JASON'S ANGEL--A CIVIL WAR ROMANCE

Today, I’m blogging about my one of my most recent releases, JASON’S ANGEL. In case this title

sounds familiar to you, the story was previously released in A HISTORICAL COLLECTION, a Victory Tales Press anthology.

I’m excited about JASON'S ANGEL being released as a “stand alone” story, selling at only .99! I’m giving away two copies of JASON’S ANGEL over the next two days! Please leave a comment along with your contact info and you will be entered—it’s that simple.


Jason’s Angel takes on several issues with the society of that time. The story takes place just as the War Between the States is winding down. Jason wears Union blue, but speaks with a Georgia accent. To make things even more difficult, he’s half Cherokee, half Scottish! When he’s wounded and winds up at a Confederate hospital, there’s only one thing kind-hearted Sabrina Patrick can do…


Writing Jason’s Angel wasn’t easy. My conundrum was the fact that for me, the Civil War was such a tragic time in our history that I wasn’t sure if I could see that my characters reached their “Happily Ever After” ending that I wanted them to have. The only way I could see to do that in this case was to make Sabrina Patrick’s compassion so great that she saw beyond all boundaries of gray or blue, and didn’t think of the hero, Jason McCain, as the enemy, but first as a wounded man who needed her help.


Since Jason and another fellow Union soldier had been captured and are being held in the hospital

where Sabrina volunteers, she knows that they will both die of their wounds if she doesn’t do something more than let nature run its course in those deplorable conditions. There is nothing she can do but bring them home, away from the inhumane treatment they are receiving from their guard and even from some of the hospital staff. No one is more surprised than her Aunt Emmaline, who is none to happy with Sabrina’s decision.


The only thing that could make matters worse is to find out that not only is Jason wearing Yankee Blue, he’s a southern boy, born and bred in Georgia—only a few miles from where Sabrina’s home is situated. What could make him fight for the Union? As Sabrina finds out more about Jason’s devastating past, she begins to understand. Because he is half Cherokee, his family has been shunned, and unimaginable tragedy has followed. Can his restless soul find peace in Sabrina’s sweet love for him?


I will leave you with a blurb and excerpt from JASON’S ANGEL.


BUY LINK: Cheryl's Amazon author page:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002JV8GUE



Jason 's Angel by Cheryl Pierson

Two wounded Union soldiers will die without proper treatment. Sabrina Patrick realizes they won't get it at the Confederate army hospital where she helps nurse wounded men. She does the unthinkable and takes them to her home.

Jason McCain’s pain is eased by the feel of clean sheets, a soft bed, and a touch that surely must belong to an angel. But what reason could an angel have for bringing him and his brother here?

EXCERPT FROM JASON'S ANGEL:
It was only a brief touch of their lips, Sabrina told herself, and should not have caused the waves of trembling heat to rush over her. His lips were firm and strong. And she kissed him back.
He’d reached up and gently pulled her to him. As if he’d sensed her concern over Desi being in the room, he’d glanced to where she sat talking to Eli, once more engrossed in conversation, and when Sabrina had started to protest, he’d squeezed her shoulder in silent reassurance. And she had kissed him back.

He’d been so gentle and—oh Lord, had Eli seen that kiss? She had responded heartily to his brother. She had not pushed Jason away or protested in the least. She had welcomed it. There was no doubt for either of them. She had definitely kissed him back.

As she pulled away, she opened her lids to find him watching her. His dark eyes smoldered with desire. But it didn’t scare her. It excited her.

Good Lord. She stood quickly, her head spinning so that she almost missed her first step toward the door. When had she last eaten? That had to be the cause of her unsteadiness. But why was her heart pounding so frantically? It was only a kiss. One kiss.

But she had kissed him back.


Remember to leave a comment and your contact info to be entered to win one of two copies of JASON'S ANGEL to be given away on Sunday evening!

Love at first sight

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Would you be shocked if someone you know was swept off her feet by a man she just met, and after a few hours in his company would let him kiss her?

What if she is so attracted to him she wonders how his hands would feel over her body? What if he feels the same attraction?

Is it possible in real life?
Is it acceptable in a romance book to let them share a sex scene?

Attraction can’t be explained and varies from one person to another. If you are a writer would you insist on letting the love story develop slowly?
If you are a reader would you be upset to see your heroine give in too quickly?

I used to read historical by Heather Graham, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey. So often the hero raped the heroine in chapter one, and then it takes a whole book for her to forgive him although she was attracted to him during the rape scene. Very unrealistic in my opinion. Yet, we are talking about old bestsellers.
Forget raping. It gives me nightmares to even mention it.

What if the hero and heroine share a good, perfect sex scene, they can’t wait to repeat, because they fell in love, but the next morning they discover one of them lied about his real name, and the lovers are suddenly a Romeo and a very angry Juliette?

I am asking all these questions because I want your help and your answers. Have you read good books—I insist on the word GOOD—where the love scene happens too early?

HER GREEK ROMANCE  http://tinyurl.com/6lnbcuv

Sun-kissed Grecian playboy meets his match.
Attorney Ashley Sheppard comes to Greece to fulfill the
wishes of her ailing grandfather. He wants her to do everything she can to save
the Pink Villa, a house he jointly owned with his lost love.

Playboy Stefano wants to destroy the crumbling villa that
brought only heartache to his late grandmother for so many years. He wishes to
build a resort on the property. But first, he wants to check out the opposition
before he faces her in court. Using his middle names, he arranges an
introduction and convinces her to take a sunset ride on his yacht.

Their physical attraction sizzles. He aims to seduce her,
and Ashley is in vacation-mode enough to let herself be seduced. The next
morning when she realizes she's slept with the enemy, she's ready to shred Stefano
like lamb and serve him up with mint jelly.

Will the heavens align for the grandchildren of thwarted lovers?

Beautiful Settings

Riomaggiore

One of my great pleasures in writing a new story is researching the setting. If I'm really lucky I visit the place I plan to set my book. In pursuit of research, I've visited Ireland twice for my paranormal series, the Italian Amalfi coast, which features in a contemporary romance I have coming out with Carina in September, the Island of Jersey in the English Channel for Unbreak My Heart and most recently Greece, the setting for my next book.

My most recent release is set partly on the Italian Riviera in Riomaggiore (pictured above), one of five small towns that make up the Cinque Terre or five lands. These are beautiful multicolored towns that are stacked precariously up the cliffs in small bays on the rocky coast.

I would have loved to physically visit the area but didn't get the chance. Instead I researched Riomaggiore on the Internet. What a treasure trove of information there is available to writers these days. I even found a video shot by a tourist who'd walked around the town, giving a virtual tour.

In my latest book, my Italian hero grew up in Riomaggiore and his family still lives there. My contemporary romance Oceans Between Us is available on Amazon for 99cents.

Oceans Between Us

He's a wealthy Italian celebrity used to dating beautiful women. She's a guesthouse cook without a penny to her name. When tragedy brings them together for a few weeks, an unlikely romance blossoms. But he has commitments that take him back to his jet-setting life, while her future lies in a remote English village. Is it possible for two people from such different walks of life to find a way to be together?

My time In Europe by Stephanie Burkhart

I knew when I was teenager I wanted to see the world as a young adult, so I joined the Army at 18. I signed up to become an MP (military police) and I did my basic and MP training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. I loved Alabama. I was there from July-November 1986. In December, I was on the plane to Germany.

Silly me – on my first paycheck in Germany I received $8.00 for COLA. Heck, I thought they were giving me money to buy cokes. My sergeant told me COLA was Cost of Living Allowance. Go figure.

I loved my time in Germany and had a chance to visit several countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, and Denmark. In fact, I was married in Nykobig, Denmark.


In 1997, I had a chance to visit Poland on a USO tour. I remember it was a a town near the German border and there was a pottery factory in the town which was famous. The pottery was all hand crafted, with white and blue motifs. I remember seeing above ground gas pipes and several horse and buggy carriages carrying coal. The trip only lasted a day, but I was grateful for the opportunity.

My travels while stationed overseas in the Army have inspired my international settings. I haven't been to Warsaw, Poland, so I took some fictional liberties with the setting. The National Stadium is a real place and currently under construction. It's going to be a 56,000 seat soccer stadium. In "A Polish Heart," Darrin Riverton is an American architect hired to look over the designs and construction of the stadium. Darrin looks upon his trip to Poland as an adventure. He's a "the glass is half-full kinda' guy," but it's Sofia, his interpreter, who really helps him find his heart.

"A Polish Heart" is a 99 cent story with a "sweet" contemporary international setting. Can Sofia's faith give Darrin his heart back?

Question for you: What country would you like to visit that you haven't been to?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Sofia pulled up to the front of the hotel and put the car in park. Darrin turned to face her. The fringes of her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, softening her expression. He reached out and gently took her hand in his. Her touch sent warm tendrils of desire through him. With the other hand, he cupped her cheek. She closed her eyes, and drew in a sharp breath before opening them again.

Lightly, he rubbed his thumb against her jaw.

"May I kiss you?" His voice was low and husky.

"Yes."

He leaned forward, his lips feather light, touching hers with tantalizing persuasion until she opened up to him. He kept the kiss slow, thoughtful, enjoying the hints of berries and currants that lingered from the malbec. He pulled away gently.

"That was nice," she whispered.

"Call me tomorrow."

"I will."

Darrin opened the door and stepped out. He waved to Sofia and she waved back as she drove away.

Reviews:

5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Amazon Reader
Darrin, on the other hand, is much impressed with Poland and everything Sofia is part of. Luckily, the Almighty seems to have a hand in this simple, straight, and heart-warming tale of romance, to make the reader feel satisfied with the ending.

5 Stars, Vikki McCombie, Amazon Reader
This is an excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

5 Stars, Maggie Toussaint, Author of "Muddy Waters" and "Murder in the Buff: It was refreshing to read a sweet romance. I particularly enjoyed the international setting.

5 Stars, Carolyn Smith
Stephanie Burkhart writes a sweet romance filled with heartwarming details. Through her writing, the reader sees the important aspects of any life. At the end of this book, I was left with a happy smile and a sigh of contentment. I'll certainly be reading more of this author's books!

BOOK TRAILER:




BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AS29AO

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/164429


Find me on the web at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

Reviews vs Critique

“A review is NOT a critique.” The lady sitting next to me said in a firm tone as I listened with the utmost interest. You see the lady I had the privilege to chat with, is a well-known reviewer who has reviewed NY bestsellers before I even started writing novels, hence every word coming out of her mouth about books --yes every word-- was worth listening, understanding, pondering, and applying. Considering the number of participles—ing words--I am glad this post is not a submission to be reviewed.

“So how do you compare critique and reviews?”

“You don’t.”

“Ah.” I wasn’t going to argue and ask silly questions.

“A critique is done on a work-in-progress. The critique partner is expected to carefully read the submission, analyze it, dissect it, and point the author to the things that need corrections. A critique is not about flattering your best friend, it’s about being honest and helping an author improve her writing. No one except you and your CP is going to read the comments. But a review is a very different thing.”

“So what exactly is a review?” I said to encourage the famous reviewer to elaborate on reviews.

“Remember a review is done on a book already published. A reviewer cannot change the book by giving advice, therefore a reviewer should abstain from saying negative things about a published book. A good reviewer should restrict herself to highlight the points she likes in a book.”

“Do I understand you right? A review should always been good?”

“Yes, a review is supposed to help sell the book. Therefore a good reviewer will abstain from mentioning things she doesn’t like. Remember, reading and judging a story is so subjective and will depend on the reader’s taste. What I don’t like as a reviewer, another reader may like. A good reviewer should never destroy a book with nasty comments.”

“Interesting. You have a good point here. So what do you do if you really think the story is poorly written?”

“If I have nothing good to say about a book, I don’t review it.”

“What if you have committed to review it and discover mid-way, you don’t approve of the writing?”

“If I am already committed to review it and my employer is expecting a review, I will grade it, give it a 2 or a 3, but I will still say something good about it. Let’s face if there was absolutely nothing a reader may like about that book, the publisher wouldn’t have published it.”

“So you have never trash a book?”

“Never. By trashing a book, one would trash not only the author, but also the editor and the publisher. Trashing a book means that the reviewer is a bad reviewer who has a streak of nastiness and should not be allowed to review books.”

“Wow, I like that. I wish you could review my books.” It never hurts to try to get a review when one is guaranteed good review.

“Nope. I never review authors I know or met before,” the lady said with a peremptory tone and a sweet smile.

Have you ever received a bad review? I did from readers determined to hurt my book and promote others' as is the case with this last review I received on Amazon from 'Not Telling' who wrote: "Skip this and go find real Greek romances by Sarah Morgan and Abby Green." Two HQ Presents authors. If she likes Harlequin romances why is she reading my books?! I read Sarah Morgan. She's a wonderful writer, USA Today bestselling author, and 2012 Rita Finalist. Wow, to be compared to her, even in a negative way is fabulous, but the reviewer has no right to promote her authors on my review and denigrate me in doing so.

In that case, remember your book is good but your reviewer is bad.

Example of great review:

Amazing! By LAS Reviewer: "Babies in the Bargain was just amazing! It started out very dramatic and got my attention from the first paragraph."

http://tinyurl.com/6mcd6e3

Unforgettable By Seniorcitizen

"This is a five star plus from Mona Risk. Pulled me in within the first chapter of Right Name, Wrong Man, and kept me hooked. And oh, that night in Paris in a Heavy rainstorm - I just had to re- read it several times for the sheer pleasure of it. I couldn't have imagined it any better. "

http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7

Highly recommend this book!! By Brenda

 "LOVED This story!!! Very well thought out and flowed so perfectly!"

Breathtaking Setting for a Scintillating Romance!"The tenderness melded with fiery passion in 'Her Greek Romance' is perfect for that gorgeous setting."~Beth Trissel

http://tinyurl.com/6lnbcuv

Addicted To Research

Hi! My name is Joan, and I'm a research-aholic.

That's right. I confess I have a problem with research. More specifically, in saying no to reading research books.

Unfortunately, there's no 12 Step program for those of us who pull a research book from the shelf and get lost in its pages. Quite simply, research is addictive.

My Obsession

I love to research with a "real" book, meaning a print one. I find print books are perfect for armchair research. Curl up in a big chair, flip through the pages, stopping when an interesting passage catches the eye. Unfortunately, I usually can't stop reading because I find everything interesting when I'm fascinated with a subject.

Cheese, Wine, Army Intelligence Agents

For example, take my romantic comedy Old Enough To Know Better. The hero, Sean Butler, had been in U. S. Army Intelligence. Of all the research I did into that compelling subject, only a paragraph or two of background and Sean's habit of assessing what the heroine said as either truth or lie made it into the finished book. But, oh, what a fascinating subject. The Army Interrogators like I made Sean are the first to disdain torture and water boarding as seen in the news. They will flat tell you that the guys that did that were not with the Army.

Sean was also a vineyard owner. Despite everything I learned about the Texas Wine Trail and growing wine grapes in the Lone Star State, only a couple of sentences ended up in the book.

I did similar research about Stormy Clarkson, the heroine of Old Enough To Know Better. Stormy was a college history professor who taught a class about frontier women who won the west by cooking. She was an artisan cheese maker. In the opening scene she's demonstrating how to make mozzarella cheese. That opening scene and a bit of another scene where she talks about Home on the Range: A Culinary History of the American West by Cathy Luchetti, a simply wonderful book, is all the background that made it into the book despite all that I learned about how frontier women accomplished everyday cooking tasks.

Since I learned so much about artisan cheeses, I decided to include the recipe for mozzarella in the Bonus Features of Old Enough To Know Better so anyone who wanted to try it – and it's easy – could cook up a batch in her own kitchen.

Post Script

One side benefit about doing so much research for books is that I learn a lot about many different subjects. As a result, I'm in great demand when it comes to board games. Anyone for Trivial Pursuit?

Where Would You Go and When?

Where would you go and when if you could travel in time? I’ve always been a fan of time travel.  One of my favorite old movies was The Time Machine with Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.  My preference is the older version as opposed to the newer one.  I grew up imagining myself stepping through a portal (consciously or accidentally) and ending up somewhere vastly different from the world today! My mind was thrilled by movies like Planet of the Apes or Twelve Monkeys.  Over the years, I’ve read more time travel books than I care to count (dollar-wise). 

Where would I go?  I know my choice sounds like a religious journey, but I think I would travel back to the time of Christ and try to find him, but I doubt I would enjoy the Roman era.  Too much violence from a historical standpoint. I could easily find myself thrown into the gladiator arena as an entrèe for an assortment of wild beasts or a hacking post for some testosterone-charged sadist bent on crowd approval by beheading poor old me. Hmmm, perhaps another time would be a better choice.

Vikings have always interested me, more from the viewpoint of those invaded as opposed to the invaders.  I love history dealing with the incursion of the Vikings and their escapades.  But then again, I could find myself a slave toiling my brief life away in captivity to a brutal group of unfeeling warriors.  Another time perhaps.

All of my stories to date (other than a few short reads) have dealt in some fashion with time displacement.  Even my vampire story deals with a female who is entombed for 600 years, awaking in modern day. She has her own trials to deal with as she strives to fit in.  And my most recent, a SciFi romance, wherein the heroine awakes 200 years in the future aboard an alien starship bound for parts unknown.  How would I handle those situations if they presented themselves?

Again, think hard.  Where would you go and when?

My 99 Cent E-Books - Time Travel!

Buy Link For Riley's Journey:  http://www.amazon.com/Rileys-Journey-ebook/dp/B005SV26KS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337309792&sr=1-1

Buy Link for Fiona:  http://www.amazon.com/Fiona-ebook/dp/B005SV2838/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2