Book Spotlight: Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Janis F Kearney @Kearney99496735

Book Excerpt

Daisy’s indoctrination into the race struggle started early. Her adopted parents Ora Lee and Susie Smith were the only parents she knew. Her father, she has said, was a secret race man – a clandestine member of the NAACP at a time when it was dangerous to belong to such an organization in the South.

He shared with his young foster daughter the hopes and dreams the organization allowed him. And when she asked why he would take such a risk, he told her theirs, and other black families’ futures, depended on the organization’s success. On his frequent, surreptitious travels to meetings, he brought back NAACP literature to share with his wife, Susie, and their young daughter.

To her own surprise, Daisy would inherit elements of both her foster father, and mother, and she was the better for it. Possibly, it was her father’s courage that Daisy claimed. The pretty and dainty child would one day embrace, and invigorate the very NAACP that her father had introduced her to years earlier. She was both a fierce leader and a loyal follower within the organization’s local and national ranks. She would also exhibit the very attributes she fought against in her foster mother, Susie Smith. Daisy’s work ethic, her no-nonsense way of getting things done; her strict sense of right and wrong, and her tunnel vision when she believed in a cause – was much like the unbending, but caring Susie Smith.

As a young woman, Daisy enjoyed the benefits that her beauty and charm awarded her, including the courtship, and final marriage to the tall, handsome L.C. Bates. As she matured, and perhaps in response to the wise tutelage of her more worldly husband, Daisy began to mine her innate strengths, her intellect and forcefulness.

Some believe her evolution from sultry beauty to beautiful leader took place virtually overnight. Some believe it came about too quickly, that it overshadowed L.C., her soul mate, and loyal partner. Those who knew them best are certain that Daisy and L.C.’s mission was one and the same.

Daisy Lee Bates stretched the realms of her times – eschewing that box that would have her act, think, or react in specific ways. She disavowed others’ preconceived notions of who she was or what she should be, based on her race, her gender or the environment where she happened to find herself.

None who knew this fully emerged butterfly would be surprised to learn that Daisy was the first, and only woman president of a state NAACP at the age of 35, or that the daring young woman would be the only woman in a college-sponsored piloting class, up to the point of gaining eligibility for a pilot’s certificate. She was the fifth recipient in history to receive the Margaret Chase Smith Award; the first woman to address the Massachusetts State Senate, and the only woman to address the historical March on Washington, led by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

How To Purchase:

Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place can be purchased through our bookstore.

About the Author:

Janis F KearneyFew would believe Janis F. Kearney’s childhood as a cotton sharecropper’s daughter would prepare her for such an amazing life journey – her treasured role as protégée of renowned civil rights leader Daisy Lee Gatson Bates, and her years as personal diarist to President William J. Clinton. In fact, the grounding her parents supplied her with; the love of her 18 siblings, and the encouragement to dream, all contributed to her lifelong belief that `What we see as impossible is no more than God taunting us to take up the challenge and create something out of nothing.’

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Book Spotlight: Her Unexpected Family by @Carol_Burnside

Book Excerpt

“Travis!”

Holy smokes. Purple hair.

Seeing Claire again struck him like a hard fist in his gut. Her head was all he could see protruding from a narrow doorway into a short hall. Her short hair defied gravity, sticking out every which way. Except for the often-altered hair color, she hadn’t changed one glorious iota.

“LouAnne had to step out.” Claire still mimicked a curious turtle.

He glanced at the rapt gazes. Oh, man. Face time with her was guaranteed to be awkward, but he’d be damned if he’d entertain an audience. “Could I speak to you a moment? In private.”

Two heads swiveled between them, eavesdropping, and he cursed silently. The story would be all over town tomorrow, curiously picked at by the Busy Biddies Brigade like hens over a mound of feed. Lord only knew what spin they’d put on it.

“Uh . . . sure. Come on back.”

“Ladies.” He acknowledged the customers as befitted his Southern upbringing and joined Claire in the small room, not much bigger than a closet.

She shut the door.

Immediately, the miniscule place grew warmer. He feigned indifference to her nearness by checking out the tiny area. Shallow shelving lined one wall, overflowing with bottles and tubes. The opposite wall held a small counter and cabinets, a double sink and more shelves.

“What are you doing here, Travis? I thought we agreed not to see each other again.” She whispered through lips tight with tension.

He counted to ten. They hadn’t agreed on anything. She’d ended things without giving him a real chance. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m here to work up an estimate on remodeling the shop.”

“I thought you were a big shot. Why not send a flunky?” she muttered. Turning to the small counter, she stirred white liquid into a small bowl of powder. A noxious odor assailed his nostrils.

“Augh! That’s nasty.” He stepped away from the goopy concoction turning reddish-brown, and backed into overstocked shelves. Beauty products rained all around him.

Grabbing wildly, he grazed Claire’s thigh while catching a bottle. He offered it to her, trying to ignore memories of the last time they’d been this close. And alone.

Eight months ago. The night of their first and only date.

He remembered it quite well. Claire had worn a soft, two-piece dress with a flirty lace skirt that fell into points, allowing him tantalizing glimpses of surprisingly shapely legs, considering her slender figure. Today’s outfit, a black and white geometric-patterned mini dress with fishnet stockings, was far from that. And her hair had been a soft pink.

All the signals she’d exuded indicated she was amenable to the idea of taking their date to a more intimate level. To this day he couldn’t say what made him step away from her kisses to suggest more dates the next week, but she’d been furious. Acted like he’d insulted her.

The woman was a nut job. Since when was getting to know your date better a crime?

The Buzz

“I laughed at the humor, cried with the heartbreaking parts and sympathized with their plight as they tried to find their lasting love. Well written characters meshed with a well developed plot for true reading pleasure. Real page turner. I look forward happily to the next book in the series.” – Shirley Buchanan, Romance Book Haven  5/5 star review

“I recommend this read for readers that don’t mind pulling out the tissues and looking like a fool when crying over a book and if you don’t mind laughing out load in the middle of nowhere whilst reading.” — Desere 4/5 stars 

“Ms Burnside’s books are always fun, always carefully crafted to maintain the readers interest and keep the pages turning.” – S.Weeks, 5/5 star review, Amazon

“Be prepared to have tissues at hand. This is one roller-coaster of an emotional story. It is tender, heart-warming and at times heart-breaking. But I loved it.” – Laura 5/5 stars

How To Purchase:

Her Unexpected Family Book 2 in the Sweetwater Springs series is available through our bookstore.

About The Author:

Carol Burnside is an award-winning author of the Sweetwater Springs series of contemporary romance with serious sizzle. Her personal second-chance-at-love story resulted in a marriage to her high school sweetheart of thirty-plus years. Also published in short stories, Carol’s novel length manuscripts have placed in numerous contests and won five, including the prestigious Maggie Award for Excellence.

Writing as Annie Rayburn, she produces soft sci-fi and lite paranormal erotic romances which have been favorably received. Talk about cross-genre! Enjoy excerpts, review snippits, and more about her sexy Crainesian characters on her website  or connect with her on www.PetitFoursAndHotTamales.com.

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Book Spotlight: Once There Were Sad Songs by @VeldaBrotherton

Awards

Crème de la Crème, Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference

Book Excerpt

“Put your arms around me. There aren’t any handles to hold on to. All you gotta do is hug up tight and don’t look.”
Terrified speechless, she followed his directions. Even his solid, leather-vested back under her cheek didn’t quell the mind-numbing fear.
“Maybe you could tie me on, so when I pass out I won’t fall off.”
With his laughter rumbling in her ears, she hunched against him and waited for the worst to happen. But he rolled the bike slowly, gentled it over the rough terrain. It purred under her backsides like a great cat.
So far, so good. She’d almost let out her breath when he goosed the thing and it leaped forward.
About the time she felt sure she could make no sound at all, a squeal burst from her mouth. Grasshoppers, flying beetles, tree limbs, clumps of weeds, even butterflies rushed past, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Wind ripped at her clothing, making sharp snapping sounds, fingered through her hair and tore it from the clip, batted at her face until her flesh tingled.
A heady rush of exhilaration sponged away the fear. She tasted an unknown sensation, a metallic flavor akin to sheer terror but laced with a bright tartness, an expectation of something astonishing about to grab her up and race off.
“How do you like it?” The question vibrated through his back into her ear.
If she could’ve spoken she would have told him it was terrifying and wonderful. If she could’ve opened her eyes she would have done so, sure it would add to the rush. If she could’ve made a sound, it would have been a tremendous whoop. Eyes closed, mouth closed, arms hammer-locked around him, she rode with the wind to a place she had never been.
Hurtling along while totally blind, swaying back and forth, up and down, soon upset her equilibrium. Fed a desire to see her own death coming. Snapping her eyes open wide, she beheld scrub oak and saplings, clumps of grass and huge boulders, the narrow path on which they rode, rushing toward them, sucked in and spat out behind the monster bike.
Breathless, she uttered, “Oh, my goodness,” like a child. Closed her eyes. Which was best, or worst? She couldn’t say. Open they came.
Up ahead, a thicket of huge trees loomed, and she locked her arms so tightly around him he grunted.
“Oh, no. Oh, don’t. Oh, slow down.” Eyes shut, toes curled, butt clutching the seat, every organ in her body screaming, she ducked her head. Changed her mind about viewing her own death.
From down deep inside him, laughter roiled. He braked the bike into a slide.
“Here it comes. Don’t put out your feet. Don’t.” She repeated the litany, knew that if she could have moved at all she’d have stuck both feet out to catch the bike as it rolled over.
The skidding machine roared and backfired, sprayed dust and debris that pecked at her face. She held her breath until she absolutely couldn’t do so any longer. As she dragged in a great mouthful of grit, the bike stopped moving, its engine throbbing as if anxious to break free of the reins, continue its race toward infinity.

The Buzz

Seldom do I find a book these days that I hate to see end. Once There Were Sad Songs was one of those infrequent finds. The story was so much fun at times, so heartrending and beautiful at others. You just kept reading and hoping these two would work out the issues keeping them apart, and enjoying the story as you went. So very glad I found this book. ~ 5 -Star review by T M Simmons, Amazon

This was a novel that kept me engrossed and engaged throughout. The author’s handling of a former Vietnam soldier is well done, especially when set in a period when PTSD wasn’t diagnosed or named as an issue. ~ 5 -Star review by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy, Amazon

How To Purchase:

Once There Were Sad Songs is available through our bookstore.

About The Author:

Velda BrothertonVelda enjoys writing hot love scenes in her romantic books that range from western historical romance to contemporary and vintage love stories and a new mystery series. She portrays tough women who know what they want and go after it with tenacity and courage. As for her hot heroes, they can stand up to anything. Her work is sexy, dark and gritty. Writing has been her passion for nearly thirty years, and she admits she almost has this business figured out. When not at the keyboard she likes to blend with her family of four generations, read, and watch movies.


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Book Spotlight: @GeminiWitching – Elements 101 by Roberta J Gordon


Book Excerpt

Sam 101
“Sam, wake up.”
I know I heard it, but man I didn’t really want to wake up. I squeezed myself into a tighter ball becoming more aware of the cold concrete floor where I didn’t want to be. I wanted to roll over, and this all be a bad dream. I wanted to burrow under my favorite blanket and hide from the world. Hide from what I knew I was about to face… again.
“Come on Sam, Vicki will be coming in that door any minute. You know she’s not going to be happy to see you here again.” Thank God it was Beth who found me this time, I thought, as I rubbed my face with both hands trying to wake up. Stretching, I couldn’t tell how long I’d been here this time. If hours, then how many? I remember sitting on my couch last night watching a late movie, and then nothing. I sat up leaning against the display counter that held all the food items the store carried, and then rubbed my face some more.
“Did you just get here?” I asked stifling a yawn.
“No, we’ve been here about twenty minutes,” Beth’s voice came more distant this time. I could tell without looking she was at the drive through window with her back to me.
“And you just left me here?” I raised my head feeling the stiffness in my neck now.
“Listen we both know you’ve not been sleeping good, so I told Dale we’d let you sleep a little longer. Vicki’s on early shift this morning, too, so you’ll want to get up before she comes through the door.”
Trust Beth to be looking out for me, I thought, shaking my head to myself. I dropped my head again with my arms wrapped around my knees. I figured I could at least take a peek at what clothes I was wearing this time. When I caught a glimpse of denim, I let out a sigh. Oh my lucky stars. At least I was dressed.
That has been one of my bigger fears since I started waking up in odd locations. The most embarrassing one to date was waking up in the student lounge on campus in my pajamas, compounded by the fact that I then had to walk home. Luckily it had been early enough that traffic was light, and only the early commuters were entertained by my walking the streets ready for bed. Since that happened I tried to at least be aware of what I was wearing before I fell asleep. The only downfall today was I didn’t have on my shoes. I was mentally giving myself a forehead slap when the bell to the front door dinged. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Beth stiffen, but she continued with what she was doing.
“Good morning, Vicki,” she and Dale called at the same time.
Dale was coming out of the store room and stepped wide around me on the floor. His movement drew Vicki’s attention straight to where I sat.
“What’s on the floor Dale?” she asked.
I could hear her footsteps coming in our direction.
“Oh, not much,” he replied.
You could always count on him to downplay any major activity. He could calm down the most irate customers, thus Vicki always wanted him working the morning shifts.
Commuter traffic in the City of Colleges was always heaviest from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Starbucks had multiple locations strategically located near the on ramps for the interstate. Our
location, on Highway 65 North, was probably the busiest.
I sat there dreading Vicki walking around the counter, and I know I tensed my shoulders
thinking I should go ahead and get this over with. “Good morning, Vicki,” I said with my head
still hanging.
“Sam? Are you here again?” she asked, and her tone was light.
Huh?
“Yes ma’am. I guess I am,” I replied.
She came into view then with both hands on her hips. That’s all I could see, not wanting
to look up and meet her eyes.
“Well, come on. I’ll take you home,” she said.
Glancing up I found she was checking the time on her watch.
“Beth, do you think you can handle opening until I get back? I’ll take Sam home and be
right back.”
“Sure. Dale and I have it all under control,” Beth said, coming to stand by Vicki.
Dale joined the duo and leaned down to offer me a hand up. I took it along with a deep
breath. I knew this was too good to be true. She was too calm.
Vicki didn’t say anything until she put the car into park in front of my apartment. “Sam, I
don’t know what’s going on, but we can’t let this keep happening. This is the third time this
week we’ve found you asleep in the store,” her voice was stern but concerned.

The Buzz

Ms. Gordon has successfully combined the reality with fantasy by showing the power of sisters when they put their minds together to defeat the dangers of their world. Excellent read. !~5-Star Review by BDI, Amazon

A well-crafted story that takes you on an unforgettable paranormal adventure as you follow Sam and Emily’s road to self-discovery into a new realm of existence. A journey filled with mystery, adventure, and humor.

Roberta J. Gordon’s gift for writing is demonstrated as she works her magic in this enthralling tale. Her original approach to the paranormal world pulls you in and grabs your attention from beginning to end. You won’t be able to put it down once you start reading.

The characters are engaging and the story is captivating, filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. A must read for anyone who loves the paranormal. I anxiously await the continuation of this series. ~ 5-Star Review by J Shay, Amazon


How To Purchase:

Gemini Witching: Elements 101 is available through our bookstore .


About the Author:
Roberta GordonArkansas native and Arkansas Tech University Graduate, Roberta J Gordon is the author of Gemini Witching: Elements 101. She is the mother of three and an office manager in Central Arkansas who enjoys paranormal more than most but can’t get away from HEA’s (Happily Ever After’s). Roberta is currently working on the second installment for Gemini Witching…. Elements 202, and awaiting the 2014 Romance Novel Convention this summer. At the 2014 RNC she will be one of the judges for InD’Tale Magazine’s RONE Awards for Independent and Small Published authors.. When not reading and writing Roberta enjoys hanging out with family and friends.

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Book Spotlight: Spring Training by @ParkerKincade

Book Excerpt

Dread coursed through Jessa Montgomery’s body. She rubbed her forehead, hoping like hell she wouldn’t get a headache. She pressed her back against the cool concrete, its chill strangely soothing through her thin blouse.
She had no idea what she was doing here. Standing outside the locker room like a damn groupie. This wasn’t her job. Her father, TJ Montgomery, owned the New York Empire major league baseball team. He had people to do this kind of thing. People that weren’t her.
TJ was known for his unorthodox methods when it came to his players, treating them all like the favored sons he’d never had. He’d only had her. And even though he’d raised her in ballparks around the country, instilling his love for the game deep in her heart, she’d never quite felt as if she were enough.
And it still didn’t explain why he’d sent her here. He’d been adamant that she not be directly involved with the players, and that suited her just fine. She knew the games men played. Especially those who were young, talented, and had their pick of women.
Setting aside the fact that she had an uncanny ability to track talent and spot weaknesses in a player’s game, Jessa preferred to be a behind-the-scenes kind of girl. Give her a game tape and a quiet office any day. She handled the administrative side of her father’s life. She managed finances and paperwork from behind a desk. In New York.
She didn’t attend spring training to babysit. Ever.
So, why this player? Why now?
One thing was for certain, TJ had never gotten as excited about anything Jessa had done as he was about the man she was here to meet. Her dad’s new star player.
Jealousy left a bitter taste in her mouth as she glanced at her watch. A star player with a shitty sense of time.
Jessa inhaled deeply and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. God save her from spoiled athletes with more talent than sense. And damn her dad for putting her in the position to deal with a guy who probably thought the world revolved around him. They’d shelled out enough cash to fund a small country to make sure Garrett Donovan played for New York; the least he could do was show up on time.
Unable to stand still any longer, Jessa strolled up the tunnel, dragging her fingertips along the painted cinder blocks as she went. What the hell was she going to do?
Keeping track of Garrett on the field was one thing, but off the field … why the hell would her dad want her to keep an eye on his extracurricular activities? There were few who could match her knowledge of the game, but there had to be someone more qualified to deal with this man after-hours.
Jessa wasn’t socially inept, but she chose to keep to herself. Her experience with men was limited, primarily because she hated being treated like a piece of meat. Female friendships were even harder to form. It seemed as if no one could look past her name or her dad’s money to see who Jessa really was. Everyone wanted something from her. Call her cynical, but been there, done that.


The Buzz

I absolutely LOVED Spring Training! This author is amazing and did a great job of making the characters personable–I feel like Jessa could be one of my girlfriends that I call for advice and Garrett a man that would definitely sweep me off of my feet (hey, a girl can dream!!) I loved the danger behind their love for each other–it made their passion exciting! It definitely kept me anxious and wondering what was going to happen next! I didn’t want the story to end and I hope this author continues to put out more awesome books! I know all of my college friends are looking forward to more!! ~ 5 -Star review by Mallory F, Amazon

I loved every minute of this book! The characters are so real and believable that I was able to completely submerse myself and get lost in the steamy, super hot love scenes. Parker Kincade is my new favorite author, hands down. ~ 5 -Star review by Ren999, Amazon

How To Purchase:

Spring Training, Book 1 in the Game On series is available through our bookstore.

 

About the Author:

Parker KincadeNational Bestselling Author, Parker Kincade, writes edge-of-your-seat-sexy romantic suspense, hot and steamy sports romance, and erotic western romance. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest, and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.

Parker lives in the southern United States. She loves to read, play golf, spend time with her family and friends, snuggle with her beloved boxer, ice cream from the ice cream truck, and watching old musicals.

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Book Spotlight: Man’s Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs by @AceCollins

How To Purchase:

Man’s Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs is available through our bookstore.

 

About The Author

Ace CollinsAce Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog’s Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, He continues to publish several new titles each year, including a series of novels, the first of which is Farraday Road. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

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