#WisdomWednesday – A House Without Books

I can’t imagine a house without books. I have learned so much from reading books and have received so much pleasure from reading. I hope that I have also given you pleasure with the books I write. So today’s bit of wisdom is from Horace Mann who said, “A house without books is like a room without windows.”

#TeaserTuesday – Following Jane by Samantha Scordato

So today I’m being a proud Mama Bear and sharing something very special – my daughter’s first book and may I say, it was quite good! I was so impressed with her determination and the research she did to create this amazing story. Fans of Jane Austen and Britain will love this story of a young girl who is sent on a scavenger hunt by her mother, who has just died, and Jane Austen! Jane fans will love all the references to various Austen novels in the book as well as the romance with Graham, a sweet boy band member who befriends Lizzie and helps her find her way around Britain as Lizzie tries to solve the various clues in the scavenger hunt created by Jane Austen and the “treasure” the famous author has left behind.

Blurb

FOLLOWING JANE
A Novel about Love and Jane Austen
Samantha Scordato

Lizzie Price had never understood when her mother told her adventure was just around the corner. When her mother dies of cancer, she invites Lizzie to undertake an adventure she never expected: A scavenger hunt thought up by none other than Jane Austen to “find the universal truth as well as a handsome reward.”

Lizzie travels through the whole of England to chase down the clues and discover the treasure that Jane left behind. When a handsome, young pop star, Graham Harris, catches Lizzie finding one of the clues, he is intrigued by her and determined to help her solve the mystery as well.

So tag along with Lizzie and Graham as they begin their adventure by. . .
Following Jane.

Teaser

Lizzie,
It is the standard cliché of any tale that if you are reading this I am no longer with you on this Earth. It is also standard to give you a quest that at first you do not accept. However, being my daughter, and having the same love of books as I, you already know this.

We have read stories of adventure, mystery, love, and heartbreak, but we never got to live that same type of life. This is your chance to live it. For several years now I have been slowly saving up for you to take this journey.

I believe you are ready, and grown enough, to take this trip. Now that you have found the money, you need to accept the journey.

Oh wait…Your mother thinks of everything!

If you go into my closet and open the black trunk sitting beneath our clothes hampers, there is a tan leather backpack that has the start of your quest.

Do you hear the adventure calling now?

I love you, Lizzie, and I will miss you deeply. But I am watching over you and I promise to keep you safe.

Good Luck,
Mama Bear.

She shot up quickly and ran to the walk-in closet her parents shared. She shoved the stuff off the top of the black trunk and yanked it open. As she dug through some of her mom’s old clothes and photos, she found the leather knapsack her mom had mentioned in the letter.

She jerked it out of the trunk and searched through all the pockets.

That’s when she found a wrinkled and folded piece of paper in the front pocket. As she slowly pulled it out, she realized the note was very old and delicate. So she carefully opened it.

Another letter, but not from her mother.

Dearest person or persons who discover this, the clever ones.
I rejoice in the fact you have found this letter. This piece of parchment is but the start of some mild amusement for you and I. By the end of the journey you will be able to find the universal truth, as well as a handsome reward.

We shall begin.

Cassandra never could leave my side. My closest friend and confidante. Reading, writing, and drama would help us pass the hour filled days until our parents were no longer able to afford the lifestyle to which we were accustomed.

The best of luck,

Jane Austen

“No. No way,” she whispered, reading the name over and over again.

“Yes, Jane Austen,” she heard from behind her.

She spun around to see her father standing in the doorway. His sunken eyes were red and puffy and told how truly destroyed he felt.

“Dad.” She stood and walked up to him.

“She thought I didn’t know.” He tried to crack a smile, but it just caused more tears to fall.

She slipped into his arms as they both just stood there and cried. When they had both run out of tears, he let go of her and said, “She solved the first clue.”

He reached down to Lizzie’s hand and grabbed the back pack. He opened the larger storage area and pulled out a leather bound notebook. He turned to the first page and handed it to Lizzie. There was a note on the first page.

Document your journey to tell your children one day.

Jane’s first clue refers to her younger years. She studied at Oxford until her parents hit hard times and were not able to afford it and pulled the girls out of school.

Oxford, England is your first stop.

Order FOLLOWING JANE

FOLLOWING JANE is available at the following retailers:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2hRhnpW
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2zoFl3a
Nook: http://bit.ly/2iBAcKM
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2iD9SzM
Following Jane

#ManCandyMonday – Jaime Camil from Jane the Virgin

So now that the cat’s out of the bag that I ghostwrote SNOW FALLING, the novel from JANE THE VIRGIN, I can admit to my MAJOR crush on Jaime Camil who plays Rogelio, Jane’s father. The character on the show is over the top, self-centered, and yet totally lovable at the same time. It takes talent to create that blend and have Rogelio be so interesting. Of course, he’s also very sexy. Catnip to us cougars! LOL!

Jaime started his career as a radio commentator, began singing in the late 90s, and eventually became a telenovela star in Mexico before l landing roles in various films and on Broadway. In 2014 he took on the role of Rogelio de la Vega, Jane’s telenovela star father. You can find out more about Jaime at his website at http://jaimecamil.com/. Thanks to his Instagram account for this photo!

🗣 Is everybody here!? Is everybody ready? I certainly am for tomorrow & until July 3rd! Tkts chicagothemusical.com/ticket_info.php

A post shared by Jaime Camil (@jaimecamil) on

FYI – You can buy SNOW FALLING at the following retailers as well as in bookstores everywhere:

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2xz8Hai
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2ziNLZI
B&N: http://bit.ly/2zRw0gh
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2zSfYCG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2zTXLV8
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zTFmb4

#FreebieFriday – Almost Free One Summer Night

My publisher has dropped the price of ONE SUMMER NIGHT to .99 cents for a limited time! If you haven’t already picked up your e-book, please check out ONE SUMMER NIGHT at the following retailers:

#ThrowbackThursday – XYZT Exhibit at Peabody Essex Museum

My daughter and I took a few days off and went to Salem, Mass. I worked out some plot problems and researched a sequel for GHOST OF A CHANCE. We also got to visit the Peabody Essex Museum where they had an exibit called XYZT: The Fourth Dimension. Basically, it was a number of light-based exhibits where your interaction in one way or another (movement, breath, sound) created new patterns of light. Here’s what two of those exhibits looked like!

#WisdomWednesday – Hold Onto Wonder

Never stop appreciating all the things around you that are what really make life worth living, like the joy of a sunrise, the surprise of a firework, or the brilliance of the stars at night. Hold onto the wonder of those precious gifts.

#TeaserTuesday – Sexy bit from ONE SUMMER NIGHT

Today’s teaser is a sexy bit from ONE SUMMER NIGHT. In this scene Maggie and Owen have just had breakfast after Maggie cancelled on Owen for their first weekend alone at the Shore. As the talk gets personal, Maggie realizes just how much Owen understands her and cares for her and soon the attraction pulling them together just becomes too much to resist.

Warning – this teaser is for mature adults!

Teaser

As she pressed into him, she dug her fingers into his hair and cradled his head in her hands. Opened her mouth to invite him to enter. Taste. Savor.

God, but she was so sweet and responsive.

When he danced his tongue across perfect white teeth, she playfully chased it and then lightly bit his lower lip, jerking a groan from him.

He was hard, so hard, that he had to bring a stop to this or there would be no turning back. And as soon as he thought that, she shifted away slightly and met his gaze.

“I want you, Owen. I want this,” she said, laying her hand on his chest directly over his beating heart.

“I want it too, Maggie.” He’d wanted this since they were eighteen and he’d kissed her on that moonlit beach. Maybe even since they were children, playing on the beach together happily. Being with her back then had always seemed to make any day special.

Maggie smiled and pointed an index finger heavenward. “My bedroom is two flights up.”

“Good thing I work out,” he teased, bent, and scooped her up in his arms.

Maggie grabbed hold of his shoulders and laughed out a halfhearted protest. “You don’t have to carry me.”

Owen grinned. “I know what you spent all your summers reading in the gazebo,” he said as he hurried to the stairs and began the climb to her bedroom. Without any strain or hitch in his breath, he said, “I know what the heroes in those books do.”

She chuckled, pulled herself close to nip his earlobe, and whispered, “Bet you can’t guess what the heroines do.”

“Sweet Lord, I can’t wait to find out,” he said and quickened his pace up the stairs.

He entered her room and, with a muttered “Wow,” marched straight to her antique four-poster bed, with its artfully draped canopy of gossamer-light fabric.

Her body skimmed along his as he released her, and she slowly sank to her feet. As soon as she touched the ground, he rested his hands just above where the jeans ended, his palms slightly rough against that sensitive skin and hot. So, so hot.

With a gentle sweep upward, he bracketed her body beneath her breasts and urged her close, her hips grazing against his erection, trapped beneath the khaki he wore. The tips of her breasts, tight and hard with her need, just brushed the starched cotton of his shirt.

She inched her hands up to the first button of that shirt and half glanced at him as she deliberately, leisurely, slipped each button free until his shirt hung open.

“You’re killing me, Mags.” He didn’t need to say what he wanted, because it was obvious she wanted it too.

***

Maggie laid her hands on his chest, cupping his nicely defined pecs, brushing her thumbs across the hard paps as he eased his hands upward and mimicked her actions, cradling her breasts. Teasing the hard tips between his thumb and forefinger, each little tug blasting straight to her center, creating a sympathetic twist of need.

He grabbed the hem of her crop top and drew it up and over her head. Stopped to gaze at her in the sexy lingerie she was glad she’d worn.

He idly traced the swell of her breasts with the tips of his fingers and said, “You’re so beautiful, Maggie.”

She felt more than beautiful with him gazing at her like that. She felt…cherished.

Reaching behind, she undid the bra and slipped it off, baring herself to him, delighting in the swift inhale of his breath and the jump of his arousal against her belly.

He cradled her breasts again, his touch slow and unhurried. Patient as he learned just what she liked. A little tweak of her nipple followed by his sweet kiss. The long pull into his mouth and a crazy swirl of his tongue that made her knees buckle.

She grabbed hold of his shoulders, encountering the soft cotton, but she wanted to feel him. Only him.

She swept away his shirt, and he broke away from her only long enough to let it drop to the floor and then met her lips in a kiss.

Unhurried. Searching. Over and over, their mouths met as he hauled her close, her breasts crushed against the hard wall of his chest.

She opened her mouth and accepted the slide of his tongue. Danced hers along his until they were both breathing hard and there was no holding back.

Faster than a New York minute, they finished undressing, shoes, socks, khaki, and denim flying free until she stood before him in just the tiny bikini bottoms.

His touch was restrained, almost reverent, as he cradled her breast and then tenderly skimmed his hand down her body to the lacy edge of the panty. He dragged the back of his hand back and forth across the flatness of her belly, just above the low waistband. Then he dipped his hand lower, eased the fabric down her legs, and helped her step out of them.

Special Pricing for a limited time!

FYI – My publisher has dropped the price of ONE SUMMER NIGHT to .99 cents for a limited time! If you haven’t already picked up your e-book, you can do so at the following retailers: