-
#Cancer one day at a time @liviaquinn #pinktober
Livia Quinn is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog celebrate
Cancer Awareness Week 2016.Much has changed in the last twenty-five years since my
father died of lung cancer. Less than a month after he passed away it was
discovered that my mother had ovarian cancer. Here are some of the words from
the doctor when she came out of surgery…”It’s really too bad, she’s a
beautiful lady. It was everywhere. We couldn’t get it all. I give her a 30%
chance of living two years WITH chemo.” He patted her on the hand and
said, “You’re going to be okay with a little chemotherapy.” She
smiled.To say I was berserk knowing the truth and having to pretend
like everything was going to be okay while she went around relieved is an
understatement. But I don’t even know if he’d told her the truth if he could
have kept her positive attitude at bay. She told me years later she just kept
pretending it was happening to someone else and just took each step as
something she had to do. She never ever gave a thought to giving up. She lived
seven and a half years after her diagnosis, giving our family many extra years
of chances to heal relationships and prepare. I’m so so grateful for that.I admire the strength and determination and denial it takes
to get through a big C diagnosis and treatment and everything that comes with
it. But people I know who have been through it often tell me that now they see
it as just another of life’s challenges. I hope I get to see the cure in my
lifetime, don’t you?I believe we’re close.About the Book
My character Jack Lang has gone through a series of
challenges right up to this latest one in Take These Broken Wings.Title Take These Broken Wings, Destiny Paramortals, Book 5Genre Paranormal RomanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Destiny. Is it Mayberry or Middle Earth?Jack Lang knows first hand about Destiny’s secrets. Turns
out he was one of them. On Mardi Gras Eve he and his unlikely band of heroes
defeated some particularly nasty creatures intent on taking advantage of the
Paramortals’ vulnerability during the Chaos. They called it Chaos because the
word “Armageddon” was already taken. Destiny survived with the help
of their dragon and some special friends, then Jack received the biggest shocks
of his life. And that was saying a lot.He’d chosen this town the year before for the normalcy and
safety it could provide his teenager after a life of upheaval with his ex. He’d
been looking for Mayberry. Instead he’d found, not a town, but a world full of
magical beings, odd occurrences, and scary creatures. There’d been one shock
after another and yet, instead of leaving and taking Jordie somewhere “safe”…
he’d stayed.He suspects he felt the pull of this special place long
before he’d known it existed. But that hadn’t been the only reason. It had all
begun the first time he’d seen Tempest Pomeroy. That was when his world had
turned upside down—along with half the town. He’d surprised himself with his
acceptance of the supernatural. He’d even almost accepted this latest blow, but
that had been before he found out he no longer belonged anywhere. Not with
humans, and not among supernaturals. Something had gone haywire in his family
DNA.Now he’s abandoned the women in his life, his
responsibilities–everything except for the need to quench the gnawing hunger
in his gut and this compulsion to jump off the highest levees in the parish. He
was just sorry there were no mountains in Louisiana.About the Author
Livia Quinn is a DC native who’s lived on the bayou in
Louisiana for thirty years. After experiencing weather disasters in the South,
it was only natural that they would play a part in her Storm Lake world, a
place where supernaturals and mere-mortals co-exist (but on different ends of
the lake. That’s one of the rules. Never let mortals see you use your
magic.).Buy This Book
Publisher Campbell Hill Publishing
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GK2MOB4
Ibooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1163902107
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940153209159
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/take-these-broken-wings-2Author Social Media
Website: http://liviaquinn.com
Twitter http://twitter.com/liviaquinn
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/liviaquinnwrites
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/liviaquinn
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8286639.Livia_Quinn
Livia’s Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KPDXXE2You May Also Like
And then stuff happened #CancerAwareness by Vicki Batman @VickiBatman author of Temporarily Employed #RLFblog
Be #Canceraware #Cancer doesn’t discriminate – with Iris Blobel @_iris_b #RLFblog
Like-Hearted Adventurers and a New Life: Lloyd A Meeker @lloydameeker #AttackingCancer #Cancer
-
Sucker Punch @jordankrose #cancer #pinktober
Jordan K Rose is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog celebrate Cancer Awareness Week 2016.
I’d like to start by thanking Kayelle for inviting me to participate. Having the opportunity to talk about my experience will hopefully help others who find themselves in the terrifying position of receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis.
This past July I was diagnosed with an early stage of a rare form of ovarian cancer, specifically- a granulosa cell tumor. To say the news was shocking is an understatement. We received it during a post-op visit where had anticipated hearing great results about a surgery and anticipated a routine recovery. We did not plan to hear, “We think you should have the other ovary removed and have chemo.”My husband described that visit as “it was like being punched in the nads.” I’d heard men say that expression before, but never had a reference point until that meeting. Apparently, ladies, the “nad-punch” experience is mind-numbingly painful and can cause you to forget any other thought.We’d been warned not to Google ovarian cancer and get worked up over what we read because this type of cancer was so different and so rare. Of course we Googled, but we Googled granulosa cell tumor. We narrowed our search and we searched high and low and came up with not a whole heck of a lot of data.Granulosa Cell Tumors make up about 4% of ovarian cancers. There is not a great deal of research to share because of this. Unfortunately, most of the data is “after the fact” sort of information because the cancer is not well known. There is not a central repository for doctors to link patients and share information on what’s happening, when it happened, types of treatments, what worked or didn’t. There’s not a standard protocol for measuring hormone levels in advance of surgery, which would be very helpful for every patient.This is a cancer with high probability of recurrence, though a great prognosis if detected early with women living many years past the original diagnosis. It’s a slow growing cancer with definite indicators of potential recurrence like monitoring the Inhibin and AMH levels quarterly, then every six months after the first few years.There are great resources for women through the Granulosa Cell Tumor Research Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. There is also a Facebook group of GCT Survivor Sisters! (you must have a diagnosis of GCT to be a member of the FB group).If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of receiving this diagnosis, please utilize the groups above and feel free to contact me at contactjordan@jordankrose.com. I’m more than happy to share what I’ve learned or to lend an ear and be a support to you.I sought a second opinion at the Dana Farber Institute in Boston. I encourage anyone receiving a cancer diagnosis to receive a second opinion before deciding on treatment.After all my research I decided against chemo or surgery as there was no indication any cancer remained in my body. Thus doing something drastic “just in case” made no sense. But everyone’s decision is personal and patients need to make decisions that feel right to them.At the Dana Farber Institute I’ve signed up to participate in a research study to allow them to better understand the genetics of this cancer, thus leading to a cure. I’m happy to participate and hope other patients will consider doing the same to help find a cure.Below please find the information on one of my free books, Her Vampire’s Promise, Novella One in the Romance In Central City Series. Losing myself in books has gotten me through some difficult times and I wanted to share a book that everyone can afford. As well, if you sign up for my newsletter, you’ll get the second novella in the series, The Vampire’s Partner for free.Wishing every cancer patient all the best in diagnosis, treatment and recovery.Jordan(reprinted from 2015)Her Vampire’s Promise
Reade Hayes knows better than any vampire that nothing good ever comes out of Central City. So he isn’t surprised the beautiful blonde he meets in the dive bar is crazy. What does surprise him is how fast she moves, how hard she hits, and the fact she’s wearing a ring he last saw two decades ago on the hand of his dead friend.Was this the little girl he swore a blood pact to protect? Why had her uncle lied about her death? And what had he done to make her so lethal?Buy This Book
Amazon http://amzn.to/1mwINHA
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1KWZDfL
iBooks http://apple.co/1cIaZZS
Google http://bit.ly/1E1S55v
Kobo http://bit.ly/1cp6YJcAbout the Author
Jordan loves vampires. She also loves to laugh. And if you know anything about Jordan, you know her vampires will make you laugh.A few years back Jordan received a copy of Twilight from her husband as part of her anniversary gift. By the end of that week she’d read the entire series and moved onto Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. Eight weeks and eighteen vampire books later the idea for her first book came to her followed very quickly by Eva Prim.Having lived in Rhode Island for most of her life Jordan uses the state as a backdrop for all her books, though many of the cities and towns and businesses (especially the ones run by vampires) are all fictitious.When she’s not writing about one vampire or another Jordan enjoys spending time with her husband, Ken and their lovable Labradors, Dino and Enzo on the beautiful beaches of New England.For more free books join Jordan’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/1Vk2TWnAuthor Social Media
Website www.jordankrose.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/jordankrose
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jordan-K-Rose-Author-307285709309992/timeline/
Pinterest http://bit.ly/1J2iYJG
Goodreads http://bit.ly/1CmN4ec
G+ http://bit.ly/1KKewFb
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Jordan-K-Rose/e/B007D06OUU/ -
Changing a Life @LloydAMeeker #Cancer #Pinktober
Author Lloyd Meeker is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog
celebrate Cancer Awareness Week 2016.
I was twenty-three when cancer first changed my life. My
childhood friend Michael died of testicular cancer, which metastasized to his
lower back and spine. He had one of those warm, lyric tenor voices that
conquered a room in the first measures of a song. He loved to sing country and
western, and I couldn’t stand it, but I listened, mesmerized, every time he
sang. We’d been friends since we were seven.For a long time cancer was a disease that visited others.
Then in 2003, I was diagnosed — stomach and bladder. I’m one of the lucky
ones. I’ve been cancer-free since 2004. But in the twelve years since that
time, I’ve lost family and friends to the disease. A friend of mine was
diagnosed last month, and it’s been a privilege to sit with him, help him stay
focused on next steps, honoring his fear while reminding him that it’s not an
automatic death sentence, having him over for dinner or just to hang out if he
doesn’t want to be alone.In writing terms, having cancer is a kind of hero’s journey.
Regardless of outcome, I’m convinced that being forced to face fear, pain and
hopelessness, to find inner strength, to learn to rely on trustworthy allies,
and to celebrate the triumph of finding the gold that lies in the darkness of
our frailty makes us stronger, better people. Regardless of outcome.The hero’s journey is never a journey chosen by the hero.
She or he is forced to undertake it by events and powers beyond her/his
control. But as hellish as the journey may be, there are gifts. Hard won,
perhaps, but powerful. I received two gifts, that have stayed with me since my
first hospital stay.Cancer made me get serious about writing, which I’d always
planned to do “one day”. I’m about to submit the manuscript for my
sixth novel, my ninth or tenth title overall. I’ve learned so much about myself
through writing, and I’ve embraced a craft I can pour myself into, working
constantly to get better.Cancer also taught me how beautiful my mortality is, how
sacred it is to be fragile, and loving, and loved. It showed me what matters
most in my life, and I’ll be grateful forever for being led to that discovery.About the Book
Title Blood and Dirt
Author Lloyd A Meeker
Genre Mystery, Suspense, Gay RomanceFamily squabbles can be murder.Psychic PI Russ Morgan investigates a vandalized marijuana
grow in Mesa County Colorado, landing in the middle of a ferocious family feud
that’s escalating in a hurry. Five siblings fight over
the family ranch as it staggers on the brink of bankruptcy, marijuana its only
salvation. Not everyone agrees, but only one of them is willing to kill to make
a point.Russ also has a personal puzzle to solve as he questions his
deepening relationship with Colin Stewart, a man half his age. His rational
mind says being with Colin is the fast track to heartbreak, but it feels
grounding, sane, and good.Now, that’s really dangerous…Buy This Book
Wilde City https://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/blood-and-dirt/#.V_kObqOZPdQ
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/MBe1gpAuthor Social Media
Website www.lloydmeeker.com
-
Waiting and hoping @AuthorTinaGayle #Cancer #Pinktober
Author Tina Gayle is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog
celebrate Cancer Awareness Week 2016. RLF has added pink racing stripes to the left side of the blog’s background to represent a pink ribbon, but this week is about all types of cancer. Join us as we delve into rich stories about life.Even the threat of cancer can cause stress. The days before
a doctor gets the results of the test can seem like forever. When I was in my
teens, my mother found a lump in her breasts. The only way for them to tell if
it was cancerous was to do a biopsy. Back in those days, a woman had to check
into a hospital to have a biopsy done. The days before the biopsy, I remember believing that those
may be the last days of my time with her. We grew very close during that time
and remained close afterward. When I decided to write CEO’s Widow, I remembered the pain I
suffered and tried to add that to the story. This book does not go into the
technical aspects of the treatment. Instead, it is about the emotional pain the
cancer causes.About the Book
CEO’s Widow – Book 4 of the Executives’ Wives’ Club seriesGenre: Contemporary romance with strong women’s fiction
elementsFour women…
One fatal car wreck…
Everyone’s lives changed…CEO’s WidowAfter surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne
Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She
plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a
lump in her breast. Her world is turned upside down. She re-evaluates her
priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.Knox Turner lost his first wife to cancer. He’s determined
not to let Marianne face this challenge alone.Can this couple face the trails ahead and build a future
together?Buy this Book
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/CEOs-Widow-Executive-Wives-Club-ebook/dp/B012YALVN8
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ceos-widow-tina-gayle/1124713902?ean=9781539119142
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ceos-widow/id1160306264?mt=11
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ceo-s-widow
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/669036Author Social Media
Home www.tinagayle.net
Blog www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayleYou May Also Like
Sometimes #Cancer Keeps Giving @vickibatman #pinktober
Authors and Dancers Against Cancer #anthology Get the inside scoop on Cosette Binet from The Red Slippers by Ruth A Casie @RuthACasie #RLFblog #Historical #Regency
“Blah blah CANCER blah blah” by Pia Manning, author of Finding Home @PiaManning #RLFblog #CancerAwareness
-
Word of Honor (Knights of Honor #1) #HistoricalRomance #RLFblog
Today’s featured book is Word of Honor (Knights of Honor #1)
by Lauren Linwood, writing as Alexa Aston.About the Book
Word of Honor Knights of Honor #1Genre Medieval RomanceBecome swept away in Alexa Aston’s new Knights of Honor, a
medieval series set in the time of Edward III’s reign in England. At its heart
are Geoffrey and Merryn, who will find lasting love in Word of Honor. This pair
plays a part in each book of the series–sometimes small, sometimes large–as new
couples come together to find passion and true love. Each romance focuses on
honor and the code of chivalry that bound knights of this era.1351 A.D. Betrothed from a young age, Merryn Mantel and
Geoffrey de Montfort are that rare couple–a love match. They spend five long
years apart when Geoffrey leaves England to fight against the French. Geoffrey
returns after the English victory at Poitiers, and he and Merryn wed. They
spend one blissful night consummating their love, looking forward to a
promising future together.Yet Geoffrey vanishes the next day. Merryn is left lonely
and confused as she clings to the hope that one day her husband will come back to
her. Geoffrey finally returns almost seven years later. This new Geoffrey is a
stranger to Merryn. He refuses to reveal where he has been and why he stayed
away from the woman he loved.Will her husband’s silence create a rift too large to heal,
or can Geoffrey and Merryn recapture the love they once shared?Join Geoffrey and Merryn as they fight for the love both
have held in their hearts despite their years apart.Buy This Book
Amazon http://amzn.com/B01LYK7C7RAmazon print https://www.amazon.com/Word-Honor-Knights-1/dp/1539030113/About the Author
Alexa Aston’s is the author of The Knights of Honor, a
medieval romance series that takes place in 14th century England and centers on
the de Montfort family. Each romance focuses on the code of chivalry that bound
knights of this era.A native Texan, Alexa lives with her husband in a Dallas
suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories
while she walks every morning. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and can’t
get enough of Fixer Upper or Game of Thrones. Alexa also writes romantic
suspense novels as Lauren Linwood.Author Social Media
Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexaAstonBlog https://alexaaston.wordpress.com/blog/Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston -
Stressing Cass McKay from Undone a #Contemporary RS by @LiviaQuinn #RLFblog
Stressing Cass McKay from Undone by Livia Quinn.Author Bio
Livia Quinn is a DC native who lives on the bayou in Louisiana. She met her hero, Cass McKay, while listening to Jesse Cook’s “Breathing Below Surface” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me if You Don’t”. When I turned down a narrow street there he was, in the flesh leaning against the wall of Elektra’s shop (well, a store on the corner on my route, actually but still,) all tawny and golden, asking for my help to get his woman back. I could tell he was desperate so… what else could I do? Undone was born.About the Book
Title Undone (A Sexy Romantic Adventure)Genre Contemporary RomanceAuthor Livia QuinnBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RWhen Aussie gem hunter Cass McKay appears unexpectedly on Elektra’s design shop doorway, her reasons for sending him away a year ago suddenly seem…complicated, their passion for each other and the secret, intricately entwined.One year ago on the eve of Carnival, Elektra broke their engagement after the “Blood” opal was stolen. No one steals from Cass, especially not when it cost him the woman he loved.Elektra’s reason for breaking their engagement has now come back to bite her. Cass intends to return to Brazil, putting himself in danger to retrieve her opal, in hopes that Elektra will give their relationship another chance.Staying out of Cass’ bed isn’t an option if she’s going to keep him safe, but coming clean might make things worse. Elektra is walking a tightrope between desire and deceit, and the truth will endanger not only their love, but their lives.Stressing The Hero
Every hero has a story. He has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a hero and get to know him better, by focusing on how he handles being relaxed, as well as how he handles stress.The Hero’s Relaxed Side
This hero is at a party. Considering his story, describe the party.A pleasant crowd of friends and family, couples sharing good food, drink and dancing to the Latin beats, from the slow sultry rumba and tango to the lively salsaHow does the hero feel about being at this particular party, and what body language is he displaying that gives it away?He loves these people and especially the woman he hasn’t seen in a year. He’s banking on the atmosphere and the music to draw her in. He cues the music and begins to dance, his hips and eyes telling her the slow deliberate steps of their favorite dance how he feels.Is he more likely to mingle or remain aloof?Oh, Cass is a mingler, an extrovert who is well-liked and at home in two countries, Brazil and Australia. He tries to remain aloof with Elektra but the beat of the music is making him crazy. Hopefully, she’s not unaffected.If he drinks, what is his drink of choice at this party?Cass isn’t one to over indulge. But tonight he’s intoxicated by her presence and he goes a bit too far.The hero figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?When Elektra runs in the heat of the dance, he knows where to find her. And there’s hell to pay. He’s determined to make her admit her feelings but she’s well aware of the cost of giving in after all this time.The Hero’s Stressed Out Side
How does the hero handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls him aside when he was blameless in a situation?Cass is an even-tempered guy who has no trouble talking his way in or out of situations.How does the hero react to hearing a scream?Well, like a hero. He would act before considering the danger to himself.What does he tell himself in order to get through the situation?If he can get the opal back and Elektra back in his arms, his world will be right again.Buy This Book
Publisher Campbell Hill PublishingAmazon Link http://amzn.to/1K9EbD8AllRomanceEbooks bit.ly/1l10PH8Barnes and Noble bit.ly/1ZgT7WXCreateSpace (Print) bit.ly/1TQf3GJGoodreads bit.ly/1UJSILfIBooks apple.co/1SgeKHRInktera bit.ly/Un-inKobo bit.ly/1RizChpAuthor Central http://amzn.to/1OLwtUXAuthor Social Media
Website: http://liviaquinn.comTwitter http://twitter.com/liviaquinnPinterest http://pinterest.com/liviaquinnLivia’s Author Central http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KPDXXE2Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/livia-quinn-6aa3a792Instagram http://instagram.com/liviaquinnauthorYou May Also Like
Stressing Gillian from Dark Energy by Addison Brae @AddisonBrae1 #RLFblog #romanticsuspense
Stressing Caryn Orlane from Tender Misdemeanors by Alana Lorens #RLFblog #RomanticSuspense #CopRomance
Stressing the Heroes and Heroines from Aspen Gold the Series by Bernadette Jones @RomanceBJones #RLFblog #Romance
