Fantasy Romance Author Nicole Zoltack

Nicole Zoltack has been creating stories since before she could even write. She loves to read everything she can get her hands on but fantasy romance holds a special place in her heart. Nicole is happily married to her college sweetheart and has two adorable sons. In her free time, she loves to ride horses, collect swords, and go to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in period garb. She lives in Pennsylvania where she enjoys the four seasons but wishes that winter would stop cutting into the warm springtime.

My interview with Nicole

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Nicole] I adored Anne of Green Gables. I can't tell you how many times I reread it. Anne was my heroine. She was smart, had spunk, and was my literary best friend. It took me a long time before I read the rest of the series (Now, looking back, I think I didn't want Anne to grow up in my mind), and I enjoyed the later books too.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Nicole] I have lots of favorite authors but if I had to pick just one, that would be impossible. I love JRR Tolkien, JK Rowling, CS Lewis (lol so far they all have initials in their names). I also enjoy Diana Gabaldon and Tamora Pierce, and many, many more.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Nicole] I just finished reading Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers so it's fresh in my mind. I really enjoyed it, it's the story of a girl who finds herself caught between an angel and a demon, and falls for both of them. I love the message in the story about the power of love to change someone.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Nicole] Definitely Hawaii. Hubby and I went there for our honeymoon. We took a weeklong cruise to several of the islands and stayed a few extra nights on the Big Island. It was magical. We rode horses through the water, which was such a dark blue, and visited volcanoes. It was the experience of a lifetime. I would love to go back someday!

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Nicole] Oh, tough choice! I would go with a custom kitchen. So much time is spent in the kitchen to make food for your family, it makes more sense to pick that. Although if you know me, I have a ton of clothes!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Nicole] My pj's, which is sometimes a nightgown, sometimes an oversized T-shirt. That's what I'm wearing right now as I type this - an oversized Philadelphia Eagles T-shirt.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Nicole] Anything Italian. I could eat Italian food 24/7. Mmm.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

Spending time with my family. Watching sports, TV shows, and movies with hubby. I love my Eagles (unfortunately hubby is a Dallas cowboys fan). I also love to read (big surprise there, I'm sure)

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Nicole] I used to always want a Mustang (used to tease hubby that I wanted 2 mustangs - the car and the horse) but now I'm leaning more toward a Corvette.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Nicole] My current favorite TV show is The Vampire Diaries. Out of old shows, that would be Lost. My favorite movie of all time is Gone with the Wind. Like books, I can list a lot more than one. Disney's The Three Musketeers, Timeline, While You Were Sleeping, The Phantom of the Opera, Die Hard….

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Nicole] I would sing. I love singing, was a member of my high school and college chorus. I miss singing.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Nicole] To fly. Especially with the rising cost of gas!

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Nicole] How huge a role promotion has, how early you can start with it, and what exactly it entails. I never really thought about promoting until after I had started to write seriously.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Nicole] With Champion of Valor, I did a lot of research into angels. I love history and religion, so I really enjoyed this research. But what always comes to mind first was when I learned that there had actually been some female knights in the Middle Ages.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Nicole] A lot of my inspiration comes from dreams. I tend to wander the land of "what if…" I'm sometimes inspired my movies and TV shows, other books, and just by living life. I love to people-gawk.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Nicole] I know a lot of authors can't write without listening to music. I can't. I tend to get too caught up in the music and sing along to concentrate. I do most of my writing late at night or early in the morning, when the rest of my household is asleep. Sometimes if I get stuck, I find that writing with a pen helps to get the creative juices flowing again.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Nicole] Relatable characters, believable characters that grow and change throughout the story, a realistic plot that tugs at the heartstrings.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Nicole] I'm working on a ghost story for a charity anthology and the next short story installment in my What You See is What You Get series with Echelon Press.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Nicole] I adore receiving emails from readers. I loved hearing from Shawna that one of her daughters turned down playing with a friend to read my book instead. Not necessarily interesting, I know, but it made my day! (Actually, it made a whole lot longer than a day.)

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, he was right behind me. Curse this fog, I can't see where I parked my car. I tightened my grip on my car keys, the metal biting into my palm, the only weapon I had.

I glanced at him. He wore a long trench coat, his head down. He was so close that the tail of his jacket brushed against my jeans. I stepped to the side and hoped her would pass me. It was bad enough that a terrible storm seemed to be on the way and I was a long way from home. I didn't need any more trouble.

He paused and looked at me, his eyes dark as a moonless night. "Be careful what you want," he said in a deep growl.

I blinked and brought up a trembling hand, my car key pointed toward him. "Excuse me?"

He glanced up at the dark clouds swirling overhead. "It looks like a storm's coming. You better get home."

I stared at him. His voice was now completely different, softer, a little higher pitched, his eyes a light blue. "You too," I squeaked out.

I watched him slink away, and he slowly disappeared into the fog.

It started to rain a few seconds later, and I ran to my car. I shoved the key into the lock and climbed in. Before I turned the car on, I stared through the windshield. An unsettling sensation filled me, and I slowly started to drive.

Be careful what you want.

What did I want?

At this moment, I wanted nothing more than to know who the man was and why he had said that to me.

As if he materialized out of my thoughts, the man stood before my car. I slammed on the brakes but the rain caused my tires to slid, and I slammed into him. I shoved my car into park and threw open the door. I ran to him, the ran beating onto me like pellets. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

The man stared at me, unblinking. With a sob, I touched his throat. No pulse. I had killed him.

A sob burst out of my throat like a banshee wail.

Be careful what you want.

And the winner is....

Celia Yeary! Congratulations, Celia, you've won an autographed copy of one of Sharon's books.

I want to thank Sharon again for visiting this month. It was an honor to have her here and I really enjoyed learning more about her and her wonderful books. And who could forget the memorable visit from Oliver. What a hunk!

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Sharon's new book Charade of Hearts, starring the one and only Oliver.

While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.


AVAILABLE NOW!
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html

The Amazing Sharon Donovan - What inspires her to write!

Hope inspires me to write. I don’t plot, outline or suffer from writer’s block. I just write. After my near fatal heart attack in August, my heart echoes the quote of Isaac Asimov.

“If my doctor told me I had only six months to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

I’d like to share with you my journey to publication. My life has been a long and winding road, full of challenge, heartache and passion. I’ve been blessed with the gifts of faith and hope. Faith in myself and hope for a brighter tomorrow. I’m Irish, highly emotional, stubborn as all get up and fiercely determined. What didn’t kill me made me stronger.

After a long bout with diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes leading to progressive blindness, my life took a complete 180. I went from being a legal secretary where I prepared legal document for judges to not being able to see the paper, let alone the print. But worst than that, I could no longer pursue my passion of painting. I battled the retinopathy for two decades. Vision came and went. After undergoing twenty painful surgeries, I lost the battle and am now totally blind.

With a strong creative muse and nowhere to channel it, life became as dull as my existence. I was introduced to the world of audio books and fell in love with romantic suspense novels. The more I listened the more I began writing one in my head. But how would I put my words to paper if I couldn’t see what I was typing? Refusing to give up on the idea, I explored other options. If there’s a will there’s a way.

When I heard about a computer with adaptive software, converting text to synthesized speech, hope soared. With a new outlook and a new direction, I challenged myself to write a romantic suspense. How hard could it be after all.

Once I’d written my first full length novel, I envisioned agents and Hollywood movie producers beating a path to my door. Humming a happy tune, I whipped out twenty-one submission packages to top New York agents. Then I sat back, waiting for the phone to ring off the hook. It never rang. But slowly but surely, all agents responded to my romantic suspense, each a rejection letter. The worst of the lot said simply, “Your project does not excite us.”

With that little devil perched on my shoulder once more, my first reaction was to fire back an email of attack. Everything in me wanted to scream they’d be sorry when what they so carelessly pitched in the trash wound up a New York Times bestseller. But my psychology classes kicked in, and Freud’s ego component mediated between the devil and the angel. I orchestrated a new plan of attack, enrolling in creative writing classes, critique groups and attending conferences. It didn’t take long to realize why my novel was rejected. Using knowledge as power, I learned to accept criticism from group members. And while attending a conference, The door to Wild Rose Press was opened.

One more grain of knowledge to add to the list. I was marketing my novel in the wrong genre. While it had elements of romance, it did not fit the standard romance category and was rejected once more.

Unwilling to ditch the dream of having my first novel published, I set it aside on my hard drive. For the next two years, I focused on short stories of romance and had several short stories published by White Rose Publishing. Looking back now, I view the petals of the white roses as snowflakes from heaven. They were sent to me as messengers, reminding me that writing is a gift that takes time to craft. The old saying came to mind. “Stop and smell the roses.” Before my rosettes could blossom into full-grown roses, I needed to nurture them with tender loving care.

After more writing classes and critiques, I felt ready to move onward to a mission near and dear to my heart. I wrote Echo of a Raven, a book about my struggles with diabetic retinopathy, donating a percentage of proceeds to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) fight for a cure. More confident in my writing skills, I wrote a full length romantic suspense. Her Biggest Fan was contracted by Wild Rose Press. A month later, the same publishing house contracted Charade of Hearts as one of the books in their Jewel of the Night series.

It was time to tackle my first novel, still collecting dust on my hard drive.

While polishing it to the best of my ability, I recalled the words of a teacher in my writing class. She said the first book written is rarely the first book sold. Truer words were never spoken. After twenty-one rejection letters, three title changes and numerous rewrites, Mask of the Betrayer has a home with Whimsical Publications.

Rejection letters hurt, but for every rejection there is acceptance. The secret to all of this is faith. Faith will open doors. What’s the most valuable lesson I’ve learned through all of this? I’m a better writer today than I was yesterday, but not as good as I will be tomorrow. Final words of wisdom for all aspiring writers. Never give up on a dream.

Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream rose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.

Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. She is a published author with The Wild Rose Press, White Rose Publishing, Whimsical Publications and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Echo of a Raven is a CTRR recipient, and The Claddagh Ring is a CAPA nominee. Lasting Love earned readers pick of the month at Find a Great Romance. To read excerpts and reviews of Sharon’s books and to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website:

www.sharonadonovan.com

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win Sharon's book!

New Release - A Familiar Evil - Excerpts!

"You're out there watching me. I can feel you. What do you want? Why did you come back here?"

Jordan Russell had the perfect life until the brutal monster from her childhood resurfaced, opening up scars she thought were healed. With the hope of finally finding closure Jordan leaves her cheating husband, and her career in the FBI, and returns to where her nightmare began. But what awaits her in Thorny Creek will push her to the very edge of sanity and bring her face to face with her abductor.


Excerpt #1

“Excuse me. I’m looking for Chief Russell.”

Jordan’s stomach did a nosedive at the familiar voice of her soon-to-be-ex-husband.

“You found her,” Frank answered.

Jordan looked up just as Sam smiled. “Indeed I have.” He started toward her desk.

Colleen barged through the opened door. “Chief, there’s an Agent Russell here to see…oh, I guess you found her.”

“Agent Russell,” Frank repeated. He turned back to Jordan, “Isn’t Russell your married name?” He then shifted his gaze back to Sam, “That must mean you’re her husband.”

“Not for much longer.” Jordan hurried around her desk and ushered Frank out the door. “You’ll be hearing from me.” She closed the door and looked at Sam. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here at your request.”

“I specifically requested someone from the Charlotte field office.” Anyone but him.

He looked at her with that gorgeous smile that used to make her go weak in the knees. “And they forwarded that request to Agent Haines, who assigned me.”

“We’ll see about that.” Jordan marched back to her desk, and was four digits into Haines’ cell phone number when Sam pressed his finger down on the button and disconnected the call. Eighteen and a half months of built-up rage boiled to the surface. She doubled her right fist and spun around with lighting fury.

Sam, just as quick, stopped the fist within inches of his jaw. With his free hand he took the phone from her left hand and placed it back in its cradle. Jordan felt his hot breath on her face as he peered down at her, and was keenly aware of the heat generating from his body through the hand which tightened around her wrist.

“Let me help you, Jordan…please.”

She swallowed hard, summoned all her courage, and met his smoldering gaze. “I need a profiler who can tell me exactly what I’m up against here.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve lost your touch.”

She ignored his smirk. “I need a fresh pair of eyes who can look at this guy objectively.”

“Who hasn’t allowed themselves to get too personal?”

“I just need someone other than you,” she spat.

“Too bad, you’re stuck with me. Now what do you say I release your hand and you don’t take my head off? Or we can continue to provide the day’s entertainment for your co-workers.”

Jordan shifted her gaze to the glass separating her office from the command center. A half dozen familiar faces scattered like rats. She twisted free from his grip, grabbed her cap from her desk and shoved it down over her head. “Fine!” She was already halfway out the door before she realized he wasn’t with her. She turned back and found him smiling at her. “Are you coming or not?”

Excerpt #2

He watched Jordan walk from her black SUV into the police department, adjacent to city hall. He’d been so close to her this morning he could almost see her facial expressions. He closed his eyes and visualized her walking along the trail. Her scent had lingered long after she’d gone, as if it had permeated every leaf in the forest. He recalled how she had peered into the darkness, almost looking right at him.

Had she sensed his presence? Was she scared? She had been the last time they met. He wished he’d been close enough to her this morning to hear what she was saying. Did she tell the good doctor about the last time she was in that section of the woods? Had she shared any of the intimate moments of her captivity?

He let out a contented sigh. It seemed a lifetime ago.

So many years had passed since that summer. His summer of discovery, he liked to call it. It was when the beast inside him was born. The hunger for complete dominance first realized. He wondered if Jordan knew she was responsible for that evolution. She had made him see his full potential, awakened a sleeping giant that begged to be turned loose on the world.

He scanned the street. People passed him as if he was invisible to them—but not for long. Soon, the whole world would know of the Musical Strangler.


You can purchase A Familiar Evil in eBook  http://www.amazon.com/A-Familiar-Evil-ebook/dp/B004YDPWN4/ or print http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461118514  Coming soon to other online bookstores!
 

Sharon Donovan - Excerpts and More

My journey to publication was filled with as many twists and turns that fill the pages of my books. After a twenty year battle with diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes which leads to progressive blindness, I lost the war.

Prior to the loss of my vision, I was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where I prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was my passion. When I could no longer paint, I began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting my pictures on canvas, I paint my pictures with words.

I write what I read and read what I write. For as long as I can remember, my favorite genre has been romantic suspense. I’ve come to expect twists and turns to keep me guessing until I turn the last page. And now that I write in this genre, my goal is to draw my readers into my books by adding the following elements.

 Desolate setting

 Captivating storyline that will hook the reader right from the start

 Spine-tingling background music that will draw the reader into the story

 Quirky or obsessive character traits that will identify the character as unique

 Heroine that reader can empathize with

 Romantic hero with a “Don’t mess with me” attitude that isn’t above cutting corners

 Villain that we love to hate

 Dialogue interspersed with atmospheric description

 Twist and turns to keep the reader guessing

 Sizzling chemistry between the lovers

 The ability to make the reader cheer when the hero rescues the heroine at the last minute and whisks her away into the happily-ever-after

I’d like to show a few of these traits in excerpts from my books

The setting for Mask of the Betrayer is Red Rock Canyon, a desolate mountain range within miles of the dazzling Las Vegas Strip. Here is a scene to draw the reader into the setting, and portray the villain’s obsessive trait.

Pouring himself two fingers of finely-aged bourbon, billionaire business tycoon Michael DeVeccio walked on the verandah of his mansion and gazed into the foothills. The raw beauty of the Red Rock Mountains encompassed him. Miles of rugged terrain and lush forests full of petrified logs stretched as far as the eye could see. What a rush to climb to the top of the mountain and survey the dazzling Vegas Strip like king of the jungle.

Fishing a Marlboro from the pack, he tapped it three times on the parapet before lighting it. He inhaled deeply, allowing the nicotine to filter into his brain. Under the hunter’s moon, night predators slithered out of the underbrush, just on the periphery of the jagged twists and turns of the canyon. From deep in the woods, a coyote howled, its keening wail slicing through the quiet. Dominant and defiant, animals fought to protect what belong to them. He especially admired the sleek moves of the panther. With its keen eyesight, acute hearing, and uncanny ability to sneak up on its prey unnoticed, it pounced on its victim in one slick move. Michael understood the moves of the night predators. He was one of them.

Second to imagery, the first thing I focus on is music. Think about a scary movie. Right before a murder or something dangerous, the chilling music clues us in and has our hearts racing. Take the movie Psycho. When the screeching music starts, Janet Leigh is about to find out how twisted Norman Bates is. Just the sound of that screeching violin gets my blood pumping!

In Her Biggest Fan, I chose Moonlight Sonata to haunt the reader. As you read, you’ll swear you can hear the eerie spiking of piano keys because I have planted them in your head. Recalling the old thriller The Wax Museum, I used wax gargoyles with wings as props in the ballroom. To please my many muses, I combined my love of a psychological thriller with Classic Gothic and old Hollywood glamour. Then creepy music for atmosphere.

From the grand ballroom, the soft floating of piano keys drifted, louder and louder, faster and faster, reaching a spiking crescendo that shook the chandelier. And then all was quiet as the manor settled from the riveting climax that rattled the windows.

An eerie twine hummed through the corridor. Shocked by the scaling spike of piano keys, Tess’s knees wobbled. Floundering, she leaned against the wall for support.

“Daddy?”

Her mind raced. Could her dad be alive? Had he stage his own death? Tears stung her eyes. She had to find out. But still, she proceeded with caution. She sensed evil from deep in her soul.

Inching her way a bit deeper, she crept, her heart pounding. A door banged, sounding like shutters smacking the house. Then she felt a rush of cool air coming from the grand ballroom, dank with the smell of rain and something else. Burning candles.

As she got closer, the scent of jasmine grew stronger. The sweet smell permeated the air. It was as if her father were still alive, entertaining in the grand ballroom. Just as Tess reached the arched column to the massive hall, a bolt of thunder exploded in the sky, followed by an illuminating flash of lightning. Then all went dark.

Tess stood at the entrance, polarized. When the icy instrumental of Moonlight Sonata started all over again, goose bumps prickled her flesh.

On either side of the mahogany bar, standing candelabras gleamed, long white tapers flickering in the dark. Open terrace doors banged in the wind, bringing in the pouring rain. The air carried the mingled scent of jasmine and stale tobacco. Pleated silk drapes billowed out like wings.

Rain puddled the cherry wood floor that once sparkled beneath the mirrored ceiling and crystal chandelier. The ghostly sound of piano keys escalated as Moonlight Sonata played on the old Victrola. And in the center of the room, looking for all the world like guests of honor at a grand masquerade, two wax gargoyles danced cheek to cheek, costumed in feather masks as bizarre as the setting.

Her Biggest Fan
An edge of your seat chilling suspense
ISBN: 1-60154-813-3
AVAILABLE NOW!
http://www.TheWildRosePress.com/Her-Biggest-Fan-P-4234.HTML

In Mask of the Betrayer, the childhood nursery song Heigh Ho the Dairy-o sets the scene. I promise, these chilling lyrics will haunt your nightmares, the lyrics that have been programmed in Michael DeVeccio’s head, prompting him to kill.

a hunting we will go, a hunting we will go. Heigh ho the dairy-o, a hunting we will go. We’ll catch a fox and put him in a box. Heigh ho the dairy-o, a hunting we will go.

You can hear the chilling music here

MASK OF THE BETRAYER VIDEO TRIAD PRODUCTIONS

Second place winner YOU GOTTA READ CONTEST IN JUNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KzpiRni7R0


Mask of the Betrayer

Book one in the Mask series

Filled with so many twists, turns and surprises, you’ll be hooked from the first chapter.

ISBN: 978-1-936167-06-7

AVAILABLE NOW!

http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/sharon_donovan/mask_of_the_betrayer.html


The following excerpt from Charade of Hearts illustrates a heroine we can relate to as well as dialogue interspersed with atmospheric description.

Dominique opened her eyes, her lids heavy. She felt groggy and extremely disoriented, as if waking up with a severe hang over. The bright sunshine pouring in through the open windows hurt her eyes. Slowly, her pupils dilated and she looked around. She was propped up in a heavy wrought iron chaise lounge in the middle of a living room. Hills and tropical forests encompassed the home. Myna birds chirped and whistled, and the sweet scent of gardenias and hibiscus filled her senses.

Blinking several times, she tried to get up but couldn’t. Her wrists and ankles were bound to the lounge chair. A bolt of panic shot through her entire body. She jerked violently, her torso bucking upward. The chains binding her arms and legs rattled and clanked against the wrought iron frame before slinking onto the bamboo floor. Triple panel folding mirrors were at the foot of the chaise lounge. Like some bizarre carnival, it was a house of mirrors.

And that’s when she saw the enclosed tank behind her, reflecting in the mirrored panels. A sleek dragon moray eel slithered out from behind a rock and reared its ugly head, his horn-shaped nostrils flaring. Razor-sharp fangs faced backward in a large and expansive mouth. Dominique’s lips twisted into a grotesque gape that was mirrored in three dimensions. Her scream echoed through the open windows and through the remote forest engulfing this house of horrors.

“Noooo!”

“Look at you, Dominique,” He clucked his tongue, mocking her. “You can kick and scream until you’re blue in the face. But no one will hear you. It’s just you and me. And if you’re wondering where you are, you’re in one of the most desolate parts of the island. It’s a rather befitting death chamber, wouldn’t you agree, dear?”

The roots of her hair bristled. He was a madman, a slime bag that got off on taunting his victims before killing them. What should she do? Her lips quivered as the words rolled out. “It’s the blue diamond that you want. I’ll get it for you. Just let me…”

“Let you?” His dark laughter cut her off. “Don’t treat me like a fool, Dominique. Do you think for a second I believe the blue diamond is still in your possession?” he clucked his tongue again. “Tsk tsk. When I called you the first time, giving you a twenty-four hour notice, I gave you very specific instructions to follow. I warned you that if you went to the cops, I’d feed you to the sharks. But did you listen? No. The minute Detective Oliver Carvalho knocked on the door of your suite, the one you shared with his identical twin brother, the man you were engaged to, you thrust yourself in his arms and spilled your guts out.”

“No, I didn’t,” Dominique shook her head back and forth. “Please believe me. I…”

“Believe you?” he took a sip of his drink, the ice cubes rattling in the crystal glass. “Fat chance. But your new lover, Detective Oliver Carvalho will believe your screams when he hears you begging for your life. You no longer have either your camera or your mother’s precious blue diamond, do you? They’re both in police custody. And once lover boy hears your heart-wrenching screams when I set The Serpent free to slither up your voluptuous body, he’ll be sweating bullets to bargain for your life. We’ll call it a trade off. A blue diamond for a blue-eyed girl. But, sadly, by the time he finds you, your mutilated corpse will be all that remains. And once I have my hands on the blue diamond, my work in the islands will be complete. I’ll be gone without a trace.” His dark laughter ricocheted off the mirrors and into the forest. He gestured to the dragon moray eel. “And The Serpent is very hungry and will find you quite tasty to munch on.”

Charade of Hearts

Oliver’s story!

AVAILABLE NOW!

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html

To read about me and my books, sign up for my newsletter and view my art gallery featuring some of my former paintings, visit my website: http://www.sharonadonovan.com/ or write to me sharonad@comcast.net

Charade of Hearts by Sharon Donovan

IT’S SHEER MAGIC!
IT’S SHEER SUSPENSE!
IT’S SHEER ROMANCE!
IT’S CHARADE OF HEARTS!
STARRING THE ONE AND ONLY OLIVER!

In a Jewel of the Night Mystery by The Wild Rose Press!

Blurb

While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.


I am thrilled to announce the release of Charade of Hearts, the book you’ve all been waiting for. In my latest romantic suspense by The Wild Rose Press, our very own Oliver fights off the villain to save his lady love from harm’s way. With this handsome knight in shining armor in mind, I chose gorgeous Hawaii for the setting. Why Hawaii you ask? Because I vacationed in the beautiful tropical paradise once upon a time and fell in love with the miles of breathtaking beauty.

At night, velvety skies open into a kaleidoscope of shooting stars that glitter like diamonds. In the distance, the jagged peaks of Diamond Head shroud the island like an iron fortress. Frothy white waves gently lap ashore the shimmering white sand, while balmy palm trees sway lazily in the hibiscus-scented evenings. Myna birds whistle and love doves coo, their lyrical singing softly floating across warm sultry nights. The lush landscape encompassing the exotic island invoke a feeling of tropical relaxation. Truly paradise!

A huge fan of the original Hawaii Five-0, not to mention my massive crush on Jack Lord, you have no idea how I hoped and prayed for a glimpse of the hottie detective! When the pulsating theme song would start. They would flash several beach scenes, including native Hawaiians paddling outrigger canoes in the peaceful ocean waves, women wildly gyrating their hips to the hula, then end it when Jack Lord turned around and smiled. My heart be still!

As the best books written are those well researched, I knew that one day one of my books would feature the wild and majestic tropical isle of Hawaii as the setting. I walked along these miles of sugary white sands, swam in the ocean blue, sailed out to the desolate waters off the coast of Diamond Head where Dominique and Roberto scuba dive. And, just as I describe in Charade of Hearts, although the Pacific Ocean is peaceful, that far off shore, the waters are quite choppy and definitely rock the boat. Native Hawaiians warned of the nasty sea predators I use in my book. Tiger sharks swim in these off shore waters and are deadly man eaters. One of these killer sharks devours Roberto, Oliver’s evil twin brother in the opening scene. Creepy moray eels are a frightful sight, and the villain of the story, The Dragon, has one of these chilling snakes as a pet and sicks it on the lovely Dominique. Oliver to the rescue!

So when The Crimson line of The Wild Rose Press presented a challenge for the captivating Jewel of the Night, with the parameters being intrigue, romance, danger and suspense, the raw beauty of Hawaii came to mind for the setting, and sexy Oliver fit the bill for the hottie detective. I’ll leave you with an excerpt. Aloha!

Excerpt
With an abrupt bang, the line went dead. Dominique sat staring at the phone cord dangling in mid air, polarized. She felt the tremor from deep in her gut, rising high in her chest and through her throat. Her mouth was wide open but nothing came out. But when she heard a sharp wrap at the door, she erupted like a quaking volcano and let loose with a piercing wail that rattled the chandelier.

“Dominique, open up. It’s the police, Detective Oliver Carvalho. Let me in.”

Racing to the door, hands trembling as her fingers fumbled to undo the dead bolt, she flung the door open and thrust herself in the detective’s arms. Her voice came out in jumbled fragments. “He…the attacker…” she jabbed her forefinger over her shoulder toward the bedroom phone where the receiver dangled. “Said he’d call back…twenty four hours. Wants them, diamond and camera. Feed me to the sharks if I call the cops.” Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face and onto Oliver’s shirt collar. “He knows my name…saw me take pictures…he’s…”

“Easy,” Oliver’s muscular arms draped around her waist. Then he walked her backward to the bedroom, giving her a gentle shove onto the bed. Then he snatched up the receiver from the rug, clapped it to his ear. Lips puckered, he slammed it back into the cradle and stared at her.

His fiery gaze was scorching hot. A slow heat burned in her belly as his eyes rake her long, slender neck, stopping to linger on her exposed cleavage. Then lower still to her bare legs where the cherry red silk robe rode high on her upper thighs. Then that penetrating gaze seared into hers. His words came out, laced with enough heat to have her quaking at full throttle.

“Tell me what he said, word for word.”

Dominique licked her lips, reached for her cocktail. The ice cubes had melted and beads of moisture had seeped onto the teakwood night stand. She took a sip. “He told me he knew I had the diamond and he knew I took pictures. He said I had twenty-four hours to hand them over, that he’d be in touch. He said no cops…or…” her voice broke off, lips quivering. “He threatened to feed me to the sharks, said they were hungry. He said Roberto, he called him lover boy, just wet their appetite for dessert.”

The detective nodded, prodding her to go on. “What else?”

“Nothing, the line went dead. Then you knocked at the door. I thought it was him, the caller. I thought he came to…”

Detective Carvalho waved off what she was about to say. “I went to the Honolulu Clinic this morning because I had more questions. They informed me you’d been discharged and had been transported by taxi to this hotel.”

Dominique stared at the detective, mute. His eyes were identical to Roberto’s. It was disarming. How could she possibly accept the fact this man standing less than a foot away from her with desire burning in his eyes wasn’t Roberto? She couldn’t. Her mind refused to accept it. She had to send the signal to her brain because her heart sure wasn’t getting the message. But when his scorching gaze raked her body, evoking feelings in her Roberto never had, her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to reach for him, coil herself in his strong embrace, feel his heart beat with hers. And she wanted him to rip off her sexy lingerie and devour every inch of her body. She bit her lip, mortified. How could she be thinking about sex at a time like this? And why was Roberto’s twin brother stirring her blood to liquid heat with his burning gaze? Not once had Roberto evoked such feelings in her. She reached for her drink with such swiftness, she felt her silky lingerie slither past her shoulder and down her arm. And then

Charade of Hearts

Oliver’s story!

AVAILABLE NOW!

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html


Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.

Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. Echo of a Raven, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy, received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee for best inspirational of the year. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Mask of the Betrayer, Touched by an Angel, Lasting Love and Her Biggest Fan. Charade of Hearts is her latest romantic suspense. You can visit Sharon at http://www.sharonadonovan.com/ or write to her at: sharonad@comcast.net

Check out her blog where the one and only Oliver will mix your favorite cocktail with a wink and a smile!

http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com/

Check out the cover for my upcoming release!

Thanks for an awesome cover, Laura!  A Familiar Evil releases May 1st in eBook and print.  Here's the blurb:  Jordan Russell had the perfect life until the brutal monster from her childhood resurfaced, opening up scars she thought were healed.  With the hope of finally finding closure Jordan leaves her cheating husband, and her career in the FBI, and returns to where her nightmare began.  But what awaits her in Thorny Creek will push her to the very edge of sanity and bring her face to face with her abductor.


It's been a wild few weeks!  After battling writters block for...it seems forever, I finally completed Renegade Hearts.  It's an inspirational romance with a dash of mystery, which is currently looking for a home.  And I'm 55,000 words into Deadly Secrets, an inspirational romantic suspense.  I then need to get busy on book two of my Wounded Heroes Series.  I'm doing some last minute research for it tomorrow by going back to the third grade.  Since my heroine is a school teacher, a wonderful friend of mine invited me to sit in on her class.  I'm sure it'll be a blast.

Be sure to drop in Friday because Sharon will be back to share more about herself and her awesome books.  Enjoy the rest of your week everyone!

Fire and Ash Won Best Inspirational at TRR!

I'm thrilled to announce that Fire and Ash has won 'Best Book 2010' in the Inspirational Romance category at The Romance Reviews. I want to thank TRR for nominating it and everyone who dropped by to vote for it afterwards. Your support is greatly appreciated!!! I also want to thank TRR for the $50 advertising package, which I plan to put to good use.


Thanks again, everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

Oliver...the man of my dreams

I've been looking forward to today since I first contacted Sharon and asked her and Oliver to come for a visit.  If you haven't ever visited Sharon's blog and met her sexy butler, you're in for a real treat.  He sure makes my heart go pitter patter :-).  

*'Oliver'©SDonovan2010   Picture©iStockphoto.com/Nikada

[Anne] Welcome, Oliver!  I see where you have your own fan club now. Any special fan mail you’d care to share?

[Oliver] First of all, Annie love, thank y’all for interviewing me today. Here’s a bouquet of wild flowers I picked in the garden this morning, just for you. Bright Morning Glories, pretty pink tulips, red roses, Blue Bells and dazzling daffodils. But, might I be so bold to say, as fresh and lovely as they are, not a bloom in the blossom can match the sparkle in your eyes, sweet thing. About that fan mail, a true gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell. Wink.

[Anne] Now aren't you the sweetest thing that ever walked the earth.  Oliver, I saw in a recent interview that you were born in Tuscany, but raised in Hawaii. Have you traveled to either place lately?

[Oliver] Well, hot lips, as y’all know, Charade of Hearts is set in the exotic tropical isles, and we had a release party in a gorgeous plantation manor overlooking the peaceful waves of the Pacific Ocean. Although I live in Pennsylvania with the boss lady, I go home to Hawaii every chance I get. The warm summer breeze is in my blood every bit as much as the hibiscus scented nights. And no sound is sweeter than waking up to the peaceful cooing of love doves, just outside my window. But nothing can compare to a refreshing hike through a rain forest, the wildlife is incredible, the gushing sound of a waterfall cascading over rocks, music to my ears.

Tuscany is beautiful, sweet home of my heart. I’m tellin’ you, Annie, my pet, y’all haven’t lived til you’ve seen the vineyards sparkling like jewels in the brilliant sunshine. Deep purple, sizzling crimson, and glossy amber cover the landscape. Wild roses and honeysuckle bloom abundantly on a hillside bordered by fragrant lemon trees, and age-old olive trees sit on hilltops, gnarled branches reaching upward as if in prayer. No wonder Italy had some of the most legendary artists, it’s a painter’s dream.

[Anne] Oliver, you keep making me blush and we're never going to get through this interview.  *Anne clears her throat and smiles at her handsome guest* So once your day is done, meeting Sharon’s every need, how do you spend your evenings?

[Oliver] Between my detective job and waiting on Sharon hand and foot, talk about high maintenance, there isn’t all that much spare time. But I do enjoy a decent jazz band that can play the blues with a snappy deliverance, reminiscent of the Big Easy, a favorite vacation spot for me. Sitting in a cool, dimly lit jazz bar with a shaken not stirred James Bond martini and a pretty woman like you, sweet thing, is my idea of heaven on earth. Wink.

*Anne bats her eyes at Oliver, wishing she was just a few years younger*  What made you choose to be a private investigator?

[Oliver] It’s in my blood. I grew up watching all the top detective shows. Hawaii 5-0, Barnaby Jones, Magnum PI, now those were some real role models, real men, heroes to be looked up to and admired. But y’all know my idol was, is and always will be James Bond. I have his entire collection of movies on DVD in my library and openly admit to copying a few of his moves. Oliver pumps his biceps and grins. So, naturally, love, with JB as my mentor and being born with the living on the edge of danger gene, what else could I want to be but a secret agent man. Wink

[Anne] Any interesting cases you can share with us?

[Oliver] With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Oliver kisses Anne. Annie, sweet thing, that’s why I’m a G man, a secret agent man, because everything is top secret and will not pass my hot lips.

[Anne] Whew!  You are quite the charmer, my G man.  Besides being a handsome devil, word is you love to cook. What is your favorite dish to make?

Oliver grins. Pasta, my own sweet mama’s recipe, God rest her soul. As you know, I was born in Tuscany and lived on a farm. I grew up on peasant cooking, food that was home grown or gathered in the wild. I’m telling you, Annie, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a meal prepared with farm grown meats and fresh greens and vegetables from the good earth. Italian women add an extra ingredient, love. Mama certainly did. We had pigs and chickens in our villa, and nobody in the land grew sweeter or plumper tomatoes than Mama. And her spaghetti sauce, he kisses his fingertips. Mama made the best and passed her recipe to me.

[Anne] Now I’m sure all the ladies out there have wondered this, what traits do you find most attractive in a woman?

[Oliver] That’s simple, love. I’m attracted to a woman whose inner beauty is as radiant as her smile, a woman who is compassionate as well as passionate, a woman who isn’t afraid to live life to the fullest and make every day count. A woman just like you, Annie..

[Anne] Don't tease me, Oliver, if I could find a man as sexy as you who loves to cook I might just settle down and get hitched.  *Grinning* Okay, say you’ve picked up that special lady in your life and are going to treat her to a night on the town. Where would you take her?

[Oliver] First, I’d appear at her door with a fresh bouquet of her favorite flowers. I’m a man with old fashioned virtues and believe in treating a woman like a lady. Then, her choice in cuisine, I’d sweep her off to a nice eatery slightly off the beaten path, specializing in home cooking that takes more than five minutes to prepare. We’d sit in a secluded booth in the back of the bistro where we could quietly talk and get to know each other without being disturbed every few minutes. It would be a candlelit dinner, of course, so that I could gaze into her eyes. We’d order a nicely aged bottle of wine to start things out, white if she preferred, although I enjoy a Tuscan red myself. And definitely a basket of warm crusty bread with some of that whipped garlic butter that melts in your mouth. Oh, you asked earlier what kind of woman I’m attracted to. Did I mention one with a healthy appetite that isn’t afraid to eat and isn’t forever on a diet counting calories. It does my heart good to see a woman dig into food with gusto. In Tuscany, folks enjoy long, leisurely meals, seven course meals that aren’t rushed, an admirable custom might I add. So when I take a woman out to dinner, I like to indulge in the same. After dinner, a nice romantic stroll under the light of the silvery moon. We would end the evening with a nightcap at a quaint little piano bar where we could dance cheek to cheek, followed by a kiss is just a kiss. .

[Anne] I picture you in a sporty, red, muscle car. Am I wrong?

[Oliver] Absolutely right on the money, Annie, my sweet, only it’s black. Wink

[Anne] Will there be a sequel to Charade of Hearts?

COH is a single title, but the boss lady’s been burning the midnight oil lately working on another romantic suspense featuring a hot Cajon French detective. Wink

Oliver kisses Anne and casts her a wicked wink. Annie, love, you are a gift. Thank y’all for inviting me into your heart and home for an exclusive. You are most hospitable and ask the best questions Drop into Oliver’s bar anytime, and I’ll mix your favorite cocktail with a wink and a smile. Cheers!


Dear Reader,

If you would like to be a guest on the Dear Oliver Show to vent about your favorite pet peeve, please contact Sharon at Sharonad@comcast.net

Dear Oliver can be seen every Wednesday here: http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com

Wow! No offense to any of my other guests who've appeared on my blog, but this had to be my favorite post. Isn't Oliver the most romantic devil you ever came across. *Letting out a long sigh* Man what I wouldn't give to be a few years younger.