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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, October 24, 2014

Temporarily Employed - Come Party with Vicki Batman



Wow!  Just look at all those balloons!  The hostesses, dressed in their best party clothes grin from ear to ear as they walk into the room, festooned with banners and balloons.  







Is it someone's birthday? Mac asks, looking around her in awe.

"Well it's certainly a celebration," Lyn says, nearly tripping over her own feet as she forgets to watch where she's going. "Vicki's book, 'Temporarily Employed' was published a week ago,  and  I just can't wait to meet her and find out more about it.

Mary tugs at the bodice of her dress, which, stretched across her ample curves, is having a difficult job to defy gravity.

"Are you sure you haven't got a couple of those balloons hidden under there?" LaVerne asks mischievously, neatly avoiding the large clutch bag Mary swipes at her.


"Hey girls, just see the spread Oliver's put out for
us," Lilly says, stepping between the two  hostesses still engaged in friendly sparring.

"Good job the sidekicks aren't here," Mac sighs, "look at all that chocolate, it's terribly bad for dogs."

"But not for us, luckily," La Verne grins, "And I hear Vicki's very partial too it!


At that moment Vicki Batman herself steps into the room to a round  of applause. She looks absolutely stunning in a beautiful red cocktail dress. Oliver can't take his eyes off her and rushes up to give her a glass of the best champagne and a red rose
to match her gown.

 "Welcome to your Roast", Lilly says, as the hostesses rush to greet her.  "Congratulations on your new release - let's drink a toast to Vicki Batman and her wonderful new romance 'Temporarily Employed'.


Blurb:

Purchase from Wild Rose Press

Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced.

Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life.  He evolved from a pocket protector-wearing geek to a handsome police detective.  When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Wild Rose Press. Crimson Rose

EXCERPT:
How embarrassing.
After killing the engine, I flopped back in the seat. Shooting the morons the finger was an idea. Nah. I'm too exhausted to care.

A litany of:  "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.

Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new.
I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating.

Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong.
BIO: Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to TRUE LOVE, TRUE ROMANCE, TRUE CONFESSIONS, NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING, LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, MUSEITUP PUBLISHING, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.

Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Available 10/17  Temporarily Employed  New job. New love. And murder.
Available now!     Bug Stuff...and Other Stories 5 stars

Handbags, Books...Whatever  *  Plotting Princesses  *  Twitter  *  Facebook  *  Pinterest




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

57 comments:

  1. Good morning and thank you so much for the delightful party. Thank you for the champagne, Oliver, my favorite Veuve Clicquot. MMMM.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good Morning Vicki, I'm so glad you like the champagne, Oliver is a bit of a mind reader and loves to give our guests their favourite drinks and nibbles. What a tantalising excerpt, and I'm hoping you'll tell us more about hunky Allan!

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  3. Hi, Hywela! I think Allan is hunky too. You know the guys in school who weren't the rockstars? He wore Buddy Holly styled glasses, pocket protector with pens and a slide rule, bangs over his forehead. So when Hattie sees him, he looks almost like a new person and then she gets to know the real man inside, the one who has cared for her all his life. He does like a little danger since he switched from accounting to being a cop.

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  4. Always did like a hunky adventurous man! Vicki, your book sounds like an adventure itself. Hywela, you always like a hunk and I am right there with you! Enjoy the Roast.
    Thanks,
    Rebecca
    rbooth43 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, rbooth43! My guy goes on a life changing adventure with Hattie. And I love how she discovers him bit by bit, not who he once was, but the man he became.Yeahh!!

      Delete
  5. Good morning, chickies. Hiya, Vicki! Welcome to your roast. I would have commented earlier but I got snagged by your blurb and had to go buy a book. ;-) That's hard to do when you're scarfing chocolate covered strawberries and swilling champagne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Mackenzie! Oh then I did a good job with the blurb if you bought a book. lolol. The chocolate strawberries are to die for and I just adore champagne - pass the bottle please!

      Delete
  6. Good morning all! Welcome to the roast, Vicki. And I am so glad to see one of our favorite readers here as well. *waves vigorously* Hi Rebecca! So glad you could make it. I love a good romantic suspense, especially one with a murder mystery and a hunky detective. Tell us more about Allen, Vickie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Lilly! Allan is Hattie's best friend's older brother and he stared at her all the time. Pretty creepy - right? She was afraid she would get cooties. lol

      Delete
  7. Hi, Vicki! This is fun! Maybe I'll do this for my next book. Yours sounds great! Hope you have good sales with it.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Ilona! This is great fun, but all the better when friends like you come visit! Hugs.

      Delete
  8. Great party Vicki, the chocolates were delicious! I wish you great sales on your new release.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Judy! And thank you, but all the kudos goes to these ladies here. I just show and sparkle. LOL

      Delete
  9. Hi Lilly and Mac (Lyn hugs her sister hostesses) and HI Rebecca and Judy and Ilona. You're right Rebecca, it's difficult to resist a handsome hunk, and Allan sounds gorgeous! Ilona,l we'd love to throw a party for you, or any other author who fancies one. Just read Oliver's Rules in the link at the top and drop us an email and we'll get you scheduled!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yum - loved the bubbly - my favorite brand, too! Your blurb and excerpt are intriguing and I wish you many sales and rave reviews!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *clinking my glass to yours* Hiya sweetie!

      Delete
    2. Hi, Ashantay! Bubbly rocks. I'm wishing many sales, too, and have some very nice reviews. Hugs.

      Delete
  11. *waves at Rebecca, Judy and Ilona* Hiya chickies. OMG I just swallowed one of those chocolate volcano cakes whole. nom nom nom. I'm spinning on a sugar high! Maybe another excerpt will calm me down. Pretty please, Vicki? Help a girl out. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, yes, Ilona, let us Roast you....um, not over an open pit or anything. lol! Vicki, I bet Allen was fun to write. Shy, quiet boy turns into hunky man. I bet Hattie was surprised to see how he turned out. I mean, just look at those wide shoulders and those sexy bedroom eyes. Hmm. I think I'll mosey over there and get a closer look. lol!

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  13. Great party! Everything is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hiya D'Ann. Grab a plate and drink up, or it'll be left to me! :-)

      Delete
  14. Hi Ashantay and D'Ann, welcome to Vici's Roast. Oh dear, Mac's on a sugar high and Lilly's on the prowl! *grin* Good job little ol' me always behaves! Yes, we'd love another excerpt if you could manage it, Vicki!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! When have you ever behaved, Lyn? :-)

      Delete
    2. Me? I's a good girl I is, everyone knows that!

      Delete
    3. A little excerpt? Here's an exchange between Hattie and Allan that makes me laugh every time I read it:
      No frisking and no arrests were—so far, in my book—a good thing. Knowing he was Sarah Anne’s older brother, I found eliminating him from the stalker, murderer, and rapist categories easy. The something in the truck line sounded similar to approaches used in past dating experiences. For instance:
      “Want to come up and look at my etchings?”
      Translated: A roll in the hay.
      Or the ever popular “Would you like to meet Mr. Lizard?”
      Translated: Mr. Wiggly Worm.
      “How about coming to my place for a drink?”
      Translated: To ply me with multiple drinks and the requisite roll in the hay.
      I hadn’t fallen for those then and wouldn’t be a sucker now.
      He stuck his hands on his hips. “I know what you’re thinking. I’m not a stalker, murderer, or rapist."
      Apparently, he could read minds. "Just a minute." I closed the door enough to release the chain, then re-opened it. “Why can’t you just tell me whatever it is?”
      “No. I want to show you—-”
      “Not a Picasso?” I asked.
      “No.”
      “Not an iguana?”
      A perplexed expression crossed his face. “A what?”
      “Not your pet worm?”
      “What pet worm?”
      “Not—”
      “Look, I don’t know what you’re thinking. The only worms I know about are for fishing.

      Delete
    4. Oh nice one, Vicki, thanks so much - still grinning!

      Delete
    5. Thanks, Hywela! I love this passage. Is everyone else giggling too?

      Delete
    6. Love that excerpt. lol! Mr. Wiggly Worm. Yep. Still chuckling.

      Delete
    7. That excerpt had me laughing, Vicki! I love their banter. Oh, I need to grab this book :)
      I hope you're enjoying the party. Let me just grab myself a glass of champagne and catch up to you ladies! Cheers, Oliver!

      Delete
  15. Such a terrific party! I couldn't resist that chocolate! And your book--sounds even more delicious. Best of luck with it. It's definitely on my TBR list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *finger waves* Hiya Barbara! It does sound good, doesn't it. :-)

      Delete
    2. Hi, Barbara! I can't resist chocolate either. In fact, I LOVE the Hershey chocolate drops, like giant plain M&Ms. LOL. Thank you so much for putting me in the TBR!

      Delete
  16. Hi Barbara - I know - I'm a bit of a chocoholic myself, do tuck in, there's plenty for ll!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Replies
    1. Hi, Cece! So good to see you today. Which chocolate is your favorite? Someone mentioned chocolate volcano cake....

      Cake rocks, you know.

      Hugs.

      Delete
  18. After seeing these pictures, I'm in the mood for chocolate!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Angela! I had to balance the chocolate out with a salad. Now, I'm back for more! Hugs,

      Delete
  19. Hi there Cece, welcome to the party, help yourself to champagne, chocolate and lemon cake!
    Oh, and don't forget to read the excerpts of Vicki's great new release!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hywela! Lemon cake??? You've been hiding that one. My very favorite. Oh man, I can taste the tartness and the silky smooth lemon buttercream. I'm dying here.

    ReplyDelete
  21. LOL Vickmi - it's the one with yellow icing and an icing sugar copy of your cake on it! We knew it was your favourite!

    It's past the witching hour here in the UK so I'll leave you all to party on - but keep the party going, it's usually a weekend affair! Night all!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Past the witching hour? And this party is rockin'. I'll be here for a while. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love Vicki's books. She's amazingly witty and her characters are memorable. :) I love to stop by parties with this much chocolate too, but I must avoid... the... treats... otherwise, no chance of fitting into a fun bikini- even at almost 50...One of my students told me I look younger than her parents. Fine praise too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Melissa! I love you saying I'm witty. LOL. I need to avoid treats too. I mentioned that soft spot for Hershey chocolate drops... Geez. I think you look awesome. I always say I'm well-preserved. LOL

      Delete
  24. Hi Melissa, going by your picture, she's right! :) Don't worry, all the food on the Roast is completely calorie free so you can eat all you like!

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  25. So sorry to be late! Great party! And what a great book to celebrate!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Liz! and I'm honored you are here. You write such a good blog. Thank you so much!!!

      Delete
  26. Hi Liz, no need to apologise - our parties tend to go on over the weekends and we know people are in different timezones. This does sound like a really good book, *sigh* there are so many on my 'want to read' pile!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Good morning. I see a few of you are still hanging out with Vicki, Allen, and Hattie. Let me just grab one more drink. Then, it's off to the dentist for me. I think I've put off taking care of this aching tooth long enough. The pain is back with a vengeance.

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  28. Ooh, poor Lilly. (Perhaps you partook too much of the chocolate goodies) Hope the visit to the dentist isn't too traumatic and results in your pain being relieved.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ooo, not good Lilly! I hope the dentist sorted you out (hugs).

    Sorry I'm late to the party, Vicki! I've had to host another party, but this was for my daughter who just turned six. Boy, oh, boy are children exhausting! Now to let my hair down with adults - yay!! :) I'm loving getting to know Allan and Hattie. And might I just say - I love the hidden depths to your Allan. What a hunk! And I'll let you in on a little secret (but probably isn't really a secret to many) - I ADORE cops. I think I have a little thing about men in uniforms and authority.... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. hI, Laverne! wHAT a wonderful party to host! I taught first grade sunday school for 5 years and loved it. Kids could write, talk, sit quietly, and knew how to use scissors, except for my son who cut his own hair.

    I probably wrote a cop because most mysteries I read have cops as the investigators.

    Maybe another Allan & Hattie excerpt?

    Eyes fastened on me, A. Wellborn swallowed deeply. One handed, he palmed his cell phone. “I need to make some calls.”
    “Who to?”
    “First, to the friend who has a friend to ask him to locate the bumper again. Second, I’m ordering another pizza. You want some?” He gave me a questioning squint.
    Staring at the darkening sky, I tapped my toes, deciding. The Funsisters and I have rules about food and guys:
    Rule One: Do not turn down food when unemployed.
    Rule Two: Do not turn down food when unemployed and invited to share by a hunky, thoughtful man.
    “This isn’t a life or death answer, just say yes or no.”
    He sure sounded impatient. What the hell. I won't have to scrounge for something to eat, and A. Wellborn had proven to be interesting, a nice note to end a complicated day. “Yes.”
    He punched a number on his cell. “What do you like on yours?”
    How considerate. “I like pepperoni, but my fav is Canadian bacon and crispy bacon.”
    He frowned. “Aren’t you concerned about cholesterol?”
    “Not today.”

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi LaVerne *waves* You must be exhausted - sounds like a lot of fun though!

    Vicki, what a great excerpty - has me drooling (in more ways than one) I have a question. (Please be patient with me, I'm a mere Brit) What is the difference between Canadian bacon and crispy bacon? ) I like it crispy, myself, but just curious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Hywela! Canadian bacon looks like ham, but doesn't taste like ham. Here's what Wikipedia says: an American name for two different pork products: back bacon and a smoked ham.

      It doesn't taste like ham to me. I also like it on pizza with pineapple.

      Crispy bacon is great except in chocolate - *shaking head nononono*

      Delete
  32. Right... then I think I'll stick with the crispy - but definitely not in chocolate! LOL

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  33. Partygoers? Are we stuffed? I think I am and am headed off to snooze. Check you later on.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you so much, Authors Roast and Toast. I'm thinking my hair is slightly kinked from all the heat. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete

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