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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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Monday, January 19, 2015

The winners of our last two Roasts!

 Many  apologies for the lateness of this announcement and combining both Daisy's and Joanne's, but the Authorroast clockwork computer developed a nasty case of can't-do-anything-itus and it's still a bit husky but at least it is working - at the moment!

So - the winners of DAISY BANK's Two prizes are
Diane Saxon, who won the $25 vouncer and Sabine Priestly who won the downloads of two of Daisy's books.

Diane, you were such a wonderful and fun Guest of Honour, thanks so much for letting us throw your party.

And the winners of last week's guest, JOANNE STEWART, was Mary Preston 

 We had such fun at your party, Joanne, and like Daisy, you were an amazing Featured Guest Author!

  "Just another Author Roast and Toast!"    


Watch this space for news of our next Roast!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Joanne Stewart's Hawaiian celebration




“Lyn, are you sure we’re at the right address?”


“Of course,” she assures Mac and continues up the path towards a charming family home. She pauses and faces her fellow hostesses. “I have it on good authority the Morgan family have a tradition of celebrating achievements and special occasions with a Hawaiian Luau. Where better to celebrate JM’s newest book than the family home?”

“I’ve never been to a Luau before,” LaVerne confides to Lilly as Lyn knocks on the door. “Any chance its tradition for the men to dress half-naked like the Maori warriors do in my home country?”

Mary’s eyes light up at the overheard comment. “Half-naked? Could we be that lucky? Just imagine Oliver decked out like that.”

Their wistful sighs are interrupted by the front door swinging open. An attractive woman welcomes them with a smile, armed with a bunch of flower garlands over her wrist.

“Welcome ladies. I’m Malia, Becca’s sister-in-law. Come in out of the cold.” One by one, the hostesses step inside and Malia drapes a lei over their heads. She shuts the door and gestures to a doorway beyond which the buzz of animated conversation can be heard.

 “We’ve got the temperature set to balmy inside and plenty of Hawaiian food and drink to enjoy, so help yourselves.”


“I don’t need a second invitation,” Mac grins. “I’ve heard great things about Becca’s older brother and his mai tai making abilities.”

She strides through the doorway followed closely behind by the other hostesses. They all stop as if on cue, their gazes going wide.

Greenery greets them in every corner of the room, tropical flowers in an array of colors add vibrancy and perfume to the air and palms rise tall and straight, grazing the ceiling providing the perfect canopy. 

Tucked away to one side of the room are tables groaning with food and drink. The selection is mouth-watering, the colors and scents capturing the essence of summer and tropical islands.

 






Slow-cooked kalua pig, Huli huli chicken glistening with sticky marinade, Laulau, and Coconut fried shrimp sitting atop deep green banana leaves. The desserts are just as bountiful and delicious looking. Haupia with pineapple, Banana guava pie and Coconut pie, Fresh fruit platters and Kona coffee.


Mac’s gaze swings to another table. “Mai tai’s! And there is Oliver replenishing them. What a man. I’ll be back in a tick. Sorry, Mary,” she adds with a wink. “He’s wearing a shirt.”


“Oh, look!” Lyn waves to three people across the room. “There’s JM, Becca and Jackson.” The trio waves back and makes their way towards the hostesses.

JM hugs them warmly. “I’m so excited to introduce you to Becca and Jackson. I had a really hard time getting them to see that they were meant to be together, but don’t you agree they’re perfect together?”

Jackson liftes his hand, raising Becca’s to his lips and kisses her fingertips making all the hostesses sigh. “Where would we be without you, JM?”

“We’re so looking forward to reading your story, guys.” Lilly clasps her hands in front of her chest and blinks suspiciously wet-looking eyes. “It sounds so
romantic.”

“It is,” Becca smiles briefly at Lilly before her eyes are irresistibly drawn back to her man’s.

“I think that calls for a toast,” announces Mac who steps back into their circle, a tray of mai tai’s balanced in her hands. She waits until everyone has a glass. “To JM Stewart. Congratulations on the release of Whatever it Takes. And to happy-ever-afters. Long may they continue brightening our lives!”

(This week's introductory skit was written by LaVerne)

Blurb:

She’s been dying to hear the words…

Walking away from her husband was the hardest thing Becca Morgan has ever done, even if it was the only way to save her heart from being broken by a loveless marriage. Still, when a terrible accident forces her to stay at her ex Jackson’s house for a few days, emotions she thought she’d buried long ago start coming to the surface—and, to her surprise, seem to be reciprocated…

…he just doesn’t know how to say.

Jackson Kade has never known love like he knew with Becca, but his cold upbringing left him unable to show her how deeply he feels. When Becca winds up under his roof once more, he knows it’s his only opportunity to prove his devotion—and passion. But old habits die hard, and even one mistake could shatter their last chance at love…

Excerpt:

“That’s a very generous offer, Kyle, but it won’t be necessary.” He turned his gaze to Becca and took a moment to carefully compose his words in his head before he said them. She wouldn’t like them. “My wife and daughter will be coming home with me.”

The very notion left him tied in knots. He’d only just gotten used to living alone again. Used to the silence echoing through the empty house. Now here he was, volunteering to bring her back, but damned if he’d let her stay anywhere else. Maybe she wasn’t his anymore, but the thought that he could’ve lost her had his heart tied in knots. He needed her and Allie where he knew they’d be safe.

Becca froze, so still even the soft rise and fall of her chest seemed to halt. He counted ten heartbeats before she moved again. She dropped her arms to her sides, and her hands curled into fists.

Oh, here it comes. Jackson tried to prepare himself for the tongue-lashing sure to follow and squelched the desire to simply pick her up and cart her off. He was damn tempted. Hell, it would be a sight easier than arguing with her. But he knew better. If he so much as tried, he’d no doubt lose a vital part of his anatomy. As a third-degree black belt, she had the skills. Becca owned the dojo where Allie took lessons. She’d opened the place the same year they’d met, teaching others the skills she’d learned. He’d seen firsthand what she was capable of. So, he shoved his hands in his pockets.

Becca glared at him. “How very arrogant of you, Jackson. I’m your ex-wife, in case you’ve forgotten, and the last place I want to live is with you.”

Buy links: 





Bio:

JM writes passionate, heartfelt contemporary romance. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession.

You can find out more about JM or her books here: Website /Blog /Twitter /Facebook



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

Friday, January 9, 2015

Daisy Banks takes holds an afternoon tea garden party, to celebrate the release of 'To Eternity'



“I can’t go in there. I know I’ll knock something over. It’s such a nice, dainty persons place. Do I look okay?” Mary gazes at each of the hostesses. They are dressed in lacy, chiffon, day dresses, all in pale spring colors.  
   
“Well, I must say that dazzling yellow is a bit bright. You look like a large canary.” Lyn shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

Lilly elbows Lyn. “Be nice, if you make her feel self conscious she will flip out, and you know we don’t want to have any scenes of any kind here. She does a sweeping gesture around the front of the amazing Victorian mansion where they are about to have high tea to celebrate the release of  Daisy Bank's new book To Eternity.

The front of the home has an archway that leads to a wonderful garden filled with fragrant flowers. Roses open their petals in every color. “I’ve never seen a green rose before.” LaVerne muses as she touches the velvet rose in front of her.

“Here I am, having a conniption over my dress and you are looking at green flowers! Mary sighs. “Oh well, I’ll pretend I am a sunflower and stand near wall like a decoration.”

“Now Mary, this is not about you. Besides, I like yellow.” Mac pats her back. “Besides,” she pulls Mary toward the entrance and everyone follows along, “look at Lilly’s hat. That is what they will all be looking at.”

All eyes turn to Lilly. She sticks out her tongue. “I like large hats.”

“Now girls, look at that. They have china cups and saucers laid on tables amongst the ground cover flowers. That’s a nifty idea. And the sweet smell of all those flowers is intoxicating. After tea Daisy said we can explore the house, and then play croquet." Lyn smiles as they gaze up at the lovely home.

The garden is huge and filled with white linen covered tables. Each table is set with a different piece of antique china. Cups, saucers and plates all delicate, but different.

Each setting has a linen napkin inside a sterling silver napkin holder, right next to a fresh bubbling glass of champagne. Dressed to the nines for the celebration, ladies of all ages fill the velvet covered seats.

Gentle background music wafts softly across, provided by Mrs Gatsby’s string ensemble, so soft and melodious that it does not even disturb the butterflies sipping nectar from the lavender. 

“I never saw so many women in hats before.” Mary comments. “The centerpieces alone must have taken hours to make. I know I’m gonna drop something down the front of my platform.” She sighs.

“Do your best Mary, Lyn will have to try to fit her feet under one of those tables and you know whose butt will be edging over the seat.” Mac grins.

“Look at those tables of food.” LaVerne’s eyes pop with desire. Potted shrimps and gentleman's relish with thin slices of brown and white bread and butter. 

On the finest bone china stands are displayed  crustless finger sandwiches - cucumber, smoked salmon, egg and cress.

Muffins sit in silver dishes, with light covers to keep them warm. Clotted cream, lemon curd, and the finest fresh strawberry and blackcurrent preserves cluster together next to the scones.

On the fine bone china cake stands are several one bite sweet deserts. Fresh cream cakes  eclairs, cream slices, butterfly cakes, iced fancies and tiny Bakewell and Strawberry tarts.

On each table, on the delicate stands, slices of fruit cake, Madeira cake, carrot cake, and on a side table a large walnut cake with a sugar-paste copy of the cover for 'To Eternity'.   Each table has a pot of tea
covered with a warmer that appears delicately 
handmade

“Wow,” they all say in unison.

“This is gonna be some party.” Lilly says, excited. “Let’s try to act like ladies and not embarrass ourselves.” They all look at Mary who grins sheepishly. “I’ll try…but I ain’t drinking the Earl Gray, it tastes like medicine.”

Walking to their author they all greet Daisy then Lyn turns to the tables and garners the attention of the people at each table.

“Let’s welcome our author Daisy Banks and grab your copy of To Eternity. Have a great time and enjoy the tea. Whatever kind you prefer!”
    (This week's introductory 'skit' was written by Mary)


To Eternity-wild beneath the moon- Book Two in the Timeless Series. 

Blurb


 For four centuries Magnus has lived according to the dictates of the moon, his heart isolated by the domination of his wolf nature. Now fate has brought the beautiful, independent Sian to his house at Darnwell and their irresistible attraction has exploded into a white-hot passion. Yet she is not wolf, and the time has come for her to embrace the change. But once she completes the ritual and claims her place next to Magnus, the rivals will appear on the horizon… E

Excerpt

 Sian made her way down to the drawing room and paused at the small portrait of his parents, as she did each time she walked the long corridor. The proud faces, the medieval pose and demeanor, made her wonder if she might have ever connected with this couple. Why did they leave their son alone when he wasn’t much more than a boy? Magnus had never said, but he’d needed them. Surely, times were different back then in a way people wouldn’t understand now. She certainly didn’t.

“Not giving any secrets away tonight, are you?” The pair remained as inscrutable as ever. She strolled on and into the drawing room

 “Oh, my, you look wonderful.”

 “Thank you. A stunning gown. You are beautiful.”

 She smiled and moved across the room to join him. “I’m glad you like the dress.”

 “Sherry?” 

“Please.” He poured her a glass from the decanter on the sideboard and handed it over. “It’s not the dress—it’s you who are beautiful.”

 She sipped from the small nineteenth century glass before giving him a light kiss on the jaw. The lippy didn’t mark his cologne-scented skin. “I’m looking forward to dinner tonight. From what I gather, it will be a sumptuous meal.”

 “I believe so. I don’t understand what has prompted the culinary experimentation, but I’m sure we shall be the beneficiaries of all the work.” 

She laughed. “Perhaps the ladies want to show off a little.”

“Yes.” The haunted look flashed in his eyes. “I rarely give them the opportunity to do that.”

 “Exactly. So tonight we shall enjoy a wonderful meal.”

 “Do you think they mind?” he asked.

 “Mind cooking?”

 “No. Do you think it disturbs them that I don’t have guests?”

 She shook her head. “I doubt they’ve thought about it before now. It’s always been that way. Me being here has kind of shaken things up a bit.”

She flashed him a smile. Magnus slipped his arm around her waist. “I am most thankful for your presence.”

 She slid her arm about his hip and squeezed. “I’m glad about that.” She glanced to the clock. “It’s just seven. They will be waiting for us, so I suggest we go, but before we do, I want to say sorry.” 

“Sorry?” “Yes, I was an absolute—” She puffed out a breath. “Yea, I was stupid to react the way I did about your news. I’m sorry.”

 “I was clumsy. It won’t happen again.”

 She shook her head, sidling closer to him. “No, it was my fault. You see, I sometimes forget the timescale you work on. Next time I’m about to have a hissy fit, I’ll make myself count to a thousand.”

 His lips moved in the start of the smile she loved. It grew like warmth when the sun appeared from behind a gray cloud and rose up to light his eyes. “Would it help if I promised to kiss you until you reached your count of a thousand?”

“Maybe.”

 “We shall forgive each other and be gentler with our love.” “Agreed.” She took another sip of sherry. “But not too tender, Magnus. There has to be a little bite.”

 His expression froze, and he gave a quick shake of his head as though disturbed by her words. 

“What’s wrong?”

 “Forgive me, my thoughts quite escaped me.” Uncertain if she’d understood him, she looked into his soul-drinking eyes. Though his skin was firm and lined little, his eyes betrayed the depths of his experiences. They showed a wealth of sorrows. Yet as the gray pools sucked her in, they changed so they looked like mountain water streaking over pebbles.

 “Sometimes you manage to take me quite far away.”

 To read Chapter 1 of To Eternity visit my blog http://daisybanks.wordpress.com/

Buy Links






Author Bio

Daisy Banks writes sensual and spicy romance in the Historical, Paranormal and Fantasy genres. She is an obsessive writer and her focus is to offer the best tale she can to readers. Daisy is married with two grown up sons. She lives in a converted chapel in Shropshire, England. Antiques and collecting entertain Daisy when she isn’t writing and she occasionally manages to make a meal that doesn’t stick to the pan.

Daisy Banks Links Blog http://daisybanks.wordpress.com
Website http://daisybanksnovels.yolasite.com/
Twitter @DaisyBanks16
Facebook http://on.fb.me/18iRC35
Pinterest http://bit.ly/16sF1XG



***GIVEAWAY***

Daisy Banks has generously offered prizes for two winners this week.

To be eligible to win a copy of her new book To Eternity and the first book in this series Timeless  or one prize of an Amazon voucher of $25, 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)

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.)