Wow Wednesday ~ The Trouble With Cupcakes

It's Wow Wednesday: be prepared to be wowed!

I'll tell you right off I'm not easily impressed by just any ole book or novelette for that matter, but there was something about The Trouble with Cupcakes that hooked me. First off: way cool title, although I wished the cover was a bit humorous because that's what I thought this novelette was.  Speaking as a writer, I love me some short stories and novelettes. It's so hard to fit longer works into my crazy schedule, but I do so try for the love of...reading!

Book description:

Heather Ryan is the proud owner of Cupcakes on Royal. It’s a thriving business, but if she wants to put her cupcakery on the map, she needs to win the coveted Krewe of Bacchus after-party contract. When she finds out who’s leading the Krewe, Heather realizes she’s about to get a second chance with her first true but unrequited love, Alec Carlisle.

Alec is a successful New Orleans lawyer. As the leader of the Krewe of Bacchus, it’s up to him to put together the top caterers from around the city to cater the Krewe’s Fat Tuesday event. He has few regrets in life, but missing a chance with a woman from long ago is one he plans on rectifying when he finds out Heather is the baker behind Cupcakes on Royal. It won’t be an easy task, there are a lot of years behind them, but Heather is worth fighting for. His ex, Lila, who’s also vying for the contract, has her eyes on winning the contract at all costs. She also makes it clear she wants Alec back.

Will Heather and Alec find forgiveness of the past and be able to get past Lila’s obstacles to find the sweet ending they both deserve?

Now for the Wow Wednesday Sample

“Ohmigod!” Heather ran over to the stunning woman who was now covered in bits of cupcake and icing. 

“You idiot!” 

“I’m so sorry. Here, let me help.” Heather looked around for a towel, a rag, a spare anything to help mop the sugary mess off what she knew was a cream-colored Chanel blouse. 

“Did you just learn to walk and carry things?” The icy blonde beauty snapped as she flung purple, green and gold buttercream icing onto the carpet. 

“Come on, Lila, it was an accident.” 

Heather stopped in her tracks at the deep masculine voice coming from beside her. She’d been too stunned at seeing Alec’s gorgeous self she was momentarily speechless. The years had been kind to him and she was shocked by the zing of attraction that coursed through her which resulted in her current predicament. 

Ahlers, Kristi (2012-08-21). The Trouble with Cupcakes (The Trouble Series) (Kindle Locations 219-228). Tirgearr Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

My take: Lighthearted and simply entertaining. I'm kind of a klutz and could immediately identify with character Heather Ryan. There were certainly some laugh out loud moments. What woman didn't have a secret crush in high school and wished she could meet up with him one day. That's exactly what Heather did when ran into Alec Carlisle, literally! She had no clue that he was the leader of the Krewe of Bacchus, a contract she desperately needed to keep her Cupcakery in business! Sparks flew right off the bat and that's not all! I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves romance and humor, and anyone else that loves quirky characters. 

Tirgearr Publishing is having half off all ebooks today, August 29th, in celebration of it's six month anniversary! 

Kristi Ahlers

Bio

Kristi Ahlers is a California girl! She grew up in Northern California in a small city called Yuba City. Since then she's lived in Brussels, Belgium, and England along with a myriad of other locations. A former flight attendant, she was able to continue to feed her love of travel. This has greatly influenced her writing, allowing her to pen stories about places she's managed to visit and things she's experienced.

Kristi loves to hear from her readers.

Check out Kristi on Facebook.

Buy The Trouble WIth Cupcakes on Amazon or Smashwords for 50% off today or buy more books 2 for 1. I know I'm sure going back to Amazon to buy another of Kristi's novelettes. 

Wow Wednesday

It's been awhile since I have done a wow Wednesday, and I think today is a great day for it to make an appearance on my blog. 

Today I'm featuring Shoe Marks by Karen Vance Hammond, someone I call friend. We have chatted online, messaged each other, and talked on the phone, but that's not the reason I want to feature her on my blog. It's because of her amazing paranormal Shoe Marks. We had swapped links and I blew her off on a few occasions, but finally bought her book. I could talk at length about what Karen has overcome, but I want to wholly focus on the book Shoe Marks. Oh did I mentions that Shoe Marks was a #1 bestseller at her publisher Synergy? 

An unsuspecting young family moves into their dream house or is it? The realtor left out an important detail like that it's haunted! When they first came to the house the door mysteriously opened before Jeremy even inserted the key. 

Excerpt:

After the kids came home from school, Laura grabbed a knife off the kitchen table, opening a cardboard box. Inside, she smiled as she lifted Meredith and Robert’s baby books. She pulled back the kitchen drapes, watching her children play with a ball and stick. She couldn’t believe how fast time had flown since they were born. 

Inserting the baby books in the living room bookshelf, she smiled back at her sweet baby, who slept soundly in his playpen, and covered him up with his blue-and-white blanket. 


“Mama, Mama, Mama.” Laura cocked her head to one side. She thought she heard Meredith calling her, and once again she pulled back the drape. She could see Meredith and Robert playing down by the pond. Then she heard the small child’s voice again: “Mama, Mama, Mama."

Knowing she and James Collin were alone in the house, she felt sweat bead on her upper lip and forehead. Her chest tightened, with her heart pounding out of control. Laura closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. Try to ignore it, she said to herself. She cut her eyes toward the stairs as she heard the child’s voice again. “Mama, Mama, come here Mama."

My take

This is not my usual genre, but I must say that this story is so riveting that it will hook you from page one. It sure did me. I highly recommend Shoe Marks for anyone that loves a good scare or for those that don't. It's just a great book and would make one heck of a great movie. Thanks Karen for writing Shoe Marks and I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Please check out Karen at Synergy, Amazon, Smashwords or check out her website.

I messed up some of the quotation marks, and take the blame ~ Madison

#Wow Wednesday Blog Hop featuring R.A. Evans

While searching for another book to feature, I came across an author from my home state of Michigan. After starting this book, I'm glad he lives on the opposite side of the state, lol. This time out, horror!


Let me introduce you to Asylum Lake (Parting The Veil), a fitting name considering an abandoned asylum was just across the lake. In normal #Wow Wednesday blog hop fashion, I'll get right to the teaseeer.

Asylum (Parting The Veil)


Brady pulled his attention from the darkened hospital to Tammy as she added,"Yeah, the hospital. You know what happened there, right? Why it closed and everything?" She finished the marshmallow and wiped her sticky fingers on her shorts as she, too stood. Brady shrugged in ignorance. "He really doesn't know," she said, turning to Jeff as he returned with a trash bag.


Asylum Lake eBook $2.99


What happened at the hospital? I want to know, don't you?? 


On the heel of his wife's sudden death, Brady Tanner, moves to a small town in northern Michigan. As he arrives at his parents retirement house, where he spent many summers as a youth, his parents now gone, painful memories break to the surface. 


As a resident of Michigan, I can chuckle along with some of the references like about Barry Sanders, former running back for the Lions.


FUN FACTS


There is actually a real Lake Asylum.

          And there was a real, Michigan Asylum for the Insane.


       Are you scared yet? Because I'm shaking in my shoes!


R.A. Evans did his research and created a story all his own, unlike any before. One waiting for you to discover. As he weaves an intricate pattern of mystery and discovery, you'll be hard pressed to put this book down.


R.A. Evans is a rising star in the horror genre!


Coming soon Grave Undertakings the sequel to Lake Asylum.


If interested, check out his links.
R.A Evans website
Amazon Ebook link