#Romance + #Ghosts for #July4th! #4thofJulyWeekend #mustread! #CapeCod

Happy 4th of July weekend!  Here on Cape Cod, the summer season officially kicks off this weekend, and things get a bit hectic!  This year, we actually don't have a house full of guests, but we've still made plans for the beach, cookouts, and fireworks.  And while on the beach, I'll be doing my favorite thing - reading!  If you need a great page-turning beach read for the holiday, try GULL HARBOR - a spooky ghost mystery mixed with steamy second-chance romance, set here on Cape Cod's National Seashore.

A dangerous ghost & an ex-boyfriend await Claire in
Cape Cod's GULL HARBOR...
A #1 Kindle Bestseller!

To get into the "spirit" of the weekend (haha, see what I did there?), I'm posting a never-before-posted excerpt from the book - part of a scene where Max and Claire stop fighting their attraction and enjoy a picnic on the beach.  Max still can't share his reasons for abandoning her so long ago, but psychic medium Claire is dealing with a very disturbing haunting, and she finds herself leaning on her former boyfriend for support.  And Max still feels the need to take care of her, even after all these years - so he's brought lunch for her from the local tavern he owns.  This scene sets up their date for the 4th of July - and there are plenty of fireworks on that night - overhead and between the two former lovers!  Enjoy and Happy 4th :)

           “A picnic on the beach is perfect.  It’s better than dinner and a movie.”

            He held out his glass, touching it to hers.  “To our first date.”  His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses.  “That sounds strange, given our history.”

            She smiled as she sipped.  “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”

            “How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night.  I know you’ll be at Dan’s cook-out for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so.  Can I come and steal you away?”  He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin.  “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake.  It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”

            A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her.  How was it that this man aroused her so?  She could feel the sexual tension between them, thick and heady.  “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed cheeks.  

And then, later, after the fireworks display, more heat:

Steamy Romance + Spooky Suspense makes a perfect weekend read!

Want to keep reading?  Links are below!

KINDLE

NOOK

IPAD

#Hyannis Harbor, #Books, Bingo, + Bulls ~ Busy #amwriting Month!

Connecting with Mrs. Cape Cod
and signing books for her at
Shopping & Bingo Night

My life is always a bit crazy, but things have been so unusually hectic since mid-April that I haven't had much time to post here.  But I did want to share some of the pictures from the events I've participated in, now that I have a little more time.  In May and June, I signed books at a monthly Shopping & Bingo Night which helps raise money for different charities.  I met a lot of people, including Mrs. Cape Cod (now Mrs. Massachusetts!), and I was thrilled when she purchased all 4 of my books.  I was even more excited to hear how much she loved GULL HARBOR, the first one she decided to read, the next day on social media--that's the type of thing that makes an author's day!

Woo hoo!  This is why I write, to pull people into exciting stories that keep
the pages turning and provide entertainment ...hearing things like this makes my day!

Saw this big boy as I walked across
campus at orientation - the campus at
UNH is absolutely beautiful

In June, my oldest son graduated from high school, which was a joyous occasion but also bittersweet--how can he be leaving home in the fall?  But we're proud to be sending him to the University of New Hampshire, home of the Wildcats and apparently this snapping turtle, which I came across as I was walking through campus during the 2-day orientation.

Katie, Kate, and myself at our Shanty at Hyannis Harbor

Before our trip to NH for orientation, I joined two other author friends for a 3-day book signing at the Artist Shanties at Hyannis Harbor.  We did this last year, and had such fun we decided to do it again.  We camped out at our Shanty from 11 am to 8 or 9 pm all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, chatting with locals and visitors enjoying the Harbor or returning from ferry trips to Martha's Vineyard and Hyannis. It was three long days, but we had a lot of laughs, and also connected with other local artists and crafters.

The view of Hyannis Harbor from the Shanties

While doing all this, I was also teaching my fitness classes every morning, as well as my current writing class which meets once a week.  I kept telling myself my vacation was on the horizon, if I could just make it!  Finally, it was here...my annual trip to Bethany Beach, Delaware, for a long weekend with my best friends from high school. We've been doing Girls Weekend there each summer since 2011, and it's become a wonderful tradition.  In the past, I've also signed books at the local book store while there, but this year, I decided I needed to just relax.  I'm so glad, too, because the Saturday I usually do the book signing turned out to be the new date for the 21st Dewey Beach Running of the Bulls.  A friend of one of the girls in our group actually started this event, twenty-one years ago, after a trip to Spain.  This Running of the Bulls does not involve any real animals, but rather two guys in a bull costume, escorted by a matador and lifeguards, chasing people down the beach.  Almost everyone wears a red bandanna and either a red or white shirt, although some people dress in more elaborate costumes.  A popular bar, the Starboard, sponsors the event, and it's become so popular crowds now rival any Spring Break beach bash.  The entire parking lot is shut down to make room for a stage, the bands, and of course all the partiers.  It was a crazy, fun-filled day, complete with even a fly-over by the National Guard.

Gearing up at The Starboard before chasing the bull

Now I'm home again, struggling to settle back into my routine, but glad the next few weeks are going to be much slower-paced.  I'm hoping to dive back into my unfinished manuscript for Novel #5, catch up on my reading, get some work done in the garden...and make time in between for a few naps!  

I miss my BFFs already...it was especially poignant to get together after
a few of our firstborn kids just graduated high school, and know that our
friendship is still going strong after our own high school years, 30 years ago!

"Haunting. Forbidden. Dangerously Sexy." 5* #Review! #FridayReads

With so many books out there, reviews can be tough to get, so I'm absolutely thrilled to have been reviewed at Nom de Plume, and positively over the moon to read such a fabulous review of Haunted Souls!  "Haunted Souls emanates everything a 5* read should be!"

A little teaser from one of my favorite scenes!

Haunted Souls is a steamy romance with a ghost mystery, "the perfect balance between saucy and spooky, and contemporary and thrilling.  Oooooo the deliciousness!"

Read the full review here!  Nom de Plume's Review of Haunted Souls

Haunted Souls was voted one of the Top 3 Reads of 2016 at Read Free.ly!

You can find Haunted Souls on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes, and in print as well, so grab a steamy romance mixed with haunting suspense for your weekend read!  

"Layer upon layer of delicious tension...OOOOOO gawd this is one heck of a steamy romance!"

Signing #Books in #Falmouth! #CapeCod Events

Signing books with my author friends at our
Shanty along Hyannis Harbor...a 3 day event!

I have one more event coming up to finish off a crazy haze of busy days! For 9 hours a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I signed books and chatted with visitors to Hyannis, as one of the local authors, artists, & crafters showcasing their work in the Hyannis Harbor Artist Shanties.  It was a lot of fun, but very tiring after three long days in the sun.  Then, instead of settling back into my usual routine on Monday morning, I was off to New Hampshire, for a two-day orientation for my son's college.  So many information sessions have my mind reeling.  But as I sit in a dorm room writing this, I feel like I have a good handle on all the things we have to do to get ready for freshman year.  When I return home tomorrow night, it will be a quick turnaround to get back to Hyannis for Week 2 of my Fiction Writing and Publication Class.  

Then, this Wednesday, June 14th, I'll be participating in a Bingo Night Fundraiser in Falmouth.  This is a monthly event, and I participated last month for the first time and had a blast!  The suggested donation is $20 (proceeds to the March of Dimes ~ March for Babies [Team Noah and Chase] and Boston Children's Hospital Give a Smile campaign this month), and that gets you 20 games (wear purple for a bonus card!). Complimentary light appetizers, dinner and desserts available for order, and a cash bar too!

Where do I fit in?  There are a whole bunch of local artists and vendors setting up for shopping before and in between the games, and we've all donated to the cause as well as offered prizes for raffles.  The complete list of vendors is below, so if you're in the area, please consider stopping by!  

Wednesday, June 14th

5:30 to 9:30 at the Holiday Inn Cape Cod
291 Jones Road Falmouth

Shop with local artists and vendors:

PartyLite, LuLaRoe by Brooke, Thirty One, The Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Athena’s, Younique, Paparazzi Jewelry, Ruby Ribbon, Reine’s Creations, Nanny’s Knits, Pruvit, Tupperware, Dragonfly Dreams, Tastefully Simple, Cape and Island Candle Co., Kathryn Knight Books, Scentsy, It Works, Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski, Limelight by Alcone, Sophia’s Crafts, Washashore Whimsy, Cape Cod Kettle Corn, LuLaRoe by Stacy, Chloe’s Coastal Creations, Carole’s Jewelry Design & MORE!

Each Bingo Game winner scores a prize donated from one
of the vendors...what will my basket be this month?

Thursday...REST!

Multi-Author #Book Signing! #Hyannis Harbor #CapeCod

Me, Katie, & Kate (K.R.) ~ 3 Ks get confusing!

We're gearing up for another weekend-long book signing! I’ll be signing books all weekend at the Hyannis Artist Shanties at Hyannis Harbor with two other Cape Cod authors, Katie O’Sullivan and K.R. Conway.  Between the three of us, we have a dozen titles for adults and teens, in genres including romance, paranormal suspense, urban fantasy, and young adult.  So if you’re in the Cape Cod area, stop by to grab some new summer reads!  We’ll be there in our shanty on Ocean Street (across from The Black Cat Restaurant) from 11 am – 8 pm on Friday, June 9, Saturday June 10, and Sunday, June 11.

The Artist Shanties are a group of cute little stand-alone “studios” right along the water.  Offerings vary by weekend, and all items available are handmade or handcrafted by the artist.  The site has a link to all the artists and their work, along with the dates they’ll be there.

We had a blast last year and we're looking forward to another fun weekend! Many of our books are set on Cape Cod, including my latest release, Haunted Souls, a steamy romance mixed with a ghost mystery, set in historic Barnstable Village.  In fact, the Old Jail House on Rt. 6A, considered actively haunted, served as the initial inspiration for the story.

My other romance/ghost story set on Cape Cod is Gull Harbor, which has been a #1 Kindle Bestseller on several occasions.  While Gull Harbor is a fictional town, I based it on Wellfleet, a beautiful area with kettle ponds and a coast line that's part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  

If you're in the area, come by and visit us, and check out all the literary and artistic creations offered by Cape Cod locals!

SILVER LAKE on the #Amazon "99 Romances for #99c Each" #KindleDeals

A #1 Kindle Bestseller!

My debut novel, a reunion romance/ghost mystery, has a special place in my heart, since it was my first book and I lived with the story--and the characters--in my head for years before I even wrote a single word.  Silver Lake was first published in 2012 by The Wild Rose Press, and then the electronic rights were acquired by Amazon's traditional publishing house for their Encore imprint several years later.  

This has been wonderful for Silver Lake's visibility, as Amazon occasionally drops the price for a temporary sale and features the title as one of their Kindle deals.  I noticed a big bump in sales this weekend, and upon investigation, I discovered Silver Lake is only 99 cents right now (a big savings from the usual $3.99 price) AND it's being featured as one of "99 Romances for 99 cents Each" on the Kindle Book Deals Homepage!

As I mentioned, Silver Lake is probably best described as "Paranormal Romantic Suspense"--it's a second chance romance between two friends who never acted on their feelings in high school...but it's also a mystery revolving around the disappearance of another of their friends, Brandy, who may be haunting the lake house where the group reunites in a last ditch effort to discover what happened to her during their senior year.

Brandy's ghost has a message to share...

And with 99 books on the list, there are many other sub-genres within Romance to choose from...and at that price point, why not grab a couple for your summer beach read collection?  The link to the whole list is Here: 99 Romances for 99c Each.  A link directly to Silver Lake at the current sale price is here:  Silver Lake on Kindle.  Hurry, I have no idea how long the deals will last!  Happy reading!