Serenity by Daryl Devore

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

This is the 8^th or 9^th blog post I’ve written today and it is only 12:35. I have a release and there is a lot of promotion to do for one of those. The post for fabulous Jenna Jaxon’s blog is my next post and my brain has refused to come up with a topic.

I have sent out a character interview, and a writer’s post about settings in a story and another about taglines and so on, but now I sit and stare at my screen.

After 10 minutes of nothing coming to mind, I did what every good writer does – called up my favourite search engine – DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your searches like some other massive search engine sites, so I prefer to use it.

I asked for – blog post ideas for writers. All the standards came up –

Where do your characters come from? Do you draw on real life? Do you create character profiles?

Talk about the first piece you wrote. If possible, share it on your blog!

When did you know you wanted to become a writer? Talk about the moment you thought writing was something to do seriously.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors? Share the lessons you have learned.

Been there. Done that.

Then I remembered readers like to know a bit of a writer’s real life. This past weekend, I sat down with our scanner and a pile of old photograph albums. What an amazing trip down memory lane.

The first year I taught, I was in an outport in the east coast province of Newfoundland. Needless to say, winter was a shock to someone from Southern Ontario.

Then I opened up the photo album that held pictures of a couple of Christmases my family and I spent down in the Cayman Islands. Fond memories. The picture is my daughter, 8, discovering the joys of snorkelling in the ocean. The picture of her failing to water ski is hilarious, but I don’t want to embarrass her.

But this 3^rd picture caught my attention. It brought a calmness to my heart. I’ve labelled it Serenity. I don’t remember where I took the photo – other than it was in Florida. It is now the wallpaper picture on my laptop and when I boot it up – there it is and I have the same reaction. So, take a moment, gaze at the photo and inhale and exhale deeply and maybe you can shrug a bit of the heaviness of life and have a moment of serenity.

What has any of this to do with my latest book – absolutely nothing. It is just there for you to enjoy.

Excerpt from Two Truths and A Lie from the Lawbreakers Box Set

Well, I’d hoped to see Lover Boy again, but I didn’t expect it to be across a poker table in Monte Carlo.

It was late afternoon and I’d finished what I came to Monte Carlo to do, which meant the emerald necklace was safely hidden in the lining of my purse. It was an easy job. The owner of the necklace wanted me to steal it. I’m guessing it’d be an insurance fraud thing. The necklace wasn’t real as they had previously sold off the real stones then substituted some fake ones. I didn’t care what they did as long as I got paid. Judgement free zone.

But now, I needed to distance myself from a certain overweight, older housekeeping employee – who didn’t actually exist – so I decided to go play some poker. Shifting personas from housekeeper to rich socialite was easy, ditch the horrendously ugly, ill-fitting uniform to a sleek, short Katherine Hill dress, add a pair of lovely open-toed stilettos, change wig and colored contacts and – ta da – socialite.

The Casino’s spectacular poker room was quiet when I entered. There were several tables, but only one had players. The ornate décor of the room reminded me of a palace. I’d researched it and knew exactly what I was walking into. I didn’t want to pull some doofus thing and shout, “Holy shit! This place is fabulous.” Instead, with great calmness and sophistication, I entered, casually glanced around, headed to the only table with players, sat down, looked up and almost peed my pants.

Of all the casinos, in all the towns in all the world, he’s sitting at the same poker table. Yes, I’d paraphrased Bogart.

Blurb and Buy Link

If you love hot, billionaire romances, then this is a must read.

From the author of the Two Hearts One Love Trilogy, multi-published, hot romance author Daryl Devoré’s latest book revolves around deceit, betrayal, passion and the theft of a multi-million-dollar, rare, red diamond.

As if multiple planes crashes, a car accident, and a concussion isn’t enough, carefree Byn and straight-lace billionaire, Mark clash over Byn’s need for independence and Mark’s struggle with guilt pushing him in the opposite direction of love. When an art forger, an art thief and a ninety-year-old woman get involved the chance for true love for Byn and Mark fades.

All is lost until a children’s game is their only hope.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791KJYF9

Bio and Social Media Links

Two writers in one. Daryl Devoré writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines. Victoria Adams is Daryl Devoré’s alter ego when she’s inspired to write sweet romances with little to no heat.

Daryl (@daryldevore) lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, a black cat named Licorice and some house ghosts. Her daughter is grown and has flown the nest. Daryl loves to take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter, and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life’s an adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.

Blog – http://daryldevore.blogspot.ca

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daryl-Devore/280168402052520

Twitter – http://twitter.com/daryldevore

Google+ – https://plus.google.com/u/0/107866370365154406917

(or Daryl Devore)

GoodReads Author Page – http://www.goodreads.com/DarylDevore

Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004TJ1354

LinkedIn – ca.linkedin.com/pub/daryl-devore/58/b42/792/

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Daryl%20Devore

Other Books by Daryl Devoré

Love in the Key of C

What Happens in Bangkok

Darien’s Desire

Between Despair and Ecstasy

Braced For Impact

FL.E.S.H.

Capri’s Fate

Black Dorn

Sexy Red Hood

A Kept Woman

Books written by Daryl Devoré writing as Victoria Adams

Dancing in Circles

Circles Divided

Circles Interlocked

A Guy and A Girl

Red Tulip

Posted in contemporary romance, Guest Bloggers, Guest Posts, Promotion | Tagged billionaire romance, contemporary romance, Daryl Devore, hot billionaire romance, jewel thief, Lawbreakers Collection, Two Truths and a Lie | 8 Comments

Southern Comfort Food ~ Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome back to Southern Comfort Food!

Sorry I’ve been absent the past couple of weeks but with the beginning of a new semester and seeing both my daughters either off to a new job or back to college (both are now about 1,000 miles away from home–in opposite directions), plus writing deadlines, I’ve not been cooking much at all. Eating out or eating quick meals will only get you so far, so this morning I decided to return to one of my go-to comfort foods: quiche.

I learned to make quiche while I was in grad school, at a friend’s house because I was renting a room elsewhere and had no kitchen.

I’ve found quiche to be a great, nourishing meal for any time of the day. Now I usually eat it for breakfast. Because of my gluten sensitivity, I usually make mine crustless, so it comes out almost as a frittata. That way it’s also almost pure protein.

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

Ingredients:

4 large or 5 small eggs, beaten

3/4 cups half & half or cream

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (you can use whatever cheese you like–I usually use a Mexican blend because I find it more flavorful. Today’s quiche is a blend of Mexican and Italian)

1/2 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained well. (You want to squeeze all the water out of it or your quiche will be watery)

1 can mushrooms, drained

1 prepared 8″ pie crust (if desired)

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl mix eggs and half and half (when I was a poor college student I would substitute milk when I couldn’t afford the half and half) and beat well.

Add cheese and mix well.

Add spinach and mix.

Add mushrooms, salt and pepper, and mix.

Spray cooking spray on bottom and sides of an 8″ pie pan (or use prepared pie crust). Pour filling into pan.

Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy!

Come back next week for another recipe full of down-home southern comfort. 🙂

Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Southern Comfort Food | Tagged breakfast food, breakfast quiche, crustless quiche, home cooking, Jenna Jaxon, quiche recipe, Southern Comfort Food, Southern cooking, spinach and mushroom quiche | 8 Comments

New Release: Painted Love by Viviana MacKade in Lawbreakers Collection

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Painted Love, my last story, has a lot of art in it. Flo, the Heroine, is a photographer and comes from a family of artists (her mom was a sculptress, her grandfather a painter). Rhett, the Hero, loves art. So, I thought to write my top 5 mix-and-match favorite pieces of art.

NOT in order of my liking:

Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta appraised by Dante and Virgil by Ary Scheffer.

This is what the dramatic side of love looks like. The power, the darkness, the hopelessness. The ultimate price to be paid for it and, with Dante and Virgilio there, the indifference of the world to it all.

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss(Italian: Amore e Psiche) by Antonio Canova.

The perfection of those lines, the tenderness. This was nothing but a piece of rock, and it came to life with such grace. I stood there for so long my legs hurt.

Il bacio(The Kiss) by Francesco Hayez.

Or, the good side of love. There’s romance here, the exciting danger of being caught. The strength of the man and softness of the woman.

The Palazzina di caccia of Stupinigi(Italian: “The hunting residence of Stupinigi“) is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in northern Italy, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

All of it. The building, and all that’s inside. I lived literally 20 minutes from this thing and it never, not once, failed to leave me breathless. It may be because it belongs to me more than everything else in Italy, but nothing compares to it.

A Haystack by Claude Oscar Monet.

This one is comfort, for both eyes and spirit. It looks a lot like the house I grew up with, maybe that’s the reason I love it.

Painted Love by Viviana MacKade

Thou shalt not steal.

Oh, but Florence had, and would do so one last time.

Ten pieces her grandfather painted for her because he loved her.

Ten pieces her mother lost, along with anything else, for loving the wrong man.

She couldn’t get back everything he’d wasted away, but she’d be damned if she’d give up those paintings.

Easy and genuine, Rhett loves his life–his family, his market, his town. Until he meets a British woman with grey eyes and a cute little smile. The woman he’s been waiting for.

The thing is, to love her is easy, but can he trust her?

When Rhett pushes to uncover her agenda, Flo knows she will lose something–the man she loves or what she’d been fighting for years.

Which road will she choose?

BUY LINK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791KJYF9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_JJrxAb981P28A

Excerpt:

“Mister Beckett?”

“Yes, but probably not the one you’re looking for.”

Flo drew in a long breath, praying for patience. “Have I got the wrong number?”

“Nope, just the wrong guy.”

The man didn’t make any sense. Go figure. “I don’t understand. I need to speak with Scott Beckett, please.”

“That would be my brother, who’s currently working. Who are you?”

“Florence Harper. Mr. Beckett and I have been in contact for renting the flat–the apartment.”

The line jumbled for a moment, but when his voice came back had cleared from the worst of the background noise. “Okay, what was that again?”

Few hours in the States and she already missed some nice British manner. And propriety. A rivulet of sweat ran down her temple; January heat was definitely wrong, even more so when she hadn’t showered in too long. “That was me, trying to get in contact with the man who assured me he had a place for me to rent starting tonight.”

“Oh, yeah. The apartment. Look, we’re in the middle of a thing here, where are you?”

“At the address Mr. Beckett gave me,” she said between clenched teeth, then recited the street name and number.

“You’re at the restaurant. Stay right where you are, I’ll be with you in ten.”

Oh, gosh. What was he talking about? “You? I thought the flat belonged to your brother?”

“Let’s say I’m his delegate for the next few weeks. Wait for me, I’m coming.”

He closed the call without waiting for an answer.

With one long intake of breath, Flo rested her back to the wall.

Stupid Crescent Creek.

The Author:

Beach bum and country music addicted, Viviana lives in a small Floridian town with her husband and her son, her die-hard fans and personal cheer squad. She spends her days between typing on her beloved keyboard, playing in the pool with her boy, and eating whatever her husband puts on her plate (the guy is that good, and she really loves eating). Besides beaching, she enjoys long walks, horse-riding, hiking, and pretty much whatever she can do outside with her family.

Find me:

WEBSITE: https://goo.gl/4S7zLe

Amazon Author Page: https://goo.gl/cUzn51

FB: https://goo.gl/NPw2Bz

Twitter: https://goo.gl/vqaLXy

Posted in contemporary romance, Promotion | Tagged art and romance, contemporary romance, lawbreakers, Lawbreakers Collection, Painted Love, Viviana Mackade | 3 Comments

Medieval Monday: Author’s Choice ~ Only For You by Sherry Ewing

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Author’s Choice

This time around on Medieval Monday our theme is simply Author’s choice. Each author get to choose their own theme–celebration, food, betrayal–everything is on the table.

I have chosen a celebration–a wedding and more particularly a wedding night–for my snippet. My excerpt is from Betrayal can be found this week at Sherry’s blog if you’d like to keep up with my story.

This week on my blog, is an excerpt from

Sherry Ewing’s

Only For You

***Since this is an author’s choice theme for Medieval Monday, leave comments for Sherry on each of her blog posts to be in the running for one of her eBooks. She’ll choose a random winner from the comments left and you’ll be able to get an autograph from her through Authorgraph!

Excerpt:

’Twas a tragedy to witness the condition of his home, and even more so that he subjected his new wife and her friend to the dwelling. The rushes were a slimy mess beneath his boots, and he was almost afraid at what he might encounter were he to pass across the floor. Platters of rotting food had been left on several of the tables. He did not wish to speculate on how long it had remained thusly.

Blurb:

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that true love conquers all only after the battle is over…

Katherine de Deveraux has it all or so she believes when she begins her life with her husband Riorden. But as she starts to settle into her duties as the Countess of Warkworth Castle, she finds that an easy life is not only difficult but downright dangerous to her well-being.

Consumed with the haunting memories of his father, Riorden must deal with his sire’s widow who just happens to also be his ex-lover. Yet how could he know just how far Marguerite is willing to go in order to have the life she feels they were truly meant to live?

Torn apart by circumstances neither Katherine nor Riorden could ever imagine, Time becomes their true enemy even while Marguerite continues her ploy to keep Riorden at her side. With all hope lost, will Katherine and Riorden find a way to save their marriage and have their happily ever after ending, or will Katherine be whisked back to where Time truly feels she belongs?

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1MLVECd

AU: http://bit.ly/1EQxFBo

CA: http://amzn.to/1BUjhZj

UK: http://amzn.to/1CBMCHX

Follow along next week on Ruth A. Casie’s blog at www.RuthACasie.blogspot.com

Titles in the Time Enough to Love Series:

Posted in Medieval Monday, Medieval Romance, Promotion | Tagged historical romance, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Only For You, Sherry Ewing | 14 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 02/04/18 To Woo A Wicked Widow ~ Tactics

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

More from my upcoming release To Woo A Wicked Widow, due out in 51 days!

I’m continuing the scene, at a ball, where Charlotte meets Nash, the Earl of Wrotham. We are in Nash’s POV. Charlotte has tripped, fallen into his arms, and he responded with “The pleasure is certainly all mine, my lady.” She has recovered and Nash makes his move. Unfortunately, his plan is interrupted by another man, Alan Garrett, who has a plan of his own to whisk Charlotte away onto the dance floor.

The first speaker is Nash.

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

Well, if she didn’t want to dance with the man, he’d make sure she didn’t have to. “I’m afraid her ladyship has just engaged herself to me for the first set, Garrett. Perhaps her second is still free.” Nash took Lady Cavendish’s hand from the man and turned them toward the floor, where the orchestra was tuning up.

“The thing is, my lord,” Garrett stayed him with a touch on his wrist, “I have the prior claim.”

Nash stared into the insolent blue eyes and forced himself not to call the man out. He’d really like to pummel him into the floor, but such tactics were for the battleship, not the ballroom. He shook off the man’s hand. “The lady has not acknowledged that, sir. I think I will take her version of the events.”

BLURB for To Woo A Wicked Widow:

The war years are behind them.
The future is before them.
And one by one, the widows of Lyttlefield Park are getting restless . . .

Lady Charlotte Cavendish is still the spirited girl who tried to elope in the name of love. That dream was thwarted by her father who trapped her into a loveless, passionless marriage. But now widowed, Charlotte is free to reenter the giddy world of the ton—and pursue her desires. For hardly your typical widow, she remains innocent to the pleasures of the flesh. Yet her life is finally her own, and she intends to keep it that way . . .

Nash, the twelfth Earl of Wrotham, is beguiled by Charlotte at first sight—and the feeling is mutual. When he receives her intriguing invitation to a house party, the marriage-minded lord plans to further their acquaintance. But even he cannot sway her aversion to matrimony, and only with great restraint does he resist her most tempting offer. For unbeknownst to Charlotte, the misadventures of the past are revisiting them both, and bedding her could cost him everything—or give him everything he ever wanted . . .

Available for pre-order at Amazon.

I still have ARC copies of To Woo A Wicked Widow. If you’d like to review the book before its release, please contact me at 1jennajaxon@gmail.com. I’d love to share it with you!

Books in The Widows’ Club series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Posted in Historical Romance, On Regency Romance, On Weekend Writing Warriors, Promotion, The Widow's Club, To Woo A Wicked Widow, To Woo A Wicked Widow, Weekend Writing Warriors | Tagged historical romance, Jenna Jaxon, Regency romance, The Widow's Club, To Woo a Wicked Widow, Weekend Writing Warriors | 22 Comments

New Release! The Storm and the Sea by January George in The Lawbreakers Collection

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Hi Everyone! Thank you, Jenna for hosting me today! I’m so excited to be a part of the Lawbreakers Collection.

The Lawbreakers Collection is available on Amazon!

My story, The Storm and the Sea takes place in Louisiana, one of my favorite places. I think it goes back to my Anne Rice obsession when I was younger, but whatever the reason I’ve been lucky enough to travel through Louisiana a few times, both in New Orleans and out towards Lafayette, where most of my story takes place. Unfortunately, for my characters, they are stranded out in the bayou with nothing to eat. Now, I should probably clarify at this point, I love the architecture, the faded, romantic beauty, the Spanish moss and the cypress trees, I love the jazz and blues, the ghost stories, the history of Louisiana…. But man, I love the food.

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures, and because of that, has always held a place of revered honor in the culinary world. From the powder sugar on your shirt at Café du Monde, to the Turtle Soup at Commander’s Palace and the fried chicken at Willie Mae’s, the city is bursting with unique flavors that you can’t find anywhere else. So, in honor of my poor, starving characters (don’t worry, they get food and a happy ending), I’d like to share with you a recipe for one of my favorite New Orleans classics, Cajun Shrimp. This is a recipe that we used to make at a restaurant where I used to work, I’ve tweaked it a bit, but it’s really easy and delicious! Just not sooo figure friendly, but we all need to indulge a little, especially after being stranded in the bayou!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter

1-pound shrimp shelled and deveined

4 cloves garlic chopped

2 tablespoon Creole or Cajun seasoning

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon Italian parsley

½ lb cooked pasta

Instructions:

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, I recommend a long strand pasta like spaghetti, fettucine or angel hair.

While the pasta cooks, toss the uncooked shrimp in the Cajun seasoning and chopped garlic until coated. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat and then cook the garlic seasoned shrimp until just transparent and starting to brown on the edges. Remove the shrimp from the pan and add the heavy cream, lower the heat before the cream comes to a boil and simmer until the sauce has reduced by half and thickened. Add back the shrimp to the sauce, add pasta and toss to mix. Sprinkle with parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Posted in Promotion | Tagged contemporary romance, January George, Lawbreakers Collection, new release, The Storm and the Sea | 1 Comment

Medieval Monday: Author’s Choice ~ Redeeming the Rogue Knight by Elisabeth Hobbes

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Author’s Choice

This time around on Medieval Monday our theme is simply Author’s choice. Each author get to choose their own theme–celebration, food, betrayal–everything is on the table.

I have chosen a celebration–a wedding and more particularly a wedding night–for my snippet. My excerpt is from Betrayal can be found at Elisabeth’s blog if you’d like to keep up with my story.

This week on my blog, the first excerpt from

Elisabeth Hobbes’s

Redeeming the Rogue Knight

Excerpt:

A knife stabbed Roger’s chest, knocking the wind from him harder than if the blow had
been real. He gripped the doorframe. He must have made a sound because the miller’s
eyes focused on him.

‘Wait your turn,’ the miller barked. ‘She hasn’t yet started on me.’

Lucy whipped her head round. Her face twisted with horror. She pointed a trembling
hand at the door.

‘Get out!’

The miller jerked Lucy round to face him once more.

Follow along next week on Laurel McDonnell’s blog.

Blurb:

The spy who sought refuge… When injured spy Sir Roger Danby comes asking for
shelter at her inn, Lucy Carew is wary. He may be strikingly handsome, but the
disgraced single mother has learned the hard way with men like him. Against her
better judgment, she gives him refuge. Sir Roger has never been at the mercy of a
woman before, and he’s never met one as mysterious and bewitching as Lucy. He
hasn’t come looking for redemption, but Lucy is a woman who could reach in and
touch his closely guarded heart…

Buy Links:

Titles in the Time Enough to Love Series:

Posted in Medieval Monday, Medieval Romance, Promotion | Tagged Elisabeth Hobbes, historical romance, Medieval Monday, medieval romance, Redeeming the Rogue Knight | 7 Comments

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 01/28/18 To Woo A Wicked Widow ~ Ready to Bolt

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

More from my upcoming release To Woo A Wicked Widow, due out in 58 days!

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

“Your dance, Mr. Garrett?” Her brows puckered and she tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. “I don’t recall we spoke about a dance.” The lady shot Nash a fleeting look, but he was unsure if it was a plea for help or an apology.

“I remember it distinctly, my lady,” Garrett said, claimed her gloved hand and squeezed it gently, “you said you would be glad when you could once again be out in society and that you couldn’t wait to dance.”

“Well, yes, I may indeed have expressed such a sentiment, but that did not mean—”

“To which I replied that I would be honored to partner you at the first opportunity, then you smiled and nodded and thanked me.” The blackguard raised his eyebrows, affecting an innocent air. “What else was I to assume except that you had given me permission to seek your first dance?”

She fidgeted, almost dancing now; her eyes had the wild look of a horse ready to bolt.

BLURB for To Woo A Wicked Widow:

Available for pre-order at Amazon.

I still have ARC copies of To Woo A Wicked Widow. If you’d like to review the book before its release, please contact me at 1jennajaxon@gmail.com. I’d love to share it with you!

Books in The Widows’ Club series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 01/21/18 To Woo A Wicked Widow ~ “I am Come to Claim My Dance”

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

More from my upcoming release To Woo A Wicked Widow, due out in 66 days!

(Creative punctuation utilized to conform to WWW rules.)

“It is nice to see you again.”

“As it is to see you as well.” Her voice had a high pitch, but a sweet tone, lilting and light, which suited her down to the ground. “Do you know Lord Wrotham?”

“I have not had the pleasure, I believe,” Garrett said, nodding his head briefly, his eyes still on Lady Cavendish.

“Nor I, Mr. Garrett.” Nash bowed, then straightened to his full six foot three, pleased to see he looked down on Garrett by a couple of inches.

“It has been several months since we met, I think, Mr. Garrett?” she asked as she clutched her fan, but smiled politely.

“March, I believe it was, and I am come to claim my dance as promised.” His eyes glinted when her jaw dropped.

BLURB for To Woo A Wicked Widow:

Available for pre-order at Amazon.

I still have ARC copies of To Woo A Wicked Widow. If you’d like to review the book before its release, please contact me at 1jennajaxon@gmail.com. I’d love to share it with you!

Books in The Widows’ Club series:

And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Pure Innocence by Liza O’Connor

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Jenna Jaxon

Pure Innocence

The Extraordinary Life of Amy Winston, Book 1

Words can harm or heal, depending on the speaker.

While Amy hears only kind words from her uncle, and her four protectors, when she goes into town, or when she’s in the same room with servants the words she hears hurt like stones.

The only way those who love her can discover what is wrong is by saying:

“There once was a girl named Amy…”

And Amy will tell those she trust a story of evil witches and trolls.

BLURB

For some, Amy is an angel incarnate; for others, she is the child of Satan. In her early years, Amy learns the skills of a soldier and discovers she can heal with the touch of her hand. Upon the death of her beloved Uncle John, he stays as a protective ghost to assist the soldiers in their vigilant efforts to keep her safe. Never has a girl arrived at Madam Cousec’s School for Young Ladies with more charm, more friends, or greater protection. She’ll need them all to survive the head girl and set her future in motion.

Excerpt

“There once was a little girl named Amy…” Gunter began and then stopped, allowing Amy to take over the story.

“Whose mother some say was a demon. Amy knows this is a lie, but because so many think it is true, they watch Amy all the time, looking for some proof that Amy is a demon as well. Amy is always very careful not to do things that make them lock her up in pantries or in her closet. She stays with people who like her, like her friends Gunter, Tomas, Brick, and Sam, and she only eats sweet breads at Nelle’s house. But one day, a famous priest was supposed to come to the house and Amy’s uncle, who loves her very much, thought she’d be all too likely to want to watch Gunter get better, so he ordered little Amy to be locked up in her room.”

Amy scrunched her face. “The servants saw this as certain proof that Amy was a demon. Why else would the uncle hide the girl from a priest who casts out demons?”

‘“The girl may have bewitched the poor Earl…but, oh no, not them…not them indeed,’ cackled Mrs. Cole.”

“When they locked her in her room, Amy gets scared they plan to kill her. So, she doesn’t eat the food they give her and goes right off to bed. The moment they close the door, little Amy stuffs her pillows beneath the cover so it looks as if she is still there. Then she sneaks out of the window, and climbs down the tree. She runs like a deer into the woods, to Gunter’s house, where she peeks into the window. She cannot see a thing since all of the spirits have crowded in the tiny cabin. But then a nice old spirit finally takes pity on her and helps her through the window and pushes the others until she has enough room to sit down in the corner. While she cannot see Gunter and the priest, she likewise knows they cannot see her. She listens as the very nice priest calmly brings to light the misunderstanding that had caused the problem so long ago and makes it go away. Then poof, the spirits leave the room, and Amy’s not hidden anymore. The nice priest bends down and smiles at her. He tells her he is glad to meet her.

“After seeing the spirits on to heaven, the priest and Gunter carry Amy up to the house.” She paused and stared at the Father’s thin form. “Well, actually, Gunter carries Amy up to the house, but before they opened the door, he passes Amy over to the Father, so when they walk in, all the servants will know she cannot possibly be a demon. Then they will be nice to Amy and she’ll live happily ever after.”

***

At the door, Gunter kissed Amy on her temple and handed her over to Father Duncan.

Amy looked up at Father Duncan with concern. “I’m not too heavy for you, am I?”

The priest smiled. “No, not even if you weighed a hundred pounds more would you be too heavy for me to complete my task.”

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More About the Author

Liza O’Connor’s favorite books are Pride & Prejudice and Douglas Adams’ five book trilogy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Go figure…

Raised in the southern mid-section of U.S., Liza escaped to the East Coast once out of college. She’s worked as a journalist, a radio DJ, a security guard, a stock broker, a strategist, and a business solutions consultant to name a few of her many occupations. Again…go figure.

She learned to fly planes, jump out of planes, hang-glide, kayak and scuba dive, to name of few of her ‘let’s kill Liza’ sports. However, her favorite activity is to hike with her dog Jess among the shaved mountains of NJ.

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LIZA O’CONNOR

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