#evernighties Family, friends and pets I've written into my books...

What's the saying? If you're not careful I'll put you in a book?

 Is this where I do a wicked evil grin?

Well, maybe not. Because of course there is more than one way to put friends, family or pets into a book. And acquaintances, arch enemies or simply people who get up your nose.

Openly where they know, are happy and pleased to see you have used their names, life, jobs, characteristics and so on. (Though I'm not sure how you ask a pet...well not all of them wink)

(Pic, pinterest)

And then where you don't use their names but base someone on them. Probably unpleasant because of something they have done and this way you can vent your spleen without getting into trouble.

That is very satisfying. And doesn't get you sent to gaol because only you know that say the tall, geeky looking guy called Fred in your book is really an arsehole called something else. (and in real life might be neither tall or geeky)

With other people it can be something else. A way of saying thank you for something. Of remembering.

For instance, my book, Bombers Moon has parts based on stories my mum told me about when she as a young girl was evacuated with her employment from London to Northamptonshire. The village hops, getting locked out, the in loco parentis foreman...

Others have names of people who mean a lot to me. I'm not naming them, as I'd probably miss someone out, but they all know who they are.

My cats appear every so often, as do a mate's dogs. Now I just need to work a budgie called Pandy into one!

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

#TakeoverTuesday... By me because... well, read on.

Yep, today I am taking over my own blog. Sounds weird? Probably, after all I can blog anytime.

But today is special.

Today is the day, The Viscount Meets his Match goes on preorder from Totally Bound.

Am I excited? Heck, yeah. I had so much fun writing this story about two people who are shall we say very much their own person.

They do say the path of true love is a bit stony don't they? They're right in this case. 
I do hope you enjoy how David and Josephine cope with each other and their feelings.

Here's a wee tease...

“Is it all men or only me you have an aversion to?” he asked as she began to walk away. He pitched his voice just loud enough for her to hear. She might ignore his question but there would be no chance of her not hearing it. “For if it is me, what have I ever done to you to deserve your contempt?”

“What?” She turned and took the three steps necessary to get within arm’s reach once more. Her blue eyes sparked in a way he had never noticed before and his body responded accordingly and tightened with interest. Again, she tempted him in a manner he would not have thought possible. How he’d like to shake her out of her present mood, but not in a manner that would be at all acceptable.

Not yet, anyway.

Again a notion to contemplate. Was he really debating dallying with this woman? His head said no, the rest of his body, the opposite. Why had he never really examined her luscious curves before? They appeared perfect in every way.

“Dare you not answer me?”

She frowned as if puzzled by his remark. David repeated himself. “How have I earned your contempt?”

“Sadly, as far as I can see, from my knowledge of your sex it encompasses all men, my lord. Although, with your reputation, I would put you near the top of my list.”

Well, that told him. David bowed and with a swift look around decided, if she thought she knew him, he might as well live up to the sort of person she thought she was. He grasped both her arms, drew her close and pressed a hard, swift kiss to her lips.

The jolt of immediate arousal was as unexpected as it was exciting.

you can preorder your copy

here

Happy reading,

love Raven xx

#NineForTheWeekend Nine fantastic facts about author Jaqueline Snowe (and they are great)

Today, #NineForTheWeekend come from Jaqueline Snowe, and they are great...

Over to you Jaqueline...

Nine random facts about Jaqueline Snowe:

The thought of writing about myself was weird--writing about characters is more my thing and I tend to clam up when asked questions about myself...especially my writing. 

1. My husband works for an MLB team so i know WAY more about baseball than anyone ever needs to. (Also lets me write sports romances with a lot of realness to them)

2. I lived in Barcelona for a year, working and going to school, and got pickpocketed six days before heading back home to the US.

3. Back before "Twitter famous" was a thing, I posted a picture of my parents dog stroller (before they were even remotely normalized) and it gained A LOT of attention

4. I taught HS for six years and loved every second of it.

5. My favorite songs to Karaoke are "It's Tricky" and "Crazy Bitch" (I'm an AWFUL singer)

6. When I write NA college-based romances, 99% of the time I write about classes I actually took or "tried" to take when I went to school. I found it easier to write about a subject I experienced!

7. I'm a total panster of a writer. I've written first draft of books in a month, other times, three months, or a year. I also write in spurts and will do 20k a weekend, and then not write for another 2 months. It's chaotic but I love it.

7a. I also tend to work on 3-4 WIP at the same time. 

8. I never write about people I know in my books, BUT, I do use my friends and family member's names for characters who make one or two appearances. 

9. My favorite tropes of all time are enemies to lovers. 

They are my favorite to write and read! I cannot get enough.  

Fake-relationship tropes though are a close second...Funny enough, my latest release, The Game Changer, is a fake-dating story where my May 7 release, 

Evening the Score, is enemies to lovers. 

I guess I stay on brand most of the time. 

To find out more information on any of my sports romances, just visit my website 

at www.jaquelinesnowe.com 

(Brilliant facts, and I've added more books to my holiday reading—R)

Happy reading everyone,

love Raven xx

#TuesdayTakeover...where Cassie O'Brien tells us about Elle's rules

Welcome to this week's #Takeover Tuesday, where today's I'm passing the blog to Cassie O'Brien and her forthcoming book, Elle's Rules.

Over to you, Cassie...

Ellie’s Rules – Excerpt

Joanne nodded and stepped up the pace. We retrieved our overnight bags from the hotel, hot-footed it through the town to the station and jumped onto the train with two minutes to spare. Leza, red-faced, spluttered as we found seats for four, two on each side of a central table, “Jesus, I’m puffed.”

Joanne, gym-honed and barely winded like me, laughed. “Look at the state of you! And you thought you could go several rounds in the sack with the super-fit Mark Walker? No chance!”

“I’d give it a damn good shot,” Leza wheezed to Joanne’s snort. I looked at Joanne sitting beside me, then at Leza sat opposite her, and cleared my throat to call them to order.

“Enough, ladies. Thank you.”

“Sorry, Ellie,” Joanne said. “That was inappropriate. How did your hint about the precedence go down?”

I squeezed my knees together against my own inappropriate thoughts of the feel of Mark’s mouth sucking between my legs and shortened the extent of our conversation. “Initially not happy, but with a couple of pointed remarks, it was message received.”

~~~~~~~

Cassie O’Brien – Bio

Published by Totally Bound

I love:

Being with family and friends.

Writing and having the freedom to do so now child four of four has passed her driving test and is off to uni later this year.

I Like:

Any excuse to throw a party.

Any excuse to open a bottle of fizz.

Shoes in vast quantities – the higher the heel the better.

Ambitions:

To write many more books.

To own a pair of Louboutin’s.

To never go near an iron or a hoover again.

Thank you so much, Cassie. My TBR list has just grown.

Happy reading everyone,

love Raven xx

The Gluten Free Author's guide to goodies or not.Or ... pondering on labels

Morning all, 

I'm writing this, at some early hour, drinking coffee and pondering the label on the cereal. 

Not the cereal I can eat, though not that long go I did. Then either they changed the recipe and it's no longer below the codex index, or I got extra super sensitive. Because on holiday a while back, I was eating said cereal, and I was ill. So ill, one day I had to go back to bed. 

Lovely hubby came in waving the packet, and said, "I think you've been poisoning yourself."

More than a slight exaggeration, but I got the gist. There, on the list of ingredients was 'wheat flour.'

I swore a bit and went out and bought the cereal with 'gluten free' emblazoned on the front.

Since I've had to cut gluten out, I have read labels religiously. Checked and double checked. Looked up what certain words mean, made sure anything is gluten free or below the codex limit.

Been ultra careful.

But, I guess it's easy to just assume something is okay if it used to be. There's a gravy mix that was gf, then wasn't now is again. It's enough to make you dizzy.

Thankfully these days there is a much better choice than even five years ago. The Gluten free shelves now cover twelve foot instead of two. (Some companies have even done the make them and stop because they say whatever it is doesn't sell. I mourn Genius croissants) 

There's more than one brand of bread and no longer is it so heavy, that if you threw it, it would kill a sparrow at ten paces (As my gran would have said) Biscuits taste 'like biscuits'. Scotch pancakes by whatever name taste as I remember them) You don't need to struggle and cuss with home made pastry, and so on.

But even with all that you still have to be vigilant.

Labels are my new best friend. But oh how I wish they didn't need to be.

Happy eating,

love Raven xx

#SundaySnippet with an up himself male alert

Hi all, 

this week's #SundaySnippet is from of a WIP, as yet unnamed. 

"I made a list of all the things about you that annoy me," I said.
He smirked.
Boy did I have to dig my fingernails into my palm so as not to thump him. 
"Go on then," he drawled in an oh so 'pander to her' way.
Well that was two of them already. Smirking...pandering...if he pats me on the head he'll wonder what's hit him.
Plus be singing soprano and be worried if there was going to be a next generation to continue his family line.

~~~~~~~

(Source pinterest)

Happy reading,

love Raven xxx

#NineForTheWeekend Where Susan Midwood lets us into a few secrets...

Hi all. 

This week, my pretty please pleading has worked on Sue. Ex PE teacher, happily retired and never at home, I pinned her down long enough to get these nine facts from her.

Nine for the Weekend

Over to you Sue

I can usually finish the Times crossword.

Fish is my favourite food.

I hate ironing. (So do I—Raven)

Dentists freak me out.

I am often number one on the leader board at the gym. 

I have to have flowers in the house or it feels empty.

I love using herbs in cookery. 

I wish I could sing—and draw, but not necessarily together) 

I love watching cookery programmes.

Thanks Sue, lots of things in common there, except I rarely finish the Times crossword without asking for help.

And I'd add to that list... you love going away to somewhere warm as well...

Happy reading everyone,

love Raven xx