Lassoing a Bride -- The Perfect Cover Image --Book Giveaway

Today at Prairie Rose Publications two new anthologies came out that I made covers for. I even have a story in one.  Today I'm giving away e-copies of Lassoing a Bride and Lassoing a Groom to one person who comments chosen by Random.org.


Last winter I asked my partner, Cheryl Pierson what she thought about having an anthology about western weddings for early summer. I sent her a mock cover. We threw around titles until we came up with Lassoing a Bride. The mock cover was too modern. and we also decided we wanted a smaller more intimate anthology so each author would have room to have decent length stories. We knew we'd have more stories than we wanted to put in this one anthology, so we added Lassoing a Groom. I found the perfect image for Lassoing a Bride and the bonus was there were more of the couple so I could also use one for Lassoing a Groom. We put out a call for stories, and it was soon obvious we'd need another Lassoing anthology, and added Lassoing a Mail-Order Bride. Now the first two anthologies have been released.

 LASSOING A BRIDE 

Some brides are hard to get a rope on, for sure! But in these wild west romance tales, being married is like sugar and lots of spice—with a dash of pepper in the mix! Ain’t nothin’ tame about these brides, who have a delicious story of their own—each falling under the spell of a handsome devil she thought was out of her reach. Unanswered prayers, broken dreams and unexpected circumstances are sometimes the best way for a groom to get the gal he loves when he’s looking at Lassoing a Bride!

PRETTIEST LITTLE HORSE THIEF by Gail L. Jenner
Sometimes it’s the stolen and unexpected love that has the power to heal a broken heart

UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS by Sarah J. McNeal
A broken dream…a cancelled wedding…and an unexpected blessing.

NO LESS THAN FOREVER by Tracy Garrett
Love always finds a way…

THE BANK ROBBER'S LAMENT by Sara Barnard
Smith found equal amounts of both anonymity and trouble in Gabriel's Settlement. But when he sets eyes on a beautiful woman and her young daughter who are being abused, might some other emotion be fated to bloom in that desert town of far west Texas?

THE BRIDE AND THE BADGE by Livia J. Washburn
Was Emily just bait for an outlaw trap—or did she mean more than that to the handsome Texas Ranger?
(Note: I do love those Texas Rangers!)

Available Now at  Barnes & Noble    Smashwords

    

LASSOING A GROOM 

How is a woman supposed to catch a husband? In the wild, wild west, she’s got to find a way to Lasso a Groom! Some of them are lawmen…some are outlaws. Ranchers and homesteaders are fair game, as well—none of 'em safe from love’s lariat, or the women who finally manage to rope ’em in!
DON’T GO SNARING MY HEART by Jacquie Rogers
Can rancher Dex Madsen get past loner Betsy Lynch's goats and killer chicken to help save her mining claim and win her heart?

RACE TO MARRY by Kirsten Lynn
He’s in town to tame a man-killer. She’s accused of being one. When she proposes marriage the race is on.

WANTED: THE SHERIFF by Tracy Garrett
He’s a confirmed bachelor…but she’ll capture his heart.

CANYON CROSSING by Kristy McCaffrey
In search of her brother, Annabel Cross enters Grand Canyon. When U.S. Deputy Marshal Angus Docherty rescues her from a cliff side, her most guarded secret might save them.

THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD BRIDE by Linda Hubalek
Will a dangerous man from Gussie Hamner’s past sabotage the future she’s building with Noah Wilerson?

THE WORST OUTLAW IN THE WEST by Kathleen Rice Adams
An inept bank robber and a bossy spinster team up to rob an empty vault. What could go wrong?

Now Available Barnes & Noble   Smashwords

     

Coming Soon:

   

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of both Lassoing a Bride and Lassoing a Groom.

Halloween Treat

Today through November 2nd WITCH GOT YOUR TONGUE  is free on Kindle and PECK OF PICKLED WARLOCKS is now only $2.99.


Aren McAllister is a beautiful but shy and withdrawn young woman who has battled a stuttering problem her entire life. But then, seemingly by accident, she discovers that she wields an incredible power: she is actually a witch and can cast potent spells . . . but only by singing them.

This discovery throws Aren into a dangerous power struggle between different factions in the society of witches who live among humans unknown by them. And for the first time she encounters a romance that may change her life as much or more than the powers she never knew she had.

WITCH GOT YOUR TONGUE is the first novel in the Tongue Tied Witch series.

                                        

"Hallam", a 10,000 word story is the first appearance of Lucas Hallam, a cowboy who has outlived the days of the old west to become a gun-toting private eye and stuntman in the early days of motion pictures in California. Originally published in The Eye's Have It, 1984.


"Hollywood Flesh", a 7000 word story was published in The Book of all Flesh 2001. It's a good thing Lucas Hallam is a hard-headed old cowboy and doesn't believe in such nonsense as Zombies, or this case might give him nightmares.


Available free today only for the Kindle.

Review Blues

I received a one star review on the first novel of my urban fantasy series, Witch Got Your Tongue, because the reviewer thought it had a cliff hanger ending.  The person even admitted it was a pretty good story but still gave it only one star.  This is a series, and some things were resolved, but I did leave it open for many more books in the future.  Is that no longer allowed in series?  The only real thing left unresolved was something that will be an ongoing battle for the main character.  I let the reviews about it not being a novel but a novella roll off my shoulders.  Well, other than griping to James.  It is 45,000 words.  That is not a novella.  It's a short novel, and I was very clear about that in the description by posting the number of pages in the trade paperback.  Now I get complaints that it's a half novel that doesn't end.  I really want to know if this is something that actually bothers readers, or if it just makes you want to read the next book.

Also, any readers willing to review the book, either on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or on a blog, send me your email address  with the type of file you would need, and I'll send you a Kindle file, Word file, or PDF. livia@flash.net .

More Nice Reviews

Over on Debbie's Book Bag she has this to say about The Gingerbread Bump-Off

Livia J. Washburn brings readers a great holiday themed cozy just in time for ... Livia J. Washburn has a great sense of community and small town involvement. ...

She is having a giveaway so check it out.

And of all places, you can find a 4 1/2 star review of Witch Got Your Tongue over on Coated Tongue Causes. 

This is a fast, entertaining book, and there's bound to be a sequel along soon.

I just wanted to add that there will be a sequel, A Peck of Pickled Warlocks, but at this time I'm working on the 4th Literary Tour Mystery featuring the man's man Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Funeral Bell Tolls.

If you can't find the books locally, they are available through Amazon.

Kindle       Trade  

Trade       Kindle

Even More Free Books

This time I'm giving away two of my literary tour mysteries. I have two books, so there will be two winners. First is my latest a hardback from Kensington, Killer on a Hot Tin Roof. (I love that cover!) and second, recently released in paperback, Huckleberry Finished. Email me at washburn@flash.net by December 5th to enter.

Free Books!

I have one autographed copy each of the paperback KILLER CRAB CAKES and the trade paperback of THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER that I will be giving away, so only two people can win this time. Email me before November 25, 2010 (Thanksgiving) to enter the drawing. washburn@flash.net.

One of my favorite recipes in THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER:

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
1 egg
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:
4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
3 tablespoons butter

Muffin:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners. Fill any unfilled muffin cups in tin with water.

Filling: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Beat until mixed, then set bowl in freezer to set while mixing other ingredients.

Topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

Muffin batter: In a large bowl, blend together flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla. Beat together until well mixed.

Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Take the cream cheese mixture out of the freezer then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter in the muffin cups. Having the chilled cream cheese mixture will help you keep the cream cheese from touching the edges. Sprinkle on the streusel topping.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Makes 18 muffins

Note: If you have dogs, add a heaping tablespoon of the leftover canned pumpkin to their meal. All of my dogs like pumpkin and it’s a healthy treat.

Bill Crider Reviews The Vampire Affair

As you can plainly see by the cover to the left there, this is supposedly a romance novel in the Silhouette Nocturne series. Vampires, as anyone can tell you are a hot item these days in romance. But I'll bet this book isn't what you're thinking it is. The vampires here aren't the romantic leads. They're the bad guys. The very bad guys.

You can read more on Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine. Bill is a writer that I respect greatly, and his review means a lot to me.

This is the last week to throw your name into the drawing. I'm giving away 3 books and the deadline is October 26th. Just email me at reasoner@flash.net for a chance to win an autographed copy of The Vampire Affair.

Nice Review of The Vampire Affair

There is a very nice review of The Vampire Affair on the CataRomance website.

THE VAMPIRE AFFAIR brings out your deepest emotions on countless occasions, as the joys or fears of the beloved hero and heroine affect you as if they are your own.

If you want to read more go here.

I'm still collecting names for the giveaway until October 26th. Just email me at reasoner@flash.net for a chance to win a copy of the book.

And the Winners are . . .

Using Random.org the following winners were chosen to receive a signed copy of Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead.
Charles Gramlich
Gerry Tilley
Mary Arnold

Remember there's still time to enter The Vampire Affair contest.

Drawing for Free Books

Frankly, My Dear, I’m Dead, by Livia J. Washburn. An amateur sleuth and travel agent leads a tour of Atlanta sites connected to Margaret Mitchell and GONE WITH THE WIND, but her group really gets an eyeful when the Rhett Butler impersonator ends up dead.

The mass market paperback edition will be coming out October 6, 2009. I will be giving away 3 signed copies. Email me before the publication date to enter the drawing. washburn@flash.net

Good Luck!

Basket Give Away

Email me at livia@flash.net to put your name in for a chance to win the above basket. All I need is your name. I'll email the winner for their address. The basket contains a signed copy of my book The Christmas Cookie Killer, a signed bookmark, a mug with the cover of the book, a tin of snowflake cookie cutters, red and white snowflake pot holders, Dark hot chocolate mix, biscotti cookies, two small boxes of chocolates, and a stuffed snowman. The drawing will be December 7th. Good Luck!