Monday, December 24, 2012

Country Christmas with Calico Daniels

calico postMerry Christmas!! I’m so happy to have fellow Astraea Press author Calico Daniels here today to share how she celebrates the holiday.

‘Round here we don’t do too much out of the ordinary of the holidays. We get together with family and friends. We eat home cooked food and share some laughs. We watch the kids laugh and giggle about their gifts and smile when we got them just what they wanted Smile Sounds about the same as most folks. This year I’m sure someone will break out the spiked eggnog and the shine, but no one will be surprised.

We do a gag gift party every year at my in-laws house that is good for a few chuckles but it’s really just another excuse just to eat and gossip. Smile We have a get together about once a month where everybody brings a dish and we all sit around jawin’. Keeps the family close.

calico post1Gifts ‘round here usually consist of new jeans or shirts for the grownups but every year I get pajamas. I LOVE my PJ’s. I think at last count I had 15 pair of pajama pants. Excessive? Maybe but I wear them all year and enjoy the fire out of ‘em. We’re more about makin’ sure we get things that we know others need rather than knickknacks. Last year we got my mother in law one of those sandwich makers Smile My father in law was tickled pink about that one J I think he got her to make him 2 that very night J She was thrilled ‘cause her old one was stickin’ and made it real hard to get the sandwich out once it was done.

calico post2We go all out for the kids though. Hubby goes with me to Wally Word for my Black Friday shopping when I stock up on about 30 movies for the kids plus a few toys. Our kiddos are big time movie watchers can you tell? So this year I told hubs that I was gonna do a movie themed Christmas. Movies, snacks, a fun pillow and blanket for each child and if I can find ‘em maybe a bean bag chair.

Yes, they get toys too Smile Well, the youngest does. Our son is into video games so we got him a few for his little game system.

calico post3Like most parents all I want is to make sure that Christmas is a happy and fun time for my kiddos. Not that I want the rest of the year to suck, but Christmas comes just once a year and we try to make sure our little ones get lots of fun and memories from each and every one Smile

Merry Christmas y’all Smile And may you be blessed this year and all the ones to follow.

~Calico Daniels

Thank you so much for stopping by, Calico! Be sure to check out Fried Pickles and the Fuzz coming January 2013 to Astraea Press.

FriedPicklesandtheFuzz 200x300Blurb: Big Creek might be a stereotypical small town but even they have drama.

Heather loves her little café, and her best customer is the county Sherriff. She’s been waiting months for him to ask her out…maybe she won’t have to wait much longer.

Bronson feels at home in Big Creek even though he hasn’t been the Sherriff for long. Small towns have their perks and a pretty café owner who cooks like an angel certainly doesn’t hurt. Now, if he could only get over his nerves and drum up the gumption to ask her out.

Throw in a gossip mill, a redneck festival and an ill timed attempt to help and you end up with some laughs, some ruffled feathers and a town that is…Redneck Fabulous.

Fried Pickles and the Fuzz will be available January 2013 at the Astraea Press Website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever ebooks are sold.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Regency Christmas Blog Hop Winners

congrats

Thank you all so very much for participating in the blog hop and for leaving comments. I hope you all had fun! Before I announce the winners, I’d like to tell you a little story. So bear with me for a moment.

baI haven’t really been feeling the Christmas spirit this year. I’ll spare you my “poor me” tale, but I’ve pretty much been ready for the holidays to be over. I…um…have even been called Scrooge a time or two. But then something amazing happened…

My very wonderful friend and writing partner Kay Springsteen (check out her story The babyToymaker, it’s amazing) shared a link on Facebook about a pit bull mix whose family surrendered her to a shelter. She was listed as adoptable gold, but still only had 2 days to find a home or be euthanized. (That’s a picture of her – poor girl). I am a pit bull lover, have owned them for 16 years, and have a special place in my heart for them (with good reason, check out this post on my blog in 2011 about our baby Derby). Long story short, I was amazed at the way people rallied around this poor girl, offering donations to help cover transportation, paying her adoption fee, offering to foster her, sharing her story to try and save her…it warmed my heart. Besides my family and friends, it was the best Christmas present ever to watch how so many people opened their hearts to this abandoned baby. It renewed my belief in people! She’s not out of the water yet, but with so many people on her side, hopefully, she will be in a new home shortly.

TheDukeofChristmasPast_453x680So…I feel like since I was given a wonderful gift through all the love everyone showed, that I need to pass it forward – so EVERYONE who commented on my blog is a winner! I used randomizer.org to pick the two people to win the $10 gift cards from amazon.com. Congrats to Ruth Hartman and Leah Sanders! Everyone else who commented will receive an ecopy of The Duke of Christmas Past from either amazon or Barnes and Noble (or another ebook seller, if you prefer)! Just email me at kimbowman2008 @ yahoo . com (without the spaces) and tell me how to send it!

Thank you for indulging me my story! And don’t forget to check out the other Regency Christmas stories by some amazing Astraea Press authors!AP xmas books

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

~KIM

Sunday, December 2, 2012

A Regency Christmas Blog Hop

AP Christmas Regency blog hop logo 5
Romance and scandals abound in the Astraea Press Regency Christmas stories.

Eleven talented authors help you relive a bit of history from 1812 Regency England.
Each story is unique and gives you a look at life and love from 200 years ago, as well as a bit of gossip!Mrs. Peabody (courtesy of Rachel Van Dyken) is all too happy to share the secrets of the ton in her society scandal sheet.
Kim2
My own story, The Duke of Christmas Past, pays tribute to Charles Dickens, one of my favorite authors. Here’s the book blurb:
The only thing Donovan Ellis, Seventh Duke of Gatewood, wants for Christmas is for it to be over. Too much sadness surrounds the holiday. Horrors he'd just as soon forget. Oh, there's one present he yearns for with all his heart, but he can't have her. His foolishness pushed her into the arms of another. So if he can't have the one thing he truly desires, then he just wants to be left alone to drown in his own misery.
But when a ghostly apparition visits him, claiming things can be set right, can Donovan believe? Can he trust the duke of Christmas past? Or will meddling in the past bring more heartache than he already has to bear?

You can purchase The Duke of Christmas Past at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Astraea Press, and wherever ebooks are sold.
Now for the fun part! The contest! I’m offering 2 $10 Amazon gift cards and 2 ecopies of The Duke of Christmas Past. Just leave a comment below with your email address!

Thank you for stopping by and good luck! Hope you all have a very happy holiday season! The next stop on the hop is at the talented Christina Graham Parker's Blog.

~Kim

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

ASTRAEA PRESS BOOK CLUB READ OF THE MONTH!!!!

AP Book Club
SQUEEEEEEE!! I love this book and I’m so thrilled to be giving all you readaholics a chance to get a free ecopy this month! So email our Review Coordinator Opal Campbell at the email above to get your complimentary copy.
Also, come and join the fun on the ASTRAEA PRESS BOOK CLUB PAGE on FACEBOOK. Each week I’ll randomly choose a winner from all the commenters on the Facebook Page to win an awesome swag pack that will include a paperback copy of my novella Wayward Soul, bookmarks, pens, and other goodies! At the end of the month, Astraea Press and I both will randomly choose someone to win a prize pack. That’s a total of six winners this month! Plus you get to read an awesome Halloween story!
HAPPY READING!

~Kim

Thursday, August 30, 2012

THANK YOU GIVEAWAY!!!


ALLAL Final Cover dpi 400Kay Springsteen and I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you who has supported us by purchasing our Regency Romance A Lot Like A Lady. We know you have hundreds of books to choose from, and we’re honored that you picked ours. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!clip_image002 To really show our gratitude, we’re going to hold an amazing giveaway from now until Sunday night at midnight (EST). And boy, what a giveaway it is! We’re going to have SIX winners!! Yes, you read that right – SIX WINNERS!! And what are the prizes? Three lucky winners will receive swag packs that will include pens, bookmarks, and…books! The winners will each receive TWO surprize paperbacks by assorted authors. SQUEEEE! The other three winners will receive swag packs with pens and bookmarks and an ecopy of any book of their choosing available on the Astraea Press website! YIPPPEclip_image004EE! There are a couple of ways to enter and you can either enter through me on this blog or through Kay Springsteen on hers by clicking HERE (NOTE: We will choose a total of SIX winners from our combined entries): 1. Email your receipt # to me at kimbowman2008 @ yahoo (dot) com showing you purchased A Lot Like A Lady for two entries in the contest. Leave a comment below that you’ve emailed me so I don’t miss it! 2. Post on a social media site of your choosing that A Lot Like A Lady is on sale for $.99 along with either the Amazon buy link) or the Barnes and Noble buy link. Leave a comment below that you’ve done this to be entered in the contest. That’s it! Simple and easy and our way of saying a HUGE thank you for supporting us. Good Luck and Happy Reading! Kim








Friday, August 17, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample: A LOT LIKE A LADY

Happy weekend! Time to snuggle up with a good book. And do I know just the one!

Kay Springsteen and I are happy to announce that our Regency Romance A Lot Like A Lady is currently on sale for $.99!! SQUEE!! You can pick it up at:

AMAZON.COM or BARNES & NOBLE

BLURB: Ladies’ maid, Juliet Baines has gotten herself into a pickle by agreeing to go to London and taking the place of her mistress and best friend, Annabella Price, stepsister to the Duke of Wyndham. After all, what does a servant know about being a lady? But Juliet soon finds that pretending to be a lady isn’t nearly as hard as guarding her heart against the folly of wanting a man who’s completely out of reach.

Graeme "Grey" Roland Dominick Markwythe, Sixth Duke of Wyndham, approaches his duties as a nobleman with great dedication and meticulous care. And he’s a man who is not easily fooled...except when he tries to convince himself he's not utterly and madly in love with the beautiful imposter who has turned his life upside down. Will society and his responsibilities to his noble status keep him from opening his heart to the woman he loves?

And here's a sneak peak of one of our favorite scenes from Chapter 2:

“I’m sure I didn’t understand you, Higgins. Did you say my father’s coach is here?” Grey glanced up from the ledger opened before him with a frown.
His heart clenched and his throat tightened at the thought of the beautiful town coach his father had personally designed being used by someone else. Let alone by a virtual stranger. Burning irritation flooded Grey’s veins at the thought. He should have had the ducal carriage removed from the country home and brought to London. But it had been a source of distress to think of seeing the coach his late father had loved so much every day. Even now, four years later, it was still too much to bear.
Four years. Had it really been that long since his father had died? Since he’d seen his brother…
Grey raked his hands over his face to dislodge the direction his thoughts were taking and breathed deeply. The arrival could only mean one thing. His stepmother had deemed it necessary to come for a visit. No doubt to ask for more money, if the condition of the country estate’s finances was correct.
“Yes, your grace.” The butler stood straight-backed in the doorway of the study, neatly attired in black and unruffled as usual, his long, gaunt face devoid of any expression. Behind him, daylight flooded the normally dim foyer.
Distaste crowded Grey’s throat. “Inform Mrs. Markwythe that I am indisposed and send her on her way.”
”I beg your pardon. I wasn’t clear, your grace. This appears to be more than a social call. The footman who accompanied the carriage is unpacking it—”
Grey stared in disbelief at his manservant and nearly choked before he found his voice. “Why the deuce would he do that?”
His secretary cleared his throat, drawing Grey’s attention toward the slight man behind the mahogany writing desk across the room. Petry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The heavy damask draperies behind him had been pulled back, leaving his face in shadow. As if gathering his wits, he hastily pushed to his feet.
“What is it, Petry?”
“If I may, your grace? Mayhap the letter you received from the Duchess of Wyndham a few weeks ago discussed the visit.”
Grey’s hand tightened around his quill. The note. The blasted note from his stepmother. He had forgotten about it. Squeezing his eyes shut, he struggled to recall what Regina had said in the message. Something about Annabella needing a season in London. Whyever for?
Gently, Grey set the pen down, struggling for a modicum of composure. He stole one more look at the figures that weren’t quite adding up and decided they would have to wait in view of more pressing circumstances. Such as uninvited company. With a sigh, he slammed the book shut and tapped the cover with the tips of his fingers. Impatience tugged a breath from his chest and he stood. “Send the Duchess of Wyndham in.”
“I-I beg your pardon, your grace. The duchess isn’t with her daughter.”
“Not with—” Grey broke off and let out a curse.
He lifted his gaze heavenward. What had he done to deserve this?
Looking after his stepsister was the last thing he wanted to do, next to staying in town for another Season of mothers shoving their debutante daughters toward him at every social function. And now, not only would he have to worry about that, but he’d have to care for a debutante of his own. Bile threatened his embarrassment.
Grey ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh, cursing himself for not dealing with this sooner. He’d made London his home these last four years, and the longing for his country estate had finally subsided as the comfort of his townhouse had begun to fit him like his favorite breeches. He caressed the top of the walnut and rosewood desk that had once been his father’s. Fulfilling the responsibilities that came with his father’s title hadn’t come easily, but moving the furniture from the country had made him feel like Alexander was still with him somehow, guiding him through his initial uncertainty.
“Your grace?” The butler’s soft query startled Grey from his reverie.
“Where is she, Higgins?” Irritation took root and his eye began to twitch.
“She is still outside, your grace. Shall I show her in?”
Grey wanted to tell the servant no, just send the girl away. But he knew that wasn’t an option. “Yes, show her in. Then send the coach to the livery for fresh horses.”
“Right away, your grace.” The butler gave a stiff bow and backed from the room.
Grey refused to spend the Season caring for the spoiled girl. It was bad enough his father’s second marriage had bound him to the chit and her mother. He provided them with a home — his beloved Wyndham Green no less — a generous allowance, and the protection of his title and status. His generosity was stretched to the limit, and he had no intention of inconveniencing himself any further. He would explain the misunderstanding to the girl, apologize, and send her back to the country.
Before he could put action to his thoughts, the gentle peace of his home was fractured by the clatter and scrape of nails against the wood floor of the foyer, approaching with the grace of a runaway horse. Grey groaned. The last thing he needed was his uncle’s bulldog attacking someone, even if it might get rid of his unwelcome guest. He hurried to the door and stepped into the hallway, but leapt back as the nasty brown and white animal pushed past him, racing straight for the surprised footman who held open the heavy front door.
“Blasted dog! Lucien, if that mongrel bites someone, so help me, I will shoot you!” Grey warned as the older man hurried by.
Lucien had the nerve to give him a disgruntled look. “Why, nephew, Lord Perceval Randolph Neville—”
“Stop calling him that or I shall have to pick my second with the marquess,” Grey snapped. Bad enough his uncle had named the fiendish dog after a neighbor; now it was running loose around London terrorizing an arriving guest. Unwanted though she may be.
Why did Lucien continually insist on shocking people? The man had once named his horse, a sorrel thoroughbred stud, after the vicar’s wife because, as Lucien had so graciously explained, “The horse was the spitting image of the woman.” Grey’s father had lined the coffers of the church well for almost a year to appease the insulted vicar and his wife.
“Be a dear boy and grab the leash,” Lucien said with a flick of his hand. Straightening his rotund form, he managed a majestic waddle as he followed the bulldog outside.
Grey gritted his teeth and turned to retrieve the leash from its undignified resting place wrapped around the iron umbrella stand. Before he’d gone two steps, a loud, shrill scream punctured the air, followed by the dog’s wheezing bark. Grey wheeled around. His great uncle stood as motionless as one of his stone statues just outside the front door, both hands clutching his chest.
“Lord Perceval, get off that woman this instant!” Lucien’s voice rose an octave and ended in a wheezing squeak as he regained his senses and hurried down the walk.
“I’m going to shoot that blasted dog!” Grey yelled as he stomped out the door. First he’d ensure the rotted beast hadn’t taken a hunk out of someone. After that, he’d send his unwanted guests on their way. Maybe then a return to his normal routine would restore peace to his home.
On the landing, Grey froze. His stomach performed a slow turn like a rabbit on a spit.
Lucien’s monstrosity stood growling on top of his victim, who lay sprawled half in and half out of the coach, her skirts up around her waist. The beast shook his head, sending spittle flying through the air.
“Oh my heavens!” Lucien approached the fallen victim. He raised his voice. “Madam! Madam, can you hear me? Have you been wounded?”
“Her ears were not injured, you old fool,” snapped a slender woman of middle years wearing a black velvet pelisse. She proceeded to whack Lucien repeatedly with her reticule. “Get that wretched creature off my sister this instant.”
Lucien raised one arm against the attack while reaching for the irate lady’s reticule with the other. But she only changed hands and continued to lash out at him. The driver stepped between the prizefighters, receiving a thwack to his shoulders for his effort. The footman abandoned his task of unloading the coach and hastened to the lady’s side, placing a tentative hand on her arm, evidently trying to still her agitation.
A yelp came from beneath the dog as his victim flailed her legs.
Grey glanced about. Lady Rossington and her ridiculously giddy debutante daughter had halted their walk along Newport Street and stared enraptured at the sight. He bit off a curse. The whole of London will be laughing about the scandalous scene by nightfall.
He stepped forward only to be stopped again when a young girl darted from the rear of the carriage. Presumably this was Annabella, though she’d grown some since their last encounter. Her yellow and cream traveling gown swirled about her legs with each step, and she tugged a short dark green jacket into place as she walked. Golden curls peeked from beneath a green bonnet decorated with flowers and cascaded over her shoulders.
With quick movements, she grasped the dog’s collar and gave it a yank, tugging against the massive brute. Grey’s stomach twisted into a tight knot. He’d soon have two injured people on his hands.
He opened his mouth to tell her to get back when the animal let out a high-pitched yelp and the girl stood, dragging the dog up with her.
“You naughty boy, that’s quite enough.” She spoke sharply, her tone brooking no argument.
The dog jerked its head around and snapped at her.
She simply thumped him on the nose and he let out a shocked yap. “You mind your manners.”
The dog growled and wheezed and showed his teeth; all the while the rest of his body wiggled and his tail wagged wildly.
I wonder if she could do that with Lucien.
The girl shifted, presenting Grey with a view of her profile, and his breath caught in his throat. She crouched on the ground in front of the beast, removing remnants of an ostrich feather from the corner of his mouth. Instead of the creamy white skin most of the gentry favored, which, in Grey’s opinion, made the girls look like death, she had a slightly darker sheen that enhanced the golden locks framing her face. Her mouth curved upward in a gentle smile. Soft laughter bubbled from her lips and combined with the way she now stroked the dog’s head to send a shiver up Grey’s spine.


I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! Happy Reading. And don't forget to pick up your copy of A Lot Like A Lady while it's on sale!

Click HERE to return to the Sweet Saturday Sample list.





Wednesday, May 9, 2012

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

 

WINNER

Thank you so  much for participating in the Spring Fling Blog Hop! I loved getting all the comments and having all the visitors. I hope to see you all stop by again soon!

And now…THE WINNERS! Using randomizer.org, here are the winners. BTW, I had so many people sign up, I decided to do TWO Ebook copies of A LOT LIKE A LADY!

First place: winner of the paperback copy of A LOT LIKE A LADY:

Christine - isabelli3619 (at) aol (dot) com

Second place – winner of an Ebook copy of A LOT LIKE A LADY:

Jenn - jennirv4967 at gmail dot com

Third place – winner of an Ebook copy of A LOT LIKE A LADY:

Lauren - Lmackesy @ gmail.com

Fourth place – winner of an Ebook copy of Waltzing with the Wallflower:

Margaret - singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

 

Thank you all so much for participating. I will be contacting the winners via email today. And I hope you will all check out A LOT LIKE A LADY!

ALLAL Final Cover dpi 400

 

Happy reading!

~Kim

Monday, April 30, 2012

SPRING FLING BLOG HOP


   Welcome to the Spring Fling Blog Hop! I’m going to make this short and sweet and easy – just the way I like it!
The theme for this blog fits my and Kay Springsteen’s new release A LOT LIKE A LADY. The story is set in London, England, 1813, during the Season – specifically April and May. What a wonderful, magical time that was! Attending balls, dancing, searching for the perfect marriage match…It is the inspiration for several of my favorite books! So I thought it would be fun for commenters to share their favorite historical book that includes the London Season.
For me, I have to say it’s my own book A LOT LIKE A LADY! Hey, why would I not pick my own book? Kay and I made the plot what we wanted, created characters we fell in love with, and check out how awesome our cover is!! LOL! But if I have to pick a book besides my own, it’s gotta be Judith McNaught’s Whitney, My Love. Once I read that story, I wasWML hooked on the genre.
So what’s your favorite book that is set during the London Season? Leave a comment below (be sure to include your email address) for a chance to win the Grand Prize of a paperback copy of A LOT LIKE A LADY or a second place prize of an Ecopy of A LOT LIKE A LADY. And for a third place prize, an Ecopy of Rachel Van Dyken and Leah Sander's Waltzing with the Wallflower.*

I’m so glad you stopped by! Click on the Spring Fling Icon above to return to the list of blogs on the hop!
Kim
*Contest runs from April 30 to May 8 at midnight. Winners will be announced May 9th. Must leave email address in order to win.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

NEW RELEASE! A LOT LIKE A LADY

ALLAL TC FRONT
OH! EM! GEE! It’s finally here! Kay Springsteen and I are happy to announce the release of our Regency Romance A Lot Like A Lady! We are thrilled with it.
To celebrate, I want to share one of the best scenes in the book with you. And once you read it and Kay’s excerpt, here are the buy links (cuz ur gonna want to read all of it!).
Amazon
Astraea Press
BLURB:
Ladies’ maid, Juliet Baines has gotten herself into a pickle by agreeing to go to London and taking the place of her mistress and best friend, Annabella Price, stepsister to the Duke of Wyndham. After all, what does a servant know about being a lady? But Juliet soon finds that pretending to be a lady isn’t nearly as hard as guarding her heart against the folly of wanting a man who’s completely out of reach.
Graeme "Grey" Roland Dominick Markwythe, Sixth Duke of Wyndham, approaches his duties as a nobleman with great dedication and meticulous care. And he’s a man who is not easily fooled...except when he tries to convince himself he's not utterly and madly in love with the beautiful imposter who has turned his life upside down. Will society and his responsibilities to his noble status keep him from opening his heart to the woman he loves?
EXCERPT:
Pleasure embraced him and he smiled. “If you would like, I could take you to the Lion Tower. Although not quite the same as the wild, you can at least see several live wild animals such as lions and tigers.”
Her cat’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Truly?”
“I have engagements I cannot postpone.” Especially after rescheduling them today. He shrugged. “But perhaps a couple of days after the masquerade—”
She squealed with delight, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you!”
Grey’s body jumped to life and he stiffened. Her innocent gesture had him ready to explode if he didn’t put distance between them. He wrapped his hands around her arms and set her back slightly.
She tensed, but didn’t pull away. Grey needed no further encouragement. He crushed her to him and applied pressure to her mouth until she parted her lips. It wasn’t nearly enough. Driven to feel more, he deepened the kiss, savoring the tangy sweet taste of her.
When she softened in his arms and touched her tongue to his, it was nearly his undoing. He must stop soon, before he wasn’t able to.
With a sigh, Grey pulled back, but left his lips against hers and whispered, “Please… tell me your name.”
She opened her mouth as if to speak, and his heart stuttered in his chest. Oh, let the words fly back into his throat. Why had he uttered the cursed things? And yet he waited in anticipation of her answer all the same.
Eyes widened, Magpie closed her mouth and turned from him to stare out the window beside her. The carriage stopped.
“Magpie—”
She shoved the door open and scrambled out. Her knuckles where she clutched the carriage whitened as her foot slipped on the cobblestones. Then she raced toward the townhouse, her honey-colored curls and the pale blue ribbons of her dress whipping in the wind.
Cursing under his breath, Grey stared after her, mired in the anguish of his own doubt and unable to move.
“Your grace?” The bewildered footman hovered in the carriage doorway. Grey frowned and the man stepped back.
What had possessed him? He’d ruined the moment by pushing her to reveal her true identity. And blast the deceitful chit for making him care.
“To White’s,” he ordered the driver.
****
I hope you enjoyed it. I’d love to hear what you think. And don’t forget to check out the excerpt from A Lot Like A Lady on Kay Springsteen's Blog
Also stop by Leah Sander's Blog and Rachel Van Dyken's Blog for more amazing excerpts from they awesome books!
Happy Reading!
~Kim Bowman

Saturday, March 17, 2012

SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLE

SSS
Welcome to my blog!! I’m going to share something near and dear to my heart with you about two people I admire—My parents. Yeah, yeah, very sweet, just don’t tell them I said it. It’s from my self-published book about their wedding titled The Ballad of Brenda and Willard. And check out the freain’ awesome cover the wonderful Bridget Lashbrooks made for it! This is the special note at the start of the story. Enjoy! And don’t forget to go back to Sweet Saturday Sample to visit the other great blogs!
The Ballad of Brenda and Willard
willard%20500x800[1] (2)“I knew the first time I saw Brenda I was gonna marry her. She and her sister Sue were riding in the back of their dad’s pickup truck. I was fifteen and she was about twelve,” my dad explained as I interviewed him for this book.
“How?” I asked like I’d never heard the story before.
Dad shrugged his shoulders. “I just did. She looked so cute…I just knew I’d found the person I was meant to marry.”
“Even at that age?” I could listen to this story a hundred times—probably had—and still love it.
Dad looked at me, eyebrows raised. “Even now.”

Sigh. How romantic.

I loved getting the opportunity to write this for my parents. The best part was watching as they read the story, stopping to laugh at something they’d forgotten, giving me the chance to live—really live—the moment with them.
Their life hasn’t been easy. But if after more than four decades Dad can still say he knew she was the one for him—is the one for him, and Mom can remember every detail of starting their life together and recall it with that faraway look in her eyes, well, then, that’s a true love story. One I’m proud to tell.

Thank you for stopping by! Happy reading.

~Kim
Available at amazon.com

Friday, March 2, 2012

SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLE

SSS

OH YEAH!! This is my sweet treat of choice. Add a tall glass of Coke and a good book and I’m in H-E-A-V-E-N! Make that book the new Regency Romance I co-authored with my wonderful friend the very talented Kay Springsteen and I’ll die a happy woman! Okay so that could have more to do with the very sexy hero in A Lot Like A Lady, but stillWinking smile

Sooooo…for my contribution to Sweet Saturday Sample this week, I’m showcasing one of my favorite scenes (a kiss) between our heroine and…sigh…Grey.

She rested her hands on his arms and her gaze connected with his, sparking warmth in the vicinity of his heart. “Thank you so much for this.”

“Thank me with a kiss.” He held his breath, didn’t dare move, silently cursing himself for asking her to kiss him and praying she would.

After what seemed an eternity, she lifted her face and touched her lips to his. Tentatively at first, then her arms went around his neck, pulling him closer. Grey fought to maintain control. He wanted to let her set the pace, but his body screamed for him to jerk her into his arms and devour her. When her tongue darted out and touched his, he lost his resolve and deepened the kiss, pulled her up against his length. His body came to life with a desire so strong he lost the ability to think, could only feel.

*SIGH* I can’t wait to share this story with all of you! It’s getting close! Should be published this month!! (March 2012)

Thank you for stopping by. Click HERE to return to the list for Sweet Saturday Sample.

~Kim

Friday, February 17, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample

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Thank you so much for stopping by to visit me for Sweet Saturday Sample! I’m very excited to have a new book to share. I have partnered with the very talented Kay Springsteen to write a Regency Romance titled A Lot Like a Lady and today I’d like to share one of my very favorite parts with you.

I have to say, when you write a story that is set 200 years ago, be prepared to do your homework. I bet Kay and I spent as much time (if not more) researching as we did writing. For instance, the War of 1812…not really called that back then. Talk about work to figure out what it was called! But researching was a highlight for me. I loved reading about the great London Museum and hope you love how Kay and I tied the history of the time with our romance:)

SWEET SATURDAY SAMPLE:

ehLaughter broke into his morbid thoughts, and he realized the sound came from the young lady standing next to him. The sing-song sound bounced off the walls and filled the room. Grey darted a look around, noticing other patrons were staring at her with censure for her inappropriate outburst, and then moving away.

Her face was flush and her eyes danced with delight.

“You might try to contain yourself. People are staring,” Grey chided softly.

“I am sorry. It’s just…oh my!”

She covered her mouth with her hands, attempting to silence her mirth. “In the guide book it says rhinoceros…fury—” She broke off laughing again, unable to speak, and handed him the pamphlet, pointing to the section causing her to giggle.

Grey furrowed his brow and started reading, wondering what could be so amusing about such an enormous beast. “…it seems at times to be subject to paroxysms of fury—”

At the word fury, her laughter bubbled out again, interrupting him.

“P-p-paroxysms of f-fury!” She guffawed louder.

Grey glanced around once more, embarrassed that her outbursts were making them the center of attention. He clenched and unclenched his jaw, resisting the urge to drag her out of the museum.

“I beg your pardon? Perhaps you might share with me and the rest of the visitors you are disturbing what is so funny about a large animal’s fury.”

She straightened her stance and glanced around sheepishly at the people watching. “I do apologize, your grace. I am sorry. It’s just…we…”

“Yes?”

“It’s you!” she announced, then covered her mouth to stifle more laughter.

Grey was taken aback. “Me?”

Her head bobbed up and down. “Yes, you. Why, even now you’re glaring at me in the same manner as the beast. And I am almost certain when you entered the parlor you were having a paroxysm of fury!” Her voice lost its customary genteel quality and raised an octave with the word fury and her whole body shook with mirth. She lifted her eyes to meet his and pointed first at him, then at the rhino. “See, even now you have the same expression on your face.” She then bunched her eyebrows together, squinted her eyes, and puckered her lips in a tight thin line.

rhinoGrey hid the chuckle that escaped through his mouth by coughing. “Indeed. I believe I am about to subject you to that…um…fury again. Unless one of the other patrons beats me to it.” He took her by the arm and led her around the rest of the exhibit. “Come along, we have much to see, if you think you can behave yourself.”

“I promise to be on my best behavior, your grace.”

Grey gave her a sideways glance. “In that case, we should probably leave now.”

The smile she bestowed on him sent thunderclaps of heat racing through his body to knock against his heart, the sudden surge of warm desire melting a huge part of the cold barrier he had surrounded it with. Of their own accord, his lips curved up in response and he gave her arm a little squeeze.

I hope you enjoyed this snippet from A Lot Like a Lady. Keep watching for our cover to be unveiled and for our release date to be announced!

Click on the link below to return to the list and HAPPY READING

~Kim Bowman

Sweet Saturday Samples