Naughty and Nice Blog Hop

Welcome to the 2013 Naughty and Nice Blog Hop sponsored by Safari Heat Book Tours. The hop runs from Dec. 11-16th. All the rules and how the hop will work it listed on the Safari Heat site. Follow the link above.

Grand prize is a Kindle Fire HDX 7” plus books to go on the winner’s new Kindle.

Prize Rules:
Winners that win prizes that have to be shipped need to be in the US or Canada. Sorry this is because of shipping cost. But ebooks (and my e-gift card) can be won by anyone, anywhere. Winners are chosen using Random.org. All the prizes on the hop page except the books for the winner’s Kindle will be given daily. The hop coordinator, Carey, will be randomly popping into blogs to pick winners.

My prize is a $10.00 e-gift card of the winner’s choice: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, whatever, and will be awarded at the end of the hop.

For today, I thought I’d share some quick facts about the main character of The Best Present, my holiday short story in Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology by Debra Holland and Friends.

Ten-year-old Allison Harcourt's life has been turned upside down since her father lost his job and her beloved grandmother died. She's not looking forward to Christmas, especially since she can't figure out how to finish the scarf she's making for her mother. An unexpected stop in Sweetwater Springs brings her and her parents to the boarding house of the widow Murphy. Sometimes sweet things can be found in the most unexpected places.

Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Current residence: Sweetwater Springs, Montana, but only for Christmas
Family: Mother and Father but no siblings
Nickname: Honeybee
Hobbies: Reading
Favorite book: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Talents: Baking and knitting (well, sort of, see blurb)
Favorite holiday treat: Fudge
Favorite carols: Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem and The First Noel
Pet peeve: Adults lying to children “for their own good”
Most treasured possessions: Books given to her by her grandmother
If you could ask your author one question, what would it be? Why didn’t we get to stay at the fancy new hotel instead of the old boardinghouse?

Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology is available at Amazon. 

What’s your favorite holiday treat? Leave a comment below to be entered in the drawing for the $10 e-gift card. If you’d like extra chances to win, you can follow this blog, like my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter (@LyndiLamont). Let me know in the comments if you did any of the extras. (These last 3 are optional but the comment is not. You must comment for a chance to win.)

Comment Example:
Name: Jane Doe
Email: janedoe at yahoo.com
Comment: candy canes
Twitter: Followed
FaceBook: Followed
Blog: Followed
Country You Live In: USA

To keep hopping follow the link below:
http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com

Happy holidays!

Linda McLaughlin

You're invited to the November 18 Facebook launch party for Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology (Montana Sky Series) by Debra Holland and Friends, namely E. Ayers, Linda Carroll-Bradd, MJ Fredrick, Paty Jager, Jill Marie Landis, Trish Milburn, Linda McLaughlin, Bev Pettersen, Tori Scott, and Cynthia Woolf.

Throughout the day, we’ll be “chatting” and doing playful question and answers. Each hour there will be plenty of giveaways, and at the end of the day, commenters will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a Kindle Fire. 

Writing my story, The Best Present, was both challenging and rewarding. It's not easy to write in another author's story world, plus I was unfamiliar with Montana in 1895 (or any other time.) Some research was required. (That was okay since I love research.)

For once, I shed my romance persona and wrote about a ten-year-old girl having the worst Christmas of her young life. I drew on some personal experiences, including my memories of my tenth Christmas, which took place two weeks after the death of my grandmother. Allison's story has a different ending than mine did, but it's the most personal work I've ever written, and it was an emotional experience.

Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology releases Nov. 18 on Amazon but is available for pre-order now.

I hope some of you will join us on Monday to celebrate the release of the anthology at Facebook. It runs from 9AM to 6PM, Pacific time, and I will be there alone (gulp) from 10-11AM. I'd love to see some friendly faces there. I'll be giving away several prizes, including two $10 gift cards of the winner's choice and downloads of my sweet Regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape.

Linda

July News

Hope everyone had a good weekend. This week July events are getting into swing!

Author Cynthia Woolf interviewed me today for her blog. Drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a $5 gift card!

http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-linda-mclaughlin/

Have you heard about Smashwords.com's July Summer/Winter Promotion?

I'm participating, along with lots of other authors. Three of my books are discounted by 50% and one short story is free! Coupon codes are good through July 31.

Lady Elinor's Escape, sweet Regency romance, by Linda McLaughlin is 50% off at Smashwords. Use coupon code SSW50. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406 

Rogue's Hostage, sensual historical romance, by Linda McLaughlin on sale at smashwords 50% off w/ coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291719

Worth The Risk, sensual contemporary romance, by Lyn O'Farrell on sale at Smashwords for 50% off with coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236077

And my short story: How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride, Victorian-era short story, by Lyndi Lamont is FREE at Smashwords w/ coupon code  SW100! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264222

Then look around at the Smashwords site to see what other good deals you can find. The ebooks are always available in multiple formats, so it doesn't matter which reader you use. 

Happy reading!

Linda McLaughlin / Lyndi Lamont /Lyn O'Farrell

Tova's Dragon Featured

My alter ego, Lyndi Lamont, is blogging over at Close Encounters of the Night Kind, talking about how Tova's Dragon came to be written.


Drop vy to read an excerpt or to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the ebook and a $10 Bath & Bodyworks card.

 Linda

Back to Normal But Better

The Book Lovers Buffet is over and so is my mini-blog tour for the release of Lady Elinor's Escape. Now I'm hoping to get back to actual writing!

Congratulations to Jane S. who won the $10 gift certificate. I'm still awaiting the list from the TRS Party to pick the winner of a copy of Romancing the Pages.

And best of all, it rained last night and into the morning here in Southern California. That's not back to normal, it's better than normal! We need rain so badly.

Have a good week, everyone.

Linda

Book Lovers Buffet Extended

GOOD NEWS: Due to popular demand, the Book Lovers’ Buffet “Bouquet of Books” sale has been extended through Sunday, May 5. More than 175 e-books, all reduced in price to just 99 cents. Save in categories such as Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense, Erotic Romance, and more, including my historical romance Rogue's Hostage! I'm loading up my ereader, how about you?

My Lady Elinor's Escape mini-blog tour finishes up today with a First Sight Saturday post at Jill Hughey's blog.

Lady Elinor's Escape is now available at Amazon,  All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Coming soon to other retailers.

Don't forget, the new release giveaway continues through May 5. I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads or Shelfari. (I will friend you back)

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

Linda

American Historical #bookbuffet

Introducing the Book Lovers’ Buffet. Load up, you won’t gain a pound!

The Buffet’s “Bouquet of Books” sale will be open May 1-3. More than 175 e-books, all reduced in price to just 99 cents. Save in categories such as Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense, Erotic Romance, and more, including my historical romance Rogue's Hostage!

PLUS, visit the website to win gift cards to your choice of online retailers. $400 in gift cards up for grabs!

If you're like me, you love Historical Romance. Today I'm focusing on the American-set books in the sale, starting with my own, of course!



Rogue's Hostage - Linda McLaughlin
Colonial American Romance

His hostage.  Her destiny.

From the wilderness of Pennsylvania to the fall of Quebec, Mara and Jacques are thrust into the tumult of war and passion, relying only on their feelings for each other to stay  alive.  Before the war ends, they will risk death, embrace life, and discover love that transcends all bounds.

Improper Situation - Sydney Jane Baily

A 24-year-old confirmed spinster won't risk heartbreak, until a handsome stranger awakens her yearning both for companionship and for indulgent pleasure...

From dusty Colorado to civilized Boston, Charlotte and Reed encounter sinister forces and scorned women. With passions ablaze yet often at odds, they find themselves in a very Improper Situation.




Tame a Wild Wind - Cynthia Woolf
Western Romance from an Amazon Bestselling Western Author

He’s looking for work not love. She’s looking for a ranch foreman not the love of a lifetime.

Former Texas Ranger Sam Colter isn't looking for love.  Neither is pretty widow Cassie O'Malley.  But when a man stalking Sam for killing his brother kidnaps Cassie, Sam discovers it's more than duty that sends him racing to her rescue.  Will Cassie realize the truth about her own feelings before it's too late?

The Escort - Gina Robinson

Young, beautiful Italian mail-order bride Angelina D’Alessandro is married by proxy to an older man she’s never met—her only chance to escape the poverty of Italy for the hope of a new life in America.

Mine owner and explosives expert Tonio Domani prefers to travel alone. In his line of work he can’t afford distractions. Against his better judgment he’s coerced into playing chaperone to a beautiful and tempting bride. But what scares him most is the rising passion he feels for Angelina and the danger of losing his heart to her.

Click here for the page with all the historical books and buy links. Enjoy!

My Lady Elinor's Escape new release giveaway continues through May 5. I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads or Shelfari. (I will friend you back)

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

Linda

Last Chance to Enter

Today is the final day of my Rogue's Hostage Blog Tour. Visit the blog last blog below and leave a comment to enter to win a $10.00 gift card of the winner's choice: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. In addition today's stop also offers a bonus $5.00 Starbucks gift card. Or leave a comment here, as well. Each comment earns a chance to win!

Mar. 2, Sat. Cynthia Woolf's blog
Topic: Interview plus additional giveaway of $5 Starbucks card!

Hope you will join me to explore the dangerous and exciting world of Rogue's Hostage. 

Rogue's Hostage is now available as an electronic download from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and coming soon to Smashwords and other online retailers.

For more information and to read an excerpt, go to http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/rogueshostage.html

Winners will be announced tomorrow. Have a good day. 

Linda

Egg-cerpt Exchange: Summer's Growth

Welcome to Tina Gayle, who started the Spring Egg-cerpt Exchange, and is hosting me today at her blog. Tina is the author of:

Summer’s Growth – 1st Book in the “Family Tree” series

Blurb –

Forced by the family spirits to get a life, Mattie Winston has to train her replacement Amber Harrison to be in charge of all the workings of the Winston estate. Reluctant to make changes in her life, Mattie forms a bond with Amber, when strange accidents start happening which threaten their lives and an unknown ghost makes an appearance.

After being rescued by an old flame, Quincy Miller, Mattie faces old wounds of rejection. As the general contractor for Amber’s redecoration project, Mattie is in constant contact with Quincy and realizes she still in love with her childhood sweetheart.

Amber, learning her new role in the family, wants to discover the identity of the ghost who keeps appearing. After several appearances, Gwen, Amber’s distance grandmother, shifts the book into more of Amber’s struggle to find out why her grandmother disappeared two hundred years ago without a trace. In a fight to claim her position in the family, Amber searches for clues to solve the mystery.

Mattie and Amber are both challenged when the family spirits decides Amber shouldn’t be the keeper. Battling for Amber, Mattie realizes she wants a life with Quincy outside the Winston estate.

Amber realized the importance of her new spiritual family, and she works to discover how Gwen died.

Can these two women achieve their goals?

Read the first chapter at http://www.tinagayle.net/SGchapter.html
Find at www.smashwords.com www.amazon.com

Excerpt:

Standing by the bay window in the front room, Mattie watched the car approach. Her new recruit’s arrival had goose bumps popping out on Mattie’s skin, adding to her anxieties.

She wanted to run, but instead glanced at the kindhearted spirit of Opal, her distant grandmother. Dressed in her best early American gown, the many layers of her petticoat swished with a soft hiss when she moved.

“There’s no reason to be nervous. Once you meet Amber, you’ll see she caps the climax,” Opal voiced in a soothing tone. “Your Aunt Rachel is absolutely thrilled to have a descendant from her branch of the family as keeper.”

Looking beyond her at the rest of the room, Mattie searched for the other members of the family council. They always offered her their support when she faced a big decision. Yet, today they were conspicuously absent.

“Don’t worry. The whole family is behind you. We just thought it better if we didn’t all hover.”      

Shifting from foot to foot, she wrung her hands together. A simple process of a changing of the guard for them, Amber’s arrival marked the end of the life Mattie loved.

The beautiful spirits around her didn’t understand how cruel humans could be to each other. What if she screwed up and the girl left? Or the girl hated living with a house full of spirits?

Unease pricked at Mattie’s mind. She had no experience in dealing with strangers. All her business associates understood her likes and didn’t force her to attend any social events.

A quick glance out the window, and a car rounded the fountain. She wasn’t prepared to entertain Amber. 
How could she be? She never invited guests to the estate.

“Now, Pumpkin, there’s no need to worry. It’s time another branch of the family realize what a pain it is to be keeper.” Opal smiled, offering her special form of reassurance. “We’re all here to help with the transition.”

The high notes of Beethoven’s Fifth sprang from the piano. Mattie jumped in surprise at the sudden noise. She whipped around to see Uncle Samuel, the artist of the family, standing next to the piano.

“The game is afoot.” He arched his eyebrows and grinned, then disappeared.

“I’d better leave.” Her aunt patted Mattie’s shoulder. “Just remember, the girl is uneasy too.”

Opal disappeared.

With a deep breath, Mattie turned and gripped the cold metal knob in her hand.

Soon her home would belong to a stranger, and then what would she do?

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home - www.tinagayle.net
Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle
Google + - https://plus.google.com
Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

First Book Second Chances

I'm excited to be part of the Firsts Blog Hop sponsored by Marketing For Romance Writers along with forty other authors. I hope you are enjoying all the different posts. Our blog hop giveaway is a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. Leave a comment below to enter.

There is nothing more exciting for a writer than that first published book. You never forget the day you get “the call” or the day you behold that first published copy, though nowadays it’s just as likely to be an e-book as a print book. But it’s exciting either way, like your birthday and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.

My writing partner, Anne Farrell, and I each got the call one October quite a few years ago, and our book was published the following April, as Private Affair, Kensington Precious Gem #121, and for an entire month it could be seen in the book section at Wal-Mart! Then it disappeared for more than a decade.

So it is almost as exciting for us to now see the book, now titled Worth The Risk, getting a second chance to reach readers in an updated and revised e-book version. 

Worth The Risk is all about second chances, something our main characters could use. All are wounded: Amanda from a humiliating experience in her past, Mitch from a terrible accident and disastrous marriage, and little Josh from the death of his mother.

Click here for more information including buy links.

Blurb:

Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past. 

Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn't need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh's grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can't fault his son's taste.

Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?

Worth The Risk is available in e-book format from the following ebookstores:

Amazon Kindle, Apple iTunes, Kobo, Nook, Smashwords and Sony Reader

Anne and I hope you enjoy the blog hop. Leave a comment below to win our blog hop giveaway: a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, etc. If you are commenting anonymously, leave your email address so we can find you.

Happy blog hopping!

Linda McLaughlin and Anne Farrell
w/a Lyn O'Farrell

Websites:
Anne Farrell http://annefarrellwriter.com/
Linda McLaughlin http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/lynofarrell

May Giveaway

Update: Congratulations to winner Wilma F. 

I've been doing a giveaway each month and May is no different. Prize is a download of one of my Amber Quill Press titles, including the erotic and M/M romances written under my Lyndi Lamont pseudonym. To enter, comment on this post or email me at:

Winner will be chosen the day after Memorial Day and notified by email.

My bookshelves can be found at:

http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/bookshelf.html and
http://www.lyndilamont.com/Bookshelf.html

Linda McLaughlin also writing as Lyndi Lamont

April Giveaway

Update: Congratulations to Estella K. who won a copy of Desperado!

The heroine of my newest release, Tova's Dragon, is an earth mage, so it seems appropriate to have a giveaway this month to celebrate Earth Day (Sunday, April 22).

 The prize is winner's choice of an electronic download of any of my Amber Quill Press titles, those written under my real name, Linda McLaughlin, or the erotic romance written as Lyndi Lamont.

To enter, send an email to lyndi lamont @ yahoo.com (no spaces) with April giveaway in the subject line. Winner will be chosen on Monday, April 23.

Click here to read an excerpt from Tova's Dragon.

Linda McLaughlin w/a Lyndi Lamont

PROMO: Erotica Giveaway

I'm offering my annual Erotica Stay-At-Home Conference Bag giveaway featuring trade paperbacks, assorted promo items and candy. Go to my website for details on how to win:

http://www.lyndilamont.com

Linda aka Lyndi Lamont

Win a Kindle For Christmas!

A group of AuthorIsland.com authors, including moi, have banded together to offer one lucky winner an Amazon Kindle. Click on the graphic below for details:




I've had my Kindle for over a year now and I'm still loving it. My acupuncturist lusts after mine, esp. since I showed him how to search the Kindle store from the exam room and we discovered that the Shanghai Daily is now available to Kindle users, along with 27 other newspapers, 18 magazines and 2 dozen or so blogs. And that's in addition to the almost 200,000 books Amazon claims is available for the Kindle.

Another thing lots of people don't realize is that the Kindle can read unsecured Mobipocket,. which adds lots of small press books into the mix. Most of my novellas and short stories are available in Mobipocket (.PRC) format. Click here for more on the Kindle.

The only problem is that since Oprah declared the Amazon Kindle one of her favorite things, people wanting to buy the device are having to sait 2-3 weeks to get one, just like I did last year.

Other e-reading options include the Sony Reader which is sold at Borders and Target, as well as online, and the eBookwise.com, currently on sale for for the holidays.

Please forgive the commercial, but I'm a committed e-book reader.

Linda / Lyndi

Win a Halloween Pumpkin Basket

It's that time again, for my annual Halloween Pumpkin giveaway. Details including a photo of the prize are at the contest page of my website:

http://www.lyndilamont.com/contest.html

The prize includes books, assorted promo items and Halloween candy and goodies. The winner will be chosen on October 31. If you'd like to be considered, send an email to lyndilamont@yahoo.com. Subject line must read: Pumpkin Giveaway. Please include your mailing address.

Entrants will be invited to join my Yahoo Announcement Group.

And FWIW, I'm happy to report that my back is somewhat better. Thank heaven for acupuncture! I love it.

Linda / Lyndi