Patricia Sands

Author

bette lee crosby

Books That Celebrate Paris

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE PARISThanks to CC MacKenzie for designing this banner. A team effort!

Celebrate Paris. Read a New Book. Support the French Red Cross.

After the tragic terror attacks in Paris three weeks ago, author Ava Miles had a thoughtful idea as to how some of her friends might help and we were only too happy to have a way to express our support and sympathy.

For the month of December, proceeds from the sales of the books listed below will be donated to the Croix-Rouge française, the French Red Cross.

As all of my friends/readers (one and the same, thanks!) know, I’ve had a love affair with France since I was twenty-one years old. I’ve been fortunate to visit many different departements often through the years and, for the past fifteen years, my husband and I have spent extended time in France each summer or fall.

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Although the attacks occurred in Paris, the entire country suffered, as did the world.

ID-100378538-300x300Here’s how Ava explains her idea. “I love Paris. It’s like home. When the tragic events occurred on November 13, I wanted to help. An idea formed. I reached out to other authors with books set in Paris to establish a fundraiser called Books That Celebrate Paris to raise money for the victims of the attack and to support peace. We’re banding together to celebrate this beautiful city and support the French Red Cross, who has been on the front lines of helping the victims of the attacks.

Join us in celebrating this beautiful city and remembering the magic that can always be found there.”

Billionaire's Gamble

 

Ava Miles
Dare Valley Meets Paris Billionaire Mini-Series
The Billionaire’s Gamble, Volume One

Paris’ self-made billionaire inventor and infamous bad boy Evan Michaels has lost the biggest gamble of his life in a poker game. For one month, he must live and work like a “normal” person in the small town of Dare Valley and give up his playboy ways. When Evan meets Margie Lancaster, his landlord and new boss, he’s not so sure he can make it a month.

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

How Sweet It Is

 

Kate Perry
How Sweet It Is

To validate herself in the art world, Viola Summerhill goes to Paris in search of the artist whose work she’s fallen in love with, but she realizes very quickly that it’s not just his paintings she loves…

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

 

Her Rules

 

CC MacKenzie
Her Rules

One woman stood out, a fragile rose, among hot-house blooms at the show in Paris fashion week. Imaginative, innovative and shy – Daniela Pebbles is nothing like any woman wealthy designer Pascale Wolfe has ever known. The cynical Frenchman was determined to discover why Daniela wanted to keep him at arm’s length. But, given her past, could Pascale really convince Daniela that their night of passion could become a lifetime together?

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

 

Some Enchanted Dream

 

Lily Silver
Some Enchanted Dream

Fey Time Travelers arrive in Paris of 1889 when World’s Fair is progress. Discover plot by dark fairies trying to poison mankind by selling tainted absinthe to world visitors.

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

 

Billionaires in DisguiseRae

 

Blair Babylon
Billionaires in Disguise: Rae

One wild quickie with a sexy stranger will change Rae’s life forever. How did a country bumpkin like Rae end up in Paris?

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

 

The Promise of Provence

 

Patricia Sands
The Promise of Provence

Fifty, suddenly divorced and alone, can be an opportunity to begin something better than you ever dreamed. A mid-life coming of age unfolds in the breathtaking countryside of Provence, enchanting boulevards of Paris and sun-kissed Côte d’Azur.

Buy it now at:

Amazon

 
 

Learning Curves

 

Olivia Rigal
Learning Curves 

Take six Americans in Paris, a French cooking school and a sexy chef. Bring together in an intensive workshop. Let the mix simmer for a long weekend. Savor cautiously, it’s hot and a little spicy.

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon

 

What the Heart Remembers

 

Bette Lee Crosby
What the Heart Remembers

Two Lovers. One Chance at Happiness. When Max Martinelli returns to Paris in search of her lost love, what she finds changes her life forever.

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

DSC07054Our thoughts remain with the survivors and the families and friends of those touched by the tragedies in Paris. To the resilient citizens of Paris and all France, your strength and purpose in moving forward inspires the world.

I’ll close by quoting my friend Janine Marsh, editor of the fabulous The Good Life France, in her recent newsletter:

“I think the motto of Paris (which dates back to the 14th century) sums it up nicely: “Fluctuat nec mergitur” translates as “Il est battu par les flots, mais ne sombre pas”.  “It is beaten by the waves but does not sink”…

Work In Progress

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Author Anneli Purchase lives on beautiful Vancouver Island and sets her anneli7novels in stunning locations. She is a talented writer and copy editor and always so supportive of her peers. I couldn’t resist when she asked me to take part in this “Work In Progress Blog Tour”.

Here’s how it works. First I link back to Anneli‘s website, since she invited me to join. She has posted about her new work in progress and then given us a peek at the first few lines of Chapters 1, 2 and 3. It’s a sequel to her fine novel, The Wind Weeps, which is described in this way, “The Wind Weeps is a pure Canadian tale of love, betrayal, and triumph, told with gusto, humour, and bold insight.” Click here to see more on Amazon.

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Now I’m supposed to do the same with my WIP. My newsletter subscribers TPOPFinalistShadedall know I am hard at work on Book #3 in my Love In Provence series. It’s still untitled as my characters and I develop the storyline and of course I’ll be taking you to some inviting new villages in the south of France. But first we have to spend a bit of time in Toronto …

I assure you Katherine and Philippe have already delivered some great surprises for me as their story progresses. Writing fiction is never dull!

Chapter 1 ~ Rain pelted down. Sheets of water created a continuous, almost impenetrable, curtain across the windshield. The car crawled along in a clog of traffic and the rhythmic ‘wap, wap’ of the windshield wipers was all that broke the silence much of the time.

Philippe knew Kat was struggling to keep her composure. He kept conversation light and brief. “Now you know why I never take a taxi into Paris from the airport. At least with a hired car, I don’t have to watch the meter skyrocket if we get caught like this.”

 Kat nodded and smiled weakly, looking straight ahead. She thought it ironic that the weather was as gloomy and dark as the feelings she was fighting.

Chapter 2 ~ Without a sound sleep the night before, Katherine dozed her way through a couple of  in-flight movies. Her napping had been interrupted by thoughts about Philippe, memories of her mother, as well as shattering images of Molly’s accident.

This would be the first time in almost six months, since she left for Antibes, that Katherine was back to Toronto. Back to the house she had shared with her mother for a few months, after James had walked out on her. She suspected the memories of that special time before Elisabeth died, might be overwhelming at first. It might not be an easy homecoming.

Chapter 3 ~They were back at the hospital by 10:00 a.m., with a detour on the way via the drive-through for Katherine’s café mocha.

“It didn’t take long for you to slip back into that habit,” Terrence teased.

There’s much to discover in this continuing story. Will Molly recover from her dreadful accident? What happens when Katherine, as Molly’s only legal and personal support person, parts from Philippe to return to Canada and help her? And then there’s Nick, who appears back on the scene … and just who is Simone and what is her connection to the story …?

Speaking of which, I’ve got to get back to writing this book.

Before I do, I would like to leave you with links to a few of my good friends who are releasing new novels in the near future. Take a look at what’s going on with Bette Lee Crosby, Christine Nolfi , Diane Capri, Steena Holmes and D.J. McIntosh.

Here’s a brilliant quote from Robin Sharma. Who are you having your conversation with these days?

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Thanks for joining me today. If you like today’s post, please use the share buttons below. It all helps!

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PubSmart Conference and a repeat meander …

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Bonjour! I am in Charleston, South Carolina, attending the 3-day PubSmart Conference and I can tell you there has been a lot of excellent information to absorb.

 

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Here’s a quick explanation: “PubSmart is about introducing new models that lead to smart decisions about how to seize opportunities in today’s transformed book marketplace”.

The keynote speakers, Jane Friedman,  Hugh Howey, and CJ Lyons were superb and the coolest, most down-to-earth people to chat with.

BONUS! I have a fabulous new free app especially for readers that I will share with you next week and I’m very excited about that!

Making this conference even more special was the opportunity to spend quality time with my friends and fellow authors Steena Holmes, Christine Nolfi, Leona Bodie, Bette Lee Crosby and of course, Bette’s charming husband and publisher, Dick. As always, when the literati gather, there were opportunities for wonderful connections to be made and new friendships established. The fact that PubSmart was limited to 200 attendees offered unique opportunities to mingle and chat with everyone! Truly a very special time!

This stop in Charleston fit in nicely with our trek back to Toronto from south Florida, but tomorrow afternoon we will hit the road again and be home by Saturday evening. Hopefully there will be no snow to greet us!

If it’s Friday, it must be France

Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos
Entrevaux-PSandsPhotos

Along with attending the writer’s conference … which has been exciting, innovative and energizing … I have also been tweaking the final details in my MS so I can send it off to my editor this weekend. One of the chapters involves Katherine and Philippe visiting with some friends in this intriguing village of Entrevaux. I had such a good time writing about it, I decided to share my post from last November with you again. There is a slideshow of a walk through the narrow passageways and, as I wrote, I kept those photos on my screen to remind me exactly how it felt in that ancient and mysterious, semi-abandoned village. I hope my husband and I will have time to return there this summer.

I hope you enjoy your return visit! Click here to take another Medieval Meander.

Next week I will have my act together again and bring you a new post. Thanks for your patience!

Bon weekend, tout le monde!

Celebrate Bette’s new website + a BONUS giveaway

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My good friend, the talented Bette Lee Crosby has a new website.Bette Lee Crosby With all of the bestsellers Bette has written in the past couple of years, it was time to provide them with a new home. To celebrate the launch of this website, 5 of us are pleased to be joining  Bette in this fabulous giveaway which contains 12 bestselling books in all.

 

Here’s a taste of what awaits you:

A Dozen Reasons to Celebrate My Grand Opening

March 15, 2014    News & Events  22

Take a look at all the paperbacks to win during this giveaway to celebrate my grand opening!

A Dozen Reasons To Celebrate My Grand Opening

“I’m so pleased that several of my author friends came together to help me celebrate the grand opening of my new website. Please take a look around, leave some comments, visit and read about the different authors involved (links to their posts are below). If you like what you see, why not connect with me through social media or sign up for my newsletter so you’ll be the first to know about events like this. The paperback giveaway will be open all week, and of course this is my new home and the door is always open so visit anytime!”

 Today is my day to be featured, so please stop by and leave Bette your good wishes. Then join in the fun. Click right here to take a look around Bette’s website and enter in the Rafflecopter options as often as you like. Good luck! 

If you are in search of more great reading material to get you through this long winter, visit the other participating authors’ websites and make a list! Christine Nolfi, Kathleen Valentine, Rachel Thompson, and Leona Bodie have an excellent selection of novels just waiting for you.