“You can’t sit down to write, until you stand up to live.”
Tag Archives: #romance
AuThursday – Cass Scotka
New Release – Seasons in the Dark Anthology
My short story “Chill of the Reaper” will be in the BisMan Writers Guild’s Seasons in the Dark Anthology. This is my second short story in an Anthology, but my first with The BisMan Writers Guild. Here’s some more information.
Title: Chill of the Reaper part of the “Seasons in the Dark” Anthology
Author: Tina Holland
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2022
Publisher: BisMan Writers Guild
Blurb:
Daredevil Daisy Heyer is dead, stuck on earth, and avoiding a persistent reaper who’s been chasing her through the centuries. Being a ghost sucks but it’s better than hell. Daisy had been a bad girl in the Wild West and she has no guarantee which direction the reaper will take her.
Simon Travers has been a reaper for over one hundred and twenty-five years. He’s successfully brought every soul to heaven or hell, except Daisy Heyer. She was his first and the one that got away. He has time though, because once dead there is no going back.
After a spell is cast making Daisy flesh and blood, will she stay on earth or feel the Chill of the Reaper?
Excerpt:
Daisy woke with a kink in her neck. Weird. She stretched on the sofa. Wait! She didn’t sleep or get kinks. She shot straight up. Too fast, she realized, when a pounding started in her head. She placed her left hand on her temple, willing it to stop. “Collette!”
Colette came running down the basement stairs. “Holy craft. You’re flesh and blood.”
Daisy didn’t bother to hide her sarcasm. “Really? I hadn’t noticed. What did you do?”
Colette looked at the beige carpet as if fascinated by a non-existent pattern.
Daisy tapped her boot on the carpet. “Well?”
The witch pinched her index finger and thumb together. “I may have tweaked Nana’s spell a bit.”
She threw her hands up. “A bit!?”
Colette crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “I just wanted you to find true love.”
“True love?” Daisy suddenly felt a great desire to go back to sleep.
“Yeah. I’ve given you forty-eight hours in mortal form.”
“Collette, I haven’t been mortal in a hundred and twenty-five years. What the hell am I supposed to do in two days?” She was suddenly anxious to return to her former self.
“Daisy, if you find true love, your soul won’t be bound for hell.”
“I get into heaven?” Could she after all these years?
“I’m not a hundred percent certain, but my research clearly indicated a soul could not go to hell if it felt love.”
“Anything to not go to hell.” Daisy hadn’t lived the best life. She had been an independent woman of the west and rather than earn money in easier ways, she’d taken to a life of crime. “Okay, so how do I find true love?”
“Well, first we need to change your wardrobe.”
Daisy looked down. She was wearing the clothes she’d died in, with a crimson starburst pattern on her chest and her six-shooter strapped to her hip. A change was definitely in order. “I’ve always wanted to be a blonde.”
Buy Links: Amazon
About the Author:
Tina studied Journalism at University and then went to work for a fortune 500 company working in Logistics for over 20 years. She now writes full-time and helps her husband run his Crop Dusting business in the summer months. When she’s not writing she likes to travel, read and spend time with her critters.
Social Media Links:
Website – www.tinaholland.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/author.tina.holland
Twitter – https://twitter.com/haveubeenaughty
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/tina_holland
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/haveubeenaughty
AuThursday – V. Mull
JUST DO IT – Shia LaBeouf. It was the first thing to come to mind, to be honest!

AuThursday -C.N. Mobberly
This is a scene from the second book in my series. It is a sex scene, so be warned about the language and content.
AuThursday – Cass Scotka
Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I’m a born and bred military brat turned military wife, a Texas Longhorn forever, and California is my soul’s home. I have a clinical doctorate in Audiology and by day work for a global hearing amplification company. By night, once my kiddos are in bed, I read, write, and create new worlds. I was chosen for PitchWars in 2016, landed my agent with a different manuscript in 2019, and my debut novel REVOLUTIONARY LOVE came out August 23, 2021. I’m also a die-hard Oxford comma supporter and will never give it up!
How do you make time to write?
I don’t sleep! Kidding…kind of. I do primarily write in the evenings after my kids are in bed. I’m not much of a morning person. I also take time on weekends to carve out a few hours and when I take the occasional work trip (pre-pandemic) I also snag the extra alone time for writing, too.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes!! I’m a pantser by nature so writer’s block can be a bit tricky. I’ve learned to use a very loose outline to help have at least a vague idea where I’m going with a story, and I’ve also learned it’s okay to skip sections or simply put [INSERT SCENE HERE] and circle back later. The main thing to keep in mind is don’t let it stop you from finishing your story!
Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.
I write Romance! Contemporary, paranormal, historical – as long as it has love and an HEA I’m here for it! My debut novel is a historical romance set during the American Revolutionary War, I have a contemporary romance on sub, and am drafting a romance with light paranormal elements. My PitchWars manuscript is a YA paranormal romance that I hope will one day see bookshelves, too. I am a sucker for a good love story and I *have* to have a happy ending! Uncertain or sad endings are not my jam. I go into writing (and reading!) with the excitement of seeing how my MCs are going end up happily together!
How are you publishing your recent book and why?
My first book was published through Champagne Book Group and it was a great experience! As with many authors, I hope to land a deal with one of the big five and their imprints one day, but the Indie route was great for having easy and quick communication, one-on-one attention and mentoring, and CBG has been a great group to launch with!
Are you an Introvert or Extrovert? How does this affect your work?
Introvert for sure! Writing is a great way for me to recharge and have alone time while still getting the vibes of spending time with friends. I always know I’m writing the right plot idea when my characters feel real to me and I look forward to my writing time to see what happens next!
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” – Maya Angelou
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Keep writing!! Keep writing, keep querying, and keep participating in mentor contests and Twitter parties. Keep going with all the things and YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!
Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?
Website/Blog: https://www.cassscotka.com
Twitter: @CScotka; https://twitter.com/CScotka
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cass.scotka/
Instagram: @cassscotkawrites; https://www.instagram.com/cassscotkawrites/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2129915.Cass_Scotka
Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?
“This world?” A small shake of her head set the moonlight shimmering in her dark tresses. “As if we are living in two different places.”
His voice turned hard. “We are. You have no idea what I’ve seen. What I’ve done in this blasted war.” He released her arm and looked away, afraid his sins would somehow show on his face.
She touched his shoulder, but he refused to meet her eyes. “And you’ve no idea what I’ve seen and endured. The British soldiers in New York…they are not kind or decent men. I’ve seen how prisoners are treated. I’ve firsthand experience in how they treat women. Whatever you’ve done, the soldiers I know you’ve killed in battle, is all for the greater good of America.”
He spun back to her, eyes flashing. “You don’t know what I’ve done! I murder men, Verity. Murder. Not fight in battle, but sit atop hills and cliffs three hundred yards away with my long rifle and shoot men without warning. They have no means to fight back against me. They never see me coming. My sharpshooting skills are exceptional and I’ve been singled out as Washington’s private killer.” His chest heaved from the force of his breathing. Hands shaking with rage and regret, he balled them into fists. “Go to bed.”
Stay. God, he wanted her to stay, but he’d stain her sweet innocence. He wasn’t worthy of her attention. Not when she discovered—
“Oh, you are too hardheaded!” She snarled with all the ire of a wet kitten. Plunking her hands on her hips, she scowled. Theo choked back his guffaw at the indignation she displayed. Even angry, she was delightfully charming. Her jaw clenched tighter, brows lowered a fraction more, and her eyes burned.
Unease stirred within him. Perhaps he’d underestimated her vexation. “Don’t you dare patronize me.” She stepped closer so they were chest to chest. Her chin tilted up to keep their stares locked. “You believe General Washington is so morally corrupt he’d use someone as a trained killer on a whim?”
“No, but—”
She sliced a hand through the air. “Tell me, these men you’ve shot from afar, were they key soldiers leading troops into battle?”
“Yes, but—”
She poked a finger into his chest. “Did their deaths mean swift victories for the Continental Army without additional bloodshed?”
“Most of the time, but—”
“Then you saved lives, you daft man! By working with Washington to choose when and whom to target, you are saving countless American and British soldiers from death on the battlefield. I spent one dinner with the general and I know without qualms he is the very best of men. His Excellency would not be our chosen leader if he did not inspire unwavering trust in his decisions for the good of our country.”
Theo blinked while his mind whirled over her words. A few points were fair, but still these men did not have the hope of fighting back against him. They did not see their deaths coming at his hands. “They could not fight back! The soldiers I’ve murdered did not even know from which direction death struck.”
A frustrated growl filled the air and Verity stamped her foot. “As is so for most of us. Not everyone is fortuitous enough to see Death approach and have an option to fight back. People die every day and there is nothing to stop it. My father is proof. Redcoats dragged him from our field without warning. Tortured him for information. Beat him when he refused to pledge allegiance to the king. Hanged him and burned our home to the ground. All while I cried and begged for mercy. The only mercy I found was when they left me to spread the news of what happens to so-called traitors.” Theo’s eyes grew round as horror swept through him. The strength she held inside her tiny frame. It shamed him further to think of how he hid from afar behind his gun. His teeth ground together. He was a worthless coward. A worthless coward who could not provide her the life she so deserved.
Her face softened. Shaking her head, she lifted a hand to his cheek. “You cannot blame yourself. No matter what your mind tells you, you are a good man.”
Theo jerked his head away from her touch, afraid to sully her. “You are too naive, Verity.”
“Stop treating me as a child. I am a full-grown woman, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Before he registered it, Theo reached out and swept her into his arms so their bodies touched from chest to thigh. “I am all too aware you are no longer a child.” He shifted his hips against her belly and she gasped as his erection pressed
there. “There is no mistaking your lush female curves.”
Their eyes locked and held. In the moonlight, he saw her pupils enlarge, her pulse flutter at her throat, and the small parting of her lips as her breathing quickened. Her body softened and relaxed into his embrace. “Theo,” she whispered and the tip of her tongue peeked out to wet her lips.
FFL – How should I publish my Regency?
New Release – Unleashed by the Moon by L.P. Dover
Title: Unleashed
by the Moon
Author: L.P.
Dover
Genre: Paranormal
Romance
Model: Chase
Ketron
Cover Designer:
RBA Designs
Editor: Amy
Briggs
Publication
Date: Mar. 30th, 2021
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Blurb:
Pulse-pounding action meets smoldering romance in Unleashed by the Moon, the latest masterpiece by New York Times and USA Today best-selling author L.P. Dover that is sure to leave you howling for more!
Desired by many.
Longing for one.
As the last royal arctic female, shifters across the country are sniffing for the chance to be the lucky male mated to Faith. A bond with her would elevate her chosen to the Royal pack, allowing them to tap into unimaginable power.
But Faith’s heart has already been claimed.
Hidden among the Great Plains pack, she finds the missing piece of her soul in Tate. But this love comes with a fatal risk. If their feelings are discovered, a price will be put on Tate’s head. At the next full moon, their bond can be fulfilled. Until then, they wait…
Little do they know, Killian Vilkas is preparing to manipulate matters to further his own twisted agenda. Orchestrating a vicious tournament, he pits shifters against one another in battles to try their luck at winning Faith’s hand.
Loyalties will be tested. Bonds broken by crushing betrayal. When the face of the silvery moon rises, will love stand victorious? Or fall beneath the snapping jaws of merciless ambition?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Everything’s sweeter in the South has always been her mantra and she lives by it, whether it’s with her writing or in her everyday life. Maybe that’s why she’s seriously addicted to chocolate.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a children’s book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but she’s also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why you’ll never see her without a smile on her face.
Author Links:
Facebook | Facebook Group | Website | Twitter
Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | Email | Newsletter | Bookbub
CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD FROM LP DOVER!
New Release – Black Velvet and Lace by Heather Lauren




Saturday Spotlight – The Courtesan of Constantinople
Alchemists of Archangel dropped on Tuesday December 29th, if you like Steampunk Romance you might like my Gaslamp Romance Series Archangel Revolution. Here is some more information about the first book.
Title: The Courtesan of Constantinople
Series: Archangel Revolution Book 1
Genre: Gaslamp Romance
Author: Tina Holland
Release Date: November 10th, 2020
Publisher: Book Boutiques
Editor: Misti Moyer
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Designs
Blurb:
Laurel Gunn’s freedom and body were traded for queen and country following her husband’s death on the battlefield. Laurel Gunn is a courtesan, a spy, and a fae. Like most Fae, she is not free.
Doctor Benjamin Gunn is sent to investigate a body for clues as to the Cleaver’s identity. Ben Gunn has been keeping secrets and is unsure if he can reveal what creature he is to Laurel, and why he is among the living.
Constantinople, also known as the Global City, is filled with politicians, espionage, and magic. In a world of spies, not everyone is who they seem, but those seeking justice aren’t even human. Laurel must tread carefully as allies become foes and her very fate lies with England’s Queen.
Excerpt:
“Did you mean what you said about my being your only lover?” Ben asked. He simply had to know. The thought of spending every night with her would be more than pleasurable. She had a way of chasing away his nightmares.
“You think I lie?” Laurel asked.
“No, I simply wonder why me? You could have any man here.” He leaned in and breathed against her ear.
“Don’t you understand, husband?” She pulled back. The hurt was evident in her liquid brown eyes.
“I believe I do, but I want to be clear.” Ben didn’t know why he risked her safety to satisfy his own heart. He seemed helpless around this woman. Ben wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt her. Those damnable blackouts made him uncertain.
Laurel drew closer to him, her lips were close, brushing his ear as she cooed,“Ben, you must know, I still love you.” Without warning, she kissed him. In front of the table at large and her current lover, she kissed him.
Her kiss was a simple touch of the lips, but to him, the gesture conveyed much more. A pink stain spread over her cheeks. Was she embarrassed or did she feel the same longing in her soul?