Small Town Inspiration by Mackenzie Crowne

Ever been to new England? I have. In fact, I grew up in a small town just north of Boston, and with Independence Day just around the corner, the revolutionary spirit of the region seems a perfect topic for today’s post. New England is a beautiful mix of coastal ports, rolling hills and forests, quiet villages and metropolitan centers.

Then there is the history. Everywhere you look are reminders of the revolutionary war era, like the patchwork of stone walls crisscrossing just about every field and forest. Seriously, they're everywhere and my childhood imagination was sparked each time I spotted one. I'd find myself wondering who built them and why - when I wasn't picturing militia soldiers ducked behind the piles of stones as they battled the redcoats.

As I’ve grown older, my fascination with the history of the area has only grown more profound. Imagine the guts and pure determination of our founding fathers as they put their lives and treasure on the line to face down tyranny. Their strength of character gifted us with the legacy of freedom we enjoy today. I’d like to believe I would have joined their ranks, fighting alongside those brave souls as they forged the greatest system of rights the world has ever known, but I honestly don’t know if I have the courage required.

Centuries later, the cobbled streets and byways of New England lead eager travelers through the early steps of a young nation. If you’ve never had the opportunity to explore New England personally, I highly recommend the experience and when you do, here are a few of my favorite haunts.

For history buffs like me, the Freedom Trail is a must!

The Old North Church is just one stop on the Freedom Trail,
but it's a great one.

Hammond Castle in Gloucester combines American and European history
with thrilling results.
hammondcastle.org

 Mac’s memories of small-town New England life inspired the location of her small-town romance,

Cara O’Shea’s Return

available at Amazon.com. 

New Release by Christine DePetrillo

If you've ever visited Boston, you know how the busy streets sound, you know the hustle and bustle of city folks, you've ridden The "T," and every now and then, you get the feeling that our founding fathers are walking with you. It's a great city, full of history and life.

Until a fiction author gets a hold of it as I did in my newest release due out on August 25th. SAFE, Book One in The Shielded Series, is set in a ruined Boston, year 2025. Here's a description of the Boston that exists in the not-too-distant future:

Foster rubbed his eyes, certain they were bloodshot, not only from the pepperblast but simply from being in the city. Running through dilapidated Boston took its toll on the body. The stink of trash and decaying carcasses—animal and human—made breathing difficult. Summer temperatures didn’t help. Everything smelled as if it’d been marinated in sour milk then roasted on sun-scorched asphalt. The uneven pavement was tricky to navigate and hell on the feet. Something sharp had jabbed his heel through his black combat boots as he’d run through the city, and now his sock felt wet. He didn’t dare stop to heal what was probably a deep gash.

Have to keep moving.

He picked his way along the alley, staying close to the building at his right. Fortunately the brick façade was continuous and offered good cover. Red bits of brick flaked off as his fingers trailed along the stone, sounding like rain pattering on the street. He’d loved the brownstone buildings in this part of the city where he’d lived before the Anarch attack. They’d been so cozy, nestled next to one another along the narrow streets, old-fashioned iron lampposts lighting the way for nighttime walkers on summer evenings. Boston had been such a historic city, filled with the sights and symbols of America’s fight for freedom.

Now it was no more than a wasteland.

Rubble and litter ruined the landscape. The sound of cars bringing people here and there no longer filled the day and night hours like a steady, healthy heartbeat. Instead an eerie quiet—an odd absence of city noise—hung over the skeletons of broken buildings. Business no longer thrived here. Social activity no longer thrived here. 

Nothing thrived here.

Do you want to visit this Boston? Are you a little freaked? I hope so. This series is sci-fi romance with a contemporary feel. You'll forget it's 2025. You'll forget this is just fiction. SAFE will be followed up with PROTECTED and finally, SECURE. Don't worry. There are still happily ever afters in all of them despite the destruction. They are just earned in a grittier, harder world and with riskier actions on the characters' parts. 

Cover Art by Wicked Smart Designs

I hope you'll give SAFE a try. It's available for PRE-ORDER right now at all the usual spots. For more information, visit my website.

Also...

In celebration of SAFE being up for pre-order, I'm giving away one $50 Amazon Gift Card. Just go to my author FB page to find the entry options. One winner will be randomly selected on August 27.

Do you think about how things might be different in the future? I do. I always wish for the Star Trek version with Star Fleet Academy, but know it probably won't go down that way. A shame, really. 

Toodles, 

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com 

The Maple Leaf Series, Books One to Six, available now. More Than Pancakes, Book One, is always FREE in ebook!

SAFE, Book One in The Shielded Series, pre-order today!   

Not Fall, but winter weddings by Barbara Edwards

My new release, Late for the Wedding, part of the Twelve Brides of Christmas Series from The Wild Rose Press is a Christmas tale to be released November 24, 2014.

After my novella, Gift of the Magi, was a best seller in Amazon's Holiday Romances last Christmas, I was asked to contribute to this series. The basic idea was to use two turtledoves from the Christmas carol. I thought it would be easy but a romance, turtledoves, a wedding as topics took awhile to combine into a story I think you'll enjoy.

I've added the two links to pre-order Late for the Wedding.

Late for the Wedding (Twelve Brides of Christmas Book 2) by Barbara Edwards

Link: http://amzn.com/B00OWLKDY6

Available for pre-order in any format from The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_177_139&products_id=5911

Late for the Wedding by Barbara Edwards

Blurb: Heather Green will do anything to make her twin’s wedding perfect. Despite an impending nor’easter, she sets out with the wedding dress, cake, favors and cake topper in her car. As the snow piles up, her car is wrecked and she barely misses injury in a major accident.Nicholas Burnes would rather be ensconced with his latest cuddle than drive a tow truck, but his brother needs his help. He reluctantly agrees to help Heather find a way to the wedding locale, but when the storm closes the roads, he ends up offering her shelter in his penthouse.Warm and rested at last, Nick and Heather explore their powerful attraction to each other, only to part when he delivers her, on time, to her sister’s wedding. But weddings breed weddings…

Excerpt:

She strained to see past the broken windshield. Her throat hurt when she swallowed. Other vehicles lay tangled in a mess, not just the truck and her car. She prayed another car wouldn’t hit her again and inhaled to calm her racing pulse. She finally got the seatbelt lock to release, forced her door open and stood. Her knees shook and she had to hang onto the sagging door for support. She stared around. Headlights glittered like monster eyes. Her vehicle was at the edge of a horrendous multi-car pile-up.

Sirens wailed like lost children. Blinding red and blue lights flashed everywhere as emergency personnel rushed by. Her hands shook as she dragged on her cashmere coat. Time squeezed and expanded like an accordion being played. A fireman asked if she was okay and ran on at her nod.

She brushed moisture from her face and realized she was crying. She pillowed her head on her arm, the roof supporting her as she wept.

“Hey, lady, you okay?” A gentle hand gripped her shoulder.

This time the questioner stopped to listen.

She looked up into scorching blue eyes so bright they could have been a propane flame.  Her skin warmed and her pulse leaped as if it recognized the message in them. They promised heat and comfort and strength like the hand on her shoulder.  He’d pulled his knit hat down over his forehead and his lower face was covered with dark stubble that matched his thick black eyelashes. His hands were splotched with grease and he smelled like oil and fuel fumes. His quilted jacket was stained and patched, his boots wet and cracked, but he exuded strength and caring.

She swallowed. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Another fixer-upper, like her ex, she briefly thought, although with those gorgeous eyes he might be worth the trouble.

 I’m Barbara Edwards and a native New Englander. I’m a graduate of the University of Hartford with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. I write poetry for myself and novels when I need to tell a longer tale. I’m fascinated by the past so naturally turned to writing historical romance. The dark paranormal stories evolve from nightmares. The romance comes from my belief in people’s basic goodness and longing for love. 

  I lived in Florida for several years and am past president of the Central Florida Romance Writers and a member of Romance Writers of America.

When I returned to Connecticut, I founded the Charter Oak Romance Writers, a Chapter of Romance Writers of America, along with several close friends
My husband is a retired Police Sergeant. We share an interest Civil War re-enacting and travel the Eastern states to participate in events. I love visiting museums, galleries and battle sites, gathering information for my stories.

I taught Romance Writing at Manchester Community college for three years.

I’m fond of gardening and growing antique roses with limited success. 

Most of my exercise is when my Belgian Shepherd, Dixie, demands a walk. 

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

Blog http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards