Showing posts with label ebooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebooks. Show all posts

Sunday, January 10, 2021

This Week's Word - Do You Know Your Geography Terms?

 

Hi all, welcome again to Smart Girls Read Romance or . . . if you’re a first-time visitor, we’re thrilled you stopped by. I usually post a word that you might be unfamiliar with. I call it “This Week’s Word". As a writer and a reader, I’m very fond of words (makes sense, huh?). I especially love words that relate to terrain, landscape, and geography. I come across words, especially in those old western romance stories, and don’t always know what kind of terrain the author is referring to.

Not long ago, I came across the word below. I hope you learn something new by its meaning! Knowledge is power as they say.

This Weeks Word

Malpaís

A term used in the Southwestern United States, Spain, Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking regions for a rough and barren landscape that consists of relict and largely uneroded lava fields exhibiting recognizable lava flows, volcanic cones, and other volcanic landforms. This type of volcanic landscape is extremely rough and difficult to traverse. It is characteristic of an arid environment because in more humid climates, lava fields are quickly destroyed by weathering and erosion.

The word 'malpaís' in Spanish translates to "badland," and this describes the area as being extremely rough and difficult to traverse and unusable for crops. Although a malpaís is often another word for the badlands that form by erosion of sedimentary rocks in the same environment, a malpaís is often associated with such types of lava plain terrain as found in a volcanic field.

How to use Malpais in a sentence:

The approach was loose dirt and malpais, which ran off down the gulch in small avalanches under our feet.

Notify Buck Weaver, so he can head them off if they try to cross the Malpais.

This Week’s Book is TRUTH OR DAIRE, a contemporary billionaire romance I wrote not too long ago. Details are below:

Steamy! Sexy! Swoonworthy!

DOWNLOAD HERE 

About the book:

When the unthinkable happens and Cagney Kissler discovers her boyfriend, Daire Bembry, is a lying, two-timing cheater, she tosses him out on his a** and heads to Florida to mend her fractured heart.

The Villa Bay Resort is everything her best friend, Lily, told her it would be, and more. But the trendy, popular bar at the resort, known as Sleazy Swallows, is a little more than Cagney can stomach.

On her way out the door, she meets someone who shares her reservations about public sexual-indulgence. Evan might be just what she’s looking for, and even if he isn’t, she’ll show her ex the true meaning of Truth or Daire.

Stand-alone erotic romance. Happy Ending

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed This Week's Word. See you next month!



Thursday, December 10, 2020

Merry Christmas & Welcome to This Week's Word

Merry Christmas all,

 

It's been a tough year for everyone, but a vaccine will soon be here! Woohoo! Here's wishing the very best to everyone in the new year! 

 


 It is Christmas in the heart

that puts Christmas in the air.

~ W.T. Ellis ~

 

 

 

Nabob

 

Noun [ NAY-bahb ]


A person of great wealth or importance.

Nabob gained its extended sense of a prominent person in the late 18th century, when it was applied sarcastically to British officials of the East India Company returning home after amassing great wealth in Asia. The word was perhaps most famously used by Vice President Spiro Agnew, in a 1970 speech written by William Safire, when he referred to critical members of the news media as "nattering nabobs of negativism."

Nabob is worth nine points in Scrabble.

 

Using Nabob in a sentence

When the nabob walked into the meeting, everyone stood to show respect to him.

I have a western romance for you today with a little Christmas theme and a HEA! This sweet novella was written in my pen name, Cait Braxton.

About Catherine’s Cowboy:

On the run from her vicious Kiowa husband, Catherine seeks shelter from a raging dust storm when labor begins. Fate steps in when retired tracker Elam also seeks refuge from the elements and stumbles upon the same ramshackle dwelling.

Elam helps Catherine deliver her child and a strong bond develops between them. But outside, biding his time until the squall passes, someone evil longs to claim both their lives and take what is rightfully his…the child.

I'm going north where the grey wolf country is.
The wolves might eat or kill me.
I may not come back
Brother, if I don't come back, you will cry for me.


RAVES

“First, I loved the cover of this novella. I really enjoyed reading it as well. It is well written and both sweet and suspenseful. Catherine and Elam have both suffered loss and have the chance at happiness with each other.” – Carol, Goodreads Addict

“Cait Braxton did an amazing job! A white girl, taken by the Kiowa years before, escapes the brutality of her powerful husband while ready to give birth. A tale filled with fear, bravery and honor, the feeling of hope for the future still shines through!” Dianne B. Tome Tender

 

FREE on KU or .99 Cents!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed Catherine's Cowboy. 

Gracias, Keta

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Read any Good #Alien Books Lately - Celebrate World Space Week


The world celebrated World Space Week last month (October 4th through 10th).

Scientists from around the world gathered to talk about whether or not aliens existed, and of course, here in the U.S., there was all that hoopla about Area 51 and the thousands of people who intended to storm the compound searching for dead aliens. As it turned out, thousands didn't show up, but there were plenty of alien enthusiasts who did...dressed up in alien regalia.

There is no direct proof of any life beyond Earth, but the universe is home to a lot of stars. And as research over the past decade has shown, perhaps at least 50 percent of those stars harbor planets. Scientists estimate there are 1 trillion planets in the Milky Way alone. "Surely some of them have undergone what Earth has undergone and developed life, and eventually what we call sentient life," they say. The argument is simply one of probability. "If we are the only intelligent beings in the galaxy, or for that matter in the universe, then we are truly a miracle," he says. This image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a cluster of young stars in the Milky Way.


Here's a List of some top Alien books from Amazon. If you're an Area 51 enthusiast or addicted to sci-fi novels, you might want to check them out.


And according to Ranker, here are the top five Alien movies over the years. 

Alien: Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Ian Holm
Predator: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers
Independence: Day Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox
Signs: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Abigail Breslin
Avatar: Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
E.T.: Robert MacNaughton (Michael) Drew Barrymore (Gertie), Henry Thomas (Elliott)

I've seen them all, and particularly loved Signs. It's not just a movie about aliens, but about a pastor who struggles with his faith in God.  

How about you? Do you believe aliens exist? Leave a comment and let us know.

* * *

 “A fantastic fast paced story filled with love, betrayal, and a demon fight that will leave you saddened and breathless.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a read! Absolutely loved getting everyone's perspective on the demons and devils. I really enjoyed Keta Diablo's take of demons - not only demons on the loose but also the internal demons we all must bear." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

"A fantastic story full of mystery, suspense and feisty romance. I really loved the concept. The story held my attention the whole way through." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

I haven't written an alien book....yet, but I have written a great demon story (I SPY A DEMON) now on Pre-order CLICK HERE for only .99 pennies. The book releases November 14th and has had rave reviews.

Thanks so much for stopping by Smart Girls Read Romance. Happy Reading!
  ️


Monday, June 10, 2019

Romance #Readers Will LUV this Event #GameofThrones #Swag


Join us for a “Game of Thrones” inspired event where everybody wins!


Fab #author Dariel Raye invited me to join her in celebration of the many worlds of paranormal romance, sci-fi, and urban fantasy.

Yes, #romance lovers will adore this giveaway!


Authors pooled funds to provide cool Game of Thrones fandom-themed prizes and goodies.


Giveaway will include:

Maps of Westeros
Khal Drogo miniature
Dragon jewelry
plus swag packs of goodies!


Here’s how to enter:

To take part, visit the giveaway page https://wp.me/P5xE8E-t3


You’ll find book covers from all the authors taking part. Click the covers and you’ll be taken to that author’s Amazon page where you can check them out and find new books.


You can enter the contest by taking part in the Raffle Copter giveaway. Sign up for newsletters from the authors of your choice. Please sign up ONLY for the ones you want. 


When you request a newsletter, you will receive free e-books and entry into the fandom contest.


When you sign up for mine, you’ll receive WHERE THE RAIN IS MADE, a paranormal time travel with oodles of Native American mythology.


About Where the Rain Is Made:

A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother Marsh. These days, she spends every waking moment planning escape from the brutal Dog Soldiers' village.



Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . until he travels through time to help his beloved People. In the Cheyenne world he’s known as Meko, leader of the most revered and fearsome tribe of the plains.



Two cultures and two hearts battle. Violence and death haunt their troubled roads, but when kindred souls collide, love prevails against the greatest odds. From the windswept plains of Colorado to the placid life of a curator, their love is fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.


Good luck in the Giveaway!

These “Game of Thrones” items have been hand-picked for fans of the award-winning HBO series and combined into 3-swag packs for our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.


 We hope to see you there!


Friday, May 10, 2019

I Kissed A Boy And I Liked It!

Hey. I'm so happy you stopped by Smart Girls Read Romance today. We're talking about kissing! Yes, you heard that right. And...romance cut its teeth on kissing.
Have you noticed how many books these days have the word "kiss" in the title. I mean, I'm not personally promoting kiss books, but take a peek:

3:00 a.m. Kisses, French Kiss, Blood Kiss, Kiss Me Like This, Sealed With a Kiss

Okay, you get the idea. Lots and lots of books are themed around 'kissing'. 

Bet you didn't know that the technical term for kissing is:


                                         ~ Osculate ~

Encarta Dictionary: to kiss somebody
RhymeZone: to touch with the lips or press your lips against someone's mouth or other body part.

Oh, yeah? I'm diggin' this RhymeZone definition. *wink* Other body parts?


Little known facts about kissing
* A kiss triggers a cascade of neural messages and chemicals that transmit tactile sensations, sexual excitement, feelings of closeness, and even euphoria.

* Kissing may have evolved from a primate mother’s practice of chewing food for her young before feeding them mouth-to-mouth.

* Some scientists theorize that kissing is crucial to the evolutionary process of mate selection.

* Lips may have evolved first for food and later applied themselves to speech.

* Scientists believe kissing can be addictive

* Five cranial nerves that affect cerebral function are at work when you kiss, shuttling messages from our lips, tongue, cheeks and nose

* Kissing unleashes a cocktail of chemicals that govern human stress, motivation, social bonding and sexual stimulation.

* Kissing boosts pulse and blood pressure; pupils dilate, breathing deepens and rational thought retreats.

Did you ever think kissing could be powerful enough to do all that? More recent studies show 59% of men and 66% of women admit there were times they were attracted to someone until they kissed them. “Bad” kisses did not factor into the equation, but rather those participating in the study indicated they just didn’t “feel right” about the kiss. The relationships ended abruptly after the lip-lock. (Otherwise known as "the kiss of death" hee hee)    

Kissing, it turns out, unleashes chemicals that ease stress hormones in both sexes and encourages bonding between people. Both men and women had a decline in cortisol (a chemical associated with stress) after 15 minutes of kissing.

Men tend to think of kissing as a prelude to copulation (Come on, you're kidding me, right?) Men also prefer “sloppy” kisses. They admit to getting off on exchanging saliva to transmit testosterone, thereby increasing the sex drive in both partners. (Sneaky little devils).

Overall, the science of kissing *philematology* is still vastly under researched, but scientists are making great strides in this regard. And all along we thought we were just making contact with our mouths.

I saved the best picture for last. Ah, that first kiss. Please tell us in the comment section about your first kiss. (I just know these are going to be hilarious). You can even sign off as Anonymous.

Happy kissing!



Speaking of kissing, there's lots of it in the book I'm promoting this week:

Chasing the Dead
Western Romance/Suspense
 (of course it has a ghost! And he's scary) 


In 1884 New Mexico, Madrid Arrende finds herself kidnapped by the Apache. Determined to rescue her, her wealthy father realizes there is only one man capable of bringing her back alive...Deacon Bannister. Deacon doesn't give one whit about the large sum of money Don Erasmos Arrende has offered him to find his daughter. He only cares about bringing the woman he left at the altar a year ago home.

A ghost is terrorizing the Apache village and the young maiden, Sacheen, has been banished by her People for unleashing Uday's wrath. Now, Deacon, Madrid and Sacheen must flee for their lives across the rugged New Mexico landscape with the evil spirit in hot pursuit.


Will they make it back alive to Madrid's father's hacienda or will Deacon lose Madrid forever?
                      
           AVAILABLE AT ALL RETAIL STORES       



Sunday, March 10, 2019

We're Thinking SPRING & Daylight Savings!

Hello my lovelies who follow Smart Girls Read Romance. Welcome!

Today is Daylight Savings and with that, we're all thinking spring.


Did you know....

Spring

September 22 marked the autumnal equinox and the first day of fall, which got us wondering: Why do we call the seasons Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter?

Before Spring was called Spring, it was called Lent in Old English. Starting in the 14th century, that time of year was called “springing time”—a reference to plants “springing” from the ground. In the 15th century this got shortened to “spring-time,” and then further shortened in the 16th century to just “spring.”


What About Daylight Savings?

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin (portrait at right) during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784, in an essay, "An Economical Project." Read more about Franklin's essay.

Some of Franklin's friends, inventors of a new kind of oil lamp, were so taken by the scheme that they continued corresponding with Franklin even after he returned to America.

The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time (called "Summer Time" in many places in the world) is to make better use of daylight. We change our clocks during the summer months to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. Countries have different change dates.

Some say the primary reason that Daylight Saving Time is a part of many societies is simply because people like to enjoy long summer evenings, and that reasons such as energy conservation are merely rationalizations.

Personally, I'm going with enjoying longer evening activities rather saving energy.


"Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings. Everyone laments their shortage as Autumn approaches; and everyone has given utterance to regret that the clear, bright light of an early morning during Spring and Summer months is so seldom seen or used."

From London builder William Willett (1857-1915)

in the pamphlet, "Waste of Daylight" (1907)

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead today (technically last night at midnight). I hope you all have a wonderful spring and are able to spend time outside reading some wonderful novels!

Here's one of my #ghost novels you might enjoy!
Read the new Review snippet!



 A GHOST TO DIE FOR
Contemporary Romance/Paranormal

Do you believe in ghosts? Rooney Fontaine doesn't—or didn't until one named Stuart Granger shows up in her hotel room. Now the humorous, yet desperate, apparition is begging her to find the men who murdered him before his brother becomes their next victim.

After serving three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, Stephan Granger is no -stranger to risk and peril. When a woman shows up at his house rambling about ghosts, murder and assassins, his first inclination is to deem her wrong in the head and send her packing. But how does she know things that happened to him and his dear departed brother in their childhoods, secrets they never shared with anyone?

Soon after he invites her in to hear more about what really happened to Stuart, gunfire splits the air and shatters all the windows in the house. Someone is trying to kill them. Now they're on the run from assassins while trying to find out who killed his brother and why they want him dead too.

Even amid murder and mayhem, sometimes you find love.


Recent Review Snippet

★★★★★


"Diablo has written a fully-rounded story, with a strong and exciting plot, and characters to die for! Even with the paranormal, ghostly twist, the issues and emotions these characters were forced to cope with felt very real. They had me rooting for them all the way through to the very last page. An entertaining, heartfelt story, packed with action, nail-biting suspense, and romance!"



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