Sharon Saracino
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The Adventure Continues-LIFE AFTER DEATH!

12/28/2013

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It's coming, it's coming!  I'm so happy to share Max Logan's next adventure in LIFE AFTER DEATH!
WHAT? You say you missed the beginning of Max's story in DEATH BENEFITS? Well, how in the heck did that happen? No worries! Check it out the links at the bottom of the page :)

LIFE AFTER DEATH
After artfully arbitrating her return from the dead, Max Logan considers her experience with the afterlife a thing of the past. But Max’s success as a temporary Superintendent of Spiritual Impediment was no accident as she discovers when the permanent SSI shows up in the middle of the night to reveal that Max has a genetic predisposition to a supernatural calling. When Max’s ex-husband and current boyfriend, Roger-the-Proctologist is lost in a plane crash due to an inept Reaper gone rogue, Max has no choice but to venture back into the sweet hereafter in an attempt to rescue him. Throw in a freak blizzard, a hot Grim Reaper, and the last person on Earth Max would choose to save, and Max will be lucky to escape before her time runs out and she becomes a permanent resident of the Between.


Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Release Date: January 1, 2014

Excerpt:
     The annoying luminosity I’d mistaken for the early afternoon sunlight was, in fact, coming from Alicia who, when the mood struck her, could glow like a radioactive Christmas tree. On steroids. I hadn’t seen or heard from her since that happy day months ago when I’d been relieved of my duties as SSI. It was a temporary position I’d been obligated to assume to regain my status among the living after my untimely Death in Error (D.I.E.) caused by an overeager Grim Reaper in Training (G.R.I.T). Turns out the bureaucrats in the afterlife are quite enamored with acronyms. Who knew? Anyway, I hadn’t seen Alicia in all this time, and frankly, I hadn’t exactly been complaining. Not that I had anything against Alicia personally, it was only that I preferred to relegate that period of my life—or death, depending on how I chose to look at it on any given day—to the been-there-done-that file. I mean, c’mon, wouldn’t you? I’d never shared my life after death after life experience with anyone; not even Roger. First of all, even I wasn’t completely convinced the entire episode was real after the fact. In the first place, my black Italian marble shower with the Chastings Corque Corian Square Ceiling Mount Showerhead and I came together
quite dramatically in a completely involuntary manner that cracked my skull hard enough to scramble my brain into a convincing three- dimensional hallucination that could be misinterpreted as a near death experience. Secondly, who in their right mind would believe me? Sure, I’d emerged from the experience a kinder and gentler Max Logan, filled with insight and forgiveness, ready to own up to my own part in the misery that had become my everyday existence, but those who knew
me best were far more likely to attribute it to a temporary psychotic break than any supernatural intervention. 

“Alicia, I’m going back to sleep for at least the next five hours. I’m returning to the place where I’m always thin, never run out of money, and am sitting on a private beach with hot cabana boys who bring me exotic cocktails with little paper umbrellas. Do not attempt to wake me again or my Teddy Bear will attack,” I threatened in a sleep-thickened voice. 
 
“You don’t have a Teddy Bear,” my uninvited visitor pointed out reasonably. 
  
“Totally irrelevant, Glow Girl. Come back later.” 
 
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About Sharon

Sharon Saracino resides in the anthracite coal country of Pennsylvania with her long suffering husband, funny and talented son, and two insane dogs. When she is not reading, writing, or enjoying photography and genealogy, she brews limoncello, dreams of living in Italy, and works as a Certified Registered Rehabilitation Nurse.


All roads lead to happily ever after, some just have a few unexpected turns!

 WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOODREADS   TWITTER



You say you missed the beginning of Max's story in DEATH BENEFITS? Well, how in the heck did that happen? No worries! Check it out here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Whiskey Creek Press
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THE WITCH'S THIEF-FREE on KINDLE!

12/16/2013

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The Witch’s Thief  

FREE on Kindle December 17-21!

To save her sister’s life, Julia Grey seeks a spell hidden somewhere within Merriweather Manor. Her position as a lady's companion affords her the freedom to search the house. But time is running out. The necromancer she's bargained with is growing impatient. And an unexpected appearance of a man from her past
makes matters worse in an already complicated situation.

Basil Merriweather returns to England after ten years abroad to discover his childhood sweetheart living in his home. But, he's no longer the carefree man of his youth and she's hiding something--deadly secrets Basil vows to uncover even as he hides a dark secret of his own.

While neither Basil nor Julia will trust in the other, their hearts speak a truer language.  In a grand attempt to save Julia's sister and Basil's life, the two must finally confess sinister truths. Will their admissions help or hinder any future they may have together? Or will the necromancer destroy all in a vile attempt at revenge.


 

Excerpt:
 "What are you doing?" 

He ignored her frantic questioning. Instead, he blocked out the sound of her voice and raised his arms into the air at his sides, his fingers splayed out as he extended his senses to scan the area. His power eased out, like extensions of his fingertips, stretching into the corners of the room, seeking, searching for the source of the magic he sensed.
 
It was here...somewhere. 

He had sensed it earlier on his arrival, but being that his aunt and siblings practiced magic on a regular basis he'd never given it a second thought. 

This room, however, stank with it. He smelled the odor, something strangely like
sulfur... 

"A spell has been cast in this room," he muttered. A strange spell. Odd. A spell he'd never sensed before, something new. It felt off is some way he couldn't explain. Who would be working new magic of this kind in his home? And, in this room in particular. Aunt Petunia worked her spells in the privacy of her rooms upstairs, or sometimes in the gardens, but never in this room. And his siblings each, practiced in their own private settings, places where they could concentrate without the threat of being disturbed. A fairly difficult task with the number of people normally in residence at Merriweather Manor. 

He took a step closer to the center of the room where he sensed a surge of power. He shivered as coldness seeped into his skin. It wrapped around his arm, sinking into his flesh, right down to the bone. This was not right. 

The magic in his house was always full of warmth and gentleness. Goodness and love. This magic chilled him to the bone. His heart skipped a beat. There was fear, terror, pain. This spell was full of darkness. 

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About the author:

Tricia Schneider is a paranormal and gothic romance author. She worked as an Assistant
Manager at a bookstore for several years. Now she writes full-time while raising
her 3 young children in the coal region of Pennsylvania. 
 
For more information about her books:
Website: http://www.triciaschneider.com
Blog: http://www.shadowsofromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/triciaschneider
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/triciaschneider 




To buy her books:
The Wild Rose Press:
 http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5437
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Thief-Tricia-Schneider-ebook/dp/B00G8HXMJK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386035934&sr=1-1&keywords=the+witch%27s+thief


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Contemporary Romance with a Dash of Suspense – Untangle My Heart by Maria K. Alexander

12/15/2013

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I'd like to welcome fellow The Wild Rose Press author Maria K. Alexander to the blog to talk about her new release Untangle My Heart. Welcome, Maria!

I want to thank Sharon for allowing me to visit and share a little about my contemporary romance, Untangle My Heart.

When I started writing, I hadn’t intended to write a story with a suspense secondary theme, but that’s just what happened as I developed the
plot for Untangle My Heart. Kate DiFrancesco’s life was turned upside down by a tragic event in her past. It’s years later and while she’s done her best to move on with her life, her past has come back to haunt her. Now she finds herself stalked by a psycho hell-bent on making her pay for causing the death of his brother. If that isn’t bad enough, she’s working alongside her summer-fling-turned-boss to renovate her family’s trattoria. Edward Weston’s distractingly good looks and British accent may have always gotten him the girl in the past—including her—but Kate’s determined to keep him at arm’s length. But when danger lurks, will she be able to set aside her pride and trust him to help her as well as those she cares about most?

I hope you’ll enjoy a blurb and excerpt that shows the hot chemistry between these two opposites attract characters.

Blurb

When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell around her heart.

Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust British family, and to himself. Working alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first time, he wants more than a one-night stand.

When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have.

 Excerpt

“You’re safe now. He’s gone.” Edward pulled her to him. “Who is he? He called you sis. I haven’t met him, but I know that’s not
Nick.”

She pulled back, feeling in control now. “That’s my former brother-in-law, Salvatore DiSilva, Mario’s brother. Apparently, he just got out of prison.”

 “What did he want with you? Why did he say you’d pay for what you did?”

 “Sal was in jail when Mario was killed. He hadn’t witnessed the slow demise of his brother and probably picked up whatever he knew of the case from the papers or his contacts on the outside, who I’m sure didn’t put the fault on Mario.”

 “So he blames you for his brother’s death?”

“It appears so. He was also looking for a booty call.” She shuddered at the thought of the man even touching her.

Edward paled, but behind it sparked the heat of anger, which he quickly replaced with concern. She placed a hand on his forearm. “It’s okay now. Sal’s gone and it’s over.”

“Are you mad? Did you see his face? It’s far from over.”

“I’ll talk to Nick. He’ll know what to do.”

“I won’t have this nutter threatening or hurting you.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m not your responsibility to protect.”

“Maybe not but you have it.”

“Even if I don’t want it?”

“Yes. Let’s go find Lucas and the others.”
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Author Bio

A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love. 

Maria blogs and shares her writing journey with her critique partners at: http://thevioletfemmes.com.

When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.




You can keep in touch with Maria at:
 Website: http://mariakalexander.com
 The Violet Femmes Blog: http://thevioletfemmes.com
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MKAlexander1
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-K-Alexander-Author/201236689917319
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mariakalexander


You can buy Untangle My Heart at:
 For Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00GVKRLOG
 In Print from The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/InzITZ


 

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Spotlight-DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE

12/3/2013

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I am so very pleased to welcome friend and MRW chapter-mate, the immensely talented Stephanie Dray, to feature the  final installment of her historical fantasy trilogy featuring the daughter of Cleopatra, Cleopatra Selene. If you love historical fiction, no one does it quite like Stephanie Dray! Treat yourself to Daughters of the Nile as well the first two books in the trilogy...trust me, you'll be so very glad you did!

Daughters of the Nile slide

From critically acclaimed historical fantasy author, Stephanie Dray comes the long-awaited new tale based on the true story of Cleopatra's daughter.

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

Read the Reviews

"A stirring story of a proud, beautiful, intelligent woman whom a 21st century reader can empathize with. Dray's crisp, lush prose brings Selene and her world to life." ~RT Book Reviews

"The boldest, and most brilliant story arc Dray has penned..." ~Modge Podge Reviews

"If you love historical fiction and magical realism, these books are for you." ~A Bookish Affair

Read an Excerpt

Below me, six black Egyptian cobras dance on their tails, swaying. I watch their scaled hoods spread wide like the uraeus on the crown of Egypt. Even from this height, I'm paralyzed by the sight of the asps, their forked tongues flickering out between deadly fangs. I don't notice that I'm gripping the balustrade until my knuckles have gone white, all my effort concentrated upon not swooning and falling to my death. And I would swoon if I were not so filled with rage. Someone has arranged for this. Someone who knows what haunts me. Someone who wants to send me a message and make this occasion a moment of dread. My husband, the king must know it, for he calls down, "That's enough. We've seen enough of the snake charmer!" There is commotion below, some upset at having displeased us. Then Chryssa hisses, "Who could think it a good idea to honor the daughter of Cleopatra by coaxing asps from baskets of figs?" The story the world tells of my mother's suicide is that she cheated the emperor of his conquest by plunging her hand into a basket where a venomous serpent lay in wait. A legend only, some say, for the serpent was never found. But I was there. I brought her that basket. She was the one bitten but the poison lingers in my blood to this day. I can still remember the scent of figs in my nostrils, lush and sweet. The dark god Anubis was embroidered into the woven reeds of the basket, the weight of death heavy in my arms. I can still see my mother reach her hand into that basket, surrendering her life so that her children might go on without her. And I have gone on without her. I have survived too much to be terrorized by the emperor's agents or whoever else is responsible for this. If it is a message, a warning from my enemies, I have already allowed them too much of a victory by showing any reaction at all. So I adopt as serene a mask as possible. My daughter blinks her big blue eyes, seeing past my facade. "Are you frightened, Mother? They cannot bite us from there. The snakes are very far away." I get my legs under me, bitterness on my tongue. "Oh, but they're never far enough away."

Daughters of the Nile cover

Available now in print and e-book!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads

Available now in print and e-book!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads


Stephanie Dray Headshot

STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling, multi-published, award-winning author of historical women’s fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into more than six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on the consequences of Egypt's ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has-to the consternation of her devoted husband-collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.
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