RWA Recap - Pancakes with Susan Wiggs and Camaraderie with the RomVets

Last Saturday, I enjoyed a pancake breakfast with Susan Wiggs and the Avon Romance publicity team to celebrate the upcoming release of FAMILY TREE, available August 9 from William Morrow (link).

Then I prepared for my final panel:

Reporting for Duty: An Intimate Chat with the RomVets (RESEARCH)

Speakers: Grace Adams, Heather Ashby, Julia Day, Kim Lowe, Anna Richland, and Tamara Worlton

Air Force veterans, Navy veterans, an active duty Navy surgeon, and an Army veteran share their military experience to ensure military characters are accurately portrayed in romance novels. The panel will teach writers how to decipher military acronyms, identify ranks from the five services, and safely carry a weapon. 

It was a powerful discussion of how military duty impacts the entire family.  Tamara, a Navy surgeon, responded to my question, "Why do you read romance?"  To paraphrase her, "In 2004, during the Battle of Fallujah, the bodies arrived at the hospital .... (tears began to well in her eyes, then mine) ... I just want read about happy endings." 

Thank you, my sisters in arms, for educating our fellow writers on military life.  

Authors - find someone who bought the conference recordings and listen to this panel.

After our panel, I made my final run to the post office - I gave the post mistress an extra conference tote bag plus a copy of FAMILY TREE. 

Blueberry Pancakes

Image by Jeffrey W (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including FAMILY TREE, to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about pancakes - how do you like to eat them?  With syrup? Fruit? Powdered Sugar?  I enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes at Susan's breakfast - yum, yum!

2. Comments are open through Saturday, July 30, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 31.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Romance Every Day - RWA, Joy of Writing, and RomVets

This past week, I realized how lucky I am to be part of the romance community.  Kimberly from Book Obsessed Chicks (link) nominated me as a romance "cheerleader".  I lunched with Kati from Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance (link) - we enjoyed Polynesian food at the Taste of Aloha (link). I made lunch plans for next week in Washington, DC, with Melissa, a librarian extraordinaire.

I also received confirmation the Romance Writers of America (RWA) accepted two proposals I submitted for this year's national conference in San Diego (link): 

The Joy of Writing with Cathy Maxwell, Anne Elizabeth, and Julie Rowe

Romance publishing offers exciting opportunities for self publishing, small press, traditional publishers, and a combination thereof to cater to the individual author. The romance industry can also be a cut throat business from negative reviews, stalled sales, and an oversaturated market. Three author stand out as perpetually positive by focusing on the Joy of Writing. Bestselling and award winning writers Cathy Maxwell, Anne Elizabeth, and Julie Rowe share how they focus on their passion for romance while drowning out the negativity which creeps into every author’s life. Each author came to romance publishing by a different road yet they share the same appreciation of the Joy of Writing. Moderated by book blogger Kim Lowe, the authors will engage in a round table discussion of looking beyond book sales as a measure of success and celebrating the creativity process that is the Joy of Writing.

Reporting for Duty - An Intimate Chat with the RomVets: Grace Adams, Tamara Argyle, Heather Ashby, Elizabeth Langston, Caroline Lingaitis, Kim Lowe, and Anna Richland

Military characters dominate romance novels. They have stormed romantic suspense, moved into small towns, battled paranormal creatures, and defined history from Medieval Times to Victorian Era to WWII. A group of women veterans have turned their swords to pens to write romance novels – the RomVets, www.romvets.com. Three Air Force veterans, two Navy veterans, one active duty Navy surgeon, and one Army veteran/Rita winner will share our military experience to ensure military characters are accurately portrayed in any genre. RomVets are also military spouses, brats, and parents, so we offer an extra dimension into the lives of those who serve – airman, marine, sailor, seaman, and sailor. We will teach writers to how to decipher the military’s acronyms, identify ranks from the five services, and safely carry a weapon. 

As the Pointer Sisters sang, "I'm so excited". I am truly blessed to be a romance reader! If you met any of the above bloggers or authors, what would you ask them? One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, February 13, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Celebrating Romance Every Day

Lucky guards my convention stash

Wednesday's Warriors - Aloha to Lindsay McKenna and BROKEN DREAMS (Delos Series Book 4)

Captain Alexa Culver takes one look at shy, quiet Marine sniper Gage Hunter and feels an instant connection. But Gage has demons in his past that keep him from giving it to their mutual attraction. Alexa believes Gage is worth fighting for, and begins to slowly chip away at his defenses.

Gage Hunter has lost everyone he has ever loved. Lonely and broken, the last thing he expects is to meet someone like Alexa Culver. The redheaded beauty is confident and outgoing and makes Gage feel emotions he thought long buried. But before he risks revealing his heart to her she is kidnapped by the Taliban while on a humanitarian mission. Can Gage reach her before he loses his chance for love forever?

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Lindsay McKenna lives her life as a risk taker, and it shines through the books she loves to write: romance, adventure and suspense. She started writing at age thirteen and continues to hone her writing skills to this day. She sold her first romance novel in 1981. The rest is history.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lindsay offers an excerpt from BROKEN DREAMS ...

Captain Alexa Culver saw three soldiers ease from the bar, their eyes on her. She was going to say something when Marine Corps Sergeant Gage Hunter put himself right in front of her, standing there like the bristling, quiet alpha he was.

She stood near his right side and behind him. This wasn’t the first time she’d been hit on in a canteen at Bagram Army Base. As an officer, she had the rank, and Alexa was more than prepared to use it, but Gage, as if reading her mind, lifted his hand, opening it toward her.

“Let me handle this?” he asked, giving her a sideward glance.

There was something deadly about his demeanor. Alexa gave a brisk nod and watched him turn away, facing the three enlisted soldiers, who were so drunk they bumped into one another as they approached.

The canteen suddenly quieted, and Alexa felt anger stirring in her. She hated this kind of shit. Always had. And in the past, she’d handled it just fine on her own. But there was something reassuring about Gage as he stood there loosely, his large hands hanging relaxed at his sides, his piercing gaze on the three soldiers.

There would be no fight here today if Alexa had anything to say about it.

“That’s close enough,” Gage said in a quiet but firm voice.

The three soldiers halted. The red-haired one snorted.

“Get the fuck out of the way, dude. We want to talk to the lady.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Gage said, his voice low, almost friendly. “Why don’t you three go back to the bar and finish off your beers? The lady and I are leaving.”

Alexa silently cheered Gage on for his diplomacy. She liked that he didn’t get threatening, all huff and puff. The confusion in two of the three soldiers’ expressions told her Gage had made contact. The red-haired one, however, wasn’t having it. He was drunk enough, stupid enough, to push harder. And Gage stood about five inches taller than the soldier. Alexa knew that when someone was drunk, details like that failed to register.

“You can leave, dude,” the red-haired soldier said with a broad wave of his hand. “But she stays. She’s ours,” he sneered, glaring up at Gage.

One corner of Gage’s mouth twitched. “What do you say we take this outside and settle it, then, because the lady is with me.”

The gauntlet had been thrown down so quietly that Alexa barely heard the veiled threat in Gage’s tone. She looked at the rest of the men in the canteen. They were all leaning forward, straining to hear him speak. Someone behind the bar shut off the music.

Silence.

Dead silence.

Alexa gulped, her gaze shooting from Gage’s harsh profile to the soldier, who was barely able to stand, six feet away from him. Before she could step in and say anything, Gage turned, cupped her right elbow, and guided her around where the soldiers stood. His gaze never left the red-haired one until they were past him.

The rest of the men in the canteen stepped aside, allowing them passage to the door. Gage pushed it open, guiding Alexa outside, his hand still firm on her elbow.

Sunlight, bright and blinding, hit Alexa. Gage continued down the wet sidewalk, which had earlier been shoveled clear of snow on both sides. Now, in midafternoon, it was melting on the desert base. The wind was breezy, and Alexa was glad to be near Gage. He was like a mountain preventing the cold air from reaching her.

“I like your style,” she told him, looking up at him as she pulled on her aviator sunglasses.

“He was too damned drunk to know up from down,” Gage said, shaking his head in disgust.

“I saw him latch on to the hog’s tooth you’re wearing.”

“I was hoping he would.”

Once they reached the broad sidewalk that curved along the wet asphalt two-lane street, Gage released her elbow. He didn’t want to, but knew he should. Even though he wore civilian clothes, Alexa was in uniform, and her captain’s bars were clearly visible on the shoulders of her flight suit. He checked his stride for her sake, keeping her on the inside of the street. He kept watching Humvees move slowly up and down it.

“I could have handled that confrontation, Gage.”

“I know you could.” He shot a glance down at her. “And I can just hear you asking why I didn’t let you do it.”

Her lips curved. “You’re good, I’ll give you that.”

A slow grin appeared. “Hey, I promised your brother Matt that I’d take care of you after he left. My word is my bond.”

A good, clean feeling flowed through Alexa. He’d put on a pair of wraparound sunglasses, his baseball cap low on his brow. Gage Hunter was a badass in disguise, and she suddenly grinned.

“Just another thing to like about you.” She saw him cock his head in her direction, knowing his gaze was locked on her even if she couldn’t see it. “You’re a badass,” Alexa said, watching his lips twitch. This man did not give a thing away. Why? What made him close up like that?

“The enemy thinks so.”

“So did those three idiots in the canteen.”

More books in the series ...

Happy 240th Birthday, US Navy!

Stand Navy out to sea, Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail on to victory and sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores, We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night ashore, Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.  Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Blue of the mighty deep: Gold of God's great sun.
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done, done, done, done. On seven seas we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true, With honor, over honor, over all.

In honor of the Navy's 240th birthday, I spotlight the Navy veterans turned romance authors from the RomVets (link),

Kayelle Allen, USN, 73-77, Avionics
Rue Allyn, USN, 76-85, Sonar systems
Anne Ashby, Royal NZ Navy, 70-91, Communications
Heather Ashby, USN, 74-87, Personnel
Rogenna Brewer, USN, 80-85, Administration
Shannon Brown, USN, 02-pres, Logistics
Christyne Butler, USN, 87-92,Data processing
Cindy Carver, USN, 76-79, Aviation Machinist mate
Misty Chavis, USN, 80-05, Supply
Diana Cosby, USN, 78-96, Meteorologist
Sara Hubbard, Canadian Naval Reserves (Naval Communicator) 1998-2005
Mary Fishler-Fisk, USN, 81-05, Surface Warfare Officer
Jackie Fleming, USAF, 76-86, NDI/Personnel
Shelleyanne Fogarty, Royal Australian Navy, 2000-pres, Submariner
Rebecca Harmon, USN 81-87, Hospital Corpsman/MedLabTech
Ilena Holder, USN, 72-76, Aviation Storekeeper
Charlotte Hunter, USN, 88-10, Chaplain
Candace Irvin, USN, 83-91, Surface ships
Kathleen Toomey Jabs, Navy, 1988-present, public affairs
Shirley Jakway, writing as Mairi Norris, USN, Medic, 80-88,
Megan Just, US Navy, 03-08, Surface Warfare
Geri Krotow, USN, 82-95, Air/ASW Intel
Mahalia Levey, USN, 93-01, Undesignated
Cathy Maxwell, USN,76-82, Intelligence
Dawn McClure, USN, 95-98, Cryptology tech
Lindsay McKenna, USN, 64-67, Meteorology
Danielle Monsch, 92-00, Navy reserves
Jean-Murray, USN, 91-11, Navy Nurse Corps
Beverly Ovalle, USN,82-87, Gunners Mate Guns SAMI
JoAnn Reardon, USN, 88-94, Cryptologist
Shelagh Rivera, USN, 74-95, Nurse
Lucy Slagel, USN, 73-93, Intelligence
Julie Spurgeon, USN, 80-85, Ocean Systems Analyst
Valerie Tibbs, Navy, 84-92, Admin
Tamara Worlton, USN, 99-present, surgeon

Do you know any Navy veterans, spouses, and/or brats?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 17, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 18.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Wednesday's Warrior - Aloha to Karida Clarke and the Phoenix Warriors

It is my pleasure to host my fellow RomVet, Karida Clarke! From her bio,

Karida Clarke is a romance writer with a penchant for anything otherworldly. If it has scales, fur, poisoned talons, throws fire or casts magic spells, it might find its way into her stories. Karida likes her heroines multifaceted and her males swoon-worthy, Alpha-style. She believes that relationships matter more than things and places. In her free time, Karida enjoys lacing up for long runs and cooking ethnic cuisine. Pet peeves include Saran Wrap and people who don’t put their shopping carts away. Karida has an M.A. in English Literature, is a former college English instructor, and currently writes for a small newspaper. She lives with her nerd-tastic husband and two spunky kids in Ohio.

Learn more about Karida and her books at karidaclarke.com.

Kim:  Ohio! What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Buckeye State?

Karida:  I grew up in the military and then served in the military, so I have lived in multiple states and countries. When my husband's job moved us here, I was skeptical that I would like it. Ohio has been an amazing surprise for me and my family. We love it here so much that we've decided to put down some roots and stay a while. Ohio is a beautiful, affordable state with four seasons, tons of activities and cultural opportunities, and a low cost of living. I love watching the leaves change colors in the fall and that I can go hiking across creeks with my kids during the day and then go watch a Broadway play with my husband in the evening. Truly, we have the best of both worlds here.

Kim:  Cooking ethnic cuisine - what is your favorite recipe? What is your favorite restaurant?

Karida:  I eat gluten-free, so ethnic cuisine is wonderful since other countries don't rely on wheat as much as the U.S. My favorite cuisines are Indian and Ethiopian. My favorite restaurant is either Ajanta India Restaurant in Kettering, OH, or Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant in Columbus, OH. No chain food--family restaurants with delicious food at good prices. As far as recipes, I love a good dal, a dish made from lentils and spices.

Kim:  Who or what helped you along the path to publishing?

Karida:  So many people have helped me as I've pursued writing and self-publishing my novels. My sister most of all--she introduced me to the paranormal romance genre years ago. My husband, too--he puts up with my mood swings and he understands the creative process. Self-publishing was a decision I made so that the product I put out there is true to my vision. Every aspect of the book--from the picture and font on the cover to the names of characters and content of the epilogue--is as I intended it, so the reader is getting the experience I want for them. I am grateful for an editor, proofreader, and cover artist that gets me. 

Kim:  Tell us about your books - what inspired them?

Karida:  I've published three books in my paranormal romance series, Phoenix Warriors, thus far. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre because it combines the fantasy of fairy tales with the heat and spice of a good romance. Rather than vampires and werewolves, which have been done well repeatedly, I chose to make my protagonists Phoenix because they are literally hot.

Kim:  What's next for Karida Clarke?

Karida:  The Phoenix Warrior series will contain six books. I've published three and am working on the fourth. Although all the books can be read as standalone novels, they contain the same characters, so you can learn tidbits about them by reading them in order.

I am also in a writer's group that is putting together a modern fantasy anthology, so I hope to begin writing a short story for that soon.

Air Force Memorial in Washington, DC

Mahalo,  Karida, for serving and writing!  I am giving away a digital copy of CAPTURED HEAT, Book 1 in the Phoenix Warriors series, to one randomly selected commenter.  

The Phoenix Warriors, a group of immortals bound by the gods to protect the integrity of the human realm from otherworldly races, have been led for centuries by Cole, a guarded alpha male.

When Cole learns that an ancient demon has discovered the location of a tool that will enable him to escape from the prison realm, Cole vows to find and safeguard it before the demon's vampire minions.

Rebecca Powell is a high school guidance counselor who is everyone's "lucky charm." She's just not so lucky herself. After being used a time too many, she's through with men...until she runs right into the one she can't resist.

Cole and Rebecca have both been burned before, but can they put aside their misgivings to protect the human realm and learn to love again?

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Ohio - what do you know about the Buckeye State?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, July 24, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 25.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to US Flag Day and the US Army's 240th Birthday

June 14 is the US Flag Day ... and the US Army's 240th birthday.   From the Army's website (link),

Two hundred forty years ago, our nation's leaders established the Continental Army. Today, the Army is the strategic landpower of the joint force; called upon to prevent, shape, and win against our adversaries.

This year, we celebrate 240 years of selfless service to the nation. Selfless service is at the core of what it means to be a Soldier - putting the welfare of others ahead of oneself. The willingness of our Soldiers - to place themselves in harm's way and to protect our nation's freedoms - is what makes us the premier all-volunteer force. The Army has served proudly, faithfully, and selflessly for 240 years, and we remain steadfast in our commitment.

Historic Army aircraft on display
at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

In honor of the Army's birthday, I salute the Army veterans turned Romance writers from the RomVets (red highlight indicates website):

Elizabeth Ashtree, USA, 84-86, JAG
Lori Avocato, USAF, 76-80, Nurse
Connie Barbour, USA, 89-95, Military Police
Teresa Bodwell, USA, 74-77, Band
Mary Boozer, USA, 87-92, Criminal Investigations Division
Nancy Brandt, USA, 77-80, Electronic Intercept
Lorelie Brown, USA, 99-03, Administration
Stephanie Cardin, USA, 86-97, Military Police
Linda Carey, USA, 72-00, Nurse
Caro Carson, USA, 84-92, Military Police
Barbara T. Cerny, USA, 85-06, Signal Corps
Ann Chaney, US Army, 1973-74, 79-84, Military Intelligence
Tanya Cienfuegos, US Army, 03-07, Military Intelligence
Kim Cook,USA,75-78, 88-93, Supply, aerovac
Monica Corwin, USA, 05-12, Signals Intelligence Analyst
Tracey Cramer-Kelly, Army National Guard, medic
C.K. Crouch, USA, 74-78, Quartermaster
Sylvia Day, USA, 94-95, Russian Linguist
Delilah Devlin, USA, 78-03, Signal Corps
Fiona Druce, USA, 01-04, Army, 35N
Christina Freeburn, USA, 88-91, Legal Specialist
Jo Ann Ferguson, USA, 74-76, Quartermaster
Heather Harley, USA, 99-01, Legal Specialist
Nannette Hawkins, USA, 90-97, Communications
Kelli (Dippery) Heneghan, USA, 94-97, Nurse Corps
Loribelle Hunt, USA, 93-95, Military Police
Candace Irvin, USA/USN, 83-91, Surface ships
Dawn Jackson, USA, 87-91, Intelligence
Stephanie Jacobson, USMC, 93-98, Communications
Elle James, USA/USAF, 82-pres, MP, Transportation, Medical Services
Roxanne Kean, USA, 76-78, Communications
Shayla Kersten, USA, 80-84, Artillery
Pam Kinney, USA, 76, Administration
Latoya Lucas, USA, 99-04, Civil Engineering
Carrie Lower, USA, 91-95, Personnel
Annie Marshall, USA, 97-95, Military Police
Brigette McCoy, USA, 87-91, data telecommunication computer operator
Stacy McKitrick, USA, 76-81, Administration
Laura Mitchell, w/as Ellen Campbell, USA, 77-81, Medical Specialist, Clinical Specialist, Supply Specialist
Cherie Noel, USA, 98-02, Chemical Corps
Paige Prince, USA, 02-08, Cryptologist
Ella Quinn, USA, 75-80, 92-96, JAG
Taylor Reynolds, USA, 96-00, 02-03, Arabic linguist
Isis Rushdan, USA/USAF, 93-pres, Intelligence
Jessica Scott, USA 1995 - present, Signal Officer
Stephanie Shannon, USA, 87-98, Transportation Specialist
Christine Simpson, USA, 96-98, Cryptologist
Cara J. Smith, USA, 81-85, Transportation
Terry Spear, USAR, 77-99, Personnel
Charity Tahmaseb, USA, 88-93, Intelligence
Tyrenna Tolbert, USAR, 88-pres, Logistics
Sarah Tiller, USA, 90-pres, Nursing
Pamela Varnado, USA, 80-84, Telecommunications
Suzanne Voris, USA, 87-pres, Logistics
Susan Ann Wall, also w/a Ann Victor, USA, 94-99, Military Intelligence
Jeane Westin, USA, 51-57, Cryptologist
Sharon Wildwind, USA, 70’s, Nursing
Gail Yohe, USA, Pres, Physician

Sisters in Arms, we salute you!   What do you know about the Army?  Do you have any family members who served?  Do you have a favorite book, TV show, or movie about the Army?  My father served in the Army ... and he loved M*A*S*H. Comments are open through Saturday, June 20, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 21.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrating our 5th anniversary at SOS Aloha!

This week is the 5th anniversary of SOS Aloha!   I created SOS Aloha in March 2010 as a means to stay connected to Romanceland after moving to Hawaii.  I've tried different things along the way (author interviews, blog tours, and book reviews), giving me the opportunity to find my own voice.

I thank Mary, the Reading Reviewer (link), for encouraging to create this blog.   I also appreciate Terri, Bodice Ripper Novels (link), for teaching me how to format links and add pictures. Finally, I thank my followers for making SOS Aloha a fun place to visit!

Treasures in the sand 

To celebrate our fifth anniversary, I share five fun facts about me ....

1.  I hail from Safety Harbor, Florida (link).   Contemporary romance author Shirley Jump lives nearby (link), often posting pictures of the Tampa Bay area on Facebook.

2  I attended the University of Tampa (link).  Paranormal author Maggie Mae Gallagher (link) is also an UT alum.

3. I was a math major ... and so was Romantic suspense author Julie Anne Walker (link).  

4.  My first assignment was Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts (link).  Mia Marlowe also lived in the Boston area (link).  

5.  I traded my active duty dog tags for a military spouse ID card ... just like many members of the RomVets, veterans who write romance (link).

Lucky guards the books

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment with a fun fact about you.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 15.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link although I have posted any recent travels.  Still, you can trade real snow for virtual sand in Hawaii.  

Sunset Beach

Aloha to Jessica Scott and BACK TO YOU

It is my distinct pleasure to spotlight my fellow RomVet, Jessica Scott! From her bio (link),

USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer; mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs; wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well-adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View: Regarding War Blog, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn and has served as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas.

She's pursuing a PhD in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she's been featured as one of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.

Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Jessica reminds me the Enjoli Perfume commercial (link),

I can bring home the bacon,
Fry it up in a Pan,
And never let you forget you are a man.
Because I'm a woman.

Jessica will be celebrating the release of her new ebook, BACK TO YOU, available January 7:

He's in for the fight of his life . . . 

Army captain Trent Davila loved his wife, Laura, and their two beautiful children. But when he almost lost his life in combat, something inside him died. He couldn't explain the emptiness he felt or bridge the growing distance between him and his family-so he deployed again. And again. And again...until his marriage reached its breaking point. Now, with everything on the line, Trent has one last chance to prove to his wife that he can be the man she needs if she'll have him.

. . . to win back his only love.

Laura is blindsided when Trent returns home. Time and again, he chose his men over his family, and she's just beginning to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. But when Trent faces a court martial on false charges, only Laura can save him. What begins as an act of kindness to protect his career inflames a desire she thought long buried-and a love that won't be denied. But can she trust that this time he's back to stay?

Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
Bookish
iTunes

Thank you, Jessica, for serving your country and entertaining readers!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635c16/" 

Aloha to Susana Ellis and A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE

Time to play Six Degrees of Separation with historical author Susana Ellis in honor of her holiday release, A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE:

1.  Susana's sister lived near me on Hickam AFB.  In fact, our sons attended the same scout troop.  My family also walked their dog, Trusty, during their extended trip off island.

2.  I've shared my adventures around the island of Oahu with my friends (and authors) NL Gassert (link) and D. Renee Bagby (link).

Renee, NL, and Ivy at Ka'ena Point.

3.  D. Renee Bagby featured Susana on her "D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters" (link).

4.  Susana is a a member of the Maumee Valley Romance Writers of America - MVRWA (link).  

5.  The MVRWA also includes Rue Allen, a member of the RomVets (link), "military women who have turned the sword to pen".     

6.  I am also a member of the RomVets - I traded my military keyboard for a blogger's forum to promote romance authors like Susana Ellis!

RomVets at RWA/2012

A TWELFTH NIGHT NIGHT TALE is available November 21:

A wounded soldier and the girl next door find peace and love 

amidst a backdrop of rural Christmas traditions. 

Without dowries and the opportunity to meet eligible gentlemen, the five Barlow sisters stand little chance of making advantageous marriages. But when the eldest attracts the attention of a wealthy viscount, suddenly it seems as though Fate is smiling upon them.

Lucy knows that she owes it to her younger sisters to encourage Lord Bexley's attentions, since marriage to a peer will secure their futures as well as hers. The man of her dreams has always looked like Andrew Livingston, her best friend's brother. But he's always treated her like a child, and, in any case, is betrothed to another. Perhaps the time has come to put away childhood dreams and accept reality…and Lord Bexley.

Andrew has returned from the Peninsula with more emotional scars to deal with than just the lame arm. Surprisingly, it's his sister's friend “Little Lucy” who shows him the way out of his melancholy. He can't help noticing that Lucy's grown up into a lovely young woman, but with an eligible viscount courting her, he'll need a little Christmas magic to win her for himself. 

Susana is offering a special grand prize on her website at susanaellis.com.   Meanwhile, I am giving away my own "Christmas Magic".  Since all roads lead to Hawaii, I am offering up my last Hawaiian ornament.  To enter the giveaway,

1.   Leave a comment about "Lucy" - do you know anyone with that name?  I don't ... but I LOVED LUCY!

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City