Bought a Book in Record Time!

I am excited to introduce a new series to you. Saturday night I was online when I came across a request from an author to friend them on Goodreads. I decided to go ahead and also to check out her website. I  noticed the Works In Progress tab and decided to give it a look. So glad I did. I was introduced to the Saving Shennanigans Series and fell in love most with book 3. A series revolving around a woman determined to keep her family's pub out of the mob's hands and calls on her two sisters who have stories of their own was just too great to pass up.

But book one's cover also caught my attention because it had an attention grabbing character and shows writers how to create a really good cover without crazy over the top images. After reading the summaries I knew I had to get this series. Since only Mabe's Burden (book one) was out I immediately purchased a copy. The author Kelly Abell sells the books and I was relieved to see she didn't charge any crazy high shipping fees like some authors do when shipping overseas. This was in less than ten minutes! A record. Who finds an author whose work they don't know and buys it in less than ten minutes of looking at their site? Me? Plus Kelly Abell definitely has some amazing writing and story grabbing skills. Now enough of my crazy gushing. Here's the cover and summary for Book One as well as the author's info. Do check out her website to see if you'll be a fan as well. If not, no loss, we writers support each other no matter what.

Summary: 

Mabe’s Burden

Hot tempered, Mabe O'Banyon will do whatever it takes to keep the family's Irish pub, Shenanigans, out of the mob's dirty hands. She quickly learns, though, their attorney and the bank will offer no help. So, she calls in the reinforcements--Mara and Meg. She hasn't seen her two sisters for years, but her desperate message brings them running.

Commercial real estate developer, Aaron Shaw has a secret. He arrives in Monticello, FL, expecting to purchase a quaint Irish pub and move on to his next conquest. But the transaction doesn't take place as planned--in fact, it doesn't take place at all. The hardheaded owner--a stunning redhead with curves that don't quit--isn't selling. 

With time running out and the mob on their heels, Aaron wants nothing more than to save the woman he's fallen for from impending danger. Mabe is torn between a man she loves but can't trust and the need to hold on to her family's pub. Their choices lead them down a path neither could have guessed.

You can see the rest of the series here.

Author:

Kelly Abell

Kelly started writing in High School in Roanoke Virginia and was first published in her school magazine called Sketches. She is a Sales Consultant for a major insurance company and has a Master's Degree in Adult Education. 

She began writing novels in 2000 when she kept waking up in the middle of the night with the characters in her mind just wouldn't be silenced. Like most authors she's had her share of rejections and is excited about her debut novel Sealed in Lies now available from Hearts On Fire Books.

When not writing Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years and her two teenagers. The family dog Snickers is a constant companion during marathon writing sessions and is the perfect family member. No back talk! She lives in Florida and enjoys all that living in the sunshine state brings, boating, fishing, beaches, theme parks, and more. Her favorite pass time is reading (what a surprise!) She likes thrillers, romantic suspense, and romantic comedy

Links:

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Books

Whoo! I'm so happy when I get the chance to share a new author with my fellow readers. Do check her out, thanks for stopping by and see you Wednesday.

Got Green Blogfest 2.0, Celebrate and Strength

Mark Koopmans is hosting the Got Green Blogfest 2.0. If you have anything Irish to share or want to chat about St. Patrick's Day (March 17), this is the 'fest for you. Below I'm doing a flash fiction about a man chasing a leprecahn. Be prepared for some laughs, tears, and a lesson.

Fool's Gold

Michael ran out in the morning dew. He was determined to find either the leprechaun or it's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Today his moths of searching would come to an end. Leprechaun gold would make him rich and he'd be able to provide a real life for his wife and finally start a family.

It was nearly a year ago he saw the leprechaun slinking through his cabbage patch. The little man was dressed in green and moved swiftly. Michael remembered the Irish legends and gave chase. But with a cackle the little man vanished. Yet before he did he sang a little song first.

Men always chase me for my gold.

Riches untold if you catch me or

find my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But know this, every choice has a price.

Keep your house first and search for riches second.

Michael became obsessed with finding the leprechaun and getting to the gold. His wife was left alone for many days. Anytime it rained he wouldn't sleep and afterwards he'd go searching in futility for the end of the rainbow. But today he had renewed hope. He walked many miles following the rainbow colours. Earlier he had barely looked at his wife as he left the meal she'd prepared untouched.

"Today is the day Sheila!" he declared.

As he walked he saw something shimmering in the distance. Forcing his tired body onward he soon came to what he'd sought for so long. A huge pot of gold he couldn't possibly carry on his own.

"So you found me gold."

Michael turned to see the very leprechaun he'd seen in his yard. Up close the little man looked like a tiny vagabond in fine clothes. His teeth were crooked, brown hair unkempt and had green eyes filled with mischief  Michael looked much cleaner despite what he wore. His clothes made of sack cloth and clean rags,  had bright blue hair and his blonde hair like his lean body was soaked with sweat.

"I found your gold, like your song said I'm rich."

"Aw, that you are," the leprechaun agreed, "yet I fear you didn't listen to all my words."

Michael looked at him in confusion.

"You didn't keep your house and now your wife is mine. See, I've been chasing the beautiful yet poor Sheila for years. But she always spurned me for you. Until today, so keep the gold. I have true riches, a woman who has learned to love me," the leprechaun told him and disappeared.

Michael tried to question him but realized he had been transported back to his house. Ignoring the pot of gold he ran into his hut. He called for his wife but soon realized she was gone. Not even taking any of her few possessions with her.

Broken hearted he walked into their tiny kitchen. Their meal was now covered in flies and beside it was a note. He unfolded it and read.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.
I'm sorry.
Goodbye Forever Michael.
--Sheila O'Boyle

Micheal fell to his knees and sobbed.

Celebrate the small things

1. I got a 4.3 on my blood sugar test. The lady at the pharmacy said 3.9 to 6.5 (or something like that) was normal. So my blood sugar's ok.

2. I read and completed The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan. Hooray for libraries.

3. Vampire Diaries is back on CW. All new and filled with bite.

Strength by Carrie Butler

I must be the last person to finally talk about this amazing book. Carrie got Strength published through a small press but there's nothing little about the support and praise this novel has received. Scroll down to read about this book yourself.

Title: Strength
Series: Mark of Nexus – Book 1
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release Date: March 07, 2013
Available at: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Sony Reader Store, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo, Diesel, and Baker & Taylor.

Synopsis:
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few minor setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.


Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.
Where to find Carrie:
WEBSITE | BLOG | PUBLISHER | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+

Where to find Strength:
BOOK PAGE | GOODREADS | PUBLISHER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOK TRAILER



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