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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, June 20, 2014

Brenda Whiteside's party and Rafflecopter giveaway for The Art of Love And Murder




The hostesses pause to admire the impressive, restored 1920’s hotel in historic, Flagstaff, Arizona. Rippled glass sparkles in the many windows and a dozen, two story, white pillars frame the aged brick building and support the charming second floor balcony. A gentle breeze ruffles the hem of AJ’s party dress as she snaps pictures of the surrounding vistas carpeted in tall pines.

“Are you sure there aren’t any Saguaro cactus around here, Mac?” Lyn squints her eyes and peers around the downtown streets. “I was really looking forward to seeing some.”

Flagstaff Arizona Tourism & Vacation Guide Advertising Site Map Terms of Use ...“We’re at about seven thousand feet, Lyn. They only grow at lower elevations.”

Melissa bumps Lyn’s shoulder. “Cheer up, hon. It’s time for Brenda’s roast, but maybe a pack of coyotes will attack us on our way home.”


Mary snickers. “Or a flock of roadrunners.”

“It’s called a marathon of roadrunners.”

Lilly arches a brow at AJ. “How do you know that? I thought you were a Midwestern girl?”

AJ holds up her phone and grins. A picture of the elusive bird fills the screen.

Lilly shakes her head and grabs AJ’s arm to tug her toward the entrance of the hotel. “I think you need an intervention. You spend way too much time with that phone.”

AJ scowls as the other hostess scramble to follow. Six pair of sassy cowboy boots thud on the brick sidewalk as the hotel doors swing open. Period lighting compliments the large lobby decorated in beautiful antiques. Lyn coos with delight as the girls step into the past.

Brenda rushes forward to greet them with warm hugs. “Oh, you’re here. Isn’t this place fabulous? Come on.” She spins to head toward an archway at the far end of the lobby. “The party is in the martini lounge.”

“Martinis?” Mac shoves her way to the front of the group.
Brenda laughs over her shoulder. “Chocolate martinis. Oliver has a special batch whipped up just for you girls. There’s also red wine, and the food! I gained five pounds just looking at the cake and there’s grilled flatbread with brie, asparagus spears, and my favorite, grilled beef and pepper skewers.”

Melissa’s stomach rumbles and Lilly laughs.  “What are we waiting for? Let’s eat!”

Mary hurries her steps and Mac and AJ skitter after her.

Lyn bolts ahead of them all. “After we toast Brenda’s new release, The Art of Love and Murder. It would be a shame to let those chocolate martinis get warm.”



BLURB
Lacy Dahl never questioned her past until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn't what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life.

Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation.

Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?

EXCERPT:
Momentarily struck dumb by his eye color, she stared back. Why hadn’t she noticed until now? Although not as light as hers or her father’s, the professor’s eyes were a startling green shade.

His hand nudged her arm. “Lacy?”

She jumped. “Oh, yes.” She slipped the tissue from the half-carved wolf. Another glance at his eyes and goose bumps riddled her arms.

He lifted the wood close to his face, using both hands as if handling a delicate hummingbird. His thumb traced the neck of the creature to the juncture of where it emerged from the wood. When he brought the piece to his nose, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, Lacy wanted to turn away from the oddly erotic gesture. 

He swallowed, opened his eyes and set the wolf back on the tissue. His attention shifted to the photograph of the chest. He touched the photo, a smile on his lips. “Where is the chest?”

The chest. Like he knew it, had seen it before. “I’m having it sent. You’ve seen it before?”
He didn’t move, stared out the window as if deep in thought. “I’d like to show you something, Lacy.” 

“All right.” She waited, watching his profile.

He turned and stared into her face a moment. “You’re so very lovely. A creation full of life and passion, surpassing any art form.”

His hypnotic voice floated on the classical strains drifting from the living room. She couldn’t speak. Didn’t know what to say. She’d been lifted upon a pedestal of admiration. With any other man, she might consider his words a means to a sexual end. The professor’s intentions, however, were crystal. He admired her like a work of art. 

BIO:
Brenda spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love. The rest of her time is spent tending vegetables on the small family farm she shares with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Together, they’ve embraced an age-old lifestyle that has been mostly lost in the United States - multiple generations living under one roof, who share the workload, follow their individual dreams and reap the benefits of combined talents.



 a Rafflecopter giveaway







***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of Brenda'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.
(We reserve the right to waive the prize in any week when there are not enough contestants for a draw to be deemed fair and unbiased)

45 comments:

  1. Hi Brenda, Welcome to your Roast. it's wonderful to see you again. I'm going to have a wander around this lovely hotel for a bit - I hear the view from the top storey is amazing! I'll be back though, so don't let the other hostesses eat all the nibbles!

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  2. Good morning, ladies! Brenda, the book looks wonderful. I'm just about to have my first cup of coffee. :-)

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    1. Hi there, Melissa. Yes, get your coffee out of the way so you can get to the good stuff!

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  3. It's great to be back. Always a good time with you ladies. I'll protect the food and keep the martinis cold. Don't miss the view of the San Francisco Peaks. Just be careful. It's a fact this hotel is haunted.

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  4. Brenda,
    I haven't been to Flagstaff in years but I always loved the area. I went to HS and ASU in Tempe.

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    1. I went to HS in Phoenix - Cortez - and then on to NAU in Flag. But only one year before a GI whisked me away to Germany.

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  5. I love the Flagstaff area. Now that my friend moved back to Georgia, will have to enjoy now, with Brenda and the rest of you sipping chocolate martinis. Best wishes on your book release, Brenda!

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    1. I love Flagstaff too. Lived there a year. Enjoy your martini, Ashantay!

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  6. Good morning, chickies, and congrats, on your release, Brenda. The book sounds fabulous. Flag is a great town. I was up that way last weekend. Froze my toes sitting on the deck until the sun warmed things up. :-) I know. I'm a weenie.

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    1. Hey, Mac. Glad you made it by. Yes, you are a weenie! But I shouldn't talk. I have a 5 degree temp comfort zone.

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  7. Book sounds as yummy as those chocolate martinis!

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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  8. Oh My God, what beautiful country. Sorry to be late I got lost, but I finally made it! This book sounds like a real keeper.
    Chocolate Martinis, now that does sound good.
    Now, since I don't have a date, where are the best guys hanging in this place anyhow?
    What's on the agenda for today?
    Or can I just read the book???

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    1. Mary, really, so many questions! Let's see, first relax. Better late than never. Bound to be some handsome lumberjacks coming in any time.

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  9. My poor Nibby has to go to the vet in a bit. She is getting an X ray of her bone infection in her paw. She has become such a baby being sick, she will only eat if I spoon feed her. Kinda gives you and idea of my life! LOL How about another excerpt Brenda? Thrill us with your words!!!!

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    1. Oh poor baby! Okay here's another excerpt. Chapter One:
      Lacy quickened her pace. The footsteps behind her did the same. As fast as her feet touched the bricks, her heart beat twice that speed. If only she could clear the narrow alley, step onto the lit sidewalk… Like a magnet, the street light pulled her forward, and she lunged out of the darkness. Her hand slammed to her chest. After a hard intake of breath and a fast exhale, she cast a furtive glance over her shoulder. With the strap of her purse in a tight fist against her breast, she whirled around to cover the last block at a trot.
      She didn’t see him until too late.
      As if she’d hit a cement wall, she careened off balance, but his hands grabbed her shoulders keeping her upright. She gasped and reared back and out of his arms. Her fisted purse became a weapon as she hurled a defensive blow to his chest. Her knee came up, landing a jab to his thigh. “Ehhh,” she cried out from the pain of contact.
      “Lady, I’m not going to hurt you.” He held his ground and loomed over her, his hands at his chest fending off the swing of her fist.
      Her vision filled with the imposing figure, and a chill shivered her body. Run screamed in her head. This time the swing of her purse missed her target when she turned to escape. His hand caught her arm and pulled her close.
      “Help, help me!” Her voice came high and hysterical.
      “I am trying to help.”
      Both hands gripped her shoulders now, and her feet came partly off the ground, forcing her to look into his face.
      “What’s wrong? Are you in trouble?”

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  10. Really nice book cover. Sounds like a really good story. I would love a chocolate martini. Mmm that sounds good. The food smells good too.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Drink up, Kat. You could be looking for those lumberjacks too!

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    2. *clinks her martini glass to Kat's* Cheers, sweetie!

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    3. Why thank you, Mac. Cheers back at ya!

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  11. That was a terrific excerpt! A must read for me.
    Nibby's X rays show marked improvement in her bone infection, YAY!
    Now two more months of antibiotics and other meds. She is really milking it...Won't eat unless I spoon feed her. LOL

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    1. Nibby may be spoiled forever. Smart cat!

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    2. I have one of those too! She owns the place...:)

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  12. Hi Ashantay, Karen, Sue and anyone I've missed , and sister hostesses of course.

    LOL sorry I've been away so long.did you know there were some really nice lumberjacks staying here? (oops I wonder if Mary heard that, gotta watch her with the hunks, y'know.)
    What a gorgeous view - can't beat the mountains! Mary, I'm so glad Nibby's improving, I know how worried you've been about her. (Brenda - Nibby is a great big GS - take a look at the sidebar! :) She's very cute though. Oh Benda that was a wonderfully compelling excerpt. I want to know more now! (Great cover too.)

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    1. OH LOL. I must have had one too many chocolate martinis. How I came up with Nibby being a cat, I don't know.

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  13. Here's some inside information. The hotel I feature in The Art of Love and Murder is modeled after a real hotel in Flagstaff. It's haunted. And world famous. Paul McCartney stayed there once. So when I went there, I touched to doorknob that Paul touched. Sigh.

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    1. Very interesting. I don't like ghosts!! Did Mr. McCartney see the ghost I wonder?

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    2. I don't know. I do know that he asked them to not put "Paul McCartney slept here" until he dies.

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    3. That doesn't seem fair does it. Interesting though.
      It probably would bring them more business. I gotta say, that excerpt is a real grabber. Your writing is so visual and grabbing!

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    4. Ah shucks, Mary. Thanks. I'll toast you for that. But it's about time to switch over to coffee and dessert.

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  14. I'll have chocolate martini if you please! Cheers to Brenda for publishing a story with a really interesting story line. Hmm...Nothing like a good book to go along with a good drink. Cheers!

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  15. Hi Echo - yes Oliver a chocolate martini for Echo please - oh and another for Brenda.
    You're right, Echo, this sounds like a great book - and I love that it's setting is based on a real hotel - and with such a famous visitor!

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    1. Wow. Must be the chocolate going to my head but Oliver looks like he's swaying.

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  16. I just found your page and am really enjoying your book reviews just added new books to my kindle. plus i love romance novels!!

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    1. Welcome, Melissa. So glad you found us. We love all types of books here, but I'm with you. Romance rocks!

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    2. MacKenzie has that right. Romance Rocks! And I particularly like romantic suspense.

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  17. Good nite all, come back tomorrow! Maybe we can get another excerpt!

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  18. The smell of good food...the decadence of chocolate...and the allure of a great book...what could be more fun. Loved the party. Congratulations and best wishes, Brenda.

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  19. Oh my, so sorry I missed the party! It looked simply amazing! Wishing you all the best on your release, Brenda!

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  20. The party is long over but wanted to say thanks again. I was hung up (not hung over) this morning without a computer. Frustration. But anyway, I'm back and thanking you all for a lovely time.

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  21. So sorry I missed your party, Brenda. It looks like you all had a great time!

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