Desert Breeze goes to Lori Foster

Three Desert Breeze Author attended the Lori Foster's event this past weekend, Diane Craver, Michelle Levigne, and Nicole Zoltack. (above photo) Michelle was instrumental in putting together a Desert Breeze Basket with copies of Desert Breeze Books and an ebook reader. The winner of the Desert Breeze ebook reader was Cathy Matuszak.

Michelle let us know that the event raised over $5,500 for a shelter for abused/neglected children and an animal shelter. What a great cause to be involved in! Thanks to Michelle for putting together the Desert Breeze Basket. Michelle, Diane, or Nicole, we'd love to hear more about the event.

Smiles
Moderator Steph

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

Interview with Diane Craver, author of Marrying Mallory

Diane Craver is the author of Marrying Mallory, A new release with Desert Breeze this month. After the interview, Diane offers a chance to win her new book. Let's get started!

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#1 - How did you get the inspiration for "Marrying Mallory?"

As a writer, I have to admit that my stories are sometimes influenced by my many life experiences. Hey, I've lived life fully! LOL For "Marrying Mallory" I used a personal experience that I felt would make for a realistic character. I got into Mallory's mind completely because I know what it's like not to have a cute small nose.

#2 - Do you cast your characters? If so, who is Mallory? Seth?

That's a tough question because Mallory isn't a flawless beauty. Mallory has a large nose so I can only think of one actress and that's Sarah Jessica Parker. I think she's beautiful like Mallory even though she also has a larger nose. But she's thirteen years older than Mallory. Hey, I just thought of an actress to play Mallory and it's Jennifer Garner. They'd have to make her nose larger for the part, but otherwise she seems like Mallory to me and closer to her age.

Now casting an actor for Seth is easy. From the beginning, I've pictured David Conrad as Seth – he plays Jim Clancy on “The Ghost Whisperer”.

STEPH: Jennifer Garner and David Conrad! Perfect choices!

#3 - Do you have a book trailer you can share?

I do – here's the link for my Marrying Mallory trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx47eTrY8M0

#4 - I don't know much about the plot of "Marrying Mallory." What can you tell me about it?

I'd love to tell you about the plot. Mallory isn't happy with herself because she's divorced. She feels strong guilt that she couldn't forgive her cheating ex-husband. As a Christian, she doesn't feel that she has the right to get married again. Also she is unhappy about her outward appearance. She loses fifteen pounds but that isn't enough. She decides to do something for herself and goes to see a plastic surgeon, Dr. Seth Whitman, to have rhinoplasty. Immediately, her life becomes complicated because she's attracted to the doctor. Seth feels the same way about her, and he has trouble maintaining a doctor-patient relationship.

#5 - What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?

My husband and I had a date night a couple of weeks ago. We saw "Everybody's Fine" and I liked it. It was interesting because the adult children don't go home to see their father after their mother has died, so he goes on a road trip to see each one of them. He learns so many things about them that he never knew because his wife thought she was protecting him from how they had really turned out.

#6 - Who are some of your favorite authors?

I've found several new authors from Desert Breeze Publishing and other small publishers. Recently I enjoyed reading Marion Kelley Bullock's ebook, "Christmas Stranger". I have many favorite authors and some of them are: Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark, LaVyrle Spencer, Jude Deveraux, Sophie Kinsella, Judith McNaught, and Sandra Brown.

STEPH: I love Judith McNaught. She's high on my list as well. "Whitney, My Love" is a classic for me.

#7 - Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one? Do you have a tip for it?

I'm happy to say that I received a Kindle for my birthday in November from my husband and kids. It will be great to have so many books on the Kindle instead of having tons of paperbacks all over the house. I absolutely love it, but was nervous using it at first. My tip is if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Kindle support. I had to and they were so helpful.

STEPH: I love my Kindle too!

#8 - I see that you live in Ohio. Tell me something about Ohio that you love.

Right now, I'd rather be in Florida. It is so cold here – 14 degrees and will be cold ALL week plus we had snow today and we are expected to have 5 inches later in the week. I think one thing I love about Ohio has to be the people. People in Cincinnati are friendly. I assumed that it was this way everywhere, but people from out of state tell me that we are much friendlier here. One more thing I love about Ohio is the Ohio State Buckeyes – their football team just won the Rose Bowl! I graduated from there but I won't say when. LOL

STEPH: The Buckeyes rocked this year! They're something to be very proud of!

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Diane's Giveaway:
If you leave a comment on this post, you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of Marrying Mallory. It can be the Kindle or PDF. format. Diane will announce the winner here late Tuesday morning!


Best wishes to you on your latest release, Diane!

Featured January 2010 Release - Marrying Mallory

THE BLURB:
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.


*********
EXCERPT:

He realized he'd made a mistake having coffee with Mallory. He liked her too much which wasn't appropriate for a patient-doctor relationship. Add to that, he thought she was beautiful. Her dark brown hair shone in the bright sunshine that streamed in through the window by their table. Her brilliant green eyes mesmerized him. Incredible eyes with such a sparkle to them that he loved staring at them. Her warm smiles got to him, too. He'd noticed in the office Mallory had a tiny scar that looked like a dimple when she smiled. He'd wondered then what had caused the scar but hadn't wanted to ask her.

Maybe he should tell her that she could skip the nose surgery. Mallory's face had so much character with her strong cheekbones, overwhelming smile, beautiful eyes and personality that an imperfect nose was of small importance.

"Thanks. This is nice to relax after a rough day with junior high students." She took a sip of coffee. "And I love the smell of coffee. When I was growing up, I always woke up to the aroma of coffee brewing. My mom had to have coffee first thing in the morning."

"How about you? Do you get up at the crack of dawn?" He bet she looked cute even in the early daylight hours.

"I usually don't have any trouble getting up."

Should he talk to her about not having the surgery? Sure, he should. It was his obligation. "Mallory, I know Sharon put your name on the calendar for your surgery, but I'm not so sure you need to have anything done. Look at Sarah Jessica Parker. She has a strong nose."


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

As the youngest in the family, growing up on a farm in Findlay, Ohio, Diane often acted out characters from her own stories in the backyard. In high school she was the student sitting in class with a novel hidden in front of her propped up textbook. Before embarking on her writing career, Diane was a school teacher and play director.



She enjoys her life with her husband and six children in southwestern Ohio. Her husband of thirty-three years is very supportive, as well as her awesome children. She writes contemporary, inspirational, and mainstream romance as well as chick-lit mystery.

Books by Diane Craver at Desert Breeze Publishing:

Whitney In Charge - August 2009
Marrying Mallory - January 2010


Here's a link to "Marrying Mallory's" Book Trailer on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx47eTrY8M0

DB Author Diane Craver blogs about 1st Dates

My husband Tom and I are celebrating the anniversary of our first date this week. Yes, after thirty-four years of marriage, we still enjoy remembering our first date. It didn't go as Tom expected when he asked me out for that first memorable evening. He wanted to go to an early movie because of the lower price, but that didn't happen! By the way, we met at an orphanage while we were teaching and living on the students' campus. I had gone to visit a girlfriend in another town and didn't allow enough time to make the early movie. He graciously took me to dinner first, and to a later movie, "Butterflies Are Free" starring Goldie Hawn. I mention this because my characters' first dates aren't perfect either. If everything goes without a hitch in chapter one and there isn't any conflict or character flaws, then the book isn't going to be a page turner.

I love writing first dates or first meetings between the hero and heroine in romances. In my ebook, Whitney in Charge, Whitney Benson goes on a disastrous first date with her new neighbor, Ben Spencer. He takes Whitney to a lake resort that's for sale. He thinks she might be interested in purchasing the resort because of her plans to start a new business with her sisters. The date ends when Whitney falls on a hiking trail and is unconscious. She's taken to the hospital by Air Care. A TV friend from her past job as a news producer wants Whitney to appear during a future segment about the worst first dates for the New York news show called, The Bold News. She suggests that Whitney tell about her bad date on the air.

In my upcoming January release, Marrying Mallory, it was fun to write about the chemistry between Mallory Harrington and plastic surgeon, Dr. Seth Whitman, during their first meeting. After Mallory's consultation with him about cosmetic surgery, Seth shocks himself by asking her out for coffee. Seth realizes that having Mallory as a patient might not work when he's attracted to her.

One of my favorite love stories is LaVyrle Spencer's book, The Endearment. The scene becomes emotionally charged when Swedish Karl meets his mail-order bride Anna. He suddenly realizes that Anna lied to him about her domestic skills. Do you have a first date you'd like to share? Or what about when you first met the love of your life? As a reader, do you have a favorite scene from a romance where the hero and heroine meet? Is it a funny, suspenseful, painful or sweet meeting?

The Reviews are in for Whitney in Charge!

Whitney in Charge was released in August 2009 by Desert Breeze Publishing and it's gotten some great reviews:

From Coffee Time Romance:

4 CUPS

"Whitney in Charge is a delectable read. I found the sisters fun as they try to put some life back into Whitney. I love their interactions, as it reminds me of a tight knit family."

Here's a link to Coffee Time's Review: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/whitneyincharge.html

*****

From Long and Short Reviews:

4.5 Books

"Plausible, funny, and with a few fun surprises, this novella is really entertaining. It’s unpredictable, too."

Here's a link to the entire review: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/whitney-in-charge-by-diane-craver.html

I had a chance to read "Whitney In Charge" and I LOVED IT! My favorite part about the story was the rich interaction between the sisters, Whitney, Regan and Shannon. It just felt very real to me.

Overall, Whitney is a very engaging read! Let Whitney be in charge of your next reading adventure.

Smiles,
Steph