Aloha to Jodi Thomas and BETTING THE RAINBOW - Guest Post

RITA winning author Jodi Thomas joins us today for a cozy chat about her new release, BETTING THE RAINBOW, Book 7 in her Harmony, Texas series ...

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas returns to the town of Harmony, Texas, where life has a way of making better plans than anyone ever imagined… ...

Sisters Abby and Dusti Delaney have spent their entire lives on Rainbow Lane, but they dream of something bigger. So when a poker tournament comes to town, Dusti is determined to win enough money to leave. Enlisting expert Kieron O’Brian to teach her the game, sparks begin to fly as they play their hands. But Kieron refuses to stand in the way of her dream, even if it means losing her forever...

After a year of traveling, Ronny Logan is settling into a home on Rainbow Lane, but that’s all the settling she’ll be doing. Ronny refuses to fall for anyone, regardless of the chemistry she has with her neighbor Austin Hawk. Yet something undeniable begins to grow between the two loners—if only they can let their barriers fall and open their hearts...

BETTING THE RAINBOW
Release date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-26840-7
Retail price: USA $7.99

One of my favorite things to do in the world is to sit down with a character who walks into my office (figuratively speaking), sits down and tells me her story. That’s how the book BETTING THE RAINBOW began.

I knew I wanted to write about Ronny Logan since she’d been with me in Harmony for several books. I felt like I’d grown up with her from the shy postal worker who wouldn’t talk to anyone in town to a world traveler trying to run away from her grief.

Only I didn’t know Dusti Delaney when I started. She and her sister had put their lives on hold to come home and take care of a dying mother. By the time she finally passed they’d lost everything except the small farm on Rainbow Lane. They were barely holding on with no hope of reclaiming their former lives. Then, Dusti heard about a charity poker game. If she won she might be able to afford to make their dreams come true. Only problem was, the one man who could teach her to play had flown in to win the game.

Reagan Truman runs the huge event while in the middle of her own crisis. The one man she’s ever loved has come home, but she’s not sure she can accept him and all the baggage he brings. Noah has to do something far braver than riding bulls if he wants to win her back.

I'm betting that this touching story of deep love between family, friends and lovers will leave you feeling good all over.

Jodi Thomas
jodithomas.com
Twitter.com/jodithomas
facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor

Mahalo, Jodi, for writing the Harmony series.   I am giving away a print copy of BETTING THE RAINBOW to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Can you share a time and/or place where you were amazed by a rainbow? I have seen many in Hawaii ... perhaps my favorite is the one captured by my inlaws over the pineapple fields on Maui.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 5, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 6.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Anne Elizabeth and ONCE A SEAL

Anne Elizabeth is my personal hero.  I met this vivacious dynamo at the RT Booklovers' Convention/2007 in Houston.   She has a big smile for everyone ... and a bigger heart for the military community.  She tirelessly supports the Navy community in San Diego ... and is the first to offer support for SOS America.   I am honored to host her today as she celebrates the release of ONCE A SEAL, her second book featuring Navy SEALs.    Please join me in welcoming Anne Elizabeth! 

Heroes come in all shapes in sizes. This is the main lesson I’ve learned from the SEAL community. The news media will often celebrate our men--the individuals who have achieved these monumental feats and goals--and yet they don’t necessary see the other side of the hero—his family. The wife that keeps the children fed and loved and moving through the rigors of academic challenges. Or, the children that have to allow the nation to have first dibs on their dad’s time. Spending time in the SEAL community has shown me the gift these family members give and how they, too, are astounding heroes and deserve to be celebrated. So, if I may, I’d like to share what I’ve learned...

Heroes are those individuals that have courage. Let us celebrate the unsung, the super-heroes—spouses and children. True, most wives tend to keep our heads down so as not to rouse the interest of terrorists and bad guys, but for the purpose of this blog and the amazing woman that hosts it, I want to say...this is one of the reasons I focused on home life for my second SEAL book—ONCE A SEAL. Because it needs to be said, a spouse is a hero. A child is a hero. Who else could better understand that the minute your spouse walks out the door that some appliance is destined to die or the car run out of oil or that your child or grandchild needs a school project built at the same time you have a work deadline or a bill due. These are the events that are not so romantic, that don’t make the news, and yet, these women/spouses are super-heroines and so are their children because they overcome and succeed by their sheer willpower and grit, they demonstrate great valor and values, and do so to honor their country and their mate.

“HOOYAH!!!” I shout to our military kids and spouses, to those readers and organizations that support the military, and all that care. “Your powers are boundless, and we appreciate you. For we know that you, too, are true super-heroes.” And that...is what I have learned from the SEAL community and from all of our brave men and women and their families.

Anne Elizabeth is an award winning romance author, the creator of the teen PULSE OF POWER comic book series, and the Columnist on Comics, Manga, and Graphics Novels for RT BOOK REVIEWS magazine. With a BS in Business and MS in Communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at the RT Book Lovers Convention as well as a member of the Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America. Her published credits include stories with Atria/Simon & Schuster, Highland Press, Dynamite Entertainment, Sea Lion Books, Bravo Zulu Studios, LLC, and Sourcebooks, Inc. She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and now lives in the mountains above San Diego with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL. In her free time, she is also a serious Amelia Earhart who is always on the hunt for a new adventure. Catch AE on the Web at AnneElizabeth.net.

Sailors man the rails aboard the USS Michael Murphy.
The ship is named for Lt Murphy, a fallen SEAL.
public.navy.mil

I posted my five star review of ONCE A SEAL on Amazon (link) and Goodreads (link):

It's going to take a SEAL's strength to make this marriage work

Every woman dreams of marrying the perfect man-handsome, thoughtful, strong, and sensitive -and Aria Kavanagh believes she's found the ultimate hero in Chief Petty Officer Daniel McCullum. But being a U.S. Navy SEAL wife is a serious challenge, especially when the missions are putting more than their love in the line of fire. Can they jump the hurdles and handle the daily rigors without falling apart? Or will the pressures attached to the handsome uniform have them both questioning if their dedication is worth it? Every moment matters when the only thing that truly lasts is love.

Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of ONCE A SEAL to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment Anne Elizabeth's statement, "Heroes are those individuals that have courage."  Do you know a courageous person who is not in the military?   

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Eileen Dreyer and ONCE A RAKE

Back in August, I wrote that I would be attending Barbara Vey's Readers Appreciation Luncheon on April 26, 2014 (link). Readers have a chance to sign up to sit at the table with their favorite author ... and I asked readers to guess which author I chose.    I signed up to sit with .... Eileen Dreyer!  She is a dynamo in persona and a virtuoso in writing.   From her bio (link),

Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.

Eileen laughs with Patricia Rice and Cathy Maxwell

Eileen is celebrating the release of ONCE A RAKE, Book Five in the Drake's Rakes series.   Eileen joins us today to talk about research through travel, "It's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it."  

When Research Is Really Tough

By the way, if you don't know me, you won't know that the title is tongue-in-cheek, because I'm about to talk of the traveling I do for my work. I know. It's a filthy job, but somebody has to do it. And every time the opportunity comes up, my hand is raised first.

I love to travel. Let's get that one out of the way quickly. I am fascinated by people, by places, by anything that is different from the rather predictable life I've led in St. Louis. Not that I don't love home. I do. But there's so much out there to see and hear and taste and smell.

And there is the secret to traveling for research(or researching so you can travel. The differences have long since blurred). When I was first learning to write, one of the most important lessons I learned was from Nora Roberts, and that was the use of senses. In every scene(but especially love scenes). For every character. I mean, even if all you're describing is a rainy day, each character sees it differently. One might look out and be depressed and cold and lonely. Another might see only relief from hard work, or harder sun.

But also, when you tell a story, especially one set in a different place or time, what sets your audience firmly in place and time? Senses. Taste, touch, smell, feel, sight. And the quickest, most thorough way for me to learn that, is to go there.

For instance, in my Drake's Rakes series, I have walked Mayfair in London. Literally. Every street. I know how Curzon Street sweeps downhill and then uphill. I know what Grosvenor Square looks like when the central garden is in bloom. I know how the floor of Berry Brothers squeaks when you walk in the door, and how the famous scales look like an iron chair.

For ONCE A RAKE, I also traveled to the Lyme Regis area on the south coast. Not only is it an area rich in fossils, but the flora and fauna are lush and lovely. The Undercliff, where Lady Clarke paints, is a jumble of ferns and elephant ears and bluebells tucked under oak and beech and fir trees. The cliffs are still uncertain, looking as if they will crumble away at any moment. The Undercliff itself was created when the land slipped in a previous century.

I traipsed across the ground and saw my Sarah and her family following the same paths. I wandered through Lyme with its impossibly steep streets and mismatched shops and stood before the old Post Office where not only Sarah, but Jane Austen posted mail. I smelled the sea and felt the damp air brushing against my face. I heard the chuckle of the waves as they slipped in over the shingle beach. And I saw that wonderful hot spring green carpet the fields, highlighted by iridescent yellow rapeseed fields. I felt the slow, steady pace of the region, where the ocean sets the clocks. And I knew how to walk in my heroine's shoes. (okay, the 600 pound pig she named Willoughby was just an added bonus. I had to look the Large Black breed up).

So, if I've done my job, I will have taken those steps and transferred each and every one into ONCE A RAKE so you can walk along. Let me know if you do. 

Lyme Regis by John Cummings (link)
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Mahalo, Eileen, for joining us at SOS Aloha! I enjoy reading your travels on Facebook. I am looking forward to reading ONCE A RAKE as it teeters atop my TBR pile (the pile is looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa).   I am giving away a print copy of ONCE A RAKE to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Lyme Regis inspired Jane Austen's Persuasion, Henry Fielding's Tom Jones, and John Fowles' The French Lieutenant’s Woman.   Have you read any of these books or seen the film adaptations?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 2, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 3.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Eileen, her books, and her travels, check out her social media:

eileendreyer.com

facebook.com/EileenDreyer
twitter.com/eileendreyer
pinterest.com/eileendreyer
goodreads.com/author/list/19012.Eileen_Dreyer

Aloha to Eryn LaPlant and THE BLUE LUTE

We have a few boxes left from recent move ... they are my husband's books.  It may surprise you to learn that he has more than me!   Still, we both have set an example for our children that books are treasures.  Eryn LaPlant is my guest today to celebrate THE BLUE LUTE ... she also learned from her mother that books are treasures.

 When I was growing up my mother always had books lying about our house. She was an avid reader and I’m so grateful for that, but what I wasn’t excited about were the titles and subjects of her reading pleasure. For some odd reason, my sweet, docile and loving mother of five daughters liked to read books about real-life crime, especially stories about mothers killing their children, like Diane Downs in Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule. Don’t ask me why she likes these things, but she does. I think the psychology of what makes a person do these things interested her.

Now, why bring this subject up today? Well, my mother’s fascination with real-life crime caused a spark of interest in my reading as well, but I was more intrigued by historic crime. I was captivated by stories of criminals from what historians call America’s 18-month crime spree. From 1933 to late 1934 people like John Dillinger, Baby-face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bonnie and Clyde roamed the Midwest wreaking havoc on banks and little towns in America’s heartland. Some of those criminals were bloodthirsty, others were just out for vengeance, and others still were bored and needed a little thrill and adventure in their lives.

My favorite (and by favorite I mean in interest only, I don’t condone his criminal activity at all) from this short list was John Dillinger. He was handsome and charismatic but ruthless when he needed to be. When I created the villain for The Blue Lute, Nick Abruzzio, I drew on Dillinger.

Luckily, The Blue Lute just made its debut this week and you can read all about Nick Abruzzio and the mayhem he caused in 1928. Is there anyone in your life (we don’t need names) who’s just been a thorn in your side? Tell us about it in the comments below and enter to win your very own copy of The Blue Lute for your Kindle.   

The Blue Lute by Eryn LaPlant

Available from Amazon at this link.

A doctoral candidate in history, Lilly Charles lives in a modern-day treasure trove of 1920s architecture—Manhattan’s St. Jean Apartments. The former hotel was once in the center of New York City’s jazz scene, and holds secrets Lilly is only beginning to discover.

A musical star in his own time, Brandon Crowley lived in an age of prohibition and gangsters, surrounded by the glamour of old Hollywood and the comfort of true friendships. As co-owner of the notorious speakeasy, The Blue Lute, he poured his life and love into his business—as a storm fueled by passion, liquor, murder and money was unleashed. And in the midst of it all, Brandon simply … disappeared.

When Lilly sees Brandon in a nearly 80-year-old photograph from the basement of the St. Jean, her reality comes undone. Could he be the same man she just saw arrested for breaking into the building? As Lilly is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Brandon’s life, a new storm of desire and danger begins to brew. Beneath the silvery moon and glitter of Times Square, an epic love story across the decades is about to unfold.

Kim's picture from Times Square

Mahalo, Eryn, for joining us today.  To enter Eryn's giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about anyone who's a thorn in your side (no names, please).

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Eryn and her books, check out her website at novelisterynlaplant.wordpress.com.