Living the Dream

It’s been a strange year, one filled with more obstacles and hazards than any I can remember, but we have to do the best to cope and deal with life responsibly. Christmas is coming, and with it the season of Joy, Hope, Renewal, and Promises. Available for pre-order with a November 20^th release date, the Unforgettable Christmas Joy: Hope and Promises box set is just what you need to help you slip into the season. here’s a peek at what you’ll find inside!

Dreams CAN come true at Christmas.

Join these heroes and heroines in their search for love and joy at this special time of year. Whether it’s in the wilds of Alaska under the Northern Lights, in towns, offices, or hospitals across the land, or on cruise ships under tropical skies, the magic of Christmas will make this the most wonderful time of the year.

Nine New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors have crafted stories of love and joy, ranging from sweet to spicy, the perfect box set to read with your favorite holiday beverage. So, whether your Christmas means snow, sand, or something in between, you’re sure to enjoy the romance and joy found in the pages of Unforgettable Christmas Joy: Hope and Promises.

Sweet Christmas: Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: Will she destroy her first real Christmas because she’s never been in love or experienced that holiday before?

Christmas Love: Natalie Ann, USA Today Bestselling Author: What happens when even the strongest are blinded by insecurities?

His Christmas Family: Susanne Matthews, International Bestselling Author: Can Christmas magic bring two broken souls together and fill six lives with joy?

Scrooge Falls In Love: Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: Millionaire Stock Jock Justin Langdon experiences Scrooge-like dreams that make him re-think his independent lifestyle after new adoptive mom Amy Monroe saves his life.

Holiday By The Sea: Traci Hall, USA Today Bestselling Author: Opposites attract. Can they find a way to make the most unlikely of relationships work?

A Heavenly Christmas: Patrice Wilton, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: Can the magic of love mend a young woman’s heart?

Alaskan Christmas: Jen Talty, USA Today Bestselling Author: He was the second date that should have lasted a lifetime.

Honeymoon Cruise: Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.

Bittersweets Christmas – Arvin and Tina: Suzanne Jenkins, USA Today Bestselling Author: What does a Jewish neurologist and a Muslim ER physician have in common? LOVE! And how will they celebrate Christmas? All romance, all the time.

Exclusive to Amazon! Only 99 cents. https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Christmas-Joy-Promises-Unforgettables-ebook/dp/B08MTJY23B/

And while you’re looking for holiday reading, consider our great Christmas Shorts. Find them all on your favorite Amazon.

It’s Tuesday tales time again and this week, we are all working from a picture. Our scenes are only 300 words long, so enjoy. I’ve skipped a long a bit in The White Dahlia, The Harvester Files Book Four, and now they are interviewing the garbage collectors.

Here’s the picture I’m working from:

“That’s what I thought they’d done tonight. I wasn’t expecting no dead body on a cart—especially one with no effing eyes.” Phil made the sign of the cross.

“And you didn’t see anyone loitering on the sidewalk like those people are doing?” Al pointed to the crowd. “No cars that seemed out of place?”

“Like Gus said, might’ve been a van at the end of the alley—can’t say for sure. The only cars around here belong to the gangs, so even if I’d seen one, assuming I had, you can be damn sure I’ve forgotten all about it. Can we go now? Gus’s old lady needs him to get the kids to school. She’s expectin’ and don’t walk so good.”

“This van at the end of the alley that you didn’t get a good look at would’ve been under that street light, right?” Al interrupted the man.

“Yeah, so what? It wasn’t there long enough for me to give you make and model, but it was dark colored.”

“Panel van or passenger?” Al prompted.

Phil scowled. “Had to be a panel van since I didn’t see no windows at the back,” he admitted. “Gus, did you?”

The man shook his head.

“One more question,” Beth asked, once it seemed Al was satisfied. “What happens to the dumpster after you load it?”

He shook his head. “Same thing that happens to all of them. We empty it into the truck and then put the dumpster back under the chute. Where the garbage goes after that is anyone’s guess. They truck the contents out of state to a landfill or somethin’ but that ain’t my job. I’m just a link in the chain.”

“But no one would look at it? Examine it for recyclables?”

Phil laughed. “You want that job, lady, it’s all yours. Can we go now?”

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

November 4 question – Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

I write to push myself and entertain others. Sometimes I want to make them laugh; at others I want to make them think and use clues to solve a puzzle. But most importantly, for a few minutes, I want to give them the chance to think about something other than reality.

What about you? Why do you read or write?

Find other answers here.

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Welcome to November 2020 and this month’s first Tuesday Tales post. Each week, a small group of authors invite you to peek inside their works in progress. This week’s word is SHOE. Once more I continue with The White Dahlia, The Harvester Files, Book Four.

 “So you aren’t even sure the cases are connected?” She would swear they were. Her gut told her so, and it was rarely wrong. “By the way, what cruise ship was it?”

“The Emerald Queen. I know where you’re going, but that wasn’t the ship Rachel was on two years ago, not even the same cruise line. When I thought someone had grabbed them and pulled them into the sex trade, I had a good look at the profiles. Rebecca’s a redhead, five years older, while Rachel was blonde, barely twenty-one. The women didn’t move in the same social circles and had nothing in common—not friends nor social media. They had some of the same apps, but most people do. Unfortunately, any phones, cameras, tablets, or laptops they might’ve had must’ve been with them when they disappeared. There wasn’t any luggage in their apartments, either. What little we did get came from their work or school accounts.”

“There has to be a connection,” she insisted, tapping her foot, the toe of her puke-covered shoe brushing against the hem of her pants.

Damn! That will probably stain.

She stilled. “What about a travel agency? Where did they get their tickets? Having Rebecca disappear and finding Rachel a short while later is a little too coincidental for me.” She raised her hands, palms up. “I learned not to trust coincidences when I worked in Boston.”

He crossed his arms, raised his hand to rub his chin, and narrowed his eyes.

“So you don’t bleed NYPD blue. Neither do I. I spent twelve years in St. Louis before coming to Manhattan. When did you work in Boston?”

“Six years ago. I moved to the city after we closed a big case. I needed a change of scenery.”

“So you were there when the Harvester was. That case was big news nationwide. I thought that Prophet was the most depraved a person could get—but I was wrong. This is sicker on too many levels to count. My predecessor bragged about being instrumental in giving Boston their first break in the case. He cooperated with Detective Tom Adams over the Mary Green case. Did you know him?” “Yeah, I worked with Tom. He retired about the same time I transferred to New York.” Talking about Tom and the Harvester case was dangerous, especially when it occupied so much of her own thoughts.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

Dear Santa: A Christmas Wish: A Holiday Romance Anthology

The Authors’ Billboard’s 2020 fabulous Christmas Box Collection, DEAR SANTA, is filled with 18 brand new stories about characters who have special wishes to ask the big guy during this season.

Most of us have had experiences when something we’ve desperately wanted is so close that Santa seems the perfect person to ask for the miracle.

When one believes, it’s amazing the conflicts that are overcome and the surprises that can follow.

You’ll be amazed by each of these fantastic holiday books full of Christmas cheer and thrilling romance we’ve written for your entertainment. Check out this online review!

Christmas Joy, Something For Everyone

A variety of stories all dealing with Christmas. Something for everyone. Indulge, treat yourself and enjoy! I was fortunate to receive and arc, and as so we had 5 of the stories available to read and review. I have the same 5 as Phyllis Carpenter and it goes to show that everyone has different preferences.

I enjoyed the *Christmas Miracle*, the mystery of it, the time line the small town and yes the romance. I like the fact that Sophie was a strong woman, dealing with the adversity and taking life by the reins.
*Marrying Molly* is a story of a curse that has spanned generations and Mollys determination to break it, there is loss, love, family.
*What Dottie Wants* is truly a relatable issue to parents when Christmas toys are advertised on tv. There is a twist here from earlier years and I loved seeing how they grew and I the hope that is shared.
*Saving Maddie* is a romance with Finn in the Guardia. It brings to light the child trafficking, slavery. It is not dealt with over the top, so the light tummies should be able to read. Finn herself suffered a loss, and this is a story of hope, love and not giving up. The ending was a heart sigh.
I settled into my chair to read *Toy Soldier Christmas* with a strong woman who has been dealt a lot in her life, and with a soldier, wounded coming home. Unfortunately for me the *magic* that transpires in this one just didn’t do it for me.

This book is a win for everyone, because even if there is a story that’s not on the top of your charts your still getting a lot of bang for your buck, a lot of opportunity for romance and reading a different genre. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.

Mimi Barbour – Alone at Christmas: Being alone is Tara’s worst nightmare, especially during the holidays. Her wish comes true when she finds Mr. Right injured and stranded, but will they survive the dangerous storm?

Rebecca York – Christmas Miracle 1935: Can he trust her enough to help free her father from jail?

Patricia Rosemoor – Marrying Molly: Dear Santa, Please let me meet a McKenna man who will help me end Sheelin O’Keefe’s horrible curse on both our families. Molly Kavanaugh

Susanne Matthews – What Dottie Wants: All Ronnie wants is to give Dottie a great Christmas, but not being able to find the doll she wants may make that impossible.

Traci Hall – Christmas Kiss: Can a teenage crush become forever love?

Angela Stevens – Dear Sinterklaas: Dan had his heart stolen by a girl on summer vacation, now it’s Christmas time, and with a little bit of magic from Sinterklaas, he hopes to make his Christmas wish come true.

Melinda Colt – Saving Maddie: The only reason demons exist is because angels do, too.

Stacy Eaton – Finding Love with Dear Santa: All Faith wants is to get her life back on track.

Stephanie Queen – He Has Santa: A second chance hockey romance.

Josie Riviera – A Chocolate Box Christmas Wish: He’s been all over the world. She’s a home-town girl. Can a holiday wish bridge the gap?

Mona Risk – Dalia’s Christmas Wish: Will the doctor make the right decision between an angry fiancée and a medical emergency?

Rachelle Ayala – Toy Soldier Christmas: Can a toy soldier make her wish come true?

Dani Haviland – A Plate of Christmas Cookies: Is it too much to ask for a second miracle?

Taylor Lee – Please Christmas: Be Done: When his 7 year old son ran away looking for Santa… and all his teenage daughter wants for Christmas is for it to be done….the district attorney concedes not only did he lose his wife to cancer, but he was in danger of losing his children.

Susan Jean Ricci – Cruising for Mr. Right: Can a widow discover second chance romance aboard a Christmas cruise and make the right choice between two adoring men?

Alyssa Bailey – Christmas Wishes and You: Beth’s Christmas Wish of a Second Chance at Love could happen if only she would be willing to risk her heart… again.

Nancy Radke – Zsuzsa’s Christmas Wish: She asks Santa for a strong man to help corral a mule that won’t stay home, and is given a rancher who plans to corral her.

Carmen DeSousa – Chicago Hope: Aspiring journalist Maura Hall dreams of changing the world, but she’ll settle for Chicago.

**Only .99 cents!!**

Add to Goodreads

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Buy Links
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Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1532569783
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Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/dear-santa-a-christmas-wish

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Book Trailer:

Get a FREE compilation of the “FIRST CHAPTERS” from the Dear Santa anthology!

Book Bites 13 – Dear Santa

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Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Bites-13-Authors-Billboard-ebook/dp/B08KHF7P6D

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book-bites-13-dear-santa-mimi-barbour/1137809232?ean=2940164666125

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/book-bites-13-dear-santa

Also, swing by the Authors’ Billboard for a monthly giveaway with a $40 Amazon gift card and more!

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Giveaway

Christmassy Bath & Body Gift Set

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/dear-santa-a-christmas-wish-book-tour-and-giveaway

Just rambling thoughts today.

When we got married in 1971, we received this Royal Doulton figurine called Lorna. To a young couple just starting out, it was beautiful and definitely something we wouldn’t have considered buying for ourselves, not when as newly graduated students, we needed so many more practical things. But, the toaster died years ago, as did the kettle, the coffeemaker, the pressure cooker and the electric frying pan. What lives on is that glass statuette, but the sad thing is, once I’m gone–and that will happen some day–no one wants old, glass ,dust catchers.

The same is true of the fancy carnival glass dishes I’ve collected over the years and the precious antiques, too. Everyone wants new, modern, and “so what if it isn’t even made from real wood?”

This is just another sign of the times when everything old is devalued. Beautiful oak cabinets are painted rather than refinished. Hardwood floors are replaced with easy-to-care for vinyl or laminate. And what happens to those antiques? What happens to the things you collected and saved? They go to the second-hand store. Sad but true.

To add to this trend, all you have to do is look at the cries to remove statues from parks and government grounds because someone has discovered something about the person that was offensive. Maybe what seemed like a logical decision a hundred years ago turned out to be a bad one. I hope the future won’t judge me on the standard of those days rather than the standards of mine.

People no longer seem to want to learn lessons from history. They want to examine it in the light of today and then sanitize it and rewrite it so that everyone is happy with it. Think about that. No one has ever been able to please all of the people, all of the time.

And so I wonder where will all my treasures go when I’m gone?

What about you? Do you have treasures of your own? Do you know what will happen to them?

If you could have your Christmas wish this year, what would it be? Mine is simple and yet impossible for anyone to grant. I would like to see a return to normal. Since that’s not likely to ever happen, I’ll wish for continued health for me and all those I hold dear–friends and family, both near and far.

This year, I will decorate more than I have in years, if only to make myself believe there will be better times ahead. And that brings me to my book in the Dear Santa, a Christmas Wish box set.

Do you believe in Christmas magic?

When life gave Ronnie Daniels lemons, instead of lemonade, the single mother learned to make Lemon Drops.

This Christmas, times are tougher than ever, and Ronnie’s number one priority is making the holiday as normal as possible for her five-year-old daughter. All Dottie wants from Santa is a Famous American Ballerina doll. The problem is not only are they expensive, but they’re impossible to find.

After another failed attempt to secure one of the dolls, in her frustration, Ronnie sends a scathing letter to the company, Thomas Toys. As the doll’s manufacturer, one advertising a product they don’t have on hand and can’t deliver before Christmas, it’s their fault that her daughter’s dreams won’t come true.

When the company’s new CEO comes into the bar to apologize for the mishap and try to make amends, Ronnie refuses to listen to him, not just because of Dottie, but they have a complicated history. Determined to fix this, Wyatt doesn’t back down, and before long the doll isn’t the only thing Dottie wants for Christmas. But can Ronnie let bygones be bygones?

Available now from:

AmazonUS | AmazonUK | AmazonCA | AmazonAU | AmazonIN

B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay | iBooks

Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for a FB party and your chance to meet the authors and win prizes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/414604506092518

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales, the blog post that lets you come along for the ride as a select group of authors share their works in progress. I’m continuing with The White Dahlia, The Harvester Files, Book Four.

“What will your squad do now? From what I can see, you have two connected cases: this homicide, and what did you say the missing girl’s name was?”

“I didn’t, but it’s Rebecca Winston. She’s been missing three week. I’m not sure how much she has to do with this—hell, I’m not even sure the two cases are related.” He frowned, his whole face getting into the action, reminding her of some grumpy old man although he couldn’t be much more than forty.

“If you felt that way, why add Rachel in with the current cases? I didn’t even notice the file on Rebecca. Of course, it was Rachel’s tattoo that caught my eye.”

He shrugged. “It was a long shot. I have nothing to go on with Rebecca, and it’s driving me crazy. Since I started working in Missing Persons, over fifteen hundred cases have crossed my desk and remain unsolved. Almost half of them are women. I just wanted to put her out there again. You know, shake the tree and see what falls out. I didn’t expect this. When I read that Rebecca hadn’t made it back from her vacation, I thought, why not? But, essentially, there’s nothing to really tie the cases together—being white, single, in her twenties isn’t enough to go on. Half of those in my files fit that description, yourself included.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “But I’m not missing. And what makes you think I’m single?”

“Don’t fly off the handle. No wedding ring. I know guys often don’t wear them, but most women do.” He shrugged.

“Well, you’re still wrong. I’m not in my twenties, and no, I won’t tell you my age.”

Al raised both hands in surrender. “I’ve just scratched the surface on Rebecca’s case. I haven’t had time to investigate the few leads I have, other than talking to the lawyer she was articling with. Unlike Rachel who lived with her boyfriend and apparently loved it here, Rebecca lived alone and wasn’t thrilled with life in the city. Maybe she just went home. Immigration says she went through passport control, but, like Rachel, that’s where she seems to vanish, which is why I still think I’m looking for someone who picks them up at the port and delivers them to a pimp. I just have to find the driver who’s doing it and figure out why these two were singled out.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.

The Punishers are at it again in The Guardian, the second book in the series.

The past can always come back to haunt you.

After defeating the demon and casting him back into the abyss, Steve Cassidy and Ellie Taggart, the Tigress, expect a break, but evil never rests.
Knud, a dark-elf and an immortal, has escaped from his prison in Niflheim, intent on exacting his revenge against all of those who sent him there, including Steve. To make matters worse, Knud has teamed up with both supernatural and human criminals—a Voodoo priest and magician with an axe to grind against the city’s preternatural population, and the leader of a street gang who sees this as his chance to take over the city.

The lives of ten females and one male hang in the balance. With the help of a Vodun priestess, the head of the city’s Wicca coven, a selkie, mermaids, shapeshifters, and vampires, Steve, Ellie, Mike, and Chelsea, the Punishers, have five days to find the missing yacht and rescue those aboard. Because if they don’t do so by October 31st, all hell will break loose.

Release Day is Friday, November 13th, 2020. Reserve your copy today!

For those of you who love romantic suspense: Seven NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors invite you into a world of thrills, chills, and kills that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Unique plots and constant conflicts fill this delightful set with Unforgettable Deceptions of Heartbreak and Revenge.

Rebecca York – Intimate Assignment – One misstep means death.

Cynthia Cooke – Shiver – Some call her dreams a gift; she calls them a curse.

Traci Hall – Returning Home by the Sea – Brayden and Zoe wed before he went to Iraq. A lot has changed in the six years he’s been away. Will their love survive his homecoming?

Taylor Lee – Betrayed – The rising-star, political-hotshot wants to bask in Detective Viviana Moreau’s expertise and her media aura. Not incidentally, he wants her!

Jacquie Biggar – Virtually Gone – Investigative reporter Julie Crenshaw stumbles upon the case of a lifetime – one that could cost her everything.

Susanne Matthews – No Good Deed – Monsters are real and Alexa knows what you see doesn’t always tell the story.

Mimi Barbour – Justice – Cassi uses deception to get her revenge against her brother’s killers.

At only .99 USD, or free to read in Kindle Unlimited, this book is sure to take your mind off the election and the pandemic as immerse yourselves in the stories of crime and romance. Get your copy today!

Here’s a sneak peak at my book, No Good Deed.

November 25—St. Catherine’s Day

Lieutenant Mike Delorme hissed in a breath, his body a seething mass of pain, fighting not to succumb to the darkness that beckoned. Loud, heavy metal music, the kind of crap he hated, pounded in the background, no doubt coming from the nightclub overhead. Those kids would all be deaf by the time they reached thirty. Another blow to the ribs elicited a groan he fought to stifle. No way would he give them the satisfaction of seeing him beg for mercy. He forced his mind away from the pain.

Today was the Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria, the martyr and patron saint of single women. His mind flitted to the past. His mother had always made molasses’ taffy using the family recipe handed down by the first Delorme woman who’d chosen to make New France home over three hundred years ago. Now, sadly, he was the last of his line. He would never have the chance to teach his son to pull the taffy the way he and his father had done, their hands slick with butter, pulling, twisting, and pulling again until the rope of taffy was shiny and stiff. Then, Maman would cut it into small pieces and twist each inside a scrap of waxed paper. He could just imagine the sweetness on the tip of his tongue.

Reality brought him back as one of Zabat’s goons struck him again. Sacrament. The bastard didn’t pull his punches. His mind returned to the taffy. No one made it now. There was no one left to follow the recipe—another French Canadian tradition lost to the twenty-first century. Progress could be a bitch.

In honor of the saint, the bar was offering half-price drinks to all the ‘vieilles filles’ tonight. When he’d been up there earlier, until Xavier had called him downstairs and like the fool that he was, he’d gone down not realizing he was walking into a trap, he could’ve sworn he’d seen a couple of divorcées he’d humped in the past claiming to be ‘old maids’—anything for cheap drinks. Nobody really cared how virtuous they were. Did they even remember him? They would probably be warming some guy’s bed tonight—but not his. Never his again.

He could use a good stiff drink right about now. How the hell had it come to this? He tried not to scream, tried not to give them the satisfaction of knowing they were getting to him by thinking of other things than the pain, but a man could only hold so much agony inside.

Peering through a curtain of blood at the man he hated more than anything, his eyes barely open, Mike fought to stay conscious. Where the hell was his backup? A guy could only have so much fun before he didn’t want to play anymore. Anatole should be here by now. Had he noticed him missing?

“I asked you a question. How did you know that deal was going down tonight?” Nicolai Zabat barked, pacing in front of him as if he were the caged animal.

Mike tried to grin at the image playing through his mind, despite the pain it caused. Sooner or later the guy would be just that, another piece of scum in a cage.

Zabat stopped in front of him and leaned forward, his spittle sprinkling Mike’s face.

“I want a name,” he yelled. “Only my most trusted men were in on it. Give me a name, and I’ll tell the boys to stop.”

As if they would. Mike tried to smile. The would-be leader of Montreal’s underworld was pissed. Good. With a little luck, the confiscated merchandize would bankrupt the bastard, stop him from taking over the coveted position of godfather—not that any others in the running were any better.

“The tooth fairy told me,” Mike answered, his voice slurred thanks to his swollen lips. Before he could add anything, Xavier hit him in the face once more, knocking him off the chair onto the cement floor. “Is that all you’ve got?” he mocked, earning himself a kick in the ribs.

A second boot caught him on the opposite side, lifted him six inches off the cold floor, and dropped him again, his head bouncing off the ground before settling in place. That was going to leave a mark.

Want more? Grab your copy of Unforgettable Deceptions.