Monday, July 25, 2016

A gorgeous palace, chateau set on water, #Chantilly and its glories! #France

   
The entrance to the chateau
Watching the Tour de France with my husband, I yearn for more pictures from that helicopter!
     Did you?
     If so, I aim to provide!
     Here are mine of that fabulous palace owned by lesser Bourbons (and before that the Duc de Montmorency). This palace approximately 50 miles north of Paris is easily accessible by SNIF, the regular local commuter train.
    Do go!
    The walk from the train station is a bit of a hike so you may raise your hand and try a taxi. But however you go, do take your camera and save your appetite for gorgeous Rococo architecture, furnishings, the riding stable, art and fabulous lunch from the on site restaurant. Yes, they serve. And they serve a lovely array of dishes, including original Chantilly cream. Order it and do so quickly when you sit down because they tend to run out! Visit the website for more info:  Chateau Chantilly
   
      In fact, the kitchen was the site of the Gerard Depardieu film Vatel to create the kitchen of that other fabulous chateau, Vaux le Vicomte http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/.

   
     The main house tour centers on the ground floor. The beauties here include a map of the main battle of The Fronde which was an uprising fomented against the child Louis XIV. Given to the French Republic by the last nobleman to own the house, the chateau is maintained by the French and beautifully so.
   
     The major attraction for many visitors is the library, renowned for its vast collection (under glass protection) of first editions of centuries' old volumes. The other rooms include the duke's offices, a ballroom, a music room and various reception rooms. The power and majesty of the chateau, for me, was in the alabaster white of the walls with gold leaf filigree everywhere.

The private chapel holds at ihefront altar a crypt wherein all hearts of the dukes are buried.
Hidden during the Revolution, this crypt was returned after the Republics of France assumed power over governing.


Thursday, July 21, 2016

7 #BRIDES FOR 7 #SEALs @CeriseDeLand's #series! Nibble my new cherry! Buy now!

7 Brides for 7 SEALs new series begins a trek down the aisle by every man on this team! 

YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE stars a man in white and a gal in a suit. Yeah, a suit.

If giving up her seat to the hunky Navy SEAL brought her a weekend in his arms, could it bring her forever, too? 

He offered her dinner.
What Navy SEAL Lieutenant Nick Reardon got was more than a lovely dinner companion. What Abby Stuart got was a red hot one night stand that became an irresistible interlude.
So when a glimpse of their past proves that their fascination could be more than a brief affair, they must decide if what they create together is worthy of all their tomorrows.



Excerpt: Copyright, Cerise DeLand 2016. 
All rights reserved.
“We’ll do this,” he said, his rough words sounding stern as a vow. “And then we’ll curl up and go to sleep.”
Oh, she wanted to curl up all right. She wanted to kiss him until the world ended. He would know, too, because hadn’t she just answered him by vibrating in his arms?
He licked his lower lip, his blue gaze probing hers and looking at her Christmasy pjs. “Honest. You and me and all your Santas. We’re going to kiss.”
She cuffed him, laughing all the way.
He did, too, and crushed her against him. “Kiss me. Make it long and make it worth four more hours to wait for another.”
“You are evil, do you know that?”
The sun and moon and stars blazed across his features with delight. “Yeah. It’s what I’m paid for. Do it.”
He wouldn’t move first. That she understood. It had to be her, now or never. She leaned closer to his lips. A breath separated them. “What if once isn’t enough?”
“It will be.”
Disappointment rang through her.
And he smiled, consolation ripe on his lips. “Tomorrow, I promise to kiss you anytime you ask.”
She could live like that. “You could get in trouble for conduct unbecoming.”
“Baby, with you in my arms, I’ve already got that trouble, and if you don’t kiss me, I may just die before they come to throw me in the brig.”
She sank her fingers into his luscious hair, cupping the back of his head, her breasts boring into his hard naked chest. She put her mouth on his, his lips firm and soft, his breath heavy and rapid. She brushed her lips on his once. He hauled her up, and her skin met his. He groaned, and she slanted her mouth this way. He took her up and pressed her down. He followed her, his lips drinking her in, his tongue tangling with hers.
The euphoria rippled through her in a storm. No one had ever kissed her like she was his all, his everything. She had never wanted to be any man’s either.
And so the kiss lengthened and ended only because they needed air.
He pushed her back against his thighs, his hand sinking into her hair. “Abby, get up. Now. Come around the other side and crawl back into bed.”
Totally without a thought in her head, she obeyed. When she had settled onto her back, he ran one strong arm around her waist and pushed her to her side. He adjusted his body behind her, his corded length along her own, one leg over her hip. Then he hugged her tightly to him. “Tomorrow morning, if I’m not here when you wake up, don’t panic.”
She did now. She whipped her head around to stare at him over her shoulder. “Why?”
“Oh, honey.” He kissed her nose. “I’m not leaving. I’m going for an early swim.” He moved closer, and the feel of his mighty erection against her ass gave the evidence of his rationale. “I’ll need it. This will be the longest night of my life.”
* * * * *

Who is Cerise?
Cerise DeLand loves to cook, hates to dust, adores traveling...and lives to write!
She is #1 Bestselling Regency Author of spicy romances starring dashing heroes and sassy women. Her box set THE STANHOPE CHALLENGE was recently on the bestseller list for ONE solid YEAR!

Find Cerise:
Cerise DeLand's Website:  www.cerisedeland.com
Follow her on Twitter: @cerisedeland
Goodreads: Cerise DeLand






Thursday, July 14, 2016

Jessica Subject gives us 10 FAVE Lines, Excerpt from her newest! Fun!


Jessica’s Ten Favorite Lines from BRYCE: Galactic Defenders book one (without any spoilers)
1 - Bryce raised his crossbow, lining his sights on the creature standing amongst the bushes, its branch-like tentacles undulating in the gentle breeze. Focusing the crosshairs on the alien’s torso, he drew in a deep breat
h. He had one shot. ==> These are the opening lines of the story. To me, it displays the intensity of the opening scene, and what is going to happen throughout the story.
2 - What child wanted to know her mother came from another planet? Or could keep the fact a secret?
3 - She’d heard the alien hunters used wormholes, but had never seen or traveled through one, and hoped to never again.
4 - “He’s probably really tired right now. Wasn’t very cooperative at first, but I managed to tame the beast.”
5 - Bryce had both Katrina and a young Kalaren on the ground doing push-ups. “Anytime you feel like releasing a little energy, this is what I want you to do.” He crouched in front of them while the other Defenders in the room watched in amusement.
6 - A little girl dashed out in front of her, jet-black curls bouncing along her shoulders. In her tattered white gown—probably a hand-me-down from an older generation—she stared up into her eyes, no reservations about approaching royalty. “Princess Lalia, where have you been? They taught us in school you were killed in the Erebus attack.”
7 - And what was she supposed to have told them? You must meet with me because I’m an alien princess? No doubt the truth would have landed her in a mental institution, or worse, a lab.
8 - A tiny head with jet-black hair peeked out from under a tree root. “Princess, is it really you?”
9 - “A planet has just been destroyed.” The thought of growling at the young Vella crossed his mind. Instead, he sidestepped him and headed to the control room to meet the leader of the Galactic Alliance. “There is no good news today.”
 10 - “You may be responsible for sending them to Niesgoo, but you’re only responsible for their deaths if you leave them there to die.”
BRYCE

Galactic Defenders #1

by Jessica E. Subject

Release date: June 28, 2016

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Action & Adventure

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9948431-9-7
Print ISBN: 978-1-988428-00-0

Editor: Kate Richards
Cover artist: Fantasia Frog Designs

Keywords: reunited lovers, rescue, aliens, romance, love, royalty, military

# of pages: 119 ebook, 185 print
# of words: 37,050

BLURB:

A dedicated Defender…

Bryce fell in love once, but after Lalia was ripped away from him, he locked his heart from feeling anything for anyone else. Instead, he devotes his life to the Galactic Alliance, killing every bloodthirsty Erebus he comes across.

A shunned princess…

Lalia Comosova fell in love with the wrong man. When her parents learned of her transgressions, they sent her to Earth to hide her error in judgment from the rest of the kingdom.

A second chance?

When these lovers are reunited after many years apart, they have a chance to find happiness together. But fate steps in and threatens to rip them apart as it did years ago.

SHORT BLURB: Bryce, a dedicated Galactic Defender on a mission, is reunited with his one and only love, the missing princess of Hemera. Will they have a second chance at love, or will fate rip them apart as it did years ago?

EBOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/BRYCE-Galactic-Defenders-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01HDPTNKM/
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/BRYCE-Galactic-Defenders-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01HDPTNKM/
Amazon Canada – https://www.amazon.ca/BRYCE-Galactic-Defenders-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01HDPTNKM/
All Romance – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bryce-2061143-153.html
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1123964868
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jessica_E_Subject_BRYCE?id=OyV4DAAAQBAJ
iBooks – https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/bryce/id1126636567?mt=11
Kobo –

PRINT BUY LINKS:

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Bryce-Galactic-Defenders-Jessica-Subject/dp/1988428009/
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bryce-Galactic-Defenders-Jessica-Subject/dp/1988428009/
Amazon Canada – https://www.amazon.ca/Bryce-Jessica-E-Subject/dp/1988428009/
CreateSpace – https://www.createspace.com/6359389

EXCERPT:

Bryce raised his crossbow, lining his sights on the creature standing amongst the bushes, its branch-like tentacles undulating in the gentle breeze. Focusing the crosshairs on the alien’s torso, he drew in a deep breath. He had one shot. If he missed, the Erebus would cry out and alert the natives of Terra to its existence, resulting in more casualties. At first glance, no one on the planet, also called Earth, would believe an Erebus anything more than an overgrown bush, but Bryce knew the truth. He’d trained to hunt the creatures from childhood.

Each step carefully placed, he advanced until he stood twenty feet from the Erebus, no chance to miss the shot. With a slight movement of his finger, he squeezed the trigger, sending a zuranium-tipped arrow racing toward the alien.

“Quinn, would you grab me another garbage bag?”

Fornax. The creature lunged toward the female voice, Bryce’s arrow stuck in one of its tentacles. A kill, but not instant.

He loaded another arrow. At the risk of being seen, he charged through the hedges. He had to cut the Erebus off before it had a chance to kill the Terran. He leaped over metal furniture and large urns, keeping his focus on the creature.

“What the hell? Get out of my yard!”

The woman rushed him, but Bryce darted around her. When the Erebus lumbered in front of him, he raised his weapon and fired. A clean shot to the middle. The creature dropped like a fallen log, crushing the furniture it landed on.

Bryce loaded the crossbow again. No time to celebrate the kill. He had to worry about the possibility of other Erebus in the area, along with the Terran woman who had seen him. Instead of running away screaming, as he’d expected her to do, she stared, wide-eyed in horror. Not at him, but the Erebus. Her body trembled as she shuffled backward, mumbling incomprehensible words.

An unexpected sense of familiarity washed over him. He couldn’t draw his attention away from her slim figure, the way her long brown hair flowed over her shoulders. Far more attractive than he’d pictured the Terrans when others talked about them. He took a closer glance. Lalia? How had she traveled so far from home without anyone knowing? She was no stranger, and definitely not Terran. Or, perhaps she was simply a doppelganger of the woman he’d once loved. He had the sudden urge to comfort her, relieve her worry. Hold her in his arms the way he had many years ago. But what if the missing princess had somehow made her way to a planet unaware life existed beyond their own? After she’d left Hemera and him behind without so much as a goodbye, he’d searched everywhere. Though not once had he thought to look on Terra.

A ground-shattering bellow pierced the night. Bryce spun around, finding himself face-to-face with another Erebus. It stared at him with beady red eyes. Thick black goop dripped from its mouth.

Bryce raised his bow, but the creature slammed him with one of its tentacles, flinging him back. The Erebus lunged at Lalia.

Rolling to his knees, Bryce aimed and fired. He hit the alien from behind, launching it forward. Onto his former lover. Slinging the bow over his shoulder, he raced toward her. The creature’s tentacles still pulsed, even though dead. Careful not to trip himself up, he shoved his hands under the creature’s torso and heaved it off her.

Lalia stood immediately and wiped the black goop from her clothes, as if she hadn’t been flattened by an alien. “They weren’t supposed to follow me. I was supposed to be safe here.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.
When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk with her giant, hairy dog her family adopted from the local animal shelter.
Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website - http://jessicasubject.com
Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/eX1Zw
Twitter - http://twitter.com/jsubject
Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370
Facebook Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/175887792592903/
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jessicasubject/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jessicaesubject/
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/0/100079570422204018357/posts
Amazon Author Page - http://amazon.com/author/jessicasubject
Goodreads Page - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject
Authorgraph - http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/jsubject
  


Monday, July 11, 2016

Cover Reveal, excerpt for new 7 BRIDES for 7 #SEALs #series! Pre-order now!

Here he is!
FAB, yeah?
Lieutenant Nick Reardon goes to San Antonio for advanced medic training. Gets a First Class seat given him by a luscious lady!
Offers dinner.
Gets a weekend of sexy stuff between the sheets.
Does he have a ghost of a chance of planning for happy tomorrows?

Pre-order now!

AMAZON   Wild Rose Press

More links coming!

Do hunky Navy SEAL Nick Reardon and Abby Stuart have a ghost of a chance when all they may ever have is a weekend?

She offers him her first class seat.
He offers her dinner.
When Abby Stuart accepts hunky Navy SEAL Nick Reardon’s invitation, she gets a red hot one-night stand that becomes an irresistible weekend interlude.
But when a glimpse of their past proves that their fascination could be more than a brief affair, they wonder if they have a ghost of a chance to seize happiness together for all their tomorrows.

Excerpt: Copyright, Cerise DeLand 2016. All rights reserved.
“We’ll do this,” he said, his rough words sounding stern as a vow. “And then we’ll curl up and go to sleep.”
Oh, she wanted to curl up all right. She wanted to kiss him until the world ended. He would know, too, because hadn’t she just answered him by vibrating in his arms?
He licked his lower lip, his blue gaze probing hers. “Honest. You and me and all your Santas. We’re going to kiss.”
She cuffed him, laughing all the way.
He did, too, and crushed her against him. “Kiss me. Make it long and make it worth four more hours to wait for another.”
“You are evil, do you know that?”
The sun and moon and stars blazed across his features with delight. “Yeah. It’s what I’m paid for. Do it.”
He wouldn’t move first. That she understood. It had to be her, now or never. She leaned closer to his lips. A breath separated them. “What if once isn’t enough?”
“It will be.”
Disappointment rang through her.
And he smiled, consolation ripe on his lips. “Tomorrow, I promise to kiss you anytime you ask.”
She could live like that. “You could get in trouble for conduct unbecoming.”
“Baby, with you in my arms, I’ve already got that trouble, and if you don’t kiss me, I may just die before they come to throw me in the brig.”
She sank her fingers into his luscious hair, cupping the back of his head, her breasts boring into his hard naked chest. She put her mouth on his, his lips firm and soft, his breath heavy and rapid. She brushed her lips on his once. He hauled her up, and her skin met his. He groaned, and she slanted her mouth this way. He took her up and pressed her down. He followed her, his lips drinking her in, his tongue tangling with hers.
The euphoria rippled through her in a storm. No one had ever kissed her like she was his all, his everything. She had never wanted to be any man’s either.
And so the kiss lengthened and ended only because they needed air.
He pushed her back against his thighs, his hand sinking into her hair. “Abby, get up. Now. Come around the other side and crawl back into bed.”
Totally without a thought in her head, she obeyed. When she had settled onto her back, he ran one strong arm around her waist and pushed her to her side. He adjusted his body behind her, his corded length along her own, one leg over her hip. Then he hugged her tightly to him. “Tomorrow morning, if I’m not here when you wake up, don’t panic.”
She did now. She whipped her head around to stare at him over her shoulder. “Why?”
“Oh, honey.” He kissed her nose. “I’m not leaving. I’m going for an early swim.” He moved closer, and the feel of his mighty erection against her ass gave the evidence of his rationale. “I’ll need it. This will be the longest night of my life.”