Sons of Charlotte

Today we have a collective of authors as guests. AnnaMarie Cantrell, Dr. Matthew Chavis and Dana Lynn are here to present Sons of Charlotte, a crime paranormal thriller available as of June 19th, 2018.

The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2718

Blurb

How many secrets can the Queen City conceal?

Charlotte, NC - 1966

After a head injury on the basketball court, Tony Malone, a firefighter, confides in his best friend and captain, Steve, about a strange dream he had while unconscious. It was as if he were living a different life. Steve brushes it off as related to his injury, but Tony begins to experience more phenomena with these new memories, unbeknownst to his wife, Lana. Tony struggles to live with his secret until a fire opens up a whole new world.

Charlotte, NC - 1996

Chuck Thomas began his ascent to greatness at a graphic design firm headed by Elizabeth Wheaton, the battle-ax of the Queen City corporate scene. A series of Chuck’s immoral decisions leaves the very powerful Wheaton with a raging vendetta. The playboy eventually meets Valerie Meyers, a shy girl with a complicated past, and the two marry. Their idyllic life is halted by a suspicious brush with death leaving Valerie once again picking up the pieces.

Two Souls, Too Many Questions

Literally torn between two worlds, Valerie must once again deal with the loss of her husband and come to terms with what happened to Chuck Thomas and who Tony Malone really was.

Excerpt

Brushing just a few final strokes of gold wisps across the cheekbones of her heart-shaped face, Tony sat back on his stool and stared at his work.  Her periwinkle eyes almost hauntingly seemed to pop off the canvas and pierce through him. A sense of panic rushed through his veins.  He dropped the paintbrush in the old coffee can at his feet and stood up looking at the face staring back at him.

I must be going insane, he thought to himself. He grabbed the canvas off the easel and made his way into the kitchen. After rummaging under the kitchen sink, he found a large black trash bag and dumped the painting into the bag.  Throwing it over his shoulder, he made his way down to the apartment incinerator.  Sweat was creeping up his neck as he realized Lana would be back from the store soon. He threw his masterpiece into the incinerator and hobbled back upstairs.

The effects of the stroke left Tony restless and bored, especially when the boys were in school. Lana had encouraged him to find a hobby to occupy his time and keep him out of her hair.  After several failed attempts at common “manly” hobbies, he was drawn to painting and sketching and surprised his family with his talent, even selling a few at a local corner shop. He surprised himself with what he had just painted and pitched down the incinerator.

Author bio and links


Along with being a successful writer and editor, AnnaMarie Cantrell is a self-made entrepreneur, starting her first consultation firm at the age of 18. She is Co-Founder and Vice President of Captive Ink Media, a literary consulting firm offering expertise to authors at all stages in their careers, and providing clients national exposure in media outlets such as The Chicago Times, Reader’s Digest, and Bustle. Her work with veterans was recently featured on the CW.
Dr. Matthew Chavis is an accomplished author and speaker. His works have been featured through a plethora of avenues. His inaugural book Old Highway 316 offers readers a glimpse into his life, as he loosely based this fiction novel on his testimony and was recently featured on the 700 Club. Many of his stories encompass the best aspects of romance, drama, paranormal and suspense/thrillers.
Through her own unique marketing plan, Dana Lynn transformed a self-published book into a serious work garnering national attention and bestseller status (under the pen name Katharine DeBrecht). She has appeared on every national cable news network numerous times and on over 500 radio shows across the country, repeatedly requested for additional appearances. As a self-syndicated writer, her opinion-editorials have appeared in major newspapers throughout the United States and across the globe.

www.SonsofCharlotte.com
https://www.facebook.com/SonsofCharlotteTORN/
@SonsofCharlotte
#Sons_of_Charlotte

www.CaptiveInkMedia.com

Fifa World Cup 2018 - strategy games

Tonight, at 8 pm, Belgium is playing against England in the world soccer cup. Basically, both teams are already placed for the next round, the 1/8 finals.

Now the situation is that neither team is kean on winning tonight's match. Becoming second in their group gives better possibilities, they think. Coach Martinez has said it would be better if the Belgian team can stay in Moscow (if they become second, they would play near Moscow) and have one more day of rest before the next match. But England (although they SAY they want to win) hopes for the same...

Will be an interesting game tonight. Now, for me, I'd just go for the win. I never wanted to  play a game without the intention to win or take a dare. I always won. If you are a professional sportsman/woman there is only one ranking you'd want: the first place. Otherwise you can better not stay in competition.

So heck, go for the first place in the group and smash the English team! What does it matter? Afraid of Brazil? Well, they first have to play against Mexico, so it's not decided yet who'll win.

Monthly check-up

Tomorrow I'm once more due for a check-up at our local hospital - at the day clinic to be more precisely. It's the place where most cancer patients (and others with severe illnesses) come to get their treatment during the day/morning/afternoon (considering how long it takes). You see a lot of misery there, but most patients tend to be positive. Also the nursing staff and the doctors are great.

A friend of ours once asked me why I chose for the local city hospital to get my treatment, and not go to one of the major hospitals, like the ones in Leuven or Ghent. Well, I think you can be just as well off in a smaller one. I certainly cannot complain about the doctors who treated me. The surgeon that operated on me last year in July was very outspoken and discussed every step in the process with me. Also my oncologist speaks freely about what to expect. What they did and will do is just the same as they do in Leuven or Ghent and here in Dendermonde you're much more than just a number.

I'm lucky I don't have to suffer radiology or chemotherapy. People who only have one more kidney wouldn't endure that. So I'm in for the new generation of pills, which can work wonders. I'm having Votrient, which helps to prevent new growths and diminishes the ones that are there. Can't go too technical because I'm not a doctor. Up to now the medication does its job and with the dosis I take I don't have too many side-effects. I've learned to live with them. I use the bike more often to save my feet (because when I walk a lot, my feet would hurt like hell) and I always carry anti-diarrhea pills in my purse.

Once in three months I need to go for a scan of the lower body and every four weeks I have to be in the day clinic to have my bloods checked. The only negative thing is that this testing can take some hours... so you need to come prepared and have something to read and a smart phone to play with.

Rescued by the Spy

Please welcome Laura A. Barnes, who's doing a virtual blurb blitz tour for Rescued by the Spy, a historical romance available now.

Laura will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2705

Blurb

Kidnapped for revenge
Haunted by the man who murdered her family, Raina LeClair must always be two steps ahead of her sworn enemy through disguise and espionage. When her newest masquerade lands her back in the hands of the man she had previously kidnapped, she is awakened to the pleasure of his touch. When the threat of treason comes into play, Raina can no longer work alone to stop the destruction of England. Can she learn to trust the man who she once betrayed or will her obsession for revenge own her heart forever?
Kidnapped for love
Kidnapped and left for dead, Charles Mallory is always two steps behind in the quest to find his lady kidnapper. Discouraged, Charles turns his attention to a treason plot that is threatening his beloved England. Only to discover the lady who not only held him hostage, but stole his heart, mixed up in the crossfire. Unable to persuade her of the danger she is truly in, Charles resorts to kidnapping her to his family’s cottage. There they learn the true threat lies within their passion for each other. Can he convince her of the love in his heart or will he be left destroyed by this lady once more?

Excerpt

IN THE BACK CORNER of the tavern, he sat there and scrutinized as his fellow man, made fools of themselves in their drunken debauchery. He never quite understood how as an ordinary
person you wanted to lower yourself to this behavior. As he waited patiently for news of any kind, he observed as the men drank themselves into imbeciles.

Lifting the mug to his mouth he took a long swallow of the disgusting ale. It tasted like soap water. Drinking it quickly, he swiped his lips on the sleeve of his coat. He wanted to spit the brew onto the floor, but he resisted as the barkeep scrutinized him with suspicion. Banging the mug on the table he nodded at him for a refill.

The barkeep kept an eye on him as he spoke to a man at the bar. They exchanged words as the stranger glanced over his shoulder, looking him over. After they spoke a few more words, the man made his way out the tavern door. The barkeep shouted for the serving girl to bring him his refill.

Charles propped back in his chair, rocking it on its back two legs. When the tavern girl approached him, he landed the stool on all fours. She leaned over placing his ale before him, lowering her bosom in his face. When she rose, he was able to catch an eyeful of her breasts filling out of her tight dress. Her corset pushed her breasts up tight and high while her dress laid low right above her nipples. One quick tug and they would fall out into his hands; if he so desired.

She tipped his hat back, so she could look into his eyes and smile. “Is there anything else I can get for you sir?”

Charles pulled her hand away from his face tightening his grip. When she gasped in pain, he realized he needed to play his part better. To distract her, he drew her in his lap, nuzzling her neck. When she purred and went soft against him, he sensed she had forgotten the pain he inflected on her a few seconds ago. To continue his seduction, he traced his fingers across the neckline of her dress, his finger dipping inside to trace along her nipples. 

“What is your name darling?”

“Bessie.”

“There is a lot you can do for me Bessie, maybe later after your shift is done?” He raised his eyebrow in question.

“I get off in a few hours, I have a room above we can use.” She told him as her hand wandered down to his lap.

“Well Bessie that does sound promising. In the meantime, do you think you can help me with some information?”

He continued to caress her as he saw her look back and forth between the barkeep and him. As a stranger in town; he was under suspicion. If questions were asked to too many people, it could draw unwanted attention upon himself. He nodded his head to the barkeep and smiled as if he enjoyed what was being offered in his tavern. That appeared to pacify the man he was a stranger passing through the village wanting a night’s enjoyment before he left.

“Bessie?” 

When she noticed she was not being watched any more, she shook her head yes.

“Now Bessie, I do not want to get you in any trouble with your boss. So, when I ask you a question, just play along with me, okay, honey?”



Author bio and links

I have always dreamed of being an aspiring author. I am making my dreams come true, one word at a time. When I am not writing, I am spending time with my family. I love reading books on lazy afternoons, and late into the night. Anytime really. Married 28 years to the love of my life and we have three wonderful children and two sweet grandbabies. Besides writing, I have always wanted to travel. In the last few years we have gotten our passport stamped in England and Scotland. We are hoping to add Italy to the list soon. My debut novel is Rescue By the Captain.

Websites http://www.lauraabarnes.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16332844.Laura_A_Barnes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraA.Barnes
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/lauraabarnes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/labarnesauthor

Rescued By the Spy
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/laura-a-barnes/rescued-by-the-spy/ebook/product-23602849.html
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rescued-by-the-spy/id1373866948?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rescued-by-the-spy
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rescued-by-the-spy-laura-a-barnes/1128518573?ean=9781387694358
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rescued-Spy-Barnes-ebook/dp/B07D4QT2RV/
Google Books: https://books.google.com/books/about/Rescued_By_the_Spy.html?id=DO1VDwAAQBAJ

School's out

Last Friday, most of the secondary school pupils had their last exam - which means school is practically done for them for this school year.

So it's a tradition here in Belgium that lots of parents choose to leave on holiday in this last week of June. The reason? Well, it's a lot cheaper than going in July or August. Most airlines and hotels have higher pricing in the two holiday months.

The minister of education tries to put a stop to this practice, but is not really succeeding. The only thing that would really help, is doing like in Holland. There, when parents take their kids to the airport on days they should be in school, they immediately have to pay up to 1500 €. I think that would stop at least some parents of doing so in the future!

As kids, we always had to go to school until the last day. Our parents wouldn't allow otherwise. And trips were only taken in the free periods, like Christmas or Easter holidays and of course July/August. They didn't mind paying a bit more because school was out. And we also had our own bedroom at the hotel, did not share a room with our parents.

How is the situation in your parts?

Go Belgium, go!

The Red Devil fever is widely spread in our country. For once we're not Flemings and Walloons, but Belgians united in one wish: to see our national soccer team win.

I bet it will be quiet in the streets this afternoon, as the match of Belgium against Tunesia begins in half an hour. You could already see it well enough this morning. More people in the shops and supermarkets than usual on that hour. I believe everyone wanted to do the shopping to have the afternoon free.

Lots of people will go and watch the match on big screens. We have also one here in our town, near the river Dender. It's a parking, but for once no cars are allowed. Some time ago, I could already spot supporters dressed in red, yellow and black heading that way.

We just watch here at home, with half an eye. While the guys are kicking the ball around, I can still read some lines in the book I'm presently reading, one of Pieter Aspe's Inspector Van In mysteries. Of course I hope the Belgians win, because then they are certain to go to the next round.

Endscore: Belgium 5 - Tunesia 2  Yeah!!! Romelu Lukaku is (together with Ronaldo) topscorer.

Panda-look

I did it again! Some days ago I tripped and fell flat out on my face. My newly bought glasses flew off (luckily they were not damaged), but you should have seen my face! Eyebrow split, more bruises on my temple and a nasty cut on my left hand. Luckily, I didn't need stitches, but I do have a nice shiner!
My sister says she now has a panda in the house...

It's strange that it's always the same eye that gets hurt. Two months ago I fell with my bike and then I also had a blue eye, next to bruised ribs and knee. They were just healed, by the way, but this time I don't feel anything there.

And years ago, during a ski holiday in Steamboat Springs, I fell on a bit of ice leaving the hotel (so that was clearly not my fault) and was immediately hurried into the ER. Also left eye hurt, and some cuts to the left side of my face.

The reason that I fall easily is my poor eyesight - I can't see uneven surfaces so I stumble easily. And also I don't have a lot of equilibrium. When there is something under my foot, it can cause a stumble or fall. Most of the time without worry, but lately...

Well, I just have to be more careful, I guess.

Chasing Lacey

This day we welcome author January Bain. January is doing a  blurb blitz tour for her novel Chasing Lacey, in the Brass Ring Sorority series. The novel is a contemporary romantic suspense available June 19th from Totally Bound.

The author will be awarding $25,00 via Paypal to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2704

Blurb

Think being a PI is all dull divorce cases? Think again.

Lacey Cameron, private investigator and treasure hunter, takes being headstrong and passionate to a whole new level. It takes exactly one morning in a school teaching young minds for her and her identical twin sister to break the whiteboard pointer in half, throw their keys on the teacher’s desk, and heed the seductive call of wide open spaces and awesome adventures.

William James Thornton III, a renaissance man and warrior poet who defended his country in Iraq and Afghanistan, knows he’s got his hands full trying to get Lacey to see him as more than just a friend. He’s ready to settle down, marry the woman of his dreams, and make his mother a happy grandmother. Hell, he’s got enough treasure in his bank account for two lifetimes.

And then things go from normal craziness to extremely dangerous in a heartbeat as hired killers are sent after Will and Lacey to prevent them from discovering the truth. They stumble on such an unexpected twist to the story that no one in their right mind would believe it or have suspected. If Will can get them out of this mess, he vows to lay all his cards on the table with Lacey. Get her to recognize what they can share as a couple. Passion. Love. And a commitment to blending her wild nature with his own—the perfect spicy blend. Even if it looks like it might just be the death of him.

Excerpt

“Happy Ever After. Ha. It’s a myth, Lily. A legend. A shell game meant to sell more expensive wedding packages.” Lacey Cameron gave a snort, glancing away from the awesome view of crystal-blue water, fluffy white clouds and careening shore birds to stare her monozygotic twin
right in the eye. Her carbon copy made that face—the one that suggested Lacey was being a pain in the butt. Again.

“Just because our parents couldn’t make a go of it—”

“Make a go of it!” Lacey could hear the shrillness in her voice and took a deep breath to quiet the tinnitus that immediately pounced, dulling and annoying at the same time. The day loomed too beautiful and too shiny, a virtual Christmas package floating in cyberspace, to have this conversation. Besides, they were just about to the correct location to weigh anchor—the coordinates she was certain would bear fruit. Of the golden variety, of course. This was her number one bucket list item: diving for sunken treasure off the Florida Keys and nothing was going to spoil it, especially memories best left in the past.

“It was far worse than just not make a go of it, as you darn well know,” she growled, refusing to go there, to relive the pain of her childhood. How Lily could was beyond Lacey’s comprehension. Best to out-run it and keep running. That had worked for her until now, so why change what worked?

Author bio and links

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create a series that features strong women who don’t take life too seriously, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope the stories of her beloved Brass Ringers will capture your imagination as you follow their exploits as much as they did when she wrote them.
If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with two furry babies trying to prove who does a better job of guarding the doorway. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook, Twitter and writes a weekly blog about her journey on Blogger. Oh, and she loves to talk books…
Blog Address - http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/
Twitter Name – https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/january.bain
Any other social media -  
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Lacey-Brass-Ring-Sorority-ebook/dp/B07CVCPWNL/

Curse of the Ancients

Please welcome author Hawk MacKinney, who's presenting his latest novel of mystery and suspensense, Curse of the Ancients. For this occasion, he's giving away a $20 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. To enter your comment, please use the following link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2686

Blurb

As Craige Ingram climbed the stairs of the derelict building, that peculiar stench of a dead body hit him. It was the same smell no matter where—SpecOps SEAL encounter gone sour, or in a vacant, roach-infested apartment. Inside, his SEAL buddy-turned head of Buckingham Parish Homicide’s Investigative Support Division, Grayson MacGerald, was huddled with the coroner next to a swollen decaying corpse that was days old and hardly more than oozing dead meat. The PI inside Craige had a gut feeling that there was more to this than a dead body, and Craige’s Grannie always told him, “Trust your feelin’s.” But that was before Mihály Keaulescu set down two of his Black Falcon choppers on Craige’s Moccasin Hollow private airstrip in an uninvited stopover. It got worse. From his airstrip to Israel, to Turkey and a nightmare-dream of one-of-a-kind ancient artifacts that not only threatened the serene life Craige knew and loved at Moccasin Hollow, it would destroy the world.

Excerpt

The smell got worse as Craige made his way up the stairs. Like the smell of burning human flesh, a fermenting corpse gave off one of those distinctive odors one never forgot. Craige thought of the adage about it taking a strong stomach to work with a body that had been dead for a while. One never got used to it. Some memories weren’t pleasant—time on storm-swept beaches, digging for supplies buried in the sand, hidden under piles of rubbish, in dark alleys or trashed rat-ridden warehouses; huddled in black dark caves or stinking tunnels. Their Special Mission CTU team cocked and loaded for anything; prepared to deal out any necessary parcel of maimed, butchered and dismembered—or running for their lives the few times their cover was blown.

As Craige climbed to the second-floor landing, the smell went from bad to a sour-worse. He spotted familiar faces from the department’s forensic team; intent and focused around the pulpy lump with swollen pumpkin dimples where eyes should have been in one very bloated dead body. The corpse was well beyond the initial stages of being recycled. It no longer looked human after cooking several days in the sweltering oven of a Dixie mid-August scorching summer in this dreary one-flight walkup of apartments with no AC and painted-shut windows. The dreary apartment was busier than it’d been in years with lab and forensic techs bustling and sorting the pitiful pieces of the when and how of abandoned death. Near the peeling paint archway into a worse kitchenette he spotted Gray huddled with just over five feet plus, roly-poly Coroner-Medical Examiner Fred Dinkins.

Author bio and links

With postgraduate degrees and faculty positions at several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to his work in classrooms and laboratories, he has written numerous professional articles on chordate neuroembryology and authored several novels that reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for both the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Vault of Secrets and Westobou Gold, Books 1 and 2 in the series, have received national and international attention. Hawk is also writing a science fiction series, The Cairns of Sainctuarie. 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiAGlgQQsMQ&feature=youtu.be
Website: http://hawkmackinney.net

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Ancents-Moccasin-Hollow-Mystery/dp/0997096268/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2

Gentlemen still exist

I had to take the train to the coast this morning. The train to Ghent was already pretty full, but once in Ghent the next train was overloaded. I could hardly get on, and there were no empty seats to be seen in the carriages I passed through.

As I was looking around, a young man stood up and offered me his seat. His dad even put my suitcase up the baggage holder. They were tourists; people from the US who visited Belgium. I got into a conversation with them and so the train journey passed very nicely. Most passengers left the train in Bruges and from there everyone could sit again.

Just to say that not all  young people are selfish. I've often noticed it. People always say the youth is not mannered anymore. Well, that's not true. There are rude people of course, but you'll find them at any age.

In my experience, most young people are well-behaved and attentive. I remember that once, while I was still teaching, I lost my footing on the stairway and one of my students grabbed me to prevent me from falling (proves they liked me as a teacher!). And when I'm travelling in the London tube, there is always someone who gives up his/her seat to me. Not that I'm so old, must be my white hair. My hair has turned totally white as an effect of the cancer medication I take.

Red Devils World Champion Soccer?

Today, our national soccer team - nicknamed The Red Devils - is leaving for Russia. There they are going to try and win their upcoming matches. The first one will be against Panama (18th June), the next one against Tunesia (23rd June) and the third one against England (28th June).

Just looking at the players and their qualities, they HAVE the opportunity to go far. Our star players are major actors in other competitions, like the English one. We have Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Dries Mertens, Marouane Fellaini, ...

There was a huge commotion when the trainer, Martinez, refused to have Radja Naingolan in his team. Radja is the key player of AS Roma, where he is treated like a god. Understand who can.

Now I'm not going to watch all those matches. Soccer doesn't overly interest me. I've put aside a load of boxes with dvd's to watch when there's soccer on (which is most of the time for the coming weeks). Only when the Belgians will play semi-finals or even the final, I'll be supporting, like every good Belgian!

Some thing with Irish crime writers

I really have something with crime fiction - a good thriller is one of the best reads! And I've discovered that I actually like the Irish crime writers a lot.

The first one I discovered, years past, was John Connolly. Dublin born Connolly graduated from Trinity College with a MA in journalism. His first novel, Every Dead Thing, introduces Charlie Parker. Parker is a former police officer who haunts the killer of his wife and daughter - and lives with ghosts. He became the first writer outside the US to win the Shamus award for this novel. Since then, I've read every Charlie Parker novel. They're great reads.

Next came Ken Bruen. Another Irish one, this time from Galway. His hero is Jack Taylor, a shifted ex-Garda now turned into private eye. You have to get into Bruen's kind of writing, but if you get the hang of it, you'll just love the way he describes things. Jack smokes, drinks and gets along with all kind of unsavory persons. I'm always waiting eagerly for the next Jack Taylor novel! Btw, Jack Taylor was also a tv-series, starring Iain Glen as Jack.

A later discovery was Patricia Gibney. After she lost her husband, who died from cancer, she tries to fill the void by writing. She lives in Mullingar with her three kids. Her novels feature Lottie Parker, just like herself a widow with three kids, but one with a past. Her first novel was The Missing Ones and in the meantime there are already four Lottie Parker novels.Great reads too

And a couple of days ago, I bought Little Bones by Sam Blake. Sam Blake is acturally a woman, named Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin. She's English, but married to an Irish ex-Garda and has been living longer in Ireland than in the UK. The heroine in these novel is Cathy Connolly, a young Garda who faces terrible crimes. I'm not finished with the book yet, but it's an interesting read!

Two for the price of one

Normally, when you hear this, you should be aware! Most of the time, you pay more for the first product, so they can easily give you the next one for free.

But sometimes, it's just as they say. I wanted to buy a new pair of glasses two weeks ago, as my old specs had kissed the surface of the road when I fell with my bike some time ago. So we went to the optician where we usually buy our glasses. The owner, who knows us well, immediately said that I could pick two sets for the price of just one - not only the frames but glasses included!!! If you know that my glasses cost far more than even an expensive frame, then this is really a promotion. I picked out two that I liked and only paid for one. Seeing this opportunity, my sister also bought herself a pair of new glasses and one pair of sunglasses.

We got a message yesterday, to tell us the glasses are ready so we are going to collect them this afternoon. Now I'll be able to choose which one to wear, according to my choice of clothing!

Who loves the rain?

Shortly after we woke up, it began to rain - better: to pour down. We're in for a couple of days of thunderstorms and heavy rains. Yuk!

I really don't like rain. Well, I know it's necesssary but why can't it fall down at night, when nobody is bothered by it? Our scientist can do so much, shoot shuttles to the moon or Mars, but something simple like managing the weather is not possible.

And just that would solve so many problems. In those regions where it barely rains, they could have nice showers. Here in our parts, it could rain just what it needs for the water level and for our farmers, but then at nights, so we coud enjoy dry days.

But now, here in Flanders, it's all or nothing. Sometimes we get sunshine, but more we get rain. And when it rains like it did this morning (it has stopped for a short time) you just can't get out of the house without the risk of getting drowned. There have already been many floodings in lower regions. That is also something that goes wrong here. In the 50's and 60's the government allowed people to buy grounds that were not really fit for building. Also where I live. Across the railway is ground that floods easily. And still many people have built a new home there. Shouldn't you ask yourself questions when you buy property that is situated at 'Brook Street' or 'Water Street'? Our house is safe enough. Even at big floodings only our garden gets under water. The last time that happened, early this century, we had a pool full of ducks! The only problem was leaving the house. To get across the street you needed high rubber boots and it was just impossible to drive a car through it. That time, I had to stay home from work for two days - orders of the police and the firebrigade.

I hope this bad weather won't last too long. I prefer the nicer, sunnier variation!

Beachboy murder

Today we have guests. Authors Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens are here to present their mystery novel, Beachboy Murder. The book is published by Gemma Halliday Publishing and becomes available as of today, June 5th.

The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2699

Blurb

Just as travel agent turned reluctant sleuth Gabby LeClair is starting to gain some of the Aloha spirit, a business consortium from Chicago breezes into the Aloha Lagoon resort and offers to buy her business. The offer is tempting...but so is hot helicopter pilot Rick Dawson, making it a difficult decision. One that becomes even more complicated when a dead body is discovered in Gabby's backyard, and she's suddenly thrust in the middle of a murder investigation!

The dead man is a former beachboy attendant from the island. With a trail of broken hearts—not to mention jealous rivals—leading up to the beachboy, Gabby tries to uncover just who had it in for the late lothario. Is the female of the species really more deadly than the male? Or has the beachboy scorned one too many women for some other man's liking?

Excerpt

Mele's sudden cry was audible all the way across the lobby. "Oh my gosh. It's him!" She gawked.

Ona turned to see, and her mouth dropped open, which caused the rest of us to follow her stare.

Striding through the front entrance was a tall, well-built man. He moved with swagger, the sexy confidence of a man who knew that everyone in the room had turned to watch him. And we all had.

He was gloriously tanned. The short, curly style of his dark hair looked like one of those haircuts he'd have spent some serious bucks on. My ex, Steve, used to frequent those man-salons—hairstyling, massage, skin, nails, the whole works—the kind of place where the cost of services wasn't even listed. If a guy asked how much, he probably wasn't the sort vain enough to spend that kind of money on his appearance. This guy's pale blue board shorts exposed strong, tanned legs, and he carried off the leather sandals in a macho way that few men could in my opinion.

As Mele blurred past the great-looking man, he stopped dead in his tracks, dropping the handle of his carry-on. He looked as if he'd just seen a ghost.

Ona moved then, rushing out after Mele, stopping in front of the new arrival for a few brief seconds to give him a look of complete and utter hatred.


Author biio and links

The USA Today best-selling writing team of Sally J. Smith (right brain) and Jean Steffens (left brain) make up equal halves of one totally functional writer’s mind. Creative and intuitive and organized and systematic? What could be better than that?
The two desert dwellers work together side-by-side, literally finishing each other’s sentences, putting together their novels faster and more efficiently than they ever could individually. 
When their heads aren’t together over a manuscript, you’ll find them with their families, at a movie, the mall, or out-to-lunch—in the food sense, not the spaced-out sense, well…most of the time. Their current series include Jordan Welsh Mysteries, Mystic Isle Mysteries, Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mysteries, Aloha Lagoon Gabby LeClair Mysteries, and Digby Sloan Mysteries.

Visit their website: http://www.smithandsteffens.com, look around, and sign up for their newsletter to receive a free short story. Jean and Sally love hearing from readers and always answer e-mails: smithandsteffens@cox.net
Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Beachboy-Murder-LeClair-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07B9H9HV7
Publisher Buy Link: http://www.gemmahalliday.com/Halliday_Publishing/ourauthors/Sally_Jean/

Computer problems

A computer is handy - when it works! While I can use the computer well enough, I don't know anything about how it works (computer language). So when something goes wrong, I'm in big problems.

I have a laptop computer at our seaside flat, just like I have one at home. The pc at home is used on a daily basis, while the other one is only used when we are present at the flat (which isn't always the case). So that's perhaps why this pc doesn't work as well as the other (which is older and already more that 10 years old, but still working fine). First Norton Internet Security didn't work anymore. I don't know how that happened and what could be done. And now, the day before yesterday, I suddenly couldn't connect to internet anymore.

Checked the settings and it looked okay. But it still didn't connect. So I waited some time and tried again. Also the next morning I didn't have an internet connection, while we have one for our smartphone.

The only thing I could think of was to clear the pc of all programs and return to the factory settings. And this did the trick. Of course I have to install all the programs once more, but I managed the most important ones already.

So now I can write my blog once more. As mentioned, we're staying at the seaside and the weather has turned nice once more. May has been a great month concerning the weather. Also had some good news concerning my health last Thrusday. The latest scan confirmed that nothing has changed, which is good news. No new cancer cells spotted.

Four more weeks, and the long summer break starts for all who works in education. That means my sister will be rid of problems and worries for a while. That job of hers becomes too strenuous and I hope she'll cope wiith it in the future. But in July and August we don't have to think of that. Just enjoy our free time and do what we like!