Baby Number Two Is Alive, Kicking and Ready To Go by Margo Hoornstra

Delivery day has finally arrived! And I didn't even have to go into labor!

On The Force, Brothers in Blue Book 2 is now available for pre-order. The official release date is October 29th.

Yay!

Right Here!

In the interest of time, here's a peek at what On The Force is all about.

Top notch CFO Sydney Raines is devastated when her coveted job working for a high profile conglomerate is yanked out from under her. Determined to restore her mangled reputation, she finds her second chance when the owner of an upscale art gallery hires her as his personal assistant.

Straight arrow cop Vince Miller is assigned to crack an international art theft ring. Working undercover, he never counted on meeting Sydney Raines, let alone falling in love with her. Then an unexpected twist in the case reveals the identity of a serial killer, along with the shattering realization that Sydney could be the psycho's next victim.

And, some of what to expect from the story.

“It’s Miller from Detroit…I’m pretty sure I know who your Jane Doe victim is.” He didn’t give his colleague any time to comment. “I’m going to call her next of kin. We’ll be over your way in a couple of hours.”

****

Vince pressed his foot down harder on the gas pedal as he fought to block out everything but the highway in front of him. A simple survival tactic as blind faith propelled him on. If he let his mind go where it wanted, all thoughts of Sydney would be front and center. He didn’t want to deal with that much pain just now. To focus on the road was his best option. Straight, flat, predictable.

Until they got to the turn off to the hospital, more specifically, the morgue.

Terror and sadness, rage and impotence stabbed at him from all directions, tearing him up and threatening to destroy his heart.

Beside him, Andy Raines wasn’t faring much better. “It’s not supposed to be like this.” He blew his nose then used the same handkerchief to wipe the tears from red rimmed eyes.

“It’s a hazy connection at best, but right now it’s the only connection we’ve got.” Vince didn’t share the details of the other victims. Not yet anyway. “I just hope to hell I’m wrong.”

“Children bury their parents. Not the other way around.” He coughed into one elbow then dabbed at his eyes again.

Vince kept his lips tight and jaw clenched. The right thing to do was respond. Offer some words of…what? Wisdom? Sympathy? Commiseration? Pity he had nothing to give as they traveled to possibly identify a Jane Doe dead body as someone they each loved more than life.


My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the books and short stories I write, please visit my Website

#Amwriting AND Doing My #Research by Margo Hoornstra

Can you believe it? School starts around here in less than a month.

As an empty nester, the approach of that annual event doesn’t affect me quite so much now. No collections of school clothes to buy. (With four children, that was always quite the monumental undertaking.) No before and after child care to line up. (As a working mom, always an end of summer priority.)

Remember that Staples commercial – maybe it will be on again – with the gleeful parent pushing a shopping cart while clicking their heels and singing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year…’ I used to love that ad. Sang that song to my own children all the time too.

But, that’s not what I meant to talk about.

On The Make, Book 3 in the Brothers in Blue series is my current work in progress.

She no longer believes in heroes, or happily ever after. He's determined to prove her wrong.

The book features a recently widowed, single mom raising two adolescent boys, one who is in a particularly difficult stage of rebellion. Having raised the aforementioned four kids, I’m calling up memories of some of our more trying times to help get my creative juices flowing.

Not that any of my offspring were necessarily out and out rebellious, but we did have our moments. And thank goodness I wasn’t a single mom, but had a strong, supportive partner to navigate the sometimes choppy child raising waters with me. Such as:

1.       Those first days, weeks, months with a new driver’s license

2.       The friends they coveted who weren’t necessarily the best choice

3.       Those ‘everyone else gets to, why can’t I?’ discussions

4.       The ‘make your bed and clean your room’ requests that seem to be unheard

5.       The ‘there’s nothing to eat’ wails after a mega trip to the grocery store

6.       The eye rolls. For no particular offense, except for simply being…parental

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Again, as an empty nester, there’s a bonus in here too.  While those recollections are helpful, I get to do some real time, here and now research as well. As I watch two of those four I told you about before navigate the same issues with their offspring.

Plus, I have to say…paybacks really are very, very sweet.

How about you? What’s in your research arsenal and how do you use it?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my  WEBSITE

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It’s Here! … so now what? by Margo Hoornstra

As many of you who read these pages know, On The Surface, Book 1 in my Brothers In Blue series and first romantic suspense, releases worldwide on September 29, 2017. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, you name the book outlet and, thanks to The Wild Rose Press, I – rather, On The Surface – will be there. For all the world to see!

So how, exactly, does one go about getting the world to…well…see it?

Tweets, FaceBook posts and well-run blog tours help some. But, what else could I do to get the word out I wondered? Then an idea arrived at my door. Literally. The local shopping guide. Of the paper and ink variety. Circulation of a few hundred thousand.

When my first book came out in 2009, and having been a communications and public relations specialist in my former life, the press release was my go to promotional device. I’d sent one to them at that time they were happy to publish. Why not try again?

There’s only one problem. I’ve always been good at promoting others and their message. When it comes to tooting my own horn, not so much.

The whole who, what, where, when, why and how comes easily enough. The facts and a bit of a tease. Like this.

On The Surface, Book 1 in the Brothers In Blue series, is the latest book release from local author Margo Hoornstra. Available in both electronic and print formats at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO and other venues where books are sold, On The Surface is the story of one man’s revenge turned to redemption.

Then to add insight into the story. Using the entire blurb would be a bit much, don’t you think? With a general audience and all, better to keep it generic, and definitely PG.

Brad Collins is a bounty hunter more by necessity than choice. Determined to bring in the felon who ruined his life, he’s soon neck deep in a different situation he never saw coming.

Keep them reading with a little more to come...on.

On The Force, Book 2 of the Brothers In Blue series, is set to release in the fall of 2018.

Personalize with a touch of bio.

A city girl turned country woman, Margo enjoys hikes around the wide open spaces of her home, hates to cook and loves to read. With the kids and grandkids near, she and her husband reside in Potterville.

Now for a catchy headline. How about one of these?

All Romantic Suspense Fans! Listen Up!

(Maybe too in your face catchy, huh?)

Attention, Fans of Romantic Suspense.

(Meh)

Fans of Romantic Suspense, Don’t Miss This!

(There I go. Too in your face again.)

How about the simple.

Latest Book Released by Local Author.

Short, sweet, to the point…and done.

So, what do you think? Should I send it in?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE

Oh, almost forgot, the one thing you can't do in print promo is provide the BUYLINK 

Now, it's really done.