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As many of you may know, our beloved sister hostess SHARON DONOVAN, tragically passed away on 11th April 2012. We who knew her, loved her, and were inspired by her courage and determination to face head on whatever life threw at her. When she could no longer see to paint she turned to writing and showed her amazing talent in the Inspirational Romance and Romantic Suspense genres, and her story 'Charade Of Hearts' was awarded the coveted Predators and Editors Award in January 2011.

This Blog was a source of great delight to her, she was one of the founder hostesses and she contributed to the fun and silliness in her own original way, and was kind enough to let her unique creation, the hunky butler 'Oliver' join us for our Friday romp and prepare 'virtual breakfast' for the guests on the following morning. It's beyond hard to have to go on without her, but we know that she would have been the first to insist that 'the show must go on.' She is, and will always be with us in spirit.
Sharon, dear friend, we will never forget you.
The Author Roast and Toast is part of the legacy you left us. Let's raise a Toast to you as well as all our guests.
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Friday, January 18, 2013

A Greek Cruise with Greta Buckle


“This is just beautiful!” Lyn exclaims. “I never dreamed we’d be cruising here aboard the Oceania Insignia, for this luxurious ten day cruise.”

“I know, considering we’ve been so many places, and this is the first time we’ve been treated like Queens. “ Mary sighed. “Just look at Mac, why she almost knows where she is!”

“Now Mary,” Patsy nudges Mary and she goes flying. The only thing stopping her from going over the railing as the four hostess’s head toward the main dining room is her over size hooters. “Tonight is the Captain’s dinner!”

“Now behave you two.” She eyes Mac quizzically, “You look funny, are you all right?”

Mac cocks her head and smiles. “I’m just hungry, and I forgot breakfast and lunch. I think.”

Lyn whispers to Patsy and Mary. “Keep an eye on her.  You never know.”

The four of them reach the large and impressive dining room. Oliver sticks his head around the corner and waves to the girls, blowing kisses that Mac grabs the air for.

“See what I mean,” Lyn casts a worried eye on Mac. “Normally I would be more worried about your behavior Mary. But, on a cruise ship in deep waters off the Coast of Greece. - I’m, just saying.”

Lyn’s worries are lost as the foursome approaches the table where a handsome Captain sits next to a dolled up Greta. She looks hot and the waiters are surrounding her so Lyn has to say. “Excuse me, may we sit down,” with a large smile.

Patsy, not willing to wait with one arm clears a space to the table. The waiters run to seat her. She only has to flex and they are ready to serve.

“Wish I could do that. All I get is looks, and no one notices my face. Hmmm. The curse of it.” Mary sighs. They all greet one another as the waiters bring drinks all around. Lyn takes a large gulf of her Cosmopolitan, and then makes a face. “What the heck,” she utters. “Bombs away! I have to have something in me to manage these three.”

The menu tonight is Mediterranean. And there are some terrific Greek dishes. Oliver has outdone himself with Lamb, Coucous, Moussaka, greens called Horta Vrasta. Youvestsi, beef stew, Fassplatha soup, with white beans, Pastitsio, which is reminiscent of a Greek Lazagna, Souvlaki, Tzatziki dip, Hummis and Pita bread, just to mention a few of the dishes. But Lyn has her eye on the Baklava, dripping with honey, like her favorite, Mead, and Mary’s mouth waters at the Galaktobouvek, custard pie. Patsy, she’s eating the greens. Gotta get those muscles somehow. Let’s just see if she skips desert.






The waiters serve fancy appetizers all around, which disappear all too quickly. Suddenly there is music and waiters and waitresses begin to put on a show. They dance around the room, standing on special pedestals where before they had set food to serve. The crowd rises to its feet.  Dancing and singing along with the sounds of a bouzouki as the servers urge everyone to their feet. The cacophony of sounds ends and everyone applauds with pleasure, as everyone takes their seats.

“Hey, where’s Mac?” Mary questions, gesturing to the empty seat next to her.

A loud ruckus draws attention to the side of the large room, where the waiters are trying to get Mac down from a pedestal she has leapt up on to dance.

“Oh God, it won’t be Mary that gets us thrown out this time!” Patsy wails.

“Hey,” Mary sticks out her lower lip and puts her hands on her hips. “If you couldn’t probably kill me with one punch, I’d…

“Now girls now is not the time.” Greta steps in, and faces the handsome Captain. “Could you help?” She bats her eyelashes at him and smiles.”

“Where’s the sudden sparkle on her teeth.  Toni Curtis, always had a sparkle glisten on his teeth when he did that.” Mary mutters under her breath.

Greata laughs as the Captain finally guides a slightly tipsy Mac to the table and urges coffee on her.

“That ain’t gonna help.” Patsy chuckles.

Suddenly, totally normal and sober Mac stands and calls out to the room. “Let’s welcome Greta Buckle to her cruise roast with the Author Roast and Toast. We are celebrating her release, Mything You.“ She takes a huge slug and sits with a smile.

“Here, here,” the other partiers cry out. “And cheers fill the room.
“Well can you beat that?” Lyn grins from ear to ear. “We are gonna have fun tonight. Let the party begin!”











MYTHING YOU

BLURB
Adventurer Theseus had dreamed of meeting his father, King Aegeus. As Theseus journeys to Athens, he meets his match in strength along the way. But is it the will of a beautiful young princess that puts this strong young man finally at his mercy? Or will he be able to conquer the princess’s heart?

She had settled for a life of unhappiness and believed a man who would love her for herself was only in her dreams.

Princess Ari has followed her father’s dictates all her life. On her way to meet her bridegroom, she is attacked. Saved by a handsome adventurer, Theseus, she tempts fate and follows him on his journey to Athens. Being with Theseus opens up a whole new world of opportunity for her. But will she allow her heart or loyal duty choose her life for her?

Excerpt:
Theseus’ entire body must have been made in the nectar of desire because she wished to bury herself in his arms. And he didn’t stop her from running to him. She jumped when a crash cracked through the air. Blinking, unsure of what happened, her body became rigid. Theseus pulled her into his arms and onto the ground seconds before the giant flew over the pair of them.

He took his hand off her head. He had protected her. Again.

Staring up at him stirred something unique inside her that she never believed could happen to her. She’d seen the plays and the tragedy that love caused, but never understood temptation. The fire in her belly burned into every part of her body from his smoldering eyes. He looked down at her as he cradled her in his arms. “That was Sinus. I don’t think he’ll kill anyone else ever again.”

“He won’t. How do you know his name?”

“He’s the reason I chose this path when I was fifteen. I had planned to prove my courage to my father, and take out the biggest villain on the road.”

“Check that off the list of goals then.” she said. “Good job.”

She continued to embrace Theseus, making her body tingle from crazy stirrings. What would he taste like? She’d die a happy death if he put his lips on hers. My, what was she thinking?

“I never believed you’d be here, or that my goal in that moment would turn to protecting you.” he said, pulling her closer.

She shook off her desires. She needed to let him go. She focused on logic instead of the male body in front of her. “I don’t know what to say. Today has been the craziest day.”

“It’s the middle of the night, little one.”

“You’re right. I don’t know what’s happening to me anymore. Theseus, this never happens to me.”

“What doesn’t happen to you?”

 he asked, smiling.

“I don’t know.”

He played with her hair, and straightened her clothes. “Your innocence and desire are a siren’s call to me, Ari, and you don’t have a clue, do you?”

“Who’s Ari?” She half expected to be disappointed with whatever he would say.

“You are. It fits you much better than Ariadne. Ari trembles for me.”

She licked her lips, wanting to kiss him. But she couldn’t. Theseus embodied a man out of her dreams.

She looked away thinking of what waited for her when her father’s men found her. “I don’t know my bridegroom. I’ve only ever known my duty.”

Theseus’ body tensed. “You’re betrothed?”

“I never agreed. The bride price, I’m told, paid for my father’s upgrade to the artillery. In the morning or someday soon, I’ll be found. But…can you do me one last favor?”

“What, little one?” His arms grew warm again, tightening around her. She dared for a different life, where she lived with a chance of walking next to him in life. Letting him go and going back to the life her father chose sounded cold and dreary. She couldn’t, not yet.

“Kiss me, Theseus, just once.”

Taking a step closer to him, she looked into his mesmerizing eyes. His strong hands framed her face, his fingers circled her mouth and his eyes darkened with tenderness. When he leaned into her, her eyelids fluttered shut. His light pressure sweetly opened her mouth.

Her secret wish had come true. The prison walls in Ariadne’s heart disappeared in her soul, and today Ari’s lips ached.

He bent his head close. Then, she felt his strong lips on hers, and she lost control.

Available from:



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Greta Buckle grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, then became a lawyer. After realizing she hates clients, she became a high school teacher. 

Teaching is fun, but writing is a passion. She wrote one hundred and one fan fiction stories online before deciding to transition into writing her own stories. Never ask her to republish her fan stories from age eleven - horribly written stories of princesses. 

Greta dreams of writing professionally, where her barista can make her coffee and a walk on the beach, can motivate her tales. Theseus story came to her when she was a freshman in high school as her English teacher, the nun, told her how life was hard and tragedy teaches lessons. Greta’s love of writing has kept her centered and focused. How is she crazy? The voices in her head are characters in novels and she’s not insane.


Victoria Pinder aka Greta Buckle
Author of  Mything You



***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of Greta's's book, all you have to do is just leave a comment and your e-mail address.
Contest ends on Sunday and everyone who comments is eligible.

35 comments:

  1. good morning Greta and welcome to your Roast. What a lovely cruise you've organised for us - so different from the snowy climate in the UK at the moment!

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  2. Morning Everyone - Greta, welcome. I do love my dress today and the day looks to be a great one. Very nice covers!

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  3. Hello Patsy - Lyn hugs her sister hostess. Yes, you do look really elegant in that dress, and I agree, the covers are lovely!

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  4. Good morning, chickies! Welcome Greta. I'm loving your party. I grab at any chance to get my cruise groove on, but a Greek cruise? Yeah baby, these guys know how to do it right!

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  5. Hello Mac -*hygs*. Yes I've never been on a Greek cruise before. I love it.

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  6. Hi ladies! Now where is Greta!!! I'll search the ship for her!

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  7. Thanks for having me. Woohoo... I love my dress. And we must take lots of pictures of hot Greek men... For inspiration when we sober up to write.

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  8. Forget waiting till we sober up, Greta. Bring on the hot Greeks!!! *hic* Dang, I never should have tried the mead.

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  9. Gi Greta - Hi Mary, hugs all round.

    Mac I told you you the mead was stronger than it tastes, good though isn't it *hic* Pass the bottle this way please!

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  10. Greta, that colour really suits you, you look gorgeous, and 'Mything You' sounds such a fantastic read! (Great title)

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  11. When do the Chippendale's show? Greata you look fabulous. Who is that hot guy following you? Does he have a brother???
    Gosh, we look terrific don't we all.
    I hope the girls don't fall out!

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  12. LOL Mary, what happened to that special 'stick-em-up' tape I gave you?

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  13. LOL is that what that tape was for? We thought it was to keep our shoes from slipping on the dance floor.

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  14. LOL!
    It's multipurpose. You can even use it to latch onto one of those hot Greek guys! Glue them to you. HEHEHE

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  15. I don't know about you, Mary, dear! Honestly I'm surprised you havent' taped the James Gang to a tree with it, to stop them getting away from you!

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  16. I wanted to mention a problem I had this morning. Know I know that Nibbie had to stay home, no dogs allowed. She's not going to talk to me for days, but, I still have to feed her so I expect some licks anyhow.
    Foster, well that ain't his style, his practical jokes are more aristocratic. Besides, I heard he took a trip home to Ireland or Scotland, not sure which one.
    Hmmm. Hampy, well he only cares about nuts and stuff like that.And I know he is safe at home in his fancy huge room.
    Now Cuddles, all innocent and sweet looking...I suspect him of doing the deed.
    Someone stole my bra and hid it one me. So I had to improvise, that's why I really need the glue. It's a tough cross to bear being so, well endowed, ah yes, it's a trial. But, I bear it as best as I can. And it does have one advantage. Chuckle!
    Lyn, could you get it back, and what is that little thing doing on a cruise ship???

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  17. And I tried that Lyn, they're a slippery group, but, usually show up anyhow. Heck, even the stun gun didn't phase Jessie. When I zapped him, he told me it gave him a thrill. Those guys were cut from a different cloth!

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  18. *Sigh* I'm sorry Mary, there's not much I can do really. You see the trouble with magical unicorns they can fly, and of course Cuddles is so mischievous and loves hiding things. He doesn't mean any harm by it.

    Have you used up all that sticky tape already? You look fine actually. Oh, I've just found a bit more of that tape, perhaps the cook has a couple of collanders you could borrow, taped together they'd make a pretty good bra for you! (Long as you don't crush any hunks too closely to your chest.)

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  19. Wow so many delicious things to eat. Oliver, over here, dahling. A glass of ouzo on ice, please. Ladies you look lovely. Your book cover Greta is so attractive.

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  20. Sorry been busy taking pictures of myself with these hotties, girls. Now it's time for the Mead and/or that ouzo. I've got a thirst that's not been quenched in a while.

    Awesome cruise

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  21. Hello Mona, lovely to see you here, help yourself to anything edible you fancy - I see Oliver speeding across with your ouzo now!

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  22. Yes Victoria/Greta, I could do with some more mead myself!

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  23. Hiya Mona. Okay, what have i missed? I stepped outside to check out the rock wall climbing contest. Oh my. Nothing like a wall full of bulging Greek muscles. I was snapping pics and nearly fell overboard.

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  24. Fun roast! Congratulations to Greta on her new release! Mything You sounds like a fun take on the ancients. Thanks for the giveaway!

    junegirl63 at gmail dot com

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  25. Collanders eh? Actually that was hysterical. LOLOLOLOL Might not make it through the metal detector at the airport, unless they are the plastic kind!!! Lyn, I'll get you!
    Vicki, drink the mead, it's stronger then beer and it makes you funny, and easy all at the same time!

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  26. Hi Maria, welcome to the Roast, thanks so much for stopping by!

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  27. What a great day on a cruise ship! Let's party!!

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  28. Party... owning up to having my head in the clouds wondering about aliens for a few minutes here. What was in that Mead?

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  29. Hiya Maria. Mything You does sound like fun doesn't it?

    Oops, sorry. My nose is running from snorting mead over the colander under ware comment.

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  30. I think I must be seasick, or dizzy or something. Maybe it's all the libations I've been enjoying, no, I think it is the rolling waves - er - head for the head!

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  31. LOL, the mead gets to everyone! Although in Patsy's case, the light headedness might be something to do with that hunky Greek she's been chatting up all evening! :)

    Greta, that mead is very powerful isn't it! Now what's all this about aliens?

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  32. Oh Mac -I just saw your earlier comment about the rock climbing contest - you kept that quiet, lol, darn, the rest of us seem to have missed out on that one!

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  33. You girls sure know how to throw a party and I'm glad I managed to make this cruise though I'm missing the one next week. You al look mah-velous. Party on!

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  34. Hi Shelley, thanks for joining the party - make yourself at home and help yourself to refreshments. I think there's still some mead left - and ouzo, and Oliver always makes enough food to last the whole weekend!

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  35. Looking beautiful everyone!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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