The Captain and the Ambassador by Carol Ann Kauffman

Ambassador Tull Redmond is looking for a quick ride home back to Earth after ending her twenty-year mission as peace negotiator. All she wants is peace, quiet, and to be left alone. 

She boards the Earth Starship Giuseppe Verdi with its questionable leader, Captain Ben Jacobs anyway. It's the fastest way home. Her quarters has a full bath, a space view window, and a large, real bed! How bad could this rule-breaking, authority-defying Captain Casanova be?

High Council hates him, true, but his crew loves him. Surely, she's too old and tired to be drawn into this bad boy of the quadrant's personal circus.
 
Will Ambassador Redmond get the quiet, uneventful ride home she craves?

Dear Gentle Readers,
This is my new one, so I have very little to report to you in the line of reviews. But if you're looking for something different, this story of space and love just might be it! If you liked my other books, you'll like this one.
Hugs,
Carol 

Jack Vettriano, Artist

 Jack Vettriano

​Meet my new favorite artist, Jack Vettriano.  His biography begins "born in Fife, Scotland in 1951." Hold on, Readers! This Italian girl recognizes an Italian last name when she hears one. Intrigued, I continued reading that this talented man quit school and went to work in the mining industry. His girlfriend bought him a set of watercolor paints for his twenty-first birthday (Thank you, dear, whoever you are, you did the world a favor!) and from then on he spent his free time teaching himself to paint.

       

   There is something about his work that draws you into the painting.  The first one I ever saw was his The Singing Butler, which shows an elegantly dressed couple dancing on the beach in the rain with their butler with an open umbrella. Their is such a romantic aura in this beautifully done painting. Love it.

  And then I discovered a whole plethora of paintings by Jack Vettriano as his publishing company's website

                         www.heartbreakpublishing.com

where you can browse and buy Jack Vettriano reasonably priced posters, cards, postcards, calendars, journals, as well as canvas prints.  It is a beautiful and easy to navigate website.  

I discovered Dance Me to the End of Love, a spectacular Audrey Hepburn-like beauty in perfect ballroom dancing hold with her striking partner.

​Jack Vettriano was born Jack Hoggan to a Scottish father and an Italian mother. When he was 36 and newly separately, he moved to Edinburgh and took his mother's maiden name and went on to become an international success with studios in Scotland and London.  The Singing Butler has been the best selling image in Britain and is very popular here as well.

​Those who criticize his work as "too erotic" have to be those guys who prefer to look at paintings of fish or maybe still life prints of fruits and veggies.

​Please visit Jack Vettriano - Official Jack Vettriano Page on Facebook for  news on Jack's current and upcoming gallery showings and current work.  Some other very interesting links are:

www.easyart.com/prints/jack-vettriano

www.vettriano-art.com/

www.allposters.com/-st/Jack-Vettriano-     Posters_c29036_.htm

I claim nothing here as my own. All images and information is from the wonderful Jack Vettriano's websites listed above.

Love, Murder & Mayhem by Russ Colchamiro

About the Book

Love science fiction stories that all include elements of Love, Murder & Mayhem?
 
Then welcome to the latest anthology from Crazy 8 Press! This amazing collection from 15 all-star authors will delight you with superheros and supervillains. AIs, off-worlders, and space cruisers. We’ve also got private eyes, sleep surrogates, time travelers, aliens and monsters—and one DuckBob!
 
With tales ranging from wild and wacky to dark and gritty to heartbreaking and fun, take the deadly leap with authors Meriah Crawford, Paige Daniels, Peter David, Mary Fan, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman Paul Kupperberg, Karissa Laurel, Kelly Meding, Aaron Rosenberg, Hildy Silverman, Lois Spangler, Patrick Thomas, and editor Russ Colchamiro.
 

You’ll never look at Love, Murder & Mayhem the same way again—and that’s just the way we like it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35500173-love-murder-mayhem

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Murder-Mayhem-Cosmic-Deadly-ebook/dp/B072W6GYDL/

About the Editor

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the hilarious sci-fi backpacking comedy series, Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the new anthology, Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and crazy dog, Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, and Altered States of the Union, and TV Gods 2. He is now at work on a top-secret project, and a Finders Keepers spin-off.

As a matter of full disclosure, readers should not be surprised if Russ spontaneously teleports in a blast of white light followed by screaming fluorescent color and the feeling of being sucked through a tornado. It’s just how he gets around — windier than the bus, for sure, but much quicker.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Bentley Square by Carol Ann Kauffman

Strangers meet on the train. She, a beautiful, wealthy businesswoman. He, a down on his luck office manager. They have nothing in common. And yet, they are drawn to each other with an undeniable hypnotic magnetism. 

This is the story of Rebecca Robbins, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the country and Mark Ramsay, a man shrouded in dark mystery and hiding in the shadows from death squads amid international intrigue.

Amazon Link: http://tinyurl.com/laudaku

Top customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA captivating internation mystery --- I couldn't put it down. A great read!

ByD. J.on September 20, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I just finished reading Bentley Square, Time after Time Book four, by Carol Ann Kauffman. I couldn’t put it down. Carol Kauffman carries the reader along the intriguing and dangerous paths of her main characters, Mark and Becca, as they struggle to be together, only to be faced with insurmountable challenges that not only threaten their relationship, but their lives. Just when you think you have the plot figured out…Bam…something else pops up and you can’t let go until you find out what will happen next.
I recommend this captivating international mystery, and am eagerly awaiting her next book.

5.0 out of 5 starsLots of twists.

Byreader2010on February 21, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Five years and all sorts of internal fantasies finally do end when they once again fine each other. But will there be only a short space of time to come together and enjoy the wonders? Who or what is at the bottom of the threat? Is there more than one threat? Who is most at risk? Lots of twists in this one.

5.0 out of 5 starsIntriguing story.

ByAmazon Customeron September 10, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

A very intriguing book. I first got sucked in by the romance, then by the intrigue, and the mystery. Every time I felt, okay, that's it, I found myself wrong guessing. You'll love Becca, and Mark. I can't tell you too much as I don't want to spoil the story, but it's a good read. And the writing is solid. Enjoy.

5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting, realistic, and touching

ByC. E.on May 8, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I think this was a great choice of book. It has real romance, not erotic romance novel type, and mystery and intrigue. It was well written and enjoyable. I passed time easily enjoying this book, and appreciating the fresh voice of an author who isn't drawn to sex filled romance, and overly hyped hunky heroes. This book has the elements of a good story, and something that sticks with you even after you close the book! Great choice! :)

5.0 out of 5 starsEdge of your seat action mixed with electric love

ByV.R.on September 14, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

Again Carol Ann Kauffman sucked me in and I couldn't put the book down. Each one of the Time After Time Series just get better and better. This one she left me hanging wondering if
Greg was able to pull it off?
Becca and Mark saw each other every day through a train window. They were fantasy lovers to each other, but they never have meet before. There was a electric connection they felt when they saw each other.
One day they spoke and it was sheer magic. They knew they were meant to be together. Becca is a very rich business women and Mark is a low life manger. But that didn't matter. They loved each other for who they were inside.
Things got crazy and Mark was kidnapped and almost killed. She rescued him. Becca was blackmailed into marring some rich dude and Mark rescued her from him. There is a whole lot that happened in between, but I don't want to give anything away. You will just have to read the book.
This book had a lot of excitement and holding the edge of your seat in it. The story line was fantastic! The writing was amazing! I can't wait to the next book!

5.0 out of 5 starsA story that will keep you turning the pages!

ByT. T.on June 14, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition

This story is filled with romance, mystery and action. It's about two people, Mark and Becca that have been attracted to each other for years, only they haven't ever spoken. Finally, when they do, they're faced with obstacles that threaten to shatter any hopes of remaining together. Murder, kidnapping and twists and turns are around every corner. Will they be able to beat the odds? Read it and see…

5.0 out of 5 starsA love story that's anything but simple ...

ByJ. V. B.on November 29, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

A tale that questions if a love between two people hit with adversity, intrique, mystery, murder, kidnapping, (all elements in this story) is strong enough to survive. Becca and Mark admire each other from afar but once they enter each other's lives, all hell breaks loose and they find themselves in a drama that carries them through twists and turns, wondering what to believe, who to trust, and who to turn to.

If you enjoy reading mystery and intrique, this story is for you.