Sunday, March 25, 2018

Book Feature: A Total Mismatch


Today we are featuring the newest release from Madelaine Grant, A TOTAL MISMATCH. Madelaine was entranced by words from an early age. She decided to become a writer, but Fate intervened in fifth grade when her art teacher, Mrs. Farrell, told her she used color very well and should think of becoming an artist. Although painting has dominated her life, She has always left room for writing. She loves the romance genre and has published stories in True Confessions, True story magazine and sold two erotic novellas to Extasy Books.


Born in Brooklyn she always had access to the exciting New York City scene. The Museum of Modern Art was the hangout for her and her three art-inclined friends during high school days. She became a commercial artist, an art teacher, and an assistant director of art for a small museum in Connecticut – The Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Additional graduate training in art therapy led to forming a non-profit company with a dance therapist – The Arts for Special People, Inc.
After marrying and moving to Connecticut, Madelaine continued her art studies while raising a daughter. Shortly afterwards she divorced and remarried. Together they raised his son and her daughter – not exactly an easy task – but managed to survive the hellish teenage years.  

When her husband was offered an early retirement they moved to Southwest Florida near the beach so he could fish and she could paint and write. Madelaine joined the Romance Writers of America and the local chapter, Tampa Area Romance Authors. Her first full-length romance novel, “A Total Mismatch” by Madelaine Grant (pen name) was recently published by Soul Mate Publishing.  A contemporary romantic comedy, it takes place in Manhattan and involves an artist, naturally. She loved writing the story and hope others will enjoy it as well. By the way should you want to view her abstract paintings you can google Madelaine Ginsberg, Contemporary Florida Artist.

Blurb for” A Total Mismatch” by Madelaine Grant

Fate brings polar opposites Samantha (Sam) Peabody and Jordan Hart together. Free spirit Sam is an artist, occasional belly dancer, and sloppy housekeeper while Jordan is a lawyer, fitness and neatness freak, and lover of ice cream.
The one thing they have in common is their dislike of big, fussy weddings.
After a fight with her oldest sister, Andrea, Sam decides not to attend Andrea’s lavish wedding. When Jordan is invited to a wedding, he asks Sam to accompany him, not knowing it’s Sam’s sister’s affair. Complicating Sam’s busy life is an offer from a local craft beer company to belly dance for a TV ad and become the symbol of their new beer company.
Sam’s disastrous first marriage and the difficult dynamics in her family make her insecure about this new relationship. Besides, she hates the idea of marriage. Can Jordan’s persistence win Sam over and dissolve her fears?


Excerpt from “A Total Mismatch”

This was the signal for her to ask him what he did but she really didn’t care. He’d drop her off in a few minutes and that would be it. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude but it’s pointless to find out more about you.” The fact that she was attracted to him in ways she couldn’t understand was another reason to end things. In the close confines of the car her thigh was inches from his firmly muscled one, much too close for comfort. She’d felt the strength of his hands as they’d held her. The heat from his touch had penetrated the fabric of her lacy wool sweater sending sparks in all directions. This was one dangerous situation. Gazing out the window she noticed they were approaching her neighborhood.  “It’s just a few more blocks. And then take a left. I’m on the right side of the street.”

            Jordan was in no hurry to reach Sam’s home. An inviting image of a hot fudge sundae had invaded his mind. One of his all-time favorite ice cream shops was in the vicinity. “I never did get to dessert tonight. How about we stop at the Frozen Fiend Ice Cream Palace? I’m in the mood for hot fudge over butter pecan.” He turned to her with a hopeful expression.

            “You gotta be kidding,” she exclaimed. Dessert was the last thing on her mind.

            He shook his head. “I’m not. Besides, you owe me for rescuing you this evening.”

            He did have a point, a slight one but still a point. Before she could consider the consequences, she blurted, “I’ve two flavors of ice cream, hot fudge and whip cream.”  Now why had she given him this information?

            “What flavors?”

            “Heavenly Hash and Pecan Crunch,” she said still bemused she’d invited the guy into her home. How had that happened?

            “That’ll work.” He made a left turn and drove slowly down the block. “Which place is yours?”

            Sam still couldn’t believe she’d done such a stupid thing.

Soul Mate Link:


Buy Link:


Friday, March 16, 2018

Author Interview with Jeri Bronson


Carly's View welcomes writer Jeri Bronson, author of SEEKING PERFECT. Jeri is a native Californian that found her storytelling voice while walking home from elementary school. Long walks with a hyper imagination led to all sorts of wild ideas. Her debut novel, Wildflower, finally came to fruition after she was laid off from her full time job as Human Resources Manager.

She now works part time as a substitute High School teacher, which is a constant source of fabulous material. She lives in Orange County, California with her husband of 28 years, her teenage son, their dog Sam, and cats Sparky and Lilly, the whole time missing her daughter who’s away at college. Jeri does her best writing still while walking, but now Sam goes as well.

When not writing she is an avid reader, of course. She also is an equally avid tennis fan and can be found watching the Tennis Channel most nights. Definitely, do not bother her during Grand Slam tournaments. She is currently working on several Romantic Suspense novels, plus another Young Adult book is brewing. Stay tuned - she’s just getting started.

INTERVIEW:

What made you decide to become a writer
Not to sound cliché, but I had this story in me and it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it. I don't know if I actually set out to be or writer or just to stop the voices.

Who are some of your favorite authors and why?
I think, like most women, I love Jane Austen because she wrote about topics that weren't to be discussed in her time. Pride & Prejudice is my all time favorite. I also love Stephen King. He can tell a story so powerfully scary and make you think all at the same time. He makes you feel like you are right there in his books. Amazing!


If you could be any character in any book, who would it be and why? 
Hmm…I guess it would be Eve Dallas from JD Robb's books because she had such a hard sad life growing up, but yet she is tough, honest and finds justice people. She also learned to love and is vulnerable.

Do you have any hobbies you would like to share? 
I don't know if it’s a hobby or obsession, but I love tennis. I'm like a guy with football stats. I check scores and rankings all the time because there is always a match on somewhere in the world. I go to a tournament every year in Indian Wells. I even have a picture with my favorite player. Tennis is a game of strategy and strength and its all on the player to make it happen.


Tell me about your first kiss? Was it magical or not so magical? 
Haha! Definitely, not so magical. I had no idea what was happening until it was happening.


Do you have another career besides writing? If so, what is it?
Yes, I work part time as a Substitute High School teacher. I get the best stuff from the kids.


What’s an item on your bucket list that you haven’t done yet? 
Stay in a haunted Castle. Definitely, on top of my list.


Tell us the best vacation you have ever been on.
A couple of years ago our whole family (21 of us) went on a cruise to Alaska. Great memories and so much fun!


Where do you find the inspiration for your books? 
Walking primarily, when I go for my walks my brain just starts firing off with all of these ideas.


Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans? 
I'm a big history buff. I especially like the obscure stuff that doesn't make it to the books. I watch a lot of history channel just for that reason. I also love fairies I hope to one day encounter one!

BLURB FROM SEEKING PERFECT:

Jesse learned early not to trust a soul, but what if he was her soulmate?

Senior year of high school should be about friendship, boyfriends and graduation, but for seventeen-year-old, Jesse Barnes, it’s about escaping the shame of life with an alcoholic mother.

Jesse’s goals are clear, keep a roof over her head, avoid the revolving door of leering men her mother brings home, graduate from high school, and do everything possible to keep her home life secret. Friends, boyfriends, not an option. Who would understand?

Then, perfect, popular Derek Aames, sits with Jesse at lunch. How can she discourage him? How can she keep him from intruding on her life and discovering her secret? And most of all how can she keep him out of her heart?

Will his persistence finally break down her walls, or just break her?

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: 
https://www.facebook.com/JeriBronsonauthor

Monday, March 5, 2018

Welcome author Linda O'Connor

My guest on Carly's View today is author Linda O'Connor. Linda is sharing her recipe for a gluten free pizza crust that is also featured in her newest book, BEHIND THE BENCH. This is book two in her In the Game Hockey Romance series.

I’m excited to share a sneak peek of Behind the Bench, the second book of the In the Game Hockey Romance series. Dr. Danni Angelo is the physician for the local professional hockey team. She doesn’t cook much but makes a mouth-watering homemade pizza dough on a sexy date with the new coach, Trey Mason. I thought I’d share an equally delicious gluten-free pizza dough recipe. Unlike Danni’s recipe, it’s quick to throw together – perfect for a Monday night dinner!

Gluten-free Pizza Crust
½ cup ground almonds
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
pinch salt



½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
2 tsp olive oil
1 egg

Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Spread the dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and brushed with olive oil. Top with your favourite toppings. My favs are tomato paste, diced chicken, pineapple, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 325°F for 15-20 minutes.
Bon Appetit!


Behind the Bench (In the Game Hockey Romance, Book 2)
Dr. Danni Angelo is the team physician for the Clarington Quakes hockey team. She’s worked hard to earn the players’ respect, but the new coach, Trey Mason, is stirring things up, and Danni’s worried her job may be in jeopardy.

Trey finds Danni…distracting. Beauty, brains, and sexy moves on the ice have him uncomfortably attracted. He’s the new guy on the block. He has a reputation to build and a standard to set. The last thing he needs is a complication.

When the team spirals out of control and Danni and Trey get caught up in a drug scandal, things heat up on and off the ice. It’s a whole new game planBehind the Bench.

Excerpt
Danni watched the tail end of the in-house broadcast of the news conference and flicked off the screen. How could you not be impressed with that? Trey Mason was confident and eloquent, and spoke in a relaxed and engaging way. The beach-bum blond hair, sculpted cheekbones, and easy smile would win over the non-hockey fans, and his passion and knowledge of the game would impress the followers. He had it all, and landing in a town like Clarington must be a dream come true. For him.
And a nightmare for her.
She had worked part-time as the team physician for the Clarington Earthquakes, Quakes for short, for the past three years. It had taken time to gain the players’ confidence. Being a female physician for a men’s hockey team hadn’t been easy, but she’d built a solid professional relationship.
She loved everything about the job – the energy of the games, working with high-level athletes, and a new clinic in a state-of-the-art arena. She certainly didn’t want it to change because of a new head coach.
Trey Mason couldn’t fire her. Theoretically. That would be up to the owners of the team. He could, however, make her life miserable. And if there was friction between them, it would affect the players, and ultimately, what affected the players influenced the owners. There were two other physicians who shared the job with her and a few more who would be eager to take it on.
He, on the other hand, could be set for a long run if he delivered half of what he’d promised today. She certainly hadn’t seen any charm when he’d walked into the pressroom, and yet it came out in spades when he spoke. She could only hope that her initial impression had been wrong, because between the two of them, it wasn’t likely that he’d be leaving any time soon. Bottom line – she needed to suck it up and get along with the new guy. She sighed. She hated sucking up. She’d thought she was done with that. Apparently not. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. Time to smile and play nice.

 Behind the Bench will be released April 17 as part of the paranormal and contemporary medical boxed set Coming in Hot: Rescue Me for only 99cents!


Linda O’Connor started writing a few years ago when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at the local home décor store. It turns out she loves writing romantic comedies and has a few more stories to tell. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic (well, even when she is writing she’s a physician, and it shows up in her stories :D ). She hangs out at www.lindaoconnor.net.
Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA


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