then go to Rebecca Vickery’s wonderful blog - http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/ and read an excerpt from my contemporary romance, YOUR PLACE OR MINE. If you comment on the excerpt on Rebecca’s blog, you will be entered in a drawing for a free download of this fun romance! Random winner will be chosen from those who comment. Drawing to be held on Thursday, September 2. The winner will be notified by email and posted here and on Rebecca’s blog!

Here’s a blurb:
Sydney Smith decides it’s time to move out of her tiny apartment and become a home owner. Blake Smith, no relation and a real hottie, also wants to see the duplex. A mix-up has them viewing it together. They both love the house. There’s also some sparks flying between the two of them, or is Sydney the only one feeling that way? A highly sensual story of fun, home-buying, and more…

Rebecca says this about Your Place or Mine:
Your Place or Mine contains tastefully complete love scenes and is a mix of humor, true-to-life situations, and emotional ups and downs. Diane takes home buying to a whole new level.
~~~
Be sure to stop by on Wednesday, I’m going to share two new fantastic releases by Ceri Hebert and Jennifer Shirk!

Miss Kallie! Congratulations to Miss Kallie (Brenda) from Georgia on winning my blog contest! All the comments left from July 19th thru today on my blog were entered in the drawing. I had close to 50 comments. Thanks to everyone, for all the great comments. I’ll have a new contest soon! Also if you would like an opportunity to win a copy of my inspirational romance, NO GREATER LOSS and 3 other books, go to Shawn’s Inspirational Ebook Blog. Click here and leave a comment on her blog to be entered for this week’s drawing.

I wonder which one of these books Miss Kallie will choose for her prize! Aren’t the covers gorgeous?

Anne Patrick - Award-winning author

I’m delighted to have Anne Patrick visiting my blog today. She has over a dozen romantic suspense novels that are either published, under contract, or in the works. Anne has a lighter side in the form of an alter ego named Kinzie Monroe who writes inspirational romance. If you leave a comment on Anne’s post, you’ll be entered for my August drawing on the 13th for a chance to win Anne’s ebook! Readers, enjoy learning about Anne’s newest romantic suspense release, Fire and Ash from Desert Breeze Publishing.

The inspiration behind Fire and Ash

Who could forget the stories of those brave firemen rushing up the stairs in the World Trade Center Towers as people were fleeing for their lives? It takes a certain breed to face a fiery inferno to save a strangers life, and their actions deservedly earn them the title of heroes. There is another type of hero who serves behind the scenes, seldom recognized for the lives they save, and that is the fire investigator. They’re the men and women who shift through the ashes of a fire to determine its cause. A fire investigator is part detective, scientist, engineer, and law enforcer. Exploring the origin and cause of a fire may not be as exciting, but it’s just as challenging as coming face to face with a fiery inferno. Every fire scene teaches them something new.

The idea for my book, Fire and Ash, was first planted after watching the movie Backdraft on DVD a couple of years ago. Yeah, I know, I’m a little behind in my movie watching. Anyway, I loved Robert De Niro in the part of the fire investigator and was really intrigued by what all goes into finding the answers to why a fire started. I then had the good fortune of meeting a real life fire investigator, named Keith Tarbox, who helped me get inside the head of my main character, Sadie McGregor. He also read over the entire manuscript to make sure the fire scenes were believable and that I did my homework.

Keith shared many of his experiences with me. Talked about the long hours he worked on fire scenes. The obstacles he had to overcome, and the many miles spent in route to a scene. It was a joy getting to know him. He left me with a great appreciation for the unsung heroes out there who dedicate their lives to finding the answers of how or why a fire started, and the danger that is sometimes involved.

Fire and Ash is a ‘sweet’ inspirational romantic suspense. My main character, Sadie McGregor, is called to her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri to investigate a suspicious fire which claimed the life of a local college student. By appearance the fire looks like the girl was just careless. What Sadie and the handsome police chief, Quinn Harrington, discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community of Emerald Point and put Sadie’s life on the line.

Sadie’s life isn’t the only thing at stake. Struggling with the guilt of having been responsible for the fire that killed her family, when she was only seven, Sadie doesn’t feel she’s worthy of God’s love and forgiveness. Will Quinn be able to prove otherwise before it’s too late?

Fire and Ash, published by Desert Breeze Publishing, can be purchased in e-book here:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-98/Anne-Patrick-Fire-and/Detail.bok, or at most online distributors. You can also find buy links to it and all my other books on my website: www.annepatrick.weebly.com and blog www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com.

Oh, and be sure to check out the interview I did with Sadie for a chance to win a copy of the book. http://annepatrick.weebly.com/interview-with-sadie.html

My inspirational romance, Marrying Mallory, is TODAY’S feature on Shawna’s wonderful blog, Inspirational Ebooks. Click HERE for a chance to win!

Leave a comment and your email and be entered into the weekly drawing for pdf copies of all the ebooks featured during the week. You’re entered once for each featured ebook you comment on. Maximum, three entries per week.

ON SALE AT BARNES & NOBLE for
only $2.13. http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=Marrying+Mallory
Also Available at:
Desert Breeze Publishing
Amazon.com and many other
online spots!

I decided to have Rebecca Vickery publish my romantic novella, Your Place or Mine. It’s been a very positive experience working with her. Be sure to visit me on Karen Michelle Nutt’s Blog today. More information below and also a blurb and excerpt for my new release!

PROMO: Rebecca J. Vickery is the author of Surviving with Love (great book - I posted about it in an earlier post), Laser’s nominee for Best book of 2009. She’s here to share her adventures with Indie Publishing and how she launched her own publishing company. Meet the authors she’s published and learn about the new books planned for 2010 and 2011.

***Drawing (will be on Thursday, July 15th): One lucky name drawn from the comments we receive will win four free reads. One of each of the books by the authors will be included in the prize. If you post as anonymous or as a guest, please make sure we have an email address to contact you should you win. http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com/

~~~
By the way, Your Place or Mine is published under D.S. Craver because this is a highly sensual read - not what I have written in the past. It’s tasteful but just wanted to make sure you won’t be offended if you expect a sweet read.

BLURB:
Sydney Smith decides it’s time to move out of her tiny apartment and become a home owner. Blake Smith, no relation and a real hottie, also wants to see the duplex. A mix-up has them viewing it together. They both love the house. There’s also some sparks flying between the two of them, or is Sydney the only one feeling that way? A highly sensual story of fun, home-buying, and more…

EXCERPT:
After ordering their steak dinners, Sydney said, “Don’t keep me in suspense any longer. I’m guessing your proposition has something to do with you saying we have a lot in common.”

He exhaled a deep breath. “Promise you won’t leave after I tell you what I thought we could do about the house.”

“I’ll stay. I don’t want you to eat my steak.”

He grinned. “That’s a good reason. When I got my first real job─”

“What was your job?”

“I did an internship in civil engineering so had a job right after college.” He took a drink of his beer. “Three friends and I decided to buy a house together. I was thinking that’s what we could do. We can buy the duplex together. Of course, we need to learn more about each other before we even decide if buying the house will work for us.”

Whoa. Buy a house with Mr. Hottie Engineer. Could she sleep under the same roof, even though he’d be on the other side? She pulled the paper holder off her silverware and napkin. “You don’t waste time. We just met. I don’t─”

“I should’ve mentioned we’ll keep our relationship platonic which should be easy enough to do with the house built for two families.”

Staring at his lips, she wondered how Blake could look sexy while saying the word platonic. And why had he even mentioned anything about their relationship? Did he want one with her? “Hey, what’s this all about? Platonic relationship. Where did that come from? You can’t assume I’d want to sleep with you just because we bought the duplex together.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry. It came out wrong. I was afraid you’d think my proposition included that. I’m stupid, okay.”

“You’re serious about this business arrangement? You really think we should buy the dream house together?”

He nodded. “We both like it and want it so I thought this might be a possibility. I figured you don’t have a significant other right now since you didn’t bring anyone with you to look at the house.”

She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “You’re right. I don’t have any special guy in my life. My boyfriend dumped me by a text. We’d dated less than two months, but still I don’t like that he couldn’t tell me in person, or call me to tell me it was over. But that’s okay. I’m going to get a column out of it and tell how rude it is to break up with someone by texting them.”

“I agree. You’re better off without him. I want to read your column. What’s the name of it?”

“Sydney’s Sassy Suggestions to Singles.” When another idea occurred to her for an article, she drummed her fingers on the table. “Even though I don’t think much of texting to break off a relationship, email breakup can be a good thing. It offers more privacy to the person being dumped. But an email breakup should always give an offer of a face-to-face meeting if he-or-she-who-was dumped wanted one. I’ll have to write about different ways to breakup in my column.”
~~~~
Available here for $2.99:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18253
http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/your-place-or-mine/11722097
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Place-or-Mine-ebook/dp/B003UV8ZHQ/