D

D
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.
***********************************************************

Friday, July 18, 2014

Rachel Brimble celebrates on the beach with - 'What Belongs To Her '-



“Dibs on the unicorn!”
Dodging through the maze of partiers crowding the beach at the seaside park, Mac sprints across the rocky sand toward the gleaming carousel. The hostesses give chase with AJ in the lead.
She shoots Mac a wry grin. “Excuse me, but Dibs is mine!” She waggles her brows and leaps onto the merry-go-round’s wooden floor at Mac’s side.

Lilly rolls her eyes as the two laugh and tussle over the wooden horse with a golden horn. “There’s another right beside you, ladies.”
Mary chooses an elegant swan while Lyn swings her leg over a dancing stallion. Melissa scowls at a brightly colored, squat bird.  “Really?”

Mac climbs aboard the second unicorn as AJ holds up her phone to snap a picture. “We’re in England, sweetie. They do things differently here.”
 
Slipping onto the bird’s back, Melissa strikes a pose then blinks at the flash. “You’re not kidding. I’ve never seen a carousel with a chicken before.”

The hostesses laugh as tinkling music fills the air and the ride begins to move.Templeton Cove spins around them. Lounge chairs line the shoreline fronting the quaint seaside town. Small fishing vessels bob on the water beyond a large party tent. Children race over the sand, squealing their delight over the flight of a kite.

Lilly sighs and sniffs the air. The tang of roasting hot dogs mingles with the sweet scent of cotton candy, candy apples, ice cream and sunblock. “What a perfect setting for a roast.”

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjT6sKo54JQESecnyTRAqlmB8w3wAOdnZxLP4VZ-VVoSyaDBFt_w

Mary cranes her neck to eye a group of shirtless men kicking a soccer ball near the water’s edge. “It’s a perfect setting, period.”

Mac grins as the carousel slows to a stop.

 
“There’ll be plenty of time for that, chickie. For now, I’m sure Oliver’s got some goodies
prepared for us.”
 
She leaps from the unicorn and the hostesses head for the tent.

“I need a beer. It’s time to toast Rachel Brimble and celebrate her book, WHAT BELONGS TO HER.”
BLURB
She's ready to take back what's hers 
Since the moment a local crime boss claimed ownership of her family's fairground, Sasha Todd has dreamed of righting the wrong. Now it's time to act, and backing down from the man's estranged son is definitely not an option. After all, giving up her legacy to hot-blooded John Jordon means losing the chance to finally heal the wounds in her past. 
Stopping John in his tracks—and resisting the sizzle between them—is Sasha's best defense. But there's more to him than she thought, which changes everything. With what matters most at stake, she'll have to risk a brand-new future with John, or walk away from the man whose heart belongs to her.

PURCHASE LINKS:



EXCERPT
He turned and his dark blue eyes, aflame with anger, pinned Sasha to the spot. She forced herself to stand still as his gaze languidly glided over her face, lingering for a moment at her lips. No smile lifted the corners of his mouth. No softness seeped into his hardened study.

She smiled even as her stomach knotted. “Hi.”

He continued to stare.

Okay, so he’s got that sexy, broody thing going on, but since when does a guy––any guy––leave me speechless? Say something…

“Well, you’re all sorts of angry, aren’t you?” Great, Sasha. Just poetic.

He lifted an eyebrow and turned his focus back to the ride.

She frowned and glared at his profile, feeling like an idiot. The guy needed to take a serious chill pill. Did he think he had a monopoly on being pissed off? Wakey, wakey, Mister, the entire human race holds a grudge of one kind or another.

“I was only trying to make conversation. If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine.” She shrugged. “I haven’t seen you before and, as I’m the person running things around here, I thought you might appreciate a friendly word, a kind welcome. My name’s Sasha­­––”

“I know who you are.”

She stiffened. The deep, smooth lilt of his upper English class voice filled her with equal measure of attraction and warning. “Pardon me?”

He faced her and crossed his arms across his broad chest. “You’re Sasha Todd, exceptionally pretty and svelte manageress of this fairground, known so lovingly as Funland. You work for Kyle Jordon. Although, while Kyle’s currently boarding at Her Majesty’s pleasure in prison, you are undoubtedly forced to answer to his bull mastiff of a lapdog, the wonderfully charming and partially toothed Freddy Campton. Am I right?”

Sasha crossed her arms, mimicking his stance as irritation simmered inside her. “Yes, but who––”

“How do you feel about that, Miss Todd?”

“What?”

“Moreover, how are you going to feel knowing from tomorrow, you’ll be answering to me and not him?”

Sasha froze as his words filtered through her mind. Her heart pounded and hot heat seared her cheeks. What the hell did he just say? She uncrossed her arms and splayed her hands on her hips. “Is this some kind of joke?”

A flicker of amusement lit his eyes before he blinked and they turned cold once more. “No joke. From tomorrow you’ll be reporting to me.

Panic and disbelief hurtled through her. Who the hell does this guy think he is? She huffed out a laugh. “I don’t think so. Who are you?”

“Your new boss.”

She grinned, hoping it would coerce some semblance of a smile to his lips and make him tell her he was kidding. “Very funny. You’re a funny guy, Mr…”

“You don’t believe me?” His face remained unnervingly impassive.

Okay, enough was enough. Sasha glared. “I asked you who you are. If you want to toss a revelation like that at me, the least you can do is tell me your name. Not that I’m likely to believe a word you say after this little, slightly creepy, performance.”

He uncrossed his arms and offered his hand, which she took without thinking. His hand enveloped hers. Warm, smooth and unnervingly large. Why did she have the sudden and unwelcome suspicion nothing about this guy was small or weak?

“John Jordon.” He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”



Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.  After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013 and she has since signed for three more.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.


She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Links:



***GIVEAWAY***
To win a copy of Rachel'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)

36 comments:

  1. Good Morning Rachel - welcome to your Roast. Looks like being a lovely summer day for a beach party. after the rain and thunder last night!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Hywela - I am so happy to be here and was grinning like a loon at the intro! Was that a whopper of a storm last night?? Provided a much need clear of the air though! :)

    SO looking forward to chatting with your visitors today!

    Rachel x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, it's much nicer and fresher today! I have to admit to sleeping through most of the thunder, although it did wake me up once!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mornin' chickies! Hiya Rachel. Mwuahhhh! Congrats sweetie.

    I'm SO glad the rain stopped. On my one and only trip to visit the beach in England (Brighton) that's all it did so we were forced indoors and instead of watching hunks on the beach, we enjoyed high tea. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOL! When were you in the UK, Mac?? Hope you'll visit again...would love to show you around Bath and Salisbury :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. God, it was years ago. My sis was doing a year there and the rest of the sisters descended on her. I LOVED the history...and the pubs. :-) We didn't get to Bath, though it was on my list. I hope to go back sometime and see Ireland and Scotland at the same time. It's on the bucket list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mac! Hmmmm you didn't mention visiting Wales if you come over again! It's wild and beautiful (well, outside the towns it is of course) and naturally the weather is brilliant sunshine ALL the time! :)

      Rachel, I've been through Bath, but never stopped there. Will have to try and rectify that sometime.

      Delete
    2. Ready and waiting, ladies! Love Bath and love Wales :)

      Delete
  7. Hi Rachel. Great place to have a Roast. I love the beach. And, I love the blurb for your book. This one is definitely going on my TBR list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Lilly! Thank you so much - hope you enjoy Sasha's and John's story :)

      Delete
  8. Ahh Romance, the beach, a carnival and of course . . Oliver. What could be better? Thanks Rachel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna! I Loved writing this book - Templeton Cove is my dream place to live :)

      Delete
  9. Your book sounds really good. Really nice cover. I would love some cotton candy and one of those caramel apples. Yummy! The beach looks pretty today.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi lilly, Donna and Sue, Candyfloss (the Brit version of cotton candy), toffee apples - and some icecream to help y'all keep cool coming up.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think when I was a kid we called them toffee apples here. I like the name Candyfloss. Love ice cream too. I have a huge sweet tooth. LOL.
    Sue B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just be careful with those toffee apples, Sue. You might LOSE a sweet tooth. :-)

      Delete
  12. Yep, here in the UK, they're toffee apples, cotton candy is candyfloss, chips are crisps, jelly is jam, - but I think ice cream is universal! I have a sweet tooth too, at a restaurant I always look forward to the sweet more than the main course!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I hear ya, ladies! Sorry I haven't been around much today - that's the trouble with being across the pond :/ off to bed now but will be back in the morning! Night night :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Goodnight Rachel, I'm off to bed myself now. Sleep well.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Donna, my twinsie! Welcome to the Roast. Donna and I share a birthday. Okay, it's not until April, but let's celebrate any way. Have a drink, Donna. Donna? Where did you go? Geez, she's chasing Oliver down the beach!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please forgive me for n ot showing up!! I just had my counters and new appliances delivered and installed today. No place to use my laptop. Boxes all over full of stuff, I can hardly wait to see the floor! Small place too.
    So, I see that there was a seemless day? No trouble at all. HeHeHe, I just got here, watch out! Love the cover and the book sounds fantastic. WooHoo!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Mary! We had a whopper of a storm last night, but I can see the sun is still shining at Templeton Cove, lol! Hope you manage to clear some boxes today :)

      Delete
  17. I do LOVE the beach. Nothing better than a stroll along the sea-shore.

    So much fun to be had here today.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary! Thanks for stopping by - you are so good to me on my blog visits. Good luck with the contest :)

      Delete
  18. The beach seems to be everyone of the author's favorite places, I am sure it's Lilly's! Rachel, I would love to find out what happens between John and Sasha!
    To all the Roast And Toast Authors, have a great night and weekend!
    Rebecca
    rbooth43 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Woohoo! So glad John & Sasha's story has caught your eye - I loved writing this book and I love Templeton Cove :)

      Delete
  19. Lyn opens the curtains and peers out at a cloudless sky. Yippee. Another day when it's not raining, who says Brits don't have a summer!

    The delicious aroma of bacon, eggs and coffee rises from the dining room below.
    Mmm, best get down there before the guests polish off all the breakfast. Hi Mary, sister hostess, Mary Preston and Rebecca, great to see you. Fancy Donna and Lilly being twins, who'd have guessed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Hywela! Did you have another storm last night? I'm usually okay with thunder and lightning but last night was terrifying!

      Delete
  20. Good morning everyone. Needs lots of coffee this morning. LOL.
    Sue B

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi again everyone. Yes, we did have thunder again last night Rachel, but I only heard one massive clap, it didn't seem as bad as it was Thursday night. I'm not very fond of thunder, but I had a friend, when I lived in Wales, who used to get me to walk with her along the beach in the dark to watch the lightning over the sea. All right it was beautiful, but she didn't realise how terriefied I was!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya big weenie, Lyn. :-) I once stood on the beach in Miami with my dad and watched a water spout churning up the waters. It was an incredible sight. I love watching the storms roll in. We have some awesome monsoons at our ranch in the mountains and sit on the deck as the lightning walks it's way down the ridges to bring the rain. Nature's entertainment.

      Delete
  22. That sounds - excting Mac! I guess it's OK if you're far enough away not to get struck by it or swallowed up by it. I'd rather ride a bucking horse than a bucking whirlwind!

    (And I'm quite happy to handle spiders and creepie crawlies - guess who has to take the little critters outside in our house?)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sorry I'm late to the party, but sincere congratulations, Rachel. Hope you sell a gazillion books.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Caroline - no worries there's still plenty of virtual food left! Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete

AUTHOR ROAST AND TOAST

AUTHOR ROAST AND TOAST
authorroast@btinternet.com
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE OUR GUEST? DO YOU WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR NEW RELEASE OR EVEN AN OLDER ONE?IF YOU FANCY BEING GUEST OF HONOUR AT ONE OF OUR PARTIES JUST EMAIL US AT THE ADDRESS in 'OLIVER'S RULES'!(PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A 'G' RATED BLOG SO NOTHING HIGHER THAN THIS RATING, PLEASE.)