Featured FEB 2010 Release - Scattered Hearts

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love knows no boundaries, accepts no limits. It warms your blood, makes your heart pound. Love can overpower like a giant wave, or enter your soul on silent wings. And sometimes ... sometimes ... it's heart-breaking.

Scattered Hearts goes beyond traditional Valentine's Day tales, offering the reader a collection of stories and poetry, as creative as the thirteen individuals who envisioned them. Read about a boy's surprising choice for birthday party guests. Fly with a Viet Nam pilot whose links to love are baby bottles. Stand alongside a young woman who must face down society and family to be with her soul mate.

These are three of the stories and poems that will touch your heart, and perhaps offer a new way of viewing the one day of the year dedicated to honoring love. Love isn't easy, but, the trip is always worth the ride

****

EXCERPT:

Baby bottles full of ice and dripping with condensation, bulged from my flight suit pockets in a very unmilitary manner.

I climbed through 10,000 feet altitude over Da Nang, South Viet Nam. My wingman rode tight and in perfect lock step with my every move. Operation Rolling Thunder was underway. After long and tedious deliberation, the politicians in Washington had decided we would bomb North Viet Nam... again.

The targets all picked in Washington, with more consideration given to politics than to any strategy, frequently were worthless and always dangerous. As proof of this the objective of today's mission lay to the area west of Hanoi, which required an approach through the heaviest concentration of missiles and the biggest group of MIG fighters in the north.

Do not hit the airfield at Hanoi where all the MIG's are based. Do not fire on anything in the city of Hanoi, where all the missile batteries are located. Let them fire at you, but do not fire back.

*******
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

In 1994 author Elaine Bierbaurer moved to Santa Maria, CA. Among the things she left behind was an active writers group. Needing one for her creative outlet, she set out to form one in her new home town.

She and a fellow resident of Casa Grande Mobile Estates, Sylva Mularcyk, sought out fellow authors, and what would become The Santa Maria California Word Wizards came into being.

The first meeting of Word Wizards happened at Café Monet with five core members. Three of the five are still part of the group.

At first, Word Wizards met on Tuesday evenings. And they still do, but a year ago a daytime group started; and again, fifteen years later, the meetings are held at Café Monet.

Word Wizards has grown to sixteen core members, all talented authors.

******

Scattered Hearts on Amazon: SCATTERED HEARTS

Featured FEB 2010 Release - Prime Suspect by Melanie Atkins

ABOUT THE BOOK:

New Orleans Assistant District Attorney Marisa Cooper prosecutes murderers for a living, but the tables are turned when her ex-husband is found dead in her garage. To prove she didn't kill him, she must team up with her former fiancée, Slade Montgomery, the detective who risks his career — and his heart — to help her find the real killer.

*****

EXCERPT:

"ADA Cooper?" The younger of the two policemen had white-blond hair and a stern countenance. "We met in court a few weeks ago."

She nodded. "Officer Brennan. I remember."

"You reported a dead body?" The older officer cocked his dark head. She didn’t recognize him. The gray marking his temples gleamed in the muted light. Daisy sniffed at his shoes, and he turned his attention to the dog. "Does she bite?"

"Not usually." Marisa pulled the animal back. "The body’s in my garage. It-it’s my ex-husband, Nikolai. Nikolai Assimov. We’ve been divorced a while. I don’t know what he’s doing here. I just—"

"Yes, ma’am. Please stay here." The older officer pulled his pistol and motioned to the younger cop. "You take the back."


******

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Atkins a multi-published author of romantic suspense, a fan of crime dramas, and an avid reader. Writing is more than an escape for her -- it's a way of life. She grew up in the Deep South listening to tall tales and penning stories about her cats. Now she writes gripping stories of love, suspense, and mystery with the help of her furry little feline muses.

******

Link to Prime Suspect on Amazon.com

Prime Suspect

Superbowl Weekend here at Desert Breeze

It's Superbowl weekend and several Desert Breeze Authors have plans for the big events.

J Morgan who hails from Louisana had this to say:

As a Louisiana boy, all I can say is GEAUX SAINTS!

I've waited a long time for this day and plan to make a total fool out of myself before the day is over. As a result my wife Jenn has restricted me to the house during the Super Bowl. So, we're doing a Mexican dinner that night. Nachos, burritos, and whatever else she can come up with that doesn't involve sharp objects to eat. For my attire, I'll be wearing my Deuce and Bush jerseys throughout the game. The Deuce on my body and the Bush as a hat because that is how I roll. Weird I know but I'm going with the lucky charms that got us to the Super Bowl. Not to be alone in my madness, Paco the wonder dog will be wearing his Saints shirt and watching with daddy. A Saints Snuggie may come into play depending on weather.

Jenn will of course sit back and watch the festivities with her finger on speed dial to 911 in case it becomes too much for me.
****

Melanie Atkins said:

I live about three hours north of New Orleans, and I'm a major Saints
fan--have been since their inception. People around here are extremely
excited. Geaux Saints!!!!!


We're just having pizza and snacks. Can't wait!! I usually just
watch for the commercials, but this year I care about the game. It's way
cool.
****

Stephanie Burkhart is rooting for the Saints - and even got her boys Saints jerseys to wear for the big game. Heck, the Saints are due! Sadly, she'll be at working answering 911 Calls when the game is being played

***

Deb Kinnard said:

Steph, when you dress your boys make sure it's in blue & white. Just saying.


Steph: Yikes, I better watch out!
****

Gail Delany said: We’re going to a SuperBowl party at a friend’s house. We’re routing for the Saints, but by what I understand there’s going to be quite the mix of Saints vs. Colts fans at the party.

******

Melinda Elmore added: Have fun at the game, Gail. We are cheering for the Saints too.

****

Nicole Zoltack said: I'm a die-hard Eagles fan so I really don't care either way who wins.

*****

Tina Pinson said: I'm rooting for the commercials.

****

We'd love to hear how you're going to be spend the Superbowl. Let us know who you're rooting for. Keep it friendly.

Featured FEB Release - The Trouble with Love

ABOUT THE BOOK

Love felt a whole lot like PMS—or so Madelyn thought when her childhood friend, Gordy, kissed her.

In the midst of Madelyn’s crumbling business venture and lackluster love life, Gordy breezes back into her town like a snowstorm, with dating on his mind. To top it off, she's got a secret admirer who leaves her flowers every day, a cat who's scared of her own shadow, and a single's group that's growing by leaps and bounds.

But the question remains: just who is this mysterious love interest? And what will she do about Gordy, the man she never thought she’d have romantic feelings for? That’s the trouble with love. She'll have to put her brain on auto-pilot and let her heart decide.

******

EXCERPT

He peered again at the house through the windshield dotted with snowflakes. "I'll think about it. We've seen tons of properties today. Maybe I won't buy a house. Maybe I'll retire early and be a shrimp fisherman in the Carolinas. You know, buy a boat, and spend all my time out on the water."

Madelyn threw him a strained glance. "You never did have a head for comedy." She didn't speak until Gordy parked in the lot near her apartment. "Feel free to come up. I'm gonna veg in front of the TV."

"Sounds good to me."

She listened to his footsteps on the metal stairs behind her then cried out with dismay at the sight that greeted her on her doorstep.

"Hey, look." Gordy picked up a bouquet of six pink roses and a card. "Maybe this is from Derrek." Handing the flowers to her, he broke the seal on the envelope. "Do you mind if I read it?"

******
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction. Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romances, and has recently embarked on writing mysteries. Just like the heroines in her books, she uses sarcastic wit and humor to make people laugh.

After catching the writing bug at the young age of ten, she's gone on to grow her unique writing style. She's an occasional blogger, and has also written a couple of fairy tales (because they're needed in life) and a handful of children's stories (because they're fun) in addition to her romance work.

When not immersed in creating new worlds and funny characters, Sandra likes to read and travel. Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World. It's the place where dreams are born, and that suits her just fine.

Writing is her ultimate dream job.

******

Link to Amazon's Buy the Book site:

The Trouble with Love

Featured FEB 2010 Release - The Family Way

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Lisa thought she walked into her marriage with her eyes wide open, aware of the hard task of getting the approval of her cold, domineering father-in-law. When she discovered she was pregnant, she thought she would finally be accepted, but Todd's reaction to the news was the last thing she expected: "Is it mine?"

She had endured his father's constant criticism because she thought Todd loved her, but now she wasn't so sure. Maybe Todd had never loved her, and he was more like his father than she dreamed. To protect her baby, should she leave him, and refuse to continue the Montgomery family tradition? Where did being a 'good Christian wife' end, and the need to protect her sanity and her baby begin?

********
EXCERPT:

Lindsey, Todd's oldest sister and her husband, Kevin stood in the hall. They were both dressed up for an evening out; suits and high heels, that cashmere coat that looked so good on Kevin, and Lindsey had her hair swept up with the blue and pearl clips Lisa had given her for her birthday.

A stab of envy shot through Lisa, followed by a sharp hunger pang. They were going out for dinner. How long had it been since Todd took her out?

"You're not ready," Lindsey said, after looking Lisa up and down. She chuckled. "Are we early again?"

"Ready for what?" Lisa stood back and beckoned for them to come in. The mantel clock in her office chimed the half hour.

"Yep," Kevin said. "We're early. How's the cartoon business treating you, Lisa?"

"Fine." She looked back and forth between the McNeals, feeling grubbier with each passing second. "What's going on?"

"Todd said you two had something important to tell everybody, so he made reservations at the Mediterranean." Lindsey took a step closer, her blue eyes narrowing a little as she looked over Lisa’s baggy jeans and sweatshirt. "Don't tell me my idiot brother forgot to tell you what time?"

"He didn't bother inviting me." Her throat closed for a minute, then Lisa swallowed hard and tried to smile. "Look, whatever is going on, I'm really not in the mood. I spent the whole day bent over my desk and my head hurts -- "

**********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle has been a book addict since picking up 'The Cat in the Hat'.



She started writing her own stories in junior high, when TV shows didn't turn out like she thought they should. Her first rejection letter came the summer after high school graduation, her first published story was in connection with fan fiction, and her first sale was in the Writers of the Future anthology.



With a BA in theater/English and an MA in Communications, focused on film and writing, she has worked for a local newspaper, then in advertising, and now works as a freelance editor. She is published in multiple sub-genres of romance, as well as SF and fantasy. Awards include being a finalist in the Dreamrealms and EPPIE competitions, with an EPPIE win in 2006.

**********

Buy Link for Amazon's Kindle:

The Family Way

Featured FEB 2010 Release - Outcasts

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Victor turned his back on everything he knew --- Everything he thought he was -- to help Michael Tanner be free.

Something dark haunts Victor, threatening to steal his sanity --- even his life. He doesn't understand it, has no name for it; he only knows the malicious darkness in his mind wants him dead for his treachery in helping the humans.

Only in Beverly Surimoto's tender touch does he find some fraction of peace. But how much can he take from her before it's too much? How much before she realizes the demon he is and turns him away?

********

EXCERPT:

Victor's sorrow was smothering, sucking the air from the room and squeezing Beverly's chest until she had to take a step back and regather her defenses. Swallowing against the onslaught, Beverly walked into the dark room.

Victor sat on the floor with his back against the wall and his knees drawn up, his head buried in the bed of his folded arms. Hot tears burned Beverly's ees as she knelt beside him, his sadness was so tangible. It raised the hairs on her arms and made her heart ache. She had to fight the urge to reach out and touch his hair, smooth her fingers through it, and comfort him. If the intensity of his emotion was this great just by proximity, Beverly was afraid what she would feel if she touched him. Instead, she knelt as close as she dared without making contact and clenched her hands in her lap.

Before she could say his name, he raised his head, his black eyes seeking her out in the dim light. The soft glow of the hydrogen gel from the hallway lit his features, highlighting the damp streaks on his cheeks.

"Beverly," he said, his lips moist from his tears.

She nodded.

His body shook and his expression twisted with agony as new tears filled his eyes and he looked toward the ceiling. Victor laid a hand across his brow, bracing his head as another wave of anguish slammed through him, and through her. Beverly curled her fists, her nails digging into her palms, and she felt her own tears fall. "Victor, please. Tell me. What is breaking your heart?"


******
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gail R. Delaney has been actively writing 'for publication' since 1996. The first novel she ever wrote is still sitting on her computer, waiting for the major rewrite that will make it acceptable. She says she has learned a great deal since writing that book, and it shows when she looks back at that rough draft.

Gail has had eight novels published in the genres of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and futuristic romance. Her novels have received several nominations and awards since she was first published in 2005.

Gail and her family recently moved from the cold and blustry east coast to Southern California, and is loving every moment of sunshine she can soak in.

***

OUTCASTS IS ALSO AVAILABLE at AMAZON.COM
OUTCASTS on AMAZON

An Overview of Feburary's Releases

Hi everyone! February is here and the NEW releases are out with Desert Breeze. I thought I'd share the covers and a little blurb about them before doing my daily features. If you get a chance, head on over to the website and check 'em out!

Smiles,
Steph

A first pregnancy should bring joy, not accusations. For Todd and Lisa Montgomery, it only releases pent-up frustrations and pain, and maybe the end of their marriage.

To protect herself from a killer, ADA Marisa Cooper must turn for help to Slade Montgomery - the handsome detective she left standing at the altar.

Humanity's fight for survival against The Areth begins with destruction and death as one man fights for his sanity, his soul and his life -- finding strength in the touch of a human woman.

Scattered Hearts and Shattered Dreams; Love often isn't what it seems. Enjoy a collection of poems and short stories centered around Valentine's Day from the Santa Maria Word Wizards.

As Valentine's Day approaches, daily flower deliveries arrive from a secret admirer. When he suddenly turns into the guy that got away years ago, how will Madeline deal with all the changes?

The Reviews are in for "Too Hot to Handle"

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Female arson investigator Jennifer Valdez and Fire Marshal Mark Edwards are forced to work together to solve a series of arson-related fires. A series of sabotage incidents occurs that place the blame on Jennifer, and while Mark can't deny he attraction he feels to her, he still has to do his job.

Betrayed by Mark's assumption that she is guilty --- Jennifer is deeply hurt when he can't believe in her innocence. While solving the arson, they must both learn to trust before they can truly love.

*****
THE REVIEWS:

"Mary Hjerleid's debut is a memorable combination of romance, mystery and fascinating details about firefighting"
AMANDA HARTE, Author of "The Hidden Fall Series"

***
"Mark and Jennifer are given plenty of conflicts to overcome, and Ms. Hjerland presents them in a steady and attention grabbing scenario. Her writing style kept me riveted from page one. While the HEA is a given, it is how Ms. Hjerleid maps out the journeys of her hero and heroine that will keep you turning the pages."
4.5 STARS
FENNEL, LONG & SHORTS REVIEWS
Link to the review:http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/too-hot-to-handle-by-mary-hjerleid.html

Congrats on some great reviews, Mary!

The Reviews are in for Marrying Mallory!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Is Mallory Harrington jinxed because her name means luckless? Things have gone wrong for Mallory since she was a small child. All she ever wanted was to have a complete family and live happily ever after. It appears she has it all when she marries Toby Harrington and they have a son. Unfortunately, their marriage ends when Toby has an affair with his law partner. After their divorce, Mallory feels guilt that she couldn't forgive Toby for his affair. As a Christian, she should be able to forgive him for his sin.

Mallory decides to do something for herself, and get a surgical procedure that she's always wanted. What she doesn't expect is her instant attraction to her surgeon.

Sometimes faith is about accepting what can’t be changed and grabbing what God offers her. Life must go on.

******
THE REVIEW:
"Mallory is richly complex, struggling with being a divorced Christian. It’s this hurdle she has to reconcile before she can give her heart to Seth. Craver’s supporting cast is deliciously human and fun to get to know. The friendship between Mallory, Heather, and Elizabeth is endearing."
4 WINGS, Classic Romance Revival, Stephanie, Reviewer

Link to the review:
http://www.classicromancerevival.com/component/resource/article/crr-reviews/22-contemporary/75-marrying-mallory-by-diane-craver.html

The Reviews are in for First Impressions!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sammie Carpenter understands how a uniform influences behavior. Wearing her Army fatigues puts her in the mindset of a soldier and donning her Class-A Uniform always helps her shift into Captain Mode. So what harm could come from her dressing like a saloon girl and strutting through the streets of Tombstone? She didn't know how to flirt to save her life, and she wasn't getting any younger.

When she met the lonesome stud cowboy, Jimmy, she knew he was the one. So why was their communication always so awkward? Couldn't he see that she was interested in him? No matter how hard she tried to win him over, she couldn't seem to get him to see past his first impression of her. But Sammie didn't give up easily. Somehow she would make him see that they were meant to be together, but how can she do that when all of her plans keep falling apart?


******
THE REVIEWS:

From LEE SMITH, BUTTERFLY WINGS:
"I think this is an excellent example of realistic romance today... Christian romance doesn't need to be limited to a peck on the cheek. This is the kind of book that would be wonderful to share with a non-believing friend - or someone who thinks Christian romance is boring."
See the full review at: http://leesmithwriting.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-impressions.html

**********

From: SEQUENCE OF CONTINUOUS EVENTS BLOG
5 STARS
""Michelle is one of those authors that really touches you because she understands the importance of being real. Yes, the book is fiction and fun to read, but it deals with real issues that are usually not addressed in such a straight-forward, understandable way."
See the full review at: http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-impressions-by-michelle-sutton-55.html

*********

From: TARA'S VIEWS ON BOOKS
"First Impressions is not the first book I have read by Michelle Sutton and I sure hope it won't be my last! I thoroughly enjoy Michelle's writing. Michelle writes stories that are closer to reality than a lot of Christian fiction. The edginess of the story makes it believable."
See the full review at: http://tarasviewonbooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-impressions-by-michelle-sutton.html

You can buy Michelle's book at the Desert Breeze Website Page, All Romance Books, and on Amazon.