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Love Sabre – Man B and B by L Simpson @lsimpsonauthor #RLFblog #Contemporary #Suspense Anthology
L Simpson, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book and its Australia to America setting.
Iowa City Culture Shock by L Simpson
At nineteen, I moved from a hilly suburb outside of Melbourne to Iowa City to become a Hawkeye volleyballer. As a freshman, I was bombarded with a range of experiences that tested how I thought life in America would really be. Everything I discovered however, only contributed to my love of the U.S.
To start with, I learned that fraternities and sororities are real, and they are exactly like in the movies. I couldn’t understand why buses were driving hundreds of girls dressed to impress, to and from massive houses until someone told me it was Rush Week. We have Bush Week in Australia, a term used when someone does something stupid – you tell them it’s not bush week, but I digress. Then again, I ventured to a party at a fraternity once, and a friend told me you could get pregnant from touching the handrails. Despite reading racy romance novels prolifically, after being inside the frat, I could see her point.
My eye-opening journey as a freshman continued with three brilliant discoveries, all of which changed my life.
The first happened when I was walking through the dorms and a group of guys commented that I had a donkey butt. I was outraged. I mean really? It was hard enough being an Australian who didn’t look like Elle McPherson but to have my butt compared to a Donkey? I didn’t bloody think so. I called out to them to give them a piece of my mind but, thankfully, a teammate stopped me. She said it was a compliment, and that they liked my rather rotund arse (ass’s down here are kin to Donkeys). This was a brilliant revelation for a fuller figured lass. My heart soared and in that moment, I fell deeply in love with America.
Second – Mozzarella sticks. Now in Australia, we love cheese and I’d eaten my share (rotund arse, remember?) I was accustomed to Haloumi, Brie, Gorgonzola, baked Camembert the works, but cheese in the shape of a stick, breaded and then deep fried was something to behold. Thank goodness I played a lot of volleyball because Donkeys aren’t known for their jumping ability.
Third – Iowa has convenience stores called Kum’n’Go. Need I say more? I was delighted by the lewder versions college kids came up with, but loved that these stores were out and proud, kumming and going. Clearly, Iowa has way more to offer than corn and pork. They have Kum’n’Go.
Despite all the wonderful things I discovered, I had my share of cross cultural car crashes that suggested our mutual cultural awareness had room to improve. In preseason, when I was eager and excited, not exhausted from three-a-days and loathing all ball related sports, a cornerback asked me to, ‘Say something in Australian.’ I wondered what he was on about. I took him in, dreadlocks, gold fronts and a beautiful, blinged out, gold chain around his neck and asked in return, ‘Are you a rapper?’ He said, ‘That sounds cool.’ and walked off. I remember shaking my head, wondering who had been the worst stereotype-er.
The second incident happened when my coach, a strong, successful, incredibly talented African American woman was goofing off and acting crazy, so I told her she was a real cracker. Then there was deathly silence, and some tumbleweed rolled past. My Australian love of slang and colloquialisms almost had me benched for life.
The third was tailgating. Aussie’s are experts in combining excessive amounts of alcohol and sport. Unlike Americans however, we tend to get drunk while the game is on, not hours beforehand. I was less than impressed, being up before seven a.m. by the Iowa Fight Song on the day of a volleyball home game. Then, I had to walk to game-day practice though parking lots full of black and gold clad people drinking from kegs, eating barbequed hotdogs.
There was a lot wrong with this scenario other than my inability to join in. First, seven a.m. is too early for team spirit, even for the most devout Hawkeyes. Second, you don’t barbeque a hot dog, they go in hot water. Sausages and prawns are for barbequing. Lastly getting tanked before ten a.m.is a rookie mistake. Aussies don’t start early, we go for longevity. Take Cricket for example, where a match can go for five days. Or the Spring Racing Carnival – it’s hard to party when you’re passed out.
Despite all the ups and downs my freshman year, I came out loving the opportunity to live in Iowa. Even now, I still look out for fried cheese. I also think twice about using colloquialisms, and I’m considering adding a pet donkey to my menagerie.
Lastly, while I love what Kum and Go stands for, I’ve made sure the sentiment doesn’t end up in one of my romance novels.Love Sabre
Genre Contemporary/Romantic Suspense/Anthology
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
After getting dumped by her childhood sweetheart, Chloe opens a dating site that goes viraL But it’s not her dream. She’d envisioned a different life, and a new sexy man wants to help her get it. But letting Ryan in after all that has happened to her, and all that she knows about relationships, will prove tricky.
Publisher Boroughs Publishing Group http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/love-sabre
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07987LNPC
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/783322L Simpson Social Media
As a girl growing up in Australia, Laura was lost in the world of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. During high school, volleyball dominated her life; there had to be something positive about being 6’1″ with red hair! Representing Australia from a young age she eventually took a scholarship at the University of Iowa. Living in America and being a full time athlete in a college town was an eye-opening experience and lots of fun (from what she can remember). #gohawkeyes
Returning from the States, her career took a different turn as she started working at the Red Cross and completed her Masters of Law in Human Rights. As one of the few non-lawyers in the class, her essays were far more floral than the rest, something that caused the discerning professors to shake their heads. Through working and studying, she realised there are other ways to win hearts and minds.
While she’s spent the last 14 years as an advocate against poverty and homelessness, the desire to change the world through storytelling has only got stronger. She now lives in the Alpine Valley of North East Victoria, Australia with her husband, daughter, two dogs and seven chooks. When she’s not doing the whole mum thing, working at a homelessness agency, renovating her farmhouse or trying to do laundry bleary-eyed at midnight, she is writing.Website https://www.lsimpsonauthor.com
Love Sabre website https://www.lovesabre.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/lsimpsonauthor
Facebook https://facebook.com/l.simpson.romance/
Instagram https://instagram.com/lsimpsonauthor
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All That Sparkles by Nardia Sheriff @nardiasheriff #RLFblog #Contemporary #Suspense Anthology
Nardia Sheriff, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book and Australia, where the story is set.
Five places you should NEVER visit in Australia
Nardia Sheriff
Imagine packing up your life, selling all of your worldly possessions and leaving reality behind to travel. Well, I did it for real.
Having recently returned home from an epic 14-month trip around Australia, you could say perhaps I’m somewhat qualified to give advice about the best places to visit in Australia.
I could give you a list of hundreds of awesome places we discovered, but to keep it interesting, I’m going tell you about the top 5 places in Australia that you should NEVER visit, should you ever happen to find yourself in the land down under.
Here we go…You should never visit…a pub or bar without being willing to shout a round.
Now Australia has a pretty hearty reputation for being laid back, friendly and happy to partake in an alcoholic beverage or two (or ten), so it really shouldn’t come as any surprise to find out that you should NEVER go to a pub or a bar without being willing to shout (pay for) a round of drinks for your mates. It’s how it’s done.
You should never visit… A BBQ (or any gathering for that matter) without bringing your sense of humour.
As a culture, we’re pretty hilarious…or so our reputation holds. Aussies enjoy a dry sense of humour, peppered with a healthy dose of self-deprecation. There’s also a fair bit of swearing, and a love of ‘taking the piss’ out of our guests…on purpose. So, with that in mind, you should NEVER go to a BBQ without a broad set of shoulders and the ability to laugh at yourself. It’s all in good fun.
You should never visit…the tourist traps and think you’ve seen the real Australia.
Now don’t get me wrong, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are striking. Uluru is actually a profound experience, and Cairns truly is a lush and tropical paradise, but I can assure you that Australia is sooooo much more. Many people don’t realise that Australia is the same size as the USA.So NEVER assume that all the tried and true tourist traps is all there is to Australia. If you want to see the real beauty of Australia, then here are pictures of my top 5.
Linger a little longer, spend time exploring some of the more remote and lesser-known places. I promise you, you won’t regret it.
You should never visit…Starbucks
Okay, this one is sure to fire people up, and I mean no offence, as I’m sure there are many fans, but Starbucks (from an Aussie perspective), isn’t coffee. It may be the closest thing the USA has to real coffee, but Australia has literally thousands of better options. Whether you’re in Victoria or metro New South Wales, even Queensland and more rarely South Australia, you will find awesome coffee. You should NEVER spend all your hard-earned travel money on coffee from Starbucks when the little café around the corner will deliver a much better brew.You should never visit…a beach, waterhole or lake without taking a pair of bathers.
We have some of the most stunning waterways in the world. All right, I’ll concede that some of them are crocodile infested, and for six months of the year parts are filled with venomous jellyfish, but hey, we do put up signs to give you a heads up. Which means you should NEVER pass up the opportunity for a swim (when it’s safe, of course), and ALWAYS pack your bathers.
Now you are prepared for your trip to Australia.
Love Sabre Anthology
Genre Contemporary Anthology
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): RPosing as a pole dancer to find her sister, Kelsey finds herself drawn to one of the club’s security henchmen, Tank, and learns he can help her, if only she learns to trust him.
Where to buy Love Sabre
Publisher Boroughs Publishing Group http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/love-sabre
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07987LNPC
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/783322Nardia Sheriff Social Media
Nardia Sheriff writes rural romantic suspense and contemporary fiction, and enjoys creating stories featuring reversed gender roles. Her story in the upcoming Love Sabre anthology is set in Sydney’s underworld.
Love Sabre website https://www.lovesabre.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/nardiasheriff
Facebook https://facebook.com/nardiasheriff
Instagram https://instagram.com/nardiasheriffYou May Also Like
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Welcome to #FreeBookFriday on #RLFblog Need a weekend read? @lizadamsbooks
It’s #FreeBookFriday on RLFblog! Join us for a new collection of free books for your weekend read each week. All genres and heat levels. Bookmark this site so you don’t miss a thing.
Welcome to #FreeBookFriday and your weekend readEach week, you’ll find free books to download for your weekend read. Some are straight up giveaways, some KindleUnlimited, others are Kindle Select, and some are free with newsletter sign up. Always a mix of genres and heat levels. These free deals may be limited in time, so please be sure to check prices before clicking the final buy button.
When you sign up for a newsletter, you are signing up ONLY for that author’s newsletter, not a list of authors who will all then email you. You can unsubscribe at any time, however, please do not mark these emails as spam. When you sign up, you give your permission for the author to email you. Thank you, and enjoy the books!
Ariel’s Super Power of Love by Liz Adams
Everyone wonders what Wonder Woman’s sex life is like or what superhero sex is like. Though NOT the actual sex life of Wonder Woman, Ariel’s Super Power of Love explores the racy romance and vengeful spirit of a super heroic sleuth, a female protagonist everyone can enjoy. Get the fun and sexy free short prequel by subscribing to Liz Adams’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/Free-Sexy-Superhero-Ebook
Free on KindleUnlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Ariels-Super-Power-Love-Wonders-ebook/dp/B00K9104JM/Risking Her Heart
Laura Hayley-McNeil
Hollywood producer Trent Parker has one goal – to own the film option for the breakout novel Sunset in Maui. His problem? Charisse Whitloch. She’ll do anything to produce the film. Trent can stop her, but not without getting close to her, a bond he can’t risk.
Charisse has found the film project that will prove she’s her own woman. One person stands in her way – Trent Parker. She’s faced opposition before, but she isn’t prepared for Trent. Can her charm soften Trent’s heart of stone?
Trent’s defenses against Charisse crumble – loving her will heal the darkness in his soul and open the door to a secret he buried long ago. When Charisse is threatened, she and Trent face her adversaries. They piece together a plot more sinister than any Hollywood movie, but the key to their survival lies in Trent’s past – the key that will lead to Trent’s destruction.
Download your weekend read here: https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/books/46473
(requires newsletter sign up)Storm Crazy
Livia Quinn (NEW COVER!)
Welcome to Destiny, or should I say Middle Earth…
I’m Sheriff Jack Lang. After an exciting career as a Navy pilot, Destiny seemed like the perfect place to settle down – safe, sane and secure. But that ship sailed when I met Tempest Pomeroy – sexy redheaded mail lady and trouble magnet. Tempe never fails to test the limits of my patience or the law. Every time I think it’s the last straw, up pops another haystack.
My name is Tempest Pomeroy, and my human job is delivering the mail. I’m also a Paramortal like my family, or I’m supposed to be. If I didn’t have a few little talents, I’d think I was adopted. To say I was having a bad day would be like saying Katrina dropped a little rain on New Orleans. My brother’s genie bottle is missing, my mother’s AWOL, and the sheriff and my ex-lover are squaring off like yard dogs staking a claim over a poodle. I am no one’s poodle. I’ve denied my heritage for most of my life but all this chaos is a sign of my quickening Tempestaerie power.
Oh, and the sheriff? He thinks he’s settled in a normal, quaint small town—like Mayberry?! We’ll see how that turns out… Things better settle down soon, ’cause I’m about to go…Storm Crazy.
Download your weekend read here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L02VHE0(Permafree)
Perdition House
Bonnie Edwards
Welcome to Perdition House: a house of sin, secrets, and seduction.
Sometimes ghost stories are naughty and erotic…
Faye Grantham inherits Perdition House, her family’s secret shame, and expects to sell the property and marry her fiancé.
Trapped in the bordello for decades, the spirits of the women who worked there tell their stories to Faye in dreams.
The “girls” control Faye’s libido, influence her decisions and drive her into the arms of two very different men.
Liam Watson wears comfort like most men wear cologne. With an interest in adventurous sex, he’s more man than he first seems.
Mark McLeod is a strong, decisive businessman who was not meant to be more than a one-night stand. But Mark hopes to continue Faye’s lessons in sensuality.
Enthralled by the mansion Faye’s must re-examine her engagement, her business decisions, and her beliefs.
As the spirits reveal themselves one by one, Faye learns how they came to Perdition House, why they joined the women there and some of the secrets that a high-class bordello could hold.
But can decades-old secrets affect Faye’s life today?
Download your weekend read here: https://books2read.com/Perdition-House-Part-1
(Permafree)The Mad Monk’s Treasure
Kris Bock
The lost Victorio Peak treasure is the stuff of legends—a heretic Spanish priest’s gold mine, made richer by the spoils of bandits and an Apache raider. When Erin, a quiet history professor, uncovers a clue that may pinpoint the lost treasure cave, she prepares for adventure. But when a hit and run driver nearly kills her, she realizes she’s not the only one after the treasure. And is Drew, the handsome helicopter pilot who found her bleeding in a ditch, really a hero, or one of the enemy?
Erin isn’t sure she can trust Drew with her heart, but she’ll need his help to track down the treasure. She heads into the New Mexico wilderness with her brainy best friend Camie and a feisty orange cat. The wilderness holds its own dangers, from wild animals to sudden storms. Plus, the sinister men hunting Erin are determined to follow her all the way to the treasure, no matter where the twisted trail leads. Erin won’t give up an important historical find without a fight, but is she ready to risk her life—and her heart?
“The story has it all – action, romance, danger, intrigue, lost treasure, not to mention a sizzling relationship….”
“Great balance of history, romance, and adventure. Smart romance with an “Indiana Jones” feel.”
Get this romantic adventure FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
http://bookShow.me/B00SKJU7BAEndure, Illustrated Quotes of Pietas
Kayelle Allen
Illustrated Book
What does the most dangerous man in the galaxy have to say about enduring?
Known to other immortals as the Bringer of Chaos, Pietas is the most powerful of all the Ultras. This 7′ tall warrior has platinum hair and eyes the color of raw turquoise. His beauty is legendary. So is his prowess at war. A scientist, brilliant strategist, and passionate lover, this immortal understands the need to accept what life throws his way, to embrace change, and take destiny into his own hands.
Thirty beautifully illustrated quotes.
You’ll get 3 other free books plus other exclusive content for members only.
Download your weekend read here: https://kayelleallen.com/bro
(requires newsletter sign up)Cover model for Endure: Nik Nitsvetov (courtesy of DepositPhotos.com)
Bookmark this site and come back for more great books!
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#Romance Lives Forever @AnniFifeAuthor @Collette_Author #RLFblog
Be sure to read What is RLF? Romance Lives Forever in 2018 and discover great new opportunities for authors and readers.The RLF Gems announcement last month was in the top ten. You are why I do this! Top Blogger for this month is Anni Fife. She wins a month of free advertising on the blog. Top chatter was Collette Cameron. Top Blogger of 2017 was Vicki Batman, who won a year of free advertising for 2018.
Top Blogger Anni Fife
Website www.annifife.com
Blog http://annifife.com/blog/
Twitter https://twitter.com/AnniFifeAuthor
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnniFifeAuthor/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anni-fife
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/AnniFife
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/annifife
Newsletter – Join Anni’s Posse to get regular updates and Bonus Treats https://web.facebook.com/AnniFifeAuthor/app/100265896690345/The top bloggers are judged by page visits. Congratulations!
Anni Fife
Gabi Stevens
NJ Walters
Ginger Monette
Kristine CharlesHonorable mention: Karen Cino, Iris Blobel
Top Chatters for the Month
The person who gets the most comments in a month is not always the person who gets the most page views. For that reason, I instituted the Top Chatter Award. This award is for the bloggers who receive the most comments.
This month’s winners are:Collette Cameron
Robin MichaelaWho among us doesn’t have a veteran in the family?
Please support our veterans and their families personally
and in your communications with Congress.#FreeBookFriday
Readers – bookmark the blog and come back every day for good books. On Fridays, every book we offer is free. Look for the #FreeBookFriday hashtag on Twitter and Facebook.
Authors, do you offer subscribers a free book for signing up to your newsletter? Do you have a permafree book or a book on KindleUnlimited? Here’s your chance to reach new readers in 2018. Romance Lives Forever now offers a free book section. #FreeBookFriday will offer 5 books each week all year long. Each week, 4 spots will be free.
How do you take part? It’s easy. All you need to send is the cover, a blurb, and a link to get your book. When you sign up, your confirmation form will have a link to add your book info.
When someone clicks the link you provide, they’ll be taken directly to your site. You’ll have the double opt in that newsletter services require. No worrying about adding a list downloaded from another place. You’ll get subscribers directly. Easy peasy.
There’s a 5th paid spot for $5. It comes with a week-long cover ad spot on the front page (upper right corner). Your free book will also get a pinned spot on the RLF Facebook page, and a cover spot on the RLF #FreeBookFriday Pinterest board.
Click here and pick your date. http://bit.ly/rlf-free
Be a Guest Author
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Reserve a date between January – March 2018
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http://bit.ly/rlf4Q2018My thanks to all who took part this month. You made Romance Lives Forever a great place to discover new books and authors. Other guests during the month are (in alpha order by first name):
Barb Caffrey, Becky Flade, Bry Ann, Emily Mims, Holly Bargo, Iris Blobel, Kayelle Allen, Kim McMahill, Lilli Carlisle, Livia Quinn, Madison Michael, Megan Jane Colville, Melanie Coles, Rachael Howlett, Riley Parks, RLF Gems, Robin Michaela, Tanya Kean, TL Reeve and Michele Ryan
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