Friday, January 18, 2019

BOOK: MacKalvey House by Carol Ann Kauffman



MacKalvey House

by Carol Ann Kauffman


Young American Michelle Rosemont visits England after college graduation and 
decides to stay. She takes a job as photographer for a historical magazine and 
falls in love with the extremely unpopular Kenneth MacKalvey, an older British 
author with a shady past. 

Old families scars resurface and play havoc with Michelle and Kenneth's relationship,
 as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment and unforeseen 
family issues, as well as a ruthless redhead.


Dear Gentle Readers,
If you read Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for Life, then I think you will 
enjoy this one, too. It is not a sequel. In. fact, Echo of Heartbreak was 
a prequel.
In preparing to write this book, I needed a clear picture in my mind of 
Michelle's mother, Melina Valentina Rosemont, because she is paramount 
to the formation of Michelle's persona. Her fears, strengths, and personality
are strongly tied to her mother.
In the end, I had so much information on Melina, I thought she deserved 
her own little book, with recipes, tips on housekeeping and wardrobe 
planning, and insights on life. So, Echo of Heartbreak, A Recipe for 
Life came into being.

Amazon Buy Link:
Echo of Heartbreak  http://tinyurl.com/n2eblyu 


What others say about MacKalvey House:
Amazon Buy Link:
MacKalvey House http://tinyurl.com/jykdlxr


VR
Kenneth MacKalvey is a wealthy man. He inherited the family business, he has written many books, he is an artist 
and owns a art gallery. But most of all, he is known for his rude, bad mouth, nasty self. His reputation on a scale of 
1-10, is a 0.
Michelle Rosemount has only been in England for a short time. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she left 
the states to start a new life. Working as a photographer for a historical magazine, she loves taking pictures of the 
manors, castles and ruins.
Michelle has read every book Mr. MacKalvey has written. She feels like she knows him , really knows him. She wants 
to be with him in every way possible. She deep down loves him. Kenneth heard her voice for the first time and knew 
that they belonged together and always have and always will. He is drawn to her.
Carol Ann Kauffman puts together the perfect English gentleman meets the beautiful American, but what she doesn't
 do is make it sappy. She shows how a true drawl to a connection can be, that opposites do attract. Come on you two, 
get it together!
The love story of Kenneth and Michelle isn't much different then most, on again, off again. But theirs has an evil red 
head to come between them and make matters way worse then expected. This red head relishes in all of it. All she 
wants is his name, money, house and children. Will she get any of it?
At one point when Michelle is swearing Kenneth off and needs a break from life, she heads to Italy with her best friend 
and aunt. She is enjoying the beautiful land around her, until there is a man set up for her. She gets very drunk, insults everybody and runs to the olive trees. This man follows and well, lets say they see the olive trees in a different way. 
This man stays in her life as a very good friend. He helps her start her own business and helps her to forget Kenneth 
by having her live with him, far away from Kenneth.
Who does Michelle end up with in the end? Well the ending was a huge surprise! I never saw that coming at all. Carol 
did a good job with subtle hints along the way that I didn't see until after I read the ending. Another fantastic story in 
the Time After Time Series! This series is a must read!


CR
AC
AC
VD

Thursday, January 17, 2019

INTERVIEW: Western Romance Author Kristine Raymond


Kristine Raymond
Brownsville, KY
USA


Good morning, Kristine, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site that likes art and authors and books. Can you tell us a little bit about what you've written?
To date, I’ve penned the Hidden Springs series – nine historical western romance stories set in a fictional town in Arizona Territory circa the late 1800s; the Celebration series – a trilogy of contemporary romance stories about three childhood friends whose lives are made better (and more interesting) by the three women who capture their hearts; Tempted – a contemporary erotic drama about the consequences that befall a married woman of thirty years when she gives into temptation and has an affair; Seasons of Love – a collection of four, seasonally-themed, happily-ever-after short stories; and ‘write words’ A Year in the Life of an Indie Author - an autobiographical short about (you guessed it!) my first year as an indie author.
Whew!  Gives me writer’s cramp just to think about it!

What is your favorite genre to write?
This is the kind of question that has more than one answer. While I’m drawn to historical western romance – that being my favorite time period – quite honestly, my favorite genre is whatever I’m working on at that moment.


What are you working on now?
Well, at the moment, my energies are split between writing a cozy mystery (a new genre for me) and chatting with guests on my recently-launched podcast, Word Play with Kristine Raymond.  Both take a lot of time and I’m still working on finding my balance between the two.  But I’m having a lot of fun, so that’s what counts!!


Favorite food.
Mushroom pizza.

Tea or coffee?
Tea.  Earl Grey, preferably, or any variation of.

Pizza or ice cream?
Don’t you mean ‘and’?

Oh, I knew I liked you! Wine or beer or soda?
Water.

Where would you like to visit?
If we’re talking time travel, the Old West (go figure).  In reality, Greece; though I don’t fly and also get seasick so it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever make it there.


Favorite musical artist.  
Again with the making me choose just one…lol.  My favorite musical artist depends on what I’m in the mood to listen to though I can say that Dan Fogelberg tops the list, as does Ed Sheeran, Kygo, Ludovico Einaudi, Taylor Swift, and 2Cellos.      

Do you listen to music when you write?  What?
No, I don’t.  I need absolute silence when I write.
  
What makes you laugh?
My hubs and our silly alien kitties.

Favorite work of art or sculpture.
Scott Kim’s Mirror Alphabet.

How old were you when you started writing?
Four or five.  Oh, you mean books.  Forty-six.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I just write.  However the scenes unfold in my head, that’s what goes down on paper – figuratively speaking.  I rarely write longhand.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From everything.  Not to sound trite, but all sorts of things can spark an idea for a story.  It’s impossible for me to pinpoint one specific source, though if I could it would make things a whole lot easier.



What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I move on to other projects.  Writer’s block used to frustrate me, but I’ve learned my creativity will come back, most likely when I least expect it to, and the words will flow again.

Who is your favorite author?
You and your trick questions!  Lol.  I have many favorites, among them P.J. Tracy, Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Dean Koontz, both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, Karen Robards, James Herriot, and Lavyrle Spencer.

Best book you ever read.
I have an extra copy of Watchers by Dean Koontz stashed in my car in case I ever break down in some remote location and my Kindle dies, but, again, there are too many great books I’ve read to choose one.

Last book you read.
Tailspin by Sandra Brown.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My husband.  He believes in me more than I believe in myself.  I never would have embarked on this journey without his support and encouragement.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
It would be my dad.  He passed away almost seven years ago and not a day goes by that I don’t wish for one more opportunity to talk with him and hear his voice.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Don’t wait for the perfect moment to begin – just take the leap. And absorb every piece of information that comes your way…and then do what feels right to you.  Own your ideas and your stories and your effort and make the book authentically yours.

Do you have any links for us to follow you?
Buy links
New release

Other Books

Seasons of Love– https://www.books2read.com/seasons-of-love

Temptedhttps://www.books2read.com/Tempted

Hidden Springs series

Here to Stay - https://www.books2read.com/Heretostay

Hearts on Fire -https://www.books2read.com/Heartsonfire

Abby’s Heart - https://www.books2read.com/Abbysheart

A Chance on Love - https://www.books2read.com/Achanceonlove

A Will of Her Own - https://www.books2read.com/awillofherown

Dancing in the Dark - https://www.books2read.com/dancinginthedark

Worth the Gamble –https://www.books2read.com/worththegamble

Coming Home - https://www.books2read.com/coming-home

Celebration series

By Dawn’s Early Light - https://www.books2read.com/bydawnsearlylight

Reservations for Two - https://www.books2read.com/reservationsfortwo

Under the Mistletoe - https://www.books2read.com/under-the-mistletoe

‘write words’ A Year in the Life of an Indie Author - https://www.books2read.com/writewords

 Amazon Author pagehttps://www.amazon.com/Kristine-Raymond/e/B00GNK6SW
















Tuesday, January 15, 2019

BOOK: Book Review, Bodies of Art Mystery Series, Counterfeit Conspiracies by Ritter Ames



Dear Gentle Readers,
 I loved this book! It combined my love of art and adventure stories in one. Counterfeit Conspiracies by Ritter Ames is a smartly written, well-plotted story of Laurel, a jet-setting "art retriever" who is the perfect mix of art connoisseur, action figure, and fashionista. Laurel could easily be a female James Bond. I loved the international travel destinations, Laurel's sidekicks, and the ruggedly handsome mystery man, Jack. A fast paced story I couldn't put down. Half-way through Book 1, I bought Book 2. I highly recommend. 
{{Hugs}},
Carol 

Sunday, January 13, 2019

SCHEDULE: Jan. 14 - 18, 2019


Schedule
Mon., Jan. 14 - BLOG:
Ramblings of an Unknown Author
Tues., Jan. 15 - BOOK REVIEW: 
Bodies of Art Mystery Series, 
Counterfeit Conspiracies by Ritter Ames
Wed., Jan. 16 - ART:
Elspeth McLean, the Dot Queen
Thurs., Jan. 17 - INTERVIEW:
Western Romance Author Kristine Raymond
Fri., Jan. 18 - Book:
MacKalvey House, Time After Time 
by Carol Ann Kauffman