#MondayMotivation - #NaNoWriMo: I'm a winner!!

I'm excited to share that I reached 50,001 words on November 21!! Instead of writing one novel for NaNoWriMo, I actually completed 2 novellas that are part of a new trilogy of romances I plan to publish in early 2016. 

NaNoWriMo was a wonderful experience and it helped me get back on track with my writing. If you're participating, comment below and tell me how you're doing and be sure to write on!!

#SampleSunday 2 from Sedução (Seduction)

Please enjoy another short sample from Sedução (Seduction). And CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy today!!!

As Victor stood in line with the others, confusion spread across his face. What was going on? A second later, the door that led from the kitchen to the dining area flew open and in walked the hotel’s general manager, followed by a white woman wearing a navy blue gown and long, white gloves. She was pretty in a plastic surgery kind of way. Her tanned, taut skin and obviously-bleached blond hair alluded to the fact that she was much older than she wanted to appear. Her face was stoic as her eyes roamed the kitchen staff. That is, until she fixed them on Victor. When her gaze met his, her eyebrows lifted ever so slightly and then she let her eyes glide over his entire person.

His facial hair belied his age, made him appear older, but she could tell he was much younger than her… and she liked that.

She shifted her focus to the chef and offered him her hand. Before she could speak, the hotel’s manager said, “This is Mrs. Jennings. She wanted to pay compliments for her meal.”

Mrs. Jennings smiled as she firmly gripped the older man’s hand. “Yes, it was absolutely divine, Chef. The best meal I’ve had in ages. And the service was impeccable.” She released his hand and turned to the manager. “I do have a question for you, though.”

He nodded vigorously. “Yes?”

She slowly sauntered over to where Victor stood, her eyes trained on him. “Why is this young man not on the wait staff?”

“Uh-um…” he stuttered, turning to face the chef who shrugged in response. “I’m not sure. He is new here.”

She tilted her perfectly made-up face to the side and said, “He would make a good addition. He would certainly brighten things up out there.” She reached for his hand. “What is your name, young man?”

Victor understood English well, but the sudden attention had taken him aback, so he stared at the woman’s outstretched hand and remained mute.

“Falar!” the manager said gruffly, which translates to “speak” in English.

“Does he not speak English?” Mrs. Jennings said in horror, as if she weren’t in Brazil and the national language was not Portuguese.

“Yes, I do,” Victor said softly. “My name is Victor.”

She smiled, raised her hand a little to remind him that it was there.

He took her hand in his and squeezed gently.

Mrs. Jennings pulled away, her eyes glued to the young man.  “Victor, how nice. Hmm, I’d like for him to serve me in my suite tonight, that is, if he is available. I’m willing to compensate him myself. Would you like that, Victor?”

CLICK HERE to read another sample from Sedução!!

Thanks for dropping by and until later... be blessed!!

A Gentleman's Agreement #Book Blast

 

Book Title: A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: 10-24-2015

ASIN: B0172YH9XM

Author: Joy Avery

 

 

When it comes to love, all deals are off! Blake Farrington knows exactly who to call when he finds himself needing crisis management. Yes, this task is outside Eunice Howard’s usual realm of responsibilities, but he’s willing to make it worth her time. Plus, she’s ideal for the role. Who better to play his pretend lover than the one woman who knows him almost better than he knows himself? The last thing Eunice Howard expects when summoned to her boss’s office is a request to play the role of his new love interest to appease his mother, restless to marry him off. Foolishly agreeing, she ventures with him to Farrington Estates for the Thanksgiving holiday. She thought she’d seen all sides of Blake Farrington, but the man who emerges is a man she could easily love. Their agreement blossoms into a connection neither expected—nor are willing to admit. 

When the lines between make-believe and reality blur, something phenomenal occurs.  

 

 

 Joy Avery is a contemporary romance author who loves watching her imaginary friends fall in love. When not crafting her next love story, she enjoys reading, spending time with the family, playing with her two dogs, and cake decorating. She’s the author of the novels Smoke in the Citi, His Until Sunrise (book 1 in the Indigo Falls series), Cupid’s Error-a Valentine’s novella, and His Ultimate Desire (book 2 in the Indigo Falls series).  

 The second they rounded the corner, Eunice snatched her hand away. “What the hell was that?” she asked in a whisper.

“What?” He wasn’t truly that clueless, but played so.

She released a heavy sigh and hiked up the stairs. Inside the bedroom, he was on her heels—right until the moment she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door in his face.

Blake leaned against the door jamb. “Are you upset?”

“Yes. No. I mean—” She cursed under her breath.

He couldn’t understand why she’d gotten so distressed. Okay, maybe he’d gone a little overboard, but…

Eunice continued. “I don’t know. Did you—”

She yelped once the door slung open and he was standing there. He flashed one of his award-winning smiles in hopes of lightening the mood. She pushed him out of the way and moved toward the bed. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and she wore a simple white nightgown shirt. It was sexy as hell.

“Did you have to take it that far?” she said.

“We’re supposed to be a believable couple, right?” She narrowed her eyes at him. Had she been a bull, he had a feeling this was the moment she would have charged. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my words would affect you so…deeply. They were pretty poetic, huh?”

Eunice snatched a pillow from the bed and hurled it at him. What was with him and women with pillows?

“Enjoy the floor, Mr. Poetic.”

Blake barked a laugh.

Eunice climbed in bed.

He sobered.

She pulled the covers to her chin.

Blake pulled his hands to his waist. “Eunice?” When she didn’t answer, he rested his hand on the back of his neck. “Come on. You can’t be serious. You’re really making me sleep on the floor?”

“Goodnight, Prat. Sweet dreams.”

There was a hint of laughter in her tone. Frankly, he didn’t find anything funny. “Seriously, that bed is the size of a small island.”

“In that case, you should feel privileged. You have the entire ocean to yourself.”

Every damn body is a comedian in this house. “Okay. I’ll remember this.” This time, humor played in his tone. “See if you get a Christmas bonus.” He escaped into the bathroom, did his before bed rituals, then returned and made a pallet on the floor. Using the remote, he shut off the lights, then attempted to find a comfortable position.

“Blake?”

Ah-ha. I knew she’d feel sorry for me. “Mmm-hmm,” he hummed.

“Your story… This is going to sound strange, but it actually happened to me in Central Park. Weird, huh?”

Not weird at all. Unlike her story, his had been steeped in truth. All except for the approaching her part. Unbeknownst to Eunice, he’d seen her in the park doing exactly what he’d stated. He’d also wanted to ask her out. But before he could, he discovered she’d recently started working for his company. Imagine his surprise when they’d bumped into each other at the annual Spring Fling he threw for his staff.

“Huh. Yeah. That is weird.”

 

 

 

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#MondayMotivation - Week 2 #NaNoWriMo Update

Happy Monday!! Below is a screenshot of my stats from the NaNoWriMo website as of yesterday. Things are still going well for me and I'm on track to finish early. If you're participating, feel free to share your stats in the comments below!

Thanks for dropping by and until later... be blessed!!

#SampleSunday - Sedução (Seduction)

Please enjoy this excerpt from Sedução (Seduction), coming November 30, 2015

(CLICK HERE to Pre-Order!!!!)

When the knock finally came at the door, she glanced at the clock and thought, right on time. She stood from the sofa and slowly sauntered to the door, opening it to find the young man still in his kitchen uniform, his eyes full of curiosity. Myra Jennings smiled and stepped out of the doorway to allow him entry into her room.

Victor walked inside and stood by the door as she closed and locked it behind them. “At your service,” he said, just as the general manager had advised him to.

Myra walked over to the sofa and reclaimed her seat. “Good to hear.” She patted the vacant cushion next to her. “Come. Sit.”

Victor hesitantly sat beside her. “Um, thank you. I am a waiter, now.”

She flashed him a smile as she rested her hand on his knee. “You are more than welcome.”

Victor flinched a little, surprised by her touch. “Um… how can I serve you, Mrs. Jennings?”

“First, you can call me, Myra.”

“Yes, Mrs.—Myra. What can I do for you… Myra?”

She lifted her hand from his knee, stood from the sofa, and shrugged out of her thin, silk robe, allowing the fabric to pool at her feet. She stood before him, naked as the day she was born, wearing a mischievous smile on her face.

#MondayMotivation - #NANOWRIMO Update

Hey, everyone!

We are one week into November and so far NANOWRIMO is going well for me!! I'm working on a story I absolutely love and it's flowing so well I hate to take breaks from writing, but of course I can't write non-stop!

Here are my stats so far:

Average words written per day: 2566

Total words written as of November 8: 20530

If you are a writer, are you participating in NANOWRIMO? If so, how's it going? And if anyone wants to be my writing buddy, my NANO handle is AuthorAThompson

Until later... be blessed and happy writing (and reading)!!


Pssst! CLICK HERE to check out my books on Amazon!!

Secret Places #Book Tour

Book Title: Secret Places 

Genre: Christian Fiction 

Author: Vivian Kay

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Vivian Kay is a debut Christian author whose faith stories are woven around the themes of human fallibility, divine encounters and God's redemptive power. When she is not writing or daydreaming about writing, you’ll find her playing simultaneous games of online scrabble or snuggling up with a good book. A wife and mother, Vivian lives in a quiet corner of Canada’s banana belt.

   

After many years of happiness, Moni Badmus's marriage is falling apart. Unwilling to lose her only child, a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl, to her husband in a custody settlement she goes along with his suggestion of an unconventional marriage intervention. Will Moni’s fear of losing what she holds dear take her to dark places she never imagined she would go? Sam Badmus has lost his thirst for the things of God. For a while, his extramarital activities seemed to be a cure for his unsatisfying home life. But soon his risky behavior exacts a steep price and Sam has to turn to the God he left behind to save his family and maybe even his life. 

Debo Ajala and his wife Adele are living the golden life or so it seems. Debo is a respected church deacon and Adele, a mother to their four adorable sons. Their lives couldn’t be better, that is until Adele’s feelings for another member of their church surface. Adele’s confession unleashes a series of events that Debo never expected. He escapes his troubled life by accepting a pastoral position in a city on the other side of Canada, but soon his twisted past catches up with him. In this emotionally charged tale of sacrifice, temptation, and redemption, two couples learn sin has consequences and there is no place they can hide from the presence of God.

My Review:

This is a quick, easy read that packs a powerful punch. Author Vivian Kay has bravely shone a spotlight on subject matter that is not usually covered in works of Christian fiction and I applaud her for that, because the truth of the matter is, there are people, Christians, dealing with similar situations who need to know and understand there is deliverance and healing available for them. This book clearly illustrated the dangers of letting the tiniest bit of sin creep into your life and/or marriage, whether in thought or deed. It also nicely illustrates the saving grace of God. At times, this book made me cringe, made me angry, and left me in shock--and shouldn't a good book evoke that type of emotion? This reboot of the author's debut novel is definitely worth the read.

 

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