Showing posts with label May is Military Appreciation Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May is Military Appreciation Month. Show all posts

Thursday, May 7, 2015

May is National Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Emmy Curtis

20980969

I am looking forward to Emmy Curtis, one of the table hostesses at the SOS America Military Tribute - free tickets are still available at this link.   From Emmy's bio,

Emmy Curtis is an editor and a romance writer. An ex-pat Brit, she quells her homesickness with Cadbury Flakes and Fray Bentos pies. She's lived in London, Paris and New York, and has settled for the time being, in North Carolina. When not writing, Emmy loves to travel with her military husband and take long walks with their Lab. All things considered, her life is chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. And if you get that reference...well, she already considers you kin.


Cadbury Flake
Public Domain (link) 

I shared Emmy's bio with my British mother ... she understood the references!   Emmy is the author of the Alpha Ops series, including PUSHING THE LIMIT:

They’re tough. They’re brave. And they’ll do anything for the women they love. They’re the Alpha Ops. In the tradition of Suzanne Brockmann and Julie Ann Walker comes a sizzling new high-octane romantic suspense novel from rising star Emmy Curtis.

After their one-night fling at a wedding, archaeologist Henrietta “Harry” Markowitz thought she’d never see war hero Matt Stanning again. So when they’re paired up to investigate a military plane crash in Iraq, she’s not sure if the three-month reunion is serendipitous or cursed. What she does know is this gorgeous man lights her body on fire—and incredible sex is always a welcome distraction.

Air Force Sergeant Matt Stanning has been called a hero, but he feels nothing like one when he realizes the sexy blonde in his bed is the widow of his fallen brother-in-arms. Even worse, he actually has to work with her, and she’s unearthed evidence that points to a military conspiracy. If they dig deeper, they’ll put their lives in danger. If they don’t, they’ll never know the truth—not only about the mysterious plane crash, but about each other. 


Mahalo, Emmy, for serving as a military spouse ... and writing hot heroes!  May is National Military Appreciation Month. For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1. What is your favorite chocolate?  I agree with Emmy that Cadbury's Flake, especially in ice cream, is ono (delicious).

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Emmy and her books at emmycurtis.com.


2069465720706733


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

May is National Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Elizabeth Essex

a scandal to remember

I met Elizabeth Essex at the Library of Congress' What is Love? Romance in the Digital Age (here, here, here, and here). Elizabeth was featured in the documentary, Love Between the Covers, at this link.   She shared her long distance relationship with a critique partner who lives in Australia.

Elizabeth is co-hosting the "Battle of Trafalgar" table at the SOS America Military Tribute (link). From her bio,

Elizabeth Essex is the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Reckless Brides historical romance series. When not rereading Jane Austen, mucking about in her garden or simply messing about with boats, Elizabeth can be always be found with her laptop, making up stories about heroes and heroines who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so. Long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classics and Art History, and then earned her MA in Nautical Archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing lush, lyrical historical romance full of passion, daring and adventure.


Elizabeth lives in Texas with her husband, the indispensable Mr. Essex, and her active and exuberant family in an old house filled to the brim with books.


Battle of Trafalgar By William Lionel Wyllie
Public Domain (link)

I want to be an underwater archaeologist!  I wonder what we would find in the waters off Cape Trafalgar?   Mahalo, Elizabeth, for entertaining readers with military men.  From A SCANDAL TO REMEMBER, 

For too long, Miss Jane Burke’s father has taken advantage of her painstaking research. Heading to the South Seas to make her own name as a scientist despite the crew’s insistence that a woman aboard is bad luck, she isn't prepared to be championed by a handsome ship’s officer who rouses longings inside her as wild as any storm…

For Lieutenant Charles Dance, a post on His Majesty’s survey ship Tenacious is just one more dutiful rung on the ladder of his career. Even a headstrong bluestocking on board is less troubling than the ship’s drunken captain—and the ferocious gales that drive the ship off course. Stranded on a remote island, passion blazes between them as hot as the sun, but it’s Jane’s love Charles wants forever…


HMS Tenacious (F44) at anchor.jpg
A modern HMS Tenacious
Public Domain (link)

May is National Military Appreciation Month. For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1.  Do you have interest in archaeology?   I was fascinated with King Tut as a child.


2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Elizabeth and her books at elizabethessex.com.

131671421357551816045009


Tuesday, May 5, 2015

May is Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Paige Tyler


Paige Tyler is participating in the SOS America Military Tribute on Thursday, May 14, in Dallas - free tickets are still available at this link.  From Paige's bio,


Paige is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She graduated from The University of West Florida with a degree in education in 2000, but decided to pursue a full-time career as a writer in 2004. Since then, she’s written over fifty books in several genres, including paranormal, contemporary, western, sci-fi and erotica. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her stories of romance, adventure, suspense, passion and true love will leave you breathlessly panting for more.

She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them.


Paige is celebrating the release of HER WILD HERO:

Department of Covert Operations Training Officer Kendra Carlsen has been begging her boss to let her go into the field for years. When he finally agrees to send her along on a training exercise in Costa Rica, she’s thrilled.

Bear-shifter Declan MacBride, on the other hand, is anything but pleased. He’s been crushing on Kendra since he started working at the DOC seven years ago. Spending two weeks in the same jungle with her is putting a serious strain on him.

When the team gets ambushed, Kendra and Declan are forced to depend on each other. But the bear-shifter soon discovers that fighting bloodthirsty enemies isn’t nearly as hard as fighting his attraction to the beautiful woman he’ll do anything to protect.


Today we are excited to sit down with Declan MacBride and Kendra Carlsen, the heroes of Paige Tyler’s May release Her Wild Hero! The latest title in Tyler’s hot X-Ops series finds Declan and Kendra deep in the Costa Rican jungle fighting for their lives. Kendra and Declan are here to give us a peek at their jungle adventures and a survival tip for would-be X-Op agents!

“It had taken them the better part of the day to traverse the rough terrain between the site of the ambush and the landing zone. On the trip out, they’d covered at least two swampy areas, a practically vertical ridgeline, and about three miles of thick jungles in that time.”

Kendra’s Jungle Tip: So, you don't like climbing over endless mountain ridges? You might not want to complain. It's a lot better than slogging through slimy swamp water up to your waist and praying none of the mud seeps into places you don't want it.

Amazon
Apple
BAM
B&N
Chapters
Indiebound
Kobo

Sourcebooks is hosting a special giveaway at this link.


File:Red eyed tree frog edit2.jpg
Red Eyed Tree Frog from Costa Rica
Public Domain (link)

May is National Military Appreciation Month. For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1.  Have you visited a jungle?  I've hiked through a few jungles in Hawaii.

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

From a Hawaiian jungle ...

Monday, May 4, 2015

May is National Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Chanel Cleeton

22535694

I have several things in common with Chanel Cleeton ...

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband.

Chanel writes contemporary romances and women's fiction. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, and Wild Aces series.

Air Force Memorial overlooking Washington, DC

I also hail from Florida and fell in love with a military officer who sang me off my feet (he's a barbershopper).   I look forward to meeting Chanel next week, where we'll celebrate the upcoming release of  FLIRTING WITH SCANDAL, Book One from her Capital Confessions series, available May 19:

Jackie Gardner knows all about dirty little secrets. The illegitimate daughter of one of the most influential senators in Washington, D.C., she grew up surrounded by the scandals and shadows of politics. Now that she's landed an internship with a powerful political consulting firm, she's determined to launch her career and take this city by storm.

William Andrew Clayton was born for politics. He knows the drill: work hard, play discreetly, and at all costs, avoid scandal. At twenty-six, his campaign for the Virginia State Senate is the first step to cementing his future. It's time for him to settle down, to find the perfect political spouse. He needs a Jackie Kennedy, not a Marilyn...

When Jackie meets Will in the bar of the Hay-Adams Hotel, sparks fly. But the last thing Will needs is to be caught in a compromising position, and an affair with a political candidate could cost Jackie her career. When what began as one steamy night, becomes a passion neither one of them can walk way from, they must decide if what they have is really love, or just another dirty little secret...


Chanel is also supporting the SOS America Military Tribute - free tickets are still available for readers in the Dallas area at this link (need not be registered for the convention to attend).

Learn more about Chanel and her books at chanelcleeton.com.


Playing with Trouble (Capital Confessions, #2)
Coming in July 2014

May is National Military Appreciation Month. For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1.  Have you visited the Caribbean, enjoyed a cruise, or danced with a pilot?  I'm going on a Caribbean cruise in October with college friends.   And I have danced with a pilot :)

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Saturday, May 2, 2015

May is National Military Appreciation Month - Aloha to Beth Ciotta

24809200

Beth Ciotta and her sister Elle J. Rossi are two more hosts at the SOS America Military Tribute (link).  They are also singing the National Anthem.  From Beth's bio,

It's not surprising that I gravitated toward a career in the arts. But rather than nurturing my writing, I pursued a career as a singer. I started singing professionally at age 14. Fresh out of high school, I went 'on the road' performing in hotel lounges and nightclubs six nights a week, fifty weeks (more or less) a year for eight years. During my travels, I met the love of my life and joined his band. We performed together for several years, settling in Atlantic City where he eventually left the stage to become a highly skilled audio/visual technician--a sensible job. I, on the other hand, morphed into a variety performer, working the casinos as a character actress, singer, dance motivator and emcee. Yup. Quirky.

The desire to perform burned strong and sustained me for more than twenty-five years before ebbing to a dull flicker. An artist without passion is a frightening thing (for the artist anyway.)

Out of the blue I started reading romance novels and experienced an epiphany. This was what I was supposed to be doing! Writing love stories! That was in 1994 and I have never looked back. I first published in 2002 under the pseudonym, CB Scott, along with my then writing partner, Cynthia Valero. After three published novels as CB Scott, I branched out with my first solo novel—JINXED—in 2004 and since then have published eleven more novels under my name, with several more on the way. 


“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”—C.S. Lewis

bethpic

Mahalo, Beth, for answering the call to support the SOS America Military Tribute.  Learn more about Beth and her books at bethciotta.com.  I'll spotlight Elle on May 21 here at SOS Aloha - I scheduled the table hostesses in alphabetical order :)

For the month of May, I am giving away one grand prize of books and swag from the authors featured this month (link). Plus five more commenters - one for each branch of service - wins a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1.  If you could sing, what would you sing?  I can't sing, but if I could, I would sing with the Sweet Adelines ... my husband is a Barbershop singer. 


2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, June 1.
Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City


13169607135429427646905



May is National Military Appreciation Month

Joint Color Guard
www.defense.gov

5/1: May is National Appreciation Month with Leah Marie Brown

5/2: SOS America Military Tribute - Elizabeth Boyle
5/3: SOS America Military Tribute -
Beth Ciotta
5/4: SOS America Military Tribute -  WAY OF THE WARRIOR
5/5: SOS America Military Tribute - Chanel Cleeton

5/6: SOS America Military Tribute - Paige Tyler
plus State of Romance - New Mexico
5/7: SOS America Military Tribute - Elizabeth Essex
5/8: SOS America Military Tribute - Emmy Curtis
5/9: SOS America Military Tribute - Sharon Hamilton
5/10: SOS America Military Tribute - Elle James
5/11: SOS America Military Tribute - Sabrina Jeffries
5/12: SOS America Military Tribute - Cat Johnson

5/13: SOS America Military Tribute - Kennedy Layne
plus State of Romance - Nebraska
5/14: SOS America Military Tribute - Merline Lovelace
5/15: SOS America Military Tribute - Ophelia London
5/16: SOS America Military Tribute - Siera London
5/17: SOS America Military Tribute - Sally MacKenzie
5/18: SOS America Military Tribute - Lindsay McKenna
5/19: SOS America Military Tribute - Crista McHugh 

5/20: SOS America Military Tribute - Angel Payne
plus State of Romance - Idaho
5/21: SOS America Military Tribute - Elle J Rossi
5/22: SOS America Military Tribute - Susan Stoker
5/23: SOS America Military Tribute - Rebecca Yarros
5/24: SOS America Military Tribute - Kara Braden
5/25: SOS America Military Tribute - Jackson Young
5/26: SOS America Military Tribute - Ella Quinn
5/27: SOS America Military Tribute - Lea Griffith

plus State of Romance - North and South Dakotas
5/28: SOS America Military Tribute - Julie Rowe
5/29: SOS America Military Tribute - Julie Ann Walker
5/30: SOS America Military Tribute - Jamie Rae 

5/31: SOS America Military Tribute - Donna Michaels 


6/1: SOS America Military Tribute - Mahalo to the donors: Avon Romance, St. Martin's Press, Randi Alexander, Diana Cosby, Anne Elizabeth, Gail Hart, Lorraine Heath, Elizabeth Hoyt, Elizabeth Langston, and Susan Ann Wall

6/2: L.A. Kornetsky's CLAWED
6/3: State of Romance - Colorado
6/4: Leslie Wells' KEEP DANCING
6/5: Sharon Sala's I'LL STAND BY YOU
6/6:
 Jessica James' MEANT TO BE
6/7: Weekly Winners

6/8: Rosanna Bittner's OUTLAW HEARTS
6/9: Isabel Cooper's NIGHT OF HIGHLAND DRAGON

plus Jenna Jaxon's ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO
6/10: State of Romance - Maine
plus Mia Marlowe's NEVER RESIST A RAKE
6/11: King Kamehameha Day
6/12: Karida Clarke
6/13: Trooping of the Colors
6/14: Weekly Winners
6/15: Debra Holt's HIS COUNTRY BRIDE
6/16: Julie Rowe's DEADLY STRAIN
6/17: State of Romance - Puerto Rico
6/18: Victoria Vane's SHARP SHOOTER
6/19: Emily Greenwood's THE BEAUTIFUL ONE
6/20: Celebrate Little Victories
6/21: Weekly Winners
6/22: Debra Holt's HIS COUNTRY BRIDE

6/23: Maya Banks' SAFE AT LAST
6/24: State of Romance - Scotland
6/25: Heather Boyd's AN IMPROPER PROPOSAL
6/26: Rhonda Shaw's CAUGHT
6/27: Celebrate Little Victories
6/28: Weekly Winners
6/29: Rosanne Bittner's DO NOT FORSAKE ME
6/30: Reserved 


7/1: Wednesday's Warriors
7/2: Reserved 
7/3: Reserved
7/4: Celebrate Little Victories
7/5: Weekly Winners
7/6: Adrienne Giordano's THE DETECTIVE
7/7: Reserved
7/8: Wednesday's Warriors
7/9: Julie Ann Walker's HELL OR HIGH WATER
7/10: Terry Spear's SEAL WOLF HUNTING
7/11: Celebrate Little Victories
7/12: Weekly Winners
7/13: Michele Summer's NOT SO NEW IN TOWN
7/14: Open
7/15: Wednesday's Warriors
7/16: Open
7/17: Samantha Grace's THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES
7/18: Celebrate Little Victories
7/19: Weekly Winners
7/20: Open
7/21: Open
7/22: Wednesday's Warriors
7/23: Open
7/24: Open
7/25: Celebrate Little Victories
7/26: Weekly Winners
7/27: Open
7/28: Open
7/29: Wednesday's Warriors
7/30: Open
7/31: Open

8/25: Jodi Thomas' RANSOM CANYON

11/3:  Debra Holt's MERCY'S RESCUE