Missed connections and might-have-beens are great romance novel fodder. Summer romances and flings? Even better! Let me tell you about one of the best pick-up lines I have ever had the good fortune to receive.

The summer of 1995 was a scorcher. Temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s and high humidity. So, naturally, I elected to spend the hottest two weeks of it at a campground in Pennsylvania, wearing layers of medieval garb.

Every August, the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a medieval recreation group, hosts a mock tournament and war called the Pennsic War. 1995 was the first, and alas only, year I was able to attend. In addition to battles and all other things medieval and military, there are medieval arts and crafts (my favorites were music and dance) and lots of partying.

The year I was there, there were also—and this is the important part—two swimming areas. One was designated the family swimming hole, the other, the classic swimming hole. I’m not sure why it was a classic, but I do know this: it was clothing-optional.

Did I mention it was hot that year? And that I was in layers of heavy cotton and linen? Being young and impetuous, when my friends said they were going swimming at the classic swimming hole, I decided to go along. It took all my courage to shuck my skirt and my bodice and my chemise and my underwear and go wading into the water. Which felt, by the way, like absolute heaven.

So there I was, in water up to my shoulders, when up walks (swims?) an absolutely gorgeous man. Green eyes, curly brown hair, nice smile. We started chatting (okay, I was flirting), and he suddenly says, “You have the most amazing blue eyes.”

As is my usual MO when someone I’m flirting with starts flirting back, I panicked. To this day I don’t know how I managed to keep from ducking under the water and running away.

He said his name was Taran, and he was from (alas again) Seattle. We promised to meet up later that night for dancing at the barn. As he was leaving, one of my friends leaned over and said, “You’re standing naked in front of him, and he compliments your eyes. Now that’s a gentleman!”

Even better, when we found each other at dancing that night, the first thing he blurted was, “You look different with your clothes on!” (And he was, to my delight, a fantastic dance partner.)

Well, with him in Seattle and me in Michigan, it could never be anything more than a Pennsic flirtation. We promised to email, but neither of us really did. That was twenty years ago now (!), and I’ve never forgotten him. In these days of Facebook, you’d think I’d try to look him up, but for one thing: SCA members commonly have a medieval name they go by rather than their modern real names. I never learned Taran’s real name, and he never learned mine. My own real-life missed connection.


In my upcoming book, As Lost As I Get, itinerant doctor Zoe Rodriguez and CIA operative Lee Wheeler have a very different sort of missed connection. They meet when he’s sent in to rescue her from kidnappers in Mexico, and there’s no time for romance. After spending two years apart thinking of each other, they get a second chance in a remote corner of Colombia. Of course, second chances are never simple, especially not when both of them have jobs that put them in the center of danger.

Despite the danger, they find the time to reconnect. And thanks to the heat, they manage to find time for a little skinny-dipping of their own.

I had a blast writing their story—I hope you’ll enjoy it. And Taran: if you’re out there reading this, Facebook me!

Hello!
I’m Patty Blount, author of young adult and contemporary romance novels. But I also have a fulltime job in IT in addition to my writing career. IT stands for Information Technology. It used to be the computer department, but as technology advanced, so did the term. My job is to write the instruction
guides people need in order to correctly use their computer systems. I’ve been doing this work for about twenty years now, so in a very real sense, I’ve watched the industry grow up.

When I was just starting out, Windows hadn’t been born yet and the internet was still reserved for government or scientific use. It was also a man’s world – still is, to a large extent – but most of these guys were Big Bang Theory characters and not exactly the stuff of romance novels.

Until now.

In A Match Made at Christmas, my first contemporary romance, I thought it would be cool to make geekiness a hot and heroic character trait, so I gave my heroine my day job and made the hero an executive in the same field. Here is a passage from the story based on actual pickup lines once used on me. In this scene, hero Lucas is quite attracted to heroine Elena, but trying to play it cool. Except his friends, Al and Debbie, won’t leave him alone.


       "Oh, you're in IT, too?" Al's grin got wide and just a little bit wicked. "Luke's head of development at Burke & Kirk. Lucas, you have to try out some of those software developer pick-up lines on someone who gets them."

       "No."

       Elena's lips twitched and she groaned just for form. Inside, she was grateful for the change of subject. "Okay. Gimme one. Let's see what you got."

       "No."

       "Come on, Luke! Don't be such a dick." Al elbowed him.

       "No. And don't call me a dick."

       "Please? I want to hear these, too." Debbie patted the table between them.

       "Okay, okay. You asked for it." Luke rubbed his hands together and gave Elena a smoldering look, dropped his voice down an octave. "I hope you're broadband, baby, because I really want high-speed access." He wiggled his eyebrows.

       Elena rolled her eyes. "That's terrible."

       "Yeah, man, that was awful," Al agreed.


       "I warned you."

       "Come on, do another one," Debbie said.

       Elena put out a hand. "Please don't use the obvious puns on RAM or motherboards."

       Lucas looked at her sideways. "Please. This isn't my first program."

       She snorted and let him continue. Luke took her hand and leaned in real close. "Baby, you overclock my processor but trust me, there's no part of my body that's micro or soft." He delivered the final words with his eyes locked on hers.

       Elena stared into his dark eyes and felt herself melting, weakening, and might have leaned over the table to fuse her mouth to his…


What do you think? Is this a hot geek? I will admit these lines made me giggle but, no – they did
not work on me!

The sequel to A Match Made at Christmas was released on June 30th. It’s called His Touch and is about Elena’s sister, Kara, and her second chance at love.

I also have a new young adult novel coming out in August called NOTHING LEFT TO BURN. It’s about a boy named Reece who joins the fire department’s junior squad to win his father’s respect.
Pre-order today.

Once upon a time, there was a Canadian girl who lived in London. One fine summer day, she put on her riding leathers and hopped on the back of her boyfriend’s motorcycle and they took a drive through the city to a quaint pub in the East End of London. While her boyfriend tended to the motorcycle, she went into the pub to buy a couple of pints.

The pub was unlike anything the Canadian girl had ever seen. Dark and dank, with a low ceiling, crooked floors, dark wooden beams, a roaring fire in a massive stone fireplace and a worn, polished bar at least fifteen feet long. A lazy hound with gastric problems lay on a braided rug in the middle of the pub, adding a distinctive aroma to the already pungent scent of yeast and stale beer.

Several grizzled old men played cards at a table in one corner. An elderly couple dozed in front of the fire. And a group of guys sat at the bar chatting up the female bartender who sported multiple facial piercings and two full sleeves of tattoos.

The Canadian girl slid onto the last seat at the bar and asked the bartender for a pint. Almost immediately, one of the guys broke away from the group. Tall and broad, with a chiselled jaw, shaved head and a pillowy abdomen, he approached her with slow, measured steps. His piercing blue eyes slid over her leather-clad body like a soft caress, lingering over the swell of her breasts crushed beneath her tight leather jacket. He leaned into her, his voice low and husky.

“Ya're so Peas in a Pot I could Tu'penny Post me meat on ya, Basin Of Gravy.”

Very eloquently, and in her best Canadian, she said, “Eh?’

With a sympathetic smile, he drew closer, his fetid breath a whisper in her ear. “You don’t have any Cockney in ya, luv?”

“No.”

“Do you want some?”

“Sorry,” she said, inwardly cringing at the worst pick-up line ever. “I only ride Canadian.”


My latest release is Beyond the Cut, the second standalone book in the Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series. It was inspired by my motorcycle adventures across Europe, and it’s got all the hard riding, fierce loving, outlaw bikers you could want, plus a feisty heroine, a villainous villain and two little kids who can melt an outlaw hero’s heart.




Cade is an outlaw biker with allegiance to one thing and one thing only: The Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club. But when it comes to the stunningly sexy, fiercely independent Dawn Delgado, Cade finds himself...hungrier for more. Trouble is on Dawn's heels and he wants to be the answer to her prayers, whether she wants him to be or not. What can't be denied is the red-hot attraction between them. However, as they fall deeper, the danger rises and Cade may have to sacrifice it all...





New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies. She writes erotic contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them.

This is my stop during the book blitz for To Be Honest. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 21 till 27 July, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

To Be Honest
By TC Booth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: July 21, 2015

Blurb:
A freak accident left Starla Emerson with a deformed hand, low self-esteem, and a need to fade into the background. However, she finds it impossible to be invisible at her new high school where she is pushed front and center by a behind the scenes internet bully.

She joins forces with newfound friends to launch a counter attack in order to expose the cyber bully, aka grizzlygirl2015. Part of the plan involves the school’s bad boy Chase McFall. Star feels more for this golden eyed boy than she should as the plan progresses.

The plan backfires and lands Star in a mountain of trouble. Will she have the courage to be honest about her part in the plan and her true feelings for Chase? Or will she be left heartbroken? Once the truth is out…there’s no turning back.

To Be Honest Playlist
Steal My Girl by One Direction
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Heroes by Alesso and Tove Lo
Fight Song by Rachel Platten

About the Author:
TC Booth was born and raised in a small town in Northeast Ohio where she currently teaches. She lives with her husband and four children ranging in ages from 13-23. Her pets include one dog named Sammy, and two cats- Sheldon and Sasha.

TC Booth views books as the best form of entertainment and her escape for life’s stresses. She prefers reading a book over watching a movie, and writing over almost any other way to spend her time.

When not attending her children’s sporting events and running them around, you’ll see her writing on her laptop, iPad, and even jotting ideas down on her phone apps.

She enjoys the escape from the adult universe into the adolescent world. The passion in which young people experience life is contagious and the driving force of her writing.


There is a blitz wide giveaway for the book blitz of To be Honest. These are the prizes you can win:
- Signed e-copies of To Be Honest by TC Booth
- a 10$ amazon gift card

Today is the cover reveal for To Be Honest by TC Booth 


To Be Honest
By TC Booth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: July 21, 2015

A freak accident left Starla Emerson with a deformed hand, low self-esteem, and a need to fade into the background. However, she finds it impossible to be invisible at her new high school where she is pushed front and center by a behind the scenes internet bully.

She joins forces with newfound friends to launch a counter attack in order to expose the cyber bully, aka grizzlygirl2015. Part of the plan involves the school’s bad boy Chase McFall. Star feels more for this golden eyed boy than she should as the plan progresses.

The plan backfires and lands Star in a mountain of trouble. Will she have the courage to be honest about her part in the plan and her true feelings for Chase? Or will she be left heartbroken? Once the truth is out…there’s no turning back.

To Be Honest Playlist
Steal My Girl by One Direction
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Heroes by Alesso and Tove Lo
Fight Song by Rachel Platten

About the Author:

TC Booth was born and raised in a small town in Northeast Ohio where she currently teaches. She lives with her husband and four children ranging in ages from 13-23. Her pets include one dog named Sammy, and two cats- Sheldon and Sasha.

TC Booth views books as the best form of entertainment and her escape for life’s stresses. She prefers reading a book over watching a movie, and writing over almost any other way to spend her time.

When not attending her children’s sporting events and running them around, you’ll see her writing on her laptop, iPad, and even jotting ideas down on her phone apps.

She enjoys the escape from the adult universe into the adolescent world. The passion in which young people experience life is contagious and the driving force of her writing.

Welcome to Fortune’s Island, where the only rule is to follow your heart.

Love is an extravagance Darcy Williams can’t afford. She prefers the simple life, which includes waitressing at The Love Shack and avoiding temptation. But when a forbidden part of her past steps off the ferry, her safe, guarded existence is turned upside down.

Kincaid Foster has never gotten over his first love. When he sees the wild, beautiful blonde again, dancing her way around The Love Shack, the memories of Darcy’s soft skin, gentle touch, and heated kisses come rushing back. As the privileged son of a wealthy family, Kincaid was too young to stand up to his overbearing father when he and Darcy were together. Now, he’s back on the island—free of the family shackles—and the chiseled, big-time lawyer wants a second chance.

But, Darcy made a promise to keep a secret from Kincaid—a secret that is now a six-year-old girl who looks just like her daddy. If Kincaid finds out about their daughter, Darcy could lose everything. But, she can’t resist the man who stole her heart all those years ago. And it doesn’t take long before both of them realize that anything can happen on a hot summer night.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Arise
Author: Skye Malone 
Series: Awakened Fate (Book Four)
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Wildflower Isle
Publication Date: April 20, 2015
Cover Designer: Karri Klawiter

Chloe hoped that going home would keep her enemies away from her. She thought she could trust her parents to protect her, no matter how much they feared mermaids and the ocean.

It nearly cost her life to find out she was wrong.

Surviving a mad scientist and Noah’s bloodthirsty relatives was only the beginning, however. An ancient creature is after her, one that’s risen from its sleep to hunt her, and one that almost destroyed the world last time it awoke. To save herself and everyone she loves, Chloe’s only chance lies in travelling to meet Ellie’s mysterious teacher, Olivia, one of the elusive landwalker elders.

But Chloe has trusted people before. She’s tried to escape the madness that’s chasing her before. And nearly everybody who’s learned her secret has ended up wanting to use her or kill her.

Will Olivia’s betrayal be next?

Title: Return
Author: Skye Malone 
Series: Awakened Fate (Book Three)
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Wildflower Isle
Publication Date: October 6, 2014
Cover Designer: Karri Klawiter

For Chloe, the ocean was supposed to mean safety and for a time, it almost did. She overcame the Sylphaen’s drugs. She discovered an unforeseen attraction to Zeke, one that he shares for her. A life underwater seemed possible, until she learned that nothing was as it appeared.
After an unspeakable betrayal shattered everything she thought she knew about Zeke’s world, she and Zeke have fled the ocean for the one place Chloe never expected to want to go.

Home.

But the challenge of living as a mermaid over a thousand miles from the ocean isn’t the only problem facing her. Home has changed. Enemies are waiting, ones she never saw coming. Her little Kansas town is full of surprises.

Including Noah, the guy she left behind.

Life in her underwater home of Nyciena has always been fun and games to Ina Ociras, until now. Her brothers are missing. Her father is gone. The adventurous party girl is fighting just to keep her family from falling apart, all while avoiding Egan, the guy who committed the one crime she can’t possibly forgive.
But when she receives a message that changes everything, Ina suddenly finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy more horrifying than she could have imagined. One that strikes at the heart of her kingdom, and one that could destroy her family once and for all.

~An Awakened Fate Novella which follows Return, Book Three of the Awakened Fate Series~