Blurb Blitz: I Do…Again

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Amazon Top 100 author Nancy Fraser. Today, Nancy shares LAST CHANCE BEACH, a collection of 14 short stories from bestselling authors, and her contribution, I Do…Again.

Blurb

LAST CHANCE BEACH is the island paradise where dreams go to live again and wishes may come true. It’s Summer’s End on the island, and the cottages, condos, hotels, and bungalows are filled to capacity.

There’s still plenty of time to find summer fun and summer love, new romances and second chances; hot alpha males and heartwarming heroes, beach bunnies, dudes, and romance popping up when you least expect it.

Throw a log on the beach bonfire tonight and celebrate LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer’s End, a special collection of 14 short stories from bestselling authors—all new, never published before—that will thrill the hopeful romantic in you. Some stories are sweet; some are sizzling hot. All will touch your heart and make you want to book a vacation to LAST CHANCE BEACH!

Hot August Night by Joan Reeves, NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Can a chef and a hot dog loving cop resist desire when they’re forced to share the same overbooked beach cottage?

Something New by Liz Flaherty, USA Today Bestselling Author
Their lives are all planned out–until they’re not.

I Do…Again by Nancy Fraser, Amazon Top 100 Author
Thirty-five years earlier, Lily Abbott and Mitch Colby exchanged wedding vows in a quaint ceremony attended by a small crowd consisting of four Micronauts, a one-eyed pet rock, two special-edition Barbies, and an assortment of stuffed animals. Officiated by Stretch Armstrong, it was the social event of their 8th summer.

Lily never forgot the childhood ceremony. Or the fact her best friend and first love had left her behind and relocated to Boston to pursue an expensive education. Now a divorcee, with college-bound twin daughters, Lily’s moved on and put the foolishness of first crushes and the childish dream of true love behind her.

At eighteen, Mitch had never wanted the expensive education his father mapped out for him. He’d have been perfectly happy to stay in Summerville, marry the love of his life, and settle down. However, when push came to shove, he’d not wanted to upset his ailing mother, and had left everything…and everyone…that he’d wanted behind.

The 25th reunion of the graduating class of Summerville High has brought Lily and Mitch back together at The Sands, a seaside resort on Last Chance Beach. Will one weekend together be enough? Or, is there a possibility for more?

The Man in Gull Cottage by Caroline Clemmons, Amazon Top 100 Author
Will the solution to her dilemma drive them apart or into one another’s arms?

That One Summer by Maddie James, Amazon Top 100 Author
He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who couldn’t commit.

Romancing the Spouse by Jan Scarbrough, Amazon Bestselling Author
Can she turn back the clock to save her marriage?

Blue Sky Summer by Kathleen Lawless, Amazon Bestselling Author
Of all the beaches on the coast, who does she see again? Him!

Hangover Husband by Bonnie Edwards, Amazon Bestselling Author
What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there

One Last Shot by Marcia King-Gamble, National Bestselling Author
She can run, but can she hide? Will love still find her?

Secondhand Hearts by Kathryn Hills, Award Winning Author
Life takes you down many winding paths. Will theirs lead to love on Last Chance Beach?

Paradise Perfume by Connie Vines, Award Winning Author
Fragrance and love cannot be hidden.

Dreams of the Past by Laura Hunsaker, Award Winning Author
Can dreams of the future erase her nightmares of the past?

Beach Kisses & Sunset Wishes by Nora LeDuc
She wants someone interested in a fling. He wants someone interested in a ring.

Can’t Buy Me Love by Hannah Rowan
Things aren’t always what they seem.

Amazon (US) | Amazon (Canada) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (Australia)

Excerpt (I Do…Again)

He arrived at the designated area, the corridor just outside the Seashore Ballroom. The registration table was nearly empty. One box of welcome packets sat in front of a woman he should probably recognize, but didn’t.

Another reason to avoid these things like the plague. Trying to put names to faces you haven’t seen in over two decades was nearly impossible. Or, at least, it should have been.

Lily Abbot had been the exception. He’d have known her anywhere. From the front, the back, and even when she did her best awkward slip and fall on the dock. That was his Lily in a nutshell.

His Lily.

Not anymore, apparently. He’d heard through the grapevine that she’d married during her senior year in college. Some fellow from Chicago, an accountant or—

“You here to get checked in for the reunion?” the woman asked.

He glanced down at the table. “Yes, I am.”

“Mitch, right? Mitch Colby?”

Oh great…she recognized him and he hadn’t a clue.

“Yes, that’s me.” He tried to be inconspicuous while looking for a name tag, any clue to the woman’s identity.

She shot him an understanding smile. “Carol. Carol Henning. Well, Carol Temple now of course.”

Carol Henning? Jeez Louise. “Wow, Carol, you look fantastic!”

“Thank you. Losing a hundred pounds and getting rid of my thick glasses really helped.”

Author Bio and Links

Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published thirty-one books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Bookbub | Goodreads

Giveaway

Nancy Fraser will be awarding $15 Amazon/Barns & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.

Follow Nancy on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

The Allure of Writing “Vintage” Romance

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome prolific author Nancy Fraser. Today, Nancy delves into "vintage" romance and shares her new release, Paging Dr. Cupid.

Here’s Nancy!

nancyfraser1 What is “vintage” romance? It reads like contemporary but it truly isn’t. The era defined as vintage are the years ranging from the end of World War II up until the turn of the century. Some publishers still cut off at 1990, but most accept 1999 as the end of the vintage time period.

I’m a child of the sixties. I love pulling up old memories and turning them into something shiny and new. And, because I’m working from memory, the research is less time consuming than any other historical period.

Sure, I have to occasionally break out Google or my Encyclopedia Britannica volumes (yes, I still have them). The wealth of information on the fifties, sixties and early seventies is like a treasure trove of romance. It’s a time where young ladies were still prim and proper, still lived at home with their parents, and still held traditional jobs (e.g., teachers, nurses, secretaries).

“Home sweet home,” he said. “Or, at least I assume you still live with your parents. I guess I should have asked.”

She bit back an outright laugh in favor of a more ladylike chuckle. “Yes, I do still live at home. According to my mother, it’s the proper thing to do.” ~ Excerpt from Only Yours (1965)

The timeframe is virtually untapped in the romance genre, despite the multitude of possibilities for creating a lasting romance. The beauty of it is, you can go “clean” and use the time period as a guide for proper behavior. Or, you can develop a feisty heroine and spice it up a bit.

“I’ve been playing the part of Billy’s girlfriend for nearly a year now. It’s put a damper on my social life.”

“Your social life?” he repeated. She sighed and then grasped his arm in her firm grip. He had no choice but to turn and face her.

“I’m horny.”

“You’re horny?”

“Don’t look so surprised. This is the nineties, not the fifties. Women control their own sexuality. We choose who we sleep with and when.” ~ Excerpt from Do You Want Me (1991)

Even though that particular “feisty” woman was an early 1990’s version, women of the sixties and seventies also pushed the boundaries on occasion. In my latest vintage novella, Paging Dr. Cupid, my heroine aspires to be a concert pianist, even going so far as to travel from California to New York to train. Then, when unfortunate circumstances pull her home, she again steps out of her comfort zone by taking a job for which she’s ill prepared.

A half-hour later Grace tossed back the last mouthful of lukewarm coffee and closed the cover on the first of two instruction manuals. “Okay, new electric beast, let’s see what you can do.”

Tentatively, she rolled a piece of blank paper into place and poked at the stationery carriage. When she pressed the switch on the side of machine, the motor hummed to life. She’d barely placed her hands on the keyboard when the font ball began spinning wildly and spitting out the letter ‘j’ across the width of the page. Her heart hammered inside her chest in perfect time with the tiny metal device.

Jerking her hands back from the keyboard, she reached for the power button and flipped it to the ‘off’ position then drew a breath to calm her racing pulse. ~ Excerpt from Paging Dr. Cupid (1967)

There are far too many significant events of the vintage period to list them all here, but a few that lend themselves to a romance include:

• Music. The advent of rock and roll in the mid-50s to early 60s holds a wealth of possibilities. In my five-novella anthology Play It Again, the individual stories are all based on early rock and roll song titles. And, let’s not dismiss the British invasion of the 1960s.
• Politics. As unflattering a possibility as it is in today’s day and age, politics in the fifties and sixties was glamorous. Who didn’t believe in Camelot?
• Fashion. In the fifties and sixties, hems were still low, hair was high, and fashion was just beginning to grow as a multi-billion dollar industry. Then, of course in the seventies, everything changed, including the juxtaposition of the hems and hair!
• Virginity. The difference between clean and daring. The tenuous line between propriety and free love occurred during the sixties and seventies. A challenging romance can be formed from the heroine’s decision to give it up before marriage.
• Stereotypes. The lines between male and female jobs and responsibilities shifted dramatically during the vintage time period. Women became doctors instead of nurses. Female lawyers took the world by storm, combining legal expertise with a woman’s compassion. Women in more traditional jobs (nannies, secretaries) took their professions to higher levels of expertise.

beatles-ticket-2 These are just some of the reasons to love writing books set in the vintage period. I invite you to check out all my vintage stories on the books page of my website. Feel free to put on some old Beatles tunes and let your imagination wander!

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About the Book

Newly appointed Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Garrett Langley can’t seem to find a secretary to keep up with his demands. His love life isn’t going so well, either. He recently lost his long-time girlfriend to his older brother and saw a workplace romance end in disaster, leaving him with a busy career but no love life.

Piano prodigy Grace Valentyne forfeited the second half of her Julliard scholarship to come home to California and care for her mother. Now, with her mother gone, she must find a job in order to pay for the remainder of her education. When offered the opportunity to work for the physician nicknamed Dr. Cupid, she jumps at the chance.

Grace soon finds herself in over her head—and not just with the office equipment. But falling for the boss won’t get her back to Julliard. She needs to keep her focus and not let the sexy doctor derail her professional goals.

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Wild Rose Press

Bio

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published twenty-two books in both full-length and novella format. In November 2016 Nancy celebrated twenty years as a published author and will release her 25th book in mid-2017.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy splits her free time between her five grandchildren. She’s also an avid traveler with Las Vegas being her favorite destination. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Where to find Nancy…

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Eye of the Pharaoh

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m thrilled to reveal the cover of Nancy Fraser’s next novel…

eyeofthepharaoh

Blurb

Publicist Teri Hunter has her hands full promoting Professor Joshua Cain and his new non-fiction book, The Pharaoh’s Mummy. She’s not convinced it’s even possible to turn this absent-minded, modern-day, Indiana Jones into a best-selling author.

Dr. Cain’s PhDs in archaeology and art history have prepared him for almost anything on the lecture circuit and among ancient ruins. He’s just not sure about a book tour…or the sexy publicist sent to monitor his every professional move.

When an odd request falls in their laps while in New Orleans, Josh and Teri find themselves transported to 1920’s Egypt where they must resolve an ancient curse in order to be sent home. Will the dangers facing them hinder their success and threaten their very lives? Or will help from an ancient guardian keep them on-track and safe?

Excerpt

Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat.

Teri Hunter mouthed the motivational phrase she’d chosen for her personal mantra as she stepped across the threshold into the dark and musty storeroom.

A dim light shone from a glass-enclosed workroom in the far corner. Taking a tentative step forward, she faltered when the floorboards creaked beneath her feet. Something fast and furry brushed against her ankle. A shiver ran down her back, yet she fought the urge to retreat.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

This was obviously today’s obstacle. Were it not for her professional commitments and intricately organized schedule, she’d have no doubt bolted for the door and returned to the safety and illumination of the main building.

‘Sorry, but the storage area doesn’t have overhead lighting. Preservation of the antiquities. You understand.’ The dean’s words echoed in her head. To make matters worse, what little outside light there was had become nearly non-existent due to an impending thunderstorm.

Drawing a deep breath, she took a second step and then a third, winding her way past a half-dozen crates, some open, some not. To her left she heard a rustling of paper; to her right the distinct sound of footsteps.

Her apprehension grew, the hair on her forearms stood at attention. She’d barely made it halfway across the room before bumping into something large and solid. Reaching out, she laid her hand against the oversized object. Slowly, she raised her head and came face to face with the painted mask of an Egyptian noble. The chipped finish gave the death mask a deranged look.

“You come here often, big boy?”

Fun Fact

The idea for Eye of the Pharaoh came about following a trip to the Field Museum in Chicago. For the longest time afterward, I couldn’t get the images of ancient Egypt out of my head. Then, out of the blue, I received a gift from a relative who had passed…a gorgeous necklace fashioned like an Egyptian collar. The late relative had no way of knowing about my recent fascination with Egypt so I took it as a sign. There was obviously a story inside me begging to come out.

Bio

nancyfraser Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published twenty-two books in both full-length and novella format. Nancy will release her 25th book in early 2017. She is currently working on her next Rock and Roll novella and two other equally exciting projects.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

First prize: $10 gift card to book retailer of their choice
Second prize: (3) Digital copies of Time and Again, my futuristic time travel.

Enter here.

Where to find Nancy…

Start, Stop, Start, Sputter, Sputter … Full Speed Ahead!

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

I am happy to spotlight fellow Canadian author, Nancy Fraser, and her debut novel, Home is Where the Hunk Is. Put on your running shoes…You’re in for an amazing ride!

Here’s Nancy!

To say my writing journey has been unconventional is an understatement. Yet, it’s not as uncommon as you’d think. I know a number of writers, now multi-published authors, who wondered … is this ever going to happen for me. And, when it does, will it happen again and again?

I published my first romance novel in 1996 as one of the launch authors for the quickly-defunct Precious Gems line from Kensington Publishing. Back in those days, your manuscript was mailed in, your line edits done with red ink on paper and you waited with nervous anticipation for “the call”.

Along with my first published novel came the end of my marriage and my writing career went on hold while I supported myself and put my life back in order. I still continued to write, maintained my membership in both RWA and my local chapter, but the writing suffered, both in quantity and in quality. How could I write a romance when I wasn’t living one?

I did manage to published a few short stories, some non-fiction articles and, those few successes, kept my dream alive. A book I’d co-authored with a good friend/critique partner, Patti Shenberger, sold in 2007, eleven years after my first book. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. The drive came back, the creativity began unfolding at a rapid pace. I sold a solo book to the same publisher … my one attempt at paranormal. Time and Again, garnered some great reviews and sold well. My career had received the jump start it needed.

I began my ten-story novella series, The Golden Decade of Rock and Roll, releasing the first three stories in a year and a half. Then, life intervened once more. Health issues, for both myself and Patti, forced the writing to take another back seat. Again, the creative process slowed but never stopped. A manuscript we’d worked on for nearly two years sold in less than two weeks. We were off to the races again, eventually turning that first book into a three book contract.

And, again, in addition to our co-authored work, I began selling on my own. It was a hectic, but welcome 2013. My final tally for the year, two co-authored books, a novella in a holiday anthology, and three releases of my own. November, 2013 saw the release of the second book in our series, and the recurrence of Patti’s cancer.

This year has been slow going, another sputter in the writing life. I lost Patti in May and, for the few months following her death, I found it hard to work on anything, much less finish the next book in our contracted series. I’d already signed a few contracts of my own and worked my way through edits. Now, here I am, in the fall of the year and promoting two releases at one time, and prepping for a third in December.

And, loving every minute of it.

When I’m tired, or the words won’t come, I sometimes think … maybe I’m too old for this. Heaven knows … social media scares me to death! Maybe, with 17 published works under my belt, I should just sit back and relax. That’s when I realize, I’ve come too far to stop now. It’s full speed ahead or nothing.

The journey’s been filled with ups and downs but I’m pretty sure, if I quit, a certain writing angel would swoop down here and kick my butt! So, for both Patti and the love of creating romance, I keep writing.

Blurb

When globe-trotting photographer Allison Cain comes home to her family ranch in Montana it’s to get to know her nephew and to make amends with the widowed brother-in-law she’s left alone to raise his young son.

Evan Carver could never deny his late wife’s younger sister anything, despite the fact she’s been conspicuously absent over the past three years since her sister’s death. Now she’s home again on what she’s called an extended vacation. Evan’s first concern is for his son, Cody, and how his aunt’s visit will affect the five year old when she decides to return to her high profile career.

Allison has no intention of going back to work. In addition to getting to know Cody, she needs to confess her biggest secret to Evan. How do you tell the man you’ve always loved that you’re not just his son’s aunt, but also his mother?

Bio

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five beautiful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people. She invites you to visit her website (www.nancyfraser.ca) and follow her on Twitter (@nfraserauthor). Or, more importantly, just enjoy what she writes.

Click here to participate in the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Where to find Nancy…