Talking With Tenaya Jayne

About Forbidden Forest:
Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.

Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war. 

Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.  



Tenaya Jayne's fantasy romance novel, Forbidden Forest, was released in October by Cold Fire Books. I'm happy to have her here today as part of her CLP blog tour. Welcome, Tenaya. Let's start with a burning question: do you tweet? How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)
A story about overcoming abuse and prejudice with love.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

Almost. I usually have the main characters and larger side characters all set, but sometimes a few pop up that I hadn't originally banked on. Those extras arise out of need. As your plot and your main characters develop, sometimes you find they might need someone else to support or hinder them on their way. It can also be a matter of pacing. Maybe things are moving too fast, or you've gone off on a rabbit chase and the introduction of another character can be just the thing you need. 

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

Probably Syrus. He's an Alpha male but he's goofy and sweet. Forest is bitter and cynical and he makes her laugh and loosens her up. I don't like the fictional hero who's a big jerk, and you see that a lot now.

How do you name your characters?

I brainstorm names with a baby name book. I think about my characters, what they look like, their strengths and weaknesses and attempt to name them accordingly. But when you are writing fantasy, you don't necessarily want to name your hero Tom, so you make up a name. Some of the names I used in Forbidden Forest I got from the Bible. For example, I used the name King Ahasuerus who was also called Xerses as inspiration for the names Rahaxeris, and Zeren. 

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

Right now, I'm reading Gargoyle by Shelley Martin on my Kindle app.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

That depends on the nature of the criticism and the source it came from. Criticism from other writers who I know and respect goes under advisement. Criticism from my husband holds absolute sway because he's brilliant, and he rarely has anything negative to say, so when he does, I listen. Criticism from someone bent on being mean just drives me harder at the keyboard from spite. When someone insults my work, I just think, "Oh, yeah? I'll show you. One day, I'll be a best seller."

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow?

I listen to music, and I pace around my kitchen.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

"The question isn't who is going to let me; It's who is going to stop me."  -Howard Roark

 What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I'm very domestic. I like decorating , cooking, and playing with my kids.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Austin Texas. I lived there for the summer of 2008. I didn't think I would enjoy living there at all, but before long, I loved it. My husband and I tried to move there permanently but it wasn't in the cards.  

Thanks for stopping by for a quick chat, Tenaya. Good luck with Forbidden Forest!

About the author:
Hello. My name’s Tenaya and I’m an addict. I mean author. When I was growing up, writing was just something I played at from time to time. I knew I wanted to be a writer, but I was one of those people who could never finish anything. When my eldest son was diagnosed with Autism, I began to write seriously. Writing became a necessity for me in the midst of my heartbreak. It was either that or take up drinking. I ‘m thankful I chose writing as my escape because I discovered it truly is my thing. I want to be swept away when I read. That’s what I want my books to do for you. The main goal of my writing is to entertain you. I want to help you escape everyday life for a little while. I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy sharing them with you!

I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful sons. I’m an advocate for Autism awareness, and women trapped in abusive relationships. I try to always look on the bright side and help others do so too. I’ve lived many places but I currently reside in Missouri. I love reading, indie and foreign films, gardening, and moody music.


Website
Blog
Twitter
Amazon

Review of Meant To Be

Marienne and Daniel are meant to be...except they’re already married to other people. The two get to know each other, and their friendship blossoms, as Marienne and her husband, and Daniel and his wife become friends. Ms. Stivali shows the reader how wrong both marriages are, and I found myself asking why didn’t they see it sooner? But it wouldn’t allow for much of a story if they had.

Meant To Be is a love story about two people who became best friends before becoming lovers. I like how Ms. Stivali’s characters are never unfaithful, at least in the physical sense. Emotionally, Marienne and Daniel are closer to each other than to their spouses. But it was a natural progression, and there was never a question of unfaithfulness--except for in their minds. Because they are both married to the wrong people, Marienne and Daniel are able give the other the emotional support that is lacking in their marriages, and the reader cheers them on as they grow closer.

Watching the two people, who were meant to be, fall in love is the heart and soul of this book. As their relationship progresses from friendship to genuine love, their marriages begin to fail. But I like that their marriages don’t fail because Marienne and Daniel find themselves loving one another instead of their spouses; the marriages failed because they simply weren’t meant to be and Marienne and Daniel are. Although it takes them a while to admit that to themselves, much less to each other.

Meant To Be shows the slow, almost torturous path to happily ever after for Marienne and Daniel--two honorable, faithful people with whom the reader becomes friends. It’s a frustrating story, but a good frustrating, because they are so obviously right for each other, and so obviously wrong for their spouses. The reader is dying for Marienne and Daniel to see what we see all along. The attraction is there, the emotional connection is there, and we ache for them to acknowledge it.

If you like sweet romances, stories where you root for the couple to get together and find anticipation is delicious, you’ll like Meant To Be.

About the author:
Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, Then, Again will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.

Buy the book:
Amazon author page
Amazon Meant To Be
Romance Ebooks 
Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press

It was a pleasure to have Karen here on her CLP blog tour. Click for more links and to read an interview with Karen, to read and excerpt of Meant To Be, and to read Karen's guest post.

Karen Stivali

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012), and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013, Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, Then Again will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.

Guest Post by Karen Stivali

When I wrote Meant To Be I saw the whole story in my head, beginning, middle 
and end. I knew what was going to happen to the characters, how they were
 going to grow close as friends, how they'd fall in love without even
 realizing what was happening. The story that plays out between Daniel and
 Marienne is a one of friendship, love, acceptance and longing. It's one long 
prelude to a kiss. 


I knew from the start that they would have a happily ever after ending and 
when I wrote it I felt so relieved. I wanted their happiness. As a writer I 
needed to give it to them. Then I started submitting their story for 
publication. It's a nerve-wracking process, submitting a book to agents and 
publishers. There's a lot of waiting for answers. There are rejection
 letters that don't tell you what you did wrong. Possibly worse, there are 
rejection letters saying how much the reader liked your book but it just 
wasn't what he/she was looking for at that time.


It was November 2010 and after two months of hopeful replies, rejections and 
more waiting ahead, I knew I had to do something or I was going to lose my 
mind. I'd always wanted to try NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, 
which takes place every November and is a group of people who each commit to
 trying to write 50k words of a novel in that one month's time). I had a few 
different ideas in my head but the story that wouldn't stop talking to me 
was Holding On. Even though I'd devoted an entire book to Daniel and 
Marienne, I wasn't done telling their story. So I did the one thing writers 
are told never to do---I wrote a sequel to a book I had yet to place.
 Writing Holding On was exactly what I needed. For the first time in months 
the words were pouring out of me. And, to be, honest, I'd missed Daniel and
 Marienne. I needed to follow them on another journey and take them further 
through their lives. By the end of November I'd written nearly 60k words of
 their story. (As a bit of trivia, Holding On was not the original title of
 this book, the working NaNo title was "The Professor and Marienne." You'll 
see why if you read Meant To Be.)


As luck would have it when I got an offer to contract Meant To Be several
 months later, one of the first things the publisher asked me was "Do you 
ever see yourself writing a sequel to this book?" I was able to say I pretty 
much already had. She asked for the first few chapters, and within a few 
weeks I had a contract on Holding On as well.


So, if any writers out there have characters that they believe they're just
 not done with, my advice is write them. Tell their story. A lot of people 
thought I was crazy to be writing a whole other book about Daniel and 
Marienne while Meant To Be was still just making the rounds, but I'm so glad 
I did it. I stayed true to my characters, and I wrote what I wanted to write. 
I'll forever be thankful to NaNoWriMo for giving me the push I needed to 
accomplish that. And I'm so glad I wrote the rest of Daniel and Marienne's 
story.


Not that that's the end for them. I've had several readers who've asked if
 we'll see more Daniel and Marienne and my answer is two-fold. First, I don't 
know that I'll ever be able to say I'm truly done writing them. They're a
 part of my life, and I adore them both, and they're only in their early
 30s---they have a whole lifetime ahead, and I'm willing to bet some of that
 lifetime will make it onto paper in the future. In addition to that I
 already know for a fact that they'll appear in a related book. Daniel's
 ex-wife, Justine, who is in both Meant To Be and Holding On undergoes a 
rather dramatic life experience at the end of Holding On. Justine will be 
getting a book that tells her story and Daniel and Marienne will most
 definitely be making guest appearances in Just In Time (due out from
 Turquoise Morning Press 1/26/14). 


And, if you've read both of these books and still want more Daniel and
 Marienne, you can read about them in two anthologies. The short story All I
 Need (in the Foreign Affairs Antholoy by Turquoise Morning  Press) tells 
about how a young Daniel wound up marrying Justine in the first place. And a 
second short White Wedding, in an upcoming  wedding anthology will tell the 
tale of Daniel and Marienne's nuptials. That anthology is due to release in
 June 2013 (also from Turquoise Morning Press).

To read an interview with Karen, click here.
To read an excerpt from Meant To Be, click here.

Connect with Karen:
Website 
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon

All Romance Ebooks
Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press 

Excerpt from Karen Stivali's Meant To Be

Daniel’s hand froze on the page the moment he saw it. It looked more like a candid photo than a drawing.

“That’s amazing,” he said, unable to take his eyes off it. “I can’t believe you drew this from memory.”

“I have a good memory.” She smiled.

“I’m speechless. Well, not literally speechless, as I’m babbling, but I don’t know what to say.” He turned to glance at Marienne and saw that she was blushing. “I had no idea I was this good looking.” He added, and she laughed, which was precisely what he wanted. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, at all, ever.

“Well,” she said. “There’s some artistic license.”

“Clearly,” he said. “And thank you, I’ve never looked better. Though I do look awfully sad. Is that how you see me?”

“I was going for introspective, not so much sad, but the night I drew that, yes, you did seem sad.”

“What night was that?” he asked.

“The night you came for dinner while I was baking all the Christmas cookies, the night you told me about your mom.”

“Then I’d say you captured that mood perfectly.” He looked back at the drawing, still amazed by how much it looked like him, only somehow better.

“But that’s not how I always see you. Turn the page.”

He laughed as the next drawing was also of him, this time with his head thrown back, eyes twinkling, mouth wide with laughter, right hand raised and woven through his hair. Once again he felt like he was looking at a photograph rather that a drawing. He looked at his own hand then at the drawing, she had captured it flawlessly. The expression, the pose, it was all unmistakably him. How did she do that without me posing for her?

“You’re amazing.” He was in awe, not only of her ability to put his image on paper with such beauty, but to see him with such clarity.

For an interview with Karen Stivali, and to find out where to connect with her, scroll down, go to the home page, or click here. Come back tomorrow to read a guest post by Karen.

Talking with Karen Stivali

I'm happy to have Karen Stivali here as part of her Chick Lit Plus Blog tour. Karen is talking about her novel, Meant To Be, which was released in August.
 

About the book:

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Hi, Karen. Can you tell us how you came up with the title of your book?

I tossed around a bunch of different titles when I was trying to name this book and I kept coming back to Meant To Be. The title not only seemed to perfectly suit the book, which is about destiny and fate, but so many of my experiences while writing it seemed to echo the same sentiment. Things don’t always work out the way you expect them to, or the way you planned for them to---they work out the way they’re supposed to. They’re simply meant to be.

How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

Only 99 characters. Excellent! Did you have any say in your cover art? What do you think of it?

Yes, I did. My publisher, Turquoise Morning Press, allows authors to have a bit of input regarding their cover art. It was very important to me that the friendship and closeness between Daniel and Marienne be portrayed on the cover. I love that the couple pictured is just walking through a park together, talking, not touching, yet their body language shows that they’re focused on one another and drawn together. It has the perfect feel for how I imagine them, and I like the fact that the image has more significance after you’ve read the book and understand their relationship.

How do you get to know your characters?

I think about them all the time. When I first come up with new characters I watch them in my head, like I’m spying on them or eavesdropping at a coffee shop. Once I see their story more clearly, I usually find that the characters start talking more and more. By the time I hear them chattering all the time I know it’s time to start writing down what they’re saying. If I need to know more about a character I’ll have them recall a memory and tell it to me. Imagining them in different scenarios, even if those aren’t things that will play out in the story, helps me to understand who they are and how they’ll act and react in any situation. I need to know all of that before I can really write about them. I need to be able to say with absolute certainty “that’s how he would react” or “oh, she’d never, ever do that.”

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

It’s silly that I need to preface this answer by saying this, but I actually feel compelled to state that I really love all of my characters. That said, Daniel is my favorite character. He has starred in Meant To Be, its sequel Holding On, and the short stories All I Need (a prequel to Meant To Be) and White Wedding (a short in an upcoming anthology). I’ve written him more than any other character I’ve ever created, and he hasn’t stopped talking to me yet. There is nothing I don’t know about Daniel. All his faults. All his strengths. All his weaknesses. I adore writing him and will probably never be able to say with certainty that I’m done writing his stories.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?
Yes. I have to see an entire story play out in my head like a movie before I write it, so I always see the entire cast. Sometimes a scene with a bit character will actually come to me fairly early on in the process. I love seeing how my characters interact with people other than the main cast members. I think it’s very telling to watch people interact with co-workers or random people they might encounter in the course of a day.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new names. How do you name your characters?

I don’t have a particular method for choosing character names, but I do have a quirky rule. I can’t personally know anyone with that name. If I know someone with the name, I associate the name with the real person and that doesn’t work for me. I have to have names that belong strictly to my characters. The funny thing is that while I was writing several of my last few books I met people with the name of the main characters I was writing. That amused me, because it’s happened about five times now, but it didn’t interfere with the writing because my character had the name first.

What would your main character say about you?

He’d say, “Why must you torture me?” Then he’d forgive me because I let him have awesome sex, and I always laugh at his jokes.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? Who?

No. No. No. People ask me that question all the time. I never ever base my characters on anyone---not on people I know personally and not even on movie stars or models. I take the word fiction very seriously, and when I create a character, it is someone I’ve completely formed in my mind, not someone I’ve imagined based on a real person.

Are you like any of your characters? How so?

There are bits and pieces of me in several of my characters. I bake compulsively like Marienne. I’m an insomniac and a worrier like Daniel. I attended NYU like several of my characters. Those are just tiny facets of who they are, though, they’re not based on me, they just have characteristics and experiences I’m familiar with so I know I’m getting those aspects right. For the most part my characters have habits/quirks/features/personalities that are nothing like me. I love writing characters who do and say things I never would because then I get to live vicariously through them. It’s one of the perks of being a writer. You can have your characters do or say whatever you want. 

I totally agree.

Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?
I write off and on all day long, but I work best late at night. I’ve always been a night owl and I find my mind is sharpest and my head the clearest in the late evening or wee hours of the morning. I’m also an insomniac so this is a convenient combo and happens to be the only time my house is quiet, so it all works out well.

Where’s home for you?

Northern New England.

I love New England. Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

Weird thing: The name of my town is actually spelled wrong. Two hundred years ago when they were having the name carved into a stone it was spelled incorrectly and rather than pay to have it redone they just went with the wrong spelling.
Nice thing: It’s a mountaintop town that’s mostly wooded, has a waterfall and a scenic overlook where you can see for miles. And the people who live here are awesome. (Okay that’s two nice things---what can I say? I love where I live.)
Factual thing: The highest point in town is 1015 feet above sea level.

Is there anything in particular that you do to help the writing flow? Music? Acting out the scene? Long showers?

Long showers. Oh God, yes. I don’t know what it is about the shower that makes ideas come to me. Maybe because it’s the only place in the house where someone’s not likely to be talking to me or popping in with a question (although my cat does often stick his head into the shower and lick the wall---eww---he’s a weird kitten). Maybe it’s because I’m busy doing things that don’t require thought, like shampooing, so my mind is free to wander. Maybe it’s just the steam. Or maybe it’s that it’s the one place where I’m guaranteed not to have a pen and paper so I have to just let the story keep playing over and over in my head until I can get out and write it down. Whatever it is, I can say I’ve definitely come up with some of my very best scenes and ideas while showering. I really need to buy one of those waterproof shower notepad thingies. In fact, I think I’ll add that to my Christmas wishlist right now!

Attention Karen’s family! Did you take note? Only fourteen more shopping days left! Karen, what three books have you read recently and would recommend?

I have read and adored the three books in Tiffany Reisz’s Original Sinners series: The Siren, The Angel and The Prince. They’re all completely different and totally amazing. Detailed characters, intricately interwoven plots, heartbreakingly sad at times, laugh out loud funny other times. Beautiful prose with sharp, witty dialogue---I highly recommend them.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
In the rare moments when I’m not writing, I love to spend time with friends (in person or online), and I truly enjoy cooking and baking. Luckily I do all my writing at my kitchen desk, on my laptop, so I’m often cooking/baking, writing and online chatting all at once. I’m an excellent multi-tasker!

Last question that I'm sure your fans want to know: What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m working on four different projects. One is a contemporary romance with a tragic virgin hero---it’s a friends to lovers story with a very atypical path to romance. Another is a women’s fiction/contemporary romance starring Justine, one of the secondary characters in Meant To Be and Holding On. Justine isn’t the focus of either of those books, and I thought she deserved to have her story told.  The third is an erotic romance featuring a married couple trying to keep the spark alive in their marriage. The fourth is a super sekrit, so I can’t tell you more than the fact that it exists. I have about eight more ideas in my to-be-written notebook, I just have to find the time to write them.

Great. And I hope you'll come back soon and talk to us about Meant To Be's sequel Holding On.
About the author:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, was released from Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, was released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press. The first of these, THEN, AGAIN will release from Samhain on May 23, 2013.


Connect with Karen:
Website   
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon author page
Amazon book page
RomanceEbooks

Barnes & Noble

Turquoise Morning Press

To read an excerpt of Meant To Be, click here.
To read a guest post by Karen, click here.

Alexa Grace Book Tour

About The Deadly Trilogy:



From bestselling new author Alexa Grace, The Deadly Trilogy, three books with non-stop suspense and a healthy dose of toe-curling passion will have you holding your breath from the first page to the last.



Deadly Offerings - Book One
Anne Mason thinks she’ll be safe living in the Midwest living on a wind farm left to her by her ex's mother. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are gifts—for her! And how can she be falling in love with the hot attorney who represented her ex-husband in their divorce proceedings? 



Deadly Deception - Book Two
Enter the disturbing world of illegal adoptions, baby trafficking and murder with new detective Lane Hansen and private investigator Frankie Douglas. Going undercover as husband and wife, Lane and Frankie struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional as their sizzling passion threatens to burn out of control. Can they keep passion in control long enough to take down two murderers? 



Deadly Relations - Book Three
Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others. Love is the last thing on her mind, but will it find her after three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch and she vows to find the killer — or die trying. 



Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set
With more than 600 five-star reviews, it's time for you to discover the three Deadly Trilogy books: Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations.

Excerpt from Deadly Deception



“Lane, I know you’re ready to do undercover work, but with this case I need two cops who can pose as a married couple. Unfortunately, we’ve got three women on the team. One is built like a linebacker and the other two are pregnant."



“Sir, for this case, why don’t we go outside the department? I know a Private Investigator who can handle herself on a job like this."



Newly appointed Sheriff Tim Brennan’s brows drew together in a suspicious expression.

“What’s the PI’s name?”



“Frankie Douglas. I worked with her last year on the Charles Beatty serial killer case. She’s a former sharpshooter for the Army.” 



“Is this the same Frankie Douglas you shot?” 


Lane’s face flushed with the guilt he still felt about the shooting.


“Yes, sir. It was an accident. We were heading down the stairs of Beatty’s cellar to apprehend him when one of the steps gave way and when I fell my gun went off and hit Frankie.”



“Has Frankie Douglas done police work before?” 



“I heard she’s a former detective.”



“I think I’ve heard about her. Isn’t she a pretty tall blonde woman?” 



“Oh, she’s smokin’ hot. Think Victoria Secret hot.” 



“Is that right? Do you have a personal thing going with Ms. Douglas?” 



“No sir. Strictly professional.”

Of course, if he’d had a chance, he’d have made in personal in 2.5 seconds. 

Brennan glared at Lane then picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Frankie, this is Uncle Tim. I may have a job for you. Would you please drop by my office?”



About the author:

Alexa Grace's journey started in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her dream of writing books -- her dream since childhood. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels. 

Alexa earned two degrees from Indiana State University and currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (national) as well as the Florida Chapter. 
Alexa Grace is listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural. She was recently named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway. Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations have consistently been listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books. All three books are available in Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set. 

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers. 

Deadly Holiday, published in November 2012, is her holiday-themed romantic suspense novella, featuring all her Deadly Trilogy characters. 

Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Trilogy will be available in spring 2013.

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Excerpt from The Green Ticket

College junior Alex Abrams scores her dream job at the ripe age of twenty – manager to a successful salon and spa. Thrilled to finally have a real adult job, Alex enthusiastically jumps into the world of schedules, conference calls, and getting a massage when interviewing prospective employees. What she doesn’t expect are the very grown-up issues that comes with a demanding boss. Kevin Dohlman quickly becomes Alex’s worse nightmare – covering up his affairs, dealing with his enormous ego, and trying to protect her female staff from him becomes a full-time job in its own right. Alex has also befriended Kevin’s wife and co-owner, Dani, and is trying to keep Kevin’s secrets hidden from her. The situation only worsens when Kevin starts paying Alex off to make sure she keeps her insider knowledge to herself.

While struggling to keep her wits and stay happy with her new grown-up job, Alex is juggling college courses, a new love interest, and keeping up with her close group of girlfriends. When her roommate and best friend Lila gets offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles and sign with an agent, Alex realizes her life truly is changing, and everyone around her – including herself –– is growing up.  Knowing she is faced with some hard decisions ahead, Alex struggles with keeping her job at Blissful. But does she really want to throw away what she dreamed of as a career – or will the secret-keeping for Kevin become too much to handle? The Green Ticket is a story about morals versus money, and how one young woman navigates the shaky line between the two.


Chapter 1

Bustling salon and spa seeking a full time manager to oversee daily operations. Job duties will include but will not be limited to: hiring and scheduling staff, assisting with appointment management, scheduling training opportunities, dealing with cash flow, marketing and advertising of the business, and ensuring salon and spa is run with class and enthusiasm. No experience in salon and spa business is required, but a business degree is preferred. Serious, enthusiastic, and hard-working individuals please email résumé and cover letter to danidohlman@blissfulsalonandspa.com. Hours will vary, pay is negotiable and based on experience.

I cracked my knuckles against my palm, tiny pops of the bad habit music to my ears. A manager at a salon and spa? This job listing was practically screaming my name. I didn’t have any experience with managing a salon–– or anywhere for that matter–– but I loved getting my hair done. And mani/pedis. And my bushy eyebrows needed a good hot wax job at least once every thirty days.

                I bookmarked the job listing, making a note on my daily to-do list sitting next to my laptop. Polish résumé, I scribbled, right after 60 minutes Pilates/yoga workout and finish cleaning kitchen.

                Lila burst through the door at that moment, her long blonde hair flying behind her. “We must work out tonight. Please come and motivate me. I’m getting my pictures taken in two weeks and I really need to drop some weight. And tone up. Look firm. Look good. The TV adds ten pounds, you know. Did you get your assignment done yet for Bater’s class? I need to work on that too.” Even though Lila Medlin had been my best friend for years, the speed at which she did everything still amazed me. I watched her beautiful virgin hair (she’s a natural blonde–– the bitch) barely make it past the doorframe before getting caught.

                “You’re in luck. I was going to do some Pilates and yoga tonight anyway. Just do it with me. That will help firm and tighten. Even though you know I don’t think you need it.”

                “When I fit into your size two jeans, I’ll finally start listening.” Lila walked into the kitchen, opening cabinets, then the refrigerator. “We have no food! Want to order a pizza or something? Ooh, maybe some wings? I’m craving hot sauce.”

                I walked into the kitchen behind her, peering into the depths of our pathetic excuse for a dorm fridge. “We have food. Here’s a bag of lettuce, some carrot sticks back here and croutons in the cabinet. I snagged some packets of ranch from the lounge yesterday. Voila–– let’s make a salad!”

                Lila pulled a face, reacting like I asked her to go on Survivor and eat cockroaches. “Uh, yeah. Salad sounds great if I was trying to starve myself, Alex. I’m craving real food, not rabbit food.”       
    
                I held my hands up in surrender. “You’re the one talking about toning and firming. I’m just saying a salad will give you better odds than buffalo wings.” I wasn’t going to mention the calorie count I had just estimated in my head.

                Lila dreamt of one day becoming an entertainment reporter and was itching for the chance to get out of Dodge–– or rather, Iowa. Lila and I had been best friends since we came to Kaufman College in Des Moines three years ago, and had been living together for two. We wanted to move out on our own and get a house, but neither of us had the financials to support that yet. Lila was saving every penny to put towards photography sessions, voice lessons and even acting classes. Her big goal was to head out to Los Angeles and somehow land an audition for Buzzworthy, the hottest celebrity news show at the moment. I supported her goal of being a reporter, though I had no idea how to help her achieve it.

                My goals weren’t as specific as Lila’s. Mainly, I wanted to be able to stand on my own two feet and stop relying on my sister for everything. Alicia was my big sister, married to Craig Bowersworth and living with their five kids in Seattle. Craig’s job as a political campaign manager led them to many places, but Alicia fell in love with Seattle the minute she laid eyes on the rainy landscape, so they put down roots there. Alicia was a stay at home mom, and with Craig’s income that he pulled in, money was not a worry for them. Alicia helped me stay financially afloat by sending me money each month. I held down stray jobs here and there, but still hadn’t quite figured out what I wanted to do when I graduated. I was studying Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship at college and still waiting to see which direction the wind would take me. 

                “Fine, fine, a salad it is. Can you whip one up for me quick? I need to put my face on before Joel comes over.”

                “What time is he stopping by?”

                “He said around five. He has some study group thing tonight so he wanted to drop by and see me before that.” Joel Lohrbach had been Lila’s boyfriend for just over year, starting when we were sophomores in college. Lila fell hard and fast for Joel, and the attraction still baffled me. Joel was short and geeky, with spiked black hair and big glasses that did not make a fashion statement, and always had his nose in a book. Lila was tall, blonde and gorgeous, with ambitions to live in sunny LA and schmooze with celebrities. Joel was not agreeable to Lila’s future plans and I had no idea what would happen to their relationship if Lila actually made it in the entertainment biz. I wouldn’t mind seeing them break up. I thought Joel was a dick to Lila more than a sweetheart. But she loved him, and who was I to say anything if my friend seemed happy. Enough.

                “Okay. Get your makeup on and we’ll eat some salad and change for the gym. And you can help me look at this job I’m thinking about applying for. Tell me if you get good vibes or not.” Lila always said she got “vibes” about certain things, such as if the elective I wanted to sign up for would be a brain buster or if the new Chinese restaurant in town had bugs in their food. And she’s usually pretty spot on.

                “No problem. Are you thinking about leaving Tastie’s again?” Lila’s voice was muffled as she shouted out from the bathroom.

                I put a healthy portion of lettuce in two plastic cereal bowls, quickly diced up the carrots and sprinkled those in, and shook the worn bag of croutons over the top. After smothering the salads with ranch dressing–– officially taking them from a healthy snack to a questionable one with the rich, calorie-laden topping–– I was satisfied. Finding two clean forks in our utensil drawer was somewhat of a challenge, since neither of us were big on washing dishes. After finally finding two, I took a seat at our two-person table shoved in the back corner of our minuscule kitchen and waited for Lila.

                “Did you hear me? Are you thinking about leaving Tastie’s?” Lila came back into the kitchen, her face glowing and her blue eyes popping, even though she looked like she had no makeup on. I had yet to master the natural look like she could–– wearing two tons of concealer, highlighter, blush, shadow, liner and mascara, and looking like she had just woken up. Mine always ended up looking like clown makeup when I would put the effort in.

                I dug into my salad, loading up my fork with lettuce and a crouton. “Yeah, just thinking about it, though. I’m getting tired of all my Friday and Saturday nights getting spent with sleazy guys. But the money is really helping me build up my savings account. I can’t live off Alicia forever.”

                “I know, but look how good you’re doing saving money. You won’t be a waitress forever.”

                “I wish I knew what I did want to be. How hard is it to figure out a career, especially as a junior in college? Shouldn’t I have this down already so I can stop taking all these electives?”

                “Some people need more time. You’ll figure it out. If you don’t by the time I hit the high road out of this state, just come to LA with me. You could probably find a job out there in a heartbeat.”

                “As what?”

                “A model! An actress! I could get all the exclusive scoops on which designer you’re wearing and who you’re making a sex tape with next. We could rule the world out there together. Come on, Alex! What do you think? Sounds good, huh?”

                “Lila, I won’t be making sex tapes with anyone in the foreseeable future. Or the unforeseeable future either, you perv.” I dug out the last crouton from the bottom of the bowl, crunching it between my teeth. “Besides, that lifestyle just isn’t for me. I don’t like being the center of attention. I would rather be behind the scenes.”

                “What about a movie director? Or a screenwriter?” Lila kept firing off suggestions, and while I appreciated her trying to help, I knew it would never work. I was a painfully shy child growing up, always hiding behind my sister and keeping to myself. Our mother, Lisa Abrams, died when I was five, Alicia fifteen. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and by the time the doctors found it, the disease was too far gone. She was only thirty-three. I didn’t have a lot of memories from her, just little snippets–– like the way her perfume smelled and how she loved being outdoors. I remembered that she used to push me around in a red wagon all the time, around the block or sometimes all the way down to the convenience store if she needed something. I missed her terribly, but sometimes I thought it was just the idea of a having a mom that I missed most. I didn’t know her enough to miss Lisa the person, but I knew I missed Lisa the mom.

                Our father, Marcus Abrams, was madly in love with our mother. Alicia would tell me stories of how they would dance around the living room at night when they thought she was already asleep. How Marcus was the kind of guy who never missed her birthday or forgot flowers on their anniversary. My parents were high school sweethearts and married just weeks after graduation, welcoming Alicia eight months later. Marcus went a little crazy after she died, not being able to handle the grief. He tried hard to stick around and be a good dad, but left right after Alicia turned seventeen. I really didn’t miss him as much. My memories of him aren’t very good ones. After Mom passed away, he took up drinking too much whisky every night to hide the pain, and I remember him yelling at Alicia all the time. He wrote Alicia and myself a letter when he left, saying he couldn’t stand the physical reminders of Mom–– which apparently were us. He eventually remarried and now lives in Georgia with his new wife and her children. I hadn’t spoken to him since he left, and Alicia was no longer in contact with him, either.

                Alicia was my hero. We had an aunt and uncle that took us in for a year, until Alicia turned eighteen. After that, we moved to Des Moines from our hometown of Baruva, Illinois, population just under 1,000 and not much opportunity. Alicia secured a job at the capitol building, starting as a typist and working her way up to secretary, then an office manager. It was there that she met Craig Bowersworth, and they immediately fell in love and were married. Alicia worked her ass of as essentially a single mother for years, helping raise me, enrolling me in school, keeping me clothed and healthy. I loved my sister with all my heart and missed her terribly. I had thoughts of moving to Seattle to be close to her again, but I loved Kaufman College and Lila and my other friends and really wanted to make it on my own. I wanted to stop relying on her for tuition and rent money and health insurance.

                “Those are all great suggestions, just not for me. I was thinking about choosing a different major, maybe trying to narrow it down or something. Business is so broad, so general. Maybe that’s part of the problem.”

                Lila carried our bowls to the sink, adding some dish soap and running water over them to “let them soak.” Lila’s version of doing the dishes.  “That’s always a possibility. Let me look at the job quick that you mentioned. What was it for?”            

                “A manager at a spa and salon.”

                “That would be perfect for you! You love those places. And see ––your major could help you out here.”

                “Don’t get too excited. I can’t see a whole lot of owners putting an inexperienced twenty-year old in charge just because she loves getting pedicures.” I pulled up the bookmarked page and Lila started reading, running her eyes across the page.

                “Alex, are you kidding me? It says right here, ‘no experience required, business degree preferred.’ That’s you! What are you waiting for?”

                “First of all, a lot of job postings say they don’t need experienced people, but if someone walks in and has ten years working at a spa under their belt, they will get the job. And secondly, I don’t have a degree yet. Or have you forgotten that minor detail?”

                Lila shooed off my concerns with a wave of her hand. “Big deal. You’ve nailed every interview you have been on. You’re enthusiastic, hard-working, and personable. You have to at least apply for it. Just give it a chance. You’ll never know unless you go for it.”

                “I already put getting my résumé together on my to-do list for today.” I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons in my head. “And I do interview well.” I once landed a job as a hotel clerk, even though I interviewed in a mini-skirt. In my defense, I never meant to interview, or even apply for the job when I left my apartment on the way to the mall that day. I saw the Now Hiring sign from the road and decided to stop in for an application. The manager was there and not busy, so I filled out my app, did the interview, and scored the job the next day. “I’ll get it done by the end of the week,” I decided, causing Lila to squeal and clap her hands together. “But I’m not going to get overly optimistic about this. And I’m going to keep job hunting. Waitressing is just not for me anymore.”

                “I agree. I’m getting tired of it too. I feel like something positive could happen here. You’re focusing on getting a fab career, and I’m going to up my chances of getting discovered. I feel good. Things are about to change for us, Alex.”

                “I hope you’re right, my friend. I hope you’re right.”

Samantha March...

...is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up to date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and celebrity related. In 2011 she launched her independent publishing company Marching Ink and her debut novel Destined to Fail. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers.


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