Elyse Grant

The Romance Reviews Fall into Love Party

2014-08-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

Welcome Romance Readers! In this excerpt from Parallel Lives, Part 1, Leah is in New York and has received a message from Irene, who is babysitting for her granddaughter, Zoey, in Florida. (Irene is Zoey's other grandma.)

Leah disconnected from the Internet so she wouldn’t be tempted to check email or get back online. She was about to power her phone off when it beeped. Leah saw that several more text messages had come in from Irene.

“Oh, good. More pics of my little ray of sunshine. Couldn’t have come at a better time.” Leah grabbed her smoothie and brought it with her to the couch, where she stretched out, feet on the coffee table, to enjoy a few moments with her granddaughter before digging into the day’s writing.

In the first picture, Zoey was still in her onesie from the night before. Irene must have gotten there early before Ali had a chance to dress the baby. There was Zoey, a plump little ball covered in the pink and purple hearts of the one-piece pajamas, sitting up in the crib playing with some stuffed animals. She had a big grin, which showed her two bottom and two top teeth.

Leah read the text beneath the photo. “Seeing her get this happy just to see me walk in the room makes getting here at 6:30 in the morning totally painless. Had to share. Hugs, Irene.”

“Oh, I am so jealous! Look at that face!” Leah kissed Zoey on the nose through the phone. She clicked on the next text. Zoey was now dressed in a two-piece pink, purple, and turquoise tie-dye leggings set, trimmed in lace, with a big purple heart in the center of her chest.

Irene wrote, “All dressed up with somewhere to go. Off to Mommy and Me class—or in this case, Grandma and Me.”

Now Leah was really jealous. She longed to have the baby for a day and take her for fun outings. She caught herself in the pout Jonathan described and quickly straightened out her face, running her hands around her lips and between her eyes to smooth out any lines. She laughed out loud and spoke to the photo on the phone.

“Zoey, you would love me, wrinkles and all, wouldn’t you?”

She made a face, probably causing more deepening of the lines, and shrugged. “Grandmas are supposed to have wrinkles.”

She clicked ahead to the next shots, but they weren’t very good. None of them were close enough to get a good look at that beautiful face, so Leah clicked back to the photo of Zoey in her pajamas.

Leah kissed the baby’s face on the screen again and placed her cell phone flat on her chest as she closed her eyes to imagine what it would be like to walk in early in the morning and find that little bundle of joy waiting for her with outstretched arms.

She’d pick that baby up and give her a big hug and special grandma kiss. Then she’d bring Zoey over to the futon on the other side of the room and spend some morning love time playing peek-a-boo and other silly games that delight nine-month-old babies.

Leah could smell Zoey’s sweet baby smell and feel the softness of her smooth face. She could even hear the soft baby gurgly laugh. It sounded so real!

She opened her eyes, and there was Zoey on her chest, poking her, wanting to play more. Leah’s mouth stretched wide open, but nothing came out.

Where was she?

* * *

Hope you've enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the visit!

Book Launch Special Introductory Pricing

2014-07-03T17:45:00.000-04:00

I'm pleased to announce that Parts 1, 2, and 3 of my new series, Parallel Lives, are now live on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and All Romance Books.

To celebrate the launch of the series, each part, or "episode," is only 99 cents for the month of July! Download your copies at

We're taking a summer break (like your favorite TV series), but will resume the story with weekly releases of Parts 4, 5, & 6 beginning September 2.

I will be sending subscribers advance notice of releases, previews, and some surprise bonuses, so please subscribe to Elyse's Hot List to be sure you don't miss a thing.

BTW, these are perfect summer reads on your ereader of choice! Enjoy ;-)

Book Launch Contest

2014-06-17T18:22:00.000-04:00

Yay! Parallel Lives Part 1 is now live on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance Books!

I'm very excited to introduce this new story in a serial format, similar to your favorite TV shows. There's a total of six parts, which will be released weekly. Part 1 launched today, Part 2 will be released on June 24, and Part 3 goes live on July 1. We'll take a short summer break, and Parts 4-6 will be released weekly starting September 2.

I'd love to get your help with the launch, and I want to make it fun so here's the deal. Share my Facebook post or reTweet my Tweet and be entered to win a signed beach art poster by Joe Gemignani, the cover photographer!

I should be able to track your shares, but it's a good idea to comment below as well to make sure you're entered. The winner will be announced on Sunay, June 22.

Thanks, and good luck!

Winners Announced! Thank you all for participating!

2014-06-17T11:36:00.001-04:00

A big, hearty thank you to everyone who visited and participated in recent events! Congratulations to the winners named below.

June is such a busy month, and there is another contest coming up! So if your name isn't posted here, stay tuned by getting on Elyse's Hot List or subscribing to the blog. Details for the next contest are on the way!

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party
Winner of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX ebook is Amber Hall.

Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014
Winner of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX ebook is Jessica Crawford.
Winner of the signed Beach Art Poster is Bobbi Kinion.

Winners have been notified by email.

Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014

2014-06-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014!

Blog hops are a great way for authors to give back to their readers and fans by offering some type of giveaway. Many authors offer signed copies of their books, but you can win anything from gift cards, to free ebooks and print books, to Kindle readers.

Each author (I'm one) participating in the blog hop will be offering some type of giveaway on his or her site, and I'm giving away a free ebook copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and —because Leah loves the beach—a free signed art poster by photographer/artist Joe Gemignani!

To enter, all you need to do to join my HOT LIST (top, right of this page)! That's it, and you're in!

In addition to what each author is offering, the Summer Splash Blog Hop is also offering several grand prizes—including a Kindle Paperwhite, $50 Amazon Gift Card, & book giveaways—just for participating in the Hop with tweets, Facebook posts, book purchases, and more. Ready? Get started now at the Summer Splash Blog Hop 2014. (But first don't forget to sign up for my Hot List for a free ebook copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and signed art poster ;-)

Enter to win the Grand Prizes HERE

BLOG HOP BONUS: While you're there be sure to visit the 99c Sale Page. During the 4 days of the hop only, many authors (including me) are offering an ebook for only 99 cents.

New Series Cover Reveal & Launch Dates

2014-06-07T19:17:00.001-04:00

Cover photo ©Joe Gemignani. Cover design by Janet Aiossa.

I'm so excited to reveal the cover for Parallel Lives, my new six-part serial drama to be released in weekly "episodes." In this new series, Leah Gold gets mysteriously transported to a parallel world, which appears to be an alternate version of her life, one with some radically different circumstances—like still being married to the man she divorced fifteen years earlier.

And that's just the beginning of the nightmarish journey. Everything Leah encounters increases her desire to return to her own world—until she comes face to face with evidence that the one decision she's regretted for thirty years is reversed in this alternate lifetime. Now, she's torn between two parallel lives with seemingly no way to merge them.

Part 1 of Parallel Lives will be released June 17. Parts 2 and 3 will follow on June 24 and July 1. Then we'll take a summer break (like your favorite TV series) and resume the story with weekly releases of Parts 4, 5, & 6 beginning September 2.

I will be sending subscribers advance notice of releases, previews, and some surprise bonuses, so please subscribe to Elyse's Hot List to be sure you don't miss a thing.

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Party

2014-06-01T13:05:00.002-04:00

Welcome, romance readers! Here's an excerpt from The Prince Charming Hoax to help you answer the quiz question:

The phone was ringing when Leah turned off the shower. She ran to pick it up, her wet feet slipping on the tile and her hair leaving a trail of water droplets as she raced through her bedroom. She grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”

“Leah, where have you been? Why aren’t you answering any of my messages?”

“Doug?” Damn, she should have checked the call screen.

“Yes. Remember me?”

“Look, I’m dripping wet from the shower, Doug. This isn’t a good time.”

“I’ll be in meetings the rest of the day. I have to talk to you, now. Get a towel. I’ll wait.”

Leah walked back to the bathroom and wrapped herself in her terry robe and pulled her hair back in a clip. “What is it?”

“Leah, have you listened to your voice mail or checked your email since yesterday?”

“No.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ve been busy with Ali.”

“You can tell me about that later. I have some important things to go over with you.”

Leah hated when he took on his corporate “I’m Mr. Important” voice with her, but he didn’t give her a chance to interrupt.

“I'm flying out tonight, and I’ll be away for three weeks,” he continued. “Things are very unstable with the Euro right now, and I have to secure our investments. I won’t be here when you and Ali arrive, but I want you to know that I’ve arranged to have the corporate apartment ready for you. You can stay there indefinitely until I’m able to leave Amanda and get a real place for us.”

“Ali and I aren’t coming to New York, Doug.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not coming to New York to be some high-price courtesan you keep until you’re ready to leave your wife. I never intended to be the other woman, Doug. You are always on the verge of leaving your wife, but you never do. The deal was that when I came to New York, we were going to be together—out in the open. Not hiding like two criminals.”

“It’s not like that, and you know it. I’d leave Amanda in a second if it weren’t for the kids. I can’t leave right now, but I will. I promise I will, as soon as I can. The important thing is for us to be together, Leah.”

He paused and his tone softened. “I love you so much. And I need you now more than ever. Please, Leah. Be patient a little while longer.”

Leah sat on the bed and closed her eyes. She felt herself wavering. She could see his face, his expression when he looked at her lovingly.

She opened her eyes. “No. If you love me, show me some respect. Acknowledge me to the world. Tell everyone I’m your woman.”

“I will, Leah, I promise. It won’t be long now, I swear. But, there are some things I have to take care of first.”

“You know what? I have some things I have to take care of, too, Doug. Like me and Ali. And she deserves a mother who doesn’t hide in dark corners and corporate apartments.”

“What are you going to do, Leah? You were all set to come.”

“Yes, well, now I’m all set to stay. Roxie has found me a very nice place on the beach. Ali and I will be just fine.”

“Leah, meet me in Paris, and we’ll talk this over. I can get you on a flight tomorrow.”

“No way. Ali graduates next week. I’m not going to Paris. Look, Doug. You go to Paris. Save the world economy. I don’t give a damn any more. I don’t want to hear it, any of it. You were very convincing the other night. You’re right. Your children need you.”

“Leah, please think about it a little more. I need you in my life. Maybe after Ali leaves for college, we’ll go away together. We can go to Napa Valley and stay in one of those wonderful bed and breakfasts. You can go to the spa—”

“I’m not taking another trip with you under an assumed name. I’m not taking separate flights and lying to protect you any more. Don’t you get it, Doug? It’s over.”

“Leah, they’ve buzzed me three times for my meeting. I’ll call you—”

“Don’t. Go to your important meeting, Doug. Go to Paris. Just go. Good-bye.” She clicked off the phone and tossed it on the bed.

* * *

Hope you've enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the visit!

Mother's Day Gift

2014-05-05T09:28:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! As a tribute to motherhood, I've shared one of my favorite scenes between

Leah Gold and her daughter, Ali,below.

And, to celebrate, THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX is on 99c through the Big Day on Sunday, May 11. If you buy the print book on Amazon, you get the ebook for free! (Links to ebook retailers below the excerpt.)

EXCERPT

One of my favorite scenes in THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX comes early in the story, in chapter 4. I think it really captures the good mother-daughter relationship, which is a foundation of the book. Ali, has just come from shopping for her prom dress. Let's join them.

Ali, Dana, and Tori spilled out of Dana’s Civic. Leah watched as the girls hugged each other good-bye while Ali retrieved her packages from the trunk. Laughing and all talking at the same time, they were the perfect image of what life should be like at their age with prom and high-school graduation approaching. Ali waved good-bye to her friends and walked toward the house.

“Hi Mommy!” Ali dropped her packages at the door and ran to give Leah a hug and kiss. “I’m so glad you’re home. Wait ‘til you see what I got!”

“My little ray of sunshine, I’m glad you’re home, too.” Leah squeezed Ali. “Did you get a dress today?”

“I got EVERYTHING!”

“Great! Go upstairs and try on the whole outfit so I can see. That is, if you can find a space to stand. Every inch of your room is covered with something.”

“Sorry. I’ll clean it up before I go to work,” Ali gave Leah a peck on the cheek and quickly headed upstairs, arms full of shopping bags.

Leah tore the top sheet off the pad, ripped it up, and threw it in the trash. She was not going to spoil Ali’s joy today. She began to do the dishes as she waited for Ali to come out and show off her finery.

After a few minutes, Ali put on music. “Are you ready, Mommy? I’m coming down.”

Leah ran into the living room and looked up to the top of the spiral stairway. She knew Ali loved to make a dramatic entrance, but she was totally unprepared for what she saw. Her daughter stood on the top step, enveloped by the sun streaming in from the two skylights above the staircase, as if in a spotlight.

Ali had chosen a classic-style gown in white crepe knit with one shoulder strap, a diagonal neckline and slit up the side. Ethereal as Aphrodite, she glided down the steps and rotated at the foot of the stairs, so Leah could see her back. The dress draped down gracefully to her waistline, exposing her back. Ali wasn’t wearing anything under the dress and didn’t need to. She filled every curve of the design perfectly.

Ali had tried to contain her massive golden mane in rhinestone clips, but some of the long heavy curls escaped, framing her face and falling down her shoulders and back.

“Don’t you like it, Mommy? You’re not saying anything.” She searched Leah’s face for an answer.

“Mom, you’re crying,” Ali said, and she rushed over to hug Leah.

“You are so beautiful in every way, Ali. Your hair, your smile, your inner shine. I love you so much.” Leah laughed through her tears. “Don’t squeeze against me, or I’ll get your dress all wet. You better go change out of your dress, now. Thanks, though, for the preview. It was exactly what I needed today.”

Ali’s phone rang and she hiked up the dress as she raced upstairs to answer. Leah smiled. So much for grace and beauty, she thought.

Leah’s humor turned into concern when she heard Ali screaming. She ran upstairs to find her daughter sitting on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

“Ali, what’s wrong?”

“Mom, Justin’s been suspended, and they won’t let him go to the prom.”

“Suspended from school? For what?”

“He told off his coach or something. I don’t know. You know how Justin is. He had a temper tantrum.”

“It must have been pretty bad if got suspended, Ali. Coaches and players fight all the time.”

“I don’t know, Mom. You’re not helping. All I know is the principal said he couldn’t go to the prom. So now I don’t have a date.”

“Oh no. Sweetie, maybe he could apologize to the coach and the principal. There must be something he can do.” Leah sat next to Ali and stroked her hair.

Ali rested her head on Leah’s shoulder, wiping her eyes and nose with a tissue.

“Come on, Ali, get out of your dress before it wrinkles beyond repair.”

Ali sat up and crossed her arms. “What’s the difference? I won’t be able to wear it anyway.”

Leah felt her defensive maternal instinct flaring. If Justin were there, she would have strangled the little twerp.

The phone rang. Ali picked it up. “Hello. Yeah, I’m all right. OK, call me later.”

“Was that Justin?”

“Yeah. He’s on his way to school now with his parents to talk to the principal. They’re going to beg him to let Justin take me to the prom.”

Leah nodded. She knew Justin’s parents loved Ali and probably wanted to strangle him, too.

“You see? Now take off your dress and let me hang it up. It’s going to be all right, Ali. I know it.”

“Mommy, why do guys do stuff like that?” Ali asked as she slipped off her dress.

“Like what?”

“You know. Act tough, mouth off, stuff like that.”

“Guys are turkeys, Ali.”

Leah regretted her statement immediately. “Look, Justin’s a good kid. You know that. He’s just very immature.”

“Does it get better when guys get older?”

Leah was grateful that her phone rang at that moment. “Be right back, sweetie. Let me get that.”

“I know, it could be Doug,” Ali teased.

Leah checked the call screen on her bedroom phone. It was Jonathan Lazarro. “Hi Jonathan.”

“Leee-ah! Haven’t spoken to you in a while. How’s it going? Still moving to New York?”

The last thing Leah wanted to do right now was talk about moving to New York. And Jonathan would gloat if he knew the truth. He had warned her about getting involved with Doug from the very beginning. She had brushed off his admonitions, thinking he wanted a chance with her himself.

“Can’t talk now. I’m in the middle of a crisis with Ali.”

“What’s wrong? Did she break a nail or something?”

“Don’t be an ass. You know she’s not like that. As a matter of fact, her problem is her boyfriend. It doesn’t matter how old guys are, they find ways to fuck women over.”

“Sounds like someone other than Ali is having boyfriend problems. Is something wrong between you and Mr. Wonderful?”

“I gotta go.”

“Wait, Leah. I’m sorry. Really sorry. I called to invite you to a gallery opening this Saturday. You know I was kidding about Ali and the nail thing. Please come with me. It’s free drinks and food and great art. Please.”

Leah sighed. “You know they serve crappy wine at those things. Headache wine.”

“Come on, Leah. If you want, drop by my studio first and I’ll serve you good wine before we go. Please. I haven’t seen you in a while, and who knows when I’ll see you after you move.”

Leah heard Ali’s phone ring across the hall and hoped it was good news.

“All right, Jonathan I really have to go now, though. Call me on Friday and give me all the details.”

“Will do.”

Leah waited until she heard Ali hang up. “Was that Justin?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t sound happy.” Leah peeked her head in Ali’s room. “What happened with the principal?”

“Justin said he and his parents pleaded with Mr. Aronson, but the answer was no. They even brought my picture and asked why I should be punished too.”

“And what did Mr. Aronson say?”

“He said Justin should have thought about me before he got in the coach’s face and screamed profanities. He said it wasn’t the principal or coach’s responsibility to consider me.”

“Ali, I’m so sorry. Are you going to be all right?”

Ali looked worn out, but turned it off with a shake of her head. “Of course I will. I’m your daughter. You don’t let them see you cry and neither do I. I’m going to the prom by myself, and I will be voted Queen! Who needs a King, anyway?”

Leah was startled with her daughter’s comeback. Did Ali really think she’d learned that attitude from her?

Leah brightened. “Ali, I am so proud of you. And, let me tell you something. In that dress and with that attitude, you’ll be more than Queen of the Prom. You’ll be Empress of the World and Ruler of the Universe!”

Leah’s phone, still in her hand, rang. It was Doug’s name on the call screen this time. Leah decided to let voice mail pick up.

“Who is it, Mommy?”

“No one important.” Leah walked back into her bedroom and replaced the phone on the charger cradle next to a framed photo of her and Doug taken in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“My family is just as important as yours, you bastard,” she muttered. “And for once, I’m going to put our needs first.”

* * *

Now through Mother's Day, THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX ebook is only 99 cents at the following retailers:

Parallel Lives, the follow up to The Prince Charming Hoax

2014-04-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

Do you ever wonder what your life might have been like if you married someone else, took that other job, or backpacked across Europe before going to college? Leah Gold gets the opportunity to circle back and travel the road not taken in my new serial, Parallel Lives.

While Leah doesn't go back in time, she is transported through her smart phone (how else?) to a parallel world where her doppelganger is living the life she would be living if she had made some very different major life choices.

Parallel Lives is being written and released as serial episodes—eight in all—one per week. We're starting work on the covers and plan to release the series very soon. Subscribe to this blog or my newsletter to be sure you don't miss the release dates or any of the exciting giveaways I'm planning for the launch.

I've organized some of the links to previously published blog posts with excerpts from the new series so you can read them here, in order:

But, Leah's biggest surprise is yet to come. It's so intense, I get tears in my eyes and a stab in the pit of my stomach every time I think or write about it. There's so much more to come...

A Special Valentine's Day Gift for Readers

2014-02-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

Check out all the 99c Specials here

Happy Valentine's Day, Readers!

Today, I offer a gift from me and an opportunity to feel the love from some other authors, too. To celebrate Valentine's Day, THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and some other great reads are only 99c. (Just click the link below the banner at the top of this post to see them all.)

But's that not all I want to give to you. First, I'm including an excerpt from Chapter 19 below. Second, I'm going to giveaway a copy of My Secrets Discovered, a new novelette by my "sister" Layla Wilcox.

Stay with me after the excerpt for instructions on how to enter a giveaway.

At this point in the story, Leah was angry at Doug for missing her birthday and was having a pretty rotten Valentine's Day.

Leah was stretched out in a bubble-filled Jacuzzi tub in their hotel suite when Doug came back from his day of conference meetings. She heard him come in and call her name, but she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, putting her ears below the water so she could pretend not to hear him. A good number of minutes passed, and she wondered how long it would take him to figure out where she was.

Finally she heard the bathroom door open and what sounded like a cart being rolled in, but kept her eyes closed. She didn’t move until she felt him kiss her gently on the forehead. When she opened her eyes, she burst out laughing. Doug stood on the steps leading up to the tub completely naked and covered in whipped cream. An open bottle of champagne, two glasses, a small vase of flowers, and a tray of unappealing pastries were atop the cart.

Doug held out a glass of champagne in each hand, and offered her one.

“It’s Valentine’s Day, and I couldn’t get a birthday cake or dinner reservations. Every decent restaurant is booked and every bakery only had heart-shaped cakes. So, I ordered the champagne and whatever cake they could find for me at the restaurant here.” He picked up the plate with a flat, stale-looking pastry assortment. “This leaves something to be desired, so let me be your cake. Come on, eat me.”

Leah stood up and wrapped herself in one of the oversize, fluffy white towels. “You look too good to eat. Why don’t you get in this bathtub, though, and clean yourself off. Then we can talk and drink the champagne.”

She walked past Doug, but stopped at the door. “Let’s hope room service hasn’t been overbooked too, and I can order dinner in the room. I’m starving.” She closed the door behind her without waiting for his reply.

Room service came about twenty minutes later and the wait staff set up a romantic table on the terrace overlooking the Gulf, but Doug still hadn’t emerged from the bathroom. Leah opened the door and stood in the doorway. “It’s safe to come out. I’ve officially defrosted, and dinner is waiting on the terrace.”

He was sitting at the vanity, drinking champagne. “There’s not much left in this bottle,” he said. “Should we order another?”

“I have a bottle of wine outside. Come on, let’s eat dinner.”

Doug stood up and approached her slowly. “I’m sorry, Leah. I know you’re angry that I missed your birthday. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

“No. But I’m willing to let you try very hard. This wasn’t just any birthday, you know.”

“I know. Let me start begging your forgiveness with this.” He pulled her to him and kissed her lips and neck and nuzzled her ear. “I am so sorry, Leah. Please don’t be angry with me. I can’t stand it when I think I might lose you. Please forgive me.”

Doug reached into the pocket of the hotel bathrobe he had wrapped around him, pulled out a small box, and placed it into her hand like a peace offering.

“What’s this?”

“Open it, my love. It’s your birthday gift.”

Leah took the small, elegantly wrapped box and turned it over several times, then shook it, smiling at him. “Any hints?”

“No. Just open it.”

Leah ripped off the wrapping, not being careful to save the ribbon and lace, as she normally would have done.

“Diamond earrings! Very beautiful, like the roses. Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Let me put these on so I can dine in style.”

She went to the mirror and replaced the earrings she was wearing with her gift. She turned to show Doug, but didn’t try to hide her disappointment. “So, let’s hit the terrace before the dinner gets cold and ruined.” She smiled briefly as she walked past him and out to the terrace.

“Come pour the wine,” she called back to him when she didn’t hear him follow. She sat at the table but Doug didn’t join her. After several minutes, she was about to go in, but he walked out before she could get up.

He held another package out to her. “Maybe this one will suit you better.”

Leah sat with the box in her lap. It was heavy and wrapped in brown paper with a hand-drawn heart in the center. Inside the heart were their initials, as if written on a tree or scratched on the sidewalk: LG & DD 4-ever. She looked up at him. “What’s this?”

“Your Valentine’s surprise. Open it.”

Leah undid the wrapping carefully, making sure to preserve the inscribed heart, only to find a plain white box with no markings. She lifted the cover and gasped. A copy of The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand lay in the center of the box, surrounded by crumpled tissue paper for protection. She lifted it out carefully and opened the cover. It was a first printing, signed by Rand. A card fell out as she started to turn the pages. Leah retrieved it from the floor with shaking hands, opened it, and read:

Dearest Leah, I know that one day your books will be as well known and dearly loved as those of Ayn Rand. She may be your favorite author, but you are mine. Happy Valentine’s Day, Birthday Girl. Love, Doug

Leah put the card and the book back in the box and stood up, facing Doug. “That is the best gift I’ve ever received. Forgive me for doubting your love.”

They stood across from one another, not touching, but caressing each other with their eyes, until Doug abruptly scooped her up and carried her inside. “I promised you some whipped cream topping, and you are going to get it.”

When he placed Leah down gently in the bed, something on the nightstand caught her eye. She broke out in hysterical laughter as she grabbed the can of whipped cream and squirted it down her top. “I’d rather wear it and have you lick it off me, if you don’t mind.”

Doug’s bathrobe fell to the ground and he leaned over her on the bed, placing his face in her breasts. Leah heard a muffled, “My pleasure,” as she leaned back and let herself be devoured.

To win a free ebook copy of My Secrets Discovered by Layla Wilcox, just comment below and tell me what brought Leah's spirits around on Valentine's Day. (Hint: You have to read the excerpt above.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Home for the Holidays

2013-11-13T00:30:00.000-05:00

To win one of the Grand Prizes, leave a comment with your email address in the Comments below.

Check the Event Page for links to all the participating authors. Each blog comment is another entry in the drawing.

Holidays are a time for giving and for sharing, so I'll be doing a little of both here. To start, I'm sharing a holiday recipe. Truth be told, I'm not much of a cook. My talents lie elsewhere, if you know what I mean ;-)

So, here is a very simple recipe for a delicious holiday cranberry sauce...on the spicy side, like my fiction.

Spicy Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

12-oz pkg fresh cranberries

1-3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/8 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until berries pop and the mixture thickens, about 20 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate until chilled.

Now it's time for HOLIDAY GIVING!

From me...

and

To enter to win a free ebook copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and the signed art poster from photographer Joe Gemignani, join my HOT List to receive occasional emails about giveaways and new releases. That's it! (The sign up form is on the top, right corner of this page.)

An Excerpt from THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX

D.J. didn’t skip a beat when Roxie led him to her closet. He started to go through her wardrobe, which took a considerable amount of time. He finally held up a tiny red slip dress, with several rows of narrow rhinestone straps that crisscrossed in back.

“Try this one on for me. And take your hair down, please.”

Roxie rolled her eyes at him, but took the dress into her dressing area and put it on. The bodice of the dress was very small and the thin, clingy fabric barely covered her nipples, emphasizing her full, round breasts. The back of the dress dipped down to right above the crack in her derriere. The dress was so short that she could not bend over without exposing her cheeks. She had only one pair of tiny panties that could be worn with this dress, and she slipped on the lace thong, which was attached to a tiny triangle of material that barely covered the intended area. She came out of the dressing room, expecting him to say, “Forget it.”

“Perfect! Now put on these shoes.” He held out a pair of Stuart Weitzman high-heel sandals with a rhinestone ball decorating the clear strap across her toes.

“D.J., are you sure? This is the dress I wore last Halloween to a ‘Pimp and Prostitute’ party.”

And, from The Home for the Holidays Blog Hop participants...

Grand Prize Shopping Spree: $450+ Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Second Place Grand Prize: (1) ebook from each participating author.

(Winners selected via random.org)

To enter the Grand Prize Drawing, enter your name and email in the Comments below. Return to the Home for the Holidays Event Page and follow the links to visit each author's blog. Each comment is an entry in the Grand Prize Drawing. Go now!

Summer Splash Blog Hop

2013-07-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Summer Splash Blog Hop 2013!

Blog hops are a great way for authors to give back to their readers and fans by offering some type of giveaway. Many authors offer signed copies of their books, but you can win anything from gift cards, to free ebooks and print books, to Kindle ereaders.

Each author (I'm one) participating in the blog hop will be offering some type of giveaway on his or her site, and I'm giving away a free signed copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and —because Leah loves the beach—a free signed art poster by photographer/artist Joe Gemignani!

To enter, all you need to do to enter is write a comment at the end of this post! That's it and you're on the list!

In addition to what each author is offering, the Summer Splash Blog Hop is also offering several grand prizes—including a Kindle Fire and lots of Amazon Gift Cards—just for participating in the Hop with tweets, Facebook posts, book purchases, and more. Ready? Get started now at the Summer Splash Blog Hop 2013. (But first don't forget to write a comment below to enter the drawing for a free copy of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX and signed art poster ;-)

Enter to win the Grand Prizes HERE

Boomer Lit Friday – July 26

2013-07-25T23:30:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from PARALLEL LIVES, the follow up to THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX. In this book, Leah Gold is given an opportunity to explore what might have happened if she had made different decisions earlier in her life.

Continuing from the Boomer Lit Friday excerpts on July 5 and July 12, and July 19, Leah finds herself mysteriously transported from her own home to her daughter's home while looking at pictures of her granddaughter on her cell phone. In this last excerpt for the Boomer Lit Friday Blog Hop series, we join Leah as she continues to try to figure out what is happening to her.

Once she got the baby all settled in the swing with the music and mobile going, Leah looked around the room for clues to what was going on. She spied a purse and computer case on the dining room table and decided those must be hers. She sat at the table and spilled out the contents of the purse.

Opening the wallet, she found the credit cards and driver’s license compartments. Staring back at her on the license was a photo of the person she saw before in the mirror. The woman with Leah’s face, but different hair and clothes. Then she saw the name: Leah Goldman. What was going on? She had shortened her name to Gold after the divorce. She quickly checked the credit cards. They had the name Leah Goldman, and some were joint accounts with Richard Goldman.

Leah was glad she hadn’t eaten anything yet because she would have thrown up. She was still married to Richard! “This is a fucking nightmare, all right. Let me wake up, or beam me up, Scottie, now!”

Have you ever wondered what your life would be life if you had made other choices—gone on a backtracking trip across Europe instead of attending college right out of high school, or married someone else, or taken a different job... Poor Leah is just getting started on learning about what her alternate path looks like. PARALLEL LIVES will be available late 2013.

If you haven't read THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX yet and want to know more about the life Leah just left, you can purchase the first book in the series as an ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday – July 19

2013-07-19T07:43:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from PARALLEL LIVES, the follow up to THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX. In this book, Leah Gold is given an opportunity to explore what might have happened in her life if she had made different decisions earlier in her life.

Continuing from the Boomer Lit Friday excerpts on July 5 and July 12, Leah finds herself mysteriously transported to from her own home to her daughter's home while looking at pictures of her granddaughter on her cell phone. While everyone else seems the same, she feels different—especially after running her hands through hair. She goes into the powder room to check herself out.

Leah turned on the light and caught sight of her reflection. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. This was a dream, it was. She stepped forward and leaned her hands on the vanity. That wasn’t her in the mirror. It looked like her, but it was definitely someone else. This person’s hair was cut short, just below the chin with bangs across her forehead. Leah pushed the hair back with her fingers. Where was her hair that reached her shoulders without layers or bangs?

Leah’s eyes traveled down to her body. Whose clothes was she wearing? Red knit pants and a striped top? Not something Leah would wear in a million years.

“Time to wake up, time to wake up.” Leah could hear her voice say the words, but nothing happened. She tried clapping her hands and pinching her arm, but still nothing.

Leah thought her heart would burst out of her chest, it was beating so loudly. She hadn’t had a nightmare in years, not since she and Jonathan moved in together. And, bad dreams were never like this. In her dreams, she would be frozen or unable to talk. This was just plain weird.

Next week will be the conclusion of the Boomer Lit Friday excerpts, and Leah will start to get some clues as to what is going on.

PARALLEL LIVES is still a Work in Progress (WIP). If you haven't read THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX yet and want to know more about the life Leah just left, you can purchase the first book in the series as an ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday – July 12

2013-07-12T08:55:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from PARALLEL LIVES, the follow up to THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX. In this book, Leah Gold is given an opportunity to explore what might have happened in her life if she had made different decisions earlier in her life.

Today, we join Leah as she tries to recover from a startling—and possibly unreal— experience. She had been relaxing on the couch, looking at photos of her granddaughter on her cell phone. Closing her eyes to imagine being with Zoey, she hears and smells the baby...it all seemed so real. When she opened her eyes, she was holding her granddaughter.

Leah’s eyes opened so wide she thought they’d pop out. Where was she? Instinctively, she put her hands around Zoey and sat up straight. She looked around in awe. She was in Zoey’s room. Was she dreaming?

Ali poked her head into the room. “Mom, what are you doing? You’d better get her fed and dressed if you want to get to the class on time.” She was gone so quickly, Leah wasn’t sure if she imagined the reprimand. Zoey started to whimper, and was building up to a wail.

Leah heard Ali’s voice down the hall. “Mom, her bottle is on the kitchen counter. What’s with you this morning?”

PARALLEL LIVES is still a Work in Progress (WIP). If you haven't read THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX yet and want to know more about the life Leah just left, you can purchase the first book in the series as an ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday – July 5

2013-07-05T09:00:00.001-04:00

Boomer Lit Friday Blog Hop is Back!! Today marks the return of the weekly event. When you're finished here, be sure to hop on over and read the posts from other boomer lit authors here.

Do you ever wonder, What if...? What if you had taken the other job, married a different guy, gone on a backpacking tour of Europe instead of leaving for college right after high school?

I'm fascinated with the possibilities of how life could be different if only I had... Or, would it be different at all? Does everything end up being the way it's supposed to be, even if we take a different route to get there?

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from PARALLEL LIVES, the follow up to THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX. In this book, Leah Gold is given an opportunity to explore what might have happened in her life if she had made different decisions earlier in her life.

Today, we join Leah as she relaxes on the couch, looking at pictures of her baby granddaughter sent via her cell phone by the other grandma.

Leah kissed the baby’s face on the screen again and placed her cell phone flat on her chest as she closed her eyes to imagine what it would be like to walk in at 6:30 in the morning and find that little bundle of joy waiting for her with outstretched arms. She’d pick that baby up and give her a big hug and special grandma kiss. Then she’d bring Zoey over to the futon on the other side of the room and spend some morning love time playing peek-a-boo and other fun games that delight nine-month-old babies.

Leah could smell Zoey’s sweet baby smell and feel the softness of her smooth face. She could even hear the soft baby gurgley laugh. It sounded so real!

Leah opened her eyes, and there was Zoey on her chest, poking her, wanting to play more.

And a new adventure begins...

PARALLEL LIVES is still a Work in Progress (WIP). If you haven't read THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX yet and want to know more about the life Leah just left, you can purchase the first book in the series as an ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday – April 26

2013-04-25T23:00:00.000-04:00

This will be my last Boomer Lit Friday excerpt for a while. I'm concentrating on finishing the second book in this series and an exciting new project that I'm going to reveal soon. But for now, this week's excerpt is from THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX, the story of best friends Leah Gold and Roxanne Stein, two boomer women trying to break free of the “happily ever after” fairy tale myth of their childhoods.

We're joining Leah and Roxie mid-conversation in Chapter 6.

Roxie paused, like she was deciding what to say next. “Look, I have to say this,” she finally blurted out. “I’m sorry you have a broken heart. But I am happy you’re not moving, and I’m especially happy that’s over between you and 3D.”

“Please don’t start. I’ve been trying to avoid thinking about him at all.”

Roxie squinted her eyes. “Let me just say this about Douglas D. Dowling. A man who cheats on his wife with you is going to cheat on you with someone else one day. He probably already has.”

“Rox, we’ve been through this before. He didn’t do that to me.”

“Oh really? And what do you think he did on those long trips to Paris, London, and Athens?”

“It’s different. Doug loves me.”

“Love, schmuv, Leah. Men were given two working body parts—a brain and a dick. Unfortunately, they can’t use both at the same time.”

“Roxie, you don’t understand. Doug’s not like that.”

“Leah, you read too many romance novels. It just so happens, all men are like that—go ahead and ask one. They don’t even think there’s anything wrong with that scenario.”

Leah stared at her friend. Was there a grain of truth in Roxie’s crude words? She shook her head. “Look, I can’t think about this now.”

Once again, Leah puts off 'til tomorrow what she doesn't want to think about today. Does she ever wise up? Find out...

Purchase the ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday - April 5

2013-04-05T01:00:00.000-04:00

Today's "excerpt" marks a departure from the usual format of Boomer Lit Friday posts. Elyse & I are pleased to tell you that THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX has been selected as as the featured read for the Weekly BookClub Webinar with Angela Harris tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 at 2:30pm ET.

So, instead of the usual short snippet from the book, a special three-chapter excerpt from THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX has been created and is available for download here. Please join Angie Harris at the BookClub Webinar for a fun interview with Elyse & me and an opportunity to ask us questions! At 2:30pm ET on Saturday, you can join the webinar online or call 213-416-1560 to participate by phone (may incur long distance charges).

You can still enjoy the usual round of fun reading from other boomer lit authors at Boomer Lit Friday.

(Please note time for the event has been corrected. The webinar begins at 2:30pm ET.)

Boomer Lit Friday – March 29

2013-03-28T23:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from Chapter 4 of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX, the story of best friends Leah Gold and Roxanne Stein, two boomer women trying to break free of the “happily ever after” fairy tale myth of their childhoods.

We're joining Leah in Chapter 4, which takes place a little later on the same morning as the previous Boomer Lit Friday excerpt.

Leah's gaze traveled to the shelf above her desk. “Doug, how could you do this to me?” she glared at his photo. “I trusted you, and you betrayed me.”

She grabbed the picture frame and threw it inside the top drawer of her file cabinet that held all the mementos of their times together. The drawer was brimming with ticket stubs, postcards Doug sent her from his international business travel, press clippings, and more. Leah slammed the drawer shut, but didn’t feel better.

“That’s not far enough away from me, you prick.” She grabbed a carton and scooped out the contents of the drawer, dumping it all into the box.

Leah was momentarily tempted to rummage through the pile of photos, handwritten love notes, matchbooks from restaurants, hotel room keycards, and maps from cities where they had traveled together. But she resisted the urge, knowing it would only make her feel worse. Instead, she stood up and kicked the box.

“That’s it? That’s what our whole time together amounts to? I can fit it all in one stinking box,” she said as she sealed the top.

Can getting over a betrayal be as easy as packing your memories up in a box? Find out...

Purchase the ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday – March 22

2013-03-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is from Chapter 2 of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX, the story of best friends Leah Gold and Roxanne Stein, two boomer women trying to break free of the “happily ever after” fairy tale myth of their childhoods.

The phone woke her. Leah reached for the receiver. “Hello,” she whispered as she lifted her head to see the clock.

“Good morning! Did I wake you?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know…Doug?”

“I’m in a cab on my way to the airport, and I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to call you later. I wanted to tell you how good it was to see you last night.”

Leah sat up.

“Leah, are you there?”

“Yeah. I just don’t know what to say.”

“I really enjoyed seeing you.”

“You did?”

“Of course!”

“Well, I didn’t enjoy it.”

“You didn't?”

“Maybe you and I were sitting at different tables, but the guy I was with told me he wasn’t ready to leave his wife and kids. What happened at your table?”

“Leah, you knew from the beginning that this was a difficult situation. I told you—”

“And I told you that I don’t share.” Her voice rose and Leah began to shake. “Did you think we could go on this way?”

“Leah, you’re breaking up. I’m at the airport. I’ll call you later as soon as I can.”

“I’m breaking up all right. Good-bye, Doug.” She slammed the receiver down.

Will this really be the end of something Leah never should have started? Find out...

Purchase the ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Boomer Lit Friday March 15

2013-03-15T07:22:00.000-04:00

Today's Boomer Lit Friday excerpt is a continuation of the story where I left off in the previous post, which you may want to read first :-)

We're joining Roxie and D.J. in Chapter 7 of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX, and D.J. has just selected the hooker-style dress Roxie wore for a costume party as what he wants her to wear on their date, but he won't tell her where they're going. Roxie is frustrated with his secretive ways.

“Why are you always so mysterious, D.J.?”

“It’s a Georgia thing. Southern boys aren’t accustomed to answering so many questions from women.”

Roxie sauntered up to D.J. and rubbed his crotch. “If you keep fucking me like you did yesterday, I may just stop asking questions.”

He leaned over and kissed her, pulling her tightly against him.

“Are you always hard?” Roxie breathed heavily, intoxicated by him.

“Lady, when you walk out in that dress, there isn’t going to be one limp dick in South Florida tonight! Let’s go, before I carry you off to the bedroom now.”

Will this turn out to be a night to remember, or regret? Find out...

Purchase the ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Hump Day Hook 5

2013-03-13T07:47:00.000-04:00

Boomer Lit Friday - 2

2013-03-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Week 2 of Boomer Lit Friday. Ever wonder how divorced boomer moms meet men in the suburbs? Sometimes, it's in the most unexpected places. Let's join Leah Gold while she waits for her daughter, Ali, in Chapter 12 of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX.

Leah was seated in the school bleachers one late afternoon, working on a press release for a client while waiting for Ali’s cheerleading practice to end. “Is this seat taken?” a deep male voice asked.

Leah was absorbed in her copy and jumped, dropping her pen. She leaned down to retrieve it, then looked over to the spot next to her on the bleachers. She raised her eyebrow as she looked up at him and said, “This seat?”

“Yes, is anyone sitting there?”

Leah had to grin. The bleachers were practically empty. He could have sat anywhere. She looked more carefully at him. She guessed he was about fifty years old and not quite six feet tall. He had thinning hair and wore jeans, sneakers, and a University of Florida sweatshirt.

“No, no one is sitting there now. I guess you’d better hurry and grab the seat before they’re all taken.”

He smiled. “Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

Will Mr. University of Florida turn out to be Leah's Prince Charming or get on her "meet and delete" list? Find out...Purchase the ebook or paperback at

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.

Hump Day Hook 4

2013-03-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

Boomer Lit Friday

2013-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Week 1 of Boomer Lit Friday. Ever wonder if girl talk is different for boomers? Let's join Leah and Roxie in conversation...from Chapter 20 of THE PRINCE CHARMING HOAX.

Roxie described in detail her evening from the moment she stepped through D.J.’s front door to when Nicky started to get very familiar with Belle on the chaise.

Up to that point, Leah was only mildly interested. They frequently exchanged the intimate details of their sex lives, but this was certainly something new. Suddenly, Roxie’s story became much more exciting. “You’re kidding. You actually saw him put his fingers inside her while they were sitting next to you?”

“Absolutely.”

“What did you do?”

“D.J. suggested I help in the kitchen with dinner, so we sort of exited. Not that it would have made a difference to them.”

“I guess not. Now, that’s something most couples don’t do in front of people they just met. In fact, most couples don’t do that in front of people they’ve known for years! So, what happened next?”

This is one great conversation for eavesdroppers...

Purchase the ebook or paperback at
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords

Read more Boomer Lit snippets here.