happy-ever-after.

Meet My Character

Allow me to introduce you to the heroine of CODE OF CONSCIENCE, Texas Code Series, Book Two

1) What is the name of your character? Is she fictional or a historic person?

My character is Miranda (Andi) Camarrone. She is completely fictional.  

2) When and where is the story set?

El Paso, Texas is a main location for Code of Conscience
Code of Conscience location, El Paso, Texas

The story is set in present day and takes place in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico.  

3) What should we know about her?

Andi is 28, single, a reporter for an El Paso TV station, and the niece of Hector Camarrone, head of the Camarrone Cartel. Born and raised north of the border with Mexico, she's managed to distance herself from her corrupt relatives until her friend was found murdered. The police suspect the woman's death is Cartel related because she'd been undercover for the FBI. Andi decides to investigate on her own to find justice for her friend and stop the corruption caused by the Cartel.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up her life?

In a bold move, Andi confronts her Uncle about the accusations made by the police of his suspected involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. She doesn't believe him when he swears he's innocent, nor does she trust him to mend his ways.


5) What is the personal goal of the character?

 Andi wants to bring down the Camarrone Cartel. She also wants to remove her sister, Celia, from an abusive marriage to Enrique Santiago. Santiago is running for Mayor of El Paso and who Andi suspects is laundering money for the Cartel.

6) Is there a working title? 

Yes, the title is Code of Conscience. 

7) When can we expect the book to be published?

Late December 2014.

* * *



Following is an excerpt:


El Paso, Texas
Miranda Camarrone thrummed red manicured nails against the desk top, irritated and baffled by her boss's attitude. "This is a great opportunity and you know it. The timeline works right into the story I'm already investigating."
"Forget it, Andi." Harry West, the crusty station manager, pounded his fist against his desk to reinforce his statement. "No way in friggin' hell am I going to send my top investigative reporter across the border into Juarez for a story like this. You're in enough danger already investigating your uncle and his cartel. Just stay with your usual snitches and informers."
 Deep down, she knew he had her best interest at heart. Though his lack of trust in her instincts had become a serious hindrance to the way she performed her job. He'd been her protector as well as her boss for the years she'd been employed at the El Paso television station and she wondered, not for the first time, if he was able to separate the two.
"Harry, I'm going to do this. My best friend is dead and I'm determined to find out why." She leaned forward bracing her forearms on the desk.  "I need to know if my family's involved. The best way to do that is to investigate this on my own."
"What sounds do you hear when I speak?" Pinning her with a belligerent stare, he pulled the perpetual cigarette butt from between his lips, replaced it with a new one then lit it with the used one. He disposed of the old butt in the already overfilled metal ashtray, crushing it amongst its multiple counterparts and glared at her over the top of his glasses. "I said no."
"I'll be under the watchful eyes of INTERCEPT. They won't let anything happen to me."
"No way, Andi, it's too dangerous."
"But, I—"
"Never trust a government agency," he growled. "I don't care if they're BP, ICE, FBI or your local HOA. If they use initials, they lie."
"Jaded much?" she retorted.
"Yeah, well . . ." Shuffling paper stacks until he found his pack of cigarettes, he lit still another one, dragged deeply and softened his demeanor. "Besides, I promised your mother I'd look out for you. Desi worried about her kids."
"I know she did, but we've all turned out okay, don't you think?"
"Celia's future seems secure since she married that up and comer, Santiago. I hear he plans to run for governor with eyes on the much larger prize in a few years, and Cisco has made a go of the family business." He stood and poured coffee into a brown cup that had been white when she'd given it to him at Christmas six months ago. Resting his hips against the credenza, he continued, "You, on the other hand, give me ulcers."
"Careful, Harry, your soft side is showing." She smiled, leaned back in her chair and, with just the right amount of pout, gave him the look that had generally gotten her what she wanted. "Seriously, let me—"
"Andi," Harry said in his most parental tone. "I mean it. You will not pursue this story, either undercover or on your own. End of discussion."
"All right, Harry, untwist your drawers." Standing, she picked up the spiral book with her scribbled notes. When she kissed him on his stubbled cheek, he shifted uncomfortably. "It's Friday night, will we see you at Rosa's later for poker and pizza?"
"I'll try."
"Good." She walked toward the door and stopped, her hand on the knob. Facing him, she said, "By the way, I'm still going to that fundraiser for Santiago tomorrow night. You wouldn't want to be my "plus one" would you?"
"I'd rather take a beating than to dress up and go to that shindig." Harry glanced up at her from a story he'd begun editing. Suddenly, realization of her mock sincerity registered in his glare. "Very funny. Give Celia my best?"

"I will."
* * *

I hope you enjoyed my excerpt for CODE OF CONSCIENCE, Texas Code Series, Book Two.
Thanks for joining me today. Remember I love it when you leave a comment.
Carra

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