Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Changing Gears by Nancy Sathre-Vogel


My very first bike tour: A comedy of errors

I was curled up in my chair, watching the flames flicker in our wood stove, and I got lost in my thoughts. As the flames flickered, I drifted back through the years and I started thinking about my very first bike tour.
cycling in nepal
After my first tour, it took me several years head back out for another tour – that time I rode from Norfolk, Virginia to New Orleans. A few years later, I took off to spend a year cycling in Asia. This photo is me in southern Nepal.
That first tour I took – I hesitate to even call it a tour – it was really more of a comedy of errors than anything else – but it was start, and I was so proud!
Way back in the early 1980s, I came up with the cockananny idea of traveling on my bike. I had no gear other than a bike and a sleeping bag, but that didn’t stop me. A quick trip to my local K-Mart solved the problem of no rack to put things on and an hour later I was beaming. My mechanical prowess had paid off! I had somehow managed to mount that contraption on my bike.
My gear found its way into a myriad of plastic bags which then were tied and bungeed onto the rack and I was off. Off on a grand adventure! I must have looked like the quintessential bag lady.
My destination was simple – a dam 100 miles from Boise. It sounded like a good idea at the time. The way I figured it, I would pedal fifty miles per day, making a four-day trip. Sounded perfect for the novice I was. I kissed my mom goodbye, promised to call home every day, and set off to find my rainbow.
Five miles from home I almost crashed; something was throwing my bike terribly off. Maybe my mechanical prowess wasn’t as good as I had imagined it to be… It didn’t take long before I discovered a screw had fallen out of my $5 rack.
I found a stick to fit through the holes and continued on my way. Three miles later my stick broke and the rack wobbled dangerously. I replaced it with another. And then another. And another….
Fifty miles went by quickly – fifty miles of sugar beet fields. And cornfields. And onion fields. And broken screw-sticks. I started looking for a place to sleep, but sleeping in some farmer’s field wasn’t an option I considered at the time. Ten more miles went by – ten miles of sugar beets. And another ten miles of onions. I was getting tired. I wanted to stop, but the farms showed no signs of letting up.
98 miles from home (and countless broken sticks) I finally found a spot. In retrospect, it was perfect – a flat grassy spot right next to a meandering creek.
How young and naive I was! I know now that nobody knew I was there. And even if they had known, nobody would have cared.
But at the time, all I could think was, “What if?” What if someone saw me come back off the road? What if someone knew I was camped there? What if someone came back here in the middle of the night? I wasn’t the least bit concerned about being attacked. Or robbed. Or raped.
My greatest nightmare was that someone would come and tell me I couldn’t camp there, and I would be forced to climb back on that god-forsaken bicycle again. I lay there all night long, sure that every passing car was bringing that person who would kick me out. And I didn’t sleep a wink.
I was up and out as the first rays of the sun graced the earth with their presence – eager to escape my torture chamber. I pedaled away … and found a wonderful little campground with a hot spring-fed pool a mere two miles down the road. If only I had consulted my map I would have known that.
I still marvel at the fact that I made it back home in one piece and that I’ve toured many miles since that day, but I learned a lot from that trip. I learned that a good rack is essential. I learned that panniers are a better option than plastic bags. And I learned that it is helpful to consult a map every once in a while.
In many ways things haven’t changed at all. I am still footloose and fancy free. I’m still out chasing rainbows. And the magic of bicycling hasn’t diminished one bit.



Changing Gears:
A Family Odyssey to the End of the World
by Nancy Sathre-Vogel



Nancy Sathre-Vogel is a 21-year classroom veteran who made the decision to leave her teaching career behind to travel the world on a bicycle. Together with her husband and twin sons, she cycled 27,000 miles throughout the Americas, including traveling from Alaska to Argentina. Now she lives in Idaho, pursuing her passions of writing and beadwork.






Follow The Tour Here

Giveaway: 5 ecopies of the book




Genre: Travel memoir/Cycling
Publisher: Old Stone Publishing
Release date: March 21

Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World by Nancy Sathre-Vogel

What would you do if you were not afraid?


Changing Gears is the true story of one woman asking herself that very question. What followed was a family journey of epic proportions – a journey ofphysical challenge, emotional endurance, teamwork, perseverance, and tremendous learning opportunities. It was a discovery of self, of priorities, of accepting hardships, of appreciating blessings, and of contrasting a comfortable past life with the extreme hardship and poverty of those they met.

Would the journey be a dream come true – or a mother’s worst nightmare?

Excerpt:

Highs and lows in Costa Rica

“Congratulations Daryl,” I said. “You’ve just entered your eighth country.”
My son turned to me and said, “What difference does it make, Mom? Crossing a border doesn’t change anything. A border is just a line on a map.”
As I passed through the border formalities, I thought about Daryl’s words. He was right. We were still in the Central American jungle. People on Costa Rica looked exactly like those in Nicaragua. They spoke the same language and worshiped the same god. Nothing changed as we crossed that border except that we spent a different currency.
After spending so many years of my life poring over maps and dreaming of visiting far-flung places, I had developed a bit of a “map syndrome.” I saw a very distinct, physical line at that border. I saw a new country with a new government. In my mind, each country was a separate, unique entity and, of course, the people belonging to that country were unique and different from those from neighboring countries.
Daryl’s words brought me back to reality. There was no line at the border. The people who lived on one side of the border were no different from those who lived on the other. Once we strip away all the wrappers we tend to wrap around people – when we look beyond the language they speak, the clothes they wear, the god they worship, and the food they eat – we are all more alike than we are different. Underneath it all, there isn’t any difference between us at all.
My sons, at age eleven, understood that. I, at 48, was still working on it.
cycling Costa Rica
For miles on end, we cycled through a tunnel of green.
I was pedaling along the Costa Rican road and was quite bored. It was just another day in paradise. Nothing in particular to look at. No villages to keep me entertained. Just mile after mile of lush green jungle.
Then I thought, “This is crazy! Here you are in Costa Rica – COSTA RICA – and you’re bored? Costa Rica is paradise on earth! It’s a traveler’s utopia! Costa Rica is one of the premier vacation destinations in the world! And you’re bored?”
beach costa ricaI feared I had become jaded. I was so accustomed to fabulous scenery and people that I zoned out when I only had tropical jungle to look at. We were pedaling through a lovely area and I wanted to fall in love with the jungle and the green all around and the monkeys swinging in the trees.
Yet I wasn’t quite there. I was so focused on getting out of the blasted heat that I wasn’t paying attention to the small details surrounding me like I generally did.  My mind was so centered on getting to the next town and away from the interminable heat that I missed everything else.
For the first time ever I started to wonder if it was all worth it. Cycling through the jungle was miserable; there’s no other word for it. We awoke in the middle of the night and packed up as sweat poured out of our pores. By first light we were on the road, but it was still blazing hot and the humidity level made it hard to breathe.
I mentally drew a map in my head and figured we still had 800 miles of jungle. 800 miles of being covered with layer upon layer of sweat, sunscreen, and road grime. 800 miles of nothing but lush green jungle on either side of the road. Was it worth it?
I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet – that would come later – but I knew I wasn’t enjoying the journey.
The following day I sunk even lower. We had been amply warned by other cyclists about two things: the hills and the truck drivers in Costa Rica. By all account the hills were the steepest in Central America and the drivers were the worst. In our short time in the country, I had to agree.
We slowly ground up hill after hill while sweat fell like a river from beneath our helmets. At one point, John even took his helmet off and strapped it onto his trailer – he figured he was safer without the helmet than blinded by sweat.
traffic jam in costa ricaAnd the truck drivers did their thing. Their Costa Rican thing. Regardless of whether the far lane was open or not, each and every truck driver that passed by held his ground and refused to budge an inch. It seemed like the attitude was that the lane belonged to them and us cyclists hugging the edge of the road were nothing more than pests.
The third time a truck cut me so close my knuckles actually scraped the side as it whizzed past, I lost it. “What the hell is with this country?” I screamed to nobody in particular. John and Davy were too intent on controlling their own bikes on the narrow road to pay any attention. “This is crazy!” I hollered into the jungle.
All I wanted was to get safely through the country and out the tail end. Was that too much to ask?




Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Chrysalis by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan


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CHRYSALIS 


YA Paranormal Novel

Set to release Summer 2013

Add to Goodreads


About The Book:

After the war between Man and the Supernatural. The world settled back into a harmonious rhythm. Man and Preternatural existing side by side, building a society that was technologically advanced and beneficial to both kinds. Ruled by ThunderKins(Children of the Sun). But there was dissatisfaction in several of the Divisions one of Fire and the other Rain. (Fire) Division did not accept the rule of ThunderKin. The Thunderkin heir was targeted for destruction, believing this would cause the Thunderkin rule to be overthrown. So Chaos was birth and Chaos had a name….Ayda

Ayda Blackhawk was the beautiful, mysterious new girl at Eagle Ridge High School, in the Mountain Division of the New World, She was not there to make friends but to bring destruction. Her assignment? To kill the Thunderkin heir. But Ayda meets Adrian the ThunderKin leader, and through a twist of fate, the rules change which places Ayda, Adrian and their world at the cross roads to either destruction or redemption

The cover was created by the amazing (Amy Rooney-CVWriterDesigns) 
Website: http://www.courtneyvail.com/

Photography by the fantabulous (Tiffany McDonald- Anecdote Photography)
Website: http://www.anecdotephotography.com/home.html

Big Hug and Much Gratitude to the very awesome duo Models
Jessica Becerra - FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/jessica.becerra12?fref=ts
And Javier Gonzales - https://www.facebook.com/#!/javier.gonzalez.1804?fref=ts

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Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is a Young Adult/ New Adult author.

Her titles include a co-written work with Danny Jones calledReahket, her solo young adult novella series Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy and a contribution to the HerStory Anthology released March 08th2013(Pagans Writers Press)

She is also the producer/host of the online radio segment, IndieReview Behind the Scenes, where she and her co-host Jamie B Musings interview Indie authors and musicians.

Michelle has been married for seventeen years and has a fourteen-year-old daughter. A book lover, her favorite genre has always been paranormal adventures.

Find out more about her on her website http://michellecjordan.wix.com/author#!

Follow her on twitter at @mcjordan37

Fan her on FaceBook at IndieWritersreview YA blog http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indiewritersreview-YA-blog/243295842393117

And FaceBook at IndieReview Behind The Scenes Internet Radio

https://www.facebook.com/#!/IndiereviewBehindTheScenes?fref=ts

Website | Twitter | Facebook | IndieReview Behind The Scenes




Thursday, April 25, 2013

Promotional Tour & #Giveaway: The Equation by James Tarrantin

The Equation

by James Tarrantin

Genre: Action/Adventure, Spirituality, Personal Growth & Inspiration
Publisher: Tarantin Ent.
Release Date: November 22, 2012

Book Description:

The Legendary Larry King writes “The Equation is a Cross-Cultural Odyssey, an asset that will inspire in people the science of accomplishment.”

The Equation Book tells a true, cross-cultural saga that spans over 58 Years and explores exciting adventures on 4 continents.

The Story of a young lad named Omer, born to a wealthy family and shackled on an island of battling hierarchies.

The youth leaves his home, and meets great dangers and tragedies as he seeks to discover Time’s Silent Secret.

At the turn of the Millennium, the mission was to track historic clues and discover an Equation that was lost through the times … hidden in the margins. An Equation that whoever finds it will be Transformed. And with its 4 Rings of Power … design destiny.

A Revolution is inspired! Time Stops!

Will the lad transform or bite from the forbidden power and be carried to the brink of Death?

Excerpt One:

Over 13 billion years ago ...when the universe sparked to life ... the spiritual Big Bang accelerated fluctuations of light that swept the void of space with galaxies and dark energy.
Within this creation, a promise was made. In its heart lies the greatest light. The watchmaker watched the creation, as the universe was endowed with the freedom to move on its own.

One infinite garden, yet many trees of life. One humanity, yet many stories. This book is a small story from the inner light: a story that shall explore the Physical World and the Spiritual World. The body of the story shall embark upon exotic adventures across the lands of Planet Earth: from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe, and from the ancient civilizations of the Middle East to the continent of America.

The mind of the story will travel from a little roof to the vastness of the stars, from the fires of the valleys to spiritual summits, from War to Peace, and from the sorrows of a heart to the pursuit of a dream.

There is a treasure. Yes! There is a treasure. A treasure that had been lost for millennia, hidden in the margins of History. A force beyond Time and Space – the source of all innovations. The myth tells that whoever discovers this treasure shall be bestowed 4 Rings of PowerThe Fountain of Youth – Water, Designing Destinies – Wind, The Moment – Earth, and Cosmic Energy – Fire. So let us light the torch of the future and sail towards the unseen!

An exchange of energy always occurs among all living things. Within this circle, within this network of energy ... a small family once lived. But in order for the family to be here today, past generations decided to design the sands of time.
With no fuel or oil, every day, 7 days a week, Planet Earth orbits the sun. Every dawn, when the morning star shines high above, a new hope is born. A long time ago, in a far away holy land, on one of these mornings, an old man named Mati decided to transform.

About The Author:

I believe that success is indivisible; the success of anyone anywhere is the success of all of us everywhere.”

James Tarantin is a Philosopher, Game Architect, Author, the Executive Chairman of Tarantin Ent LLC and the Creator of 4=T²D².

An American Citizen who immigrated to the United States alone with no family, money or any formal education … as a Philosopher, James studied  5 Chief avenues; The Mind, Pragmatism & Enterprises, Morality, Metaphysics and Aesthetics.  These avenues are explored in his written works, such as The Equation.

After several months of deep research and traveling to Rome, James saw the Equation in a dream at age 16. From 9/22/10 – 12/25/10 he handwrote the entire book.

James believes that each person is just around the corner at accomplishing their mountain top. And though he was a poor young man at the time, James was the first immigrant to America, and one of the youngest spiritual thinkers in history, to write a memoir at the age of 25, in a language that isn’t his mother tongue and with no training in writing whatsoever. The first memoir to present a new philosophical theory and explores a rich array of issues: Family Life, History, Mystical Science, Philosophy, Human Evolution, Personal Success, Enterprises, Spirituality, Beauty, The Universe and Cultures on 4 Continents.

At the age of 22, the legendary broadcaster Larry King took James under his wing, and he founded Tarantin Ent LLC … A company to be structured after a 50 page model that includes international business classes, classified strategy science, culture and values, and long-term Life-Cycle vision.

As the company’s Executive Chairman, James has 5 responsibilities: Content Creation, Global Strategy, Legislation, Balancing the Budget, and Transparency.

Before the age of 26, with fierce belief, James created, almost single-handedly: complete screen manuscripts, a library of stories, animated superheroes, a trading card game, the mobile game design script, a technical design document, goods and services, distribution channels, and the platform for a new social network.

You go anywhere in the world, from The Big Apple to Paris and from Brazil to Berlin … the borderline between success and failure is blurred. In this new century, people want something fundamentally different.”

The Equation is the answer spoken by the hearts of young and old, rich and poor.”






Monday, April 22, 2013

Book Tour Interview & #Giveaway: Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World by Nancy Sathre-Vogel


Changing Gears:
A Family Odyssey to the End of the World
by Nancy Sathre-Vogel


Welcome to my humble corner of the blogoshphere Nancy. Thank you so much for taking time to chat today.

BK: When I read the premise of your book, I have to say that I was in awe. What sparks such a family odyssey?

NSV: I wish I knew! I think it comes down to time – my husband and I (both schoolteachers) were spending more time with other people’s kids than we were with our own. We wanted time together as a family and… well, the idea just kind of exploded.

BK: What was it like to travel across the world with your family?

NSV: What was it like? Which day? Some days were perfect. We had springtime temperatures and the wind on our backs. The sun hung in the clear blue sky and snow-capped mountains loomed off in the distance as eye candy for the soul. But other days were really, really hard. So hard that I wondered if I could possibly take another step, but I knew I had to because I couldn’t collapse right there on the side of the road.

Overall, the journey was wonderful in so many ways. It might not have been easy, but it was always wonderful.

BK: Has this brought your family closer?

NSV: For sure! After spending so much time together, working toward a common goal, we are definitely a tight-knit family.

BK: What did the kids think of this journey?

NSV: They were all in. Once they made the decision that they wanted to ride their bikes from Alaska to Argentina, they never wavered in their determination. Toward the end, we were all getting tired, but there was no way we were going to call it quits before we reached the end of the world.

BK: What did you have to do to prepare for this type of journey?

NSV: For us, because we had done quite a bit of bike touring earlier, there wasn’t that much preparation for the journey itself. What took oodles of time, however, was doing all the other stuff that needed to be done. We planned to rent out our house, but it needed to be cleaned up and slightly remodeled. We would be storing our stuff in a barn, but the barn needed fixing up before we could do that. And then there was all the sorting and packing and selling…

BK: Would you do it again?

NSV: In a heartbeat. Now that I’ve already done it, I wouldn’t do this particular journey a second time, but I would get back on my bike and go somewhere else. If we do head out again, I want to just wander around, going where the wind blows me.

BK: What inspired you to write this book about your journey?

NSV: Two reasons. 1) To get it down for my children, so they have a record of it. 2) To show others what’s possible and inspire them to get out and live their own dream, whatever it might be.

BK: Most memorable happening during your family venture?

NSV: There were so many! Overall, I would have to say the most memorable parts were meeting all the wonderful people. Nearly every single day, people went out of their way to help us out. Sometimes they let us sleep on their floor, other times they gave us food or water. It was absolutely incredible to see the amazing generosity of people.

BK: Scariest moment during your venture?

NSV: Being chased by a bear, for sure. The whole story is here: http://familyonbikes.org/blog/2011/09/chased-by-a-bear/

BK: If someone else were to come to you and say, I want to do what you did. What would you tell them?

NSV: I’d say, “Go for it. Know that it’ll be the hardest, but most rewarding thing you’ve ever done. It will test your will and stretch you further than you thought possible, but will also be the best thing ever. Do it.”

BK: After quite an awesome odyssey, what's next for you and your family?

NSV: We are now living in Boise, Idaho, so that our sons can have the chance to put down roots and be part of a greater community. They are involved with FIRST Robotics and Boy Scouts. They are still homeschooled, but are taking a few math and science classes through the schools. Daryl is on the swim team, Davy enjoys running with track and cross country.

I have written my book and am now developing my public speaking. I’m diving back into beadwork, which I neglected during our years on the road.

John made a documentary film about our journey and is doing all kinds of fix-up projects around the house.

BK: Where can readers connect with you Nancy?

NSV: They can find me at www.familyonbikes.org. I’m on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyonBikes.org and Twitter here: https://twitter.com/familyonbikes

BK: I thank you again for chatting with me today. It's been such a pleasure, I can't wait to read your book. I wish you the best of success in the future :).



Nancy Sathre-Vogel is a 21-year classroom veteran who made the decision to leave her teaching career behind to travel the world on a bicycle. Together with her husband and twin sons, she cycled 27,000 miles throughout the Americas, including traveling from Alaska to Argentina. Now she lives in Idaho, pursuing her passions of writing and beadwork.






Follow The Tour Here

Giveaway: 5 ecopies of the book




Genre: Travel memoir/Cycling
Publisher: Old Stone Publishing
Release date: March 21

Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World by Nancy Sathre-Vogel

What would you do if you were not afraid?


Changing Gears is the true story of one woman asking herself that very question. What followed was a family journey of epic proportions – a journey ofphysical challenge, emotional endurance, teamwork, perseverance, and tremendous learning opportunities. It was a discovery of self, of priorities, of accepting hardships, of appreciating blessings, and of contrasting a comfortable past life with the extreme hardship and poverty of those they met.

Would the journey be a dream come true – or a mother’s worst nightmare?

Excerpt:

Highs and lows in Costa Rica

“Congratulations Daryl,” I said. “You’ve just entered your eighth country.”
My son turned to me and said, “What difference does it make, Mom? Crossing a border doesn’t change anything. A border is just a line on a map.”
As I passed through the border formalities, I thought about Daryl’s words. He was right. We were still in the Central American jungle. People on Costa Rica looked exactly like those in Nicaragua. They spoke the same language and worshiped the same god. Nothing changed as we crossed that border except that we spent a different currency.
After spending so many years of my life poring over maps and dreaming of visiting far-flung places, I had developed a bit of a “map syndrome.” I saw a very distinct, physical line at that border. I saw a new country with a new government. In my mind, each country was a separate, unique entity and, of course, the people belonging to that country were unique and different from those from neighboring countries.
Daryl’s words brought me back to reality. There was no line at the border. The people who lived on one side of the border were no different from those who lived on the other. Once we strip away all the wrappers we tend to wrap around people – when we look beyond the language they speak, the clothes they wear, the god they worship, and the food they eat – we are all more alike than we are different. Underneath it all, there isn’t any difference between us at all.
My sons, at age eleven, understood that. I, at 48, was still working on it.
cycling Costa Rica
For miles on end, we cycled through a tunnel of green.
I was pedaling along the Costa Rican road and was quite bored. It was just another day in paradise. Nothing in particular to look at. No villages to keep me entertained. Just mile after mile of lush green jungle.
Then I thought, “This is crazy! Here you are in Costa Rica – COSTA RICA – and you’re bored? Costa Rica is paradise on earth! It’s a traveler’s utopia! Costa Rica is one of the premier vacation destinations in the world! And you’re bored?”
beach costa ricaI feared I had become jaded. I was so accustomed to fabulous scenery and people that I zoned out when I only had tropical jungle to look at. We were pedaling through a lovely area and I wanted to fall in love with the jungle and the green all around and the monkeys swinging in the trees.
Yet I wasn’t quite there. I was so focused on getting out of the blasted heat that I wasn’t paying attention to the small details surrounding me like I generally did.  My mind was so centered on getting to the next town and away from the interminable heat that I missed everything else.
For the first time ever I started to wonder if it was all worth it. Cycling through the jungle was miserable; there’s no other word for it. We awoke in the middle of the night and packed up as sweat poured out of our pores. By first light we were on the road, but it was still blazing hot and the humidity level made it hard to breathe.
I mentally drew a map in my head and figured we still had 800 miles of jungle. 800 miles of being covered with layer upon layer of sweat, sunscreen, and road grime. 800 miles of nothing but lush green jungle on either side of the road. Was it worth it?
I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet – that would come later – but I knew I wasn’t enjoying the journey.
The following day I sunk even lower. We had been amply warned by other cyclists about two things: the hills and the truck drivers in Costa Rica. By all account the hills were the steepest in Central America and the drivers were the worst. In our short time in the country, I had to agree.
We slowly ground up hill after hill while sweat fell like a river from beneath our helmets. At one point, John even took his helmet off and strapped it onto his trailer – he figured he was safer without the helmet than blinded by sweat.
traffic jam in costa ricaAnd the truck drivers did their thing. Their Costa Rican thing. Regardless of whether the far lane was open or not, each and every truck driver that passed by held his ground and refused to budge an inch. It seemed like the attitude was that the lane belonged to them and us cyclists hugging the edge of the road were nothing more than pests.
The third time a truck cut me so close my knuckles actually scraped the side as it whizzed past, I lost it. “What the hell is with this country?” I screamed to nobody in particular. John and Davy were too intent on controlling their own bikes on the narrow road to pay any attention. “This is crazy!” I hollered into the jungle.
All I wanted was to get safely through the country and out the tail end. Was that too much to ask?



Thursday, April 18, 2013

Stranded, Stalked, and Finally Sated by Amelia Rose

Stranded, Stalked, and Finally Sated
by Amelia Rose

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Stalked, Stranded, and Finally Sated
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Publisher: Psion Publishers
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Amazon

Book Description:

Clara Roberts has found herself forced to flee across country, pursued by a madman who seems to have access to every aspect of her life. Consequently, she is off the grid and under the radar when her truck breaks down in a small corner of South western, Oklahoma, and she finds herself at the mercy of a local cowboy. While she knows that she will eventually have to keep running to stay one step ahead of her stalker, she begins to find herself drawn to this man. With his support she decides that her life is something worth fighting for.

Shad Brandt wasn’t sure what to expect when he pulled over to help out the girl on the side of the road, but it isn’t long before he realizes that she was a lot more than he bargained for. He knows that she is running from something, but he can’t quite place his finger on what it is. However, he cannot turn his back on this woman in need and when he opens his home and his heart to her he finds something else entirely. So when danger comes to lay claim to Clara, he finds that he is willing to sacrifice everything to make sure she stays safe.



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About The Author:

Amelia Rose is a shameless romance addict with no intentions of ever kicking the habit. Growing up she dreamed of entertaining people and taking them on fantastical journeys with her acting abilities, until she came to the realization as a college sophomore that she had none to speak of. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion. Amelia has always loved romance stories and she tries to tie all the elements she likes about them into her writing.

Website



Excerpt:
Running was tiring and she so badly wanted somewhere to call home. She had been on her way to stay with a childhood friend in Wichita Falls when her truck broke down, and even though it had only been two days ago, it felt like another lifetime.
“I guess that happens sometimes with older vehicles. The parts aren’t as easy to find as they used to be,” she finally said when she got the coffee swallowed. “Isn’t your friend in Wichita Falls going to be worried about you?” Shad asked, walking around the now clean desk and inspecting the files she had neatly stacked on one side.
“Oh,” she said, setting down her cup next to his on the desk and picking up an envelope from the top of one of the filing cabinets. “Could you mail this for me? It’s a letter telling her what happened.”
Shad smiled at her. “A letter? You have heard of phones, right? We may be out in the country, but we’ve got fancy things like phones and electricity.”
“Old school is just how I roll.” She winked and turned away from him, hoping he wouldn’t catch the fear in her eyes. If her experience with the stalker had taught her nothing else, it had made her very aware of the influence technology had over everyone’s life, even technology as basic as a telephone.
“I’m going to start getting lunch ready. I’ll be sure to come and get you whenever it’s done.”
“What are you making?” she asked, licking her lips mockingly.
“It’s a special recipe. You’ll just have to wait to find out,” he told her, winking a little as he headed to the door.
“You know, as good as you cook, I’m surprised you live in this house alone.” she joked, putting her hands on her hips and smiling broadly. He had cooked all of the meals for the two of them since her arrival. “You’ve put five pounds on me already.”
He looked her up and down, appraising her, and suddenly Clara felt almost naked in the shorts and button-up shirt she was wearing, as if his eyes were searing into her flesh. “You were too skinny. The five pounds filled you out in all the right places.”
He reached out and ran the palm of his hand down her arm. She shivered under his touch, but she didn’t take her eyes from his. They had darkened again, and she could see the desire there and knew it was reflected in hers as well. Before she could think about what she was doing, she put her arms around his neck, drew his face to hers, and kissed him.
His lips were hard at first, but after a moment, they softened, and he returned her embrace. When his tongue slipped into her mouth she groaned low and leaned into him as a fire uncoiled in her abdomen. It had been so long since a man had made her feel this way, and she felt herself slipping into unknown territory.
For once, she let herself go.