10.21.2013

#MyPOV - My Point of View - A Few Scenes That Inspire Me

I love the mountains. Nothing makes me stand still and draw in a deep breath like a mountain view. Today, I want to share a few of those scenes that have inspired me over the years.



Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington
(c) Denise Moncrief 2010

Silverton, Colorado
(c) Denise Moncrief 2004

Maroon Bells, Colorado
(c) Denise Moncrief 2012


Jenny Lake, Wyoming
(c) Denise Moncrief 2008

I would like to spread the joy of reading this holiday season to one lucky grand prize winner chosen at random by Rafflecopter by giving away at 11:59 pm CST on December 31, 2013 a

Brand New 8gb 7" Kindle Fire HD


Four lucky second prize winners will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter to receive a

$20 Amazon Gift Card

How do I enter you ask? There are several ways to enter. Leave a comment on this post. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or Google+. Purchase or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads of one of my books. Use the Rafflecopter below to record your entries! Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

10.18.2013

#NewRelease - Love & Deception - Chantel Rhondeau

Love & Deception (Agents in Love ~ Book 1)
Release Date: October 18, 2013
Author: Chantel Rhondeau
Genre: Romantic Suspense



What if everything you believed in was a lie?

In hiding for six years, Carlie Hollis is tired of running. All she wants is to stay in Sayle, Washington and make a success of her struggling delicatessen. Because of her past, she’s suspicious of anyone who takes an interest in her.

Nick Kendall works as a spy in a top-secret government operation, protecting innocent people from danger. Sent to Sayle on a mission to infiltrate a suspected terrorist organization, Nick finds himself attracted to Carlie, an alleged key player of the group.

Despite her misgivings, Carlie develops feelings for the handsome stranger, believing he is there to help her. But when Nick finds evidence of her guilt, he’s given orders to do the unthinkable—eliminate the target, one he's fallen hopelessly in love with. Will he follow orders...or become hunted himself?

CONTENT WARNING: Violence, language, sizzling love scenes.

Agents in Love Series:

Book 1 - Love & Deception (October 2013)
Book 2 - Love & Redemption (Spring 2014)
Book 3 - Love & Compromise (Fall 2014)


More to come...

Buy it now:

Kindle Edition:

Amazon: US | UK 
Apple iStore:  US | UK | AU 

Print Edition: 



Excerpt:

Silence rushed to fill the space between them. Desperate to keep the conversation moving, Carlie jerked her chin in the direction of the chandelier. “I love how big that is.” 

“Really?” Nick lifted one eyebrow and his lips quirked at the corners. “I’ve heard size is important.” 

Embarrassment burned all the way up her neck and face. “I meant the chandelier. I wasn’t saying...” Holy crap. She was supposed to flirt. Another woman would have come up with a witty comeback, but Carlie had nothing. 

He laughed and reached across the table, patting her hand. “Relax. I figured that’s what you meant. Just trying to lighten the mood.” 

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so nervous.” 

“It’s okay, but you really don’t need to be. I don’t bite. Well,” he glanced at the tablecloth briefly before looking at her again, heat in his gaze, “not on the first date.” 

“I...you...” Carlie gasped for a few seconds and then sighed. Shelley would be so disappointed in her. “I’m not good at this.” 

“You’re not trying to tell me you don’t date much, are you?” 

“Well, actually, I don’t.” She took a sip of water. The truth was the wrong path to take here. Guys wanted worldly, experienced girls who knew how to have a good time. 

Flirt! 

She winked at him, hoping it didn’t look like she had something in her eye. “At least, not men as sexy as you.” 

He winked back. “And big, don’t forget big.”

Author Bio


Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spend her days in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the hours spent with her characters in the evenings.

She live in the western United States, and when she's not writing she love playing cards with her family, bowling on leagues, and snuggling with her lazy kitties.


Want to contact Chantel?

Cyber Stalk on Facebook
Follow on Twitter 

Check out all Chantel's available titles: 

http://www.chantelrhondeau.com/p/my-available-titles.html


10.10.2013

#NewRelease - The First Day of the New Tomorrow by Jennifer M. Eaton

When your dreams become reality, reality becomes a nightmare.




Maya dreams of perfect skin, beautiful hair, good grades, and Eric Brighton—the boy she’s been crushing on since middle school. No matter how hard she tries, all these things elude her. But when a creepy college recruiter arrives with news that Maya has omnipotent powers, things change quickly.
Having everything she wants is a lot harder than Maya expects, though. Will she give it all up for the chance to be normal again, even if it means losing Eric?



Here is an excerpt. Enjoy!


In this scene, after an “odd” morning, Maya meets her mentor and finds out the extent of her powers.

“I have a bad feeling you don’t want to talk about college.”

His lips straightened to a thin line. “No. I’ve never even been to college myself.”

Maya’s unease became a bat and struck her into panic mode. 

She jumped up from the chair, her heart racing. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Edgar shrugged. “I’m your guide, Maya. Your mentor, so to speak.”

“Mentor for what?”

“We have a lot to talk about. Would you please sit?”

She backed up until her rear slammed against the door. She fumbled for the handle and pulled it open. A rush of hot air hit her as she turned to the sting of hundreds of tiny pebbles thrashing her face. Maya raised her hands to protect her eyes and peered through her fingertips into the blinding rays of a low-hanging sun.

The cascading sunbeams warmed her cheeks and illuminated the outline of a figure that looked a lot like the Sphinx in Egypt. She gasped and choked on air riddled with blowing sand.

Edgar laughed behind her. “Let me guess. You were thinking that you’d rather be anywhere but here, and somewhere deep in the back of your mind, you always wanted to see the Great Pyramids.”

He appeared beside her, and she allowed him to close the door. Sweat poured from Maya’s brow as the room instantly cooled.

“Do you want to be back at school?”

She nodded, terror constricting her from any other movement.

Edgar turned the handle and pushed.  The secretary looked up from her computer, narrowing her eyes. He smiled, waved, and closed the door again.

Numbness crept from Maya’s toes and up her legs. Had she gone mad?

Stumbling, she allowed him to guide her back to her chair.
Edgar eased her down. “Are you ready to talk to me now?”

She shook away her fright. “How’d you do that?”

“I didn’t do anything. You did.”

“Me? That’s crazy.”

“Not really. Any of our kind can move from place to place. Anywhere we can imagine.”

“Our kind?”

He reached across the desk and grabbed a pitcher of water that Maya didn’t remember seeing a moment ago. Goosebumps riddled her skin as he poured a glass and handed it to her. She reached for the cup, wishing it was something more soothing like cocoa with marshmallows, and jumped when her hand grasped a hot mug. The porcelain slipped through her fingers, and the drink spilled across the papers on the Vice Principal’s desk.

“Holy crap! Seston’s gonna have a fit!”

Edgar grabbed her hands. “Calm down, Maya.” A rushing wave of serenity

rolled over her. He raised his left brow. “Better?”

She nodded, and her gaze dropped to the neat stacks of clean, dry papers on the desk—and a full mug of hot cocoa set directly in front of her seat.

“What the frig is going on?”

Her desire to freak out struggled against the calm creeping through her body.

Edgar’s gaze locked on her, consumed her. She fought against the presence invading her mind until his strength overwhelmed her. Her resolve snapped, and against her better judgment, she allowed the tenseness to ease from her muscles.

Edgar smiled. “Enjoy that little splash of relaxation. It’s probably the last time I’ll be able to do that for you.”

“What do you mean? What’s going on?”

“I’ll try to explain as it was explained to me. You are adopted, are you not?”

Maya shifted in her chair. Her hands grew cold. “Yes.”

“We all were. Atrusians, for the most part, don’t raise their own young. Too many complications.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You are special, Maya. You have gifts no other child here has. You can make pretty much anything happen, just by wanting it.”

Her stomach plummeted. That morning, she’d wished she didn’t have to wear glasses, and her eyes instantly focused. She wanted eggs, and they suddenly appeared.

It had to be coincidence. Stuff like that just wasn’t possible. “You’re crazy.”

“Am I?”

A bird cawed over her head, and Maya jumped from her seat. Water rose and fell gently around her and all the way to the horizon on every side. She, Edgar, the desk, and two chairs stood alone amongst the rolling waves of the ocean.

She snapped her jaw shut and turned to him. “I didn’t do this. I wasn’t thinking about the water!”

“No. This one I did. I’ve always enjoyed the sounds of the ocean.”

“Well, I don’t. Take me back!”

He smiled. “If you want to go home, just desire it strongly.”

Maya grit her teeth. She could feel Edgar wiggling his fingers inside her brain, pulling against her need to negate everything he said—forcing her to feel confident, to understand. Her disbelief washed away as she closed her eyes.

The gentle sounds of the lapping water disappeared, and she found herself back in the Vice Principal’s office. Maya’s inner fear once again struggled with Edgar’s calm until he overpowered her once more, and serenity and understanding wiped away her unease.

Maya’s eyes fixed on a stain mottling the carpet at her feet. She wished it gone, and it slowly faded away. The rational side of her brain laughed, still unable to process what she’d seen.

The First Day of the New Tomorrow can be purchased at the following links:

Purchase Links:




Jennifer M. Eaton is a contemporary blender of Science Fiction, Dystopian, and Romance.  Her work ranges from the sweet contemporary romances of Paper Wishes, to the dystopian society of Last Winter Red and Optimal Red, with a dusting of young adult paranormal just for fun in The First Day of the New Tomorrow.

While not off visiting other worlds, Jennifer calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle. 

Full time team leader, full time mom, and full time novelist... what more can you ask for?  Writing help did you say?  Well, sure!  Jennifer hosts an informational blog aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be. Stop on by and chat. She loves to hear from fans! http://www.jennifermeaton.com/

Her contemporary sweet romance, Paper Wishes is currently available in ebook format.  The Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology.   Each title is available from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.

Paper Wishes:  Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever. 

Last Winter Red:  In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world.  What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in. Available as part of the Make Believe anthology.

The First Day of the New Tomorrow: Maya dreams of having everything she wants, but when she gets it, she can’t give it back fast enough. (Coming in September, 2013 from Muse It Up)

10.04.2013

Confessions of a Ghost Story Addict

I have an addiction. I’m fascinated by ghost stories. Now, I’m gonna say right off that I believe in the supernatural. I believe there is an unseen realm that isn’t visible to the human eye, but whether or not the supernatural manifests in the form of apparitions… Well, I’m a skeptic. However, my skepticism doesn’t keep me from being fascinated.

For my thirtieth wedding anniversary, my wonderful husband, Larry, reserved us a room at the Excelsior Hotel in Jefferson, Texas. Although the wonderful group of philanthropic ladies that own the hotel don’t want to talk about it, ghost stories surrounding the old hotel abound.

The Excelsior Hotel, Jefferson, Texas


Probably the most popular ghost story in Jefferson is the haunting of Diamond Bessie. Here is a condensed version of what Wikipedia said about Diamond Bessie.

Diamond Bessie was a prostitute who was murdered in the woods outside Jefferson. She was shot in the head in the early afternoon of Sunday, January 21, 1877. Her accused killer was her lover Abraham Rothschild.

She was apparently good at her chosen “profession” because her male admirers showered her with gifts of diamond jewelry, thus the nickname Diamond Bessie.

Bessie worked in brothels in Cincinnati, New Orleans, and finally Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she met Rothschild. She was pressuring Rothschild to marry her and his reluctance to legitimize their relationship may have been what motivated her murder.

Diamond Bessie and Abe Rothschild
Their relationship was reported to be tumultuous, marred by alcoholism and physical abuse. There are claims that Rothschild forced Bessie to prostitute herself during their travels together. In Cincinnati, Rothschild was arrested for beating her, and she accused him of trying to steal her diamonds. In January 1877, the couple registered at the Brooks House in Jefferson, Texas, as “A. Munroe and wife.” Their fine clothes and Bessie's diamonds impressed the locals.

On the morning of January 21, Rothschild bought a picnic lunch, and the couple crossed the bridge at Cypress Bayou and left town walking along the road to Marshall. It was noted by a witness that she was wearing her diamonds when they left town. About three hours later, Rothschild returned to Jefferson without Bessie. When questioned, Rothschild claimed she had stayed with some friends across the Bayou. The following morning, he was seen eating alone and wearing Bessie's rings. On the morning of Tuesday the 23rd, he took a train to Cincinnati, carrying Bessie’s luggage with him.

Her body was found February 5, fully clothed, and absent her famous jewelry. The remnants of a picnic lunch were still scattered about. After an investigation into her death, Rothschild was extradited to Texas to stand trial for the murder of Diamond Bessie Moore. It was Texas' first big murder trail. The case finally went to trial in December 1878 in Marshall. Rothschild was convicted, but the conviction was overturned on appeal.

Diamond Bessie and her murder became a local legend. Every year during Jefferson’s Pilgrimage Festival, a play entitled The Diamond Bessie Murder Trial is performed. Diamond Bessie's grave in Jefferson's Oakwood Cemetery is a popular tourist attraction.

No, we didn’t see the ghost of Diamond Bessie while we were in Jefferson. In fact, we didn’t see any ghosts at all. Although we stayed in the Lady Bird Johnson room at the Excelsior Hotel, we didn’t even get the “feel” there was anyone in our room besides us. Of course, most of the stories coming out of the Excelsior centered around the Jay Gould room that was next door to our room.

The Lady Bird Johnson Room, Excelsior Hotel, Jefferson, Texas

I did see some “ghostly” looking trees along the Bayou near Jefferson. Check out the picture below. I think I could set a horror story in that swamp.



I’ve been so fascinated by ghost stories that I’m writing one entitled The Unmistakable Scent of Gardenias. This book is set in an old run down plantation house in south Louisiana. The owner is refurbishing the old home to its former splendor, but not without the renovations stirring up some paranormal activity. If you love a good ghost story, I think you’ll love this book. Here’s an excerpt to whet your ghostly appetite.

She slipped into the wide upper hall and across to the bathroom. Moonlight slithered through an uncovered window, sending rays of soft light across the floor and up the far wall, making her cotton nightgown glow bright white. With her heart in her throat, she turned the knob, cracked open the bathroom door on squeaky hinges, and wiggled inside. Before she could take another breath, she had dropped to her knees and was retching into the stained toilet bowl. Her whole body trembled as she leaned on the porcelain that wasn’t quite bolted tight enough to the rotting floorboards.

When she flushed, the foul remains of her supper didn’t swirl all the way down. She didn’t want to flush again, but she had no choice. If she didn’t, Les would know about her weak stomach. How could she tell her husband that intimate relations with him made her vomit?

She waited until the tank refilled and flushed again. The pipes in the old house groaned enough to wake the dead. She rose slowly on shaky legs and turned the tap. A sludge of dirty water gurgled from the corroded faucet. She used some of the nasty mess to wipe the evidence of her shame from her mouth, careful not to slosh the dirty water on her clean gown. How could she get the sick taste out of her mouth? She didn’t dare drink any of the putrid water spurting into the sink.

She spit into the toilet bowl until her mouth went dry. Her eyes watered from the physical strain of throwing up and the fear of being caught. When she lifted her head to the mirror over the sink to determine if she still looked presentable, she shrieked and then slapped a hand over her mouth.

The face reflected back at her was not her own. She pivoted to look behind her, but there was nothing but a blank wall. When she turned to face the mirror again, she saw her own face. There was no mistake. She’d seen someone else’s reflection. Who had she seen in the mirror? Why was the woman crying? Why was there a look of abject terror on her face? And why was she covered in blood?

Until The Unmistakable Scent of Gardenias released, please check out my published books on my Amazon author page.

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Have you heard the legend of Diamond Bessie Moore? @dmoncrief0131 Click here

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Holiday Giveaway!!!


I would like to spread the joy of reading this holiday season to one lucky grand prize winner chosen at random by Rafflecopter by giving away at 11:59 pm CST on December 31, 2013 a
Brand New 8gb 7" Kindle Fire HD


Four lucky second prize winners will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter to receive a

$20 Amazon Gift Card

How do I enter you ask? There are several ways to enter. Leave a comment on this post. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or Google+. Purchase or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads of one of my books. Use the Rafflecopter below to record your entries! Good luck!






a Rafflecopter giveaway
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