Mail Order Groom By Cindy Flores Martinez

Mail Order Groom

By Cindy Flores Martinez

June 23 – July 11

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Mail-Order Groom, a debut romantic comedy novel by Cindy Flores Martinez, was inspired by the author’s own Polish ancestry and is based on her screenplay and movie project of the same title, which she shopped around Hollywood, New York, and other parts of the world.

A sweet romance about an American woman who marries a stranger from Poland after her fiancé leaves her right before the wedding.

Lisa is about to marry her first real love and have the wedding of her dreams, but her world is shattered when she finds her fiancé, Jeff, in the arms of another woman. When he calls the wedding off, Lisa is heartbroken.

In a twist of fate, she meets Krzysztof Zielinski from Poland on Mail-Order-Grooms.Com. He needs to marry an American woman so that he can stay in America, and he’s willing to pay money for it. His reason for needing to stay is what tugs at Lisa’s heart and convinces her to say “I do” to him. After all, it’s going to be strictly a business deal. She won’t even have to live with him, and marrying another man would be the perfect revenge on Jeff.

Lisa races to the altar with her stand-in groom, but she soon learns that she actually does have to live with him. Things become even more complicated when she finds herself falling for him, and he’s not planning to stay in America forever. Will Lisa’s heart break all over again or will she find love and happiness in the end?

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“Lisa?” Mom, AKA Helen, strode toward me boasting a pale pink mother-of-the-bride dress, matching clutch bag, and stylish blonde hairdo. “I didn’t realize you were already here.”

Dad, whose name was Harold, looked spiffy in a suit and tie.

My heart leapt at the sight of them.

Mom’s face was seized by awe. “Oh, Lisa, you look…” Her radiant stare devoured my dress.

“Stunning.” Dad was equally engulfed.

I fumbled with my bouquet. “Thank you.” They hadn’t seen my dress before except in a blurry picture that I had sent them on the day I bought it. I had wanted it to be a surprise to everyone. “You both look good too.” I admired them from head to toe.

Mom’s eyes grew misty. “I mean it, honey. I don’t think I have ever seen you look as beautiful as you do right now.”

Dad nodded, unable to speak.

Why did they have to pick that moment of all moments to be such wonderful parents?

“So, what’s going on?” asked Mom. “What did you mean when you said you weren’t going to marry Jeff? You were only kidding, right?” The worry lines on her forehead rivaled the worry in her voice.

Dad shot a confused glance toward the empty seats in the sanctuary. “Where are all of his guests?”

Chloe squished her thick eyebrows together. “You’re not going to marry Jeff?”

Zoey spotted Krzys waiting where Jeff was supposed to be. “Who is that man in there?”

I took a deep breath and mustered courage. Even though I had already told Mom and Dad what I was about to say over the phone, saying it face to face seemed so much more difficult. “Mom, Dad,” my heart started beating faster, “it’s like I told you before, I’m not going to marry Jeff today. I’m going to marry a man named Krzysztof Zielinski instead.”

Silence hung in the air.

Hooked from the synopsis i was really curious at what Mail Order Groom was going to bring to the table. An interesting story with some unexpected twist and terns. 

Mail Order Groom was able to entertain me with the story live and def falls within the romanic of the romantic comedy theme.

Overall a good book thats worth reading. Curious to see what else the author has written.

The obvious barriers between the couple proved to be realistic and came across in the novel just was unable to truly enjoy every portion.

I give Mail Order Groom by Cindy Flores Martinez

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My name is Cindy Flores Martinez. I was born and raised in a suburb of Los Angeles. I have an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Screenwriting. I have been a screenwriting instructor, screenplay consultant, script reader, and screenplay collaborator. My debut novel, Mail-Order Groom, which was inspired by my own Polish ancestry, started out as a screenplay and movie project.

I spent years shopping it around Hollywood, New York, and other parts of the world and had two well-known actors, one of them Academy Award nominated, interested in portraying the lead character’s parents. After not finding the success I wanted, I officially canceled my film production company in November of 2009 and embarked on the journey of turning my screenplay into a novel.

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The Professors Plaything by @NormandieA

The Professor’s Plaything 

Normandie Alleman
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic
Release Date: November 22nd 2013
Book Promotions by Literary Nook

She’ll loosen him up, and he’ll tie her down.

Twenty-one year old Colette Ellis has done plenty of daydreaming about Professor John McGill, but after a spur-of-the-moment decision to seduce him in his office turns her fantasies into reality, she is left longing for more.

She soon learns that this handsome academic can be as firm as he is passionate, and when her bratty behavior earns her a sound spanking she sees a side of him she never expected. Before she knows it, the beautiful young woman finds herself tied up at his mercy, naked, exposed, and more aroused than she could have ever imagined. As she grows closer to him, she cannot help but wonder how long this can last. Could John come to see her as more than just a naughty coed?

John has never fallen for a student… until now. There is something different about Colette, something that brings him alive in a way he has never felt before. Can he dare to hope that she is  after more than just a fling?

  

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She struggled to shake him off. “What are you doing?”

Planting one foot on the step above, he turned her over his knee and held her there with strong arms.

Colette screeched. “Stop! No!”

“I’m giving you that spanking you deserve,” he said through gritted teeth.

“No-ho-ho!” she protested.

The palm of his hand landed on the edge of her ass. Thankfully, she wore a one-piece outfit that protected her doomed bottom. But it didn’t matter, because he just pushed the fabric aside, exposing her cheek and slapped the only place not covered by her romper.

She couldn’t believe he’d thrown her over his lap outside of her apartment. What if someone walked by? She’d die of embarrassment.

Suddenly his hand electrified her skin, and she forgot all about the neighbors. The blows stung, and then a dull pain mixed with the sting as he swatted her again and again. Yet with each jolt of pain, a slight thrill zipped through her.

The scent of his leather shoes filled her nostrils. Her vision seemed clearer as each blow sounded out like a clap of thunder. Fear and uncertainty bubbled up inside her, and she fought back tears. He would stop soon. He didn’t really want to hurt her, did he?

She wanted it to stop, but in a deep corner in the back of her mind, there was something about him spanking her that felt satisfying. Was it the excitement of being manhandled? Or was it the magnetic attraction to a man strong enough to correct her?

If she was honest with herself, she admitted she deserved a punishment. She had been a bad girl—in several ways. First, she had seduced him, and then she’d been testing his patience in the car. There was something almost magical about being punished for it.

Without warning—he stopped.

Her ass cheeks burned, but John smoothed firm hands over them, tenderly caressing where he’d swatted her only moments ago. His touch soothed her aching skin, and she luxuriated in the attention, like a cat in a sun-drenched windowsill.

“Sit up,” he ordered.

Gingerly, she rearranged her clothes and sat next to him.

A former psychologist, Normandie has always been fascinated by human behavior. She loves writing quirky characters that are all too human. “I’m interested in the kind of relationships people have in real life. So I write about my characters’ messy, unpredictable, and inexplicable journeys to love.”

If there were another 5 hours in the day, Normandie would spend more time needle-pointing and playing with photography. Instead, she’s a Pinterest and Twitter addict who loves sports and the color pink. She lives on a farm with her husband, a passel of children, and a pet pig who’s crazy for red bull.

Twitter at@NormandieA | Pinterest | Facebook | Website | GoodReads

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Men Can Do Romance by Michael Hollway Perronne

Title: Men Can do Romance
Author: Michael Holloway Perronne

Genres: Fiction/Gay, Romance/Gay

Publisher- Chances Press, LLC, http://www.chancespress.com/

Blurb:

Despite living in free-spirited New Orleans, Elliot finds that his career as an insurance actuary has him constantly weighing the risks of every move he makes in his life. When Troy, his teenage crush, returns home to the Big Easy after a stint with the Marines and unexpectedly announces he’s gay, Elliot must decide if he’s willing to take a chance and find out if men really can do romance.

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Excerpt:

Elliot

Professional that quantifies risk.

That’s how I describe my job when someone asks, “Elliot, what the hell is an actuary anyway?”  Sure, I could go into all the nitty gritty details about health care laws I have to memorize and complex mathematical equations I have to solve.  But those four words really summarize it.  I tell a health insurance company how much they should charge you and if you’re even worth the risk.  All day long I decide if whatever is worth taking a chance.  I have to look at things within a black and white world.  There can be no gray.  So how could that not bleed over into my personal life?

Is that low season trip to Thailand during monsoon season worth the risk?

Is the depreciation of the car I like versus the slower depreciation of a car that I’m not so crazy about worth the possible loss in trade-in value?

Is moving to another apartment in a neighborhood that I may like more worth the risk of maybe ending up with shitty neighbors when I like the ones I have now?

Is the man sitting in front of me on a date worth the risk based on what he’s telling me?  For example, he recently broke up with his boyfriend.  Or worse, he still lives with the “ex” boyfriend.

On dates, when I get around to them that is, I find myself unable to stop running the guys against some mental check list to figure out if they…you guessed it…are worth the risk.

Does he seem hung up on an ex?

How long has he been out compared to me, and does he still have wild oats that need attention?

Does he live within ten miles to me?  Because let’s face it, I hate driving long distances on a regular basis.

Will his lack of always chewing with his mouth closed drive me so nuts I may want to scream at the top of my lungs one day in the middle of a meal at Antoine’s? 

Is he cuter than me?  And if so, can I risk my somewhat jealous tendencies?

So many questions running through my mind.  All the time.  No wonder I can’t sleep.  No wonder I’m on Prozac for anxiety.  Each day is one long careful thought about is it, this, that, him worth the risk.

It’s a Tuesday evening.  I’m being wild, for me, by being out on a work night.  It’s actually a nice June night in New Orleans.  The humidity isn’t too oppressive.  The stars twinkle above.  I have a nice glass of Merlot I’m sipping while sitting across from a reasonably cute guy.  I’ve actually managed to snag a date.  Okay, a friend set me up, but still.  We met up at a cute outdoor wine bar in the Bywater I’ve been meaning to check out.  Sounds good, no?

The guy’s name is Bailey, and he’s a paralegal.  Check the box off next to the line item that reads “Sustainable Career.”  He has wavy dark hair and blue eyes.  A lethal combination to make my heart skip a beat.  Check off the box next to the line item “Feel at least an inkling of sexual attraction.” 

He actually asks some questions about me.  Woohoo!  Check off line item “Seems interested in getting to know me as a person.”

I tell him about growing up in the Garden District and my time spent backpacking across Europe and trying to find myself right after college.  And then…

“You know my ex went backpacking across Europe,” Bailey says, his gaze suddenly appearing to be focusing on some point far, far in the distance.  “He said it was the best time of his life.”

Uh, oh.  Please don’t make me check off a line item in the column for “Run as fast as possible.”

“Have you ever been to Europe?” I ask, trying to bring the conversation back to…you know…us!

“No.  But, Tim, my ex, said that he loved Sweden most of all.  He always had a thing for blondes.  Maybe that’s why…” Bailey says, his voice trailing off.

Please.  No. 

I’m not even half-way through my glass of wine, and this guy is making a mad dash for my personal  “move on” line-up.

“Hmmm.  I’ve never been to Sweden.  But I’ve always had a thing for guys with dark hair,” I say not so subtly dropping what I would think would be a huge ass hint.

“We lived in New York for a while.  Before we broke up, and I moved back here,” Bailey says, swirling the Merlot in his glass around and around.

“I still haven’t been to New York,” I say.  “I was thinking maybe of taking a trip there next fall.  Any recommendations?”

Come on, Bailey.  You can do it!  You can move back into the “maybe” column.  For the love of God!  Come on!

“Everything is amazing there.  Everything,” he says still looking off into the distance.  “I remember when I was flying back here after we broke up.  I thought to myself how can you leave this city and this man that you love so much?”

Shit.  I know it’s happened now.  We’ve moved into the so not worth the risk because he’s hung up on his ex-boyfriend to the point that he doesn’t even realize he’s told you more about his ex than himself.

I lean back in the wicker chair I’m sitting in, sip my Merlot, and look up at the twinkling lights in the sky. I start to tune out Bailey as he starts in on how he met the ex.

Oh, well.  Maybe the next guy.  Maybe.

I love a romance story that doesn't discriminate. Troy and Elliott have more than Lou in common. Troys younger brother and Elliot's childhood friend. As both are reevaluating their lives they find a friend in each other. Haven't read a lot of m/m books but i do love that this wasn't just about the sex, Men Can Do Romance is def Michaels way to explaining all m/m books are hardcore erotic but can also be a classic love story. 

I feel Troys pain, I've never experience the confusion or stress of coming out to family but just imagining it makes breaks my heart. As Troy deals with not only coming out to his friends and family but he also is finding his way in life after the military. That never ends. 

Elliott has the best friends and family and he's a good friend, the amount of blind dates he agrees to makes him better than me. After all the schooling he goes through he's not happy with the way he's life has developed and is looking for a change. Together Troy and Elliott help each other and find new things about themselves. 

I give Men Can Do Romance

Michael Holloway Perronne is the author of five novels and one novella: "A Time Before Me", "Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga", "Falling Into Me", "A Time Before Us"
"Embrace the Rain" and "Men Can Do Romance."  His debut novel, "A Time Before Me" won the Bronze Award, Foreword Magazine's 2006 Book of the Year Award in the Gay/Lesbian
fiction category.  In addition, Michael recently released his first travel guide, "The Quickie Gay Guide to Cape Town, South Africa."

Michael was born and raised in Mississippi.  He received a BA in Film from the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA in Drama and Communications from the University of New Orleans.  

Author website: Goodreads Author Page: 

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Dangerously Attraction

10 Award-winning, bestselling authors – 10 Hot Heroes – 10 Romantic Suspense Page Turners

99 CENTS THROUGH NOVEMBER 16th!

With nine full-size novels from bestselling romantic suspense authors and a brand new Christmas novella from New York Times bestselling author, Rebecca York, this boxed set can’t be missed. Sexy, steamy heroes to heat you up and twisting plots to keep you turning page after page well past midnight!Grab it at the introductory price of 99 cents. That’s 10 books for less than a buck!

From sweet to scorcher, these stories are a must read. Fall in love with our sexy cops, tough military heroes, and hot CEOs. Treat yourself to an amazing reading experience by top authors of romantic suspense collected in one boxed set at a price that can’t be beat.

Ignited by award-winning and national bestselling author, Kaylea Cross – Can sexy ex-SEAL Hunter Phillips keep Khalia safe from the terrorists who took her father’s life? (Scorcher)

Secret Guardian by international bestselling author, Jill Sanders – Will ex-special forces hero, Ethan, save Ann in time, only to lose himself to love? (Scorcher)

Deathscape by Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence recipient and Rita Award finalist, Dana Marton – Detective Jack Sullivan will do anything to put Ashley in prison for her crimes…even if he’s falling in love with her. (Sensual)

Legal Ease by award winning and national bestselling author Lori Ryan – Marrying Kelly solved the problems this steamy CEO faced at his company, but will he ever be able to forgive himself for the price she has to pay? (Scorcher)

The Killing Game by international bestselling author, Toni Anderson –Forced to choose between his country and his heart, British SAS Soldier, Ty Dempsey risks it all to save a wildlife biologist caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. (Sensual)

Fallen SEAL Legacy by national bestselling author, Sharon Hamilton – Will Navy SEAL Cooper be able to survive the loss of the woman he loves, or will his self-sacrifice be enough to keep Libby safe? (Scorcher)

Three Days in Seattle by national bestselling author, Debra Burroughs – Trying to stay a step ahead of a lunatic set on revenge, Kate and Ryan are locked in a desperate race to find her missing sister and capture the madman before both women wind up dead. (Sweet)

See Me in Your Dreams by Patricia Rosemoor, Golden Heart Winner and two-time recipient of the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award – Her dreams allow her to see through his missing daughter's eyes, but he thinks she’s a con woman...until she dreams of something known only to him and the girl. (Sensual)

Catching the Bad Guy by national bestselling author, Marie Astor – Top-notch white collar crime investigators Janet Maple and Dennis Walker team up to solve what could be the biggest case of their careers, but will their attraction to each other get in the way? (Sensual)

Bonus Christmas Novella, Christmas Captive by Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner and Rita Finalist, Rebecca York – Her special sight let her glimpse the Christmases past of this international financier, but did he have a Christmas future?

Dangerous Attraction Links:

Amazon US: Smashword: iTunes: Kobo: Barnes & Noble. 

An Interview with the Authors of the Dangerous Attraction Boxed Set

How much research do you do for your books?

Kaylea Cross: For Ignited, the idea for the plot came to me from a current event. When I heard about teenage girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai being shot in the head by the Taliban for her outspoken views, I knew I had to write a story that touched on the issue.

Debra Burroughs: Research depends on the story. I have a police detective friend I run things by, I ask a doctor friend about medical issues, etc. Most of my stories have been in locales I’m familiar with, but my next book is set in a town based on Bar Harbor, Maine, so I recently took a trip there to scope out the town and the area, talked to the Harbor Master, a boat captain, and the owner of a beautiful trawler that had just docked, as well as the local police and innkeepers.

Who is your favorite character from one of your books and why?

Rebecca York: In my recent Sourcebooks romantic suspense, BAD NIGHTS, the hero has to sneak into a hostile militia camp to rescue the heroine.  I got the idea of his coming in using a glider plane because I’d flown in one and knew it would make the perfect stealth vehicle since it’s small and silent.  I often use places I’ve been in my books.  CHRISTIMAS CAPTIVE, my novella in the Deadly Attraction collection, is set in Mendocino, California.  I’d traveled there and knew it would be the perfect place to set a spooky old house along the ocean.

Lori Ryan: It’s hard for me to choose just one. I tend to fall in love with all of them as I’m writing. If I had to choose, I think it would be Chad from book three of the Sutton Capital Series, Negotiation Tactics. He just stole my heart from the beginning. I think he had the same effect on readers. I get a lot of emails about him!

Sharon Hamilton: It changes. I get the most fan mail with the character, Calvin Cooper, in this book, though, and I have to say I fell in love with the 6’4” Nebraska farmboy who lives in a motorhome by the beach to save money on rent, and rides a scooter. He’s frugal and loves gadgets. He can fix anything, and as a medic for SEAL Team 3, he does!

Toni Anderson: It’s hard to choose a favorite, like trying to pick your favorite kid. I have a particular soft spot for the hero of my last book, DARK WATERS. Brent Carver spent 20 years in jail for killing his father. I love his dark tortured soul :). I really do love the hero of THE KILLING GAME too. Tyrone Dempsey has a great sense of humor.

How long does it take you to write a book:

Jill Sanders: If I'm undisturbed, I can write a 50k+ word book in around 9 days. Yes, that's fast. If I wasn't slowed down by my fingers and computer, I'm sure I could shave a few hours off. I do go over it several times, tweaking the story after. I also slow down during basketball season when my boys are playing and I'm at their games.

Patricia Rosemoor: It depends on how much of the plot I have worked out. The more details/scenes/plot points I know when I start, the faster I write. But truthfully, it takes me 10 weeks for shorter books, at least 12 for longer. I probably revise every scene a dozen times before I'm done.

Can you tell us where you write and what your habits are? Do you use a PC or mac? Do you like google docs or word? Do you edit in hard copy or only on the computer?

Dana Marton: I write on a PC. I bought a Mac laptop this summer, but so far all I could figure out is how to turn it on. I need to hire a teenager to give me some pointers. I edit the entire manuscript twice on the computer, then twice in printout before it goes to friends for input. I rewrite it one more time, then to the editor, then I rewrite it again. 

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